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The 2025 season is a crucial one for Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, but also for the organization as a whole. In order to feel positive about the direction of the franchise, they need to hover around the eight or nine-win mark this upcoming season.
Sports Illustrated's Daniel Flick has Carolina making the fifth overall selection in his way-too-early 2026 mock draft, which would have them nowhere near an 8-9 or 9-8 record. With that pick, he has Carolina selecting Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
"Versatile, athletic, and highly talented, Downs wears a lot of hats in Ohio State’s secondary. The Panthers surprisingly bypassed defense in the first round in 2025, selecting receiver Tetairoa McMillan, but added a pair of pass rushers on Day 2. Still, Carolina’s defense, one of the worst in the NFL last season, needs more playmakers. The 6' 0", 205-pound Downs has the range, tackling, instincts, and cover skills to be a problem solver early in his career at the next level."
Caleb Downs 2024 highlights
While the Panthers certainly need help in the back end, particularly at safety, I have a feeling the conversation is going to be more about Bryce Young if they are picking in the top five next spring. The defense was historically bad in 2024, and they had the eighth overall selection. Picking higher would mean something went wrong on the offensive side of the ball as well.
More must-reads:
- Week 9 fantasy football takeaways: Rico Dowdle makes a statement
- Jaxson Dart's postgame comments highlight pressure Brian Daboll is under
- The 'NFL Passing YPG leaders' quiz
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The 'NFL franchise TD-catch leaders' quiz
Happy 37th birthday to three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver and 2012 PFWA Most Improved Player award winner, Dez Bryant! The Oklahoma State product played in nine NFL seasons, eight of which were with the Dallas Cowboys. In his time with Big D he caught 531 passes for 7,506 yards and a franchise-record 73 touchdowns. He also served as an important bridge for Dallas in the Tony Romo-Dak Prescott transition, catching 50 passes for 796 yards and eight scores in Prescott’s 2016 rookie campaign. His time in Dallas ended with an achilles injury in 2017, but he did catch on for six games with the Baltimore Ravens in 2020 before hanging up his cleats. Which brings us to today’s quiz. How many of the players with the most receiving touchdowns for each NFL franchise can you name in five minutes? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
DeMeco Ryans sounds displeased with officiating after C.J. Stroud concussion
Quarterback C.J. Stroud suffered a concussion in the second quarter of the Houston Texans' 18-15 home loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday when he took a crunching hit as he attempted to slide following a scramble. Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine was initially penalized for unnecessary roughness, but referees eventually picked the flag up after a replay showed that Abrams-Draine hadn't hit Stroud in the head. While speaking with reporters on Monday, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans addressed his thoughts on that play. C.J. Stroud concussion showed when quarterbacks are, aren't protected "It’s a tough play," Ryans said, per Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. "Quarterback is sliding. I thought quarterbacks are protected when they slide. But what I’m learning is, as long as you don’t hit them in the head or neck area, if they slide and you hit them in the chest, then that is just fine. That is what I learned." As ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime shared, Ryans said shortly after the Texans fell to 3-5 on Sunday that he felt the hit on Stroud was unnecessary roughness because Abrams-Draine "hit the quarterback when he was sliding and giving himself up." Stroud was still in the NFL's concussion protocol as of Monday afternoon, and it's unclear if he'll be available for Houston's home game versus the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3) on Nov. 9. "I spoke to him last night," Ryans said about Stroud. "He’s feeling a little bit better. We’ll see how the week goes and how he progresses throughout the week." What Texans would expect if Davis Mills has to start vs. Jaguars Backup quarterback Davis Mills replaced Stroud against the Broncos and completed 17-of-30 pass attempts for 137 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Mills began Monday atop the Houston depth chart with Stroud not cleared to practice. "I expect him to go out and do his best," Ryans said about Mills possibly getting the start for the Jacksonville game. "Just play the offense the proper way and make great decisions with the football." Shortly after Ryans spoke with media members, ESPN BET had the Texans as 1.5-point favorites over the Jaguars. Ryans may not reveal Stroud's status for the Jacksonville game before Friday at the earliest.
Mike Vrabel responds to accusation that Patriots simulated Falcons' snap on key fourth-quarter play
With under two minutes remaining in regulation of Sunday's game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots, Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. committed a costly and curious intentional grounding penalty after he seemed not ready to receive the snap of the football. Following the 24-23 loss that dropped Atlanta to 3-5 on the season, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris accused Patriots players of "clapping" to simulate Penix asking for the ball to be snapped. During a Monday appearance on Boston sports radio station WEEI, first-year New England head coach Mike Vrabel responded to Morris' comments. Mike Vrabel "didn't see" Patriots players simulating the snap "I mean, I didn't see anything," Vrabel said, per Tom Carroll of Audacy. "Like, is that fake? I don’t know. Quarterbacks, when they want the ball, it’s like [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap]. I mean, I didn’t see anybody doing that. And then, like, we don’t do the clap…I can see, like, when the quarterback, like it’s the silent count, it’s like [softer claps], but I didn’t see anybody do that." The CBS broadcast of Sunday's contest didn't show a single New England player clapping before the ball was snapped for what became the intentional grounding play. As Marc Raimondi of ESPN noted, a team guilty of simulating an offense's snap count or snap is supposed to receive a 15-yard penalty. No flag was thrown before the ball left Penix's hand, and the Falcons eventually had to punt on fourth down of that late drive. From there, New England was able to run the clock out. Mike Vrabel names latest Patriots-related controversy The Patriots were previously part of "Spygate" and "Deflategate" scandals. On Monday, Vrabel named the latest alleged New England controversy. "'Clapgate,'" Vrabel added during the segment. "That was new. I didn't see that. I just know - and maybe that's a testament to our fans. You know what I mean? It got loud, and I could hear the energy, and so thank them for that. But that's a good point. I did not - I didn't see anything, and I’ll let you guys go investigate." The 7-2 Patriots next play at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2) on Nov. 9. Perhaps it's fair to wonder what New England players will and/or won't try to get away with at Raymond James Stadium during that Sunday afternoon matchup.
Jerry Jones says the Dallas Cowboys made a trade but won’t share details
The Dallas Cowboys have made a trade with another team ahead of the NFL's Nov. 4 trade deadline, owner Jerry Jones said during an appearance on Sirius XM radio. However, in typical Jerry fashion, he's creating more questions than answers. Jones said that he won't reveal yet which team the trade is with and what players or assets are involved. This will certainly be weighing heavily on the minds of Cowboys fans during Week 9's Monday night matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. It's anyone's guess when the trade will be announced, though it will have to be before the deadline. It's also possible many Cowboys fans won't be getting their hopes up just yet in the event that the deal falls through. Jerry Jones Says Trade Will "Immediately" Address Key Area “Immediately it will have him on the field and it will address some of the things that have been our shortcomings," Jones said, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. Cowboys fans will be hoping that the mystery trade involves some star-studded names, whether that be Maxx Crosby, Trey Hendrickson or Minkah Fitzpatrick. It's probably best not to get hopes up too high, though it's almost a guarantee that the deal was made to address the defense. Time will tell who could be heading to Dallas and who will be departing. For now though, the Cowboys will keep sights set on the matchup with the Cardinals as they look to improve to 4-4-1. — Sign up for the Cowboys Daily Digest newsletter for more free coverage from Dallas Cowboys on SI — Cowboys' final Week 9 injury report lists 6 players out, including 3 starters on D 3 keys to victory for Dallas Cowboys in pivotal Week 9 matchup vs. Cardinals 3 under-the-radar candidates Cowboys must consider at NFL trade deadline Cowboys secondary catches lucky break with major Cardinals injury news Cowboys-Cardinals live stream options amid ESPN-YouTube TV dispute Meet Camille Sturdivant: Star of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Netflix docuseries
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