
Jacksonville Jaguars' 2025 NFL draft class ranks top 10 in intriguing PFF metric
The Jacksonville Jaguars' 2025 NFL draft class ranks in the top 10 in this intriguing metric from Pro Football Focus.
In an effort to help quantify and compare draft classes without any subjectivity, PFF utilized its Wins Above Average (WAA) metric, which is similar to Wins Above Replacement (WAR) in baseball.
"Wins Above Average (WAA) is designed to help cut through that subjectivity," wrote PFF. "It estimates how many wins a player is worth above an average college football player, offering a standardized, data-driven method of assessing performance."
Of the 32 NFL teams, the Jaguars' draft class ranked ninth in this metric, with 1.784 WAA added. At the top of the list were the Cleveland Browns with a WAA of 3.203, followed by the New York Giants, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and San Francisco, rounding out the top five.
As you'd expect, Travis Hunter, with a WAA of 0.86, provided the biggest jolt for the Jaguars. Wyatt Milum, Jack Kiser, Jalen McLeod, and Rayuan Lane all provided modest boosts to Jacksonville's overall score, while Bhayshul Tuten, Jonah Monheim, and LeQuint Allen hovered around the average mark to varying degrees.
Hunter, of course, was a two-way star, but Milum, Kiser, McLeod, and Lane all graded out well by PFF's metrics in specific areas that helped increase their WAA. Milum was all-around dominant last season at left tackle. Kiser graded out well as a tackler and run defender, Lane was very good in coverage, according to PFF, and McLeod was a top-graded pass rusher.
As PFF also noted, WAA is not a projection of what each team's draft class will do, but instead measures what they've already done.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
13 minutes ago
- USA Today
Hugh Freeze praises Auburn RB Jeremiah Cobb: 'He's got a good football IQ'
Auburn football will be without 1,000-yard rusher Jarquez Hunter following his departure to the NFL. However, the Tigers will be far from shorthanded as a diverse group of running backs is set to emerge. This year's back group could be the deepest it has been in a few years, due to the many ways each player can attack opposing defenses. One of those players is junior Jeremiah Cobb, who received quite a bit of praise from his head coach this week. During his weekly press conference, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze spoke on the versatility that Cobb brings to the offense and how it could lead to a monster season. 'I think he's going to have a breakout year," Freeze said of Cobb this week. "We went through three or four days last week when all our slot guys were down so we threw him back out there like we did last year some. He's got a good football IQ and has that capacity for us to use him in a lot of different ways, whether that's in the pass game. Now he's struggling a little in the pass game because he still has that brace on his thumb, and catching is not real natural, but I think he gets out of that first of next week. He's very versatile, we can use him in a lot of ways. I expect him to have a breakout year. He probably has the best burst in the open field of any that we have.' Cobb has shown flashes of versatility during his two previous seasons on the Plains in the run game, pass game, and return game. In two years, Cobb has built a stat line of 314 rushing yards and 92 receiving yards in a situational role, and 444 return yards, a skill he added to his belt last season. Freeze calls Cobb the "most experienced" back in Auburn's stable and says that he, as well as Damari Alston, has the best understanding of the offense, especially in the RPO game. How does Freeze view the other available backs? True freshman Omar Mabson and UConn transfer Durell Robinson are both climbing the ranks as well. "I'm excited about Omar (Mabson II), also, and Durell (Robinson)," Freeze said. "Alvin (Henderson) is going to be fine. He's been dinged up and hasn't been able to get many reps the last four or five practices, so hard to say much about that. But I think Damari and Cobb and Omar and Durell are all getting better every practice.' Depsite having great variety, Auburn's running back group will enter the season as the greatest question mark on offense. However, it appears that the mystery surrounding the group will disappear quickly. Auburn faces Baylor on Friday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. CT in Waco, Texas. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__


Newsweek
14 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Colts Predicted to Hit Reset Button on QB in 2026 NFL Draft
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. When the Indianapolis Colts drafted Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, the consensus was the team was making a worthwhile gamble — one that was applauded by several talent evaluators and analysts. "Time will tell, but I love the gamble: This is the Colts betting on Shane Steichen's ability to develop a young quarterback," The Athletic's Zak Keefer wrote at the time. "Richardson is just 20 years old and has so much ahead of him." But fast forward two years, and not only did Richardson lose the Colts' starting quarterback competition after just two preseason games, he was beaten out by New York Giants castoff Daniel Jones — a player who is fighting his own battle to shed his "draft bust" label. More NFL: 49ers Could Face NFL Punishment Over Brandon Aiyuk Decision Anthony Richardson Sr. #5 of the Indianapolis Colts and head coach Shane Steichen stand for the national anthem prior to an NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on August... Anthony Richardson Sr. #5 of the Indianapolis Colts and head coach Shane Steichen stand for the national anthem prior to an NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on August 7, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. MoreHours after head coach Shane Steichen named Jones Indianapolis' starter on Tuesday, Richardson's agent Deiric Jackson spoke to ESPN, hinting that the relationship between the Colts and Richardson could potentially be fractured. "Trust is a big factor and that is, at best, questionable right now," Jackson said. Steichen told reporters on Tuesday that Jones was his starter for the 2025 season and he wouldn't be on a short leash, prompting many to start wondering if Richardson still had a future in Indianapolis. More NFL: Adam Schefter Drops Major Hint on Shedeur Sanders' Browns Future Some scouts and NFL draft analysts seem convinced he doesn't, which is why ESPN's Field Yates has the Colts taking Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in his early 2026 mock draft. "The Colts recently named Daniel Jones as their starter for the 2025 season, which underscores the team's big need for a true QB of the future," Yates wrote. "The ship seems to have already sailed on Anthony Richardson Sr. Allar has ideal 6-foot-5, 235-pound size, good mobility and a rocket arm. "I also see moments of creativity on the tape. The tools and upside have evaluators intrigued, but they also want to see more consistency and urgency in the pocket in 2025. If he puts it all together, Allar would be a great get for the Colts in this range." Drew Allar #15 of the Penn State Nittany Lions warms up before the 2025 Orange Bowl against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Hard Rock Stadium on January 9, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Drew Allar #15 of the Penn State Nittany Lions warms up before the 2025 Orange Bowl against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Hard Rock Stadium on January 9, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. CFP/Getty Images More NFL: Insider Believes Blockbuster Trade Could Be in the Works for the Patriots Many believed had Allar came out in the 2025 draft, he would've been a top-15 or maybe even top-10 pick. The 21-year-old signal-caller completed a career-high 66.5% of his passes for 3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns, and eight interceptions last season while leading the Nittany Lions to a 13-3 record and 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper has been high on Allar for a while, stating during an appearance on the "Adam Schefter Podcast" that he believes Allar could even work his way into the conversation to be the No. 1 overall pick. "Right now, this is the Drew Allar year," Kiper said. "When you're looking at having guys like that [running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen] back, that should help him and should allow Drew Allar, with another year, to really step it up and to, maybe, become the No. 1 pick overall — or somewhere in the mix to be that first quarterback." More NFL: Chiefs Lose First-Round Pick to Season-Ending Injury

NBC Sports
14 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
Wide receiver (WR) tiers for 2025 fantasy football: Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson lead the way
We've reached the end of my positional tiers, closing out with the most fun position. Grouping players into tiers can help you set up your strategy by understanding which archetypes of players can be had at each point in the draft. Let's get into it. Get personalized fantasy football insights based on your league settings with FantasyLife+. Your league is unique, your advice should be too. Head to and use code ROTO20 for 20% off. 2025 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers (WR) Tiers Wide Receivers Tier 1 These are your locked-in superstars. Ja'Marr Chase won the receiver triple crown last year. Justin Jefferson has the record for receiving stats of every variety through five seasons in NFL history. Puka Nacua led the NFL in yards per route run (3.2) and targets per route run (.35) in 2024. Malik Nabers just set the record for catches (109) by a rookie wide receiver. Amon-Ra St. Brown rounds out the tier at the end of the first round and gives fantasy managers the chance to double-tap top-tier wideouts. Nacua's ADP has also fallen into the second round, giving managers at the bottom of the order another shot at one or even two elite receivers. Rotoworld Staff, Wide Receivers Tier 2 It's not hard to imagine a player from the second tier making the leap. Nabers has the slightest of edges over his fellow second-year wideouts Brian Thomas Jr. and Ladd McConkey. Depending on which stats you value, those two receivers could be ranked ahead of him. Tyreek Hill is the only receiver in NFL history with multiple 1,700-yard seasons. On the other hand, he plummeted to 959 yards in 2024, quit on the Dolphins in Week 18, and seemingly decided to be done with Miami after that game. The team has since pulled him back into the fold, though it's possible his best days are well behind him. Drake London and Nico Collins are both in the running to lead the league and in targets. Both wideouts are also getting situational upgrades with a new offensive coordinator in Houston and Michael Penix Jr. as the Week 1 starter for Atlanta. The risks in Tier 2 are much higher than the prior tier, but the rewards are just as enormous. Patrick Daugherty, Wide Receivers Tier 3 This is where our odds of finding the overall WR1 approach zero. Davante Adams and Tee Higgins aren't even their own team's No.1 receivers. Xavier Worthy wasn't being drafted as his team's WR1 until news of Rashee Rice's looming suspension broke. Even the clear top options on their teams have glaring red flags. Fantasy managers can't muster an ounce of excitement for the quarterbacks of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and DK Metcalf. Aaron Rodgers and Sam Darnold go as the QB27 and QB28 in Best Ball drafts. The volume is here for Tier 3, but it's hard to see anyone truly breaking out for a top-three finish. You should already have a receiver on your roster by the time you get here. Wide Receivers Tier 4 I use rankings to drive the order of the players in the tiers and a mix of ADP and rankings to find where the tiers break. The split between Tier 3 and Tier 4 largely comes down to the cost element of that equation, because the profiles are often similar. Jameson Williams and DeVonta Smith are two of the most highly-regarded WR2s in the league and are potential discount versions of Adams and Higgins. Metcalf is projected for a massive target share on an offense that's almost impossible to get excited about. If that's what you're looking for, Calvin Ridley also fits the bill. This isn't to say Tier 3 is entirely worth avoiding, just that you may want to be sure to grab the last player in the tier as opposed to the first. Wide Receivers Tier 5 There are again similarities between this tier and the previous one, though the flaws of nearly every player in Tier 5 are far more glaring. Rice is facing a suspension of unknown length, with four games seemingly serving as the floor. Jauan Jennings, Khalil Shakir, and Josh Downs all have intriguing scoring profiles but are currently injured. Travis Hunter is maybe the most fun click on the board. He's also the only wideout at risk of losing snaps to himself at cornerback. Joe Flacco is the Browns' Week 1 starter but is unlikely to make it to the fantasy payoffs with that job, meaning Jerry Jeudy will be catching passes from Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders in the fantasy playoffs. Not to be outdone by that mess, Chris Olave will be fielding throws from either Tyler Shough or Spencer Rattler. Tier 5 is a great place to go mining for upside, just be prepared to make a more responsible click later in the draft. Wide Receivers Tier 6 Nearly every player in Tier 6 is looking for a rebound campaign of some variety. The elders of the group — Deebo Samuel and Stefon Diggs — both missed time last year and are now changing teams. Samuel only missed two games but played through multiple injuries en route to his worst season by catches per game (3.4) and yards per game (44.7). Diggs' 2024 was far less concerning. He was on pace for over 100 catches and 1,000 yards before going down with a torn ACL. That injury is much worse than anything Samuel dealt with. The young players — Ricky Pearsall and Rome Odunze — both struggled as rookies. Pearsall was shot in the chest before his rookie campaign and missed much of the season. Odunze was playing on one of the league's premier dysfunctional offenses with Shane Waldron calling the shots. Chicago cleaned house in the offseason and brought in offensive mastermind Ben Johnson to fix Caleb Williams and Co. I tend to bet on the young players being able to course-correct after a bad year, though Diggs and Samuel both fit well with their new teams. Wide Receivers Tier 7 It's rookie time. The No. 18, 23, 34, 39, and 55 overall picks are all in Tier 7. Emeka Egbuka and Matthew Golden's ADPs are shooting through the moon in Best Ball drafts. Their costs in redraft formats will be much more palatable. Golden had a spotty production profile coming out of Texas, but the Packers have been unfazed at every stage. They have been treating him as their top receiver in practices and during the preseason. Even if his profile isn't sterling, surpassing everyone on the depth chart bodes well for his fantasy outlook. Egbuka won't dethrone Mike Evans in the pecking order for targets, but he might not need to. Chris Godwin is reportedly starting the season on the PUP list, sidelining him for at least four games, and Jalen McMillan might miss half of the season because of a severe neck strain. Egbuka is at worst the WR2 for one of the league's best passing attacks heading into Week 1. The other rookies — Jayden Higgins, Luther Burden III, and Tre Harris — are bets on late-season production, though their cost reflects that. Wide Receivers Tier 8 This is the 'better in Best Ball' tier. Alec Pierce had three 20-point games last year, while Rashod Bateman and Marvin Mims each had two. Drake London only had two such games, and Garrett Wilson hit that mark just three times. The downside with my aforementioned trio of spike week specialists is that their floors are below the basement. Bateman and Pierce were held under six PPR points six and seven times respectively. Mims spent almost half of the season under that mark before breaking out late in 2024. Marquise Brown, Joshua Palmer, and both of the rookies in this tier also profile as intermediate to downfield players with frustrating weekly outputs. Wide Receivers Tier 9 This is fittingly the exact opposite of Tier 8. If you swung big earlier in drafts and need some free PPR points, there's a player in Tier 9 for you. Wan'Dale Robinson finished 13th in targets in the entire league last year. The whole league! Keenan Allen ranked 20th in targets despite missing two games. DeMario Douglas led Patriots receivers in targets (87) and has reportedly had a good camp. Romeo Doubs' 72 targets aren't all that impressive except for the fact that he played in just 13 games and came four targets shy of leading Green Bay in receiving opportunities. He was on pace to easily lead the Packers in targets. There's nothing better than a PPR scam at the right price. Denny Carter, Wide Receivers Tier 10 There isn't a clear throughline in Tier 10, so you get to read about my two favorite clicks of the group instead. Dont'e Thornton was the Raiders' fourth-round pick. He never played more than a part-time role at Oregon or Tennessee but was electric in his final season as a Vol, averaging 3.7 yards per route with an FBS-leading 25.4 yards per catch. He then annihilated the NFL Draft Combine with a 4.3 40-yard dash at 6'5, 205 pounds. The only players to run a sub-4.35 Forty at 6'5 are Calvin Johnson and DK Metcalf. He has since earned a starting role as Vegas's X receiver. Jalen Coker might not be a starting receiver for the Panthers in Week 1, but he's going to work himself into that job by the end of the year. Coker ranked fourth among all rookies in PFF receiving grade and third in yards per route run last year. Xavier Legette, his competition for a starting role, ranked 14th and 12th in those categories.