Tag: auburn in the NFL

Jarrett Stidham shares thoughts on losing Broncos’ QB1 role to Bo Nix

“I have no doubts that I’m a starting-caliber quarterback in this league,” Stidham said after losing the starting QB job in Denver.

Two former Auburn quarterbacks competed for the starting job in Denver during the preseason. Unfortunately, one had to lose.

The news broke this weekend that [autotag]Bo Nix[/autotag], the Broncos’ first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, had won the role of QB1 for Sean Payton and the Broncos. He beat out veteran Zach Wilson and fellow former Tiger [autotag]Jarrett Stidham[/autotag] for the job.

Speaking with the media following the Broncos’ preseason finale on Sunday, Stidham expressed his dismay.

“First of all, obviously, I was very disappointed,” Stidham said Sunday. “I know I’m a starting quarterback in this league. I have no doubts about that, and it just didn’t shake out my way. I know what kind of player I am, what kind of person I am. … I have no doubts that I’m a starting-caliber quarterback in this league.”

Stidham attempted 22 passes over the Broncos’ three preseason games, completing 13 for 130 yards and two interceptions. Nix edged Stidham for the role after completing 76% of his passes for 205 yards and two scores. Stidham says that he is going to help Nix prepare to take on an NFL starting job as a rookie.

“Obviously, I’m going to do whatever I can to help Bo get prepared,” Stidham said. “Obviously, he’s never had a real season like this in the NFL. I’m going to help him whatever way I can, and then also be ready to go if I need to be. So [I’m] just ready for the season to get here.”

Stidham is entering his fifth NFL season and his second with the Broncos. He has completed 59.4% of his passes for 1,422 yards and eight touchdowns. Stidham has also notched four starts. Stidham will work with Nix and continue to work toward becoming a full-time starter should the need arise in Denver or elsewhere.

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Jarrett Stidham appears to be front runner for QB1 of the Denver Broncos

Could Stidham’s leadership and seniority lead to a starting job this fall?

Auburn football fans will keep an eye on the Denver Broncos this season as two former quarterbacks are competing for the team’s QB1 role.

Ahead of training camp next month, it appears that veteran [autotag]Jarrett Stidham[/autotag] is winning the race for the job, leading the way over fellow former Auburn signal caller [autotag]Bo Nix[/autotag], who was drafted No. 12 overall in this year’s NFL draft.

“He’s doing well,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton said of Stidham. “Clearly, within the framework within what we’re doing, he is much further along than in Year 1 in the transition. I’d say he’s looked really sharp during this offseason program. [He is] real decisive. I think the leadership he is able to provide there, and there’s good competition.”

Jon Heath of Broncos Wire feels that Stidham has the edge due to seniority of the group and his leadership skills. Heath also says that if Stidham and Nix appear to be close in the pecking order heading into the fall, Nix could ultimately win the starting quarterback job, but the pressure to perform at a high level will be high for the rookie.

Heading into the 2024 season, Stidham has passed for 1,422 yards and eight touchdowns with eight interceptions in 16 games since entering the NFL ranks in 2019 with the New England Patriots.

Broncos training camp begins on July 26.

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Jarrett Stidham ready to ‘compete’ for Denver Broncos starting QB job

The former Auburn QB will battle Bo Nix and Zach Wilson for the title of QB1 of the Denver Broncos.

Former Auburn quarterback [autotag]Jarrett Stidham[/autotag] started the final two games for the Denver Broncos last season. He led the Broncos to a 16-9 win over the Los Angeles Chargers by passing for 224 yards and a touchdown.

Heading into the 2024 season, Stidham faces a similar scenario by entering a quarterback battle. The Broncos drafted [autotag]Bo Nix[/autotag] with the No. 8 overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft and added former New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson during the offseason, which will spark competition for head coach Sean Payton.

Luckily for Stidham, he is used to competing for a starting role.

“I’ve dealt with this before when I was in New England with Mac Jones,” Stidham said in a recent press conference, “It’s a business and I totally understand it. But at the same time, I’m here to compete. I’m not going to just sit down and let someone else walk in here and [just take the role]. I’m going to work my butt off to get the job. (And) I’m super excited about it.”

In four NFL seasons, Stidham has completed 59.4 of his passes for 1,422 yards and eight touchdowns. Stidham will continue to work towards a starting role with the Broncos this offseason, and will have a chance to prove himself in a game setting beginning Aug. 11 when the Broncos kickoff the preseason against the Indianapolis Colts.

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Former Auburn football CB Carlton Davis traded to Detroit Lions

After six years of playing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, former Auburn football cornerback Carlton Davis III is headed to the Detroit Lions

The NFL free agency period has begun for 2024, and many teams have made dramatic moves that will set the stage for next season. Many stars are going to wear different uniforms, which will create a lot of noise for next season.

One of those moves includes former Auburn cornerback [autotag]Carlton Davis III[/autotag], who was part of the Tigers’ roster from 2015-17. After spending the first six seasons of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Davis has been traded to the Detroit Lions.

The former Auburn star was traded with multiple sixth-round draft picks in exchange for a third-round pick.

From 2018-2023, Davis appeared in 76 games, racking up 324 total tackles to go along with three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and nine interceptions.

While with the Tigers, he started in all three of his seasons at cornerback, making the second team on the all-SEC roster in his junior year. He appeared in 38 games, posting 138 total tackles with three forced fumbles and four interceptions.

Davis looks to be the new veteran leader and No. 1 cornerback on the roster heading into his time in Detroit.

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Broncos tab Jarrett Stidham as starter for final two games

The former Auburn quarterback will replace Russell Wilson, who was benched following Denver’s loss to New England last Sunday.

The Denver Broncos will call upon a former Auburn quarterback to lead its offense for the final two games of the regular season.

Ian Rappoport of NFL Network reported Wednesday that the Broncos will bench quarterback Russell Wilson for its final two games, and will tab former Tiger [autotag]Jarrett Stidham[/autotag] as the starter beginning Sunday when the Broncos host the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field in Denver.

Stidham, who is in his 5th NFL season, is set to make his third start as a professional quarterback. During the 2022 season with the Las Vegas Raiders, he made two starts. Unfortunately, the Raiders dropped both games that Stidham was the starting quarterback.

According to Jon Heath of Broncos Wire, the decision to bench Wilson for Stidham is due mainly to economic reasons.

If he’s still on the roster, Wilson has $37 million worth of his 2025 salary set to become guaranteed on March 17. If the quarterback suffers a serious injury before that date, the $37 million will become locked in for 2025. To avoid the possibility of an injury guaranteeing that $37 million, the Broncos have benched Wilson.

In 14 games, Stidham has completed 77-of-131 passes for 926 yards and six touchdowns, throwing seven interceptions. He has played in one game this season for Denver, but has not recorded a stat.

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Auburn in the NFL: Week 6 Recap

Jamel Dean returns, Darius Slayton totals 69 yards, Jamien Sherwood and the Jets upset the Eagles, and Jonathan Jones goes down with another injury.

The NFL season is now a third of the way over and each week throughout the season, Auburn Wire will take a look at some of the most notable performances from Auburn Alumni across the League.

It was a very quiet week for former Tigers, but there were some interesting storylines that stood out this week, including [autotag]Jamel Dean[/autotag]’s return from injury, [autotag]Darius Slayton[/autotag] clicking with his second-string quarterback, Jonathan Jones re-injuring himself, and Jamien Sherwood[autotag] helping the Jets upset the undefeated Eagles.[/autotag]

Here is a look at several headlines from Week 6 that feature Auburn’s top NFL players.

Carlton Davis delivers strong message to Tampa Bay’s doubters

The former Auburn defensive back talks life in Tampa Bay following the departure of Tom Brady.

Former Auburn cornerback [autotag]Carlton Davis[/autotag] is making the most of his time in the NFL.

Since being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 63 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, he has started in 63 games and has made 272 total tackles. He was also an integral piece to Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV win in 2020 by making four interceptions and 68 total tackles that season.

The headline this season with the Bucs is the departure of Tom Brady, who retired from the NFL after 23 seasons. Because of this, the franchise has taken its fair share of criticism and is expected to not perform up to the level of the Brady-era seasons.

Davis is having none of that.

In a recent press conference, Davis was asked about life outside of Brady, and what it means for his team to fly under the radar as opposed to being in the spotlight for the last three seasons. He says that he welcomes the low expectations that are being delivered.

“Obviously, people are underrating us, but I think that’s a good thing because when we punch you in the mouth, it’ll be, ‘Ah, man, OK. It’s the same team, same culture,’ Davis said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for guys, like everybody, not even just myself, everybody to prove ourselves and show how great of players individually we are and how we can come together as a team and still have that same culture and winning mentality.”

The Buccanneers are losing several other players from last season’s roster, which paves the way for someone as experienced as Davis to become a mentor to the new additions.

“It’s a blessing to be able to be an old guy in this league,” Davis said. “I just want to do my part in teaching the young guys and catching them up to speed.”

Davis returns to Tampa Bay for his sixth season and will team up with fellow former Auburn defensive back [autotag]Jamel Dean[/autotag] for the fifth season in a row as opposite corners.

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First look: Tank Bigsby in a Jacksonville Jaguars uniform

The former Auburn running back goes through his first camp as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Auburn’s premier back from 2020-22 has a new home in Florida.

Tank Bigsby was drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars after completing a three-season stint at Auburn.

Bigsby joins a solid running back room that features Travis Etienne and Snoop Connor. Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson looks forward to watching the competition build between those three backs.

“There’s a lot of depth there,” Pederson said of his running backs. “There’s some great competition that’s going to show up when we get into training camp, obviously, with the pads on and really see how these guys do.”

Bigsby recently went through OTAs with the Jacksonville Jaguars and appears to be adjusting nicely to his new home.

Here’s a look at Tank Bigsby in a Jaguars uniform.

Derrick Hall inks unusual rookie deal with Seattle

Hall signs a relatively unheard-of rookie deal for a 2nd round pick.

Former Auburn standout defensive end [autotag]Derrick Hall[/autotag] put pen to paper on his rookie deal with the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks selected Hall with the sixth pick in the second round of this year’s NFL draft.

In an article from AL.com, Mark Inabinett breaks down the contract Hall signed, and it contained some unusual elements.

Like all draft picks, Hall’s deal spans four seasons. The 6-foot-3, 256-pounder’s contract has a total value of $9.116 million, including a $3.63 million signing bonus.

The unusual elements are Hall being guaranteed $7.22 million and 85% of his signing bonus before reporting to training camp. Both are rare for a draft pick in that position.

The Seahawks plan to use Hall as an outside linebacker.

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FS1 host says one NFL team would be ‘perfect’ for Cam Newton

This team could benefit from having the former Heisman Trophy winner in several packages says Nick Wright of FS1.

Former Auburn quarterback [autotag]Cam Newton[/autotag] worked out for NFL scouts last month during Auburn’s pro day with partial hopes of showing franchises that he is still in prime shape to lead a professional offense.

“Tell me how these randoms keep getting jobs?” Newton said in a video before Auburn’s pro day referencing several NFL quarterbacks, insinuating that he should also be playing in the NFL.

Newton’s workout was impressive. He made several deep throws and led Auburn wide receiver [autotag]Shedrick Jackson[/autotag] to say “I think he’s still got it.” One FS1 analyst believes that Newton still has it, too.

In a recent episode of First Things First on FS1, host Nick Wright says that he still feels that Newton could still be a vital part of an NFL offense. While he does not agree that Newton is a professional starter, Wright says that Newton still deserves to play for a championship.

Where does Wright suggest that Newton can compete and win a title? None other than the Super Bowl LVII winner, the Kansas City Chiefs.

Wright says that Newton would be a reliable backup to quarterback Patrick Mahomes and that he could be used in several packages.

“Cam, come to Kansas City. It makes perfect sense,” Wright said in a recent episode of First Things First. “He’s not going to cost a lot of money. Their backup has retired in Chad Henne, and Newton is a solid backup. They could also build a package for him in certain situations.”

The Chiefs have yet to sign a backup quarterback for Mahomes and may wait to do so either during the NFL draft later this month, or may elect to do so before the summer. According to a recent mock draft from ESPN, the Chiefs are not projected to take a quarterback in this year’s draft. So keep an eye on Newton to the Chiefs talks.

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