Latest news with #MondayMorningQuarterback
USA Today
21-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Albert Breer strongly hints at potential 1st-round pick for 49ers
Albert Breer strongly hints at potential 1st-round pick for 49ers Nobody knows exactly what's going to happen in the first round of the NFL draft, but Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer hinted strongly at what the San Francisco 49ers' plan might be. In his Monday Morning Quarterback column, Breer rolled through some pre-draft notes he has just four days before the NFL draft. He circled Mississippi defensive tackle Walter Nolen as a player who might go earlier than he's going in most projections, and then he specifically mentioned the 49ers as a team to watch. Via MMQB: Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen may go higher than you think. Some teams believe he projects better to the NFL than Graham. The character/entitlement question is what you have to get past. But if you have solid infrastructure, as well as locker room and defensive line room, the payoff could be big. So if the San Francisco 49ers are willing to take a swing … It's notable that Breer didn't mention the 49ers among a group of teams interested. He specifically pointed to them as a club that would be able to maximize Nolen's talent and help him overcome some of the red flags that have popped up in pre-draft evaluations. Nolen had a 30 visit with the 49ers according to the Athletic's Matt Barrows, so San Francisco did their homework on the rising star defensive tackle. He's a talented athlete with room to continue ascending. Last season at Ole Miss he posted 36 pressures and six sacks with a career-best 32 run stops per Pro Football Focus. The 49ers badly need defensive tackle help and Nolen is the kind of prospect who could step in as a starter on Day 1. It's a fit that makes sense, and Breer's pre-draft note makes it seem as though Nolen is firmly on San Francisco's radar in the first round.
USA Today
11-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Grant Udinski a 'great get' by Jaguars, says NFL insider
The Jacksonville Jaguars announced last week that Grant Udinski will be the team's offensive coordinator under head coach Liam Coen, a move that one NFL insider really likes. In Albert Breer's recent edition of the Monday Morning Quarterback over at Sports Illustrated, he called the addition of Udinski a 'great get' for Coen. 'Great get by Jacksonville Jaguars coach Liam Coen in poaching Grant Udinski, Kevin O'Connell's 29-year-old right-hand man, off the Minnesota Vikings staff,' wrote Breer. 'Udinski should be a resource to Coen in the same way Shane Steichen was for Sirianni early on in Sirianni's time in Philly.' Udinski comes to Jacksonville as one of the more fast risers in the coaching ranks in recent seasons. He spent the last three years with the Vikings, working closely with head coach Kevin O'Connell and the quarterbacks and had been promoted each season that he had been with the team. Under O'Connell, Udinski, and the rest of the offensive coaching staff, the Vikings offense would rank ninth in scoring last season. Quarterback Sam Darnold also put together a career year as the Vikings went on to win 14 games. Vikings reporter Ben Goessling would recently mention on an appearance on 1010XL that one of the things that stands out most about Udinski is his level of commitment to his players. With Coen considering himself part of the Sean McVay coaching tree, there should be a bit of overlap in what he wants to run in Jacksonville and what Udinski was doing in Minnestoa. Prior to becoming the Vikings' head coach, O'Connell was the Rams' offensive coordinator. Coen will do the play calling, but obviously Udinski will play a pivotal role in accomplishing what is the top task for this new coaching staff, which is getting Trevor Lawrence and the passing game back on track.
USA Today
05-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL Insider says Vikings are 'comfortable' with J.J. McCarthy in 2025
Vikings fans are up their necks in quarterback discussions this offseason, and we are just getting into February. Sam Darnold's emergence, along with J.J. McCarthy's injury, created a perfect storm of chaos for the Vikings. Despite all the chaos, one NFL insider is pointing out some news that Vikings fans may be excited to hear. Albert Breer of Monday Morning Quarterback was on The Rich Eisen Show this week during his Super Bowl coverage and shared an update on the young quarterback. Breer shared that McCarthy is 'ahead of schedule' and able to do 'just about everything.' Breer went on to explain, 'He's going to have a full offseason. So he's not going to be limited by anything this offseason… they'd be comfortable with him as the starting QB in 2025.' Darnold is set to become a free agent, and there have been discussions about the team placing the franchise tag on him or letting him walk. Regardless of their move, Darnold seems poised for being a security blanket for the team rather than a starter in 2025.
