| If The Season Ended Today in the AFC: AFC W-L Conf Last Week %Kansas City West 10-1 5-1 1 99Buffalo East 9-2 7-2 2 99Pittsburgh North 8-3 5-2 3 93 (-5%)Houston South 7-5 5-2 4 94 (-4%)Baltimore WC1 8-4 5-4 WC2 95 (+4%)LA Chargers WC2 7-4 5-3 WC1 86 (-5%)Denver WC3 7-5 3-4 WC3 73 (+6%)Miami 5-6 4-4 x 16Indianapolis 5-7 4-4 8 21 (-9%) What is left for Denver, because if the Broncos go 4-1 for 11-7, it’s hard to see anyone catching them? Dec 2 ClevelandBYE WEEKDec 15 IndianapolisDec 19 at LA ChargersDec 28 at CincinnatiJan 5 Kansas City – – -The UFL is pondering expansion. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: During NFL season, it’s hard to pay much attention to other football leagues. Sometimes, news from a non-NFL league gets our attention. On Monday, the UFL announced that it is accepting proposals from prospective markets. “As the UFL lays the groundwork for future growth, we’re excited to begin exploring new markets for expansion, where spring football can not only live, but thrive,” UFL president and CEO Russ Brandon said in a release. “These expansion efforts validate our vision and early success, demonstrating how spring football resonates with fans and reinforcing our commitment to broadening its reach. With the strength and structure of our ownership group, along with our media partners, we are well-positioned for the long haul and look forward to identifying communities that have the potential, and desire, to host a UFL team.” The UFL will consider existing sports culture, fan interest, geography, population, and available venues. The spring league, former in 2023 by the merger of the XFL and USFL, currently is in eight markets: Arlington, Birmingham, Michigan, Houston, Memphis, San Antonio, St. Louis, and D.C. St. Louis is the most successful market by far. Although the UFL has no California presence, it could make sense to explore a pair of markets that (like St. Louis) the NFL abandoned — San Diego and Oakland. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASJerry Jones insists that Mike McCarthy has a chance to coach the Cowboys in 2025. Todd Archer of ESPN.com: Much of the discussion around Mike McCarthy during the Dallas Cowboys’ struggles this season has been about the coach’s in-season job security. Speaking on 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was asked if it was crazy to think McCarthy could receive a contract extension after the season. “I don’t think that’s crazy at all. That’s not crazy,” Jones said. “Listen, Mike McCarthy is an outstanding coach … Mike McCarthy has been there, done that. He’s got great ideas. So the bottom line is in no place in my body language or anything else have you seen an indication about what we’re going to be doing relative to this staff at the end of this year. And we shouldn’t. We’ve got a lot of football left.” The Cowboys are 4-7 and snapped a five-game losing streak in Sunday’s win against the Washington Commanders. They play the 2-9 New York Giants on Thanksgiving, followed by games against the Cincinnati Bengals (4-7) and Carolina Panthers (3-8). “This thing isn’t over,” Jones said to The Fan. Jones noted the Cowboys will have players like wide receiver Brandin Cooks, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and others coming off injured reserve and guards Zack Martin (ankle, shoulder) and Tyler Smith (knee, ankle) and tight end Jake Ferguson (concussion) returning from injuries. But the Cowboys are on thin ice. Since 1990, seven teams have started 4-7 and made the playoffs, however, two teams (Washington, 2020 and Carolina, 2014) won their divisions with sub-.500 records. Since the expansion to the 17-game schedule in 2021, two teams have made the playoffs with 4-7 starts (Jacksonville, 2022 and Tampa Bay, 2023) but they were both division winners. The Cowboys are currently in third place in the NFC East behind the Philadelphia Eagles (9-2) and Commanders (7-5) and have just the Giants and Panthers below them in the conference standings. In 2018, the Cowboys were 3-5 before rallying to a playoff spot, winning seven of their last eight. While some Cowboys fans might not want to see more victories to move the team down in the draft order, tanking is not something Jones considers. “I just think the game is too important. The win is too important,” Jones said. “You look at a coach and, boy, a coach is sitting there, don’t think they don’t add up their wins and losses during their career and they don’t like to have a loss on there if they can just ask for it. And so my point is, for all of us, a win is a very satisfying thing under any circumstance and it helps you build. And so there’s a lot of ambiguity with those draft picks. As you know, I’ve had draft picks that were extraordinarily high that didn’t work. I’ve had them low that knocked it out of the park. And so you’ve got to weigh what happens when you get the picks and the odds of you knocking one out of the park there as well, as opposed to winning a game.” |
| NFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES RAMSIn other news, WR DEMARCUS ROBINSON had a Dodge sedan cruising at 100+ MPH before CHP’s pulled him over on the 101 in Woodland Hills. Sarah Barshop ofESPN.com: Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, the California Highway Patrol said. Robinson, who was observed driving more than 100 mph on US-101 northbound, was arrested at approximately 5:13 a.m. on Monday morning in Woodland Hills, California. The arrest came hours after he caught a touchdown in the Rams’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on “Sunday Night Football.” According to a news release, officers assigned to the CHP-West Valley Area Office observed a white Dodge sedan traveling more than 100 mph. The release said officers “observed objective signs and symptoms of alcohol impairment” and Robinson was arrested. Robinson was cited and released to “a responsible party,” the CHP said. Rams coach Sean McVay said Tuesday that he is still gathering information and hasn’t decided whether Robinson will play Sunday against the Saints. |
| AFC WEST |
| KANSAS CITYPK SPENCER SHRADER, the perfect replacement so far, is ailing. Myles Simmons ofProFootballTalk.com: The Chiefs may need to make another switch at kicker this week. Spencer Shrader, already filling in for the injured Harrison Butker, is set to miss Tuesday’s practice with a hamstring injury. That’s part of why the club signed Matthew Wright to its practice squad. Wright previously kicked for the Chiefs in 2021, making 3-of-4 field goals and 8-of-8 extra points in two games. Shrader has made 3-of-3 field goals and 6-of-6 extra points in the last two games, including a game-winning 31-yard field goal on Sunday against the Panthers. |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERSIn addition to a tough loss on the field, the Chargers may have sustained a tough injury setback Monday night. ESPN.com: Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins sustained a knee injury in Monday’s 30-23 loss to his former team, the Baltimore Ravens, and did not play in the second half. Dobbins, who had 40 yards on six carries before being injured, left without speaking to reporters after the game. Coach Jim Harbaugh said he had no update on the running back’s injury status. “I don’t have any update,” Harbaugh said. “I know it’s a knee.” Dobbins was injured about five minutes before halftime when he was wrenched backward by linebacker Malik Harrison and then gang-tackled by Baltimore on a play erased by a holding penalty against the Chargers. Dobbins grabbed his knee after getting up, and he eventually went to the locker room. He was ruled out for the game in the second half. Although backup Gus Edwards stepped in for Dobbins — just as he did in Baltimore when they were teammates with the Ravens — he managed only 11 yards on nine carries. The Chargers struggled to move the ball in Dobbins’ absence, managing only two field goals on their next five drives before tacking on a late touchdown in the loss that ended their four-game winning streak. “I thought we did a good job running the ball in the first half,” Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert said. “Obviously I’m hoping J.K. is OK.” Los Angeles finished with just 83 yards on the ground after entering the weekend with the NFL’s 12th-ranked rushing offense. The Ravens drafted Dobbins in the second round in 2020, but he sat out most of two seasons because of injuries. He signed a one-year deal with the Chargers during the offseason. Dobbins entered the game third in the AFC in rushing with 726 yards and was averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He has been considered among the contenders for Comeback Player of the Year after sustaining a torn Achilles tendon in last season’s opener. |
| AFC NORTH |
| PITTSBURGHQB JUSTIN FIELDS would seem to be a tempting offensive asset, even if QB RUSSELL WILSON is starting. Brooke Pryor at ESPN.com on the hunt to find him a role: Like the snow that fell in Cleveland on Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense came on slowly in the loss to the Browns until a late spurt erased a 12-point deficit and nearly helped the Steelers escape Huntington Bank Field with a win. Until two fourth-quarter touchdowns Thursday, the Russell Wilson-led offense, which ranks 30th in red zone touchdown percentage, failed to score a touchdown for 20 consecutive possessions over two games. The drought raised questions about the viability of a boom-or-bust unit led by a big-armed, nearly 36-year-old who was the fourth-most sacked quarterback a year ago. Coach Mike Tomlin restored a healthy Wilson to the starting job six weeks ago not only because it was the spot he won in the offseason, but also because his penchant for throwing the deep ball could ignite the passing game in a way that Justin Fields had not and open up the run game even more. For two games, that’s exactly what happened. Since then, though, the results with Wilson at quarterback have been consistently inconsistent. The Steelers enter Week 13 at 8-3, but a persisting trend of big plays coupled with sacks and stalled red zone trips create doubt that the team is capable of making a deep run in the playoffs, let alone be a true Super Bowl contender. In the first two weeks of Wilson’s tenure as starter, the Steelers increased their scoring average from 20.7 points per game with Fields to 31.5 points and 298.3 yards of offense to 417.5. Wilson wasn’t perfect, but he sparked the Steelers with three passing touchdowns, one rushing score, no turnovers and five sacks, including just one in his debut against the New York Jets. Recently, however, the offense — and Wilson — have shown signs of regression. The Steelers are averaging 21.6 points in their last three games, and they haven’t cracked 20 in the last two. Wilson has four touchdowns to two interceptions in that stretch, and he was sacked 11 times. Steelers quarterbacks have been sacked on 9.3% of pass plays this season, though that rate is up to 10.48% in the last three games, ranking at fifth-most and fourth-most in the league, respectively. A year ago, Steelers quarterbacks were sacked on just 6.36% of pass plays. “It took us too long to warm up to the action,” Tomlin said of Cleveland’s three first-half sacks. “They brought it, and they brought it instantly early on.” Though the Steelers scored 28 points in the win against the Commanders, Wilson completed just 9-of-21 attempts for 108 yards with three sacks, an interception and two touchdowns through three quarters. In that span, two chunk plays accounted for more than half of Wilson’s 108 yards — a 34-yard completion to receiver George Pickens on 2nd-and-20 and a 26-yard catch-and-run by running back Jaylen Warren. But in the fourth quarter of that game, Wilson was nearly flawless as he connected on 5-of-7 attempts for 87 yards with no sacks, no interceptions and a game-winning touchdown. “I didn’t think it was our cleanest game in terms of efficiency,” offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said of the Commanders game. “I thought we were too boom-or-bust. But I thought the fourth quarter we started to wear them down. I thought we made plays in critical moments in the red zone and certainly on third down. … That’s why you’ve got to be sober-minded and really objective. … In a game like [against the Ravens], we need to play more efficient.” The Steelers did the opposite in that case. Though they beat the Ravens, they didn’t score a touchdown on any of their four trips to the red zone, had an interception in the end zone and managed just nine points off three Ravens turnovers and two missed field goals. That game also marked the beginning of a seven-quarter touchdown drought that extended until the fourth quarter of the loss to the Browns. At the time, it matched the Jacksonville Jaguars for the longest active stretch without a touchdown. And Wilson, while appearing efficient by completing 21-of-28 attempts for 270 yards, was again a boom-or-bust playmaker, most obviously when facing the Browns’ pass rush. Wilson was pressured on 15-of-33 dropbacks (45%), marking the highest rate of pressure he’s faced this season. Though he completed 60% of his attempts for 97 yards on such throws, he was also sacked four times. The Steelers have the kind of quarterback problem for which there’s not an easy answer. Though Wilson has more big plays than Fields — 39 completions of at least 20 yards to 24 by Fields — the former Chicago Bears quarterback has been responsible for more red zone touchdowns with three passing touchdowns and five rushing touchdowns. Wilson, meanwhile, has four passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown and an interception. Fields also has a better red zone QBR (92.2) and completion percentage (57.1%) than Wilson (8.9 QBR, 34.6% completion percentage), but 90% of Wilson’s red zone drives have turned into points, while 83.8% of Fields’ finished with points. Of those drives, 40% of Wilson’s have been touchdowns versus 50% of Fields’ resulting in touchdowns. While Wilson has still been more effective at moving the ball down the field, Fields has been more efficient in the red zone. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Steelers should make a wholesale change at quarterback, but it could signal the need to change how and when the Steelers deploy Fields. The long-awaited Fields package made its debut against the Ravens and appeared again against the Browns. Though Fields played eight snaps Thursday night, only one was in the red zone, and it resulted in a 3-yard Warren touchdown. His snaps also included a 2-yard loss on fourth down, a pre-snap penalty, a fourth-quarter 30-yard run and a deep third-down incompletion to Pickens that turned into a mishit punt and a short field for the Browns. Even the 30-yard run was something of a disappointment for Fields, who said he was “sick” he didn’t run for a touchdown and that he has to do a better job of staying warm on the sideline. Afterward, Fields admitted the inconsistent quarterback rotation affected his timing and rhythm. “I think it does, but at the end of the day, that’s what my job is, so you can’t complain,” he said. “And like I said, anytime I get a chance and an opportunity to go on the field and help my team, I’m happy to do it.” The Steelers still lead in the division after losing to the Browns, but with four more divisional games and a date with the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas, their hopes of earning their first home playoff game since 2020 and ending a playoff win drought extending to 2016 hinges on finding an efficient solution at quarterback. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| HOUSTONBen Solak of ESPN.com examines why QB C.J. STROUD and the Houston passing game have not been very good this season: The Texans were supposed to take over the NFL this season. That’s what last season told us. They finished on a 7-3 run to win the AFC South and get into the playoffs. Then they ran over the Browns in their home playoff game. Stroud became the youngest quarterback to ever win a postseason game, and in that victory, the then-rookie promised us that every year would get better and better and better. It felt like Stroud would make at least the AFC Championship Game in Year 2 then maybe the Super Bowl then win the next 10 championships consecutively. Stroud was an NFL-ready rookie who could throw punches with the best in the AFC, the next in line to challenge Patrick Mahomes and start setting records. When the Texans started loading up on talent this past offseason — trading for Stefon Diggs, signing Joe Mixon and Danielle Hunter — the hype train got predictably and understandably out of control. The 7-5 Texans are far from a disappointment, and Stroud is far from bad. But they’re 2-4 over their past six games after Sunday’s embarrassing 32-27 home loss to the Titans, and Stroud is 25th in QBR at 51.3. Stroud threw two picks and ended the Tennessee game by taking a sack/going out of bounds for a safety. It feels like the team that was supposed to make the leap has instead taken a few stumbling steps backward. Despite the recent rocky weeks, I’m nowhere near the panic button on Stroud. He has completed 63.1% of his throws for 2,875 yards and 14 touchdowns with nine picks. There are three key reasons that last season’s sensation feels like this season’s disappointment, and most of them are outside of Stroud’s control. There’s plenty he can do better as a young passer, and he will. But when I watch the Texans’ offense, this is what I see: A change in opponents’ defensive approachIn 2023, Stroud was at the helm of a Texans offense run by first-time coordinator Bobby Slowik. We didn’t know what was going to happen, and the rest of the league didn’t, either. The Texans ran a lot of the Shanahan-tree hits. They got under center, ran the football a bunch and looked for deep play-action shots behind the run. As such, Stroud saw a lot of Cover 3 — on 34.8% of his dropbacks, to be exact. The Shanahan offense wants you in Cover 3; it was built to beat that defense. Once Stroud emerged as an aggressive and accurate middle-of-the-field passer, the Texans started to shred opponents with all of the classics we know from the 49ers’ offense, including deep crossing patterns and in-breaking routes behind bamboozled linebackers. In 2024, defenses said no more. They are playing Cover 3 on 26.6% of Stroud’s dropbacks, robbing him of the single-high looks he ripped up last season. In their place, opposing defenses have dialed up the two-high; they’re playing Cover 2 on twice as many dropbacks this season (20% of the time) as they did last season. Similarly, Stroud saw base defense on 27.9% of his dropbacks in 2023, and now he sees it on only 21.6% of them. This is not a structural response to a change in the Texans’ passing attack. Houston is running play-action at the same rate as it did last season and dropping back from the shotgun just about as much as it did a season ago. The Texans, with the addition of Mixon in the backfield, are even better running the football than they were last season, but that probably has something to do with the lighter box counts, as well. Last season, defenses were largely playing Stroud like a rookie quarterback. This season, they’re playing him more like an elite quarterback — and Stroud is still learning how to deal with that. The big plays are still there despite the two-high deployment (17.5% of his passes were explosive in 2023, and 15.8% are this season), but the down-to-down success rate has taken a hit, dropping from 47.6% to 42.5%. That’s the difference between 10th last season and 26th today. Does this mean that Stroud’s 2023 season was a mirage? Was he a schemed-up QB with puffed-up numbers? Absolutely not. The dude shredded then, and he shreds now. Stroud still has all the arm talent, the ability to throw on move, the tight-window accuracy and the downfield ball placement that he had in 2023. His touchdown throw to Nico Collins against the end line between three defenders was a sight to see. It’s just harder than it was last season because Stroud is now getting star treatment. This is something he’ll have to grow through, just as Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow all did when defenses started catering to their particular games. And Stroud will be all the better for it once he does. Bad interceptions (and bad interception luck)Stroud has thrown some gnarly interceptions this season. The one in the end zone against the Lions that galvanized the Detroit comeback was rough, and he sailed a bad one against the Cowboys early in that game, as well. His second pick against the Titans was another rough one; it seemed like he completely disregarded the underneath defender and got punished accordingly. If it appears like these interceptions have come out of nowhere, well, they have and they haven’t. Stroud threw only five interceptions last season. His interception rate of 1.0% was one of the best in the game and absurdly low for a rookie passer who started the entire season. This season, he has thrown nine for an INT rate of 2.3%. Nobody likes when the interception rate doubles, but it’s just about average for the league this season, so it’s not like Stroud is handing the ball away at an egregious clip. Nor is Stroud putting the ball in harm’s way at an egregious clip. His turnover-worthy play rate is 2.8%, which is exactly what it was last season. It’s easy to forget in all the rookie hype but he got away with a lot of window-testing last season. This season, he’s just regressing back to the mean. Take as an example his first interception against the Titans. On this play, Stroud and wide receiver John Metchie III have a disagreement on where Metchie’s route should break. Stroud tries to pull him downfield, whereas Metchie stays rooted to the spot. This is a mundane miscommunication; it does not mean Stroud is hitting some sort of enormous sophomore wall that he will never overcome. This sort of play happens all the time but usually falls incomplete. The Texans caught a bad roll of the dice, and it ended in a pick. I’m not going to get too worked up over interception rate, especially when it’s mostly just a meteoric 2023 season crashing back down to earth. Stroud is an aggressive pocket passer who gives his receivers chances to make big plays. Many of his best throws wouldn’t be attempted by a quarterback fearful of throwing a pick. You have to die by the sword every so often when you live by it. Pass protection that can’t hold upIt’s no secret that the Texans are suffering in pass protection this season. Stroud has a pressure rate of 41%, which is the fourth highest in the NFL. Of the five quarterbacks who have been pressured on at least 40% of their dropbacks (Stroud, Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, Jacoby Brissett and Deshaun Watson), Stroud has by far the best overall expected points added (EPA) per dropback and success rate. He is the only guy who’s even kind of making it work. A high pressure rate can often tell you as much about a quarterback as it does an offensive line, though. Quarterbacks who hold onto the ball for too long and don’t know how to find their checkdowns invite pressure. But Stroud’s time to pressure is 2.54 seconds, the sixth-fastest number in the league. Stroud has been pressured in under 2.5 seconds 96 times this season, which is the most in the NFL and 18 more quick pressures than he saw last season (on about 90 fewer dropbacks). So, it’s not just that the Texans’ offensive line is losing a lot. It’s that the O-line is losing a lot and losing fast. Poor line play is the primary culprit. Quick pressure typically comes from the interior, and guard performance has been a big issue for Houston all season. Left guard Kenyon Green was a target of defensive coordinators before he was lost for the season due to a shoulder injury, and 31-year-old right guard Shaq Mason is showing his age. But some of the issues are structural too. Slowik is a chip off the old Shanahan block, and the Shanahan offense is notorious for having a small menu of protection rules and an exploitable lack of checks and adjustments at the line of scrimmage. This is the sort of thing Houston could clean up schematically by giving either center Jarrett Patterson (who is in for Juice Scruggs, who has moved to left guard) or Stroud more control at the line of scrimmage. But the team can’t just do that overnight; it has to be added to the playbook, installed in camp and practiced rep after rep after rep after rep. You can be certain that a revamped approach to protection (both via personnel and schematically) will be a focus of the Texans’ 2025 offseason. But the issues in 2024 won’t disappear anytime soon. |
| AFC EAST |
| MIAMIWR TYREEK HILL will not be convicted for anything, even his speeding, on the morning of the Dolphins opening game. The AP: Traffic citations issued to Miami Dolphins star wide receiver Tyreek Hill after a September altercation with police have been dismissed after the charging officers didn’t attend a court hearing. Hill’s tickets for careless driving and failing to wear a seat belt were dismissed after the Miami-Dade Police officers failed to show up for a Monday hearing. The tickets were issued after Hill was stopped outside Hard Rock Stadium for allegedly speeding before the Dolphins’ season opener on Sept. 8. The stop escalated and an officer pulled Hill from the car, forced him to the ground and handcuffed him. Hill said in a Tuesday post on the social platform X, “Where all the internet cops now”. The Miami-Dade Police Department said it would have a statement later Tuesday. Police body camera video from the September stop showed Hill appeared to speed past two motorcycle officers who were monitoring traffic on a road outside the stadium. They pulled over his McLaren sports car and one tapped on his window. Hill, 30, handed the officer his driver’s license, but told the officer repeatedly, “Don’t knock on my window like that.” He then put his window back up. Their verbal exchange escalated and the officers soon pulled him from the car, forcing Hill face-first to the ground. The officers cursed at Hill but he did not resist their physical force or strike at them in the video. He did tell one officer, “Don’t tell me what to do.” Hill was eventually stood up, but then an officer dragged him into a sitting position on the curb after he said a knee injury made that difficult. After about 30 minutes, Hill was issued citations and allowed to enter the stadium. One officer was placed on administrative duty and an internal affairs investigation was launched. No results have been released. Meanwhile, EDGE SHAQ BARRETT is un-retiring. Two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Shaq Barrett, who announced his retirement from the NFL in July, has applied for immediate reinstatement, agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday. The Miami Dolphins currently hold Barrett’s contractual rights. In July, Barrett announced his retirement saying he was “ready to shift my full focus to my wife and kids and helping them realize [their] dreams.” Barrett had signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in March after being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a cost-cutting move. Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network is hearing that Barrett is willing to play for the Dolphins. |
| NEW YORK JETSThe Jets are not going to do to QB AARON RODGERS what their co-leasers at MetLife Stadium did to QB DANIEL JONES. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com: While quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ long-term future with the New York Jets remains a question mark, the short term is clear. Rodgers will “absolutely” start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, according to interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, who said Monday there has been no internal discussion about shutting him down for the remainder of the season. The Jets (3-8), coming off their bye week, are close to mathematical elimination. That, coupled with Rodgers’ subpar season and various leg ailments from early in the season, has prompted reports about the possibility of him being benched or placed on injured reserve. “All I can say — and you’d have to ask Aaron if he’s fully healthy — but he’s better off today than he’s been as of late,” Ulbrich said. “So he’s definitely feeling healthier than he has for probably the past month. And a healthy Aaron Rodgers is an Aaron Rodgers we all love. So I’m excited about what that looks like.” Rodgers battled knee, hamstring and ankle injuries in September and October, but he practiced fully before the past two games. One report over the weekend said the four-time MVP refused medical imaging tests so he could keep playing. Ulbrich shot down that report, saying, “News to me.” The Jets’ once-promising season has taken an ugly turn, with owner Woody Johnson firing coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas. That has shifted the focus to Rodgers, who turns 41 on Monday. He said recently that he’d like to play in 2025, though his return to the Jets appears unlikely. One source told ESPN last week that he’d be “shocked” if Johnson signs off on Rodgers’ return, though the owner could leave it up to his new GM and new coach. Rodgers will have a say, too, and he may not want to come back to play for a new coaching staff. He’s under contract for 2025, but none of his salary is guaranteed. The Jets’ backup is Tyrod Taylor, who is signed for 2025. And, on Pat McAfee, Rodgers contradicts the reports of his desiring to play elsewhere next year on two counts: ZackBlattAaron Rodgers on @PatMcAfeeShow, said he hasn’t even decided yet if he wants to play in 2025 but that his No. 1 choice would be the Jets. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| 2025 DRAFTJordan Reid of ESPN.com sees 12 QBs with a chance to get drafted. He ranks them from Miami QB CAM WARD to Ohio State QB WILL HOWARD: How do the quarterbacks in the 2025 class stack up right now? It’s time to update my 2025 QB Hot Board, where I rank every passer who has a chance to get drafted. I’m going 12 deep, with two likely first-rounders as of now. I’ll go through the strengths and weaknesses of all 12, along with updates on each quarterback’s current draft stock. Remember: Several of these guys are underclassmen, so they could choose to return for another season in college, which could further shake up the board. 1. Cam Ward, MiamiHeight: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 223 poundsClass: Senior | Projected range: Round 1Where he excels: Nearly every year of the past half-decade, there has been a transfer QB who makes a significant leap in his development with his new school and rises up draft boards. The recent examples are Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels, who turned big seasons at LSU into earning top-two selections. Ward, who has moved from Incarnate Word to Washington State to Miami over five seasons, is that candidate in the 2025 class. He has thrown for 3,774 yards and an FBS-high 34 touchdown passes with seven interceptions through 11 games this season. He is an electrifying playmaker who has ignited the Miami program, leading the Hurricanes to a 10-1 record. He can throw from multiple arm slots and generate velocity with ease no matter the positioning of his body, like a shortstop maneuvering the infield. His 87.2 Total QBR ranks first in the country, and his 26 completions of 20-plus air yards are tied for third. What has been most impressive is Ward’s poise and calm demeanor. He has been at his best in the biggest moments of the season, especially in fourth quarters. His 94.2 QBR in the fourth quarter ranks third in the country, and he has orchestrated comeback wins against Virginia Tech and Cal, which included 238 fourth-quarter passing yards against the Golden Bears. Where he needs work: What hurt Ward during his two seasons at Washington State (2022, 2023) were the moments in which he simply tried to do too much. “He has times where he has to scratch his itch for reckless plays, and it leaves you asking, ‘What the heck was he thinking there?'” an AFC area scout said. “I like him and don’t know if that can be coached out of him.” Ward is a work in progress in controlling careless plays and head-scratching decisions outside of structure that lead to turnovers. He still has moments in which he goes for a highlight-reel play, with his pick-six against Cal being a prime example. He also had spurts of inaccuracy against Georgia Tech, helping contribute to Miami’s only loss of the season. Scouts also want to see Ward improve in getting the ball out quicker. His 2.91-second average time before pass ranks 100th in the FBS. He has a habit of looking off open options in the short-to-intermediate areas of progressions to search for explosive plays. 2. Shedeur Sanders, ColoradoHeight: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 215 poundsClass: Senior | Projected range: Round 1Where he excels: When protected in the pocket, Sanders’ rhythm, calm demeanor in the pocket and accuracy are among the best in the country. In the short and underneath areas, he shows great ball location. He has 3,488 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. Despite facing pressure on 39.6% of his dropbacks (21st highest in the FBS), he ranks third in completion percentage (73.4%). His poise and ball placement have improved throughout the season. Sanders’ 7% off-target rate is the third-lowest mark in the FBS, as he allows his receivers to easily get yards after the catch. “He’s been the best of the bunch to me, and I’ve been impressed by his growth this year,” an assistant GM from an NFC team said. “The on-field demeanor has been contagious so far, and the results have shown on that team this year.” The Buffaloes are 8-3 and in the mix to get to the Big 12 title game. Sanders’ 11 go-ahead touchdown passes are tied for the most in the country. As the moments heighten, his heartbeat remains the same. And it’s that unwavering confidence that most excites scouts. Where he needs work: The consensus from evaluators is Sanders must get the ball out quicker. He averages 2.88 seconds before throwing this season, which is tied for 94th in the FBS. And while plenty of blame can be put on his inconsistent protection, he needs to trust his expiring internal clock and distribute. He tends to drift backward or search for escape lanes out the side of the pocket. Sanders also needs to cut down on taking avoidable sacks and compounding mistakes; his 6.7% sack-per-dropback rate is tied for the 35th highest in the country, and the 32 sacks he has taken are tied for fourth most in the FBS. Under offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, the passing attack has evolved into more of an underneath scheme, as Sanders is averaging only 7.3 air yards per attempt (109th in the FBS). 3. Jalen Milroe, AlabamaHeight: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 225 poundsClass: Junior | Projected range: Early-to-mid Day 2Where he excels: Since a disappointing two-interception performance against Texas last season that resulted in his benching, Milroe hasn’t looked back, developing into the best dual-threat QB in the country. Through 11 games this season, he has thrown for 2.396 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He has added 615 yards and another 17 scores on the ground. His 80.6 Total QBR ranks 10th in the country. Milroe has a powerful arm and is a tremendously competitive runner. He has also shown more patience from the pocket this season, slowing down his internal clock and not scrambling as soon as pressure hits. He’s finding open targets and playing within Alabama’s system and could excel in an NFL offense that uses his running skills. I was in attendance for Milroe’s performance against LSU, when he finished with 109 passing yards and 185 rushing yards with four touchdowns in a blowout victory. “He’s been doubted every year, and he constantly keeps proving the doubters wrong,” said a director of college scouting from a QB-needy team. “You’re going to have to go all-in on his skill set and build a scheme that just overwhelms. [It’d have to be a team] like Baltimore, but there’s a pathway to success for him on the next level.” Where he needs work: The biggest remaining question about Milroe is whether he can marry his footwork to his release timing on underneath throws. While his deep passing is a strength and his accuracy on intermediate throws has improved, he still takes too long to get the ball out on throws in which he’s asked to make pre-snap reads and execute. After a strong start to the season, Milroe has slumped at times, with erratic performances against Tennessee and South Carolina before a disastrous performance against Oklahoma on Saturday. Milroe threw three interceptions against the Sooners, and it was only his second career start in which he wasn’t responsible for a score. His struggles with diagnosing defenses and attacking underneath coverage was evident, as two of his three turnovers were on throws of 5 yards or fewer downfield. Milroe’s 2.84-second time to throw ranks 91st in the country, as Alabama’s offense consists primarily of deeper throws downfield. Another area in which he has struggled is on throws against man coverage, with a 44.4 QBR that ranks 97th. 4. Carson Beck, GeorgiaHeight: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 220 poundsClass: Senior | Projected range: Early-to-mid Day 2Where he excels: Entering the season, Beck was one of the candidates in contention to be the No. 1 pick in 2025, and while he has put up 3,132 passing yards with 23 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, his season hasn’t gone the way many scouts hoped. With a by-the-book playing style, Beck hardly takes a detour from how plays are designed, sticking to structure. His footwork and eyes sync up to progressions, as his game centers on decisiveness and quick decision-making. Beck is a true distributor who thrives when playing on time and in rhythm, taking what defenses give him. Where he needs work: What happens when Beck faces pressure and is forced out of structure? It hasn’t been great this season; he has a 14.6 QBR when pressured, which ranks 75th in the country. Scouts want to see him improve when moved off his spots. Beck has also been wildly inconsistent. His 12 picks are tied for the second most in the FBS, and his 3.1% interception rate is tied for 35th. “He’s the type of passer that will always need top-tier protection and multiple weapons,” an assistant GM for an AFC team said. “Look at how different that offense looks without [Brock] Bowers and [Ladd] McConkey. Uplifting lower-level talent will always be a challenge for him, and that worries me about taking him early, especially if he goes to a bad team.” After a rough first-half performance against Alabama in Week 5, Beck battled back and showed moxie, throwing for 439 yards with three touchdowns and three picks as the Bulldogs made a spirited second-half comeback before losing. He pieced together a stellar game against Tennessee in Week 12, finishing 25-of-40 for 347 yards and two touchdowns. Out of all the QBs in the 2025 class, opinions are most split on Beck, who has only a slightly above-average arm. Beck received Day 2 grades from NFL execs over the summer, and he was my top-ranked passer entering the season. When polling scouts, the common comp I heard for Beck was Jared Goff, who went No. 1 in 2016. But Beck’s inconsistency in his on-schedule play, accuracy and decisiveness make it unlikely that he’ll be the top QB in the 2025 class. 5. Drew Allar, Penn StateHeight: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 238 poundsClass: Junior | Projected range: Early-to-mid Day 2Where he excels: Allar is a well-built pocket passer with the arm strength to fit throws into every window. He has 2,497 passing yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions this season, and his 82.3 Total QBR ranks eighth in the FBS. His growth under new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki is notable, as he has completed 72.2% of his passes this season, a marked improvement from 2023 (59.9%). “The word ‘potential’ gets a lot of GMs in trouble because of false hope, but in a down class of QBs, why not take a chance on him?” a director of college scouting from an AFC team said. “I don’t know if he actually comes out, but I think he’s the one that could rise throughout the process because of the gifts.” Allar has the size, arm strength and intangibles quarterback-needy NFL teams covet. He might not enter the 2025 draft, however, as he’s only 20 years old. His physical traits are impossible to ignore, but there’s plenty of room for continued growth in his accuracy. Where he needs work: Allar arguably has the strongest arm of any passer in the 2025 class, but scouts want to see him become better at choosing the speed to use on his passes. He sometimes struggles with touch and throws too hard on short targets. He also needs to speed up his internal clock, as his 2.79-second average time before throws ranks 78th. Allar also didn’t impress in Penn State’s biggest test this season, finishing 12-of-20 for 146 yards and an interception in a Week 10 loss to Ohio State. That renewed questions scouts had about Allar before the season. With Penn State on track to play in the College Football Playoff, he will have another chance to prove he can perform in a high-pressure setting. 6. Quinn Ewers, TexasHeight: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 210 poundsClass: Senior | Projected range: Mid-to-late Day 2Where he excels: Ewers missed two games early in the season due to an abdominal strain before returning against Oklahoma in Week 7, throwing for 199 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a 34-3 win. He has started nine games this season, throwing for 2,089 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. His adjusted completion percentage of 71.2% ranks 33rd in the nation. Ewers could have entered the 2024 draft and been a mid-to-late Day 2 pick, but he returned to school for another year of development under coach Steve Sarkisian. He has been a point guard of sorts this season, distributing the ball to the wealth of playmakers in Texas’ offense. He has also had to deal with adversity beyond the abdominal injury. He was benched in the first half of Texas’ Week 8 loss to Georgia for redshirt freshman Arch Manning, but he returned after halftime to throw two touchdown passes. “He’s tough as nails mentally because of all of the background noise is impossible to ignore,” an AFC area scout mentioned. “Despite all of that, he’s dealt with getting benched and returned as the starter in the same game, which says a lot about his toughness.” Where he needs work: The Texas offense has mostly shifted away from deep passes, going for more of a quick passing attack. Ewers throws a higher percentage of passes at or behind the line of scrimmage (37.4%) than all but one of 129 qualified passers, and his 6.26 yards per attempt ranks 127th. Texas’ downfield passing game has been mostly nonexistent this season, depriving scouts the opportunity to see whether Ewers’ downfield touch and accuracy has improved. Scouts have also flagged Ewers’ tendency to panic when under duress. His 8.0 QBR when facing pressure ranks 103rd in the country, as he hasn’t shown the pocket awareness and suddenness to consistently escape when the pocket is collapsing. Durability is also another area NFL evaluators question; he has missed seven games because of injuries over the past three seasons. 7. Jaxson Dart, Ole MissHeight: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 225 poundsClass: Senior | Projected range: Late Day 2, early Day 3Where he excels: Dart began his college career at USC in 2021 before transferring to Ole Miss, where he has started the past three seasons in Lane Kiffin’s up-tempo offense. He has thrown for 3,732 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions this season, and his completion percentage is 69.3%, the fourth straight season he has improved in this area. Dart is an explosive thrower with the arm strength to attack all parts of the field and can stretch the ball vertically; his 11.4 yards per attempt ranks third in the FBS. He also can get the ball out quickly with perimeter passes. He also shows touch with his arm strength; his 80.5% catchable ball rate ranks 12th. Where he needs work: Scouts have concerns about how much Kiffin’s offense prepares quarterbacks for the NFL. Kiffin knows how to scheme receivers open, as 34.8% of Dart’s passes this season have been labeled as wide-open attempts (seventh in the FBS). “Passers in that offense are always hard to project because everything’s so open,” said an area scout for an NFC team. “I think he has a nice arm, but there’s hardly any progressions and Lane’s scheming guys open so well, so he’s one of those guys you’d want to see at an all-star game to see if he’s capable of running a pro offense.” 8. Kurtis Rourke, IndianaHeight: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 223 poundsClass: Redshirt senior | Projected range: Mid-to-late Day 3Where he excels: Rourke has quietly created interest in NFL circles, as he racked up 7,651 passing yards and 61 total touchdowns (50 passing, 11 rushing) in five seasons at Ohio before transferring to Indiana. He has 2,478 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and four interceptions in 10 starts this season for the 10-1 Hoosiers. His 75.8% adjusted completion percentage ranks seventh in the FBS, and multiple NFL decision-makers I’ve spoken to have taken note of his play. “Maybe I’m crazy, but why aren’t more people talking about this guy?!” a scouting director for an AFC team said. “He’s had nothing but success on two levels, and there hasn’t been any drop-off since he moved up.” Where he needs work: Rourke needs to be more efficient through his progressions. There are times when he gets stuck on the first or second read instead of eliminating them quickly based on pre- and post-snap structures. Hanging on to those routes with the hope they come open has resulted in him missing other open options or being forced to escape avoidable pressure. 9. Dillon Gabriel, OregonHeight: 6-foot | Weight: 200 poundsClass: Senior | Projected range: Mid-to-late Day 3Where he excels: Gabriel is one of the most productive quarterbacks in college football history, as the left-handed passer has thrown for 17,931 yards with 147 touchdowns over six college seasons, including stints at UCF (2019-2021) and Oklahoma (2022-2023) before he transferred to Oregon. His completion percentage has increased each season of his career, and his 73.8% in 2024 ranks second in the FBS. Gabriel is at his best when he can attack underneath voids in defenses, and that helps him take advantage of space in shallow areas while mixing in occasional deep shots. He’s a poised and precise decision-maker who makes high-level pre-snap reads. Where he needs work: Gabriel has below-average arm strength and throws a lot of perimeter screens and short routes intended to generate yards after the catch. He averaged only 6.5 air yards per attempt, which ranks 124th out of 129 qualified passers. These short passes are often to open receivers, as Gabriel has thrown 39.6% of his passes to wide-open receivers, the second highest rate in the country. 10. Garrett Nussmeier, LSUHeight: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 200 poundsClass: Junior | Projected range: Mid-to-late Day 3Where he excels: Nussmeier’s first season as a starter has been a roller coaster, as he has thrown for 3,458 yards with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He is an anticipatory thrower who trusts his targets to get to their route depth on concepts and isn’t hesitant to throw it to those spots. “He’s the son of a football coach, high football IQ, good arm, but he’s tough as nails,” an area scout for an AFC team said. “He made some bad decisions and had turnovers in some games, but he kept battling and battling until they won the game at the end.” Nussmeier, whose father, Doug, is the quarterbacks coach for the Eagles, doesn’t take many sacks. He has been sacked only 14 times all season and his sack-per-dropback rate (2.9%) ranks 14th in the FBS. He ranks 14th in QBR (78.2), and he’s always aware of his options in progressions. Where he needs work: While Nussmeier has been accurate in the short and intermediate areas, he still struggles with deeper throws. His 21.6 QBR when throwing to targets running vertically ranks 117th in the FBS. He has averaged 8.6 air yards per attempt (ranked 60th), as LSU’s downfield passing has noticeably been absent this season. After starting the season strong, Nussmeier had opportunities to impress scouts in marquee matchups against Texas A&M and Alabama. He completed only 57% of his passes in those games while throwing five interceptions. He is likely to return to school in 2025 in hopes of boosting his draft stock. 11. Kyle McCord, SyracuseHeight: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 205 poundsClass: Senior | Projected range: Late Day 3, UDFAWhere he excels: McCord’s improvement and growth at Syracuse has been one of the biggest surprises of the season. He had 3,170 passing yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions as Ohio State’s starter last season but didn’t show high-upside, pro-ready attributes. He transferred last December and found an ideal landing spot at Syracuse. When I visited practices during preseason camp, I had the opportunity to observe McCord, and it was clear he looked more comfortable in first-year coach Fran Brown’s scheme. The move has paid off, as he has an FBS-leading 3,946 passing yards with 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this season. McCord has been a quick decision-maker for the Orange, getting rid of the ball in 2.49 seconds on average, the ninth-fastest rate in the country. He also understands his limitations as a passer, playing in structure and immediately taking what’s available early in his progressions. Where he needs work: McCord’s ball placement still has plenty of room for improvement. He’s effective in getting the ball to the correct spots on his reads, but locations tend to be in unpredictable spots of the strike zone. His 10.9% off-target rate ranks 46th. “It’s clear that he knows where to go with it, but receivers still have to work way too hard to catch it at times,” an AFC national scout said. A nightmare five-interception performance against Pittsburgh highlighted many of McCord’s flaws. Head-scratching decision-making when facing early pressure forced him into the worst game of his career. The 12 interceptions he has thrown are tied for second most in the nation. 12. Will Howard, Ohio StateHeight: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 235 poundsClass: Senior | Projected range: Late Day 3, UDFAWhere he excels: Howard spent four seasons at Kansas State (2020-2023) before transferring to Ohio State, which has plenty of playmakers around him on offense. He has 2,685 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and six interceptions this season. He has added another six scores on the ground. A physically imposing QB, Howard is a dual-threat passer with a good enough arm to facilitate the ball, combined with the mobility to be an extension of the run game. Where he needs work: Many of Howard’s warts show up when defenses have been able to speed up his processing. He tends to drop his eyes and immediately look for running lanes; he must become more patient and read progressions even at the hint of pressure. Another factor is how wide open the Buckeyes’ targets tend to be when making completions, as 42% of Howard’s attempts this season have been deemed as wide open, the highest mark in the FBS. Throws into tight windows or contested coverages are what scouts want to see more from Howard, because that’s what he’ll have to do at the NFL level. Of the 12, only four – Beck, Nussmeier, Allar and Milroe – are at their first and only university. Some might add Ewers to the list as he enrolled at, but never played for, the Ohio State University.- – -Chad Reuter of NFL.com with the updated top 10 picks: 1 New York Giants2-9 · .528 (strength of schedule)Biggest needs: QB, OT, CB, WR, OGIf the Giants finish the season still in this spot, it’ll be the first time in 60 years they’ll be in position to select first overall in the draft. Quarterback is obviously the team’s most pressing need, and they’ll have their choice of passer if they hold on to this selection. But New York has several other areas it’ll also have to address in April, including along the O-line. Guard is a bigger priority than tackle at the moment, and I suspect they’ll target that position at some point early on Day 3. 2 Las Vegas Raiders2-9 · .540Biggest needs: QB, WR, DT, CB, SJakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker are solid WR2 and WR3 options for next year, and Brock Bowers is currently one of the top TEs in the league, but the team still needs a true No. 1 option on the perimeter. Assuming the Raiders take a QB here, look for them to target a highly rated receiver prospect on Day 2. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars2-9 · .581Biggest needs: CB, S, WR, OT, DTThe Jaguars might have a revamped safety group in 2025. Starter Andre Cisco is due to become a free agent in the spring. Backups Andrew Wingard and Daniel Thomas have one year left on their deals. Darnell Savage and Antonio Johnson are under contract through 2026, but they could find a Day 2 pick joining their ranks next season. 4 New England Patriots3-9 · .391Biggest needs: OT, CB, WR, Edge, OGChristian Gonzalez will return to hold down one starting CB spot in 2025, but his current running mate,Jonathan Jones, is scheduled for free agency. Adding another outside defender in the first three rounds would make sense. 5 Cleveland Browns3-8 · .463Biggest needs: WR, QB, OT, Edge, DTFormer first-round pick Jedrick Wills was benched earlier this month for second-year tackle Dawand Jones, who is now out for the year with a fractured fibula. It seems unlikely Wills will re-sign as a free agent. Meanwhile, starting right tackle Jack Conklin hasn’t played a full season since 2019 because of injuries. The team must select a swing tackle in the middle of the draft. 6 Carolina Panthers3-8 · .463Biggest needs: Edge, WR, C, QB, CBAlthough Carolina sacked Patrick Mahomes five times on Sunday, that number is just shy of the total the Panthers recorded in their previous five games combined (6). Adding more edge rusher help this offseason has to be top of mind for the team’s front office. 7 New York Jets3-8 · .516Biggest needs: QB, DT, OT, S, CBNFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday that there are questions as to whether the Jets want Aaron Rodgers to return next season. Even if No. 8 is back for one more spin, he turns 41 this December, so New York — and its new administration — will need to have a succession plan in place. 8 Tennessee Titans3-8 · .564Biggest needs: WR, QB, OT, S, OGI’m expecting the Titans to select a prospect in the middle rounds to compete with Nicholas Petit-Frere at right tackle. Petit-Frere was benched for a handful of games this season, but he returned to the starting lineup earlier this month. 9 Chicago Bears4-7 · .464Biggest needs: OG, C, WR, DT, EdgeIt’s time to invest another pick in the trenches with Andrew Billings (currently on injured reserve), Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens the only interior defensive linemen under contract beyond this season. 10 Cincinnati Bengals4-7 · .496Biggest needs: CB, WR, OG, TE, EDGETrey Hendrickson is one of the most productive pass rushers in the league and Sam Hubbardcontinues to be a solid contributor, although perhaps not at the same level we grew accustomed to seeing in his previous six seasons. Both are on track to become free agents after 2025, though, so the Bengals need to add more depth on the edge sooner rather than later. |
