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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL mandatory minicamps: Steelers' T.J. Watt, Bengals' Trey Hendrickson, Commanders' Terry McLaurin not expected to attend
NFL mandatory minicamps are here, which means teams will gather for the last time over the next couple weeks before training camp. The big storylines include Shedeur Sanders' quest to improve his chances to win the Browns' starting job, Aaron Rodgers' on-field practice debut as Steelers quarterback, and so much more. Yahoo Sports is on the ground at both of those camps this week. Here's your guide to NFL mandatory minicamps. Click on the storyline to jump to that section. Advertisement Shedeur Sanders/Browns QB battle Aaron Rodgers joins Steelers as T.J. Watt holds out J.J. McCarthy takes reins of Vikings What Mike Vrabel can do with Patriots Cowboys, Micah Parsons still without extension Bengals' contract standoff with Trey Hendrickson Will Dolphins trade Jalen Ramsey? How will Eagles replace talent drain? Daniel Jones' golden Colts opportunity Jaxson Dart big in Giants' plans Saints' quarterback competition Travis Hunter can continue being a unicorn NFL mandatory minicamp dates Live updates Shedeur Sanders enters mandatory minicamp with Browns It's a four-way battle to win the Browns' starting quarterback job, and last week offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said any of Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders can win it. One of them has outsized attention from the outside compared to the others. Will Sanders improve his stock this week? Aaron Rodgers debuts with Steelers as T.J. Watt holds out Rodgers finally signed his contract on Friday, and will presumably be the Steelers' starting quarterback in 2025. What kind of impact will the 41-year-old have on a Pittsburgh team that's been good but not great for a while now? How will Rodgers' personality work with the Steelers, one of the NFL's most hallowed team cultures already? We're about to start finding out. Advertisement Ladies and gentlemen, Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy The Vikings selected McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he missed his entire rookie season (on field, at least) with a torn meniscus in his right knee suffered in the first preseason game. Now that Sam Darnold is in Seattle, the keys to the offense are all McCarthy's. How will he respond? Patriots look to improve under Mike Vrabel The first year post-Bill Belichick in New England wasn't pretty, but QB Drake Maye looked very promising. In steps head coach Mike Vrabel, who worked wonders in Tennessee and is part of the Patriots' championship past. Will he improve the defense, offensive line and general culture within the team in the present? Cowboys, Micah Parsons still have no contract extension in place The Cowboys are notoriously slow when it comes to locking up star talent long-term, but they usually do it. They haven't yet with pass rusher Micah Parsons, who would likely ask for more than the $40 million a year being paid to Myles Garrett, currently the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. Parsons is being diplomatic about it so far, as is head coach Brian Schottenheimer. This doesn't seem to be a problem ... yet. Maybe there's movement this week. Bengals' contract standoff with Trey Hendrickson Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is reportedly not expected to attend mandatory minicamp Tuesday while he seeks a new contract. Meanwhile, first-round pick Shemar Stewart attended organized team activities but did not practice due to a dispute with the Bengals over language in his contract. What will happen with Cincinnati's two most notable pass rushers? Will Dolphins trade Jalen Ramsey? The star cornerback won't be at Dolphins mandatory minicamp as he seeks a trade, and the team is OK with it. The only thing left here is to find a trade partner, but the market seems a little cool thus far. How do Eagles replace talent drain? Philadelphia is the Super Bowl champion until someone says otherwise, and will be among the favorites to win it again this year. But the Eagles did lose quite a bit of talent in free agency, including Milton Williams, Josh Sweat and Mekhi Becton. What will the 2025 version of the Eagles look like? We'll get our first big hints this week. What will Daniel Jones do with his Colts chance? Anthony Richardson is out with a shoulder injury, and all head coach Shane Steichen would say is he's hopeful Richardson can return "at some point" during training camp. Eek. The flip side there is Daniel Jones has a chance to be a starting QB again in the NFL. What will he do with it during minicamp and the reps that matter? How will Jaxson Dart look as Giants' leadership tries to save jobs? If things go bad this season, head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen will likely be on the chopping block. One of the best ways to buy more time? If first-round rookie QB Jaxson Dart takes over the starting job at some point and looks good. He has a chance to take steps toward doing that during mandatory minis. Saints are NFL's other wide-open QB battle After Derek Carr's retirement, the Saints' starting QB job is up for grabs. Second-round rookie Tyler Shough makes the most sense, considering the draft capital and the fact he's already 26 years old, but will Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener (who suffered an oblique injury in May) make headway? First-year head coach Kellen Moore gets more information this week. Everyone wants some of Travis Hunter Listen, not many players whip fans into frothing excitement over camp highlights, and especially not many rookies. Travis Hunter isn't most rookies. His pass breakup during OTAs got people excited. Jaguars defensive coaches are already asking to work with Hunter more, as the team starts him out on offense primarily. What will happen next? AFC East Buffalo Bills: June 10-12 Miami Dolphins: June 10-12 New England Patriots: June 9-11 New York Jets: June 10-12 AFC North Baltimore Ravens: June 17-19 Cincinnati Bengals: June 10-12 Cleveland Browns: June 10-12 Pittsburgh Steelers: June 10-12 AFC South Houston Texans: June 10-11 Indianapolis Colts: June 10-12 Jacksonville Jaguars: June 10-12 Tennessee Titans: June 10-12 AFC West Denver Broncos: June 10-12 Kansas City Chiefs: June 17-19 Las Vegas Raiders: June 10-12 Los Angeles Chargers: June 10-12 NFC East Dallas Cowboys: June 10-12 New York Giants: June 17-18 Philadelphia Eagles: June 10 Washington Commanders: June 10-12 NFC North Chicago Bears: Held June 3-5 Detroit Lions: Cancelled because of Hall of Fame Game extended training camp Green Bay Packers: June 10-12 Minnesota Vikings: June 10-12 NFC South Atlanta Falcons: June 10-11 Carolina Panthers: June 10-12 New Orleans Saints: June 10-12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: June 10-12 NFC West Arizona Cardinals: June 10-12 Los Angeles Rams: June 16-18 San Francisco 49ers: June 10-11 Seattle Seahawks: June 17-19
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL mandatory minicamps: Steelers' T.J. Watt, Bengals' Trey Hendrickson, Commanders' Terry McLaurin not expected to attend
NFL mandatory minicamps are here, which means teams will gather for the last time over the next couple weeks before training camp. The big storylines include Shedeur Sanders' quest to improve his chances to win the Browns' starting job, Aaron Rodgers' on-field practice debut as Steelers quarterback, and so much more. Yahoo Sports is on the ground at both of those camps this week. Here's your guide to NFL mandatory minicamps. Click on the storyline to jump to that section. Advertisement Shedeur Sanders/Browns QB battle Aaron Rodgers joins Steelers as T.J. Watt holds out J.J. McCarthy takes reins of Vikings What Mike Vrabel can do with Patriots Cowboys, Micah Parsons still without extension Bengals' contract standoff with Trey Hendrickson Will Dolphins trade Jalen Ramsey? How will Eagles replace talent drain? Daniel Jones' golden Colts opportunity Jaxson Dart big in Giants' plans Saints' quarterback competition Travis Hunter can continue being a unicorn NFL mandatory minicamp dates Live updates Shedeur Sanders enters mandatory minicamp with Browns It's a four-way battle to win the Browns' starting quarterback job, and last week offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said any of Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders can win it. One of them has outsized attention from the outside compared to the others. Will Sanders improve his stock this week? Aaron Rodgers debuts with Steelers as T.J. Watt holds out Rodgers finally signed his contract on Friday, and will presumably be the Steelers' starting quarterback in 2025. What kind of impact will the 41-year-old have on a Pittsburgh team that's been good but not great for a while now? How will Rodgers' personality work with the Steelers, one of the NFL's most hallowed team cultures already? We're about to start finding out. Advertisement Ladies and gentlemen, Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy The Vikings selected McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he missed his entire rookie season (on field, at least) with a torn meniscus in his right knee suffered in the first preseason game. Now that Sam Darnold is in Seattle, the keys to the offense are all McCarthy's. How will he respond? Patriots look to improve under Mike Vrabel The first year post-Bill Belichick in New England wasn't pretty, but QB Drake Maye looked very promising. In steps head coach Mike Vrabel, who worked wonders in Tennessee and is part of the Patriots' championship past. Will he improve the defense, offensive line and general culture within the team in the present? Cowboys, Micah Parsons still have no contract extension in place The Cowboys are notoriously slow when it comes to locking up star talent long-term, but they usually do it. They haven't yet with pass rusher Micah Parsons, who would likely ask for more than the $40 million a year being paid to Myles Garrett, currently the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. Parsons is being diplomatic about it so far, as is head coach Brian Schottenheimer. This doesn't seem to be a problem ... yet. Maybe there's movement this week. Bengals' contract standoff with Trey Hendrickson Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is reportedly not expected to attend mandatory minicamp Tuesday while he seeks a new contract. Meanwhile, first-round pick Shemar Stewart attended organized team activities but did not practice due to a dispute with the Bengals over language in his contract. What will happen with Cincinnati's two most notable pass rushers? Will Dolphins trade Jalen Ramsey? The star cornerback won't be at Dolphins mandatory minicamp as he seeks a trade, and the team is OK with it. The only thing left here is to find a trade partner, but the market seems a little cool thus far. How do Eagles replace talent drain? Philadelphia is the Super Bowl champion until someone says otherwise, and will be among the favorites to win it again this year. But the Eagles did lose quite a bit of talent in free agency, including Milton Williams, Josh Sweat and Mekhi Becton. What will the 2025 version of the Eagles look like? We'll get our first big hints this week. What will Daniel Jones do with his Colts chance? Anthony Richardson is out with a shoulder injury, and all head coach Shane Steichen would say is he's hopeful Richardson can return "at some point" during training camp. Eek. The flip side there is Daniel Jones has a chance to be a starting QB again in the NFL. What will he do with it during minicamp and the reps that matter? How will Jaxson Dart look as Giants' leadership tries to save jobs? If things go bad this season, head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen will likely be on the chopping block. One of the best ways to buy more time? If first-round rookie QB Jaxson Dart takes over the starting job at some point and looks good. He has a chance to take steps toward doing that during mandatory minis. Saints are NFL's other wide-open QB battle After Derek Carr's retirement, the Saints' starting QB job is up for grabs. Second-round rookie Tyler Shough makes the most sense, considering the draft capital and the fact he's already 26 years old, but will Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener (who suffered an oblique injury in May) make headway? First-year head coach Kellen Moore gets more information this week. Everyone wants some of Travis Hunter Listen, not many players whip fans into frothing excitement over camp highlights, and especially not many rookies. Travis Hunter isn't most rookies. His pass breakup during OTAs got people excited. Jaguars defensive coaches are already asking to work with Hunter more, as the team starts him out on offense primarily. What will happen next? AFC East Buffalo Bills: June 10-12 Miami Dolphins: June 10-12 New England Patriots: June 9-11 New York Jets: June 10-12 AFC North Baltimore Ravens: June 17-19 Cincinnati Bengals: June 10-12 Cleveland Browns: June 10-12 Pittsburgh Steelers: June 10-12 AFC South Houston Texans: June 10-11 Indianapolis Colts: June 10-12 Jacksonville Jaguars: June 10-12 Tennessee Titans: June 10-12 AFC West Denver Broncos: June 10-12 Kansas City Chiefs: June 17-19 Las Vegas Raiders: June 10-12 Los Angeles Chargers: June 10-12 NFC East Dallas Cowboys: June 10-12 New York Giants: June 17-18 Philadelphia Eagles: June 10 Washington Commanders: June 10-12 NFC North Chicago Bears: Held June 3-5 Detroit Lions: Cancelled because of Hall of Fame Game extended training camp Green Bay Packers: June 10-12 Minnesota Vikings: June 10-12 NFC South Atlanta Falcons: June 10-11 Carolina Panthers: June 10-12 New Orleans Saints: June 10-12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: June 10-12 NFC West Arizona Cardinals: June 10-12 Los Angeles Rams: June 16-18 San Francisco 49ers: June 10-11 Seattle Seahawks: June 17-19
USA Today
16-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
One scenario for each team to ace in the 2025 NFL draft
One scenario for each team to ace in the 2025 NFL draft After the countless mock drafts, NFL Scouting Combine, Pro Days, and various games in the offseason, the 2025 NFL draft from Green Bay is almost upon us. Every team in the NFL is looking to upgrade their unit to begin the rebuilding process or to take them over the top and compete for the Vince Lombardi Trophy in February. Regardless of where your team sits, there is plenty of work to be done. The draft is the easy part; the tough part comes in the form of rookie camp, OTAs, training camp, and the grueling grind of playing 17 regular-season games just to get a shot at the playoffs. There is one scenario that every team needs to ace during this draft, and Touchdown Wire tries to lay it all out, along with a mock draft selection for every team. 1. Tennessee Titans | Stick and Pick Tennesee, stick and pick with the No. 1 overall selection. The team needs a franchise quarterback, and Will Levis just doesn't have it. A guy who will eat a banana peel and all has major decision-making flaws, as far as I am concerned. Take Cam Ward and call it a day. Mock Selection: Cam Ward, QB, Miami Hurricanes 2. Cleveland Browns | Travis Hunter, no matter what Cleveland needs a quarterback, but backing yourself into a corner and taking QB2 isn't always the best move. The Browns have a lot of holes, and there is a very dynamic athlete available. Another bad move would be getting cute and taking the best pass rusher with Travis Hunter staring you in the face. Jimmy Haslam, be smart and draft the guy who helps on both sides of the ball. Mock Selection: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado Buffaloes 3. New York Giants | Don't draft a QB for QB's sake It was clear what the New York Giants needed heading into the offseason: quarterback help. The team signed both Russell Wilson (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Jameis Winston (Cleveland Browns) to fill the void left by Daniel Jones (released) and Drew Locke (Seattle Seahawks signing.) Neither signing will prevent the team from addressing quarterback, but conventional wisdom says to take the pass rusher who is sitting at No. 3, ripe for the taking. Mock Selection: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State Nittany Lions 4. New England Patriots | Invest in the Money 5 We can be honest: the New England Patriots were rough to watch last season in the first year of the post-Bill Belichick era. After making a change to Mike Vrabel, the team must improve, and that starts with protecting quarterback Drake Maye and giving him some weapons on the offensive side of the ball. But which way do you lean? I am leaning toward getting Maye some help on the offensive line because of the sack rate for him and Jacoby Brissett last season. There are two good candidates to take at No. 4, or they could bail and pick up draft capital. Mock Selection: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri 5. Jacksonville Jaguars | Build in the trenches There was a clear need for the Jaguars coming into free agency, the defensive line. Given that the team didn't address the group during that time, it leads me to believe that is where the focus will lie at No. 5 overall in the NFL draft come next Thursday night. Don't overthink this, Jacksonville; take the best defensive lineman available. Mock Selection: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan Wolverines 6. Las Vegas Raiders | Run the dang ball At one time, this was a popular spot to mock the second quarterback in the NFL draft, but the trade for Geno Smith might have cooled the team's need for one. Especially with the No. 6 overall selection. The offense needs to add a playmaker who can complement Smith. That is where the No. 1 running back of the class has entered the chat. Just let him do what he did in college and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Mock Selection: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State Broncos 7. New York Jets | Protect your QB investment The Jets needed a quarterback after the Aaron Rodgers experiment failed in the Big Apple. The team went out and signed Justin Fields to a contract that doesn't necessarily make him the long-term answer in New York. However, what they need to do is build around him to give Fields the most opportunity to succeed and get the Jets out of the doldrums. Mock Selection: Will Campbell, OT, LSU Tigers 8. Carolina Panthers | Get Bryce Young some help It appeared that drafting Bryce Young might have been viewed as a mistake, but it appears that there might be light at the end of the tunnel. While his numbers weren't better than the rookie season, Young did lead the team to double the wins in his starts. The Panthers could go in a variety of ways, but here we focus on getting him a big-play wideout. Mock Selection: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona Wildcats 9. New Orleans Saints | Get a difference maker The Saints are set to head into the 2025 season without starting quarterback Derek Carr after reports surfaced that he likely needs shoulder surgery. With just two years left on his deal and the fact that Carr will be 36 in 2027, it might force the Saints into looking at quarterback options. With Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, and Ben DiNucci on the roster, that doesn't feel like a long-term plan for New Orleans. Might as well take a swing at a quarterback in round one. Mock Selection: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado Buffaloes 10. Chicago Bears | Run the dang ball part deux The hope is that Ashton Jeanty falls here to No. 10, but that is going to be increasingly difficult given Pete Carroll's affinity for running the ball. Hampton is a nice fallback option and brings an element to the passing game. The Bears addressed the offensive line ahead of the draft, so with this pick, they can upgrade the running back room with a guy under team control at a lower cost for five seasons, provided they pick up the fifth-year option. Mock Selection: Omarian Hampton, RB, North Carolina Tar Heels 11. San Francisco 49ers | Find an edge defender This is where a top need could intersect with a top player being available. Walker fits the need as an edge rusher for a defense in need of quarterback hunters. The team can address a running mate for Nick Bosa that can hold meetings at the quarterback next season and beyond. Leonard Floyd, the team's second-leading sack artist, left for the Atlanta Falcons, so here they can replace one former Georgia Bulldog with another. Mock Selection: Jalon Walker, Edge, Georgia Bulldogs 12. Dallas Cowboys | Dak Prescott needs help Looking at the current Cowboys roster, it looks bleak in terms of playmakers. The hope was that either Ashton Jeanty or Omarian Hampton would fall to this spot didn't pan out in this scenario. The team has plenty of other options to pair with CeeDee Lamb and tight end Jake Ferguson. Now the Cowboys can bring in a complement to Lamb and wait to address running back in a later round. Mock Selection: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas Longhorns 13. Miami Dolphins | Find a Jalen Ramsey replacement Recently, it was reported and later confirmed that the Miami Dolphins and Jalen Ramsey union will be short-lived. Ramsey is likely to be traded or potentially released if they can't find a suitor. That is a big lump of dead cap space to eat up, so they need to go the cost-efficient way of replacing him. That is why you go out and draft your next cornerback, and there is one sitting there at No. 13. Mock Selection: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan Wolverines 14. Indianapolis Colts | Get a Dallas Clark clone Maybe it is the No. 44 in blue and white, but every time I see Tyler Warren, I can't help but see another Dallas Clark. He was a fan favorite in Indianapolis. Why not push all the chips to the center of the table on this one? He exploded from a production standpoint this last year at Penn State, so buyer beware, but giving the Colts a weapon up the seams feels like the move. As they say in The Mandalorian, "This is the way." Mock Selection: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State Nittany Lions 15. Atlanta Falcons | Just draft a D-lineman already It feels like a rerun from years past, asking the Atlanta Falcons to draft a defensive lineman or an edge rusher. They finished with an NFL-low 31 sacks last season. There is one in their backyard that can help improve a unit that was known for futility last season in terms of a pass rush. Mock Selection: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia Bulldogs 16. Arizona Cardinals | Build in the trenches part deux What Arizona needs most is to address the lines surrounding the quarterback. Whether you are trying to keep Kyler Murray upright so he can get the ball to Marvin Harrison Jr. or sack the opposing quarterback, that is where you start. The team could go with a versatile lineman such as Kelvin Banks Jr. of Texas or a pass rusher the likes of Mike Green of Marshall. Either way, if you want your first winning season since 2021, you need to fix the trenches. Mock Selection: Mike Green, Edge, Marshall Thundering Herd 17. Cincinnati Bengals | Replace Sam Hubbard While the NFL world awaits a conclusion in the Trey Hendrickson trade saga, the Bengals still have to find a replacement for the retiring Sam Hubbard. It came as a shock to see a player retire before age 30, but it was likely the injuries that pushed this conversation to the front before his eighth season in the league. The NFL is a business, so life goes on for the Bengals organization, who need to not only address the void left by Hubbard but the impending one that will be left by Hendrickson if he gets his wish. The positive news is that they can get a solid one in this spot. Mock Selection: James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee Volunteers 18. Seattle Seahawks | Pave the way The Seahawks were one of the worst teams in the NFL with the third-fewest rushing attempts and fourth-fewest rushing hards in the league. They did better in rushing touchdowns and finished No. 11 with 17 last season. They were also middle of the pack in yards per attempt. If the team could find a versatile lineman who could play inside or outside, they would be well on their way to fixing the run game. Mock Selection: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas Longhorns 19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Antoine Winfield needs a tag team partner When it comes to coverage safety, Tampa Bay has one of the best in the league with Antoine Winfield Jr. However, it takes more than one man to really impact a defense on the backend. The team could look to address the offensive line, cornerback, or even linebacker. However, I want to find a big box safety who can also create points via turnovers, so look no further than Columbia, South Carolina, for that guy. Mock Selection: Nick Emmanwori, Safety, South Carolina Gamecocks 20. Denver Broncos | Get pass-catching help The initial hope for the Broncos is that a running back is available to take with the No. 20 pick, but neither Ashton Jeanty nor Omarian Hampton will make it that far. The other big need will be some pass-catching help, especially at tight end. Even with the signing of Evan Engram, that feels like a short-term move for the offense. With TE2 still on the board, that could be the move for Denver or trade out. Mock Selection: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan Wolverines 21. Pittsburgh Steelers | Don't wait on Aaron Rodgers If I were a betting man, I would bet that Aaron Rodgers will wait until draft day to announce whether he is going to sign with Pittsburgh or retire. He loves to steal the spotlight, but the Steelers need to make a decision regardless of Rodgers' decision. You need a quarterback, and you need one now. Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are good backup options, but neither is going to win the AFC North. Mock Selection: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss Rebels 22. Los Angeles Chargers | Harbaugh needs to go with familiar The Chargers could have used a tight end, let's say Colston Loveland, but he didn't fall to Los Angeles in this scenario. Former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh can still go back to Ann Arbor to find a player who fits a need for the Bolts. LA needs to find a defensive tackle to help ease the losses of Poona Ford and Morgan Fox in free agency. Both Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter are familiar with a certain Wolverine who plugged the middle of their national championship-winning defense before leaving for the NFL. Mock Selection: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan Wolverines 23. Green Bay Packers | Defense wins championships The Packers' defense was among the best in the NFL statistically. However, that defense couldn't help them win any of the last three games of the season, including the 22-10 loss to the Eagles in the playoffs. The defense lacks that premier pass rusher who can show up when they need it most. If Green Bay wants to return to the top of the NFC North, it will have to get better at sacking the quarterback and blowing up the pocket. Mock Selection: Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M Aggies 24. Minnesota Vikings | Upgrade CB or bail out The Vikings only have four selections in the upcoming NFL draft, which means they either have to nail every single pick or trade down to add selections. One of the top needs on the board will be cornerback and safety; if either can be satisfied in the opening round, it would be a win-win. It just so happens that there could be one available. Mock Selection: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas Longhorns 25. Houston Texans | Upgrade the WR Corps The Texans were active this offseason, making moves on the offensive side of the ball. The team added Christian Kirk to play opposite of Nico Collins. Tank Dell is still in the plans, but is going through the rehab process. Who could be next up for the team? One option is drafting another wideout who can play inside or outside. It would even be a plus if he had some rapport with Stroud. Mock Selection: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State Buckeyes 26. Los Angeles Rams | Upgrade OL or LB The Rams were close to playing for the opportunity to head to the Super Bowl last season, but fell just short against the Eagles in the divisional round. The fourth quarter really doomed them after trailing by one point heading into the final period of the game. As you look at the roster, two position groups stand out, and the selection here can give the team a lot of flexibility in the trenches. Right tackle Rob Havenstein is in the final year of his contract, and it is especially important to address whether the team plans on moving on. Mock Selection: Josh Simmons, OG/OT, Ohio State Buckeyes 27. Baltimore Ravens | Win on the edge The Ravens have several needs, including the offensive line, but where they are drafting may determine which route they take. Pass rush is one of those spots despite returning both Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh next season. Oweh is in the final year of his rookie contract and will command a big payday following the season. Van Noy will also see his contract come to an end. Campbell is a bit raw but has all the tools to be a premier pass rusher in a 3-4 system. Mock Selection: Jihaad Campbell, Edge, Alabama Crimson Tide 28. Detroit Lions | Upgrade Right Guard After Kevin Zeitler opted to leave via free agency, it left a void on the offensive line for one of the best teams in the NFC. Fortunately for Detroit, there are options. Last season, they drafted Christian Mahogany out of Boston College, but he is largely unproven. Mahogany started the year on the NFI list before joining the active roster in late October. He played 75 regular-season snaps and 68 postseason snaps. It was promising, but I wouldn't bank on a player with less than 150 snaps in the NFL. Bringing in some competition is the route, and also gives the team some depth. Mock Selection: Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama Crimson Tide 29. Washington Commanders | Replace Dante Fowler Jr. Last season, first-year head coach Dan Quinn brought Dante Fowler Jr. with him from Dallas. After an explosive season where the former No. 3 overall draft pick posted his first double-digit sack season since 2019, he returned to Big D. Washington now looks to replace his output, but it won't be easy. Mock Selection: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College Eagles 30. Buffalo Bills | Ease the pain of the suspensions The Bills were hit hard after the signings of Larry Ogunjobi (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Mike Hoecht (Los Angeles Rams), both of whom were suspended six games for violating the league's PED policy. The team also has short-term rentals on several players on the defensive side of the ball, which means they will need long-term answers. Addressing that in round one is pivotal. Mock Selection: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss Rebels 31. Kansas City Chiefs | Upgrade the trenches We all watched the Super Bowl, and it was painfully clear, the Chiefs didn't have the beef on either side of the trenches to deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. The game was over in the first quarter, and it made for quite a boring game unless you despise Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs or were a fan of the Eagles. KC needs to upgrade on both sides, and that should be the move. You can upgrade your wide receivers later in the draft. Mock Selection: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon Ducks 32. Philadelphia Eagles | Draft a Georgia Bulldog The world champions have a love for the Georgia Bulldogs, there is no denying that. Over the last three drafts, the team has selected five players from Georgia, all on the defensive side of the ball. One of the top safeties available hails from Athens, and it meets a need on this team. This should be a simple move to close out the first round. Mock Selection: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia Bulldogs
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Patriots 7-round mock draft: What happens if New England gets Abdul Carter?
Patriots 7-round mock draft: What happens if New England gets Abdul Carter? Show Caption Hide Caption Miami QB Cam Ward's pro day leaves no doubts about No. 1 NFL draft pick Cam Ward is feeling confident after his pro day performance. He tells the media why he thinks he will be the number one overall draft pick in April. The New England Patriots' first season in the post-Bill Belichick era did not go as the team had hoped. That led owner Robert Kraft to make some drastic decisions about the direction of the franchise. Rookie head coach Jerod Mayo was fired less than a year after being named the team's successor to Bill Belichick. Former Patriots player and Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel was hired to replace him and turn around a team that went 4-13 while sporting one of the NFL's least productive rosters around rookie quarterback Drake Maye. The Patriots have spent the offseason using their abundance of salary cap space to add talent to their roster. New England made made signings at each level of the defense while bringing in veterans at receiver and along the offensive line that should upgrade Maye's supporting cast. Still, the Patriots have a lot of work to do to improve their roster. Vrabel and general manager Eliot Wolf will have plenty of resources with which accomplish that goal in the draft, where New England is armed with the No. 4 overall pick. Here's a look at what the Patriots could do with each of nine seven selections in the 2025 NFL draft. 2025 NFL MOCK DRAFT: Will Shedeur Sanders, Ashton Jeanty go in top five? New England Patriots 7-round mock draft Round 1, Pick 4: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State If either Carter or Travis Hunter makes it to the Patriots at No. 4, they will take one of the two blue-chip talents in this year's class. In this case, Carter – who has drawn comparisons to fellow Nittany Lion Micah Parsons – would partner with Harold Landry to invigorate a Patriots pass rush that generated the fewest sacks league-wide last season (28). Carter had an FBS-high 24 TFL last season to go along with 12 sacks. He is hyper-productive, supremely athletic and the has the versatility needed to play on the edge and as a stand-up linebacker. NFL DRAFT: We might look back at Abdul Carter as biggest star of this draft Round 2, Pick 38: Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota The Patriots had the worst tackle situation in the NFL last season. They signed Morgan Moses to serve as a stopgap at right tackle but need to find an upgrade over Vederian Lowe on the left side of the line. Ersery moves well considering his massive 6-foot-6, 331-pound frame and is a powerful blocker. While many view him as more of a right tackle prospect for the NFL, the 23-year-old was a three-year starter on the left side. The Patriots can try him there first and see if he can hold up on Maye's blind side. Round 3, Pick 69: Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State The Patriots signed Stefon Diggs in free agency but need to add more talent to surround him after Ja'Lynn Polk's disappointing rookie season. Royals posted 126 catches for 1,914 yards and 21 touchdowns over his final 20 games at Utah State. The 6-0, 205-pound pass catcher has great body control and good hands, which should make him a strong possession receiver at the NFL level. Round 3, Pick 77: Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State Yes, the Patriots could – and probably should – double dip at wide receiver. Targeting more of an explosive speed threat to pair with Royals would be wise. Williams didn't run the 40 much faster than Royals – the Washington State product did so in 4.4 seconds flat – but his deep separation skills are better. He earned him a Marvin Mims Jr. comparison from Lance Zierlein, so it's easy to imagine the 5-11, 190 pounder making an impact alongside Royals. Round 4, Pick 106: Emery Jones, OT, LSU The Patriots will almost certainly double dip on the offensive line as well. They need to improve their overall depth on the unit while finding some potential starters, and Jones qualifies. Jones played right tackle for three seasons at LSU, so the 21-year-old could be developed as Moses' successor. He could also battle for the team's left guard job, as he has the requisite size (6-5, 315 pounds) and athleticism needed to play guard. Kicking inside could help mitigate his inability to consistently stayed balanced in pass protection on the edge. Round 5, Pick 144: Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech The Patriots remain financially committed to Rhamondre Stevenson, but he averaged a career-low 3.9 yards per carry last season. He may see an uptick in production behind a better offensive line, but finding a better speed complement to him could go a long way toward supporting Maye. Tuten ran the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds at the NFL combine after totaling 1,159 yards and 15 touchdowns on 183 carries for the Hokies last season. The 5-9, 206-pound back also has solid receiving skills, so he should be able to carve out a role in an NFL rotation, provided that his fumble rate – 10 on 406 career touches at Virginia Tech – doesn't land him in the doghouse. NFL DRAFT RB RANKINGS: Ashton Jeanty tops deep class at position Round 5, Pick 171: Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska The Patriots added Milton Williams to their defensive line in free agency but need to add extra depth in case Christian Barmore's blood clotting issue causes him to miss more time. Robinson would be an experienced pickup after he spent six seasons with the Cornhuskers. He recorded a career-high seven sacks in 2024 but consistently generated TFL throughout his career (27 in 60 games). The 6-5, 288-pound defensive lineman plays with a relentless motor and physicality, so it's easy to imagine him quickly endearing himself to Vrabel. Round 7, Pick 220: Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper are both 30, so the Patriots may want to add some young depth to compete with Jaheim Bell behind the veteran duo. Lachey comes from an Iowa program that has generated many top tight ends at the NFL level, including George Kittle and T.J. Hockenson. Lachey isn't the same caliber of prospect as the duo, but considering his tutelage and bloodline – he's the son of three-time Super Bowl champion offensive lineman Jim Lachey – the Patriots could do worse in their search for a third-string tight end. Round 7, Pick 238: Drew Kendall, C, Boston College The Patriots signed Garrett Bradbury to a one-year deal to fill in as the team's starting center. They could stand to add a quality backup to compete with Ben Brown and 2023 fourth-round pick Jake Andrews. Kendall is another player with NFL bloodlines, as his father Pete was a first-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1996 NFL draft and played 13 seasons. The younger Kendall started 37 games at center at Boston College. His experience and technique should allow him to carve out a role as an NFL backup. Add in that Kendall overlapped for a season at Boston College with Vrabel's son Tyler and there could exist familiarity between the coach and prospect.
