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New York Times
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- New York Times
What should Year 1 expectations be for Cam Ward, other 2025 NFL Draft first-round picks?
Imagine a Christmas morning when you've just opened the greatest gift of your entire life — right before a guy in a business suit slides down the chimney and tells you that not only do you have to wait four months to use it, but also no one's actually sure if it'll work. Welcome to the NFL. The non-padded, honeymoon phase for most of the league's rookies is over, and now the exciting/terrifying stretch in which teams start to see whether they've actually drafted properly is underway. Here's a look at rookie-year expectations for each of the 2025 first-round NFL Draft picks: My biggest concern for Ward throughout the draft process was him being asked to carry a bad team immediately. However, the rebuilding Titans have given him some help. Kevin Zeitler and Dan Moore were big additions, as was Tyler Lockett. Even if Lockett can't quite give at age 32 what he had at 25, his presence will be a big deal. Advertisement Ward has to play faster in the pocket and continue to work on ball placement. He's going to struggle, especially early, but if the Titans ride with him through thick and thin, expect him to be noticeably better by January. It's difficult to set a baseline rookie expectation for Hunter — we've really never seen anything like him. The Jaguars have designed a camp plan that will work him on both sides of the football, including at corner and receiver in some of the same practices. It might take Hunter more time to make an impact defensively, but expect him to be a playmaker pretty quickly on offense when he's given a chance. Athletically, he's been ready for at least two years. Hunted down ❌@Dream_Finders | #DUUUVAL — Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) July 27, 2025 It's important to remember that Carter was a stack linebacker his first two years of college and only fully transitioned to the role he'll play for the Giants ahead of the 2024 season. That said, Carter has shown terrific development across the board as a pass rusher. I don't expect a dominant year right away, but I do think Carter will meet or pass the average rookie output we've seen from the last five edge defenders taken in the top five (Will McDonald IV, Travon Walker, Aidan Hutchinson, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Chase Young) — about 50 pressures and seven sacks. The cleanest O-line prospect in the '25 draft, Campbell is one of the rare offensive linemen who was probably ready for the NFL on some level as a true sophomore. He played with an advanced understanding of hands and feet in pass protection at LSU and was one of the toughest players in the class. He's likely going to be an instant starter. Advertisement Graham was a top-five player on my board for a long time, not just because of his ability to consistently explode blocks to collapse a pocket but also because of his football IQ and performances in the biggest moments against the best teams. As a sophomore, Graham was arguably the best player on Michigan's 2024 national title team. If he's in shape, he'll also be an instant starter. Jeanty's one of those guys — he's on the Bijan Robinson/Jahmyr Gibbs dance floor and has the ability to be an immediate difference-maker for an offense. Chip Kelly can, and probably will, have a field day with all the different things Jeanty can do. Expect a productive rookie year from Jeanty, who should be an offensive focal point alongside Brock Bowers very soon. The Jets got to take their time (for a bit) with Olu Fashanu last season. That probably won't be the case this year — and from an athletic standpoint, Membou's ready. He gets to slide into a right tackle job (the only spot he played in college) and should get to line up alongside Alijah Vera-Tucker. Membou might be a bit wobbly early as he adjusts to the way NFL refs call holding, but he's pro-ready. For Bryce Young's sake, I hesitate so I don't jinx anything, but the Panthers are starting to look like a team that supports a young QB rather than forcing him through roadblocks. Adding McMillan to a room with Xavier Legette and Adam Thielen gives Young plenty to work with, while allowing McMillan time to develop route nuance and his work against physical corners. He's talented enough to be the best receiver on this team by the end of the year, even if he won't need to be immediately. Advertisement Not only did I have other tackle prospects higher than Banks on my final board, but also I was in the camp that saw him more as a guard. Banks only played left tackle in college, and New Orleans got great rookie production from Taliese Fuaga at that spot last year. Although Banks has repped everywhere but center so far in New Orleans, the hope is surely for him to ultimately take over for Trevor Penning opposite Fuaga on one side or the other. I'm just going to be a bit nervous here until I see it all come together. A lot of this depends on Loveland's health, though the rookie was healthy enough to be on the field in some capacity when Chicago opened camp. In terms of schematic fit, though, this was one of my favorite picks. Loveland is a taller version of Detroit Lions TE Sam LaPorta, one of Ben Johnson's favorite weapons in Detroit. If Loveland's healthy, I think he can be an All-Rookie performer. You Love to see it 🤩 — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) July 26, 2025 During the scouting process, there were days I thought Williams would be a no-doubt future Pro Bowler and others when I thought he was the draft version of a scratch-off lottery ticket. It's so hard to project Williams' instant NFL impact because he was hurt so much in college. If he can stay healthy all preseason and not miss any time, he'll surprise tackles and guards with his blend of power, length and burst. He can't be off the field, though, as much growth is needed. The more I've considered this one, the more I've liked it. Initially, I thought No. 12 was too high for Booker, but he was easily the most physically impressive run blocker this class had outside of Campbell and Membou. And I don't care that he's guard-only. If Booker stays in good shape weight-wise, he can be a dominant interior presence. He can also help change an offensive culture. Advertisement I didn't love this pick in April, and I'm still nervous about it. There's no doubt Grant is a fantastic athlete at 6 feet 4 and 330 pounds, but he also has had issues staying in shape year-round, played in a heavy rotation in college next to the best DT in the country (Graham) and wound up out of position too much against the run. If his flashes become the norm, Grant will be a star. However, we've only seen flashes to date. Everyone loved this pick. Warren is a great fit within the Colts offense, fills a huge need and arrives at a critical time in Anthony Richardson's development. His production as a rookie will depend on Indianapolis' QB situation, but his impact on the run game could be immediate and long-lasting. Part of the intrigue with Walker entering the draft was his potential to add versatility in the front seven. He has mainly worked with the outside linebackers in Atlanta so far, but he offers some of the traits that make Carter and Micah Parsons special (albeit in a slightly smaller package). Coverage could be an adventure, but Walker's fearlessness/rush instincts in the box should earn him a starting spot quickly. Physically, Nolen was arguably the most impressive defensive lineman in this class. On the field, he's been inconsistent. Nolen's first step and ability to create havoc immediately are going to translate, but he'll struggle against the run if he doesn't play with more discipline. Nolen's rush-move set is also limited — he might be a rotational player as a rookie if he can't become more efficient. Nothing about Stewart's first offseason in Cincinnati has been ideal, as he missed all of spring and the first three training camp practices due to a contract dispute. Of all the rookies who couldn't afford missed time like that, Stewart was high on the list. He left Texas A&M as more of a combination of traits and talent than a polished football player. Proceed with caution — it could take a minute for Stewart to settle in. Advertisement Zabel has been working with the starters at left guard since Seattle's offseason program started. He'll have growing pains, but I absolutely expect him to settle in as a plus-starter by the end of his rookie season. Zabel is also smart and tough enough to help C Olu Oluwatimi and OT Charles Cross improve. Egbuka was the most NFL-ready wide receiver in this class, even if McMillan has the higher ceiling. There isn't an offense in football Egbuka wouldn't work in — he reminds me of young Los Angeles Chargers standout Ladd McConkey. Don't judge him only by target and catch totals, though, as Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan are still in Tampa Bay. Expect to see a lot more of this, Krewe 👀 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) July 26, 2025 The Broncos have already been impressed with Barron's football IQ as a coverage defender this summer. He was one of the most versatile DBs in college football the last two seasons, so Denver might move him around from time to time. However, if he's left to develop at corner, he has All-Rookie potential on the outside as a savvy playmaker teammates will love. I had Harmon ahead of Grant and Nolen on my final board and believe his potential to play basically anywhere up front will serve Pittsburgh well, early and often. It's hard to project a dominant season right away, but it's also hard to see a healthy Harmon not making an impact at multiple spots up front — especially in the run game. The Chargers signed Najee Harris this offseason, but Hampton eventually (if not immediately) will be the real bell cow in Jim Harbaugh's offense. He is a true three-down player who was closer to Jeanty on more scouting boards than the average fan thought. Don't be surprised to see him as a serious candidate for rookie of the year. Golden is the prospect Packers fans have been waiting for forever. The team's first first-round receiver since 2002 is a perfect match for everything Matt LaFleur and the Packers are about offensively. Green Bay has done such a great job with Jayden Reed, and Golden is a more explosive version. I expect a very productive rookie year here, as Golden should be an offensive weapon who moves all over the field. Advertisement Some of Jackson's appeal during the draft process stemmed from him playing well at tackle for Ohio State down the stretch in 2024, after spending most of his career as a guard. I'm not sure he's ready to be a starting NFL tackle, but Minnesota has been working him at left guard. Either way, Jackson still has technical issues (especially with his hands), so don't panic if he doesn't start immediately. There's no pressure on Dart to start immediately for the Giants. However, New York is still New York, so the second Russell Wilson looks like a 36-year-old, fans are going to make it very difficult for Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen to keep Dart on the bench. If it's even close, though, I'd lean toward playing Dart sooner than later — New York can't afford to guess on his development and skip a potentially great 2026 QB crop. My biggest question about Pearce is still whether you can trust him to be a true three-down player in the NFL. I have little doubt he's going to be great on third-and-long, but can he hold up (at around 240 pounds) on first and second downs? If he can't, trading up for him might go in the books as a head-scratcher. One of the safest prospects in the 2025 class, Starks should make an impact quickly. With respect to Detroit's duo of Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, Starks and Kyle Hamilton could give the Ravens the NFL's top safety duo in short order. Williams is already in line for a ton of playing time early this season, as the Lions will be without standout DT Alim McNeill (knee) until October and versatile DT Levi Onwuzurike (knee) all season. I'm not sure how much pass rush Detroit can expect early from Williams, though I do think he's ready to be a huge help against the run and a great fit in Detroit's scheme. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see Conerly begin his career as a backup, because he was still more a collection of elite traits than a polished tackle when he left Oregon. He was a polarizing prospect for scouts for that exact reason. Advertisement He's competing at right tackle, though it might take some time for Conerly to get stronger and better with his hand discipline. Hairston suffered a non-contact injury to his right knee during a drill Tuesday, and his status moving forward is unclear. Even before the injury, questions remained about whether the 183-pound Hairston can hold up against physical NFL receivers right away. The Bills' rookie corner is also facing a lawsuit filed earlier this month alleging he committed sexual assault in 2021. Last week, GM Brandon Beane expressed his support for Hairston. 'We have to remember in society that people can make accusations and do things,' Beane said, 'and I have no idea what the agenda is there, but I can tell you every stone we turned over, every door we looked behind, this is a very good young man.' Injury concerns impacted Campbell's draft stock, but his potential is off the charts. Though Campbell has less experience than the other front-seven hybrids in this class, only Carter can claim physical and athletic superiority. The Eagles also don't have to rush Campbell, but he could turn into a serious steal — right away — for Philadelphia. Had he not injured his knee last year, Simmons might have been a top-10 pick. When he's right, his combination of foot speed and functional length makes him a terror to rush against off the edge. Not only is Simmons good enough to start right away, but also he has All-Rookie potential if he's 100 percent. (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Photos: Candice Ward, James Gilbert, Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
New York Times
18 minutes ago
- Sport
- New York Times
What we've learned about the Patriots through 6 training camp practices
FOXBORO, Mass. — At the end of a brutally hot practice Tuesday, quarterback Drake Maye hit receivers Kayshon Boutte and Kendrick Bourne for 5-yard touchdowns in the corner of the end zone, ending things on a high note after some early struggles. That has been the story of camp for the Patriots: a few really good moments and a few rough ones. Advertisement But rather than zoom in on just one drill or one day, let's reset with the bigger picture in mind. Here are six things we've learned about the Patriots after six training camp practices. Perhaps this is to be expected. The Patriots have a new offensive coordinator, new offensive tackles and a new No. 1 wide receiver. If you're an optimist, there have been enough on-the-money throws from Maye to be convinced he can be a top-10 quarterback in the NFL this season. But if you're ready to nitpick and believe the front office didn't do enough this offseason to improve the offense, there have been plenty of struggles to which you can point. In short, the offense has been inconsistent. At times, the offensive line looks pretty shaky. At times, the bottom of the wide receiver depth chart has struggled. At times (including at Tuesday's practice), Maye's accuracy is an issue. And there have been way too many botched snaps between Maye and his centers, which can be drive-enders. It's still early for an offense that's learning a new scheme, so it shouldn't be a surprise that consistency has been an issue. All in all, it has been an up-and-down start for the unit. Pads on, energy up 🔋 — New England Patriots (@Patriots) July 28, 2025 There will be lots of important questions about how the bottom of the depth chart shakes out at wide receiver, but one thing has been clear: Outside of Stefon Diggs, Douglas is the Patriots' best receiver. The 24-year-old gets more targets from Maye than anyone else and usually is efficient with them. In a Josh McDaniels-led offense that historically has gotten a lot of production from its slot receivers, Douglas could be in line for a big season. Diggs is the no-doubt No. 1 wideout on this team. But Douglas is the Pats' second-best option. The next question: Who is the No. 3 among Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams and Mack Hollins (who has yet to practice)? Advertisement After revamping the front five last season, the team's first-string offensive line appears to be largely decided. Will Campbell, Cole Strange, Garrett Bradbury, Mike Onwenu and Morgan Moses have been the starters from left to right. Only one question remains: Can third-round pick Jared Wilson do enough to nab a starting role at left guard or center over Strange or Bradbury? Wilson has had some nice moments where his athleticism is notable, including impressive one-on-one reps against Milton Williams on Tuesday. But there have been some issues, too, including two fumbled exchanges with Maye. Much of this will be decided once we see how Wilson fares in the three preseason games (he will probably get snaps at both positions), but he has been trending in the right direction in recent days. Now it's just a question of whether he can overtake Strange or Bradbury. One of the pre-camp concerns was how the cornerback group would look behind Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis. Relatively quickly, the concern has flipped to the health of those two starters while the reserve corners have played well. Gonzalez and Davis missed Tuesday's practice because of injuries. That has meant plenty of time for the reserves, and DJ James, Miles Battle and Alex Austin have all taken advantage. We'll see if that continues. Now, New England just needs to get Gonzalez and Davis healthy and ready for Week 1. Austin Hooper participated in his first practice of camp Tuesday, but what was telling was how much the Patriots still leaned on multiple-tight-end formations even while he was out. We know they feel comfortable with their top two tight ends: Hunter Henry and Hooper. But McDaniels kept utilizing big formations even when Hooper was out, which suggests the Patriots will likely lean on a lot of 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) this season. Advertisement That could play to their strengths, too, since it would alleviate any potential concerns about the Nos. 3 and 4 wide receivers on the roster. Perhaps no player has looked better than I expected than edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson. The 2020 first-round pick is hoping a change of scenery and a bigger opportunity could bring out his best after five seasons in the league have resulted in just 10 sacks. Keion White and Chaisson have been arguably the team's top pass rushers. Defenders aren't allowed to tackle quarterbacks during practice, so it can be tough to know exactly which plays would have resulted in sacks, but Chaisson has been consistently disrupting the pocket and getting to the QB. We're just a week in, but Chaisson looks like an under-the-radar candidate to make a big impact for the Patriots this season.
New York Times
18 minutes ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Colts GM resolute on staying patient with Anthony Richardson, even beyond 2025: ‘I still believe'
WESTFIELD, Ind. — They preached patience, then didn't practice it. The truth is the Indianapolis Colts were in a hurry the minute they drafted Anthony Richardson fourth overall in 2023. A hurry to get him on the field, a hurry to hand him the starting quarterback job, a hurry to find out if the franchise's years-long odyssey at the position was finally, mercifully over. Advertisement It wasn't. It's easy to fall for the trappings of talent, especially talent like Richardson's, and the Colts did. 'An alien,' former top scout Morocco Brown called Richardson early on, adding that his skill set was so rare 'it might not come along for another 50 years.' After just one preseason game, the job was his. He was only 21. He'd made just 13 college starts. Three games in, the Colts ended an acrimonious contract standoff with their star running back, Jonathan Taylor, in part because they believed they had their QB in place. They could start to see the future. Here's where that future has led them: Richardson has missed 17 games due to injury, never starting more than four in a row, and missed two more after being benched midway through last season for lack of preparation. 'He was drowning,' Colts general manager Chris Ballard later admitted. 'Mentally, it was going really fast for him.' In 2024, Richardson's completion percentage was a league-low 47.7, and entering Year 3, he finds himself in a QB competition with a free-agent addition, Daniel Jones, for the job that was supposed to be his for a decade or more. The regret is real, from both player and team. Ballard wishes he'd resisted the urge to hand Richardson the job right away, a move late owner Jim Irsay pushed for at the time. What the young quarterback needed was the chance to acclimate to the NFL, to learn the job, to watch a veteran's daily habits and build his own. 'He just doesn't know yet,' Ballard told The Athletic recently. 'He didn't have enough experience, both from a play standpoint but also a professional standpoint of how to get ready.' But, Ballard concedes, 'when you take one high, there's an expectation. The pressure to play the kid is real.' The GM caved to that pressure two years ago. He's vowed he won't moving forward. Ballard remains intent on playing the long game with the 23-year-old, even if Richardson doesn't beat out Jones for the starting job this season. In other words: The Colts won't consider releasing or trading Richardson, even if his third season ends in disappointment. Advertisement It's an unusual approach considering the stakes and risks involved. Many highly drafted quarterbacks who face early struggles are moved out quickly, while they still have some trade value. Consider: Three 2021 first-round picks — Zach Wilson, Trey Lance and Mac Jones — didn't see a fourth season with the team that drafted them. The Colts are willing to wait. 'I just think eventually Anthony's going to be who we think he can be,' Ballard said. 'I still believe that. Whether that's this year or next, I don't know when it's going to happen.' Ballard cited a pair of recent QB reclamation projects, Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield, to drive home his point: Sometimes, all a quarterback needs is time — and in those instances, a change of scenery — to alter the course of their career. Ballard believes the Colts can still coax the best out of Richardson under coach Shane Steichen and the current staff. He also doesn't want the only first-round quarterback he's ever drafted to flourish somewhere else. 'Eventually, the light comes on,' Ballard said. If Jones held any lead in the QB competition coming off spring and early-summer workouts — Richardson was temporarily shut down from throwing in late May after aggravating his shoulder — it appears to have faded a week into training camp. After sloppy starts from both, Richardson was sharper during the team's first two padded practices, showing off some improved accuracy on the very throws that he's struggled with throughout his first two NFL seasons. He finished 9-for-11 during live full-team periods Tuesday, including a handful of touchdowns in red-zone work. 😤😤😤 — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) July 28, 2025 The mistakes were less frequent, though Richardson did flub a shuttle pass on the goal line that spoke to the turnover issues he's endured early in his career. When Richardson sat down with his personal throwing coaches and watched his 2024 film, too often they saw him narrowing his feet at the point of release, which led to him consistently missing high. So they drilled all spring and summer, working with Richardson to widen his base and give him more feel for where the ball is going. It's how he's starting each practice at training camp, working alone on the field, setting his feet wider than before so the motion becomes second-nature. 'I feel like I got more control over the ball now,' Richardson said after Tuesday's workout. Mental reps. — Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) July 25, 2025 It's not uncommon for a quarterback to struggle with mechanics early in his career, then spend a good chunk of an offseason reworking them. In the pro game, the margins are slimmer, the windows tighter, the defenses smarter. Touch is required, especially in the middle of the field. Talents like Richardson — gifted enough to overwhelm college secondaries with sheer arm strength and scrambling ability — have to find another way. Advertisement 'That'll get you a long way in high school and college,' Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said. 'In this league, you need more.' Can Richardson consistently complete the short and intermediate throws — especially on critical downs — that have sabotaged his first two seasons? It could end up defining his NFL career. If there was an area Jones had a clear advantage on Richardson heading into camp, it was accuracy. Only 58 percent of Richardson's throws last season were on target, per Pro Football Reference, while Jones never finished below 70 percent during his six-year run with the New York Giants (most successful NFL starting quarterbacks hover between 70-75 percent). Steichen explained to both at the outset of camp what would ultimately win the job: consistency, in both preparation and performance. 'Being a guy the coaches trust,' was how Jones put it. That hasn't been Richardson two seasons in. His play has been too erratic, his preparation too inconsistent. His availability has also given the team serious pause, which is one of the reasons why the Colts paid Jones $14 million on a one-year deal. They've yet to be able to count on Richardson to stay healthy. Richardson said he took no issue with the signing, welcoming the competition. His mindset hasn't changed, nor has his urgency. 'Even if they brought Tom Brady in here — he's the greatest — I just gotta work and try to beat (him) out,' Richardson said. The young quarterback is still just 23, a few days older than Cam Ward, the No. 1 pick of this past April's draft, and the stakes are obvious heading into 2025. Last season humbled him. 'That was my big takeaway,' Richardson acknowledged. 'I didn't do enough.' The Colts are hoping it serves as the wake-up call his career desperately needed, one that leaves him with a new appreciation for what it takes to win on Sundays. 'Even if things aren't going the right way, even if it's not my quote-unquote fault, it is my fault,' Richardson added. 'I'm the quarterback. I'm the leader.' Advertisement That might be the right mentality, but he's not the quarterback. Not yet. That job's still up for grabs, and Ballard has pledged not to rush the process like the Colts did two years ago. That mistake cost them. As long as the ninth-year GM is still here, he's adamant not to repeat it. 'Do you have the courage to stay the path when things aren't going right and believe that we're gonna come out of this thing on the other end in a good way?' Ballard said, reflecting on the last few years. 'If it doesn't work, it might get my ass fired, but I'm willing to live with that because it's the right thing to do.'
New York Times
18 minutes ago
- Sport
- New York Times
NFL is back (kinda) with Lions vs. Chargers in 2025 Hall of Fame Game: How to watch, lineups, odds
It's not exactly kneecap-biting time for Dan Campbell, and Jim Harbaugh may save his finest whole milks in the milk cellar, but the NFL is still very much back on Thursday. The 2025 preseason kicks off with the annual Hall of Fame Game. This year's installment features the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers, two playoff hopefuls that get to share a casual tune-up on national TV. Advertisement This broadcast will also be available on Peacock. The Lions went 15-2 last year while leading the league in total scoring. A gnarly and unfortunate string of injuries derailed their playoff run, though, and Detroit lost both of its lead coordinators this offseason. Aaron Glenn left the defense to lead the New York Jets, while OC Ben Johnson bowed out to fill the Chicago Bears' coaching vacancy. New offensive coordinator John Morton has jumped into his new role with zeal, creativity and sleeplessness, according to The Athletic's Colton Pouncy. New defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has been seen jumping around the practice field, as elite pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson is back from 2024's season-ending leg injury. The vibes in Allen Park seem high. The Lions are 1.5-point favorites at BetMGM — yes, you can bet on this game — but neither team will be working with a full roster. Of note, rookies Tate Ratledge and Tyleik Williams are not expected to play in Thursday's exhibition. Ratledge (Georgia, No. 57 draft pick) is gunning for the starting center role, Pouncy reports, while Williams (Ohio State, No. 28 pick) has been taking first-team DT reps all spring. Detroit's offense Thursday will be paced by backup quarterbacks Hendon Hooker and Kyle Allen. Hooker, a Tennessee product, went 29-for-44 last preseason with a touchdown pass and an interception. Allen was in the Pittsburgh Steelers' QB room in 2024, and his arrival in Detroit marks his fifth pro stopover since 2020. The biggest news out of Chargers camp has been Rashawn Slater's massive multi-year contract extension, which the team announced Sunday. Elsewhere on the offensive line, Jamaree Salyer looks remade on the inside, and Zion Johnson is potentially moving from guard to center and will play a couple of drives there against the Lions. Advertisement 'He's a different guy when you subtract 35 pounds of bad weight,' offensive coordinator Greg Roman said of Salyer, per The Athletic's Daniel Popper. 'His ability to move laterally (and) change direction quickly is so much better.' Popper, who's been covering Los Angeles' training days in San Diego and El Segundo, praised rookie wideout Dalevon Campbell and second-year defensive back Cam Hart. Other younger players, including rookies Omarion Hampton, Tre' Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith, will be in action Thursday while most of the starters will sit. With Justin Herbert on the sideline, Trey Lance will take the first snaps under center. Lance, the third pick in the 2021 draft, threw for 244 yards in his lone start with the Dallas Cowboys last year. Undrafted rookie DJ Uiagalelei will take over for Lance at some point in the second half, and veteran Taylor Heinicke will serve as the emergency QB. Come Saturday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will enshrine four new members — cornerback Eric Allen, defensive end Jared Allen, receiver Sterling Sharpe and Chargers luminary Antonio Gates. Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Dan Campbell: Stacy Revere / Getty Images)
New York Times
18 minutes ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Why Jets players can't stop throwing shade at the last coaching staff: 10 lessons from training camp
This is not uncommon when a new regime comes in after the previous one failed to win enough games. And it's no secret that the Jets had some longstanding culture issues, not all of them tied to the coaching staff. But it would be hard to take some of the words being spoken on the practice fields of Florham Park this summer as anything other than shots at the previous coaching staff — particularly, at Robert Saleh. Advertisement Seemingly at every turn, notable players — sometimes unprompted — have criticized Saleh's approach to training camp and coaching when asked about the way Aaron Glenn has conducted camp, including a physical practice on Monday that included actual tackling. As in, tackling to the ground, a rarity around here in recent years. Which brings us to the first of the 10 lessons I've learned about this team over the first week of practices: These Jets want to be challenged. Guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, not one to throw shade at anyone, said last week that Glenn 'praises physicality but even more: accountability. That's very important for a head coach to do. That's something I haven't seen much of in my career.' Wide receiver Garrett Wilson on Tuesday said Glenn has been coaching him in a way he hasn't felt since his Ohio State days, notable considering Saleh had been his only NFL head coach before this year. 'He'll get on my a– if I put a ball on the ground or don't run with details,' Wilson said. 'That's what I miss from college. Making sure you're hyper-focused yourself is fine, but when you got someone to push you on that a little more, not let you slip up, it's valuable.' Guard John Simpson said the vibe around the team feels 'more businesslike.' Running back Breece Hall's comments might've been the harshest: 'In the past there's been a lot of instability around the whole operation. I feel like this year, everybody is bought into this coaching staff. Everybody is bought into our GM. Everybody is bought into our owner. It feels a lot better coming in here every day.' Jets players were speaking ill of the Adam Gase era when Saleh started too — and the cycle will continue if the Jets don't find a way to actually win football games when they count. But for now, at least, the roster appears to be buying into what Glenn is selling. Advertisement Throughout the spring, Glenn and his coordinators weren't keen on defining what style of offense or defense the Jets will be running, but the players have had a harder time biting their tongues. On offense, this is going to be a run-first scheme — one built around a rushing attack with three talented options at running back (Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis), a running quarterback (Justin Fields) and an offensive line built for run-blocking. The unit has thrived in that area throughout camp so far. Last year, the Jets were last in the NFL in rushing attempts, something that irked many in their locker room on both sides of the ball. A lot of that was tied to the previous quarterback, who liked to check out of those running plays. That won't happen as much this season. 'I'm excited,' Simpson said, then leaned in closer to the mic. 'I'm really excited. I love running the ball, man. That's my strong suit. I'm excited for the opportunity to come out here and just run the ball. If we can run the ball we're gonna win a lot of games.' Added Hall: 'We're all really bought into this run scheme.' Wilson thinks a better rushing attack will open things up for him in the passing game too. 'It can be explosive,' Wilson said. 'The better we can run the ball — especially with the running backs we got and Justin's ability to run the ball — the more push we can get, the more we can run on second and short and convert, that's going to open up everything for us.' As for the defense: Expect an aggressive, blitz-heavy scheme with much more man-to-man coverage. At least once per practice, a defensive back and/or linebacker has made a play in the backfield during 11-on-11 drills. This new scheme feels like a particularly good fit for a Quincy Williams. And cornerback Sauce Gardner admitted he's ecstatic for the chance to finally travel with the league's best receivers. Advertisement This isn't so much a knock on Hall as it is praise for Allen: The Jets are going to have a hard time keeping Allen off the field in 2025. The second-year back looks bigger, faster and stronger. As a rookie, he stood out during training camp then fell by the wayside when the Jets got away from running the ball during the season. Allen has been one of the stars of camp so far, showing a level of explosiveness and downhill running ability the Jets have been lacking. He's a legit threat in the passing game too, which should allow offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand to get creative — and Glenn has made it a point to say the Jets will use Hall much more as a receiver than they have in the past. Which means Allen and Hall could wind up on the field at the same time a decent amount. 'Braelon is a 240-pound man that's always falling forward,' Glenn said. 'That's where he's going to make his money … it's going to weigh on defensive players.' It looked like this in the spring, so it shouldn't come as a surprise to say that Josh Reynolds feels pretty locked in as the No. 2 wide receiver — and based on what we've seen in camp, I'm not exactly sure what Allen Lazard's role is in this offense. The Jets like his ability to block in the running game but he doesn't contribute on special teams and I'm fairly certain Fields has only targeted Lazard once in the passing game all of camp. Tyler Johnson has jumped out more in practice, making some plays after the catch and exhibiting some athleticism that Lazard simply doesn't bring to the table. Glenn raved about Johnson's ability to feel where defensive backs are and what they're going to do — and how adept he is at exploiting that despite not being the quickest or fastest receiver on the field. 'Once we got a chance to sign him, it was a no-brainer for us,' Glenn said. I'm not convinced Lazard is a lock to make the 53-man roster — and same for second-year receiver Malachi Corley, who has mostly repped with the second- and third-string quarterbacks. Advertisement As camp has progressed, Taylor has made strides, building chemistry with Fields and making plays when he's called upon. He had one drop on Tuesday on a pass that he should've caught from Fields — but bounced back with an impressive 15-yard touchdown catch at the end of a successful move-the-ball period for the offense. He's already a head above Jeremy Ruckert and Stone Smartt and looks ready to step in as a starter in Week 1. 'He's got great hands, he finds a way to be open when he needs to be,' Wilson said. 'The ball finds him and he makes a play, which for a position like that he's as good as I've seen at making a play, finishing a play, being open. I think he's got a bright future ahead of him. He's really going to help us this year — he came in ready.' The Jets appear settled at punter with Austin McNamara, recently cutting Kai Kroeger. The kicking competition just added an interesting wrinkle, a folk hero if you will: Former Jet Nick Folk signed on Tuesday, and the team released Caden Davis. Folk will compete with Harrison Mevis for the job — and I'd bet on Folk winning it. The Jets have been seeking consistency at kicker since letting Folk walk in 2017, and he's been consistent around the league ever since, most recently converting a league-best 96.2 percent of his field goals the last two years with the Titans. He's 40 and still has something left in the tank. Another rookie who looks ready-made for game action: Fourth-round safety Malachi Moore. It's no coincidence that Moore really came into his own once the pads came on and the defense was allowed to actually hit the offense. In back-to-back practices, he made plays at or behind the line of scrimmage on the running back, broke up a pass, and earned raves from Glenn. They're making him earn the starting job next to Andre Cisco, but Moore looks the part already. It feels like a lifetime ago that the public was killing the Jets for missing out on tackle Broderick Jones in the 2023 draft and instead selecting a defensive end (McDonald) when that wasn't a need. McDonald broke out last year with 10.5 sacks, and this offseason he put on 15 pounds of muscle — a necessity for a player who was undersized and winning almost entirely with speed and agility. Advertisement In camp, he's incorporated power into his game, even running through right tackle Armand Membou at one point to get a sack. The Jets are severely lacking for depth at defensive end so they'll need McDonald to be more than just a pass rusher this year — early returns are promising. Joe Tippmann and Josh Myers are embroiled in a real competition to start at center — something that Myers said was promised to him when he signed a free agent this offseason. From what I understand, Myers expected to have a bigger market, which is why he was still sitting there to sign with the Jets for cheap (one year, $3.5 million) after the initial wave of free agency. Both centers have acquitted themselves well. Tippmann still feels like the favorite, but it's far from a lock. • S Jarius Monroe: A favorite of the previous staff, Monroe was shouted out by Glenn on Monday and has stood out in drills. He could be a top backup at safety. • LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball: He's a hard-hitting linebacker who's made more plays than his competition, like Jamin Davis, Zaire Barnes and Francisco Mauigoa. • WR Jamaal Pritchett: The undrafted rookie receiver has made some impressive downfield catches in team drills and is pushing Xavier Gipson at punt returner. • WR Brandon Smith: He's a big-bodied receiver who has played well since the spring — and has made more plays than Lazard. • DT Payton Page: The undrafted rookie defensive tackle is making a push for a depth spot on the line. He has out-played Leonard Taylor, Fatorma Mulbah and Phidarian Mathis from what I can tell.
