The New York Jets seemingly showed they are all-in on Justin Fields when they didn't select a single quarterback during the 2025 NFL Draft. Instead, the Jets took Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou at pick No. 7 before they grabbed LSU tight end Mason Taylor in the draft's second round (selection No. 42).
For a piece published on Thursday, one unnamed league executive told Mike Sando of The Athletic that he thinks the Jets should've spent their third pick of the draft on a speedy quarterback out of Alabama.
"I thought the Jets should have been in play for Jalen Milroe," that executive said. "They draft Membou, so they are prioritizing the line of scrimmage a second year in a row. They are going to be a clear running threat with Justin Fields, but when you play that way, you open him up to potential injury. Milroe would let them continue playing that style."
In the weeks and days leading up to the draft, stories linked the Jets with Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart and Louisville's Tyler Shough. The New York Giants traded back into the first round to select Dart at choice No. 25, while the New Orleans Saints drafted Shough at pick No. 40.
One may never know if the Jets would've selected Shough at No. 42. They drafted Florida State cornerback Azareye'h Thomas with the 73rd pick, and the Seattle Seahawks later took Milroe at choice No. 92
For an article by Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer that was posted on April 22, an AFC coordinator said he felt there was "no reason" Milroe couldn't eventually become what Jalen Hurts has been for the Philadelphia Eagles. That same coordinator said Milroe "might be the best quarterback runner I’ve ever evaluated."
As for Fields, StatMuse shows he has accumulated the fourth-most regular-season rushing yards among quarterbacks (2,509) since he entered the league in 2021. Assuming the Jets hold onto Breece Hall through the offseason, he will be part of a potentially exciting rushing attack that will also include Fields, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis.
On paper, the Jets adding Milroe to that mix would have made all kinds of sense. Perhaps the team's new regime simply decided it didn't want Fields worrying about possibly losing his job to a rookie at any point this summer or fall.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers have a ton of question marks surrounding the roster heading into the 2025 NFL season. There are plenty of proven players on the team, but some are past their prime and there is the general question of how everything on the roster will gel together. The defense is the highest-paid unit in the NFL for the fourth straight season, so fans are fairly confident that the group will be able to play like one of the best defenses in the league, but there is some worry about the offense. The offense has struggled in recent years, and everyone in Pittsburgh is hoping that changes in 2025. A big mystery for the Steelers is how quarterback Aaron Rodgers is going to perform during the 2025 season, especially with the wide receiver group he is working with. His chemistry with DK Metcalf seems to be improving, but outside of Metcalf, the receiver group is fairly bleak. Another factor in Rodgers' performance is going to be the offensive line, which is made up of a lot of young pieces. There is a lot to be worried about with the line, but insider Mark Kaboly joined 93.7 The Fan on Friday to discuss a bright spot. "[Mason] McCormick, I think his ceiling is unlimited," Kaboly said. "I think he's really, really good." Mason McCormick was a big surprise for the Steelers during the 2024 season. The team drafted him in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he was not expected to see much playing time. However, James Daniels went down early in the year with a season-ending injury, and McCormick was thrust into the starting lineup at right guard. He played well throughout the season, and he got better as the year went along. If everything goes according to plan, it seems as though the Steelers have solidified the right side of the offensive line for years to come. Zach Frazier is shaping up to be one of the best centers in the NFL, McCormick is expected to turn into a potential Pro Bowl player, and hopes are high for second-year right tackle Troy Fautanu, who only played in one game during the 2024 season due to a knee injury. This gives Pittsburgh an advantage when it comes to running to that side, and it can make Rodgers feel comfortable in the pocket. It has been reported that the coaching staff in Pittsburgh believes Fautanu could be the team's best offensive lineman, which is high praise considering what Frazier did during his rookie season in 2024. McCormick could also join that conversation eventually after Kaboly's comments, but either way, that is something the fan base should be extremely happy with, considering the franchise drafted him in the fourth round. Steelers' Potential At Offensive Line Will Rely On The Production Of Broderick Jones Pittsburgh drafted Broderick Jones in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and his career has been a rollercoaster so far. He was drafted to be a left tackle, but he wound up playing his first two seasons on the right side of the line. He looked shaky at times, and he struggled with penalties. He is now being moved to his natural position at left tackle, which will hopefully change things. The team is relying on him to take a step forward, and if he doesn't, the offensive line could look ugly in 2025. Nearly every great team in the league has a reliable left tackle, and Pittsburgh is still struggling to find that.
According to some, throw out the idea that the Edmonton Oilers should pursue Max Pacioretty. A veteran forward who has earned over $63 million over the course of his NHL career has yet to sign an NHL contract and was recently mentioned in a post by David Staples as a possible fit. In a recent post, the Journal noted, “All of the top NHL unrestricted free agents have already signed contracts, but there’s one big name player still available that makes good sense for the Edmonton Oilers to pursue.” Responses have been varied, with a few quite vocal about the Oilers not following Staples’ advice. “In what world does this make sense?????” writes a commenter on a recent post for The Hockey Writers. Another commenter wrote, “Pacioretty is a good journeyman player but he is injury prone now, late in his career. Oilers might be lucky to get 40 games out of him. They should look elsewhere instead of taking a chance on Patches.” Tyler Yaremchuk of Oilers Nation chimed in and said, “He scored five goals in 37 games last year with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Can’t stay healthy, very old, very slow.” Yaremchuk then went on a rant, listing several Oilers forwards who would be better than Pacioretty. What About Pacioretty on a PTO? Is there any reason that a team that is looking to get younger and faster, and move out depth pieces that were older and less productive than expected, would revert back to last summer’s strategy? It seems like an odd choice on the surface. Something would have to happen that would make giving Pacioretty a look risk-free. That means only a PTO. Even at that point, should he agree, it would require him to be willing to sign a two-way contract for the league minimum.
Emma Raducanu brought Naomi Osaka’s Washington Open campaign to an end with a performance full of confidence. Raducanu, enjoying her best form in some time, has looked sharp since crossing over from Wimbledon to the US hard courts and is now putting together a strong run on both sides of the draw. Her timing couldn’t be better, with the summer swing in full flow and eyes already turning towards Flushing Meadows later in August. For Osaka, though, this was another frustrating defeat by a player she might have expected to beat. In the aftermath, she was even asked whether it was worth facing Raducanu again anytime soon. Naomi Osaka shares thoughts on Emma Raducanu after defeat at Washington Open After the loss, Osaka took time to break down her performance and also spoke about what impressed her about Raducanu’s game. Starting with her own play, she mentioned: “I think honestly I have been working on my return a lot, and ironically I don’t think it was that bad today. I think she served quite well. I guess just keep working on that, working on my serve. I know it’s one of my biggest weapons. “Today the percentages were off, so hopefully improving that. Then I guess just baseline tennis. I feel like from the baseline, like, I was doing pretty well. I think there are certain situations where she got one more ball back and I was kind of just looking and waiting. So kind of getting more accustomed to being comfortable being aggressive. When asked how facing Raducanu compared to watching her previously, Osaka said: “Oh. So when I say I watched her, it might not have necessarily been her tennis. Might have been like interviews and stuff like that. “Yeah, I mean, I watched her in Wimbledon, but I think it is different playing someone in real life than playing them or seeing them on TV. “So I think for me, honestly, it was really good to get the experience, to feel how her ball is. Yeah, hopefully we meet again.” Naomi Osaka comments on her relationship with fellow players Osaka didn’t just talk about the match itself – she also shared how she’s been interacting with other players off the court. For example, the Japanese star was asked if she’d like to get to know Raducanu or other players better, to which she replied: “I mean, yes, but I don’t know. “I don’t know if I’m, like, I look scary or something, but I have been saying hi to everyone for the past year and a half since I have been back, and I think they still think I’m kind of like extremely introverted and/or have RBF. So we haven’t really, like, proceeded past the ‘Hi, how are you doing’ phase.” Osaka admitted she felt confused after her defeat to Raducanu, having played much better than the scoreline suggested. It’s Raducanu who moves forward into the quarter-finals while Osaka once again finds herself reflecting on what comes next.
Following the shocking news of Hulk Hogan’s passing, wrestling legend Dustin Rhodes, known to millions as Goldust in WWE, took to social media to share a deeply personal and provocative reaction: “Hospitals truly kill people. I really do mean that.” Rhodes’ blunt statement stunned many fans, but those who know his story saw the pain behind the words. His father, the iconic Dusty Rhodes, passed away in 2015, aged 69, after a fall at home led to hospitalization for kidney failure. After his father's passing, Dustin shared a contemplative response on WWE's YouTube channel to discuss the legacy his father left behind. The news of Hogan's death comes just a month after reports suggested he was on his "deathbed" after undergoing a neck procedure back in May. Hogan's reps denied that was the case. In June, US Weekly reported that Hogan had also undergone a "pretty serious heart surgery and was doing well afterward." Dustin’s connection to his brother Cody Rhodes, now a top WWE superstar and face of the company’s next generation, is unbreakable. The Rhodes family legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of pro wrestling history, and seeing another legend like Hogan pass has clearly hit close to home. While Goldust and Hulk Hogan never had a headline-grabbing rivalry, they did share the ring once. It occurred in WCW in 2000 when Dustin Rhodes matched up against Hogan. Although their paths didn’t often cross in the squared circle, Hogan and the Rhodes family were part of the same larger-than-life era that helped define pro wrestling for decades and catapult the sport into society's zeitgeist. Rhodes’ comment about hospitals might not sit well with everyone, but it speaks to a raw and honest pain felt by someone who has seen too many legends, both personal and professional, fade away in similar fashion. The sport of wrestling has endured more than its fair share of lives cut short. As tributes continue to pour in for Hogan, Rhodes’ reaction serves as a powerful, if somber, reminder of the real human emotions behind the wrestling personas.
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