ESPN analyst has questions about former Oklahoma QBs heading into 2025
ESPN analyst has questions about former Oklahoma QBs heading into 2025
The Oklahoma Sooners could see up to six former quarterbacks who suited up in crimson and cream start games in the NFL in the 2025 season.
That's an almost unheard of statistic, one that illustrates how good OU has been at football's most valuable position over the last decade (and well, well before that). Although only three of the six finished their careers in Norman, there's no doubt who the title of "QBU" belongs to.
Heading into the 2025 season, every team in the league has some kind of question at the quarterback position. ESPN NFL analyst Dan Graziano attempted to identify the biggest question for each of the 32 QB situations ahead of the fall.
We'll just be focusing on the three players who were officially drafted from Oklahoma. That's because Browns QB Dillon Gabriel was drafted from Oregon, Bears QB Caleb Williams was drafted from USC, and Saints QB Spencer Rattler was drafted from South Carolina.
Up first is Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts. He's coming off of leading Philly to a Super Bowl LIX victory and a Super Bowl MVP award. He bounced back nicely after a down year in 2023 that followed a deep playoff run in 2022. Heading into Year 6, Hurts has yet another new play-caller on the offensive side of the ball.
How will the Eagles' annual coordinator change affect Jalen Hurts this time? The 2022 Eagles reached the Super Bowl with Shane Steichen as offensive coordinator, but then Steichen got hired to coach the Colts, and Hurts and the Philly offense regressed badly in 2023 under Brian Johnson. The Eagles brought in Kellen Moore last season, built one of the all-time great run games and won the Super Bowl as a result. But now Moore is coach of the Saints, and Kevin Patullo has been promoted to offensive coordinator. Underestimating Hurts is clearly a foolish endeavor at this point, but he and the team are surely hoping things go better than they did the last time they promoted from within to fill the coordinator spot. - Graziano, ESPN.
Hurts has earned his place as one of the league's premier players, and his team still has plenty of pieces in place to make a run at back-to-back titles.
Up next is Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray. He was fully healthy last year after tearing his ACL late in the 2022 season and missing the bulk of 2023. The Cardinals are still rebuilding their roster in the post-Kliff Kingsbury era, but one of their most talented offensive players needs more touches in 2025. Murray heads into Year 7 looking make the postseason for the first time since 2021.
Can the Kyler Murray-Marvin Harrison Jr. connection deliver on its first-round promise in Year 2? Harrison's rookie season was fine -- 62 catches, 885 yards and eight touchdowns. But as the fourth pick of the 2024 draft and given his college performance, he was supposed to take the NFL by storm right out of the gate. Instead, he was the No. 2 option in the Cardinals' passing game behind tight end Trey McBride. More is expected in Harrison's second season, and the same can be said of Murray in his seventh. Arizona made almost no changes on offense this offseason after finishing ninth in offensive EPA in 2024. The Cardinals beefed up on defense, hoping that will be enough to make them contenders. But Murray and the offense have to take a step forward if that's to happen, and a breakout for Harrison will help. - Graziano, ESPN.
Murray was at his best with a No. 1 target in DeAndre Hopkins earlier in his career. If Harrison can become that in Arizona this season, the team could make a big jump toward a playoff spot in the NFC West.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield is looking to make it three straight division crowns and playoff appearances in his new home. Mayfield is already entering his eighth NFL season, but he's coming off of his two best years in the pros. He'll also have a new OC in Josh Grizzard, after Liam Coen left to coach the Jaguars. But Graziano wonders is Mayfield is underpaid in Tampa.
Is Baker Mayfield underpaid? The three-year contract that Mayfield signed with the Bucs last offseason pays him $33.3 million per year. He has $30 million coming this season and $40 million in 2026, though none of the 2026 money is guaranteed. The deal is certainly nothing to sneeze at, but consider that the top of the QB market right now is $55 to $60 million per year. Consider also that no quarterback in the NFL has thrown more touchdown passes over the past two regular seasons than Mayfield (69). If Mayfield has another big season -- with a third different offensive coordinator in three years -- he could be in line for an even bigger contract extension next offseason. - Graziano, ESPN
Mayfield has found his NFL home with the Bucs, and he has plenty of firepower around him on offense heading into 2025. If he can elevate his team again this year, a new contract may be in order.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
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New York Times
25 minutes ago
- New York Times
Eagles mailbag: Will Nakobe Dean get Wally Pipp'd, potential veteran additions and more
The summer has arrived. It's time to hit the shore, kick back and turn on The Beach Boys for old times. I will be taking extended time myself in the weeks leading up to the Philadelphia Eagles opening training camp in late July. There will be plenty of time in the days ahead to mull over the uncertainties that complicate the Eagles' quest to repeat as Super Bowl champions for the first time in team history. It's a fine time to establish a baseline for those discussions. Advertisement First, a moment of gratitude. Your committed readership keeps this thing going. Mailbags like these are among the ways we can cross this third wall between each other, and I do enjoy the opportunity to engage with you directly. So, without further delay, let's get to some of your most pressing questions about the Eagles. Note: Submitted questions have been edited for clarity and length. With Jihaad Campbell potentially becoming a starting LB, how do the Birds get Nakobe Dean on the field when healthy or is his nickname Wally Pipp this year? — Fletch F. 'Potentially' is the key word there. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said last week that Campbell 'won't hit the practice field' until 'sometime in August.' Still, I outlined in my last story why Campbell's focus at inside linebacker might make him a quicker insert into the lineup than Cooper DeJean's Week 6 debut as a starter last year. We should also remember Jeremiah Trotter Jr. ran with the first-team defense in OTAs and Philly's one-day minicamp. Trotter will have a full summer to keep Campbell at bay. If neither Trotter or Campbell show they're better than Dean by the time he returns, this answer is simple: Dean resumes his role as a starter. If either Trotter or Campbell play in such a way that Fangio can't take them off the field… you've likely created Wally Dean. The Eagles will never be as glib, if this takes place. They'll project respect for their 2022 third-round pick, embrace him as a backup for the remainder of his final contract year and enter offseason negotiations in which a healthy Dean would likely have little interest in returning as the defense's third linebacker, rarely fielded in base packages. To follow your Wally Pipp comparison, Pipp finished 14th in MVP voting in his first year with the Cincinnati Reds. In this way-too-early thought experiment, perhaps the 2026 Bengals will need a linebacker. What does the Jordan Davis snap count look like going into this year? What's best case, worst case with this DL/DE? — Blake K. I can get pretty hyperbolic when doing best-case/worst-case scenarios. So, I'll avoid those. As for Jordan Davis, he remains the Eagles' starting nose tackle. He started in all 17 regular-season games last season, plus all four postseason games. But as you're referencing, it's quite a statistic given his status as a full-time starter that he played on 37 percent of the defense's snaps during the regular season, 21 percent during the playoffs. Fangio has no problem keeping players on the field. Jalen Carter's snap count percentage jumped from 51 percent in 2023 to 84 percent in 2024. Fangio will similarly keep Davis on the field as long as his endurance and efficiency allow. Davis openly discussed his conditioning for the third straight offseason during OTAs. He's once again saying all the right things. But this time, he's backed by Fangio's confirmation. Fangio said he thinks Davis is 'in the best shape that he's ever been in.' How much more would that mean Fangio uses Davis in 2025? While DC for the Miami Dolphins in 2023, Fangio fielded Raekwon Davis on 45.1 percent of their snaps. For the Bears in 2018, Fangio deployed Eddie Goldman on 52.57 percent of their snaps. Both marks would be significant upticks for Davis. He's a 6-6, 336-pound former first-round pick entering a contract year. Perhaps that added motivation will help him reach that bar. Advertisement Given that Eagles have $32 million of cap space, I'm interested in your thoughts on their best way to spend it. Extend younger guys? A big-name acquisition (or a few more affordable ones)? Or just roll the savings over to 2026? — Nick D. I'm assuming the $32 million you're stating is referenced from Over the Cap. They are an excellent resource. But like anyone who's not in-house with an NFL organization, they don't yet have a full view of the books. The cap hits for recently signed draft picks Jihaad Campbell and Andrew Mukuba will bring that estimate down. As a general rule, an NFL executive once told me teams set aside $10-12 million for an allotment of eight to 10 draft picks, plus an extra $6-8 million for practice squad, injured reserve and other roster needs. So, the Eagles don't have as much flexibility as that $32 million suggests. And, as you know, general manager Howie Roseman spent the last five months cost cutting within a maintenance-oriented offseason. He'd have to justify undoing a large portion of those savings by making any big-name acquisition over the summer. That's why it'd be somewhat surprising to see the Eagles spend lavishly to sign someone like two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander, whom the Green Bay Packers willingly released despite absorbing a $17 million dead money hit. If the Eagles can sign Alexander at a discount, such spending becomes more realistic. Alexander may be 28, but injuries have prevented him from starting in more than seven games in each of the last two seasons. And (as another reader pointed out in a separate question) the Eagles haven't yet identified a competent CB2. If affordable, Alexander is worth the gamble. But I'd be surprised to see the Eagles take on another long-term contract that'd add more guaranteed money to future years. That'd detract from the cash they're earmarking for long-term extensions with members of their young core. Which brings us to Jalen Carter and an important rule to note from the league's collective bargaining agreement. Teams can't enter negotiations with someone they drafted until after the final regular season game of their third contract year. So, no need for you to keep checking this summer for news on any extension for Carter, who, entering his third season, could prove he's worthy of being one of the highest-paid interior defensive linemen. Fourth-year safety Reed Blankenship, who's entering the final year of his contract, is a candidate for a summer extension. How different do you think the offense is likely to look under Patullo? I'm not looking for Patullo to reinvent the wheel, but hopefully he will add some new wrinkles given how the offense got stale after Super Bowl LVII. — Ben B. Nor do I think Patullo will reinvent the wheel. He said himself that he's 'building on what our players do best.' I'm not a big believer in projecting how many rush attempts Saquon Barkley will have in 2025, or if the Eagles will pass more this season than they did a year ago. Those are products of the weekly decisions Patullo will make about how they intend to move the ball. That being said, there's no reason for the Eagles to abandon successful concepts if opponents can't stop them. But that doesn't mean Patullo and Co. shouldn't proactively prepare wrinkles to keep opponents on their toes. Such wrinkles can range from completely new offensive packages to the atomic minutiae of one player's blocking scheme. That's why Nick Sirianni's hiring of Parks Frazier and Scot Loeffler offers promise. They're each drawing from years of experience and referencing years of film from their myriad stops across their careers. I spoke with Chan Gailey about the idea-generating routines Patullo experienced while working under him. That story might interest you. Advertisement Of the offensive linemen drafted this offseason, which one do you think is most likely to be a starter in three years? — Jim J. I understand your suggested timeline. The Eagles reached long-term extensions with their starters for every position but right guard: Cam Jurgens (through 2029), Landon Dickerson (2028), Jordan Mailata (2028), Lane Johnson (2027). And the front-runner for right guard, Tyler Steen, has a rookie contract that expires after the 2026 season. So, this exercise becomes a matter of health, age and development. Let's say it's 2028. What starting spots are available? Given Johnson's seniority, one could argue that he would be right tackle. But Johnson, 35, has often said this offseason that he's not retiring anytime soon. Of course, one could argue that 2028 isn't anytime soon. But Johnson said Tuesday that he feels 'like I'm getting close to my peak, as weird as it is to say.' He also spent eight seasons playing with Jason Peters, an ageless wonder who played until he was 41 — albeit his final three seasons with the Bears, Cowboys and Seahawks. It's also worth noting that the Eagles have three more draft cycles before the 2028 season. If they sense that Johnson's stellar career is at all nearing its end, it's possible they'd move to acquire a successor at a higher investment than the three Day 3 linemen they drafted this year. But let's stick to your premise. Let's say Johnson fends off Father Time for at least a one-year extension. Right guard has been a recent training ground and outpost for career recovery. If Steen doesn't change that, I could see Myles Hinton getting a shot. To be clear, none of the players the Eagles drafted played guard in college. (Fine, Hinton had one snap at right guard for Michigan in 2022.) But Hinton has the build (6-6, 323 pounds) that offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland prefers at guard. Hinton, Drew Kendall and Cameron Williams will all be cross-trained in some fashion. Hinton, the son of former All-Pro lineman Chris Hinton, has favorable genes. Who's your running training camp darling? — Brock S. If I'm a producer for Hard Knocks, I'm probably making Ty Robinson my lesser-known recurring character. First off, the dude's just interesting. He was pre-med at Nebraska, has a pet camel and has already demonstrated comedic chemistry with former Cornhuskers teammate Cam Jurgens. He also has a prime opportunity to play. The Eagles need to replace Milton Williams, who logged 501 snaps last season. And viewers love an underdog. Robinson fits that role as a fourth-round rookie. Related to the Eagles' playoff run last year, has there ever been another NFL team that has won three HOME playoff games, then went on to win the Super Bowl? — Scott S. Hey, Scott. Fun trivia. Answer: the 1982 Washington Redskins. Although their 8-1 record in a strike-reduced regular season was the NFC's best, they didn't get a first-round bye because the NFL expanded the playoffs from 10 to 16 teams as a solution to the loss of regular-season games. The league returned to 10 playoff teams in 1983, expanded to 12 in 1990, and, most recently, to 14 in 2020. It's more common to see wild-card teams win three away games en route to a Super Bowl title. (The 2020 Buccaneers, 2010 Packers and 2005 Steelers all did so.) That it took 42 years for the Eagles to become the second-ever Super Bowl champion to win three home playoff games justifies the NFL's wild-card expansion. On six occasions (the 1980 Ravens, 1997 Broncos and 2000 Ravens, 1997 Broncos and 1980 Raiders hosted wild-card games before hitting the road), the second-best team in one division proved to be the best team in the league (and therefore better than each division champion). To add some analysis to this trivia, if more three-home game playoff teams like the Eagles start winning Super Bowls, it'll be a sign that perhaps the league's playoff expansion has gone too far.
Indianapolis Star
43 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
Pacers can't get comfortable with 2-1 NBA Finals lead: 'We're still a long way away'
INDIANAPOLIS – A reporter started to ask Rick Carlisle a question about the Pacers being 3-0 in these playoffs in Game 4s when they've taken 2-1 leads in the first three games. The Pacers coach cut it off before he was completely done with the premise, but in a sense it served as the best answer he could give. "Yeah, listen, before you even ask the question, we're not getting into answering questions about the future or anything like that," Carlisle said. "I mean, you look at what Oklahoma (City) did the beginning of (Game 3), 16-7, boom, just like that. We have a lead at the end of the third quarter. Boom, all of a sudden, we're down five going into the fourth. There's no looking forward. We study some of the things that have happened leading up to this. Beyond that, I'm not talking about anything having to do with series standings or any of that kind of stuff. It would be foolish." Carlisle's response gives a pretty good sense of the Pacers' mindset going into Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in what will be the second Finals game in Indianapolis in 25 years after Wednesday's was the first. They are trying to maintain the edge they had going into Game 4 in each of the three series en route to their Eastern Conference championship by trying not to remind themselves they won those games. On one hand they're in the same situation they were going into each of those games in that they're up 2-1 with a chance to take a commanding 3-1 lead. On the other hand, in Game 4 in each of the previous three series, they were coming off a humbling Game 3 loss. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. In this series, wins and losses have alternated for the two teams so far with the Pacers having won Game 1 and Game 3 with the Thunder taking Game 2 in between. Also, the Thunder are the best team they've played so far by almost every measure having entered the playoffs with the No. 1 overall seed with a record of 68-14, which ranks as fifth-highest regular season win total all-time. When the Pacers lost to the Thunder in the regular season on March 29, Carlisle called the Thunder "the best team on the planet right now" and even though the Pacers still have a lead in this series, he's maintaining the same level of reverence for them. "That's the challenge before us right now, is to maintain," Carlisle said. "It's got to be a killer edge to beat these guys. We're going to be an underdog in every game in this series. It was 10 and a half in the first two games, five and a half last night, then tomorrow. It's a daunting challenge. Anything less than a total grit mindset, we just don't have a chance." The Pacers have never been this close to an NBA title before. In their only other Finals appearance they fell behind 2-0 and then 3-1 to the Lakers and though they won Game 5 to get within two wins of the title, they had to go back to Los Angeles for Games 6 and 7 because the format was 2-3-2 at the time rather than 2-2-1-1-1. So part of the challenge is keeping that reality where it serves them best. Acknowledging they can't guarantee for themselves they'll ever be in this position again, but also keeping in mind how much work there is to do and not getting ahead of themselves. "I think it starts from coach Carlisle, just keeping our attention on the main thing, taking it a day at a time, focusing on what's in front of us," All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton said. "I think that just trickles down. I think our jobs — me, Pascal (Siakam), Myles (Turner), James (Johnson Jr.), as leaders is to continue to share the same message that coach has. There's nothing to get excited about right now. We're still a long way away. ...There's no need to get super giddy or excited. There's still a lot of work to be done." And they know they're in for a punch from the Thunder, who have been every bit as good at adjusting after losses as the Pacers have. The Thunder have not only not lost consecutive games at any point in these playoffs, they lost consecutive games just twice in the regular season — once in November and once in April after they had clinched homecourt advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs. They tend to be good at making adjustments and correcting mistakes and they see a lot they believe they can fix. They committed 19 turnovers in their Game 3 loss, for instance, and that's not typical for them at all. "Part of their pressure is affecting some of the way we're making reads," OKC reserve wing Aaron Wiggins said. "But that's more so in our control. We have to play at our pace, play the way we want to play and play our brand of basketball which is sharing the basketball and finding guys and creating opportunities. ... (We saw) a lot of controllable things. Turnovers. Our defensive lapses when we weren't making the right rotations and coverages after that. Offensively, just execution wise, making it easy for each other to find open shots and get looks." The Pacers scored 50 points in the paint after scoring just 34 in each of the first two games. Indiana clearly made adjustments to create more driving opportunities, but the Thunder still saw things they could adjust to. "A lot of it was us and things we could control," Wiggins said. "I think we just allowed them to be too comfortable. Their comfortability allowed them to play at their pace and find their rhythm and play the way they want to play." And generally, teams of the Thunder's caliber become more dangerous in the playoffs when they figure out what they can fix, which is why Carlisle wants to make sure the Pacers keep their edge. "We need everybody," Carlisle said. "We need everybody to put everything they have into it. That's how we've gotten to the Finals."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
49ers BREAKING as Mykel Signs Guaranteed $24.9 Million Contract
Newly-drafted San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Mykel Williams didn't only want a contract. But on Thursday, he got one, anyway. Williams, known in college for having high motor and for the dual ability to both stuff the run and sack the quarterback - stuff that is evident just by watching his tape - also has the intangibles. Advertisement And some of those are the things that the Niners think will make Williams special. While being interviewed recently on the Danza Project, Williams was faced with a hypothetical question. He was asked what he wanted more. ... His choices were ... A $200 million contract, or ... A $60 million contract with a guaranteed Super Bowl ring. Williams gave an answer for the ages and goes to the character that general manager John Lynch looks for when drafting a player. Williams said he would rather live comfortably with the smaller deal and have the Super Bowl ring, which has eluded so many great players throughout their careers. Advertisement 'I ain't gonna lie to you, bro. That's legacy. A ring will decide whether you go to the Hall of Fame or not," Williams said. "Sometimes that's what it comes down to… Winning a Super Bowl is your legacy. "So yeah I'll go with the Super Bowl.' For now, he'll have to settle for the dough, though. The Niners have now signed the No. 11 overall pick Williams to his four-year, fully guaranteed $24.9 million contract along with a $14.8 mil signing bonus. Now, when it comes to money and to wins? "Both'' is probably the most honest answer. But for now? The kid wants to be great and he wants to bring a Super Bowl championship back to the Bay Area. And getting officially signed up is a first step to all of that. Related: Fans Trash Niners Schedule Release Video With NSFW Rants
