/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73933659/2194890431.0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "Chiefs take a guard in a new CBS Sports mock draft")
Photo by CFP/Getty Images In a mock draft published on Friday, CBS Sports’ Kyle Stackpole predicted that with the 31st selection in the NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs would take a Buckeye guard. 31. Kansas City Chiefs: G Donovan Jackson, Ohio State Prospect rank: 67 Position rank: 7 I feel like I’m morally obligated to give the Chiefs an offensive lineman after what happened in the Super Bowl against the Eagles. Donovan Jackson moved from guard to left tackle after Josh Simmons went down in October, and he was an invaluable part of Ohio State’s run to winning the College Football Playoff national championship. Regardless of where he lines up, he’ll help give Patrick Mahomes more time to work his magic. Since the end of the NFL’s regular season, we’ve covered 26 mock drafts on Arrowhead Pride. In four of them — more than any other player — Jackson has been the Chiefs’ first-round pick. The idea that Kansas City might take a guard who spent some time at left tackle during his final college season may not be very appealing. You might prefer that the Chiefs get the player that Jackson replaced: Josh Simmons. But in Stackpole’s mock, the Ohio State tackle was taken by the San Francisco 49ers with the 11th pick — much further into the first round than Kansas City will probably be able to reach. A total of five tackles are off the board before the Chiefs go on the clock. But this wouldn’t necessarily be a desperation move. Suppose the situation with Trey Smith isn’t resolved by the end of April. If the team can’t make a deal with him — or he is ultimately traded away — Jackson could step right into Smith’s spot. But if Smith ends up returning, Jackson might turn out to be the team’s best option at left tackle. If you still don’t like this idea, there’s one consolation: In Stackpole’s mock, Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr. is still available at 31. National Mock Draft Positions Position Pct Offensive line 38% Defensive tackle 23% Edge rusher 15% Defensive back 12% Wide receiver 8% Tight end 4% National Mock Draft Picks Pos Name School Pct G Donovan Jackson Ohio State 15% T Josh Simmons Ohio State 8% T Josh Conerly Jr. Oregon 8% DT Derrick Harmon Oregon 8% DT Tyleik Williams Ohio State 8% T Cameron Williams Texas 4% T Aireontae Ersery Minnesota 4% DT Walter Nolen Mississippi 4% DT Kenneth Grant Michigan 4% EDGE Mike Green Marshall 4% EDGE Jared Ivey Mississippi 4% EDGE James Pearce, Jr. Tennessee 4% EDGE Nic Scourton Texas A&M 4% CB Azareye’h Thomas Florida State 4% CB Shavon Revel, Jr. East Carolina 4% CB Maxwell Hairston Kentucky 4% WR Matthew Golden Texas 4% WR Emeka Egbuka Ohio State 4% TE Colston Loveland Michigan 4% Poll What do you think of this pick? 28% I like it! (107 votes) 28% It’s the wrong player (105 votes) 43% It’s the wrong position (162 votes) 374 votes total Vote Now
Chiefs take a guard in a new CBS Sports mock draft
Biggest winners among TEs and DBs during day 2 of NFL Combine testing
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images Day 2 of the NFL Combine saw potential Rams targets at cornerback put on a show. The second day of the 2025 NFL Combine featured standout performances from some of the draft’s most intriguing prospects. Several players made headlines with their elite athletic testing, improving their stock as the draft draws closer. The speed testing is especially important in regards to the Los Angeles Rams as four of the last five cornerbacks that they’ve drafted have tested around the 80th percentile. Among players that stood out was Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston who put himself firmly in the early-round conversation with a blazing 40-yard dash. Additionally, South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori showcased freakish athleticism that could push him into the top 20. Here were Friday’s winners. Day 1: Which Linebackers Stood Out on Day 1 of Athletic Testing? 1. CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston was firmly in the third or fourth tier of cornerbacks and seen as a late-second or third-round pick entering the day. However, after testing, it’s hard not to put him in the same conversation as Azareye’h Thomas. He’ll have a chance to go at the end of the first round and at the very least will be seen as a mid-second round pick. Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston standing out as an athlete in a group full of athletes 40: 4.30 (98th percentile)Vert: 39.5” (86th percentile)Broad: 10’09” (87th percentile) As @BenjaminSolak would say: young man can SCOOT pic.twitter.com/YmBXZcngSk — Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) February 28, 2025 Hairston was one of the better testers of the day. His first run in the 40-yard dash was a 4.30 and then he managed to beat that in his second run with a 4.28. Hairston became the first sub-4.3 40-yard dash of the 2025 NFL Combine. He then did a 39.5-inch vertical which was second among cornerbacks and was third in the broad jump at 10’9. Hairston was also very smooth in the position drills. Again, the Kentucky cornerback was seen as a player that could be taken in the back-half of round two. He likely jumped up into the early second round. 2. S Nick Emmanwori, Texas A&M It’s hard to talk about the second day of testing without mentioning Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina. Emmanwori showed just how much of an alien he is as an athlete and that he is essentially if DK Metcalf was a safety. At 220 pounds, he ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash. He did a 43-inch vertical and 11’6 broad jump. The next closest broad jump for a safety was 10’10 from Marques Sigle. At 220 pounds, @GamecockFB safety Nick Emmanwori reached a top speed of 23.53 mph on his 4.38u forty, tied for the third-fastest speed by a safety over the last three Combines. Emmanwori also posted an official 43″ vertical & 11’6″ broad jump. : https://t.co/p64vRez1Gn pic.twitter.com/NegBXF0mcV — Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) February 28, 2025 There has been some talk about Emmanwori potentially moving down to linebacker. However, everything that I’ve heard in Indianapolis is that teams want him at safety. Emmanwori was considered a fringe first-round pick coming into the combine. Given how he tested, it’s very possible that a team gets enamored with his athleticism and he goes inside the top-20. 3. TE Terrance Ferguson, Oregon Among the tight ends, Terrance Ferguson was the best testing player. He did the fastest 40-yard dash at a 4.63 while doing a 39-inch vertical and 10’2 broad jump. His 39-inch vertical also led tight ends and his broad jump ranked third. When it comes to the tight end position, the tiers below Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren are very interesting. Ferguson showed that he was an explosive athlete. Paired with his route-running on tape, Ferguson may have jumped into that second-tier of tight ends that will get selected on day two of the draft. Ferguson did slip up in the gauntlet, posting one of the slower speeds and getting off-line. With that said, his testing numbers were really good and that will go a long way with teams. Paired with a good Senior Bowl, Ferguson continues to make noise as a potential day two selection. Honorable Mentions CB Darien Porter, Iowa State TE Mason Taylor, LSU Had Hairston not stolen the show at cornerback, Porter would have been the player that everybody was talking about on day two. He matched Hairston’s 4.3-second 40-yard dash and also finished second in the broad jump. While Taylor didn’t test, he did go through position drills. Taylor had the best gauntlet and looked smooth. That’s arguably more important than the testing aspect. Other Notes and Quotes Matthew Golden Could Be a Target at 26 + Jayden Higgins The Rams will be looking to get more explosive at the offensive skill positions in the draft. A priority will be to find an ‘x’ that can win on the boundary. The Rams met with Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden and provides exactly what they need. It’s hard not to like Golden’s mindset which was emphasized when he said, “Whenever you need that clutch play, I’m gonna be there.” Golden talked about his ability to play inside and out and despite being a bigger receiver, he’s a smooth route-runner. Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins is a player that has caught my eye throughout the draft process. He continued to show just how charismatic he is and I’ll be excited to see how he tests on Saturday. Higgins mentioned that his route-running and ability to play all three positions is what makes him stand out. Said Higgins, “I would just say my route-running. Like you said, I’m big but I can run routes like little guys. Just being able to have good feet and get in and out of those breaks is definitely a big thing…At Iowa State, the biggest thing there was using my versatility. I played inside, outside, in the slot, etc. Definitely had to know all of those positions and it helped
Bengals had a ‘great’ meeting with top running back prospect Ashton Jeanty
Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images Could the Bengals really add Ashton Jeanty? The Cincinnati Bengals are at a potential turning point with the construction of their entire team. They are planning on giving three sizable deals to Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Trey Hendrickson while still having room to make even more moves to shore up a roster that disappointed last season. Part of that plan could be going with the best player available at No. 17 instead of chasing a need on the defensive or offensive line. That could be Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, who the team has met with. Boise RB Ashton Jeanty has met with #Bengals and it was “great”#thesickpodcast pic.twitter.com/fMrkk6XpSa — The Sick Podcast – Deep In The Stripes (@sickpodbengals) February 28, 2025 It is fair to think that most of the attention that isn’t on the big three will go toward fixing a defense that took a massive step back last season and has a new coordinator in Al Golden. However, Jeanty could provide a massive boost to what’s already a high-level offense. He was one of the best players in College Football last season, helping Boise State make it to the College Football Playoff. He had 2,600 rushing yards with 29 touchdowns while averaging seven yards per carry. Jeanty did it while being able to consistently break tackles and make defenders miss. One of the big things you notice from his running style is his incredible balance. He can absorb hits and stay up about as well as anyone you’ve seen play the game. What is also incredibly impressive — and scary to think about adding him potentially in Cincinnati — he had one of the most historic seasons running the ball while constantly facing loaded boxes and everyone knowing he was THE guy they had to stop. Safe to say he would face the opposite with the Bengals. There are undoubtedly people reading this right now who have laughed this possibility away. That is fair when you think about how this team has Chase Brown coming off a strong end to the season, improving the offensive line may have more of an impact on improving the running game, and that this draft is stacked with defenders worthy of a top 10 pick that will slide because it’s a talented class on that side of the ball. That means the pick almost certainly will be for the defensive side of the ball. There are some things to consider about this meeting. Cincinnati loves to visit with players they think could end up in the division, and the Pittsburgh Steelers will undoubtedly be in the market for a running back. If the Bengals go crazy on the defensive side of the ball in free agency, they may not have as much of a need on that side of the ball and can take one of the top players overall without worrying. It’s fun to hypothetically give this offense yet another top talent, but at some point, you have to take care of the future on the defensive side of the ball as they don’t have many young players you can see getting a second contract at this point, especially on the defensive line.
Chip Kelly’s quarterback history steeped in getting most out of mid-tier talent
During his tenure as Oregon head coach, Chip Kelly, left, coached quarterback Marcus Mariota, right, to a Fiesta Bowl win in 2012. | Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images While landing a quality signal caller is a must-do, Raiders offensive coordinator maximizes production from the position It’s no secret the Las Vegas Raiders have themselves a quarterback quandary. So much so it’s not surprising to hear and read reports of the Silver & Black being tied to signal callers like the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford or a reclamation project like Zach Wilson. This is a direct result of Las Vegas’ quarterback room that’s currently inhabited by veteran Gardner Minshew II, Aidan O’Connell (who enters Year 3), and 2024 undrafted free agent Carter Bradley. Speaking during media availability at the NFL Combine, Raiders general manager John Spytek was asked about the all-important position and the Silver & Black’s chief personnel man provided insight on the holistic approach the team is taking at quarterback. “I mean, not to be kind of the cliché here, but any avenue where we can find a quarterback we’re going to explore. So obviously there’s free agents. We have some guys in the building that we want to give a chance to compete,” Spytek said. “And working with Coach (Pete Carroll) and with (offensive coordinator) Chip (Kelly) and Olie (quarterbacks coach 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.” Landing a quality signal caller is a must-do this offseason, however, Kelly’s addition to the coaching staff is of note. The prolific play caller has a penchant to maximize production from the quarterback position. And his history is steeped in getting the most out of mid-tier talent. His long list of signal callers at his various stops isn’t a paragon of elite talent, mind you. Kelly puts his players in the best possible position to succeed and has gone from a dizzying array of fast-paced plays to overwhelm opponents (the Oregon Ducks days) to more deliberate and getting into the right play (the Ohio State Buckeyes days). From the zone read option to power running and a balanced attack, we saw Kelly’s prowess during the Buckeyes title run and was on brilliant display in Ohio State’s 34-23 National Championship victory over Notre Dame back on Jan. 20. “I know this is kind of a crazy idea but what do you think?” @joelklatt asks @ryandaytime how Chip Kelly became @OhioStateFB‘s new Offensive Coordinator pic.twitter.com/LwpmgO2yst — The Joel Klatt Show: A CFB Pod (@JoelKlattShow) July 8, 2024 Will Howard was the Buckeyes quarterback this past season and he went from a non-descript career at Kansas State to exponentially more productive under Kelly at Ohio State. Hence: Kelly, the Mid-whisperer. While it would be extremely intriguing to see what production Kelly can get out of a top-tier talent, he has the résumé of a coach who develop lesser-known talent into quality signal callers. Thus the notion of what can Kelly got out of quarterbacks currently on the roster has merit. But, I’m not obtuse to note the QB room in Las Vegas is in dire need of an infusion of talent. Let’s look at the Raiders’ offensive coordinator’s history: Kelly’s Heroes Here’s a year-by-year run down of Kelly’s quarterback history dating from his seasons as offensive coordinator at Oregon (2007-08) and head coach (2009-12). And that progresses to the NFL and back to college: Oregon Ducks 2007: Dennis Dixon – 172 of 254 (67.7 percent), 2,136 yards, 20 touchdowns, 4 interceptions; 105 carries, 583 yards, 9 touchdowns 2008: Jeremiah Masoli – 136 of 239 (56.9 percent), 1,744 yards, 13 touchdowns, 5 interceptions; 127 carries, 718 yards, 10 touchdowns 2009: Jeremiah Masoli – 177 of 305 (58 percent), 2,147 yards, 15 touchdowns, 6 interceptions; 121 carries, 668 yards, 13 touchdowns 2010: Darron Thomas – 222 of 361 (61.5 percent), 2,881 yards, 30 touchdowns, 9 interceptions; 93 carries, 486 yards, 5 touchdowns 2011: Darron Thomas – 211 of 339 (62.2 percent), 2,761 yards, 33 touchdowns, 7 interceptions; 56 carries, 206 yards, 3 touchdowns 2012: Marcus Mariota – 230 of 336 (68.5 percent), 2,677 yards, 32 touchdowns, 6 interceptions; 106 carries, 752 yards, 5 touchdowns Chip Kelly’s 2013 and 2014 @Eagles were 10-6 each season and had the 4th and 3rd highest scoring offenses in the league with Nick Foles, Michael Vick and Mark Sanchez as his QB’s. — Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) February 2, 2025 Philadelphia Eagles 2013: Michael Vick/Nick Foles – 77 of 141 (54.6 percent), 1,215 yards, 5 touchdowns, 3 interceptions; 36 carries, 306 yards, 2 touchdowns/203 of 317 (64 percent), 2,891 yards, 27 touchdowns, 2 interceptions; 57 carries, 221 yards, 3 touchdowns 2014: Nick Foles/Mark Sanchez – 186 of 311 (59.8 percent), 2,163 yards, 13 touchdowns, 10 interceptions; 16 carries, 67 yards/198 of 309 (64.1 percent), 2,418 yards, 14 touchdowns, 11 interceptions; 34 carries, 87 yards, 1 touchdown 2015: Sam Bradford – 346 of 532 (65 percent), 3,725 yards, 19 touchdowns, 14 interceptions; 26 carries, 39 yards San Francisco 49ers 2016: Blaine Gabbert/Colin Kaepernick – 91 of 160 (56.9 percent), 925 yards, 5 touchdowns, 6 interceptions; 40 carries, 173 yards, 2 touchdowns/196 of 331 (59.2 percent), 2,241 yards, 16 touchdowns, 4 interceptions; 69 carries, 468 yards, 2 touchdowns UCLA Bruins 2018: Wilton Speight/Dorian Thompson-Robinson – 126 of 208 (60.6 percent), 1,527 yards, 6 touchdowns, 6 interceptions; 39 carries, 27 yards, 2 touchdowns/112 of 194 (57.7 percent), 1,311 yards, 7 touchdowns, 4 interceptions; 50 carries for 68 yards 2019-22: Dorian Thompson-Robinson – 748 of 1,165 (64.2 percent), 9,399 yards, 81 touchdowns, 32 interceptions; 421 carries, 1,758 yards, 28 touchdowns 2023: Ethan Garbers/Dante Moore – 98 of 146 (67.1 percent), 1,136 yards, 11 touchdowns, 3 interceptions; 35 carries, 127 yards/114 of 213 (53.5 percent), 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns, 9 interceptions; 45 carries, -84 yards Ohio State Buckeyes 2024: Will Howard – 309 of 423 (73 percent), 4,010 yards, 35
2025 NFL Combine results: 7 standouts from the tight ends group
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Bengals met with Mike Green and Collin Oliver at the NFL Combine
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Cincinnati met with Green formally and informally met with Oliver The NFL Combine is officially here, and the Cincinnati Bengals have a busy week looking for multiple instant-impact guys in this year’s NFL Draft. It is clear a large amount of effort in the draft should focus on the defensive rebuild, and the team has recently met with a few guys who could bring quite a bit of juice to the unit. The Bengals have formally met with Marshall standout edge Mike Green, according to Malik Wright. Mike Green has met with the Bengals formally at the NFL Combine . — Malik Wright (@Wrightreportt) February 26, 2025 This past season, Green posted one of the most historic seasons in Marshall history, leading the FBS in 2024 in sacks with 17, sack yardage (144), tackles for loss (22.5), TFL yardage (155), and tackles by a defensive lineman (84). The 17.0 sacks set a Sun Belt Conference record and also tied the Marshall record, set by Cecil Fletcher in 1986, according to Herd Zone. NFL’s Lance Zierlein is high on Green writing, “High-energy pass rusher with productivity and a method of play that should translate to the next level. Green displays a natural and instinctive rush, utilizing loose hips and a series of moves and counters that can open doors with force or finesse. He’s very physical, with notes of violence in the way he attacks blockers in both phases. His explosiveness allows him to penetrate gaps, play around or through the protection edges and change direction quickly to finish in the backfield. He relentlessly presses forward, but can run out of gas due to his hot-running motor. Teams might wish he were heavier and longer but he’s willful, skilled and powerful with the ability to create enormous matchup concerns as an edge rusher on the next level.” The Bengals have also met with Oklahoma State edge Collin Oliver, and he was excited to talk with the Cincinnati representatives. OSU LB Collin Oliver says the #Bengals “really like” him.#thesickpodcast pic.twitter.com/ccuLJQuBGB — The Sick Podcast – Deep In The Stripes (@sickpodbengals) February 26, 2025 This past season, Oliver played in just two games while battling a foot injury, so he’s a tough prospect to evaluate. But in his previous three seasons (41 games), he racked up 22.5 sacks, 40 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, and 130 combined tackles. Oliver is not as big as the other big edge rushers but brings some of the most impressive juice, according to Gridiron Grading. OSU EDGE Collin Oliver meeting with the Bengals would be the most exciting news of the morning. Why? He’s undersized (6’1-6’2, 240) but has one of the best pass rushing production profiles in the class. Would be very fun to see them change their size standards to add pass rush. https://t.co/Lk2xBfXGzR — Gridiron Grading (@GridironGrading) February 26, 2025 These are two guys who could easily fill a much-needed role from day one, and it is clear the Bengals know the pass rush needs to improve drastically this upcoming season. Follow our Twitter page and ‘like’ our Facebook page for more Cincinnati Bengals stuff. Who Dey!
Phinsider Victory Of The Week Open Thread Vol. 623
It’s Friday, so it’s time to welcome you to another VOTW post. Today’s open conversation prompt is just that: what is your victory for this week? Did something extraordinary occur this week? Is there a small achievement worth celebrating? Was it Miami Dolphins-related? Was it related to your professional life? How about your personal life? Everyone has experienced a victory, big or small, and we want to hear about yours. This post belongs to you, the site member, also known as one of our family at Phinsider. This is your opportunity to share your victory from the past week. Your victory can be significant, like the birth of a new child or grandchild or finally landing that job or promotion you worked so hard for. It can also be a small win, like winning $100 on your lottery scratch-off ticket, or perhaps it was an excellent week for another reason you’d like to share. It’s your post and victory, so feel free to share it with the rest of the site in the comment section below.
2025 NFL Combine results: 5 standouts from the safeties group
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Taking a closer look at the safeties who performed well at the 2025 NFL Combine. The middle portion of on-field drills kicked off at the 2025 NFL Combine featuring the safeties, which put a bow on the defensive participants at this year’s event. While not a pressing need for the Detroit Lions, they can always use depth, and we take a look at which prospects could help them achieve that. Here are the position groups we’ve covered so far: Interior defensive lineman Edge rushers Off-the-ball linebackers Cornerbacks Also, if you missed it previously, here’s a look back at our article previewing the safeties group ahead of the Combine. And with that, let’s look at the safeties who stood out on Day 2 of on-field drills. Nick Emmanwori, SAF/Cover LB, South Carolina (6-foot-3, 220) stole the show during the measurables, running a 4.38 40-yard dash, hitting 43-inches on the vertical jump, and clearing 11-foot-6 in the broad jump—all insane numbers for his size. Unfortunately, he shut it down for the day after that and elected to not participate in on-field workouts. Malaki Starks, NB/FS, Georgia (6-foot-1, 197) was the big winner during on-field drills, showing out in nearly every activity. He ran two 4.5 second 40s, which was more than efficient for his game. Starks had some of the best hips of the safety group, and looked like a corner in backpedal drills. He was not afraid to turn and run—clearing over 20 mph in multiple drills per the broadcast—and was routinely able to turn and locate the ball on time. His ball location skills were on point, his hands were easy, and he high-pointed the ball regularly. Incredibly light on his feet, Starks floated around the football field, and everything looked easy for him. Georgia safety Malaki Starks recorded the fastest top speed among safeties in five different drills. Short Shuttle: 15.24 mph W Drill: 17.92 mph Gauntlet Drill: 18.39 mph Line Drill: 18.66 mph Teryl Austin Drill: 18.74 mph : https://t.co/p64vRez1Gn pic.twitter.com/ZC0UQ9ezoI — Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 1, 2025 Lathan Ransom, S/Box, Ohio State (6-foot-0, 206) didn’t run (a common theme amongst Buckeyes because they played late into the playoffs) but took part in on-field drills. Ransom was an easy mover and ran incredibly hard in every drill, showcasing tremendous effort. His burst out of his cuts was impressive, committed to each drill, and proved he has the hands to make plays on the ball. Billy Bowman, S/NB, Oklahoma (5-foot-10, 192) had a very good day, and if he was a better tackler, he probably would’ve been on my Lions watchlist. He ran a 4.42 40-yard dash and didn’t appear to make a mistake during any of the drills. He has a very complete resume—save his tackling—and surely improved his stock with his performance. Jonas Sanker, S, Virginia (6-foot-0, 206) ran better than expected (4.48 40-yard dash) and showed nice traits in drills. He stayed low in his hips, was willing to put his head down and go, because he trusted his ability to track the ball well. Sanker was smooth in his transitions, showed nice hands, and looks like he could be a high-end reserve.
2025 NFL Scouting Combine: Winners from the defensive back and tight end workouts
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images Who helped themselves on Friday? The second day of the 2025 NFL Draft is in the books, and it was a significant one for the New York Giants. The news of the day was obviously the return of Matt Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams, but the on-field workouts were significant for the Giants as well. The Giants could be in search of a starting cornerback opposite Deonte Banks if they aren’t confident in Cor’Dale Flott, as well as a third safety to pair with Tyler Nubin and Dane Belton. The good news is that this is a strong group of defensive backs, even with the top prospects not working out. This is also a good group of tight ends, with well rounded prospects who could appeal if the Giants want someone in the pipeline behind Daniel Bellinger. So who made themselves money on Friday evening? Cornerbacks Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky) The Giants have selected players out Kentucky in two of their last three drafts, and last year’s selection of Dru Phillips has widely been hailed as a home run. With the Giants paying close attention to Kentucky’s defense a year ago, Hairston has to be on their radar. Hairston came in a bit below ideal size at 5-foot-11, 183 pounds, but he laid down the first 4.2 40 of the Combine with a 4.28 on his second run. He’s a playmaking cornerback who’s generated 8 turnovers over the last two years, including 5 interceptions in 2023 — two of which he returned for touchdowns. He also had a great showing in the field drills. Hairston has quick feet, fluid hips, and crisp movement skills. He was always under control and was arguably the best corner on the field. Maxwell Hairston box drill. Smooth and fluid pic.twitter.com/q9mh7xUyDa — Billy M (@BillyM_91) February 28, 2025 That level of speed and playmaking ability will catch plenty of teams’ attention. Darien Porter (Iowa State) Hairston’s time was soon matched by Darien Porter out of Iowa State. Porter is a very different corner from Hairston, and is a very long player at 6-foot-3 with 33-inch arms. Porter combining 95th percentile length with 4.3 speed will boost him up draft boards and some could compare him to Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Porter looked surprisingly fluid in field drills despite his lanky build, though his backpedal is high. He changed directions well and was able to keep a good line while flipping his hips and backpedaling. It’s notable that Porter is a converted wide receiver who only transitioned to corner in 2022. He’s just scratching the surface of his potential. Trey Amos (Ole Miss) Amos is a big, physical cornerback who can go toe-to-toe with receivers in man coverage as well as play well in zone. The big question with him was with regards to his athleticism, but he answered those with his workout. His 4.44-second (unofficial) 40 spoke to his speed, while a fluid field workout should reassure those who worry about his feet and hips. Amos was one of the best cornerbacks in the SEC and looked really good in his workout Friday. Zah Frazier (UTSA) Frazier is a very intriguing small-school corner who will likely draw comparisons to UTSA alum Riq Woolen. Frazier isn’t quite as big as Woolen, but he has similar length at 6-foot-3 and speed at 4.37, in addition to excellent ball skills with 6 interceptions in 2024. So while Frazier is a sleeper right now, the combination of length, speed, and the ability to generate game-breaking plays won’t keep him a sleeper for long. Safeties Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina) We love athletic freaks, and Emmanwori is a freak among freaks. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound safety jumped 43 inches in the vertical and 11 feet, 6 inches in the broad jump. He backed that up with an equally absurd 4.38-second 40-yard dash. We already knew Emmanwori could move like a normal-sized defensive back, but his raw athleticism is astonishing — watching him move just doesn’t make sense. Nick Emmanwori is reportedly being “coined” as the DK Metcalf of safeties among scouts in attendance at the combine. Emmanwori stands at 6’3″, 220 pounds, and was able to produce a 4.38 40-yard dash (2nd among safeties). A 1.49 10-yard split, which is the best of any player to… pic.twitter.com/LQrvx4h6wO — NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) March 1, 2025 The question now might not be whether Emmanwori goes in the first round, but perhaps how early in the first he’ll go. Billy Bowman (Oklahoma) You might not have heard of Billy Bowman, but he’s favorite of film buffs. He had three interceptions returned for a touchdown in 2023 and is a tough, angry defender. He also proved that he could move in space with a good 4.47-second 40-yard dash and some impressive movement skills in the field drills. His hips and feet were quicker than expected and his hands proved that 2023 wasn’t a fluke. Billy Bowman backpedal and 45 degree break pic.twitter.com/fskx5CmY2k — Billy M (@BillyM_91) February 28, 2025 Tight end Terrance Ferguson (Oregon) Most of the top tight ends elected to skip the on-field workouts for various reasons and in their absence, Ferguson paced the field with a 4.63-second 40. Ferguson is a pretty well-rounded tight end prospect who could be the sole tight end in an 11-personnel package. He’s a solid blocker as well as a reliable receiver, and his athleticism hints at additional upside in the passing game. He averaged 13.7 yards per catch this past year and could be a legitimate weapon with more development in a more aggressive offense. Gavin Bartholomew (Pitt) Bartholomew is one of the best blocking tight ends in the draft. He understands how to place his hands, uncoil his hips, create movement and sustain his blocks. He has good size and ran a solid 40 at 4.70 seconds, and while he didn’t get great passes to catch in the ball tracking drill, but did well in the Gauntlet. Bartholomew will likely have
Rams sign Alaric Jackson to 3-year deal
Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images The Rams and Alaric Jackson agreed to a contract, according to ESPN Hours after keeping Matthew Stafford happy with a new contract agreement, the Los Angeles Rams are said to be close to a deal with left tackle Alaric Jackson, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. In a report posted on Twitter on Friday, Fowler says that while a deal is not done, the two sides are “getting close” and that the talks are trending in the right direction for Jackson to remain with the Rams long-term. UPDATE: The Rams and Jackson agreed to a three-year contract with up to $57 million. Jackson’s deal will be for three years and $57M with $35M guaranteed, source confirms. https://t.co/QjEzuuEQ8a — Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 28, 2025 This would solidify that the offense will have the same quarterback and left tackle next season, if L.A. can sign Jackson to a new contract before he hits free agency in March. The #Rams and offensive tackle Alaric Jackson are getting close on a long-term extension, per sources. The deal is not done but is trending in the right direction. pic.twitter.com/jkzH5jhe2T — Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 28, 2025 The former undrafted free agent out of Iowa has turned in an impressive career, overcoming doubts at draft time to become a full-time starter for the Rams at one of the NFL’s hardest positions to master. If the Rams can sign Jackson, it gives them one less thing to do in the offseason. In my Rams offseason plan, I had the Rams restructuring Stafford’s contract to keep him, parting ways with Cooper Kupp, and re-signing Alaric Jackson.
