| Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com talked to an “experienced GM” who has a crystal ball on two big name quarterbacks: The Scouting Combine in Indianapolis will become not only Tampering Central but also the thickest patch in the NFL grapevine of the offseason. Rumors will be rampant. Some will be accurate, some won’t be.This year, the chatter is starting early.Based on recent reports and public comments and other things churning in the broader NFL rumor mill, one experienced G.M. has a prediction as to how the Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers companion mysteries will be resolved.Step one, Stafford gets traded to the Giants.Step two, Rodgers signs with the Rams.As to the first part, the logic goes like this. Stafford wants a raise over the $27 million the Rams are due to pay him in 2025. If Stafford and the Rams can’t work it out — and if the Giants (with a coach and/or a G.M. on the hot seat) want to make a big swing in the hopes of winning now — they’d be a candidate to pay him and to give the Rams fair and proper trade compensation.As to the second part, there’s a belief that Rodgers’s desire to play for the Rams will get him to do a sweetheart deal. That frees up cash and cap space to be used in 2025 or banked for the coming wave of second contracts, starting in 2026 with receiver Puka Nacua.Again, it’s just a prediction. But it’s not from someone in the media or a fan. It’s from someone who knows a thing or two about how the NFL sausage gets made, based on having plenty of time turning the handle.If it happens, two quarterbacks who faced off twice per year with NFC North teams will be heading to their third franchises. And while the Rams and Giants won’t square off in the 2025 regular season, a Stafford trade to the Giants would send him back to Detroit. Again. Sean Leahy of YahooSports.com says Stafford’s agent has been allowed to contact other teams: According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Rams have given Stafford’s agent permission to speak with other teams in order to gauge his value. The purpose? If a decision is made to deal the 37-year-old quarterback, an interested team would already have an idea of the length and dollar amount needed to extend him.Allowing Stafford’s side to discuss numbers with other teams would also give the Rams the parameters for what it would take to re-sign him — and also show the Super-Bowl winning QB how he is valued around the league. The inclination is that L.A. does not want to invest heavily and long term in an aging QB and is looking to boost the roster around its current young core, which explains why the Rams intend to trade wide receiver Cooper Kupp.Per Over the Cap, Stafford is currently signed through the 2026 season with salary cap hits of $49.7 million and $53.7 million, respectively, over the next two seasons. He is also due a $4 million roster bonus in March.Stafford is coming off his 16th NFL season and fourth with the Rams. He threw for 3,762 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2024 with a 65.8 completion percentage.Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com matches up the five top free agent QBs – which does not include Stafford: Unsurprisingly, quarterback is the position bound to get the most attention in the coming weeks. But there’s good reason for that: This year’s market figures to include close to a half-dozen veteran starters, including a recent Comeback Player of the Year candidate.Here, we’ve identified the best signal-callers set to be available, plus potential team fits and projected contracts and landing spots.Note: Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins technically remain under contract with their current teams, but both are widely expected to be released ahead of free agency.5. Kirk CousinsAge: 37 | Season: 9th | Current Team: Atlanta FalconsBenched for Michael Penix Jr. late in 2024, Cousins was meant to be the missing piece for a playoff contender in Atlanta, but he proved unusually streaky coming off a torn Achilles. Another year removed from the injury might help him rediscover his touch, but it’s safe to wonder how much juice he has left in his arm. More steady than spectacular during a six-year run with the Minnesota Vikings, he’s at least likely to come at a discount, given the Falcons will be absorbing a hefty price if/when they release him.Projected AAV: $1 million-$1.5 millionBest fits: Browns, Colts, JetsPrediction: Signs one-year, $1.5 million deal with Cleveland Browns4. Russell WilsonAge: 36 | Season: 14th | Current Team: Pittsburgh SteelersHis days of dominating the highlight reel as the dual-threat star of the Seattle Seahawks are long gone, but Wilson at least flashed some of his trademark deep-ball touch midway through 2024. By the end, of course, the sluggishness that marked his ill-fated Denver Broncos pitstop had reared its head again. He’s clearly still a functional play-action passer, but without the elusiveness of his youth, it’s hard to see anyone betting on him as more than a one-year rental, and even then, he’ll likely need to compete for the job.Projected AAV: $20 million-$25 millionBest fits: Giants, Raiders, SteelersPrediction: Signs one-year, $20 million deal with New York Giants3. Aaron RodgersAge: 41 | Season: 21st | Current Team: New York JetsThe former Green Bay Packers star had a disastrous two-year stint in New Jersey, where his age finally showed as he struggled to elude steady pressure and/or operate a disciplined offensive attack. But his arm remains intact, as evidenced by some late-year darts in 2024. The challenge for the cerebral Rodgers, provided he doesn’t pivot last minute to retirement, will be finding a team both a.) ready to contend, b.) willing to push all the chips on 2025, and c.) absorb the inevitable headlines of his arrival.Projected AAV: $25 million-$30 millionBest fits: Raiders, Steelers, Titans, VikingsPrediction: Signs one-year, $25 million deal with Tennessee Titans 2. Justin FieldsAge: 26 | Season: 5th | Current Team: Pittsburgh SteelersEntering Year 5, the former first-round draft pick remains something of an enigma under center. With the Chicago Bears, he was dynamic but volatile, turning the ball over as often as he broke off a home run scramble. With the Steelers, he was far more composed, albeit conservative through the air. As such, he registers more as a splashy Plan B than a reliable full-timer. But at just 26, with unteachable speed and arm talent, he arguably offers some of the best raw physical tools of the entire free agent class.Projected AAV: $10 million-$15 millionBest fits: Browns, Jets, Raiders, SteelersPrediction: Signs one-year, $15 million deal with Pittsburgh Steelers1. Sam DarnoldAge: 28 | Season: 8th | Current Team: Minnesota VikingsThe former No. 3 overall pick has certainly restored his image since a tumultuous five-year start with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, parlaying a year of tutelage with the San Francisco 49ers into a full-blown breakout with the Vikings. His poised and aggressive 35-touchdown showcase under Kevin O’Connell ultimately ended with a whimper, however, as he folded under pressure in Minnesota’s last — and most important — two games. The Vikings like Darnold and his live arm, but they like their 2024 first-round investment, J.J. McCarthy, just as much. And the bargain-bin route worked out just fine for them after they let Kirk Cousins walk. Darnold, meanwhile, might prefer to cash in for a top gig while he can.Projected AAV: $35 million-$40 millionBest fits: Giants, Jets, Raiders, VikingsPrediction: Signs three-year, $114 million deal with Las Vegas RaidersBackup candidatesQB Current Team Potential FitsJameis Winston Browns Broncos, Giants, RamsGardner Minshew Raiders Cowboys, Dolphins, PatriotsJacoby Brissett Patriots Dolphins, LionsMarcus Mariota Commanders Commanders, Ravens, DolphinsJimmy Garoppolo Rams Buccaneers, Patriots, VikingsCarson Wentz Chiefs Cardinals, Chiefs, SteelersTrey Lance Cowboys Chargers, Ravens If we follow this – in Benjamin’s world that leaves Matthew Stafford unaccounted for and if he stays with the Rams, no one of a veteran nature for the Jets. |
| NFC NORTH |
| CHICAGOThe Bears have freed up some cap space per Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com: The Bears announced the release of defensive end DeMarcus Walker and tight end Gerald Everett on Friday.The moves save Chicago an estimated $10.75 million in salary cap space. Walker, 30, was set to make $5.2 million in the final year of his contract and carried a $5.916 cap hit.The Bears signed the veteran pass rusher to a three-year deal in 2023 worth $21 million with $15.65 million in guaranteed money. Walker started 29 games over two seasons in Chicago, including all 17 last year when he totaled a career-high 16 quarterback hits along with eight tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.Everett signed a two-year, $12 million contract with Chicago last March but was seldom used in the Bears’ offense (eight receptions for 36 yards). The Bears targeted the tight end in free agency because of his ties to former Chicago offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, with whom Everett had overlapped while playing for the Rams and Seahawks.Everett’s release nets the Bears $5.5 million in cap savings. |
| DETROITWR JAMESON WILLIAMS was not disciplined by Michigan authorities when he was found with a gun with registration issues – and he won’t be disciplined by the NFL as well. The Athletic:Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams will not face discipline from the NFL regarding a gun incident in October. A league spokesperson confirmed Thursday that the matter is closed.On Oct. 8, police detained and then released Williams over a gun found in the car his brother was driving during a traffic stop. At the time, Williams did not have a concealed pistol license (CPL) to carry the gun.Wayne County (Michigan) prosecutor Kym Worthy determined in November that Williams would not face criminal charges for the incident. Worthy’s office said the law was not clear enough to charge the receiver as Williams’ brother — who did have a concealed pistol license — was driving the car.Williams has been suspended by the NFL twice before. First, for four games in 2023 for violating the league’s gambling policy and then for two games in 2024 for violating the policy on performance-enhancing substances. |
| GREEN BAYMatt Schneidmann of The Athletic on the Packers and the receiver market: Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has mastered the art of saying a lot without saying much during his seven seasons at the helm of Green Bay’s personnel department. That’s why it’ll be interesting to hear his response to what running back Josh Jacobs said during Super Bowl week on radio row about the team’s need for a proven No. 1 wide receiver. Gutekunst left the door open for an outside addition during his season-ending news conference in January while emphasizing his faith in the wideouts Green Bay already has. Might his stance on the matter change given one of his best and most respected players spoke out about the pressing topic? |
| MINNESOTAWill veteran RB AARON JONES be back with the Vikings this season? Kevin Seifert ofESPN.com: It seems safe to rule out at least one possibility as the Minnesota Vikings sort through their backfield options this spring. They do not want to repeat their heavy use of veteran Aaron Jones, who set career highs in touches (306), carries (255) and offensive snaps (700) in his first season with the team.Jones made it through all 18 games, even while nursing hip, rib and quadriceps injuries. He had the most rushing yards (1,138) and second-most yards from scrimmage (1,546) in his career. But as he approaches free agency at age 30, the Vikings have signaled that they will dial back his playing time if he returns.“The big thing for me is we loved having Aaron Jones, the impact he had,” coach Kevin O’Connell told SiriusXM earlier this month. “For the better part of his career, he had kind of been a part of backfield committees, but for the most part, Aaron Jones was the feature back [in 2024]. … So I would love to have Aaron back. And then we just continue to grow in that room, whether it’s infusing a young player in the draft or maybe another player in free agency alongside Aaron Jones, hopefully.”O’Connell made similar comments heading into the 2024 season, and the vision seemed clear during a Week 1 victory over the New York Giants. Jones carried the ball 14 times for 94 yards and a touchdown while playing 52% of the team’s snaps, and third-year backup Ty Chandler took another eight carries and played 35.7% of the snaps.But the Vikings soon lost faith in Chandler and, during a transition period after they acquired Cam Akers as the new backup, Jones slid into more of an every-down role. He played 63% of the team’s offensive snaps and took 67% of the team’s carries by running backs the rest of the way.Speaking after the Vikings’ wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Jones said he “of course” hoped to return to Minnesota in 2025.“We’ll see how it plays out,” he added, “but this is where I want to be.”Even if he is best suited for more of a rotational role, Jones remains one of the best options in a presumptive free agent class that also includes Najee Harris, J.K. Dobbins, Rico Dowdle, Javonte Williams and Akers. His $7 million contract last season ranked 14th among running backs in average per year (APY), and he could have multiple suitors among teams that want to sign a veteran runner.Many teams, however, will be sorting through what is projected to be a deep class of running backs in the draft. ESPN’s Field Yates ranks Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson and Georgia’s Trevor Etienne as the top five available.With four projected picks, the Vikings have the lowest total of draft capital in the NFL. Would drafting a running back make sense for a team that also needs to address the interior of both lines, while dealing with a collection of circumstances that has left their top four cornerbacks and two starting safeties all eligible for free agency?The Vikings have made modest attempts in recent years to build their backfield depth through the draft, selecting Chandler in the 2022 fifth round and adding DeWayne McBride in the seventh round the following year. But they acquired Akers via trade in both 2023 and 2024 to supplant Chandler on the depth chart, while McBride spent 2023 on the practice squad and was waived after training camp last summer.All of this discussion, of course, is devoted to what has been a secondary element of the Vikings’ offense since O’Connell arrived in 2022. Having built the scheme around All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson, the Vikings ranked No. 29 in designed runs (33.6 per game) during the 2022 and 2023 seasons combined.That percentage rose to 39 in 2024 (17th in NFL) as O’Connell sought more balance amid a quarterback transition from Kirk Cousins to Sam Darnold. That was the impetus behind signing Jones last spring, and it will remain a priority as the Vikings consider whether to turn over their offense to second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy.If Jones returns, however, it will likely look different from his workhorse role in 2024. |
| NFC WEST |
| ARIZONAThe Cardinals are signaling they have money to burn in upcoming free agency. Nick Shook of NFL.com: As the 2024 season neared its conclusion, one takeaway became quite clear: In order to win the NFC West, the Cardinals needed to upgrade their roster.Arizona currently owns the fourth-most cap space in the NFL, according to Over The Cap. They intend to spend it, too.“We are going to be active (in free agency),” Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort said, via the team’s official site. “We’re going to look for every avenue to improve the team, but we have to be smart about not only this year’s team, but as we build for the future and our own players that we want to extend.”Arizona gave its fans an entertaining season in 2024, even taking the lead in the NFC West temporarily before a late-season slide — including a 1-3 record in division matchups — saw it fall out of the playoff race entirely. Kyler Murray’s early season heroics paired nicely with a defense that played above expectation, but the Cardinals proved to be an inconsistent team, especially when the running game wasn’t working.As the season entered its final stages, Murray’s production declined. During Arizona’s 2-5 finish to the campaign, Murray posted a 9-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio, a figure very much buoyed by a four-touchdown performance in the largely meaningless win over the 49ers in the season finale. The magic he’d showed earlier in the season was fleeting at best, and Arizona finally succumbed to its talent deficit against better competition.Those seeking simple explanations can point to Murray when assigning blame for the Cardinals’ breakdown. Of course, it was never that simple.“With our whole team, we have to finish,” Ossenfort said Friday during an appearance on Arizona Sports with Dan Bickley and Vince Marotta. “So, there were those tight games that, was it only Kyler? No, there was other things that the rest of the team could do. Does Kyler have to play better? Absolutely he does. So, we talk about it all the time, keys to our team, we don’t want to turn the ball over and we want to make explosive plays. So, when Kyler was doing those things and contributing to those things, he was rolling. He was humming and we saw what that could be.“When those games get tight and we turn the ball over and Kyler’s involved in some of those, like that’s where it’s going to get tough to win. It’s going to get tough to win late in the season when the window of opportunity just shrinks. That’s a hump we have to get over. So, Kyler has to improve on that and our whole team has to improve on that. We have to raise our level of consistency, but we’ve seen what that looks like when Kyler is humming, what he could do with his arm and his legs and the pressure and stress he puts on a defense. We have to find a way, not only Kyler but the rest of our team, to even out those ups-and-downs so we could come out of the right end of those close games, especially late in the season.” |
| AFC WEST |
| KANSAS CITYNate Taylor of The Athletic on TE TRAVIS KELCE: The Chiefs’ offseason begins with tight end Travis Kelce, the future Hall of Famer. Once again, the Chiefs must improve their offense to remain a Super Bowl contender. But will they be able to do that knowing that Kelce is still on the roster? Or will the Chiefs move forward with the possibility that Kelce has played the final game in his illustrious career? Even if Kelce hasn’t decided by the time the combine starts, which is expected, the Chiefs will have to start figuring out what to do with his contract, which includes an $11.5 million roster bonus that is due March 15, according to Over The Cap. His brother thinks Kelce knows what he wants to do. Jeff Kerr of CBSSports.com: Travis Kelce hasn’t officially made his decision on whether he’s returning to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025 or retiring. Brother Jason kelce, and future Hall of Fame center, thinks that decision has already been made.“I think Travis — I think he probably, in his heart, already knows what he wants to do,” Kelce said on The Steam Room podcast with Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley this week. “We’re very similar people, but we also have different ways of thinking about things. Sometimes I can overanalyze situations, and any big decision I’m having in my life I’ll think about the negatives and what about this or that.“My brother has this way of being like, ‘Hey man, you want to play or you don’t want to play.'”Seems like the retirement decision will come easier for Travis than Jason, no matter what the younger Kelce decides to do for 2025. Jason Kelce contemplated retirement for several years before officially deciding to retire after 14 NFL seasons last year (at the age of 36). Travis Kelce would be entering his 14th season if he decides to return and will be 36 this October.If Travis wants to play as long as Jason, playing in the 2025 season would match his brother for age and length of career-wise.Kelce didn’t have his typical dominant season like in years past, totaling 97 catches for 823 yards and three touchdowns (8.5 yards per catch). The 823 yards were the lowest for Kelce in a full season since 2014.The playoffs were a llittle better for Kelce, as he finished with 13 catches for 175 yards and a touchdown, but had only four catches for 39 yards in the Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Kelce was essentially a non-factor in the game, but played another significant role in the Chiefs getting to the Super Bowl. There are not many tight ends for whom 97 catches would be an off year. |
| LAS VEGASVic Tafur of The Athletic on the Raiders and quarterbacks: Will the Raiders sign a QB and draft one? Sam Darnold likely is the best free-agent QB available, but there will be other veterans for the new regime of Tom Brady, Pete Carroll and John Spytek to consider. Kirk Cousins? Meh. The name to watch is Matthew Stafford if the Rams trade him. Less exciting cases could also be made for free agents Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and Marcus Mariota to pair with a quarterback in this year’s draft. The connection between Brady and Shedeur Sanders has been well-documented, and while there is a chance Sanders could slide to the No. 6 pick, maybe a more aggressive path would be to trade up a couple of spots to get him. The Raiders could also wait for a young gun in the draft, depending on their impressions of Jalen Milroe, Kyle McCord and Tyler Shough. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CLEVELANDZac Jackson of The Athletic on the big tasks facing the Browns as the offseason swings into action: The two biggest Browns-related stories of the offseason are also two of the league’s biggest stories: Myles Garrett’s trade request and the Browns’ search for two new quarterbacks, almost certainly one veteran and one rookie. The Browns don’t have to use the No. 2 pick on a quarterback, but the team obviously would prefer not to be picking this early again. Garrett’s request — maybe more like a demand — stems from his belief that the Browns aren’t close to being a real contender. Can the combine stir real trade talks? Can the Browns be talked into moving Garrett? And can some quarterback or group of quarterbacks in this class truly separate from the others? The Browns will be watching closely. Will they really be listening when it comes to Garrett? |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW ENGLANDWill DT MASON GRAHAM be a fit for the Patriots at #4? When Mike Vrabel was introduced as Patriots head coach on Jan. 13, he cited two areas he believes statistically produce the highest odds of success — affecting the opposing quarterback, and an efficient passing game on offense.Vrabel & Co. travel to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis this week and they’ll be taking a closer look at prospects who could help them achieve those goals. Their focus starts with the No. 4 pick in the draft, with Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham figuring to spark a compelling discussion.If Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter and Colorado cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter are selected within the top three, and the Patriots are uncertain that LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell is worthy of the pick, do they turn to Graham as the first defensive lineman picked in a deep class?Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale offers a unique perspective on Graham — from coaching him last season and his 19 seasons coaching in the NFL (most recently from 2022-2023 as New York Giants defensive coordinator).“It’s hard to be as productive as [Graham has] been from a 3-technique position,” Martindale told ESPN in an interview, referencing the alignment on the outside shoulder of a guard.“The thing that stands out the most to me is he knows how to use his hands better than a lot of players in the league right now. That’s what stands out in college football — he’s hard to block.”Graham totaled 46 tackles (24 solo) and 3.5 sacks in 2024, while amassing 108 tackles (61 solo) and nine sacks over his three years at Michigan. His performance in a 13-10 win over rival Ohio State on Nov. 30, when he totaled seven tackles, stood out to Martindale as Graham’s best work.“He just physically [dominated] that entire offensive line,” Martindale said. “You hear people say, ‘he put people on his back,’ and that’s what he did. He wasn’t going to lose that game.”In New England, the hope has been for fifth-year defensive tackle Christian Barmore to be that type of game wrecker. Barmore missed the first 10 games of last season after being diagnosed with blood clots in July, and after returning to play four games, he landed back on the non-football injury list as symptoms reemerged.Yet even if Barmore is fully cleared for action in 2025, a case could be made that the Patriots (last in the NFL with 28 sacks last season) still need to feed the pipeline along the defensive line — the type of approach that has paid dividends for the Super Bowl champion Eagles.Martindale noted Graham’s versatility allows him to play “all over the line” — from a “5 technique” (head up on the tackle) to “a shade” on the outside or inside shoulder of an offensive lineman. Because of that, he views Graham as a matchup option that defenses can isolate against an opposing offensive line’s weakest link.Such an approach was similar to how Vrabel and first-year defensive coordinator Terrell Williams used 2019 first-round pick Jeffery Simmons in Tennessee with success.Michigan listed Graham, who scouts say plays with top-end leverage and balance, at 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds. Teams will be looking to confirm those measurements at the combine — where the defensive line will be the first position group to work out on the field Thursday — because Graham doesn’t have the long arms and super-size physical makeup of others such as fellow Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant (6-3, 339).“You can definitely tell his wrestling background with the way he plays because of his balance and things like that,” Martindale said. “The adjustment for him is going to be bigger offensive guards he’s getting ready to go against. In college, the guards are 300 to 305 [pounds]. In the pros, they’re 340 to 355. So that’s going to be tough for him — not in rushing the passer, but in the run game, the double-teams and those types of things.”Martindale had high praise for the behind-the-scenes approach of the 21-year-old Graham, who was born in Mission Viejo, California, and attended high school outside of the Anaheim area.“He’s a smart football player. He knows the system inside and out,” he said. “He is a guy that during the games will come up and give you some ideas — some not great, but a lot of them are good. He’s into it that way and it’s not selfishly motivated. It’s always something to help the team, to help the defense, and that’s what I appreciated about him.” |
| NEW YORK JETSMore crime against a Jets player when New York thugs follow him 20+ miles to peaceful Morristown, New Jersey. Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com: An unidentified New York Jets player was robbed at gunpoint Saturday morning near his New Jersey home after being followed home from New York City, a source confirmed to ESPN.A witness saw a group of men exit a dark-colored SUV in the Windmill Pond neighborhood in Morristown and take money and personal items from two individuals in another car. No injuries were reported.Among the items taken were jewelry and a watch. A neighbor told NBC New York one of the victims played for the Jets.The victims were believed to be returning from a night out in Manhattan and were targeted by the group, according to the Morristown Department of Public Safety. Police are still investigating what is believed to be an isolated incident, according to a statement on the department’s Facebook page.The robbery comes on the heels of a string of seemingly orchestrated thefts involving the homes of several high-profile athletes. Members of a Chilean gang have been charged after allegedly stealing $3 million worth of goods from some of America’s best-known athletes, including Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| FLAG FOOTBALLThe DB can’t really get all that excited about NFL players playing flag football against international teams of non-professionals at the 2028 Olympics. But it is being discussed. Adam LaRose of Pro Football Rumors: March will bring about the franchise tag deadline and, shortly thereafter, the start of the new league year. The next league meeting is also upcoming, and it will provide the NFL and its owners the opportunity to discuss the potential of participating in flag football during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.Shortly after it was confirmed flag football will make its Olympic debut in 2028, it was confirmed to no surprise that the NFL and NFLPA opened discussions about the possibility of NFL players taking part. Further developments on that front could be coming soon. The league is set to make a full presentation about Olympic participation during the March meeting, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports.A vote could take place in the near future as a result, but that would come as a surprise. A number of issues related to finances, logistics and insurance will need to be sorted out if any agreement is to be reached allowing NFL players to take part. Nothing in the current CBA covers international competitions, so an amendment would need to be added relating to the 2028 Olympics and future games. As Jones notes, the NFL has a “strong desire” to make flag football a permanent Olympic event beyond the Los Angeles debut. High-profile players such as Tyreek Hill have previously expressed interest in taking part, and he is not alone in that respect.“Most likely I’ll be retired by 2028,” Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans said (via ESPN’s Jenna Laine). “I don’t know. But if I am retired, I would definitely like to play in the Olympics.”In other flag-related news, commissioner Roger Goodell said in advance of the Super Bowl that the creation of a professional flag football league is under consideration. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports work is already underway on that front, which should should not come as a shock. The NFL has made a highly public effort in recent years to promote and develop flag football at the youth level in particular, so establishing a pro league represents a logical next step.The league’s international calendar has expanded recently and regular season games played abroad is set to become an increasingly frequent staple of the league moving forward. Pairing a growing presence abroad with Olympic participation is something the NFL and NFLPA would welcome, and it will be interesting to see if progress toward that goal will be reached in the near future. Canada might be able to field a semi-competitive team. After that? |
| 2025 DRAFTBy rule, 32 players will be drafted in the first round and forever known as “first rounders”. But in the eyes of Matt Miller of ESPN.com there are only 12 true first round talents in this draft. How many first-round prospects are there in the 2025 NFL draft class?You might think the answer is 32 because there will be 32 selections in Round 1 on April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. But we aren’t talking about how many players will ultimately be drafted in Round 1; we’re talking about how many carry a true Round 1 grade.The average draft class has roughly 15 players who are deemed “first-round talents,” though the number varies by team and scouting department. These sacred evaluations are reserved for prospects who would be Day 1 selections regardless of year, and my own guideline is whether a player would have been a first-rounder in each of the past five classes.This class has the lowest number of true first-round grades I’ve ever awarded: 12. To compare, the final list in 2024 had 18 names on it, and the 2023 list had 20. There is still time for things to change and that number to grow, but here are the players who deserve a first-round grade on my board right now. (Players’ overall rankings are in parentheses after their names.)Quarterback (0)One year after seeing six quarterbacks drafted in the first round, the 2025 class has zero passers with a true first-round grade. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward would have both been ranked behind Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and even J.J. McCarthy in 2024.Both Sanders and Ward are talented and have the potential to rise in the predraft process, but I wouldn’t be comfortable calling them first-round prospects based on this past season’s tape. That doesn’t mean they won’t be drafted in the first round, though. In fact, it’s a safe bet that both get drafted in the top five selections; quarterbacks always go early.Running back (1)Ashton Jeanty, Boise State (No. 6)Comp: Alvin Kamara, New Orleans SaintsJeanty’s 2024 stats were legendary. He finished the season with 2,601 yards rushing (only 27 behind Barry Sanders for the most in a single season) and scored 29 touchdowns while accumulating 1,733 yards after first contact.The 5-foot-9, 215-pound Jeanty is a punishing runner with patience, vision and runaway speed, and he can also catch passes out of the backfield and stand up to pass rushers while in pass protection. The Heisman runner-up is a rare, true blue-chip running back prospect.Wide receiver (1)Travis Hunter, Colorado (No. 2)Comp: Odell Beckham Jr., free agentThe 6-foot-1, 185-pound Hunter won the Heisman Trophy because of his two-way ability, but I think his biggest NFL impact will come at receiver, which is why I rated him here. (He’d be my No. 2 cornerback if he exclusively played defense). Hunter’s playmaking ability, burst in space and easy speed are a joy to watch.He’s electric on both sides of the ball. On offense, he had 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns. On defense, he had four interceptions and 10 pass breakups. And he could be a great punt returner, too.Tight end (2)Tyler Warren, Penn State (No. 9)Comp: Rob Gronkowski, retiredI don’t typically compare prospects to NFL Hall of Famers, but since Gronk isn’t in the Hall yet, I’m making an exception because Warren is that rare and that good. The 6-foot-6, 257-pound Warren has the functional quickness and movement of a much smaller player, more in line with a 6-foot-3 tight end such as Sam LaPorta.Warren scored a touchdown as a passer, runner and receiver this past season, finishing with 104 receptions for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns. He could be an Offensive Rookie of the Year contender in the right scheme.Colston Loveland, Michigan (No. 11)Comp: Trey McBride, Arizona CardinalsLoveland started the 2024 season with a solid Round 1 grade and a top-10 ranking, but a shoulder injury that seemed to linger caused some concern and prompted me to push him down the board. But this time of year is great for reflection, and Loveland deserves a true Round 1 grade.The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Loveland is physical and tough with the upfield movement ability to beat defenders in his route tree. He’s also a capable blocker with experience playing both in-line and flexed out. Loveland finished this past season with 56 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games.Offensive tackle (2)Will Campbell, LSU (No. 7)Comp: Dion Dawkins, Buffalo BillsCampbell will spark intense debates in NFL scouting rooms as teams try to decide if the three-year starter at left tackle will remain at that spot in the pros. The 6-foot-6, 323-pounder is a technician with great agility and balance, but his shorter arms (under 33 inches) and an upright stance which lacks base power could force a move to guard. Whether he’s on the inside or outside, I confidently give Campbell a Round 1 grade.Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas (No. 8)Comp: Rashawn Slater, Los Angeles ChargersBanks has been the anchor of the Longhorns’ offensive line since arriving on campus as a freshman. Though his 6-foot-4, 320-pound frame might scare some scouts in pass protection, Banks’ elite footwork makes up for a lack of length and has helped him allow pressures on an FBS-low 0.8% of snaps. He is also an elite run blocker with the power and agility to overwhelm defenders. Banks has the potential to be a top run blocker in the NFL, either at tackle or kicking inside to guard.Interior offensive line (0)It takes a special prospect to get a first-round grade as an interior lineman, and this class doesn’t have one yet — although Alabama’s Tyler Booker keeps working his way up my board. This class is still good and has plenty of promising Day 2 and Day 3 prospects. There are also a number of offensive tackles such as Armand Membou (Missouri) and Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona) who are likely first-round selections that will move to guard in the pros.Edge rusher (3)Abdul Carter, Penn State (No. 1)Comp: Micah Parsons, Dallas CowboysCarter is currently my favorite prospect in this class. At 6-foot-3, 259 pounds, he started his college career as an off-ball linebacker but was unstoppable after being bumped to edge full time this past season, racking up 12 sacks and 61 pressures. Carter has the first-step quickness and speed to blow past tackles, along with the power to set them up and run through them. He has the makings of a perennial NFL double-digit sack performer.Jalon Walker, Georgia (No. 5)Comp: Harold Landry III, Tennessee TitansWalker is a hybrid defender with the tape to be a first-round prospect at linebacker and edge rusher, but his pass-rushing talent is too valuable to categorize him as a linebacker. The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Walker was a game changer this past season with 6.5 sacks, and he played his best football in Georgia’s biggest games. He had four sacks in the two meetings with Texas and 1.5 sacks in the season-opening win over Clemson.Mykel Williams, Georgia (No. 12)Comp: Travon Walker, Jacksonville JaguarsThe 6-foot-5, 265-pound Williams sometimes looked like the best player in the 2025 class this past season. He played that way in the two games against Texas, posting a combined eight pressures and four sacks. But he had only one sack against non-Longhorn opponents this past season. Williams’ speed and power combination gives him tremendous upside, which scouts will bet on with continued development.Defensive tackle (1)Mason Graham, Michigan (No. 4)Comp: Nnamdi Madubuike, Baltimore RavensGraham pops on tape, as you’ll see him causing constant problems from his 3-technique alignment. The 6-foot-3, 320-pounder had 3.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss in 2024. He is powerful enough to anchor in the run game while also being quick enough to knife through gaps and make plays in the backfield. One AFC East scout summed it up to me by saying that Graham “never loses snaps.” He consistently beats the player in front of him and has the tools to be an NFL star.Linebacker (0)It’s rare for an off-ball linebacker to get a first-round grade, and no one makes the cut in the 2025 class. UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger is the top-ranked linebacker in the class at No. 25 on my board, while Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell is a close second at No. 26. Clemson’s Barrett Carter is the next-closest player to the cutoff with a mid-Round 2 grade.Cornerback (2)Will Johnson, Michigan (No. 3)Comp: Pat Surtain II, Denver BroncosJohnson was limited to six games in 2024 because of a foot injury but had two interceptions (both pick-sixes) during that time. He is an elite all-around corner with speed and physicality, as his 6-foot-2, 202-pound frame allows him to match up with bigger receivers. Johnson isn’t as flashy as Travis Hunter, but he is incredibly savvy and technically sound.Jahdae Barron, Texas (No. 10)Comp: Brian Branch, Detroit LionsThere will be a conversation about Barron’s best NFL position, but I’m a fan of how he plays football. The 2024 Jim Thorpe Award winner had five interceptions and 10 pass breakups in his senior season and worked his way from a Day 3 prospect last summer all the way to my top 10. Coaches at Texas rave about Barron’s instincts and leadership, and those traits show up on the tape. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder has inside-outside versatility thanks to experience at both slot and outside cornerback, and some scouts think his best position is at the nickel.Safety (0)There are two safeties in the 2025 class who could be drafted in the first round, but I don’t have a safe Round 1 grade on either. South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori is my top-ranked safety at No. 28 overall. He’s a joy to watch, with elite physical tools at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds. He had 88 tackles and four interceptions this past season. Georgia’s Malaki Starks had a down 2024 after entering the season as a top-15 prospect. But the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder is still a possible late-Round 1 selection at No. 30 on my board. |
