Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Indianapolis, IN — This week’s festivities will provide numerous opportunities for NFL Draft prospects to improve their respective draft stock(s) as we enter the homestretch portion of the draft cycle. While some participants are expected to light up the event and improve and/or solidify their draft stock, there’s also a solid chunk of players who, quite frankly, need a strong week to prove themselves. The Indianapolis Colts have their fair share of needs going into free agency (S, TE, CB), and the following players fit both bills of being in a position of need and needing a strong showing at the combine. Xavier Watts, Safety, Notre Dame Photo by CFP/Getty Images Xavier Watts has become a popular name among Colts’ draft fit due to the team’s need at free safety. An absolute ballhawk, Watts logged the most interceptions (13) of any FBS player over the past two seasons. Under new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, the Colts are especially desperate for a rangy free safety who can operate at the backend’s centerfielder and Watts perfectly fits that bill. How he will test athletically remains his biggest concern as a prospect. The tape suggests that it won’t be an issue, although when it comes to front offices such as general manager Chris Ballard’s staff in Indianapolis, meeting certain athletic thresholds is essential. Standing at a modest 5’11” and weighing around 200 lbs, it’s imperative that Watts tests well to remain a legitimate Day 2 (rounds 2-3) for the Colts. Demetrius Knight, Linebacker, South Carolina Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images Knight is a linebacker from a past generation, standing at 6’1” and weighing a comfortable 245 lbs. As the modern-day NFL has resorted to smaller, more athletic off-ball linebackers, Knight presents a type of build and playstyle that mirrors that of past eras. A relentless motor in every shape of the phrase, Knight presents a safer prospect profile that suggests, at worst, he’ll be a depth piece who contributes on special teams. Though his testing numbers are projected to be in the average range, a strong week from Knight could elevate him from an early Day 3 (rounds 4-7) prospect into a late Day 2 guy. Kevin Winston Jr., Safety, Penn State Photo by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/Getty Images Winston Jr. (6’2”, 210 lbs) has flown under the radar throughout the early stages of the pre-draft process, mainly due to the concern that he won’t be the same player following a partial ACL tear in his second game of the season. The Nittany Lion product had a terrific 2023 season that featured just one interception and two passes defended, but included a 0.0 missed tackle rate while committing zero penalties. The medical checks will be the most important testing of Winston Jr.’s week, but with a strong week of on-the-field testing, therein lies a chance that he solidifies himself as a Day 2 prospect. Jeffrey Bassa, Linebacker, Oregon Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images A converted safety to linebacker product, Jeffrey Bassa (6’2”, 235 lbs) presents an interesting prospect profile. He lands on the below-average side of various measurables, particularly arm length, but showcases plus athleticism on tape that suggests he’ll fare well in the on-the-field testing. Currently projected as a late-Day 2, early Day-3 prospect, Bassa has the opportunity to establish himself as one of the top linebacker prospects going into rounds 2-3 of the NFL Draft. Zy Alexander, Cornerback, LSU Photo by Gus Stark/LSU/University Images via Getty Images A bigger outside cornerback at 6’2”, 195 lbs, Zy Alexander is one of the more fascinating prospects of this NFL Draft Class. A former FCS All-American at Southeastern Louisiana, Alexander made the in-state jump to LSU to finish out his collegiate career. The biggest concern for Alexander as a prospect is that of his injury history. After an injury derailed his senior season as a high school prospect, injuries have followed Alexander throughout his two-year stint at LSU. After an up-and-down start to his FBS career, Alexander went down for the 2023 season with a torn ACL. After missing two games with a concussion this past season, Alexander suffered an undisclosed foot injury during his time at the Shrine Bowl. Despite the rocky start to his LSU tenure, Alexander has proven throughout his time at both Southeastern Louisiana and LSU that he can compete with the best of the best, especially during his senior campaign. His 14 career interceptions, 20 passes defended, and 53 completion percentage against in four straight seasons as a starter proves just that. If Alexander can put together a promising week of testing, he may just stamp himself as a middle round cornerback prospect.
NFL Combine: 5 Colts prospects who need a big week
What are Spytek, Carroll looking for at QB?
Pete Carroll | Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images Las Vegas’ general manager and head coach talked about the most important position on the field during the NFL Combine. INDIANAPOLIS — Quarterback is the Las Vegas Raiders’ biggest need and thus, the biggest storyline surrounding the Silver and Black this offseason. So, the question arises of what new general manager John Spytek and new head coach Pete Carroll are looking for in a quarterback. Spytek and Carroll didn’t give a direct answer for obvious reasons, but they did shine some light on their evaluation process, starting with the current quarterbacks on the roster. “It’s a mix of experience, and Gardner [Minshew] has done a lot of good things in his career, too,” Spytek said of the Raiders’ current QBs. “Aidan O’Connell has showed some quality stuff in his opportunities as well. I haven’t seen much of [Carter] Bradley. Ao we’re going to see if those guys are where we need to head or if we’ve got to add to it, but we’ve got to win more games too.” Meanwhile, Carroll spoke about building an offense and mentioned how we can “get misled by star power” while diving into how he’d like to support a young passer through the running game. “The quarterback position needs to be supported in every way possible so that they can be as effective as they’re able to be,” Carroll explained. “And that takes a combination of elements that make up the support of the QB. The running game is a huge element of that. Not just so that you can run the football. “…You have to be able to run the football so that you can control your aspect of the game and take care of the ball so that the quarterback isn’t under duress, he isn’t in issues, he’s not behind the sticks, he’s not behind the game, he’s not behind the score because of the way the defense plays, the way the special teams play, and we try to build a team around the quarterback position.” That being said, the Raiders do need to address the position this offseason. One of the early rumors surrounding the club is that they’re exploding trading for Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. Neither Spytek nor Carroll would comment on players from another team’s roster, but both touched on bringing in a veteran passer. Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesMatthew Stafford “The quarterback position is going to be highly contested, and if you look back at when we started at Seattle, and how we built the competition to find the proper guy that would take over in that job, that was a very intricate, elaborate process,” Carroll said. “And then you saw [Russell Wilson] won the competition because it was a wide-open competition that was very well designed and organized, and it worked out fine. “So, however this goes, our guys are all going to take a shot at it, and we’ve got guys on the roster right now that are fighting their tails off to see if they can own that position. We’re going to give them a chance.” Spytek has a history of adding quarterbacks in free agency through his time with the Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccanneers to add some credence to the veteran passer route. But, the general manager isn’t married to the idea. “I mean, not to be kind of the cliché here, but any avenue where we can find a quarterback we’re going to explore,” the GM said. “So obviously there’s free agents. We have some guys in the building that we want to give a chance to compete. And working with Coach [Carroll] and with Chip [Kelly] and Olie [Greg Olson] and the whole offensive staff, we’re just going to try to find as many guys as we can to load that room up and have a great competition there.” Of course, there’s the draft as well and the general manager shared some thoughts about the upcoming crop of rookies. “Got a lot of guys that have played a lot of good football, some guys that have been through some adversity,” Spytek said. “The transfer portal is becoming more common. You’ve got Cam Ward and Will Howard and a bunch of these guys that have kind of showed different levels of success at different places. And they’ve all kind of risen to the challenge and made some programs that maybe haven’t had the success recently, Colorado, Miami, that they are accustomed to having. And so I think you got to give your credit to those guys for being a part of that and doing that. And I’m looking forward to talking with a bunch of them this week and getting to know them better. “I haven’t had a chance to spend any time with any of them. To me, that’s a hugely important part, maybe the most important part, especially at quarterback. We get a little bit caught up on how far they can throw it as opposed to how they think it and how they process it and how they lead it.” With the sixth pick in the draft, Las Vegas might have to trade up to get Ward or Shedeur Sanders. Spytek was asked if either are worth the move but, of course, he didn’t really bite. “I don’t know, we’re just getting started here,” Spytek diplomatically replied. “We’re going to go through our process and figure out who’s the best fit. We’re just kind of getting started with stuff like that too. I mean, Pete [Carroll] and I are drinking from the fire hose pretty strong right now, and so we’re going to get there but I wouldn’t rule out anything. I mean, I try to be an open-minded person, and if it makes sense for the Raiders, we’ll do it. If it doesn’t, we won’t.”
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2025 NFL Combine preview: defensive line and linebackers
Troy Taormina-Imagn Images The New York Giants and the rest of the NFL are in draft season! Aspiring NFL athletes will perform at Lucas Oil Stadium in their underwear, testing their movement skills and being measured to their exact size. The NFL Scouting Combine kicks off Thursday, Feb. 27 at 3 p.m. for the defensive line and linebackers. Star edge defender out of Penn State, Abdul Carter, will not work out on Thursday. He will work out at his pro day, and he is reportedly forgoing the combine workout due to a shoulder injury. Here are several players to monitor. Defensive linemen There are SO many talented defensive linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft. A strong performance by one player could be the nudge needed to jump over other players in the position group. DT Deone Walker, Kentucky Deone Walker’s sheer size + athletic ability is incredibly rare, even in today’s NFL. George Young’s prototype! Walker moves well with good agility and feet on the line of scrimmage and his ability to play nose through 5-technique should appeal to every defensive coordinator in the league. The thought of Walker next to Dexter Lawrence — with Andre Patterson’s coaching — is appetizing, but he’s not a perfect prospect. However, The 6-foot-6, 350-pound defensive linemen could SHOOT up the boards with a good day in Indianapolis. [Prospect Profile] DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan Bruce Feldman ranked Grant as his third-overall Freak in his famous Athletic article, and it’s easy to see why. Grant moves well for a 6-3, 342-pound defensive lineman, and he reportedly is a fantastic tester in the drills. Here’s a brief snippet of what Feldman had to say about Grant: The 6-3, 350-pound Grant is the biggest of all of them. As a sophomore, he helped anchor the nation’s No. 1 defense for the national champion Wolverines, making 29 tackles, 5.0 for loss, with 3.5 sacks; six quarterback hurries, five pass breakups, one interception and one fumble recovery. When Grant arrived in Ann Arbor as a three-star recruit from Indiana, Jim Harbaugh raved about the then-360-pounder running a sub-5.0 40. Anyone doubting Grant’s speed (a max of 18.75 mph on the GPS) only needed to see him run downPenn State running back Kaytron Allen in the open field last year. His ability to fly up Michigan’s reactive plyo stairs test, a series of seven 26-inch-high stairs that players attempt to jump up as fast as possible, is truly freakish. This offseason, Grant pressed a 115-pound dumbbell 34 times on his right and 27 times on his left. He vertical-jumped 29 inches and did a Turkish get-up with a 150-pound dumbbell. Obviously, Grant’s teammate Mason Graham is another name to watch on Thursday. Graham is a rumored top-five pick, and he’ll be discussed often throughout combine weekend. DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss Nolen is a quick penetrator at 6-3, 293 pounds, with the suddenness to challenge interior offensive linemen’s angles while being a disruptive force against both the run and pass. Nolen would be an excellent complement to Dexter Lawrence on the New York Giants. He’s coming off a great six-sack, 35-pressure campaign in his lone season in Oxford, Mississippi; he transferred from Texas A&M, where he played two respectable seasons, albeit they weren’t close to his 2024 year. If a team is looking for a twitchy defensive penetrator, Nolen is their guy, and the testing and drills should substantiate that fact. However, rumored character concerns must be reviewed during the interview portion of the combine. DT Jordan Burch, Oregon The 6-6, 295-pound fifth-year season put on 13 pounds of muscle from 2023 to 2024, according to head coach Dan Lanning. Burch earned double-digit sacks and 32 pressures in his fifth season after the change in body type. He transferred to Oregon from South Carolina after the 2022 season. According to Feldman’s reporting, Burch jumped 35 inches in the vertical and hit 20.75 miles per hour on the GPS while squatting just under 700 pounds. He could be a big winner on Thursday. Burch’s teammate Derrick Harmon [Prospect Profile] DT Darius Alexander, Toledo The sixth-year senior had 46 pressures in 2023 and 37 last season while securing 12 sacks over the last two years. He displays twitch, explosiveness, and bend on tape, and two of his best games came against Power-5 schools (Miss State, Pittsburgh). Alexander could have a quick ten-yard split with a fast forty that may move him from a fringe Day two pick to a secured selection at the tail end of round two into round three. Edge EDGE/DL Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M The Aggies have plenty of talented defensive players entering the draft, and Stewart is one with a lot of upside. He is 6’5, 281 pounds, and may test like a 6’3, 250-pound EDGE rusher. This will help Stewart overcome the lack of statistical production, and a team may view him similarly to Travon Walker in the 2022 NFL Draft, whom Jacksonville selected first overall. Stewart is very explosive, long, and is just a unique player for his position. Mike Green, Marshall I love seeing a Marshall Thundering Herd member considered a top-15 prospect, and Green continues to trend in that direction. He was one of the big winners from the Senior Bowl and is looking to keep the steady drumbeat going. Green recorded 59 pressures and 17 sacks in 2024, with some of the highest Pro Football Focus grades in the database. Green had a 20.2% pass rush win rate and his lower-body flexion suggests he should look smooth in the hoop drill (figure eight) at the combine. He may have a very good day testing with a quick ten-yard split, which could nudge him higher on the board than he’s already climbed. Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss Umanmielen spent the 2024 season in Oxford but was a Florida Gator for four seasons prior to his transfer. He is a finesse edge rusher with a large 6-4, 264-pound frame and enough twitch to suggest he
Kevin O’Connell’s Press Conference from the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine
On Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, the NFL media got a chance to hear from the reigning, defending, undisputed NFL Coach of the Year, Kevin O’Connell of our Minnesota Vikings. O’Connell touched on numerous topics during his 15 minutes at the podium, and the good folks with the Vikings’ PR department have provided a transcript of the event for your reading pleasure. They’ve also provided the video of the press conference, so you can check both out below. Good afternoon, everybody. It’s good to see everybody back here and it’s good to be back in Indianapolis. I always appreciate this event so much. You guys all know I’ve been through this as a player, a coach now, enough to know the importance of it, but also a lot of these players, they’ve been dreaming of this process for a long time. I’m very much looking forward to getting to know this year’s draft class, so with that I’ll turn it over to you guys. After the Wild Card, you talked about the need to replace some players on the interior offensive line? What do you think is the ideal path for that and how does Christian Darrisaw affect that? Not necessarily. The replace word, I don’t know if I would necessarily use that. It was more just in an emphasis on how I believe we need to play, and we need to be able to have a level of execution and a level of physicality that holds up over 17 games. Then as we learned this year, after playing well in December, which was a goal of ours, we got to find a way to get back in the dancing and put our best foot forward in January. Christian Darrisaw’s doing really well in his rehab but you know I think you know for Cam Robinson to step in and really I don’t know how many times in the history of football it’s happened, where you can lose it you know a franchise left tackle and win nine games in a row after that, so I think it speaks a lot to Cam Robinson. But also, just when you go through the tape, and you really watch CDs [Christian Darrisaw] impact I think he was playing as well as anybody in football through those first six weeks and it was a huge loss for a lot of aspects of our play style and what we really wanted to play like through the totality of 2024. We were able to overcome it, but I’ll be very much looking forward to getting CD [Christian Darrisaw] back. He’s having a great off-season. The rehab process, he’s absolutely killing it every step of the way, so I look forward to seeing how his spring and summer go and get him ready to roll for 2025. Along those lines, how do you see the offensive lineman coming out in this draft? Have they progressed as a unit to where they’re more NFL ready today than maybe they were when you came out 10 years ago or is it about the same level? I think it’s hard to say. I think the game has changed. The spread offense when I was coming out was there. There was examples of it throughout college football but I just think as a whole the majority of college football is now such a space game and everybody always wants to talk about the players who play in space with the ball in hand, run after catch, the defensive structures that have to play against that, the athleticism of the quarterback continuing to be something that shows up more and more and more, especially at the college level. I think lineman as well in that line of scrimmage game, has also translated to it being a space game and athleticism in different movements and it’s more than just power and physicality. There are different layers to it. I’m in the very initial stages of getting to know this year’s group, but I can tell you that there’s a lot of versatility in the group guys that have played multiple spots, tackles that have the ability to play maybe all five spots across the offensive line, guards that can bump out and play tackle, guards that can play center and where they project over their career might be different early. They might be a great pencil in kind of player at this position, but we really see you know a top-tier caliber player growing in another position, so I think that the fact that it is I believe a deep draft at the position is an exciting thing and knowing that as we get into the evaluation, it’s about finding the players that that meet that criteria of smart, tough guys that love football and then you look at your scheme and where you want to evolve to and how they fit into that. But I’m excited to get to know these guys. Where are you with your quarterback position in 2025 with Sam [Darnold] being a free agent and J.J. [McCarthy] coming back from his injury? Yeah, I mean I think he just said it. As a quarterback fan, as a quarterback guy that has played the position, coached in the position coach level, coordinator I was always in the room and now as a head coach I’m probably in the room a little bit more than some of those guys would probably like. You always sit back and say you’re very thankful to have the depth that we’ve had at the position. To end the room with essentially the five guys sitting in the room that we had including J.J. [McCarthy], who was a part of every meeting and then heavily involved at that point in his rehab process, you’re incredibly thankful for that. Sam’s [Darnold] year was so fun to be a part of. Just thinking back to this time last year and then onward
Back-to-Back: Dolphins Rank 1st in 2025 NFLPA Report Cards
Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images Hang the banner because the Miami Dolphins have once again been ranked the league’s top team according to the NFLPA’s annual survey. #FinsUp For the second consecutive season, the Miami Dolphins have been named the top organization by the National Football League’s Players Association. The survey, which included 1,695 players, covered everything from family treatment, the food and dining experience, locker room space, team travel, and even owner Stephen Ross. The Dolphins scored straight A’s across the eleven categories. More impressive, however, is that they scored the highest ranking in seven of the eleven categories. Owner Stephen Ross—despite his imperfections—was the league’s highest-graded owner, with a 9.88 out of 10 approval rating. The Dolphins also finished first in the food and dining area, training room, weight room, strength coaches, and team travel. Most of this credit goes to owner Stephen Ross and his ability to upgrade all aspects of the team’s facilities. So, thank you, Mr.Ross. the #miamidolphins ranked FIRST out of all 32 NFL teams in the NFLPA’s 2025 report card::: : nflpa.com/report-cards… — josh houtz (@takeittothehoutz.bsky.social) 2025-02-26T16:22:29.745Z Head Coach Mike McDaniel received an A+, finishing 6th out of 32 head coaches. According to the survey, “the players feel that McDaniel is highly receptive to locker room feedback on the team’s needs.“ The report also indicated that 98% of Dolphins players surveyed believe McDaniel is efficient with the team’s time, ranking 7th among the 32 teams. However, it wasn’t all sunshine and roses. For the second straight year, players are pleading with the higher-ups to improve the home game experience, most notably by increasing the number of sideline tickets for families. I specifically remember this being an issue last season, which makes you wonder whether or not the team is really listening. They’d also like a better home game hotel, but outside of that, it appears that things are damn near perfect in Miami. Still, I do have concerns about some of these grades. For example, the Dolphins have consistently been among the most injured teams during the Mike McDaniel era—and even before. So, while the Dolphins may be one of only three teams in the league that got a perfect score regarding their strength coaches, there’s clearly something that has impacted the team, outside of more than just the hot south Florida sun. But I guess it doesn’t matter and I’m just nitpicking. Because in the end, the Dolphins — at least based on the NFLPA (which is all that matters) — are 1 of 32. The cream of the crop. They are the Wagyu steak among the overcooked sirloin. And that’s why Miami will continue to do what they’ve been doing. Because, despite what we the fans think, Ross has to be more than happy with what his football team has accomplished — outside, of that ever-elusive, playoff win. What are your thoughts on the Miami Dolphins being ranked first among all 32 NFL teams for the second consecutive season? Do you care about anything outside of meaningful victories? How could this impact Miami’s pursuit of free agents this offseason? Let us know in the comments section below!
Report: Eagles bring former assistant offensive line coach back to Philly
More coaching staff news. The Philadelphia Eagles are bringing former assistant offensive line coach Greg Austin back to Philly, according to a report from Eliot Shorr-Parks. Austin could seemingly replace former Eagles run game specialist/assistant offensive line coach T.J. Paganetti, who recently left the Birds to join Kellen Moore’s New Orleans Saints coaching staff. Here’s a snapshot of Austin’s coaching experience: 2010-2012 — Oregon graduate assistant 2013-2015 — Philadelphia Eagles assistant offensive line coach 2016-2017 — UCF offensive line coach 2018-2021 — Nebraska offensive line coach 2022 — FIU offensive line coach/run game coordinator 2023 — Jacksonville Jaguars offensive quality control coach 2024 — Jacksonville Jaguars assistant offensive line coach As you can see, Austin followed Chip Kelly from Oregon to Philly in 2013. He overlapped with Eagles run game coordinator/offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland for three seasons before returning to the college football ranks. Austin then returned to the NFL to work on Doug Pederson’s coaching staff for two seasons. One would imagine Stoutland has a big say (and rightfully so) in picking the Eagles’ assistant offensive line coach. And so now he has Austin back as his assistant again.
The Linc – Khalil Mack among potential Eagles free agent targets
Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 2/27/25. Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links … Three free agents who make sense for the Eagles, version 2.0 – PhillyVoiceKhalil Mack (34), EDGE, Chargers (6’3, 269). The Eagles have repeatedly been linked to Browns superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett, but if the cost to acquire him is too expensive, how about Khalil Mack? […] In 2024, Mack had the lowest sack total of his career, aside from his rookie season. He had just 6 sacks, a year after he had 17 sacks in 2023. He did add 2 sacks in the Chargers’ playoff loss to the Texans. There’s a feeling that he is in decline because of his comparatively poor statistical season. Eh. He still looks pretty explosive to me! […] Even after a down year, Mack won’t be cheap. Most projections have him making over $20 million per year. But maybe he’d take a discount to play for the Eagles? There are a few reasons why that wouldn’t be so crazy. What should the Eagles do at edge rusher? – BGNOUTLOOK: Josh Sweat is currently set to be a free agent when the new league year begins on March 12. The feeling here is that the relationship between him and the Eagles has been a divorce one year in the making. After taking a pay cut last offseason, I don’t think Sweat is very interested in giving the Eagles a hometown discount. The expectation here is that he’ll be looking to chase top dollar on the open market. Sweat has been a good player for the Eagles but he’s simply not someone they MUST keep when they have limited resources to work with. Hybrids and Tweeners – Iggles BlitzJonny does really good work. Make sure to follow him on Twitter and read the stuff he posts. I probably shouldn’t have read the piece because it just makes me love Baun even more. Such a good player. And a special dude. I haven’t wanted the Eagles to re-sign a player this badly since Reggie White back in 1993. Thankfully Norman Braman isn’t the owner this time and Rich Kotite isn’t the coach. People talk about how the Eagles don’t value off-ball LBs. They haven’t. That is a fair point. But Baun is different. He has the ability to play ILB, but also to move around in Fangio’s scheme. He will line up as an edge defender at times, giving offenses a different look. Baun is a good blitzer. He has good coverage ability. He’s not just a tackling machine, like so many LBs are. Baun is a tool for the defense. He allows Fangio to be creative. That gives him additional value and means he is likely a player the Eagles will want to play good money to. Jeff McLane says he is hearing that keeping Baun will be a priority for the Eagles. Bucky Brooks 2025 NFL mock draft 2.0: Jags scoop up Travis Hunter; three playoff teams add a receiver – NFL.com32) James Pearce Jr. The Eagles’ success with polarizing prospects ultimately could make Pearce a value pick at the end of Round 1. The Tennessee standout’s pass-rushing prowess would further enhance a unit that is loaded with young playmakers on the front. Jalen Hurts’ best highlights of 2024 – PE.comEnjoy nearly 20 minutes of the top plays from Super Bowl LIX MVP Jalen Hurts’ phenomenal season. Inside Eagles coach Nick Sirianni’s decision to promote Kevin Patullo to offensive coordinator — and how he’ll keep the 2025 offense from growing stale – PHLYHow will the Eagles avoid the offense from becoming stale?: By Sirianni’s admission, the offense grew “stale” from 2022 to 2023. Sirianni values continuity, but he also emphasized the importance of the offense evolving this offseason. That was not the tune two years ago. Sirianni said meeting with different coaching staffs and studying the league for different projects will be an “important part of the offseason.” There will also be new members of the coaching staff from the outside who introduce new ideas. “We have a curious hungry group of coaches that constantly want to get better,” Sirianni said. “Even during the interview process, you write things down and say, ‘I want to get into that.’ I can’t tell you how many things we starred and said ‘let’s study this, let’s study that…’” Sirianni also mentioned how he kept notes from teams like the Packers and Rams this season, earmarking concepts he wants to study and introduce to the Eagles offense. “Can you do all of them? No. But you can really dive into that at this point to continue to evolve your offense, and that will be a big part of this offseason,” Sirianni said. Why Shane Steichen thinks Kevin Patullo will be good play-caller – NBCSPA big part of Kevin Patullo’s role after being promoted to Eagles offensive coordinator will be calling plays on game day. Former Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen thinks Patullo has what it takes to be really good at it. “He’s very detailed in everything he did,” said Steichen, who will enter his third season as Colts head coach in 2025. “He was always on it. Anything I needed offensively he had it done. I think he’s got a real good feel for the game. Obviously, being around Chan Gailey a lot of his career, he was one of his mentors. “And then just being around him and the way he sees it. I think he’s going to have a really good feel calling the game.” 32 NFL players who need a change of scenery this offseason – ESPNDB James Bradberry IV. Bradberry, 31, has one year left on his three-year, $38 million contract but it would be no surprise if he and the Eagles parted ways. He lost the starting corner job following a down 2023 season and the subsequent drafting of rookie standouts Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Seeing the writing on the wall,
Did Aaron Rodgers approach the New York Giants? That depends on who you ask
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images Giants only say they are “doing our homework” on the quarterback market While the NFL world is focused on the fascinating possibility of Matthew Stafford being traded from the Los Angeles Rams to the New York Giants, there is another big-name veteran quarterback available. Aaron Rodgers. Would the Giants, as a backup plan if they can’t land Stafford, be interested in signing the 41-year-old Rodgers after his failed two-year stint with the New York Jets? Rodgers may have interest in the Giants. Whether the Giants have reciprocal interest seems uncertain. A source told Big Blue View only that the Giants are “doing our homework on all options.” Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported that Rodgers had approached the Giants. “I’ve heard that Aaron Rodgers has reached out to the Giants and wants to play for the Giants. And I believe it. I don’t know if it is where it’s buttoned up, but I’ve heard it, and I believe it,” PFT’s Mike Florio said. Art Stapleton contradicted that report, saying he was told Rodgers had not contacted the Giants. Either way, Rodgers to the Giants seems a highly unlikely scenario.
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Do trades for elite veteran quarterbacks work out?
In my previous post, I looked at the recent (21st Century) history of teams trading up into the top three in the NFL Draft to acquire what they hoped would be their franchise quarterback. For the most part, it wasn’t pretty for the trading-up team. There’s more than one way to skin a cat, though, if you’re not in position to draft one in the first round. The New York Giants’ history of drafting quarterbacks is actually pretty amazing. I’ve been a Giants fan since 1960. Here is the entire list of college quarterbacks drafted by the Giants in Round 1 or 2 from then until the present (data from Pro Football Reference): 1979: Phil Simms 2004: Philip Rivers -> Eli Manning 2019: Daniel Jones If we expand the list to include Round 3, we can add Jeff Hostetler in 1984 and Davis Webb in 2017. That’s it. The Giants have rarely taken a serious crack at getting a starting quarterback in the draft in their history. Partly that is the product of a couple of successful drafts that put long-term starters in place (Simms, Manning), but a lot of it has to do with the Giants’ historical tendency to use other avenues for finding starting quarterbacks. They have only occasionally signed veteran free agent quarterbacks to either start long-term or serve as a bridge to a newly drafted quarterback. The most notable ones were Kerry Collins in 1999 and Kurt Warner in 2004. Mostly, though, the Giants have made trades to bring in established QBs to start. That list is much longer: Charlie Conerly in 1948, Y.A. Tittle in 1961, Earl Morrall in 1965, Fran Tarkenton in 1967, Norm Snead in 1972, and Craig Morton in 1974. Still, it’s been almost 60 years since the Giants took a big swing at a premier veteran quarterback in a trade (Tarkenton). Now, rumors are swirling that Matthew Stafford might agree to a trade if his contract is not renegotiated to be in line with those of other top starters, and that the Giants might be interested. Should the Giants do it? What does history have to say about whether trading for a franchise-caliber veteran QB is a good idea? Here are some notable examples in recent years, working backward in time: Aaron Rodgers (Packers -> Jets) Photo by Elsa/Getty Images Cost: Two second-round picks, sixth-round pick, first-round pick swap (13 <-> 15)Age when traded: 39 If you look up the phrase “unmitigated disaster,” this picture should accompany it as an illustration. It wasn’t Rodgers’ fault that he tore his Achilles tendon in his very first series as a Jet. And to his credit, he took a voluntary cut in pay to give the Jets room to sign other players. Statistically Rodgers had a pretty good 2024 season according to traditional metrics. In fact it was almost identical to his last season in Green Bay: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus Still, you can see that in both seasons, he performed at an above-average but not elite level – lower passing grade, fewer yards, fewer big-time throws, lower ADOT. Combined with all the drama off the field, not getting it done on the scoreboard made this a bad investment by the Jets, costing Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh their jobs. Russell Wilson (Seahawks -> Broncos) Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images Cost: Two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, plus Noah Fant, Shelby Harris, Drew Lock; Seattle also got a fourth-round pickAge when traded: 33 Speaking of disasters, Russell Wilson had a falling out with the Seahawks over their offensive philosophy and his supporting cast. He was traded to Denver, but under two different head coaches he was never able to recapture his early career magic. Wilson was released after two seasons and signed on the cheap by Pittsburgh, but he is once again a free agent. Courtesy of Pro Football Focus You can see that Wilson is still an above-average quarterback, but like Rodgers in Green Bay, his last season in Seattle he showed signs of decline, and that has carried over to his Denver and Pittsburgh tenures: fewer yards, TD passes, and big-time throws, and lower ADOT. Matt Ryan (Falcons -> Colts) Jenna Watson-Imagn Images Cost: Third-round pickAge when traded: 37 Indianapolis, forever in search of a QB since Andrew Luck’s premature retirement, took a low-risk gamble on aging Matt Ryan, giving up only a third-round pick to get him. Ryan was benched by mid-season, returned to starting, and then retired at the end of the year. Courtesy of Pro Football Focus Ryan was clearly washed by the time he got to Indianapolis, throwing almost as many INTs as TDs, with almost no big-time throws. You could see it coming, though, as two of his final three years as a Falcon were a notch below the quality he had shown previously. Again, fewer yards and a declining ADOT seem to be the smoking gun. Deshaun Watson (Texans -> Browns) Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Cost: Three first-round picks, a third-round pick, and two fourth-round picks; Cleveland also got a sixth-round pickAge when traded: 26 Possibly the worst quarterback trade of all time was Cleveland’s acquisition of Deshaun Watson from Houston. Never mind the 11-game suspension for charges that he was eventually cleared of and the awful completely guaranteed contract. The Browns gave up a king’s ransom in draft picks, and Watson has just been a bad QB since joining them in addition to not playing a full season of games in any of his three years there: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus The INTs are now as frequent as the TDs, the ADOT is down in two of his three years there, and only this year will the Browns finally have a pick again in the first round. Matthew Stafford/Jared Goff (Lions <-> Rams) Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images Cost: Jared Goff, two first-round picks and a third-round pickAge when traded: 33 This is different from the others since it was
Highest-graded guards from the 2024 NFL season
Chris Lindstrom and Quinn Meinerz headline PFF’s highest-graded guards from this past season, playoffs included. Highest-graded guards from the 2024 NFL season 2Y9AAA9 Atlanta Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom (63) lines up during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Atlanta. The Falcons defeated the Buccaneers 36-30 in overtime. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik) By Jim Wyman Posted Feb 27, 2025 8:45 am EST Chris Lindstrom remains elite: The Falcons’ star guard was the NFL’s only player at the position to earn a 90.0-plus PFF run-blocking grade in 2024. A surprise at No. 5: Few would have predicted the Raiders’ Jordan Meredith to play so well in his first season of significant action, but he did just that. 2025 NFL Draft season is here: Try PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and learn about 2025’s top prospects while trading and drafting for your favorite NFL team. Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes The Philadephia Eagles’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59 put a bow on the 2024 NFL season — and PFF’s grades. Here were the top 10 guards across the regular season and postseason. Lindstrom has quickly developed into arguably the best guard in the NFL, as this is his third consecutive season ranking as the position’s highest-graded player. He is at his best in run blocking, where his 94.6 PFF grade was a career high and he was the only guard in the league to reach a 90.0 mark. Oddly enough, his pass blocking wasn’t nearly as impressive. His 68.0 PFF grade in that department ranked second lowest among players on this list. Still, Lindstrom allowed only one sack on 627 pass-blocking snaps. 2. Quinn Meinerz, Denver Broncos (86.9) After playing his college ball at Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater, Meinerz has seamlessly transitioned into an NFL stalwart as the 99th overall pick in 2021. This past season was his second straight with a top-three finish among guards in PFF overall grade. In 2024, Meinerz was the only guard to earn a PFF grade of at least 80.0 in both run blocking (85.2) and pass blocking (81.4). His PFF pass-blocking grade trailed only Elgton Jenkins by 0.2 grading points, as he allowed just 12 pressures on the season. 3. Kevin Zeitler, Detroit Lions (86.8) The oldest player on this list (he turns 35 in a few weeks), Zeitler excelled in his first year in Detroit. His 86.8 PFF overall grade was his best performance since he put up an 89.1 number in 2014, while his 87.2 PFF run-blocking grade was a career high. As a pass blocker, Zeitler had an up-and-down year. While he did allow a career-high five sacks, they came on just 18 pressures, which tied for the 19th-fewest among 79 qualifying guards. Zeitler is an impending free agent this offseason, ranking 32nd overall in PFF’s free agent rankings, and could be a real asset to whichever team brings him in. Subscribe to PFF+ to unlock contract projections and more in our free agency rankings! Nelson is no stranger to ranking among the game’s best guards, and 2024 was no different. He was solid across the board, both as a run blocker (81.7 PFF grade, tied for fourth best) and a pass blocker (79.7, fourth best). Nelson hadn’t been his dominant self over the past few seasons, as his PFF grades were slightly above average. His 81.3 PFF overall grade in 2024 was his best since putting up an 87.5 figure in 2020. Nelson doesn’t turn 29 for another few weeks, so this bounce-back campaign should have Colts fans optimistic about the former sixth-overall pick’s return to dominance. 5. Jordan Meredith, Las Vegas Raiders (80.8) If you polled experts ahead of the season, likely few, if any, would have included Meredith. Not appearing in a game until Week 6, Meredith played by far the fewest snaps among players on this list but made the absolute most of them. He didn’t allow any sacks and let his quarterback hit the ground only once to the tune of just nine pressures on 399 pass-blocking snaps. This was Meredith’s first season playing more than 100 snaps since being an undrafted free agent in 2021. If 2024 was any indication, he should see a significant increase in his role going forward. 6. Dominick Puni, San Francisco 49ers (80.5) A rookie third-rounder out of Kansas, Puni brought positional flexibility to San Francisco, and the 49ers ultimately decided to play him at guard. He hit the ground running, shoring up what had been a weakness for the team over the past few seasons. Puni didn’t allow a sack until Week 12 and was a mauler in the run game, as his 81.5 PFF run-blocking grade ranked sixth among guards. 7. Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs (80.0) Thuney spent a large chunk of his season at left tackle, having played 389 of his 1,288 snaps there, the postseason included. However, he mostly played guard, so he qualifies here. His performance as a tackle caused him to drop in the rankings, as he carried a 65.7 PFF overall grade with a 62.7 PFF pass-blocking grade and a 62.1 PFF run-blocking grade at the position. At left guard, his usual spot, he boasted an 84.6 PFF overall grade, which would have moved him into fourth place on this list. His 90.4 PFF pass-blocking grade as a guard led the position by a significant margin. 8. Landon Dickerson, Philadelphia Eagles (78.6) Dickerson was primarily a center in college at Alabama but has fit into the Eagles’ left guard spot very nicely. His 79.4 PFF run-blocking grade ranked seventh at the position, and he played the third-most snaps of any player in the league. Dickerson was particularly dominant in the Eagles’ divisional-round win over the Rams, putting up a 94.0 PFF overall grade while opening up plenty of lanes for Saquon Barkley’s 200-yard rushing performance with a 91.7 PFF run-blocking grade against a tough Rams defensive line. Subscribe to PFF+ to unlock
