Tag: Jordan Mack

Panthers release 3 players on Wednesday

The Panthers officially cut ties with three players from their inactive list on Wednesday.

The Carolina Panthers had some cleaning up to do on Wednesday.

Per the league transaction wire, the team cut ties with three players from their inactive list—cornerbacks Rashaan Melvin and Justin Layne and linebacker Jordan Mack.

Melvin was terminated from the reserve/retired designation. After not reporting to training camp this summer, the 33-year-old officially called it quits on July 27.

That decision closed the book on a seven-year NFL career. In 2021, his lone season with Carolina, Melvin appeared in 10 games with a pair of starts.

Keeping on the subject of “not reporting,” Layne was terminated from the reserve/did not report list. Despite being claimed off waivers ahead of the Week 16 matchup with the Detroit Lions, the 24-year-old defensive back simply did not show up to the team facility.

Similarly to Melvin, Mack was waived from retirement. The undrafted free agent out of the University of Virginia opted out of the 2020 campaign due to COVID-19 concerns and retired the following spring.

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Panthers place LB Jordan Mack on reserve/retired list

According to Joe Person at the Athletic, the team has placed Mack on the reserve/retired list.

NFL careers don’t last long. Some end before they even begin. That’s the case for Panthers linebacker Jordan Mack, in any case.

An undrafted free agent out of Virginia, Mack opted out of playing in the 2020 season due to concerns over COVID-19. We had projected him to be near the bottom of the inside linebacker rotation, but it seems Mack has other plans that don’t involve football.

According to Joe Person at the Athletic, the team has placed Mack on the reserve/retired list.

Mack’s agent says that he is moving on to the post-football phase of his life.

The Panthers had one other player opt out last season: defensive end/outside linebacker Christian Miller. He plans to return.

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NFL, NFLPA agree on deadline for players to opt-out of 2020 season

NFL, NFLPA agree on deadline for players to opt-out of 2020 season

The NFL and the players association have come to an agreement on the last remaining CBA changes for this year due to the pandemic.

According to a report by Tom Pelissero at NFL Network, the deadline for players to opt-out of the 2020 season is set for Thursday at 4:00 p.m. ET.

Players will also be able to opt-out later in the case of specified situations due to family or medical circumstances.

So far, the Panthers have had two players opt-out. Rookie linebacker Jordan Mack decided to take the voluntary opt-out, and second-year defensive end Christian Miller is taking the high-risk opt-out.

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Panthers injury updates: Greg Little to start camp on PUP list, Jordan Mack opts-out

The Carolina Panthers have announced several roster moves ahead of the opening of training camp.

The Carolina Panthers have announced a series of injury-related roster moves ahead of 2020 training camp.

Here is a quick review of what’s going on.

OT Greg Little

2019 second-round pick Greg Little’s development continues to be hindered by health issues. Little missed 12 games as a rookie due to several injuries and will begin this one on the sidelines. According to the team website, Little will start training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list after he failed his physical.

OT Branden Bowen

In related news, the undrafted rookie Branden Bowen will begin on the active/reserve list with a non-football illness.

OT Juwann Bushell-Beatty

Carolina will begin camp down three tackles, in fact. Former Michigan lineman Juwann Bushell-Beatty has been waived.

LB Jordan Mack

The Panthers have their first opt-out of the year due to the pandemic. Former Virginia linebacker Jordan Mack has decided to sit out his rookie season. This might explain why the team added two linebackers yesterday, bringing back Adarius Taylor and picking up Kyahva Tezino off waivers from the Patriots.

P Michael Palardy

In case you missed it, earlier NFL Network reported that the team put punter Michael Palardy on the reserve/NFI list, ending his 2020 season. Apparently, Palardy tore his ACL at some point this offseason and will undergo surgery. South Carolina’s own Joseph Charlton projects as the new starting punter.

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Watch: College highlights for Panthers undrafted LB Jordan Mack

Watch: College highlights for Panthers undrafted LB Jordan Mack

The Carolina Panthers unquestionably had the best linebacker corps in all of football just a couple of years ago. The exit of Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly’s retirement hit the unit hard though and the team didn’t add any new linebackers in the 2020 NFL draft.

However, they did sign several undrafted free agents at the position, a couple of whom might have a good chance to make the roster. One of them is Virginia’s Jordan Mack, who was named Carolina’s best UDFA signing this year.

Let’s check out Mack’s college tape.

Mack 2019 season highlights

Mack 2018 season highlights

Mack 2017 season highlights

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Cardinals address O-line, defense in four-round mock draft

They take Jedrick Wills in the first round and address their defense with their next four picks.

The Arizona Cardinals no longer have a second-round pick in the NFL draft because they sent it to the Houston Texans as part of the deal for receiver DeAndre Hopkins. However, they still have four picks in the first four rounds, as they have two fourth-round selection.

In Draft Wire managing editor Luke Easterling’s new mock draft, he goes four rounds and projects that the Arizona Cardinals will use three of their four selections in those four rounds to address the defense.

With their first-round pick, though, they address the offensive line. They select Alabama tackle Jedrick Wills.

After trading for DeAndre Hopkins, the Cards aren’t likely to spend a top-10 pick on another pass-catcher, no matter how much Kyler Murray might like to throw to CeeDee Lamb again. Instead, the Cards opt to improve the protection for their young quarterback. With D.J. Humphries back, Wills slides in as the immediate starter at right tackle.

Wills is a safe pick. The question is whether he would beat out a healthy Marcus Gilbert as the starter at right tackle.

He’s not a bad pick, but he isn’t an exciting pick by any means.

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2020 NFL draft: Jordan Mack scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Virginia linebacker prospect Jordan Mack

Jordan Mack | LB | Virginia

Elevator Pitch

If a team is looking for a physical linebacker that provides some pass rush from the position, look no further than Mack. He is a mid-round linebacker prospect that needs some development but has a relentless motor and knack for creating turnovers via the fumble.

Vitals

Height | 6-3

Weight | 241

Class | Senior

College Stats

College Bio

Strengths

Mack did a good job at Virginia of getting to the ball carrier and creating some playmaking opportunities on defense. Six forced fumbles shows that he can separate the runner from the ball, those types of plays will be huge for him to get on the field in rotational role to start his career.

He provides a bit of pass rush at the position with a good size that teams will love. Posted 14.5 career sacks in four seasons as a starter. He flies through the line up the middle as a blitzer, even when he misses the target Mack doesn’t give up on the play. Often times will find the runner in pursuit.

Mack does bring some power at the linebacker position. Showed that off with a bull rush on offensive lineman that drove them back into the lap of the quarterback. He can also lower his shoulder when delivering a pop to the ball carrier.

Weaknesses

Mack is a defender who is more of a gang up tackler than a one on one tackler. He rallies to the ball quickly but usually along with a host of other defenders. Finished with more assisted tackles than solo. This confirms what is on his film, needs to become better at one on one tackles and getting to the ball. This has a lot to do with average instincts at the position.

Awareness of the ball is probably one of his worst traits, he needs to do a better job of finding the ball at the next level. This will help in his playmaking ability. His explosiveness is pretty average as he doesn’t have that quick twitch that the elite linebackers have. He will need to win with his mental approach to the game such as reading keys.

Durability will be of concern to the NFL teams. He missed time during the 2018 season as well as offseason surgery following the 2019 campaign. His medical records will be a key for him.

Projection: Day 3

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Mock draft watch: breaking down Draft Wire’s latest 4-rounder for the Browns

It’s a great haul for the Browns

The latest mock draft from our friends at Draft Wire celebrates President’s Day with four rounds of 2020 NFL Draft projections. For the Cleveland Browns, it’s truly a presidential haul of talent to help stock the roster for new head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Here’s a look at what the Browns select in the four rounds from Draft Wire editor Luke Easterling.

First round: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

The Alabama right tackle has become a fairly popular projection for the Browns, and for good reason. He’s NFL-ready to start at the weakest position on the team.

There’s no denying the amount of talent this offense has at the skill positions, but it’ll be all for naught if the Browns don’t improve their offensive line in a big way this offseason. Wills has been a fast riser throughout this season, and could easily be off the board by this pick. If he’s not, he’d be the perfect blend of need and value for Cleveland.

Second round: Grant Delpit, S, LSU

Delpit is a player whose stock has taken a real perceived tumble. In mock drafts from the college season, Delpit was often gone by the time the Browns would make their first pick at No. 10 overall.

An injury watered down his season for the national champs, and the holes in his game — namely tackling — got worse and not better when he did play. The elite-level prospect is still there, probably. It would be up to new defensive coordinator Joe Woods, himself a seasoned DB coach, to bring back the playmaking headhunter that dominated in his earlier LSU tenure.

Third round: Ben Bredeson, OL, Michigan

Third round: Jordan Mack, LB, Virginia

The Browns have two third-rounders, their own and Houston’s as a result of the Duke Johnson trade. Using them on Bredeson and Mack helps restock the depth on the team.

Bredeson projects best as a center, though he’s played left guard for the Wolverines and certainly has the power to handle playing RG for the Browns. An Academic All-American, Bredeson has the ability to contribute right away.

Mack is a reactive, twitchy linebacker with excellent blitzing ability and a downhill sense of play. He’s a similar size to Mack Wilson but doesn’t play the same type of game at all; Mack struggles in coverage and doesn’t move as well in space as you would expect of a 6-foot-2, 230-pound LB. Playing them together in Woods’ 4-3 could be a nice blend of talents.

Fourth round: Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU

Yeah, Randy Moss’ son. The guy who thrived in the CFB playoffs at just 21 years old and with limited experience for a guy at a major program. He’s got incredible upside as a supersized (listed 6-3/249) receiver, but he also has pretty solid blocking chops for being the son of arguably the most physically gifted WR of all-time, too.