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Like 30 other teams, the New York Jets didn't deem Shedeur Sanders worthy of one of their picks over Days 1 and 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft. But did the Jets overthink it?
Sanders, who entered draft season as a presumed first-round pick, eventually heard the Cleveland Browns call his name in Round 5. The Jets, clearly committed to Justin Fields as their quarterback of the present and future, didn't pick any quarterbacks during the draft.
However, according to one former Jets scout, New York should've drafted Sanders once he slipped to the fourth round. Check out this excerpt from a column published over the weekend by Rich Cimini of ESPN:
"There was a lot of speculation that the Jets would draft a quarterback, not in the first round, but a Day 2 or Day 3 pick -- low-cost insurance in case Fields doesn't pan out. The logical spot would've been Round 4, when quarterbacks such as Shedeur Sanders, Kyle McCord and Will Howard still were on the board. One former Jets scout said the free-falling Sanders, projected by many as a first-rounder, would've been a good fourth-round value for any quarterback-needy team.
"'At that point, what do you have to lose?' the scout said, claiming the potential reward outweighed the risk."
Ultimately, the Jets might've felt Sanders wasn't a good fit for the culture being installed by first-year head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey. Myriad reports indicate Sanders came off as entitled and unprofessional during pre-draft interviews, and it's easy to envision the no-nonsense Glenn being turned off.
With all that said, the Jets still could add a quarterback before the start of the season. Following Jordan Travis' retirement last week, New York's QB room is down to Fields, Tyrod Taylor and Adrian Martinez.
More must-reads:
- Myles Garrett reveals bold goal for 2025 Browns amid four-way QB competition
- Emerging Texans star likely to miss 2025 season
- The 'Single-season sack leaders by NFL team' quiz
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Key Chicago Bears defensive veteran gets stern 2-word Dennis Allen appraisal
Quarterback Caleb Williams will be the most watched player during Chicago Bears training camp. However, on day one, the defense came away as the true stars. In particular, veteran linebacker Tremaine Edmunds started off training camp hot, intercepting Williams on his first pass in 11-on-11 drills. Seeing the defense shine makes sense early in camp, especially as Williams and company learn Johnson’s offense. However, Edmunds himself is entering a make-or-break season. More flash plays like his pick will only put him in stronger graces with his new head coach. Alongside Johnson, new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was certainly impressed by Edmunds’ play. As he builds his first defense with Bears, Allen expects the linebacker to simply be an, “exceptional playmaker,” via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Tremaine Edmunds’ run with Chicago Bears After a successful five-year run with the Buffalo Bills, the Bears signed Edmunds to a $72 million contract entering the 2023 season. While he hasn’t been a complete disaster, it’s fair to say the linebacker hasn’t lived up to his billing just yet. Over 32 games with the team, Edmunds has racked up 223 tackles, 15 passes defended and five interceptions. Four of those picks came in 2023. as Edmunds’ 2024 59.2 grade from Pro Football Focus ranked just 119/189 linebackers. Clearly, the veteran still has a lot to prove entering 2025. And if things really don’t pan out, Chicago does have an out in his contract. However, the Bears are hopeful Edmunds will return to his game breaking self in 2025. During his time with the New Orleans Saints, Allen was able to coax impressive linebacker play. During the 2024 campaign, Demario Davis put up an eye-catching 136 tackles alongside seven passes defended and an interception. Davis and Edmunds are obviously two completely different players, but it’s easy to see how the latter could be a force in Allen’s scheme. One interception, even if it opened training camp, isn’t going to change the expectations placed on Edmunds’ shoulders. Despite being a veteran, head coach Ben Johnson is wiping the slate clean and making everyone on the roster earn their opportunity. Still, Edmunds has more than proved he can be a dominant force in the NFL. Now, Allen is just patiently waiting to unleash him once more.
LA Lakers will be ‘big winners’ this offseason if Rob Pelinka can agree one more deal, it’s ‘an important moment’
The Los Angeles Lakers are under immense pressure to at least contend for the NBA championship in the 2025-26 season. JJ Redick is now a second-year head coach, Luka Doncic has adjusted to his new surroundings, and LeBron James is one year closer to retirement. The Lakers’ front office has strengthened the roster since last season, despite the departure of Dorian Finney-Smith, with the signings of Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart in free agency. However, ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst thinks general manager Rob Pelinka desperately needs to complete one more deal this offseason. Brian Windhorst highlights the importance of Luka Doncic signing an extension Doncic seemed happy with the Dallas Mavericks and had no interest in switching teams, but that decision was taken out of his hands when GM Nico Harrison traded him to the LA Lakers. Even though he was proud to be a Laker and excited to team up with LeBron James, there was no guarantee that he would be willing to sign a contract extension. Well, it now appears likely that Doncic will re-sign with LA, which Windhorst thinks would make them “one of the biggest winners” this offseason. “I cannot overstate how much of a disadvantage it was for the Lakers to lose the ability to give Luka the supermax,” Windhorst said. “He is completely disincentivized to extend his contract this year. “The only reason he would want to is because he believes in the Lakers, a team he did not ask to be traded to. It would be another thing if he said, ‘Trade me to LA.’ “So, from the moment that the shock wore off that Luka was a Laker, I have been focused on whether he was going to sign, and the signs point to the signing. I am not going to dismiss that as an important moment. “I never thought it was a guarantee, even though the Lakers really tried to make it seem it was no big deal. I think it’s a big deal, and if it happens, I think the Lakers are one of the big winners of the entire NBA this summer.” Luka Doncic is under pressure to win the NBA title this season LeBron James and the LA Lakers organization already know what it feels like, but the immense pressure that Luka Doncic is about to be under will be a new experience for him. With no disrespect to the Dallas Mavericks, winning a championship is an aspiration rather than an expectation. Now, in Los Angeles, Doncic will be expected to follow in the footsteps of James, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Magic Johnson in adding another banner to the collection. Age of recent Finals MVP winners Plus, Doncic’s standing within the league will take a hit if he does not win a title soon. Besides Stephen Curry, who already had three rings, the most recent Finals MVP recipients were all 28 or under. Doncic turns 27 in February, so it’s about time he delivered in the postseason like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and others have lately.
Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy Gets Honest About $14 Million O-Line Addition
The Minnesota Vikings have kicked off their training camp as they prepare for the upcoming NFL season with a new quarterback leading the charge. Former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy is set to take the QB mantle after the team parted ways with Sam Darnold despite a 14-3 season. McCarthy is gearing up for his NFL debut and has been practicing with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and others. He addressed the media ahead of the first practice of the 2025 training camp. The 22-year-old was asked about his experience sharing the locker room with veteran center Ryan Kelly. "He's been amazing, one of the most favorite teammates I've ever had," McCarthy said. "Just his knowledge about the game, but who he is as a man. It's really one of a kind. And just the depth of knowledge, how he attacks every single day, how he is as a dad, you know, all the things that I get to learn from him on and off the field. It's a tremendous blessing." Kelly left the Indianapolis Colts in March this year to join the Vikings on a two-year, $18 million contract. The four-time Pro Bowler reads defensive alignments and makes quick protection calls. His football IQ gives him a huge edge over other offensive linemen. The veteran center is a massive upgrade over Garrett Bradbury. Kelly's experience and superior pass protection would give McCarthy a lot of confidence and assurance. His technique and lower-body strength will undoubtedly help him handle bull rushers better. McCarthy and Kelly are the two most prominent new faces on the roster. Darnold was sacked nine times in the Wild Card Round loss against the Los Angeles Rams. The 32-year-old center will have to step up for the Vikings for a deeper run into the postseason. McCarthy was drafted at No. 10 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He competed for the QB1 spot until a knee injury sidelined him for his entire rookie season. The youngster tore his right knee meniscus in the preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Vikings' QB was away from action for a long time before he was allowed to practice and access team facilities. The coaching staff tried to make the most out of that period, preparing their long-term asset for the 2025 NFL season.
Bobby Wagner pours praise on rising Commanders star as breakout buzz explodes
Bobby Wagner has been one of the best at his craft almost from the moment he got into the league. The Washington Commanders linebacker shows no signs of slowing down, but he's also seeing something different in a young upstart teammate that could be a massive help to Joe Whitt Jr.'s defense in 2025. Wagner deservedly got another one-year deal from the Commanders this offseason. The future Pro Football Hall of Famer earned second-team All-Pro honors, and he was an inspirational catalyst behind Washington's incredible locker room culture shift. This is also his 14th season, and the cerebral second-level enforcer is not going to be around forever. The next generation must step up. That's the only way Washington's fleeting success is going to last long-term. And Wagner seems suitably impressed by the strides made by Jordan Magee entering Year 2 of his professional career. Bobby Wagner believes comfort is helping Jordan Magee in Year 2 with Commanders Wagner singled out Magee for special praise after the first training camp practice. He highlighted the added experience that's serving him well. He also noted the improved preparation and scheme familiarity as reasons why excitement continues to build. He [Jordan Magee] is a guy that everyone is watching. Seeing his growth, understanding the defense. I think the biggest step for a younger guy, when you first come into the league, you don't know what to expect. You don't know the plays, you don't know how the league is, things of that nature. Then you get a full season, and you come in and just get to focus on being the best linebacker, not everything else that comes with the game. So, I think that's been the biggest thing, watching him prepare, watching him really get comfortable and confident within the defense, so I'm excited to see where he's going to take it.Bobby Wagner Magee took off last offseason before a disappointing knee injury dented his chances of rookie involvement. He came back midway through the campaign but was utilized on special teams, for the most part. But make no mistake, the player and the coaching staff have much greater ambitions this time around. Whitt has already declared his willingness to implement more three-linebacker sets next season when the situation dictates. The third spot is Magee's to lose, and the progress being made isn't going unnoticed. The former Temple star has off-the-charts athleticism, which is always a solid foundation from which to build. Magee is violent at the contact point with the physical profile to match anyone. Once the technical refinements arrive, and he gets more in-game knowledge from a starting capacity, the Commanders will have a tremendous player on their hands. Learning from someone with Wagner's credentials doesn't exactly hurt either. And the veteran will be pushing Magee every step of the way for as long as he's around. That's a guarantee. More Commanders news and analysis
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