Latest news with #SamMonson
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Browns Draft-Day Decision Reinforced by Analyst
Browns Draft-Day Decision Reinforced by Analyst originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Cleveland Browns took a big risk in this year's NFL Draft and can only hope it pays dividends early. The Browns traded the No. 2 overall pick and the No. 104 overall pick in the fourth round and the No. 200 pick in the sixth round to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for the No. 5 pick, the No. 36 pick in the second round, the No. 126 pick and a 2026 first-round pick. Advertisement With that No. 5 pick, Cleveland selected Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, and the Jags took wideout/corner Travis Hunter at No. 2 - presumably who the Browns would've taken had they not traded the selection. Initial reaction to the trade was positive from most analysts. Now, with time to consider it further, Sam Monson still likes the trade for Cleveland, as he noted on the ˆ podcast. 'I still think the smart move is to pick up the extra first-round pick next year if for no other reason than you need the quarterback, not the guy who plays corner or wide receiver," Monson said. The Browns also took quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the third and fifth rounds, respectively. While they've got options now under center this summer, there are some who believe they'll use one of their first-round picks next season to go quarterback again. Advertisement Matt Miller of ESPN predicts that the Browns will run through the 2025 schedule and land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and decide to go a different direction at quarterback by selecting Clemson's Cade Klubnik with that pick. "Spending two picks on quarterbacks in 2025 -- Dillon Gabriel (third round) and Shedeur Sanders (fifth round) -- shouldn't prevent the Browns from looking for a long-term passer here," Miller wrote. "Klubnik enters the season as my No. 1 QB. In 2024, he threw for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions, highlighted by a gutsy performance against Texas in the College Football Playoff (336 passing yards, three TDs, one INT). "Klubnik reminds me of Baker Mayfield -- whom Cleveland selected with the No. 1 pick in 2018 -- in terms of arm strength, mobility and playmaking awareness." Related: Analyst Offers Revealing Take on Browns' Second-Round Pick Related: Browns' Myles Garrett 'Trending Toward Best Season' in 2025 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Browns receive rare praise for 2025 offseason moves
While the national media and fans have scrutinized the Cleveland Browns this offseason, Sam Monson, host of The 33rd Team's Check The Mic podcast, has a different outlook. The Browns' eventful offseason has generated a number of headlines, starting with Myles Garrett's failed trade request and culminating in the drafting of quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft. Throughout every step of the process, the franchise has faced criticism regardless of the decision. However, Sam Monson argues that this criticism is unwarranted: 'Instead of having to trade one of the NFL's best players, they now extended him and locked him into a new contract,' says Monson. 'You've gone from your best player being out the door to him being happy again.' Monson also expressed how impressed he was with the Browns' future plans at quarterback and how the position was addressed this offseason: 'You can argue how they got there, but they ended up with the quarterback I would've taken with their second overall pick,' said Monson, who also credited the Browns' decision-making and prioritization of the quarterback position for the future: 'I still think the smart move is to pick up the extra first-round pick next year. You need a quarterback, not the guy who plays corner or wide receiver.' The Cleveland Browns made several smart roster-building moves while setting a clear goal: finding the quarterback of the future. The team is expected to rotate through its plethora of quarterbacks before the end of the 2025 season to determine who might stick, especially the two new rookies. Whether it's Gabriel, Sanders, or another high-profile prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, Cleveland's offseason laid a solid foundation for the future and its search for a franchise quarterback.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
This QB Just Dethroned Patrick Mahomes as NFL's Best, Says Top Analyst
This QB Just Dethroned Patrick Mahomes as NFL's Best, Says Top Analyst originally appeared on Athlon Sports. One NFL analyst boldly declared that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is no longer the bar other quarterbacks are trying to pass. Advertisement For the first five years of his career, few would argue that Mahomes was the top player at his position in the NFL. But over the last two years, Mahomes hasn't quite lived up to the critically high bar he set for himself. Since becoming a starter in 2018, Mahomes often led the NFL in passing, averaging 4,791 yards, 38.2 touchdowns, and 9.6 interceptions per season with a passer rating of 106.2. But in the last two seasons, his production was been down significantly, averaging just 4,055 yards, 26.5 touchdowns, and 12.5 interceptions per season with a passer rating of 93.1. And with the number of top young quarterbacks growing — a list that includes Buffalo's Josh Allen, Baltimore's Lamar Jackson, Cincinnati's Joe Burrow, Houston's C.J. Stroud, Green Bay's Jordan Love, and San Francisco's Brock Purdy — fans probably expected Mahomes to lose his title as the NFL's best QB at some point. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15).Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The 33rd Team's Sam Monson believes that time is now, arguing that Allen, the reigning MVP, has surpassed Mahomes, a two-time MVP, as the best signal-caller in the league. Advertisement 'I believe the best quarterback right now is Josh Allen,' Monson said. 'I think he's become the guy. Like, for years it was Patrick Mahomes. Brady, that generation — once they went, Mahomes took over. The start of Mahomes' career was absolutely mind-blowing; the last couple of years though, he's not been that guy and really it's been Josh Allen. 'I think you can make a case for a couple of other people, but Allen's combination of freakshow, wow plays, everything he can do with his arm, the cheat code that is his short-yardage ability, his athleticism, the fact that he basically does not take sacks—I mean, one of the lowest pressure-to-sack rates you're going to find anywhere—utterly absurd analytics numbers behind him as well. I think Allen's the guy right now.' Buffalo Bills quarterback and reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen.© Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images Allen is coming off arguably the best season of his career. Advertisement He racked up 4,262 total yards (3,731 passing, 531 rushing) and 40 total touchdowns (28 passing, 12 rushing) with a career-low six interceptions while leading the Bills to 13 wins (tying the franchise record) and falling just one win shy of the team's first Super Bowl appearance since 1994. After adding a pair of former second-round picks in wide receivers Elijah Moore and Laviska Shenault, plus wideout Joshua Palmer, Allen enters 2025 with arguably the deepest WR room he's had in his seven-year career. Related: Kylie Kelce Alarmed by Fan's Outrageous Jason Kelce Tattoo This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
