THE DAILY BRIEFING 

 

There is what seems to be an anomaly in the line on Thursday night’s game in the Meadowlands.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com says its not a misprint that the J-E-T-S Jets are favored:

The 2-6 Jets host the 6-2 Texans on Thursday night. And, somehow, the Jets are favored to win.

The consensus spread is Jets minus-1.5. The Jets. The woeful, wrong-way, dysfunctional Jets. Favored to beat the Texans.

Yes, the Jets beat the Texans last year at MetLife Stadium, 30-6. But that was last year. This year, the Jets are free falling in the aftermath of the firing of coach Robert Saleh. As the losses mount, including a demoralizing defeat against the previously 1-6 Patriots, why does anyone think interim coach Jeff Ulbrich will be able to get this team to reset on a short week for a game against an AFC Super Bowl contender?

The situation plays right into the hands of Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, who can now point to the point spread as an indication that people don’t believe in his team in an effort to get them ready for the first of three straight prime-time games (the Lions and Cowboys are up next).

Meanwhile, the Jets were favored in two of the three prior post-Saleh games. And they’re 0-3.

But they’re still favored for Thursday night. Maybe the bettors know something the rest of us don’t. Or maybe they’ll just be wrong, again.

– – –

Interesting from someone named Sam Block:

Sam Block

@theblockspot

Anthony Richardson is 22. Benched.

Bryce Young is 23. Benched.

Trey Lance is 24. Benched.

Justin Fields is 25. Benched.

Will Levis is 25. Benched.

Zach Wilson is 25. Benched.

Mac Jones is 26. Benched.

Kenny Pickett is 26. Benched.

The NFL has a QB development problem.

A counter from Will Evans:

@wil_f_evans

Bo Nix

CJ Stroud

Trevor Lawrence

Caleb Williams

Brock Purdy

Jayden Daniels

Trevor Lawrence

Tua Tagovailoa

All part of the 26 and under club and still starting.

I’m shocked that half of the young qbs are good enough to start. How long did Young sit for Montana? Rogers for Favre? College doesn’t always translate to the NFL.

And Ben Clapperton:

@BenClapperton

Current starters who became starters in their rookie season

Lamar Jackson

Joe Burrow

Josh Allen

Dak Prescott

Justin Herbert

CJ Stroud

Trevor Lawrence

Tua Tagovailoa

Matthew Stafford

Brock Purdy

Kyler Murray 

Russell Wilson 

Maybe the good QBs don’t get benched

NFC NORTH

MINNESOTA

We saw this as a suggested trade on Monday, and it happened on Tuesday.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

With left tackle Christian Darrisaw out for the year, the Vikings have made a move to replace him.

Via NFL Media, the Vikings have acquired Cam Robinson via trade with the Jaguars. The Vikings are sending draft-pick compensation to Jacksonville.

Robinson, a second-round pick in 2017, had spent his entire career with the Jaguars. He has 91 career regular-season games, all starts.

He’s in the final year of his contract, at a base salary of $16.25 million. Whether the Jaguars will be paying any of that amount has not yet been reported.

Minnesota lost Darrisaw to a torn ACL and MCL during first-half garbage time, last Thursday night against the Rams.

The Vikings host the Colts on Sunday Night Football. The following weekend, Robinson will be back in Jacksonville, for a game against his former team.

NFC EAST

NEW YORK GIANTS

RB TYRONE TRACY, now 2^nd among NFL rookie running backs in rushing yards, is in the concussion protocol.  Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com:

Tyrone Tracy Jr. had himself a career night on Monday, exploding for 145 yards on 20 carries against the typically stingy Pittsburgh Steelers. The New York Giants running back may not have a chance for a Week 9 encore, however, revealing after his breakout performance that he’s entered concussion protocol.

The 24-year-old Tracy did not field questions from reporters as usual following the Giants’ defeat as a result, and he’ll be ineligible to practice or play until he clears the protocol. The fifth-round draft pick initially exited New York’s Monday night matchup with about four minutes left after absorbing a hard hit from Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, receiving sideline attention before a trip to the locker room.

The Purdue product has been a rare bright spot for an otherwise tumultuous Giants offense this year, leading the team with 376 rushing yards through eight games. Averaging 5.2 yards per carry, he’s also logged 16 catches for 113 yards, first emerging as an injury replacement for veteran starter Devin Singletary.

Should Tracy be unavailable for the Giants’ upcoming Week 9 matchup with the Washington Commanders, Singletary would be in line to reclaim lead ball-carrier duties. The former Buffalo Bills starter had just four touches against Pittsburgh, and has logged a combined 10 touches the last two games.

NFC SOUTH

CAROLINA

Not every player on the Panthers roster is available in a trade.  Anthony Rizzuti of USA Today:

Tuesday’s trade of wide receiver Diontae Johnson could just end up being a one-off for the 1-7 Carolina Panthers.

As we await the official word, multiple reports from this afternoon have indicated that the team will be trading Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens in a not-so-surprising departure. In fact, the only surprising part of the deal might be the pittance of a return the Panthers will receive for their leading pass catcher.

Anyway, this not may be the opening transaction of a potential fire sale.

@Schultz_Report

Sources: Despite teams calling about them, the #Panthers have no plans on trading CB Jaycee Horn or RB Chuba Hubbard.

“They’re not having a firesale,” a source said.

Hubbard leads the team with 593 rushing yards, a total that also ranks fifth in the NFL. The 25-year-old is currently in the final year of his rookie deal.

Horn, the eighth overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft, continues to prove he’s one of the league’s top cornerbacks when healthy. He is under contract for the 2025 campaign after the Panthers triggered his fifth-year option back in April.

NFC WEST

SEATTLE

WR D.K. METCALF could be on the trade block even as his team sits tied for the division lead.  Adam LaRose of ProFootballTradeRumors.com:

As the trade deadline draws nearer, the receiver position remains one to watch. The list of potential targets at that spot appears to include D.K. Metcalf.

The Seahawks are receiving calls about Metcalf’s availability, per Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post. Any number of high-profile players at every position have been the subject of at least cursory interest in recent weeks, and that will no doubt continue over the coming days. As La Canfora notes, suitors in conversation with Seattle GM John Schneider are not optimistic a deal will actually be feasible.

Metcalf inked a three-year, $72MM extension extension two summers ago, and he is under contract through 2025 as a result. None of his base salary for next year (just over $18MM) is guaranteed, however, and a recent restructure has him scheduled to carry a 2025 cap hit of nearly $32MM. Further adjustments – in the form of another extension or a new restructure – will likely be needed if Metcalf is to remain in the Emerald City. That should still be expected beyond next week’s deadline, although the two-time Pro Bowler would of course be an attractive option for potential buyers.

The Seahawks also have Tyler Lockett on the books for the rest of this season and next at the receiver spot, but the 32-year-old would not yield as much value as Metcalf (26) in a trade. 2023 first-rounder Jaxon Smith-Njigba will of course be considered untouchable, which explains Metcalf being targeted. The Ole Miss product has never posted less than 900 yards in a season, and his 81.1 yards per game in 2024 is the second-highest mark of his career.

A knee injury left Metcalf sidelined for Week 8, only the second missed game of his career. Head coach Mike Macdonald said on Tuesday he hopes to have him back in the fold this week, though, a positive sign for Seattle’s chances of rebounding from a stretch of four losses in five games. Metcalf’s status will be worth watching before Week 9, provided teams continue showing interest and if the receiver market – which no longer includes Diontae Johnson – continues to be thinned out.

AFC WEST

KANSAS CITY

Coach Andy Reid says he will be working more of WR DeANDRE HOPKINS into the game plan Monday night against the Buccaneers.  Grant Gordon of NFL.com:

Expect more of DeAndre Hopkins in his second game with the Kansas City Chiefs.

At least that’s what head coach Andy Reid is prognosticating.

Hopkins impressively played 22 snaps for the Chiefs in their win Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders despite officially getting dealt to his new squad just three days prior.

Reid sees a lot more ahead for Nuk on Monday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“He was chomping at the bit on the sideline wanting to play,” Reid said Monday, via team transcript, “and at the same time, knowing that he didn’t have all of it down so there was a patience there, but he was into the game and I think you’ll be able to see more this next game.”

All told, Hopkins played 32.4% of Kansas City’s offensive snaps, running 14 routes and catching two passes on three targets for 29 yards.

“I thought he looked good out there — did a nice job,” Reid said. “He did a nice job in the run game, did a nice job in the pass game, had the big third down catch right off the bench and did well with that.”

Hopkins, 32, is now getting acclimated to his fourth NFL franchise, having been traded from a one-win Tennessee Titans squad to the NFL’s last undefeated team.

Acquiring Hopkins, who had 15 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown in six games with Tennessee, is the latest attempt by the Chiefs to inject some life and production into a beleaguered WR corps that added Marquise Brown this offseason only to have him land on injured reserve, where he was joined by Rashee Rice, who was emerging as a top-tier WR1 for the squad.

Hopkins has a glistening resume highlighted by five Pro Bowls and three All-Pro selections.

Though his prime days are likely in the rearview, he can still provide some much-needed juice for the Chiefs. Last season, he memorably hauled in three touchdowns from Will Levis in the QB’s starting debut. So, with Patrick Mahomes targeting him, there’s optimism he can improve the Chiefs’ 12th-ranked passing offense.

He’ll have an opportunity to do so against a reeling Buccaneers squad that’s lost two in a row while allowing an average of 36 points in those defeats. Tampa also sports the 29th-ranked defense in passing yards allowed.

So, for ample reasons, Hopkins portends to make a much larger impact for the Chiefs in his second outing.

“He’s a good football player,” Reid said. “Being able to fit in more will even be better, I think, as we go forward here.”

AFC NORTH

BALTIMORE

A stat from Jamison Hensley of The Athletic:

Stat that defined the first half: The Ravens will go as far as Jackson, Derrick Henry and their high-scoring offense takes them. When they score more than 24 points, they are 5-0. When the Ravens are held to 24 points or less, they are 0-3. Baltimore is second for the NFL’s top scoring team, averaging 29.5 points per game.

AFC SOUTH

HOUSTON

Houston started the year with a three-headed monster at WR, but for Week 9 at the Jets on Thursday, only WR TANK DELL remains.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

Stefon Diggs’ season-ending knee injury and Nico Collins continued absence due to a hamstring issue thrust the rest of the Houston Texans wide receiver room into the spotlight.

Currently, Tank Dell stands as the lone remaining starter of the crew. Xavier Hutchinson, John Metchie III and veteran Robert Woods should all see their opportunities increase.

While a potential trade addition is possible ahead of the Nov. 5 deadline, Coach DeMeco Ryans is confident in the in-house crew.

“One thing that sticks out, ‘Hutch’ [WR Xavier Hutchinson], ‘Metch’ [WR John Metchie], all those guys just from our last game just showing guys winning their one-on-one opportunities,” Ryans said of Sunday’s win over Indianapolis. “‘Hutch’ going to the ground there making a tough catch. Metchie finding a way to win in an off-schedule moment there in the game and come up with a big catch. That’s all we ask is win your one-on-one and make the plays that you are supposed to make. If guys do that collectively as a team, we will be just fine.”

Dell agrees that it’s a collective effort sans Diggs.

“Once you lose one of your star players, everybody’s got to step up,” Dell said, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC. “Even if you are one of the star players, you still have to step up and do more and produce more. I know all of us are more than capable of doing that. So, we are going to try to go out there and make plays.”

Dell figures to see an uptick of targets his way as long as Collins is out.

“Tank just has to be Tank. Tank has been an explosive player in college. He was explosive, he has been explosive for us, so Tank just has to be Tank. Happy Birthday, Tank,” Ryans said of the receiver, who turned 25 on Tuesday.

Collins, despite missing the last three games, leads Houston with 567 receiving yards (which led the NFL through Week 5). Diggs currently has the most Texans catches (47), is tied for the most receiving touchdowns (3) and is second in receiving yards (496). Dell is the most productive healthy receiver remaining, with 24 catches for 229 yards and two touchdowns.

Losing Diggs ahead of Thursday’s primetime matchup against the New York Jets marks the second consecutive season Houston will face Gang Green following a major wideout injury. Dell suffered a fractured fibula in Week 13 ahead of the Week 14 game at New York — it was Stroud’s worst game of the season, in which he threw for 91 yards on 10-of-23 passing.

With Collins reportedly on pace to return in Week 10, Houston will have to get through Thursday’s game counting on Hutchinson and Metchie to play bigger roles than ever.

“I am excited about where our team is,” Ryans said. “To be sitting here right now 6-2, we are excited about where we are. As you mentioned, a lot of ball ahead of us but we talked about starting fast and we have started fast. Our team has found a way to win in different fashion, whether it is offense, defense, or special teams, different areas of our team have stepped up and made plays to help us win games so I am excited with where we are and excited with where we are going and continue to build the right way.”

INDIANAPOLIS

This from Scott Kacsmar:

@ScottKacsmar

That means the 2024 Colts are the only team in NFL history to start a season with 8 straight games decided by 1-6 points.

Mike Sando of The Athletic explores the dilemma of being a good team in a playoff race with a struggling young quarterback and a viable alternative QB:

The Indianapolis Colts’ decision to replace young franchise quarterback Anthony Richardson with 39-year-old Joe Flacco offers a window into a poorly understood NFL world.

The decision makes no sense on the surface because Richardson has started only 10 games, including six this season, and the variance in his play was predictable. The organization at every level knew when drafting Richardson at No. 4 in 2023 that he would alternate between sensational plays and confounding ones while hopefully figuring out how to play the position after starting only 13 games in college.

The team has a 5-5 record in Richardson’s starts, better than the 4-6 average for the last 130 quarterbacks making their first 10 starts, per TruMedia. Richardson’s statistics through 10 games mirror those for Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen to the same point of Allen’s career.

These seemingly logical touchstones distract from the reality facing the Colts. They are not important parts of the equation Indianapolis is trying to solve.

“What a fascinating management dilemma to be in,” a former executive from one of the Colts’ division rivals said.

Richardson taking himself out of the team’s Week 8 game against the Houston Texans and then explaining casually afterward that he was tired and needed a breather left the organization with an excruciating choice: bench Richardson, or lose even more credibility with a locker room that already knows the offense runs more efficiently with Flacco in the lineup.

Seemingly every former NFL coach and player with a platform has weighed in to express just how profoundly unbelievable it was for an NFL quarterback, as the face of the franchise, to casually take a break in the middle of a hard-fought divisional game.

“I can’t even wrap my mind around the fact that you are asking out of a game,” former 12-year offensive lineman Damien Woody said in his role as an ESPN analyst.

Woody’s reaction and the many others like it reflect long-established NFL sensibilities that Richardson might only now be beginning to grasp.

“That position, rightfully or wrongfully, defines your whole team,” a former high-ranking executive with extensive NFL playing experience said. “And if he is defined as that guy that raises his hand and comes out when it gets tough, you can’t have that.”

Those unfamiliar with NFL team and locker room dynamics will point to comparisons such as the 10-start comps for Richardson and the Bills’ Allen, suggesting Indianapolis is sacrificing the future for short-term gains. They don’t see any upside in riding Flacco to what might wind up being, at best, a short-lived playoff run.

First 10 starts: Allen vs. Richardson

W-L                     4-6       5-5

Cmp                    146      109

Att                       279       217

Cmp%                 52.3%  50.2%

Pass yds             1,776    1,535

Yds/att                  6.4      7.1

TD-INT                7-11      7-8

Rating                 64.2      68.8

Sack rate           7.9%      6.9%

EPA/pass play    -0.07     -0.06

Rushes               76            66

Rush yds           510         378

Yds/rush           6.7          5.7

Rush TD             6           5

Those on the inside see things differently. To them, the Colts decided the price for leaving Richardson in the lineup under these circumstances was higher than the price for replacing him. They chose to save the locker room now, in hopes of saving Richardson later, because they understand the tricky dynamics at work.

“If you enable him now, you lose everything,” the former high-ranking executive said, “because you sent the wrong message to your team and you sent the wrong message to him, that his behavior is acceptable. He will never recover from it.”

Can Richardson recover now?

“It’s really hard to develop a quarterback who is so far behind in learning to play the position that he’s in frantic mode all the time,” a personnel evaluator said. “This kid is truly a project more than a developmental player.”

Those who believed that about Richardson entering the draft believe it even more now. But if there was a decent chance Richardson might develop, that could still be the case.

“Maybe I’m being naïve,” the former high-ranking executive said, “but I think it is doable, and if you do it, you’re better than ever.”

In other words, if Richardson does possess the qualities required for him to become a consistent performer and true professional at what might be the most challenging position in professional team sports, those qualities will prevail in the end. But none of that will matter if he learns early on that it’s OK to do what he did as the face of the Colts’ franchise.

“The players are the smartest ones in the building,” a coach from another team said. “They know how hard he is practicing. They know how much extra film he is watching. They know how much he cares. They know it’s weird for a quarterback to step out of a game, and they know it’s weird to say, ‘I needed to take a little break,’ and not act like anything is wrong. They know he is probably not ready to play.”

Richardson is not the first highly drafted young quarterback to get benched early in his career, but he is probably the first to lose his job under these specific circumstances. The Colts have denied that Richardson’s opt-out against the Texans played any role in the decision to bench him, which is understandable for them to say, but not believable.

“If you cover for him, you can do more damage,” an executive from another team said. “Those players know. The fact that they saw it on TV, if you tried to cover for him, you risk dividing your team.”

And so the Colts’ quarterback adventures continue following Andrew Luck’s surprise 2019 retirement. What happened this week is the latest in a chain reaction of unplanned events:

• Luck retires, shocking the organization.

• Convinced the roster was ready to win, the Colts cycled through veteran stopgaps Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan, only to lose ground.

• As frustration mounted, owner Jim Irsay snapped, replacing coach Frank Reich with former player Jeff Saturday before eventually hiring current coach Shane Steichen.

• General manager Chris Ballard, hired in 2017 and under increasing pressure to solve the post-Luck QB riddle, took a risky swing on Richardson despite the QB’s thin resume.

• Steichen’s job was to maximize Richardson, but in doing so last season, the quarterback kept getting hurt. Indy sought to find the right usage balance this season, but Richardson got hurt anyway, opening the door for Flacco, who shined in relief, adding to the tension.

Then came the tap-out in Houston, and here we are again, with the Colts in turmoil at the position where stability is everything, and with Richardson’s career somehow at a crossroads after only 10 starts.

It’s a rough spot to be in. Even if Richardson gains a fuller understanding of his professional obligations, he still must prove he can stay healthy and pass accurately enough to win consistently.

“If you salvage him, you’ve nailed it,” the former high-ranking executive said. “You have brought him back from nowhere. He is better than ever then. He has seen how bad it could be and it makes him appreciate everything about being the guy.”

JACKSONVILLE

RB TRAVIS ETIENNE should be returning to action Sunday.  Josh Alper ofProFootballTalk.com:

Running back Travis Etienne has missed the last two games, but he’s nearing a return to action.

Head coach Doug Pederson told reporters at a Wednesday press conference that he “feels good” about Etienne returning to action against the Eagles this Sunday. The Jaguars will practice later in the day and Etienne was able to practice on a limited basis before being ruled out last week.

Etienne’s name has come up in trade chatter and the Jaguars pulled off a deal involving left tackle Cam Robinson on Tuesday, so his return to action might also serve as a chance to showcase him for other clubs.

Etienne has 56 carries for 230 yards and two touchdowns this season.

AFC EAST

NEW YORK JETS

QB AARON RODGERS hopes a new drink will revive his 2024 season.  Rich Cimini ofESPN.com:

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers says he believes he has discovered a “little fountain of youth,” and it’s nothing to sneeze at. Or maybe it is.

Rodgers said he is drinking cayenne pepper and water, suggested to him by teammate Thomas Morstead. Rodgers, dealing with hamstring, knee and ankle injuries throughout the season, said he started drinking it before the Jets’ Week 8 game and has continued this week in preparation for Thursday night against the Houston Texans at MetLife Stadium.

It’s a short week, which means most players are battling aching bodies, but Rodgers, 40, said his feels great.

Rodgers said he was not sure if it was all due to his new elixir, but he has made it part of his rehab regimen. Cayenne pepper and water can have several health benefits, including pain relief, according to various medical journals.

“I’m taking care of myself nonstop,” said Rodgers, adding that he receives treatment at the facility and later at home.

His age and diminished mobility were noted by Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, who told reporters after New England’s 25-22 victory Sunday: “Hall of Fame quarterback. Hate to see him go out that way. … He definitely don’t look the same. … S—, I could run him down and catch him. He don’t look mobile at all.”

Rodgers said he wasn’t aware of the comments.

“He’s probably right,” Rodgers said. “Yeah, I was hurting, but I feel better today.”

That’s some pretty quick healing.

“T-Mo gave me a little fountain of youth,” he said of Morstead. “He said he’s been taking it for a while — all legal, of course. … [Maybe] that’s why I’ve been feeling a little bit better.”

The Jets (2-6), losers of five straight, need an improved Rodgers to salvage the second half of their season. In a postgame speech to the team Sunday, he expressed a sense of urgency with “a cool head,” safety Isaiah Oliver said, adding, “He was still able to express that things need to get better and things need to change, and that we have to do it together. There’s no time for pointing fingers.”

The four-time MVP acknowledged he was not playing up to his expectations, but he sounded optimistic about Thursday night. Godchaux probably got the wrong impression about him, Rodgers said, because he didn’t have to flee the pocket that often, making it appear as if his mobility were compromised.

“That was probably part of it, but I expect to be able to do a lot more this week,” Rodgers said. “I’ll be under center and, hopefully, back to my faster-than-Godchaux speed.”

Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich acknowledged that Rodgers hasn’t been 100 percent this season, but he added that the postgame checkup Monday “was one of his better evaluations. So, from that standpoint, we’re very fortunate.”

Asked if he’d consider resting the future Hall of Famer for a week or two, Ulbrich said, “Not at this point.”

This hasn’t been a vintage Rodgers season. He ranks 23rd in QBR (50.4), well below his career average (67.2). With seven interceptions, he is on pace for a career high.

“Yeah, not as good as I would’ve hoped,” he said of his season. “I’ve got to play better.

“I just have to be more efficient, not turn the ball over too many times. Interceptions can be misleading at times, but I’ve definitely had my share of poor throws.”

Rodgers said his surgically repaired Achilles wasn’t a factor at all, but he has sat out some practice time because of his other leg injuries.

Mobility used to be one of Rodgers’ “superpowers,” according to Ulbrich, who said the emphasis this week has been on “really being in rhythm and listening to your feet, and trust your eyes, and let it rip. So, the right things are being emphasized — they are — and I’m excited to see some growth in that way.”

Rodgers played his best game of the season on a Thursday night, a Week 3 win over the Patriots in which he passed for 281 yards and two touchdowns. The short week didn’t bother him at all.

“I don’t know what it is about these Thursdays,” he said, “but I made it to the game without any issues and I feel much better.”

THIS AND THAT

THE GOLDEN AGE OF KICKING

Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com on how NFL kickers are booting the ball with amazing power and accuracy:

LINED UP BEYOND the midfield star logo at AT&T Stadium for a field goal attempt, Dallas Cowboys punter Bryan Anger corralled the football from long-snapper Trent Sieg. With his standard three-step approach, kicker Brandon Aubrey drilled it as Anger held it, and the ball sailed down the field, almost evenly splitting the uprights.

But there was nothing standard about Aubrey’s kick — at least it didn’t used to be standard. With a swing of his leg, Aubrey hit a 65-yard field goal midway through the first quarter in the Cowboys’ Week 3 game against the Baltimore Ravens, setting a franchise record in the process.

Aubrey’s long-range field goal was one of a record number of deep field goals made by NFL kickers this season. Through eight weeks, league kickers have converted 73.6% of field goals attempted of 50 or more yards, besting the previous high of 71.6% through eight weeks of the 2022 season. And the average distance of field goal attempts this season (40.2 yards) is the longest average since at least 2000.

“It’s the evolution of the craft,” said Brian Egan, Aubrey’s private kicking coach. “There’s more skill-specific coaches. The trainers are getting better, the workouts are getting better. Everything that’s going into it now, kids are starting to train younger. I just think you’re seeing the evolution on full display right now, where it’s come in the last 10, 15 years to where it is now.”

That Aubrey had the opportunity to attempt a 65-yarder — and in the middle of the first quarter, no less — is a testament to the trust coaches have in their kickers, longtime Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell told ESPN. And it’s one of the many reasons the NFL is in its golden era of kicking.

Through eight weeks, NFL teams have attempted 125 field goals of at least 50 yards, the most through eight weeks of a season since 2000.

Not only are kickers getting more opportunities to attempt long field goals, but the players and their position coaches also point to early position specialization, synergy in the place-kicking battery and several rule changes as major factors in the 2024 field goal-apalooza.

“It’s good to see the kickers throughout the league are getting the praise of that,” Boswell said. “It’s not just the downfall like kickers are known for, where we’re talked about for misses more than makes.”

KICKERS ARE MORE accurate than they’ve been in decades — and with historic ranges — but it’s not because they weren’t previously able to hit long-range field goals.

Rather, Boswell said, coaches are finally trusting them in moments where analytics might’ve told them to punt the ball and play field position.

“Back in the day, my first couple years here, if it was over 53, it was ‘Let’s play a defensive game’ and stuff like that,” said Boswell, who entered the league in 2015. “So I just think that as the years have progressed, coaches are trusting the kicker’s legs more. We’ve always been able to do it just now. Finally, we’re getting able to showcase that.”

This season, Boswell has converted 23 of 24 field goal attempts, including six of seven from at least 50 yards, already matching his total of attempts and long-range field goal makes from last season. In a decade with the Steelers, Boswell has connected on 36 of 44 field goal attempts of 50 yards and beyond.

It’s that body of work, coupled with the intentionally watchful eyes of coach Mike Tomlin, that’s helped lead to his hot start.

“It goes back to coaches watching us in practice — that we attempt them in practice,” Boswell said. “We warm up from 60 in practice, we hit with a team from 60 in practice. So the more he sees that, the more confident he’s willing to go out.

“It’s definitely a trust that has to be earned, and you have to be watched repeatedly before he just gives you the nod to go out there in the middle of the first half for a 65-yarder.”

Though the attempt wasn’t quite as long as Aubrey’s, on the biggest stage in Super Bowl LVIII, the San Francisco 49ers trotted kicker Jake Moody out in the middle of the first half to attempt his own long-range field goal. Moody drilled the 55-yard attempt to hold the record for longest made field goal in the Super Bowl for a quarter until Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker topped him with a 57-yarder in the third.

Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson, who made a career-high 11 field goals of at least 50 yards on 13 attempts in 2022, has also felt his coaches’ trust. In 2018, Carlson’s first year in the league, he made all three of his long-range field goal attempts. The next year, though, he missed his only two attempts. Since then, his volume of deep attempts — and makes — has increased, and so far this season, he’s made four of five attempts from beyond 50 yards.

“At the end of the day there’s going to be a limit on the range at some point, but it’s the accuracy and our team’s more willing to kick these field goals now,” Carlson said. “I mean guys have always been able to kick 50-, 60-yarders, but it’s like, ‘how often are you making them? What percentage is a coach willing to risk a 60-yarder?'”

THE EXPLANATION FOR the NFL’s kicking renaissance isn’t a mystery to longtime special teams guru Danny Smith.

“The length hasn’t changed,” said Smith, who’s spent the past 13 seasons coaching the Steelers’ special teams unit. “The field hasn’t changed. So what has changed? The quality of the kicker. The quality of the operation. They spend a lot of time together. They take very much pride in their craft and they work their butts off on it.

“All these snappers’, all these holders’, all these kickers’ numbers are up, to their credit, and it’s not a puzzling question to me. … These guys are special, man, and they deserve a lot of credit throughout this league as specialists.”

Once an afterthought for backup quarterbacks, holder duties started to be reassigned to punters early in the 2010s as an emphasis on special teams grew and specialists started to practice together. Replacing the backup quarterback with the punter kept the team from having to pull the quarterback away from other parts of practice.

It made sense for two reasons: The kicking specialists already spent the most time together, and punters were familiar with catching snaps from the long-snapper prior to kicking it away.

The extra practice reps between the punter, kicker and long-snapper also reduced the possibility of costly in-game holding snafus — remember Tony Romo and the 2006 NFC wild-card round?

For Washington Commanders kicker Austin Seibert, having longtime punter Tress Way, who’s earned two Pro Bowls since joining the franchise in 2014, hold his kicks made his baptism by fire this season a seamless transition.

“I told Tress, ‘You know what to do. Dude, you’ve been doing this a long time, so I trust you,'” Seibert said.

Initially selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2019 draft, Seibert bounced around the league after inconsistency led the Browns to cut him one game into his second season. But nearly a year after his last in-game field goal attempt, Seibert was signed by the Commanders and days later nailed 7-of-7 field goal attempts in the Commanders’ 21-18 Week 2 win against the Giants. So far this season, Seibert has missed two kicks in 25 attempts, including a 51-yarder in the fourth quarter of Washington’s improbable win against the Bears on Sunday. Prior to that miss, though, Seibert made four field goals, accounting for all of Washington’s points outside of the game-winning Hail Mary.

“If it’s a little windy out, maybe Tress will turn the laces a little bit for me,” Seibert said. “[I tell him], ‘Cool. Let’s do it.’ It can help you out when it comes to making kicks.”

Like Aubrey with his 65-yarder, Cameron Dicker’s long-range field goals also inked his name in the annals of his franchise’s history.

Dicker tied the Los Angeles Chargers’ team record — and set a personal best — with a 59-yarder in the second quarter of the Chargers’ Week 7 loss to the Cardinals.

Dicker went on to score all 15 of the Chargers’ points on field goals of 50, 28, 47 and 40 yards. So far this season, Dicker is 17-of-18 with his lone miss coming on a 55-yard attempt against the Chiefs in Week 4.

“The specialization of the holding has really helped,” Dicker said. “It just makes life easier for kickers. You don’t have to think. The punter has more time to practice the hold than a backup quarterback all day long. They’ve got other things to worry about, more important things than making sure that, ‘Hey, is this the right distance for me to catch it?'”

ANOTHER ELEMENT CONTRIBUTING to increases in accuracy and range, Seibert said, is the longer extra points. Moved from 20 to 33 yards in 2015, extra point makes are no longer forgone conclusions.

And that’s a good thing.

The longer extra points are something like quality control checks for kickers during the game, Seibert said.

“It’s not a gimme anymore,” Seibert said. “You’ve got to rely on that technique and be locked in more. … If I hit an extra point, and all my extra points throughout the game are going straight down the middle, it just gives me more confidence that I’m hitting a straight ball, and I can rely on that.

“Whereas, too, you’ll have games where you’ll see guys, whether they don’t hit a great ball and you’re like, ‘Oh, okay, that one moved a little bit. Check up on this a little bit and try and fix that for the next one.'”

Other kickers and coaches suggested the dynamic kickoff, a rule for the 2024 season, could be positively impacting field goal attempts because some teams are opting to have their kickers place the ball in the 20-yard landing zone to force a return instead of drilling the obligatory touchback.

“We don’t have the same 10-yard approach and smash the ball and all that mindset anymore.” Boswell said. “I mean, if you kick it three yards deep and they return it, cool. If they don’t, cool. Some teams are still smashing, so they’re still going to have the wear and tear. It takes a lot off your leg throughout the week, and so maybe game day you’re a lot more fresh if you’re one of the teams that aren’t just blasting kickoffs day after day.”

SINCE STARTING HIS own venture working with kickers in the Dallas area in 2016, Egan has seen his clients get younger and younger.

Now, his youngest kicker is 10 years old.

Egan supposes the youth movement is for a couple reasons: it’s a safer position in a sport that’s rife with concussion concerns, kickers are getting bigger contracts and quite simply: kicking is cool.

“Even when I was growing up, kicking was never kind of the cool thing to do,” Egan said. “Now it’s sort of trending the other way a little bit, and especially some of these parents are concerned with their younger kids playing football and stuff, but if they’re a soccer player they go, ‘Hey, well you can be the kicker.’ So you’re starting to see that a lot more often now.”

Call it the Justin Tucker effect.

Tucker, the Ravens’ longtime kicker, has helped popularize the position as a prolific long-range kicker during his 13 years in the league. Tucker picked up the kicking mantle after three-time All-Pro and four-time Super Bowl champion Adam Vinatieri retired in 2021 following 24 seasons and an NFL record 599 career field goals split between stellar stints with the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. A seven-time Pro Bowler who entered the league in 2012, Tucker made all 10 of his attempts beyond 50 yards in 2016, and he holds the NFL record for longest field goal with a 66-yarder in 2021. With the rise in social media, impressive kicking moments are spreading across the internet in viral videos.

“It seems like it’s turning,” Boswell said of the attitude toward kickers. “I don’t want to speak too soon, I don’t want to jinx anything, but I mean it’s good to see. Obviously having Pat McAfee as a punter in the league for a long time with Vinatieri, it’s good to see [McAfee] highlighting college long balls, NFL long balls, stuff like that. So it’s more people have eyes on it nowadays than what they had in the past.”

Though Tucker downplayed the effect that he’s had on the position, he said that he used to ask Vinatieri for advice, and now he has kickers at all levels approach him for the same thing. Once among the few who could consistently nail 50-yarders, Tucker is happy to see the long-range attempts becoming more commonplace.

“If you got a guy with a leg that can get it there, just let it rip and see what happens,” Tucker said. “I love that teams are launching the ball from the logo, all over the place. I think it’s a blast. I think it’s great for the game. It’s fun, it’s entertaining for the fans, and then it’s an opportunity for world-class athletes to showcase their abilities.

“Just like you want to see Lamar Jackson throwing and running all over the field, and I think every fan that likes seeing that, loves to see kicks from the other side of midfield. It’s awesome to watch.”

BROADCAST NEWS

MLB with a rare ratings win (within the margin of error) over a regular season NFL game.  Mike Florio:

At some point during the 1980s, football overtook baseball as America’s pastime. And football hasn’t looked back.

But baseball is still capable for scoring a periodic win, under the right circumstances. On Monday night, with Game 3 of the World Series against teams from the two biggest markets in the country against a Monday night game featuring the lackluster Giants, baseball drew a bigger audience than football.

Via FrontOfficeSports.com, the Dodgers-Yankees averaged 13.6 million viewers. But Giants-Steelers did only 13.4 million, despite an ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 multicast.

ESPN didn’t send out a press release on Monday with the audience numbers for the Week 8 game. That’s no surprise. The football viewership is low, especially with the game televised on a three-letter network in addition to the usual ESPN platforms.

But that’s OK. It’s Dodgers-Yankees in the World Series. Classic teams, massive markets. And, again, the Giants aren’t good enough to draw attention away from the local baseball team that is trying to win its first championship since 2009.

The fact that the football game came within 200,000 viewers of winning should be viewed as a positive. This is the World Series, not some run-of-the-mill regular-season game. While the NFL has grown accustomed to mopping the floor with MLB, Monday night’s ratings race was close enough for the NFL to declare yet another victory in the long-decided struggle between football and baseball for American sports supremacy.

The DB is such an outlier – we went to a hockey game.

2025 DRAFT

Here’s is a Mock Draft from Trevor Sikkema of ProFootballFocus.com:

As we approach the midpoint of the 2024 NFL season, it’s the perfect time to put together a 2025 NFL mock draft. With updated team needs, we’re taking a deep dive into how teams might strategize if the 2025 NFL Draft took place this week.

Here’s our projection for Round 1, based on what we know eight weeks into the season.

1. CAROLINA PANTHERS: QB CAM WARD, MIAMI (FL)

Team Needs: QB, WR, ED, LB

The Panthers may again be in the market for a franchise quarterback this offseason, especially if they end up with the No. 1 pick for a second straight year (or a third, counting their trade up to No. 1 in 2023).

Ward isn’t perfect, but he has earned an elite PFF passing grade this season and is grading very well under pressure, in third-and-long situations and on intermediate throws over the middle of the field — all key indicators of NFL readiness.

2. TENNESSEE TITANS: QB SHEDEUR SANDERS, COLORADO

Team Needs: QB, WR, OT

Sanders has the most consistently high-level tape of any quarterback in this draft class. His pocket-passing style would pair seamlessly with head coach Brian Callahan, who spent years working with Joe Burrow as Cincinnati’s offensive coordinator. Together, they could form an ideal quarterback-coach duo.

3. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: WR TETAIROA McMILLAN, ARIZONA

Team Needs: OG, OT, CB

We’re going against the Patriots’ immediate needs with this pick, despite their woeful offensive line that ranks as the league’s lowest-graded unit.

However, the 6-foot-5 McMillan is a rare talent worthy of comparison to Mike Evans. Given New England’s multi-year rebuild, a unique player like McMillan offers value that’s much harder to find than offensive line talent. The Patriots can address the line later; a playmaker of McMillan’s caliber is a rare opportunity.

4. NEW YORK JETS: DI MASON GRAHAM, MICHIGAN

Team Needs: DI, TE

According to on-paper talent, the Jets shouldn’t be here in the top five. After trading for Davante Adams and getting edge defender Haason Reddick to end his holdout, their team needs have changed a bit. However, adding a consistent interior defensive line presence remains.

Graham is dominant, and combining him with Quinnen Williams is a terrifying thought for an interior offensive line.

5. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: CB/WR TRAVIS HUNTER, COLORADO

Team Needs: OG, OT, CB

The Jaguars’ needs look less dire following the emergence of two rookies: wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and cornerback Jarrian Jones. They could certainly look for offensive line upgrades, but the anomaly that is Travis Hunter is too good to pass up here as a player who can, insanely enough, play on both sides of the ball for Jacksonville.

6. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: EDGE NIC SCOURTON, TEXAS A&M

Team Needs: OG, EDGE, DI

It’s going to look very ugly in New Orleans until Derek Carr returns from injury. And even after that, it might not look the way it did when they were flying high at 2-0. This team has to get better along the defensive line, and the 280-pound Scourton is just their type.

7. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: QB JALEN MILROE, ALABAMA

Team Needs: QB, RB, CB

The Raiders will likely continue to creep their way toward the top of the draft order, as their quarterback play and overall offense is not good enough to win more games than they lose. They’ll be in the quarterback market this offseason.

Even with two quarterbacks already off the board in somewhat of a “down” quarterback class, Las Vegas will have to take a chance. Milroe might be the biggest home-run swing, bringing difference-making dual-threat ability and a cannon of an arm. Plus, he has improved his touch and accuracy in 2024.

8. CLEVELAND BROWNS: WR LUTHER BURDEN III, MISSOURI

Team Needs: QB, RB, OT

With Jameis Winston sitting at 1-0 since becoming the Browns’ starter, perhaps the team is on an upward trajectory. Wide receiver might not be Cleveland’s most dire need, but the team traded away Amari Cooper and needs some firepower at the position. Burden got off to a slow start this season but is a top-15 talent in this class. He can be a future 1,000-yard receiver in the NFL.

9. MIAMI DOLPHINS: T KELVIN BANKS JR., TEXAS

Team Needs: QB, OG, OT

Quarterback is a need for the Dolphins because of Tua Tagovailoa‘s uncertain injury situation, but now that he is back in the lineup, things look much more normal for Miami. If Tagovailoa remains healthy for the rest of the season, he’ll be the Dolphins’ guy moving forward and they won’t entertain quarterbacks. What they do need to entertain is offensive line help.

Banks is incredibly athletic for his size, something Miami will prioritize, even after drafting Patrick Paul last offseason. Banks could play tackle or guard for the Dolphins.

10. NEW YORK GIANTS: QB GARRETT NUSSMEIER, LSU

Team Needs: QB, OT, CB

The Daniel Jones experience is nearing an end in New York. Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen, assuming no firings, will get their chance to pick the next guy. That could be gunslinger Garrett Nussmeier, who — as we saw in his rollercoaster of a game versus Texas A&M — can deliver big-time NFL throws but also puts the ball in harm’s way too much. Nussmeier has talent but needs to grow as a decision-maker. And that’s understandable, with this being his first year as a starter.

11. CINCINNATI BENGALS: EDGE ABDUL CARTER, PENN STATE

Team Needs: WR, DI, EDGE

The Bengals need more pass-rush juice than just Trey Hendrickson. Carter is new to full-time edge work but is extremely athletic. His 81.7 PFF pass-rushing grade ranks fifth among Big Ten edge defenders through Week 9.

12. DALLAS COWBOYS: RB ASHTON JEANTY, BOISE STATE

Team Needs: RB, DI, LB

The run game hasn’t been kind to the Cowboys in 2024 — on either side of the ball. They need a true running back who they can lean on, and Jeanty is the best in college football. He is having one of the most efficient and explosive rushing seasons ever recorded, boasting a 98.5 PFF rushing grade so far this year.

13. LOS ANGELES RAMS: CB WILL JOHNSON, MICHIGAN

Team Needs: OT, LB, CB

The Rams should move further and further from the top of the draft, with many of their star players returning from injuries The long-term projections still show cornerback as a need, and if they have the chance to grab a certified CB1 in Will Johnson, they should jump at the chance. He is a scheme-versatile player at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds with the best hip-to-hip coverage stickiness in the class.

14. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: S MALAKI STARKS, GEORGIA

Team Needs: TE, LB, S

The Colts can compete with anyone, but they can also lose to anyone. It starts with quarterback Anthony Richardson becoming more consistent, but their offense, when healthy, is fairly stacked. So, they target a true ball-hawking secondary player here in Malaki Starks. He’s been the best safety in college football over the past two years, though 2024 has been a bit of a down year for him.

15. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: EDGE JAMES PEARCE JR., TENNESSEE

Team Needs: EDGE, CB, TE

The Buccaneers were cruising before their Week 5 Thursday night loss to the Falcons, and now injuries to key players have the team in a precarious spot. Even when they were rolling, their pass rush was lacking, especially on the edge. Pearce is primarily a speed rusher, and that’s what Tampa Bay’s defensive line needs.

16. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: T WILL CAMPBELL, LSU

Team Needs: OT, OG, LB

The Seahawks have a great young offensive tackle duo in Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas. But Lucas is out with ongoing knee issues and backup George Fant is also hurt, leading to some poor offensive line grades this season.

It’s a good offensive tackle class to secure a consistent starter at right tackle. Campbell fits the bill and could also have some guard versatility with his build and power. He has yet to allow a sack across 372 pass-blocking snaps through Week 9.

17. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: T CAMERON WILLIAMS, TEXAS

Team Needs: OG, OT, CB

Things have looked better along the 49ers’ offensive line as of late, but they should still monitor potential upgrades. Williams is just a one-year starter at right tackle for Texas this season, but the 6-foot-5, 335-pounder possesses rare movement skills, balance and length. San Francisco could view him as an upgrade over Colton McKivitz at right tackle.

18. CHICAGO BEARS: T WYATT MILUM, WEST VIRGINIA

Team Needs: OG, OT, DI

Though Bears fans might be ready for the team to draft a cornerback after the Washington Commanders’ miraculous Hail Mary touchdown in Week 8, we’re not panicking at cornerback in this mock draft.

Instead, the focus should be on quarterback Caleb Williams being pressured on more than 50% of his dropbacks against Washington. Chicago’s offensive line still needs work, and Milum has the best PFF pass-blocking grade of any of the top offensive tackles in the 2024 class.

19. ARIZONA CARDINALS: DI OMARR NORMAN-LOTT, TENNESSEE

Team Needs: OT, DI, LB

The Cardinals are inconsistent but display flashes of promise each week. The interior defensive line needs help, and while Norman-Lott is a new name to the first round of mock drafts, the 6-foot-3, 315-pound redshirt senior boasts a 20.7% pass-rush win percentage this season — higher than any of the top draft-eligible interior defensive linemen.

20. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: DI KENNETH GRANT, MICHIGAN

Team Needs: TE, DI, EDGE

Former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh once called Kenneth Grant (and Mason Graham) “gifts from the football gods.” If he has the chance to draft either of them, now as the Chargers’ head coach, consider it a strong possibility.

Los Angeles has a need along the interior defensive line, and Grant is a good run-stuffer with surprising quickness for a player who weighs 335 pounds.

21. DENVER BRONCOS: WR EMEKA EGBUKA, OHIO STATE

Team Needs: WR, TE, DI

Eight weeks into the NFL season, the Denver Broncos’ success feels like the most surprising story. They seem to be ahead of their offensive rebuild with quarterback Bo Nix playing well enough, but it’s evident this team needs more consistent pass-catchers. There are few in college football more consistent than Egbuka when healthy.

Egbuka sports a career-high 85.2 PFF receiving grade through nine weeks of the college season, ranking 10th among FBS wide receivers.

22. ATLANTA FALCONS: EDGE MYKEL WILLIAMS, GEORGIA

Team Needs: EDGE, DI, LB

The front-seven remains the Falcons’ top need. Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams has missed some time this season and is still raw as a pass-rusher, but he is strong as an ox in run defense and could be a three-down player for Atlanta.

23. BALTIMORE RAVENS: CB SHAVON REVEL, EAST CAROLINA

Team Needs: OG, OT, CB

Star left tackle Ronnie Stanley is on the last year of his deal, and the Ravens did some shifting along their interior offensive line early this season, but cornerback is another clear need — even after the Nate Wiggins selection last year.

Revel was on his way to becoming a top-20 pick before tearing his ACL early in the season. He projects as an impactful outside NFL cornerback.

24. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: EDGE JACK SAWYER, OHIO STATE

Team Needs: EDGE, LB

As is becoming tradition, the Eagles are a pretty complete team. They could have their eye on another edge rusher, and Sawyer is different from that of Nolan Smith. The Ohio State pass rusher is more of a true hand-in-the-dirt player who brings a high floor in run defense and pass rushing.

25. PITTSBURGH STEELERS: WR ISAIAH BOND, TEXAS

Team Needs: WR, OT, LB

The Steelers’ passing offense, outside of George Pickens, has left a lot to be desired this season. Bond’s elite speed could make for a much more diverse passing attack, no matter who their quarterback is in 2025.

26. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: CB BENJAMIN MORRISON, NOTRE DAME

Team Needs: RB, OG, CB

Benjamin Morrison is going to miss the rest of 2024 but was playing excellent football over the past year and a half prior to his injury. The 6-foot, 190-pound inside-out cornerback projects as a late-first to early second-round pick.

27. BUFFALO BILLS: DI WALTER NOLEN, OLE MISS

Team Needs: DI, LB

The Bills remain a force every week with quarterback Josh Allen leading the way. From a long-term lens, they could add another explosive player on the interior defensive line, which is exactly what Walter Nolen is. The former No. 3 overall recruit in the 2022 class has developed some pass-rush moves to go along with impressive explosiveness and power. If 2024 is the tip of the iceberg for him, he’ll be a disruptive pro player.

28. GREEN BAY PACKERS: DI TYLEIK WILLIAMS, OHIO STATE

Team Needs: DI, CB, OT

Tyleik Williams has been a flashy player for the past two seasons and seems to be more consistent in 2024. Though he has missed some games this year, his 88.8 PFF run-defense grade is emblematic of good early-down play from his 3-technique position.

29. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: T AIREONTAE ERSERY, MINNESOTA

Team Needs: OT, EDGE, CB

The Commanders are the story of the 2024 NFL season eight games in. What Jayden Daniels is doing with that offense is must-watch TV. Though their offensive line is playing better than expected, they could be looking at some long-term upgrades this offseason. Washington is one of the best rushing teams in the NFL, so the bulldozing, 330-pound Ersery would be a welcome addition.

30. HOUSTON TEXANS: G TATE RATLEDGE, GEORGIA

Team Needs: OG, DI, RB

The Texans are eyeing a deep playoff run this season, so the draft is an afterthought right now. But their interior offensive line is a potential Achilles heel, so it’s hard not to think about future upgrades. Over the past two seasons, Georgia’s Tate Ratledge has been as consistent as they come from the guard spot. He has yet to allow a quarterback pressure in 2024 and surrendered just five in 2023.

31. DETROIT LIONS: EDGE LT OVERTON, ALABAMA

Team Needs: OC, OG, EDGE

With Aidan Hutchinson out for the year, the Lions are getting an unfortunate look at how thin their edge defender rotation is. Overton isn’t a pure pass-rusher type, but his size gives him interior and edge versatility with NFL-level power in run defense and pass rushing. His consistent anchor on one side would complement Hutchinson well when he returns.

32. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: T JOSH SIMMONS, OHIO STATE

Team Needs: OT, RB, TE

Perhaps the Chiefs will stick with Kingsley Suamataia for the long-term, but if not, this offensive tackle class features good players, even at the back end of the first round. Simmons was having a fantastic 2024 season before going down with a season-ending knee injury. He is such a smooth mover who blends in good power to make for one of the class’ more complete linemen.