Michael Thomas was singing “I’m back” – by T.I. after he impressively scored a pair of touchdowns against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1. In Week 2, Cantguardmike also notched a receiving touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Unfortunately, the 29-year-old WR transcended back to his prior injury-prone self — as he’s missed the past three games and he’s bound to miss the next contest, too. With that said, a realistic question should cloud over the egoistical, physically gifted WR: should the (2-4) Saints move on from Thomas?

It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Saints shipped him away to garner future draft picks (then potentially use those picks to select a QB or WR) and ultimately be more successful in the future. With that enunciated, I’m going to outline the best potential trade destinations for Thomas.

• Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens really need to seize the moment with Lamar Jackson, who is having a modest all-around 2022 season & looking to capture a new historical contract. Jackson was looking like a serious MVP candidate after a few weeks of football, but he’s only thrown one passing touchdown in each of his last three match-ups. The Ravens are 3-3 (which is surprisingly adequate enough to place them first in the AFC North), but they still need more firepower to win a war against the Buffalo Bills or Kansas City Chiefs.

In 2022 (aka the year that Avatar 2 hits theaters), Jackson has thrown for 1,277 passing yards, 13 passing TDs, and six ints.

• New York Giants

The GMEN (who are 5-1, yes you read that correctly) are undoubtedly the biggest surprise team on the season & they’re undeniably making Frank Sinatra smile from above. However, I’m still iffy about their chances to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender in the end. They have a quality QB named Daniel Jones and a freakishly gifted RB by the name of Saquon Barkley. Yet, they’re missing a top-end WR1, to say the least. Richie James is proving to be a potential 1,000+ yard WR in his career, but he isn’t a game-wrecker. It should also be mentioned that Barkley is second in receiving yards and first in targets.

Danny Dimes has unveiled 1,021 passing yds, five passing TDs, and two ints in 2022. He has recorded three games with zero passing TDs.

• Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears may not want to completely throw in the towel on the Justin Fields project this early in his career. Similar to Lamar Jackson and Taysom Hill, Justin Fields can excel with his legs. Although, he’s obviously struggled mightily to be effective with his arm. There is a hefty reason why Fields has struggled to be a threat with his arm: the lack of talent at the Bears WR spot. The Bears have a modest WR in Darnell Mooney, but the Bears WR2 is none other than Dante Pettis (874 yards in five seasons). Perhaps the Bears should roll the dice and make an offer for the Saints illustrious WR.

Fields has only managed to toss 869 passing yds, four passing TDs, and five ints in 2022.

• Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are riding high after winning three of their past four contests. I love Matt Ryan, Jonathan Taylor, and the ascending Deon Jackson. Furthermore, they have potential at WR with Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce (210 yards and a TD in the past three games). Yet, it would make a ton of sense for them to add a wiser WR — who could also give their team a significant boost in their likely playoff fights. Matty Ice would also like a shiny toy to help his Hall of Fame chances at this chapter in his career.

Matt Ryan has unveiled 1,765 passing yards, 8 passing touchdowns, and 7 interceptions this season.

• Green Bay Packers

It may seem like hell will freeze over before the Green Bay Packers make a blockbuster trade for a wideout. All jokes aside, the Packers desperately need a WR at this moment more than ever. The two-time MVP reigning Aaron Rodgers can’t be a John Wick-like persona without talent at his disposal. It’s an injustice to the Packers mythical QB that Allen Lazard is his top choice and that the 32-year-old Randall Cobb is his second-most reliable option. Burning Man Rodgers and his crew were also booed at their own home after their brutal loss to the New York Jets. It’s time for the Packers to make a creative, bold move to acquire a star profile, preferably at WR.

Aaron Rodgers has yet to throw more than two touchdowns in a single game thus far, too.

• Houston Texans

The Houston Texans understand that Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they still can’t shy away from being trigger-happy with acquiring household names. The Texans possess an unexpected stud with Dameon Pierce (412 rushing yds, 4.8 YPC, and three rushing touchdowns) right now. The Texans already have former Saints WR Brandin Cooks (2,187 receiving yards and 12 TDs between 2020 and 2021 combined), but they could benefit from another imposing wideout. It would be a beautiful chair for potentially C.J. Stroud if he could utilize Cooks and Thomas in the same offense.

Davis Mills has registered 1,048 passing yds, five passing TDs, and four ints at this point.

• Tennessee Titans

The AFC South features the (3-2) Tennessee Titans and the (3-2) Indianapolis Colts. The two AFC South squads will duke it out for the division lead next Sunday at 1 PM, as well. Ryan Tannehill doesn’t have the most dynamite at their WR spot – besides Robert Woods. The Titans WR2 is none other than Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. The Titans 2022 first-round pick Treylon Burks is still improving his craft and hasn’t quite risen to become a Chris Olave-like presence. The Titans may want to capitalize off the remaining strength of Derrick Henry by bringing in another star to chase Super Bowl glory in the near future.

Tanny has accumulated 965 passing yards, six passing TDs, and three ints in his 2022 campaign.

• Dallas Cowboys

It’s impossible to count out Jerry Jones from making a lucrative acquisition. At this point, Michael Gallup has been a dud (8 catches, 86 yards, and a TD). The Boys could benefit from more magic across the young, electric Ceedee Lamb. Plus, Prescott would be quite pleased to have Thomas in his arsenal against the possible dynasty squad in Philadelphia.

The mighty Dak Prescott plans to return in Week 7 against the Detroit Lions.

• Denver Broncos

Russell Wilson hasn’t made Tony Gonzalez or Denver Broncos nation delighted in 2022. Furthermore, the Broncos sit with a 2-3 record — which places them third in the wretched AFC West. The Broncos showcase Courtland Sutton & Jerry Jeudy, but they lost Tim Patrick to a torn ACL in early August. Perhaps the Broncos may resort to bringing forth a fresh WR face to help Wilson than rather flip to Brett Rypien.

Wilson the ball has obtained 1,254 passing yards, four passing TDs, and three ints this season.

• Washington Commanders

If Ron Rivera wants to place the blame on his QB Carson Wentz, he should at least contemplate finding him more help on offense. The Commanders have scary Terry, but they could benefit from more WR talent. Jahan Dotson is still learning the speed of the NFL level & Curtis Samuel is more of a jack-of-all-trades than a 1,000+ yard WR. The last key reason that Washington may want to link up with the 2019 Offensive Player of The Year is that they sit behind the best team in the NFL (Philadelphia Eagles), the 5-1 New York Giants, and the 4-2 Dallas Cowboys (who will welcome Prescott back in Week 7).

Wentz has thrown 1,489 passing yds, 10 passing TDs, and six ints this 2022 season. Per CBS Sports, Wentz’s status for Week 7 is up in the air – due to his broken finger.

The post Potential trade destinations for Michael Thomas appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The former shut-down cornerback in the NFL and AFC North, Joe Haden, officially announced his retirement today. Haden will retire as a Brown (where he played seven seasons with them), as ESPN reported. The Browns first-round pick in 2010 obtained numerous Pro Bowl berths with CLE. He finished with 19 career interceptions as a Brown.

In 2015, Haden was picked as the 23rd best player in the league.

In 2017, Haden fled to a different AFC North squad: Pittsburgh Steelers. He didn’t prove to be washed up with the Steelers – as he cracked a PB nod with them in 2019. Furthermore, he accumulated 10 picks, 54 pass deflections, and 238 combined tackles. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to win an elusive Super Bowl ring with the Browns or Steelers.

The ultimate question is: should Haden be inducted into the Browns ring of honor?

The post Joe Haden retires: reflecting on Jae Haden’s career appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Los Angeles Rams declared they have signed center Matt Skura to their practice squad today. Skura is a 29-year-old that’s played for the New York Giants for four seasons and with the New York Giants for one season (2021).

PFF handed Skura a 50.8 grade for his 2021 performance — which is honestly shabby. He was a member of the Giants dreadful offensive line a season ago.

Cameron DaSilva of the Rams Wire pointed out that the Rams starting C Brian Allen will miss 1-3 weeks with a knee injury, so it was crucial to ink Skura. He will serve as the backup to Coleman Shelton until Allen recovers from his injury.

The Rams OL will face off against J.J. Watt in Week 3, Arik Armstead in Week 4, and Micah Parsons in Week 5. It will be paramount that the Rams can have splendid communication and strength without Allen.

The post Los Angeles Rams sign center Matt Skura to practice squad appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The New Orleans Saints had more confidence than Apollo Creed against Ivan Drago in their battle against the Brady bunch today. Well, the Saints started to rattle the GOAT by shutting him out in the first half. Out of a surprise, the Bucs started to break their former quarterback Jameis Winston by intercepting him a whopping three times in the fourth quarter. Ultimately, Brady’s frustration was rewarded with a victory against Who Dat Nation with a score of 20-10. With that said, I’m going to untwine five takeaways from the Saints-Buccaneers game.

• Jameis “loose cannon” Winston

The Saints mega-arm QB looked quite crisp with the pig skin for the first three quarters against the reigning NFC South Champions. In a tragic fashion, Winston forced a terrible throw into tight zone coverage in the 4th quarter – which resulted in an interception and arguably a death sentence for the Saints. I’m sure that Saints fans were tired of Drew Brees having pedestrian arm strength, but they may have missed his crunch-time decision-making after Winston had a dreadful mistake in a game of high stakes.

• lack of a pass rush

I’m really worried that the Saints pass rush will not be as scary as it was last season or the year prior. After the Saints registered a lousy zero sacks against Marcus Mariota, the Saints had a mere one sack on Brady in Week 2. Plus, the Saints were playing a bruised-up Bucs OL. Marcus Davenport and Cameron Jordan have both been healthy, yet the Saints edge rushers can’t manage to get home against opposing field generals.

• Marshon Lattimore and Mike Evans

Marshon Lattimore has been the true definition of hot and cold over these past two weeks. He locked down Kyle Pitts & Drake London in Week 1 — then proceeded to shut down Mike Evans until he was ejected in the fourth quarter. Yes, you read that correctly. Lattimore was stirring feathers with Tom Brady and Leonard Fournette, which prompted Evans (who may have used it as an excuse) to tee off on his ole pal in Lattimore. Each player was ejected for their miscues in the exchange. For Saints fans, it’s disappointing and annoying that Lattimore had this attitude after he had a personal foul in Week 1 that pushed the Falcons into field goal range.

• Breshad Perriman

It was blatantly a beautiful scene when Breshad Perriman hauled in a touchdown from Tom Brady to put his team up 10-3 in the fourth quarter. Chris Godwin was MIA for the contest, so it was pivotal that an under-the-radar wideout shined in the contest. Well, the former Ravens WR jumped onto the scene by beating P.J. Williams for a TD in the corner of the red zone.

• Shaq Attack

The former 19.5 sack man, Shaquil Barrett unleashed two sacks against the struggling Saints pass protection. Barrett proved his worth in a big showdown, while other Bucs stars decided to get tossed out of the exhibition.

The post 5 takeaways from the Saints-Buccaneers showdown appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By Charles Vakassian

With Week 1 of the NFL season now in the books, we have a slightly clearer picture of the situations in each team’s backfield. Some players exceeded their expectations. Others not so much. In this article, we will look at 3 running backs you should be trying to buy on the low, and 3 you should trade away now while their value is sky-high.

RBs to Buy Low

Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars

Etienne split the snaps with James Robinson in Week 1, but saw 7 fewer carries and dropped an easy TD pass on fourth down. Robinson scored two touchdowns and was efficient with his 11 carries. While the initial results may not seem too encouraging for Etienne, we have to remember that this was his first ever NFL game. Also, after spending so much time recovering from the brutal Lisfranc injury, it’s possible the Jaguars were simply being careful with one of their best offensive weapons. Etienne is the better receiving back between him and Robinson, and he has the college connection with Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars will be playing some tough teams coming up (Colts, Chargers, Eagles) which will likely see them playing from behind. This sets up Etienne nicely for a bounceback to his slow start.

Breece Hall, New York Jets

While the stat line was not all that impressive for Hall (61 total yards, 1 fumble), the same could be sad for most of the Jets offense. Hall at least had some positives workng his way which should encourage fantasy managers to try and make a trade for him. Hall led the Jets with 10 targets, which should assuage fears about Michael Carter taking all the passing game work. In additon, Hall had a team high 17% target share, showing New York wants to get its new weapon as much work as possible. Something else to consider: Hall is the better first and second down runner, and when Zach Wilson is under center, he is much less inclined to check down to the RB than Joe Flacco. R ookies also tend to get more involved as the season goes along.So come Week 5, there will be a shift in the RB room benefiting Hall. He will still maintain flex value in the interim, but can be a solid RB2 in the near future.

A.J Dillon, Green Bay Packers

Many people saw Aaron Jones as the clear-cut RB1 coming into this season, or at least the 1A to Dillon’s 1B. Week 1 told a different story. Dillon saw more touches (15 to 8) more targets in the passing game (6 to 5) and scored the Packers only touchdown of the game. Frankly, this is the time to buy Dillon while the backfield still partially resembles a timeshare. He is the clear goal line back in this normally high-powered offense, and Aaron Rodgers clearly isn’t afraid to target him in the passing game either. Aaron Jones will still get him, but the majority of the scoring opportunities rest in Dillon’s hands, and that is what matters for fantasy.

RBs to Sell High

Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns

Hunt had an excellent Week 1, compiling 70 total yards and both Browns touchdowns on the day. This is likely to be a highpoint for him, as he operates in conjunction with Nick Chubb, and both backs are unlikely to see enough volume to warrant top dog status. Having to rely on touchdowns for production with Jacoby Brissett at QB is not a recipe for success. Chubb will be the back to own in Cleveland, as he is the typical goal line back and sees the most carries. Hunt is too volatile to rely on for consistent production. Capitalize on his strong Week 1 and sell him now while the value is high.

Cordarelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons

This may be an unexpected name to hear, as Patterson was essentially the bell cow in Atlanta for Week 1. However, this was due to Damien Williams leaving the game with an injury. With Tyler Allgier a healthy scratch for the game, the Falcons never had an alternative for if a back went down. Thus, Patterson was forced to take on a heavy workload. Williams is expected to be back for Week 2, and Allgier will likely be activated as well for insurance purposes. On a team with no playoff aspirations, it would behoove Atlanta to see the younger players get more of a chance and see if anyone is worth keeping long term. When both backs were on the field Week 1, Williams saw more time in the backfield than Patterson. Williams will likely split carries with Patterson, cratering his value. Now is the time to move on from Patterson before it is too late.

Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers

This one may get some hate, but there are a lot of question marks surrounding Najee. He was dealing with a Lisfranc injury before the season, which is known to hamper running backs when they try and play through it. Then, during the Steeler’s Week 1 tilt with the Bengals, Harris suffered a foot injury which caused him to leave the game. The talent Harris posses is undeniable. But he is quickly on his way towards having the injury bug tag being slapped on him. Having to play behind a subpar offensive line does him no favors either. Seeing if you can get a high caliber player in return for Najee would not be the worst strategy in the world at this point.

The post Fantasy: 3 RBs to trade for, 3 RBs to trade away appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Matt Nagashima

As we gear up for the draft season, this crop of cornerbacks is making a splash. The onslaught of the modern NFL passing game has teams scrambling to revamp their secondaries, and that all starts at the corner. The 2020 and 2021 drafts both saw corners get selected twice in the top 10, and we could possibly see a similar valuation this year.

NFL scout Lance Zierlein has this class ranked 4th out of 11 position groups in the draft. Not bad, and there’s a lot to like at the top. Let’s take a look at the top 5 prospects here, and how they project at the next level.

5. Andrew Booth – Clemson

We don’t have a full profile on Booth because a quad injury held him out of the combine, but the Clemson product fields a lot to offer. At 6 foot 194 pounds, he has the length and size to hang, He played against top tier talent in the SEC, and what’s more he improved year to year in terms of production. After scarce playing time his freshman year, he posted a solid sophomore campaign playing 10 games, making 4 passes defensed and 2 picks, and built on that last year with 5 passes defensed and 3 picks. He’s also got tape making some beautiful one handed and athletic interceptions, so his potential as a ball-hawk is there.

Comparison: Bradley Roby

4. Kaiir Elam – Florida

Elam has elite traits mounted on his 6’1″ frame. He posted a 4.39 40, and with length and speed like that has the chops to make it as a boundary corner in the NFL. He’ll need to work on his consistency and abilities vs the run at the next level, but with tools like this, a team is sure to bite and mold him into the player they want to see out there. His peak performance in college was his 2020 season where he posted 39 tackles, 11 PD and 2 picks, so it’s easy to see what he’s capable of out there.

Comparison: Caleb Farley

3. Trent McDuffie – Washington

McDuffie has rock solid measurables at 5’11” 193 pounds and a 4.44, but what sets him apart is his aggressiveness in press and downhill mentality that makes him an asset vs the run. He’s been at both outside and slot positions in college, and with the growing demand for slot corners in the modern NFL, he seems like a great candidate to coach up. His quickness, stickiness and nose for the play all make him perfect for the slot, and he could be one of the greats moving forward.

Comparison: Chris Harris

2. Derek Stingley – LSU

I’d rank Stingley higher but we haven’t seen his ceiling as much as one would hope, as he’s been stunted by injury in the past two years. However, in his freshman campaign, the talent was beaming off the tape. He finished with 6 interceptions and 15 passes defended, showcasing incredible speed and burst to match with his 6 foot, 205-pound frame. If he can utilize his high-end athleticism and strength at the next level and stay healthy, he could go down as the best corner of the group.

Comparison: Patrick Peterson

1. Sauce Gardner – Cincinnati

He’s 6’3″, he’s got 4.4 speed, he’s a 3 year starter who posted 3 picks every year in college, and Rich Eisen is ready to riot and force the Jets to pick him at #4. It’s fair to say he’s popular in this draft cycle. After a good showing with the Bearcats and with tools to drool over, how is Sauce likely to stack up in the pros?

Gardner excels in man coverage, particularly in press. He’s physical at the point of attack vs receivers, and highly athletic. He could be the type of guy to lock down half of the field if he gains his DC’s trust, and I really like the idea of putting a big, sticky, fast corner opposite TE’s when applicable.

Comparison: Marcus Peters

The post Pro Comparisons for Top CB Prospects in the 2022 Draft appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Charlie Vakassian

Free Agency has been exciting and chaotic, to say the least. With the thrill of free agency nearly finished, it comes a brand new edition of our 2022 NFL Mock Draft!

Jacksonville Jaguars-Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan

While a case could be made for the Jaguars to take an offensive lineman here, they already franchise tagged Cam Robinson, and signed Brandon Scherff in free agency. The draft is deep on offensive line talent, but the same cannot be said for pass rushers. Hutchinson is by far the best edge rusher this class has to offer, and Jacksonville jumps at the opportunity to reshape their defense. 

Detroit Lions-Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

This may be more of a surprise pick, but rumors have been linking the Lions to Willis for the last couple weeks. Jared Goff is on the last year of his contract, and the Lions clearly need a better long term solution under center. Willis boosted his stock with a strong Senior Bowl and an excellent NFL Combine. He even has the best betting odds to be selected by the Lions at pick 2 (+380). His blend of speed, athleticism, and throw power will help bring Detroit back to relevancy.

Houston Texans-Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon

Thibodeaux’s stock has dropped, to the point where there are rumors he could drop out of the top 10 completely. I don’t buy that, and the Houston Texans won’t either. They need game changing players at premium positions, and Thibodeaux is just that. No need to overthink it. 

New York Jets-Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

The Jets are in a position where they can go best player available, and here they get the behemoth of a man known as Evan Neal. With Mekhi Becton a question mark due to injuries and character concerns, Neal can protect Zach Wilson’s blind side, or shift to right tackle should Becton be fine, forming a menacing duo. 

New York Giants-Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State

This is a no brainer. 

While the Giants improved the interior of their offensive line by signing Mark Glowinski and Jon Feliciano, right tackle is still a major position of need. Ekwonu is a mauler of a tackle, who will run over his opponents in the run game, and is coming into his own as a pass blocker. He can even shift to guard as necessary, and be a quality player there. 

Carolina Panthers-Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt

The Sam Darnold experiment can officially be called a failure. With Carolina striking out in the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, they will likely turn to the draft to find a long term solution. Kenny Pickett is a well rounded QB with big game talent who can help bring Carolina to the promised land. 

New York Giants (Via CHI)-Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

Following the release of veteran safety Logan Ryan, the Giants were thin at the safety position behind standout FS Xavier McKinney. Hamilton will change that immediately. As arguably the best pure player talent-wise in this draft, Hamilton is a game wrecker at all levels of the field. He can stuff the run, blitz the QB, play deep as a roaming safety, and even fill in at nickel corner. Wink Martindale is drooling over what Hamilton could do for his defense.

Atlanta Falcons- Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

After failing to win the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, the Falcons must now try to appease Matt Ryan and keep him happy. One way to do that is by giving him more weapons. Calvin Ridley is suspended for a year, and Russell Gage left in free agency. Kyle Pitts is going to need help, and this is where Garrett Wilson steps in. Wilson is a dynamic receiver who has big play ability every time he touches the ball. His YAC ability will pair well with the red zone chops of Pitts. 

Seattle Seahawks (Via DEN)-Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

I fully expect the Seattle Seahawks to acquire a veteran QB (Baker Mayfield, Jimmy Garopollo) before the draft. Whichever QB comes to Seattle will need to be protected. Cross is the best pure pass protector this class has to offer, and will help keep whoever is under center alive and well. 

New York Jets (Via SEA)-Ahmad  “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

After getting help in the trenches with Evan Neal, the Jets turn towards their defense. While getting D.J Reed was a boost for the secondary, the Jets are missing a true lockdown corner. Sauce Gardner is the best man coverage corner by far in this draft, and will cover top receivers every week.

Washington Commanders-Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

Washington now has their QB in Carson Wentz, but now they need to give him weapons to help Terry McLaurin. Burks has an insane catch radius thanks to his large hands, has the speed to burn defenses over the top, and the route running to wreak havoc over the middle of the field. 

Minnesota Vikings- Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

The Vikings are in desperate need of secondary help, so they reach a little bit to get McDuffie, the next best CB on the board. He plays best in a zone scheme, but can get the job done in man coverage as well. 

Houston Texans (Via CLE)-Travon Walker, EDGE/DL, Georgia

Walker has seen his stock soar after a stellar combine, where he could hear his name called within the top 10. However, the middle of the first round seems like an accurate spot for Walker to be drafted. He can be a chess piece for the Texans defense, having the ability to line up inside and rush from the edge, and excel at both. 

Baltimore Ravens-Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia

Another Georgia defensive player off the board. Davis was a monster of a defensive tackle in his time with the Bulldogs, and is exactly what the Ravens need. With Calais Campbell still a free agent, Baltimore looks for a fresh set of legs on the interior. 

Philadelphia Eagles (Via MIA)-Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU

Stingley could have a case to be the CB1 based off of his freshman year game tape alone. His game changing ability to have crucial interceptions and pass break ups was uncanny, and opposing QBs were scared to throw the ball his way. Injuries have taken their toll over the last two years though, and drops Stingley’s stock enough to where the Eagles may end up getting a steal. 

Philadelphia Eagles (Via IND)-Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa

Without question the best interior lineman this draft class has to offer, Linderbaum will reset the Eagles offensive line and help keep Jalen Hurts upright

Los Angeles Chargers-Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

Bryan Bulaga is now a free agent. The Chargers number one goal must be to keep Justin Herbert on his feet in a scary AFC West. Penning will slot in at RT and hold off the dominant edge rushers of the division. 

New Orleans Saints-Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss

The Saints were another team with a shot at Deshaun Watson and were unable to seal the deal. They will likely find a stopgap QB prior to the draft, but a long term solution is needed. Matt Corral is an underrated option who has the arm strength and football IQ to be a starter in the NFL for a long time. 

Philadelphia Eagles-George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue

While bringing in Haason Reddick was a good start, the Eagles still need to revamp their pass rush. Enter Karlaftis, a beast of a man with some of the strongest bull rush moves I have seen in a long time. He will pair nicely with Reddick and Josh Sweat, and cause mayhem for the NFC East QBs. 

Pittsburgh Steelers-Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan

The Steelers will need to find a way to keep Mitchell Trubisky protected, as they failed to do so for Ben Roethlisberger at the end of his career. At 6’7 and 305lbs, Raimann can slot in and protect the blindside of Trubisky and future QBs in Pittsburgh

New England Patriots-Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

The Patriots have yet to return key free agent Donta Hightower, and have signaled that they want to get younger at LB. Getting Mack Wilson via trade was a start, but getting Devin Lloyd would immediately make New England’s LB corps one of the best in the AFC. Lloyd can rush the passer from the EDGE position, cover opposing RBs and TEs with ease, and play in the box and stuff the run. 

Las Vegas Raiders-Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M

The Raiders have been doing their best to keep up with their AFC West rivals, signified by the blockbuster trade for Davante Adams. Derek Carr will need to be given time to find Adams, and this is where Kenyon Green comes in. He is the best guard prospect in the draft, and can pair with Alex Leatherwood on the interior to open holes for Josh Jacobs.

Arizona Cardinals-Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State

Following the departure of Chandler Jones in free agency, a hole has opened up at the edge rusher spot, and Jermaine Johnson can step in and fill that void. A powerful figure, Johnson has top notch speed and power moves which will make him a nightmare for offensive linemen in the NFC West.

Dallas Cowboys-Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College

With La’El Collins being released and Zack Martin suffering from injuries, it’s clear that the Cowboys need some new blood on their offensive line. Zion Johnson is a road grader of a guard, who has the ability to shift outside and play tackle, or even line up as a center. He will open holes for Tony Pollard and Zeke Elliot, and give Dak Prescott time to make good throws.

Buffalo Bills-Andrew Booth Jr, CB, Clemson

The Bills need somebody to pair with stud CB Tre’Davious White on the outside, and Booth fits the bill. He is a strong press corner who will lock down his side of the field, giving the strong Bills defensive line time to pressure the QB. 

Tennessee Titans-Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

The Titans could use a complementary WR to pair with AJ Brown and new acquisition Robert Woods. Olave had an outstanding combine, and he can run the entire route tree, and his blazing speed lets him get wide open. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State

Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones both hit the open market, and Tampa Bay has not made any attempt to bring either RB back. Breece Hall is the best all around back in this class, and his pass catching chops will be appealing to Tom Brady.

Green Bay Packers-Drake London, WR, USC

With Davante Adams leaving for Las Vegas, the Packers need to give Aaron Rodgers as many weapons as possible. London is a good start, as he can stretch the field and keep defenses honest.

Miami Dolphins (Via SF)-Sean Ryhan, OG, UCLA

Miami had one of the worst offensive lines in football last year, and need to give Tua Tagovaoila time to throw. Ryhan is an elite interior blocker who will give quality pass protection.

Kansas City Chiefs- Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida

Charcavius Ward left for San Francisco this offseason, and the Chiefs fill the hole with Elam, a good all around corner who can shadow opposing number ones.

Cincinnati Bengals- Daxton Hill, S, Michigan

After heavily addressing the offensive line in free agency, the Bengals get a playmaker to pair with Jessie Bates in the secondary. Hill can play down in the box or drop back in coverage at will.

Detroit Lions (Via LAR)-Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

After grabbing their franchise QB in Malik Willis, Detroit moves to get him weapons. Williams will make an excellent pairing with standout second year player Amon-Ra St.Brown

The post 2022 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Denver Broncos and any NFL spectator know the magic of Aaron Rodgers. The Packers free-spirited QB has won NFL MVP in back-to-back seasons (20, 21). A-Rod is clearly one of the most productive QBs of all time. Rodgers is even arguably the most talented signal-caller of all time.

In 2022, the 38-year-old QB that recently split with Shailene Woodley has another mysterious outlook this offseason. There’s no guarantee the Packers long-time QB will stay in Green Bay, but there is more promise that he will stay in Wisconsin in 2022 than in 2021. There have been reports and drama surrounding the idea of Rodgers landing in Mile High City (Denver). I don’t believe the Broncos trade reports are mumbo jumbo, but I do anticipate that he won’t be shipped off to Denver. Here is why Rodgers won’t follow the great Peyton Manning by moving to Colorado.

• Rodgers and Tae Adams are a combo package

It’s been reported by Packers Wire that the Packers are highly likely to franchise tag Davante Adams. I expect “Batman and Robin” to return to Lambeau for another season together. Adams is the biggest supporter of Rodgers, especially with Woodley gone. Wherever Tae goes, Rodgers will surely follow.

I don’t believe that the Broncos will acquire “Rodgers and Adams” because I don’t see any chance that Matt LaFleur will ship away Rodgers and Adams. He knows that he should clean out his locker if he makes a trade of that magnitude. If LaFleur made such a decision, he would make the villain Hans Landa from Inglorious Bastards look a genius.

• The return of Tom Clements

The Packers are striving to make Rodgers warm and fuzzy in GB. They’ve brought back Tom Clements, who was the Packers QB coach from 2006-2016. Clements is a flat-out legend and he’s worked with Bills and the Cardinals.

The Packers legend can bring music to Rodger’s ears and he will be happy to get to work with Rodgers this offseason. The combination of Adams and Clements should make Rodgers feel motivated to be a better player in Green Bay.

• Rodgers started the offseason with Green Bay on a good note

A-Rod has already sat down with Matt LaFleur after the playoff loss to highlight a positive plan to improve the team. Rodgers clearly has some chemistry with LaFleur early in the offseason. It would make sense if their conversation revolved around Adams staying in Green Bay, too.

All in all, the Packers have taken steps to sharpen their squad and they look to continue making a smart decision. The Packers also drafted a young QB (Jordan Love), so there’s a higher chance they bring in a young, stud WR for Rodgers in the 2022 NFL draft. Rodgers is on his last legs and the Packers are more desperate than ever to win a Super Bowl after failing to reach the big stage as the NFC one seed in the past two seasons. I expect Rodgers, Adams, and Matt LaFleur to come out guns blazing in 2022.

• Rodgers owns the NFC North

A-Rod made it well known to the Chicago Bears nation in 2021 that he “owns them”. Rodgers doesn’t just own the Bears, but he has dominance over the 3-13 Detroit Lions and the 8-9 Minnesota Vikings. A monster reason for Rodgers’s ability to lead the Packers to the one seed is the easy competition he is awarded in the NFC North. Since 2011, Rodgers has led the Pack to eight division titles.

If Rodgers went to the AFC West, he would play Patrick Mahomes, the playoff squad in Las Vegas, and Justin Herbert (who threw 5,000+ yards in 2021) twice a year. Rodgers would likely have to scrap his way through the AFC playoffs, but he could have another good opportunity to play playoff NFC foes in Lambeau if he resides in the NFC.

The post Why Aaron Rodgers will not be a Denver Bronco appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Menachem Ickovitz

As the old adage goes, “Defense wins Championships.” With that being said, many teams will be looking for new head coaches this off-season and there are some very worthy candidates who are currently defensive coordinators.

Listed below are three defensive coordinators you should know about if your team is looking for a new head coach. Additionally, there will be a bonus defensive coach mentioned below, however, he is not the defensive coordinator for his team, therefore he goes in the “bonus” section.

Jonathan Gannon, Philadelphia Eagles

Jonathan Gannon might be young, but he has plenty of NFL coaching experience. Gannon is highly respected having coached under numerous head coaches and was one of the many options teams were looking at last off-season. Additionally, he has also served as a scout for the St. Louis Rams from 2009 ”“ 2011, so he has an understanding of all aspects of team building.

An interesting possibility consists of a team looking for a new general manager and head coach. Gannon would be a great fit with Ed Dodds, who is currently the assistant GM with the Indianapolis Colts. Gannon was with the Colts from 2018 ”“ 2020.

Leslie Frazier, Buffalo Bills

Leslie Frazier has the advantage of having been a head coach before so he understands everything that is involved. He took over for Brad Childress during the 2010 season with the Minnesota Vikings. While his 21 ”“ 32 ”“ 1 head coaching record is not good, he did lead the Vikings to the playoffs in 2012.

Frazier is currently the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills. The Bills’ defense is ranked first in points differential and yards differential. Additionally, they rank third in interceptions.

Frazier is the type of coach who will instill discipline and if given the opportunity to coach a team with a good quarterback, something he did not have in Minnesota, he can lead a team to the playoffs.

An interesting team to keep an eye out for is the Chicago Bears. Frazier played for the Bears from 1981 ”“ 1985. Additionally, teams often look for the opposite of what they just had as a head coach. The Bears currently have Matt Nagy, an offensive coach so they might look to replace him with a defensive coach and Frazier would be a good fit.

DeMeco Ryans, San Francisco 49ers

DeMeco Ryans is a rising star in the coaching ranks.He’s been with the San Francisco 49ers since 2017 and was named defensive coordinator in 2021 after former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was named head coach of the New York Jets.

As a player, Ryans played for the Houston Texans and the Philadelphia Eagles. In his 10 year career he compiled 939 tackles, 13.5 sacks and 41 passes defended. He was considered a smart player and good teammate, two qualities that have helped him in his young coaching career.

If he doesn’t get a job this off-season, be prepared to hear his name a lot next off-season.

Bonus Coach: Jerod Mayo, Inside Linebackers Coach, New England Patriots

The defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots is head coach Bill Belichick, however, Jerod Mayo is an intriguing head coaching candidate. Mayo has been the inside linebackers coach with New England since 2019.

Prior to coaching in New England he played for the Patriots from 2008 ”“ 2015. He had an excellent reputation for film study and working hard to be a better player. He may not get the chance to be a head coach this upcoming cycle, but he should be in consideration.

The post Three Defensive Coordinators that could be head coaches in 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Chris Thomas

Even though the 2022 NFL Draft is months away it is never too early to speculate about who could go first overall. Two weeks into the college football season it appears that a non-quarterback may go first overall since Myles Garrett was drafted in 2017. Oregon pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux is the consensus #1 non-quarterback prospect. He is also thought of by many as the potential number one prospect of this entire draft. Here is why Thibodeaux could be the first overall pick in the draft in late April. 

Lack of premier quarterback talent

An NFL Draft class is defined by its quarterbacks. Over the last couple of seasons, it feels like there has been a premier quarterback prospect that has been on top of the class and went first overall. After the first two weeks of the college football season, none of the speculated upon top quarterback prospects have been over impressive. Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler had a brutal debut where he threw only one touchdown and two interceptions against Tulane. Oklahoma barely won that game. North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell had an even worse season debut against Virginia Tech. Howell threw for only 208 yards and one touchdown. He finished the game with three interceptions as well. Both quarterbacks bounced back in their second games of the season, but at this rate, none have looked like a first overall pick quarterback. The standard a quarterback must reach to be taken first overall for it to be worth it is Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow, and Trevor Lawerence.

Recently there have been a couple of quarterbacks that have gone first overall that was not worth the selection. Some of these quarterbacks aren’t considered busts but during their respective predraft processes other non-quarterbacks were considered better prospects and turned out to be much better than the quarterbacks taken first overall. Those quarterbacks are Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff. Both are solid starters but both the Browns and Rams had better options available. Cleveland could have drafted Saquon Barkley, Quenton Nelson, or Bradley Chubb with the first pick in 2018. All three of which are considered more talented than Mayfield, when healthy. Then the Rams showed they regretted trading up for Goff in 2016 when they packaged him with two first-round picks to Detriot for Matthew Stafford. Los Angeles could have drafted Joey Bosa, Jalen Ramsey, Ronnie Stanley, DeForest Buckner, or Laremy Tunsil with the first overall pick. 

This draft class is shaping up to be similar to the latter where there may be multiple non-quarterback prospects who could end up being better than the quarterbacks in this class. Whoever lands the first overall pick may want to learn from the previous mistakes of those teams and take the best player available which is Thibodeaux.

Production

Kayvon Thibodeaux is the number one edge rusher in a loaded edge rusher class. He isn’t just the number one edge rusher prospect in the draft class like Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, or Dante Fowler Jr. Right now he is spoken about above the likes of Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, and Chase Young who were elite pass rusher prospects in their respective drafts. Thibodeaux has been placed in the same tier as Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett who were no doubt first overall picks in their respective draft class. He has been placed in that tier of player for good reason. 

During his first season at Oregon, Thibodeaux had 9 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. PFF gave him a 79.9 grade that season which was the best in the Pac-12 and ten points higher than any other freshman edge rusher in the Power Five. In seven games last season Thibodeaux had 3 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. Already this season Thibodeaux has a sack and forced fumble in one game played. He earned an 87.2 PFF grade for his sophomore season.

This is a player who has dominated college football over the last three seasons. Scouts have anticipated this season because Thibodeaux is now eligible for the draft. From what he has shown on the field, he is the type of player that scouts love the opportunity to analyze and potentially add to their roster. 

Multiple #1 pick contenders have a young quarterback

In a decent amount of cases when a team drafts a quarterback that team usually doesn’t improve dramatically from where they finished the season before. These are teams who selected quarterbacks early in recent drafts could be picking near the top of the draft and be in the range of this year’s top quarterbacks. These teams include the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, and Cincinnati Bengals. They are a few teams who could be in range to select a quarterback in this upcoming draft but should be content enough with their quarterback play to not consider selecting another one early this year, especially in a potentially weak quarterback class. 

Other teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers, Detriot Lions, and Las Vegas Raiders have a great enough quarterback in house to pass on a quarterback. Also, the Houston Texans have shown in recent history that they are willing to take a pass rusher first overall went they have to choose between an elite one and a quarterback from a weak class (Mario Williams 2006 & Jadeveon Clowney 2014). Since they took Davis Mills in the third round it is likely they want to give him a shot to be the team’s potential QB1 before taking one in the first round. 

All of the teams listed could potentially land the first overall pick. If they land it they would likely have to choose between trading down to a quarterback-needy team or taking the draft’s best prospect Kayvon Thibodeaux.

The post Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux can really be the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft appeared first on Pro Football Mania.