Tag: James Daniels

2024 NFL draft: Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan skirt need of Steelers drafting center

The Steelers continue to maintain they don’t feel any pressure to draft a center early.

When the Pittsburgh Steelers released starting center Mason Cole at the start of free agency, it left a huge void along the offensive line.

Or did it?

For the third time since the team released Cole, they have been asked about the center position and for the third time the team has made it clear they feel like they have internal options at center and don’t seem to feel any pressure to draft a new starting center.

Let’s think about that for a second. What are those options? First and foremost it would be starting backup center Nate Herbig. Herbig has a total of 47 career snaps at center in the NFL.

Or perhaps it is about a position move. James Daniels was the starting center at Iowa for two seasons and in 2019 he went back and forth between center and guard while with the Chicago Bears. If the Steelers did move Daniels, this could open the door for Spencer Anderson to start at guard.

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Iowa Hawkeyes’ top-10 Madden NFL 24 grades unveiled

The grades are in! In a show of black and gold strength, the Hawkeyes are well represented in Madden NFL 24. Here’s the top-10 rated Hawks.

It’s that time of year again! July is wrapping up and people are mad online. Yup, it’s definitely Madden season.

EA Sports has started its annual tradition of angering sports fans all over the country with the release of its new Madden ratings. Your favorite $70 roster update and cause of broken controllers is set to release on Aug. 15. Hopefully, the game survives in a non-broken state this year by the playoffs! Hey, maybe things will be different this year.

What certainly won’t be is the time-honored tradition of former Iowa Hawkeyes being some of the best players you can add to your team in Madden. We all know about that black and gold pipeline to the NFL, and there are few better feelings than playing with some of your favorite former Hawkeyes on Madden.

You have no shortage of great Iowa players to pick from when building your team in Madden 24. These are the top 10 ranked Hawkeyes in the newest game.

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10 highest-rated Iowa Hawkeyes in Madden NFL 23

Madden grades are a source of pride. Who are the top Iowa Hawkeyes in Madden 23? Here’s a look at the highest-rated Hawkeyes.

There’s a great deal of anger from internet sports fans. That means it must be Madden ratings reveal time! No matter how hard you resist the urge to fight it, you will care about the ratings the Madden devs give your favorite players. It’s just a fact.

It is like the great warning sign that football is here. Hawkeyes Wire already took a look at the top 25 highest-rated Madden NFL 23 players, but you’re probably wondering how the ratings look for the Hawkeyes specifically.

For Iowa, the Hawkeyes are one of the most represented schools in the NFL. There are quite a few stars from the Hawkeyes, but who is the best of the bunch? Here are the top 10 highest-rated Iowa Hawkeyes you can use in Madden NFL 23.

Bears Twitter reacts to James Daniels signing with Steelers

The Steelers are expected to sign OL James Daniels. Here’s how Bears fans are reacting to Daniels’ departure.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing former Chicago Bears offensive lineman James Daniels to a three-year deal worth $26.5 million, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Daniels reunites with former Bears teammate and new Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who agreed to terms on a two-year deal with Pittsburgh on Monday.

It’s a steal for the Steelers, who get Daniels for less than $9 million per season. Daniels has been an integral part of Chicago’s offensive line since he was drafted in 2018. Given he’s just 24, he’s just reaching his prime.

But in many ways, it shows that general manager Ryan Poles wasn’t as high on Daniels as many believed. The development of quarterback Justin Fields is crucial, which starts with protecting Fields up front.

As you can imagine, Bears fans had plenty to say about Daniels’ departure. The general consensus was surprise that Poles was letting the 24-year-old Daniels walk.

Steelers to sign former Bears OL James Daniels

Another interior offensive lineman is off the free agent market as former Bears OL James Daniels is expected to sign with the Steelers.

Former Chicago Bears offensive lineman James Daniels has found a new home with the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

According to Pelissero, it’s a three-year deal worth $26.5 million for Daniels, which takes another interior offensive lineman off the free agent market.

Daniels reunites with former Bears teammate and new Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who agreed to terms on a two-year deal with Pittsburgh on Monday.

It’s an affordable deal for Daniels, who’s just 24 years old and has played well since he was drafted by Chicago in 2018. But it’s also a surprise that Bears general manager Ryan Poles wasn’t able to bring back a young, talented offensive lineman in Daniels.

The Bears have concerns throughout the offensive line. With Daniels off the market, Chicago needs to address some growing concerns within the interior of the offensive line.

Offensive line will be a focal point in free agency and the NFL draft, as protecting quarterback Justin Fields should be a top priority.

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4 free agent guards the Texans should consider

The Houston Texans have decisions to make across the roster. Here are four free agent guards who could help the offensive line.

The Houston Texans have many needs to consider as they upgrade their roster for the 2022 season.

New offensive line coach George Warhop seeks to get the Texans’ yards per carry up. Houston generated 3.4 yards per carry last season, the lowest in the NFL.

“The one thing that you’re always going to look at, I’m going to look at is what is our yards per carry,” Warhop told reporters on Feb. 22. “I want that to be above 4.3, 4.4, somewhere in there.”

Here are four free agent guards who could help the Texans improve along the interior of their offensive line. All contract figures are according to Spotrac.

10 moves the Bears should make in free agency

Free agency is just around the corner, and the Bears have some big needs to address. Here are some potential moves they should consider:

The Chicago Bears have some pressing needs to address heading into free agency, and they have plenty of salary cap space to make some moves. There are starting jobs and depth holes to fill.

For new general manager Ryan Poles, he has some important decisions to make about whether to re-sign some pending free agents, including Allen Robinson, James Daniels and Akiem Hicks. But there’s also a slew of talent set to hit the open market at several areas of need.

With free agency just around the corner, we’re taking a look at 10 moves the Bears should consider making to improve their roster:

How can the Bears best improve in 2022? Fix the offensive line

The easiest path to improvement for the Bears lies in addressing concerns on the offensive line, as protecting Justin Fields will be key.

New Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles has plenty of work to do with this roster heading into free agency and the NFL draft. But arguably the most important is addressing the concerns on the offensive line, as protecting quarterback Justin Fields will be key.

There are questions both at the tackle position and within the interior of the line, as Cody Whitehair, Teven Jenkins and Larry Borom are the only projected starters currently under contract. While they figure to play an integral part in 2022, we could see some new faces along Chicago’s offensive line.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes the best way the Bears can improve heading into the 2022 season is simple: “Get (most of) a new offensive line.”

Realistically, if the Bears want to try to retain some continuity while giving Fields a chance to thrive, they could move Whitehair to center, install Jenkins and Borom as the two tackles and go find two new guards. If Getsy wants to make more significant changes, there’s a chance that Jenkins is the only guy on the current roster who starts Week 1. New offensive line coach Chris Morgan is going have his work cut out for him.

The Bears also have an important decision to make about offensive guard James Daniels, who’s set to be a hot name in free agency. Daniels is just 24 years old, and he’s been a key fixture on the offensive line since he was a rookie in 2018.

While the Bears have some talented young players in place with Jenkins and Borom, there could be a shakeup along the offensive line if they bring in a veteran tackle or address the position in the draft.

Poles remained noncommittal about where Jenkins would be lining up on the offensive line in 2022, which certainly leaves the door open to a big shift up front.

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4 interior linemen the Panthers should target in free agency

The Panthers may need to revamp the entirety of their interior offensive line this spring. Here’s where they can start.

If it weren’t for right tackle Taylor Moton, the Carolina Panthers would have exactly zero assurances on their offensive line heading into 2022. So, obviously, there’s plenty of work to be done.

Much of that work has to come from the interior—where the team could lose their starting center and currently have two sets of turnstiles at guard. So, here are four options the Panthers should key in on for that area during free agency.

6 Bears who could be next in line for a contract extension

From Roquan Smith to James Daniels, here are a handful of Bears players who have made a strong case for a contract extension.

The offseason fun is about to begin with free agency just a couple of weeks away. For new Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles, he’s about to start assembling a roster that could look a lot different than from a year ago.

Not only will Poles be looking to secure talent on the free-agent market, he has some decisions to make about potential contract extensions, including most notably linebacker Roquan Smith.

There are a handful of Bears players who could be in line for a contract extension — some currently under contract and others who are set to become a free agent.

Here’s a look at six Bears players who have made a strong case for a contract extension looking ahead to the 2022 season: