/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74103738/2184112616.0.jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,1267&ssl=1 "Eagles 53-man roster prediction as OTAs begin")
Standing 6-foot-5 with 4.30-flat speed, wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. is a throwback to the prototypical player the Raiders would’ve drafted based soley on size and speed. | Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images Rookie wide receiver has the size and speed offensive coordinator Chip Kelly must take advantage of How does a wide receiver prospect who stands nearly 6-foot-5 and runs a 4.3-flat 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine not get taken until the fourth-round of the 2025 NFL Draft? When said prospect is viewed as a one-trick pony. Despite measuring in at 6-foot-4 5/8 inches (nearly 6-foot-5) and 205 pounds and running a blazing 40, Tennessee wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. didn’t hear his name called until Day 3 of the draft. But he went to a team where a prospect of his nature would’ve been a much higher selection in eras past: The Las Vegas Raiders. By The Numbers: Don’te Thorton Jr., Wide Receiver, Tennessee 2024: 13 games, 26 receptions, 661 yards (25.4 yards per catch average), 6 touchdowns Career (2021-24): 47 total games (25 at Oregon, 22 at Tennessee), 65 receptions, 1,426 yards (21.9 yards per catch average, 10 touchdowns; 2 carries, 6 yards, 0 touchdowns #Raiders got maybe the most explosive outside WR in the entire draft in Dont’e Thornton. Standout at @ShrineBowl. And at the NFL combine, at 6’5, 205 he ran a 4.30 forty time List of WRs who were 6’4 or taller and ran a 4.35 or faster at the Combine:✅Calvin Johnson✅DK… pic.twitter.com/OC0OgantFz — Eric Galko (@EricGalko) April 26, 2025 At his size and speed, Thornton is a prototypical throwback to a point in history where those two attributes were the primary job requirements to sport Silver & Black. So much so that current Raiders owner Mark Davis quipped the selection was the “Al Davis” pick. “Yeah, Mark joked that was the Al Davis pick of this draft, the height, weight, speed, raw traits, athleticism, speed, and I think it’s just focusing on what he can do and what he can be,” Las Vegas general manager John Spytek said of Thornton during a post draft press conference. “I mean, he’s a 4.3, low 4.3 guy. He’s 6’4”-plus 200-something pounds, big-time five-star recruit, goes to Oregon, then goes to Tennessee. You watch his target tape, I think it’s pretty impressive. And we think he hasn’t hit his ceiling yet. We think he can still refine and improve under our coaches, but he definitely has physical traits that are outstanding.” While Thornton is viewed as single-skilled specialist coming out of Tennessee, that singular trick is one hell of a bang. He averaged a nation-leading 25.4 yards per catch in his final season for the Volunteers hauling in 26 passes for 661 yards and six touchdowns. It was a low-volume but electrifying senior season at Tennessee. It’s Thornton’s “scare you death” jets that offensive coordinator Chip Kelly must take advantage of — in any shape or way possible. Go-Go Gadget Speed Whether it was your standard fly/go routes or deep posts, Thornton’s instant acceleration and breakaway speed were ever present this past season. The 2024 campaign was a season of career-high marks as Thornton was targeted 34 times with his production all being his collegiate career best. Thornton spent his first two years as an Oregon Duck before transferring and becoming a Tennessee Volunteer from 2023-24. As a field stretcher who tests a defense’s athletic ability and discipline, Thornton is the type of receiving option the Raiders sorely missed. He’s a unique blend of freakish physical profile and athleticism that many defensive backs can’t run with. Whether it’s sending him deep, using him on jet sweeps/end arounds, screens or even handing him the rock similar to how speedster Cordarrelle Patterson is used, Las Vegas should get the ball in Thornton’s hands as much as possible to see what he can do. The Raiders add a high-upside vertical threat on Day 3. Dont’e Thornton Jr.’s 97.9 percentile IGA Score® reflects the kind of In-Game Athleticism™ that shows up on tape — verified 21.0 mph speed with dynamic stride length. IGA Score®: 97.9 (97th percentile) Explosive field… https://t.co/sjWVBDWSfJ pic.twitter.com/KlBi20DWgj — Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) April 26, 2025 Las Vegas lacked legitimate speed at the wide receiver position with third-year wideout Tre Tucker being the lone burner in the group last season who got consistent play. Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll addressed this by selecting Thornton with the 108th overall pick and also bringing Montana State’s Tommy Mellott with the 213th overall pick in the sixth round. Mellott, a collegiate quarterback converting to wide receiver, is a lot smaller than his draft classmate at 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, but clocked in a 4.39 40-yard dash time at Montana State’s pro day. Route Refinement A really tall James Jett is Thorton’s profile as he enters the NFL. This is due to the wideout’s lack of a true route tree. He’s a tall receiver and it’s that high-cut nature which pigeon holes his offensive impact. Yes, Kelly and the Raiders should without a doubt test defenses by sending Thornton on the routes he runs well: Fly/Go, deep corners and posts. But to make Thornton less predictable and more of a complete package, he’ll need to spend time refining his route-running ability with wide receiver’s coach Chris Betty to truly become a versatile option and not a one-trick pony in Kelly’s offense. The instant acceleration is present on routes where Thornton can use his long legs to stride, but if he is able to develop short-area quickness and get in and out of breaks with little wasted movement, a 6-foot-5 target on slants, comebacks, curls, digs, and out routes is an enticing option for starting quarterback Geno Smith. Temper Year 1 expectations for Thornton as he’s got plenty to prove in terms of the route tree and beating NFL-caliber press coverage. But if the defense makes a mistake, it’ll be quite costly. #RaiderNation is going to love WR Dont’e Thornton
Raiders 2025: Dont’e Thornton Jr. a prototypical throwback
J.J. McCarthy Receives Solid QB Ranking from Pro Football Focus
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images All things considered, that is There are a lot of questions surrounding Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy as he prepares to take the helm in 2025 after missing his entire rookie season. While one might expect McCarthy not to rank too highly among the 32 starting quarterbacks around the NFL, one outlet has him in a place that, all things considered, is a bit of a surprise. Pro Football Focus has racked and stacked the NFL’s starting quarterbacks and has placed young McCarthy at #21 out of 32. While that may not sound like a terribly impressive ranking, it’s not bad for a guy who has yet to take a meaningful snap at the pro level and pretty good compared to his contemporaries from the Class of 2024. McCarthy’s ranking puts him ahead of several of the quarterbacks who started games in their rookie season in 2024, including Drake Maye (#22), Michael Penix Jr. (#23), and Caleb Williams (#24). He’s behind Jayden Daniels (#6) and Bo Nix (#19) but, again, given that McCarthy only has one preseason game’s worth of experience at the NFL level, a ranking like this certainly makes it look like he’s pretty highly thought of. Here’s PFF’s commentary on McCarthy’s ranking: I’m leaning on my personal evaluation here, as I had McCarthy as the top quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft. We didn’t get to see him as a rookie, but his 2023 season at Michigan — where he earned a 92.2 PFF grade and a 93.4 passing grade — highlighted everything you want in a young passer. If he’s fully healthy in 2025, and considering what Sam Darnold managed in this offense, McCarthy is set up to succeed. This is sort of what we’ve been saying all along. The Vikings already had one of the best collections of skill position players in the league, particularly with T.J. Hockenson finally getting back to full health, and they made a real commitment to upgrading the offensive line this offseason through both free agency and the Draft. If McCarthy doesn’t succeed in this offense, it certainly won’t be because the Vikings didn’t do everything possible to give him advantages. It’s hard to argue that McCarthy should be much higher than PFF currently has him ranked, to be honest. But, given the circumstances, having him ranked in the upper 20s of a list like this is a pleasant surprise.
Your take on the medias take of your Miami Dolphins
David Santiago/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images The Miami Dolphins fan base has much to complain about, some legitimate and some not so much, depending on who you ask. Over the years, one of the more common complaints has been that the team is not respected by the media, especially by the national press. With that in mind, I asked the following question: Do you believe that the media constantly disrespects this item, or is at least doing so right now? If so, do you think the team deserves more respect than they are currently receiving, and why? If you believe that the team is disrespected, what are the underlying reasons beyond the fact that they failed to make the playoffs? Do you believe there is possibly a bias against the city of Miami as a whole when it comes to its sports teams? Below are some of your thoughts and answers- Spok507 believes a lot of the issues stem from ignorance. I don’t think it’s so much disrespect and lack of information. It just seems like a lot of these media outlets are guessing as to what the Fins need or have instead of simply doing a little research and finding out. I mean, leading up to the draft, the media and ‘experts’ constantly pick players that the team just doesn’t need. It’s like they’re just assigning someone because they have to instead of actually making an informed choice. It seems to happen every year and just makes me scratch my head in confusion. It seems unless the analyst is a dedicated Dolphin fan, they just don’t put the work in to make an informed report. Do I think we should be ranked at the bottom? No. We have too many weapons on offense that — if they click — should allow us to score enough to win a lot of games. Our defense at this point is suspect, and that could be a factor as to why we’re being held to a lower standard, but in my opinion, this team is more of a question mark than an actual bad team on paper. While we shouldn’t be considered one of the top tier teams right now, we definitely shouldn’t be considered one of the bottom either. Until we see if things change and click, there’s really no way to determine what kind of a team they will be. So ranking the Dolphins somewhere in the middle makes perfect sense. 21Dave asks why? Why should they respect us? What have we done to change the narrative? 2 years ago they said our name with more respect for the first part of the season, then we became the same old Dolphins backed into a Wildcard and and then went home . We showed them we are the same team we have been for years… avg!! We need to go out and earn the respect and beat some good teams and beat them well. sdphinsfan believes that some of it, rightfully, comes from playing like crap on primetime and against the better teams of the NFL. When you show up in prime time and lay and egg…you get disrespected. When you consistently get waxed when you play good to great teams, you get disrespected. To those who think we’re disrespected, that’s something you’re just going to have to deal with. You get what you earn and we’ve earned exactly what we have. Personally, I don’t have alot of respect for the media. I mean, these guys think MM is a genius so forgive me if I don’t put alot of stock in what they say or who they disrespect. MIAMI235 says if you win, it shuts them up! Play winning football, especially WIN the ones you are supposed to win. Silences the doubt. DX@TX says if you want it, then go out and earn it! Respect is earned and the Dolphins have not earned it! They make bad choices over and over and don’t have the intellect to learn from past mistakes. No accountability on this team; just “we’ll get better”. I’m thinking 7 wins if Tua plays a full season. Jptapt agrees with DX@TX. You have to earn respect. SabanpickedCulpepper believes that the Colts will go out and win one for their recently deceased owner. Irsay passing means Colts win opening game at home. Guaranteed Dolphster believes what others have said and points out correctly that the media did, at times over the last few years, believe that they were better than they played. As many others have stated, respect is earned and the Fins have not done much to earn the respect of the national media. The 70’s Dolphins were respected nationwide because they won, Shula was the definition of discipline and consistency, the team seemingly handled their business in a professional manner (at least from what the fans saw), and the team was always among the least penalized teams in the NFL. I think all of those things combined created a lot of respect for the team. Today’s Dolphins don’t really seem to do any of those things, so in my opinion, they haven’t really done much to earn respect. Oh, additionally, for the last few seasons, the national media seemed to think the Fins were a playoff caliber team and then the team underperformed. Underperforming teams rarely are respected. Phinsox can’t take this team seriously until they can take down what is considered one of the better teams in the NFL. I’m a life long fan but I am not taking the Dolphins seriously until they show that they can beat a good team and compete with the best on a consistent basis. I can’t blame the media or other NFL fans for dismissing the Dolphins chances for success. There is a legitimate case to be made that NE and NYJ have surpassed them. NYJ might be questionable but Vrabel is a difference maker for NE. I’m afraid they will beat the Dolphins at least
5 questions and answers about Azeez Ojulari
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images Giants perspective on Philadelphia’s offseason edge rusher addition. The Philadelphia Eagles signed one free agent this offseason who qualified for a contract that counts against their compensatory pick formula: Azeez Ojulari. In other words, he’s their biggest veteran free agent investment. Let’s learn more about the 24-year-old edge rusher by getting a New York Giants perspective on him. Here’s what Ed Valentine of Big Blue View had to say about Ojulari through answers to my questions. 1 – Can you recap his time with the Giants? Had a really promising rookie season with 8.0 sacks, though his supporting numbers — like pressure rate and win percentage weren’t fantastic. Only played in 29 of 51 regular season games his last three seasons as injuries were a constant problem. Productive pass rusher who just hasn’t been able to stay on the field. 2 – Why was he available for so cheap and are you annoyed that the Giants didn’t retain him for a low cost? Injuries. The Giants have waited … and waited … and waited for him to be healthy. I think they could have easily matched/exceeded one year, $4 million but have gotten tired of being teased. 3 – What are his strengths? Simply put, he’s a good pass rusher when he can stay healthy. 4 – What are his weaknesses? Health, as you might expect. It’s been one soft-tissue or lower body injury after another for Ojulari. Plus, he’s really a one-trick pony. He is a pass rusher. He is not a good run defender. 5 – Anything to know about him off the field? Arizona Cardinals OLB B.J.Ojulari is his younger brother. BLG’s take: I agree with BGN’s Jonny Page that the Ojulari signing was a no-brainer addition. It’s a low-risk signing that comes with good upside. That he was available for so cheap does raise some “buyer beware” red flags. And after watching some of his film from last year at a Fran Duffy PHLY film review event, I wasn’t overly impressed. But the Eagles needed help at edge rusher and I think Ojulari can ideally be a top three player at that position for them, assuming he’s able to put the injury bug behind him. The expectation here is that he’ll be more solid than a total revelation for the defense.
Joe Burrow says Jermaine Burton ‘has matured’
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images “He’s been working hard, which is exciting to see.” There were a lot of things that went wrong for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024. The defense was a shadow of its former self. There were sporadic issues on special teams and missed opportunities early in the season on offense. Rookie wide receiver Jermaine Burton’s struggle kind of got lost in the storm unless you were paying close attention. He struggled on the field and had several issues off the field. When he fell to the Bengals in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft with well-known character concerns, the hope was veterans Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins could help mold the young wide receiver. Unfortunately, at least in 2024, nothing seemed to take. However, quarterback Joe Burrow recently heaped praise upon Burton, saying the young receiver entering his second year in the league has matured. “I think he’s stepped up this year so far, has taken it very seriously, and has matured, it seems like,” Burrow told reporters during a recent OTA session. “That’s exciting to see. Based on the conversations we’ve had, he’s in a good spot mentally and physically. “And he’s been working hard, which is exciting to see.” The Bengals locked up Chase and Higgins for the next few years this offseason, but there’s still room for a WR3 to emerge. Andrei Iosivas has been the most productive receiver on the roster not named Higgins or Chase, but he doesn’t have a stranglehold on the WR3 spot. Though the position is far from one of need on the Bengals’ roster, having another capable and talented wide receiver on the roster, especially on a rookie salary, can do nothing but help. Hopefully, what Burrow has seen so far this summer continues on into the regular season and beyond.
News: Cole becomes highest-paid punter with contract extension
AJ Cole | Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images Three-time Pro Bowler gets a raise heading into the season The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed to a contract extension with AJ Cole, making him the highest-paid punter in the NFL. According to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, Cole’s new contract is for four years and $15 million, with $11 million guaranteed. raider nation for life !!!!! https://t.co/13tTDLsntl — AJ Cole (@AJCole90) May 26, 2025 According to Over The Cap, Michael Dickson of the Seattle Seahawks was previously the league’s highest-paid punter at four years, about $14.7 million. Cole was entering the final year of a four-year, $12 million deal that he signed in 2021. So, the extension keeps him in the Silver and Black for the foreseeable future. He’s already spent six seasons in Las Vegas, earning three consecutive Pro Bowl bids from 2021 to 2023 and has been a first-team All-Pro twice, in ‘21 and ‘23. Last season, Cole ranked third with 50.8 yards per punt, fifth with a net average of 43.8 yards and had 27 of his 67 punts land inside the 20-yard line. He also serves as the team’s holder on field goal and PAT attempts. By extending Cole, the Raiders have locked down one of the most consistent players on the roster and don’t have to worry about adding anyone at the position the coaching staff hopes never sees the field; punter.
The Linc – The NFL keeps coming for the Eagles
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 5/26/25. Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links … NFL commish Roger Goodell questions ‘integrity’ of current salary cap system – Acme Packing CompanyThe recent success of the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that spent $115 million more in cash than the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024 and is set to be a top-seven cash spender in the NFL again in 2025, almost certainly is an issue for some ownership groups. The Eagles’ mantra has been to extend players early on their rookie contracts, sometimes immediately after their third year in the league is over, and to consistently convert their salaries into signing bonuses to spread the cap payments over several years, by which point cap dollars will be more diluted. The timing of their contracts all escalate up to the 2029 season, which is when the NFL is expected to opt out of their current broadcast deals and sign a massive new set of contracts with streaming services. In the world the Eagles are operating in, it’s a legitimate strategy to be hyper-aggressive at the start of new broadcast contracts and then slowly make cap payments on those teams as you reach the end of the deal. That only works if owners are willing to pay that kind of big cash immediately, though, which we’ve seen teams like the Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals balk at over the last decade. The game is different when people are playing the game. The idea of the “hard cap” made sense up until Covid, but now teams are well aware of how salary conversions and void years can be used to manipulate the current cap system. If I were to guess as to what Goodell was referring to, the “integrity” question that league members are asking themselves is whether how the NFL treats the accounting of signing bonus and/or roster bonus dollars on the cap should be changed under the next collective bargaining agreement. Funnily enough, the biggest benefactor of this might be the Eagles, the team that has taken advantage of this strategy more than anyone. A change to the cap system will mean that teams will no longer be able to do what Philadelphia executed, all the way to a Super Bowl. Changes the NFL Could Consider with the Salary Cap and CBA – Over The Cap think when you look at loopholes in the cap there are also other things besides the void years that some may think are not in the spirit of the cap. The modification of contracts to allow for a post June 1 designation is something I could see the league considering removing. There are a few teams that have done this, with the Eagles being the first I can recall, and they have gotten around the NFL’s original rule prohibiting the renegotiation after the end of the regular season by reworking a deal the last week of the year. In general the June 1 designations could be a discussion point. Massive bogus void year salaries have allowed teams to get around rules surrounding renegotiations while also escaping certain salary cap treatments. Certain teams are tanking or finding ways to carry over massive amounts of cap room to increase the ability to spend the following year. Per game bonuses hidden as NLTBE incentives. Even insurance premiums could be a point of discussion. I think it is clear that as the NFL approaches their next CBA they have already identified areas that they may want to discuss tweaking to try to bring things back to how the NFL functioned and spent from 2011 to 2018. Some teams would certainly be strongly against these changes but many I think would support changing things if it means finding ways to reduce player compensation and bring costs down more in line to what the NFL owners felt was fair about a decade ago. 5 questions and answers about Azeez Ojulari – BGNThe Philadelphia Eagles signed one free agent this offseason who qualified for a contract that counts against their compensatory pick formula: Azeez Ojulari. In other words, he’s their biggest veteran free agent investment. Let’s learn more about the 24-year-old edge rusher by getting a New York Giants perspective on him. Here’s what Ed Valentine of Big Blue View had to say about Ojulari through answers to my questions. Eagles rally around Sirianni as coach signs extension – ESPNEagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown said he didn’t know how long Nick Sirianni’s new multiyear contract ran, but that didn’t stop him from synching his future with that of his head coach. “[Last week] I told him congrats, and I told him I’m done when he’s done,” Brown said. Player after player who took to the podium on Tuesday welcomed the news of Sirianni’s extension, a group that included Brown, quarterback Jalen Hurts and left tackle Jordan Mailata. That makes plenty of sense. Philadelphia is coming off a Super Bowl-winning campaign. Sirianni is 54-23 with the Eagles, including the postseason. His .701 win percentage is the fifth best by any coach in NFL history (minimum 75 games), per ESPN Research. He is the first head coach to earn four playoff appearances, two conference championships and a Super Bowl title in his first four seasons. But it’s been a more turbulent ride than the final results suggest. Love to Hate – Iggles BlitzI jokingly asked a couple of co-workers how excited they were by the news that the tush push wasn’t banned. Both of them responded they were actually disappointed. They also told me they had developed a hatred for the Eagles. This caught me off guard. One is a Broncos fan and the other a Panthers fan. Neither of those teams is a rival for the Eagles. I thought about their response for a bit and then it hit me. The Super Bowl champion Eagles are so good they are now worth hating. That’s actually quite a
Can these UDFAs “edge’ their way onto the Rams roster?
Rams sign USC edge Jamil Muhammad as a free agent | Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images Josh Pearcy and Jamil Muhammad have their work cut out At first glance, the Los Angeles Rams edge unit seems a position of strength. Of the main characters, Jared Verse looks to be a star on the rise, Byron Young has produced two solid seasons, and L.A. used a Round 3 pick in the 2025 draft to add Josiah Stewart, a highly-projected college edge. After the Top 3, there’s not a lot of clarity. Both Brennan Jackson and Nick Hampton battled injuries last season. Jackson got behind in camp with a soft tissue problem and lingering issues limited his rookie year to being active in only eight games. Hampton did special teams work until tearing a pectoral muscle and shutting down in Week 13. Keir Thomas enters his fourth season with the Rams and although not prototypical in size or athleticism, has the most on-field experience, playing in 17 games with 204 defensive snaps and 147 on special teams. In addition to drafting Stewart, L.A. brought in two undrafted free agents to compete. Let’s take a capsule look at them. Meet the candidates Jamil Muhammad – USC 6’ 1” 254 lb. 32 3/4” arms 10” hands Pro Day: 1.67/4.83 forty 7.18 shuttle 4.47 3cone 31” vert 9’ 6” broad 25 reps Fifth-year senior was a high school All-Region quarterback and originally signed with Vanderbilt. Muhammad did not suit up for the Commodores before moving to Georgia State for three seasons and switching to the defensive side. For the Panthers, he accrued 10 starts in 34 games with 70 tackles, 11 for loss, and 7.5 sacks. He transferred to USC for the 2023 and ‘24 seasons, starting 22 of 26 games and posting 73 tackles, 12 for loss, and 7.5 sacks. Muhammad’s frame is on the short/squatty side compared to NFL edge standards, but has adequate length and good upper body strength. He uses this natural low leverage to his advantage, whether on the bullrush or using a long arm move and spinning off of it. Although not a gifted athlete, he does have a loose body with short area agility, a good first step, and change of direction. I not sure if it means anything, but Muhammad lined up primarily on the short side of the field. He makes short drops into coverage smoothly and is a good tackler. He gets a lot of hustle/effort sacks, staying aware of where the ball goes and hustling to it in pursuit. As defensive ends go, Muhammad is still in the learning stage of the position and getting used to 40+ pounds he’s had to add. He’s bulked up to a similar frame as Rams Round 3 draftee, Josiah Stewart. Muhammad showed he could step up in class by having a strong first season at USC, but fell off a bit in stats and starts in Year 2. He checks off a lot of L.A.’s late-round boxes, smart, 100% effort, stepping up in class, and special teams experience. https://t.co/tgTkZuJuskJamil Muhammad (USC) is an Edge with an EDGE #ProOne — Tyler Mann (@Mann_Tyler) April 21, 2025 Josh Pearcy – Rice 6’ 2” 238 lb. 34 3/4” arms 9 1/4” hands Pro Day: 1.71/4.99 forty 7.43 shuttle 4.50 3cone 36” vert 10’ 2” broad 23 reps Sixth-year senior chose Rice for athletics and academics. After a four-game redshirt season, Pearcy went on to play in 54 total games for the Owls, chalking up 210 tackles, 33 for loss, 16 sacks, and defended three passes. He worked his way into starting role with hard work on special teams, being named a captain while playing on both coverage and return units. He was a distance sprinter in high school. Well put together frame with room for more, particularly with his long legs. Pearcy showed versatility in where lined up. Rice used a base 4-2-5 defense where he was on the edge, either upright or with a hand in the dirt. They also used a 3-3-5 stack package where he played as an off-ball linebacker. He’s a effort player that needs to improve his stack/shed ability. Hard to find extended film of Rice defense and he played as part of a rotation, his 2023 film looks more instinctive and active. Good in pursuit and tackling. Edge Players at Pearcy’s size and overall athleticism face an uphill battle in the NFL and the versatility to play off-ball linebacker could help greatly. Realistically, hIs path is to catch eyes with hustle and effort in practice and take advantage of special teams work in preseason games. Another hard-working, smart player with the developmental traits the Rams covet for the bottom half of their roster. Josh Pearcy is the 15th winner of the OJ Brigance Award.https://t.co/BMsFknTJrs — Rice Football (@RiceFootball) April 13, 2024 These candidates face long odds Unless injuries decimate the edge room, the likelihood of making the opening roster is nil. Since the Rams will could easily start the season with four edge players and three of those spots are locked in (Verse, Young, Stewart), a more realistic battle for these two prospects is for one practice squad slot. Both have the advantage of extended work on special teams and fit the Rams mold of smart, high-effort play. Muhammad has good film versus top competition, while Pearcy has two position versatility potential. To make it, both need to really flash in camp and/or preseason games.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s Contract Delay, Vikings News, and NFL Updates
Filed under: Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s Contract Delay, Vikings News, and NFL Updates As the NFL offseason heats up, Two Old Bloggers delivers the analysis and passion that make it a staple for Vikings fans. Whether you’re curious about Adofo-Mensah’s future, excited for McCarthy’s potential, or intrigued by Jefferson’s Olympic dreams, this episode has it all. Packed with expert commentary, fan engagement, and a nod to Memorial Day, it’s a perfect blend of news and community spirit. By May 26, 2025, 12:56pm CDT
Fantasy Football ADP Battle: Garrett Wilson vs. Marvin Harrison Jr.
Today’s matchup features New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. as we evaluate the best option to kick off the third round. Fantasy Football ADP Battle: Garrett Wilson vs. Marvin Harrison Jr. 2T2D82D Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) runs during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Purdue, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in West Lafayette, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) By Jonathon Macri Posted May 26, 2025 7:30 am EDT Garrett Wilson stands alone at the top of the New York Jets‘ wide receiver depth chart: With Davante Adams no longer in the picture, Wilson faces little competition for targets in 2025, setting the stage for another high-volume season. Marvin Harrison Jr. should be in for a breakout season in Year 2: The No. 4 overall pick of the 2024 draft dealt with one of the league’s worst rates of uncatchable targets as a rookie, but even modest regression to the mean could help him meet expectations in 2025. Subscribe to PFF+: Get access to player grades, PFF Premium Stats, fantasy football rankings, all of the PFF fantasy draft research tools and more! This fantasy football article series breaks down the toughest draft-day decisions facing fantasy managers, using Underdog’s average draft position (ADP) as a guide. Each installment compares similarly ranked players at the same position, using key stats from previous seasons and contextual factors — including team situation — to identify the better pick. Today’s matchup features New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. as we evaluate the best option to kick off the third round. Let’s break it down. GARRETT WILSON (WR13) versus MARVIN HARRISON JR. (WR14) Wilson delivered his first WR1 season in 2024 after narrowly missing top-20 finishes in each of his first two years. Finishing as the PPR WR9, he produced at a high level with Aaron Rodgers — his first significant quarterback upgrade — and will look to do the same with Justin Fields under center in 2025. Expectations were high for Harrison Jr. heading into his rookie season. Touted as an elite wide receiver prospect and selected fourth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, he was projected to provide fringe WR1 production. Instead, he finished as the PPR WR33 through 17 weeks. Still, drafters remain optimistic about a breakout in 2025. INVOLVEMENT IN THE OFFENSE Wilson earned 152 targets in 2024, the third-most in the league, a major driver behind his WR1-level fantasy production. He was targeted at least 10 times in six games, including a Week 5 outing where he saw 21 targets, tied for the most in a single week by any player that season. Before Davante Adams arrived in Week 7, Wilson led the league with 65 targets through six weeks. Harrison didn’t finish as a top-20 fantasy wide receiver as a rookie, but he did rank inside the top 20 at the position with 114 total targets. However, as will be detailed shortly, he was hampered by a concerning lack of catchable passes. While he wasn’t consistently the top weekly target in Arizona, maintaining his 21.0% target share should typically be enough to support a top-24 fantasy finish over a full season. PRODUCTION AND PERFORMANCE Wilson’s per-route efficiency in 2024 placed him just inside the top 50 wide receivers, suggesting his production stemmed more from sheer volume than elite output. Entering Year 4, his potential as a top-tier receiver still feels untapped. Greater efficiency with his many opportunities could elevate his ceiling, though his projected volume alone keeps that from being a necessity. For Harrison Jr., the most glaring number is his catchable target rate, which ranked in the eighth percentile among wide receivers, one of the worst marks in the league. With such poor accuracy on his targets, a significant amount of potential production went unrealized. This inefficiency, as detailed earlier, supports the case for positive regression in 2025 and offers a clear path to top-15 fantasy wide receiver status. HIGH-VALUE TARGET INVOLVEMENT One of Wilson’s primary advantages over Harrison Jr. in 2024 was his ability to separate, a key factor in securing more catchable targets. That edge wasn’t present for the rookie, who lagged behind most top wide receivers in that area. Wilson’s red-zone involvement also led to four of his seven receiving touchdowns, even while sharing targets with Aaron Rodgers’ preferred option near the goal line, Davante Adams. Harrison Jr. wasn’t the top red-zone target for his team either, with that role belonging to tight end Trey McBride, who surprisingly finished with just two touchdowns. Still, Harrison Jr. made the most of his chances, converting five touchdowns on 14 red-zone targets. TEAM PASSING/QUARTERBACK SITUATION Both wide receivers will catch passes from two of the league’s most mobile quarterbacks. Wilson will be working with the more mobile of the two in Justin Fields, though Fields also comes with the lower passing grade. While his success as a passer has been limited in the NFL, Fields did support a fantasy WR1 for a full season as recently as 2023 with D.J. Moore. Meanwhile, Murray had his best passing season since 2021, finishing among the top 12 quarterbacks in PFF passing grade. It was his first full healthy season in that stretch, and he should continue to trend upward. Although Murray’s chemistry with Harrison Jr. wasn’t fully developed in their first year together, that’s expected to improve significantly in 2025, a boost that would raise the fantasy outlook for both players. POTENTIAL 2025 TARGET COMPETITION After Davante Adams joined the team in Week 7, Wilson ranked as the PPR WR19 for the remainder of the fantasy season — a drop from WR7 before Adams’ arrival. With Adams now gone, the Jets’ target competition is significantly reduced. Allen Lazard is still on the roster as of now, but persistent offseason rumors suggest he could be traded or released, further consolidating the target share in Wilson’s favor for 2025. In
