Good morning, New York Giants fans! From Big Blue View Other Giant observations John Harbaugh’s work with the Giants is already well underway | The Athletic There’s a more diverse collection of defensive coordinator possibilities with ties to Harbaugh. Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr, Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, Denver Broncos defensive passing game coordinator Jim Leonhard and Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen are among the potential DC targets. Harbaugh is open to branching out, as the Giants reportedly have requested to interview Minnesota Vikings defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Daronte Jones for the DC job. Jones, who interviewed for the Giants’ DC opening two years ago when Shane Bowen was hired, has no ties to Harbaugh, but overlapped with general manager Joe Schoen in 2016 with the Dolphins. Chris Horton has been on Harbaugh’s staff since 2014, taking over as special teams coordinator in 2019. He figures to join Harbaugh in New York. Coach Harbaugh’s message Inside John Harbaugh’s vision and passion to make Giants a winner again | The Record Jack Harbaugh was ready to go to work. At 86 years old, with two sons having reached the pinnacle of the NFL, the moment his oldest was fired by the Baltimore Ravens after 18 years and 193 career wins, Jack was eager to plot the next step. Because that’s what the Harbaugh men have always done: football is the family business. John Harbaugh says Giants’ power structure being ‘overblown’ | ESPN.com When all was said and done, the Giants gave Harbaugh significant power regarding personnel and the overall organization. “I know that’s a big deal around here: ‘Final say,’” Chris Mara said. ”[Harbaugh] doesn’t have final say. It’s collaborative, and he’s the first to admit that. If he has final say with everything in that building, he wouldn’t be able to do his job. “He’s going to be the most important cog in the wheel. Let’s put it that way. But in terms of final say, this is going to be a collaborative effort between ownership, general manager and coach.” “I’m not worried about that,” Schoen said. “I’ve been in the league for 26 years, so everywhere I’ve been, the head coach and general manager work together. That’s the only way it’s going to work. Get on the same page, go through the process, we’ve done it everywhere I’ve been. I’m not worried about it. That’s just something on a piece of paper. Doesn’t matter. We need to work together and we’re going to come to the final conclusion. It’s always going to be about what’s best for the New York Giants. I have no problem with that and I’m looking forward to working with him.” Five Ways John Harbaugh Must Fix The New York Giants | FOX Sports 1. Restore accountability and discipline to the locker room. So Harbaugh needs to stop that from Day 1, and he needs to lean on veteran leaders in his locker room to become his enforcers. Whether it’s fines, benchings or whatever, the discipline has to be there and so do the leaders. Every player in the room needs to be held accountable, and the standards need to be high. Maybe that’s old school, but it works. The Giants hired someone the players should be able to trust, because his way has proven to work. That’s a hammer he needs to wield. And if there are players that can’t handle that, they need to go. It took only moments during Harbaugh’s introductory press conference to understand why the Giants were determined not to let him leave his lone in-person interview without a handshake agreement to return. His bravado, moxy, and confidence radiated throughout the Giants’ indoor practice facility. He addressed his family, the players who attended, those he’d be working so closely with. If you could create-a-coach in a lab, he’d pale in comparison to the one standing there in his navy suit and red tie with an “NY” logo pin fixated on his lapel. The Giants Drive promise that helped reel in John Harbaugh | New York Post The Giants practice and training facility is undergoing significant renovations to the locker room, weight room and cafeteria. They made sure to show John Harbaugh all the details while wooing him. Harbaugh said he’s “excited” to begin working with the 22-year-old QB. “It starts with the quarterback for sure,” he said. “You build your team around your quarterback. You build your team around your players and what they do well. I like the way he plays. I like his talent, skill set, all the things he’s accomplished. But more than that I like who he is and what he’s about. To me, he’s about football. This young guy loves football. He wants to talk football all the time. That’s what I liked doing, too. So we’re going to have a lot of great conversations. I can’t wait to get started with him.” Schoen on the coach, quarterback relationship Speaking on Tuesday after introducing John Harbaugh as New York’s new head coach, Schoen said Nabers is trending to be ready for training camp. Schoen added that Cam Skattebo, who is recovering from a season-ending ankle injury, will be ready for the offseason program that starts in April. New York Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter has been selected to the Pro Football Writers of America’s 2025 All-Rookie Team, earning recognition as one of the top defensive linemen from this year’s rookie class. Notably absent from the selections was quarterback Jaxson Dart, who failed to earn a spot despite playing at a high level throughout his rookie season. Round 1 (No. 5): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah. Under Harbaugh, the Giants’ first priority will likely be building the offensive and defensive lines, because right now, New York’s O-line remains shaky. Fano could form one of the league’s best tackle duos with Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas, who has been the team’s lone dominant offensive lineman for
Giants news, 1/21: The John Harbaugh Era begins, Joe Schoen, Chris Mara
Fantasy Football: IDP defensive linemen to target and trade in dynasty leagues
Jon Macri breaks down which IDP defensive linemen to target and trade in dynasty fantasy football leagues. Fantasy Football: IDP defensive linemen to target and trade in dynasty leagues Abdul Carter’s value could skyrocket in Year 2: While it won’t be easy to acquire him, there is still a window of opportunity there if Carter’s IDP managers were disappointed with the Year 1 IDP results. Josh Hines-Allen is more than due to deliver ED1 production in 2026: After two consecutive seasons underperforming in the sack column, Hines-Allen is one of the top positive regression candidates worth betting on for next season and beyond. Unlock your edge with PFF+: Access Premium Stats, dominate fantasy with in-season tools and projections and make smarter bets with the new PFF Player Prop Tool. Get 25% off your PFF+ annual subscription with code PFFFANTASYPODCAST25. Estimated Reading Time: 13 minutes Dynasty players are heading into the fantasy football offseason when fantasy platforms switch over to 2026 following the Super Bowl, which will open up trades for managers looking to get an early start on improving their rosters for next season. For the defensive line position, utilizing the proven stable metrics, specifically expected sacks (as highlighted here), can be used as a strong indicator of which players have performed above and below their potential production ceilings, creating a good window to make moves in dynasty leagues. The full list of top IDP scorers, scoring settings, and production versus expected numbers can be found here. Defensive linemen to target via trade Highest ideal trade price to acquire (draft picks): Late 2026 second-round pick Hines-Allen’s IDP managers over the past two seasons have been frustrated with the idea that he should be delivering more sacks than he has, finishing with just eight in each of the past two years after delivering an elite 17.5-sack season in 2023. For those looking to take advantage of that frustration and buy into the now two years of due positive sack regression, this is the window we should be looking at to acquire a potential ED1 for the 2026 season. Hines-Allen has consistently delivered high-end pass-rush metrics on ideal playing time, which is in no real danger of disappearing in the foreseeable future, and it makes him more than capable of reaching that 14-17 sack ceiling once again. Despite just the eight sacks these past two years, Hines-Allen has finished no worse than top-12 at his position in pass-rush grade or total pressures, often bringing with him an elite pass-rush win rate as well. Considering that Hines-Allen has also finished as a top-24 IDP edge defender in each of these under-performing sack seasons as well, there’s plenty of room for him to hit on that ED1 upside once that expected positive regression hits. The absolute highest price to pay right now for IDP managers willing to make a bet on positive sack regression for a locked-in weekly starter is a late 2026 second, though ideally, you’ll be able to negotiate for a slightly better deal if the Hines-Allen managers are indeed frustrated and willing to move on. Highest ideal trade price to acquire (draft picks): Any second-round pick Carter is the “buy” candidate in IDP right now, and while he’ll still be difficult to acquire considering that IDP dynasty managers who drafted him this past offseason are likely willing to be patient with him, there is a better window to acquire him than would have been the case heading into the 2025 season. Carter went the first 12 weeks of 2025 with just a half-sack to his name despite strong play and ideal playing time, and while that opened up a potential window to acquire him before he went on a four-game sack streak, that window isn’t necessarily closed considering he was relatively quiet in the stat columns in Year 1. Carter averaged nearly 50 defensive snaps per game, which is nearly as good as it gets for defensive linemen in IDP. Carter looking every bit the part of the top-three pick he was drafted to be as a rookie was also encouraging, as he delivered a top-10 pass-rush grade for the position (84.5). For reference, that is the best pass-rush grade for a first-round rookie edge since 2012, surpassing last year’s 83.7 set by Jared Verse. Similarly to Verse, Carter should also see an increase in sack production in Year 2 with one of the best long-term outlooks, based on his Year 1 metrics and an elite score in the rookie edge model coming out of college. Again, those who are locked into the data on Carter will likely be less willing to part with him after what was really a very encouraging rookie season in terms of his underlying metrics. It’s possible that closer to rookie drafts, IDP managers will be able to acquire him for a second-round pick, which is likely what he cost to draft last season, and if his IDP manager isn’t pleased with the Year 1 production, then that’s a deal I’d still be happy with that deal as the highest price point. Highest ideal trade price to acquire (draft picks): Late 2026 third-round pick Similar to the previously mentioned Carter, Graham was a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft who greatly underperformed in the sack column, though all signs point to him being significantly better for IDP in the years ahead, specifically for DT-required formats. Graham finished 2025 with just a half-sack, making him essentially an afterthought on the year, especially with teammates Myles Garrett breaking the NFL sack record and Carson Schwesinger potentially being the Defensive Rookie of the Year. The fact that Graham was a total workhorse in Year 1 shouldn’t be overlooked. He deserved better results in the sack column, represented by his 81st percentile mark in expected sacks, which is an encouraging accomplishment for a rookie defensive tackle. Graham’s overall playing time was a significant contributing factor to this strong expected sacks mark, as his pass rush metrics were mostly
Colts 2025 Rookie Report: Justin Walley
Indianapolis, IN — The Indianapolis Colts have at times been starving for adequate cornerback play throughout the 2020s decade. With constant turnover at the position, and especially at boundary corner, only longtime Colt Kenny Moore II has remained a consistent, productive piece to said puzzle — and the Colts may have drafted his successor in […] Indianapolis, IN — The Indianapolis Colts have at times been starving for adequate cornerback play throughout the 2020s decade. With constant turnover at the position, and especially at boundary corner, only longtime Colt Kenny Moore II has remained a consistent, productive piece to said puzzle — and the Colts may have drafted his successor in Justin Walley with the 80th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. This is the third installment of an ongoing article series that’ll cover each Colts rookie from the 2025-26 season. Expectations — Immediately following the draft selection in question, fans and analysts alike initially scoffed at the apparent value of said pick, myself included. Although Justin Walley was regarded as the consensus 194th overall prospect in the class, renowned draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, for example, had Walley as his 94th best player, exactly 100 spots higher than the average. After doing my due diligence by reviewing his college film and observing him up close and personal throughout his first professional training camp, I see the vision at hand. He was never expected to start as a rookie, though his preseason efforts at the very least proved that he belonged, while also suggesting that his time to shine could come sooner rather than later. Rookie Season — Unfortunately for Walley, a torn ACL ended his rookie season before it could get started. A disappointment, no doubt, but it’s even more unfortunate when you consider the additional missed opportunities that arose throughout the season with multiple cornerback casualties. Future Outlook — As alluded to, Justin Walley’s 5’10”, 190 lb frame certainly pencils him in as an NFL slot cornerback, though he provides some versatility to play out wide. Comparing his game to Kenny Moore II isn’t even lazy, either, given he, too, offers such flexibility. Walley was fresh off a broken wrist when he was drafted, though he famously participated in every possible workout in the pre-draft process, so immediately following that up with a torn ACL before kicking off your rookie season in the NFL is grounds for injury concern moving forward. It could’ve merely been a blip in his journey, but that aspect is off to a cold start. With Charvarius Ward’s future up in the air, there’s a good chance Justin Walley at least enters the cornerback rotation as soon as next season. See More: Indianapolis Colts Analysis
Las Vegas Raiders’ top 5 remaining head coach candidates
Head coach vacancies are starting to get filled around the NFL, as four out of ten openings have closed with the New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans hiring new leaders. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Raiders’ job is still open. However, the good news for the Raiders is that they’ve interviewed 14 […] Head coach vacancies are starting to get filled around the NFL, as four out of ten openings have closed with the New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans hiring new leaders. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Raiders’ job is still open. However, the good news for the Raiders is that they’ve interviewed 14 candidates and only two, Kevin Stefanski (Falcons) and Jeff Hafley (Dolphins), are off the table. So, of the 12 remaining candidates for Las Vegas, here’s my take on the Silver and Black’s top five options. Missed the Cut Mike McDaniel, Joe Brady, Nate Scheelhaase, Ejiro Evero, Vance Joseph, Matt Nagy, Davis Webb For starters, the Raiders have gone with the retread route several times during Mark Davis’ tenure as principal owner, and that hasn’t been working. It’s time to give a young, up-and-comer an opportunity to prove himself, taking McDaniel, Joseph and Nagy off the list. That being said, giving the job to someone who hasn’t even been a coordinator yet would be an overcorrection, as Scheelhaase and Webb don’t have enough coaching experience, in my opinion. Also, while the list below isn’t exclusive to offensive minds, there’s definitely a preference given to those types of candidates. That makes it difficult for Evero to crack the list. As for Brady, he was an intriguing option for Las Vegas last year if the organization was going to land Cam Ward in the draft. However, I don’t think Brady’s offense would be a natural fit for Fernando Mendoza’s playing style. 5. Klay Kubiak Current job: San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Any coach that’s from the Kyle Shanahan-Sean McVay coaching tree is going get a bump from me. That’s the type of offense Mendoza would be best in and it’s a system that has a proven track record throughout the league, as the tree has grown several branches over the last several years. Kubiak has plenty of experience in that offense, working for Shanahan since 2021. Not to mention his dad, Gary Kubiak, is one of the original Shanahan disciples, having worked under Mike Shanahan for more than a decade with the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos. However, Kubiak doesn’t have much NFL experience, having only coached in the league for five seasons. Also, he’s only been in San Francisco, where Shanahan runs the offense, and 2025 is the only campaign where he’s been the 49ers’ coordinator. 4. Mike LaFleur Current job: Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator There are plenty of similarities between Klay Kubiak and LaFleur, as both have roots in the same coaching tree. The latter got his start in the NFL working under Shanahan as an intern in 2014 and followed Shanahan to Atlanta (2015-2016) and San Francisco (2017-2020), becoming the 49ers’ passing game coordinator for his last two seasons with the club. Also, the Rams currently have the best offense in the NFL, finishing the regular season first in yards and points scored. The combination of having more experience and a better track record is what gives LaFleur the nod over Kubiak. However, McVay runs the offense in Los Angeles, and LaFleur’s tenure as the New York Jets’ offensive coordinator was ugly. His units ranked 28th and 29th in points scored, while Zach Wilson quickly became a bust. That’s what pushes the Rams’ OC down the rankings and behind a couple of defensive-minded candidates. 3. Jesse Minter INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 05: Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter of the Los Angeles Chargers looks on against the Washington Commanders at SoFi Stadium on October 05, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)Getty Images Current job: Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator This one certainly bucks the trend since Minter’s background is on the other side of the ball, and he has no connections to the Shanahan-McVay tree. However, the former Baltimore Ravens’ assistant coach and Michigan defensive coordinator does have a couple of good mentors in Jim and John Harbaugh, both of whom have been successful head coaches in the NFL. Additionally, the Chargers’ defense has been one of the stingiest in the league with Minter in charge over the last two years, allowing the fewest and ninth-fewest points in those respective campaigns. Factoring in the dominant Wolverine defenses and Michigan’s 28-1 record with a National Championship during his tenure in Ann Arbor, Minter is clearly a good coach. But the questions about his ability to develop a quarterback and what offense he’d run keep the Chargers’ defensive coordinator out of the top two candidates. 2. Chris Shula Current job: Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator If I told you the Rams’ defense got better after Aaron Donald retired, would you believe me? In 2023, Los Angeles ranked 20th in points allowed with Raheem Morris calling the shots. Then, Donald retired, and Morris left to be the Falcons’ head coach, resulting in Shula’s promotion. The Rams were 17th in points allowed during Shula’s first season and became a top 10 unit in 2025, as the defense elevated its performance despite losing the three-time Defensive Player of the Year. Shula, who turns 40 in February, is an up-and-coming coach in the NFL. While his experience is on the other side of the ball, he does have a strong connection to the McVay coaching tree, having worked for McVay since the head coach got the job in Los Angeles (2017). Also, those two were teammates in college at Miami Ohio. So, the defensive coordinator could easily bring an offensive assistant who is familiar with the coveted system to call plays in Las Vegas. That could even be LaFleur or Scheelhaase. However, the problem with that strategy is that if all
A tough road ahead for Sullivan and Hafley – The Splash Zone 1/21/26
The Miami Dolphins have a new general manager, Jon-Eric Sullivan, and head coach, Jeff Hafley, in place and the hope is that these two can lead the Dolphins back to the promised land. This is not going to be an easy fix with the state of the team currently. They are going to have to […] The Miami Dolphins have a new general manager, Jon-Eric Sullivan, and head coach, Jeff Hafley, in place and the hope is that these two can lead the Dolphins back to the promised land. This is not going to be an easy fix with the state of the team currently. They are going to have to take their lumps in year 1 as they transition this football team into their desired vision. Sullivan has already stated he wants to build through the draft, just like they did with the Green Bay Packers. The hope here is that with the same vision in mind between the GM and coach, the Dolphins can build a winning football team again. You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below. Dave Hyde: Can Sullivan and Hafley build the Dolphins a winner?So, the Miami Dolphins’ Green Bay-based general manager hired the Green-Bay-based coach. It’s as simple as that. Maybe it’s as inspired as that, too. Jeff Hafley Miami Dolphins hired Jeff Hafley: 5 reasons for optimismThe Miami Dolphins have hired Jeff Hafley, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator, as their next head coach, succeeding Mike McDaniel. Identifying Some Potential Coordinator (or Assistant) Candidates The Miami Dolphins have their new head coach with Jeff Hafley, and the next order of business will be filling out his staff. Former player says the quiet part out loud about why Jeff Hafley’s approach is vital to defining his tenure with the Dolphins Miami is a unique place to coach for better or for worse. Dolphins Rookies Examining the Pain Associated With the Dolphins’ All-Rookie ShutoutThe Miami Dolphins got a lot of contributions from their rookie class, but there were no difference-makers Dolphins Quarterbacks With ex-Packers at head coach and GM, logical answer to Dolphins replacing Tua Tagovailoa seems increasingly clear As new Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan began a mental scroll of his roster, he began to describe the foundation of his franchise’s future. Phinsider News You May Have Missed Jeff Hafley hired as Dolphins head coach – The Splash Zone 1/20/26Welcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours. NFL head coaches: Retread or First Time hire?Do first-time head coaches fail? Dolphins to hold introductory press conference for new head coach and general manager later this weekJeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan to be introduced in Miami this Thursday morning. Your 2026-2027 Miaimi Dolphins Core PlayersMiami Dolphins fans share which current players they see as core players for the roster going forward. See More: The Splash Zone
L.A. Rams News: History on Seattle’s side in NFC Championship Game?
The Los Angeles Rams are taking on the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, and historically (at least according to the information I am sharing below), it is the home and favored team who wins the NFC Championship Game more often than not. Will history have any impact on this Sunday’s contest? Not exactly, but it’s still […] The Los Angeles Rams are taking on the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, and historically (at least according to the information I am sharing below), it is the home and favored team who wins the NFC Championship Game more often than not. Will history have any impact on this Sunday’s contest? Not exactly, but it’s still interesting and it should be no surprise that the Rams have their work cut out for them as they get ready to take on one of the best teams in the NFL. The Seahawks looked great as they dismantled the San Francisco 49ers as the 49ers continued to lose stars to injury, but find ways to win, but in the end, the injuries caught up with SF and their season is done. Kyle Shanahan worked magic as he navigated this season, so all credit to the potential Coach of the Year candidate. The Rams have somehow found a way to win their last two playoff games, but it’s only going to be tougher in Seattle for L.A. Hopefully everyone had a nice victory Monday, enjoy your Tuesday and thank you for checking out Turf Show Times! History not on Rams’ side in rare conference title game between rivals (ramswire) “Historically, the home team has fared much better in conference title games between division rivals. According to Josh Dubow of the Associated Press, the home team is 15-5 in such games since the 1970 merger.” How Veteran Prowess Reigned Supreme Between Rams’ Stafford, Williams (si.com) “The Los Angeles Rams have been a part of two incredibly thrilling postseason games in these playoffs. The first was Matthew Stafford’s game-winning drive and touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson against the Carolina Panthers in the wild-card round. This week, it was Stafford’s veteran savviness that led them to an overtime win in another thriller, this time against the Chicago Bears, 20-17. The Rams are now heading to the NFC Championship for the first time in four years, where they will travel up the west coast to face the Seattle Seahawks in their third matchup of the season in a game that will decide the NFC’s representative in Super Bowl LX. Last night, in a battle between the young gun and the veteran star in the midst of an MVP season, it was the latter who reigned supreme in the end.“ “New game – new (much much better) forecast. It’s beginning to look a lot like…sky is the limit! The story is actually not yet written, the pen is still in the hand, GO RAMS! PS and edit: Bonus: No time difference!!!“ -marshallfalk See More: Los Angeles Rams News
Chiefs moving on from two more offensive assistant coaches
The Kansas City Chiefs continue to reveal more about the new staff being built around offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star reported the initial departures of four assistant coaches last week, then added two more to the list on Tuesday evening. Assistant running backs coach Mark DeLeone and offensive assistant […] The Kansas City Chiefs continue to reveal more about the new staff being built around offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star reported the initial departures of four assistant coaches last week, then added two more to the list on Tuesday evening. Two more departures from Chiefs coaching staff: Mark Deleone, assistant RBs coach last year, and Kevin Saxton, an offensive assistant. https://t.co/Ys3HxKWsNZ — Sam McDowell (@SamMcDowell11) January 21, 2026 Assistant running backs coach Mark DeLeone and offensive assistant Kevin Saxton will not return to the Chiefs’ staff in 2026, confirmed by McDowell. With these two vacanies added, there will be at least five new faces among Kansas City’s offensive coaches next season: Bieniemy, wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea, and the eventual hire to coach the running back position. Before joining the Chiefs for 2025, DeLeone was a defensive assistant coach for every NFL job he held, including the quality control job he held for the first three seasons of head coach Andy Reid’s tenure in Kansas City. He earned the right to be a position coach in 2018 and led the inside linebackers for the final season of defensive coordinator Bob Sutton’s time here. The switch to offense only lasted one year in Kansas City for DeLeone, while Saxton will leave the organization after spending three seasons on staff.
NFL Insiders Predict Dolphins to Land Packers’ Free Agent QB in Offseason
The Miami Dolphins officially have a new general manager and head coach for the first time in over a decade. Now, with the new era set to begin, the duo must find a way to improve a position that has plagued the Dolphins since the day the GOAT, Dan Marino, retired. Sure, Tua Tagovailoa showed […] The Miami Dolphins officially have a new general manager and head coach for the first time in over a decade. Now, with the new era set to begin, the duo must find a way to improve a position that has plagued the Dolphins since the day the GOAT, Dan Marino, retired. Sure, Tua Tagovailoa showed flashes, but his day as the Dolphins’ starting quarterback appears to be over, with reports surfacing that the team was ready to move on and find someone else to lead the new era of Miami football. According to ESPN’s NFL Insider, Jeremy Fowler, that player could be someone both GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and Miami’s new HC Jeff Hafley are familiar with from their recent years in Green Bay. A player who just so happens to be a free agent this season. In a recent ESPN article breaking down some of the offseason’s most probable trades and signings, Fowler suggests that Sullivan and Hafley could bring in a quarterback whom they saw first-hand take over when Jordan Love went down. And to be quite honest, he played some pretty damn good football. So much so that it won’t be just the Dolphins jockeying for his services. As Fowler writes, if Daniel Jones returns to Indianapolis, there’s a very good chance that Willis could be the top quarterback on the market. (He probably still is even if Jones does hit the open market, but that’s a conversation for another day) Another team that league executives believe could be interested in Willis is the Cleveland Browns. “I just don’t think [the Browns] go into the season with Shedeur [Sanders] as their top option,” an NFC personnel man said. “And getting the right quarterback in the draft isn’t a guarantee based on where they pick.” Cleveland has two first-round picks, but with Oregon’s Dante Moore returning to school and other key factors, Willis could be their best bet for adding legit competition to a room that has Shedeur Sanders and Dillion Gabriel currently battling for the QB1 spot. But as Fowler says, Miami will have a better beat on Willis and his potential over any other team. “No regime will know Willis’ strengths better than Miami, which just hired a brain trust of GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley from Green Bay. The Packers valued Willis’ development and Miami could bear the fruits of that labor.” I know this is giving some of us older folks a bit of ‘déjà vu’ as it feels eerily similar to the days of Joe Philbin and everyone wanting Matt Flynn, because we were QB-starved and unquestioningly believed things might be different. Narrator: They were not. But Willis has legit tools (I’ll do a breakdown in the coming weeks) and could be the perfect QB to help usher in this new era of Dolphins football, while allowing Sullivan and Hafley to find the future in the 2027 or 2028 draft class. Last season in Green Bay, Willis completed 85.7 % of his passes for 422 yards and 3 touchdowns in four appearances (1 start). In total, the former third-round pick of the 2022 NFL Draft (86th overall) has started six games, finishing with a 3-3 record. The cap situation is bleak, and the Dolphins have to find a suitor for Tua. But if Brandon Shore and Sullivan can find a way to make it work, I think Miami fans would be delighted to have a player like Malik Willis behind center. Then again, all of this sounds too good to be true. What are your thoughts on the Miami Dolphins signing free agent quarterback Malik Willis this offseason? Do you think he’d be the perfect fit for this next era of Dolphins football? How do you feel saying goodbye to Tua Tagovailoa after what appeared to be a promising start to the McDaniel era? Are you happy with the head coach/GM duo Miami now has? Let us know in the comments section below! See More:
PFF College Football 101: The Top 101 players from the 2025 season
Now that the 2025 college football season has concluded, it’s time to take stock of the year’s top performers. The PFF College 101 highlights the 101 best players from the 2025 season, combining PFF grades, on-field impact and positional value to provide a comprehensive look at college football’s elite. PFF College Football 101: The Top 101 players from the 2025 season Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers comes in at No. 91: Stowers entered the season as PFF’s top-ranked tight end and backed it up by winning the John Mackey Award. His 769 receiving yards led all tight ends nationally, while his 85.3 PFF receiving grade ranked sixth at the position. Indiana WR Charlie Becker makes an appearance: Becker’s placement on this list is largely a product of timing, as he did not become a major part of Indiana’s offense until Week 11, but his impact on the Hoosiers’ national title run was undeniable. His 89.3 PFF receiving grade ranked third among Power Four wide receivers behind only Makai Lemon and Jeremiah Smith, and he posted an exceptional 146.8 passer rating when targeted. 2026 NFL Draft season is here: Try the best-in-class PFF Mock Draft Simulator and learn about 2026’s top prospects while trading and drafting for your favorite NFL team. 🏈 Draft Season 2026 Prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft with PFF+ Your complete draft preparation toolkit Subscribe Now that the 2025 college football season has concluded, it’s time to take stock of the year’s top performers. The PFF College 101 highlights the 101 best players from the 2025 season, combining PFF grades, on-field impact and positional value to provide a comprehensive look at college football’s elite. This list will be released in stages throughout the week, culminating with the unveiling of the top 20 players on Friday, Jan. 23. Each installment offers a deeper look at the players who defined the 2025 season and helps set the stage for the upcoming draft and offseason evaluation cycle. 76. WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M Concepcion captured the Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player, and the production backs it up. The projected first-round pick led all SEC wide receivers in receptions resulting in either a first down or a touchdown (48), while his 84.2 return grade ranked second among all Power Four players after he returned two punts for scores. 77. RB LJ Martin, BYU Martin was the engine of BYU’s offense this season. His 893 yards after contact ranked fourth among Power Four running backs, while his 36 explosive runs tied for fourth. He also added 251 receiving yards, cementing his status as one of the top running backs entering the 2026 season. 78. QB Byrum Brown, USF Brown was the top quarterback in the Group of Five this season, earning a 91.4 PFF grade that ranked third nationally among all quarterbacks. He also ranked third among signal-callers in rushing yards after contact (702) and forced missed tackles (58). Brown will transfer to Auburn for the 2026 season after following head coach Alex Golesh. 79. RB Antwan Raymond, Rutgers Rutgers may have lost star running back Kyle Monangai in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the Scarlet Knights found another in Raymond. His 884 rushing yards after contact ranked fifth among Power Four running backs, while his 76 forced missed tackles trailed only Ahmad Hardy and Kewan Lacy in that group. Raymond enters his true junior season as one of the top running backs in the country. 80. WR KJ Duff, Rutgers Raymond wasn’t the only star weapon for Rutgers this season. Duff emerged as the Scarlet Knights’ top receiver, earning an 83.4 PFF grade that ranked ninth among Power Four wide receivers. His 1,084 receiving yards also ranked sixth in that group. 81. S Amare Ferrell, Indiana Often an unsung piece of Indiana’s secondary, Ferrell has been a productive contributor over the past two seasons. His seven pass breakups were tied for second among all safeties nationally, and he added four interceptions to earn an 82.8 PFF coverage grade. 82. EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M Howell was one of the SEC’s most productive pass-rushers this season. The projected first-round pick recorded 12 sacks, tied for the fifth most nationally, and earned a 90.3 PFF pass-rush grade that ranked 20th among all edge defenders. 83. QB Drew Mestemaker, North Texas Mestemaker spent his high school career as a backup quarterback before walking on at North Texas, and he took home the Burlsworth Award for 2025, with no player in the country throwing for more yards (4,384). His 86.1 PFF passing grade ranked ninth in the FBS, and he will transfer to Oklahoma State for the 2026 season after following head coach Eric Morris. 84. RB Kaytron Allen, Penn State Not much went right for Penn State this season, but Allen closed his career as the program’s all-time leading rusher, with 4,180 rushing yards. His 1,303 rushing yards ranked fifth among Power Four running backs in 2025, while his 91.3 PFF rushing grade ranked eighth at the position. 85. LB Ethan Wesloski, North Texas Wesloski is one of several former North Texas players following head coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State and projects as a centerpiece of the Cowboys’ defense. His 90.6 PFF grade ranked fourth among all linebackers this season, and he was one of just six linebackers to earn 85.0-plus grades in both coverage and run defense. 86. RB Nate Sheppard, Duke Duke must sort out its quarterback situation now that Darian Mensah has entered the transfer portal, but whoever takes over in 2026 should benefit from handing the ball to Sheppard. The former three-star recruit broke out as a true freshman, earning an 89.3 PFF grade that ranked ninth among FBS running backs while placing sixth among Power Four backs with 286 receiving yards. 87. LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU Elarms-Orr finished as one of the 10 most valuable linebackers in the country this season, according to PFF’s Wins Above Average metric. Much of that value came as a run defender, where his 89.1
Rams Film Review: Defense leads the way past Bears
When the Los Angeles Rams were set to take on the Chicago Bears in the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs, many assumed there would be a lot of points. After all, this was a matchup between two of the best offensive minds in the NFL going head-to-head in Sean McVay and Ben Johnson. Instead, […] When the Los Angeles Rams were set to take on the Chicago Bears in the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs, many assumed there would be a lot of points. After all, this was a matchup between two of the best offensive minds in the NFL going head-to-head in Sean McVay and Ben Johnson. Instead, it was the two defenses leading the way. The Rams defense forced three turnovers and held the Bears to 3-for-6 on fourth down. Chicago had three empty possessions in scoring range, including two inside the 25-yard line. It was this time last year that the Rams defense let the team down in the postseason. They allowed 285 yards rushing to the Philadelphia Eagles who went 3-for-3 in the red zone and were 4-for-5 on fourth down. Sunday against the Bears was their biggest test yet. The Bears were one of the best rushing teams in the NFL with 142.3 yards per game. Over the offseason, the Rams built their team for this moment. They went out and signed Poona Ford to man the middle of their defensive line. They also upgraded at linebacker, moving on from Christian Rozeboom and signing Nate Landman from the Atlanta Falcons. Landman certainly has his limitations, but he was someone they could trust to be in the right place at the right time. In the frigid cold at Soldier Field, running the ball was going to play a key role. While the Bears had 112 yards, it came on 32 carries. Kyle Monangai had a 47.9 percent rushing success rate on the season. The Rams held him to a 30.8 percent rushing success rate. D’Andre Swift had a 47.1 percent rushing success rate in the regular season. Swift was better, but even he was held to a 42.1 percent rushing success rate. The Bears tried to wear down the Rams defense on the ground, but it was a group that continually won in the trenches. It’s fair to note that the left side of the Bears’ offensive line was less than 100 percent. However, the Rams dominated at the point of attack and the longest run by a running back was 15 yards by Monangai. With the Bears not having the ability to find consistency on the ground, especially in short-yardage, it impacted how Johnson could call the game. The usual aggressive Johnson became more conservative. After being stopped on 4th-and-1 late in the second quarter, the Bears punted on a 4th-and-2 at midfield to start the fourth quarter. That was a very strong ‘go’ call via Ben Baldwin’s RBSDM and ESPN Analytics. One of the more surprising decisions was when the Bears tied the game with 18 seconds left in regulation. Instead of opting to go for two and potentially win the game right there, Johnson decided to just take the extra point. After the game, Johnson noted, “Probably what played a little bit of a factor was our goal-to-go situations hadn’t gone very clean. Our inside the five plan hadn’t worked out quite like we had hoped. I just felt better about taking our chances there in overtime.” The Bears were inside the five twice in the game and had just come up empty-handed on the previous possession. In the first quarter, the Bears were stuffed at the three-yard line before scoring on fourth down. Late in the fourth quarter, the Bears ran four plays inside the five and came up empty. Quentin Lake and Omar Speights played big roles in that stop. While the defense also had three turnovers, it was their down-to-down consistency that really shined. They showed up in the high variance moments and that ended up being the difference. It’s also what they’ve done throughout the postseason. In the previous week, the Rams held the Panthers to 0-for-3 on fourth down. They say defense wins championships. The Rams may not have the best defense in the NFL, but over the past two weeks they’ve made key plays that have been crucial to the team’s run to the NFC Championship. The offense may have struggled, but the defense held on and kept the Rams in the game. When the offense went three-and-out, it was the defense that got one more stop to give Matthew Stafford another chance. Kevin Dotson Returns The Rams had been without Kevin Dotson for each of the past three games and his presence was certainly missed. With the return of Dotson, running back Kyren Williams had 53 yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns with a 66.7 percent success rate while running to the right. He had a 22.2 percent success rate running to the left. It says a lot and the impact that a player has when the offense is three times more effective running to that side of the field. The Rams didn’t commit to the run until late in the game, but when they did, they had the most success behind Dotson and going to the right side. They’ll need to lean on the run game more against the Seahawks, but they should have the confidence with Dotson back in the lineup. Stafford off, but still MVP-level Matthew Stafford didn’t play well in this game. He didn’t complete 50 percent of his passes and nearly turned the ball over three times. With that said, there were still a few iconic Stafford moments. The most obvious one came in overtime on his throw to Davante Adams. The Rams quarterback threw from the far hash to the far sideline and placed the ball perfectly low and away. It’s also worth noting the cornerback that Stafford threw the pass against. Nahshon Wright has
