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San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Why 49ers think all-grit, no-glamour tight end Luke Farrell can unleash their All-Pros
The hardest part of Luke Farrell's job is excruciatingly difficult. And the San Francisco 49ers tight end discovered just how challenging it was soon after arriving in the NFL. On Sept. 30, 2021, Farrell, then a rookie with the Jaguars, was given this assignment during his fourth career game: Block the Bengals' 265-pound defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who has since been voted to the past four Pro Bowls. Farrell slammed into Hendrickson. And separated a shoulder joint. Hendrickson 'just turned to me and said, 'I know that hurt,'' Farrell said, laughing. 'I was like, 'Yeah, a little bit.'' Welcome to the world of a blocking tight end, part of a niche NFL group whose members mostly serve as an extension of the offensive line. It's unglamorous and demanding work — few notice when they win their seemingly one-sided battles with hulking defensive ends and hell-bent blitzing linebackers — but it can be lucrative for its top practitioners. Consider Farrell, who has 36 catches for 318 yards and no touchdowns in four NFL seasons. Last year he had 12 receptions for 67 yards and was targeted with six passes during a nine-game stretch. However, those puny numbers translated into big bucks: Farrell signed a three-year, $15.75 million contract with the 49ers in March. Why did the 49ers make Farrell, who ranks 76th among tight ends in catches since 2021, the 26th highest-paid player at the position ($5.25 million annually)? The question flummoxed fans, none of whom have ever selected Farrell in a fantasy football draft. But Farrell is accustomed to being unrecognized and underappreciated beyond locker rooms. 'The greatest compliments I get are respect from peers,' Farrell said. 'That has a high value. But they understand it and they know the ins and outs of everything and what it takes to do this. The average fan may not necessarily know and it's hard to when you've never done it. But when a fan does (understand), you're like, 'OK, they really know their stuff.'' Farrell felt valued by the 49ers shortly after the start of free agency, agreeing to his deal about three hours after the legal tampering period began March 10. The 49ers weren't alone in pursuing him. But they were the most aggressive. And the most generous. 'The Niners wanted to work fast,' Farrell said. 'And they were far and away the best opportunity as far as what they were offering. So it was, at the end of the day, kind of a no-brainer.' The 49ers prized Farrell because he's big (6-foot-5, 250 pounds), durable (he has played in 66 of 68 games) and has the skills to capably fill the No. 2 role behind George Kittle that Charlie Woerner held from 2020-23. Woerner, a sixth-round pick, is a celebrated member of the blocking tight end fraternity who signed a three-year, $12 million deal with the Falcons last year despite collecting 11 catches in four seasons with the 49ers. For head coach Kyle Shanahan, an elite blocking tight end isn't a conventional offensive weapon, but it's a player who allows him to take full advantage of his All-Pro offensive weapons. Asked recently about Farrell's value, Shanahan said Farrell's blocking ability can free up Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey to run more routes instead of staying in as an extra blocker. 'It's nice when you can have a tight end who is a good blocker not only in the run game, but also in protection,' Shanahan said. 'So he could come in and he could block a (defensive end) and George and Christian could both be on routes. That's something I thought we had a lot with Charlie Woerner.' What can happen when a lesser blocker is tasked with the job? The 49ers found out in their blowout loss to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game in January 2023. Instead of Woerner, Shanahan had tight end Tyler Kroft block Pro Bowl pass rusher Haason Reddick, who easily dismissed Kroft and delivered a hit that tore quarterback Brock Purdy's elbow ligament. 'I think,' Shanahan said, 'a No. 2 tight end in the NFL is huge.' Shanahan isn't the only head coach who has coveted Farrell, who had 34 catches in four seasons at Ohio State and 91 catches in his final three years at Perry (Ohio) High School in suburban Cleveland. Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer offered Farrell a scholarship after he had 15 catches for 226 yards as a sophomore. Seven years later, Meyer, then the Jaguars head coach, was the reason Jacksonville selected Farrell in the fifth round after his five-catch senior season. 'He's great,' Meyer said after Farrell was drafted. 'He'll be an NFL player for a really long time.' Farrell had options if he didn't become an NFL player. He had a 4.5 GPA in high school and was a four-time All-Academic Big Ten pick who had a 4.0 GPA in his final two years. Farrell was a human development and family studies major who wanted to become a physical therapist if his career ended after Ohio State. Instead, Farrell is studying the 49ers' intricate offense and enjoying the process. It has similarities to past systems in which he has played, but the strong emphasis on zone-blocking concepts is different. 'It's, 'This is who we are, this is what we do, this is how we're going to do it,' which is great for a guy like me,' Farrell said. 'I love the detail. I love the expectation of having everyone on the same page.' In March, Farrell's agent called him to relay the 49ers' contract offer when Farrell was driving in southwest Cleveland shortly after the start of free agency. Farrell pulled into a grocery store parking lot to discuss the details and speak with his parents about his decision. It was a validating moment for a No. 2 tight end who has had fewer than two catches in 59 of his 66 NFL games. Farrell was confident he had done stellar work in the shadows, blocking brutes like Hendrickson, but he was also accustomed to going unnoticed. The contract made it clear: He had been seen by a team who saw far more than his stats. 'I knew it was a possibility,' Farrell said. 'It was an exciting possibility. And now that it's real, it's very exciting.'
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Sean Payton regretted his Alvin Kamara comparison at the time, but may have got it right
Sean Payton regretted his Alvin Kamara comparison at the time, but may have got it right Kamara's numbers, play style mirror Marshall Faulk's career We're entering the part of the offseason where we start to get kind of wistful. A little nostalgic. Introspective, maybe. Look back on years past, and consider how comments made before look with the benefit of hindsight. Back when he was leading the New Orleans Saints as their Super Bowl-winning head coach, Sean Payton had a blunt reaction to being asked about comments he'd made comparing rookie draft pick Alvin Kamara to Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk, who he had coached in college at San Diego State. Payton had complimented how quick a learner and adept a receiver both players had been (similar body types helped; Faulk played at 5-foot-10 and 211 pounds, while the Saints list Kamara at 5-foot-10 and 215), but that's where the comparison stopped. "Stop," Payton told reporters back in 2017. "Marshall Faulk's a first ballot Hall of Famer. We're not doing that to a rookie running back. This kid has got really, really good football intelligence. He has good transitional speed. But even when I made the comparison back in training camp it was prefaced with, hey, not making a comparison to Marshall, I'm just saying he's a guy that learns very quickly and that's how Marshall was. I just don't want to see Marshall Faulk headlined with Alvin Kamara, that's all." But you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube, and Payton's comparison has only looked more apt with time. He's right that Faulk was a different caliber of player than Kamara, but he was also right to compare the two in the first place. At this stage in his career, Faulk had appeared in 121 games, totaling 2,155 carries (17.8 per game) with 548 receptions (4.5 per game), amassing 14,889 yards from scrimmage with 79 touchdown runs and 31 touchdown catches. He had also been selected for six Pro Bowls, was a six-time All-Pro, had won league MVP, and was named Offensive Player of the Year three times. Kamara doesn't have as many accolades, but his five Pro Bowls and two All-Pro appearances are nothing to sneeze at. Through his first eight years he's appeared in 115 games, recording 1,543 rushing attempts (13.4 per game) and catching 573 passes (4.9 per game). He's gained 11,541 yards from scrimmage. So while they have averaged the same number of yards per carry (4.4), the four extra rushes per game that Faulk got made a very big difference. And now Kamara is on the verge of doing something special. He's 238 receiving yards away from joining Faulk, Marcus Allen, and Tiki Barber to become the fourth running back in NFL history to gain at least 5,000 yards as both a rusher and receiver. Look at the numbers: Marshall Faulk: 12,279 rushing yards, 6,875 receiving yards Marcus Allen: 12,243 rushing yards, 5,411 receiving yards Tiki Barber: 10,449 rushing yards, 5,183 receiving yards Alvin Kamara: 6,779 rushing yards, 4,762 receiving yards It feels like a safe assumption that Kamara will go the distance and join those great players in the 5,000-yard (10,000?) club, but just how far can he go? Kamara's contract is set to run out after the 2026 season, so he has at least two more years to keep building on his legacy. He's talked before about not wanting to play football until his body breaks down, and his abundance of interests away from the field gives him options. If he decides to keep playing after this contract runs out, he might close the gap with Faulk in the end. Maybe. And here's one more stat for the road. Since the two-point conversion was adopted in 1994, just two players have successfully converted it seven times. Those two players? Marshall Faulk, and Alvin Kamara.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Star Tristan Wirfs Ranked Near Top of NFL
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Star Tristan Wirfs Ranked Near Top of NFL originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have certainly had stars on their team over the years, but maybe none along the offensive line as highly regarded as Tristan Wirfs. Advertisement After coming to Tampa Bay via the 13th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the 26-year-old former Iowa Hawkeye has made four Pro Bowls total across two different tackle positions, two First-Team All-Pro selections and one Second-Team All-Pro team. He's also been an important part of protecting Tom Brady and now, Baker Mayfield, as the Bucs offense was one of the best in the NFL in 2024. Wirfs has sometimes avoided national media attention and appreciation as the rest of the league doesn't always notice the Bucs and their players for whatever reason, but ProFootballFocus ranked him the No. 2 offensive tackle in the league heading into 2025. "There has been no better pass-blocking offensive tackle in the NFL in recent years than Wirfs. Not only did he permit zero sacks in 2024, but he also allowed pressure on just 1.9% of pass plays — the best rate among all offensive tackles. The gap between Wirfs and the second-place left tackle in pressure rate allowed — 1 percentage point — is the equivalent of the gap between the second- and sixth-ranked left tackles." Advertisement Wirfs is second to just Jordan Mailata of the Philadelphia Eagles, but ahead of other stalwart offensive tackles in the league, like 3. Rahawn Slater, Los Angeles Chargers, 4. Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers, 5. Lane Johnson, Eagles, 6. Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions, 7. Christian Darrisaw, Minnesota Vikings, 8. Laremy Tunsil, Washington Commanders, 9. Zach Tom, Green Bay Packers and 10. Bernhard Raimann, Indianapolis Colts. Related: Buccaneers 2nd-Round Pick Tabbed 'Rookie to Watch' Related: Bucs One of NFL's Most Complete Teams This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Browns WR Jarvis Landry ranked 100th best player in franchise history
Former Browns WR Jarvis Landry ranked 100th best player in franchise history The Cleveland Browns are nearly 100 days from kicking off the regular season. The Browns are entering the 2025 season with considerable apprehension. The team is bereft of top talent, and there is little hope for success. The future might not be bright for the Browns, but it's a good time to examine the franchise's proud past. It's important to remember the team's history. It's a vault full of inspiration, information, and hope. The Browns have been around for 79 seasons, and the franchise has experienced everything under the sun. They've had dynasties, playoff contenders, average teams, bad teams, historically awful teams, and no team. The team is finishing up their first week of OTAs. The organization will soon be in the dog days of summer, with little activity before mandatory mini-camp. This offseason, I want to focus on the players who mattered the most in franchise history. The top 100 Browns players of all time are a motley crew. There are hometown heroes, established superstars, veteran mercenaries, disappointing castoffs, and undrafted free agents. Each one of them contributed and sacrificed greatly for the franchise. They serve as examples for fans and players to follow. For day one, we're starting with a recent fan favorite. 100. Jarvis Landry, WR Jarvis Landry was a standout receiver from Lutcher, Louisiana. Landry attended Louisiana State University, where he was named to the second-team All-SEC. He was drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft. Landry arrived in Cleveland in 2018. The Browns were able to secure the perennial Pro Bowler in a trade for a fourth and seventh-round pick with the Dolphins. Landry became a fan favorite before he stepped on the field. Aptly nicknamed 'Juice', he was a vocal leader on the Browns' season of HBO's Hard Knocks. His monologue about the team needing to practice through injuries. The contagious message on resilience was greatly needed for a team coming off a 1-31 record over the prior two seasons. He helped revitalize the Browns, helping them win their first playoff game since the franchise's return. Landry played nine years in the NFL. He played for the Miami Dolphins, Browns, and New Orleans Saints. He amassed 7,870 yards, 38 touchdowns, and 713 receptions in his career. Landry was selected for five Pro Bowls. He played four seasons and 59 games with the Browns. He recorded 288 catches for 3,560 yards and 15 touchdowns with the team. Landry led the team in receptions and receiving yards in three of his four seasons. He ranks 16th in receiving yards for the Browns. Landry was a good receiving threat for the Browns. He primarily played the slot, where he was a mismatch weapon against linebackers and nickel backs. Landry was a tough receiver, willing to do the dirty work for the team. He was a solid run blocker and had no problem driving his facemask through a front-seven player's chest. Landry was a good player, but his passion for the game made him a great team player. Landry's passion and sacrifice are still missed on offense.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Georgia Makes Move for Son of Bulldogs Legend, Current Notre Dame Commit
Georgia Makes Move for Son of Bulldogs Legend, Current Notre Dame Commit originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Head coach Marcus Freeman's Notre Dame Fighting Irish have an impressive 2026 recruiting class, with a total of 16 commitments, and rank No. 4 in the nation, per On3. Advertisement One of the biggest names in that group is linebacker Thomas Davis Jr., who committed to the program on Nov. 12, 2024, and has taken a total of five visits with the Fighting Irish. However, he is still keeping his options open, as Chad Simmons of On3 reported on Friday that Davis Jr. has scheduled an official visit with the Georgia Bulldogs, set to take place on Saturday. This is certainly a huge development, as he's the son of former Georgia defensive back and linebacker Thomas Davis, who spent three seasons (2002-2004) in Athens and was named a consensus All-American in his junior season. Advertisement His time with the Bulldogs helped him create a lengthy 15-year professional career. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the No. 14 pick in the 2005 NFL Draft and made three total Pro Bowls. Now, Davis Jr. is looking to be as successful as his father, as On3 Industry Rankings ranks him as a four-star recruit, the No. 11 linebacker and the No. 184 player in the nation. Weddington High School linebacker Thomas Davis Jr. (left) and Thomas Davis Sr. (right).Lori Schmidt / Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images In his three seasons at the varsity level for Weddington High School, Davis Jr. appeared in 43 games, racking up 185 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, five interceptions, 25 pass deflections and three fumble recoveries. Advertisement If Georgia can flip Davis Jr., he would be a huge addition to a 2026 recruiting class, which already features 10 commitments and ranks No. 2 in the SEC and No. 5 in the nation. Related: Ohio State Predicted to Lose Five-Star Recruit to Big Ten Rival This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
