2023 NFL Playoff Preview: Bills return from crisis could resemble “Boston Strong”

January 9, 2023 Andrew Roberts NFL 2023 NFL Playoffs, Bills, Boston, Boston Red Sox, Buffalo, Buffalo Bills, Eagles, Jalen Hurts, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, New England, New England Patriots, NFL, NFL Playoffs, Patrick Mahomes, Patriots, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Eagles, Red Sox, Super Bowl, Super Bowl LVII, Trevor Lawrence

My hometown New England Patriots are not in a great spot right now. Their offense has been making costly mistakes week after week, and while they’ve been able to stay competitive in most games, they are truly missing Tom Brady’s ability like no other to clutch up and win in any situation. In a conference loaded with young, exciting QBs, they now lack a franchise guy or a true offensive coordinator to develop Mac Jones into one. What’s worse is that it’s unclear what Bill Belichick is willing to do about it. However, as we begin an NFL playoffs without the Patriots, I think the outcome of these playoffs could still be something Boston fans will appreciate.

No, I’m not talking about Tom Brady going out with a bang and winning his 8th ring. He still has the clutch factor I mentioned earlier, but he can only go so far without scoring touchdowns the first three quarters of games. I’m actually talking about a divisional rival.

It’s not often I’m happy for the Buffalo Bills. They ended New England’s long streak atop the AFC East and if they won a title this year (or anytime during my four years in Ithaca), I would never hear the end of it being a Pats fan in the middle of Bills territory.

However, when I watched last week’s game between the Bills and Patriots, the energy at the stadium seemed unlike many games I’ve seen before. It did remind me of one very special day in Boston.

Back in 2013, I was in attendance for the Boston Red Sox’s first game after the Boston Marathon Bombings. To give you an idea of what Fenway Park was like that day, I give you this excerpt from an article I wrote about the experience:

“The energy inside Fenway that day was indescribable. The pregame ceremonies began honoring the Marathon bombing victims, the police that hunted down the bombers, and the paramedics who helped many wounded victims. The Red Sox were wearing special Boston Strong jerseys and there was a “B Strong” symbol on the Green Monster. As part of the ceremony, David Ortiz firmly stated, “This is Our F***ing City!” I had been to several games before but this was different.”

Not many moments can unite people like that day did, but I think Damar Hamlin’s remarkable recovery from his scary collapse against the Bengals has done just that. Bills fans came ready with signs in Hamlin’s honor, and Hamlin himself delivered an inspiring message to the team from his hospital bed. If you watched the game when Hamlin’s collapse occurred, you will likely remember how shaken up his teammates were that night. This crisis, most importantly, is a wake up call about the need for more attention towards NFL player safety. Regardless, Hamlin and his teammates love this game, and at the end of the day, they’re going to continue to play. When Hamlin woke up, the first thing he asked was, “Did we win?” Hamlin’s perseverance inspired the Bills to play out the rest of this season in his honor.

That day at Fenway Park, the Red Sox won the game with Marathon Bombing victims in mind and went on to win a championship. I expect a similar trajectory for the Bills. While this is about a New England division rival, the Bills taking this energy and turning it into their first Super Bowl victory would be an inspiring story, and one that Boston fans can relate to.

The Bills have one of the best rosters in the league. I feel they have played some of the best football we’ve seen this year. Now, while other teams may have longer win streaks, I feel this energy will give the Bills the momentum they need to win it all.

Below I have outlined their path to victory, as well as my predictions for the rest of the playoff games this season.

Wild Card Weekend

Saturday

49ers, 34, Seahawks, 28

Many are expecting a blowout here, but now is not the time to write off Geno Smith (as if there ever was a time to do that). I expect him to work with WRs D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett to put up a fight and expose a secondary that does not quite stack up with the rest of this strong 49ers defense. In the end though, I have the Niners winning this. They just have too much offensive talent all over the map for the Seahawks to handle. RB Christian McCaffrey will likely run all over the Seahawks front seven, forcing the Seahawks into the same fate all other #7 seeds have suffered, and the same fate they suffered in their last two games against San Fran this season.

Chargers, 28, Jaguars, 27

I think this is my pick for the most exciting game of the weekend. Two young franchise QBs on teams peaking at the right time battling it out in their first ever playoff appearances. I’m expecting a close game in which both offenses put up big numbers in both the pass and run game. In the end though, I still think Justin Herbert is the better quarterback of the two for the time being. Look for him to lead a game winning drive as the Chargers move on with a road win.

Sunday

Bills, 28, Dolphins, 17

The Dolphins are the only team on the AFC side of the bracket without a surefire franchise QB. The team has been able to win with Tua Tagovailoa after giving him Mike McDaniel, a coach who believes in him, and two elite receivers in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. However, that’s not enough for the AFC playoffs anymore, and besides, Tagovailoa isn’t a guarantee to play this game after repeated concussion problems. Whether Tagovailoa plays or not, this team is no match for QB Josh Allen and the Bills.

Vikings, 34, Giants, 21

This has been a popular upset pick considering the Vikings have a negative point differential, but come on. Do you really expect Justin Jefferson, the best receiver in the NFL right now, to fold against the 9-7-1 Giants? I’d expect the Giants to keep it close early, but QB Kirk Cousins will clutch up late in the game as he utilizes Jefferson. Let’s save the exposing of the Vikings for a team that has a more serious case for Super Bowl contention.

Bengals, 23, Ravens, 16

You have to give the Ravens some credit for their defensive performance lately; since acquiring LB Roquan Smith from Chicago they’ve allowed just 14.7 PPG. As a result, I’m not expecting an insane stat-line out of Joe Burrow here. The Ravens offense, on the other hand, has been dysfunctional without Lamar Jackson. I don’t expect it to get much better, as Jackson is unlikely to be 100% even if he’s back. Besides, even Jackson is 1-3 in his playoff career. Everything seems to be working for Cincinnati right now, and this Ravens team isn’t the one to stop them.

Monday

Buccaneers, 23, Cowboys, 20 (OT)

The Cowboys are actually favored on the road in this one, but when’s the last time you saw them beat Tom Brady? Fun fact: they never have. Even in this dysfunctional season, the Buccaneers took down Dallas 19-3. To be fair, QB Dak Prescott got hurt midway through that game, but Prescott hasn’t been looking all that sharp lately: he has a 15/11 TD/INT ratio in his last 7 games. I do expect the Cowboys to have the early lead here, as they have a lot of talent all over the map. Tom Brady isn’t going down easy though, and I expect him to lead a fourth quarter comeback and win it for the Bucs in overtime.

Divisional Round

AFC

Chargers, 35, Chiefs, 34

Patrick Mahomes has looked as good as ever despite the loss of WR Tyreek Hill. However, his performances against the AFC’s best this season have not been all that promising. He lost to the Bills and Bengals (despite those teams being seeded lower), and he may have swept the Chargers, but those were 3 point wins in which Justin Herbert was missing key receivers (Allen was out in the first one and Williams was severely limited in the second one). This one should be a close battle in which both QBs thrive. However, the Chargers are healthy and hot. I expect Herbert to shock the world and take down his divisional rival to advance to the AFC Championship.

Bills, 27, Bengals, 24

This will be an interesting one, as we finally see a rematch of Week 17’s canceled game. In addition, these teams have been playing at a level few others can, and I expect the winner of this game to go on to win it all. The Bengals have been on fire lately, with Joe Burrow continuing to improve week after week regardless of what receivers he has to work with. They still don’t have the momentum the Bills will have coming into this game. I do expect it to be very close, but I have Josh Allen working with Stefon Diggs to put together a big drive in the final seconds and set up a game winning Tyler Bass field goal.

NFC

Eagles, 16, Buccaneers, 10

This Bucs defense should be able to slow down the Eagles run game. However, the Eagles have the perfect defense to shut down Tom Brady. James Bradberry and Darius Slay are one of the best cornerback duos in football. They can each take on one of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, severely limiting the options for Brady to throw to in an offense that’s been dysfunctional at times. Evans may have 9 consecutive 1,000 yard seasons, but at the end of the day, he’s a matchup-dependent receivers who feasts on weak secondaries. Brady will probably find Leonard Fournette for some checkdowns. Still, with his best two receivers locked up, it’ll be hard to make anything happen on offense. It could be Brady’s last game in a Buccaneers uniform, or any uniform for that matter.

49ers, 28, Vikings, 23

This is where I see the Vikings season ending. I’m expecting Brock Purdy and the Niners offense to put up a lot of points early on a weak Vikings secondary. Like always, QB Kirk Cousins and WR Justin Jefferson could work some late game magic for the Vikings. I don’t think it will be enough to come back for a win this time around. A 5-point loss is probably a generous prediction. I don’t think Minnesota is anywhere near the level of the Eagles or Niners, who I have meeting in the NFC title game.

AFC Championship

Bills, 34, Chargers, 17

The way I have the Divisional Round matchups working out should make for some close, exciting games. I can’t say the same about this one. I feel the Bills and Bengals are operating on a level no AFC West team has reached, and this game will show it. Look, Josh Allen and Justin Herbert are both great quarterbacks. However, in comparison to the Bills, teams like the Chiefs and Chargers have some serious defensive problems. The Bills run game is nothing special, but I still think it will have an unusual amount of success against a flawed Chargers front seven. With the run game heating up, the pass game strong as ever, and the whole roster motivated, the Bills could be a scary opponent to face in the Super Bowl.

NFC Championship

Eagles, 20, 49ers, 17

This one will be closer since both teams have pretty competent defenses and each QB has an elite supporting cast. Putting the supporting cast aside, Brock Purdy is a pretty good QB, and I think he has a chance to become a franchise guy. However, I think Jalen Hurts’ dual-threat ability will set him apart in this game, and Purdy will fail to keep up with him as the clock winds down.

Super Bowl LVII

Even when the Bills were able to make it this far in the 1990s, this is where they failed; you may have heard about their infamous four straight Super Bowl losses. I have the Bills capping off this historic season with the first Super Bowl win in franchise history as they take down the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. It’ll be hard for the Bills to shut down the combo of mobile QB Jalen Hurts and RB Miles Sanders. However, this Eagles pass game is built very similarly to how the Bills pass game was in Josh Allen’s breakout year. The Bills secondary will take advantage of that, limiting the impact of Philly’s WR duo of A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith. Meanwhile, Allen will take advantage of the fact that he has a deeper group of receivers, including all three starters from 2020 in addition to an improving Gabriel Davis and Isaiah McKenzie. This Bills team is always ready with their next player up, and that will make the difference in this one.

Comment with your thoughts on these predictions. If you’re a Boston fan, who are you rooting for in these Patriot-less playoffs?

Dougie’s Team Miles of Diversity

August 8, 2021October 17, 2021 Andrew Roberts Boston Marathon 26.2, Ann Corbett, Autism, Autism Acceptance, Boston Marathon, Coach John Furey, Dan Alberghini, Doug Flutie, Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, Dougie's Team Miles of Diversity, Dougie's Team, Flutie Foundation, Hanna Adams, John Furey, Lauren Machado, Marathon Monday, Mike Palmer, Miles of Diversity, New England, New England Patriots, October, Patriots, Patriots Day, Snyder's, Swedish Fish

The Boston Marathon is just about two months away but runners have been training all through the late spring and summer months. On Saturday mornings, runners from a number of different charity teams come together for training runs. This includes Dougie’s Team, the team for the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism.

Runners alternate each week between longer training sessions to work up to 26.2 miles and shorter sprints to save energy and improve speed. The entire training program takes up 22 weeks. Saturday, August 7, the 13th Saturday of the program, was a longer run in which runners traveled anywhere between 10 and 16 miles. This particular Saturday was my first chance to cover marathon training behind the scenes.

Beating the Heat

Dougie’s Team captain Mike Palmer as well as Dougie’s Team runners Ann Corbett, Ashleigh Holmes, and Hanna Adams all ran 16 miles. Even for experienced runners, running this far was not an easy feat in the hot weather. The runners tried to beat the heat by waking up as early as 5 a.m., but today was an especially warm day even in the early morning hours.

Normally, runners would be training in the winter with the marathon taking place on Patriots Day. This year, with the marathon taking place in October, the training has been a little different. I met with several Dougie’s Team runners at the Boston Common, the endpoint of their run. Lauren Machado, who ran the marathon virtually for retired Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi’s charity team in 2020, was waiting at the Common as well with snacks and water for the runners.

Coach Furey leads runners through all aspects of training

Coach John Furey, who coaches Dougie’s Team, mentioned how this part of the training was a mental challenge and gave some insight into what the runners are currently dealing with.

“What you really have the runners going through is building physical and mental toughness.”
— Coach John Furey

Words of advice amongst runners

Runners also had numerous tips for one another. Lauren explained how the snacks she was giving out benefitted runners, while Mike and Hanna had words of encouragement for their teammates.

“If you want to run a marathon, don’t let anyone say you can’t, because you can fulfill any dreams that you want if you put your mind to it.”
— Dougie’s Team captain Mike Palmer

Dougie’s Team sticks together

While today was a tough run, Dougie’s Team remained motivated with the Flutie Foundation and Marathon Monday in mind. Members of Dougie’s Team have also kept each other motivated, leaving no one behind. Running is an individual sport but during the 22 weeks of training, having teammates to train with can really make a difference. This team is united in running for the Flutie Foundation and helping each other succeed.

Support Dougie’s Team to raise money for autism

Each Dougie’s Team runner is holding a fundraiser for the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism leading up to the marathon. Click here for more information on how to support these runners and the Flutie Foundation in their mission to help people and families affected by autism live life to the fullest.

Appearance on the Master Plan Podcast: Way too early AFC Preview

July 16, 2021 Andrew Roberts NFL Baltimore, Baltimore Ravens, Bengals, Bills, Broncos, Browns, Buffalo, Buffalo Bills, Chargers, Chiefs, Cincinnati, Cincinnati Bengals, Cincy, Cleveland, Cleveland Browns, Colts, Denver, Denver Broncos, Dolphins, Houston, Houston Texans, Indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, Indy, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jags, Jaguars, Jets, Kansas City, Kansas City Chiefs, KC, KC Chiefs, LA, LA Chargers, Las Vegas, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami, Miami Dolphins, Michael Philipkosky, New England, New England Patriots, New York, New York Jets, Newhouse School, NFL, NY, NY Jets, Patriots, Pats, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Steelers, Raiders, Ravens, Steelers, Syracuse, Tennessee, Tennessee Titans, Texans, The Master Plan, Titans

Football season is quickly approaching, and teams have began to prepare for the upcoming year. The AFC could be a very competitive conference, but which teams have enough talent to be playoff contenders? My cousin Michael Philipkosky and I broke it all down in this episode of his podcast, the Master Plan.

2021 NFL Mock Draft: Pats find their future QB in talented, offense-heavy class

April 23, 2021 Andrew Roberts NFL 2021 NFL Draft, 2021 NFL Mock Draft, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Caleb Farley, Christian Darrisaw, Creed Humphrey, Devonta Smith, Elijah Moore, ETN, Gregory Rousseau, Ja'Marr Chase, Jaelan Phillips, Jaycee Horn, Jaylen Waddle, Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah, JOK, Justin Fields, Kwity Paye, Kyle Pitts, Mac Jones, Micah Parsons, Najee Harris, New England, New England Patriots, NFL, NFL draft, NFL Mock Draft, Nick Bolton, Pat Freiermuth, Patrick Surtain II, Patriots, Pats, Penei Sewell, Rashawn Slater, Rashod Bateman, Samuel Cosmi, Travis Etienne, Trevon Moehrig, Trevor Lawrence, Trey Lance, Wyatt Davis, Zach Wilson, Zaven Collins

The NFL Draft is a week away, and rumors have been all over the place about what will happen. One big question here in New England is how the Patriots will address their QB situation. Bill Belichick made a lot of additions this offseason, and he opted to re-sign Cam Newton. However, are all these additions meant to help build around Newton, or to help make the transition easier for a new quarterback? It will take a lot to get a quarterback in this offense-heavy draft class, but it may be worth it considering this is one of the best QB classes in recent history. I’ve answered that question and more in the mock draft below. The mock is based off a combo of what I think teams will do and what I think they should do.

In the later rounds, I think the Patriots will add a wide receiver as well as some front seven help. I could see them targeting a receiver like Elijah Moore or Amon-Ra St. Brown on Day 2. That’s all for today’s mock draft, but my coverage of the draft will continue on draft day when I take part in a livestream on The Master Plan YouTube channel with my cousin, Michael Philipkosky.

Boston Sports Mania Apparel Fundraiser for Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism

March 19, 2021October 19, 2021 Andrew Roberts Special Occasions Algonquin, Algonquin Harbinger, Algonquin T-Hawks, Algonquin Tomahawks, Andrew Roberts, Antoinette Antonio, APEX, APEX Entertainment, APEX Entertainment Center, Apparel, Autism, Autism Acceptance Day, Autism Acceptance Month, Autism Awareness Day, Autism Awareness Month, B's, Blog Anniversary, Blogiversary, Boston, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Boston Sports Mania, Bruins, C's, Celtics, Celts, Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, FCSN, Federation for Children with Special Needs, fenway Park, Flutie Fellow, Flutie Foundation, Fundraiser, Gillette Stadium, Gonk, Gonk Knocks, Gronk, Harbinger, Logo, MBTA, NECC, New England, New England Center for Children, New England Patriots, Patriots, Red Sox, Rob Gronkowski, Sox, Spectrum Designs, Swag, T, T-Hawks, TD Garden, Thrive, Thrive Advocacy, Tomahawks, WCVB, WCVB Boston

Next month is Autism Acceptance Month and I am running a fundraiser with Boston Sports Mania apparel where all profits will go to the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. The Flutie Foundation is an organization who helps people and families affected by autism live life to the fullest.

Apex Entertainment decided to support me again when they learned I designed a new Boston Sports Mania logo to commemorate my 7 year blog anniversary, and also recognize the Flutie Foundation for their contributions to my success. As you can see from the logo below, the Flutie Foundation logo represents the second “O” in the word Boston.

Receive a FREE Apex Entertainment attraction voucher with every purchase of BostonSportsMania.com apparel

The Boston Red Sox have also joined to help the apparel campaign. As a result, you can win an additional prize just for placing an order.

The largest three April orders by total order dollar amount will win an additional prize as follows (please see photos below of the prizes):

1st place prize: Autographed Chris Sale jersey
2nd place prize: Autographed Rafael Devers baseball
3rd place prize: Autographed box of Flutie Flakes (from the Flutie Foundation)

I also want to give a special thanks to Spectrum Designs, a business that helps individuals with autism lead full and productive lives through the world of work. They produced the apparel and donated the ordering website.

The best part of this campaign is that every dollar raised will benefit the autism community in some way, because the Flutie Foundation helps people and families affected by autism and Spectrum Designs employs people with autism.

Purchase your apparel and/or make a donation to support the Flutie Foundation by clicking HERE

2020 NFL Week 1 Picks: Lots of Close Games in Competitive Season

September 8, 2020 Andrew Roberts NFL 49ers, Arizona, Arizona Cardinals, Bills, Brandon Aiyuk, Broncos, Buffalo, Buffalo Bills, C.J. Mosley, Cam Newton, Cardinals, Chiefs, Cowboys, Dallas, Dallas Cowboys, DeAndre Hopkins, Deebo Samuel, Denver, Denver Broncos, DeVante Parker, Devin McCourty, Devin Singletary, Dolphins, George Kittle, Giants, Houston, Houston Texans, James White, Jets, Jimmy G, Jimmy Garoppolo, Josh Allen, Julian Edelman, Kansas City, Kansas City Chiefs, KC Chiefs, Kyler Murray, LA Rams, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Rams, Miami, Miami Dolphins, Mike Gesicki, New England, New England Patriots, New York, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFL, NFL Picks, NFL Week 1 Picks, NY Giants, NY Jets, Patriots, Pats, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Steelers, Rams, Sam Darnold, San Fran, San Francisco, San Francisco 49ers, Steelers, Stefon Diggs, Stephon Gilmore, Tennessee, Tennessee Titans, Texans, Titans, Zack Moss

The NFL off-season has been one of the craziest ever. Tom Brady left Bill Belichick and the Patriots. Instead he went to Tampa, building his own offense. This caused the biggest off-season QB carousel in a long time. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the NFL Draft virtual and canceled the NFL preseason. But despite the pandemic and all the unusual events, football is coming back. With or without fans attending the game, this NFL season will go on, and so will my weekly NFL pick’em posts. Each week, I’ll have my NFL picks on this website as well as some fantasy content on my fantasy football Instagram account, @bsmfantasyfootball. I think this could be one of the most competitive seasons in a while, and that will mean a lot of close games. Keep reading to see my predictions of them all. I’ll say one thing, we could see multiple games go to overtime this week alone.

Lock of the Week

As I said, there should be a lot of close games this week. This is not one of them. I expect the Bills to have a lot of success running the ball. The combo of Devin Singletary, Zack Moss, and running QB Josh Allen will just be too much for a Jets front seven that will be without LB C.J. Mosley. Allen will also rely on his new star WR Stefon Diggs in this one. QB Sam Darnold will struggle, as a strong Bills defense shuts down his banged up arsenal of weapons.

Upset of the Week

I think the 49ers are the better team here. But WRs Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk are recovering from injuries, leaving QB Jimmy Garoppolo with solely star TE George Kittle to rely on. The Cardinals defense will focus in on Kittle, making it difficult for Garoppolo’s offense to function. QB Kyler Murray won’t be that much better against a strong San Francisco D. But with WR DeAndre Hopkins in the mix, I think Arizona will put up enough points to pull off the upset this time around. The Niners will have a chance at revenge later this season after Garoppolo’s receivers heal up.

The Other Games

Which teams do you have winning this week? Comment with your thoughts.

Gonk Knocks S2 E1 – We All We Got, We All We Need

August 17, 2019August 17, 2019 Andrew Roberts High School Algonquin, Algonquin Football, Algonquin T-Hawks, Algonquin Tomahawks, Algonquin Tomahawks Football, Dean College, Eli Khasabo, Gonk Knocks, John Rooke, Mark Allen, New England, New England Patriots, Nick Alessi, Patriots, Pats, Rio Ferguson, T-Hawks, T-Hawks Football, Taylor Allen, Tomahawk Football, Tomahawks Football

I know, it’s been a while. Since I last posted, I’ve received a variety of experiences thanks to John Rooke and the Dean College sportscasting camp, including an appearance on Patriots.com radio. I was living the busy life of a sportscaster, so I didn’t have much time to post on here. Last week, I was recovering from wisdom tooth surgery. But now, I’m back, and so is Algonquin football.

It all began yesterday with a team meeting and the first official practice of the preseason. Check out the best moments from the meeting and more in the first Season 2 episode of Gonk Knocks:

Football is back, and here at Algonquin, it all started today. The Algonquin Tomahawks had a busy day ahead of them, including team meetings and the first official practice of the 2019 preseason.

Before the meeting, I caught up with Head Coach Taylor Allen. He filled me in about some things to watch for at practice and the team’s goals and motto for the season.

Two of this year’s captains, senior slot receiver and strong safety Nick Alessi, and junior linebacker and full back Rio Ferguson, were selected in advance by Coach Allen. It’s rare to see a junior as the team captain, but Coach Allen trusts Rio, who’s been here since freshman year, to help lead the team.

Rio proved Coach Allen right, leading the way in blitzes and for the run game.

Alessi also shined in multiple roles. He had a great catch in 7 on 7s, beating out Eli Khasabo on his route as he played the slot. He also tried his hand at playing running back.

The final captain would be selected by the team before practice.

Coach Allen started off the meeting by making the team’s goals clear and uniting the team around these goals.

After this, he went over the offensive formula for success and philosophy.

Later on, he handed it over to his brother, DC Mark Allen for some defensive stats, values, and key plays. Mark emphasizes controlled aggression when coaching.

After this, it was time to get to work.

Upcoming Key Dates for the Tomahawks Football Team

Monday, 8/19 @ 6 p.m.: Varsity Football Preseason Practice #3
Tuesday, 8/20 @ 6 p.m.: Varsity Football Preseason Practice #4
Wednesday, 8/21 @ 1 p.m.: Varsity Football Preseason Practice #5
Thursday, 8/22 @ 4 p.m.: Varsity Football Preseason Practice #6 (First in full pads)
Friday, 8/23 @ 4 p.m.: Varsity Football Preseason Practice #7
Saturday, 8/24 @ 10 a.m.: Scrimmage #1 @Clinton High School vs. Clinton
Monday, 8/26 @ 4 p.m.: Varsity Football Preseason Practice #8
Friday, 8/30 @ 6 p.m.: Scrimmage #2 at Home vs. Franklin
Friday, 9/13 @ 7 p.m.: Regular Season Game #1 @Doherty
Friday, 9/20 @ 7 p.m.: Regular Season Game #2 at Home vs. Shepherd Hill

2019 NFL Draft Report Cards: AFC North Edition

June 27, 2019June 27, 2019 Andrew Roberts NFL 2019 NFL Draft, 2019 NFL Draft Grades, 2019 NFL Draft Report Cards, AFC, AFC East, AFC North, AFC South, Austin Seibert, Baltimore, Baltimore Ravens, Ben Powers, Bengals, Bennie Snell, Bennie Snell Jr., Benny Snell, Benny Snell Jr., Browns, Cincinnati, Cincinnati Bengals, Cincy, Cleveland, Cleveland Browns, Daylon Mack, Derwin Gray, Deshaun Davis, Devin Bush, Diontae Johnson, Donnie Lewis, Donnie Lewis Jr., Drew Forbes, Drew Sample, Germaine Pratt, Greedy Williams, Hollywood Brown, Iman Marshall, Isaiah Buggs, James Conner, Jaylon Ferguson, Jonah Williams, Jordan Brown, Justice Hill, Justin Layne, Lamar Jackson, Le'Veon Bell, Mack Wilson, Marcus Gilbert, Marquise Brown, Michael Jordan, Miles Boykin, New England, New England Patriots, NFL, NFL 2019 Draft, NFL 2019 Draft Grades, NFL 2019 Draft Report Cards, NFL draft, NFL Draft 2019, NFL Draft Grades, NFL Draft Grades 2019, NFL Draft Report Cards, NFL Draft Report Cards 2019, Patriots, Pats, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Steelers, Ravens, Renell Wren, Robert Griffin III, Rodney Anderson, Ryan Finley, Sheldrick Redwine, SIone Takitaki, Steelers, Sutton Smith, Trace McSorley, Trayveon Williams, Ulysses Gilbert, Ulysses Gilbert III, Zach Gentry

Welcome to Part 6 of my NFL Draft Report Cards. Last week, I reviewed the home division of my New England Patriots, the AFC East. Though the Pats should win the division, the Jets outdid them in the draft. But in my eyes, an AFC North team was the overall draft winner. Which team is it? Keep reading to see my Draft Report Card for each team, including a grade for each pick as well as my final grades. As I post more articles, I will also include links to the rest of my draft grades.

Image result for nfl draft 2019 logo

NFL Draft Report Cards 2019

AFC South

AFC West

Cleveland Browns

Overall Grade: A

Draft Report Card:

Analysis:

I feel the Browns won this year’s draft. Not only did they snag two major steals at positions of need in Greedy Williams and Mack Wilson, they also filled most of the rest of their biggest needs. In addition to Williams, a CB and Wilson, an ILB, the Browns drafted a tackle, a safety, an outside linebacker. Some of their other picks were slight reaches, but they filled most of their needs, so I really like this draft class.

Baltimore Ravens

Overall Grade: B+

Draft Report Card:

Analysis:

The Ravens started off this draft historically strong. They grabbed their two WRs of the future (hopefully Lamar Jackson is able to throw to them). They also drafted a much needed edge rusher in Jaylon Ferguson, who happens to be a great fit. The later rounds didn’t go as well. They did make some decent picks later on. I understand the selections of RB Justice Hill and DT Daylon Mack. But the Ravens didn’t need another guard or corner, and the Ravens been fine with Robert Griffin III as Jackson’s sole backup. Overall, this is a pretty good draft class, but it was a bit top heavy, and they didn’t prioritize their biggest needs in the later rounds.

Cincinnati Bengals

Overall Grade: C+

Draft Report Card:

Analysis:

The Bengals made a couple great selections. They found their potential QB-LT duo of the future. The Bengals also filled all of their biggest needs. But they reached on a lot of their picks. I’m not going to make a big deal about their choice to put aside smaller needs in favor of prospects they liked. But Drew Sample, for example could’ve been found in the 4th or 5th. He isn’t 2nd round material. I do give them credit for the promptness on filling their needs though, so I didn’t mind this draft class too much.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Overall Grade: C+

Draft Report Card:

Analysis:

My favorite pick by far from this draft class was the selection of RB Benny Snell Jr. Snell can be the primary backup for James Conner with Le’Veon Bell leaving for good. But other than that, the Steelers didn’t have an amazing draft. They didn’t fill too many needs, and the needs they did fill were filled by reaching. I didn’t mind the Devin Bush pick, as he may not be a good fit, but he can play inside linebacker as they need. Plus, Isaiah Buggs was a steal even though Pittsburgh doesn’t need a DT. But the fact that they didn’t draft a tackle to replace Marcus Gilbert will significantly bog them down.

That’s all for this portion of my NFL Draft Grades. Stay tuned for my AFC South Draft Grades next. As a whole, the AFC South did not have a great draft. But two teams tied for the worst overall grade. Who were they? Find out soon.

2019 NFL Draft Report Cards: AFC East Edition

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Welcome to Part 5 of my NFL Draft Report Cards. Today, I’ll be kicking off my AFC draft reviews with the AFC East. The New England Patriots (my team) have dominated this division for years. But did they dominate the draft? What other AFC East teams thrived? Keep reading to see my Draft Report Card for each team, including a grade for each pick as well as my final grades. As I post more articles, I will also include links to the rest of my draft grades.

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NFL Draft Report Cards 2019

AFC North

AFC South

AFC West

New York Jets

Overall Grade: B+

Draft Report Card:

Analysis:

The Jets may have reached for a couple players and they did struggle to fill all of their needs with six picks. But for the amount of picks they had, this was a pretty solid daft. I would’ve rather the Jets take Josh Allen over Quinnen Williams, as Allen is the better fit even though Williams is the better player. They did make up for it later though, as they drafted Jachai Polite and Blake Cashman. I also really liked the selection of Chuma Edoga, an underrated player at a position of need for the Jets. The Jets opted to wait on a tight end and a corner, and when they finally drafted them, it was a reach. They also failed to fill needs at center and receiver. But the Jets did the best they could and finished with a strong draft class.

New England Patriots

Overall Grade: B

Draft Report Card:

Analysis:

I wrote a more in-depth Patriots draft review in a separate article. Check it out!

Buffalo Bills

Overall Grade: B

Draft Report Card:

Analysis:

The Bills made some very confusing picks, but they also drafted some quality players in between. They did fill all their biggest needs early, as they didn’t really have many. They earned a steal by drafting T Cody Ford in the 2nd. They also drafted a strong TE, Dawson Knox and an OLB, Vosean Joseph in later rounds to fill their other two needs. They did draft another TE later, but this pick was an unnecessary reach alongside some others. I also don’t get why they took DT Ed Oliver at #9 when they didn’t need a DT and good o-linemen were available. It was good that the Bills took a young RB, but the backfield is way to crowded for it, and Round 3 was early for Singletary. Otherwise, I didn’t mind this draft too much.

Miami Dolphins

Overall Grade: B-

Draft Report Card:

Analysis:

Most of these picks were understandable, but the Dolphins had better options. It wasn’t easy for Miami in this draft, as they had a lot of needs to fill as they rebuild and they didn’t have many picks to do so. The rebuilding will need to continue over the next couple years. Most of these picks filled needs, so that helps Miami’s case. But a couple of them were reaches, especially the selection of Auburn RB Chandler Cox. In addition, the Dolphins didn’t really make a point to priorities their biggest of needs. But overall, I didn’t mind this draft class, but this is only the beginning of a long rebuild for the Fins.

That’s all for this portion of my Draft Grades. Stay tuned for my reviews of the rest of the AFC. I’ll be reviewing the AFC North yet, where I feel 1 team highlighted this year’s draft. Which team is it? Find out in my next post.

A Roller Coaster Ride: Reviewing the Patriots Draft

May 30, 2019May 30, 2019 Andrew Roberts NFL, Patriots Adrian Clayborn, ASJ, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Ben Watson, Bill Belichick, Byron Cowart, Chandler Jones, Chase Winovich, Damien Harris, DeMaryius Thomas, DT, Greedy Williams, Gronk, Hjalte Froholdt, Irv Smith Jr., Isaiah Wynn, Jake Bailey, Jamie Collins, Jarrett Stidham, Joejuan Williams, Julian Edelman, Ken Webster, Minitron, N'Keal Harry, New England, New England Patriots, NFL, Patriots, Pats, Phillip Dorsett, Rob Gronkowski, Rob Ninkovich, Ryan Allen, Sony Michel, TB12, Tom Brady, Wino, Yodny Cajuste

Welcome to my in-depth draft review for the New England Patriots. I have already begun writing draft grades for each team (organized by division), but I figured I’d go more in depth for my favorite team. Plus, I was able to submit this as a critical review for English class.

Read below for my draft grades for the Pats alongside my review.

In addition, I had the chance to catch up with Bob Socci about New England’s draft:

Now, let’s jump right in:

New England Patriots

Overall Grade: B

Draft Report Card:

Screenshot 2019-05-30 at 11.23.01 PM.png

Analysis:

Coming off a Super Bowl victory, the Patriots should remain elite in 2019. However, with tight end Rob Gronkowski hanging up his cleats and multiple receivers leaving through free agency, the Patriots still had a few tasks to accomplish coming into the NFL Draft.

First of all, they needed to find quarterback Tom Brady some receivers. Going into this draft, Julian Edelman was the only capable pass-catcher on the roster that Brady already has a strong rapport with. Their depth behind Edelman was limited to Demaryius Thomas (coming off torn achilles) and Phillip Dorsett (has yet to prove himself dependable). They also added Austin Seferian-Jenkins, a veteran tight end who was signed to help fill the hole Gronk left behind. But ASJ is no more than a temporary solution. He has been terribly inconsistent throughout his career, and after playing 5 years on 3 different teams, he has never reached 400 receiving yards or 5 TDs in a season. The Pats will eventually need to find another option there.

Second, they needed to fill some of their other positional needs. They lack defensive line depth and are in desperate need of an elite pass rusher. They brought Adrian Clayborn on board for 2018, but he didn’t consistently produce. They haven’t really had a consistent one since DEs Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich left a few years ago. The team could also use help at linebacker and in the o-line. Lastly, Brady’s not retiring anytime soon unless his stats suddenly decline. But they still need time to start planning for the post-Brady era.

I feel the team worked towards achieving all of these objectives, but still could have done more to achieve them.

There were rumors that New England would consider trading up to draft an elite tight end. Instead, they opted to wait on a tight end and draft WR N’Keal Harry in Round 1. At #32, Harry was one of their best options, and he fills a need. Once he gets into a rhythm with Brady, expect to see him starting and producing across from Edelman, so this was one of their better picks in the draft.

I wasn’t a huge fan of their 2nd round trade up for cornerback Joejuan Williams though. Round 2 is a bit early for Williams; the Pats had bigger needs at #45. For example, they could have taken Alabama tight end Irv Smith Jr. But if they were going to trade up for a cornerback, it should have been LSU’s Greedy Williams. He ended up going to the Browns at #46. He may be a flawed prospect, as he’s not a very physical player and he opted out of visiting with teams prior to the draft. But he has insane potential and refuses to leave receivers open.

The Pats redeemed themselves in the 3rd round. After trading their later 2nd round pick, they managed to snag edge rusher Chase Winovich early in Round 3. At the age of 24, Winovich is an older rookie, but he should still bring the energy to the locker room that Gronk left behind and make an instant impact in the pass rush where Ninkovich previously thrived. This was the perfect choice for the Pats.

In this round, they also snagged a running back, Damien Harris and a tackle, Yodny Cajuste. Harris is one of the better RB prospects in this draft, and he was a steal at #87. He has played in committees, but it’s hard to get a lot of opportunities in New England’s four-man backfield, something established in 2017. As long as Michel is healthy, I’m not so sure they needed a fourth man. But he’s still a decent investment in my eyes.

Cajuste was one of the best tackles on the board and fills a need for the Pats, so I liked the pick. Isaiah Wynn has yet to play a regular season game after losing his rookie year to an ACL tear, so the left tackle job is anyone’s for taking.

Though it received mixed reviews overall, one of my favorite picks in this draft was the selection of Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham in Round 4. Stidham may have struggled at Auburn, but he wasn’t exactly a perfect fit for Auburn’s system, and I trust that he’ll fit better with the Pats and is capable of replacing Brady when he retires.

They also took guard Hjalte Froholdt in this round. This was a bit of a reach, but he does help fill the team’s need for o-line depth.

I was a bit disappointed at first when the Pats took DT Byron Cowart in Round 5, when better options were on the board. But since then, I’ve looked further into this pick, and it actually makes sense. It fills a need, and as a former top high school prospect, Cowart has plenty of potential despite underperforming in college.

On the other hand, it’s hard to argue in favor of the selection of punter Jake Bailey. First of all, Bailey is a right footed punter, the first right footed punter on the Pats in a long, long, time. Plus, they already resigned punter Ryan Allen. In baseball, they put right handed batters in a platoon with left handed batters. Would the Pats consider something similar with punters? Regardless, the 5th round was a bit early to draft one.

Their drafted concluded with the addition of cornerback Ken Webster. This pick didn’t make much sense, as they had already added depth at the position by drafting Joejuan Williams. But it’s the 7th round, so I doubt it’ll have that much of an impact in the long run.

Overall I thought this draft class was pretty solid. Some of the decisions they made were a bit confusing, but that was mixed in with some amazing picks, and it’s hard to doubt Bill Belichick. This draft class makes a lot more sense now that the Pats have reunited with TE Ben Watson and LB Jamie Collins in free agency. So if I had to give this draft class a letter grade, it would be somewhere in the B-range.

Stay tuned for more draft grades soon.

Thursday Night Football	I expect the Chiefs to come out on top in the end here. QB Patrick Mahomes’ offense is a dominant force and I doubt this weakening Texans D will be able to keep up. However, the Texans will make it close, as the duo of WR Brandin Cooks and WR Will Fuller should be able to outplay Kansas City’s secondary. I think they might even force OT.
	I think QB Cam Newton will rely on pass catching RB James White and slot WR Julian Edelman to beat out an improved, but still below average Dolphins defense. On the other hand, WR DeVante Parker and TE Mike Gesicki are no match for Stephon Gilmore and Devin McCourty.
	The Browns have a good front seven, but it won’t be enough to stop dual threat QB Lamar Jackson. I expect Kevin Stefanski to completely modify the Browns offense and that will allow them to make this competitive. However, in Baltimore I see them falling short.
	QB Gardner Minshew II is lacking surroundings. I expect WR D.J. Chark to have a good game thanks to their chemistry, but it’ll be tough against this improved Colts D. The Colts also have an improved run game behind an elite o-line that should dominate against a crumbling Jaguars defense.
	The Raiders do have an improving offense centered around RB Josh Jacobs and TE Darren Waller, and they will make it close against an unproven Panthers defense. But I expect RB Christian McCaffrey to run all over the Raiders D in this one.
	Washington’s defense is looking better than it has in a while, with a front seven led by rookie Chase Young and veteran Ryan Kerrigan, plus a secondary that includes CB Kendall Fuller and S Landon Collins. They will hold the Eagles to just 1 TD, but fall short due to anemic offense.
	The Vikings D is looking strong after adding DE Yannick Ngakoue, so I expect a strong Week 1 performance against Green Bay. RB Dalvin Cook will lead Minnesota to victory, but it will be close with natural slot WRs Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson rotating outside.
	The Lions won’t put up too many points as I expect the Bears D to improve upon last year. But the Bears QB troubles will cause them to fall short. I think QB Mitch Trubisky will have some success with RB Tarik Cohen and WR Allen Robinson, but be too inconsistent to finish the job. I have Detroit taking it in OT.
	This is definitely going to be a close one. But on the road, I have the Seahawks falling short. QB Matt Ryan will lean on his strong WR duo and RB Todd Gurley to lead Atlanta to victory in overtime.
	The Chargers secondary is looking strong, but the loss of S Derwin James hurts. I think QB Joe Burrow will capitalize on his connection with WR Tyler Boyd and find ways to beat out this strong Chargers D, pulling off the upset in his debut. The Chargers offense will show flashes of a strong performance but struggle overall with Tyrod Taylor at QB.
	QBs Tom Brady and Drew Brees face off twice this year. In this one, I’m expecting the Saints to squeeze by for a victory in a back and forth offensive shootout. WRs Michael Thomas, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin will all get the chance to stand out here.
Sunday Night Football	I’m expecting an OT thriller in the first edition of SNF this year. QB Jared Goff will be under center in a pass heavy offense that outplays the Cowboys secondary and makes this one close. But QB Dak Prescott will rely on what’s arguably the best WR trio in the league alongside RB Ezekiel Elliott as he leads the Cowboys to last minute victory.
Monday Night Football	This could be tough for the Giants as Pittsburgh has one of the best defenses in the league. But the Giants defense has also improved, and I expect them to slow down RB James Conner and make things difficult for QB Ben Roethlisberger in his return. This could go either way, but I have New York pulling off an upset in overtime.
Monday Night Football	I think the Broncos will shut down QB Ryan Tannehill and make it hard for the Titans offense to put up much. But RB Derrick Henry will just be too much for Denver, allowing the Titans to stay in this game. Denver’s offense will take time to click after all the new additions, but I think RB Melvin Gordon and rookie WR Jerry Jeudy will make a difference as the Broncos narrowly get by here.

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#	Team	Player	Pos	College	Why
1		Trevor Lawrence	QB	Clemson	In my eyes, this one’s a no brainer. Lawrence looks like the best QB prospect we’ve seen since Andrew Luck between his insane accuracy, big arm, and quick release. He is a generational talent who can bring a level of success the Jaguars have never seen before.
2		Zach Wilson	QB	BYU	Now that the Jets dealt Sam Darnold to the Panthers, it’s pretty clear that they want to take the quarterback of their future here. Wilson faced lighter competition than other top QBs at BYU, but has a great skillset and might even have a better arm than Lawrence. It will take time for Wilson to adjust to the NFL but it’s a good investment for the future of this team.
3		Trey Lance	QB	North Dakota State	The rumors here have mostly been about Mac Jones and Justin Fields. However, I think the Niners have their eye on a different QB. Lance dominated the FCS in 2019 before sitting out 2020, and looks to be the best FCS QB since Carson Wentz (also from NDSU). Lance will benefit from some time behind current Niners QB Jimmy Garoppolo but San Fran will have someone to turn to in the case that Jimmy G is hurt again.
4	(TRADE)	Justin Fields	QB	Ohio State	Bill Belichick is not known to be someone who trades up for quarterbacks. However, I think it’s very clear that Belichick is taking a different approach this year as he tries to thrust his team back into contention. He has been known to buy low on players, and Fields, once considered a top 2 QB in the class, has seen his draft stock plummet. I think Newton will be the bridge to the Fields era in Foxborough.
5		Penei Sewell	OL	Oregon	There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding a Joe Burrow reunion with LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase. However, the Bengals would be foolish if they failed to provide Burrow extra protection. The Bengals offensive line put Burrow and RB Joe Mixon at risk. It should take priority over another weapon, as the Bengals already have WRs Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins. In addition, Sewell might be the best o-line prospect since Quenton Nelson.
6		Jaylen Waddle	WR	Alabama	Chase is easily my top receiver in this class. However, I do see a QB-WR reunion happening here as Tua Tagovailoa reunites with Jaylen Waddle. Waddle missed time last year but proved to be talented and well-rounded when healthy. He’ll be a good fit in Miami, where he can develop into their WR1 without drawing too much coverage as a rookie.
7		Ja’Marr Chase	WR	LSU	Chase could make it past the Bengals and Dolphins, but if he falls to 7 I doubt the Lions pass on him. With Kenny Golladay leaving, the Lions need their next alpha wide receiver. Chase is talented enough to fill that role right away. Look at how good fellow LSU alumnus Justin Jefferson was last year. Chase was as good if not better than Jefferson at LSU, and we could see the same in the NFL.
8		Kyle Pitts	TE	Florida	With Greg Olsen gone, the Panthers were lacking at the tight end position last year. Ian Thomas (Olsen’s supposed successor) struggled mightily. Pitts has the potential to be one of the best tight ends ever. He would thrive immediately in Carolina. He reminds me a lot of Raiders breakout star Darren Waller, but could be even better.
9		Mac Jones	QB	Alabama	I don’t think Jones is on par with the other four top QBs in this class. He benefitted a bit from his surroundings. However, it doesn’t seem that Drew Lock is the answer for Denver, and Jones could still be a quality starter in the NFL who’s worthy of a top 10 pick. The Broncos don’t need to trade up for a QB if they can get Jones right here at #9.
10		Patrick Surtain II	CB	Alabama	After seeing nine straight offensive players go off the board, this is the perfect opportunity for the Cowboys to address their defense. I think Surtain is the best defensive player on the board after three strong years as a lockdown corner for Alabama.
11		Kwity Paye	EDGE	Michigan	There’s a lot of different things the Giants could do with this pick, but they’ve been in the market for a pass rusher for years and Paye would fill that need at long last. He may have played in a 4-3 scheme at Michigan, but we’ve already seen recent Michigan pass rusher Chase Winovich thrive in 3-4 setups. I think Paye is capable of the same.
12		Micah Parsons	LB	Penn State	The Eagles have been lacking at wide receiver for years, but I’d argue linebacker is an even bigger need. Parsons was a major playmaker for Penn State’s defense, and I think he’ll stand out on the Eagles defense as well. The Eagles get their star linebacker of the future with this pick and Parsons gets to stay in his home state of Pennsylvania.
13		Rashawn Slater	OL	Northwestern	The Chargers may have signed Corey Linsley but there’s still work to be done with this offensive line. Slater has the versatility to play tackle or guard and could be a very valuable part of this line if the Chargers opt to take him.
14		Christian Darrisaw	OL	Virginia Tech	Darrisaw has shot up draft boards of late, and the Vikings could use just about any o-line help they can get. Darrisaw would be an instant starter for the Vikings, most likely at left tackle.
15	(TRADE)	Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah	LB	Notre Dame	The Falcons could still use more help at linebacker surrounding Deion Jones. It would have been a reach for any linebacker at 4, but taking Owusu-Koromoah at 15 is good value for them. You could even argue he’s better than Parsons. At the very least, he’ll be a solid starting linebacker.
16	(TRADE)	Devonta Smith	WR	Alabama	Arizona’s pressing need is at tight end, and they’d be reaching for a tight end in this spot. With Devonta Smith still on the board, I have Indy trading up to capitalize on the opportunity. Smith may be undersized, but he’s a very talented receiver who’s an excellent route runner. He’ll have the opportunity to become Carson Wentz’s top target.
17		Jaycee Horn	CB	South Carolina	The Raiders have a decent secondary but lack a true leader there. Horn has the potential to shine in this secondary and become the #1 corner for Vegas. With a lot of the top receivers and linebackers off the board, corner is the right move here.
18		Gregory Rousseau	EDGE	Miami	The Dolphins swapped edge rusher Shaq Lawson for Benardrick McKinney to add to the LB corps, but now they need another edge rusher. One of the Miami Hurricanes edge rushers would be a good fit, as they are local prospects and some of the best on the board. I see them taking Rousseau over Jaelan Phillips but they could potentially take either.
19		Zaven Collins	LB	Tulsa	Washington needs two major things from this draft: help at linebacker and a better o-line. Once they have those two things they’ll be one of the most well-rounded teams in football and could make a case for a playoff run. Collins will definitely fit well here.
20		Trevon Moehrig	S	TCU	The Bears need a long term solution at safety alongside Eddie Jackson. Moehrig is really the only safety worth a first round investment and the Bears should be able to land him here.
21	(TRADE)	Pat Freiermuth	TE	Penn State	Freiermuth is still a bit of a reach at 21 but is the best option for Arizona, who desperately needs a tight end. Freiermuth has picked up the nickname “Baby Gronk” and should be a capable pass catcher and blocker in the NFL, even though he’s not on par with Kyle Pitts.
22		Samuel Cosmi	OL	Texas	With Isaiah Wilson leaving after one year, the Titans are still looking for their new right tackle, and it’s one of their most pressing needs. Cosmi fits the bill for what they’re looking for and will likely be the best tackle on the board at this point.
23		Caleb Farley	CB	Virginia Tech	The Jets have had a hole at corner for multiple years, and the departure of Jamal Adams has only made their secondary worse. Farley would be a good start in building this secondary back up to where it needs to be for contention.
24		Travis Etienne	RB	Clemson	I think Najee Harris is the most well rounded back in this draft class, but Etienne is a better fit here in Pittsburgh. He is not a power back but is an elusive and speedy back who is capable of playing all three downs. Early on, I see Benny Snell Jr. having a role here, but Etienne will eventually be able to take over the backfield. I see a lot of D’Andre Swift in Etienne, except mixed in with the speed of someone like Nick Chubb.
25		Rashod Bateman	WR	Minnesota	The Jaguars may have signed Marvin Jones this offseason but could still use another weapon. Bateman adds depth to the Jaguars WR corps and like the three receivers taken before him, he has the potential to emerge as a #1 receiver. Bateman will likely be the last WR remaining from the top tier of this draft class so the Jags should take advantage.
26		Nick Bolton	LB	Missouri	The Browns look to be a fairly complete team and with a good season from QB Baker Mayfield they could be Super Bowl contenders. The only need I really think they have is at linebacker, and that can be taken care of easily with this pick.
27		Wyatt Davis	OL	Ohio State	The Ravens recently lost star interior lineman Marshal Yanda to retirement. Davis has the potential to fill that role in Baltimore for years to come. With the top tier of wide receivers out of the question, addressing the o-line will be a priority here.
28		Christian Barmore	DL	Alabama	After releasing a handful of guys to save cap space, the Saints will need to upgrade the defense, including the defensive line. This is a rather weak d-line class, but Barmore stands out among the rest of the defensive linemen available.
29		Alijah Vera-Tucker	OL	USC	Vera-Tucker has risen up people’s draft boards lately, but I think he fits best in a very specific role where he has the flexibility to play tackle or guard. He’ll be able to do that in Green Bay, especially with Elgton Jenkins starting to see time at center now that Corey Linsley is gone.
30	(TRADE)	Jaelan Phillips	EDGE	Miami	The Rams haven’t had a first round pick in a couple years due to the Jalen Ramsey trade. I think they’ll put a package together to move up if Phillips falls this far. Phillips shined as part of a strong Miami pass rush and could have the chance to stand out in LA’s pass rush.
31	(TRADE)	Najee Harris	RB	Alabama	Running backs like Harris aren’t available every day. The Jets still need to find a starting running back, and I think they’ll be willing to move up a few spots from their early second round selection to secure one. Harris’ raw strength reminds me of Derrick Henry, and unlike Henry he can catch passes too.
32		Creed Humphrey	OL	Oklahoma	The Buccaneers pretty much brought back their entire Super Bowl roster, but some more protection for Tom Brady can’t hurt. They secured a tackle in Tristan Wirfs with their last first rounder. This time around I see them addressing the interior.