Latest news with #33rdTeam
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The 33rd Team names Texans CB Kamari Lassiter a 2025 breakout star in the AFC
Who is the next breakout star for the Houston Texans this fall? According to one anlayst, it's another defensive back. The 33rd Team's Steve Palazzolo recently listed off his breakout star for all 16 AFC rosters entering 2025. While third-round pick Jaylin Noel was considered as an option, the longtime analyst said that second-year defensive back Kamari Lassiter has everything to become a staple in coverage as a No. 1 shutdown defender. Advertisement "As soon as the cornerback gets a reputation, they tend to get avoided. I'm not saying last year that people started realizing that Derek Stingley Jr. was good, but last year was the first time he really started to look like, for consistent periods of time, the No. 3 overall pick," Palazzolo said. "He was outstanding last year. "More teams are going to be afraid of Stingley this year, which means Lassiter is going to get targeted a lot more...I think he'll get a lot of plays on the ball and he'll have a lot of opportunities. He's going to get targeted a lot this year but I like him a lot as a player. If he plays well, having the 1-2 punch of Stingley and Lassiter with that pass rush, does give the defense No. 1 defense type potential." Drafted 42nd overall last season, Lassiter arguably was the best rookie defender in his class. According to The 33rd team, from Week 9 on, the former Georgia standout did not allow more than 50 yards in coverage in a game. He also forced two interceptions, a 50% completion rate and only gave up 21.7 yards per outing. Advertisement In 16 games, Lassiter totaled three interceptions, a safety, 10 pass breakups and only allowed a 54.4% completion rating. He and third-round pick Calen Bullock became staples in coverage, helping Houston win a second straight AFC South division title and wild-card round victory. "It's a big year for Lassiter and if I'm right here and he does break out and he does have a productive season, we're talking about the Texans having one of the league's best defenses." Lassiter, Stingley and the rest of the Texans' defense can prove that when they take the field in Week 1 at SoFi Stadium against the Los Angeles Rams. This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: The 33rd Team names Texans CB Kamari Lassiter AFC 2025 breakout star
USA Today
02-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
The 33rd Team names Texans CB Kamari Lassiter a 2025 breakout star in the AFC
The 33rd Team names Texans CB Kamari Lassiter a 2025 breakout star in the AFC Who is the next breakout star for the Houston Texans this fall? According to one anlayst, it's another defensive back. The 33rd Team's Steve Palazzolo recently listed off his breakout star for all 16 AFC rosters entering 2025. While third-round pick Jaylin Noel was considered as an option, the longtime analyst said that second-year defensive back Kamari Lassiter has everything to become a staple in coverage as a No. 1 shutdown defender. "As soon as the cornerback gets a reputation, they tend to get avoided. I'm not saying last year that people started realizing that Derek Stingley Jr. was good, but last year was the first time he really started to look like, for consistent periods of time, the No. 3 overall pick," Palazzolo said. "He was outstanding last year. "More teams are going to be afraid of Stingley this year, which means Lassiter is going to get targeted a lot more...I think he'll get a lot of plays on the ball and he'll have a lot of opportunities. He's going to get targeted a lot this year but I like him a lot as a player. If he plays well, having the 1-2 punch of Stingley and Lassiter with that pass rush, does give the defense No. 1 defense type potential." Drafted 42nd overall last season, Lassiter arguably was the best rookie defender in his class. According to The 33rd team, from Week 9 on, the former Georgia standout did not allow more than 50 yards in coverage in a game. He also forced two interceptions, a 50% completion rate and only gave up 21.7 yards per outing. In 16 games, Lassiter totaled three interceptions, a safety, 10 pass breakups and only allowed a 54.4% completion rating. He and third-round pick Calen Bullock became staples in coverage, helping Houston win a second straight AFC South division title and wild-card round victory. "It's a big year for Lassiter and if I'm right here and he does break out and he does have a productive season, we're talking about the Texans having one of the league's best defenses." Lassiter, Stingley and the rest of the Texans' defense can prove that when they take the field in Week 1 at SoFi Stadium against the Los Angeles Rams.
USA Today
04-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Travis Hunter NFL mock draft roundup: Giants, Patriots in play for Colorado star
Travis Hunter NFL mock draft roundup: Giants, Patriots in play for Colorado star Show Caption Hide Caption Warren Sapp explains what makes Travis Hunter such a special player Warren Sapp sits down with Lorenzo Reyes at Radio Row to share why Travis Hunter is such a special player. Travis Hunter earned the Heisman Trophy for his performance in the 2024 college football season. The two-way star led the Big 12 in receptions and receiving touchdowns as a wide receiver on offense and was a standout cornerback for the Colorado defense. Hunter is an anomaly in modern football. No player has been as prolific on both sides of the ball as Hunter in the last 25 years. He has a very good case to be the best player, regardless of position, in the 2025 NFL draft. That makes him an intriguing prospect for teams picking high in the first round. Teams could take him and start him as a rookie full-time on defense, where the transition from college to the professional level isn't quite as tough. Or teams could take advantage of his talents at wide receiver to help jump-start their offense's passing game. They could do a bit of both as well. Hunter is a valuable player and one of the only prospects in the draft class with All-Pro potential. His size, length, athleticism, playmaking and football IQ give him a high floor at the NFL level. Though he is expected to go early in the 2025 draft, his exact destination is still unknown. Here are the latest predictions from experts at USA TODAY, 33rd Team, Pro Football Focus, CBS Sports and The Athletic. Travis Hunter mock draft roundup Davis writes: "With the draft's top quarterbacks gone in this scenario – and the Wilson insurance policy already purchased – the G-Men are in position to snatch the man who is arguably the best college player entering the league this year. It's a matter of debate what the best professional position is for Hunter, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner and an equally accomplished offensive weapon and defender. Bad as the Giants were in 2024, they enter 2025 with a solid group of receivers (including Malik Nabers at the top of the depth chart) and corners (including recently signed Paulson Adebo at the top of the depth chart). That means a golden opportunity to take an elite player like Hunter and allowing him to play both positions in the NFL – as he desires to do – without demanding he cover top receivers, be the team's primary target or play an inordinate numbers of snaps as he settles into whatever his role develops into." James Foster, 33rd Team: No. 3 overall to the New York Giants Foster explains: "Quarterback desperation might win out in the end, but I would have a hard time taking Shedeur Sanders over a blue-chip player like Travis Hunter. We've never seen a prospect like Hunter – he's the best receiver and cornerback in this class, and he'd most likely win the Giants more games next year than anyone else who's available. Pairing his skill set with Malik Nabers would give New York one of the most dynamic receiver duos in the NFL. He could also replace Deonte Banks if he continues to struggle." John Kosko, Pro Football Focus: No. 3 overall to the New York Giants Kosko says: "It's uncertain whether the fans view Hunter as a cornerback or a wide receiver, but the top player on PFF's big board is what the Giants fans want. Pairing him with Malik Nabers would create a fun tandem. And if New York views him as a cornerback, spending this pick on a premium position where the team lacks star power isn't the worst idea, either." Trapasso writes: "Even without a long-term quarterback solution on the roster, the Browns opt for the prospect many believe is the best football player in this class in Hunter." Feldman explains: "Hunter is the best pure athlete in this draft. He is a rare talent, an elite cornerback who doubles as a dynamic wideout with a gas tank like college football has never seen. Other special DBs like Charles Woodson and Champ Bailey have dabbled on offense. None have played as many snaps as Hunter or made as many big plays on that side of the ball and excelled deep into games after remarkably high snap counts. The 6-0, 188-pound Hunter won the Heisman Trophy as the nation's top player, the Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver and the Bednarik Award as the top defensive player. He can help second-year QB Drake Maye immediately, even if cornerback is his primary position." 2025 NFL draft order The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
USA Today
17-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins used shocking leverage to get deals with Bengals done
Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins used shocking leverage to get deals with Bengals done Since late last season, we've written endlessly about how Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins changed agents, hinting at a change in negotiating stance with the team for his contract extension. As it turns out, changing to the same representation as teammate Ja'Marr Chase was partially a huge leverage play. Now both Chase and Higgins have NFL-altering contract extensions. According to the 33rd Team's Ari Meirov, Higgins' agent told the Bengals something quite simple: No Higgins extension, no Chase deal. The report: "In a savvy leverage move, Tee Higgins switched agents a few months ago, hiring Rocky Arcenaux—the same agent as Ja'Marr Chase. Knowing the #Bengals wanted to keep Chase and that Joe Burrow wanted Higgins to stay, Arcenaux told the team: no Ja'Marr deal without Tee." Of course, the Bengals were motivated to get the deals done to keep Joe Burrow happy. But the front office could've kept playing hardball and flirted with holdouts, using leverage like franchise tags for a few more years. Instead, the Bengals were backed into a corner and forced out of their comfort zone, going up to $161 million for Chase and even guaranteeing the second year of Higgins' four-year extension after loathing guarantees beyond Year 1 for the franchise's entire existence. A masterful gambit by the Bengals stars around Burrow, who are now in town through 2029, at least.
USA Today
16-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Abdul Carter has surprisingly low NFL draft projection in new mock draft
Abdul Carter has surprisingly low NFL draft projection in new mock draft A new mock draft from 33rd Team predicts tow Penn State players in the top 10 of the 2025 NFL draft. With the NFL draft a little more than a month away, the general consensus seems to be that Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter stands an excellent chance of being one of the first picks off the board. Some mock drafts have Carter going in one of the top two picks but you have to look far and wide to find a mock draft that has him outside of the top five picks. Until now. A freshly updated mock draft from 33rd Team goes against the grain when it comes to projecting Carter's draft position. While he is still among the top players off the board, the 33rd Team mock draft has Carter going to the New York Jets with the seventh overall pick. It is one of the lowest draft projections seen for the Big Ten defensive player of the year and the top-rated defensive player according to many draft analysts. "New York's defensive front was a major disappointment last season, but they revitalize that unit with the best player in the class," the updated mock draft from 33rd Team says. "Abdul Carter is an explosive and bendy speed rusher with surprising technical polish after just one season playing full-time on the edge." That would make Carter the third defensive player off the big board if it were to pan out as so. Other defensive players projected ahead of Carter include 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter as a combo wide receiver and cornerback (no. 2 overall to Cleveland Browns) and Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham (no. 5 overall to Jacksonville Jaguars). While the wait for Carter's draft selection may be projected to be a bit longer than most other mock drafts lately, the 33rd Team mock draft does not see a long delay before the next Nittany Lion to go off the big board. Tight end Tyler Warren is projected at no. 9 overall to the New Orleans Saints. "New Orleans' roster is bereft of young building blocks, having struck out on many of their recent draft picks," 33rd Team says. "Taking Tyler Warren, one of the safest players in the class, is a great way to end their cold streak." Carter and Warren will be the star attractions at Penn State's pro day on March 28. Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads.
