Vikings QB shakeup: Will Anthony Richardson replace J.J. McCarthy? Dive into the drama on The Real Forno Show as Tyler Forness predicts a bold trade. In this episode, hosts Tyler Forness and Dave Stefano analyze the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback competition for 2026, sparked by Kevin O’Connell’s call for competition and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s non-committal stance on […] Vikings QB shakeup: Will Anthony Richardson replace J.J. McCarthy? Dive into the drama on The Real Forno Show as Tyler Forness predicts a bold trade. In this episode, hosts Tyler Forness and Dave Stefano analyze the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback competition for 2026, sparked by Kevin O’Connell’s call for competition and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s non-committal stance on McCarthy. With a possible Vikings QB trade, looking at the potential Anthony Richardson Vikings acquisition, evaluating a Malik Willis free agent signing, and the lack of 2026 NFL Draft prospects, this podcast episode hooks fans with insider predictions and realistic options amid a barren QB market. In a candid discussion on The Real Forno Show, Tyler Forness declares, “I think the Vikings are going to end up trading for Richardson,” citing the low cost of a compensatory third-round pick and Richardson’s MVP-level upside despite his inaccuracies and injury history. Co-host Dave Stefano chimes in on the market shortage, noting, “There’s a shortage on the market, so whoever goes is gonna be expensive.” The episode covers free agents like Malik Willis, who might demand a three-year $90 million+ deal, and dismisses “pipe dreams” like Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson trades with low odds (~10-20% for Burrow, ~5-10% for Jackson). Forness emphasizes McCarthy’s inconsistencies, saying, “J.J. McCarthy’s not a franchise quarterback right now,” while exploring trades for Mac Jones, Kyler Murray, and Geno Smith. Key points include: QB Competition Realities: O’Connell wants genuine competition; McCarthy’s injuries (missing 25 of 35 games) and mechanics need fixing in the offseason. Free Agent Options: Limited market; Willis could cost ~$90M over three years; Aaron Rodgers and Daniel Jones (injury) dismissed as poor fits. Trade Candidates: Richardson as top prediction for his tools and O’Connell’s past interest; Mac Jones might require a second-round pick; low odds for Burrow (discontent in Cincinnati) or Jackson (high cap hit). Draft Outlook: Barren 2026 class with Fernando Mendoza likely first overall; Vikings at No. 18 prioritize other needs unless value drops. Other Topics: Jordan Addison’s arrest discussed as a misdemeanor but compounding issues; potential Hockenson cut critiqued as bad business. Listen: Watch: Don’t miss The Real Forno Show for unfiltered Minnesota Vikings analysis, bold takes, and offseason breakdowns—it’s your go-to Vikings podcast on Vikings 1st & SKOL, partnered with Fans First Sports Network. Subscribe for episodes on draft prospects, free agency moves, and more to stay ahead of the purple faithful. Fan With Us!!! Tyler Forness @TheRealForno of Vikings 1st & SKOL @Vikings1stSKOL and A to Z Sports @AtoZSportsNFL, with Dave Stefano @Luft_Krigare producing this Vikings 1st & SKOL production, the @RealFornoShow. Podcasts partnered with Fans First Sports Network @FansFirstSN. What do you think: Should the Vikings trade for Anthony Richardson or stick with developing JJ McCarthy? Share your thoughts in the comments! See More:
Will Vikings Trade for Anthony Richardson? A 2026 QB Competition Option
Darren Waller talks being last to see Mike McDaniel before firing, Tua Tagovailoa struggles
The Miami Dolphins fired head coach Mike McDaniel just over a week ago. They have been search for his replacement ever since, with new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan leading the process to reset the franchise. The move to fire McDaniel came several days after most changes to the position from around the league had already […] The Miami Dolphins fired head coach Mike McDaniel just over a week ago. They have been search for his replacement ever since, with new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan leading the process to reset the franchise. The move to fire McDaniel came several days after most changes to the position from around the league had already happened and McDaniel appeared safe in his role for 2026. However, owner Stephen Ross decided to relieve McDaniel of his duties on Thursday, January 8, and informed him that morning. Yesterday, Dolphins tight end Darren Waller was on the Glory Daze Podcast, hosted by former Cleveland Browns quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, and he provided insight into the final few moments of McDaniel’s tenure with the Dolphins – and the awkwardness of Ross coming to inform McDaniel during Waller’s exit interview. Waller’s exit interview is interrupted “I was at the scene of the crime, bro. I think I was the last person to see him before he got fired,” Waller said in a clip posted to X. “My exit meeting was that Thursday morning, and [McDaniel’s] like, ‘Definitely want you back next year.’ And we’re just like reflecting on the year,” Waller continued. “Then Stephen Ross kicked the door in and he comes in and joins the conversation. We are all just talking and reflecting on the year. “Then the conversation hits a low. I’m sitting across the desk from Mike and Stephen Ross is standing there, just kinda looking at me,” Waller explained, adding a head nod toward the door. Manziel interjected, “It’s time for you to get the hell out.” Waller continued, “I looked at Mike and he’s like, ‘We’ll finish this conversation later.‘ I didn’t know, they had the GM search was in full flow, I didn’t know, but they had big business to talk about.” The tight end explained he left the office, went down to get a massage and looked at his phone while on the table to see McDaniel had been fired. I was like, “Damn. This **** is cold.” Waller on Tua Tagovailoa’s game-day regression Waller and Manziel also discussed the struggles quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had in 2025, and how different a player Tagovailoa was in practice versus in games this season. “When I showed up there in training camp, I’m watching this man throw darts every practice, bruh,” Waller said. “I’d never seen the anticipation and the accuracy.” He then tried to explain the differences between what the players and coaches were seeing in practice and what was happening on the field during games. “What I think some of the disconnect comes from, I think there might be some trauma still stored in his body from what he’s gone through, like with the hits. There’s a book called The Body Keeps the Score which is like the number one book about trauma. They talk about how trauma was first with war veterans.“ Waller continued, “I can notice him trying to make things happen in the game, like he is trying to pull the trigger, but it’s almost like his body and his system…” “…won’t allow him to do it,” Manziel added, agreeing with Waller. “I feel like, if there is a way for him to find some healing in that regard, I think the skillset is definitely still there,” Waller stated. Full podcast The McDaniel and Tagovailoa segments of the podcast appear early in the nearly hour-long show. The two also discuss addiction, mental health, and other challenges they both faced during their careers. You can check out the full podcast on Spotify, or watch it on YouTube: See More: Miami Dolphins News
Miami Dolphins set to interview Chris Shula
The Miami Dolphins will conduct a virtual interview with Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula on Friday. The move would make him the sixth candidate to interview with the team, though only former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has had an in-person interview. Under NFL rules, coaches under contract with a team may […] The Miami Dolphins will conduct a virtual interview with Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula on Friday. The move would make him the sixth candidate to interview with the team, though only former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has had an in-person interview. Under NFL rules, coaches under contract with a team may not visit new teams for in-person discussions until January 19 or until their team is out of the playoffs. The Los Angeles Rams play the Chicago Bears on Sunday in the divisional round, with the winner advancing to the NFC Championship game on January 25. Virtual interviews are allowed under the NFL’s rules, but the timing of each interview for playoff teams is regulated to allow the coach to focus first on the game to be played, then move to the interview. If a team advances to the Super Bowl, a coach who has completed a virtual interview can conduct an in-person meeting with a new team during the bye week before the championship game. According to the MMQB’s Albert Breer, Shula and several other Rams coaches are using today’s virtual interview window to meet with multiple teams. Shula has interviews with the Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, and Pittsburgh Steelers scheduled for Friday. First joining the Rams as an assistant linebackers coach in 2017, Shula has worked his way up to being named the team’s defensive coordinator in 2024. Prior to the Rams, he had a two-year stint with the San Diego Chargers as a defensive quality control coach following five years in the college ranks. He is the grandson of Dolphins legendary head coach Don Shula. The elder Shula is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is the all-time winningest coach in league history. He spent 26 years with Miami, winning two Super Bowls and was named to the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. Including his seven years as the Baltimore Colts head coach prior to joining Miami, Don won 347 games and was a four-time NFL Coach of the Year. If the Dolphins were to name Chris as their new head coach, there would be an immediate tie to the history of the franchise – but it could also bring with it a lot of pressure to have the same success. See More:
2026 Lions Mock Draft Roundup 2.0: OL remains top projection
The Detroit Lions’ offense is loaded with talented skill players, but their offensive line is the engine that makes everything run. That engine looks like it’s headed for a tune-up after an inconsistent performance in 2025 and two starters contemplating retirement. NFL Draft analysts are starting to embrace this concept, and you see the results […] The Detroit Lions’ offense is loaded with talented skill players, but their offensive line is the engine that makes everything run. That engine looks like it’s headed for a tune-up after an inconsistent performance in 2025 and two starters contemplating retirement. NFL Draft analysts are starting to embrace this concept, and you see the results in recent mock drafts. Of the 23 mock drafts we examined this week, 12 projected the Lions to take an offensive lineman in the first round. Fortunately for the Lions, this year’s offensive line prospects appear to line up well with their draft position; they currently hold the No. 17 pick. If you’re not familiar with how this mock draft roundup series operates, each week we collect data from the latest mock drafts published over the last seven days and compile them (with links to the original pieces) in one easy-to-access article. In addition to providing Lions fans with the names of prospects being paired with Detroit, we also offer commentary that highlights trends, player fits, and the team’s overall philosophy. With that in mind, let’s take a look at which NFL Draft prospects are being mocked to the Lions (who hold the No. 17 overall pick) this week. Offensive linemen Francis Mauigoa, RT, Miami (6-foot-6, 325) Source: Mex Chadwick (PFF), Nicholas Rome (Saturday Blitz), Paul Guillemette (Draft Countdown), Nicholas Rome (Saturday Blitz), Steve Bradshaw (TWSN) “The Lions would be wise to address their offensive line this offseason, especially with longtime left tackle Taylor Decker contemplating retirement. Detroit gets a potential steal here in Mauigoa. His 86.4 PFF pass-blocking grade is sixth among all FBS tackles this year, while his 78.4 PFF run-blocking grade is 20th. Mauigoa has played right tackle his entire career, but either he or Penei Sewell is capable of switching to the left side.” — Chadwick Spencer Fano, RT, Utah (6-foot-5, 300) Source: Justin Melo (The Draft Network) “Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker is weighing retirement this offseason. The offensive line must be prepared for his potential departure. The offense missed Ben Johnson in 2025. Spencer Fano is a fluid mover in space with short-area athleticism. In this scenario, Fano would transition to left tackle.” — Melo Ioane Vega, LG, Penn State (6-foot-4, 335) Source: Charles McDonald and Nate Davis (Yahoo Sports), Jacob Infante (Pro Football Network), Denny (Mock Draft Database) ”The Lions aren’t far from getting back to being NFC contenders, but they’ll need to get a bit more talented on their offensive line to have a more consistent offense to close out seasons and games. Ioane has the size and athleticism that head coach Dan Campbell has grown to covet in his offensive linemen and fits Detroit’s bruising style of play.” — McDonald Kadyn Procter, LT, Alabama (6-foot-7, 360) Source: Alec Elijah (Pro Football Network), Ayrton Ostly (USA Today) “Kadyn Proctor’s sheer size immediately alters the math for the Detroit Lions. Despite his massive build at 6-foot-7, Proctor’s lateral quickness stands out, covering ground efficiently on pulls and climbing to the second level with deceptive ease. “He displaces defensive linemen with alarming ease, creating vertical movement that opens lanes before backs even reach the line of scrimmage. Against top-tier competition, he’s shown the ability to cave in fronts and impose his will snap after snap. Power rushers simply struggle to move him, and when defenders try to convert speed to strength, they’re often met with immovable resistance.” — Elijah Caleb Lomu, LT, Utah (6-foot-6, 305) Source: Dane Brugler (The Athletic) “It shouldn’t surprise anyone if the Lions address their offensive line early, although I am intrigued by which prospect Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell would see as the best fit. “I have questions about Lomu’s play strength, which might be an issue for this team in particular, but his above-average athleticism and processing will be strong selling points.“ — Brugler Erik’s Thoughts: Of the 12 mock drafts connecting offensive linemen to the Lions, six settled on Mauigoa or Fano, the top two tackles on most draft boards right now. While both would be slam dunk picks, I do wonder if their stock will rise to a point where they’ll be out of the Lions’ reach. Vega could be a dominating presence inside for the Lions if they desire to shift Tate Ratledge to center, while Proctor and Lomu offer the Lions the opportunity to plan for Taylor Decker’s retirement—whether that’s this year or in the next few. Proctor has the size and play style that the Lions look for in their lineman but he’s still developing his skills, while Lomu is a polished pass rusher who needs to add more play strength. Both have details that need improving, but also have the upside to lock down a starter role for the next five seasons. While these five names are the most commonly projected in mock drafts, keep an eye out for others to start making their way into the conversation. Georgia left tackle Monroe Freeling and Northwestern left tackle Caleb Tiernan could start getting more love over the next two months. Defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, NT, Ohio State (6-foot-2, 326) Source: Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News), Terringo Basile-Vaughan (NFL Mocks) “The Lions need more punch on their defensive line to support Aidan Hutchinson. McDonald can be a powerful asset vs. the run and also provide some extra inside pass-rush juice.“ — Iyer Erik’s Thoughts: While Alim McNeill and last year’s first-round pick Tyleik Williams are in line for starting roles in 2026, the Lions’ desire to stop the run will always have mock drafters pairing them with defensive tackles. Peter Woods from Clemson is typically considered the best interior defensive line player
Former Lions quarterback wants to be team’s offensive coordinator
I debated whether to even write this article, but it’s Friday during the offseason. Let’s have a laugh. Former Detroit Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky went on the Pat McAfee Show this week to talk about the team’s offensive coordinator vacancy, among other topics, and the current ESPN analyst made his case to take the job […] I debated whether to even write this article, but it’s Friday during the offseason. Let’s have a laugh. Former Detroit Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky went on the Pat McAfee Show this week to talk about the team’s offensive coordinator vacancy, among other topics, and the current ESPN analyst made his case to take the job himself. “I would do it very much so in Detroit,” Orlovsky told McAfee. “I love that place, I love that organization, I love a lot of those people there. I love Jared (Goff). I’m a huge Jared guy.” The topic quickly devolved from there about whether Orlovsky was big and manly enough to join Dan Campbell’s staff because LOL, HE’S A MEATHEAD, but in a separate clip (where McAfee manages to take yet another jab at the Lions PR team over a three-year-old slight), he explained why the Lions’ job opening was so appealing. “Detroit’s loaded, loaded, loaded, loaded, loaded, loaded, (but) I want the interior of the offensive line to be better,” Orlovsky said. Let’s be honest, as much as Orlovsky has done to build out a nice post-playing career at ESPN by actually elevating the conversation about football while doing a great job explaining scheme and the Xs and Os of the game, he cannot be seriously considered a candidate to run the Lions’ offense. First of all, he has literally zero coaching experience. While I don’t doubt Orlovsky may have some good ideas on how to improve the Lions, he has never built out a game plan, led a room of professional athletes, called plays during a game, or put in the extreme hours it takes to be a football coach. Like anyone entering a new profession, you don’t know what you don’t know, and Orlovsky would be way out of his element head-manning a Lions offense that needs to be great right now. Secondly, what kind of message would that send to some more serious candidates already in the building? If you’re Scottie Montgomery, Hank Fraley, or Mark Brunell, how would you feel if Detroit handed the entire reins of the offense to someone who hasn’t coached a lick of football since retiring from his playing days in 2017? It’s a fun, quirky story, and I like Orlovsky. If he wanted to work his way up from assistant quarterbacks coach or as a quality control coach, I would be more than happy to entertain the idea of having him on the coaching staff. But throwing him as an offensive coordinator would be a ridiculously unnecessary risk and an insult to the position when there are plenty of legitimate candidates out there who have put in years of work within the coaching ranks. See More:
Howie Roseman, Nick Sirianni explain approach to Eagles offensive coordinator search
The Eagles have put a wrap on the 2025 NFL season, and as they look toward the future, GM Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni talked at their end-of-season press conference about the decision to make a change at offensive coordinator and what they’re looking for in candidates. Sirianni spoke about why they didn’t […] The Eagles have put a wrap on the 2025 NFL season, and as they look toward the future, GM Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni talked at their end-of-season press conference about the decision to make a change at offensive coordinator and what they’re looking for in candidates. Sirianni spoke about why they didn’t make a change at play-caller in the middle of the season, despite their struggles, and noted that they did some different things and he was more involved later in the year. He went on to explain why he ultimately did remove Patullo as OC after they were eliminated. “Sirianni: I think it’s important that we continue to evolve as an offense and that we go out and do what’s best for this football team. Again, everything that I do and every decision I have to make, I have to do that– just like Howie [Roseman] does, just like Mr. [Jeffrey] Lurie does– with the intent of it being the best thing for the football team. I love Kevin and everything that he has provided to this coaching staff for his five years here. A big reason why we’ve won a lot of football games, but at this particular point, I just felt like that’s what I needed to do [for it] to be the best thing for the football team.” The head coach went on to emphasize that they want to evolve as an offense, but said that they don’t want to pigeon-hole what that might look like. He noted that there are many different ways to be successful on offense and there are many different styles. “Sirianni: There’s a lot of different ways to do it. Again, it’s about going out and finding the guy that best fits us. [We’re] looking forward to that interview process and being able to go through some really good candidates.” As for how much Sirianni will be involved with the offense moving forward, the head coach said it’s too early to answer that. Those decisions don’t have to be made for a long time, and at the end of the day, as the head coach, he has oversight of everything. “Sirianni: Again, this year obviously I did, I got involved more on the offense as the end of the season came because that’s what I needed to do as the head football coach there. Many different ways to do it. I know that I want to be the head football coach and I think that that’s what the team needs. Everything I’m doing is not about what I want to do or anything like that. It’s what I think is best for the football team, and I think it’s best for the football team when I’m the head football coach and [am] able to give my expertise on whatever it may be: tackling, taking the ball away, protecting the football, anything on offense. It could be anything, special teams. You have to be so intertwined as the leader of an organization. You have to be so intertwined with every different thing.” When asked for specifics about what the Eagles will be looking for in a candidate, Sirianni mentioned someone having great vision and great conviction. He also mentioned that he wants someone who always considers the players first, and explained that the talent on their roster will attract good candidates. “Sirianni: I think also that you’ll be able to get a lot of good candidates because of the guys that have been here, and when we’ve had a lot of success, three of them have been head coaches off of our staff, which obviously I’m proud of them. [I’m] sure Howie’s proud of them as well. You want somebody that has great vision, great conviction on what they do, is able to coach fundamentals well, [is able] to help the players get better, because I believe in that. [Somebody] that can connect with guys because I believe in that, that has the mental toughness because I believe in that. But again, there’s a lot of good candidates and I’m looking forward to sitting down and talking to a lot of these guys. There are different things that make different guys special, and so it’s about finding the guy that best fits us, that gives us the best chance to get back to the top of the mountain where we ultimately want to go.” There’s been a lot of speculation as to whether the Eagles might look for an older, more established candidate who might not be looking for other opportunities in the coming years. Roseman, for his part, spoke about how they are focused on winning now, and having OC’s leaving for head coaching jobs is just a symbol of their success. “Roseman: It’s a great compliment when guys get head coaching jobs from here because it means we’re having tremendous success. As much as you’d like to have continuity and would like to have guys here for a long period of time, we want to win. We have an urgency to win right now. If that comes with the ramifications that we lose good people because they’ve earned head coaching jobs, we’ll live with that.” Another thing to consider when talking about a change at offensive coordinator is whether or not they will retain most, or any, of their current offensive staff. Sirianni said that it isn’t entirely clear at this point, and that they do have great coaches on staff that helped the team win a Super Bowl just 12 months ago, but those decisions will have to wait until they know who the best candidate is. “Sirianni: Sometimes
NY Giants position review 2025: Cornerback investments have not paid off
The New York Giants invested heavily in their secondary during the 2025 off-season. Their biggest investment was cornerback Paulson Adebo, who signed a three-year, $54 million contract with $38.5 million guaranteed. Adebo was the clear-cut number one cornerback heading into training camp, with Cor’Dale Flott and Tae Banks alternating as cornerback two, and Dru Phillips as the nickel defender. The rotation of Flott and Banks was a predictable failure, as the Giants used Banks in man coverage and Flott in zone coverage. Banks’ atrocious run defense and inconsistent effort forced him to the bench, while Flott seized the day and impressed in his contract year. Adebo, though, sprained his MCL and missed five games. Adebo returned for Weeks 15-18 and had arguably his best games of the season. 2025 review Paulson Adebo, Cor’Dale Flott, Dru Phillips, Tae Banks, Korie Black, Rico Payton, Nic Jones, Jarrick Bernard-Converse Adebo is not Patrick Surtain II, but he is a quality starting cornerback. Perhaps he’s best as a number two cornerback, but he can function as a number one. He recorded 71 tackles, 11 STOPs, with seven missed tackles (9% missed tackle rate). Adebo allowed a 66.2% catch rate (49 of 74); he surrendered 532 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while knocking away five passes and intercepting one. He committed three penalties. The Giants signed Adebo to be their cornerback one and to, hopefully, help the defense turn the football over. Adebo had several opportunities for interceptions, but only secured one. New York finished with nine total interceptions on the season, and Flott secured one of the nine. The 24-year-old was playing in a contract year, and he did not play in the final two games after suffering a minor knee injury. It’s wild to think the Giants contemplated starting Tae Banks over Flott after training camp. Flott was much more consistent than Banks, and the development from the former LSU Tiger was easily perceived early in camp. Still, possibly due to front-office pressure or the sunk-cost fallacy, the Giants tried to use Banks strictly on third down, when they almost always ran Cover-1 Hole. The offense knew the coverage and attacked accordingly, while using a hurry-up offense in the appropriate context to run the football at an apprehensive Banks, who was rightfully benched. Flott, though, played his best football by far in his contract season. Spotrac.com suggests that Flott’s market value is around $10 million, which could arguably be a discount for a player like Flott, who took a massive jump in 2025 in terms of coverage, footwork, reactive quickness, and overall competency. The Giants’ defense was terrible under Shane Bowen, but Flott was one of the bright spots. Flott is a willing tackler, but he lacks pop and physicality. He missed seven tackles (15.9% missed tackle rate). Still, the combination of Adebo and Flott is respectable. Banks, however, should not play defensive football. He can cover and is a phenomenal athlete, but he wants no part of run defense, and he is frequently out of position. Banks played 459 defensive snaps, and his inability to keep contain on the outside led to several explosive runs for the opposing offense. Banks also allowed an 81.3% catch rate (26 of 32) for 334 yards with four touchdowns surrendered and one pass defensed, while also committing seven penalties. Banks is a bust as a cornerback — there’s no escaping that fact — perhaps he can return value as a kick returner. Phillips was the Giants’ nickel defender, and he took a step back in his second season. He played 729 snaps for the Giants, and he was flagged ten times — tied for fourth most among cornerbacks. Like Banks, Phillips struggles to find the football when it’s airborne. He surrendered three touchdowns, but secured two picks and knocked eight balls away, while allowing a 74.4% catch rate (58 of 78). Despite his struggles in coverage, Phillips is one of the only Giants’ players, outside the line and EDGE room, who consistently bring violence to the point of contact. Phillips is a tone-setting hitter with a knack for making impactful plays around the line of scrimmage. He ranked third on the team with 32 STOPs, which gives the Giants flexibility with their use of nickel personnel. Phillips is a solid overall football player with the right mentality, but he must improve his hands/technique in coverage and do a better job locating the football in phase. Korie Black played 184 snaps across six games. He had an odd start to his career after he opted to join the New York Jets practice squad over the Giants, after he failed to make the final 53-man roster. Joe Schoen did not take it personally and brought Black back to the roster ahead of Week 8. He was picked on for three touchdowns and surrendered catches on 10 of 12 targets for 224 yards. Black did, however, bring desire and violence to the position, and he took over for Banks a few times when the former first-round pick inevitably blew a rushing assignment. Nic Jones was a valuable special teams asset, giving Michael Ghobrial 191 snaps. Rico Payton showed some skills against Dallas in Week 18 until he left the game with a concussion. Jarrick Bernard-Converse played just 18 defensive snaps for the Giants, but did contribute 42 snaps on special teams. Grade: B- 2026 outlook The Giants must sign Cor’Dale Flott, especially if his market value is around $10-million, as Spotrac suggests. This would put him in the Kristian Fulton (KC), Jourdan Lewis (JAX), and Michael Carter II (PHI) range. For reference, Adebo makes $18 million a year; $10 million for Flott would put him around the 30th-highest paid contract at the position, and a three-year deal will make Flott a free agent again when he is just 27 years old. Flott’s agent is Marlon Moore of AthElite Agency. Defensive back Jalen Pitre is represented by Moore, and Pitre signed a three-year, $39 million contract extension in
NY Giants free agency 2026: 5 Baltimore Ravens John Harbaugh might want
It is a gorgeous day in the world of the New York Giants, who have landed the belle of this coaching cycle by hiring veteran Super Bowl champion John Harbaugh as their next head coach. Accomplished offensive coordinator Todd Monken is expected to follow Harbaugh to New York, and presumably, other positional coaches may soon follow as well. The Ravens are set to have 19 unrestricted free agents; the list courtesy of Bobby Skinner: C Tyler Linderbaum FB Patrick Ricard OLB Kyle Van Noy TE Charlie Kolar TE Isaiah Likely S Alohi Gilman DE Dre’Mont Jones WR DeAndre Hopkins P Jordan Stout S Ar’Darius Washington WR Tylan Wallace OT Joseph Noteboom OLB David Ojabo CB Chidobe Awuzie DL Taven Bryan DL Brent Urban LB Jake Hummel QB Tyler Huntley RG Daniel Faalele The Giants could use several free agents in the list above, and some may be interested in following their former coach to the Big Apple. Here is a list of five names Joe Schoen and the Giants should try to sign in free agency: TE Isaiah Likely Likely would be an excellent addition to the Giants, and would make a nice 1A to Theo Johnson. Likely took a backseat role to Mark Andrews over his rookie contract. He still earned 487 total offensive snaps in 2025, due to Todd Monken’s penchant for 12 personnel — Baltimore ran it more than any other personnel package at a 37% rate. Likely caught 27 of 34 targets for 307 yards with just one touchdown, but he broke out last year in Monken’s explosive, No. 1-ranked 2024 offense. Likely caught 49 of 65 passes for 603 yards with seven touchdowns. Monken’s 12 personnel was dangerous, and Likely acted as a mismatch weapon for the offense. New York could use another tight end, especially if Daniel Bellinger or Chris Manhertz leaves the team. The 6-foot-4, 241-pound four-year veteran would give Jaxson Dart a potent 12 personnel passing attack with blocking upside. Spotrac.com lists Likely’s market value at $ 9 million per year. This would put Likely in the Hunter Henry ($9 million) and Dawson Knox ($9.83 million) range. TE Charlie Kolar Another tight end option that will be cheaper than Likely, who worked with Harbaugh and Monken. The 26-year-old caught 10 of 13 passes for 142 yards with a pair of touchdowns in 2025. He has secured 31 of 40 passes for 413 yards with four touchdowns in his career. At Iowa State, with Brock Purdy, Kolar was a seam threat who caught 63 of 95 targets for 764 yards with six touchdowns. He finished his four-year college career with 23 total touchdowns. There is more to Kolar’s receiving profile than we’ve seen in the NFL, due to him sharing a depth chart with Andrews and Likely. Kolar was a solid blocker in 2025, and he offered flexibility to the Ravens’ 13 personnel package. Kolar is a cheaper option, who could prove to be at a discount. FB Patrick Ricard What year is this!? I would LOVE for the Giants to sign a true fullback, especially a 300-pound tone-setter with incredible movement skills for a man of his size. Ricard is 31 years old, and he played 274 offensive snaps for Baltimore in 2025, giving Monken a lot of flexibility with his personnel. The Ravens aligned in 21 personnel 18% of the time, and Ricard provided a varied skill-set that diversified the rushing scheme for Baltimore. Seeing him reunite with Harbaugh and lead block for Cam Skattebo would be a ton of fun. G Daniel Faalele Faalele has had a turbulent NFL career after taking the combine by storm in 2022. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher, a teammate of John Michael Schmitz, is 6-foot-8, 380 pounds. He played more than 1,000 snaps for the Ravens at right guard over the past two years, allowing 63 total pressures and five sacks, while committing 11 penalties. It wasn’t the prettiest performance. Still, Faalele could be a depth option who could push for the right guard position depending on what the Giants do with Greg Van Roten. I support retaining Van Roten, who has played admirably over the last two years. Faalele, though, would offer a much bigger, more powerful player to back up an interior offensive line that thrives on technique and positioning. If he can be signed cheaply, I wouldn’t mind taking a swing at a player like Faalele for interior depth with some snaps at tackle on his resume as well. C Tyler Linderbaum The Giants spent the 57th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on John Michael Schmitz. That experiment hasn’t been a disaster, but has been slightly underwhelming. Schmitz is an average starter who showed some improvement in 2025 before missing the final two games with a hand injury. Schmitz allowed 14 pressures and a sack, with four penalties in 2025, which was by far his best season overall. Improving the offensive line, hopefully still under the guidance of coaches Carmen Bricillo and James Ferentz, should not be ignored. Still, I’m unsure if signing Linderbaum — who had his fifth-year option denied last spring — is the wisest investment. Linderbaum is an elite run blocker who graded out with the 19th highest run blocking grade of all offensive linemen who played at least 50% of their team’s snaps. Linderbaum is an upgrade over Schmitz, but he’ll command a market-setting contract that will likely top Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs, who makes $18 million a year. While excelling as an athletic run blocker with range, Linderbaum is a below-average pass blocker. He allowed 26 pressures and a pair of sacks in 2025 and has 15 penalties over the last two seasons. Linderbaum struggles to anchor against power-rushers, and he isn’t the player Humphrey is. It’s a large investment that would certainly upgrade the Giants’ current personnel, but New York would be overpaying for his talents. Schmitz is replaceable, but the perception of Linderbaum may be slightly overrated, for
NFL Playoffs Divisional Round: PrizePicks best prop bets
Utilizing the new PFF Player Prop Tool, here are two projections to target ahead of the NFL playoffs’ divisional round. Available exclusively to PFF+ subscribers in the PFF app, the PFF Player Prop Tool harnesses the power of predictive analytics and matchup data to help you make smarter, faster and more confident picks. Download the PFF app now — available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Each week, we will analyze some of the best player statistics on PrizePicks with the help of the new PFF Player Prop Tool. Betting insights, matchup data and historical hit rates are just a few of the things the tool offers. Here are two props that stand out ahead of the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. 🏈 Draft Season 2026 Prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft with PFF+ Your complete draft preparation toolkit Subscribe RB Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks: Over 43.5 rushing yards The Seahawks had one of the league’s true 50-50 backfield splits this season with Kenneth Walker III (497 snaps) and Zach Charbonnet (489 snaps). Seattle leaned on its running back duo heavily down the stretch, as the pair carried the ball a combined 66 times over the final two weeks of the regular season. Charbonnet’s 184 rushing yards over Weeks 17 and 18 trailed only Derrick Henry and Bijan Robison for the most in the league. He played a pivotal role in Seattle’s division-clinching victory at the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18, carrying the ball 17 times for 74 yards and forcing five missed tackles in the process. Injuries have decimated the 49ers’ defense, most notably to All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner and edge defender Nick Bosa. Tatum Bethune filled in and was defending the run at a high level (73.2 PFF run-defense grade) but was lost for the season in the Week 18 contest against Seattle. The team also lost 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams to a torn ACL in early November. As a team, the 49ers rank last in PFF run-defense grade (44.5), whereas Charbonnet’s 90.5 PFF rushing grade ranks second among 55 qualifying running backs this season. I would expect Seattle to lean heavily on its run game, giving Charbonnet plenty of opportunities to do damage on the ground with a trip to the NFC championship game on the line. Explore Top Player Props RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers: Over 50.5 receiving yards During the regular season, McCaffrey led all running backs in targets (121), receptions (102), receiving yards (924) and touchdowns (seven), and his 91.3 PFF receiving grade ranked first among 54 qualifying running backs. The five-time All-Pro is coming off another impressive showing through the air, catching six of eight targets for 66 yards and two touchdowns in the 49ers’ wild-card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Ricky Pearsall looking questionable at best while dealing with knee and ankle injuries, and tight end George Kittle lost for the season with an Achilles injury, McCaffrey could be relied on even more in the passing game in the divisional round against a Seattle defense that ranked 32nd in targets allowed to running backs in the regular season. In their two previous matchups this season, McCaffrey turned 17 targets into 15 receptions and 107 receiving yards. The 49ers made it a priority to get him more involvement as a receiver when Kittle missed time, as he averaged 68.6 receiving yards across the six games where the tight end sat out. The 49ers are the divisional round’s biggest underdog this weekend, as Seattle is currently favored by 7.5 points at home. There’s a strong chance that San Francisco will have to throw early and often to keep it close, and McCaffrey figures to be a main beneficiary of that game script.
What does the NY Giants John Harbaugh hiring mean for QB Jaxson Dart?
With the blockbuster news of John Harbaugh agreeing to become the New York Giants’ next head coach, the question becomes: How is he going to lift this team out of the doldrums of the past decade? The Giants have question marks on both sides of the ball. Who Harbaugh hires as defensive coordinator is an important question for a team whose defense, or absence thereof, was the primary reason they did not contend for a playoff berth in 2025. Still, offense pays the bills in today’s NFL. Harbaugh took over a Baltimore Ravens team in 2008 that had declined from their Super Bowl days under previous head coach Brian Billick, an era in which their defense dominated but the offense was subpar. Since Harbaugh became head coach, the Ravens have drafted two quarterbacks in the first round: Joe Flacco with the No. 18 pick in 2008, and Lamar Jackson with the No. 32 pick (after a trade-up from Round 2) in 2018. Flacco was (and still is) a conventional dropback passer and was not considered an elite quarterback, but he pretty consistently passed for more than 3,000 yards per season, and once over 4000 yards, in the first half of his career. He was good enough to lead the Ravens to a Super Bowl title in 2012. Jackson is the more interesting case. He was considered a boom-or-bust prospect, with accuracy issues and a slight frame that worried GMs because his running was a big part of his game. Indeed, when he took over as starter late in the 2018 season when Flacco was injured, he completed only 58% of his passes, and while his running sparked the Ravens’ drive to the playoffs, they were one and done because Jackson couldn’t win through the air. Starting in 2019, though, Jackson’s game took off. He has consistently been well over 60% in completion percentage, has twice led the league in ESPN’s QB rating metric, and won two MVP awards. The contrast between his 2018 and 2019 seasons is stark: Courtesy of rbsdm.com Jackson, along with three other rookies, Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, and Josh Rosen, were among the NFL’s worst QBs in 2018, completing significantly fewer passes than expected and effectively contributing nothing to their offenses in expected points. One year later, here was the same figure: Courtesy of rbsdm.com In one season, Jackson became an elite NFL quarterback, right up there with Patrick Mahomes. He has gone through a succession of offensive coordinators but remained a top-tier QB throughout. From 2019-2022 his OC was Greg Roman, who has been criticized for being too run-dependent and who was recently relieved of his Los Angeles Chargers OC duties after their disastrous performance in the Wild Card game against New England. Since 2023, the Ravens’ OC has been Todd Monken, whose offensive philosophy is more pass-oriented. There is a perception that Monken has done a better job, but it’s difficult to see evidence of that in Jackson’s stats: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus Yes, Jackson’s 2023 and 2024 were his best seasons to date and that was in Monken’s offense, but his 2019 with Roman was just as good. Notably, rushing as a significant part of Jackson’s game has not diminished as his career has progressed: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus The most recent of Jackson’s three 1,000 rushing seasons came just last year. No more than about a third of his rushing attempts in any season were scrambles, i.e., the Ravens under Harbaugh but under multiple OCs have continued to use Jackson predominantly on designed rushes. Jackson has lost time to injury in multiple seasons – but never because of a concussion: Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports All of that suggests that the almost fanatical obsession in the media, and perhaps in the Giants’ hierarchy, over Dart’s running and concussion risk in 2025 may not be shared by Harbaugh going forward. Dart is as tall as Jackson and 10 pounds heavier (225 vs. 215 pounds), so expect rushing to remain an important part of Dart’s game. As for the passing side of things, that depends on who the offensive coordinator is. The rumors are that Harbaugh wants to bring Monken to the Giants with him. Monken has interviewed for the Cleveland head coach opening, so time will tell. Let’s assume for the moment, though, that Monken is the Giants’ offensive coordinator next season. It’s instructive to compare the Ravens’ 2025 offensive tendencies to those that Dart experienced in his rookie year as a Giant: Some of the salient points from this chart are: The Giants lined up under center only 28% of the time vs. the Ravens’ 42%. Both teams were among the leaders in lining up in pistol, which aids the running game. The Giants only used motion on 44% of plays vs. the Ravens’ 62%, while both teams used play action 36% of the time. Motion by itself doesn’t tell us everything – pre-snap motion is more effective in forcing defenses to reveal their intentions, i.e., man vs. zone. Here’s a mid-season diagram of pre-snap shifts/motion vs.play action use by all teams: The Giants at this point were dead last in usage of pre-snap motion, while the Ravens were middle of the pack. Perhaps that was due to Dart’s inexperience, but whether Monken is the OC or someone else, we might expect to see more pre-snap motion next season. The Ravens were last in the NFL in usage of 11 personnel, while the Giants were middle of the pack. Ben McAdoo won’t want to hear it, but 11 is losing ground in NFL offenses and heavy sets are becoming more common. Both teams were middle of the pack, maybe a bit higher, in 12 personnel usage, which is the most versatile configuration an offense can run. Where the Ravens stood out is in their usage of 2-RB sets, which together accounted for 30% of their offensive snaps. Only the 49ers and Dolphins were in that same ballpark. If the Giants
