It’s Mendoza mania in Las Vegas as the expectation is that the Las Vegas Raiders will be using the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza in just a few months. Obviously, that’s one of the big topics for this week’s mailbag, and we’ll also touch on the […] It’s Mendoza mania in Las Vegas as the expectation is that the Las Vegas Raiders will be using the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza in just a few months. Obviously, that’s one of the big topics for this week’s mailbag, and we’ll also touch on the head coach search, free agency and the offseason as a whole. Let’s get to it! A: Keeping in mind that this is how I viewed/graded them as prospects and not factoring in how they’ve performed as pros, here’s how I’d rank the last three quarterback classes. Drake Maye Caleb Williams Fernando Mendoza Jayden Daniels Cam Ward JJ McCarthy Bo Nix Michael Penix Admittedly, I was way too low on Daniels. Looking back on it, I overthought his evaluation and should have just stuck to what Daniels showed during his last season at LSU. So, I wouldn’t argue against anyone who has Daniels over Mendoza. Maye and Williams definitely had more talent than Mendoza, and I don’t mean that as a slight against Mendoza. Those other two were just really athletic and had very good arm talent. I’d have a hard time putting any quarterback prospect in the last five to ten draft classes ahead of them. Plus, I thought Maye was a better processor than people gave him credit for coming out of North Carolina. I’ve been saying this since about November; I feel like people are underselling Mendoza as a prospect. He may not be a physical freak, but he’s athletic enough, has plenty of arm strength, is extremely accurate and great at picking apart coverages. I’ve fallen victim to this too, so I understand it, but I feel like we fall in love with the first two traits mentioned and forget that the last two are actually more important when it comes to playing the position. Q: Who is your pick in the draft, or would you want to trade down? ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 09: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates with the George P. Crumbley Trophy after the Hoosiers defeated the Oregon Ducks in the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 09, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)Getty Images A: Fernando Mendoza V. And then in another 20 to 30 years, Fernando Mendoza VI. Jokes aside, the Raiders are finally in a spot where they have a chance to draft a franchise quarterback, and it’s time to take advantage of that situation. As bad as the Raiders have been in the last 20 years, this is only the second time they’ve picked No. 1 overall. It would take a blockbuster trade for me to even entertain the idea of moving out of this spot. Q: I’m making you the Raiders GM for a minute. I’m the Jets or Browns, and I call you up and offer you as many as five first and second round picks for this year and 2027. Don’t you have to make that trade for the long-term future of the Raiders and forget about Mendoza? A: Speaking of, if it’s five first- and second-round picks, okay, now I’m listening. That’s about the same as what the Bears got for the 2023 No. 1 pick/Bryce Young. The Panthers sent them DJ Moore (who had three 1,000-yard seasons in five years at the time), 2023 first- and second-rounders, a 2024 first-round pick (which ended up being No. 1 overall) and a 2025 second-round pick. However, I don’t think that would be a reasonable expectation for Las Vegas to receive. Carolina was going from nine to one, while New York would be moving up one spot and Cleveland owns the sixth pick. Plus, the Bears have clearly won that trade, so I’d have a hard time seeing another team be willing to make the same deal. And if they are, that should tell you something about how the league views Mendoza compared to how the national media does… A: Well, Indiana has had 17-0 and 35-0 at halftime in those two games. So, yeah, they did run the ball more because they didn’t need throw it anymore. LOL! Also, Mendoza has had 14 carries in those two games, so it’s not like he’s been completely removed from the offense. If you want a stat from the CFP to ease your concerns, he’s thrown more touchdown passes (eight) than incompletions (five). The narrative that the Hoosiers are a powerhouse is a funny one to me. Indiana has been known as one of the worst Power 4/5 programs in College Football, and Curt Cignetti’s thing is that he wins with players that the big programs pass on. Yes, Indiana was in the playoffs last year without Mendoza. But they were also considered frauds after losing by multiple possessions to the two best teams they played: Ohio State by 23 and Notre Dame by 10. Then, the Hoosiers add Mendoza, and they’re one win away from winning a National Championship after dominating in their first two playoff games. If you’re concerned about his ability to put the team on his back, watch the second halves against Iowa, Oregon, Penn State and Ohio State in the Big Ten championship from this season. The guy has come up big when his team needed it most all year. Q: It seems like Fernando Mendoza is a done deal with the 1st pick- and I am all for it, considering he’s a fellow 305’er and most importantly an incredibly smart, talented, and humble kid. All that being said, how would you feel about redshirting him in
Mailbag: Where does Fernando Mendoza rank compared to recent quarterback prospects?
Vikes Views: Who Do You Want to Watch Super Bowl Sunday?
Championship weekend is upon us! The Seattle Seahawks will host the Los Angeles Rams and the Denver Broncos will host the New England Patriots. All four teams have had relatively recent success, but three of the four with different QBs. There are a few Viking ties on the teams and a few people we like […] Championship weekend is upon us! The Seattle Seahawks will host the Los Angeles Rams and the Denver Broncos will host the New England Patriots. All four teams have had relatively recent success, but three of the four with different QBs. There are a few Viking ties on the teams and a few people we like to root against. I prefer a Seahawks and Patriots matchup, but I’m curious if everyone feels the same. Seattle Seahawks The Seahawks are led by the QB who led the Vikings to their 2nd most regular seasons wins in a year, Sam Darnold. The Vikings did match that offer to Seattle, but didn’t give him a great feeling about his future with J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings. Darnold is elevated by one of the best defenses in the league. They will terrorize MatthewStafford on Sunday. They also have ormer Vikings QB Coach/Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak is their OC. I can’t see a reason for Vikings fans to root against them other than the little mini rivalry that occured around 10 years ago. Los Angeles Rams The LA Rams beat the Vikings twice last year. The first cost Christian Darrisaw most of his season and the second knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs in the Wild Card Round. The Rams did Vikings fans a favor knocking the Bears out of the playoffs this year. Other than that, there aren’t that many connections other than KOC. I enjoy watching the Rams play and wouldn’t hate it if they won. I just prefer Darnold get his time to shine in the big game. Stafford already has his ring. Denver Broncos I can’t even think of a single reason to root for this coach. I can’t do it. The only way I would root for a Sean Payton team is if they played the Packers, Bears, or Lions in the Super Bowl. They’re likely on the way out with Bo Nix going down. New England Patriots I don’t really want to root for the Patrios either. However, somehow, they are the lesser of two evils. I enjoy Stephon Diggs and appreciate all he gave to the team. I’m also from Maine and all my family are Pats lovers. So I can at least enjoy their joy. Josh Dobbs is the QB 2, Garrett Bradbury is their starting Center, and Khyiris Tonga starts at NT, to round out the former Vikings on the roster. I’ll be rooting for the Seahawks and Patriots, but who do you want? Sign-up and join the conversation below. See More:
Bills fire head coach Sean McDermott; Could Miami pivot their search?
The Buffalo Bills lost in the divisional round of the playoffs on Saturday. On Monday, they became the tenth team making a head coaching change this offseason when they fired Sean McDermott. The Bills are retaining general manager Brandon Beane, who will lead the team’s search for a new head coach. McDermott has spent nine […] The Buffalo Bills lost in the divisional round of the playoffs on Saturday. On Monday, they became the tenth team making a head coaching change this offseason when they fired Sean McDermott. The Bills are retaining general manager Brandon Beane, who will lead the team’s search for a new head coach. McDermott has spent nine season with the Bills, compiling a 98-50 regular season record and an 8-8 postseason mark. He led the Bills to five straight AFC East division titles from 2020 through 2024 and missed the playoffs one time in his tenure with the team. His time with the Bills ends with him 16 wins behind Marv Levy as the team’s all-time winningest coach. McDermott immediately enters a head coaching carousel that has already seen the New York Giants hire John Harbaugh and the Atlanta Falcons sign Kevin Stefanski. The Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tennessee Titans are all looking for a head coach, with Buffalo now added to the list. Could the Dolphins pivot their search? The Dolphins need to be working the phones this morning. The team is scheduled to hold three in-person interviews today and could have a new head coach by the end of the day if McDermott does not factor into their plans. Join the conversation! Sign up for a user account and get: Fewer ads Create community posts Comment on articles, community posts Rec comments, community posts New, improved notifications system! Miami is expected to interview Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, and Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley on Monday. Hafley is widely considered the favorite to land the job, reuniting him with former Packers vice president of player personnel and new Miami general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. They could look to move quickly on Monday, if Hafley is their top target, to prevent him from taking an interview on Tuesday with the Tennessee Titans. McDermott’s sudden entrance into the coaching carousel could throw a curveball into Miami’s plans, however. Could the Dolphins land their former division rival as their new head coach? Would McDermott be interested in rebuilding a Miami franchise that faces his old team twice a year? The Dolphins need to find out if there is interest before they make any move with Hafley. See More:
Dolphins have competition for top remaining head coaching candidate
The Miami Dolphins are still searching for a head coach. They had interest in former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, but he agreed to a deal with the New York Giants last week. They also had interest in former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, but he signed on to coach the Atlanta Falcons […] The Miami Dolphins are still searching for a head coach. They had interest in former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, but he agreed to a deal with the New York Giants last week. They also had interest in former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, but he signed on to coach the Atlanta Falcons over the weekend. After the first couple of dominoes fell, Miami’s focus narrowed — and they seem to have zeroed in on Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, if you believe the reports by various media members over the past few days. The Dolphins have three in-person coaching interviews scheduled on Monday. They will be bringing in Detroit Lions defensive coordinator, and former Dolphins linebacker, Kelvin Sheppard as well as former Dolphins defensive coordinator and current Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. Two accomplished coaches, each successful in their own right, Sheppard and Graham help the Dolphins satisfy the league’s requirements regarding the Rooney Rule. Hafley will meet with the Dolphins for a second time on Monday afternoon — and if the team wants him to stay in Miami, they need to find a way to close the deal, as Hafley is scheduled to visit the Tennessee Titans on Tuesday and the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday to talk with the two teams about their head coaching vacancies. National insider Albert Breer has reported that there’s strong mutual interest between Hafley and the Titans, so if the Dolphins want to make sure they secure their man, Stephen Ross, Jon-Eric Sullivan and company better get Hafley’s John Hancock on the dotted line before he boards a plane for Nashville. Sullivan and Hafley have a connection — with both working together over the past two seasons for the Green Bay Packers. It’s clear that Hafley made a strong impression with Sullivan, as he’s been one of Miami’s top candidates since Miami hired their newest general manager. Will that connection be strong enough to keep Hafley in South Florida for good? We shall soon find out. We will continue to keep you updated regarding Miami’s extensive search for their new head coach as well as all other news regarding the Dolphins. See More: Miami Dolphins News
Discussion: Which team will win the NFC North in 2026?
The Chicago Bears have bowed out from the NFL playoffs, thus marking the end of the 2025 NFC North. Along with the Detroit Lions, the Green Bay Packers, and the Minnesota Vikings, the division fell short of the Super Bowl. The division has not sent a team to the big game since Super Bowl XLV […] The Chicago Bears have bowed out from the NFL playoffs, thus marking the end of the 2025 NFC North. Along with the Detroit Lions, the Green Bay Packers, and the Minnesota Vikings, the division fell short of the Super Bowl. The division has not sent a team to the big game since Super Bowl XLV all the way back in 2011, a streak only beaten by the paltry AFC South. With the 2025 season in the books for the four foes, they each enter the offseason with aspirations of success in 2026—some teams want to reclaim it, while other want to maintain it. Only one team can claim the NFC North crown, but which one is best situated to win it? Today’s Question of the Day is: Which team will win the NFC North in 2026? My answer: The Detroit Lions. Trying to look at this question with an unbiased lens is difficult, but I will try my best. Let’s try to break it down into digestible categories. Strength of schedule This could easily be the deciding factor for how the NFC North shakes out, and this is arguably Detroit’s greatest strength entering 2026. As the fourth-place team, the Lions are fortunate to avoid a gauntlet of top-tier NFC teams. The entire NFC North will share their AFC East and NFC South opponents, but as the last-place team in the division, the Lions will subsequently play three last-place teams: the Arizona Cardinals (3-14), the New York Giants (4-13), and the Tennessee Titans (3-14). Inversely, the Bears, as division winners, have to face the Seattle Seahawks (14-3), the Philadelphia Eagles (11-6), and the Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4). The Packers have to face the Los Angeles Rams (12-5), the Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1), and the Houston Texans (12-5). Even the NFC North’s third-place team, the Vikings, face a tough task of the San Francisco 49ers (12-5), the Washington Commanders (5-12), and the Indianapolis Colts (8-9). In what could be a tight race for the NFC North, the Lions have the easiest slate on paper. Roster Schedules do not win games, teams do. Of the four NFC North teams, I think the Lions are set up best. They have no shortage of weapons on offense with a capable quarterback at the helm. The elephant in the room in the offensive line, but I do believe it is an easier fix than 2025 would have you believe—another year of experience for Tate Ratledge, Christian Mahogany, and even Miles Frazier could be crucial for a rebound up front. For all of the defense’s faults, they were still an above-average unit across the entire season despite multiple injuries in the secondary. If the Lions return their current core, the only glaring weakness I see is at defensive end across from Aidan Hutchinson. The Bears boasted an exciting offense in 2025, but their defense let them down. I do not see them as a quick signee or draft pick away from having an elite defense. Additionally, they were monumentally lucky in 2025. The Bears and Caleb Williams deserve praise for their league-leading six fourth quarter comebacks, but those are not sustainable. For example, Matthew Stafford and Kirk Cousins had eight fourth quarter comebacks in 2016 and 202, respectively. The following seasons, they had one and zero, respectively. Winning one-score games is a coin toss more often than not, and the 2025 Bears simply won most of those tosses. The Packers are an interesting case, as they have some elite talent, but their offensive line and secondary need significant retooling. As for the Vikings, they are in limbo given the lack of progress from J.J. McCarthy, numerous weaknesses on offense and defense, and a lack of cap space to make it all work. Speaking of which… Salary cap space The entire NFC North is in the red when it comes to salary cap space in 2026, though those will surely be alleviated with restructures and releases. Of the four teams, the Lions and Bears are in a more favorable situation; on the other end, the Vikings are buried by contracts despite a bad roster. I won’t pretend to know about which cap-saving moves could come from the other NFC North teams, but I do know that the Lions have some obvious restructures like Jared Goff and Penei Sewell that would save multiple millions. The Lions are up against the cap, but they at least boast a good roster. Coaching This is one category where the Lions lag behind. They enter 2025 with a need at offensive coordinator after a failed stint with John Morton, though there are some interesting options. A coach like Mike McDaniel might catapult the Lions up the coordinator rankings, but as always, it takes time for a coach and roster to mesh, if it happens at all. I think Dan Campbell works best as a manager (a good one at that) than a play caller, so the hope is that the Lions find someone to take that burden from him. As for Kelvin Sheppard on defense, his first season as coordinator was a learning experience, but I saw enough promise to make me optimistic for 2026. I think that the Bears have the best coaching staff, though there is a decent chance they lose some of their position coaches this offseason. Regardless, Ben Johnson clearly elevated a Bears offense, and Dennis Allen did a decent job with a subpar Bears defense. The remaining head coaches in the NFC North, Mike LaFleur and Kevin O’Connell, rank highly among NFL coaches, but both teams are primed to lose their defensive coordinators. Overall The 2024 Lions season feels like an age ago,
Sean McDermott fired by Buffalo Bills; could Brian Daboll replace him?
Former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll has quickly emerged as a candidate to replace Sean McDermott, fired Monday morning as coach of the Buffalo Bills. The Bills shocked the NFL world and added to a wild offseason when they fired McDermott. The move comes after the Bills suffered another heartbreaking loss in the playoffs, this time in the divisional round to the Denver Broncos The Bills also quickly confirmed that general manager Brandon Beane would be retained and would lead the search for a new head coach. Beane, in fact, is being promoted to President of Football Operations and GM. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported shortly after the news of McDermott’s firing broke that executives around the NFL have consistently mentioned Daboll as a favorite for the Bills’ opening. She adds that Josh Allen still “loves” Daboll, and many around Buffalo share a similar sentiment. The Bills’ offense played well with Daboll as offensive coordinator and Allen took significant strides in his development. Development, of course, isn’t Allen’s problem at the moment, rather a lack of real weapons around the reigning MVP. The bigger question is whether the Bills could justify hiring Daboll just months after the way his tenure with the Giants ended. While Daboll may be beloved, it could be difficult to sell a coach who went 11-33 the last 2½ seasons to a fanbase that’s grown used to competing for conference championships and has Super Bowl expectations. Daboll is also a candidate for the Tennessee Titans’ head coaching job, as well as for the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator opening. So the NFL might not hold his recent record against him as fiercely as Giants’ fans do. See More: New York Giants News
NY Giants 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Ar’Maj Reed-Adams, OG, Texas A&M
The New York Giants offensive line played significantly better in 2025 than in previous years. It came as a welcome relief for a team that’s struggled to improve the unit for most of the last decade and a half. However, the Giants have a couple looming holes along their line as both right guard Greg Van Roten and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor are free agents. The Giants currently lack a third-round pick, used in the trade for quarterback Jaxson Dart. That will make finding value on the third day of the draft paramount. Texas A&M right guard Ar’Maj Reed-Adams could fit the bill for the Giants as a big, powerful guard who’s athletic limitations could make him a good value on the draft’s third day. Prospect: Ar’Maj Reed-Adams (55)Games Watched: vs. Texas (2024), vs. Notre Dame (2025), vs. Auburn (2025), vs. LSU (2025)Red Flags: none Measurables Height: 6-foot-5Weight: 325 pounds Strengths Best traits Play strength Hand usage Competitive toughness Man-gap blocking Ar’Maj Reed-Adams is big, powerful, and nasty. Reed-Adams is an experienced blocker, appearing in 56 games (starting 40) across his time at Kansas and Texas A&M. As such, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that he typically plays with good technique, does a good job of understanding his assignment, and identifying pressure. He typically positions himself well, places his hands very well, and consistently wins inside leverage to maximize his play strength. He also does an excellent job of working as a part of a unit. Reed-Adams generally makes guard-tackle or guard-center double teams look easy, getting hip-to-hip with his linemates without disturbing their own footing. He’s also generally seamless when picking up or passing off stunts, twists, and blitzes. Strength is the defining feature of Reed-Adams’ game. He easily anchors against power rushers, controls and neutralizes athletic rushers, and opens holes when blocking downhill. He plays with a mauler’s mentality and is at his best when blocking downhill in the power run game. Weaknesses Worst traits Foot speed Agility Pass protection vs. speed Reed-Adams is not particularly athletic. He has adequate play speed in a short area, however his slow feet quickly show themselves any time he needs to cover any kind of distance. There were multiple instances in which Reed-Adams either struggled, or outright failed, to stay ahead of the play when pulling or blocking in space. Lack of foot speed also showed itself when he was forced to adjust to athletic defensive linemen or pick up late pressure. He would often be forced to lunge at defenders and sacrifice his usually good hand placement, which would in turn lead to losses. Reed-Adams also lacks great lower-body flexibility. He typically plays with good pad level when the blocker is within his range, however he has a strong tendency to allow his legs to straighten, hips rise, and lunge at defenders when he has to move more than a couple yards. His hands also tend to drift wide in turn and he can struggle to maintain his usual good hand placement. Game tape (Reed-Adams is the Texas A&M right guard wearing number 55) Projection Does he fit the Giants?: Yes, as a developmental prospect. Final word: Ar’Maj Reed-Adams’ draft stock will depend heavily on the eye of the beholder. He’s likely an early Day 3 pick, however he could be viewed as a potential starting guard for a team that prefers big, powerful linemen and doesn’t use many zone concepts in their blocking schemes. That could be particularly true if they already have other linemen who are capable of pulling and need an “anvil” to hold up while other linemen act as the hammer. Teams that demand more athleticism won’t view Reed-Adams nearly as favorably. Schemes that use more movement, run a high rate of outside zone, and want both their left and right guards to be able to pull might view Reed-Adams as more of a depth piece. See More: New York Giants Draft
NFL Conference Championship Round Betting: Best early bet before lines move
A contest between the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams is one conference championship game that presents early betting value. NFL Conference Championship Round Betting: Best early bet before lines move Available exclusively to PFF+ members, the PFF Player Prop Tool harnesses the power of predictive analytics and matchup data to help you make smarter, faster and more confident picks. Download the PFF app now — available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The 2025 NFL divisional round is a wrap, and betting lines are now available for the divisional round. Here are our favorite early spread picks for the slate. 🏈 Draft Season 2026 Prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft with PFF+ Your complete draft preparation toolkit Subscribe Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks (-2.5) [Total: 47.5] Best Bet: Seahawks -2.5 Following the Rams-Bears overtime thriller in the divisional round, the spread for the NFC Championship game opened at 1.5 points — before being quickly bet out to 2.5. Money has already started to pour in on the Seahawks after their dominant 35-point victory in the divisional round, adding to their NFL-leading 12.6-point average victory margin. Getting on this spread early, before it pushes out further to a key number at 3 points, is a shrewd move. As the No.1 seed in the NFC, the Seahawks came out firing on all cylinders in the divisional round. The team’s defense set the table, as it has all season, limiting one of the league’s most effective offenses to just 3.9 yards per play on average. Seattle cemented its status as the strong defensive unit left standing this postseason. Conversely, the Rams have been taken to the brink in both of their road playoff games to this point, needing late rallies to advance. While Matthew Stafford and company still profile as a formidable group, they’ve come back down to earth this postseason. Their 31.8% successful play rate on offense ranks 10th among the 14 playoff teams, with those marks coming against two defenses in the Panthers and Bears that ranked below the league average in EPA per play allowed during the regular season. Mike Macdonald’s defense is another beast entirely.
Bengals News (1/19): 2025 Awards
The Envelope Please: Bengals.com 2025 AwardsDespite covering the foe’s best receiver, Turner glittered in the Pro Football Focus Rankings. He had the 13th highest coverage grade among cornerbacks. Of the 18 players who took at least 580 coverage snaps, only Atlanta’s A.J. Terrell, with 60, had fewer targets than Turner’s 62. 2026 Bengals.com Media Mock […] The Envelope Please: Bengals.com 2025 Awards Despite covering the foe’s best receiver, Turner glittered in the Pro Football Focus Rankings. He had the 13th highest coverage grade among cornerbacks. Of the 18 players who took at least 580 coverage snaps, only Atlanta’s A.J. Terrell, with 60, had fewer targets than Turner’s 62. 2026 Bengals.com Media Mock Draft: Just A Walkthrough Probably just as well. Start getting your arms around the fact that the gifted Downs just may not be here. But that doesn’t mean the cupboard is bare as everyone assumes the Bengals hunt their highest defensive draft pick since they took USC linebacker Keith Rivers No. 9 in 2008. 5 NFL Draft prospects Bengals need to watch closely during College Football Playoff National Championship Bain has a great chance of being the first non-quarterback to come off the board in April’s draft. The 21-year old has the highest pass rush win rate among Power 4 starting EDGEs (24%), and the fifth-highest when just counting True Pass Sets (30.3%). He wins with brute force and quality hand usage around the edge, two qualities that translate well into the pros. One NFL Playoff Injury Exposes One of Bengals’ Biggest Offseason NeedsThe Broncos beat the Bills 33-30 on Saturday night to advance to the AFC Championship Game. It was a tight game that went down to the wire and was ultimately decided in overtime. Denver is just two wins from a Super Bowl title—but they lost their starting quarterback. One Potential Cap Casualty the Cincinnati Bengals Could Target in Free Agency Gary experienced his best seasons statistically when Montgomery was in Green Bay in both 2021 and 2023 when he hit 9 sacks in both respective seasons, even coming off a torn ACL from 2022 saw him take limited snaps to start the next season, and despite the limited snap count, Gary recorded three sacks in a game against the New Orleans Saints. See More: Cincinnati Bengals News
NY Giants 2025 position review: Does New York need an upgrade at safety?
The New York Giants have botched their safety situation during the Joe Schoen era. The general manager inherited safeties Xavier McKinney and Julian Love from Dave Gettleman. Both safeties were captains on the Giants; the latter left after the 2022 season, signing a two-year, $12-million contract with the Seattle Seahawks, while the former signed a massive four-year, $68 million contract with the Green Bay Packers at the end of the 2023 season. Both players excelled in their new homes, with Love signing a three-year, $33-million contract to remain in Seattle. Schoen initially opted for a cheap safety solution, with Jason Pinnock as one option and Dane Belton as depth. Then Schoen spent the 47th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Tyler Nubin, who showed promise in his rookie season but whose athletic capabilities were exposed in year two. To rectify the weakness of the 2024 safety room, Schoen made a big investment in Jevon Holland to start the 2025 off-season. Holland signed a three-year, $45.3-million contract, and returns on that investment were minimal in year one, albeit a new defensive structure could certainly benefit both Holland and Nubin. Plus, the Giants may not be done investing at the position. 2025 season in review Jevon Holland, Tyler Nubin, Dane Belton, Raheem Layne, Beau Brade Nubin showed promise during his rookie season but took a step back in Year 2. The image of Nubin struggling to keep pace with running backs up the sideline is one that Giants fans would gladly dispense with; however, to be fair, those backside gaps should never have been left vacant. Nubin was repeatedly placed in difficult situations that exposed his marginal speed and acceleration. He finished the season with 71 tackles, 15 missed (16.9% missed tackle rate), and 20 STOPs near the line of scrimmage. Schoen drafted Nubin because of his ball-hawking skill set at Minnesota, where he set the university’s interception record. After two seasons, Nubin has two passes defensed and zero picks. Days could be brighter for Nubin, but he may be best suited closer to the line of scrimmage in a Belton-esque role. Nubin missed the final two games of the season with a neck injury. Speaking of Belton, he played 705 defensive snaps, starting nine games for the Giants, while operating in his sub-package DIME/LB role. Belton started when Holland and Nubin were injured, and he finished the year with 94 tackles and just four missed (4.1% missed tackle rate), with 16 STOPs, four passes defensed, a pick, and three interceptions allowed. The 25-year-old is set to hit free agency. Belton filled a valuable role for the Giants and was reliable, putting up his best season in a contract year. He played deep safety, buzz defender, in the slot, and he had 272 snaps in the box. You could do much worse than Belton as the third safety. Holland was known as a ball hawk at Oregon and in the first two years of his professional career in Miami. That did not manifest in Year 1 with the Giants. Holland recorded three passes defensed with one interception, but he did have a pick-six negated by an Abdul Carter offside. Holland was guilty of four penalties and had 57 total tackles, nine STOPs, and seven missed tackles (10.9% missed tackle rate). Holland wasn’t bad, but — like most players not on the defensive front — did notmake many plays. His presence did not appear to be much of an upgrade over players like Pinnock or Belton. Still, I remain optimistic that Holland and Nubin are in for better days now that the Giants have moved on from former defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. Raheem Layne played 105 snaps for the Giants’ defense and was a hard hitter who missed 27.3% of his tackles. Brade played just one defensive snap: the 29-yard reception to Marvin Mims Jr. with 33 seconds left in the fourth quarter against Denver. Not Brade’s fault, but that was his only snap of the season. Related 2026 outlook We are uncertain who the defensive coordinator will be for the 2026 season under John Harbaugh. One name linked to the Giants in a weaker 2026 draft class is star safety Caleb Downs of Ohio State. Eric Berry was the last safety drafted in the top five of an NFL draft, and that was in 2010 by the Kansas City Chiefs, although Jamal Adams was selected sixth by the Jets in 2017. There would be resistance if the Giants spent the No. 5 pick on Downs, given the poor management of the safety room under Schoen’s tenure and the positional value of a safety. Still, Downs has game-changing ability with a rare combination of the three R’s: recognition, range, and run support. A safety with that type of versatility can allow the Giants to play lighter boxes to entice the run from a two-high-shell, while fitting the run quickly to force STOPs near the line of scrimmage. A player like Downs is a threat over the middle of the field in coverage, and he tilts the math in favor of the defense when he can fit from depth with such consistency. I’m not advocating for the Giants to draft Downs, but I do understand the appeal, especially in this draft. If the Giants go high at safety with a player like Downs, then Nubin would transition more to a sub-package hybrid-linebacker role. Downs would quickly be the Giants’ best defensive player outside their edge and defensive line group. Myles ‘Ghost’ Rowser of Arizona State could be a day-two option if the Giants really wanted to add another safety, which I don’t envision unless it’s Downs. Belton is a free agent who may opt to take his talents elsewhere. Belton never received the opportunity to be the starter through his rookie contract, despite the Giants parting ways with Love and McKinney. He earned significant snaps in 2025 due to injury. He may want to explore other options, but a new coaching staff