Tag: Projection

2025 NFL draft: Should Saints consider TE Tyler Warren in first round?

The Saints need to start stockpiling talent regardless of position. Should they consider Penn State tight end Tyler Warren in the 2025 NFL draft’s first round?

The New Orleans Saints have holes all around the roster, which means that they will need to spend their resources this offseason. Could they afford to spend a first round pick on a tight end?

There is only one player in this draft that would come close to warranting that high of a selection, Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren.

Warren spent five years in college and didn’t really break out until this past season, but he was good enough to ignore late development. He showed some signs of growth last season, but his senior year was a completely different story.

The versatile tight end had 104 catches for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns. Adding to that, he had 26 rushes for 218 yards and four more scores. He was all over the field for the Nittany Lions and performed well in a number of different roles. There was even a single play in which he both snapped the ball and caught a touchdown.

It has been years since the Saints had a true difference maker at tight end. There is Taysom Hill, but he’s not even close to a traditional player in the role. Warren has a lot of the same role versatility, but is also still built like a normal tight end.

Putting the Nittany Lions product in the same role that Juwan Johnson has held for the last few years could be a recipe for success and finally give a reliable weapon in that spot. Warren needs to grow as a blocker and isn’t the sharpest route runner, but those traits can be developed.

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Wisconsin basketball rises in USA TODAY Bracketology update

Wisconsin basketball rises in latest USA TODAY Bracketology

Wisconsin basketball rose to a No. 5 seed in USA TODAY’s NCAA Tournament bracket projection following its win over Nebraska.

The Badgers were on the No. 6-seed line in USA TODAY’s last bracket reveal on Jan. 24. The team’s 83-55 triumph over the Cornhuskers proved significant, as it joined Arizona, Missouri and Louisville on the No. 5-seed line.

Related: Updated Big Ten basketball power rankings (Jan. 27): Wisconsin holds serve

Notably, Wisconsin defeated Arizona 103-88 at the Kohl Center earlier this season. The Wildcats have risen significantly since that date, bolstered by a recent home win over top-ranked Iowa State.

Wisconsin also currently sits No. 17 in the AP Poll, No. 17 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, No. 15 in KenPom, No. 22 in ESPN’s BPI and No. 18 in the NCAA NET Ranking. Those top positions follow the team’s streak of seven wins in its last eight games, five of which coming against Big Ten opponents.

The Badgers are the fifth-highest-seeded Big Ten team in USA TODAY’s updated bracket, trailing just No. 2-seed Michigan State, No. 3-seed Purdue, No. 4-seeds Illinois and Oregon.

Wisconsin returns to the court on Wednesday night against Maryland (No. 9 seed). It is looking to improve on its road record of 2-3 to date, going up against a Maryland team that has lost just once at home.

The Badgers are threatening a significant rise in NCAA Tournament seeding if they can continue their current form. A win over Maryland is a necessary first step in that regard.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

Should Saints consider Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan? 2025 NFL draft projection

Should the New Orleans Saints consider taking Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan in the 2025 NFL draft?

The New Orleans Saints have a mountain of needs to address in the 2025 NFL draft, which could lead to them taking a best player available approach. That means they could dip into a position that already has a couple of starters, like wide receiver.

If they do go after a wideout, the most likely top option to be available for them would be Arizona Wildcats star Tetairoa McMillan. Does he make sense for the Saints to target, though?

There are some fun receivers in the top of the draft, like Luther Burden or Emeka Egbuka, that might be too similar to what they already have in Chris Olave or Rashid Shaheed as smaller, faster targets who can take the top off a defense but may struggle to consistently move the chains on contested catches. Even they aren’t exact matches, but are close enough to cause some worry.

McMillan is something entirely different, though. He is a 6-foot-5, 212-pound wideout that could provide a much needed boost to the red zone. As a bonus, he also does well down the field and has nice speed.

His college numbers were certainly boosted by the fact that his best friend and high school quarterback followed him to the Wildcats, but his dominance still makes them very impressive. He had 174 catches for 2,721 yards with 18 touchdowns over his final two seasons alone.

Wide out is still a need, even if it isn’t the biggest one, so New Orleans should absolutely keep an open mind about selecting McMillan with the ninth pick.

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Should Saints consider Georgia DL Mykel Williams? 2025 NFL draft projection

Should the New Orleans Saints select standout Georgia Bulldogs defensive end Mykel Williams in the 2025 NFL draft?

The New Orleans Saints have a lot of holes to address in the 2025 NFL draft and one of the biggest needs has been hard for them to scout in recent years: defensive end.

Sitting with the No. 9 overall spot in the draft, there are a couple of names that tend to pop up with some frequency. One such player is standout Georgia Bulldogs defensive end Mykel Williams. Should Mickey Loomis consider taking him and another shot at ending their woes at the position.

There is at least one thing that Loomis is sure to like about him, his size. Weighing in at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, that puts his in the zone of frame that the Saints have exclusively gone after in the draft.

Williams is eerily similar of a prospect to Payton Turner and Isaiah Foskey, which might have some people out on him almost immediately.

The 20-year-old is strong and violent against tackles, but does rely more on that than an actual set of pass rush moves.

One other thing that does slightly raise some concerns about Williams is that he doesn’t have a season that stands out in terms of production. His career-high in sacks came this past year with five.

While it has been frustrating to watch Turner and Foskey waste away, it doesn’t mean that New Orleans should never draft players that are built similarly. It just means that they should be more open about drafting outside of that set profile.

In this case, though, Williams might be too close to be that attractive of a prospect. He is his own player and could very well turn out to be a star, but the Saints need change. That being said, he seems right up Loomis’ alley and should be considered a likely option if he is available come pick No. 9.

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Where Wisconsin basketball lands in first USA TODAY bracketology of 2024-25 season

Where Wisconsin lands in first USA TODAY Bracketology of 2024-25 season

Wisconsin basketball is in a strong position to make the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season and fifth time in six opportunities.

The team sits at 15-4 (5-3 Big Ten) overall, led by an 11-0 record against Quad 2, 3 and 4 opponents. It currently sits No. 21 in KenPom, No. 24 in the ESPN BPI and No. 22 in the NCAA NET Rankings. Those marks all suggest even better results to come.

Related: Updated game-by-game predictions for Wisconsin basketball after UCLA loss

The Badgers’ resume includes wins over Arizona (KenPom No. 17), Pittsburgh (No. 33) and Ohio State (No. 29). Their losses have come against Michigan (No. 12), Illinois (No. 11), Marquette (No. 13) and UCLA (No. 30).

A continuation of the team’s current pace, mixed in with another few signature wins, could result in a top-five seed in March’s NCAA Tournament bracket. Wisconsin is just outside that range, according to USA TODAY’s first bracketology of the 2024-25 season.

The Badgers are a No. 6 seed in the Midwest region. They are opposed by No. 11 seed UC Irvine (Big West Conference).

Nine Big Ten teams make the projected field. That is the second most of any conference, behind the SEC’s 13. The top Big Ten teams are Michigan State (No. 2 seed), Oregon (No. 3 seed), Purdue (No. 4 seed), Illinois (No. 4 seed), Michigan (No. 5 seed) and Wisconsin (No. 6 seed).

The Badgers have plenty of resume-building opportunities left on their schedule. The team has Quad 1 games remaining against Maryland (Jan. 29), Northwestern (Feb. 1), Iowa (Feb. 8), Purdue (Feb. 15), Illinois (Feb. 18), Oregon (Feb. 22) and Michigan State (March 2). Those contests will prove critical to the team’s quest for its first top-three seed since 2022.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

Would Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin Jr. fit the Saints offense? NFL draft projection

Breaking down the potential fit between TE Harold Fannin Jr. and the New Orleans Saints in the 2025 NFL draft. The offense needs more firepower:

The New Orleans Saints enter the offseason with a number of needs to be addressed in the 2025 NFL draft, but one position in particular has plagued them for a few seasons: tight end.

One intriguing player that the Saints could target on Day 2 is Bowling Green Falcons tight end Harold Fannin Jr. He is an exciting receiving threat and exactly what New Orleans needs at the position.

While an exact fit can’t be decided upon until the Saints hire a coach and decided on an offensive coordinator for most players, Fannin is someone that could be used by pretty much any offense in football.

The All-American exploded this past season with 117 catches for 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is smaller than your average tight end at 6-foot-3 and 231 pounds, but any offensive coach that couldn’t find a use for him should not be calling plays.

Along with being an obvious threat in the passing game and a matchup nightmare waiting to happen, he has also been a serviceable blocker throughout his career.

There will be concerns about his level of competition, playing in the MAC, but he was about to put up 11 catches for 137 yards and a score against the Penn State Nittany Lions earlier this season.

The Saints should absolutely target Fannin in the draft as an exciting piece to use in the offense over the next few years as the team tries to find an identity once again. They simply need playmakers and he more than fits the bill.

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Would LSU OL Will Campbell fit the Saints offense? NFL draft projection

The New Orleans Saints offensive line needs more talent, and LSU left tackle Will Campbell just might be available in the 2025 draft. But would he fit what they need?

The New Orleans Saints have all eyes on the future, which means it is time to start narrowing down who they should select in the 2025 NFL draft. It is a hard draft season to understand, though, because of just how many needs there are to fill.

One intriguing name that could be used in a number of different ways played his college football just a short ways over in Baton Rouge, LSU Tigers offensive lineman Will Campbell. He is currently projected to go around when the Saints come up on the clock for the first time at No. 9 overall, but does he make sense for New Orleans?

It is sort of hard to project before the new offense gets decided upon, but Campbell is a scheme-versatile fit that could be used in just about any scenario. The harder question to answer for him is where he should play on the offensive line.

The 21-year-old was a three-year starter at left tackle in the SEC, which is no small feat. Not only that, but he played at a high level the entire time. The problem is that he isn’t built like an NFL tackle, most notable with fairly short arms. The most likely outcome for him is being moved inside to a guard spot.

He is well-polished for his age and a great athlete, likely being the best interior lineman in this draft. That is good news for his fit with the Saints as they desperately need someone to fill in at left guard. Five different players took snaps there in 2024, including Lucas Patrick (474 snaps), Nick Saldiveri (344), Oli Udoh (112), Landon Young (112), and Kyle Hergel (45).  Drafting Campbell would immediately answer that need and could even finish out a starting offensive line, depending on how the next coach feels about Trevor Penning on the right side.

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Several former Wisconsin Badgers accept postseason all-star game invites

Several former Wisconsin Badgers accept postseason all-star game invites

Former Wisconsin defensive lineman Elijah Hills (2024) and wide receiver Chimere Dike (2020-23) accepted invites to postseason all-star games this week.

Hills and Dike are two of several former Badgers looking to improve their stock entering the 2025 NFL draft.

Related: Ranking Wisconsin football’s transfer portal class by projected 2025 impact

Hills, first, will participate in the 2025 Tropical Bowl. The event, which has been held since 2016, welcomes NFL draft hopefuls from across the Football Bowl Subdivision. It will be played on Jan. 19, 2025, in Orlando, Florida.

The veteran defensive lineman joined the Badgers in 2024 after three years at Albany (Football Championship Subdivision). He was arguably Wisconsin’s best defensive lineman in 2024, finishing the campaign with 26 total tackles (17 solo), six tackles for loss, three sacks and a pass deflection. His transfer addition was one of Luke Fickell’s best since taking over as Wisconsin head coach in 2023.

Hills is currently projected to go undrafted despite that breakthrough season. A strong Tropical Bowl performance could change that fact.

Dike, next, will play in the 2025 Hula Bowl. The all-star showcase was restarted in 2020 after a lengthy break. It features college football stars from all divisions, in addition to international players. The contest will be held on Jan. 11, 2025, in Orlando, Florida.

The veteran wide receiver played four years at Wisconsin before closing his career at Florida. He was the Badgers’ leading receiver in 2022, totaling 47 catches, 689 receiving yards and six touchdowns. The Waukesha, Wisconsin native tallied a career-best 783 receiving yards at Florida in 2024. His 42 receptions were a team-best.

Dike finished his five-year college career with 139 total catches, 2,261 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is currently projected to be a Day 3 selection in the upcoming NFL draft. A strong Hula Bowl performance could raise that stock further.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Where the Saints are picking in the 2025 NFL draft after Week 14

Here is where the New Orleans Saints stand in the projected 2025 NFL draft order after Week 14’s win over the New York Giants:

After the New Orleans Saints started the season in the dumps, they have started to pick up some wins after replacing Dennis Allen. In seemingly classic Saints fashion, they don’t have a great shot at the playoffs and look destined to pick up enough wins for a fringe-top 10 draft selection.

Darren Rizzi is somehow 3-1 as the New Orleans head coach and has the team at 5-8 overall. They picked up a close win over the New York Giants this past weekend and rose up the draft order again.

The Saints could be back into tank mode for the 2025 NFL draft, though, after Derek Carr suffered a hand injury that could keep him out for the rest of the season. Either they start to lose and help their draft stock or they win and build some momentum with a young quarterback in Carr’s stead.

Here is a look at where New Orleans stands after the Week 14 victory and their full draft order projection from Tankathon:

  • Round 1, No. 10 overall
  • Round 2, No. 44 overall
  • Round 3, No. 75 overall
  • Round 3, No. 87 overall
  • Round 4, No. 111 overall
  • Round 4, No. 123 overall
  • Round 6, No. 187 overall
  • Round 7, No. 253 overall

The Saints could be looking at another drop in the draft order this weekend as they have a tough game against the Washington Commanders on Dec. 15 at Noon CT/1 p.m. ET.

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ESPN gives the Saints microscopic odds of reaching the Super Bowl

ESPN gave the Saints microscopic odds of reaching the Super Bowl. After a 2-5 start, they’re long-shots to even make the playoffs:

This isn’t where you want to be in Week 8. ESPN’s Football Power Index gave the New Orleans Saints small odds of reaching the Super Bowl — less than 1%. After a 2-5 start, they’re long-shots to even make the playoffs by winning their own division.

Both the Atlanta Falcons (56% chance of winning the division) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (66%) are seen as more credible teams in the NFC South. The Saints (7%) are just barely keeping their heads above water, with the Carolina Panthers (less than 1%) already sinking.

It’s easy to see why they’re so down on the Saints. New Orleans hasn’t done anything well in their five-game losing streak. The defense Dennis Allen gave up can’t stop the run or keep points off the board, and their offense has run out of steam with so many starters and key contributors dealing with injuries.

Can they turn it around? It’s still looking like a favorable schedule, but at some point the Saints must win a game (and then a couple more). Teams that gave them trouble last year like the Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns have had their own issues. The Bucs and Falcons can be beaten. But can Allen string multiple wins together? We’ll have to see it to believe it.

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