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The third day of the NFL draft kicked off on Saturday another Georgia Bulldog is off the board. The Philadelphia Eagles have done it again as they selected linebacker Smael Mondon in the fifth round. So how does Mondon fit with the Eagles?
Smael Mondon is stepping into the NFL with the kind of skill set that defensive coordinators love to unleash. The former Georgia linebacker brings a rare mix of athleticism, instincts, and versatility that will immediately upgrade his new team’s defense. One of the first things fans can expect? Mondon is going to get to the quarterback a lot. With his explosive burst and relentless motor, he’s the kind of off ball linebacker who can be deployed on blitzes and disrupt plays before they even develop.
But his game isn’t just about attacking. Mondon is a linebacker perfectly suited to spy mobile quarterbacks, a critical trait in today’s NFL where dual threat signal-callers are becoming more common. His speed and discipline allow him to mirror shifty QBs and close space quickly, turning designed scrambles into minimal gains or sacks.
In coverage, Mondon’s length and awareness make him a matchup problem for offenses. He has the ability to cover running backs out of the backfield and stick with inside slot receivers, keeping passing lanes tight and forcing quarterbacks to think twice.
Still, his most valuable assets may be in the run game. Mondon has a natural feel for reading blocking schemes, diagnosing plays as they unfold, and slipping through gaps to make tackles near the line of scrimmage. His ability to anticipate and react gives him an edge against even the most complex offenses, and he brings a physical presence that helps set the tone defensively.
Smael Mondon is more than just a draft pick, he's a future difference maker. Whether he’s pressuring the quarterback, shadowing mobile threats, blanketing pass catchers, or blowing up run plays, he brings tools that can elevate an entire defense.
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Browns HC gives troubling Shedeur Sanders update ahead of Eagles game
On Wednesday, the Cleveland Browns learned that rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders was dealing with an oblique injury that could sideline him for Saturday's game at the Philadelphia Eagles. However, it appears Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski could keep Sanders out of action through Cleveland's preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 23. "He felt it early, I think, warming up, and then felt it throughout [individual drills] and we took a look at it," Stefanski told reporters on Thursday while speaking about what Sanders experienced on Wednesday, per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "If it’s a right guard, you can play through that. When it’s a quarterback, you kind of need that muscle to throw. So unfortunately, we’re going to put him down for a little bit here. We will treat it day to day and see how he responds." Stefanski said the Browns want "to be really careful" with the Sanders injury because quarterbacks "torque and twist their body" on pass plays. Despite performing well in his preseason debut last Friday, Sanders, the 2025 fifth-round draft pick, remained fourth on Cleveland's unofficial depth chart before his setback. Kenny Pickett is still attempting to recover from the hamstring injury that kept him out of the Browns' preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8, so veteran Joe Flacco is on track to start Cleveland's Week 1 matchup versus the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. Meanwhile, 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel will start against the Eagles this Saturday if it's determined his hamstring is healthy. Like Pickett, Gabriel spent the Carolina game as a spectator. "Injuries stink for all these guys," Stefanski added. "They don’t want to miss a rep for any reason. But, there’s a way to continue to prepare, continue to get better, even when you’re not getting those reps up because of injuries." Sanders seemed to have a shot at earning the QB2 gig after he completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in Cleveland's 30-10 victory over Carolina. He could now enter September as Cleveland's QB4 if Browns general manager Andrew Berry is serious about carrying four quarterbacks on the active roster for the Cincinnati game.
Another Cowboys star could hold out amid Micah Parsons' contract drama
The Dallas Cowboys need to figure out what to do with Micah Parsons because whatever they're doing right now isn't working. Team owner Jerry Jones said he was willing to "stir the pot" when asked about Parsons' contract stalemate and trade request. Given Parsons' character, that may have rubbed him the wrong way. However, that's not the only contract situation they need to address. While everybody's focused on the Penn State product, CB DaRon Bland is also waiting for an extension of his own. More importantly, he recently said that he hoped it would get done before the Cowboys open the season on Sept. 4. "I do, but I'm not here to talk about it really too much," Bland told the team's website. "But yea, hopefully." Jerry and Stephen Jones aren't that fond of players setting deadlines for contract negotiations, and they've shown that they're willing to wait until the very last second to get a deal done, relationships be damned. Bland has been an instrumental piece of the Cowboys secondary, especially with fellow CB Trevon Diggs struggling with injuries. When asked about his goal for next season, he opened up about his desire to dominate opposite Diggs. "Always hopeful for both of us to be healthy first of all, and for both of us to show out on the field together. Can't wait until it happens," Bland said. Still, given the way the Cowboys have treated their stars and have dealt with contract situations, it wouldn't be much of a surprise to see Bland also go to desperate measures to get what he's earned.
Brock Stewart Placed On Injured List, Edgardo Henriquez Recalled
The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Brock Stewart on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation and recalled Edgardo Henriquez from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Henriquez returns to the Dodgers for the second time this season. He previously spent one week with the club before getting sent back to Oklahoma City when Blake Treinen returned from the 60-day injured list. Henriquez appeared in three games, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings. Though, a throwing error when he inherited bases-loaded jam allowed all three runners to score. The right-hander had his 2025 season delayed due to an off-the-field incident that resulted in a broken left foot. That cost Henriquez an opportunity to be on the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster as they wound up dealing with multiple injuries within their bullpen. Given the Dodgers are short on right-handed options in their bullpen because of injuries, Henriquez is going to immediately get an opportunity to pitch late in games. “I’m happy to get Edgardo back here and essentially put him in a leverage position as far as dominating right-handed hitters and see if he can continue to do what he’s done for us while he’s been up,” manager Dave Roberts said. Brock Stewart’s shoulder injury Stewart was the Dodgers’ primary addition to their roster at the trade deadline, coming over in a deal from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for James Outman. At the time of the trade, Stewart had a 2.38 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 41 strikeouts in 34 innings with the Twins. But with the Dodgers, he allowed two runs on six hits with two walks in just 3.2 innings. Stewart said his issues were due to not being “very sharp” and brushed it off as a normal part of baseball over the course of a season. Roberts said Stewart started dealing with shoulder soreness four days ago, and they believe they caught the injury early enough for the right-hander to return this season. Stewart is expected to undergo testing on Wednesday. The 33-year-old has pitched to a 2.63 ERA this season with a 1.19 WHIP, 10.51 strikeouts per nine and 3.11 walks per nine. Over his career, Stewart holds a 4.48 ERA in 183 innings. But in the past three seasons with the Twins, he pitched to a 2.33 ERA in 77.1 innings while striking out 31.7% of hitters and walking 9.5%. After making his debut with the Dodgers in 2016, Stewart returned in December 2020 on a Minor League contract but missed the entire 2021 season due to Tommy John surgery. After signing with the Twins, he missed time due to right elbow soreness (2023), right shoulder tendinitis (2024), right shoulder strain (2024) and a left hamstring strain (2025).
Five best NFL offseason value signings on offense: Bills get great deal with RB extension
Few know how to spend money like an NFL front office. This offseason, teams handed out over $4 billion in extensions alone, not to mention the several other billions spent in free agency. But which were the shrewdest investments? Below, we examine the best value signings at five positions on offense: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and offensive line. Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith Contract: Two years, $75 million ($65.5M guaranteed) Shortly after acquiring Smith in a trade from the Seattle Seahawks, the Raiders extended the 2022 Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year to a contract that raises the Raiders' floor while maintaining flexibility. Smith has a manageable $26.5M cap hit in 2026, when Over The Cap projects Las Vegas to have the third-most cap space ($78.7M) based on an estimated 5.8 percent cap increase. Since 2022, Smith has the third-highest completion percentage (68.5 percent) among 32 quarterbacks with at least 20 starts during that span. He's also tied with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the second-most fourth-quarter comebacks (10) and trails only Mahomes in game-winning drives. Buffalo Bills running back James Cook Contract: Four years, $48M ($30M guaranteed) Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams pierced Cook's bubble when he signed a three-year, $33M extension on Aug. 5. The Bills running back sought $15M per year, making his $12M in annual average value (AAV) a huge win for Buffalo. Over Cook's first three seasons, he's averaged 4.9 yards per carry. In 2024, he led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns. With just 533 career tackles, Cook doesn't have the wear-and-tear of other backs who've made splashes early in their careers, raising hopes that he can withstand the workload that comes with being Buffalo's featured back. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins Contract: Four years, $115M ($40.9M guaranteed) The Bengals retained Higgins at a remarkable price, keeping him in Cincinnati at less than $30M per year, the going rate for the league's top wideouts. Per Spotrac, while Higgins is No. 10 in AAV among wide receivers, he ranks just outside the top 20 in guaranteed money. Last season, Higgins averaged 75.9 receiving yards per game, his most since 2021, and scored a career-high 10 touchdowns despite missing five games due to injury. Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride Contract: Four years, $76M ($43M guaranteed) The 2024 first-team All-Pro ranks No. 1 among tight ends in guaranteed salary. However, if he continues producing numbers more akin to WR1s — last season, he had 111 receptions, 1,146 receiving yards and two touchdowns — his contract will be one of the league's better bargains. Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley Contract: Three years, $60M ($44M guaranteed) Stanley's journey back from a devastating 2020 lower leg injury culminated in the 2019 first-team All-Pro being named a Pro Bowler for the second time in his first nine seasons last year. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft was rewarded with a contract that will keep him in Baltimore through his age-33 season. In terms of average annual value, his extension ranks below other left tackles who signed contracts this offseason, and not just younger players such as Rashawn Slater (Los Angeles Chargers), who was recently lost for the season, and Bernhard Raimann (Indianapolis Colts). Atlanta Falcons tackle Jake Matthews, 33, is averaging $22.5M on his current deal, while Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kolton Miller, 29, is set to earn $22M per year through 2028.
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