Tag: nfl.com

Could the Vikings trade safety Lewis Cine?

The Vikings could look to move their former first-round pick.

The Vikings spent a first-round pick on safety Lewis Cine in the 2022 NFL Draft. The former Georgia Bulldog suffered a broken leg during his rookie season and has yet to fully bounce back for the Vikings. Following an impressive game against the Browns in which he had 11 tackles and an interception, Cine is full of confidence.

But even with his impressive performance, Cine is right on the bubble of making the Vikings 53-man roster. Minnesota already has at least Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus, and Cam Bynum ahead of him on the depth chart. You may even be able to add Theo Jackson into the mix as well.

Since it may be hard for Cine to crack the depth chart, Eric Edholm with NFL.com tabbed Cine as a trade candidate.

Edholm noted no team would likely give the Vikings the value they may want for someone they spent a first-round pick on, but Minnesota could see a Day 3 pick in return. If the Vikings would choose to move on from Cine, a fresh start might be in the best interest of both parties.

Where does Saquon Barkley rank among all 32 starting RBs heading into 2024 NFL season

Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley lands at No. 5 on a list of the top 32 starting running backs in the NFL

Saquon Barkley is on a mission this season. As we sit just hours away from the Eagles’ second preseason game of the summer, the dynamic running back patiently awaits his debut in Philadelphia’s explosive offense.

Barkley will run behind the best offensive line since he entered the NFL, and the skill position groups surrounding him will ensure that he sees a light seven or man box. 2024 allows the former Penn State star to log a 1,500-yard rushing season.

In Maurice Jones-Drew’s running back rankings ahead of the 2024 NFL season, Barkley landed in the top five at No. 5.

It’s going to take a game or two to get used to seeing Saquon in an Eagles uniform, but it should be exciting from the jump. The expectations are high for a rushing attack that features Barkley, who put up 1,200-plus scrimmage yards in four of six seasons with the Giants, and dual-threat quarterback Jalen Hurts. I know there are a lot of mouths to feed in an offense that also boasts A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert, but Barkley is a special player whom the Eagles know well. He’ll get plenty of opportunities.

Nothing helps a quarterback regain his swagger like a talented, dual-threat running back who can be a home run threat on all three downs.

Barkley played six seasons with the Eagles’ NFC East rival. In 74 career games with New York, the 27-year-old rushed 1,201 times for 5,211 yards and 35 touchdowns. Barkley was also a weapon in the passing game, tallying 288 receptions for 2,100 yards and 12 touchdowns.

He’ll now give Jalen Hurts and the Eagles a dynamic, three-down running back that should flourish in Kellen Moore’s offensive system while opening things up for A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert.

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NFL.com names Bills’ Matt Milano among football’s best vet players

NFL.com names #Bills’ Matt Milano among football’s best vet players:

Throughout the career of Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano he’s consistently gotten the praises locally.

On a national stage it took some time.

The first-team All Pro earned those big stage honors in 2022. Milano appeared to be following that up with another solid campaign until injury struck last year.

Moving forward, the Bills will hope Milano stays healthy and becomes a team leader considering all the change the roster has seen this offseason.

Back to honors for Milano: He earned another from NFL.com. The league’s website named football’s top 30 players aged 30 and older. Milano clocked in at No. 28 overall.

The breakdown on Milano from NFL.com can be found below:

Milano’s presence on this list might raise some eyebrows, but it shouldn’t. The 2017 fifth-round pick was something of a pleasant surprise in his first few seasons with the Bills, but he became a certified stud in 2022, earning first-team All-Pro honors alongside a pair of established linebacking stars in Fred Warner and Roquan Smith. This carried over into the early goings of last season, with Milano snagging a pick in each of Buffalo’s first two games before piling up 10 tackles and a forced fumble in the Bills’ impressive Week 4 blowout of the Dolphins. Then Milano broke his leg in the ensuing London loss to Jacksonville, ending his season and dealing a serious blow to Sean McDermott’s defense. Milano, who turns 30 later this month, returned to practice in a limited capacity for mandatory minicamp, hopefully putting him on track for full participation in training camp.

At 6-foot and 223 pounds, Milano wouldn’t have played linebacker in your father’s NFL. But in today’s league, he’s exactly what you want at the position: a dynamic sideline-to-sideline athlete with fine instincts as a blitzer and total comfort in coverage.

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MVP! NFL.com says Breece Hall will be the New York Jets best player

Breece Hall will be the New York Jets MVP according to NFL.com.

Breece Hall is poised to be the best player on the New York Jets roster this year. That is the prediction from NFL.com about the third-year running back.

And given the Jets‘ roster, it would be a big statement from Hall if he is the team’s top player.

Hall seems ready to take that next step and be an elite NFL running back. This week, an ESPN survey ranked Hall as the second-best running back in the NFL behind Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers.

Last season, Hall averaged a very impressive 4.5 yards per carry.  He finished the season with 1,585 yards of total offense and nine total touchdowns (994 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns).

So to say Hall will be the MVP of the Jets

NFL.com’s Eric Edholm said he realizes that bypassing quarterback Aaron Rodgers, wide receiver Garrett Wilson, defensive lineman Quinnen Williams and cornerback Ahmad Gardner is a bold statement. But he believes the Jets running back can be just that good:

“Ultimately, Hall looked so good to me down the stretch after an up-and-down start to the season (some of which was clearly not his fault). In the Jets’ final three games, he ran for 357 yards and three TDs, caught 23 passes and another TD, and added a 2-point conversion for good measure. Now factor in Hall being another year removed from ACL surgery, and it’s not hard to see how he could be a massive part of this offense as a runner and receiver.”

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For the full story by Edholm at NFL.com, click here.

NFL analyst tabs Justin Jefferson as team’s MVP in 2024

Lead draft writer Eric Edholm predicts every team’s MVP for NFL.com, and he’s predicting a big season from wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

Fresh off a massive new contract, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is looking to have somewhat of a bounce-back season in 2024. While Jefferson did finish with over 1,000 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2023, injuries derailed a season in which he was on pace to break records.

Now, with an unsettled quarterback situation on the horizon, the team is likely to lean on Jefferson more than ever before. There are certainly other weapons in the offense: Jordan Addison, Aaron Jones, and T.J. Hockenson immediately spring to mind, but Jefferson is likely to be the focal point. That focus will lead to Jefferson being the team’s MVP, according to NFL.com’s lead NFL draft writer Eric Edholm.

The Vikings are another team where you can make a pretty strong argument that a non-QB is their best and most valuable player, especially with QB Kirk Cousins gone. Minnesota will be counting on Jefferson even more this season with a Sam Darnold-J.J. McCarthy QB pair, getting the ball in the receiver’s hands as much as humanly possible.

There was a strange dynamic last season, with the Vikings going 2-8 in games where Jefferson appeared, with a hamstring wiping out nearly half his 2023 season. But Cousins was injured for half of those 10 games, and six of the eight losses were by one score. Catching passes from Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall over the final four contests, Jefferson still managed to average 119 receiving yards per game. He’s their clear-cut alpha for now, no matter who is at QB.

No matter who’s at the helm, Jefferson will be the main focus of the Vikings’ offense, and he’s likely to produce no matter who’s throwing him the ball. Jefferson proved last season that he can put up numbers regardless of who the quarterback is. That kind of reliability may go a long way towards either jump-starting the rookie’s (McCarthy) career or revitalizing the maligned veteran’s (Darnold).

Vikings pass-rusher Dallas Turner named to NFL.com All-Rookie team

Minnesota Vikings rookie EDGE Dallas Turner has been named to NFL.com’s all-rookie team by NFL Draft analyst Chad Reuter.

The 2024 crop of rookies has yet to step on the field and make their mark in the NFL, but that hasn’t stopped the class from racking up preseason accolades. Chad Reuter of NFL.com has released his 2024 All-Rookie team, and the Minnesota Vikings first-round pick, Dallas Turner, has made the cut.

During his time in Tuscaloosa, Turner was a standout defensive end for Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Last year alone, the star EDGE product stacked the box score with 53 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and ten sacks, adding one pass defended and two forced fumbles.

But Turner was far from a one-year-wonder for the Tide, amassing 120 tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss, and 22.5 sacks over three years. That production made Thomas the 17th-overall selection by the Vikings in this year’s draft, and it’s that kind of production that Reuter expects to (eventually) see from Turner at the pro level:

I suspect Turner will be a defensive force for the Vikings by the midway point of his rookie campaign, possibly starting the year as a designated pass rusher (and ultimately approaching a double-digit sack total) but eventually proving he’s able to drop into zones and fight tackles playing the run.

Turner has some big shoes to fill, taking over for former All-Pro edge rusher Danielle Hunter, who left in free agency for the Houston Texans. Turner likely won’t replicate Hunter’s production right away, but if he can come close, that should be enough for the defense to not miss a beat from the 2023 team. It was a vast improvement over the previous season.

NFL Media: CB Shaquill Griffin is Vikings’ top ‘player to root for’

Shaquill Griffin was a Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback with the Seattle Seahawks. Now he looks to regain that form with the Minnesota Vikings.

Every season, a bevy of players change teams. Some do so by leaving the college ranks and joining their professional teams via the NFL Draft. Others score a big payday and change teams in free agency. Others still seek out a change of scenery in hopes of resurrecting their careers. Such is the case for new Minnesota Vikings cornerback Shaquill Griffin.

Frequently, players in this third category find themselves the center of “feel-good” stories, as the media tries to portray them as the underdog. Who doesn’t love a good underdog story, right? In that vein, Griffin has been tabbed as the Vikings’ top player to root for by Dan Parr of NFL.com.

Parr recently went through each team in the NFC, singling out one player on each as the “player to root for,” with Griffin earning top marks for the Vikings. Griffin comes to the Vikings after spending the 2023 season with the Carolina Panthers and, later, the Houston Texans. Griffin struggled in 2023, and he hasn’t been the same player for several years, as he was early in his career with the Seattle Seahawks.

In just his third year in the league, Griffin was a standout corner for the Seahawks, notching his first Pro Bowl selection and seemingly well on his way to becoming one of the better corners in the league for years to come.

Griffin will be looking to regain that status with the Vikings and hopefully improve a cornerback unit that could really use some more production. Griffin will also provide veteran leadership regardless of performance which is where the young players like Khyree Jackson will benefit most.

NFL.com predicts who could be new starters for the Bills in 2024

NFL.com predicts who could be new starters for the #Bills in 2024:

Roster turnover has highlighted the 2024 offseason for the Buffalo Bills and we’re not even close to training camp yet.

Once that rolls around, we’ll get our answers as to who will not only get a chance start, but actually start for the Bills during the upcoming season.

For now, all we can do is speculate and NFL.com has done that. The league’s website took a stab at guessing the upcoming 2024 Bills starters.

With all the noted change, there were several new starters projected on both sides of the ball by NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal.

Here’s how the Bills’ projected starting lineup changes were projected:

NFL.com: The Bills view Keon Coleman as an outside “X” receiver. Many draft analysts saw him as a big option in the slot. Can he get open enough against outside cornerbacks? One confusing aspect of the offense is that most of Buffalo’s pass catchers (Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, Kincaid) do their best work on the inside.

NFL.com: The Bills hope for Von Miller to be a starter again, but even quality snaps as a sub-package player would be a bonus. Despite his guaranteed money ($8.5 million in 2024, per Over The Cap), he’s not a lock to make the team if he doesn’t show progress in training camp. Miller’s presence is part of a defensive line that is not as deep as it once was, although the Bills added third- and fifth-round picks (DT DeWayne Carter and DE Javon Solomon) to the mix.

NFL.com: The Bills hope for Von Miller to be a starter again, but even quality snaps as a sub-package player would be a bonus. Despite his guaranteed money ($8.5 million in 2024, per Over The Cap), he’s not a lock to make the team if he doesn’t show progress in training camp. Miller’s presence is part of a defensive line that is not as deep as it once was, although the Bills added third- and fifth-round picks (DT DeWayne Carter and DE Javon Solomon) to the mix.

Texans DL Denico Autry named one of NFL’s most underappreciated players

Houston Texans defensive lineman Denico Autry is finally getting his flowers from NFL.com.

Denico Autry is a jack-of-all-trades. He might become a master of one soon now as a member of the Houston Texans’ defensive line. 

Autry, who signed a two-year, $20 million deal this offseason to join the AFC South champions, is looking to make plays. Where will that be this fall? At defensive end opposite Danielle Hunter?

At defensive tackle next to Will Anderson Jr.?

At both spots? 

That versatility is a vital skill that makes Autry perhaps the league’s most undervalued defensive lineman. According to NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice, his contributions aren’t as respected at the national level as other veteran talents. 

Well, Autry certainly isn’t underappreciated by the AFC South. The former undrafted free-agent signee of the Raiders really came into his own during a three-year stint with the Colts. Then he spent the past three seasons racking up 28.5 sacks with the Titans. And in March, he signed with the Texans, giving Houston a powerful, versatile defensive lineman to complement edge terrors Will Anderson Jr. and fellow free-agent addition Danielle Hunter. Titans star Jeffery Simmons was NOT happy about Autry’s intra-divisional relocation, while Texans OL Tytus Howard appeared quite pleased about not having to block him anymore. – Gennaro Filice

Autry’s success as a pass rusher was on full display during his final season with the Tennessee Titans. Not only did he post a career-high 84.4 success pass rush rate, but he also notched 11 sacks and 36 quarterback hurries. 

At 34, Autry proved there’s still plenty of gas left in his tank. His rep count expanded to 767 snaps last season for the Titans. Even if Houston cut that number by 100, that’s substantial for a defensive lineman with over a decade of experience. 

“I just wanted to come be a part of something that was going in the right direction,” Autry said of why he chose Houston earlier this offseason. “I just wanted to be a part of something great.”

Autry hopes to be a serviceable replacement for Sheldon Rankins as an interior pass rusher opposite Hunter and Anderson. He’ll be on full display when the Texans return to camp on July 18. 

Bills’ Christian Benford listed among most under-appreciated players in NFL

Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford was listed as one of the NFL’s most under-appreciated players.

The Buffalo Bills are in the midst of an offseason in which they are hoping that they can still be a championship contender without players like wide receiver Stefon Diggs on the team. As Buffalo is progressing through Organized Team Activities (OTAs), they can move forward knowing that one of their players is being shown some love.

Per Gennaro Filice of NFL.com, Bills cornerback Christian Bedford is one of the most under-appreciated players in the AFC, joining players such as Miami Dolphins cornerback Kendall Fuller and Houston Texans defensive lineman Denico Autry. Filice picked one player from each team that he believed deserves more appreciation for what he brings to the field.

Benford, 23, came to the Bills with the 185th overall pick (sixth round) of the 2022 NFL draft out of Villanova and since then, he has been a valuable member of Buffalo’s defensive backfield. Benford has played in 24 games (19 starts) over the past two seasons and has put up 78 tackles (60 solo), three interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

Benford has been a nice success story for the Bills given that he came into the NFL as a late-round pick and being behind players like Kaiir Elam, Tre’Davious White, and Rasul Douglas, among others. That doesn’t mean that Benford shouldn’t be regarded as a good cornerback regardless of his draft pedigree.

The breakdown on Benford can be found below:

Shockingly, Benford promptly proceeded to beat out Elam for a starting CB spot in Year 1, though injuries abbreviated his rookie campaign. In Year 2, Benford fully broke out, starting 14 games and posting a top-10 PFF grade among qualified cornerbacks. With offseason attrition across Buffalo’s secondary, the Bills will rely on this former Day 3 steal to play a critical role in Sean McDermott’s defense.

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