Tag: k.j. hamler

Colts listed as potential landing spot for WR K.J. Hamler

PFF listed the Colts as a potential landing spot for Broncos WR K.J. Hamler.

The Indianapolis Colts added some depth to the slot wide receiver position after signing Isaiah McKenzie in free agency, but Pro Football Focus thinks they could be in the market to add another.

With Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce expected to take the majority of reps on the boundary, the Colts are likely to have a competition for snaps at slot receiver. McKenzie and Ashton Dulin figure to compete for that role as the roster currently stands, but Pro Football Focus’ Sam Monson threw another name into the mix.

He listed the Colts as a potential landing spot for Denver Broncos wide receiver K.J. Hamler, who is going into the final year of his rookie contract. He also listed the Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks and Cincinnati Bengals as potential destinations.

Hamler is a prototypical vertical slot receiver — a player who can threaten deep at any time with a free release off the line. He may not be the most well-rounded receiver, but there are several teams in the league crying out for either the injection of speed, the threat deep downfield, or a slot option. His average depth of target was 24.9 yards downfield last season, and he had a career-low in yards per route run (1.06), as he was aligned out wide more often.

In fairness to Monson, he published the article before the news of Hamler’s torn pectoral muscle dropped, which is expected to sideline the speedster between 4-6 months.

The Colts need to add some competition for the slot role, especially an option who can get down the field in Shane Steichen’s offense.

But with the recent news about his injury, it’s unlikely the Colts will make a move for the former second-round pick unless it’s at an extreme value.

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5 trades Super Bowl contenders (the Cowboys!) should make at the 2022 NFL trade deadline

These contenders have one more day to cement their chances for the Super Bowl.

At 4 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 1, the 2022 NFL trade deadline will have come and gone. And even while this has already been one of the more active deadlines in recent memory, we should still see a few dominoes fall between now and when the clock strikes midnight tomorrow, er, 4 o’clock in the afternoon.

Certain Super Bowl contenders like the Chiefs and Eagles have already put themselves out there with interesting moves for the upside of an offensive playmaker and a premier pass rusher. But there’s still so much work to be done, especially for any competitive peers who want to keep pace with the NFL’s elite.

From a pair of potentially disgruntled Broncos receivers to a talented running back who, for now, resides closest to Lake Erie, there are a lot of gifted players on the board. Veteran players who might help some squads get over the top. Let’s break down a few names and trade fits that make perfect sense for all parties involved before the end of the deadline.

5 realistic Browns trade targets with Tuesday’s deadline approaching

The Browns might be in a position to acquire some young talent in need of a change of scenery. Here are five candidates who fit the bill.

The Cleveland Browns are more than likely going to be sellers as this year’s trade deadline approaches. However, they will never bat an eye at an opportunity to acquire young talent in need of a change of scenery either.

While it was draft day, general manager Andrew Berry made a move to go up and get Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. This Spring he sent shockwaves through the league, acquiring wide receiver Amari Cooper for just a fifth round pick. This also does not include the massive trade he made this past  Spring to upgrade at quarterback as well.

Berry has also been known to make low-risk trades as well. Swapping linebacker Mack Wilson for pass rusher Chase Winovich was a non-consequential move made, as was acquiring linebacker Deion Jones for a pick swap.

As the deadline approaches, the Browns will have the opportunity to both make non-consequential trades and acquire young talent. Here are five realistic trades the Browns could make to add talent to their roster.

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Chargers HC Brandon Staley sounds off on benching CB J.C. Jackson

Chargers HC Brandon Staley had seen enough.

The Chargers sought out cornerback J.C. Jackson this past offseason, hoping to be the anchor of the defensive backfield.

Jackson missed the first two games due to off-season ankle surgery. When he finally got on the field, Jackson struggled to play up to the five-year, $82.5 million contract he signed in March.

Entering Week 6, Jackson had been targeted 20 times while allowing 15 receptions for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Further, he had yet to intercept a pass and was credited with just a single pass breakup.

Enough was enough on Monday night against the Broncos when Jackson’s struggles continued. After a porous first-half performance, he was benched to start the second half in favor of seventh-year Michael Davis.

“It just wasn’t good enough in the first half and we felt like we needed to make a change,” Brandon Staley said on the decision to bench Jackson.

Jackson was called for defensive pass interference on a deep pass intended for wide receiver Courtland Sutton on the Broncos’ first drive.

It was all downhill from there.

On Denver’s next drive, which resulted in a 39-yard touchdown by rookie Greg Dulcich, they were in Cover 3, and instead of covering his side of the field, Jackson followed K.J. Hamler, leading to a wide-open Dulcich.

When asked if Dulcich’s touchdown was on Jackson, Staley replied, “Yeah.”

Two drives later, right before the half, Jackson got beat on a double move by Hamler, resulting in a 47-yard pickup.

“The Hamler catch, was J.C. beat there?” Staley responded, “Yeah.” “Was he supposed to have safety help?” Staley said, “No.”

Before the matchup with Denver, Jackson said that the ankle was not the issue for his early struggles.

Instead, he said it was a matter of getting his confidence back and acclimating to the defensive scheme after going from a man-heavy system with the Patriots to playing the most zone coverage he has ever played.

With New England, Jackson earned All-Pro honors in 2021 after registering eight interceptions and a league-leading 23 pass deflections.

Nevertheless, once Davis took the field, the play in the secondary improved. He did a great job of locking up his side of the field, and he broke up a pass intended for Courtland Sutton in the fourth quarter.

“Mike gave us a chance in the second half,” Staley said.

Now, still early in the season, the question looms of what the Chargers will do with the outside spot opposite Asante Samuel Jr. going forward

Do they throw Jackson back into the mix, hoping to see an improvement, or simply because they’re paying him too much money to stand on the sidelines?

Or, do they ride with Davis, who had a better two quarters than Jackson has had all season?

We wait and see how it all unfolds.

Everything to know from Chargers’ overtime win over Broncos

Highlighting all the important stuff from the Chargers’ Week 6 victory over the Broncos.

The Chargers defeated the Broncos in overtime on Monday night, 19-16.

To recap the game, here is everything to know about Los Angeles’ victory.

Behind Enemy Lines: Previewing Week 2 with the Broncos Wire

The Houston Texans and Denver Broncos are looking for their first full wins of 2022. @byjonheath from the Broncos Wire previews Week 2.

The Houston Texans and the Denver Broncos are both looking for their first win of the 2022 season when they meet Sunday at 3:25 p.m. Central Time at Empower Field at Mile High.

Technically, the Texans are looking for their first full win as the 20-20 tie with the Indianapolis Colts counts as half a win. The Texans have a .500 winning percentage after Week 1 with their 0-0-1 record.

The Broncos are coming off an emotional loss in two ways against the Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson didn’t get the win where his NFL career started, and rookie coach Nathaniel Hackett settled for a 64-yard game-winning field goal.

Broncos Wire managing editor Jon Heath stopped by to help preview the Week 2 encounter with Houston and Denver.

K.J. Hamler back with a purpose at Broncos camp

KJ Hamler’s willingness to be open about mental roadblocks and strains is showing leadership in a different way in Broncos camp.

Penn State has been sending receivers to the NFL like clockwork for several years now. One of the players to get sent in recent times is [autotag]K.J. Hamler[/autotag].

Hamler was selected in the second round by the Denver Broncos in the 2020 NFL draft. After a breakout junior season and a draft process that was interrupted by COVID-19, Hamler still found himself in a good spot. The Broncos had a deep and talented receiver room when he arrived, including former Nittany Lion Daesean Hamilton. As a rookie, he saw a limited role but was set for a breakout second season in the league.

In week three, however, he tore his ACL for the second time in his football career. After a year of rehab, he is now set for the breakout campaign he was destined for.

Hamler discussed the other day at Broncos camp how he has overcome not just physical issues but mental ones as well. He talked about being in a very “dark place” after the injury. Despite all that he says he found his way out of it.

“God gave me the strength to get out of this hole…He knew I was strong enough to get through it,” Hamler said this week as he returned to Brocnos training camp. “I didn’t feel like I was at the time… I’m proud of myself, and I know my grandmother is proud.”

The Denver Broncos receiving room is still crowded but Hamler is working his way up the depth chart now and has a good quarterback behind him. The Broncos notably updated the quarterback position by acquiring star passer Russell Wilson. Follow that up with his teammate Tim Patrick who was competing him for a spot on the depth chart going down and now Hamler sits for his breakout to happen.

Winning a spot by injury is never how you want to get things but in the NFL it is next man up. For Russell Wilson, he loves to include all his receivers who have snaps in the passing attack. Hamler has a skillset that no one else on the team does and new head coach Nathaniel Hackett can use that to gameplan around him.

No matter what, Hamler making his way back is going to be a win for him and the Broncos. Going back to his Penn State days, he has always put others first. Now it seems he has put himself first and he is finally in a good place and ready to succeed.

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2022 NFL draft: Every player taken with 46th overall pick in last 10 years

What will the Vikings do with their first second-round draft pick in two years?

For the first time in two years, the Minnesota Vikings will finally be selecting a player in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Of course, that’s assuming general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah doesn’t green light a trade that sends the pick to another team.

The Vikings haven’t had a second-round draft pick since taking offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland with the No. 58 overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft. Since being kicked to guard, Cleveland has been solid in his role along the offensive front.

So former general manager Rick Spielman must be commended for rebounding with that pick after biting the dust on cornerback Jeff Gladney in the first round.

There’s a ton of value to be had on Friday for the Vikings with the No. 46 overall pick. Whether Adofo-Mensah can find it or not remains to be seen.

Today, we’re listing the last 10 players taken with the No. 46 pick over the last decade.

NFL mock draft roundup: Where everyone is projecting Jahan Dotson in 2022 NFL draft

Jahan Dotson is widely considered to be the first Penn State player chosen in the 2022 NFL draft, but will he go in the first round?

[autotag]Jahan Dotson[/autotag] is undoubtedly the star of this year’s Penn State NFL draft class as the group waits to hear their names called this week. Dotson proved to step up after the departure of [autotag]K.J. Hamler[/autotag] for the NFL and not he hopes to be the higher draftee.

None of the recent Penn State receivers have been drafted in round one, despite that though they have all performed for the most part. Dotson is getting projected heavily into round one but it is late in round one. By going late he gets the benefit of having a good team to go to and a good quarterback as well.

How much he produces as a rookie is yet to be seen but it seems that he may have the most favorable landing spot of anyone in a talented and deep rookie wide receiver class.

NFL draft analyst has Penn State in elite company this draft season

NFL draft analyst from The Athletic has Penn State in elite company this draft season

Each year that Dane Brugler has worked at The Athletic he has put together arguably the best NFL draft guide for fans titled The Beast. This year he has Penn State in some notable company after publishing it this past week.

Several schools had multiple players listed in its top fifty, none could compete with the seven that Georgia has on the list, but Penn State is in some solid company.

Penn State, along with Big Ten rival Michigan and Alabama, all have three players inside the top fifty of Brugler’s. Penn State has safety [autotag]Jaquan Brisker[/autotag] and edge/linebacker [autotag]Arnold Ebiketie[/autotag] on the list that is highlighted by [autotag]Jahan Dotson[/autotag] who ranks the highest of them all. Dotson comes in at number 25 on his overall big board with Ebiketie coming in just behind Dotson at 28, and Brisker ranking 42 on it.

All three were Penn State leaders last year and were selected as All-Americans, in the NFL they are going to have to face some adversity such as will Dotson be different from [autotag]K.J. Hamler[/autotag] and [autotag]Daesean Hamilton[/autotag]? Which position is the best for Ebeketie?

Brugler says that Dotson “puts defenders in conflict with his twitchy speed” and when discussing his size he drops one of his best compliments possible. With Dotson’s size, Brugler says “he has above-average hands and natural body control with maybe the largest catch radius of any sub-5-foot-11 receiver I have ever scouted”. One would think he may be the best receiver for Penn State out of the trio that was mentioned above.

He has more glowing reviews of Ebiketie and some good points on Brisker in The Beast. You can also read about [autotag]Rasheed Walker[/autotag], [autotag]Jesse Luketa[/autotag], [autotag]Brandon Smith[/autotag], [autotag]Ellis Brooks[/autotag], and [autotag]Tariq Castro-Fields[/autotag] All of the players mentioned have full player summaries from The Athletic’s lead draft analyst Dane Brugler. Be sure to check that out and to stay tuned for our coverage of the draft and all things Penn State.

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