Latest news with #MichaelMiddlehurst-Schwartz
USA Today
24-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL draft picks 2025: Tracker, analysis for every selection in first round
NFL draft picks 2025: Tracker, analysis for every selection in first round Show Caption Hide Caption DeMarcus Ware says Cowboys should take a running back in the first round Former Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware explains why Dallas should choose to improve their run game with their first-round pick in the NFL Draft. Sports Seriously The 2025 NFL draft is finally upon us, taking place this year at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin – Titletown – home of the Green Bay Packers, the league's all-time winningest franchise. It's also the first time the "Cheese State" has hosted the league's marquee offseason event in the common draft era (since 1967) and first overall since Milwaukee staged the event in … 1940. The league's 90th annual "Player Selection Meeting" likely won't feature much mystery with its No. 1 pick, but things could get awfully interesting shortly afterward in what should be a highly intriguing first round. USA TODAY Sports will analyze each pick, one through 32, as it is made Thursday night while providing updates and sharing pre-draft angles to know throughout the day before the Titans go on the clock tonight. How to watch the NFL draft: The 2025 draft will be broadcast on NFL Network, ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC and streamed on NFL+, ESPN+ or Fubo, which comes with a free trial over the next three days: NFL draft bold predictions for the first round USA TODAY Sports' panel of NFL experts weighed in Thursday morning with some hot takes for Thursday night. Who might swing a big trade? How many quarterbacks will hear their names called in Round 1? Where could the draft go off the groupthink rails? Read more Mock the mocks? Haven't slaked your thirst for mock drafts quite yet? We've got more for you to peruse ahead of Thursday's proceedings. Want just one round? Maybe seven? Trust Skynet more than tried and true NFL experts? We've got you covered: ▶ Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz's final mock draft (April 24) ▶ Nate Davis' final mock draft (April 21) ▶ Chris Bumbaca vs. AI mock draft (April 23) ▶ Ayrton Ostly's seven-round mock draft (April 24) NFL draft prospect rankings NFL draft expert Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz has been evaluating and ranking players ahead of the 2025 NFL draft. Take a dive into his overall assessment plus those of the best offensive weapons: ▶ Top 50 big board ▶ Top 200 big board (coming soon) ▶ QB rankings ▶ RB rankings ▶ WR rankings ▶ TE rankings ▶ Five potential first-round surprises ▶ Draft's 10 biggest boom-or-bust prospects ▶ Sleepers to watch out for 2025 NFL draft tracker: First-round picks 1. Tennessee Titans – 2. Cleveland Browns – 3. New York Giants – 4. New England Patriots – 5. Jacksonville Jaguars – 6. Las Vegas Raiders – 7. New York Jets – 8. Carolina Panthers – 9. New Orleans Saints – 10. Chicago Bears – 11. San Francisco 49ers – 12. Dallas Cowboys – 13. Miami Dolphins – 14. Indianapolis Colts – 15. Atlanta Falcons – 16. Arizona Cardinals – 17. Cincinnati Bengals – 18. Seattle Seahawks – 19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 20. Denver Broncos – 21. Pittsburgh Steelers – 22. Los Angeles Chargers – 23. Green Bay Packers – 24. Minnesota Vikings – 25. Houston Texans – 26. Los Angeles Rams – 27. Baltimore Ravens – 28. Detroit Lions – 29. Washington Commanders – 30. Buffalo Bills – 31. Kansas City Chiefs – 32. Philadelphia Eagles – All NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
USA Today
24-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What to know for the NFL scouting combine
Hear this story This is the USA TODAY Sports NFL newsletter, 4th and Monday. If this newsletter isn't already getting conveniently delivered to your inbox, click here to subscribe. The NFL scouting combine – a major piece to the draft puzzle – takes place this week, and more than 300 prospects will be under the close eye of team coaching and personnel staffs, as well as NFL fanbases. The on-field action and NFL Network coverage, begins on Thursday and continues through Sunday. Here's your day-to-day schedule for on-field combine workouts: Thursday, Feb. 27: Defensive linemen and linebackers (starting at 3 p.m. ET) Defensive linemen and linebackers (starting at 3 p.m. ET) Friday, Feb. 28: Defensive backs and tight ends (starting at 3 p.m. ET) Defensive backs and tight ends (starting at 3 p.m. ET) Saturday, March 1: Quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers (starting at 1 p.m. ET) Quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers (starting at 1 p.m. ET) Sunday, March 2: Offensive linemen (starting at 1 p.m. ET) As players go through drills such as the 40-yard dash, vertical and broad jumps, 3-cone drill, shuttle runs and bench press, as well as position-specific drills (such as the always entertaining gauntlet), be ready for a heaping helping of scout-speak. You'll hear of high-motor guys, players who can get through trash, linebackers who are downhill thumpers and dancing bear linemen. You need to know that "oily hips" is a compliment and "heavy-legged waist bender" is not. There already have been a deluge of mock drafts and prospect rankings. Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz even has a list of the 10 prospects who could be workout wonders during their time in Indianapolis. In addition, we present another kind of draft prospect rankings here at 4th and Monday: The "Hype Bunny" rankings. These are prospects whose stock rises in the timeframe between the end of the college football season and the draft in late April. Could be any prospect, from possible first-rounders to projected Day 3 prospects who are improving their draft stock. Events such as the Senior and Shrine Bowls, combine and pro days can help elevate a prospect further up draft boards even without the aid of fresh game tape. These "Hype Bunny" rankings will change as draft season rolls along, with the combine likely profoundly impacting this list: Grey Zabel, OT, North Dakota State Shemar Stewart, edge rusher, Texas A&M Mike Green, edge rusher, Marshall Mason Taylor, TE, LSU Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky Zabel was one of the standouts at the Senior Bowl, showing a small-school prospect could compete alongside Power 5 players. Stewart and Green are prospects at a key position who likely solidified their first-round projections and could move further up draft boards for Day 1. Hairston is another Senior Bowl standout, and Taylor is the son of Hall of Famer Jason Taylor. These five are among a number of prospects to follow closely this week in Indianapolis. ➤ 10 draft prospects who could star in combine workouts: The NFL scouting combine annually features a few star performances, and several players look poised to seize the spotlight this year. ➤ Shedeur Sanders won't throw at combine: One of the draft's top quarterbacks will not be showing off his arm on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, opting instead to try to wow scouts with his on-field skills at Colorado's pro day. ➤ Cam Ward issues warning to teams who pass on him in draft: Ward wouldn't be the first quarterback to adopt a chip-on-the-shoulder mentality if he isn't the top player selected. ➤ 17 candidates for massive contract extensions: From 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy to Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., these players could receive a hefty new deals this offseason. ➤ Cut candidates: On the opposite side are expensive veteran players whose teams have decided are they expendable. As teams take stock of their financial standing, they will weigh some difficult moves. ➤ NFL starts investigation into Justin Tucker allegations: Following accusations of sexual misconduct from more than a dozen massage therapists, the league has started its own investigation into the Ravens kicker. NFL offseason dates to know Make sure to mark your calendars for these key upcoming NFL events 📅: Feb. 18 — The franchise tag window opened on Feb. 18 and runs through March 4. Teams can designate franchise or transition players. Some key players who could get tagged are Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins, Kansas City Chiefs OG Trey Smith and Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold 🏷️. Feb. 24-March 3 — NFL scouting combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Part track meet, part grammar school fitness test, the combine is a vital cog in the NFL draft's evaluation machine 🏃🏾♂️. March 10 — Free agent negotiating period begins. Teams are allowed to contact and negotiate potential contracts with agents of players on expiring contracts. Agreements can be reached in principal, but are not official until … March 12 — The new league year begins. At 4 p.m. ET, any negotiated trades or contracts can be finalized and become official 📝. April 24-26 — 2025 NFL draft, which will be held at and around legendary Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. May 2 — Rookie minicamps open, as on-field preparations for the 2025 NFL season begin 🏈. NFL classics: Straight from the YouTube algorithm 🏈🎞️ This is where we reprise some NFL lore and recall classic, memorable moments from yesteryear. We just know that you scrolled this far down the newsletter to see what NFL classic we'd dig up now that the season is over. Well, prepare for things to get a little wild now that we're in the offseason! This week, it's less "classic game" and more "classic compilation." It's head coaches wired for sound by NFL Films, and it's amazing. The thing to know is that this compilation might be around 30 years old. The most recent coaches included are Bill Parcells (from his time with the New York Giants) and Marv Levy (from his time with the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs). However, it is loaded with classic one-liners. Here's a small sampling … "This is NFL, which stands for 'Not For Long' when you make them (expletive) calls." "C'mon defense, stop somebody once!" "Get him outta there because he has no hands." "Run the Bumerooski." "What we gotta do is run, it sounds crazy, is an 8 88 deep down the (expletive) middle and hope for pass interference." "I don't want you running around, faking blitzes and getting out of position. Understand? You line up where you're supposed to line up. None of that hairy high school fake this, do what we're told." If you enjoy reading 4th and Monday 📰, encourage your football fan friends to subscribe 📱. Follow the never nefarious writer of this newsletter on social media @jimreineking.
