According to several sources, the Miami Dolphins are finalizing plans to make Jeff Hafley their next head coach. Hafley earned the gig after just two seasons with the Green Bay Packers as their defensive coordinator. There, he turned around a unit that struggled under Joe Barry and produced a defense that ranked sixth in scoring […] According to several sources, the Miami Dolphins are finalizing plans to make Jeff Hafley their next head coach. Hafley earned the gig after just two seasons with the Green Bay Packers as their defensive coordinator. There, he turned around a unit that struggled under Joe Barry and produced a defense that ranked sixth in scoring in 2024 and 11th in 2025. Obviously, that’s tough news for the Packers, who had made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons with the help of Hafley, although both of those seasons were cut short by losses in the Wild Card. Hafley was well-regarded by both analysts and fans alike. The Packers’ pain is the Lions’ gain, but this news has an even further benefit to the Detroit Lions organization. Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard also interviewed for this Dolphins head coaching gig earlier on Monday. This means Sheppard is in line to return to Detroit for his second season as the defensive coordinator—although with so many head coaching vacancies still out there, nothing is certain. At the time of this writing, there are no reports that Sheppard has interviewed for any of the remaining head coaching jobs. While some of the opinion of Sheppard may be different, it’s clear he’s valued within the Lions organization and they’d prefer to have him back for 2026, despite some defensive struggles last season. Toward the end of the season, Lions coach Dan Campbell had this to say about Sheppard’s first season as defensive play-caller. “I like Shep. Shep has really grown this year,” Campbell said. “I think with any first-time coordinator, first-time coach, you go through a lot. You learn along the way. You make adjustments. You find things that you believe in. You throw other things to the side that don’t fit you. You find ways to adjust, and it’s just part of the process. I think Shep’s done a damn good job. There’s always going to be things that you learn from this job, but I like Shep.” Catch all of the Lions coaching news and rumors over on our 2026 Lions staff tracker. See More:
Dolphins’ head coaching hire is Packers’ pain, Lions’ gain
What experts are saying about Detroit Lions’ hiring of OC Drew Petzing
The Detroit Lions’ hiring of former Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing as their next OC—while not official yet—caught many fans and analysts off guard when news broke on Monday afternoon. Although he reportedly interviewed with the team last week, per Dave Birkett, that news didn’t leak to the public, so his name was not on […] The Detroit Lions’ hiring of former Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing as their next OC—while not official yet—caught many fans and analysts off guard when news broke on Monday afternoon. Although he reportedly interviewed with the team last week, per Dave Birkett, that news didn’t leak to the public, so his name was not on most fans’ radar. Therefore, he wasn’t the subject of much research done regarding the Lions’ vacancy. Given that he also has no direct ties to coach Dan Campbell, he didn’t come across in many lists of potential candidates for the job. So if you’re looking to cram as much knowledge about Petzing as possible, you’ve come to the right place. Below is a smattering of reactions from NFL analysts, reporters, former players, and coaches who have worked under him, and other analysts of the Lions’ hiring to get to know the newest Lions coach. Former co-workers Petzing worked closely with now-Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski. They worked together for six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. Then, when Stefanski head-managed the Browns, he hired Petzing as their new tight ends coach in 2020. Here’s what he had to say at the time: “I think he’s one of the smartest coaches I’ve been around. I say that because he coached defense in college, he’s moved to the offensive side of the ball, been in the running backs room, the wide receivers room, the quarterbacks room. I think that type of breadth of experience is really important as you’re developing as a young coach. I think anybody who has been around him sees somebody that has a great knowledge of the game.” And here’s former Vikings wide receiver Jarius Wright—who was coached directly by Petzing—talking about the coach in a great profile from The Athletic in 2023: “He’s very, very intelligent. If you give him a school book, he would make all A’s. You would think that wouldn’t translate so much to football. But if you gave him any test to know any play, any position on offense, he would know it, every single thing about it. And that was as an assistant. We knew at some point he was going to make it and be an OC.” Expert, analysts reaction to Lions hiring of Drew Petzing Here’s a bunch of scattered thoughts from various experts on Twitter: And one more for the Mike McDaniel fans out there: See More: Detroit Lions Analysis
Detroit Lions to hire Drew Petzing as new offensive coordinator
According to several reports, the Detroit Lions are finalizing a deal to hire Drew Petzing as their new offensive coordinator. For the past three seasons, Petzing has served as the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive coordinator. During that time, the Cardinals ranked 24th (2023), 12th (2024), and 23rd (2025) in points scored. But he did manage to […] According to several reports, the Detroit Lions are finalizing a deal to hire Drew Petzing as their new offensive coordinator. For the past three seasons, Petzing has served as the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive coordinator. During that time, the Cardinals ranked 24th (2023), 12th (2024), and 23rd (2025) in points scored. But he did manage to build out a very strong run game in his first two years with the Cardinals. In 2023, the Cardinals ranked fourth in rushing yards. The following year, they ranked seventh. Both years, they ranked second in yards per rush—finishing with 5.0 yards per carry in 2023 and 5.3 in 2024. However, the run game fell apart in 2025—both due to injuries and the team heavily relying on the passing game (first in passing attempts, last in rushing attempts). The Cardinals ranked 31st in rushing yards, but 16th in yards per carry. Prior to his time with the Cardinals, Petzing served as the tight ends coach for two years with the Cleveland Browns before jumping to the quarterbacks coach. And prior to that, he spent six years with the Vikings under Mike Zimmer, serving various roles, including wide receivers coach, assistant quarterbacks coach, and offensive assistant. While Petzing does not have a direct connection to coach Dan Campbell, he interestingly has ties with former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. In short, the Lions are getting an experienced play-caller with varied success over the past three years with the Cardinals. Prior to that, he’s worked with several different position groups and worked his way up for the past dozen years among the NFL coaching ranks. This is a developing story, and we’ll have more information as it comes in. See More:
Detroit Lions staffer to coach Senior Bowl quarterbacks
On Monday, the 2026 Senior Bowl announced the coaching staffs for the two all-star college teams, and an interesting Detroit Lions name is on the roster. Lions offensive assistant Marques Tuiasosopo will coach the American team’s quarterbacks during the week of practices and the game. Tuiasosopo joined the Lions’ staff just this past year, but […] On Monday, the 2026 Senior Bowl announced the coaching staffs for the two all-star college teams, and an interesting Detroit Lions name is on the roster. Lions offensive assistant Marques Tuiasosopo will coach the American team’s quarterbacks during the week of practices and the game. Tuiasosopo joined the Lions’ staff just this past year, but he previously worked with the Rice Owls as their quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator from 2021-24. After hiring him last year, coach Dan Campbell indicated that Tuiasosopo would work with the quarterbacks while fellow former quarterback Bruce Gradkowski would work with the receivers. “That’s how I felt with those interviews with Tuiasosopo and then Gradkowski both. It was like, man, these guys, they belong here, man,” Campbell said. “They ought to be with us because I can just see that they’re going to take off. I think they’re going to be really good coaches for us.” Working with the American team quarterbacks next week during the Senior Bowl, Tuiasosopo will work directly with the following quarterbacks who were announced to be on the team’s roster: LSU QB Grant Nussmeier Arkansas QB Taylen Green Illinois QB Luke Altmyer Obviously, Tuiasosopo will get some inside knowledge on these three quarterbacks, so here’s a quick look at what they offer: Nussmeier is probably the most well-known quarterback at the Senior Bowl, as he entered the 2025 season considered one of the top signal callers in the country. Unfortunately, Nussmeier’s senior season didn’t go as he would have hoped, as lingering upper-body injuries led to inconsistent play, and he was eventually benched near the end of the season. When healthy, Nussmeier has “pro-ready” skills but no real “elite” traits. Instead, he is most productive as a rhythm passer who wins with confidence, anticipation, and the patience to let plays develop. He’s a strong leader who understands the nuances of football (his dad is Saints’ offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier) and has the potential to be drafted on Day 2 of the NFL Draft. Green originally started for two years at Boise State before transferring to Arkansas for his final two years of college ball. In those two combined seasons with the Razorbacks, Green completed 428-of-707 passes (60.5%) for 5,868 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions. He was also a huge rushing threat, amassing a total of 1,379 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns on the ground over two seasons. The duality of his play has led to some lofty comparisons from Arkansas offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, who coached Lamar Jackson himself: Despite some serious production and flashy athleticism, Green is still projected to be a Day 3. He’s listed as Mel Kiper’s No. 8 quarterback this class Altmyer’s career started at Ole Miss, but after failing to win the starting job, he transferred to Illinois, where he played for three seasons, including two very successful seasons the past two years, where the team finished 10-3 and 9-4 in 2024 and 2025. This past year, he’s completed 246-of-365 yards for 3,007 yards, 22 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Here’s what our friends at The Champaign Room had to say about Altmyer’s scouting profile: Among the attributes they like about him are his performance in clutch situations, his release and touch, his ability to throw high-velocity, accurate passes, his read progression in passing situations, his ability to navigate the pocket, his toughness, his preparedness, and his mental approach to the game. Like Green, Altmyer is expected to be a Day 3 pick. He’s 10th on Kiper’s quarterback big board. Senior Bowl practices begin next week on Jan. 27-29 before the game on Jan. 31. See More:
Let’s try to have a nuanced conversation about Jalen Hurts
Let’s get this out of the way right at the top. Jalen Hurts did not have a great 2025 season. Objectively, it’s a fact. In terms of the traditional numbers, his 98.5 QB rating was 12th out 41 players with at least 150 attempts, he was 16th in passing yards (3,224), tied for 9th in […] Let’s get this out of the way right at the top. Jalen Hurts did not have a great 2025 season. Objectively, it’s a fact. In terms of the traditional numbers, his 98.5 QB rating was 12th out 41 players with at least 150 attempts, he was 16th in passing yards (3,224), tied for 9th in touchdowns (25), his 64.8% completion percentage was 21st, and he tied for 19th in yards per attempt. The nerd statistics had him at 21st in EPA/Play, 18th in Pass EPA, and a whopping 33rd in success rate. Folks, those numbers are straight-up garbage. Perhaps most surprising for a player whose legs have always been a key aspect to his dynamism, he was 20th in scramble percentage, and his 421 yards on the ground were 6th among QBs. As Ruben Frank noted in an excellent NBC Sports article last week, the offense stumbled in large part because Hurts stopped running with the football this season. When Hurts ran five times this year, the Eagles were 8-2. When he didn’t, they were 3-4. Throughout his career, they’re 57-24 when he runs five times and 9-12-1 when he doesn’t… …Hurts was asked numerous times this year why he hasn’t run as much, and he always answered the same way, saying he’s doing what he’s told to do. And the RPO numbers were way down – just 81 RPOs all year compared to 128 last year. And he only ran on 10 of them, compared to 41 last year. Hurts’ 421 yards rushing were the lowest of his career as a starter, a full 209 yards less than a season ago in which he played one fewer game. He was still successful when he did run (a 53.3% success rate was just a tick under his 55.3% a year ago), but he attempted just 6.6 rushes per game, down from 10.0, 9.2, 11.0 and 9.3 in his first four seasons as a starter. Jalen Hurts is, without question, a championship-caliber quarterback. Even his harshest critics have to cede that much. He was the best player on the field in Super Bowl 57, a lock to win MVP if the defense hadn’t allowed Kansas City to kick the game-winning field goal at the end of regulation, and he played flawlessly in Super Bowl 59, taking home MVP honors in New Orleans. He has traditionally played his best at the end of seasons and upped his game in the postseason. Just not this year. Like every quarterback, Jalen Hurts has strengths and weakness, both on the field and off. No one outside the Nova Care Complex knows exactly what Hurts truly wants to do on offense. You hear reports about Hurts’ unhappiness with the conservative nature of Nick Sirianni and, this year, fired OC Kevin Patullo, but then you also see a reluctance to throw intermediate routes over the middle and in tighter windows. Former Eagles insider Derrick Gunn reported Hurts didn’t throw the ball in-game the way he did in practice, often refusing to follow the play design in the heat of the moment. “Those things that [get] dissected on film [and] during practice, those things that are talked about among the quarterback coach, the offensive coordinator, the head coach, it has been constantly discussed all season long. Yet, when they transition to the field on a football game, [Hurts] plays his game. Not the game the coaches want him to play. He plays his game. I don’t think you can get out of that mode at this particular point. I think it’s what we’re going to have to watch all season long, is him playing his game.” “You look at a lot of quarterbacks, they’re going to sling it,” Gunn said. “They’re going to trying to throw it through the eye of the needle. Sometimes you just have to take that chance. That’s not his game. That’s why he stands back there, a lot of the time he’s patting the ball, patting the ball, and it throws the timing of the offense off. The rhythm is thrown off. . . . They can’t get him out of it. “It’s frustrating in a lot of ways, to the coaching staff. And to the players. Extremely frustrating to the players. Because when they look at the film, the next day or a few days later, they see what’s available out there and what should’ve happened, and it didn’t happen, it’s frustrating to them as well. . . . I’m just basically telling you there’s a lot of people in that organization that are frustrated with the quarterback situation right now. But the quarterback understands he has them over a barrel. This is almost Carson Wentz part two. They’re not going to eat this kind of money yet.” Hurts clearly doesn’t want to turn the ball over and, as we saw in the divisional round of the playoffs, turnovers were a huge factor. CJ Stroud wasted an incredible defense with four abominable first half interceptions in the Texans’ loss to the Patriots. Josh Allen, the reigning NFL MVP and de facto best quarterback in football, turned it over five times. He lost in overtime, failing once again to get to the game Hurts has already been to twice, and won once, in convincing fashion. Caleb Williams, author of the Windy City Heave, threw three interceptions, the third of them in overtime with his team 15 yards away from a game-winning field goal attempt mere moments after authoring one of the greatest throws in playoff history. Both Allen and Williams were largely given a pass for their teams’ losses, despite the turnovers. Hurts has four career
NFL Divisional Round: PFF Team of the Week & Player Awards
Patriots offensive tackle Morgan Moses and Texans edge defender Will Anderson Jr. headline the PFF Team of the Week. NFL Divisional Round: PFF Team of the Week & Player Awards 2026 NFL Draft season is here: Try the best-in-class PFF Mock Draft Simulator and learn about 2026’s top prospects while trading and drafting for your favorite NFL team. 🏈 Draft Season 2026 Prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft with PFF+ Your complete draft preparation toolkit Subscribe Offense Defense Special Teams ST: Eli Neal, Los Angeles Rams Offensive Player of the Week: Offensive Tackle Morgan Moses, New England Patriots In a weekend that was relatively quiet for skill position players, Moses stood out with an excellent performance at right tackle for the Patriots. He did not allow a single pressure across 34 pass-blocking snaps and posted a 94.9 PFF run-blocking grade, the highest among all offensive linemen this weekend. Defensive Player of the Week: Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans Anderson was the highest-graded defensive player in the NFL this week, earning a 94.1 PFF grade despite the Texans’ loss to the Patriots. He dominated as a pass-rusher, posting a 93.9 PFF pass-rush grade while recording three sacks, two forced fumbles and a 16.0% pass-rush win rate. Offensive Line of the Week: Seattle Seahawks The Seahawks’ offensive line delivered one of its best performances of the weekend, earning the fourth-highest team pass-blocking grade in the NFL while allowing just five pressures on 20 pass-blocking snaps. They were even more dominant in the run game, powering the league’s most productive rushing attack by averaging 5.3 yards per carry and piling up 175 yards on the ground.
10 takeaways from Rams overtime thriller against Bears
The Los Angeles Rams are heading to the NFC Championship after yet another Matthew Stafford game-winning drive in the playoffs. It was the ‘Thiccer Kicker’ who sent the Rams to the NFC Championship Game with the game-winning kick in overtime as the defense forced three turnovers. For the Rams, it didn’t come easy, but they […] The Los Angeles Rams are heading to the NFC Championship after yet another Matthew Stafford game-winning drive in the playoffs. It was the ‘Thiccer Kicker’ who sent the Rams to the NFC Championship Game with the game-winning kick in overtime as the defense forced three turnovers. For the Rams, it didn’t come easy, but they were able to find a way in the cold when many counted them out. Let’s get to our 10 takeaways as we try to process what happened. 1. Rams defense was phenomenal It’s hard to talk about this Rams win without first mentioning the defense. This group was absolutely phenomenal in this game. Time and time again, they showed up in the big moment. On the opening drive, they got the stop on fourth down with an interception from Cobie Durant. The Bears went 3-for-6 on fourth down. Multiple times in third and fourth-and-short situations, the Rams defense won at the line of scrimmage and got the stop. Winning in those moments affected Ben Johnson’s decision to go for two at the end of the game. For the most part, they played good situational football and won in the high-leverage moments. However, it goes beyond the stops on fourth down or even the turnovers. In the third quarter, the Rams had 19 yards of total offense. Following the opening drive touchdown and taking away the field goal drive at the end of the half, the offense had 42 yards of offense going into the fourth quarter. The offense had a success rate of 35.5 percent. It was their lowest since the Brett Rypien game. In a game that was expected to have a lot of points, the Rams defense continuously showed up while the offense struggled. Chris Shula is going to be a head coach for a reason. His group got three turnovers, had three stops on fourth down, and held the Bears offense in check throughout the game. The Rams do not win without this group. 2. This was far from McVay’s best This may have been one of the worst called games from Sean McVay. Coming into the game, the Bears had a bottom-five run defense. However, McVay could not stop throwing the ball with his quarterback that clearly just wasn’t feeling it. At one point the Rams had run 44 plays and only 11 of them were runs. The Rams leaned into 13 personnel throughout the back-half of the season. They used it on just 9.1 percent of their offensive plays on Sunday night. With the season potentially on the line, McVay called a toss play to Blake Corum on third-and-1 to the short side of the field. Outside of Puka Nacua’s fourth down conversion on a jet sweep, the Bears had shown the ability to stop those outside runs. McVay had zero feel for this game from a play-calling standpoint and some of that is credit to Dennis Allen. The Bears blitzed the Rams heavily which is what they had success doing against Green Bay. It was clear for most of the game that the Rams didn’t expect that and didn’t have answers. McVay also had a few clock management blunders at the end of the fourth quarter. He could have thrown the ball on 3rd-and-10 and gone for the win and the negative effect would have been minimal. A lot of McVay’s decision-making was confusing to say the least. With all of that said, it also doesn’t mean that he needs to give up play-calling or drastic changes are needed. He’s won 10 playoff games before the age of 40 which is as many as Bill Walsh and George Seifert. 3. Curl and Lake star in the secondary It’s true that Cobie Durant had two interceptions in this game which were both important. For the most part, Durant and Darious Williams played well on the outside. Still, it’s hard to come back after his blunder and lack of field awareness on the game-tying touchdown. Kam Curl and Quentin Lake were two of the best players on the Rams defense for most of the night. Curl led the Rams with 13 tackles and allowed two receptions for 11 yards on four targets. He also had the game-changing interception in overtime. If that ball falls incomplete, the Bears are still just 15 yards away from being able to attempt a game-winning field goal. Quentin Lake didn’t have a good debut last week against the Carolina Panthers, but he showed up on Sunday Night. He allowed two receptions for 11 yards and was all over the field. His most important play of the game came on third down at the goal line in the fourth quarter. D’Andre Swift went high over Darious Williams and Lake stopped Swift in the air to force fourth down. On the ensuing play, Omar Speights broke up the pass for a turnover on downs. If Lake doesn’t tackle Swift in that spot, the Bears may score there and end up winning in regulation. 4. Here for the Kyren Williams redemption arc Just one year ago, the Rams seemed in control early in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Rams were down 16-15, but the defense had just forced a safety. Williams fumbled and it ended up being a big reason why the Rams lost that game. Earlier this season in Week 5, the Rams were in position to beat the San Francisco 49ers before Williams fumbled at the goal line. One year removed from Williams’ mistake against the Eagles, an argument can be made that he was the best player on offense for the Rams against the Bears. He
Cincinnati Bengals 2026 NFL Draft prospects to watch in the National Championship
The 10th-ranked Miami Hurricanes will face the top-ranked Indiana Hoosiers on Monday night for the NCAA National Championship. The Cincinnati Bengals should be watching to see how some of the top prospects play in the biggest game of their life. Rueben Bain Jr. Bain will be the most likely player in this game that the […] The 10th-ranked Miami Hurricanes will face the top-ranked Indiana Hoosiers on Monday night for the NCAA National Championship. The Cincinnati Bengals should be watching to see how some of the top prospects play in the biggest game of their life. Rueben Bain Jr. Bain will be the most likely player in this game that the Cincinnati Bengals could consider in the first round this year. Bain has been on an absolute tear during the playoffs. In the first three games of the playoffs, Bain has recorded 21 total pressures and 4 sacks. He is a power-based pass rusher who has a 30.3% win rate on true pass sets during the 2025 season. Mikail Kamara The best pass rusher for the Indiana Hoosiers is Kamara. While he doesn’t have the typical build of a defensive end for the Bengals, at just 6’1” and 260 pounds, he is an absolute wrecking ball when it comes to generating pressure. He has a 23.3% win rate on true pass sets. He has a deep arsenal of pass rush moves, plays with his hair on fire, and constantly displays an explosive first step. Akheem Mesidor Another pass rusher to keep an eye on is 24-year-old Akheem Mesidor. While his injury history and age are a bit concerning, he has been terrific for Miami this year. He has a team-high 10.5 sacks on the season. Mesidor has an even higher pressure rate than Bain, with a 36.4% win rate on the year. Mesidor has the versatility to line up on the outside or on the interior. Mesidor has first round potential, yet could easily be available when the Bengals are picking in the second round. It wouldn’t be surprising for them to have real interest at that point. Francis Mauigoa Mauigoa doesn’t feel very likely, specifically for the Bengals. He has played exclusively at the right tackle position in college. That spot is occupied by Amarius Mims in Cincinnati. The Bengals could view Mauigoa as a candidate to kick inside at right guard. Even if they do, that has not been a position they would typically spend a high draft selection on. Mauigoa has had a great season for the Hurricanes. He is a mauler in the running game and has really improved in pass protection this season. While he is worthy of being a top-10 pick, I can’t see that happening in Cincinnati. D’Angelo Ponds Ponds biggest knock is that he is 5’9” and around 170 pounds. He is an intense competitor on the football field. With the Bengals having Dax Hill and DJ Turner solidifying the starting outside corner spots, Ponds would be an excellent day two addition to kick inside and play in the slot. Ponds is more physical than corners who have 30 pounds more than him on their frame. He set the tone for the blowout against Oregon in the semi-finals with his pick-six that opened the game. Keionte Scott Scott is another candidate to fill the slot corner role in Cincinnati. Scott is 6’0”, 195 pounds, and has played that role, on the outside, and at safety during his career. The major knock with Scott is that he will also be turning 25 years old during training camp. That didn’t scare the Bengals off from drafting Demetrius Knight Jr. in the second round, and I could see them having a lot of interest in Scott on day two this year. Scott has punishing physicality, great awareness in zone coverage, and his 90.7 run defense grade is among the tops in the entire country this year. He tosses in an 89.7 coverage grade to go with it. Jakobe Thomas Speaking of physicality, Thomas is a heat-seeking missile on the back end at safety for the Hurricanes. Combine that with his five interceptions, and he is a really intriguing Day 3 safety prospect. He has an 88.9 coverage grade on the season for Miami. If they are going to pull the upset of Indiana, Thomas will need to make his presence known in the secondary. Omar Cooper Jr. If the Bengals decide to upgrade the slot wide receiver role, Indiana’s Cooper could be a great option on day two. Cooper is 6’0”, 201 pounds. He has just a 4.7% drop rate during the 2025 season. He is shifty and physical with the ball in his hands, has almost 900 yards receiving, and tracks the ball really well on downfield throws. See More: Cincinnati Bengals Draft
Vikings Turmoil: Addison, Flores & 2026 Plans
In the latest episode of Two Old Bloggers, Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano dissect the Minnesota Vikings’ turbulent offseason following the 2025 season. As a Vikings 1st & SKOL production, the show explores critical topics like Jordan Addison’s repeated off-field issues, Brian Flores’ head coaching interviews, J.J. McCarthy’s uncertain starting role, offensive line coaching shakeups, […] In the latest episode of Two Old Bloggers, Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano dissect the Minnesota Vikings’ turbulent offseason following the 2025 season. As a Vikings 1st & SKOL production, the show explores critical topics like Jordan Addison’s repeated off-field issues, Brian Flores’ head coaching interviews, J.J. McCarthy’s uncertain starting role, offensive line coaching shakeups, Will Reichard’s All-Pro recognition, Adam Thielen’s retirement, and a thorough 2026 running backs positional analysis. Campbell opens on Addison’s casino arrest: “That’s exactly the kind of news that the Vikings did not want to get from Jordan Addison… I think this is probably the last straw.” Stefano echoes, “It’s gonna be interesting to see how this plays out… Times have changed. It’s a big deal.” On Flores, Campbell notes, “If the Vikings were to lose Brian Flores to a head coaching position… that’s something that’s sort of inevitable when you have a really good coordinator.” Regarding McCarthy, he adds, “No commitment to JJ McCarthy to be the starter in 2026 was made… There has to be competition.” Stefano celebrates Chris Kuper’s departure: “I was quite happy over it.” On Reichard, Campbell advises, “Stick stay the course with Will the Thrill because he is the real deal at Kicker.” Thielen’s retirement draws praise: “I have a lot of respect for Adam Thielen… He was a very good player for us.” For RBs, Campbell predicts, “I don’t think there’s any question that Aaron Jones has also played his last game as a Viking,” while eyeing Breece Hall: “Breece Hall would be the guy that I’d be very interested in bringing to the Vikings.” Key points from the episode include: Jordan Addison’s Problem: Third arrest (misdemeanor trespassing, possibly alcohol-related) risks 4-8 game suspension; trade value plummets to possibly to a late day 2 or even day 3 pick; hosts predict he’s played his last Vikings game, disrupting WR plans with Jefferson, Nailor, and Felton. End-of-Season Pressers: No endorsement for McCarthy as 2026 starter; emphasis on OL tackle depth after injuries to Darrisaw and O’Neill; Mike Pettine retires, Chris Kuper’s contract not renewed due to poor pass protection (25 line combos, highest interior pressure rate). Brian Flores’ Future: Interviews for Ravens/Steelers HC jobs and Washington DC role; lateral move would demand explanations from Vikings brass; hosts laud his defensive turnaround since 2023. Will Reichard and Kicker Stability: All-Pro season praised, but warn against quick release during slumps like Daniel Carlson; compare to Packers’ patience with Mason Crosby. Adam Thielen’s Retirement: Reflect on his revival of Vikings WR legacy with Stephon Diggs (2016-2019); second Vikings stint underwhelmed, but respected as competitor. 2026 RB Positional Analysis: Aaron Jones (31, $14.5M cap hit) likely cut for $7.7M savings; Jordan Mason as power back but weak in pass blocking/receiving; Ty Chandler gone, Zavier Scott competes; target explosive FAs like Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker, or draft prospects like Demond Claiborne; fullback options (Patrick Ricard, Reggie Gilliam) if needed for pass protection. Listen: Watch: Don’t miss Two Old Bloggers for raw, passionate Vikings analysis that keeps you ahead of the SKOL curve. Whether debating roster moves or celebrating legends, Darren and Dave deliver the insights every Minnesota Vikings fan craves—tune in on Vikings 1st & SKOL for more episodes and join the conversation! Fan With Us! We have your Minnesota Vikings talk amongst the Two Old Bloggers, Darren @KickassblogVike, and Dave @Luft_Krigare along with our numbers guy, Drew Bunting. Join the conversation! Fan with us at Vikings 1st & SKOL @Vikings1stSKOL and with our podcast partner Fans First Sports Network @FansFirstSN. Question: What do you think the Vikings should do first this offseason—trade Addison, secure Flores, or revamp the RB room? See More:
2026 NFL Draft: 12 prospects to watch in Miami vs. Indiana CFP National Championship
The College Football National Championship is upon us, as the Indiana Hoosiers take on the Miami Hurricanes on Monday, January 19, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. As expected, both teams have plenty of talent that should intrigue NFL teams, and there are several players who should be on the Detroit Lions’ radar in […] The College Football National Championship is upon us, as the Indiana Hoosiers take on the Miami Hurricanes on Monday, January 19, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. As expected, both teams have plenty of talent that should intrigue NFL teams, and there are several players who should be on the Detroit Lions’ radar in this upcoming NFL Draft. In this prospect overview, we’ll highlight a plethora of players who could be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft or priority free agents, while keeping in mind that there are still some underclassmen who have until January 23 to make their decision to jump to the NFL or return to school. Note: Bolded prospects should be on the Lions’ radar. Miami Hurricanes Prospects who could be drafted in Round 1 Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE (6-foot-2, 277, Junior) Francis Mauigoa, RT (6-foot-6, 325, Junior) Akheem Mesidor, EDGE (6-foot-2 1/2, 273, Senior) Bain and Mauigoa could both be off the board before the Lions are even on the clock and are in contention to be the first drafted players at their respective positions. Both represent tremendous schematic fits on the Lions roster, and both should be near or at the very top of general manager Brad Holmes’ draft board. Bain’s frame won’t match every team’s desires in a first-round edge rusher, but his production and future growth could be enough to override those parameters. For the Lions, he’d be a plug-and-play option opposite Aidan Hutchinson, due to his ability to stop the run and create havoc as a pass rusher. Mauigoa is one of the most talented and consistent offensive tackle prospects in this draft class and has the positional range to kick inside to guard as a rookie—making him a desirable prospect regardless of whether or not Taylor Decker decides to retire. Mesidor starts on the opposite edge from Bain, offers a similar skill set, a bit less production, but even more positional range. He’s often left out of the first round conversation because he will turn 25 just ahead of the NFL Draft, but he’s such a good stylistic fit for the Lions that they could consider him in the first round. Mesidor is already committed to attending the Senior Bowl, but with practices expected to start in about a week, it’s not clear whether he’ll participate or simply attend to use the event as an opportunity to start building relationships with NFL teams. Day 2 (Rounds 2-3): Keionte Scott, DB/NB (5-foot-11, 195, Senior) Carson Beck, QB (6-foot-4, 220, Senior) Scott is a nickel-only corner with the upside to play safety, the instincts to make impact plays, and the physicality to make opponents remember him. Aggressive, hits like a linebacker, closes with conviction, and is a more than capable blitzer, Scott is an exciting prospect to watch with top-50 potential. Beck is likely going to be too rich for the Lions unless they shift their approach to their quarterback room and then trade into the third round. Day 3 (Rounds 4-7): Mark Fletcher Jr., RB (6-foot-2, 225, Junior) CJ Daniels, WR (6-foot-1 1/2, 225, Senior) Keelan Marion, WR (6-foot-0, 195, Senior) Markel Bell, LT (6-foot-8, 345, Senior) Anez Cooper, RG (6-foot-6, 347, Senior) — Committed to East West Shrine Game James Brockermeyer, C (6-foot-3, 295, Senior) David Blay, DT (6-foot-3, 305, Senior) — Committed to East West Shrine Game Ahmad Moton DT (6-foot-3, 300, redshirt Junior) Mohamed Toure, LB (6-foot-2, 235, Senior) Wesley Bissainthe, LB (6-foot-2, 226, Senior) — Committed to East West Shrine Game Jakobe Thomas, SAF (6-foot-1, 200, Senior) — Committed to Senior Bowl Zachariah Poyer, SAF (6-foot-1, 200, redshirt Sophomore) My favorite potential Day 3 prospect is Fletcher, a bruising downhill runner with experience in multiple blocking schemes and productive both on the ground and in the passing game. Unfortunately, there are rumors that he may return to school. While you’re watching Scott, keep an eye on the Hurricanes’ safety duo of Thomas and Poyer. Thomas is a downhill bruiser who can play deep in two-safety shells and as a robber, and would adapt to the Lions’ split-safety scheme quickly. Poyer has the positional range to play both safety spots and in the slot, but is still just a redshirt sophomore and could return to school. Indiana Hoosiers Round 1: Fernando Mendoza, QB (6-foot-5, 225, Redshirt Junior) If you’ve had a chance to watch Indiana during the playoffs, you’ve been fortunate to see Mendoza separate himself from the rest of the quarterback prospects and confidently display what the No. 1 overall pick in this draft class looks like. Congratulations, Raiders. Day 2: Carter Smith, LT (6-foot-5, 313, redshirt Junior) D’Angelo Ponds, CB/NB, Indiana (5-foot-9, 173, Junior) Omar Cooper Jr., WR (6-foot-0, 200, redshirt Junior) Elijah Sarratt, WR (6-foot02, 206, Senior) — Committed to the Senior Bowl Smith is an ascending prospect with the toughness and technique to compete for a starting role early in his career. While he may need a minute to adjust to NFL speed off the edge, his long-term potential could end up making him a value pick in Round 2. Ponds has a lot of Amik Robertson-like fire to his game and plays much bigger than his size. While he has plenty of outside corner experience, he has the speed/quickness and fearless physicality to start at nickel as a rookie. A true “football player,” Ponds should be a top-100 lock, but could he reach the top-50 at his size/frame? I’m not ruling it out. With both Cooper and Sarratt holding Day 2 projections and the Lions’ investment at wide receiver, it seems unlikely either would end up in Detroit. Day 3: Roman Hemby, RB (6-foot-0, 210, Senior)
