Tag: Jeremy Fowler

Where Dallas Goedert landed in an ESPN ranking of the NFL’s top 10 tight ends for 2022

Where Philadelphia Eagles’ star pass catcher Dallas Goedert landed in an ESPN ranking of the NFL’s top 10 tight ends for 2022

Dallas Goedert will enter 2022 as the unquestioned No. 1 tight end for the Eagles, one of the highest paid at the position and looking to earn his first Pro Bowl birth.

A 2018 second-round pick, Goedert is now primed for a breakout season after Philadelphia traded the great Zach Ertz to the Cardinals in 2021. Experts and analysts are high on Goedert’s potential to produce at a high level, and he’s teetering on reaching top four or top five status with another solid season.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently ranked the top 10 tight ends in the NFL, and Goedert landed outside the top 5, at No. 6 on the list.

Goedert was the most consistent vote-getter in the next tier of tight ends, appearing on nearly 80% of the ballots. He is considered versatile for his ability to run routes with nuance and burst; flex into different positions, such as slot tight end or backside receiver; and hold up as a blocker in the running game.

“He’s kind of a sleeper to me,” an AFC personnel evaluator said. “Never gets huge media praise, but he’s a big, smooth athlete who’s good in both phases of the game — can stretch the seams and also has enough athletic ability to run the route tree.”

Goedert had 56 receptions for 830 yards and four touchdowns, and quarterback Jalen Hurts saw his QBR skyrocket when targeting the tight end across the middle.

Kyle Pitts (Falcons), Mark Andrews (Ravens), Darren Waller (Raiders), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), and George Kittle (49ers) rounded out the top five.

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Ravens’ Lamar Jackson inexplicably snubbed from top-10 QB list by NFL peers

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was snubbed from a top-10 list by his NFL peers

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has been argued as one of the best at his position since being drafted by the team in 2018. His ability both as a passer and a runner have improved over the course of his four years in the league, and in turn Jackson has turned into one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the league.

In an article posted by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, he listed the NFL’s top 10 quarterbacks for 2022 as voted on by executives, coaches and players. Jackson somehow didn’t make the cut, instead earning an honorable mention. When explaining why Jackson was absent from the list, Fowler said the quarterback’s stats from last season hurt his standing, as well as talking about how his rushing ability may not hold-up long term.

“Keeping a quarterback with an MVP award and a 37-12 record as a starter off a top-10 list is surprising, but that’s exactly what more than half of the voters did. Despite standout moments in 2021 — including 442 passing yards on Monday Night Football against the Colts in October — Jackson finished the year with a career-low 50.7 QBR. He struggled mightily in his last three full games with six interceptions and 13 sacks as teams blitzed him heavily. And he missed the last month of the season with an ankle injury, fueling concern about how his running style will hold up long term.”

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When healthy, Jackson is one of the best players in the NFL, so leaving him out of any top-10 list at his position is baffling to say the least. He impacts the game in so many different ways, has had an incredible amount of success as a professional, and has proven that he a franchise player at the highest level.

Through four seasons, Jackson has a 64.1 completion percentage, 9,967 passing yards and 87 touchdowns on 852 attempts. The former league MVP also has rushed for 3,673 yards and 21 touchdowns on 615 attempts.

Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey named as top-10 player at position by NFL peers

Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey was named a top-10 player at his position by his NFL peers in an article by ESPN

The Baltimore Ravens have been deemed to have one of the best secondaries in the NFL by many analysts heading into the 2022 season, including a nod by Pro Football Focus. With players like cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey as well as safeties Marcus Williams, Chuck Clark and first-round pick Kyle Hamilton, this group appears to be one that will give many NFL quarterbacks trouble if they decide to test their coverage.

In an article posted by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, he listed off the NFL’s top 10 cornerbacks for 2022 as voted on by executives, coaches and players. Coming in on the list at No. 8 was Humphrey. When explaining why Humphrey took a tumble in the rankings, Fowler said the cornerback’s injury and others performing better last season was the main reason for Humphrey being ranked where he was.

“Humphrey took a sizable fall in the rankings, in part because others had a bigger 2021 season. Humphrey missed the last month of the season with a torn pectoral muscle, and in 12 games, he failed to produce at the same level as his 2020 campaign, when he had eight forced fumbles and 2.5 sacks. He finished 2021 with one forced fumble and zero sacks.”

Humphrey suffered a torn right pectoral muscle in Week 13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers that forced the cornerback to miss the remainder of the season. When healthy, Humphrey is a top-five player at his position and his play on the field shows, even if he had a down year in 2021.

A talented and healthy Humphrey is a player opposing quarterbacks hope to not see in the secondary. He is a turnover machine, and will be looking to bounce back in a big way during the 2022 season.

Seahawks getting ‘preliminary’ trade interest from teams for No. 9 pick

The Seahawks have received calls from other teams with “preliminary interest” in Seattle’s selection at No. 9 overall in the 2022 NFL draft.

The Seattle Seahawks currently have the No. 9 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft but things could change quickly.

As to be expected, Seattle has gotten some calls from other teams expressing “preliminary interest” in the Seahawks’ selection, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

Fowler was quick to follow up his initial tweet with an explanatory disclaimer.

“To be clear: Giants and Seahawks are getting calls on their respective picks,” Fowler explained. “This isn’t Seattle trying to move to 7 (as far as I know). Teams call each other to check parameters on any potential movement. Carry on.”

The Seahawks clearly aren’t going to tip off other teams with their intentions but it’s not out of the question that Seattle would move out from the No. 9 spot. It’s safe to assume more clubs could be calling with “preliminary interest” as we inch closer to the start of the draft.

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ESPN: Seahawks would consider Malik Willis at 9, like Sam Howell on Day 2

The team also “likes” North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell, but would more likely target him on Day 2.

According to a report by Jeremy Fowler at ESPN, the Seahawks “would consider” taking Liberty quarterback Malik Willis with the No. 9 overall pick if he’s still available tomorrow night in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. The team also “likes” North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell, but would more likely target him on Day 2.

Here are the details, per Bleacher Report:

“ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Tuesday on SportsCenter that the Seahawks would consider taking Liberty quarterback Malik Willis with the No. 9 pick if he is on the board. The Seahawks also like North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell, although they would be more likely to target him on Day 2, per Fowler.”

Willis is perhaps the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in the entire 2022 draft class. Our best-case comp for him is Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson, but he could also have a career something like P.J. Walker, who’s our worst-case comp. Odds are he’ll fall somewhere in-between.

Howell is pretty much universally compared with Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, who the Seahawks have been rumored to be interested in ever since the Deshaun Watson trade. So far, Mayfield has been the most inconsistent starter in the NFL outside of Jameis Winston. Teams taking Howell are betting that he’ll be more like the good version of Mayfield we saw in 2018 and 2020.

Somewhere in-between where these two QBs are projected is Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder, who’s become the prospect most-connected to Seattle in the draft. The prevailing theory is they will either trade down from No. 9 target Ridder in the teens or a trade up from Nos. 40-41 and take him at the tail-end of the first round.

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Lamar Jackson responds to comments saying he could be figured out in 2021

Lamar Jackson fired back at recent comments about 2021 being the year that he could be figured out

The Baltimore Ravens are expecting a big year out of quarterback Lamar Jackson in 2021. The fourth-year signal caller is ready to compete for a Super Bowl championship with his teammates, as well as continue to prove that he is a star at the NFL level.

Jackson has heard his name in the media over the last couple of days, which is far from unusual. However, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN said on “Get Up” that people around the league have told him that they believe 2021 is the year that the quarterback could get figured out.

The former University of Louisville star was asked about the comments made by Fowler after Tuesday’s practice, and didn’t seem phased by them.

A simple “I doubt it” was all that was needed to show what Jackson thought of the remarks. He’s never been one to listen to what anyone in the media says, as well as negative opinions that come from fans. He and the people close to him that believe in him are seemingly all that he needs, which is a great mindset to have.

Jackson is 30-7 as a starting quarterback at the NFL level. He won a unanimous MVP award in his second season in the league, and is still just 24 years old with plenty of room to improve. Teams have figured out that Jackson is extremely hard to stop, but figuring him out completely doesn’t feel like it will be happening any time soon.

Could Marcus Maye be a good free agent fit for the Eagles?

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes Marcus Maye would be a good fit for the Eagles in free agency

The rebuilding Philadelphia Eagles can always use talent and with Rodney McLeod rehabbing a torn ACL, safety could be a position of needing as the new league year approaches.

ESPN recently examined the top-50 free agents for 2021 and Jeremy Fowler believes the best fit for veteran free agent Marcus Maye, is the young, rebuilding Eagles.

33. Marcus Maye, S
Best fit: Philadelphia Eagles

Maye reunites with his position coach in New York, Dennard Wilson, who was hired by the Eagles this offseason. Also watch out for Dallas, which also needs safety help and made Dan Quinn, Maye’s college coordinator at Florida, its defensive coordinator. At least six teams will be in the safety market.

Maye was drafted by the Jets with Jamal Adams in 2017 and this season, he was named New York’s Curtis Martin award winner.

Maye is an ironman in the mold of Malcolm Jenkins, leading the Jets with 1,137 snaps while setting career highs in tackles (88), TFLs (4), sacks (2), pass defenses (11), forced fumbles (2), and fumble recoveries (1).

Browns’ defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi made the list at No. 37, and he was also deemed a good fit for a rebuilding defense.

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Report: Washington could be involved in Deshaun Watson sweepstakes ‘in a big way’

Several teams are jockeying for position in a Deshaun Watson trade, and a new report shows that Washington could be on the shortlist.

While a handful of teams in the NFL are jockeying for position in a potential blockbuster trade that would land the electric QB Deshaun Watson on a team other than the Houston Texans, one sleeper candidate is the Washington Football Team.

According to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, an NFL executive tells him that Washington could potentially be involved in the Watson sweepstakes “in a big way.”

And for as bad as the NFC East was this year, there’s an improving team with $35.4 million in cap space and tons of intriguing young players who could make a move: the Washington Football Team.

“I think they will be involved in the QB sweepstakes in a big way,” an NFC exec said. “They know they are close.”

Some of the top teams who are thought to be in play for Watson — arguably a top-5 QB in the NFL who many believe has taken his final snap in Houston — are the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, and Chicago Bears. In order to land Watson in a trade, it will undoubtedly take a load of assets, which could include starting-caliber players and multiple draft picks.

We will see if Washington ends up making any offers for Watson, but at the very least, they need to call and see what it would take. With as good as Washington’s defense is, mixed with the young talent and budding success across the entire roster, landing a top QB like Watson could push them over the edge into real Super Bowl contention.

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Report: Panthers expected to fine players for breaking COVID-19 protocols

Fowler’s report states that some of those players met outside of the team facility during the bye week, which is prohibited by the NFL.

The Carolina Panthers are expected to fine players at least $10,000 apiece for breaking the league’s COVID-19 protocols during the bye week, according to a report by Jeremy Fowler at ESPN.

Earlier this week, the team placed eight players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, including wide receivers D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel. Most of them have since been activated. However, Moore and defensive tackle Zach Kerr are still on the list, leaving their status for Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos in doubt. Fowler’s report states that some of those players met outside of the team facility during the bye, which is prohibited by the NFL.

Coach Matt Rhule told reporters a few days ago his understanding was that the outbreak was a result of the team’s trip to Minnesota before the bye. However, that contradicts both Fowler’s reporting and what the league’s chief medical officer had to say on Wednsday. Rhule later said if it’s confirmed that players met off-site that it will be addressed by the team and the league.

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Report: Saints contract talks with Alvin Kamara have ‘begun in earnest’

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the New Orleans Saints have kickstarted negotiations with Pro Bowl RB Alvin Kamara on a contract extension

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Money isn’t really on Alvin Kamara’s mind right now. The New Orleans Saints running back said early in training camp that he’s not worried about his contract situation; that’s despite him entering the final year of his rookie deal, with a possible franchise tag on the horizon in 2021.

It makes sense. Kamara has a lot to prove after his hobbled 2019 season, in which his performance slumped following an early-season knee injury. He’s kicking any questions about his contract upstairs, where his agent and Saints management may or may not be hashing things out. For his part, general manager Mickey Loomis shot down any questions about it earlier this month.

Kamara addressed the situation himself back on Aug. 10, making his stance on the subject very clear: “Me and my agent talked briefly about it and I said, ‘Don’t tell me anything about a contract until it’s like something where it’s happening or if it’s something that I need to know,’ other than that, like if I was my own agent then I’d have everything to tell you guys about a contract, but I’m not. I don’t talk upstairs about contracts, I don’t talk to coaches about contracts. I’m just here to do my job.”

But that doesn’t mean nothing is happening. According to the latest report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Saints have finally gotten the ball rolling with Kamara, though it doesn’t appear anyone is ready to put pens to paper just yet.

“Kamara and the New Orleans Saints have begun contract negotiations in earnest,” Fowler said on ESPN. “Now there is nothing imminent but the team has made clear with their proposal that they value him, and they know he played hurt last year, and they believe he is elite.”

Now, Fowler was careful to couch his report by saying sides are not close to a deal — it just means that the team has put an offer on the table, and now they’re in wait-and-see mode.

But things could develop in a hurry. Fowler also pointed out that three different big-name running backs are in talks with their teams around the league: Dalvin Cook and the Minnesota Vikings, Joe Mixon and the Cincinnati Bengals, and of course, Kamara and the Saints. It’s a bit of a race to see who signs first.

New contract extensions for superstar running backs Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry have already been signed earlier this year, raising the cost for players at the position across the board. If the Saints put this deal off much longer, Kamara’s market value will only increase.

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