Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Detroit Lions could lose another key coach, this time to the New York Jets. The Detroit Lions coaching staff may be picked apart even more in the upcoming days. According to a report from NFL insider Josina Anderson, the New York Jets are involved in “substantive discussions” with Lions pass game coordinator Tanner Engstrand for their offensive coordinator vacancy. NFL reporter Aaron Wilson added to the report, noting his sources, “expressed confidence he will land the job.” Engstrand has been a slow riser among the Lions coaching staff for the past several years. He joined in 2020 as an offensive assistant, was promoted to tight ends coach/pass game coordinator in 2022, and focused just on being the pass game coordinator for the past two seasons. Many viewed him as a candidate to replace Ben Johnson as the Lions offensive coordinator, but the Lions opted to hire former Broncos pass game coordinator John Morton instead. It’s not surprising to see the Jets go after Engstrand, considering their new head coach is Aaron Glenn, the Lions’ defensive coordinator for the past four years. As of this publishing, Glenn has not taken anyone from the Lions’ coaching staff with him yet, although he was only introduced as the Jets head coach on Monday. Their staff is still very much in the process of being built. Engstrand is just one of a few candidates who have emerged for the Jets offensive coordinator job. Rams TE coach pass game coordinator Nick Caley was reportedly the early favorite, and Raiders offensive coordinator Scott Turner was also reportedly in the mix. Some also believed Lions quarterback coach Mark Brunell was a candidate for the job. We’ll see if Glenn will poach Engstrand or any other Lions coach to join him in New York. You can track the latest Lions coaching news with our 2025 tracker.
Report: Jets considering Lions coach for offensive coordinator position
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73872641/usa_today_24542464.0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "What did Joe Schoen learn from Conference Championship weekend?")
What did Joe Schoen learn from Conference Championship weekend?
Filed under: What did Joe Schoen learn from Conference Championship weekend? He’s gonna need a bigger boat By Anthony Del Genio Jan 28, 2025, 11:00am EST “Any other generational players you’re planning to release this offseason?”Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The second best weekend of the NFL season is now over (the Divisional Round, when the chaff has already been separated from the wheat but there are still four games to watch, is the best). What lessons can the New York Giants take from the four teams who made it to the conference championship games, and from the two who made it to the Super Bowl? Sure – find an elite quarterback. Everyone will agree on that. It’s been a long time now since the last Super Bowl champion did it without elite QB play. The Giants aren’t going far until they find one. You’re kidding yourself, though, if you think that’s enough. Ask the Rams, Packers, Texans, Chargers, and Ravens – they all have QBs Giants fans would die for and they didn’t even make it to Conference Championship weekend. Ask the Washington Commanders and Buffalo Bills, who did make it but are now going home. They’re two different cases. I’m sure Washington fans and the Commanders organization are disappointed, but deep down they have to know that they came a long way in a single season. That’s not how it is in Buffalo, which has been knocking on the door since Josh Allen emerged as an elite QB in 2020 but can’t even make it to the Super Bowl, much less win it. They have some soul-searching to do. Fill every hole on the roster Good NFL offensive and defensive coordinators will find your weakness and pick on it. The Eagles looked at the Commanders’ defense and saw this: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus Adam Peters did a great job rebuilding Washington’s defensive line this year, with 4 new starters, but run defense is their soft spot. The Eagles have a great run-blocking offensive line, a great running back, and one of the best running QBs in the NFL. So Philadelphia ran the ball 36 times for 229 yards, and all seven of their TDs. Game over. Here were the Giants’ run defense stats in 2023: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus Other than Dexter Lawrence, one of the best run defenders in the NFL, A’Shawn Robinson was the only capable interior run defender left after the Leonard Williams trade, and he left in the off-season. GM Joe Schoen made no attempt to replace him, relying on low-level free agents and late-round draft picks, and the 2024 results were predictable: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus It’s telling that after Lawrence was lost for the season, the four lowest run defense grades on the defensive line were all in the interior. Teams ran all over the Giants in many of their games this season. The situation was similar of course at quarterback, where the Giants understandably went with Daniel Jones but did not sign credible backups to take over when he couldn’t take advantage of a better offensive line and a great rookie receiver. Even in the secondary, where Schoen has devoted significant draft resources, the Giants let Xavier McKinney (and Julian Love the previous year) walk but had no backup plan for the possibility that the draftees wouldn’t be ready to play at a high level. Don’t be afraid of dead cap Dead cap is money that must be counted against the salary cap after the player is no longer on the team. It can occur for three different reasons: (1) A team cuts a player before the end of his contract and before all the contract’s guaranteed money has been paid out; (2) A team trades a player and agrees to cover some of the player’s remaining costs to entice the other team to make the trade (this happened e.g. with the Leonard Williams trade to Seattle, who did not have enough cap space to make the trade otherwise); (3) A new contract is signed that includes a signing bonus whose costs are prorated not only over the life of the contract but one or more years beyond, called “voidable,” or just “void,” years. Here are the top 10 teams in dead money going into the 2025 season: Courtesy of Over The Cap Fans, and Giants fans specifically, hate dead money. They see the Giants with the seventh-highest dead cap hit for 2025 ($27.3M) and see it as malpractice by Schoen, a waste of cap space that could be used instead to strengthen the roster. Looking closer, most of that dead cap is for Daniel Jones ($22.1M) and Darren Waller ($4.9M), two signings that didn’t work out. Now you’re even more angry. You shouldn’t be, though. There’s an excellent article on dead cap written by the Philly Cover Corner that explains why dead cap is a good thing…as long as you handle it unemotionally. Dead cap is a good thing because you pay in future cheaper dollars for a player you can use now. We do this all the time in our personal lives without blinking an eye: Auto loans and home mortgage loans are two common examples. Dead cap is better than both of them, though, because your car or home loan includes interest payments while NFL dead cap does not. On average the NFL salary cap increases by about 10% per year, so it’s pretty easy to absorb dead money without much pain. Schoen made a $22.1M gamble that Jones could build on his 2022 season. It didn’t work. That’s football. As the article referred to above points out, Howie Roseman gambled on James Bradberry after the Giants released him. That worked out well for most of one season, until the last two minutes of the Super Bowl. It’s been a disaster since. The key is not to keep a player you no longer want just because of the dead cap. Schoen made the wrong decision on
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73872557/2195577593.0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "Eagles News: Jalen Hurts is “the right guy at the right time for the right team”")
Eagles News: Jalen Hurts is “the right guy at the right time for the right team”
Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links … Mr. Right – Iggles Blitz Jalen Hurts is not the best quarterback in the NFL. We can argue if he’s Top 5, Top 10 or Top 15. It really doesn’t matter, though. What is most important is that Hurts is the right QB for the Eagles. He led them to the Super Bowl in 2022 and has them back there again this season. Going to multiple Super Bowls isn’t easy. Lamar Jackson puts up video game numbers (41 passing TDs, 4 INTs???). Josh Allen makes plays that make him look like Superman. Joe Burrow is the best pocket passer in the league and is coming off his best season. Those three have combined for one SB appearance. But they have to go through Patrick Mahomes so that is tough to hold against them. Fair enough. Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, and Dak Prescott have been in the NFL for a combined 45 years. They have a combined 2 SB appearances. Both were wins. The point here isn’t to argue that Hurts is better. He is the right guy at the right time for the right team. Hurts is talented, but also versatile. Back in 2022 the Eagles finished the season 9th in passing yards and 5th in rushing. With Miles Sanders as the RB, Hurts threw more. The Eagles had a balanced attack. 10 highest-graded players from NFL conference championship games – PFF 1. QB Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (92.1). Hurts led all quarterbacks in PFF passing grade this weekend (91.6), completing 20 of 28 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown. Twenty of his attempts came from a clean pocket, from which he completed 17 passes with two big-time throws. Hurts gained only 16 yards on the ground as he was bothered by a knee injury, but he was more than effective, scoring three times on 10 carries and picking up five first downs. Eagles vs. Commanders: 24 winners, 4 losers, and 4 IDKs – BGN Hurts largely excelled as a pocket passer; he completed 18 of 20 pocket passes for 216 yards and his sole passing touchdown. He was accurate. He was decisive. He was clutch. On that last point, Hurts excelled in high-leverage situations. 4th-and-5 go ball to A.J. Brown, right on the money. 3rd-and-13 scramble with pressure bearing down on him, he got the ball to DeVonta Smith for a touchdown that was dropped but the Commanders got flagged for defensive pass interference in the end zone anyway. During his postgame press conference, Hurts talked about how Nick Sirianni “let me out of my straitjacket a little bit today.” It was pretty refreshing to see such an effective passing game. The results in this regard underscore why it’s been such a big talking point this season. Because when the Eagles can finally get their aerial attack clicking, the offense looks incredibly dominant! Totally raises their ceiling. Considering how he shined in his last Super Bowl start, there’s every reason to believe Hurts is capable of another big-time performance. The moment clearly isn’t too big for him. With Sunday’s win, Hurts joined Hall of Fame company. What’s Jalen Hurts’ standard? Pay attention to whether he lights a victory cigar after an Eagles title – PHLY The image of Jalen Hurts on Sunday night with an Eagles’ championship cap on his head and the victory cigar aglow would be so enduring if it hadn’t already endured. In that same corner locker nearly two years earlier, Hurts enjoyed a similar personal celebration. You can light the victory cigar when you win. “He wins,” Nick Sirianni said. “He’s a winner.” “The standard is to win,” Hurts said. “That’s my standard.”The “winner” label can cause debate, but it cannot be denied. This is Hurts’ second Super Bowl appearance in three years. He’s made the playoffs every season he’s started at quarterback in college and the NFL. It doesn’t always look the same — or even the way it’s expected — but he’s often standing in the winner’s circle. It’s hard to argue with how it looked in the Eagles’ 55-23 win in the NFC Championship game. Hurts went 20 of 28 for 246 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for three touchdowns. He did not turn the ball over. 10 of the craziest Jalen Hurts postseason stats – NBCSP 1. Closing in on an NFL record. Hurts hasn’t thrown a postseason interception since his first career playoff game, the wild-card game in Tampa in 2021. He was picked off twice in that game, by Mike Edwards in the second quarter and Shaq Barrett in the third quarter. Since that Barrett INT on a pass intended for DeVonta Smith, Hurts has thrown 206 consecutive postseason pass attempts without an INT, the 2nd-longest streak in NFL history. Drew Brees set the record of 215 passes from the 2006 through 2011 seasons, a streak that ended when he was picked off by Dashon Goldson of the 49ers. The Eagles Are Going to the Super Bowl! Takeaways With BLG. – The Ringer The Eagles are headed back to the Super Bowl after defeating the Washington Commanders 55-23! Sheil and Brandon Lee Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation break down the pivotal plays that won the Birds the game. What are the biggest takeaways from the game (03:58)? How much credit does Nick Sirianni deserve for making two Super Bowl appearances in his five seasons as the head coach (12:09)? The offense scored eight touchdowns! Sheil and BLG take a deep dive into the scoring plays (28:18). How did the defense perform overall against Jayden Daniels (50:44)? Plus, Commanders fan overtook the Hard Rock Cafe? Five factors that will determine Super Bowl LIX: Jalen Hurts’ ceiling; Eagles vs. Chiefs in the trenches – NFL.com 4) Which defensive coordinator has a better day? This game will feature two of the best defensive minds in football in Kansas City’s Spagnuolo and Philadelphia’s Vic Fangio. Spagnuolo
2-round mock draft from The Athletic is great, and awful, for the New York Giants
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images This one gets a ‘Kudos’, and a ‘Wet Willie’ If I was grading, and I guess I am, a new two-round mock draft from The Athletic from a New York Giants’ perspective, the first-round pick of Miami quarterback Cam Ward would get a ‘Kudos’. The second-round pick of North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton? That’s a no-doubt ‘Wet Willie’. Let’s get into it. This mock is from Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman. Baumgardner, making the odd picks, made the Ward selection. Dochterman, making the even picks, the Hampton one. The Ward selection comes in what turns out to be a fantastic scenario for the quarterback-desperate Giants. The Tennessee Titans, who have indicated they would not pass on a generational talent, take Penn State edge defender Abdul Carter at No. 1. The Cleveland Browns, with the ball and chain of the DeShaun Watson contract weighing them down, take Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. That leaves the Giants with their choice of Ward and Shedeur Sanders of Colorado. Baumgardner chooses Ward. He writes: I’m still torn between Ward and Sanders for QB1, and there are days it feels like Sanders is more ready right now to lead a successful offense. But, long-term, Ward — who improved every day of his lengthy college career — could have the higher ceiling. Valentine’s View: In this scenario, I think this is also what I would do. The pure physical tools likely give Ward a higher ceiling than Sanders, and for me that is a swing worth taking. For Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen, Sanders might be the safer play because he is more likely to be capable of playing solidly in 2025. The fly in the ointment here is that I would guess that if the Titans are not taking a quarterback they play enough games to force the Giants to move up to No. 1 if they are truly committed on Ward or Sanders. Now, the second-round pick. Dochterman makes this pick at No. 34, and it is done without explanation. Here is a scouting report from 33rd Team on Hampton: North Carolina Tar Heels RB Omarion Hampton is a dynamic but physical running back who should be afforded opportunities as a primary ball carrier in the NFL. Few running backs are doing more with less than Hampton, whose offensive line has not afforded him the space of many of his peers. Hampton gets by with good vision, surprising versatility as a runner, and explosive finishes to earn hard yards. Oftentimes, he’s rewarded with missed tackles on these reps, which allows him to pop chunk gains into the secondary. Hampton has a viable every-down skill set, although many teams will likely have a better passing option on the roster as a part of their platoon. The ceiling is here for 250+ NFL touches per season, however. Valentine’s View I could not hate this pick more. Considering the needs on the Giants’ roster and the players available here, there is no chance I would take a running back. Knowing Schoen’s belief in positional value I don’t think he would make this pick, either. Without going too far down the list, I think there are a handful of players selected in the next few picks who would be more likely — and useful — choices for the Giants. Those include: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame (No. 36, Jacksonville Jaguars); Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan (No. 39, Chicago Bears); Wyatt Milum, OL, West Virginia (No. 41, Bears). Your thoughts, Giants fans?
Fixing the Giants, Part 3: How to upgrade the defensive backfield
A top-tier cornerback and safety help that fits Shane Bowen’s scheme is on the wish list The biggest change the New York Giants have made so far this offseason is replacing defensive backs coaches Jerome Henderson and Mike Treier with Marquand Manuel. Manuel’s most important job is probably trying to get the career of 2023 first-round pick Deonte Banks back on track. Job No. 2? Getting more on-ball production out of a secondary that got only four interceptions in 2024, and did not have a single player with more than one. The Giants can, of course, help Manuel and defensive coordinator Shane Bowen with some personnel changes. If it’s me, I am making a big swing to bolster the secondary, particularly at cornerback. Let’s examine some possibilities. Current roster (2025 cap hit in parenthesis) Cornerback Deonte Banks ($3.703M)Cor’Dale Flott ($3.573M)Art Green ($960,000)Dru Phillips ($1.362M)Dee Williams ($960,000)Tre Hawkins ($1.067M) Pending free agents Adoree’ Jackson (UFA)Greg Stroman (UFA)Divaad Wilson (ERFA) Safety Tyler Nubin ($1.858M)Dane Belton ($1.296M)Anthony Johnson ($1.030M)Raheem Layne ($1.1M) Pending free agents Jason Pinnock (UFA) | Should Pinnock stay or go?Elijah Riley (UFA) Pro Football Focus thinks Jackson is the free agent the Giants can least afford to lose. I disagree. He was the Giants fourth cornerback in 2024, and really shouldn’t be any more than that. I would prefer to see the Giants move on from Jackson and use that money on a more impactful player. I think the Giants might be well-served to move on from Pinnock, as well. Pinnock is a good young player who will be just 26 next season, but I detailed a couple of weeks ago how Pinnock’s production fell in Bowen’s defensive scheme. Seeking a player who is a better fit for what Bowen needs at safety seems like a good idea. Potential free agent targets Cornerback SB Nation free agent cornerback rankings: 7. Byron Murphy6. Carlton Davis5. Rasul Douglas4. Asante Samuel Jr.3. Paulson Adebo2. Charvarius Ward1. D.J. Reed Pro Football Focus free agent cornerback rankings: D.J. Reed (No. 6 overall)Charvarius Ward (No. 13)Rasul Douglas (No. 15)Carlton Davis (No. 21)Asante Samuel Jr. (No. 26)Byron Murphy Jr. (No. 33)Mike Hilton (No. 35)Stephon Gilmore (No. 67)Jonathan Jones (No. 74)Nate Hobbs (No. 86)Paulson Adebo (No. 87) D.J. Reed and Charvarius Ward are clearly the top two cornerbacks in this free agent class. Both are pricey, of course. PFF assigns Reed, a 28-year-old seven-year veteran who spent the last three seasons with the New York Jets a three-year, $42 million market value, with $27.5 million guaranteed. Ward’s estimated market value is three years, $43.5 million with $25 million guaranteed. Considering the need for a No. 1 cornerback and someone to help mentor Banks, I think you have to find out if either player would be interested in the Giants. PFF thinks the Giants would be Ward’s best landing spot: The Giants’ secondary desperately needs reinforcements after finishing 26th in team coverage grade last season. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen’s heavy use of Cover-3 (35.6%, eighth-highest in 2024) aligns well with Ward’s strengths. Over his career, he’s allowed just 0.83 yards per coverage snap in Cover-3, making him an ideal candidate to help revitalize New York’s defensive backfield. I am also curious about the upside of Paulson Adebo, who was getting his first opportunity to be a CB1 last season with the New Orleans Saints before landing on IR with a broken femur. Adebo will be 26 next season. Adebo had three interceptions and a passer rating against of just 71.9 before being injured last season. PFF estimates a three-year, $40 million deal with $25 million guaranteed for Adebo. Safety SB Nation free agent safety rankings: 10. Jason Pinnock9. Jordan Poyer8. Jeremy Chinn7. Julian Blackmon6. Justin Simmons5. Talanoa Hufanga4. Justin Reid3. Trevon Moehrig2. Camryn Bynum1. Jevon Holland Pro Football Focus free agent safety rankings: Jevon Holland (No. 3 overall)Talanoa Hufanga (No. 23)Camryn Bynum (No. 31)Justin Reid (No. 50)Harrison Smith (No. 54)Tre’Von Moerhig (No. 56)Justin Simmons (No. 69)Jeremy Chinn (No. 79)Elijah Molden (No. 80)Andre Cisco (No. 88)Julian Blackmon (No. 92) PFF thinks the Giants are Hufanga’s best landing spot: After battling injuries over the past two seasons, Hufanga’s performances have dipped, culminating in a career-low 57.8 overall grade in 2024. At just 26 years old, however, the safety still has time to regain his form and showcase his playmaking ability. The Giants, looking to stabilize their secondary, recently hired former Jets safeties coach Marquand Manuel. Manuel has had success with single-high defensive schemes, something the Giants may hope to emulate with Hufanga. PFF estimates Hufanga’s market value at two years, $25 million with $16 million guaranteed. That is pretty close to what the Giants reportedly offered Julian Love back in 2022. For a low-cost option, I am curious about Molden. Having played for the Tennessee Titans from 2021-2023, he and Bowen are familiar with each other. Molden, 25, began his career as a cornerback and was a full-time free safety for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024. Bowen might appreciate adding the versatility and familiarity to his defense. At a cost of an estimated $4.5 million ($3 million guaranteed) for one year, I am interested in making that happen. Molden did break his leg in Week 17, so the progress of his recovery needs to be vetted. Potential 2025 draft targets Here are the cornerbacks currently listed in the top 100 of the NFL Mock Draft Database: Travis Hunter, Colorado (No. 3 overall) Is Travis Hunter the perfect fit for the New York Giants? Will Johnson, Michigan (No. 6)Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame (No. 22)Shavon Revel, East Carolina (No. 25) | Prospect profileJahdae Barron, Texas (No. 30)Trey Amos, Ole Miss (No. 47)Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State (No. 59)Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky (No. 61)Darien Porter, Iowa State (No. 68)Denzel Burke, Ohio State (No. 84)Zy Alexander, LSU (No. 90)Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech (No. 91)Daylen Everette, Georgia (No. 94) Maybe the Giants make spending big money at cornerback unnecessary by drafting Travis Hunter at No. 3. That’s not Plan A, obviously, but it’s not a bad
10 highest-graded players from NFL conference championship games
The NFL’s AFC and NFC Championship games brought out the best in the league’s remaining stars, with game-changing performances across the board. 10 highest-graded players from NFL conference championship games 2S9HNYD Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts looks to throw a pass against the Washington Commanders during the first half of the NFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) By Lauren Gray Posted Jan 28, 2025 8:00 am EST Jalen Hurts put on a show to lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl: Twenty of his passing attempts came from a clean pocket, from which he completed 17 passes with two big-time throws. Xavier Worthy is peaking at the right time: With a Super Bowl in sight, the rookie Worthy enjoyed a career-best game against the Bills. 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 1. QB Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (92.1) Hurts led all quarterbacks in PFF passing grade this weekend (91.6), completing 20 of 28 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown. Twenty of his attempts came from a clean pocket, from which he completed 17 passes with two big-time throws. Hurts gained only 16 yards on the ground as he was bothered by a knee injury, but he was more than effective, scoring three times on 10 carries and picking up five first downs. Jalen Hurts: Postseason PFF Grades Subscribe to PFF+ to unlock the world’s most advanced football database! 2. T Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles (91.5) Johnson did not allow a single pressure on 33 pass-blocking snaps and led the position in both PFF pass-blocking (83.1) grade and PFF run-blocking grade (92.2). He has the second-highest PFF run-blocking grade (84.5) heading into the Super Bowl. 3. DI Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs (90.6) Jones recorded two sacks against Buffalo and finished the game with eight pressures. He recorded a 31.3% pass-rush win rate against true pass sets and led all defensive linemen in the conference championship round with a 91.9 PFF pass-rush grade. Jones has been the highest-graded pass-rushing defensive lineman this postseason (90.7) — and the only interior defender with a PFF pass-rush grade above 90.0. He has generated a 16.4% pressure rate and ranks second in win rate against true pass sets (22.9%). 4. WR Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs (90.1) Worthy had the best game of his rookie season, with six catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. Each of his catches moved the chains, and he had two explosive gains of 20-plus yards. Most of his production came against single coverage: five catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 5.5 yards after the catch per reception and generated a 156.8 passer rating when targeted. 5. TE Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles (88.3) Goedert caught seven of eight targets for 85 yards and four first downs in the NFC Championship game, his best output since Week 3. He had two catches of 15-plus yards and averaged 8.1 yards after the catch per reception. Goedert was targeted five times against zone coverage, hauling in each one for 67 yards and three first downs. He owns a 79.7 PFF receiving grade against zone looks this postseason (second best), securing 11 of 12 targets for 115 yards (all first among tight ends). 6. T Spencer Brown, Buffalo Bills (86.8) Brown allowed three pressures to the Chiefs and earned a 77.2 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets (third best among tackles). He was excellent in the run game, earning an 88.0 PFF grade in zone schemes (second) and an 85.9 grade in gap looks (first). Brown was the only lineman this weekend to earn an 85.0-plus PFF grade in both run phases. Highest-Graded Tackles in Conference Championship Games Subscribe to PFF+ to unlock the world’s most advanced football database! 7. CB Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia Eagles (85.5) DeJean recorded an 87.2 PFF coverage grade (first) in his best performance of the playoffs. He was targeted seven times and allowed five completions for just 32 yards while forcing two incompletions and breaking up two passes. 8. RB Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles (84.5) Barkley took two carries for two touchdowns in the first quarter, including a 60-yard score on his first touch of the game. He rushed for a third touchdown midway through the fourth quarter and finished his day with 15 carries for 118 yards. Barkley gained five first downs, forced five missed tackles and averaged 6.0 yards after contact per attempt (first). Barkley has rushed for at least 115 yards in every game this postseason. He has five touchdowns and seven runs of 15-plus yards. 9. LB Oren Burks, Philadelphia Eagles (82.0) Burks earned the highest coverage grade among linebackers this weekend (84.4). He allowed a 24-yard completion to Dyami Brown late in the first quarter and not much else, finishing the day with only 37 yards surrendered in coverage. Burks recorded eight tackles with seven stops (first) but also missed three tackles. Burks has a 73.7 PFF overall grade this postseason — as well as the highest PFF coverage grade (74.1) among remaining linebackers. He’s allowed seven catches on eight targets for 65 yards and is the only Super Bowl linebacker with a 70.0-plus PFF coverage grade. 10. TE Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders (82.0) Ertz led all conference championship tight ends with 11 catches for 104 yards, both season highs. Nine of his targets came in the slot, where he secured seven catches, all for first downs. Ertz led Washington with 15 targets, moved the chains nine times and recorded two catches of 15-plus yards. He exits the playoffs with a 76.6 PFF receiving grade, second on the team.
Random Ramsdom: It doesn’t matter, but I think L.A. would’ve beaten Washington
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images Los Angeles Rams News and Links for 1/28/24 The Los Angeles Rams didn’t make the NFC Championship game, and so this post is futile and I’ll admit semi-whiny, but also, I do think the Rams would’ve beaten the Washington Commanders had they played them in the NFC Championship game. Instead, the Rams lost to the Philadelphia Eagles and the rest is and will be history. L.A. took the Eagles down to the wire, and I just can’t help but think that on their best day they could’ve won that game (it wasn’t their best day) and then they could’ve handled the Commanders in Los Angeles. Would the Rams have then gone on to actually win the Super Bowl? Oh, I don’t know and I suppose it doesn’t matter, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be thinking about it for a while. Now, maybe Washington would’ve won anyways, and I for sure think that’s a fair take too. They had a great team and a fantastic season. Please let us know your thoughts. Thanks for checking out Turf Show Times and have a great day! Rams offseason primer: Where does Sean McVay take offense from here? (ocregister) “Certain questions plagued the Rams offense on nearly a weekly basis during the 2024 season. Red-zone efficiency. Third-down conversions. Slow starts. Varying levels of execution from quarter to quarter. This wasn’t how the Rams drew it up last offseason. The expectation was that the group — infused with talent along the offensive line and with a full offseason for head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford to dream ways to incorporate 2023’s breakout stars Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams — would be an explosive unit that would carry the Rams into January.” Every Stafford touchdown of the 2024 season. pic.twitter.com/LgWBUvNWEs — Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 27, 2025 Rams Find Surprise Matthew Stafford Successor in New Offseason Prediction (lasportshub) “The 2025 offseason could end up being one of the most pivotal in Sean McVay’s time as head coach of the Los Angeles Rans. Veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp and quarterback Matthew Stafford face tough decisions regarding their future with the team. While Kupp has already confirmed he will be playing another season, his future with the Rams remains uncertain. Stafford, on the other hand, has yet to confirm if he will be back for another season. As a result, speculation has begun to grow regarding what the Rams should do at quarterback, with some TV pundits suggesting a potential trade with the Miami Dolphins for Tua Tagovailoa.” PUUUUUUUKAAAAA pic.twitter.com/0lYHx9Q5L6 — Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 27, 2025 Stafford’s indecision forces Rams front office to this action in 2025 NFL Draft (ramblinfan) “As the LA Rams prepared for the 2024 NFL season, veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford was unhappy. Unlike some NFL veterans, Stafford did not sit out of training camp. But he did make his dissatisfaction known to the media and to the team. Stafford wanted guaranteed money, healthy or injured. Eventually, the team caved into his demands. The Rams and Stafford reworked his contract, accelerating his guaranteed money to fall in 2024. Stafford was happy. The team got its starting quarterback to return for 2024. All’s well that ends well.” Chapter 1, Verse 8. pic.twitter.com/atyiFdjV2V — Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 26, 2025 Random Ramsdom Fandom: “Versatile” RBs Available in 2025 NFL Draft (By RamsRoll on Jan 25, 2025) “Sean McVay said recently that he wants the Rams 2025 running game to be more “versatile,” while making reference to a conversation he had with Bucs former OC Liam Coen about how the Bucs “utilized” RB Bucky Irving in 2024. McVay’s use of the word “versatile” is interesting and thought provoking. What exactly did he mean by using that word? I believe he meant he wants his RBs to catch the ball more as receivers rather than simply tote the rock. If that is the case does McVay intend to use his current stable of RBs to achieve his goal or does he intend to draft a RB who has the skill set he covets? I believe the latter to be true rather than the former. In this FanPost I will attempt to acquaint fellow TST members with options in the 2025 Draft that will in theory allow the Rams & McVay to achieve his goal. I am going to use links to player profiles found at NFLDRAFTBUZZ.COM to acquaint TST members with measureables, stats and scouting reports re all RBs I think MAY “fit the mold” of what McVay wants. I am not going to include certain RBs because I do not think the Rams will draft a RB higher than the 3rd rd, if they even draft any RBs. First on my list is TN RB Dylan Sampson. Dylan Sampson The 1st thing you will notice is his speed. 4.35! Gotta love that. The 2nd thing you will notice is his height & weight. Not ideal. Draft Buzz projects he will be taken in the mid 2nd rd. That seems too high to me, but I am just a fan. He probably won’t be there at Rams pick 90, but I included him here nonetheless. Second on my list is Ohio State RB Treveyon Henderson. Treveyon Henderson Henderson has excellent speed and better weight than Sampson. He is projected on Draft Buzz to be picked in the late 2nd rd. I like Henderson but I’m not convinced he is the receiving threat McVay is looking for. Third on my list is Kansas RB Devin Neal. Devin Neal Neal is projected by Draft Buzz to be picked in the 3rd rd. I think Neal COULD be just what McVay is looking for to make the Rams’ running game more “versatile.” Be sure to read his strengths in his scouting report. Fourth on my list is SMU RB Brashard Smith. Brashard Smith Smith is projected by Draft Buzz to be picked in the 3rd rd. I think Smith
Tuesday Trenches: The darkest timeline
Sam Greene / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images This is not the Super Bowl any of us wanted. In an infinite universe with an infinite number of stars and infinite planets with infinite chances of harboring life, somewhere, the Buffalo Bills and the Washington Commanders will be playing in the upcoming Super Bowl. Unfortunately, that is not our reality. In our reality, we get a rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs, who are looking to be the first team to win three consecutive championships, and the Philadelphia Eagles, who are just completely unlikeable to anyone outside the Philadelphia area. Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player in the history of the world. He entered a stratosphere all his own the first time he won three championships in a row (‘91, ‘92, ‘93). That’s when he stopped being Michael Jordan, the basketball player, and became Michael Jordan, the legend. That’s where we’re at with Patrick Mahomes. He can do things that shouldn’t be possible on a football field. Quarterbacks have drilled into their heads from a young age some simple rules — don’t throw across your body, don’t throw into double/triple coverage, and don’t be careless with the ball. Mahomes breaks all those rules on a regular basis, and it works out because he’s just so physically talented. Then he’s paired with one of the greatest offensive minds in Andy Reid, and the rest is history. If Mahomes retired today, he’d be a Hall of Famer in a few years. If he wins the Super Bowl this year, he’ll become the NFL’s Jordan. That would be great for Kansas City and maybe even great for the sport, but it would be Hell for the rest of the AFC. Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson — all of them would be overshadowed by Mahomes the way so many quarterbacks were by Tom Brady when the Patriots played in every single AFC Championship game. Mahomes already does overshadow the rest of the league, but when he does something that has never been done before it’ll go into overdrive. They’ll crown him the GOAT immediately. If you think the Chiefs are insufferable now, just wait. I’m not a big fan of the Eagles, but I can root for Saquon Barkley to cap off a historic finish. Either way, you cut it, this Super Bowl matchup sucks for everyone outside of Missouri, Eastern Pennsylvania, and my daughter, who loves Taylor Swift’s boyfriend. — NFL Awards AP MVP Nominees: Joe Burrow Lamar Jackson Josh Allen Saquon Barkley Jared Goff Unfortunately for Burrow, wins are a stat and despite his MVP-caliber season, he’s out of the running. So is Jared Goff, because he doesn’t have the stats to pair with his wins. I’d love to see Barkley win because any time a running back goes over 2,000 yards in today’s pass-happy NFL it’s an amazing accomplishment. It’s going to come down between Jackson and Allen, and my guess is Allen’s divisional win over Jackson pushes the needs in his direction. AP Offensive Player of the Year Nominees: Ja’Marr Chase Joe Burrow Ja’Marr Chase Derrick Henry Lamar Jackson Again, wins are a stat and Joe Burrow didn’t get into the playoffs. Now, Ja’Marr Chase’s Triple Crown is a rare feet. It has only been done three times since the 2000 season. Again, though, Chase didn’t play football after Week 18. I think Henry is out simply because Barkley’s 2024 season was better. It’ll likely come down between Barkley and Jackson, and Barkley wins because he got the Eagles to the Super Bowl. AP Defensive Player of the Year Nominees: Trey Hendrickson Zack Baun Myles Garrett Patrick Surtain II TJ Watt I think Hendrickson wins this one, which would make him the only player in Bengals history to be named DPOY. He racked up 17.5 sacks for the second year in a row, and he led the NFL by three and a half. Despite the fact the Bengals had no consistent pass rusher other than Hendrickson, and he still led the league in sacks is pretty remarkable. He’ll knock out Watt and Garrett and will go up against Baun and Surtain, but I think Hendrickson wins. AP Comeback Player of the Year Joe Burrow Sam Darnold JK Dobbins Christian Gonzalez Damar Hamlin Here’s where Burrow is recognized for his incredible 2024 season. He came back from a Week 11 season-ending injury in 2023 to throw for 4,918 yards, 43 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He became the first player in NFL history to throw for over 250 yards and three touchdowns in an amazing seven consecutive games. What all the guys did above was amazing, but the NFL needs to recognize Burrow’s season, and this is how they’ll do it. As far as the offensive and defensive rookies of the year, I don’t think there’s a way Jayden Daniels doesn’t win OROY. Jared Verse probably wins DROY. Dan Campbell is my favorite to win Coach of the Year, and Ben Johnson is my favorite for Assistant Coach of the Year. Who do you think wins? — There’s not a lot going on for the Bengals, at least on the surface level. I’m sure they’re working on extending Chase, Hendrickson, and hopefully Tee Higgins as well. Maybe they’ll restructure Burrow’s contract to free up some cash to get deals done. We’re coming up on the Senior Bowl, the Combine, free agency,y and then the draft. Before we get to it, though, we have to get through the next two weeks — the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl. Speaking of, will you watch the Pro Bowl? Relevant Song Lyrics: I have spoke with the tongue of angelsI have held the hand of a devilIt was warm in the nightI was as cold as a stoneBut I still haven’t found what I’m looking forBut I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
10 Senior Bowl prospects for the New York Giants to watch
Petre Thomas-Imagn Images Who should Giants fans be watching in Senior Bowl practices? We’ve already talked about the quarterbacks in the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl. But there are plenty of great prospects in this game who aren’t quarterbacks. And while the New York Giants are in desperate need of a QB of the future, they also need to continue to build the rest of their roster. Let’s take a look at some players who could impress this week. Offensive players to watch Harold Fannin Jr. (TE, Bowling Green)Fannin will be listed as a tight end, but it’s probably more accurate to describe him as an “offensive weapon”. He’s built more like a big receiver at 6-foot-3, 238 pounds (unofficial), and has some truly impressive versatility. He’s able to line up all over the offensive formation, from wide receiver to H-back, and is the type of player who expands the playbook. He’s a natural catcher of the ball and also a big time threat with the ball in his hands — so much so that Bowling Green actually schemed him touches on jet sweeps. Fannin might not be a factor as an in-line blocker, but his versatility could make him a terror in the right offense. Marcus Mbow (OL, Purdue)There will be different opinions around the NFL as to where Mbow will play, and it’s going to be interesting to see where he’s asked to practice this week. He absolutely has “tackle” feet and has been impressive at both left and right tackle for the Boilermakers. However, he’s also undersized for a tackle at 6-foot-4, 309 pounds — though he has adequate length with 33-inch arms. He has also played offensive guard in his career, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see teams ask him to practice at guard or even center. It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see Mbow at the center of some scuffles in practice, as he plays with a definite nasty-streak that makes his tape a ton of fun to watch. Xavier Restrepo (WR, Miami)It seems unlikely that the Giants will be able to get Cam Ward at the top of the draft, but if they do, they might want to take a long look at his favorite target. Xavier Restrepo is an undersized slot receiver (5-foot-9, 200 pounds), but he has exceptional quickness. He’s a smart, savvy route runner who understands how to find the voids in coverage and catches just about everything thrown his way. His quickness and acceleration make him a threat to turn any short catch into a big gain. And despite his size, Restrepo is a very physical player who seems to relish the opportunity to block in the run game. He might not be for every team, but it’s easy to see him making fans out of coaches this week. Grey Zabel (OL, NDSU) [Prospect profile] Few prospects have more to gain this week than Grey Zabel. He needs to prove to the NFL that he can make the leap from FCS level North Dakota State to the NFL. Zabel has the advantage of playing against a lower level of competition, but he largely dominated at NDSU and has been one of the best tackles in football over the last two years. He might need to add strength at the NFL level, but he comes with pro-ready feet and the versatility to play all over the offensive line. It’ll be interesting to see where he practices as well as how he matches up against this great class of defensive linemen. Devin Neal (RB, Kansas)[prospect profile] We haven’t talked much about the running back class this year, but this is shaping up to be a potentially great one. That’s good news for the NFL as the proliferation of Cover 4 defenses increased the value of running the ball in 2024. Neal is going to be in the conversation to be one of the first running backs drafted (after Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty). He sports a compact frame at 5-foot-10, 220 pounds, that latter number coming as a surprise during Senior Bowl weigh-ins. Neal’s compact physique complements his natural quickness, vision, and contact balance, making him very hard to bring down. He’s excellent at finding cutback lanes and exploding into the open field for big plays. Defensive players to watch Deone Walker (iDL, Kentucky)It’s almost impossible to not watch Walker. He’s a truly massive human being, measuring 6-foot-7, 340 pounds, yet he has uncommon athleticism for his size. He looks the part of a nose tackle, but is also a former basketball player and is a true “dancing elephant”. Walker is young and won’t turn 21 until March 11th, and also has pass rush upside (7.5 sacks in 2023) as well as the ability to control the middle of the line of scrimmage. Walter Nolen (iDL, Ole Miss)This year’s draft class is as deep and talented at defensive tackle as the 2024 draft class was at wide receiver. There will be several great defensive tackles on the field this week, and I wanted to cover our bases with a massive one (Walker) and a more traditional 3-technique in Nolen. Nolen is one of several Ole Miss prospects who will hear their name called early on Draft weekend. He’s an explosively athletic interior penetrator who’s an absolute handful for lone blockers to deal with. Nolen is extremely twitchy and has a lightning first step to go with good power and play strength. He also has a great competitive toughness and a motor that just doesn’t quit. It wouldn’t be a surprise at all if he’s drafted in the first round, and potentially in the Top 20 at that. Kyle Kennard (Edge, South Carolina)Kennard flying just below the radar at the moment, but that has a good chance to change this week. He was a game wrecker for the gamecocks this year, racking up 11.5 sacks and another 16 tackles for a loss after transferring to South Carolina from Georgia Tech. Kennard
2025 NFL Draft: One prospect to watch at every position during the Reese’s Senior Bowl
Max Chadwick provides one prospect to watch at every position during the Reese’s Senior Bowl for the 2025 NFL Draft. 2025 NFL Draft: One prospect to watch at every position during the Reese’s Senior Bowl 2RRYRHK Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe warms up before an NCAA college football game against Texas, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt) By Max Chadwick Posted Jan 28, 2025 5:30 am EST Jalen Milroe is the quarterback to watch: The Alabama signal-caller is the favorite to be QB3 in the 2025 NFL Draft. Mike Green can solidify himself as a first-round pick: The Marshall edge defender will be closely watched this week as he tries to prove his dominant tape isn’t a product of facing Sun Belt competition. 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: 14 minutes The Reese’s Senior Bowl kicks off this week in Mobile, Alabama. It’s one of the most important events in preparation for the NFL Draft as many of the top prospects will be competing against each other all week. Here’s a prospect to know at every position who’ll be competing in this year’s Senior Bowl. Quarterback: Jalen Milroe, Alabama In a wide-open race for QB3, Milroe seems to have the early lead with the best physical tools of any signal-caller in the class. His 45 big-time throws since 2023 are eighth among FBS quarterbacks while his 932 rushing yards after contact in that same time span are fourth in that same group. Running Back: Damien Martinez, Miami (FL) Martinez is one of the most underrated players in a loaded running back group. His 94.3 rushing grade this past season ranked third among all running backs in the nation to only Ashton Jeanty and Cam Skattebo while his 4.5 yards after contact per attempt were sixth. Martinez has better speed and quickness than expected at 232 pounds and has scored in the 99th percentile of PFF’s Game Athleticism Score metric. With a strong week in Mobile, he could be rocketing up teams’ boards. Wide Receiver: Jayden Higgins, Iowa State Higgins has been uber-productive at Iowa State during his two years in the FBS. His 91.9 receiving grade since 2023 is fourth among all wideouts in America while his 62 catches of 15-plus yards are third. If he can consistently separate at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds in one-on-ones, he can move into the second round of teams’ boards. Tight End: Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green Fannin will be one of the most fascinating case studies in this year’s class. His production is incredible on the surface. Fannin’s 1,555 receiving yards broke the FBS record for a tight end by 203 yards while his 34 forced missed tackles after the catch led all players regardless of position. He has less than ideal size at 6-foot-3, 238 pounds though, so it’ll be interesting to see how he holds up in blocking drills this week. Offensive Tackle: Armand Membou, Missouri Membou was one of the best tackles in college football this past season. He was one of only two tackles in the nation with 85.0-plus grades as a pass blocker and run blocker while his 90.4 grade ranked fourth in the country. If Membou puts up a strong week in Mobile, he could solidify himself as a first-round pick. Interior Offensive Lineman: Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona Savaiinaea spent the last two years at right tackle for Arizona but projects on the interior long term. His 82.4 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets over the last two seasons places him in the 85th percentile of FBS tackles. Scouts will be paying extra attention to his reps on the interior in Mobile to see how he fares at guard. Interior Defender: Walter Nolen, Ole Miss Nolen finally showed why he was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2022 high school class with a strong performance in his one year with the Rebels. His 88.9 PFF grade ranked third among Power Four defensive tackles, while his 91.6 run-defense grade was second to only Mason Graham among FBS ones. If Nolen can dominate in one-on-ones, he can lock up a spot in the first round. Edge Defender: Mike Green, Marshall Green has been one of the most productive edge defenders in college football over the last couple of years. He’s the only edge in the nation with 90.0-plus grades both as a pass-rusher and run defender since 2023. Green’s tape screams first round, but he has eighth percentile arm length for the position. His performance against other top prospects this week will be closely watched since he beat up mostly Sun Belt competition throughout his career. Mike Green’s career stats. Subscribe to PFF+ today! Linebacker: Demetrius Knight, South Carolina Knight is currently the top-ranked linebacker on PFF’s big board and a first-round prospect. His 83.0 grade was a top-15 mark among FBS linebackers this year while his 85.8 run-defense grade was top-15 among Power Four ones. If he can hold up in coverage drills, Knight could rise in what’s a wide-open linebacker class. Cornerback: Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State Thomas is an elite athlete at 6-foot-2, 198 pounds as he placed in the 98th percentile of PFF’s Game Athleticism Score metric. That length helps him bother receivers both at the catch point and at the line of scrimmage, as his 23.3% forced incompletion percentage since 2023 is in the 99th percentile of FBS cornerbacks. Thomas is a perfect fit for any press-man scheme and has an opportunity to shine in on-on-ones. Safety: Sebastian Castro, Iowa Castro was one of the best slot corners in the nation in 2023, posting a 91.2 coverage grade while finishing as the most valuable cornerback in the country according to PFF’s wins above average metric. While his play dipped a bit this past season (66.1 PFF grade), NFL scouts will still be eager to see if he can