| Axios with a sports scoop, albeit one with political ramifications: President Trump plans to announce Monday that Washington, D.C., will host the 2027 NFL Draft, with the aim of holding it on the National Mall, Axios has learned. The announcement is expected to be made with National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell and Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris at the White House, two sources familiar with the plan tell Axios.– – -The Athletic asked its team correspondents to choose a “value pick” for each of the 32 member clubs. We have a few below in the appropriate team, but you can see them all here. |
| NFC NORTH |
| CHICAGOThe value pick from The Athletic: Chicago Bears: Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston CollegeRound 2, No. 56Trapilo was the smart choice at No. 56 for the Bears, who picked Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner soon after at No. 62. This year was deeper for defensive linemen. By taking Trapilo first, the Bears beat the drop in tier for his position, especially when it came to the value and his place on their board. As a second-round pick, Trapilo is here to push left tackle Braxton Jones and right tackle Darnell Wright. Trapilo played on both sides at Boston College. The Bears will see where everyone fits best in training camp. — Adam Jahns |
| GREEN BAYA first round value pick (?) from The Athletic: Green Bay Packers: Matthew Golden, WR, TexasRound 1, No. 23Is it acceptable to say their first-round pick? Golden seemed a popular pick to the Cowboys at No. 12 in pre-draft mocks, but he “fell” to the Packers at No. 23. The Packers had enticing offers to trade back, GM Brian Gutekunst said, but they felt strongly enough about Golden and stayed put. The Packers ranked No. 27 in the NFL with 29 drops last season, according to TruMedia, and Gutekunst said the Packers thought Golden had arguably the best hands in the draft. He ran a blazing 4.29-second 40-yard dash at the combine, second-fastest in the draft behind Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston’s 4.28, but he explained his game is more than just speed as a route runner. — Matt Schneidman |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASA team that plays its home games in Arlington fires its “offensive coordinator” but it’s not the Cowboys. The Texas Rangers on Sunday continued their shakeup amid a slow start at the plate, announcing the dismissal of offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker. The club also placed outfielder Leody Tavares on outright waivers, a source told The Athletic. We hadn’t heard of Ecker or anyone else in baseball having an offensive coordinator, we found that Grady Sizemore is the OC of the Chicago White Sox. The Rangers entered Sunday last of the 30 MLB teams with 3.09 runs scored per game. The White Sox, surprisingly, are all the way up to 25th.- – -Coach Brian Schottenheimer has shaken things up in the Dallas locker room. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: One of the first changes Cowboys players became aware of when they arrived for offseason work was a reorganized locker room. Among the moves are that Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons now has his locker right next to quarterback Dak Prescott’s, in an effort to join two top players and team leaders. First-year Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer says the players have no say in where their lockers are, and he and the staff made the changes. “We moved some guys around,” Schottenheimer said. “This year, I did, along with the help of the staff. They don’t really get a say in that, but there’s a method to the madness. I think when the guys went into the team room for the first time, I made them all stand up after they sat down, I let them sit down and I had them stand up and move seats. Why? It’s a new year. It’s 2025. We’ll do that in 2026, we’ll do that in 2027 and beyond. When you start a new year, do something different. Change something up. It’s something that’s talked about, thought about, but there’s a method to the madness at times.” Schottenheimer has been in Dallas the last three years as an assistant coach, so he’s well aware of how the facility has been organized, but now that he’s in charge he’s making some changes. |
| PHILADELPHIAA first round value pick from The Athletic: Philadelphia Eagles: Jihaad Campbell, LB, AlabamaRound 1, No. 31The Eagles believe they acquired Campbell at a considerable bargain. Howie Roseman said the Alabama linebacker was a “top-10 player” on their draft board. Health concerns prompted Campbell’s fall but the Eagles accepted both the risk of Campbell’s injury history and the uncertainty of just when he will be available for football activities. The payoff could be substantial. Campbell’s size (6-foot-2, 235 pounds), speed (19.45 mph shuffle sprint) and physicality make him one of the most athletic defenders in the draft. — Brooks Kubena |
| NFC SOUTH |
| ATLANTAOC Zac Robinson re-affirms that TE KYLE PITTS is still TE KYLE PITTS, not WR KYLE PITTS. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: Four years after the Falcons took him with the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Kyle Pitts has not become the player Atlanta was hoping for. But the Falcons still believe Pitts can become an elite, complete tight end — and not just a receiver who has tight end size. Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson told The Waterboyz Show that in his offense, Pitts is a tight end, and is continuing to develop a tight end-specific skill set. “Kyle is a tight end first,” Robinson said. “So first and foremost, we use Kyle as a tight end. He played with his hand in the dirt more than he had in the past last year. We want to continue to develop his tight end skills. Are there times when we split him out? One hundred percent, because we want to split him out to get him away from the core and do some of those things.” Robinson said he and Falcons tight ends coach Kevin Koger work diligently with Pitts to make him the tight end their offense needs. “I’m expecting Kyle to take a big jump. Year Two of the system,” Robinson said. “Year Two of understanding what we’re trying to do offensively. All those things that come with it, so expecting a lot of good things from Kyle. He knows what he needs to work on with the details, some of the fundamentals and techniques, the consistency down in and down out, those are things we talk about with him and Coach Koger talks about with him all the time is those finer details and that next level that he can take as a player. So I’m pumped for Kyle, can’t wait to get on the field with him and that’s going to be a lot of fun to see his growth.” It’s a big year for Pitts, who is in the fifth and final year of his rookie contract and will try to justify both the $10.878 million salary he’s making this year and, he hopes, a lucrative second contract. |
| NFC WEST |
| SAN FRANCISCOA value pick from The Athletic: San Francisco 49ers: Jordan James, RB, OregonRound 5, No. 147James rushed for 1,267 yards last season, scored 15 touchdowns and was solid as a receiver and pass protector. That he fell to the 49ers in the fifth round likely was a product of his ho-hum speed — he ran a 4.55-second 40 — and that the draft was uncommonly deep at running back. Eight of them were taken before James. He was a favorite of former 49ers running back Frank Gore, who works for the team’s scouting department, and running backs coach Bobby Turner, who regularly had phone conversations with James in the run-up to the draft. — Matt Barrows |
| SEATTLEA value pick from The Athletic: Seattle Seahawks: Jalen Milroe, QB, AlabamaRound 3, No. 92Milroe has the potential to be the best value by a wide margin if he becomes a starter. His rookie deal is projected to be $6.2 million over four years, according to Over the Cap. Sam Darnold’s three-year contract is worth $100.5 million, and he’s not even among the top 15 highest-paid QBs by average annual value. Competent quarterback play is expensive and hard to come by. It might take some time for Milroe to become a competent NFL quarterback, but if he reaches that level, he’ll be one of the most valuable picks in the entire draft. — Michael-Shawn Dugar |
| AFC WEST |
| DENVERA value pick from The Athletic: Denver Broncos: Sai’vion Jones, edge, LSURound 3, No. 101Jones may be the player with the best chance to dramatically outplay his draft slot. The 6-foot-5, 283-pound prospect had a breakthrough year in 2024, tallying 43 pressures, 4 1/2 sacks and two forced fumbles. Though Jones played four seasons at LSU, he enters the NFL at just 21 and is still ascending as a pass rusher. One way to view Jones is as a potential upgrade over Jordan Jackson, who was serviceable while playing 27 percent of defensive snaps last season but doesn’t possess the same explosiveness Jones has in his lengthy frame. Jones’ blend of size, skill and SEC experience should help him make an impact along Denver’s defensive front sooner rather than later. — Nick Kosmider |
| KANSAS CITYA first round value pick from The Athletic: Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Simmons, LT, Ohio StateRound 1, No. 32Why was the 32nd pick such a great value? Because through the first five games of his second season for the Buckeyes, Simmons looked like a lock for All-America honors and displayed such dominance with his blend of athleticism, strength and instincts that most draft analysts started projecting him as a top-five pick. But a midseason patella tendon injury that required surgery caused his draft stock to take a hit. But the Chiefs believe he’s on track to regain full strength and count themselves fortunate that Simmons fell into their laps. — Mike Jones |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERSA value pick from The Athletic: Los Angeles Chargers: Oronde Gadsden II, TE, SyracuseRound 5, No. 165The Chargers have a great blocking tight end in Will Dissly. They added a seasoned and reliable possession receiver in tight end Tyler Conklin. What they were lacking was a vertical element, a tight end who could threaten defenses down the seam. Gadsden has the potential to be that type of player. There were better options earlier in the draft with players such as Colston Loveland, Elijah Arroyo and Terrance Ferguson. Instead, the Chargers took advantage of a deep group and found a capable skill set on Day 3. — Daniel Popper |
| AFC NORTH |
| BALTIMOREThe Ravens drafted a kicker with PK JUSTIN TUCKER no longer performing like the game’s best while being sued. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: The Ravens drafted kicker Tyler Loop in the sixth round last month and their plans at the position came up during John Harbaugh’s press conference at the team’s rookie minicamp on Sunday. Loop’s arrival came with Justin Tucker under investigation from the league due to sexual assault allegations and Harbaugh said on Sunday that investigation is still going on. Absent any announcement from the league about Tucker’s status, Harbaugh said that any decisions in the “next few weeks will be based on football.” “As you know, Justin’s been in the building the last couple of weeks kicking and everything,” Harbaugh said, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. “Got a chance to talk a little bit. I would just say, from the standpoint of the investigation and all that, we don’t know anything. We haven’t been given any information. As it should be, it’s all done the way it’s done. We don’t know anything along those lines, so we can’t make any decision based on that. Every decision we make has to be made on football.” It seems unlikely that the Ravens would make any roster move involving Loop so soon after drafting him, so any decisions — football or otherwise — before training camp are likely to be about Tucker’s continued employment by the organization.– – -Alper also has this update on WR ZAY FLOWERS who was not available in the postseason. Wide receiver Zay Flowers missed both of the Ravens’ playoff games because of a knee injury, but he’s in good shape as he heads toward the 2025 season. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said on Sunday that Flowers did not require any surgery to repair the injury and that he’s been working without issue in the early stages of the team’s offseason program. “It did not go to surgery,” Harbaugh said, via the team’s website. “Actually, he was doing a little dance in the weight room this last week and said he’s feeling great, his knee’s back. He did it with rehab.” Flowers led the team with 74 catches and 1,059 receiving yards last season. The Ravens have added veteran DeAndre Hopkins and sixth-round pick LaJohntay Wester to Rashod Bateman, Tylan Walker, and Devontez Walker this offseason. |
| CINCINNATIA value pick from The Athletic: Cincinnati Bengals: Tahj Brooks, RB, Texas TechRound 6, No. 193The running back value in this draft was just too good to pass up. Brooks had a fifth-round grade, but considering his production and elite agility, he could have gone much higher any other year. Brooks is built like a block of granite and ran for 1,500 yards and 5.2 yards per carry in each of his last two seasons, dropping in 27 touchdowns over that span. He ideally rounds out a running backs room headed by Chase Brown with veterans Samaje Perine and Zack Moss also available for snaps. — Paul Dehner Jr. |
| PITTSBURGHWith the departure of Greg Popoffovich from the San Antonio Spurs, the North American seniority mantle is passed to Mike Tomlin. Jack Markowski of SI.com: Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is now the owner of a rather admirable title. As pointed out by NFL Network’s Andrew Siciliano, Tomlin has become the longest-tenured head coach across the four major North American sports after it was announced that Gregg Popovich is moving from the sideline to the San Antonio Spurs’ front office as their Team President. Tomlin is entering his 19th season as the Steelers’ lead man. He was hired in January 2007 as Bill Cowher’s replacement after spending five years as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive backs coach from 2001 to 2005 and one as the defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings in 2006. Pittsburgh has not endured a losing season in the 18 years since Tomlin came to town, marking an NFL record. Over that stretch, the team has a regular season record of 183-107-2 while winning the AFC North on seven occasions. Additionally, the Steelers have made the playoffs 12 times and own an 8-11 record there under Tomlin’s watch, winning Super Bowl XLIII over the Arizona Cardinals in February 2009 during that time while also capturing the AFC pennant in 2010 and reaching the conference championship game in 2016. Tomlin’s 183 victories are the 12th-most in league history and the second-most for an active coach behind Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs, who has 273. John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens is the next closest NFL coach to Tomlin in terms of tenure in his current role at 17 seasons. Erik Spoelstra is at the same point as Harbaugh in his stint with the NBA’s Miami Heat, but no one in either the NHL or MLB comes close to hitting that mark at the moment. While there’s been some frustration from Steelers fans regarding the team’s six-game postseason losing streak and overall inability to get over the hump, there’s no denying Tomlin’s positive impact on the organization as a whole. Tampa Bay is the home of the longest-tenured hockey coach and baseball manager: In the NHL, Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper assumed the role of Lightning head coach in 2013; no other coach in that league has had his current job longer. And in Major League Baseball, the manager with the longest current tenure in one place is Tampa Bay’s Kevin Cash — hired by the Rays for that job in December 2014. Andy Reid of the Chiefs, now entering his 13th season is next on the NFL list.- – – Charles Robinson of YahooSports.com on the similarities between the 2025 Steelers and the 2023 Jets. On the doorstep of the NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers were crystal clear about their quarterback situation. One way or another, additions — plural — were going to be made. “We go to camp with four quarterbacks,” Steelers general manager Omar Khan said, prior to the first day of the draft. “Right now we have two on the roster. All options are on the table in how we acquire those last two. I assure you we’ll have four when we get to [training camp in] Latrobe [Pennsylvania].” The draft has come and gone, with the sixth-round selection of Ohio State’s Will Howard adding to that room. This was an Aaron Rodgers move in a Steelers draft that was stacked with Aaron Rodgers moves. We’ll get to that in a second. First, the bottom line: Roughly five weeks from the team’s mandatory attendance full-squad minicamp in June, Pittsburgh remains on schedule to get Rodgers into the fold. However, that schedule won’t include a clock or deadlines, no matter how many times the outside world tries to nail one down. That’s for the very much intended purpose of eliminating more stories about Rodgers’ existence in Pittsburgh’s orbit, eliminating questions about why he is not taking part in organized team activities and even leaving the door open for him to potentially miss the June minicamp, if it ultimately comes to that. So long as Rodgers isn’t signed, there is no room for questions about why he’s signed but not in the building, or a running timeline of when he is going to show up. It also eliminates Pittsburgh getting pulled into any of the side stories that often follow Rodgers — the most recent being speculation about his Kentucky Derby attendance Saturday, which appeared to reveal a ring on Rodgers’ left-hand, wedding-band finger. The development set off social media and immediately summoned theories that part of the reason Rodgers is taking his time marrying the Steelers this offseason is because he’s been busy marrying someone else first. There’s no actual proof of that, of course. It’s entirely possible he got married this offseason … entirely possible it’s nothing at all … and entirely possible Rodgers is just trolling the media that watches him so closely. Whatever it is, the Steelers aren’t subject to being part of any of it, because he’s still nothing more than an unsigned player. With that in mind, Pittsburgh moves forward with three of its four quarterbacks — Howard, Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson — and one extremely large open seat for whenever Rodgers is ready to return to football. That could be prior to the full-squad minicamp or even prior to training camp in July. While there is no deadline, it’s worth noting Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has at least expressed some level of ideology when it comes to getting everyone in place. “In general,” Tomlin said, “When you report to training camp, that’s a line of demarcation for development of a group individually and collectively.” Translated? It would be best if the entire team and the starting quarterback were together by training camp. Realistically, Rodgers sidelining himself from football all the way to late July would be a surprise, given that he knows the risks of walking into a completely new environment at the last possible moment. Not just from a chemistry standpoint with teammates, but also logically with just getting reps down in a June introduction to the rest of the team, before a break and then resumption of work when training camp kicks off. For now, smart money has Rodgers and the Steelers getting something done just before the June full-squad minicamp. If that doesn’t happen, and there remains a possibility he does the unthinkable and unceremoniously retires before training camp kicks off, Pittsburgh still has a Kirk Cousins trade in its back pocket — with the Atlanta Falcons quarterback now having no other realistic starting destination across the league beyond the Steelers. That’s still a break-the-glass scenario the Steelers don’t really think is going to happen. Instead, the franchise is telegraphing a signing of Rodgers at every turn. First by keeping a seat open in the quarterback room, and second by conducting itself in the draft like a team that’s going all-in on a win-now veteran quarterback named Aaron Rodgers. Consider: With a severe need at quarterback and some options available on the board at the 21st overall pick in the draft, Pittsburgh went with an immediate plug-and-play defensive tackle in Oregon’s Derrick Harmon. It’s the kind of move you make when you feel like you have a starting QB in the fold who will prioritize immediate production over any developmental or young quarterback talent. The Steelers lacked a second-round pick because it was sent to the Seattle Seahawks for wideout DK Metcalf, who was immediately signed to a four-year, $132 million extension. It’s not the kind of move a team makes when it has no idea who the 2025 starting quarterback is going to be. We should also note here that Metcalf and Rodgers have already worked out together this offseason in Los Angeles. The Steelers’ third-round pick: A scheme-specific low-ceiling/high-floor running back in Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, who can step in on Day 1 and carry a full load in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s scheme. Johnson’s viability is likely tied to how long Smith is the offensive coordinator. This is the quintessential move that’s meant for production immediately. The fourth round: Another low-ceiling/high-floor pick in Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer, who started his last 29 college games for the Buckeyes and comes in with the ability to instantly be a rotational piece on the defensive line. With other “upside” developmental swings available, the Steelers went with a player who can help the team immediately and contribute to a win-now environment. All of these moves were capped by the Howard pick in the sixth round, which represents a stab at a backup quarterback who will never be mistaken by the media or fan base as someone Rodgers should be looking over his shoulder for. No Jalen Milroe in the third round, despite him having enticing skills and an athletic profile at Alabama and the film against Southeastern Conference competition that Khan has a history of coveting. No Quinn Ewers, in spite of 35 starts against some of the highest-level competition at the college level. And no Shedeur Sanders, who would have brought a spotlight equal to the one that follows Rodgers. In a way, this all feels familiar. Trace a finger down all of the additions the New York Jets made in the offseason the franchise went all-in on Rodgers. Look at what New York did prior to the Rodgers trade and then afterward. You will see both coaching and roster additions meant to do two things: Keep Rodgers happy and secure in his starting spot, and win immediately in what was expected to be a small window of opportunity. That’s what the Steelers are doing right now. They’re a team that doesn’t have Rodgers under contract, but they’re conducting their moves like his signing is an inevitability. Maybe the signing comes in days or weeks. Maybe it comes in July. Whenever it happens, it’s coming. Aaron Rodgers is going to be the Steelers’ quarterback in the coming weeks or months. Every move Pittsburgh makes — or doesn’t make — screams it. And if he isn’t, the pursuit of him will have crippled yet another franchise that leveraged itself reaching for a fading star. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| JACKSONVILLEA value pick from The Athletic: Jacksonville Jaguars: Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia TechRound 4, No. 104Tuten should immediately push starter Travis Etienne (playing on his fifth-year option) for snaps, possibly in a similar way to how Bucky Irving jumped Rachaad White with Liam Coen’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2024. Tuten has explosive quickness and he’s dangerous in space. Coen is as good as any play caller in the league at scheming up mismatches, particularly out of the backfield, so Tuten has very intriguing upside in the Jacksonville offense. — Jeff Howe Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com looks at the prognosis for QB TREVOR LAWRENCE with new coaches and new teammates. First-year head coach Liam Coen, with an assist from general manager James Gladstone, has followed through on one of the things he said the Jacksonville Jaguars needed to do this offseason: help quarterback Trevor Lawrence. After signing a receiver, two tight ends, and four offensive linemen in free agency, the Jaguars drafted five more offensive players last week — including receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter, who was regarded as the best player available. Coen believes he and Gladstone have the pieces in place to meet the goal of making Lawrence and the offense as “explosive and dynamic as we can be,” a goal Coen made during his introductory news conference. “We’ve definitely addressed the ability to strike from a distance,” Coen said. “I think that that’s something that we just struggled to do a little bit in Tampa [last season when he was the offensive coordinator] where you ended up having to go 10-, 12-play drives a lot. It was efficient, right, but ultimately, you’re looking to be as explosive as you can in both the run and the pass. “That was definitely addressed in both pro free agency and the college draft landscape. Don’t think we have to add any more at this point.” Receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was the only dynamic player the Jaguars had as a building block, especially after the team traded receiver Christian Kirk and released tight end Evan Engram in March. He was also the Jaguars’ only playmaker last season (Kirk and Engram missed a combined 17 games with injuries). Thomas — whose 1,282 receiving yards was third in the NFL and a franchise rookie record — had 18 catches of 20 or more yards (eighth in the NFL) and seven catches of 40 or more yards. The latter was just one shy of Ja’Marr Chase’s NFL lead. Hunter, whom the Jaguars drafted second overall after trading up from No. 5, was a big-play threat last season at Colorado with 16 catches of 20 or more yards, which was tied with Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan (No. 8 overall pick) for the second most in FBS. Hunter also had 15 touchdown catches, which tied for second in FBS, and five of those catches came on vertical routes. All of which he did while also playing on defense and averaging 113.9 snaps per game. Lining up Hunter opposite Thomas should be a problem for defenses and, in turn, create opportunities for big plays, Coen said. Hunter hopes so, too, and he’s planning on trying to learn as much from Thomas as possible. “He will be big for me. He did a great job his rookie season,” Hunter said after being drafted. “I’ve got a lot to improve on myself. So, I’m going to ask him a lot of questions. He’ll probably get annoyed because I’m going to ask so many questions. “I want to be the best. I want to be better than him. So, I’m going to try to soak up all the knowledge that he allows me to take from him.” The Jaguars also added big-play potential in the backfield by drafting running back Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round. Tuten had five runs of 40 or more yards last season at Virginia Tech. He had 14 runs of 25 or more yards in his two seasons with the Hokies. Those two draft picks complement receiver Dyami Brown, who signed a one-year deal in free agency. Brown had 30 catches for the Washington Commanders last season but 14 came in the last five games. He also had 14 catches for 229 yards and averaged 16.4 yards per catch in three playoff games. His 229 receiving yards were second most by any player in the postseason. Adding Hunter, Tuten and Brown — as well as running back LeQuint Allen (seventh round) and tight ends Hunter Long and Johnny Mundt in free agency — gives Lawrence a significantly different set of pass catchers than he had the past two seasons. The big-play potential of Thomas and Hunter, in particular, seems to play into Lawrence’s strengths. In his three seasons at Clemson (2018-20), Lawrence went 46-for-126 for 1,968 yards and 22 touchdowns on throws that traveled 25 or more yards in the air. Those ranked in the top six in the FBS over that span, and the only quarterback with more touchdown passes was North Carolina’s Sam Howell (23). Lawrence has completed 27.6% of his 105 throws of 25 or more air yards for 1,217 yards and 7 touchdowns with 7 interceptions in his past three seasons with the Jaguars. That’s, in part, because he ranks 27th among quarterbacks in time before passing on those throws (3.36 seconds). And that’s why upgrading the offensive line, particularly the interior, was also a major focus in the offseason. Center Robert Hainsey and guard Patrick Mekari were signed to be starters, and Chuma Edoga and Fred Johnson, both of whom have played guard and tackle in their careers, were brought in for depth. Drafting tackle Wyatt Milum, whom the Jaguars will move to guard, in the second round and center Jonah Monheim, who has played all three positions, in the seventh completes the offensive line additions. The goal is to improve the run game (the Jaguars’ 70.2% run block win rate ranked 25th) as well as the pass blocking (58.6% pass block win rate ranked 19th), which will help the offense be more productive. And, if everything goes the way Coen believes, they’ll be more explosive and dynamic. “You are always trying to add competition and playmakers,” Coen said. “There’s so many schemes that you can devise and execute, and ultimately when you have players that can win on their own and do something with the ball on their own, I can’t really coach that. Coordinators can’t really coach for that. Ultimately, you’re looking for players, can they win on their own, and can they impact our offense in that way? “That is what we were looking to do in so many ways.” |
| TENNESSEEA target for QB CAM WARD is the value pick from The Athletic: Tennessee Titans: Elic Ayomanor, WR, StanfordRound 4, No. 136Brugler ranked Ayomanor the No. 11 receiver in the draft, with a third-round grade, in “The Beast,” and I thought the Titans would grab him with the first pick of the fourth round because he’s exactly what they lack — a physical receiver. They gave one away three years ago in A.J. Brown. Treylon Burks hasn’t filled the hole. Instead, the Titans went with Florida speedster Chimere Dike, then still got Ayomanor at No. 136. That’s good value, and in between, the Titans grabbed Texas tight end Gunnar Helm at 120. In less than two hours, Cam Ward’s menu of viable pass-catching options increased significantly. And even if it was one fluky night, it’s nice to bring in a guy in Ayomanor who has “cooked Travis Hunter for 294 yards” on his résumé. — Joe Rexrode |
| AFC EAST |
| BUFFALOA value pick from The Athletic: Buffalo Bills: Landon Jackson, edge, ArkansasRound 3, No. 72Although Jackson may not have the crazy speed or bend around the edge that vaulted other edge prospects up the board, the Bills know exactly what they’re getting out of him — power, a non-stop motor, effort, a good edge-setting run defender and consistent production (6 1/2 sacks each of the last two years). The 6-foot-6, 264-pound Jackson has all the makings of a high-floor talent who could eventually start as early as 2026. Although he may lack the high-ceiling other edge rusher prospects have, Jackson’s consistency and work ethic will go a long way inside the building. In the third round, getting a potential starter in the player’s second year is excellent value. — Joe Buscaglia |
| MIAMIQB SHEDEUR SANDERS was not the only big-name quarterback drafted fall later than his college exploits would indicate. And Bridget Reilly of the New York Post reports that his agent got the same explanation for his fall that many have offered for what happened to Sanders. An NFL draft slide sometimes doesn’t come with clarity or a pinpointed explanation. Agent Ron Slavin feels that was the case with his client and former Texas quarterback, Quinn Ewers. Prior to the three-day draft spectacle, Ewers didn’t expect to be among the first 32 selections with the second round being more of possibility. However, he was the 13th and final quarterback taken in the 2025 draft, getting selected with the No. 231 in the seventh round by the Miami Dolphins. Slavin told ESPN that he reached out to “half the league” the day after the draft to find out why Ewers had such a big slide. The answer, he said, was “chickens–t.” “They thought he was a third- or fourth-round pick, but too big of a name to be a clipboard holder,” Slavin told Archer. “Which I think is chickens–t.” In other words, NFL teams thought that Ewers, who was the No. 2 recruit out of high school and was ranked No. 7 of the quarterback prospects by ESPN for the draft, was too big of a name to have as the development quarterback. It’s one of the consequences discovered in the NIL era of college football. After Texas lost in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff to Ohio State, Ewers had four days to pick a new program or take the next step in his career. By opting into the draft, Ewers left behind NIL deals reportedly up to $8 million if he transferred to another powerhouse school for another year in college as Texas moves on to Arch Manning. Ewers had partnerships with several high-profile brands such as Wrangler, EA Sports, Hulu, Beats by Dre and Dr. Pepper. His NFL rookie salary is estimated to be worth $4.33 million — nearly half of the opportunities he left behind. Ewers at one point was considered a potentially high pick for the 2024 draft but he returned for his junior season, during which he threw for 3,472 yards, 31 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. In Miami, he will be behind Tua Tagovailoa and backup Zach Wilson, the ex-Jets bust who spent last season with the Broncos. Tagovailoa’s contract has two more years of fully guaranteed money. |
| NEW ENGLANDMike Reiss of ESPN.com gives us a look at WR KYLE WILLIAMS – a big city kid who grew up in the Palouse. It appeared wide receiver Kyle Williams had an important decision to make last December. He had one game remaining in his college career, but with Washington State in the midst of a coaching transition and more than 20 teammates immediately entering the transfer portal, the question was: Would he play in the Holiday Bowl? To Williams, however, there wasn’t a decision to make — he was always playing. Such a mentality appealed to the Patriots, who selected Williams in the third round of the NFL draft (No. 69 overall) and project him as a speedy, versatile complement to veteran free agent signees Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins and top slot option DeMario “Pop” Douglas, among others. “When your best player puts his foot down and says, ‘This is important, we need to do it,’ and he’s the first one to step out on the field, there is a lot of power in that,” said former Washington State coach Jake Dickert, who was hired as Wake Forest’s coach before the Holiday Bowl. “I obviously didn’t get to see that one all the way through, but knowing the coaches that were there, he was one of the catalysts for the type of effort and energy that team played with. He earned it, and you do that through a ton of action. He also knew the value he could create for himself. He went out there and people saw every step of the way, ‘This guy loves ball. He loves playing. He loves his teammates.’ To do that, I think, is a big stamp on the character piece of Kyle Williams.” Williams totaled 10 receptions for 172 yards and one touchdown in the Cougars’ 52-35 loss to Syracuse — not the Holiday Bowl result he hoped for, but a performance that helped uplift an undermanned team in a competitive game. “As a person, you’re not going to get much better. We had an opportunity to get him at a really pivotal time in his life, and he just developed so much with us,” Dickert said. “He needed Pullman, Washington, as much as we needed him.” Williams transferred from UNLV to Washington State in 2023, in part to play with quarterback Cam Ward. The receiver’s connection with Ward further elevated his football career — Dickert noted Williams “can really run, wins in the release phase of the route and is a tremendous over-the-top deep-ball catcher” — but there was also something important evolving behind the scenes. “Growing up in L.A. and going to another big city in Vegas, there’s some magical part to going and doing something really uncomfortable — 30,000 [population] Pullman, Washington, and not having a lot of things that you’re familiar with growing up. I just think he discovered himself as a man,” Dickert said. “I think that is what is going to make him be successful in the NFL, because he is used to doing uncomfortable things — growing, learning and getting better.” In two seasons at Washington State, Williams totaled 131 receptions for 2,040 yards and 20 touchdowns. Last season, his 1,198 receiving yards were the eighth most in the FBS, and his 14 receiving touchdowns were fourth behind Nick Nash (16), Travis Hunter and Jeremiah Smith (15). Williams’ 14 catches on passes thrown 20-plus yards downfield tied for fourth. Asked to describe his style of play shortly after the Patriots drafted him, Williams said, “Versatile, game-changing and electric.” In three seasons at UNLV, he had 117 receptions for 1,568 yards and nine touchdowns. Williams had been a key recruit at UNLV in then-coach Marcus Arroyo’s first class. “The character and work ethic are the things that stick out the most — a small-school guy in inner-city L.A., really under-recruited, kind of a needle in a haystack,” said Arroyo, who is currently in his second season as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Arizona State. “There were a couple kids that were outliers that I thought had some really good skill sets, but more than anything, were tough and loved football. Kyle was right at the top of the list. … He went to [three] different [high] schools — was still the best player, never really said a bad thing about changing schools, his hardships growing up. I knew we had a guy who was going to take every second, every breath, to learn it and try to become the best he could.” Arroyo believes that makes Williams an ideal fit for the Patriots’ culture, which he first became familiar with as an assistant under Dick Tomey at San Jose State from 2005 to 2008 (Tomey coached Patriots Hall of Famer Tedy Bruschi at Arizona) and later while coaching at Cal (when the Patriots selected running back Shane Vereen). Arroyo shared his answer to those in the NFL who asked him about Williams leading up to the draft. “Those guys want to know, ‘Are they blue-collar guys who show up early and stay late? Will they be team-oriented? Are you going to have to worry about them off the field?’ Those are the ones I was able to answer dramatically, and stand on the table and say, ‘This guy is all football, he comes from nothing, put himself in position to make the NFL.’ “I can’t say enough good things about the human, the person, the work ethic. In that regard, that’s where we all want to start — someone who loves ball and wants to work his butt off.” |
| NEW YORK JETSA value pick from The Athletic: New York Jets: Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida StateRound 3, No. 73Most evaluators had Thomas graded as a second-round prospect — he was ranked the sixth-best cornerback and 51st overall in “The Beast”, and the Jets were able to land him at No. 73. Cornerback was not the Jets’ biggest need, but they have one of the NFL’s better groups of defensive back coaches (in head coach Aaron Glenn, defensive backs coach Chris Harris and assistant defensive backs coach Dre’ Bly). They should be able to get the most out of Thomas. The 20-year-old fits the mold of what Glenn wants out of his cornerbacks in terms of size (6-foot-2, 196 pounds) and physicality at the line of scrimmage. — Zack Rosenblatt |
| THIS AND THAT |
| POWER RANKING – ESPNA poll of ESPN’s correspondents after the draft has a new Power Ranking, although most teams are pretty close to their pre-draft position with the Jaguars and EDGE TRAVIS HUNTER going up 3 (25 from 28) and the Jets and Bengals heading down three: 1. Kansas City ChiefsPost-free agency ranking: 1Most improved position: Wide receiverThe Chiefs are counting on the return of two top receivers who missed most of last season with injuries. Rashee Rice led the league with 24 catches through the first three games before a season-ending knee injury, while Hollywood Brown played in only two regular-season games because of a sternoclavicular injury. Rice and Brown will combine with Xavier Worthy to give the Chiefs a potent group of wideouts. With the selection of fourth-rounder Jalen Royals, Kansas City also added speed and run-after-the-catch ability on the outside. — Adam Teicher 2. Philadelphia EaglesPost-free agency ranking: 2Most improved position: LinebackerThe Eagles lost a bunch of talent on defense this offseason with the departures of edge rushers Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham, cornerback Darius Slay Jr., safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and defensive tackle Milton Williams. It was a different story at linebacker, as they re-signed Zack Baun to a lucrative contract, selected Jihaad Campbell in the first round of the draft and then added Smael Mondon Jr. in the fifth. Nakobe Dean is still recovering from a torn patellar tendon, but Philadelphia will have plenty of options at linebacker once he is healthy. — Tim McManus 3. Buffalo BillsPost-free agency ranking: 4Most improved position: Defensive lineThere is no area the Bills have addressed more thoroughly this offseason than the defensive line. They selected three players for the unit in the draft (T.J. Sanders, Landon Jackson and Deone Walker), even after adding Joey Bosa, Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi in free agency. The team also signed Greg Rousseau to a four-year contract extension. By bringing in youth and veterans, the Bills have overhauled a 2024 group that had the worst passing defense and third-down defense (44% conversion rate) of Sean McDermott’s eight-year tenure. — Alaina Getzenberg 4. Detroit LionsPost-free agency ranking: 3Most improved position: Offensive lineFor the past three seasons, offensive line has been one of the strongest units on the roster. However, after losing veteran guard Kevin Zeitler to the Titans in free agency, Lions general manager Brad Holmes used draft picks to keep that unit rolling. He drafted versatile offensive linemen in Tate Ratledge and Miles Frazier, who will be trained at different positions so they can beef up the O-line. Those rookies will also learn from veterans such as Graham Glasgow, who has thrived in the NFL due to his positional versatility. — Eric Woodyard 5. Baltimore RavensPost-free agency ranking: 5Most improved position: Pass defenseThe Ravens’ first two draft picks were defensive players who ranked among Mel Kiper Jr.’s top 25 prospects: safety Malaki Starks and edge rusher Mike Green. Both will immediately make an impact on a Baltimore pass defense that allowed 244.1 yards per game in 2024, the franchise’s third worst over the past 25 seasons. Baltimore believes Starks’ speed will reduce explosive plays, while Green’s explosiveness will disrupt quarterbacks. This combination should help finish off games for the Ravens, who allowed a league-worst 14 touchdown passes in the fourth quarter last season. — Jamison Hensley 6. Washington CommandersPost-free agency ranking: 6Most improved position: Offensive lineThough other areas might be improved, the line has definitely gotten better. Washington traded for five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil and drafted tackle Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round. Those moves allow it to move around last year’s third-round pick Brandon Coleman, who started 15 games — including all three in the postseason. It’s possible Coleman ends up at guard, giving Washington a talented front once right guard Sam Cosmi returns from a torn ACL. Washington was dead set on protecting its greatest asset, quarterback Jayden Daniels, while also boosting the run game. — John Keim 7. Los Angeles RamsPost-free agency ranking: 8Most improved position: Wide receiverThe Rams made a significant change in their WR room, signing Davante Adams and releasing Cooper Kupp after they could not find a trade for him. They also re-signed wide receiver Tutu Atwell in free agency. Although Adams’ 85 catches for 1,063 yards (for the Jets and Raiders) last season were his fewest since 2019, his 59 receiving touchdowns in the past five years lead the NFL. With Adams and Puka Nacua, the Rams did not feel like they had to take a receiver early in the draft. They took a seventh-round flier on Pitt’s Konata Mumpfield. — Sarah Barshop 8. Green Bay PackersPost-free agency ranking: 9Most improved position: Wide receiverSure, the Packers have a handful of rookie receivers, and GM Brian Gutekunst has said in the past that it’s one of the most difficult positions to make an impact at right away. Still, Green Bay invested two of its first three draft picks in the position, taking Matthew Golden at No. 23 and Savion Williams at No. 87. After the draft, Gutekunst said, “I didn’t think I’d be up here talking about taking two receivers.” But with Christian Watson likely out until November with a torn ACL, the Packers needed to make those picks. They also signed Mecole Hardman in free agency, but he’s not guaranteed a roster spot. — Rob Demovsky 9. Minnesota VikingsPost-free agency ranking: 10Most improved position: Interior offensive lineThe Vikings overhauled all three positions of their interior offensive line, committing $106 million in free agency to sign center Ryan Kelly and right guard Will Fries. They used their first-round draft choice on Donovan Jackson, who will likely be their new left guard. The area was a major need for improvement. Their centers and guards all ranked in the bottom 10 last season in run block win rate. In 2025, the Vikings will likely have three first-round picks (Jackson, Kelly and left tackle Christian Darrisaw) and one second-round pick (right tackle Brian O’Neill) in their starting lineup. — Kevin Seifert 10. Cincinnati BengalsPost-free agency ranking: 7Most improved position: Running backThere isn’t as much to choose from given Cincinnati’s lack of splashy offseason moves. The big money was spent on maintaining strength at wide receiver (Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase). But by bringing back Samaje Perine and drafting Tahj Brooks, Cincinnati should have an improved backfield group behind Chase Brown, who will be the featured player. — Ben Baby 11. Los Angeles ChargersPost-free agency ranking: 11Most improved position: Running backDominant rushing offenses have been a staple of Jim Harbaugh-coached teams, but last season’s backfield of J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards was underwhelming. The Chargers rushed for 110.7 yards per game, the fewest in a season by any NFL or FBS team coached by Harbaugh (Stanford, 49ers and Michigan). The Chargers upgraded at the position, signing Najee Harris and drafting Omarion Hampton in the first round. Harris and Hampton should give the Chargers the rushing offense Harbaugh envisioned when he came to Los Angeles. — Kris Rhim 12. Tampa Bay BuccaneersPost-free agency ranking: 14Most improved position: Pass rushThis is a close call between pass rushers and cornerbacks, but let’s give the nod to the pass rush here. The Bucs signed a low-risk and potentially high-reward free agent in Haason Reddick, who has produced double-digit sacks in all but one season since becoming a full-time edge rusher in 2020. On Day 3 of the draft, they selected quick edge David Walker and powerful Elijah Roberts. Walker notched 31 sacks and 191 tackles at Central Arkansas. Roberts had 17.5 sacks in two seasons at SMU, and the 278-pounder can line up on the edge or inside. — Jenna Laine 13. Houston TexansPost-free agency ranking: 13Most improved position: SecondaryThe Texans brought in safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who’s a ball hawk with six interceptions in two of the past three seasons. He brings a competitive attitude that can only elevate a talented secondary that has All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., cornerback Kamari Lassiter, nickel Jalen Pitre and safety Calen Bullock. Houston’s 2024 unit combined for 14 interceptions and ranked sixth in passing yards allowed. Gardner-Johnson could turn this promising unit into the best in the league. — DJ Bien-Aime 14. Denver BroncosPost-free agency ranking: 12Most improved position: SecondaryIt’s hard to believe one of the league’s best secondary units improved even more, but it did. One of the Broncos’ most prominent free agent signings was safety Talanoa Hufanga, who was an All-Pro in 2022 for the 49ers. And one of the best value picks of the draft was Denver’s selection of cornerback Jahdae Barron at No. 20. This new group gives defensive coordinator Vance Joseph a variety of coverage options, and it makes it more difficult for opposing quarterbacks to simply avoid Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II. — Jeff Legwold 15. San Francisco 49ersPost-free agency ranking: 15Most improved position: Defensive lineThe 49ers didn’t spend much in free agency, but the defensive line should regain its former dominance if their draft picks pan out as expected. San Francisco used selections on edge rusher Mykel Williams and two defensive tackles (Alfred Collins and CJ West). All three might be starters in September after the Niners said goodbye to edge Leonard Floyd along with tackles Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins in March. That rookie trio joins stalwart edge Nick Bosa, giving the 49ers some much-needed juice at a position group they’ve long prioritized. — Nick Wagoner 16. Seattle SeahawksPost-free agency ranking: 16Most improved position: QuarterbacksThis is about the entire QB room because it remains to be seen whether Sam Darnold will be better than Geno Smith. But there’s no question Seattle has improved the position as a whole. Drew Lock is an upgrade over Sam Howell at QB2. Third-round pick Jalen Milroe, who replaces Jaren Hall as the No. 3, gives the Seahawks an explosive playmaker. He can immediately make an impact in specialty run packages while he develops as a passer. — Brady Henderson 17. Pittsburgh SteelersPost-free agency ranking: 17Most improved position: Defensive lineMike Tomlin said the team had “extreme urgency” in adding to the defensive line, and it showed in the draft. The Steelers used their first-round pick on Derrick Harmon, a versatile defensive tackle who models his game after Cameron Heyward’s. Then, the Steelers double-dipped at the position with big-bodied tackle Yahya Black, who coaches said can play nose tackle but will likely be a 4-technique. That leaves the Steelers with a crowded defensive line room, but it’s a good problem to have, as they struggled to stop the run last season. — Brooke Pryor 18. Atlanta FalconsPost-free agency ranking: 19Most improved position: Edge rusherThe Falcons have overhauled the position that needed it most. Atlanta got only 14.5 sacks from its edge rushers in 2024. In free agency, the team picked up veteran Leonard Floyd, who has had at least 8.5 sacks in each of the past five seasons. The Falcons got aggressive in the draft, too, doubling up at edge rusher in the first round with speedsters Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. Floyd, Walker, Pearce and Bralen Trice — who missed all of 2024 with a torn ACL — will join Arnold Ebiketie on the line. Ebiketie led Atlanta with only six sacks last season. — Marc Raimondi 19. Dallas CowboysPost-free agency ranking: 21Most improved position: Edge rusherLosing DeMarcus Lawrence in free agency is a tough blow, but he played only four games last season. The Cowboys will welcome back Sam Williams, a 2022 second-round pick who did not play last year because of a torn ACL. They signed Dante Fowler Jr., who had 10.5 sacks last season in Washington. They drafted Donovan Ezeiruaku in the second round after he was second in the FBS with 16.5 sacks in 2024. And they brought in defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton, who carries a reputation as a developer of talent. — Todd Archer 20. Miami DolphinsPost-free agency ranking: 18Most improved position: Defensive tackleBy default, the Dolphins’ most improved position has to be the one they addressed three times in the draft: defensive tackle. First-round pick Kenneth Grant should start in Week 1 alongside Zach Sieler, while fifth-round pick Jordan Phillips should provide rotational depth early in his career. Seventh-round pick Zeek Biggers is raw, but at 6-foot-6, 320 pounds, he is big enough to turn into a force at nose tackle. Miami’s defensive line required immediate improvement entering the draft, and GM Chris Grier accomplished that. — Marcel Louis-Jacques 21. Chicago BearsPost-free agency ranking: 22Most improved position: Offensive lineDuring free agency, the Bears flipped their interior offensive line in one week by trading for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and spending big to land center Drew Dalman. They continued to address needs up front in the draft, using the 56th pick on offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo. Now Chicago will experiment with several options regarding who plays at both left and right tackle. The heavy investment is good news for QB Caleb Williams, who was sacked a league-high 68 times as a rookie. — Courtney Cronin 22. Arizona CardinalsPost-free agency ranking: 20Most improved position: Defensive frontThe Cardinals set out to improve their entire defensive front at the start of this offseason. And that’s exactly what they did through the additions of edge Josh Sweat and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson in free agency, the re-signing of L.J. Collier, and the drafting of defensive tackle Walter Nolen and edge Jordan Burch. Arizona bolstered its starting lineups and added depth to a front that has become formidable, both in size and talent. — Josh Weinfuss 23. New England PatriotsPost-free agency ranking: 24Most improved position: Defensive tackleThe Patriots have the potential for a powerful one-two punch at defensive tackle. Signing Milton Williams to a four-year, $104 million contract was a decisive step in the right direction, and Christian Barmore has been a full participant in the voluntary offseason program after missing most of 2024 due to recurring symptoms from blood clots. The Patriots’ interior linemen ranked 21st in pass rush win rate in 2024. Florida State DT Joshua Farmer was also a player the Patriots coveted in the draft, and they traded up to pick him in the fourth round. — Mike Reiss 24. Indianapolis ColtsPost-free agency ranking: 23Most improved position: Tight endIt would typically be bold to assert that drafting one player would make a single unit the most improved on a team’s roster. But that’s how big of an addition Tyler Warren is for the Colts, whose tight ends had a league-low 39 combined receptions and were 31st in receiving yards in 2024. Warren’s 17-catch, 224-yard receiving performance in a single game against USC in October tops anything a Colts tight end produced over the entire 17-game season. — Stephen Holder 25. Jacksonville JaguarsPost-free agency ranking: 28Most improved position: Offensive lineThe Jaguars added six offensive linemen this offseason, four in free agency and two in the draft. There will definitely be new starters at right guard (Patrick Mekari, from the Ravens) and center (Robert Hainsey, from the Bucs). Jacksonville could potentially have a new left guard, depending on whether Ezra Cleveland can hold off third-round pick Wyatt Milum. All but one of the newcomers (Milum) have played multiple positions either in college or in the NFL. That versatility was a priority for Jaguars general manager James Gladstone to weather the inevitable injuries. — Mike DiRocco 26. Las Vegas RaidersPost-free agency ranking: 26Most improved position: QuarterbackThis is obvious. Last year, the Raiders had three different starting quarterbacks: Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder. The trio combined for a Total QBR of 40 — 30th in NFL. But the Raiders went out and traded for Geno Smith, a two-time Pro Bowl selection. He has thrown for at least 4,000 yards in two of the past three seasons. The last time Las Vegas had a player surpass 4,000 passing yards in a single season was Derek Carr in 2021. — Ryan McFadden 27. Carolina PanthersPost-free agency ranking: 25Most improved position: Defensive frontFixing the NFL’s worst rushing and scoring defense was a priority. The Panthers upgraded in free agency by signing DT Bobby Brown III, DT Tershawn Wharton and LB Pat Jones II. In the draft, they took Nic Scourton in the second round and Princely Umanmielen in the third. Both players could be building blocks for Carolina and give general manager Dan Morgan the luxury to move on from 32-year-old Jadeveon Clowney, who had only 5.5 sacks in 2024. — David Newton 28. New Orleans SaintsPost-free agency ranking: 29Most improved position: Offensive lineThe Saints took Kelvin Banks Jr. at No. 9 in the draft, and that gives them instant flexibility to upgrade at left tackle. Taliese Fuaga, last year’s first-round pick, is currently playing there, but he could move to his college position of right tackle if needed. Banks could also start this season at right tackle. The Saints let left guard Lucas Patrick leave in free agency, bringing in Dillon Radunz to compete for that position. — Katherine Terrell 29. Cleveland BrownsPost-free agency ranking: 30Most improved position: Running backThe Browns averaged 94.6 rushing yards per game last season, which ranked 29th and was their lowest mark in five seasons under coach Kevin Stefanski. Cleveland rebuilt its running game in the draft, forming a backfield that is explosive and suited for the physicality of the AFC North. Quinshon Judkins, the 36th pick, is a tough runner who forced 179 missed tackles from 2022 to ’24, the fourth most in the FBS in that span. Dylan Sampson, a fourth-round pick, is a big-play threat who ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the combine. — Daniel Oyefusi 30. New York JetsPost-free agency ranking: 27Most improved position: Offensive lineQuite frankly, the Jets haven’t made significant immediate improvement in any one area. But the offensive line improved in the long term, as No. 7 pick Armand Membou replaces the venerable Morgan Moses (Patriots) at right tackle. The Jets will miss Moses’ experience and savviness, but Membou brings power, speed and explosiveness to the position. With four returning starters and Membou, the offensive line — under construction for a few years — finally has a chance to be something special. — Rich Cimini 31. Tennessee TitansPost-free agency ranking: 31Most improved position: Offensive lineFew positions got as much attention as the offensive line this offseason. The Titans signed free agent Dan Moore Jr. to play left tackle, which allows 2024 first-round pick JC Latham to move from the left side to right tackle. It’s hard to imagine Latham not doing better than the 29 sacks allowed by the group of right tackles last season. Tennessee also signed Kevin Zeitler in free agency to upgrade the right guard spot. The key to it all will be center Lloyd Cushenberry III, who should return from a torn Achilles suffered in November. Cushenberry is optimistic about returning during training camp. — Turron Davenport 32. New York GiantsPost-free agency ranking: 32Most improved position: QuarterbackNo reason to beat around the bush. The Giants added three quarterbacks this offseason: Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and first-round pick Jaxson Dart. New York ended last season with Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito and Tim Boyle at QB. The idea is to have Wilson and Winston handle most (if not all) of the work, with DeVito as insurance. This will provide Dart with the NFL equivalent of a redshirt year. It’s not perfect for the Giants, but it’s an upgrade on how they ended last season. — Jordan Raanan |
