Author: nfltalk

  • NFL informs teams supplemental draft will not be held in 2024, per report

    NFL informs teams supplemental draft will not be held in 2024, per report

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    For the fourth year in a row, no one will be selected in the NFL supplemental draft. The NFL has informed teams that the supplemental draft will not take place in 2024, according to Sports Illustrated. 

    The two players eligible last year were not drafted and this event was not held in 2020, 2021 or 2022. 

    This draft serves players in a unique position, who in most cases have experienced a change in eligibility. If a player is ruled ineligible for the college season after the NFL Draft takes place, they have the chance to be part of the supplemental draft and find a team, rather than wait until the next NFL Draft. 

    Players need to be at least three years removed from high school to be eligible and can apply through the league office. 

    When the supplemental draft has been held, it goes for seven rounds. Teams are put into three groups based on their results the season prior. 

    Group one includes teams that had six or fewer wins and did not make the playoffs, the second group are teams that missed the playoffs with six or more wins. The last group is made up of the playoff teams. 

    Teams submit bids for players and the team highest in the draft order who submits for a player in the earliest round gets to select that player. If a team selects someone in the supplemental draft, it forfeits the pick in the same round of the follow year’s regular draft. 

    The last team to make a selection in the supplemental draft was the Arizona Cardinals, when they picked safety Jalen Thompson in the fifth round in 2019. 

    The supplemental draft began in 1977 and initially was for former college students. Since 1993, players who did not attend college were included. 

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  • Why high school QBs are committing earlier than ever — and then putting on their hard hats

    Why high school QBs are committing earlier than ever — and then putting on their hard hats

    LOS ANGELES, Calif. — A year ago this week, Tavien St. Clair walked into the Woody Hayes Athletic Center at Ohio State with news to share.

    The five-star quarterback from Bellafontaine (Ohio) was ready to commit to the Buckeyes, a childhood favorite team with a rich history of producing top talent at his position. Two-time Heisman Trophy finalist C.J. Stroud had been taken second overall in the NFL Draft just two months prior, and St. Clair could not wait to start mapping out a similar blueprint in Columbus. He stepped into coach Ryan Day’s office equally nervous and excited.

    “Coach Day and coach Corey Dennis had started asking about a commitment a couple months before that moment, just dropping hints here and there and wondering when I wanted to do it,” St. Clair said at the Elite 11 Finals. “My family and I were overwhelmed with joy when we finally did it. Enrolling early was a big factor in the timing. Obviously it was two full years before the start of my first college season, but it’s big for the quarterback to jump in early and recruit the guys he wants around him.”

    The results, at least for Ohio State, have been tangible — the Buckeyes hold a healthy lead atop the 247Sports Team Composite Recruiting Rankings for the 2025 class with six months remaining until the Early Signing Period. St. Clair is one of three five-star prospects in the group that also features 12 other Top247 members. 

    Ask any coach and they’ll tell you there’s no better way to kick-start a class than by landing an elite quarterback recruit. He’s a magnet for other elite players. He’s a testament to your fans, boosters and bosses that your program’s going in the right direction. And he’s usually the most vocal one in building out the class, organizing group…

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  • Report: Aiyuk, 49ers had ‘good meeting,’ not entertaining trade

    Report: Aiyuk, 49ers had ‘good meeting,’ not entertaining trade

    Report: Aiyuk, 49ers had ‘good meeting,’ not entertaining trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

    There has been a positive development in the Brandon Aiyuk contract saga.

    The star wide receiver reportedly requested a meeting with the 49ers on Monday as the two sides continue negotiating a lucrative contract extension that is expected to pay Aiyuk near the top of the market at the position.

    Monday’s discussion appears to have been productive. Aiyuk and the 49ers had a “good meeting” and San Francisco plans to move forward with Aiyuk on the roster this season, NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday on NFL Network’s “The Insiders.”

    “Here’s what I can tell you. Aiyuk and 49ers brass met on Monday at Aiyuk’s request,” Pelissero said. “This was a good meeting. From what I was told, both sides said things that needed to be said and they’re going to keep working. It’s important to note here, there’s never been a trade request from Brandon Aiyuk. That hasn’t changed. The 49ers’ stance hasn’t changed either despite getting trade calls on Aiyuk going back to draft week.

    “They’re moving forward and they want Aiyuk to be a part of the team in 2024. So what I would anticipate here is all parties involved will go ahead and enjoy the Fourth of July holiday, regroup sometime after that — they’ve still got several weeks here to see if they can hammer out a deal that locks in Brandon Aiyuk with San Francisco for the long haul.”

    Aiyuk previously appeared frustrated with the state of negotiations, claiming in a video posted to his TikTok account that the 49ers “don’t want me back” before continuing to address trade rumors on social media on Tuesday.

    While an agreement doesn’t appear imminent, there does seem to be positive momentum building, and Monday’s meeting seems to have played an important role.

    Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast

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  • Defensive end from Germany commits to Nebraska

    Defensive end from Germany commits to Nebraska

    A defensive end from Germany has officially announced his commitment to the Nebraska Cornhuskers. David Hoffken is a 6-foot-7, 257-pound prospect out of Keil, Germany.

    Hoffken was offered and accepted a scholarship from the Cornhusker coaching staff earlier this month, but he announced his acceptance on social media earlier this week. The Huskers found the Keil, Germany native at a football clinic in Houston earlier in the month.

    While early reports had Germany possibly playing on the offensive line, Hoffken told 247Sports that after extensive conversations with coaching, he would remain on the defensive line.

    The fact that I’m 22 and was 6-7, 257 pounds, it would be pretty hard to gain that much weight to get me game ready. And due to the athleticism and mobility it would make more sense to play defensive line, and I’m very comfortable with that decision.

    The prospect has his full eligibility available and will enroll at Nebraska later this summer.

    Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

    Story originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire

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  • Jaguars, city of Jacksonville approve agreement to build $1.4 billion ‘Stadium of the Future’

    Jaguars, city of Jacksonville approve agreement to build $1.4 billion ‘Stadium of the Future’

    Jacksonville Jaguars

    The Jacksonville Jaguars’ “Stadium of the Future” is a go, as the franchise and city approved an agreement on a $1.4 billion project on Tuesday that will keep the Jaguars in Jacksonville for “decades to come.” 

    The proposal will see each side contribute $625 million to the project and Jacksonville would chip in another $150 million to get EverBank Stadium ready for construction beginning in 2026. The team will also not include any new taxes to pay for the rebuild.

    With construction set to begin after the 2025 season, the Jaguars would play in front of a reduced capacity crowd in 2026 and then host home games in either Gainesville or Orlando in 2027. 

    The updated look of EverBank Stadium was revealed last summer, representing the next step in the team’s efforts to transform downtown Jacksonville. The Jaguars plan to make the stadium four times as wide as the current one with interactive social areas and food local to the city. The stadium will include state of the art technology and a shade canopy to reduce heat retention by 70%.

    As for other opportunities to improve the stadium? In announcing the stadium design last year, the franchise said the following changes will be made:

    Shade on all seatsA 360-degree concourse
    Wider concoursesIncreased space for football operationsBetter vertical transportationReplace HVAC, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems

    The Jaguars, rumored for years to be a potential relocation franchise to London, have plans to remain in Jacksonville for the long term. This new stadium would ensure they’d remain in the market for another 30 years. The franchise chose to renovate EverBank Stadium instead of building a new one once the organization concluded it was structurally…

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  • Big Ten expansion: Best, worst scenarios for USC, Oregon, Washington, UCLA in first season as league members

    Big Ten expansion: Best, worst scenarios for USC, Oregon, Washington, UCLA in first season as league members

    The Big Ten is going bi-coastal in 2024 as Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington join the league following the Pac-12’s demise. Expansion comes after the conference produced its first national champion (Michigan) since the 2014 season, and the four new arrivals will only add difficulty to what’s already a brutal conference.

    Along with the addition of the West Coast bloc, the Big Ten is eradicating divisions and granting league championship game access to the top two teams in the standings. While all four newbies boast strong football histories, their paths to the top of what is now an 18-team super conference will be treacherous.

    Oregon is regarded as a plug-and-play league title contender, but there is plenty of intrigue surrounding the other three teams entering the 2024 season as well. UCLA and Washington are both led by first-year coaches, while USC is beginning a new era at defensive coordinator and quarterback following a disappointing season of regression.

    The range of outcomes is vast for the Big Ten newcomers as they will crisscross the country playing unfamiliar foes up to three time zones away. As the season approaches, here’s a look at the best- and worst-case scenarios for the league’s splashy additions.

    Oregon

    Best case: National champions. With head coach Dan Lanning entering Year 3 and the return of quality coordinators Will Stein and Tosh Lupoi, the Ducks have the foundation to build off a 12-2 season that ended with a dominant Fiesta Bowl victory. Bo Nix is gone, but former UCF and Oklahoma star…

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  • New 49er Thomas explains why working with Shanahan has been eye-opening

    New 49er Thomas explains why working with Shanahan has been eye-opening

    New 49er Thomas explains why working with Shanahan has been eye-opening originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Logan Thomas has a decade of NFL experience, but joining the 49ers has been an eye-opening experience for the tight end, primarily because of coach Kyle Shanahan.

    The 32-year-old Thomas shared his initial impression of Shanahan while speaking to NBC Sports Bay Area at Tight End University, the two-day camp hosted by 49ers All-Pro George Kittle, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce and NFL alum Greg Olsen.

    “It’s very different,” Thomas said. “He sees it in from the inside out, and from the outside in. He sets things up. He’s like there are a couple of plays that might not hit big, but setting it up for something else.

    “You really respect that as a player because you know he’s grinding the same way you’re grinding and he wants to get the best out of you and we’re going to get the best out of him and that’s what’s most important.

    Thomas joined Kittle at TEU along with fellow 49ers free-agent signee Eric Saubert and San Francisco rookie Mason Pline not only to work on fundamentals but to get to know his new teammates a little more. The Virginia Tech product brings a pass catching element that could supplement the production of Kittle as a receiver.

    “I think it’s a huge opportunity,” Thomas said. “Obviously I’m not George. I’m not the guy that’s running the show every single day, but I’m ready to be the support guy and carve out a role for myself and be the guy they need me to be.”

    Thomas had multiple options to choose from as a free agent but prioritized joining an organization that had a winning culture, and where he felt he could could contribute. Still, he is ready to do the work to earn his spot on the offense.

    “They are a well oiled machine,” Thomas said of the 49ers’ offense. “They know what they are doing, and don’t care if you know what they are doing. Still got to stop it. That comes…

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  • WSU adds two to 2025 class with DT Josiah Pratt and DB Ishmael Gibbs

    WSU adds two to 2025 class with DT Josiah Pratt and DB Ishmael Gibbs

    Jun. 24—PULLMAN — Washington State’s defensive line and defensive back corps each added a prospect on Monday.

    The Cougars landed commitments from Josiah Pratt, a three-star defensive tackle from outside Houston, and Ishmael Gibbs, a three-star defensive back who hails from the Los Angeles area, bringing their class of 2025 to 12 members.

    Pratt, the second defensive lineman in the Cougs’ class of 2025, committed shortly after taking his visit, which came from Thursday to Saturday. The 6-foot, 300-pound Pratt turned down offers from one FBS school, North Texas, and FCS clubs Incarnate Word, Lamar and Texas A&M Commerce to become a Coug.

    Last fall, Pratt racked up 70 total tackles, including 44 solo, 16 for loss and 7 sacks, plus 4 quarterback hurries, helping Summer Creek High reach the 6A Division II state championship game for the first time in school history. He played his freshman season at Houston Heights.

    Pratt was mainly recruited by WSU defensive tackles coach Pete Kaligis, who offered Pratt back in mid-March. His offers from North Texas and Lamar followed in the next month and a half.

    WSU’s class of 2025 defensive front now features four players: Pratt, three-star edge rushers Lucan Amituanai and Luke Webb and three-star Malijah Tucker, the last of whom calls Tumwater, Washington home.

    Gibbs, the first cornerback and third defensive back in the Cougs’ class of 2025, passed on an array of offers on his way to WSU: Arizona, Boise State, Nevada, Fresno State, USF and James Madison, the last of which he visited earlier this month, just a day before he visited Pullman.

    The speedy Gibbs, a rising senior at Chaminade High in the West Hills area of Los Angeles, totaled 48 tackles last fall, including 19 solo and 2 for loss. He snared 5 interceptions and recorded 15 passes defended, helping him earn first-team…

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