| Don’t wipe your nose after you score a TD. Jack Baer of YahooSports.com: CeeDee Lamb is going to be part of the NFL rulebook. The league made a rule change this week directly targeting the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver and his signature nose wipe celebration. Making the gesture will now result in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty as a “violent gesture.” The exact wording on prohibited acts laid out in Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1(d) in the rules report sent to teams this week: “Any violent gesture, which shall include but not be limited to a throat slash, simulating firing or brandishing a gun, or using the “nose wipe” gesture, or an act that is sexually suggestive or offensive.” As Pro Football Talk notes, the nose wipe is a gang sign associated with the Bloods, used to indicate someone is untrustworthy. Lamb appears ready to adjust accordingly, as he indicated on social media he has other celebrations in mind. @_CeeDeeThreesmh, i have plenty in mind😒. |
| NFC NORTH |
| MINNESOTACoach Kevin O’Connell has an extension. His GM does not. Mike Florio ofProFootballTalk.com: Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell and G.M. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah were hired in the same cycle. With contracts of the same duration. After the 2024 season ended, O’Connell received a new deal. Adofo-Mensah is still waiting for his. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Adofo-Mensah downplayed the fact that he has yet to get his new deal. Via Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, Adofo-Mensah said that “positive dialogue” has occurred between ownership and his agent. And he took some of the blame for the delay. “It’s probably on me that it’s not going quicker because I wake up every morning focused on the things that I need to focus on to get this team to where they want to go,” Adofo-Mensah said. He was asked whether he reads anything into O’Connell having his reward while Adofo-Mensah has yet to get the same. He said he doesn’t. He shouldn’t. O’Connell’s contract became a priority in light of the reality that other teams were indeed (as Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported on the final Sunday of the regular season) interested in trying to trade for O’Connell. The O’Connell wheel was squeaking, and it got greased. For Adofo-Mensah, there’s no external urgency forcing the issue. It’s still not a great look for the team. Even if Adofo-Mensah knows the truth, the message is not ideal. If the Vikings plan to keep him, they should prioritize getting it done. The fact that O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah are operating on two different tracks feeds the perception (right or wrong) that there might be competing agendas. That folks aren’t on the same page. That, ultimately, it’s unclear who’s running the show. So the sooner they get this deal done, the better for everyone. Especially since outsiders will be less inclined to wonder whether the guy without a long-term contract is inclined to maximize short-term performance and the guy with a five-year commitment is inclined to build for the future. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASAre the Cowboys really negotiating to ship QB DAK PRESCOTT and his big contract to Cleveland? It started with a guy named Bruce Drennan talking on a podcast. Spencer German of SI.com: With less than a month to go until the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns are desperately working to rebuild their quarterback room. And while there’s been plenty of speculation about how general manager Andrew Berry will go about that, one new rumor suggests an unexpected name could be in play. According to longtime Cleveland Sports broadcaster Bruce Drennan, via his own show, the Browns are apparently working on a major trade to acquire Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. In a clip from his Wednesday show, Drennan states that he has reputable sources inside the Browns organization who shared the team’s pursuit of Prescott with him. He also notes that trading for Prescott was part of the team’s pitch to Myles Garrett to get him to sign his record-breaking contract extension earlier this month. Additionally, Drennan mentions that the deal would include nickel cornerback Greg Newsome II and draft picks. But Jane Slater of NFL.com, who can get hold of the top levels of the Cowboys organization, has this to say: @SlaterNFLI run it all down when working this beat and the Dallas Cowboys are NOT working on trading Dak to the Browns. In fact, texts with two sources tell me “fake news” and “absolutely not” before this gets any sort of wheels. David Helman of the NFL on FOX podcast points out the Prescott has a full no trade clause. Charles Robinson of YahooSports.com is not happy to waste his time on this: @CharlesRobinsonI hate that I even have to address this, but we might as well get it from both sides. As @SlaterNFL reported from the #Cowboys end and I am now reporting from the #Browns end, there is NO DAK PRESCOTT TRADE IN THE WORKS. NO TALKS. My god, this time of year. Go on with your day. This from Andrew Siciliano: @AndrewSicilianoCowboys paid Dak Prescott $86.2 million in 2024, the first year of his new deal. He’s owed $132.75m over the next three seasons. Dak’s contract is practically “untradable.” It simply cannot happen. As you were. |
| NEW YORK GIANTSQB RUSSELL WILSON is officially a Giant, his fourth team in five years. Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic thinks she has figured out New York’s QB strategy. The Jameis Winston contract was the tell. Once the terms of the quarterback’s deal — two years, $8 million — were publicized Friday night, it became clear how the New York Giants saw him: as a backup. They were (rightly) never going to feel completely comfortable with the 31-year-old Winston serving as their starter for the full duration of an NFL season. Winston hasn’t done that job since 2019. Even this past season, playing in more games (12) than he has since 2019, Winston was as maddeningly inconsistent as ever. He went 2-5 as the Cleveland Browns’ starter, throwing 13 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. Though he still might have been an upgrade over what the Giants have had at the position, they knew they needed a more dependable plan at QB if this season was going to be markedly better than the two disastrous seasons that came before it — and if this regime of general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll is going to remain at the helm, it has to be. The second piece of their plan came together Tuesday night with the signing of Russell Wilson to a one-year deal worth $10.5 million guaranteed and up to $21 million with incentives. The 36-year-old Wilson isn’t the difference-maker he once was, but the Super Bowl champion should provide the Giants something they haven’t had at quarterback in a while: stability. Wilson, along with Winston, could provide them with a solid enough foundation at quarterback to give them a realistic shot at competing again in 2025 — practically a mandate from ownership — as they prepare to try to solidify the future at the position in April’s NFL Draft. Win and build for the future? It’s a tough needle to thread, but the Giants seem to be embracing what Wilson’s former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, pulled off last season — with a potential twist. Like the Steelers, they’ve acquired two capable veteran quarterbacks in hopes that one (or both) can help lead them back to the playoffs. Unlike Pittsburgh, however, New York has a top draft selection this year and could use that pick to select a quarterback it believes could be the long-term future of the franchise. But let’s focus on the Wilson-Winston strategy for a moment. To recap what happened in Pittsburgh last year: The Steelers signed Wilson to a one-year, $1.2 million deal after the Denver Broncos cut him last offseason. About a week later, they acquired Justin Fields for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick from the Chicago Bears. Fields started the first six games of the season due to a Wilson injury and played well enough to keep the Steelers (4-2) in the hunt before Wilson returned and gave Pittsburgh’s offense another gear — at least for a time. By the end of the season, the offense fell into a funk, as the Steelers suffered through a four-game losing streak before being bounced in the wild-card round. Still, in 11 games, Wilson threw for 2,482 yards and 16 touchdowns with just five interceptions as the Steelers ultimately won 10 games with a middle-of-the-pack offense (22.4 points per game, 16th in the NFL). And though they’re aiming for more this season, the Giants would be thrilled with that kind of performance in 2025. Considering what the Giants have produced lately — 31st scoring offense in 2024 and 30th in 2023 — getting to league average would be a huge improvement. A league-average offense with an improved defense could, theoretically, put the Giants in the wild-card hunt, and that would be a huge step in the right direction for a regime that needs to produce wins. Remember, Giants co-owner John Mara said he’s “just about run out of patience” with all the losing, so playing meaningful games in December would be big for Schoen and Daboll. Replicating the Steelers’ success isn’t just about getting acceptable quarterback play. They have a great defense and one of the best coaches in the NFL in Mike Tomlin, among other factors. But the point remains that this formula worked for the Steelers last season, and it could work for the Giants this year. Put another way: Given the Giants’ other options after missing out on Matthew Stafford and presumably Aaron Rodgers, this is a decent bet to make for 2025. However, it is important to remember that unlike the Steelers, who picked 20th in last year’s draft, the Giants have a chance to supplement their dual-veteran QB strategy with a promising rookie. And they should. Signing another veteran QB should not affect how the Giants approach the draft. If they have an opportunity to select a player they believe can be a franchise-caliber quarterback with their No. 3 pick (or by trading up), they should not hesitate to do it. Of course, with the quarterback-needy Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns picking in front of the Giants in the draft, New York might not have the opportunity to select either of the top two signal callers: Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. Circumstance is going to play its hand here. But having two quality veterans on the roster should allow the Giants to be a bit more honest with themselves about their feelings on the top quarterbacks. Even a week into free agency, with no other QB on the roster beyond Tommy DeVito, it felt like the Giants could be backing themselves into a corner in which they were forced to take a QB with their first-round pick — whether that involved orchestrating a trade up to ensure a top guy or sticking at No. 3. Without options at QB, it’s a lot easier to convince yourself a rookie could be the answer. Now that they have Wilson and Winston, the Giants should be a little less desperate, and therefore able to see things a little more clearly. Again, this isn’t saying they shouldn’t draft a young quarterback. They should. The Giants haven’t drafted any QB since taking Jones in 2019, and look how that’s gone. But they undoubtedly have more flexibility now. It’s also worth noting that having two capable veterans on the depth chart would allow the Giants to remain patient with a rookie’s development. Say Wilson struggles early on or gets injured. The Giants wouldn’t feel forced to insert the rookie who might not be ready. Instead, they could deploy Winston as the rookie continues his development at his own pace. But the Giants only reap that particular reward if they draft a quarterback. They need to do it. Wilson is only signed for a season, and he’ll turn 37 years old during the season. Winston might be signed for two years, but he’s not been a proven starter in six years. If Schoen and Daboll want to stick around beyond the upcoming season, they need to show progress, but they also need to prove they can sustain that success and that they have a plan to get there. Even with Wilson and Winston on the roster, they still need to find their QB of the future. They’ll have an opportunity to discover that future in a month. |
| NFC WEST |
| SAN FRANCISCOJordan Schultz of FoxSports.com with some 49ers dish: No team was hit harder in free agency than the San Francisco 49ers. No team was as aggressive as the New England Patriots. I explore the latest on both clubs in my column, as well as one of the NFL Draft’s top prospects. Purdy secureThere’s no doubt who the 49ers’ quarterback of the future is: Brock Purdy. While sources don’t believe a contract extension is imminent, FOX Sports has learned that both sides are actively negotiating with the intent to finalize a deal before the 2025 season. Could it happen before next month’s draft? It’s possible, but as one league source put it, “there’s not a rush.” Earlier in the 2024 season, it seemed possible that Purdy could surpass Dak Prescott’s $60 million annual clip with the Cowboys if he had another stellar campaign and deep playoff run. While that now seems less likely, multiple sources insist that Purdy could still land “anywhere from $50-$55 million, or potentially more.” If recent history is any guide, a new deal could take some time. For Nick Bosa’s extension, San Francisco waited until the day before the 2023 season. Brandon Aiyuk’s negotiations dragged on for months, only to be resolved a week before the 2024 season. Trent Williams’ contract talks were also difficult last year, and Deebo Samuel had his own drawn-out process three years ago. “I really just think Kyle (Shanahan) and John (Lynch) want to get this done,” a current GM told FOX Sports. “The final number will be tricky, but the cap is rising, and the quarterback market is only going up. “After the year they’ve had with the losing, injuries, Aiyuk, and trading Deebo (Samuel), I’m not sure they have the stomach to have another contentious negotiation in the media.” Jordan Schultz shares the latest on Brock Purdy-49ers contract talksCould there be a hometown discount? “Perhaps a little,” the GM said. “But Purdy’s getting paid, that’s a fact. The benefit the 49ers have is that he’s been playing on a very team-friendly deal, so maybe he takes a little less to lock in long-term security.” Earlier this month, the Niners lost both of last year’s backup quarterbacks in free agency — Brandon Allen to Tennessee and Josh Dobbs to New England — so they signed Mac Jones to a two-year deal. This story comes full circle in a way, as it’s well known in league circles that Kyle Shanahan was enamored with Jones in the 2021 draft. There were serious discussions about taking him at No. 3 before the team ultimately pivoted to Trey Lance, a move that didn’t pan out. Now, Jones and Shanahan are finally together, but let’s be clear: This is Purdy’s team, and Jones is strictly there as a backup. His addition will have no bearing on Purdy’s impending extension. Aiyuk up for grabsThings are a bit more tenuous, however, between the Niners and their WR1. Sources indicate that the 49ers are open to trading Aiyuk — a terrific player who will certainly be motivated — and there has been communication with several teams. However, trading for Aiyuk’s contract coming off an ACL injury is a tall order, and most believe it is unlikely. The timing here is crucial: Aiyuk has a guaranteed option bonus of nearly $23 million that triggers on April 1, making it harder to move him afterward. “It would be a pretty big surprise for me,” a personnel director said. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| TENNESSEEThe Titans don’t want you to think it is just as simple as they are going to pick QB CAM WARD with the top pick. Turron Davenport of ESPN.com: The cost of trading up to the first pick in next month’s draft to select Cam Ward has increased after the Tennessee Titans saw the former Miami quarterback work out at his pro day Monday. The Titans plan to hold an additional private workout and throwing session with Ward, whom the team has become increasingly impressed with, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday. Tennessee is still willing to listen to offers for the first pick, but it will now take an even stronger package for the Titans to move down, the sources told Schefter. Ward had an impressive showing at Miami’s pro day. At one point, he rolled out and completed a pass and then shared some words with Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi and president of football operations Chad Brinker after the play. “[I told them] ‘I’m solidifying it today,'” Ward said after the workout. “They finally got to see me throw in person. That should be all they need to see.” Ward’s only season at Miami resulted in 4,313 passing yards, 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The 2024 Heisman Trophy finalist set single-season school records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions (305) and completion percentage (67.2). Ward didn’t get many scholarship offers as a zero-star recruit out of West Columbia high school in Texas. He enrolled at Incarnate Word and threw for 6,908 yards and 71 touchdowns in just 19 games in 2020 and 2021. He transferred to Washington State before the 2022 season and spent two years there. Ward threw for 6,966 yards and 48 touchdowns with 16 interceptions in two seasons before he transferred to Miami. The Titans are among the quarterback-needy teams after a frustrating first season under head coach Brian Callahan. Tennessee gave 2023 second-round pick Will Levis an opportunity to claim the future franchise quarterback role. Initial struggles and a shoulder injury eventually led to Levis getting benched in favor of veteran Mason Rudolph. The Titans finished with a 3-14 record, landing them the first overall pick, and Rudolph has since signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Titans signed career backup quarterback Brandon Allen, giving them two quarterbacks under contract. Ward has repeatedly said he isn’t overly concerned with being the top pick. But he’s excited about possibly playing for Callahan, who has a history of working with quarterbacks, including Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, Super Bowl-winning quarterback Matthew Stafford and Joe Burrow. “I think Coach Callahan’s one of the best head coaches out there,” Ward said. “The things he did with Joe Burrow when he first got into the league made him be real successful.” |
| THIS AND THAT |
| BROADCAST NEWSSome changes among the game analysts at CBS with Charles Davis going to college and J.J. Watt moving from the studio to NFL. The Athletic: In a blockbuster shuffling of CBS analysts, future Pro Football Hall of Famer J.J. Watt will become an NFL game analyst this season, teaming with Ian Eagle on the network’s No. 2 team, sources briefed on the moves told The Athletic. Charles Davis, Eagle’s former partner, will slide into the college ranks in place of Gary Danielson, who CBS announced will retire after this coming season. While Watt will be in the NFL booth this season, CBS is determining Davis’ NFL role for this season before he moves to college football in 2026. Danielson will finish off his career with one more season and then retire after 2025. Watt, 36, previously worked in CBS’ NFL Today studio but got the bug to do games after calling the Christmas Day game with Eagle for Netflix. Davis, whose contract was up, had agreed to a new deal but will move from the NFL to college, where he will team with Brad Nessler on the top Big Ten games. Davis, 60, has called NFL games for CBS since 2020 after coming over from Fox, where he did NFL and college. He called three BCS national championship games for Fox from 2007 to 2009. CBS’ No. 1 analyst Tony Romo is entering the sixth season of his 10-year, $180 million contract with CBS. One of the reasons CBS was forced to sign Romo in 2020 to what was the largest contract in sportscasting history is that it failed to have an alternative. With Watt on board, CBS might have someone in the on-deck circle. Danielson, 73, has spent 36 years in broadcasting, including almost 20 years as the lead analyst for the SEC Game of the Week on CBS, before that conference moved to ESPN and CBS added the Big Ten. |
| COMPETITION COMMITTEE UPDATEThere has already been plenty of talk about moving the kickoff touchback spot to the 35-yard line. But the Competition Committee came out of its conclave – and wants to be able to pick up certain egregious flags. Nick Shook of NFL.com: Two more proposals have been added to the docket for consideration during the upcoming Annual League Meeting, which is scheduled for March 30 through April 1. First up: the kickoff. The NFL debuted the dynamic kickoff format last season with the goal of improving player safety and bringing new excitement to a play that had largely lost its luster, and the league would like to make the change permanent — with some minor adjustments. The proposal, submitted by the league’s Competition Committee on Wednesday, includes a change to touchbacks, moving the ball spot from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line on kicks sent into the end zone, further incentivizing kicking teams to send the ball into the landing zone instead of the end zone and thus, producing more returns. The proposal also opens up restrictions regarding when a kicking team is allowed to attempt an onside kick, eliminating the fourth-quarter requirement while preserving the condition they must be trailing in order to declare an onside kick. Finally, the proposal also includes changes to alignment requirements for both kicking and receiving teams. 2025 NFL Draft order for Round 1; top five needs for all 32 teams following free agency frenzyConfusion briefly reigned regarding onside kick rules during a Monday night game last season played between the Ravens and Buccaneers, in which internet searches returned incorrect results regarding purported limitations to the number of onside kick attempts allowed in a game. There were no limitations on total attempts, only the requirement they occur in the fourth quarter. This proposal would eliminate the latter requirement, further clarifying the rule while also offering teams a chance to onside kick earlier if they so desire. Another proposal should resonate with fans who want replay officials to play a larger role in accurately officiating games. The competition committee proposed expanding replay officials’ ability to advise on-field officials “on specific, objective aspects of a play and/or address game administration issues when clear and obvious video evidence is present,” effectively empowering those with video at their disposal to help on-field officials make correct calls in a timely manner. If the proposal passes a flag can be picked up if “clear and obvious video evidence exists” in the following: defenseless player, facemask, horse collar, tripping and roughing/running into kicker. With two more proposals now on the agenda, the league’s decision-makers will have a substantial number of changes to consider. All proposals must be approved by 75% (24) of the clubs to be adopted. But, while flags thrown on the field could be “picked up” or nullified by replay, miscreants whose crimes go undetected by the on-field officials will not get a replay flag “dropped.” @AndrewSicilianoRich McKay says the NFL Competition Committee is still “100% against” the idea of “dropping a flag” via replay. Opposition “universal”. Not a surprise. Many fans may want this. But, it’s not going to happen. |
| 2025 DRAFTJake Trotter of ESPN.com gives us a closeup look at Michigan Man DT MASON GRAHAM who should be a top ten pick: AS A FRESHMAN at Servite High School in Anaheim, California, Mason Graham lived too far away to go home between the end of class and the start of evening basketball practice. So Servite football coach Troy Thomas convinced Graham to utilize that free time by joining the wrestling team, which practiced in the afternoons. That decision put Graham on a path to make history next month in a different sport, when he’s likely to become the first Michigan defensive tackle ever to go in the top 10 of the NFL draft. Graham might not have the traditional physical profile of an elite defensive tackle. At the NFL combine, his arm length measured just 32 inches — placing him in the 12th percentile among defensive tackle prospects this century. NFL teams don’t seem worried about the length of his arms, though. They’re focused on what he does with them. “Short arms are worth noting, but realistically only concerning if it shows up on tape,” an AFC scout told ESPN. “If a player with short arms is constantly allowing their chest to be attacked or is frequently stuck on blocks, then short arms are a huge concern. That’s not the case here. Graham’s a highly disruptive player.” That goes back to the Servite wrestling room, where Graham developed into a ferocious, two-time conference champion heavyweight grappler, honing the skills that would define him in the trenches: leverage, technique, toughness, focus and pure will. “You see that now in his game,” Thomas said. “The way he moves and tackles — you can see all of that when he’s playing.” Despite his short arms, Graham emerged as the most physically dominant defensive tackle in college football last season, earning unanimous All-American honors. According to ESPN Research, Michigan surrendered 4.6 yards per play when Graham was on the field last year and 5.4 when he was off the field. The numbers were even more pronounced in the run game, where the Wolverines allowed 2.6 yards per rush with Graham and 3.9 without. In his final college game, Graham wrecked the high-powered offense of the eventual national champions. While plugging the middle, Graham led the charge in shutting down Ohio State’s vaunted rushing attack. He also logged a career-high seven tackles as Michigan, a three-touchdown underdog, stunned the Buckeyes 13-10 for its fourth straight win in the rivalry. “He just physically [controlled] that entire offensive line,” said Wolverines defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, who coached almost two decades in the NFL before joining the Wolverines last year. “You can definitely tell his wrestling background with the way he plays because of his balance. He knows how to use his hands better than a lot of players in the league right now.” Graham is now primed to become a defensive cornerstone for whichever NFL team drafts him. Other NFL defensive tackles with similar arm measurements have still thrived. Former Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins was an eight-time Pro Bowler despite having 32-inch arms. Defensive tackle Ed Oliver (31.75-inch arms), the No. 9 pick in 2019, has been a key starter for the Buffalo Bills. To any lingering doubters, Graham has one response: Watch the tape. “I feel like just rolling out the Ohio State film,” Graham said at the combine. “That’s all you need to see, really.” WHEN GRAHAM WASN’T wrestling during football offseasons, he worked up to four times a week with Servite defensive line coach Kelly Talavou, a former Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman. At a local park with a few teammates, they drilled hand placement, pad level, block recognition and pass-rushing technique, sometimes for two hours at a time. Graham went above and beyond during the season. He studied so much film that he could often predict what play was coming just from an offensive lineman’s stance or lean. “Arm length doesn’t matter with him because he works so hard and he’s so smart,” Talavou said. “He’s such an instinctual player … he sees the play coming before it happens.” That happened during Michigan’s national championship run two years ago, when he delivered one of the biggest defensive plays in program history. In the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl against Alabama, on second-and-goal in overtime, Graham lined up opposite Crimson Tide left guard Tyler Booker — also a projected first-round pick. With a sudden, swift move, Graham knifed into the backfield just as running back Jase McClellan took the handoff and slammed him into the turf for a 5-yard loss. Two plays later, Michigan stopped Alabama on fourth down and advanced to the CFP title game. Alabama coach Nick Saban said Graham “gave us fits” and called him “dominant.” Thomas’ son, Houston, who wrestled and played football with Graham at Servite, immediately saw the wrestling connection with the stop in overtime. “You see how he gets off blocks and flies in there to make tackles,” he said. “Those positions from wrestling definitely helped form him into the [player] that he is.” DESPITE HIS CLEAR potential, Graham was largely overlooked in high school. COVID-19 wiped out much of his junior season, limiting game film and exposure. He remained a three-star recruit, even though he was already budding into a star. Two of his Servite teammates — quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan — both committed to Arizona. Fifita’s father, Les, tried to get the Wildcats to take a chance on Graham as well. “Everybody that would listen, we were telling them,” said Les Fifita. “He was just unblockable.” Boise State offered, and Graham initially committed. But then-Michigan general manager Courtney Morgan and then-defensive line coach Shaun Nua kept tabs. Just a couple of games into his senior year, they convinced him to flip. Graham enrolled early at Michigan and skipped his final semester of high school. Many at Servite believed that had he stayed, he could’ve been one of the top heavyweight wrestlers in the state. At the time, Graham wasn’t sure how wrestling would help his football career. Now? It taught him “how to beat the other person” one-on-one, he said. Arguably nobody in this draft does that better — regardless of arm length. “I feel like I affect every snap, run or pass,” Graham said. “I feel like I’m a dominant player, one of the most dominant players in this class.”– – –Pete Prisco of NFL.com offers this Mock Draft: This is my mock draft No. 1, so don’t hold me to it. Doing mock drafts before free agency is lunacy, which is why I respect all the draft analysts out there who do them. But they are worthless when trying to gauge where players will go in the first round since holes are filled in free agency and others are made. Now that we have a better idea what teams need, it’s time for my first mock. I will do three more, two like this predictive mock and one who-they-should take mock. In this mock, I have three quarterbacks going in the first round, with Cam Ward going first to the Tennessee Titans, followed by Shedeur Sanders third to the New York Giants and Jaxson Dart No. 21 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It wouldn’t be a total shock to see Louisville’s Tyler Shough go in the first as well, but not in this one for me. Maybe next time. For now, this is a trial run. You will hate it and complain about it. But isn’t that the idea behind mock drafts anyway? 1 TENNESSEECam Ward QBMiami (FL) • Sr • 6’2″ / 219 lbsWard is the best of this quarterback class, but he does have some issues. Even so, if the Titans stay in this spot they almost have to take him, even after taking Will Levis two years ago. They could trade down. 2 CLEVELANDAbdul Carter EDGEPenn State • Jr • 6’3″ / 250 lbsThey will consider quarterback here, but I think they pass and take an elite edge rusher. Pairing Carter with Myles Garrett will give them bookends for the next five years. That matters in a division with Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. The Deshaun Watson trade and pay are killing this team. 3 NY GIANTSShedeur Sanders QBColorado • Sr • 6’2″ / 212 lbsIf you don’t have a quarterback, you have to get one. Sanders might not have the biggest arm, but he throws with timing and anticipation. The Giants have to do something, so why not take a shot on Sanders with a chance to land him? 4 NEW ENGLANDWill Campbell OTLSU • Jr • 6’6″ / 319 lbsThey have offensive line issues and Campbell can play guard or tackle. That matters to the Patriots. He may never be an All-Pro, but he will be a good, long-term starter. They could also look for receiver help here, but the value is on the line. 5 JACKSONVILLETravis Hunter ATHColorado • Jr • 6’0″ / 188 lbsThey need receiver help, but they could also use an elite corner. Tyson Campbell is a good corner and Jourdan Lewis will be a nice addition. But can you imagine a secondary with Hunter added? His receiver value would also be welcome. 6 – LAS VEGASAshton Jeanty RBBoise State • Jr • 5’9″ / 211 lbsThis is too high for a running back in my mind, but Jeanty would be a nice addition to their offense. It would make sense for the Raiders, even if it’s something I wouldn’t do. They have to get a chain-mover. Jeanty is the best of this class, but there are a lot of backs who will be good that teams can get later. 7 NY JETSMason Graham DLMichigan • Jr • 6’3″ / 296 lbsGraham is a bit undersized, but he plays the position like a 10-year pro. He has great hands. The former wrestler would be a good complement to Quinnen Williams inside for the Jets. 8 CAROLINAJalon Walker EDGEGeorgia • Jr • 6’1″ / 243 lbsHe can play off the ball and rush the passer. The Panthers need help in both areas. They could also look for a receiver here like Matthew Golden of Texas or Tet McMillan of Arizona. But I will go with Walker. 9 – NEW ORLEANSTyler Warren TEPenn State • Sr • 6’6″ / 256 lbsThey have to get weapons for an offense that lacks them. Even with Juwan Johnson back, Warren would be a big-time, pass-catching tight end for Derek Carr. They could also look defensive end or corner here. 10 – CHICAGOKelvin Banks Jr. OTTexas • Jr • 6’5″ / 315 lbsThey upgraded their offensive line in free agency, but will continue to do so here by taking Banks to challenge Braxton Jones at left tackle. They could also consider taking a defensive edge or inside player here. But the push to fix the line will win out. 11 – SAN FRANCISCOJahdae Barron CBTexas • Sr • 5’11” / 194 lbsThe 49ers lost a safety (Talanoa Hufanga) and a corner (Charvarius Ward) in free agency. So I have them opting to take a player who can play either spot or even the nickel if needed. Barron can do a lot of things. 12 – DALLASWill Johnson CBMichigan • Jr • 6’2″ / 194 lbsHe looked like a top-10 pick in 2023, but an injury limited him in 2024. How he runs his 40-yard dash will be big, but he plays long and athletic and plays fast enough. The Cowboys need to add a young corner who can start. 13 – MIAMIWalter Nolen DLOle Miss • Jr • 6’4″ / 296 lbsWhen the Dolphins lost Christian Wilkins in free agency to the Raiders, the defense wasn’t the same. They need a player to go with Zach Sieler inside. They could also consider tackle or guard here as well. 14 – INDIANAPOLISTyler Booker IOLAlabama • Jr • 6’5″ / 321 lbsThey have a hole at right guard and Booker might be the best offensive lineman in this class. The Colts could pair him with Quentin Nelson to give them a power set of guards. It’s not sexy, but he will be a 10-year starter. 15 – ATLANTAShemar Stewart DLTexas A&M • Jr • 6’5″ / 267 lbsThey added Leonard Floyd in free agency to help the pass rush, but he’s getting up in the years and it’s time to add a young one. Stewart wasn’t productive in college, but he does flash the traits teams love. 16 – ARIZONAKenneth Grant DLMichigan • Jr • 6’4″ / 331 lbsThe Cardinals added to their defense in free agency by getting guys like Josh Sweat, but now they can get a power inside player in Grant. Dalvin Tomlinson was signed as a defensive tackle in free agency, but he’s getting up in years. 17 – CINCINNATIDerrick Harmon DLOregon • Jr • 6’5″ / 310 lbsThe interior of their line has been a problem and Harmon can come in and become a disrupter inside. They’ve addressed this position a bunch in the draft, but haven’t really hit yet. Harmon would be the next swing at it. 18 – SEATTLEArmand Membou OTMissouri • Jr • 6’4″ / 332 lbsTheir line has a lot of issues and right tackle has been one of them. Membou could step in and start, but I also think he could be a good guard. They need help up front. 19 – TAMPA BAYJihaad Campbell LBAlabama • Jr • 6’3″ / 235 lbsThey need to get a playmaker at linebacker. Even with Lavonte David back for a year, how much does he have left? Campbell can play off the ball, but he can also rush the passer in some situations. He is coming off a shoulder injury, but he would be worth it for Tampa Bay in this spot. 20 – DENVEROmarion Hampton RBNorth Carolina • Jr • 6’0″ / 220 lbsSean Payton keeps talking about adding a “joker.” That’s his term for a playmaker who can do a lot of things. Hampton can be that guy. He is a home-run threat running back who can also run with power. After signing tight end Evan Engram, they will focus on running back with this pick. 21 – PITTSBURGHJaxson Dart QBOle Miss • Sr • 6’2″ / 225 lbsIt doesn’t matter if they get Aaron Rodgers or not, they have to address the quarterback of the future. Dart could watch for a year as he adjusts to the NFL and then take over. Rodgers would be a stop-gap fix anyway. 22 – LA CHARGERSColston Loveland TEMichigan • Jr • 6’6″ / 248 lbsJim Harbaugh needs a tight end. Jim Harbaugh coached Loveland at Michigan. It works. Loveland would be a great middle-of-the-field weapon for Justin Herbert. 23 – GREEN BAYMykel Williams EDGEGeorgia • Jr • 6’5″ / 260 lbsWilliams went into last season as a possible top-10 pick, but didn’t play as expected. He said he was injured, but that helps him fall here. He is a bigger end, which the Packers like, and they have a need. They could also consider corner or receiver here. 24 – MINNESOTANick Emmanwori SSouth Carolina • Jr • 6’3″ / 220 lbsThey lost Cam Bynum in free agency and Harrison Smith is likely in his last year. Emmanwori can do a lot of things and would fit perfectly into the Brian Flores defense. 25 – HOUSTONGrey Zabel IOLNorth Dakota State • Sr • 6’6″ / 312 lbsThey have to address their offensive line issues and Zabel is the kind of player who can play either center or guard. Their line held back the offense last year, so addressing it is a must. 26 – LA RAMSMatthew Golden WRTexas • Jr • 5’11” / 191 lbsThey have to add a speed threat to the offense. Golden ran an impressive 40 at the combine, which is why he would make sense. Add him to Davante Adams and Puka Nacua and see how his speed will change things. 27 – BALTIMOREMike Green EDGEMarshall • Soph • 6’3″ / 251 lbsPass rush is an issue with Kyle Van Noy up in age and Odafe Oweh is in the final year of his contract. Green is a productive edge player who could help a group that needs it. Offensive line could also be in play here. 28 DETROITDonovan Jackson IOLOhio State • Sr • 6’4″ / 315 lbsWe know how important their offensive line is to the success of this team. They lost guard Kevin Zeitler in free agency to the Titans. Jackson can play guard and tackle. He moved to tackle last year because of injury and was good, but he can be a dominant guard. 29 – WASHINGTONTetairoa McMillan WRArizona • Jr • 6’4″ / 219 lbsThey traded for Deebo Samuel, but he’s playing the last year of his deal. They need a young receiver to help grow with Jayden Daniels. McMillan is a big-bodied receiver who would help. 30 – BUFFALOMaxwell Hairston CBKentucky • Jr • 5’11” / 183 lbsThey have a big hole at corner that has to be filled. Hairston could step in and be an immediate impact starter. The defense lacks a lot of playmakers, so it would make sense. They could also consider safety here. 31 – KANSAS CITYJosh Simmons OTOhio State • Sr • 6’5″ / 317 lbsThey signed Jaylon Moore to be the left tackle in free agency, but this kid might have the most upside of any lineman in this draft. He is coming off a torn ACL, so they can be patient. It’s not like right tackle Jawaan Taylor has been good, either. 32 – PHILADELPHIAJosh Conerly Jr. OTOregon • Jr • 6’5″ / 311 lbsThey are set at tackle for now, but they can take the eventual replacement for Lane Johnson with this pick. Conerly is athletic and fits what the Eagles want in their linemen. They have most positions filled, so they can be patient and make this kind of move. |
