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Arrowheadlines: Xavier Worthy tipped to make the leap in 2025
Should the Colts lean on the draft or free agency to build the roster?
Clark Wade/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images There will be a mix, but does one seem more necessary than the other this year? The Indianapolis Colts and Chris Ballard have been more than reluctant regarding free agency. As soon as the legal tampering period opens, they tend to sit on their hands and rely on the draft to build the roster. For overall team building and long term success, the draft is a great way to go. Player contracts are much cheaper and the ability to find diamonds in the rough has much higher odds. The draft, however, includes more uncertainty as there is no data available at the profession level. While the Colts will participate in both to some degree, there is one that needs to be more of a focus than the other this offseason. Time for Ballard is running out. Heck, time for Anthony Richardson and Shane Steichen may be running out too. The Colts need to get better and fast. A plan for building through the draft is too futuristic and hasn’t been shown to produce enough results under this regime. Not advocating to throw the picks away but finding high ability starters in the first two rounds is the obvious target and about all that will most likely have an impact in 2025. Once again, don’t mortgage the future of the franchise, but the draft won’t produce the microwave results that are needed. For more instantaneous results, free agency is needed. It has been less often used and can be dangerous. Teams can overspend and do long term damage if done incorrectly. On the other hand, it can be the best and by far, fastest way to compete. Using free agency to make important upgrades can be the difference between a below average season and a division championship. The Colts must compete for the division this year to keep people employed. Bring in a highly productive veteran and a few other key players and Ballard could be gainfully employed by the Colts in 2026. Drafting quality talent will be key towards building for the future, but if the Colts want to win next year, they can’t wait. Sitting back, waiting and hoping talent will develop isn’t going to get it done. They must address key areas of weakness through free agency. This will produce instant results if done correctly. If not, it will be a long 2025 season.
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Mailbag: Who are under-the-radar quarterback options?
The offseason is in full swing as the NFL Combine starts next week, so get prepared for some Las Vegas Raiders free agency and NFL Draft rumors to start flying off the shelves. To get things started, let’s dive into this week’s mailbag and talk about the Raiders’ quarterback situation. Q: I remember when Pete Carroll went after Matt Flynn and Charlie Whitehurst. Are there any under-the-radar guys that were always whispered about having potential? See anyone in the league like that now? The easy answer is Joe Milton I suppose. A: I think Milton is an option if the Patriots are willing to trade him in the offseason. But one player who fits the mold of the two guys you mentioned above is Kyle Trask. John Spytek was a part of the Buccaneers’ front office when they used a second-round pick on Trask to serve as Tom Brady’s backup and potential heir apparent. However, Tampa Bay ended up signing Baker Mayfield after Brady retired and Trask has remained a backup over the last two years. Similar to what Carroll did with the Seahawks in 2012 by signing Flynn and drafting Russell Wilson, I could see a situation where the Raiders sign Trask and use a second- or third-round pick on a guy like Jaxson Dart, Will Howard or Tyler Shough. Another name to throw out there is Zach Wilson, who has talent that could be worth taking a low-risk flier on. Also, it would be interesting to see Trey Lance in Chip Kelly’s offense given Lance’s rushing ability, but I don’t have confidence in him as a passer. Q: Are either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders worth trading a couple of high draft picks for, or would it be better to stay at six, keep the picks, and grab a QB in the second or third round? Cam WardPhoto by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images A: Understandably, I’ve gotten this question a few times this offseason. I’m intrigued by Ward’s arm talent and think he has a legitimate shot at being a quality starting quarterback in the league, so I’d be willing to trade up for him. That being said, something like what the Panthers gave up to get Bryce Young would be too rich for my blood. However, I’m not that high on Sanders and would prefer to see the Raiders sit back and let him fall to them or take someone else at six if he gets drafted in the top five picks. A: I would imagine Sam Darnold gets a long-term contract this offseason after taking the one-year “prove-it” deal last spring, so I think the Raiders would address other positions in the draft this year. Unlike the veteran quarterbacks mentioned above, Darnold has a good year as a starter under his belt which gives him more leverage on the open market. Plus, he’s arguably the best quarterback available in free agency, so I don’t think Las Vegas will be his only potential destination. I’d imagine Darnold’s contract will have enough guaranteed money to function as a two- to three-year deal, meaning the organization that signs him will be committing to him for at least a couple of seasons. Q: Which defensive players do you think are most likely to be re-signed? A: I think the most likely is Robert Spillane, assuming he’s willing to take a short-term deal since he’s been one of the leaders of the defense and productive over the last two years. Also, I’d imagine he’ll get an eight-figure-per-year deal ($10-$12 million range) but not something that’s over the top ridiculous. The injuries give me hesitation, but Nate Hobbs is another decent candidate to return under similar stipulations as Spillane. Additionally, I’d assume Isaiah Pola-Mao will be brought back since he’s a restricted free agent and should be easy to re-sign. The guy I’d most like to see get re-signed is Tre’von Moehrig. However, I get the feeling he’s going to get paid in free agency and could see a new regime not wanting to hand out a big contract to a guy it didn’t draft. Malcolm Koonce is another tricky situation, more on that below. Q: Should the Raiders prioritize drafting the best available edge rusher in the second round or re-sign Malcolm Koonce? Which prospects do you feel could be available at 37 with a higher ceiling than Koonce, if any? Malcolm KooncePhoto by Chris Unger/Getty Images A: I don’t think it’s out of the question to do both. In my opinion, the ideal situation with Koonce is that he signs a short-term “prove-it” contract to, essentially, make up for missing last season and the Raiders also draft another edge rusher in case Koonce ends up walking when the new contract is up. I was very encouraged by what the former third-round pick showed in 2023 in both phases of the game, he just has a small sample size right now. Hopefully, he’s willing to come back and prove himself, but I fear that another club will gamble on what he showed two years ago and offer Koonce a bigger contract. That’s where the situation gets a lot more complicated. Do the Raiders try to match it and take the risk? Or bring back someone like K’Lavon Chaisson instead and draft another pass-rusher? I don’t have a good answer for that. As for options at pick 37, the guy I seem to be a lot higher on than others in the draft space is Princely Umanmielen from Ole Miss. I view Umanmielen as a late-first-round talent, so I’d be all for taking him in the second. A: I touched on this in a little more detail earlier this week — see the related article below. Koonce could be the most likely guy to get tagged seeing as the organization will likely offer a short-term deal to him anyway. Maybe Moehrig gets the tag, but the safety figure is pretty pricey at roughly $20 million. Q: Seeing how the Eagles’ defensive
5 ways the Buffalo Bills can level up in 2025
5 ways the Buffalo Bills can level up in 2025 Trade For Edge Rusher Myles Garrett Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports It’s a popular idea among Bills fans and the press since the veteran went public with a trade request from the Browns. Garrett is one of the top talents and sack-getters of his generation, adding him would fetch the Bills the type of game-wrecker they’ve sought, and exponentially increase their chances of reaching the Super Bowl. While the Bills hit on early-round selections like Josh Allen, Greg Rousseau, Dalton Kincaid, and James Cook, they’ve missed on other early-round selections. They also know exactly what they would be getting in a proven commodity like Garrett, who would likely cost a few early current and future draft assets in return. Even though they may be able to trade up for an impact pass-rush talent in the draft, the cost may not justify the return in ability level. Plus, Garrett lines up on the right which would complete the pass rush with Greg Rousseau who lines up on the left. While it would take some economic maneuvering and restructuring of contracts and roster to make such a move, these are some of GM Brandon Beane’s specialties. And while the general public take has been that it would require or signal the end of outside linebacker Von Miller’s tenure in Buffalo, it could be just as likely he stays to round out the pass rush. The flexible approach he’s taken in recent years toward his contract, as well as his desire to remain in Buffalo and compete for a Super Bowl, could compel him to work things out to create cap space and play alongside Garrett in the event of a trade. Beane does not shy away from making moves to get the talent needed to fill positions, and while it would take some of his BBB-caliber work with the payroll to make it work he and some of the current Bills could make some adjustments that would create that landing spot on Buffalo’s roster. After all, just like Beane himself has pointed out, a talent like that isn’t available very often. Garrett would be a key addition that could take their team to the next level. Trade Up To Draft A One-Technique Defensive Tackle Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports This is the top position the Bills could select as the upcoming NFL Draft class is deep at the position and would be a strong move for Buffalo. It presents the chance to add the impact talent they’ve been seeking for the defensive line that could elevate the Bills’ trenches to a new level of play. Regardless of whether the team trades their first-round pick this year in a deal for Garrett, they are in a position to package 2025 and future draft assets to move up in the draft. Look for Beane and company to go for a defensive tackle early in the draft. Add A Speedy Perimeter Threat At Receiver Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Speed, good hands, and a reliable perimeter threat downfield are missing from the Buffalo passing game. A strong offseason program could elevate the roles and contributions of receivers Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, and receiving tight end Dalton Kincaid, and re-signing receiver Mack Hollins for another year or two to develop in Joe Brady’s offense and Josh Allen’s passing game would help. Given his fit with the team, culture, and fan base, free agent receiver Amari Cooper could re-sign on a reasonable deal to compete for a Super Bowl, given the unselfish nature of the offensive players. Even if all those players are back and taking the next step with the offense, however, the missing piece remains a fast, deep-threat wideout that can make big catches. At this stage of Josh Allen’s career, a veteran like Marquise “Hollywood” Brown at 27 years old fits the bill. The addition could complete the receiver corps for a competitive window that would also open up the offense for those other targets. Add To The Defensive Backs Group Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images The Bills have a depth need in their defensive backs group which saw some depletion in the playoffs due to injuries. Former first-round pick Kaiir Elam struggled in relief as a starter. Given the Bills track record of developing players who outside voices often insist they should move on from, Elam’s tenure might continue in Buffalo. He is, however, one of the team’s potential trade candidates. While a low-cost high-reward addition in free agency, a young talent in the draft, or addition via trade could all be possibilities, Brandon Beane and company have a good record of adding good and versatile secondary talent to the Buffalo roster. While the likelihood of such a move is unknown, another low-cost, short-term possibility is bringing back former Bills corner Tre White to provide some backup depth, veteran experience, and leadership to the position group. While Beane does aim to address positions of need in free agency in order to draft the best players available, last year and this year the draft is more where the front office is looking to bring in affordable, cost-controlled talent on four-year rookie contracts. The Bills could add a defensive back in the early rounds. Quality Over Quantity Approach Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) For Buffalo, it’s most important while adding personnel this offseason that they hit on their top key positional needs for immediate contributors and difference-makers. Those positions are pass rush, defensive tackle, receiver, and defensive back. They have the present and future assets to package to move up in the early rounds of this year’s NFL Draft to add some of those players to maximize their current window. Buffalo has a single 1st, two 2nd, two 4th, two 5th, and three 6th-round picks. The Bills are also projected to receive two compensatory draft picks, one in the fourth round for the departure of WR Gabe Davis, and one in
Miami Dolphins Fans Sound Off On Hollands Future
Last week, the news broke that Jevon Holland would not be franchise-tagged by our Miami Dolphins and would also be permitted to explore the free-agent market. I also mentioned in my post on the subject, which included a question of the day, that Holland was anticipated to demand over $18.5 million per season on the open market. The question I then asked was- Do you believe Holland is worth what is being referred to as his market value? If so, would you like to see the Dolphins pay or match that number if they were given the opportunity to keep him? In addition, I posted a poll, and below are the results- Do you want to see the Dolphins pay what it will take to keep Jevon Holland? 45% (103 votes) No, he’s not worth $18.5 million or more… 39% (90 votes) Yes, but only at a more reasonable number. 10% (24 votes) Even at a lower price, no, he’s not that good. 5% (12 votes) Yes, he’s worth it. Below are some of your answers and thoughts on the PQOTD- Timothy Stamper says tag and trade. move money around, tag & trade MIAMI235 wants to know what can be done to change the team’s mind. A friend of mine asked me if we are really letting Holland go. I told him, that he seemed to fall out of favor with the Team ( those in charge) but really didn’t know the full extent of the story. He said letting him go, may be a mistake. Can this thing be salvaged, or is he just not the same player he showed in Season 1 ? Jptapt, relying on AI had a very long and very comprehensive plan (which you can read here in the original post) for the Dolphins this offseason. I would add that you should take AI with a grain of salt as they list Holland as a franchise tag at 12 million when the actual franchise tag for safeties is 17.123 million. wolfpack1 says he’s not worth it. He has good skills, but plays inconsistently and not worth the top tier coin he is asking for. That said, someone will pick him up, especially if their secondary sucks. Cariasluis wants to let him go. Started his career strong n n exciting! But I don’t know if not tackling n breaking up passes, or interception gets u a 18 million a year. Let him go!, n become a star elsewhere. Vic fangio might give him a second chance. lol go one more thing, Miami. Should draft, Will Howard. Maybe 3 round . 6 ft 5 . Weight 240. N can run n a big arm. N let him compete n learn. Our future would look bright! Dolfanjoe predicts new safeties. Yes we will have new safety’s. Look forward to the competition. jimmythesaint1 says he’s gone either way. Holland will get a huge offer elsewhere. Holland will sign a huge deal elsewhere. End of story. SlayerNation1 doesn’t sound like he was on board with keeping him anyway. Money is an amplifier of what You already are.Makes business decisions not to play ….Makes business decisions when He does play by letting 10 other teammates tackle while He sidles up to the pile at the end as if He was “just gonna make the tackle”…Not an impact player…Attitude sucks…Who wants more of that at any price, let alone a higher price? Based on the poll and the answers, fans seem split somewhat. Those who want to keep him only want to do so at a lower price than he is expected to receive on the open market. Thank you to each of you who took the time to participate by either voting in our poll or answering our question of the day.
What a Stafford-Trevor Lawrence trade would look like
Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images Is the 2021 Stafford-Goff trade repeating itself with Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars new GM from L.A.? The similarities of 2021 are so eerie that is worth exploring the potential of a Matthew Stafford for Trevor Lawrence trade and if you think that a blockbuster of that magnitude is impossible then you’ve never met Les Snead, who has informed Stafford’s agents that they can gauge their value with other teams. People have been asking for weeks what the NFL’s version of the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade would be and while Lawrence is no Luka, this is as close as it could get. Though there are complications to the Jacksonville Jaguars trading Lawrence due to his contract, the Los Angeles Rams are maybe the only team that could pull it off because of Stafford. Here’s how it would work, but first the similarities to 2021: The Jaguars hired a GM from the Rams Just as in 2021 with Brad Holmes, the Jaguars have hired a new general manager out of L.A.’s front office, this time that person being James Gladstone. The Lions hired Holmes in 2021 and he immediately traded an unhappy Stafford to his old boss in exchange for a Jared Goff and two first round picks. Opening the familiarity pipeline between L.A. and Jacksonville just as two quarterbacks face uncertain futures means that the one GM around the league who Gladstone knows he can work with is Snead. The Jaguars hired a HC who worked under Sean McVay This wasn’t even one of the factors from 2021, it’s just more reason to think that Jacksonville would be a sensible landing spot for Matthew Stafford. The Jaguars hired Liam Coen, the Rams offensive coordinator in 2022, as their new head coach and play caller. That’s the only season that Stafford and Coen have worked together (he was at Kentucky in 2021) and it didn’t go well, but it does mean that Stafford would have a smooth transition to the Jacksonville offense. Smoother than probably any other QB the Jaguars could start, including Lawrence. After #Jaguars HC Liam Coen helped @Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield substantially improve, he will need better O-line to do same for Trevor Lawrence. https://t.co/W8h60E7wq4 — Eugene Frenette (@GeneFrenette) February 22, 2025 The trade would complement their respective needs Of course the Jaguars most likely hired Coen with the intention to bring the most out of Lawrence, but if Gladstone could pull off what Holmes pulled off in Detroit (making arguably the worst franchise in the NFL into a Super Bowl contender despite trading for a QB downgrade in his first year on the job) and add assets to their future then Jacksonville could be better off than with Lawence. We also all pretty much know that since Lawrence was drafted and Stafford was traded in 2021, that Stafford has been the better quarterback. If he goes to the Jaguars in 2025, that’s a division that he could help them win immediately. Conversely, the Rams see that they have a really young defense and a really old offense. Without a clear path towards drafting a QBOTF (L.A. picks 26th in a weak QB class this year), Lawrence represents a long-term future for Sean McVay and the head coach with a penchant for former number one overall picks has never had the chance to coach and develop someone like Lawrence. Another similarity here being that Goff was picked first, Stafford was picked first, and Lawrence was picked first. Kara Durrette/Getty Images Everyone knows that Lawrence was pretty bad last season and there’s no guarantee that he’s going to get better with Coen. Even despite making the playoffs once, Lawrence has a career record of 22-38 and the Jaguars best record with him is 9-8. Owner Shad Khan seems tired of waiting and potentially losing 13 or 14 games again. Stafford would give the Jaguars better odds of winning 11 or 12 games in 2025. But Lawrence would give McVay better odds of still wanting to coach the Rams in 2026. How would a Stafford-Goff trade work? So the big road block to trading Lawrence is that a pre-June trade leaves a $100 million dead cap hit on the Jaguars payroll in 2025: That’s $83 million more than Lawrence’s current cap hit! Believe it or not, that’s not entirely untenable if that’s what Jacksonville did (they could cut, restructure, and extend certain players to get compliant but it would be too hard), but that’s not what they would do here. No, the Jaguars would trade Lawrence AFTER June 1st. “But wait! That couldn’t work! They wouldn’t get any 2025 draft picks!” Exactly. Which would be a problem usually…unless the Jaguars knew they were getting a really good quarterback in return. Which in this case, they would be. As Stafford — and potentially Cooper Kupp — are at the crux of this trade, the Jaguars would be able to stabilize or even upgrade their quarterback position while also acquiring draft picks in the future. That’s not something that most teams can offer to Jacksonville and on L.A.’s end, the opportunity to trade Stafford after the draft means that they can acquire a QBOTF, afford to pay him, move Kupp, and still keep all of their draft picks in 2025. Stafford-Lawrence post-June 1 cap implications If the Jaguars wait and trade Lawrence after June 1st, they will have to pay his $35 million option bonus in March but then they’re kind of scot free. OverTheCap says that trading Lawrence in June leaves only a $14.5 million dead cap hit in 2025 and $2.5 million in cap savings. It does put a major dent in their 2026 salary cap, but not enough to do irreparable damage and we all know that the salary cap continues to increase a lightning pace. If they did this trade, the Jaguars would have cap space in 2025, cap space in 2026, Matthew Stafford, 2026 draft picks, and maybe Kupp. The Rams
Raiders roster 2025: The Top 5 younger players with the most to prove
Dylan Parham has been entrenched as a starting guard on the Las Vegas Raiders offensive line since being drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. | Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Dylan Parham, Michael Mayer amongst second- and third-year players who can and must step up this coming season and beyond Attention and interest is rightfully focused on draft season and free agency for the Las Vegas Raiders’ John Spytek and Pete Carroll. The Silver & Black’s general manager and head coach, respectively, embark on their inaugural season steering the franchise in a new direction that — hopefully — results in sustained success. As Spytek, Carroll, and the other decision makers in Las Vegas go about constructing a roster to their liking, it’s no wonder Raider Nation is eagerly anticipating what happens in free agency (which begins mid-March) and the 2025 NFL Draft. Those two primo events will help further shape the franchise’s future direction. And will likely have reverberating effects on the players currently on the roster and under contract. With that in mind, let’s look at the Top 5 Raiders who are 25 years old and under who have the most to prove this coming season and beyond: 5. Jonah Laulu, Defensive Tackle A waiver claim in late August from the Indianapolis Colts, the seventh-round pick (234th overall) in the 2024 draft didn’t get regular defensive snaps until Week 9, but when the defensive tackle produced and showed promise. The 6-foot-5 and 292-pounder had standout performances against the Atlanta Falcons (five total tackles, one sack, one stop for loss, one quarterback hit) and against the Los Angeles Chargers (regular season finale, seven total tackles, one stop for loss, one quarterback hit) and finished with 35 total tackles, one sack, three tackles for loss, and a trio of pass deflections. The 24-year-old rookie played in all 17 games and started seven as he earned 475 defensive snaps (43 percent of the unit’s total) with 96 special teams snaps (20 percent of he unit’s total). Picking up the rookie contract as part of the waiver claim, Laulu doesn’t cost much (960,000 cap number in 2025 and under contract until 2027) but will need to continue to showcase improved drive, power, and production as he embarks on Year 2 in the league in Las Vegas. #LasVegas native & #RAIDERS DT @Jonah_laulu shined on #MNF getting his first sack in the #NFL and he did it in his hometown. How cool is that? pic.twitter.com/0R0liiVKU8 — Harry Ruiz (@harryruiz) December 18, 2024 4. Decamerion Richardson, Cornerback Throw into the fire as injuries decimated the defensive back room, the fourth-round pick (112th overall) in the 2024 draft got on-the-job training and experience as rookie. And it’ll be interesting to see how Richardson uses the growing pains from Year 1 into a Year 2 springboard. Overcoming a hamstring injury, the 23-year-old was inactive the first five weeks of the 2024 campaign before jumping into heavy action from Week 11 on. Richardson played in 12 games starting seven and was targeted 46 times, according to Pro Football Reference. He was charted allowing 30 completions (65.2 percent) for 459 yards (312 air yards, 147 yards after catch) and three touchdowns. Quarterbacks throwing his way sported a 119.7 QB rating. Richardson finished with 46 total tackles, one tackle for loss, and three pass deflections. With prototypical size at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, along with speed (4.34 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine), Richardson has the measurables that Carroll’s defenses long sought. It’ll be up to Richardson and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, defensive backs coach Marcus Robertson, and pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach Joe Woods to make as sophomore leap. Richardson can also lean on fellow corner Jakorian Bennett, who had a strong Year 2 after a rough rookie year. 3. Dylan Laube, Running back/returner Despite ineffectiveness and injuries eroding the running back room down from the muscle to the bone, the sixth-round pick (208th overall) in the 2024 draft fumbled his first regular-season carry in Week 6 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and didn’t get another opportunity — again. The 25-year-old played in 10 games and spent the majority of his rookie season on special teams (116 snaps, 42 percent of the unit’s total). He did have six kick returns for 164 yards (a long of 59 yards) to go along with three special teams tackles. Laube, like many other Raiders, is set to get a clean slate and with a focused offseason, can get into the mix at running back and special teams once more. Las Vegas running back room is unsettled and the team needs juice on the return units, both aspects the 5-foot-10, 208-pound tailback can contribute to as a pass-catching back and return man. Otherwise, he’ll likely go as a late-round pick who is on the cut list. 2. Michael Mayer, Tight End Expected to form a formidable 1-2 punch with rookie Brock Bowers, Mayer’s second season in the league was truncated due to a personal matter. The talented Notre Dame product missed the initial seven weeks of the 2024 campaign due to that matter and the Raiders were patient with the second-round pick (35th overall) from the 2023 draft. Playing in the first three games of the 2024 season, Mayer would miss the next few weeks and return to action in Week 11. Finishing with 21 catches for 156 yards (highest output was a seven-catch, 68-yard effort against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14), Las Vegas’ offense under Chip Kelly would get a huge boost with Mayer in full-time action. A strong blocker with sneaky speed and soft hands, Mayer combining with Bowers allows Las Vegas to explore heavier formations and force defenses to account for two tight ends that can not only catch, but are formidable blockers, too. At just 23 years old, sky is the limit for Mayer but he’s got a lot to prove in Year 3. Michael Mayer speaks on his return to the
Buffalo Bills 2025 NFL offseason positional review: Quarterbacks
Buffalo Bills 2025 NFL offseason positional review: Quarterbacks Unshockingly, everything starts and ends with Josh Allen. The 28-year-old put the team on his back during multiple weeks this season. Often, the will of Allen helped keep the Bills in games in which they had some deficiencies. Allen won his first NFL MVP Award in a hotly contested race with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Overall, Allen did more with less, giving him the edge over Jackson. Allen was a magician of sorts, extending plays when necessary. Allen made virtually every throw when called upon. And in the instances where the Bills QB could not find a receiver, he would take on defenders with full-force running. Make no mistake, this team is far from a playoff team if Allen is not heading this team. Behind Allen, Mitchell Trubisky played in spot duty. His top play was the kneel down, as Trubisky only saw action during garbage time.
Vikings Links: Let Us Continue To Beat The Horse
I know that many fans feel like we have beaten the (who is the QB) horse to death already. Nah. We are just getting started IMO. There is a ton more wailing and gnashing of the teeth that we are capable of producing. Sounds like fun to me. I will say that it could be difficult for any veteran QB to get full support from the fans next year. If they have any bad outing or even some bad drives or interceptions, the fans will be clamoring for JJ McCarthy. I do not believe the veteran QBs want to be in that situation although I think money talks the most. I am looking forward to the combine to see the actual measurements of the players. There are always some surprises. . Minnesota Vikings News and Links A look at the pros and cons of quarterback options for Vikings in 2025 The talk of the offseason for the Minnesota Vikings is who will take the first snap under center in 2025. The Vikings could bring back last year’s starting quarterback, Sam Darnold, either by the franchise tag or a longer-term deal. They could roll with J.J. McCarthy, whom they selected with the No. 10 overall pick in last year’s NFL draft. They could sign a veteran, like Daniel Jones who was with their practice squad last season, to compete with McCarthy and be an insurance option. They could bring in a veteran — names like Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford have been floating as potential options for the Vikings. Who will they roll with next season, and what are the pros and cons of each option? Sam Darnold Pros Darnold is coming off the best year of his career in his first season in Minnesota, posting the fifth-most passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (35) in the NFL in 2024. The Vikings know what they have in Darnold: a quarterback who knows Kevin O’Connell’s offense and can excel in the system. You have to want to run that back in 2025. Darnold is still only 27 years old. There’s plenty more good football ahead of him. Chemistry. Darnold spent an entire season building familiarity with Minnesota’s wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. They’d be able to hit the ground running with Darnold back under center next season. Cons Darnold’s price tag will go up significantly one way or another. It seems like most likely scenario for Darnold to return is the franchise tag, which would pay him $41 million for next season, a significant jump from the one-year, $10 million contract he played on last season. That would limit what the Vikings could spend on other positions of need in free agency, and there are certainly other holes to fill on the roster. Is the money best spent on Darnold? Darnold had a fantastic season, but it was also something he hadn’t showed before in the NFL. And his struggles in the final two games of the year didn’t do a lot to instill confidence going forward. Would he be able to meet the moment in another go around? Did Darnold show something he can repeat, or was the 2024 season just a fluke? There’s no way of knowing any of that until Darnold takes the field again in 2025. . J.J. McCarthy Pros McCarthy is on a rookie contract, and if the Vikings aren’t spending big on him, there’s tons of flexibility elsewhere. O’Connell declared McCarthy the quarterback of the future last preseason. It’s clear the Vikings have belief in the young quarterback, who as an unknown, has limitless potential. Darnold’s 2024 season may have been his ceiling — McCarthy’s ceiling hasn’t even been explored yet. There’s reason to believe it could be much higher. Cons McCarthy is coming off a torn meniscus, so if he takes over in 2025, it will be after a season of rehab instead of a season of practicing and learning under Darnold. It’s hard to tell if he’d be 100% ready coming off a lost year. And like with any first-year quarterback, there’s certain to be some growing pains with McCarthy taking the reins. As a unknown, McCarthy has the potential for a higher ceiling than someone like Darnold, but there’s also the possibility he has a much lower floor. He’ll take the field eventually one way or another, but the reality for now is that he remains an unknown. Maybe McCarthy will be great, but you can also do a lot worse than Darnold. Sam Darnold: Vikings open to contract extension, franchise tag not likely ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Vikings are not expected to place the franchise tag on Sam Darnold, but they are open to bringing him back J.J. McCarthy’s readiness to replace Sam Darnold with Vikings questioned due to Michigan’s dominance John Middlekauff of 3 and Out raised concerns about McCarthy’s ability to carry the Vikings’ offense, pointing out that he played in a dominant system at Michigan that didn’t require him to take over games. You’re going to depend on a player who was on a dominant college football team. And he was not tasked with, ‘Hey, bro, this is going to be one of those games where the defense is playing like s—, and we’re going to need 35 points. And I know we got Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but you’re going to have to carry us. You’re going to have to make throws, blitzes, third-and-longs, stuff like that. Buckle up, buttercup.’ He’s never had to do that. And not saying that he can’t because he can learn to. But like, they’re going to come in next season with goals of… they were just competing to be the number one overall seed. And now it’s like, ‘Oh, we’re just cool with, what, winning nine games.’ Hell no. You have a team that is ready-made to just be competitive. And that’s a lot of pressure to put on a player who’s never started an NFL game.
What’s next for Storm Duck?
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Can the Miami Dolphins rely on second-year cornerback Storm Duck with questions in the secondary? The Miami Dolphins have a top-tier cornerback in three-time All-Pro Jalen Ramsey but enter the offseason with not much else in the secondary. Starting safeties Jordan Poyer and Jevon Holland are set to hit free agency next month. Boundary corner Kendall Fuller was released after starting 11 games last season, and multi-year starting nickel corner Kader Kohou enters the offseason as a restricted free agent. With more questions than answers and limited resources to replenish the roster, growth from part-time players is key to Miami’s playoff return in 2025. Appearing in 14 games as an undrafted rookie, injuries forced cornerback Storm Duck into three starts last season. Duck, 24, logged 35 tackles and four passes defended for the Dolphins. Opposing quarterbacks completed 24 of 33 pass attempts for 251 yards and a touchdown when targeting him, according to PFF. Despite strong performances against New England and San Francisco, he closed the season with two missed tackles in back-to-back weeks, finishing with nine overall. How much did the Dolphins want Louisville cornerback Storm Duck? They gave him a $20,000 signing bonus and $150,000 guaranteed, per source. Multiple Dolphins staff members called and he picked Miami over a dozen other offers. He’s a boundary (outside) corner. Had 5 INTs in 4… — Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) April 28, 2024 The Dolphins were one of 12 teams interested in him after he went undrafted as a fifth-year player at Louisville, but offered a $20,000 signing bonus and $150,000 guaranteed to land him. Duck was named second-team All-ACC in 2022 at North Carolina before transferring to Louisville. He appeared in 12 games as a redshirt senior with 32 tackles and a sack for the Cardinals. NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein cited Duck’s lack of top-end speed and struggles in run support as to why he wasn’t drafted. Miami’s depth at cornerback includes former second-round pick Cam Smith and former undrafted free agent Ethan Bonner. Still, they combined to appear in 11 games with no starts last season. The Dolphins need a full-time starter across from Ramsey, and the front office will take swings at addressing this in free agency and the draft. Duck projects to enter his second season as a trustworthy role player but may have opportunities to earn a larger role as Miami’s secondary takes shape.
