- Joined
- Apr 5, 2006
- Messages
- 2,304
- Reaction score
- 3,947
Latest draft buzz:
Where will the QBs land?
Fowler: The Titans have decided to stay in the No. 1 spot, and the entire league expects the pick to be Miami quarterback Cam Ward. They've done considerable homework on Ward, spent quality time with him and his family on multiple occasions and are comfortable with not only his football ability but also his makeup off the field. But what happens next in the QB class is anyone's guess. When I asked an NFL general manager how many QBs will go in the first round, he referenced the current Vegas line of 2.5 as "about right."
Finding a clear-cut home for Colorado's Shedeur Sanders is not easy. Many teams I've spoken to now expect Sanders to fall out of the top 10, though they also point to an outside chance that the Giants take him at No. 3. There isn't much momentum that the Saints will take him at No. 9. The Steelers have an appreciation for his game, but with big needs on defense and no second-round pick, they could eschew the position entirely at No. 21. However, multiple teams I've spoken to still have Pittsburgh loosely earmarked as an intriguing option for them.
Graziano: Yeah, the Steelers look like the spot to watch for Sanders if he's going to go in the first round. He made a strong positive impression on their coaching staff during the predraft process, and not having the second-round pick might actually mean the Steelers could stretch for a QB on Day 1.
But Pittsburgh has other needs -- most prominently defensive tackle and running back -- and could absolutely use its pick on one of the many well-regarded interior defensive linemen in this class. If the Steelers are going to go DT in the first round, my sense is they would prefer to trade down a bit and add another Day 2 selection if possible. They might need it if they're planning to address quarterback before the draft is over.
Fowler: The Steelers' QB plans are also complicated by a few factors -- even beyond the Aaron Rodgers uncertainty. I continue to hear Pittsburgh wants to take a swing on a quarterback in one of the next two drafts, and next year's class is considered stronger. I'm just not sure taking one in the first round in 2025 makes the most sense for them. Consider this: I asked an NFL offensive coordinator where Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph would rank in this draft class, had he been coming out with the rest of the group. The coordinator placed him third.
Graziano: Pittsburgh's No. 21 pick is also one to watch for potential trade-ups by teams such as the Browns, Giants and Saints if Ward is still the only QB off the board at that point. Teams are keeping an eye on the Rams at No. 26 and might want to navigate in front of them. Los Angeles could quietly be in the market for one of the young QBs because Matthew Stafford, 37, is clearly on a year-to-year program at this point.
Fowler: One back-pocket thought I keep going back to: The Browns like Sanders' processing ability at the line of scrimmage. They also have 10 picks in the draft, including two third-rounders and four sixth-rounders. So packaging picks to trade into the middle-to-late first round seems feasible.
Graziano: Then there are the Giants. While I can't rule it out entirely, most of the people I talk to still don't expect the Giants to take a quarterback with the third pick. The more likely outcome is that they take Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter -- whichever the Browns don't take at No. 2 -- and then try to use their second-round selection to solve their long-term QB problem. That could mean sitting tight and using the 34th pick on someone such as Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart or Alabama's Jalen Milroe, or even trading up into the first round to pick one Thursday night.
Much of the chatter I've heard in the past couple of days indicates a growing impression that Giants coach Brian Daboll prefers Dart over Sanders and the rest of the non-Ward passers on the board. I doubt they would take him at No. 3, but if they were to trade out of that spot, it's possible they could pick him later in the round. It's also worth noting that Giants GM Joe Schoen, not Daboll, is in charge of making the pick. Daboll's opinion is certainly significant in Schoen's final evaluation, but if the organization as a whole settles on Sanders or someone else, don't be surprised. As Daboll said in his news conference Monday, it's a collaborative process with a lot of people contributing opinions and evaluations.
Fowler: I got the same line from three different executives when I asked about Dart potentially going in the top 15: I don't expect it, but I also wouldn't be surprised. Teams are legitimately torn on Dart. While one will suggest his status as a potential first-round pick could be more of a media creation than reality, another believes he's tracking for the first round because of his arm talent, mobility and upside. The Saints, Steelers and Giants all seem like options here, and New Orleans, in particular, has done a lot of work on his evaluation.
Graziano: Dart is getting a lot of late buzz, and I don't think it would be a surprise at this point if he were the second quarterback taken. In addition to those three teams, I've also heard speculative connections to the Browns and Rams. It's possible that if he's the apple of someone's eye, there could be trade movement in the first round to secure him.
Fowler: Milroe, meanwhile, is still positioned to be an early Day 2 pick, though I've talked to a few executives in recent days who wonder if a team will trade into late-Round 1 for him. "I think someone will do it," an NFC executive said. The Raiders are on the radar, which would make sense; he could develop behind Geno Smith for a few years. The upside on Milroe is sizable. I spoke to long-established QB coach Jordan Palmer, who says Milroe checks the two most important boxes for a signal-caller: He's a competitive learner and a high achiever. Palmer and Milroe have worked over the past year on fluidity and connection to the ground as a passer, which should help his accuracy at the next level.
Three more QB-related notes:
Louisville's Tyler Shough has emerged late, with great arm strength and 6-foot-5 size. "He's my No. 2 quarterback," an AFC executive said. And one NFL general manager went as far as to say he would not be surprised if Shough went on Day 1. I've heard that some people with the Rams are very high on Shough (though they don't have a second-round pick), and the Giants have done a lot of work here, too.
While the Saints, Steelers and Giants have either worked out or met with Syracuse's Kyle McCord, other teams that've shown sneaky interest in him during the predraft process are the Jaguars and Rams. Some teams see him as more of a QB2, but you'd be surprised how many coaches have him rated highly in a class that's considered weaker and wide open. "He can read a defense, really smart, loves football, studies, can learn all the concepts, can make all of the throws," a veteran NFL assistant coach told me.
As far as midround options go, Pittsburgh has done a lot of work on Ohio State's Will Howard. The Colts, Jets and Raiders also have looked into Howard, whose play in the College Football Playoff helped his profile.
Fowler: Several industry sources believe the Patriots have an affection for LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell. Assuming Hunter and Carter are off the board, Campbell would represent a safe pick for New England at No. 4, and word is new coach Mike Vrabel is high on him. Campbell would provide New England the chance to reestablish its identity across the offensive line for quarterback Drake Maye.
Things get interesting at No. 5. Multiple teams picking in the top 10 are under the impression Jacksonville could go offense there. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is on the Jaguars' radar as the best offensive player available at that spot. He's on the proverbial short list. One of the GMs I spoke to thinks wide receiver isn't off the table for Jacksonville in the first round, as the team could pair Brian Thomas Jr. with someone such as Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan.
The Raiders have also been linked to Jeanty, but the Mason Graham connection could be one to watch at No. 6, too. The Michigan ties run deep with Graham, general manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady. And Graham's lengthy video call with defensive line coach Rob Leonard featured a special cameo: Maxx Crosby. I talked to teams Sunday and Monday that still think offensive tackle (perhaps Texas' Kelvin Banks Jr. or Missouri's Armand Membou) will ultimately be considerations for Las Vegas, too.
Graziano: On the subject of Graham, my current belief is that the early part of Round 1 could be very heavy on defensive linemen. There are a ton of good edge rushers and pass-rushing defensive tackles this year. And in a draft where teams don't seem thrilled about the choices at quarterback, cornerback, offensive tackle and wide receiver, I wouldn't be surprised if a bunch of teams default to pass rusher on Day 1. It does sound like Jacksonville is thinking offensive playmaker (Jeanty, McMillan or even Penn State tight end Tyler Warren) at No. 5. But the Raiders (No. 6), Jets (No. 7), Panthers (No. 8) and Saints (No. 9) all look like teams that could select defensive lineman.
That means you could hear names such as Jalon Walker (Georgia), Mykel Williams (Georgia), Walter Nolen (Ole Miss), Kenneth Grant (Michigan), Derrick Harmon (Oregon), James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee), Mike Green (Marshall) and Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M) called early. That would make life interesting for the Falcons, who are sitting at No. 15 and desperate for defensive help in this draft. Could they try to trade up if the top defensive linemen start flying off the board?
Fowler: Walker as a top-10 pick seems viable. One executive whose team picks high in the draft said Walker's Thursday workout at UGA was "outstanding." Walker is firmly on the radar for Carolina at No. 8. And one industry source predicted that his floor is probably Atlanta's pick. Williams also is well positioned. While he might not go in the top 10, he's a legit option in the teens. Multiple teams told me Atlanta and Arizona (No. 16) are two to watch.
Offense could be the focus at the back of the top 10 and into the teens. The Bears (No. 10) have been linked to skill players such as Jeanty and Warren. If Jeanty is for some reason there at No. 10, the word is Chicago loves him. If not, multiple execs believe offensive tackle makes more sense. "Caleb Williams was sacked like 90 times last year," a veteran NFL personnel man said. (He was sacked 68 times, but point taken.)
Graziano: And many around the league believe the Cowboys are likely to take a wide receiver at No. 12. Dallas could have its pick of them -- outside of Hunter, of course. McMillan and Texas' Matthew Golden are the two names to watch if the Cowboys go that direction.
Here's another name to watch for Dallas, though, on the other side of the ball: Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell. He is extremely well regarded by teams and could go higher than expected if some team (Cowboys? 49ers? Colts?) loses out on its Plan A on Thursday night.
www.espn.com
Where will the QBs land?
Fowler: The Titans have decided to stay in the No. 1 spot, and the entire league expects the pick to be Miami quarterback Cam Ward. They've done considerable homework on Ward, spent quality time with him and his family on multiple occasions and are comfortable with not only his football ability but also his makeup off the field. But what happens next in the QB class is anyone's guess. When I asked an NFL general manager how many QBs will go in the first round, he referenced the current Vegas line of 2.5 as "about right."
Finding a clear-cut home for Colorado's Shedeur Sanders is not easy. Many teams I've spoken to now expect Sanders to fall out of the top 10, though they also point to an outside chance that the Giants take him at No. 3. There isn't much momentum that the Saints will take him at No. 9. The Steelers have an appreciation for his game, but with big needs on defense and no second-round pick, they could eschew the position entirely at No. 21. However, multiple teams I've spoken to still have Pittsburgh loosely earmarked as an intriguing option for them.
Graziano: Yeah, the Steelers look like the spot to watch for Sanders if he's going to go in the first round. He made a strong positive impression on their coaching staff during the predraft process, and not having the second-round pick might actually mean the Steelers could stretch for a QB on Day 1.
But Pittsburgh has other needs -- most prominently defensive tackle and running back -- and could absolutely use its pick on one of the many well-regarded interior defensive linemen in this class. If the Steelers are going to go DT in the first round, my sense is they would prefer to trade down a bit and add another Day 2 selection if possible. They might need it if they're planning to address quarterback before the draft is over.
Fowler: The Steelers' QB plans are also complicated by a few factors -- even beyond the Aaron Rodgers uncertainty. I continue to hear Pittsburgh wants to take a swing on a quarterback in one of the next two drafts, and next year's class is considered stronger. I'm just not sure taking one in the first round in 2025 makes the most sense for them. Consider this: I asked an NFL offensive coordinator where Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph would rank in this draft class, had he been coming out with the rest of the group. The coordinator placed him third.
Graziano: Pittsburgh's No. 21 pick is also one to watch for potential trade-ups by teams such as the Browns, Giants and Saints if Ward is still the only QB off the board at that point. Teams are keeping an eye on the Rams at No. 26 and might want to navigate in front of them. Los Angeles could quietly be in the market for one of the young QBs because Matthew Stafford, 37, is clearly on a year-to-year program at this point.
Fowler: One back-pocket thought I keep going back to: The Browns like Sanders' processing ability at the line of scrimmage. They also have 10 picks in the draft, including two third-rounders and four sixth-rounders. So packaging picks to trade into the middle-to-late first round seems feasible.
Graziano: Then there are the Giants. While I can't rule it out entirely, most of the people I talk to still don't expect the Giants to take a quarterback with the third pick. The more likely outcome is that they take Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter -- whichever the Browns don't take at No. 2 -- and then try to use their second-round selection to solve their long-term QB problem. That could mean sitting tight and using the 34th pick on someone such as Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart or Alabama's Jalen Milroe, or even trading up into the first round to pick one Thursday night.
Much of the chatter I've heard in the past couple of days indicates a growing impression that Giants coach Brian Daboll prefers Dart over Sanders and the rest of the non-Ward passers on the board. I doubt they would take him at No. 3, but if they were to trade out of that spot, it's possible they could pick him later in the round. It's also worth noting that Giants GM Joe Schoen, not Daboll, is in charge of making the pick. Daboll's opinion is certainly significant in Schoen's final evaluation, but if the organization as a whole settles on Sanders or someone else, don't be surprised. As Daboll said in his news conference Monday, it's a collaborative process with a lot of people contributing opinions and evaluations.
Fowler: I got the same line from three different executives when I asked about Dart potentially going in the top 15: I don't expect it, but I also wouldn't be surprised. Teams are legitimately torn on Dart. While one will suggest his status as a potential first-round pick could be more of a media creation than reality, another believes he's tracking for the first round because of his arm talent, mobility and upside. The Saints, Steelers and Giants all seem like options here, and New Orleans, in particular, has done a lot of work on his evaluation.
Graziano: Dart is getting a lot of late buzz, and I don't think it would be a surprise at this point if he were the second quarterback taken. In addition to those three teams, I've also heard speculative connections to the Browns and Rams. It's possible that if he's the apple of someone's eye, there could be trade movement in the first round to secure him.
Fowler: Milroe, meanwhile, is still positioned to be an early Day 2 pick, though I've talked to a few executives in recent days who wonder if a team will trade into late-Round 1 for him. "I think someone will do it," an NFC executive said. The Raiders are on the radar, which would make sense; he could develop behind Geno Smith for a few years. The upside on Milroe is sizable. I spoke to long-established QB coach Jordan Palmer, who says Milroe checks the two most important boxes for a signal-caller: He's a competitive learner and a high achiever. Palmer and Milroe have worked over the past year on fluidity and connection to the ground as a passer, which should help his accuracy at the next level.
Three more QB-related notes:
Louisville's Tyler Shough has emerged late, with great arm strength and 6-foot-5 size. "He's my No. 2 quarterback," an AFC executive said. And one NFL general manager went as far as to say he would not be surprised if Shough went on Day 1. I've heard that some people with the Rams are very high on Shough (though they don't have a second-round pick), and the Giants have done a lot of work here, too.
While the Saints, Steelers and Giants have either worked out or met with Syracuse's Kyle McCord, other teams that've shown sneaky interest in him during the predraft process are the Jaguars and Rams. Some teams see him as more of a QB2, but you'd be surprised how many coaches have him rated highly in a class that's considered weaker and wide open. "He can read a defense, really smart, loves football, studies, can learn all the concepts, can make all of the throws," a veteran NFL assistant coach told me.
As far as midround options go, Pittsburgh has done a lot of work on Ohio State's Will Howard. The Colts, Jets and Raiders also have looked into Howard, whose play in the College Football Playoff helped his profile.
Fowler: Several industry sources believe the Patriots have an affection for LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell. Assuming Hunter and Carter are off the board, Campbell would represent a safe pick for New England at No. 4, and word is new coach Mike Vrabel is high on him. Campbell would provide New England the chance to reestablish its identity across the offensive line for quarterback Drake Maye.
Things get interesting at No. 5. Multiple teams picking in the top 10 are under the impression Jacksonville could go offense there. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is on the Jaguars' radar as the best offensive player available at that spot. He's on the proverbial short list. One of the GMs I spoke to thinks wide receiver isn't off the table for Jacksonville in the first round, as the team could pair Brian Thomas Jr. with someone such as Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan.
The Raiders have also been linked to Jeanty, but the Mason Graham connection could be one to watch at No. 6, too. The Michigan ties run deep with Graham, general manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady. And Graham's lengthy video call with defensive line coach Rob Leonard featured a special cameo: Maxx Crosby. I talked to teams Sunday and Monday that still think offensive tackle (perhaps Texas' Kelvin Banks Jr. or Missouri's Armand Membou) will ultimately be considerations for Las Vegas, too.
Graziano: On the subject of Graham, my current belief is that the early part of Round 1 could be very heavy on defensive linemen. There are a ton of good edge rushers and pass-rushing defensive tackles this year. And in a draft where teams don't seem thrilled about the choices at quarterback, cornerback, offensive tackle and wide receiver, I wouldn't be surprised if a bunch of teams default to pass rusher on Day 1. It does sound like Jacksonville is thinking offensive playmaker (Jeanty, McMillan or even Penn State tight end Tyler Warren) at No. 5. But the Raiders (No. 6), Jets (No. 7), Panthers (No. 8) and Saints (No. 9) all look like teams that could select defensive lineman.
That means you could hear names such as Jalon Walker (Georgia), Mykel Williams (Georgia), Walter Nolen (Ole Miss), Kenneth Grant (Michigan), Derrick Harmon (Oregon), James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee), Mike Green (Marshall) and Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M) called early. That would make life interesting for the Falcons, who are sitting at No. 15 and desperate for defensive help in this draft. Could they try to trade up if the top defensive linemen start flying off the board?
Fowler: Walker as a top-10 pick seems viable. One executive whose team picks high in the draft said Walker's Thursday workout at UGA was "outstanding." Walker is firmly on the radar for Carolina at No. 8. And one industry source predicted that his floor is probably Atlanta's pick. Williams also is well positioned. While he might not go in the top 10, he's a legit option in the teens. Multiple teams told me Atlanta and Arizona (No. 16) are two to watch.
Offense could be the focus at the back of the top 10 and into the teens. The Bears (No. 10) have been linked to skill players such as Jeanty and Warren. If Jeanty is for some reason there at No. 10, the word is Chicago loves him. If not, multiple execs believe offensive tackle makes more sense. "Caleb Williams was sacked like 90 times last year," a veteran NFL personnel man said. (He was sacked 68 times, but point taken.)
Graziano: And many around the league believe the Cowboys are likely to take a wide receiver at No. 12. Dallas could have its pick of them -- outside of Hunter, of course. McMillan and Texas' Matthew Golden are the two names to watch if the Cowboys go that direction.
Here's another name to watch for Dallas, though, on the other side of the ball: Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell. He is extremely well regarded by teams and could go higher than expected if some team (Cowboys? 49ers? Colts?) loses out on its Plan A on Thursday night.
Last-minute NFL draft buzz: What we're hearing on QB-needy teams, first-round fits and trades
What will the Steelers, Giants, Saints and Browns do at quarterback? Could we see runs on D-linemen and running backs? Which teams could make trades?
