| NFC EAST |
| WASHINGTONThe Commanders hope 36-year-old EDGE VON MILLER has something left in the tank. John Keim of ESPN.com: The Washington Commanders are signing veteran defensive end Von Miller, a move designed to bolster their pass rush and increase their ability to close out games on defense. Miller, who posted two pictures of himself in a Washington jersey on his Instagram account Wednesday night, has recorded 129.5 career sacks to rank 16th on the all-time list. Miller, who still must pass his physical, will sign a one-year deal, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Miller, 36, played the past three seasons with the Buffalo Bills, recording 14 sacks — eight in his first season and six last year. Washington hopes he can do what he did for the Los Angeles Rams in the 2021 season: serve as a final piece in a Super Bowl title run. The Rams acquired him in a midseason trade, and he then posted five sacks in eight regular-season games and four more in the playoffs en route to a Super Bowl win. In his first 10 years, with the Denver Broncos, Miller had 110.5 sacks and made seven All-Pro teams, including three first teams, and was named to the Pro Bowl eight times — the last of which occurred after the 2019 season. He was the MVP of Super Bowl 50. Washington general manager Adam Peters was with Denver when the Broncos selected Miller in the first round of the 2011 draft. Peters left after the 2016 season to join the San Francisco 49ers. The Commanders’ pass rush recorded 43 sacks, 11th best in the NFL last season. However, there were holes in their pass rush: In the four-man rush, Washington ranked 26th with 22 sacks; and in the fourth quarter, the Commanders were 30th with five sacks. That’s partly why quarterbacks posted a fourth-quarter QBR of 74.8 against Washington, fourth highest in the league. The Commanders had looked at multiple ends in free agency, including DeMarcus Lawrence and Joey Bosa. They had looked at pass rushers in the early rounds of the draft but opted to take offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round and corner Trey Amos in the second. Washington signed a number of veteran linemen in free agency, including ends Deatrich Wise Jr. and Jacob Martin. It also has linebacker Frankie Luvu, who was named second-team All-Pro after finishing with a career-best eight sacks last season. The Bills released Miller on March 9, freeing up $8.4 million in salary cap space. Miller had been set to account for the second-most cap space ($23.9 million) on the roster behind only quarterback Josh Allen. |
| AFC WEST |
| KANSAS CITYChiefs G TREY SMITH has a big, new deal. Jayna Bardalhl and Dianna Russini of The Athletic: Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith signed to a four-year contract extension on Tuesday worth $94 million, including $70 million guaranteed, league sources confirmed to The Athletic. The deal, which makes Smith the highest-paid player at his position, was locked up hours before the NFL’s deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign long-term extensions. Before April’s NFL Draft, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach told reporters it was “no secret” the team wanted to sign Smith long term, but the status of those contract negotiations became less clear as Tuesday’s deadline approached. If Smith and the Chiefs did not reach a deal by 4 p.m., the 25-year-old would have been locked into a one-year deal worth $23.402 million, as established by the franchise tag. Smith and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins were the only players placed on franchise tags this offseason, but both reached long-term deals with their teams and will avoid playing on the tag for the 2025 season. Smith skipped all of the Chiefs’ OTAs in March but was in attendance for June’s mandatory minicamp amid contract negotiations. His presence is crucial as the Chiefs hope to squash the blocking issues on their offensive line that cost them in Super Bowl LIX. Smith has started every one of the 67 games he’s played for Kansas City and has missed only one game in four seasons. In 2024, Smith allowed a career-best 1 1/2 sacks and earned his first Pro Bowl selection. He was a sixth-round draft pick by the Chiefs in 2021.– – -WR RASHEE RICE is an admitted felon and will head to jail at some point as his Texas criminal case comes to an end. Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com: A Dallas County judge sentenced Rashee Rice to five years probation and 30 days of jail time, the Dallas Morning News reports. Rice pleaded guilty to collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing serious bodily injury, both third-degree felonies, according to the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. He also paid all of the victim’s out-of-pocket medical expenses, totaling more than $115,000. It concludes the criminal part of his role in a multi-car crash in Dallas during the 2024 offseason. “Last March, I was involved in a high-speed accident in Dallas,” Rice said in a statement released by his attorney, Royce West. “There have been a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages that my actions caused, and I will continue working within my means to make sure that everyone impacted will be made whole. I urge everyone to mind the speed limit, drive safe and drive smart. Last and certainly not least, I am profoundly sorry for the physical damages to person and property. I fully apologize for the harm I caused to innocent drivers and their families.” The NFL now can decide on Rice’s punishment, and he is expected to receive a multi-game suspension. He can decide when he wants to go to the pokey per ESPN: A Dallas district court judge ruled that Rice can serve the jail time at any point during the five-year probationary period. Rice received deferred adjudication, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, so the case will be dismissed if he completes the probation. |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERSA fireworks mishap several weeks ago have put RB NAJEE HARRIS on the non-football injury list. Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com: The Chargers officially announced on Thursday that they’ve placed running back Najee Harris on the non-football injury list. While it’s unclear when he’ll be able to get on the field, head coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed Harris is in the building and participating in meetings after sustaining an eye injury in a fireworks mishap at a July 4 event. “‘Naj’ is here, he’s in meetings. It’s great to have him,” Harbaugh said, via Alex Insdorf of …. “A lot of gratitude that he’s here. Gosh, I’m the age of being a parent — I’ve got kids that are these guys’ age. So, just the feeling of having everybody back under the same roof is a good feeling.” Harbaugh didn’t want to address the medical aspect of Harris’ absence, declining to address when the running back may be able to practice. Agent Doug Hendrickson noted in a previous statement that Harris is “fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season.” Harris, 27, signed a one-year deal with the Chargers in March. The running back rushed for 1,043 yards with six touchdowns and caught 36 passes for 283 yards for the Steelers last year. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CLEVELANDAndy Quach of SI.com on QB KENNY PICKETT falling off the pace in the Cleveland QB battle: Despite putting up decent, albeit unspectacular numbers in his first two seasons, he failed to earn their support as a franchise cornerstone and was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a third and two seventh-round picks. Some, including Pittsburgh legend Terry Bradshaw, believe that the Steelers never gave Pickett a fair shake, abandoning him despite never putting him in a position to succeed. The Browns turning their franchise rivals’ failed prospect into a legitimate starting quarterback would be a huge win for Cleveland on several fronts. Unfortunately, as good of a story as that would be, it doesn’t seem very likely to play out that way. There were reports that Pickett performed quite poorly compared to his peers at the Browns’ OTAs and minicamp. Cleveland.com‘s Mary Kay Cabot recently expanded on his early struggles on the Orange and Brown Talk Podcast: “You didn’t see it. I didn’t see it. If we are saying that we did, we’re kidding ourselves. We didn’t see him pop. He needs to pop in training camp.We did not see it in spring ball.” Pickett may be starting a bit behind the ball coming into training camp but that doesn’t mean he still can’t win the starting nod come Week 1. However, he has a long way to go learning the Browns’ offense according to Cabot: “You are going to have to play fast and furious, and you’ve got to be able to run this offense and not be thinking about it. And that’s what I wonder when [Pickett] talks about, ‘Oh, I’m just getting to know the terminology and you know, I’m honing my pocket presence and play-action,’ all those kinds of things. Then you can’t be learning on the job.” Time will tell if Pickett can overcome his slow start and emerge at the top of this quarterback battle. So far, it looks like the Steelers may have given up on him for a reason. |
| AFC EAST |
NEW YORK JETSJacob Robinson of The Athletic is impressed with the quiet progress shown by the Jets new regime: The Jets’ quiet stridesWe’re starting to figure out the new-look Jets. From the start, it was clear that first-year leaders, head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey, were not afraid to clean house. Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams and Haason Reddick are from another era, it seems. This team has since avoided the spotlight. Free agency came and went, and their highest-profile additions were two mid-tier defensive backs and a young, discounted quarterback in Justin Fields. Almost every signing was under 30, with no risky, big-name signings. The Jets took a similar approach to the draft. They solidified their offensive line with right tackle Armand Membou (No. 7), improved their weakest position with tight end Mason Taylor (No. 42), then spent four of their final five picks on defense. They didn’t make any headlines, but graded above-average in Dane Brugler’s rankings. They solidified their foundation this week, agreeing to sign WR Garrett Wilson to a four-year, $130 million contract and making CB Sauce Gardner the league’s highest-paid cornerback with a four-year, $120.4 million deal. Still just 24, Wilson and Gardner join 27-year-old DT Quinnen Williams as cornerstones of the new culture. No star player is over 27:  This youth movement reflects the bet that Glenn and his staff can develop the Jets’ talent to snap the league’s longest-active playoff drought (14 seasons). “That’s what we do as coaches: develop,” Glenn is quoted as saying in Zack Rosenblatt’s story on the Jets’ new culture. “I think the No. 1 trait you look for in a coach is being able to teach, the second is being able to develop. I tell our staff: I want the free agents to play like draft picks. I want our third-round picks to play like first-round picks. I want our first-round picks to wear a gold jacket at some point. And that’s the job of coaches.” For what was recently the league’s most dysfunctional culture, quiet progress speaks volumes. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| BREAKOUT CANDIDATESA “breakout” candidate for each of the 32 member clubs from the correspondents of The Athletic: With training camp about to kick off, our reporters pointed out someone from each team who has breakout potential and could become more of a household name this season. Arizona CardinalsDT Darius RobinsonWalter Nolen was Arizona’s first-round draft pick in April, but really, the Cardinals are getting two first-round defensive tackles this season. Robinson was a first-round pick last year, drafted 27th, but he suffered a calf injury in training camp and spent the rest of the season trying to catch up. It showed. Overall, Robinson played in only six games and failed to make much of an impact (10 tackles and one sack). It was like a college redshirt season. Entering this season, Robinson is healthy and positioned to make his mark. In addition to Nolen, the Cardinals also signed vets Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson. The unit should be the most improved on the team, and Robinson will play a big part. — Doug Haller Atlanta FalconsLB Kaden EllissThe Falcons spent most of their offseason capital acquiring edge-rush talent, adding outside linebackers Leonard Floyd (free agency), Jalon Walker (No. 15 pick) and James Pearce Jr. (No. 26 pick). But the most impactful pass rusher on the team might end up being an inside linebacker. Elliss has totaled 16 sacks in the last three seasons, and more impressively, he leads the NFL in pressure percentage during that period, harrying the quarterback 26.3 percent of the time he rushes the passer. The seventh-year veteran could top double-digit sacks for the first time in his career this season as new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has promised to keep deploying him in the pass rush despite the edge additions. — Josh Kendall Baltimore RavensCB Nate WigginsThe more the 2024 first-round pick played his rookie season, the better he looked. Quarterbacks had just a 66.7 quarterback rating when targeting Wiggins, who allowed only 31 receptions on 62 targets while playing 68 percent of Baltimore’s defensive snaps. Wiggins’ rookie season would have been even more impressive had he caught a few more of the passes that he got his hands on. He put on about 10 pounds of muscle this offseason, and he has a far better understanding of Baltimore’s defensive plan. The Ravens believe he has star potential. — Jeff Zrebiec Buffalo BillsS Cole BishopWhile everyone expects it to be Keon Coleman because he plays a position without a proven top target, I’ll go with Bishop. Many believed safety to be a draft consideration this year, but Bishop was the reason they declined to do so. As long as he remains healthy, the 2024 second-round pick looks like a pretty good bet to be the Week 1 starter in 2025. After a slow start as a rookie due to injuries and uneven play, Bishop hit his stride at the end of the season as he made spot starts in both the regular season and playoffs. Bishop looked a lot more comfortable within the scheme this spring and has drawn some glowing reviews from the Bills. — Joe Buscaglia Carolina PanthersWR Xavier LegetteMaybe we should have seen Legette’s rookie struggles coming. After all, despite looking the part with a big, chiseled frame, Legette wasn’t a full-time starter until his fifth season at South Carolina. So yes, there were growing pains for Legette, whose eight drops — including one on Bryce Young’s potential game-winning touchdown pass at Philadelphia — put him among the leaders in that category. But the arrival of No. 8 pick Tetairoa McMillan should take some pressure off Legette, whom the Panthers traded up to take at No. 32 in 2024. It’s not like Legette was a total bust: The 6-foot-3, 227-pounder caught 49 passes for 497 yards and four touchdowns. But as Young develops and McMillan draws coverage his way, Legette’s production should increase this season. — Joseph Person Chicago BearsWR Rome OdunzeIt’s cliché to choose the second-year, top-10 pick. But Odunze’s rookie season seemed more disappointing than it actually was. He was fifth among rookies in receiving yards (734) and caught only 53.5 percent of passes thrown his way. However, Odunze served as an example of the inconsistency that plagued the 2024 Bears offense. If Odunze didn’t meet outside expectations, it’s not because he was dropping passes or running poor routes. With a better scheme and improved quarterback play, he should take off in Year 2. — Kevin Fishbain Cincinnati BengalsCB Cam Taylor-BrittTaylor-Britt has been a candidate for this over the previous two seasons, but perhaps nobody benefited more from the fresh start under defensive coordinator Al Golden than the fourth-year cornerback. He’s proven he can play at a high level for stretches of his career, but he’s been unable to find consistency. He was benched multiple times last year, but his energy, athleticism and playmaking showed up in the offseason program. He sounds and looks more like the confident player who emerged on the scene in his first two seasons and less like the embattled and confused corner who scuffled through the ugly 2024 campaign. It could finally be his year to become a true CB1. — Paul Dehner Jr. Cleveland BrownsWR Cedric TillmanTillman’s surge in the back-middle of the 2024 season came out of nowhere. Not only had the Browns’ pass game been largely ineffective, but also Tillman was barely seeing snaps or targets early last season. When Jameis Winston took over and started throwing the ball downfield, Tillman became both a consistent target and a real threat. A concussion forced him to miss the end of last season, but Cleveland did not draft a receiver and has Tillman’s role as an outside wideout almost in ink, regardless of who wins the quarterback job. Tillman’s size is an asset, and he can complement the speedy Jerry Jeudy in the intermediate and vertical passing games. — Zac Jackson Dallas CowboysDE Sam WilliamsThree names immediately come to mind: Tyler Guyton, Marist Liufau and Williams. Guyton because he now has a full season playing left tackle under his belt. Liufau because the linebacker jobs are wide open and he showed notable upside during his rookie season. But Williams holds the top spot here because his size and athletic ability are ideal for being an elite edge rusher. The 2022 second-round pick just hasn’t been able to put it all together. His breakout season was supposed to be last year, but a season-ending knee injury in training camp put everything on hold. He took part in some individual drills during minicamp. If he’s healthy, he could be Dallas’ second-most productive pass rusher behind Micah Parsons. — Jon Machota Denver BroncosWR Marvin MimsMims has already made two Pro Bowl squads as a returner since being selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. But his progress as a receiver could unlock another element in Denver’s offense. Mims had 434 receiving yards and six touchdowns over his final seven games last season, showcasing an ability to win contested balls deep downfield — his touchdown grab against the Bengals to force overtime in Week 17 was a catch-of-the-year candidate — and a speed on the edge that can bend the geometry of defenses. Another year of chemistry with quarterback Bo Nix could put Mims on a 1,000-yard track. — Nick Kosmider Detroit LionsCB Terrion ArnoldThe Lions threw Arnold into the fire last year and didn’t apologize for it — largely because they know how he’s wired. It takes a certain mindset to play cornerback for this coaching staff, which is why the team was hesitant to devote meaningful capital on the position until the stars aligned with Arnold. Ranked 10th on Dane Brugler’s big board in 2024 with a Jaylon Johnson player comp, Arnold fell to No. 24, and the Lions traded up for him. He played the most man coverage snaps of any corner in the league as a rookie, and while there were growing pains, Arnold ended better than he started. Coaches believe it’ll set him up for a big jump in Year 2. — Colton Pouncy Green Bay PackersLB Edgerrin CooperDoes Cooper count since he won NFC Defensive Player of the Week twice as a rookie last year? The 2024 second-round pick wasn’t a Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist — he finished sixth in voting, perhaps because he missed three games in the second half of the season — so I’m still picking him here. Cooper can rush the passer and cover, and he should hardly come off the field when healthy after battling injuries and learning defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s system last season. Cooper is up 20 pounds since he arrived in Green Bay to 240 because he wanted to “feel powerful” while still keeping his explosiveness. He said almost 100 percent of the weight he gained is muscle. — Matt Schneidman Houston TexansWR Jayden HigginsWith their wide receiver unit hit hard by injury (Tank Dell) and free agency (Stefon Diggs), the Texans set out this offseason to find young quarterback C.J. Stroud some impactful playmakers. Higgins, a second-round pick this year out of Iowa State, certainly seems capable of fitting the bill. The 6-foot-4, 214-pound receiver out of Iowa State brings size, athleticism and speed. Lining up along with Nico Collins and new veteran addition Christian Kirk, Higgins should receive plenty of opportunities to help the Texans. He can win 50-50 balls, gets good separation and should make a name for himself in Houston this season. — Mike Jones Indianapolis ColtsDE Laiatu LatuLatu is tied for being the highest-drafted defensive player during Colts general manager Chris Ballard’s nine-year tenure. Indianapolis selected Latu with the 15th pick last year, and he finished his rookie season with four sacks and three forced fumbles. This year, Latu is primed to take a step forward after the departure of starting defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, who joined the Bears in free agency, and the addition of new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Anarumo is known for his varying schemes that are designed to bring a lot more pressure than former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s conservative system. — James Boyd Jacksonville JaguarsWR Brian Thomas Jr.The 2024 first-round pick had an electric rookie season with 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns, so it’s fair to argue he’s already broken out. But considering that production on a bad team with turbulent quarterback play, Thomas could explode if the Trevor Lawrence-Liam Coen pairing works out the way it’s been envisioned. Plus, with Travis Hunter on the other side, defenses will have to decide where to load their coverage. If Hunter comes as advertised as a full-time wideout, Thomas could soon be knocking on the door as one of the league’s premier receivers. — Jeff Howe Kansas City ChiefsWR Rashee RiceHe saw just four games his sophomore season before tearing up his knee chasing down a defender after a Patrick Mahomes interception. But the good news amid the bad news: Rice did not tear his ACL but his LCL, which meant a shorter recovery time. Thus, the wideout was back on the field this spring for the Chiefs, and coach Andy Reid said he expects him to be full-go for the start of training camp. Rice’s return will be crucial for an offense looking to rediscover its explosiveness. He had 938 receiving yards as a rookie in 2023 and was building off that early in Year 2. Kansas City has been waiting for a WR1 to step into the role vacated by Tyreek Hill in 2022. He’s not Hill, but Rice might be this team’s best bet. He has future Pro Bowler written all over him. — Zak Keefer Las Vegas RaidersC Jackson Powers-JohnsonPowers-Johnson started 14 games as a rookie and lined up at three positions, left guard, center and right guard. While his level of play was solid, that constant movement made it difficult for him to be comfortable. Additionally, he came into the season too heavy and his technique was sloppy. He’s been able to focus solely on center this offseason, lost 10-15 pounds and has sharpened his fundamentals. He should be a plus-level player for the Raiders in 2025. — Tashan Reed Los Angeles ChargersCB Tarheeb StillStill was a fifth-round pick in 2024, and he turned into one of the steals of the draft. A season-ending injury for Asante Samuel Jr. cleared an opportunity for Still, who quickly established himself as an impact starter and finished with four interceptions. He has tremendous instincts in zone coverage and natural ball skills, which make him a perfect fit in defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s scheme. Still is capable of putting up big production and that could shift him into the national spotlight in 2025. — Daniel Popper Los Angeles RamsTE Terrance FergusonTo be clear, Rams coach Sean McVay finally has to commit to a significant increase in 12 personnel for Ferguson, a rookie second-round pick, to truly emerge this season. But the offense has trended that way at times, especially last season. While McVay’s scheme was still largely run through 11 personnel (82 percent of the Rams’ offensive plays in 2024), he also deployed 12 personnel on 15.5 percent of offensive plays and hit that average or higher between Weeks 15 and 18. The Rams ran 12 personnel on an average of just 5 percent of offensive plays in 2023. Veteran tight end Tyler Higbee’s return from injury across that period gave McVay two healthy starting-caliber tight ends. He has reiterated his hope for his offense to be more multiple in 2025. — Jourdan Rodrigue Miami DolphinsLB Chop RobinsonThis one feels like cheating since Robinson finished fifth in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting after tallying six sacks last season. However, that only felt like a glimmer of what Robinson is capable of as a pass rusher. Among players with at least 200 pass-rush snaps last season, Robinson ranked fourth in pressure rate (17.2 percent), according to Pro Football Focus. The three names ahead of him? Myles Garrett (18.4 percent), Parsons (17.7 percent) and Alex Highsmith (17.4 percent). Nick Bosa (17.2 percent) and Trey Hendrickson (17.1 percent) ranked just behind him. Expecting Robinson to produce in Year 2 like one of these elite names is expecting too much, but a double-digit sack season is absolutely within his reach in 2025. — Jim Ayello Minnesota VikingsCB Isaiah RodgersIt’s not that Rodgers is a complete unknown. He snatched three interceptions for the Colts in 2021, then started nine games the following season. If it weren’t for a gambling suspension that sidelined him during the 2023 season, who knows where he’d rank among cornerbacks? Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and the personnel department targeted him, specifically. They believed pairing him with Byron Murphy — in a defense that allows cornerbacks to play make — will allow Rodgers to thrive. He impressed throughout the spring and is in line for major opportunities. — Alec Lewis New England PatriotsDE Keion WhiteIt looked like White’s breakout was coming a year ago after the 2023 second-round pick had four sacks in the first two games. But White’s performance dipped, and his playing time decreased. He made some pointed comments late last season about change needing to come to New England, which seemed like a shot at last year’s coaching staff. Now with Mike Vrabel in charge, it’s time for White to look like the player he was early last season. — Chad Graff New Orleans SaintsCB Kool-Aid McKinstryThere’s no doubt the Saints selected McKinstry in Round 2 of the 2024 draft with the intention of starting him at some point. That moment came midway through last season thanks to the Marshon Lattimore trade and the Paulson Adebo injury. Both of those players are gone, and McKinstry is in line to start for New Orleans in 2025. Even as the Saints’ record plummeted in the back half of last year, McKinstry seemed to hold his own with opposing passer ratings of below 78.0 in five of his final seven games (via Pro Football Reference). That included a final three-game stretch where quarterbacks only combined for a 30 percent completion rate (6-for-20) on him. — Larry Holder New York GiantsOLB Abdul CarterThe caveat is that it’s hard to get a sense of just how dominant a trenches player can be without pads in the spring, but Carter showed the flashes of why he was the No. 3 pick this year. He has the potential to be a game-wrecker, and the Giants’ outside linebacker room should be its strongest position group thanks to veterans Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. The question now is how the snaps will be divided between the three and how much moving around Carter will be doing as a versatile player. — Charlotte Carroll New York JetsRB Braelon AllenThe Jets ran the ball less than any team last season. The biggest reason for that (Aaron Rodgers) is gone. It would not shock me if the Jets went from last to first in terms of rushing attempts — the product of a run-first scheme led by offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, and the dynamic, dual-threat quarterbacking of Justin Fields in the fray. The Jets are modeling their offense after the one Engstrand and Aaron Glenn came from in Detroit, where, in theory at least, Breece Hall would play the Jahmyr Gibbs role while Allen would step in as the David Montgomery, power-running type. Allen was a training camp breakout last year who never got a chance to get going in a bad offense, but he’ll have plenty of opportunities in 2025 to make his mark and prove he can be the long-term starter with Hall in the last year of his contract. — Zack Rosenblatt Philadelphia EaglesCB Kelee RingoThat the Eagles didn’t make any major external moves to land a replacement for Darius Slay reveals the confidence they have in Ringo. The 2023 fourth-round pick struggled as a rookie but has the physical tools to become an everyday starter. He’s going to get his chance. At 23, he’s younger than five of the rookies the Eagles just drafted. The organization believes it can unlock Ringo’s potential after two years of developing as a pro. Training camp will begin with veteran Adoree’ Jackson as Ringo’s chief competition. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio appears content with keeping Cooper DeJean as the defense’s starting nickel, although DeJean kicked out to cornerback in base and could eventually prove he’s a better full-time option than Ringo. But that would mean someone else needs to play the nickel role. The circumstances of 2025 have given Ringo his best chance yet to prove himself. Perhaps he’ll seize the moment. — Brooks Kubena Pittsburgh SteelersRB Kaleb JohnsonIn his first year as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith tried to bring Pittsburgh back to its roots as a ground-and-pound football team. While only three teams ran the football more, the problem was that only six teams were less efficient than the Steelers’ 4.1 yards per carry. Enter rookie Kaleb Johnson. The former Iowa ball carrier excelled on wide-zone runs in college, which makes him an ideal scheme fit for Smith’s offense. The Steelers’ third-round draft pick will have to earn his carries in a well-rounded backfield that also features Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. But with a patient running style and a bruising body type, Johnson has an excellent chance as the season plays out to take his first step toward becoming the Steelers’ feature back of the future. — Mike DeFabo San Francisco 49ersWR Jacob CowingRicky Pearsall is the (too) obvious answer, and he’s coming off an offseason hamstring tweak after missing six games his rookie season. So give us Cowing, the 5-foot-8, second-year player with 4.3 speed who could take a lot of the departed Deebo Samuel’s gadget plays. The 49ers like his toughness, speed and nose for yards after the catch. Cowing added more weight in the offseason to his once 168-pound frame to handle sweeps and other running plays, and he joined Pearsall to train with quarterback Brock Purdy in Jacksonville and Arizona. He looked sharp at offseason workouts and, with Brandon Aiyuk still sidelined, could carve out an important role at training camp. — Vic Tafur Seattle SeahawksOLB Derick HallThe 37th pick in the 2023 draft, Hall had eight sacks and 21 quarterback hits last season. He primarily wins with power, bull-rushing tackles until he’s within reach of the quarterback. Assuming he adds a few moves — DeMarcus Lawrence has already taught him a new one — Hall may have an even more productive year in 2025. Between Lawrence, Hall, Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafe, Seattle has a strong foursome on the edge. But Hall’s combination of strength and elite athleticism gives him a high ceiling. — Michael-Shawn Dugar Tampa Bay BuccaneersCB Tykee SmithSmith was too productive as a rookie nickel corner in 2024 not to have a more substantial role in 2025. He had two interceptions, seven pass breakups, four tackles for loss and three forced fumbles, which led coach Todd Bowles to think about getting him on the field more. Smith, who played safety at Georgia, will have an opportunity to be on the field for all four downs, perhaps as a safety-nickel combination player. In addition to production, he also has a pedigree. He was a four-star recruit by Rivals, an All-American (and two-time national champion) at Georgia and a third-round draft pick. Playing next to a healthy Antoine Winfield Jr. could bring out Smith’s best. — Dan Pompei Tennessee TitansOT JC LathamConsistent with the recent history of this franchise, the Titans took Latham No. 7 in the 2024 draft, insisted he was a left tackle even though he played right tackle at Alabama, then switched him back to the right side after an uninspiring rookie season. The Titans look bad on this, as with many other things. But Latham looks good, having lost 30 pounds after admittedly letting his weight get out of control. His talent and infectious personality have been there. If he’s ready for the rigors of a full season and more comfortable back on the right side, he could be one of the team’s most improved players. — Joe Rexrode Washington CommandersWR Luke McCaffreyA product of great football pedigree, the second-year slot receiver understood what he needed to work on following his rookie season, and he did just that. During offseason practices, McCaffrey put those results on display as he demonstrated an improved understanding of the playbook and improved confidence. As a result, he played faster and more effectively. Having also improved his connection with quarterback Jayden Daniels, McCaffrey should make strides and carve out a meaningful role in 2025. — Mike Jones |
| UNSIGNED SECOND ROUND PICKSJeff Eisenberg of YahooSports.com explains why almost all the second round draft selections have not signed their contracts. Shortly after this year’s NFL Draft, the Houston Texans signed second-round pick Jayden Higgins to a rookie contract. It was the kind of routine move that ordinarily might go unnoticed, except in this case it came with a twist that few around the league saw coming. The Texans awarded Higgins a fully guaranteed contract, the first ever for an NFL draft pick selected in the second round or later. The former Iowa State wide receiver will bank $11.7 million over the next four years even if he sustains a career-threatening injury or the Texans sour on him and release him. Higgins’ historic contract has triggered a league-wide standoff. Agents for other second-round picks are pushing for fully guaranteed deals — or at least for more guaranteed money than previous players in their draft slot have secured. NFL teams have been reluctant to set an unfavorable precedent by making such concessions. As rookies begin to report to NFL training camps this week, 29 of the 32 players taken in the second round in April remained unsigned. One exception is Higgins, the second pick in the second round. The other is Carson Schwesinger, the player selected one spot ahead of him. Perhaps aware that their leverage had eroded, the Cleveland Browns gave Schwesinger a fully guaranteed $11.8 million rookie contract the day after Higgins signed his deal. Now there are three second-rounders who have a deal, after San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Alfred Collins, the No. 43 overall pick, agreed to a four-year, $10.3 million contract that includes over $9 million guaranteed. The question remains, however, whether the other prized second-round picks will have the stomach to stand united and fight for similar deals. Los Angeles Chargers’ second-round pick Tre Harris became the first training camp absentee earlier this week when he did not report with the rest of the team’s rookies. An NFLPA spokesperson told Yahoo Sports that the union is “monitoring this situation closely” in hopes that the players selected in the second round can take advantage of a rare opportunity to overturn a long-established precedent. “We work alongside the players and their agents to help them secure the best deal possible, while acknowledging that our members can organize as they see fit for the collective benefit of their financial futures,” the NFLPA spokesperson said. Rookie holdouts were once an annual staple of the buildup to the NFL regular season. In 2007, No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell did not sign until early September when the Raiders caved to his demands by offering a six-year, $68 million contract. That holdout was brief compared to a 2009 standoff between receiver Michael Crabtree and the San Francisco 49ers that stretched four games into the regular season. Or a 2002 impasse between Bryant McKinnie and the Minnesota Vikings that lasted into November. Sagas like those became far more rare 14 years ago when the NFL grew tired of unproven draft picks earning salaries that rivaled those of perennial all-pros. The 2011 collective bargaining agreement introduced a rookie wage scale that established a hard ceiling for rookie contracts and rigid financial guidelines for each draft slot. All rookie contracts are four years in length, though teams have the right to exercise an option after the third year of the deal to add a fifth year for first-round picks. How much guaranteed money a draft pick receives is one of the few remaining negotiable terms in NFL rookie contracts. It wasn’t until 2022 that every first-round pick managed to negotiate a fully guaranteed contract. Last year, second-round guarantees ranged from 95.7% for No. 33 overall pick Keon Coleman of the Buffalo Bills to 52.4% for No. 64 overall pick Renardo Green of the San Francisco 49ers. The last 2024 second-round pick to secure any guaranteed money in the fourth year of his rookie deal was cornerback Max Melton of the Arizona Cardinals. The 43rd pick in the 2024 draft would still receive $50,000 from the Cardinals in 2027 even if the team opts to release him before then. Last year, all second-round picks signed in time for training camp. This year, all second-round picks participated in OTAs and minicamps, but it remains to be seen how many will show up to training camps — every team will have begun camp by July 23 — without a signed contract. Two key figures in the standoff could be quarterback Tyler Shough of the New Orleans Saints and running back Quinshon Judkins of the Cleveland Browns. Shough, the No. 40 overall pick in this year’s draft, is the Saints’ potential starting quarterback as a rookie, giving him ample leverage to fight for a fully guaranteed deal. Judkins, the No. 36 pick in this year’s draft, was arrested Saturday on a domestic violence charge, reducing his bargaining power in contract negotiations with the Browns. While the money at stake isn’t especially high for NFL teams worth billions of dollars, the consequences for current and future second-round picks are significant. The average career length for an NFL player is barely three years. Even second-round picks can’t count on sticking with their original team for the entirety of their four-year rookie contracts. Overthecap.com studied how long second-round picks drafted from 2015-2022 remained with the team that selected them. Nearly 97% lasted at least two seasons with their original team, but only about 84% stuck around three-plus seasons and only about 62% made it through four or more. Those numbers show why fully guaranteed money in the third and fourth year of rookie deals is a point of contention for second-round picks seeking greater financial security and NFL teams hesitant to give away money. Whereas NFL veterans who hold out for a new deal are subject to fines for every day of training camp that they miss, rookies actually have more leverage. NFL teams can’t punish them the same way because they haven’t signed a contract. Plus, the importance of training camp and preseason games is greater for rookies who need time to adjust to the NFL, meaning teams have extra motivation to get would-be contributors into camp as soon as possible. What happens next? A lot could depend on negotiations between Shough and the Saints. If the Saints want to avoid their potential Week 1 starting quarterback arriving late to training camp and missing valuable preseason reps, then they might need to fully guarantee his rookie contract. That could give everyone drafted before pick No. 40 further leverage to demand the same, while those selected after Shough would likely benefit from a cascading guarantee rate. |
| 2026 DRAFTJordan Reid of ESPN.com has the top pick in the 2026 draft narrowed down to 14 candidates: Sure, there are more than nine months until the 2026 NFL draft starts in Pittsburgh, but it’s never too early to discuss the No. 1 pick. And there’s plenty to talk about. Last year’s journey to No. 1 saw quarterback Cam Ward turn from a sleeper prospect to the unquestioned top quarterback in the 2025 draft. Will we see another QB come out of (almost) nowhere to be the first pick? Will one of the top quarterbacks below get it? Will Arch Manning explode at Texas and join his uncles as a No. 1 overall pick? Or will a non-quarterback get the top spot for the first time since 2022? I picked 14 players who could be that top pick in Pittsburgh, adding percentage odds for each player. I’m starting with one of my favorite quarterbacks in this class, but don’t overlook those at 1%. That’s where Ward was slated this time last year. Serious contenders LaNorris Sellers, QB, South CarolinaPredicted chance of going No. 1: 15%Why he could be the top pick: NFL teams constantly fall in love with traits at the top of the draft, and Sellers has some of the best traits in the class. The 6-foot-3, 242-pound dual-threat quarterback can not only beat defenses with his powerful arm (2,534 passing yards and 18 touchdowns to seven interceptions as a 19-year-old redshirt freshman) but also with his legs (674 rushing yards and seven touchdowns). Sellers showed drastic improvement as a first-year starter, helping the Gamecocks win six of their final seven games last season. His 65.6% completion percentage was also encouraging considering his inexperience and points to further improvement in 2025. He sometimes throws passes that are too hot to handle and holds the ball too long in the pocket — his 3.06-second average time to throw was the 11th slowest nationally in 2024. He’ll also need to improve his ball security, as he fumbled 11 times (lost six) last season. But if Sellers can fine-tune these things and continue his growth, he has the tools to be the top pick in the 2026 draft. Cade Klubnik, QB, ClemsonPredicted chance of going No. 1: 15%Why he could be the top pick: I had Klubnik as the No. 1 pick in my Way-too-Early mock draft in May and feel he can take advantage of arguably the most talented roster in the country. He wasn’t on many draft radars after a disappointing sophomore season in 2023, but Klubnik made a major leap as a junior, finishing with 3,639 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He ended the season with a flourish, throwing for 336 yards and three touchdowns in the College Football Playoff first round against Texas. Klubnik isn’t big (6-foot-2, 210 pounds), but he plays with a strong platform and progresses through reads quickly. No matter how muddy the pocket gets, he’s able to make tough throws due to his balance, rhythm and repeatable mechanics. There is debate about his arm strength among NFL evaluators, though. “I think he has enough to be a fine starter on the next level, but his setup will always have to be near perfect to get the best out of him,” an AFC executive from a QB-needy team said this summer. Klubnik is set up to make another leap, as Clemson returns its top three receivers (Antonio Williams, Bryant Wesco Jr. and T.J. Moore). He’ll have a chance to make a big impression early this season when the Tigers play LSU in Week 1. Drew Allar, QB, Penn StatePredicted chance of going No. 1: 15%Why he could be the top pick: Allar is a toolsy passer who took a major leap in 2024 under new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, improving his completion percentage from 59.9% in 2023 to 66.5%. He has the size (6-foot-5, 238 pounds) and strong arm that scouts desire and showed more confidence in those physical traits. He isn’t shy about using his arm strength to test tight windows and has good mobility for his size. Despite Allar’s progress last season, many scouts feel he still needs to work on his ball placement. He’ll be tested this season, as Penn State lost first-round tight end Tyler Warren and has multiple new receivers that Allar will have to get acclimated to. Evaluators also want to see Allar perform better in big games, something he’s struggled with in his two seasons as a starter. Games against Oregon (Sept. 27) and Ohio State (Nov. 1) are paramount. If he can play more like he did against Oregon in the Big Ten championship game last season (280 combined yards and four touchdowns) and less like he did against Notre Dame in the CFP semifinals (12-for-23, 135 yards and a backbreaking late interception), Allar could be a top-10 pick … or higher. Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSUPredicted chance of going No. 1: 15%Why he could be the top pick: Nussmeier performed well last season in succeeding 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, throwing for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. Nussmeier is a fearless passer who produces highlights with his uncanny ability to see big plays and throw his receivers open. The 6-2 200-pounder’s arm is more flexible than powerful, but his great pocket vision and anticipation on throws to intermediate and deep areas of the fields stand out. He doesn’t take many sacks (his 2.9% sack percentage was 12th lowest in the FBS), but can be reckless and put the ball in harm’s way — especially after breaking the pocket. This showed against ranked teams, as he had three games of two or more interceptions against those opponents. While Nussmeier’s aggressiveness can work against him, he has the smarts, accuracy and anticipation to be a top pick in the draft. Scouts will want to see more consistency and how he adjusts to a new set of receivers out of the transfer portal. He’ll be tested right away against Clemson in Week 1. Potential risers Fernando Mendoza, QB, IndianaPredicted chance of going No. 1: 12%Why he could be the top pick: Mendoza transferred from Cal to Indiana, where he enters a quarterback-friendly offense. Kurtis Rourke transitioned from the MAC to Curt Cignetti’s offense and was drafted in the seventh round of this past draft. The ceiling for the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Mendoza is even higher. “I really liked Mendoza’s tape,” an NFC area scout said. “He’s the one to circle that could be a bigger riser, and Cignetti has a great track record with transfer QBs.” Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns with six interceptions and blends a strong arm with plus mobility for his size. He can stand and deliver in the pocket with ease and is extremely accurate — his 5.1% off-target percentage last season was the best in the FBS. He also excelled throwing outside of the pocket, with a 91.1 QBR. Sometimes he’ll break the pocket prematurely instead of allowing concepts to fully develop, so scouts would like to see him be more patient in those situations. T.J. Parker, Edge, ClemsonPredicted chance of going No. 1: 10%Why he could be the top pick: While quarterbacks are most often selected with the No. 1 overall pick, edge rushers grab the top spot occasionally. Travon Walker was the most recent example in 2022. The 6-3, 265-pound Parker is the most likely non-quarterback to be selected first, combining a good first step with strong hands to disengage at the point of attack. Those hands help him win by overpowering blockers, and he finished his sophomore season with 11 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss, second-most in the FBS among defensive linemen. He has also been a turnover creator, forcing four fumbles last season (also second in the FBS) and stands out in a loaded Clemson defensive front. “I know [defensive tackle Peter] Woods gets a lot of the love, but Parker is the one that could be drafted first off of that defense this year,” an AFC assistant told me this summer. Arch Manning, QB, TexasPredicted chance of going No. 1: 5%Why he could be the top pick: There’s a lot of projection here, as Manning has only two starts and 95 passing attempts in his college career. Because of that, I don’t believe Manning will be in the 2026 draft. But he has traits that could make him an intriguing option atop the draft if he has a big season. The glimpses we saw last season were promising, as he threw for 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing for 106 yards and four scores. At 6-4, 222 pounds, Manning has the frame scouts covet and uses it effectively. He has a picture-perfect base and smooth delivery, and his dual-threat capability forces defenses to account for his running. There is plenty for Manning to work on. He must become better at progressing past his first read, as his tendency to stick to it leads to bad decisions and forced throws. He also needs to use his mobility more and be more willing to scramble on dropbacks. That’s why I expect him to stick with Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, one of the best quarterback developers in the nation, and not rush to the NFL. Long shots The ‘out-of-nowhere’ quarterbackSince Joe Burrow’s magical 2019 season catapulted him to the top in the 2020 draft, it has been common for under-the-radar quarterbacks to shoot up draft boards high into Round 1. Ward was one of four quarterbacks we identified in this section a year ago. This time around, there are two passers with Day 3 grades who could quickly rise. John Mateer, QB, Oklahoma (2%): Mateer arrives at OU with high expectations after finishing with 3,139 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions at Washington State in 2024. He’s one of the most competitive and confident passers I’ve studied on tape in this class and makes downfield throws with ease. Mateer is also mobile, running for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. If he thrives against a schedule that has a Week 2 matchup with Michigan plus eight SEC games, his stock will rise. Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State (2%): Cam Skattebo got most of the attention during Arizona State’s massive turnaround last season, but Leavitt also played a big part, passing for 2,885 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions after transferring from Michigan State. He is a calm passer who can spread and shred defenses. With Skattebo off to the NFL, Leavitt will be the focal point of the Sun Devils’ bid to repeat as Big 12 champions. Peter Woods, DT, ClemsonPredicted chance of going No. 1: 1%Why he could be the top pick: Woods is currently the top-ranked player on my board, and the 6-3, 315-pounder is the catalyst of one of the nation’s best defenses. But it’s been 31 years since a defensive tackle was taken with the top pick (Dan Wilkinson, 1994) and six years since an interior defensive lineman was picked in the top 5 (Quinnen Williams, 2019). Woods played a lot off the edge last season but stayed disruptive as a run defender. He had only three sacks last season as a sophomore, but his explosive power allowed him to penetrate the backfield as a pass rusher. He’ll get more snaps inside this season as a 3-technique under new defensive coordinator Tom Allen. If he can convert more pass rushes into sacks, Woods could be a top-five pick come April. Spencer Fano, OT, UtahPredicted chance of going No. 1: 1%Why he could be the top pick: Fano was the most consistent blocker on tape in 2024, which is why he’s my top-rated offensive tackle. The 6-3, 302-pounder needs to add weight, but he has the quickness and fluidity to matchup with speedy edge rushers and the power to bury defenders in run blocking. Fano is also versatile, transitioning to right tackle as a sophomore in 2024 and allowing only one sack after playing left tackle the season before. If he can pack on pounds and maintain his level of intensity and lower-half suddenness, he could be the first tackle picked in a deep class of prospects. Kadyn Proctor, OT, AlabamaPredicted chance of going No. 1: 1%Why he could be the top pick: Proctor has the size (6-7, 360 pounds) to go very high in the draft, and his best tape is one of a top-10 pick. But he’s a polarizing prospect because of his inconsistent play. At his best, he has the power and pop in his hands to quickly overwhelm rushers at the point of attack. He’s forceful in the run game and generates movement with ease. His pass protection is where he needs improvement, as there are hot and cold spurts in Proctor’s play. Scouts want to see him play to his potential more as a pass blocker. If he does, he could be the first blocker off the board. Isaiah World, OT, OregonPredicted chance of going No. 1: 1%Why he could be the top pick: World is the ultimate wild card in this exercise, as the 6-8, 312-pound tackle is stepping up in competition after transferring from Nevada this offseason. But his traits are outstanding. World is an above-average athlete and has foot quickness that is among the best of any blocker in the 2026 class. Scouts want to see him put all his traits together. Even though World didn’t allow a sack last season, he drew eight penalties (five for holding, three for unsportsmanlike conduct). He must reduce the penalties while handling the bump up in competition. If he can combine his quick feet with his lower-half suddenness and flashes in the run game, World will be a player to watch early in Round 1. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio StatePredicted chance of going No. 1: 1%Why he could be the top pick: Since the common draft era started in 1967, there hasn’t been a safety drafted with the No. 1 pick. That’s a trend that’s likely to continue, but it says a lot that Downs is somewhat in the conversation. The 6-foot, 205-pounder transferred from Alabama — where he was stellar as a freshman in 2023 — to Ohio State last year, helping the Buckeyes to a national championship. He had 77 tackles last season and is a wrap-up-and-finish tackler against the run. He also excels in coverage, allowing only 28.6% of passes to be completed in his coverage (fifth-best in the FBS). Downs also has two touchdown returns in his career. |
