/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73922881/1470825472.0.jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,1267&ssl=1 "2025 NFL Scouting Combine: Joe Schoen availability, TV and workout schedule, more")
Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images Is the 2021 Stafford-Goff trade repeating itself with Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars new GM from L.A.? The similarities of 2021 are so eerie that is worth exploring the potential of a Matthew Stafford for Trevor Lawrence trade and if you think that a blockbuster of that magnitude is impossible then you’ve never met Les Snead, who has informed Stafford’s agents that they can gauge their value with other teams. People have been asking for weeks what the NFL’s version of the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade would be and while Lawrence is no Luka, this is as close as it could get. Though there are complications to the Jacksonville Jaguars trading Lawrence due to his contract, the Los Angeles Rams are maybe the only team that could pull it off because of Stafford. Here’s how it would work, but first the similarities to 2021: The Jaguars hired a GM from the Rams Just as in 2021 with Brad Holmes, the Jaguars have hired a new general manager out of L.A.’s front office, this time that person being James Gladstone. The Lions hired Holmes in 2021 and he immediately traded an unhappy Stafford to his old boss in exchange for a Jared Goff and two first round picks. Opening the familiarity pipeline between L.A. and Jacksonville just as two quarterbacks face uncertain futures means that the one GM around the league who Gladstone knows he can work with is Snead. The Jaguars hired a HC who worked under Sean McVay This wasn’t even one of the factors from 2021, it’s just more reason to think that Jacksonville would be a sensible landing spot for Matthew Stafford. The Jaguars hired Liam Coen, the Rams offensive coordinator in 2022, as their new head coach and play caller. That’s the only season that Stafford and Coen have worked together (he was at Kentucky in 2021) and it didn’t go well, but it does mean that Stafford would have a smooth transition to the Jacksonville offense. Smoother than probably any other QB the Jaguars could start, including Lawrence. After #Jaguars HC Liam Coen helped @Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield substantially improve, he will need better O-line to do same for Trevor Lawrence. https://t.co/W8h60E7wq4 — Eugene Frenette (@GeneFrenette) February 22, 2025 The trade would complement their respective needs Of course the Jaguars most likely hired Coen with the intention to bring the most out of Lawrence, but if Gladstone could pull off what Holmes pulled off in Detroit (making arguably the worst franchise in the NFL into a Super Bowl contender despite trading for a QB downgrade in his first year on the job) and add assets to their future then Jacksonville could be better off than with Lawence. We also all pretty much know that since Lawrence was drafted and Stafford was traded in 2021, that Stafford has been the better quarterback. If he goes to the Jaguars in 2025, that’s a division that he could help them win immediately. Conversely, the Rams see that they have a really young defense and a really old offense. Without a clear path towards drafting a QBOTF (L.A. picks 26th in a weak QB class this year), Lawrence represents a long-term future for Sean McVay and the head coach with a penchant for former number one overall picks has never had the chance to coach and develop someone like Lawrence. Another similarity here being that Goff was picked first, Stafford was picked first, and Lawrence was picked first. Kara Durrette/Getty Images Everyone knows that Lawrence was pretty bad last season and there’s no guarantee that he’s going to get better with Coen. Even despite making the playoffs once, Lawrence has a career record of 22-38 and the Jaguars best record with him is 9-8. Owner Shad Khan seems tired of waiting and potentially losing 13 or 14 games again. Stafford would give the Jaguars better odds of winning 11 or 12 games in 2025. But Lawrence would give McVay better odds of still wanting to coach the Rams in 2026. How would a Stafford-Goff trade work? So the big road block to trading Lawrence is that a pre-June trade leaves a $100 million dead cap hit on the Jaguars payroll in 2025: That’s $83 million more than Lawrence’s current cap hit! Believe it or not, that’s not entirely untenable if that’s what Jacksonville did (they could cut, restructure, and extend certain players to get compliant but it would be too hard), but that’s not what they would do here. No, the Jaguars would trade Lawrence AFTER June 1st. “But wait! That couldn’t work! They wouldn’t get any 2025 draft picks!” Exactly. Which would be a problem usually…unless the Jaguars knew they were getting a really good quarterback in return. Which in this case, they would be. As Stafford — and potentially Cooper Kupp — are at the crux of this trade, the Jaguars would be able to stabilize or even upgrade their quarterback position while also acquiring draft picks in the future. That’s not something that most teams can offer to Jacksonville and on L.A.’s end, the opportunity to trade Stafford after the draft means that they can acquire a QBOTF, afford to pay him, move Kupp, and still keep all of their draft picks in 2025. Stafford-Lawrence post-June 1 cap implications If the Jaguars wait and trade Lawrence after June 1st, they will have to pay his $35 million option bonus in March but then they’re kind of scot free. OverTheCap says that trading Lawrence in June leaves only a $14.5 million dead cap hit in 2025 and $2.5 million in cap savings. It does put a major dent in their 2026 salary cap, but not enough to do irreparable damage and we all know that the salary cap continues to increase a lightning pace. If they did this trade, the Jaguars would have cap space in 2025, cap space in 2026, Matthew Stafford, 2026 draft picks, and maybe Kupp. The Rams
What a Stafford-Trevor Lawrence trade would look like
Raiders roster 2025: The Top 5 younger players with the most to prove
Dylan Parham has been entrenched as a starting guard on the Las Vegas Raiders offensive line since being drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. | Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Dylan Parham, Michael Mayer amongst second- and third-year players who can and must step up this coming season and beyond Attention and interest is rightfully focused on draft season and free agency for the Las Vegas Raiders’ John Spytek and Pete Carroll. The Silver & Black’s general manager and head coach, respectively, embark on their inaugural season steering the franchise in a new direction that — hopefully — results in sustained success. As Spytek, Carroll, and the other decision makers in Las Vegas go about constructing a roster to their liking, it’s no wonder Raider Nation is eagerly anticipating what happens in free agency (which begins mid-March) and the 2025 NFL Draft. Those two primo events will help further shape the franchise’s future direction. And will likely have reverberating effects on the players currently on the roster and under contract. With that in mind, let’s look at the Top 5 Raiders who are 25 years old and under who have the most to prove this coming season and beyond: 5. Jonah Laulu, Defensive Tackle A waiver claim in late August from the Indianapolis Colts, the seventh-round pick (234th overall) in the 2024 draft didn’t get regular defensive snaps until Week 9, but when the defensive tackle produced and showed promise. The 6-foot-5 and 292-pounder had standout performances against the Atlanta Falcons (five total tackles, one sack, one stop for loss, one quarterback hit) and against the Los Angeles Chargers (regular season finale, seven total tackles, one stop for loss, one quarterback hit) and finished with 35 total tackles, one sack, three tackles for loss, and a trio of pass deflections. The 24-year-old rookie played in all 17 games and started seven as he earned 475 defensive snaps (43 percent of the unit’s total) with 96 special teams snaps (20 percent of he unit’s total). Picking up the rookie contract as part of the waiver claim, Laulu doesn’t cost much (960,000 cap number in 2025 and under contract until 2027) but will need to continue to showcase improved drive, power, and production as he embarks on Year 2 in the league in Las Vegas. #LasVegas native & #RAIDERS DT @Jonah_laulu shined on #MNF getting his first sack in the #NFL and he did it in his hometown. How cool is that? pic.twitter.com/0R0liiVKU8 — Harry Ruiz (@harryruiz) December 18, 2024 4. Decamerion Richardson, Cornerback Throw into the fire as injuries decimated the defensive back room, the fourth-round pick (112th overall) in the 2024 draft got on-the-job training and experience as rookie. And it’ll be interesting to see how Richardson uses the growing pains from Year 1 into a Year 2 springboard. Overcoming a hamstring injury, the 23-year-old was inactive the first five weeks of the 2024 campaign before jumping into heavy action from Week 11 on. Richardson played in 12 games starting seven and was targeted 46 times, according to Pro Football Reference. He was charted allowing 30 completions (65.2 percent) for 459 yards (312 air yards, 147 yards after catch) and three touchdowns. Quarterbacks throwing his way sported a 119.7 QB rating. Richardson finished with 46 total tackles, one tackle for loss, and three pass deflections. With prototypical size at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, along with speed (4.34 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine), Richardson has the measurables that Carroll’s defenses long sought. It’ll be up to Richardson and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, defensive backs coach Marcus Robertson, and pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach Joe Woods to make as sophomore leap. Richardson can also lean on fellow corner Jakorian Bennett, who had a strong Year 2 after a rough rookie year. 3. Dylan Laube, Running back/returner Despite ineffectiveness and injuries eroding the running back room down from the muscle to the bone, the sixth-round pick (208th overall) in the 2024 draft fumbled his first regular-season carry in Week 6 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and didn’t get another opportunity — again. The 25-year-old played in 10 games and spent the majority of his rookie season on special teams (116 snaps, 42 percent of the unit’s total). He did have six kick returns for 164 yards (a long of 59 yards) to go along with three special teams tackles. Laube, like many other Raiders, is set to get a clean slate and with a focused offseason, can get into the mix at running back and special teams once more. Las Vegas running back room is unsettled and the team needs juice on the return units, both aspects the 5-foot-10, 208-pound tailback can contribute to as a pass-catching back and return man. Otherwise, he’ll likely go as a late-round pick who is on the cut list. 2. Michael Mayer, Tight End Expected to form a formidable 1-2 punch with rookie Brock Bowers, Mayer’s second season in the league was truncated due to a personal matter. The talented Notre Dame product missed the initial seven weeks of the 2024 campaign due to that matter and the Raiders were patient with the second-round pick (35th overall) from the 2023 draft. Playing in the first three games of the 2024 season, Mayer would miss the next few weeks and return to action in Week 11. Finishing with 21 catches for 156 yards (highest output was a seven-catch, 68-yard effort against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14), Las Vegas’ offense under Chip Kelly would get a huge boost with Mayer in full-time action. A strong blocker with sneaky speed and soft hands, Mayer combining with Bowers allows Las Vegas to explore heavier formations and force defenses to account for two tight ends that can not only catch, but are formidable blockers, too. At just 23 years old, sky is the limit for Mayer but he’s got a lot to prove in Year 3. Michael Mayer speaks on his return to the
Buffalo Bills 2025 NFL offseason positional review: Quarterbacks
Buffalo Bills 2025 NFL offseason positional review: Quarterbacks Unshockingly, everything starts and ends with Josh Allen. The 28-year-old put the team on his back during multiple weeks this season. Often, the will of Allen helped keep the Bills in games in which they had some deficiencies. Allen won his first NFL MVP Award in a hotly contested race with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Overall, Allen did more with less, giving him the edge over Jackson. Allen was a magician of sorts, extending plays when necessary. Allen made virtually every throw when called upon. And in the instances where the Bills QB could not find a receiver, he would take on defenders with full-force running. Make no mistake, this team is far from a playoff team if Allen is not heading this team. Behind Allen, Mitchell Trubisky played in spot duty. His top play was the kneel down, as Trubisky only saw action during garbage time.
Vikings Links: Let Us Continue To Beat The Horse
I know that many fans feel like we have beaten the (who is the QB) horse to death already. Nah. We are just getting started IMO. There is a ton more wailing and gnashing of the teeth that we are capable of producing. Sounds like fun to me. I will say that it could be difficult for any veteran QB to get full support from the fans next year. If they have any bad outing or even some bad drives or interceptions, the fans will be clamoring for JJ McCarthy. I do not believe the veteran QBs want to be in that situation although I think money talks the most. I am looking forward to the combine to see the actual measurements of the players. There are always some surprises. . Minnesota Vikings News and Links A look at the pros and cons of quarterback options for Vikings in 2025 The talk of the offseason for the Minnesota Vikings is who will take the first snap under center in 2025. The Vikings could bring back last year’s starting quarterback, Sam Darnold, either by the franchise tag or a longer-term deal. They could roll with J.J. McCarthy, whom they selected with the No. 10 overall pick in last year’s NFL draft. They could sign a veteran, like Daniel Jones who was with their practice squad last season, to compete with McCarthy and be an insurance option. They could bring in a veteran — names like Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford have been floating as potential options for the Vikings. Who will they roll with next season, and what are the pros and cons of each option? Sam Darnold Pros Darnold is coming off the best year of his career in his first season in Minnesota, posting the fifth-most passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (35) in the NFL in 2024. The Vikings know what they have in Darnold: a quarterback who knows Kevin O’Connell’s offense and can excel in the system. You have to want to run that back in 2025. Darnold is still only 27 years old. There’s plenty more good football ahead of him. Chemistry. Darnold spent an entire season building familiarity with Minnesota’s wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. They’d be able to hit the ground running with Darnold back under center next season. Cons Darnold’s price tag will go up significantly one way or another. It seems like most likely scenario for Darnold to return is the franchise tag, which would pay him $41 million for next season, a significant jump from the one-year, $10 million contract he played on last season. That would limit what the Vikings could spend on other positions of need in free agency, and there are certainly other holes to fill on the roster. Is the money best spent on Darnold? Darnold had a fantastic season, but it was also something he hadn’t showed before in the NFL. And his struggles in the final two games of the year didn’t do a lot to instill confidence going forward. Would he be able to meet the moment in another go around? Did Darnold show something he can repeat, or was the 2024 season just a fluke? There’s no way of knowing any of that until Darnold takes the field again in 2025. . J.J. McCarthy Pros McCarthy is on a rookie contract, and if the Vikings aren’t spending big on him, there’s tons of flexibility elsewhere. O’Connell declared McCarthy the quarterback of the future last preseason. It’s clear the Vikings have belief in the young quarterback, who as an unknown, has limitless potential. Darnold’s 2024 season may have been his ceiling — McCarthy’s ceiling hasn’t even been explored yet. There’s reason to believe it could be much higher. Cons McCarthy is coming off a torn meniscus, so if he takes over in 2025, it will be after a season of rehab instead of a season of practicing and learning under Darnold. It’s hard to tell if he’d be 100% ready coming off a lost year. And like with any first-year quarterback, there’s certain to be some growing pains with McCarthy taking the reins. As a unknown, McCarthy has the potential for a higher ceiling than someone like Darnold, but there’s also the possibility he has a much lower floor. He’ll take the field eventually one way or another, but the reality for now is that he remains an unknown. Maybe McCarthy will be great, but you can also do a lot worse than Darnold. Sam Darnold: Vikings open to contract extension, franchise tag not likely ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Vikings are not expected to place the franchise tag on Sam Darnold, but they are open to bringing him back J.J. McCarthy’s readiness to replace Sam Darnold with Vikings questioned due to Michigan’s dominance John Middlekauff of 3 and Out raised concerns about McCarthy’s ability to carry the Vikings’ offense, pointing out that he played in a dominant system at Michigan that didn’t require him to take over games. You’re going to depend on a player who was on a dominant college football team. And he was not tasked with, ‘Hey, bro, this is going to be one of those games where the defense is playing like s—, and we’re going to need 35 points. And I know we got Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but you’re going to have to carry us. You’re going to have to make throws, blitzes, third-and-longs, stuff like that. Buckle up, buttercup.’ He’s never had to do that. And not saying that he can’t because he can learn to. But like, they’re going to come in next season with goals of… they were just competing to be the number one overall seed. And now it’s like, ‘Oh, we’re just cool with, what, winning nine games.’ Hell no. You have a team that is ready-made to just be competitive. And that’s a lot of pressure to put on a player who’s never started an NFL game.
What’s next for Storm Duck?
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Can the Miami Dolphins rely on second-year cornerback Storm Duck with questions in the secondary? The Miami Dolphins have a top-tier cornerback in three-time All-Pro Jalen Ramsey but enter the offseason with not much else in the secondary. Starting safeties Jordan Poyer and Jevon Holland are set to hit free agency next month. Boundary corner Kendall Fuller was released after starting 11 games last season, and multi-year starting nickel corner Kader Kohou enters the offseason as a restricted free agent. With more questions than answers and limited resources to replenish the roster, growth from part-time players is key to Miami’s playoff return in 2025. Appearing in 14 games as an undrafted rookie, injuries forced cornerback Storm Duck into three starts last season. Duck, 24, logged 35 tackles and four passes defended for the Dolphins. Opposing quarterbacks completed 24 of 33 pass attempts for 251 yards and a touchdown when targeting him, according to PFF. Despite strong performances against New England and San Francisco, he closed the season with two missed tackles in back-to-back weeks, finishing with nine overall. How much did the Dolphins want Louisville cornerback Storm Duck? They gave him a $20,000 signing bonus and $150,000 guaranteed, per source. Multiple Dolphins staff members called and he picked Miami over a dozen other offers. He’s a boundary (outside) corner. Had 5 INTs in 4… — Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) April 28, 2024 The Dolphins were one of 12 teams interested in him after he went undrafted as a fifth-year player at Louisville, but offered a $20,000 signing bonus and $150,000 guaranteed to land him. Duck was named second-team All-ACC in 2022 at North Carolina before transferring to Louisville. He appeared in 12 games as a redshirt senior with 32 tackles and a sack for the Cardinals. NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein cited Duck’s lack of top-end speed and struggles in run support as to why he wasn’t drafted. Miami’s depth at cornerback includes former second-round pick Cam Smith and former undrafted free agent Ethan Bonner. Still, they combined to appear in 11 games with no starts last season. The Dolphins need a full-time starter across from Ramsey, and the front office will take swings at addressing this in free agency and the draft. Duck projects to enter his second season as a trustworthy role player but may have opportunities to earn a larger role as Miami’s secondary takes shape.
Can the Rams find big rewards from little receivers in the NFL Draft?
If the Los Angeles Rams decide not to re-sign Tutu Atwell, the wide receiver room not only loses a body, but a very fast one. Most fans would love to see the L.A. offense become more explosive and letting their one true speed weapon depart makes it one step further from reality. But wait, this content is not about making a case to re-up Atwell, it’s to provide some capsule reviews on “little” wide receiver prospects. Yes, although “bigger, faster, longer” is the usual mantra when it comes to prospects, the little guys have their place in a well-rounded unit. The Rams haven’t been shy in adding them either. In the Sean McVay years, he’s brought in over a half-dozen receivers at 5’10”. Add to that number Atwell, Jojo Natson, Brandon Powell, and Xavier Smith. These last three are where I want to concentrate, players with playmaking ability that can add value in the return game as well as offense. L.A. currently does have the diminutive Smith under contract, but after two seasons, his 33 offensive snaps and 22 total kickoff/punt returns are easily replaced. Last season, the Rams subbed in Blake Corum to return kickoffs, even though he is much heavier afoot. Meeting the candidates Tez Johnson-Oregon- 5’9’’ 156 lb. 29 7/8” arms, 8 1/2” hands @ Senior Produced three strong seasons (141 catches-1809 yards-8 td) at Troy before stepping up for two stellar years (169 catches-2089 yards-20 td) at Oregon. Although only had a couple of kickoff returns, he returned 56 punts for 519 yards over all five seasons. He was timed at 20.64 mph in Senior Bowl workouts, but he’s got more than speed. Although the burst and quick feet help in separation, he is a good route runner with solid hands that improved over his career. Used almost exclusively out of the slot (88%) although Oregon did gadget him all over when not. Wasn’t used deep a lot, but you can see from the first Ohio State matchup film that he can win on those routes. Not a lot of draft value here, Johnson had a strong Senior Bowl and is rising up draft boards. I have a mid-Round 4 grade him. Naturally, there are physicality concerns, but if he tests well, someone will take a “too early”chance on a prospect with his combination of hands, burst/long speed, and open-field running abilities. Xavier Restrepo-Miami- 5’9” 200 lb. 29 3/4” arms, 9 1/8” hands @ Senior Has the highest floor of all these candidates. How much do you value a player who profiles to be a slot-only, chain-moving, WR#2 for many years? For me, it’s a late 2nd/early 3rd grade. Experienced (53 games and 28 starts) and productive (200 grabs-2844 yards-21 td). Not a true return threat, although he brought back 13 punts and six kickoffs. Timed 19.02 mph during Senior Bowl, very good, but not elite. Restrepo wins on route running and hands. He can create his own separation with stellar drive and sink, crisp in and out of breaks, and uses varied releases, Tracks the ball well with a low drop rate and better than most smaller receivers at contested catches because of competitiveness and strength. In his Senior season, he a lot of back shoulder opportunities. That competitive spirit along with a strong, well-built frame allows him be a good blocker who understands leverage. He also understands how to recognize soft areas and settle into them against zone coverage. Jimmy Horn-Colorado- 5’8” 171 lb. 30 3/4” arms 8 7/8” hands @ Shrine Timed 10.81 in the 100 meters. His burst and change of direction ability shadow his advanced route running. He runs a full route tree and has bag full of tricks. Uses feints, quicksteps, and sudden stop/starts. Very loose-hipped with bursty direction change and tracks well. Needs to be more consistent in carrying plays through and running before securing the ball on short routes. Although struggling with injuries all throughout 2024 and shut down in the final three games, Horn was still able to chart 91 catches, 1001 yards, and seven touchdowns over two seasons with the Buffaloes. Before settling in the Rockies, he toiled two seasons at South Florida with 67 receptions, 959 yards, and four scores. Over four seasons, he returned 29 kickoffs for 644 yards and at Colorado handled 14 punts. Stood out in Shrine Bowl workouts with ability to separate in man coverage and red zone work. Very nice low risk/high reward type of prospect, I give Horn a late 6th/early 7th grade, but if he blows up testing at the Combine, some team will bite at his dynamic potential. Lejohntay Wester-Colorado- 5’9” 177 lb. 29 7/8” arms 8 1/8” hands @ Shrine Wester joined Colorado for a standout final season, 70 catches for 880 yards and 10 scores. He added nine punt returns for 108 yards and a touchdown. In his first four years at Florida Atlantic, he did a little of everything. Ran the ball 36 times for 213 yards, caught 252 passes for 2703 yards, returned 14 kickoffs for 290 yards, and brought back 57 punts for 632 yards. Overall he accounted for 24 touchdowns. Don’t have to scheme Wester open, he can create separation. Has very good route technique in addition to his short area quickness. Mercurial in/out of breaks and change of direction. Soft hands, but tends to be a body catcher too often. His drops come when he runs before securing the ball. Tough and competitive over the middle and on contested catches. High ceiling prospect. Can pay his own freight while getting settled in as a pro with return game versatility. I originally gave him a Round 7 grade, but after more film, upgraded that view to early 6th. All the press around Shadeur Sanders and Travis Hunter forces you to dig deep on a possible gem like Wester. Jaylin Lane-Virginia Tech– 5’9” 191 lb. 32”arms 9 3/4” hands @ Senior On film, Lane looks and plays bigger than he measures.
2025 NFL Draft prospect profile – Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
Eakin Howard-Imagn Images Could Ayomanor help fill out the Giants’ offense? For all the talk surrounding their perceived needs on defense, the offense is the bigger priority for the New York Giants. After all, they’ve fielded one of the worst offenses in the NFL for years now, and many things would likely fall into place quickly for the team if they could be consistently productive. The Giants’ receiving corps wasn’t bad by any means in 2024, but Darius Slayton — a mainstay in the passing game — is entering free agency and may not return to the Giants. His loss would create a void that will need to be filled, and the team might not have anyone on the roster to do so. Stanford receiver Elic Ayomanor offers a similar skill set as Slayton with a good blend of size and athleticism, as well as the versatility to fill multiple roles in the offense. Could he be a value pick for the Giants? Prospect: Elic Ayomanor (13)Games Watched: vs. Colorado (2023), vs. TCU (2024), vs. Syracuse (2024)Red Flags: Knee — ACL/MCL/Meniscus (2022) Measurables Height: 6-foot-2 (estimated)Weight: 212 pounds Strengths Best traits Competitive toughness Quickness Route running Body control Blocking Ayomanor is a good-sized and athletic wide receiver who could fill a variety of roles at the next level. Ayomanor has the size and athletic traits to be an outside receiver in the NFL, with the size and athleticism to play X and route running to be a Z. He’s a very smooth athlete who understands how to bend and shape his route stems to manipulate defenders and create opportunities for separation. He’s also agile enough to play as a “big slot” and match up against smaller slot corners, or contribute as a blocker on runs or screen plays. Ayomanor has good agility and quickness into his breaks – as long as they aren’t too sharp – as well as the strength to play through contact. He’s efficient getting into his routes and understands his assignment as a part of a route concept. Ayomanor also does a good job of breaking his route off to make himself available for his quarterback. His athleticism and play strength also lend themselves to generating yards after the catch. Ayomanor isn’t a speedster or particularly shifty as a runner, but he has good enough vision to find lanes in space and is strong enough to break arm tackles to pick up additional yardage. He’s also a willing blocker. He gets after defensive backs when blocking on the play side of running plays, though he needs to improve his hand placement to avoid holding penalties in the NFL. Likewise, he’s very quick to transition from receiver to blocker once a teammate has made a catch. Weaknesses Worst traits Health Catch consistency Ayomanor’s health will be the single biggest question regarding his evaluation. He suffered a bad knee injury as a freshman, tearing his ACL, MCL, and meniscus. He returned in 2023 with a 1,000-yard season and has played in 24 games with over 60 catches in both 2023 and 2024. However, teams will need to find out the current status of his knee as well as his long-term prognosis. Any elevated risk of arthritis or re-injury could sink his draft stock. On the field, the biggest concern in Ayomanor’s game is his catch consistency. He flashes brilliant hands, making high-difficulty catches in traffic, but he can also suffer from concentration drops. There are too many routine catches that seem to just slip through – or bounce off – his hands. Teams will need to figure out why that is, and if he can find consistency with more work and coaching at the NFL level. Game Tape (Ayomanor is the Stanford wide receiver wearing No. 13) Projection Eli Ayomanor projects as a borderline starting receiver at the NFL level. Whether or not he is able to become an every-down player will likely come down to whether he can become a more consistent catcher of the ball and his long-term health. His physicality, competitive toughness, and ability to be a playmaker will earn him fans and looks on offense – not to mention a consistent role on special teams. Ayomanor has the potential to be a good receiver at the NFL level with the ability to line up at all three receiver positions, stretch the field, or pick up yards after the catch. However, his future team needs to know that they can depend on him to secure the ball first. There’s also the looming question regarding the health of his knee. Teams will do their due diligence on his medical reports. That, more than anything, could determine his draft stock. Does he fit the Giants?Yes, if his medical concerns check out Final Word: A Day 2 value, but a likely Day 3 pick due to injury concerns.
The Linc – Micah Parsons on the trade block?
Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 2/22/25. Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links … Micah Parsons, Tyreek Hill, DK Metcalf among NFL stars who SHOULD be traded this offseason – NFL.comMicah Parsons is one of just seven players to top 50 sacks in his first four NFL seasons. Could the Cowboys really be moving on from the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year this early in his career? There are actually ample reasons to think an extension is forthcoming heading into the final year of his rookie contract. Then again, NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport recently reported that the team has internally discussed “whether to pay Parsons or trade him for a king’s ransom.” And mulling over the trade proposals being thrown around for Myles Garrett, I can’t help but wonder what Parsons might fetch. It’s probably a lot. Even before we know what Garrett would actually go for, we can look back at the haul the Raiders extracted from the Bears for Khalil Mack in 2018 as the baseline of a deal for Parsons, with multiple first-rounders and maybe a few players mixed in as well. A swap like that would surely go a long way toward boosting the roster around Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, to whom the team has committed a healthy amount of money. 10 Big Questions About the 2025 NFL Offseason – The Ringer4. Which non-QBs might get traded? […] Other names to watch include Tee Higgins in a tag-and-trade situation or—maybe—Micah Parsons in Dallas, if things go badly in contract negotiations. Cowboys news: Micah Parsons hasn’t talked new deal with team yet – Blogging The BoysThe waiting game continues on mega-deal for Micah Parsons. Eagles Film Review: Zack Baun is the team’s most important defensive player – BGNYou can call me crazy, but I think Baun is worthy of a top-three type of contract. I would be OK giving him more than Matt Milano. I’ve seen some mention $13 million yearly, but I would be stunned if he doesn’t get more on the open market. Anyone who runs a similar defense style to Fangio’s will be all over this guy. I would do what it takes to keep him in Philly. The Eagles have historically ignored the linebacker position in order to prioritize other positions. Now is the time to buck the trend. It’s time to pay Zack Baun. Bumps in the Road – Iggles BlitzAfter watching the Eagles blow out the Chiefs in the Super Bowl it is pretty easy to think about what a great season 2024 was. It feels like everything went the Eagles way. You know opposing fans certainly feel like that. “Lucky Eagles had it so easy last year.” That wasn’t exactly the case. The Eagles did have to overcome some adversity along the way to their second SB title. Go back almost a year. The Eagles signed Devin White to be the veteran off-ball LB. The plan was for Tyler Steen to be the RG. DeVante Parker was going to be the #3 receiver. There were questions about whether Josh Sweat would be cut or traded. Star pass rusher Haason Reddick pushed for a raise and had to be traded. Bryce Huff was signed to be his replacement. The Eagles made depth signings like DB Tyler Hall, OL Matt Hennessy and DL PJ Mustipher. They lost quality depth in free agency, with Sua Opeta, Jack Driscoll and Jack Stoll all signing elsewhere. Avonte Maddox was released. A.J. Brown: Promoting Kevin Patullo to OC was a ‘great hire’ – NBCSPThe Eagles will have a new offensive coordinator in 2025 but it won’t be a completely new face. And that’s a good thing, according to A.J. Brown. The star receiver was on NFL Network’s The Insiders and gave his stamp of approval to the Eagles’ decision to promote Kevin Patullo to offensive coordinator. “I truly feel like it’s a great hire,” Brown said. “He already has been involved in everything. Him, Kellen and Nick basically called the plays already. It’s a great hire. He’s already familiar with us. We have a great relationship. “And he knows what we need to work on because he’s been there and he’s been there for a while. And, like I said, he’s already been a part of all the situations and the conversations and everything. So I think it’s a great hire.” Jordan Mailata tackles a new task — helping a coffee shop move a massive oven – NBC10It turns out Jordan Mailata is a man of many talents. The offensive tackle was not only great at helping the Philadelphia Eagles secure a Super Bowl victory, but he is also great at moving stuff. Michelle Miller, the owner of The Ground Coffee, Plants and Gifts, couldn’t get her oven — which weighs about 650 pounds — to budge, so she asked her friend Mailata for some help. Jason Kelce: Tush push sucks for the center, but is a difference-maker for the Eagles – PFTKelce noted on The Steam Room that when you’re playing center on that play, you can end up with four 300-pound players on top of you. “For me, as a center, it sucks,” Kelce said. “It’s a grueling play where you’re going to get as low as possible . . . if I get grass on my facemask I probably did the play pretty good, because I got as low as possible and drove forward. If you get low and drive forward, it’s really hard for the defense to stop it.” But Kelce also said that he thinks the Eagles’ ability to pick up a yard in situations when other teams would punt is a massive advantage. Former NFL RB Portis joins Jackson’s staff at Delaware State – ESPNClinton Portis, who rushed for just under 10,000 yards over nine NFL seasons and was a two-time Pro Bowl selection, has been named DeSean Jackson’s running backs coach and run game coordinator at
New York Giants free agency primer: 5 quarterbacks to consider
The New York Giants desperately need a quarterback. Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll have entered Year 4, and the roster has zero quarterbacks. Schoen made a massive investment in Daniel Jones and released him less than two years later. The Giants are 9-25 since resigning Jones after the 2022 season. Of course, Jones missed most of the 2023 season after playing poorly for the first seven weeks, and he was released after ten mediocre games in 2024. Before Jones started in 2019, Eli Manning was the quarterback since 2004 — more than 20 years ago. Schoen appears interested in the veteran quarterback market. His seat is hot, and patience for just a rookie quarterback may not be a virtue — not a great situation, but a conversation for another day. He’s mentioned trades as an option in the recent past, and Los Angeles Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford is linked to the Giants. Only a little smoke surrounds a Stafford trade, and everything remains unclear. What’s evident, though, is the Giants’ desire for a veteran quarterback. Here are five quarterbacks and different scenarios to consider. Aaron Rodgers, Jets This isn’t contentious at all! Rodgers is a 41-year-old future Hall of Famer with a reputation that vexes some people. He’s one year removed from his torn Achilles suffered four snaps into the 2023 season against the Buffalo Bills. Rodgers is coming off his first actual season playing for the Jets, and he threw for 3,897 yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Rodgers averaged 6.7 yards per target with a 63% completion rate and a Big Time Throw Rate of 4.2% with a low 1.8% turnover-worthy play rate. His average depth of target was 7.3 yards. He ranked in the bottom 12 in the pressure-to-sack ratio and appeared much slower than usual, which comes with age and recovery from a serious lower-leg injury. Rodgers’ age is an issue; he may only have one year left. However, his arm talent still popped on screen, as did his ability to protect the football. He is not reluctant to let the football rip deep out of his hand and does an excellent job processing risk. He’s an anticipatory thrower with terrific velocity. Rodgers was recently asked about his plans. Here’s his response: Rodgers may have no interest in the Giants; conversely, the Giants may have no interest in Rodgers. Still, Rodgers throwing to Malik Nabers would be a lovely sight. I’m unsure if he has enough in the tank or thinks the Giants are a “good team,” but I am certainly entertaining the idea at a much lesser price than other options with his skill set. Russell Wilson, PIT Wilson helped take Pittsburgh’s offense to a new level last season; well, at least initially. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin benched Justin Fields after his 4-2 start when Wilson’s calf was finally healed. Over his first seven starts, Wilson’s team scored more than 25 points five times, and Pittsburgh was 5-2 over that span. Including the playoff loss against Baltimore, Wilson finished with 2,752 passing yards (7.5 yards per attempt) with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. He had a beautiful Big Time Throw Rate of 6.3%, which ranked fourth in the NFL, and a turnover-worthy play rate of just 1.6%, which was third best in the NFL. No quarterback in the NFL had higher Pro Football Focus grades than Wilson on deep passes (20+ yards). He also had the highest completion percentage, the highest yards per attempt, and the second-lowest turnover-worthy play rate on throws that traveled over twenty yards. The 37-year-old is now two seasons removed from his disastrous first year in Denver, and he mainly played well in 2024, although Pittsburgh’s offense trailed off toward the end of the year and failed to score 20 points in the final five games. Spotrac.com has Russell Wilson’s market value at $38.7 million average annual value on a two-year deal (total value of $77.5 million). That’s a lot of money, putting him in Geno Smith and Kirk Cousins’ contractual territory. He signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with Pittsburgh last season, for he could not sign a more significant contract, lest he lose his revenue from Denver. Justin Fields, PIT Justin Fields is a more physically gifted athlete than Daniel Jones, but both are plagued with similar processing and anticipation issues. Fields finished the season with 1,106 passing yards, five passing touchdowns, one interception, a Big Time Throw Rate of 3.4%, and a Turnover Worthy Rate of 2.8%. Fields was most dangerous with his legs; he rushed for 289 yards and five touchdowns with six fumbles. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry, and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith seemed to enjoy the physicality and mobility of the young quarterback, something Brian Daboll would leverage. Fields are only 25 years old and can be had at a fraction of Wilson’s price. Spotrac.com has his market value at $8.9 million average annual value — a shot on Fields at that price as the No. 2 quarterback is an interesting option. The Chicago Bears traded up to the Giants’ pick in 2021 and selected Fields. Usually, former first-round quarterbacks who have played for two teams and are available on free agency at 25 are destined to be journeymen or niche players. That may be the case for Fields, but is there a case of redemption in Fields’ future? Can he stabilize with a quality offensive coach, a star playmaker, and a different environment? I remain unconvinced that he can, but I am still willing to explore him as a less-expensive option that isn’t the de facto starter. Jameis Winston, CLE I love watching Jameis Winston play. It’s a rollercoaster in 1910: it’s thrilling and can take your breath away, but it can also crash and burn. However, I am a fan of Winston. The 31-year-old threw for 2,121 yards with 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions over nine appearances in 2024. Winston had a yards per attempt of 7.2, which ranked in
What Bengals do with Tee Higgins tabbed as biggest storyline of NFL free agency
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images What sort of outcome will we see with Tee Higgins? We are quickly approaching NFL free agency. That means there are plenty of mock signings and other offseason moves being projected, but Frank Schwab from Yahoo Sports recently wrote about the Top 10 storyline going into this phase of the offseason. The Cincinnati Bengals plans with wide receiver Tee Higgins sit at the top of the list: 1. Will the Bengals pay Tee Higgins? If Higgins hits free agency after the Bengals reportedly plan to franchise tag him again, he’s going to get a massive contract. Receivers of his talent level and age don’t hit the market that often. It will not be easy to pay Higgins and Chase, and perhaps Hendrickson too, but it can be done. What will the Bengals do? Higgins is easily the top skill position free agent when you also consider he is also only 26 years old. There have been reports he could command over $30 million AAV in whatever deal he gets and would be courted by nearly every team in the NFL. Even if the Bengals hit him with a franchise or transition tag there will be plenty of teams on the phone looking to give him a big deal as well as draft compensation. However, things keep shaping up to look more and more like Cincinnati not only can but will keep him. The salary cap is getting boosted to either $277.5 million or $281.5 million, and the Bengals don’t exactly have a ton of in-house talent in the near future that should command a deal like Higgins. The question is, will they extend Ja’Marr Chase, Trey Hendrickson, and also pay Higgins all in one offseason? The answer is simply they have to spend it somewhere. When your franchise quarterback Joe Burrow has listed each guy by name, it makes it easy to decide who to spend it on. Depending on other cuts/renegotiations, Cincinnati should still have plenty of space to also add in free agency beyond those big names. It would be a move that you would expect to change the narrative on the Bengals, but the national media would likely pivot to “Why would you put all this money in two wide receivers?” At least Bengals fans would get to appreciate a skilled group surrounding Burrow for a while longer.
