Tag: 2024 NFL Draft

Pro Football Network offers puzzling observation about Steelers roster

PFN thinks quarterback is the Steelers biggest roster weakness and we respectfully disagree.

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a strong free agency and even better 2024 NFL draft. Nevertheless, we all acknowledge there is still work to be done if the Steelers want to seriously compete in the AFC this season.

But we have to respectfully disagree with the opinion of Pro Football Network on what they consider the Steelers biggest roster weakness after the draft. They chose quarterback and this one has us scratching our heads.

The Steelers gutted out their quarterback depth chart swapping Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky for Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen. This is a clear upgrade over last season.

What do we consider the team’s biggest weakness at this point? Despite selecting Roman Wilson in the 2024 NFL draft, it is still wide receiver for me, followed closely by cornerback. This is the most confident we’ve been about the quarterback position since Ben Roethlisberger retired and have far more concerns about who Russell Wilson is going to throw to.

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Chicago Bears rookie analysis: OT Kiran Amegadjie

The Bears selected OT Kiran Amegadjie with the 75th pick in the NFL draft. Here’s a quick rundown on Amegadjie:

The Chicago Bears selected Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie with the 75th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Here’s a quick rundown on Amegadjie:

Height: 6-foot-5

Weight: 323 pounds

Age: 22

From: Hinsdale, IL

Breakdown: Amegadjie has the versatility to play guard, having played multiple positions along the offensive line during his collegiate career. He started his first 10 games at left guard before switching to left tackle for his final 14 games. Amegadjie has a nice blend of size, athleticism and length, but he needs time to develop. Perhaps Amegadjie can push starting left tackle Braxton Jones, who has plenty to prove heading into his third season, and work his way into a starting role down the line. — Alyssa Barbieri

Dane Brugler’s scouting report: “A three-year starter at Yale, Amegadjie lined up at left tackle the last two seasons in Yale’s multiple run scheme. After not playing football until midway through high school, he put himself on the NFL radar with his ascending play in the Ivy League, although his season-ending injury in 2023 was disappointing — he missed half of his final season and NFL scouts were unable to see him face better competition at the Senior Bowl. From a size and athletic standpoint, Amegadjie pops on film, because of his rare length, light feet and smooth body control to mirror pass rushers or create momentum as a run blocker. Though he does a great job repositioning his hands and feet, his inexperience is also apparent when it comes to timing and adjustment fundamentals. Overall, Amegadjie is a raw prospect who needs technical and strength work before he sees live NFL reps, but his physical ingredients and competitive drive are the foundational elements that pro coaches want to develop. He projects as a backup left tackle as a rookie who has all the tools to gradually develop into an NFL starter.”

Lance Zierlein’s scouting report: “With a rare blend of athletic traits and eye-popping length, it might be a mistake to bet against the high number of boxes Amegadjie checks. His hand usage is a work in progress, and he hasn’t learned to consistently get into blocks with proper footwork and body control, but both issues are coachable and likely to be corrected. Provided he improves his punch-timing and placement, his ability to keep rushers at the end of his length could become a big advantage. Amegadjie already possesses impressive explosiveness as a drive blocker and could become a quality NFL starter once his tutelage is complete.”

They said it: “You love the tools that he has. His pass pro is really good. Love his length, hand usage. And a big man that we believe is going to continue to get bigger and more explosive, so it should really increase the competition on our offensive line and make everyone better.” — GM Ryan Poles

RAS card

Highlights

ESPN names DB Calen Bullock Texans’ top NFL draft pick

Calen Bullock is joining the Houston Texans, and ESPN believes the USC safety might be one of the top picks in the draft.

Calen Bullock is ready to take batted balls and ill-timed throws in the opposite direction for six points as a member of the Houston Texans’ defense in 2024. 

The Texans have high hopes for the USC defensive back after trading up with the Philadelphia Eagles to select him with the 78th overall pick. While there’s questions about his immediate impact, Houston is playing the long game to get the best version of Bullock in the coming years.  

ESPN believes in Bullock, too, naming him a top-30 selection in the 2024 NFL draft at No. 29. Bullock was the only Texans player selected among the top 100 players drafted over the three-day event. 

Bullock was my top-ranked safety. He’s not a big striker or hitter, but his ball skills (nine interceptions since 2021) and range are beautiful from a deep safety alignment. And his addition will allow Jimmie Ward to thrive in the slot for Houston. – ESPN’s Matt Miller 

Bullock is his best in high-man coverage. The 6-foot-3 defender led the Pac-12 with five interceptions in 2022, which seemed to be the one constant of a lackluster Trojan’s defense. 

Houston’s safety play produced mixed results in 2023. Ward, who spent time under DeMeco Ryans in San Francisco, missed multiple games due to a lower-body injury and ended the season on the injured reserve. 

Third-year safety Jalen Pitre regressed in coverage under Ryans’ man-heavy formation. As a rookie, the second-round pick notched five interceptions. Last season, he finished with zero and missed 14 tackles. 

Bullock, who drew NFL comparisons to Baltimore Ravens’ standout Marcus Williams, likely won’t improve much in run support, but Ward and Pitre have excelled in that department. The two could eventually compete for starting strong safety reps with the other shifting inside to the nickel. 

Ward and Pitre saw previous reps in the slot. In his final season with the 49ers, Ward shifted back to the nickel from safety for the first time since 2017 following a breakout campaign from All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga. Pitre won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year at Baylor while serving as the STAR in Dave Aranda’s 4-2-5 defense. 

Bullock also could line up in the nickel in spurts given his experience, though general manager Nick Caserio said he’s likely to remain on the back end rather than near the line of scrimmage. 

“You are talking about a guy that is 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, ran [a] 4.5 that moves well for his size, plays the ball, is instinctive, is an eraser in the deep part of the field,” Caserio said Friday following the selection. “[He] has to improve as a tackler, which goes back to improving his playing strength. Hopefully, our program will be beneficial to him in that respect. He’s still an ascending player.” 

New Texans TE Cade Stover excited to renuite with QB C.J. Stroud

Cade Stover once served as C.J. Stroud’s security blanket at Ohio State, and plans to do it again with the Houston Texans.

C.J. Stroud silenced the critics with each jaw-dropping performance on Sundays last fall as the Houston Texans’ quarterback en route to winning the AFC South. 

Stroud, the second overall pick in the 2023 draft, was highly criticized throughout the pre-draft process for the S2 score. Some scouts believed his mental processing wasn’t quick enough to withstand NFL defenses and certain coverages. 

Stroud chose not to comment, but rather show doubters why their evaluations were far-fetched by becoming the fifth rookie passer in league history to throw for 4,000-plus yards in their first season. He also led the league in passing yards (274) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (23:5) in the same season, joining Tom Brady and Joe Montana as the only passer to accomplish such a feat. 

Fans across the NFL were hypnotized by Stroud’s heroics on his way to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year. Back in Columbus, tight end Cade Stover expected him to shine the second he arrived in Houston. 

The same goes for everyone inside Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

“It was no surprise to me or anybody in that Ohio State facility,” Stover said. “We knew that dude was special. When he got the chance, got put with the right people and the right coaching staff, the dude is unbelievable.”

Stover, Houston’s fourth-round pick in last month’s draft, knew Stroud before most. He practiced against him while still on defense during the week before transitioning to the offensive side during his junior season. 

At tight end, Stover served as Stroud’s security net en route to a College Football Playoff berth. The two connected for 36 times for 406 yards and five touchdowns. 

Stroud earned a second Heisman nomination while Stover earned third-team All-Big Ten honors. Now, the duo that brought consistency to Ohio Stadium in 2022 will look to do the same in 2024 and beyond off NRG Drive. 

It’s something Stover can’t wait to see unfold once more.

“It’s just such an honor to play with C.J. again,” Stover said. “They’ve got something really special going down there in Houston, so I’m just really, really excited to be a part of it and – a lot of emotion right now, it’s hard to put into words.

PFF: Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy tallied third-most receiving yards in FBS since 2021

According to Pro Football Focus, #Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy racked up the third-most receiving yards in the FBS since 2021.

The Kansas City Chiefs found their newest offensive weapon in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft by selecting Texas standout Xavier Worthy with the No. 28 pick.

Few players made more of an impact for their college team, and after Worthy set the 40-yard dash record at the NFL combine earlier this year, it is a wonder that he managed to drop within striking range for Kansas City.

According to Pro Football Focus, Worthy had the third-most receiving yards in the FBS since 2021 with 2,752, trailing top 10 picks Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers, who were taken by the Chicago Bears and New York Giants respectively.

While Worthy’s slight frame was a concern for some scouts, his blazing speed and outstanding productivity warranted a first-round selection and should translate well to his new career in the NFL.

Chiefs fans will have to wait a few months to see Worthy in action but have plenty of his highlights to watch to hold them over until training camp opens this summer.

3 Saints ranked among ESPN’s 100 best picks in 2024 NFL draft

The New Orleans Saints made some popular picks in the 2024 draft. ESPN ranked three of them among this year’s 100 best selections:

The New Orleans Saints made some popular picks in the 2024 draft. ESPN ranked three of them among this year’s 100 best selections, starting with first-round right tackle Taliese Fuaga. Here’s why ESPN’s Matt Miller argues Fuaga was the 24th-best pick out of the 257 selections in this year’s draft:

You could make the argument that no team had a more clearly defined need than the Saints’ hole at offensive tackle. Trevor Penning (2022 first-rounder) hasn’t hit, and the injuries to veteran Ryan Ramczyk make his future a question mark. Fuaga’s power at right tackle and agility in zone-blocking schemes made him a lock to be selected in the top 15. The value, fit and need are all aligned here.

But they didn’t stop there. The Saints also nailed their second-round choice, which was a trade up four spots to select cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. Miller ranked that pick at 77th in his top 100, writing:

Marshon Lattimore has been among the league’s best cornerbacks since he was drafted in 2017, but his peak years may be behind him. Lattimore can mentor McKinstry to take his role as CB1 on the depth chart. The right foot Jones fracture that caused McKinstry to drop has to be watched, but scouts raved about his football sense and instincts in the pre-draft process.

However, that McKinstry pick wasn’t even the team’s second-best move on draft day. Miller is a big fan of how well Spencer Rattler fits New Orleans’ depth chart at quarterback, ranking that pick above McKinstry at 73rd:

If the Saints had drafted Rattler in the third round, the pick still would have made my list. Stealing him in the fifth round gets an even higher ranking. Rattler’s toughness as he battled adversity at Oklahoma and South Carolina impressed me. He has a big arm and good mobility, and he is fearless in the pocket. He can be developed, potentially as a future starter.

So that two instant-impact draft picks and one that could develop into something special with time. If each of these three young players can meet those expectations, the Saints just might get where they want to go and end their playoffs drought. But winning the draft is just one thing. Keeping that positive momentum going into training camp and a grueling 17-game season is another. Let’s see if the Saints have it in them.

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Fans should expect a delay in Saints signing Kool-Aid McKinstry

Fans should expect a delay in the Saints signing Kool-Aid McKinstry. Second-round draft pick contracts have become a battleground between teams and agents:

Look ahead a few months and we can guess what New Orleans Saints fans will be asking: why hasn’t Kool-Aid McKinstry signed his contract? Recent collective bargaining agreements between the NFL and the players union has streamlined negotiations on rookie contracts, so there aren’t many points of conflict remaining. Most of the Saints draft class now signs their deals after rookie minicamp in May. But there’s one area that has turned into a battlefield: contracts for second round picks.

First-round pick contracts are fully guaranteed for the first four years, and we’re seeing players picked high in the second round receive heavier guarantees into the third and even fourth years of their deals. Agents are working to squeeze more guaranteed money for their clients but it’s leading to delays in getting these contracts signed.

Both of McKinstry’s predecessors, Isaiah Foskey (the 40th pick in 2023) and Alontae Taylor (the 49th pick in 2022) signed their contracts on July 19, when rookies reported about a week before training camp. So we should expect a similar delay for him. McKinstry was picked at No. 41 after the Saints traded up for him.

Last year, Foskey won guarantees for 95.98% of his salary in 2025 (the third year of his contract). As noted by NFL salary cap analyst Miguel Benzan, also known as Patscap, Foskey was the eighth player picked in 2023’s second round to get his first three salaries guaranteed. In 2022 just five second rounders managed that. And in 2021, only two second-round picks got three years guaranteed. So it’s slowly creeping higher, which is good news for young players.

That’s bad news for anxious Saints fans who want to see every draft pick signed as quickly as possible. But they’ll be alright. The new CBA has leveled such heavy fines for players holding out during training camp that the off-field drama is almost nonexistent, especially among rookies. You’d hope that Mickey Loomis and Khai Harley have learned from past experiences to get these deals done as soon as possible. We’ll just have to wait and see whether McKinstry continues the trend or if the Saints can finalize his contract sooner than they have in the past.

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Richard Sherman blasts the Falcons for drafting Michael Penix Jr.

If you’ve ever been the main character on Twitter for a day you probably know how Falcons GM Terry Fontenot is feeling right now.

If you’ve ever been the main character on Twitter for a day you probably know how Falcons GM Terry Fontenot is feeling right now. While there are a few rare exceptions to the rule, the vast majority of analysts are absolutely lambasting Atlanta for the decision to pick Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Even mild-mannered Mina Kimes dragged the Falcons for their decision.

Here’s Richard Sherman getting his licks in on Undisputed.

Consider us in that small minority of people who actually liked the pick. Yes, Kirk Cousins is slated to start for the next few years but we always advocate for drafting your next potential franchise QB before you need to find him. To name just a few, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers were all drafted when their teams already had established starters at quarterback.

You can make an even stronger case for Atlanta to do so, considering their QB1 will be 36 years old when next season begins and is coming off an ACL tear. Even if Cousins returns to form and the Falcons finally get back to the playoffs (2017 was their last appearance), we’re confident that the aggressive Penix has a higher ceiling than the conservative Cousins. In any case, it wouldn’t surpise us at all if Penix turns out to be the best QB in this class. Let’s revisit this in a few years.

More Seahawks Wire stories

PFF grades for Seahawks picks in the 2024 NFL draft

Ranking all 32 teams by their 2024 NFL draft GPA

Updated Seahawks depth chart projection after the draft

Seahawks have 6 of NFL.com’s top undrafted free agents

WATCH: Highlights of Bengals’ Kris Jenkins in college

Kris Jenkins put up some monster film before joining the Bengals.

The Cincinnati Bengals took Michigan defensive tackle Kris Jenkins with their second-round choice in the 2024 NFL draft.

Jenkins’ stats during his time with the Wolverines are impressive, and it shows up in the film as well.

Coming off of a college national title, he was one of the top players at the position available and easily improves the outlook of the Bengals’ front seven on the defensive side of the ball. His measurables at the combine and his pro day speak for themselves, but his stats on the field back them up.

Here’s a look at some of Jenkins’ best highlights and film after the team made him the No. 49 overall pick.

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