NFL News Updates

Blog

  • 2024 NFL free agency: Ranking top 25 offensive free agents; Kirk Cousins, trio of receivers top list

    2024 NFL free agency: Ranking top 25 offensive free agents; Kirk Cousins, trio of receivers top list

    With the Super Bowl now in the rearview mirror, we are officially out of the 2023 season and gearing up for 2024. Over the next several months, 31 teams are going to do their best to catch up to the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. 

    That process begins in earnest with free agency, which opens next month. With that in mind, we’re taking space this week to highlight some of the best available options. In the space below, you’ll find the top 25 offensive free agents available this offseason. On Friday, we’ll do the same thing for defense.

    (To check out the top 25 defensive free agents, click here).

    Without further ado…

    Jackson didn’t have his best season in 2023 and he missed a few games due to injury along the way, but he has shown the ability to reach a Pro Bowl level of play at guard, and has consistently been an important part of what has been a very good Detroit offensive line. He probably benefits to at least some extent from playing between Taylor Decker and Frank Ragnow, and he’s a better run-blocker than pass-protector, but he’s a quality starter on the…

    ..

    [ad_2]

    Read More

  • Film review: Rutgers football is getting a big-time offensive linemen in Jayden Elijah

    Film review: Rutgers football is getting a big-time offensive linemen in Jayden Elijah

    Elijah is a member of the 2025 recruiting class and a three-star offensive lineman from Matawan Regional (Matawan, New Jersey). He is a significant addition to this class for Rutgers as he has received offers from Boston College, Cincinnati, Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech.

    According to 247Sports, Elijah is ranked the No. 16 prospect in New Jersey and the No. 43 offensive tackle among his recruiting class.

    He is a multi-sport athlete who plays basketball for Matawan. Not surprisingly, Elijah is a part-time hooper who rebounds and blocks shots while his large frame is near-impossible to stop near the rim.

    Film Breakdown

    Elijah is a big, athletic, long, and physical player who fits the mold of a big-time offensive lineman despite being raw on the gridiron. AHe fits the mold of what Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano and offensive line coach Pat Flaherty are looking for in an offensive lineman.

    Elijah is strong but tends to have slow and sloppy technique at times. He uses his physical strength to push opposing defenders off the ball, but he needs better technique to shine on the Power Five level. He needs to do work on his technique for sure.

    His size and frame are something that can’t be taught, though.

    The ceiling is high for Elijah, and Rutgers’ offensive line can benefit from his skillset in the upcoming years.

     

    Story originally appeared on Rutgers Wire

    ..

    [ad_2]

    Read More

  • J.J. Watt suggests reducing offensive holding from 10 yards to five yards

    J.J. Watt suggests reducing offensive holding from 10 yards to five yards

    It’s no surprise that NFL officials look the other way on holding all too often. Former NFL defensive lineman J.J. Watt has an idea for getting more yellow flags to fly.

    Appearing recently on Pat McAfee’s show, Watt suggested reducing the penalty from 10 yards to five.

    “I think the refs understand that a 10-yard penalty is a massive penalty in the NFL,” Watt said, via SteelersDepot.com. “So I think if you made [it] a 5-yard penalty, I think it’s going to be called much more fairly and much more realistically. Because it’s not as crippling to the offense.”

    It’s an intriguing idea, but it potentially overlooks the reason for the failure to call holding. The officials aren’t trying to avoid taking away 10 yards of field position; they’re trying to let offenses operate effectively by giving offensive linemen an edge when it comes to defensive linemen who keep getting better and better — and who can inflict significant damage onto a quarterback if they hit him.

    Illegal procedure is only a five-yard penalty, but the officials don’t call it like they should when a tackle takes off a split-second early. That head start helps him keep the edge rusher from hitting the quarterback. Ditto for the habit of tackles who line up too deep into the backfield.

    If the rule were to change from 10 yards to five, there’s actually a chance it would be called even less frequently.

    Regardless of whether it’s five or 10 or 15 yards, the NFL wants offenses to gain yards and score points. Currently, defensive linemen are collectively better than offensive linemen. Not calling holding or illegal procedure help balance out the disparity.

    I’m not defending the practice, especially since it results in holding being called inconsistently. It’s frustrating for fans and teams and defensive players. All too often, officials fail to call holding. It can’t just be incompetence; the officials don’t want to bog the game down by calling holding whenever it happens. And it’s very possible they don’t call it by…

    ..

    [ad_2]

    Read More

  • Tennessee football recruiting under Josh Heupel: 2025 news, rankings, Vols players to watch by SEC insiders

    Tennessee football recruiting under Josh Heupel: 2025 news, rankings, Vols players to watch by SEC insiders

    The Tennessee Volunteers are heading into their fourth season under head coach Josh Heupel, who signed a contract extension last year that will keep him in Knoxville through 2029. He led the Vols to an 8-4 regular season in 2023 and capped it off with a 35-0 win over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl to earn the No. 21 spot in the final College Football Playoff rankings. Their momentum under Heupel has led to significant Tennessee football recruiting news since the season ended, as the Vols are in the mix for multiple high-level recruits in the 2025 class. Several of the top prospects in the country were in Las Vegas for Nike’s “The Next One’s” event earlier this month and the Tennessee Vols are recruiting several of those players. 

    Tennessee finished with the No. 13 recruiting class for 2024, according to the 247Sports rankings. The Vols are off to a strong start for the 2025 cycle, ranked No. 10 overall with one 5-star and one 4-star among their six commits. If you want to see the latest Tennessee recruiting news, you should join GoVols247, the 247Sports affiliate that covers the Tennessee Vols.

    The GoVols247 team of Patrick Brown, Wes Rucker, Ryan Callahan and Ben McKee have decades of experience covering the Vols. Callahan has a history of breaking massive recruiting news, while Brown, Rucker and McKee are locked in on all the latest team news. Hundreds of thousands of Tennessee fans follow them on social media and their Tennessee coverage is read by millions. They’ll keep you locked in on everything happening in Tennessee athletics and provide you with premium updates you won’t find anywhere else. It’s all available at your fingertips on any device here.

    The team at GoVols247 has extensive coverage of Tennessee’s recruiting efforts, including…

    ..

    [ad_2]

    Read More

  • NBA All-Star 2024: Micah Parsons, Bennedict Mathurin show out in Celebrity Game and Rising Stars Challenge

    NBA All-Star 2024: Micah Parsons, Bennedict Mathurin show out in Celebrity Game and Rising Stars Challenge

    NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis got underway on Friday night with the Celebrity Game and Rising Stars Challenge. In the opener, Team Shannon held off Team Stephen A. for a 100-91 victory. Later on, Team Jalen defeated Team Detlef in the championship of the Rising Stars Challenge to claim that title.  

    With the first of three exciting nights now in the books, here’s a look at some of the moments that defined All-Star Friday. 

    Parsons steals the show in the Celebrity Game

    Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons finished third in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting earlier this month, but on Friday night he made sure he got his hands on a trophy. The three-time Pro Bowler stole the show at the Celebrity Game and was named MVP.

    Parsons was a two-sport star in high school, and once competed against Brooklyn Nets guard Lonnie Walker IV. On Friday, he showed that he still has some skills on the court, as he poured in 37 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead Team Shannon to victory. 

    This is the second consecutive year that an active NFL player has taken MVP honors in the Celebrity Game, and the fourth time overall. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf earned the honors last year, while Hall of Famer Terrell Owens went back-to-back in the 2008 and 2009 events. 

    Mathurin has fascinating night that ends with MVP

    Indiana Pacers swingman Bennedict Mathurin was named MVP of the Rising Stars Challenge, giving the hometown fans something extra to cheer about. He earned the honor after a truly fascinating night filled with impressive highlights, embarrassing bloopers and a surprising amount of trash talk. 

    Here’s a quick rundown of Mathurin’s best and worst moments:

    ‘You can’t guard me’

    In the middle of the first game between Team Jalen and Team Tamika, Mathurin suddenly got serious when he confronted Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey and told him, “Even in the Rising Stars game…

    ..

    [ad_2]

    Read More

  • Mike Griffin: Texas is Georgia’s primary focus this offseason

    Mike Griffin: Texas is Georgia’s primary focus this offseason

    The Georgia Bulldogs face three SEC contenders on the road next season in Alabama, Texas and Ole Miss. According to one writer who covers the Bulldogs, it’s the Texas Longhorns who will get the most focus this offseason.

    DawgNation beat writer Mike Griffin had the following to say of the matchup between Texas and Georgia.

    “Georgia doesn’t think too much, Kirby (Smart) doesn’t think too much, about Alabama. Really the Oct. 19 game at Texas is the big headache.”

    Griffin’s strong take is a surprising one given Alabama’s sustained success over the last decade and a half. Whether or not it was a subtle dig at the Crimson Tide is up for debate, but the beat writer shared that Georgia faithful have a high esteem for Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian.

    “They’re looking at (Georgia vs. Texas) as probably the game that’s gonna decide the SEC in Texas next year. And, to me, that’s what I’ve heard more about, is the game in Austin.”

    SEC Network host Paul Finebaum pushed back reminding Griffin of Georgia’s road battle with Alabama earlier in the season. Of course the Tide isn’t going away, and should provide a tough battle for the Bulldogs. Nevertheless, Griffin didn’t back down and further explained his reasoning.

    “That’s a (Texas) staff been in place, that’s a team that beat Alabama by 10 points in Tuscaloosa last year. That’s an impressive program that Steve Sarkisian’s built and they’re a real threat to the SEC with their budget. So, to me, I think that’s the big threat right now. People talk about Texas and Georgia at the top of the SEC, and then you get into the second tiers.”

    Griffin listed Alabama, Tennessee, LSU, Ole Miss and Missouri as second tier teams in 2024. Undoubtedly, that tiering with cause a stir in the southeast, but the Longhorns and Bulldogs, based on last season…

    ..

    [ad_2]

    Read More

  • Ex-NFL star Gerald McCoy explains why Bears hit home run with DC Eric Washington

    Ex-NFL star Gerald McCoy explains why Bears hit home run with DC Eric Washington

    Ex-NFL star Gerald McCoy explains why Bears hit home run with DC Eric Washington originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

    LAS VEGAS — Gerald McCoy only spent one season around Eric Washington during his time with the Carolina Panthers, but the Bears’ new defensive coordinator left a lasting impression on the six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle.

    “Listen, what are you going to get is a teacher?” McCoy, now an analyst for NFL Network, told NBC Sports Chicago at Radio Row for Super Bowl 58. “A lot of people — you’d be surprised how many people in the NFL don’t know how to play football the right way. They just don’t. They don’t know how to break down film. They don’t know how to watch film. They don’t know how to prepare for games. They are just talented. They’re just better and better athletes. It’s just: I can remember the play. OK, go do this.

    “He’s going to teach you the game. Like, OK, why am I looking at this? Why am I looking at that? Why are we running this? I was always taught this. If you know how to do something, you make a lot of money. If you know why you’re doing it, you sign the checks for anybody.”

    The Bears hired Washington as their defensive coordinator in January, filling the role that was vacated by the in-season resignation of Alan Williams.

    While head coach Matt Eberflus will retain the defensive play-calling duties, Washington will play a critical role in the weekly game planning and be a key cog in the development of young Bears defensive linemen Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens.

    During his time with the Panthers, McCoy saw how Washington’s ability to teach and break down information into easily digestible nuggets helped spur the growth of Panthers star defensive end Brian Burns.

    “They’re getting a teacher,” McCoy said. “They’re getting a guy who every day you might question who’s really giving the most effort, him or the players, and it’s going to be him most of the time. He doesn’t take days off. You never going to have to worry about is…

    ..

    [ad_2]

    Read More

  • Expanded College Football Playoff should adopt ‘5+7’ model to incentivize regular season, add quality matchups

    Expanded College Football Playoff should adopt ‘5+7’ model to incentivize regular season, add quality matchups

    After years of debates and multiple rounds of voting, the College Football Playoff finally approved a new, expanded 12-team format for the 2024 season. And for about eight months, the future of the sport’s postseason seemed to stabilize. Then, last summer, the Pac-12 as we knew imploded. 

    The Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC all swooped in and picked at the Pac-12’s remains, swelling their numbers and drastically changing the math in the college football landscape. The result sent the CFP power brokers back to square one. Since then, we’ve seen debates on format, meetings with no votes and votes with no results. 

    The CFP Board of Managers will meet again next week, and it’s expected (according to ESPN) that they will vote to move from the current 6+6 model to a new 5+7 format that will reduce the number of automatic bids for conference champions to five, adding an additional at-large bid. 

    It’s not a perfect change without flaws or downside for some, but it should have a positive impact for both the regular season and the CFP’s first round.  

    Why the hold up? 

    Expansion to 12 teams was formally approved for the 2024 and 2025 seasons on Dec. 1, 2022. At that time, a 6+6 format provided access for champions from more than half of the FBS conferences. Any changes to the playoff format or the financial distribution model requires a unanimous vote, and to this point a change off of that 6+6 has not garnered unanimous support from the board. 

    Because while the Pac-12 no longer has enough teams to hold a regular-season conference schedule or a conference championship game, it does still have a seat in the CFP meetings. Its representative, Washington State president Kirk Schulz, is reportedly the hold up. He is concerned on how the two remaining…

    ..

    [ad_2]

    Read More