Tag: Charles Davis

Vikings get QB of the future without trading up in NFL.com mock

The best-case scenario for the Vikings happens in Charles Davis’ latest mock draft

We’re less than a month out from the start of the 2024 NFL draft, and the speculation has only begun to heat up. It’s widely assumed at this point that the Minnesota Vikings are in the market for a QB, and many believe they’ll trade up to get one. But what if they can stay at No. 11 and still land their QB of the future?

That’s the scenario that played out in the latest mock draft from Charles Davis at NFL.com. Though three quarterbacks went in the first three picks, the Vikings remained patient and stayed at No. 11. Their patience was rewarded with Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Here’s Davis’ analysis of the pick:

The Vikings made a big move, picking up a second selection in the first round to, presumably, help them make an even bigger move up the board for a quarterback. In this scenario, they stay put and still land their QB.

Staying at No. 11 and getting their quarterback — and one who would be a strong system fit — anyway would be a big win for the Vikings. That scenario would allow them to keep their second first-round pick to address other issues on the team, namely cornerback. That’s the direction Davis goes with the second pick in the first round, giving the Vikings former Alabama CB Terrion Arnold:

The Vikings continue to look to upgrade their defense and combat the potent offenses of their division rivals.

Rumors about McCarthy going in the top five have been flying for weeks, so getting him at No. 11 and being able to get Arnold with their second pick would be somewhat of a dream scenario for the Vikings. Will it happen? We’ll see in a few weeks.

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Charles Davis thought the Packers were screwed by a controversial non-lateral from Kenny Pickett

The Packers got so screwed by this OBVIOUS backward pass.

There have undoubtedly been better years for a matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. These are two of the NFL’s most storied franchises, and the 2023 Steelers are (kind of?) good, while the three-win Packers are enjoying one of their worst seasons in decades.

Nevertheless, that did not make this close battle in Pittsburgh immune to controversy.

Late in the second quarter, Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett threw a dump-off pass to running back Jaylen Warren. It seemed pretty clear that Pickett’s pass went backward, making it a fumble when Warren dropped it, allowing the Packers to run it back the other way for a touchdown. Except that’s not how the officials saw it, calling the play incomplete. Never mind that they blew the play dead while Warren literally rolled around with the ball.

When the Packers unsuccessfully challenged the sequence, CBS announcer Charles Davis said he “vehemently” disagreed, insinuating he believed Green Bay got screwed:

I understand that many NFL rules seem Byzantine by design, but that looks like a pretty clear lateral to me. Rules analyst Gene Steratore offering up a weak defense of the officials’ call (“I just felt like it was a tough one” … really?) should be all the confirmation we need.

Of course, while football isn’t played in a vacuum, this call did end up costing the Packers dearly. They would lose 23-19 in heartbreaking fashion.

Jaguars vs. Steelers broadcast map: Where will the game be on TV?

What areas will have the Jaguars vs. Steelers on their local TV station?

The Sunday contest between the 5-2 Jacksonville Jaguars and 4-2 Pittsburgh Steelers is one of only two games in Week 8 between teams with winning records.

For the Jaguars, it’s a chance to hit their Week 9 bye with their best start through eight games since the turn of the century. For Pittsburgh, it’s an opportunity to earn some respect as back-to-back wins over the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Rams hasn’t convinced many that the Steelers are a real contender.

The road game for the Jaguars at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday is set to kick off at 1 p.m. ET with coverage on CBS. In-market fans will have the game on their local CBS affiliate and can stream the game on fuboTV.

Ian Eagle will be on play-by-play coverage in the booth with Charles Davis providing analysis.

Fans in the red area on the map below will have the Jaguars vs. Steelers game on their local CBS station, according to 506sports.com:

It’s not often that the Jaguars are the team in the national spotlight during the 1 p.m. slate, but only a few pockets in the country will be watching something else on CBS.

Those who aren’t in an area highlighted red will need NFL Sunday Ticket, now offered by YouTube, to watch the Jaguars as an out-of-market game.

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VFL Charles Davis lists Hendon Hooker as a prospect to ‘pound the table for’

VFL Charles Davis lists quarterback Hendon Hooker as a prospect to “pound the table for.”

The 2023 NFL draft will take place Thursday-Saturday in the plaza outside of Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri.

Round 1 of the 2023 NFL draft will take place Thursday (8 p.m. EDT), rounds 2-3 will be held Friday (7 p.m. EDT), while rounds 4-7 are slated for Saturday (noon EDT).

Ahead of the NFL draft, former Vol Charles Davis named 17 prospects he would “pound the table for” when the clock is ticking and a decision must be made from an organization about which player to invest capital in.

Davis included former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker in his 17 prospects. Davis’ entire list can be read on NFL.com.

If Hooker had not suffered an ACL tear last November, I have no doubt that he would be in the discussion for QB3 in this year’s draft, along with Kentucky’s Will Levis and Florida’s Anthony Richardson. Obviously, the injury was a setback, but he’s still in the first-round conversation. Some might point to his age — he turned 25 in January — as a negative, but let’s not overlook the fact that he’s going to be asked to lead a huddle full of grown men, perhaps very early in his NFL career. His age and maturity should work in his favor when that time comes, in my opinion. He handled a lot of responsibilities in the Tennessee offense, and I view him as the best deep-ball thrower in this year’s draft. –Charles Davis

Former Falcons’ head coach Mike Smith details Hendon Hooker ahead of NFL draft

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Charles Davis goes cornerback for the Commanders in his latest mock draft

No surprise for the Commanders, but one move could have big ramifications for the Ravens.

Charles Davis is one of the best NFL analysts in the business. Not only is Davis an outstanding game announcer, but he’s also terrific in the studio and evaluating future NFL talent.

The former star defensive back at the University of Tennessee had a brief NFL stint with the Dallas Cowboys before moving into the media world.

In studying for the 2023 NFL draft, Davis has released his second mock draft of the year. It has no surprises at the top, with Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud going No. 1 and No. 2.

Who does Davis project to the Washington Commanders at No. 16 overall?

That would be Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Porter, a frequent pick for Washington in mock drafts, often as the third cornerback taken behind Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez.

Tough, physical, gritty — these are adjectives DC Jack Del Rio loves. Porter joins a defense that has the makings of a very good unit.

In Davis’ mock draft, he has Washington passing on Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones to take Porter. Would the Commanders pass on a potential future left tackle and choose to address cornerback in the second round? The good news for the Commanders is the depth in the first two rounds at cornerback and offensive line.

The most exciting aspect of his mock draft was at No. 22 with the Baltimore Ravens. Davis has Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker landing in Baltimore. On the one hand, it makes a ton of sense. However, what would that do to the already tenuous relationship with star quarterback Lamar Jackson?

It would certainly make for a fun and interesting first round.

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Saints pick an underrated pass rusher in Charles Davis’ first mock draft

The Saints picked an underrated pass rusher in Charles Davis’ first mock draft, landing Kansas State playmaker Felix Anudike-Uzomah:

We’re one month out from the 2023 NFL draft, so what will the New Orleans Saints do once it’s here? The latest take comes from NFL.com analyst Charles Davis, who likes the Saints to pick an underrated pass rusher at the end of the first round. Davis has the Saints replacing their losses in free agency with Kansas State defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah:

Marcus Davenport is now in Minnesota, and ultra-productive defensive end Cam Jordan needs a bookend. Similar to the seven-time Pro Bowler Jordan, Anudike-Uzomah not only harasses quarterbacks but creates deflections and takeaways, too.

Finding another defensive end is one of the team’s top priorities after Davenport left in free agency; they drafted Payton Turner in 2021’s first round to be his nominal replacement, but Turner has missed even more games to injury than Davenport did over the last two seasons. The Saints don’t know what they have in him, so it makes sense to evaluate all options.

And Anudike-Uzomah is a good one. While other draft prospects like Iowa’s Lukas Van Ness and Clemson’s Myles Murphy have commanded attention in recent weeks, Anudike-Uzomah was just as productive as them in college. He appeared in 27 games for the Wildcats, collecting career totals of 26.5 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, and 8 forced fumbles. Pro Football Focus charting credited him with 43 and 46 pressures in the last two seasons as a starter.

We’ll have to wait and see if Anudike-Uzomah has the overall athletic profile the Saints have valued; he’s undersized by their usual standards at 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds, with 33 1/2-inch arms. But if he does well in agility drills and proves he has the physical tools to compete in the NFL, he’d be a good pick late in the first round or early in second frame. He’s expected to work out at Kansas State’s pro day on March 31, and we’ll keep an eye out to see if the Saints are in attendance.

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Jets add speed on defensive interior in Charles Davis’ first mock draft

Jets add speed on defensive interior in Charles Davis’ first mock draft

In his first mock draft of the season, NFL Network draft analyst Charles Davis sends an intriguing name to the Jets with the 13th overall pick. That would be Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey.

Kancey made huge waves at the Scouting Combine with a 4.67 40-yard dash, which was 0.01 seconds faster than fellow Pitt alum Aaron Donald…who just so happened to also be selected at No. 13 in the draft.

“A team that is strong on defense gets stronger. The comparisons to all-world DT Aaron Donald (size, style, school) continue, with Kancey being selected in the exact same spot as Donald, nine years later. I know the Jets already have Quinnen Williams inside, but Robert Saleh has always valued depth for his D-line rotation.”

Depth at the position is going to be key now for the Jets after losing Sheldon Rankins (Houston) and Nathan Shepherd (New Orleans) in free agency. They did re-sign Solomon Thomas, but they could still use a presence next to Williams up front. Kancey would be a very fast presence next to Williams up front.

Vikings draw CBS’s second-best broadcast team

The Vikings will have excellent announcers on Sunday afternoon

When the Minnesota Vikings face off against the New York Jets on Sunday, it will be their second game in the last three weeks on CBS. They are rewarded with the network’s second-best broadcast team.

The Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson reported that Ian Eagle, Charles Davis and Evan Washburn will be calling the game.

Tomasson also reported that this will be Davis’ first game with CBS and that he last called a Vikings game back in 2019.

The game will be the national game in the noon slot with the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Cincinnati Bengals in the primetime slot. They will be getting the top broadcasting team of Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson.

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New mock draft has Cardinals bolstering their receiving corps in first round

The Arizona Cardinals and Arkansas receiver Treylon Burks are once again being connected as the NFL draft is just one day away.

The NFL draft is Thursday night and there are only a few mock drafts left to look at. With just one day to go, it’s fun to look at what NFL analysts think the Cardinals will do.

NFL Network Analyst Charles Davis released his final mock draft of the year. He has the Cardinals selecting Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks with the No. 23 overall pick.

Arizona’s receiving corps took a hit with the loss of Christian Kirk in free agency. Adding the power-forward-esque player to QB Kyler Murray’s arsenal is a strong move. Burks can be the Cardinals version of what Deebo Samuel has been for the 49ers.

The Deebo Samuel comparisons have been made to Burks’ game before. He was electric after the catch, a trait that would be invaluable in Kliff Kingsbury’s heavy screen and short pass offense.

Burks played primarily in the slot at the collegiate level but his size and build project as an outside receiver at the next level. At 6-3 and 225 lbs, Burks has the size the Cardinals have sought to add with Kyler Murray’s game. The team may want to be cautious, however, as playing players out of position has hurt them before.

Burks had 1,104 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns last season. One of his standout performances came against elite-level defensive talent when he racked up 179 yards and two touchdowns against Alabama. He was dominant despite a lingering injury. It’s always worth noting when a prospect plays that well against future NFL talent.

Officially, Burks ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, but he plays the game much faster than that. General Manager Steve Keim mentioned the need to pay attention to game speed over combine speed during his press conference, citing Rams All-Pro WR Cooper Kupp as an example.

Here’s an example of Burks’ ability, as he quite literally runs away from the entire Crimson Tide defense.

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Trent Green to replace Charles Davis on Bengals-Titans due to COVID protocols

COVID protocols will sideline Charles Davis for CBS’ telecast of Bengals-Titans

There will be a change in the announcer booth on Saturday when the Tennessee Titans play host to the Cincinnati Bengals on CBS.

The New York Post reported Thursday that Charles Davis will be out due to COVID-19 protocols and he will be replaced by Trent Green.