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USA Today
06-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Broncos just outside top 12 in post-draft NFL power rankings
Broncos just outside top 12 in post-draft NFL power rankings Following the 2025 NFL draft, Nate Davis of USA TODAY released updated NFL power rankings for all 32 teams. Davis has the Denver Broncos ranked 13th, which is a notable improvement from his last rankings that had Denver at No. 17. "It's easy (and justifiable) to link their quick turnaround to HC Sean Payton and QB Bo Nix," Davis wrote. "It also seems a bit easy to lose sight of what an elite defense this could be, especially with the arrival of first-round DB Jahdae Barron." Elsewhere in the AFC West, the Kansas City Chiefs are ranked No. 4, the Los Angeles Chargers are ranked No. 11 and the Las Vegas Raiders are ranked No. 21. The Philadelphia Eagles, the NFL's defending Super Bowl champions, are ranked No. 1. The New Orleans Saints are ranked No. 32 (last). To view the complete power rankings, visit USA TODAY. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Dallas Cowboys NFL draft picks 2025: Full list of team's round-by-round selections
Dallas Cowboys NFL draft picks 2025: Full list of team's round-by-round selections Show Caption Hide Caption NFL Draft: Sanders falls out of Round 1, Jags take Travis Hunter at No. 2 USA TODAY Sports' Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the biggest storylines from Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft. Sports Pulse The Cowboys are synonymous with high expectations every offseason. Unfortunately, Dallas received a heaping scoop of injuries to key players on both sides of the ball in 2024, which dampened those lofty goals. Their 7-10 record was their worst finish since 2020. Similarly to that season, they played most of it without quarterback Dak Prescott. The star signal-caller for "America's Team" was placed on injured reserve with a season-ending hamstring injury after just eight games in 2024. Preceding 2024, the Cowboys put together three consecutive 12-5 seasons but have failed to make it past the divisional round since they won the Super Bowl in 1995. The core on offense of Prescott and All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is elite but there are plenty of holes to be plugged throughout the roster. Dallas will look to the draft to add more pieces to the puzzle for a team that's once again in win-now mode. NFL DRAFT QB RANKINGS: Top 10 players at position for 2025 The Cowboys parted ways with head coach Mike McCarthy after the regular season and hired offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach. The team hopes its offseason switch will bring new life to the franchise and avoid a 30-year Super Bowl drought. Of course, Dallas has been frugal and reluctant to spend in free agency to upgrade its roster. The retooling process will continue during the 2025 NFL draft, where the Cowboys have ten selections. Dallas owns the 12th overall pick in the draft – their highest in the draft order since 2021. Here's everything to know about the Cowboys' draft outlook ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft: The Cowboys have ten picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Here's the complete list: Round 1: Pick 12: IOL Tyler Booker, Alabama Analysis from USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis: The All-American's combination of leadership and nastiness could be made to order for a flashy organization that might need a kick in the pants. Booker didn't test well athletically at the combine (5.38 40-yard dash), but his intangibles apparently made him too enticing – and a logical fit given the recent retirement of All-Pro G Zack Martin. All the news on and off the field: Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter for NFL content. Shop Tyler Booker Dallas Cowboys jersey Round 2: Pick 44: OLB/DE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College Analysis from USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis: The 2024 ACC Defensive Player of the Year posted 16½ sacks (second most in FBS) and 20½ TFLs last (third in FBS) season. And it's not like a defense can ever have enough pass rushers, but it's certainly nice to have a productive weapon opposite All-Pro DE Micah Parsons. The main knocks on Ezeiruaku are size (6-3, 248) and power. Round 3: Pick 76: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina Analysis from USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis: Potentially first-round ability at third-round value here, Revel dropping here after suffering a torn ACL last year. But he was stellar in 2023 and could find an immediate role in nickel packages for Dallas. Round 5: Pick 149 Round 5: Pick 174 (compensatory pick) Round 6: Pick 204 (Lions via Bills from trade for CB Kaiir Elam) Round 6: Pick 211 (compensatory pick) Round 7: Pick 217 (Titans via Patriots from trade for QB Joe Milton) Round 7: Pick 239 (Packers via Titans from trade for LB Kenneth Murray) Round 7: Pick 247 (Chiefs via Panthers from trade for WR Jonathan Mingo) Cowboys 2025 NFL Draft needs Wide receiver Dallas ranked first or second in points per game for four consecutive seasons heading into 2024. They ranked 18th with Prescott healthy under center in eight games. Prescott posted a career-worst passer rating (86) and QBR (45.6) in those eight games. Perhaps the addition of a top-tier talent at wide receiver is what the offense needs to return to form. Brandin Cooks signed with the Saints in free agency, leaving special teams maven KaVontae Turpin and Jalen Tolbert to battle for the No. 2 wide receiver spot opposite CeeDee Lamb. The top receiver according to most scouts is the big-bodied Tetairoa McMillan, but he appears poised to be selected inside the top 10. Matthew Golden out of Texas could be another option in the first round if the team wants to add a speedster. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine (4.29 seconds). Running back The Cowboys' leading rusher from 2024, Rico Dowdle, signed with the Panthers as a free agent. The Cowboys reacted by agreeing to one-year deals with Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders in free agency. The veteran duo should bring stability but are not long-term solutions. Williams showed promise early on as a former second-rounder but a devastating knee injury in his second season capped his ceiling. He could bounce back in a prove-it year, but Dallas would be wise to find an upgrade over him to take some pressure off the passing game. Ashton Jeanty or Omarion Hampton could draw consideration with the 12th pick while TreVeyon Henderson could be a second-round option. Cornerback The Cowboys finished 31st in points per game allowed last year. Dallas also needs to add on both sides of the ball in the trenches but the secondary was a glaring issue last season. An All-Pro cornerback in 2021, Trevon Diggs missed the 2023 season with a torn ACL and then suffered the same fate in December 2024. He will likely miss the start of the season and fellow starter Jourdan Lewis signed with the Jaguars in free agency. With the uncertainty surrounding Diggs' health, Dallas needs to add talent to pair with DaRon Bland. Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron would be a reach at pick 12 but Michigan standout Will Johnson would be an ideal fit for outside corner. Some options in the second round could be Azareye'h Thomas, Maxwell Hairston or Trey Amos. Cowboys 2025 NFL mock draft Here's what the Cowboys could do come draft night, according to USA TODAY Sports' Ayrton Ostly: Round 1, Pick 12: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State Dallas secures the top running back in a loaded class after scoring a league-low six rushing touchdowns in 2024. Jeanty will be a bell-cow at the next level with more potential as a receiver than he showed in college. (44): 76) (149) , (171) , (174) (204) s, (211) (239) , (247) Round 2, Pick 44: G Tyler Booker, Alabama Dallas lost Hall of Fame guard Zack Martin to retirement this offseason. Booker isn't an athletic guard, but his mauling and powerful presence should ease the loss of a franchise icon. Round 3, Pick 76: WR Isaiah Bond, Texas Round 5, Pick 149: CB Marcus Harris, Cal Round 5, Pick 174: DL Vernon Broughton, Texas Round 6, Pick 204: CB Robert Longerbeam, Rutgers Round 6, Pick 211: WR Elijah Badger, Florida Round 7, Pick 217: G Addison West, Western Michigan Round 7, Pick 239: Edge Devin Vann, N.C. State Round 7, Pick 247: LB Jack Kiser, Notre Dame 2025 NFL Draft: Every team's picks
USA Today
19-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Arizona Cardinals given solid free agency grades from USA TODAY
Arizona Cardinals given solid free agency grades from USA TODAY The Cardinals were given slightly above average grades in free agency by USA TODAY's Nate Davis. NFL free agent grades keep coming in as teams wrap up the bulk of their offseason work before turning to the NFL draft. The Arizona Cardinals made a number of moves and have improved their defense, adding Josh Sweat, bringing back Baron Browning and L.J. Collier and adding stud Dalvin Tomlinson. What grades do they get? USA TODAY's Nate Davis graded all 32 teams' work in free agency and kind of liked what the Cardinals did. He gave them a B-minus, which is good, but almost just "meh," as the youth like to say these day. Their main move was signing de facto Super Bowl MVP Josh Sweat (4 years, $76.1 million) to bolster a 21st-ranked defense, which also imports DT Dalvin Tomlinson (2 years, $29 million) and retains OLB Baron Browning (2 years, $15 million). Jacoby Brissett (2 years, $12.5 million) solidifies the quarterback depth behind Kyler Murray. And with so much salary cap space remaining, GM Monti Ossenfort can get busy rewarding core Cards like TE Trey McBride soon enough. They still have questions at guard and could upgrade the receiver room. They could always add a cornerback. But their defense was bad last season. With their upgrades up front, they look at least average to above average, which is a significant improvement. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
07-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
49ers in good position to make big splash in free agency, NFL draft
49ers in good position to make big splash in free agency, NFL draft Count USA TODAY Sports within the group that sees a potential quick pathway back to championship contention for the 49ers. San Francisco was included among USA TODAY Sports' 11 NFL teams that are best positioned to make major progress during the 2025 offseason. The 49ers checked in at No. 11 on that list according to USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis. They've already agreed to trade WR Deebo Samuel. They've taken calls on WR Brandon Aiyuk. They're working on a long-awaited extension for QB Brock Purdy, who's newly eligible for it. And that might just be the start. Though GM John Lynch only has $33.8 million to spend at present, he is scheduled to have at least 12 picks in the draft – the kind of bounty that can help open other doors for a team that's come up just short of its sixth Super Bowl victory so many times in recent years. - Davis, USA TODAY Sports. Whichever way San Francisco decides to play it, Davis is correct in suggesting that the 49ers have some legitimate ammunition at their disposal to retool their situation quickly. The 49ers own the No. 11 overall selection in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft and three more picks within the draft's first three rounds thanks to a compensatory selection that the franchise received when DeMeco Ryans and Ryan Carthon were both hired in the same offseason. San Francisco owns a trio of fourth-rounders after receiving a pair of compensatory selections for Chase Young's exit to New Orleans and Sam Darnold's big year with Minnesota. The 49ers jumped back into the fifth round with their recent Samuel trade, they own their sixth-round selection and two in the seventh thanks to a swap with Carolina and a final compensatory selection that was awarded after Ray-Ray McCloud's departure to Atlanta. That's a lot of maneuverability for the franchise to consider packaging picks to move up in the draft and select a player that it really likes or to swing a trade with another NFL team at a position of need for a veteran. Of course, the 49ers could just elect to use all of their picks where they are currently situated and address a number of needs that way as well. Though San Francisco is on the lower end of the effective cap space list—the 49ers currently possess $29.2 million in effective cap space which ranks 21st in the NFL—the franchise has enough money to make several key middle-tier free agent signings and maybe more with the right set of contract restructuring. Given the cap situation and the fact that the 49ers have 22 players set to be unrestricted free agents, San Francisco really needs to capitalize on the extra draft ammunition that it has in 2025.
USA Today
06-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
NFL analyst: Tennessee Titans positioned to make 'major progress' this offseason
NFL analyst: Tennessee Titans positioned to make 'major progress' this offseason With all of the prospect talk of the past few weeks because of the NFL Scouting Combine, it's easy to overlook that the NFL free agent signing period begins in less than a week. The Tennessee Titans have a lot of holes to fill, and they'll have to balance between free agency and the draft to rebuild the roster and rise from obscurity. The Titans have options and can get better this offseason and have the assets to accomplish this. In his article ranking the NFL teams poised to take that step, Nate Davis of USA TODAY has the Titans near the top of his list (No. 2 overall). When you occupy the top spot in the draft, then – to some degree – you control the draft. The Titans have signaled their desire to pick a 'generational' talent – who wouldn't want that? – but don't necessarily seem wedded to making whomever that player is the No. 1 overall selection. If he can successfully incite a bidding war for a rookie quarterback, rookie GM Mike Borgonzi should be able to better jump-start his new employer's needed overhaul. Doesn't hurt to have $50 million in his cap pocket, either, and it should be interesting to see how aggressive Borgonzi might be in the trade market after working with Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach for so many years. The Titans do have the financial cap space to make a splash and they do intend to use it. While that may not look the same as last offseason's $228 million spending spree, they will have a targeted approach at rebuilding in the free agent period to complement their draft. Both general manager Mike Borgonzi and president Chad Brinker have talked about building for sustained success and implementing a draft, develop and retain philosophy, making this process extremely important. NFL free agency kicks off on Wednesday, March 12, with the so-called "legal tampering window" opening Monday, March 10. It's a good bet that the Titans will be active.
