The 2025 NFL Draft will begin on Thursday at Lambeau Field, the home of the Green Bay Packers, one of the most respected and storied franchises in the league. While Green Bay, Wisconsin is a small city, team President and CEO Mark Murphy has worked tirelessly over the last several years to ensure that the city, and the Packers, will have the space and accommodations necessary to host such a large event.
Over the course of the week, NFL media members, team executives, and a select few projected draft picks trickled into the league’s smallest market. And while Boise State star running back Ashton Jeanty has bemoaned what he perceives as “nothing much to do,” (which is ironic given the fact he went to college in Idaho), another premier prospect has fallen in love with the city.
To be sure, many professional athletes prefer the nightlife and the fast-moving pace of bigger cities. However, many find the comfortable and welcoming atmosphere of smaller cities like Green Bay to be endearing.
And that is certainly how Heisman Trophy winner and Colorado Buffaloes star Travis Hunter feels:
Travis Hunter is a big fan of Green Bay.
“It fits me. This where I like to be. I like to just be out in the middle of nowhere chillin and just having fun.” pic.twitter.com/fXMlwLBRkx
— John Miller (@JohnMillerNBC26) April 23, 2025
“I like it,” Hunter said of Green Bay. “It fits me. This where I like to be. I like to just be out in the middle of nowhere, by myself, chillin and just having fun.”
Unfortunately, there is no way that the Packers are going to be able to draft the cornerback/wide receiver, who is determined to play both positions in the NFL. Many believe that he will be taken with the second overall pick by the Cleveland Browns after Cam Ward gets taken by the Tennessee Titans with the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Still, it is cool to see the city of Green Bay get some love from such a high-profile star player.
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Joint practices have revealed some problems for the Miami Dolphins with a few weeks to go before the regular season. Tua Tagovailoa started against the Chicago Bears in Sunday's preseason game, wanting to show improvement after having a bad showing during the Dolphins' joint practice in Chicago on Friday. Tagovailoa did play better, going 5-of-6 passing for 27 yards and led the Dolphins to the Chicago 1-yard line before the offense was stopped on downs. A few days later, Tagovailoa and the offense had another poor performance at their joint practice with the Detroit Lions. Per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic, Miami couldn't score in the red zone against a motivated Lions defense during Wednesday's practice. "Dolphins offense just ran 16 or so plays in the red zone vs. the Lions and didn’t score until the final play (between the second units)," Pouncy posted on X. "Miami’s first-team offense didn’t score in the 7-8 plays vs. Detroit’s first-team defense. It was ugly. Lions’ D is having a day." Pouncy's observation of the Lions manhandling the Dolphins was universal among beat reporters covering the Lions and Dolphins, with The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner calling it the most "lopsided" practice he'd witnessed covering the NFL. Last week, Omar Kelly of the Miami Sun Sentinel said Miami folded when the Bears defense began to whip on the offense. The accusations of the Dolphins being a soft team are going to continue until they decide to fight back in joint practices or against opponents in the regular season. When healthy, the Lions have a fierce defense. So Detroit having the edge isn't a surprise, though not being able to score during 16 plays in the red zone is a concern. Miami doesn't appear to have found an identity, and that could spell doom for the season if it doesn't get it figured out before Week 1.
The Golden State Warriors haven't made a move to improve their roster since free agency started. The Warriors lost one of their best players in Kevon Looney, who signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans. The team has been stuck on coming up with a plan on how to deal with free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga. The team wants Kuminga to sign the deal that they've offered him, which was the two-year, $45 million contract. The Warriors believe the contract will allow them to officiate a sign-and-trade option later on. However, the forward sees himself as worthy of earning at least $30 million a year. Due to that, the Warriors haven't signed anyone in the free agent market. Even Horford, who's likely to sign a one-year deal. Horford Could Opt to Retire The Warriors are taking too long to address the Kuminga situation. Anthony Slater of ESPN speculates that if Horford doesn't make any headway, he might decide to give up basketball. "The Kuminga situation continues to hold up business for them, keeping Horford in a holding pattern," Slater wrote. "But Horford is comfortable waiting. Retirement remains on the table, sources said, though the Warriors appear to be operating as if he is a firm part of their plan next season. Horford's former team, the Boston Celtics, isn't planning on bringing him back. Due to that, he remains unsigned and available in the free agent market. Although Horford is past his prime, he provides the much-needed veteran leadership. However, given how experienced the majority of the Warriors' players are, that might not be necessary.
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.
The quarterback battle for Notre Dame is set to come to an end shortly, and it might be a surprise considering how the national media predicted the race to finish. Per Eric Hansen of On3, head coach Marcus Freeman is set to name the starting quarterback by Sunday when he meets the media. The Irish are still letting the quarterback battle play out until then, but it appears sophomore quarterback Kenny Minchey is the favorite to start at Hard Rock Stadium against the Miami Hurricanes on Aug. 31. Minchey has shown improvement in numerous areas throughout camp, and he has the edge on freshman quarterback CJ Carr in what is believed to be the final week of the competition. "As of Wednesday, the line between 1 and 2 remained blurred," Hansen wrote. "The tiebreaker may eventually go to Minchey, per the source, because of his ability to be a true running threat and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s preference to have that element to put pressure on opposing defenses. "But he also has a preference for QBs who can transcend adversity, and the training camp phase was choreographed to test precisely that. While both contenders responded persistently in a manner that defies their inexperience, Minchey has been exceptional in that regard." Throughout the summer, ESPN writers such as Bill Connelly and Mark Schlabach have written as though it were a forgone conclusion that Carr would win the battle in training camp. However, Minchey appears to be a natural fit for how offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock likes to scheme against a defense. He helped dual-threat Jayden Daniels earn a Heisman Trophy in 2023 and took Notre Dame to a national championship appearance with Riley Leonard. The battle isn't over, but the edge appears to be running Minchey's way.
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