Tag: local

Cowboys’ Jones offers Texas RB Brooks stunning compliment ahead of Day 2

From @ToddBrock24f7: The Cowboys may be looking to add the Longhorns back on Day 2 of the draft. He already occupies a unique place within Jerry’s long history.

The Cowboys brain trust raved about first-round pick Tyler Guyton on Thursday night after making the Oklahoma offensive tackle the 29th overall pick in the 2024 draft.

But team owner Jerry Jones did a fair bit of gushing over a player still on the board, too, perhaps tipping his hand as to who he and the team are eyeing when the second round gets underway Friday evening.

When asked toward the end of the press conference at the conclusion of Day 1 about Texas running back Jonathon Brooks, Jones didn’t hesitate.

“In my 30 years, I thought it was the best interview that I’ve ever interviewed with a player,” Jones said of Brooks.

The brash businessman’s well-known hyperbole aside, that’s saying something, considering how many countless prospects he’s sat down with over the course of his ownership.

“He’s outstanding,” Jones went on about the Longhorns ball carrier who most have pegged as the top back in the draft class. “He’s just outstanding. He’s a great football player. We’ve got him high, high, high.”

If not for an ACL tear suffered in November, Brooks would have likely already been drafted, despite an overall depression in the running back market in today’s NFL and a growing tendency to not draft them early.

“I got to sit with him as well,” Stephen Jones added. “I think he’s working his tail off to get that knee [healthy], you know? He’s good friends with our guy [former Texas teammate and current Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion] Overshown.”

Overshown, the team’s third-round pick last year, sat out his rookie campaign with his own ACL injury.

“I think they’re taking notes on each other’s knees and how they’re coming along. They’re competitive like that,” Stephen went on. “But like Jerry said, he’s one hell of a football player… After visiting with him, you’re betting on him.”

Betting on Brooks to end up with a star on his helmet, though, may be a dicey wager. He’s currently listed by ESPN as the 11th-best prospect remaining; The Athletic ranks him 19th, and NFL.com has him 25th.

The Cowboys are currently slated to have the 24th pick once the second round gets underway.

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The Joneses’ fawning over Brooks could, of course, be a smokescreen designed to camouflage their true intention about who they’re targeting with the 56th overall pick or even a bit of chum thrown into the water to stir up some trade offers.

As the team’s VP of player personnel Will McClay quickly reminded everyone before the lovefest got too out of hand, Brooks is “one of several great players that are still left in this draft.”

But the conviction in Jerry’s voice when he recalled his interview with the 20-year-old Texas native was evident.

The Cowboys like Brooks. Whether that turns into something more will be a story to watch Friday night.

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‘This is a sexy pick:’ Cowboys see sky-high potential in Tyler Guyton as left tackle

From @ToddBrock24f7: Guyton projects to learn left tackle in Dallas and play alongside Tyler Smith. The Cowboys brass raved about his size and work ethic.

The Cowboys were happy to come out of the first round of the draft with one more draft pick than they went in with. But picking up an extra third-round selection after doing a deal with Detroit was just icing.

The cake was dropping five spots and still claiming Oklahoma tackle Tyler Guyton. And talking about the 6-foot-8-inch 322-pound Texas native and childhood Cowboys fan who’ll be coming back home to start his pro career, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was practically salivating with excitement.

“It’s hard to do with offensive lineman,” Jones said Thursday night after taking Guyton 29th overall, “but you would hope to have a little sexiness to this pick, using your first-round pick. And I actually thought we had that with Tyler Smith two years ago. I think we got it here; this is a sexy pick for the offensive line. It’s got a lot of upside.”

The reference to Smith, the club’s 2022 first-round star, is apropos, because the two Tylers will be joined at the hip on Sundays. The Guyton pick likely means Smith will remain at left guard, where he played this past season and earned a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honors; Guyton is expected to become the team’s new left tackle.

It will still require an adjustment, given that Guyton played right tackle in college.

“I think we all understand,” head coach Mike McCarthy explained, “they have a left-handed quarterback at Oklahoma, so he is the backside tackle. It will definitely be an easy transition for him as far as the responsibility of playing the backside of the quarterback. It’s footwork, and there’s going to be things that are new anyway. But God, what a great pick for us.”

The Cowboys have had a good track record of successfully shifting offensive linemen to new positions, as executive vice president Stephen Jones pointed out.

“To get a left tackle is a big, big deal,” he said. “We had these same discussions with Larry Allen when he was here, because he would have been a great left tackle: All-Pro, Hall of Famer at left tackle or left guard. Certainly, Tyler [Smith] played, really, at a high, high, elite-type level at guard. This certainly allows him to kind of entrench there.”

Vice president of player personnel Will McClay agreed.

“When you build an offensive lineman, you look for athleticism, the feet,” he told reporters. “We’ve got a history of having guys that do things at a high level at that position. There are some traits that definitely showed us that that was there.”

The front office admitted that they had several top options open to them when Detroit made a late phone call to trade up for the 24th pick. Sliding back five spots, they felt, would still give them an excellent chance at getting one of them. Stephen revealed that the room was looking hard at Duke lineman Graham Barton (who, coincidentally, would have also been asked to move positions, to center).

Barton went to Tampa Bay with the 26th pick, but the team nevertheless landed a prized big body, one that occupies a rare place even within McCarthy’s extensive coaching career.

“I haven’t had too many tackles over six-five, six-six,” he marveled.

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Guyton’s size is impressive. But it took more than that to convince the team to look past a relative lack of experience playing football. He grew up focused on basketball and shifted to the gridiron so late that he got next to no scholarship offers. Even once he got to college, it took a while to find a position; his first start came at TCU as an H-back/tight end.

It wasn’t until he transferred to Oklahoma that he became a true offensive lineman, and then over his two years in Norman, he made just a handful of starts.

No, it’s Guyton’s sky-high ceiling that made him a first-round draft pick.

“As a coach, we’re excited about all the promise that he has in front of him,” McCarthy explained. “The 14 starts, to me, is a positive. It’s not a knock against him. It just shows: all these kids- more than ever, with the NIL and the portal- more than ever, these players take different paths and different courses and there’s different thresholds and directions that they go. So I think it’s important for us to look at the potential.”

McClay added: “And if they’re athletic, have the work ethic that you need, and they’re willing to learn, that’s an opportunity to grow and improve.”

And having Tyler Guyton get that opportunity to grow and improve right next to Tyler Smith had his new head coach so excited, McCarthy has already come up with a new nickname for the explosive duo who’ll be protecting Dak Prescott’s blindside.

“TNT, man. You heard it here first.”

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20 best players available for Ravens on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL draft

Day One of the 2024 NFL draft is in the books, and it was a historic night. Six quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks, and 23 offensive players were selected, the most ever. Baltimore was able to land one of the top cornerbacks on the …

Day One of the 2024 NFL draft is in the books, and it was a historic night. Six quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks, and 23 offensive players were selected, the most ever.

Baltimore was able to land one of the top cornerbacks on the board without trading up.

Rounds two and three will play out on Friday night, and the Eagles will have two picks in Round 2 and none in Round 3.

Here is our list of the best players on the board during day two of the NFL draft.

Packers believe first-round pick Jordan Morgan can play 4 positions along OL

The Packers think first-round pick Jordan Morgan can play both offensive tackle spots and both offensive guard spots at the NFL level.

Versatility was a huge selling point for the Green Bay Packers on first-round pick Jordan Morgan, who the team believes can play both offensive tackle spots and both offensive guard spots at the next level.

Morgan played exclusively at left tackle at Arizona, making 37 starts. Entering the draft, he was considered by many to be one of the top guard prospects in the class.

Thanks to quick feet and his overall athletic profile, the Packers are confident Morgan can overcome shorter-than-desired arm length (just under 33″) and play tackle in the NFL. And general manager Brian Gutekunst believes Morgan (6-5, 311) has the traits — in terms of quickness and power — to slide inside and play guard against bigger players.

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“Left tackle feet. Very athletic kid. Really sturdy, strong lower body. Did 27 reps on the bench press, so he’s a really strong athlete,” Gutekunst said.
“When you move inside, things move a little quicker and you handle a little more power, and he’s certainly shown an ability to do that.”

The Packers return both starting offensive tackles from last year in Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom, but Walker — a 2022 seventh-round pick — only came on during the second half of last year and Tom has five-position versatility. At guard, the Packers need to replace multi-year starter Jon Runyan Jr. on the right side. Morgan could provide valuable depth at tackle and a potential immediate starter at right guard.

In Morgan, Tom and starting left guard Elgton Jenkins, the Packers have three versatile players to mix and match along the offensive line.

“Having guys who can play multiple spots that are athletic enough to do it and strong enough to do it and smart enough to do it, it gives you a lot of comfort,” Gutekunst said.

Morgan checked all the boxes. The 22-year-old has over three seasons of experience at left tackle and a strong athletic profile, and his versatility and leadership potential (team captain at Arizona) fit what the Packers look for.

“Versatile offensive lineman like we like. Really athletic. We feel he can play four positions for us. Two-time team captain. Our kind of guy.”

List of Packers draft picks entering Day 2 of NFL draft

The Packers got started with Jordan Morgan in the first round. Green Bay has four picks on Day 2 and six on Day 3.

The Green Bay Packers checked a big box along the offensive line by selecting Arizona’s Jordan Morgan in the first round on Thursday night, and now general manager Brian Gutekunst will enter Friday night with four picks on Day 2 and six more on Day 3.

The work has only begun. Last year, Gutekunst added Luke Musgrave, Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft on Day 2. This year, he’ll have four opportunities — and maybe more, if a trade down happens at some point — to add to his young, ascending roster.

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Here are the Packers’ remaining picks entering Day 2:

Day 2 (Second and third rounds on Friday)

Second round, No. 41 overall
Second round, No. 58 overall
Third round, No. 88 overall
Third round, No. 91 overall

Day 3 (Fourth-seventh rounds on Saturday)

Fourth round, No. 126 overall
Fifth round, No. 169 overall
Sixth round, No. 202 overall
Sixth round, No. 219 overall
Seventh round, No. 245 overall
Seventh round, No. 255 overall

Action on Friday night begins at 6:00 p.m. CT. Packers Wire will have analysis throughout Day 2.

With 4 picks, Day 2 of NFL draft a ‘big day’ for Packers organization

Opportunity awaits the Packers on Day 2 of the NFL Draft with four picks in what will be a ‘big day’ for the organization.

Naturally, the first round of the NFL draft garners much of the attention. However, Day 2 is also loaded with high-end talent and an opportunity for tremendous impact–especially for the 2024 Green Bay Packers who have four selections between Rounds 2 and 3.

“Tomorrow’s a big day for our organization,” said general manager Brian Gutekunst after the first round. “I’ve talked about how important the draft is. To have four picks tomorrow in the second and third round, we have a nice opportunity to help our football team, so yeah, I think we’re all really eager to get after it tomorrow.”

Competition was crucial to the development of this young Packers’ team last season, specifically on the offensive side of the ball, and it is something that Gutekunst wants to prioritize and make sure is still being cultivated on the 2024 roster, even though this year’s team will be much more established than last year’s.

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“I really think the more competitive we can make it, the better,” said Gutekunst on Monday. “So we’ll see how it goes. But it’s one of I think the hallmarks of around here has always been that the best players play, regardless of where you were taken or how much you’re getting paid. The best players are going to play. That’s kind of how we want to approach it.”

Last year alone, on Day 2 of the draft, the Packers added Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft, and Jayden Reed. A trade down before selecting Reed also resulted in the Packers accumulating two picks that eventually turned into Karl Brooks and Dontayvion Wicks.

Now, of course, unfortunately, not every draft is going to end up that way–it’s just the nature of the beast. But it goes to show the opportunity that awaits Gutekunst, who is equipped with four picks.

Along with having the four selections, Gutekunst mentioned Thursday night that the board had fallen well for the Packers heading into Round 2. Some notable players still on the board at positions of need for the Packers include Cooper DeJean, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Junior Colson, Edgerrin Cooper, Jaden Hicks, and Javon Bullard, among others.

Options on the draft board and a slew of draft picks gives Gutekunst flexibility. Holding the 41st overall pick, he can be patient and see which players fall to him. He can be aggressive and move up for the right player, as he did early in the second round of the 2022 draft to select Christian Watson. Or in an effort to accumulate even more picks, and further foster that competition, he could move back. Everything is on the table for him.

“I think we’ll explore some opportunities,” said Gutekunst about moving around on Day 2. “Again, having that many picks in these next two rounds allows us to be a little bit flexible. We talked a little bit about it tonight. We’ll re-assess in the morning, just try to get a little bit of an idea of how we think it might fall.

“Again, it’s pretty unpredictable, but I think there’s opportunities. One of the intriguing things about some of the offers tonight was moving back and gaining some picks, as you guys know, I like to do. So that could be an option, too, so we’ll see.”

There will be high expectations for the 2024 Packers, both internally and outside of the building. However, Gutekunst said on Monday that he never really prescribed to the belief of being just “a couple pieces away.”

So, instead of trying to force a pick into happening, he will let the board do the dictating. And if there is a chance to be aggressive and move up presents itself, then the Packers will do that.

Gutekunst and the Packers find themselves positioned very well entering Day 2. The board has held up well, and they have several picks, all of which give them options–and options equal opportunity, especially at this stage of the draft, where impact players are everywhere.

“I think we’re all eager to get back and see how this thing falls and see how we can help our football team,” added Gutekunst. “The board has held up pretty well, so we feel good about going into tomorrow.”

Malik Nabers wants to be ‘a great teammate, leader’ for Giants

Malik Nabers joins the New York Giants with a focus on being a great teammate and leader from Day 1.

The New York Giants “got their guy” in LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers with the sixth overall selection in Thursday night’s NFL draft.

It was 10 years ago already that the Giants drafted another stud wideout from LSU, Odell Beckham Jr. Some have tried to compare Nabers to OBJ, but that might be a stretch.

On Thursday night at his presser at the draft in Detroit, Nabers was asked about his relationship with his fellow alum.

“I don’t have a relationship with him, but I’m just trying to be the best football player I can possibly be for the Giants organization,” Nabers said.

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“I’m not coming in trying to replace Odell, I’m just trying to lean into my own legacy.”

So, that’s out of the way — for now. Nabers took the high road on most of the questions asked him, saying his actions would speak louder than words.

When asked what type of person the Giants were getting in him, Nabers kept it simple.

“A great teammate, a great leader, a great person on the field and off the field, and that’s it,” he said.

In the lead-up to the draft, Nabers had questions about the Giants’ quarterback situation, but it doesn’t appear the Giants are moving away from Daniel Jones, for this season anyway.

“I’m sure I’ll be hearing from him soon,” Nabers said of Jones. “I’m ready to get in, work with him, learn what kind of quarterback he is, and catch footballs from him.”

Nabers spoke about his conversations with head coach Brian Daboll, who made an impression on him in the pre-draft process.

“He has a great personality, he makes people laugh that are in the room. He’s going to compete with you for sure, he has high standards for his athletes. So I am hoping he has high standards for me and I live up to those,” Nabers said.

Nabers has never been to New York City and said he’ll need some assistance in finding his way.

“I’m excited to see the city, excited to be with my teammates and learn the offense, learn my quarterback, and just be in New York. I never been to New York, only been there once. Living there, I’m going to need some help,” Nabers said.

“I know it’s a great city. I’m going to bring my family with me, bring God with me, bring the dog mentality that I have there.”

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Jordan Morgan follows Brian Gutekunst’s first-round trends

Big, athletic and young, with positional versatility: Jordan Morgan follows the first-round trends of Packers GM Brian Gutekunst.

The Green Bay Packers taking Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan at No. 25 overall might have caught some surprise during the end of Thursday night’s first round, but Morgan — a young, elite athlete with versatility — perfectly fits what general manager Brian Gutekunst has looked for in a first-round pick since taking the job in 2018.

Like all but one first rounder before him, Morgan is 22 years old or younger and has a Relative Athletic Score above 8.0 — 9.24 out of 10.0 as an offensive tackle and 9.83 out of 10.0 as a guard. Under Gutekunst, the Packers have prioritized finding young, elite athletes in the first round to maximize potential and return on investment at a crucial part of the draft.

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Here’s the new updated first-round chart for Gutekunst:

Year Name Pos School Pick RAS Age
2018 Jaire Alexander CB Louisville 18 9.54 21
2019 Rashan Gary EDGE Michigan 12 9.95 21
2019 Darnell Savage S Maryland 21 8.35 21
2020 Jordan Love QB Utah State 26 8.46 21
2021 Eric Stokes CB Georgia 29 9.38 22
2022 Quay Walker LB Georgia 22 9.63 21
2022 Devonte Wyatt DL Georgia 27 9.60 24
2023 Lukas Van Ness EDGE Iowa 13 9.39 21
2024 Jordan Morgan OT Arizona 25 9.24 22

Gutekunst said the Packers debated moving down in the first round but ultimately felt Morgan was too good to risk losing.

“Where we had him valued, this was a pretty easy decision for us,” Gutekunst said.

Morgan isn’t just young and athletic — he fits what the Packers look for in an offensive lineman. He started 37 games in college at left tackle, ran the 40-yard dash in 5.04 seconds and put up 27 reps in the bench press. Experienced, fast and strong. He might fit better by moving inside to guard, where his lack of arm length could be negated some, but the Packers believe he can play both tackle spots and both guard spots at the next level. Gutekunst called him a four-position player along the offensive line.

“Having guys who can play multiple spots that are athletic enough to do it and strong enough to do it and smart enough to do it, it gives you a lot of comfort,” Gutekunst said.

Morgan’s arms measured in at just under 33″ long. It wasn’t a worry for Gutekunst and the Packers.

“The longer the better, but we’ve had a bunch of guys who have played outside without prototypical arm length and been fine. What makes up for it is usually feet and athleticism, and that’s what Jordan has.”

Daniel Jones ‘fired up’ after Giants select WR Malik Nabers

New York Giants GM Joe Schoen said QB Daniel Jones was “fired up” for the selection of LSU receiver Malik Nabers in the 2024 NFL draft.

The first round of the 2024 NFL draft revealed a lot about the state of the New York Giants and their future at quarterback.

General manager Joe Schoen had his sights on a quarterback in the first round of the draft — and tried to swing a deal to get one of the top ones — but his efforts reportsly fell short.

“I think I said last week we were going to have conversations in front of us,” Schoen said. “We actually had conversations behind us. There was an opportunity for us to move out of the pick. So we had conversations. We had different plans in place. And we’re excited to have Malik Nabers here, so we’re real happy with the way it worked out.”

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The “consolation prize” for not landing a quarterback was LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers, who they selected with the sixth overall pick in the first round.

That was good news for Giants incumbent quarterback Daniel Jones. Not only will his job be waiting for him when he completes rehabbing his torn ACL, but he’ll also have a top-flight receiver to play catch with in Nabers.

On Thursday night, after the Giants selected Nabers, Schoen was asked if he had any contact with Jones over the pick.

“He’s fired up,” said Schoen. “I texted him Malik’s number. That’s one of the first things I did. And he’s fired up about it. He knew before it was announced on ESPN and NFL Network.”

Asked if he saw quarterback as a high priority in the remaining two days of the draft, Schoen seemed confident with the cards in his hand.

“I’m comfortable with where we’re at,” he said.

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2024 NFL draft: Tiki Barber to announce Giants’ Day 2 picks

Retired running back Tiki Barber will announce the New York Giants’ Day 2 picks at the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit.

The NFL is continuing its effort to “connect the game’s greats with the next generation of stars,” so they will have many NFL Legends and several active players up to the podium at the 2024 NFL draft to announce some of their former team’s 2024 selections.

For the New York Giants, running back Tiki Barber will serve as their legend by announcing their Day 2 picks — No. 47 in Round 2 and No. 70, in Round 3.

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Much to Barber’s delight, there is no chance he’ll have to announce quarterback J.J. McCarthy to his former team after the Michigan product was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in Round 1.

Barber is the Giants’ all-time leading rusher and a member of the team’s Ring of Honor.

Barber is inching closer to the Pro Football Hall of Fame having reached the semifinal stage for the first time since retiring in 2006. He already has a bully pulpit as a co-host on WFAN’s drive-time radio spot and this should keep his name in the hopper for some potential voters to absorb.

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