Latest news with #CodyBenjamin
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
High-Priced Buccaneers Cornerback Could be Trade Bait Ahead of 2025
High-Priced Buccaneers Cornerback Could be Trade Bait Ahead of 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Just a day after we wrote about Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean possibly being a cut candidate for the team, he's being named in a suggested trade. Advertisement The reason for him being a potential cut candidate isn't because of declining skills, but two other reasons. He's entering Year 3 of a four-year, $52 million deal and carries a massive $15 million cap hit next year. The Bucs also invested heavily on two corners in Round 2 and Round 3 of the draft this season. It's because all of those factors that he could be either a cut candidate or, even better, on the trade block. CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin thinks the Las Vegas Raiders would be interested in acquiring Dean in a trade. 'Dean's six-year run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers includes a Super Bowl title and big-money extension, but the veteran has been frequently mentioned as a potential cut or trade candidate due to a $15 million 2025 cap hit, almost all of which the Bucs could clear from their books by dealing Dean elsewhere. Even if Dean is more serviceable than special at a lofty price,' Benjamin said. 'The Bucs are trying to defend their NFC South crown, and jettisoning such an experienced corner would put immediate pressure on rookie corners like Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish to have a playoff-caliber impact.' Advertisement Dean is also scheduled for a $15.7 million cap hit in 2026. That's a lot of money for a guy who might be relegated to a backup role at some point. It's a big decision for general manager Jason Licht, and could be dictated by the performance of some of this year's rookie class. Related: Analyst Names Buccaneers Third-Round Pick as Potential Cut Candidate Related: Buccaneers' Pass Catcher Predicted 'League-Winning WR' in Fantasy Football This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
21-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL QB rankings: Arizona Cardinals face 7 borderline stars or better in 2025
The Cardinals will face 14 different starting quarterbacks in 2025. See where they rank. As we have reached the point of the offseason where content is mostly reduced to lists and rankings, we have some quarterback rankings/tiers from CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin. We have looked at Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray and the tiers where he and fellow NFC West quarterbacks fall, but now we want to look at the Cardinals' opponents. These are the tiers: The Cardinals face a healthy dose of the lowest tiers. Let's have a look. Tier 6 opponent QBs for Cardinals Seven quarterbacks total are in this tier. The Cardinals face four of them. Tier 5: Prized projects Ward is the one rookie quarterback with real promise. The Cardinals will face him early in the season. Tier 4: Volatile veterans Kyler Murray falls into this tier, too. Tier 2: Borderline stars The Cardinals will not face any of the four rising stars in Bo Nix, Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy and Caleb Williams, so we move to the very good group. Tier 1: Transcendent talents Six quarterbacks make this list. The Cardinals only have to face one: Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Josh Allen's Buffalo Bills Predicted To Fail in NFL Playoffs In Shocking Way
Josh Allen's Buffalo Bills Predicted To Fail in NFL Playoffs In Shocking Way originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Buffalo Bills are one of the teams expected to be genuine contenders for the Super Bowl in 2025. Advertisement With the defending MVP, an offense that was one of the best in football last season, and what "should" be an improved defense, the Bills, on paper, appear to be ready to roll. However, as we know, the Bills are a regular-season juggernaut, but when it comes to the playoffs, and the Kansas City Chiefs, things don't end well, with the franchise seeing their season end the last four times they've met Patrick Mahomes. And for Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports, in what he calls a worst-case scenario, Buffalo doesn't even make it that far in 2025. "The absence of a bona fide No. 1 wide receiver plagues Allen as he tries to carry Buffalo's offense, and Sean McDermott's shuffled secondary can't hold up as the Bills go one-and-done for the first time since 2019," Benjamin writes. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17).© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Will the lack of a No. 1 weapon plague Allen? It didn't last year with the Bills offense averaging 30.9 points per game. But there is merit to suggest that Joshua Palmer, Elijah Moore, and Laviska Shenault Jr. aren't the players who can take the offense forward. Advertisement And defensively, the Bills got after it in free agency and with the first five picks in the draft, so on paper, they "should" be better. But there is no guarantee of the progression that Sean McDermott hopes for. It would be a shocking travesty if things completely fell apart for the Bills, given the talent they have on their roster. However, the NFL is an unforgiving beast, and it has swallowed teams whole at the worst possible time. And if that happens to Buffalo, that is proper nightmare fuel, my friends. Related: Bills Thrilled As Disgruntled James Cook Sends Message Related: Bills Reveal Joey Bosa Injury Update This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bengals Must Stop 'Distracting' From Contending
Bengals Must Stop 'Distracting' From Contending originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Cincinnati Bengals are making themselves look silly right now. No, not the players or coaches. Ownership. In a summer that should bring excitement for the fanbase, we're instead talking and writing about contract disputes and holdouts. Advertisement Why? Money. And it's a bad look for the franchise, and ultimately, the league. CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin hit the nail on the head when he wrote, "It's money. It always is in Cincinnati." "The grass is green. The sun is bright. What else marks summer in the NFL? Oh, that's right, the Cincinnati Bengals refusing to spend money," Benjamin wrote. "Now we're talking. Mandatory minicamps are wrapping up around the league, and the headlining discussion about the Bengals isn't Joe Burrow coming off an NFL-leading 43-touchdown season. It's not Ja'Marr Chase coming off an NFL-leading 1,708-yard receiving season. Or Al Golden taking over the defense. Or Cincinnati's chances of outlasting the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs in the hunt for AFC glory. "It's money. It always is in Cincinnati. And not for the right reasons." Advertisement It seems like the Bengals go halfway and then stop short of the ultimate roster goal. They paid two stars and kept Joe Burrow happy. But on the other side of the ball, they're making up for it by being overly frugal. And Benjamin thinks it's taking away from what should be a summer to celebrate accomplishments. "This should've been the offseason of celebration for Bengals brass. After all, the front office finally paid Chase and Tee Higgins, investing in Burrow's top playmakers with not only words but actions. This was the Bengals' big pivot, from reluctant spenders to willing championship hunters! Except, months later, we're right back to square one with a notoriously -- dare we say dangerously -- frugal organization." Related: Bengals Get Brutal OTAs Grade For One Major Reason Related: Bengals 2025 Training Camp Dates Announced This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steelers Listed As Trade Candidate for Former Rodgers Teammate
Steelers Listed As Trade Candidate for Former Rodgers Teammate originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed up for the Aaron Rodgers experience. Deep in the terms and conditions, they'll find that they've agreed to be linked to just about every Green Bay Packers veteran who has shared the field with Rodgers. Advertisement When the Canton-bound quarterback was traded to the New York Jets, a handful of Packers either followed him or welcomed him as part of his recruitment. The Steelers won't be nearly as aggressive. Rodgers is playing a cameo, rather than the role of savior. His signing came later in the offseason, the roster is more talented, and Rodgers has less leverage than he did in East Rutherford. Even so, Pittsburgh has remained in the spotlight. For late-offseason rumors, that means being attached to Packers like receiver Christian Watson. 'Watson may well be the most gifted player in the Packers' wide receiver room, but there's a reason Green Bay spent two early draft picks at the position this April; the 26-year-old veteran has missed multiple games due to injury in each of his first three NFL seasons, giving the Pack a true boom-or-bust experience on the perimeter,' Cody Benjamin wrote for CBS Sports. 'With both Matthew Golden and Savion Williams in line for significant roles as rookies, might the Packers be willing to sell Watson as he recovers from an ACL tear? Rodgers might have to wait until later in 2025 to reunite with the speedster as a result, but the potential for late-season fireworks might make the gamble worthwhile.' Advertisement However, there are several reasons why Pittsburgh isn't a fit for Watson, despite the familiarity of the 2022 season. For one, Watson is still recovering from his late-season ACL tear. That puts him on track to return at some point during the year, playing a minor role late in the season. With his medicals in question, it's hard to imagine the Steelers trading anything more than a conditional Day 3 pick for his services. Green Bay isn't incentivized to accept that, given its own title hopes and his rapport with quarterback Jordan Love. If he's making splash plays in January, the Packers would rather see it in green and yellow than receive a late-round selection. Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur spoke about Watson's recovery on Thursday, regarding an earlier return than anticipated. Advertisement "Probably not, to be honest," LaFleur admitted. "The guys that are available, that's who you coach and that's kind of where you focus," he added. "It is exciting to see how far along he is, he's been doing a great job, he attacks it the right way. Our trainers have done an outstanding job with him. I think he's in the best spot possible considering the circumstance." Further, the Steelers already have a vertical threat on the boundary who wins with size and speed. His name is DK Metcalf. Watson's underdeveloped intermediate game doesn't mesh well with starting as the Z for Pittsburgh. With the medical baggage in his profile and the Steelers' commitment to 2026 capital, they shouldn't be expected to trade for Watson. Related: Early Reviews Are in on Steelers' New Connection Related: How Much Are the Steelers Paying Aaron Rodgers? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
