In the modern NFL, draft capital is as much a strategic asset as players themselves. Few teams have embraced that philosophy more creatively than the Los Angeles Rams. Known for their aggressive roster construction and willingness to move picks around the board, the Rams could once again manipulate the draft order—this time by trading their […] In the modern NFL, draft capital is as much a strategic asset as players themselves. Few teams have embraced that philosophy more creatively than the Los Angeles Rams. Known for their aggressive roster construction and willingness to move picks around the board, the Rams could once again manipulate the draft order—this time by trading their 2026 first-round pick (13th overall) for a future first-rounder in 2027. Such a move would mirror the strategy they executed during the 2025 draft with the Atlanta Falcons, when Los Angeles traded the 26th overall selection in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick and additional mid-round assets. That deal effectively allowed the Rams to “push” their first-round investment forward while accumulating extra value, and the same blueprint could easily apply in this year’s draft. A few weeks from now, we could be having deja vu all over again… Revisiting the Rams’ Previous Strategy During the 2025 NFL Draft, the Rams found themselves in a position where the available prospects at their selection did not align perfectly with their roster needs. Rather than forcing a pick, they opted to move down and into the future. The Falcons, eager to secure a specific player, sent their 2026 first-round pick to Los Angeles along with a sweetener. The result was a win-win transaction. Atlanta landed a targeted prospect immediately, while the Rams effectively delayed their first-round selection and increased the overall value of their draft portfolio. Now, holding the Falcons’ 2026 pick—which landed at No. 13 overall—the Rams could deploy the same strategy again. Why Trading the 13th Pick Makes Sense At first glance, the 13th overall selection is a valuable asset. It typically sits in the range where top defensive players, offensive linemen, and elite skill prospects are still available. However, value also depends heavily on roster construction and draft depth. If the Rams enter the 2026 draft with a relatively stable starting lineup, the urgency to select a rookie in the top half of the first round may be reduced. In that scenario, trading the pick for a 2027 first-rounder offers several advantages: 1. Long-Term Asset Growth Future first-round picks are often undervalued in the moment but become extremely valuable later. By moving the 13th pick to 2027, the Rams would continue building a pipeline of premium assets. 2. Flexibility for a Future Move Having multiple future first-round picks gives the front office leverage to trade up for a franchise quarterback or elite prospect later. The Rams have historically used aggressive trades to land cornerstone players. Arch Manning will be the prized possession of the 2027 NFL Draft. And if Matthew Stafford retires after the 2026 season, then they can move up to get their guy… 3. Draft Class Evaluation If the 2026 draft class lacks elite talent at positions of need, delaying the pick allows the team to take advantage of what is projected to be a stronger 2027 class. As it stands now, the 2026 draft class has been criticized for its lack of top talent aside from Francisco Mendoza and Francis Mauigoa, and even then those two have not garnered the same type of buzz that prospects like Joe Thomas, Andrew Luck, Caleb Williams, and Myles Garrett yielded. Identifying a Trade Partner For the strategy to work, the Rams would need a team eager to jump into the middle of the first round to secure a specific player. Teams drafting later in the round—or those holding multiple picks—often fit this profile. Franchises looking for a quarterback or a premier offensive tackle frequently become aggressive around picks 10–15. If a highly rated prospect begins to slide, teams drafting in the 20s could be motivated to move up. In such a scenario, the Rams could structure a deal similar to last year’s framework: Rams receive: 2027 first-round pick + a mid-round selection Trade partner receives: 2026 first-round pick (No. 13 overall) The inclusion of an additional Day 2 or Day 3 pick would help offset the one-year delay in value. Keep an eye on the Chicago Bears that could move up as they have two second round picks in this year’s draft. With a franchise quarterback already in place, they might be enticed to “go for it” by giving Caleb Williams evert sort of asset and luxury while on his rookie deal. The “Future Pick Pipeline” One fascinating outcome of repeating this strategy is the possibility of creating a rolling pipeline of first-round picks. Consider the timeline: 2025 Draft: Rams trade their first-round pick to acquire a 2026 first-rounder from the Falcons. 2026 Draft: Rams trade the No. 13 pick for a 2027 first-round selection. By consistently converting present assets into future ones, the Rams could maintain long-term flexibility without sacrificing overall value. This approach is especially useful for teams that prioritize veteran acquisitions and proven talent over rookie development. Lessons from Rams Front-Office Philosophy The Rams’ front office has long been known for bold decision-making. Their willingness to trade high draft picks for established stars helped deliver a championship during the Super Bowl LVI season. While the team has gradually shifted back toward accumulating draft assets in recent years, the same underlying principle remains: maximize value and maintain flexibility. Trading the 13th overall pick for a 2027 first-rounder would be another example of that philosophy in action. It would allow Los Angeles to keep building future resources while still adding depth through later picks. Potential Risks Of course, there are risks to this approach. Future picks carry uncertainty; the Rams trade partner might perform well and turn the Rams draft pick into a late 1st, or the draft class might not be as strong as expected. Additionally,
Will Rams trade their 2026 first rounder for a 2027 first rounder?
Report: Colts sign safety Juanyeh Thomas to 1-year deal
The Indianapolis Colts continued reshaping their secondary Friday, agreeing to sign free agent safety Juanyeh Thomas on a one-year deal that gives the young defender a new opportunity to compete for a starting role. Thomas spent the first three seasons of his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys, appearing in 36 games while carving out […] The Indianapolis Colts continued reshaping their secondary Friday, agreeing to sign free agent safety Juanyeh Thomas on a one-year deal that gives the young defender a new opportunity to compete for a starting role. Thomas spent the first three seasons of his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys, appearing in 36 games while carving out a role on special teams. He totaled 62 tackles, five pass deflections and one forced fumble. Last season marked the most action of Thomas’ career as he made three starts and collected 26 tackles despite being limited to just seven games. He finished with a career-high 266 defensive snaps, playing 55% of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps when healthy. A breakout season was interrupted by a nerve issue that caused severe migraines and forced him to miss 10 games. The signing reflects a tantalizing offseason strategy of identifying younger players who can potentially step into larger roles. Colts GM Chris Ballard has emphasized the need to get younger on defense, and the 25-year-old entering his fourth NFL season fits that approach. The Colts must replenish a defense that has undergone significant turnover this offseason. Indianapolis has lost five starters overall, including trading All-Pro linebacker Zaire Franklin to the Green Bay Packers and losing edge rusher Kwity Paye to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. Another one of the most notable departures was former starting safety Nick Cross leaving in free agency to join the Washington Commanders. Cross, a Maryland native and alum, made it clear above all else his intentions were to return home. Rather than pursuing established veterans, the Colts have taken a different approach by bringing in younger defenders with upside and allowing them to compete for open jobs during training camp. Thomas enters a potential competition with newly signed safety Jonathan Owens, who also agreed to sign with the Colts. Both players have a chance to secure the first full-time starting role of their careers as Indianapolis continues rebuilding its secondary ahead of the 2026 NFL season. See More:
How Maxx Crosby development affects 2026 draft
The cancelled Maxx Crosby trade from the Las Vegas Raiders to the Baltimore Ravens affects many things with the team, including the upcoming NFL draft. The Raiders were going to get the No. 14 overall draft pick from the Ravens in the 2026 draft and a 2027 first-rounder as well. As a result, the Raiders, […] The cancelled Maxx Crosby trade from the Las Vegas Raiders to the Baltimore Ravens affects many things with the team, including the upcoming NFL draft. The Raiders were going to get the No. 14 overall draft pick from the Ravens in the 2026 draft and a 2027 first-rounder as well. As a result, the Raiders, who won the No. 1 overall pick, were going to have the most draft capital in the 2026 draft and the most in recent memory. Yes, they still have plenty of draft capital, the trade hurts it. Losing the 20-27 pick also hurts because that draft is expected to be very strong. Also, it gave the Raiders a lot of flexibility. Having four first-round picks in two years is powerful. That is now gone. If the Raiders had the No.1 4 pick, they would have the flexibility to trade way up un the 2026 draft to pair a top prospect with expected No.1 overall pick, quarterback Fernando Mendoza. They also could have traded down from No. 14 to compile picks. That all went away with the Ravens scuttling the draft. The Raiders will still be position to improve in the draft, but the downside of this is, the rebuild won’t be as fueled by the extra draft picks as expected. See More: Las Vegas Raiders Draft
Detroit Lions signing veteran tight end Tyler Conklin
The Detroit Lions are adding some tight end depth. According to his agency, the Lions are signing former Chargers tight end Tyler Conklin to a one-year deal. Conklin is an eight-year veteran with 127 career game appearances and 69 total starts. He most recently spent a season with the Los Angeles Chargers, playing in 13 […] The Detroit Lions are adding some tight end depth. According to his agency, the Lions are signing former Chargers tight end Tyler Conklin to a one-year deal. Conklin is an eight-year veteran with 127 career game appearances and 69 total starts. He most recently spent a season with the Los Angeles Chargers, playing in 13 games and five starts. It was a rough season for him, posting just seven catches for 101 yards—and serving as a healthy scratch a handful of times. However, prior to that, Conklin had produced at least 50 catches and 449 receiving yards in four straight seasons, three with the Jets and one with the Vikings. Speaking of the Vikings, Conklin overlapped with current Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing in Minnesota in 2018 and 2019 when Petzing was the team’s assistant quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach. Conklin also has local ties. He grew up in Chesterfield, Michigan, and went to Central Michigan University. As a player, he’s got strong hands, decent production as a receiver, and has a good history of grading out well in pass protection. He’s earned a 66 or higher PFF pass blocking grade in five of his eight seasons, including each of his last three years. We identified Conklin as one of our tight end “best fits” in this year’s free agency class. Here’s what we said about him in our tight end preview: As for Conklin, he’s coming off a rough year with the Chargers. After three years of good production with the Jets, he managed just seven catches for 101 yards in LA, and was even a healthy scratch regularly toward the end of the season. A change of scenery would do him well, and reuniting with Petzing, who overlapped with Conklin for two years with the Vikings in 2018-19, could be just the landing spot he needs. In Detroit, Conklin could compete with Brock Wright for the Lions’ TE2 spot or provide some insurance while starter Sam LaPorta continues to rehab from his back injury. Follow along with all of the latest Detroit Lions with our news and rumor tracker. See More:
Riq Woolen admits he can “sometimes can get out of control a little bit”
One of the Eagles early moves in free agency was to sign CB Taris (Riq) Woolen just a month after he won the Super Bowl with the Seahawks. He spoke to reporters after signing his new contract and talked about how he and his new team know what it takes to be a Champion, and […] One of the Eagles early moves in free agency was to sign CB Taris (Riq) Woolen just a month after he won the Super Bowl with the Seahawks. He spoke to reporters after signing his new contract and talked about how he and his new team know what it takes to be a Champion, and why he was excited for the opportunity to play in Philadelphia. “Another opportunity. A great chance to play with a great team. A lot of similarities that I had with the Seahawks — great defensive line, great linebackers. Just all around great culture and organization.” Woolen explained that he took free agency one day at a time and relied on his faith and his agent to do their part in the process. As for what stood out to him to make Philly a good opportunity for him, the CB mentioned his new teammates. “Just the players on it. You got Q [Quinyon Mitchell], you got Coop [Cooper DeJean], and with me being able to join those guys, I know that we can be able to play different looks.” He also named some of the guys up front and the strong group of linebackers in Philly, saying the whole defensive unit is going to have fun this season. Woolen had met Mitchell before Q was drafted, having both trained at the same facility in Florida, but he said they’ll get a lot closer this year. “I watched that [Buccaneers-Eagles] game and I seen the way [Quinyon Mitchell] and Cooper [DeJean] were tackling, they were covering, they were strapping guys up. It was pretty cool to see. Now that I’m able to be a part of that, it’s awesome because it’s like, ‘Dang, where can you throw the ball to.’ It’s fun to be able to be paired with those guys. I feel like there’s going to be a lot of chances for us to make plays and a lot of chances to help out the defense as well.” Later, Woolen said that he’s a sticky guy in coverage and the Eagles run a lot of man, and in those situations he’s confident he can take chances based on his athletic ability. On his personality “I like to go out there and have swagger. I got to have passion. God didn’t make me to be a quiet person. God made me to go show off my abilities and play with passion and enthusiasm. And to fit in a culture where a lot of players do play with passion and enthusiasm is going to be a lot of fun.” Woolen was also asked about what part of his game he hopes to work on and develop, and he pointed to the mental aspect of things and acknowledged that he’s got a new process for trying to avoid taunting penalties — for which he’s drawn many through his career. “For me, the mental game a little bit. Sometimes in my head a little bit, but at the same time, I like to show a lot of passion when I play. And sometimes can get out of control a little bit… But most of the time I just feel like I’m just being a great player, and whenever you make plays, you just got to lock in a little more and just focus and celebrate with your teammates a little bit.” He cut back on taunting penalties throughout last season, and Woolen explained that his approach has been to turn to his sideline after making a big play. He noted that there’s nothing wrong with going and celebrating with your teammates, and of course the emotions are going to be high when going against an opponent, especially a rival, but just get to the sideline and celebrate with the guys that matter. On his viral Carson Wentz interaction Woolen was asked about the post-game interaction with Carson Wentz in which the CB gave the QB his flowers for being so talented. He explained that Wentz was a player he had watched when he was younger, and he was a little star struck seeing someone he followed as a kid. “I just got love for great players, and I love when people go out and win games, and do the right thing. And he was a player that did that.” See More:
‘Pancake Pat’ Ricard ready to bring the physicality to the NY Giants
Pancake Pat blocking for Skat. Like the sound of that, New York Giants fans? That is a likelihood the New York Giants have created by signing former Baltimore Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard to lead block for a backfield that includes head-banging running back Cam Skattebo. The Giants gave Ricard a market-setting two-year, $7.63 million contract this week, making his $3.815 million average annual value the most ever paid to a fullback. Why did they do that? Because Ricard is a 6-foot-3, 300-pound wrecking ball who has been named to the Pro Bowl six times in nine seasons. “I’ve garnished the nickname Pancake Pat because I pride myself in how physical I am, the point of attack and pancaking defenders, and if I can continue to do that, that’s all I care about,” Ricard said. “It does not bother me if I don’t get the ball at all. Sometimes I’d rather have these other guys get the balls because they’re just, to be honest, they’re better. They’re more explosive. They can run a lot faster than me. I’m 300 pounds. So, I’d rather have the ball in their hands and me blocking for them.” ‘Physicality all over the place’ Ricard was, of course, asked what it would be like blocking for Skattebo, a player who spent time as a kid running into telephone poles for fun. “It’s going to look like a lot of yards and a lot of touchdowns,” Ricard said. “It’s going to be just physicality all over the place. It’s going to just be exactly what the people want to see.” What does Ricard know about Skattebo? “I loved watching him last year, and I was just thinking to myself, I’m like, man, that guy has a lot of fun. And you can just tell by how he plays and the juice he brings to the team,” Ricard said. “I’ve had a couple conversations with him. He was recruiting me to come here. I’m close with Jermaine Eluemunor, both in the same draft class in Baltimore. Jermaine was FaceTiming me, and right in the background there’s Skatt just saying what’s up to me. So, I’m excited to work with them and get to know him more.” Jermaine Eluemunor, salesman When he wasn’t getting himself fitted for a fancy suit, it seems Eluemunor spent some time recruiting his former Ravens teammate. “If you look at Jermaine’s journey, I mean he’s trying to find a home, kind of bouncing around, and that whole time, I was in Baltimore for the last nine years. He’s kind of bouncing around, and I’m in Baltimore, and for us to now finally be together again is just a full-circle moment,” Ricard said. “And he was just telling me how great this place is and how much I’m going to love it and how much I’m going to love my teammates, the city. And he couldn’t have said anything better about this place. So, I’m just excited to be with him once again and to enjoy and see what the city is all about.” A career rooted in defense Ricard wasn’t always a fullback. He played defensive tackle at Maine, and split time his first two seasons in Baltimore between offense and defense. he has been a full-time fullback since 2019. How does having been a defensive tackle help him now? “I think it’s the physical part of defense. Defense, you’re always on the attack. You’re always trying to be as physical as you can. You have to beat a offensive linemen. You have to chase down a quarterback. You have to do all these things to where for me playing fullback, I think it translated really well, on top of also understanding how defenses work, how a defensive line, how a front plays, how their gaps sound, how they blitz, how they pass rush, and I think I was able to take all those things that I learned from playing defense and use it in my game on offense,” Ricard said. “And I think that helped me really understand and really learn, because I didn’t play offense in college. So for me to try to block and play in an offense against the best in the world, it was a huge learning curve, and I was just thankful for great coaches to help me, and the coaches here now, Coach [John] Harbaugh and Coach [Greg] Roman. So, I’m just grateful to be back with them again and continue my journey with them.” Following his coach In the end, Ricard just wanted to be wherever the only NFL head coach he has ever played for was. “I’m just very grateful for Coach Harbaugh. I mean, he’s been in my corner my whole career. He’s believed in me,” Ricard said. “And as soon as I saw he got the job here, I was definitely interested. I even told him, like, look, if you were coaching a Pop Warner football team, I’m interested. I’m there doing something. I don’t even know if I’m like the water boy, you know what I’m saying? “So, as soon as he was interested in me coming here, I was all in. I was just ready to just sign the contract and let’s get going.” Ricard admitted that the Cleveland Browns, now coached by former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, tried to sway him. “Ultimately, I made the decision to sign here. Felt like it was a better fit for me and my family, I felt like my history with Harbaugh,” Ricard said. “I obviously love Coach Monken, with him for the last three years now, I think it was. And just a ton of respect for him, and I know he’s going to do a lot of great things there. So I’m excited for the Browns, but I’m more excited for the Giants.” Giants fans are excited for some Pancake Pat highlights. See More:
FanDuel odds: Giants 2026 win total projected at 7.5
With the start of free agency and trades (including a failed one) dominating the NFL news cycle for the last week or two, fans may not have noticed that FanDuel dropped its initial wagers for NFL team win totals. Believe it or not, some folks await this moment like little kids on Christmas morning. Is it a little premature for posting win totals, while free agency is in a frenzy and before the annual player draft? Sure it is. Is it fun to analyze them? You bet it is, and the word bet is intentional. A lot of gamblers like to get in early if they see a line they really like, before the odds change or in rare cases, the line moves. The Giants’ total on FanDuel is set at 7.5 wins for this coming season, which reflects a big jump from both the 2025 FanDuel total (5.5 wins) and the team’s actual 2025 record (4-13). To hit the “over” wager, the Giants will need to at least double their win total from last season. Can they do it? Well, right now the offered wagers favor them coming up short, as the odds for the over are at slightly plus-money (+110) while the odds for the under are at -130. Those odds will keep changing as wagers come in while the offseason continues to unfold. As noted above, Big Blue’s 2026 FanDuel total is a full 3.5 wins higher than their actual win total from last season. Only the Chiefs show a larger difference from 2025 (10.5 win total on offer, after a dismal 6-11 season), but they went to three straight Super Bowls before last season’s collapse. Three other teams (BAL, CIN, and TEN) have the same 3.5 jump in wins as the Giants. So the bookmakers think New York is in the Top-5 for a positive turnaround. Why is there so much optimism? There are multiple reasons. The 2025 Giants had the NFL’s hardest schedule (based on the prior season’s winning percentage of their opponents), while this season, they’re middle of the pack with the 17th-ranked schedule. Their 2026 opponents had a .498 winning percentage in 2025. Last season, the NFC East played the NFC North and AFC West, which were two of the strongest and deepest divisions in football. The 2026 schedule isn’t out yet, but we do know the opponents. This season, NFC East teams face the NFC West (ugh) and the AFC South (not so bad), and New York’s fourth-place schedule nets them additional games against the Saints, Lions, and Browns. They also play their division foes twice each, as they do every season. It’s not an easy slate by any means, but it’s not brutal like last season. Harbaugh’s job: Turn Big Blue into a winnerJulian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The schedule isn’t the only reason for the jump, though. The arrival of John Harbaugh and a new coaching staff is probably the main factor in play here. There’s an expectation of better stability, preparedness, and professionalism as a new culture hopefully takes hold. On top of that, Jaxson Dart showed plenty of promise and growth as a rookie and has a year of valuable experience under his belt. Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo should be recovered from their injuries and ready to go Week 1, which is also a big plus. Finally, free agency probably hasn’t moved the needle either way thus far, but the team does have the fifth pick in next month’s draft, and the expectation is that the Giants should be able to select an impact player at that spot. Hopefully, they’ll also add additional pieces in the draft that can help this season. That’s a lot of positives, but positives alone don’t win games on Sundays. The Giants only won four games last season, and they blew a couple of big leads along the way. There are no easy games in the division (Washington should rebound if Jayden Daniels can stay on the field), and who knows how the factors noted above will actually play out across the 2026 season, and how much injuries and other unforeseen events will weigh in. Still, given the current odds, my lean is OVER 7.5 wins, at +110. I think this team can win eight or nine games in the first year of the Harbaugh regime, and I like getting plus-odds for that. A healthy Nabers is key for 2026Getty Images Here are a few additional tidbits from the FanDuel totals. The highest win totals on offer are the defending champion Seahawks, plus the Ravens and Rams, at 11.5 wins each. The lowest totals belong to Miami and Arizona, at 4.5 wins apiece. The totals for the other NFC East teams are Philadelphia: 10.5, Dallas: 8.5, and Washington: 7.5, which puts the division at an even 34-34 win-loss projection, based on those totals. See More: New York Giants odds
Dynasty Fantasy Football: Understanding outlier production — and two potential outliers to be cautious about
Outliers are welcome sights in dynasty fantasy football, but don’t lean on production where it shouldn’t reasonably exist. Dynasty Fantasy Football: Understanding outlier production — and two potential outliers to be cautious about Don’t chase production where it shouldn’t reasonably exist: Players like Gary Barnidge in 2015 and James Robinson in 2020 are examples of extreme outliers on generally poor offenses that needed to funnel touches somewhere. Don’t get carried away amid the Malik Willis hype: While Willis has looked excellent on limited NFL snaps, his sample size is worrisome and could point to regression as a starter. 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. There is nothing more heartbreaking — in dynasty fantasy football, at least — than buying high on a player who you think has just broken out, only for that past season to turn out to be their outlier. Remember Gary Barnidge’s superb 2015 season? He finished as the TE4. How about Justin Fields’ 2022 campaign, where he leaned on his rushing ability to propel himself to the QB7? And how could we forget James Robinson? The rookie back started hot and, bit by bit, faded into fantasy irrelevance. The point is, if you traded for those players, you have likely closed this article already out of frustration. If you sensed their production was an outlier or unsustainable and flipped them, you’re still basking in the glow of what assets you turned them into. But what makes an outlier season? What patterns or spikes can we look at that may signal an outlier versus the norm? Let’s take Barnidge as our first example. A former fifth-round pick by the Carolina Panthers, Barnidge logged just 75 targets across his first six NFL seasons, which he turned into 44 catches for 603 yards and three touchdowns. Then came 2015, when he commanded 119 targets and caught 79 of them for 1,043 yards and nine scores. It led to a 78.8 PFF receiving grade, a career high. In one season alone, Barnidge basically doubled his entire career’s production. The first thing to note is that the Browns attempted 113 more passes in 2015 compared to 2014 (650 in 2015 compared to 537 the year before). The other thing is that Barnidge benefited from the Browns’ decision to move on from Jordan Cameron while reducing backup tight end Jim Dray’s role to special teams. In 2014, Cameron played 476 offensive snaps while Dray played 599 — mostly because Cameron was injured. Barnidge played just 358 snaps. It’s a huge outlier that a team would move up a third-string tight end one season to be their starter the following year. The 2014 NFL draft class was also not blessed with great tight end talent. The first five tight ends off the board were Austin Seferian-Jenkins (38th overall), Jace Amaro (49th overall), Troy Niklas (52nd overall), C.J. Fiedorowicz (65th overall) and Richard Rodgers (98th overall). The other thing to inspect is the state of the rest of the receiving corps. While Barnidge saw 119 targets, the Browns’ 2015 clubhouse leader in that regard was Travis Benjamin (129), and the team’s highest-graded receiver was running back Duke Johnson Jr. (83.6 PFF receiving grade). When playing dynasty, you need to take a holistic approach: Don’t just look at your own roster; also examine the rosters of the players you’re rostering. The 2014 Browns recorded just 12 passing touchdowns (32nd in the NFL) and passed at a 54.5% rate (28th). The void had to be filled somehow, and Barnidge just happened to inherit the perfect situation for fantasy. Subscribe For Full Access Subscribe For Full Access The same can be said of Robinson and Fields. Robinson, an undrafted free agent in 2020, entered a Jacksonville Jaguars team that had just lost 265 carries when Leonard Fournette moved on. The running back with the second-most rushes in 2019 was Ryquell Armstead, with 35. The Jaguars brought in Dare Ogunbowale and Chris Thompson to compete with Robinson for the job, but the former Illinois State product, while significantly smaller than Fournette, embodied the same grinding style that Jacksonville liked. The Jaguars were also the second-most pass-heavy team in 2020 (69.1%), so there was not a lot of volume on the ground. The available touches all went to Robinson. What primarily helped was his healthy dose of targets. In 2020, Robinson commanded 56 targets and caught 49 of them for 344 yards and three touchdowns. His yardage total ranked 14th among all running backs that season, and his targets ranked 12th at his position. Those were above-average numbers, but given that the Jaguars passed the ball at the second-highest rate in the NFL that season, they weren’t elite marks. Robinson’s 4.5 yards per carry ranked 11th out of 23 backs with at least 150 carries, and his 35 missed tackles forced placed him 14th. He was not a finesse runner, but he bulldozed his way to an RB7 finish in 2020. But the Jaguars knew they needed a more dynamic run game. In 2021, they brought in Carlos Hyde to compete with Robinson, and Ogunbowale also stole 43 carries from the former undrafted free agent. A rookie quarterback by the name of Trevor Lawrence logged 73 rushing attempts, too. Robinson still put together a fine season, with 767 rush yards and eight scores on the ground, and he even improved his yards per carry from 4.5 to 4.7. But he finished 2021 as the RB24, and the team drafted Travis Etienne Jr. that April, all but signalling an end to Robinson’s brief stint as Jacksonville’s lead back. Justin Fields still has time to prove his 2022 QB7 season was no outlier, but the grains in that particular sandtimer are running out. After Fields’ intriguing rookie campaign in which the former 11th overall pick threw for just 1,870 yards and seven touchdowns but rushed for 420 yards and two scores on 72 carries,
L.A. Rams News: Jaylen Watson didn’t expect to land where he did
When the Los Angeles Rams made the move for Trent McDuffie, it’s understandable that Jaylen Watson may have been happy for his friend and Kansas City Chiefs teammate, but it also indicated to Watson that he would not be landing with the Rams because how could the Rams afford both desired cornerbacks in the same […] When the Los Angeles Rams made the move for Trent McDuffie, it’s understandable that Jaylen Watson may have been happy for his friend and Kansas City Chiefs teammate, but it also indicated to Watson that he would not be landing with the Rams because how could the Rams afford both desired cornerbacks in the same free agency cycle? Well, the Rams pulled it off, and they reunited McDuffie and Watson, and the objective is clear: We got to the NFC Championship last year, let’s tool up and get further this time. It’s one of the most exciting times to be a fan of the Los Angeles Rams, and there’s been plenty to be excited about since Sean McVay arrived in L.A. Watson and McDuffie completed their intro press conferences, and you check that below, but it was clear to both players that they are here to make this team better, and this team was already pretty good. Pressure is on. Thank you for checking out Turf Show Times, and happy Friday the 13th! Jaylen Watson thought hopes of playing for Rams were dashed after Trent McDuffie deal (theramswire) “Even after signing McDuffie to a $124 million contract, the Rams gave Watson $51 million for three years. That’s a total commitment of $175 million to the two former Chiefs cornerbacks, plus the $13.6 million McDuffie will earn on the fifth-year option in 2026. Watson and McDuffie paired well in Kansas City, with Watson being a big, physical 6-foot-2 corner and McDuffie being the shorter, quicker defensive back who can line up anywhere. They hope to keep things rolling for the Rams this year, continuing all that they built together in Kansas City.“ New Rams CB Trent McDuffie willing to play any position in secondary (ramswire) ““Just like I told [head coach] Sean McVay, just like I told [defensive coordinator] Chris Shula, like I told [defensive backs coach] Jimmy Lake, it doesn’t matter where you put me. I’ll play safety. I’ll put my hand in the dirt if I have to. I hope I don’t have to, but truly I’m out here wanting to play ball,” McDuffie said. “No matter where you put me, I’m going to work day in and day out to make sure that I do my job at a very high level. That’s the guy you’re getting. Whether I’m nickel, whether I’m at corner, no matter what it is, I want to make sure that when I step on that field, you’re going to get the best of me.” Puka Nacua was first player to call Trent McDuffie after Rams trade (ramswire) “McDuffie spoke with the media for the first time on Thursday and he revealed that Nacua was the first person to call him after news of the trade broke. He says Nacua screamed at the top of his lungs on the phone, struggling to contain his excitement. Nacua and McDuffie were teammates at the University of Washington, so they go way back – hence Nacua’s overwhelming joy about being reunited in Los Angeles.“ Random Ramsdom Fandom: “I mean – the questions don’t make sense in either direction on Tutu…Why give him money for how you plan to use him – they KNEW who he was…but also – if he WAS a great option, what would ever make his usage so insignificant? What would be the reasoning from McVay for failing to gameplan for him even a little bit. My guess to #2 is that he either A was disappointing – but they had several years of data, or B he was battling injury all last year?” -Dr.Ram See More: Los Angeles Rams News
NFL free agency Day 3: Open thread and Bengals news
The Cincinnati Bengals made a couple of moves yesterday, but there is still plenty of work to do. They still need to add a veteran presence at linebacker, even if at this point they won’t be getting a possible starter. They also need more pass rushers as they have only signed one and lost two […] The Cincinnati Bengals made a couple of moves yesterday, but there is still plenty of work to do. They still need to add a veteran presence at linebacker, even if at this point they won’t be getting a possible starter. They also need more pass rushers as they have only signed one and lost two so far. They just need to fill some holes so they don’t go into the draft being forced into drafting a particular position by possibly reaching. Reports: Bengals Get Passing-Rushing Big Man In Decorated Vet Jonathan Allen Allen, 31, is a two-time Pro Bowl three-technique whose ability to pressure the passer from the interior may very well put him in the Opening Day starting lineup. According to Pro Football Reference, Allen has the eighth-most sacks by a defensive tackle in the 2020s, more than interior stalwarts such as Javon Hargrave, Ed Oliver, Leonard Williams, Quinnen Wiliams, and Nnamdi Madubuike. How Two Brushes With Joe Burrow Helped Bring New Bengals Safety Bryan Cook Home “For me, as a rookie coming in, especially at that time … He didn’t know that at that time. I had three weeks I was not figuring it out. It helped me a lot. Having that understanding for someone that the city would say was basically the Golden Goose, to be humble enough to speak to me in that aspect, and support me even though I was on the opposite team. It was nice.” How Bengals’ latest contract news shapes NFL draft approach Brown turns 30 years old in May. He’s been one of the better tackles throughout his career, but he did struggle in the eyes of Pro Football Focus in 2025. He allowed 10 penalties (which ranked 76th out of 89 tackles), nine sacks (86th), 10 hits (85th) and 46 total pressures (82nd). Potential Bengals Target Suffers Massive Setback Before 2026 NFL Draft The Cincinnati Bengals came into the offseason needing to add four or more impact players to their defense. In reality, they likely needed to add closer to six players who could make a big impact if they wanted to revamp the whole defense. See More: Cincinnati Bengals News