Tag: pick

How could Saints’ fortunes turn with a win, loss, or tie vs. Dolphins?

Both playoff seeding and draft positioning are at stake in Monday night’s game between the Saints and the Dolphins:

There’s a lot on the line when the New Orleans Saints host the Miami Dolphins on Monday night. And it’s a lot to consider no matter where you fall on the Saints fan spectrum: what means more to you, a playoff berth or a higher draft pick?

Let’s run some numbers. The 2021 NFL Predictions tool at FiveThirtyEight has given the Saints a 53% chance of reaching the postseason going into this Week 16 Dolphins game. A win would help boost New Orleans’ chances to 71%, better than the two teams ahead of them (the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles), while a loss drops them all the way down to 34%. A tied game keeps their playoff odds steady at 52%.

But how do those results impact the 49ers and Eagles — the current sixth and seventh seeds in the NFC — directly? Let’s dig in with an assist from ESPN’s 2021 NFL Playoff Machine. Both squads currently have achieved 8-7 records, just ahead of the Saints at 7-7. New Orleans winning on Monday night would create a three-team tie for those two wild-card spots, which would be decided by current divisional records (per NFL tiebreaking procedures). Philadelphia has the edge there, making the Eagles the sixth seed, the Niners the seventh, and keeping the Saints eighth. For now.

A New Orleans loss wouldn’t dramatically change the current standings. The Saints would be 7-8 just like the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons, entering another three-way tie for the eighth seed rather than holding it alone. But a tie would be slightly better, maintaining New Orleans’ .500 winning percentage rather than Minnesota and Atlanta’s .467, and thus their grip on the eighth seed.

So there’s what you need to know if you’re eyeing a playoff berth. Root for a win or, failing that, hope for a tie. And don’t be too bummed if the Saints lose. They still have two divisional games coming up with an opportunity to turn the tide once some players return from the COVID-19 reserve list.

But what if you’re already daydreaming about spending a high draft pick on a wide receiver or a quarterback next April? Let’s run through the variables impacting New Orleans’ projected draft order.

Right now, hours before kickoff with Miami, the Saints are projected by Tankathon to own the 15th overall draft pick in 2022. A win against the Dolphins raises their record to 8-7, slotting them behind the 7-7-1 Pittsburgh Steelers at the 16th pick (ahead of the 8-7 Los Angeles Chargers and 8-7 Las Vegas Raiders, who have seen a tougher strength of schedule than New Orleans to this point in the season). So don’t sweat a setback if the Saints win, budding draftniks.

With that said, a loss wouldn’t really lift the Saints up to a much better pick, either. They would share the same record as four other teams, and end up at the 13th overall selection behind Atlanta, Minnesota, and the Denver Broncos, with the Cleveland Browns trailing them (due to a higher strength of schedule). And a tie would keep the Saints at 15th. So, again, not much to bemoan or celebrate from a draft perspective with a win, loss, or tie.

But that comes back to what’s important to you as a fan. If your week is ruined when the Saints lose, then you already know to root for a win. If you’re focused on the bigger picture and want this season to hurry up and end, that’s your choice. Just don’t be a sicko and hope for a tie.

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Kevin White determined to chase NFL comeback ‘until they kick me out’

Newly-signed Saints WR Kevin White determined to chase NFL comeback ‘until they kick me out’

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Kevin White knows the challenge in front of him is daunting. And he’s vowed to pursue it anyway. White spoke about his attempt at a comeback with the New Orleans Saints after his first practice session in black and gold on Wednesday, reflecting on his injury-plagued career with the Chicago Bears.

“I’m going for it until they kick me out this league,” White said to NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill. He admitted frustrations with unlucky injuries — a twice-broken leg in 2015 and 2016, and a fractured shoulder blade in 2017 — and few opportunities in the Mitchell Trubisky-led Bears offense, but he’s keeping the faith that he can turn his story around.

He’s got all the tools to succeed. He was the No. 7 overall draft pick for good reason, thanks to a strong senior year in West Virginia’s high-flying offense and elite athletic traits (having timed the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds and 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds). Even at 29, he’s got more raw talent to work with than many younger players entering the league.

We’ll see if he is able to put it to good use in New Orleans. White caught a few passes in team drills on Wednesday with a statement touchdown from rookie quarterback Ian Book. He’s acutely aware of the stakes involved. With two more preseason games on the schedule, maybe he shows the Saints coaches enough in practice this week to warrant a longer look.

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Saints select Notre Dame QB Ian Book with No. 133 pick in the fourth round

The New Orleans Saints picked Notre Dame quarterback prospect Ian Book in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft, adding critical depth.

Well, this is a little surprising. The New Orleans Saints waited at their pick in the fourth round to choose Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book at No. 133 overall. He’ll compete with Trevor Siemian for the third spot on the depth chart in training camp behind Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill.

The Saints have posted a mixed bag of results in the fourth round in recent years; they didn’t have a fourth rounder last year, having traded it away, but added a big-time player on defense in 2019 with C.J. Gardner-Johnson. But their 2018 fourth round pick, Rick Leonard, quickly washed out. So keep expectations tempered for Book.

Book is undersized for NFL standards at 6-foot-flat and 211 pounds, much like Drew Brees was. He’s a good, not great, athlete who posted a Relative Athletic Score of 7.38. He threw 75 touchdowns against 20 interceptions while starting 35 of 47 games for the Fighting Irish, with a career pass completion rate of 63.8%. He did hit all seven of the benchmarks set by Sean Payton’s mentor Bill Parcells, and Payton has said before that Book plays the game much like he once did (which may or may not be a compliment).

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Todd McShay’s updated mock draft has the Saints reaching for a pass rusher

The New Orleans Saints reached on a pass rusher in Todd McShay’s 2021 NFL mock draft update, adding Washington Huskies DE Joe Tryon.

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Where will the New Orleans Saints go in the 2021 NFL draft? There’s still months of speculation and scouting ahead to figure it out, but mock drafts can be a fun exercise to at least learn about new prospects.

The latest mock comes from ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay. He linked the Saints to Washington Huskies defensive end Joe Tryon, who opted out of the 2020 season after creating just 9 sacks in his first 23 games. Here’s what McShay wrote to justify the pick:

“I considered Missouri’s Nick Bolton here to fill the inside linebacker role, but the edge rush could also use some support. The Saints did have 45 sacks last year, but age concerns and free-agency exposure might flip this unit sooner rather than later. Tryon opted out in 2020, but he’s versatile and quick on the edge. He had 12.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks in 2019.”

So, yeah, this feels like a bit of a reach. Tryon underachieved on a loaded college defense and hasn’t played a single down since Dec. 21, 2019. I’m not knocking him for opting out, that was probably the smart thing to do for his health and job prospects. But did McShay just want the Saints to end up with a front seven defender and draw a name out of a hat?

To his credit, Tryon came along stronger near the end of his Huskies career. Pro Football Focus credited him with 29 pressures in his last seven games after creating just a dozen pressures in his first six games. He was figuring things out and becoming an impact defender. But that isn’t someone you invest a first round draft pick into. We’ll see if McShay can come up with a better match in his next mock draft update.

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College Gameday picks for Wisconsin vs. Minnesota

The Wisconsin Badgers and Minnesota Gophers are set to battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe later today. ESPN College Gameday gave their picks…

It’s game day in Madison as the Wisconsin Badgers get set to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the annual battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe.

It’s been an up-and-down season for Paul Chryst’s team, with two straight blowout victories to start the season, three games canceled due to COVID-19 protocols and now three straight losses against tough Northwestern. Indiana and Iowa teams.

No matter how bad a season is going, however, a win against rival Minnesota has a way to fix the sentiment surrounding the season and give at least some sort of consolation prize.

Related: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota: 10 players to watch

Although ESPN College Gameday was in Charlotte, North Carolina for the ACC title game, the battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe was still a talked-about topic on the show.

Related: Five things the Wisconsin Badgers must do to keep Paul Bunyan’s Axe

Here is who the hosts picked to come away with a victory:

Kirk Herbstreit: Wisconsin

Lee Corso: Wisconsin

Desmond Howard: Wisconsin

David Pollack: Wisconsin

Guest picker Joel McHale: Wisconsin

The game will kick off at 3 p.m. CST and be available on the Big Ten Network and the FOX Sports app.

 

Minnesota preview:

Five things the Wisconsin Badgers must do to keep Paul Bunyan’s Axe

Minnesota team preview

What Minnesota HC P.J. Fleck is saying about Wisconsin before the game

HC Paul Chryst gives an update on the status of WRs Kendric Pryor and Danny Davis

Film room: The good, the bad and the questionable from Graham Mertz’s performance against Iowa

Wisconsin is a big favorite according to BetMGM

Lions trade a conditional 6th round pick to the Cowboys for DE Everson Griffen

NFL network’s Ian Rapoport that the Detroit Lions are trading a conditional 6th round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for defensive end Everson Griffen.

NFL network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter are reporting that the Detroit Lions are trading a conditional 6th round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for defensive end Everson Griffen.

The Lions have refocused their approach on defense and are now leaning on more defensive linemen to stunt the run and open up the pass rush — and it’s working.

Since the bye week, that has meant more time with versatile defensive linemen on the field and a sudden need for big bodies who can lineup at multiple spots and rush the passer.

Enter Everson Griffen.

Trey Flowers and Romeo Okwara are thriving on the EDGE but with Julian Okwara on injured reserve and Austin Bryant still working his way back from the PUP list, the Lions were painfully weak on depth. Griffen instantly corrects that.

Griffen has always been a menace when playing against the Lions and now the Lions are getting an opportunity to unleash him on someone else. He has the ability to play all along the defensive line similar to how Flowers and Okwara are used.

Griffen is a natural fit in the Lions scheme, and while he will probably only be asked to play a pass-rushing role early as he acclimates, he is coming to Detroit at a time when the team is on the rise — winning three of the last four games and entering a stretch of very winnable games.

Buckle up Lions fans, they’re making a run at this.

WATCH: Former Gator CJ Henderson gets a pick in first career NFL game

Former Gators cornerback CJ Henderson didn’t waste much time before making an impact in his first career professional game.

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Former Gators cornerback CJ Henderson didn’t waste much time before making an impact in his first career professional game.

The ninth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars intercepted veteran quarterback Phillip Rivers, now in his first season with the Indianapolis Colts, early in the second quarter as the Jaguars trailed 7-0.

Rivers underthrew a pass to receiver T.Y. Hilton, who was in double coverage, and Henderson jumped the route and snagged the pick.

The interception, as well as the subsequent 22-yard return by the rookie, set up a six-yard passing touchdown from Gardner Minshew II to D.J. Chark.

The Jaguars selected Henderson to replace Jalen Ramsey, who had an All-Pro season in 2017 but was traded to Los Angeles last season. Jacksonville desperately needed help in the secondary, and Henderson quickly earned a starting job on the outside.

The Jags will hope that this early highlight play is a sign of things to come from the young corner.

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Saints waive rookie QB/TE prospect Tommy Stevens

The New Orleans Saints waived Tommy Stevens, a rookie prospect out of Mississippi State who converted to tight end from quarterback.

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Here’s a shock at the New Orleans Saints roster cuts deadline: the team has waived rookie tight end Tommy Stevens, its final pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Saints traded their sixth-round selection in 2021 so that they could add Stevens in the seventh round, protecting him from being signed as a rookie free agent by the division-rival Carolina Panthers.

Stevens played quarterback at Mississippi State and Penn State, but was converted to tight end by the Saints in an effort to pick up the reins from versatile playmaker Taysom Hill — who is spending more and more time under center as the clock ticks away on the end for Drew Brees’ NFL career.

The rookie had played well enough in training camp to earn a spot on the practice squad, but first he’ll have to clear through waivers. That may be difficult if another team like the Panthers takes an interest in him. Stevens was coached up by Panthers offensive coordinator (and former Saints assistant) Joe Brady at Penn State, where he pioneered the playbook that Hill later made famous.

Waiver wire claims will be processed by noon E.T. on Sunday. Check back to see whether Stevens will remain with the team that drafted him.

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Florida Gators TE Kyle Pitts selected in first-round of Todd McShay’s latest mock draft

Tight end Kyle Pitts was the only Florida Gator to appear in this mock first-round, going off the board to the Buffalo Bills at No. 23.

While we apparently will not see some of the names in action this fall due to the Big Ten and Pacific-12 Conferences postponing their 2020 seasons, ESPN’s Todd McShay released his latest 2021 National Football League Mock Draft on August 12 (subscription required).

The Jacksonville Jaguars, coached by former Syracuse Orange head man Doug Marrone, led the way, selecting Clemson Tigers junior quarterback Trevor Lawrence at No. 1.

“OK, let’s begin with a no-brainer,” McShay started.

“Lawrence is a once-in-a-decade type of quarterback prospect who currently has our highest Scouts Inc. grade on a QB since Andrew Luck in 2012 (99).

“Jacksonville dealt Nick Foles in the offseason, leaving it with just Gardner Minshew II and Mike Glennon, and Lawrence would step right in for the Jaguars as an immediate game-breaking starter.

“With a big arm, great mobility for his 6-foot-6 frame, excellent poise under pressure and off-the-charts intangibles, it wouldn’t be long before he was among the game’s best.”

The “Washington Football Team,” formerly the Redskins, occupied the No. 2 spot, taking Alabama Crimson Tide junior cornerback Patrick Surtain II.

A Plantation native, Surtain earned Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Freshman Team honors from the league’s coaches in 2018, and, along with LSU Tigers sophomore Derek Stingley, Jr., has a case to be made for best cornerback in the conference.

Oregon Ducks offensive tackle Penei Sewell, Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields, and LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, all also juniors, rounded out McShay’s top-five to the Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers, and Miami Dolphins, respectively.

Tight end Kyle Pitts, another junior, was the only Florida Gator to appear in this mock first-round, going off the board to the Buffalo Bills, who recently signed head coach Sean McDermott to a contract extension, at No. 23.

“Stefon Diggs gives Josh Allen help outside, but what about the tight end position?” McShay posed.

“Dawson Knox had flashes in his rookie season, but Buffalo still has a long way to go in seeing what it has in its 2019 third-rounder. Even if Knox pans out, adding a versatile matchup piece like Pitts to the mix would be huge.

“He should continue to get bigger and stronger as a blocker, but his combination of length, speed and route running makes him a first-round talent. Pitts, who led the Gators with 54 catches last season, is the most dangerous seam-stretching tight end in the country.”

Other notable selections include Ohio State redshirt junior cornerback Shaun Wade to the New York Jets at No. 8, Alabama wideouts DeVonta Smith (senior) to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 10 and Jaylen Waddle (junior) to the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 11, North Dakota State Bison redshirt sophomore quarterback Trey Lance to the Chicago Bears at No. 14, and Michigan Wolverines senior receiver Nico Collins, a Pinson, Alabama native, to the Green Bay Packers at No. 18.

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ESPN predicts Redskins to have six wins in 2020 season, sweeping NY Giants

With the 32 NFL schedules released, everyone is quick to make their season predictions, most of which have the Redskins missing the playoffs.

The NFL world at large got a shot of adrenaline on Thursday night when all 32 teams had their schedules released to the public for the upcoming 2020 season. We’ve known which teams were on the docket for some time now, but they’ve since fallen into place, painting a picture of what the next season will look like.

For the Washington Redskins, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. There are a handful of games that are very winnable, a few that could go either way, and a stretch of three road games late in the season that could end up causing the wheels to fall off. At Redskins Wire, we made our predictions for how everything will shake out as soon as the schedule was released, guessing that the Redskins will finish next season at 5-11, out of the playoffs once again. But what will be interesting to see is how the outside world views Washington’s chances in 2020.

ESPN’s John Keim took a crack at the prediction game, and he gave Washington more credit than we did, saying they will go 6-10. The only two differences were that Keim called for a season sweep over the New York Giants, as well as a road win over the Pittsburg Steelers. We also predicted that Washington could beat the Detroit Lions, which Keim did not.

No matter who you ask, many people are pegging the Redskins to win somewhere between four and six games, with the odd outliers here and there. Whatever happens, though, we can just hope that it’s better than another 3-13 season.

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