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.
What’s next for Storm Duck?
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.
Silver Minings: Brock Bowers makes Pro Football Focus’ Top 101 players
Brock Bowers | Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images Bowers was the No. 2 tight end on the list Pro Football Focus released its Top 101 players of the 2024 season this week and the Las Vegas Raiders had one player make the cut, rookie tight end Brock Bowers, which should come as no surprise. Bowers was listed 40th overall as he put together a historic season using the site’s metrics. “Bowers’ first year in the NFL was one for the record books,” Mason Cameron, Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick wrote. “His 88.4 PFF receiving grade is the highest ever recorded by a first-year tight end in the PFF era (since 2006), highlighted with record-breaking marks in receptions (112), yards after catch (596), first-down receptions (61) and contested catches (16). The latter also ranks among the top eight all-time at the position, placing him alongside the likes of Travis Kelce (2018) and Jimmy Graham (2017).” The Offensive Rookie of the Year runner-up was ahead of tight ends Trey McBride (42) of the Arizona Cardinals and the Baltimore Ravens’ Mark Andrews (75) but was the second-ranked player at the position behind George Kittle (13) from the San Francisco 49ers. PFF had Kittle graded higher as both a receiver (92.4) and run-blocker (70.8) as those figures led and ranked second among tight ends this year. In Other Raiders’ Links: Malaki Starks film breakdown: see what the former Georgia safety and 2025 NFL Draft prospect could bring to Las Vegas. Malcolm Koonce free agency preview: “There’s a high likelihood Crosby and the Raiders aren’t the only team to notice the work ethic and progression Koonce has made since being picked in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft,” Silver and Black Pride’s Ray Aspuria wrote. “Koonce is set to have no shortage of suitors and he’d be wise to see what the market dictates his value at while listening to any overtures the Raiders make for his return.” Raiders listed as “best fit” for Sam Darnold: “The former No. 3 overall pick has certainly restored his image since a tumultuous five-year start with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, parlaying a year of tutelage with the San Francisco 49ers into a full-blown breakout with the Vikings,” CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin wrote. “His poised and aggressive 35-touchdown showcase under Kevin O’Connell ultimately ended with a whimper, however, as he folded under pressure in Minnesota’s last — and most important — two games.” Las Vegas trades up for Shedeur Sanders in mock draft: “They have an extra third-round pick as a result of the Davante Adams trade, so they didn’t hesitate to ship one out to land their guy: Sanders,” The Athletic’s Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed wrote. “Sanders has a strong relationship (and had an NIL deal in college) with minority owner Tom Brady, has already met owner Mark Davis and should be comfortable in offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s system, which blends NFL and college concepts.”
Dolphins’ Chris Grier is one of three general managers not scheduled to speak at Scouting Combine
Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images General managers for the Bears, Cowboys, and Dolphins aren’t expected to meet with the press. 329 NFL Draft prospects step into the spotlight next week at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. With representatives from every franchise headed to Indianapolis in preparation for the draft, the week-long event also serves as a chance to kick-start trade discussions and hear from teams one final time before free agency begins next month. GM & HC podium schedule for Indianapolis. pic.twitter.com/wrViqnU7QD — Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) February 21, 2025 Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel will speak with the media at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. However, Chris Grier is one of three general managers currently unscheduled to speak in Indianapolis, joining Ryan Poles (Chicago Bears) and Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys). Grier hasn’t spoken publicly since the team’s end-of-season press conference on Jan. 7. “We had expectations created by the excitement of the last couple years and we had hoped to continue it and for various circumstances, didn’t happen this year and it was unacceptable,” Grier said. “No one is happy and we will get this fixed.” General managers aren’t going up to the podium at the combine to spill draft strategy or free agency plans, and schedules can always change. That said, it would be interesting to see if Grier’s perspective has changed with time to reflect on a disappointing 2024 campaign.
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NFL Combine preview: 10 interior DL the Lions should watch
Photo by Andy Altenburger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Identifying which interior defensive linemen the Detroit Lions should be keeping an eye on during the 2025 NFL Combine. Our 2025 NFL Combine preview series continues along as we approach the big event, which is scheduled to be televised from Thursday, February 27 through Sunday, March 2. So far, we have already previewed which quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive tackles, and interior offensive linemen the Detroit Lions should be scouting. In this article, we flip to the other side of the ball and start by examining the interior defensive line prospects that should be on the radar of general manager Brad Holmes. Of note: Defensive linemen will kick off the on-field drills on NFL Network on Thursday, February 27. Team need While it’s still a bit unclear if new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard will alter the Lions’ defensive front, what we do know is that he will continue to prioritize stopping the run while earning the right to rush the passer. “Everything you do on defense starts with the front,” Sheppard said in a recent interview with Fox News Dan Miller. “Just look at the final guys in the championship game. It’s not like I’m telling some secret. Everything you do on defense starts with the front. It starts in the trenches, in both the run and the pass game.” While the Lions return both starters, Alim McNeill is coming off an ACL injury and DJ Reader is in the final year of his contract. There are developing youth on the roster—Mekhi Wingo, Brodric Martin, and Chris Smith—but they all contributed less than Levi Onwuzurike, Pat O’Connor, and Kyle Peko who are all unrestricted free agents. This figures to be a position group that addressed their holes in multiple ways, including potentially adding via free agency and the draft, or even double dipping for depth. What skills to watch for during on-field drills When watching the interior defensive line players run through drills, the top things to watch for are balance through the hips, hand placement (especially evident with bag work), and if they play with their head up/eyes on target. Additionally, keep an eye on players’ feet. Do they keep their weight over them? Are they quick? How is their lateral movement? Do they shuffle or cross-step? This draft class is loaded with defensive line talent as a whopping 41 defensive tackles were invited to the Combine. Michigan’s Mason Graham figures to go off the board very early in the first round, but there are a few more prospects who could be great value for the Lions at the end of Day 1. First round consideration Walter Nolen, 3/5T, Mississippi (6-foot-3, 293 pounds) was the No. 1 overall high school player in 2022, but he didn’t come into his own until his Junior season after he transferred from Texas A&M to Ole Miss. This past season he rounded out his game, and while he’s still developing, the traits he possesses should get him drafted in the first round. While he’ll get most of his attention for his athleticism, first-step quickness, and ability to explode through gaps, his run defense may actually be the best part of his game right now. Nolan is an incredibly strong tackler, has fantastic range to run down any ball carrier, and has elite recoverability when he gets beat. His hands are active and quick, but he’ll need better counters and second pass rush moves to level up in the NFL. Fortunately, he looks like a player willing to put forth the effort to improve. Kenneth Grant, NT, Michigan, (6-foot-3 1⁄2, 342) is a dominant run stuffer, who acts as a massive anchor in the middle of the defensive line. He has light feet, displays nimble footwork, and ever-improving hand usage. His pass-rushing chops are underrated and highly effective, but they could be more consistent, as he has the potential to dominate every snap, but doesn’t always stay low in his pads. Derrick Harmon, 3T, Oregon (6-foot-5, 310) is from Detroit and initially attended Michigan State before transferring to Oregon. In East Lansing, Harmon was mainly a high-level run stuffer, but he dropped some weight when he moved to Eugene and worked on his interior disruption. He has a great first step, quick feet, and fast hands, but still shows off his power when bull rushing. With a strong level of football intelligence and a consistently high motor, he’s a complete 3-technique ready to challenge for a starting role. One trick DL… but it’s an elite trick Tyleik Williams, NT, Ohio State (6-foot-2, 322) is one of the best run-stuffing defensive linemen in this class but he’s not going to give you much as a pass rusher. Still, offenses need to run away from his gap because his anchor will ruin plays at the line of scrimmage. He’s NFL-ready due to his strength and run-stopping skills, but the lack of pass rush will likely negatively impact his overall stock. TJ Sanders, 3T, South Carolina (6-foot-4, 284) is a 1-gapping penetrator who uses his edge experience to create pressure up the middle. His power bull rush is often accompanied by a variety of secondary pass rush moves and counters. He does a nice job of staying locked onto the ball, and can often make plays that appear out of his range. He has several skills that point to him potentially expanding to the 5-technique as well, but he’ll need to improve his edge setting. Omarr Norman-Lott, 3T, Tennessee (6-foot-2, 295) doesn’t get the hype Sanders does, but he wins in a lot of the same ways. The Volunteers rotate their defensive linemen frequently which took Norman-Lott off the field more than it should have, and as a result, the production numbers are lower than anticipated. His experience versus the run is minimal due to the rotation, and it’s difficult to know how effective he really is in this area. However, if you look at
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