Tag: Bub Means

Rookie WR Bub Means tabbed as Saints’ sleeper pick from 2024 draft

Who is your pick for the Saints’ sleeper in the 2024 draft class? Touchdown Wire says this wideout could get on the field very quickly:

Who would you say was the sleeper pick of the New Orleans Saints’ 2024 draft class, who could climb the depth chart and help out on game days? With the Saints spending so many of their 2025 draft picks on Day 3, in the later rounds, there are plenty of options to choose from. There will be many rookies starting at the bottom of the roster and working to make their own luck.

But some have landed in better circumstances than others, with a real path to dressing out and making plays on game days. According to Doug Farrar over at Touchdown Wire, that’s former Pittsburgh Panthers wideout Bub Means:

The Saints came into the 2024 draft with some speed on offense already with Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and A.T. Perry, but in an NFL where it’s all about creating and defending explosive plays, more acceleration is always good. To that end, New Orleans welcomed Pitt receiver Bub Means to its roster with the 170th overall pick in the fifth round.

In his 2023 season, Means caught 41 passes on 82 targets for 718 yards and six touchdowns. That catch rate may have you wondering about Means’ hands until you go back and review Pitt’s quarterbacks. As Greg Cosell and I got into in this week’s “Xs and Os,” Means is virtually guaranteed to be more productive and efficient with a quarterback who can actually get him the ball.

Means is an easy player to root for, as we found out in an exclusive interview with our own Jeremy Trottier. He’s got a dynamic skill set, a team-first mindset, and a magnetic personality that should quickly endear him to Saints fans. Of course there are things he needs to work on in order to get on the field ahead of more-experienced teammates like A.T. Perry and Cedrick Wilson Jr., but he’s got plenty of potential. Now it’s on Klint Kubiak and his new Saints offensive coaching staff to help Means meet it.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell: Our favorite draft picks (mostly) outside the first round

In this week’s “Xs and Os,” Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar get into their favorite draft picks (mostly) outside of the first round.

Now that the 2024 NFL draft is in the books, which players who were not selected in the first round have the best chances to make real impacts on their new NFL teams? In this episode of “The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell,” Greg and Doug Farrar get into their favorite guys mostly outside of the first round.

Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers — We’re cheating a bit here, as Pearsall was selected with the 31st overall pick, but if the 49ers keep both Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk on the roster, Pearsall can impact the passing game in ways that his new teammates will find complementary, and in ways that bring new colors to Kyle Shanahan’s playbook. Also, watch out for fourth-round receiver Jacob Cowing from Arizona as a smaller speed element.

Renardo Green, CB, San Francisco 49ers — On the defensive side, and with the 64th overall pick in the second round, the 49ers got a cornerback who showed all the athleticism and coverage skills you want at the position, and brings an absolute dawg mentality. You need look no further than Green’s tape against LSU’s Malik Nabers.

Marshawn Kneeland, DL, Dallas Cowboys — The Cowboys’ scouting staff is one of the NFL’s best, and with the 56th overall pick in the second round, Dallas picked up the Western Michigan and Senior Bowl star, who brings Khalil Mack to mind with his power-based rush, and Za’Darius Smith to mind with his effective gap versatility.

Malik Washington, WR, Miami Dolphins — Stop us if you’ve heard this one before, but the Dolphins got a receiver who’s really fast in some really interesting ways. Washington, the Virginia receiver who Miami stole with the 184th overall pick in the sixth round, brings an exciting, physical style that puts defenses in severe conflict when those defenses also have to deal with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Cole Bishop, S, Buffalo Bills — The Bills’ former secondary got old overnight, and a re-do is now necessary. Bishop, the Utah star, is a prefect safety with which to rebuild because he can do just about everything at a high level.

Adonai Mitchell, WR, Indianapolis Colts — Mitchell showed at Texas that he has first-round talent, and if he can put it together with the nuances of the position, he’ll give the Colts the alpha receiver that seems to be the only thing this offense was missing. Not bad for the 52nd overall pick in the second round.

Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — McMillan may have been the lost member of the Washington receiver group from a production standpoint due to injury in 2023 (which is how the Bucs were able to get him with the 92nd overall pick in the third round), but the tape shows a valuable deep receiver who can expertly dice zone coverage downfield.

Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals — At Florida State, Benson showed the ability to run with power like a bigger man, and to evade tackles with the agility of a smaller back. The Cardinals selected Benson with the 66th overall pick in the third round, and they’ll likely avail themselves of Benson’s special skill set sooner than later.

Bub Means, WR, New Orleans Saints — At Pitt, Means displayed the ability to be a fantastic deep receiver despite a trio of quarterbacks who really struggled to do anything. Odds are, the Saints got a receiver with the 170th pick in the fifth round who can be even better in the NFL — all he needs is functional quarterback play to turn it loose.

You can watch this week’s edition of “The Xs and Os” right here:

You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.

Undrafted Saints WR Kyle Sheets picked as an instant-impact rookie

Undrafted Saints wide receiver Kyle Sheets picked as an instant-impact rookie. Making the leap to the NFL from Slippery Rock won’t be easy, but he might be special:

The New Orleans Saints have been busy in undrafted free agency as they try to find a hidden gem that can make the roster. They have a thin wide receiver room this year so the door could open for someone new to earn a roster spot.

For Touchdown Wire’s Jarrett Bailey, the player that could make an immediate impact is Slippery Rock’s Kyle Sheets:

Alright, let’s talk some Division-II studs, and not just because Sheets and I share an alma mater. The dynamic receiver out of Slippery Rock caught 76 passes for 1,186 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2023, including a 12 catch, 210 yard performance with three touchdowns against Millersville.

Sheets is one of several rookie wideouts the Saints signed after the 2024 NFL draft along with Jermaine Jackson (Idaho) and Mason Tipton (Yale). But his biggest competition may be fifth-round draft pick Bub Means (Pitt) and veteran journeyman Equanimeous St. Brown, who signed with the Saints just before the 2024 NFL draft. Any of those receivers could be catching passes from Derek Carr next season. Seeing who emerges from the pack will be one of the more entertaining storylines at Saints training camp this summer.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Setting realistic expectations for Saints rookie WR Bub Means

What are the rookie year expectations for New Orleans Saints WR Bub Means? He could carve out a role for himself in Klint Kubiak’s offense:

The New Orleans Saints decided to pull the trigger on adding to the wide receiver room with Pittsburgh wideout Bub Means with the No. 170 overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft.

Means was an intriguing option to be their young wide receiver, as he does a lot of the same things as Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed on paper. He has a good size and speed combination that led to him being a deep threat in college as he averaged 16.5 yards per catch in his three seasons.

In the Klint Kubiak offense, though, he might have a different role. He’ll need to improve as a route runner, but his 6-foot-1 and 212-pound frame screams Kyle Shanahan offensive weapon. If he can block well on running plays, Kubiak will likely find some playing time for him in a rotational role. That role could grow as he grows as a player, but he’s pretty raw before the catch.

As rookie, expect to see him play a lot of special teams. He’ll be a project player, but he checks all of the boxes that you could ask for in a late-round wide receiver flier. Maybe the Saints could have walked away with someone that could find more playing time right away in the passing game, but Means seems more up their alley.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

2024 Draft Grades: Saints pick WR Bub Means with No. 170 overall selection

2024 NFL Draft Grades: New Orleans Saints pick Pittsburgh wide receiver Bub Means with the No. 170 overall selection. How do you grade this move?

The New Orleans Saints go with a wide receiver as they select Bub Means out of Pittsburgh with the No. 170 overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft.

Means, 6-foot-1 and 212 pounds, is a trait guy that they hope will develop into something in their offense. He has a great size and speed combo with a 4.43 40-yard dash, but has never been that productive in his career.

The Georgia native started his college football career in North. Louisiana at LA Tech, but transferred to Pittsburgh for his final two seasons. He really didn’t burst onto the scene until this past season with 41 catches for 721 yard and six touchdowns.

The fit is odd, as he really does the same things that Chris Olave or Rashid Shaheed do on offense. With his build, it wouldn’t be surprising if Klint Kubiak plans to mold him into the Deebo Samuel role in his offense.

It’s a project pick for sure, so don’t expect him to immediately come into the room and start over someone like A.T. Perry.

Grade: C

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

2024 NFL draft: Saints draft Pitt wideout Bub Means in Round 5

2024 NFL draft: New Orleans Saints draft Pittsburgh Panthers wide receiver Bub Means in Round 5

Here’s that help at wide receiver that fans have been asking for. The New Orleans Saints selected Pittsburgh Panthers wide receiver Bub Means in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft, at No. 170 overall. He transferred a couple of times in college and also played for Tennessee and Louisiana Tech.

Means led Pitt in receiving last year and has a lot to offer athletically. He’s taller and heavier than Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed at 6-foot-1 and 213 pounds, with better straight-line speed than A.T. Perry (he timed the 40 yard dash in just 4.43 seconds). He’s known for having some success on contested catches but he also has some moves in space with the ball in his hands.

So he could quickly climb the depth chart in New Orleans. Look for Means to compete with Cedrick Wilson Jr., Stanley Morgan, and Equanimeous St. Brown for that fourth spot on the depth chart this summer.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Mock draft watch: Interesting 3-round projections for the Lions from ESPN

The first-rounder is a popular projection, while the second and third round selections defy conventional wisdom

The latest mock draft from longtime ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. is an interesting one for the Detroit Lions. The three-round projections feature Kiper and fellow analyst Field Yates alternating picks across the rounds, with Kiper handling the odd-numbered picks and Yates handling the even ones.

With the Lions holding picks No. 29, 61 and 73, that means Kiper made all three projections for Detroit.

First round: Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri. This is becoming a popular projection for the Lions’ top pick, and his positional versatility to play either DE or DT aligns with how the Lions have built the defense. Kiper notes that in his explanation,

He is a bit of a tweener, and he might be better as a 3-technique tackle. He could play some snaps at end in Detroit.

Among the typical Lions candidates passed on here to select Robinson:

Kool-Aid McKinstry

Jackson Powers-Johnson

Johnny Newton

Ennis Rakestraw

In the second round, Kiper hits the Detroit secondary with Georgia safety Javon Bullard. Kiper notes that Bullard is his top-ranked safety and is quite bullish on the idea of pairing him with Brian Branch in the secondary. Good pick, one that Lions fans should probably like more than what the initial reaction of drafting a safety instead of a cornerback would likely garner.

The third-rounder is a bit of a headscratcher. Pittsburgh WR Bub Means is a decent enough prospect, but this is several rounds higher than Means typically projects. He’s No. 237 on the NFL Mock Draft Database, which averages the draft slot across a multitude of contemporary mocks. Kiper also notes how good Means was on contested catches, but that ignores the fact Lions QB Jared Goff tends to not attempt those sorts of throws.

 

 

2024 NFL combine: Nine receiver prospects detail their favorite college plays

2024 Scouting Combine: Nine receiver prospects detail their favorite college plays (via @NFL_DougFarrar):

INDIANAPOLIS — Unless you are somehow able to gain access to one of the rooms in which NFL teams meet with draft prospects during the week of the scouting combine, there’s no way to know what’s really discussed. One thing that is almost always happens is a tape-watching expedition in which the NFL people will have play examples dialed up that hopefully show what the prospects can do.

Here at Touchdown Wire, we do not possess the required juice to crash those rooms, but we are able to ask these prospects during their combine media sessions which plays from their college careers best typify their potential.

We’ve already done this with five quarterbacks, six tight ends and seven cornerbacks here at the combine, and now, it’s time to get into the favorite plays of nine receiver prospects of all shapes, sizes, and talents.

The full lineup:

  • Washington’s Jalen McMillan and Ja’Lynn Polk
  • Alabama’s Jermaine Burton
  • Tulane’s Jha’Quan Jackson
  • Florida State’s Johnny Wilson
  • Pitt’s Bub Means
  • Michigan’s Roman Wilson
  • South Carolina’s Xavier Legette
  • Texas’ Jordan Whittington

2024 Scouting Combine: Nine receiver prospects detail their favorite college plays

The 2024 scouting combine was the right place to ask nine receiver prospects for their favorite college plays, and what they will mean in the NFL.

INDIANAPOLIS — Unless you are somehow able to gain access to one of the rooms in which NFL teams meet with draft prospects during the week of the scouting combine, there’s no way to know what’s really discussed. One thing that is almost always happens is a tape-watching expedition in which the NFL people will have play examples dialed up that hopefully show what the prospects can do.

Here at Touchdown Wire, we do not possess the required juice to crash those rooms, but we are able to ask these prospects during their combine media sessions which plays from their college careers best typify their potential.

We’ve already done this with five quarterbacks, six tight ends and seven cornerbacks here at the combine, and now, it’s time to get into the favorite plays of nine receiver prospects of all shapes, sizes, and talents.

The full lineup:

  • Washington’s Jalen McMillan and Ja’Lynn Polk
  • Alabama’s Jermaine Burton
  • Tulane’s Jha’Quan Jackson
  • Florida State’s Johnny Wilson
  • Pitt’s Bub Means
  • Michigan’s Roman Wilson
  • South Carolina’s Xavier Legette
  • Texas’ Jordan Whittington

2024 NFL draft: 4 receiver prospects for the Steelers to replace Allen Robinson

The Steelers could be in the market for a slot reciever in the 2024 NFL draft.

The next salary-cap cut for the Pittsburgh Steelers needs to be veteran wide receiver Allen Robinson. Cutting Robinson saves the Steelers $10 million against the cap. Robinson didn’t pan out but even after he’s gone the Steelers will need to find a new slot receiver because Calvin Austin III isn’t developing as quickly as we hoped.

Pittsburgh has done well finding receivers in the middle or late round of the NFL draft and here are four guys to consider in 2024.