| After an ugly Bills win on Monday night, here’s If The Playoffs Ended Today for the AFC after Week 6: If The Playoffs Ended Today: AFC W-L ConfKansas City West 5-0 3-0 Houston South 5-1 4-0 Baltimore North 4-2 3-2Buffalo East 4-2 3-2Pittsburgh WC1 4-2 3-1 L A Chargers WC2 3-2 2-2Indianapolis WC3 3-3 2-2Denver 3-3 2-2Miami 2-3 2-2NY Jets 2-4 2-2Las Vegas 2-4 2-3Cincinnati 2-4 0-3 The Colts moved into the playoffs with their win and the Broncos fall out. – – -Is Jeff Kerr of CBSSports.com right about this? This is the best rookie QB class ever Overreaction or reality: Reality Forget about Bo Nix for a second. This rookie quarterback class is very impressive. Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels have their respective teams at 4-2. Williams is the fourth rookie since 1970 with 4+ passing touchdowns and 50+ rushing yards in a game (Deshaun Watson, Robert Griffin III, Troy Aikman) while Daniels is the first player in NFL history with a 75% completion rate, 1,400 passing yards, and 300 rushing yards in a six-game span. Daniels is also the first player in NFL history with 1,400 passing yards and 300 rushing yards in his first six career games. Drake Maye made his first career start on Sunday and threw for more touchdown passes (3) than the Patriots did in their first five games (2). Maye is the first quarterback since at least 1950 with 3+ passing touchdowns to lead his team in rushing in his first career start. The top three picks have made an instant impact as rookies. They are carrying this rookie quarterback class to levels never seen before. |
| NFC NORTH |
| DETROITDan Wetzel of YahooSports.com tries to answer the question everyone is wondering – is the loss of DE AIDAN HUTCHINSON a death blow to the Lions or merely a flesh wound? It had been a glorious fall here in Detroit — day after day of 70s, soft breezes and sunshine. Few clouds. No storms. Construction cranes continued to swing in a revitalized downtown, finishing skyscrapers and fresh condos alike. The Tigers got hot and offered a few weeks of baseball’s unique burst of energy. And the Lions … the Lions kept winning, 4-1 now. Here in a city that is used to political insults and underdog status, a strange phenomenon had washed over the people and the place — life as a favorite. It’s still all too new to expect victory — this isn’t Kansas City or New England before it. But Dan Campbell’s crew is undeniably good — great even. Offense. Defense. Coaching. Stars are performing. Role players have stepped up. Plays, even trick plays, are being made. Somehow Jameson Williams seems to get faster by the week. The Lions are capable of not just beating anyone, but bludgeoning them. There is nothing like the come-up for a fan. Discussions of the Super Bowl, for generations nothing but the terrain of the delusional, have been more than reasonable. The team has few obvious weaknesses and untold strengths. Only history has caused hesitancy. Late Sunday afternoon here the rain finally came — meteorologically via a cold drizzle and then a heavy downpour moved in to offer the first sign of the eventual winter. Then metaphorically when, in the midst of delivering a stirring 47-9 woodshed beating of the Dallas Cowboys, Aidan Hutchinson broke his tibia. Just like that the satisfaction from the kind of Sunday afternoon that so rarely arrives here — their team delivering utter domination on national television — was gut-punched by an injury so visually gruesome that Fox wouldn’t show it and emotionally painful no Lions fan wanted to even contemplate it. “It’s tough,” Campbell said after. The instant reaction is that Detroit may have won the game but lost the Super Bowl, although only time will tell that. There is no denying Hutchinson’s on-field impact — he leads the NFL in sacks (7.5) — and his mere presence opened up the game for fellow defensive linemen such as Alim McNeill (2.5 sacks) and Levi Onwuzurike (1.5, 12 tackles), not to mention aided a young but impressive secondary (three interceptions against the Cowboys). The stats are the stats though. There is no one in the league who plays harder than Hutchinson; he seemingly takes each play like it’s the final play of the Super Bowl. He chases down ball carriers. He hustles back downfield. He’s relentless, an undoubted tone setter on every snap of not just the game, but practice as well. In Brad Holmes, Detroit may have one of the best general managers in the league. The draft-pick heater he’s been on turned a dispirited, moribund franchise into a roster overflowing with talent. He did it while maintaining future draft capital and $28.5 million in salary-cap space, per OverTheCap.com, in case of emergency. Hutch recovering from surgery in a Dallas hospital Sunday night would qualify as that. So maybe they can trade for a replacement, whether it’s a Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas) or a Myles Garrett (Cleveland) or a more reasonable Trey Hendrickson (Cincinnati) or Travon Walker (Jacksonville) or Jadeveon Clowney (Carolina). What Holmes and Campbell have built — both in attitude and aptitude — is more than one player, even a war daddy of an edge rusher. The offense is potent. The defense is ferocious. There is too much here. On Sunday, when Campbell handed the game ball to Jared Goff for his three-touchdown performance, Goff quickly gave it back to Campbell, a Dallas-area native and former Cowboy, for beating his old team. “Our [expletive] head coach is our [expletive] rock now,” Goff said. The season, let alone the Super Bowl, is anything but lost. Still, there is something about doing it without Aidan Hutchinson that left a malaise over Detroit even as the blue skies returned above to drain the puddles on Monday morning. Hutchinson is one of them. He wasn’t brought here; he’s from here. He was raised in Plymouth, the son of a Michigan Wolverine legend. He played at Divine Child in Dearborn then on to U of M himself. In 2021, he powered the team that finally bullied Ohio State, won the Big Ten and got to the College Football Playoffs. When the 2022 NFL Draft came, he didn’t want to go first overall — to Jacksonville, which chose Walker. He wanted Detroit. He wanted the Lions. The heartbeat of the team was already taking shape — Goff had been traded for and Holmes had selected offensive lineman Penei Sewell, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and both Onwuzurike and McNeill. Hutchinson brought star power and credibility. When he sang — and danced — to Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” on “Hard Knocks” that summer, he seemingly galvanized the fan base. The possibilities were somehow obvious. He was the symbol of the team, of the city, of the collective hopes that had risen from decades of knowing better. The sacks, tackles and perhaps even leadership can be replaced. Next man up. The end game is still the plan. In the best of times though, a player is more than his production, even in the bottom line NFL. So as the weather and the possibilities brightened for the Lions, the disappointment lingered. No Hutch. The dream is still alive, but it also isn’t quite the same. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASJeff Kerr of CBSSports.com says Mike McCarthy will not be getting fired this week: Mike McCarthy will get fired during the bye weekOverreaction or reality: Overreaction The Cowboys certainly don’t look like Super Bowl contenders through five games, sporting a 3-3 record and getting demolished by the Lions at home Sunday. Dallas had its largest home loss (38 points) in a game under Jerry Jones (as he bought the team in 1989), certainly an embarrassment on the owner’s 82nd birthday. Dallas is ill-prepared for games. The Cowboys have been outscored 110-35 in the first half and allowed 14 touchdowns on 19 first-half drives (excluding kneel downs) and have allowed 13.8 yards per pass attempt in the first 30 minutes of games. The offense has been poor and the defense has been atrocious (Mike Zimmer was McCarthy’s hire for defensive coordinator). Dallas has allowed 39.7 points per game at home. Dak Prescott threw two interceptions and had a 42.2 rating, while the Cowboys offense has averaged 17.7 points. That’s not ideal with the high-priced contracts of Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. Even with the bad football, the Cowboys are still in the playoff hunt at 3-3 and not even close to being out of the NFC East race. A bye week could be a time to fire McCarthy, but it’s too early to make that change. The Cowboys don’t look good, but they still have a chance. |
| PHILADELPHIAJeffri Chadiha of NFL.com sees the Eagles well-positioned for success the rest of the season: People have been trying to figure out the psyche of the Eagles for nearly a year and it’s still an ongoing process. That’s what a full-scale meltdown can do to a team that had Super Bowl aspirations in 2023 and made seismic changes throughout the offseason. It’s never a question of talent with these Eagles. It always seems to be a question of where their heads are at on any given day. The good news is the offense is getting some key weapons back in wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, both of whom had been sidelined for multiple games. Brown hadn’t played since Week 1 and he produced six receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s win over Cleveland. It wasn’t a dominant day for the offense in that game, but there should be some optimism that this unit can find more consistency. It’s no secret that quarterback Jalen Hurts has battled a propensity to turn the ball over. It’s fair to expect him to play better with more big-play options at his disposal. The defense might also improve if the offense can be more prolific. The hiring of Vic Fangio to run that unit hasn’t resulted in much success, but let’s keep this in perspective. The Giants are the only team in the NFC East that’s killing it on that side of the football, and they’re in last place. The Eagles have more playoff experience than the Commanders, and they’re healthier than the Cowboys at the moment. Philadelphia also will play a number of winnable games over the next six weeks. That should put Philly in a fairly good position to compete for the NFC East title down the stretch. |
| NFC WEST |
| SAN FRANCISCONick Wagner of ESPN.com on the return to practice of rookie WR RICKY PEARSALL: Just 44 days after he was shot in the chest in downtown San Francisco, 49ers receiver Ricky Pearsall returned to practice Monday. On the heels of their Thursday night win over the Seattle Seahawks and the ensuing “mini bye” that came with it over the weekend, the Niners held a bonus practice Monday afternoon. Any notion that the session would lack for energy coming off some downtime quickly went away as Pearsall excitedly trotted to the field, danced during stretching and was encouraged by tight end George Kittle to jump into the middle of the team huddle before drills began. “It meant everything,” said Jacob Cowing, a fellow rookie wideout. “All the adversity that’s kind of been thrown at him in the past few months and just for him to overcome everything and for him to fight and to grind to get back into football shape … it was just a great feeling for everybody to see him put that helmet back on, put that jersey back on and for him to go out there and be part of the team.” On Friday, Niners coach Kyle Shanahan announced that the team planned to open Pearsall’s 21-day practice window as he comes back from the reserve/non-football injury list. The team made that move official just before 1:30 p.m. PT on Monday, enabling Pearsall to take part in his first practice since Aug. 29. It’s the next important step in a series of boxes Pearsall will have to check before he is able to play in his first NFL regular-season game. The 49ers have three weeks to activate Pearsall to play, at which point they will need to make a corresponding roster move if they activate him or, if they don’t, he will revert to NFI for the rest of the season. Shanahan said Friday that while he suspected Pearsall would need a little bit of a longer ramp up before he can be activated to the roster, he didn’t want to make any judgments until he saw him practice. The Niners will have three more workouts this week, three next week and then their bye. That Pearsall has even reached this point continues to amaze his teammates and coaches. Pearsall was shot in the chest after a 17-year-old high school senior from nearby Tracy, California, attempted to rob him, resulting in a struggle between the two, according to the San Francisco Police Department. The bullet exited Pearsall’s back and missed vital organs, allowing for a speedy recovery that Niners general manager John Lynch has called “really, really miraculous.” San Francisco placed Pearsall on the non-football injury list Sept. 2, promising not to rush him back so he could make a full recovery. Since then, Pearsall has been around the facility and attending meetings while continuing to work out. |
| AFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERSAn update on the health of Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh who had to leave the sideline Sunday with a case of a heart flutter. Ryan Young of YahooSports.com: Jim Harbaugh may be just a day removed from a scary heart incident, but he isn’t planning on slowing down anytime soon. “It would take my heart stopping for me not to be out there on the sideline,” he said on Monday, via The Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles Chargers’ head coach was seen entering their blue medical tent and then leaving for the locker room minutes before their game against the Denver Broncos got started on Sunday afternoon in Colorado. He revealed after the game that he experienced an arrhythmia, or an irregular heart beat. More specifically, he was dealing with an atrial flutter, which is when the abnormality causes the upper chambers of the heart to beat too quickly. Harbaugh said he could tell his heart was beating irregularly before the game, which is what led him to seek help. He experienced a similar incident ahead of a game in 2012 when he was coaching the San Francisco 49ers, too. His first atrial flutter, he said, occurred in 1999. On Monday, a cardiologist confirmed that Harbaugh experienced an atrial flutter for the third time in his life. He will now wear a heart monitor for two weeks, and will take both a blood-thinning medication and a medication that stops his heart rate from spiking or dropping. The first two times Harbaugh experienced atrial flutter, he underwent an ablation procedure. That procedure, which destroys the tissue that causes abnormal electrical signals, is still an option. “As always, we’ll trust the doctors,” he said. Harbaugh, 60, is in his first season back in the NFL after he spent the past seven years at Michigan. The Chargers are now 3-2 on the season after Sunday’s 23-16 win in Denver. They will take on the Arizona Cardinals next week on Monday night. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CLEVELANDIn the cold light of Monday morning, it’s still more of the same at QB for the Browns. Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com: One day after the Cleveland Browns’ offense continued to crater in a 20-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, coach Kevin Stefanski again placed his support behind Deshaun Watson as the team’s starting quarterback. “I think Deshaun gives us the best chance to win, continues to give us the best chance to win,” Stefanski said Monday when asked why he wouldn’t insert backup Jameis Winston as the starter. “We need to play really good offensive football at his position, and really at every position to be successful.” In Sunday’s defeat, Cleveland’s fourth straight, the Browns became the first team since the 2014 Jacksonville Jaguars to fail to reach 20 points in each of its first six games. Cleveland is also the only team that has not recorded 300 total yards in a game this season. Watson has posted a 21.5 QBR, the lowest among qualified passers, but Stefanski said after the game that he is sticking with Watson at starting quarterback. On Monday, he reiterated the decision to keep starting Watson is his own. When asked if co-owner Jimmy Haslam is “forcing” him to stick with Watson, Stefanski said, “I don’t get caught up in narratives, but we have a good dialogue with myself, [general manager] Andrew [Berry], ownership about all things that have to do with this team. They’ve been nothing but supportive, and any decision when it comes to football is my decision.” |
| AFC SOUTH |
| HOUSTONDT MARIO EDWARDS, Jr. has been suspended for the next four games. Ryan Young of YahooSports.com: Houston Texans defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr. has been suspended for four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, the NFL announced Monday afternoon. It’s unclear what Edwards did specifically to violate that policy. He will be eligible for reinstatement after Houston’s matchup against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 10. The announcement came a day after Edwards’ best game of the season. He had eight total tackles in the Texans’ 41-21 blowout win over Drake Maye and the New England Patriots on Sunday, which marked Houston’s third straight victory and moved it to 5-1 on the season. Edwards has 18 total tackles, eight solo tackles and two sacks on the season. Edwards was also suspended in 2021 for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. The 30-year-old, who the Raiders first selected in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Florida State, signed a one-year, $1.65 million deal with the Texans this past offseason. While the Texans are losing Edwards for the next month, defensive lineman Denico Autry was reinstated on Monday after he served a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Autry signed a two-year, $20 million deal to land in Houston earlier this summer. He had a career-high 50 total tackles and 11.5 sacks last season with the Tennessee Titans. The Texans will take on the Green Bay Packers next on Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW YORK JETSRich Cimini of ESPN.com on how the Jets players learned that Robert Saleh had been axed. It was a typical off-day in the New York Jets’ training room. About a dozen players were receiving treatment for various injuries, trying to heal up as fast as possible for the next game. Most were on their phones, texting or scrolling or playing games to pass time. Tight end Tyler Conklin was texting a friend when he glanced up and happened to make eye contact with tackle Tyron Smith. Then a look of disbelief came over Smith’s face. Advertising “Dude,” Conklin said, “you look like you just saw a ghost.” Just then, Conklin received a text. “Oh, s—,” he said. He saw the same ghost. In that moment, in what seemed like a synchronized symphony of pings and buzzes, the players in the training room learned with the rest of the world that their coach, Robert Saleh, had been fired after the Jets’ 2-3 start in his fourth season. The news broke on social media at 10:08 a.m. Tuesday, when it was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The actual news occurred only minutes earlier, less than 100 yards from the training room, where chairman Woody Johnson and his brother, vice chairman Christopher Johnson, walked into Saleh’s first-floor office at 10:03 to terminate his employment. That conversation took less than two minutes. There was no formal announcement by the team initially. The players, the staff and most in the building found out the same way many NFL fans consume news. Tackle Morgan Moses got a phone alert while he was working out in the weight room. Center Joe Tippmann saw it on his family group text as he was pulling into the facility’s parking lot. One player said he was in the bathroom when the news broke. “It started as like a scene out of ‘John Wick,’ when he becomes excommunicado and everybody at the Continental gets a buzz on their phone,” said quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was in the training room. “That’s literally how it was: Phone starts buzzing, and you’re faced with the reality.” A new reality for the Jets, who were left to work through ownership’s decision to fire Saleh and make defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich the interim coach. It was the first time since 1975 that the Jets fired a coach during the season. Saleh, 45, hadn’t even been born. Leaguewide, it usually occurs about twice a year — 44 coaches were fired or resigned in season from 2000 to 2023, per ESPN Research. The Jets, perennial losers over the last decade-plus, managed to stay off that carousel until now. Charley Winner was the name of the Jets coach fired in 1975 with a 2-7 record.’ We thought it might be Lou Holtz, but Holtz’s time with the Jets was the following season in 1976. He coached only 13 of the 14 games, but left of his own volition.- – -Someone has a definition for a “Hail Mary”, and although it is unsaid here, QB AARON RODGERS has the record. Lauren Merola in The Athletic: Momentum was draining for the New York Jets as the first half of their “Monday Night Football” matchup against the Buffalo Bills waned. Down 13-10, the Jets defense racked up penalties while the defensive line failed to hold its gaps as the Bills charged down the field in an attempt for the two-score lead. With 21 seconds till halftime, Bills quarterback Josh Allen found tight end Dawson Knox for the score and 20-10 cushion. Another example of New York personnel lacking accountability — which linebacker Quincy Williams told SNY last week was lacking “from the top to the bottom” — felt palpable. Then Aaron Rodgers let it fly. As the second frame expired, Rodgers threw a 52-yard Hail Mary into the end zone, where Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard high-pointed the ball for the six-point pickup as nearly four Bills players fell on top of him. The Hail Mary is the fourth of Rodgers’ 20-year career. He previously threw one during the 2015 NFC Divisional playoffs versus the Arizona Cardinals, one during the 2015 season versus the Detroit Lions and another during the 2016 NFC wild-card game versus the New York Giants. The four Hail Mary’s are the most by a single QB in NFL history.– – -Charean Williams with a quick recap of Monday’s Bills win/Jets loss that will be remembered for its flags: Monday Night Football was something. There were 22 accepted penalties, a few questionable and a few more ticky-tack, for 204 yards to go along with a Hail Mary at the end of the first half, four missed kicks and a combined 752 yards. The Bills held on for a 23-20 victory over the Jets. Buffalo moved to 4-2, while the Jets fell to 2-4. The Jets, playing their first game with Jeff Ulbrich as interim head coach and Todd Downing as the play caller, will bemoan the chances they didn’t capitalize on. Greg Zuerlein missed field goals of 32 and 43 yards off the left upright in the second half, and the Jets scored only one touchdown and 13 total points in four red zone opportunities. After the game, Rodgers had several specific officiating decisions he was critical of, including one that was in the Jets favor. Mike Florio wonders if he’ll get fined for speaking truth to power: Monday night’s game between the Bills and Jets included 22 penalties for 204 yards. After the 23-20 Buffalo win, Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers shared his views on what transpired. His criticism included a roughing the passer foul called against Bills defensive end A.J. Epenesa, for a hit on Rodgers. “It seemed a little ridiculous,” Rodgers said of the penalties generally. “Yeah, some of them seemed really bad. Including the roughing the passer on me. That’s not roughing the passer. Might as well play Sarcastaball if we’re gonna call those things. And I thought the one on [Jets defensive tackle Javon] Kinlaw was not roughing the passer, either.” Later, Rodgers said that a Jets touchdown by rookie running back Braelon Allen was wiped out by a “phantom holding call.” The league has bright lines about coaches and management criticizing officiating. For players, it’s a little more vague. At one point, a fine was imposed only if the player called the integrity of the officials into question. Last year, however, Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was fined $25,000 for calling officiating in a win over the Jaguars “a travesty.” Rodgers didn’t accuse the officials of malfeasance. He focused instead on their competence. Whether 345 Park Avenue will focus on his checking account remains to be seen. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| 2025 DRAFTChad Reuter of NFL.com presents the current draft order and a look at what each team might do with the pick: This is a look at the first-round order for the 2025 NFL Draft heading into Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season, along with the top five needs for each team. The order is determined by record, using strength of schedule as the first tiebreaker. Keep in mind — teams that would make the playoffs if the season ended today are marked as PL (short for playoffs) in the order below. The draft order for playoff teams is determined by the results of postseason play. 1 Cleveland Browns1-5 · .429 (strength of schedule)Biggest needs: WR, OT, DT, QB, CBRemaining strength of schedule: .556 (6th)Left tackle Jedrick Wills will be a free agent after the season and veteran Jack Conklin has struggled to stay healthy over the past few years. Dawand Jones could take over at right tackle in 2025, but finding another starter-quality outside blocker is a must if one of the NFL’s worst offenses is to improve next season. 2 Carolina Panthers1-5 · .486Biggest needs: WR, C, CB, Edge, QBRemaining strength of schedule: .563 (5th)Until former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young is no longer on the roster, I’ll operate here as if Carolina won’t target a QB at the top of the draft. But we’ve seen several teams in recent years replace a first-round passer still on his rookie contract. So it’s very possible the Panthers could make a similar move in April. Assuming they continue to move forward with Young, though, I could see them spending a Day 3 pick on the position. 3 New England Patriots1-5 · .486Biggest needs: OL, Edge, WR, CB, SRemaining strength of schedule: .435 (30th)The Patriots’ offensive line has been a mess so far this season, with inconsistency and injuries leading Jerod Mayo to deploy six different starting lineups through the first six games. Caedan Wallace, whom New England selected in the third round in April, got his shot among the starting five against the Jets in Week 3, but had a rough showing (as did the rest of the unit) and has since landed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. The Pats need to upgrade the protection if quarterback Drake Maye is to progress in 2025. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars1-5 · .543Biggest needs: CB, S, WR, DT, OTRemaining strength of schedule: .508 (12th)The Jaguars rank last in passing yards allowed per game and have forced only one interception this year. Andre Cisco, the man responsible for the team’s lone pick, will be a free agent after the campaign, while two of the team’s top cornerbacks, Ronald Darby and Montaric Brown, are scheduled to hit the market in 2026. Injuries to Tyson Campbell and Darnell Savage early on this season have amplified the distinct lack of depth in the team’s secondary. 5 Tennessee Titans1-4 · .517Biggest needs: WR, S, QB, Edge, OLRemaining strength of schedule: .551 (7th)GM Ran Carthon traded up in the second round of the 2023 draft for Will Levis, and so far the investment hasn’t paid off. Should Levis’ uneven play continue, I wouldn’t be surprised if first-year coach Brian Callahan decides he wants to hit reset at the position and bring in a new signal-caller of his choosing. 6 Los Angeles Rams1-4 · .586Biggest needs: OT, WR, CB, LB, TERemaining strength of schedule: .464 (23rd)The Rams have one of the most productive receiving tandems in the league when healthy. But both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp have missed multiple games due to injury already this season, and Kupp, who hasn’t played a full season since 2021, will be 32 years old by next September. Factor in the depth concerns behind the two Pro Bowlers — Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell are scheduled to hit free agency this offseason — and it seems logical that L.A. will need to use another Day 2 pick on the position come April. 7 Las Vegas Raiders2-4 · .457Biggest needs: QB, WR, DT, CB, SRemaining strength of schedule: .525 (10th)Six quarterbacks were already off the board by the time Las Vegas was on the clock at Pick No. 13 in the 2024 draft. Although the Raiders potentially could have traded up to secure one of the top passers, the franchise ultimately decided to take TE Brock Bowers with its first-round pick and roll with Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell under center this season. But from what we’ve seen of these two passers, their ceiling appears to be as solid backups, so I expect the Raiders to hone in on a dynamic playmaker in the upcoming QB class. 8 Cincinnati Bengals2-4 · .486Biggest needs: WR, CB, DT, OG, SRemaining strength of schedule: .460 (24th)The Bengals’ secondary depth will be tested the rest of the way after Dax Hill tore his ACL in Week 5. And with the underrated Mike Hilton set to hit the open market in March, I expect the Bengals to use a Day 2 selection to bolster their defensive backfield. 9 New York Jets2-4 · .500Biggest needs: OT, WR, S, Edge, CBRemaining strength of schedule: .444 (27th)Safeties Chuck Clark and Ashtyn Davis are not signed beyond this season. If the Jets decide to find RFA Tony Adams’ running mate in April, I could see them targeting a DB in the third round, as they did in 2020 when they selected Davis 68th overall. 10 New York Giants2-4 · .514Biggest needs: QB, OL, CB, WR, SRemaining strength of schedule: .547 (T-8th)Daniel Jones’ contract gives the Giants a potential out after this season and we know they explored trading up to the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which the Patriots kept and used to select Drake Maye. So, a QB change could be coming if things don’t turn around for Danny Dimes. The franchise gave Jones a four-year, $160 million extension prior to the 2023 season. 11 New Orleans Saints2-4 · .588Biggest needs: Edge, OL, WR, TE, SRemaining strength of schedule: .453 (25th)It seems like the Saints are always looking for either an edge rusher or offensive tackle in the first round. This week, I’m focusing on the Saints’ need for the former. Beyond Carl Granderson, New Orleans has a number of question marks within their pass-rushing unit. Chase Young has just 1.5 sacks through six games and is a free agent after the season. Tanoh Kpassagnon has yet to suit up this year because of an offseason Achilles injury and is also an impending free agent. And franchise stalwart Cameron Jordan will be 36 when Week 1 rolls around. 12 Arizona Cardinals2-4 · .588Biggest needs: Edge, DT, WR, OG, CBRemaining strength of schedule: .452 (26th)No. 4 overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr. will be a difference-maker for years to come, and 2023 third-rounder Michael Wilson has shown flashes in his young career. Though the team will have the opportunity to retain WR Greg Dortch (RFA), there’s not a ton of depth behind those three. So don’t be surprised if they use a Day 2 pick on another big-time target for Kyler Murray. 13 Miami Dolphins2-3 · .345Biggest needs: S, OG, DT, LB, QBRemaining strength of schedule: .422 (32nd)Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said on Monday that he’s expecting Tua Tagovailoa to play again this season. If Tagovailoa does indeed come back from his concussion and return to form, the team still should be looking to improve the depth at quarterback behind him. 14 Seattle Seahawks3-3 · .441Biggest needs: LB, OT, Edge, OG, QBRemaining strength of schedule: .507 (T-13th)Right tackle has been a trouble spot for the Seahawks due to injuries to Abraham Lucas and George Fant. They both are 2026 free agents, while current starter Stone Forsythe has a deal that expires after this season. Selecting another tackle during the first half of the draft would make a lot of sense. 15 Dallas Cowboys3-3 · .486Biggest needs: RB, WR, OG, Edge, CBRemaining strength of schedule: .547 (T-8th)The Cowboys rank dead last in rushing yards per game and their top running backs, Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott, are not signed beyond this season. I expect the Cowboys to be looking for another playmaker at the position in 2025. 16 Denver Broncos3-3 · .514Biggest needs: OT, LB, TE, DT, RBRemaining strength of schedule: .507 (T-13th)Left tackle Garett Bolles will be the Broncos’ top impending free agent this offseason and there is no heir apparent on the roster. Denver must thoroughly evaluate offensive line prospects to ensure quarterback Bo Nix is not facing heat like he did against the Chargers on Sunday, especially if Bolles does not return. 17 Philadelphia Eagles3-2 · .500Biggest needs: WR, Edge, LB, OG, TERemaining strength of schedule: .437 (29th)The Eagles are very thin behind starting receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, with Jahan Dotson posting just six receptions for 35 yards through five games and rookie sixth-rounder Johnny Wilson a work in progress. More speed in the slot and outside would be a boon to the passing game. 18 Green Bay Packers4-2 · .469Biggest needs: CB, OT, DT, Edge, WRRemaining strength of schedule: .597 (3rd)Former first-round pick Eric Stokes is scheduled to become a free agent in 2025, as is reserve Corey Ballentine. Also, injuries have been an issue for Pro Bowl CB Jaire Alexander this season and in 2023, so the team must address the cornerback position early in next year’s draft. PL San Francisco 49ers3-3 · .412Biggest needs: CB, DT, LB, OG, OTRemaining strength of schedule: 581 (4th)San Francisco’s cornerback room could look significantly different next year with Charvarius Ward, Isaac Yiadom and Deommodore Lenoir ticketed for free agency. Second-round pick Renardo Green, who intercepted a pass against the Seahawks last Thursday night, could play inside or outside to complement any drafted corners. PL Indianapolis Colts3-3 · .543Biggest needs: CB, IOL, DT, Edge, TERemaining strength of schedule: .484 (19th)Fourth-round pick Tanor Bortolini could fill the shoes of Ryan Kelly if Kelly leaves in free agency this offseason. With Will Fries — who is also an impending free agent — suffering a broken tibia in Week 5, the team could try Bortolini at guard if undrafted rookie Dalton Tucker does not get the job done. Either way, the team must improve the depth on the interior offensive line if Kelly departs. PL Los Angeles Chargers3-2 · .517Biggest needs: Edge, DT, C, TE, WRRemaining strength of schedule: .443 (28th)The Chargers got their pass rush going against Denver on Sunday, but reinforcements will be needed in 2025. Joey Bosa is, once again, fighting the injury bug. Khalil Mack is due to become a free agent after this season. The contracts for Bosa and Bud Dupree are set to expire after next season. Tuli Tuipulotu was a good second-round pick in 2023, but another young talent on the edge would do wonders for the defense. PL Chicago Bears4-2 · .353Biggest needs: OG, C, OT, Edge, WRRemaining strength of schedule: .629 (1st)Caleb Williams has had to be active in and outside of the pocket because of the inadequate play of the offensive line for much of this season. Left guard Teven Jenkins is due to become a free agent after the season and 2023 acquisition Nate Davis has been in and out of the lineup due to injury since his arrival. Even if the Bears re-sign Jenkins, finding another starting guard in the draft should be a priority. PL Washington Commanders4-2 · .417Biggest needs: WR, Edge, LB, OT, CBRemaining strength of schedule: .476 (20th)Terry McLaurin and Luke McCaffrey are in line to be two of Jayden Daniels’ top targets in 2025; otherwise, pass-catchers Dyami Brown, Noah Brown, Jamison Crowder (who is on injured reserve after suffering a calf injury) and Olamide Zaccheaus are all set to be free agents. Adding another speedster in the first two days of the draft should help Daniels continue his strong play in Year 2. PL Buffalo Bills4-2 · .457Biggest needs: WR, Edge, CB, OG, DTRemaining strength of schedule: .426 (31st)The Bills landed Keon Coleman with the first pick of the second round in this year’s draft. Depth is still needed at receiver, though, as Mack Hollins and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are not under contract beyond this season. Giving star quarterback Josh Allen a strong arsenal must be a priority. PL Pittsburgh Steelers4-2 · .514Biggest needs: QB, OT, CB, RB, WRRemaining strength of schedule: .469 (T-21st)The Steelers have no quarterbacks under contract for 2025. Russell Wilson has been sidelined by a calf injury until recently, and it’s not clear, based on Justin Fields’ play (he’s put up a 5:1 TD-to-INT ratio and 93.9 passer rating for the 28th-ranked passing offense in the NFL), if he’ll land a new contract in Pittsburgh. Until one of them proves to be the long-term answer, I’ll assume the Steelers will be looking at quarterback prospects early in next year’s draft. PL Atlanta Falcons4-2 · .559Biggest needs: C, Edge, CB, WR, SRemaining strength of schedule: .500 (T-15th)Center Drew Dalman — who landed on injured reserve with an ankle injury in September — will be a free agent after the season. With Matt Bergeron and Chris Lindstrom holding down the two guard spots, the Falcons will want a sturdy pivot to form a strong interior in front of their quarterback next season. PL Baltimore Ravens4-2 · .571Biggest needs: OT, WR, Edge, OG, SRemaining strength of schedule: .500 (T-15th)Baltimore selected right tackle Roger Rosengarten in the second round of last April’s draft, but the team might be in the market for a starting left tackle if long-time starter Ronnie Stanley does not re-sign after this season, the last one remaining on his current contract. Patrick Mekari, who has played across the line (including at both tackle spots) when needed the past few years, might garner interest from other teams as a free agent in the spring. PL Tampa Bay Buccaneers4-2 · .588Biggest needs: WR, OG, LB, Edge, CBRemaining strength of schedule: .469 (T-21st)Chris Godwin is set to enter free agency after the season, and Mike Evans’ contract expires after next season. The Bucs selected Jalen McMillan in the third round of the 2024 draft, but there could still be a need for more young receiver talent to support quarterback Baker Mayfield in 2025. PL Detroit Lions4-1 · .448Biggest needs: Edge, DT, CB, OG, LBRemaining strength of schedule: .623 (2nd)The loss of defensive leader Aidan Hutchinson to a broken tibia and fibia Sunday is a major blow to the Lions, who were already thin in the pass-rushing department, with Marcus Davenport suffering an elbow injury in September. Davenport is set to become a free agent this spring, as is veteran John Cominsky, so I’m expecting the Lions to secure another edge rusher early in the draft. PL Houston Texans5-1 · .514Biggest needs: DT, OG, CB, S, WRRemaining strength of schedule: .492 (18th)The Texans have built a solid roster, but improving the interior of their defensive line should be a top priority. Given that the only defensive tackle currently under contract for next year is backup Tim Settle, a complete rebuild might be in order. PL Kansas City Chiefs5-0 · .517Biggest needs: CB, DT, OG, LB, WRRemaining strength of schedule: .493 (17th)Chris Jones is one of the top defensive tackles in the league, but fellow interior defenders Tershawn Wharton, Mike Pennel and Derrick Nnadi are all headed for free agency after this season. Look for GM Brett Veach to find defensive-line value on the draft’s second day. PL Minnesota Vikings5-0 · .533Biggest needs: CB, DT, OG, S, RBRemaining strength of schedule: .515 (11th)The Vikings’ cornerback group for 2025 looks extremely thin, with Byron Murphy, Stephon Gilmore, Shaq Griffin and Fabian Moreau all headed for free agency. Mehki Blackmon will be coming off a torn ACL suffered in July, as well. One or two draft picks should be used at the position to rebuild some depth. |
