| NFC NORTH |
| CHICAGOOn the one hand, the Bears are 7-3 – and that’s good. But enthusiasm is tempered by the fact they have played one game against a team currently with a winning record – and they lost that one to the Lions in Week 2 by a score of 52-21. On the other hand – six of the remaining seven games are against teams with winning records, including the re-match with the Lions in Week 18 and two meetings with the Packers. The one exception is a home matchup with Cleveland on December 24. |
| MINNESOTAQB J.J. McCARTHY is squarely on the hot seat. Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com: Boos rained down on J.J. McCarthy midway through the third quarter Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. A miserable game for the Minnesota Vikings quarterback had just gotten worse. On third-and-7, McCarthy sailed a pass well beyond receiver Justin Jefferson on a basic out cut. The Chicago Bears were giving Jefferson that route, and the accompanying first down it could generate. NFL quarterbacks make that throw routinely, taking 8 or 9 yards against a defense that is guarding against bigger plays. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell refers to such throws as “pitch and catch.” As fans reacted angrily, McCarthy put both hands on his helmet and — in a visceral expression of emotion — sprinted off the field. “You just can’t miss those,” McCarthy said after the Vikings’ 19-17 loss. “This league’s too hard. There’s three or five decisions [and] plays that I want back more than anything, and that’s one of them.” McCarthy’s season-long streaks of inaccuracy intensified Sunday, coinciding with a bruised right hand sustained in Week 10 that required him to wear protective padding. As the fourth quarter began, he had completed 10 of 22 passes for 74 yards and two interceptions. His rate of off-target throws was an astronomical 32% at that point. He had sprayed passes over Jefferson’s head, at the feet of fellow receiver Jordan Addison and ahead of tight end T.J. Hockenson. His frenetic pocket movement, ball velocity and timing issues might also have contributed to a series of drops, including two by Addison. So when McCarthy sprinted off the field after his third-quarter misfire to Jefferson, it was fair to wonder: Was it a cry for help? Might it have been better for his development — not to mention the team’s chances for winning — to put him out of his misery and insert backup Max Brosmer? O’Connell said afterward that he’s always balancing “what’s best for the young quarterback, what’s best for our offense, what’s best for the team.” But when asked whether there is a depth of performance McCarthy could hit to merit at least a short-term removal from a game, O’Connell said: “Yeah, I’m not going to get into any of that right now.” To be fair, late in the fourth quarter, McCarthy led the Vikings on an 85-yard drive that briefly gave them a one-point lead with 50 seconds left. In the fourth quarter, he completed 6 of 10 passes for 76 yards and did not have a single off-target throw. It was a reminder that McCarthy has at times shown enough composure, arm strength and schematic understanding to spur optimism about his long-term future. Perhaps that is why both Jefferson and Addison held the line during postgame interviews. Jefferson said that the difficulty of the moment isn’t something “we’re keeping under the rug” but added: “I have to be headfirst in leading us into the direction of winning, of being where it needs to be. If that takes taking J.J. out [socially] and getting more time with him and creating that connection with him, that’s what I’ve got to do.” Said Addison: “It’s on us. He’s a young quarterback in this league. It’s a tough league to win. So I feel like it’s on the supporting cast around him to help make this thing go.” In the meantime, though, McCarthy is missing too many easy throws for any team to win consistently. O’Connell had already made it as painless as he could within the context of trying to win a game. He called designed runs on 46% of the Vikings’ plays through the end of the third quarter and noted that he called two consecutive runs — the second of which was a 16-yard touchdown from Jordan Mason — after a Myles Price punt return set them up at the Bears’ 24-yard line in the fourth quarter. In a wry reference to his reputation as a pass-happy playcaller, O’Connell referred to that sequence as “unique if you’re looking back over the catalog over the years.” Of course, the real meat of the Vikings’ offense is downfield passing to Jefferson and Addison and sometimes Hockenson. In the past two weeks, McCarthy simply hasn’t been able to hit enough open receivers. Sunday, McCarthy completed 4 of 16 passes that traveled at least 10 yards past the line of scrimmage, for a total of 76 yards with one touchdown and both interceptions. In a loss to the Baltimore Ravens a week ago, he completed only six of 21 such passes. Would Brosmer have done any better Sunday? He had an impressive training camp as an undrafted rookie but has no experience in a competitive NFL game. Had O’Connell made the move, McCarthy would have missed out on the reps and success he experienced in the fourth quarter. The Vikings entered the season hoping to compete for a deep playoff run while developing McCarthy in real time. It’s now possible that those goals will cannibalize each other. Their postseason outlook is bleak and McCarthy has shown few signs of progress over five starts. Seven games remain to salvage one or the other — but not both.. |
| NFC EAST |
DALLASThe Cowboys played hard in the first game after the death of their teammate Marshawn Kneeland. Grant Gordon of NFL.com:
And the ‘Boys played on. Eleven days after Marshawn Kneeland’s death, the Dallas Cowboys returned to the field, heavy hearts hidden by shoulder pads, emotions covered by facemasks. While the rest of the league had recognized Kneeland with pregame tributes, the Cowboys had spent their bye week mourning the loss of a teammate gone far too young, trying, as head coach Brian Schottenheimer said on Nov. 12, not to move on, but move forward. They did so Monday by way of a resounding 33-16 victory against the Las Vegas Raiders. “So proud of these guys,” Schottenheimer said after the win. “The way that they grieved, cried, laughed, but they wanted to honor him, and we’re not done honoring him. He’s a part of our family forever. These past 11 days have been really tough. I’m proud of those guys because of just the way they played today. They played with Marshawn’s play style.” Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott could be heard telling his teammates in the huddle early in the game, “Tonight’s about honoring our a brother.” Prescott — who had wrist tape with “One love,” — a phrased favored by Kneeland — written on it, sparkled on Monday, throwing four touchdown passes. “Just like Shotty said, ‘the honoring doesn’t stop’ and, you know, honestly, when the season’s over, the honoring won’t stop,” said Prescott, whose Cowboys have massive games ahead against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving and the Detroit Lions. “So, it’s about intensifying everything that we do to carry the legacy of Marshawn. Then over the next three games with the opponents coming in and us wanting to get to where we want to go, everything’s just got to heighten. The discipline, the focus, the intensity, the aggressiveness and that’s at practice. That will just carry over into the game. I’ve always said, ‘the game’s a celebration of the work that you put in throughout the week.'” Ahead of Monday night’s game, players, such as quarterback Prescott, showed up with shirts featuring a picture of Kneeland and played with decals with Kneeland’s No. 94 donned on their helmets. Coaches wore the shirts throughout the game. “I would be lying if I said I didn’t have tears when I first put this shirt on as you can imagine,” Schottenheimer said. “But more than anything, I know Marshawn was looking down on us, and we wanted to make him proud, and I think we did that.” Kneeland was found dead on Nov. 6 after an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Just 24, Kneeland had been with the Cowboys since 2024 when he was selected in the second round of the draft. The defensive end played 18 career games with four starts, including three this year in which he produced 12 tackles and his first career sack. Kneeland’s death sent shockwaves throughout the league and, in Dallas, devasted ownership and players, alike. Cowboys players returned to practice exactly a week after receiving the tragic news that Kneeland had evaded police officers attempting to make a traffic stop and fled an accident on foot hours before he was found dead. Prescott and defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, who each had siblings who died by suicide, were the first to address the media upon the return to practice. Kneeland’s death came during the team’s bye week, leaving the players alone upon hearing the news. They were together again for the first time on the playing field Monday, united in moving on with their season and remembering their lost teammate. “Yeah, obviously, a tough, hard 12 days,” Prescott said. “You know through the bye week those first as I’m mentioned to y’all earlier in the week, those first few days not being with the guys was harder than anything. The last six, seven (days) being together, working together, having conversations, healing and shining a light on who Marshawn was. Then, obviously, coming out here tonight and playing with the style that he played with — the intensity, the efforts, finish and super proud of the guys with the whirlwind of a week. Great one to cap off with a win right here but it doesn’t put a cap on it. We’re going to continue to move forward and shine light to Marshawn and carry his legacy. We need to play like this every week moving forward. He’ll always be with us.” The Cowboys have seven games remaining in the regular season. Schottenheimer believes the group is closer than it’s ever been, joined in moving forward from tragedy and in continuing to pay homage to Kneeland, which the rookie head coach is steadfast in doing. “It’s galvanized us forever,” Schottenheimer said. “We’ll always be tight, but this has really brought us together, brothers for life.” Schottenheimer added: “More than anything, I know Marshawn was looking down on us, and I hope we made him proud.” |
| NEW YORK GIANTSWith QB JAXSON DART already in the fold, the DB would think that Lane Kiffin could/should be on the list of possible Giants coaches. And we would think that Kiffin could/should think about getting out of the killer SEC and think about the opportunities in the Big Apple. That said, it apparently is not going to happen. Ed Valentine of BigBlueView.com: Everybody and their cousin can put together lists of candidates for the New York Giants full-time head-coaching job. When NFL insider Jay Glazer does it, though, it is time to pay attention. Glazer did exactly that during Sunday’s NFL pre-game show on FOX. He listed six names as early candidates, and said college coaches like Lane Kiffin of Ole Miss and Marcus Freeman of Notre Dame would not get consideration. Glazer’s list: Mike McCarthy, a Super Bowl-winner with the Green Bay Packers. Matt Nagy, former Chicago Bears coach and current offensive coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs. Lou Anarumo, current defensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts. A former Giants assistant, Anarumo is a Staten Island native who interviewed for the job in 2022. Steve Spagnuolo, the two-time Giants defensive coordinator and former interim head coach.Arthur Smith, former Atlanta Falcons head coach and current Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator. Chris Shula, 39-year-old defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams. Glazer indicated that the Giants will have to choose between a culture-setter or an offensive coach brought in to develop quarterback Jaxson Dart. Glazer said Shula’s name is “starting to really pop up.” Shula could be the next head coach from the Sean McVay coaching tree, whether it is with the Giants or elsewhere. Glazer said McVay believes Shula “is going to be a star.” Does anyone on that list get you excited? Shula? – – -Whether it was sleep or “recovery”, LB ABDUL CARTER was at the facilty but AWOL while his teammates went through a walk through last week. So he missed the opening series of the Green Bay game as punishment. Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com: Abdul Carter was benched for the New York Giants’ opening series Sunday because the rookie was asleep at the team facility and missed a recent walk-through, a source told ESPN. Carter didn’t play during the opening defensive series in the Giants’ home loss to the Green Bay Packers. The linebacker took accountability after the game for the incident, which happened during the week, and said he has to accept the consequences for his actions. On Monday, Carter responded to a social media post sharing The Athletic’s report on the walk-through. He denied sleeping through it. “Was not sleep, actually doing recovery,” Carter posted. “Nonetheless that’s on ME!” Carter later posted on X: “When the hate don’t work they start telling lies!” Carter had one tackle, one quarterback hit and two pressures in 45 snaps Sunday after the discipline. He played every snap the rest of the way after he was expected to start in place of the injured Kayvon Thibodeaux. Former practice squad player Tomon Fox started in his place. It has been a rough rookie season for Carter, the No. 3 selection in this year’s NFL draft. He has just 0.5 sacks in his first 11 career games, although he has had multiple sacks negated by penalties. The Athletic added that being late to meetings has been a trend for Carter during his rookie season under Brian Daboll. But Daboll was fired last week and replaced by Mike Kafka, who decided the correct punishment was to keep Carter out for the opening series. The Giants (2-9), who lost their fifth straight game Sunday, play on the road against the Detroit Lions in Week 12. |
| PHILADELPHIAThe Eagles, flying high on defense, have taken a blow to their offense. OT Lane Johnson suffered a Lisfranc sprain during Sunday’s win over the Lions and is expected to miss four to six weeks, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported. Johnson is a candidate to be placed on injured reserve, but the foot issue is not believed to be season-ending, Rapoport and Garafolo added. Johnson, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, has started all 10 games for the Eagles this season and will seek a second opinion and further testing on the injury. |
| WASHINGTONThere used to be a time when making field goals of 50+ yards was a rare bonus as long as you took care of business on the closer tries. But that was then – and in today’s NFL you are out of a job if you miss from 51 and 56. Jason Owens of YahooSports.com on the waiving of PK MATT GAY: After missing two field goals in Sunday’s 16-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Madrid, Washington Commanders kicker Matt Gay is out of a job. The Commanders announced on Monday that they have released Gay. They signed kicker Jake Moody off the Chicago Bears’ practice squad shortly after Gay’s release, NFL Network reports. Gay missed a 51-yard attempt in the second quarter against Miami that would have tied the game at 6. He then missed a go-ahead 56-yard attempt with 10 seconds remaining in regulation. A made field goal would have given the Commanders a 16-13 lead. Instead, the game went to overtime, and the Dolphins secured a 16-13 win. Gay is a seven-year NFL veteran and former Pro Bowler with the Rams who won a Super Bowl with Los Angeles after the 2022 season. This season was his first with the Commanders and the worst of his career. Gay connected on 13 of 19 field goal attempts for Washington, including a 2-for-4 effort against the Dolphins. His 68.4% success rate was the worst of his career after he posted an 80.5% success rate or better on field goals in each of the previous five seasons. He made 32 out of 34 attempts for a career-high 94.1% success rate during his 2021 Pro Bowl campaign. 13 of 19 doesn’t sound all that good, but Gay was 9-10 on his FGs of under 50 and 4 of 9 from 50+ for the Commanders. That’s 46%, which once was a pretty decent percentage on 50+ FGs. The Colts let Gay walk last year after he went 3 of 9 from 50+. So, Gay has been released twice in the last year and a half – after going 37-38 on FGs under 50 and 55-55 on PATs. That’s 92 of 93 on kicks under 50 and he can’t hold a job. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| ATLANTAA Falcons nugget from Scott Kacsmar: The Falcons have been praised for their pass rush, but they’ve lost their last three games despite generating 18 sacks, a record.– – -The 3-7 Falcons, their season on the precipice, will not have QB MICHAEL PENIX, Jr. for at least four weeks. And no WR DRAKE LONDON this week. Kevin Patra of NFL.com: Michael Penix Jr.’s second season in Atlanta is in peril. The Falcons are placing Penix on injured reserve due to the knee injury suffered in Sunday’s 30-27 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Monday. Penix aggravated a bone bruise and knee sprain from earlier in the season on Sunday, per Rapoport and Pelissero. Penix also suffered some damage to his ACL in his left knee, which could necessitate a full reconstruction, per Rapoport and Pelissero. “We are working through the medical process to determine the severity of the injury,” the team announced later Monday. “He will be placed on the reserve/injured list and miss a minimum of four games.” Penix exited Sunday’s game after taking a third-quarter shot. He limped off the field before heading to the locker room. The QB was listed as questionable but did not return. Atlanta owned a 21-16 lead when Penix left. “Obviously it hurts your heart when your quarterback goes down,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris told reportes on Monday afternoon, via the team’s official website. “But you got to recenter, you got to refocus.” Falcons wide receiver Drake London is also out at least one week after he suffered a PCL sprain on the last play of regulation on Sunday and was ruled out during the extra period, per Rapoport, who added that London could potentially miss more time after Week 12. Morris told reporters that London would be “week to week” with his knee injury. The news is a blow for the 3-7 Falcons, who have floundered, losing their past five games. Atlanta, which traded its first-round selection to the Los Angeles Rams back in April, currently holds the No. 8 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. |
| AFC WEST |
| DENVERPete Prisco on the rise of the Broncos: The Denver Broncos sent a loud message to their doubters Sunday. The dreaded Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes came to town, and the Broncos pushed aside any notion they weren’t for real by beating the Chiefs 22-19 on a last-second field goal. That win ups Denver’s record to a division-leading 9-2, gives it the top seed right now, and almost certainly ends the Chiefs’ chances of winning the AFC West. Denver has ripped off eight straight victories, seven of those being one-score games. Thanks to a nasty defense, one that leads the league in sacks with 49, and timely fourth-quarter play by Bo Nix and the offense, the Broncos have staked a claim as one of the league’s best teams. In his third season with the Broncos, coach Sean Payton has Denver as a real Super Bowl threat. The offense may be inconsistent at times, but that defense is special. And we know the old adage: Defense travels in the postseason — and this one might not need to hit the road until the Super Bowl if it gets the top seed in the AFC. The Broncos’ two losses came on field goals in the final seconds early in the season. Turning that around and winning close games is a great way to prepare for the postseason. They are battle-tested. The Broncos are now up to fifth in my Power Rankings this week as they head into the bye. After the bye, their schedule has road games against the Washington Commanders and Las Vegas Raiders, then home games against Green Bay and Jacksonville before finishing up at Kansas City and home against the Chargers. The last four will decide if they are the top seed in the AFC. We know Nix has been inconsistent at times and the running game needs to be better, but Payton has this team believing in the fourth quarter that they can win games, even when behind. That, coupled with the dominant defense, will make them a threat come playoff time to win it all. They’ve played the last three games without reigning Defensive Player of the Year cornerback Patrick Surtain II. He is expected back after the bye, which will make them even better. If you didn’t believe in this team before Sunday, you should now. Slowing Patrick Mahomes and beating the Chiefs on Sunday is proof of that. |
| KANSAS CITYThe implication here would seem to be that QB PATRICK MAHOMES is audibling out of runs too much (at least in the eyes of Coach Andy Reid): @MLFootballWOW: #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid called out his quarterback Patrick Mahomes today. “The runs are being called… it’s just sometimes they get turned into passes in today’s world.”– – -Scott Kacsmar, compiler of all the positive Mahomes stats and all the negative Brady stats, prepares his defense for the Chiefs missing the playoffs in 2025: @UnSportsESPN“If they don’t make the playoffs this year, I DO NOT want to hear about this Chiefs dynasty in the same sentence as the Patriots dynasty.” – @EvCoRadio @ScottKacsmarYou mean the NE dynasty that missed the playoffs in 2002 and 2008 by losing the division to Chad Pennington, and the one who went a decade without winning a SB while the Steelers and Giants stacked 2 each? Have some standards. Or knowledge of the game. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CINCINNATIWR Ja’MARR CHASE was outed, after the fact, as having started Sunday’s fracas with CB JALEN RAMSEY with some spit. And he’s on the verge of missing a critical game with New England because of it. Paul Dehner, Jr of The Athletic: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been suspended one game after the NFL found he spat on Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey on Sunday. Chase will miss the Bengals’ Week 12 game against the New England Patriots. The incident occurred in the fourth quarter of the Bengals’ 34-12 loss to the Steelers. Ramsey was ejected for throwing a punch at Chase, but said after the game that it was a reaction to Chase spitting on him. Chase denied the spitting accusation, but field-level footage from Fox 19 in Cincinnati seemed to support Ramsey’s claim. Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Monday that while he’s always been impressed with how Chase handles himself in situations where defenders try to agitate him, what happened with Ramsey was “unacceptable.” “Obviously, what happened is crossing the line,” Taylor said Monday. “We can’t have that. I know he’ll own up to that.” Chase was asked directly after the game whether he spat on Ramsey, which is when the receiver denied the claim. “I never opened my mouth to that guy,” Chase said. “I didn’t spit on nobody.” Chase was asked about the incident again during an open locker room session on Monday, but the wide receiver, who typically talks with the media on Thursdays, declined comment. In its statement announcing the suspension, the league said that Chase “will be eligible to return to the Bengals’ active roster on Monday, Nov. 24, following the team’s Nov. 23 game against the New England Patriots.” This on the appeal from Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com: Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has appealed his one-game suspension for spitting on Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports that former Packers receiver Jordy Nelson, a jointly appointed NFL-NFLPA appeals officer, will hear Chase’s case. Derrick Brooks and Ramon Foster are the other appeals officers. As it stands, Chase will miss Sunday’s game against the Patriots. Chase would become the first player ever suspended for spitting. Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter was ejected before the first play from scrimmage in the season opener for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. The NFL fined him a game check, and he did not appeal. The suspension would cost Chase his weekly paycheck of $448,333, along with $58,823 in a per-game active bonus. Chase declined to talk to reporters on Monday. |
| PITTSBURGHThe injury to the left wrist of QB AARON RODGERS does not intend to be long term. Indeed, he has not been ruled out for Sunday in one of his favorite haunts. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will not need surgery on the injury that forced him out of Sunday’s game. Further tests confirmed surgery is not needed on the injury, NFL Network reported today. The Steelers initially said Rodgers injured his left hand. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin later said it was his left wrist. There has not been a definitive diagnosis announced. Before he can play on Sunday against the Bears, Rodgers would need to be medically cleared. But the early news appears to be good. Rodgers has historically played well in Chicago, famously telling Bears fans, “I own you” when he played for the Packers. He’ll surely be pushing to play in Chicago again on Sunday. If he can’t go, Mason Rudolph will start in his place. Last week Rudolph played well enough in the second half against the Bengals for the Steelers to build on their lead, but Pittsburgh will hope Rodgers is ready to go this week. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| HOUSTONThere are slight concussions and then there are significant ones. QB C.J. STROUD, who will miss his 3rd game Thursday, has a significant one. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said on Monday that quarterback C.J. Stroud remains in the concussion protocol and the team’s injury report didn’t offer much hope that he’ll be cleared in time to play against the Bills on Thursday night. Stroud was listed as a non-participant in the team’s walkthrough. Davis Mills has started the last two games in Stroud’s place and will start again if Stroud remains in the protocol this week. Mills was listed as a full participant with a left elbow issue. The Texans are 2-0 with QB DAVIS MILLS who plays serviceably to give the team, with the NFL’s number one defense, a chance in any game. In the last two weeks, Mills has twice passed for 250+ yards and twice directing a drive to a last-minute winning score. And on Tuesday we learn that Stroud has improved to the point he will be at practice. Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com: According to multiple reporters, C.J. Stroud is set to return to practice on Tuesday as the quarterback takes a step forward in the concussion protocol. But with the Texans hosting the Bills on Thursday night, Stroud is still unlikely to play in Week 12. That puts Davis Mills in line to start another game, though Stroud may be able to return for Houston’s Week 13 divisional matchup against Indianapolis. Stroud has not played since suffering his concussion in the Week 9 loss to the Broncos. Mills has beaten the Jaguars and Titans in the last two weeks to help get the Texans to 5-5 on the season. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW ENGLANDMike Reiss of ESPN.com on the pile-pushing culture being established by Coach Mike Vrabel: 1. Pile push: In the box score of the Patriots’ 27-14 win over the New York Jets on Thursday night, the first touchdown reads “TreVeyon Henderson 7-yard run.” But players say a more accurate description might be, “Mike Vrabel team culture.” Yes, it was Henderson holding the ball. But he had been stopped around the 3-yard line and was pushed over the goal line by the determination and force of tight end Hunter Henry and offensive linemen Will Campbell, Jared Wilson, Mike Onwenu and Garrett Bradbury. “Pushing the piles — he’s big on us being around the ball, not watching, and getting downfield and making sure our guys are safe and keeping them covered up,” Onwenu said. Or as wide receiver Mack Hollins succinctly put it, “A pile push is what Vrabes lives for.” The Patriots have the NFL’s best record at 9-2, and of the many things that have fallen into place for them this season, the push-pile touchdown reflects one of the top areas players see as a strength. They play with “effort and finish” — which is the first part of Vrabel’s desired team culture — and they are playing for each other. “We work on that specific drill at practice — push the pile. That’s something we pride ourselves in,” said Campbell, the fourth pick in April, whose aggressive play style made him an ideal fit for Vrabel’s first Patriots team. “We knew if we didn’t do it, we’d probably get in a little bit of trouble.” How far the Patriots can push their way through a potential deep playoff run is now a real conversation. Vrabel gave players a well-deserved three-day break that ends Monday, when they will return to work and look ahead to the next game Nov. 23 on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals. Vrabel told players in the locker room after the game, in a video posted on Patriots.com, “We all got a long way to go, and you guys are going to help us get there. Together.” Over the past couple of weeks, Vrabel has shared details of decisions by team leaders that resonated with him. Last week, he gave players the option to practice inside to lighten their load. But they passed, believing work in the cold would be a greater benefit. Then on Thursday’s game day, cognizant of players’ time and commitment to recovery after playing five days before in Tampa Bay, Vrabel told players he was willing to cut out a team meeting to give them some breathing room. But players again declined, telling Vrabel the meeting was too important for them to miss. Vrabel also noted that the week before, on the standard players’ day off, 41 of them arrived at the facility anyway. Owner Robert Kraft has been impressed with what he has observed, telling 98.5 The Sports Hub before Thursday’s game, “There is a great culture and attitude. Mike and his staff have done a great job. We’re excited. But we’ll go week to week.” Veteran receiver Stefon Diggs, who leads the team with 59 receptions for 659 yards, has played a significant role in reinforcing that culture in the locker room and reminding teammates not to drink the “Kool-Aid” of thinking they have arrived. “Everybody is feeding off each other. It’s an exciting time to be a part of the New England Patriots; being a part of it is definitely special, it’s fun,” he said. “People kind of counted us out a little bit at the beginning of the year when things weren’t going right. It’s easy to do that.” Though Thursday’s push-pile touchdown highlighted the offense moving in the same direction, players say it shows up on defense and special teams, as well. “Team defense. Nobody is bigger than the team. That’s the type of team Coach Vrabel wanted to build from Day 1 — a bunch of guys who are selfless and want to pour into this team — who want to help their teammates, who get joy from seeing their teammate succeed,” said linebacker Robert Spillane, a captain who leads the team with 90 tackles. “When you get 33 guys — 11 on offense, 11 on defense, 11 on special teams — who all want to see the team succeed, good things are going to happen.” Added starting cornerback Christian Gonzalez: “We have energy. Everybody’s bought in. Just coming into work every day, just pushing each other — we’re real tight, close-knit as a team, especially as a defense. Vrabes has done an amazing job. Just coming in from OTAs, he stood in here and told us what we were going to do — building a team, building connections, coming together. Him as a former player, a great player, he knows how to get people going. You could call it getting under our skin a little bit. He likes to talk. It’s fun. We love playing for him and will do whatever we have to do to go out and get wins.” After each game, Vrabel waits at the locker room door to greet players and let them know he’s there to support them. On Thursday, Vrabel took note that he was joined by defensive tackle Milton Williams, who had injured his ankle in the first half of the game and was downgraded to out in the second half. It was a behind-the-scenes moment that, again, reflected a team pushing forward together. “We got a really talented team, but you know, talent doesn’t win games,” Campbell said. “We got guys that play together and are balled into what Vrabes is building, and this staff is asking of us.”– – -It’s an as yet unnamed baby boy for WR STEFON DIGGS and inamorata Cardi B. RTTNews.com: Cardi B has welcomed her fourth baby, a baby boy, the rapper’s first child with her boyfriend, NFL star Stefon Diggs. Cardi has three other children: Kulture, Wave and Blossom, with her estranged husband and rapper Offset. Cardi filed for divorce from Offset in July 2024, four years after her first filing in 2020, though it is yet to be finalized. As for Diggs, he is already a father to daughters Nova and Charliee. Cardi shared the news on Instagram in the caption of a video where she lip-synchs “Hello,” from her recently released sophomore studio album Am I the Drama?. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| RANKING THE NEW COACHESBen Solak of ESPN.com likes the job being done by Ben Johnson in Chicago better than the work of Mike Vrabel in New England or Liam Coen in Jacksonville: This week, we’re looking at how some of the NFL’s new coaches are faring after 11 weeks. Three of the seven 2025 head coaching hires have their teams in playoff position (do not ask about the other four). Two — Mike Vrabel and Ben Johnson — are leading their divisions! And those aren’t easy divisions. In January and February, every new head coach preaches patience while his fan base dreams of Year 1 ascension. The wheat and the chaff have separated in the 2025 class, as Vrabel, Johnson and Liam Coen have brought their respective programs to winning records. Each had a big win in Week 11, too: the Patriots in an intradivisional Thursday night game, the Bears on the road with a key kick return late and the Jaguars in resounding fashion against a solid Chargers team. So what’s working for the new headmen? I looked back at the tagline of each hire — the expectation of how they’d bring success to their new franchises — and compared it to the reality of their seasons thus far. One team is ahead of schedule, one team got the ideal outcome of their gamble, and one team is … difficult to understand. 1. Ben Johnson, Chicago BearsThe promise: An elite offensive scheme and playcalling prowess that unlocks the best of Caleb Williams The return: Exactly that (in progress)The Bears are tricky to figure out. They are 7-3 and have shown tremendous poise for such a young group, especially on offense. Williams has authored five winning drives. He has done it on the road and at home. He has done it on days when his defense failed him (vs. the Bengals in Week 9) and when the offense was struggling for most of the contest (vs. the Giants in Week 10). One of the other promises Johnson made was improved situational football (it couldn’t have been worse from the outgoing coaching staff), and he has delivered overwhelmingly. But the Bears also have a negative point differential. They have played one team that currently has a winning record (Lions) and lost that game 52-21. They’ve played one other game against a team with a power rating above league average (Ravens) and lost 30-16. ESPN’s Football Power Index currently ranks the Bears 19th; DVOA has them 25th. But because of their standing atop the NFC North, this season’s focus has suddenly shifted from developing a foundation to competing in the NFC playoffs. Let’s recall the expectation that Johnson’s complex, motion-heavy, timing-based offense would take time to install. That Williams would need to grow into the system and Johnson would have to bend his approach to accommodate a stylistically different passer than Jared Goff. That the entire offensive line and running game required reimagining. On these benchmarks alone, Johnson has been a smashing success. Chicago could be 2-8 right now, had all those winning drives not gone its way, and I’d still be saying it. Johnson’s status as a top-five playcaller in the league has been clearly cemented in his first season outside Detroit. The Bears’ offense works. And it is significantly ahead of schedule. One-year offensive line makeovers are typically the stuff of myths, but Chicago’s four new starters along the line have come together swimmingly. Right guard Jonah Jackson has returned to his pre-injury form and works with franchise right tackle Darnell Wright as a dominant run-blocking force. Since Week 6, when the Bears returned from their bye, 64% of their runs have gone to the right; before the bye, it was 49%. On the left side, guard Joe Thuney has been a steady positive presence. Center Drew Dalman, who was rocky to start the season, has blossomed as Johnson adjusted his protections and run-blocking approach to maximize the undersized yet athletic center. The success of the four veterans has allowed Johnson to dedicate resources to protecting left tackle Theo Benedet — who has impressive traits but is raw as a pass protector — after he took the starting job from Braxton Jones. Benedet gets a ton of help in the passing game, but the Bears are impactful across all five positions in the running game. Chicago leads the league in expected yards per carry, per NFL Next Gen Stats. In other words, the blocking and space when the back gets the ball is better in Chicago than anywhere else in the league. It’s difficult to overstate the greatness of this achievement. Johnson’s commitment to building Chicago’s running game has created an easier environment for passing the football. Williams has seen base defense on 31.7% of his dropbacks, which is second most behind only Lamar Jackson; he has run a play-action fake on 32.3%, which is third behind Matthew Stafford and Daniel Jones. The pre-snap manipulation is only half of the victory, as 30.2% of Williams’ pass attempts this season have been thrown to targets tracked as “wide open” by NFL Next Gen Stats (at least 5 yards of separation). That’s the highest rate in the league, and it remains the highest if you filter out throws behind the line of scrimmage. Johnson is smashing the easy buttons for Williams, and Williams is more than holding up his end of the bargain. Week over week, the Bears’ operation becomes smoother. They’ve cut down the pre-snap penalties. Williams, who was missing in-breaking routes wildly to start the season, is pinning them onto his receivers’ numbers. Sure, issues remain — Bears receivers have 13 drops, and a few of those are the result of mistimed routes and throws between quarterback and pass catcher — but they are fewer and farther between. When Johnson’s scheme fails, Williams is there to color in the lines. Only Sam Darnold and Bo Nix have avoided sacks at a higher rate than Williams this season, and Williams is fifth in total scramble EPA. If the Bears can start connecting on more downfield shots when Williams enters creation mode, the final infinity stone will slide into place for this offense, and the passing game will roar to life. They’ve been so close the past couple of weeks. It seems like the snowball is about to start rolling down the mountain. Chicago has the toughest remaining schedule in the league (though a Mason Rudolph-led Steelers team on Sunday would soften that some). I’m not sure how the Bears’ season will turn out and what they can do in the postseason with a thin defense and a green offense. But independent of the results, the process in Chicago is excellent. Johnson is everything that was promised, and in short time, Williams will be, too. 2. Mike Vrabel, New England PatriotsThe promise: A steady CEO of personnel and culture who would elevate the team’s floor The return: A bigger boost than even the most faithful Patriots fan could have expectedBefore handing Vrabel his deserved accolades, there is a necessary caveat that gets far-too-easily leapfrogged in Patriots discussions this season. Sophomore quarterback Drake Maye was far, far closer to this season’s MVP form than he got credit for last season. I wrote about this coming out of Week 16 last season, when Jayden Daniels was about to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. I thought Maye was authoring a more impressive season. Maye’s debut season was ninth in success rate and 14th in EPA per dropback among all rookie quarterbacks in the 2000s. Daniels was third and seventh, respectively — but Maye was dealing with much worse pass protection and wide receiver play, not to mention the coaching miscues. Maye’s peak plays were also misconstrued, as there were far more examples of high-tier processing, ball placement and calculated aggression on his film than the Patriots’ record would have led you to believe. By the end of the season, he was firing on all cylinders. As such, I give Vrabel less credit for Maye’s leap into MVP-hood than the average pundit might. But Vrabel has not misstepped once in his construction of the team around Maye, and for that, he deserves bouquets of flowers. Four new starters man the offensive line — two via free agency, two via the draft — and while the line is still below average, it’s not prohibitive to offensive success like it was last season. How about among the skill positions? Of Maye’s 308 targets, 152 (49.4%) have gone to Vrabel acquisitions, as have 1,303 of Maye’s 2,836 yards (45.9%). Vrabel’s hiring of Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator was a strong one, but the defense has taken the bigger leap. The entire unit has been reimagined under Vrabel, who brought in DT Milton Williams, DT Khyiris Tonga, edge rusher Harold Landry III, DT Cory Durden, edge K’Lavon Chaisson, LB Robert Spillane, LB Jack Gibbens, CB Carlton Davis III and safety Craig Woodson. That’s 3,909 defensive snaps from acquisitions made this offseason, and each player has met or exceeded expectations. Beyond his work as quasi-GM, Vrabel has dramatically improved the Patriots situationally. New England has 57 points within two minutes of the end of the half this season, second to only the Buccaneers. The Patriots have given up only 34 points in those situations, which is 10th best. The Patriots are 13-for-16 on fourth down, and that 81.3% conversion rate leads the league. The red zone is the only somewhat weak point, with an average offense — 57.5% touchdown rate — and a below-average defense. But hey, nobody’s perfect. Anecdotally, the Patriots look like a veteran team. They’ve risen to the occasion in big moments — road wins in Buffalo and Tampa Bay — and sidestepped letdown spots that typically entrap young squads. They handled the Jets, Titans, Saints, Browns and Panthers — struggling teams that often get the drop on suddenly winning squads such as New England. Vrabel has been the rising tide for this team, though that tide might reach a limit when the Patriots’ schedule stiffens up. New England has faced the easiest stretch of opponents to start this season, and even if the Patriots secure a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the playoffs, they will find their mettle tested by AFC contenders. But the bill that Vrabel sold the Patriots — that he had the experience and wisdom to turn the team into one of those contenders — was clearly realized. We’ll find out just how high that ceiling is soon enough. 3. Liam Coen, Jacksonville JaguarsThe promise: An offense that would finally unlock Trevor Lawrence The return: I’m really not sure yetThe Jaguars are one of the most confounding teams of the 2025 season. At 6-4, they’re in the thick of the AFC playoff picture. DVOA has them as a totally average team (15th), as does success rate (15th on offense, 24th on defense) and EPA (20th on offense, 13th on defense). The FPI has them as the 17th-best team. Point margin has them 12th. Only they’re not average; they’re volatile. Of the 328 NFL games played so far this season, the Jaguars’ defense has three of the 50 best by success rate, and three of the 75 worst. By offensive success rate, they just had the 18th-best game in the league this season in their 35-6 win over the Chargers — and the third-best of Lawrence’s career — one week after having the 241st. On offense, Coen’s biggest impact has been on the running game, not the passing attack. While his 2024 Buccaneers offense excelled with a high-percentage passing game and explosive runs behind it, the 2025 Jaguars have few explosive plays on the ground. But the engine of the offense has still been Travis Etienne Jr. and, recently, rookie Bhayshul Tuten. The improvement on the interior offensive line with free agents Robert Hainsey and Patrick Mekari has allowed Coen to beat bad defenses on the ground. Check the games in which the Jaguars’ offense was functional, and you see some bad run defenses — the Chargers, Bengals and Raiders. The running game is where Coen’s creativity and coaching acumen shines. This was even true in Tampa Bay. Though it wasn’t the feature of that offense, the Bucs ran a deep variety of concepts and regularly tailored their rushing approach to that week’s opponent; Jacksonville has done the same, albeit with more of a league-average offensive line. But the passing game has unquestionably lagged. Before Sunday’s shellacking of the Chargers, Jacksonville was 25th in EPA per dropback, 27th in success rate and 27th in first down plus touchdown rate. It’s worth noting that Lawrence’s receivers lead the league in drops, and a carousel of pass catchers have filled in following injuries to tight end Brenton Strange and receivers Travis Hunter (who didn’t have the sort of two-way success the Jaguars hoped he might before being sidelined for the season) and Brian Thomas Jr. (who has had quite a disappointing sophomore season). There’s justification for the early-season difficulty of the passing game, and perhaps this most recent performance indicates the corner is being turned. But as it stands, Lawrence remains locked. The good news — and surprising win! — is that it looks like Coen nailed his defensive coordinator hire. First-year DC Anthony Campanile, who came from Green Bay’s system under Jeff Hafley, is running the cutting-edge schemes the defensive nerds love. According to Next Gen Stats, the Jaguars are seventh in sim pressure rate, dropping a defender off the line of scrimmage on 36.4% of their snaps. Linebacker Devin Lloyd and nickel corner Jourdan Lewis have made huge strides in this system. This is a bend-but-don’t-break defensive philosophy, so the numbers aren’t pretty on a down-to-down basis. Jacksonville is 24th in defensive success rate but 13th in expected points. Much like the Packers’ defense last season, the Jaguars win by limiting explosive plays — 9.8% of opposing snaps, seventh in the league — and creating timely takeaways. Only the Rams and Bears are generating more turnovers per drive than the Jaguars. Unlike the Bears and the Patriots’ coaching staffs, who got personnel turned around fast enough to generate a Year 1 proof of concept, the Jaguars still need roster help before anything concrete can be said about their staff. Who is the best player on the Jaguars’ offense? Strange when healthy, or Thomas when on his game? After edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen, who is the best player on the defense? Lloyd or Lewis, likely. There simply isn’t enough scale-tipping talent for either side of the ball to make substantial waves. To that end, it is a positive sign that the staff has squeezed out a 6-4 record. But for the Jaguars’ staff, like most first-year staffs, it’s too early to tell exactly what this group is capable of doing. |
| 2026 DRAFTMike Renner of CBSSports.com says the 2025 season has shrunk the list of upcoming first round quarterbacks to just two – one of whom sat the bench (and didn’t transfer) for three seasons until this year. Here is his Mock Draft: Between poor play and likely returns to college, the 2026 quarterback class has dwindled down to two. Unfortunately for NFL teams, there’s far more than two in the market for upgrades at the quarterback position. That means we’re likely to see some trades and jockeying at the top of the draft to secure the talents of those two, even if I didn’t add trades to the mock just yet. It will be interesting to see if we see more first-rounders traded going forward because the strengths of this upcoming class aren’t where NFL teams would traditionally want them. It’s a tremendous class of guards and linebackers — two positions that rarely go Round 1. We could easily see teams opt for safer prospects at less valuable positions rather than wild cards who may not have first-round grades at more valuable positions. Without further ado, let’s predict the first 32 picks. 1 TENNESSEERueben Bain Jr. EDGEMiami (Fla.) • Jr • 6’3″ / 275 lbsRealistically, the Titans will try their best to move out of the No. 1 spot for a haul of picks. From a player fit perspective, though, Bain feels like the perfect defensive end to pair with Jeffery Simmons on the interior. He’s an enforcer who resets the line in the run game and pushes pockets consistently as a pass rusher. 2 NY GIANTSPeter Woods DLThe Giants already have one of the most-feared pass rushes in the NFL, but they have one of the least-feared front sevens against the run. Woods would not only add to the former, but also transform the latter. He is a powerful 3-technique who’d give them the best defensive interior in the NFL with Dexter Lawrence. 3 CLEVELANDTy Simpson QBAlabama • Jr • 6’2″ / 208 lbsSimpson continues to be one of the most impressive downfield passers in college football. His ability to find throwing lanes at the intermediate level is second to none this season. He’s thrown for 22 scores compared to only two interceptions this year. 4 NEW ORLEANSJordyn Tyson WRArizona State • Jr • 6’2″ / 200 lbsFor the Saints, it’s only going to get worse before it gets better. Because of that, they may choose to pass on this year’s quarterback class to give Tyler Shough a little longer leash at the helm. Giving him a No. 1 receiver like Tyson would transform New Orleans’ passing attack with a true every-level route winner. 5 NY JETSFernando Mendoza QBIndiana • Jr • 6’5″ / 225 lbsMendoza has drawn comparisons to Lions quarterback Jared Goff, which would make sense with former Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand being the OC for the Jets. He leads college football with 30 touchdown passes and is averaging 9.4 yards per attempt. 6 LAS VEGASArvell Reese LBOhio State • Jr • 6’4″ / 243 lbsReese is the perfect modern hybrid linebacker to give a defensive coordinator flexibility. He looks just as comfortable rushing the passer as he does dropping deep into coverage. And he’s got the body type to easily do both. 7 WASHINGTONCarnell Tate WROhio State • Jr • 6’3″ / 195 lbsTate is the vertical threat the Commanders offense has sorely missed with Terry McLaurin sidelined for most of the year. The long, rangy receiver is averaging 18.2 yards per reception while hauling in 84.8% of his targets. 8 LA RAMS (from Atlanta)Caleb Downs SOhio State • Jr • 6’0″ / 205 lbsThe Rams are a nickel-base team through and through. They want as many defensive backs on the field as possible on every play, and Downs is the kind of defender who can keep them strong against the run, even out of those looks. 9 CINCINNATIJeremiyah Love RBNotre Dame • Jr • 6’0″ / 214 lbsObviously the Bengals need help defensively, but they’ve spent so much draft capital on that side of the ball in recent years that free agency might be where they have to turn to fix things. Adding Love to their room of playmakers gives them a terrifying amount of speed. 10 ARIZONAChris Brazzell II WRTennessee • Jr • 6’5″ / 200 lbsBrazzell is a throwback deep threat at 6-foot-5 with exceptional wheels. The Cardinals have really been missing a vertical element to their passing attack this season, so Brazzell’s 12 deep catches would be a welcome addition. 11 MIAMISpencer Fano IOLUtah • Jr • 6’6″ / 308 lbsThis one is predicated on Mike McDaniel still being the head coach, as Fano is the perfect fit for his offense. He’s an incredibly athletic run blocker who could slot in at either guard or tackle. 12 MINNESOTAJermod McCoy CBTennessee • Jr • 6’0″ / 193 lbsMcCoy has still yet to play a snap of football this year after a January ACL tear, but his sophomore tape was still good enough to keep him as CB1. He can be the island-man corner the Vikings defense has been missing this season. 13 DALLASDavid Bailey EDGETexas Tech • Sr • 6’3″ / 250 lbsBailey brings back the juice the Cowboys’ pass rush lost when they traded away Micah Parsons. He’s the most explosive rusher in the draft and leads college football with 71 pressures. 14 BALTIMOREKeldric Faulk DTAuburn • Jr • 6’6″ / 285 lbsFaulk has high-end developmental tools, but unrefined tape. He needs to go to a good spot to develop, and Baltimore has as strong a track record in that regard as anyone. 15 KANSAS CITYFrancis Mauigoa OTMiami (Fla.) • Jr • 6’6″ / 315 lbsIf the Chiefs really don’t make the playoffs, they’ll be looking to revamp the offensive line in front of Patrick Mahomes once again. Mauigoa is the perfect right tackle to replace Jawaan Taylor. He’d form one of the league’s best double-team combos with Trey Smith. 16 HOUSTONOlaivavega Ioane IOLPenn State • Jr • 6’4″ / 328 lbsIoane isn’t the left tackle the Texans need, but he’s a high-end pass protector nonetheless, and beggars can’t be choosers. He’d be a Day 1 starter at left guard. 17 CAROLINAAvieon Terrell CBClemson • Jr • 5’11” / 180 lbsThe Panthers have a lot of holes to fill defensively, but none seem more pressing than cornerback. Terrell is a distinctly different type of corner from Jaycee Horn, as the Clemson corner is more capable of handling shiftier, smaller receivers. 18 DETROITEmmanuel Pregnon IOLOregon • Sr • 6’5″ / 318 lbsThe Lions want to keep their offensive line a dominant unit, and this is how you do it. Pregnon is having a standout year after transferring from USC. He’s only allowed two pressures all season. 19 TAMPA BAYCJ Allen LBGeorgia • Jr • 6’1″ / 235 lbsAllen is built in a lab to play linebacker for Todd Bowles. He’s exceptional coming downhill, as he’s one of the best run defenders in college football. 20 CLEVELAND (from Jacksonville)Caleb Lomu OTUtah • Soph • 6’6″ / 308 lbsLomu has all the traits to be a high-end pass protector in the NFL. He’s already been one this year for Utah. He’s allowed only six pressures all season. 21 PITTSBURGHMansoor Delane CBLSU • Sr • 6’0″ / 190 lbsDelane has been the stingiest corner in college football this season. On 34 targets, he’s allowed only 13 catches for 167 yards with two picks and nine pass breakups. He’s an immediate upgrade from what the Steelers have. 22 LA CHARGERSKayden McDonald DLOhio State • Jr • 6’3″ / 326 lbsThe Chargers’ rotation of defensive tackles has been lacking the depth Jim Harbaugh usually prefers. That changes with the addition of McDonald. He’s the single best run-defending defensive lineman in the country. 23 SAN FRANCISCOT.J. Parker EDGEClemson • Jr • 6’3″ / 260 lbsParker has had a disappointing season, but the physical talent is obviously still there. He’s a powerful three-down 4-3 defensive end. His addition would provide the 49ers some insurance with Nick Bosa’s health and give them a rotation of edge rushers. 24 DALLAS (from Green Bay)Sonny Styles LBOhio State • Sr • 6’5″ / 243 lbsStyles is another infusion of athleticism into the Cowboys’ front seven. He’s the best sideline-to-sideline linebacker in college football. His ability to cover ground at the second level would be a massive value-add in coverage for the Cowboys. 25 CHICAGOKadyn Proctor IOLAlabama • Jr • 6’7″ / 366 lbsProctor is likely to end up as a guard at the next level, but Ben Johnson’s offense is one where he could still play tackle. That’s because it’s so predicated on the run game, where Proctor is an easy people mover. 26 BUFFALOKC Concepcion WRTexas A&M • Jr • 5’11” / 190 lbsConcepcion is the separator the Bills offense has been missing. He’d add a vertical element as well as the ability to be their go-to guy on third downs. He’s caught 47 passes for 787 yards and eight scores this year. 27 SEATTLEChristen Miller DLGeorgia • Jr • 6’4″ / 310 lbsMiller is yet another versatile defensive tackle to add to the Seahawks’ rotation up front. The Seahawks thrive by stopping the run with their front four, and Miller can do just that. He’s got a prototypical 3-4 defensive end body type with long arms to two-gap in the NFL. 28 NY JETS (from Indianapolis)Makai Lemon WRUSC • Jr • 5’11” / 195 lbsLemon is the perfect slot to pair with Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell on the outside. He brings a level of reliability the Jets have been desperately missing. He’s dropped only three passes on 126 catchable targets over the past two seasons. 29 LA RAMSJake Golday LBCincinnati • Sr • 6’4″ / 240 lbsGolday is a former edge rusher who’s turned into one of the most complete linebackers in college football. He still has that edge size but moves like an undersized linebacker in space. 30 NEW ENGLANDCaleb Tiernan OTNorthwestern • Sr • 6’7″ / 325 lbsTiernan has been one of the most impressive pass protectors in college football this season with only eight pressures allowed all year. He’s a four-year starter who has experience on the right side as well, where he started in 2022. 31 PHILADELPHIAKenyon Sadiq TEOregon • Jr • 6’3″ / 245 lbsThis is consistently one of my favorite fits in the draft for a few reasons. Dallas Goedert turns 31 years old in January and is an impending free agent. Even if he’s re-signed, the Eagles still play a good deal of two-tight end sets. Sadiq is the perfect No. 2 tight end with his high-level explosiveness, YAC ability and blocking in space. 32 DENVERDenzel Boston WRWashington • Jr • 6’4″ / 210 lbsWith Bo Nix’s spotty accuracy this season, adding another big-bodied wideout with exceptional ball skills is probably a good idea. Boston is exceptional at plucking the ball outside of his frame and would give them a second receiver who can haul in the back-shoulder throws Nix is so good at. |
