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New York Times
26-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
How picking WR Tai Felton on Day 2 is a sign of Vikings' confidence in their secondary
EAGAN, Minn. — The ageless wonder, Harrison Smith, made his yearly spring stop at the podium last week. Reporters peppered him with questions about his decision to play a 14th season for the Minnesota Vikings in 2025. As usual, he spoke thoughtfully. But maybe his most revealing comment came when Theo Jackson's name surfaced. Advertisement 'He's always making plays,' Smith said of Jackson. 'Like, from the day he got here. Like, literally from the day he got here. I was, like, 'How did he … how did the Titans let him go?' Smith was essentially saying what the Vikings have confirmed through the first two days of the NFL Draft: Jackson has earned a starting opportunity, and as a result, reinforcements for the secondary are not the team's top priority. First, Minnesota passed on Michigan cornerback Will Johnson in the first round. Then Friday night, the Vikings traded back with the Texans to improve their Day 3 draft position rather than selecting Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts. Minnesota has spent its two picks thus far on offensive players. Interior offensive lineman Donovan Jackson was introduced Friday afternoon, and the Vikings drafted Maryland receiver Tai Felton several hours later. 'Got our guy,' Vikings senior vice president of player personnel Ryan Grigson said of Felton. 'He's a talented playmaker and productive.' The Vikings identified Felton early in the process and bucketed him in the middle rounds. Receivers coach Keenan McCardell stood on the field for workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Wanting more of a hands-on feel for Felton's abilities, McCardell also flew to College Park, Md., to put Felton through drills during the team's pro day. In past years, McCardell's evaluations and pushing have helped land Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Felton will fit in more of the No. 3 receiver mold behind those two. Similar to them, though, he dominated high-level competition. Last season, Felton caught 96 passes, more than any receiver in Terrapins history, and notched 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns. Felton also aced the testing portion of the pre-draft process. Forty-yard dash? He blazed a 4.37. Vertical jump? He leaped nearly 40 inches. Compound those under-the-hood 'explosiveness' traits with his willingness to play special teams (he had 12 career special teams tackles), and it's easy to see why Minnesota was sold. 'Something that I thought was unique about him is that he's also good with the ball in his hands,' Grigson said. 'He's not just a vertical speed guy. He can run routes.' 🐢 14 rec.🐢 157 yards🐢 1 TD Watch each of Tai Felton's Week 4 catches in @TerpsFootball's win over Villanova 👇 #B1GFootball — Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 22, 2024 In addition to the trenches, receiver became a position the Vikings targeted, and there are multiple layers to their need. In the short term, Jordan Addison might face a suspension due to his arrest on suspicion of DUI last summer. Minnesota trusts Jefferson, receiver Jalen Nailor and tight end T.J. Hockenson to pick up the slack, but Felton provides additional insurance. In the long term, the Vikings must be mindful of the makeup of the receiver room. Advertisement Nailor, who caught 28 passes for 414 yards and six touchdowns last season, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The Vikings value his speed and separation ability, but the most recent free-agent period has proven that players like him can net big-money contracts. The Jaguars paid receiver Dyami Brown close to $10 million. The Rams awarded receiver Tutu Atwell with about the same. Considering how much the Vikings will be spending on Jefferson and Addison (not to mention the offensive line), it'd be difficult for Minnesota to pony up that kind of money. Addison isn't scheduled to hit free agency until 2027, so his future is a less relevant conversation. Still, it doesn't hurt to inject the receiver room with more young talent to soak in head coach Kevin O'Connell's system. The Vikings' decision-makers would have celebrated the Felton selection if it happened at No. 97. That the team was able to scoop him up five spots later and move up from No. 187 to No. 142 in the trade with Houston was an additional boon. Minnesota now possesses two of the first four picks in the fifth round. As for what's next, the Vikings could go all sorts of ways. They like the defensive line and running back talent available. They also need a No. 3 tight end after Johnny Mundt departed in free agency. Why not cornerback or safety, you might ask? It's possible, but again, look back at what the Vikings have done so far. They paid free-agent cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. handsomely. They were as aggressive in landing cornerback Isaiah Rodgers as anyone once free agency began. They think they can get more out of cornerback Jeff Okudah, and they have high hopes for Mekhi Blackmon and Dwight McGlothern's development. At safety, the story is much the same. Smith controls the defense from the field. Jackson has been deserving of a starting opportunity for years in the eyes of teammates and coaches. Josh Metellus is the perfect slot defender and Swiss Army knife, and Jay Ward still has upside. Advertisement Are the Vikings too optimistic about what a supercharged pass rush will do for their pass coverage? Do they have too much faith in a defensive staff that has been one of the NFL's best over the last couple of seasons? Could they have something else up their sleeves for a veteran-type player after the draft? The answers to those questions will come in time, but the conviction in their approach to this point, especially at safety, speaks volumes.
New York Times
26-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Steelers draft RB Kaleb Johnson: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson with the No. 83 pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Johnson rushed for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns in 12 games during his junior season at Iowa, adding 188 receiving yards and two more touchdowns on the way to a consensus All-American selection. Also a first-team All-Big Ten selection and the Big Ten Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year in 2024, Johnson led the conference in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and rushing yards per game (128.1). His rushing yardage (seventh), rushing touchdowns (tied for fifth), yards per carry (ninth) and rushing yards per game (sixth) all ranked in the top 10 among FBS running backs. Advertisement Johnson reached the end zone at least once in every game last season and had seven multi-touchdown games. He rushed for 100-plus yards in eight contests, including a career-best 206-yard performance in a win over Minnesota in September, when he also rushed for three touchdowns. In 35 career games over his three collegiate seasons with the Hawkeyes, Johnson collected 2,779 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns. Johnson ranked No. 44 in Dane Brugler's top 300 big board. Here's what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide: 'He is at his best when he can quickly read and set up his blocks and anticipate backside/frontside lanes to find yardage that isn't there (No. 2 in the FBS with 21 carries of 20 yards or more in 2024). He tends to run upright, giving defenders a large target, but has the build and determination to be a bruiser as a forward-leaning, north-south runner. Overall, Johnson isn't a dynamic make-you-miss athlete, but he is a patient and powerful one-cut runner with the instinctive vision to crease the defense using run angles and foot quickness. His play style is reminiscent of DeMarco Murray with a three-down skill set to thrive in a zone-based NFL scheme.' What an anonymous running backs coach had to say about Johnson in Bruce Feldman's NFL Draft confidential: 'He's smooth. Really good zone runner. Runs with good pad level. Has good hands. Not the shiftiest guy or a blazer but it's not like he ran a 4.8. He's a 4.5 guy, and I think he's a true tough guy. I like his disposition.' Nobody's catching Kaleb Johnson in the open field 💨 We're flashing back to some of his long TDs from his three seasons with @HawkeyeFootball 👀#FlashbackFriday x #B1GFootball — Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) March 28, 2025 Come back later for more analysis of Johnson.
New York Times
25-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Browns draft RB Quinshon Judkins: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
The Cleveland Browns selected Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins with the No. 36 pick in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Judkins led the Buckeyes in rushing yards (1,060) and rushing touchdowns (14) last season as a junior, sharing carries in the backfield with TreVeyon Henderson, and added 161 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the air. Advertisement He played in all 16 games for an Ohio State team that won the national championship and scored seven of his 16 total touchdowns during the postseason run. He had two rushing touchdowns in both the first-round win over Tennessee and the Cotton Bowl victory over Texas, then led the way with 100 rushing yards and three total touchdowns in the championship game victory over Notre Dame. Judkins played his first two seasons at Ole Miss, where he was a freshman All-American selection, first-team All-SEC selection and the SEC Freshman of the Year in 2022 after leading the conference in rushing yards (1,567) and rushing touchdowns (16). He led the conference in rushing touchdowns (15) again as a sophomore on the way to another first-team All-SEC selection. In 42 career college games, Judkins rushed for 3,785 yards and 45 touchdowns and added 442 yards and five touchdowns through the air. He played in every game and topped 1,000 rushing yards in each year. He rushed for 100 yards or more 17 times in his career, had 30 games with a touchdown and had 17 multi-touchdown performances. Judkins ranked No. 60 in Dane Brugler's top 300 big board. Here's what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide: 'Judkins has quick eyes and footwork to react to the blocking geometry, although he often runs like he is starving and must balance his aggressive style with improved patience before attacking the line of scrimmage. His best traits are his play strength and the run toughness to drop his pads, barrel through heavy contact and come out the other side. Overall, Judkins isn't as dynamic as other backs in this class, but he is an 'attitude' runner with the quickness, vision and violence to be a productive lead option in an NFL backfield. He can help secure his spot on the depth chart by taking his passing-down responsibilities from serviceable to above average.' This 86-yard TD run by Quinshon Judkins is tied for the third-largest run in @OhioStateFB history 😳#B1GFootball — Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 21, 2024 THE HAT TRICK FOR QUINSHON JUDKINS 🔥 — ESPN (@espn) January 21, 2025 Come back later for more analysis of Judkins.
New York Times
25-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Steelers draft DT Derrick Harmon: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
The Pittsburgh Steelers have added to their defensive line, selecting Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon with the No. 21 pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. A one-year starter at Oregon, the 21-year-old showed flashes of potential when he first played three years at Michigan State. Harmon started 15 of his 28 appearances over three seasons, totaling 7 1/2 tackles for loss and 3 1/2 sacks as a Spartan. Advertisement Harmon left Michigan State following the dismissal of head coach Mel Tucker, leading him to Oregon. He took a leap with the Ducks, posting a career-best 10 1/2 tackles for loss and five sacks, adding two forced fumbles and three passes defensed. The effort was enough to earn him third-team All-Big Ten. Harmon has the size and strength to get stops in the run game, even when double-teamed. He also has an impressive balance of speed and power for an interior pass rusher. At 6 foot 5 and 315 pounds, his 4.95 40-yard dash was sixth-best among all defensive tackles who ran at the combine. Harmon ranked No. 16 in Dane Brugler's top 300 big board. Here's what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide: 'A player who can win in different ways, Harmon forces blockers to attack air with his lateral explosiveness or uses strong, crafty hands to swat away the reach of blockers as he bursts through gaps to close on the ball carrier. Though he led FBS interior linemen in pressures, he also led the position in missed tackles (12) — even the smallest improvements in his backfield finishing ability would have resulted in double-digit sacks. Overall, Harmon is a highly active and disruptive big man who consistently finds ways to gain freedom from blocks as a penetrating pass rusher and run stuffer. He projects as a scheme-diverse NFL starter, anywhere from one- to five-tech.' What an anonymous coach had to say about Harmon in Bruce Feldman's mock draft: 'He was the best interior pass rusher we faced this year. He has great length and athleticism. We schemed a lot of things to make sure he didn't get one-on-ones against us. He wasn't as stout in the run game as (Mason) Graham.' Derrick Harmon just ripped this one away for the takeaway 💪 No. 3 @oregonfootball takes over in Ohio State territory.#B1GFootball on NBC 📺 — Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 13, 2024 Come back for more analysis of Harmon later.
New York Times
25-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bears draft TE Colston Loveland: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
The Chicago Bears have added an offensive playmaker by selecting Michigan tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. In 10 games with Michigan during an injury-riddled season, Loveland caught 56 passes for 582 yards and five touchdowns. He earned second-team All-American honors by the FWAA, was a finalist for the John Mackey Award (which goes to college football's most outstanding tight end) and was a second-team All-Big Ten selection — finishing behind Penn State's Tyler Warren in all of those honors. Against then-No. 1 Oregon in November, he had a season-high 112 yards on seven receptions. Advertisement Loveland was a key target on the Wolverines' 2023 national championship team and an All-Big Ten selection (first team by coaches and second team by media). In three seasons, he totaled 117 receptions for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. With an intriguing blend of size and speed (average of 14.5 yards per catch in his first two seasons), Loveland was the second-rated tight end on The Athletic draft expert Dane Brugler's big board behind Warren. A season after Brock Bowers' record-breaking rookie year with the Raiders, teams are on the hunt for the next version of the Las Vegas tight end. Loveland becomes the fourth tight end drafted in the last 10 years in the top 16 picks of the draft — T.J. Hockenson (eighth in 2019 by the Minnesota Vikings), Kyle Pitts (fourth in 2021 by the Atlanta Falcons) and Bowers (13th in 2024). Loveland was ranked No. 11 in Dane Brugler's top 300 big board. Here's what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide: 'With his speed and ball skills, Loveland can line up anywhere on the field and win as a quarterback-friendly, multilevel receiving threat. He isn't a liability as a one-pop, get-in-the-way blocker but will struggle to sustain or control NFL edge defenders. Overall, Loveland doesn't have the skill set for full-time inline responsibilities, but his dynamic movements, natural hands and football awareness should make him one of the primary targets in an NFL offense. His tools and upside are reminiscent of Zach Ertz.' What an anonymous coach had to say about Loveland in Bruce Feldman's mock draft: 'He is in that Evan Engram mold. He probably doesn't have that kind of top-end speed and is more of a 4.65 40 guy, but he can stretch the field, and he's probably a little more physical. He's a smooth route runner, smoother than (Tyler) Warren, and tough enough.' NASTY stiff arm from Colston Loveland 💪 @UMichFootball#B1GFootball on CBS 📺 — Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) November 2, 2024 Come back later for more analysis of Loveland.
