Latest news with #ProBowls
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jason Kelce compares Chiefs rookie Josh Simmons to Trent Williams
The Kansas City Chiefs spent their first-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft on Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons in the hopes of shoring up the left side of their offensive line. Jason Kelce acknowledged he is a big fan of the pick during a discussion with his brother, Travis, and Chiefs guard Trey Smith in a recent episode of the "New Heights" podcast. The elder Kelce brother referred to Simmons' tape from his lone season at Ohio State as "absurd" and had a lofty comparison for the 22-year-old rookie. "I've watched a lot of these linemen coming out the last few years," Kelce said. "This kid, I mean, he is the closest thing I've seen to like a Trent Williams – like that next level strength and athleticism. The only reason he fell to you guys is because of that (patellar tendon) injury." Williams has long been one of the NFL's top offensive tackles. The 37-year-old was the fourth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and has made 11 Pro Bowls and earned three All-Pro first team nods during his 14-year career. Williams graded as Pro Football Focus' 7th-best tackle among 81 qualified players at the position in 2024, ending a run of four consecutive seasons as a top-two tackle. With that comparison in mind, Kelce is excited to see if Simmons can win Kansas City's left tackle job, which the former Philadelphia Eagles center classified as "a revolving door" in 2024. The rookie's main competition for the job will be Jaylon Moore, who signed a two-year, $30 million deal with the Chiefs in free agency. OPINION: Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa faces massive pressure in 2025 The younger Kelce and Smith are also excited about Simmons' potential. Smith – who made his first Pro Bowl in 2024 in his fourth year as a starting guard for the Chiefs – hasn't seen Simmons in action yet but has heard the 6-5, 310-pounder is "unbelievably strong." Kelce came away with a similar takeaway after going head-to-head with Simmons when the rookie took some scout-team reps at defensive end. "I felt that man's hands grab me, and I was like, 'All right, I gotta come with it,'" Kelce said, laughing. "Even when he's just giving the looks, I gotta make sure I got my feet planted."
USA Today
9 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
71 days till the Arizona Cardinals' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No. 71?
With 71 days till the Cardinals open the season against the Saints, we look at the players who have worn No. 71. We are counting down to the start of the 2025 regular season for the Arizona Cardinals and are now less than 11 weeks away. They will open the season on the road against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 7. That is 71 days away. As we count down the remaining days of the offseason, let's look at who has worn that number uniform over the years for the Cardinals. Who has worn No. 71? Cardinals players to wear No. 71 No. 71 belongs to veteran guard Royce Newman, signed this offseason. Bostic and Reynolds were the Cardinals' best at that number. Reynolds made four Pro Bowls. Both were starters on the offensive line for a decade. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFC West safety rankings: Where do the Rams line up?
Safety is perhaps the last line of defense for any team. This unit needs to be good at coverage as well as tackling in the open field. Some are even good at sacking the quarterback. Like the rest of their secondary, the Los Angeles Rams aren't among the heaviest hitters in the safety department. Kamren Kinchens proved to be a great starter for L.A., but Kamren Curl leaves elements to be desired. This group pales in comparison to some of the more veteran-laden and explosive groups in the NFC West. Here are our rankings for the top safety units in the division. 4. San Francisco 49ers Mustapha and Brown are very young starters with a combined three years of experience between them. They were good enough to keep their roles in 2025, but still need developing. 3. Los Angeles Rams Kinchens was a stud for the Rams in 2024 with four interceptions. Curl is a solid secondary player, too, though he lacks the ball-hawking and tackling skills of a premier safety. 2. Seattle Seahawks Bryant and Love combined for six interceptions, 18 defended passes, three forced fumbles and almost 200 combined tackles. 1. Arizona Cardinals Baker is the star of this group with six consecutive Pro Bowls to his name and a career-best 164 combined tackles in 2024. Thompson is a quality starter as well.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Cowboys' Jason Witten named to this top-5 list alongside Kelce, Kittle, Gronkowski
If NFL teams were loaned a crystal ball for draft weekend, and that crystal ball told them the prospect they were eying with their third-round pick was guaranteed to make a Pro Bowl at some point in their career, the card couldn't be turned in fast enough. But what if that crystal ball said that third-round pick would make a staggering 11 Pro Bowls? And also set franchise records for career catches, career receiving yards, and games played, land in the league's top five for all-time receptions, be a surefire Hall of Famer, and an eventual Ring of Honor member? Talk about return on investment. Jason Witten was chosen by Eric Edholm as one of the top-five draft values for his position over the last quarter-century, and it's impossible to argue otherwise. Chosen 69th overall out of Tennessee, Witten was the fifth tight end selected in 2003. (No sign on this list of Bennie Joppru or Teyo Johnson, both taken a round earlier that year.) And Witten made an immediate impact in Dallas, missing just one game as a rookie, and that was because of a broken jaw. It would, famously, be the only game he would ever miss due to injury over his 17 NFL seasons. Consistency was Witten's trademark. He rarely put up huge numbers, though he did turn in four 1,000-yard campaigns. His 2021 season was unusually prolific: he set a new mark for tight ends with 110 catches, including one game in which he hauled 18 passes- still an NFL tight end record- and he even collected the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. As Edholm notes, "Witten's brief retirement, a tough lone season with the Raiders, and a failed stint as a Monday Night Football broadcaster might have sullied his reputation unfairly in recent years." But, he concludes, "when you combine his receiving ability, blocking prowess, leadership, and unquestioned toughness, he stacks up as one of the finest ever to play his position." Witten is ranked the fourth-best tight end value on the list, just ahead of Jimmy Graham. Ahead of Witten are George Kittle, Rob Gronkowski, and Travis Kelce- every one of whom was drafted outside the first round. Edholm also did rankings for the rest of the offensive positions, but no other Cowboys were chosen. With a high draft slot bringing added expectations, it's not surprising that first-round superstar linemen like Zack Martin and Tyron Smith missed the cut in the value conversation. But even fourth-rounder Dak Prescott was left off the quarterbacks' list in favor of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson, and Brock Purdy. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
USA Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
We hit 72 in our Raiders countdown to kickoff. Who wore it best and who's wearing it now
We've reached 72 days until the Raiders season opener at Foxboro against the Patriots, With our countdown at 72 days we take a look at who currently dons the number in Silver & Black and who has brought it the most distinction. No. 72 Who's wearing it now: T Gottlieb Ayedze Ayedze is a first-year player out of Maryland. He was originally signed by the Philadelphia Eagles last year as an undrafted free agent. He didn't make the roster out of camp and the Raiders signed him to the practice squad. They brought him back on a reserve future contract following the season. Who wore it best: TIE C Don Mosebar, RT Lincoln Kennedy I have looked at this as many ways as I can and keep coming back to the same conclusion. I simply can't choose one over the other. Both were great players at their respective positions for a long time and both deserve recognition. Mosebar spent his entire 12-year career in Silver & Black, becoming the third great center in franchise history after Jim Otto and Dave Dalby. He got his ring as a rookie sitting behind Dalby and then took the baton and locked down the center position for a decade, making three Pro Bowls along the way. Kennedy came to the Raiders after the Falcons had given up on the former ninth overall pick. He immediately became the Raiders' starting right tackle and never let go. For the next eight years, he was there. This included the entirety of the franchise's last successful era of the early 2000s in which he went to the Pro Bowl three straight times, was an All Pro first teamer once and the All Pro second team once as well. Honorable Mention: DE John Matuszak When Tooz is third in line, you know the 72 is quite the legendary number for the Raiders. The Tooz spent six seasons with the Raiders, helping the team win their first two Super Bowls. He also had quite a successful acting career including the iconic role of Sloth in Goonies.
