Tag: Aaron Ross

Loss of Evan Engram continues disturbing first-round Giants trend

Following the loss of Evan Engram, the New York Giants have now had 11 straight Round 1 picks fail to play on a second long-term contract.

As the league’s legal tampering period opened last week, New York Giants tight end Evan Engram was one of the more highly coveted free agents heading into the open tight end market.

Engram, of course, ended up signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars on a one-year deal, $9 million deal.

Engram’s departure puts the tight end in all too familiar territory for Giants first-round draft picks. Engram, like so many of the team’s recent Round 1 draft picks, will depart without getting a lucrative deal from Big Blue.

Though there are a few outliers, as Tom Rock notes, most players never even had the opportunity for a short-term contract after their rookie deal expired. Engram is the latest.

Aaron Ross, Hakeem Nicks, Kenny Phillips, Jason Pierre-Paul and Prince Amukamara all contributed to least one of the Giants’ recent Super Bowls. But, for the most part, their prime years were short-lived as the team moved on at the right time.

The sole exception is JPP, who is still playing at a high level but never got a lucrative long-term deal from the Giants before being traded.

David Wilson and Ereck Flowers were unlucky picks by the Giants as Wilson’s career ended early due to injury and Flowers was one of the biggest busts in franchise history. However, Flowers did go on to be a formidable option for other teams following his time with Big Blue.

The departures of Odell Beckham Jr. and Eli Apple were the most drama-filled on the list. And while Beckham still has some love for Big Blue, Apple can’t decide which one of his former team’s fan bases he hates more.

Of course, the Giants’ next shot at breaking the streak will be Saquon Barkley. After his rookie year it seemed as though he would be a Giant for life, but after the last few years of injury-filled football, Barkley may not be a Giant much longer — many speculate that he might currently be on the trading block.

After that it will be Daniel Jones and Dexter Lawrence from the 2019 NFL draft class — a class where the Giants already have a failed with one of their first-round picks (Deandre Baker).

Current general manager Joe Schoen obviously hopes to buck this trend.

[listicle id=689375]

NFL Draft: Two Longhorns go in first round of recent mock draft

In the latest mock from the Draft Network, two Longhorns were taking in the first round. So who was selected and how do they fit?

Even though the college football season is less than three weeks away from kicking off, we are in the thick of mock draft season. One of the better outlets, the Draft Network recently released their latest 2021 NFL mock draft. Drae Harris is projecting two Longhorns to be selected in the first 32 draft picks. That would mark the first time since 2007 when Aaron Ross and Michael Griffin were taken in the opening round.

With the 14th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft the Denver Broncos select

Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

What Drae Harris says about Samuel Cosmi

The Broncos needed to improve at both tackle positions. Garett Bolles has been largely inconsistent and was plagued with penalties last year—they refused to exercise the fifth-year option on his contract. Ironically, they didn’t address either of the tackle positions in the 2020 NFL Draft. Denver bets on the upside here with Cosmi. He has the athleticism and ideal length for the perimeter. Denver believes it has its franchise quarterback in Drew Lock. Protecting him will be critical so that he can distribute the football to all of their explosive weapons on offense.

With the 24th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft the Philadelphia Eagles select

Image courtesy of Texas Sports

What Drae Harris says about Caden Sterns

Philadelphia lost a leader both in the locker room and on the field in Malcolm Jenkins. Adding Sterns to the mix to replace him would give that defense and that secondary a boost. Sterns is a good athlete who is the latest in the long line of NFL Longhorns to play in the secondary. He has the versatility to play low or high and it will be interesting to see how Philadelphia uses him in sub-packages.

What Longhorns Wire says about the selections

The two selections of Samuel Cosmi and Caden Sterns are the most logical. Both Denver and Philadelphia have needs at those particular positions. The Broncos need to protect their young quarterback, who now has a plethora of weapons at his disposal. Cosmi would likely play left tackle at the next level and protecting your quarterback’s blind side is one of the most important jobs of any player.

For the Eagles, much like Harris stated the loss of Malcolm Jenkins will be felt in the secondary. Not only a leader on the field but an emotional leader. For the Longhorns, Caden Sterns is in that role. He would work his way into the role with the Eagles. Philadelphia needs to sure up the secondary, especially considering the Dallas Cowboys just added Sterns’ old foe in CeeDee Lamb.

Texas Longhorns first round picks since 1999

Take a journey back to every Texas Longhorn to be drafted in the first round since 1999.

The 2020 NFL Draft is just hours away from officially kicking off. There are a few ways that you can tune into the festivities on Thursday Night. Despite the fact that the Texas Longhorns don’t have a first round caliber player according to almost every major draft analysts board, we take a journey back to every first round selection since 1999. The Longhorns could have a first round pick next year if Samuel Cosmi decides to declare or another name jumps to the front.

1999

Ricky Williams: 5th overall to the New Orleans Saints

Brian Bahr /Allsport

In 1999 the New Orleans Saints and head coach Mike Ditka gave up their entire draft just to secure the rights for Ricky Williams. Williams went on to play for the Saints until 2001 when he had a career year for the Miami Dolphins in 2002. He earned his only Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors that season with 1,853 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Williams played for one other team before hanging up the cleats, the Baltimore Ravens in 2011. He finished his 11-year career with 10,009 yards rushing and 66 touchdowns. Adding another eight receiving. His career was never the same after retiring in 2004 and returning to the NFL in 2005.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11