The Daily Briefing Wednesday, May 7, 2025

AROUND THE NFL

DE JASON PIERRE-PAUL, the man with three first names, uses TMZ.com to send an ad for his services: Jason Pierre-Paul tells TMZ Sports he wants back in the NFL badly … and he’s promising any team that gives him a shot in 2025 will not be disappointed in the slightest. The two-time Super Bowl champion — who hasn’t played in Roger Goodell’s league since he suited up for the Saints and Dolphins in 2023 — said he’s down to 270 pounds now … and feels great. Jason-Pierre-Paul-giants-sub-getty-1GettyIn fact, he said his body’s moving around like it’s 24 years old … not 36. “I’ve got abs!” he told us Monday. “I haven’t had abs since my rookie year. So that’s how hard of work I’m putting in.” Pierre-Paul dominated NFL tackles for about a decade after being taken by the New York Giants in the 2010 NFL Draft — but since the 2021 season, he’s only recorded 5.5 sacks. He’s adamant, though, he’s “still got it” — insisting, “Anybody that gives me the opportunity, I’m ready to go and I’m ready to rock right now.” Pierre-Paul doesn’t seem to be blowing smoke — he’s consistently posted vids of his workouts this offseason … and he sure does look svelte. As for his former Giants team — check out the interview … he’s got some advice for rookie Abdul Carter that might help him in his quest to find a jersey number in ’25.– – -Five alternate helmets are expected to debut this year per Jeff Kerr of CBSSports.com, including a new alternate look for the hallowed Steelers. Alternate helmets have become trendy in the NFL since the league lifted the one-shell rule in 2022, allowing teams to have a second shell to pair with alternate uniforms. Since the rule was lifted, 24 of the 32 teams have debuted alternate helmets in the three seasons since — with eight remaining abstinent from the program.  That will change in 2025, as the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers will debut alternate helmets this summer (per SportsLogos.net). Both franchises haven’t had alternate helmets since the one-shell rule was lifted. The Steelers and Chargers once had alternate helmets before the one-shell rule was implemented in 2013, but haven’t debuted alternates since.  In addition to the Steelers and Chargers, the Cleveland Browns, Washington Commanders, and New Orleans Saints will be debuting new alternate helmets in 2025. Since teams are allowed to have a second alternate helmet (which was approved last season). these designs could be new helmets in addition to their first alternates.  The Browns currently have a white alternate helmet to pair with their 1946 throwback uniforms, while the Saints have a black alternate helmet to pair with their “Color Rush” uniform that pays homage to their 1967 uniform (when New Orleans was an expansion franchise). The Commanders have a black alternate helmet to pair with their all-black alternate uniform set.  Six teams still haven’t introduced a second helmet or added another shell since the rule was lifted: Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, and San Francisco 49ers. The Dolphins change their regular logo to a throwback logo on their white helmets when they wear their 1972 throwback set, so there’s no need for a second shell. The 49ers don’t change their shell when they wear their 1994 throwback set, neither do the Raiders when they wear their 1970 throwbacks. The Bills also change stickers on their white helmets when they go to a throwback logo, even if Buffalo doesn’t have a throwback uniform. The Steelers did have another helmet look back in 2007 on the occasion of their 75thanniversary and fans are hoping the 2025 edition looks like it. ESPN.com on the two rookie receivers in Green Bay: It’s not like coach Matt LaFleur grabbed the nearest piece of scrap paper and started scribbling out new plays as soon as the Green Bay Packers drafted receivers Matthew Golden and Savion Williams. And even after getting his eyes on his newest pass catchers during last weekend’s rookie minicamp, LaFleur didn’t plan to go to his iPad and add to his library. “Probably not right now,” LaFleur said during the two-day minicamp. That doesn’t mean the Packers coach and his staff haven’t kicked around ideas about what a receiver like Golden (the first-rounder with 4.29 speed) or Williams (the 6-foot-4 third-rounder who made plays in college from every conceivable position on offense) can add to LaFleur’s bank of creativity. “You always have an idea,” LaFleur said. “I think an important part of it as you’re going through the draft process is you want to have a vision for how you would potentially use somebody. “That’s what you’re trying to communicate to our scouting department is: ‘Hey, here’s how we would envision using this guy.'” Clearly, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst subscribed to LaFleur’s vision. “But ultimately, I think more of that’s determined after the fact,” LaFleur said. “When you get them in the building, you get to work with them on a daily basis, you see how fast they pick things up. Inevitably, there’s going to be something that’s going to surprise you in a positive light, that they do really well, that you’re like, ‘Oh shoot, maybe I didn’t recognize that, just off the tape.’ So I think it’s all about just that process of working together and kind of growing together.” Golden and Williams have history together, too. While they were never teammates before they arrived in Green Bay, their relationship predates their college days. Before Golden committed to Houston, where he would play for two years and then finish at Texas, he visited TCU, where Williams served as his host. “Me and Savion go way back,” Golden said. It gave them both an instant comfort level. “Trying to get the offense down together and just going through walkthroughs and stuff like that, it just feels like a full circle,” Golden added. “And to have somebody that I know, we gonna push each other each and every day. So, holding him accountable, he holding me accountable.” Despite their familiarity with each other, neither is quite sure what their roles will look like. But they know there is room for both of them on the field. “I was thinking about that when I got drafted; it’s something that’s going to work,” Williams said. “I know it’s going to work, because I know the coach, he’s going to use us in the right way. So I know it’s going to work in the right way.” They joined a wide receiver room that already included Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton, Malik Heath and free agent pickup Mecole Hardman, among others. Watson won’t be ready for the start of the season because of the torn right ACL he sustained in the regular-season finale, but Golden can replicate the speed Watson brought to the offense. Golden, however, isn’t just a plug-and-play replacement for Watson. Golden, at 5-11 and 191 pounds, has a much different body type than the 6-4, 208-pound Watson. If Watson’s best trait has been going deep, Golden’s speed could show up in more of the catch-and-run game, should LaFleur scheme to get him the ball in space. “You want to make sure that you’re giving Matt the flexibility to attack all different levels of the field, and I think a guy like Golden does that,” Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan said. “He’s [got] speed, he can get vertical, he can beat you underneath, and he’s got tremendous ball skills and hands. So it’s just another weapon, and I think he fits really nice in the room with guys that we already have.” Then there’s Williams, who has drawn comparisons to the likes of Deebo Samuel and Cordarrelle Patterson because of his ability as both a receiver and a rusher. Williams had as many rushing touchdowns (six) as he did touchdown catches last season, making him one of only two FBS players (and the only receiver) with at least six rushing and receiving touchdowns in the 2024 season. He averaged 6.3 yards on 51 rushing attempts as a senior and got snaps and handoffs in the backfield as both a traditional running back and as a wildcat quarterback. When asked how he can make the quickest impact, Williams said: “Just getting the ball in my hand quick. That’s probably it.” It’s unlikely anything LaFleur and his staff saw during rookie minicamp will spark new ideas. The one practice was a lesson in simply how to practice. None of the receivers even caught passes; they ran routes at quarter speed and were never thrown the ball. Perhaps when the rookies return next week to join the veterans for voluntary offseason team activity practices, LaFleur & Co. will begin to explore ways to mesh Golden and Williams with the rest of the group, “I think in terms of where that goes,” LaFleur said. “It’s going to happen organically over time.”

NFC EAST

PHILADELPHIAS JUSTIN SIMMONS, now a free agent, wants the Eagles to call.  Matt Higgins of Sportsnaut.com: Will the Philadelphia Eagles soon be signing a two-time Pro Bowl safety? One NFL insider believes so. NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger revealed Monday night that Justin Simmons is targeting the Eagles as his next destination. “He wants to come to Philadelphia,” Baldinger said on NFL Network. “He wants to be there.” Simmons, 31, would provide significant help to an Eagles secondary that lost veterans Darius Slay and C.J. Gardner-Johnson during the offseason. The two-time Pro Bowl safety has collected 32 career interceptions, ranking fourth among all active NFL players. A potential Philadelphia signing would reunite Simmons with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who served as his head coach with the Denver Broncos from 2019-2021. “I think this guy walks straight into that system, knows what he’s doing,” NFL.com senior columnist Jeffri Chadiha added during the segment. “I think he gives that secondary a boost with Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship. This makes all the sense in the world.” Simmons spent eight seasons with the Broncos (2016-2023) before signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons for the 2024 campaign. Last season, he recorded two interceptions, seven pass deflections, and 62 total tackles. He is currently a free agent.

NFC WEST

SAN FRANCISCOThe 49ers are excited to have drafted DL MYKEL WILLIAMS.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: The 49ers identified Georgia defensive lineman Mykel Williams as one of the players they most wanted ahead of the 2025 NFL draft. But with the 11th overall pick, they didn’t think they could get him. They were pleasantly surprised he fell out of the Top 10. San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said GM John Lynch was trying to trade into the Top 10 to get Williams, but the 49ers’ offers were turned down. “We had a good idea he was going earlier, and you don’t actually know. We thought about going up and John definitely attempted. . . . But they shot him down,” Shanahan said, via 49ers.com. “And so, we were ready to watch him go away and we were ready to go to our second and third, but he didn’t go where we thought he was going to go. Then we got to our pick and I was like, ‘I can’t believe you tried to trade there, of course he was coming [laughter].’ So that’s our thing about the draft, you never know. But we stuck there and waited for our guy and we got the guy we wanted.” Lynch said the evaluation of Williams across the board, in the personnel department and on the coaching staff, was unanimous. “I was just talking to [defensive line coach] Kris Kocurek and he said this when we went through our draft meetings, ‘I think he’s the best edge setter in college football. I think he’s the best edge setter in this draft class.’ So, if that’s the premise of one of the things that’s a hallmark of what we want in an edge guy, he does it extremely well,” Lynch said. The 49ers used their first five picks on defense, and they think they’ve reinvigorated their roster on that side of the ball. Starting with a defensive lineman they never thought they could get with the 11th overall pick.

AFC WEST

LAS VEGASTom Brady is denying any role in the Raiders steering clear of QB SHEDEUR SANDERS.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: In the aftermath of the draft, some old comments from Tom Brady emerged, during which he advised quarterback Shedeur Sanders to “get his ass in the film room and spend as much time in there as possible and less time in the car and more time in the film room.” In an appearance on Impaulsive podcast, Brady was asked why Sanders went so late in the draft. Brady stammered and struggled before offering up a general denial of involvement and, by implication, knowledge. “There’s . . . I — I — it’s a good question,” Brady said “I wasn’t a part of any evaluation process or to see that.” “Skip Bayless says otherwise,” one of the hosts interjected. “I know, well, everyone’s got every, you know,” Brady said. “That’s the problem with media is everyone can just say whatever the fuck they want.” The clip then jumps to Brady saying this: “I actually texted Shedeur because I know him very well, and I said, ‘Dude, like, whatever happens, wherever you go, like, that’s your first day. Day two matters more than the draft. I was [pick number] 199. Yeah. So, who could speak on it better than me, like, what that really means? Use it as motivation. You’re gonna get your chances. Go take advantage of it.” Right, but it becomes easier to take advantage of the chances if the player is drafted higher. Selections made on the first two days get at least a full year to prove themselves. The farther a player slides, the bigger the challenge becomes. As to Brady’s claim that he wasn’t part of the evaluation process, many will not be buying what the GOAT is selling. In December, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media quoted Raiders owner Mark Davis as saying that Brady “will have a huge voice in the organization when it comes to picking the quarterback.” While, technically, the quarterback for 2025 (and perhaps beyond) has been selected, why wouldn’t Brady’s “huge voice” include participating in the evaluation of someone like Sanders — especially since Brady (as he said) knows him “very well”? Meanwhile, Brady was clearly involved in the evaluation and selection of quarterback Cam Miller, in round six. Common sense suggests that Brady was treading lightly, so as not to undermine his relationship with Sanders. Even if it means taking a position that directly conflicts with things his boss has said, on the record. For the record, the Raiders passed on Sanders seven times, with their last non-Sanders pick coming only nine spots before his slide ended, at No. 144. We just had this quote from Dan Pompei’s article on GM John Spytek on Tuesday: “When we are looking at quarterbacks, we’d have to be fools not to involve him,” Spytek says. “Tom is the foremost expert on quarterback play I’ve ever been around.”

AFC NORTH

BALTIMOREJeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reminds us how far PK JUSTIN TUCKER fell: There are undoubtedly football elements to the decision. Tucker is 35 and coming off the worst season of his career. He was one of the highest-paid kickers in the league. By designating him a post-June 1 release, the cash-strapped Ravens will add just over $4 million of salary-cap space in about a month. There was a sense of inevitability about Tucker’s release when, for the first time in team history, the Ravens drafted a kicker. They used a sixth-round pick on Arizona kicker Tyler Loop, who made his debut at the team’s rookie minicamp, which began Sunday. The timing of the Tucker decision certainly suggests the Ravens understood the potential awkwardness of having Tucker and Loop in the building at the same time. Tucker is a high-profile player and was the longest-tenured Raven. As long as he remained with the organization, it was going to pose a significant challenge to Loop’s seizing the kicking job. The Ravens vowed to monitor the NFL’s investigation into the allegations against Tucker, saying they didn’t want to make any rash decisions and were willing to let the situation play out. The allegations stemmed from a period between 2012 and 2016. No charges or civil suits have been filed, and Maryland has a three-year statute of limitations for civil lawsuits. But given the allegations, there was mounting pressure on the Ravens’ decision-makers, namely owner Steve Bisciotti, to move on from Tucker. That doesn’t mean the news of Tucker’s release isn’t jarring. It’s always jarring when a franchise great gets let go. And Tucker achieved that lofty status with the Ravens despite playing a position that doesn’t often lend itself to celebrity and fanfare. The nature of the allegations was a stunning contrast to Tucker’s well-crafted public image. He has long talked about the importance of his family and faith. He’s active in the community, where he, his wife and their son live year-round and often are seen at Orioles games and other events in Baltimore. He’s an advocate for Catholic charities and once performed “Ave Maria” during a Christmas festival at a local basilica. The allegations blemished Tucker’s previously sterling reputation and ultimately contributed to his losing his job. And now, the Ravens will start a football season with a new kicker for the first time since 2012, when an unheralded and undrafted player out of the University of Texas with unlimited range and confidence brought stability to the position for over a decade. Tucker came to Baltimore at a critical time. After a successful rookie minicamp tryout, he signed with the Ravens as a college free agent. He wasted no time in justifying the organization’s faith in him. He made 30 of 33 field goal attempts as a rookie, and his 38-yard field goal with under six minutes to play proved to be the winning points in Baltimore’s 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. That was the start of Tucker emerging as one of the most reliable weapons in the sport and arguably the best kicker the league had seen. He garnered the first of five first-team All-Pro honors — and the first of seven Pro Bowl berths — the following year in 2013. At one point in his career, Tucker made 65 consecutive field goal attempts in fourth quarters and overtimes, the longest such streak in league history. It ended when Tucker’s bid for a game-winning 67-yard field goal against the Jacksonville Jaguars in November 2022 came up short. While making field goals at an unprecedented rate, Tucker exuded confidence and charisma. In a league in which kickers are traditionally seen and not heard, he was an outlier. He was the subject of a “60 Minutes” profile. He danced. He impersonated celebrities. He won a nationally televised NFL talent show in 2018 because of his opera singing. Tucker didn’t just become one of the faces of the Ravens. He became one of the team’s most prominent and popular voices, and he embraced it. He invited kids to shag footballs for him during offseason workouts at a local park. He signed countless autographs after training camp practices, where his presence drew cheers exceeded only by the fan reaction to Jackson. No Raven was featured on more commercials locally than Tucker, not even Jackson. Tucker was the pitchman for Royal Farms, a chain of convenience stores headquartered in Baltimore. There was a bond between the city and its football team’s kicker. Yet, the past three or four months have certainly tested that. When Tucker experienced the first extended struggles of his career during the 2024 season, missing eight kicks and two extra-point tries, a segment of the fan base called for his release. The Ravens were dropping close games, and Tucker, so often the difference in Baltimore’s winning, became one of the main reasons the team was losing. The Ravens stuck by the kicker, and he responded by making all five of his field goal attempts and all 23 of his extra-point tries over the team’s final six games. In the season-ending news conference a few days after the Ravens’ divisional-round playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills, DeCosta and Harbaugh indicated they expected Tucker to be their kicker. “I think Justin’s going to go down as if not the best kicker of all time, one of the best, and I think he finished the season strong,” DeCosta said at the time. “We’ll have those discussions, but I have every expectation that Justin’s going to be a great kicker for us next year and moving forward.” Then came the allegations. Tucker suddenly wasn’t just an older, well-compensated kicker coming off the worst season of his career. He was a player facing concerning and embarrassing accusations. Ultimately, the Ravens felt they had no other choice but to move on.

CINCINNATIS GENO STONE thinks he’s sent $1.5 million to the Sign Trey Hendrickson Fund.  Jay Morrison of SI.com: Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone admitted that he took it personally when the team asked him to take a pay cut. And yeah, he said he considered telling them ‘no.’ But there was a give-and-take involved that came with $1.5 million in guaranteed money this season. And ultimately, Stone said the decision came down to doing what was best for the team and that he believes the request is related to negotiations with defensive end Trey Hendrickson. “This is a business and they’re trying to do what’s best for the team, and I understand that,” Stone said following Tuesday’s OTA practice. “I want to do what’s best for the team, too,” he added. “If that’s able to get Trey back or get him signed, I’m gonna do it.” Hendrickson is under contract for $15.8 million as he heads into the final year of his contract. The NFL sack leader is looking for a sizable raise after watching the organization sign wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to massive extensions worth $276 million in addition to giving tight end Mike Gesicki and defensive tackle B.J. Hill three-year extensions totaling $58 million. The pay cut Stone agreed to amount to a savings of $1.5 for the Bengals, which hardly seems like a move that will push them closer to a deal with Hendrickson. Stone said the Bengals didn’t tell him they were requesting a pay cut in relation to Hendrickson, but he said it’s easy to infer. “If you’re taking a pay cut, they’re trying to fill spaces for a reason,” Stone said. “I don’t know what they’re doing. They didn’t tell me. I didn’t ask.”

CLEVELANDHere is how former NFL QB Robert Griffin III sees the Cleveland QB situation: The Cleveland Browns QB situation is a SET UP FOR DYSFUNCTION. They have $230 Million that won’t play. Brought in 4 QBs this offseason and the last one they brought in, Shedeur Sanders, is the #1 selling jersey of all rookies despite being drafted in the 5th round after their 3rd round pick Dillon Gabriel. Joe Flacco is a Super Bowl Champion and Super Bowl MVP who will limit Kenny Pickett’s reps.  Kenny Picket is a veteran going into his 4th year in the NFL who will limit Dillon Gabriel’s reps.  Dillon Gabriel was a 3rd round pick this year who will get reps before his fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders.  Yet, Shedeur is the headliner of the group.  He sells tickets. He sells Jerseys. He sells confidence to his teammates who have said they can’t wait to play with him and non teammates.  Top level players across the NFL are talking about how good of a player Shedeur Sanders is and how he was done dirty in the NFL Draft. The Cleveland Browns headliner is their 4th QB on the roster who will get the least amount of reps and opportunity in the group. That’s a set up for dysfunction. That’s the Browns. But if anyone can overcome it, it’s Shedeur Sanders While we agree that the Cleveland QB situation is crowded – and maybe none of the four are actually good enough to be a #1 – we think all of the reasons Griffin extolls Sanders for will get him enough reps to sink or swim.- – -A Brown is arrested in Pittsburgh.  Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com: Cleveland Browns linebacker Devin Bush was arrested and charged with simple assault and harassment in Pennsylvania on Sunday, according to court records. According to a criminal complaint obtained by ESPN, police were called to a home in a Pittsburgh suburb Sunday to a report of an assault. A woman, who identified herself as Bush’s girlfriend, said Bush assaulted her and took her car keys. The two got into an argument that resulted in Bush allegedly becoming more aggressive, according to the complaint. As the woman began to record the argument on her cellphone, Bush chased her around the home in an attempt to get the phone, according to the complaint. She said she was pinned against a massage table in an office and that Bush put his full body weight on top of her before taking the phone and smashing it. The woman left with her daughter to a neighbor’s home, according to the complaint. Police discovered cuts on the inside of the girlfriend’s wrist and outside her right foot, as well as smashed pieces of the cellphone, according to the complaint. Bush admitted to smashing the phone but denied getting physical. Bush, 26, has a preliminary hearing scheduled in Allegheny County court for May 20. A team spokesperson told ESPN on Monday that the Browns are “aware and gathering more info.”

AFC SOUTH

TENNESSEEAre the Titans having new uniforms or not?  Mike Florio: Titans (Oilers) legend Warren Moon recently said he has seen “futuristic” new uniforms for the Titans. Apparently, those new uniforms are not coming in the immediate future. Jim Wyatt of the Titans’ official website wrote this in a mailbag item: “I was standing right in front of Warren Moon when he first mentioned publicly the possibility of new uniforms while in town for the Cam Ward presser. Then I saw where Warren doubled down [on] the topic over the weekend when he was at the Kentucky Derby.” Wyatt said that the team’s uniforms won’t change for 2025. He said he hasn’t seen any new uniforms, and no one has told him anything is “official.” Still, Moon saw something. Maybe he was off on the timing. But there apparently was something to see. And a possible new set of uniforms is coming, at some point. Keep that in mind when buying the current jersey. We saw this back in March, written by Wyatt.  Maybe not “new uniforms”, but a recalibrated color scheme. Over the years, the Titans have used the light blue in their jerseys, pants, and helmets. It’s in the fireball logo. Some have worn light blue cleats, sleeves and wristbands. It’s been one constant for the organization since 1960, the first days of the Houston Oilers. Starting in 2025, the Titans plan to embrace the look more than ever – the team is switching to light blue as the primary home jersey this fall. “We’re talking to fans and we’re listening, and there’s a clear appetite to have the Titans, their team, represented on the field in this noticeable color that has been with this team from 1960 in Houston, into Memphis, at Vanderbilt and as we’ve played at Nissan Stadium,” Titans President and CEO Burke Nihill said. “We’re going to emphasize that this year and change to Titans blue as the primary color. As we sit here today, the plan is to wear Titans blue at every one of our home games this year.” The team will have the option of wearing their white uniforms on the road, with the navy blue uniforms becoming the alternate uniform. The plan is to be more consistent with uniform combinations this fall, jerseys and pants.

AFC EAST

MIAMIThe bloom seems to be off the Mike McDaniel rose if Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut.com is to be believed. The Miami Dolphins are exploring a Jalen Ramsey trade this summer amid a reported disconnect with coach Mike McDaniel, now a new report is suggesting the All-Pro corner isn’t the only one who has grown tired of the Dolphins’ head coach. According to Sportskeeda‘s Tony Pauline, McDaniel has ‘rubbed a lot of the veterans the wrong way’ following his early success with the team. It’s reportedly reached a point where several veterans would ‘rather play elsewhere’ than spend another season with McDaniel.Miami had its share of issues under former head coach Brian Flores, with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s public criticism of his former coach in 2024 highlighting that. The Dolphins brought McDaniel in to change the culture, seemingly creating a more positive environment. The results were great early on. Miami went 9-8, making the playoffs, while Tagovailoa blossomed in McDaniel’s offense as the league-leader in passer rating. In 2023, Miami posted an 11-6 record and its quarterback led the NFL in passing yards. Last season, Tagovailoa continued to put up great numbers in McDaniels’ offense. However, the team went 8-9 with a -19 point differential and missed the playoffs. The Dolphins have also developed a reputation for collapsing late in the year, owning a 7-11 record in December and January in the last three seasons. The regression has been noticed around the league, especially last season when McDaniels struggled to make adjustments with his offense when Tagovailoa was on injured reserve with a concussion. With Ramsey now on his way out, hurting the defense, there will be more pressure on McDaniels’ offense to carry this team to the playoffs and its first postseason win in his tenure. We would all “struggle to make adjustments” if your QB was Skyler Thompson (or Tyler Huntley) instead of TUA TAGOVAILOA

THIS AND THAT

2025 DRAFT FAVORITESTrevor Sikkema of ProFootballFocus.com has his favorite pick for all 32 teams: ARIZONA CARDINALS: DI WALTER NOLEN (ROUND 1, PICK 17)The Cardinals’ biggest value pick was cornerback Will Johnson in the second round, but he fell due to concerns over the long-term health of his knee, so we’ll go with Nolen. He was No. 7 on my big board and brings inside-out versatility on the line with a 91.6 PFF run-defense grade last season. ATLANTA FALCONS: S XAVIER WATTS (ROUND 3, PICK 96)I loved Watts, who slotted in at 36th on my big board but was drafted at No. 96. He is an excellent free safety and ball-hawking type, as evidenced by his 13 interceptions over the past two years and 89.5 PFF coverage grade last season. He and Jessie Bates are a dangerous safety duo. BALTIMORE RAVENS: S MALAKI STARKS (ROUND 1, PICK 27)I was tempted to go with sixth-rounders Aeneas Peebles or Robert Longerbeam, but Starks was a top-10 player for me, and the Ravens secured him at No. 27. He earned a 78.0-plus PFF overall grade in each of the past two seasons, rotating between free safety, strong safety and slot defender. He and Kyle Hamilton give Baltimore a ton of secondary versatility. BUFFALO BILLS: EDGE LANDON JACKSON (ROUND 3, PICK 76)This was such a good Bills-type draft pick. Jackson is a young, more athletic version of the player they wanted A.J. Epenesa to be. He has great length and good explosiveness and is stout against the run, having earned an 88.8 PFF run-defense grade in 2024. He can slot in anywhere from 4i defensive end to stand-up outside linebacker. CAROLINA PANTHERS: WR TETAIROA McMILLAN (ROUND 1, PICK 8)This was tough to choose, as the Panthers put together one of my favorite draft hauls, earning an A+ grade. But McMillan changes Carolina’s entire offense as the WR1 and focal point of the passing attack. I love that the Panthers didn’t shy away from an offensive selection — one I would say was the correct pick. CHICAGO BEARS: WR LUTHER BURDEN III (ROUND 2, PICK 39)Burden was my WR2 and 15th-ranked player in the class, so to get him in the second round at pick No. 39 was great value. New Bears head coach Ben Johnson can get the most out of Burden after heavily emphasizing the slot receiver in his Lions passing attack. CINCINNATI BENGALS: LB DEMETRIUS KNIGHT JR. (ROUND 2, PICK 47)When the Bengals defense was at its best — in the team’s 2021 season — it had top-tier linebacker play. The unit lacked playmakers around middle linebacker Logan Wilson heading into the draft, and that’s where Knight fills a big hole. He can use his speed as an ideal weakside linebacker next to Wilson.  CLEVELAND BROWNS: RB DYLAN SAMPSON (ROUND 4, PICK 126)The Browns’ draft was a mixed bag — a big-time trade-down for future capital and multiple quarterback picks. I am indifferent about those moves, but I love what they did at running back. Cleveland had one of the worst rushing attacks in the league last year and now gets to hand the ball off to Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson — both of whom ranked in the top 10 in PFF overall grade among 219 qualifying FBS running backs in 2024. That makes for an ideal one-two punch.  DALLAS COWBOYS: EDGE DONOVAN EZEIRUAKU (ROUND 2, PICK 44)Ezeiruaku was the 17th-ranked player on my big board, so to get him in the second round at pick No. 44 is incredible value. I would have picked him over Tyler Booker at No. 12. He’s the type of proven pass rusher the Cowboys need opposite Micah Parsons, having recorded an 18.2% pass-rush win percentage in 2024. DENVER BRONCOS: CB JAHDAE BARRON (ROUND 1, PICK 20)As much as I love RJ Harvey, the Barron selection was my favorite for the Broncos. The team’s front office has made it clear it wants to field one of the best, if not the best, defenses in football in 2025. Their offseason and selection of Barron prove that. Barron can play both the slot and outside cornerback as a defensive “joker,” as Sean Payton referenced at the NFL Scouting Combine. He earned a 91.5 zone coverage grade in his first year as a wide cornerback at Texas in 2024. DETROIT LIONS: S DAN JACKSON (ROUND 7, PICK 230)The Lions’ early picks were great, too; I gave them a B+ grade. But Dan Jackson, the walk-on-turned-starter for Georgia, can be a special teams eraser and fill in as a rotational safety for Detroit. His PFF run-defense grade was lower in 2024, but he can make impressive tackles from depth at full speed. GREEN BAY PACKERS: EDGE BARRYN SORRELL (ROUND 4, PICK 128)The Packers waited until Day 3 to address their defensive line and got two good players in Sorrell and Collin Oliver. Sorrell can play anything from 4i defensive end to stand-up outside linebacker. He earned 73.0-plus PFF pass-rush and run-defense grades across 651 snaps in 2024. HOUSTON TEXANS: WR JAYLIN NOEL (ROUND 3, PICK 79)Not only do I like this pick because I think Noel is a good football player, but I love that the Texans double-dipped at receiver to reunite him with Iowa State teammate Jayden Higgins. Higgins can be a nice WR2 who brings size and speed opposite Nico Collins, and Noel can be a vertical-stretching slot receiver, as he notched more than 600 yards on deep throws in 2024. He just needs to work on his after-the-catch game. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: TE TYLER WARREN (ROUND 1, PICK 14)This pick couldn’t be more perfect — it was the most common mock draft selection for the Colts throughout the draft process. The only thing that could have stopped it from becoming a reality was Warren going off the board earlier. The Penn State product earned an impressive 93.4 PFF receiving grade in 2024 and will immediately be the top tight end on Indianapolis’ roster, filling the team’s biggest need with a potential star. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: WR/CB TRAVIS HUNTER (ROUND 1, PICK 2)We’ve talked ad nauseam about how good Travis Hunter is. He earned PFF receiving and coverage grades above 85.0 while playing full time at both positions this past season. This was my favorite pick because of new general manager James Gladstone’s aggressiveness, trading future second- and first-round picks to move up three spots to secure Hunter. It was well worth it, in my opinion. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: DI OMARR NORMAN-LOTT (ROUND 2, PICK 63)Norman-Lott boasted some of the best pass-rush efficiency numbers in the class, with an 18.9% pass-rush win rate and an 88.3 PFF pass-rush grade against true pass sets. Even if he doesn’t develop into a three-down player, the Chiefs know how to maximize one-gap attacking defensive linemen. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: CB DARIEN PORTER (ROUND 3, PICK 68)Porter is a great scheme fit for the Raiders. His length and speed make him an ideal outside cornerback for Pete Carroll’s Cover 3-heavy defense. Porter earned a 91.1 PFF coverage grade while allowing just a 29.6% completion rate in 2024. A team that desperately needed cornerback help got a good one. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: WR TRE HARRIS (ROUND 2, PICK 55)Harris was the exact type of wide receiver the Chargers needed, bringing an elite PFF receiving grade on deep throws and a 61.5% contested catch rate. As a deep threat down the sideline, he can stretch the defense and maximize Justin Herbert‘s arm strength while opening things up underneath for Ladd McConkey. LOS ANGELES RAMS: LB CHRIS PAUL JR. (ROUND 5, PICK 172)The Rams found a gem in undrafted free agent linebacker Omar Speights last season, as he turned into a starter as a rookie. I think they found similar value with Paul as their fifth-round pick. Paul earned an 87.2 PFF overall grade in 2024 as one of the more patient and effective linebackers in college football. His instincts and high football IQ will be assets in Los Angeles. MIAMI DOLPHINS: DI JORDAN PHILLIPS (ROUND 5, PICK 143)Phillips might just be an early-down defender, but he’s a good one with a 7.6% solo run-stop rate in 2024. The former high school weightlifter and wrestler is strong as an ox with good natural leverage to potentially anchor the middle of Miami’s defense. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: EDGE TYRION INGRAM-DAWKINS (ROUND 5, PICK 139)I would have preferred the Vikings to trade back from No. 24, but Donovan Jackson gives them an ideal starting five, so I get it. I did not love the Tai Felton pick, but Ingram-Dawkins is a good bet. He is a high-scoring athlete (weight-adjusted) who can play anywhere from 3-technique to 5-technique. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: EDGE BRADYN SWINSON (ROUND 5, PICK 146)I was completely shocked to see Swinson fall to the fifth round. The No. 47 player on my big board earned a 91.4 PFF pass-rush grade against true pass sets with a 22.1% pass-rush win rate in 2024. This could be the steal of the draft. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: T KELVIN BANKS JR. (ROUND 1, PICK 9)Banks’ selection has a massively positive ripple effect. Playing Banks at left tackle allows Taliese Fuaga to move back to right tackle, where he earned an elite PFF overall grade in college. The Saints can also move Trevor Penning inside to guard in a contract year. Banks earned an 89.9 PFF pass-blocking grade this past season. NEW YORK GIANTS: RB CAM SKATTEBO (ROUND 4, PICK 105)Skattebo was my RB3 and 51st-ranked overall prospect. I like the smash-and-dash combination his tough running style brings to life with Tyrone Tracy Jr. already established in the lineup. Skattebo earned an elite 94.6 PFF rushing grade in 2024 with the second-most missed tackles forced (103) in the country. NEW YORK JETS: CB AZAREYE’H THOMAS (ROUND 3, PICK 73)Even though I was lower on Thomas than the consensus, I like this landing spot. Under Aaron Glenn, he will be allowed to play in his preferred press-man coverage alignment. He earned a 71.8 man coverage grade at Florida State in 2024. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: T CAMERON WILLIAMS (ROUND 6, PICK 207)The Eagles had another fantastic draft under Howie Roseman, but Cameron Williams’ selection stood out. He probably should have stayed in school for another season, as his tape was erratic and full of penalties. But he’s a massive offensive lineman with good explosiveness who now gets to learn under the best offensive line coach in the league, Jeff Stoutland.  PITTSBURGH STEELERS: RB KALEB JOHNSON (ROUND 3, PICK 83)I was lower on Johnson on my big board than other analysts, but getting him at pick No. 83 was good value. It is also a great style fit, as Johnson earned an 82.6 PFF rushing grade behind zone blocking schemes in 2024 and the Steelers ran zone 58.32% of the time in 2024 under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.  SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: IOL GREY ZABEL (ROUND 1, PICK 18)The Seahawks didn’t overthink it with their first-round pick. They not only hit their biggest area of need, but they did so with a player who gives them starting-caliber flexibility as a guard or a center. Zabel earned a 90.4 PFF overall grade as a tackle at North Dakota State in 2024, and he was one of the highest-graded players at the Senior Bowl while playing on the interior. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: DI CJ WEST (ROUND 4, PICK 114)I was not the biggest fan of the 49ers’ draft, as a whole, but I think they got very good value with West in the fourth round. He will aid a team that needed to get much stronger up front in the trenches against the run, as he posted an 88.1 PFF run-defense grade in 2024. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: CB BENJAMIN MORRISON (ROUND 2, PICK 53)If it weren’t for a hip injury that forced him to miss almost all of the 2024 season, Morrison likely wouldn’t have made it out of the first round. Tampa Bay grabbed him in the second, attacking an area of need with a long-term starting-caliber player. Morrison earned an 84.6 PFF coverage grade as a true sophomore and a full-time starter in 2023. TENNESSEE TITANS: WR ELIC AYOMANOR (ROUND 4, PICK 136)Ayomanor lasting until the fourth round was not on my bingo card, and I believe the Titans got a steal. His 8.7% drop rate in 2024 had to be a catalyst for that, but there are so many positives to his game — blocking, contested catches in the red zone and deep speed for a big receiver. I think he can be the WR2 in Tennessee. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: CB TREY AMOS (ROUND 2, PICK 61)The Commanders had only five picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, but they made the most of them, getting a starting-caliber outside cornerback in Trey Amos at No. 61. Amos forced 13 incompletions in 2024 with an 85.6 PFF coverage grade. He can be a starting outside cornerback, which could give the Commanders even more flexibility with Mike Sainristil.