NFL News Updates

Author: nfltalk

  • Alabama football LB Qua Russaw is Crimson Tide’s 2025 CFP X-factor

    Alabama football LB Qua Russaw is Crimson Tide’s 2025 CFP X-factor

    Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer is hoping for a better Year 2 than his debut season in Tuscaloosa.

    Not that Alabama couldn’t have done far worse than a 9-3 regular season that included a thrilling win over Georgia, a blowout victory at LSU, and a fifth straight Iron Bowl win over Auburn. Those and six other victories aren’t bad for any new coach to have on his résumé.

    But it’s still Alabama, where high expectations will always be part of the job for any coach (historically, some have understood this better than others). For DeBoer to improve on last year’s mark, a trip to the 12-team College Football Playoff is a must.

    On Thursday, CBS Sports looked at the biggest X-factors for 12 prime College Football Playoff hopefuls. In Alabama’s case, analyst Carter Bahns highlighted linebacker Qua Russaw as the player he views as poised to “make or break” the Tide’s playoff hopes in 2025.

    Per Bahns:

    “The Alabama defense lost some of its identity last season as the pass rushing scheme lacked explosiveness and did not feature the superstar-caliber edge rushers that were cornerstones of the roster under Nick Saban. Someone needs to take a step forward in 2025 for the Crimson Tide to be more than just a mid-tier defensive front. Enter Qua Russaw, who cut his teeth as a redshirt freshman and should be the top option at the “wolf” position in Year 3. He managed just one sack a year ago, and Alabama needs more from the former No. 64 overall recruit.”

    Russaw committed to Nick Saban as a five-star player from Montgomery’s Carver High School in 2022. As a redshirt freshman a season ago, he played in 13 games and made six starts while totaling 36 tackles (2.5 for loss) to go with two interceptions.

    DeBoer has a talented roster heading into 2025, and it’s apparent everywhere you look. PFF (Pro Football Focus) ranked the Tide’s offensive…

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  • Puka Nacua’s rapid ascent an inspiration to Polynesian athletes and Hawaiian fans

    Puka Nacua’s rapid ascent an inspiration to Polynesian athletes and Hawaiian fans

    From the moment the Rams landed in Maui, Puka Nacua embraced the spotlight and provided sunshine vibes.

    The star receiver, with several colorful leis draping his shoulders, turned heads upon arrival at a Monday night luau.

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    The next morning, flag football players excitedly buzzed “It’s Puka!” as he entered War Memorial Stadium for a Rams workout and clinic. That afternoon, autograph seekers lined up 100-deep for an exclusive afternoon Puka-centric event at a team pop-up store.

    On Wednesday, several thousands of fans showed up to see the Rams’ public workout, dozens of them wearing Nacua jerseys.

    Nacua, who is of Hawaiian, Samoan and Portuguese descent, welcomed the attention with open arms.

    Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua signs autographs for fans after minicamp practice in Wailuku, Hawaii, on Tuesday. (Gary Klein / Los Angeles Times)

    “These are people who have similar backgrounds to me,” Nacua said this week. “This is how I was raised — to call everybody Auntie and Uncle, and to be with them and give hugs and kisses, and to eat a lot of food with them.

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    “This feels like home.”

    Nacua, 24, is clearly comfortable in his role.

    He is the latest Polynesian NFL star, joining players such as Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell and Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jordan Mailata.

    Nacua burst onto the NFL scene in 2023 with a record-setting rookie season. His boundless enthusiasm, physical style and daring athletic catches thrilled fans and showed Polynesian athletes that opportunity and success at a so-called skill position was in their grasp.

    Linebacker Junior Seau, safety Troy Polamalu and center Kevin Mawae are Polynesian players enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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    Nacua is respectful of the players who paved the way for his opportunity, citing Marcus Mariota, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Polamalu as just a few of the many that led the way.

    He aims to show that opportunity exists beyond “the trenches” for aspiring…

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  • College Football Playoff will require teams to provide player availability reports beginning with 2025 season

    College Football Playoff will require teams to provide player availability reports beginning with 2025 season

    Getty Images

    The College Football Playoff will begin requiring teams to provide player availability reports for its games next season, following a similar initiative implemented by the Big Ten and SEC in recent seasons.

    CFP executive director Rich Clark announced the move Wednesday at the group’s meetings in Asheville, North Carolina, according to CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello. The CFP did not specify if their model would closely resemble either the Big Ten or the SEC’s approaches to player availability reports, which are typically used for injuries.

    In 2023, the Big Ten announced that all teams must submit injury reports at least two hours before kickoff. The availability reports, which are posted online, list athletes as either “questionable” or “out.”

    The SEC implemented a similar but more complex measure in 2024. Players are listed under one of four statuses: “out,” “questionable,” “probable,” or “available.” These statuses are submitted on Wednesdays and updated each day leading up to and including the day of the game. The final report must be submitted no later than 90 minutes before kickoff. Schools failing to provide accurate or timely information are subject to increasingly escalating fines.

    Big Ten, SEC stalemate headlines College Football Playoff meetings with strength-of-schedule metrics in focus

    John Talty

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  • Ravens sign Jaire Alexander: Winners and losers as former Packers cornerback heads to Baltimore

    Ravens sign Jaire Alexander: Winners and losers as former Packers cornerback heads to Baltimore

    Jaire Alexander has found his new home in the NFL. After recently being released by the Green Bay Packers, the veteran cornerback inked a deal with the Baltimore Ravens, the team announced Wednesday. Specifically, it’s a one-year deal worth up to $6 million, according to NFL Media. The base of the deal is worth $4 million, and Alexander has a chance to earn $2 million more through incentives. 

    When healthy, Alexander is a difference-maker in the secondary. However, that inability to stay on the field is what has hindered his career as of late and ultimately proved to be the catalyst for his departure from Green Bay. Because of injury, Alexander has played just seven games in each of the last two regular seasons for the Packers. He missed the final seven games of the 2024 campaign, last appearing in the club’s Week 11 matchup against the Chicago Bears. 

    That said, this move to Baltimore could be the reset that Alexander needs to get his career back on track and be on the field on a more consistent basis. Again, Alexander has proven to be an All-Pro-caliber player during his career. Back in 2022, when he played 16 games, he tallied 14 pass breakups and a career-high five interceptions en route to Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro nominations. Even when he was on the field for his seven games played last season, he recorded seven pass breakups and two interceptions, so the talent is there. 

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  • Orlando Brown Jr. thinks Bengals have built a “really special” offense

    Orlando Brown Jr. thinks Bengals have built a “really special” offense

    Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. says the offense in Cincinnati should be elite this season.

    Brown said the Bengals’ investment in signing wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase was what they needed to

    “We’re really special,” Brown said on NFL Network. “I’m really proud of the way that we worked this offseason, just with the intent and focus from us as individuals, as players. Everything that the coaches threw at us, we were able to respond really well. I mean, I’m excited, man. At the end of the day, paying Tee and Ja’Marr, making them more comfortable, knowing that they’re going to be able to go out there and sell out even more than they have in the past, I think it’s only going to make us better.”

    Brown also said he’s expecting big things from his fellow starting tackle, right tackle Amarius Mims, a 2024 first-round pick who’s ready to take a big step in Year Two.

    “Mims has been working his tail off to get better, and to me that’s everything,” Brown said. “He’s got huge expectations for himself.”

    And Brown has huge expectations for the Bengals’ offense.

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  • Priority 4-star target sets commitment date

    Priority 4-star target sets commitment date

    The Michigan football team could be picking up another big commitment soon as elite four-star offensive tackle Malakai Lee has set a commitment date. Lee is one of the best offensive lineman in the 2026 recruiting class, and he will announce his college decision on June 27th. He will choose between Michigan, Alabama, Georgia and Texas. This would be a massive pickup for head coach Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines.

    “Honolulu (Hawaii) Kamehameha offensive tackle Malakai Lee has set his announcement date for June 27,” Brandon Huffman said in a post.

    Malakai Lee is a four-star recruit, according to 247Sports. He is the #137 player in the 2026 recruiting class, the #10 OT and the #2 player in the state of Hawaii. Lee currently attends Kamehameha High School in Honolulu, HI. Michigan and Lee’s other three options are a long way from home.

    “From a traits standpoint, offensive linemen don’t come much better looking than Lee,” Lee’s scouting report reads. “He’s all of 6-6, 325 pounds with verified 36” arms and an 85”+ wingspan. He’s a fluid mover as well and has the feet, balance and frame to project as a tackle and could line up on either side, right or left in college. He plays a little hoops as well and checks off the multi-sport box for us.”

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    Lee is one of the top offensive lineman in the country for a reason. Michigan is hoping to land a player that can make an impact quickly.

    “He uses his length well and has the ability to slide and mirror opposing edge rushers,” his scouting report reads. “He has added some physicality in the run game over the last year. He’s putting guys on their backs more but playing with a more aggressive edge to him is an area we think Lee can still improve on. Saying that, he’s an easy high Power 4 prospect and if he hits his ceiling, he…

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  • NFLPA surprise: This rookie QB beat out Travis Kelce to become NFL’s top royalty earner in 2024, per report

    NFLPA surprise: This rookie QB beat out Travis Kelce to become NFL’s top royalty earner in 2024, per report

    Travis Kelce has been one of the most popular players in the NFL over the past few years, and his popularity only got bigger after he started dating Taylor Swift. Being a popular player can definitely pay off, and Kelce found that out during the 2024 season when he earned $3.25 million in licensing royalties from the NFLPA. 

    Although Kelce got a big check, he wasn’t the NFLPA’s highest earner in 2024. According to Sportico, that honor belonged to Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who pulled in an eye-popping $4 million in royalties. McCarthy was the ONLY player on the NFLPA’s royalty list who cracked the $4 million mark for the 2024 season. 

    It’s been a big month for McCarthy, who recently announced that he’s expecting a child with his fiancée, Katya Kuropas. 

    The baby is due in September, which means he’ll be arriving just in time for football season. 

    As for the royalty numbers, those come from the NFLPA’s annual report (via Sportico), which is filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. The report only takes into account the sales of things that the NFLPA licenses, such as jerseys, video games and trading cards. Although Kelce likely made millions from the dozens of commercials he appeared in during the 2024 season, most of those aren’t included in the NFLPA total since those companies don’t sell NFLPA licensed merchandise. (If Kelce is in a commercial, that money is paid directly to him.)

    The 12-month earnings period ended on Feb. 28, 2025, which means a solid chunk of their royalties were made during the 2024 season. Of course, McCarthy didn’t play a single snap during the 2024 season, so you might be wondering how he was able to pull in $4 million worth of royalties. For one, his jersey was likely a hot-seller. With a player like Patrick Mahomes, most fans who want his jersey already have one, but that’s not the case with rookies. Fans weren’t able to go out…

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  • Bryce Underwood living up to hype: Michigan’s ‘unique’ freshman QB making strong push to start in 2025

    Bryce Underwood living up to hype: Michigan’s ‘unique’ freshman QB making strong push to start in 2025

    Less than two months after Bryce Underwood’s arrival at Michigan, some of his new teammates were ready to test the Wolverines’ new five-star freshman quarterback.

    The opportunity came during Michigan’s winter workouts, which include players competing against each other in 15-round, one-on-one sessions that feature sled pushes, races and other speed and agility exercises. Whoever wins each round gets a point.

    Jake Garcia transfers to Michigan: What it means for QB battle headlined by 5-star freshman Bryce Underwood

    Cody Nagel

    Since the showdowns have players in similar weight classes pitted against each other, some of the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Underwood’s early opponents were members of the Wolverines’ defensive front seven, including standout senior defensive end TJ Guy. Not only did the 17-year old Underwood beat one of the defensive ends one day but he lost by just one point to another defensive end the next day. 

    It impressed both teammates and members of Michigan’s staff, and Underwood hasn’t stopped impressing since that point. He’s become the clear favorite in the Wolverines’ starting quarterback job and has more than lived up to the hype that comes along with being the No. 1 ranked overall player in the 2025 recruiting class.

    “He’s a unique and rare guy,” a source told CBS Sports.

    It’s been a combination of Underwood’s physical ability to go along with advanced maturity, work ethic and leadership skills for someone his age.

    Despite players being given time off in May, Underwood has been a constant presence around…

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