| NFC NORTH |
| DETROITDan Campbell and the Lions have entrusted the 2026 offense to Drew Petzing, who just came through three years with QB KYLER MURRAY (the opposite of QB JARED GOFF?) while with the Cardinals. The Detroit Lions are finalizing a deal to hire former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing as their next offensive coordinator, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Petzing, 38, will replace John Morton, who was fired after one season in the role, when the Lions finished 9-8 and failed to reach the postseason for the first time since 2022. Petzing had been the Cardinals’ offensive coordinator the past three seasons under Jonathan Gannon, who was fired by the team after the season. This should be a playcalling role in Detroit for Petzing as the organization was in search of an experienced candidate during a thorough coaching search. The expectation during the interviews was that Lions head coach Dan Campbell would relinquish playcalling to whomever was hired. Campbell took over the offensive playcalling duties from Morton in Week 10, coming off a 27-24 upset loss to Minnesota on Nov. 2, but Petzing can help lighten the load. Morton, 56, was brought in to replace Ben Johnson, who was hired as head coach of the Chicago Bears after the Lions’ record-setting 15-win season in 2024. Detroit was still among the league leaders in total points per game (28.3) but struggled to find an offensive identity outside of home run plays this season despite having Pro Bowl selections Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs, among other playmakers. Under Johnson, the Lions led the NFL with 33.2 points per game in 2024. Lions general manager Brad Holmes expressed that leadership was among the top priorities for candidates as they were in search of the team’s next offensive coordinator. “There has to be leadership, there has to be detail-oriented, there’s got to be command of the room,” Holmes said during his end-of-season news conference on Jan. 8. “You just have to be able to know that there’s somebody that’s going to be able to dot every ‘i,’ cross every ‘T’ and make sure that nothing is compromised from a detail standpoint, from a standards standpoint from the start of the game-planning period all the way ’til the end of the week.” This assessment, tentatively offered by Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit, seems fair: What grade do you give the Lions’ hiring of Drew Petzing as OC?My answer: Admittedly, I’m still doing a lot of research and have a bigger piece breaking down Petzing’s three years as Cardinals offensive coordinator coming later on Tuesday morning. But let me give a quick breakdown of what I do and don’t like. One of my biggest concerns with this hire was how the Lions were going to give the offense a fresh look without doing a complete overhaul or trying to make Jared Goff someone he is not. This hire seems to fit that concern like a glove. Petzing’s reputation is that of a coach who values the under-center run game with heavy personnel, and a myriad of good schematic tricks to create good matchups. If you watched Detroit’s run game in 2025—and, subsequently, the Bears’ run game—you could see how Detroit was missing Ben Johnson in that aspect. Throw in a heavy reliance on play-action in the passing game, and the philosophical fit seems perfect. Yet, because Petzing has never worked with Dan Campbell and his only connection to the Lions is a stint with Hank Fraley in Minnesota and a personal relationship with Ben Johnson, he’s going to bring some much-needed fresh perspective to the offense, as well. I like that he did create a borderline top-10 offense in 2024 with a mediocre-at-best quarterback and a skill position group that was still very young and developing, including rookie Marvin Harrison Jr., second-year receiver Michael Wilson, and third-year stud tight end Trey McBride. To take that young set of players and produce some impressive numbers is a very good sign. What I don’t like? Well, the 2025 season was a complete mess. Injuries certainly played a huge part, because… well, just look at this: But it’s still extremely disheartening to see the run game completely fall off, ranking bottom five in many categories. Additionally, I’m a little concerned about the situational play-calling. Here’s how the Cardinals ranked in fourth-down conversion rate in each of his seasons: 2023: 44.1% (27th)2024: 44.4% (28th)2025: 42.9% (29th) To be fair, though, he was actually pretty darn good on third down every season. 2023: 39.1% (14th)2024:43.0% (eighth)2025: 41.5% (ninth) Finally, there’s the “bigger fish” argument. While I don’t think there was any perfect candidates out there—Mike McDaniel, the favorite of many, also saw his offense fall off a cliff in the past two seasons (partially because of injury)—it does feel weird that the Lions were one of the first teams to pull the trigger on a guy who hasn’t created much buzz for the other vacancies. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t in demand or didn’t interview anywhere else—we’ll see as more information becomes public—but it’s clear most analysts saw better candidates for Detroit. Put that all together, and this feels like a B or B- overall. I see the vision, there’s proof of concept in that 2024 season, but some serious concerns about Petzing are more than just knee-jerk reactions. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| ATLANTAJeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes the familiarity of new coach Kevin Stefanski with QB KIRK COUSINS as he goes through the rumor mill: Falcons roll with Kirk Cousins as QBThe sense for a while has been that Cousins’ time in Atlanta was short — especially when both sides restructured his contract that includes $67.9 million in 2027 salary, vesting March 13. The Falcons will want nothing to do with that number. But contracts can be amended — or players can be cut and re-signed — and the arrival of coach Kevin Stefanski could make keeping Cousins at least mildly tempting as a bridge option. Stefanski was Cousins’ offensive coordinator in Minnesota in 2019, when Cousins completed nearly 70% of his passes for 3,603 yards, 26 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Cousins knows Stefanski’s wide-zone scheme well. “[The Falcons] bet on Michael Penix not getting hurt, and he got hurt,” said an NFC executive. Penix had the ACL in his left knee repaired in November, his fifth major surgery dating back to college. “They are going to need somebody early in the season due to the injury, and Cousins played OK for them late last year. It seems Cousins has always respected Kevin. Both sides have a decent option in their back pockets.” The flip side: Cousins might want out after two years of uncertainty in Atlanta, and he has a mechanism to make that happen with the contract revision. Perhaps he wants to make himself available to Minnesota or others. |
| NFC WEST |
| ARIZONAFrom Kyle Odegaard: @Kyle_OdegardI’m shocked that nobody wants to coach a 3-14 team with a cheap owner, a juggernaut division and no plan at QB. |
| SAN FRANCISCOWith Robert Saleh off to the Titans, some thoughts on who could replace him from Akash Anavarathan: @akashanavSome initial thoughts on who the #49ers could go after at defensive coordinator: Raheem Morris — close friend of Kyle Shanahan from Tampa days, likely doesn’t get another HC gig Jim Schwartz — Shanahan respects his defense, they chatted for a while post CLE/SF game Brian Flores — contract’s up in Minnesota, had tons of success Gus Bradley — In-house option if they choose to keep continuity (I’d hate this hire fwiw) |
| AFC WEST |
| DENVERHow much does the possible return of RB J.K. DOBBINS offset the loss of QB BO NIX? Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com: The Denver Broncos on Monday opened the window for running back J.K. Dobbins to return to practice this week and potentially play against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. With backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham set to start in place of an injured Bo Nix, the offense could get a needed boost with the possible return of Dobbins, their leading rusher, for Sunday’s game at Empower Field at Mile High. Dobbins, who has been on injured reserve with a foot injury, leads the team in rushing yards (772), carries (153) and runs of 10 or more yards (21) this season, even though he hasn’t played since Nov. 6. In the days prior to the Broncos’ 33-30 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday in the divisional round, Dobbins was moving well through drills on an adjacent field during practice. Denver’s running backs had just 10 carries for 41 yards in Saturday’s playoff win, and Nix, who suffered a fractured right ankle in overtime, was the Broncos’ leading rusher with 29 yards on 12 carries. Despite playing only 10 games this season, Dobbins still had 232 more yards rushing than rookie RJ Harvey, who was second on the team. Dobbins also had 13 more runs of 10 yards or more. |
| AFC NORTH |
| BALTIMOREHere is a rumor that Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com has heard from sometimes reliable sources: Ravens trade Lamar Jackson to the RaidersThis potential pairing has made its way through the rumor mill, and multiple people I spoke with who track such things used their one bold prediction in this exercise to designate Jackson a Raider. To take Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti at his word is to assume Jackson will remain in Baltimore. Bisciotti was clear he wants a contract extension for Jackson by March. But if we’re going bold… “It just seems like there’s been some consternation there with Lamar and the Ravens, and this would be the ultimate Mark Davis move,” an NFL personnel evaluator said. “I’m not even convinced everybody with Vegas would be on board with it but it would instantly solve their quarterback problems.” From chemistry issues with the previous coaching staff to concerns about his availability, Jackson’s relationship with the Ravens does not seem to be in the best spot. Baltimore probably realizes life with a two-time MVP is better than life without, which would mean a big contract offer is coming. But this is a situation to monitor, and how Jackson hits it off with the new head coach feels significant. Does that mean QB FERNANDO MENDOZA to the Ravens? |
| PITTSBURGHThe Steelers are going to interview a Yinzer for their vacant coaching job, but it is not Curt Cignetti. There was word over the weekend that the Steelers were lining up an interview with Mike McCarthy for their head coaching job and it appears they’ve found a time to meet this week. Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that McCarthy and the Steelers will meet on Wednesday. McCarthy was out of the league in 2025 after parting ways with the Cowboys at the end of the 2024 season. McCarthy also interviewed with the Titans, but Tennessee is now working to finalize a deal with Robert Saleh to be their next head coach. The Steelers have also interviewed Ejiro Evero, Jeff Hafley, Klay Kubiak, Jesse Minter, Nate Scheelhaase, Chris Shula, and Anthony Weaver. Hafley is out of the running after taking the Dolphins job, but they are expected to interview Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores this week and Weaver is set for a second interview with the team. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| TENNESSEEThe Titans seem to have their head coach, and most, including the DB, will think it is a solid hire. Christian Gonzalez of NFL.com: The Tennessee Titans have found their next leader. The Titans are expected to hire San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as the team’s head coach, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo reported late Monday night, per sources. Pelissero reported that Saleh had been slated to meet with the Arizona Cardinals regarding their open position, but Tennessee closed the deal before he made that interview. Saleh, 46, is back at the helm of a franchise after his second stint as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. He previously spent three-plus seasons as the New York Jets head coach (2021-24), posting a 20-36 record as he dealt with issues at the QB position throughout his tenure. Before taking the head coaching job in New York, Saleh spent four seasons as the 49ers’ DC from 2017 to 2020. The offensive coordinator hire will be vital. Levi Dombro of TitanSized.com theorizes as fact about who that might be. Mike McDaniel, a wunderkind from the Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay coaching tree, was fired as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins earlier this month. Many believed that he needed some more seasoning before taking another head job, but McDaniel is considered an ideal offensive coordinator. He did interview for the head coaching vacancy in Tennessee before the job went to Saleh, but there is still a strong chance that McDaniel could join the Titans and rectify his career as an offensive coordinator under Saleh. Saleh and McDaniel have spent so many years coaching together, including stints with the Houston Texans from 2006-2008 and the San Francisco 49ers from 2017-2020. The two are closely connected, and analysts like Benjamin Allbright are already connecting the dots. McDaniel was dealt a tough hand in Miami with Tua Tagovailoa being his franchise quarterback, but his offenses were incredibly difficult for defenses to grasp. His high usage of motion and misdirection gave his speedy skill-position players tons of space in the open field to make guys miss. Plus, it was a relatively quarterback-friendly offense with QB-friendly reads and spacing. Ward is certainly incredible at making plays off-script, but if the game can be made simpler and easier for him, then that superpower of his will be an even deadlier weapon. |
| AFC EAST |
| BUFFALOThis: BenjaminSolakPer ESPN Research: only four teams (Super Bowl era) have won a playoff game in six consecutive seasons: 1991-1996 Cowboys (Won 3 Super Bowls)2011-2018 Patriots (Won 3 Super Bowls)2018-2024 Chiefs (Won 3 Super Bowls)2020-2025 Bills (did not play in a single Super Bowl) And the coach got fired. Brian Daboll up next? This from Liam Blutman, a Barstool guy: @Blutman27Had heard in early December that Pegula didn’t wanna give $ to Penn State for a potential Daboll hire and that he wanted to can McDermott if Bills didn’t succeed big time this season and hire Daboll as replacement to reunite with Allen Legit? Only time will tell If the Court of Public Opinion mattered, the Bills blundered: @richluchetteBuffalo’s local CBS affiliate running an online poll about the McDermott firing. 94% opposed (!) Generally owners lag behind the public (see Tampa Bay keeping Todd Bowles). Rarely has a coach so successful and popular in his market been fired. A really good look on McDermott’s firing from Ben Solak of ESPN.com: The point of NFL football is to win Super Bowls, and there is one path to winning them — fielding a good team. No bad team in NFL history has ever won the Super Bowl. Of course, there’s more than one good team in football every season, so luck and injuries and razor-thin edges get involved down the stretch. But in general, you have to field a good team to win a Super Bowl. For the past seven seasons as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills, Sean McDermott fielded a good team. The Bills won at least 10 games in all seven of those seasons, making them only the sixth team in the Super Bowl era to string together seven-plus seasons of double-digit wins. The Bills also made the playoffs in all seven of those seasons, and in the past six, they won at least one playoff game. They are only the fourth team in the Super Bowl era to string together six consecutive seasons with a playoff win, joining the 1990s Cowboys, 2010s Patriots and 2020s Chiefs. Those three franchises each won three Super Bowls apiece. The Bills didn’t even play in one. And on Monday morning, McDermott was fired. McDermott entered the season as the fourth-longest-tenured head coach in the league, and the Bills have nothing to show for their patience. Despite how good the Bills have been for the better part of a decade — an enormously rare achievement of consistent excellence — the trophy case is just as bare as it would be if they were bad. Sure, there are a few more banners hanging from the rafters — 2020 AFC East champion, 2021 AFC East champion, 2022 AFC East champion. But those banners quickly change from victories to mockeries. The 2023 AFC East championship … do you guys still care about this? The 2024 AFC East championship … surely next year will be different! Next year was different. The Bills didn’t win the AFC East in 2025, as the Patriots took the division title in Mike Vrabel’s first year as head coach. Of course it was the Patriots, the Bills’ big brother of the past two decades, when Tom Brady and Bill Belichick sat atop the AFC East and refused to get off the top bunk. New England accumulated 16 division titles, nine conference championships and six Super Bowls. Watching from below and hating every moment of it, the Bills’ faithful could draw only one reasonable conclusion: If a franchise got an elite quarterback and a great head coach, it would print Super Bowl success. That’s how it worked for the Patriots, and eventually, that’s how it would work for the Bills, too. Instead, the Bills spent their reprieve from Brady and Belichick falling just short, season after season. The Patriots stumbled, collapsed, recovered and rebuilt. And now Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye — in their first season together — are one win away from the peak Josh Allen and McDermott never reached. How could the Bills have possibly retained McDermott under these conditions? Even the best coaches get only so many bites at the apple. Early in the run of consecutive good seasons, the head coach gets credit for the ascension, but as the team plateaus, that credit mutates into blame. Why couldn’t the author of the big leap maintain the trajectory? Is this as far as this coach can take us? It’s important to remember just how huge of a leap McDermott managed in his early Bills years. McDermott took the job in January 2017 with a lame-duck general manager (Doug Whaley) in charge of the roster. McDermott ran the 2017 draft that produced Tre’Davious White, Dion Dawkins and Matt Milano. The Bills signed Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer in free agency, and they became cornerstones of McDermott’s defense for years to come. General manager Brandon Beane, whom McDermott knew from his days in Carolina as the Panthers’ defensive coordinator, was hired in summer 2017 to replace Whaley as the head of the roster. In lockstep with Beane, the Bills turned the team over fast. McDermott was quick to admit his mistakes — the Bills fired offensive coordinator Rick Dennison after just one season and replaced him with Brian Daboll. And Beane traded 2017 starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor to the Browns in March 2018, committing to drafting a QB of the future for Daboll to develop. That quarterback ended up being Allen. Meanwhile, the Bills were loading the roster with the cap space afforded by his rookie deal. They gave big deals to defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, center Mitch Morse, receivers John Brown and Cole Beasley, and defensive end Mario Addison. In 2020, they traded a future first-round pick for wideout Stefon Diggs. Not at all coincidentally, that’s when Allen’s improvement really took off. The Bills made the conference championship game that season — their first one since the four straight they won from 1990 to 1993 with Jim Kelly under center — and lost 38-24 to the Chiefs. And it wasn’t even as good as that margin implies; Kansas City was up 38-15 with seven minutes left in the game. This game began a worrying pattern. The Bills were booted from the 2021 playoffs by the Chiefs again in the infamous 42-36 game. They left the 2022 playoffs in an emotional 27-10 loss to the Bengals following the traumatic Damar Hamlin injury. They lost to the Chiefs again in the 2023 postseason 27-24. And then they lost to the Chiefs yet again in the 2024 playoffs 32-29. It wasn’t just that they were losing, and it wasn’t just that they were losing to the same team. It was the scoreboard. The Bills — with a defensive-minded head coach — gave up 27-plus points in six consecutive postseason losses, including this year’s 33-30 defeat at the hands of the Broncos. And Denver is decisively not a Joe Burrow-led Bengals team or Mahomes-led Chiefs team. The fact that it wasn’t Mahomes was almost worse for McDermott. Mahomes, along with Burrow and Ravens signal-caller Lamar Jackson, didn’t even make this postseason. For weeks we’ve heard the refrain: If Allen and the Bills can’t do it this season, in this weakened AFC playoff field … will they ever do it? Evidently not. McDermott’s defenses have run into the same issues for years now. The Bills — who play two-high, zone coverage and live in nickel personnel packages — have been happy to give up some ground in the running game to field an elite pass defense. The format worked well in the regular season. But the Bills would invariably run into an elite quarterback in the playoffs — one not so easily stymied by disciplined zone drops, or one capable of creating outside of structure late in the down. And they would flounder against those quarterbacks unless they could heat him up. But they never could. The Bills had a 20% pressure rate against Bo Nix on Saturday, their lowest of the 15 playoff games McDermott has coached over the past seven seasons. It’s just below the 23.1% pressure rate they had in the 2020 loss to the Chiefs, the 25.6% in the 2022 loss to the Bengals, the 26.5% in the 2024 loss to the Chiefs and the 28.0% in the 2023 loss to the Chiefs. If we’re looking for the one failure that explains McDermott’s fall, it’s this. The Bills simply never figured out the pass rush. And it wasn’t for a lack of trying. The Bills drafted defensive tackle Ed Oliver with the ninth pick in 2019, defensive end AJ Epenesa with the 54th pick in 2020, defensive end Greg Rousseau with the 30th pick in 2021 and defensive end Boogie Basham with the 61st pick in 2021. They added defenders in free agency, including Addison, Vernon Butler, Quinton Jefferson and DaQuan Jones. They signed Super Bowl champion Von Miller to a six-year, $120 million deal in the 2022 offseason. Again and again they went back to the well. In 2025, they added Michael Hoecht and Joey Bosa on veteran deals. In the draft, they used the 41st pick on another defensive tackle (T.J. Sanders), the 72nd pick on another edge rusher (Landon Jackson) and the 109th pick on another another defensive tackle (Deone Walker). Nothing worked. There was bad luck — Miller tore an ACL halfway through his first season in Buffalo and never returned to form; Sanders and Jackson missed time because of knee injuries this season; and Oliver played only four games in 2025. But there has also been a clear disharmony between the coaching staff and the front office, especially along the defensive line. Leonard Floyd, signed to a one-year deal in 2023, hit with 10.5 sacks, but he was the only Bills player with double-digit sacks in the entire McDermott tenure. He left in free agency for the 49ers, and Epenesa was re-signed. Defensive tackle Poona Ford was signed to a one-year deal in 2023 and barely saw the field; he signed with the Chargers in 2024, became a key starter and got a big deal from the Rams in 2025. And defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr. has been a big part of the Texans’ defensive line rotation after leaving Buffalo, where he never shined. The issues cascade across the defense. Safety has been a mess following the departures of Hyde and Poyer, whom McDermott handpicked way back in 2017, such that Poyer needed to come back in free agency to fill Taylor Rapp’s shoes. Shaq Thompson, an old flame from Carolina, has outperformed the recently extended Terrel Bernard and recently drafted Dorian Williams as the No. 2 linebacker to Milano. Cornerback Christian Benford, drafted in the sixth round in 2022, easily beat out Kaiir Elam, the first-rounder from the same draft. Tre’Davious White, another 2017 retread, manned the No. 2 corner spot opposite Benford. As much as defensive failures in the postseason could be the story of the McDermott-era Bills, so could the personnel errors that precipitated them. Beane has drafted plenty of viable players to the Bills’ roster over the past seven years but few truly impactful ones. From 2019 to 2025, Beane has selected 56 players, and only two (James Cook III and Dawson Knox) have made a Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl is admittedly a shaky metric, though. Let’s look at All-Pro nominations. Thirteen Bills have received All-Pro nods on offense or defense across McDermott’s tenure. Seven of those seasons belonged to players Beane acquired. Six of them belonged to players McDermott acquired in the lone 2017 offseason before Beane was hired as general manager. Of course, the responsibility ultimately falls on McDermott, who has been the head coach on the sideline for all these late-season collapses. But he cannot shoulder 100 percent of the blame despite shouldering 100 percent of the firing. After he was let go, the Bills announced that Beane would run the search for the next head coach with a new, promoted title: president of football operations. Beane has consistently underlined the Bills’ inability to get truly elite players because of their yearly draft status outside of the top 10. When the Bills lost to the Bengals in the 2022 playoffs, Beane highlighted that the Bengals were “on the advantage of a rookie quarterback contract,” and that he didn’t “want to suck bad enough to have to get Ja’Marr Chase. I’d love to have him, but you got to go through some lean years to do that. I don’t remember where Chase was drafted, but it was pretty high.” When asked about the pass rush last offseason, Beane made a similar comment. “I don’t know many teams that are going to hand you a Chris Jones or a game wrecker. … You look around the league, there’s not a lot of players that make 28 to 30 some million dollars a year, which I think is kind of what those high-end defensive players are making. We’re not ever picking in the top five, 10. … Would I love to add one of those guys? Heck yeah, I would. But we have a cap. We pick where we pick. You kind of got to make the best of what you got. Again, we would love to do that if that player’s out there.” There’s truth to this. It’s hard to get great players without being a bad team — a team that uses a bad record to print high draft capital and extra cap space. This, of course, did not stop the Packers from sending two first-round picks to the Cowboys for Micah Parsons. Nor did it stop the Cowboys from sending a second-round pick to the Steelers for George Pickens. But it’s hard. Even if we want to remove the exceptional deals from the equation, other teams are remarkably better at making moves on the margins than the Bills. Beane’s biggest swings at the helm have been the trade up for Allen (hit), the trade for Diggs (hit) and the contract for Miller (miss, though injuries made an impact). Below that are the midtier deals. In lieu of a big contract at edge rusher, the Bills signed Joey Bosa to be a playoff ringer this offseason. Against the Broncos, Bosa had two pressures on 41 rushes, was flagged for a roughing the passer penalty and blew a tackle for loss on the first drive. At receiver, the Bills added Amari Cooper at last season’s trade deadline to no effect, then passed on the available options at this season’s deadline in favor of signing Brandin Cooks and Gabe Davis. Jakobi Meyers resurrected the Jaguars’ offense; Rashid Shaheed scored an opening kickoff return touchdown for the Seahawks on Saturday night. Cooks, meanwhile, failed to secure what ended up as a game-ending pick in overtime. The argument that it’s difficult to build around a veteran quarterback contract and draft picks in the late-20s was thin at the time and has grown even more brittle with age. Pick a random Super Bowl champion since the 2011 collective bargaining agreement, and you’ll find a team that hit huge on a middle-round flier or nailed a free agency class. Think about what Puka Nacua is to the Rams or Nik Bonitto to the Broncos. Think about the DeMarcus Lawrence signing in Seattle and the Carlton Davis III deal in New England. Teams need moves like these to make it, and the Bills haven’t made them for eight years now, plain and simple. Take a step back to view the whole picture of the McDermott-era Bills, and it’s easier to see just how many of these disappointments rest with Beane. Take a step closer, and it’s easier to see how many of them rest with Allen, who is at times a microcosm of the Bills as a whole. He is a tremendous talent, just like the Bills. He is also, when push comes to shove, second best to Mahomes over their respective careers. In the tiny margins of playoff football, that small difference is magnified. The Bills got the ball second in overtime against the Broncos — a possession they were guaranteed in large part because Allen never got the ball in 2021 against Mahomes in the 42-36 game, and the overtime rules were changed accordingly. Any scoring drive would have won Saturday’s game. Allen and the Bills’ offense didn’t score. Allen had a poor game against Denver and is rightfully owning that performance, tearfully admitting that he “let his teammates down” after the game. Again, there’s a failure in personnel to investigate here, as Cooks was the Bills’ best downfield option in large part because of the mismanagement of a wide receiver room Beane irately defended on Buffalo radio this past offseason. But Allen was careless with the football at the end of the first half, missed an open scoring opportunity late in regulation and even could have thrown a better ball to Cooks on the interception. This is a continuation of a pattern for Allen. He’s now 0-7 in overtime — the most overtime games played without a win for a quarterback in NFL history. And it isn’t just the extra period; it’s the postseason overall. Down three points, Allen had the ball to end the AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs last season. But the Bills failed to get into field goal range, let alone put the game away with a touchdown. In 2023, the Chiefs took the lead with 14:20 remaining in the fourth quarter of the divisional round; Allen and the offense had three drives and got only a missed 44-yard field goal for their troubles. There’s nothing to do about this, obviously. If we were ranking people to blame for the loss to the Broncos, Allen would be easily above McDermott and Beane. But in any given game, he has the capacity to be the best quarterback in football. He is clearly capable of winning a Super Bowl, and it is inexcusable for McDermott and Beane to not have even made the big game with him under center. But the years weigh on a man. One week after playing a pristine playoff game against the Jaguars, Allen unspooled against the Broncos. It is shallow, narrative-driven analysis to have called this The Year for Allen, with Mahomes, Burrow and Lamar Jackson all absent from the playoff field. It ignores the real and obvious weakness of the Bills’ roster, and the reality that football is a team sport. But that worm of doubt has certainly wiggled its way into Allen’s ear, no matter how elite of a noise-ignorer the star quarterback has become. That, if anything, is the best justification for firing McDermott. At some point, you have to do something different to believe something different will happen. After seven years of failed postseason runs, it would be folly to face the eighth with the same head coach and same quarterback. The 2020-2025 Bills might be the second-best team by DVOA to not make a Super Bowl (behind the 2019-2024 Ravens, among six-year stretches), but spreadsheets are not reality. They don’t hang banners for DVOA. The Bills are a good team that simply hasn’t been good enough, for whatever reasons. So it’s time to start a new era, simply to let the wounds of the old era close and scar. On the other hand, what a preposterously high bar the new Bills head coach must now clear. The last guy made six consecutive divisional rounds, and that was deemed insufficient. How will the Bills faithful react if the 2026 Bills lose to the Chiefs in the divisional round in their first year under Joe Brady? Or — a far more likely outcome — the defense declines dramatically and the 2026 Bills fail to make the playoffs under Brian Daboll? Success for every NFL head coaching hire looks the same — win a Super Bowl — but for Buffalo’s incoming head coach, there is no gray area between success and failure. There’s no teardown and rebuild, no learning curve. Hit the ground barrelling toward the ultimate finish line. Good luck to the next guy, whomever it might be. I really mean it. As McDermott showed us, building a good team is not enough. Not nearly enough. To win a Super Bowl, you need all the luck you can get. Adam Pensel with what most Bills fans are thinking about Brandon Beane: Let’s be clear about the series of events here: McDermott was hired as a HC. Ran the Bills first draft of his tenure and did a great job doing so. Vouched for Beane and brought him to his first GM job. Broke the drought, established a football program that won more games than anyone. Became (quietly) critical of the talent he was given to work with, but coached it up at a level that earned near universal praise due to said obvious talent gap. All the while, Beane was in the owner’s ear every day while McDermott was doing this job. Owner is convinced to fire the coach, elevate Beane to a position above GM where he’s got even more staying power than he had previously. So Beane was at odds with the guy who brought him to Buffalo in the first place and used it as an opportunity to consolidate power in the organization and land himself a promotion that eventually takes him out of the GM role where direct criticism is pointed for roster decisions. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network faithfully offered the Bills reason for making the change. Alex Brasky of SI.com both reports on Rapoport and takes issue with him: But after his firing on Monday, a shameless NFL insider provided further context that was likely offered to him by the team’s remaining General Manager, Brandon Beane, who somehow survived the organization’s shake-up in leadership. Appearing on an edition of The Insiders on NFL Network, Rapoport explained why Buffalo may have decided it was time to move on. “The Buffalo Bills did not reach a Super Bowl, playoffs seemingly every year, AFC East titles seemingly every year, a team that went from nowhere to respectability,” he said. “But the face that Sean McDermott, with Josh Allen, with all of those weapons and so much talent on defense, could not get to where they needed to go.” My questions for the Rapoport would be, what weapons? And what talent on defense? What a shillOftentimes, these insiders are mouthpieces for player and team agents or executives looking to push an agenda. That certainly seems to be the case here with Rapoport. Beyond the NFL’s leading rusher, James Cook, the Bills had one of the worst groups of offensive weapons in the league, including a wide receiver corps that relied on a free-agent scrap, Brandin Cooks, as one of the team’s top targets down the stretch. And defensively, after Beane poured so many resources into the defensive line this past offseason, the Bills still have one of the most disappointing pass-rushing units in the league. And all of that isn’t to mention all of the over-the-hill depth pieces the team brought in throughout the season to plug holes left by the various injuries the team dealt with. Jordan Poyer played a starting role at safety. Tre’Davious White at cornerback. Jordan Phillips was brought back on the defensive line. If anything, Beane was the one who deserved to be fired due to his failure to surround McDermott with enough pieces to truly make a run. But the brazen Rapoport framed it differently, likely to keep up appearances with his “sources.” “My understanding is that McDermott himself had some questions about how much talent the Bills had,” he added. “I’m not sure how well that sat in the building, considering most teams believe they are stocked full of talent. “The Bills wanted a new leader.” The last part of his analysis is acceptable — it may have been the right time to move on from McDermott. But to frame it in the way Rapoport did on Monday shows that many of these “insiders” actually have no idea what is going on throughout the league, but rather read what agents and team sources provide them, despite the lack of context. Because anyone with a brain knows the Bills were devoid of talent this season. No matter what Rapoport would like you to believe. And Buffalo radio host Joe Marino: @TheJoeMarinoFirst glimpse at what Beane is pumping into the insider mouthpieces. Listen to it. Absolutely reeks of Beane doing his part to control the narrative. His ego is insane. And just to clarify my position. I understand moving on from McDermott. 7 Playoff runs with Josh & not even a Super Bowl appearance to show for it. Ok. Switch it up. The Beane layer confuses me a TON. Clearly, there has been a power struggle, and clearly, Beane has Pegula’s ear. Through all of this, BEANE GETS A PROMOTION!? MORE CONTROL!? Feels dirty to me. I have long been concerned about Pegula and today makes me more concerned. Veteran scribe Vic Cariucci has sources with a good summation: What the Bills didn’t do under McDermott was reach the Super Bowl, coming only as close as two appearances in the AFC Championship Game. It’s fair to assume that factored into his ouster, because a head coach is paid to do one thing: Guide his club to a Super Bowl crown. He only gets a finite amount of time to make that happen. And that is where identifying the why of this bombshell development gets tricky. The Bills had McDermott under contract through 2027, as part of an extension that reflected the confidence team owner Terry Pegula once had that McDermott was the right man to eventually deliver the league’s top prize. The same contractual timetable was in place for General Manager Brandon Beane. Somewhere along the way, perhaps before the 2025 season even began, the clock started ticking faster. The delivery of the Vince Lombardi Trophy needed to happen now … or else. Or else arrived with Saturday’s divisional-round playoff loss at Denver. The controversial nature of the loss – with McDermott and most Bills fans accusing officials of stealing a victory by turning a decisive catch into a decisive interception in overtime – didn’t matter. What sped up the clock? Logic points to a philosophical split between McDermott and Beane, leading to a power struggle from which Beane emerged as the winner. Despite the common outside view that Josh Allen’s supporting cast was what has mainly held the Bills back in their Super Bowl quest, Beane managed to convince Pegula that coaching was the primary culprit. How he pulled that off is hard to understand, considering McDermott might very well have done the best work of his career in leading the Bills to a 12-5 record with glaring weaknesses at wide receiver and on the defensive line. I’m told that during a meeting held five weeks ago between McDermott, Beane and Pegula, the coach pointed out what the roster lacked to win a Super Bowl. I don’t know the specifics McDermott mentioned, but I’m told neither Beane nor Pegula was pleased with McDermott’s assessment. The clincher in concluding that the GM and coach no longer were on the same page showed up in Pegula’s statement announcing McDermott’s firing. It’s the part where the owner revealed Beane now has the added title of President of Football Operations and will oversee coaching. This is a rare organizational structure for an NFL team. Previously, McDermott and Beane reported directly to Pegula. Now, Beane is the boss of all things on the football side. He’ll guide the search for the next head coach and the assembly of the coaching staff. He’ll also continue to lead the acquisition of players. This also is a risky move for the Bills as they prepare to move into their new stadium and give incumbent and new customers a reason to feel good about shelling out big bucks for seat licenses and season tickets. Replacing a man who not only is the second-winningest coach in franchise history but who dramatically improved a culture of dysfunction left behind by his predecessor, Rex Ryan, won’t be easy. It’s already being met with skepticism by players who held McDermott in high regard. It seems unlikely a head-coaching candidate of substance, someone who can afford to be choosy about his next job, would accept having to answer to Beane rather than directly to Pegula. That could very well limit the pool of prospective hires to younger coordinators of current teams rather than anyone with NFL head-coaching experience. Beane already faces a big challenge to upgrade spots on both sides of the ball. His additional duties figure to make it even larger. |
| MIAMIDespite Chicago going through his defense effortlessly at crunch time in the Wild Card Round, the Dolphins have hired Packers DC Jeff Hafley as their head coach. Bobby Kownack of NFL.com: The Dolphins are double-dipping into the Packers organization to build their foundation. Miami has agreed to terms with Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley on a five-year contract to become the team’s next head coach, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Monday. The Dolphins officially announced Hafley’s hiring. Hafley emerged as a frontrunner for the job over Divisional Round Weekend, a development that made sense roughly a week after the Dolphins had tabbed Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan as their new general manager. “Jeff is a man of integrity, intellect and great passion who players will buy into and play for,” Sullivan said in a team statement. “He has a vision for the kind of team we will be and the ability to motivate them to move in one direction on the path towards that goal. I’m thrilled to go on this journey with him and together we will build a winner that this organization deserves.” Hafley, 46, spent the past two seasons in charge of Green Bay’s defense. During his first year as DC, his group finished sixth in points allowed and fifth in yards allowed. He then went into the 2025 campaign buoyed by the Packers trading for All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons, but injuries plagued the Packers defense — including Parsons suffering a torn ACL — which faded down the stretch to finish 11th and 12th in points and yards allowed, respectively. He nonetheless showed himself to be one of the premier defensive minds in the NFL, and garnered widespread interest during the head coaching cycle. Hafley, who also coached defensive backs at the NFL level with the Buccaneers, Browns and 49ers from 2012-18, has previously only been a head coach at the collegiate level. He was Boston College’s head coach from 2020-23, leading the Eagles to a record of .500 or better in three of his four seasons. He comes to a Miami team in dire need of an identity shift, with plenty of questions to answer after two consecutive losing seasons followed the Dolphins’ first consecutive playoff berths since the 2000-01 campaigns. The Dolphins in recent years developed a reputation for soft play, featuring speed over enforcers, and that showed in the team’s 24th-ranked scoring defense. |
| NEW YORK JETSJeremy Fowler of ESPN.com on what the Jets may be facing at quarterback in 2026: Geno Smith, Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray are all made available — for the JetsThis notion isn’t exactly bold — all three quarterbacks appear to not be in the long-term plans of their current franchises. But they are each former Pro Bowlers and several teams have a glaring need at the position each year. “Do the Jets get one of those three — that’s really the question I have,” an AFC executive said. “They could go young and load up for the 2027 draft of quarterbacks, but the head coach [Aaron Glenn] probably needs to win, so he might need more of a reliable option.” Miami and Arizona are saddled with large guarantees on deals with Tagovailoa and Murray, respectively. Murray would make more sense to New York, given Tagovailoa’s ties to the AFC East, but not everyone is convinced Arizona owner Michael Bidwill would pay a significant portion of Murray’s $37 million in guarantees for him to not play in Arizona. Smith’s contract is more manageable, with $18.5 million already guaranteed for 2026 (another $8 million becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the new league year). The 35-year-old spent his first four seasons with the Jets, throwing 28 touchdowns and 36 interceptions before moving on. The Jets will need to make significant plans for a veteran passer regardless. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| 2026 DRAFTDane Brugler of ESPN.com offers a Mock Draft: As happened last year with Cam Ward and the Titans, the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft feels like it’s already locked up in January. But after that, things quickly become unclear. Who will be the first non-quarterback drafted? How many QBs will end up in the top 32? Where is the potential for the first “whoa” moment in Round 1? There are still several unknowns at this point, but we do have the draft order for the first 24 picks. We also know almost all the underclassmen who have officially jumped into the 2026 pool (Indiana and Miami prospects have until a few days after the College Football Playoff championship game to declare). As always, this mock draft is based on early buzz from talking to people around the league, not my personal rankings or what I think teams should do. 1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, IndianaThe Raiders have drafted a quarterback in the first round four times during the Super Bowl era. All four choices quickly backfired. JaMarcus Russell (2007) was out of the league after three years; Todd Marinovich (1991) lasted just two seasons with the organization; Marc Wilson (1980) won two Super Bowls with the Raiders, but he was a backup for both; Eldridge Dickey (1968) was moved to wide receiver. That would be the history working against Fernando Mendoza. But, with his happy-go-lucky attitude, you know Mendoza would welcome the challenge. Though he might not be the physical freak some desire in a No. 1 pick, Mendoza is impressive in two key areas of playing the position: pre-snap recognition and accuracy. I don’t think there is much mystery with this pick. 2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, edge, Ohio StateWith Dante Moore returning to Oregon for the 2026 season, the No. 2 pick looks as wide open as I can remember. Though it’s disappointing for the Jets that Moore isn’t on the board, it gives them an opportunity to select whomever they see as the best non-quarterback in the class — and Reese is a prime candidate. He played a hybrid role for the Buckeyes last season, mostly spying and setting the edge, but he was disruptive when allowed to use his speed and violence as a pass rusher. 3. Arizona Cardinals: Spencer Fano, OT, UtahThe Cardinals have a major question mark at quarterback, but the organization must also address a porous offensive line to protect whoever will be taking snaps. Paris Johnson Jr. is a building block at left tackle, but right tackle is a problem area as Arizona goes into the offseason. Fano played right tackle throughout high school, moved to left tackle as a freshman for the Utes, then kicked back over to the right side and became a two-time All-American. 4. Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio StateWith their quarterback in place, the Titans can shift their focus this offseason to other needs, specifically pass catchers and pass rushers. I wouldn’t be surprised to see David Bailey taken in this spot, especially if Tennessee lands a veteran receiver such as Alec Pierce or Romeo Doubs in free agency. But I love Tate’s potential fit with Cam Ward. He is productive in short-to-intermediate areas with his route precision and ball skills, and truly shines as a vertical ball-winner because of his pacing and tracking skills. 5. New York Giants: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona StateThe Giants will be drawn, understandably, to Caleb Downs’ potential impact on the back end of the defense, or to the chance to address their offensive line with Francis Mauigoa. But Tyson would add an immediate offensive playmaker who could help a young quarterback take the next step in his development. Obviously, expected new head coach John Harbaugh will influence this selection. 6. Cleveland Browns: Francis Mauigoa, OT, MiamiThe Browns need a complete makeover on the offensive line — and that is tough to do in a meaningful way without spending premium resources. Some NFL teams have Mauigoa on their draft boards as a guard, but he has 33-inch arms and has been exceptionally consistent in pass protection all season for the Hurricanes. He has the highest floor of any offensive lineman in the 2026 draft class. 7. Washington Commanders: David Bailey, edge, Texas TechI understand the argument that the Commanders should lean offense with this pick to help their young quarterback. But their defense was atrocious this season, with a noticeable lack of juice, especially off the edges. With his explosive twitch and raw power, Bailey is one of the most disruptive rush pieces that this draft has to offer. 8. New Orleans Saints: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre DameThree years ago, a different NFC South team (the Falcons) drafted running back (Bijan Robinson) at No. 8, and he quickly ascended to be one of the league’s top five players at his position. We could see it happen again with the Saints and Love. With his pass-catching talent and home-run ability, Love would give Kellen Moore’s offense a shot of adrenaline. 9. Kansas City Chiefs: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio StateThere certainly is a case to be made that a wide receiver (Tate, if he’s available) or tight end (Kenyon Sadiq) could be the weapon Kansas City has been desperately missing on offense. But Downs is a difference-maker, both with his impact on the field and within the culture of the team. One could argue that he is the best safety prospect since Eric Berry, a top-10 pick of the Chiefs 16 years ago. 10. Cincinnati Bengals: Rueben Bain Jr., edge, MiamiAt this early juncture, defensive line is the overwhelming favorite to be the Bengals’ pick. Because of his “tweener” skills and lack of length, Bain is one of the more polarizing prospects in this class. Even if he falls short in a few areas, however, he is a stout run defender with the relentless power as a pass rusher to kick down the door to the pocket. 11. Miami Dolphins: Jermod McCoy, CB, TennesseeThe Dolphins aren’t starting over from scratch, but with new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and a TBD head coach, it feels like anything is on the table in the draft. Considering that Sullivan came up through the Green Bay scouting system, Auburn’s Keldric Faulk fits the mold. An offensive weapon (Makai Lemon or Kenyon Sadiq) also makes sense. But cornerback has been a problem spot on this team for some time. 12. Dallas Cowboys: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio StateThe last time the Cowboys had multiple top-20 picks, in 2005, they went with two defenders (Demarcus Ware and Marcus Spears). That is the expected approach for Dallas in the upcoming draft, too. At 6 feet 4 and 240 pounds with 4.5 speed, Styles is a freak of nature. He doesn’t miss tackles, and his read-react skills get better with every game. 13. Los Angeles Rams (from ATL): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSUThe Rams haven’t used premium draft picks to address cornerback in more than a decade — and it shows. Delane lacks elite size and length, but he has the best tape among this cornerback class. In both man and zone, he plays sticky in coverage, with the route awareness that will make him an immediate contributor. 14. Baltimore Ravens: Vega Ioane, G, Penn StateLike last year when the Cowboys drafted Tyler Booker at No. 12, the Ravens selecting a guard wouldn’t get major headlines and might be unpopular with the fan base. But Ioane is a high-floor prospect and should be mentioned among the better players in this class. The last time Baltimore held the 14th pick, in 2022, it drafted a “non-premium” position (safety Kyle Hamilton) — that has worked out just fine. 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keldric Faulk, edge, AuburnReminiscent of Mykell Williams from last year’s class, Faulk doesn’t have gaudy backfield production (five tackles for loss, two sacks in 2025), but he also wasn’t consistently asked to rush from a wide alignment in Auburn’s three-man front. At 6-6, 270 with long arms, Faulk creates movement with physical hands and detaches well in the run game. Teams will trust his traits. 16. New York Jets (from IND): Makai Lemon, WR, USCThe Jets have one legit starter (Garrett Wilson) on their wide receiver depth chart and desperately need to add another weapon who scares defenses. Lemon won’t wow with his size or athletic profile, but he is a manipulative route runner and catches everything thrown his way. If the Jets think his impact can be anything close to what the Lions have gotten from Amon-Ra St. Brown, they should run the card to the podium. 17. Detroit Lions: Caleb Lomu, OT, UtahIt shouldn’t surprise anyone if the Lions address their offensive line early, although I am intrigued by which prospect Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell would see as the best fit. I have questions about Lomu’s play strength, which might be an issue for this team in particular, but his above-average athleticism and processing will be strong selling points. 18. Minnesota Vikings: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, OregonIf T.J. Hockenson is a cap casualty this offseason, tight end would move up the Vikings’ needs list. Sadiq is a big, freaky athlete with the adjustment skills to make difficult catches look routine and the mentality to be an asset as a blocker. NFL teams believe he has the talent to be a top-10 pick. 19. Carolina Panthers: Peter Woods, DT, ClemsonTo be serious contenders in the NFC, the Panthers need more impact players on the defensive line. Woods didn’t have the 2025 season that evaluators expected, but he is a nimble big man with the agility to threaten gaps and chase the football. One would like to see more proof of concept on his tape, but the flashes show an ascending player. 20. Dallas Cowboys (from GB): Avieon Terrell, CB, ClemsonTerrell, the younger brother of Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, doesn’t have elite size — and it shows at times versus bigger targets. But he does have NFL-level athleticism and competes like a linebacker. Over the last two seasons, Terrell has combined for 25 passes defended and eight forced fumbles. He has a “Honey Badger” aura to him. 21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ty Simpson, QB, AlabamaThis is going to be a popular pairing in mock drafts over the next four months. The Steelers presumably will be looking for a starting quarterback this offseason, and Simpson is expected to land somewhere in the back half of the first round. Would this be the Kenny Pickett route all over again? Maybe. But Simpson processes his surroundings well, especially considering his meager starting experience. 22. Los Angeles Chargers: Brandon Cisse, CB, South CarolinaCisse should be one of the “winners” at the combine, thanks to his explosive testing potential. The 6-foot, 190-pound corner shows an easy transition out of his pedal and has no trouble staying hip to hip with receivers, up and down the field. The Chargers have a crowded cornerback room, but a lack of consistency could make the position an early target on draft weekend. 23. Philadelphia Eagles: Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, AlabamaAt 6-7, 360, Proctor is a massive blocker with unique talent, which is exactly what the Eagles and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland target up front. With Landon Dickerson’s future in doubt, and given Tyler Steen’s inconsistent play, Proctor would provide immediate competition at guard and a long-term option at tackle. 24. Cleveland Browns (from JAX): KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&MThe Browns currently have a bottom-five wide receiver depth chart, so finding an upgrade should be a priority early in the draft. Concepcion is a fluid, gliding athlete who specializes in getting open before the catch and creating after it. He would be an immediate starter (slot or Z). 25. Chicago Bears: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio StateGeneral Manager Ryan Poles saw Ohio State in person multiple times in 2025, and it is fair to assume he came away impressed with McDonald (6-6, 330). The big nose tackle resets the line of scrimmage with explosive power and immediately finds the football to create congestion in the run game. 26. Buffalo Bills (12-5): Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&MWe can all agree that the Bills must upgrade their defense in the draft. But the way in which they’ll do that is up for debate. One option would be to add an uber-athletic and competitive edge rusher, such as Howell, who might lack ideal size but can scream off the edge with bad intentions. Howell would be an immediate subpackage weapon while he pushes for an every-down role. 27. San Francisco 49ers: Monroe Freeling, OT, GeorgiaTrent Williams is still playing at a Pro Bowl level but will be going into his age-38 season in 2026. At some point, the organization must plan for the future. Freeling showed steady game-to-game improvement this season, turning himself into a top-50 NFL prospect. Given Freeling’s talent and upside, San Francisco would be an ideal landing spot for him to continue developing. 28. Houston Texans: Caleb Banks, DT, FloridaThe Texans have one of the best defensive lines in the NFL, mostly because of their edge rushers. The defensive tackles have produced better than expected, but Houston would be strengthening a strength by investing more in its interior. Banks missed most of the 2025 season with a foot injury, but at 6-6, 335, he is a disruptive presence who has yet to play his best football. 29. Los Angeles Rams: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, ToledoDoubling up at defensive back? We have seen the Rams do this before, like when they used top-40 picks on defensive linemen Jared Verse and Braden Fiske in 2024. Delane (their earlier Round 1 pick here) would fill a hole at outside cornerback, and McNeil-Warren is the type of rangy presence who would upgrade the Rams’ safety room. 30. New England Patriots: Akheem Mesidor, edge, MiamiYes, Mesidor is older (he’ll turn 25 in April), but he won’t need a ramp-up period as a rookie — Mike Vrabel could wind him up and cut him loose on Day 1. New England ranked in the bottom third of the league in sacks and QB hits and should continue to address its pass rush this offseason. 31. Denver Broncos: CJ Allen, LB, GeorgiaDespite a defense that ranked among the best in the league (both stat-wise and according to eye test), the Broncos could look to upgrade at linebacker with a younger option in the middle of the field. Allen is quick to key and diagnose with outstanding play speed, and he rarely misses tackles once he arrives at full-speed. 32. Seattle Seahawks (14-3): Colton Hood, CB, TennesseeKeeping Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston in Seattle would make sense, but the Seahawks’ cornerback depth must be addressed this offseason. The second Tennessee cornerback off the board in this mock, Hood is explosive and aggressive in his movements, and his route recognition continued to develop on his 2025 tape. Teams without Round 1 picks 47. Indianapolis Colts: R Mason Thomas, edge, OklahomaThe Colts need more juice off the edge, which just happens to be Thomas’ specialty. Despite his lack of ideal size, his first-step burst and violent play style would be welcome additions as Indianapolis makes key changes on the defensive side of the ball. 48. Atlanta Falcons: Eli Stowers, TE, VanderbiltConsidering that he’s on an expiring contract, Kyle Pitts picked the right time to have an All-Pro season. If the Falcons don’t re-sign or franchise tag him, they can take solace in knowing this draft is rich with tight end talent. Stowers will turn heads with his testing. 52. Green Bay Packers: Devin Moore, CB, FloridaThe Packers don’t have a top-50 pick, so the pressure is on their scouting staff to nail both of its Day 2 selections. Moore is a verified 6-3, with 32-inch arms and the talent to cover receivers up and down the field. 56: Jacksonville Jaguars: Dillon Thieneman, S, OregonThe Jaguars will be addressing the secondary this offseason in multiple ways, and Thieneman could be an option because of his man-coverage skills and run-stopping ability. |
