Latest news with #defensiveend
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chiefs scouting report: Iowa Hawkeyes DE Max Llewellyn
The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the best collections of power rushers in the NFL. It's time for the team to diversify some of the body types in its defensive end room. Several 2026 NFL draft prospects, including Texas Tech's David Bailey, Iowa's Max Llewellyn and Oklahoma's R Mason Thomas, offer the explosiveness to electrify Kansas City's pass rush. Llewellyn is a quick pass rusher with the immediate burst to stress offensive tackles vertically. Many offensive linemen break out of their usual pass set form and chase or overextend to match Llewellyn's speed. This leaves the linemen off balance and vulnerable to counters or line games. Llewellyn sets offensive tackles up with his speed rush early in games before attacking the B-gap later on. He's a fluid athlete who counters inside without sacrificing any momentum. While he sometimes attacks the B-gap with a speed rush off the line, he also works across the offensive tackle's face mid-play when he feels his outside rush won't get home. Llewellyn's pass rush plan includes chops, club-swims, long-arms, rips, swipe-rips, two-handed swipes and one of the best spin moves in the class. Llewellyn has mastered every element of the spin. He sets up offensive linemen for his best move with long strides that force them to overset, creating room in the B-gap for an inside spin. He also uses head fakes and some hip movement to manipulate the offensive tackle's leverage. It might sound like Llewellyn's pass rush plan is complete, but it's still a developmental part of his game. He relies too much on his spin move. He posts several wins per game with the spin, but offensive linemen eventually adjust and counter its effectiveness. Once this happens, Llewellyn doesn't have other polished, NFL-caliber moves that he feels comfortable deploying. Llewellyn currently projects as a late top 100 selection but could elevate into the second round if he refines his pass rush plan and unlocks his bend more often. He shows flashes of playing low to flatten his rush angle and beat the offensive tackle around their outside shoulder. However, his high pad level makes it difficult for him to bend around the corner consistently. Llewellyn's value in run defense is questionable, at best. He shows good effort but lacks the mass to anchor at the point of attack. Iowa doesn't play him in goal line situations because he lacks the play strength to consistently stack blocks and pinch run lanes. These concerns make Llewellyn a candidate to serve as a designated pass rusher early in his career. This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: 2026 NFL draft scouting report: Iowa Hawkeyes DE Max Llewellyn
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Here's what Bengals DE Shemar Stewart's college coach said about possible Texas A&M return
Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, defensive end Shemar Stewart, is getting ready for the NFL season, and his college coach confirmed he's not seeking a return to the Texas A&M Aggies despite a contract dispute with the Bengals. "There's no intentions of Shemar to play for the Aggies this year," Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko told ESPN. "But Shemar has been around. He's very comfortable in our program. Really likes what we do training-wise. He's been training, getting ready for his season this year with the Bengals. We wish him the best." The Enquirer's Kelsey Conway confirmed through a source close to Stewart that while the 17th overall pick is in fact working out at Texas A&M's facilities, he's not working out with the team. His workouts are individual and he's preparing for the upcoming NFL season. A report from 247Sports' Bud Elliott sparked debate over Stewart's contract situation with the Bengals. Elliott reported Stewart has been 'fully involved' in Texas A&M's workouts this summer and that he could return to the Aggies next season. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bengals Shemar Stewart: Texas A&M coach Mike Elko says DE won't return
Fox News
21-07-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Chiefs, Defensive End George Karlaftis Agree to 4-Year, $93 Million Contract
The Kansas City Chiefs and defensive end George Karlaftis have agreed to a four-year, $93 million contract that includes $62 million guaranteed, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal, which locks up one of the Chiefs' best young defensive players on the same day that they report to training camp at Missouri Western, is still pending a physical. It is the second high-profile contract that Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has finished off in the past week. He signed Pro Bowl right guard Trey Smith to a four-year, $94 million extension on Tuesday. Karlaftis, a first-round pick in 2022, has started 44 of his 49 regular-season games for the Chiefs. His best season came two years ago, when he had 10.5 sacks while starting every game. He had 8.0 sacks in 16 games last season. Karlaftis has appeared in the Super Bowl every season, winning the first two and losing to Philadelphia in February. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Al Arabiya
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Chiefs and defensive end George Karlaftis agree to 4-year, $93M contract, AP source says
The Kansas City Chiefs and defensive end George Karlaftis have agreed to a four-year $93 million contract that includes $62 million guaranteed, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal, which locks up one of the Chiefs' best young defensive players on the same day that they report to training camp at Missouri Western, is still pending a physical. It is the second high-profile contract that Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has finished off in the past week. He signed Pro Bowl right guard Trey Smith to a four-year $94 million extension on Tuesday. Karlaftis, a first-round pick in the 2022 draft, has started 44 of his 49 regular-season games for the Chiefs. His best season came two years ago when he had 10 1/2 sacks while starting every game, and he had eight sacks in 16 games last season. Karlaftis has appeared in the Super Bowl every season, winning the first two and losing to Philadelphia in February.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 Indianapolis Colts roster preview: DE Isaiah Land
With offseason programs now behind us, we will be getting a jump start on our training camp preview by going player-by-player through the Indianapolis Colts' 91-man roster. Going alphabetically up next is defensive end Isaiah Land. Advertisement Isaiah Land's profile Height: 6-4 Weight: 235 Age: 25 NFL experience: 2 seasons College: Florida A&M No. 55 2024 Snap count totals Defense: 78 Special teams: 49 2024 PFF grades Defense: 49.1 Special teams: 66.9 2024 Season Review Land was on the back end of the Colts' defensive end rotation. All 78 of his defensive snaps came in the first 11 games of the season, a stretch when the team was without Tyquan Lewis for most of those games, along with not having Samson Ebukam, who missed the entire season with an Achilles injury. Land recorded three pressures over his 51 pass rushing snaps, and by PFF's metrics, struggled as a run defender with a grade of 48.3. At 235 pounds, Land brings a different skill set to the defensive end position with his speed, but that makes him someone whose playing time will primarily come during more pass-heavy situations. Advertisement Looking ahead to the 2025 season Land will again find himself fighting for a roster spot. While the Colts lost Dayo Odeyingbo in free agency, they are getting Ebukam back, along with drafting JT Tuimoloau in the second round. Between Ebukam, Tuimoloau, Lewis, Kwity Paye, and Laiatu Latu, that is already five roster spots accounted for. That right there could be the defensive end unit for the Colts on the 53-man roster, unless they choose to go heavy and keep six, but doing so means going light at another position. Land continuing to improve against the run and rounding out his game will be an important next step. Advertisement This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Previewing Colts' 2025 roster: A closer look at DE Isaiah Land
