Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images Who showed out on the final day of the Combine And just like that, the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine is in the books, and our next stop is free agency. The final day of the Combine featured the offensive linemen workouts, and it’s always fun to watch enormous humans do incredibly athletic things. In addition to being entertaining, the work in the field drills help us separate the tackles, guards, and centers. And that makes this year’s offensive line class is interesting. There are a lot of good players in this class, but we could have quite a few prospects who played tackle in college but project inside in the NFL. The New York Giants might need a guard or a tackle for 2025 (or beyond), so these workouts were definitely important. Who stepped up on Sunday afternoon? Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota) Men who are 6-foot-6, 331 pounds shouldn’t be able to run 5.01-second 40-yard dashes, but here we are. He even hit the 3rd-highest top speed of the first offensive line group at 15.99 mph. He also put down a 9-foot-3 broad jump, which is fairly absurd for someone his size. Some teams may view Ersery as a guard while others look at him as a big tackle. That could come down to how well favorably they view his lower-body fluidity. Ersery performed well in the field drills, though he did show a bit of stiffness when asked to move laterally. Joshua Gray (Oregon State) Gray is an intriguing guard prospect who’s been on my radar for a while. He’s a bit undersized at 6-foot-5, 299 pounds with short (31⅜ inch) arms, but he was also one of the most athletic linemen on the property. His 1.70 10-yard split and and 31-inch vertical speak to some impressive lower-body explosiveness. He also moved very well in the field drills, with easy change of direction skills. Gray will likely have a lot of fans among teams that run zone-based blocking schemes. He might not be a down-hill mauler, but his movement skills will fit well in any scheme that looks to stress defenses laterally. Grey Zabel (North Dakota State) I made a point of getting Zabel’s prospect profile up before the Senior Bowl for a reason. It didn’t take long before he started being talked about as one of the top interior linemen in the draft, and he’s steadily risen up public draft boards as folks on the outside have looked closer at the FCS product. Zabel just keeps building his resume, and his 36½-inch vertical jump is incredibly impressive. He might not have the frame to stay at tackle in the NFL, but he’s athletic, versatile, and has plenty of power in his lower body. Armand Membou (Missouri) Membou’s measurements were a bit disappointing and raised the specter of moving inside. After all, there aren’t many offensive tackles who are 6-foot-4 with 33-inch arms. However, he moves extremely well on tape and was a very strong pass protector at right tackle for Mizzou — He gave up no sacks or QB hits last year, and only nine hurries. I’m not sure anyone was expecting him to put down a 4.9-second 40 yard dash or a 34-inch vertical. He moved really well in the field drills, easily opening his hips as a puller as well as moving laterally. Jared Wilson (Georgia) Wilson’s tape suggests that his footwork needs development, but he definitely moved well on tape. But even noting athleticism as a strength of his didn’t quite prepare for his 4.84-second 40-yard dash, 32-inch vertical, and 9-foot-4 inch broad jump at 6-foot-3, 310 pounds. Wilson might need some work, but he’s one of the most athletic centers to ever enter the NFL. That will get scouts interested and coaches will definitely want to be the one to unlock his potential.
2025 NFL Scouting Combine: Winners from the offensive line workouts
2025 NFL Draft: Top takeaways from the quarterback, running back, wide receiver on-field testing at NFL Scouting Combine
Trevor Sikkema provides the top takeaways from the third day of on-field drills at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. 2025 NFL Draft: Top takeaways from the quarterback, running back, wide receiver on-field testing at NFL Scouting Combine 3A00KNN Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) By Trevor Sikkema Posted Mar 2, 2025 12:58 pm EST Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel raise their stocks: Noel put on a show, recording a 41.5-inch vertical, an 11-foot-2 broad jump and a 4.39 40-yard dash—all while weighing 194 pounds. Higgins, at over 6-foot-4 and 214 pounds, impressed with a 4.47 40-yard dash, a 39-inch vertical and a 10-foot-9 broad jump. Texas receiver Matthew Golden could leap into the top 15: The Texas receiver ran a blazing 4.29 40-yard dash — a major boost to his stock, especially since top-end speed wasn’t a defining part of his game on tape. Now that we know he has that extra gear, expect his name to rise in upcoming mock drafts. 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: 5 minutes Running back, wide receiver and quarterback workouts are consistently among the most exciting events of combine week. These players represent the next wave of NFL playmakers and are often the focus of draft hauls in the PFF mock draft simulator. With this week’s results, expect plenty of movement in the average draft position for several rising prospects. Here are some of our top takeaways from the day’s workouts and drills. IOWA STATE STEALS THE SHOW WITH HIGGINS, NOEL Iowa State had a standout season, largely thanks to its two future NFL receivers. We knew Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel were talented based on their high PFF grades, but we didn’t realize just how athletic they were. Noel put on a show, recording a 41.5-inch vertical, an 11-foot-2 broad jump and a 4.39 40-yard dash—all while weighing 194 pounds. He’s an explosive route runner from the slot who wins with density, power and clearly elite speed. His athleticism translated seamlessly to on-field drills, as well. Higgins, at over 6-foot-4 and 214 pounds, impressed with a 4.47 40-yard dash, a 39-inch vertical and a 10-foot-9 broad jump. Already known for his savvy route running and high football IQ, he now has the verified athleticism to add another dimension to his game. MATTHEW GOLDEN CLIMBING INTO THE TOP 20 Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden was already a top-30 prospect on PFF’s pre-combine big board, thanks to his production both in the slot and on the outside. He consistently won with quick footwork off the line and a nuanced route tree. Then he ran a blazing 4.29 40-yard dash — a major boost to his stock, especially since top-end speed wasn’t a defining part of his game on tape. Now that we know he has that extra gear, expect his name to rise in upcoming mock drafts. He could very well be the second receiver off the board in April. DAY 3 RECEIVERS BROWN, THORNTON, NEYOR AND TESLAA SEE THEIR STOCK RISE The NFL values size, strength and speed — so teams take notice when big receivers outperform smaller ones in athletic testing at the Scouting Combine. That now appears to be the case for four receivers: Sam Brown (Miami, FL), Dont’e Thornton (Tennessee), Isaiah Neyor (Nebraska) and Isaac TeSlaa (Arkansas). Brown showcased impressive speed and explosiveness, but his 41.5-inch vertical was the standout number — the second-highest for any receiver over 200 pounds in the last five years. Thornton blazed a 4.30 40-yard dash while hitting the fastest 10-yard split speed (18.71 mph) and the second-fastest top speed (23.66 mph), per Next Gen Stats. He accomplished this at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds. Neyor, whose college career was disrupted by injuries, recorded an 11-foot broad jump, making him just the second receiver since 2023 to clear that mark at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds. TeSlaa, meanwhile, had one of the best all-around combine performances. Measuring 6-foot-3 ½ and 214 pounds, he ran a 4.43 40-yard dash, posted a 39.5-inch vertical, a 10-foot-9 broad jump and showcased elite agility with a 6.85 three-cone drill and a 4.05 short shuttle. He’s a true do-it-all athlete who made a strong case for himself ahead of draft weekend. BUCKEYES BACKS HENDERSON AND JUDKINS SHINE AT THE COMBINE As expected from the reigning national champions, Ohio State was well represented at the combine, and two of its top playmakers — TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins — delivered standout performances. Henderson, known for his speed, ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and posted a 38.5-inch vertical jump. Meanwhile, Judkins, the more powerful of the two, ran a 4.48 and recorded an impressive 11-foot broad jump despite measuring in at 6-foot, 221 pounds. Both backs made strong cases for themselves and now appear to be second-round locks. BHAYSHUL TUTEN CLAIMS THE TITLE OF BEST ALL-AROUND ATHLETE With a strong high school track background, Bhayshul Tuten had the potential to put up elite testing numbers—and he delivered. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash among running backs at 4.32 seconds and recorded the best vertical jump at 40.5 inches. His 10-foot-10 broad jump ranked fourth, but it was still an impressive mark. Tuten is compact yet explosive, and while he’s likely a Day 3 pick, plenty of teams will have their eye on him. MILROE, LEONARD AND COOK IMPRESS THROWING AT THE COMBINE It’s a bit ironic that the most anticipated event of draft season — the quarterback workouts — is also one of the least impactful for evaluating the position. Many top quarterbacks choose not to participate in the on-field portion of the combine, making it rare for signal-callers to make headlines. However, a few passers took the field, and Jalen Milroe, Riley Leonard and Brady Cook stood out. Cook exceeded expectations as an athlete,
The Rams shouldn’t bring back this pending free agent on defensive line
Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images Rams pending free agent Bobby Brown III goes to Twitter to voice displeasure with current role The Los Angeles Rams locked up their most important free agent of the offseason in left tackle Alaric Jackson. After coming to an agreement with quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Rams signed Jackson to a three-year, $57 million extension. The Rams must now decide how they want to build out the rest of the roster. That included making decisions on other pending free agents set to leave. One of those free agents is defensive lineman Bobby Brown III. Brown has been a cog in the middle of the Rams defensive line room over the last two years since taking over for Sebastian Joseph-Day and Greg Gaines as the 1T. As Stu Jackson wrote on the Rams website, “The Rams’ pass rush rightfully got the attention it deserved last season, but one defensive lineman who didn’t get as much attention as he probably deserved was nose tackle Bobby Brown III, especially for how he played against the run.” Jackson specifically praised Brown for his work against the Seattle Seahawks in the middle of the season on the critical 4th-and-1 stop. It was because of this stop that the Rams were able to take over and score the game-winning touchdown. 4th-and-1 with the game on the line. Look who it is making the game-saving play for the Rams defense. That would be Omar Speights! Navigates traffic. Meets the ball carrier in the hole for no gain! Also…look at that penetration from Bobby Brown III! pic.twitter.com/uhKTNI2jxe — Blaine Grisak (@bgrisakTST) November 4, 2024 While that would seem like praising a player, Brown took it as a backhanded compliment. Brown went to Twitter to voice his displeasure with his role in the defense. By the sounds of it, Brown may be on his way out of Los Angeles to get the role that he thinks he deserves. Heading to Twitter, Brown called himself more than just a run defender and the team’s highlight of him a “backhanded compliment.” He then proceeded to quote certain replies and retweet others. It’s easy to understand what Brown is trying to do, but unfortunately it didn’t come off the way that he may have wanted it to. It’s one thing to voice displeasure in a current role. However, criticizing the team in public forum on social media probably isn’t the smartest way to go about it right before hitting free agency. There’s very clearly some internal frustration from Brown. His going about it publicly seals his fate. Brown essentially said that he doesn’t want to be back. Combine that with the Rams “we not me culture” and it ends any chance that there was of him returning in 2025. Simply put, it’s not a good look. One of those quote tweets seemed to hint that Brown would be looking for an opportunity elsewhere this offseason. https://t.co/Fiv8n8roUp — Bobby Brown III (@bobbyiii5) March 1, 2025 When it comes to the defensive line, the Rams have been pretty consistent with how they’ve approached the position. The Rams went from Sebastian Joseph-Day to A’Shawn Robinson to Greg Gaines. After Gaines left in free agency, the Rams gave Bobby Brown III an opportunity. Last season, rookie Ty Davis had the ninth most snaps among rookie defensive linemen with 354. Davis had approximately 150 fewer snaps than Brown in 2024. As a rookie, Davis led the 2024 draft class in run stop percentage at 9.1 percent. His 15 run stops was one fewer than Brown and his run stop percentage was actually higher. While Brown voiced displeasure about not being used as a pass rusher, he ranked 81st among 93 qualifying defensive linemen in win percentage. His 0.8 PRP, which is a formula that combines sacks, hits and hurries, ranked dead last. With the emergence of Davis last year and the amount of reps that he got as a rookie, it makes sense to promote him to a larger role next season. Davis didn’t have much of an impact as a pass-rusher either, but it’s also a deep defensive line draft class. If Brown wants to leave Los Angeles in pursuit of a better fit and more opportunities, that will be his choice and right as an upcoming free agent. At the same time, it was always hard to see the Rams bringing Brown back especially with Davis having the rookie season that he did. With a deep defensive line class, the Rams can add another rotational player and continue to build on what was a strength of theirs in 2025.
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NFL Combine Day 3: Rams will have lot of explosive options at WR and RB
The Los Angeles Rams will be looking to add more explosive playmakers on offense this offseason. That starts with the wide receiver and running back positions. On Saturday, the running backs and wide receivers tested at the NFL Combine and the two position groups put on a show. For running backs, the average 40-time at The Combine this year was a 4.48. That’s the fastest running back group at The Combine since 2003. The wide receivers also impressed, recording the most sub-4.4 40-yard dashes at The Combine since 2003. If the Rams were looking to add speed, they got the perfect draft class to do it in. Obviously, a little too much stock sometimes gets placed on the 40-time and some of the drills in Indianapolis. However, The Combine is meant to confirm what we see on tape, and that’s exactly what happened on Saturday. Here are the top players that stood out. Iowa State Wide Receiver Duo Throughout the entire draft process, the Iowa State duo at wide receiver in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel have caught my attention. Coming into The Combine, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said last week, “You look at Jaylin Noel from Iowa State who is going to put on a show at the combine. He is really, really explosive.” The Iowa State wide receiver was explosive to say the least. Noel had the second-highest vertical among participating wide receivers despite being smaller and his 11’2 broad jump did lead all wide receivers. Noel may only be 5’10, 194 pounds, but he is a firecracker. In the college football regular season last year, Noel ranked 12th in the nation with 11 receptions of 20 or more yards. At the Senior Bowl, he had the fourth most explosive efforts with 112. An explosive effort is defined as “high” accelerations and “high” decelerations a player achieves. Noel confirmed in Indianapolis what we saw on tape. He is one of the more explosive wide receivers in this draft class. Noel’s teammate Jayden Higgins quieted a lot of the questions around him as well. Higgins was never going to run the fastest 40-time as a bigger wide receiver. However, he ran a 4.47 and his top speed of 22.28 mph. Higgins was smooth in the gauntlet and other position drills. Jayden Higgins 40-time analysisNextGen Stats While he didn’t put on quite the show that Noel did, he had an impressive outing. There was some hope that at least one of these two players may fall to the Rams at 90. As it stands, it’s hard to see either of them making it past the early portion of the third round. RB Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech There is one running back that I’ve been pounding the table for as an explosive option for the Rams. That player has been Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten. Tuten was a player that was expected to run fast. I asked him on Friday what he was expecting to run as he hit a 4.32 last offseason according to Bruce Feldman. Tuten hit a 4.32 on Saturday at The Combine. While Tuten’s 40-time was fast, it was the other drills where he really impressed. He had the highest vertical at 40.5’’ and his 10’10 broad jump was also in the top-five. The thing with Tuten is that he isn’t just fast in street clothes. This is one of the fastest running backs in the draft. He had the fastest speed at 19.75 mph on day two of practice in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. There will be concerns about Tuten’s ball security, but talking with him on Friday, he owned it and called it a point of emphasis. Tuten is likely still a day three pick, but he was one of the more explosive running backs on Saturday. WR Matthew Golden, Texas The Rams met with Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden at The Combine and it would not be surprising to see them take him at 26th overall. Golden ran the fastest 40-time among wide receivers as the only player to crack a 4.3 at an official 4.29. His 10-yard split was also the fastest at a 1.49. Matthew Golden 40-time analysisNextGen Stats Coming into the day, Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond talked a big game that he was going to crack a 4.2. Bond didn’t come close to that at a 4.4 and the fastest Texas wide receiver ended up being Golden. Again, the Combine should confirm what is seen on film. Golden ranked 8th in college football last year in receptions of 20+ yards with 13. Out of those 13, seven were contested. After Arizona’s Tet McMillan, the ranking of that next group of wide receivers is pretty wide-spread. Golden could start to generate more buzz as the second-best wide receiver in this class. RB Dylan Sampson, Tennessee Sampson didn’t run the 40-yard dash as some would have liked. This is one of the fastest running backs in the draft and may have given Tuten a run as the best 40-time. Sampson didn’t run as he was dealing with a hamstring. With that said, he did participate in the position drills and appeared to be moving pretty well. Sampson showed off his quick feet and good balance. His cuts were sharp and he made quick decisions. We’ll see if Sampson runs at his pro day, but the position drills were smooth and that’s arguably more important. QB Kyle McCord, Syracuse My opinion continues to be that if the Rams end up taking a quarterback on day three of the NFL draft, that player should be Kyle McCord out of Syracuse. He is a great fit for the Sean McVay offense. Had he not thrown five interceptions against Pitt, he might be in the conversation with the second tier of quarterbacks such as Jaxson Dart. McCord was locked in throwing the football in Indianapolis. I’m not sure he missed a single one of his deep-outs. He also looked like the best quarterback at the
Report: Colts have four veteran quarterback free agents ‘already on radar’
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images The Colts are reportedly eyeing four veteran free agents to potentially challenge and push Anthony Richardson for the starting job this offseason. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Indianapolis Colts already have four veteran free agent quarterbacks on their radar including Jacoby Brissett, Justin Fields, Daniel Jones, and Trey Lance: Colts looking to add to QB room Fowler: As the Colts look for veteran quarterback options, names on their radar include Daniel Jones, Justin Fields, Trey Lance and Jacoby Brissett. This is a mix of quarterbacks who can support Anthony Richardson and guys who will be looking to start games somewhere. I’ve heard Jones’ name more than once in regards to the Colts. Indianapolis has not given up on Richardson, but how the team approaches the free agency period will be telling. For Colts fans, Brissett is of course a familiar face, having played for the franchise from 2017-20 and with 30 starts during that same span. This past season, Brissett appeared in 8 games (5 starts) for the New England Patriots, completing 95 of 161 pass attempts (59%) for 826 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, and an interception. Now 32-years-old, the 6’4,” 235 pound quarterback may be most valuable as a mentor for 3rd-year quarterback Anthony Richardson, as well as by providing a stand-up veteran in the locker room—having always been well regarded for his leadership with the Colts previously. While still possessing a strong arm, Brissett lacks the most mobility of the four options that Fowler lists here—and doesn’t tend to challenge opposing secondaries much downfield. Meanwhile, now 24-years-old, Lance is most known for being the former 3rd overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. Lance definitely has some elite athleticism, but like any young quarterback has struggled with his accuracy and progression through reads in the pocket. He appeared in 4 games for the Cowboys last season (1 start) and completed 25 of 41 pass attempts (61%) for 266 passing yards, 0 touchdowns, and an interception. Then, there’s 27-year-old Daniel Jones, who like Lance, is a former early NFL draft pick—having been selected with the 6th overall pick in 2019 by the New York Giants. Jones has played some good football at times during his 6-year career—which earned him a 4-year, $160 million contract in 2023, but has struggled with consistency and turnovers. He started 10 games last season for the Giants, completing 216 of 341 pass attempts (63.3%) for 2,070 passing yards, 8 passing touchdowns, and 7 interceptions before being declared a healthy inactive and later waived. He was later signed by the Minnesota Vikings as a backup down the season’s stretch. Like Lance, Jones offers some dual-threat mobility, so the Colts could run some similar RPO play designs and other offensive play-calling like they already deploy with Richardson. Out of these three aforementioned options, Jones appears to be the most serious for actually challenging and pushing Richardson from an on-the-field playing perspective during training camp. Personally, I think that a pair of veteran free agents, Justin Fields (mentioned here) or Jameis Winston, could better challenge Richardson from a performance standpoint—albeit with likely higher commanded contracts in free agency. Fields, a former 2021 11th overall pick of the Chicago Bears, is most similar to Richardson from an age, speed, athleticism, and playing style standpoint. The 25-year-old completed 106 of 161 pass attempts (65.8%) for 1,106 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, and an interception during 10 games (6 starts) for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also rushed for 5 touchdowns and 289 total rushing yards in 2024. Perhaps that’s why the Colts are seeking other cheaper options as well, with Jones now as their reported potentially most desired choice.
Silver Minings: The Raiders are shopping Michael Mayer as a trade option
Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images The Las Vegas Raider former second round pick could be on the move after two season with the team The Las Vegas Raiders traded up in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft for tight end Michael Mayer. He was regarded as a perfect fit for Former Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels’s offense. Mayer didn’t get much chance to showcase his skills, with him playing eight games before McDaniels was fired. He started to come on at the end of the season but missed the last four games due to an injury. In 2024, Tom Telesco went with the best player available and drafted Brock Bowers, who produced a historic season. It led to Mayer becoming more of a role player in the offense and dealing with an off-the-field issue. With a new regime in place with John Spytek and Pete Carroll, it is being reported by The Athletic that Mayer is being shopped to other teams. The Raiders have had discussions with teams who have interest in tight end Michael Mayer, according to league sources. Mayer hasn’t had the impact the Raiders hoped for when he was drafted in the second round in 2023. He had just 27 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games as a rookie. He missed six games due to personal reasons in 2024 and was delegated to a marginal role due to the ascent of tight end Brock Bowers, who was named a first-team All-Pro. It wasn’t only Mayer; Zamir White could also be on the move after a disappointing season. After losing the Matthew Stafford sweepstakes, the front office is busy making moves to acquire draft picks. In other Raiders links: Could Sheduer Sanders fall to the Raiders?: Reports out of the NFL Scouting Combine give the possibility that Raiders could land their future franchise quarterback with the 6th pick. John Spytek is planning to copy the Eagles’ Success: John Spytek is looking to build the Raiders in the same pattern that led to the constant success of the Philadelphia Eagles. Raiders leave NFL scouting combine without QB, but with some clarity: The Raiders couldn’t land Stafford via trade with the Los Angeles Rams but get a better picture of the options for the offseason.
2025 NFL Combine media recap: 4 offensive linemen full of Lions grit
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images A look at the NFL Combine’s most-gritty players offensive linemen, and recapping their media sessions. The final day of media sessions at the NFL Combine was for the offensive line prospects. I was told it’s arguably the best day of the NFL Combine week, not only because offensive linemen can be highly entertaining, but because much of the media clears out, and it gives you a chance to ask more questions and get more information. Both of those things turned out to be true. Here are some details of conversations I had with five different offensive linemen during Saturday’s media availability. Check out the previous installments of my NFL Combine media recaps here: Wide receivers/running backs Tight end Defensive line Linebacker Cornerbacks Safety Offensive linemen Texas OL Cameron Williams Obviously, the ability to speak in front of the media is low on the priority list when it comes to evaluating the value of an NFL Draft prospect, but Williams’ sessions was pretty rough. He provided a lot of one-sentence answers, and often responded with “I don’t know.” The NFL Combine is an exhausting process and he was one of the first interviews of the day of an early morning. So maybe he was tired, maybe he’s just not a super energetic guy to begin with. Neither is a sufficient reason to pass on drafting the guy, but since my major goal in talking to these players was to come out with a character evaluation, I left Williams’ presser wanting more. That said, Williams displayed a lot of grit throughout the football season. He said he was dealing with a knee injury all season that caused his knee to lock up several times throughout the year. He opted to get offseason surgery this offseason, which is why he will not do any on-field drills at the Combine. “I just never thought about,” Williams told me about managing the injury during the season. “Every time it would lock up on me, I would stand still, try to straighten it out, then I’d be back better.” Williams is big and long (6-foot-5, 335 pounds)—which gives an NFL coach great tools to work with—but he’ll have to answer some movement skills questions during his pro day. USC C Jonah Monheim I wasn’t too familiar with Monheim before attending his press conference, but I could immediately tell this guy has the smarts to play center. He was asked to identify a play where his film work paid off, and he immediately recalled a play from 2022 against Fresno State where the team was able to identify a blitz pre-snap, they audibled to a run play, and it resulted in a 35-yard touchdown. [He gets docked a half-point because it was a 25-yard touchdown—note: Monheim was playing right tackle at the time, and provides a key block on the play (No. 79)] The first player Monheim says he watches in the film room is Lions center Frank Ragnow, and he overlapped with Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, noting that his leadership and “second-to-none” work ethic helped him as a young player. Monheim, a two-time USC captain, just screams leadership. His answer to a pretty boilerplate “why do you play football” question was one unlike anyone I’ve heard. “There is obviously extrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation. At the end of the day, I think the reason that I get up and the reason I do all of these things is to be the best and not let the people around you down. It’s to let all of your teammates, all of your coaches, everyone else that pours into you, all your family, and everyone that’s helped you to this point to make them proud, not let them down, and do your job every single day for those reasons.” In his five seasons at USC, Monheim started at every offensive line position other than left guard, but it’s easy to see why most project him as a center in the NFL—the position he played in 2024, as well. North Dakota St OL Grey Zabel Admittedly, I was not impartial going into Zabel’s press conference. In my early draft research, he was one of my favorites to watch. Though he’s probably a guard at the NFL level, he was just a dominant force at left tackle last season. Right off the bat, Zabel was asked a difficult question directly regarding the Lions. If he were to get drafted by Detroit, and enter a position where he wouldn’t be starting. Would he be cool with that? I thought he provided a very mature answer: “I think the mindset coming in is you want to learn as much as you possibly can and understand that there’s a growth aspect going from college to the NFL,” Zabel said. “When you kinda come into a new ballclub, you want to learn from those vets and try to be the best player you can be and have an impact. But the competitor in me wants to go out there and play right away and start playing football because you never know when this game’s going to be taken away from you.” That shows humbleness, knowing he’s not going to come in knowing everything in the NFL, but shows off his determination and competitive spirit by making sure we know he wants to be an NFL starter. I also loved his answer about his own leadership style. He tapped into something I’ve heard several Lions coaches mention: adapting your leadership depending on who you’re talking to. “You have to put in the work before you can expect to be a leader, but I’m also vocal. I like to understand how my teammates are wired, how they respond to adversity, and how to bring out the best in them. Leadership isn’t something you just walk in and have, it’s something you earn.” And if you missed it, Zabel also had a ton of great things to say about new Lions
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The Linc – Deebo Samuel joins the NFC East
Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links … REPORT: Commanders trade for Deebo Samuel – Hogs Haven Reports from the Combine over the past few days had linked Washington and Deebo Samuel, and now Adam Schefter is reporting that the Commanders are sending a 5th-round pick to the 49ers for the all-purpose wide receiver. […] The 5th round pick would have been #148, acquired from New Orleans as part of the Marshon Lattimore deal executed at the trade deadline last season. Washington’s original 5th round pick, #166, was traded to the Eagles as part of the Jahan Dotson trade prior to the start of the 2024 season. Trade grades for Deebo Samuel deal between Commanders and 49ers – SB Nation We have our first major move of the 2025 NFL offseason. While the deal cannot become official until the league year begins on March 12, the San Francisco 49ers have traded standout wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Samuel, who was entering the final year of his contract, requested a trade from the 49ers earlier this offseason, and now the organization has granted his wish. Is this one of those trades where both sides can declare a victory, or does this deal have a clear winner? Commanders Trade for Deebo Samuel – Over The Cap The next question will be whether or not Samuel seeks an extension prior to the season. Samuel was never able to come close to the production that helped him earn his $23.85 million per year contract extension. The year prior to the extension Samuel produced 1,405 receiving yards, 365 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. In the three years since then Samuel has averaged 731/198/7. Samuel certainly adds another element to an offense but $20 million+ a year with those numbers is a big ask. A few wide receiver trades blowing up in recent years probably make it more difficult to negotiate an extension. 2025 NFL free agency, trade grades: Deebo Samuel to Commanders – ESPN+ That leads to a big question: Isn’t $17.6 million and a fifth-round pick for a one-year rental of a No. 3 wide receiver a lot to pay? You bet. But the circumstances dictate the Commanders’ aggression to add playmakers, and Samuel provides offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury the ability to add wrinkles to what was already a successful offense in 2024. From San Francisco’s perspective, the team has invested heavily in Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall (and maybe could spend more on Jauan Jennings). The 49ers got a nice return for Samuel, whom — absent a trade partner — they might have released. Deebo Samuel is headed to D.C. – Niners Nation Samuel had requested a trade earlier this offseason, citing the desire for a fresh start after coming off a career-worst season in per-game averages in a number of categories. Catching 51 passes for 670 yards over 15 games for the 49ers, the wideout took a step back from his 2023 year, where he totaled over 1,000 yards from scrimmage. Samuel now joins a Washington Commanders team that includes some familiar faces, including general manager Adam Peters, and will hope to bolster a wide receiver unit that is lacking in proven quality options behind star wideout Terry McLaurin. A peek around at the Cowboys, Giants, and Commanders – and the Deebo Samuel trade – ahead of free agency – PhillyVoice As noted above, the cost for the Commanders was a mere fifth-round pick. And surely, if you look at folks grading this trade, the Commanders are going to get high marks. I mean… Deebo Samuel for a fifth-round pick?! Sure, do it! Except, the fifth-round pick matters much less than the $17.5 million the Commanders are going to pay Samuel this season. If Samuel were a free agent and the Commanders signed him to a one-year deal worth $17.5 million, many of the same people praising the trade would probably call that an overpay. Is Samuel better than 2024 Commanders receivers like Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus? Sure, I guess. And certainly the Commanders are loaded up with cap space. This move won’t prohibit them from making other big moves in free agency as they try to narrow the gap between themselves and the Eagles. But it’s also not a move that is worthy of praise. The Commanders are an ascending team and they used a healthy chunk of their spending money on a whiny, declining 29-year-old receiver who had one great season four years ago. Eagles hire Bowling Green’s head coach as their new QB coach – BGN The Philadelphia Eagles are hiring Bowling Green head coach Scot Loeffler as their new quarterbacks coach, according to an official announcement from Bowling Green State University. The 50-year-old Loeffler replaces Doug Nussmeier, who recently left Philly to become the New Orleans Saints’ offensive coordinator on Kellen Moore’s coaching staff. Loeffler was a quarterback at Michigan before shoulder injuries ended his playing career. He quickly transitioned to the coaching ranks. Here’s a snapshot of his experience. The Howie Effect – Iggles Blitz There has been a lot of talk since the Super Bowl about how the Eagles build on the line of scrimmage. That has been true since Andy Reid came to town back in 1999. Howie kept that going when he took over. Building on the LOS is harder than it sounds. It takes time and discipline. You need years to build a good OL and DL. There will be misses (Andre Dillard, maybe Bryce Huff). You have to stick with it. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah explained it like this. “You have to go to the hardware store before you can go to the toy store.” Simple and brilliant. I’m curious to see if teams overpay for Milton Williams and Josh Sweat. Both are good players, but could get a Super Bowl bump. We’ve seen this effect for 30 years.
2025 NFL Combine: Previewing the offensive line workouts
Photo by Gus Stark/LSU/University Images via Getty Images The Giants should always be interested in the big men, but which ones in particular? Are the New York Giants going to select some HOG MOLLIES? Probably, and we get to see the big guys train, measure, and test on Sunday, March 2nd, at 1 PM EST on the NFL Network. The NFL Scouting Combine got started with big men running on Thursday and the defensive line workout, and that’s how it’ll close. The defensive tackles were an impressive group, and it’ll be up to these offensive linemen to stop them from ruining some quarterback’s day. Here are some storylines and players to monitor regarding the offensive line. Offensive line The top two tackles in the class are Ohio State’s Josh Simmons and LSU’s Will Campbell. Simmons tore his patellar tendon mid-season in 2024. He was sky-rocketing up boards and was almost solidifying himself as the top tackle in the draft before the injury. His medical checks will be critical. Many teams around the NFL view Campbell as an offensive tackle rather than a guard, but the arm-length discussion could plague Campbell due to team thresholds. Campbell does not have ideal tackle length, and he could measure sub-33 inches, which is a deal breaker for some teams. That measurement, specifically, is important for the LSU star. Armand Membou is another possible day-one talent — who may play offensive guard at the next level — who could make even more money at the event with an overall quality showing. Star offensive guard Tyler Booker out of Alabama has all the physical traits to be noticeable at the combine. He could be the first interior offensive lineman off the board. Texas’ Kelvin Bank Jr. is another top name to be aware of, and he should be a first-round pick in April. I do wish, though, that Montana State’s Marcus Wehr and North Carolina OG Willie Lampkin were invited to the combine. Lampkin’s lack of size certainly hurt him in that decision (5’10, 270 pounds at the Senior Bowl). As for Wehr, I’m surprised he did not receive an invite after his performance at the East-West Shrine event and due to his athletic ability. Combine testing is generally less important for offensive linemen than other position groups. Still, the movement and bag drills are essential. The wave drill measures an offensive lineman’s change of direction, balance, and reactive quickness; the player’s ability to stay low while on the move over a ten-second period not only shows agility and coordination but fatigue as well. Here are some names to monitor through the last day of the combine. OG Donovan Jackson, Ohio State Jackson is a highly intelligent and powerful interior offensive lineman who was an unsung hero of Ohio State’s championship run. He shifted to left tackle after Josh Simmons’ injury, and the Buckeyes did not miss a beat. A left guard by trade, Jackson sports heavy hands and good run-blocking ability. He frames his assignments well and delivers good power at the point of contact, albeit his hands and feet could both use refinement. Jackson is a brute with sufficient athletic ability and an ideal offensive guard build. He’s rarely fooled in pass protection and is good overall in that area, although he’s not very explosive and quickness tends to give him problems. His redirection ability isn’t necessarily a strength but Jackson tends to recover and affect the quick pass rushers in the second to third phase of a play when he is initially beaten – it just doesn’t always look pretty. Overall, Jackson can execute any run assignment and is a good pass protector who plays with power, heavy hands, and a sturdy anchor. He will be one of the first interior offensive linemen selected in the upcoming draft. OL Grey Zabel, North Dakota State Zabel played four offensive line positions: 1,064 snaps at RT; 974 at LT; 453 at LG and 222 at RG. He also played 17 snaps at center in his career. Zabel is a fluid athlete with good hip mobility and he exercises excellent play speed. His mind works fast, he has quick hands, and he can move well for a 6-foot-5, 316-pound offensive linemen. OL Marcus Mbow, Purdue Mbow played 1,167 snaps at right tackle and 668 snaps at right guard but has not played inside since 2022. He surrounded 25 pressures and three sacks this season and 51 pressures and four sacks in his career (1,092 pass-blocking snaps). He is a good athlete who could test very well on Sunday, and he provides the versatility that teams are looking for in modern NFL linemen. The 6-5, 300-pounder will likely go somewhere on day three. OT Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College Raptor put me on to Trapilo, who towers at 6-7, 309 pounds. He started 32 of 40 games at Boston College, allowing just 15 pressures and two sacks in 2024. He surrendered 56 pressures and seven sacks in his college career (1,258 pass-blocking snaps). His father was a fourth-round pick who started games for the Saints and was an All-American at Boston College. OT Charles Grant, William & Mary I have not watched Grant’s tape, but I heard excellent things about his athletic ability and his length — he reportedly has a seven-foot wingspan. Offensive line coaches love to get their hands on a moldable developmental player like Grant, who did play five seasons of college football. He only allowed 32 pressures and four sacks in his career as the left tackle at William Mary. RT Chase Lundt, UCONN Lundt is a massive 6-8, 305-pound who played almost every snap at right tackle for the Huskies. He only surrendered nine pressures and zero sacks this season, and 63 pressures and six sacks through his career (1,572 pass blocking snaps). Lundt has impressive range and figures to be a zone-blocking right tackle in the NFL. He should perform well in the wave drill due to his lateral movement skills.
Could the New York Giants get the No. 1 pick from the Tennessee Titans?
Tennessee Titans GM Mike Borgonzi | Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images The pick isn’t for sale yet … but it might be eventually The New York Giants missed in an effort to get Matthew Stafford. They still need a quarterback. Actually, multiple quarterbacks. As GM Joe Schoen said at the NFL Scouting Combine “everybody knows that.” The Giants will almost certainly draft one. To draft the quarterback who ends up highest on their list, likely to be Cam Ward of Miami if you believe most of the current chatter, there is only one way to guarantee the chance to do so. Trade up from No. 3 to No. 1 with the Tennessee Titans. Can the Giants actually pull that off? It seems like many around the league expect them to try, with Dianna Russini of The Athletic saying the Giants are “a team to watch on multiple fronts” in their effort to find a quarterback. Would the Titans, with Will Levis not looking like their long-term answer at quarterback, be willing to move off that pick rather than select Ward or Shedeur Sanders? They might be. First-year GM Mike Borgonzi has said Tennessee would not pass on the opportunity to draft a player they believe to be generational. If they believe both Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter and Penn State edge defender Abdul Carter fall into that category and decide against taking a quarterback, they could move to No. 3, get additional picks, and still get one of those two players. Borgonzi said at the Combine that no trade of the No. 1 pick would be considered until closer to the draft, once the organization completes its evaluation of the quarterbacks. “At the end of the day, we have to make the best decision at this point for the Titans. And if we deem taking a quarterback is the most important thing right now, then we’ll do that,” Borgonzi said. “But we have to go through this process here. So this is like one touch point in the process. We’ve gone through the whole evaluation part. Now we’re finally getting to sit down and meet with these guys and talk with them. We’ll have pro days, we’ll have 30 day visits. We have to go through the whole process really to make that decision.” NFL insider Ian Rapoport said Saturday that the Titans “need a little more time” to make their decision, but that there is “real interest from several teams” in obtaining the No. 1 pick. ESPN NFL insider Field Yates said on the ‘Pat McAfee Show’ that the Titans might be in a position to create a bidding war between the Giants and Cleveland Browns, who have the No. 2 pick. “Tennessee might be able to drum up a bidding war between Cleveland and the Giants.. If either one of those teams love a Quarterback they’re not gonna settle” ~ @FieldYates #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/itAp5tgf0G — Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 27, 2025 “Not that either one of them would for sure make that move up there … I think the league, on average, views Cam Ward as the higher-rated prospect than Shedeur Sanders. But, if the Giants say ‘hey, we’re bigger Shedeur Sanders guys than Cam Ward guys than Shedeur Sanders guys and Cleveland might see it the same way, then you’re not gonna settle,” Yates said. “Teams normally view quarterbacks almost like house hunting, where you get different preferences for what you actually want in that player. Tennessee might be able to say, hey, if we think Cleveland and New York would both take Cam Ward without a problem over Sanders … might be able to create some leverage there and potentially move down.” Yates pointed out the Titans, with a rookie GM and second-year head coach in Brian Callahan, don’t face as much immediate pressure to find the right quarterback. The Giants figure to be quarterback shopping in the draft regardless of what happens in free agency or the trade market. There doesn’t appear to be a quarterback available — not even Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins or Russell Wilson — who would keep them from grabbing a quarterback of the future if they believe they have the chance.
