Panthers take 2024 draft’s ‘best route runner’ in new ESPN mock

The Panthers got paired with a Senior Bowl standout in ESPN’s latest two-round mock draft.

One of the stars from this year’s Senior Bowl could be a fit in Charlotte.

ESPN NFL draft analyst and insider Matt Miller came through on Monday with his second mock draft of the offseason. And being that it was a two-round projection, the Carolina Panthers got in on the fun at No. 33—with University of Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey.

Miller writes:

The Panthers didn’t do a great job surrounding rookie quarterback Bryce Young with talent at wide receiver in 2023 and must make major additions this offseason. McConkey is the best route runner in the draft with excellent stop-start quickness and acceleration out of his cuts. He’s also sure-handed enough to be the Panthers’ No. 1 receiving option.

McConkey is a two-time national champion out of Athens. The six-foot, 185-pounder, who played in just nine games this past season, recorded 30 receptions for 478 yards and two scores for the Bulldogs in 2023.

Unfortunately for Bryce Young, he and his Alabama Crimson Tide were mowed down en route of the first of McConkey’s two rings. But if he’s any help to him in the pros, there probably won’t be any problems between the two SEC standouts.

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The college football world mourns the death of Georgia Bulldogs mascot Uga X

It’s a sad day. The University of Georgia has lost the best Uga to ever do it.

There is sad news out of the college football world. A former University of Georgia mascot, Uga X — better known to many as “Que” — has died. He was 10 years old.

The University of Georgia announced on Tuesday that Que crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in his sleep. He began his time with the Bulldogs on November 21, 2015, during halftime at a Georgia-Georgia Southern matchup. It was a night game, and the team’s band asked fans to “light up” Stanford Stadium as the fourth quarter approached. Georgia went on to win the game, and the rest is history.

During his tenure, Que was there through two SEC titles, two national championships and a host of bowl games. He retired in 2022 with a 91-18 record, becoming the most decorated Georgia Bulldog mascot ever.

The college football world and Georgia Bulldog fans mourned on Twitter as the news broke Tuesday morning:

Patriots select playmaking tight end in ESPN’s latest mock draft

This latest ESPN mock draft has the Patriots selecting a major offensive weapon in 2024.

The New England Patriots need playmakers on both sides of the football, but offense should be the focal point heading into the offseason.

Mock drafts already have the team selecting high in 2024. ESPN’s latest mock draft has New England selecting tight end Brock Bowers from Georgia at No. 7 overall.

Bowers is perhaps the best tight end in college football. He currently has 41 receptions for 567 yards and four touchdowns. He is an explosive playmaker, averaging 13.8 yards per reception this year and 14.9 yards per reception for his career. He is currently out with an ankle injury.

New England could use playmakers at the tight end position. Mike Gesicki is on a one-year deal, and Hunter Henry is a free agent after the 2024 season.

The Patriots organization is known for letting veterans walk and restocking the cupboard with younger talent. Bowers could certainly fit that mold. Here’s what ESPN’s Jordan Reid had to say:

You would have to go all the way back to 2010 to find the last time the Patriots drafted an offensive playmaker who turned into a standout player: Rob Gronkowski. And with Bowers sitting atop the best available list, New England can land a special tight end to improve QB Mac Jones’ supporting cast. He’s an ideal fit in the Patriots’ offense. Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki are both scheduled to be free agents, so Bowers would immediately be a go-to option. The Georgia star is out with a left ankle injury, but he had 567 receiving yards over seven games before having surgery.

New England could look to address their QB situation, too, but it’s hard to envision coach Bill Belichick wanting to start over with a young passer. Instead, Bowers could help Jones regain his rookie-season form.

The Georgia star would be a playmaker that New England desperately needs.

They haven’t drafted a playmaking tight end in quite some time, and Bowers could be the perfect player to reinvigorate the position. He could be the type of player to turn Jones’ career around.

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WATCH: Robert Beal Jr.’s best highlights from University of Georgia

Robert Beal Jr. put together a great highlight reel as a Georgia Bulldog and should prove to be a great investment for the #49ers

Robert Beal Jr. could prove to be one of the San Francisco 49ers’ best picks in their 2023 draft class but will need to find a way to buy himself some playing time before fans can get a good look at his talent.

He was a standout on the University of Georgia’s defense last year, playing a key role on the Bulldogs’ defensive line. Beal’s athleticism should translate well to the NFL, and with some luck, he could factor into the 49ers’ plans sooner than some expect.

Check out his best college highlights below to get more familiar with Beal’s game ahead of the 2023 season:

 

Joe Hortiz says Ravens will have advantage in draft given Todd Monken’s experience

Newly hired offensive coordinator Todd Monken could play a key role in helping the Ravens excel in the 2023 NFL draft

The Baltimore Ravens have several holes on their roster after their slow start to the 2023 offseason, and with the NFL draft fast approaching, it seems that the team will opt to add younger talent rather than take their chances on veteran free agents.

One advantage that Baltimore has is the familiarity that their new offensive coordinator Todd Monken will bring the Ravens after previously coaching at the University of Georgia. Given that several of the class’ best prospects played their college ball in Athens, Baltimore’s director of player personnel Joe Hortiz told reporters in a pre-draft press conference that he feels the team has a distinct advantage.

“Yes, we certainly do. We know the Georgia players with [offensive coordinator] Todd [Monken]. But we’re still going through that process, and we’ll have medical meetings, and then we’ll talk it over with the coaching staff. [Scouting information & research manager] Steve Clagett does a great job with all our background investigations and research. So, we kind of talk through it. We don’t eliminate anyone based on a quote-unquote grade; it’s a discussion and a conversation that we talk through with the coaching staff during the meetings.”

While he went out of his way to make it clear that other departments will have a significant impact on the team’s evaluations of prospects, Hortiz’s comments about Monken’s presence shouldn’t be taken lightly. The newly-minted offensive coordinator has been around the game for a long time, especially at the collegiate level, and should prove to be invaluable to Baltimore as the Ravens look to re-tool for a comeback 2023 season.

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Georgia star DL Jalen Carter charged with reckless driving, street racing in fatal crash

Arrest warrant issued for Georgia star and top NFL draft prospect Jalen Carter

Jalen Carter, star defensive lineman at the University of Georgia and expected to be a top pick in the 2023 NFL draft, is the subject of an arrest warrant in a January crash that took the life of a teammate and UGA staffer, per a report.

The original reports suggested it was a one-car crash that took the lives of Georgia football staffer Chandler LeCroy, who was driving the car that crashed, and offensive lineman Devin Willock. Another football staffer and another football player were injured.

According to police documents, Carter left the scene of the accident before emergency personnel and officers arrived before returning 90 minutes later. He then told police he was traveling alongside the other car, whose speedometer stuck on impact at 83 mph — double the speed limit. Athens police questioned Carter about the possibility he was racing the other car, but the player denied his involvement.

Per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

“Police had reason to suspect almost from the moment of the crash that other cars had been at the scene, and they soon learned at least two of those vehicles were driven by Georgia football players,” according to the AJC’s Alan Judd and Dylan Jackson’s report. “Seeking evidence of possible racing, officers have obtained surveillance video from city-owned cameras along the route the players took out of downtown Athens. They also obtained footage from at least one business owner.”

Update:

Carter was at the NFL combine in Indianapolis and was scheduled to meet the media on Wednesday.

That didn’t happen.

Ravens OC Todd Monken shares what he learned at Georgia to make him better coach

Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken talks about what he learned to be a better coach after being at the University of Georgia

Baltimore Ravens’ new offensive coordinator Todd Monken has worked in the NFL prior to having success at the University of Georgia in the same role, winning back-to-back National Championships. He had stints as the offensive coordinator both for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns, so he has familiarity calling plays for an offense at the NFL level.

When asked what he learned from the last three years at Georgia that can make him a better coach now, after having previous stints in the NFL, Monken went into great detail about how he believes the game has changed over his time as a coach. He talked about how it’s now about being explosive, creating space, and incorporating it all into an offense.

“I think the game has changed. The game has become more of a space game; using all 53-and-a-third yards and using the width and depth of the field, using space players and your skill players. I think that’s changed. Years ago, maybe it was inside-zone and run-duo downhill. Now, it’s utilizing athletic quarterbacks. The game has changed; it’s changing. At one time, it was taller pocket passers, and now you’re seeing more shorter, athletic players. The game has changed in terms of using their athleticism, using players’ athleticisms, what they bring to the table because the game is about space. It’s about being explosive. Well, how do you create explosives? Well, part of it is creating space. So, that’s probably the biggest thing is, ‘How do you find a way to incorporate that into your offense?’ I think also being no-huddle, some tempo [and] what that provides because [in the college game] we were all no-huddle. It’s a little bit different then because of the dynamics of a signal system, and then the [radio communication] green dot to the quarterback. So, you have to work through some of that. That will take some working through, but it’s a speed bump, not a hurdle.”

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Ravens HC John Harbaugh on Todd Monken’s hire as OC: ‘It started with a call’

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh had some help from a family member when looking for the team’s newest offensive coordinator

The Baltimore Ravens officially introduced new offensive coordinator Todd Monken on Tuesday in an introductory press conference. Monken won out during an interview process that spanned 14 candidates and 21 total interviews, as the team cast a wide net.

Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh elaborated on the process by which the team settled on Monken to be their next offensive coordinator during an opening statement at the press conference. Harbaugh made it clear that an inside connection helped put the hire in motion.

“It started with a call that I got from my sister, Joani Crean, and [former University of Georgia head basketball coach] Tom Crean. When Tom was at Georgia the last couple years, Joani and Tom got to know Todd and his wife, Terri, and they got to be friends and spent a lot of time together. Joani just tells me, ‘You’ve got to talk to Todd Monken. He’s amazing, his wife’s amazing. He’s a great coach; we’ve seen what he’s done here at Georgia.’ I got on the phone with Tom [and] Tom reiterated that – how much he respected Todd. That really got me thinking in that direction…So, we reached out and had a chance to talk to Todd, I think on the phone first and then the Zoom meeting, just talking ball really. [We were] talking background – we’re both kind of from the Midwest originally, so we know a lot of the same people, and I had known Todd from afar. I had watched him coach; we’ve coached against each other. Then just talking ball, and [it was clear] how really great, how extensive his knowledge is, how broad his knowledge is, how adaptable he is, how versatile he is in terms of what he’s able to do with his X’s and O’s and his scheme stuff.”

While Monken certainly must have blown Harbaugh and the Ravens’ front office away throughout in his interviews, this anecdote from Baltimore’s head coach should give fans some insight into the process that took place to make this move possible. Time will tell if this hire will prove to pay dividends in the way some experts are predicting with Monken at the helm of the Ravens’ offense in 2023, but if it does, Baltimore will have Harbaugh’s sister to thank for nudging the team in his direction.

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Ravens HC John Harbaugh details process that led to the hire of new OC Todd Monken

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh described the process that resulted in the hire of OC Todd Monken

The long, extensive search for the Baltimore Ravens’ new offensive coordinator officially came to an end on Valentines Day when the team announced the hire of former Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken. One week later, head coach John Harbaugh formally introduced Monken as the newest member of his staff.

Fans waited anxiously for the team to settle on the right candidate after the Ravens’ playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in January led to a mutual parting of ways with former offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Harbaugh explained in his opening statement at the introductory press conference why the process took so long, and ultimately how the team decided that Monken was the ideal fit.

“We made a decision to throw a big net out there, and when you do that – when you cast a big net – it’s a big undertaking. It comes with challenges; there are a lot of calls, there are a lot of conversations, there is a lot of information gathering. A lot of people in the building helped us with that…We got to know a lot of people; we got to know their stats, their families, their backgrounds, all those kinds of things. We had Zoom meetings with everybody on a first level, then we had in-person meetings with a pretty big group of guys that were here at the building, and I really enjoyed that. It gets emotional; this is a career opportunity for a lot of coaches, and you kind of go through that with them.”

Certainly this wasn’t Monken’s first time around the block in the hiring process of an NFL team, though his three-year stint at the University of Georgia between 2020 and 2023 represented the longest timespan he had been out of the NFL since 2015.

A consummate professional with the resume to back up his reputation, Monken could prove to be a slam-dunk hire for the Ravens at the most crucial position on the coaching staff that they needed to fill in the 2023 offseason.

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Ravens OC Todd Monken discusses reasons for leaving Georgia

Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken discussed his reasoning for leaving the University of Georgia

On Tuesday, the Baltimore Ravens introduced new offensive coordinator Todd Monken to the media. Monken left the University of Georgia to be in Baltimore after leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back National Championships.

The quarterbacks at both places are drastically different in Stetson Bennett and Lamar Jackson, but the Ravens should be excited to have the offensive creativity on board for the 2023 season. When asked what the factors in Monken’s decision to leave Georgia for the Ravens were, the offensive coordinator talked about the similarities in culture and reflected on his time with the Bulldogs.

“I think first is the challenge to do it against the best in the world. I think everybody aspires to have that challenge. If I was going to do it, it was going to be somewhere that was parallel to Georgia. Part of the reason I went to Georgia – one of the main reasons – was because of culture; head coach, winning, really good on defense, obviously trying to find a way to do it better on offense. So, I thought that was a parallel that I thought fit me. So, irrespective of who was or wasn’t going to be on the roster, I felt like it was something that I really wanted to do, and that I’ve always wanted to do. So, that doesn’t mean that I’m not grateful for [Georgia head coach] Kirby Smart and the coaches that I worked with there. I get way too much credit for our success; I came in there, and the culture was already set, the players were already recruited. The staff that we put together was tremendous in terms of our success, but this was what was next. You can’t be two places at once; that’s just the way it is sometimes in life. That was a great job, and it was hard [to leave]. You get close to the players, but you can’t be two places at once and this is what’s next.”

Monken spoke about the reasons why he went to the University of Georgia in the first place, which were the culture, the head coach, and being really good on defense.  The Ravens are in that same boat as the culture is fantastic, they’re a winning organization, and have a really good defense.  The offense is the only aspect of this team that needs work, and Monken could be the guy that takes it to the next level.

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