On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
General Manager Brian Gutekunst made some moves this offseason to improve the Green Bay Packers pass rush. He drafted edge rushers Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver in the draft, along with interior defensive lineman Warren Brinson. Moreover, the team hired DeMarcus Covington as the new defensive line coach, with the hope that he can help Green Bay's pass rush take a big step forward in 2025.
Still, if Super Bowl LIX taught anything, it is that you can never have too many pass rushers. While the Packers should believe in internal growth from their current players, they also need to stay alert for potential transition moves that could happen between now and the start of the regular season. If the right opportunity arises, Guteukunst should not hesitate to add to his pass rush.
The free agent talent pool is thin right now, and while the release of Jaire Alexander makes it seem like cornerback is Green Bay’s most pressing need, one NFL reporter argued that the Packers should not overlook the importance of bolstering their pass rush.
"While Jaire Alexander’s release probably makes it so cornerback is top of mind, that hasn’t been the biggest complaint of Packers fans this offseason," Fox Sports' Carmen Vitali wrote.
"So why can’t Green Bay get pressure up front? Xavier McKinney masked a lot of the pressure issues last season with his takeaways, but imagine if there was a real-deal pass rush to go along with his ball-hawking skills?"
Vitali went on to name DeMarcus Walker as a potential acquisition for the Packers. Walker spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons with the Bears and is currently a free agent. He began his NFL career with the Denver Broncos, where he played for four seasons, followed by stints with the Houston Texans in 2021 and the Tennessee Titans in 2022. Over his career, Walker has recorded 191 total tackles, 26.5 sacks, and 188 pressures.
Throughout the offseason, there was speculation about whether Green Bay could pull off a trade for superstar edge rushers like Maxx Crosby or Myles Garrett. However, both players signed extensions with their respective teams, and nothing concrete ever materialized. While DeMarcus Walker would be a solid addition to the rotation, he is far from the established superstar many fans believe the Packers still need upfront.
More must-reads:
- Andy Reid’s main flaw will cost Chiefs a trip to the playoffs
- Steelers could take back command of AFC North with Aaron Rodgers returning in Week 13
- The 'Five game-winning-drives in a season' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Jerry Jones claims Jets turned down absurd trade offer involving Micah Parsons, Quinnen Williams
Dallas Cowboys' chances of beating Lions just increased with an update the NFL world will hate to hear
The 6-5-1 Dallas Cowboys are looking to extend their win streak to four in a row next Thursday when they take on the 7-5 Detroit Lions on primetime television. Though the Lions are known as one of the best teams in the conference, they are struggling to be consistent on offense, and the defense has serious problems, too. There are a lot of factors that go into Detroit's biggest issues on offense, which was known as one of the scariest units in the league not that long ago. But it all starts with the trenches, where they simply haven't been the same. The Lions' offensive line's struggles reached the point where they had to draw former second-team All-Pro center Frank Ragnow out of retirement. However, Ragnow's return is over before it even got a chance to get going. Lions announce Ragnow failed his physical ahead of Cowboys matchup On Saturday, the Lions announced Ragnow's activation to the 53-man roster isn't happening after he failed his physical. "The medical exam revealed a Grade 3 hamstring strain that will keep him from participating for the remainder of the regular season," the team's statement reads. "For that reason, Frank will not be rejoining the Lions." It was already unlikely Ragnow would play in Week 14 due to his inactivity this year. However, the Lions are reaching must-win territory, so it wasn't out of the question. This update confirms it. It's a disappointing update even though it helps the Cowboys' chances of winning. You never want to see a star's return get ruined before it even starts. But it is what it is in football. With that being said, there's no denying it's an objectively positive development for a Dallas team starving for any break it can get as it tries to make the playoffs. Cowboys' rising DL will face struggling Lions OL Over the last few years, the motor driving the Lions' success was its offensive line. Now that it's struggling, Jared Goff's play is showing flaws, and the run game has been inconsistent. On the other side, the Cowboys' defense is quickly improving. Since Quinnen Williams' arrival via trade, Matt Eberflus' unit has shown an ability to pressure the quarterback and stop the run. While it hasn't been perfect, it's that interior defensive line that's sparked quality play. The Cowboys are 3.5-point underdogs against the Lions heading into Week 14 but this advantage in the trenches could position them to pull off a third consecutive upset. window.addEventListener('message', function (event) {if (event.data.totalpoll event.data.totalpoll.action === 'resizeHeight') {document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-375').height = event.data.totalpoll.value;}}, false);document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-375').contentWindow.postMessage({totalpoll: {action: 'requestHeight'}}, '*'); This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Nov 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Connor McDavid made an egregious mistake with Oilers
Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid struggled to find the words to describe the team’s 8-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night. The decision dropped the Oilers’ record to 10-10-5 for the season, and McDavid looked defeated during his postgame interview. The more things change, the more they stay the same for the Oilers. Why did Connor McDavid stay? The Oilers are grappling with the same issues that have plagued them since McDavid joined the NHL in the fall of 2015. Edmonton’s secondary offensive support for McDavid and Leon Draisaitl is minimal, and their goaltending remains a significant concern. Considering the Oilers have faced these problems for so long, it makes one wonder why a generational talent like McDavid chose to sign on for two more years of this, especially given the bargain he struck when he signed for just $12.5M a season. McDavid’s choice to sign with Edmonton before even considering free agency might become one of the biggest “what-ifs” in NHL history. However, McDavid opted for stability in a familiar market, with a team that has been competitive for most of his NHL career. Ultimately, McDavid decided to stay loyal to the Oilers, but the two-year term seemed like a warning shot to Edmonton. So far, that warning appears to have fallen on deaf ears. The timing of McDavid’s extension was quite unusual. The superstar had a clear route to unrestricted free agency, which could have been one of the most incredible stories in NHL history if it had come to pass. McDavid had the chance to be the highest-profile player in NHL history to reach free agency since Wayne Gretzky in 1996. He held leverage against the Oilers and could have waited out the season, sparking a bidding war for his services. This would have boosted his star power and changed what a superstar’s career could look like. Instead, McDavid chose familiarity, even though the timing of his decision wasn’t convenient. Connor McDavid's decision to re-sign could be costly McDavid’s signing has delayed his free agency by 24 months, and some people dismiss this decision by arguing that McDavid will still get paid and reach free agency after the salary cap has significantly increased. While both points have some truth, the counterargument is compelling. Instead of becoming a free agent at 29, McDavid will do so at 31. It might seem minor, but many NHLers see their skills decline after 30. Another factor is that when McDavid finally signs, the new CBA rules on contract length will apply, meaning the maximum deal with his current team will be seven years, and he’ll only be able to land six years on the open market. Although this one-year reduction isn’t a significant issue, it will likely cause McDavid to leave money on the table on his next deal. In terms of missed opportunities, McDavid would have been the first generational player in NHL free agency to test the market in the prime of his career. While it would have made great theater for the NHL, it would also have been an opportunity for McDavid to shift the league’s balance of power toward whichever team he joined, while helping reset the salary structure for superstar NHLers. McDavid is clearly not a $12.5M player, but like many top NHLers before him, he took a "hometown discount" to stay with his current team. For some NHLers, taking that discount has worked out well (Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, Nathan MacKinnon). Far more often, the savings from a reduced salary cap are wasted. Even Crosby, who traded tens of millions of dollars to play on consistently competitive teams, saw many of those seasons marred by costly mistakes on depth players with inflated cap hits (Jack Johnson, Erik Gudbranson, Nick Bjugstad). Crosby essentially subsidized poor roster decisions with his lower cap hits, and he would no doubt do so again, given the Stanley Cup championships Pittsburgh has won during his career. McDavid’s decision to re-sign essentially upholds the NHL’s long-standing tradition of superstars taking less money to stay with their team, and no doubt he did so while feeling loyalty to the Oilers fans who have endured the same heartbreaks he has. The reality is, McDavid has gone through a decade without winning the Cup, despite multiple front-office makeovers, coaching changes, cap mismanagement and an inability to surround him with real depth. And while the depth has improved over the last few years, the “we’re almost there” mentality won’t put a Stanley Cup ring on McDavid’s finger. All of this to say, McDavid probably owed it to himself to explore free agency at least to see if a team with a more precise winning blueprint could emerge, giving him a better chance at a title. July 1, 2026, would have offered a window into that, but McDavid chose not to look, and it could come back to haunt him if he never wins a championship. McDavid had all the leverage, which makes his decision baffling, because exploring free agency didn’t require him to leave Edmonton. He could have casually explored his options, had discussions with teams, listened to their pitches and then re-signed with Edmonton—something that might have pushed the Oilers to step up their game and get creative with their roster. But the Oilers didn’t need to worry about losing McDavid, and it seems this has led to some apathy across the organization, as they don’t seem to be a group hungry to win. Generational players across all leagues have frequently tested free agency. NBA superstar LeBron James famously took his talents from Cleveland to Miami nearly 15 years ago, and MLB superstar pitcher Paul Skenes will likely follow suit one day. It’s common, and not all players do it because they’re leaving; they do it for a variety of reasons. They can because the process gives them power, and it’s one of the few times they get to fully control their own destiny. McDavid could have taken a different route, but he didn’t. While he’s given the team a short leash to build a winner around him, he could have kept that leash even tighter, which might have pushed the Oilers to solve their roster issues more quickly. It could also have generated a story that might have become a sensation across all platforms — a broader narrative focusing on a star-driven tale on a smaller scale than MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani’s. The buzz would have been enormous and arguably the biggest NHL story since the Oilers traded Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings. Moving on could have been a great branding opportunity for McDavid to become even more mainstream, but he chose the safe, comfortable route in Edmonton. It’s a loyalty decision, and it’s completely understandable given that the Oilers have been close to a title in the last two years and he has built a bond with his teammates. For his legacy, though, he might need to chase greatness in a different city in the next two-and-a-half years.
Arch Manning has defining performance of college career in win over Texas A&M
In the biggest game of his college football career so far, Texas quarterback Arch Manning grew into the superstar he was touted to be with the nation watching. No. 16 Texas (9-3) earned a huge rivalry win over No. 3 Texas A M (11-1) in Austin on Friday in large part thanks to the second-half play of Manning. Manning was only 8-of-21 for 51 yards in the first half, and the Longhorns trailed the Aggies 10-3 at the break. Texas had an opportunity to kick a field goal and cut the A M lead to four at the break, but an intentional grounding penalty incurred by Manning took that opportunity away. Arch Manning lights up the scoreboard in second half But with the help of a Texas defense that rattled TAMU QB Marcel Reed in the second half, Manning and the 'Horns scored 24 second-half points in a winning effort. Texas' first drive of the second half netted three points, but a strike from Manning to Ryan Wingo on the next UT possession gave the Longhorns the lead and gave Manning some confidence. After another defensive stop, Manning led a six-play, 83-yard TD drive to put the Longhorns up by 10. After Texas A M responded, Manning did as well, running away from the Aggie defense on a 35-yard scoring sprint that ultimately served as the deciding blow. In the end, it was Reed — the more experienced and consistent of the two quarterbacks — that made the back-breaking mistake, throwing an interception deep in Texas territory on a drive that looked poised to end with points. The victory was a team effort for Texas, which will await Saturday's slate of games and beg for several playoff contenders to lose to have a shot at the 12-team playoff field. But it was Manning who would be the face of it. Manning went 14-of-29 for 179 yards and a touchdown through the air and added 53 yards and a score on the ground. The win serves as the biggest moment of Manning's young UT career. Going into Saturday, Manning's sophomore season was marred by inconsistent play. A career day against Arkansas was contrasted by middling performances against Ohio State and Georgia. Standout efforts in wins over Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma were overshadowed by no-shows against UTEP, Kentucky and Florida. But Manning rose to his greatest challenge on Saturday, delivering a win in a rivalry game that nobody in the state of Texas — whether they wear burnt orange or maroon — will soon forget.
Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady Slams Lakers Roster for Major Shortcoming
At 13-4, the Luka Doncic/Austin Reaves/LeBron James Los Angeles Lakers are off to a robust start on the young 2025-26 NBA season. LA has won its last five straight games and currently occupies the No. 2 seed in the competitive Western Conference. The mighty Oklahoma City Thunder have won lost just one game this season, and at 18-1 are the top seed in the West so far — without their second-best player, All-NBA small forward Jalen Williams, available for a second of game time yet. The Denver Nuggets, the conference's third seed, also sport a 13-4 record. The 12-4 Houston Rockets and the 12-5 San Antonio Spurs round out the West's top five. Former seven-time All-NBA small forward Tracy McGrady, for one, is skeptical that the current Lakers roster can compete for the West crown in the playoffs. Now an analyst for NBC/Peacock along with his fellow Hall of Famer and step second cousin once removed Vince Carter, McGrady projected the Lakers' playoff ceiling and called them out for their biggest roster issue after the club's 135-118 defeat of the LA Clippers. The postgame panel also included Maria Taylor and former Boston Celtics champion bench power forward Brian Scalabrine. McGrady seemed pessimistic about the ability of the Lakers' roster depth to help the club successfully battle the Oklahoma City Thunder or Denver Nuggets, the two other top teams in the Western Conference by record. Depth Questions "I don't think this team [as] presently constructed can survive OKC or a Denver team that has depth, has size, speed. I don't think they can sustain that," McGrady opined. "If you look at this roster constructed, what did you see on this bench that can give you consistency in a seven-game series against OKC or Denver?" The Lakers' 51 percent field goal rate ranks first in the league, and the Lakers rank seventh in offensive rating (118.4). LA is fairly middle-of-the-road in point differential (14th at +3.4), defensive rating (114.9, good for just 17th among 30 teams). Surprisingly, despite their offensive efficacy, the Lakers also rank 24th in 3-point percentage (33.9 percent) and 26th in 3-point attempts (32.5). So why has LA been so good at all? Its two-man backcourt tandem of Doncic and Reaves has been absolutely lethal as scorers and distributors. With James back, questions abound about the Lakers' ability to balance the trio's lackluster defense, but it's clear that Los Angeles still packs a punch on the other end. The Lakers have managed to improve their depth by bringing in free agent summer additions Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
