Latest news with #NickShook
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Arizona Cardinals named 1 of NFL's most improved teams in offseason
Arizona Cardinals named 1 of NFL's most improved teams in offseason listed the seven most improved teams this offseason. The Cardinals make the cut. The Arizona Cardinals, coming off an 8-9 season in 2024, made great strides in improving their roster this offseason. Almost all their offseason additions, both in free agency and the 2025 NFL draft focused on their defense. With their moves, they were named one of the seven most improved teams by Nick Shook. Like another team on this list (New England), Arizona had some money to spend and needs to address. That's how the Cardinals landed edge rusher Josh Sweat, reuniting him with Jonathan Gannon, who helped Sweat enjoy his best seasons in Philadelphia while serving as the Eagles' defensive coordinator. DE Calais Campbell returns to the team with which he spent the first nine seasons of his career. He provides a veteran presence, as does Dalvin Tomlinson, helping to revamp the defensive front in one offseason. Rookie DT Walter Nolen (drafted 16th overall) will play a part, too, along with CB Will Johnson, a first-round talent who slid into Round 2 (No. 47) because of concerns about his knee, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, though Johnson later said he's healthy. Keep an eye on linebacker Cody Simon, who enters the NFL as a fourth-round pick (No. 115) after enjoying an incredible run through the College Football Playoff with Ohio State, starring in a dominant Rose Bowl win over Oregon and juicing his draft stock along the way. Arizona's offense was solid in 2024. It was their defense that needed work. They were bad at stopping the run, sacking the quarterback and forcing turnovers. With their added talent up front, they should both be better against the run and produce more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. That should lead to more takeaways. Looking back at the 2021 season, their first-half success was because the defense was better than advertised, which improved the offense, which, in turn, made it harder to run against them. The offense is largely unchanged in terms of personnel in 2025, but the defense, with major additions to every level, should be much improved. The other teams named with the Cardinals are the most improved were the Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots and New York Jets. 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.
USA Today
26-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Which offseason player departure could have the greatest impact on the Eagles in 2025?
Which offseason player departure could have the greatest impact on the Eagles in 2025? Nick Shook of named C.J. Gardner-Johnson's trade to Houston as the biggest departure that'll impact the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025 In March, the Philadelphia Eagles shocked the NFL by trading safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans for offensive guard Kenyon Green and a fifth-round pick. Many questioned why the Eagles would trade away a core part of their defense after winning the Super Bowl. GM Howie Roseman highlighted the situation at the NFL annual meetings. "I think if you're just taking the C.J. move in a vacuum, it's kind of not giving the whole perspective of where we're at. And I think Chauncey did a great job for us, and both the years that he was with us — obviously, making the Super Bowl twice in two years with him as our starting safety. It was a huge move that'll certainly impact Philadelphia and Houston. agreed, as Nick Shook named the dynamic safety's departure the one loss that'll impact the Eagles the most. Gardner-Johnson has not played for the same team in consecutive years since 2020-2021, when he was on his rookie deal with the Saints, but he helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl last season in his second stint with the team. Fresh off a championship, Philadelphia traded him to the Texans with budgetary concerns in mind. Moves like that one can help the Eagles remain competitive, but such deals only work if the replacements produce. Enter Texas product Andrew Mukuba -- a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft -- who might be asked to step in and fill the void right away. It will be no easy task, even on a talented defense. Meanwhile, Gardner-Johnson will aim to follow up a career-best season with a stellar campaign as a member of the Texans, where he's joining one of the best secondaries in the NFL. The Eagles let several good players walk this offseason due to financial constraints, including key contributors Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, and Isaiah Rodgers. Retaining Zack Baun was their top priority this offseason, and they signed him to a three-year, $51 million extension. They also extended Saquon Barkley and Lane Johnson. Roseman likely wanted to avoid a potential contract dispute with Gardner-Johnson in preparation for paying his younger players. Cam Jurgens, Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, Nolan Smith, Jalen Carter, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean are all on rookie contracts. Carter is projected to reset the defensive tackle market next year.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cincinnati Bengals' 2025 schedule: Primetime games vs Broncos, Steelers, Ravens, Dolphins
The Cincinnati Bengals are scheduled to play four primetime games next season, including a Thanksgiving night game against the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals' scheduled primetime games come in Week 4, September 29 against the Broncos in Denver on Monday Night Football; Week 7, October 16 at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football; Week 13, the Thanksgiving night game November 27 in Baltimore on NBC; and Week 16, December 21 against the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday Night Football. Advertisement "Cincinnati's season slate doesn't include many perceived breaks, and it's clear the stretch run from Thanksgiving through Christmas is built for the Bengals to prove themselves," Nick Shook wrote. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow against the Baltimore Ravens Social media reactions to the Bengals' 2025 slate, including the schedule release video: This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bengals schedule 2025 reactions: Primetime games, Thanksgiving vs. Ravens
USA Today
15-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cincinnati Bengals' 2025 schedule: Primetime games vs Broncos, Steelers, Ravens, Dolphins
Cincinnati Bengals' 2025 schedule: Primetime games vs Broncos, Steelers, Ravens, Dolphins Show Caption Hide Caption Zac Taylor speaks about Cincinnati Bengals 2025 NFL draft picks video Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor speaks at a press conference after Bengals make all their picks for the 2025 NFL Draft. The Cincinnati Bengals are scheduled to play four primetime games next season, including a Thanksgiving night game against the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals' scheduled primetime games come in Week 4, September 29 against the Broncos in Denver on Monday Night Football; Week 7, October 16 at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football; Week 13, the Thanksgiving night game November 27 in Baltimore on NBC; and Week 16, December 21 against the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday Night Football. "Cincinnati's season slate doesn't include many perceived breaks, and it's clear the stretch run from Thanksgiving through Christmas is built for the Bengals to prove themselves," Nick Shook wrote. Social media reactions to the Bengals' 2025 slate, including the schedule release video:
USA Today
17-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where did Sam Darnold rank among starting quarterbacks in 2024?
The NFL offseason is upon us. On Sunday, fans nationwide had to adjust to not having football on their televisions. But that doesn't mean we have to stop talking about football. Nick Shook of released his season-ending rankings of all 59 starting quarterbacks from 2024. The usual suspects were near the top, with Lamar Jackson finishing 1st, Josh Allen 2nd, and Joe Burrow 3rd. Patrick Mahomes was 7th after a weird year, and Super Bowl LIX MVP Jalen Hurts finished 9th. After leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-3 record, Sam Darnold landed at No. 13, finishing one spot behind Geno Smith. Darnold stunned the NFL when he passed for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns. Unfortunately, his two worst games of the season came in the Vikings' final two games, ending with a 27-9 Wild Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Shook referenced how the final two games affect Darnold's upcoming contract in 2025. ….[Darnold's] production through the majority of the year led many to believe he'd be in line for a big payday this offseason — but then a nightmarish final two weeks ended those dreams, and the Vikings' season. Darnold was at the center of Minnesota's meltdown, flopping in both Week 18 and their wild-card loss to the Rams, potentially costing himself millions of dollars in the process. That doesn't diminish all the good Darnold did in 2024, but it does call into question his value on the open market ahead of free agency. Had Darnold performed at an average level in Week 18 and the playoffs, he'd likely have been in the top 10 of this ranking. The Vikings may have even advanced or had the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. But he still outperformed expectations throughout the season. It was Darnold's highest finish in these rankings, as his previous best was finishing No. 24 after the 2018 season.
