Latest news with #PFSN
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Falcons undrafted free agent listed as Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate
Undrafted wide receiver Nick Nash listed as Falcons' Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate for 2025 NFL season The Atlanta Falcons went into the 2025 NFL draft with a clear goal to upgrade their defense. Four of the team's five draft picks were used on defensive players, including both first-round selections. Next season, the Falcons could have as many as three rookies starters on defense. Offensively, the team returns 10 of 11 starters from last season. Center Drew Dalman signed with the Chicago Bears in free agency, leaving the job to former undrafted free agent Ryan Neuzil. The Falcons offense has top-10 upside, and while there aren't many new faces, the team did add some intriguing undrafted free agents. Pro Football Sports Network listed one potential Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate for each team. Since the Falcons only selected one offensive player in the 2025 NFL draft, the options were limited. Offensive tackle Jack Nelson was a seventh-round pick with little chance to play this season. Instead of just going with Nelson, PFSN looked to Atlanta's undrafted free agent class for a better solution. Wide receiver Nick Nash was listed as the team's Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate. Falcons WR Nick Nash named OROY candidate by PFSN Nick Nash joins the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent. Nevertheless, his college production and athletic traits could have an instant impact on the passing offense in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Nash led all college football receivers in receiving yards and touchdowns with the San Jose State Spartans in 2024, accumulating 1,382 yards and 16 touchdowns, transitioning to the position full-time. A former quarterback recruit, Nash has the instincts and natural game feel to impact the field in multiple situations. He could even be used in specialized situations as a passer or rusher. -- Owain Jones, PFSN Nash might be a project, but the former quarterback-turned-wide receiver has a ton of potential. Lance Zierlein projected Nash as a fifth-round prospect ahead of the 2025 NFL draft. The former San Jose State wideout has good size (6-foot-2, 203 pounds), speed (4.57 seconds in 40-yard dash) and ball skills (16 touchdowns last season). "Nash's competitiveness, ball skills and football character give him a chance to become a productive three-level slot receiver in the pros," Zierlein wrote in Nash's scouting report. The fact that Nash went undrafted was a bit of a surprise, but he has a real chance to make the team. In our most recent Falcons 53-man roster projection, Nash snuck in as our final wide receiver. Keep your eyes on the rookie wideout once training camp begins in July.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stephen Curry could play 'well into his 40s,' according to his father Dell
Stephen Curry is widely considered the greatest shooter in NBA history. The Golden State Warriors superstar is also the CEO of business collective Thirty Ink. And he's discussed an array of other potential career opportunities after his playing days come to an end, such as broadcasting, team ownership and even playing on the PGA Tour Champions. But, even at 37, Curry is still highly productive on the hardwood. The Warriors currently have him under team control until 2027, and he could play "well into his 40s," his father Dell said in a recent interview with PFSN. Advertisement 'I think it'll be his decision when to walk away," Dell said, via PFSN. "A lot of guys play until the teams or the league tell you, 'We can't use your services anymore.' "I think he could be well into his 40s because he can shoot the ball and requires that you have to guard him. That'll create space for other players on the floor, so I think that decision will be totally up to him." Dell played 16 NBA seasons, including 10 with the Charlotte Hornets, whom he now works for as a color commentator. Dell was a standout 3-point shooter himself, netting 1,245 long-range field goals at a career 40.2% clip from 1986-2002. Advertisement 'For me, it was when I couldn't put the effort in during the offseason to prepare myself for that next year," Dell told PFSN, reflecting on when he knew it was time for him to retire. "I think that'll be the case with [Steph] as well. You cannot drop the ball in the offseason and think you're going to pick it up in September and October and have a full year of grinding it out in an NBA season and give the fans and your teammates what they expect from you. I think that'll be the calling card — when he can't work out and prepare himself for the next season." Luckily for Warriors fans, Dell doesn't see that happening for a while. Although Steph's 2024-25 season ended with a frustrating hamstring injury, which he suffered in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, he was a big part of the Warriors knocking out the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs. Advertisement Before that, Steph averaged 24.5 points and six assists per game in the regular season while shooting 44.8% from the field and 39.7% from 3. 'He still has those competitive juices," Dell told PFSN. "Those are far from leaving him. He has the game, the will, so it's up to him." In the interview with PFSN, Dell said that he believes Steph has "several years left" to play in the NBA. Steph is a four-time NBA champion. He co-authored the Warriors dynasty in the mid-to-late 2010s and then seized his first-ever NBA Finals MVP award in 2022 during another title run. He's the league's all-time leading 3-point shooter. The 11-time NBA All-Star has limitless range and a quick trigger from deep that's influenced a shift in play style at all levels of the sport. Advertisement Steph was instrumental in Team USA winning the gold medal in last summer's Olympics. His list of career accomplishments are as long as a CVS receipt. He's not stopping yet, according to his father. 'He does not take the game or his career for granted," Dell said, via PFSN. "He wants to get better every year. He's already in the gym — he's been in the gym as soon as he was healthy enough this summer. "[He still wants] to get better. To be playing at the level that he is at 37 years old and having the mindset that he knows he could still win another title, that's all [he wants]."
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Analytics site puts Brock Purdy shockingly high on list of top QBs of the 21st century
The discourse about Brock Purdy's place in the hierarchy of NFL signal callers may never end. Questions about his skill set and his real impact on the San Francisco 49ers' offense certainly aren't going away after he signed a five-year, $265 million contract extension this offseason that cemented Purdy as the team's franchise signal caller. To hear Pro Football and Sports Network tell it, the discourse should cease and the 49ers got a bargain with Purdy's contract. PFSN released a list of their 25 highest-graded quarterbacks of the 21st century. Their grades are done using their proprietary PFSN QB+ metric, which "digs deeper—grading quarterbacks on performance under pressure, third-down efficiency, pocket presence, and yes, clutch. It's a clearer, more comprehensive way to measure QB play since 2000." The 21st century covers 25 seasons of NFL football. Hall of Famer Peyton Manning unsurprisingly tops the list, followed by future Hall of Famer Patrick Mahomes. Those are the only two QBs ahead of Purdy, who checks in at No. 3 ahead of Drew Brees, Josh Allen and Tom Brady. Via PFSN: Brock Purdy landing at No. 3 may be a surprise, but the San Francisco 49ers' 2022 Mr. Irrelevant has outperformed every expectation. While his three-year sample size is smaller than most on this list, Purdy's early returns are impossible to ignore. He's started 36 games, thrown for 9,518 yards, 64 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions. In 2023, his first full season as San Francisco's starter, Purdy led the NFL in net yards per attempt (8.74), yards per completion (13.9), passer rating (113.0), and touchdown rate (7.0%). Despite a 23-13 regular-season record and 4-2 playoff mark, some still label Purdy a 'game manager' due to Kyle Shanahan's scheme and the supporting cast. But the metrics say otherwise. Purdy's +0.21 EPA per dropback ties Mahomes for second all time, trailing only Manning. He leads the league in net yards per attempt (8.4) and has a +0.43 EPA/DB from a clean pocket. He's also efficient as a runner, posting a +0.57 EPA per designed run across 35 such plays. Purdy is not yet a consensus top-tier quarterback, but his start suggests his ceiling is far higher than many thought. This is pretty wild! It's not that any of their analysis is incorrect or that Purdy hasn't had a substantial impact on San Francisco's offense. He's been very good for the most part and the 49ers' loaded offense reached a new level once he took over under center. However, placing him ahead of Brees (a Hall of Famer), Allen (the reigning MVP) and Brady (the greatest QB of all-time) is premature. Purdy struggled some last season as the 49ers dealt with injuries to key playmakers on offense. Their defense also took a step backward and forced San Francisco to play from behind where Purdy hasn't been particularly good in his career. He'll need to improve in both of those areas. It's not crazy that Purdy is on the list, though. Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo, Lamar Jackson and Daunte Culpepper round out PFSN's top 10. Players like Jimmy Garoppolo, Rich Gannon, Jeff Garcia, Trent Green and Tua Tagovailoa are also in the top 25. Purdy has firmly established himself as the type of QB who belongs in that group. He has a ways to go before he reaches the Manning/Mahomes level of elite.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
49ers connected to familiar face in trade idea to bolster receiving corps
A slow offseason has suddenly gotten busy for the San Francisco 49ers. Now Pro Football and Sports Network has another idea to help the 49ers improve a weakness on their roster. The 49ers needed to add help at defensive end, so they sent a conditional fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for DE Bryce Huff. PFSN suggested another low-level trade that would bolster San Francisco's depth at wide receiver − a position with sizable question marks across the roster. Advertisement After an offseason of passing on big-name additions, the 49ers turn to a familiar face in PFSN's trade idea. They believe trading for New England Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne would give the 49ers the quality depth their roster lacks. Via PFSN: Bourne's future with the Patriots is somewhat uncertain, especially since the new coaching staff has no attachment to him. Since posting 55 catches and 800 yards in 2021, he hasn't surpassed 500 receiving yards in a season, and a torn ACL in October 2023 has impacted his availability the past two years. With Bourne turning 30 in August and the Patriots already bringing in Diggs and Mack Hollins as veteran presences, his role in New England looks shaky. Bourne is set to earn around $6.5 million this season and is under contract through 2026, though none of the remaining money is guaranteed. Teams reportedly showed interest around the trade deadline a season ago, but nothing ever materialized. Given his limited role and the lack of clarity around his fit within New England's rebuild, it wouldn't be shocking to see him moved. This is the type of move that would help round out a roster that was too top heavy a season ago. A fully healthy version of the 49ers would be in an okay place at receiver. Ricky Pearsall dealt with multiple injuries during camp last year and is now working through a hamstring injury he sustained in OTAs. Brandon Aiyuk's status for the regular season is up in the air as he makes his way back from a torn ACL in Week 7 last year. Demarcus Robinson, a free agent signee, may be facing a three-game suspension. Second-year fourth-round pick Jacob Cowing struggled as a rookie, and rookie Jordan Watkins is still unproven. Advertisement There are a handful of other veterans on the roster, but adding Bourne would make a ton of sense for a group with so many question marks. The 29-year-old posted only 28 catches for 305 yards and one touchdown last season while returning from his torn ACL. However, in 2023 before his injury he was up to 37 catches, 406 yards and four touchdowns in only eight games. San Francisco would love to have Bourne as an option who is familiar with their offense, and for Bourne it would give him an opportunity to regain his footing in his second season after a knee injury. A couple of strong years for the 49ers could earn Bourne another decent NFL contract. Bourne spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the 49ers. He led 49ers receivers with 487 receiving yards in 2018, and posted 1,769 yards with 11 touchdowns on 137 receptions across 58 games in San Francisco. More 49ers: Contract details for every 49ers undrafted rookie in 2025 This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL trades: 49ers, Kendrick Bourne connected in trade suggestion
USA Today
22-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Lions fans are selecting James Pearce at No. 28 in simulations more than any other player
Lions fans are selecting James Pearce at No. 28 in simulations more than any other player Despite Pearce being widely regarded as a poor cultural fit for Detroit, Lions fans continue to make him the top 1st-round selection in PFSN simulator Most of the recent media mock drafts have sent an EDGE in some fashion to the Detroit Lions at No. 28. The thought makes sense as the Lions are looking for more depth and more pieces to a rotation behind Aidan Hutchinson. Fans are making the same connection. According to data from the Mock Draft Simulator from Pro Football and Sports Network, over 47 percent of users from April 15-21 have selected an edge rusher for the Lions in the first round. The next-closest position was offensive guard at 16.7%, followed by defensive tackle at 14.5%. Safety and linebacker rounded out the top five. As far as individual players go, the data provides a bit of a surprise. The most-popular player pick from users identifying as Lions drafters last week was Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr., at 17.9%. That's an interesting choice because the prevailing thought seems to be Pearce wouldn't be a fit in Detroit based on his character. Pearce may fall out of the first round altogether. Overall, three of the top five popular picks are on the edge. 15% of users have taken Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton and 7.3% went with Donovan Ezeiruaku of Boston College. Also among the top five were North Dakota State guard Grey Zabel (10.9%) and Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen (5.6%). From PFSN and their simulator results: Ezeiruaku has been a name that's seemingly popped up very often across media mock drafts. He was second in the nation with 16.5 sacks, behind only Mike Green of Marshall, who may go in the first 15 picks. For the most part, users are on the same page in terms of positions and players as the media. But Pearce being the most-picked player is an interesting takeaway.
