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Tag: NFL Draft

  • The NFL Season Is Over and Everything Is Worse Now; So, Here Are Some Alternatives – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles•News

    Credit: Philadelphia Eagles-Facebook

    The NFL season is over, and everything is worse now. We just saw the Seattle Seahawks soundly defeat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60, meaning the Eagles’ title of defending champions is over.

    We now enter the dark day,s also known as the offseason.

    Football-less weekends are upon us.

    How you spend these next few months is up to you, but here’s where I’m starting.

    Coaching Staff

    Credit: Philadelphia Eagles-Facebook

    Prep for the next Eagles season. There’s been a lot of upheaval in the Eagles staff, particularly on the offensive side. Let’s familiarize ourselves with them. New Offensive Coordinator Sean Mannion, Passing Coordinator Josh Grizzard, and Offensive Line Coach Chris Kuper have joined the Eagles staff for 2026. They seem like promising young hires, which is the cliche way of saying we know very little about how they’ll actually perform.

    We do know that Jordan Love has played well under Mannion, Baker has become the franchise guy in Tampa under Grizzard, and the Vikings’ rushing game was surprisingly competent despite the revolving door of starter quarterbacks. I’ll also be looking at players who may join or leave the team next year.

    A.J. Brown

    Brings us to crazy trade scenarios. Is AJ Brown actually going to force a trade out of Philadelphia? Personally, I want to keep AJ despite his antics from the last two years. Most reports show Brown’s value around a second-round pick, which doesn’t justify it to me. Sure, a second-round pick could be any caliber of player; it could even be an AJ Brown-type player. Then again, Howie has shown he’d rather pull the plug early than late.

    Maxx Crosby

    Is Howie going to pull a masterclass and try to get Maxx Crosby? While I would love to see a player like him added to the team, I think it only really happens if the Raiders are desperate to move him.

    He has a massive contract signed last year, and the Eagles need more help on the offensive line than on the defensive line. They’ll likely try to build through the draft.

    2026 NFL Draft

    Speaking of, you can also start prepping for the draft. My early draft prep is to take an o-line or player from either the college playoffs or the SEC. I think the biggest difference for the Eagles from 2024 to 2025 was their running game.

    Hand up, I’m not much of a college football fan, so specifics will come later as we get closer to the draft. I do know that we can’t judge their past season of play until we see how well they exercise before the draft. More to come later, but we have our last idea.

    Landon Dickerson

    Doom scroll about the team. Not recommended, and actually, I’m going to try to talk you down on the big ones. Landon Dickerson might retire due to a knee injury that has reportedly plagued his 2025 season and was an issue when he was first drafted. It may surprise you, but I’m not secretly a doctor with a great knowledge of players’ knees.

    As a sports watcher, I can say we’ve seen a lot of players with leg injuries heal faster and return to 100% as of late. There are ACLs like Jayson Tatum or even Joel Embiid who got knee surgery and have been playing like they did when they won the MVP.

    Lane Johnson

    Lane Johnson also underwent surgery, and as the Eagles’ longest-tenured player (assuming Brandon Graham re-retires), there are questions about his future. I don’t actually expect him to retire unless his healing goes worse than expected.

    What I do expect is that this is his last year, so the Eagles better take one of those guys I haven’t researched yet.

    Vic Fangio

    Vic Fangio also flirted with retirement but has told the team he’d remain for at least another year. While this would be bad for obvious reasons, there’s always the chance that these were just rumors and a return to winning would cure his issues. There’s also our old pal Jim Schwartz, who is taking a year off from football after not being picked as the Browns’ head coach.

    Would he be willing to take another defensive coordinator position? Who knows, but I can tell you he’d get more national coverage with the Eagles than the Browns.

    Those are a few things I’ll be doing.

    I’ll also be writing for all you fine readers.

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    Hello, I’m a greater Philadelphia native writing mostly about the Eagles and the rest of the NFL. Articles aren’t … More about Kyle Lavin

    Tags: 2026 NFL Draft 2026 NFL Season AJ Brown Eagles Landon Dickerson Lane Johnson Las Vegas Raiders Maxx Crosby New England Patriots NFL NFL Draft Patriots Philadelphia Eagles Raiders seahawks Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl Super Bowl 60 Super Bowl LX Vic Fangio

    Categorized:Eagles News

    Kyle Lavin

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  • FSU QB Thomas Castellanos drops appeal, enters draft

    (Photo credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images)

    Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos has dropped his petition for another year of eligibility and declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.

    ‘To my family, friends, coaches, and teammates and everyone who has supported me along this journey, thank you for believing in me and pushing me to become the man I am today,’ he posted Tuesday on X.

    Castellanos started 12 games for the Seminoles in 2025 following two seasons at Boston College (2023-24) and one at UCF (2022).

    He had appealed for an extra season based on only appearing in five games as a freshman reserve for the Knights in 2022, including as an injury replacement in the then-American Athletic Conference championship game.

    Just Win Management Group, the agency that aided Castellanos during his legal battle with the NCAA, supported his decision to move on.

    ‘While the unique facts and circumstances surrounding the petition for an additional year of eligibility did create a path of viability, after careful review and consideration, we fully support Mr. Castellanos’ decision to forego that continued pursuit and focus his attention on preparing for the 2026 NFL draft,’ the agency said in a statement.

    Castellanos started every game for the Seminoles (5-7) in 2025, connecting on 58.3% of passes for 2,760 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed for a team-high 557 yards and nine scores.

    –Field Level Media

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  • The inspiring story of a brother-sister duo’s journey to the NFL

    Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith and his sister, Ashley, are both living out their dreams in the NFL – one on the football field and the other off. They’re currently the league’s only brother-sister duo.

    Their journey to the NFL dates all the way back to their childhood in Tennessee. It all started with their Saturday traditions: watching NCAA Southeastern Conference Football games as a family with wings, nachos and brownies within reach.

    Dream becomes reality

    “We knew what the plan was. We’re watching some ball,” said Trey with a smile during an interview for “CBS Mornings” that aired Thursday. “There’s no questions asked.”

    “One thousand percent,” Ashley agreed.

    Trey remembered wanting to be just like his dad, Henry, when he grew up.

    “Everyone was walking around, ‘Oh, you’re Henry’s boy. You’re Henry’s boy. Hey, your dad was a good football player.’ I wanted to be like my dad, and I wanted to go play at the Super Bowl no matter what it cost,” he recalled.

    That dream became a reality – twice over. The Chiefs guard already has two Super Bowls under his belt at just 26 years old. 

    Sibling teammates

    While Trey helps his teammates run plays on the field, Ashley runs the NFL’s player engagement program, which supports athletes in their personal and professional growth. She helps provide players and their families with resources to guide them through their NFL career and beyond, supporting their physical and mental health as well as their financial wellness.

    Trey and Ashley’s late mom Dorsetta Smith, who died in 2015 from congestive heart failure, was their biggest cheerleader. At the time, Trey was 15 years old and Ashley was 24.

    “The epitome of selflessness, you know, in terms of helping other people in times of need,” Trey described his mom.

    “She left a legacy of faith, of love, and also I call my mom my dream incubator.  We would crawl in bed and just talk with her about our goals and our dreams.  I would say that we think about her every single day and are really just focused on honoring her memory,” Ashley added.

    Trey made two promises while sitting by his mother’s deathbed: he would earn his degree and play in the NFL—promises he ultimately kept.

    “I wanted her to know that the dream that I had as a little boy that I told her about, I’m gonna – go through with it. I’m gonna go get it done. That was the last moment I really had with my mom,” he said.

    Trey was the 226th overall pick in Round 6 of the 2021 NFL Draft. But today, he’s become one of the league’s premiere guards – and he gets to do it alongside his sister, who’s changing lives off the field. 

    “I have my moments where I’m just like, ‘Wow, is this really our lives?’ I think that is also a hope that Trey and I have, that our lives will inspire generations to come. That whoever sees this will look and say, hey, if the Smith siblings can do it, we can do it too,” Ashley said.

    This Thanksgiving, the siblings say they have a lot to be thankful for. And as for their futures, Ashley said, “We’re just getting started.”

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  • NFL’s Wild Rule Could Reward Detroit Lions for Bad Luck

    The Detroit Lions might actually get rewarded for bad luck. Yeah, you read that right.

    When D.J. Reed went down with an injury earlier this season, it felt like another gut punch for a secondary that has been hit with wave after wave of setbacks. But according to Nick Korte of Over the Cap, the Lions could technically end up turning Reed’s missed time into a 2026 fourth-round compensatory pick, one of the strangest potential silver linings you’ll ever see.

    The Wild Compensatory Pick Twist

    Here’s how this bizarre situation works. The Lions signed D.J. Reed this offseason after losing Carlton Davis, which means Reed counts as a compensatory free agent (CFA) replacement.

    But here’s where it gets tricky: If Reed plays below a certain number of snaps this season, and Davis continues logging high snap counts elsewhere, the NFL’s formula could treat Reed’s signing as a net loss rather than a replacement.

    That could unlock a fourth-round compensatory pick for Detroit in the 2026 NFL Draft.

    “Finally, DJ Reed missing time due to injury has to be frustrating to the Lions,” Korte tweeted. “But there could be a very outside chance of a scenario like this that give them a 4th round 2026 compensatory pick if he continues to miss more time.”

    Korte even shared a chart showing that Reed is currently sitting at 48% of the required snaps, just below the threshold. If he remains under that line, Detroit could benefit.

    Why This Is So Rare

    To put it bluntly, this kind of situation almost never happens. Usually, when you sign a free agent to replace another, their playing time cancels out in the league’s compensatory pick formula.
    But because Reed’s injury has kept him off the field, that balance could tip.

    Still, this is a long shot. As Korte said, “It’s a very outside chance.” The league’s compensatory pick formula is notoriously complex, taking into account salaries, playing time, postseason honors, and more. Even Korte, the best in the business, admits it’s a hard system to predict.

    Detroit’s Focus: Winning, Not Comp Picks

    Sure, the thought of landing a fourth-round pick for Reed’s absence is fascinating, but make no mistake, the Lions aren’t rooting for it.

    If Reed’s ready to play, he’s playing. Period.

    This is a team chasing a Super Bowl, not a spreadsheet win. Getting a bonus draft pick is nice, but having one of your top corners healthy down the stretch is better.

    Still, it’s one of those rare “only in the NFL” quirks that adds another layer to Detroit’s fascinating 2025 season.

    The Bottom Line

    If D.J. Reed’s recovery takes longer than expected, the Lions might quietly benefit, but if he returns in time to help them make another playoff run, that’s the real prize.

    Either way, it’s a win-win situation. Just not one you see very often.

    Jeff Bilbrey

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  • Grading The Week: Ex-Broncos RBs Audric Estime, Javonte Williams would love to have J.K. Dobbins’ problems right now

    Where there’s a Williams, there’s a whoa.

    As in former Broncos running back Javonte Williams, the Dallas Cowboy who somehow managed to have a rougher week than his successor, J.K. Dobbins, did in London.

    For the first time since Week 1, the Javonte Train finally went off the rails. Despite what the fantasy experts on the Grading The Week team saw as a (makes finger quotes in the air) “favorable” matchup at Carolina last Sunday, the ex-Bronco was held to a season-low 29 rushing yards on 13 carries and 5 receiving yards on five grabs.

    Context: Despite a banged-up, messed-up offensive line in front of him across the pond, Dobbins still managed more rushing yards (40) and more total yards (also 40) on far fewer touches (14).

    Life of an ex-Broncos RB — D

    And yet Williams’ statistical stumble was cupcakes and rainbows compared to the week of his former teammate — and backfield mate — Audric Estime.

    Estime, the Broncos’ fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame in the 2024 NFL draft, was waived by Denver this past August after falling behind Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin on the depth chart. The Philadelphia Eagles signed Estime a few days later and stuck him on their practice squad.

    On Tuesday, our man Audric became unstuck. The Eagles released him.

    The ex-Irish runner remained inactive for all six games with the Birds, including the Broncos’ 21-17 win at Philly back on Oct. 5.

    Burning through two franchises over your first 18 months in the league makes for something of an auspicious NFL start for Estime, no question. But there’s one thing on the dude’s side: Time. He just turned 22 this past Sept. 6. If Estime can land on his feet, with head, heart and hands all pointing the same direction, he’s got time to re-write his narrative.

    Wedgewood’s start for Avs — A

    When the kids at the GTW offices can’t trust our eyes, we trust the math. After its first five games a year ago, the Avalanche had given up 28 goals (5.6 GAA) and had lost four times. After five games this fall to open the 2025-26 season, the burgundy and blue had surrendered just nine goals (1.8 GAA) while winning four of those five contests. Avs faithful may not know what a good power play looks like, but they know what it’s like to have a grown-up — Scott Wedgewood — keeping watch between the pipes.

    Meanwhile, our old pal Alexandar Georgiev — the man in net here to start last season — just cleared waivers in Buffalo and was spotted in recent days practicing with the AHL’s Rochester Americans.

    Sean Keeler

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  • Bengals acquire Joe Flacco from the Browns in a trade that also involves draft picks

    Joe Flacco is on the move again.

    The Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) acquired the veteran quarterback from the Cleveland Browns along with a 2026 sixth-round draft pick on Tuesday for a fifth-round pick next season.

    The 40-year-old Flacco gives Cincinnati another option. Jake Browning has struggled since replacing Joe Burrow, who is out with a toe injury sustained in Week 2.

    Flacco started the first four games for the Browns (1-4) this season, completing 93 of 160 passes for 815 yards and two touchdowns with six interceptions.

    “Joe is an experienced quarterback with a history of winning,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “He is a leader with a skill set that will fit our personnel well. He is a gifted passer with a strong arm, and we are excited to have him on our team.”

    Rookie Dillon Gabriel replaced Flacco in the starting lineup and played well in Cleveland’s 21-17 loss to Minnesota in London. Rookie Shedeur Sanders now moves up to the backup spot.

    “I got that text during practice. I don’t care. I don’t give a darn about the Browns at all. I care about the Colorado Buffaloes,” said his father, Colorado coach Deion Sanders. “I do love me some Shedeur Sanders, though, believe that. I care about him. The rest of that mess, I don’t. I’m a coach trying to win just like they’re trying to win games. I could care less who they traded.”

    Flacco, who was Super Bowl MVP with the Baltimore Ravens 13 years ago, has played for the Broncos, Jets, Eagles, Jets again, Browns, Colts, Browns again and now the Bengals.

    If Flacco starts against Green Bay this week, he will become the seventh QB since at least 1950 to start against the same opponent twice in a season with a different team. Kyle Orton didn’t twice.

    The Bengals were 4-3 with Browning in 2023 and he led them to a comeback win in Week 2 against the Jaguars after Burrow left the game. But Cincinnati has lost each of his three starts and Browning has six TDs and eight picks so far.

    The Bengals released Brett Rypien after the trade.

    Flacco has thrown for 46,512 yards, 259 TDs and 168 INTs in 18 seasons. He is 10-6 in the playoffs with 3530 yards passing, 26 TDs and 12 INTs.

    ___

    AP Sports Writer Pat Graham contributed to this report.

    ___

    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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  • Keeler: CU Buffs’ Travis Hunter is an NFL wideout playing cornerback, scouts say. “Receiver is where he can make the biggest impact”

    Keeler: CU Buffs’ Travis Hunter is an NFL wideout playing cornerback, scouts say. “Receiver is where he can make the biggest impact”

    BOULDER — Jon Cooper figured he was out of the unicorn hunting game when Travis Hunter picked off his heart and ran it all the way back to 1981.

    “Roy Green was an outstanding nickel safety for the Cardinals,” Cooper, the longtime pro scout, associate GM and senior draft analyst with Ourlads.com, told me recently. “And went both ways before they decided he was too valuable as a receiver to do anything but (play offense).”

    Cooper was at a St. Louis Cardinals game 43 years ago when Green, a speedy return ace who’d recently been turned into a two-way threat at wideout and defensive back, became the first NFL player since 1957 to intercept a pass and catch another in the same game.

    “(Green) wasn’t as big as (CU football coach) Deion (Sanders) or Hunter,” the scout sighed. “He only did it for a season, or a season-and-a-half.”

    With an old Jim Hart and a young Neil Lomax at quarterback, then-Cards coach Jim Hanifan didn’t mess around when it came to what side of the ball mattered more. Once the coaching staff saw Green, a former track star, rack up 708 receiving yards and lead the Redbirds in touchdown catches (four) while re-learning the position on the fly in 1981, his days as an NFL defensive back were numbered.

    The whole experiment worked so well, Roy moved to offense full-time starting in 1982, eventually leading the NFL in touchdown catches in ’83 and in receiving yards in ’84, notching Pro Bowl berths in both seasons.

    “There are certain guys you want to throw to, guys you know will hang on to the ball,” Hart told Sports Illustrated in December 1981. “Roy’s one of those guys.”

    Hart might as well be describing No. 12, whose superhuman combination of hand-eye coordination, ball skills, agility and IQ have Buffs alums already calling him the best football player to ever don CU black and gold.

    “He’s got a great head on his shoulder as well. He’s tough. He’s smart,” Dave Syvertsen, Ourlads’ senior draft analyst and scout, said of Hunter, the cornerback/wide receiver whose 5-2 Buffs host 5-2 Cincinnati on Saturday night at Folsom Field. “I think he’s got great contest-catch numbers, too.

    “Great possession and ball skills. He has superstar potential.”

    Syvertsen grades the junior out as a first-rounder at both wideout and cornerback in the ’25 NFL draft. But like Cooper, he has a feeling front offices will look to pigeonhole Hunter into one side of the ball in order to preserve his long-term health.

    And like Roy Green two generations ago, they expect that side to be offense — with a sprinkling of defensive appearances, primarily as a nickel back or a slot corner, peppered in.

    “I think he could be a great corner,” Cooper said. “(But) there’s something to be said for guys playing some slot corner and also playing on offense. Deion did it himself.

    “I think it’s going to depend on the team. I could see him playing in sub packages on defense, because he’s so skilled … eventually, I think, he will be one or the other. I think receiver is probably where he can make the biggest impact long-term. The jury might be out as to whether he can go two ways initially or one way all the time. Unique, unique player.”

    The afternoon after CU hosts the Bearcats, the Carolina Panthers, 1-6 and going nowhere fast, visit the Broncos (4-3) at Empower Field. Tankathon.com’s 2025 NFL mock draft as of Tuesday afternoon pegged Hunter going to the Patriots with the No. 1 overall pick and Buffs quarterback Shedeur Sanders being taken by Carolina with the second selection. Longtime ESPN draftnik Mel Kiper recently ranked Hunter as the No. 1 overall pick on his big board.

    For a team that needs everything, including marketable, charismatic stars, Hunter ticks every box. That said, even Buffs icons such as Michael Westbrook, the greatest wideout in CU history, would suggest to Hunter that he lean on offense primarily at the next level.

    “I would use him as a wide receiver,” Westbrook told me, echoing the scouts’ sentiments. “I would sparingly put him in (with) nickel packages, dime packages. Anytime they’ve got four wideouts on the field, Travis goes in.”

    Defense may win championships, but touchdowns pay the bills. Unlike in Green’s era, limitation on contact with receivers, combined with rules that discourage quarterback hits, have made the NFL more of a passing league than ever.

    Sean Keeler

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  • Securing the Slot – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Securing the Slot – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Cooper DeJean’s Spot In the Slot Inspires A Hope that the Eagles Have Locked Up the Secondary for Decades to Come.

    Coming out of the week 5 bye and into a game against the Cleveland Browns, the Eagles are expected to start rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean in the slot, replacing Avonte Maddox.

    The move comes as Philly’s defense ranks 27th after four games, giving up approximately 365.8 yards each. It also places the Eagles’ top two 2024 Draft selections together in the defensive backfield for the first time ever. Hopefully, the first time is for a long time.

    When the Eagles selected cornerback Cooper DeJean alongside Quinyon Mitchell in the NFL Draft of April 2024 — the franchise planned to lock up the secondary for years to come.

    DeJean was a Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, a Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year, and a unanimous consensus All-American at the University of Iowa.

    PHOTO: WikiCommons

    Twenty-two years earlier — in the NFL Draft of 2002 — the Eagles selected Sheldon Brown alongside Lito Sheppard to help anchor Jim Johnson’s secondary. Sheppard was taken in the first round, Brown in the second. The result of both additions helped to produce one of the finest Eagles’ defenses since the early 1990s — an attacking defense with innovative blitz packages from the creative mind of defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, whose defensive schemes made opposing teams feel like the Eagles had twenty-five defenders on the field instead of eleven. As a team — those Eagles would advance to three more NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl before both players were no longer on the team.

    Through four games of the 2024 NFL season — Quinyon Mitchell has been targeted and singled out by opposing defenses. By en-large, he has not only shown his ability and skills as a defender but also his fiery will to compete. For fellow draft-class member Cooper DeJean — the road to his first NFL action has been a little more tenuous. DeJean injured his hamstring before Training Camp. Thrust into action on special teams due to a shoulder injury to returner Britain Covey, last week DeJean fumbled a punt return when the officials picked up a flag for kick-catch interference after Isaiah Rodgers, Jr. blocked a Tampa Bay Player into him. Later, Kelle Ringo plowed in DeJean on another return opportunity.

    Avonte Maddox — selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft one year removed from the Eagles Super Bowl Championship— has been to five playoff appearances with the Eagles, including Super Bowl LVII in 2023. After a string of injuries over the next four years, Maddox was released by the Eagles in March of 2024 and re-signed with the team one month later.

    For the Eagles — the hope is that starting the future of the secondary now can help solidify a Vic Fangio defense that has yet to battle NFC East receivers such as Malik Nabers, CeeDee Lamb, and Terry McLaurin in 2024.
    If the secondary doesn’t make those plays in 2024 — they won’t be playing into the winter of 2025.

    PHOTO: Philadelphia Eagles/Twitter/X

    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • New details on DC’s bid for hosting the 2027 NFL Draft – WTOP News

    New details on DC’s bid for hosting the 2027 NFL Draft – WTOP News

    In planning documents obtained by the Washington Post, it appears Events DC, the events arm for the city, is in talks with the NFL.

    The District is trying again to bring the NFL draft to the nation’s capital — and it could potentially include some events on the National Mall. This comes several years after the city was named a finalist for the 2024 NFL draft but ultimately lost to Detroit.

    In planning documents obtained by the Washington Post, it appears Events DC, the events arm for the city, is in talks with the NFL — and the documents obtained were those that included the National Park Service in these discussions.

    According to the Post, some portion of the three-day event would take place on the National Mall, though it is unclear which specific activities would happen at the home of D.C.’s most iconic monuments.

    Jeff Reinbold, superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks, in a letter to the NFL provided to WTOP from Jan. 18, indicated that the NPS backs the move.

    “The National Park Service supports this proposal to the degree that portions identified to take place on the National Mall can be organized and managed within the special event, sponsor recognition, and turf management guidelines in place for this iconic cultural landscape,” Reinbold wrote.

    The city brought back proposals from years past to enter the competition among cities.

    The Post reports that some of the people behind the bid for the 2027 event believe the city would have hosted the event this year — if not for the controversies surrounding former Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder back in 2022.

    To host events on the National Mall, there are many rules aimed at preventing the “over commercialization” of events and protecting the grounds.

    In one email the Washington Post obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Reinbold cited one such event that was “over the top,” which was a 2003 Britney Spears concert put on by the NFL.

    Historically, the NFL makes its city selection a couple of years ahead of the event, though when the choice for the 2024 draft location will be made is unknown. The Post said the city has some strong competitors, including Denver and Charlotte.

    In an email to WTOP, Christy Goodman, director of communications for Events DC, said the organization has no comment on the bid.

    WTOP also reached out to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office for comment.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    Mike Murillo

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  • NFL sanctions Atlanta Falcons for violating Anti-Tampering Policy, strips 5th-round pick in 2025 draft

    NFL sanctions Atlanta Falcons for violating Anti-Tampering Policy, strips 5th-round pick in 2025 draft

    NFL sanctions Atlanta Falcons for violating Anti-Tampering Policy, strips 5th-round pick in 2025 draft

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  • Four Thoughts on the Houston Texans 2024 NFL Draft Class

    Four Thoughts on the Houston Texans 2024 NFL Draft Class

    When it comes to excitement on NFL Draft weekend, there may never be another weekend like last year, when the Texans selected C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson on back to back picks near the top of the draft. That’s awfully tough for any team to replicate, especially when you consider the early returns on those decisions.

    So for this past weekend, you already knew going in that things would be way more chill for Texans fans, especially with the team waiting until Friday night to make its first pick of the weekend, the 42nd overall pick. In the end, the best description for the Texans’ nine man draft class would be “solid and unspectacular,” and honestly, that’s good enough for where this team is right now.

    That said, a good hype video can even make the unspectacular feel spectacular, so here you go:

    Now that you’re appropriately juiced up, here are a few thoughts on the Texans’ rookie class they assembled over the weekend:

    A message for the folks angry the Texans didn’t draft a wide receiver….
    I saw plenty of upset Texans fans, particularly on Friday night after the second and third rounds, lamenting the fact that the “Texans didn’t get any weapons at wide receiver for C.J. Stroud!” Here is where I remind those people that the Texans DID use draft capital to acquire a weapon for Stroud — they moved back from the 23rd pick to the 42nd pick, and received a 2025 second round pick, which they then flipped for STEFON FREAKING DIGGS, who is a better weapon solution than anybody they could have drafted on Friday. Keep your eye on the ball, folks.

    I think people are going to really like Kamari Lassiter
    At the Texans downtown draft party on Friday night, there was some mild disappointment among Texans fans, when Alabama CB Kool Aid McKinstry went to the Saints one pick before the Texans’ selection. Lassiter, also a cornerback, was the next pick, and it was met with tepid applause from Texan fans who seemed to want McKinstry. Honestly, no disrespect to the fans at the party, but I think most of y’all just wanted a player named “Kool Aid.” If Lassiter’s name were Kool Aid Lassiter, you’d have cheered like the team won a playoff game. Anyway, Lassiter appears to be the exact type of personality that Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans are looking for, and if you don’t believe me, listen to his college coach at Georgia, Kirby Smart:

    The biggest surprise was the drafting of offensive lineman Blake Fisher
    I figured the Texans would draft an offensive lineman or two along the way, but I was mildly surprised that they used one of their premium picks on Fisher, who is a really good player, but tackle doesn’t feel like a big need, with Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard locked into new contract extensions they each signed last year. The flip side, though, is that the offensive line sustained a ton of injuries last season, and worst case, Fisher should provide high quality depth. It will be interesting o see if they give Fisher any reps at guard, or if he was drafted solely as a tackle.

    The most intriguing selection was Cade Stover
    I’m not just saying that because world famous streamer Sketch announced the pick, although that certainly didn’t hurt the intrigue:

    Stover, of course, was a teammate of C.J. Stroud’s for two years at Oho State, and he was one of the better tight ends in the country by the time his chose to head to the NFL. However, it’s his journey that makes him interesting. Stover was raised on a farm, a background he very much leans into. After playing running back in high school, he went to Ohio State and started out as a defensive end. He then flipped over to the offensive side of the ball in 2022, so he’s only been playing the tight end position for a couple seasons. In other words, there is a lot of untapped potential there.

    Listen to Sean Pendergast on SportsRadio 610 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. weekdays. Also, follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/SeanTPendergast, on Instagram at instagram.com/sean.pendergast, and like him on Facebook at facebook.com/SeanTPendergast.

    Sean Pendergast

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  • What they’re saying: The Eagles won the 2024 NFL Draft

    What they’re saying: The Eagles won the 2024 NFL Draft

    Howie season is a real thing. If you don’t believe me, look around — nearly every website that covers the NFL and the NFL draft is calling the Eagles front office big winners (in some cases the biggest) after they made a record-tying eight trades while adding nine rookies via the event this weekend.

    Here’s a quick look at why numerous outlets are head over heals for the Birds’ body of work — and you should be too:

    Best class

    Jordan Reid and Matt Miller | ESPN+

    Over at the Worldwide Leader, their experts broke down their favorite picks in each round, favorite QB landing spots and a handful of other superlatives. They anointed the Eagles group of nine as the best draft class of the 32 NFL teams:

    In the 2002 NFL draft, the Eagles used three early picks to remake a bad secondary. It changed the defense immediately. That’s what GM Howie Roseman must be thinking in 2024. The additions of Quinyon Mitchell in Round 1 and Cooper DeJean in a Round 2 trade up will immediately boost a secondary that looked old, slow and banged up during the team’s collapse late in 2023. The late part of Round 3 was a solid place to draft developmental pass-rusher Jalyx Hunt from Houston Christian too. He’s the type of player who could be a massive steal if the Eagles can tap into his raw potential. [ESPN.com]

    Zigging when others zag

    Will Brinson | CBS Sports

    The praise train continues at CBS, where Will Brinson was impressed more with how Roseman used his Day 3 picks. 

    … Clemson running back Will Shipley was a steal in the fourth round. Dipping back into Death Valley for Jeremiah Trotter Jr., is just good for business, even if it’s largely an emotional pick. Johnny Wilson in the sixth round?!?! NC State’s Dylan McMahon (aka “Baby Jason Kelce”) later in the round?? Just elite stuff from Howie late in the draft. Maybe most impressive: he traded out of spots a ton and acquired extra picks for next year. The drop-off in talent in this class (largely due to NIL trickle down) made moving out of the seventh round and improving your 2025 ammunition. [CBSSports.com]

    Highway robbery

    Austin Gayle | The Ringer

    Get ready for a whole lot of Howie Roseman love over the next few entries. Over at The Ringer, just how Roseman was able to nab the Eagles essentially the two best cornerbacks in the draft class seems confounding. More from Austin Gayle:

    How does Howie Roseman just keep getting away with this?! Drafting cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, two top-25 players on the media consensus board, at pick no. 22 and no. 40 (respectively) almost feels too good to be true—and downright disrespectful to the rest of the league. The trade up for DeJean on Friday evening diminishes some of the value of the selection, but both Mitchell and DeJean have all of the tools necessary to be long-term starters at outside cornerback on a team that desperately needs to get younger in the secondary. Plus, DeJean has inside-outside versatility and could make the switch to safety if necessary. [TheRinger.com]

    A safety net?

    Mike Jones | The Athletic

    Was Roseman operating under the assumption that the alleged tampering his team did during free agency to woo running back Saquon Barkley will yield a punishment? If so, surmises Jones, he was able to add a bunch of extra picks for the 2025 draft as a buffer just in case. Oh, and also, he said the Eagles won the draft:

    The Eagles received some good fortune, as cornerback Quinyon Mitchell fell to them in Round 1. Then Roseman pulled off a trade that positioned the Eagles to take another cornerback, Cooper DeJean, in Round 2. From there, Roseman and company continued to improve the depth of their roster while also stockpiling picks for 2025. For now, the Eagles have nine picks in next year’s draft. That gives Philadelphia a cushion in case the NFL’s investigation of potential tampering with Saquon Barkley reveals any wrongdoing and the Eagles are docked a pick or two. [TheAthletic.com]

    On a different level

    Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz | USA Today

    Remember last year, when the Eagles got two of the best defensive linemen in the same draft? And also essentially acquired running back De’Andre Swift for nothing? Roseman was operating at a different level — and at USA Today they’re accusing the GM of doing the same thing this offseason too. He added a ton of ammunition to the stockpile for 2025 and that was not by accident:

    He extracted some substantial additional value for the future by doing so, including a 2025 third-round pick thanks to his willingness to part with a fourth-rounder this year. And his Day 3 picks themselves were solid, too, with fourth-round running back Will Shipley, fifth-round receiver Ainias Smith and sixth-round receiver Johnny Wilson all looking capable of aiding the passing game through specific roles. The speedster Smith also could yield big value as a returner in the aftermath of the league’s new kickoff return rules. [USAToday.com]

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  • NFL Draft | Panthers add Mississippi State DT Jaden Crumedy in sixth round

    NFL Draft | Panthers add Mississippi State DT Jaden Crumedy in sixth round

    DETROIT (WTVD) — The Panthers gave young quarterback Bryce Young another weapon on Thursday night.

    Carolina selected wide receiver Xavier Legette out of South Carolina after trading up one spot in the NFL draft to No 32. Legette was the last of seven wide receivers selected in an offensive-heavy first round.

    The 6-foot-1, 221-pound Legette possesses good size and speed and is coming off a highly productive season with 71 catches for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns for the Gamecocks. He had no more than 18 receptions in a season in his first four years at South Carolina before emerging in 2023.

    Watch every pick of the second and third rounds beginning at 7 p.m. on ABC11.

    Legette gives the Panthers another option to go along with Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen and last year’s second-round pick, Jonathan Mingo. There’s a possibility he could also be used on kickoff returns, too.

    Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said Legette has the “dog mentality” he covets in players.

    “He definitely has that about him,” Morgan said. “He’s a great young man, but you can tell he has that look in his eye. I think he’s not only a special player but a special person. … He’s big, he’s strong, fast and physical. He has a lot of qualities we just loved.”

    Carolina Panthers first-round draft pick Xavier Legette holds up his jersey during a news conference on Friday in Charlotte.

    Chris Carlson

    Morgan said the team began to zero in on Legette after bringing him in for a meeting before the draft. Previously, the team had sent 10 members of the organization to Legette’s workout in Columbia, South Carolina, where Carolina wide receivers coach Rob Moore ran the drills.

    ALSO SEE | Where will top prospects from Triangle-area colleges land?

    Legette mentioned on social media before the draft that he thought the Panthers would take him if he fell to No. 33.

    Turns out he was right.

    “There was a good vibe there,” Legette said of the meeting.

    Panthers coach Dave Canales said he likes the versatility that Legette brings after he was used in several roles in college.

    “If you look at the versatile way the Gamecocks were able to use him whether it’s out of the backfield, jet sweeps, short crossers, down-the-field posts – there really isn’t much more we can do with receivers,” Canales said. “And he’s done it all.”

    Legette was known as a physical receiver in college and plans to bring that to the next level.

    “This is a grown man’s game and I feel like I’m a grown man,” Legette said.

    This is the second time in the past four years the Panthers have selected a South Carolina player in the first round after taking cornerback Jaycee Horn eighth overall in 2021. Horn has been very good when he’s played for the Panthers, but has struggled with injuries. On Friday, the team announced it has picked up Horn’s fifth-year option.

    Legette used to go against Horn daily in practice a few years back.

    “He is one of the reasons that I became the player that I am,” Legette said. “He made me better.”

    The Panthers didn’t have a first-round pick entering the night. The team traded that pick – which turned out to be the No. 1 overall pick – to the Chicago Bears last year to move up to get Young. The Bears used that pick on quarterback Caleb Williams.

    The Panthers traded the 33rd overall pick and one of their fifth-round picks to the Buffalo Bills for the 32nd pick and the Bills’ sixth-round selection.

    Texas running back Jonathon Brooks.

    Eric Gay

    SECOND ROUND

    The Panthers selected Texas running back Jonathon Brooks with the 46th overall pick.

    The Panthers traded up six spots to take Brooks on Friday night, the second-latest selection for the first running back to go off the board.

    “I think for us, we value the running backs and we value the running game,” Morgan said. “I think to have a guy like Jonathon Brooks, he was a guy we loved and identified. … They are valuable to us because we are going to be running the ball.”

    The only draft that had a longer wait for a running back came in 2014. Bishop Sankey was the first taken when he went 54th to Tennessee that year.

    Brooks might have gone earlier but he tore his ACL late in the season after rushing for 1,139 yards in 11 games.

    Brooks said he believes the league is underrating the position.

    “I guess the league and all of the fans will see this year,” Brooks said. “I do agree that as a running backs class, and in the NFL in general, I think a lot of people are going to start showing why we should be held to a higher standard.”

    THIRD ROUND

    With the eighth pick of the third round (72nd overall) the Panthers took Trevin Wallace, a linebacker out of Kentucky.

    FOURTH ROUND

    With the first pick of the fourth round (101 overall), the Panthers added Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders.

    FIFTH ROUND

    With the 22nd pick of the fifth round (157 overall), the Panthers added Washington cornerback Chau Smith-Wade

    SIXTH ROUND

    With the 24th pick of the sixth round (200 overall), the Panthers added Mississippi State defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    Copyright © 2024 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.

    WTVD

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  • Fauquier County native Corum lands with the Los Angeles Rams, taken in third round of NFL Draft – WTOP News

    Fauquier County native Corum lands with the Los Angeles Rams, taken in third round of NFL Draft – WTOP News

    Fauquier County native Blake Corum realized a lifelong dream Friday night after being selected in the NFL Draft.

    This article was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partner InsideNoVa.com. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.

    Fauquier County native Blake Corum realized a lifelong dream Friday night after being selected in the NFL Draft.

    The Los Angeles Rams picked Corum in the third round, with the 83rd overall pick. He was taken around 10:30 p.m.

    Corum likely could have been drafted last year, but he returned to the University of Michigan for his senior season, during which he rushed for 1,245 yards and scored a school-record 27 touchdowns in 2023. He finished his career at Michigan with a school-record 58 career touchdowns, NFL.com reported.

    Corum was instrumental in the Wolverines’ run to the national championship.

    “Corum’s 17-yard touchdown on the first drive of overtime gave the Wolverines a 27-20 lead over Alabama, and Michigan’s defense stopped the Crimson Tide on the ensuing drive to seal the game,” reported Nick Shook with NFL.com.

    Corum hails from Marshall and went on to attend Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore for high school.

    During his senior year at Michigan, he was named a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy, which honors college football players who exemplify a commitment to serving others. The trophy ended up going to Georgia’s Ladd McConkey.

    Among his accolades, Corum was recognized for the BC2 Youth Football Camp, which he hosts annually in Marshall. His most recent camp, held in June, was attended by hundreds of young players.

    “Coming from Fauquier County, I try to be an inspiration and show everyone that, even if you come from a small town in Fauquier, you can do the same thing I did with hard work and determination and consistency,” Corum previously told FauquierNow. “That’s why I came back home and started the BC2 Youth Football Camp.”

    Working with and engaging the next generation is passion for Corum.

    “I hope [the kids] learn and take away that whatever they put their minds to, they can achieve,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if anyone doesn’t believe in you, as long as you believe in yourself.”

    Dana Sukontarak

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  • NFL draft: Rams take Washington State OLB Brennan Jackson in 5th round

    NFL draft: Rams take Washington State OLB Brennan Jackson in 5th round

    HERMOSA BEACH — The Rams made their first move of the final day of the NFL draft by selecting Washington State edge rusher Brennan Jackson in the fifth round with the 154th overall pick.

    Jackson, a Temecula native who went to Great Oak High, spent his entire collegiate career with the Cougars. As a redshirt senior, he earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors after leading Washington State with 12.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks, to go with three pass breakups and four fumble recoveries.

    He is the third addition to the Rams’ defensive front this draft, joining first-round pick Jared Verse and second-round pick Braden Fiske as the Rams look to remake their pass rush following Aaron Donald’s retirement.

    Jackson is known as a high-energy, persistent pass rusher. He figures to fit into a rotation at outside linebacker for the Rams, joining Verse, all-rookie team OLB Byron Young and veteran Michael Hoecht.

    Adam Grosbard

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  • Grading Broncos’ Day 2 of the NFL draft: The Post’s sports staff weigh in on second, third rounds

    Grading Broncos’ Day 2 of the NFL draft: The Post’s sports staff weigh in on second, third rounds

    The Post’s sports staff weighs in with grades after the Denver Broncos drafted Utah edge rusher Jonah Elliss on Day 2 of the NFL draft.

    Parker Gabriel, Broncos beat writer

    Grade: B+

    A solid grade for Denver on two fronts and with one caveat. The Broncos hit a position of need at No. 76 overall in Utah edge rusher Jonah Elliss. They also stayed patient. After picking at No. 12 instead of trading back Thursday, the only way to move up from No. 76 in a meaningful way would have been to deal a player or dip into 2025 draft capital. Instead, Denver held on to its assets and picked a player with the skillset to help early — if he stays healthy. Some risk there given Elliss’ shoulder and hamstring issues, but a solid bet to make deep into Day 2.

    Ryan McFadden, Broncos beat writer

    Grade: B

    Elliss plays with a high-motor, a trait that helped him collect 12 sacks in his final season at Utah. He will need to improve as a run defender, and his shoulder injury, which forced him to not work out at the scouting combine, is a bit concerning. But Elliss has the potential to be a solid rotational player as a rookie who could develop into a starter on the edge in the future.

    Troy Renck, sports columnist

    Grade: B

    Utah’s Jonah Elliss brings energy and intensity to the edge. He has good hands, but needs to add more counter moves to his arsenal. He likely will need to bulk up to help him support the run. He profiles as a sub package pass rusher as a rookie for a group that hasn’t had a player reach double-digit sacks since 2018. That is too much to ask for as a rookie, but his ceiling suggests it is possible by Year 3 as he grows into a full-time role.

    Sean Keeler, sports columnist

    Grade: B

    Troy Franklin? No? Anyone? Elliss is fine — lean, mean, great bloodlines. If you love your edge-rushers with a no-quit engine, you’re going to love this guy. His first-down, short-yardage mileage is still TBD, but Luther’s kid won’t be awed by the stage. Or by Patrick Mahomes. Promise you that.

    Matt Schubert, Parker Gabriel, Ryan McFadden, Troy E. Renck, Sean Keeler

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  • Jesuit head coach cheers Colts’ first-round selection of Sacramento’s Laiatu Latu in NFL Draft

    Jesuit head coach cheers Colts’ first-round selection of Sacramento’s Laiatu Latu in NFL Draft

    CARMICHAEL, Calif. (KTXL) – Marauders head football coach Marlon Blanton watches from Jesuit High School as his former student athlete Laiatu Latu is selected 15th overall by the Indianapolis Colts in Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft.

    Blanton talks with FOX40’s Sean Cunningham about how proud he is of his former player, what it means to the school to see him make the NFL and Latu’s Sacramento roots.

    Latu, 23, was the first defensive player to be selected in Thursday’s NFL Draft. He was the consensus Associated Press First Team All-American defensive end last year with UCLA, where he led the nation 21.5 tackles for loss.

    Latu posted career highs with 49 tackles, 13 sacks and two interceptions last season with the Bruins. He spent two seasons with UCLA, transferring from Washington where his football career nearly came to an end due to a neck injury.

    Latu missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons and was medically retired at one point following neck fusion surgery. He returned to action in 2022 when he transferred to UCLA.

    The 6-foot-5, 265-pound edge rusher was the Bruins first winner of the Lombardi Award last season, which is awarded to the nation’s top defensive lineman in college football.

    Sean Cunningham

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  • Grading Broncos’ Day 1 of the NFL Draft: The Post’s sports staff weigh in on the first round

    Grading Broncos’ Day 1 of the NFL Draft: The Post’s sports staff weigh in on the first round

    The Post’s sports staff weighs in with grades after the Denver Broncos drafted Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick on Day 1 of the NFL Draft.

    Parker Gabriel, Broncos beat writer

    Grade: B-

    The gut reaction to this pick is going to be almost entirely driven by the strength of trust in Sean Payton to pick a quarterback. The fact that Nix was the sixth of the perceived top six selected Thursday will either prove Payton and the Broncos’ evaluation process to be a terrific one or it will end up looking like desperation. That makes Nix, far from a sure bet to turn into an upper-echelon player at the NFL level, a fascinating case study going forward.

    Ryan McFadden, Broncos beat writer

    Grade: B-

    Going into the draft, it felt like Denver couldn’t walk away without a quarterback. But taking Bo Nix at No. 12 seems like a reach. Unless the Broncos thought the Raiders would take him at No. 13, they could’ve tried to obtain more picks and still taken Nix after trading back. Nix fits Sean Payton’s offense, and his experience (61 college starts) gives him a chance to be a Week 1 starter. But Broncos Country will need to put its full trust in Payton that he knows something that others don’t.

    Troy Renck, sports columnist

    Grade: B

    There was no way the Broncos could rationalize leaving the first round without a quarterback. The AFC demands it. In Nix, Sean Payton landed a quarterback with maturity, intelligence, a quick release and a talent for avoiding sacks. Is he Drew Brees? That’s not fair. But could an athletic game manager be capable of keeping the offense on schedule? Yes. The USC game film provides reason to believe. His Auburn career creates pause. But at some point, you have to trust Payton. And all he’s done is stake his legacy to Nix.

    Sean Keeler, sports columnist

    Grade: B+

    Is the kid a reach at 12? Yup. Is Michael Penix Jr. better? Yup. Not every NFL braintrust loves Bo Nix as much as Sean Payton did, but that’s OK. Even if Nix is more Checkdown Charlie than Drew Brees II, this was a statement of intent. On Day 1, the Broncos didn’t come away from the best QB draft in ages empty-handed. You don’t get big victories in this league without making some small ones first.

    Parker Gabriel, Ryan McFadden, Troy E. Renck, Sean Keeler, Matt Schubert

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  • Sacramento native selected in first round of NFL Draft

    Sacramento native selected in first round of NFL Draft

    A Sacramento-native will soon head to Indianapolis, after he was selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft for the Colts.Laiatu Latu is a defensive lineman. He’s the first defensive player selected in the 2024 Draft at number 15, making his pick the latest a first defensive player has ever gone.Latu was born in Sacramento and attended Jesuit High School. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins and Washington Huskies.The former Marauder won the Lombardi Award and Ted Hendricks Award at UCLA.It seems 15 is Latu’s lucky number — he was number 15 at UCLA and was the 15th draft selection.In his final year at UCLA, Latu had 49 tackles, averaging 4.1 per game. He also earned 13 sacks, adding up to 76 sack yards and grabbed two interceptions.

    A Sacramento-native will soon head to Indianapolis, after he was selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft for the Colts.

    Laiatu Latu is a defensive lineman. He’s the first defensive player selected in the 2024 Draft at number 15, making his pick the latest a first defensive player has ever gone.

    Latu was born in Sacramento and attended Jesuit High School. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins and Washington Huskies.

    The former Marauder won the Lombardi Award and Ted Hendricks Award at UCLA.

    It seems 15 is Latu’s lucky number — he was number 15 at UCLA and was the 15th draft selection.

    In his final year at UCLA, Latu had 49 tackles, averaging 4.1 per game. He also earned 13 sacks, adding up to 76 sack yards and grabbed two interceptions.

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  • Minnesota Vikings draft JJ McCarthy to be quarterback of the future

    Minnesota Vikings draft JJ McCarthy to be quarterback of the future

    DETROIT — The Minnesota Vikings have chosen JJ McCarthy to be their franchise quarterback of the future.

    The Vikings took McCarthy with the 10th pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft Thursday.

    McCarthy’s coming off a national championship win with Michigan, but he didn’t have to do much as a passer to get there. He threw for just 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions all season.

    His NFL.com scouting profile notes a lot of intangibles — “He is confident and seems to have the ability to take slights and digest it as competitive fuel” — but does highlight concerns about his physical ability.

    “McCarthy should continue to improve as a passer, but he fails to stand out in many of the areas that tend to be predictive of top-level success in the NFL,” the profile reads.

    McCarthy is 21 years old.

    Michigan Spring Football Game
    ANN ARBOR, MI – APRIL 01: JJ McCarthy #9 greets fans while leaving the field at half time of the Michigan football spring game at Michigan Stadium on April 1, 2023 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

    Jaime Crawford / Getty Images


    Kirk Cousins, the Vikings’ starter for the past six seasons, signed with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency earlier this offseason. Minnesota signed Sam Darnold to a one-year deal after Cousins walked.

    This is the first time the Vikings have drafted a first round quarterback since Teddy Bridgewater in 2014. In 2011, they took Christian Ponder with the 12th overall pick. Daunte Culpepper (1999) and Tommy Kramer (1977) are the other first-round QBs in the team’s history. Culpepper, taken with the 11th pick, was the highest-drafted QB in team history.

    This is the biggest move in a pivotal offseason for the Vikings. They spent most of their money in free agency revamping the defense, adding pass rushers Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Jihad Ward, linebackers Blake Cashman and Kamu Grugier-Hill, cornerback Shaq Griffin and others. On the offensive side of the ball, the major addition was former Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones.

    The first three picks were all quarterbacks. The Chicago Bears selected Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick, the Washington Commanders grabbed Jayden Daniels at No. 2 and the New England Patriots stood pat at No. 3 to take Drake Maye.

    Then at No. 9, the Atlanta Falcons — who just signed Vikings’ QB Kirk Cousins in free agency — took another quarterback Michael Penix.

    The Vikings traded the New York Jets for the No. 10 pick, also giving them a fourth round pick.

    Watch WCCO News at 10 for live reactions from fans with Mike Max.

    Anthony Bettin

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