Latest news with #FirstTeamAll-Pro
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The New York Jets have perhaps the best cornerback in the NFL in Sauce Gardner.
The New York Jets have perhaps the best cornerback in the NFL in Sauce Gardner. originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Jets have taken a lot of pride in their defense over the past several seasons, especially their ability to defend the pass. Advertisement And there is one player who really shines in that area. In a recent article by PFF's John Kosko, he ranks who he believes are the top 32 cornerbacks in the league heading into the 2025 season. At the top spot in his list, he has Jets superstar Sauce Gardner. "Gardner's 91.9 PFF coverage grade since 2022 leads the league. He has forced a league-high 46 incompletions and allowed a league-low 0.60 yards per cover snap and 21.4% first-down-plus-touchdown rate over that span," Kosko wrote. "Unsurprisingly, Gardner's PFF advanced coverage grade ranks first, as well. While he might not shadow opposing wide receivers at a high rate, he has excelled when asked to do so." He had a bit of a slower season in 2024, but so did the rest of the Jets. With that being said, he has racked up some impressive stats in just three seasons in the league. Advertisement Gardner was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022, as well as being named First Team All-Pro in both of his first two seasons. He also led the NFL in passes defended in his rookie year with 20, which goes to show just how good the 24-year-old corner already is. He will be looking to bounce back from his slightly disappointing 2024 and prove that he is still worthy of the title of the best cornerback in the NFL. Related: Jets' 'Up And Comers' Running Back Room Poised For Breakout Year? Related: Jets Among Biggest Winners of June 1 Cap Update This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chiefs Riding High After Chris Jones Head-Turning Ranking Announcement
Chiefs Riding High After Chris Jones Head-Turning Ranking Announcement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As much as Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce get their rightful praise, Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones deserves to be showcased among the best players in franchise history and a cornerstone of KC's recent Super Bowl barrage. Advertisement He is one of just six players on the Chiefs active roster that has appeared in all three of Kansas City's Super Bowl victories over the past six seasons... And the only player on defense. The 6-6, 310-pounder has anchored the Chiefs' defensive line since 2016 and has already put together a historic career. Even entering his 10th NFL season, he isn't slowing down. PFF revealed their rankings for the defensive tackle position and the head-turning Jones reigned supreme above all the rest, ranking first among the top 32 interior D-linemen in the NFL. "What more is there to say about Chris Jones?" the article read. "The future first-ballot Hall of Famer was once again the highest-graded interior defender in the NFL in 2024 (90.2). That makes it 88.0-plus marks in seven of his nine NFL seasons. His 1.69 PFF WAR over the past three years is by far the most among interior defenders." Advertisement The former second-round pick out of Mississippi State has enjoyed a streak of six consecutive Pro Bowl appearances and three First Team All-Pro honors entering this season. ... and the Chiefs are riding high as a result. In Kansas City's last two Super Bowl wins in 2022 and 2023, Jones put together two of his best pass-rushing seasons with 15.5 and 10.5 sacks respectively. Last offseason, he signed a hefty five-year, $158 million contract that deservedly puts him among the highest-paid defensive players in football. Jones may get outshined by the likes of Mahomes and Kelce on occasion ... but the term "future first-ballot Hall of Famer" does not get thrown around lightly. Advertisement The 30-year-old won't be surrounded by too much star power outside of edge rusher George Karlaftis this season in KC, but the Chiefs still have plenty of ability to make another deep run in the playoffs with hopes of adding to Jones' already storied career. Related: Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes Reveals 2025 'Motivation' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
28-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Raiders officially announce a multi-year extension with All Pro punter AJ Cole
Raiders officially announce a multi-year extension with All Pro punter AJ Cole It's official. Raiders will hold onto their latest elite punter for a long time to come. Wednesday the team officially announced they have signed punter AJ Cole to a multi-year extension. The deal is a reported four-year contract which makes Cole the NFL's highest paid punter. The deal is well-deserved as Cole has proven himself to be the NFL's best punter over the past four seasons. It's been an impressive rise for the former undrafted free agent tryout player. That's right, he didn't just go undrafted. He had to try out for the team in rookie minicamp back in 2019 to earn a contract. From there he's gone on to be twice named AP First Team All-Pro (2021, 2023) and head to three straight Pro Bowls (2021-23). Cole has topped the NFL in several areas since he joined the league in 2019 including his 48.6 yards per punt and 44.7% of his punts inside the 20-yard line. His 50.8 yards per punt average last season is tied for the second-best in Raiders history (min. 50 punts) and the fifth highest single-season average in NFL history. No franchise in football has had more great punters than the Raiders. Starting with Ray Guy who is the only ever full time punter to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and continuing with Shane Lechler who has the best shot at becoming the second ever punter in Canton. Between Lechler and Cole, the Raiders have absolutely dominated the punting game in the NFL this milennium. Expect this stat to hold at least until 2030 with Cole's extension keeping him in Silver & Black until 2029. With the Raiders having signed AJ Cole to an extension, who could be next to get an extension in Las Vegas?
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steelers Star Rips Cheap Bengals with Hendeickson Dare
It is becoming less and less likely that the Cincinnati Bengals are going to get Trey Hendrickson back any time soon in a fully satisfying way for both parties, as they have proven time and time again that they are unwilling to pay him. The two sides have not been able to agree on a number for a new contract ever since the end of the 2024 season, and to some, it might be time to part ways. Advertisement On a recent episode of the Not Just Football Podcast, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive star Cameron Hewyard gave his thoughts on the whole situation, and he ripped the Bengals. "They don't have enough money," Heyward said jokingly. "I dare you to go pay him." One would think that if one of your players led the league in sacks, you would pay him whatever it takes, but that has not been the case with the Bengals and Hendrickson. The 30-year-old edge rusher finished the 2024 season with 17.5 sacks, which was the second year in a row that he finished with that mark. But unlike the 2023 season, his efforts led him to be named First Team All-Pro in 2024. Advertisement He also finished second in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting, only behind Denver Broncos star Patrick Surtain II, who was the first cornerback to win the award since Stephon Gilmore in 2019. The relationship between Hendrickson and the Bengals seems almost beyond repair, so it may be time for the two sides to go their separate ways after four seasons. But whatever happens? The rival Steelers are watching from the edge of their seats. Related: Bengals Trade of Trey Urged For Ex 1st-Round Pick Related: Bengals Full Schedule Announced With Tough MVP Stretch Amid Marquee Matchups
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘It becomes personal:' AFC contender's contract standoff intensifies with All-Pro
Amidst a contract standoff, Trey Hendrickson showed up to Bengals OTAs in street clothes and held court with reporters for over 20 minutes. Coming off a season where he led the league in sacks (17.5) and earned a First Team All-Pro nod, Hendrickson only has one year and $21 million remaining on his deal. During an offseason where teammates Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase signed top-of-market extensions, Hendrickson has made it known that he wants a new deal as well. Advertisement On Tuesday, Hendrickson told reporters including CLNS' Mike Petraglia that he has no plans to play on his current deal, and was angered at a message from coach Zac Taylor. 'At some point in this process, it becomes personal,' Hendrickson said. 'Being sent, 30 days before mandatory camp or however many days it is, (a message) that if I don't show up I will be fined, alludes to the fact that something won't get done in that time frame.' On Monday, Hendrickson took his frustrations public in a statement to ESPN, saying Cincinnati hadn't even discussed an extension in recent weeks. 'No communication has taken place between my camp and the organization post draft,' Hendrickson said. 'The offers prior to the draft did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised last offseason if I continued to play at a high level. Coaches are aware of these past conversations. Rather than using collaboration to get us to a point to bring me home to the team, the are no longer communicating. Advertisement 'I have been eagerly awaiting a resolution of this situation, but that's hard to do when there is no discussion and an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals.' More Patriots Content Read the original article on MassLive.
