| If The Season Ended Today in the AFC: AFC W-L Conf Last Week p’off %Kansas City West 14-1 8-1 1 100 (division)Buffalo East 12-3 8-2 2 100 (division)Pittsburgh North 10-5 7-3 3 100 (playoffs)Houston South 9-6 7-3 4 100 (division)Baltimore WC1 10-5 6-4 WC1 100 (playoffs)LA Chargers WC2 9-6 6-4 WC2 94 (+7%)Denver WC3 9-6 5-5 WC3 76 (-15%)Indianapolis 8 7-8 6-5 8 15 (+5%)Miami 9 7-8 5-5 9 8 (+1%)Cincinnati 10 7-8 4-6 10 7 (+1) The Ravens clinched a playoff spot with their win over the Steelers, but Pittsburgh still controls its ability to win the AFC North by winning out thanks to conference record. However, winning out for the Steelers has to include a victory over Kansas City on Christmas Day. The Chargers grabbed the high ground for the two remaining Wild Card spots with their win on Thursday over Denver. The Colts are in the funny position of needing the rival Bengals to beat Denver on Saturday. But Indianapolis has the best chance of the three 7-8 teams because they win a three-way tie at 9-8 with Denver and Cincinnati, despite having lost to the Broncos. They also win a four-way tie with Miami added and get a spot in a 5-way tie at 9-8 if the Chargers are in the mix. – – -With two games remaining, the NFC has a 46-32 advantage in this season’s interconference series – a winning percentage of .590. What’s funny, is that last year, just last year, the AFC was the dominant conference as the NFC was just 34-46. What changed in the last year? The arrival of QB JAYDEN DANIELS is offset by the arrival of rookie QB BO NIX. In the AFC, Jacksonville (9-8 in 2023), Cleveland (11-6) and Las Vegas (8-9) imploded. But the Chargers (5-12) and Chiefs (11-6) are significantly better. At a lesser level, Miami (11-6), the Jets (7-10), Bengals (9-8) and the Titans (6-11) have also fallen. In the NFC, the Commanders (4-13 in 2023) and Vikings (7-10) are the big gainers. But the 49ers (12-5) and Saints (9-8) are off. At a lesser level, the Eagles (11-6), Packers (9-8), Lions (12-5) and Cardinals (4-13) are up and the Cowboys (12-5) are down. We would note that last year, the NFC North played the bulk of its non-conference schedule against the AFC West and went 8-12. This year, the NFC North has feasted on the AFC South (primarily) to the tune of 16-4. The top three teams in the NFC North (Detroit, Minnesota and Green Bay) went 12-0 against the AFC South. Without those games the NFC lead is down to 34-32.- – -A note from Mike Sando: • About those in-season changes: The New York Jets are 2-8 and rank 32nd in defensive EPA per play since firing defensive-minded coach Robert Saleh. The Chicago Bears are 0-3 and rank 32nd in defensive EPA per play since firing their defensive-minded coach, Matt Eberflus. The other team to fire its (defensive-minded) coach during the season, New Orleans, has gone 3-2 since parting with Dennis Allen, albeit with victories against two teams that have subsequently benched their quarterbacks (Atlanta, Cleveland) and the Giants, who benched and cut their QB previously.– – -Week 17 will be a unique week in NFL history with 7 games being played before Sunday to 8 on Sunday (not counting Christmas weeks where the 25th is on Sunday). There will be two games on Wednesday, a Boxing Day game on Thursday and three on Saturday. And now the NFL and FOX have flipped two of FOX’s four Sunday games. The game between the Packers and Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis will now kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET instead of 1 p.m. ET. The Cowboys’ road game against the Eagles had been scheduled for the later window, but will now be played at 1 p.m. ET instead. |
| NFC NORTH |
| DETROITThe Lions bumfoozled the Bears with a trick play on Sunday. Josh Alper ofProFootballTalk.com on “stumble bum”: Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson came into the 2024 season as a top head coaching candidate and his case has only gotten stronger. The Lions have set a franchise record for points scored with two games still to play this season and Johnson dialed up one of his most inventive play calls during Sunday’s win over the Bears. Quarterback Jared Goff appeared to stumble after taking a snap in the third quarter and running back Jahmyr Gibbs fell to the turf as if he were trying to recover a fumble. The Lions sideline yelled “ball” to sell that fake as Goff recovered and stood up to deliver a touchdown pass to wide open tight end Sam LaPorta. LaPorta said after the game that the play was called “stumble bum” and Johnson came up with it after watching Packers quarterback Jordan Love fumble a snap, pick the ball up and throw a touchdown against the Bears during the 2023 season. “It started on Monday with Ben asking me if he thought I could actually fumble on purpose and pick it back up, and I was like, ‘I don’t know about that,’ and we kind of got off that pretty quickly,” Goff said, via Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com. Gibbs said the play exemplified the kind of creativity that Johnson brings to the team. “The stuff he comes up with every game is crazy,” Gibbs said. “You don’t see really stuff like that, only if you’re in college. In college, they have all of those explosive plays and stuff basically.” Johnson’s time with the Lions may be coming to an end, but the rest of the run has a chance to be a memorable one if he keeps coming up with plays like that. |
| MINNESOTAIn 38 starts over 4 seasons, QB SAM DARNOLD won 13 games for the Jets. In 15 starts this season, Darnold has matched that with 13 wins for the Vikiings. And Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com, in a piece written when the Vikings were a mere 12-2, says the team is waking up to the idea that maybe they shouldn’t let Darnold walk in favor of untapped QB J.J. McCARTHY as they did last year with QB KIRK COUSINS. The 12-2 Minnesota Vikings have been one of the most pleasant surprises in all the NFL this season. And in a few months, no one should be surprised by the contract quarterback Sam Darnold will be able to fetch. Depending on how this season ends and how free agency shakes out, Darnold could command the biggest free-agent quarterback contract in the league this March. And while the Vikings are focused on the 2024 season, there’s leaguewide belief that Minnesota hopes it can retain Darnold for the future. The Vikings drafted quarterback J.J. McCarthy 10th overall in April’s draft with the intention of making him the future of the franchise. That remains the case, sources say, even after McCarthy underwent preseason meniscus surgery that took him out for the entire 2024 season. But the play of Darnold can’t be ignored within the organization. The former No. 3 overall pick on a one-year contract has the Vikings in the mix for the top overall seed in the NFC playoffs and a first-round bye. “It could wind up being a Jordan Love-type situation,” one AFC executive said this week. To be sure, the Vikings have repeated publicly that their efforts are on this season. That was echoed again when Minnesota signed Daniel Jones to its practice squad last month. Minnesota only has one quarterback under contract for 2025 in McCarthy, and the Jones signing was no indication of either Darnold returning or a concern over McCarthy’s recovery. Darnold is completing more than 67% of his passes while tossing 29 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. He has engineered four game-winning drives this season as he leads the eighth-best scoring offense in the league with head coach and play-caller Kevin O’Connell. His 104.9 passer rating is fourth-best in the league this year — by far the best of his seven-year career — and he’s one win away from tying the 13 wins he earned in all three seasons with the Jets. Darnold came to Minnesota after one year as Brock Purdy’s backup in San Francisco, brought on as insurance for the 49ers in case Purdy’s elbow had not fully recovered from offseason surgery. Darnold hardly saw any game action, and in March he signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Vikings to potentially be their starter after Kirk Cousins left in free agency. The Vikings drafted McCarthy but listed Darnold as QB1 to begin preseason. Before the competition could truly shake out, McCarthy underwent season-ending surgery and Darnold won the job by default. Now he may be earning it for 2025 on merit. “I’m really stuck in the moment. I think that’s the best way to approach that, to just be where my feet are,” Darnold told ESPN recently. arnold, 27, could earn a contract that would pay more than $25 million per year, according to multiple league sources. How he finishes this year will help determine that number, which could wind up being outside of Minnesota’s price range. The Vikings are estimated to have more than $70 million in cap space next year, and they could always make more or negotiate a deal with Darnold to comfortably fit him in for next season and beyond. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are the only quarterbacks in this upcoming draft class considered to be potential Week 1 starters. There’s also a weak free-agent class, especially if Russell Wilson opts to sign back with the Pittsburgh Steelers. One source said if Darnold does leave Minnesota, he’ll be selective about his next stop, hoping to avoid a bad situation like the one he got drafted into with the Jets or traded to in Carolina. What coaches get hired where in this cycle could also impact Darnold. If a team needing a quarterback has a head coach whose system would fit Darnold, that could become an option that, at least currently, is not one. And if the Vikings keep Darnold, the organization will have to work through that with McCarthy. There was never a guarantee McCarthy would be the Week 1 starter in 2024, and his injury plus Darnold’s play could be reasonable explanations for why the Vikings would continue to roll with the veteran as McCarthy continues to sit. But that’s a situation the team would have to massage in the offseason. There’s also a realistic scenario where Darnold leaves in free agency and the Vikings sign Jones. He’s been on the practice squad the last few weeks, opting to stay in Minnesota as more than one team has inquired about his availability recently. But many of those questions can and will be answered with the final three games of the regular season plus the postseason. Until that time, the Vikings are focused on the now. Mike Sando of The Athletic was on a text change with some of his decision-making NFL executive friends on this topic: Against that backdrop, we pick up the conversation with league insiders. Exec No. 1: “This season has proved Sam needs Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, (T.J.) Hockenson, one of the grittiest offensive lines and a top back in Aaron Jones. If you are Minnesota, you wave goodbye to Sam, wish him luck and hope he signs for $50 million with some team that thinks they are a quarterback away, but doesn’t have all those things Minnesota has. You get the premium comp pick, you found your next Sam Darnold in Daniel Jones and you already have your draft pick (McCarthy) ready to go. That is what a smart organization does.” Exec No. 2: “I agree, except for the Daniel Jones piece. Jones isn’t a real option.” Exec No. 3: “What if they just franchise-tagged Darnold, which then keeps McCarthy in play for the future?” Agent: “They can afford that. What they can’t afford is turning it over to a rookie coming off a season-ending injury. The only Darnold caveat at this point is the playoffs.” Could there be a compromise solution? The 2011 49ers (7.5 preseason Vegas win total) went 13-3 and reached the NFC Championship Game with a reborn Alex Smith behind center. They had used a 2011 second-round pick on Colin Kaepernick but were in no rush to play him. Smith, then 27, had bonded with new coach Jim Harbaugh after struggling under different coaches for years. He wanted to stay, but the 49ers weren’t interested in a market-setting extension. San Francisco let Smith test the market at a time when Peyton Manning was the most coveted free agent in years (and Harbaugh met with Manning covertly before the QB signed with Denver). Smith didn’t find what he was looking for elsewhere. He re-signed with the 49ers on a deal with the No. 20 annual average among quarterbacks, got hurt midway through the next season, watched Kaepernick start in the Super Bowl and was soon traded to Kansas City. Exec No. 2: “To get a compromise deal from Darnold, the Vikings have to be willing to let him hit the market.” Agent: “That’s the last thing Minnesota should do. Too many teams need QBs.” Exec No. 2: “It’s really not that scary. Some teams are picking high and will draft QBs. Some won’t be able to afford it. Tennessee could be interesting.” Coach: “If I’m Darnold and the Vikings move on from me, whatever Brock Purdy wants from the 49ers, I want less. If he says to San Francisco, ‘I’ll be your starting quarterback for $15 million a year or whatever and Brock Purdy is asking for $45 million, how does San Francisco sit there and say Brock Purdy is the guy they are going with?” Exec No. 2: “What is the difference between Darnold and Baker Mayfield? That should be instructive for his market.” Mayfield re-signed with Tampa Bay for $33 million per year, which ranks 18th among quarterback averages. He knew the Buccaneers did not have his replacement lined up. He knew Tampa Bay was interested in re-signing him. Darnold’s market could suffer if the Vikings like McCarthy enough to move forward with the Michigan product, which was always their plan anyway. There are other fascinating implications for this breakout Vikings season. Coach Kevin O’Connell has no contract beyond the 2025 season. His star is growing with every successful start from Darnold. He’ll likely drive whatever quarterback decision the Vikings make. He only figures to gain influence within the organization if he continues to stack the victories. He’s already the first coach in Vikings history with two 13-win seasons. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASIt’s a late run to a season without a postseason, but Coach Mike McCarthy has the Cowboys playing hard and pretty well. Matt Galatzan of SI.com: The Dallas Cowboys are back in the win column, and Jerry Jones couldn’t be happier. Following his team’s nail-biting 26-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football, the Cowboys owner and GM was quick to praise his team. But perhaps more importantly, he also went out of his way to mention had coach Mike McCarthy – who’s job security has been in question most of the season – and the job he has done this year. “I’m real proud,” Jones said after the game. “Mike McCarthy, he just won’t let them not think that they’re playing for the Super Bowl out there. He won’t let them do it. I’m proud of that. I’m proud of the coach… There’s no question that we’re fighting with a very limited deck out here right now, and those guys are doing a great job. All of them, the players, but my hat is off to Mike McCarthy.” In Jones’ defense, the Cowboys have won four of their last five games after starting 3-7, and have an opportunity to finish the year above .500 if they can win their final two games. The only problem? The Cowboys have also been officially eliminated from the playoff picture thanks to that abysmal start to the season. This, of course, is not the first time that Jones has gone out of his way to say good things about his head coach either. Earlier this season, Jones told 105.3 The Fan that he gave McCarthy and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer ‘high grades’ for the way they have navigated the team through adversity this season. Jones has also consistently deflected any questions regarding the idea of moving on from the Cowboys coach, who is in the final year of his deal with the franchise. He even left the door open for a possible extension, despite McCarthy and the team’s struggles on the field throughout the year. “I don’t think (an extension) is crazy at all,” Jones told The Fan in late November. “This is a Super Bowl-winning coach. Mike McCarthy has been there and done that. He has great ideas. We got a lot of football left.” Will any of that matter when the season officially comes to a close in two weeks? Only time will tell, but it certainly seems as though Jones is doubling down on the idea of keeping McCarthy in Dallas. |
| NEW YORK GIANTS |
| PHILADELPHIAAdversity for the Eagles at the quarterback position. Tim McManus of ESPN.com: Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Kenny Pickett both suffered injuries Sunday against the Washington Commanders in a “sloppy” 36-33 loss that damaged their chances of getting the top seed in the NFC playoffs. Hurts exited midway through the first quarter after his head collided with the turf as he was hit by linebacker Frankie Luvu while going to the ground following a 13-yard run. After being evaluated in the medical tent, Hurts walked to the locker room and was later ruled out because of a concussion. “I haven’t talked to the medical staff yet, so I don’t have any updates on any of that stuff,” coach Nick Sirianni said when asked about Hurts. Pickett, the former Pittsburgh Steelers signal-caller, replaced him in the lineup and finished 14-of-24 for 143 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He was spotted entering the X-ray room after the game. Pickett later said he sustained a rib injury and will undergo further testing Monday. Pickett’s injury occurred early in the fourth quarter when he was wrestled down in the backfield by linebacker Bobby Wagner. He stayed in the game and helped engineer a drive that resulted in a go-ahead field goal with 3:48 remaining. The Eagles added another field goal about two minutes later for a 33-28 lead, but Washington answered with a touchdown in the closing seconds to snap Philadelphia’s 10-game win streak. “I’m happy that [Pickett] came in because that gives him confidence, regardless if we got the win or loss,” said wide receiver A.J. Brown, who was targeted 15 times and finished with eight catches for 97 yards and a score. “God forbid anything happens [with Hurts in the future]; he came in and he got the experience.”– – -How much does a rushing record for RB SAQUAN BARKLEY mean for the Eagles? Jeff Kerr of CBSSports.com: Saquon Barkley will break Eric Dickerson’s rushing recordOverreaction or reality: Overreaction Barkley had a strong day with 150 rushing yards in the Eagles’ loss to the Commanders, putting him at 1,838 for the season. Even with the historic day, Barkley is still slightly off Dickerson’s pace — as he is set to finish with 2,083 rushing yards on the season (22 shy of Dickerson). Can Barkley catch Dickerson? Absolutely, but the Eagles are a win away from the No. 2 seed in the NFC. A Lions or Vikings win next week essentially eliminates the Eagles from the race for the No. 1 seed, meaning there’s little need to play Barkley in Week 18 (Eagles can rest up for the playoffs with their seed locked up). The Eagles need a big day from Barkley against the Cowboys, and the Lions and Vikings to lose next week for the final regular season game to matter. Then Barkley has a shot to catch Dickerson. Barkley can get to 2,000 yards, but getting 268 yards in the final two games is a tough stretch with nothing to play for in the final week. |
| WASHINGTONThe Commanders have a winner in QB JAYDEN DANIELS. John Keim of ESPN.com: When the Washington Commanders took possession 57 yards from the end zone with less than two minutes remaining and trailing by five points against a team that had won 10 straight games, quarterback Jayden Daniels showed no signs of stress. It’s easy to see why: Daniels continues to deliver in these moments. He did so once again with a 9-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jamison Crowder with 6 seconds remaining in a 36-33 win over the Philadelphia Eagles (12-3). “He really lights up in those spots,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. “Today, he became a heavy hitter.” But Daniels’ heroics weren’t limited to the final touchdown pass. He became the first rookie quarterback in franchise history — and seventh in NFL history — to throw five touchdown passes in a game as the Commanders inched closer to a playoff berth. Washington (10-5) can clinch a spot with one more win. The Commanders next play Dec. 28 against the Atlanta Falcons (8-7). For Daniels, Sunday’s performance was a continuation of big plays and even bigger moments. He threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter alone — as well as an interception on the Commanders’ penultimate drive. “You want to see how you match up against those types of [teams],” Daniels said. Already this season he completed a 52-yard Hail Mary to beat the Chicago Bears; he threw two touchdown passes in the final four minutes against Dallas that would have resulted in a tie had Washington made the second extra point. In a win over Cincinnati in Week 3, Daniels threw a touchdown pass with less than four minutes left to clinch a win. Daniels also led a game-winning field goal drive to beat the New York Giants in Week 2. There’s a reason he’s the NFL’s top-rated quarterback in the final two minutes of regulation among quarterbacks with at least 10 starts. He has thrown an NFL-best four touchdown passes in that stretch. “I love those types of situations,” Daniels said. “Those are when it’s on thin ice and plays need to be made. That’s what you live for. If you really love the sport you live for those big-time moments where it comes down to the end, everything’s against you, your back is against the wall. How will you respond?” It’s why Daniels is considered the likely front-runner to win offensive rookie of the year. He now has 22 touchdown passes. “I see a lot of poise,” Crowder said. “He’s cool, calm, collected under pressure. A lot of times you don’t get that from a lot of quarterbacks.” In the postgame locker room, receiver Terry McLaurin — who caught an over-the-shoulder 32-yard pass for a touchdown in the second quarter — told Daniels he loved playing with him. It’s understandable: McLaurin has a career-high 12 touchdown catches and surpassed 1,000 yards receiving for the fifth consecutive season. “If we’re making plays or missing plays he just has a way to stay even-keel,” McLaurin said. “I’ve never seen that from a rookie at any position, let alone one quarterbacking. He has a way of making the right plays when it’s time. You can’t teach that. His ability to get better every week and learn from his mistakes is why he has a chance to be one of the great ones.” Daniels also hurt the Eagles with his legs. He rushed for 82 of the Commanders’ 114 yards rushing. None mattered more than the 29 yards he picked up on a fourth-and-11 scramble, swerving past defenders in the middle of the field, to the Eagles’ 12. Three plays later he connected with receiver Olamide Zaccheaus for a 4-yard touchdown. “I’ve never seen him flinch,” McLaurin said. “The only time I’ve ever seen him show emotion is when we lost to Baltimore [in Week 6]. He was on the sideline and I was upset, but I was kind of smiling to myself because [I was thinking], we’ve got us one. He hates to lose.” Daniels arrives at the facility by 5:30 a.m. and conducts a walk-through with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury three days a week — finishing around 6:30 a.m. Quinn said he has worked his players more on situational football than at any time in his coaching history. That’s why the players said it felt just like practice when driving for the game-winning score. In fact, Daniels threw a touchdown pass to Crowder on the same route against the same two-safety look in practice Friday. Because of this preparation, Daniels avoids feeling stressed — even after throwing an interception late in the fourth quarter that led to an Eagles field goal. “That keeps the rest of us calm,” Washington guard Sam Cosmi said. “The biggest thing that’s great to see is the person that has the most belief in his ability is himself. He’s a dog; he’s a competitor. I’m really happy he’s my QB.” Albert Breer of SI.com with some good insight on the winning play and Washington’s culture change: The next call Kingsbury sent in was one that assistant quarterbacks coach David Blough added to the playbook at the end of the spring, specifically for end-of-game situations. And the Commanders have repped it in practice a ton since training camp, just for a situation like this. The thing is, normally, what’s happened has been that coverage would follow Daniels’s first read in the progression, Jamison Crowder, and the quarterback would have to make the throw to the second guy in the pattern, Zach Ertz. But at practice Thursday, during a red zone period, Daniels hit Crowder wide open between levels of the scout team’s coverage. So there was the call again Sunday. There was Crowder for Daniels, wide open. And there was the Commanders’ franchise quarterback, quick to the trigger with the game-winner. “It set up perfectly,” Daniels says of Blough’s concept. “We did that same play in practice, same route, right behind the linebacker, in two-high coverage. That was my first read presnap from what I’ve seen—I’m going to go right here and trust in him to make a play.” In doing so, he and his team did what no one else has been able to do in more than two months, and that’s send the mighty Eagles home with a loss. But the reality is that they accomplished more than just that Sunday, and really on a lot of Sundays this fall. Plenty of the guys in Commanders uniforms now were around the past few years. Those in the stands watching them know the score, too. For a quarter century in D.C., when something could go wrong, it usually did. So the challenge for Quinn and his staff has been to flip that psychology on its head. And this situation unfolding was more evidence that that’s exactly what’s happening. “One hundred percent,” Daniels affirms. “We believe that we can be in every game. We’re confident going in that we have an opportunity to win. It’s how we prepare, how our coaches bring confidence to us.” Now, it’s how they’re playing, too, and Daniels is a big part of it as well. Because, again, as good as he’s been, the bumps have been there. In mid-November, Washington lost three straight, and he didn’t play particularly well—with passer ratings of 68.5, 81.6 and 82.7 in those games. That was after he suffered a rib injury that was probably a little more serious than anyone let on. But this is a 24-year-old who saw a lot, both football-wise and otherwise, through a five-year college career that encompassed 55 starts, and multiyear starting runs at two different historic programs in two different power conferences. He was there for an NCAA scandal at Arizona State. He had to transfer, and improve to win and keep the starting job at LSU. It takes a lot to shake him. “The best teacher in life is experience,” Daniels says. “To be able to go out there and play as many snaps as I did in college, I knew it would translate to the league.” And now he and the remade franchise he’s leading are full speed ahead, with a win that typified the growth the Commanders have undergone. Washington is 10–5. Quinn is the first coach in franchise history to win 10 games in his first season. Daniels is closing in on Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. They’re all on the verge of the playoffs. Everything, seemingly, has changed. “It means a lot for us, playing a team that’s been on a win streak and fighting for a No. 1 seed, that’s going to be in the playoffs,” Daniels says. “It means a lot to go compete and know that we can put up big-time wins against these guys.” After Sunday, it’s fair to say that everyone else knows, too. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| ATLANTAIt was only the reeling Giants, but QB MICHAEL PENIX, Jr. had a promising debut. Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com: It’s uncommon for a rookie quarterback to make his first start in late December on a team still vying for a playoff spot, when the incumbent starter has not been injured. But that’s exactly what happened with the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. And Michael Penix Jr., the No. 8 pick in April’s NFL draft, followed through with a solid performance in the Falcons’ 34-7 rout of the New York Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Penix was 18-of-27 for 202 yards with one interception, which wasn’t his fault. In the second quarter, he found tight end Kyle Pitts on a pass near the end zone, but Pitts bobbled the ball, and it was picked off by Giants cornerback Cor’Dale Flott. The Falcons had 22 first downs, 10 of which came through the air. They were 8-of-14 in third-down efficiency and 2-of-4 in the red zone, where they had struggled under former starter Kirk Cousins in recent weeks. “He went out and played almost flawless football and kept the game really clean and kept everything clean for us in order for us to get a win,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said of Penix. Cousins had nine interceptions over his last five games, with just a single touchdown pass. The Falcons went 1-4 in those contests, including a four-game losing streak that took them from 6-3 and in pole position in the NFC South to hanging on for their playoff lives. Cousins has a league-leading 16 interceptions, and his 12 fumbles are tied for the most in the NFL with Baker Mayfield. Morris announced the switch to Penix on Tuesday night. Now, the Falcons are 8-7, and the playoffs are within reach, although they’re still a mathematical underdog to make it. They’ll need the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whom they own a tiebreaker against, to slip up over their remaining three games. For a rookie quarterback starting in what was a must-win game for Atlanta, Penix showed a ton of poise — even though it was against the two-win Giants and the Falcons’ defense accounted for 14 points, courtesy of a pair of pick-sixes. Running back Bijan Robinson tallied 94 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns. “I know that I’m here for a reason,” Penix said. “I worked extremely hard to get to this position, and I just had to go out there and execute. And we executed to get a win today.” Penix had not worked much with the starting receivers in practice, since Cousins was QB1. So, the Falcons had to ramp things up this week. Atlanta did a walk-through on Wednesday with 72 offensive snaps, and Penix threw on every single one. “It was a lot of work put in this week, man,” said Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney, who had five catches for 82 yards on Sunday. “A lot of work after practice. During practice when we’re not going offense. So, a lot of things we still have to get better at. But like I said, it looked good today.” When Penix got the call from offensive coordinator Zac Robinson that he’d be starting for the Falcons moving forward, the quarterback was at Costco, about to eat a hot dog. Penix said he won’t be celebrating at Costco after his first career victory as a starter. It’ll be “something fancier.” He’s still hoping for a Costco sponsorship, though. “Costco is great,” Penix said. “Costco need to hit me up.” And, the Buccaneers did slip up on Sunday night in Dallas. The Falcons now win the NFC South is Penix can beat the Commanders on the road and Panthers at home. |
| NFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES RAMSThe Rams have become more physical and it has meant more wins. Mike Sando: The Rams have recast themselves as a physical football team. That’s their edge in the NFC West. The Rams are 8-2 in their past 10 games and in firm control of the NFC West after beating the New York Jets 19-9 and watching the Seahawks lose to the Vikings. Not quite two weeks ago, after the Rams outlasted the San Francisco 49ers in an ugly slog played in rainy conditions, an executive from another team made an observation: The Rams had surpassed the 49ers as the most physical team in the NFC West. Injuries to Trent Williams and some other 49ers contributed to the change, but not as much as the overhaul Sean McVay’s team has been implementing over the past couple of seasons. The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue detailed schematic changes the Rams have made in evolving their run game away from zone concepts to a more physical, attacking style. Adding offensive linemen in the mold of Kevin Dotson and Steve Avila has facilitated the change. Puka Nacua is one of the NFL’s more physical receivers. Running back Kyren Williams is like a boxer who punches above his weight class. “I give the Rams credit because they were soft and they knew it, and they identified a couple things, and now they have become a grittier team than the 49ers,” the exec said. The Rams have gone under center more than any other team in the NFC West. They are more run-oriented than any team in the division (48 percent pass on early downs in the first 28 minutes of games, before time remaining and score differential exert more influence on playcalling). They use the lowest rate of five-man pass protections in the division. All of these things reflect an orientation. Adding 2024 draft picks Jared Verse and Braden Fiske to the defensive front seven has affected that side of the ball as well. “You look at how Detroit wins on the line of scrimmage, how Minnesota wins on the line of scrimmage, how Green Bay wins on the line of scrimmage,” a coach from a Rams opponent said. “They are much in the same vein, where Verse is having a Defensive Rookie of the Year type season, and Fiske is in the mix as well. They are a physical team on defense and the offensive line is now healthy, so it is more physical too.” |
| AFC WEST |
| LAS VEGASTE BROCK BOWERS is going to get the rookie record for receptions, unless another rookie on a bad team beats him to it. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: Last year, Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua caught 105 passes, setting a new NFL record for receptions by a rookie. That record doesn’t look like it’s going to stand for long. Both Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers are on pace to break the record with two games left in the season. Bowers has 101 catches this year and Nabers has 97, which means they both could break the record either this week or next week. Bowers, who is averaging 6.7 catches per game this year, is five catches away from breaking the record. Nabers, who missed two games but is averaging 7.5 catches per game he has played this year, is nine catches away. The rookie receiving record that Nacua broke was only two years old, having been set by Jaylen Waddle in 2021. As passing offenses continue to evolve and college football puts more NFL-ready receivers into the pros, and with the bonus of a 17-game season, this looks like a record that will continue to fall. Bowers or Nabers may give the record up to another rookie a year from now. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CINCINNATIWith two games left, WR Ja’MARR CHASE has broken his franchise record for receiving yards. Ben Baby of ESPN.com: Ja’Marr Chase didn’t even want to be in the game for the play that would take him to new heights. Initially, the Cincinnati Bengals star receiver wanted rookie Jermaine Burton to go late in Sunday’s 24-6 win over the Cleveland Browns to get a little extra playing time. But then Bengals assistant coach Troy Walters said the play, which Chase said was called “whiskey,” might be of interest to him. Sure enough, it was. After drawing Cleveland’s defense offside for a free play, quarterback Joe Burrow hit Chase for 32-yard touchdown pass that put the finishing touch on Cincinnati’s third straight win. It also capped another historic day for one of the best wideouts in the league. Earlier in the game, Chase broke his own franchise record for the most receiving yards in Bengals history. The late touchdown gave him 1,510 receiving yards on the season, well past his mark of 1,455 from his rookie year in 2021 that was the previous franchise high. This year has been Chase’s best to date, which is notable given Pro Bowl nods in each of his first three seasons. When the Bengals drafted him, Chase said he wanted to break all of the franchise’s records. Sunday was the latest example of him living up to those words. “That’s just the person I am,” Chase said. “I walk with that swag like that. I just love to compete and the guys around me know that I love to compete.” With two games remaining, Chase is within striking distance of a couple more franchise records. He is one touchdown shy of matching Carl Pickens’ 17-touchdown season in 1995. Chase also needs five receptions to break T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s mark of 112, set in 2007. If Chase can get those marks next week against the Denver Broncos, he will accomplish the feats in 16 games, which was the length of the regular season until 2021, when the league added an extra game to the calendar. His efforts could also help the Bengals (7-8) stay in the playoff hunt, which seemed unthinkable just a few weeks ago. Burrow, who played with Chase at LSU, was the one who revealed that Chase didn’t want to be out there for his touchdown catch against Cleveland (3-12). But the pair produced a play they have repeated over the years. Burrow distracted the safety for as long as possible before throwing a ball to Chase’s back shoulder, which has been a go-to throw in several situations over the last three years. Chase adjusted and hauled in the 32-yarder with 1:44 on the clock. After the game, Burrow pointed to Chase’s consistency when asked what has been most impressive about his teammate. “That’s why he’s so great — because of how he practices and how he works and his discipline,” Burrow said. “He’s a great guy for young guys to come into this building and watch him go to work every single day and learn from him and take a lot from him.” |
| PITTSBURGHMike Sando of The Athletic has some thoughts on the Steelers: The Steelers have lost three of their past five and are slumping on offense. Here’s why I’m not too worried. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin pointed to ineffective run defense and killer turnovers in explaining his team’s 34-17 defeat to the Ravens. The diagnosis seemed accurate. It did not seem foreboding. • The run defense shouldn’t be too concerning because the Ravens are so good on the ground. Excluding kneeldown plays, Baltimore and Philadelphia are the only teams to rush for at least 100 yards in every game this season. The Ravens and Eagles are two of nine teams since 2000 to hit that mark in the first 15 games of a season, joining a list that also includes the 2019, 2020 and 2023 Ravens. • The two killer turnovers Tomlin mentioned cost the Steelers 12.0 EPA, accounting for most of the final score differential. The fumble Russell Wilson lost after a 19-yard scramble to the Baltimore 4-yard line came with the score tied in the second quarter. The pick six Wilson threw early in the fourth doubled the Ravens’ lead to 14 points. These had the feel of one-off plays, but this was also the third consecutive game Pittsburgh finished with -10.0 EPA or worse on offense. The Steelers haven’t had a longer streak within a season since 2003, per TruMedia. Wasn’t this offense supposed to be better with Wilson replacing Justin Fields? The Steelers’ formula for winning — play good defense, run the ball, protect the ball and hit explosive downfield plays in the passing game — seems broken with No. 1 receiver George Pickens sidelined for the past three games. Pittsburgh is 8-1 this season when Pickens has at least 50 yards, which is average production for a starting receiver. The Steelers are 2-4 otherwise. Wilson’s EPA per play splits with and without Pickens widen further when removing drives that ended in fumbles and/or interceptions. This suggests the numbers in the chart do not simply reflect a couple of costly turnover plays that happened when Pickens was not available. How quickly and how well Pickens returns from his hamstring injury — Tomlin has left the door open for him to play Wednesday against the Chiefs — appears to be the key variable for Wilson and the Steelers. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| INDIANAPOLISRB JONATHAN TAYLOR cost the Colts a TD last week at Denver. Sunday in Indy, he was superb. Stephen Holder of ESPN.com: Jonathan Taylor made a lightning-quick jump cut through the hole and saw nothing but daylight ahead. Once the Indianapolis Colts running back reached the goal line, some 65 yards later, his run was still not complete. Taylor kept going, running into the tunnel that leads to the Colts’ locker room in the southwest corner of Lucas Oil Stadium. It was Taylor’s way of sending a message: This time, he would hold on to the football after arriving at the end zone — something he did not do a week ago. Taylor reached the end zone two more times Sunday, including a 70-yard scoring run, during his 218-yard performance in the Colts’ historic 38-30 win over the Tennessee Titans. Indianapolis’ offense dominated the line of scrimmage, rushing for a franchise-record 335 yards in a victory that kept the team’s faint playoff hopes alive. The Colts surpassed the previous high established in 1956, nearly three decades before the franchise left Baltimore for the Midwest in 1984. It was Taylor’s second career 200-yard performance behind only his career-high 253-yard game in the final week of the 2020 season. His most recent performance came on the heels of last Sunday’s game in which Taylor committed a costly miscue, dropping the ball prematurely as he crossed the goal line on a would-be 41-yard run that could’ve given Indianapolis a two-touchdown lead. The Colts went on to lose the critical matchup, dealing a severe blow to their playoff hopes. Taylor didn’t make the mistake again this week. “I had already predetermined in my mind that next time, I’m going all the way in the tunnel,” Taylor said Sunday. In fact, Taylor approached the whole situation with levity. He and backup running back Tyler Goodson planned a bit ahead of the game. After Taylor emerged from the tunnel, Goodson ran up to him and playfully tried to strip the ball, with Taylor keeping a tight grip. “Just trolling, making the crowd laugh a little bit,” Goodson said. In reality, there was nothing funny about the way the Colts pushed around the Titans. Tennessee allowed the most rushing yards of any team this season and the second most in Titans/Oilers franchise history. The Colts made no pretense about their intentions, either, at one point running on 12 consecutive plays during three possessions in the second quarter. “That’s kind of the exciting part,” Taylor said “It’s kind of when you start imposing your will, establishing that line of scrimmage. Those are the types of football games as a running back … you love.” Tight end Mo Alie-Cox added: “By the end of the game … we were still getting 5 yards a pop. They still couldn’t really stop it. They were calling it, but they couldn’t do nothing about it.” Then, Alie-Cox relayed a story that unfolded before a particular play. “It’s hilarious,” he said. “One time, they were like, ‘It’s a screen. Boom.’ And then one of their [defensive] ends was like, ‘Man, they’re about to give it to Jonathan Taylor. He’s about to run for 300 [yards] on us.’ Once he said that, I was like, ‘Yeah, we got him.'” In light of the rushing success, Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson wasn’t asked to do much from the pocket. He completed just 7 of 11 passes for 131 yards. But Richardson was a part of the rushing bonanza, running for a career-high 70 yards. Now, the Colts hope to finish with wins over the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars in their remaining two games, along with hoping numerous other dominoes fall their way in their bid to make the postseason. |
| AFC EAST |
| MIAMICredit to WR TYREEK HILL for wanting to practice more. Josh Alper ofProFootballTalk.com: Tyreek Hill caught a touchdown pass during Sunday’s 29-17 win over the 49ers, but the Dolphins wideout’s focus was on plays he didn’t make when he spoke to reporters after the game. Hill dropped a third down pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on the team’s opening drive and then failed to reel in a pass that was tipped by 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir in the end zone later in the first quarter. It would have been a difficult catch, but it was one Hill said he should have had and he pointed to a lack of practice time as the reason for the miscues. A wrist injury has led Hill to get more rest during the practice week this season and said after the game that “you can’t just show up on Sunday” without putting in work during the week. “I need those valuable reps with Tua,” Hill said, via a transcript from the team. “Those vet rest days are starting to show. I completely blame myself for not getting my head around and not seeing the ball because, if I see a ball, we’re talking cross-court, 70-yard touchdown. But those Wednesday reps are definitely showing. As a leader, I’ve just got to be able to bite the bullet sometime and practice and get those valuable reps with QB1 because, if we’re able to stay on the field on third down, who knows what could happen.” When asked about Hill’s comments, head coach Mike McDaniel said that a move to adjust the practice schedule to get the duo more work is “an easy one” to make so Hill should be seeing more of the practice field for what’s left of the Dolphins season. |
| NEW YORK JETSWR GARRETT WILSON sulks as QB AARON RODGERS targets old friend DAVANTE ADAMS and others. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com: The weather wasn’t the only thing frigid on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. So was the on-field relationship between New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who was targeted only three times over the first 55 minutes and spoke cryptically afterward about why he wasn’t a factor in the 19-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. “I’d like to be involved, love to make an impact on the game, but people see it differently,” Wilson said. “That’s out of my control.” Could these “people” actually be one person … say, his quarterback? Wilson praised passing game coordinator Todd Downing for trying to figure out ways to get him the ball. By the process of elimination, that leaves Rodgers, whose most-targeted receiver over the past four games has been old friend Davante Adams. From Wilson’s sideline blowup last week in Jacksonville through the first three quarters against the Rams, he was targeted only five times over five quarters. In the same span, Adams was targeted 17 times. Even Allen Lazard (seven) had more chances than Wilson, who ranted during last week’s win because he wanted the ball against single coverage on a specific red zone play. Wilson finished with six catches for 54 yards on Sunday — he made four late receptions, while the Jets were down two scores — but it wasn’t enough to mask his frustration. Asked why he wasn’t involved, Wilson paused a few moments and cleared his throat. “I don’t know,” he said. “To be honest with you, I don’t know.” “I feel like I ran good routes this game,” Wilson continued. “I feel like I had an opportunity to help the team, but sometimes it just doesn’t fall like that.” Wilson dropped hints last week that he’s not happy, fueling speculation that he might ask for a trade. He’s on the verge of his third 1,000-yard season (987), but he feels he can be much more productive. “Anytime we don’t win, and I’m not that involved, it’s tough,” he said. “I’m not going to sit here and say I haven’t been involved, but I just think I’ve got more to give. … I think I can help us. They know that.” Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich declined to comment on why Wilson didn’t get more opportunities, saying he needed to watch the tape. Rodgers said it was because of the Rams’ coverage: split safeties. “Yeah, a lot of two-shell, so there weren’t a lot of singles for him,” said Rodgers, who completed 28 of 42 attempts for 256 yards — but didn’t have any completions longer than 20 yards. “That’s what they wanted to play.” The Rams played a split-safety look on 29 of 44 dropbacks, according to Next Gen Stats. Of course, Adams faced the same defense and he was targeted 13 times, resulting in seven catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. Afterward, Wilson spoke glowingly of Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who held the same title with the Jets in 2022, Wilson’s rookie year. Wilson called it “a special time,” saying how much he “loved” LaFleur. He certainly doesn’t love the way things are going this year. “At the end of the day, this is my legacy, this is what I do,” Wilson said. “When they turn on the film, I just always want to leave a good impression on people, that I’m running good routes, that I can find an open spot in the zone, whatever it may be.” Since Adams hit town, Rodgers has thown to Davante more, but not an earth-shaking amount. Since October 20 Targets Catches Yards 1 Davante Adams 94 56 7.652 Garrett Wilson 74 49 7.95 So, Rodgers throws to Adams 10.4 times per game, 8.2 per game to Wilson. The productivity per target is similar with a slight advantage to Wilson. It has been 12 targets per game for Adams in the last four contests, the same 8 per game to Wilson. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| 2025 DRAFTRyan Wilson of CBSSports.com offers a Mock Draft: 1 – NY GIANTSCam Ward QBMiami (FL) • Sr • 6’2″ / 223 lbsCam Ward would’ve likely been no better than QB5 in last year’s draft class, but he’s QB1 in 2024. Teams had a late Day 2/Day 3 grade on him over the summer, but he’s made big strides this season; he’s playing more from the pocket, he’s getting the ball out on time and he’s doing a better job of getting through his reads. We know about the athleticism and arm strength, but he’s gotten better each year he’s been in college, too. 2 – NEW ENGLANDTravis Hunter ATHColorado • Jr • 6’1″ / 185 lbsTravis Hunter is the best athlete — and the best player — in this draft class. We’ve had otherworldly cornerbacks and wide receivers in previous classes, but he’s a twofer, able to dominate on both sides of the ball and take over games. The big question: where will the team that drafts him want him to play? And if it’s, say, at cornerback, how big will be the package of offensive plays for Hunter? Because lining up for 120 snaps a game, like he’s done for the Buffs, isn’t sustainable in the NFL. 3 – LAS VEGAS Mock Trade from Jacksonville JaguarsShedeur Sanders QBColorado • Sr • 6’2″ / 215 lbsGood luck finding someone tougher than Shedeur Sanders. He’ll stand in the pocket and take hit (after hit after hit) to make a play downfield. He’s not the athlete and doesn’t have the arm strength of Cam Ward, but he does a lot of things really well. I would like to see him play on time more consistently, but part of that has to do with Colorado’s inconsistent offensive line. 4 – TENNESSEEKelvin Banks Jr. OTTexas • Jr • 6’4″ / 320 lbsKelvin Banks Jr. was my OT1 over the summer and nothing’s changed. He’s athletic, has good feet, plays with balance and power and uses his hands well. He’s better in passpro than the run right now, but it’s close — and he’s only going to get better. 5 – CLEVELANDWill Campbell OTLSU • Jr • 6’6″ / 323 lbsWill Campbell has been my OT2 throughout, and while he’s not as athletic as Kelvin Banks Jr., he’s been incredibly consistent throughout his LSU career. He had his struggles with Jared Verse in 2023 (who didn’t), and the formidable South Carolina front four gave him trouble at times this season. But he held his own against Arkansas’ Landon Jackson, who will be a high-round pick in April. 6 – JACKSONVILLE Mock Trade from Las Vegas RaidersMason Graham DLMichigan • Jr • 6’3″ / 320 lbsMy comp for Mason Graham over the summer was Christian Wilkins. My co-host on the “With the First Pick” podcast, Rick Spielman, took it a step further and said Quinnen Williams. Wherever you land, Graham is a special talent who headlines a deep defensive line class. 7 – CAROLINAAbdul Carter EDGEPenn State • Jr • 6’3″ / 252 lbsAbdul Carter is a freakish athlete who moved from off-ball linebacker to edge rusher for the 2024 season. Carter is not Micah Parsons — not yet, anyway — but he’s just scratching the surface on what he can do. 8 – NY JETSWill Johnson CBMichigan • Jr • 6’2″ / 202 lbsWill Johnson was my No. 1 player over the summer and he remains a top-10 talent. He battled a toe injury that sidelined him for much of the second half of the 2024 season, but when he’s healthy, he’s one of the best defenders in college football; there’s a reason the easy comp for him is Patrick Surtain II. 9 – CHICAGOMykel Williams EDGEGeorgia • Jr • 6’5″ / 265 lbsGeorgia has a history of producing insane athletes, and Mykel Williams may end up being the best of the group. He’s a first-round talent all day long, and he could end up being one of the first defenders off the board in April. 10 – NEW ORLEANSNic Scourton EDGETexas A&M • Jr • 6’4″ / 285 lbsNic Scourton is a power rusher who will long-arm you into the stands. He’ll also flash an inside spin move that puts OTs on their heels. Add the non-stop motor with which he plays, and it’s hard not to love his game. My podcast co-host, Rick Spielman, calls him a more athletic Keion White. 11 – SAN FRANCISCOJosh Simmons OTOhio State • Sr • 6’5″ / 310 lbsA San Diego State transfer where he played right tackle, Josh Simmons was a pleasant surprise in Columbus, Ohio, where he was not only installed at left tackle, but was playing at a high level before an October knee injury vs. Oregon ended his season. I thought he might come back to school — he could probably use the experience — but instead he declared for the 2025 draft. And in a draft light along the offensive line, I fully expect Simmons to draw some first-round consideration, even if he might need a year or two of seasoning. 12 – MIAMIMalaki Starks SGeorgia • Jr • 6’1″ / 205 lbsPut aside for the moment that Malaki Starks is an elite athlete who can line up anywhere in the secondary; he’s also one of the smartest players on the field, and that combination is what makes him a top-10 talent. 13 – INDIANAPOLISJalon Walker EDGEGeorgia • Jr • 6’2″ / 245 lbsJalon Walker is listed as an off-ball linebacker, but he can line up anywhere … and wreak havoc from anywhere. Very interested to see how NFL teams plan to use him at the next level. 14 – CINCINNATITetairoa McMillan WRArizona • Jr • 6’5″ / 212 lbsTetairoa McMillan is 6-foot-5, but he moves like a shifty slot receiver with the benefit of an enormous catch radius and the ability to make contested catches look easy. Think Drake London but a better athlete. 15 – DALLASAshton Jeanty RBBoise State • Jr • 5’9″ / 215 lbsIs Ashton Jeanty a luxury pick? That depends; were Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs luxury picks? Because Jeanty is that type of impact back. He hasn’t been used nearly as much in the pass game, but that doesn’t mean he can’t do it. 16 – ARIZONAKenneth Grant DLMichigan • Jr • 6’3″ / 339 lbsKenneth Grant is a really good athlete for his size — and he has a knack for getting his hands up in the passing lane and knocking the ball down. He moves well laterally, as he has a surprisingly quick first step with good hand usage to shoot gaps and be disruptive in the backfield. For me, he’s more explosive and consistent than Kris Jenkins, his former teammate and Bengals second-round pick in 2024. 17 – SEATTLEDeone Walker DLKentucky • Jr • 6’6″ / 345 lbsDeone Walker consistently wins with heavy hands at the snap as a pass rusher — both long and powerful, which makes him a nightmare no matter where he lines up (and Kentucky used him everywhere). He will play too high at times against the run, but was more consistent in that area in 2023, so he’s certainly capable of dominating in the run game, too. Plus, you don’t find many guys this size this athletic. 18 – TAMPA BAYShemar Stewart DLTexas A&M • Jr • 6’6″ / 290 lbsFor an edge rusher, Shemar Stewart is enormous. He’ll play too high at times, but can collapse the pocket with his size/power/strength. He has a quick first step, even for his size, and the power to shoot gaps. And when the bull rush doesn’t get home, his huge frame allows him to knock down passes. He has a hair-on-fire motor and consistently plays with power and athleticism. 19 – ATLANTAJames Pearce Jr. EDGETennessee • Jr • 6’5″ / 243 lbsJames Pearce Jr. is a juiced-up, twitchy edge rusher who can win with the bull rush or speed around the edge. He plays with a non-stop motor and with the type of freakish athleticism that can match the Jalen Milroe-type QBs in the pocket. 20 – LA CHARGERSColston Loveland TEMichigan • Jr • 6’5″ / 245 lbsColston Loveland is listed at 6-foot-5 and 237 pounds, and while he runs like he’s 185, he plays like he’s 260. He’ll run through open-field arm tackles all day long, has an enormous catch radius, and is a precise route runner, looking like a receiver at times in his movement skills. He’s a willing blocker, but like most pass-catching tight ends coming into the league, he’ll need to improve in this area. 21 – HOUSTONWalter Nolen DLOle Miss • Jr • 6’3″ / 305 lbsThis defensive line class is incredibly deep, and in previous years, Walter Nolen probably goes off the board a little higher. Either way, he explodes off the ball while also being strong as an ox. At 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, he won’t be mistaken for, say, Dexter Lawrence, but don’t be fooled; he plays stout against double teams, and is quick to get off blocks and get to the ball. 22 – DENVERTyler Warren TEPenn State • Sr • 6’6″ / 261 lbsTyler Warren has accounted for roughly 75% of Penn State’s offense (we’re ballparking that, don’t quote us) as a receiver, passer and runner. No player has done more for his draft stock than Warren, who was a late Day 2/Day 3 pick over the summer. 23 – LA RAMSAireontae Ersery OTMinnesota • Sr • 6’6″ / 330 lbsAireontae Ersery allowed just one sack all season. I love his athleticism, his ability to throw guys out of the club consistently, and while he’s better against run than pass right now, he has all the traits NFL teams look for in a tackle. 24 – WASHINGTONShavon Revel Jr. CBEast Carolina • Sr • 6’3″ / 193 lbsShavon Revel tore his ACL in October, and he hasn’t played since. But his tape is a lot of fun; his track background shows up on tape, as does his length. He’ll play with physicality at the line in man coverage and is a fluid mover in space. He’s not the shutdown corner of, say, Sauce Gardner when he came out, or as physical as Joey Porter Jr. (and maybe that’s a good thing), but he’s a nice mix of both in terms of size and play style. 25 – PITTSBURGHLuther Burden III WRMissouri • Jr • 5’11” / 205 lbsThe numbers don’t blow you away (66 catches for 771 yards), but don’t be fooled: Luther Burden III is a first-round talent and game-changer with the ball in his hands. The QB play at Mizzou was inconsistent in 2024, but there’s a reason he had 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023. 26 – BALTIMOREDerrick Harmon DLOregon • Jr • 6’5″ / 310 lbsDerrick Harmon is what I’d describe as “country strong” because when you see him bull rush an interior OL into the QB’s lap and then throw him out of the club, it gets your attention. He’s consistently a load on the inside, in part because of power, low pad level and the aforementioned bull rush. He doesn’t have a variety of pass-rush moves, but he doesn’t need them. He can struggle against the run if he plays too high, but when he’s locked in he’s a game-wrecker — Harmon had 40 pressures on the season, including eight(!) against Boise State. 27 – GREEN BAYJahdae Barron CBTexas • Sr • 5’11” / 200 lbsThis may sound rich but, at times, Jahdae Barron flashes in a way that reminds me of Brian Branch; he’s one of the smartest players on the field, he’s always around the ball, and if you need a play, he consistently shows up. He can line up in the box, in the slot or outside, is an effective blitzer off the edge, and is an asset in the run game. 28 – PHILADELPHIAOmarr Norman-Lott DLTennessee • Sr • 6’3″ / 315 lbsSweet mercy, Omarr Norman-Lott is juiced up coming off the ball. Explosive is probably the best way to describe him; he’s listed at 305 pounds but moves like he’s 50 pounds lighter, plays with a relentless motor, is as close to sideline-to-sideline as you’ll find in a defensive linemen, and we get Braden Fiske-hustle vibes when watching him — except Norman-Lott may be a better overall athlete. 29 – BUFFALOLandon Jackson EDGEArkansas • Sr • 6’7″ / 280 lbsThis is going to sound nuts, but watch a handful of Landon Jackson’s pass-rush snaps and you’ll see some T.J. Watt (remember, Watt somehow lasted until the end of Round 1). At other times, you’ll see the consistency of Anthony Nelson, which is pretty good, too. Either way, Jackson plays with heavy hands and the power you’d come to expect from a 270-pound edge rusher (even though Arkansas lined him up everywhere), as well as the juice you might not be expecting. 30 – MINNESOTAT.J. Sanders DLSouth Carolina • Jr • 6’4″ / 290 lbsHe’s a better pass rusher than run stuffer right now, but wherever you line him up (and South Carolina used him everywhere), he’s playing every snap with his hair on fire. He’ll collapse the pocket when he’s playing over the center, and he uses his hands well when coming off the edge with a head of steam. 31 – DETROITJack Sawyer EDGEOhio State • Sr • 6’5″ / 260 lbsJack Sawyer is listed at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds and is coming off a five-sack 2024 season that includes 28 hurries. Used almost exclusively off the edge for the Buckeyes, he flashes the speed-to-power of a first-round pass rusher who is also stout setting the edge in the run game. 32 – KANSAS CITYEmeka Egbuka WROhio State • Sr • 6’1″ / 205 lbsEmeka Egbuka is a big-bodied, fluid mover with natural hands, good contact balance and the ability to run through arm tackles. He gets in and out of breaks with urgency and has yards-after-catch ability. He’s not a finesse player but more of a bruiser. When you talk about “big slots,” this is what you mean. I think he has some Amon-Ra St. Brown in his game.The 2025 NFL Draft is to take place from April 24-26 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. More draft coverage can be found at CBSSports.com, including the weekly mock drafts and a regularly available look at the eligible prospects. |
