| NFC EAST |
| NEW YORK GIANTSQB RUSSELL WILSON thinks he can make beautiful music with WR MALIK NABERS. Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com: Russell Wilson did not have many options in free agency. According to the 10-time Pro Bowler, though, it was the presence of wide receiver Malik Nabers that prompted Wilson to sign with the Giants. “I came here because of him,” Wilson said during the Fanatics Fest over the weekend, via Anthony Rivardo of Empire Sports Media. “I really wanted to play with someone who is special like him.” In his 10 seasons in Seattle, Wilson played with three 1,000-yard receivers in Tyler Lockett (2019, ’20, ’21), Doug Baldwin (2015, ’16) and DK Metcalf (2020). Metcalf caught 83 passes for 1,303 yards in Wilson’s next-to-last season in Seattle, the most receiving yards for a receiver with Wilson as his quarterback. Nabers had 1,204 yards as a rookie despite missing two games and playing with three different starting quarterbacks. He proved in his first season that he will get his yards no matter who the quarterback is. The question is: Who will throw to Nabers this year? Wilson is the favorite to start the season, but it won’t be a surprise if rookie Jaxson Dart takes over the starting job at some point. Wilson will have to beat out Jameis Winston and Dart in training camp, and then, if he does that, he will have pressure to win to keep the job. The Giants start the season at Washington and at Dallas before hosting the Chiefs and Chargers. It is not going to be be easy for Wilson, but it will help to have Nabers. |
| PHILADELPHIAThe AP claimed Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is fiercely opposed to any state money going to help pro sports teams upgrade their stadiums or arenas. Mike Florio says his position is more nuanced: The Associated Press made a mess on Sunday. And we’ve spent plenty of time today cleaning it up. It started when the AP pushed a story to umpteen platforms regarding comments from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro about the availability, or not, of state money for stadium projects. We saw the headline on the ESPN.com NFL page, we read the story, and we posted something that accurately conveyed the substance of the AP reporting. Unfortunately, the substance of the reporting — that Shapiro said state money would not be available — was substantively erroneous. In our follow-up item, it wasn’t clear what had happened because the AP simply changed its story without acknowledging the prior version or explaining the reason for the revision. The truth is that their reporter flat-out whiffed. Here’s the transcript, as provided by Shapiro’s office and as revised based on the raw video of the interaction. AP reporter: “When the Sixers were pursuing their new arena, you said that you were not in favor of using state money to build the new arena.” Shapiro: “Correct.” AP reporter: “The Eagles lease is up in 2032. [Owner] Jeffrey Lurie has floated the idea that possibly there’ll be a new football stadium in the complex as well. Is federal — is state money off the table for that as well?” Shapiro: “Well, I’m not going to get into the specifics of any of our conversations here in this setting. I will tell you that we want to make sure that the Steelers, we want to make sure the Eagles, and all of our pro teams have outstanding places to play, that are welcoming for fans, that generate revenue for the economy, just like the good folks here at Pocono do. “But we also need to be really careful about utilizing state tax dollars, particularly at a time where we’re seeing the likeliness of massive federal cuts that are going to knock half a million people off of their health care. A hundred and forty thousand are going to lose food assistance. I got 25 rural hospitals that will likely shutter if these federal plans go forward. “And so I’m very worried about the overall budget. I’m very worried about the overall economic situation given the federal cuts and so you want to balance investing in tourism, investing in sports, investing in great arenas and facilities with making sure that you’re also requesting those dollars in the things that Pennsylvanians need most. So it’s always a balance. We’ve got really great communication with Jeffrey Lurie and with [Steelers owner] Art Rooney and we’re going to continue to dialogue with them about what they need and what’s possible.” So that’s what was asked, and that’s what was answered. Shapiro never said state money won’t be available. That said, based on his broader response, it sounds as if it won’t be easy to shake state dollars from the tree. But he absolutely did not say state money is off the table. |
| WASHINGTONBen Standig of The Athletic thinks the Commanders have upgraded at cornerback: Washington CommandersThe Commanders’ cornerback room has a chance to be much improved. At this time last year, Benjamin St-Juste, Emmanuel Forbes Jr. and Michael Davis were the top outside options. All are justifiably gone, but their woes led to shifting rookie Mike Sainristil from the slot to the boundary and making a trade deadline deal for an injured Marshon Lattimore, who proceeded to struggle in the playoffs. Injuries have haunted Lattimore, but he arrived healthy for minicamp following needed rest. If available weekly, the four-time Pro Bowler and second-round rookie Trey Amos have potential as a viable tag-team against the NFC East’s star receivers. Ex-Patriot Jonathan Jones brings quality experience to the mix along with Sainristil, who may shift back to his natural inside role after impressing in his first season. — Ben Standig |
| NFC SOUTH |
| TAMPA BAYWill the Buccaneers get the best version of EDGE HASSON RIDDICK? Dan Pompei of The Athletic joins the team in optimism: Tampa Bay BuccaneersHaason Reddick had only one sack last season and skipped some offseason workouts, which led to uncertainty about his ability to impact the defense. But Reddick’s presence at minicamp was powerful. Reddick, who had 50 1/2 sacks between 2020 and 2023, hasn’t forgotten how to get to the quarterback, even though he had an awful 2024 with the Jets. At 30, he appears to be in his athletic prime, and is at the point in his life when knowledge and ability are intersecting quite nicely. Reddick also has been sharing his wisdom with younger Bucs pass rushers, but the way he can help them most is by attracting blockers. The expectation on this team is Reddick will have a productive season — and help teammates do the same. — Dan Pompei |
| AFC WEST |
| KANSAS CITYWill the Chiefs leave Missouri? An update from Mike Florio: The Chiefs supposedly have a June 30 deadline for accepting an offer from Kansas to help pay for a new domed stadium. On the other side of the border, more work needs to be done to finalize a plan for renovating Arrowhead Stadium, the team’s long-time home. Kansas City (Missouri) mayor Quinton Lucas expressed hope on Sunday that the Chiefs will stay put, with a $1.15 billion renovation of their long-time home. “I’ve had optimism all the time, and I think there are more and more reasons for that,” Lucas said, via Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star. “I said [last summer] that I believe we’d have a compelling Missouri state offer. We’ve gotten to that. “It took a little longer than perhaps some would have wanted. I think the local government conversation is something that continues to proceed, as well.” Lucas, who made his comments while in Kansas for a KC World Cup community event, conceded that a final deal for an Arrowhead renovation won’t be in place before the Chiefs’ deadline to accept the Kansas offer comes and goes. “I frankly continue to hope that we have it resolved sooner rather than later,” Lucas said. “The June 30 deadline set up by the state of Kansas may be a little tough for us, but we’re going to make sure that we have a compelling offer to both teams in that time. “Kansas City, and the state of Missouri, is where they need to be. In terms of where the offers are, I think it will be on the teams to decide how quickly they want to proceed.” The Chiefs moved to Kansas City in 1962, after surrendering Dallas to the NFL and the Cowboys. “Kansas City, Missouri has made sense for 50 plus years,” Lucas said. “It will continue to do so.” Until it doesn’t. And it won’t if the Chiefs decide to commit to a new stadium by making a short move to a city in a different state but with the same name. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| JACKSONVILLEEva Geitheim of SI.com on why WR/CB TRAVIS HUNTER is more than content with the Jaguars: As NFL personnel and analysts debated what position Hunter should primarily play or whether or not he could do it, Hunter remained adamant in his plans to play two ways. Hunter was an award winning player at each position in college, and has intends to continue playing both ways in the pros. In the Jaguars, Hunter landed with a team that not only valued what he brings on both sides of the ball, but has a plan to let Hunter play both ways and be himself. As such, Hunter described getting drafted by the Jaguars as a “blessing” after signing his rookie deal. “It’s a blessing,” Hunter told Jaguars reporter Brian Sexton. “I’m very excited to be at a place that they let me go ahead and be myself, and let me do what I do.” Though the Jaguars plan to primarily start Hunter out on offense, they have had him practice on both sides of the ball during OTAs and minicamp. Hunter met with coaches on both sides all the time, allowing him to keep up at each position. The Jaguars additionally said after drafting Hunter that they will be flexible with their plan for him to play both ways. More than just the intricacies and the details, the Jaguars have embraced Hunter as the unique person and player he is. Whether it’s planning for him to play both ways or embracing the personality he brings to the field, which involves plenty of energy and even some dancing, it seems that Jacksonville’s new regime is a great fit for Hunter. |
| TENNESSEEJoe Rexrode of The Athletic says that QB CAM WARD handles the off field and practice roles of a star quarterback with ease. Only the hard part, actual games, remains: Tennessee TitansRookie quarterback Cam Ward is everything the Titans hoped for, off the field. Ward is a natural leader and free-flowing trash talker who earned early respect with a light head butt of defensive star Jeff Simmons — the king of trash talkers — in minicamp. Simmons was trying to see if he could throw off the rookie and found, to his satisfaction, that he couldn’t. Ward is gathering teammates for early-morning sessions, getting sent home from the facility by coaches and handling media sessions with aplomb. Combine that with his arm talent and the ingredients for excessive preseason optimism are there. None of it means Ward can play the position in the NFL like a top overall pick, but it’s a good start. — Joe Rexrode |
| AFC EAST |
| BUFFALOQB JOSH ALLEN has one goal – and it is not to repeat as MVP. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: Bills quarterback Josh Allen was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player for the 2024 season, but he still hasn’t achieved the one thing he really wants in his career. Allen says that until he has a Super Bowl ring, his résumé has a hole in it. “You know, it is such a great honor, and I do appreciate being honored for my work,” Allen told Liam McKeone of SI.com. “But at the same time, I still didn’t win a Super Bowl. Didn’t win a ring, and that is the only goal. It’s the only focus that I’ve ever had going into this league.” Allen said to the extent that the MVP matters to him, it’s mostly because a quarterback isn’t going to get the MVP award unless his team had a good regular season. “The one positive, I will say, about winning an MVP means that your team is in a good position,” Allen said. “You’re making the playoffs, you’re playing well and you’re doing whatever you can to help your team win football games. But at the end of the day, you got to make the playoffs and then you got to win three, maybe four games. And that’s what we need to do. And we’re going to continue to work as hard as we can and myself included. What can we do to find a way over that hump? So that’s the only goal going forward.” The Bills have had a lot of regular-season success with Allen and have made the playoffs six years in a row. But Allen has yet to lead the Bills to a Super Bowl, and that’s the one accomplishment that he’s focused on heading into 2025. |
| NEW YORK JETSWhile some Jets fans might object, owner Woody Johnson has passed a Fit And Proper Person test as he now owns a sizeable stake in Crystal Palace. He joins Commanders owner Josh Harris in the ownership group: New York Jets owner Woody Johnson has agreed on a £190 million deal ($254m) to buy a 43% stake in Premier League team Crystal Palace from American businessman John Textor, the club announced Monday. The agreement is subject to Premier League approval and Johnson — a former United States ambassador to the United Kingdom — passing the league’s Owners and Directors’ Test, otherwise known at the Fit and Proper Persons Test. “Whilst the completion is pending approval from the Premier League and Women’s Super League, we do not envisage any issues and look forward to welcoming Woody as a partner and director of the club,” Palace added in a statement. “We would like to go on record to thank John Textor for his contribution over the past four years and wish him every success for the future.” Should Johnson’s agreement with Textor be approved by the Premier League, it would pave the way for Palace, the 2024-25 FA Cup winners, to play in next season’s UEFA Europa League and end the prospect of the club breaching multiclub ownership rules due to Textor’s Eagle Football Holdings Group also having a controlling stake in French club Lyon. Palace have yet to be cleared to play in the Europa League due to ongoing negotiations between the club and UEFA. ESPN has contacted UEFA for comment. Although Textor has no day-to-day involvement in the running of Palace, who are controlled by chairman Steve Parish and U.S. investors Josh Harris and David Blitzer, UEFA rules prevent two teams with the same ownership playing in the same competition unless shares in one club are placed into a blind trust. Textor failed to place his Palace or Lyon shares in such a vehicle by the UEFA deadline of March 1 — more than two months before Palace secured Europa League qualification by winning the FA Cup. However, as reported by ESPN earlier this month, Textor has been attempting to offload his Palace shares, with Johnson emerging as the leading candidate to buy his stake. Johnson, 78, served as the U.S. ambassador to the U.K. from 2017 to 2021 and made a failed bid to buy Chelsea after the previous owner, Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, was sanctioned by the U.K. government in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Johnson has previously declared himself to be a Chelsea supporter. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| FAMILY TREATMENTThe NFL Players Association rates teams on their treatment of families. Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com with a deep dive into the gulf between the Vikings and the Bengals. AFTER HOME GAMES for the first five seasons of Jessie Bates III’s career, the former Cincinnati Bengals safety had to leave the stadium to find his family. Now in Atlanta, Bates meets his family in a suite in the Mercedes-Benz Dome after home games, where there is food and a place “our families can be able to connect on a different level.” “I think that’s what separates us compared to a lot of other organizations,” Bates said. It’s the kind of subtle distinction that can matter a lot to NFL players. In February, when the NFL Players Association released their annual report cards, the Bengals received the lowest score — an F-minus — in the “treatment of families” category. The Falcons received an A, the second-highest grade. The report cards are based on a survey of 1,695 players across the league, administered from August 26 to November 20, 2024 and includes grades on everything from head coach to team travel and the locker room. According to the NFLPA, answers were collected anonymously. ESPN spoke with players about how they define “treatment of families” and the feedback that serves as the basis for the NFLPA’s grades. Multiple current Bengals players, who were granted anonymity to speak freely on the subject, referenced the lack of gameday amenities available to them and how difficult that can make it on their families. One player noted that another AFC team had an indoor cookout-style meeting area in the stadium postgame. Up until last year, when the Bengals added a postgame area inside the stadium for families to meet, they had an outdoor area beneath a large white tent roughly 20 yards away from the players’ parking lot. One player described the tent as a “s–t show,” especially when it was cold. Another veteran pointed out that one of the major issues for his team on gameday is the lack of a dedicated area for families in terms of bathrooms and concessions. Many times, families are constantly waiting in long lines for both of those things, which for players with young children — and a game played by young men means a significant number of NFL players who are fathers have young children — brings stress and security concerns. “Just different things where they can make it more convenient for our families, especially when the husband’s not there,” the veteran said to ESPN. “We’re worried about them. I think it would be easier for us if we had certain things for families, we don’t have to worry about it.” And while the importance of the surveys varies from team to team, some teams, like the Minnesota Vikings, believe the NFLPA survey — and particularly the assessments of how the team treats families — has been key to the back-to-back monster free agent classes they signed in 2024 and 2025. Falcons offensive lineman Chris Lindstrom, who is an NFLPA player rep, said before the report cards were done — the first was published in 2023 — when players were going through the free agency process, they had to try to call around to other players they knew to get a feel for the pros and cons of each franchise. “The survey has had a major impact,” 2025 Vikings free agent signing Ryan Kelly said. “Because you’re a guy looking for a new home, you’ve got kids, you have a family. It’s like, ‘what’s the treatment like?’ If you treat my family well, I’m going to be happier as a person, I’m going to be happier as a player, I’m going to be in a better mood, and we’ll probably have more success.” Kelly spent his first nine seasons with the Colts, a team that was middle-of-the-pack with a B-minus ranking for treatment of families in the most recent survey. And although it is early in his Vikings career, it didn’t take Kelly long to feel like the survey results he had seen were accurate. “Being only there for a little over 24 hours [to sign his FA contract], we felt that as my entire family was there,” Kelly said. “It didn’t matter if it was my mom or my dad or my kids or a nanny, everybody felt the love and that goes to show you it’s a special place.” IN THE MIDDLE of a busy season, Vikings running back Aaron Jones appreciates that the team’s support staff can and will handle certain needs for a player’s family. On Tuesday or Wednesday of each week, Vikings support staff will ask players if they have family traveling to the game. If they do, staff will ask how many tickets they need and whether the family requires hotel accommodations. Players can choose to pay directly or have the cost deducted from their paychecks. “It just makes it that much easier,” Jones said. “Your family’s not, ‘Hey, I’m trying to find a place to stay. Where are you guys staying? What’s the closest hotel?’ It just takes all of that away.” The Vikings support staff will handle everything to make “sure your family’s taken care of,” Jones said, “from directing the families into the game to helping them get seated to sideline passes.” “It is no stress, just because I know they’re in good hands,” Jones said. The opposite is true for the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to a veteran Jaguars player who asked for anonymity. Jacksonville scored an F for treatment of families on the report card, which was the second-lowest grade. “I know we’re supposed to be the ones to tell our family certain things, but when there’s 30 other things that us as players have to worry about and then we tell our family [information] at the last minute, things can get miscommunicated in the information,” the player said. “When we have to [be the person] to give them the tickets or [be the person] to give them all these things, [stuff] happens, you know what I mean? The player continued: “I want to make sure that my family is OK so I don’t have to worry about them. [Sometimes] these security guards ain’t letting my damn wife in. I’ve got to worry about that or we’ve got to call [a team rep] to handle this. It shouldn’t [happen]. Family should be already taken care of. They should be an extension of a player in certain areas.” ON GAME DAY, Jones knows his kids — he has a one-and-a-half-year-old and a five-year-old — will be having fun. The running back said while his oldest is very into the game, the Vikings do such a good job at their daycare during halftime — with everything from face painting to a petting zoo and other activities to keep the kids engaged — that “he doesn’t want to come back [for the second half].” The Bengals do not have child care available during games, one of three teams that does not provide that option, according to the NFLPA survey. “It’s hard for kids to get through a full game,” a Bengals player told ESPN. “Obviously, your family wants to come support. My [kids] are old enough to where they think it’s cool but it’s also like a lot. I think that [child care] could be awesome.” According to multiple players, plans are in place for Cincinnati to implement child care for 2025 home games, which could improve their ranking. But one player noted that it took three consecutive years of failing grades on the NFLPA survey for the Bengals to potentially add the service. What’s more perplexing is that the Bengals are one of the most prominent family-run organizations in professional sports, with three generations of the Brown family operating the franchise founded by Paul Brown, the father of current team president Mike Brown. Despite this, one player indicated to ESPN that the team does a poor job of integrating families into not just the gameday experience but other times throughout the regular season. “Isn’t it great that your daughters and your granddaughters are at work with you?” one player told ESPN. “And then we have to go in the parking lot to see our family in the rain? Yeah, it sucks.” Brown’s daughter and Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn addressed the survey at the NFL’s league meeting in the spring saying, “We are always happy to talk to players about issues they might have. I focus more on feedback from our players, [coach] Zac [Taylor]. F-minus is a little harsh. It doesn’t really offend me. If there’s something they want us to look at, we can take that message and build on it and take a look and see if there are things that we might be able to do to make people feel better. We’re certainly open to that.” The Dallas Cowboys provide child care on game days, but the fun starts before that. The day before a Sunday game at AT&T Stadium, the Cowboys host players’ families for lunch, bringing in things like ice cream trucks and coffee trucks. The Cowboys call it FIT, or family ice cream time, which allows “time for our significant others to be up here around each other,” Cowboys right tackle Terence Steele said. “That means a lot,” Steele said. Falcons team president Greg Beadles said Atlanta has monthly family dinners at the facility and hosted a Halloween trick-or-treat last year for players’ kids. While the Jaguars received a poor grade based on the 2024 surveys — Jaguars players voiced in the report cards that they want a family room available during games “so their families can escape the heat and allow mothers to change/nurse babies” — new head coach Liam Coen, who has two young sons, made family involvement a priority during the spring. “He’s done a hell of a job on doing a lot more family stuff, especially this early on,” the player said. “I know he speaks about how he was raised in the locker room in the facilities, and I want my kids to do the same thing. And so now even during OTAs, every Thursday he’s doing family day. Our families can come and watch our practice and we can hang out with our family for lunch and stuff, too. So he’s having a lot more family-orientated things, which is awesome.” AFTER HOME GAMES, Cowboys special teams ace C.J. Goodwin, the second-longest tenured Cowboy, knows where his family will be: the Landry Room. Named after the Cowboys Hall of Fame coach, it’s a private club area inside AT&T Stadium. Each player gets two free tickets to the area, which includes food, drinks and “anything you want.” Cowboys players rated the post-game family area 9.05 out of 10, ranking them second out of 32 teams. A veteran Jaguars player, who asked for anonymity, said he would like a dedicated, secure inside area for families to meet up after the game. Last year, for example, the space was a tent outside the players’ entrance to the EverBank Stadium locker room. The Cleveland Browns do not have a post-game spot to gather inside the stadium after home games. The Browns received a D-plus in treatment of families, the fifth-worst grade in that category. The report cards noted that the Browns players surveyed “believe that the coaches’ families are treated better than players’ families,” as “the coaches’ families have a post-game meet up inside the stadium, while the players’ families meet in a tent in the parking lot.” According to the team, the tent is heated and the organization spends around $200,000 on the space. Browns left guard Joel Bitonio, the longest tenured member of the Browns, said he does think “there has been improvements as far as families go.” “I think it’s almost like a logistical thing in our stadium,” Bitonio said about the downtown lakefront stadium that opened in 1999. “There’s teams like the Raiders, the Vikings, the Cowboys, they will have dedicated areas where after the game, you can meet up with your family, your friends. They have meals for them inside the stadium, where we’re kind of across the street in the parking lot. “It gets cold in Cleveland and there’s a little tent there where you can meet up with them for five minutes. But it’s kind of a thrown-together segment. I think the players just wanted something [with] a little more space and a little more time.” The Browns say that they have been eliciting feedback from players on ideas for a family room as they move forward with their plans to build a $2.4 billion domed stadium in Brookpark, a Cleveland suburb. SPEAKING WHILE WATCHING his team practice in Maui last week, Los Angeles Rams team president Kevin Demoff said holding minicamp in Hawaii — and inviting players to bring along their families or significant others — was not a reaction to the team’s poor NFLPA report card. The Rams, who ranked 30th of 32nd teams in the treatment of families category last season, had already planned this trip when the report cards came out, Demoff said. “There’s nothing we ever do that’s based on the NFLPA surveys,” Demoff said. “We always do what we think is best for our organization, our players and their families. I think if you wanted to make this a great trip for them, they had to be able to bring their families and have that opportunity open to them. “I’ve loved getting to watch our football operations staff family interact with player families in ways that never really happened. The authentic collisions that happened in the hotel lobby and people going out to dinner or playing golf and doing those things, watching the families plant trees yesterday together in Wailea. Those are all special moments that bring the entire organization together. Doing it because you might do better in a survey would be a backwards result, I think, from what we’re all trying to achieve.” But some teams are undoubtedly guided by the surveys. A Jaguars official said they listened to player concerns over the lack of access sideline passes so they can see their families pregame, and they have solutions in place for 2025. Pre-game sideline passes are now available, and players and their families will gather postgame in the cafeteria of the team’s football facility adjacent to EverBank Stadium. “We value all our players and their families,” the official said. |
| FIVE TEAMS THAT WON THE OFFSEASONBucky Brooks of NFL.com has a list of five teams that won the offseason, with his fourth team ticketed for a Super Bowl win: Offseason hype can be a blessing and a curse. Just ask last year’s Chicago Bears. The vibes were great a year ago at this time, when they were expected to make a major leap in Year 1 of the Caleb Williams era. Instead, they collapsed after a 4-2 start, firing their head coach before the calendar turned to December and losing 10 games in a row. This year, the Bears are offseason darlings once again after the hiring of Ben Johnson and a series of strong player acquisitions. But I’m expecting the hype to be backed up when they take the field this time. Chicago isn’t the only team that positioned itself for better days with their moves since the 2024 season concluded, though. With less than a month before the first NFL training camp opens, I highlight my top five winners of the offseason below and share my expectations for each squad entering the 2025 campaign. Chicago BearsAfter luring head coach Ben Johnson away from the division-rival Lions and upgrading the supporting cast around former No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, the Bears should be viewed as a dark-horse contender in 2025. Chicago has beefed up its pass catchers and pass protectors to ensure it can go toe-to-toe with any offensive heavyweight in the league. The team drafted a pair of mismatch creators in TE Colston Loveland and WR Luther Burden III, who will keep opposing defensive coordinators up all night crafting game plans to neutralize the catch-and-run concepts that will be featured prominently on Johnson’s call sheet. Given the veteran players added to the offensive line in free agency (Drew Dalman) and via trade (Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson), the Bears have given Williams enough support to help him dazzle this season. If Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo can add some spice to a defense in desperate need of more playmakers, the Bears could enjoy a worst-to-first rise in the NFC North. My expectation for 2025: The table is set for the Bears to make a playoff run this season. They have upgraded their play-caller, playmakers and pass protectors to ensure Williams sparks a turnaround as a sophomore. Baltimore RavensIt feels like now or never for the Ravens after general manager Eric DeCosta signed Jaire Alexander to put the finishing touches on the best roster in football. The two-time All-Pro will team with Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins and first-round pick Malaki Starks to form a dynamic defensive backfield that can suffocate opponents with sticky coverage. The defensive upgrades should enable the Ravens to stymie opposing offenses that are forced into shootouts by Lamar Jackson and Co. With DeAndre Hopkins joining a group of pass catchers that already features dangerous playmakers like Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Isaiah Likely, the Ravens are one of the favorites to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LX. My expectation for 2025: This is the year Jackson finally gets the monkey off his back and guides the Ravens to the Super Bowl. The confetti might not fall on No. 8’s shoulders, but the “Bullies of Baltimore” will finish the season in Santa Clara, California, competing for the Lombardi Trophy. New England PatriotsThe vibes are different this year with Mike Vrabel returning to the franchise as head coach. The former Patriots All-Pro linebacker is turning back the clock with an old-school approach and an updated roster that could make opponents miserable, forcing them to play “Fight Club” in Gillette Stadium. The addition of grizzled veterans on defense like Milton Williams, Harold Landry III, Robert Spillane and Carlton Davis III adds toughness and playmaking to a unit that lost its way in 2024. Offensively, the Patriots have upgraded the talent around Drake Maye to help the quarterback make a jump in Year 2. From solidifying the offensive line with Will Campbell, Morgan Moses and Garrett Bradbury coming on board to adding a WR1 (Stefon Diggs) and RB2 (TreVeyon Henderson) with big-play potential, New England has surrounded its QB1 with a much-improved supporting cast that should make the game easier for him. With offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels building clever game plans to accentuate Maye’s strengths as a mobile playmaker, the Patriots offense could light up scoreboards by season’s end. My expectation for 2025: The Patriots should quickly close ground on their division rivals as a .500 squad that makes a push for a playoff berth over the final month of the season. Washington CommandersIt’s hard to improve from good to great in the NFL, but the Commanders might join the league’s elites with an improved roster that features more blue-chip players around 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels. The trades for Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel place a pair of Pro Bowl-caliber players in marquee positions (left tackle and WR2) that should help the offense unlock another gear in 2025. If the team can resolve Terry McLaurin’s contract situation, the Commanders will have a chance to open the season with an electric offense that will put plenty of stress on defensive coordinators crafting plans to stop the juggernaut. Defensively, the additions of Deatrich Wise and Jonathan Jones fortify a unit that is coming into its own under the direction of head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. If the Commanders continue to receive key contributions from their young defensive backs (Mike Sainristil, Quan Martin and Trey Amos), the reigning NFC runner-up could take the next step in 2025. My expectation for 2025: The Commanders are built to run through the NFC with a superstar quarterback surrounded by a stellar supporting cast. If Washington can secure the NFC’s No. 1 seed, we could see a championship parade in the nation’s capital come February. Las Vegas RaidersThe Raiders’ return to respectability is underway under head coach Pete Carroll. The Super Bowl XLVIII champion has installed a title-caliber blueprint that should make the Silver and Black competitive in his first season on the job. By reuniting Carroll with former Seahawks QB Geno Smith to help usher in a new culture, Las Vegas has jump-started the process with an underrated veteran who has a Pro Bowl pedigree. As rookie first-rounder Ashton Jeanty and budding superstar Brock Bowers settle into their roles as the designated playmakers in Chip Kelly’s offense, the Raiders can overwhelm opponents with an approach that repeatedly puts the ball in the hands of their best players in prime positions. On defense, the return of coordinator Patrick Graham and top defenders Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins (if healthy) could help the Raiders challenge opponents with a fast-paced see ball, get ball scheme. Given Carroll’s history of producing quick turnarounds as a team leader, the squad’s mix of teachers and talent could lead to impressive results in his first season. My expectation for 2025: The Raiders could emerge as a dark-horse playoff contender thanks to Carroll’s experience and expertise. The 73-year-old coach knows how to put together winning game plans, and his roster features enough talent to chalk up nine-plus wins. |
| 2026 DRAFT – CARSON BECKHere is another of Daniel Jeremiah’s QB Scouting Reports. Yesterday, we had DREW ALLAR who he compares to Joe Flacco. Now, we find out who QB CARSON BECK reminds him of – which we find to be a couple of steps up the food chain from where we think Beck actually stands. It was a long wait for Carson Beck. The four-star recruit sat behind Stetson Bennett for three years at Georgia before getting a chance to be the full-time starter last season. He took full advantage when the opportunity finally came his way. Beck led the Bulldogs to a 13-1 campaign, positioning himself at the forefront of the conversation for top quarterback in college football entering the 2024 season. Displaying a great mix of arm strength, accuracy from the pocket and decision-making ability, he ranked third in the FBS with 3,941 passing yards. The team’s lone loss — which ended a 29-game winning streak for the program — was a three-point defeat to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. It marked just the second time all year that Beck didn’t throw a touchdown pass. A couple weeks later, he announced he would be returning for the 2024 season. Hungry for a third national championship in four years, Georgia is once again a leading contender to win the title and Beck is one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. This has a chance to be a very special time for the native of Jacksonville, Florida. Will his ascent continue? After breaking down Beck’s game tape from last year, here is my initial scouting report. Height, weight: 6-foot-3 7/8, 233 pounds (as of spring 2024). 2023 statistics (14 games): 302-of-417 (72.4%) for 3,941 yards (9.4 per attempt), 24 TDs and 6 INTs; 60 carries for 116 yards (1.9 average), 4 TDs. Game tape watched: vs. Kentucky (Oct. 7, 2023), vs. Missouri (Nov. 4, 2023), at Tennessee (Nov. 18, 2023). What I liked: Beck has prototypical size and arm strength. He has a quick/compact release and he operates with a very firm/strong base. He can power the ball into tight windows. I saw him consistently utilize anticipation, velocity and ball placement to fit the ball between a triangle of defenders. He flashes the athleticism to pick up free yards when they are presented, but he prefers to read through his progression and work from the pocket. Georgia’s offensive system does a nice job of easing him into games with quick/easy throws before expanding the field. He is accurate underneath and displays touch to make life easy on pass catchers. He has quick feet and hands in the RPO game. He also has a good feel on back-shoulder throws down the field. There is a lot to like about his game. Where he needs to improve: I didn’t see a lot to critique in the three games I studied. The biggest issue for Beck is his accuracy when he’s moved off his spot. He has good pocket feel/presence but his accuracy does suffer when he has to move/reset and deliver the ball. The other issue is his passes can get a little flat at times on layer throws. The problem is a flat throw on those types of passes can allow underneath defenders to tip the ball, which could lead to turnovers. I believe both areas can be addressed and improved. Biggest takeaway: Beck could have transferred earlier in his career, but he chose to wait his turn for three seasons before winning the starting job last season. I believe his patience is about to be rewarded. He has all the tools to be a top draft pick and the talent around him should lead to a deep postseason run for the Bulldogs. The SEC is stacked, but I came away very impressed with the overall depth and talent of the Georgia roster. Beck is easily the most talented UGA passer since Matthew Stafford departed after the 2008 season and I can’t wait to study his play this fall. He reminds me of: Beck was measured by scouts in the spring at 6-3 7/8 and 233 pounds. Considering his size, talent and play style, he reminds me of Eli Manning coming out of Ole Miss. Like Manning, Beck excels from the pocket and plays to his size. Eli was a little underappreciated during his career, but he won his first title with a good rushing attack in an offense that required him to make plays in key moments. I see a similar trajectory for Beck at Georgia. I can’t wait to watch him play: vs. Clemson on Aug. 31 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. How’s that for a matchup on the first full weekend of the 2024 college football season? This is the best game of the week, and it will garner the attention of the entire college football world. That’s quite a stage for Beck and I anticipate he’ll put on a show. I’m hopeful the Georgia staff will open up the playbook and cut him loose. Now that he has the experience to go along with his obvious talent, he’s due to make a major leap. |
