Tag: The Athletic

2025 NFL draft: Executives believe Titans should trade No. 1 overall pick

With a ton of uncertainty at this stage of the draft process, many executes believe the Tennessee Titans should trade their No. 1 overall selection.

The Tennessee Titans finished the 2024 season with a miserable 3-14 record and have already made some wholesale changes within the organization. 

Armed with a new general manager and front office staff, the Titans are ramping up preparations for the 2025 NFL draft and the No. 1 overall selection. With no consensus on what direction the team should go, many debate what would make the most sense. Some fans and outlets say quarterback, others say edge, then there is the best available player or even a trade, but really there is no clear-cut answer to be had.

So, what would you do with that No. 1 overall selection? According to some insiders at The Athletic, the Titans should trade that pick. 

With the 2025 draft not having a banner quarterback class, there are a lot of risks associated with the top two quarterback prospects. Neither Cam Ward nor Shadeur Sanders have been proven to be sure-fire franchise foundations, and many scouts and executives rank them a notch below quarterbacks from past drafts. 

Still, many teams are in search of their next signal caller, which could put Tennessee in a prime spot to gain draft capital. Things can change between today and the draft with free agency, but as they are constructed today, the Titans need more than a quarterback to become contenders. 

There are many different paths that can be taken to build the roster. With the new front office, led by Mike Borgonzi in place, it has been stated that long-term success is the goal, not instant gratification. If that is truly the case, trading the No. 1 pick is likely the way to go. Especially in a class that potentially lacks impact talent at the quarterback position. 

The NFL draft will kick off on April 24 in Green Bay, but the Titans are already on the clock. 

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2025 NFL draft: Titans land Abdul Carter, franchise QB in The Athletic mock

The Tennessee Titans draft for need and value in the latest mock draft by The Athletic grabbing a quarterback and edge rusher.

The Tennessee Titans finished their 2024 season with a miserable 3-14 record and have made wholesale changes in their front office. With the revamped department in place, fans can now get some idea of what they are going to do with their No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NFL draft.

This is an interesting draft, one that may lack generational talent in many positions. Unlike past years where there was consensus on a group of prospects, after Colorado Buffaloes cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter and possibly Penn State edge Abdul Carter, there is no clear-cut order in the player rankings. 

The Titans already have had some time to evaluate potential prospects at the East-West Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl, and will start to build their own board led by new general manager Mike Borgonzi. What they will eventually do is anyone’s guess. 

NFL draft experts Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman of The Athletic recently released their latest two-round mock draft and have the Titans making at least part of the fanbase happy.

1.1 Tennessee Titans: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

The ideal option for the Titans would be to trade this pick. I can understand why many would argue for a quarterback here, but I’m not completely sold on either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders being the answer to a team’s prayers — at least not right away.

Carter is the closest thing we’ve seen to Micah Parsons since … Micah Parsons. He’s a true game-changing athlete who has improved almost every time he’s taken the field, had dominant stretches in the College Football Playoff and isn’t close to his ceiling yet.

2.35 Tennessee: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

The Titans could roll the dice on a talented QB they’re not sure about at No. 1 … or they can do the exact same thing at No. 35. With Carter available early, this might be the preferred path.

There is no question that Carter is a hot name and many fans would salivate over the selection. However, Milroe’s selection may not be received with the same applause. Milroe is an interesting player, but he is raw and would need time to develop. Athletically gifted and throwing a great deep ball, his erratic short-to-medium passing prowess looks more like Will Levis than Josh Allen. 

These picks would help fill voids on the roster in areas that definitely need upgrades, but are they the right selections?  What do you think? Is that who you would select for the Titans or would you go a different direction? Let us know your thoughts. 

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The Athletic ‘wouldn’t be shocked’ if Florida wins national championship

The Athletic weighs in on Gators basketball so far this season and their chances of bringing home the title this spring.

The Florida basketball team has been making waves this season, showcasing a potent mix of seasoned leadership and tactical prowess on the court.

With an overall record of 18-2, the Gators have racked up some impressive teams such as winning against the North Carolina Tar Heels on the road, completely dominating the then-No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers and most recently, defeating a 14-6 Georgia Bulldogs team by 30 points.

The Gators are led by senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. who has averaged 17.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and four assists per game this season.

“He’s (Clayton) a fantastic player,” head coach Todd Golden said about Clayton after their last game against Georgia. “He does a great job of playing with good pace and patience. I don’t want to say it comes easy to him, but a little bit. He sees things other guys don’t and is able to get to his spots. I think he played with great poise.”

Florida definitely has a good chance to compete for this year’s national championship and The Athletic sports writer CJ Moore included them in the section of his article that said, “Other title contenders I wouldn’t be shocked to see win it”.

Here is what Moore wrote about Florida basketball.

What The Athletic said about Florida

“The Gators have one of the best perimeter groups in the country with seniors Walter Clayton, Alijah Martin and Will Richard. Their bigs are elite offensive rebounders and rim protectors who do not care what their numbers are and simply do their job.

“This is another team in which everyone understands their role. Florida’s biggest weakness is guarding elite low-post scorers, which showed up in their only two losses this season to Kentucky and Missouri. So matchups could be important for the Gators once March arrives.

“The champion criterion working against Florida: Coach Todd Golden has never made it out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament.”

Coming up for Gators hoops

The Gators get the week off and will return to action next Saturday, Feb. 1, in Knoxville for a rematch with the Volunteers. Gametime is slated for an early noon ET start and the action will be broadcast on ESPN.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Where does The Athletic place Florida baseball in their preseason top 25?

Taking a look at where the Gators stack up in The Athletic’s college baseball preseason top 25 rankings.

The Florida baseball team has been ranked sixth in The Athletic’s preseason top 25, signaling high expectations for the upcoming 2025 season. Despite losing standout two-way player Jac Caglianone to MLB, the Gators boast a roster brimming with talent and potential.

Florida bolstered their roster with talented newcomers like outfielders Blake Cyr and Kyle Jones, enhancing both their defensive and offensive capabilities. However, challenges remain as Florida must revamp a struggling pitching staff and fill the leadership void left by last year’s seniors.

But, the Gators have an impressive lineup featuring infielders Colby Shelton and Cade Kurland, who together slammed 34 homers last season.

Florida baseball head coach Kevin O’Sullivan and his squad have a lot to look forward to this season and the Gators aim to compete as a contender in the SEC, but there are still some questions with the pitching staff.

The Athletic sports writer Teddy Cahill placed Florida at No. 6 in his preseason top 25 rankings. This is what he had to say as well as what an opposing coach said about the Gators.

What The Athletic said about Florida

Why they’re ranked here: “Florida lost two-way sensation Jac Caglianone to pro ball but is not short on talent in 2025. It returns its powerful double-play combination of shortstop Colby Shelton and second baseman Cade Kurland, who combined for 34 home runs. Right-hander Liam Peterson took his lumps as a freshman in the rotation last season but is primed for a step forward. Florida supplemented its returners with a strong group of newcomers, including outfielders Blake Cyr (Miami) and Kyle Jones (Stetson).”

Why there’s room for improvement: “Florida last season was uncharacteristically bad on the mound and now must replace five of the six pitchers who threw more than 40 innings in 2024. The Gators also lost some key leaders and must replace their presence.”

Opposing coach: “They really added to their lineup and kept (Colby) Shelton. That seems like a pretty powerful lineup. I don’t know who’s going to pitch for Florida though.”

Where The Athletic ranked SEC teams

21. Mississippi State Bulldogs

18. Texas Longhorns

16. Vanderbilt Commodores

12. Georgia Bulldogs

6. Florida Gators

5. Tennessee Volunteers

4. LSU Tigers

2. Arkansas Razorbacks

1. Texas A&M Aggies

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Florida basketball holds steady in The Athletic’s latest top 25 rankings

Gators stay put inside the top 5 in The Athletic’s latest college basketball top 25 rankings.

The Florida Gators basketball team remains anchored at the No. 5 spot in The Athletic’s latest top 25 college basketball rankings.

On Saturday, Florida hosted the Georgia Bulldogs and delivered a dominant performance with a resounding 89-59 victory. The standout players for Florida included Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard. Clayton notched 17 points and dished out five assists while Richard added 16 points.

The Gators were all over the Bulldogs on the defensive end, racking up a total of 13 steals which disrupted Georgia’s rhythm and contributed to their 18 turnovers.

Performances like this against Georgia make a strong case for Florida as a legitimate contender in college basketball. For the Gators, every game is a step towards their ultimate goal: a deep run in the tournament and a shot at the title.

Here is where the teams from the SEC were ranked in The Athletic’s latest top 25 rankings.

The Athletic’s SEC top 25 rankings

20. Ole Miss Rebels

19. Missouri Tigers

18. Texas A&M Aggies

14. Mississippi State Bulldogs

13. Kentucky Wildcats

7. Tennessee Volunteers

5. Florida Gators

4. Alabama Crimson Tide

1. Auburn Tigers

Coming up for Florida

The Gators get the week off and will return to action next Saturday, Feb. 1, in Knoxville for a rematch with the Tennessee Volunteers. Gametime is slated for an early noon ET start and the action will be broadcast on ESPN.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Notre Dame targeting former Rutgers coach as defensive coordinator

Would you like this hire?

Notre Dame has an opening at defensive coordinator. It might not have been what Irish fans wanted after the season their team just had, but that’s the nature of football. Coaches come and go for their next big payday.

Pete Sampson of The Athletic has learned from multiple sources that the Irish are eyeing a “strong candidate” for defensive coordinator in former Rutgers coach Chris Ash. His last coaching position was defensive backs coach for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022 and 2023. That came off one season as safeties coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ash went 8-32 with the Scarlet Knights before being fired a month into the 2019 season without ever making a bowl game. Previously, he was the defensive coordinator at Ohio State, Arkansas, Wisconsin and Drake.

Ash isn’t the first candidate to emerge for this job, but those possibilities haven’t worked out. That doesn’t necessarily mean Ash will be the guy, but Irish fans better start thinking that he might be. Welcome to the world of offseason speculation.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on X: @gfclark89

Where does The Athletic rank Florida football after 2024 season?

The Gators move up two spots in The Athletic’s college football rankings after the 2024 season.

After closing out the 2024 season with an 8-5 record, the Florida Gators have landed the No. 32 spot out of 134 teams in The Athletic’s final college football rankings, as analyzed by sports writer Chris Vannini.

This placement comes at the end of a season filled with both challenges and notable victories, reflecting the team’s resilience and potential heading into the offseason.

Florida made strides during the 2024 season, but they also had to face some hurdles after being dealt with the toughest schedule among any college football team in the country.

Despite starting the season shaky with fans calling for head coach Billy Napier’s departure, the Gators stuck with it, showed resilience and ended the season with a four-game winning streak.

Looking ahead, the offseason will be a chance for Florida’s players to continue with their development and improvement, as well as an opportunity for the Gators’ coaching staff to find the key pieces that will give them the best chance to have success in the next season to come.

The Athletic’s SEC team rankings

104. Mississippi State Bulldogs

79. Kentucky Wildcats

65. Auburn Tigers

53. Oklahoma Sooners

41. Arkansas Razorbacks

36. Vanderbilt Commodores

32. Florida Gators

31. Texas A&M Aggies

29. LSU Tigers

22. Missouri Tigers

16. South Carolina Gamecocks

15. Alabama Crimson Tide

13. Ole Miss Rebels

8. Tennessee Volunteers

6. Texas Longhorns

5. Georgia Bulldogs

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Where does Florida football rank in The Athletic’s way-too-early top 25?

Gators just outside the top 10 in The Athletic’s way-too-early top 25 college football rankings.

The Athletic has released its way-too-early top 25 rankings for the 2025 college football season, placing Florida football at an impressive No. 11 after a season that saw a dramatic turnaround under head coach Billy Napier.

Quarterback DJ Lagway has been a standout performer, emerging as one of the best quarterbacks in college football. His impressive play and leadership have been a key part to the Gators’ late-season success.

Alongside Lagway was the defense. Florida’s defensive unit stepped up in a big way and helped win them multiple games last season.

With key players returning as well as incoming transfers and recruits, Florida looks to build on their late-season momentum. There’s a lot of optimism surrounding the Gators and for good reason. Now it’s up to them to continue to play well on both sides of the ball in 2025.

Stewart Mandel, a sports writer for The Athletic, placed Florida at No. 11 in his way-too-early top 25 rankings and this is what he had to say about the Gators.

What The Athletic said about Florida football

“After spending two-thirds of the season on the hot seat, Billy Napier rewrote the narrative of his program with consecutive upsets of LSU and Ole Miss and finished the year on a four-game winning streak. Lagway, the former five-star recruit, emerged as one of the most talented QBs in the country. And the defense held each of its last four opponents to fewer than 17 points. Next season, the Gators play at LSU and at Miami in September.”

The Athletic’s way-too-early top 25 college football rankings

25. Oklahoma Sooners

24. Navy Midshipmen

23. Kansas State Wildcats

22. Louisville Cardinals

21. Boise State Broncos

20. Indiana Hoosiers

19. Baylor Bears

18. Michigan Wolverines

17. Texas A&M Aggies

16. South Carolina Gamecocks

15. Miami Hurricanes

14. Alabama Crimson Tide

13. Tennessee Volunteers

12. Illinois Fighting Illini

11. Florida Gators

10. BYU Cougars

9. Arizona State Sun Devils

8. Oregon Ducks

7. Georgia Bulldogs

6. Ohio State Buckeyes

5. Clemson Tigers

4. LSU Tigers

3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

2. Texas Longhorns

1. Penn State Nittany Lions

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Florida basketball stays put in latest power rankings by The Athletic

The Gators stay still in the top 5 of The Athletic’s latest college basketball power rankings.

The Florida men’s basketball team has maintained its position in the latest power rankings by The Athletic, holding steady at No. 5.

On Saturday, the Gators secured a convincing 84-60 victory at home over the Texas Longhorns. Florida excelled on both ends of the court, shooting 49.3% from the field and knocking down eight three-pointers. On defense, they limited Texas to a mere 36.4% shooting and a lackluster 25% from three-point range.

Alijah Martin led the charge with 22 points, six rebounds and four assists while Walter Clayton Jr. added 19 points, four rebounds and three assists. Alex Condon also contributed by putting up an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double.

The Gators did a great job in putting their loss against Missouri behind them, and head coach Todd Golden praised his team for their outstanding play against the Longhorns.

“I thought our players did a great job tonight answering the challenge…I thought for us to win the game the way we did, and to extend it and win by 24 was a great statement coming back off Tuesday night,” Golden said in his postgame press conference.

As the season goes on, all eyes will be on the Gators to see if they can continue their strong play and perhaps climb even higher in the national rankings. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how this team develops, particularly as they face increasingly stiff competition on the road to March Madness.

The Athletic’s top 10 college basketball teams

10. Purdue Boilermakers

9. Marquette Golden Eagles

8. Michigan State Spartans

7. Houston Cougars

6. Tennessee Volunteers

5. Florida Gators

4. Alabama Crimson Tide

3. Iowa State Cyclones

2. Duke Blue Devils

1. Auburn Tigers

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

The Athletic’s 2-round mock draft has Saints drawing from blue-chip programs

There have been a lot of complaints about the Saints spending early-round picks on small-school prospects. That isn’t a problem in The Athletic’s mock draft:

The 2025 NFL draft class is beginning to take shape with underclassmen declaring whether they’ll turn pro and seniors telling their schools goodbye. And while the there’s been plenty of criticism for the New Orleans Saints spending early-round draft picks on prospects from smaller programs, that wasn’t an issue in this two-round mock draft.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler argues the Saints should start their 2025 draft by picking Georgia safety Malaki Starks at No. 9 overall:

Safety might feel like a luxury option for a Saints team that needs help at quarterback, pass catcher and on the defensive line. But Starks can play across the secondary and be a playmaker in different ways. With his athleticism, football IQ and makeup, he will be an easy sell in NFL war rooms.

Starks is an intriguing talent, and if he’s able to play every down defensively he could be well worth the pick. The Saints lack a sure thing next to Tyrann Mathieu on the back end and had to platoon older pros like Will Harris (861 snaps), Ugo Amadi (527), and Johnathan Abram (115) far too often last season. We didn’t see the hoped-for second-year leap out of Jordan Howden, who was limited to 552 snaps across 17 games. Maybe Starks could help them get younger and more dynamic at that spot even if it isn’t as clear an immediate need.

Starks would be a perfect young player to have lock down the secondary for the next few years in New Orleans. He is a smart player that can do a lot across the defense.. The defensive back had 197 career tackles with six interceptions and 17 passes broken up. He is mostly known for making highlight plays in coverage, but that isn’t all he does.

This was a two-round mock draft, and while Brugler didn’t go into detail about the Saints’ selection at No. 40, he did have them picking Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden. And that might be a controversial decision. Golden has the production you look for from players coming out of a blue-chip program — he led the Longhorns this season with 987 receiving yards and 9 touchdown catches — but he’s got a similar frame to Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed at a listed 6-foot-0 and 195 pounds. He wouldn’t add much of a size element fans have been looking for since Michael Thomas left the team.

Still, Golden was the fourth receiver taken in Brugler’s mock draft (out of seven). He would be an absolute steal in the second round, as some consider him to be in the conversation for the best wide receiver prospect in the draft class. At some point the team needs to just draft the best players available and raise the roster’s overall talent level. Olave’s history of concussions and looming contract issues can’t be ignored. Assuming the Saints pick up his fifth-year option this spring, he’ll be up for free agency in 2027 with Shaheed hitting the market in 2026. Drafting Golden in 2025 could give the Saints a viable successor for at least one of those two receivers.

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