| Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com throws out the names of some college coaches who could be NFL bound: Last week, I mentioned Oregon coach Dan Lanning as someone who has generated intrigue in some NFL circles. Some context: Do I think Lanning, who is in his third year with the Ducks and has a massive buyout, is leaving for the pros right now? No. But the point is that a relatively thin pool of candidates leaguewide could create a lane for top college coaches if they choose to pivot. Another name that is on the radar of the league office is Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman. Neither Lanning nor Freeman have any NFL experience, but if there’s a year to think creatively, this might be it. |
| NFC NORTH |
| DETROITSaw this somewhere (regrets don’t remember where) and checked it out. It’s true, there have only been three games with a final point differential of 38 points or more. And one team has won all three: 2024-11-17 46 Lions 52, Jaguars 62024-10-27 38 Lions 52, Titans 142024-10-13 38 Lions 47, Cowboys 9 |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASDon’t think we knew that Dallas DC Mike Zimmer is tight with Colorado coach Deion Sanders – even though there is plenty of evidence if you Google it. Garrett Podell of CBSSports.com with some recent thoughts: Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones is answering questions about whether or not head coach Mike McCarthy has lost the locker room amid a 3-7 start to 2024. That means speculation is ramping up regarding who Jones’ next Cowboys head coach could be with McCarthy and his staff in the final year of their contracts. The Cowboys are in the midst of a five-game losing streak, and their 3-7 start matches their worst 10-game start of the McCarthy era. They also opened 3-7 in 2020 as quarterback Dak Prescott was out with a fractured ankle. Prescott is out once again this season after undergoing surgery to repair an injured hamstring. Among the names that have been floated around in the football world to be the next Dallas head coach — should McCarthy not be extended — is former Cowboys Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, currently the head coach at the University of Colorado. Sanders was on Dallas’ most-recent Super Bowl title team in 1995 and earned both Pro Bowl and All-Pro accolades in each of his five years with the Cowboys. Current Dallas defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer was Sanders’ defensive backs coach in all five of those seasons, and he remains a close friend of Sanders to this day. On Tuesday, Zimmer provided a little insight into Sanders’ mindset about his current position and whether or not he would consider a return to the NFL as a head coach. “Deion and I are obviously really good friends, and we talk weekly probably, but I’m not going to speculate on any jobs or anything like that because I don’t think that’s right,” Zimmer said. “I know that he’s told me many times that he’s really happy at Colorado. He likes it there. Obviously, they’ve done a great job. Trying to watch his games each and every week that I can to give him some tidbits and go from there.” Sanders himself was asked about the NFL coaching buzz Tuesday, and he echoed what Zimmer said by expressing his happiness with his current job at Colorado. “I’m happy where I am, I’m good. I got a kickstand down,” Sanders said, via DNVR Buffs, on Tuesday. “I’m rested, I’m good, I’m happy, I’m excited, I’m enthusiastic about where I am. I love it here. I truly do.” |
| NEW YORK GIANTSIt turns out that the teammates of QB DANIEL JONES weren’t clamoring for him to be benched. This Tweet from Jordan Schultz: @Schultz_ReportSources: There is “disappointment” among some #Giants players regarding how the Daniel Jones situation was handled over the past week, especially with players aware it was primarily a financial decision by the organization. Dexter Lawrence publicly stated on Tuesday: “He’s the QB1. To me, he’s the best quarterback on the team.” One offensive player told me over the phone: “We’re not idiots. They did it because of money. So be it. But Daniel has been all class, never complained, and is now being completely disregarded. The TEAM record is bad. You can point fingers everywhere. To try to blame him is trash, and making him third string is weak as fu**.” The sense I’ve gotten from multiple sources — players, coaches, and executives — is that the issues within the organization go far beyond just one person. QB DEAN LOCK is having problems with QB TOMMY DeVITO’s promotion. Christian Arnold in the Washington Post: On Wednesday, Drew Lock seemed to still be digesting the news that the Giants were not going to him but instead turning to Tommy DeVito to start at quarterback this week. The Giants had signed the veteran Lock in the offseason to be Daniel Jones’ backup, but when push came to shove on Monday, DeVito was the one that head coach Brian Daboll picked to face the Buccaneers, causing confusion among some observers. That included Lock, who told The Post’s Steve Serby that he was “upset” after the Giants’ practice on Wednesday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. “Six years into it, I’ve done a lot of press conferences,” Lock told The Post. “Feel like I’m ready for most questions. … Didn’t really know how to answer most of these today.” “Just upset,” Lock added. “I’d say upset and confused [are] two pretty good words to put in there. You understand where they’re coming from, but at the same time, when you are the [QB2] you expect to just be the next guy up. It’s an interesting situation that I didn’t foresee happening, but one that I’m gonna handle and deal with as a professional, and be who I am as a person.” What likely factored into DeVito getting the starting job over Lock was the fact that the second-year QB is an exclusive-rights free agent in 2025. Thus, letting DeVito get a chance could help the Giants decide if they wanted to keep him in the fold next season. Lock is a pending free agent after he inked a one-year, $5 million during the offseason. The sixth-year player has suffered an injury during the preseason that may have played a factor in the decision-making as well. The Giants made the decision to bench Jones earlier this week after the team had a bye week following five straight losses. Jones’ $23 million injury guarantee, coupled with the signing of Tim Boyle to the practice squad, pushed the QB to No. 4 on the depth chart. Big Blue is 2-8, and their season is effectively over at this point, leaving the organization to try and pick up the pieces for 2025. While Lock seemed to be disappointed about not starting, he told reporters that he would still “be here” for DeVito and the team. Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com chew the fat on the Giants: What are you hearing on the Giants’ next moves after benching Daniel Jones? Graziano: For now, it’s Tommy DeVito at quarterback. The Giants’ coaching staff decided he’s more likely than Drew Lock to provide a spark for a lagging offense. He’s a little bit more mobile than Lock, and sources I’ve talked to point to the way the team responded when DeVito took over as the starter last season, when the Giants won three games in a row. Now, it’s pretty important here to note that the opponents they faced during that three-game winning streak committed a combined 12 turnovers in those games, and DeVito probably didn’t have a lot to do with that. He was sacked a somewhat astounding 36 times in the six starts he made in 2023, and his QBR was 23.7. But the Giants don’t feel stupendous about any of their options at the moment, and coach Brian Daboll said the word “spark” multiple times in his Monday news conference when talking about what he thinks DeVito can bring. The Giants know they can go to Lock — who got a $5 million contract in the offseason to be Jones’ backup — if DeVito is overwhelmed. But I’d be shocked if Jones starts another game for the Giants, considering they’d be on the hook for a $23 million injury guarantee if he were hurt and couldn’t pass a physical next March. The Giants will have a different quarterback next season. But what does this all mean for Daboll and GM Joe Schoen? Fowler: Owner John Mara went on record last month saying that Daboll and Schoen would be back in 2025, but it raises the question: Will he actually follow through? I’ve talked to people in and around that situation who believe Mara really does want to keep them both, with the notion that he has been cycling through coaches every 2-3 years and would very much like to stop. Thus far, he has bought into the Daboll/Schoen vision and trusted them to make the decision to bench Jones. The pairing has yet to pick its own quarterback of the future, too. Others around the league are a tad more skeptical, with some people who follow these types of things closely forecasting it more like 50-50. If it’s Week 17, MetLife Stadium is half full and the Giants are stuck on two wins, Mara’s stance will be tested. And to your point, Dan, Jones’ play simply wasn’t good enough, and Daboll needs that spark in the worst way. Sure, the injury guarantee was a factor. They can’t have Jones sustaining a football injury and risk failing a physical in March to lock in that money. But I was also told Daboll likes the way DeVito plays the position — loose and free, not stiff. There are plays to be made in this offense, and DeVito, despite his flaws, will at least attempt to make them. All of this brings the Giants’ big-picture quarterback plans into focus. Assuming Daboll and Schoen survive, what should their plan be at QB for 2025? Graziano: Well, I think they’re going to have to draft one. By most accounts, this quarterback draft class doesn’t have the depth or quality of the 2024 group, so if they don’t end up picking in the top two or three slots, the Giants could be shut out. If they aren’t in position to draft Jones’ successor, there are a few potentially intriguing options on the free agent/trade market. Would the Falcons trade Kirk Cousins after only one year if they think Michael Penix Jr. is ready? Will Sam Darnold be a free agent if J.J. McCarthy is ready to take over in Minnesota? Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are going to be free agents; could one of them fit? Would Trey Lance make sense? These don’t sound like great options, and maybe DeVito plays himself into the picture if the draft doesn’t line up for the Giants. But they’re back in the market for sure. Best case, the Giants draft a talented player they can develop quickly and have around for a long time. Fowler: DeVito is the perfect QB2/QB3 for New York for years to come. But the Giants will inevitably need to double down with a draft pick and veteran help to address this massive need. A few scouts floated to me that Fields could be a fit for Daboll, who knows how to use mobile quarterbacks and can scheme up defined throws for him. The knock on Fields — hesitancy in the pocket — has been the same knock on Jones, but Fields could at least serve as a bridge option while a draft pick develops. I’m with you that this draft class is not considered a slam dunk. But the Giants are about to spend the next five-plus months figuring it all out. And herein lies the argument for playing Lock this week: If he had assumed the starting job and played well, he’d be yet another bridge quarterback option for next year. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| TAMPA BAYIt looks like WR MIKE EVANS is going to be ready to go against the Giants on Sunday. Shanna McCarriston of CBSSports.com: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one step closer to getting a key member of their offense back. Wide receiver Mike Evans returned to practice and will play against the New York Giants in Week 12 on Sunday, according to The Athletic. Evans has been sidelined since Week 7, when he went down with a hamstring injury in their loss against the Baltimore Ravens. He missed three games with what head coach Todd Bowles called “a moderate” hamstring injury. Evans hadn’t previously missed a game since the 2022 season. The 31-year-old missed games against the Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers before the team’s Week 11 bye. Evans was not placed on injured reserve, meaning he can return whenever he is ready. So far this season, Evans has 26 receptions on 45 targets for 335 yards and six touchdowns in seven games. When he suffered the injury, he was able to walk off the field and into the locker room on his own. In that same game, he became the 11th player in league history to score 100 receiving touchdowns and just the fifth to record all of them with the same franchise. That defeat to the Ravens was not just a loss of a game, but they also lost Evans and fellow wide receiver Chris Godwin in that matchup. Godwin dislocated his ankle and is out for the remainder of the season. Without the pass-catching duo, the Bucs have lost their last three games after a 4-3 start. Evans will need 665 receiving yards over the final seven games to reach 1,000 yards for the 11th consecutive year. |
| NFC WEST |
| SAN FRANCISCOTE GEORGE KITTLE wants you to know you can play him on your Fantasy team on Sunday. Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com with that news and other 49ers injuries updates: As the San Francisco 49ers wait and watch to see how many of their key injured players will be available Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, tight end George Kittle is leaving no room for debate. “I will be playing on Sunday,” Kittle said Wednesday afternoon. “Very excited. Can’t pass up playing the Packers, so no, I will be out there for sure.” Kittle participated in Wednesday’s practice on a limited basis after a hamstring injury kept him out of last week’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Kittle reported hamstring “irritation” in the days after the Niners’ Nov. 10 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Though Kittle didn’t practice last Wednesday, he was a limited participant on Thursday and Friday, which seemed to position him to play against the Seahawks. He said Wednesday that for most of last week the hamstring seemed to be improving, but it wasn’t where he wanted it to be when the weekend arrived. “Saturday was a tough day,” Kittle said. “I thought I felt pretty good on Friday. Saturday didn’t feel great and then Sunday was just not in a good enough place to be like, ah, let’s go out there and push it. I don’t think I would’ve been my best self anyway.” Kittle was inactive and sorely missed against the Seahawks as the Niners struggled to a season-low output in yards from scrimmage (277) and tied for a season low in points (17). In the eight games he has played this season, Kittle has been the team’s most productive pass catcher with 43 receptions for 560 yards and seven touchdowns. This is the first hamstring injury Kittle has dealt with since he was a rookie, but if he does indeed return Sunday, it won’t be the first time he has come back from an injury against the Packers. In 2019, Kittle returned from ankle and knee injuries to post six catches for 129 yards and a touchdown in a win against Green Bay. Kittle has regularly played through injury during his career, but he and the Niners decided it wasn’t worth the risk to possibly injure the hamstring further by trying to play against Seattle. “They’re just really finicky and it’s one of those things that you can just be running a random route and all of a sudden you pull it even more and then it’s four to six weeks and then I’m on probably season-ending IR,” Kittle said. “It was just something we wanted to make sure I had full confidence in and I did not have full confidence in it.” Though Kittle is full of confidence that a return to the field is imminent, the Niners have a handful of other important players who bear monitoring this week. Quarterback Brock Purdy popped up on the injury report Monday because of soreness in his right (throwing) shoulder. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Purdy would be day-to-day but said he didn’t have much concern Purdy would be out Sunday “right now” as Purdy participated in Wednesday’s practice. “We’ll see how this week goes, but he was limited today so that’s good,” Shanahan said. Cornerback Charvarius Ward also returned to practice Wednesday after being away from the team to grieve the death of his 1-year-old daughter. Ward rejoined the team over the weekend, attended the game against the Seahawks and was in meetings Monday. Because he hasn’t practiced since before the Oct. 27 win against the Dallas Cowboys, Ward was also limited Wednesday. “This is going to be his first practice here in a while,” Shanahan said. “I really don’t have any expectations of it. Going to take it slow, see how he is out there today and watch him throughout the week and communicate with him throughout the week and make a decision as we get closer to game time.” Game-time decisions could also be in the offing for star left tackle Trent Williams and defensive end Nick Bosa. Williams (ankle) and Bosa (hip/oblique) did not practice Wednesday after playing through their injuries against Seattle. |
| SEATTLEBrady Henderson of ESPN.com on how a big storm hit the Seahawks on Wednesday: The Seattle Seahawks’ headquarters lost power as a result of severe winds from a storm that ripped through western Washington on Tuesday. The Virginia Mason Athletic Center was using limited backup power Wednesday after a “bomb cyclone” caused a mass outage that affected hundreds of thousands of people in the western part of the state. The Seahawks adjusted their Wednesday schedule and held positional meetings in the same room. Several players used the flash lights on their cell phones to supplement the dim lighting in the locker room while it was open to reporters. Coach Mike Macdonald began his news conference with well wishes to those who have been affected and a thank you to workers who are aiding the situation. “We pushed some things back,” Macdonald said of how the outage has affected the Seahawks’ preparations for their game Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field. “There’s some things we don’t have in the building, but we’re just fine.” The team held its morning walk-through and, with the winds having subsided, practiced outside. “Just want to give a shoutout first to everybody that was affected by what was going on today weather-wise,” receiver DK Metcalf said to begin his news conference. “Hope everybody’s fine and everybody gets their lights on very fast and swiftly.” Metcalf was asked how the situation has impacted the Seahawks’ preparation. “It’s all about the way you look at it,” he said. “I don’t think it’s impacted us as much. We still got to come in. We still got to install. The Cardinals aren’t making any excuses so we can’t make an excuse for ourselves. We still got our install in and we still were able to walk-through and now go out there to practice.” |
| AFC NORTH |
| BALTIMOREWR DIONTAE JOHNSON hasn’t been a big addition for the Ravens. Dan Graziano: Another fantasy-centric note on a wide receiver traded to an AFC North team at the trade deadline: Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken basically acknowledged last week that they’re having a tough time finding ways to involve Diontae Johnson in the offense. After asking around on this, the sense I got was that they considered him too good a player to pass up at the price Carolina was asking, and that he offered them a chance to use more three-receiver sets than they usually do, should they want to go that route. But that’s not really the way their offense is set up, and unless the Ravens are planning a major midseason scheme change (which I don’t believe they are), Johnson might just be a veteran insurance policy in case something happens to top wideout Zay Flowers. Remember, the Rams added Odell Beckham Jr. as an extraneous-looking player the season they won the Super Bowl, and he ended up playing a larger role than anticipated once Robert Woods sustained a season-ending injury. It’s not the news Johnson fantasy managers want to hear, but this might be a case of a team just deciding you can never have too many playmakers.– – -Once the gold standard for place-kicking, JUSTIN TUCKER is now Just A Guy – if that good by today’s rarified success rates. Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com explores Tucker’s woes:. Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker made clear Wednesday that no one is more upset about his uncharacteristic struggles than him. Tucker’s six missed field goals this season are tied for second most in the NFL, ranking behind only Atlanta’s Younghoe Koo (seven misses). A seven-time Pro Bowl player, Tucker is 16-of-22 (72.7%), his worst conversion rate through 11 games in his 13-year career. “Believe me when I say nobody takes it more personally than I do, nobody is more affected than me when I miss the kick,” Tucker said. “So yeah, I take it really personally. At the exact same time, my particular line of work requires in my opinion that I compartmentalize my feelings. I leave them to the side and I focus on the action of kicking the ball and not the consequence. “So as difficult as that may be at times, that is the challenge that I’m facing right now. That’s my only option, is just continue to work and focus on the action, focus on the process and let the results take care of themselves after just putting in the work.” It’s surprising when Tucker has this many misses at this point of a season. It’s even more surprising by how he’s missing his kicks. In his previous two seasons combined (2022 and 2023), Tucker has missed wide left twice. This season, he has been wide left on all six of his misses. “The adjustment is pretty clear,” Tucker said. “I just need to make it a point not to let the ball carry to the left. So that’s something that we’re going to continue working on in practice.” Tucker isn’t the only usually dependable kicker slumping this season. Koo, who entered the season as the fourth-most-accurate kicker in NFL history, has missed seven field goal attempts. Ka’imi Fairbairn, who ranked eighth all-time heading into the season, has missed five field goal tries. With two misses in Sunday’s 18-16 loss at the Steelers, Tucker is no longer the most accurate kicker in NFL history. His 89.3% conversion rate fell behind Eddy Pineiro’s (89.4%). On Monday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said the team wouldn’t bring in kickers to compete with Tucker, saying he remained the best option. “I do appreciate that,” Tucker said of Harbaugh’s confidence in him. “And it’s something that I will be making it a point to reward.” No current kicker has been with the same team longer than Tucker, who joined the Ravens as an undrafted rookie in 2012. He turns 35 on Thursday, Asked where is he is mentally, Tucker said he’s “really good.” “I appreciate you checking in, but it’s also kind of unimportant how I feel,” Tucker said. “What is important is how I perform. I really do feel that way.” Of the 32 kickers who have attempted 10 or more FGs this season, Tucker’s 72.7% conversion rate ranks 28th. Some pretty big names in the kicking game are down there with him. 26 Jake Elliott 73.7% 27 Younghoe Koo 73.1% 28 Justin Tucker 72.7%29 Evan McPherson 71.4%30 Brayden Narveson 70.6% 31 Dustin Hopkins 70.0% 32 Greg Zuerlein 60.0% Before this season, Tucker was 173-213 on FGs of 40+ yards or 82%. This season he is 7-13 (54%). |
| AFC SOUTH |
| INDIANAPOLISStephen Holder of ESPN.com points out that QB ANTHONY RICHARDSON’s super power is his ability to make punishing runs. And he approves that the Colts did not shy away from using it on Sunday: On the Indianapolis Colts’ first play from scrimmage on Sunday, coach Shane Steichen dialed up a quarterback sweep run for Anthony Richardson to the left side. The play was, without question, unsuccessful. A missed block against New York Jets linebacker Quincy Williams allowed the defender to slice through the traffic and drop Richardson for no gain. Williams leapt to his feet after the tackle and celebrated with a demonstrative fist pump. But while the Colts failed to gain actual yardage on the play, they benefited in a much less obvious way. Richardson, in his first start since returning to the lineup following a two-week benching, has said that running the ball helps gets him into the flow of the game. And given the playcall on the first offensive snap of the day, it seemed Steichen made doing so a priority. In the process, he might just have found a workable offensive formula for the Colts as they now turn their attention to Sunday’s game against the red-hot Detroit Lions (1 p.m. ET FOX). “I just appreciate them for just involving me in the offense,” Richardson said afterward. The 6-foot-4, 244-pound Richardson went on to have 10 carries, totaling just 32 yards. But among those runs were two touchdowns, not to mention many other runs that helped keep the defense honest and forced it to devote resources to stopping the Colts’ massive, dual-threat quarterback. The Jets, at times, dedicated a defender to spying the 22-year-old QB. Most of all, though, the quarterback runs allowed Richardson to play his style, which is how he settles into the game. Contact is an important component. “Sometimes it is good to get out there and move around a little bit and get into the action a little bit,” offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said. Receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who is known for his own physical style of play, put it this way: “When the game first starts, especially him being just so young, he’s probably got those butterflies and everything. And then he gets the first couple touches and runs and they go away, and then it’s time to play football … I definitely used to be [that way] when I was younger.” If there was a criticism of Steichen’s usage of Richardson prior to the benching, it was the seeming reluctance to lean into Richardson’s physical style. A season-ending shoulder injury last season and a two-week absence earlier this season after an open-field collision likely factored into the coach’s calculation. But Steichen seemed to remove some of those restrictions on Sunday, and it was effective. Nine of Richardson’s 10 rushes were designed quarterback runs, the most of his career (11 games). While they didn’t produce significant yardage, they made the defense account for Richardson, which reaped benefits for the passing game. “[If] you talked to a bunch of opposing defensive coordinators … they’re going to tell you when the quarterback is a runner or a running threat, that changes the math a little bit,” Cooter said. “If that math is getting changed, then they’re having to make adjustments based on that math. And like most things in this game, when you make an adjustment one way, it ought to open up a little something somewhere else.” Perhaps that’s why Richardson had such an efficient day throwing the ball, completing 20 of 30 attempts for a career-high 272 yards and a touchdown. Richardson’s QBR of 75.4 was his second highest of the season. And Richardson managed to remain aggressive as a passer while still being efficient; he had three completions of 30 yards or longer. Richardson was particularly sharp in the fourth quarter, when he engineered two touchdown drives — including the first game-winning touchdown drive of his career. Richardson completed 8 of 10 passes for 129 yards with a touchdown pass and touchdown run in the final quarter, when the Colts rallied from an 8-point deficit. But the defining images from Sunday’s game will be Richardson bowling over defenders and into the end zone not once, but twice. On his first touchdown run — a 2-yard rush in the second quarter — he lowered his shoulder and powered through an attempted tackle by safety Jalen Mills. Tight end Mo Alie-Cox joked that it “it looked like the dude got hit by the Holy Ghost the way he went backward.” Later, on Richardson’s game-winning score with 46 seconds remaining, Richardson had blockers in front of him but still delivered a blow to cornerback D.J. Reed as Richardson crossed the goal line and the defender attempted to tackle him. There might be a potential psychological effect at play here too. “When the quarterback is as punishing as the running back, I mean that’s a tough task,” Pittman said. Add that to the growing list of reasons the Colts might continue to deploy Richardson as a runner while their offense — and its quarterback — try to find their way. The Colts are 5-6, one game off the Playoff Line in the AFC. They have a probable loss to the Lions this week, four likely wins and a showdown with the 6-5 Broncos. COLTS REMAINING SCHEDULENov 24 Detroit StatsDec 1 at New England Dec 15 at Denver Dec 22 Tennessee Dec 28 at NY GiantsJan 5 Jacksonville Denver’s six remaining games are slightly more robust: BRONCOS REMAINING SCHEDULENov 24 at Las Vegas Dec 2 Cleveland Dec 15 Indianapolis Dec 22 at LA ChargersDec 28 at Cincinnati Jan 5 Kansas City |
| JACKSONVILLEThoughts on the Jaguars from Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com: Where does GM Trent Baalke, on whom owner Shahid Khan has leaned heavily for football guidance in past years, fit into the equation should Pederson go? The prevailing theme from people I’ve talked to around the league is that Jacksonville will have little choice but to completely reset in the offseason and move on from both. Some within the team believe Pederson hasn’t lost the locker room, and the back end of the schedule is manageable, with five of the six opponents currently holding a losing record. But that’s probably too much optimism for this situation. This season has been a strain, though players were trying to stay upbeat through film sessions Monday. “There is talent here,” a team source said. “But you have to make plays in this league, and we aren’t making them.” |
| AFC EAST |
| MIAMICoach Mike McDaniel has reduced the roles of some longtime contributors. Adam Stites of USA TODAY: The Miami Dolphins haven’t been shy about mixing up their lineup amid a rough start to the 2024 season. Running back Raheem Mostert has just three carries in the last two weeks, tight end Durham Smythe is averaging one target per game after finishing third on the team in targets last year, and David Long Jr. was waived just two months after he was named a defensive team captain. “I think it’s been the same pattern each and every season,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday afternoon. “One thing that I’m very upfront with with the players, the second they get in the building, the second we start talking projected lineups or positions within a position group, I think it’s important people know you’re entitled to nothing in this world. “Playing time is solved by players on the field and the best players have to play and that’s my job to follow through with that. I don’t look at someone lost something, I look at who earned the opportunities.” Among the beneficiaries of that philosophy are De’Von Achane, who already has 168 touches this season after finishing his rookie year with 130. and linebacker Anthony Walker Jr., who has stepped into the starting lineup in the last three weeks. “It’s something that I think is important to players, in general, is — not only for themselves — but teammates want the teammate next to them that best deserves that situation,” McDaniel said. “Quite frankly, everyone that roots for the Dolphins is counting on me to make the hard decisions, regardless of what the ifs, ands, or buts, you have to do what’s the best for the team.” More recently, the Dolphins turned to undrafted rookie Storm Duck to play extensively against the Las Vegas Raiders with Kendall Fuller out of action rather than relying on 2023 second-round pick Cam Smith. “Tomorrow if Cam Smith completely outplays Storm Duck and we feel comfortable with what we’re doing, he’ll absolutely play over Storm Duck,” McDaniel said. “Everybody’s very aware of that. I think it’s very important to get the most out of people that they realize that it’s about what they’re doing in unison with what they’ve done. They get to dictate the terms at the present and moving forward.” Who is this Storm Duck? He is a rookie free agent signee in 2024 after one season at Louisville. Before that he spent four campaigns at North Carolina. Per Wikipedia: Duck is the son of Phyllis and Todd Duck. He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and moved to Spartanburg when he was seven. He played three years as a starting cornerback at Boiling Springs High School. Have you “grown up” at age seven when you move up I-85 from Greenville to Spartanburg? He could have been Chandler Duck per the Raleigh News-Observer in 2020: Phyllis Duck loved soap operas. When she was in her 20’s, one of her favorites was ‘The Bold and the Beautiful.’ One of the show’s main characters was Storm Logan. Duck said she was fascinated by the name. “I said if ‘I ever have a son, I’m going to name him Storm,’” Phyllis Duck recalled in a recent interview. About 13 years later, she was married and pregnant with her second child. And it was a boy. She told her husband, Todd, her plan. Todd Duck said he wasn’t immediately on board. “Why don’t we name him Chandler Storm Duck?” he asked her. “Nope, Storm Chandler Duck,” she replied. “I like the name, Storm.” And so, when her son was born on Dec. 15, 2000, they named him Storm Chandler Duck. There are more Ducks than we knew, but still not all that many: How common is the last name Duck in the United States?Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname ‘Duck’ has seen a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 7253 and dropped slightly to 7367 by 2010, marking a decline of 1.57%. Despite this drop in rank, the actual count of people with the ‘Duck’ surname increased from 4242 to 4521 during the same time frame, an increase of 6.58%. The proportion per 100k people slightly fell by 2.55%, showing a minor decrease in frequency relative to the population. Storm is one of 11 famous Ducks over time identified by Wikipedia: Andrew J. Duck, United States Democratic politicianArthur Duck (1580–1648), English lawyer and Member of ParliamentEmma Duck (born 1981), British sprinter and hurdlerJacob Duck (1600–1667), Dutch painter and etcherJenny Duck (born 1968), former field hockey player from New ZealandNicholas Duck (1570–1628), English lawyerOlive Duck (1912–1925), Australian female murder victimRichard Duck, English early 16th-century Vice-Chancellor of Oxford UniversitySimeon Duck (1834–1905), British Columbia businessman and politicianStephen Duck (1705–1756), English poetStorm Duck (born 2000), American football player |
| NEW YORK JETSJordan Schultz with more Jets dish: @Schultz_ReportSources: While Joe Douglas held the GM title until today, I’m told much of the organization had been overseen by higher-ups over the past month. This was apparent in moves like the Davante Adams trade, which many rival executives considered an overpay, and the Haason Reddick renegotiation, which had stalled before being handled directly by others. Douglas effectively lost most of his authority after the firing of Robert Saleh, a decision made with minimal input from Douglas by owner Woody Johnson in October. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| BROADCAST NEWSDan Graziano of ESPN.com notes some trepidation about Netflix after its less than stellar performance for Friday night’s big fight: The buffering problems that Netflix had with the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight Friday raised some eyebrows around the league, since the NFL is scheduled to broadcast two Christmas Day games on Netflix this year. Obviously it would cause a major uproar if the stream cut out or froze in the middle of a spectacular Lamar Jackson scramble or Patrick Mahomes deep throw to the end zone. The NFL did check in with Netflix following the Tyson-Paul fight to ask about the problems and assess the likelihood that they could repeat themselves on Christmas. Netflix said the fight reached 60 million homes, and apparently part of the explanation to the league was that the unprecedented scale for them of broadcasting a live sporting event contributed to some of the challenges they faced. But the NFL came away from the conversations reassured that Netflix had figured out what went wrong and that it won’t be a problem for Chiefs-Steelers or Ravens-Texans on Dec. 25. It will be the first time NFL games have been streamed on Netflix, though the league has experience with live-streamed games on Amazon, Peacock and ESPN+. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com insists that the NFL should have CBS warming up in the bullpen if Netflix gets hit hard: Netflix is on notice. More importantly, the NFL is, too. With four weeks and six days to go until Netflix hosts a pair of NFL games on Christmas day, the streaming giant knows that Friday night’s fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson was a gigantic mess. The NFL knows it, too. And while the NFL is saying all the right things (what else would they do?), here’s hoping the powers-that-be are preparing an emergency option in the event the Netflix streams ends up (technical term) shitting the bed on December 25. The answer seems obvious. CBS is producing both games for Netflix. So if the Netflix stream ends up sputtering or buffering or otherwise not looking and working like it should, how hard would it be to flip a switch and divert the CBS production to CBS affiliates? Frankly, we all should expect it — if not demand it. This isn’t the time to experiment. It isn’t the time to settle for an experience less than the one we’re all used to. If the goal on Christmas was to stream the games, the games could have been sold to Amazon, which already has the infrastructure in place. Instead, the NFL wanted to create a seat at the table for a partner that is 0-for-1 when it comes to successfully streaming high-profile sporting events. Really, how hard can it be to have CBS on standby? If Netflix is overloaded, send the signal to CBS and give the domestic audience an option. As the Netflix audience shrinks, the Netflix experience potentially improves. So, as Netflix spends its time preparing to shore up its ability to deliver Chiefs-Steelers and Ravens-Texans, the NFL should install a kill switch. A dump button. A break-glass-in-event-of-emergency alarm. If Netflix can’t deliver an acceptable NFL experience, the NFL needs to insist — on the fly — that the usual NFL experience will be delivered by CBS. |
| 2025 DRAFTMatt Miller of ESPN.com offers a Mock Draft for our consideration – with the same school providing the first two picks: A lot will change before April 24, when the draft rolls into Green Bay, Wisconsin. Besides the expanded college postseason seeing risers and fallers, there will be players on draft boards who will return to school. Pre-draft events will further alter boards, and the needs of NFL team will change due to free agency and salary cap situations. In short, this is a projection based on what we currently know. Our draft order is based on the current standings and reflects where all 32 teams would slot if the season ended today. And since no first-round picks have been traded yet, every team is set to enter the draft with its own Day 1 selection. But we like trades in mock drafts, so I pieced together one of my own to get things going. Here are my projections for all 32 first-round picks in 2025, starting with a trade to set up the top of the board. (Note: Underclassmen are noted with an asterisk.) Projected trade: Giants move up for a QBI have the Giants going big to fix their quarterback situation, giving Jacksonville their second- and third-round picks in 2025, plus a 2026 second-rounder, to move up from No. 3. It gets New York out in front of Cleveland, which could also be looking at the QB class, and crucially doesn’t involve any future first-round picks. And the Jaguars, meanwhile, collect valuable draft capital to restock a roster in desperate need of repair. 1. New York Giants (via projected trade with 2-9 JAX)Shedeur Sanders, QB, ColoradoThe Giants would be going all-in for what they hope will be their quarterback of the future, as it seems as if the Daniel Jones era is coming to a close. He was recently benched, and with no more guaranteed money on his deal, the Giants can easily move on. Sanders is the best quarterback in the 2025 class, bringing pinpoint accuracy (72.9% completion percentage), toughness in the pocket and playmaking ability that the Giants’ offense has lacked. His ability to see the field and get the ball out with a fast release makes him ready to play right away. Sanders is similar to C.J. Stroud in his ability to put the ball on his receivers. And like Stroud, Sanders isn’t a runner by trade but moves very well in the pocket and can be a rushing threat when needed; he has run for four touchdowns in each of the past two seasons. The Giants could pair the uber-accurate Sanders with 2024 first-round receiver Malik Nabers to give themselves a chance in the NFC East. 2. Cleveland Browns (2-8)Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado*The Browns’ front office must decide if it should draft a quarterback early in Round 1 to compete with Deshaun Watson once he returns from the Achilles’ injury that shut down his season, a decision that’s complicated by Watson’s contract situation and struggles before he was injured (league-low 22.4 QBR). But NFL decision-makers who I’ve talked to expect Cleveland to bring in a veteran to compete while using the draft to upgrade the roster at other spots. If that is the strategy, drafting the most electric player in the nation is a good start. Hunter, who excels at both wide receiver and cornerback, has an opportunity to jumpstart the Browns as a full-time player at one spot (while making a part-time impact at the other). He could join Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman in the Browns’ receiving corps or line up opposite Denzel Ward on defense. My scouting report lists Hunter as a receiver, given his size (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) and ball skills, but the Browns could experiment with him in multiple roles given his usage in college (FBS-high 996 snaps). 3. Jacksonville Jaguars (via projected trade with 2-8 NYG)Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas*Left tackle moved to the top of the Jaguars’ wish list for 2025 once they traded Cam Robinson to the Vikings before the deadline. Robinson’s replacement, Walker Little, is set to be a free agent after the season and hasn’t played enough to establish himself as a reliable future building block. Banks has been rock solid for the Longhorns except for a rough outing against Georgia on Oct. 19, when he surrendered his only sack of the season. Jacksonville should be excited by Banks’ experience and productivity, as he has given up only three sacks and 13 pressures over 36 starts since cracking the lineup as a freshman. 4. Las Vegas Raiders (2-8)Cam Ward, QB, MiamiThe Raiders missed out on Shedeur Sanders in this mock, just as they missed the six first-round quarterbacks in the 2024 draft. But they would land the 2025 draft’s second-best QB in Ward. He has displayed an ability to dial up velocity from the pocket and when throwing off-platform, allowing him to make throws few college quarterbacks would even attempt. At 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, he also has the body type to excel as a runner when the pocket breaks down. With 54 starts on his résumé, Ward should be ready to step right in and guide a Raiders team that is desperate for a new signal-caller after struggling with Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell this season. 5. Tennessee Titans (2-8)Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri*The Titans would miss out on the top two quarterbacks on my board but would get my No. 3 overall player. Burden’s production has suffered with Missouri’s offensive struggles in 2024 (53 receptions, 574 yards and five TDs in 2024 after going for 86-1,212-9 in 2023), but he’s an elite playmaker who can bounce off tacklers. The Titans’ receiver room doesn’t have much besides Calvin Ridley, so if the team plans to give quarterback Will Levis another shot in 2025, it will need to provide him with explosive players like Burden. 6. New England Patriots (3-8)Will Johnson, CB, Michigan*Left tackle is an important need for the Patriots, but the offensive tackle class isn’t strong beyond Kelvin Banks Jr. So instead of reaching, the Patriots could fill another need at corner with Johnson, my top-rated prospect in the class. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Johnson fits the mold of Pat Surtain II, showing excellent ball skills and the physicality to hang with NFL wide receivers. He has been limited by injuries this season but has two interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns. Pairing Johnson with 2023 first-rounder Christian Gonzalez would give the Patriots a legitimate spot of strength on defense, and having two top corners on rookie contracts would give New England flexibility to build around them. 7. New York Jets (3-8)Abdul Carter, DE, Penn StateThe Jets could be at a crossroads next offseason, as they’ll have to wait to see if soon-to-be 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers will return for another season. They could theoretically go for a hard reset, but it’s more likely that Rodgers, Davante Adams & Co. will return for another run at it. If that’s the case, the Jets probably would look to plug some holes, including at defensive end. That’s where Carter factors in, as he pivoted from split duty between linebacker and edge his first two seasons to a full-time pass rusher in 2024. He has compiled eight sacks while getting pressure on 16.4% of his snaps (fifth in the nation). That production would be welcome for a Jets pass rush that hasn’t adequately replaced Bryce Huff and faces questions about Jermaine Johnson, who tore his Achilles in Week 2. 8. Carolina Panthers (3-7)Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona*Bryce Young’s play in the three games since returning from his benching has given the Panthers some encouragement about his future. But he needs help around him. Rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette has been promising, but Carolina would love someone who can win more 50-50 balls. The 6-foot-5, 212-pound McMillan is a Drake London clone with awesome vertical ability and great hands. He has hauled in seven touchdowns and provided the Wildcats with 44 first downs on his 69 receptions. And he has the size to consistently win physical matchups and is versatile enough to split out wide or play in the slot. An interesting note from ESPN Research: Three receivers have never gone in the top eight picks in the common draft era (since 1967). 9. Dallas Cowboys (3-7)Mason Graham, DT, Michigan*The Cowboys began the 2024 season with Super Bowl aspirations but are picking in the top 10 of this mock, indicating a roster in need of a talent infusion. They’ve locked in their offensive nucleus with extensions of Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, but Graham could help on defense. He has been an unstoppable force for Michigan, posting 12 run stops and 22 pressures this season. I love his first-step speed through gaps and relentless effort in chasing quarterbacks. The Cowboys could also go running back here given their rushing issues, and Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty (my No. 10 overall player) is still on the board. But the Cowboys need help at too many spots, and the RB class is deep enough for them to wait. 10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7)Mykel Williams, DE, Georgia*Except for Trey Hendrickson (11.5 sacks), no Bengals player has more than two sacks this season, so Cincinnati definitely needs a pass rusher. At 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, Williams is a trait-based prospect whose length, speed and power are reminiscent of former Georgia edge rusher Travon Walker, the No. 1 pick of the 2022 draft. Williams’ 2024 season has been underwhelming so far, as he sat out because of an ankle injury and has only two sacks, but he has tremendous upside. 11. New Orleans Saints (4-7)Jalon Walker, DE/LB, Georgia*There’s a lot of uncertainty in New Orleans, which will have a new coach after Dennis Allen’s midseason firing and has questions about quarterback Derek Carr’s future. The Saints could use this pick to improve a defense that gives up 6.1 yards per play, second worst in the league. Plus, Cameron Jordan and Demario Davis will be 36 years old next season. Walker has played as an off-ball linebacker and off the edge. He doesn’t have great size, but his first-step speed and power have helped him to 5.5 sacks. I like him in a stand-up rushing role in a 3-4 scheme if New Orleans’ new regime goes that route. 12. Chicago Bears (4-6)Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon*The Bears have a lot of improvements to make this offseason, and there could be coaching changes coming. The offensive and defensive lines are both in play here, but the defensive side makes more sense. Harmon has been fantastic this season with three sacks, nine run stops and 25 pressures. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound junior has a great swim move and active hands, and has flashed top-tier agility, power and balance. Chicago tried to fix its defensive interior in 2023 by picking Gervon Dexter Sr. (second round) and Zacch Pickens (third round), but neither has emerged as an impact player. Harmon can be that guy. 13. Miami Dolphins (4-6)Shemar Stewart, DT, Texas A&M*The Dolphins aren’t the easiest team to predict, but one place they could certainly upgrade is on the defensive line. Calais Campbell is 38 years old, and the Dolphins have struggled to replace departed free agent DT Christian Wilkins. Stewart could fill those gaps as an ideal 5-technique. He has inside-outside versatility, rare quickness for his size, good length and plenty of play power. With edge rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips back to accompany 2024 first-round pick Chop Robinson on the edge, Stewart could occupy the attention of opposing linemen and help those edge rushers wreak havoc. 14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6)James Pearce Jr., DE, Tennessee*Outside of better health at receiver, the Buccaneers’ roster is in good shape, which could allow the team to utilize the “best player available” strategy. Pearce certainly fits that bill, as he tops all FBS players with a 20.2% pressure rate. (He has just 5.5 sacks, though, compared to 10 in 2023.) Pearce might be a little small right now at 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds, but his frame is conducive to adding bulk. His speed and power combination would be a hit in Tampa Bay opposite Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Yaya Diaby. 15. Indianapolis Colts (5-6)Malaki Starks, S, GeorgiaThe Colts have given up 231.5 passing yards per game this season, seventh worst in the league. Starks is a top-10 prospect with good positional versatility. He has 46 tackles, one interception and three pass breakups this season, taking snaps at safety, slot corner, outside corner and linebacker. The Colts have a good nickel corner in Kenny Moore II, but Starks could move around and serve as an upgrade at either safety position. 16. San Francisco 49ers (5-5)Cameron Williams, OT, Texas*Injuries can explain a lot of the 49ers’ offensive issues, but they could stand to upgrade their O-line. Right tackle Colton McKivitz has surrendered five sacks, and Williams could be a long-term fix. He’s a first-year starter, and his game is still raw, but he shows considerable potential. The 6-foot-5, 335-pounder has drawn comparisons to 2024 first-rounder Amarius Mims in terms of his strength and agility, with one NFC South area scout telling me that Williams has a chance to be the first OT drafted if he declares. The 49ers could plug him next to guard Dominick Puni, their third-round pick in 2024, and form an incredibly young and strong right side of the line. Both of Texas’ starting offensive tackles could be off the board here. It would mark the third time in the common draft era that two OTs from one school went in the first half of Round 1, per ESPN Research (Tennessee’s Charles McRae/Antone Davis in 1991 and USC’s Ron Yary/Mike Taylor in 1968). 17. Seattle Seahawks (5-5)Will Campbell, G/OT, LSU*Seattle’s offensive line probably will receive plenty of attention this offseason after surrendering 32 sacks so far (seventh worst in the NFL). Campbell had high first-round rankings before the season, but he has had some issues with outside speed rushers, and his shorter arm length has scouts telling us that he’ll be kicked inside to guard in the pros. Campbell’s fall would be a boon for Seattle, as he’s an agile, easy mover with very good play strength despite an upright stance. Putting him at guard, where the Seahawks lost Damien Lewis in free agency last offseason, could make him a Pro Bowl-caliber player. And Campbell’s three seasons of starting experience at LSU could allow him to jump right into a starting role. 18. Los Angeles Rams (5-5)Carson Beck, QB, Georgia*Matthew Stafford will turn 37 before the 2025 draft, putting his status in year-to-year mode from this point forward. So the Rams should turn over every stone to find their QB of the future. They were linked to Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix before the 2024 draft, but both were off the board before their pick. Los Angeles could be the beneficiary of Beck’s stock dropping. Beck has thrown 12 interceptions, and his accuracy has suffered without Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey, but he has a strong arm, the ability to make full-field reads and upside. The consensus in talking to scouts this week was that Beck could get himself back into mid-Round 1 consideration with a strong finish — which is what we’re projecting here due to the supply and demand at the position. 19. Denver Broncos (6-5)Aireontae Ersery, OT, MinnesotaLeft tackle could be a significant need for the Broncos come April, even though Denver has given up only 18 sacks (tied for fifth fewest). Current 32-year-old starter Garett Bolles will be a free agent after the season. Ersery has given up only one sack this season and four in his 36-start career. The 340-pounder is a good mover with the ability to get outside the box on zone plays. Ersery has high upside and could rise in the pre-draft cycle if he performs well at the Senior Bowl. 20. Atlanta Falcons (6-5)Nic Scourton, DE, Texas A&M*The Falcons were expected to address defense in the first round of the 2024 draft but threw a curveball and drafted quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The defensive needs still exist, especially when it comes to rushing the passer; the Falcons have an NFL-worst 10 sacks. Scourton, who transferred from Purdue to Texas A&M this past offseason, is a prototype power rusher. Though the 285-pounder might lack elite first-step explosion, he always comes with an excellent pass-rush plan and shows pro-grade hand usage, along with a surprising ability to bend the edge at his size. Scourton’s production is proven, with 15 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss the past two seasons, but he has even more upside if he improves at the point of attack. 21. Arizona Cardinals (6-4)Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas*It’s tempting to have the Cardinals draft for need, with safety Budda Baker and running back James Conner both set to become free agents. Replacing Conner with Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is particularly enticing, but what the Cardinals really need is a WR2 to complement receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and tight end Trey McBride. Bond has elite speed and a rare second gear that’s useful on deep routes and slip screens. Quinn Ewers’ deep-ball struggles have held back Bond a bit at Texas, but he’s a prime example of an upside player who has more value than his college production indicates. Arizona could use more big plays, as the Cardinals currently rank 17th in the NFL with 28 plays of 20 yards or more. 22. Washington Commanders (7-4)Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame*The Commanders picked up veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore at the trade deadline but should continue to remake their secondary to fit coach Dan Quinn’s schemes, especially with three of their current corners (Michael Davis, Benjamin St-Juste and Noah Igbinoghene) becoming free agents after the season. Morrison, my second-ranked CB, was sidelined for the season in mid-October because of a hip injury, but he has good size (6-foot, 196 pounds), speed and instincts playing the ball, as evidenced by nine interceptions over his first two seasons. 23. Houston Texans (7-4)Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State*Houston’s trade for Joe Mixon has worked out nicely, as he has been a perfect scheme fit when healthy. But Mixon will be 29 years old next season and has an out from his contract after the 2025 campaign. It’s important for Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik — a Kyle Shanahan disciple— to have an effective running game, which would make Jeanty an ideal fit at this spot. The 215-pounder leads the nation in rushing yards (1,893) and total touchdowns (27) while averaging a wild 7.4 yards per carry. He hasn’t been used as a pass catcher as much this season but is capable, grabbing 43 passes for 569 yards and five touchdowns in 2023. He has similarities to Alvin Kamara, making him a three-down back who could take pressure and attention off Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. 24. Baltimore Ravens (7-4)Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East CarolinaThe traditionally stout Ravens defense has been anything but this season, giving up the most passing yards in the NFL (3,351) and giving up 7.7 yards per attempt, the fifth-worst mark in the league. While there probably will be adjustments to defensive coordinator Zach Orr’s scheme, more cornerback talent would also help. Baltimore drafted Nate Wiggins in the first round in 2024, and Revel would be a further boost. Before tearing his ACL, he was on the verge of truly breaking out. Scouts told me this summer that Revel would be “an elite tester with ideal height/weight/speed numbers.” He started the season hot, with two interceptions (including one pick-six) before the injury, and Revel probably will soar back up draft boards once given a clean bill of health. 25. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan*Tight end isn’t a new need for the Chargers, who were linked to Brock Bowers in the 2024 draft. Loveland would be an ideal fit in Los Angeles, as he played his first two collegiate seasons under Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh. The 6-foot-5, 245-pounder has overcome subpar Michigan quarterback play to rack up 53 receptions and four touchdowns this season, already topping last season’s figures. I was wowed by his flexibility, movement traits and straight-line speed when watching him catch passes from J.J. McCarthy at Michigan’s pro day in March. Loveland is a modern tight end with Dallas Goedert-like upside. 26. Green Bay Packers (7-3)Jahdae Barron, CB, TexasPackers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley craves cornerbacks with physicality and toughness, so he could make a push to get a player like Barron into the fold. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Barron is a versatile defender who started as a safety at Texas but has played mostly as an outside corner this season, occasionally kicking into the slot. He has four interceptions and seven pass breakups while giving up only eight completions. And he has the size to play inside or outside in the NFL. 27. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)Barrett Carter, LB, ClemsonThe value of off-ball linebackers is frequently debated in NFL draft circles, but a good one can positively change a franchise. Carter is a weakside linebacker with legitimate three-down skills and would fill a need for the Eagles, who have to find help alongside 2022 third-rounder Nakobe Dean. He is everywhere on the Clemson tape, as he has posted 12.5 sacks and three interceptions over the past three seasons, while also getting at least 50 tackles in each campaign. He had Round 1 buzz before the 2024 draft, and that has only been boosted with the most complete season of his career. The Eagles’ roster is pretty solid across the board, which would allow them to use a luxury pick on Carter. 28. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2)Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama*The Steelers’ future at quarterback is a big question heading into the offseason, as both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are set to be free agents. Either could return, but the Steelers might be searching for a more long-term option. Milroe has a combination of Wilson’s arm strength and pocket mobility and Fields’ rushing ability. He’s still a bit raw as a prospect, but he has thrown 15 touchdown passes and rushed for 17 more scores this season. Milroe just needs to improve his touch as a passer, but scouts I’ve talked to have said he has the most upside of any draft-eligible quarterback in the class. And should the Steelers re-sign Wilson, Milroe could sit, learn and develop further. 29. Minnesota Vikings (8-2)Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss*The Vikings should address the trenches with their first-round pick; the debate will just be whether they would focus on the offensive or defensive side. But the way the board shook out here and overall positional value made Nolen an easy choice. He has been excellent this season after transferring from Texas A&M to Ole Miss. He’s built in the mold of a versatile 3-technique but also has 5-technique ability at 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, sporting active hands, length, quickness and strength. His All-Pro potential would be welcomed in Brian Flores’ complex defensive scheme. 30. Buffalo Bills (9-2)Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio StateThe Bills have improved their pass rush this season, but they’re still lacking production from their defensive interior, as only DaQuan Jones has more than two sacks from inside. Buffalo also has three D-linemen (Austin Johnson, Quinton Jefferson and Jordan Phillips) slated for free agency and has drafted only one defensive tackle (DeWayne Carter) in the past five drafts. The Bills have a clear-cut need that shouldn’t be ignored any longer. Williams doesn’t get the hype of Ohio State teammates Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, but his tape speaks for itself. At 6-foot-3, 327 pounds, Williams is a classic nose tackle who can anchor in the run game, but he also has 2.5 sacks this season. 31. Detroit Lions (9-1)Jonah Savaiinaea, G, Arizona*The Lions have been dominant this season, but they have clear needs to address in the offseason. The interior offensive line is one, as Detroit lost Jonah Jackson in free agency and it’s unclear how much longer center Frank Ragnow will play after this season. Savaiinaea has played both tackle spots this season but is projected as an NFL guard by scouts. He’s a mauler in the run game and has shown improved footwork and poise in pass blocking, not giving up a sack this season and committing only two penalties. At 336 pounds, Savaiinaea has the power and first-step quickness to reposition defensive linemen. 32. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1)Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio StateBoth of the Chiefs’ tackle spots continue to be big questions. Kingsley Suamataia, a second-rounder this year, was a healthy scratch in Week 11, and left tackle Wanya Morris has given up six sacks. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor hasn’t worked out since signing a big contract before the 2023 season, leading all offensive linemen in penalties last season and ranking in the top 10 in that category this season. But Simmons could be the answer. He was trending toward OT1 status before sustaining a season-ending knee injury in October, and his recovery agility and use of length stand out. |
