| NFC NORTH |
| DETROITThe Lions have extended DT ALIM McNEILL. Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com: Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill has agreed to a four-year contract extension, according to his agent, Mike McCartney at Vayner Sports. McNeill’s deal is worth $97 million, including $55 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He is the third member of Detroit’s 2021 draft class under general manager Brad Holmes to sign an extension, joining All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive tackle Penei Sewell, who both reached extensions in the offseason. On Saturday, the Lions also inked star running back David Montgomery to a two-year, $18.25 million extension that ties him to the Lions through the 2027 season as they continue to reward their players after a strong start to the season. In addition, the Lions re-signed quarterback Jared Goff to a new four-year, $212 million contract in May. Following training camp, Holmes said he believes in getting ahead of contract negotiations and rewarding top players for their efforts, which sends a message in the locker room. “The market’s going to change. You don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. We’ve always felt the earlier the better for everybody,” Holmes said in August. “First of all, I know that the player doesn’t want to wait around and be strung along, and us as an organization, we do a lot of planning and preparation to reward these players as early as possible because you don’t know what’s going to happen the next week, the next month.” McNeill, 24, joined the Lions as a third-round pick (72nd overall) in the 2021 NFL draft out of NC State and has started in all five games with the Lions this season, logging eight tackles and 2.5 sacks with four quarterback hits. Last season, he became Detroit’s first interior defensive lineman to register 5.0 sacks in a season since Ndamukong Suh in 2014.– – -Will the Lions make a move at EDGE to replace the great AIDAN HUTCHINSON. ESPN.com insiders Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler speculate: Is there an edge rusher on the trade market who could help the Lions, who just lost Aidan Hutchinson? Fowler: I can think of a highly productive edge rusher who has averaged nearly 13 sacks per season since 2020, a player who hasn’t been on the field all season because he’s disgruntled with his current team out of the greater New Jersey area. Haason Reddick would be an obvious player the Lions can inquire about, and I’ve been told they have reached out. Reddick’s recent hiring of agent Drew Rosenhaus, who is known for getting deals done expeditiously, could improve his chances of either staying with the Jets or facilitating a trade. Multiple teams have long believed the Jets have no choice but to cut ties eventually, and Detroit would be smart to at least attempt a deal. Also, is it worth calling the Raiders about Maxx Crosby, given Las Vegas’ 2-4 start? I highly doubt Las Vegas would part with him, but it’s worth asking. Giants pass rusher Azeez Ojulari interested teams back in August because he was behind Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux on the depth chart; he has three sacks in six games. I don’t expect the Lions to mortgage their future, but I expect them to at least look around. Graziano: I agree and expect the Lions to be aggressive. They have plenty of cap space to absorb incoming contracts as needed, and they have the loftiest of goals. They don’t have a third-round pick in 2025, which is a potential problem in doing deals, but they’ll try hard to solve this problem. The problem is the availability of high-end talent at a position where every team is always looking to add. Much of what I’ve heard after the Rosenhaus news broke indicated that a Reddick/Jets deal could happen pretty soon, but people I talked to Tuesday wonder if the Davante Adams trade makes it more likely Reddick gets moved to another team. Detroit would make the most sense. I don’t expect the Raiders or Browns to be eager to deal away franchise-cornerstone types such as Crosby or Myles Garrett. Ojulari is a great name to watch if the Giants tumble out of contention. Jadeveon Clowney has $2 million in guaranteed 2025 money in his deal with Carolina, but that likely wouldn’t stand in the way of a deal once he’s healthy. Josh Uche is in the final year of his contract in New England and cheap. Trevis Gipson was a healthy inactive for the Seahawks this week. Ogbo Okoronkwo is signed through 2025 in Cleveland but has no more guaranteed money on his deal. What about Chase Young? The Saints really like the guy and could be interested in signing him to a long-term deal, but if they check in and don’t feel good about their chances of doing that, could he be on the move for the second deadline in a row? Fowler: That’s not a bad call. Young signed a one-year deal with New Orleans in hopes of parlaying it into a new contract with the team. With the Saints sitting at 2-4, perhaps the organization would listen to offers closer to the deadline. I’d be mildly surprised if anything happens. Young garnered a third-round pick in last year’s trade from Washington to San Francisco, and now that he’s fully healthy and playing productive snaps, I would surmise New Orleans wouldn’t accept anything less in a deal, if it even considers it. All of these moves require the Lions to unload precious draft capital, but what if they stand pat? Is there enough for the defense to stay afloat? Looking at the depth chart, four edge rushers are on injured reserve. It’s hard to win that way. James Houston is intriguing, though. He exploded with eight sacks in seven games as a rookie in 2022 but hasn’t done much since. Maybe he can regain his fastball with an extended look. Graziano: Yeah, while you can’t rule out a bigger move for someone like Reddick or Clowney, the most likely outcome here is they pick through other teams’ practice squads for guys they think are scheme fits. Like signing Isaiah Thomas off the Bengals’ practice squad Tuesday. They might have no choice but to attack the problem with volume and use a rotation of capable players to try to replace Hutchinson, a superstar who was having an otherworldly season. Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com likes this move for the Lions: Za’Darius Smith to the Detroit LionsPotential compensation: 2025 fifth-round pick The Browns have every reason to be sellers, starting 1-5 but boasting a number of quality defensive assets, and Detroit has every reason to be buying at edge rusher, where star youngster Aidan Hutchinson is out indefinitely with a broken leg. Smith has already toured the NFC North, starting with the Packers and also suiting up for the Vikings, and while he’s better suited as a rotational rusher at 32, he’d represent a clear upgrade for a thin unit in Motown, where the Lions are bent on making another run at the NFC title. |
| GREEN BAYVeteran PK BRANDON McMANUS is a Packer as he awaits for a re-filed lawsuit. Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com: Perhaps the seventh kicker will be the charm for the Green Bay Packers, who signed veteran Brandon McManus on Tuesday. The sides agreed to a one-year deal, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and McManus is expected to kick in Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans at Lambeau Field. While the Packers used only one kicker, Brayden Narveson, in the first six games of this season, they’ve had six others on the roster since the end of last season. One of them, Alex Hale, remains on the practice squad. Narveson, a rookie whom the Packers claimed off waivers from the Tennessee Titans in late August, has missed a league-high five field goal attempts this season, including a 44-yarder in Sunday’s win over the Arizona Cardinals. Initially, the Packers kept Greg Joseph at the end of the preseason over last year’s kicker, Anders Carlson. They also had James Turner and Jack Podlesny on their 90-man offseason roster at different points. When asked Monday whether the team was considering a kicking change this week, Packers coach Matt LaFleur said: “I wouldn’t say that right now, no.” However, he said they would “take it by day by day.” That was before the team worked out McManus on Tuesday. McManus, 33, spent last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He made 30 of 37 field goal attempts and all 35 of his extra-point tries in his only season with the team. He signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Washington Commanders in the offseason but was released in early June after two women who were working as flight attendants on the chartered airline the Jaguars used to fly to London in September 2023 filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault on the trip. The NFL announced Sept. 30 that it found insufficient evidence that McManus violated the league’s personal conduct policy. League spokesman Brian McCarthy said as part of a statement that “as always, if new evidence is presented it would be taken into consideration.” Tony Buzbee, an attorney representing the two women, told ESPN on Sept. 30 that the league had not interviewed his clients as part of its investigation. It wasn’t immediately known whether the sides had spoken since. McManus is a career 81.4% kicker on field goals. He spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Denver Broncos. The Packers have been searching for a stable replacement since they moved on from their career scoring leader, Mason Crosby, after the 2022 season. In his last season with the Packers, Crosby made 86.2% of his field goals. Last season, Carlson, a sixth-round pick in 2023, missed 13 total kicks, including field goals and extra points in the regular season and playoffs, the most of any kicker in the league. A source said the Packers were meeting with Narveson on Tuesday evening, and it was not immediately clear whether the team would try to keep two kickers on the roster. |
| NFC EAST |
| NEW YORK GIANTSThe Dreaded LisFranc Injury has claimed another victim as T ANDREW THOMAS is done for 2024. Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com: New York Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas underwent surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury Tuesday and will miss the rest of the 2024 season, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Thomas, 25, is expected to be fully recovered for organized team activities next year, the source told Schefter. The injury occurred in the third quarter of Sunday night’s 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at MetLife Stadium. Thomas played through it but could be seen limping badly as the game progressed. “Not great,” he said afterward of how he felt. Thomas added that he was “fighting” through the pain. The second-team All-Pro in 2022 underwent tests Monday that showed the severity of the injury. Additional opinions confirmed it to be serious. Losing Thomas is a massive blow for the Giants. Their offensive line has made significant strides this season after years of struggles, and Thomas has been a stalwart at left tackle. He ranks 25th among all offensive tackles this season with a pass block win rate of 88.9% after stumbling through Sunday night’s game matched against Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson. Thomas, who signed a five-year, $117 million contract extension last summer, is ninth among all offensive tackles with a 91.8% pass block win rate since the start of 2022. It’s the second straight year that Thomas will miss extended time. He hurt a hamstring last season in Week 1 and missed seven games. The Giants’ offensive line struggled badly without him, and his injury while trying to chase down a blocked field goal on the opening possession of the season was looked at as a pivotal moment last year. Third-year tackle Joshua Ezeudu is the most likely option to replace Thomas in the lineup. He was the second-team left tackle throughout the summer. The Giants (2-4) also have Evan Neal as a reserve tackle on the bench. But they have been resistant to moving the No. 7 pick in 2022 from right tackle. Among their options is putting Neal at right tackle and shifting veteran Jermaine Eluemunor from the right side to the left. Eluemunor has started seven career games at left tackle. |
| AFC WEST |
| LAS VEGASThere had been some huffing and puffing of opposition, but in the end Tom Brady and Richard Seymour are part of the NFL ownership group. Rob Maaddi of the AP: Tom Brady has another new role in the NFL: owner. The seven-time Super Bowl champion purchased a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, a deal unanimously approved by NFL team owners on Tuesday at the league’s annual fall meeting. In a lengthy statement on X, Brady said he was “incredibly humbled and excited” to receive approval. “I’m eager to contribute to the organization in any way I can, honoring the Raiders’ rich tradition while finding every possible opportunity to improve our offering to fans… and most importantly, WIN football games,” Brady posted. Brady also thanked Raiders majority owner Mark Davis, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and others. “It’s an exciting day for the Raider organization,” Davis said. “Although Tom can’t play, I think he can help us select a quarterback in the future and potentially train him as well.” Brady, who played 23 seasons with the Patriots and Buccaneers, takes 5% control of the Raiders. He needed to receive 24 of 32 votes. The 47-year-old Brady can’t come of out retirement and play again unless he sells his stake in the team. “It’s great that Tom Brady wants to invest in the NFL,” Goodell said. “He cares deeply about this game. He believes in its future and I think that’s just a signal of that.” The deal was initially agreed upon in May 2023, but it took owners 17 months to give their approval over concerns Brady was receiving too much of a discount from Davis. Brady’s new job as a broadcaster with Fox also was an issue because it could represent a conflict of interest. “There were a lot of things from a structural and due diligence standpoint that had to happen, which is why it took so long for it to be approved and we finally got all that put to bed,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said. The NFL placed restrictions on Brady before the season to limit his access. He is not permitted to attend production meetings in person or virtually and may not have access to team facilities or players and coaching personnel. Brady may broadcast Raiders games. He also has to abide by the league constitution and bylaws that prohibit public criticism of officials and other clubs. Brady also owns a minority stake in the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, who are owned by Davis. Pro Football Hall of Famer Richard Seymour, who played with Brady in New England, also received approval Tuesday to purchase a minority stake in the Raiders. “This is the mission of a lifetime, and I accept it with both purpose and pride,” Seymour posted on X. “With great opportunity comes great responsibility. And I pledge to be a worthy steward of our game—and all it makes possible.” Brady and Seymour are the fifth and sixth former NFL players to become owners after George Halas Sr., Jerry Richardson, Warrick Dunn and John Stallworth. They missed at least one – in the 90s, former Chiefs safety Deron Cherry was a limited ownership partner in the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars. His Wikipedia page says this made him the first minority owner of an NFL franchise in the league’s history. He was bought out by Shad Khan in 2011. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CLEVELANDESPN.com insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano ponder the Browns and their DeSHAUN WATSON Problem: What are you hearing on the Browns’ ticking Deshaun Watson clock?Graziano: I used to work at a place where the guy in the cubicle next to me and I would wonder what you really had to do to get fired. For instance, how many days in a row would you have to walk into the boss’ office and punch him in the face before you were shown the door? We ultimately landed on three, maybe four. No way it gets past four days. I feel like Watson is on Day 300 somehow, and I have no idea how badly he has to play in order to get benched. Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said very clearly, again, Monday that Watson would be the starting quarterback. The Browns continue to project an evidence-free belief that things will get better for Watson if they stay the course. At this point, their only way out of his contract appears to be if the league suspends him again — he served an 11-game suspension in 2022 after he was accused by more than two dozen women of sexual misconduct during massage sessions — and they get to void the guaranteed $92 million he has left on his contract in the 2025 and 2026 seasons. The worst part is Watson has no obvious incentive to get any better. If you know you’re going to get paid $2.5 million a week no matter how you perform and you know you can’t lose your job no matter how you perform, how motivated can you be to do the necessary work to improve? Do you see any light at the end of this tunnel, Jeremy? Fowler: There’s no strategy, no front-office maneuvering that can make this more palatable should he continue to struggle. I’m still baffled by Watson’s play and hold a sliver of hope that a once-top-five quarterback can regain the confidence a 29-year-old should have in his game. But even coaches who have prepared for Watson this season and recently held that same hope are now admitting he looks done. If we’re looking for any sort of optimism: Watson completed 11 of his final 12 passes Sunday against Philadelphia. Running back Nick Chubb will return this week for the game against the Bengals. There’s still enough talent on the roster to string together a few wins and camouflage the uneven quarterback play. The Browns believe they aren’t that far off. That could buy Watson more time to find any sort of rhythm with his receivers, whose chemistry with the quarterback has been middle-school-dance awkward thus far. But now, Amari Cooper is off to Buffalo, traded away on Tuesday. All of that seems galaxies away right now. My sense through all of this is the Browns are resigned to their fate, having no choice but to ride this out and hope things turn. Any decision to bench Watson would inevitably involve team owner Jimmy Haslam and general manager Andrew Berry, and they need to give Watson superfluous chances to rediscover even a semblance of his old game, due to the contract. Or they could bench Watson with the promise to return to him in a few games, like an extended break, which might end up being the best course. I’ve seen the notion floated that Cleveland could send a bevy of draft picks to a team in exchange for absorbing the contract outright. But that prospective team would need, like, two whole drafts to do that. What’s the cleanest escape route here, Dan? Graziano: There really isn’t one. This is a sunk cost at this point from a cash perspective, and the Haslams can handle the money. But because of the contract restructures they’ve done with Watson the past two offseasons, the cap hit they’d take by releasing him is prohibitive. Cutting him after this season would result in a dead-money cap hit of almost $173 million. Even if they split that up over the 2025 and 2026 seasons, each half would represent the highest dead-money hit ever. Cutting him after next season would result in a dead cap hit of nearly $100 million. Currently, the $85 million in dead money the Broncos took on by cutting Russell Wilson in March is the record. As for a trade? Setting aside the legitimate question of who in the world would trade for him, even moving the remaining $92 million salary off their books would still leave them with a dead-money hit of almost $81 million. And in your hypothetical scenario, Jeremy, they’d have to fork over a boatload of draft picks for the privilege of taking that dead money hit. Unless he gets suspended again and the Browns can void the guarantees, it’s hard to imagine any scenario in which he isn’t on their roster through at least 2025 and probably 2026. Fowler: Those numbers are dreadful and not the least bit manageable. And to think Cleveland has a hefty payroll outside of Watson, with seven players facing cap hits between $19 million and $24.6 million in 2025. Those can be reworked, but the point remains that this organization has major challenges to build a competitive roster around Watson next season. That’s why the Cooper trade to Buffalo was so interesting. Sitting at 1-5, the Browns decided to cut ties with one of their most accomplished players — and Watson’s most frequent target — for a third-round pick. Acquiring impact players on a rookie scale will be paramount. And, perhaps in a weird way, moving on from Cooper could take the pressure off Watson, encouraging him to simply hit the open man in more of an equal opportunity offense. That’s the hope. And that’s about all Cleveland has right now. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| JACKSONVILLEThe NFL has approved the Jaguars stadium re-construction project – and the deal will allow the Jaguars to be frequent international travelers the next few years. Amos Morale III of The Athletic: NFL owners on Tuesday voted to unanimously approve the $1.4 billion renovation of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ EverBank Stadium. With the approval, construction on the “Stadium of the Future” project is set to begin in February 2025 and is expected to be completed in time for the beginning of the 2028 NFL season. “The venue will be world-class by every definition,” Jaguars owner Shad Khan said in a statement. “It will impressively serve the Jaguars and their fans, attract major sports and entertainment events to our region, and serve as an economic catalyst for decades to come. “It also means a new and vibrant Downtown Jacksonville that once may have seemed unimaginable will indeed come to life. I am grateful to all who believed, and especially so to everyone who did the hard work to make this happen. We have much more work hard ahead, but a lot to be proud of today. Celebrate!” The renovation, which is being jointly funded by the City of Jacksonville and the Jaguars, represents the franchise’s commitment to remaining at its current home as it includes a new leasing agreement. The Jaguars have been a mainstay of the NFL’s International Game series, prompting rumors that the team could be eyeing a permanent move to London. As part of the lease agreement, the Jaguars will play one home game in London, aside from any other international games the NFL requires, each year beginning in 2028. According to multiple reports, the deal allows Jacksonville to play up to six home games internationally during the construction period, 2025 to 2027. The Jaguars will play in EverBank Stadium during the first two years of the renovation with a planned reduced capacity beginning in 2026. They’ll play the 2027 season away from Jacksonville at a yet-to-be-determined stadium. The agreement allows the Jaguars to play three international games that season, per multiple reports. |
| AFC EAST |
| BUFFALOThe Bills have made a massive upgrade at WR at a reasonable cost as the Browns ship AMARI COOPER up Lake Erie. This at YahooSports: The Cleveland Browns are trading wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Bills, Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein confirmed Tuesday. The Bills later announced the trade, in which they will receive Cooper and a 2025 sixth-round draft pick, while Cleveland gets a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 seventh-rounder in return. The trade comes less than 24 hours after Buffalo defeated the New York Jets 23-20 on Monday night. To make room for Cooper, the Bills opted to release receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. With the trade, Cooper will get a chance to play on a far more competitive team, while giving Bills quarterback Josh Allen another receiving weapon. Buffalo’s leading receiver this season is Khalil Shakir, with 249 yards and two touchdowns, followed by rookie Keon Coleman (201 yards, two TDs). The Browns are currently 1-5 and the season already appears lost with Deshaun Watson as Cleveland’s starting quarterback. The Bills, meanwhile, are 4-2 and sit atop of the AFC East. Cleveland, meanwhile, is seemingly focusing on obtaining future talent for the moment. Cooper has 24 receptions, 250 yards and two touchdowns in six games this season. This marks the third career trade for Cooper. The five-time Pro Bowl receiver started his career with the Raiders as the No. 4 overall draft pick in 2015 before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys midseason in 2018. In 2022, he was traded to the Browns during the offseason, and spent the past two seasons in Cleveland. Cory Kinnan of YahooSports.com noticed this: A big part of that lack of production inevitably also falls onto the struggles of Watson, who has been among the league’s worst in various metrics this season. And Cooper may have been referencing that when he posted to his Instagram, “Move or rust” after the trade was finalized. Rust, of course, has been a common phrase that has almost become ingrained into the minds of those who follow the Browns. It has been used time and time again to absolve Watson of his struggles since the blockbuster trade brought him to Cleveland. In a three-word post, that is one of the words that Cooper chose to use to sum up the trade. The chances would appear slim that this was an unintentional use of the word in this instance. |
| MIAMICody Benjamin of CBSSports.com floats some trade ideas in a story out today. Is this a good idea? Trey Lance to the Miami DolphinsPotential compensation: Conditional 2025 fifth-round pick Tua Tagovailoa is apparently on track to return to the field this season, despite some medical experts suggesting his concussion history should prompt retirement consideration. Since when has Miami succeeded at putting all its eggs in the Tua basket, however? Lance remains a project, but he flashed his first-round athleticism under Mike McDaniel in San Francisco, and Dallas has kept him strapped to the bench. He’d make for a low-risk, high-upside rental as added Tagovailoa insurance. |
| NEW ENGLANDRobert Kraft explains that yes, he fired Bill Belichick because he had so much power. Khari Thompson of the Boston Globe: During a recent interview on The Breakfast Club, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he fired coach Bill Belichick. At the time, the Patriots said Belichick and the team had ‘mutually’ agreed to part ways. The decision wasn’t so mutual on Belichick’s part, Kraft said. “I kept him for 24 years,” Kraft said. “I didn’t enjoy having to fire him, but I tried to do it – if you look at the press conference and how it happened, tried to do it in a classy way.” “What he did for us was great. People need to adapt,” Kraft added. “People need to adapt and if they don’t, things can change. In life, it’s about getting good chemistry and trust and I feel that our record the last three or four years wasn’t what I wanted.” The Patriots held a press conference announcing the decision to move on from Belichick last January at Gillette Stadium. Kraft and Belichick both made statements. Belichick did not take questions from the media at the event. Kraft returned after Belichick had left to field questions from the press. Kraft said, at the time, that it was an amicable split. Belichick said he will carry the memories of coaching the Patriots with him for the rest of his life. Kraft lauded Belichick as the best coach in NFL history. “Coach Belichick will forever be celebrated as a legendary sports icon here in New England,” Kraft said at the time. “And I believe he will go in as a Pro Football Hall of Famer on the first ballot. Why? Because he is the greatest coach of all-time, which makes this decision to part ways so hard.” “But this is a move that we mutually agreed is needed at this time,” Kraft said. “What Bill accomplished with us, in my opinion, will never be replicated, and the fact that it was done in the salary cap and free agency era makes it even more extraordinary.” Belichick appeared to lose his effectiveness after Tom Brady left the Patriots. The Patriots went 29-38 under Belichick in the post-Brady years. The winning percentage of 43 percent during that period is well below Belichick’s career average of 64.5 percent. “I had given him so much power,” Kraft said. “He had full control over everything, and shame on me, I should have had some checks and balances better. But, he had earned that right. But then the results weren’t there and if you’re in the sports business you win or you lose, there’s no gray and I hate losing.” |
| NEW YORK JETSAMARI COOPER wasn’t the only big-time receiver arriving in the AFC East on Tuesday. The Jets finally landed WR DAVANTE ADAMS and the price was not egregious. Ben Solak of ESPN.com: In one of the most predictable trades in the history of football, the Jets acquired Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams on Tuesday morning. New York sent Las Vegas a third-round pick that can become a second-round pick based off Adams’ individual production, which should be high because he is reuniting with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, with whom he played in Green Bay from 2014 to 2021. Over that time, according to ESPN Research, no QB-WR duo had more touchdowns than Rodgers and Adams (68). The Jets are hoping the duo can pick up exactly where they left off, because this passing offense needs a shot in the arm. It ranks 24th in dropback success rate on the season, and with only 3.9 yards after the catch per reception, no offense is producing less after a completion. Built in the image of Rodgers, the Jets’ passing attack is all about pre-snap checks, route adjustments on the fly and high degrees of precision and chemistry. But Rodgers hasn’t had much time throwing to Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams, and the lack of chemistry has gunked up the whole operation. Insert Adams, and that problem should be solved. The magic of Rodgers to Adams was spectacular to watch, but also hard-earned. A second-round pick with tons of promise, Adams was not productive in his first couple of seasons in Green Bay, fighting through ankle injuries and buried on the depth chart behind Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and James Jones. Rodgers did not trust Adams with volume until his third season as a pro, and even then, they had to grow through some drops. Rodgers is famously tough on young receivers because of his high standards and intensity, as well as the hyper-specificity in how he wants his receivers to run routes. Listening to Rodgers and Adams talk about how their understanding grew over time is really something. It makes you romantic about football. Take this back-shoulder throw against the Vikings in 2018, freelanced on the backside of a called run play. As Rodgers recalled it: “I’d never thrown that ball before to anybody on that play, much less a back-shoulder against one of the top corners in the league, on a run solution, in a hostile environment. … It’s one of those ‘wow’ plays that goes back to a conversation we probably had in practice about it, and just trust. I never throw that ball if it’s somebody I don’t trust.” This from Ari Meirov: @MySportsUpdateDavante Adams will get to keep his old No. 17 with the #Jets. Rookie WR Malachi Corley is switching to No. 14 to make it happen. Garrett Wilson switched out of No. 17 to No. 5 in the offseason. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| HIP DROP FLAGS HAVE YET TO DROPWe are still waiting for the first in-game flag for a hip-drop tackle – although seven players have been fined for using the technique. Charean Williams ofProFootballTalk.com: The NFL has fined seven players for hip-drop tackles this season. None came the past two weeks, league executive vice president Troy Vincent told reporters at the NFL owners meetings in Atlanta. “Coaches and the players have been outstanding with sending in video, whether it’s their own club without the player making the tackle or something in another game,” Vincent said, via NFL Media. Officials have yet to call a penalty for a hip-drop tackle during a game, something Vincent and officials both long ago admitted would be the likely outcome of the rule change. The hip-drop tackle is hard to officiate. Vincent said players have made about 22 questionable tackles. Texans running back Joe Mixon is a loud critic of officials not penalizing offenders after he was injured on a hip-drop tackle in Week 2. Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards instead was fined $16,883, an amount Mixon deemed too low based on the injury rate of the hip-drop tackle. Mixon missed three games with his injury. Vincent, though, said none of the questionable tackles this season met the four-point criteria. “It’s just so important that all four of the elements show up,” Vincent said. “Reviewing that after the game, some of us have just a better feel and an eye for when those things occur. If there’s not an unweighting and trapping of the legs, you’ve got to stay away from it. But that’s during the week. It gives us and many others the opportunity to evaluate so one player is not penalized for something that didn’t occur, especially in real time with all things kind of look the same.” |
| 2025 DRAFTJordan Reid of ESPN.com offers a new Mock Draft with the same school producing numbers 1 and 2: Our draft order is based on the current standings and is reflective of how all 32 teams would slot if the season ended today. And since no first-round picks have been traded yet, every team is set to enter the draft with its own Day 1 selection. But we like trades in mock drafts, so I crafted three of my own here, including one in the top five. Here are my projections for all 32 first-round picks in 2025, starting with an interesting fit for an underperforming AFC team. (Note: Underclassmen are noted with an asterisk.) 1. Cleveland Browns (1-5)Shedeur Sanders, QB, ColoradoThe Browns have plenty of questions surrounding Deshaun Watson and the quarterback position. Watson is last in the NFL in QBR (21.7) and yards per attempt (5.1) this season, and if things get even worse, the Browns could ultimately decide to reset at that spot. Now, there would of course be significant financial ramifications, since Watson is still owed $92 million guaranteed beyond this year. If Cleveland decides to cut him in the spring, it would take on $172.7 million in dead money. So, if it comes to that, the Browns would likely want a talented quarterback on a rookie deal to replace him. Sanders — currently my QB1 for the class — is a poised pocket passer whose game centers around his fantastic ball placement and good decision-making. His 72.6% completion rate ranks sixth in the nation. Sanders would be an ideal fit for Kevin Stefanski’s scheme, as he can operate from multiple platforms and has the pocket vision to immediately make an impact at the next level. 2. New England Patriots (1-5)Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado*Offensive line is certainly the biggest need for the Patriots’ roster, but there isn’t an offensive tackle or interior lineman in this class who is worthy of the No. 2 pick. Trading back with a QB-needy team should be an option for New England, which would allow it to build at multiple spots around Drake Maye. But the Patriots lack true top-tier stars, and Hunter is the No. 1 overall player on my board. He has the ability to play either receiver or cornerback at the next level, and I keep going back and forth on which makes the most sense (I’m leaning cornerback). He has great length, speed and hands — traits that show up on both sides of the ball. If things play out like this, it would be the third time in the common draft era (since 1967) that college teammates are the first two players off the board, per ESPN Research (and the first time since 2000, when Penn State had Courtney Brown and LaVar Arrington go 1-2). 3. Carolina Panthers (1-5)Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn StateThis roster is devoid of high-end talent, which means taking the best player available is a likely option. Bryce Young hasn’t worked out, with the 2023 top pick getting benched in his second season, so we can’t rule out a quarterback here. But at this point, I see building up other spots as the smarter move. The Panthers are lacking impact players at edge rusher; they are getting pressure just 20% of the time (last in the NFL) and have a 31.7% pass rush win rate (28th). Carter would immediately be the team’s best young player there. After a slow start, the converted off-ball linebacker is steadily adjusting to his edge role, racking up four sacks and 18 pressures over six games. Projected trade: Raiders jump up for a QBIn April, the Raiders watched six quarterbacks come off the board before they were on the clock at No. 13. They might not want to risk waiting it out again in 2025, and I could see them sending a second- and fifth-rounder to Jacksonville to move up three spots from No. 7 overall here. (Las Vegas just landed a conditional third-rounder from the Davante Adams trade that could be used to move up for a QB, too.) 4. Las Vegas Raiders (via projected trade with 1-5 JAX)Cam Ward, QB, MiamiIt’s not a secret that the Raiders are in desperate need of a quarterback. After seesawing between Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell, they would get stability with Ward. He is the quarterback whom I’ve been the most impressed with through six weeks, rising from the fourth- or fifth-round range to top-five consideration while throwing 20 TD passes for the undefeated Hurricanes. He’s an electrifying playmaker who can make throws from different platforms and drive the ball to the target. He has to limit his questionable decisions during games, but his calm demeanor no matter the moment is outstanding. With this, Ward would become the first Miami player to go in the top five since Sean Taylor (fifth in 2004). 5. Tennessee Titans (1-4)James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee*Here’s another team that could address quarterback, as the jury is still out on Will Levis. Let’s put a pin in that for now; it’s only October. Instead, I’m looking at the defense, where the Titans need pass rushers. They are one of seven teams with fewer than 10 sacks (nine). Pearce is a scheme-versatile defender who can play standing up at outside linebacker or with his hand down in the dirt at defensive end. And while he has managed just two sacks, his pressure rate (17.6%) ranks fourth in the nation. Scouts will be watching Pearce closely the rest of the way, starting this Saturday against Alabama. 6. Los Angeles Rams (1-4)Will Johnson, CB, Michigan*Even after signing veterans in the secondary this offseason in Darious Williams and Tre’Davious White, the Rams’ struggles in pass defense have continued. They are allowing 9.0 yards per attempt, by far the worst number in the NFL. But Johnson fits as a high-impact playmaker and turnover machine; he has nine INTs over three seasons. At 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds, he’s a bigger corner who plays with physicality. And he’s the clear top cover man in this class. 7. Jacksonville Jaguars (via projected trade with 2-4 LV)Will Campbell, OT/G, LSU*The top-rated offensive lineman on my board, Campbell is a polished pass protector and physical run blocker who has played strictly left tackle during his career. He has surrendered one sack so far this season over 256 pass-blocking snaps. Many scouts are still a bit hesitant about this OT class and aren’t sure we will see one go in the top 10. Some even say Campbell could move inside to guard at the next level. But pass protection is just too hard for the Jaguars — who have allowed 17 sacks, tied for sixth most in the league — to ignore. 8. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)Mason Graham, DT, Michigan*Graham could help Cincinnati as both a stout run defender in the middle and a disruptive interior pass rusher. He is my No. 2 overall prospect, and there’s a shot he could be drafted even higher than this spot. And with B.J. Hill in the last year of his deal, Graham could team up with Sheldon Rankins and rookie Kris Jenkins Jr. (his Michigan teammate in 2023) on the Bengals’ interior. He has 14 pressures when lined up inside, tied for the third most in the country. 9. New York Jets (2-4)Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&M*When I first sketched out this mock draft, I had Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan slotted here. But Tuesday’s Davante Adams trade made me pivot. Beyond Quinnen Williams and Will McDonald IV, there is a jarring lack of depth along the defensive front. The season-ending Achilles injury to Jermaine Johnson only made it worse. So, Scourton makes a lot of sense in New York. He will still be 20 years old at draft time, and he’s a well-built power rusher who wreaks havoc as both a run defender and a pass rusher. The Purdue transfer has 3.5 sacks over his past two games, his 20 pressures are tied for eighth in the country, and he has the versatility to play both inside and outside. Scourton is NFL-ready. 10. New York Giants (2-4)Carson Beck, QB, Georgia*The Daniel Jones era hasn’t gone as the Giants had hoped when they signed him to a four-year, $160 million extension in 2023. They do have a potential out after this season, though, since he won’t have any more guaranteed money. So, I’m expecting the Giants to start over at signal-caller. Beck is a polished pocket passer who throws on time and with precision (67.9% completion rate). He could thrive in Brian Daboll’s scheme. Projected trade: Dolphins get aggressiveThe 2-3 Dolphins have had a tough start to the season, and they have quite a few holes to plug in the offseason. If the board falls this way, don’t be surprised if they attempt to trade up to improve their pass protection. To move up from No. 13, Miami would likely have to move a third- or fourth-rounder to Arizona, which loves a draft-day trade. 11. Miami Dolphins (via projected trade with 2-4 ARI)Kelvin Banks Jr., OT/G, Texas*Tua Tagovailoa’s return time frame is still unclear as he recovers from the third diagnosed concussion of his NFL career, but Miami is going to have to fix the weak offensive line to better protect its quarterback. Left tackle Terron Armstead will be 34 years old next season, and Banks could be his replacement. Banks has been one of the most consistent blockers in the country. He’s yet to surrender a single pressure or sack this season (194 pass-blocking snaps), but he’s also a powerful run blocker and is among the best in this class at generating movement at the point of attack. While the Dolphins might want him at left tackle, Banks can play anywhere. 12. New Orleans Saints (2-4)Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona*The Saints could go defense here, as more youth is needed on the front. But they also covet receiver help, and the highest-ranked prospect at the position (again, I have Travis Hunter at CB) is McMillan. He is a big-body target who would be an instant complementary option alongside Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. McMillan currently ranks third in the FBS in yards per game (123.7), and he can go up and get it, with terrific skill on 50-50 balls. He also has the flexibility to play in the slot or on the outside. 13. Arizona Cardinals (via projected trade with 2-3 MIA)Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia*Williams began the season as my top-ranked prospect, but he missed some time with a Grade 2 left ankle sprain. He’s back on the field, but he is still sackless over four games this season. Scouts are hoping that he can return to form during the second half of the season, starting with a big matchup against Texas. He has fantastic length, burst and closing speed, and the upside is real. Considering the Cardinals are last in pass rush win rate (27.6%), this fit makes sense. Projected trade: Colts looking for secondary helpOK, here’s my third and final projected trade of the mock, with the Colts sliding up six spots. And here’s my best guess of what such a move might look like: Seattle trades No. 14 overall and a seventh-rounder to Indianapolis for No. 20 overall, a third-rounder and a sixth-rounder. 14. Indianapolis Colts (via projected trade with 3-3 SEA)Malaki Starks, S, GeorgiaThis prospect-to-team pairing is perfect. Starks is far and away the best safety in next year’s class, and the Colts might lose Julian Blackmon to free agency after this season. The No. 6 prospect on my board, Starks is instinctive on the back end and a dependable tackler in run support. Sure, safeties have become somewhat devalued, but Starks is an outlier who is worthy of a top-15 pick. He has six career interceptions and is on track for his third straight season with more than 55 tackles. 15. Dallas Cowboys (3-3)Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State*Jeanty is off to an historic start to the season, with the second-most rushing yards (1,248) and touchdowns (17) through six games in the past 20 FBS seasons. He has 841 yards after contact, first in the FBS and 255 more than the next-best rusher. The stats speak from themselves, and Jeanty would be an instant boost for the Cowboys as a runner and a receiver out of the backfield. Dallas is last in the NFL in rushing yards per game (77.2) and yards per carry (3.5), and tied for last in rushing TDs (two). 16. Denver Broncos (3-3)Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri*The Broncos’ offense has struggled to generate explosive plays with Bo Nix still developing in Year 1. Their 56 plays gaining 10 or more yards rank 28th in the NFL. More playmakers around Nix would help, especially with Courtland Sutton signed only through 2025. Burden is versatile and competitive after the catch, potentially making him a reliable go-to option in Sean Payton’s offense. His 15 forced missed tackles rank sixth among FBS wide receivers. 17. Philadelphia Eagles (3-2)Jalon Walker, Edge, Georgia*Brandon Graham has already said that 2024 will be his final season, Josh Sweat is in the last year of his contract, and Nolan Smith Jr. is still developing. So, defensive end is a clear need in Philadelphia, especially since the team typically leans on a reliable rotation. Walker is a hybrid player; at 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds, he’s too small to play on the edge on base downs. But he has explosive traits that lead to consistent disruption, and he has plenty of experience as a stack linebacker. 18. Chicago Bears (4-2)Jonah Savaiinaea, OT/G, ArizonaSavaiinaea — who reminds me of Jordan Morgan, a 2024 first-rounder from Arizona — is a physical blocker with experience at multiple spots up front. He plays with a strong base and quick-enough feet in pass protection, and is developing into a dependable right tackle. But I have Savaiinaea projected as a guard with tackle flexibility at the next level. He’d give the Bears a plug-and-play option along the interior and help build a wall in front of Caleb Williams. 19. San Francisco 49ers (3-3)Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M*Stewart’s name pops up often in conversations with scouts. He is a pressure-over-production player — he hasn’t racked up sacks (4.5 over three seasons), but the traits are there for long-term potential. An NFL team that values pass rushers who can get quick pressure might take a long look at Stewart on Day 1, and he’d fit nicely with San Francisco. And at 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds, he moves around the Aggies’ defense. That versatility could be useful in the pros. 20. Seattle Seahawks (via projected trade with 3-3 IND)Cameron Williams, OT, Texas*Williams has been a bit of a riser in this offensive line group. The sample size isn’t very big — he has started seven career games, all at right tackle — but his 6-foot-5, 335-pound size and overall upside have caught the attention of NFL evaluators. Williams has given up one pressure over 244 career pass-blocking reps. Abraham Lucas has struggled to stay healthy, and Stone Forsythe ranks 63rd of 66 qualified tackles in pass block win rate (79.4%). Adding Williams to play opposite Charles Cross would give the Seahawks two young bookend tackles to build around. Williams’ draft stock is eerily similar to what we saw from Amarius Mims — he was a projection last season, with limited experience, and he ended up the 18th pick. 21. Los Angeles Chargers (3-2)Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky*The Chargers simply aren’t getting enough production from their interior. Otito Ogbonnia has been inconsistent, and Poona Ford and Teair Tart are on one-year deals. Walker can help. And don’t let his 6-foot-6, 345-pound frame trick you into assuming he’s simply a two-gap run stuffer. No, Walker is light-footed and can wreak havoc at the first level as a pass rusher. He still needs to reduce his pad level and become more consistent as a run defender, but he’s much better than what’s currently on the Los Angeles roster. 22. Washington Commanders (4-2)Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame*This is one of the NFL’s worst secondaries. Washington is giving up 8.1 yards per attempt (tied for second highest). Throughout his coaching career, Dan Quinn has prioritized length in his cornerbacks, and someone like Morrison could fit and lift the whole unit. He excels in man coverage but also has the eyes to stand out in zone. He also has nine career interceptions. Pro teams will keep an eye on the medicals, though; Morrison was recently ruled out for the season with a hip injury, which could cause his stock to drop. 23. Buffalo Bills (4-2)Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan*Grant is an urgent and explosive playmaker who just keeps getting better in his first season as a full-time starter. And while Ed Oliver is a star and DeWayne Carter (2024 third-round pick) looks like an early hit, continuing to add along the interior would be wise in Buffalo. The Bills are allowing 5.3 yards per run this season, ranking at the bottom of the league. 24. Green Bay Packers (4-2)Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona*Jaire Alexander has battled some injuries, and Eric Stokes is in the final year of his rookie deal. That makes cornerback a question mark in Green Bay beyond this season. The best one still available on the board is Davis, who also happens to be one of the longest corners in this class. He has fluid movement traits and solid ball skills, as he has 19 pass breakups over the past two seasons. 25. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas*Let’s start by acknowledging that both of Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks are set to be free agents after this season, and if the Steelers find themselves in a spot where they can upgrade from Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, they might do so in Round 1. But that’s a long way off, and I don’t have any other Day 1 locks in the QB class. No matter who is under center, Pittsburgh has to find more playmaking beyond George Pickens. The speedy and dynamic Bond has flashed this season after transferring from Alabama. He’s not only capable of winning downfield, but he can also turn underneath plays into big gains. He forces defenses to respect his vertical speed and has four scores this season. 26. Atlanta Falcons (4-2)Landon Jackson, Edge, ArkansasThe Falcons retooled their defense in the offseason — including a trade for Matthew Judon — but still lack depth on the edge. And they haven’t turned those additions into sack production; Atlanta ranks last in sack rate (2.3%). The 6-foot-7, 280-pound Jackson has 2.5 sacks so far this season and can play a variety of spots thanks to his ability to rush off the edge or reduce inside. 27. Baltimore Ravens (4-2)Aireontae Ersery, OT, MinnesotaBaltimore loves massive offensive linemen who overwhelm defenders at the point of attack. Ersery is just that, even though his game is still raw. He plays with a physical attitude as a run blocker, and his length makes it difficult for blockers to beat him cleanly around the edge. Ronnie Stanley and Patrick Mekari are both in the final years of their contracts, and the Ravens could establish Ersery as the future at left tackle, pairing him with impressive rookie right tackle Roger Rosengarten for the foreseeable future. 28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2)Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan*Yes, Loveland’s numbers are down this season (29 catches for 261 yards and two scores) with some inconsistent quarterback play in Ann Arbor. And yes, he has dealt with injuries this year. But Loveland is still viewed as the top player at the position in the 2025 class, and he’d be a favorite of Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay. Loveland is a smooth route runner with good hands. I could see him bringing an added dimension to the Bucs’ offense as a flexed-out tight end. 29. Detroit Lions (4-1)Jack Sawyer, Edge, Ohio StateToughness, high effort levels and instincts are the three key traits that seem to show up in every prospect that Lions GM Brad Holmes brings to Detroit, which means he will love Sawyer’s game. Sawyer plays with strength, can set a firm edge against the run and causes plenty of disruption as a pass rusher. His 21.6% pressure rate is second highest in the FBS, and he has 3.5 tackles for loss. Sawyer doesn’t win with flash, but he’s equally as dependable in every aspect of the defensive end position. His pro-ready skill set would be welcomed opposite Aidan Hutchinson, who is currently out with a fractured tibia and fibula. 30. Houston Texans (5-1)Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss*A true wrecking ball up the middle is one of the few missing ingredients for an elite football team in Houston. After two underwhelming seasons at Texas A&M, Nolen is having a breakout year in his first season at Ole Miss. He already has 2.5 sacks, 5 tackles for loss and 8 run stops. With aggressive hands and a sudden first step, he’s consistently able to defeat single blocks at the first level. 31. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0)Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio StateReturning for his senior season has proved to be the right decision for Egbuka. His 526 receiving yards and six touchdown catches have already surpassed his 2023 totals (515 and four, respectively). He’s a nuanced and savvy route runner who does most of his work in the short-to-intermediate areas. And as a sure-handed target, he’d be perfect in Andy Reid’s offense as an underneath complement to Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce. 32. Minnesota Vikings (5-0)Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon*The Michigan State transfer has quickly become arguably Oregon’s best defensive player. With a quick first step, Harmon has been able to consistently penetrate the first level, picking up three sacks this season. His strong hands help him stack and shed blocks in the middle as a run defender, but he must do a better job of finishing plays. The Vikings’ defense has been excellent this season, but it probably still needs long-term depth at defensive tackle. Harmon’s explosion would work well in Brian Flores’ attacking unit. |
