Latest news with #33rdTeam
USA Today
20-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
One ridiculous stat perfectly highlights Christian McCaffrey's dominance
A rough 2024 season that featured a pair of injuries has put San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey somewhat in the national rearview entering the 2025 season. However, a stat posted by the 33rd Team helps highlight just how good McCaffrey is when healthy, and provides optimism for the 49ers about their 29-year-old RB as they gear up for training camp. Last season McCaffrey played in only four games because of Achilles tendinitis and a knee injury that ultimately sidelined him for the season. In four games he managed only 348 total yards and no touchdowns. The down year pushed the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year all the way down to No. 73 on the NFL's Top 100 list for 2025. The 33rd Team pointed out that despite a down year in 2024, the larger sample size tells us McCaffrey is still one of the best dual-threat RBs in the sport: This is exactly why the 49ers have and will continue to lean on McCaffrey as long as he's able to suit up for them. His skill set as a runner is good, but it's his receiving prowess that separates him from the rest of the NFL. He's excellent both out of the backfield and when lining up in the slot. The danger he presents defenses forces them to dedicate additional resources to ensuring he's not getting wide open for easy throws and big runs after the catch. That threat gives head coach Kyle Shanahan additional avenues to expose weaknesses in a defense either with McCaffrey or with a player finding space opened because of the RB. It's risky banking on a 29-year-old RB coming off an injury-riddled season. McCaffrey's stats with San Francisco help paint a picture of why the potential reward is worth that risk. More 49ers: 49ers injury designations give disgruntled WR more leverage in contract talks
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jared Verse called 'the best power player' since this 9-time Pro Bowl edge rusher
Los Angeles Rams star edge rusher Jared Verse continues to gain a lot of notoriety after just one NFL season. Granted, that season ended with him being named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, but Verse has already established himself as one of the best young edge rushers in the NFL. Verse's acclaim has garnered new comparisons, too. The 33rd Team's Steve Palazzolo and Sam Monson named Verse one of their top 25 players under 25 heading in 2025 and asked, rhetorically, if he's "the best power player we've seen enter the league since Khalil Mack?" For reference, Mack is a nine-time Pro Bowl and three-time All-Pro edge rusher who won NFL Defensive Player of the Year in his third season in 2016. He's tallied 107.5 career sacks, 185 quarterback hits and 142 tackles for a loss in 167 total games over 11 seasons. Verse has a long way to go to reach Mack numbers, but he's already tallied 18 QB hits, 11 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks in his first NFL season. He also generated ridiculous pressure numbers in 2024, which ranked among the best in the entire NFL. As long as he's healthy and productive, Verse will continue to earn positive accolades from peers and pundits alike. He, alongside his defensive line teammates like Byron Young, Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner, are the young anchors of the developing Rams defensive line. And L.A. hopes this quartet and build on the momentum of the 2024 season and elevate the rest of the defense in 2025.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The 33rd Team names Texans CB Kamari Lassiter a 2025 breakout star in the AFC
Who is the next breakout star for the Houston Texans this fall? According to one anlayst, it's another defensive back. The 33rd Team's Steve Palazzolo recently listed off his breakout star for all 16 AFC rosters entering 2025. While third-round pick Jaylin Noel was considered as an option, the longtime analyst said that second-year defensive back Kamari Lassiter has everything to become a staple in coverage as a No. 1 shutdown defender. Advertisement "As soon as the cornerback gets a reputation, they tend to get avoided. I'm not saying last year that people started realizing that Derek Stingley Jr. was good, but last year was the first time he really started to look like, for consistent periods of time, the No. 3 overall pick," Palazzolo said. "He was outstanding last year. "More teams are going to be afraid of Stingley this year, which means Lassiter is going to get targeted a lot more...I think he'll get a lot of plays on the ball and he'll have a lot of opportunities. He's going to get targeted a lot this year but I like him a lot as a player. If he plays well, having the 1-2 punch of Stingley and Lassiter with that pass rush, does give the defense No. 1 defense type potential." Drafted 42nd overall last season, Lassiter arguably was the best rookie defender in his class. According to The 33rd team, from Week 9 on, the former Georgia standout did not allow more than 50 yards in coverage in a game. He also forced two interceptions, a 50% completion rate and only gave up 21.7 yards per outing. Advertisement In 16 games, Lassiter totaled three interceptions, a safety, 10 pass breakups and only allowed a 54.4% completion rating. He and third-round pick Calen Bullock became staples in coverage, helping Houston win a second straight AFC South division title and wild-card round victory. "It's a big year for Lassiter and if I'm right here and he does break out and he does have a productive season, we're talking about the Texans having one of the league's best defenses." Lassiter, Stingley and the rest of the Texans' defense can prove that when they take the field in Week 1 at SoFi Stadium against the Los Angeles Rams. This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: The 33rd Team names Texans CB Kamari Lassiter AFC 2025 breakout star
USA Today
02-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
The 33rd Team names Texans CB Kamari Lassiter a 2025 breakout star in the AFC
The 33rd Team names Texans CB Kamari Lassiter a 2025 breakout star in the AFC Who is the next breakout star for the Houston Texans this fall? According to one anlayst, it's another defensive back. The 33rd Team's Steve Palazzolo recently listed off his breakout star for all 16 AFC rosters entering 2025. While third-round pick Jaylin Noel was considered as an option, the longtime analyst said that second-year defensive back Kamari Lassiter has everything to become a staple in coverage as a No. 1 shutdown defender. "As soon as the cornerback gets a reputation, they tend to get avoided. I'm not saying last year that people started realizing that Derek Stingley Jr. was good, but last year was the first time he really started to look like, for consistent periods of time, the No. 3 overall pick," Palazzolo said. "He was outstanding last year. "More teams are going to be afraid of Stingley this year, which means Lassiter is going to get targeted a lot more...I think he'll get a lot of plays on the ball and he'll have a lot of opportunities. He's going to get targeted a lot this year but I like him a lot as a player. If he plays well, having the 1-2 punch of Stingley and Lassiter with that pass rush, does give the defense No. 1 defense type potential." Drafted 42nd overall last season, Lassiter arguably was the best rookie defender in his class. According to The 33rd team, from Week 9 on, the former Georgia standout did not allow more than 50 yards in coverage in a game. He also forced two interceptions, a 50% completion rate and only gave up 21.7 yards per outing. In 16 games, Lassiter totaled three interceptions, a safety, 10 pass breakups and only allowed a 54.4% completion rating. He and third-round pick Calen Bullock became staples in coverage, helping Houston win a second straight AFC South division title and wild-card round victory. "It's a big year for Lassiter and if I'm right here and he does break out and he does have a productive season, we're talking about the Texans having one of the league's best defenses." Lassiter, Stingley and the rest of the Texans' defense can prove that when they take the field in Week 1 at SoFi Stadium against the Los Angeles Rams.
USA Today
04-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Travis Hunter NFL mock draft roundup: Giants, Patriots in play for Colorado star
Travis Hunter NFL mock draft roundup: Giants, Patriots in play for Colorado star Show Caption Hide Caption Warren Sapp explains what makes Travis Hunter such a special player Warren Sapp sits down with Lorenzo Reyes at Radio Row to share why Travis Hunter is such a special player. Travis Hunter earned the Heisman Trophy for his performance in the 2024 college football season. The two-way star led the Big 12 in receptions and receiving touchdowns as a wide receiver on offense and was a standout cornerback for the Colorado defense. Hunter is an anomaly in modern football. No player has been as prolific on both sides of the ball as Hunter in the last 25 years. He has a very good case to be the best player, regardless of position, in the 2025 NFL draft. That makes him an intriguing prospect for teams picking high in the first round. Teams could take him and start him as a rookie full-time on defense, where the transition from college to the professional level isn't quite as tough. Or teams could take advantage of his talents at wide receiver to help jump-start their offense's passing game. They could do a bit of both as well. Hunter is a valuable player and one of the only prospects in the draft class with All-Pro potential. His size, length, athleticism, playmaking and football IQ give him a high floor at the NFL level. Though he is expected to go early in the 2025 draft, his exact destination is still unknown. Here are the latest predictions from experts at USA TODAY, 33rd Team, Pro Football Focus, CBS Sports and The Athletic. Travis Hunter mock draft roundup Davis writes: "With the draft's top quarterbacks gone in this scenario – and the Wilson insurance policy already purchased – the G-Men are in position to snatch the man who is arguably the best college player entering the league this year. It's a matter of debate what the best professional position is for Hunter, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner and an equally accomplished offensive weapon and defender. Bad as the Giants were in 2024, they enter 2025 with a solid group of receivers (including Malik Nabers at the top of the depth chart) and corners (including recently signed Paulson Adebo at the top of the depth chart). That means a golden opportunity to take an elite player like Hunter and allowing him to play both positions in the NFL – as he desires to do – without demanding he cover top receivers, be the team's primary target or play an inordinate numbers of snaps as he settles into whatever his role develops into." James Foster, 33rd Team: No. 3 overall to the New York Giants Foster explains: "Quarterback desperation might win out in the end, but I would have a hard time taking Shedeur Sanders over a blue-chip player like Travis Hunter. We've never seen a prospect like Hunter – he's the best receiver and cornerback in this class, and he'd most likely win the Giants more games next year than anyone else who's available. Pairing his skill set with Malik Nabers would give New York one of the most dynamic receiver duos in the NFL. He could also replace Deonte Banks if he continues to struggle." John Kosko, Pro Football Focus: No. 3 overall to the New York Giants Kosko says: "It's uncertain whether the fans view Hunter as a cornerback or a wide receiver, but the top player on PFF's big board is what the Giants fans want. Pairing him with Malik Nabers would create a fun tandem. And if New York views him as a cornerback, spending this pick on a premium position where the team lacks star power isn't the worst idea, either." Trapasso writes: "Even without a long-term quarterback solution on the roster, the Browns opt for the prospect many believe is the best football player in this class in Hunter." Feldman explains: "Hunter is the best pure athlete in this draft. He is a rare talent, an elite cornerback who doubles as a dynamic wideout with a gas tank like college football has never seen. Other special DBs like Charles Woodson and Champ Bailey have dabbled on offense. None have played as many snaps as Hunter or made as many big plays on that side of the ball and excelled deep into games after remarkably high snap counts. The 6-0, 188-pound Hunter won the Heisman Trophy as the nation's top player, the Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver and the Bednarik Award as the top defensive player. He can help second-year QB Drake Maye immediately, even if cornerback is his primary position." 2025 NFL draft order The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
