| QB AARON RODGERS emerged on Pat McAfee’s show yesterday. Mike Florio reviews his forward-looking comments. He buries the lead a bit about what Rodgers says is the reason for his delay: During his silence-shattering appearance on Thursday with Pat McAfee, quarterback Aaron Rodgers said plenty of things. Some old (he loves to re-assault deceased equines), some new. Along the way, Rodgers acknowledged that he has spoken with a few teams. While he declined to provide the full list, it was clear Rodgers has talked to a trio of teams — the Giants, Vikings, and Steelers. And while he insists that there were false narratives about some of the teams he was linked to (for a guy who claims to ignore anything about him, he seems to know everything that’s said), those are the three teams to which he has been most clearly linked. Rodger said he spoke to Giants coach Brian Daboll, calling him a “beautiful football mind.” He said he has spoken to Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, an old friend. And Rodgers confirmed (even though confirmation wasn’t needed) that he visited the Steelers. Rodgers said he “[t]ried to do that as quietly as possible.” He said he flew into a different airport, rented a Malibu, and drove it to the team facility. “Somebody in the building must have said something,” Rodgers said. (Yes, they did. They told Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and off it went.) Rodgers said he was highly impressed by coach Mike Tomlin. Rodgers also met with G.M. Omar Khan, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, and quarterbacks coach Tom Arth during his day in Pittsburgh. “I wanted to see what it was like there, see the facility,” Rodgers said, adding he wanted a “snippet” and a “glimpse” of what it would be like. Rodgers said there’s no deadline with the Steelers. “If you need to do something, by all means [do it],” Rodgers told the Steelers. “I am trying to be open to everything and not specifically attached to anything when it comes to this decision,” he said. “I’m not holding anybody hostage.” He added that he’s been “up front” from the start, and that he’s “going through a lot in my personal life that has to take precedent at this point.” He said that, when he signs with a team, it “has to be an all-in type commitment” and that he’s not ready to do it just yet. Through it all, Rodgers flashed periodic irritation about the speculation that has emerged. “I don’t have sources,” Rodgers said near the end of the segment. “I don’t have people that are out there pushing narratives. I speak for myself. And it’s been nice to be quiet for the last few months. It’s funny how in that time period how the shit narrative goes fucking crazy, right? When I haven’t said a fucking word. So there’s nothing to say. I just laid out where I’m at. There’s nothing else to report. There’s no other reason to be continuing to talk about me at this point. So time to turn the page, all those people that have made a lot of money slandering my name. You know, apologize for COVID, say your vax status, and keep it moving.” On one hand, everyone should respect that there are personal issues delaying his next step. On the other hand, how hard would it have been to get that out there weeks ago? It would have avoided the very rumors and reports about which he’s now complaining. It would have been simple. It would have been easy. And it would have answered a lot of the questions that, in the absence of Rodgers saying anything, have become the subject of rampant speculation. It’s hard not to think that’s exactly what he wanted. To see what would happen if he added nothing to the conversation. And then, at the right time, to air his grievances regarding the things that were said in the absence of Rodgers saying anything. (And about shit from five years ago.) Finally, there truly is nothing more to say. Until he says something else. Or unless and until the Steelers slam the door on the possibility of signing him. More on what he said about his life – from Natasha Dye of People.com: Aaron Rodgers revealed he’s dealing with issues in his personal life that are taking his attention away from football. “I’ll set it all straight,” the 41-year-old quarterback said on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, April 17, in an effort to shut down rumors around his future in the NFL. “You know, I live kind of a quiet life,” said Rodgers, sitting next to his four-month-old Husky puppy Apollo. “If it weren’t for my buddy Tim and my sister Mia, I wouldn’t hear about a lot of the bulls— that’s out there.” Since being released from the Jets on Feb. 13, Rodgers said his break has been “interesting” and he’s mostly been “working out” and “hanging out with Apollo” this offseason. Aaron Rodgers Goes for Solo Walk Wrapped in a Blanket as His Next NFL Team Remains in Question“I’m in a different phase of my life,” Rodgers explained. “I’m 41 years old, I’m in a serious relationship. I have off-the-field stuff going on that requires my attention. I have personal commitments I made not knowing what my future was going to look like after last year, that are important to me.” Rodgers cited that there are “a couple people” in his inner circle “really battling some difficult stuff” that began in January. “So, I have a lot of things that are taking my attention,” he said, noting that it’s “a big thing” to be making “a commitment” to an NFL team, “whether you’re a first year player or a 20-year vet,” said Rodgers. This from the Pakistan Express-Tribune : Aaron Rodgers shared news of his relationship with a woman named Brittani on The Pat McAfee Show. While discussing his shift from in-store to online Christmas shopping, the veteran quarterback casually mentioned her. “There was one package left for my girlfriend Brittani that hadn’t showed up yet,” Rodgers said. When McAfee joked that he might be dating pop star Britney Spears, Rodgers clarified with a laugh: “No, this is Brittani with an ‘i’.” He added that she doesn’t watch the show and isn’t on social media, offering a rare glimpse into his typically private personal life. Although some reports have said Rodgers is looking for QB SAM DARNOLD money ($30 mil per year approximately), he claimed on McAfee that he only wants $10 million or so. See JETS below for more from Rodgers. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| CAROLINAAlex Kay of Bleacher Report works with the premise that the Saints covet QB SHEDEUR SANDERS with the 9th overall pick and the Panthers at #8 are willing to trade down to deny their division rivals the QB while lining up extra picks to draft defenders. In their latest mock draft, the Bleacher Report Scouting Department predicted Sanders will land with the New Orleans Saints at No. 9 overall. It’s a reasonable floor for him given recent reports that Derek Carr may miss the 2025 season, a fact that rival franchises will be aware of and could prompt a big move up the board on draft night. With that in mind, here’s a look at four trade packages Carolina must consider for the No. 8 pick. Cleveland BrownsPanthers receive: 2025 second-round pick (No. 33), 2025 fourth-round pick (No. 104) 2026 first-round pick (TBD), 2026 second-round pick (TBD) Browns receive: 2025 first-round pick (No. 8)The Cleveland Browns will have a shot at drafting a quarterback prospect when they are on the clock at No. 2 overall on April 24, but there’s a strong possibility they opt to go a different direction with this pick. With elite prospects like CB/WR Travis Hunter and edge-rusher Abdul Carter—the top prospects on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department’s big board—sure to be available after the Tennessee Titans make their pick, few could fault Cleveland for choosing a can’t-miss player at No. 2. As great as those prospects are, drafting either would still leave Cleveland with Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco vying to become its starting quarterback in 2025. It’s not exactly a recipe for success, which is why the Browns could shake things up by trading back into the first round with the goal of landing their quarterback of the future. The Houston Texans executed a similar trade in 2023, selecting quarterback C.J. Stroud at No. 2 before making a blockbuster deal to acquire the No. 3 pick and nabbing top-ranked prospect Will Anderson Jr. with it. The bold move panned out as both players have gone on to earn Pro Bowl selections while transforming the Texans into a Super Bowl contender. Making this type of trade—which would likely result in the Panthers getting the first pick in Round 2 in addition to a future first and more Day 2 capital—would allow the Browns to pick up Shedeur Sanders and solidify their quarterback room. It would also uniquely afford the Browns a chance to keep the Sanders-Hunter battery together. There’s a clear benefit in doing so, as they have a fantastic rapport after playing four seasons together at both Jackson State and Colorado and would be able to hit the ground running in the NFL. Los Angeles RamsPanthers receive: 2025 first-round pick (No. 26 overall), 2025 third-round pick (No. 90 overall, 2025 sixth-round pick (No. 202 overall), 2026 first-round pick (TBD) Rams receive: 2025 first-round pick (No. 8 overall)The Los Angeles Rams may be gearing up to make another Super Bowl run, but they must start considering their future and life without Matthew Stafford. While L.A. has generally taken a certain approach towards roster construction under general manager Les Snead—notably exchanging a slew of draft capital for stars such as Stafford, Jalen Ramsey and Von Miller ahead of a successful Super Bowl LVI run—and brought in veterans such as Davante Adams to retool ahead of the 2025 campaign, the team can’t afford to wait much longer to find the quarterback’s heir. It’s doubtful the Rams will be able to unearth their quarterback of the future from the No. 26 overall draft slot, but a trade up the board could put them in position to land Shedeur Sanders and stop his fall in the first round. Sanders may not see the field as a rookie, but the allure of a big market, marquee stadium and creative offense orchestrated by head coach Sean McVay should still have the Colorado product excited about the opportunity. Even with Stafford recently having his deal reworked in a bid to keep him around for up to two more seasons, the 16-year veteran has missed 11 games over the last three campaigns. It certainly won’t be any easier for the two-time Pro Bowler to stay on the field as he gears up for an age-37 season. If Stafford falls off due to regression or injury, Sanders could take the reins on a full-time basis as early as the 2026 season. The signal-caller would be well-positioned for instant success with a supporting cast that includes top wideouts such as Puka Nacua and Adams, a stout offensive line and one of the league’s more consistent rushing attacks. New Orleans SaintsPanthers receive: 2025 first-round pick (No. 9 overall), 2025 fourth-round pick (No. 112), 2025 seventh-round pick (No. 248) Saints receive: 2025 first-round pick (No. 8 overall)The New Orleans Saints were dealt a devastating blow last week when it was revealed starting quarterback Derek Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury that could limit his availability for the 2025 season. While the 34-year-old wasn’t a long-term solution for the Saints, he has fared relatively well as their top signal-caller over the last two seasons and still has two years left on his contract. The Saints weren’t pressed to address the position with an early pick in the 2025 draft, although the injury has flipped the script and it now makes sense for New Orleans to target a potential franchise quarterback on Day 1. The Saints could sit back and hope Sanders falls to No. 9 overall—a spot where many experts foresee him coming off the board—but the team may want to be more proactive to avoid being leapfrogged on draft night. It may be the smallest possible move up the board, but trading for the No. 8 slot would give the Saints more security in their quest to land Sanders. With Carolina sending out signals that it’s willing to deal, New Orleans should be highly interested in acquiring the selection and blocking rivals from making a move. It will cost them some extra capital to get a deal done—the Minnesota Vikings orchestrated a similar deal to secure J.J. McCarthy in 2024, trading the Nos. 11, 129 and 157 overall picks to the New York Jets in exchange for Nos. 10 and 203—but it’s the type of move that would improve the chances of acquiring a franchise-altering prospect like Sanders. Pittsburgh SteelersPanthers receive: 2025 first-round pick (No. 21 overall), 2025 third-round pick (No. 83 overall), 2025 seventh-round pick (No. 229 overall), 2026 first-round pick (TBD) Steelers receive: 2025 first-round pick (No. 8 overall)The Pittsburgh Steelers have been struggling to find an offensive identity following the retirement of longtime quarterback Ben Roethlisberger three years ago. They have cycled through five starting signal-callers in the seasons since, all of whom are either no longer with the team anymore or—in Mason Rudolph’s case—recently returned after a short, unsuccessful stint away from the club. With Rudolph and 2022 seventh-round pick Skylar Thompson the only QBs currently under contract, the Steelers are stuck hoping Aaron Rodgers will continue his NFL journey with them rather than calling it a career this offseason. There is another path the club could take, though. There’s some risk attached to it, but Pittsburgh could opt for a bold trade up from the No. 21 slot and into the top 10 with the goal of landing a potential franchise passer. If the Steelers do move up into the Panthers’ No. 8 slot and ultimately secure Shedeur Sanders, it would represent their highest quarterback selection since Terry Bradshaw was their No. 1 overall pick in 1970. That choice clearly paid dividends, as Bradshaw shook off a shaky start to his career to help the Steelers dominate the decade with four Super Bowl wins between 1974 and 1979. Making a run at Sanders won’t be cheap—Pittsburgh would likely need to give up a good portion of its meager six selections in this year’s draft—but it’s the type of calculated risk it needs to take if it wants to truly compete. The club has been too good to bottom out and earn a top draft pick, but not dangerous enough to be a serious Super Bowl contender. Sanders could change the Steelers’ fortunes instantly, giving the franchise hope for the future and a player to build around for years to come. |
| AFC WEST |
| DENVERCoach Sean Payton puts the league on notice, the Broncos are looking for RBs in the draft. Kevin Patra of NFL.com: The Denver Broncos entered the offseason with a need at running back. It remains heading into next week’s 2025 NFL Draft. Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said on Thursday in his pre-draft press conference that the club intends to add to the stable. “There will be focus on the running back position. It’s a pretty good draft for running backs,” Payton said, via the team’s official transcript. The deep draft at running back has quieted the veteran free-agent market. The Broncos aren’t the only team hoping to cash in on the draft to add a cheap playmaker to their backfield. “There are two great allies that I think to help quarterback play. It’s really good defense and obviously a really good running game,” Payton noted. The Broncos upgrading their rushing attack would benefit quarterback Bo Nix’s Year 2 leap. Payton talked all offseason about the need to add at least one “Joker” type player — specifically mentioning that would be a tight end or running back. They added one option, inking tight end Evan Engram in free agency. They could add another with a running back during the draft. The Broncos backfield is currently comprised of jitterbug Jaleel McLaughlin, thumper Audric Estimé, Tyler Badie, 2024 undrafted free agent Blake Watson and fullback Michael Burton. Payton didn’t rule out drafting a running back in the first round if the vision met the talent when the Broncos pick at No. 20. “I think it’s all about your vision and your vision for the player,” Payton said when asked about drafting RBs in Round 1. “I think there is this feeling often times that there are certain positions that may be more available in the offseason than others. And yet, you have to look at the ability. I remember the selection of [former Saints RB] Reggie [Bush] and how that evolved very clearly, and [former Saints RB Mark] Ingram. Our plan was to take Mark at [No.] 22, and then [Saints DE] Cam Jordan fell to us. We kind of still didn’t want to lose track of the Ingram thing, and then we traded back in. “So I think if you have a real clear vision for how you want to use them, I think it’s just the team’s feeling for how good that player is and what type of career we think he can have. Then sometimes it’s just the way the draft unfolds. Sometimes [when] you don’t take one, it’s not that you don’t want to take one, it’s just that maybe another position landed in your lap. So a lot of it is your team and then the players specifically.” Even if the Broncos don’t draft a running back on Thursday, they should do so before next weekend is out. The deep draft class at the position lines up well with Payton’s needs in 2025. |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERSGM Joe Hortiz says the Chargers will draft where their board takes them. Josh Alper of ProFootball Talk.com: The last time the Chargers were on the field, they were on the wrong end of a blowout against the Texans in the first round of the playoffs. That result was a disappointing end to Jim Harbaugh’s first season as their head coach, but it did not lead to any desperate swings in free agency. The Chargers plugged holes by signing players like guard Mekhi Becton, running back Najee Harris, wide receiver Mike Williams, and cornerback Donte Jackson while also bringing back edge rusher Khalil Mack, center Bradley Bozeman, and cornerback Elijah Molden. At a press conference on Thursday, General Manager Joe Hortiz said he feels that adds up to a “really good job” that frees the team up to approach the draft without any pressing needs that would cause them to deviate from their board. “You let the board come to you,” Hortiz said, via the team’s website. “You don’t feel the pressure, so to speak, that, ‘Oh we got to address this player, we have to take this position.’ I just don’t feel that way because of the way we have spread ourselves out in free agency and adding to the roster and really completing the roster. I think that’s the goal. You want to put yourself in a position to be go to draft day and say, ‘We can literally let the board come to us. We can take the best player.’” The Chargers can let the board with them, but having 10 picks at their disposal also means they will have ammo to use for moves around the board to assure they land the players they want the most. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CINCINNATIThe Speaker of the Ohio House tells the Bengals to re-think their plan for $350 million in state money for stadium improvements. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: At a time when the Browns are making some progress toward getting a $600 million bond issuance to help pay for a new stadium in the Cleveland area, the Bengals are having a hard time getting the effort to secure $350 million for renovation of their stadium off the ground. Matt Hufffman, the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, does not support the proposal. “I did meet with the Bengals and [Hamilton] Commissioner [Denise] Driehaus a few months ago or weeks ago, and basically they’re talking about a $350 million cash upfront . . . which is similar to what the Browns were trying to do a couple of years ago,” Huffman said in an appearance on 700WLW, via Taylor Welter of WCPO.com. “And I don’t support that. I don’t think the public supports it.” In most places, the public currently would not support any taxpayer money for NFL stadiums. That’s why the goal is to work the levers without putting these measures on a ballot. Huffman acknowledged that, if the Bengals pursue a strategy like the Browns are pursuing, he might change his mind. “I do support, you know, something similar that if the Bengals and the City of Cincinnati and the county and, you know, can come together with a similar kind of plan, we ought to consider doing that where the taxpayers are held harmless or in the case of the Browns, they can actually make money,” Huffman said. The message to the Bengals and Hamilton County is that they probably should go back to the drawing board with their current request for $350 million in cash. And they should do it quickly, because a deadline is looming on June 30 for the Bengals to exercise a two-year extension of the existing lease at Paycor Stadium. Without an extension, the lease will expire after the upcoming season. Which means, as Bengals executive V.P. Katie Blackburn acknowledged recently, that the Bengals “could, I guess, go wherever we wanted after this year.” The clock is ticking toward that theoretical possibility. Which means the Bengals should do something other than advance theoretical impossibilities when it comes to getting public money. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW YORK JETSIn his appearance with Pat McAfee, QB AARON RODGERS matter-of-factly dismantled his departure from the Jets. Zach Rosenblatt of The Athletic: There Rodgers was on Thursday afternoon, back on “The Pat McAfee Show,” sitting on a patio somewhere sunny (presumably his Malibu, Calif., home). He wore earbuds with wires, the kind that used to come with older iPhones, to — as he’s said — protect his brain. When the Jets came up, his internet connection went choppy. “I’m sure they’re trying to shut this part down,” he said, with a wry smile. Or, perhaps he had to cut costs after — as he emphasized to McAfee — “I flew across the country on my own dime” to New Jersey to meet with the Jets early in the offseason, in what would be his final moments in Florham Park. Rodgers thought he was meeting with Glenn and GM Darren Mougey to offer his thoughts and opinions on the Jets, what needed to be fixed, and the future — his own and the team’s. (“Why wouldn’t you want to pick my brain?” Rodgers said.) But, the way Rodgers tells it, Glenn wasn’t interested in his opinions. This wasn’t a meeting to gauge Rodgers’ interest in coming back. This was a meeting to let him know that, with a new regime taking over, he was no longer in the Jets’ plans. As Rodgers told it to McAfee: “I figured that when I flew across the country on my dime, there would be a conversation,” Rodgers said. “I meet with the coach, we start talking … he runs out of the room. I’m like, that’s strange. Then he comes back with the GM. So we sit down and I think we’re going to have this long conversation, I’ve flown across the country, and 20 seconds in, I’m talking to the GM, and (Glenn) leans to the edge of his seat and says: ‘You’re sure you want to play football?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I’m interested.’ And he said, ‘We’re going in another direction at quarterback.’” “I was kind of shocked.” Then, Rodgers said, he unloaded. “I just flew across the country and you could’ve told me this on the phone if we weren’t even going to have a conversation,” Rodgers said. Rodgers said Glenn then asked him about the messaging of how he wanted his release to be announced.(Rosenblatt leaves out that Rodgers said he responded to messaging with “I don’t give a (bleep).) According to Rodgers, Glenn said, “I don’t want to be in front of the room saying something and have guys looking back at you. And I said, ‘Are you assuming I would be in the back of the room during a team meeting, undermining what you’re saying? You don’t know me.’ And he said, ‘You don’t know me.’ And then I said, ‘Exactly, that’s why I flew across the country to have a face-to-face meeting with you.’” Later in the interview, Rodgers said: “I think that was a little rogue by the head coach.” |
| THIS AND THAT |
| BRAZIL TV UPDATEThe Friday night game in Brazil will not air on Peacock again per this report. For the second straight season, the NFL’s opening weekend will feature a Friday night game in Brazil. The TV rights for the game have not yet been awarded. Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal reports that YouTube, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Amazon are interested in the game. YouTube, per Fischer, is regarded by some to be the favorite. Last year, the game streamed on Peacock. This year’s deal could include a Week 17 game. The NFL is able to play on the opening Friday of the season when it lands on the first Friday in September. The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1960 exchanged a broadcast antitrust exemption for a requirement to avoid broadcasting games on Friday night or Saturday from the second weekend in September through the second weekend in December. The Chargers will host this year’s game in Brazil. Its opponent has yet to be announced. |
| MOCK DRAFT – TOM FORNELLITom Fornelli of CBSSports.com with a predictive Mock – what he thinks the teams will indeed do: So this is it. This is my best guess. I made these picks based on what teams need, as well as all the available information. It will almost assuredly be wrong, but what if it isn’t? 1 TENNESSEECam Ward QBMiami (FL) • Sr • 6’2″ / 219 lbsI’m not as confident this will be the pick as I was the Bears would take Caleb Williams at No. 1 last season, but I’m not far off from that level, either. If the Titans go any other direction at this point, the entire NFL world would be shocked. 2 CLEVELANDTravis Hunter ATHColorado • Jr • 6’0″ / 188 lbsIt’s entirely possible the Browns go with Abdul Carter here, but my sense is Hunter is more likely. No disrespect to Jerry Jeudy, but the Browns simply don’t have any exciting playmakers on offense. Hunter would give them one. Meanwhile, the presence of Myles Garrett makes Carter more of a luxury than a need. 3 NY GIANTSShedeur Sanders QBColorado • Sr • 6’2″ / 212 lbsThis pick makes little sense to me, but it also seems likely. The Giants have invested too much time and energy into Sanders this offseason for it to be some kind of head fake. That said, it’s a GM/coach combo that needs to win now and has already added Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, so drafting a rookie QB goes against that. 4 NEW ENGLANDAbdul Carter EDGEPenn State • Jr • 6’3″ / 250 lbsAny scenario that ends with either Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter falling to four would be a gift to the Patriots, who will hardly be able to contain their excitement when Carter falls into their lap here. 5 JACKSONVILLEMason Graham DLMichigan • Jr • 6’3″ / 296 lbsOutside of Cam Ward to the Titans, I don’t know if there’s been another pick mocked as often as Graham to the Jaguars this offseason. It just makes sense. Jacksonville needs help on the interior of its defensive line, and Graham is the most disruptive force available at the position. 6 LAS VEGASWill Campbell OTLSU • Jr • 6’6″ / 319 lbsAshton Jeanty is a popular pick here, but this RB class is extremely deep, and the Raiders could use help at tackle. Kolton Miller is an excellent option on the left side, but Campbell would be a massive upgrade at right tackle. The Raiders can then use their second-round pick on an RB. 7 NY JETSArmand Membou OTMissouri • Jr • 6’4″ / 332 lbsMembou draws polarizing reports from scouts, but I see a ton of potential upside here, and in a class that doesn’t have any grand slam tackle prospects, I’m going to bet on potential more than floor, especially in the top 10. 8 CAROLINAJalon Walker EDGEGeorgia • Jr • 6’1″ / 243 lbsThe Panthers have hinted they’d be willing to trade down, and perhaps somebody moves up to grab Ashton Jeanty at this point. How willing teams will be to move up to draft a running back in this class is a big question, though, so Carolina stands pat and takes one the most interesting pass rush prospect in the class. 9 NEW ORLEANSMykel Williams EDGEGeorgia • Jr • 6’5″ / 260 lbsThe buzz lately has New Orleans interested in taking a quarterback, but with Ward and Sanders gone, there isn’t a quarterback who makes sense this high. Instead the Saints address the need in their pass rush with Mykel Williams. 10 CHICAGOAshton Jeanty RBBoise State • Jr • 5’9″ / 211 lbsThe Bears would probably prefer addressing their defensive line at this point, but with the lack of obvious options, they’d happily take the consolation prize of Jeanty. They’ve put a lot of work into their offensive line, but Jeanty could be the game-changing chess piece who truly unlocks the offense. 11 – SAN FRANCISCOKelvin Banks Jr. OTTexas • Jr • 6’5″ / 315 lbsThe Niners could address the defensive line here too, but Banks makes a lot of sense. He could begin his career at right tackle before eventually sliding over to the left side when Trent Williams hangs up his cleats. 12 DALLASTetairoa McMillan WRArizona • Jr • 6’4″ / 219 lbsMcMillan is another player who draws polarizing opinions, but a lot of people are overthinking it. He may not be Ja’Marr Chase or Justin Jefferson, but he can be Tee Higgins. A lot of teams could use a Tee Higgins. The Cowboys could use a Tee Higgins. 13 MIAMIWalter Nolen DLOle Miss • Jr • 6’4″ / 296 lbsMiami has 10 picks in this draft and should probably use at least three of them on the defensive line. Have you seen their depth chart? The word thin does not adequately describe the situation. Nolen is my No. 2 DT in this class behind Graham and would be a steal here. 14 INDIANAPOLISTyler Warren TEPenn State • Sr • 6’6″ / 256 lbsWarren is a fascinating prospect who showed in his time at Penn State that he’s capable of doing a little bit of everything on offense. He did not kick field goals at Penn State, but I bet he can do that too. Catching passes will be enough for the Colts, though. 15 ATLANTAWill Johnson CBMichigan • Jr • 6’2″ / 194 lbsNot the most pressing need in Atlanta, but a best player available situation, and also a great fit. Atlanta plays a lot of zone coverage, and that’s where Johnson is at his best. 16 ARIZONAJahdae Barron CBTexas • Sr • 5’11” / 194 lbsI’ve had Arizona going defensive line in most of my mocks, but with Barron sliding, this isn’t the most glaring need on the Cardinals defense, but it is a need. 17 CINCINNATIMike Green EDGEMarshall • Soph • 6’3″ / 251 lbsWith or without Trey Hendrickson, the Bengals need additional help in the pass rush, and they get it with Green. There are parts of his game that need to be ironed out, but getting after the QB isn’t one of them. 18 SEATTLETyler Booker IOLAlabama • Jr • 6’5″ / 321 lbsIf the Seahawks don’t fix the interior of their offensive line after bringing in Sam Darnold they’re destroying any chance of competing in 2025. Booker is the best guard in the class, and could prove to be a leader of this team on offense quickly. 19 TAMPA BAYJihaad Campbell LBAlabama • Jr • 6’3″ / 235 lbsJihaad Campbell can play in a 4-3 but I believe he’s better suited in a 3-4, and Todd Bowles could be the perfect coach to tap into his potential as a game-wrecker. 20 DENVEROmarion Hampton RBNorth Carolina • Jr • 6’0″ / 220 lbsThought about getting nuts and having the Broncos trade up for Jeanty, but why do that if Omarion Hampton is likely to be available at 20? As much as I love Jeanty — and I do, a lot — it’s not out of question that Hampton could have the better career. 21 PITTSBURGHDerrick Harmon DLOregon • Jr • 6’5″ / 310 lbsAs of this writing, the Steelers are still being held hostage by Aaron Rodgers. With no obvious QB choice here, and the top RBs off the board, the Steelers address the defensive line with a player who fits the mold of what this organization typically seeks on its DL. 22 LA CHARGERSColston Loveland TEMichigan • Jr • 6’6″ / 248 lbsConsidered going with Matthew Golden here, but Loveland is a better fit for what Jim Harbaugh teams typically do on offense. Whatever the selection, the Chargers need to add more reliable targets for Justin Herbert. Ladd McConkey can’t get open on every snap, just most of them. 23 GREEN BAYTrey Amos CBOle Miss • Sr • 6’1″ / 195 lbsAmos is a corner whose stock has risen considerably during the draft process and should find a home somewhere in the late first. Green Bay would make a lot of sense. 24 MINNESOTANick Emmanwori SSouth Carolina • Jr • 6’3″ / 220 lbsThe Vikings only have four picks in the draft and are an obvious trade down candidate, but I don’t see anybody dying to move up in this spot. So the Vikings hold onto their pick and take Emmanwori, who still needs some polish, but has the size and athleticism to be used in a lot of different ways. 25 HOUSTONDonovan Jackson IOLOhio State • Sr • 6’4″ / 315 lbsBased on everything the Texans have done lately, it’d be a real surprise to see them go any other direction but offensive line here. I love Donovan Jackson, as he showed the ability to play left tackle this season too. I believe guard is his best future, but the Texans can afford to try him in multiple spots if they’d like. 26 – LA RAMSJosh Simmons OTOhio State • Sr • 6’5″ / 317 lbsIf not for the knee injury, Simmons is probably off the board by now. His availability early in the season is a question mark, but it’s hard to imagine he gets out of the first round without somebody taking him. 27 BALTIMOREKenneth Grant DLMichigan • Jr • 6’4″ / 331 lbsI’d bet on the Ravens addressing the interior of their offensive line or defensive line with this pick. If forced to pick on what’s available here, I can see somebody like Grey Zabel being the pick, but Kenneth Grant’s athleticism and explosiveness prove too much to pass up. 28 DETROITJosh Conerly Jr. OTOregon • Jr • 6’5″ / 311 lbsThe Lions are in the market for a guard, and while Conerly’s a tackle, I can see a scenario in which the Lions take Conerly, play him at guard, and then move him to tackle later. Or maybe he just sticks at guard. 29 NEW ORLEANS Mock Trade from Washington Jaxson Dart QBOle Miss • Sr • 6’2″ / 225 lbsGoing after a QB at nine didn’t make sense for the Saints, but trading back into the end of the first round to get one would. The Saints get Dart whom they could groom for a year behind Derek Carr (or start if Carr isn’t healthy) while the Commanders add picks (they only have five). 30 – BUFFALODonovan Ezeiruaku EDGEBoston College • Sr • 6’3″ / 248 lbsJoey Bosa will help in 2025, but he isn’t a long-term answer for the Bills. Plus, he hasn’t played 15 games or more in a season since 2021, so having depth in the pass rush is pivotal in Buffalo if the Bills want to finally get over the hump. 31 KANSAS CITYShemar Stewart EDGETexas A&M • Jr • 6’5″ / 267 lbsIt’s the traits. The production isn’t there, but finding guys who can get after the quarterback is one of the most important things any football team can do, and guys with traits like Shemar Stewart’s rarely get out of the first round. He might go in the top 10. Or he could slide to the bottom of the round, as he does here. 32 PHILADELPHIAMalaki Starks SGeorgia • Jr • 6’1″ / 197 lbsI don’t think the Eagles are unhappy with what they currently have at safety, but this is an organization that’s proven it isn’t afraid to add more talent to any position group on the roster. Starks is a best player available pick at this spot who could be used in a number of different roles in the Eagles defense. |
| 2025 DRAFT – WHERE DO JEANTY AND WARREN GO?In a flat draft, RB ASHTON JEANTY and TE TYLER WARREN may defy conventional wisdom and go in the top 10 even though they don’t play a “value” position. Jeff Howe of The Athletic: Teams picking near the top of the NFL Draft next week will be facing a tricky dilemma. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Penn State tight end Tyler Warren are widely viewed as two of the 10 best overall prospects in the class, but neither … all together now … plays a premium position. No, this is not a unique debate. For a while now, NFL teams have prioritized investments at quarterback, wide receiver, edge rusher and cornerback, particularly early in the draft, while generally weighing other positions on a supply versus demand basis. But there’s a twist with this class. This group isn’t teeming with top-level talent. And because there are fewer marquee prospects than usual, especially with a dip outside the top five, teams leaning in the direction of selecting the best player available might have no choice but to take Jeanty and Warren. “It’s a year-by-year and market-driven evaluation,” said one executive, who, like the other sources in this story, was granted anonymity so they could speak openly about the draft. “In a year with average high-round depth at premium positions, just take the best player. All I know is every time I watched (Jeanty and Warren) specifically, they were the best players on the field.” There are, of course, valid arguments on both sides. Supporters of disregarding positional value err toward the uniquely talented prospects, hoping they can be difference-makers despite playing non-premium positions. The hope, of course, is that a player will hit his prime by the time the team is ready to contend; the Las Vegas Raiders can only hope they don’t waste tight end Brock Bowers’ rookie contract. Others will point toward a team like the 2023 Detroit Lions, who used an “extra” first-round pick on star running back Jahmyr Gibbs, and argue a team on the rise with few holes should stack the roster with standout talent regardless of position. Critics, however, still believe the best way to build a team is by targeting talent at premium spots. They can provide greater cap savings down the line and aren’t as reliant on their surroundings to be effective — i.e., a great running back will never shed his training wheels without an effective offensive line. But let’s make one thing clear, according to some of the evaluators: If Jeanty is drafted high, as expected, it’ll be because of his exceptional talent, not the narrative of a running back resurgence. “Jeanty is a top-five talent in this draft,” a second executive said. “If you believe he is truly a difference-maker and a threat on every down, run or pass, you can justify taking him. Most running backs don’t fall into that category. They have to be difference-makers like Saquon (Barkley) to justify (such a high pick).” The diminishing value of running backs’ contracts has come into focus in recent years, with the likes of Barkley, Derrick Henry and Josh Jacobs cashing in last season after corralling solid value in free agency. But they also went to teams with franchise quarterbacks, strong offensive lines, good coaches and enough of a supporting cast to flourish. They are still largely viewed as the exceptions. But just how valuable is an elite running back on a roster with too many holes? Barkley, for example, played in just two playoff games in six seasons on some deeply flawed New York Giants teams. With the Philadelphia Eagles and their powerhouse offensive line, however, he became the first player with two 60-yard touchdown runs in a postseason game and helped lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl. The Atlanta Falcons offer another case study. Bijan Robinson, the No. 8 pick in 2023, is universally viewed among the most talented handful of backs in the league, but his arrival in Atlanta has yet to translate into postseason success. Tight end Kyle Pitts, the No. 4 pick in 2021, was widely viewed as a generational talent, but that selection hasn’t worked out, either, as the Falcons’ playoff drought extended to seven seasons last year. Meanwhile, 18 tight ends have been taken in the top 10 since Hall of Famer Mike Ditka in 1961, including just two over the past decade. Before Pitts, there was T.J. Hockenson, who is an excellent player, but the Lions still traded him — to a division rival, no less — largely because they weren’t prepared to pay his second contract. “I wouldn’t take either (position) in the top 10,” a general manager said. “When is the last time a top-10 tight end really had a great career? And then you’ve got to pay them their second contract at the top of the market.” To that GM’s point, the vast majority of tight ends taken in the first round — let alone the top 10 — haven’t had “really great careers.” There have been some good ones, but rarely has a difference-maker been found in the first round over the past 25 drafts. Running back evaluations are particularly finicky, as teams are becoming increasingly adept at finding value in all seven rounds. Look at the 2017 draft, for instance. Christian McCaffrey (No. 8 pick) has been the best back in the league for a chunk of his career, but there were productive players in later rounds, too: Joe Mixon and Dalvin Cook (second), Alvin Kamara and James Conner (third), Jamaal Williams (fourth) and Aaron Jones (fifth). All were selected after Leonard Fournette (No. 4). Has McCaffrey been the best of that group? Probably. But poll enough coaches and executives, and they’d generally be split on whether they’d rather have McCaffrey at No. 8 versus Kamara in the third round. That’ll be part of the equation next week, too. The Athletic’s lead draft analyst, Dane Brugler, ranked Jeanty as his No. 3 prospect, but Brugler has nine running backs ranked in his top 100. Warren is Brugler’s No. 8 prospect, with Michigan’s Colston Loveland (No. 11) right behind. Brugler has seven tight ends in the top 100. Teams can’t be paralyzed by value, though. With new regimes at the helm of the Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets, sure, it’s nice to plan on getting an impact player in the top 10 before filling a need with a running back or tight end later. But there’s also an important element in knowing they got a rock-solid prospect like Jeanty or Warren with their first pick. There’s something to be said for being a little extra cautious. After all, good players are good players, and it’s important to accumulate as many of them as possible. “Skill players who touch the ball and impact the game should all be viewed the same,” another coach said. “Positional value in football should be just like basketball. They don’t slot basketball players (in the draft) based on what position they play. They base their pay scale on who impacts the game.” It’s a rare draft class without an abundance of elite prospects at premium positions, so teams will have to get creative early in the first round. And though taking a running back or tight end might not always be the most popular decision or lead to the highest return on investment, there shouldn’t be as much buyer’s remorse this year with players the caliber of Jeanty and Warren. |
