| NFC NORTH |
| MINNESOTACould WR ADAM THIELEN, not only a former Vikings great but a Minnesota native, be making a return? Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com: Adam Thielen may be on his way back to Minnesota. The Vikings have inquired about trading for the veteran receiver, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. With Jordan Addison’s upcoming suspension and Jalen Nailor’s hand injury, Minnesota could use some more depth at receiver. The Vikings and Thielen are plenty familiar with one another. After entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2013 with the club, Thielen began contributing as a receiver in 2014 before emerging as a true threat in 2016 when he caught 69 passes for 967 yards with five touchdowns. Thielen’s last season with Minnesota was head coach Kevin O’Connell’s first with the club in 2022. The wideout caught 70 passes for 716 yards with six touchdowns that year. While he missed seven games due to injury in 2024, Thielen still caught 48 passes for 615 yards with five TDs. We’ll see if the Panthers and Vikings can come to an agreement to secure the reunion.. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASJerry Jones defends the offer he made to EDGE MICAH PARSONS in their private meeting and casts Parsons’ agent as the bad guy. Todd Archer of ESPN.com: While speaking on Michael Irvin’s YouTube channel Thursday, Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said the agreement he believed he made with Micah Parsons “would’ve made him the highest-paid guaranteed player other than a quarterback in the NFL.” “Nobody appreciates Micah Parsons more than the Cowboys or me,” Jones said. “Nobody has ever offered him more money than I have to play football. Period.” As he did in early April from the NFL owners meeting, Jones blamed Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, for the deal not being finalized as the Cowboys close in on the Sept. 4 opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. “When we wanted to send the details to the agent, the agent told us to stick it up our ass,” Jones said. “Just so you’re clear.” There have been no negotiations regarding a new deal since. When Parsons made his trade request public on Aug. 1, he said the meeting he called for with Jones was about leadership, but the owner quickly turned the discussion to Parsons’ contract. He said a deal would not be made without Mulugheta’s involvement. Jones said he and Parsons agreed to the length of the deal, guaranteed money and total money. “I’ve agreed to give more money than has ever been given in terms of guaranteed money than anyone ever has as far as a defensive player,” Jones said. “I’ve done that. Now, I am the cat that writes the check. Now Micah’s got three years with the Cowboys left. He’s got three years. At some point somebody has to have the say over the other. At some point it has to be that way. “My job is managing the check, OK? Micah’s got to do the playing. Where’s the least important part of this whole equation that we’re talking about? … The attorney or the agent, OK? He works for Micah.” While in Oxnard, California, for the team’s training camp, Jones mentioned “guaranteeing somebody close to $200 million” when he discussed Parsons’ contract. Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns has the highest guarantee for a non-quarterback at $123.5 million, followed by San Francisco’s Nick Bosa ($119.9 million) and Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase ($112 million). Also on Irvin’s YouTube channel, Jones added, “We’ve got this deal resolved, in my mind, for the Dallas Cowboys. We’ve got it done, and if the agents want to finish up the details, which he should [do] and do all the paperwork, he can do that. And we’re ready to go, but as far as the amount of money, years, guarantees, we’ve negotiated that.” Jones appears content to let Parsons play this season on the fifth-year option, which costs $21.324 million, and consider using the franchise tags in the future. On Wednesday, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he was confident Parsons will be on the field for the season opener against the Eagles. “We’ve really got three years to work this thing out,” Jones said. “It’s a basic contract. It’s there to go. I did that with Dak [Prescott]. And we couldn’t agree, so Dak played his last year of his contract, then we franchised him. So it’s exactly what happened with Dak, and we moved forward, and ultimately we got a contract and made Dak the highest-paid player in the NFL. So the precedent is handling it like Dak. … If he doesn’t, it’s very costly. It’s very costly for everybody.” Jane Slater, who knows the Cowboys, thinks this is how it will play out: @SlaterNFLI don’t have a crystal ball but here’s how I expect this to play out. Here soon Micah will talk to Jerry bc Jerry ain’t trading him. Micah is a competitor and he ain’t sitting or interested in losing game checks. The other thing likely wearing on him? Playing and getting hurt without security. Jerry will appreciate the “win”, so to speak, he’s been expecting it. Jones knows he has him for 3 more years if he wants. Jones secretly respects Micah’s mettle though. A worthy opponent in his favorite game “deals”. Alas, he will meet Micah again in the middle somehow and then make it look like they both “won” the deal. They will laugh, shake hands and hug tight. Everyone will get what they wanted but once again we will write how much harder both sides made it than it needed to be. -As the World Turns- Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com points out that the tactics used by Jones to get his “agreement” violate the CBA. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has made a largely nonsensical comparison of the Micah Parsons contract impasse to a kid trying to play mommy against daddy to get what he wants. The metaphor applies more logically in a related context. A kid who is misbehaving will keep doing it, as long as mommy and daddy let it happen. Jones has repeatedly tried to negotiate contracts directly with players, even when players are represented by certified agents. He does it because the NFL and the NFL Players Association allow him to do it. Jerry has been doing it for years. He makes no bones about it. And with no one ever telling him not to do it, he’s only becoming more brazen. What business owner wouldn’t want to negotiate directly with someone who has no expertise or experience in negotiation? Jones, like many of his ilk, wants to be able to do whatever he wants to do, without anyone else getting in the way. No restriction. No limitation. No regulation. No litigation. He wants to bamboozle a player who may not even realize a negotiation is happening and then print it up and have the agent and the player sign it. In Jones’s mind, the agent is a bystander. And that’s baloney. The league should have told him to stop doing it, long ago. The union should have filed a grievance over it, long ago. If the NFLPA wants to re-establish credibility with the rank and file, one way to do that would be to stand up to Jones and submit the appropriate paperwork challenging his effort to get Parsons to finalize a contract that his certified agent didn’t negotiate. And if the NFL truly cares about the integrity of the game and everything associated with it, the league will tell Jones to stop doing it before the union files — and wins — a grievance regarding his disregard for the Collective Bargaining Agreement. |
| NEW YORK GIANTSIs something brewing in the Meadowlands? The Giants swept the preseason in dominant fashion and John Breech of CBSSports.com scans history for signs of what it might mean: Although the preseason doesn’t really serve as a good predictor for the regular season, there has been one stat that has somehow translated to regular-season success and that’s point differential. And if you’re a fan of the New York Giants, this is where you’re going to want to start paying attention. Thanks to their 42-10 win over the New England Patriots on Thursday night, the Giants will finish the preseason with a record of 3-0. In those three games, the Giants outscored their opponents by 60 points. The reason that’s notable is because over the past 16 years, a point differential of 60 seems to be the magic number when trying to figure out if a team’s preseason success will translate to the regular season. The Giants are the eighth team since 2009 to finish a preseason with a point differential of +60 or more, and of the seven previous teams, SIX of them made the playoffs, including two teams that went on to win the Super Bowl. Also, in a nice twist: Russell Wilson was the starting quarterback for two of the seven teams on the list and he’ll be the Giants’ starter in Week 1.2009 New Orleans SaintsPreseason record: 3-1Point differential: +69Regular-season: 13-3The Saints started the regular season 13-0 on their way to winning the NFC South. In the playoffs, things got even better as they ended up winning the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history. 2011 Detroit LionsPreseason record: 4-0Point differential: +67Regular-season: 10-6After going 11 years without a playoff berth, the Lions drought finally ended. It came during a season where they blew everyone out in the preseason. 2012 Seattle SeahawksPreseason record: 4-0Point differential: +78Regular-season: 11-5During Russell Wilson’s rookie year, the Seahawks blew out everyone in the preseason and then proceeded to also dominate during the regular season. After finishing second in the NFC West, the Seahawks won a wild-card playoff game before losing, 30-28, in the divisional round to Atlanta. The Falcons hit a 49-yard field goal with eight seconds left to clinch the win. 2013 Seattle SeahawksPreseason record: 4-0Point differential: +73Regular-season: 13-3Pete Carroll clearly took his preseason football seriously, because for the second straight year, not only did the Seahawks go 4-0 in the preseason, but they once again outscored their opponents by at least 70 points. The 2013 season ended with Carroll and the Seahawks hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after beating the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. 2014 Denver BroncosPreseason record: 3-1Point differential: +62Regular-season: 12-4During Peyton manning’s penultimate season in Denver, the Broncos rolled through the preseason with two of their three wins coming by at least 24 points. Their preseason dominance translated to the regular season with Denver winning the AFC West. However, they did get upset by the Colts in the divisional round of the playoffs. 2019 Baltimore RavensPreseason record: 4-0Point differential: +66Regular-season: 14-2John Harbaugh loves to play to win in the preseason and we know that because Baltimore once won an NFL-record 24 straight preseason games. During that streak, this was the only season where the Ravens outscored their preseason opponents by at least 60 points. In the regular season, not only did the Ravens finish with the best record in the NFL, but Lamar Jackson also won MVP. 2024 Chicago BearsPreseason record: 4-0Point differential: +68Regular-season: 5-12The Bears are the only team over the past 16 years to outscore their opponents by at least 60 points in the preseason and NOT make the playoffs. Although they went 5-12, they were a lot closer to making the postseason than their record might suggest. This team lost seven games by one score, including an NFL-high FIVE losses that came by three points or less. The Bears were 4-2 at one point last season and would have been 5-2 if they could have stopped Jayden Daniels from completing a Hail Mary against them in Week 8. The Bears also had a missed field goal on the final play in a 20-19 loss against the Packers in Week 11. And let’s not forget, they had the clock run out on them in a three-point Thanksgiving loss to the Lions. It might sound crazy to say, but this team was just a few plays away from going 9-8 or even 10-7. Anyway, even with Chicago’s five-win season, the seven teams above still managed to win an average of 11.1 games per season. The Giants are now the eighth team to outscore their preseason opponents by 60 or more points since 2009. If history holds, that means they’ll likely be headed to at least the playoffs. Of course, it won’t be easy, the Giants do have the toughest strength of schedule in the NFL this year. If you go back 20 years, there would only be one other team added to this list: The 2006 Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals were 8-5 at one point and had to win just one of their final three games to make the playoffs, but they fell apart down the stretch, which including two heartbreaking losses over their final two games. In Week 16, they botched an extra point attempt with under a minute left in a 24-23 loss to the Broncos. In Week 17, they lost 23-17 to the Steelers in overtime after Pittsburgh scored on a 67-yard touchdown pass just 90 seconds into OT. Of the eight teams over the past 20 years to outscore their opponents by 60 points or more in the preseason, seven have finished with a record of .500 or better, six have made the playoffs and only the Bears have finished under .500. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| ATLANTARB SAQUON BARKLEY is a huge fan of Falcons RB BIJAN ROBERTSON. Ben Arthur of FoxSports.com: Saquon Barkley wants you to understand that he loves himself. He knows he’s a great cutter with the football in his hands. But Bijan Robinson? According to Barkley, the young Falcons star takes it to a whole new level. “There’s nobody that’s able to cut like Bijan in the NFL. You can go argue with your momma about that,” the Eagles superstar said of Robinson on the NFL Top 100 countdown. “It’s finna get scary for a lot of people as he continues to figure it out.” Last year, Barkley became the ninth player in league history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season. Can Robinson be the 10th? We can’t rule it out. His ascension to elite status has been rapid, after all. In 2024, his second NFL season, Robinson finished second in the league in touches (365), third in rushing yards (1,456), fourth in scrimmage yards (1,887) and tied for fifth in rushing touchdowns (14). Oh, and he’s just 23 years old. With an unproven quarterback in Michael Penix Jr., who started just three games last season as a rookie, and four returning full-time starters on the offensive line, Atlanta’s offense is expected to revolve around Robinson and his dynamic skill set. “Last year, I said 2,000 [scrimmage] yards. We were like 100 or something yards short,” Robinson said of his 2024 goal. “I want to hit 2,000 yards again. That’s always my goal. But it’s not for me. … I want all of us to celebrate that. I want the O-line to celebrate that. I want Tyler [Allgeier], everybody in the running back room [to celebrate that].” To get there, Robinson’s biggest priority entering Year 3 is mastering the small details. That includes stepping up as a leader and becoming more vocal at practice. Robinson is helping guide Atlanta’s first-round picks, edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. In the run game, he’s focused on his decisiveness and eye discipline. In the pass game, he’s worked on his releases, footwork and hand placement in pass protection. He’s placed a bigger emphasis on his recovery regimen, the importance of which he learned from training with 49ers star Christian McCaffrey this offseason. Through June, Robinson had already watched film of the Falcons’ first 10 opponents this season. “Because he has the ability that he has, and he is such a great player, we want to say, ‘OK, well, that’s the standard. How do we get better from that?’” Falcons running backs coach Michael Pitre said after Atlanta’s joint practices with the Titans last week. “And that’s hard. But again, that’s not anything I’m putting on him. That’s something that he wants. And that’s the part that makes it fun coaching a guy like him. “In regards to the limitations on him, I think there are none.” |
| NFC WEST |
| SAN FRANCISCOAs we go to press, word from Adam Schefter that RB BRIAN ROBINSON, Jr. has been traded to the 49ers by the Commanders for a 2026 6th round pick.- – -Even with the acquisition of WR SKYY MOORE, Matt Barrows of The Athletic has a list of WRs the 49ers might still pursue. We asked beat writers from coast to coast to name the best wideout their team could cut on Tuesday. There’s no guarantee all of the names below will be available to sign or claim off waivers, but all are on or near their squad’s roster bubble. San Francisco is also monitoring the trade market, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported. (Here are his top 5) Persons of interestKendrick Bourne, New England Patriots: This will be the name that most excites 49ers fans — and perhaps head coach Kyle Shanahan — given Bourne’s productive four-year tenure in San Francisco. He also had his most prolific season (800 yards and five touchdowns) with Mac Jones and the Patriots in 2021. It’s easy to envision a scenario in which Jennings and Pearsall begin the season as the starters with Bourne playing out of the slot. Bourne, 30, could be the odd man out should New England go with a younger core at the position. Could the 49ers trade for Bourne if the Patriots don’t release him? They might look at that closer to the trade deadline when the team’s murky receiver outlook is clearer. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Seattle Seahawks: New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak likes Valdes-Scantling, with whom he also worked in New Orleans. The question is whether the 30-year-old veteran will be happy with a backup role in the Seahawks’ receiving corps. If not, Seattle could release him, making him a candidate in San Francisco. Valdez-Scantling still has deep speed, as shown by his 22.6-yard receiving average last season, and he’d be able to quickly step into the 49ers’ offensive system given his background with Kubiak. Other Seahawks who could be available include Dareke Young and perhaps special teams ace Jake Bobo. Dante Pettis, New Orleans Saints: Before you freak out, Shanahan loved Pettis’ route-running ability. He wasn’t as happy with the 2018 second-round pick’s toughness, which is why Pettis was cut midway through 2020. Like the players listed above, Pettis would be able to get up to speed quickly given his background with Shanahan and Kubiak (2024 Saints). He also returns punts. Veteran Donovan Peoples-Jones could also be available. Curtis Samuel, Buffalo Bills: There’s at least some chance the oft-injured Samuel will be available in some form — via trade or release — over the next week. Though he’s underachieved since arriving in Buffalo last year, the 49ers might like his versatility, including being able to take snaps at tailback. Robert Woods, Pittsburgh Steelers: Woods’ numbers have steadily dropped since he had a 1,134-yard season with the Rams in 2019. However, the 33-year-old would be familiar with the offense, having spent five seasons under Shanahan lieutenant Sean McVay and two under another, Bobby Slowik (Houston, 2023-24). Woods could be a reliable bridge until Robinson and Aiyuk return. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CLEVELANDDaniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com on the QB situation in Cleveland: Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is expected to play in Saturday’s preseason finale at home against the Los Angeles Rams. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski also said undrafted rookie wide receiver Isaiah Bond, who signed with the team Monday, will play Saturday after practicing this week. Stefanski said Thursday that, barring a setback, Sanders would see the field. Cleveland will play its starters, including newly named starting quarterback Joe Flacco, between 20 to 25 snaps. Stefanski said rookie Dillon Gabriel would be the backup and that Sanders would play third. Kenny Pickett returned to 11-on-11 drills Wednesday but will not play Saturday because of his lingering hamstring injury. Sanders was held out of joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles and the second preseason game last week because of an oblique strain. He returned to team drills Wednesday and practiced again Thursday. “Everything’s good,” Sanders said of his oblique injury. Meanwhile, Sanders downplayed the controversy surrounding the comments that Gabriel made during an in-game interview last week, saying that Gabriel later approached him to tell him the quote was not directed at him. When Gabriel was asked during the CBS Sports broadcast about “tuning out the noise” surrounding the Browns’ quarterback competition, Gabriel said, “Yeah, it’s just part of it. You know, there’s entertainers and there’s competitors, and I totally understand that. But my job is to compete. And that’s what I’m focused on doing.” Gabriel’s “entertainers” comment was taken by many on social media as a reference to Sanders, who despite being selected in the fifth round — two rounds after Gabriel — has received the brighter spotlight of the two rookies. Sanders’ draft slide after being widely expected to be selected in the first round and his famous father, Colorado coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, have made him one of this season’s highest-profile NFL rookies. Gabriel said after the game that “entertainers” was in reference to the media. “Honestly, I don’t even think about nothing. I don’t think about anything,” Sanders said when asked about the comments. “If it’s not words or anything at this point, it can’t do anything to me. I know that God put the ability and the power within me to not even think about nobody else’s comments, not care. It is what it is. I spoke with him. He told me on the plane. He came up, he was like, ‘Nah bro, that wasn’t at you.’ … I’m not tripping, regardless of whatever it was. Nobody’s words or anything affects me.” |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW ENGLANDShoulder surgery will end the season of WR JA’LYN POLK before it gets started. Mike Reiss of ESPN.com: New England Patriots wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, the 2024 second-round pick who is hoping to rebound from a challenging rookie season in which he was limited to 12 receptions for 87 yards, will undergo shoulder surgery that could threaten his 2025 season, a source confirmed to ESPN. How long the injury ultimately sidelines Polk, and if he could potentially return at some point later in the season, will be contingent on what doctors find in surgery, a source said. The injury occurred in the Patriots’ preseason opener Aug. 8 when Polk was tackled on a 1-yard run around left end by Washington Commanders defensive back Noah Igbinoghene and landed on his right side. Polk immediately came out of the game, holding his right arm, and hasn’t practiced since. The Patriots selected Polk 37th last season, having traded down from No. 34 with the Los Angeles Chargers, who selected receiver Ladd McConkey — an exchange that has dramatically favored the Chargers after McConkey totaled 82 receptions for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns. Under former coach Jerod Mayo and former offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, the 6-foot-1, 203-pound Polk appeared in 15 games (seven starts) last season, totaling 45% of the offensive snaps, before being placed on injured reserve in the final week of the regular season due to a shoulder injury. Polk was eyeing a fresh start under the new regime of coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, but even before the injury he faced an uphill climb to secure a roster spot behind Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins and 2025 third-round pick Kyle Williams. Despite passing his initial physical upon reporting to training camp, Polk had been held out of the first four practices this summer after experiencing muscle tightness, according to a source. Upon his return, he worked mostly with the reserves leading up to the injury in the preseason opener.– – -Bill Belichick makes some rather inarguable comments about the state of NFL teams with all kinds of non-coaches now hanging around the teams and trying to exert influence. Mike Florio thinks they were unseemly: Usually, Bill Belichick’s snarky messages regarding the NFL teams that have no interest in his services come from his consigliere, Michael Lombardi. When it comes to dropping a turd in the New England punch bowl as Belichick prepares to embark on his first season at North Carolina, Belichick was willing to literally get his own hands dirty. In an interview with Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, Belichick sings the praises of college football by taking a shot at his former bosses, Robert and Jonathan Kraft. “There’s no owner, there’s no owner’s son, there’s no [salary] cap, everything that goes with the marketing and everything else, which I’m all for that,” Belichick told Volin. “But it’s way less of what it was at that level. Generic NFL teams, you have the owner, president, general manager, personnel director, college director, pro director, cap guy, some other consultant, then head coach. I’d say when we had our best years in New England, we had fewer people and more of a direct vision. And as that expanded, it became harder to be successful.” Hard or not, they won six Super Bowls between 2001 and 2018. It only changed after quarterback Tom Brady left. In time, Belichick left, too. Not voluntarily. And he has gotten only one nibble in two NFL hiring cycles. So, after a half century of NFL coaching, he’s acting like it was a lifelong dream to have his current job. “I’ve always wanted to be in college football,” Belichick said. “I grew up in college football.” He could have been in college football whenever he wanted. He only went there when the NFL collectively slammed the door in his face. And now he acts like the NFL is beneath him. That college football is better. Lombardi has hinted at it, by asking whether there are any great NFL jobs and taking shots at Tony Khan. As it relates to the Patriots, Belichick wanted to say it himself. Which means, of course, that other NFL owners will be even less likely to hire him. If they do, they’ll be the ones into whose punch bowl Belichick will eventually be plopping a foreign particle. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| AVOID IN YOUR FANTASY DRAFTFrom Justin Boone of YahooSports.com: To help you steer clear of any disappointing fantasy picks, here is the 2025 All-Bust Team, filled with players I’m passing on at their current ADPs. Quarterback QB Jared Goff, LionsGoff is going to have a tough time replicating his 2024 campaign when he finished as the QB8 in fantasy points per game, which was an outlier compared to previous five seasons when he wasn’t higher than QB15. His 37 touchdown passes were by far the most he’s thrown during his nine years in the NFL and led to a 6.9% TD rate — well above his career rate of 4.8%. And we know how important big yardage and TD totals are for pocket passers like Goff, who don’t get a fantasy bump from rushing production. The Lions offense will also be dealing with the departure of star offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, as well as a pair of above-average starters on the interior of the line in Frank Ragnow and Kevin Zeitler. To make matters worse, Goff is going from the ninth-easiest fantasy schedule in 2024 to the fifth-hardest string of opponents this year, including more outdoor contests where his numbers have dipped in the past. With so many quality fantasy QBs worth targeting this year, it’s difficult to justify Goff’s ADP as QB11. Running Backs RB1 D’Andre Swift, BearsWhile Goff and the Lions lost Ben Johnson, the Bears offense is on the upswing with him in charge. The team also invested heavily in the pass-catching corps, using early picks on Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III, while solving the problems on the interior of their line with the additions of Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson. So it was surprising when they didn’t upgrade the backfield. It almost feels like Swift is returning as the lead back by default after the team missed out by a pick or two on rookie runners in the early rounds. Though he did finish with over 1,300 scrimmage yards last season, which made him a low-end RB2 in fppg, this coaching staff could elect to deploy more of a committee backfield like they used in Detroit. And we’ve already seen a Johnson-led offense move on from Swift. Could it unfold again this year on a new club? It’s definitely possible. Swift also has a very difficult early-season schedule with tough divisional games versus the Vikings and Lions, who were bottom five in rushing yards and fantasy points allowed to running backs in 2024. If he struggles in those contests, we could see seventh-rounder Kyle Monangai or third-year back Roschon Johnson carve out a bigger role. The Bears might even be a landing spot for a veteran back via trade or after roster cuts. The schedule overall doesn’t get much better either, with the Bears RBs facing the ninth-hardest slate. If you were going to guess which starting back could lose their job during the season, Swift would be on that list, so draft him at your own risk. RB2 Joe Mixon, TexansMixon continues to go off the board around RB26 in the middle rounds, but fantasy managers need to move him much further down than that. The 29-year-old remains on the non-football injury list and the team has been very reluctant to provide any updates on his foot issue, including a projected timetable for his return. His injury has been referred to as a “complicated medical issue” that could keep him out of Week 1 and perhaps even longer. Injury analyst Jeff Mueller recently cited multiple sources who have provided him with information that caused him to take Mixon off his draft board entirely. Even if Mixon gets back in the lineup eventually, he won’t have the same clear path to uncontested touches. The Texans have brought in Nick Chubb and Woody Marks, who could factor in around the goal line and in the passing game, respectively. Regardless of how far Mixon’s ADP falls over the next couple weeks, I won’t be drafting him. Wide Receivers WR1 Tyreek Hill, DolphinsHill’s ADP has fallen to the third round of fantasy drafts, but he’s still being selected as a top-12 player at his position. My question is, why? The lightning-quick playmaker showed signs of decline in 2024 and his average yards per reception dropped significantly from 15.1 the season prior to 11.8 last year. He finished as the WR30 in fppg and while some of that can be attributed to Tua Tagovailoa missing time, it’s not all Tua’s fault. In the age curve study done by Fantasy Points’ Ryan Health, he identified Year 10 as the season when receivers have their first significant statistical dip, falling to 77.2% of their career baseline production. It doesn’t help that Hill is dealing with an oblique injury that could keep him sidelined until Week 1. When you couple that with Hill’s constant off-field antics and strange comments to the media, often criticizing teammates or coaches, you start to wonder how much longer he has in a Dolphins’ uniform. Given the volatility of Hill, Tua’s durability concerns, the state of the offensive line and the worries about the defense, the potential for Miami to self-destruct is real. And if that happens, we have no idea what it will mean for Hill. WR2 DJ Moore, BearsIt seems crazy to veer away from a receiver who has posted at least 95 receptions in each of the past two seasons with the Bears … and yet, here we are. Part of the concern begins with Moore’s declining metrics from 2024, where he posted career lows in yards per route run (1.44) and yards per touch (9.3), while failing to top 1,000 yards on his 98 receptions. Then there’s the matter of his increased target competition, which already featured promising sophomore Rome Odunze and now includes a pair of highly-drafted rookies in tight end Colston Loveland and wideout Luther Burden III. Beat writers have even suggested Odunze could overtake Moore as Caleb Williams’ top target this season. The 28-year-old veteran is only one year removed from being the WR10 in fppg, but his efficiency is heading in the wrong direction and it doesn’t appear that he’ll get enough volume to overcome that decline. Tight End Travis Kelce, ChiefsIt’s been a great ride starting Kelce in your tight end spot over the years and enjoying a massive advantage on the competition. Unfortunately, that ride is over. It’s not that Kelce won’t still be productive — he did manage 823 yards last season, fifth-most at his position, but it was arguably his worst statistical performance in over a decade. His 8.5 yards per reception was a career low and over two yards under his previous lowest mark — which was set the year before. With his 36th birthday approaching in October, Kelce will also take the field with one of the most complete receiving corps the Chiefs have had during his time in Kansas City. Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown and Jalen Royals form a strong corps that will inevitably draw targets away from the former de facto No. 1 option, Kelce. As long as you understand that Kelce is more of a mid- to low-end TE1 for fantasy this year, you’ll be fine. But if you’re still looking for that big edge at tight end, I suggest you draft one of the current elite options in Brock Bowers, Trey McBride or George Kittle. FLEX WR Zay Flowers, RavensFlowers is the kind of fantasy asset that looks better on paper than he does in your lineup. The 24-year-old notched his first 1,000-yard campaign in 2024 and sadly, that only resulted in six top-24 weekly finishes. The rest of the time, he was held outside the top 30 fantasy receivers. One of the things holding him back is a lack of touchdown scoring, which can fluctuate from season to season. However, I wouldn’t project a big uptick in that category with Mark Andrews healthy and DeAndre Hopkins joining the mix. The fifth to seventh rounds of this year’s drafts are filled with high-upside wideouts capable of being difference-makers for your roster and potentially cracking the top-20 receivers. Flowers just doesn’t have that same appeal. |
| TRADE AND CUT CANDIDATESErik Edholm of NFL.com has a list of prominent players who could be on the move in the days to come: It’s the season for trades and trade rumors, coinciding with the annual cutdown to 53-man rosters. We’ve already seen several trades go down in August, with the Eagles making two of those. Are more swaps brewing? Activity has been up in recent years. Some players — including Jameis Winston — have been deemed off-limits. But others remain twisting in the wind, with the 2025 regular season fast approaching. Yet, this offseason stands above other recent ones, sheerly because of the big-name players who still remain at odds over contracts with their current teams — Micah Parsons, Trey Hendrickson and Terry McLaurin. Personally, I feel McLaurin is unlikely enough to be traded that I didn’t include him below, but if any of them are dealt, it would be a rare massive summer blockbuster. Will these standoffs or other roster crunches lead to any more preseason trade activity? Any big names on the chopping block at cutdowns? Let’s dig into some notable players who could be on the move soon, ordered roughly by position group below. TRADE CANDIDATES Kenny PickettCleveland Browns · QBJoe Flacco won the Week 1 starting job, and Pickett currently is listed as the backup. That certainly could be how it goes to start the season, and it wouldn’t shock anyone if the Browns kept four QBs. Injuries to Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders have complicated the entire operation and projection. But if the Browns feel good about the health of Gabriel and Sanders, and Pickett suffers no setbacks in his recovery from the hamstring injury that short-circuited his pursuit of the top gig in Cleveland, it could open up a spot for Pickett to be moved. Keeping him around would only slow the development of their two 2025 draft picks. Kirk CousinsAtlanta Falcons · QBIt has been awfully quiet on the Cousins front lately, to the point where the most likely course of action feels like the Falcons not trading him and just keeping him as the backup. Most of the starting jobs around the NFL have dried up. The one spot to monitor might be the Rams, with Matthew Stafford and his balky back. Stafford is practicing again, but if that issue begins to trend in the wrong direction, Cousins could be an option in Los Angeles. The connection ex-Rams staffers Raheem Morris and Zac Robinson have with Sean McVay would presumably make it an easier trade to do, if the need arises. Brian RobinsonWashington Commanders · RBRobinson sat out the second preseason game, and Dan Quinn admitted that there are “a lot of moving parts this time of year” when discussing the absence, which coincided with Robinson’s name being mentioned as a trade possibility. It’s certainly something to monitor. The emergence of seventh-round pick Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt apparently has changed the backfield outlook, and 2023 sixth-rounder Chris Rodriguez Jr. also has shown some fight. We’ve seen some RB trades in recent years (Cam Akers, Khalil Herbert, Jordan Mason), and Robinson might welcome a new opportunity entering the final year of his rookie contract. Otherwise, the Commanders could be forced to just cut Robinson, whose absence from practice Wednesday did nothing to counter the signs pointing to his eventual exit. Adam ThielenCarolina Panthers · WRSigning Thielen in 2023 as a shepherd for incoming rookie Bryce Young was an inspired move, with Thielen reviving his career as the Panthers’ top receiving option. But Carolina has also insulated the position heavily the past two years, and Thielen is celebrating his 35th birthday this week. With young receivers such as Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker and Jimmy Horn Jr. in need of touches, do the Panthers still need Thielen? A reunion with Minnesota is one possibility; the Vikings are exploring trade options at wide receiver amid the injuries they’ve suffered at the position. Evan NealNew York Giants · OLNeal is trying to revive his career by working at guard, a position he hasn’t played since his freshman year at Alabama, but time is running out for him to reemerge as a starter with the Giants. They might not be in a hurry to ditch a former top-10 pick with possible untapped reserves, but if they can get something in return for him, they might listen. Perhaps he’s about to unlock his talent by switching inside, but will it happen in New York or elsewhere? DeWayne CarterBuffalo Bills · DTA 2024 third-round pick, Carter found himself playing far deeper into the last preseason game against the Bears than either of the Bills’ two rookie defensive tackles, T.J. Sanders or Deone Walker. That might be an indication of a lower spot on Buffalo’s depth chart for Carter, even with Larry Ogunjobi(who doesn’t appear guaranteed to make this team, for what it’s worth) set to miss the first six weeks of the season with a suspension. If the Bills could get something in return for Carter, perhaps from a DL-needy team such as the 49ers, they might be willing to loosen up the logjam at the position a bit. Trey HendricksonCincinnati Bengals · DEAfter what has transpired this offseason, how could Hendrickson not make the list? He and the Bengals have apparently been at loggerheads for months, in spite of the fact that both sides have been on the same page on two big contract demands, per NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero: time and money. No trade feels imminent, per Pelissero, but the Bengals are fielding calls, and several teams appear to be monitoring the situation closely. How this ends up is anyone’s guess, but the Bengals seem to be placing a very high price tag on their four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher. They might be willing to play chicken and hope Hendrickson blinks first in this contract standoff, but coming off a poor season defensively, with so many questions still on that side of the ball, that would be a dangerous game in which to partake. Micah ParsonsDallas Cowboys · DESimilarly, Parsons has been a hot preseason topic following his trade request. And as with Hendrickson, the rumors have swirled heavily, but so far to little end. Parsons, who is set to play on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, turned 26 years old during an offseason in which Myles Garrettand T.J. Watt earned contracts worth $40 million-plus per season, so the superstar is in line to make major money. Several teams would likely pay the price — and perhaps even come close to meeting Dallas’ theoretical trade demands. The problem? The Cowboys aren’t acting like a team on the verge of dealing Parsons. If there’s a team to watch for, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport suggested, it might be the Packers, who have money to spend and a need for another difference-maker on defense. Beanie Bishop Jr.Pittsburgh Steelers · CBLast year, Bishop was quite the find — an undrafted free agent who played all 17 games, started six and plucked four INTs (including two vs. current teammate Aaron Rodgers). At worst, it appeared Bishop had a nice future in Pittsburgh. But the Steelers signed Darius Slay and Brandin Echols and traded for Jalen Ramsey this offseason, pushing Bishop to the margins. With multiple players already capable of playing the nickel, Bishop might be expendable. DB coach Teryl Austin recently said Bishop needed to “fight and work to get some splash to get in the picture.” It wouldn’t be stunning if the Steelers floated him in a trade. CUT CANDIDATES Hendon HookerDetroit Lions · QBRight now, it feels like Hooker is on the outside looking in as the Lions approach cutdown day. He’s 16-of-29 passing for 117 yards with two interceptions and two fumbles lost in three preseason games. Compare those to the numbers of Kyle Allen: 30-of-39 passing, 335 yards, four TDs, two INTs. The Lions could keep three QBs, but how long does the team keep investing in the 2023 third-rounder? The light just hasn’t come on yet for Hooker, who was passed over for playing time (for Teddy Bridgewater) in the playoff loss to Washington and who might not be fully trusted as the season-long backup to this point. Kendrick BourneNew England Patriots · WRTo Bourne’s credit, he’s found his name in past iterations of this column and still managed to keep hanging around. This year, however, the run might be ending. The Patriots might not love their current WR depth chart, but I suspect they might be more apt to giving an untested receiver (Ja’Lynn Polk or Javon Baker) a chance over Bourne. I wouldn’t rule out a return to San Francisco if Bourne is cut, depending on its WR health cutdowns. Tim PatrickDetroit Lions · WRBy nearly all measures, Patrick was a success story for the Lions in 2024, returning from two straight seasons missed because of injury to play 16 games (nine starts) and catch 33 passes for 394 yards and three TDs. But Patrick appears to have fallen behind on this year’s depth chart, with rookie Isaac TeSlaa’s emergence helping push Patrick down. If the Lions are comfortable with their experience level at the position, they could cut ties with Patrick. I could see a team such as the Jets seeking a reliable veteran receiver like Patrick, who’s also a quality blocker. Cole StrangeNew England Patriots · OLStrange was a curious first-round selection in 2022, viewed primarily as a developmental Day 2 prospect then, and his NFL journey has been rife with setbacks, injuries and struggles. The Patriots have tried him at guard and center, and Strange really hasn’t stuck at either spot. And it’s not as if the offensive line is completely sorted out either. It just feels like Strange is in need of a fresh start. Chad MumaJacksonville Jaguars · LBThe former third-round pick just hasn’t found his footing on defense in the NFL after a few promising moments as a rookie. He’s been relegated to more special teams duty than defense the past few seasons, playing fewer than a quarter of the defensive snaps in total. Rookie Jack Kiser also played well in last week’s preseason game, potentially foreshadowing the end of Muma’s road in Jacksonville. Damarri MathisDenver Broncos · CBThis is not so much an indictment of Mathis as a player; rather, he just seems to have fallen behind some talented DBs in a loaded secondary. He started 17 games in 2022 and 2023 combined, but saw his workload dialed back significantly last season. Pat Surtain II, Jahdae Barron, Ja’Quan McMillian, Riley Moss and Kris Abrams-Draine appear to be ahead of Mathis, and the Broncos could save more than $3 million by cutting him if they feel they don’t need his experience and special teams value. |
| MOCK DRAFT FOR 2026 FROM FIELD YATES OF ESPN.comField Yates of ESPN.com has an early Mock Draft. Interesting to see his love for QB SAM LEAVITT of Arizona State, a DB fav, with an early first round selection: I’ll say this right off the top: A lot can — and will — change over the next eight months. There are a lot of snaps to be played, and plenty of events will alter top prospects’ outlooks before Round 1 on April 23. Consider that I had Carson Beck going No. 1 in my preseason mock draft at this time last year, and he ultimately stayed in school and transferred from Georgia to Miami. There are just a lot of unknowns in August. One of those unknowns is the draft order. For this exercise, I used ESPN’s Football Power Index — which uses thousands of simulations to predict the entire NFL season — to project where every team will make its pick. Remember that only 30 franchises currently have a first-round selection, though. The Jaguars and Falcons both dealt away their 2026 Day 1 picks during the 2025 draft. I also crafted two more moves at the top of the order that would make sense if things played out like this. In all, I have six quarterbacks coming off the board — two of them after projected trades. Let’s begin with the Browns, who have the top pick in the FPI simulations and could be looking for another quarterback come April. Here are my early preseason predictions for all 32 picks in next year’s Round 1. 1. Cleveland BrownsArch Manning, QB, TexasYes, Archie Manning recently stated that his grandson will stay at Texas for at least two seasons, a belief many in the scouting community share. But ultimately, Arch is eligible to declare in 2026, and if he performs up to his potential, he might just have to consider the NFL leap in this coming draft class. So I’m including him … for now. Manning has a very good build, throws with accuracy to all levels of the field and shows solid movement traits. He’s a different QB than his uncles Peyton and Eli were in that he is a threat with his legs. He is inexperienced and needs to add more weight to his 6-foot-4 frame, but it’s easy to see his immense ceiling. I know the Browns just drafted two passers this year, but if they are picking first overall next year, then yes, they’ll be taking a quarterback. Projected trade: East Rutherford swapWith Jaxson Dart in waiting, the Giants aren’t likely to be drafting a first-round QB next April. But the Jets could absolutely be in that mix, so I could see these MetLife Stadium roommates making a deal in this scenario, with the Jets moving up from No. 4 to No. 2. The Giants, meanwhile, could pick up extra premium picks and still be in position to land either the best or second-best non-QB in the class. 2. New York Jets (via mock trade with NYG)LaNorris Sellers, QB, South CarolinaA bottom-five record this season — which would be the case if the order plays out like this — would mean Justin Fields isn’t a lock to start in 2026. This would be an opportunity to get a franchise QB. Sellers is a huge and powerful thrower who made massive strides in his game in 2024. His escapability from pressure in the pocket is a true X factor; some plays on his tape show shades of Josh Allen. His best moments are jaw-dropping, and his overall mobility is superb. Sellers threw the football much better in the second half of last season, too, finishing with 18 TD passes and seven INTs. Continued improvement on his ball placement will put him in top pick consideration. Projected trade: Saints join QB runDerek Carr retired, and none of Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough nor Jake Haener is a sure thing. New Orleans could be watching two QBs come off the board to start Round 1 and want to jump into the party. Trading up from No. 5 to No. 3 with Tennessee — which has its QB in Cam Ward but needs a lot around him — would make sense as New Orleans seeks a long-term option under center. 3. New Orleans Saints (via mock trade with TEN)Cade Klubnik, QB, ClemsonKlubnik would become the first quarterback taken in the first round by the Saints since Archie Manning in 1971. New Orleans bypassed the position at No. 9 in April, but it’d be hard to do it again in the top five next year. Klubnik is a mechanically sound and accurate passer who accounted for 43 total touchdowns during his breakout 2024 season (36 passing, seven rushing). He lacks elite size at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, but he’d offer the Saints some stability at QB as they reset their roster. 4. New York Giants (via mock trade with NYJ)Peter Woods, DT, ClemsonEntering the season, two non-quarterback prospects rise above the rest for me: Ohio State’s Caleb Downs and Woods. The Giants are well-positioned at safety after signing Jevon Holland, so I’m going with Woods and adding to an already outstanding defensive line. Woods is a chaos causer. He had just three sacks in 2024 after none as a freshman in 2023, but his game goes far beyond the box score; every opponent O-line had a plan for him on each snap last season. He also has the positional versatility to line up and rush from multiple spots, which would help alongside Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Dexter Lawrence II and Kayvon Thibodeaux. 5. Tennessee Titans (via mock trade with NO)Caleb Downs, S, Ohio StateIt’s not often a safety generates top-five consideration, which is a testament to Downs’ skill set. He is a no-weakness prospect who brings a physical and imposing demeanor when playing in the box and defending the run. But Downs also boasts excellent range, ball skills (two INTs and seven pass breakups in 2024) and vision as a middle-of-the-field pass defender. He has the ability to entirely reshape a secondary from the moment he steps on the field. Tennessee is looking for cornerstone players, and its defense ranked 30th in points allowed per game last season (27.1). Downs would instantly alter the outlook. 6. Carolina PanthersKeldric Faulk, Edge, AuburnI’m optimistic about Carolina quarterback Bryce Young after what we saw in the second half of 2024, but picking this high would likely spark a debate about whether to pivot from him. Regardless, with three QBs off the board, I’m sticking with Young for now and looking for a difference-maker elsewhere on the roster. Faulk has the length and torque to rush off the edge, but his 6-foot-6, 288-pound frame really allows him to be disruptive and attack from a variety of alignments. He had seven sacks last season. The Panthers made a pair of Day 2 investments on the edge this year (Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen) but should keep working on this pass rush group. The team’s 5.4% sack rate tied for fourth worst in the NFL last season. 7. Las Vegas RaidersSpencer Fano, OT, UtahFano has played both left and right tackle at the collegiate level, and I think he can do it in the NFL, too. He has terrific length and impressive footwork, as he effortlessly matches and mirrors edge rushers as a pass protector. But Fano is not just a movement/finesse player; he has an edge and mean streak to his game that shows up when finishing blocks. The Raiders recently reinvested in veteran left tackle Kolton Miller, but throwing more resources at the line will always be a focus for GM John Spytek. 8. New England PatriotsT.J. Parker, Edge, ClemsonParker brings a blend of versatility and pass-rushing nuance. He is at his best as an edge rusher, but he has also shown the capacity to kick down to a 4i alignment (inside shoulder of the offensive tackle) and even drop into coverage. His production speaks for itself — he forced a Clemson-record six fumbles and had 11 sacks in 2024, and his 12.5 tackles for loss in 2023 were a school record for a true freshman. The Patriots, meanwhile, were last in the NFL in sacks in 2024 (28) and must keep addressing their pass rush. New coach Mike Vrabel will want to be tough on both sides of the line. 9. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL)Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona StateThe Rams can capitalize on a bonus first-round pick after Atlanta traded up for James Pearce Jr. in the 2025 draft. It’s not clear whether Matthew Stafford will be playing in 2026, but the Rams can add his heir apparent at the draft either way. Leavitt is an innovator, showing exceptional poise, moxie and creativity under duress. The redshirt sophomore is a talented thrower and very strong runner. He had at least three passing touchdowns and zero interceptions in five of his final seven matchups last season, and he finished with 443 rushing yards on the year. L.A. can start thinking about the future under center with this top-10 pick via Atlanta. 10. Seattle SeahawksAnthony Hill Jr., LB, TexasOne thing we know about Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald is that he likes versatile defensive players. Hill fits that mold. He brings an immense skill set as a standup inside linebacker, but he also has an eye-opening 13 sacks in two seasons at Texas, including eight in 2024. He shows sideline-to-sideline range that led to 113 tackles and four forced fumbles in 2024, too. 11. Indianapolis ColtsDrew Allar, QB, Penn StateThe Colts recently named Daniel Jones as their starter for the 2025 season, which underscores the team’s big need for a true QB of the future. The ship seems to have already sailed on Anthony Richardson Sr. Allar has ideal 6-foot-5, 235-pound size, good mobility and a rocket arm. I also see moments of creativity on the tape. The tools and upside have evaluators intrigued, but they also want to see more consistency and urgency in the pocket in 2025. If he puts it all together, Allar would be a great get for the Colts in this range. 12. Cleveland Browns (via JAX)Austin Barber, OT, FloridaWe got a new QB for the Browns at No. 1 in this mock draft. Now, they have to improve the protection with their other pick, courtesy of the Jaguars via the Travis Hunter trade. Insert Barber, who has excellent length and extensive experience as both a right and left tackle. Barber can really bend and pass protect, something he’ll do at a high-stakes level this season in manning the blind side for 2027 QB prospect DJ Lagway. He allowed three sacks last season over 13 starts. The Browns need to get younger along the offensive line; they allowed 66 sacks last season, second most in the league. 13. Dallas CowboysCaleb Banks, DT, FloridaThe Cowboys enter the 2025 season looking to right some of the wrongs from their forgettable 2024. One big area of concern is the interior defensive line. Their porous run D (4.8 yards allowed per carry, tied for third worst) cannot continue if they want to keep contending in the NFC. Banks could help fix it. He has outstanding size at 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, but he also displays the quickness and power to be a disruptive interior rusher. He began his career at Louisville, but his best college season came in 2024, when he had 4.5 sacks for the Gators — including 2.5 in his dominant game against Ole Miss. 14. Arizona CardinalsFrancis Mauigoa, OT, MiamiThroughout the predraft process this year, I often linked offensive tackles to the Cardinals. That need will likely only grow next year, given that veteran right tackle Jonah Williams is going to be a free agent in March. Mauigoa has played right tackle in each of his first two college seasons, boasting great 6-foot-6 size, nimble feet and immense power that all project well to the NFL level. He made life easier on Cam Ward in 2024, not allowing a single sack over 13 games. Could he have a similar impact on Kyler Murray? 15. Miami DolphinsAvieon Terrell, CB, ClemsonThe Dolphins enter the 2025 season razor thin at cornerback. Jalen Ramsey is gone, and Artie Burns and Kader Kohou both suffered season-ending injuries this spring. So it’s easy to match Miami to the CB class. Terrell — the younger brother of Falcons standout A.J. Terrell Jr. — has fantastic ball skills and a contagious confidence (it seems to run in the family). During his breakout 2024 season, the younger Terrell intercepted a pair of passes, broke up 12 more and forced three fumbles. When opposing quarterbacks targeted Terrell in 2024, he allowed just 26 of 60 attempts to be completed and surrendered only two completions for at least 20 yards. 16. Pittsburgh SteelersGarrett Nussmeier, QB, LSUThis would be the second time in three years we saw six quarterbacks in the top half of Round 1. But hey, there are a lot of QB-needy teams picking early, and there are a lot of really good QB prospects potentially available. And Aaron Rodgers recently said this could be his last NFL season, probably making QB a primary need in Pittsburgh next offseason. Nussmeier — the son of Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier — is like a point guard on the field, playing with elite processing skills and very good accuracy. He lacks dynamic athleticism and has just solid arm strength, but he is still able to deliver the ball on time and to spots where his receivers can create after the catch. Nussmeier — who is dealing with patellar tendinitis — threw for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns last season at LSU. One more QB prospect who could be in the mix: Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. He has an impressive ability to process and play under duress, and I saw some “wow” throws on tape. 17. Chicago BearsJermod McCoy, CB, TennesseeIf not for an ACL tear suffered in January, McCoy would be much higher. He has returned to the practice field in some capacity, but it’s unclear when he will be cleared to play in games. He is a terrific perimeter cover corner, though, with ideal speed, length and ball disruption skills for the NFL. McCoy had an incredible debut season at Tennessee in 2024 after spending one year at Oregon State, picking off four passes and breaking up eight more. The Bears need more perimeter corners opposite Jaylon Johnson, so this makes sense. 18. Minnesota VikingsAnto Saka, Edge, NorthwesternSaka is one of those players who immediately widens your eyes when you watch his tape. His incredible explosiveness puts pass protectors on their heels. Saka’s numbers are just OK through two seasons (nine sacks over 22 games), but he draws a lot of attention from opponents and is still a bit raw as a prospect. The starter kit of desirable traits is there. Is edge rush a gigantic need for the Vikings? No. Is there such a thing as too much depth at that position? Also no. Saka could fit in nicely with Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner. 19. Green Bay PackersMatayo Uiagalelei, Edge, OregonUiagalelei is hard to miss on tape, thanks to a massive 6-foot-5, 272-pound frame. He aligns from a variety of spots along the defensive front and causes havoc from all of them, with 10.5 sacks in 2024. He wins with power and relentlessness. The Packers have poured resources into their pass rush and finished last season with 45 sacks (tied for eighth), but they did not have an impactful enough group in critical moments and could use more help. 20. Denver BroncosJordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona StateTyson had 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns last season prior to getting hurt, and that kind of production could be perfect for Bo Nix and the Broncos. The Broncos are well-stocked at most spots on the roster, but putting another difference-making playmaker alongside Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr. and Evan Engram could lift the whole offense. At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Tyson is extremely comfortable with the ball in his hands and has very good instincts after the catch. He had five games with over 100 receiving yards in 2024 and joins Leavitt to form one of the best QB-WR duos in college football this season. 21. Houston TexansJeremiyah Love, RB, Notre DameWith Joe Mixon signed only through 2026, the Texans could use some reinforcements at running back. Next year’s class at the position isn’t particularly strong, especially in comparison to 2025, but Love is the exception. He has dynamic movement skills — including unique speed, acceleration and burst — to go along with real pass-catching ability. He rushed for 6.9 yards per carry last season en route to 1,115 yards and scored a total of 19 touchdowns (17 rushing, two receiving). 22. Tampa Bay BuccaneersDani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn StateOne of the NFL’s best recent pass-rush pipelines has been through Penn State. Dennis-Sutton has a chance to be the third straight first-round Nittany Lions pass rusher (Chop Robinson in 2024, Abdul Carter in 2025). He stepped up in 2024 with 8.5 sacks and showed stout run defense to complement his pass-rush production. This season, he’ll face a new challenge, with teams not paying prominent attention to the now-departed Carter opposite him. The Bucs’ pass rush will be a group in focus for this upcoming season, considering they didn’t have any full-time edge rushers with more than five sacks last season. 23. San Francisco 49ersJude Bowry, OT, Boston CollegeBowry played left tackle in 2024 and will be there again this season, but he has played both tackle spots, and some scouts have even projected him as an NFL guard. With San Francisco, Bowry could play anywhere on the O-line and be groomed as Trent Williams’ heir apparent at LT. The 49ers need offensive linemen with above-average foot speed to play in their zone scheme, and Bowry’s footwork really pops on tape. He shows an impressive ability to get lateral and handle rushers who try to cross his face to work inside. 24. Cincinnati BengalsKadyn Proctor, OT, AlabamaAlthough the Bengals have Orlando Brown Jr. under contract through 2026, any investment that protects Joe Burrow is worthwhile. After all, Cincinnati had the league’s worst pass block win rate (50.1%) last season. Proctor is massive at 6-foot-7 and 366 pounds, and he spent the past two seasons holding down the left side of the Alabama offensive line. Proctor’s power, length and physicality are all impossible to miss on tape, but his overall athletic ability could determine how high he goes in the draft. Can he consistently handle explosive edge rushers? Does he have the reactive skills to mirror players who are trying to bend the edge around him? If he can show that at a high level this season, Proctor will be a first-round lock — and perhaps go much higher than this. 25. Washington CommandersGermie Bernard, WR, AlabamaThe Terry McLaurin contract situation heightens the Commanders’ big need at wide receiver. Deebo Samuel should provide a boost this season, but he’s scheduled to be a free agent in March. Jayden Daniels needs playmakers around him. Bernard led Alabama in catches (50) last season, but it still feels like a bigger breakout year is due; this could be a productive season for the 6-foot-1 speedster. He had a reception of at least 20 yards in 10 separate games last season en route to 794 receiving yards. 26. Los Angeles ChargersChandler Rivers, CB, DukeOne of my favorite players to study in the early part of the 2026 draft process is Rivers, a versatile corner with excellent ball skills. At 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, he has aligned both on the perimeter and in the slot, showcasing sticky coverage skills, good instincts and even some blitzing ability. He earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2024 by picking off three passes and allowing just 13 catches all season. Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart both had strong rookie seasons in Los Angeles in 2024, but corner is still a longer-range need for the stout Chargers defense. Rivers could thrive there. 27. Los Angeles RamsDaylen Everette, CB, GeorgiaI went into the 2025 draft thinking cornerback was a key area of need for the Rams, but they didn’t take anyone at the position across six picks. I still think some reinforcements there would be helpful; both expected starters on the outside (Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon) are in their 30s. Everette’s excellent length and instincts around the football would boost the unit. He enters his third season as a starter for Georgia with four career picks. And although Everette does not have elite short-area quickness, his 6-foot-1 size and great defensive IQ make him a high-end coverage player. 28. Baltimore RavensA.J. Harris, CB, Penn StateJaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie are both free agents in March, and Marlon Humphrey is signed through 2026. Corner is likely a 2026 offseason focus in Baltimore. Harris is entering his second season with Penn State after beginning his career at Georgia, and he plays with an infectious energy, opportunistic ball skills and a willingness to enter the fray as a run defender. Opposing quarterbacks did not test him much in 2024, but he still came away with a pick and five pass breakups. 29. Detroit LionsSonny Styles, LB, Ohio StateDetroit could probably go a few different directions here, but addressing the defense makes a lot of sense. The Lions took a linebacker in the first round in 2023 (Jack Campbell), and they could go back to that well in 2026. Alex Anzalone will be a free agent in March, potentially opening up a spot at the position. Versatility, communicator and athleticism — those are some words that initially come to mind when scouting Styles, who began his OSU career at safety before moving to linebacker full time in 2024. It almost looks like he’s gliding on the field because he moves so gracefully, which helped him pile up 98 tackles and six sacks in 2024. 30. Kansas City ChiefsIsaiah World, OT, OregonWorld joins Oregon this season after spending the past four years at Nevada, playing both right and left tackle. He brings premier length at 6-foot-8 and moves very well — especially as a pass protector. World allowed zero sacks last season, but this year will be an elevated test. And although the Chiefs addressed offensive tackle this offseason, nothing is a sure thing there. They have reasonable contract outs on both Jawaan Taylor and Jaylon Moore after the 2025 season, and World could help protect Patrick Mahomes for the long haul. 31. Philadelphia EaglesBlake Miller, OT, ClemsonMiller is an experienced right tackle (41 starts) with very good movement skills and the lateral agility to stick with edge rushers. Yes, the Eagles don’t have many pressing needs at the moment. But they have always been ahead of the curve on offensive line investments, and this would give them a promising player in the pipeline to develop behind 35-year-old Lane Johnson. 32. Buffalo BillsJa’Kobi Lane, WR, USCThe fact that ESPN’s FPI has the Bills picking No. 32 underscores what we know: This roster is loaded. One question mark is at WR, though. The Bills lack a clear alpha wideout despite a capable group overall. (Keon Coleman has flashed upside.) Lane caught 12 touchdowns last season after just seven total catches in 2023. He is a fluid mover and displays very good route running and comfort catching the football inside and outside his frame. Lane also showed some contested catch ability and toughness in the middle of the field on the tape. Josh Allen would approve.– – -Jeremy Cluff of the Arizona Republic notes that Yates is not the only draftnik who has taken notice of Leavitt: Arizona State football’s Sam Leavitt burst onto the scene in his first season with the Sun Devils last season, throwing for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns, with just six passes intercepted, while rushing for 443 yards and five touchdowns during ASU’s run to the Big 12 championship and a College Football Playoff appearance. But Sun Devils fans might not get to watch Leavitt suit up for the maroon and gold much longer. While Leavitt hasn’t said anything about his future before the 2025 college football season begins, recent 2026 NFL mock drafts are saying plenty. Several project Leavitt to be a top 10 pick in the NFL draft next season, which would give Leavitt only two seasons at ASU. ESPN’s Field Yates has Leavitt being picked by the Los Angeles Rams with the No. 9 overall selection in his recent 2026 NFL mock draft. Interestingly, if Leavitt did go No. 9 overall (or higher), he would easily be the highest-drafted QB ever directly out of Arizona State (Jayden Daniels was taken No. 2 overall after transferring from ASU to LSU; Mark Malone, who went No. 28 overall in 1980, is the only ASU QB to be picked in the first round of the NFL draft). Leavitt is a redshirt sophomore who started his career at Michigan State. The QB as a top 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft would likely mean that the Sun Devils had a very special season in 2025. Bleacher Report has Leavitt landing with the Rams with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft Fansided also has Leavitt going to the Rams, at No. 23 overall, in its projection Pro Football Focus has Leavitt being picked at No. 8 in an early mock draft for 2026 CBS Sports has Leavitt landing with the Detroit Lions at No. 28 in an early 2026 NFL Draft projection Draft Countdown has Leavitt getting picked at No. 5 by the Cleveland Browns in an early mock draft Arizona State football fans might want to enjoy watching Sam Leavitt while they can. |
