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By most accounts, the Las Vegas Raiders had a productive NFL Draft, hauling in players that addressed many of their most significant needs.
After finishing last in the National Football League in rushing last season, the Raiders drafted running back Ashton Jeanty. Las Vegas entered the offseason in desperate need of help at their skill positions on offense.
They followed up their selection of Jeanty by adding wide receivers Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton in the middle rounds of the draft and added multiple offensive linemen that will help their depth and potentially even become significant contributors down the road.
With just one NFL Draft haul, Raiders General Manager John Spytek make a dent in the long list of needs Las Vegas' roster had. Following minicamp, Raiders Head Coach Pete Carroll analyzed the rookies' development.
"You know, the young guys have done really well, the guys that we chose in a draft have all made a mark at some point and show that they deserve to being here. It looks like a really good class all the way through both offensive linemen, both defensive linemen, they participated and rolled in with the twos for the most part," Carroll said.
Carroll noted that overall, the Raiders' rookie class did a solid job during minicamp. As expected, Carroll aims to prepare the rookies to contribute this upcoming season. The Raiders are gradually assembling a roster that can compete for years to come.
"Those guys, they held their own. Ashton [Jeanty] had an excellent camp, but Dont'e [Thornton Jr.] and Jack [Bech], they did their stuff. You know, it's a good looking group, and the idea is to force those guys to play early and make them have to playand to do that well, you have to ask them to do things they're good at," Carroll said.
"If you just ask them to try to do everything that a veteran knows they're going to falter and they're not going to be able to show themselves. But if you do it in a progressive manner that gives them a chance to show then by the time we get to mid-season, those guys can be regulars for us."
The Raiders have many new facets to their roster and coaching staff this season. This means every one of the players are learning something new, no matter if they are a rookie or a veteran. Carroll noted that the development plan he has for the rookies is one he has used for many years.
"So, this is not a new process. This is the way I've done it with rookies and freshmen in the whole thing for a long time. And it just depends on how well you orchestrate what you ask them to do, and if they can find success, and then their confidence builds, and then before you know it you got a regular and that just helps depth and helps us stay competitive."
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Indianapolis Colts’ New Dynamic Duo: Is This the NFL’s Next Great Cornerback Tandem?
Let’s be honest, for a hot minute there, the Indianapolis Colts’ cornerback room was looking a little shaky. It felt like every week we were patching things together with duct tape and hope. But in a plot twist worthy of a Hollywood script, GM Chris Ballard decided to stop plugging holes and just build a brand-new, impenetrable wall. In what felt like the blink of an eye, the entire vibe of the Colts’ defense changed. First, Ballard pulled off a blockbuster trade, bringing in the one and only Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets. It was a move that sent shockwaves through the league and had Colts fans pinching themselves in disbelief. Then, just as the dust was settling, they got the news that Charvarius Ward, the team’s established top corner, was about to make his grand return from injured reserve. Suddenly, a position that was a giant, blinking question mark has transformed into a terrifying strength. It’s like going from a pop gun to a pair of laser cannons. Colts Have Best Cornerback Room In the Making When you get two alphas in the same room, you always wonder how they’ll mesh. But if you ask Gardner, he’s not just optimistic; he’s practically giddy. “Charvarius, he’s been a dog since he was in San Fran, since he was in Kansas City,” Gardner said on Monday. “I’m looking forward to just going out there together and putting on a clinic. But from afar watching him, he’s always been that guy.” That’s the kind of mutual respect that should make opposing offensive coordinators lose sleep. It’s not just about business, either. “We’ve been chopping it up a lot, talking ball, talking life in general,” Gardner said. “He’s a great dude, for sure. Great person to be around.” This isn’t just about adding talent; it’s about building chemistry. And with a veteran like Kenny Moore II, arguably the league’s best slot corner, holding down the fort inside, this trio has the potential to be downright scary. Moore himself was blown away by Gardner’s rapid adjustment. “He just elevated the entire room,” he said, noting how Gardner insisted the defense not slow down for him during his first walkthrough. Talk about confidence. Good Luck Throwing the Ball, Everyone Else So, picture this: you’re an opposing quarterback. You drop back, scan the field, and on one side, you’ve got Gardner, a guy who makes receivers disappear like a magician. On the other side, you’ve got Ward, a corner so good that quarterbacks actively avoid his zip code. Where do you go with the football? In his Colts debut, Gardner was targeted just three times and gave up a single catch. Ward, when he’s on the field, allows a measly 6.7 yards per catch. You’d have better luck trying to thread a needle in a hurricane. This isn’t just about shutting down two receivers. The presence of two legitimate lockdown corners completely changes the defensive playbook. It allows Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo to get aggressive. He can dial up more blitzes, get creative with his schemes, and dare quarterbacks to test his secondary, all while knowing he has two elite erasers on the back end. Of course, the equation isn’t perfect just yet. The recent loss of DeForest Buckner to injured reserve stings. The symbiotic relationship between pass rush and coverage means losing a beast like Buckner just as you gain Gardner almost feels like a wash. But reinforcements are on the way. The prospect of having Gardner, Ward, and a healthy Buckner on the field at the same time is the stuff of dreams for Colts fans and the stuff of nightmares for the rest of the AFC. For now, the league is on notice. The Colts have assembled a secondary that looks terrifying on paper. Gardner is ready to put on a “clinic.” And soon, we’ll all get to see if this dynamic duo can turn that hype into a full-blown defensive masterpiece.
Steve Spurrier has two endorsements for next Florida HC
Steve Spurrier is a legend for the Florida Gators. Known as "the head ball coach" down in SEC-land, Spurrier was a star both as a player and as a coach for Florida. Heck, the dang field in Gainesville is named after him. That means what he says about the Florida program carries a lot of weight, and he recently revealed that he believes there are only two people who would live up to the expectations and be a great fit for the Gators as they look to replace fired head coach Billy Napier sooner rather than later. “I know Lane Kiffin and I know Eli Drinkwitz,” Spurrier recently said, according to Daniel Hager of On3. “Obviously, either one of those guys would be super if it works out. But, it’s a long way from whoever we’re going to get as our coach right now.” The Gators are currently making a full-court press for Lane Kiffin, but they're not alone in their pursuit in the Ole Miss head coach. While the Gators reportedly flew members of Kiffin's family down to Gainesville to check things out recently, the LSU Tigers also pulled the same trick — hoping to get Kiffin to ultimatly come down to Baton Rouge. LSU is probably Florida's biggest competitor for Kiffin right now, but there's also Ole Miss to consider. It's not like the Rebels are going to let a coach who has led them to a 54-19 record over the past six seasons go without a fight. Kiffin would absolutely be a home-run hire for the Gators, though. He's a high-level recruiter and a high-level offensive mind in the SEC. Those are two things that the Gators desperately need in the wake of the middling Napier era. Not only that, but Kiffin has ties to the state. He was the head coach at Florida Atlantic from 2017-19. Eli Drinkwitz an interesting option for Florida if it can't land Lane Kiffin Drinkwitz is another interesting option, though. You'll also notice that there's a trend here for Florida, and that's going after established SEC head coaches. Napier had come from the Sun Belt conference. Drinkwitz has made Missouri a tough out in the SEC and he's won a ton of football games. His overall record at Mizzou is 45-27, though his record in big games does leave a little to be desired. He's 7-14 against ranked opponents and 0-7 against top-10 teams. Still, Drinkwitz is a young coach at just 42, so the upside is there. He's a big personality who does well on the recruiting trail, and he could do a lot of good things with the firepower of the Florida Gators behind him. There are other options out there for Florida. Washington head coach Jedd Fisch is a Florida alumnus, for instance. If Spurrier has narrowed it down to Kiffin and Drinkwitz in his mind, though, you can bet those in power at Florida are likely thinking the same thing.
7 Commanders players who definitely won't be back in 2026 at the bye week
The Washington Commanders have finally reached their bye week at last. And as head coach Dan Quinn stated to the media after his team's dismal loss to the Miami Dolphins in Madrid, it's much needed. Quinn revealed that everyone is depleted, and it's not just the players and coaches. That goes for fans, too. It's been an arduous, draining campaign that promised much but has fallen by the wayside. The Commanders are 3-8 when most were anticipating another postseason run. And it's not hard to see why attention is already turning to what promises to be a pivotal offseason for general manager Adam Peters. Peters ran it back with the large majority of the squad that reached the NFC Championship game in 2024. He made two bold splashes in the trade market, but this was the NFL's oldest roster heading into the campaign. That blew up in the front-office leader's face, and although injuries haven't helped their cause, it's clear that massive changes are coming to the playing personnel. The Commanders have more than 30 players out of contract next spring. They should have over $100 million in available salary-cap space, but there is a lot of hard work ahead. And with only six draft picks at Peters' disposal, not every problem will be solved. With that being said, the fates of some players are already looking bleak. Here are seven Commanders who definitely won't be back in 2026. Commanders players who definitely won't be back in 2026 at the bye week Austin Ekeler - Commanders RB The Washington Commanders were counting on running back Austin Ekeler to provide a stable veteran presence this season. Adam Peters saw enough in his younger backfield options to trade Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers before the deadline. Unfortunately, things took a concerning turn early on. Ekeler went down in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers. The news was demoralizing, with the dual-threat weapon tearing his Achilles to rule him out for the rest of 2025. The former Western Colorado standout isn't planning on retirement. Ekeler is working hard to get healthy again, and he's confident that this issue will make him even stronger. But with the veteran out of contract next spring, and the Commanders' need to get younger across the board, it seems unlikely that he'll get another deal in Washington. Ekeler's presence has been sorely missed this season. But given his age, injuries, and concussion history, he'll probably get the green light to take his chances elsewhere. Noah Brown - Commanders WR The Washington Commanders gave Noah Brown a one-year deal to remain with the squad this offseason. This was a massive confidence boost for the wide receiver, especially considering his 2024 campaign ended abruptly with a serious internal injury that required kidney surgery. Unfortunately, this was the start of a concerning trend for Brown. He was carted off during Washington's mandatory minicamp, which hindered his summer preparations. The former Ohio State star got back in time for Week 1, but he lasted just two games before getting hurt again. The Commanders eventually put Brown on injured reserve when his recovery didn't go as expected. He's slowly progressing, and there is a chance that he can feature at some stage after the bye week. However, this would be a good time for Washington to go in a different direction. Brown is a good player, but the best ability is availability in the NFL. Nick Allegretti - Commanders OL Washington thought that Nick Allegretti could become a long-term starter. The Commanders gave him a three-year deal after starring for the Kansas City Chiefs during their 2023 run to another Super Bowl. It hasn't gone as anyone hoped. Allegretti struggled to find the consistency needed in his first season as the team's starting left guard. He looked set to go back into a rotational/backup role this season after Washington traded for Laremy Tunsil, moving Brandon Coleman to left guard. But the Commanders thought that he could shine on the right-hand side of the interior until Sam Cosmi came back from injured reserve. Much like his first season, Allegretti struggled right out of the gate. The Commanders benched him after two games, and he's been seldom seen on the offensive rotation since. The Illinois product still has one year remaining on his deal, but Adam Peters should end this experiment ahead of time. Bobby Wagner - Commanders LB There is no doubt about Bobby Wagner's credentials. He is a future first ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker with 14-straight seasons with more than 1000 tackles. He was an integral force in Washington's culture shift last season, but the cracks are beginning to show this time around. Wagner remains a force in between the tackles. He's a solid run defender who can still be effective on blitzes. Even so, the former Utah State prospect is becoming a glaring weak link in other areas that opposing teams are exploiting with alarming frequency this season. The second-level presence has never been significant in coverage, but age is catching up to him. When Wagner gets isolated, he's prone to giving up explosive plays. This is magnified more than ever by the failings of others. Although Wagner hasn't confirmed one way or another whether he'll walk away from the game this offseason, the Commanders need to find a younger, more dynamic linebacker to replace him. Marshon Lattimore - Commanders CB Trading for cornerback Marshon Lattimore signified that the Washington Commanders were ready to contend. Adam Peters knew there was an opportunity, and he struck with conviction to secure the services of a potentially shutdown coverage presence to help them reach new heights. Lattimore never shook off a hamstring injury after the trade. He tried valiantly to fight through the pain, but the athletic traits weren't there. Still, with a full offseason to recuperate and acclimate to the defensive scheme, hopes were high for better fortunes in 2025. The four-time Pro Bowler out of Ohio State suffered similar frailties. Lattimore got burned by faster wide receivers downfield, and his technical flaws led to multiple defensive pass interference penalties in key moments. Just when it seemed like the tide might be turning, he suffered a torn ACL. Adam Petters won't like it, but the $18.5 million in savings with no dead cap ramifications by releasing Lattimore before the final year of his deal are too tempting to ignore. Von Miller - Commanders OLB Fans were deeply concerned about Adam Peters' lack of attention to the team's pass-rushing options during the offseason. The general manager was confident enough in the options available, and signing Von Miller shortly before the campaign began was the icing on his cake. Miller is a first ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer when he leaves the game. He's not getting any younger, but the Commanders were confident he could help as a rotational pass-rusher when the situation called for it. Thanks to the countless injuries to influential personnel, Washington needed more. Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Deatrich Wise Jr. — the team's starting defensive end tandem — both suffered season-ending injuries. That's allowed opposing defenses to key on Miller, and he doesn't have the dynamism to counteract it effectively enough in his twilight. The Super Bowl 50 MVP recently revealed that he wants to continue playing, ideally on the Commanders. But the reality should be a lot different. Andrew Wylie - Commanders OL The Commanders identified Andrew Wylie as someone capable of being a long-term starter in Washington. He followed Eric Bieniemy to the franchise in 2023, immediately becoming the starting right guard. The veteran didn't give up many sacks, but the inconsistency on an island was there for all to see. Wylie kept his spot in 2024, but the same complications emerged. Adam Peters had seen enough, spending the No. 29 overall selection in the draft on Josh Conerly Jr. to form a bookend tackle tandem with Laremy Tunsil. This relegated Wylie to a backup role, but it wasn't long before he was thrust into the spotlight again. He came in at the right guard spot when Nick Allegretti struggled, adding a much-needed sense of stability to the place at a critical time. But when Sam Cosmi got the all-clear to return, he went back to the fringes. Wylie probably wants the chance to start at this stage of his career. And the Commanders don't want to be shelling out big money for veteran backups when there are so many other needs elsewhere.
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Did Andy Reid throw Patrick Mahomes under the bus?
The Kansas City Chiefs haven't found much consistency this season. They lost their first two games of the year, then won five out of six. And just when it seemed that their offense was regaining its form from the early days of the dynasty, they regressed again. They've now dropped two games in a row to fall to 5-5, and their division-title aspirations may have already slipped through their fingers. Some of that has had to do with their lack of success in the running game. However, it's not because of head coach Andy Reid. Did Andy Reid take a subtle jab at Patrick Mahomes? In his weekly virtual media availability Monday, Reid stated that the Chiefs are still trying to run the ball. “We’re calling quite a few of the RPOs. Yesterday, they were giving us opportunities to throw the football, so we utilized the opportunities there, and those things ended up being as good as a run; we’re getting four-plus yards, and you go with it," Reid said. Then, he turned some heads with his follow-up comments, which some took as a subtle dig at quarterback Patrick Mahomes. "But the runs are being called; it’s just sometimes they get turned into passes in today’s world, you know, that’s how it goes," Reid continued. "But we are getting them in, and we have some hard runs where you just get up, line up, and go. Probably could call more of those.” Of course, that might not necessarily be a dig at his future Hall of Fame quarterback, but it's a testament to the disconnect within the team. The Chiefs have averaged 20 points per game in their last two games, all while rushing for 79 and 62 yards, respectively. Clearly, they will have to change that approach to salvage a season that has some fans thinking the dynasty is officially over.
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