| A team (initially secretive, but now outed as the Packers) wants to put the Tush Push on ice. Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com: The Philadelphia Eagles’ “Tush Push” play is as controversial as it is successful. While the play was not banned by the NFL last offseason, the league’s executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said Monday that one team has issued a proposal to ban it for the 2025 season. The Green Bay Packers, who lost to the Eagles in the NFC wild-card round this past January, were the team that issued the proposal to the league’s competition committee, according to The Athletic. The Packers haven’t been shy about their dislike of the play. Team president and CEO Mark Murphy publicly criticized it prior to the Super Bowl. “There is no skill involved and it is almost an automatic first down on plays of a yard or less,” Murphy wrote on the Packers website. “I would like to see the league prohibit pushing or aiding the runner (QB) on this play. There used to be a rule prohibiting this, but it is no longer enforced because I believe it was thought to be too hard for the officials to see. The play is bad for the game, and we should go back to prohibiting the push of the runner. This would bring back the traditional QB sneak. That worked pretty well for Bart Starr and the Packers in the Ice Bowl.” Last offseason, Vincent said that there wasn’t enough sound reasoning to ban the play. However, the league did create a rule requiring “pushers” to start at least 1 yard behind the quarterback. The play, which entails of teammates (usually a running back) shoving the quarterback forward on a quarterback sneak, continued to be an integral part of the Eagles’ success during the team’s Super Bowl run this past season. The nature of the play, in addition to the possible injury ramifications of it, has led to some backlash since the Eagles starting using it in 2022. “It’s not a football play,” Hall of Fame coach Bill Cowher said on “The Dan Patrick Show” earlier this month. “It’s rugby. They call it a scrum. I mean, that’s what it is, Dan. Let’s call it the way that it is. I mean, you’re pushing people and pushing them over. If it’s just a quarterback sneak, I get it, but it becomes like a push in the back, and it’s a scrum. It’s not a strategical play, in my opinion.” It may not be a strategical play, but it’s certainly an effective one. The Eagles, whose success rate when running the play is around 90%, used it to score on the first touchdown in their eventual 40-22 blowout win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. The play has received a good amount of pushback, though, for reasons that Cowher alluded to during his interview with Patrick. “I think there’s a safety element to this,” Cowher said. “I would have to think, because when you have 600 pounds pushing on one person who’s trying to stay in there at 300 pounds. That just seems like it’s a safety issue.” Like Murphy, Cowher is also a proponent of the traditional quarterback sneak. He is not, however, a fan of teammates pushing someone forward, which is a stable of the “Tush Push” and one of the main reasons why it’s so successful. “The game of football is more strategic,” Cowher continued. “That’s rugby. Nothing against rugby, but if you want to get a scrum, you want to see a scrum, go to a rugby match.” It’ll be interesting to see if the Packers’ proposal gets enough support to lead to another change, or even an end to what has become the NFL’s most polarizing play. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASThe Cowboys will be selective in free agency, but aggressively so. Todd Archer of ESPN.com: If last year’s theme for the Dallas Cowboys was “all-in,” then the leader in 2025 is “selectively aggressive.” While the “all-in” definition used by owner and general manager Jerry Jones might have differed from conventional wisdom in terms of how the Cowboys put together their roster last season, the “selectively aggressive” moniker used Monday at the NFL scouting combine by executive vice president Stephen Jones goes back to how the Cowboys used to handle free agency before 2024. “Obviously, our goals historically have been to try to fill as many of our musts and needs before the draft so you can pick the best player on your board,” Stephen Jones said. “Didn’t get that totally accomplished last year, but certainly that’s always the goal. And every year is different in terms of what those musts and needs are, and then you also have to marry what’s in free agency vs. where the draft is heavy and where we can help ourselves in the draft.” Signing All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons to a long-term extension is at or near the top of the list for the Cowboys. While they have yet to kick off discussions with his agent, that could happen as soon as this week with how the organization usually approaches its own players regarding long-term deals. Parsons is set to play on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal (around $21 million) while potentially looking at an extension that could make him the highest-paid defensive player in football (currently $34 million a year). Last offseason, the Cowboys’ priorities were retaining wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott, but those deals did not get done until August and September, respectively. Prescott was at every offseason event before signing a deal worth $60 million a year, while Lamb sat out of the organized team activities, minicamp and most of training camp before signing a deal that made him the NFL’s second-highest-paid wide receiver. “There’s always extenuating circumstances to these things. Every contract negotiation is different,” Jones said. “[With Lamb], there were other receivers trying to get their deals done, and some of them still haven’t gotten those deals done … The CeeDee deal was just different. We’ll just see how Micah’s deal goes. I don’t necessarily know that there’s a lot of extenuating situations out there that would [prevent] us from being able to get our hands around something with Micah, but we’ll see.” Jones said the Cowboys have had discussions with defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa regarding a long-term deal. “We’ve had productive talks, and we’ll see where we end up this week,” said Jones, who would not discuss the possibility of the Cowboys using the franchise or transition tag on Odighizuwa. The Cowboys and agent David Canter will be busy this week as Canter represents free agents-to-be defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, running back Rico Dowdle, cornerback Jourdan Lewis and defensive back Israel Mukuamu. With Zack Martin’s impending retirement, Lawrence, a second-round pick in 2014 behind Martin, would be the longest-tenured Cowboy if he re-signed. Jones said he believes Lawrence wants to continue to play in 2025. “That guy’s laid it on the line for us for years and years and years,” Jones said. Even if Lawrence is not on the roster in 2025, he will count more than $7 million against the 2025 salary cap. Martin is likely to be designated a post-June 1 cut when his retirement becomes official and will count $9.4 million against the 2025 cap, and wide receiver Brandin Cooks, another free agent, will count $4 million against the cap. With the news last week that the cap will increase to anywhere from $277.5 million to $281.5 million, Jones said the Cowboys will benefit from the added space. At some point, the Cowboys will restructure the contracts of Prescott and Lamb and open up $57 million in cap room. “From our standpoint, it gives us some more flexibility in terms of what we can do,” Jones said. That means being potentially more “selectively aggressive” with their own free agents, trades or adding players on the open market. “We’re going to look at everything we can,” Jones said. “You have a certain amount of resources they allow you to have. But we’re going to try to improve our football team. Not try. We’re going to improve our football team and we expect to have success [this] year.” |
| PHILADELPHIAThere was a report that the Eagles had turned down an invitation to celebrate their Super Bowl win at Donald Trump’s White House. But it may be Fake News. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: And so ends the drama over whether the Super Bowl LIX champions will visit the White House. For now. Contrary to a report from nearly three weeks ago that the Eagles had decided not to visit the White House if they win the Super Bowl, a source with direct knowledge of the team’s plans tells PFT that the Eagles will show up, if invited. Per the source, the Eagles would be honored to attend. The source adds that rejecting an invitation was never considered. The report from February 6 caught fire on a slow Sunday, sparking a debate on whether they should go. A White House source thereafter pointed out that no invitation had been issued. The longstanding practice is for the champions of the major sports leagues to make a ceremonial visit to the White House. During the first Trump administration, multiple teams opted not to go — including the Eagles, after they won Super Bowl LII. (Technically they were uninvited after a number of players made it clear they weren’t going.) So there’s the team’s position. They’ll go, if and when they’re invited. Whether an invitation will be issued remains to be seen. |
| AFC WEST |
| DENVERWe know from experience that Federico Pena Airport somewhat near Denver guards the arrivals pick-up area fiercely. Nick Kosmider of The Athletic on linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite getting tased and arrested: Denver Broncos outside linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite was arrested in Denver on Sunday on suspicion of second-degree assault of a police officer, according to a probable cause statement. The Broncos issued a statement saying they were aware of the incident and were gathering more information. The incident occurred at an arrivals area of Denver International Airport after Wilhoite left his vehicle unattended, according to the statement. After Wilhoite returned to the vehicle, the officer approached Wilhoite and told him he could not leave his vehicle unattended. Wilhoite twice told the officer to “shut the f— up,” the statement said. After Wilhoite approached the officer in an “aggressive manner” and bumped the officer’s chest, the officer shoved Wilhoite away. Wilhoite then punched the officer with a closed fist, according to the statement. Wilhoite was then tased “for 5 seconds” before getting into his car and driving away, the statement said. Wilhoite was scheduled to appear in court in Denver on Monday morning. Wilhoite, 38, has been an assistant coach for the Broncos for the past two seasons. He previously worked for Broncos head coach Sean Payton as an assistant in New Orleans. Wilhoite played in the NFL as a linebacker for seven seasons (2011 to 2017) for the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks. |
| LAS VEGASThe Raiders with a re-signing of S ISAIAH POLA-MAO. Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com: The Las Vegas Raiders re-signed restricted free agent safety Isaiah Pola-Mao on Monday, the team announced. Terms were not disclosed, but NFL Network reported that Pola-Mao received a two-year contract worth up to $8.45 million. During the 2024 season, Pola-Mao stepped up after safety Marcus Epps suffered a torn ACL in Week 3 against Carolina. Pola-Mao, the nephew of Hall of Fame safety Troy Polamalu, posted career highs in starts (14), total tackles (89) and passes defended (5). In Week 16, Pola-Mao was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after he collected nine tackles and a pair of forced fumbles in a 19-14 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Pola-Mao, an undrafted free agent in 2022, has spent three seasons with the Raiders, totaling 129 tackles, 3 sacks and 6 passes defended in 44 career games. With Pola-Mao locked up, the Raiders turn their attention to free agent safeties Tre’von Moehrig and Epps. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| JACKSONVILLEJames Gladstone is the new GM of the Jaguars. He comes from the Rams and is 34 years old. Nick Shook of NFL.com: The Jacksonville Jaguars have turned the page toward a new era they hope mirrors the journey of another team on the opposite side of the country: the Los Angeles Rams. Jacksonville’s new leadership duo of general manager James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen carries direct ties to the Rams. Coen spent four seasons on Sean McVay’s offensive staff as an assistant, while Gladstone spent the past eight seasons with the Rams, including the last four as the team’s director of college scouting. They’re bringing with them a blueprint they believe can be applied to the Jaguars. “I think the adaptability that that shows amongst the leadership group in Los Angeles and one that we’ll look to embody here, knowing that this is an ever-evolving landscape in the NFL and the importance of changing and being ahead of the curve in terms of what success,” Gladstone said during his Monday introductory news conference when asked what he learned in his time with the Rams. “Beyond that, I see a lot of parallels to really my time with the Los Angeles Rams and the current moment in time here with the Jacksonville Jaguars, in particular dating back to the inflection point in 2017 when the Los Angeles Rams were coming off a four-win season, hired a dynamic and resilient head coach and were able to follow that up with a successful season and successful seasons since. So really gonna tap into all those years of experience and the different sort of modes of operation and models that we deployed while applying here.” It reads like a lot of football/leadership jargon, but if the new leadership group — which also includes Jaguars legend Tony Boselli, who was recently hired as EVP of football operations — can replicate the turnaround the Rams enjoyed under McVay and general manager Les Snead, they’ll accomplish something the Jaguars haven’t been able to do since the days of Jack Del Rio: win consistently. They’ll also have followed in the footsteps of the Rams in another category: youth. McVay was hired as Rams coach at just 30 years old back in 2017; Gladstone takes over the Jaguars’ front office at 34 years old. “Technically, I don’t know if we’ve talked about our age at all,” Gladstone said of being hired alongside Coen, 39. “The interesting thing, I do think we both start from a place of humility and I think that makes a lot of stuff easy and seamless, while at the same time, there’s this aura of confidence and understanding that we have [a] dynamic asset and that is our ability to see what tools are available and apply and execute those within our spheres. So I don’t know that age has ever been something that my mind’s ever gone to as a part of our process and we certainly haven’t brought it up in any conversations.” In short, Gladstone sees his youth as an advantage because he’s more adept at using modern processes to the Jaguars’ benefit — or at least, that’s how he’s pitching it. Boselli is the elder statesman of the group at 52, admitting humorously, “it bothers me because I’m old!” But there’s truth in Gladstone’s elaborate response. Youth is an advantage in a league in which everyone is constantly searching for an edge. Coen sees another benefit, too. “This is a league where you have to be able to connect with people that are coming out of college,” Coen explained. “This game is ever-evolving and ever-changing, as we’ve talked about. Can we connect with the players? That to me is all that really matters. Can the staff, the personnel department, Tony, can we all connect with these players to be able to get the best product on the field? That’s really all that matters.” It wasn’t a notable issue under Doug Pederson, but the Jaguars are familiar with lacking connection between locker room and front office. When Tom Coughlin returned as an executive late last decade, he didn’t make many fans in the locker room, and his firing was a move that appeared to be quite popular among players at the time. Most of those players are no longer with the team. But the NFL is a business that is constantly resupplied by collegiate draft classes, and if anybody is going to get a young group of players — which, with a ton of draft capital in hand over the next two years, the Jaguars will have plenty of — on board quickly, it will be a younger coach and general manager. Gladstone seems invigorated by the opportunity. “The short of it is there’s talent in a lot of key spots, and with the amount of draft capital that we have at our disposal over the next two seasons, it’s really exciting about what we can do there, especially knowing that that’s the highest volume of draft capital that exists for any team in the NFL over the next two years,” he said. “We’re coming off two cycles in the Los Angeles Rams where that was the exact same case. … Really, this is a dynamic that I’m uniquely positioned to navigate and really looking forward to utilizing as a means of continuing to develop this roster.” Though they hired the coach first, Gladstone and Coen should be on the same page from the start because of their shared background in Los Angeles. Time will tell, but they’re hoping that familiarity helps them hit the ground running. “By default, because of where our roots both fall, we’re aligned just in and of itself,” Gladstone said. “I think through this whole process, some of the things that really were the most alluring and exciting about this opportunity is that the leadership structure mirrors what I’m familiar with in Los Angeles and I know that’s one that I can have success in and is something that can be successful in this line of work.” |
| THIS AND THAT |
| CAREER EARNINGSMike Florio reports that QBs AARON RODGERS and MATTHEW STAFFORD are 1-2 in career earnings with more apparently on the way: They entered the league four years apart, as first-round picks. They’re currently ranked first and second in all-time career earnings. Via Spotrac.com, quarterback Aaron Rodgers has made $381.6 million in his 20-year career. Quarterback Matthew Stafford ranks second on the list, with $364 million in 16 seasons. Tom Brady is third, with $317.6 million. Matt Ryan lands at fourth, with $306.2 million. Russell Wilson stands at fifth, with $305.3 million. Kirk Cousins is sixth, at $293.9 million. Both will likely pass Ryan this year. Cousins, given that he’s guaranteed to make $27.5 million, will pass Brady, too. The rest of the top ten are Drew Brees ($273.9 million), Ben Roethlisberger ($266.7 million), Peyton Manning ($247.7 million), and Dak Prescott ($247.6 million). For both Rodgers and Stafford, the question for 2025 becomes whether they’ll want to maximize their earnings or whether they’ll take less for the right situation. Both have won a Super Bowl. Both are first-ballot, no-brainer Hall of Famers. Of the two, Rodgers seems more likely to take less to get a chance to go out with a contender, given that his time with the Jets (despite being, as he has described it, the best two years of his life) does not reflect his tenure with the Packers. Rodgers will be a free agent. Stafford will get a new contract that increases the $27 million he’s due to make in 2025, either from the Rams or a new team. Eventually, Stafford could finish his career as No. 1. And he’ll hold it until he’s passed by Prescott or, in time, Patrick Mahomes — who has made $181.9 million in eight seasons. Interesting that Stafford has gone from barely on the outskirts of Hall of Fame consideration to a “first-ballot, no-brainer” in his four years with the Rams (half of one which was lost to injury). And he wants to be paid like one. Erich Richter of the New York Post: Matthew Stafford wants to be paid an arm and a leg this offseason. The Rams’ quarterback is reportedly seeking a new contract worth $50 million per year, according to NFL Network’s Peter Schrager. “[The Rams and Stafford] have a fine relationship,” Schrager said on “Good Morning Football” Monday morning. “This is nothing between them personally. This is a money issue. Matthew Stafford wants to be paid what he thinks he’s worth. He wants to be paid more than $50 million.” Stafford was given permission to discuss a contract with other teams this offseason, while Sports Illustrated reports that the Giants, Browns, Raiders and Steelers have contacted Stafford. Schrager added that other teams are willing to pay Stafford more money than the Rams are currently offering him. He has a cap hit of $49.67 million for this season, per Spotrac. The Rams borrowed money from future years to give Stafford a pay bump in the past, but they are not willing at this point to do so. Schrager wondered whether the Steelers would be willing to trade real assets and pay the star quarterback big money. Schrager added that the Giants would never trade the No. 3 overall pick for Stafford but perhaps could part with their second-round pick in exchange for the star quarterback. It appears that the $50 million number is just a starting point and Stafford wants at least that much for 2025. He is entering the third year of a four-year, $160 million deal ($40 million average) that expires after the 2026 season. Nine quarterbacks are currently making at least $50 million per year, including Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, Jared Goff, Tua Tagovailoa, Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow and Dak Prescott. Only one quarterback on that list — Hurts — has won a Super Bowl like Stafford. The Rams are also in the middle of trading star receiver Cooper Kupp, who posted on social media that he was expecting to move on from Los Angeles this offseason. |
| 2025 DRAFTWith the Combine upon us, Frank Schwab of YahooSports.com notes that the gambling public still think the Titans (or the team they trade with) will draft QB CAM WARD with the top pick despite DE ANDRE CARTER emerging as the best player available on most “expert” lists: There’s no more valuable position in sports than quarterback in the NFL. Most analysts believe there are no surefire, can’t-miss quarterback prospects in this year’s NFL Draft. That’s the quandary for the Tennessee Titans, who have the first pick of the NFL Draft and need a quarterback. The betting market still believes the Titans will take the leap on a quarterback. Miami QB Cam Ward has been the favorite to go first overall for a while, and he has held that spot despite the Titans indicating they’re not locked in on taking a quarterback in the draft. Ward is a -150 favorite (bet $150 to win $100) to be the first overall pick at BetMGM. That’s a pretty big lead, but draft betting markets have become notoriously fluid the past few years. With the league converging on Indianapolis this week for the annual NFL Scouting Combine, every bit of news and every quote from the Titans could affect the odds. The Titans opened up the possibility of them passing on quarterback. Titans president of football operations Chad Brinker said earlier this offseason that the team “wouldn’t pass up on a generational talent.” That is a reason Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter is second in the odds at +150, a big change from his opening odds of +2200. Travis Hunter is next at +600, his Colorado teammate Shedeur Sanders is fourth at +800 and no other player is shorter than 66-to-1 odds. The odds indicate there’s no real debate about the QB1 in the class. Ward has a big lead on Sanders. In the opening odds at BetMGM, Sanders was the favorite to go No. 1 overall at +300, but that shifted in January and Ward’s lead has only grown since then. The week of the combine is a big one for teams, prospects and also for news leaking out about teams at the top of the draft order and what they might do in the first round. Anything could trigger a huge shift in the first pick betting odds. But going into the combine, Ward leads the field.– – -Dan Brugler of The Athletic has a list of players for whom the Combine should prove particularly important. Is 32 3/4 enough? Nope. How about 32 7/8? Not quite. Thirty-three inches: That’s the number (or better) Will Campbell wants to see when scouts unfurl the measuring tape from shoulder to fingertip on his outstretched arm. Though it might seem trivial to fuss over such small differences, the NFL Scouting Combine is all about highlighting those eighths of an inch and tenths of a second. Most NFL teams have firm measurement thresholds, and some are stricter than others. For offensive tackles, teams ideally want 34- or 35-inch arms; anything shorter than 33 inches means a potential move to the interior. Campbell has a strong resume. He earned LSU’s left tackle job as an 18-year-old freshman and started the following 38 games there, earning All-SEC and All-America accolades in the process. He grew up modeling his game after Andrew Whitworth (a fellow West Monroe, La., native) and allowed just two sacks over his final 30 games. Not bad in the SEC. He’s also my top-ranked offensive lineman in the 2025 NFL Draft class and No. 6 on my top 100. I don’t know how every NFL team feels, but any I’ve talked to over the last few weeks have him at offensive tackle on their preliminary draft boards. We’ll see if that changes leaving the combine. Campbell has been working for the last two months with longtime offensive line trainer Duke Manyweather at OL Masterminds. Manyweather is always honest in his assessments, and he doesn’t mince words about how he sees Campbell. “Is he a tackle? Absolutely,” Manyweather told The Athletic. “We’ve seen a lot of tackles with great length who couldn’t block a troll on Twitter.” As Manyweather explains it, the focus when studying offensive tackles should be on the feet because that leads to effective hands and putting a blocker in position to end the fight. Rashawn Slater has only 33-inch arms, but he keeps himself in position to finish. So does Penei Sewell, whose arms measure just 33 1/4 inches. “It’s not a crime to get beat initially; it’s a crime to stay beat,” Manyweather said. “And Will does a really great job of resetting his base and staying in phase. He is really strategic of how to use his hands to end the fight.” Given Campbell’s core strength and competitive finish, I have little doubt he could move inside and play guard at a high level. But teams want to keep him outside, making that arm length number an important one. Other draft prospects to watch in Indianapolis this week: Darien Porter, CB, Iowa StateWhile bouncing between receiver and corner for the Cyclones, Porter struggled to find a full-time role until his sixth season. But his speed allowed him to be a playmaker on special teams with four blocked punts and a blocked field goal over the last four years. Porter (6 feet 2 3/8 and 197 pounds) should be an impressive tester, especially in the 40-yard dash, which would cement his status in the top 100 picks. The son of two accomplished college athletes, Porter was a standout track athlete in high school, setting Iowa’s record in the 400 meters (46.99 seconds). He finished with five state titles and a personal best of 10.68 seconds in the 100. How does that track speed translate to the football field? He was clocked at 22.17 mph during Senior Bowl practices last month, the fastest time of the week and one of the best since data has been available. In the eight years Zebra Technologies has been tracking player speed at the Senior Bowl, only one player was faster: Tariq Woolen (22.45 mph), who ran a 4.26-second 40 at the combine. Arian Smith, WR, GeorgiaA strong candidate to run this year’s fastest 40-yard dash, Smith was a high-level track athlete in high school and nationally ranked as a sprinter and leaper. He won a state championship in the long jump as a freshman, and his personal-best long jump (25 feet, 3 inches) is the best in this draft class, just ahead of his Georgia teammate Malaki Starks (who also should test extremely well). Smith also ran track at Georgia and set a personal best of 10.10 seconds in the 100 meters, which easily translates to the 4.3s in the 40-yard dash. A few others who should be in the mix for the fastest 40-yard dash: Jacob Parrish (Kansas State), Quincy Riley (Louisville), Jaydon Blue (Texas), Jimmy Horn Jr. (Colorado) and Dylan Sampson (Tennessee). Isaiah Bond, WR, TexasBond transferred from Alabama to Texas this past offseason with the idea that he would be Quinn Ewers’ new go-to target. That didn’t quite materialize for several reasons, including the right ankle injury Bond suffered, which lingered throughout much of the season. But there also were numerous on-field inconsistencies teams will want addressed during interviews in Indianapolis. During the testing portion of the combine, Bond should stand out in a big way. Since age 8, he has been nationally recognized in track and set a personal best of 10.48 seconds in the 100 meters in high school. Bond finished his prep career with multiple state titles in the 100 and 200, which should translate well in drills. He has a lot on the line. Jihaad Campbell, LB, AlabamaOne of the freakiest size-speed athletes in the draft class, Campbell filled the stat sheet last season using explosiveness and natural force. At almost 250 pounds, he should be one of the more impressive testers at the combine, which will further discussions inside war rooms about whether Campbell is best suited off the ball or in more of an edge-rusher role. Regardless, the buzz for Campbell will get louder and louder in Indianapolis. Nick Emmanwori, S, South CarolinaEven if he isn’t quite his listed size (6-3, 227 pounds), Emmanwori has crazy range and athleticism for a bigger defensive back. According to Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List,” he posted a broad jump of 11 feet, 4 inches and a 42-inch vertical last offseason, both of which might be the best in this draft class. His testing could cement his status in the first round. Will Johnson, CB, MichiganCornerback is a “stopwatch” position, and all eyes will be on Johnson’s 40-yard dash — if he elects to run one. Top-end speed is one of the few question marks NFL scouts have about Johnson and the main thing keeping him from being a top-10 lock. But he should shine in the jumps and short-area agility testing. I can’t wait to see his three-cone drill. Jahdae Barron, CB, TexasAnother cornerback with plenty at stake, Barron isn’t viewed as a first-round lock by NFL teams — the physical traits are closer to good than great. He’s right around 5-11, 190, but are his arms longer than 30 inches? What will he run in the 40-yard dash? How will he look in his pedal and transition drills? Barron is such an easy player to like because of his nose for the ball and versatile experience across the secondary. But teams will be watching his drills closely. Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio StateMedicals at the combine will be crucial for every prospect but most important for several key players, such as East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. and Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison, who are coming off injuries. But Simmons might have the most on the line. He was making a strong case to be OT1 over the first month of the season until he suffered a non-contact patella injury. Each team’s medical staff will get an opportunity to examine the knee and get a better understanding of the injury, rehab and prognosis. According to a league source, he is expected to have a private workout for teams in April, before the draft. Mykel Williams, Edge, GeorgiaTalk about a player who looks the part: Williams should be north of 35-inch arms and 260 pounds when he gets measured in Indianapolis. He is a loose, flexible athlete on film with long strides that help him accelerate with ease. NFL teams will be eager to see how Williams’ on-field movements are reflected on the stopwatch. And it isn’t just Williams, a potential top-10 pick, scouts are excited to see. They’ll be closely watching all of the likely early-round edge rushers, including Abdul Carter (Penn State), Jalon Walker (Georgia), Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M), Mike Green (Marshall), James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee), JT Tuimoloau (Ohio State), Jack Sawyer (Ohio State) and others. Jordan Burch, Edge, OregonBurch is a former five-star recruit, and it’s easy to see why. Just over 6-4 and around 290 pounds, he is a loose mover with outstanding short-area movements to maneuver through gaps or unleash his power on blockers. A few injuries this season have caused him to be somewhat underrated, but it won’t be surprising when the buzz builds after his combine performance. Kenneth Grant, DT, MichiganOne of the top “freaks” on Feldman’s list, Grant is a 350-pound behemoth but nothing close to a slug. According to Feldman, he ran a sub-5.00-second 40 in college, along with a 4.69-second short shuttle, which would be a terrific time for a guy that size. Some teams believe he is a second-round prospect, and others like him higher. Regardless, Grant is a rare athlete. Marcus Mbow, OT, PurdueMbow had a solid yet unspectacular week at the Senior Bowl, with some of his play-strength issues standing out. But his strengths include lower-body movements and fluid body control, which will be highlighted during drills. A short shuttle of less than 4.50 seconds and a three cone under 7.50 are lofty yet realistic expectations. The combine needs to be (and should be) where Mbow makes his money. Savion Williams, WR, TCUAt just under 6-4 and around 225 pounds, Williams has some freaky ability. The top-end speed is just OK, though, so I don’t know that his 40-yard dash will be exceptional. But he has springs in his calves, which should show in the jumps and his explosion during drills. Scouts also have questioned how natural his hands are, so I’m eager to see him catch the football in the gauntlet drill. Charles Grant, OT, William & MaryA late bloomer, Grant started playing football as a junior in high school, joined William & Mary as a 240-pound project and blossomed into an NFL prospect. The Senior Bowl was supposed to be his springboard to a Day 2 draft projection, but a late-season injury sidetracked that idea. Instead, the combine should be where he turns heads with his burst and agility — as long as he is healthy. Scouts measured his arms at 35 5/8 inches last spring, and if he tests as expected, his tools and promising tape might be enough to get him in the top 100. Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa StateNoel has had a pretty good year: He got engaged, graduated from college, set career bests in receiving and performed like one of the best players at the Senior Bowl. And I’ll bet he continues that strong momentum in Indianapolis. Though Noel won’t stand out with his size, he has speed, coordination and strong hands, which should be evident in the athletic and positional testing. |
