Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Eagles roster outlook: Offensive tackle The Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl season is over and the 2025 NFL offseason is officially here. We’re continuing our Eagles roster outlook series by examining the offensive tackle position. PREVIOUSLY: Quarterback | Running back | Tight end | Wide receiver. THE PLAYERS JORDAN MAILATA STATS: 802 snaps, 12 starts, 1st out of 85 tackles graded by PFF, 2 sacks allowed, 0 hits allowed, 18 hurries allowed, 7 penalties PLAYOFF STATS: 268 snaps, 4 starts, 4th out of 22 tackles graded by PFF, 1 sack allowed, 0 hits allowed, 5 hurries allowed, 2 penalties REVIEW: In a sign that he’s become highly regarded by his teammates, Mailata was voted as a captain for the first time in his career. Aside from missing a four-week stretch due to a hamstring injury, Mailata was excellent in 2024. Pro Football Focus REALLY loved his performance this past season, writing the following: “Not only did his 95.1 overall grade lead all offensive players this season, but it has only been bested once by an offensive lineman in PFF history dating back to 2006 – Trent Williams in 2021 (96.6). Mailata was dominant in the run game, earning a 94.5 grade in that department, while placing second among left tackles in pass-blocking grade and allowing just two sacks all season.” Despite this high praise, Mailata somehow did not make the Pro Bowl. Lol. He did earn second-team All-Pro honors. And he’s now a Super Bowl champion. OUTLOOK: It’s pretty crazy how far Mailata has come since being a 2018 seventh-round pick who had never played football. He’s an elite player at his position and he’s a great leader. The Eagles are very happy to have the 27-year-old, who is signed through 2028. MY TAKE: Stay. LANE JOHNSON STATS: 937 snaps, 15 starts, 5th out of 85 tackles graded by PFF, 1 sack allowed, 1 hit allowed, 12 hurries allowed, 8 penalties PLAYOFF STATS: 253 snaps, 4 starts, 2nd out of 22 tackles graded by PFF, 1 sack allowed, 0 hits allowed, 3 hurries allowed, 2 penalties REVIEW: Johnson was his excellent self yet again in 2024. He missed just two games: 1) one when he was dealing with a concussion in Week 4 and 2) one when the Eagles were resting starters in Week 18. Despite Johnson playing at an elite level, he was snubbed from first-team All-Pro honors, instead being a second-team selection. Somehow the Eagles’ offensive line paved the way for the best running back season in NFL history and majorly contributed to a Super Bowl win … and yet they had no first-team All-Pro players on the line. Sure, that makes sense. In any case, Johnson finished the 2024 on top as a two-time Super Bowl champion. History should remember him as the best starter on both of those offensive lines. And also as a Hall of Famer. OUTLOOK: Johnson, who turns 35 in May, recently said he is looking forward to “many more years to come” with the Eagles. He’s currently signed through 2026. There are currently no signs of him slowing; he might be able to play into his late 30s or even early 40s if he really wants to do that. At the very least, he doesn’t seem to be planning on retiring after 2025. MY TAKE: FRED JOHNSON STATS: 481 snaps, 6 starts, 76 out of 85 tackles graded by PFF, 8 sacks allowed, 5 hits allowed, 25 hurries allowed, 4 penalties PLAYOFF STATS: 17 snaps REVIEW: Fred was first forced into action when Lane suffered a concussion in Week 3 and also had to miss Week 4. He then played at left tackle when Mailata spent four weeks on injured reserve. Fred didn’t exactly dominate when he was out there but he did manage to avoid being a total liability that wrecked the Eagles’ offense. The Birds went 5-1 in his six starts. OUTLOOK: Fred, who turns 28 in June, will be a free agent in March. He might be interested in signing with a team that’ll give him a more realistic path to playing time than he’ll find in Philly. If Johnson remains unsigned on the open market for a bit because no one wants him, the Eagles could bring him back on a one-year deal as their swing tackle. I tend to think some team will take a chance on him since there isn’t exactly an abundance of quality offensive linemen entering free agency. MY TAKE: Go. DARIAN KINNARD STATS: 71 snaps, 1 start, 74th out of 141 tackles graded by PFF, 1 sack allowed, 0 hits allowed, 2 hurries allowed, 0 penalties REVIEW: Kinnard seemed to be on the roster bubble ahead of cuts from 90 to 53 players and the Eagles decided to keep him. He was a healthy scratch for most of the season with the two exceptions being when 1) he played three garbage time snaps at left guard in Week 8 and 2) he made a Week 18 start at right tackle when the Eagles were resting their key players against the New York Giants. OUTLOOK: Kinnard is signed through 2025. If Fred Johnson isn’t back, there’s an opportunity for him to step up as the top swing tackle behind Mailata and Lane. At the very least, he has a solid chance to make next season’s roster as a depth offensive lineman if he doesn’t majorly struggle this summer. MY TAKE: Stay. LAEKIN VAKALAHI REVIEW: The Eagles signed Vakalahi, who had never played football at the time, as an undrafted rookie free agent last year. Due to his considerable inexperience, the coaches trusted him to play just eight snaps in the entire preseason. Vakalahi then spent the 2024 season on the practice squad as an international exemption. OUTLOOK: This offseason will mark Vakalahi’s first full one in the Eagles’ offseason training program. Perhaps the 22-year-old will be develop enough to be trusted to play significant snaps in the preseason. He’ll likely spend
Jordan Mailata was PFF’s highest-graded NFL offensive player in 2024
5 biggest storylines of the 2025 NFL offseason
Will the Bengals work things out with Tee Higgins? Can the Patriots effectively use their mountain of cap space? 5 biggest storylines of the 2025 NFL offseason 2YK9083 Foxborough, United States. 17th Nov, 2024. November 17, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots huddle during the NFL game between Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots in Foxborough, MA. Anthony Nesmith/CSM/Sipa USA (Credit Image: © Anthony Nesmith/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News By Zoltán Buday Posted Feb 21, 2025 9:15 am EST Tee Higgins’ situation is at the forefront of the NFL offseason: The Bengals could franchise-tag Higgins for the second straight year before signing him to a long-term deal. The Chiefs have some decisions to make along the offensive line: Their tackle spots proved to be problematic in 2024. 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: 4 minutes With free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft, the offseason presents plenty of topics to discuss and analyze in the next weeks or months. We narrowed these down and highlighted five storylines that deserve the most attention — and should get the most attention — throughout the offseason. Will the Cincinnati Bengals extend WR Tee Higgins? Similar to last offseason, the Bengals need to decide what to do with wide receiver Tee Higgins, who they franchise-tagged in 2024. Higgins is PFF’s highest-ranked free agent, having earned a 90.0 PFF receiving grade since entering the league in 2020, tied for 15th among 71 qualifying wide receivers. Quarterbacks targeting Higgins over the past five seasons have generated a 106.8 passer rating, seventh best in the NFL. There are some durability concerns, as Higgins has not topped 800 snaps in the regular season since his rookie year. Still, he could be a No. 1 wide receiver for many teams and would still be the best No. 2 wide receiver in the NFL if he stays in Cincinnati. What will the New England Patriots do in free agency? While the Patriots were arguably the worst team in the NFL in 2024 and were just one game away from securing the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, there is hope for New England fans due to the team’s significant assets in free agency. No team has more cap space than the Patriots, who boast $27 million more than the second-place Raiders. There are multiple ways in which the Patriots could attack the offseason, but the most obvious is helping out second-year quarterback Drake Maye, who showed enough potential in Year 1. They should look to add wide receivers and strengthen an offensive line that was considered the worst in the NFL last season. Regardless, the Patriots are expected to be key players during free agency, and their moves could shape the market overall. Try PFF’s mock draft simulator — trade picks and players and mock for your favorite NFL team. How will Ben Johnson mold the Chicago Bears‘ offense? The Bears hired arguably the most coveted assistant coach in the NFL in former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. They will pair him with the first overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, quarterback Caleb Williams. Johnson’s offense in Detroit was built around a strong offensive line — arguably the best — but Chicago’s 2024 offensive line performed below average and Williams’ pocket awareness did not help the situation. It will be interesting to monitor the immediate changes Johnson makes to the offense to continue Williams’ development. Where will the rookie quarterbacks go? Unlike other years, not many quarterbacks are expected to go in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Only Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders are obvious first-round selections, with both being expected to be taken in the top 10 or even the top 5. Naturally, there are more than two teams at the top of the draft that need a quarterback. The first three — the Tennessee Titans, the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants — are all potential landing spots, while the Las Vegas Raiders and the New York Jets also need new quarterbacks. Will some of those teams delay selecting a franchise quarterback until next year’s draft? And which two will end up with Ward and Sanders at the end of April? Try PFF’s mock draft simulator — trade picks and players and mock for your favorite NFL team. Will the Kansas City Chiefs address their offensive line? For the second time in the past five seasons, one Super Bowl storyline was Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes being under constant pressure, contributing to their defeat. To those who followed Kansas City’s season closely, this was not necessarily a surprise. The Chiefs had issues at offensive tackle all year, especially on the left side of the line. Players lining up at left tackle for the Chiefs in 2024 combined to earn a 50.0 PFF pass-blocking grade and allowed pressure on 11.3% of pass plays. Both were the worst marks in the NFL. That level of production at one of the most important positions is a recipe for disaster, and Kansas City will almost certainly need to address the position. Whether they reshuffle the line and move right tackle Jawaan Taylor to the left side, sign or draft a new player or trust one of their younger players to fill the hole is yet to be seen.
NFL Draft expert gives insight to what Rams should do in first round
Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah provides insight to Rams draft before the NFL Combine next week The NFL Draft process is fully underway as the college all-star games such as the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl have each taken place and the NFL Combine is next week. For a second consecutive year, the Los Angeles Rams will have a first-round pick as they look to build on a strong year. While the Rams will look to have another good draft, this may not be as strong of a class as recent years. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah sat down with the media on Thursday and described it as a ‘starters draft’. “Maybe you don’t have that super star that we have had in years past,” said Jeremiah. “But we do have a boatload of starters, particularly the defensive line.” Jeremiah answered questions for nearly three hours, but here were the prime takeaways, specifically when it comes to the Rams. The Best Option Might Be a Trade Back Currently the Rams sit at 26 which might be considered a bit of a dead zone in the draft. It may be possible to find good starters and contributors in that area, but there may not be the difference-maker. With the lack of value in that spot, trading out of that pick is going to be a popular perceived direction for the Rams and General managed Les Snead should take. Said Jeremiah, “Les has done such a good job in that range, so getting out of there and collecting extra picks, I’m all for that, especially when you kind of look at the direction that they could be looking. There’s still a need for corners, receivers. They could pluck a tight end. That’s good position groups there on day 2. If they were to slide back a little bit and collect some more resources there, I’ve got a lot of respect and appreciation for their ability to scout and find guys there. That would definitely make sense to me.” The big question is whether or not the Rams would be able to find a trade partner. If that area is perceived as part of a ‘dead zone’ and there isn’t a first round quarterback worth trading up for in that spot. As Jeremiah noted, I haven’t been able to find that buzz out there for someone who is a quarterback who teams would want to get at the bottom of one.” While the Rams may want to trade back, finding a trade partner may be easier said than done. With that said, Jeremiah stated a few times that, “there’s not a lot of depth of starting tackle caliber players in this draft.” If a team needs a starting caliber left tackle, the bottom of round one with players such as Josh Conerly Jr. and Joshua Simmons may be the last chance to do it. Said Jeremiah, “The one thing I would keep an eye on is if you have some teams with tackle needs, depending on what happens with the Ravens with Ronnie Stanley, they could be one that could potentially move up…I would say keep an eye on the offensive tackle market and maybe that could drive some movement” This is part of what makes it so important for the Rams to bring back Alaric Jackson. At the very least, they know what Jackson is going to give them on a week-to-week basis. Taking a rookie offensive tackle in this class is a huge risk. Conerly isn’t a perfect prospect and Simmons has an injury history. If the Rams can bring back Jackson, that gives them more of an option to trade back in that area. The Rams-Stafford Situation ‘Has a Lot of Personnel Departments Intrigued’ A big turning point in the offseason is going to be what happens with the Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford. The two sides are meeting in Indianapolis at the NFL Combine next week. That will very likely be the meeting that determines whether or not Stafford is back in Los Angeles. If the two sides can’t get a deal done, they could start looking at orchestrating a trade. Said Jeremiah on the situation, “I know that it has a lot of people in personnel departments and general managers intrigued and seeing what’s going to transpire there with him and the Rams. The fact that they didn’t just come out and say he’s not going anywhere has led people to believe that’s a possibility.” Both sides should understand that the best path forward is together. Unfortunately, that’s not always enough in the NFL. There’s been a lot of noise recently, some of which has most definitely been used as leverage during negotiations. This will be a situation to monitor over the next few weeks. Why Darius Alexander is a Fit for the Rams In Daniel Jeremiah’s most recent mock draft, he had the Rams going with a surprise pick at 26 with Toledo’s Darius Alexander on the defensive line. The 26th overall pick may be a little rich for Alexander, at the same time, in a trade back situation he would be a great target. There seems to be a narrative that the Rams don’t have a need defensive line. However, if Bobby Brown doesn’t return, they lose a starter and potentially two depth pieces in Larrell Murchison and Neville Gallimore. This isn’t to say that Tyler Davis couldn’t slot into that role. At the same time, adding another difference-maker at that spot wouldn’t be a bad idea. Jeremiah praised the Rams as, “the best young defensive line in the NFL.” The Rams had three first-round picks on the defensive line when they drafted Aaron Donald. A primary goal in the draft is to select good players and Alexander is a good player. He also fits exactly what the Rams look for at the position. Said Jeremiah, “Just in terms of body type, like range, explosive, that’s kind of what the Rams have got a
Ravens announce 6 coaching hires and a promotion for Willie Taggart
Ravens announce 6 coaching hires and a promotion for Willie Taggart glenn erby The NFL off-season is underway, and with the scouting combine just days away, the Ravens have announced the addition of several coaches to Head Coach John Harbaugh’s staff. Willie Taggart also got a promotion. Donald D’Alesio –DB Coach D’Alesio spent the past three seasons as the Chiefs’ safeties coach, where he helped develop Justin Reid, Bryan Cook, and others for the previous back-to-back Super Bowl winners. Anthony Levine Sr. –Assistant Special Teams Coach Asst. Special Teams Coach Anthony Levine Sr., during their game against the Green Bay Packers at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. Levine spent the past two seasons coaching for the Tennessee Titans but returns to Baltimore, where he played for the Ravens from 2012 to 2021. Matt Pees –Assistant Linebackers Coach. Titans defensive coordinator Dean Pees coaches the defense with his son Matt Pees. photographed at Saint Thomas Sports Park Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. Nas Titans Pees 001 Pees was a defensive analyst for the Chicago Bears last season, spent the previous three seasons as a defensive assistant coach for the Atlanta Falcons, and previously as a quality control coach with the Tennessee Titans. He coached with his father, Dean Pees, in Tennessee and Atlanta and will do so again in Baltimore. Kevin Hartman –Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach. BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 07: A Baltimore Ravens “Purple Rising” helmet is seen on the field before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on November 07, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) Willie Taggart Oct 21, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) celebrates with running back coach Willie Taggart after they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Taggart has added Assistant Head Coach responsibilities alongside his role as the running backs coach. Taggart was a longtime head coach (2010-2022) at Western Kentucky, South Florida, Oregon, Florida State, and Florida Atlantic. Previous news Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos former coach Chuck Pagano in attendance of the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The Ravens previously announced the additions of Chuck Pagano, who will serve as a Sr. Defensive Assistant/Secondary Coach, and Inside Linebackers Coach Tyler Santucci.
Establishing an identity should be of utmost importance for the Colts
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images Who are the Colts? What is the identity of the Indianapolis Colts? This should be the top question for Chris Ballard and his staff as they prepare for an offseason that finds a team with no current direction. Evaluating talent on the roster should be step one. Step two is determining which direction to go and who is out there to get them to that place. Can you honestly say you know what the Colts hang their hat on at the end of the day? That is the issue that must be addressed. Ballard has preached for years that he wants to build in the trenches. That is where it all starts according to him, but we haven’t seen his trench warfare pan out. The defensive line was solid a year ago, but they fell off in 2024. That is an old school approach to team building, however, and hasn’t produced any level of success. Drafting dozens of pass rushers, hoping one will stick, has been an underwhelming failure. Additionally, the offensive line hasn’t been the same since Philip Rivers which was most likely a product of his ability to get the ball out immediately than the ability of the line to protect. This unit is extremely expensive and has been playing below its paycheck. In the Peyton Manning days, it was all about the offense. We knew the team was going to give up points on the other side, but with so many weapons on offense, the Colts could almost always outscore their opponent. Looking at the offense now, it is far from a juggernaut. While it hasn’t been ignored, Ballard hasn’t gone anywhere close to all in to make it a superior unit. Yes, he finally drafted a quarterback, but in a league of premium receivers helping lead the charge, the current unit is far from the top. The defense is about as bad as it can get, but that doesn’t mean things can’t change quickly. If that is where Ballard wants to focus, he can transform this unit overnight. Draft or bring in top tier cornerbacks, upgrade the linebackers in free agency, and solidify the safety positions. Those are all things that can be done in a season or two. Look no further than the Minnesota Vikings or the Philadelphia Eagles. Their defenses are two of the best after shrewd drafting and free agency moves. Things can change quickly. Rosters can improve overnight, but Chris Ballard and his team need to pick a lane. Well, pick a lane and address the key positions that lead to winning in modern day football. It won’t be easy, but it wouldn’t be that hard either. Be aggressively focused. That should be the motto for the Colts this offseason. With a solid front, the defense seems to be the place to go all in. Shore up the secondary and get better tackling linebackers and this unit could take off. Do that and it could be enough to save Ballard’s job for another year.
Raiders quarterback: Fans split on a Wilson, Carroll reunion
Russell Wilson, Pete Carroll | Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images Will the Super Bowl-winning pair reunite in Las Vegas? As soon as Pete Carroll was hired as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, rumors and speculation about a potential signing of quarterback Russell Wilson in free agency began. And it won’t stop. Wilson and Carroll were together in Seattle from 2012-21 and won a Super Bowl together and appeared in another Super Bowl. A source close to both Carroll and Wilson told Silver and Black Pride that they expect Wilson to join the Raiders this season because it makes too much sense. The source explained Wilson would likely love it and Carroll would probably be on board. The two had a messy breakup in 2022 when Wilson was traded to Denver. But the two have since made up and Wilson, 36, has spoken kindly of Carroll publicly. We recently asked our community members if they would like to see the Raiders, who badly need a quarterback, sign Wilson, who was Pittsburgh’s starter for most of last season. It was an extremely close vote. In a poll with 849 votes cast, 429 voters (51 percent) don’t want the Raiders to sign Wilson, while 420 votes (49 percent) are in favor seeing Wilson wear the Silver and Black. We get both sides. Yes, Wilson is older and not overly effective, but he could be a good bridge quarterback. Still, the Raiders likely won’t be a factor in the AFC West until they fully solve their quarterback situation.
ESPN: Bills happy with Amari Cooper as 2025 NFL free agency approaches
ESPN: Bills happy with Amari Cooper as 2025 NFL free agency approaches Nick Wojton Amari Cooper was traded by the Cleveland Browns to the Buffalo Bills at the 2024 NFL trade deadline and it remains to be seen what his future holds. Cooper, 31 next season, is a pending free agent. Could he be one-and-done in Buffalo? According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Bills would not mind Cooper sticking around despite some low production in 2024. ESPN ranked the top-50 pending free agents this offseason and Cooper landed at No. 18 overall. In the breakdown on the receiver, Fowler notes that the Bills are happy with Cooper making it sound like there is interest from the team. While Cooper’s numbers weren’t great in Buffalo, he did play through injury which required surgery. He opted to tough it out which was likely appreciated in the locker room. Fowler’s full free agency profile on Cooper can be found below: Cooper’s tape is beginning to show signs of decline, but he is still a detailed route runner who can uncover at multiple levels of the field. In 14 games with both the Browns and Bills this season, Cooper caught 44 passes for 547 yards and four touchdowns. In nine full seasons, Cooper has topped the 1,000-yard receiving mark seven times and has 64 career touchdown catches. Fowler’s latest: The Bills have been happy with Cooper, despite low production compared with past seasons. He has been a good team player in Buffalo, and the Bills are intrigued by getting him into a full offseason program with quarterback Josh Allen. Though his free agency future is uncertain, a return to Buffalo does not appear off the table.
MAREK’S MOCK: Full Miami Dolphins 7-round 2025 NFL Draft mock
Photo by CFP/Getty Images Who should the Miami Dolphins select in the 2025 NFL Draft? The 2025 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, with only two months until the annual selection process. Here at The Phinsider, we’ve been collecting mock drafts from all corners of the interwebs in order to bring you perspectives from numerous prestigious draft pundits. Now, it’s my turn to give it a shot! Once a week, every week until the 2025 NFL Draft, I’ll be doing a full 7-round mock, and then giving you a chance to grade my results. Each draft will look slightly different, because, let’s be honest, the Dolphins have a ton of needs and can go in a million different directions come late April when the actual NFL Draft kicks off. This exercise will allow us to examine different pathways to success for our beloved South Florida franchise, while hopefully having some fun in the process! So, without further adieu, let’s unwrap my debut mock draft! ROUND 1 – Pick #13 Mykel Williams — EDGE — Georgia What the experts are saying: An upside prospect with loads of traits, Williams simply needs more snaps and more time to fill out his frame. He is an explosive athlete who uses his exceptional length to keep tackles and tight ends at the end of his punch. He plays a little too tall at the point and needs to get stronger to shed blocks more quickly, but he plays with good physicality in the trenches and is never pushed around. He’s still learning moves and counters but already has a big bull rush, good secondary effort and the closing burst to become a sack blanket in the pocket. He’s not there yet, but Williams’ improvement to become an impactful 4-3 base end feels inevitable. (Lance Zierlein, NFL.com) ___ ROUND 2 – Pick #48 Jonah Savaiinaea — OL — Arizona What the experts are saying: Arizona Wildcats offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea is a physical mauler in the trenches. He boasts positional versatility across his college resume, but his brute force power and heavy anchor will be best optimized at guard in the NFL. Savaiinaea lacks the kind of dynamic hips and foot speed to allow him to consistently dictate terms on the edge as a space blocker setting the width of the pocket, but in short set opportunities and tighter alignment defenders, he has the chance to smother defenders with his center of gravity and grip strength. He should be a viable run blocker from the jump — he shows good displacement and wash in vertical release and down block opportunities. The knowledge that he can get you through a stretch in a pinch at tackle will likely help move the needle for some, too. (Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd Team) ___ ROUND 3 – Pick #98 Lathan Ransom — SAF — Ohio State What the experts are saying: Ransom is an experienced starter and natural strong safety with adequate size, all-day toughness and a proactive approach at the position. He plays with decisive eyes and good instincts that place him where he needs to be. He flows hard and fast. He’s a physical striker in run support and as an intimidator over the middle. Ransom is at his best playing downhill but can handle split safety duties. He might not have the coverage burst or top-end speed for some individual matchups but does a nice job of sticking to tight ends in man coverage. In total, he’s a disruptive, physical safety who can positively impact games and has future starting potential as a middle-rounder. (Lance Zierlein, NFL.com) ___ ROUND 4 – Pick #115 Smael Mondon Jr. — LB — Georgia What the experts are saying: Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. is an athletic defender who would be best implemented behind a gap-control front. He’s a rangy, athletic linebacker with good speed, length, and wrap-up ability as a tackler to help rally to the football and provide value on passing downs. His consistency as a base MIKE backer making keys in the heart of the defense is not yet where it needs to be as an NFL starter, but he’s capable of playing zone coverage and being a subpackage option thanks to loose hips, a good burst, and length to occupy throwing windows in space. (Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd Team) ___ ROUND 4 – Pick #135 Joshua Farmer — DT — Florida State What the experts are saying: Broad-shouldered interior defender worth consideration as a 3-4 end or a 4-3 interior lineman. Farmer needs to play as a two-gapper who muddies the pocket. He’s powerful, with long arms and strong hands. His anchor is average but should improve if he’s allowed to use that length to gain early control at the point of attack. There is nothing tricky about his rush, but he can jar blockers backward with a single punch. His traits will be coveted but his upside might be as a rotational defender with average starting potential. (Lance Zierlein, NFL.com) ___ ROUND 5 – Pick #151 Miles Frazier — OG — LSU What the experts are saying: LSU Tigers offensive guard Miles Frazier projects as an adequate starter at the NFL level. Frazier, who has served as a starter for the LSU Tigers for the past three seasons, boasts the necessary power and mass to offer a heavy anchor in the heart of the pocket. His base can be irregular, and his consistency in staying attached to blocks will need further improvement to prove himself a real asset in the run game. However, he offers a nasty punch, sufficient foot speed, and a junkyard-dog mentality that should afford him the opportunity to grow and continue his development. He enters the NFL with 50 career starts between LSU and Florida International. He’s seen a lot of football, but regardless, he will need the right fit to realize his potential. (Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd Team) ___ ROUND 5 – Pick #156 Jacob Parrish — CB —
Dan Campbell, Brad Holmes NFL Combine press conference details revealed
What’s new at Pride of Detroit Direct? If you want more Lions coverage, our newsletter is the answer for you. There, we have weekly columns, deep analytical dives, and exclusive podcasts to offer comprehensive coverage of free agency, the draft, and everything in between as we prepare of a momentous 2025 Detroit Lions season.
Daniel Jeremiah: Expectation is Myles Garrett won’t be traded
What’s new at Pride of Detroit Direct? If you want more Lions coverage, our newsletter is the answer for you. There, we have weekly columns, deep analytical dives, and exclusive podcasts to offer comprehensive coverage of free agency, the draft, and everything in between as we prepare of a momentous 2025 Detroit Lions season.
