Latest news with #ESPNPowerRankings
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jim Nantz Gets Honest About Steelers
The NFL's schedule release is an event entirely for the fans, but players are obviously tuned in, too. Between bye weeks and prime-time games, there are plans to be made. That extends to commentators as well. Those of us at home on Sundays have the privilege of changing the channel or tuning into the Red Zone Channel to avoid a bleak game or unfavorable slate. A brave few might find a nice fall activity to fill the afternoon, like going to the pumpkin patch. Advertisement The poor souls in the broadcast booth don't have that opportunity, giving them a vested interest in the schedule release. Among them is Jim Nantz, CBS's top play-by-play commentator. With CBS getting the bulk of AFC games, he's bound to get a handful of Pittsburgh Steelers games on his docket. Subsequently, Nantz had a request for the Steelers after the schedule release. "We have a heavy Pittsburgh influence on our schedule," Nantz said on NFL Network Wednesday (h/t CBS Sports). "There's a lot there to like about the Steelers, especially if they're good. ... [So] I don't know if you're watching, Aaron Rodgers. I hope you are. But I want you to know ... [that] just a few of my colleagues and some friends, we wanna see you in the Steel City this season.' Advertisement Some have taken issue with Nantz's quip, but the announcer was having fun with a situation almost everyone agrees on. There's a real chance veteran Mason Rudolph starts for Pittsburgh in 2025, and with that comes the possibility of him finding real success. But nobody wants to go down that path, and for good reason. The Steelers are a better team with Rodgers on the roster. They're a more entertaining team with Rodgers under center, too. The 41-year-old passer might continue Pittsburgh's trudge through quarterback purgatory. Still, there is upside in the unknown. If there's an option that has even a slim chance of helping the Steelers look like an AFC contender, it's Rodgers. "We need the Steelers to be good," Nantz said. "They need you. I saw you play last year. ... I know you can still play. You get doubled-up with Mike Tomlin and T.J. Watt on that defense. I think it'd be a great thing. Let's get this thing done. I'm just making a personal appeal: We want you, we need you, and we look forward to seeing you." Advertisement Nantz joked that his CBS colleagues would be willing to pay Rodgers seven figures to finalize the deal. In a conference with five titans at quarterback and several budding stars, Pittsburgh is inherently one of the lesser options to watch in the AFC. Rodgers, if nothing else, gives the Steelers some storylines to speculate about. Related: 3 Reasons Why Steelers Should Start Will Howard Related: ESPN Power Rankings Perpetuates Steelers' Status Quo
USA Today
06-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Vikings move up ESPN Power Rankings after the 2025 NFL Draft
Vikings move up ESPN Power Rankings after the 2025 NFL Draft Power rankings are always interesting to see how they can reflect upon your team and others within your division. Following the NFL Draft, groups are re-evaluating rosters and projecting them out as they get new looks and overhauls one last time before training camp and the preseason. The Vikings had one of the more confusing drafts, making their rise up the latest ESPN power rankings interesting. ESPN's Kevin Seifert, the Vikings beat reporter, wrote up their ranking, which had them moving up one spot from the 10th spot to 9th. They cite their improvement along the interior offensive line for their jump up one spot for their ranking rise. Seifert writes, "The Vikings overhauled all three positions of their interior offensive line, committing $106 million in free agency to sign center Ryan Kelly and right guard Will Fries. They used their first-round draft choice on Donovan Jackson, who will likely be their new left guard. The area was a major need for improvement. Their centers and guards all ranked in the bottom 10 last season in run block win rate. In 2025, the Vikings will likely have three first-round picks (Jackson, Kelly and left tackle Christian Darrisaw) and one second-round pick (right tackle Brian O'Neill) in their starting lineup." The entire Vikings roster is loaded, there is no denying that. No position has a weak spot. That doesn't make the draft any less confusing, but when you nail the first pick, it always makes things a little easier, and ESPN recognized that.
USA Today
06-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bucs move up ESPN Power Rankings after the 2025 NFL Draft
Bucs move up ESPN Power Rankings after the 2025 NFL Draft Power rankings are always interesting to see how they can reflect upon your team and others within your division. Following the NFL Draft, groups are re-evaluating rosters and projecting them out as they get new looks and overhauls one last time before training camp and the preseason. The Bucs had one of the better drafts, which makes their rise up the latest ESPN power rankings interesting to follow. ESPN's Jenna Laine, who is the Bucs beat reporter, wrote up their ranking as they had them going up two spots from the 14th spot to 12th. For their ranking rise, they cite their improvement along the edge positions to help their pass rush as the reason why they saw a jump. Laine writes, "This is a close call between pass rushers and cornerbacks, but let's give the nod to the pass rush here. The Bucs signed a low-risk and potentially high-reward free agent in Haason Reddick, who has produced double-digit sacks in all but one season since becoming a full-time edge rusher in 2020. On Day 3 of the draft, they selected quick edge David Walker and powerful Elijah Roberts. Walker notched 31 sacks and 191 tackles at Central Arkansas. Roberts had 17.5 sacks in two seasons at SMU, and the 278-pounder can line up on the edge or inside." The Bucs' pass rush, paired with the arrival of draft picks Jacob Parrish and Benjamin Morrison, is hopeful to be enough to improve a 29th-ranked pass defense for the Bucs. If it is, look for them to keep rising in the power rankings as the season approaches and progresses.
