| Rather than play games with the new-fangled kickoff return, many teams continued to take the touchback last year, willing to trade five yards from the old spot of the 25-yard line. That calculation may get harder next year per Mark Maske of the Washington Post: The NFL’s Competition Committee is likely to propose moving the spot of the touchback on kickoffs from the 30- to the 35-yard line. The decision was expected in an attempt to further boost the rate of returns. The league boosted its kickoff return rate from 21.8 percent in 2023 to 32.8 percent in 2024 by introducing the dynamic kickoff last season. It still was the second-lowest return rate in NFL history as only 21.5 percent kicks landed in the 20-yard landing zone. Touchbacks resulted in a starting position at the 30-yard line, while a return on the dynamic kickoff resulted in an average field position of the 28.8-yard line. The league estimates a 65 to 75 percent return rate if the touchback is moved to the 35, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports. Any proposed rules changes require the approval of 24 owners. The league’s annual meetings will be held next week in Palm Beach, Florida. |
| NFC EAST |
| NEW YORK GIANTSThe Giants give QB RUSSELL WILSON just north of $10 million on a one-year deal. Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com: The New York Giants promised to “look under every rock” to find a new quarterback this offseason. Now, after plenty of looking, they’ve finally found another one, on Tuesday agreeing to sign Russell Wilson to a one-year deal, per CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones. The contract is worth $10.5 million guaranteed and up to $21 million, per ESPN. Wilson, 36, was reportedly on the Giants’ radar as early as last offseason, before the former Super Bowl champion signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fresh off an uneven 2024 campaign with the Steelers, in which he went 6-6 as a starter, including playoffs, Wilson gives New York another experienced veteran in a quarterback room that also includes former No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston, who signed a two-year deal with New York last week. Wilson heads to the Big Apple as the starter, per NFL Media. Wilson faded down the stretch of the 2024 season in Pittsburgh, losing his final five starts and averaging under 200 passing yards per game. Perhaps that’s why the Giants opted to sign both Wilson and Winston this offseason. Prior to signing Wilson, the quarterback-starved Giants had also been linked to Aaron Rodgers, who was released by the New York Jets; and Matthew Stafford, who got a pay raise from the Los Angeles Rams ahead of free agency. Some reports also connected them to Sam Darnold, who ended up leaving the Minnesota Vikings for a $100 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is now on his third team in as many seasons after failing to secure a new deal with the Steelers. Once considered one of the NFL’s top dual threats as a perennial contender with the Seattle Seahawks, he’s posted serviceable, if unspectacular, numbers since relocating to the Denver Broncos via trade in 2022. He initially helped expand the Steelers’ downfield passing attack upon replacing fill-in Justin Fields halfway through the 2024 campaign, but struggled to sustain the offensive output down the stretch. The 10-time Pro Bowler’s 350 career passing touchdowns rank as the 12th-most in NFL history. New York has also shown interest in Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, the consensus top two quarterback prospects in the 2025 draft, with ESPN previously reporting the Giants have eyed a potential move up to the No. 1 pick. General manager Joe Schoen didn’t rule out using both free agency and the draft to fill out the position during this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, calling quarterback moves the club’s top priority. The Giants added two outside signal-callers in free agency, and it remains to be seen if they add another in the draft. Does this mean that QB SHADEUR SANDERS won’t be going to the Giants with the third overall pick? Mike Florio says maybe, but maybe not: The fact that they’ve added both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston presumably takes them out of play for, say, Shedeur Sanders at No. 3 or another quarterback at No. 34 or possibly trading back into the bottom of round one. And that might be what the Giants want everyone else to think. With just Winston and Tommy DeVito in the fold, it would have been obvious that the Giants were looking to draft another quarterback. With Wilson added to the roster, other teams won’t be thinking that they should be trying to cut the line in front of the Giants. With Wilson getting $10.5 million guaranteed for 2025 and Winston receiving (we’re told) $4 million fully guaranteed, the Giants could easily draft a quarterback in the first or second round and then cut Winston. They’d get credit for whatever he makes elsewhere, even if it’s the league minimum of $1.255 million. In the end, $2.745 million could be the price of assuming a low profile. And the $4 million Winston will make if he isn’t cut becomes insurance against the Giants not getting the rookie quarterback they want. Bottom line? Don’t assume the Giants are out of the rookie quarterback conversation. But, if they are, they’ve got two veterans to lead the way into a 2025 season that seemingly carries a playoffs-or-bust mandate for G.M. Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll. Grading the signing from Seth Walder of ESPN.com (with further draft-related analysis by Matt Miller): Grading the dealA few days ago, I complimented the Giants for signing Winston. I felt (at the time) it meant they were opting out of the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes. I thought it was solid that they landed Winston for only $4 million per year. While they’re surely out on Rodgers now, the second part of the Winston analysis is no longer applicable. Getting Wilson for one year at $10.5 million (because that’s what I assume the deal ultimately will be) isn’t that wild in a vacuum. But who were they fighting to pay that much to Wilson? And much more importantly — why? The Giants already have a comparable veteran bridge QB on the roster for cheap. Signing Wilson is unnecessary, spends money that could be saved for the future and does little to nothing to raise this team’s ceiling. Getting Winston for cheap, plus drafting Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart or another rookie QB at No. 3 overall, would have been making the most of a terrible quarterback hand. Adding Wilson costs $10.5 million and doesn’t help very much. In Wilson, the Giants get a quarterback who is in decline but still possesses a high floor. Wilson had a 51.3 QBR for the Steelers last season, which ranked 22nd among quarterbacks. (Winston ranked 19th.) It was the third consecutive season Wilson finished 21st or worse. Injuries prevented Wilson from starting at the beginning of last season, but Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin made the controversial decision to switch from Justin Fields to a then-healthy Wilson in Week 7. At first, the move looked like a success — the Steelers ripped off six wins in seven games and Wilson posted a 59 QBR in that span. But Wilson and the Steelers stumbled down the stretch. They lost their final five games — their last four regular-season games plus a wild-card loss to the Ravens — with Wilson posting a 36 QBR in that span. Wilson can still uncork a vintage rainbow deep ball every so often, but he is nothing like he was half a decade ago. His accuracy has dropped, as his plus-4% completion percentage over expectation from 2016 through 2020 fell to minus-1% over the next four seasons (perhaps partially a result of losing Seattle’s receivers). He throws short more often (75% of his passes were under 10 air yards last season) and his sack rates have crept up again (at least 9% in each of the past three seasons). Maybe this move signals that the Giants don’t believe in Sanders and/or don’t think they can land him with the No. 3 pick. I’m not sure that justifies signing both veteran QBs, however. There’s no question Winston and a rookie would have been an extremely high-variance option. Wilson increases the Giants’ chances of respectability in 2025, but there is no trophy for that. And it’s not what New York should be chasing. The saving grace is that this is not that much money for a quarterback in the grand scheme of things — even if it was unnecessary. Either Wilson or Winston could be flipped to a contender in the event of an injury. And it means Rodgers is surely off the table. But going as cheap as possible at quarterback and hoping to strike lightning in the draft was the preferable option. — Walder Grade: C What does the signing mean for the draft?The signing of two veteran quarterbacks to one-year deals that total roughly $14.5 million in 2025 should not prevent general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll from drafting Sanders if he’s available at No. 3. Sanders’ toughness and playmaking ability were on display at Colorado the past two seasons but especially in 2024, when he threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdown passes to 10 interceptions in leading the Buffaloes to a 9-4 record. Sanders is the most accurate passer in the this quarterback class, as evidenced by his 74.0% completion percentage this past season. He has easy ball placement and complete command of where his passes are landing. The Giants could bring Sanders along at his own pace — which would be important for him after not playing in a pro-style offense in college and often being allowed to ad-lib at the line of scrimmage. Learning behind Wilson and Winston for a season affords him the time to acclimate to the speed of the pro game while learning from valuable mentors how to navigate the NFL and the New York media market. Instead of thinking of Wilson’s signing as a roadblock preventing the Giants from drafting Sanders, it’s possible the signing was done to give Sanders the best possible support as he transitions to the NFL. — Miller |
| AFC WEST |
| LAS VEGASThe pros and cons of drafting RB ASHTON JEANTY with the sixth overall pick. Brian Smith of TalkSport.com: One of the premier NFL draft analysts believes that Ashton Jeanty belongs with the Las Vegas Raiders. “The Raiders can take some pressure off of Geno Smith by adding Jeanty, who is one of the top three players in the draft,” wrote Daniel Jeremiah in his latest mock draft for NFL Network. But everyone has an opinion, and a former NFL scout sees it 100 percent differently. John Middlekauff made it clear that he has serious reservations about Jeanty, who finished second in Heisman Trophy voting last season. Jeanty ran for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024, and totaled 4,769 yards with 50 TDs during his three-year tenure at Boise State. That wasn’t enough for the former NFL scout. Shedeur Sanders could still join Raiders in NFL Draft or be paired with New York star QB“I’m just acknowledging he’s 5ft 8in, so how often does a 5-8 player go into the top 10?” Middlekauff said on his YouTube channel. “I don’t think Jeanty is that complicated. He’s a really good player. But he did play at a smaller school and he is small. “So I do think they were just questions, basically with every prospect ever. If I was the Raiders, I 100 percent would not pick him.” Tom Brady could have a deciding voice in the Raiders’ draft room. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW ENGLANDWR STEFON DIGGS gets some pretty good money to sign for three years with New England after being one and done in Houston. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: One of the top remaining free agents has a new home. Per multiple reports, receiver Stefon Diggs has agreed to terms with the Patriots. It’s a three-year, $69 million deal. Via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, $26 million is guaranteed. The structure of the contract will reveal much about the extent of the commitment. The key will be the full guarantee at signing. With Diggs recovering from a torn ACL suffered during the 2024 season, the deal also could include significant per-game roster bonuses tied to Diggs’s ability to play. In eight games last year with the Texans, Diggs caught 47 passes for 496 yards and three touchdowns. The Patriots will become Diggs’s fourth team. He has previously played for the Vikings and Bills before being traded last year to Houston. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| FREE AGENCY PERIOD WINNERS AND LOSERSAustin Mock of The Athletic loves him some QB GENO SMITH, so he has the Raiders as the biggest winners of the free agency period and the Seahawks on the list of losers: Five Biggest Winners Las Vegas RaidersI’m not sure how any list doesn’t include the Raiders at the top, or at the very least inside the top three, after landing Smith. The Raiders roster isn’t ready to compete for a playoff spot, especially in the vaunted AFC West, but they’ve solidified the sport’s most important position with a quarterback who has proven he can give you a solid floor as a league-average QB with the ability for more. And with quarterback (presumably) locked down for the next few seasons, new coach Pete Carroll can focus on acquiring talent to fill out the rest of the roster. New York GiantsThe Giants were wise not to stop addressing the QB position after signing Jameis Winston last week. He now becomes their backup with the newly signed Russell Wilson leading the charge into 2025. Now we’ll see if they want to add a rookie to the mix in April. Beyond their solid start at QB, the Giants made some nice moves on defense by adding safety Jevon Holland and cornerback Paulson Adebo while improving the depth of their front seven. The Giants weren’t a QB away from anything significant, but they’ve quietly done a good job fortifying the roster at a position they still need to find a long-term answer for. New England PatriotsThe Patriots continued their free-agent spending spree Tuesday night, adding star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a receiving group that needed a No. 1. After that splash signing, finishing third in these rankings might seem low. And maybe it is. It probably boils down to what you think of Harold Landry III as an edge rusher. My model thinks Landry is just fine — and that’s not a bad thing. Having average players on the roster can be good if you can put stars around them. Factor in Landry’s familiarity with new head coach Mike Vrabel, and you understand why New England made the move. Offensive tackle Morgan Moses and defensive tackle Milton Williams are the other additions my model likes, and if you think Landry will be better in this new system, you can easily make an argument for the Patriots jumping the Giants in these rankings and even threatening the Raiders for the top spot. Indianapolis ColtsMy model loved the Charvarius Ward signing, grading it as one of the most impactful moves made this offseason not involving a quarterback. While there is some risk — Ward is 28 years old — a change of scenery might be what just what the veteran cornerback needs to return to form as one of the best defensive backs in the league. Pair the Ward signing with the addition of safety Cam Bynum, and the Colts have done an excellent job of upgrading a secondary that badly needed one. Washington CommandersThe Commanders made their splashes on the trade market rather than in free agency, and my model liked what they did. Laremy Tunsil remains one of the better left tackles in the league, and that was a position where Washington needed an upgrade. Meanwhile, wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. should fit into this Washington offense with his versatility, pairing well with the skill set of QB Jayden Daniels. Adding cornerback Jonathan Jones was another interesting move and one that my model liked. He’s up there in age (31) and didn’t have the greatest 2024 season, but if he bounces back in any way, watch out for the Commanders (again) this season. Five Biggest Losers New York JetsThe loss of Rodgers might be offset by the addition of Justin Fields, but there were still some major losses here. Davante Adams remains a very good wide receiver, despite getting up there in age; Moses is still a quality tackle; and the biggest loss, according to my projections, is D.J. Reed. Reed has been a quality cornerback for a while, and he’s going to be difficult to replace. I don’t necessarily disagree with letting these players walk, given the state of the roster and the price tags it would have taken to keep them in town, but there’s no debate the Jets lost some top talent this offseason. San Francisco 49ersThis ranking shouldn’t come as a surprise to those tracking San Francisco’s offseason, which has seen a mass exodus of quality players. I already spoke about how much my model likes Ward, but the 49ers also lost Samuel, Jordan Mason, Aaron Banks, Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, Javon Hargrave, Leonard Floyd, Maliek Collins and Isaac Yiadom, among others. Maybe that’s the price of doing business after paying running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk ahead of of a new contract for quarterback Brock Purdy, but the 49ers are in the middle of a transitional period, and the state of their roster shows it. Philadelphia EaglesOne of the byproducts of winning the Super Bowl, or just being consistently competitive in the NFL, is that players on your team earn significant raises. That’s just the way it goes. Last year, the Eagles and Chiefs were near the bottom of this list after the early part of free agency, and both reached the Super Bowl, so all hope isn’t lost in Philadelphia, especially with so much talent still on the roster. But no matter how you shake it, Philadelphia will be looking to replace a lot of snaps from this year’s championship-winning squad as Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, Brandon Graham, Darius Slay Jr., C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Isaiah Rodgers are all gone. Dallas CowboysStaying in the NFC East here, the Cowboys will again be looking to primarily bolster their roster through the draft, which they’re pretty decent at, rather than free agency. The losses of DeMarcus Lawrence, Jourdan Lewis, and Chauncey Golston are daunting (though letting Lewis walk after one of his best seasons isn’t the worst decision), and the loss of Zack Martin to retirement will sting. He was certainly past his peak, but he was still a quality offensive lineman, and those are always hard to find. Seattle SeahawksWhat did you expect after they traded away their starting quarterback and a Pro Bowl-caliber wide receiver? If it’s any consolation to Seahawks fans, it’s impressive they aren’t last on this list. That’s because they replaced Smith and DK Metcalf with Darnold and Cooper Kupp to help offset those losses, while adding Lawrence to their defense. The model is skeptical Darnold can replicate his success from Minnesota, while Kupp and Lawrence are past their primes and have some injury concerns, so it’s no surprise the Seahawks still rank near the bottom. |
| FLORES AND GRUDEN UPDATEThree years ago, Brian Flores sued everyone he could think of over the fact that he was not an NFL head coach. He still has yet to have a hearing on his facts or last thereof. Three years of lawyering still have not determined what forum his claims will be made as Mike Florio explains: Former Dolphins coach Brian Flores sued the NFL and multiple teams (Dolphins, Giants, Broncos, and later the Texans) in February 2022. More than three years later, a federal appeals court has officially taken up the question of whether certain claims will be sent to arbitration controlled by the league or will unfold in traditional, open-court litigation. An oral argument occurred today. The entire session lasted more than 80 minutes, with many questions from the three-judge panel to which the case was assigned. We’re currently listening to the entire argument, which has been posted by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The losing party will have the right to seek relief before the U.S. Supreme Court. And if the NFL loses, it undoubtedly will. Which will serve only to continue to drag out the case even longer. Regardless of whether the NFL prevails on its effort to force arbitration, the fact that the NFL can make the straight-faced effort to force all claims made against the league and its teams into arbitration controlled by Commissioner Roger Goodell necessarily slams the brakes on the entire process. For years. That’s why, at some point, a broad, comprehensive, and final challenge to this practice is needed. Either it’s fine and dandy for a company to let the CEO be the judge and jury for all disputes involving the company and its workforce, or it’s not. That’s the question that needs to be resolved, once and for all and for good. By truly neutral and impartial judges, untainted by politics or money or anything other than a fundamental sense of what’s right, and what’s wrong. Is it right for the CEO of a company to serve as the judge for claims made against the company? Or is there a better and more fair (and/or less unfair) way to do this? Jon Gruden is climbing a similar Mt. Everest of procedure to get his case heard in his preferred forum. His current forum is the State of Nevada where he feels his case over the release of selected private emails to the media and subsequent firing and not in the Goodell-controlled arbitration process (he was not an employee of the NFL when he wrote the emails). We lost sight of the fact that back in October, the Nevada Supreme Court agreed to rehear his case en banc (the full court) after he lost 2-1 before a panel of judges. His legal proceeding, to keep the case in Nevada and not in Goodell court, started four years ago. Here is what Florio said in October: It’s possibly a good sign for Gruden’s cause. If the court wanted to uphold the ruling for the NFL and Goodell, all it had to do was do nothing. That said, and as explained in the one-page ruling, the applicable rules allow any two members of the court to order a rehearing. With seven justices, the two who wanted it (if it was only two) would need two more in order to overturn the ruling for the NFL. The ruling comes three years to the day since Gruden’s last game as coach of the Raiders. He resigned under pressure the next day. While the league office won’t appreciate this opinion, the three judges got it wrong. Gruden’s case ended up in arbitration based on a flawed reading of the NFL’s Constitution & Bylaws. Looking at it more broadly, any arbitration resolved by the Commissioner or his hand-picked designee is tainted by a clear conflict of interest. Usually, the conflict comes from the fact that the Commissioner is resolving a claim against one or more of the teams that employ and pay him many millions per year. In this case, the claim is against the NFL and the Commissioner. Under no sense of justice should the Commissioner or his designee be resolving a case against the Commissioner. And, frankly, we all should be rooting for Gruden. Even though he arguably deserved what he got and got what he deserved when emails containing highly inappropriate commentary came to light as a result of the Washington investigation, someone leaked those documents in order to push him out of his job, DURING the 2021 season. Given the extent to which someone compromised the integrity of the 2021 season, we all deserve to know who ordered the Code Red, and who carried it out. If Gruden’s case ends up in arbitration controlled by the Commissioner, we’ll never know. Because protecting that information will be more important than rigging a victory. |
| 2025 DRAFTChad Reuter of NFL.com has a four-round Mock Draft here. We have his first round below including both New York teams taking QBs (neither named Ward): 1 Tennessee TitansCam WardMiami · QB · SeniorWard’s been my top pick for the Titans since they secured the No. 1 overall selection because elite quarterback play is required to make it through the AFC gauntlet. His four-plus years of starting experience at Incarnate Word, Washington State and Miami are a major asset, as are his playmaking ability and toughness. 2 Cleveland BrownsAbdul CarterPenn State · Edge · JuniorTrading for Kenny Pickett means the Browns could focus on taking the best player available at No. 2 before picking up another quarterback later in the draft. The extension of Myles Garrett does not mean Cleveland will pass on Carter, whose elite talent on the edge would only make the perennial All-Pro better. 3 New York GiantsShedeur SandersColorado · QB · SeniorSanders might not be the biggest, strongest or fastest passer, but he throws with anticipation from the pocket and can test defenses with his feet when facing man coverage. The Giants have lacked a true leader at the quarterback position for years; Sanders works to make his teammates better and knows what it means to play under the spotlight. 4 New England PatriotsTravis HunterColorado · WR/CB · JuniorIf the Browns decide to draft Abdul Carter, the Patriots will gleefully select Hunter as a future two-way star. His ball skills and after-the-catch ability are not of this planet, so it won’t be a surprise if he becomes a prolific receiver for an offense that needs one, while also working with corners Carlton Davis and Christian Gonzalez. 5 Jacksonville JaguarsMason GrahamMichigan · DT · JuniorGraham’s quick feet, upper-body strength, versatility and consistent motor portend a successful NFL career. The Jaguars did not address their defensive line after trading Roy Robertson-Harris to Seattle last fall, so pairing Graham with 2024 second-round pick Maason Smith makes all kinds of sense. 6 Las Vegas RaidersAshton JeantyBoise State · RB · JuniorIt’s no secret new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll wants to run the ball. Jeanty will likely pound the rock 20-25 times a game without hesitation, running through contact and exploding for big gains in the open field. 7 New York JetsJaxson DartMississippi · QB · SeniorJustin Fields could join Sam Bradford (Philadelphia, 2016), Mike Glennon (Chicago, 2017), Andy Dalton (Chicago, 2021), Mitch Trubisky (Pittsburgh, 2022) and Kirk Cousins (Atlanta, 2024) as veteran quarterbacks signed to be QB1 until the team selected a passer in the first round. (All but Trubisky were overshadowed by top-11 picks.) In this simulation, the Jets appreciate Dart’s physical traits and work ethic, hoping that he or Fields will step up in a leadership role during 2025 and end the league’s longest playoff drought. 8 Carolina PanthersJalon WalkerGeorgia · LB · JuniorThe Panthers could pick Walker or Jihaad Campbell here to be a versatile linebacker/edge rusher in the Micah Parsons mold. Walker’s experience rushing the passer, explosiveness and strength holding the point of attack might give him a slight edge to end up in Carolina. 9 New Orleans SaintsWill JohnsonMichigan · CB · JuniorJohnson’s injuries, including a hamstring issue that forced him to miss Michigan’s pro day, could push him down some draft boards, but the Saints have a major need at cornerback after trading away Marshon Lattimore last season. The former Wolverine was widely viewed as a top-five prospect entering the 2024 season because of his rare combination of size (6-foot-1 3/4, 194 pounds) and instincts on the outside. He is still top-10 worthy if New Orleans is satisfied with his medical reports. 10 Chicago BearsArmand MembouMissouri · OT · JuniorMembou manned right tackle for most of his three seasons at Missouri but handled weak-side edge rushers when occasionally lining up as a tight end outside the left tackle. General manager Ryan Poles — briefly a Bears offensive lineman himself — may believe the athletic, long Membou can make the transition permanently to challenge Braxton Jones, a free agent in 2026, for the LT spot this season. 11 San Francisco 49ersWill CampbellLSU · OT · JuniorCampbell’s relatively short arms (32 5/8 inches) and narrow frame (77 3/8-inch wingspan) may push him inside at the next level, but the 49ers are thrilled to see him available here to challenge for the open left guard spot. Like the Colts’ Braden Smith and others, Campbell may eventually get the chance to prove himself outside to replace Trent Williams or Colton McKivitz. 12 PROJECTED TRADE WITH DALLAS COWBOYSDenver BroncosTyler WarrenPenn State · TE · SeniorSean Payton takes advantage of teams overlooking Warren’s skills, sending Denver’s first- and second-round picks to Dallas for this selection and a fifth-rounder. The tight end brings great value to second-year signal-caller Bo Nix as a strong but nimble pass catcher who’s able to move the chains, get down the seam and be a major red zone threat. 13 PROJECTED TRADE WITH MIAMI DOLPHINSArizona CardinalsKelvin Banks Jr.Texas · OT · JuniorThe Cardinals ensure they beat the Colts to a premier offensive line prospect, moving up three slots in Round 1 by swapping their third-round pick for Miami’s late fourth-round selection. Arizona traded up for a versatile lineman in Paris Johnson Jr. two years ago, and Banks could play inside or outside as a rookie. (He could also move to tackle in 2026 if Jonah Williams departs as a free agent.) 14 Indianapolis ColtsColston LovelandMichigan · TE · JuniorIn terms of play style, Loveland is more comparable to 2024 first-round pick Brock Bowers than Tyler Warren. The Michigan product missed a chunk of last season with a shoulder injury, but the Colts could see a weapon who can win with size, quickness and savviness against defensive backs and linebackers. 15 Atlanta FalconsJihaad CampbellAlabama · LB · JuniorCampbell was initially recruited to play on the edge at Alabama, but he developed an all-around game that could make the Falcons quite happy if he’s available here. This SEC star should prove himself to be an apt blitzer in the NFL and he will use his speed to track down ball-carriers before they hit the sideline. 16 PROJECTED TRADE WITH ARIZONA CARDINALSMiami DolphinsJahdae BarronTexas · CB · SeniorIn this four-round mock, Barron joins second-round pick Xavier Watts (SPOILER ALERT!) to rebuild a Miami secondary in flux. Remember: The Eagles picked two defensive backs in the first two round last year — scooping up Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean — and the strategy helped them win the Super Bowl. Barron proved his long speed with a 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, so he could man the perimeter CB spot opposite Jalen Ramsey. That said, his inside/outside versatility is a major strength. 17 Cincinnati BengalsMykel WilliamsGeorgia · Edge · JuniorWilliams could become one of the steals of this draft in time, and the Bengals clearly need more pass-rushing juice. Injuries limited his snaps as a junior at Georgia, but Williams’ strength, length and hustle to the ball give him a chance to contribute as a rookie before developing into a very good starter down the line. 18 Seattle SeahawksTetairoa McMillanArizona · WR · JuniorDK Metcalf sought and received a trade, leaving Seattle in need of a strong outside receiver like the 6-4 1/8, 219-pound McMillan. He joins Jaxon Smith-Njigba and free-agent acquisitions Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling to stretch defenses horizontally and vertically. 19 Tampa Bay BuccaneersShemar StewartTexas A&M · Edge · JuniorStewart’s lack of production and lack of elite change of direction are concerning when projecting him as a pure edge rusher. However, teams like Tampa Bay who could use the Texas A&M product as a 5-technique on obvious passing situations will appreciate his strength and versatility. 20 PROJECTED TRADE WITH DENVER BRONCOSDallas CowboysEmeka EgbukaOhio State · WR · SeniorIn this scenario, Dallas moves down for the third time in five years to stack draft currency and ultimately land a very good prospect. (Their previous trade-downs netted them star defender Micah Parsons and starting left tackle Tyler Guyton.) Egbuka played in the slot often at Ohio State because of his toughness and reliability over the middle — as well as the presence of Marvin Harrison Jr. and freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith. In Dallas, though, he and CeeDee Lamb would work together inside and outside to expose opponents’ weaknesses. 21 Pittsburgh SteelersOmarion HamptonNorth Carolina · RB · JuniorHampton’s impressive burst and power through contact make him a great fit for a Steelers running game in need of an identity. 22 Los Angeles ChargersDonovan EzeiruakuBoston College · Edge · SeniorRe-signing Khalil Mack on a one-year, $18 million deal was a coup. Releasing Joey Bosa, however, makes it necessary for the team to add another young talent to rotate with Bud Dupree and Tuli Tuipulotu. Ezeiruaku possesses only adequate size for an edge (6-2 1/2, 248 pounds), but his 34-inch arms, short-area quickness (6.94 three-cone drill) and varied pass-rush moves make him an effective QB hunter. 23 Green Bay PackersMatthew GoldenTexas · WR · JuniorThe Mecole Hardman signing will help the Packers make up for the loss of Christian Watson as he recovers from a January knee injury, but the team still requires long-term help at the position. Golden’s speed and ability to win contested catches make him a legitimate downfield playmaker. 24 PROJECTED TRADE WITH MINNESOTA VIKINGSBuffalo BillsAzareye’h ThomasFlorida State · CB · JuniorBuffalo moves up to secure Thomas’ 6-1 1/4, 197-pound frame, giving up their two fourth-round selections to Minnesota in the deal. The Vikings could stay put and take a defensive back themselves, but they currently only have four selections in this draft, so adding two early Day 3 picks might be worth the risk of moving down the board a bit. 25 Houston TexansAireontae ErseryMinnesota · OT · SeniorSigning Cam Robinson gives Houston some insurance at left tackle after the Laremy Tunsil trade, and the addition of Trent Brown provides more bookend depth. But both veterans have missed time due to injury in the past and they’re stop-gap solutions on one-year deals. Thus, the Texans select Ersery here to start this year or next. Protecting C.J. Stroud must be a long-term plan. 26 PROJECTED TRADE WITH LOS ANGELES RAMSPhiladelphia EaglesWalter NolenMississippi · DT · JuniorWhy change something that works? Philadelphia moves up in Round 1 for a defensive lineman once again — after doing so to acquire Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis — plugging Nolen into the void left by free-agent departure Milton Williams. The Eagles give the Rams their late third-round pick and one of four fifth-rounders in order to move up six spots, while also receiving a sixth-round pick from Los Angeles in the deal. 27 PROJECTED TRADE WITH BALTIMORE RAVENSKansas City ChiefsTyler BookerAlabama · OG · JuniorKansas City is haunted by its inability to stop Philadelphia’s front four in the Super Bowl. The Chiefs signed 49ers backup tackle Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million free-agent deal, but they keep addressing the OL issue in this exercise. K.C. sends first- and third-round selections to Baltimore for this pick and a fourth-rounder, adding Booker to replace Joe Thuney up front. 28 Detroit LionsJonah SavaiinaeaArizona · OG · JuniorDetroit moves Savaiinaea back to right guard, where he started as a freshman before shifting to tackle for most of his sophomore season and his entire junior campaign. The Dan Campbell/Brad Holmes Lions have won a lot of games due to their offensive line, so it’s important to keep the strength a strength. 29 Washington CommandersMike GreenMarshall · Edge · Junior (RS)Head coach Dan Quinn takes a shot on Green’s speed late in the first round. He’d be a designated pass rusher as a rookie but could round out his game to become a starter pretty swiftly. 30 PROJECTED TRADE WITH BUFFALO BILLSMinnesota VikingsNick EmmanworiSouth Carolina · S · JuniorMinnesota could look at a cornerback here, but Emmanwori’s value may be too good to pass up — and the Vikings might have taken him if they’d stayed at No. 24. Stepping into the lineup at strong safety, this athletic freak also showed the quickness to play nickel while at South Carolina. 31 PROJECTED TRADE WITH KANSAS CITY CHIEFSBaltimore RavensMalaki StarksGeorgia · S · JuniorSome teams will view Starks as a fair athlete without an NFL position; despite their talent, Brian Branch and Cooper DeJean lasted until the second round for similar reasons. The Ravens won’t let that happen, though, as they see Starks’ playmaking skills — just like when they scooped up Kyle Hamilton at No. 14 overall after his 4.59 40 caused other franchises to pass. 32 PROJECTED TRADE WITH PHILADELPHIA EAGLESLos Angeles RamsIsaiah BondTexas · WR · JuniorThe Rams move down in the first round to get a third pick in the third round, an area of the draft in which general manager Les Snead and his scouts have excelled in recent years. They still find an immense talent available at No. 32, though, in Bond. His suddenness after the catch and willingness to take (and make) hits despite his slight build give him an outside shot of joining Texas teammate Matthew Golden in Round 1. |
