| Our NFC Championship Game preview is up at FoxSports.com. Do we agree with Sam Monson here? @SamMonsonNFLFandom aside, what’s the better story? Kansas City 3-peatBuffalo finally gets a Super Bowl win?Rookie Jayden Daniels wins a ring (I am completely uncompelled by any Eagles storyline, sue me) I have nothing against the Eagles btw, they just quite clearly don’t have a story anything like as compelling as the other 3 teams. We agree the Eagles are a distant fourth in compelling.- – -Moving on to our picks, the DB hits the Championship Weekend 7-3, having missed Washington last week (does it count that we thought the Commanders would cover the spread? So 3-0 with KC game on the spread line). 6 Washington Commanders at 2 Philadelphia EaglesTime: 3 p.m. ET Sunday (FOX)FOX point spread: Eagles -6FOX total: Over/Under 47.5 We hold the Commanders in great respect, but our crystal ball sees the Eagles running out the clock behind Saquon Barkley to deny Washington and Jayden Daniels a final drive. DB Pick – Eagles by 4 2 Buffalo Bills at 1 Kansas City Chiefs6:30 p.m. ET Sunday (CBS)FOX point spread: Chiefs -1.5FOX total: Over/Under 47.5 These Chiefs have a great W-L record, but unimpressive numbers elsewhere. We don’t quite think they can re-capture their playoff magic of the past two years. We actually see Buffalo winning behind a magical night from Josh Allen with a bit of room to spare. DB Pick – Bills by 9 |
| NFC NORTH |
| CHICAGOBen Johnson looks at his new/old division. Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com: Ben Johnson had his choice of several jobs. He chose the Bears. Not only do they have a quarterback to build around, but Johnson also noted they are in a division with which he is familiar. Johnson spent six seasons in the NFC North as an assistant under Dan Campbell. “I know this is the toughest division of football right now,” Johnson said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “There’s three teams that made the playoffs this year. I’ve got tremendous amount of respect for the coaches and the players in this league having competed against them for the last six years. Dan Campbell, Kevin O’Connell, talking about two guys that are up for coach the year awards as the season ends here. And to be quite frank with you, I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.” Campbell, the Lions coach, and O’Connell, the Vikings coach, are favorites for NFL coach of the year. LaFleur has led the Packers to four double-digit win seasons in his six years as head coach, with two different quarterbacks. |
| MINNESOTAThis from Alec Lewis of The Athletic on Maryland’s Prince George County making an arrest six months after the fatal accident that claimed three young men including Vikings draft pick KHYREE JACKSON: Cori Clingman, the driver of the vehicle that killed Minnesota Vikings rookie Khyree Jackson last summer, was arrested Thursday and indicted on 13 counts, including negligent manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol, an attorney for Prince George County in Upper Marlboro, Md., said. “This was a horrific tragedy that should not have occurred,” said Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy. The accident occurred around 3:15 a.m. on July 6. Clingman, driving an infinity Q50, collided with a Dodge Charger on northbound Route 4 near Presidential Parkway in Prince George’s County. Jackson, 24, was one of three men killed. Two of his former high school teammates, Anthony Lytton Jr., 24, and Isaiah Hazel, 23, also died in the crash. Thursday’s indictment followed six months of investigation by the Maryland State Police. Clingman, who was 23 at the time of the crash, was arrested and is currently being held without bond. She faces up to 30 years in prison, according to Braveboy. “This just starts, really, our fight to get justice for these three young men, their families, Wise High School, the NFL and this entire community,” Braveboy said. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASReports Thursday that Brian Schottenheimer was the apple of Jerry’s eye and that he wasn’t going to wait for Kellen Moore. Clarence Hill is a longtime Dallas media operative: @clarencehilljrLook for the Cowboys to cross the finish line on hiring Brian Schottenheimer no later than Friday, possibly today Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com with more: Schottenheimer fits everything that owner Jerry Jones covets in his head coaches. He will come inexpensive relative to other head coaches in the league, as Schottenheimer had no other interviews. Jones, who doubles as General Manager, maintains control and continues as the face of the team. And it’s someone with whom Jones is familiar. Jones’ eight previous hires were former head coaches and/or had familiarity with the Cowboys. Dave Campo and Jason Garrett were Jones’ previous hires who had no head coaching experience but were promoted from the staff. Schottenheimer, 51, is the son of longtime NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer. Brian Schottenheimer joined the Cowboys in 2022 as a coaching analyst and earned a promotion to the OC job when the Cowboys and Kellen Moore parted ways before the 2023 season. Schottenheimer did not call plays under Mike McCarthy, who parted ways with the team when his contract expired Jan. 14. The Cowboys also interviewed Seattle assistant Leslie Frazier and former Jets head coach Robert Saleh, and they had a virtual interview with Moore, now the Eagles offensive coordinator. Schottenheimer became the betting favorite for the job earlier this week, and momentum began building for Schottenheimer’s hire after he had a second day of interviews on Wednesday. This from Jane Slater of NFL Network who is very familiar with the Dallas hierarchy: @SlaterNFLHere’s the deal. No unanimous decision yet in Dallas. There have been informal talks and “picking of brains” from the likes of Pete Carroll, Deion Sanders and there was even a chat with Rich Bissacia. Brian Schottenheimer seems to have the most steam but things remain fluid. There are reasons the above aren’t legitimate contenders but Jerry Jones is certainly talking to a lot more people than he did the last search. Talks internally continue today as we wait based on multiple phone calls with several parties involved. Note the word “unanimous”. How many votes are there? Anyone besides Jerry and Stephen Jones? This from Dallas radio guy Bobby Belt: @BobbyBeltTXI still think Schottenheimer is the favorite here, but I think Carroll has popped on their radar this week and there are people who want to slow down the process and think about this as a real option. “People who want to slow down the process.” To which Slater chimed in: @SlaterNFLI actually don’t think this is a bad take from Bobster. Because it’s not unanimous the goal is to weigh things out. Not gonna lie Pete’s energy matched with Jerry’s would be fun to watch and look what Pete got out of Geno. Just don’t think it’s real. Jerry would of course field a call from Pete |
| WASHINGTONBill Barnwell has some thoughts on the rookie season of QB JAYDEN DANIELS: Daniels has been remarkably productive to start his career. During the regular season, he completed 69% of his passes, with 25 touchdowns against nine picks. His 70.5 Total QBR ranked fourth in the league and first among NFC signal-callers. He posted a passer rating of 100.1, which ranked 11th. ESPN has QBR data stretching back through 2007. Since then, Daniels’ 70.5 ranks third among rookies, trailing only Dak Prescott in 2016 (77.6) and Russell Wilson in 2012 (74.8). It seems fair to argue that Prescott and Wilson had more help than Daniels, as they shared backfields with Ezekiel Elliott and Marshawn Lynch, respectively, who ran for a combined 3,221 yards during their quarterbacks’ rookie seasons. Daniels led the Commanders in rushing himself, with a figure that would have been even higher if a midseason rib injury hadn’t led the team to lessen his workload. Let’s go back even further, though, enlisting the help of the index statistics from Pro Football Reference, which are adjusted for era and normalized so that 100 is always the league average. Daniels’ passer rating translates to a 114 Rating+, which is the fifth-best mark posted by a rookie with at least 300 pass attempts. He trails Prescott, Robert Griffin (2012), C.J. Stroud (2023) and Wilson, with USFL transplant Jim Kelly (1986) just behind. Pretty good company, although it’s missing one notable name we’ll get to in a moment. Passer rating, though, doesn’t do a great job of contextualizing Daniels’ performance. It doesn’t account for his propensity for taking sacks, his biggest weakness. His 8.9% sack rate is the 10th highest in the league among qualifying quarterbacks this season. Of course, he also ran for 891 yards and six scores, which passer rating also doesn’t consider. Adjusted net yards per attempt index (ANY/A+) has Daniels ninth among rookies, with Kelly, Justin Herbert (2020) and Baker Mayfield (2018) moving narrowly ahead of him. Given that the three of them barely made an impact with their legs on the ground as rookies, I’d feel comfortable saying Daniels was more valuable, adjusting for era, than those three. (Kelly also was a different sort of rookie, having played professionally elsewhere.) Daniels’ strength this season has been that completion percentage. Even adjusting for an era in which quarterbacks are completing passes at a higher rate than ever before, his 116 Cmp%+ is the third-best rate in league history for a rookie, trailing Prescott and Griffin. It’s reductive to chalk that up to screens and short passes, too. While 26% of his passes have been at or behind the line of scrimmage, that’s only the 12th-highest rate for a qualifying passer this season. There’s one other player who needs to be mentioned here. Dan Marino narrowly missed the cutoff for pass attempts, as he threw 296 passes for the 1983 Dolphins. He also blows away everybody else on this list for efficiency, as he led the league in adjusted net yards per attempt, owing to a low interception rate and a microscopic sack rate, a skill for which Marino remains highly underrated. (His 1% sack rate in 1988 is the best, adjusted for era, in NFL history.) It’s difficult to compare nine starts from Marino to full seasons from just about everybody else on this list, but it’s clear that observers at the time didn’t see Marino as some part-time marvel. The future Hall of Famer finished third in the MVP voting, trailing Joe Theismann and Eric Dickerson. The next year, Marino won the award with what was likely the best season by a quarterback to that point in league history, and the Dolphins made it to Super Bowl XIX. It would be difficult to place Daniels ahead of Marino based on their respective regular-season performance, even though Daniels started nearly twice as many games.– – –Nobody saw this coming, did they? While I had the Commanders as one of the teams most likely to improve this season, my prediction was that they would push toward a .500 record. I did pick a team with a rookie quarterback to advance to the playoffs in the NFC. Unfortunately for me, that team was the Bears. Oops. It goes beyond taking over a team that went 4-13 last season. Daniels was drafted to join a team that had been rendered irrelevant by decades of bad football. The Commanders hadn’t won a playoff game since 2005 or posted a winning record since 2015. A once-proud fan base had been insulted, embarrassed and driven to apathy by Daniel Snyder’s reign as team owner. The new ownership group was starting over with Daniels at quarterback, Dan Quinn as coach and Adam Peters as general manager, but this was supposed to be Year 1 of a multiseason turnaround. Outside of Terry McLaurin, the Commanders weren’t expected to have even above-average players surrounding Daniels on offense. The moves Peters had made to solidify the team were relatively modest, adding veterans such as Tyler Biadasz and Nick Allegretti along the offensive line, Olamide Zaccheaus and Zach Ertz as pass catchers and Austin Ekeler to an already-crowded backfield. Before the season, there was more chatter about draftees such as Luke McCaffrey and Ben Sinnott becoming part of the next great Washington offense in the years to come than there was about the stopgap veterans in the starting lineup. When Peters traded 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson to the Eagles just before the season, it felt like the Commanders didn’t care about having as many playmakers around Daniels as possible. Well, it turns out that Daniels has made all of those players better. Along with a resurgent season from offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, Daniels has formed connections with multiple receivers. Zaccheaus had a pair of 85-yard games. Ertz caught 66 passes and has been a valuable third- and fourth-down threat. Noah Brown, signed off waivers before the season to replace Dotson, ran as the No. 2 wideout before suffering a kidney injury. Dyami Brown caught 11 passes for 187 yards in Washington’s two postseason wins. Of course, it’s not just what Daniels has done but how he has done it. He has turned the end of Commanders games into appointment television. Other excellent rookies have their own stories. Washington was in a similarly dreary case when Griffin showed up. Sanders singlehandedly made Lions games watchable overnight. Lott was part of a historic improvement for the 49ers on defense. The Texans were floundering before Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. arrived last season. But I’m not sure anybody has turned around a franchise and their hopes as a rookie quite as significantly and quickly as Daniels has. So … where does Daniels rank?OK, I’ve looked at Daniels’ performance versus other quarterbacks, where players at other positions have earned more hardware, how his team’s success impacts his case and the unique factors that make his season even more spectacular. What does all of that mean in terms of where his rookie season sits among the best ever? It depends. There’s still at least one more game to go for Daniels, and a dramatic victory over the Eagles in Philadelphia would only add to his résumé. As good as Daniels has been, there’s a huge gap between a universe in which he gets blown out by the Eagles in the and one in which he outduels Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen in a classic Super Bowl LIX victory. Let’s split the rankings into three scenarios. If the Commanders lose in the NFC Championship Game, there will be a handful of players who have to rank ahead of Daniels by their rookie performances. Brown, as NFL MVP, is at the top of that list. Campbell nearly joined him as league MVP, coming three votes behind Terry Bradshaw. Dickerson was a revelation at running back in an era where that was right alongside quarterback as the league’s glamour position. Taylor was the immediate Defensive Player of the Year and changed the sport. And while Marino didn’t win a playoff game as a rookie, he was arguably the league’s best quarterback in his debut season. That’s my top tier of rookie seasons. Are there players in the next tier ahead of him? Maybe. Allen was spectacular, but that was in a nine-game season, and I’m not sure it’s realistic to compare players in a year so badly shortened by the strike to someone who had to suit up for 17 games. Lott was an instant superstar and his team won the Super Bowl, but his case is hurt by not winning Defensive Rookie of the Year, which is a lesson to not show up in the same year as the greatest defensive player in league history. Kearse deserves to be in the discussion, especially because he was the lone standout on a Titans defense that didn’t have another Pro Bowler in the lineup. Moss was a phenom by the end of the first quarter of his first game and was the fantasy football WR1 in his first season. I’d put Kearse and Moss ahead of Daniels. What about the other quarterbacks? It seems unfair to include Kelly, who was a 26-year-old with two years of experience in the USFL when he joined the Bills. Roethlisberger’s record was spectacular, but that was a team built around Jerome Bettis and the defense. Stroud just said Daniels is having the greatest rookie season of all time, and he’s someone who would know, so I have to put the Commanders passer just ahead of his Texans counterpart. Prescott, Griffin and Wilson all had better passing numbers as rookies. Wilson had Lynch and a very strong defense, which allowed him to play mediocre football for half a season before he got white-hot in the second half. Daniels has been more consistent. Prescott, likewise, had a star running back in Elliott, a dominant offensive line and the league’s fifth-best scoring defense. Even allowing for how incredibly efficient Prescott was in his first season, he wasn’t driving the offense in the same way that Daniels has needed to all year in Washington. Griffin might actually be the toughest case of all, given that he was so valuable as a runner and averaged 8.1 yards per attempt as a passer. He had a 1,613-yard rusher alongside him, but it was rookie sixth-round pick Alfred Morris, who was benefiting both from Griffin’s gravity and the runner-friendly scheme installed by Mike Shanahan and a staff full of future NFL head coaches. Griffin had well-known names at receiver in Pierre Garcon and Santana Moss, but none of his wideouts or tight ends topped 633 yards. Daniels’ advantage is strictly the playoff success, and even if he loses on Sunday, that would still place him ahead of Griffin, who suffered a career-altering knee injury in the wild-card loss to Wilson’s Seahawks. If Daniels is overmatched on the road Sunday and his Commanders lose to the Eagles, I’m penciling him in as the eighth-best rookie in NFL history, or at least in the league’s television era. That’s high praise considering how many players have come through the NFL over the years. If the Commanders make it to the Super Bowl, assuming Daniels plays well in a win over the Eagles, he has to be ranked higher. There’s just something special about becoming the first rookie quarterback to lead a team to a Super Bowl. And considering how moribund the Commanders were before this season, they would be alongside the 1999 Rams and 2001 Patriots as the most unlikely conference champions ever. That would be enough to put Daniels over most of the remaining players ahead of him in the rankings. The only one I wouldn’t be able to push him ahead of is Brown, the sole rookie MVP. Brown’s team didn’t win the NFL championship, but he led the league in rushing yards by such a large extent that the second-placed runner was closer to 16th than he was to Brown in first. He set the single-game rushing record as a rookie, the sort of transcendent performance even Daniels hasn’t hit in a game. I’d still have Brown at No. 1. If the Commanders win the Super Bowl, though? I don’t see how anyone could deny Daniels his crown. Turning around a 4-13 Commanders team overnight, posting some of the best numbers we’ve seen from a rookie quarterback, revitalizing an entire fan base with a series of dramatic victories, leading Washington on the road through the playoffs while knocking off the top three seeds, and then beating Allen or Mahomes in the Super Bowl? That would be the greatest rookie season of all time. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| CAROLINASam Monson has his candidate for Comeback Player of the Year (he’s not an official Finalist): @SamMonsonNFLThe AP criteria basically can’t be Bryce Young, but for our show awards I can’t think of a bigger or better comeback this year than where Bryce Young came back from. He was a disaster when he was benched. Totally written off. Rescued his career when he came back |
| TAMPA BAYLiam Coen was the toast of Tampa Bay all year for his offensive schemes. But today his name is mud as he turned his back on the bay and made his way to Duval. See JACKSONVILLE for more. But here are some tweets from the Tampa Bay perspective. A twitter account called Mr. Bucs Nation offered this helpful summary of stories about runaway OC Liam Coen on Thursday night: What we know #Bucs : Liam Coen Secretly met with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday (Reported at about 5:50 PM) (Multiple Reports) Coen Reached out to Todd Bowles at around 5:50 PM and said that he had been with one of his kids at a doctors office. Said that he was looking back into the Jaguars head coaching job (Rick Stroud, Jenna Laine) The First time Liam Coen mentioned having a sick child was one month ago saying he didn’t have time to think about becoming a head coach because he had a sick child at home. (Greg Auman) The Bucs front office had not heard from Liam Coen all day on Thursday before Coen reached out to Bowles. (Rick Stroud) The Bucs offered a three year deal on Monday that would have made him the highest paid coordinator in NFL history. The deal would happen only IF Coen didn’t take the second interview with Jacksonville which is why he did so in secret. (Albert Breer) Regardless of whether or not he is the next head coach of Jacksonville, he’s likely done with the Bucs (Albert Breer) The Jaguars promised Liam Coen that he could pick his own General Manager and that he would get “Ben Johnson Money” for multiple years (Dianna Russini) Ben Johnson money is around 13 million dollars per season (Mike Florio) Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times: @NFLSTROUDLiam Coen became the Bucs latest runway bride, ghosting his bosses in Tampa Bay for more than 26 hours, blaming his disappearance on a sick child while secretly sneaking away to Jacksonville to become the Jaguars head coach when he’d withdrawn his name from that job Wed. Wow. Jeff Darlington on the cold world of the NFL: @JeffDarlingtonPerhaps the most delicate and complicated component to Liam Coen’s pending departure to Jacksonville, there were many with the Bucs’ organization who internally recognized Coen is ready to be a head coach. Had Bowles’ team not made the playoffs, there was a very real world where Coen replaced him. So earlier this week, the Bucs thought they avoided the Catch-22 when Coen still agreed to stay as the OC while retaining Bowles. But the Jaguars job, without Trent Balke, was viewed by several top coaching candidates as the top gig. That’s what makes this situation so twisted: It took someone to fire someone (Balke or Bowles) to land or keep Coen. That’s an uncomfortable space for any team to live — but not completely foreign to Tampa Bay after some strange times with Brady/Arians/Leftwich. In this scenario, the Bucs opted against the sacrifice. The Jaguars sent Balke packing. And the next several seasons will reveal which conviction proves fruitful. |
| NFC WEST |
| SAN FRANCISCOAndrew Battifarano of the New York Post, and others, are saying that Robert Saleh will be back as the 49ers’ DC after an unfortunate turn of events (for Saleh, that is) with Jacksonville: Robert Saleh appears to be heading back to a familiar place. The ex-Jets head coach is expected to become the next defensive coordinator of the 49ers, The Athletic reported Thursday night. If a deal is completed, it will bring Saleh, 45, back to San Francisco, where he was the defensive coordinator from 2017-20. Saleh was among the candidates for the Jaguars’ head coaching job, and he was expected to have a second interview Friday. However, one day after the Jaguars fired general manager Trent Baalke, the team secretly met with Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who had initially pulled himself out of the running for the Jacksonville head coaching job. Now, though, Coen is back in play, and with that, Saleh canceled his flight to Jacksonville, per The Athletic. Saleh was also a candidate for the Raiders and Cowboys, interviewing with Dallas in person last week. He helped transform the team’s defense during his first stint in San Francisco, which culminated in a Super Bowl appearance during the 2019-20 season. Just two seasons after the 49ers were ninth-worst in the NFL in yards allowed per game (351.6), they ranked second (281.8) in the same category as they won the NFC crown. |
| AFC WEST |
| LAS VEGASThe age of AFC West coaches now ranges from 61 (Jim Harbaugh, Sean Payton) thru 71 (Andy Reid) and all the way up to 73. Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com: The Las Vegas Raiders have reached an agreement with Pete Carroll to became the franchise’s head coach on a three-year deal with a fourth-year team option, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Carroll, who turns 74 on Sept. 15, is one of four head coaches to have led teams to both a college football national championship and the Super Bowl. The others are Barry Switzer, Jimmy Johnson and Jim Harbaugh. Carroll will also be the Raiders’ fifth coach, including interim coaches, since the franchise moved to Las Vegas from Oakland in 2020. The others were Jon Gruden, Rich Bisaccia, Josh McDaniels and Antonio Pierce. Carroll will be the team’s ninth coach, including interims, since Raiders owner Mark Davis took over upon the death of his father, Al Davis, in 2011. The others were Hue Jackson, Dennis Allen, Tony Sparano, Jack Del Rio, Gruden, Bisaccia, McDaniels and Pierce. As such, Carroll represents stability and experience for a team needing both, especially since Gruden was forced to resign amid his email controversy in October 2021. Carroll’s veteran presence is expected to mesh well with first-time general manager John Spytek, who was finalizing a deal to join Las Vegas earlier in the week, as well as compete in an AFC West division that already boasts coaching heavyweights in Kansas City (Andy Reid), Denver (Sean Payton) and Los Angeles Chargers (Harbaugh). With the Seattle Seahawks, Carroll won Super Bowl XLVIII, a pair of NFC titles and made 10 playoff appearances in 14 years while going 137-89-1 in the regular season, 10-9 in the postseason to become the winningest coach in Seahawks history. Including his head coaching stints with the New York Jets, with whom he went 6-10 in 1994, and the New England Patriots, where he went 27-21 in three seasons with a playoff appearance from 1997 to ’99, his career record is 181-131-1. So among the four coaches in the AFC West, we have two who have won Super Bowls, one who won an NCAA championship and Carroll, who won both. |
| AFC NORTH |
| BALTIMORETE MARK ANDREWS takes to Instagram – as reported by Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com: In his first public comments since his critical drop in Sunday’s 27-25 playoff loss in Buffalo, Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews posted on Instagram that he’s “absolutely gutted by what happened.” Andrews has drawn heated criticism on social media since he had a pass on a 2-point conversion slip through his grasp as he fell backward in the end zone. It would have tied the game with 1:33 remaining. “Even though the shock and disappointment are unlike anything I’ve felt before, I refuse to let the situation define me,” Andrews wrote on Instagram on Thursday. “I promise that this adversity will only make me stronger and fuel us as we move forward.” Andrews did not speak to reporters after the divisional round loss Sunday, and he was not present during media availability for locker room cleanout Monday. It was an uncharacteristically mistake-filled game for Andrews, who hadn’t had a drop in his previous 12 games. Andrews also lost a fumble midway through the fourth quarter, marking the three-time Pro Bowler’s first turnover since 2019. “I’m devastated for my teammates, my coaches and Ravens fans,” Andrews wrote. “I pour every ounce of my being into playing at the highest level possible, because I love my team and the game of football like nothing else. That is why it’s taken me until now to collect my thoughts and address this publicly.” In an effort to support Andrews, Bills fans started a charitable drive that has led to over $100,000 in donations to Breakthrough T1D, an organization that works toward curing and improving the lives of those who are dealing with Type 1 diabetes, such as Andrews. “I thank everyone who has shown me and our team genuine support these past several days,” Andrews wrote. “Despite the negativity, I’ve seen heartfelt love and encouragement, including from those who have generously donated to the Breakthrough T1D organization.” This was a tough way to end a season for someone like Andrews who has made a career by thriving around the goal line. Earlier this season, Andrews became the Ravens’ career leader in touchdowns with 51. Teammates, including quarterback Lamar Jackson, have voiced their support of Andrews, who is considered one of the hardest workers on the team. On Wednesday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Andrews “is a huge part of our future, and we love him and we’re there for him.” Andrews wrapped up his Instagram post by writing: “Even when the moment seems darkest, perspective can reveal that there’s still a lot of light in this world. I am now going to do my part to bounce back and contribute to it.” |
| CINCINNATIYou can see the footage of the four illegal Chileans who robbed QB JOE BURROW being apprehended here. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| JACKSONVILLEMichael DiRocco of ESPN.com on the view from Jacksonville as Liam Coen scurries back to be the coach after GM Trent Baalke felt the wrath of owner Shad Khan and was dismissed: Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen told the team Thursday night that he was leaving to become coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, a source told ESPN’s Jenna Laine. The two sides verbally reached agreement on a contract overnight, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The decision capped a two-day saga in which Coen pulled himself from consideration for the Jaguars job, then agreed to a contract extension with the Buccaneers that would have made him the NFL’s highest-paid coordinator, and then changed his mind after Jacksonville reached out to ask him to reconsider after it parted ways with general manager Trent Baalke on Wednesday afternoon. Coen traveled to Jacksonville on Thursday afternoon and met with owner Shad Khan and interim general manager Ethan Waugh. A source told Laine that Coen reached out to Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles earlier Thursday night to tell him about his renewed interest in the Jaguars’ job, but Coen did not speak with anyone else in the Bucs’ front office. The Jaguars had interviewed Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham earlier Thursday and were scheduled to have an in-person interview with former New York Jets coach Robert Saleh on Friday. A league source said they hoped to reengage with Coen after the exit of Baalke — their GM since 2021 — but were prepared to expand the search into next week if Coen declined. An unwillingness to work with Baalke instead of a GM of his choice was a factor — but not the main one — in Coen’s initial decision to pull himself from consideration, the source said. Coen was one of 10 candidates the Jaguars interviewed, with the sides first speaking virtually Jan. 15. He will be the eighth head coach in franchise history and replace Doug Pederson, whom Khan fired Jan. 6 after three seasons. Coen, 39, will become the fourth-youngest active head coach in the NFL, behind only the Seattle Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald (37), Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson (38) and Los Angeles Rams’ Sean McVay (38). What was the main factor, if not Baalke, inquiring minds wonder? Other than upping the cash ante, what else changed? Also, for those who weren’t around in 1982, we did use the word “wrath” lightly: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Nicholas Meyer and based on the television series Star Trek. It is the second film in the Star Trek film series following Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) More from Dan Graziano: What are you hearing around the league on the hire?This one is wild, if only for the way it went down. People I’m talking to are in shock that the Jaguars finally went ahead and fired Baalke, and that they apparently did it because they believed Coen wouldn’t go there otherwise. This is the second hiring cycle for Jacksonville in which we’ve heard chatter about candidates not wanting to go there because of Baalke. The Jaguars ended up with Pederson last time, who was fine with the idea of working with Baalke. But this time they apparently felt he was too big an impediment for them to get their guy. As for Coen, there’s a lot of respect around the league for what he did in one season with the Tampa Bay offense. And his background with McVay’s Rams is a big selling point. But he has done a ton of bouncing around between jobs in recent years — Rams from 2018 to 2020, Kentucky in 2021, back to the Rams for 2022, back to Kentucky for 2023 and then to the Bucs in 2024. Some people find that aspect a bit odd, and the information that’s coming out about how he ghosted the Buccaneers on Wednesday and Thursday after the Baalke firing doesn’t make him look great. But the Jags weren’t the only interested team. And again, Coen is respected around the league for his offensive scheme and his ability to coach it. He was part of getting Mayfield’s career back on track when the veteran QB finished the 2022 season with the Rams (and then he of course continued the success Dave Canales had with Mayfield in 2023 when he got to Tampa Bay this past season). So maybe he’s the right guy to get Lawrence back on track. — Graziano |
| AFC EAST |
| BUFFALOS TAYLOR RAPP is out Sunday. Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com: The Buffalo Bills will be without starting safety Taylor Rapp for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs, coach Sean McDermott said Friday. Rapp, who is dealing with back and hip injuries, being ruled out puts rookie Cole Bishop in position to start the game alongside starting safety Damar Hamlin. Bishop, 22, has started four games this season because of injuries and played in 16, primarily on special teams. “Yeah, it’s high,” McDermott said of his confidence in Bishop. “He’s a young player, but at the same time, he’s grown. He went through an injury in training camp, missed a lot of time — that set him back, set his growth back, delayed it at least — and then came in, and he’s grown through each experience, and confident he’ll continue to do that moving forward.” The second-round pick out of Utah came in for Rapp after he was injured in the second quarter of the Bills’ divisional round win over the Baltimore Ravens. Rapp had an interception against Baltimore before leaving with the injury, in addition to two regular-season interceptions. Bishop has 2 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble and 40 tackles. Getzenberg also has a long piece on the leadership qualities of QB JOSH ALLEN, going back to his days at Firebaugh HS in California’s Central Valley. We excerpt the part on his leadership in Buffalo, but the other memories are worth reading here:.Buffalo Bills eraBuffalo, New York2018-Present (Micah) Hyde, the Bills safety who has been there for every season of Allen’s career, points to 2020 as the year the quarterback started growing into his leadership role. Hyde signed as a free agent in 2017, the year before the Bills drafted Allen at No. 7. Allen wasn’t named the Bills’ starter as a rookie. He joined a team of veteran leaders who had just broken a historic playoff drought. But Allen’s role would expand as his numbers improved. His presence in the locker room became more established in a 2020 season when his completion percentage jumped from 58.8% to 69.2%. “He started kind of getting in more and more of a leadership role, obviously having a very good football team, and that’s when he started putting up big numbers,” Hyde said. But it was in the 2024 season when Hyde saw Allen, now without several veterans including former No. 1 receiver Stefon Diggs, take his role even further. “I don’t think it was until this year that [the] whole thing came full circle and he had to be ‘that guy,'” Hyde said. “I think this organization is built for him to do that now.” Hyde said that the biggest difference is how Allen presents himself. Hyde noticed while watching the majority of the season from his couch in San Diego before rejoining the Bills late in the season. “Just his demeanor, the way he prepares … on the TV you can see when Josh is really like, he’s flexing on people,” Hyde said. “He’s out there talking junk, that’s when he’s in his zone, that’s when he’s doing his best and just a hell of a football player.” Allen’s voice can be heard in the locker room, and also in offensive meetings on Fridays in which he has been “very adamant,” as tight end Dawson Knox described, about hearing which plays the players would like to run. Allen had previously given an occasional pregame speech, but he has been doing them every week this season. He also gives separate speeches for the offense and to the skill position players. They have certainly resonated. “His pregame speeches are on point. He’s been doing a great job” Knox said. The content of those speeches? Well, the players aren’t letting that leave the locker room. “He’s been incredible. We look to him as our leader,” Knox said. “The whole team does, not just the offense, and I mean, he bears the weight of this whole city on his shoulders and he does it gracefully and very humbly.” Long snapper Reid Ferguson — one of three remaining players from Allen’s first season in 2017 — said that Allen’s “ability and willingness” to be vocal is an area where he has grown. Allen said he was a better leader at this point in his career than he has ever been. “The confidence in myself again, I’m in a spot in my career, in my life, where it’s the best I’ve ever felt, and again, just making sure that I’m being me and only me. … That’s one of the main things of being a leader, is making sure that you know who you are.” That impact has allowed this Bills team to take on Allen’s qualities: being themselves and locking in on the field in pursuit of their first Super Bowl in more than 30 years. “His competitiveness and then his drive to really bring everyone along with him,” Bills co-captain and linebacker Terrel Bernard said. “… He’s still light and funny and all that stuff, but when it’s time to go, it’s time to go and you can see that with him … his leadership and his mentality is kind of infectious for the whole team.” This from his time at Wyoming: Wyoming quarterback Cameron Coffman echoed those sentiments. “He seemed like best friends with everyone on the team,” said Coffman, who originally came to Wyoming as the starter in 2015. “It didn’t matter what religion you were, what color you were, it seemed like everyone was Josh’s best friend.” Many of Allen’s friendships extended beyond the field. Wyoming running back Milo Hall and Allen were roommates for two years. In 2016, one of Hall’s older brothers died. Every day, Allen made sure to support his roommate. “He was always checking up on me, always making sure I was in a good mood, and he was just going the extra mile just to be that brother and that teammate and that friend,” Hall said. “So, that was a big moment in my life and something that to this day I thank Josh [for].” |
| THIS AND THAT |
| BROADCAST NEWSAs year one ends, Conor Ryan of Boston.com looks at Tom Brady’s commitment to broadcasting: Tom Brady still has nine years left on the 10-year, $375 million contract he signed with Fox Sports. But, that hasn’t stopped speculation from spreading about whether or not Brady will remain in the broadcast booth for the remainder of that contract – especially with the seven-time Super Bowl champion now serving as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. That discourse even prompted Brady’s longtime agent, Don Yee, to comment on the rumors and reaffirm Brady’s commitment to his broadcasting career. “Tom has had a tremendous amount of fun working with Fox this year, and he’s really excited about the future with Fox and his growth on their team,” Yee told the Sports Business Journal’s Ben Fischer. “And this year was the first year of a long relationship.” Appearing on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” on Wednesday, Brady addressed the rumors regarding his future at the network. “I thought it was a great run, you know, one solid year. Now it’s time for new things and I figure this has been totally mastered,” Brady joked. Brady still has two more games left on his schedule during his first season as Fox’s top color analyst on NFL broadcasts. He will call the NFC Championship Game between the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday before getting the nod for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Feb. 9. But even once the 2024 season wraps, Brady reaffirmed his commitment to broadcasting during his conversation with Cowherd. “I don’t know where it comes from,” Brady said of rumors. “I know it always says sources close to Brady or whatever. But I’ve had the best time at Fox. … .. I’ve loved kind of just the whole process and diving into all these different teams. It’s been a lot of growth for me in one year. “I really can’t wait to see what it looks like in Year 2 and way beyond that, too. I’ve got nine years left on my deal. Maybe longer. You never know,” Brady added. “If Fox wants me and I wanna go, we’ll just keep going because it’s been really fun thus far.” Even if Brady wants to remain in the broadcasting booth moving forward, his status as a minority owner of an NFL team presents plenty of challenges. As part of the restrictions put in place against Brady, the league prohibits the former quarterback from attending teams’ practices and entering their facilities — while also barring him from participating in Fox production meetings. Brady is also not allowed on broadcasts to publicly criticize teams and referees, which hinders just how much insight the future Hall of Famer can offer on the mic. Is that last paragraph really true? Maybe he can’t call someone a “terrible owner” but does any network broadcaster do that. And surely, he can and will say things like “Team XYZ regrets letting Player ABC get away in free agency.” |
| 2025 DRAFTESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. has his first Mock Draft of the season: This class isn’t loaded with quarterback talent like we saw in 2024. But I still have a few passers going early in Round 1, and there is plenty of talent at other positions. Remember, there is a lot of time before the draft begins April 24, and the board will continue to change with predraft events. This is merely an exercise to show what I’m thinking three months out, factoring in my Big Board rankings and what I’m hearing from execs, scouts and coaches in the league. I’m not projecting any trades right now; it’s just too early to gauge which teams could move up. And I used ESPN’s Football Power Index to project the draft order for the final four picks. Let’s get into my early projections, starting with the Titans. For more on the 32 pick predictions, check out the “SportsCenter Special.” 1. Tennessee TitansCam Ward, QB, MiamiI was a fan of Will Levis when the Titans took him early on Day 2 in 2023, and there’s still a chance he’ll put it all together. But he hasn’t played nearly well enough to keep the job in Tennessee. The Titans had the NFL’s second-worst QBR (37.3) and interception total (21) this season as they bounced between Levis and Mason Rudolph. I’m sure new general manager Mike Borgonzi will listen to trade offers here, but his real decision should come down to Ward vs. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. I actually have Sanders ranked one spot ahead of Ward on my Big Board (No. 4 overall). Ward has the early top-pick buzz around the league, though, so that’s where I’m leaning for now. He extends plays with his creativity, mobility and strong arm. Ward led the nation with 39 touchdown passes this season, and he’d help put the Titans back on track. 2. Cleveland BrownsTravis Hunter, WR/CB, ColoradoKnow how I just said the Titans had the league’s second-worst QBR and INT total? Well, the Browns were the worst in both categories. Deshaun Watson also retore his right Achilles and Jameis Winston is a free agent, so taking Sanders isn’t out of the question. But I think Cleveland is more likely to address another hole here and find QB reinforcements in free agency and/or later in the draft. (Trading back for more picks with another QB-needy team could be part of the equation, too.) Plus, Hunter is just that good. I see elite quickness and ball skills on both sides of the ball, traits that helped him to 15 touchdown catches and four interceptions this season. The Browns would likely use him primarily at receiver and then sprinkle him in at cornerback in specific situations. 3. New York GiantsShedeur Sanders, QB, ColoradoThis is the best-case scenario for the Giants. Their Week 17 win over the Colts slid them to No. 3, and now finding a new QB1 in the first round isn’t guaranteed. But Daniel Jones is gone and Drew Lock is a free agent, so the Giants have to do something to clean up one of the worst passing games in the league. New York will be weighing all options, and it might ultimately be forced to trade up into the top two to get its guy. But here, Sanders falls into the Giants’ lap without any extra moves. Sanders is super accurate, completing 74% of his throws this season. He could step in right away and lift the entire offense, including standout 2024 first-rounder Malik Nabers. Time is running out for GM Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll; they have to get this right. 4. New England PatriotsAbdul Carter, OLB, Penn StateCarter is instinctive and fast, and he seems to always be around the ball. He converted from off-ball linebacker to the edge this season and dominated to the tune of 12 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss. For a New England team that struggled to get pressure, Carter would be a massive addition. New coach Mike Vrabel could move him around and use his disruptive traits to improve the Patriots’ league-low sack count (28). New England also has glaring holes at receiver and on the offensive line. If Hunter is still on the board, he fits. Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan makes some sense, too. And there’s a shot the Pats will get an offer to trade back, which would put them in a better spot to take one of the top offensive tackles. But Carter — my No. 2 prospect — could take this defense to another level. 5. Jacksonville JaguarsMason Graham, DT, MichiganThe Jaguars are probably thinking defense here — it’s just a matter of where on defense. Michigan corner Will Johnson could be the answer opposite Tyson Campbell. Georgia safety Malaki Starks could replace Andre Cisco if Jacksonville doesn’t re-sign Cisco and is open to trading back. But defensive tackle is the biggest need, and Graham is one heck of a football player. He wins with his technique, using leverage to beat interior offensive linemen. Graham could slide between Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen and wreak havoc from the inside. 6. Las Vegas RaidersTetairoa McMillan, WR, ArizonaIn 2024, the Raiders had the No. 13 pick … and somehow missed out on all of the top six quarterbacks. They are picking higher this year, but the supply is more limited. There’s a really good chance they’ll strike out at QB yet again. Minority owner Tom Brady is apparently involved in the process to fix the quarterback situation, and I could see Las Vegas trading up for Sanders or Ward. But finding the answer at No. 6 might not be in the cards. So, here’s the solution: add a passer through free agency (and maybe take a shot at one of the Day 2 QBs) and pair him with a playmaker with this pick. Tight end Brock Bowers had an amazing rookie season (1,194 yards), but the wide receiver room is light after the Raiders dealt Davante Adams to the Jets. McMillan has the body control to make tough, contested catches and finished 2024 with 1,319 receiving yards and eight TDs. 7. New York JetsMykel Williams, OLB, GeorgiaThis is another team with quarterback questions, but regardless of Aaron Rodgers’ future, the Jets might focus instead on the other side of the ball in Round 1. I’m getting the sense that Williams will get drafted higher than most expect — he’s No. 12 on my board — and he could give New York more presence off the edge. He needs coaching (Aaron Glenn would be great for his development if the Jets hire him) and has room to grow with his pass-rush technique. But I see the potential for 10-12 sacks per season here. Williams reminds me of another former Georgia edge rusher who didn’t have the college stats but absolutely had the talent: Travon Walker. So while five sacks — Williams did miss time with an ankle injury — might make you pause, know that he looks the part and has the traits to be a force in the NFL. 8. Carolina PanthersJalon Walker, LB, GeorgiaCarolina gave up 6.0 yards per play and 31.4 points per game this season, both last in the NFL. Regardless of what you think of quarterback Bryce Young’s long-term potential, it’s tough to win games with a defense that allows that many points. Walker is versatile, and he can line up as a traditional off-ball linebacker or as an edge rusher. His game is all about speed-to-power, and no matter where you put him, he can get into the backfield to blow up plays. He had 6.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss this season, and he’d be a fit in coordinator Ejiro Evero’s unit. 9. New Orleans SaintsWill Johnson, CB, MichiganJohnson — who reads the QB incredibly well and has the quickness to finish plays with takeaways — could be the Marshon Lattimore replacement in New Orleans. Johnson had nine interceptions over his career at Michigan. The Saints seemingly always find their way out of their salary cap issues, but they are projected to be $70.6 million over the cap in 2025, per Roster Management System. They have to find Day 1 starters in the draft, and Johnson would fill a big hole. New Orleans allowed 7.3 yards per pass attempt this season, ranking 23rd in the league. 10. Chicago BearsWill Campbell, OT/G, LSUThe Bears have had three top-10 picks since Ryan Poles became the GM in 2022, and they’ve used them all on offense. But anyone who watched Chicago play this season knows Caleb Williams needs better protection; the rookie QB took 68 sacks. The entire offensive line class is still on the board here, and it’s close between Campbell and Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. at the top. I lean Campbell because he was better this season and has more size at 6-foot-6, 323 pounds, even though Banks is ranked higher on my board (No. 10 vs. No. 11). Campbell gave up just two sacks over 524 pass-block snaps this season. There are some length concerns, and he might kick inside to guard, but Chicago needs help all over that line. 11. San Francisco 49ersKelvin Banks Jr., OT, TexasBanks has a ton of experience, having started 42 games over his college career — and he allowed only three sacks over that time. I’m curious to see his combine measurements — height might be a question mark if he’s 6-3 or shorter — but he has the movement traits and strength to seal off the edge in pass protection. The 49ers still have Trent Williams locking down the left side for two more seasons, but he will be 37 at the start of next season. It’s time to start planning for the future. Plus, Banks could help on the right side for now, where the Niners have missed Mike McGlinchey (signed with Denver two years ago). 12. Dallas CowboysLuther Burden III, WR, MissouriYes, it’s a mock draft without Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty going to Dallas! I think it’s possible the Cowboys will take Jeanty, and there’s no arguing that they need a boost to the run game. But I imagine they’d first try to fix that hole in free agency. And regardless, this team has to find playmakers all over, period. Putting Burden’s valuable after-the-catch ability opposite CeeDee Lamb would open things up for Dak Prescott. Dallas has been looking for a reliable one-two receiver punch in the offense for a while; it hasn’t had two WRs over 700 receiving yards since 2021, when Amari Cooper was still in town. Burden has the explosive traits to change that. 13. Miami DolphinsMalaki Starks, S, GeorgiaNo college defense has ever had three players go this early in the same year, per ESPN Research, but Starks could join the early run on Bulldogs. He closes well and makes plays on the ball. With 67 tackles this season, he works well in space. And he’s versatile, lining up as a traditional safety and over the slot. Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer — the Dolphins’ starting safeties — are both free agents this offseason, so Miami could certainly address the back end here. An offensive or defensive line upgrade could also be the move, though. 14. Indianapolis ColtsTyler Warren, TE, Penn StateIf the Colts want to maximize quarterback Anthony Richardson, they should be adding to his supporting cast this offseason. Warren catches everything, hauling in 104 of his 135 targets this season for 1,233 yards and eight scores. Penn State used him all over the place — slot, out wide, in-line, in the backfield — and he produced no matter the alignment. He could slide right into the Colts’ lineup, with Kylen Granson and Mo Alie-Cox both set for free agency. I also considered going cornerback or safety here — Indy needs both. If Starks is still available, I like that fit. Maybe South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori works his way into the conversation, too. But Warren could be awesome in this offense, and the value is much better. 15. Atlanta FalconsShemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&MExpect to hear this name a lot more as we get into predraft events. Stewart still has some development ahead, but his athletic traits at 6-6, 290 pounds could push him up the board this spring. Atlanta was 31st in sacks (31) and 27th in pass rush win rate (34.1%) this season, and it hasn’t done nearly enough to clean up that weakness. The Matthew Judon trade in August was a step in the right direction, but he added just 5.5 sacks this season and is a free agent. Stewart didn’t rack up sacks in college — 1.5 in 2024 — but he has the potential to break out in a big way in the pros. 16. Arizona CardinalsTyler Booker, G, AlabamaI’d love for Arizona to land a pass rusher here after it finished 26th in pressure rate (28.6%), but the board isn’t cooperating. It’d be a reach to Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr., Marshall’s Mike Green or Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton. General manager Monti Ossenfort is known to trade around in the first round, so maybe he’ll get an offer for the No. 16 pick — someone interested in Ashton Jeanty? — and be able to move back, get an edge rusher and add more picks. But if the Cardinals stay home and things play out like this, I’m eyeing another position. Arizona might not return guards Will Hernandez or Evan Brown (both free agents), and it has to keep the interior offensive line strong for its run game. Booker might be the best pure guard in the class. He’s strong at the point of attack, and no one gets past him. And he’s rugged in the run game, getting to the second level to clear lanes. 17. Cincinnati BengalsJihaad Campbell, LB, AlabamaHow contract situations play out for Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase could change the calculus, but it would be nearly impossible for Cincinnati to ignore the defense. Without a doubt, that unit kept the Bengals from the playoffs this season, allowing 25.5 points per game (25th). So I’m matching them with a prospect who does a little bit of everything on that side of the ball. Campbell had 112 tackles, 5 sacks, 12 run stops and an interception this season. He’s instinctive and explosive. 18. Seattle SeahawksArmand Membou, OT/G, MissouriMembou can play tackle or guard, but Seattle will be fixating on the interior. Maybe Membou could replace free agent Laken Tomlinson at left guard, while providing insurance for oft-injured right tackle Abraham Lucas. He’s very good in pass protection and shows some pop at the point of attack. And he’s experienced, with more than 2,000 career snaps. 19. Tampa Bay BuccaneersNick Emmanwori, S, South CarolinaEmmanwori has closed the gap with Starks in the safety rankings, and I considered him five spots earlier for the Colts. Emmanwori is going to be a red-hot prospect throughout the predraft process. He has a big frame at 6-3, 227 pounds, but he moves like a smaller defensive back. He picked off four passes this season (two pick-sixes), and he could fit in nicely for the Buccaneers’ defense. Emmanwori next to Antoine Winfield Jr. could do some damage to opposing passing attacks. 20. Denver BroncosAshton Jeanty, RB, Boise StateI’ve made it clear how I feel about taking a running back in the first round, but I’m not the one making the picks. And make no mistake, Jeanty is going to go in the first round. He’s a top-10 prospect with incredible elusiveness. Jeanty piled up 2,601 rushing yards and 29 rushing scores this season. The Broncos, meanwhile, couldn’t establish the run to help out rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Their running backs were in the bottom 10 in rushing yards (1,423), rushing TDs (8) and yards per carry (4.1) in 2024. Lead back Javonte Williams’ contract is expiring, and although Denver drafted Audric Estime in the fifth round last April, it could make a Day 1 splash at the position this year. And an added bonus: Jeanty is a great pass catcher out of the backfield, which would give Nix another outlet. 21. Pittsburgh SteelersEmeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio StateThe last time the Steelers took a receiver in Round 1 was 2006, when they drafted Santonio Holmes at No. 25. But unless things drastically change in free agency, Pittsburgh has to break that streak. There aren’t enough reliable pass catchers in this offense. The Steelers don’t have a surefire WR2 behind George Pickens, and the offense isn’t going to improve until they do something there, no matter the QB. Egbuka caught six passes for 64 yards in Monday’s national championship win, putting him over 1,000 yards on the season (1,011). It was also the second time in the past three years that Egbuka caught double-digit touchdowns (10). He’s a great route runner with speed and would eat up targets in the Steelers’ offense. 22. Los Angeles ChargersColston Loveland, TE, MichiganHow about a seam-stretching tight end for quarterback Justin Herbert? Loveland is a tough matchup for defenses — he’s 6-5, 245 pounds, and he has some speed. He had 56 catches, 582 yards and 5 TDs this season despite subpar play from Michigan’s quarterback room. He played for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, too, so there’s a built-in connection. L.A. has to also look at the receiver group. Four WRs are off the board already, which is why I opted for Loveland. It’s just too big of a reach to Utah State’s Jalen Royals, TCU’s Savion Williams or Texas’ Isaiah Bond. But if one of those guys rises over the next few months, that might be the priority. 23. Green Bay PackersMike Green, OLB, MarshallWho knows who was the last first-round pick out of Marshall? You have to go back to 2003, when quarterback Byron Leftwich went No. 7. Leftwich is one of three Marshall first-rounders of the common draft era (since 1967), joining Chad Pennington (2000) and Randy Moss (1998). So it says something that Green could join that group. Green ranked in the top 10 nationally in sacks (17, first), tackles for loss (22, second) and pressure rate (15.5%, ninth). He wins with speed-to-power, and he displays good bend and strong hands. Despite tying for eighth in sacks (45), the Packers were 22nd in pressure rate (29.8%) and 26th in pass rush win rate (34.8%). This feels like a good fit. 24. Minnesota VikingsBenjamin Morrison, CB, Notre DameMinnesota has big-time cornerback questions. All three starters — Stephon Gilmore, Shaquill Griffin and slot guy Byron Murphy Jr. — are free agents, along with backup Fabian Moreau. So, even though the Vikings led the NFL in interceptions by quite a bit (24, five more than second best), they might have to restock their CB room in the draft. Morrison missed all but six games in 2024 with a hip injury, but he’s a top-tier cover man. He has sound technique, and he has the ball skills to keep Minnesota’s INT total high. Morrison had nine picks and 21 pass breakups over his career. 25. Houston TexansJosh Simmons, OT, Ohio StateHere’s another player who missed most of the 2024 season. Simmons was out after six games with a left knee injury. Had he stayed healthy, I think we’d be talking about him as a OT1 candidate in this class. He’s consistent in pass protection and drives back defenders in the run game. Houston’s pass protection was anything but consistent this season, allowing 54 sacks (tied for third most). Quarterback C.J. Stroud was constantly on the run. The Texans have left tackle Laremy Tunsil under contract for two more seasons, but Simmons could fit in at right tackle or even a guard spot for now before potentially taking over on the left side down the road. 26. Los Angeles RamsJosh Conerly Jr., OT, OregonThis is the primary spot where I considered including a third quarterback. All signs point to Matthew Stafford returning to the Rams next season and still playing at a high level. But he’s also going to be 37 when training camp starts. Retirement isn’t out of the question, and even if he does come back, Los Angeles would be smart to start making future plans. One of the league’s best draft-and-develop teams could choose to do that with one of the QB3 options: Syracuse’s Kyle McCord — who is rising after declaring for the draft — Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe would all be in the mix. But … I’m not ready to put a third passer into Round 1, so I’m instead trying to help the Rams keep Stafford protected. Conerly has fantastic movement traits and maintains a clean pocket for his quarterback. He gave up just two sacks over three seasons in Eugene. He started two of those seasons and has been a consistent blindside wall. 27. Baltimore RavensShavon Revel Jr., CB, East CarolinaTeams will be watching Revel’s medicals as he recovers from a torn ACL that ended his 2024 season in September. He has tremendous size (6-3) and leans on his strong instincts to make plays. Revel — who would be the first East Carolina first-rounder since Chris Johnson in 2008 — had two interceptions in three games this season, including a pick-six. Now picture Revel in the Baltimore secondary with Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins and Kyle Hamilton. He could fill free agent Brandon Stephens’ void and help limit the big plays that burned the Ravens this season; they allowed 58 completions for 20 or more yards, third most in the league. 28. Detroit LionsJames Pearce Jr., OLB, TennesseeEven with Aidan Hutchinson (leg) back in the picture next season, Detroit can’t let this Super Bowl window slip away because the pass rush doesn’t have enough juice. The Lions’ 37 sacks tied for 23rd in the NFL this season. They were also 25th in pass rush win rate at 35.4%. Injuries wore down the defense, but there weren’t enough playmakers there to begin with, even after the midseason trade for Za’Darius Smith. Pearce still needs to build out his 6-5 frame, but his speed could make a difference in Detroit. He mixes up pass-rush moves and gets home to the QB, with 17.5 sacks over the past two seasons. Note: We used ESPN’s Football Power Index to project the draft order for Nos. 29-32. Those slots will be occupied by the four teams still alive in the playoffs. 29. Washington CommandersNic Scourton, DE, Texas A&MThe Commanders are picking this late (and possibly later) largely because they got immediate star power from their 2024 first-round pick: quarterback Jayden Daniels. Can they take another step forward by acing their 2025 first-round selection? Scourton plays with power. And while he can get to the quarterback as a pass rusher (5 sacks), I really like this fit because of his run defense. Washington was chewed up for 4.8 yards allowed per rush this season, 28th in the league. But Scourton has the strength to set an edge against the run, and he finished the season with 14 tackles for loss and 11 run stops. 30. Buffalo BillsMaxwell Hairston, CB, KentuckyDrafting another wide receiver should be considered, and the defensive line could use reinforcements. But the cornerback spot jumps out. Buffalo allowed opponent QBs to complete 68.5% of their passes, 28th in the league, and Rasul Douglas is on an expiring deal. Hairston is a pro-ready prospect. His awareness, burst to the ball and route-recognition skills are top-notch. Hairston was a little banged-up this season, as a shoulder injury limited him to seven games and one interception. But he had five picks the previous year, showing his ball skills. 31. Kansas City ChiefsWalter Nolen, DT, Ole MissNo, Chris Jones isn’t going anywhere. But he could use more help alongside him on the interior in Kansas City. Nolen has strong hands and can pressure the QB from inside with his quickness. He had 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2024. Nolen would give defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo yet another difference-maker to heat up the pocket. 32. Philadelphia EaglesKenneth Grant, DT, MichiganGM Howie Roseman favors the trenches in Round 1, so don’t be surprised if he finds another impact defensive tackle with the Eagles’ first pick. Yes, it would be the third time in four years that he used a Day 1 selection at the position (Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis), and according to ESPN Research, we’ve seen a team do that only three times in the common draft era. But hey, if the Eagles are picking at No. 32, it means they won the Super Bowl and the strategy is working. Plus, Milton Williams is a free agent. Grant’s instincts and ability to bat balls at the line of scrimmage would be welcomed in Philadelphia. Here’s a wild card to watch, though. The Eagles need edge rushers, too, and Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku could rise up draft boards this spring. He had 16.5 sacks this season. |
