With the Las Vegas Raiders looking for a new quarterback and head coach this offseason, many have speculated that Indiana’s combination of Fernando Mendoza and Curt Cignetti could continue working together in Las Vegas. The Hoosiers are playing for the College Football National Championship on Monday night, and the Raiders are expected to use the […] With the Las Vegas Raiders looking for a new quarterback and head coach this offseason, many have speculated that Indiana’s combination of Fernando Mendoza and Curt Cignetti could continue working together in Las Vegas. The Hoosiers are playing for the College Football National Championship on Monday night, and the Raiders are expected to use the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 on Mendoza. So, keeping that head coach-quarterback together is a intruiging option for many in Raider Nation. However, ahead of the title bout against the Miami Hurricanes, Cignetti shot down any rumors about him making the jump to the pros. “I’m not an NFL guy. I made that decision a long time ago when I went with Chuck Amato to NC State in 2000. I had a chance to go with the Packers,” Cignetti said Saturday, Jan. 17 from CFP media day in Miami (h/t Indy Star’s John Leuzzi). “… I declined the opportunity. I almost took it. That’s when I made the final decision, and I’ve always been more of a college football guy.” The 64-year-old, who turns 65 in June, has been in coaching since 1983 and has never left the college ranks. Also, he signed a contract extension with Indiana earlier this season. So, keeping the Mendoza-Cignetti tandem together with the Raiders always seemed more like a hypothetical connection than a legitimate option. Meanwhile, the organization is moving on to second interviews with candidates this week, holding a few meetings in Miami as the team’s brass watches its next quarterback, presumptively, on Monday night. In Other Raiders’ Links: Raiders on verge of fulfilling Rooney rule: According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Adam Hill, the Silver and Black have in-person interviews scheduled with former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and current Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, which would satisfy the requirement to meet with two minority candidates outside of the organization. Where does Mendoza rank in recent draft classes: Diving into how the Indiana product stacks up against the last three quarterback classes in this week’s mailbag column. RIP Claude “Hoot” Gibson: The former Raiders defensive back passed away over the weekend, the team announced. Gibson was one of Al Davis’ original players in 1962, as Davis brought him over from San Diego. Klay Kubiak completes interview: After the San Francisco 49ers were eliminated by the Seattle Seahawks and Klay’s brother Klint, who is also in the running for Las Vegas’ head coach opening, the Raiders announced they’ve completed an interview with the 49ers’ offensive coordinator. See More:
Curt Cignetti shoots down Las Vegas Raiders head coach rumors
Jeff Hafley hired as Dolphins head coach – The Splash Zone 1/20/26
It was reported over the weekend that Jeff Hafley was the frontrunner for the Miami Dolphins head coaching gig and he got it. Hafley is going to reunite with Jon-Eric Sullivan and they both have a ton of work to do to make the Dolphins relevant again. Hafley was the only candidate to receive a […] It was reported over the weekend that Jeff Hafley was the frontrunner for the Miami Dolphins head coaching gig and he got it. Hafley is going to reunite with Jon-Eric Sullivan and they both have a ton of work to do to make the Dolphins relevant again. Hafley was the only candidate to receive a second interview with Miami and had plenty of other suitors if he left the building yesterday. It’s going to be a busy offseason as the Dolphins go through another reset, but it should be fun to follow along. You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below. Sources: Dolphins hiring Packers DC Jeff Hafley as new coachThe Miami Dolphins are hiring Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to become their next head coach, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday. Jeff Hafley Say hello to the next head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Jeff HafleyWelcome to ‘Packers South’, Dolphins fans! Analyzing All Sides of Jeff Hafley Becoming Dolphins New Head CoachThe Dolphins are making Hafley the franchise’s 12th full-time head coach. Chris Perkins: Here’s Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley’s No. 1 task, and it’s a big oneIt’s not a matter of “who” when we talk about the Miami Dolphins new head coach, it’s a matter of “what,” and the “what” is a winning mindset, a determined mentality and an aggressive disposition. The Big Questions Regarding the Hafley HiringThe Miami Dolphins reportedly have tabbed Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as their new head coach Dolphins And Media Excited About Imminent Jeff Hafley Hiring But Fans Are Wisely Wait-And-SeeDolphins continue pattern of ignoring fan sentiment with former Green Bay defensive coordinator selection Now feels like a great time to revisit the endorsement new Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley got from his former boss in Green BayQuite the endorsement for the new lead man in Miami. Dolphins GM slides his chips in favor of new coach Jeff Hafley | HabibThe Miami Dolphins just hired the guy who led a defense that ranked among the top dozen in the NFL the past two years. Dolphins Quarterbacks Dolphins hire Jeff Hafley: Packers defensive coordinator replaces Mike McDaniel in MiamiHafley leaves Green Bay after two seasons as defensive coordinator to take over in Miami. Phinsider News You May Have Missed A frontrunner emerges in Dolphins coaching search – The Splash Zone 1/19/26Welcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours. Dolphins have competition for top remaining head coaching candidateJeff Hafley to meet with Miami on Monday, however Tennesse Titans are also strongly interested in his services. Bills fire head coach Sean McDermott; Could Miami pivot their search?The Buffalo Bills fired Sean McDermott on Monday. Could he factor into the Miami Dolphins’ head coach search? Anthony Weaver to get second interview with Ravens for head coaching jobAnthony Weaver to interview with Ravens for a second time on Tuesday. Dolphins hire Jeff Hafley as head coachThe Miami Dolphins have hired their next head coach. Former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley now has to turn around a struggling team. Dolphins statements on new head coach Jeff HafleyDolphins owner Stephen Ross and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan released statements following the team’s hiring of Jeff Hafley as the new head coach.
2026 NFL Draft: Putting an early draft grade on Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza
Fernando Mendoza profiles as a solid NFL starter after a dominant 2025 season in which he earned a 91.6 PFF grade, won the Heisman Trophy and led Indiana to the national championship game. His evaluation is built on elite clean-pocket efficiency, strong decision-making and poise under pressure, with enough arm talent and mobility to succeed at the next level even if he is not a traits-driven outlier. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza profiles as a solid NFL starter: The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner has earned a 91.6 PFF grade while leading Indiana to the national championship game, firmly placing himself on the radar as one of the most intriguing quarterback prospects in the 2026 draft class. Mendoza has been outstanding from clean pockets this season: He posted elite PFF passing grades without pressure and without the blitz, pairing both with adjusted completion percentages above 78.0%. In those situations, his average time to throw came in under 2.50 seconds, highlighting his confidence and decisiveness on pre-snap reads. Build your own 2026 NFL Draft board and grade the prospects yourself: With PFF’s Big Board Builder, customize trait grades, compare prospects across positions and save and share your board. 🏈 Draft Season 2026 Prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft with PFF+ Your complete draft preparation toolkit Subscribe Editor’s note: This article was originally published Jan. 14 but has been republished after Indiana’s national championship victory and Fernando Mendoza’s performance in the title game. Eight teams remain in the NFL playoffs, but for the other 24 fanbases — and especially those still searching for a long-term answer at quarterback — attention has already shifted toward the 2026 NFL Draft. PFF equips fans with the tools and data needed to navigate the NFL draft, with resources like the PFF Big Board, the Mock Draft Simulator and the newly launched Big Board Builder. Here, we’re using that Big Board Builder to put an early draft grade on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, one of college football’s breakout stars this season. The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner has earned a 91.6 PFF grade while leading Indiana to the national championship game, firmly placing himself on the radar as one of the most intriguing quarterback prospects in the 2026 draft class. SETTING UP THE PROCESS: THE TRAITS I PRIORITIZE, HOW THEY’RE WEIGHTED AND WHY THEY MATTER The PFF Big Board Builder goes beyond simply creating a ranked list of draft prospects. At its core is Scouting Mode, which allows users to select the traits they want to assess, assign custom weights to each category and establish an evaluation framework before entering a single grade. Once those traits are set, prospects are graded on a 1-to-10 scale across each category, with Scouting Mode applying the weights to generate a final draft grade that mirrors your individual scouting philosophy. At quarterback, the ability to operate efficiently from a clean pocket when everything is on schedule is foundational. That is why clean-pocket accuracy is emphasized separately from out-of-structure play — one establishes a player’s floor, while the other defines his ceiling. Decision-making and pocket management are equally important in minimizing negative plays and avoiding self-inflicted mistakes. Mobility is a useful bonus but not a prerequisite, which is reflected in its lighter weighting. When it comes to arm talent, velocity and the ability to drive throws into tight windows in the short and intermediate areas matter more than pure distance, as those situations arise far more frequently over the course of a game. With PFF’s Big Board Builder, customize trait grades, compare prospects across positions and save and share your board. GRADING FERNANDO MENDOZA DECISION MAKING: 8/10 For the most part, Mendoza has been a sound decision-maker this season. His 12.5% negatively graded play rate ranks in the 89th percentile at the position, a strong indicator of good decision-making. The Purdue and Oregon games proved more challenging, and he tended to struggle when defenses dropped eight into coverage and forced him to process additional defenders, but the results were far from disastrous. Overall, his 6.6% big-time throw rate relative to his 2.5% turnover-worthy play rate reflects a healthy risk-reward profile. POISE & OUT-OF-STRUCTURE ACCURACY: 8/10 Poise and out-of-structure accuracy are critical components of quarterback evaluation. While these situations occur less frequently than plays from clean pockets, they often separate those who can function only within structure from those who can still create when plays break down. For Mendoza, that area was a strength in 2025, as he earned a 71.7 PFF passing grade under pressure with seven big-time throws and five turnover-worthy plays, a solid ratio in those situations. He consistently kept his eyes downfield when flushed from the pocket, allowing him to turn pressure into opportunities rather than negative plays. TOUCH: 8/10 Mendoza has put some really nice touch passes on tape. Without possessing one of the nation’s strongest arms, he has to compensate by layering the football with timing and trajectory that allow receivers to run underneath deep passes, a trait that showed up repeatedly in 2025. He is primarily an in-rhythm, timing-based passer — particularly on throws like back-shoulders and out routes — but when his initial read is taken away, he still demonstrates the ability to adjust and deliver accurately on the move with natural touch. html Fernando Mendoza: 2025 Fernando Mendoza: 2025 Stable Metrics Clean Pocket Grade 87th Percentile Standard Dropback Grade 95th Percentile 1st / 2nd Down Grade 88th Percentile No Play Action Grade 97th Percentile At / Beyond Sticks Grade 94th Percentile Avoids Negatives 89th Percentile Sack Rate 49th Percentile Unstable Metrics Under Pressure Grade 90th Percentile Outside Pocket Grade 60th Percentile 3rd / 4th Down Grade 92nd Percentile Play Action Grade 50th Percentile Positively Graded Throws 90th Percentile ❮ ❯ VELOCITY: 8/10 Mendoza does not possess elite arm strength, but his sound mechanics allow him to generate plenty of velocity when needed. He can drive the ball to the opposite sideline and fit throws into tight windows. His short- and intermediate-area velocity stands out more than his
McVay’s spotty playoff record against defensive coaches
The Seattle Seahawks wanted these kinds of matchups when they hired defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to replace Pete Carroll as the head coach two years ago, to go up against the league’s top offensive gurus like Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan in the NFC West and the playoffs. Now a week after the Seahawks defeated […] The Seattle Seahawks wanted these kinds of matchups when they hired defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to replace Pete Carroll as the head coach two years ago, to go up against the league’s top offensive gurus like Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan in the NFC West and the playoffs. Now a week after the Seahawks defeated the 49ers by 35 points, it’s up to McVay’s Rams to prove that sometimes you gotta be careful what you wish for when L.A. travels to Seattle for the NFC Championship game. But although these two teams couldn’t have been closer in the regular season (separated by 1 point and 1 yard combined), there is also a demon that McVay must exorcise as a coach in the playoffs: Of McVay’s 5 career postseason losses: Once to Defensive head coach Dan Quinn’s Falcons (2017) Once to Defensive head coach Bill Belichick’s Patriots (2018) Once to former Rams OC Matt LaFleur’s Packers (2020) Once to Dan Campbell’s Lions, a coach who really belongs lumped with a defensive mentality (2023) Once to an Eagles defense helmed by Vic Fangio (2024) You could definitely argue that the Eagles were better defined by Fangio last year than by Nick Sirianni, who isn’t even really an offensive head coach because he usually does not call plays. Neither did Campbell until he was forced to take over the duties midway through 2025. But even if you argue that only 2 of these teams are TRUE defensive head coaches, it would still make Sean McVay 1-2 all-time in the playoffs against defensive head coaches; the Rams beat Pete Carroll’s Seahawks in 2020. However, that Seahawks team had a bad defense and Carroll had not called plays since the 90s. Quinn’s Falcons won 26-13 and Belichick’s Patriots won 13-3. McVay has 10 career playoffs wins and aside from Carroll’s Seahawks, the other 9 came against offensive head coaches: 2018 Cowboys, Jason Garrett 2018 Saints, Sean Payton 2021 Cardinals, Kliff Kingsbury 2021 Bucs, Bruce Arians 2021 49ers, Kyle Shanahan 2021 Bengals, Zac Taylor 2024 Vikings, Kevin O’Connell 2025 Panthers, Dave Canales 2025 Bears, Ben Johnson Now, the Rams have beaten good defenses in the playoffs under McVay, including the 2021 49ers, the 2024 Vikings, and the 2018 Cowboys. Nobody’s saying that McVay is incapable of beating a top-ranked defense and certainly not that he can’t beat the Seahawks because L.A. scored 37 points against Seattle in overtime last month. And beat the Seahawks the month before that. This is a good matchup for fans because it’s a top-ranked offense against a top-ranked defense and just under those terms this game compares favorably to Super Bowl LIII (except that Sam Darnold isn’t Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford isn’t Jared Goff). But the one time that Sean McVay had a playoff game against a head coach who many considered the best defensive guy in the league at the time, the Rams scored 3 points. So as much as the Seahawks head coach has more to prove because this is Macdonald’s chance to prove that Seattle made the right decision when they fired Carroll and hired him, there’s plenty on the line for McVay to prove that they didn’t. See More:
Chiefs are reportedly hiring Chad O’Shea as wide receivers coach
With all signs pointing to the Kansas City Chiefs hiring Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, the team has reportedly hired a position coach. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Chiefs will hire Chad O’Shea as the wide receivers coach. He has been the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach with the Cleveland […] With all signs pointing to the Kansas City Chiefs hiring Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, the team has reportedly hired a position coach. The Chiefs are hiring Chad O’Shea as their wide receivers coach, per source. O’Shea got into the NFL as a volunteer assistant with Kansas City in 2003. Over two decades later, he’s back as Andy Reid remodels his offensive staff. pic.twitter.com/BW7koHxbi3 — Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 19, 2026 According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Chiefs will hire Chad O’Shea as the wide receivers coach. He has been the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach with the Cleveland Browns since 2020, joining the staff of head coach Kevin Stefanski, who was recently hired as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. O’Shea brings nearly two decades of position-coach experience to the offensive coaching staff. After entering the NFL as a volunteer assistant with Kansas City in 2003, he was hired as an assistant coach for the special teams unit under head coach Dick Vermeil for the final two years of his tenure. From there, he switched to an offensive assistant with the Minnesota Vikings in 2006 and found himself coaching the wide receivers in 2007. O’Shea has held that position for an NFL team every season since, except for an opportunity to be the Miami Dolphins’ offensive coordinator in 2019. His most notable stop began in 2009 with the New England Patriots. He led a room that featured wide receivers Wes Welker and Randy Moss still in their primes, then played a key role in the career development of wide receiver Julian Edelman, who was a college quarterback at Kent State. Head coach Andy Reid is bringing a new, experienced voice into Kansas City’s coaching staff. He will replace former wide receivers coach Connor Embree, who was fired after his third season as an NFL position coach.
College Football Playoff National Championship Recap: Indiana Hoosiers 27, Miami Hurricanes 21
The Indiana Hoosiers completed one of the most dramatic turnarounds in sports history, rising from the losingest Power Four program two years ago to national champions with a 27-21 victory over Miami. Indiana sealed the title in a back-and-forth game defined by special-teams swings and momentum-shifting plays.
National Championship: Discussion
The Rams hold two first round picks. Will they use either of them on players from the Indiana-Miami national championship game? Talk about it with your fellow TST community members in the comments section! The Rams hold two first round picks. Will they use either of them on players from the Indiana-Miami national championship game? Talk about it with your fellow TST community members in the comments section!
Mock Draft Monday: Championship Game Players heading to Indy
Chris Ballard’s final press conference of the 2025 season looms large in the minds of fans and journalist’s alike, with one quote embodying what they can expect in the 2026 offseason: “We gotta get younger and faster on the defensive side.” Thus the priority is clear, get the Colts Defense up to snuff with an […] Chris Ballard’s final press conference of the 2025 season looms large in the minds of fans and journalist’s alike, with one quote embodying what they can expect in the 2026 offseason: “We gotta get younger and faster on the defensive side.” Thus the priority is clear, get the Colts Defense up to snuff with an infusion of young and fast prospects early in the draft to aid Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo in his 2nd year with the Colts. Round 2, Pick 47: Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami One of the worst kept secrets this offseason is the Colts need more pass rush help immediately. So why not get one of the most experienced and polished pash rushers in the draft? While Akheem Mesidor’s age (25 by draftday) may be antithetical to the first part of Ballard’s quote, he will still 3 & 6 years younger than the 3 Colts Free Agent Defensive Ends he could be partially replacing (Kwity Paye 28, Samson Ebukam 31, Tyquan Lewis 31). Even when factoring that he is an older prospect, Mesidor’s combination of athletic traits and high end production is very alluring for teams to overlook the age number and look for what he can do immediately for a team in the increasingly short term vision oriented NFL. Mesidor is 6’3 and 280 lbs. but he doesn’t move like a bigger Defensive End. He moves like he should be 30 pounds lighter with his explosion off of the line winning reps often with his first step. He can bend around the edge well and has quick agility to be used as a looper and to get around linemen. Mesidor can also line up inside as a 3 Technique, adding depth behind DeForest Buckner. All of this combined with his vicious power profile with bull-rushes, rip moves, two hand swipes, with powerful hands and it’s no wonder Mesidor had 63 Pressures (15.1%) with a 21.2% Pass Rush Win Rate in 2025. The Miami Hurricane is also a force of nature against the run with 25 Run Stops and a 90 Run D Grade in 2025. The biggest things holding him back from being a Round 1 talent beyond his age is: A foot injury that cost him his 2023 season and needed surgery in 2024, but as he showed in 2025 he is fully recovered since. Reliant on physical gifts to win reps, needs more consistent technique in hand fighting to win against more polished tackles with strong anchors. Balance can be an issue, he needs to keep his feet under him when breaking through to the QB as there are a few falls on tape. Should he stay healthy and continue to build upon the techniques he knows and the physical gifts he has, Mesidor could be a Day 1 impact pass rusher for the Colts at a steal of a pick in Round 2. Round 3, Pick 78: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana On the opposite side of the National Championship battle, we have a small but fiesty Corner in D’Angelo Ponds who has been a stud in the Hoosiers’ secondary. The 5’9 and 173 lb. Ponds plays like every snap is his last, with competitiveness, speed, quickness, and intensity. Despite his size he contests very well and plays the run well with nice hits, strong awareness, and good tackling technique (just 3.3% missed tackle rate in 2025). In coverage he mirrors well, has one of the best backpedals in college football and incredibly quick and fluid hips and short area explosion. Ponds has put up a strong statline in 2025 in coverage: 30 Receptions Allowed / 57 Targets = 52.6% Completion Rate Allowed 356 Yards Allowed 55 Yards After Catch Allowed 0 TDs Allowed 2 INTs 6 Pass Break Ups 57.3 Passer Rating Allowed And D’Angelo Ponds is doing all of this while playing on the boundary against some of the best teams in the country. He has 1,845 snaps as an outside corner, showing that this is far from a new development in his collegiate career. While some analysts believe Ponds should shift inside as a slot in the NFL, he only has 27 snaps inside and has proven to be an effective outside corner even against bigger Wide Receivers. He should be granted an opportunity to prove himself outside first before moving to the slot. Good news for him, the coach he’d have in Indianapolis, Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo, has no qualms about using smaller Corners outside in his scheme as long as they are competitive in man coverage and have speed to recover and track deeper routes. Ponds has both. With Charvarius Ward mulling retirement, 2025 3rd Round Pick Justin Walley recovering from an ACL tear, and Jaylon Jones falling out of favor with an awkward fit in Anarumo’s new scheme, outside corner remains a need for the Colts to address. Sauce Gardner might be locked in as the Colts top corner, but they still need to give him a running mate outside. Kenny Moore II also isn’t getting any younger in the slot. By adding Ponds, the Colts get another outside option at Corner and a potential successor to Kenny Moore II after his contract expires post-2026 season. Round 4, Pick 113: Albert Regis, DT, Texas A&M With the Colts first two defenders being versatile players who can fill a short term need and in a pinch potentially change positions to fill a long term need, their Round 4 pick is a departure from this trend. Albert Regis is coming to Indy to play at one position and one position only: Nose Tackle/1 Technique. The 6’1 and 317 lbs. Aggie has a stocky
2026 Las Vegas Raiders Draft Scouting: Elijah Sarratt
Position: Wide Receiver Height: 6’2 Weight: 214 Stats: 2025 (14 games) – 62 receptions, 802 yards, 15 touchdowns, 12/26 contested catches Class/Age: Senior (22) Team: Indiana Positives: Sarratt has been highly productive in his career between St. Francis, JMU, and now Indiana logging a career 237 receptions, 3630 and and 44 touchdowns with a career […] Position: Wide Receiver Height: 6’2 Weight: 214 Stats: 2025 (14 games) – 62 receptions, 802 yards, 15 touchdowns, 12/26 contested catches Class/Age: Senior (22) Team: Indiana Positives: Sarratt has been highly productive in his career between St. Francis, JMU, and now Indiana logging a career 237 receptions, 3630 and and 44 touchdowns with a career 1213 yards after the catch and a 68% contested catch rate though that number has fallen a little bit in recent years since being 79% in 2023. Sarratt has a massive physical frame but doesn’t win with just pure size. He’s got smooth, natural route running with good ability to drop and sink his hips, jab at the key of the route and then explode out of his cuts to make a play and separate from the defensive back. Sarratt shows an immense ability to win with his size, route running, and overall athletic ability paired together. He shows an innate ability to high point the ball and go outside of his frame to make a play near the sideline or over the middle where he’s physical enough to absorb contact and consistently utilize his athletic style to adjust to YAC opportunities. Sarratt is able to naturally have a strong feel for the chains, consistently finding his way to break at the key and alongside the line of scrimmage with a career 177 first downs on 237 receptions. Additionally, Sarratt does a phenomenal job going to the ball with his hands and keeping it out of his chest and frame to prevent ill time drops. Additionally, Sarratt showcases subtle initial explosion and a good release that allows for him to be a dominant receiver off the line of scrimmage and into initial contact at the route where he’s physical enough to fight off majority of defensive backs. Sarratt has capable long speed with the ability to not take the top off a defense but he’s able to effectively play downfield and be a consistent three phase receiver. Sarratt also showcases good instincts and knowledge at the position with an ability to utilize head fakes, body movements, and an ability to identify coverages to find soft drops. Weakness: Sarratt doesn’t have a ton of elite long speed, and likely will be a consistent 4.48-4.54 40 guy, he does struggle to be a long downfield receiver but will work well intermediately. Sarratt will need to also improve how he is jammed off the line of scrimmage as initial physical contact can sometimes cause him to be shaken in his route concept and cause issues getting into the route and being able to consistently get into space. Sarratt doesn’t have the long speed to take most plays to the house but does an ok job after the catch though his drops often come when looking to run before having the ball. Despite being 6’2 he doesn’t have the largest catch radius and likely will be limited at times with out of frame catches. Sarratt is an adequate blocker, showcasing an effort and drive to do so but the technique, strength at POA, and overall effectiveness can be limited. The senior receiver is limited in being a truly conventional outside X receiver and doesn’t have much ability to work into the slot or the Z. He can get caught up vs man coverage when his initial release and movement in space don’t work as effective. Grade: 2.75 – Mid to Late 2nd Round Pro-Comp: Michael Pittman Jr Sarratt is going to make a few NFL teams very excited with the level of play he can provide. Elijah Sarratt showcases the ability to win at the point of attack consistently and he consistently gets open with his subtle movements, explosiveness after initial cut, and instincts at the position. Sarratt has done well in a variety of systems and his proven successful track record will translate to the NFL. He’s a big body traditional physical receiver that will be a quarterbacks friend downfield in contested situations while he’s also able to work over the middle and absorb contact through his playstyle. The Las Vegas Raiders require getting a physical receiver to pair with Fernando Mendoza who relies on the physical big play X receiver. The Raiders have Bowers, Bech, and Tucker at receiver and adding former teammate Elijah Sarratt could help the transition to the NFL. See More: Las Vegas Raiders Draft
Dolphins statements on new head coach Jeff Hafley
The Miami Dolphins have announced the hiring of Jeff Hafley as the team’s new head coach. Hafley joins the Dolphins after two seasons as the Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator and replaces Mike McDaniel, who was fired after four seasons with the team. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross released a statement after the announcement of Hafley’s […] The Miami Dolphins have announced the hiring of Jeff Hafley as the team’s new head coach. Hafley joins the Dolphins after two seasons as the Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator and replaces Mike McDaniel, who was fired after four seasons with the team. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross released a statement after the announcement of Hafley’s hiring. “I believe great things are ahead for the Miami Dolphins with Jeff Hafley leading the way,” Ross stated. “Jeff is an accomplished coach with a proven track record as a leader and motivator. He has tenacity and grit, while at the same time establishing trust with his players in order to get the most out of them. I am excited to see where Jeff leads us, alongside [general manager] Jon-Eric Sullivan and our entire football operation, as we seek to return the Dolphins to sustained success.” New general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, who was hired las week and also joins the Dolphins from the Packers, said in a released statement, “Jeff is a man of integrity, intellect, and great passion who player will buy into and play for. He has a vision for the kind of team we will be and the ability to motivate them to move in one direction on the path towards that goal. I am thrilled to go on this journey with him and together we will build a winner that this organization deserves.” According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Dolphins and Hafley agreed to a five-year contract. See More:
