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USA Today
6 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Analyst names one Minnesota Vikings tight end as best in NFL in unique skillset
The Vikings have prided themselves on loading up their roster with a unique assembly of skill players. They are deep at nearly every position to the point that even the depth players have their own unique assignments. That leads us to a piece published by ESPN's Bill Barnwell on Thursday, where he labeled the best players in the NFL in unique areas. He broke down the best gunner, blitzing off-ball linebacker, and sixth offensive lineman. Another award he gave out was best blocking tight end, which is where the Vikings came into the mix. The recently extended Josh Oliver earned that distinction from Barnwell as he backs up the receiving option at the position, T.J. Hockenson. Barnwell explains, "The numbers back up the idea that Oliver is an elite blocker. He ranked fourth among eligible tight ends in ESPN's run block win rate a year ago, finishing just behind a former teammate in now-Jaguars tight end Johnny Mundt. NFL Next Gen Stats credited Oliver with only two pressures allowed across 55 pass-blocking snaps, producing a pressure rate that was just about half the league average among tight ends." Barnwell also explains in the piece that having a reliable blocking tight end is one of the more underappreciated aspects of the NFL in today's world. For now, though, Oliver and the Vikings are in a happy marriage and are okay if they fly under the radar. If J.J. McCarthy wasn't happy enough having book-end tackles like Christian Darrisaw or Brian O'Neill, adding Oliver to the mix puts their edge protection over the top.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Lone Dolphins player makes ESPN All-Quarter-Century Team
Lone Dolphins player makes ESPN All-Quarter-Century Team A lone Miami Dolphin found their way onto ESPN's All-Quarter-Century Team for the 2000s. ESPN's All-Quarter-Century Team consisted of 25 offensive players, 23 defensive players and five special teams palyers. It also featured one head coach and three coordinators. Naturally, the list included some of the great names in the NFL from the past quarter-century. Quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Patrick Mahomes all made the cut. Plus, defensive stars like Aaron Donald, J.J. Watt and Ray Lewis made the squad. The one Dolphin that found their way onto the team is a recent veteran that played in South Florida last season. Defensive tackle Calais Campbell is the lone Miami player that made the 53-man roster. Though Campbell has had the benefit of a 17-year (and counting!) career, his numbers are truly quite remarkable. He's only one sack shy of passing Donald's career total, while his total plus-EPA ranks fourth among all players and first among interior defenders. Campbell has moved around a lot over his career, but he'd play the 3-technique for this team (that's the position he has played the most since NFL Next Gen Stats tracking data started in 2017). - Seth Walder, ESPN. Though he only played for the Dolphins during the 2024 season, Campbell was still productive with 52 tackles, five sacks, five passes defended and one forced fumble. In his 17-year playing career, Campbell has racked up 917 tackles, 110.5 sacks, 63 passes defended, 18 forced fumbles, 13 fumble recoveries and three interceptions. Campbell signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Dolphins ahead of the 2024 season. The Miami Hurricanes alum inked a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals in April to return for his 18th NFL season. Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey was also chosen as a practice squad player on ESPN's All-Quarter-Century Team.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
See which Texans players cracked CBS Sports' top-100 player list
See which Texans players cracked CBS Sports' top-100 player list The 2025 NFL season is quickly approaching (in a few months), which means everyone is beginning to take a hard look at the state of the league, which teams are filled with standout players and who could have the biggest impact on the year's outcome. CBS Sports' Pete Prisco ranked his top 100 players heading into the 2025 season. Four Houston Texans made the list, with two landing inside the top 50 and one inside the top 25. All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. was ranked the highest at No. 23 and No. 2 ranked defensive back, trailing only Denver Broncos star and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II. Last season, Prisco rated Stingley at No. 80 overall. New York Jets All-Pro Sauce Gardner, who was selected after Stingley, came in at No. 24. "Stingley Jr. has emerged as one of the best cover players in the league after a so-so rookie season in 2022, which is why the Texans rewarded him with a big extension," Prisco wrote. "He had five interceptions in 2024." Not only did Stingley finish top five in interceptions, but he also posted 18 pass breakups (second most) and allowed the second-lowest completion percentage among cornerbacks with at least 200 coverage snaps (46.7%), according to NFL Next Gen Stats. His performance led to a new three-year, $90 million extension this offseason, making him the highest-paid cornerback in the league with an annual $30 million salary. Defensive end Danielle Hunter joined Stingley inside the top 50 after a promising first season with the Texans, coming in at No. 47. The native Houstonian wasn't the top name on the Texans' defensive line, but his consistency and pressure rate allowed Will Anderson Jr. to go untouched in most instances en route to a breakout second season. "Hunter had 12 sacks in his first season with the Texans, giving him three straight double-digit sack seasons and five straight in seasons where he's played at least 16 games," Prisco wrote. "He is a force off the edge, teaming with Will Anderson Jr. to give the Texans a nice combo." Anderson, who totaled a team-leading 13.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss, cracked the top 60 at No. 56. His lethal speed and hand usage makes him one of the rising stars entering a pivotal year ahead of contract negotiations. "In his second season, Anderson Jr. had 13.5 sacks for the Texans," wrote Prisco. "He pairs with Danielle Hunter to give Houston one of the best edge-rushing duos in the league." Even after missing five games, Nico Collins made the list at No. 67. Among receivers, Prisco listed him as the No. 9 pass-catcher entering this fall, but it has more to do with his time off the field than on it. Even in 12 games, he averaged over 14 yards per catch and finished with over 1,000 receiving yards for the second straight season. "Bothered by injuries, Collins played in just 12 games last season as the Texans offense took a step back," Prisco wrote. "When he was on the field, he was still a big-play threat with 68 catches and seven touchdowns. He averaged 14.8 per catch, which was down from the year before." Oddly enough, neither quarterback C.J. Stroud nor running back Joe Mixon made the list despite their statistical accomplishments in 2024 and predicted consistency heading into the season. Prisco ranked 11 other quarterbacks and eight other running backs, which should give you an indication of where the Texans' backfield could rank in his eyes. The Texans open the regular season on the road against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 7.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Veteran NFL Coach Gives High Praise to Aaron Rodgers
At the age of 41, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the oldest player in the NFL, but that doesn't mean he can no longer sling it. He still has a rocket arm. 'He's still throwing the shit out of the ball, honestly,' a veteran NFL offensive coach said, via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. 'He's the best quarterback they've had since (Ben Roethlisberger). We will see how the body holds up, but I think he's going to help them immensely.' Advertisement Rodgers showed he can still play good football last year with the New York Jets, throwing for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He was at his best late in the year, too, which is an encouraging sign for the Steelers. Of Rodgers' 30 fastest top-speed plays last season, 17 came in Week 13 or later, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at minicamp on June 12, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated said the Steelers came away pleasantly surprised after doing a thorough study on Rodgers from last season. 'Their study of Rodgers showed a little more than even they expected. Early in the 2024 season, the Achilles, and a hamstring injury to follow, clearly hampered him. But as time wore on, even with the Jets struggling, the Steelers saw Rodgers returning to form,' Breer wrote. 'In the Jets' Halloween game against the Texans, he made a few big-time back-shoulder throws. He played well in both Dolphins games. In Week 16 against the Jaguars, Pittsburgh saw vintage Rodgers, with a late go-ahead touchdown throw to Davante Adams really standing out.' Advertisement As a player, Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Arth was in the same quarterbacks room with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay in 2006. Nineteen years later the two reunite in Pittsburgh, and Rodgers is still slinging it. Arth new from Day 1 that Rodgers was special. 'I had just come from Indianapolis and spent three years with Peyton [Manning], and obviously saw the way he played and threw the ball. And it was really immediate to me, seeing Aaron and saying, 'Man, like, you know, this guy's got some really special gifts,'' Arth said at minicamp last Wednesday. Rodgers has one of the best throwing motions in the history of the NFL. His release looks so effortless. Even at 41 years of age, Arth believes Rodgers is still at the top of his game. Advertisement 'I still think he's at the top of his game. I think he's a top quarterback in the league,' Arth siad. '…Aaron was extremely impressive. He still throws the ball very well. He's accurate. He's so smart. You can see his decision-making — doesn't take a lot of sacks.' This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Veteran NFL Coach Gives High Praise to Aaron Rodgers Related Headlines
USA Today
05-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texans All-Pro CB Derek Stingley Jr. ranked inside the top-32 by PFF
Texans All-Pro CB Derek Stingley Jr. ranked inside the top-32 by PFF Derek Stingley Jr. proved that his rise in 2023 was just the beginning. Last season, the former No. 3 overall pick proved he was an elite shutdown defender who might be considered among the best players in the league for the 2025 season as the Houston Texans look to compete for a spot in the AFC Championship game. Coming off an All-Pro season, Stingley totaled five interceptions (tied for sixth most), 18 pass breakups (second most) and allowed the second-lowest completion percentage among cornerbacks with at least 200 coverage snaps (46.7%), according to NFL Next Gen Stats in 2024. That led to a new three-year, $90 million extension this offseason, making Stingley the highest-paid cornerback in the league with an annual $30 million salary. But while Stingley might have the respect from the Texans, is he the No. 1 cornerback entering 2025 based on projections? Not according to Pro Football Focus, which listed him as the No. 5 defensive back behind New York's Sauce Gardner, Denver's Pat Surtain II, Kansas City's Trent McDuffie and Chicago's Jaylon Johnson. "After a poor rookie season, Stingley has generated a 90.3 PFF coverage grade over the past two seasons — the best mark among all cornerbacks," John Koso wrote. "The 2022 No. 3 overall pick plays a high-risk, high-reward brand of football and threads that needle well, as his 12 interceptions across the past two years lead the league." Even after a down rookie season, Stingley made up for the lack of production with two Pro Bowl-caliber seasons. Fully healthy, he's been the definition of consistent when asked to line up in man coverage and an enforcer in one-on-one battles against top receivers. The highest-paid defensive back should begin the season as the top name opposite Kamari Lassiter in the AFC. In time with another dominant campaign, he should land no lower than No. 2 and compete with Surtain for Defensive Player of the Year accolades for the long haul. The Texans open the season against Davante Adams and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 7.
