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Having second-year quarterback Bo Nix firmly entrenched under center is working wonders for the Denver Broncos in many different ways.
The 2025 NFL draft opened up considerably for the Broncos because Nix excelled as a rookie, offering much more moving forward. Once a team finds its long-term answer at quarterback, everything else flows from it.
The recruiting benefits of having a burgeoning franchise quarterback also skyrocket, as the Broncos' championship vision comes together. The case in point is how Nix's presence bled into how both free-agent safety Talanoa Hufanga and inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw became sold on head coach Sean Payton's ongoing project in the Mile High City.
"Even talking to Dre (Greenlaw), he was my locker partner at the Niners and then we came here together, we were like 'Man, when you got a quarterback that can go out there and really play, as a defense, you know it's just not three and out,'" Hufanga told Bennie Fowler of DNVR. "There are a lot of teams like that in the NFL. So for us, it's like 'We got potential here. Why can't we come over here and help change?' He's the reason."
The most stunning aspect of what Hufanga said about becoming a Bronco is that he feels Nix is "the reason" why two coveted free agents with a Super Bowl appearance on their resumes would sign on the dotted line.
Hufanga isn't simply playing a hunch that a young quarterback might develop if he's surrounded by good players; the star safety has flat-out seen that Nix can move the chains and really help a defense keep fresh.
Playing complementary football might not be that sexy for the average football fan, but for established, proven players like Hufanga and Greenlaw, who are desperate to win a championship, it becomes a casting vote.
"He reached out immediately," Hufanga said. "[I] got to see him the day I signed, got to chop it up with him. He's a guy that's just been a gamer."
That's not to say that Nix doesn't have room for improvement in keeping the offense ticking over most effectively. Nix could be greatly aided by the arrival of veteran tight end Evan Engram, particularly when it comes to improving on the 29 touchdown mark he set as a rookie, the second-most in NFL history.
Even so, without a strong running game to control the clock and grind opposing teams down, Hufanga will be squeezing his flowing curly hair back into his new helmet a lot more frequently than he perhaps imagined. Enter second-round running back RJ Harvey, whom the Broncos hope will unlock their offensive line's top-level run-blocking, redounding to even more consistency and success for Nix.
There's still work to be done in Denver, but the early returns and vast potential have already proven to be attractive to prospective free agents. Call it 'the Bo Nix effect.'
More must-reads:
- Five best NFL offseason value signings on offense: Bills get great deal with RB extension
- Dolphins humiliated by Lions at joint practice
- The '2023 NFL AP second-team All-Pro' quiz
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Patriots have big Drake Maye concern surface at Vikings' joint practice
Defense ruled the day during the joint practice between the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings. Per Chad Graff of The Athletic, the Patriots defense did a masterful job of disrupting Vikings second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy at Wednesday's practice. However, New England's offensive line was unable to allow Drake Maye to have enough time to finish plays. "Even with four new expected starters up front following last year’s debacle, Wednesday suggested that there will likely be some bumps ahead for this offensive line," Graff wrote. "Sure, going up against the Vikings was always going to be a difficult task. Greenard has been wrecking his own team’s practices in training camp, and everyone in New England knows how good Flores’ scheme can be. But the domination was so thorough by the Vikings’ front seven that three straight plays at one point would’ve resulted in a sack." Maye showed flashes of promise when he had time to throw downfield or was able to use his legs to buy time or scramble when pressure came. The concern is that the offensive line won't allow Maye enough time to even scramble so he can make throws. Graff has noticed the same issues that happened on Wednesday have been a constant at training camp against the Patriots defense. With a new-look offensive line that includes first-round pick Will Campbell at left tackle, the Patriots are expected to have some bumps at training camp and in September. New England's offense probably won't look great out of the gate while the offensive line develops in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' scheme. If and when the offensive line improves, Maye will have a chance to show off the arm that made him the No. 3 pick in 2024. For now, the offensive line is a concern much like it was last season.
Phillies superstar may be building Hall of Fame case
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber is in the midst of another impressive season. Schwarber entered Wednesday having posted a .249/.373/.578 batting line in his 528 plate appearances this season, hitting 42 homers while driving in a National League-leading 97 runs. The Phillies slugger was named to his third All-Star Game this season and, according to NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, he should be the NL MVP. Schwarber has been one of baseball's premier power hitters since establishing himself in the majors in 2017. He's in his eighth season of hitting 30 or more homers and has reached the 40-homer plateau three times in his four seasons in Philadelphia. The 32-year-old Schwarber may find himself in elite company when his career comes to an end. He has already hit 326 homers in his career, potentially giving him a chance to reach the 500-home run plateau. If Schwarber does hit 500-plus homers, the narrative around his career may change. There have only been 28 players in MLB history to reach that plateau, 19 of whom are in the Hall of Fame. Two players — Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera — are not yet eligible and are expected to be enshrined on the first ballot. The seven players who have not been inducted into the Hall of Fame have been linked to PED use, torpedoing their candidacy. At the same time, his entire candidacy may be based on his home run total. Schwarber has a lifetime .232/.346/.499 batting line over 5,188 plate appearances; although batting average no longer carries much weight for the voters, he would have the lowest batting average of any non-pitcher in the Hall. His 20.7 fWAR has been dragged down by his defense and is unlikely to make him a favorite among the younger voters who put more emphasis on such metrics. Schwarber is marching toward the 500-home run plateau. If he does reach that mark, he could be a polarizing Hall of Fame candidate.
Browns HC confirms Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders whispers
A previous report suggested that the Cleveland Browns want to start 2025 third-round draft pick Dillon Gabriel at quarterback for this coming Saturday's preseason game at the Philadelphia Eagles over 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders as long as Gabriel is healthy enough to play at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field. While speaking with reporters ahead of Wednesday's joint practice involving the clubs, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Gabriel began the day on track to start Saturday's contest. "The plan was always to give both of those guys a start in the preseason, so we’ll see how it shakes out," Stefanski explained, as shared by Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. Neither Gabriel nor backup Kenny Pickett played in Cleveland's preseason opener at the Carolina Panthers on Friday as they continued to recover from lingering hamstring injuries. Sanders received the bulk of the meaningful reps in that game and completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-10 win over Carolina. While Gabriel is doing 11-on-11 work during joint practices this week, Pickett remained relegated to 7-on-7 drills as of Wednesday. That said, FanDuel Sportsbook continued to list 40-year-old Joe Flacco as the betting favorite at -310 odds to be the Browns' starting quarterback for their Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals as of Wednesday. Pickett was at +360 odds, followed by Sanders at +1060. Gabriel was a +1800 underdog to get the nod for the Cincinnati matchup at that time. Gabriel began Wednesday as the Browns' unofficial QB3 ahead of Sanders. Meanwhile, Sanders did not get any reps in the opening few periods of the Browns' joint practice with the Eagles on Wednesday morning after suffering an oblique injury. Earlier in the month, the former Colorado star missed some practice time due to arm soreness. Per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Stefanski added that he wants "to get through" Thursday before he finalizes his plans for the Philadelphia game. Unless Gabriel experiences a setback ahead of the weekend, it seems he will receive an opportunity to silence critics while serving as Cleveland's temporary QB1 against the Eagles.
Steelers' Mike Tomlin Delivers Stunning Praise For Common Weak Link On The Offensive Side Of The Ball
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a ton of new pieces to get integrated ahead of the 2025 NFL season. This is true for both sides of the ball, but the biggest X-factor for the team is a group that was in Pittsburgh during the 2024 season, and that is the offensive line. The unit is young outside of left guard Isaac Seumalo, as every other player is in their third-year or younger. Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick seem fairly reliable on the interior, while the tackle spots are going to be something fans keep a close eye on to begin the regular season. Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu are being relied upon to take care of business at the two tackle spots. Each player was selected in the first round of their respective drafts by the organization, with the franchise even trading up to grab Jones. Jones spent most of the last two seasons at right tackle, but he will be starting on the left side of the offensive line in 2025, which happens to be his natural position. Fautanu missed most of his rookie year in 2024, so he is looking to come into the season healthy, while being able to make a positive impact. Head Coach Mike Tomlin spoke about his tackle situation after practice on Tuesday, and he sounded impressed with the growth he has seen from the two players throughout training camp. "I think they’ve gotten better every day," Tomlin said. "Broderick got slowed by a little day-to-day groin injury there for a spell, but has really been on the uptick since his return. Same with Troy. I like the trajectory of the group. But even though we’re leaving Saint Vincent College, man, we still are very much in development. We’ve got a lot of time in front of us between now and the opener." Fans have been excited to see Fautanu on the field, but a large portion of the fan base has been worried about whether or not Jones would be good enough to start at left tackle. The initial reports out of training camp were a bit concerning, but it seems as though the young player has improved as he has gotten more comfortable returning to the left side. Jones had a rough season in 2024 as he struggled with penalties and giving up sacks. It is important to note that both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields had instances where they held onto the ball for far too long and ran into sacks, but some of that still falls on Jones. Jones and Fautanu were going against two pretty good pass rushers during Pittsburgh's first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker have each been two elite pass rushers in the their careers, and neither tackle allowed a pressure from either player. This is a good sign in Pittsburgh, as protecting Aaron Rodgers is going to be a top priority. Steelers' Tackles Have Been Battle-Tested Throughout Training Camp Both Jones and Fautanu have to go against some of the best in the world every day of practice. TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig is as good of a trio at outside linebacker that anyone will find in the NFL, and they get to test the two young tackles every day. In addition to that, Pittsburgh has also upgraded the secondary. This likely makes Rodgers have to hang on to the football for a little bit longer, which tests the offensive line even more.
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