Latest news with #BuckyBrooks
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Top Scout Offers Intriguing Insight into Buccaneers Schedule Challenge
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in an interesting situation going into 2025. They defeated both the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles (the top two seeds in the NFC) last season, but finished just 10-7. Their wild card loss to the Washington Commanders have some wondering Tampa Bay's run of dominance as an NFC contender is coming to an end. Advertisement Even if the Buccaneers themselves don't believe that. Tampa Bay has won the last four division titles in the NFC South, and are favorites to win a fifth-straight year. With plenty of intriguing matchups coming up in 2025, though, plenty of analysts have debated the most important on the year. writer Bucky Brooks has a different opinion on what could be Tampa's toughest opponent. In his mind, it's the Arizona Cardinals. "This duel between a couple of former No. 1 overall picks features enough of a Hollywood storyline to be worthy of a more prominent time slot than 1 p.m. on Sunday," Brooks said. "Mayfield takes on his former Oklahoma teammate and fellow Heisman Trophy winner in a battle of undersized quarterbacks leading dark-horse contenders. Advertisement "Diminutive passers are no longer dismissed in the NFL, and this NFC clash will provide executives and scouts with another opportunity to appreciate the ways playmakers of all sizes can get it done in today's game." Arizona has improved their win total in each season under Jonathan Gannon as head coach, but they need to finally make a push for the postseason. With a strong rushing attack, an improved defense, and a quality quarterback, the Cardinals are a dark horse candidate to win the NFC West. And even fight among teams like the Buccaneers for seeding come playoff time. Related: Buccaneers Insider Reveals 'Most Anticipated' Game of 2025 Schedule Related: Buccaneers Earn Monster Grade After Offseason Deals
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Final Bucky Brooks mock draft has Arizona Cardinals landing stud defensive tackle
Final Bucky Brooks mock draft has Arizona Cardinals landing stud defensive tackle The Cardinals land Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon in Bucky Brooks' final mock draft The final mock drafts from the most well known analysts are coming out with the actual 2025 NFL draft beginning on Thursday. This latest one comes from Bucky Brooks, who gives us his fourth and final mock draft. The top of the draft goes as most suspect with quarterback Cam Ward going first overall to the Tennessee Titans, CB/WR Travis Hunter second overall to the Cleveland Browns, followed by EDGE Abdul Carter to the New York Giants, OT Will Campbell to the New England Patriots and DT Mason Graham to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders falls all the way to the 21st pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Only two quarterbacks — Ward and Sanders — go in the first round. The Arizona Cardinals land a big-time defender but it isn't an edge defender. They land Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon. The hard-nosed interior force would be a nice fit in Arizona's D-line as a disruptive defender with heavy hands and a high-revving motor. Harmon could be a long-term game-changer. With a deep defensive line rotation, it might be hard for him to get major playing time as a rookie, but with Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell both in their 30s, both might only be one-year players for Arizona. Harmon has All-Pro potential. If he is on the board, he would make a fantastic selection. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
07-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens All-Pro linebacker makes a list of the Top 10 NFL defenders to build around
Ravens All-Pro linebacker makes a list of the Top 10 NFL defenders to build around Bucky Brooks made a list of 10 players to build around for 2025, and Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith made the list at No. 8. The Baltimore Ravens weren't overly active during the first few days of NFL free agency. Still, the team added DeAndre Hopkins to the passing game, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie on defense, and Jake Hummel to the special teams. The Ravens retained Ronnie Stanley, Patrick Ricard, and Tylan Wallace, while the restructure of Marlon Humphrey created $13 million in salary cap space. The team then added DeAndre Hopkins. Even with the inactivity and loss of Brandon Stephens, Malik Harrison, Patrick Mekari, Josh Jones, and Chris Board, the team is still in the midst of a Super Bowl window and has 11 2025 NFL draft picks to help restock. Baltimore has signature stars on defense, and Bucky Brooks just revealed a list of 10 defensive stars in the NFL that he would most want to build around entering the 2025 season, and All-Pro inside linebacker Roquan Smith made the list at No. 8. Off-ball linebackers are rarely viewed as essential pieces to a championship puzzle, but Roquan Smith is a unicorn, a sideline-to-sideline menace with outstanding instincts, awareness and diagnostic skills. The three-time All-Pro is a tackling machine with underrated pass-rushing skills (21.5 career sacks) as a blitz specialist. He's a disruptive presence on the field and leader of a Ravens defense that strikes fear in the hearts and minds of opponents -- an ideal second-level cornerstone. Smith was voted to his third straight Pro Bowl after leading the Ravens' defense and finishing fifth in the league in tackles (154). Smith is one of the fiercest and best tacklers in football; Last season, he also had 1.5 sacks, one interception, and four tackles for loss.
USA Today
26-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Arizona Cardinals land dominant D-lineman in Bucky Brooks' new mock draft
The Arizona Cardinals could add a defensive lineman in this year's NFL draft in the first round. It is the position mostly likely to de drafted first by the Cardinals, per recent betting odds. And in the latest mock draft by NFL Media's Bucky Brooks, that's exactly what they do. With the 16th pick in the draft, Brooks has the Cardinals selecting Mississippi defensive tackle Walter Nolen. The high-energy interior defender fits the Cardinals' defensive culture as a worker bee at the point of attack. Nolen is nearly 6-foot-4 and 296 pounds. He did not test at the combine. He was al All-American in 2024 with 6.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss to go with his 48 total tackles. He is disruptive and plays with motor. There are whispers of off-the-field issues and motivation and some have suggested that perhaps the Cardinals have taken him off their draft board. The Cardinals have a solid six-man group for their defensive line currently after re-signing L.J. Collier and adding veteran Dalvon Tomlinson. Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols should return from season-ending injuries, Dante Stills enters his third season and 2024 first-round pick Darius Robinson is ready to make an impact. Taking Nolen would mean a first-round defensive lineman for the second straight year, and, if he is as good as he can be, the pairing of him and Robinson could be a problem for opposing offenses. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe onSpotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ollie Gordon II on his Big 12 pro day performance
Oklahoma State Cowboy running back Ollie Gordon II talks with NFL Network's Bucky Brooks on his Big 12 pro day performance.
