Latest news with #RobertSaleh
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL analyst predicts 49ers to go over their projected win total in 2025
The San Francisco 49ers had one of their most disappointing seasons in some time in 2024, finishing with a 6-11 record and in fourth place in the NFC West after three straight trips to the NFC championship and one to the Super Bowl. This season, the 49ers are hoping that some of the moves they made, including bringing back defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, drafting Mykel Williams in the first round, trading for Bryce Huff and replacing Deebo Samuel with Demarcus Robinson, will help them get back to their winning ways in 2025. With rookies reporting to training camp at their SAP Performance Facility in Santa Clara, California, earlier this week and veterans joining on Tuesday, BetMGM currently has set San Francisco's win total at 10.5 this year. While that'd be considered a lofty number for most, The Athletic's Vic Tafur recently projected that the 49ers will go over that total and win at least 11 games in 2025. "There have been some glowing reports about Christian McCaffrey's health, and yes, after what happened last season, 49ers fans and fantasy GMs have plenty of reason to be skeptical," Tafur said. "McCaffrey is just one of the reasons the 49ers should bounce back from a 6-11 record. They brought back defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, used their first five draft picks on the defense and traded for pass rusher Bryce Huff to line up opposite Nick Bosa. Brock Purdy got a big new contract, and there's no reason to think he can't take another step in his development. The 49ers lost receiver Deebo Samuel but Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall will hold it down — maybe? — until Brandon Aiyuk is back. (We gave you Josh Allen as the MVP at 8-to-1 last year and if he doesn't repeat — at 6-to-1 — Purdy might just shock the world at 28-to-1.)" The 49ers have their work cut out for them, as it's hard to argue that their roster is much better than it was last year. However, health could be the game-changer for the franchise in 2025 after key players like McCaffrey, Aiyuk and Trent Williams missed significant time last year that certainly cost them games. If that trio can stay on the field and play to best of their abilities, San Francisco should see an improved record this season. Whether it's enough to bring them back to at least 11 wins for the third time in four years remains to be seen. More 49ers: 49ers defender takes top spot in coaches, exec and scouts 2025 positional rankings
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sauce Gardner falls in latest cornerback rankings from ESPN
Few players have made a bigger, more immediate impact in the NFL than Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner. Immediately after the New York Jets selected him 4th overall in the 2022 NFL draft, he won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, and was then selected as a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler in each of his first two seasons. This electric start to his career is a big reason why he just signed a historic contract extension. Unfortunately for Gardner, his 2024 season was a bit of a fall from grace. The entire Jets team struggled, especially in the aftermath of the firing of Robert Saleh, and even a two-time All-Pro was not immune to the setbacks. Gardner ended the season without any accolades for the first time in his career. While no one is predicting a cataclysmic slide for Gardner, there are now people around the league who wonder if perhaps Gardner's explosive entry into the NFL was more of a fluke than his real self. This sentiment is reflected in the latest rankings from ESPN, who polled anonymous NFL executives, coaches, and scouts to find the ten best players in each position group. This year, Gardner checks in at No. 5, a drop of two spots from last year's list. The highest vote cast for him was at No. 3 while at least one respondent had him entirely outside of the Top 10. One AFC staffer did not mince words when it came to Gardner: 'Lots of missed tackles and penalties and didn't make many plays last year. Too much, too soon and thought the NFL was easy.' Jets fans won't want to hear it, but that's spot-on analysis. Even in college, the big knock on his game was how much he grabbed and held receivers when he failed to win a matchup. As a rookie, Gardner appeared to inexplicably get away with a ton of uncalled holding or interference penalties. In 2024, however, the flags started to come out and Gardner struggled to respond. Another respondent, an NFC defensive coach, concurred, saying, '...he was getting put in conversations that I didn't think were legitimate or fair. When I watch the film, I see a top ten cornerback. I don't see the top three.' That's about as straightforward as it gets. Harsh, but not out of line. The analysis isn't all bad, however. Pro Football Focus is still a believer in Sauce, who they ranked as the NFL's top cornerback heading into the 2025 season. But Gardner appears to have some doubters around the league now, maybe some who had doubted him all along, and it's up to him to prove them wrong in 2025.
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Jets roster breakdown: Locks, longshots and the bubble going into Aaron Glenn's first training camp
The time has come for observations, overreactions and quarterback stats in 11-on-11 drills. The entirety of the Jets roster — give or take an unsigned second-round pick — will report for training camp on Tuesday, the first of the Aaron Glenn era. If his comments during the spring are any indication, Glenn's first camp as head coach will be a physical one, moreso than Jets players have been accustomed to in recent years. The plan is to incorporate some form of actual hitting/tackling, something that former head coach Robert Saleh mostly avoided. Advertisement Adding to the intensity: There are more roster spots up for grabs this year than in the last few, when the Jets roster was (or at least appeared to be) deeper. So ahead of training camp, when roster battles will be won and lost, let's dive into the totality of the Jets' 90-man roster — which players can be considered locks, who is on the bubble and a look at the longshots to make it (there's usually at least one longshot who makes it, so those players shouldn't be ruled out). By my count, there are somewhere in the range of 15-23 roster spots to be won. (Note: In the Longshots, On the Bubble and Safe Bets categories, the players are listed in order from least likely to most likely to make the roster.) TE Neal Johnson: The Jets already have three tight ends pretty much locked into roster spots, though Johnson could stick on the practice squad with a decent camp. OL Obinna Eze, C Gus Hartwig, G Kohl Levao, G Marquis Hayes: Eze has some NFL experience, Hartwig is an intriguing UDFA, and both Levao and Hayes have spent time on practice squads — but there just aren't many openings on the offensive line. WR Dymere Miller, WR Ontaria Wilson: Miller is a speedy UDFA from Rutgers, and Wilson (nicknamed 'Pokey') has some CFL experience. Both made some plays in the spring. S Jordan Clark: He's longtime NFL safety Ryan Clark's son. The path to the roster is through special teams for him. TE Zack Kuntz: The 2023 seventh-round pick has all the athletic tools but just hasn't been able to put it together in the NFL. Maybe a new coaching staff can develop him into something. RB Zach Evans: The Jets only have three running backs locked into roster spots on what should be a run-heavy team — every running back in camp has a shot if the Jets ultimately want to hang onto four at the position. Evans was drafted by the Rams in the sixth round in 2023 and spent the last few weeks of last season on the Jets practice squad. Advertisement DE Michael Fletcher: The Jets are severely lacking for depth at defensive end, so a strong camp would go a long way for the UDFA. LB Jared Bartlett, LB Aaron Smith, LB Jackson Sirmon: The first two are UDFA rookies, Sirmon was a UDFA last year and spent the season on the practice squad. Linebacker might be the thinnest position on the roster, so anyone could emerge. QB Brady Cook, QB Adrian Martinez: Both are impressive athletes at quarterback but their accuracy is inconsistent. If the Jets opt to keep three quarterbacks on the 53, it would (as of now) be one of them. If not, they are fighting for the job on the practice squad. OT Leander Wiegand: The German-born Wiegand is unlikely to make the 53 but he's a near-lock to stick on the practice squad because the Jets can apply the international exemption, meaning he'd allow them to have an extra body on the practice squad. He's a prospect worth developing with his impressive strength and athleticism. WR Quentin Skinner: He's an intriguing prospect but really projects as a deep-threat only. Still, if he pops during training camp and the preseason, he has an outside shot to make the roster. WR Brandon Smith: Smith was productive last summer and looked good in the spring too. He's a near-lock for at least the practice squad. S Jaylin Simpson, S Dean Clark, S Jarius Monroe: The Jets have three safeties who are safe bets to stick around — four if Isaiah Oliver is considered a safety rather than a cornerback. That means there's, potentially, at least one spot open to stick around for depth at a position that Glenn has historically been great at developing. Simpson flashed during the spring, Monroe was a favorite of the previous staff and Clark is one of their highest-rated UDFAs in this year's class. DE Kingsley Jonathan, DE Braiden McGregor, DE Eric Watts: McGregor and Watts spent all of last season on the active roster but simply didn't produce (zero sacks between them). Watts was an intriguing prospect last year though, so perhaps he'll take a leap forward. Jonathan has some NFL experience, mostly on special teams — which isn't a bad thing to have on the résumé. Depth at defensive end is an issue. Advertisement DE Ja'Markis Weston: He might be the most intriguing UDFA in this year's class as a wide receiver-turned-safety-turned-linebacker-turned defensive end. The Jets signed him for his potential on special teams, where he thrived at the University of Florida. That gives him a real shot at making it. RB Donovan Edwards: He's the highest-rated UDFA in the Jets' rookie class after a productive career at Michigan. If the Jets keep four running backs, Edwards is the leading contender, and the preseason will be where he gets a real chance to prove himself. WR Jamaal Pritchett: Another UDFA who had a really good spring, Pritchett made plays as a receiver and pushed Xavier Gipson at punt returner. He'll have to beat out Gipson to stick around, but that's possible since Gipson didn't have a great 2024. DB Jarrick Bernard-Converse: He's an elite athlete but injuries kept him off the field as a rookie in 2023, and he was a healthy scratch for most of last season. Still, he has intriguing tools and can play both corner and safety — perhaps Glenn can tap into his talent. DT Fatormah Mulbah, DT Payton Page: The two UDFA defensive tackles play a position starved for quality depth behind Quinnen Williams. Mulbah was a standout during the spring but both will get a legit shot to stick around with a good summer. DT Leonard Taylor III: He showed flashes as an undrafted rookie last year but was mostly running with the undrafted rookies again in the spring — meaning Taylor still has a lot to prove to a new coaching staff. He's still more likely to stick than the aforementioned rookies, but he's far from a lock. FB Andrew Beck: The Jets are going to be a run-heavy offense, which is why Beck, as a fullback, should be seriously considered. The Lions used fullbacks on occasion in Detroit and the Jets will deploy an even more run-heavy attack. and Beck has significant experience (70 games) at both tight end and fullback. He'd be an obvious candidate to start the season on the practice squad and get elevated for a few weeks. Advertisement LB Jamin Davis, LB Zaire Barnes, LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball: The Jets have basically no proven depth pieces behind Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood. Davis is a former first-round pick of the Commanders and was a starter from 2021-23 in Washington so he might be considered the favorite. Barnes has only played in four games since the Jets drafted him RB Kene Nwangwu, WR Xavier Gipson: They are the early leading contenders to be the Jets' kick and punt returners. Nwangwu feels like a safer bet at this point considering how good he looked last season before an injury ended things. If he returns to form, the kick return job should be his. Gipson has Pritchett pushing him. CB Qwan'Tez Stiggers: The previous staff was high on Stiggers' potential and he thrived in training camp last year. But the Jets also signed a free agent corner, drafted one early, and re-signed Oliver. This is a completely new staff — Stiggers will have to prove himself all over again. His ability on special teams should help. DB Kris Boyd: The Jets signed him to a deal greater than the minimum ($1.6 million) because they value his skills as a gunner on special teams. He's especially important with Irv Charles working his way back from a torn ACL. OL Xavier Newman: He can be a solid depth piece on the interior particularly because he can play both guard and center; the Jets lack depth on the interior. K Harrison Mevis, K Caden Davis, P Austin McNamara, P Kai Kroeger: It will be an all-out battle for the kicker and punter jobs in training camp. None of these players has kicked in an NFL regular-season game. OT Carter Warren, OT Max Mitchell: The two former fourth-round picks have had their ups and downs in the NFL. Mitchell's ability to play both tackle spots and at guard can't hurt. The previous staff liked Warren's potential but he hasn't shown much in NFL action. One of these two will stick — and possibly both. Advertisement DE Rashad Weaver: He hasn't recorded a sack since 2022 but Weaver had a stellar spring and the Jets badly need depth at defensive end. If he builds on his spring, he'll be safe. WR Malachi Corley: It would be a tough look if the Jets moved on from a third-round pick after one year, but this regime did not draft him, and it didn't hide its disappointment in his lack of availability during the spring. Corley needs to show some maturity fast, stay on the field and make progress as a route runner while also contributing on special teams. The talent is obvious and he brings a unique skill set, but nothing is guaranteed for him. WR Tyler Johnson: He's an intriguing player with plenty of NFL experience in a variety of offenses, and he has the versatility to play multiple receiver spots. He's not a lock but should stick around with a good camp. TE Stone Smartt: Before the Jets drafted Mason Taylor, Smartt was on track for a big role in the offense. He still could push for some reps in the passing game, where he's an intriguing athlete and flashed potential late last season for the Chargers. DT Jay Tufele: He'll sub in as a run stopper in the defensive tackle rotation. OT Chukwuma Okorafor: He left the Patriots last season after he was benched, but has a lot of experience as a starter in the NFL and will be a solid option as a swing tackle if he recaptures the form he showed with the Steelers a couple years ago. S Tony Adams: He had an up-and-down 2024 and there's a rookie pushing for his starting spot, but the Jets didn't really add much at safety; Adams should stick as the third safety, at worst. WR Irv Charles: He'll likely start the season on the PUP list coming off ACL surgery, but he's a valuable piece on special teams when healthy. LB Francisco Mauigoa, DE Tyler Baron: It seems highly unlikely that the Jets would move on from fifth-round picks they just drafted a few months ago, especially since they might need both players for depth this season. Advertisement DT Derrick Nnadi: The former Chiefs veteran is nothing more than a rotational player at this point, but the Jets need his experience on the interior. WR Allen Lazard: It remains a shocker that Lazard is still a Jet, though he clearly fell behind Josh Reynolds in the spring and his contract is now structured in a way that it wouldn't cost a lot to move on if they wanted to cut or trade him. If not, Lazard can be a valuable depth piece and contributor as a blocker in the running game. DE Micheal Clemons: Fans might not like it, but it wouldn't be a major surprise if Clemons not only stuck around but also wound up being, at worst, the Jets' No. 3 defensive end to start the season. He's perfectly fine as a rotational backup — he just played too many snaps in 2024. (These are listed in alphabetical order — most of them don't require comment.) RB Braelon Allen, CB Michael Carter II, S Andre Cisco, DT Byron Cowart, RB Isaiah Davis, OT Olu Fashanu, QB Justin Fields, CB Sauce Gardner, RB Breece Hall, LS Thomas Hennessy, DE Jermaine Johnson, DE WIll McDonald IV, OT Armand Membou, S Malachi Moore, C Josh Myers, DB Isaiah Oliver, WR Josh Reynolds, TE Jeremy Ruckert, LB Jamien Sherwood, OL John Simpson, WR Arian Smith, CB Brandon Stephens , TE Mason Taylor, QB Tyrod Taylor, CB Azareye'h Thomas, C Joe Tippmann, OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, LB Quincy Williams, DT Quinnen Williams, WR Garrett Wilson A few notes about this group… • Mason Taylor is one of many second-round picks who have yet to sign, and if that remains true then he won't be there when rookies report this weekend. He's going to be a crucial part of the offense immediately, so they need him back at work. • Cowart emerged as the favorite to start next to Quinnen Williams in the spring and it would be a major surprise if he didn't stick around at this point. • If the Jets had made more than one move of significance at tight end (drafting Mason Taylor) then perhaps Ruckert would be in a different category. But he had a solid spring and feels locked in at minimum as the No. 2 tight end. • Reynolds feels pretty locked in as the Jets' No. 2 receiver. Lazard didn't pose a real threat in the spring and Reynolds and Fields seem to have good chemistry already.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
49ers' Day 3 Rookie Picked to Make Surprise Impact
49ers' Day 3 Rookie Picked to Make Surprise Impact originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The San Francisco 49ers' secondary movement could be the most detrimental roster shakeup of the offseason. Aside from Malik Mustapha recovering from injury, the Niners lost safety Talanoa Hufunga to the Denver Broncos and cornerback Charvarius Ward to the Indianapolis Colts in free agency. Advertisement Strong safety Mustapha suffered a knee injury in the Week 18 of last year, and his return to the field remains uncertain. This opens the opportunity for two backups to fill the defensive backfield to start the season, which could be some cause for concern. It's expected that Ji'Ayir Brown takes over the free safety spot after he saw 13 starts in his second season with the 49ers in 2024. For his running mate, returning defensive coordinator Robert Saleh may have to turn to a late-round NFL Draft pick to slide up into the lineup, which has led USA TODAY to name Marques Sigle as a potential surprise contributor this season in the Bay Area. Sigle, a 5-11 200-pound safety from Kansas State, was drafted late in the fifth round of this spring's draft. Advertisement "Sigle brings a ton of athleticism to a safety room that doesn't have enough of it," Writer Kyle Madson said. "If he winds up starting in Robert Saleh's defense, he has the tools to become a Swiss Army knife defender who causes havoc in the secondary." At this year's Combine, Sigle put his traits on full display with an 84 athleticism score - the third-highest of all safeties tested. The rookie defensive back was best known for his aggressiveness last season with the Wildcats as a team captain. That, according to his scouting report, can sometimes haunt him, as well. "He's a physical run defender who can blow up plays in the backfield but is in too big a hurry as a tackler, resulting in a higher miss rate. He might lack the necessary speed and instincts to make plays in coverage from man or zone." Advertisement With some fine-tuning at training camp next week, the rookie Sigle can continue to improve an possibly turn into a valuable late-round draft pick, given the Niners' need. He finished the season with 60 total tackles and career-highs in tackles for loss (7) and interceptions (3) last year. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Analytics site misses mark in identifying 49ers biggest position battle
The San Francisco 49ers for the first time in a long time have a handful of position battles set to play out in training camp. One of those is at left guard, which Pro Football and Sports Network identified as the top position battle for San Francisco. The presumed bout between Ben Bartch and Spencer Burford for the starting LG spot will undoubtedly be worth keeping a close eye on. Both players upside, but neither has done anything in the NFL to put a stranglehold on the spot leading up to camp. Advertisement While the starting LG spot is a big one, our top fight for a starting job is on the other side of the ball. Will linebacker stands out as the biggest position battle for the 49ers as they sort out their new-look unit under new old defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. San Francisco lost Dre Greenlaw in free agency which opened the three-down starting spot alongside Fred Warner. Last season De'Vondre Campbell held down that job while Greenlaw recovered from an Achilles tear in the Super Bowl. Campbell quit playing for the 49ers at halftime of Week 15. Throughout the offseason it seemed as though Dee Winters had the inside track to that job. Then the 49ers selected LB Nick Martin No. 75 overall in the NFL draft and opened a bona fide battle for one of the most important jobs on their defense. Advertisement While the offensive line may be overall more important for a football team than the linebacking corps, the 49ers' defense has consistently thrived because they've been able to find quality WLB play next to Warner. Having the All-Pro lined up next to another athletic LB with good coverage skills essentially takes away the middle of the field for opposing offenses. Funneling throws to the sideline creates longer routes, makes the quarterback hold the ball longer, and allows the pass rush to get home and generate impact plays. Last season the team struggled in part because Campbell's athleticism had left him in his Age 31 season along with his ability to play coverage or get to the edge in the run game. The Martin-Winters battle will be an important one that could have a long-term impact on San Francisco's defense if one can emerge as a close facsimile to Greenlaw. That improvement is a bigger deal for the 49ers this season and beyond than anything happening at left guard. More 49ers: 49ers finally prepare for loss of future Hall of Famer in 2026 mock draft This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers top position battle is not on offensive line
