Tag: PFF

Titans named ‘potential landing spot’ for quarterback Justin Fields

The Tennessee Titans are named as a potential landing spot for quarteback Justin Fields.

There are many opinions on what the Tennessee Titans should do with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft. 

At this point, there is no consensus on what direction the team should take to improve its roster. The team has many needs: offensive line, edge, quarterback, wide receiver, and quality depth across the roster.

If they do decide to pass up on one of the top two quarterbacks, Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, the team at Pro Football Focus (PFF) has an idea on which quarterback they should target. 

QB Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers

Overall Free-Agent Rank: 19

Potential Landing Spots: Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers

With the No. 1 draft pick in hand, new Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi faces a difficult decision regarding the franchise’s direction, particularly at quarterback. Chad Brinker, Titans president of football operations, said the team “won’t pass on a generational talent”, leading many to believe he’s referring to Colorado’s Travis Hunter. With Will Levis’ struggles, Tennessee will still want to address quarterback, and Fields is a cost-effective option with upside.

After Fields earned a quality 72.6 PFF overall grade as the Steelers’ early-season starter in 2024, he earned the respect of many, including head coach Mike Tomlin, who spoke well of the former first-round pick after the season. That may afford Fields another short-term deal to prove he can sustain an offense as the starter.

If he becomes available, he’s an intriguing option. In 2024, he showed improvement with the Steelers and took a step forward. While he is not a finished product, he did show that he can protect the football, something Will Levis proved unable to do. Fields is still unpolished and might not fit the system as well as some other options, but he still has some upside and is ascending.

The Titans do have some options as they go deeper into the offseason and there is still time before the free agency period opens. So, let the speculation begin; there isn’t much more going on. 

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Latest PFF NFL mock draft has Bucs loading up on defense

The team at PFF’s NFL Stock Exchange gave the Bucs a two-round mock draft to see what their analysts think the team could achieve. 

The offseason for NFL teams means that we are flooded with NFL mock drafts. For the Bucs, they are one of the harder teams to fill the needs of in the NFL Draft since they have some key positions that deserve attention.

Thankfully, the team at PFF’s NFL Stock Exchange gave the Bucs a two-round mock draft to see what their analysts think the team could achieve.

Connor Rogers and Trevor Sikemma used their notes from both the Shrine and Senior Bowl weeks to formulate a two-round mock draft for teams. In the case of the Bucs, they addressed the defense with both picks Tampa Bay had in the two rounds.

They gave the Bucs Shavon Revel out of East Carolina in round one. The talented cornerback tore his ACL this past season, but there is a chance he will be back in time to test for the NFL Scouting Combine. He has great man coverage skills and the size to handle NFL-wide receivers, and he is a reliable tackling option on defense.

In the second round of their mock draft, they gave the Bucs some much-needed help at the edge position. They drafted Princely Umanmielen out of Ole Miss. The former Florida Gator transferred to Ole Miss in 2024 and became one of the best edge rushers in all of college football. He uses his speed to get past tackles but also has fast hands to win one-on-ones.

This would be a great 1-2 punch for the Bucs defense in the NFL Draft. Whether they can pull this off is yet to be seen, but this could likely be the outcome of Jason Licht and his staff.

What does Chargers DL Poona Ford’s projected free agent contract look like?

Poona Ford was a beast up front, and he should be one of the Chargers’ priorities to bring back.

With Chargers defensive tackle Poona Ford set to become a free agent this offseason, what could his next contract be?

Pro Football Focus recently made a projection for Ford and the other top 100 free agents this offseason.

According to PFF, they are projecting that Ford will land a one-year deal with $3.5 million. This includes $1.5 million guaranteed.

Signed last offseason, Ford had a resurgent season under defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.

Ford, the man in the middle of the defensive line, was integral in stopping the run. His 80.3 PFF run-defense grade ranked third among interior defenders. He also had 25 quarterback pressures.

PFF’s projection for Ford seems a little low, considering how great he played in 2024. Instead, he might garner a contract worth $14 million-$16 million per year, as he should be one of the top defensive tackles on the market.

While the price might be a bit high for some, Ford should be a top priority for the Chargers. The team is well-stocked in salary cap space, so they should be able to afford him.

What does Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins’ projected free agent contract look like?

J.K. Dobbins returned to form this season, proving that he should be re-signed by the Chargers.

With Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins set to become a free agent this offseason, what could his next contract be?

Pro Football Focus recently made a projection for Dobbins and the other top 100 free agents this offseason.

According to PFF, they are projecting that Dobbins will land a two-year deal with $7 million. This includes $4 million guaranteed.

Signed last offseason, Dobbins’ play exceeded his $1.6 million prove-it deal. He set a career-high in rushing yards (905) and tied his personal best in rushing touchdowns (9).

After spending most of his time with the Ravens on the sidelines due to multiple lower-body injuries, Dobbins managed to stay healthy for most of the season, appearing in 13 games in 2024.

As a result of his bounce-back campaign, Dobbins is a finalist for the Associated Press’ Comeback Player of the Year Award.

It’s clear that Dobbins boosts the running game when he is on the field. However, the consistency of his health remains a question mark.

Nonetheless, the Chargers would be wise to bring him back, especially considering how cheap he should be.

PFF sees key Vikings free agent as a best fit for new team in 2025

PFF believes Cam Bynum could be heading to the AFC South in 2025.

The Minnesota Vikings are set to have 25 free agents when free agency arrives in March. Although many are role players and backups who could be replaced relatively easily, one departure could leave a hole in the Vikings’ secondary.

Safety Cam Bynum is slated to test free agency and could be too expensive for the Vikings to bring back. PFF recently released a list of the best landing spots for the top 15 defensive free agents, and they have Bynum heading to the AFC South.

PFF has the Indianapolis Colts signing the 26-year-old Bynum. This month, they hired former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo to fill the same role. PFF believes Bynum would fill the void left by Julian Blackmon.

Since entering the league in 2021, Camryn Bynum has been a dependable run defender and consistent tackler, earning a 73.0-plus run defense grade in each season. His standout 2023 campaign included 104 solo tackles, the most among all safeties.

…Bynum’s savvy playstyle, marked by his ability to keep everything in front of him and limit big plays, makes him an excellent candidate for the role.

If Bynum were to leave, the Vikings would have one more position to address this offseason. Harrison Smith could potentially retire, leaving the Vikings with two safety spots to fill.

But how much does general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah prioritize safety? Is he willing to try outbidding other teams to keep Bynum to keep some continuity in the secondary? Or will he let Bynum leave to save money and address more pressing needs on the roster?

PFF projects Vikings will land one of NFL’s top free agents

With the Minnesota Vikings possibly needing to replace virtually all of their defensive backfield, could they make a splash in free agency?

A lot has been made of the situation the Minnesota Vikings find themselves in with regard to the state of their defensive backfield. Minnesota didn’t always get the most consistent play from their defensive backs last season, despite the play of Pro Bowl cornerback Byron Murphy Jr.

What’s more, the Vikings are heading into the 2025 NFL offseason facing the prospect of having only do-it-all defensive back Josh Metellus under contract for next season. Minnesota is going to need to figure out a potentially completely new defensive back field next season. Thankfully, they have plenty of cap space to work with.

What the Vikings are going to do with that cap space remains to be seen, but with limited capital in the NFL Draft, they figure to be active players in the free agent market.

The team at PFF recently began releasing their look at the 2025 NFL free agent class and some potential landing spots for their top free agents, and they’ve listed Minnesota as one of their landing spots for a top-3 free agent, former Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland.

Holland was drafted in the second round out of Oregon by the Miami Dolphins in the 2021 NFL Draft and has been a key contributor to their secondary ever since. Holland has played all over the field in the Dolphins’ defensive scheme, coming down with five interceptions, five sacks, and over 300 tackles in his four years with the team.

However, Holland struggled in 2024 and has seemingly fallen out of favor with both the Dolphins’ coaching staff and their fans, making a return to Miami unlikely. While Holland came in as just the 89th out of 170 safeties last season according to PFF, and 109th in coverage, the Vikings may hope a reunion with defensive coordinator Brian Flores could revitalize Holland.

Holland spent his rookie season working with Flores during the latter’s final season as the Dolphins head coach. That season, Holland turned in a defensive PFF grade of 84.7 and a coverage grade of 87.7 (versus just 63.0 and 57.1, respectively, this past season).

Holland ranks as PFF’s third-best potential free agent in this class, and the Vikings likely have the money to land him if they’re looking to make a big splash in free agency. Pairing Holland with a potential return of Camryn Bynum could give the Vikings one of the best safety duos in the league for years to come.

What does Chargers CB Asante Samuel Jr.’s projected free agent contract look like?

Asante Samuel Jr. will be one of the top cornerbacks on the free agency market this offseason.

With Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. set to become a free agent this offseason, what could his next contract be?

Pro Football Focus recently made a projection for Samuel and the other top 100 free agents this offseason.

According to PFF, they are projecting that Samuel will land a three-year deal with $43.5 million. This includes $26.5 million guaranteed.

Samuel is coming off a contract year where he missed all but four games due to a shoulder injury. He had 13 tackles and two passes defended in 2024.

Selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Florida State, Samuel made a significant impact from the start of his professional career.

From his rookie campaign to 2023, Samuel shined in coverage, amassing over 10 breakups and two interceptions in each of those seasons.

While his ball skills have been a strength of his game, Samuel has struggled as an open-field tackler.

The case could be made for the Chargers to re-sign Samuel, as he’s an asset in coverage and is only 25 years old.

On the flip side, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter requires good tacklers on the backend, and the cornerback room got great production from Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still when they were thrust into starting roles.

Where did the Commanders’ offensive line rank for the 2024 season?

The Commanders’ offensive line overachieved in 2024.

When Dan Quinn hired Bobby Johnson as Washington’s offensive line coach last offseason, fans of the Bills and Giants laughed. New York fans blamed Johnson for the Giants’ poor offensive line play in 2023 despite having a group of underachieving players.

Johnson had the last laugh. He led an offensive line with three new starters, including a rookie left tackle, to one of the NFL’s top rushing teams.

Pro Football Focus did power rankings for offensive lines and recently revealed its 2024 season rankings, with the Commanders coming in at No. 10.

Selecting Brandon Coleman out of TCU in the third round of last year’s draft paid dividends in 2024 for the Commanders. Washington initially rotated at left tackle until Coleman steadily improved and eventually won the starting job for the second half of the season.

Washington’s offensive line ranked 25th in PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating in 2023 and finished eighth in 2024 with an 86.8 rating. The unit allowed 155 pressures — including 18 sacks —  on 654 snaps.

Best player: Sam Cosmi

Even though Cosmi had a slightly down season following his contract extension, his 74.3 PFF pass-blocking grade still ranked 14th among guards this season.

Washington struggled with some teams, especially Philadelphia’s big, athletic offensive line. The Commanders, outside of quarterback Jayden Daniels, struggled to run in multiple games during the second half of the season. Considering the shape of Washington’s offensive line one year ago, the unit made tremendous progress in 2024.

As it turns out, Johnson can catch after all.

The starting offensive line will look different next season. General manager Adam Peters understands that he must continue to build the trenches after the previous regime ignored it for years. Washington will likely be without Cosmi early in the season after he tore his ACL in the NFC divisional round win over the Lions.

Center Tyler Biadasz, signed as a free agent last March, was Washington’s MVP along the offensive line. He brought stability to a position with multiple starters for the previous three seasons.

PFF: Chris Jones was Chiefs’ highest-graded player in AFC Championship Game

According to the experts at Pro Football Focus, #Chiefs DL Chris Jones was Kansas City’s highest-graded player in the AFC Championship Game.

The Kansas City Chiefs are now one win away from making history after defeating the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game.

Though star quarterback Patrick Mahomes put together a marvelous performance in the Chiefs’ win over Buffalo, the efforts of Kansas City’s defense in Sunday’s matchup shouldn’t go unnoticed.

The Chiefs’ defense has been ranked among the best in the league this season and routinely makes game-changing plays in the biggest moments when Kansas City needs the unit the most.

Between its air-tight secondary and powerful front seven, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has assembled a near-perfect cast of stars.

The experts at Pro Football Focus took notice of Kansas City’s dominant defensive line on Sunday, and awarded star pass rusher Chris Jones a grade of 90.6, which led all Chiefs players in the team’s winning effort against the Bills:

Jones is one of the fiercest pass-rushers in the game since joining the league in 2016 and has proven himself to be one of Kansas City’s best assets.

The former Mississippi State Bulldog will have another chance to prove himself when the Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX in February.

PFF shares their perfect draft prospect for the New Orleans Saints

Pro Football Focus has found who they believe is the perfect prospect for each NFL team in the 2025 NFL draft class, and their choice for the Saints is an edge rusher

The 2025 NFL offseason is getting closer by the day as the playoffs continue toward Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. With that, we also grow nearer to the 2025 NFL draft, where the New Orleans Saints hold the No. 9 overall pick and good trade leverage when it comes to other picks. There will always be speculation when it comes to who teams will draft, and often times they will likely not be right.

With that said, Pro Football Focus shared their predictions and analysis for who they believe is the best prospect for each team in the upcoming draft class. Their choice for the Saints is edge rusher Nic Scourton out of Texas A&M. Here’s the rationale provided for this pick:

“The Saints team pass-rush grade was 65.5 in 2024, which ranked 23rd. Chase Young led the team with 47 pressures on the year, followed by Carl Granderson and then the talented but aging star Cam Jordan.

While there is only one Cam Jordan, Nic Scourton could be an important piece in trying to replace Jordan in the aggregate. Jordan only played 564 snaps in 2024, but that was following 13 straight seasons of at least 770 snaps per year. Nic Scourton is a heavy-handed, big, strong defensive lineman who, at 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, is almost the identical size as Jordan. While Jordan played predominantly on the left side during his career, Scourton has played over 500 snaps on both the left and right side of the Aggies defense over the last two years.”

When it comes to predictions, Scourton feels very similar to what the Saints look for at defensive end. Large body and frame with proven versatility at their position, solid but not elite production, and some element of potential that leaves room for development.

With Brian Young taking over many of the defensive line coaching duties previously, and a new head coaching hire incoming this season, we may see a complete staff overhaul which could be positive or negative pending who it is. Regardless, it gives Scourton and any other prospects a chance to come into something new and develop at a reasonable pace, which is positive for their careers.

Overall, the edge position has been difficult for the Saints in recent years, and if they are going to take one it needs to be someone they are sure is going to pan out. Scourton is solid no doubt, but there may be better options up at the No. 9 pick as well, so we will see how it plays out.

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