Tag: NFL Draft

Top QB prospect makes big admission about football

Carson Beck admits he can’t watch football as a fan.

One of the most puzzling prospects for the 2025 NFL draft is Georgia quarterback Carson Beck. One week Beck looks like the top prospect in the draft and the next he looks more like a mid-round pick. But this latest admission from Beck might be the one that decides his NFL fate more than anything else. Beck admitted he doesn’t watch football.

We kid. This is actually a good thing.

Beck admitted he struggles to watch football for enjoyment. He said it is stressful for him because he’s so accustomed to watching film, he analyzes everything he watches for he can’t just sit and enjoy a game. Does this mean he’s a little obsessed? Maybe but if you are looking to draft a quarterback, there are worse things than drafting a film junkie like Beck.

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49ers inching toward top 10 pick in 2025 NFL draft

It might be high time to look ahead to the 2025 NFL draft. We’ve got you covered:

The San Francisco 49ers’ playoff chances aren’t completely erased, but they’re low enough that looking toward next year’s offseason and NFL draft aren’t unreasonable.

If the 49ers win a couple of games down the stretch and put themselves squarely back in the playoff picture, we can start looking at that group again. For now we’ll look at where things stand with next year’s draft, where the 49ers are inching toward a top-10 pick after three consecutive losses put them at 5-7 for the season.

San Francisco is one of four seven-loss teams, and they’re just behind a trio of eight-loss clubs. There was a chance for a fourth eight-loss team, but the Cleveland Browns couldn’t hold on vs. the Denver Broncos on Monday night and fell to 3-9.

Here is what the draft order looks like for the non-playoff teams after 13 weeks according to Tankathon:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10)
2. Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)
3. New York Giants (2-10)
4. New England Patriots (3-10)
5. Carolina Panthers (3-9)
6. New York Jets (3-9)
7. Tennessee Titans (3-9)
8. Cleveland Browns (3-9)
9. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
10. New Orleans Saints (4-8)
11. Chicago Bears (4-8)
12. Miami Dolphins (5-7)
13. Dallas Cowboys (5-7)
14. San Francisco 49ers (5-7)
15. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6)
17. Los Angeles Rams (6-6)
18. Arizona Cardinals (6-6)

The first tiebreaker is strength of schedule, which is the combined winning percentage of a team’s opponents. The team with the worst strength of schedule gets the earlier pick.

San Francisco has the highest strength of schedule and gets the lowest pick of the trio of 5-7 teams.

Sunday’s game against the Bears could be a big one for the 49ers in terms of their draft position. The 49ers will certainly be trying to win every game, especially while they’re technically not eliminated from the playoffs. However, the further their season spirals, the closer they’ll get to securing a top 10 pick that can help them retool for the 2025 season.

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Electric playmaker named ‘stellar fit’ for Browns in NFL draft

Is Luther Burden III the Browns’ ideal fit in the 2025 NFL draft?

Even with a game today on primetime television, the Cleveland Browns likely have one eye on the 2025 NFL draft and potentially Missouri standout wide receiver Luther Burden III.

Despite a down season, sitting at just 61 catches, 800 total yards, and eight touchdowns, Burden III is one of the premier talents in all of college football and in all of the NFL draft. He entered the season with a ton of hype, racking up 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023 before fighting through subpar quarterback play all season.

And where Burden III is projected to be drafted, his scheme fit, and the positional need in Cleveland may just make him the perfect match that checks every box by the time April rolls around. Daft on Draft, an NFL draft site, thinks so at least.

Luther Burden III deemed “stellar fit” for Browns in 2025 NFL draft

Daft on Draft tabbed Burden III as one of eight “stellar fits” between NFL teams and 2025 NFL draft prospects as we trek toward the pre-draft process. Here is what Daft on Draft had to say on the fit between the Browns and the Missouri standout wide receiver:

“The Cleveland Browns have sought ways to create explosive plays, and they have mostly come with Deshaun Watson not on the field. Wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman have become legitimate threats down the field, but what they are missing is a player who can become an extension of their run game.

Elijah Moore is not that player, and he is a free agent at the end of the season. Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden IIIĀ is that player. Not only is he Deebo-like with the football in his hands and hard to bring to the ground, but his ability to win down the field and along the boundary elevates his game even more.”

Why Burden III to the Browns makes sense

It’s no secret the Browns have been trying to push the ball toward the boundary with Moore and other playmakers offensively to no avail. It’s also no secret that they have limited weapons, namely just tight end David Njoku, who can create after the catch.

Burden III solves both of those issues.

While Burden III plays predominantly in the slot, over 80 percent of his snaps there, this projection comes down to whether or not the Browns think he can play on the outside at Z as well. Given his film, that answer is a resounding yes.

The body control, level of physicality, and explosive juice that Burden III possesses when working down the field and along the boundary makes it known that he can also win outside if asked to do so at the NFL level. Fitting into a room with Cedric Tillman and Jerry Jeudy, Burden III fits like a puzzle piece.

With Tillman playing the prototypical X receiver, Burden III gives Jeudy and the Browns the freedom to line up in the slot or at Z with him doing the opposite to create mismatches and advantages for both players.

Sitting at 3-8 and with a need at wide receiver, could the Browns and Burden III be a match made in heaven when the NFL draft rolls around?

Why did the Commanders release Emmanuel Forbes?

Why did the Commanders move on from Emmanuel Forbes? And what did Dan Quinn say to him?

It didn’t take long once the season started to see the Washington Commanders were done with second-year cornerback Emmanuel Forbes. Unlike most situations, this one was a little different, considering Forbes was a first-round pick just over a year ago.

Head coach Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., secondary coach Tommy Donatell, defensive pass game coordinator Jason Simmons and assistant secondary coach William Gay all have a history of developing cornerbacks.

None could get through to Forbes. On Saturday, the Commanders released Forbes with five games remaining in his second NFL season. Over the last five games, a healthy Forbes played eight total defensive snaps and was a healthy scratch in three games. The move was coming, whether it was now or in the offseason.

After Sunday’s 42-19 win over the Tennessee Titans, Quinn explained why Washington left Forbes.

ā€œYeah, [CB] Marshonā€™s [Lattimore] close, we talked about that, I think it was Friday, for him being back in it,” Quinn saif. And so, when we made the decision to release him, really just the best opportunity for the team at this point.”

Quinn then said that he told Forbes a change of scenery could do him good.

“And I had a chance to visit with him, and I explained to him sometimes that the change of scenery is good, and I’ve seen other players go to other clubs, and it turns out differently, and sometimes that’s a good thing. And I said that that can happen with you too. And so, I wanted to make sure he heard that from me, and there was even guys on his own team here that had started somewhere else as a first-round player and all of a sudden, just a different scenery and different shift. The new system can help. And so, we wanted to wish him best on this football journey wherever that goes from here.”

You have to appreciate Quinn. Telling any player you are cutting him is difficult. However, to waive a second-year player who has struggled but has done everything you’ve asked him to do is even more challenging. Quinn wanted Forbes to hear it from him while encouraging him at his next stop.

The Forbes’ pick shuts the door on a disastrous run of Ron Rivera draft classes. All four of Rivera’s first-round picks have been traded or cut. And it’s not like the traded players are necessarily thriving elsewhere.

The primary knock on Forbes coming out of the draft was his slight frame and inability to tackle consistently. That showed up repeatedly, but to make matters worse for Forbes, he struggled in coverage. He was never the same after Eagles star A.J. Brown beat him for multiple touchdowns in Week 4 of his rookie season.

Rivera should never have selected Forbes over Christian Gonzalez. Secondly, Rivera’s disastrous coaching staff last season didn’t help Forbes; they ruined his confidence and benched him. Quinn and his staff had their work cut out trying to rebuild Forbes’ confidence while also trying to scheme around the concerns about his size.

Broncos select tight end in 2025 NFL mock draft

The Broncos land tight end Colston Loveland in this 2025 NFL mock draft.

Although the NFL season is in its stretch run, itā€™s never the wrong time to talk about the NFL draft.Ā 

In the Denver Broncos‘ case, their play slates them to have their first pick in the latter part of the first round. Following the rise of Bo Nix, they need to add complementary pieces to the offense.Ā 

In his recent 2025 NFL mock draft, Cory Kinnan ofĀ Daft on Draft has the Broncos selecting Michigan tight end Colston Loveland. Through ten games this season, he has caught 56 passes for 582 yards and five touchdowns. Heā€™s also a finalist for the John Mackey Award, which goes to the best tight end in college football.

Here is Kinnan’s commentary on the pick:

The Denver Broncos are the surprise of 2024. Bo Nix is playing better every week, and they keep winning games. Their set of pass catchers, however, can be improved. Sean Payton, the man who utilized the big and athletic Jimmy Graham in New Orleans, lands the big and athletic Colston Loveland.

While Loveland seems ideal, the real work and evaluation begins after the season ends in February.

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Chiefs scouting report: Cincinnati Bearcats LB Jake Golday

Cincinnati #Bearcats linebacker Jake Golday is a developmental prospect the Kansas City #Chiefs could select in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs need to add linebacker depth in the 2025 NFL draft to replace upcoming free agent Nick Bolton. The teamā€™s current linebacker room can fill Boltonā€™s role in the short-term, but the Chiefs should look for some developmental options.

Cincinnati Bearcats standout Jake Golday is a tall 6’4″, 240 lb. linebacker with room on his frame to add weight. The Bearcats primarily line him up in the slot as a nickel or overhang defender. He plays mostly zone coverage from this alignment and occasionally blitzes. The Chiefs donā€™t need an overhang defender but can mold Goldayā€™s physical tools to play him as a stacked linebacker.

Goldayā€™s burst and straight-line speed stand out on tape. He triggers downhill quickly to attack short routes or make plays in the run game. His speed and high motor make him an effective pursuit-style linebacker. Golday delivers powerful hits as a tackler and finishes plays with good intensity.

Goldayā€™s limited play strength impacts his ability to stack and shed blocks. He plays with the right demeanor in run defense but often finds himself stuck on blocks or displaced downfield.

Golday plays a limited coverage role in Cincinnatiā€™s defense. He will take on a larger coverage menu at the NFL level, relying on his speed and range until his instincts catch up.

The Bearcats close their regular season at home with a game against the TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. CST. Cincinnati needs to win to become eligible for a bowl game.

Chiefs scouting report: Cincinnati Bearcats NT Dontay Corleone

The Kansas City #Chiefs should consider selecting Cincinnati #Bearcats nose tackle Dontay Corleone in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs need to add depth along their defensive line as several contributors prepare to enter free agency after the 2024 season. Selecting a run-stuffing nose tackle in the 2025 NFL draft would free up Chris Jones to focus on rushing the passer and fill a position of need.

Cincinnati Bearcats lineman Dontay Corleone is one of the shortest nose tackles in the 2025 class, but heā€™s a ball of muscle and power. According to The Athleticsā€™ Bruce Feldman, Corleone benches 485 lbs., squats 605 lbs., and deadlifts 700 lbs. He projects as a two-down lineman who focuses on anchoring at the point of attack to clog run lanes.

Corleoneā€™s naturally low pad level, thick frame, and wide base make him difficult to displace. Single blockers canā€™t shake his foundation. Double teams occasionally move Corleone off the line, but he wins his share of those battles.

Corleone dominates when isolated against centers. He drives excellent power through his precise hands to uproot linemen and reset the line of scrimmage. Corleone stuns centers with his powerful punches and arm extensions. Despite lacking ideal arm length, Corleone possesses the strength to discard blockers at will in the run game.

Corleone moves with surprising burst for his size but looks a little slower in 2024 compared to previous years. This might be due to an issue with blood clots shortening his offseason prep period. His agility and speed will improve if he shaves some bad weight off his frame.

Corleone primarily serves as a run-stopping force on the interior, but he disrupts the passing game by driving centers into the pocket and forcing the quarterback to roll out.

The Bearcats host the TCU Horned Frogs in their final game of the season on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. CST.

Chiefs scouting report: Arizona Wildcats CB Tacario Davis

Arizona #Wildcats cornerback Tacario Davis could be a target for the Kansas City #Chiefs in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs suffered several injuries in their cornerback room this season that exposed a lack of depth. Expect general manager Brett Veach to target reinforcements in the 2025 NFL draft.

Arizona Wildcats standout Tacario Davis is a young, tall cornerback prospect with excellent arm length that helps him jam and re-route wide receivers. He uses patient footwork in off-man and zone assignments to mirror smaller, more agile receivers. Davisā€™ long legs and tall frame lead to some natural stiffness, but he flips his hips well for a cornerback with his build.

Davis absorbs routes at the top of the stem in off-man coverage and uses his arm length advantage to deter throws. He drives receivers toward the sideline on vertical routes, which narrows the throwing window. Davis lacks elite speed but offers sufficient juice to stay in phase and carry most receivers vertically.

Davisā€™ tools suggest he fits the mold of a press corner, but some of the limitations created by his size make him a better fit for zone assignments early in his career. He will play more press coverage once he perfects his technique and drives more power through his jams.

Davis is still developing his instincts in zone coverage, but his flashes of recognizing and attempting to jump routes suggest heā€™s headed in the right direction. He makes the most of his length at the catch point. Davis plays the ball from unique angles and blots out the sun in jump ball situations. He rakes the receiverā€™s hands to strip potential receptions.

Arizona hosts the No. 16 Arizona Sun Devils in the 98th edition of the Territorial Cup on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CST.

Chiefs scouting report: USC Trojans CB Jaylin Smith

USC #Trojans cornerback Jaylin Smith could be a perfect target for the Kansas City #Chiefs on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs ended 2023 with one of the NFLā€™s best defenses, but free agent departures and injuries took a toll on the unitā€™s depth this season. The team should consider investing selections in defensive backs in the 2025 NFL draft.

USC Trojans cornerback Jaylin Smith kicked outside in 2024 after spending the past two seasons playing in the slot. Heā€™ll move back inside once he reaches the NFL because of his size and arm length. He could see some action as an outside corner if injuries strike the Chiefs, but that role wonā€™t serve as his full-time home.

Smith is a smooth corner who uses spurts of twitchy footwork to attack short to intermediate routes and close throwing lanes from off-man coverage. This closing speed allows him to drive on slants and crossing routes to prevent quick-hitting throws.

Smithā€™s patience helps him mirror the receiverā€™s release in press coverage. He smothers inside releases with his aggression and uses ideal inside leverage to deter throws on vertical routes. Smith lacks elite acceleration, agility, and speed, which limits his ability to thrive in press.

Smithā€™s lack of size puts him at a disadvantage at the catch point, but this flaw doesnā€™t impact him in run defense. He routinely makes one-on-one tackles in open space against larger opponents. His willingness to come downhill without any support makes him one of the best tackling corners in the class.

USC hosts 10-1 Notre Dame on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CST. The Fighting Irish are the No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings.

Chiefs scouting report: Michigan Wolverines OLB Josaiah Stewart

The Kansas City #Chiefs could target Michigan #Wolverines outside linebacker Josaiah Stewart in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs need a pass rush specialist capable of complementing Chris Jonesā€™ All-Pro production. General manager Brett Veachā€™s options in the 2025 NFL draft are plentiful, but one of Michiganā€™s star defenders stands out as a good candidate.

Josaiah Stewart is an undersized rusher who wonā€™t meet many of the NFLā€™s thresholds. Heā€™s a total outlier, which could make him available for Kansas City in the third or fourth round. Despite his physical limitations, Stewart is one of college footballā€™s most dominant pass rushers.

Stewart explodes off the line with rare acceleration and burst that put offensive tackles at a disadvantage. He changes directions quickly to attack the B-gap or soften the tackleā€™s outside shoulder. His pass rush plan includes cross-chops, rips, swims, two-handed swipes, and converting speed to power.

Stewart possesses the power to pry open the B-gap and the bend to flatten his rush angle around the edge. His relentless pursuit and impressive open-field speed give quarterbacks nightmares.

Stewartā€™s motor and surprising play strength make him a surprisingly effective run defender. Heā€™s a menace hunting down ball carriers as a backside defender and sets a firm edge on the front side of runs. Stewart uses a long-arm to stack blockers who outweigh him by more than 70 lbs. and quickly separates to pursue the ball.

Michigan goes on the road to face 10-1 Ohio State at 11 a.m. CST on Saturday. The Buckeyes are No. 2 in the most recent College Football Playoff rankings.