Latest news with #CodyBenjamin
USA Today
16 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL QB rankings: Arizona Cardinals face 7 borderline stars or better in 2025
The Cardinals will face 14 different starting quarterbacks in 2025. See where they rank. As we have reached the point of the offseason where content is mostly reduced to lists and rankings, we have some quarterback rankings/tiers from CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin. We have looked at Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and the tiers where he and fellow NFC West quarterbacks fall, but now we want to look at the Cardinals' opponents. These are the tiers: The Cardinals face a healthy dose of the lowest tiers. Let's have a look. Tier 6 opponent QBs for Cardinals Seven quarterbacks total are in this tier. The Cardinals face four of them. Tier 5: Prized projects Ward is the one rookie quarterback with real promise. The Cardinals will face him early in the season. Tier 4: Volatile veterans Kyler Murray falls into this tier, too. Tier 2: Borderline stars The Cardinals will not face any of the four rising stars in Bo Nix, Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy and Caleb Williams, so we move to the very good group. Tier 1: Transcendent talents Six quarterbacks make this list. The Cardinals only have to face one: Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Josh Allen's Buffalo Bills Predicted To Fail in NFL Playoffs In Shocking Way
Josh Allen's Buffalo Bills Predicted To Fail in NFL Playoffs In Shocking Way originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Buffalo Bills are one of the teams expected to be genuine contenders for the Super Bowl in 2025. Advertisement With the defending MVP, an offense that was one of the best in football last season, and what "should" be an improved defense, the Bills, on paper, appear to be ready to roll. However, as we know, the Bills are a regular-season juggernaut, but when it comes to the playoffs, and the Kansas City Chiefs, things don't end well, with the franchise seeing their season end the last four times they've met Patrick Mahomes. And for Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports, in what he calls a worst-case scenario, Buffalo doesn't even make it that far in 2025. "The absence of a bona fide No. 1 wide receiver plagues Allen as he tries to carry Buffalo's offense, and Sean McDermott's shuffled secondary can't hold up as the Bills go one-and-done for the first time since 2019," Benjamin writes. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17).© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Will the lack of a No. 1 weapon plague Allen? It didn't last year with the Bills offense averaging 30.9 points per game. But there is merit to suggest that Joshua Palmer, Elijah Moore, and Laviska Shenault Jr. aren't the players who can take the offense forward. Advertisement And defensively, the Bills got after it in free agency and with the first five picks in the draft, so on paper, they "should" be better. But there is no guarantee of the progression that Sean McDermott hopes for. It would be a shocking travesty if things completely fell apart for the Bills, given the talent they have on their roster. However, the NFL is an unforgiving beast, and it has swallowed teams whole at the worst possible time. And if that happens to Buffalo, that is proper nightmare fuel, my friends. Related: Bills Thrilled As Disgruntled James Cook Sends Message Related: Bills Reveal Joey Bosa Injury Update This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bengals Must Stop 'Distracting' From Contending
Bengals Must Stop 'Distracting' From Contending originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Cincinnati Bengals are making themselves look silly right now. No, not the players or coaches. Ownership. In a summer that should bring excitement for the fanbase, we're instead talking and writing about contract disputes and holdouts. Advertisement Why? Money. And it's a bad look for the franchise, and ultimately, the league. CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin hit the nail on the head when he wrote, "It's money. It always is in Cincinnati." "The grass is green. The sun is bright. What else marks summer in the NFL? Oh, that's right, the Cincinnati Bengals refusing to spend money," Benjamin wrote. "Now we're talking. Mandatory minicamps are wrapping up around the league, and the headlining discussion about the Bengals isn't Joe Burrow coming off an NFL-leading 43-touchdown season. It's not Ja'Marr Chase coming off an NFL-leading 1,708-yard receiving season. Or Al Golden taking over the defense. Or Cincinnati's chances of outlasting the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs in the hunt for AFC glory. "It's money. It always is in Cincinnati. And not for the right reasons." Advertisement It seems like the Bengals go halfway and then stop short of the ultimate roster goal. They paid two stars and kept Joe Burrow happy. But on the other side of the ball, they're making up for it by being overly frugal. And Benjamin thinks it's taking away from what should be a summer to celebrate accomplishments. "This should've been the offseason of celebration for Bengals brass. After all, the front office finally paid Chase and Tee Higgins, investing in Burrow's top playmakers with not only words but actions. This was the Bengals' big pivot, from reluctant spenders to willing championship hunters! Except, months later, we're right back to square one with a notoriously -- dare we say dangerously -- frugal organization." Related: Bengals Get Brutal OTAs Grade For One Major Reason Related: Bengals 2025 Training Camp Dates Announced This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steelers Listed As Trade Candidate for Former Rodgers Teammate
Steelers Listed As Trade Candidate for Former Rodgers Teammate originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed up for the Aaron Rodgers experience. Deep in the terms and conditions, they'll find that they've agreed to be linked to just about every Green Bay Packers veteran who has shared the field with Rodgers. Advertisement When the Canton-bound quarterback was traded to the New York Jets, a handful of Packers either followed him or welcomed him as part of his recruitment. The Steelers won't be nearly as aggressive. Rodgers is playing a cameo, rather than the role of savior. His signing came later in the offseason, the roster is more talented, and Rodgers has less leverage than he did in East Rutherford. Even so, Pittsburgh has remained in the spotlight. For late-offseason rumors, that means being attached to Packers like receiver Christian Watson. 'Watson may well be the most gifted player in the Packers' wide receiver room, but there's a reason Green Bay spent two early draft picks at the position this April; the 26-year-old veteran has missed multiple games due to injury in each of his first three NFL seasons, giving the Pack a true boom-or-bust experience on the perimeter,' Cody Benjamin wrote for CBS Sports. 'With both Matthew Golden and Savion Williams in line for significant roles as rookies, might the Packers be willing to sell Watson as he recovers from an ACL tear? Rodgers might have to wait until later in 2025 to reunite with the speedster as a result, but the potential for late-season fireworks might make the gamble worthwhile.' Advertisement However, there are several reasons why Pittsburgh isn't a fit for Watson, despite the familiarity of the 2022 season. For one, Watson is still recovering from his late-season ACL tear. That puts him on track to return at some point during the year, playing a minor role late in the season. With his medicals in question, it's hard to imagine the Steelers trading anything more than a conditional Day 3 pick for his services. Green Bay isn't incentivized to accept that, given its own title hopes and his rapport with quarterback Jordan Love. If he's making splash plays in January, the Packers would rather see it in green and yellow than receive a late-round selection. Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur spoke about Watson's recovery on Thursday, regarding an earlier return than anticipated. Advertisement "Probably not, to be honest," LaFleur admitted. "The guys that are available, that's who you coach and that's kind of where you focus," he added. "It is exciting to see how far along he is, he's been doing a great job, he attacks it the right way. Our trainers have done an outstanding job with him. I think he's in the best spot possible considering the circumstance." Further, the Steelers already have a vertical threat on the boundary who wins with size and speed. His name is DK Metcalf. Watson's underdeveloped intermediate game doesn't mesh well with starting as the Z for Pittsburgh. With the medical baggage in his profile and the Steelers' commitment to 2026 capital, they shouldn't be expected to trade for Watson. Related: Early Reviews Are in on Steelers' New Connection Related: How Much Are the Steelers Paying Aaron Rodgers? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Evaluating Why Giants Shouldn't Trade for Kyle Pitts
Evaluating Why Giants Shouldn't Trade for Kyle Pitts originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Giants will enter the 2025 season with one of the league's weakest tight end rooms. That isn't necessarily an indictment of second-year tight end Theo Johnson's potential or Chris Manhertz's effectiveness as a blocker. But with little proven talent in the passing game, it is among the team's biggest questions. Advertisement That lends itself to speculation when high-profile targets become available at that position. Recently, the rumor mill has revolved around Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts. As he enters a contract year, now three seasons removed from his lone 1,000-yard season, a change of scenery feels necessary. Some feel that New York is primed to provide that pivot. The Giants shouldn't trade for the 2021 first-round tight end, though, despite the weakness on the depth chart. 'Are the Giants in a position to pay for immediate help? They may be short on salary cap space, but Pitts' appeal, at age 24, is that he could also stick around for the long term,' Cody Benjamin wrote for CBS Sports. 'Head coach Brian Daboll would surely be OK pairing the big man with Malik Nabers, giving Russell Wilson an added safety valve for an offense sorely lacking secondary playmakers over the last few years. Assuming this link-up would extend beyond 2025, Pitts' arrival would also bode well for Jaxson Dart, the presumptive quarterback of the future.' Advertisement Cap implications aside, New York isn't a fit for Pitts. For one, Pitts is among 14 tight ends set to make over $10 million in 2025. There's a decent argument that he's worse than all of them, along with a few more on rookie deals. If the Giants believe Johnson is taking any type of significant leap in the coming months, then they inherently believe he'll be better than Pitts, anyway. In Daboll's offense, Pitts profiles as a rotational player, too. Pitts is a receiver in a tight end's frame, often playing in the slot and rarely blocking successfully. He's supposed to be able to stretch the field, sure, but is he doing that at the expense of receiver Wan'Dale Robinson in the slot? The best version of Pitts isn't as a safety valve. It's as a downfield threat operating as a receiver. That makes it awfully hard to coexist with Johnson, who the regime clearly likes, and it would take away from the versatility that Johnson's blocking flashes allow New York to tap into. Between injuries and inconsistencies, Pitts has descended into disappointment. There's a world in which he blossoms for another team, but neither the Giants' scheme nor timeline suggests that jump will come in East Rutherford. Advertisement Related: Giants Lag Behind in NFC East Tight End Rankings Related: Giants Schedule Reveals Potential Dart Debuts This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
