Latest news with #RyanFowler
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL Draft expert touts Eagles undrafted rookie as a potential training camp sleeper
Each stage of the journey places a checkmark next to another task on the Philadelphia Eagles to-do list. There was a Senior Bowl, then a Super Bowl. Once the confetti fell on the Birds and the victory parade followed, there was no time to blink during the offseason. There was another NFL Scouting Combine, the new league year began, and there was a free-agency frenzy, Pro Days, Top 30 Visits, and the 2025 NFL Draft. Once the selection meeting wrapped up, Philly continued to stock its cupboard by adding nine undrafted rookie free agents. One recently earned a nice mention from a trusted NFL Draft expert. Keep an eye on Eagles UDFA Hollin Pierce when Philadelphia begins training camp. We enter Phase 2 of the Eagles' offseason workout program with Philly's rookie minicamp in the books. OTA (organized team activities) dates are as follows: May 27-28, May 30, June 2-3, and June 5. Mandatory minicamp follows on June 10. Don't blink because, if the NFL offseason hasn't taught you anything else, you should know things move quickly. Training camp should offer intriguing position battles at the bottom half of the Eagles' preseason depth chart. One features an offensive line, and one of the Birds' talented undrafted rookie free agents. Ryan Fowler is a college football and NFL analyst for The Draft Network. He recently mentioned offensive tackle Hollin Pierce as someone who could surprise during camp and catapult himself onto the 53-man roster. Pierce cut his teeth collegiately at Rutgers with the Scarlet Knights. He earned Second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2024. He stands at six feet eight. He tips the scales at 341 pounds. There are whispers that he is being compared to Mekhi Becton. draft expert Lance Zierlein gives him a grade of 6.00, meaning he has the "traits or talent to become an above average backup". He was projected to be a fifth-round draftee. According to Pro Football Focus, he was only penalized four times during 3,100 snaps. In Jeff Stoutland's hands, this young man can be a monster.
USA Today
24-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NFL mock draft round-up: Experts share final predictions for Ravens with 27th pick
2025 NFL mock draft round-up: Experts share final predictions for Ravens with 27th pick With the 2025 NFL Draft just hours away, we're examining the final expert predictions for Baltimore's pick at No. 27 in the first round. One and final predictive mock just a little over 24 hours away. Lots of movement to come & a few players that are expected to go higher than initially thought (Nolen/Banks). Henderson/Starks/Hairston are clear omissions that wouldn't shock at all to hear their names called. — Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) April 23, 2025 We are hours away from the NFL draft kicking off, and the Ravens have completed their evaluations and will now examine the best players on their boards. The organization will now huddle up in the Under Armour Performance Center and prepare the ultimate draft board, including pass rushers, defensive tackles, and interior offensive linemen. The Ravens have 11 picks, and GM Eric DeCosta has been working to stockpile talent while retooling and maintaining a potential Super Bowl window. Experts, pundits, and analyst around the NFL have released their final mock drafts, and we're looking at where Baltimore lands. --Josh Simmons Ohio State · OT · Junior (RS) Charles Davis has the Ravens landing the Ohio State offensive tackle at No. 27. Simmons has the potential to be a top-tier left tackle, but with Ronnie Stanley returning, the Ohio State/San Diego State product might begin his NFL career at guard, something Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden did in his rookie season with Baltimore. Cris Collinsworth (PFF) --Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia Collinsworth has the Ravens landing a massively talented pass rusher. What Cris says: 'I just kept looking at Mykel Williams and thinking he'd fallen too far. I look at Williams and I feel like there aren't many better run defenders off the edge in this class. I also think that he's a guy you could kick inside on third down.' Bottom line from PFF's 2025 NFL Draft Guide: Williams is a long, strong, versatile edge prospect whose motor is always running hot. His pass-rush profile and consistency (win percentage) are lower than ideal for a projected top-20 pick, but his floor as an elite run defender is so high, and his build is so alluring, that he's worth taking the chance on in that range for a team running odd or even fronts. Baltimore Sun -- Shemar Stewart, Edge Rusher, Texas A&M Brian Wacker has Baltimore landing a raw, but highly talented pass rusher from the SEC. The Ravens' biggest needs are at edge rusher, cornerback, safety and offensive line. Even though Stewart had only 4 1/2 career sacks for the Aggies, the belief is the talent is there to be an impactful player, and the Ravens catch a break with the Senior Bowl and scouting combine standout falling to them. Ryan Fowler --Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE, Boston College Ryan Fowler has Baltimore landing a top pass rusher. 33rd Team --Texas A&M DL Shemar Stewart Ari Meirov also has Baltimore landing Shemar Stewart in the first round. Stewart is the type of prospect you'd create in a video game: 6'5", 275 pounds, a 4.59 40-yard dash, and a 40-inch vertical. The production didn't match the traits at A&M, but with some coaching, he could flourish in Baltimore's aggressive front. ESPN --Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State Peter Schrager has Baltimore landing an offensive tackle in Round 1. Simmons could slip because of an injury -- he sustained a torn patellar tendon in October -- but he might be the best of the bunch in the offensive linemen class. The Ravens could add another potential star, and watch -- he'll be a difference-maker in no time. Philadelphia Inquirer -- Malaki Starks, DB, Georgia Devin Jackson has Baltimore getting an All-American safety. The Ravens do what they always do: find quality players that can be immediate contributors. Adding Starks gives them another versatile defensive piece in the secondary. New York Post --Malaki Starks, S, Georgia The New York Post has Baltimore landing Malaki Starks. A high I.Q. free safety to pair with Kyle Hamilton. -- Mykel Williams, LB, Georgia Bucky Brooks has Baltimore landing the versatile linebacker. GM Eric DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh have a knack for finding quality players at the end of the first round. With his athleticism and pass-rushing potential, Williams could flourish in the Ravens' aggressive defense. The Athletic --Tyler Booker, G, Alabama The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec has Baltimore adding an All-American offensive guard. If the Ravens are on the clock and Booker, safeties Nick Emmanwori and Malaki Starks, inside linebacker Jihaad Campbell and cornerback Jahdae Barron are all available, general manager Eric DeCosta will be looking to trade back four or five spots, knowing one of those guys will still fall to Baltimore. Booker is a plug-and-play guard with Pro Bowl potential. He's a mauler in the run game and fits the Ravens' style perfectly. It was tough to bypass one of the safeties, but this draft class features some very good Day 2 options. This draft is about solidifying the trenches for Baltimore. The Ringer --Malaki Starks, DB, Georgia The Ringer also has Baltimore landing Starks to pair with Kyle Hamilton.
USA Today
07-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: A top pass rusher from 2025 NFL draft meeting with Colts
Report: A top pass rusher from 2025 NFL draft meeting with Colts The Indianapolis Colts will reportedly be hosting one of the top pass rushers in this year's NFL draft. The Indianapolis Colts will reportedly be hosting one of the top pass rushers in this year's NFL draft on an official 30-visit. According to Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network, Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart will visit the Colts this week. Each draft cycle, every team is able to have up to 30 prospects in for visits at the team facility. It's an opportunity for teams to do medical checks if needed, walk through film, and get to know the player. Stewart has already met with Carolina and will also visit with Baltimore, New England, and Pittsburgh as well. Stewart was one of the prospects who shined at the NFL combine. He measured in at 6-05, weighed 267 pounds, and posted a perfect and rare Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 10.00. This included running a 4.59-second 40 and recording a 40-inch vertical jump. Stewart played 1,255 defensive snaps during three seasons at Texas A&M. Each year his production increased as he went from 14 pressures in 2022 to 26 pressures in 2023 to a career-high 39 pressures in 2024. Stewart was moved around the Texas A&M front, lining up in multiple gaps, and he was one of PFF's highest graded run defenders among all defensive linemen last season. For more on Stewart, here is what Lance Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft report: "Stewart is carved from granite, possessing a rare blend of traits, explosiveness and untapped upside. He's long and sudden off the snap but hasn't learned to weaponize his hands to control the point of attack and bypass protection with go-to moves. His bull-rush compresses the pocket off the edge, and he's too athletic for guards when reduced inside. He can be very disruptive in both phases but requires additional training to start converting his opportunities into finishes." Stewart finished with just six sacks over his three seasons, which is very much noteworthy when discussing a first-round pick. But with that said, what a player is asked to do within a scheme, along with quarterbacks utilizing the quick passing game at the college level, are some of the factors. Defensive end may not be perceived as a pressing need for the Colts, but bolstering the depth after losing Dayo Odeyingbo in free agency should be on GM Chris Ballard's radar, not to mention that as we look ahead to the 2026 offseason, Kwity Paye, Samson Ebukam, and Tyquan Lewis are all free agents. Stewart's athletic testing, versatility, and upside make him a very Ballard-esque selection.
USA Today
06-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Vikings set to host notable offensive line prospect for a pre-draft visit
Vikings set to host notable offensive line prospect for a pre-draft visit One of the draft's bigger prospects is scheduled to visit the Minnesota Vikings. The team added two starters to their offensive line in free agency but could still look to add depth in the draft. The Draft Network's Ryan Fowler reported that the Vikings will host Arizona offensive tackle Jonah Savaiinaea for their "Top 30" event. Savaiinaea stands 6'4", 324 pounds, and was a three-year starter at Arizona, appearing in 35 games. The former Wildcat has experience all across the offensive line. In 2024, he played 345 snaps at left tackle, 364 snaps at right tackle, and even lined up as a tight end 29 times. Savaiinaea played 928 snaps at right guard in his first season before switching to right tackle during the 2023 season. According to PFF, he improved every season despite playing all over the line. His run and pass-block grades improved each season, finishing the 2024 season with a 64.2 run-block grade and an 82.7 pass-block grade. With Christian Darrisaw's Week 1 availability in question and Will Fries recovering from a tibia injury, Savaiinaea could fill in as needed at several offensive line positions. That position flexibility could mean he could also push for the starting left guard spot, which was manned by Blake Brandel in 2024. Savaiinaea is currently ranked 87th on PFF's Big Board, projecting to be a third or fourth-round pick.
USA Today
24-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 draft cornerback who visited Saints shares update on injury recoveryu
2025 draft cornerback who visited Saints shares update on injury recoveryu Rehab is coming along nicely for ECU CB Shavon Revel Jr, following ACL reconstruction on Oct. 15th. One of the premier corners in the class, Revel is up to 21 mph on the treadmill, and remains on track to be fully cleared this summer. — Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) March 19, 2025 The New Orleans Saints have had a wide variety of meetings during the pre-draft process with prospects from the 2025 class, including two official 30 visits. The first of these visits was with East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. who is a quality prospect expected to be taken late in the first round or early in the second round. The main negative to his stock is that he is coming off an ACL reconstruction surgery back in October, and is still rehabbing from this. However, the good news is that the rehab is coming along quickly, and as seen in a recent workout video posted by Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network, Revel is now running at 21 miles per hour on a treadmill and showing signs of being back to where he previously was. Fowler adds that Revel is expected to be cleared this summer, right on time for training camp with his new team. His one full season of 12 games was an exceptional one, as in 2023 he had 54 total tackles (29 solo, 25 assisted), 4 tackles for loss, 13 pass deflections, a sack, an interception, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. His production was very strong, and to kick off 2024 he looked great in coverage, but unfortunately, his injury ultimately derailed the season. He could be someone who the Saints view similarly to Kool-Aid McKinstry last year in terms of draft stock, as both fell due to injury in many perspectives, but still had the talent to be effective players at the NFL level regardless, they would just need some time to recover. Selecting him with pick No. 40 would be good value, and filling a need for the Saints, so ultimately that may end up being the choice they go with.
