Tag: Jacob Eason

2020 NFL Draft: 3 quarterbacks the Titans could target

Here’s a look at just three prospects the Titans could target in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Tennessee Titans will likely do everything in their power without totally breaking the bank to keep quarterback Ryan Tannehill on the team ahead of free agency after he finished the season as one of the league’s best quarterbacks.

But what if Tannehill doesn’t return, or the Titans simply want to invest more in the backup position?

That decision would come at a fortunate time, considering how loaded this year’s free agency will be, and how many talented signal-callers have entered the 2020 NFL Draft.

Here’s a look at just three prospects the Titans could target in the 2020 NFL Draft.

1. Jordan Love, Utah State.

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Love is practically a lock to come off the board by mid-first round or so, meaning the Titans would have to take him on Day One and probably have to do some dealing to get the job done.

He finished 2019 with a 61.9% completion percentage, throwing for 3,402 yards with 20 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

Last season was his worst on the stats sheet, after losing his starting offensive line, strongest running back, top wide receiver, on top of his head coach resigning and being forced to learn an entirely new offense.

There’s a lot to like about Love, with his impressive over-the-top release, impressive arm strength and ability to throw into even tighter windows than he may see in the NFL.

It’s also worth noting the Titans have already been connected to Love.

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2020 NFL mock draft: Post-Super Bowl projections with trades

Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling throws out some potential trade scenarios in his latest projection for the first round of the 2020 NFL draft

I’ve watched the Super Bowl from many different places, but this was the first year in which I took in the big game while flying over the Atlantic.

On our way to attend my wife’s graduation in England, my nine-year-old daughter and I huddled around the screen in our seats and watched the NFL season come to an entertaining and dramatic end. It was a worthy ending to the league’s 100th season.

You know it’s always draft season around here, but now it’s official, as all 32 teams now enter the offseason with their sights set on getting to where Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs just went.

To that end, here’s an updated look at how the first round of the 2020 NFL draft could shake out, with a few trade scenarios that could spice things up:

*denotes projected trade

1. Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

This has seemed like a foregone conclusion for so long, that we’re starting to get to the point in the process where rumors and speculation start to swirl to the contrary. Don’t buy into the boredom; Burrow has always been the guy for the Bengals, and that’s not going to change between now and draft day.

2. Washington Redskins

Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

This is an absolute no-brainer for Washington, unless they’re bowled over by a trade offer from another team. They have bigger needs at other positions, but there’s no way they should pass up a rare talent like Young at such a premium spot. He’s the best overall prospect in this entire class.

3. Miami Dolphins (from DET)*

Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

This move just makes too much sense. Tagovailoa seems destined for Miami, as long as his recovery is in a good place. If the medicals are in order, though, the Dolphins will likely have to make a small jump up the board to make sure another team doesn’t leapfrog them. The position is too important, and Tua is too good a player, to risk losing out.

4. Carolina Panthers (from NYG)*

Justin Herbert | QB | Oregon

While the Dolphins moving up for Tagovailoa wouldn’t be a surprise, this move might be a bit more of a shock. New head coach Matt Rhule will be overseeing a huge rebuild, though, and will likely want to hand-pick his quarterback. Herbert followed up a solid career at Oregon with a Rose Bowl MVP and a strong week at the Senior Bowl, making him worthy of top-five consideration.

5. Detroit Lions (from MIA)*

Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State

This is a fantastic scenario for the Lions, who trade back a couple of spots, get an extra first-round pick, and still land the player they likely would have taken at their original spot. Okudah is by far this year’s top corner prospect, and would team up with Darius Slay to give Detroit one of the league’s best tandems at a premium position. Don’t rule out Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown here, either.

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New 2020 mock draft has Bucs taking a QB with ‘some Carson Palmer vibes’

See which quarterback NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein thinks will draw the attention of Bucs head coach Bruce Arians.

We’re all still in wait-and-see mode when it comes to quarterback Jameis Winston and his future with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite the season ending a month ago, things seem just as murky now as then. While Winston did throw for over 5,000 yards, he also had 30 interceptions.

Head coach Bruce Arians has said we shouldn’t expect a decision on Winston’s future anytime soon, but that hasn’t stopped draft analysts from speculating that the former Heisman Trophy winner’s time in Tampa Bay could be done.

In his first NFL mock draft, Daniel Jeremiah had the Bucs taking Oregon QB Justin Herbert at the 14th spot. Today, draft analyst Lance Zierlein has the Bucs taking a quarterback in his mock draft, only it’s not Herbert. Zierlein thinks Tampa Bay will take Washington QB Jacob Eason.

“Tampa might trade back, but Eason could still be the target. While I expect him to be taken later than this pick, his stature and arm strength will give Bruce Arians some Carson Palmer vibes.”

Palmer, himself, has said Winston could have a massive Year 2 if the Bucs bring him back. By his own admission, Palmer said that Arians’ system takes time to learn, but once you master it, the results speak for themselves.

Eason is 6-foot-6 and nearly 230 pounds. This past season he threw for 3,132 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The Bucs would certainly love Eason’s size and strength, but would they really be willing to reach so high for him when they have other pressing needs?

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What could the perfect offseason look like for Colts?

Is this the perfect offseason?

There is no such thing as a “perfect offseason” in the NFL. Fans crave free agency and the draft and fall in love with players, hoping their team will pick them up in the offseason.

While Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard and company have different ideas on what their vision for a perfect offseason would be, I wanted to share what my perfect offseason would include.

2020 NFL Draft

The Colts hold the Nos. 13, 34 and 44 picks in this upcoming draft, and they have plenty of holes to fill.

With the quarterbacks that are coming out this year that could be available at pick 13 (Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, Jacob Eason, Jake Fromm) most are projects and will need time to develop.

Indianapolis should draft a ready-made difference-maker at No. 13. With how thin the talent is at the defensive line the Colts should look to get a guy like Javon Kinlaw, Derrick Brown or Neville Gallimore.

With the 34th pick, an option will be to move back into the first round if the Colts see someone slipping but in my hypothetical world, they stay at 34 and draft a young prospect out of Washington, Jacob Eason. At 34, Eason won’t be forced to start right away, and won’t cost as much.

With how deep the receiver class is in this draft Indianapolis could wait on a receiver until their 44th overall pick and get a player like Donovan Peoples-Jones, K.J. Hill, Tyler Johnson or Chase Claypool.

Free agency

According to Spotrac, the Colts have the most projected cap room in the NFL this offseason. If anyone watched the end-of-season presser Ballard did, it seemed likely he might spend a little of that money in free agency.

Indianapolis seems unlikely to re-sign all of their in-house free agents, so let us look at a few guys they could target in free agency.

If I was Ballard I would look to go get a multi-dimensional defensive end to replace Jabaal Sheard opposite Justin Houston, bringing in a guy like Shaq Lawson of the Bills or Arik Armstead of the 49ers will do that.

Last offseason it was Ballard poaching Houston from his former employer the Kansas City Chiefs. He could do that again this offseason by signing free agent Chris Jones. As a 4-3 interior defensive lineman, Jones won’t be cheap but would provide an instant upgrade inside.

Lastly, the receiver group was a major disappointment last year due to injury and while drafting a receiver will help, the Colts need depth at that position and some guys that can create explosive plays when the ball is in their hands.

There are a few intriguing receiver free agents this offseason, Emmanuel Sanders, while he is 33 he has shown can still make plays. Amari Cooper is also a premier option if he hits the market.

They do have the option to bring back Devin Funchess, probably for a one-year deal and if that’s the case I’m all for it because he was that big body threat the Colts used a lot in Week 1 when he played.

While the likelihood of any of these things happening is very small, I think these could be some ways the Colts could look to improve the roster going into 2020.

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2020 NFL Draft: 5 quarterback prospects to watch for the Saints

If the New Orleans Saints lose Teddy Bridgewater, they could pick a quarterback like Jalen Hurts or Jordan Love in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The New Orleans Saints are headed for an offseason of uncertainty at quarterback. Even if Drew Brees returns for one more year as the face of the franchise, it’s no guarantee that his backup and heir apparent will follow him. Teddy Bridgewater deserves the opportunity to start next season, and there’s several teams who could offer that to him.

And as for Taysom Hill: his most exciting plays haven’t happened at quarterback. He’s become an effective receiving threat and runner in short-yardage situations, but his future shouldn’t include much more passing. He’ll turn 30 later this year and should continue to focus on where he’s most gifted, while he still has the athleticism to overwhelm defenders. He’s a restricted free agent, and it’s possible (but unlikely) he joins a new team, too.

But let’s say that Brees and Hill return, while Bridgewater gets the starting nod in another city. There are options the Saints could consider in free agency, and that’s normally been their strategy — plugging holes with veteran players so that the draft is wide-open. Still, maybe this year quarterback is more of a draft priority than something to target with free agents. Here are five names to watch (and no, a trade up for Joe Burrow isn’t even worth considering).

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2020 NFL mock draft: 4-round projections after divisional playoffs

Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling updates and expands his latest mock for the 2020 NFL draft, covering the first four rounds with new projections

We’re down to just four teams remaining in the NFL Playoffs, as another wild week of postseason action sent another disappointing quartet back to the drawing board to prepare for the offseason.

At the same time, the college football landscape is buzzing, with the national championship game taking place Monday night, and the all-star circuit already in full swing for some of this year’s top prospects. Shrine Game practices kick off this week, while the Senior Bowl awaits in Mobile next week.

As draft stock continues to shift, underclassmen make their declarations, and the selection order becomes more secure, here’s an updated look at how the first four rounds of the 2020 NFL draft could shake out, using the latest updated order:

1. Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

The last time the Bengals had this pick, they spent it on a Heisman-winning quarterback in Carson Palmer. 17 years later, Cincy’s hoping to land another franchise quarterback in Burrow, who has been dominant all year long despite facing stiff competition. Only an elite QB prospect would be worth passing up Chase Young, but Burrow is exactly that.

2. Washington Redskins

Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

For the second straight year, the team picking No. 2 gets the No. 1 prospect. Washington has bigger needs elsewhere, but Young is a generational talent who would be the rare “bargain” at this pick. A complete player who can take over a game all on his own, Young is one of the best pass-rushing prospects we’ve seen in years.

3. Detroit Lions

Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State

This defense has needs at every level, so this pick is about getting the best value anywhere they can. Trading down would be ideal, likely for a team targeting a franchise quarterback, but Okudah is the most worthy candidate for this pick if they stay put. He’s the best of a corner class that could produce a handful of first-round picks.

4. New York Giants

Andrew Thomas | OT | Georgia

You won’t find a more old-school general manager than Dave Gettleman, so don’t be surprised when he spends this pick on improving the offensive trenches. If Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones are going to rebuild this offense, they’ll need plenty of improvement up front. Thomas is a franchise left tackle who will be pro-ready from Day 1.

5. Miami Dolphins

Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

They might have to move up to land him on draft day, but if Tagovailoa is still on the board here, it’s a no-brainer for the Dolphins. Assuming his medicals check out, Tagovailoa is an elite quarterback prospect with all the physical and mental tools to be the difference-maker Miami has been desperately seeking for years.

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Twitter reacts as Jamie Newman transfers to UGA

Former Wake Forest QB Jamie Newman is transferring to the Georgia Bulldogs.

The Georgia Bulldogs have lost their fair share of quarterbacks to the transfer portal over the years: Justin Fields, Jacob Eason, Nick Marshall, Zach Mettenberger, and more. It’s about time UGA landed somebody in return: Wake Forest graduate transfer Jamie Newman.

Newman is the most talented transfer QB on the market and Georgia needed somebody to start while talented UGA QB signee Carson Beck learns the system and adjusts to the speed of college football. Newman threw for 26 touchdowns and ran for six more last season. He also threw eleven interceptions. He’ll have to cut down on the picks in Athens. Jake Fromm threw just five interceptions last season and eighteen in his UGA career.

Here’s how Georgia Bulldog fans, former coaches, and the college football world reacted to the signing on Twitter:

Former UGA coach Mark Richt predicts Newman will be the SEC’s best quarterback. Richt knows his football, so I’d trust him on this one:

Newman put up some impressive numbers according to PFF:

Newman must be careful around the notorious folding chairs in Athens:

This reminds me of politics:

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2020 NFL Draft: Washington QB Jacob Eason dubbed best fit for Bears

The Bears have a lot of work to do this offseason including figuring out the QB position. Could Washington’s Jacob Eason be a fit?

The Chicago Bears have a lot of work to do this offseason, and one of the most important parts is figuring out the quarterback position.

While general manager Ryan Pace publicly backed quarterback Mitchell Trubisky in his end-of-year press conference, things can certainly change from January to September.

Even if the Bears do remain committed to Trubisky — who has one year left on his current deal with his fifth-year option yet to be picked up — they have to address quarterback this offseason. Chase Daniel and Tyler Bray are both free agents, which means the Bears’ quarterbacks room is bound to look a lot different this year.

The Bears are projected to have seven draft picks — which includes a projected fourth-round compensatory pick by way of Adrian Amos — and they could certainly snag a quarterback to develop.

As for which young prospect fits the Bears best, Bleacher Report believes Washington quarterback Jacob Eason is the perfect fit in Chicago.

If Eason stays floating in the mid-first-round area, he’s a fun idea for a Chicago Bears offense that needs more than it’s getting from the conservative Mitchell Trubisky.

Granted, Eason wouldn’t be a guarantee to win the starting job right away. But it provides Matt Nagy and his staff with some upside at the position. And that upside is unafraid to push the ball down the field, which is fun with an Allen Robinson-Anthony Miller combo ready to flourish with better play from under center.

Certainly Tua Tagovailoa declaring for the 2020 NFL Draft helps the Bears’ chances of Eason possibly falling to them in the middle of the second round. Chicago has two picks in the second round — No. 43 and No. 50.

While the Bears have a lot of needs this offseason, if they were to take a quarterback — possibly Eason — in the second round, that would tell you all you need to know about their feelings about the quarterback position.

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7 potential replacements for Tom Brady in 2020

Looking at options in free agency, the draft and the trade market.

The New England Patriots have one of the most difficult decisions that an NFL franchise can make. They have to decide who their starting quarterback will be next season.

Tom Brady is still an option. He might be the option. But he can enter free agency this offseason, and his contract prevents the Patriots from franchise-tagging him. New England and Brady could be set for a breakup. Maybe. Probably?

Still, the Patriots may end up having no shortage of other options.

Dak Prescott, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Jameis Winston and Teddy Bridgewater, among others, are pending free agents. Extensions will come over the next few months. The options will thin out. The NFL draft will also present a few tantalizing options, like Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert and Jacob Eason. And of course, there’s always the trade market, where stars like Cam Newton might be available.

Here’s who the Patriots might consider as a starter in 2020 if they part ways with Brady.

1. Jarrett Stidham, QB, Patriots

Technically, he’s the most obvious option. He served as Brady’s backup for the entire 2019 season, even when Cody Kessler arrived to serve as the team’s third-team quarterback. That transaction transpired immediately after Stidham threw a pick-six in his regular-season debut. He was filling in for Brady during a blowout. But Stidham didn’t get demoted. Though his public-consumption body of work has been small, the Patriots have seen a lot of him. And perhaps we’ll begin to hear rumblings — which have already started — that they’re very impressed with his development in 2019.

Maybe they’ll give the 2019 fourth-round pick a shot at the job.

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How Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa’s decision could affect Chargers’ 2020 NFL draft plan

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez breaks down Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa’s decision and how it could affect the Chargers’ 2020 NFL draft plan.

When the clock strikes 10:00 a.m. PT on Monday, Jan. 6, all attention is going to be shifted to what’s going down in Tuscaloosa, AL.

That will mark when Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa reveals his decision whether or not he’s entering the 2020 NFL draft.

Tagovailoa will announce his decision about his future during a press conference with coach Nick Saban, according to Fox Sports’ Bruce Feldman.

Tua was regarded as the top quarterback prospect in the upcoming draft before suffering a season-ending hip injury in November.

With the Chargers in need of looking towards the future at the quarterback position, Tagovailoa has still been commonly mocked to them. But if he goes pro remains to be seen.

Tagovailoa’s decision tomorrow could have an affect on Los Angeles’ draft plans. But how?

If Tua makes the leap to the pros, he will continue to be a strong possibility for the Chargers leading up into the draft. However, there’s a quarterback-needy team that sits in front of them: the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins, who have done their work on Tagovailoa, could take him at No. 5, and that would allow Los Angeles to still take their future face of the franchise in someone like Oregon’s Justin Herbert.

This would be the best case scenario because the Chargers would be able to sit at their spot knowing that they will have their choice between consensus’  top-two signal-callers (assuming that LSU’s Joe Burrow is already off the board).

Now, what if Tua feels like he could benefit from another year at Alabama?

This is where it could become tricky.

Miami, who has the advantage being one spot in front of Los Angeles, could select Herbert, leaving the Chargers in not the most ideal position to grab a quarterback at the slot.

L.A. would have their choosing at the offensive tackle position or they could elect to take the best player available still, but I’m a firm believer that the team should grab their quarterback in Round 1 and take their other positions of need the rest of the draft.

If you take an offensive tackle or another position in the first, they would be forced to play the waiting game, in hopes of having a quarterback like Utah State’s Jordan Love or Washington’s Jacob Eason fall to them in Round 2.

The Chargers could trade up to the back end of the first-round if they see a quarterback slipping, but nothing is guaranteed, especially when you have teams like the Panthers, Colts, Raiders, Steelers among others that could snag one.

If Tua doesn’t come out and the Chargers get the sense that the Dolphins are going to draft Herbert, they could jump into the No. 4 spot to select him, but I don’t know if general manager Tom Telesco is willing to give up capital when they’re already in a good position to begin with.

Another option across the waves of social media consists of waiting until 2021 to draft a quarterback with someone like Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, Ohio State’s Justin Fields or even Tua if he goes back to school.

I don’t think it’d be the greatest idea. Los Angeles is built to win, given their roster. It’s a guess, but the chance of them picking in the top-10 again is slim-to-none.

Not to mention, Tyrod Taylor only has one more year on his contract and should Philip Rivers re-sign, my guess is it’s for one year, with a possible second-year option.

The rookie that they select would be able to sit behind either Rivers, Taylor or even a potential trade or free agent option and then take the reins in 2021 with some NFL experience under his belt.

The bottom line is that when Tua makes his decision, Chargers fans should be hoping that he enters the 2020 NFL draft. This would really open things up for the team, and put them in the best position to take a quarterback with the No. 6 overall selection.