National Football League

[Alpe d'Huez]

Don't you think it's an alternative professional football league for those that can't make it in the NFL? It's certainly not a developmental league -- that's the state of FBS NCAA football which has become a billion dollar industry & feeder system for the NFL.

Agree completely there! FBS is absolutely a developmental league, and now a professional one for younger players as well. At some point the NCAA will rescind the student-athlete rule and allow just any athlete with a connection to the school to play for the team. This will really cement it as its own league, plus a developmental league.

The UFL is minor league football. Some guys do make it to the NFL (and some come from the NFL), but not many skill positions, and no QBs. But that doesn't mean the league isn't fun to watch.

If one looks at the majority of UFL starters you are completely correct at QB. Duggan is a real competitor. Hard to dislike the guy, and he's highly mobile and will run. But he indeed has an average arm, and his throwing motion is not compact, drops the ball down a considerable amount, causing more sacks, more strip sacks. Not the biggest guy either. Fun to watch, but...

I think Luis Perez nickname says it all. The King of Spring. He is basically a poor man's Alex Smith. Smart, calm, pretty accurate, gets rid of the ball after going through progressions quickly in a pass-heavy offense. But an average arm. Delivery is fairly slow. He's a little mobile, but doesn't scramble much, and only runs every once in a while. He's been on a few NFL teams practice squads, and in the XFL 2.0, USFL, CFL, AAF, XFL 3.0, and now UFL. He's basically just doing this hoping maybe he gets a practice squad gig (and big jump in pay) until he just goes into coaching, where he should do well. But despite leading the spring leagues and winning awards and spring championships, whatever dream he may have, he's never going to be an NFL quarterback.

Matt Corral was injured last year in the UFL, and again this year. That must be what's cut down on his dual-threat capability. I don't see him getting to the NFL either.

The spring QBs I've seen who I thought might make an NFL team as a backup were Alex McGough, and Adrian Martinez. McGough did sign a 2-year deal with the Packers in 2022. He only saw pre-season time, and in his second season they looked to convert him to sort of a Taysom Hill WR/QB after he strained his throwing shoulder. But he got hurt again, and went back to the UFL as a QB this year, where he dislocated his throwing shoulder in the 1st game of the season. That guy is athletic, mobile, and has a decent arm and finds open receivers. But I think he's maybe done with football at this point, period. Martinez we talked about. I agree, a 3rd string spot where he could maybe get attention, maybe move up to 2nd string on some team, is possible, likely a ceiling. Not quite the passer as McGough, and McGough has more muscle, but Martinez is a dual-threat and an excellent runner. Ta'amu and Perkins are two current UFL guys who would hope to maybe make it to that level, maybe, with some luck.

I question if ever a QB goes from the NCAA to the UFL, then to the NFL and becomes a starter, the Kurt Warner dream. It would take the league doing something like expanding by 4-8 teams (which I can actually see happening in the next decade. 4 teams in the US, 4 in Europe).

 

[movingtarget]

Top 101 free agents of 2025: Amari Cooper, Gabe Davis among best players available

 

[Nomad]

He's basically just doing this hoping maybe he gets a practice squad gig (and big jump in pay)

Indeed, the money is very good for practice squad players. For the upcoming season, the minimum salary is $13,000 per week. For players who have accrued more than two seasons before their practice squad season earn $17,500 per week up to $22,000 per week.

So, a player with two seasons or fewer is on the practice squad for all 18 weeks would get $234,000 for the season, while a player with two prior seasons would get between $315,000 & $396,000.

Not bad at all for just basically running the scout team, attending team & position meetings, and standing on the sidelines for home games.

On Alex McGough, never a good sign that a team wants to move a QB prospect to a different position. Though a couple of teams approached Lamar Jackson at the Combine asking if he would be interested in a position change. Good thing he gave them the finger & stuck to his guns. Lol

 

[Nomad]

Top 101 free agents of 2025: Amari Cooper, Gabe Davis among best players available

Jadeveon Clowney & Justin Simmons haven't been signed & are still FAs? What's up with that? Clowney, a former #1 OA & only 32. And Simmons was a top 5 safety & is only 31. You'd think these two guys would have been signed the day they became FAs.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Some Raiders fans want the team to grab Simmons, as the Raider secondary is a question mark. The Raiders act like they are happy with the players they have, but you look at their roster and no one in the secondary exactly strike fear in anyone's hearts. Most fans likely don't have any idea who any of the players in their secondary are!

So, a player with two seasons or fewer is on the practice squad for all 18 weeks would get $234,000 for the season, while a player with two prior seasons would get between $315,000 & $396,000.

Ones on deals or are 3rd/emergency QBs make considerably more. McGough's contract with the Packers was about $930,000 a year, on a 2-year deal, and I believe he got every penny. Martinez deal is even better. Compare this to the $65k or so players make playing for the UFL. Add in the fact NFL teams have world-class facilities, trainers, amenities, etc.

 

[movingtarget]

Jadeveon Clowney & Justin Simmons haven't been signed & are still FAs? What's up with that? Clowney, a former #1 OA & only 32. And Simmons was a top 5 safety & is only 31. You'd think these two guys would have been signed the day they became FAs.

Must be about money...........

 

[movingtarget]

Ravens sign CB Jaire Alexander after Pro Bowler's release from Packers

NFL news roundup: Jets sign 'Thiccer Kicker' from UFL; Giants expect Malik Nabers ready for camp

Rams' Sean McVay on Jalen Ramsey: 'Obstacles' preventing potential trade for Dolphins CB

 

[Nomad]

Ravens sign CB Jaire Alexander after Pro Bowler's release from Packers

LJ addressed the media today saying that he pushed hard for the team to sign Alexander since the two of them were roommates for 3 seasons at Louisville. A 2xAll-Pro, Alexander should be a big upgrade to their secondary?

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

My concern about guys like Alexander, Ramsey, Simmons, Clowney, Gilmore, Cooper, Samuel, is they were all pro players a few years ago. So there's this limit you're trying to find as a GM and HC. How good is this guy still? How much can he really contribute? Is he just a name we're going to overpay? Or will he really find a place in our system?

Most of them would be an upgrade to most teams and contribute for sure. But that's where the money comes into play, always.

 

[Nomad]

Kyler Murray, Cardinals offense emphasize improving QB scrambles

The quarterback's goal to improve his off-schedule plays involves buy-in from the entire offense.

www.espn.com

Interesting article. Murray wants to run more & the coaching staff wants his runs/scrambles to be more productive. Last season Murray rushed for 572 yds which was 4th in QB rushing leaders behind LJ, Daniels & Hurts. Though he scored only 5 TDs, he had the highest YPC at 7.3. His best rushing season was 2020 where ran for 819 yds & 11 TDs.

Something needs to happen. Murray has led the team to the playoffs only once in 6 seasons as the starter which was an early exit 1st rd loss in 2021. Last year was a disappointing 8-9, 3rd in the division.

Murray has an elite arm, elite athleticism & appears to be fully recoverd from the ACL tear in 2022 playing in all 17 games last season. He has some weapons in Marvin Harrison Jr, James Conner & Trey McBride. The offense was 12th in points scored last year.

Murray, a pure dual-threat RPO QB, is not winning like Hurts, Allen, LJ, Daniels, etc.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Murray is basically in Justin Herbert territory. Another supposed star QB who has been given massive money to perform, and fallen short. Worse than Herbert, as he was drafted #1 overall. This year has to be a division title and playoff win, or they will look to move on from him sooner rather than later.

Jeffri Chadia made his "way too early predictions" for this coming season. They are fun, if nothing else. Some highlights:

• The Bills will finally win the Super Bowl
• The Broncos will overtake the Chiefs for the AFC West title
• Daniel Jones wins Comeback Player of the Year
• Ashton Jeanty will run for over 2,000 yards
• CeeDee Lamb will break the single season reception record
• Kirk Cousins plays for a team other than Atlanta, mostly due to a high injury rate in the NFL

 

[Nomad]

What a Drake Maye Run Game Could Look Like for Patriots - CLNS Media

With Josh McDaniels back at OC, Drake Maye could go from underutilized dual-threat to one of the league's most efficient running quarterbacks.

www.clnsmedia.com

Another interesting article on the trend of mobile pocket passers/dual-threat QBs. In this example, Vrabel wants Maye to be a more efficient running QB & believes Josh McDaniels can structure an offensive scheme to better utilize his skills.

Maye was a dual-threat at North Carolina rushing for over 1200 yds & 16 TDs in just two seasons. He's got good size, excellent speed & a big arm to boot. Last season playing in only 12 games, he rushed for 421 yds (7.8), which was 9th in QB rushing leaders.

I think teams are starting to put more pressure on their mobile passers/dual-threats to do more with their legs. We saw the effectiveness of Hurts in the SB last year when the Chiefs (9th best defense - 8th best against the run) keyed on Barkley & Hurts hit them for 72 yds & a TD. His effectiveness in the run game also open up the passing game as he threw for 221 yards & 2 TDs.

Expect to see more of this strategy with the dual-threats. Coaches need to get the very most out of their QBs to win in this league.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Another interesting article on the trend of mobile pocket passers/dual-threat QBs. In this example, Vrabel wants Maye to be a more efficient running QB & believes Josh McDaniels can structure an offensive scheme to better utilize his skills.

It will be interesting to see if McDaniels can do that. Most of his schemes have been spreading the ball all over the field, a QB going quickly through options, coupled with a power running game. Here's another article on the Patriots site on this potential, it also talks about the power read PRO set they ran with Cam. But Maye has all the talent needed to make this happen. JMD was a terrible HC in two stints, but even when not working with Brady, he still did well as a pure OC.

I've tried looking back at dual-threat QBs who didn't make it in the NFL, and why. It usually comes down to two things: The inability to pass, and pass first when needed with good decision making. Think: Tim Tebow. Vince Young also comes to mind. The other aspect is in coaching, and time needed to develop. Coaches too often try to quickly shoehorn a young QB into their system, instead of coaching to their strengths.

 

[Nomad]

Tebow could pass. His lack of success in the NFL is that McDaniels didn't want to run the spread RPO offense that Tebow was use to at Florida instead forcing him into the pro-style offense of that day.

Scouts had said Tebow had a strong arm & could make all the NFL throws. On some of his college highlight videos, you can see him launch bombs for big gains & have some nice zip on the ball. In 3 full seasons at Florida, he threw for over 9200 yds, 88 TDs & a completion rate of 67% against SEC level competition. He won every postseason award under the sun, including the Heisman & BCS National Championship MVP. He wouldn't have been a 1st rounder (25) if he couldn't throw the ball - that doesn't happen in the NFL. All 1st rounders can throw the ball. They may not have the Allen, Mahomes, Stafford, Rodgers, etc, type cannons - but they can throw the ball.

At Florida, Tebow operated out of Urban Meyer's shotgun centric spread-RPO scheme. Meyer is widely credited with popularizing this offense at the collegiate level, particularly during his time at Utah, Florida & Ohio St.

Granted, Tebow had some weird throwing mechanics & not the best footwork. But he did better out of the RPO showing efficiency throwing on rollouts off the option reads. He never looked comfortable in the pro-style offense & definitely never under center.

It's important for coaches to allow these dual-threat RPO QBs to run the same or very similar offense to the one they ran in college. Most of these dual-threats have been running spread RPO as far back as HS. Some have never been under center!

There's no way Jayden Daniels would have the success he had last season without Quinn letting him run out of his college RPO scheme. There's an article where Kingsbury explains that not only did Daniels run his college offense but that it was simplified for him at the pro level. Watching Daniels in the Commander offense looked no different than when he was operating out of the LSU offense. And a large portion of the Raven's offense is spread RPO similar to the one LJ ran in college. Same for Hurts - a lot of RPO scheme with the one-two punch of him & Barkley.

View: https://youtu.be/nyGrT8ZCVdg?si=pO0ujXmYHnM1HKF0

I don't know much about Vince Young. He did throw the ball very well at Texas & was a #3 OA pick, and had a longer career in the NFL than Tebow. I'd have to do some research on his situation.

 

[Nomad]

Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa among CBS' 'volatile' NFL quarterbacking tier

CBS had the Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa among its \

dolphinswire.usatoday.com

Tua is down to a Tier 4 QB! The heat is on - better start the season off playing well & winning because Zach Wilson is waiting in the wings. Lol

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

That article is a bored journo off-season trying to create interest. JJ McCarthy is tier 3, but Tua, Murray, Lawrence and Geno Smith are tier 4? Tua's biggest concerns are injuries. There's no question about that. He has plenty of talent.

Regarding Tebow, people forget he was okay his second year, going 7-4 and winning a playoff game. I agree whatever chance he had was washed by stupid head coaching trying to shoehorn him into a system that he wasn't fit for. The guy was built like a truck, and did run for 660 yards his second year, but most of that was on scrambles and broken plays. Tim had a good arm, but his passing was uneven, and he did "wind-up" too much. It was one pass on target, the next not so much. And he often held onto the ball too long. Again, a good coach could have fixed this. And I agree, they should have built at least half the playbook around his talents. The next year was worse, as he was shipped off to the Jets, and arguably a worse coaching situation with Rex Ryan at the end of his time there. Despite being a Raider fan, I always liked Tim. He just seemed like a genuinely good person, very honest, very likeable. Impossible to cheer against. That TD pass to Thomas that did the Steelers in had me cheering out of my seat.