Category: NFL News

Patrick Mahomes is a three-time Super Bowl champion, a three-time Super Bowl MVP, a two-time NFL MVP, already holds multiple records at 28 years old and is among the top quarterbacks to ever play the game. Players like No. 15 do not come around often, but some, including his tight end, are saying a rookie QB has a similar qualities to the future Hall of Famer.

Travis Kelce is joining the train of people who say No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams is a lot like Mahomes. Many said this about the Chicago Bears first-year quarterback, but coming from someone who has played alongside Mahomes for years holds more weight.

Kelce said Mahomes’ college highlights at Texas Tech and Williams’ college highlights at USC have a lot in common.

“It was a lot of feel, a lot of just trust throwing that thing downfield and letting his guys go make plays,” Kelce said on his “New Heights” podcast. “He has that game-changer mentality where at any moment he can kill you with his arm, and he can do some things with his legs and run the ball – a lot of QBs can’t, that throw it that well.”

The tight end then gave a prediction on how the Bears, who went 7-10 and missed the playoffs last year, will fare with Williams leading the offense.

“I thought he was an absolute stud,” said Kelce. “I think Caleb goes in there and makes them a better football team, I really do.”

Williams proved himself enough in the short time following the draft that he has already been named QB1 in Chicago, which came as no surprise. 

Let’s take a look at how Williams and Mahomes stack up in their college career by the numbers:

STATS

MAHOMES

WILLIAMS

ADVANTAGE

Completion percentage

63.5

66.9

Williams

Passing yards

11,252

10,082

Mahomes

Passing touchdowns

93

93

Tied

Interceptions

29

14

Williams

Rushing yards

845

966

Williams

Rushing touchdowns

22

27

Williams

Williams has already accomplished something in his career that Mahomes never will, going first overall…

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Report: 49ers sign former Titans DL Brown after minicamp tryout originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The 49ers reportedly are adding depth to their defensive line.

San Francisco signed former Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Shakel Brown after minicamp tryouts, KPRC’s Aaron Wilson reported Monday, citing a league source.

Shakel, who was waived by Tennessee on Tuesday, spent his rookie 2023 NFL season with the Titans, signing with them as an undrafted free agent last May. He spent the entire season on the Titans’ injured reserve list after sustaining an injury in a preseason game against the Bears.

San Francisco had been “interested” in the 25-year-old for a year, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows.

As noted on the most recent “49ers +/-” podcast, 49ers have been interested in Brown for more than a year. He had had an official visit with them before the ‘23 draft. He also looked huge/ripped during Friday’s minicamp (6-3, 295). https://t.co/5qXCJ8nibe

— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) May 14, 2024

In three seasons at Troy, Shakel made 29 appearances (five starts), tallying 58 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

The 49ers’ addition of Shakel, who is expected to compete for a final roster spot, comes less than a week removed from the team’s decision to waive defensive lineman Spencer Waege.

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Getty Images

The NFL kickoff is going to have a wildly different look this year after owners approved one of the most drastic rule changes in league history back in March. 

The new kickoff isn’t going to look like anything you’ve ever seen before in the NFL. 

The biggest change with the kickoff is that of the 22 players on the field for the play, 21 of them will be in the receiving team’s territory. The kicker will be in his normal kickoff spot, but the other 10 players on the kicking team will line up at the receiving team’s 40-yard line. As for the receiving team, there will be one or two returners back to field the kickoff and then the other nine (or 10) players have to line up in the setup zone, which is a 5-yard space that runs from the receiving team’s 30 to its 35-yard line. 

Right now, every NFL team is trying to figure out how to take advantage of the new rule. 

Broncos coach Sean Payton was asked about the rule over the weekend and he had some interesting things to say, so let’s break down Payton’s take on the new rule: 

Teams might need a new breed of kickoff returner. Under the old rule, a returner almost always ended up fielding a kickoff on the fly, but with the new rule, that almost certainly won’t be the case. Kickers will likely try to get the football to hit the ground, which means you might need a returner who can field a grounder. “The two deep backs are going to have to have good ball skills, a little bit of a shortstop, third baseman, if you will, because we’re not just going to get these easy-to-catch high kicks anymore,” Payton said, via PFT. “We’re going to get these shots in the gaps, if you will. … So I think it creates a unique skill set for the returners.”Payton says we’ll see bigger…..

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USATSI

The New York Giants are celebrating their 100th season this year, the fourth NFL franchise to be around after 100 years. The Giants have plenty of history attached to their name, one of the few franchises to have been owned by the same family (the Mara family) since their inception.

The franchise has won four NFL championships and four Super Bowls in their history, so there will be plenty to celebrate in their 100th season. Part of that celebration will be a new throwback uniform, which the team has teased on social media over the past week.

The uniform is expected to be unveiled on May 13. 

Another aspect of the 100th season that could really make things interesting for the Giants. Will both of the 1980s-1990s throwback uniforms still be in play for the 2024 season? The Giants brought back the home and road uniforms from that era last season, but will they put one on the shelf for 2024?

The Giants wore the “Legacy Blue” uniform, worn from 1980-1999, twice in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The Giants wore the white “Color Rush” throwbacks since the 2016 season, wearing the uniform at least once per season. New York changed its “Color Rush” uniform in 2023 thanks to the lifting of the “one-shell rule,” wearing the throwback dark blue helmet (worn with the “Legacy Blue” jerseys) with the uniform. 

New York’s current home and road uniforms are based on throwback jerseys. The blue, home jerseys were a modernized version of the team’s design used in the 1950s when the team debuted them in 2000, as the franchise switched back to the lowercase “Ny” logo worn until 1979. The white, road jerseys are also based off the team’s design used in the 1950s when they debuted them in 2005, having red numbers and red striped sleeves. 

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Eliot Wolf officially named Patriots’ de facto GM, gets new title originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

As expected, Eliot Wolf will lead the New England Patriots front office for the foreseeable future.

The Patriots ended their brief search for a de facto general manager Saturday, officially naming Wolf as their “executive vice president of player personnel.” Wolf’s responsibilities will include “the overall direction of the personnel department, the management of the salary cap, and control of the 53-man roster,” according to the team.

The Patriots’ announcement included the following statement from team owner Robert Kraft:

“As I have stated multiple times during the offseason, the plan was to observe the working relationship and involvement between Eliot and Jerod (Mayo) and see how they managed our offseason personnel decisions. Then, following the draft we would formally undertake a process for setting up the permanent structure of our personnel department. I have been impressed with Eliot’s management style and experience and I’m excited that he has agreed to take on this new position.”

Wolf unofficially took over as New England’s front office leader following Bill Belichick’s departure in January. The 41-year-old navigated the Patriots through NFL free agency as well as the draft, during which the team selected UNC quarterback Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall pick.

Before making Wolf’s promotion official, the Patriots had to satisfy the NFL’s Rooney Rule by interviewing at least two minority candidates for the position. They completed interviews with former Carolina Panthers cap chief Samir Suleiman and Philadelphia Eagles exec Brandon Hunt, but Wolf was considered the overwhelming favorite from the beginning.

“It is an honor to accept this position with the New England Patriots,” Wolf said. “I am grateful to the Kraft family for this opportunity and want to thank my family, especially my wife and children, for the support and strength they have given me as…

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With the NFL draft in the rear view, all 32 teams have moved squarely into preparation mode for the 2024 season, with rookie minicamps underway across the league. Organized team activities and training camps will soon follow. Until then, here’s a roundup of some notable moments — many trivial, but still notable, considering this is the first time many clubs are actively on the grass together — from ongoing camps:

Freshly named the Chicago Bears’ starting quarterback for 2024, this year’s No. 1 overall pick got a cart ride to the practice field sporting his brand-new No. 18 jersey, marking the start of a new era in Windy City.

Penix begins throwing with Falcons

Kirk Cousins is nearly full go for spring work, according to new head coach Raheem Morris, but in the meantime, his potential successor, No. 8 overall pick Michael Penix Jr., is already showing off his left arm.

Kingsbury works with McDaniels

New Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury had instructions for No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels, the team’s presumptive Week 1 quarterback, about a quick release in passing drills.

Arizona has a new No. 1 wide receiver, and he’s wearing No. 18 — the same digits he donned at Ohio State — while acclimating to coach Jonathan Gannon’s squad out west.

Arnold debuts No. 0 jersey at Lions camp

Already a fan favorite for his outspoken personality, Terrion Arnold took his first reps in defensive-back drills for the Detroit Lions, sporting the No. 0 jersey that finally joined the NFL-approved lineup of numbers in 2023.

Keon Coleman works closely with Joe Brady

The expressive Buffalo Bills rookie, who could see a sizable role early at wide receiver, was getting plenty of instruction from the club’s offensive coordinator, seemingly ahead of route-running practice.

Giants rookie credits Spider-Man for NFL acclimation

In maybe the coolest, transparent admission of…

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First look at Caleb Williams in action at Bears rookie minicamp originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

Day 1 of the Bears rookie minicamp is in the books.

All the newcomers from the 2024 NFL Draft, except for Kiran Amegadjie, will participate in the Bears rookie minicamp at Halas Hall. It’s a highly-anticipated event, especially for Caleb Williams, who Matt Eberflus officially announced as the team’s starting quarterback.

Here are a couple of videos from Friday’s action.

The moment you’ve all been waiting for…@CALEBcsw ➡️ @RomeOdunze pic.twitter.com/KcM1BJP2Uh

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 10, 2024

The Punter from Down Under 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/bmcJuhS5pJ

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 10, 2024

Click here to follow the Under Center Podcast.

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With the 2024 NFL Draft in the rear view, most NFL teams have a solid idea of what their roster will look like come September. But with organized team activities and training camps still around the corner, there’s plenty of time for lineups to be tweaked. That’s especially the case if/when injuries arise, prompting last-minute adjustments, even at premium positions like quarterback.

Odds are there won’t be anymore blockbuster deals under center, but let’s say a key veteran goes down, even if just for the short term. The trade winds could very well pick up, especially with so many teams currently overseeing crowded depth charts. A year after journeyman Joshua Dobbs got dealt not once but twice as an emergency starter, which reserve signal-caller could be next on the trade block, provided a vacancy opens up in the coming months?

Here are five names to watch:

The former Washington Commanders starter already took a pay cut to stick around as Kirk Cousins’ backup. And that was before the Falcons spent this year’s No. 8 overall draft pick on Michael Penix Jr. Only due $4.5 million in…

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