| NFC EAST |
| PHILADELPHIAVictory in SB59 came at the cost of a torn triceps for DE BRANDON GRAHAM. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham worked hard to rehab a torn triceps in time to play in Super Bowl LIX — where he tore the triceps again.Graham re-tore the triceps and has already had surgery to repair the tear, according to Derrick Gunn on 97.5 The Fanatic.It’s unclear at what point in the game Graham suffered the injury. He played 13 snaps in the Eagles’ win over the Chiefs.It’s also unclear whether the recurring injury will affect a retirement decision that the 36-year-old Graham was pondering after the Super Bowl. Graham is not under contract and said after the game that he would decide his future only after discussions with his wife and with the Eagles.If Graham does retire, he does so as one of the Eagles’ most accomplished players, the team’s record holder for most games played, a two-time Super Bowl winner and a player who left it all on the field, right down to toughing out a bad injury to earn one more ring. |
| NFC WEST |
| SEATTLEIt looks like the era of TYLER LOCKETT and D.K. METCALF being the top receivers in Seattle is over. Erich Richter of the New York Post: Star receiver DK Metcalf wants out of Seattle.The Seahawks’ star receiver requested a trade Wednesday, according to multiple reports, and prefers getting moved to a contender.Seattle’s receiving unit already will have a drastically different look next season after the team released veteran Tyler Lockett on Wednesday after a 10-year run with the franchise.Metcalf, 27, is in the final year of his contract and played in 15 games for the Seahawks in 2024, accumulating 66 catches for 992 yards and a career-low five touchdowns.Second-year receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba had a breakout campaign in 2024, bringing in 100 receptions for 1,130 yards, and seemingly will now be the focal part of the passing game going forward.Seattle reportedly had discussions with Metcalf over the past two weeks before he asked to be moved.The Seahawks reportedly talked with multiple teams at the NFL Combine, where offseason business is conducted.There were previously conflicting reports that the Seahawks were in conversations with the Packers, with the compensation allegedly being a top draft pick and a young receiver.Who would you rather acquire?The Packers make sense since they need a No. 1 receiver for quarterback Jordan Love, and Seahawks general manager John Schneider worked for Green Bay from 1993-1996 and then again from 2002-2009, finishing his time as the director of football operations.The Patriots are also in the market for a No. 1 receiver, while the Chargers could use another top-end playmaker to complement rookie sensation Ladd McConkey.with the Seahawks.Metcalf is an incredible physical specimen, standing at 6-foot-4, weighing 235 pounds, and running an unbelievable 4.33 40-yard dash at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine.He would provide an immediate boost for any team looking to acquire a legitimate outside threat.Lockett, meanwhile, accumulated 661 catches for 8,594 yards and 61 touchdowns with the Seahawks after being selected in the third round of the 2015 draft.He tallied just 49 catches for 600 yards and two scores this past season. |
| AFC WEST |
| DENVERThe Broncos have opted not to stand up for Coach Michael Wilhoite after taking a look at the facts around his dustup at arrivals at Federico Pena Airport in Denver. Andrew Battifarano of the New York Post: The Broncos fired outside linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite a little over a week after he was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer.Denver head coach Sean Payton opened up about his decision in a statement on Wednesday night.“After thorough discussions as an organization, I met with Michael Wilhoite and informed him we have decided to part ways,” Payton said in a statement, according to ESPN. “We recognize the serious nature of the allegations against him and believe this is the best course of action at this time. I appreciate Michael’s contributions to the Broncos and am confident he will move forward in a positive direction.”Wilhoite, 38, was arrested on Feb. 23 and formally charged with felony assault of an officer, misdemeanor obstructing an officer and criminal mischief, according to court records viewed by The PostThe ex-Broncos coach, according to the Denver Post, got into an argument with an officer at Denver International Airport after they told Wilhoite not to leave his vehicle unattended in the departures lane.As the confrontation escalated, Wilhoite allegedly punched the officer in the face and was then tased before driving away.He was taken to jail that day before a first hearing on Feb. 24.Wilhoite played six years in the NFL (2011-17) before becoming a special teams assistant with Payton and the Saints in 2019.He then joined the Chargers (2021-23) before reuniting with Payton on the Broncos in 2023. |
| LAS VEGASEDGE MAXX CROSBY has a big extension from the Raiders. Josh Alper ofProFootballTalk.com: Raiders General Manager John Spytek said last month that he envisions defensive end Maxx Crosby being a member of the team for a long time and the club has put some muscle behind those words.The Raiders announced on Wednesday that they have signed Crosby to a contract extension. According to multiple reports, Crosby, who was signed through 2026, has agreed to a new, three-year deal.Crosby is set to make $106.5 million over the life of the new deal with $91 million in guaranteed money. That makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league.There were points over the last year when Crosby’s name was floated in trade chatter and Crosby admitted to having past doubts about the direction of the franchise, but he called himself as optimistic as ever about the future after Pete Carroll was hired as the team’s new head coach. That optimism translated into a big new contract for one of the league’s best defensive players. |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERSThe Chargers have cut DE JOEY BOSA. Kris Rhim of ESPN.com: – The Chargers released outside linebacker Joey Bosa on Wednesday night, cutting ties with their longest-tenured player and one of the best in franchise history.The move saves them $25.36 million in cap space.Bosa, 29, was selected by the Chargers with the No. 3 pick in the 2016 draft. His 72 career sacks in the regular season rank second in franchise history behind Leslie O’Neal (105.5).Bosa was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2016, posting 10.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. He quickly emerged as one of the league’s best edge rushers, making four Pro Bowls in his first six seasons. He set an NFL record with 19 sacks in his first 20 games.The Chargers rewarded Bosa with a five-year, $135 million contract extension in 2020, a deal that at the time was the richest for a defensive player in NFL history. But injuries have plagued him since; he has played in just 28 games over the past three seasons.Still, Bosa was selected to his fifth Pro Bowl in 2024, albeit as an alternate, and his 14 games played were his most since 2021. When healthy, he has remained an effective pass rusher; in the Chargers’ playoff loss to the Houston Texans in January, he had a team-high six pressures and one sack.Bosa made it clear throughout the season that he wanted to be a Charger for life, and he took a pay cut last offseason to stay with the team. Still, he was projected to have a $36.4 million cap hit this season, which always seemed untenable for the Chargers, who with his release now have $90.6 million in cap space.Bosa will navigate free agency for the first time in his career. Earlier in the offseason, he discussed the potential of playing with his younger brother Nick, a five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher with the San Francisco 49ers.“It’d be cool at some point,” Bosa said then. “I always thought of myself being somebody that will play here and retire here, which I think not many people do on one team, and I think it would be a cool thing to accomplish, but you never know.” |
| THIS AND THAT |
| QB SOLUTIONSRalph Vacchiano of FOXSports.com sorts out the QB mess for seven needy teams.The quarterback carousel is about to start spinning and there are at least seven teams waiting to hop on. None of them can say for certain that their Opening Day quarterback is currently on their roster. And by now, all of them know exactly which new quarterback is in their sights.But the truth is that most of them won’t get their top choice. For proof, just look at the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders, who already swung and missed at trading for Matthew Stafford last week. Once the carousel starts spinning, quarterbacks could land anywhere.So, every team on this list better have a good backup plan.With that, here’s a look at seven QB-needy teams, along with what their Plan A should be when the market opens, and what their Plan B might be when things start to go wrong:Cleveland BrownsPlan A: Draft Cam Ward or Shadeur Sanders at No. 2, and sign Kirk CousinsPlan B: Draft Ward or Sanders at No. 2, and sign Daniel JonesHaving the second pick in a weak QB draft isn’t a power position, so they probably can’t trade down for a big bounty the way the Titans can. And really, they shouldn’t deal it anyway. The Browns need to begin planning for their post-Deshaun Watson future, even though he’s still got two years and $92 million guaranteed left on his ridiculous contract.So, drafting a quarterback is a must. But they still need another option in case the rookie isn’t ready, as Watson is expected to miss the season after tearing his Achilles again. Cleveland should sign a veteran to mentor the No. 2 pick and possibly lead the team through the early part of the season — one more reliable and accurate than Jameis Winston was.Cousins makes the most sense because he’ll be cheap, assuming the Falcons cut him before he’s due a $10 million roster bonus on March 17. Atlanta will still have to pay him his guaranteed $27.5 million salary, which means Cousins’ new team won’t have to offer him much — similar to the Steelers and Russell Wilson last year.Also, Cousins is probably going to have to settle for a place where he can prove he’s healthy, even if it’s not a full-season starting role.And if not Cousins, Daniel Jones, the former Giant, fits that description too. No one’s going to pay him much on the open market, and he just needs a place to reset his career. He could stay in Minnesota, but he’s not going to play there. In Cleveland, he at least has a chance of playing the first 5-6 games of the season.Indianapolis ColtsPlan A: Sign Sam Darnold to compete with Anthony RichardsonPlan B: Sign Russell Wilson to mentor Anthony RichardsonThe Colts remain heavily invested in the No. 4 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, but between injuries, inconsistency and immaturity, they are not as sold on his future as they once were. They’re willing to give him another chance, but it’s pretty clear they’re going to hedge their bets by signing a veteran. And it’s not just to find him a mentor. It’s for competition.If they’re going to do that, then they should think young-ish, and if the Vikings aren’t going to pay 27-year-old Sam Darnold then Indy should. Darnold resurrected his career with a terrific season in Minnesota, and Shane Steichen could help him build on that. Darnold probably wants a clearer path to a long-term job, though, so this can only happen if Darnold doesn’t find that somewhere else.If they can’t get Darnold (and at a reasonable price), they’ll have no choice but to look for an older veteran. Russell Wilson is 36, but he played well for most of last season in Pittsburgh. Steichen might be the right guy to get a little bit more out of him for another year or two. Wilson was also OK joining a team last season where he had to beat out a younger quarterback. He’ll probably be willing to do that again, though they might have to promise him the starting job to open the season.In a weak division, maybe Wilson could earn more than that and make the Colts competitive.Las Vegas RaidersPlan A: Sign Russell WilsonPlan B: Sign Aaron RodgersTheir pursuit of Stafford was a sure sign that they want a veteran quarterback in the hopes of winning in the short term. Another sign of that was hiring a 73-year-old head coach who surely doesn’t want to spend years rebuilding around a rookie. That also means the Raiders won’t pay the necessary price to move up to get the No. 1 pick in a draft with a quarterback class that is perceived to be weak.So, since they’re going the veteran route, a Carroll-Wilson reunion makes the most sense. Yes, Wilson reportedly tried to get Carroll fired before he was traded to Denver — something Wilson has strongly denied. They’d obviously have to get over any differences, but both men had the finest years of their NFL careers with each other. Neither are the same nor are they as young, but they still know each other well, and that matters.Also, while Wilson wilted near the end of last season in Pittsburgh, he bounced back nicely in the playoffs. The talent is still there.If the Raiders can’t land him, Rodgers is the next-best option, even though he’ll probably cost more. They could look at Kirk Cousins, who’d have a better price tag, but even at 41, Rodgers is the better player and the Raiders are behaving like a win-now team. It’s a risk to bet that he’ll stay healthy, and he comes with demands and drama. But like the Jets before them, the Raiders might be willing to pay that price for possible short-term success.And who knows? Maybe co-owner Tom Brady could be a calming influence on the enigmatic Rodgers to minimize the headaches that come with him.New York GiantsPlan A: Trade up for the No. 1 overall pick and select Cam WardPlan B: Sign Kirk CousinsGM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are in clear win-now mode, as shown by their attempt to trade for Stafford. They are convinced that they are just a competent quarterback away from being a playoff contender, even if it’s obvious their roster needs a lot more work than just that.So, they are going to try and find a competent veteran no matter what, but that shouldn’t be their Plan A. Their top choice should be to try and trade up to No. 1 and get their franchise quarterback. Since it’s a small jump (from No. 3), they might be able to do it without giving up a future first-round pick (though it would then at least cost a couple of second-rounders and probably a third). It’s the best chance of securing the franchise’s long-term future, and it could give the GM and coach some breathing room on their hot seats, as long as Ward shows some promise during the season.They probably will try and pair a young quarterback with a veteran, assuming that veteran is OK just being a place-holder. If they can’t trade up, though, that veteran becomes their entire Plan B since he’d have to be their year-long starter and will be expected to win.The best choice there is Cousins, if he’s available, because he’d come with very little financial risk, and at 36 will really just be looking for a short-term place to prove he’s healthy. They will look at Aaron Rodgers, but his price tag will be higher, and he’s five years older. Wilson makes sense, but his price tag will be higher, too.New York JetsPlan A: Trade up to No. 1 and draft Cam WardPlan B: Sign Justin Fields and roll with him and veteran Tyrod TaylorIt could cost them a lot to trade up from No. 7 to No. 1 in the draft — a future first-round pick and maybe a whole bunch of seconds and thirds — but they are the one team that should strongly consider it because they have a new regime in place (GM Darren Mougey, coach Aaron Glenn) and they need a quarterback to build around. Cam Ward might be the only QB in the draft that fits that bill.They could play Ward right away, or let him sit behind Tyrod Taylor for a few games — basically whatever is best for his development. And even if it means another year of not making the playoffs, they need to start building something for the future. No other quarterback option gives them a shot to do that. The new regime can’t think short term.And that’s true if they can’t trade up to No. 1, or if the price turns out to be ridiculous. That’s why their Plan B would be to stick with Taylor, their 35-year-old veteran — a strong locker room presence and solid spot starter — and pair him with free-agent Justin Fields. The 25-year-old Fields showed some promise getting the Steelers off to a 4-2 start last season before he was benched. Maybe the Jets can build on that, and he can revive his career like Sam Darnold did in Minnesota last year.Pittsburgh SteelersPlan A: Sign Aaron RodgersPlan B: Re-sign Justin FieldsThey are in such a strange position. Neither of their 2024 QBs are under contract, they have no quarterback of the future, and they are very much a win-now team. They were 10-3 last season before fading down the stretch, which was in part caused by their struggles on offense. A great argument can be made that a strong quarterback makes them a Super Bowl contender again.That makes Aaron Rodgers a real intriguing candidate. He’s a risk at age 41 and with his injury issues, but he might have one last career push in him in a better situation than he was in with the Jets. The Steelers could take a one-year bet on him knowing that the playoffs, and perhaps a deep run, could be the prize.If not, there’s no reason for them to go down the aging, veteran quarterback road again, especially with Wilson after seeing what happened at the end of last season. They’d be better off seeing how much they could win with the 25-year-old Fields, who led them to a 4-2 record and showed some flashes of promise before he was benched.It’s a bit of a risk because, after four NFL seasons and 44 starts, maybe we’ve already seen Fields’ best. But they were winning with him, so they might be good enough to win with him again.Tennessee TitansPlan A: Trade down from the No. 1 pick in the draft (maybe way down for a king’s ransom) and sign Aaron Rodgers.Plan B: Pick Cam Ward with the first overall pick in the draft.Taking the best quarterback in a weak class would be the easy choice. And maybe it would even prove to be the best choice over time.But if the Titans want to get better quickly, dealing that pick makes even more sense right now because they could get a huge haul in return from a desperate team. They should see if the Raiders (at No. 6) or Jets (at No. 7) would be willing to send them a package that includes a 2026 first-round pick and a handful of seconds and thirds. If they are, the Titans should jump on it.Then they can punt on drafting a quarterback, use the draft to rebuild the rest of their team and sign Rodgers to lead them. He’s not going to love the lack of a spotlight in Nashville, but he’s not going to have many glitzier options. What he’ll get with the Titans, though, is a team with good offensive weapons, like receiver Calvin Ridley and running back Tony Pollard, that plays in arguably the weakest division in the NFL.Rodgers could make them an instant playoff contender. And the extra picks the Titans get from trading No. 1 would allow them to keep rebuilding at the same time. |
FREE AGENT TIERS – QUARTERBACKSBill Barnwell puts all the NFL players who are heading for free agency into Tiers. You can read every position here. You can sample his treatment of the quarterbacks below: QuarterbacksTier 1: Franchise playersFree agents: NoneIt’s rare to see many franchise-caliber players at any position hit free agency these days. Last year, I listed only two players across all positions at this tier: Barkley and defensive tackle Chris Jones. They both ended up playing in the Super Bowl, as Barkley left the Giants for the Eagles, while Jones reupped with the Chiefs.Tier 2: Pro Bowl-caliber startersFree agents: NoneYou might notice there are two quarterbacks missing from this space who made the 2024 Pro Bowl. I’ll get to them in the next two tiers.Tier 3: Capable startersFree agents: Sam Darnold, VikingsIf Darnold made the 2024 Pro Bowl, why isn’t he in the Pro Bowl tier? Well, he has never played at that level or anywhere close before this past season. He was in an excellent situation with the Vikings, where he had a superstar receiver in Justin Jefferson, excellent secondary playmakers in Jordan Addison, Aaron Jones and T.J. Hockenson, and one of the league’s best playcallers in Kevin O’Connell.Most situations across the league aren’t going to be as promising for Darnold if he leaves Minnesota. Landing with the Rams if they move on from Matthew Stafford would give Darnold a much better chance of playing the way he did in 2024, but if he ends up with the Giants, Raiders or Steelers, it’s tough to imagine him playing nearly as well.The Vikings might choose to franchise-tag Darnold, but it’s a risky proposition. While they have plenty of cap space, the $42.4 million franchise tag would hit their books this year, limiting their financial flexibility until the situation is resolved. If he chose to sign the tag, Minnesota would likely have to move forward with Darnold as its starter in 2025 and leave J.J. McCarthy on the bench, costing it another year of surplus value from the 2024 first-rounder’s rookie deal. The Vikings could attempt to trade Darnold after tagging him, but if they don’t have an immediate deal on the table, they run the risk of signing a deal they don’t actually want to make and eating up a significant portion of their cap.If Darnold hits the open market, he should have a handful of suitors, especially in a season in which the options available in the draft don’t appear to be particularly compelling. The closest comp in terms of recent contracts is Daniel Jones, a fellow top-10 pick who struggled before enjoying an impressive season (including a playoff run) just before free agency. Darnold is going to hold more appeal than Jones because of a better track record of health and superior passing ability, but he’s also two years older than Jones was when Jones signed a four-year, $160 million deal to stay with the Giants.Jones’ contract contained $81 million guaranteed over the first two years. That came in a year in which the salary cap was $224.8 million. In 2025, with the cap projected to come in around $280 million, the $40 million average salary for Jones would project to just under $50 million for Darnold. I’d be surprised if his deal got quite that high, but two guaranteed years with $90 million locked in at signing would make sense.Average annual salary projection: $46 millionTier 4: Borderline starters/high-end backupsFree agents: Jacoby Brissett, Patriots; Justin Fields, Steelers; Daniel Jones, Vikings; Russell Wilson, SteelersPossible cap casualties: Gardner Minshew, Raiders; Aaron Rodgers, JetsGiven how loath teams are to move on from even competent backup quarterbacks, this is usually the highest tier at which signal-callers become available in free agency. There aren’t usually two quarterbacks from the same team at this level hitting the open market, but the 2024 Steelers were a unique case. There has been more chatter in the past couple of weeks about Pittsburgh bringing Fields back over Wilson, but given that they benched Fields the moment Wilson was healthy, that theory doesn’t quite make sense. If Fields returns to Pittsburgh, it would probably be as part of a QB competition.Despite earning a Pro Bowl nod, Wilson was a below-average starter after entering the lineup; the 36-year-old’s 51.3 Total QBR ranked 21st in the league from Week 7 onward. He protected the football and hit the occasional moon shot, but he took sacks on just under 9% of his dropbacks and turned only one-third of his pass attempts into first downs, both of which were below league average. He also has lost virtually all of his mobility, averaging just over 13 rushing yards per game in 12 starts. As a safe pair of hands and little else at this point, the most logical landing spot for the 10-time Pro Bowler would be … the Steelers, who don’t seem desperate to keep him.Could Rodgers be a better fit for Pittsburgh? On the field, I’d argue yes. The Steelers win games by protecting the ball on offense and letting their defense and special teams take over, and Rodgers has the best interception rate (1.4%) in NFL history. While he uncharacteristically threw six picks over a three-game span in October, he threw just four over the final 10 games of the season. I’m not sure he is going to push the ball down the field on a regular basis anymore, but as a negative play mitigator, the 41-year-old fits what the Steelers are looking for under center. (Off the field? I’d pay part of Rodgers’ salary just to see Mike Tomlin’s news conference announcing that his starting quarterback is missing mandatory minicamp to visit Egypt.)Note that this section (and others throughout) don’t include quarterbacks who are likely to be traded as opposed to hitting the free agent market, which is why Kirk Cousins isn’t listed. Given that his salary in 2025 is guaranteed, the Falcons would be better off trading Cousins and attempting to shed some of his salary via a trade than cutting him and letting another team sign him for the minimum, like the Steelers did with Wilson a year ago.Tier 5: Backups likely to net guaranteed moneyFree agents: Joe Flacco, Colts; Jimmy Garoppolo, Rams; Taylor Heinicke, Chargers; Mac Jones, Jaguars; Drew Lock, Giants; Marcus Mariota, Commanders; Nick Mullens, Vikings; Mason Rudolph, Titans; Cooper Rush, Cowboys; Jarrett Stidham, Broncos; Carson Wentz, Chiefs; Jameis Winston, BrownsThese guys don’t have any realistic hope of landing a starting job, but they’re each expecting to land a backup role with some level of guaranteed money, suggesting there’s some competition for their signatures. Some of them will have partial guarantees, while the high-end options, such as Mariota and Garoppolo, will be looking at full guarantees and deals closer to the $8 million range.As a collective, these quarterbacks went 20-41 with a 47.7 Total QBR in 2024. The standout by a wide margin was Mariota, who went 18-of-23 for 205 yards and two scores filling in for an injured Jayden Daniels during Washington’s win over the Panthers and 15-of-18 for 161 yards and two more touchdowns in a Week 18 victory over the Cowboys. Mariota has received plaudits for his work uniting the locker room and has the mobility to fill in for teams that use the quarterback run game, which opens up his market to just about any team in need of a veteran backup.For some of these guys, the best thing they can do is sit on the sidelines. Garoppolo has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career and was benched by the Raiders in 2023, but after spending all of 2024 on the bench outside of a Week 18 start alongside the Rams’ backups, there’s talk he could take over as the starter in Los Angeles if Stafford is traded.Others are tied to the guys who once believed in them. With Josh McDaniels once again the offensive coordinator in New England, as an example, the Patriots could look toward Garoppolo, Jones or Stidham as the backup to Drake Maye if he doesn’t believe in Joe Milton. Mullens could step in as the backup for Brock Purdy with the 49ers, the team that he began his career with. A reunion between Flacco and the Browns, where Deshaun Watson might not play in 2025, could make sense for all involved.Average annual salary projection: $3.5 million to $9 millionTier 6: Backups likely to earn roster spotFree agents: Brandon Allen, 49ers; Kyle Allen, Steelers; Joshua Dobbs, 49ers; Tyler Huntley, Dolphins; Josh Johnson, Ravens; Case Keenum, Texans; Trey Lance, Cowboys; Easton Stick, Chargers; Kyle Trask, Buccaneers; Zach Wilson, BroncosAnd then, in the final tier of likely signees, there are players who won’t have much (or any) guaranteed money but should have the inside track toward a 53-man roster spot versus undrafted free agents and practice squad players. These guys are long shots to play meaningful snaps in any given season, but it does happen; Mason Rudolph was in this section last year and ended up starting five games for the Titans.There are different types of quarterbacks in this group. There are top-five picks who lost their jobs in Lance and Wilson. Wilson never got on the field in his lone season with the Broncos, while Lance threw a ton of passes in the preseason, only for the Cowboys to prefer Cooper Rush for most of a lost year. They’re both projects and more likely to be third quarterbacks than backups.On the flip side, there are veterans who have been all over the place in Dobbs, Johnson and Keenum, although the latter might want to stick close to home and stay with the Texans. Dobbs was a national phenomenon for a minute in 2023 with the Vikings, but even after that stretch, he was able to land only a one-year, $2.2 million deal with the 49ers last year. The aerospace engineering major is better than his market has suggested, but he’s probably looking at only a partial guarantee in 2025.Average annual salary projection: $1.5 million to $2.5 million |
| 2024 DRAFTWe are told that QB SHADEUR SANDERS’ display of confidence did not endear himself to some NFL teams. Matt Ehalt of the New York Post:Shedeur Sanders considers himself a program changer.And that apparently turned off some NFL teams.NFL Network insider Peter Schrager revealed that Sanders — the son of Colorado coach and NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders — irked some franchises with those remarks during the combine.“His point at the combine, and it rubbed people wrong, the way he had some bravado at it, is that he changes places when he gets there,” Schrager said on the “Bill Simmons Podcast” on Tuesday. “So Jackson State, obviously, went from this HBCU that had no resources to suddenly being a national name. And then he goes to Colorado and we had one week where ‘Big Noon Kickoff’ from Fox and ‘GameDay’ were there, Week 2, vying for real estate in Boulder. It happens.“Shedeur has never wavered that he’s a leader and those guys do respect him.”Phil Mickelson trashes golf great over eye-opening Brooks Koepka commentsSanders has come under the microscope leading into this year’s draft, where he’s hoping to be a top selection and possibly even No. 1.The combine provided an opportunity for Sanders to meet with teams and also answer reporters’ questions.He displayed an unwavering confidence that he expects he will galvanize his next team.“We went from Jackson State to Colorado and changed two programs back-to-back,” Sanders said, with the “we” referencing his father coaching him at both schools. “You don’t think I could come to an NFL franchise and change a program again? It’s history. It’s always going to repeat itself.”That those remarks did not land with some teams come as multiple unflattering reports emerged in recent days regarding Sanders’ demeanor during the combine.Veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson said a quarterbacks coach from a team drafting in the first seven slots said Sanders came across “brash” and “arrogant.”However, she questioned this narrative.“I’m just sharing that this coach’s personal assessment is the direct opposite from how Sanders came across to many reporters in his press conference with the media at the combine,” Anderson, formerly of ESPN, posted on X. “Sanders appeared to go out of his way to acknowledge multiple media members, regardless if they were recognizable or not. He seemed cordial, polite, witty, thoughtful along with being confident (as many athletes are). Alternately, these observations were distinctly different from how another QB prospect came off to some in the media last year in Indy.”The “brash” and “arrogant” accusations carried a little different weight when NBC fantasy football expert Matthew Berry reported similar sentiments from two individuals from two different teams. “They both said it was a bad meeting and that he came off as unprofessional and disinterested,” Berry wrote Tuesday. “Both also said that after the meeting they had a lesser opinion of him than prior. These same people both met with (Miami quarterback) Cam Ward as well, and both said they loved Ward, and it was a great meeting.“When talking about the projected top two QB picks this year, every team I spoke to loves Ward. And I didn’t hear a ton of positive about Sanders.”Schrager did note that Sanders is not viewed as a “diva” and has been praised for being tough while playing behind a porous offensive line for his father at Colorado.“Not a diva. Don’t read any of that s–t. He’s not a diva,” Schrager said. “This guy chose to go to Jackson State.”However, those negative reports could help explain why Sanders is seemingly now being classified as the No. 2 quarterback in this class behind Ward.Ward owns -280 odds at FanDuel to be the No. 1 pick — which belongs to the Titans for now — and Sanders is now the fourth option behind Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter with 19/1 odds.Schrager’s understanding is teams see Sanders closer to fringe first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss than Ward.The 2025 NFL Draft begins April 24 in Green Bay, Wis.“And then it’s a giant dropoff (from Ward) from what I can gather,” Schargers said, “and then just viewed as prospects, not necessarily how they turn out, Shedeur, Jaxson Dart and then a bunch of unknowns.” Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com has thoughts on this noise: Every so often, a prospect entering the NFL gets more analyzed, scrutinized, and criticized than all others, combined. Early indications suggest that former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders will be that guy in 2025.The post-Combine noise has gotten loud. Most of it has come from scattered reports based on the opinions of the always-reliable “anonymous evaluators.” He supposedly rubbed some the wrong way by coming across as “arrogant” and “brash.” (OH NO! An NFL quarterback can never succeed as a leader of the team and the primary source of its on-field confidence if he’s arrogant and/or brash.)There will surely be other negatives. In many respects, whispers knocking a prospect come from people with teams who would love to see the player slide down the board, so that they’ll have a chance to draft him. Some in the media are already suggesting that Shedeur Sanders might slip all the way out of round one.With Sanders, there’s another dynamic that cannot be ignored. Colorado coach (and Shedeur’s father) Deion Sanders has said he’d only take a head-coaching job in the NFL if he would be coaching his son. This means that the NFL head coach who lands Shedeur will need to have sufficient self-confidence to not worry that, in a year or two, the coach could be supplanted by Deion.Shedeur’s first NFL head coach also will have to be wired to shrug at any comments from Deion regarding the reason for any struggles that Shedeur might experience. Will Deion blame it on the quality of the roster around him? Will Deion blame it on the coaching?Plenty of coaches might get skittish about the Deion factor. They might think that, by signing off on Shedeur, they’ll be signing their eventual pink slip.Deion surely knew his comments would have that impact on certain coaches. And therein lies the method to the potential madness. At a time when most players care only about being drafted as high as possible, given that the money in the first contract drops dramatically the later the player is picked, Deion realizes that it’s far better for Shedeur to land in the right spot.The right spot will be with a coach who is sufficiently secure in his position, skills, and abilities to not think twice about Deion’s statement that he’d only come to the NFL to coach his son.It’s a way to engineer Shedeur’s landing spot without pulling an Elway or an Eli. Shedeur can say without hesitation that he’ll play for anyone. And any coach who would feel threatened by the possibility of Deion eyeing his job won’t want Shedeur. Those coaches will look for negatives, whether it’s “he’s arrogant and brash” or “he’s not big enough to take NFL hits” or whatever else the “anonymous evaluators” will be spreading to folks in the media who will willingly run with it.Chances are Deion knows exactly where he wants Shedeur to go. And if it means sliding out of the top five or the top 10 or the top 20, so be it. Lose the battle, win the war.Without running the risk of pissing off (again) those who have been brainwashed into thinking it’s “an honor and a privilege” to be drafted by any NFL team, there’s no honor or privilege in being forced to join a dysfunctional team that earned its spot at the top of the round in part by having a history of derailing the careers of young quarterbacks.Look at the draft order. Consider the teams that currently need quarterbacks. Consider the coaches who aren’t and wouldn’t be bothered by outside noise, regardless of the source.Given those two factors, maybe one or two teams fit the bill The DB is thinking the Raiders and Pete Carroll might fit Florio’s description. – – -Today’s Mock Draft comes from FOXSports.com where six writers take turns making picks: *Trades were not allowed in this exercise.1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, MiamiIf the Titans stay here, quarterback makes the most sense. And between the top two passers, Ward appears to have the most upside. His poise in the pocket and escapability stand out. He can drive the ball into tight windows downfield. His footwork and decision-making improved throughout his college career. He has a rare ability to throw from various arm slots, too. All those attributes give him a chance to be a legitimate franchise quarterback. Shedeur Sanders may actually be the better fit for Brian Callahan’s offense on paper, but Ward’s talent is impossible to ignore. He’d be “plug and play” in Tennessee, as he said himself at the Combine. — Ben Arthur2. Cleveland Browns: Shedeur Sanders, QB, ColoradoSanders is a pocket passer who might someday play the game like Joe Burrow. Burrow was a more polished prospect coming into the NFL, but I think that’s because he came out of an LSU program that had elite talent at every position. Sanders, meanwhile, had to overcome a crappy offensive line during his Colorado tenure. And that created some bad habits, including his propensity to hold onto the ball and take big-yardage sacks — rather than simply throwing the ball away. But Sanders has the processing abilities and requisite arm strength to play QB at a high level in the NFL.The Sanders mentality and star qualities shouldn’t scare Cleveland. In fact, that aura should elevate a no-personality Browns team that is unfortunately weighed down by Deshaun Watson’s contract for the foreseeable future. That shouldn’t stop Browns GM Andrew Berry from snagging his QB of the future when he’s on the board. — Henry McKenna3. New York Giants: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn StateGetting a quarterback is their priority, but if the top two are off the board, they better not reach for the third. They also should pass on Travis Hunter, the best player in the draft, because they shouldn’t build a defense around a corner (especially one who wants to play receiver, too). The Giants know from their history that the best defenses are powered by the pass rush, which makes Carter a tantalizing choice for a team that already has Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. It also might finally make up for the fact that they traded down in the 2021 draft rather than stay put and take Micah Parsons. Now, four years later, they can take his clone. — Ralph Vacchiano4. New England Patriots: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, ColoradoHunter is the WR1 in this year’s class. He’s also the CB1. He said at the Combine he wants to play 100% of snaps on both sides of the ball. That’s a stretch. But maybe New England will be desperate enough to let him give it a try. The Patriots certainly need help at every position on their roster. And Hunter’s versatility should make him all the more appealing. The Patriots would help get Hunter on the field in a sizable two-way role for 2025. Drake Maye would be throwing Hunter touchdowns. And Tua Tagovailoa would be throwing Hunter interceptions. — McKenna5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Johnson, CB, MichiganNew coach Liam Coen’s No. 1 priority should be getting Trevor Lawrence back on track, but the Jaguars have the opportunity here to address the league’s worst pass defense from a year ago. Johnson, who would slot in at outside cornerback alongside Tyson Campbell, fits the profile of big and fluid at his position coupled with strong production. He’s shown great instincts, too. Despite playing just six games this past season, he was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press, which speaks to his talent. He was the defensive MVP of the 2023 national championship game. Johnson is the best corner not named Hunter in this draft. — Arthur6. Las Vegas Raiders: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, ArizonaThe Raiders’ top priority is finding a quarterback, but that will have to wait until Day 2 at this point of the draft with Ward and Sanders off the board. In McMillan, Las Vegas adds a playmaker who can get it done on the perimeter of the offense to complement dynamic tight end Brock Bowers. — Eric D. Williams7. New York Jets: Mason Graham, DT, MichiganConsidering Quinnen Williams is the only major player along the Jets front that is under contract as of next week and the defense is supposed to be a strong suit of the now-Aaron Glenn-led Jets, let’s, uh, make Q happy? Draft the best interior guy to play next to Williams. Spoiler alert: that’s Graham. — Carmen Vitali8. Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, Edge, GeorgiaIt would have been tempting had Graham lasted one more pick, but the obvious match here is for Carolina to upgrade its outside pass rush. Some see Walker as an inside linebacker, but he’s quick enough to be a disruptive presence in opposing backfields. There isn’t a huge difference between Walker, Mykel Williams and Mike Green, all strong second-tier options in the top half of the first round behind Carter at the top of this class. I’d be very surprised if this pick isn’t on the defensive side for the Panthers. — Greg Auman9. New Orleans Saints: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn StateThe Saints might be intrigued if they can have their pick of the offensive linemen in this class at No. 9, but having seen what Brock Bowers did for Las Vegas, they do well to land Warren, who had 104 catches for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns last year. This pick makes even more sense if Juwan Johnson leaves in free agency. The Saints could easily look at corner, but they’d likely trade down if Johnson is gone and that’s where they’d like to go with their top pick. — Auman10. Chicago Bears: Kelvin Banks, OL, TexasSure, Will Campbell is still on the board from LSU. I’m not docking him because of his short arms, because that would be silly. He knows his leverage points. If anything, I’m docking him because of all the penalties he costed the Tigahs last season. But that’s still not why I chose Banks over Campbell. Banks has position flexibility. He has experience both outside and inside. With the way the Bears have had terrible luck along their front, injury and otherwise, they need guys that can move around. That’s not usually a recipe for success on a unit that thrives off continuity, but if you can get a guy who has the skill set to do it, it can’t hurt. — Vitali11. San Francisco 49ers: Mykel Williams, DE, GeorgiaNick Bosa is one of the best defensive players in the league, but the 49ers have struggled to find a bookend to consistently create pressure opposite him. In Williams, the 49ers grab an explosive athlete with good traits to develop into an elite pass-rusher. — Williams12. Dallas Cowboys: Will Campbell, OL, LSUIt’s going to be real trendy to put RB Ashton Jeanty at this spot during mock draft season, or the best available receiver. But, do either of those options really sound like something Jerry Jones would do? It might make more sense for this team to look to the trenches, particularly at defensive tackle. But if an offensive tackle like this 6-6, 319-pounder falls this far, they have to jump. They know their best teams have been powered by strong lines, which is why they started their youth movement up front last April. They’ll continue it here with arguably the top tackle in the draft, especially since his apparently short arms might make him a natural to take over for the retired Zack Martin at right guard. — Vacchiano13. Miami Dolphins: Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&MI’ll be honest, my front office was not pleased to see the two best offensive linemen and the best tight end come off the board right in front of them. Given the state of their roster, that’s probably where the Dolphins would rather go. Since that’s not possible, let’s get creative. Edge rusher doesn’t look like a need right now, but you never know. Bradley Chubb could be a salary-cap casualty in the coming weeks, and Jaelan Philips is coming off another season-ending surgery. The Dolphins should want a pass-rush partner for Chop Robinson, and Stewart offers them a superfreak athlete with sky-high upside who could turbocharge their defense in the coming years. — David Helman14. Indianapolis Colts: Colston Loveland, TE, MichiganThe Colts haven’t had reliable pass catching out of the tight end spot in years. In fact, their tight ends last season combined for just 467 yards, second-to-last among all teams. After missing out on Brock Bowers in the last draft, it’s paramount that Indianapolis shores up this spot to support Anthony Richardson, or whoever else the quarterback ends up being.Loveland registered 1,466 receiving yards in three years for the Wolverines. That includes 56 catches in 2024, which is a single-season program record for tight ends. If the board falls this way and Warren is off the table, Loveland makes a lot of sense. — Arthur15. Atlanta Falcons: Mike Green, Edge, MarshallThey really, really need to help their outside pass rush, and they’ll be happy if Green falls to them at 15. After three straight years of using a top-10 pick on offensive skill-position talent, this is a much-needed boost for the defensive front, which has struggled for years to create consistent pressure. Either of the Georgia edge rushers would also make sense — if the Falcons really liked one more than the others, it wouldn’t be terrible to give up a third-round pick and move up a few spots to get the one they prefer. — Auman16. Arizona Cardinals: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole MissThe Cardinals could use help at all three levels of their defense, but adding an interior defensive lineman fills their most obvious need. Nolen finished with 6.5 sacks his final season for the Rebels and will infuse Arizona’s defense with a much-need interior pass-rusher. — Williams17. Cincinnati Bengals: Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&MThe Bengals need help all over their defense, which made this selection difficult. Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron was tempting. Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant looked appealing. But let’s take Scourton. He appeared to put on weight after transferring from Purdue to Texas A&M and, given that his sack total fell from 10 to five, it was no surprise to see him lighter for the NFL Combine. For the Bengals defense, which has uncertainty on the edge, Scourton would be an undersized, high-motor type in the vein of George Karlaftis. That’ll be a big addition for a woeful Cincy defense. — McKenna18. Seattle Seahawks: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise StateYes, the last time Seattle selected a running back in the first round it didn’t go so well with Rashaad Penny at No. 27 overall in the 2018 draft. However, Mike Macdonald wants to run the football, and Jeanty is one of the most explosive playmakers available in this year’s draft. — Williams19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jihaad Campbell, LB, AlabamaI’m confident it will be on the defensive side of the ball — linebacker should be a priority whether Lavonte David returns for a 14th season or not. Campbell is a versatile player who is solid in coverage but can also blitz the quarterback, and Todd Bowles likes positional flexibility in terms of disguising blitzes in packages. If any of the top four edges were to fall to 19, the Bucs could look there as well, but that’s trusting overall positional value more than what they need on the actual depth chart right now. A corner with good size wouldn’t be a surprise as well here. — Auman20. Denver Broncos: Kenneth Grant, DT, MichiganKeep a strength a strength. The Broncos had arguably the best defensive front in football last year, but the key to sustaining that success is to keep feeding it. Adding another inside guy after getting so much pass-rushing success from your edge guys and linebackers will make the pass rush that much more fluid (and menacing). — Vitali21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Derrick Harmon, DT, OregonThe Steelers gave up 299 rushing yards to the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the playoffs, which isn’t indicative of how their run defense was during the season, but it was definitely a sign that it needs some work. They are not deep up front and need to take advantage of a strong class of defensive tackles, especially since Cam Heyward is about to turn 36. The 6-4, 313-pound Harmon is a really strong run-stuffer who can help when they’re facing backs like Baltimore’s Derrick Henry, and will learn a lot playing with Heyward for the next year or two. — Vacchiano22. Los Angeles Chargers: Omarion Hampton, RB, North CarolinaJ.K. Dobbins had a nice, bounce-back year for the Bolts, but head coach Jim Harbaugh needs to add a young, physical back to a Greg Roman offense still built on running the football. At 6-foot and 221 pounds, Hampton packs a punch and can also contribute as a pass-catcher. — Williams23. Green Bay Packers: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East CarolinaI can’t say for certain whether Jaire Alexander will still be a Packer in April. But general manager Brian Gutekunst should be planning for the future at corner, regardless. Alexander has appeared in only 52% of Green Bay’s games over the past four years, and he hasn’t played more than seven games in a season since 2022. Enter Revel, who has a case as the draft’s best corner. He did tear his ACL in September, which will give some teams pause. But when have the Packers ever let the short-term future get in the way of a great long-term decision? — Helman24. Minnesota Vikings: Jahdae Barron, CB, TexasThe Vikings have four cornerbacks slated to hit free agency, including three starters (Stephon Gilmore, Shaq Griffin, slot Byron Murphy Jr.). Addressing the spot is a must, and Barron is the best corner left on the board. He tied for fourth in the FBS last season with five interceptions, and would bring versatility to Minnesota’s secondary as well. He played more than 100 snaps in the slot and the box last season, on top of nearly 700 snaps at outside cornerback. — Arthur25. Houston Texans: Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, ArizonaThe Texans have needs at receiver — Stefon Diggs is scheduled to be a free agent, while Tank Dell’s status for 2025 is uncertain — but addressing the offensive line should be the top priority. C.J. Stroud was one of the NFL’s most pressured quarterbacks last season. Savaiinaea played significant snaps at three different positions at Arizona (RG, RT, LT), which would be particularly valuable to a team like Houston, which has had to shuffle players on its OL the past couple of years. — Arthur26. Los Angeles Rams: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio StateThe Rams are likely moving on from veteran Cooper Kupp, creating a need for a No. 2 receiver opposite Puka Nacua. In Egbuka, Los Angeles gets a cerebral player with excellent route-running skills who can make contested catches and would fit in nicely with Sean McVay’s detailed approach to offense. Egbuka also offers versatility, with an ability to play all three receiver positions. — Williams27. Baltimore Ravens: Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota StateThe ravens have two good young pieces on their offensive line in Tyler Linderbaum and Roger Rosengarten, but Zabel would make sense, especially if they lose Patrick Mekari in free agency. Offensive line feels like a position somewhat neglected in the first round this year, but Zabel is a small-school standout who continues to impress and has played both guard and tackle in college, so there’s some flexibility and debate as to where he fits in best on an NFL line. — Auman28. Detroit Lions: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston CollegeGreg sniped me with Zabel. An offensive lineman from North Dakota State just screams Detroit, but alas, I went to the other side of the trenches. Aidan Hutchinson will be coming off his injury and should be ready to go next season, but it makes his job a heck of a lot easier if there’s someone on the other side of the front forcing offenses to make some tough decisions. Ezeiruaku, with some coaching up, will do that. — Vitali29. Washington Commanders: James Pearce, Edge, TennesseeThe Commanders are going to have to restock their defensive front, especially if they trade DT Jonathan Allen. So a defensive tackle is possible here, too. But an edge rusher is a bigger need, even though they got good production from a middling group on the edge last season. Pearce could give them a potentially dominant element, especially if he develops like some scouts think he might. He’s got a long frame (6-5, 245), terrific speed and explosiveness, and he had 17.5 sacks over the past two seasons. He could give the Commanders defense the dimension it was missing last year. — Vacchiano30. Buffalo Bills: Matthew Golden, WR, TexasReceivers? In back-to-back years? I think Bills GM Brandon Beane would love to take a defensive player, but the board doesn’t have as much to offer on that side of the ball. And frankly, Golden is a perfect fit for this offense. Keon Coleman looks to me like a unique wideout — but maybe one who is trending toward a WR2 that scores a lot of touchdowns. Khalil Shakir owns the middle of the field as a slot option. Buffalo’s tight ends (Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox) aren’t focal points of the game plan. That’s what I think Golden could someday be: an offensive centerpiece. He has traits to be a No. 1 guy. He might finish the draft process as WR2 on many big boards. He has the chops to get the most out of Josh Allen’s arm. I love this marriage, and I think it’s too good to pass up, even if it feels like they’re overinvesting draft capital in one place. — McKenna31. Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Simmons, OL, Ohio StateHis knee injury knocked him down the board. If not for that, he might be in the conversation as the top tackle in this class. So, he’s here for the Chiefs to take. Ideally, they would want to give more time to Kingsley Suamataia, their 2024 second-rounder. But he was a total whiff and the Chiefs can’t afford another season of uncertainty at that spot. Look at the Super Bowl. The biggest reason they lost was their left tackle spot, which was a mess all year. The Chiefs need to address this position again. And I don’t think they’ll spend what it takes in free agency to improve at the position. Simmons is a good choice. — McKenna32. Philadelphia Eagles: Alfred Collins, DT, TexasJalen Carter is a monster in the middle for the Eagles, but the rest of their line is about to be in transition. DE Josh Sweat and DT Milton Williams are both free agents and might not be back. And the Eagles might decline the fifth-year option on former first-round pick Jordan Davis, which could make 2025 his last year in Philly. In other words, they’ve got to restock the defensive side of the trenches — something GM Howie Roseman loves to do. The 6-6, 332-pound Collins is a big, solid player who some think was an underachiever in college. In the hands of the right coaching staff, his upside could be huge. — Vacchiano |
