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Newsweek
an hour ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Booger McFarland's Bold Take on Commanders' Jayden Daniels
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Last season, Jayden Daniels put the NFL on notice by putting together a strong rookie campaign for the Washington Commanders. As he prepares for year two, one analyst is very confident in the young quarterback's trajectory. It did not take long for Daniels to prove to the world why the Commanders were smart to select him No. 2 overall in the 2024 draft. He came out of the gates strong, throwing for over 3,500 yards and racking up 25 touchdowns in the regular season. Behind Daniels' impressive play, Washington picked up 12 wins and punched their ticket to the playoffs. The rookie QB then went on to lead them to upsets over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions before falling short against the Philadelphia Eagles. Based on how he played as a rookie, Daniels is now a player many are excited to see take the field in 2025. Despite only entering his second season, one former player has set high expectations for the Commanders' QB. During an appearance on "NFL Live" this week, Booger McFarland touched on the idea of Daniels helping Washington emerge as a contender. Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders throws a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field. Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders throws a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field."They know as long as he stays healthy and everyone around him does their part, he makes that next jump," McFarland said. "We're not just talking about a team that can get into the playoffs, you're talking about a team that could have one of the elite quarterbacks in the National Football League. And when you have one of those guys, that gives you an opportunity to win a championship." .@AdamSchefter and @ESPNBooger talk about how Jayden Daniels and the Commanders are building toward a championship 📈 "We're talking about Washington being a model NFL franchise. ... This is the type of universe we're now living in." — NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) June 4, 2025 These are big shoes to fill for a player in just their second season, but Daniels could be ready to make such a leap. Having led the franchise to a pair of playoff wins as a rookie, he seems poised to be a pillar for the Commanders for years to come. One thing that will be different this time around is Daniels understands what he's heading into now. With a year of experience under his belt, he had a full offseason to work on parts of his game that need to improve at the pro level. With this understanding, the former No. 2 pick should be ready to take another step forward in 2025. Washington understands the talent they have in front of them and wasted no time upgrading the cast of players around Daniels. Their biggest splash was acquiring Deebo Samuel from the San Francisco 49ers. All the pieces are in place for Daniels to lead the Commanders up the ranks in the NFL. Only time will tell if the dynamic QB is able to remain on the path towards stardom and avoid a sophomore slump.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bears building around Caleb Williams the right way, per Adam Schefter
The post Bears building around Caleb Williams the right way, per Adam Schefter appeared first on ClutchPoints. As Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams looks to improve going into his second season in the league, there is no doubt that high expectations for the star who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. While some feel Williams and new Bears head coach Ben Johnson are a bad fit, one who does not agree is ESPN insider Adam Schefter. Advertisement The NFL insider was speaking on ESPN's 'NFL Live,' where he spoke about the situation that Chicago built around Williams this offseason. He would first express the hiring of an offensive mind in Johnson and crafting a coaching staff that looks to 'elevate' the USC product. 'Well, you heard Ben Johnson, the new Bears head coach, right there talk about all the time that he spent with Caleb Williams this offseason, trying to marry their minds together, to think alike,' Schefter said. 'And every single thing the Bears have done this offseason seems designed to bring the best out of Caleb Williams. They hire Ben Johnson first and foremost, and surround him with an assistant coaching staff to elevate Caleb Williams.' Last season in his rookie campaign, Williams threw for 3,541 yards to go along with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. There was no doubt that there were some flaws, but it also didn't help that he was one of the most pressured quarterbacks in the league last season, which the team addressed. Adam Schefter on how the Bears set up Caleb Williams for success Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images As the Bears' entire 2025 roster looks to make a splash in the NFC North, there is no denying that Williams will get a lot of eyes on him this upcoming season. Especially with how Chicago approached the offseason in not just adding the right coaching staff, but also reinforcing the offensive line and adding more weapons through the latest draft, as Schefter mentions. Advertisement 'They then go out and trade for three different offensive linemen to go fortify a leaky offensive front to protect Caleb Williams,' Schefter said. 'And then they use two top draft picks on a tight end from Michigan, Colston Loveland, and a wide receiver from Missouri in Luther Burden, to give Caleb Williams even more weapons, so he's got the coaches, he's got the line, he's got the weapons. They are doing everything they can to make sure that he fulfills his potential.' At any rate, the Bears are looking to improve after finishing with a 5-12 record, which put them last in the division as they open the upcoming campaign against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday, Sept. 8. Related: Bears fans loving Ben Johnson's constructive Caleb Williams criticism Related: Bears' DJ Moore reveals Ben Johnson's body language warning
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mina Kimes weighs in on ‘big' Frank Ragnow Lions retirement
The post Mina Kimes weighs in on 'big' Frank Ragnow Lions retirement appeared first on ClutchPoints. With the news of Detroit Lions offensive lineman Frank Ragnow retiring from the NFL after being with the team since being drafted with the 20th overall pick in the 2018 draft. As the Lions prepare for a grueling schedule, ESPN football analyst Mina Kimes speaks on how huge of a loss it is for the team now that Ragnow has retired. Advertisement Detroit has been known for its dominance in the trenches, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Kimes would say on 'NFL Live' that Ragnow's retirement is 'massive' since he was 'one of the best centers' in the NFL. 'It's massive,' Kimes said. 'The Lions' success over the last couple of years has really been inside out. It started with the offensive line, and you're losing Ragna, is one of the best centers of football, but you're replacing two out of three of the interior offensive linemen, Christian mahogany, who's playing guard did play some but he'll be a full time starter for the first time, and that creates a lot of questions and a lot of problems for a number of reasons. This run game, which has been so dominant, is incredibly complex.' Frank Ragnow's retirement could lead to pressure on Lions' Jared Goff © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images With Lions quarterback Jared Goff teasing new wrinkles in the offense, the loss of Ragnow no doubt impacts the team and brings up questions regarding their run and pass protection. Speaking of Goff, Kimes would bring up how the signal-caller is an 'incredibly pressure-sensitive' player, which makes the news about Ragnow even more concerning for the team. Advertisement 'The Lions run a ton of different concepts, so you're asking for a new combination to execute that, and then pressure,' Kimes said. 'Jared Goff has been absolutely fantastic in Detroit, but he remains an incredibly pressure-sensitive quarterback. Over the last two years, when he is kept clean, he is first league wide in QBR when he's under pressure, that drops to 27th so there's going to be a lot of pressure in a different way on this new offensive line, and their new offensive coordinator has to figure all of this out, and you know, it's going to be quite a transition to Detroit, but this is a big big loss.' At any rate, Detroit is looking to further improve after finishing last season with a 15-2 record, which put them first in the NFC North, though they were eliminated by the Washington Commanders in the divisional round.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Analyst praises Bucs current approach to roster building, NFL Draft
Analyst praises Bucs current approach to roster building, NFL Draft Jason Licht did not start off strong as the general manager of the Bucs when it came to drafting. Some of his early draft classes are some of the worst in franchise history if we are being honest. Specifically the 2016 class where they traded up to draft Roberto Aguayo who lasted one year after being an all-time great college kicker at Florida State. But like most things in life, failure can lead to lessons learned, and Jason Licht is a prime example of that. His recent run of free agency and trades, paired with his draft classes, has the Bucs with one of the more complete rosters in the entire NFL. That roster has now become a talking point for analysts who cover the league, most recently on ESPN by Kevin Clark on their program, NFL Live. "The way the Buccaneers draft now is for value. They're drafting because their roster is so good ... Jason Licht is one of the best GMs in all of football." Licht has earned that distinction in recent years as we mentioned. It isn't just his roster building, though; it is also how well he handles the constant turnover of their coaching staff year to year. They have lost their playcaller the last two years, and he has shown continued support for Todd Bowles that has allowed the players on the roster to continue to develop. It all plays a part in the success that the team is having right now.
NBC Sports
24-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Peyton Manning: Jim Irsay made Indy a football town
For years, Indianapolis was associated primarily with things other than pigskin. In 1984, that changed. The Colts came to town. And, once Jim Irsay inherited the franchise following the passing of his father, Bob, the Colts made their move toward the top of the NFL. Appearing this week on ESPN's NFL Live, Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning explained how Irsay made Indy a football town. 'When I got there, Indiana basketball, [auto] racing, the Indy 500 -- that was it,' Manning said. 'I think football was the third sport. Maybe not. Golf might've been in there. And all of a sudden, because of the commitment Jim made to winning . . . he goes out and hires Bill Polian, who had rebuilt the Buffalo Bills, had started the Carolina Panthers as a new franchise, takes them to the NFC Championship, then he drafts Edgerrin James, obviously re-signs Marvin Harrison, who's already there. And next thing you know, the Colts all of a sudden, 'Hey, the Colts are beating Miami, they're beating Buffalo, they're winning their division. And all of a sudden, 'Hey, the Colts are for real.'' The moment happened in 1999, Manning's second season. The lumps he took as a rookie (when the Colts went 3-13) helped him and the Colts explode into contention in his second season — and flipped their final record to 13-3. The next year, they went 10-6. Then came the 'playoffs?!?' season of 2001, which resulted in a 6-10 finish and the firing of Jim Mora (who turns 90 today) and the hiring of Tony Dungy. Off they went. 10-6, 12-4, 12-4, 14-2, 12-4 (and a Super Bowl win), 13-3, 12-4, 14-2 (and a Super Bowl appearance), and 10-6. The wheels came off when Peyton Manning missed 2011 (2-14), but with Andrew Luck they had three straight 11-5 seasons. 'Right before your eyes, Indianapolis became the biggest football town,' Manning said. 'High school football goes up. Fans wear more jerseys to a Colts game than any other stadium out there. And that was [because of] Jim's commitment. That was his commitment to the city that he was going to bring them a winner once he took over, and he did.' Along the way, the RCA Dome inched toward obsolescence. It was time to play the stadium politics game. Irsay found the solution in Indy that his father couldn't find in Baltimore. 'There were all kinds of rumors about us maybe moving to Los Angeles or whatnot,' Manning said. 'Jim always wanted to stay in Indianapolis, but he felt like, 'Hey, we have this really good team. We're fun to watch. Let's get them a new stadium to play in.' And the next thing you know, Lucas Oil Stadium is built.' For those whose NFL fandom firmly existed when the Colts were in Baltimore, the sudden arrival of Indianapolis on the football scene took some getting used to. It's now impossible to think of pro football without thinking of Indiana — especially since along the way the Colts' presence brought the Scouting Combine to town. Where it's been ever since, and where it should permanently remain.
