The Philadelphia Eagles are once again searching for an offensive coordinator. Importantly, this article is not a straight-up ranking of candidates. Instead, this is a tiered board of all candidates who have surfaced. New names will be added if the search expands. I think this team needs an OC with full control. The operation hasn’t […] The Philadelphia Eagles are once again searching for an offensive coordinator. Importantly, this article is not a straight-up ranking of candidates. Instead, this is a tiered board of all candidates who have surfaced. New names will be added if the search expands. I think this team needs an OC with full control. The operation hasn’t been good enough for years. This isn’t a developmental year. The roster is built to win now. If you’re serious about competing, you don’t run a collaborative committee experiment. You hire someone who runs the offense and let them run it. This hire matters! It will tell us if the Eagles are serious about overhauling an offense that has lost its identity, or if they’re simply looking for the next temporary caretaker. I know I am normally all about film, but I’ve done a lot of research for this one. Obviously, I’ve seen a lot of film on some of these when watching the Eagles, but I haven’t studied every single one. The film articles will come when we hire someone! Category 1: The Proven Adult in the Room An experienced, lower-risk hire with a clear track record of doing the job competently and raising the floor. BRIAN DABOLL Former New York Giants head coach Pros Daboll checks almost every structural requirement the Eagles should be targeting: he’s a proven NFL play-caller, he has a tangible quarterback development track record, and he has demonstrated adaptability across different personnel and different eras of offensive football. His work in Buffalo stands out as one of the best offensive development jobs of the last decade, transforming Josh Allen from a traits-first passer into a layered processor who could beat defenses with anticipation, coverage recognition, and intermediate manipulation. At Alabama, he leaned into heavy personnel and power-run concepts; in Buffalo, he built a spread/RPO base with vertical stress; in New York, he pivoted to quick game, misdirection, and manufactured touches due to offensive line talent and injuries. Daboll also has meaningful relational overlap: he worked with Sirianni in Kansas City, coached Hurts at Alabama, and also knows Barkley and DeVonta Smith personally Daboll would bring legitimate autonomy. Part of the Eagles’ stated intent is to let the new OC “run the offense” and inject their own identity. Daboll’s résumé gives him the authority to actually do that, which is something that younger or system-derived candidates would struggle to demand. Cons The concerns with Daboll are not schematic; they are interpersonal. He is a demanding coach who holds players to a high standard and can be combustible on the sideline. To be frank, he looks like a bit of an idiot at times on the sideline. That can be constructive for some quarterbacks, but it can also challenge building dynamics when the system hits adversity. His stint with the Giants included visible sideline tension, staff turnover, and communication issues with offensive assistants. There is also a real question of power distribution. Hiring Daboll would require Sirianni to fully relinquish offensive control. That kind of autonomy is something the Eagles have historically been hesitant to grant unless the hires were explicitly brought in to run the show I don’t think Daboll would not accept a role where he is simply collaborating. Overall Thoughts If the Eagles want experience, structure, quarterback development, and a coach who can orchestrate an offense without training wheels, Daboll is one of the cleanest fits available. He would raise the floor immediately and should introduce a functional identity. However, the temperament scares me a little. Hiring Daboll is a choice to bring in a strong voice, not a steward. It would require the building to truly be ready for an OC to run the offense and challenge everyone, including the head coach! MIKE MCDANIEL Former Miami Dolphins head coach Pros McDaniel is the highest-ceiling offensive mind realistically in the conversation. His Miami offenses have been at the forefront of motion, spacing, and horizontal/vertical stress, and his sequencing has forced defensive coordinators to change how they play middle-of-field structures. He has demonstrated the ability to create layups for quarterbacks through design rather than hero ball, which is something the Eagles desperately lacked late last season when the offense devolved into iso routes and post-snap “figure it out.” Importantly, he also maximizes receiver leverage, a trait that would unlock A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in ways Sirianni’s offense never consistently achieved. He has also shown the ability to build offense around a QB’s strengths rather than force a template. His work with Tua Tagovailoa proved that you don’t need elite arm talent to run McDaniel’s system if you can distribute on time and with rhythm. For Hurts, who has regressed as a middle-field thrower but has talent on the perimeter, McDaniel would offer legitimate solutions through formation and motion rather than simply asking the quarterback to become a different player. He is a run game superstar, too. McDaniel was a run-game savant under the Shanahan umbrella long before he became a HC. Cons The biggest schematic concern is that McDaniel’s system demands timing, rhythm, and middle-of-field access, which is precisely where Hurts has struggled. His recent seasons have featured one of the league’s highest rates of intermediate middle targets, while Hurts has ranked near the bottom in that area over multiple years This is not a fatal mismatch, but it is a real transition cost. McDaniel would need to tailor concepts toward boundary-based throws, RPO, movement, and layered play-action, which he I think he can do, but we can’t be certain. Miami’s offense regressed sharply when Tyreek Hill went down, leading some evaluators to question how dependent the system is on speed
Ranking 19 Eagles offensive coordinator candidates by tiers
Good, Bad and Ugly: McVay, Stafford ugliest part of win
The Los Angeles Rams pulled off a huge 20-17 overtime win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. L.A. is set for an epic Round III matchup against the Seahawks in Seattle next week, but they had better play A LOT better if they hope to advance to the Super Bowl. Ahead of the Rams’ first […] The Los Angeles Rams pulled off a huge 20-17 overtime win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. L.A. is set for an epic Round III matchup against the Seahawks in Seattle next week, but they had better play A LOT better if they hope to advance to the Super Bowl. Ahead of the Rams’ first NFC Championship appearance since 2021, here is the good, the bad and the ugly from the Divisional Round win in the Windy City. The Good Defense was tough throughout The defense was the only reason L.A. didn’t lose by 30. They were mostly outstanding except against the run, and set the tone early on Chicago’s opening drive when Cobie Durant picked off Caleb Williams. They were even better in the second half, holding Chicago to 121 total yards and pitching a shutout until Williams’ wild touchdown near the end of the fourth quarter. L.A. held the Bears to 3-of-6 on fourth down opportunities, none bigger than on their 12-play, 61-yard drive late in the final frame which ended with no points. Los Angeles won due to winning the turnover battle. Kam Curl picked off Williams in overtime, essentially saving the Rams’ season when Chicago only needed a field goal to win. The team is going to need every bit of this defense against the Seahawks this week. If they can do that, a second Lombardi Trophy under McVay will be firmly in their grasps. Who said these Rams couldn’t play in cold weather? All week, we heard talking heads and fans say that the West Coast team could not play in the cold and would lose. It’s not like players such as Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams had never played in the cold or anything. These guys are professionals and should be well-equipped to play in any conditions. Coaching is the main reason teams lose these types of games — it’s not entirely the weather. Some players had even put cayenne pepper in their socks to stay warm. Whatever works, I suppose. Perhaps I should try this today since it’s quite frigid where I live in Central Illinois. Also, shoutout to Kyren Williams for calling out those who said the Rams couldn’t handle the freezing temps. The Bad Matthew Stafford This is the guy who’s supposedly about to win MVP in a few weeks? Really? Matthew Stafford played a truly atrocious game against the Bears. Following the first drive when he completed six of his first 10 passes, the veteran quarterback went 14-of-32 for the remainder of the game. His passer rating was only eight points higher than Caleb Williams, and the Bears’ QB threw three interceptions(!) Yikes! I don’t know about you, but Stafford was driving me crazy with the constant deep throws downfield when L.A. only needed a few yards. It was a simple case of trying to force the passing game to work when it would’ve been better to take what the defense was giving him. Amazing he didn’t have a three-interception game as well given how he was throwing. Stafford was also sacked four times. Yes, the offensive line let him down, but his pocket awareness was clearly lacking on a second quarter sack by Chicago defensive back Jaquan Brisker. It’s shocking to talk about Stafford in this way. The Rams won mostly in spite of him, not because of him. Maybe that injured digit is hurting him more than he’s letting on, but something was very amiss in his performance — and it wasn’t just his countless off-target deep shots. Los Angeles will be run off the field in Seattle next weekend if he gives us another clunker. At least he came through when it mattered for the second straight week. First half gameplan Facing a Bears defense that hadn’t done much right this season, establishing the run should’ve been priority numero uno for McVay. Especially considering his QB was banged up entering the game, it would’ve taken the pressure off the passing game in the cold. Instead, we saw one of the most uneven run-pass ratios from McVay in quite some time. The gameplan made absolutely no sense, and it’s a miracle the Rams weren’t buried by Chicago early on because of it. That also gets me into my next section … Sean McVay’s late-game management Sean McVay had failed in establishing the run early, so naturally, he tried to do so late in the game when the team only needed a couple first downs. When a team plays not to lose and gets more conservative than a Fox News pundit, you know they’re destined to. Los Angeles gave up a ridiculous last-gasp touchdown from Williams, partly due to McVay’s late-game playcalling. After L.A. stopped Chicago at the goal line on a 12-play drive that took nearly six minutes off the clock, the Rams proceeded to run on five straight plays, taking just 1:13. Then, following Williams’ fluky touchdown pass, McVay decided he had seen enough and sent the offense out to kneel out the remaining 18 seconds and head to overtime. I understand the logic behind it, as Chicago had all the momentum at that time, and based on Stafford’s play, it was iffy to trust him to get the team into field goal range. Despite that, you never know what might have happened in that amount of time, with two timeouts to spare as well. Patrick Mahomes once got his team into field goal range in 13 seconds. (Bet you never heard that before.) Plus, had McVay not seen these Bears play against Cincinnati earlier in the year? One pass interference call or defensive lapse could’ve made the difference. You
Minnesota Vikings News and Links: A Case Of The Mondays
A pretty good weekend for football save for the Seahawks vs 49ers game. The Bills choked it away again and now fired their coach. The Patriots look to have an easy path to the Super Bowl with Bo Nix injured. The Rams vs Seahawks game should be good as their two games this season were […] A pretty good weekend for football save for the Seahawks vs 49ers game. The Bills choked it away again and now fired their coach. The Patriots look to have an easy path to the Super Bowl with Bo Nix injured. The Rams vs Seahawks game should be good as their two games this season were very close with one going overtime in Seattle. All that being said, since the Vikings did not get into the dance, it is A Case of the Mondays! I am not feeling good about keeping Flores. I hope they don’t take too long and see other replacement candidates sign elsewhere. Ranking the NFL head coaching openings, from least to most attractive after Bills fire Sean McDermott No 8. Miami Dolphins No 7. Arizona Cardinals No 6. Cleveland Browns No 5. Tennessee Titans No 4. Las Vegas Raiders No 3. Pittsburgh Steelers No 2. Buffalo Bills No 1. Baltimore Ravens …. I think Flores would be great for any of the top 3 teams with the Ravens being perticularly a good fit IMHO. I do not see him wanting to suffer through the growing pains of a young QB. Minnesota Vikings News and Links Our own Trevor Squire provided some reasoning on Kuper being let go by the Vikings. “The Minnesota Vikings poured major investment into their offensive line last offseason to no avail. After signing former Indianapolis Colts starters Ryan Kelly and Will Fries to deals worth a combined $105 million and drafting Donovan Jackson in the first round, the Vikings offensive line finished the 2025 season ranked 31st in pass protection. Injuries were the bane of the team’s struggles on the offensive front as the starting unit played just 89 snaps together all season.” Squire also pulled up some evidence that led to the divorce from Kuper from Alec Lewis. “Minnesota’s interior still allowed the highest pressure rate in the NFL this past season, according to Next Gen Stats. Only the Las Vegas Raiders’ interior was dinged for more sacks. The Vikings improved throughout 2025 in the run game, but struggles continued against more physical and respected defensive fronts.” Lewis also mentioned another nail in Kuper’s coffin. The productivity of former Vikings such as Ezra Cleveland, Dalton Risner, Ed Ingram, and Garrett Bradbury proved that their struggles in Minnesota may have been a coaching issue. Adam Patrick of The Viking Age had the scoop on the Vikings missing out on Bill Callahan. “According to NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo on Sunday, Callahan is expected to join the Atlanta Falcons as their new offensive line coach following the team’s announcement on Saturday that former Minnesota offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski has been hired as the Falcons’ new head coach Callahan had previously worked with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell when both were members of the Washington Commanders‘ coaching staff from 2017 to 2019. But instead of reuniting with O’Connell, the veteran offensive line coach will join Stefanski in Atlanta.” Patrick points out some potential good news in the situation for Minnesota. “With Callahan expected to take over as the Falcons’ offensive line coach, that frees up Dwayne Ledford, who had been Atlanta’s offensive line coach and run game coordinator for the last five seasons. Under Ledford, the Falcons consistently had one of the NFL’s top offensive lines, and he would be a tremendous upgrade over what the Vikings had with Kuper for the last few years, especially if he can help improve Minnesota’s rushing attack as well.” Kevin Stefanski was just hired as the Falcons’ new head coach, replacing Raheem Morris. According to reports, veteran offensive line coach Bill Callahan will be joining Stefanski’s staff in that role. That means Ledford, who is a well-respected OL coach, will become a free agent who should receive significant interest around the league. (Shoutout to Alec Lewis of The Athletic for pointing that out). Ledford, 49, has been with the Falcons since 2021. In addition to serving as their OL coach, he’s been Atlanta’s run game coordinator for the past two seasons. The Falcons have boasted a very strong offensive line and running game in recent years. Right guard Chris Lindstrom has made four straight Pro Bowls, and Atlanta’s other standout offensive linemen include tackles Kaleb McGary and Jake Matthews, guard Matthew Bergeron, and centers Drew Dalman and Ryan Neuzil. … Note: Yore run game does look a lot better with Bijan Robinson. Just sayin. Vikings Get Bad Jalen Nailor News Amid Jordan Addison Concerns Appearing in a December interview with Ari Meirov that was released on January 13, Nailor addressed his upcoming free agency. “Whatever happens after it, happens. I’m just trying to do what I can to put myself and my family in the best situation there is in the near future,” Nailor said, adding that he was focused on the final three games of the regular season to close out his rookie deal in Minnesota. Nailor’s comments align with an account from Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Emily Leiker, who said Nailor wouldn’t mind returning to Minnesota but appeared content with testing the market first. … Responding to Leikert’s account of Nailor’s comments at locker room cleanout day, colleague Ben Goessling read through the lines, arguing that Nailor is likely to going to force the Vikings’ hand to compete for him in free agency. “Yeah, there’s a chance to get a payday there for a guy that was a sixth-round pick,” Goessling said on the “Access Vikings” podcast. “The fact that, if he’s saying, ‘Yeah, we’re going to see how it plays out,’ it’s a nice way of saying, ‘Yeah, I expect to be on the market, and I’m gonna get
CFP National Championship Game: Miami Hurricanes Vs Indiana Hoosiers Live Game Discussion & Game Information
The long, drawn-out 2025 College Football Season all comes down to just one game this evening. The #1-seeded Indiana Hoosiers will face off against the #10-seeded Miami Hurricanes for the College Football National Championship. This will be Indiana’s first shot at a national title in its history. The Hurricanes, no strangers to championships, will be […] The long, drawn-out 2025 College Football Season all comes down to just one game this evening. The #1-seeded Indiana Hoosiers will face off against the #10-seeded Miami Hurricanes for the College Football National Championship. This will be Indiana’s first shot at a national title in its history. The Hurricanes, no strangers to championships, will be looking to secure their 6th overall national championship, but their first since the 2001 season. While Miami is considered the “visitor” this evening, it will be a de facto home game for the Canes at Hard Rock Stadium. The big storyline for this evening’s game will be if Indiana’s Curt Cignetti can finish out his perfect season, cementing one of the best seasons ever by a team in college football, while also announcing that Indiana is now more than just a basketball school. On the other side of the ball, can Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal finally break the long title drought for Miami, proving that Miami is indeed on top once again? Please use this thread to follow this evening’s CFP title game and, as always, to discuss your Miami Dolphins. Please follow all site rules in the live threads and other posts on The Phinsider. Please note that SBNation strictly prohibits sharing illegal game streams. Sharing, discussing, or requesting illegal game streams may result in a temporary suspension from the site or a ban from the entire SBN platform. We have everything you need to know to watch today’s game right here: Miami Hurricanes Vs Indiana Hoosiers Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. EST, Monday, January 19th Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida TV Broadcast: ESPN Streaming: ESPN+; Fubo (free trial); DIRECTV (free trial); Sling TV (partial first month); Hulu + Live TV Digital Apps: ESPN app (requires cable/streaming login) Alternative Viewing: Field Pass with Pat McAfee: ESPN2; Film Room: ESPNU; Skycast: ESPNEWS; Field Pass with ACC Huddle: ACC Network FANDUEL Sportsbook betting Odds: Spread: Indiana -7.5; Point total: 46.5; Moneyline: Indiana -310| Miami +250 See More:
Dolphins hire Jeff Hafley as head coach
The Miami Dolphins are hiring Jeff Hafley as their new head coach. The hire comes after a week of virtual interviews with eight candidates and three in-person interviews. Hafley, the former defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, joins Miami as he completed an in-person interview on Monday, following up a virtual meeting last week. […] The Miami Dolphins are hiring Jeff Hafley as their new head coach. The hire comes after a week of virtual interviews with eight candidates and three in-person interviews. Hafley, the former defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, joins Miami as he completed an in-person interview on Monday, following up a virtual meeting last week. The Dolphins announced the completion of an interview with Hafley on Monday evening, with multiple media reports immediately indicating the two sides were working to come to an agreement on a contract. Miami held virtual interviews with Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, Hafley, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, and Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula. Along with Hafley, the held in-person interviews with Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, and former Cleveland Browns (and new Atlanta Falcons) head coach Kevin Stefanski. Who is Jeff Hafley? Hafley began his coaching career at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2001 as a running backs coach. He spent the next two years as a defensive assistant at Albany before working for two years as their defensive backs coach. In 2006, he starting a five-year stint with at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was a defensive assistant and defensive backs coach. In 2011, he was the defensive backs coach at Rutgers. Join the conversation! Sign up for a user account and get: Fewer ads Create community posts Comment on articles, community posts Rec comments, community posts New, improved notifications system! His first move into the NFL began in 2012 when he was named as assistant defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was promoted to defensive backs coach in 2013, then took the same position with the Cleveland Browns in 2014. He joined the San Francisco 49ers as their defensive backs coach in 2016. In 2019, Hafley became the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Ohio State before being named the head coach at Boston College in 2020. He held that position for four seasons, compiling a 22-26 record, including a win in the 2023 Fenway Bowl. He also qualified Boston College for bowl games in 2020 and 2021, but COVID-19 concerns cancelled those games. In 2024, Hafley stepped down from his position at Boston College to become the Packers’ defensive coordinator. ”He wants to go coach football again in a league that is all about football,” a source told ESPN’s Pete Thamel in January 2024. “College coaching has become fundraising, NIL and recruiting your own team and transfers. There’s no time to coach football anymore. A lot of things that he went back to college for have disappeared.” Hafley replaces Mike McDaniel Hafley replaces Mike McDaniel who was fired after four seasons with the Dolphins. McDaniel took over the team in 2022, replacing Brian Flores. The Dolphins qualified for the playoffs in each of the first two seasons under McDaniel, trailing the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East both years, but clinching wild-card positions. Miami was 9-8 and 11-6 in those seasons, but lost both playoff games. The 2023 Dolphins had the league’s top offense, averaging over 400 yards per game. They were first in the league in passing offense and sixth in rushing offense for the year. They finished second in the league in scoring offense, averaging 29.2 points score per game. Things went downhill quickly for McDaniel and the Dolphins, however. In 2025, Miami was 26th in total offense, averaging just over 300 yards per game. They were 25th in the league in passing offense, with the explosiveness of 2023 a distant memory. They were 13th in rushing offense, but their 20.4 points per game dropped them to 25th in the NFL for the year. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was an MVP candidate in 2023 and was selected to the Pro Bowl after leading the league in passing yards, has regressed into a shell of his former self. McDaniel, hired in no small part for his ability to work with Tagovailoa and maximize his ability, ultimately had to bench the 2020 fifth-overall pick in favor of seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers for the final three games in 2025. The hire of Hafley gives the Dolphins their 12th head coach in franchise history, not including three interim head coaches. Miami’s head coaches have been: George Wilson (1966-1969, 25-39-2) Don Shula (1970-1995, 274-147-2) Jimmy Johnson (1996-1999, 38-31) Dave Wannstedt (2000-2004, 43-33) Jim Bates (2004, 3-4) Nick Saban (2005-2006, 15-17) Cam Cameron (2007, 1-15) Tony Sparano (29-33) Todd Bowles (2-1) Joe Philbin (2012-2015, 24-28) Dan Campbell (5-7) Adam Gase (2016-2018, 23-26) Brian Flores (2019-2021, 24-25) Mike McDaniel (2022-2025, 35-35) Note: Records include regular season and playoff results. Dolphins raiding Packers this offseason The hiring of Hafley comes shortly after the Dolphins hired Jon-Eric Sullivan as the team’s new general manager, replacing Chris Grier. Like Hafley, Sullivan was working with the Packers prior to being hired by Miami. Sullivan started his NFL career as a football operations assistant with Green Bay in 2004, continuing as a scout in 2008. As a scout, Hafley worked the NFL Scouting Combine and in various regions around the country. In 2016, Hafley was named the team’s director of college scouting before being promote to co-director of player personnel in 2018. He was named the Packers’ vice president of player personnel in 2022, holding that title until he was hired by the Dolphins nine days ago. The relationship between Sullivan and Hafley should allow the two to quickly design their offseason plans as they look to turn
NY Giants news: Vikings’ assistant to get defensive coordinator interview
The New York Giants have requested to interview Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator Daronte Jones for their vacant defensive coordinator position, per ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter. Jones has already interviewed in-person for the defensive coordinator openings with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets. Jones, 47, has never been an NFL defensive coordinator. He was defensive coordinator at Bowie State from 2005-2009 and at LSU in 2021. Jones has been defensive backs coach with the Vikings since 2022, adding pass game coordinator to his title in 2023. Brian Flores, regarded as one of the NFL’s most creative and aggressive defensive coordinators, has been Minnesota’s defensive coordinator since 2022. The Giants interviewed Jones for their DC job in 2024 before hiring Shane Bowen. No evident ties to Harbaugh, but he overlapped for a year in Miami with Joe Schoen. Jones’ NFL resume includes stops with the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, and two stints with the Vikings. Jones has also coached in high school, at the Division II level, in the FCS, FBS, and in the Canadian Football League. This is the first known interview for a coordinator position by the Giants since John Harbaugh was named head coach on Saturday. See More:
2026 Draft prospects for the NY Giants in the National Championship
Good evening New York Giants fans!. At long last we’ve come to the final game of the 2025-2026 college football season. Tonight (1) Indiana will take on (10) Miami for the College Football National Championship. This is a matchup nobody would have predicted back in August, but there isn’t really a question that these are the two best teams in the land. Certainly not after Miami took down Ohio State, while Indiana dismantled Alabama and Oregon. For our purposes here, this also promises to be a game full of future NFL players. The centerpiece of it all is Indiana quarterback (and likely future Las Vegas Raiders QB) Fernando Mendoza. However both of these teams are stacked with talent that could appeal to the Giants. My standard “big game” advice stands; watch and enjoy the game, but take note of players who jump off the screen. There will be plenty of time to circle back to them later. *Note: Miami’s Malachi Toney will almost certainly flash brighly. However, he’s a freshman and won’t be draft eligible for a while yet. That said, I’ll highlight an offensive and defensive player on each team that I’m watching. Miami Francis Mauigoa (OT/OG) – We’ve talked about Mauigoa a lot this year. He’s been consistently linked to the Giants as a potential option for their offensive line. Mauigoa has been a very good collegiate tackle, but the big question is whether he can remain at (right) tackle in the NFL or if he’ll have to move to guard at the next level. The big question is whether he has the foot quickness and lower-body flexibility to match up with speed off the edge. His ultimate position will determine his draft stock but he certainly has the play strength and mentality to be a starter in the NFL. Rueben Bain Jr. (DE/EDGE) – Bain has been the best all-around edge defender in college football this year. He’s a stocky and powerful defensive end who’s bendier than he should be and has a deceptively fast first step. Bain reminds of a young Justin Tuck and should be able to play in pretty much every scheme at the NFL level, and rush from a two or three-point stance, as well as on the interior. The big question with him is just how long his arms are. Bain is expected — feared — to have sub-31 inch arms. If he measures less than 31 inches, that would put him in (roughly) the bottom 0.3 percentile of EDGE, DE, and DT prospects. Bain’s tape says he should be one of the first two edge defenders off the board, but the question is if his arm length would prevent that from translating to the NFL. Indiana Carter Smith (OT) – Staying in the trenches, Indiana’s left tackle has been one of the very best linemen in college football. Like many of Indiana’s prospects, he didn’t get much recognition at the national level until Indiana’s talent was undeniable. However, he hasn’t given up a single sack or hit this year, and just 6 hurries. Smith has just pedestrian size at 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, and is a bit better at blocking for zone schemes than man-gap, but he has the potential to rocket up draft boards as we get into the draft process. (Note: Smith has until January 23rd to declare for the draft due to the National Championship) Mikail Kamara – Kamara has slipped off the national radar a bit this year. He had 10 sacks a year ago but just 2 this year. That said, the 6-foot-1, 265 pounder is an absolute handful for blockers and has had an impressive 88 hurries over the last two season (48 this year, 40 the last). His natural leverage allows him to maximize his explosiveness and punish blockers who can’t consistently play with great pad level. See More: New York Giants Draft
Rams 2026 draft: Looking for “big” help at cornerback
One of main negatives constantly tossed about is the Rams defensive pass coverage. In reality, the 2025 secondary has statistically improved over each of the last two seasons. Even so, it’s still a middle of the NFL pack unit and may need a total rebuild for 2026. The Rams have two corners currently under contract […] One of main negatives constantly tossed about is the Rams defensive pass coverage. In reality, the 2025 secondary has statistically improved over each of the last two seasons. Even so, it’s still a middle of the NFL pack unit and may need a total rebuild for 2026. The Rams have two corners currently under contract for next season, Darious Williams and Emmanuel Forbes. You could add Josh Wallace, but realistically, he’s made the move to “STAR”. They could also sign Alex Johnson and Cam Lampkin off the practice squad to Reserve/Future contracts. None of these really inspire confidence. Before the playoff game in Chicago, Williams hadn’t played in a month and had been a healthy scratch. Forbes in all fairness, should be rated as a good signing, but his play has been up-and-down. One thing that stands out about the Rams corners is their lack of size, and physicality goes hand-in-hand with that. The 2026 class of cornerback draft prospects appears quite deep. Here’s a look at prospects off my draftboard that stand 6’2” or better and count physical play styles in their skillsets. Round 3 Devin Moore – Florida 6’ 3” 198 lb. Four-star prospect who broke out as a senior, recording Pro Football Focus grades of 84.2 for overall defense, 83.2 coverage, 81.5 against the run, and 78.5 tackling. Spent his first two seasons fighting injuries, shoulder surgery in 2022 and back and concussion problems in 2023. As a junior, he was off to a hot start before another shoulder surgery shelved him. All told, Moore accrued 17 starts over a 30-game career and charted 64 tackles, five interceptions, and 14 passes broken up. Moore’s coaches credit him with improving his maturity, eating and workout habits to overcome the injury bug. Four-star recruit with the versatility to play corner and safety. Very good in zone coverages, played a lot of Cover3 zone for the Gators and might be best served as free safety. Backpedal is average, but he has the loose hips to bail and smoothly change directions. Good field eyes to follow receiver and QB. Understands routes and where the point of action will be. In man, quick twitch cuts can give him some problems, but he understands angles and is blessed with recovery speed and long arms. Physical at the catch point and has the ball skills and body control for contested catches. Willing against the run and a good tackler, but looks quite lean on tape and isn’t a stac/shed guy. Much better in space. There is certainly a developmental aspect to drafting Moore, he needs reps to reach his potential. On film, he clearly shows all the traits to be an NFL player, size, length, athleticism, and skillset. But he only has one full season of production, injuries (particularly shoulder) must be accounted for when projecting him. In the mid/late Round 3 area, he offers enough reward for the risk. Julian Neal – Arkansas 6’ 2” 208 lb. Neal received offers as a receiver, but joined Fresno State as a defensive back in 2021. His first role with the Bulldogs was at safety, then a stint at nickel before switching to corner for good in 2023. Neal never really broke through in Fresno, starting in only four of 26 games and hit the transfer portal for his senior season. His first commitment was to Stanford, but the whole Cardinal coaching staff was ousted, so Neal signed with Arkansas. Although the team struggled to a 2-10 record, Neal had strong season with 55 tackles, two interceptions, and 10 passes broken up. Well built, with long arms and plus short area quickness. Neal has the recognition, instincts, and move skills to play zone and attacks man coverage with stickiness and physicality. He uses his strength to stymie and reroute wide receivers off their intended patterns and timing. Makeup long speed is bit of a question mark, although he’s loose enough to flip open and go deep. Very strong in run support, a thumper that is aggressive downhill, has stack/shed game and doen’t shy away from mixing it up with linemen. Big hitter when working from zone coverage. Julian Neal has stellar versatility, able to play outside, in the slot, or as a safety. A nice fit for the Rams nickel and dime formations. There’s only one full season of production at Arkansas, but his play in his final season at Fresno State hinted a what he could turn into. His innate skillset, positional flexibility and physical play style make him a good bet in Round 3. He needs polish and reps, but his risk/reward leans heavily to the latter. His draft stock could raise if he tests well at the NFL Combine. Treydan Stukes – Arizona 6’ 2” 200 lb Talk about starting behind the eight ball, Stukes walked on at Arizona in throes of the COVID19 scare. He went on to earn a scholarship and then, a starting corner and team leader role. Although he missed most of 2024 with a knee injury, he had 24 starts in 53 games and rolled up 207 tackles, seven interceptions, and broke up 26 passes. In 2025, along with Big12 accolades, he was named to the AP All-American Third Team and Sporting News All-American Second Team. Here’s a switch, a big slot corner. Over his college years, Stukes has shown he’s capable of playing outside or inside and now on the secondary-rich Arizona Wildcats, all defensive backs are interchangeable.. He’s quite a fluid mover to work in the slot versus smaller, darting receivers and he’s big enough to handle tight ends. Film shows he’s shown he can handle both man and
Bengals will sign Joey Bosa or other veteran pass rusher, predicts ESPN’s Aaron Schatz
The Cincinnati Bengals have invested heavily in replacing Trey Hendrickson through the Draft and failed pretty miserably. Still, the search must go on to give some stability to the pass rush. ESPN recently put out an offseason guide for all the teams that have been eliminated from the playoffs, and analyst Aaron Schatz wrote that […] The Cincinnati Bengals have invested heavily in replacing Trey Hendrickson through the Draft and failed pretty miserably. Still, the search must go on to give some stability to the pass rush. ESPN recently put out an offseason guide for all the teams that have been eliminated from the playoffs, and analyst Aaron Schatz wrote that the Bengals’ top offseason priority is to “Add juice to the pass rush”. He noted that, while the young pass rushers on the roster gave a glimpse of hope, Cincinnati still finished last in pass rush win rate for the year. So how does Schatz see the Bengals addressing their biggest problem? He thinks they need to target edge rushers in the first round “That matches the strength of this class, where David Bailey (Texas Tech) and Keldric Faulk (Auburn) could be realistic options,” Schatz wrote. Alternatively, Schatz explained, if Cincinnati really believes that Shemar Stewart and Myles Murphy are long-term answers, they could instead target a “space-eating defensive tackle like Caleb Banks (Florida) [who] would improve the line in a hurry.”‘ Schatz’s big prediction for the Bengals, though, was in free agency. “The Bengals will sign more than one veteran edge rusher, such as Joey Bosa, Yetur Gross-Matos, D.J. Wonnum or Charles Omenihu.” Of course, the question, as always, is whether those players will be willing to sign for less guaranteed money in Cincinnati than they would get elsewhere. See More: Cincinnati Bengals Analysis
AFC playoffs are proof that the Colts got it all wrong
Quick. What’s the most important position in football? Yep, you got it if you answered quarterback, and if you answered anything other than that, you’re just a contrarian. They make the most money because they are so vital to a team’s success. The straw that stirs the drink touches the ball almost every offensive snap […] Quick. What’s the most important position in football? Yep, you got it if you answered quarterback, and if you answered anything other than that, you’re just a contrarian. They make the most money because they are so vital to a team’s success. The straw that stirs the drink touches the ball almost every offensive snap and controls so much. Looking at the AFC playoffs this year shows just how wrong the Indianapolis Colts have gotten it. Take a look at the field. Only one team had a quarterback that wasn’t drafted by their team. Of the two remaining, the Broncos and Patriots both drafted their guy two years ago. Understanding Bo Nix is out, these quarterbacks lead the charge for a turnaround in short order. From Stroud and Lawrence, to Allen and Herbert, they are all homegrown. The Colts under Chris Ballard have opted for the retread; the veteran who has been around awhile. Sometimes that works. Look at Philip Rivers’ first go. He was very good. Aaron Rodgers is the sole exception to the rule this year, but they didn’t get very far. When the Colts did have an opportunity to draft their guy, they missed. Drafting Anthony Richardson fourth overall appears to be an incredible whiff. After a season’s worth of snaps, the Colts traded him in for someone else. The rest of the league understands the importance of getting that spot right because it is the true driver of success. The Colts understand that too. One has to wonder at this point, however, if the group in charge is capable of getting it done. The Colts enter another season of questions at the one position you can’t have question marks at if you are going to be successful. If Daniel Jones can’t start the season, the Colts might have to turn back to one of their bigger draft mistakes, if he can even play due to the eye injury he sustained. If not, Riley Leonard might be the guy. Whomever they choose, they have to start getting it right. When the time comes, they cannot miss in the draft again because the rest of the AFC isn’t sitting around, waiting for them to get it right. See More: Indianapolis Colts Analysis
