The Las Vegas Raiders' new regime took a handful of gambles during the 2025 NFL free agency period. They let high-dollar players like Robert Spillane, Nate Hobbs and Tre'Von Moehrig leave without contracts in favor far cheaper options.
New general manager John Spytek also attacked the NFL Draft, bringing in a franchise-record 11 players. Competition is the name of the game under head coach Pete Carroll, which makes the offseason program critical for the Silver and Black.
Unfortunately, the team has been missing one of its key defenders, defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. He is still recovering from a broken foot that he suffered in Week 5 of last season against the Denver Broncos.
Veteran safety Jeremy Chinn also missed a Raiders OTA practice last week for an undisclosed reason. Fans were worried about this news, especially because the team gave him a $16 million deal in free agency this offseason.
Fortunately, The Athletic's Tashan Reed reported on Wednesday that Chinn was back at practice after his brief absence. Wilkins was still gone, however, as was veteran defensive tackle Adam Butler.
Chinn played for the Washington Commanders last season after spending the first four years of his career with the Carolina Panthers. He recorded 117 tackles in 2024, including seven for a loss, and he added five pass deflections and an interception.
Las Vegas will be replacing starting safeties Tre'Von Moehrig and Marcus Epps from last season, so Chinn will be leaned on heavily by coach Carroll and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
The Raiders have one final OTA workout on Thursday before mandatory minicamp begins next Monday. After that three-day camp, the team will break for the summer.
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The Cleveland Browns are giving Shedeur Sanders special treatment in training camp, but it's not the type of favoritism the fifth-round pick would necessarily want. Per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Sanders is the only Browns quarterback who has not been taking reps with the first-team offense during OTAs or the first two practices of training camp. Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Kenny Pickett, veteran Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel have all split reps with the first team. Despite being asked to throw passes to members of the equipment staff amid a shortage of professional pass-catchers for a four-quarterback roster, Sanders said he's thankful for the opportunity to show the Browns coaching staff his talents. "I feel like that it's not in my control, so I'm not going to think about that or even have that in my thought process of why it is," Sanders said to a question as to why he's not getting first-team reps. "There's a lot of people who want to have the opportunity to be at this level, and I'm here and I'm thankful to have the opportunity. So, whenever that is, that is." Sanders, 23, believes that he can contribute more to the Browns than what the coaching staff is asking of him. "It doesn't make me feel down or left out because I know who I am as a person," Sanders said. "I know who I am as an individual and I know what I could bring to this team. So, I can never feel less than any circumstance." The Browns selected Sanders with the No. 144 pick in April's draft. As a player whom many draft analysts thought was a first-round talent, Cleveland took what could be the steal of the draft in the fifth round. It's curious why the Browns aren't giving Sanders a shot with the first team early in training camp before the quarterback race becomes more serious. Cleveland should absolutely see what Sanders has to offer this summer. Flacco, 40, isn't a long-term solution at the position. Pickett failed in Pittsburgh. The Browns need to gauge what rookies Gabriel and Sanders can do with the first team. Having Sanders throw balls to the equipment staff is a waste of everyone's time. But then again, Cleveland has wasted plenty of quarterbacks.
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge missed Saturday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies with an elbow injury, and the slugger is now headed to the injured list. The Yankees fell 9-4 to the Phillies on Saturday at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., which marked their third consecutive loss. Judge played in Friday night's 12-5 loss to Philadelphia, but Aaron Boone announced before Saturday's game that Judge was dealing with an "elbow issue" and would sit out. Following his team's latest loss, Boone shared some new information about Judge's injury. Judge has been diagnosed with a flexor strain, but the Yankees believe he can return in less than two weeks. When Judge returns to the lineup, Boone said it will initially be as a designated hitter. Judge is having an outstanding season. He entered Saturday batting .342, which is the best mark in baseball. The reigning American League MVP has 37 home runs, 85 RBI and a 1.160 OPS. The Yankees are now six games behind the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays and fighting to remain atop the wild-card race. It goes without saying that they are hopeful Judge will be able to return as soon as possible.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have plenty of suitors for third baseman Eugenio Suarez. A new team has reportedly entered the market for his services. Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Phillies have reached out regarding Suarez. While Lauber did not provide any indication as to whether or not those talks have gained traction, the Phillies are an intriguing suitor for the Diamondbacks' third baseman. The Phillies' interest may be a recent development. Jon Heyman of the New York Post speculated on Friday that the Phillies could emerge as a suitor in the wake of third baseman Alec Bohm landing on the injured list with a fractured left rib. Suarez is in the midst of what is arguably his best season thus far. He has produced a .249/.321/.587 batting line in 421 plate appearances entering Saturday with 36 homers and a major league-leading 87 RBI. Suarez would be more than just another powerful bat in the lineup. Designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and first baseman Bryce Harper are both left-handed hitters — adding Suarez would provide more balance in the batting order. He would also provide a counter against opposing managers bringing in a lefty reliever to face Schwarber and Harper. The biggest question would be how the Phillies would handle an eventual logjam on the roster. Bohm is expected to return from the IL in mid-August and would not have a clear path to regular at-bats if Suarez were acquired. Schwarber could theoretically return to left field to open up playing time at the DH spot, but his outfield defense is mediocre at best. However, as the Phillies are also looking to upgrade the outfield, where Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh have been disappointments, adding Suarez could solve several problems in one fell swoop.
The New York Giants were forced to take a hard look in the mirror after losing a franchise-worst 14 games last season, which followed a 6-11 campaign. When they glanced at their reflection, it had become unrecognizable. Big Blue lost its identity, the same one that instilled pride in its fan base for decades. The team's defensive edge was gone. Yes, Dexter Lawrence II is arguably the best defensive tackle in the league today, and Brian Burns is a reliable contributor on the edge; however, the unit as a collective was lacking the intensity and productivity that define the franchise's best years. General Manager Joe Schoen invested a significant amount of money and draft capital to try to address that problem. The revamped depth chart paints a pretty picture, with analysts and fans alike predicting big things for the Giants' defense. There are still a couple of key question marks, though. And if they are not answered, New York will remain vulnerable against opposing offenses. Although Schoen prioritized the secondary in free agency, I believe the outside cornerback situation is the biggest weak spot at this time. Dru Phillips enjoyed a solid rookie campaign and could quickly establish himself as one of the better slot corners in the NFL, but uncertainty clouds the perimeter. Although modern quarterbacks do not let the ball rip like they used to, having someone who could prevent big plays and shut down top wide receivers is crucial. Paulson Adebo proved himself to be a ball hawk with the New Orleans Saints, and there is growing optimism that former Giants first-round draft pick Deonte Banks can keep his emotions in check and finally break out in his third season. But both of these outside CBs come with drawbacks. Will the cornerback room come through for NY Giants? New York signed Adebo to a $54 million contract, tapping him to be the lockdown corner the squad has been missing. He has found success in zone coverage, a scheme defensive coordinator Shane Bowen loves to employ. There is reason for concern, however. The 26-year-old broke his femur last October. Adebo was moving well during spring workouts and looked ready for the new season, but he could still face physical challenges during in-game action. It is only natural for a player who relies so much on his legs to struggle a bit after suffering such an injury. The Giants think the former Stanford star will shake off the rust and overcome any potential limitations. They made a hefty commitment, in large part because of what he displayed before his season-ending injury. Adebo recorded three interceptions,10 pass breakups, and 43 solo tackles in seven games for the Saints. If he can build on his 2024-25 success, the 2021 third-round draft pick could be an undeniable difference-maker. He has other elements in his game to iron out, though. Adebo finished with a sub-65 coverage grade in three of his four years in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. Was the 80.5 mark he posted in 2023 an outlier or a sign of what he can do moving forward? The Giants better hope it is the latter. Even if the notable addition excels with his new team, it is still unclear how Banks will perform. A liability in the secondary can overshadow the overall strength of the group. Experienced and talented QBs will pick apart the weak link. Banks has to show that he is not a soft spot in this defense. He has to remind the organization why it selected him with the 24th overall pick more than two years ago. Until he does, fans are completely justified in expressing skepticism. The polarizing cornerback struggled profusely in zone and recorded a 50.3 coverage grade last season. If he cannot grasp Bowen's system in 2025, management will have a huge decision to make regarding his future with the franchise. Aside from what he does on the gridiron, Banks has to display a positive attitude. A healthy mindset will increase the likelihood of him making strides. Former third-rounder Cor'Dale Flott and rookie Korie Black will also be called upon to log meaningful snaps in the upcoming season. Still, the onus is on Paulson Adebo and Deonte Banks to combat aerial attacks. This duo must take advantage of a potentially ferocious front-seven and make plays when opportunities arise. Otherwise, the Giants' hopes of having an upgraded secondary will just be an unfulfilled promise. And that is a theme fans are sick of by now. What happens next with the NY Giants? Find out! Follow and like us on Facebook. Visit our YouTube channelfor the latest videos. Want to send a question in for our mailbag? You can do so here.
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