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Donovan Ezeiruaku didn’t exactly steal the headlines before draft night. But give it time — he might be the one people can’t stop talking about by year’s end.
"Easy" (as he told us this week he'd like to be called) was college football's most prolific pass rusher in 2024. But don't make the mistake of assuming he's strictly that. It’s the pop at the point of attack, the rare arm length, and the upper body power that are lesser known qualities of his game that definitely show up on tape.
His hands land with intent when he wants them to and he's got long (34-inch) arms for his position. Needless to say he strikes with plenty of power and leverage. And if you need proof of the strength he also backs up his arm length with? He repped 22 times on the bench at the Combine — one more than first-round pick Tyler Booker who was widely regarded as the most physically dominant lineman in the draft class.
That strength, paired with his long frame and disruptive edge instincts, gives him the foundation of a future three down player.
But here’s the twist — even with all that promise, the Cowboys still might have three guys who are better pure pass rushers right now. Micah Parsons is in his own category. Dante Fowler gets 10 sacks in his sleep. And Sam Williams has been too injured to prove he's capable of a double digit sack season but we know that upside is in his bag. When he’s locked in, he’s lightning in a bottle too.
So there's a world where Ezeiruaku is still only the 4th most effective pass rusher on the Cowboys depth chart.
That’s not a knock on Easy, either. That’s simply the luxury of Dallas’ front seven.
He isn’t being asked to be “the guy” which is another element we'll son be diving deep into. He just needs to grow into his body (he's not huge at 6-2, 248) and bring the leadership that made him a team captain at BC.
Then — when the light turns on as a run defender — his blend of tools, mindset, and motor could turn him into one of the best value picks of the entire draft class.
Because sometimes it’s not about being better today. It’s about being undeniable when your time comes.
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Justin Fields Called 'Biggest Loser' In Jets Training Camp
The New York Jets opted to cut Aaron Rodgers and sign Justin Fields to replace him during the offseason. This kind of commitment to Fields should bolster his confidence, but it could also place a lot of pressure on his shoulders. To this point, Fields has looked solid in training camp, aside from a scary toe injury that was quickly resolved in July. Justin Fried of the Jet Press recently reported that Fields' training camp may have reached a new low over the weekend as the young signal caller struggled. "Justin Fields put together his best practice of the summer to this point on Friday, completing his first 12 passes en route to an excellent all-around performance. The same can't be said about his showing on Saturday, however," Fried wrote. "Fields finished the day an abysmal 2-of-10 in the air, including a drop from rookie tight end Mason Taylor. "Some of his incompletions were catchable balls, but the Jets' passing game struggles on Saturday can largely be blamed on No. 7. Fields did flash his running ability with a 25-yard rushing score on the first play of red-zone drills, but the Jets would like to see more consistency in the air from the starting quarterback. Saturday's scrimmage was far from his best showing of the summer." Fields is a runner first at the NFL level, but his arm is nothing to scoff at. For most of training camp, his arm talent has been better than advertised, but during Saturday's scrimmage, it just wasn't there. A 2 for 10 performance is unacceptable for a $40 million quarterback who was signed to take over the team. The running game should open up the passing game for the Jets, which is going to need to be the case if Fields is going to struggle like this. However, it's just one day of camp. It's nothing to be too concerned about. Just because Fields lost this specific practice doesn't mean he's heading in the wrong direction as a whole.
NBA Notes: Raptors, Immanuel Quickley, Jordan Clarkson, Knicks, Sixers, Tyrese Maxey
A five-year deal completed nearly a year ago is still shaping the way NBA teams and agents are approaching restricted free agency. According to ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks, the contract that Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley signed last July has become a major sticking point. The deal, which includes $162.5 million in guaranteed money and another $12.5 million in incentives, averages $32.5 million per season and could reach $35 million annually. “The Immanuel Quickley contract has totally screwed up restricted free agency,” Marks said during an appearance on ESPN’s YouTube channel. “Because that’s where agents are looking at like the benchmark. Certainly, [Bulls guard] Josh Giddey’s like, ‘I want that contract.’ That number has screwed up a lot of things.” Marks said agents are citing Quickley’s deal in negotiations for other young guards with similar production and upside, but teams haven’t been willing to match the price tag. “I don’t think Toronto got enough heat for that number,” he added. “Because Immanuel Quickley is not a $32, $33 million guy.” Clarkson Still a Wild Card for Knicks The Knicks are hoping Jordan Clarkson provides a spark off the bench, but there is uncertainty about what exactly he brings at this stage of his career. As one Western Conference scout told The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy, Clarkson hasn’t played meaningful basketball in quite a while and remains a bit of a mystery heading into the 2025–26 season. Still, one Knicks source believes the veteran scorer is “exactly what we needed,” and sees him as a strong fit off the bench. A veteran coach who spoke with Bondy sees upside but also concerns. “High-level shooter. Good going right,” the coach said. “Wild-card-type player. Throw him out there and see if he can get hot. But there’s not much else from a production standpoint. And it’s ugly on defense.” Maxey Gives Back in Philly Tyrese Maxey continues to make an impact beyond the court. The 76ers guard hosted a free youth basketball camp over the weekend and donated $60,000 through his foundation, per The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey. Maxey’s community efforts have become a regular part of his offseason work in the Philadelphia area. More NBA News Rumors
Boston Bruins Bleak 2025-26 Outlook Raises Concerns
As the Boston Bruins prepare for the upcoming NHL season, there are a lot of questions around the roster. Boston missed the playoffs last year, taking a massive step back from where the team normally has been. But even entering this coming year, there isn't a lot of optimism around the Bruins. Boston has a few solid pieces on the roster, but the team hasn't improved much. This has led some to believe that Boston will again miss the playoffs next season. One of those people is NHL writer Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report, who predicted them to be on the outside looking in. "They lack a top-line center, don't have scoring depth after David Pastrnak, the defense wasn't always great even before the injuries to Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm and they desperately need Jeremy Swayman to bounce back and play like the $8 million per year goalie they are paying him to be," wrote Gretz. Boston is going to have a tough time competing in the Eastern Conference this season, and it could see them miss the postseason again. The Bruins haven't done all that much this summer to improve the team, and it could end up costing them. The direction of the Bruins remains one of the bigger mysteries around the NHL, and the front office has been kind of stagnant. If this team wants to contend this season, the best bet is to bank on the team staying healthier than they did last year. But betting on health throughout a season is typically a risky play. Boston's front office still has work to do, and the clock is ticking on them to add to this team.
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Could Have A New Favorite Redzone Target
The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a lot of changes to their roster throughout the 2025 offseason, leading to a lot of storylines. From new signings to unexpected departures, there’s been no shortage of things for fans and analysts to talk about. Even with all the moves, however, some big questions still remain, especially when it comes to depth at key positions and who will step up to fill certain roles. One of the biggest storylines has been the addition of veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and with him leading the offense, many are wondering who he’ll be throwing to in the passing game consistently. Recently, former Steelers Super Bowl champion Trai Essex released a new episode of his podcast, The Snap Count, where he and his co-host, Charlie Batch, talked about a variety of Steelers-related topics ahead of the upcoming season. Among the topics discussed on the podcast was the highly-talked about question of who Rodgers is expected to connect with the most in the Steelers’ passing game. Essex mentioned someone that hasn’t been talked about a lot during the offseason, someone he believes could have a big impact in the end zone this year. "You know, I think Darnell Washington is going to be a huge target for Aaron Rodgers in the end zone," Essex said. Darnell Washington, who is a tight end that was selected by the Steelers in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, could have a bigger role this season. While Pat Freiermuth has remained the team’s first tight end, the arrival of Rodgers may create more opportunities for Washington to get involved in the passing game. With his combination of size, strength, and receiving ability, Washington has the ability to be a serious threat in the red zone, like Essex mentioned. Rodgers is a future Hall of Famer, with a historic and successful career behind him up until this point. However, as he begins the next step in Pittsburgh, some have concerns about his age and whether he can still perform at a high level in such a physical league. What has always set Rodgers apart is his arm talent, and according to a recent report, his arm strength remains his best attribute. That not only poses a challenge for opposing defenses, but also presents an exciting opportunity for the Steelers to have a dangerous passing game. The Steelers now have a crowded and talented tight end room, especially with the recent addition of Jonnu Smith, who adds proven receiving skills and versatility to the offense. With this depth at tight end, it’s clear the position will likely play a significant role in the Steelers' offense this season. As the team continues to build around Rodgers for this year, it will be interesting to see how the targets are distributed among the many weapons at his disposal. Steelers Have Plenty Of Receiving Options There’s been plenty of talk surrounding the Steelers' wide receiver group, especially given the amount of receiving talent across the offense, including a strong tight end unit. While DK Metcalf is the clear wide receiver one, the wide receiver two spot is possibly still up for grabs, despite wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni naming Calvin Austin III as the current second option. Like Washington, Austin has a real opportunity to step up and show just how valuable he can be in the offense, especially with a quarterback as talented as Rodgers throwing the football. With this potentially being Rodgers’ final season, there’s added pressure for the Steelers to deliver results now. While much of the spotlight will be on Rodgers to lead the offense effectively, there’s also significant expectation on key receiving players players like Austin and Washington to take a big step forward and make a meaningful impact.
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