Chauncey Gardner-Johnson To Spend Time Covering The Slot

New Orleans Saints defensive backs coach Aaron Glenn said that safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson will spend a good amount of time covering the slot this year. Gardner-Johnson was taken in the fourth round by the Saints last year, and he compiled 49 tackles (38 solo), six tackles for loss, one interception, eight passes defensed and a […]

Dalvin Cook Would Be Fine With $13 Million Per Year

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, who is scheduled to make $1.33 million in 2020 in the final year of his rookie contract, is headed for a holdout in training camp unless he receives around $13 million per season on a new deal. Since 2017, the Vikings are 12-3 when Cook has at least 100 […]

Cam Akers Should Have Immediate Opportunity

Los Angeles Rams rookie running back Cam Akers, drafted 52nd overall in the second round with the team's first pick, forced 74 missed tackles on rushes last year at Florida State, which tied him for ninth-most in college football, per Pro Football Focus. He should have immediate opportunity in a Rams backfield that is now […]

J.K. Dobbins A Good Fit In Baltimore

Baltimore Ravens rookie running back J.K. Dobbins, the 55th overall pick in the second round, had the third-most yards after contact (2,652) in college since 2017 and the third-most last season alone (1,208), according to Pro Football Focus. He had 31 carries of 15-plus yards last season, which was the most in college football, and […]

Ke'Shawn Vaughn Could Be Surprise Of RB Class

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn, the 76th overall pick in the third round out of Vanderbilt, led the SEC over the last two years with an average of 4.4 yards per rush after contact among those with a minimum of 100 rushes, per Pro Football Focus. His receiving skills could definitely come […]

D'Andre Swift Has A Path To Rookie Success

Detroit Lions rookie running back D'Andre Swift, the 35th overall pick in the second round, had the second-most yards after contact (1,334) in the SEC since 2018, according to Pro Football Focus. He's had 77 missed tackles on rushes since 2018. Swift was aligned in the slot or out wide as a receiver on nine […]

Denard Span Officially Retired

Denard Span, who played 11 seasons in the big leagues (1,359 games, 5,956 plate appearances) for the Twins, Nationals, Giants, Rays and Mariners, confirmed that he's officially retired from baseball. The 36-year-old found a cold free-agent market last offseason. “I’m a man of principles, and when those principles aren’t met, I can’t go along with […]

Jonathan Taylor A Yards-After-Contact Beast

Indianapolis Colts rookie running back Jonathan Taylor, drafted No. 41 overall in the second round, is projected to be the second-most productive rookie running back in 2020. His 3,921 yards after contact are the most in college football -- by 941 yards -- since 2017, according to Pro Football Focus. Taylor's nastiness as a runner […]

Clyde Edwards-Helaire Projected To Be Best Rookie RB

NFL Network's Cynthia Frelund projects Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, the 32nd overall pick in the draft, to be the most productive rookie running back in 2020. He had an SEC-best 782 yards after contact last year, per Pro Football Focus. The former LSU star was able to break tackles in the running […]

Tyrann Mathieu Underrated As A Run-Defender

Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu played 98 percent of the defensive snaps (1,205 of 1,230) last year, including the playoffs, according to Next Gen Stats. Known for his work mostly as a pass-defender, Mathieu's run-stopping ability ranked seventh-best among safeties in 2019. The Honey Badger was even better against the run in previous seasons […]

Jamal Adams A Pass-Rushing Safety Threat

New York Jets strong safety Jamal Adams' positional versatility -- he can play all three safety spots, cornerback and pass-rusher -- makes him an extremely valuable safety for Gang Green. His 90 pass-rushing snaps were second-most at the safety position, and he recorded 23 pressures, which were the most among safeties per Pro Football Focus. […]

Minkah Fitzpatrick Provides Excellent Deep Help

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick allowed only a 27.3 passer rating in coverage after his Week 3 trade from the Dolphins in 2019, according to Pro Football Focus. His passer rating in coverage was lower than if a quarterback threw the ball away on purpose (39.6). Fitzpatrick was lined up at deep safety on 90 […]

Eric Kendricks Excels In Coverage

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks was Pro Football Focus' highest-ranked linebacker last season among those with a minimum of 300 snaps. The linebacker excelled mostly in coverage, with just an 83.9 passer rating allowed when in coverage, which is around 20 points lower than the league average for linebackers. Kendricks, a former second-round selection in […]

Demario Davis Has A Nose For Shutting Down Drives

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis was ranked by Pro Football Focus as 2019's second-best linebacker. He had 13 trips inside an opposing quarterback's five-foot halo (four sacks) and the fifth-fewest yards per rush allowed among linebackers when in a runner's path. Davis was also accredited with the most stopped overall drives and touchdowns among […]

Players Union To Reject MLB's Latest Proposal

The MLB Players Union, according to sources, plans to reject the league's latest offer of a 76-game schedule in which the players would receive 75 percent of their prorated salaries for the regular season if the playoffs are completed and 50 percent if the postseason is canceled. However, the likelihood that baseball is played in […]

T.J. Watt Has Established Himself As A Top Linebacker

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt was ranked by Pro Football Focus as their best edge defender in 2019 among those with a minimum of 300 snaps. He was able to sack opposing quarterbacks on 3.2 percent of his pass rushes, which ranked fifth among edge defenders with a minimum of 300 pass rushes, per Next […]

Za'Darius Smith's Versatility Makes Him Deadly

Green Bay Packers linebacker/edge rusher Za'Darius Smith had the most quarterback pressures (71) last season, according to Next Gen Stats. He was also able to pressure opposing signal-callers at the second-highest overall rate in the NFL (14.8 percent) among those with a minimum of 250 pass rushes. Smith has the ability to line up on […]

Calais Campbell Can Rush The Passer, Defend The Run

Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Calais Campbell rated as the third-best interior defender in 2019 among those with a minimum of 300 snaps, per Pro Football Focus. He also ranked third in yards per rush allowed in space (three feet on either side of a rusher's path) and entered the opposing quarterback's five-foot halo at the […]

Carlos Hyde Battling For Backup Role

Seattle Seahawks running back Carlos Hyde understands that he's most likely competing for the No. 2 spot behind Chris Carson this year, saying that "everybody knows" that Carson is the starter in Seattle. With Rashaad Penny (knee) looking more likely to start the year on the Physically Unable to Perform list, the reality is that […]

Jalen Reagor Expected To Take Back Seat To DeSean Jackson

Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver Jalen Reagor, who was taken in the first round, has plenty of upside at the NFL level. He should see an immediate role on offense in 2020, but the Eagles are unlikely to go all-in on Reagor from Day 1. Reagor is likely to take a back seat to DeSean […]

Eagles Likely To Be Conservative With Jalen Hurts

While many think that Philadelphia Eagles rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts could be used as a package player this year, NJ Advance Media's Mike Kaye is wary of that role, at least early in Hurts' rookie campaign. The Eagles see Hurts as a genuine QB, so they're likely to take a conservative approach with his development. […]

Dalvin Cook To Hold Out Without Reasonable Extension

Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook will not take part in team-related activities until he receives what he thinks is a "reasonable" deal, according to a source. "He's out," A source told ESPN. "Without a reasonable extension, he will not be showing up for camp or beyond." The Vikings gave quarterback Kirk Cousins […]

Jacoby Brissett Handling Backup Role Like A Pro

Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich said that quarterback Jacoby Brissett is taking his demotion to the backup role in stride this offseason. "He wants to do what's right for the team. And he knows. He and I have had multiple conversations about that. Jacoby doesn't need me to tell him what to do. He […]

Aaron Donald Is An Elite Pass-Rusher

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald leads the NFL with 267 quarterback pressures since 2016, with 69 of those coming last season, which was second in the NFL per Next Gen Stats. On top of that, Donald was double- or triple-teamed more than in any other year of his career in 2019 and still […]

Ryan Ramczyk Grades Out As Top Right Tackle

New Orleans Saints right tackle Ryan Ramczyk didn't allow a single sack in the regular season last year and was the highest-graded tackle overall among those with a minimum of 300 snaps, per Pro Football Focus. A first-round pick out of Wisconsin in 2017, Ramczyk was a first-team All-Pro in 2019 and has missed just […]

Brandon Brooks Stands Out On Strong Offensive Line

Philadelphia Eagles right guard Brandon Brooks allowed only one sack on 605 pass-blocking snaps in 2019, according to Pro Football Focus. An already strong Eagles offensive line, he graded out as their highest-graded guard last season among those with a minimum of 300 snaps. Brooks has been a Pro Bowler each of the last three […]

Jason Kelce Durable And Productive

Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce kept opposing defenders at least five feet from the quarterback on 24.1 percent of passing downs in 2018. In 2019, his mark was 23.9 percent, with both marks being the best at his position the last two years. Kelce, who was considering retirement this offseason, has set the standard in […]

Quenton Nelson The Best Left Guard In The League?

Indianapolis Colts left guard Quenton Nelson didn't allow a single sack on 562 pass-blocking snaps last year, according to Pro Football Focus. His production in the run game was also the second-highest in the NFL among all guards, as measured by the number of rushing yards earned when he was in the path of the […]

Jurrell Casey Not Happy With Titans

Denver Broncos defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, who was acquired from the Titans in the offseason, said on Monday that after nine seasons in Tennessee, the Titans threw him away "like a piece of trash." Casey was a five-time Pro Bowler with the Titans and was named a second-team All-Pro in 2013 after recording 10.5 sacks. […]

Training Camps Could Open In Mid-July

The NFL "has floated the idea" that training camps could start as early as mid-July in order to give players a chance to get back into football shape after an offseason of virtual work. The league and player's union is recommending an acclimation period before camp, but it's uncertain how long that might be. The […]