| NFC EAST |
| DALLASEven as EDGE MICAH PARSONS demands huge money, he is sending out the vibe that he is damaged goods with a bad back. Stephen Douglas of SI.com: Micah Parsons and the Cowboys made no progress towards a new contract again today as the star pass rusher boarded a plane at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, fueling rumors that he might be going to meet with the Packers in Green Bay. NFL Network’s Jane Slater says that is not the case and that Parsons was just going to see another doctor to try to fix his ailing back. He had an MRI over the weekend which came back clear, but now he’s looking for a second opinion. “Whether it be the trade at this point or whether it be them having him remain on this roster, figuring out if they want to tag him at the end of the season,” Slater explained. “Jerry keeps reminding us he is in fact under contract, but if there is not a medical diagnosis for that back and he decides that he is going to sit out these games he’s looking at over a million dollars a week of game checks that he’ll be missing out on. So, we wait.” Terrence Parsons Jr., the brother of the Cowboys star, has since quote tweeted Slater’s post saying, “It’s gonna get ugly put ya gloves on this going 12 rounds.” This is quite the departure from the very friendly interaction Jones just had with Parsons’s mother last weekend, but there have been no indications that the two sides are making any sort of progress in resolving the situation, even if Jones and other key figures in Dallas are certain Parsons will be back on the field when the season starts. |
| NFC WEST |
| SAN FRANCISCOIt wouldn’t be a 49ers receiver in this decade without contract unhappiness. WR JAUAN JENNINGS has a trade request on the table amidst a lingering calf injury. Cameron Salerno of CBSSports.com: San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings hasn’t returned to practice since suffering a calf injury on July 27, and it appears his status for his team’s Week 1 showdown against the Seattle Seahawks is up in the air. Speaking for the first time since the 49ers finalized their 53-man roster, general manager John Lynch said that Jennings is “making progress” from his injury, but is unsure about his status for San Francisco’s season opener on Sept. 7. “Jauan Jennings is still working through his calf issue, making progress,” Lynch said on Wednesday. “We are kinda like everyone else, hopeful but not sure about Week 1.” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said after his team’s final preseason game last weekend that he would “expect” Jennings to be back in time for Week 1. It’s been an eventful offseason for Jennings as he seeks a new contract after having his best season as a pro with 77 catches for 975 yards and six touchdowns. The 28-year-old is entering the final year of a two-year, $15.4 million extension that he signed with the franchise in May 2024. At one point this offseason, Jennings even requested a trade — something Lynch confirmed Wednesday. But that doesn’t mean the team is interested in complying with that request. “A while ago he did [ask to be traded], but that was a long time ago and we’ve moved on from that,” Lynch said. “We’re not doing that. We’re moving forward.” Some have wondered whether Jennings’ contract status was more of the reason for his absence rather than the calf injury. Lynch said Jennings has been “working off to the side” while noting that returning from calf injuries can be tricky. “Both things can be true,” Lynch said. “He wants a new contract and he’s got a hurt calf. I think people want to assume one or the other, but both things can be true.” Without Jennings, the 49ers will enter the season with a depleted wide receiver corps. San Francisco signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling on Wednesday after he was released by the Seahawks and acquired Skyy Moore in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs last week. As for the players already on the roster, Brandon Aiyuk will begin the year on the physically unable to perform list and will miss at least the first four games while Demarcus Robinson, who the 49ers signed in free agency this offseason, will miss the first three games after he was suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. That should mean plenty of targets for Ricky Pearsall, the team’s first-round pick in 2024. Of course, tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey should see heavy workloads as well. |
| SEATTLEQB JALEN MILROE may not just be a backup waiting his turn. Kevin Patra of NFL.com: Jalen Milroe enters the 2025 season as Seattle’ QB3, but that doesn’t mean the rookie will be a bystander. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald revealed on Monday that the club plans to have a package of plays for Milroe this season, getting the dual-threat quarterback on the field. “We’re going to have plays for Jalen in the game plans,” Macdonald said, via the team’s official website. “He’s going to rep those with the ones. However we build the package for him going into games, he needs those reps in walkthrough and full speed, so that’s going to be important. How we do it, who gets how many reps — obviously Sam (Darnold), it starts with how many reps he needs to get ready, then we kind of work off it from there.” The revelation came in response to a question about whether or not Milroe could be the regular scout-team quarterback. Macdonald responding in a manner that suggests Milroe could have a couple of plays in the install every week could be an effort to make defensive coaches spend time preparing for the rookie. However, it also underscores that the club likes the rookie’s versatility. Milroe played wire-to-wire in the Seahawks’ final preseason game. He flashed some playmaking ability and showed growth in the pocket. However, the rookie needs reps. His accuracy was, at times, off the mark, and he got bottled up for stretches. Still, the mettle Milore showed behind a third-string offensive line was encouraging. Milroe has dual-threat talent if it’s developed properly. If the Seahawks do indeed keep the rookie involved in the game plan on a weekly basis, it’s one way to get meaningful practice reps that can aid his future development. |
| AFC WEST |
| DENVERQB SAM EHLINGER opts to remain on Denver’s practice squad as the third quarterback rather than claim a spot elsewhere as the third quarterback. Jordan Schultz: @Schultz_ReportSources: #Broncos backup QB Sam Ehlinger turned down two 53-man roster opportunities on other teams (he is not subject to waivers as a vested veteran), to start the season on the Denver’s practice squad. Ehlinger loves the Broncos’ QB room with Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham + rising star QBs coach Davis Webb, and believes in the team and their bright future. |
| AFC NORTH |
| BALTIMORES MICAH HAMILTON gets a huge extension. Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com: The Ravens have rewarded one of the league’s best young defensive players. General Manager Eric DeCosta announced in his Wednesday press conference that safety Kyle Hamilton has signed a four-year contract extension. Multiple reports indicate the deal is worth $100.4 million with $82 million guaranteed. That’s a record for a safety. “We started really kind of engaging with Kyle and his group just before we broke on vacation,” DeCosta said. “But I would say that talks started to heat up about three weeks ago. Appreciate the dialogue that we had with those guys. I think the deal really does speak to how we feel about Kyle — highest-paid safety in the NFL. “That’s a responsibility that we don’t take lightly. We’ve had a few players over the years become the highest paid at their position. And I think when you are the highest paid, that’s an important distinction. And I think Kyle has proven that he’s going to carry that very well, and we expect him to continue to be an impact player in our defense for years to come.” Hamilton, the No. 14 overall pick of the 2022 draft, has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2023 and a second-team All-Pro in 2024. Last year, he finished with 107 total tackles with four tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, nine passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and an interception, starting all 17 games. He was on the field for 92 percent of Baltimore’s defensive snaps.– – – QB TYLER HUNTLEY is back with the Ravens, albeit on the practice squad. Ryan Phillips of SI.com: The Ravens have made a move to strengthen their quarterback depth behind Lamar Jackson. On Wednesday, Baltimore signed quarterback Tyler Huntley to their practice squad. The 27-year-old spent the first four seasons of his career with the Ravens and was even named to the Pro Bowl in 2022 after a brief fill-in stint for Jackson. He started the team’s 24–17 playoff loss to the Bengals that season, throwing for 226 yards and two touchdowns in the game. Huntley started five games for the Miami Dolphins in 2024, and the team went 2–3 in those games. He finished the season completing 64.7% of his passes for 829 yards, with three touchdowns and three interceptions, while adding 135 yards and two touchdowns rushing. The Utah product signed with the Browns on August 5, but was released by the team on Sunday. The Ravens have Jackson under center, and the two-time NFL MVP and three-time All-Pro is backed up by Cooper Rush, who signed a two-year, $6.2 million deal with the team in March. Huntley makes perfect sense as an addition for the Ravens because he knows offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s system from their time together with the team in 2023. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| INDIANAPOLISThe Colts wish to keep QB ANTHONY RICHARDSON in house. Stephen Holder of ESPN.com: The Indianapolis Colts’ decision to name Daniel Jones as their starting quarterback doesn’t mean Anthony Richardson Sr. is going anywhere, according to general manager Chris Ballard. Asked Wednesday during a news conference whether Richardson, the fourth overall selection in the 2023 draft, might be available in a trade, Ballard offered an emphatic response. “We’re not trading him,” Ballard said. The Colts, Ballard said, aren’t giving up on the physically gifted but inconsistent Richardson despite the optics created by their past decisions. Coach Shane Steichen temporarily benched Richardson for two games last season, replacing him with veteran Joe Flacco amid a season when Richardson completed 47.7% of his pass attempts. The Colts then signed Jones to compete with Richardson in March. They followed that with the selection of Jones as their starter last week even after many in the organization agreed Richardson had his best training camp to date. “It’s easy to say, ‘OK, he’s done,'” Ballard said of Richardson. “I don’t agree. I’ve said this numerous times — I do not agree with that. I think overcoming challenges and obstacles along the way are good for anybody. I do. I’m proud of Anthony, of where he is at, how far he’s come. He’s come miles. “It is tough on any young quarterback in this league, but for him to keep taking the growth steps that he has and to work so hard and then not get the goal for himself. All right, now to continue to do that, that’s when we’ve got a chance to see real growth.” But will being sidelined actually result in substantive growth for Richardson, who started just 13 games in college and just 15 games as a pro? “There’s a lot of value in sitting behind a guy that’s a professional and watching and learning and growing and working on the things you need to work on without the same pressure of being the starter,” Ballard said during a contentious series of questions and answers. Steichen said he chose Jones over Richardson because he believed Jones’ command of the pre-snap “operation” — including dealing with audibles and pass protections — was superior to Richardson’s. Steichen added that he believed that would positively impact the offense and “keep us on track.” Ballard said he has had several conversations with Richardson’s agent, Deiric Jackson, who told ESPN in an interview last week that he was frustrated with the team’s handling of his client. Jackson said his trust in the Colts was “at best, questionable.” He added that “Anthony came back and made the improvements in the areas he needed to improve. And by all accounts, he had a great camp.” The Colts have come under scrutiny for their quarterback decisions since the retirement of Andrew Luck in 2019. Since that season, the Colts have had 10 different starting quarterbacks, tied for the third most in the NFL. Jones will become the 11th if he starts against the Miami Dolphins in Week 1. Richardson was supposed to bring the carousel to an end. That hasn’t happened, but Ballard was adamant that it still can. “I just feel like with the progress he’s making, [if] he continues down this road, we’re going to be able to see that talent come to light,” he said. “There’s always got to be one, right? So why not him? And I do believe that his progress has been good.” Ballard closed out his news conference Wednesday by addressing a final question: Can Richardson still become a franchise quarterback? “I think it’s sure in him,” Ballard said. “I do. I think it’s in him. Whether that happens or not, we’ll see.” That doesn’t keep Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com from proposing a trade: Steelers send a Day 3 pick for a talented QB Colts get: 2026 fourth-round pickSteelers get: QB Anthony RichardsonLet’s find a new home for Richardson, whose camp made noise about struggling to trust the Colts after they decided to make Daniel Jones their starter for Week 1. Jones will be on a short leash and has been prone to injury during his time in the NFL, which would lead me to believe the Colts will keep Richardson. But Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard might just decide a fresh start would make sense for all parties involved. In this scenario, the Colts would land compensation in line with what the 49ers received in 2023 for Trey Lance, a similarly frustrating former top-five pick who was traded away after two pro seasons. The Steelers would land Richardson with two usage cases. One would be for the future, which might charitably be described as a big question mark in Pittsburgh. Aaron Rodgers will turn 42 in December, while backup Mason Rudolph wasn’t able to convince the organization to make him the long-term starter in his first stint with the team. There’s some early excitement around rookie sixth-round pick Will Howard, but he has missed the preseason with a broken pinky. Plus, it’s always optimistic to believe a sixth-round pick is going to turn into a starting quarterback, even if there is just one very famous exception from the Big Ten. Richardson simply hasn’t been up to the task of playing quarterback at the professional level, but he also has thrown just 348 pro passes. The Steelers wouldn’t be on the hook for an exorbitant deal, as he is owed $1 million in 2025 and $5.4 million in 2026, all of which is guaranteed. If the Steelers think there’s a possibility of him turning into a viable starter next season, the 23-year-old would be worth the risk, especially given their current alternatives. The other case revolves around Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator. Arthur Smith’s predilection for the run game is well known, and while he hasn’t always had quarterbacks who could feature in the designed run game, he built in concepts for Marcus Mariota and Justin Fields to make an impact with their legs. Some coaches aren’t comfortable bringing in a player off the bench for a package of plays, but Tomlin and Smith used Fields in spots during the second half of last season, including a zone-read play that sealed a 44-38 win over the Bengals late in the fourth quarter. Richardson can inherit the package of run concepts Fields ran a year ago, and if Rodgers gets hurt or struggles, Smith could try to build an entire game plan around those strengths, just as Titans predecessor Matt LaFleur did for Malik Willis in Green Bay last season. Could the same organization that once developed Kordell Stewart into a player who received MVP votes turn Richardson into its quarterback of the future? |
JACKSONVILLEJacob Robinson of The Athletic marches through a formula that usually produces a surprise division winner from a team that drafted in the top eight. You can guess where it led him by the placing of his musings here: That leads me to a 🤯 stat: Starting in 2015, teams drafting in the top eight subsequently won divisions for nine consecutive years.  That streak ended last season. While the Falcons nearly won the NFC South, they blew an early lead. Typical. And despite the Commanders (had drafted at No. 2) and Chargers (No. 5) both making the playoffs, neither won their divisions. Streak over, for now. If the trend returns, could we predict this year’s surprise division winner? Let’s quickly see what those teams had in common: Game-changing first-round pick. Ezekiel Elliott, Ja’Marr Chase, Stroud and everyone else on that list instantly changed the makeups of their franchise. Even Brandon Scherff, the least-familiar name for most fans, was a big talent upgrade for Washington, where he played nearly every snap and was a Pro Bowler in year two. New-ish coaching staff. The turnarounds typically came within the first three years of a new coaching regime, most often in the first or second season. Matt Nagy’s first year in Chicago saw them go from 5-11 to 12-4, with the Jaguars seeing similar turnarounds with Doug Marrone (2017) and Doug Pederson (2022). The lone exception was 2016 Dallas in Jason Garrett’s 300th season. Winnable divisions. Six of those nine teams are either in the AFC South or NFC East, two of the three divisions with a collective losing record since 2015 (the NFC South is the other). One of the outliers, Cincinnati, won the AFC North with a 10-7 record, the lowest winning percentage to win that division since 1990. Competent quarterback play. All of those division winners got at least solid quarterback play. In 2015, Washington’s Kirk Cousins led the league in completion percentage. (You like that!) Even Mitch Trubisky was a 2018 Pro Bowler for the Bears. If those are the four boxes a team needs to check, who could begin a new streak in 2025? Here’s the draft list: How do those eight teams stack up? Game-changing pick? I’ll be picky here and say only the Titans’ Cam Ward, Jaguars’ Travis Hunter, Giants’ Abdul Carter and Raiders’ Ashton Jeanty qualify for now, though the others, particularly DT Mason Graham and WR Tetairoa McMillan, seem borderline. New-ish coaching staff? The Titans remain qualified, as they hired Brian Callahan in 2024. The Jaguars, Raiders, Patriots, Jets and Panthers also recently hired new coaches, while the Giants, on year four of Brian Daboll, and Browns, year six with Kevin Stefanski, miss the cut. Winnable division? This is where the Raiders depart, as the AFC West — with the Chiefs, Broncos and Chargers — isn’t winnable, no matter Tom Brady’s influence. The Jets and Patriots aren’t beating Buffalo, and while the Panthers are intriguing, they’ll be hard-pressed to overcome the Buccaneers and Falcons. That leaves the Titans and Jaguars, both in the AFC South. Competent quarterback play? Both teams should have improved passers. Trevor Lawrence is healthy after battling injuries since the second-half of 2023. Ward should significantly elevate Tennessee’s passing game, which nearly produced as many interceptions (21) as touchdowns (22) last year. With history suggesting the Jaguars and Titans are candidates to restart the unlikely streak, who will it be? I’m rolling with the Jaguars, who pair Lawrence — still only 25 — with an offensive guru in Liam Coen and explosive two-way player in Hunter. But can they upset the Texans, whom sportsbooks project for 9.5 wins (Jacksonville’s at 7.5 on BetMGM)? Absolutely. The Texans have a new offensive coordinator (though that might be an upgrade), along with an uncertain offensive line and a starting running back who will miss at least the first four weeks. They also face one of the league’s toughest schedules. (Jacksonville, 3-10 in one-score games, lost last year’s games against Houston by a combined seven points. The margins are small.) Meanwhile, the Jaguars have the league’s sixth-easiest schedule, and combine the talent and coaching to make them my pick for this year’s turnaround team. Even if history doesn’t directly point to them, don’t be surprised if they win the AFC South this season. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW ENGLANDThe Patriots have claimed QB TOMMY DeVITO. Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com: The Patriots have made a pair of waiver claims, picking up a new quarterback. New England has been awarded former Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito and former Rams defensive back Charles Woods. DeVito, 27, is now set to be New England’s third quarterback behind starter Drake Maye and backup Joshua Dobbs. Having entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2023 with the Giants, DeVito has appeared in 12 games with eight starts over the last two seasons. He’s completed 65.3 percent of his career passes for 1,358 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions. DeVito ended up being the odd man out after the Giants overhauled their QBs room with Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Jaxson Dart this offseason. Woods, 25, entered the league last year as an undrafted free agent with the Rams. He appeared in 12 games for Los Angeles last season, mainly playing on special teams. Giants coach Brian Daboll said the Giants would have brought back DeVito to the practice squad had he not been claimed.- – -Was there a WR KENDRICK BOURNE ultimatum demanding his release (the same with S MARCUS EPPS)? Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: Among the veterans who didn’t make the Patriots’ 53-man roster were safety Marcus Epps and wide receiver Kendrick Bourne. But talk that neither player wanted to stay in New England was met with skepticism by Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. When a reporter asked Vrabel if the Patriots granted requests from players who asked for their release, Vrabel answered, “I don’t know who you’re referring to, I guess, specifically.” When the reporter said he was referring to Epps and Bourne, Vrabel suggested that perhaps it was a Costanza-style preemptive breakup situation. “That’s news to me,” Vrabel said. “I think we just, again, try to put the roster together. I guess when it doesn’t work out, you break up with somebody, your girlfriend doesn’t want to be with you, and then you say, ‘Well, I don’t want to be with you either.’ I’m not going to get into all that.” When a reporter started to ask a follow-up question, Vrabel cut him off. “I just said I’m not going to get into it,” Vrabel said. “We’re not going to go back and forth here. We’re trying to build the roster. We’ve got to move on with some guys.” Epps quickly signed with the Eagles. Bourne remains unsigned. Epps started for Philadelphia in the Super Bowl back in February. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| CHANGE Charles Robinson of YahooSports.com notes the ages of The Commish and two of the NFL’s most powerful owners. Nearly eight hours deep into the recent Netflix series on Jerry Jones and his Dallas Cowboys, the end began to creep. Not so much the end of the eight-episode project, but the end of Jerry Jones himself. “I can’t help but be thankful for the time that I’ve owned the Dallas Cowboys,” Jones said in the final minutes of the series “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys.” “It is impossible for me to think about doing something different. And I’ll probably continue right on out until the end.” His voice is raspy, betraying his 82 years. Sitting at an illuminated desk, the lines on his face are deep. Perhaps intended, it cuts an image of a man nearing the second bookend of his life — a reality that may have been an underlying motivation for the series in the first place. The scene then rolls into Jones sitting in his Frisco, Texas office, with his eldest son and co-owner, Stephen, across from him. The two discuss their philosophies on head coaches, with each prizing different strengths. At one point, Stephen pushes back and disagrees, and the frame cuts to Jerry smiling. It’s an exchange seemingly meant to set up what comes next: A direct question to Stephen Jones about a Cowboys succession plan. Asked for specifics, Stephen gets emotional, pausing at one point before answering with a slight quiver in his voice. “My answer is that I want to enjoy every moment that my dad’s … ” His voice trails off. “I want to enjoy every moment. The rest will take care of itself.” In the expanse of the Netflix series, it’s another reminder of the life trajectory that Jerry Jones has pointed to more often in recent years. Something along the lines of not having many Cowboys campaigns left in him, and feeling a sense of urgency to capture one more Super Bowl win before the clock runs out. It’s also a stark reminder that when you look at the wide angle of the NFL over the next decade, change is likely coming to at least two of three very powerful seats at the league’s table of dealmakers, consensus builders and direction-setters. Specifically, the Jerry-led Cowboys and the Robert Kraft-led New England Patriots. And then there’s the next NFL commissioner after the retirement of Roger Goodell. “I don’t think we’ll see some influential owners still [running] franchises in 10 years,” said one executive in the NFL Players Association. “Jerry and Kraft — and there’s Roger. The next [Cowboys and Patriots] owners and then whoever replaces Roger could have a big impact on where the league goes.” With that in mind, we looked at the succession positions of all three, who were collectively part of Yahoo Sports’ 25 NFL Game Changers to watch in 2025. Let’s start with … The Jones family and the CowboysJerry Jones’ impact on the league during his tenure as Cowboys owner can’t be understated. His accomplishments include: his early ambitions in challenging league norms on marketing revenue; a dogged pursuit of groundbreaking broadcasting deals; pace-setting expansions of the Cowboys’ facility and stadium infrastructures; and a general disposition of always aiming to make his team and the league into the biggest show on the planet. There have (and will continue to be) volumes written about Jerry’s fingerprints on the NFL. And that’s without recognizing that his 1990s-era Cowboys deserve to be credited for helping cement Dallas among a small group of cornerstone dynasties in the NFL’s Super Bowl era. He’s in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Cowboys are the most valuable sports franchise on Earth for a reason. It’s the kind of legacy that naturally questions what will happen when the wizard behind it reaches the end of his era. Jerry has long been clear about the Cowboys being a family business that is aimed at staying in the family after he’s gone. That means it would be destined to transfer into the hands of his wife, Eugenia, his two sons, Stephen and Jerry Jr., and his daughter Charlotte. How that power dynamic will work on a league level is more a matter of informed speculation, given that anytime the question about a succession plan is put forth, one of two things usually happens with the two biggest principals involved: Jerry reiterates that he purchased the Cowboys for himself and the family — but that he also plans on being the lead owner, president and general manager as long as he can. Possibly until his death. Stephen Jones sidesteps the succession question by reiterating that he’s concerned only with spending as much time with his father as possible. This has been the dance as long as the succession question has existed. As Stephen Jones quipped to the team’s flagship radio station about a succession plan in 2024, “No one’s getting out of here alive, last time I checked. At some point that may be the case, but we’ll worry about those things when they happen.” In other words, until Jerry says otherwise, his seat won’t be open until he — or death — makes the decision. Even with that assertion on repeat, Jerry hasn’t dodged the topic of his own health and mortality, even surprisingly disclosing earlier this month that he had a lengthy battle with cancer following a stage 4 melanoma diagnosis in 2010. That revelation — along with the Netflix series feeling like late-in-life and legacy-securing scaffolding — drew the topic of a Dallas succession plan only closer to the surface, even if the family wasn’t in a hurry to get into details. But those inside the Cowboys orbit and executives across the league point to Stephen as the eventual controlling owner who will step into Jerry’s shoes. He’s the most versed in the necessary facets of being a general manager, including personnel management, scouting, salary cap health, free-agent negotiations and other areas of expertise. At league meetings, he’s a staple alongside Jerry, including serving a key role inside the NFL’s committee machinery, from business ventures to new stadium developments and the competition group. Stephen has also served as one of the better angels on Jerry’s shoulder, negotiating his father out of some of his less-than-ideal impulses. In one of the more famous instances, it was helping to dissuade Jerry from selecting quarterback Johnny Manziel in the 2014 NFL Draft, instead nudging his father toward future Hall of Fame guard Zack Martin. That’s just one of several instances where Stephen was a key voice in stocking the Cowboys with key talent over the past decade-plus of drafts. Of course, what this all means for Stephen stepping into Jerry’s gargantuan role in shaping the NFL’s future remains to be seen. Partially because there is only one Jerry Jones, and partially because Stephen hasn’t had that role at the table yet. But being the steward of the the league’s most valuable franchise — not to mention having a hand in all of Jerry’s other business deals — is going to automatically give the next successor significant traction. “Stephen is very smart, very comfortable talking to anyone in the room — and engaging,” one high-ranking NFC executive said of Stephen Jones. “He’s absolutely capable of taking over and not missing a beat. But the challenge for anyone in that family, whether it’s Stephen or someone else, [the challenge] is in not trying to be Jerry, because you really can’t. That’s normal. Jim Irsay wasn’t Robert Irsay, the Rooneys have their own differing characteristics. One generation to the next finds their own way to be a presence.” “League business, league ventures, Jerry has a knack for knowing what’s over that horizon without needing to see it,” the executive continued. “There is something innate about that ability, you can’t just recreate it. So what is the innate quality or qualities that Stephen brings? We’ll find that out.” The Krafts and the PatriotsRobert Kraft is one of the league’s powerful consensus-building owners alongside Jerry Jones — albeit with more finesse than aggression. The Patriots owner has been a central load-bearing beam in NFL economics for decades. Like Jerry, he played a significant role in pursuing, shaping and advancing various revenue streams. He has chaired the finance and broadcasting committees, played a key role on the league’s management council (which represents the NFL in collective bargaining negotiations) and has been a member of the compensation committee that has paid commissioner Roger Goodell so handsomely during his tenure. Financially, New England’s on-field success and Kraft’s vision off the field have transformed the Patriots into the fourth most valuable franchise in the league, with Sportico pegging New England’s worth at $8.76 billion. Impressively, Kraft has done a majority of the heavy lifting with his own fortune, privately financing the construction of Gillette Stadium in the early 2000s, then building out the sprawling “Patriot Place” around it with restaurants, retail, entertainment and office space. Initially billed as having a cost of $350 million in 2007, one high-ranking league executive said the sunken cost is likely closer to half a billion dollars. That project and vision has now been repeated by several franchise owners, most prominently and recently with Jones’ multibillion dollar “Star District” surrounding his massive practice/office/headquarters complex in Frisco, Texas, and the Hollywood Park development that Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke is continuing to build out around SoFi Stadium. “[Jones and Kroenke] have gotten a lot of credit for creating the ‘everything’ destination where the football facilities or the stadium becomes just a small part of a bigger fan experience, but where do you think that idea came from?” the executive noted. “Robert Kraft did it first — on the top of an old stadium and one little four-lane highway.” That development success, along with balancing a dynasty while co-existing with Bill Belichick and what Kraft brings to the NFL’s dealmaking rooms has made him a club owner other owners trust and follow. And he has showcased an ability to lock horns with Goodell, Jones and other power brokers when necessary. And like Jones and Goodell, he’s eventually going to leave a void behind in the league. When that day comes is debatable, with Kraft turning 84 in June but still carrying himself and professing the spirit of an owner who is decades younger. He still had the succession question put to him directly as recently as the league meetings in April, when he was confronted with the reality that past cornerstone ownership patriarchs like the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Dan Rooney and Buffalo Bills’ Ralph Wilson relinquished their roles in day-to-day operations in their mid-80s. Speaking to a group of reporters at those Palm Beach meetings, it was a topic that seemed to catch Kraft off-guard. “First of all, I think I’m 35,” Kraft said, drawing some laughter. “As far as succession, succession is there. My eldest son Jonathan has been part of every key decision I’ve made for the last 30-odd years and is a full partner in everything. He stays out of the limelight. But we have a plan that is in place for all of our businesses.” “Sometimes with age, you have experience,” Kraft continued. “But let’s see what happens this year. Let’s see what happens over the next two or three years.” Kraft pointing to his son Jonathan was the confirmation of the succession line that most had already anticipated, with the Patriots expected to become a family legacy franchise following a wildly successful first 30 years of ownership. The two questions now are when will Robert Kraft feel obliged to move on from day-to-day operations and what will Jonathan bring to the table. Both of those answers are somewhat cloaked. A source in the Patriots’ organization told Yahoo Sports that after a low point over the past two years — transitioning out of the Belichick era and hitting a wall with Jerod Mayo — they believe Kraft has more wind in his sails since the hiring of Mike Vrabel. Calling the period “invigorating” for the franchise, the source noted that Vrabel has been a commanding presence who now a focal point, along with head of player personnel Eliot Wolf, for most of the football-related resolutions that Robert Kraft struggled to answer for over the past two years. And if winning follows, there’s a likelihood that Robert Kraft will ride that wave. The question of what Jonathan Kraft will be like as a leader is more difficult to define. Unlike the consistent public-facing role Stephen Jones has played alongside Jerry, Jonathan Kraft’s presence has been more of a behind-the-scenes advisory capacity on the football side for the Patriots. Part of that is natural, with Jonathan’s role as president of the Patriots also intermingled with his presidency of The Kraft Group, an umbrella over the family’s multiple business operations. But another part of that is by Robert Kraft’s design, too. For now, he wants Jonathan’s football exposure to be more background than foreground. That hasn’t stopped Jonathan from being a subject of past frustrations with the team’s performance, with Kraft caught a few times on video appearing to show or voice criticisms. Whatever tension existed was clearly enough to irk Belichick, who parted company with the Patriots after the 2023 season but still felt obliged to snipe at New England’s ownership from his new perch at North Carolina. Accounting for the positives of coaching in college football, Belichick told the Boston Globe earlier this month that, among other things, “There’s no owner, there’s no owner’s son.” For now, there’s no defined date of succession between owner and owner’s son, either. Roger Goodell and the league’s next NFL commissioner … or notThe Roger Goodell succession plan is a debate. One longtime AFC executive who has played key roles in league business summed it up like this: “Why would Roger want to retire?” the executive asked. “With [rumored Goodell successor Brian] Rolapp leaving [the league office] for the PGA, what signs are there that he wants to retire? And if he doesn’t want to retire, what owners want him out that can actually make it happen?” “He’s getting paid a ton of money. He’s young for his 60s and he’s already survived the salary acrimony with the owners — basically Jerry Jones. And that whole thing, Jerry is going to push whoever is in that seat regardless. That was more about Roger’s salary than Roger the commissioner.” The takeaway from this executive? There is no longer a Roger Goodell succession plan. That’s certainly a shift from a little over two years ago, when some believed the extension Goodell signed in October of 2023 would ultimately send him into the sunset of his career as NFL commissioner by the spring of 2027. Of course, the salary parameters of that contract extension were also opposed only by Jones, who also opposed the salary parameters in Goodell’s 2017 extension, too. But tides have clearly shifted into Goodell’s favor with the NFL bouncing back from the pandemic revenue dip and broadly expanding financial gains in the past few years through an embrace of gambling, ballooning media rights deals and global brand expansion that is continuing to gain steam. And perhaps there’s a thaw between Goodell and Jones, as the commish appeared in Jones’ Netflix series praising the owner. If you put it on a bumper sticker, it would be: “The money is flowing. Why change anything?” There’s also some pending business that suggests a path of commissioner continuity for at least the next several years, including the negotiation of the next collective bargaining agreement, the negotiation of an 18th game in the regular-season schedule (which may be rolled into the CBA negotiation), and the potential opt-out of the league’s domestic broadcast rights deals after the 2028 season. So long as the league isn’t beset by some staggering controversy that it fails to see coming — and so long as the financial bottom line keeps swelling — Goodell may be obliged to keep extending his stay as long as he likes. Some in the league believe a bellwether has already forecast a longer stay, with Rolapp, a longtime exectuive, departing the NFL in June to become the CEO of the PGA Tour. Prior to that move, the 53-year old Rolapp was an executive vice president and chief media and business officer — and also the popular favorite in many league corners to replace Goodell, given his deep relationships in the media rights and sponsorship realms. When Rolapp departed, it signaled to some that another Goodell extension in 2026 was more likely than any succession. And that feeling deepened as other influential league executives began to surmise that Rolapp wouldn’t be replaced, with his responsibilities spread over several other positions. “I don’t think anybody replaces him,” one high-powered NFC executive said. “Nor do I think he needs to be replaced. Brian did an amazing job, but the groundwork he laid can be done by [other league office executives]. … The biggest challenge will be Brian had all the relationships at the top [with broadcasting and sponsorship partners] aside from Roger, and I don’t know how they replace that relationship aspect.” “The deal-making they have. The relationships they need to figure out.” That’s the kind of reality that only strengthens the need for Goodell to remain in place — unless there’s a long play where Rolapp returns to the NFL after a few years leading the PGA. But there’s little belief that’s the succession plan. “I think it’s sunk in that Brian left because he knew he’d hit his ceiling here,” another league executive said. “If he wasn’t the one ascending [to commissioner], nobody else is. [Succession] isn’t realistic without candidates that keep the league’s business moving without a hitch. Roger is the only one who accomplishes that right now, and I think that’ll be the status quo until the next [CBA and media rights] deals are finished off.” |
| 2026 DRAFTMike Renner of CBSSports.com throws out his early Mock Draft. He has five quarterbacks going in the first round (indeed in the first 13 picks). None are named ARCH MANNING or SAM LEAVITT: After only two quarterbacks (Cameron Ward and Jaxson Dart) went in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, I fully expect that to change next April. The only question is, which ones? The 2026 class is chocked full of talent at the quarterback position, but also features so many unknowns for one reason or another. For that reason, the No. 1 overall pick is a total crapshoot to project at this point in time. After quarterbacks, get ready for offensive tackles and defensive ends to dominate the first round, which this mock draft reflects. Nineteen of the 32 picks below hail from those three positions. They are also a little more clear cut, as I would be shocked if the first two edge rushers and first three offensive tackles off the board in the mock draft below don’t end up as first-rounders. That’s not a bad draft to be strong in, as they are three of the four highest-paid positions in the game currently. With Week 1 of the college football season kicking off this weekend, let’s kick off mock draft season with projections for all 32 picks in the first round. 1 CLEVELANDFernando Mendoza QBIndiana • Jr • 6’5″ / 225 lbsThe Browns will almost certainly be going quarterback if they end up picking No. 1 overall, and with Arch Manning expected to return to school, Fernando Mendoza feels like the best fit of the bunch for head coach Kevin Stefanski’s offense (should the two-time NFL Coach of the Year be retained). He’s got a plus NFL arm paired with quick decision-making and tight-window accuracy. He’ll get a chance to shine on a bigger stage this year at Indiana after carrying Cal the past two seasons. 2 NEW ORLEANSGarrett Nussmeier QBLSU • Sr • 6’1″ / 205 lbsGeneral manager Mickey Loomis will have an easy decision here if Garrett Nussmeier balls out this fall. That’s because the Saints offensive coordinator — Doug Nussmeier — knows the LSU quarterback’s strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else in America. Garrett’s NFL bloodlines show with his pocket presence and understanding of how to play the position. 3 NY JETSLaNorris Sellers QBSouth Carolina • Soph • 6’3″ / 240 lbsLaNorris Sellers may not quite be ready to declare after this fall, but if he does it’s because someone is willing to buy highly into his traits. He’s an elite running threat with big-time arm talent to operate what has all the makings of a run-heavy attack in New York. 4 NY GIANTSPeter Woods DLClemson • Jr • 6’3″ / 310 lbsYou want the scariest defensive line in football, because you just got it. Peter Woods is a versatile and powerful interior defender. Put him next to Dexter Lawrence, Abdul Carter and Brian Burns, and you’ll never have to blitz again. 5 TENNESSEEJordyn Tyson WRArizona State • Jr • 6’2″ / 200 lbsThe Titans could very easily wait until Day 2, but there’s not many No. 1 type of receivers in this class outside of Jordyn Tyson. I love the thought of pairing Cameron Ward with a star receiver he can grow — similar to what head coach Brian Callahan had in Cincinnati. 6 LAS VEGASSpencer Fano OTUtah • Jr • 6’6″ / 308 lbsThe Raiders could be in the market for a right tackle depending on DJ Glaze’s development, and Spencer Fano is the best one in the draft class. He’s also the most versatile run blocker who would be a perfect fit for Chip Kelly’s offense. 7 CAROLINAKeldric Faulk DTAuburn • Jr • 6’6″ / 285 lbsKeldric Faulk is a unique defender who’s perfect for the modern game. At 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds, Faulk can get the job done as both an edge or on the interior. Everyone is looking for those kind of hybrid players nowadays, and the Panthers are in need of anything they can get defensively. 8 MIAMIJermod McCoy CBTennessee • Jr • 6’0″ / 193 lbsWith arguably the weakest cornerback group in the NFL, the Dolphins address is with a cornerback I believe has special potential. Jermod McCoy’s sophomore tape was right up there with the likes of the elite names who have come out in recent years. 9 NEW ENGLANDT.J. Parker EDGEClemson • Jr • 6’3″ / 260 lbsThe Patriots addressed most glaring holes on their roster over the course of the offseason, but the edge rush only has stop-gap options at this point. T.J. Parker is the most NFL-ready edge in the class with three-down ability for Mike Vrabel. 10 INDIANAPOLISCade Klubnik QBClemson • Sr • 6’2″ / 210 lbsEven if Daniel Jones succeeds, it’s hard to see the Colts not being involved in the 2026 quarterback class. Unlike Anthony Richardson, Cade Klubnik will have over three years of starting experience by the time he hits an NFL field. 11 CLEVELAND (from Jacksonville)Caleb Downs SOhio State • Jr • 6’0″ / 205 lbsCaleb Downs is arguably the best player in the class, but positional value could cause him to tumble. The Browns need impact players wherever they can find them, and he’d be the kind of safety they’ve been searching for to play next to Grant Delpit. 12 LA RAMS (from Atlanta)Avieon Terrell CBClemson • Jr • 5’11” / 180 lbsThe brother of Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, Avieon is a perfect fit for the Rams defense. He’s a shorter, shiftier corner who can stick with receivers along the full route tree. His addition would give the Rams more flexibility to play man in situation where they currently can not. 13 PITTSBURGHJohn Mateer QBOklahoma • Jr • 6’1″ / 224 lbsJohn Mateer has arguably the best arm talent in the entire draft class and goes to a division in the AFC North where that’s a necessity. He showed growth in his first season as a starter and now has a chance to blow up in his first season with the Sooners after transferring from Washington State. 14 SEATTLECaleb Lomu OTUtah • Soph • 6’6″ / 308 lbsWith Abraham Lucas hitting free agency after this season, Seattle will have a decision on its hands with its oft-injured right tackle. It could see a strong tackle class and opt for one of the best pass-protectors in the group with Caleb Lomu. 15 DALLASKadyn Proctor OTAlabama • Jr • 6’7″ / 366 lbsThe Cowboys reunite one of the best double team duos in college football history with Kadyn Proctor joining former Alabama teammate Tyler Booker. The Cowboys have been slowly building a bully of an offensive line, and Proctor would be the cherry on top. 16 ARIZONATrevor Goosby OTTexas • Soph • 6’7″ / 312 lbsParis Johnson has been a home run, but the right tackle position is still a work in progress. Trevor Goosby was only a spot starter last year, but showed first-round potential as a pass protector. 17 CHICAGOJeremiyah Love RBNotre Dame • Jr • 6’0″ / 214 lbsBen Johnson was rumored to be in the Ashton Jeanty market last year before the Raiders snatched him up a few picks prior. Now he gets his version of Jahmyr Gibbs, as Jeremiyah Love is that level of special as a mover. 18 LA CHARGERSConnor Lew IOLAuburn • Jr • 6’3″ / 303 lbsJim Harbaugh won’t stop until he has the baddest offensive line in the NFL. And when Rashawn Slater was healthy, they were going to be pretty darn close. Center is still a weakish link with Bradley Bozeman there, so the Chargers add the best center prospect in the class in Connor Lew. 19 TAMPA BAYCJ Allen LBGeorgia • Jr • 6’1″ / 235 lbsCJ Allen is the perfect type of linebacker to replace Lavonte David in Todd Bowles’ defense. He’s a no-nonsense linebacker who wants to inflict pain to whomever is in front of him. He’ll be a value add as a blitzer from Day 1. 20 DENVERRueben Bain Jr. EDGEMiami (Fla.) • Jr • 6’3″ / 275 lbsReuben Bain Jr. is the perfect sort of inside/outside pass-rushing threat to play in Vance Joseph’s hybrid fronts. He’s got a defensive tackle build, but is more than capable of rushing from the outside as well. 21 CINCINNATICaleb Banks DTFlorida • Sr • 6’5″ / 330 lbsCaleb Banks is a mammoth defensive tackle who will fit right in on a defensive line full of freak athletes. His combination of length and explosiveness is what everyone is looking for in the league. 22 HOUSTONXavier Chaplin OTAuburn • Jr • 6’7″ / 348 lbsThe Texans invested in a ton of options at tackle, but they still have a lot of unknowns. They might opt for a little higher ceiling option at the position in Xavier Chaplin, who has prototypical left tackle tools. 23 MINNESOTADavid Bailey LBTexas Tech • Sr • 6’3″ / 250 lbsDavid Bailey has a lightning quick first step that would fit in nicely in Brian Flores’ defense. He would give them another front-seven option who would keep offensive lines’ head spinning on third downs. 24 LA RAMSMakai Lemon WRUSC • Jr • 5’11” / 195 lbsMakai Lemon is a Sean McVay type of wide receiver. He’ll do all the little things right to not only produce for himself, but for others as well. He could easily fill the role Cooper Kupp did for years in Los Angeles. 25 WASHINGTONCarnell Tate WROhio State • Jr • 6’3″ / 195 lbsTerry McLaurin has officially signed his extension with the Commanders, and now Jayden Daniels gets another offensive weapon. Carnell Tate is a smooth mover with a large catch radius who can make plays after the catch as well. 26 SAN FRANCISCOFrancis Mauigoa OTMiami (Fla.) • Jr • 6’6″ / 315 lbsProjected TeamSan Francisco Right tackle Colton McKivitz is in a contract year and Trent Williams is 37-years old. The 49ers could use some insurance at tackle, where Francis Mauigoa has been a reliable starter since his freshman year. 27 GREEN BAYMatayo Uiagalelei EDGEOregon • Jr • 6’5″ / 272 lbsMatayo Uiagalelei is decidedly the Packers type of edge. Strong, long, and athletic — he ticks the physical boxes. If both Lukas Van Ness and Rashan Gary don’t turn things around this season, the Packers will be in the market for a pass-rusher. 28 DETROITLT Overton EDGEAlabama • Sr • 6’5″ / 278 lbsLT Overton is another edge rusher with interior versatility. That would play well across from Aidan Hutchinson, where they’ve not quite been able to find a consistent rusher. At a minimum, Overton will be a plus run defender off the edge. 29 KANSAS CITYKenyon Sadiq TEOregon • Jr • 6’3″ / 245 lbsIt seems like every year we want to give the Chiefs their next version of Travis Kelce, but this year finally feels like the one it will happen. Kenyon Sadiq wasn’t even a starter last year behind Terrance Ferguson, but you already saw the makings of an elite YAC weapon. 30 BUFFALOEric Singleton Jr. WRAuburn • Jr • 5’10” / 180 lbsEric Singleton Jr. is the kind of vertical threat the Bills offense simply doesn’t have. While they tried to counter Travis Kelce by drafting Dalton Kincaid in the first round, this can be their counter to Xavier Worthy. 31 PHILADELPHIAIsaiah World OTOregon • Sr • 6’8″ / 318 lbsLane Johnson has been ageless, but the Eagles are always drafting a few years ahead of time. Isaiah World has high-end developmental potential that offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland would be uniquely qualified to unlock. 32 BALTIMORECashius Howell EDGETexas A&M • Sr • 6’2″ / 248 lbsCashius Howell is a twitched-up undersized edge rusher who would fit in perfectly with the Ravens stable of rushers. I expect a big year from him after Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton bounced to the league. |
