Category: Sooners in NFL

Jalen Hurts inside top 5 of Touchdown Wire’s 2023 NFL Starting QB Rankings

Ranking every starting quarterback in the NFL ahead of the 2023 season, Jalen Hurts was inside the top 5.

NFL training camps are opening this week across the league and former Oklahoma Sooners will be looking to build on their 2022 performances.

The Sooners have several high-profile players at the league’s most important position in [autotag]Jalen Hurts[/autotag], [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag], and [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag]. Hurts is coming off a breakout 2022 season where he helped lead the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl.

The former Crimson Tide and Sooners quarterback had an MVP-like season and put on an epic performance, going touchdown for touchdown with the guy who won the award, Patrick Mahomes.

After an incredible season for the Eagles, Hurts is now considered among the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

Touchdown Wire’s Natalie Miller put him at No. 4 in her preseason ranking of every starting quarterback in the NFL ahead of the 2023 season.

Just barely missing out on an MVP trophy because of an injury that cost him two games and a freakishly good season by Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts looks primed to perhaps steal the spotlight. Already one of the most dangerous superstars in the league, Hurts has all the tools and an offense around him that puts him in a fantastic position to reach new heights as a passer and playmaker. – Miller, Touchdown Wire

Hurts has done nothing but improve every year he’s played the position in high school. The sky’s the limit for the dual-threat quarterback, and the ceiling won’t slow down his progression.

[autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag], on the other hand, is trying to build off what was a unique 2022. He was traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Carolina Panthers and, after struggling in Carolina, signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Rams. With the Rams, Mayfield looked more comfortable and was far more productive. He even orchestrated an incredible 98-yard drive in the final two minutes to help Los Angeles beat the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football in his first start with the Rams. His success under head coach Sean McVay helped Mayfield earn an opportunity to start with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023.

Mayfield comes in at No. 27 on Touchdown Wire’s rankings.

It was certainly a tale of two seasons for Mayfield who utterly fumbled an opportunity with the Carolina Panthers but then miraculously revived his career with a steady stint starting for the Los Angeles Rams. Which Baker will show up in Tampa Bay? That is the question that remains going into the season. – Miller, Touchdown Wire

The former Heisman winner has a fantastic situation to resurrect his career in Tampa Bay. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are two of the better wide receivers in the league and form a tremendous duo. The Bucs also have an offensive line that should provide Mayfield enough time to be comfortable in the pocket to deliver downfield strikes.

Like Hurts, never count Mayfield down until he’s out.

As for [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag], he wasn’t included in the rankings because he’s not expected to be available to start the season after suffering an ACL tear at the end of last season. It’ll be former Texas Longhorns star quarterback [autotag]Colt McCoy[/autotag] taking first-team reps in training camp for the Cardinals.

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Mark Andrews among the elite pass catchers in the NFL per Pro Football Focus

Over the last three seasons, Mark Andrews has proven to be one of the elite pass catchers in the NFL.

As the passing game has become the focal point for offenses at every level of football, having players that can win in the passing game outside of the wide receiver position can be a game-changer.

There are few tight ends that impact the passing game at a similar level to the guys on the outside and when you have one, it can make a huge difference.

Over the last three seasons, only four tight ends in the NFL have received a 90+ receiving grade. One of those tight ends is former Sooner [autotag]Mark Andrews[/autotag]. Joining Andrews in this distinction is Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Dallas Goedert.

Recently Pro Football Focus ranked their top 15 tight ends heading ahead of the 2023 season and only Kelce was listed above Andrews who came in at No. 2.

Andrews is a massive target and has benefitted a lot from having Lamar Jackson as his quarterback.

The Ravens went out and got Lamar Jackson more help with Odell Beckham Jr. and still might be in the hunt for more targets like DeAndre Hopkins. This will help Andrews even more because he’s no longer the only concern for opposing passing defenses.

Andrews has translated incredibly well from college to the NFL. He was great at Oklahoma and was one of the key pieces that lead to Baker Mayfield winning the Heisman Trophy in 2017. He had 112 receptions, 1,765 receiving yards, and 22 receiving touchdowns during his time with the Sooners.

Expect him to have a massive year once again in 2023. In addition to the improved weapons on the outside, Lamar Jackson is back healthy and on a long-term deal. His future is no longer in doubt, allowing everyone to simply go play football.

Andrews has turned into one of the top targets in the NFL regardless of position, but because of the scarcity of big-time weapons at the tight end position, the former Sooner great is even more valuable.

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Trio of former Sooners OL among the highest graded in the NFL over the last two seasons

Over the last two seasons, three former Sooners offensive linemen have been the highest graded players in the NFL according to PFF.

The Oklahoma Sooners have had an incredible run putting offensive linemen in the NFL over the last two decades.

Over the last two years, three Sooners have been the highest-graded at their position. Trent Williams (LT), Creed Humphrey (C), and Lane Johnson (RT) are the highest-graded players at their positions, according to Pro Football Focus.

Oklahoma’s run of success at the position has helped it become a destination for offensive line prospects from high school and the transfer portal.

Anton Harrison is the latest to be selected in the first round. Harrison was one of three Bill Bedenbaugh offensive linemen to be selected in the 2023 NFL draft along with Wanya Morris and Chris Murray.

Here’s a look at Williams, Humphrey, and Johnson.

Trio of former Oklahoma offensive linemen among PFF’s top 32 for 2023 at offensive tackle

Oklahoma sees three former Sooners inside PFF’s top offensive tackles. Trent Williams, Lane Johnson, and Orlando Brown Jr. ranked.

Oklahoma’s track record over the last 15 years with the offensive line in the NFL is only matched by Notre Dame and Wisconsin. However, right now, when it comes to offensive tackle, no school is doing it better than the Sooners.

Pro Football Focus continued their rankings of the best 32 players at each position ahead of the 2023 season, and when looking at offensive tackle, Oklahoma has the top two.

[autotag]Trent Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Lane Johnson[/autotag] slot in at No. 1 and 2 in PFF’s offensive tackle rankings, and it’s hard to argue with either. No tackle has been as dominant and consistent as Trent Williams, who, at 34, is comfortably one of the league’s best players regardless of position.

Here is what the curator of the list, Gordon McGuinness, had to say about Trent at the top spot.

Williams has been with the 49ers for three seasons now and has finished all three with the highest PFF grade among offensive tackles. From 526 pass-blocking snaps in the regular season and playoffs last season, he allowed 19 total pressures, just three of which were hits or sacks. – McGuinness, PFF

Williams’ consistency at left tackle has helped propel San Francisco’s offense in new ways. Trent’s ability to win against any opposition makes it much easier for head coach and play caller Kyle Shanahan to orchestrate his dynamic offense.

Elsewhere in the NFC, Lane Johnson holds down the right tackle spot for the defending NFC champs, the Philadelphia Eagles. Johnson came to Oklahoma as a quarterback and tight end. He switched briefly to defensive end before ending up on the offensive line. That switch changed his career. Since then, he’s been magnificent at right tackle.

Johnson dealt with injuries throughout the 2022 season but still put together his best season in pass protection since entering the NFL. His 90.1 PFF pass-blocking grade trailed only Laremy Tunsil at the position, with Johnson not allowing a single sack or hit through the regular season and playoffs. – McGuinness, PFF

Johnson has the responsibility of protecting former Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts and Johnson held it down all last season. He didn’t give up a single sack or quarterback hit in 2022. Johnson also thrives as a physical and dominant force in the running game which is a significant part of the Eagles’ offensive attack.

Oklahoma’s list of talented offensive tackles does not end there. Orlando Brown also slots in on the list at No. 14.

Brown has developed into a high-floor NFL player, with his PFF grade sitting between 73.0 and 78.0 in each of the past four seasons. Five seasons into his NFL career, it’s fair to wonder if he’ll ever be a top-10 tackle. But at the very worst, he is a more-than-capable starting player on the left side.

Brown was a starter on the Chiefs team that won the Super Bowl last year and is a four-time Pro Bowler. He’s plenty been a really good player for the Ravens and Chiefs and now moves from protecting Patrick Mahomes to protecting Joe Burrow in Cincinnati. He signed a four-year, $64 million deal this offseason to head north to Ohio.

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Pair of former Sooner RBs included in PFF’s top 32 in the NFL ahead of 2023

Rhamondre Stevenson and Joe Mixon were included in Pro Football Focus’ top 32 running backs in the NFL ahead of the 2023 season.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a long history of producing fantastic running backs. In recent years, [autotag]Joe Mixon[/autotag] and [autotag]Rhamondre Stevenson[/autotag] have taken up the mantle for Oklahoma at the NFL level after [autotag]Adrian Peterson[/autotag] and [autotag]DeMarco Murray[/autotag] passed the torch.

As Pro Football Focus goes through its position rankings, Stevenson and Mixon were included in the top 32 running backs in the NFL ahead of the 2023 season. Stevenson came in at No. 16, and Mixon came in at No. 22.

Stevenson has been very solid to start his NFL career. In each of the past two seasons, he has recorded an 80.0-plus rushing grade. And in both years, he averaged more than 4.7 yards per carry with more than 3.4 yards after contact. The arrow is pointing even higher for Stevenson into 2023 and beyond. — Trevon Sikkema, PFF

Stevenson earned his first 1,000-yard season in 2022, carrying the ball 210 times for 1,040 yards and five touchdowns. He also had 69 receptions for 421 yards and a touchdown, making him an invaluable part of the New England Patriots’ offense.

Mixon has a ton of production in his career. His 814 rushing yards, 16 explosive runs and 3.9 yards per carry average in 2022 were lower than what you would want to see from both a volume and efficiency standpoint, but he remains comfortable with a heavy workload. That includes the passing game, where he recorded a career-high 60 catches and 414 receiving yards in 2022. – Sikkema, PFF

Joe Mixon has been a steady contributor for the Cincinnati Bengals in his six seasons. He’s had three 1,000-yard seasons and has averaged 4.1 yards per carry. Mixon’s scored 50 touchdowns during his tenure with the Bengals.

Even though he had his lowest yardage total when playing at least 14 games since his rookie season, Mixon’s still an incredibly important part of the Bengals’ offensive attack. As Joe Burrow and the passing game have become the focal point, Cincinnati’s offense will allow Mixon to shine through the passing game.

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PFF ranks CeeDee Lamb the No. 9 WR in the NFL ahead of the 2023 season

Oklahoma star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb ranked among an elite group of players in PFF’s top 32 receiver in the NFL ahead of the 2023.

Considered one of, if not the best and most complete receivers in Oklahoma history, production has never been an issue for CeeDee Lamb. In three seasons, Lamb finished top three among Oklahoma wide receivers in yards and touchdowns.

It’s possible that with one more full year, he would’ve eclipsed the legendary Ryan Broyles in both categories. Instead, Lamb opted to forgo that final season and head to the NFL, where he has become a star for the Dallas Cowboys.

Lamb’s finest professional season came last year as he ascended to the No. 1 receiver role for America’s Team. Lamb didn’t disappoint.

He finished 2022 with 107 catches for 1,359 yards and scored nine touchdowns. His 107 catches are the third-most in franchise history, while his 1,359 yards are the fifth-most in a single season in Cowboys history.

Couple that with his production the two years prior, and it makes sense why Pro Football Focus believes he’s one of the 10 best receivers in the NFL.

In the rankings of each position group, Lamb came in as the No. 9 wide receiver in the league. He slots in behind Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill, Ja’Marr Chase, Stefan Diggs, Cooper Krupp, A.J. Brown and Terry McLaurin.

Sam Monson said this of CeeDee Lamb.

Lamb’s production should only go up in 2023 now that Brandin Cooks is on the roster to keep defenses on their toes. Last season, with no Amari Cooper, Lamb set career highs in targets, catches, yards, touchdowns and yards per route run. He posted the lowest drop rate of his career and looked like one of the best receivers in the game. This season could be even better. – Monson, PFF

Monson brings up a point that many are overlooking when discussing Lamb’s prospects for this season. Lamb flourished last year despite a legitimate No. 2 receiver opposite him.

With Brandin Cooks handling the other side of the field, Lamb should see more single coverage. Cooks is a bonafide playmaker in his own right and will force teams to stop doubling Lamb nearly as much as they attempted to last year.

All in all, Lamb’s stock as a alpha receiver in the NFL should rise as he prepares for his fourth season playing for the Dallas Cowboys.

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Mark Andrews No. 2 on Pro Football Focus rankings of top tight ends in the NFL

In their 2023 preseason rankings, Pro Football Focus ranked Mark Andrews the No. 2 tight end in the NFL.

Since entering the league in 2018, [autotag]Mark Andrews[/autotag] has far exceeded his third-round draft status with the Baltimore Ravens. He was the second tight end taken in that draft by Baltimore; it picked Hayden Hurst in the first round.

Heading into their fourth season, Hurst is on his fourth team while Mark Andrews has emerged as one of the best tight ends in the NFL. Andrews came in at No. 2 on Pro Football Focus rankings of the top tight ends in the league ahead of the 2023 NFL season.

Andrews comes in at No. 2 on this list due to the number of targets his offense feeds him in comparison to the next man on this list. The Ravens have had very little outside of Andrews over the years, and he continues to put up elite numbers. Over the past two years, Andrews’ 1.05 WAR is second best at the position. If he has one weakness in his game, it’s his ability after the catch, as he forced just three missed tackles in 2022 to go along with a middling 3.6 yards after the catch per reception. — Kosko, PFF

Though he plays tight end for the Baltimore Ravens, Andrews has been the top target in the passing game. He’s given Lamar Jackson a threat over the middle and down the seam in the passing game. Only three players had more catches and yards than Andrews did in 2022, and he played five games without his starting quarterback last year.

The only player ranked higher than Andrews is Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce. Kelce is one of the most valuable players in the NFL and is the go-to option in the league’s best offense. For Andrews to be slotted behind Kelce and in front of San Francisco’s George Kittle is quite the statement of how good the former Sooners standout has been in his NFL career.

The average annual value of Andrews’ contract with the Baltimore Ravens ranks fifth among tight ends at $14 million, according to Over The Cap. Just like he was when Baltimore took him in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft, Andrews is a steal.

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CeeDee Lamb one PFF’s best NFL players under 25

CeeDee Lamb was named one of Pro Football Focus’ best players under 25 ahead of the 2023 season.

A legendary Oklahoma Sooner in his own right, CeeDee Lamb has become every bit the star anyone a fan of the Crimson & Cream imagined he would be when he declared for the NFL Draft.

He enters his fourth year in the NFL and has become a star for the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are trying to regroup from another playoff loss. They haven’t reached the NFC Championship in nearly 30 years.

For Lamb, last year was a major turning point in his NFL career.

Lamb was tasked with becoming the number-one receiver in the Cowboys’ receiving corps after a pre-draft trade sent former No.1 receiver Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns. The front office and his coaches put the onus on the Cowboys’ newest No. 88 to live up to the illustrious standards held by receivers who wear that number.

Early on, Lamb struggled with the task and lost his starting quarterback Dak Prescott to a thumb injury on his throwing hand for five games. Lamb had to adjust to backup QB Cooper Rush.

The season rumbled on, Prescott returned, and the duo unlocked a chemistry they hadn’t before.

The result?

Lamb finished 2022 with 107 catches for 1,359 yards and scored nine touchdowns. His 107 catches are the third-most in franchise history, while his 1,359 yards are fifth-most for a single season. Lamb also did this with defenses keyed in on him weekly. The remaining Cowboys receivers were ranked at or near the bottom of the league in separation. Meaning they struggled to get open, allowing opposing defenses to double CeeDee without fear of paying for it elsewhere in the passing attack.

Lamb answered the bell, and now, with a year under his belt as the alpha in the room, he will look to build on that and take his game to another level.

Pro Football Focus believes Lamb is the ninth-best player in the NFL under 25. His teammate and fellow All-Pro, Micah Parsons, is No.1. Trevor Sikkema of PFF also believes Lamb is the third-best wide receiver under 25 behind two former LSU Tigers in Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase.

Lamb has been an immediate impact player for the Cowboys since they drafted him in 2020. He recorded just under 1,000 receiving yards in his rookie years and has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in each of the past two seasons. His receiving grade has increased rapidly, from 72.6 in 2020 to 84.8 in 2021 and 87.0 in 2022. The only player with more explosive plays of 20 yards or more in the past two years is Justin Jefferson. – Sikkema, PFF

What’s next for CeeDee Lamb? Aside from the pursuit of a Super Bowl, an extension is looming for the talented wide receiver out of Richmond, Texas. The Cowboys picked up his fifth-year option, something only available to first-round picks. He’s coming off a career season in which he was a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro and is expected to count $17.99 million against the cap in 2024, assuming Dallas doesn’t get a long-term deal in place before that season. Lamb will count just $4.45 million against the cap in 2023, with a $2.52 million base salary.

Owner Jerry Jones has been a proponent of paying guys drafted by the team. With an ever-increasing salary cap, the Cowboys will pay the money necessary for CeeDee. It’s simply a matter of when.

In the interim, Lamb’s attention will be on 2023. He has a new offensive coordinator in Brian Schottenheimer and now a new play-caller in head coach Mike McCarthy.

As Oklahoma fans have learned, change doesn’t stop CeeDee Lamb. From a different quarterback every year in college to playing with multiple in the NFL, Lamb has delivered.

The 2023 season should be no different.

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Sooners legend Adrian Peterson shares why he chose Oklahoma over Texas

While being inducted to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Adrian Peterson shared what led to him choosing Oklahoma over the Texas Longhorns.

The world of collegiate recruiting has seen some crazy stories throughout the years. Especially football. Oklahoma has seen its fair share. The Sooners have been on the wrong end of some insane sagas and came out on top in others. Most recently, Peyton Bowen.

Very few recruiting wins stand out more than the one that centers on Sooners legend Adrian Peterson.

How did the nation’s number-one overall prospect and running back leave the state of Texas? What gravitated him to Norman, Oklahoma? Texas had the home-state advantage and had put more running backs in the NFL in recent years than Oklahoma had. So, what put Oklahoma over the edge?

At his induction into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame this weekend, Adrian Peterson told the world why he chose Oklahoma over Texas.

 

Peterson said, “I know there’s a lot of Longhorns and Aggies and Bears. And the number one question I get is, ‘why did you go to Oklahoma? Why didn’t you stay?’ My uncle played with Priest (Holmes) and Ricky (Williams) and those guys, and I remember when I watched them play, I remember sitting outside the stadium waiting for my uncle to come out, and I’m looking and I’m like, ‘I’ll be back here one day.’ I was Texas all the way.”

“But for the people that find themselves mad at me for going to Oklahoma, this is what I’ll say. You going to be mad at anybody, be mad at Coach Mack Brown.

“And this is why I say that. I sat in Coach Brown’s offense and I asked him the same thing I asked everyone else.”

Peterson then shared that he asked Bob Stoops, Pete Carroll and Nick Saban if he would have the chance to compete for a starting job as a true freshman.

Mack Brown’s open and honest loyalty to late Texas running back Cedric Benson. Benson returned to Texas for his senior year instead of bolting for the NFL, and Brown told Peterson in a conversation that he would have no shot to compete for starting snaps with Benson’s return. Peterson was known as a heavy Texas lean during his recruitment until he wasn’t.

The ability to fight for a starting job was arguably Peterson’s biggest question to the schools recruiting him, and Texas was the only one out of the main suitors that said no. Mack Brown told him he’d have to wait and sit behind Benson. Peterson never outright said it, but he refused to do that, and Peterson would eventually sign with their Red River rivals to the north and promptly have one of the best freshman seasons of all time in college football’s history.

Peterson galvanized Oklahoma’s team the moment he stepped on campus.

He was the focal point for the Sooners’ offense and helped them reach the 2005 BCS National Championship against USC. He finished third in school history, and 73 yards short of passing Billy Sims as the all-time leading rusher.

It took him only three years of playing, and he did it while missing multiple games in 2005 and 2006. He was the first true freshman to finish as a runner-up for the Heisman and was the first Sooner ever to be recognized as a first-team Associated Press All-American as a freshman. Simply put, he is a legend.

Things worked out for the Sooners and Peterson as Peterson dominated at Oklahoma before being drafted No. 7 overall to the Minnesota Vikings. He was the NFL MVP in 2012 and racked up four first-team All-Pro awards and seven Pro Bowl selections.

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Oklahoma Sooners on the move in NFL free agency

Several Oklahoma Sooners on the move in the first week of NFL Free Agency.

Oklahoma recently sent seven Sooners to the NFL Scouting Combine to participate in the most extensive interviews of their lives. They hope to hear their names called at the end of April in the 2023 NFL draft.

While their careers are just getting started, Oklahoma’s representation in the NFL is rich. Several Sooners have established solid reputations but had interesting decisions to make early in the NFL free agency cycle.

We’ve taken the liberty and rounded up all the news about current Oklahoma Sooners and their situations with regard to free agency and new deals this offseason so far.