National Football League

[movingtarget]

NFL announces 2026 salary cap set at $301.2 million per team

2026 NFL combine: Ohio State's Lorenzo Styles Jr. runs fastest 40 by a safety since at least 2003

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

That linked clip made his brother seem almost slow! And Sonny's time was blazing fast! What incredible genes, and determination in that family.

Just eye popping level of talent, increasing every year it seems. Others have posted this too, but the Combine has such a positive vibe to it. Maybe after watching a season where players end up with injury after injury, this makes you feel good about at least something.

 

[Nomad]

Top NFL prospect Fernando Mendoza says team suggested he get arrested to fall in the draft

Fernando Mendoza reveals a team executive suggested he get arrested to slide in the NFL draft, despite being projected as the No. 1 overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders.

www.foxnews.com

Too funny - I wonder what team this was? Maybe the Jets? Steelers? Lol (shows you how bad this QB class is).

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I had to look it up. Only three times in history was a QB taken #1 overall, and no other QBs taken in the first round:

2001 - Michael Vick was taken at #1 overall. (Brees taken at the top of the 2nd).

1989 - Troy Aikman taken #1 overall. Next was the legendary Mike Elkins taken by KC in round 2 (dude had 2 passes his entire NFL career, one was an interception).

1975 - Steve Bartkowski taken first by Atlanta, then a huge gap to Gary Scheid taken in the 3rd (lots of RBs taken very high, or 1st overall back in the 70s: Earl Campbell, Billy Sims, Ricky Bell, OJ, etc).

 

[Nomad]

You almost had that situation last year where Ward was the undisputed #1 OA & the next best QB, Dart, was projected only as a 2nd rounder. But the Giants pulled a fast one trading their 2nd & 3rd round picks & 2026's 3rd round pick to the Texans for their 1st rd pick (25th) where Dart was drafted.

RBs looked good on the 40s - pretty fast group overall. Love smoked a 4.37 which is outstanding given his size (2nd fastest among the RBs). I really think KC will take him with the 9th pick.

And what a showing by Navy's Eli Heidenreich. He ran an impressive 4.46 which is faster than CMC! (Heidenteich, a multi-role RB that can catch as good as he can run, is about the same size as CMC). I had to look up when the last time a Navy RB made an NFL roster. It was Malcome Perry back in 2020 (Dolphins).

The TEs looked big & fast (fastest group ever at the combine!). The Broncos could sure use one of those TEs - take note Payton. Lol.

 

[Nomad]

What's going on here...only 5 QBs ran the 40? (3 dual-threats & 2 mobile-pocket passers). That's it. No Mendoza. No Simpson. No Allar (would have been nice to see how his surgically-repaired ankle has held up). And no Pavia? (are you kidding me - the best dual-threat in the nation didn't run? Lol).

The fastest of the day was Taylon Green, dual-threat out of Arkansas, who smoked a 4.36! He also recorded the all-time high vertical jump of 43.5"!. This is another freak athlete along the lines of Anthony Richardson with his size & type of arm-stength as well (he's touted as AR 2.0). But due to major accuracy problems, he's projected as a low draft pick...and considered a developmental project (I hear that some teams have approached him to work out with the WRs).

Kudos to Haynes King, the dual-threat out of GT, who smoked a 4.47! This guy has a lot going for him; elite height, a "rocket-launcher" for an arm (as described by scouts) & elite speed/running skills. He was the best QB in the ACC (1st team All-ACC). Does have some accuracy problems - particularly with intermediate routes & throwing mechanic issues. We'll have to see how he throws.

I haven't seen the QBs spin the ball yet as none of the videos have been posted yet on YT.

 

[movingtarget]

You almost had that situation last year where Ward was the undisputed #1 OA & the next best QB, Dart, was projected only as a 2nd rounder. But the Giants pulled a fast one trading their 2nd & 3rd round picks & 2026's 3rd round pick to the Texans for their 1st rd pick (25th) where Dart was drafted.

RBs looked good on the 40s - pretty fast group overall. Love smoked a 4.37 which is outstanding given his size (2nd fastest among the RBs). I really think KC will take him with the 9th pick.

And what a showing by Navy's Eli Heidenreich. He ran an impressive 4.46 which is faster than CMC! (Heidenteich, a multi-role RB that can catch as good as he can run, is about the same size as CMC). I had to look up when the last time a Navy RB made an NFL roster. It was Malcome Perry back in 2020 (Dolphins).

The TEs looked big & fast (fastest group ever at the combine!). The Broncos could sure use one of those TEs - take note Payton. Lol.

Supposed to be a very good TE and RB class also WR. Weak on QB class obviously. Probably lots of offense going earlier than usual. Defense caught up last season and the scoring was down as well. The run game seems to be back.

 

[SHAD0W93]

These QBs should take a page out of Cutler’s book and do everything. Even if you stink at it, they should still be trying to show their effort. Just shows laziness in my opinion.

 

[Oldman]

You almost had that situation last year where Ward was the undisputed #1 OA & the next best QB, Dart, was projected only as a 2nd rounder. But the Giants pulled a fast one trading their 2nd & 3rd round picks & 2026's 3rd round pick to the Texans for their 1st rd pick (25th) where Dart was drafted.

RBs looked good on the 40s - pretty fast group overall. Love smoked a 4.37 which is outstanding given his size (2nd fastest among the RBs). I really think KC will take him with the 9th pick.

And what a showing by Navy's Eli Heidenreich. He ran an impressive 4.46 which is faster than CMC! (Heidenteich, a multi-role RB that can catch as good as he can run, is about the same size as CMC). I had to look up when the last time a Navy RB made an NFL roster. It was Malcome Perry back in 2020 (Dolphins).

The TEs looked big & fast (fastest group ever at the combine!). The Broncos could sure use one of those TEs - take note Payton. Lol.

Seems like the really good NFL offenses are beginning to feature TEs, too. Big, fast play-action blockers/receivers are fun to watch, too.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Seems like the really good NFL offenses are beginning to feature TEs, too. Big, fast play-action blockers/receivers are fun to watch, too.

Beginning?
Offenses of past greats heavily featured Sharpe or Gonzalez. Not to mention the Patriots heavily featuring a dual TE attack with Gronk and Hernandez. If a team wants to succeed, they need a good TE as well. Brady, Manning, and Brees have said a good to great TE is like a cheat code because they’re usually bigger than those covering them. The biggest game changers are the ones who are great at receiving and blocking. Take Kelce who’s arguably top 3 and inarguably top 5 best TE receiver but is average at blocking and doesn’t do it a lot. Then you have someone like Gronkowski who was arguably top 3 receiving and blocking while inarguably top 5 in both, that could go out and catch a pass over your best corner and safety then the next play successfully block your best defensive lineman. I’d rather have a good to great receiver and tight end vs 2 good to great receivers.

What’s arguably and I’d like to see happen more (if roster allowed) is two WR and TE and 1 RB or 1 WR, 2-3 TE, 0-1 FB, and 1 RB in hurry up. The defense would be struggling to keep up due to the personnel they have to put out to not only protect run or pass. Bucs in 2022 tried this with 1 WR, 3 TE, and 1 RB ;
(which I had been calling for due to their absolutely terrible rushing attack) but they ended up going three and out. Chiefs, Bills, Eagles, Lions, and Bengals could all run something like this with their current roster. The first three would be even deadlier with the qbs rushing ability (pre Mahomes injury post pending).

On two TEs it was a pity Gronk got injured in 2016 so you couldn’t see Gronk and Bennett on the field together.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I think an issue is more and more TEs come out of college without having the blocking skills necessary for the NFL, and need coaching and snaps in that regard. Or we would see more 12, even 13 personnel. There's also the argument that a slot receiver today isn't as tough as they were years ago, even though guys are bigger. Meaning a "flanker" WR from 1980 wasn't afraid of throwing a crackback block on a charging LB if asked.

Here's a look at the WRs and QBs. I love how Carson Beck was booed in Indy (he apparently found it amusing as well). No one's arm really stood out to me, not even Haynes King. He won't be taken in the first round, but Taylon Green is a player a team will grab and try to develop. His father likened him to Randall Cunningham. Charles Davis compared him to Vince Young. He's not at that level and will need work on his passing, but he was a physical specimen. Drew Allar is another QB who looked good on most of his throws once he got into a rhythm. Likely would have gone in round 1 had he not been hurt early in the season. Nice to see Mendoza there stretching and mingling, even if he didn't participate.

 

[SHAD0W93]

I think it doesn’t help seeing the success of Kelce, transitioning more and more to passing, and increased injury risk either for college players to develop their blocking ability. On top of the bigger, stronger, and faster players. If NFL ran like before, they’d work on blocking more.

 

[Nomad]

I think an issue is more and more TEs come out of college without having the blocking skills necessary for the NFL, and need coaching and snaps in that regard. Or we would see more 12, even 13 personnel. There's also the argument that a slot receiver today isn't as tough as they were years ago, even though guys are bigger. Meaning a "flanker" WR from 1980 wasn't afraid of throwing a crackback block on a charging LB if asked.

Here's a look at the WRs and QBs. I love how Carson Beck was booed in Indy (he apparently found it amusing as well). No one's arm really stood out to me, not even Haynes King. He won't be taken in the first round, but Taylon Green is a player a team will grab and try to develop. His father likened him to Randall Cunningham. Charles Davis compared him to Vince Young. He's not at that level and will need work on his passing, but he was a physical specimen. Drew Allar is another QB who looked good on most of his throws once he got into a rhythm. Likely would have gone in round 1 had he not been hurt early in the season. Nice to see Mendoza there stretching and mingling, even if he didn't participate.

Good point on the TEs in college. With the heavy-pass orientated RPO schemes these days, TEs hardly block & a lot of times line up in the slot in a two-point stance. Heck, Mike Leach's air-raid offense didn't even have a TE! Lol.

Green is just another Anthony Richardson albeit slightly lighter in weight. Green is a better runner than passer. AR was a better runner than passer coming out of college, and still can't throw the ball worth a crap (if Indy is looking at trading him, then they've given up on him for good). Green's stats at Arkansas were terribe - major accuracy problems & a high number of picks relative to TD passes. I wouldn't draft Green higher than the 6th or 7th rd, and he should consider a position change to WR, IMO.

Allar was considered a top 10 pick after his fine performance in his Jr year (2024). He threw the ball very well & showed some dual-threat capabilities rushing for over 300 yds. But for some reason he had a drop off this past season in the 6 games he played prior to the injury. Since he closely resembles Allen in size, arm strength & athleticism (assuming his ankle injury is not a problem), I think a team will likely grab him on day 2 as a developmental project.

 

[Nomad]

Maybe Trey Lance should consider a position change to WR. His brother Bryce, who played WR instead of QB at NDSU, turned some heads at the combine:

WR Bryce Lance Turns Heads at NFL Combine

Recent North Dakota State wide receiver Bryce Lance carved out his own path at the NFL Combine on Saturday five years after his brother.

heavy.com

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

One of the pundits also compared Green to Terrelle Pryor, former OSU quarterback who the Raiders took with a supplemental draft pick in the 3rd round. He mostly played QB for Oakland, but also caught a couple passes. He tried to make it as a QB and was certainly athletic, but never much of a passer and switched to WR, which he played for a few teams. I think at Washington they had him at WR and he completed a pass on a trick play.

Here was Pryor's pro day, which one can see a classic Al Davis pick. Al used to love guys who were fast, or physically gifted (Bo being the most obvious). What makes the 40 time even more impressive is others that day were complaining the field was too soft.

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	40-yard dash	Wonderlic
6 ft 4+1⁄2 in (1.94 m)	240 lb (109 kg)	4.38 s	21
All values from Pryor's Pro Day

 

[Nomad]

I love how Carson Beck was booed in Indy

What were they booing him for? (If anyone was to be booed, I figured it would be Pavia? Lol). Speaking of Pavia - I can't find any video of him throwing? (maybe he's only throwing at Vandy's pro day?). I watched a couple of Vandy games last year & saw him throw a couple of nice bombs into tight windows. I also saw him throw a rocket on an off-platform pass rolling out to his weak side. For a small guy, he looks to generate some good velocity on his throws. And like I mentioned previously, his comp pct & passer rating was as good as Mendoza's.

And he also grew 1/8 inch over the last month! At the Senior bowl he measured 5'9 7/8" At the combine, he measured at an even 5'10" There may be hope for him after all. LOL

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Beck played for Miami, Mendoza played for Indiana. The championship game is fresh in fans minds.

Diego did fine. He's definitely bigger than Bryce Young. And at the rate he's growing, he could break 6' by draft day. Here's a short of him throwing deep:

And a video of a guy watching Diego's throws.

I'm thinking someone will draft him.

 

[movingtarget]

Browns agree to acquire Tytus Howard from Texans in trade, sign OT to three-year, $63M extension

Chiefs releasing OT Jawaan Taylor, clearing $20M in cap space ahead of new league year

 

[Oldman]

I think an issue is more and more TEs come out of college without having the blocking skills necessary for the NFL, and need coaching and snaps in that regard. Or we would see more 12, even 13 personnel. There's also the argument that a slot receiver today isn't as tough as they were years ago, even though guys are bigger. Meaning a "flanker" WR from 1980 wasn't afraid of throwing a crackback block on a charging LB if asked.

Here's a look at the WRs and QBs. I love how Carson Beck was booed in Indy (he apparently found it amusing as well). No one's arm really stood out to me, not even Haynes King. He won't be taken in the first round, but Taylon Green is a player a team will grab and try to develop. His father likened him to Randall Cunningham. Charles Davis compared him to Vince Young. He's not at that level and will need work on his passing, but he was a physical specimen. Drew Allar is another QB who looked good on most of his throws once he got into a rhythm. Likely would have gone in round 1 had he not been hurt early in the season. Nice to see Mendoza there stretching and mingling, even if he didn't participate.

UW has been cranking out big guys that can catch and block. The Transfer Portal makes it a little easier to just target those needs and could actually stifle development.
Your observation on slot receivers is spot on and seems true in the NFL. They are highly paid to catch passes, then; not get hurt. Added yards are for the adventurous...

 

[SHAD0W93]

Browns agree to acquire Tytus Howard from Texans in trade, sign OT to three-year, $63M extension

Chiefs releasing OT Jawaan Taylor, clearing $20M in cap space ahead of new league year

Chiefs fans might be happier about the less offensive penalties than the increased space.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

KC is definitely headed for a re-tooling. Their best bet for 2026 I think is they shed some cash, have a good draft, don't rush Mahomes back (I fear they will if Kelce keeps playing), and make a push late in the season, see if they can bounce back. But they also have a tough schedule, and both Denver and LA are in a much better place right now. So much of KC's success hinges on Mahomes.

Lions trade David "Knuckles" Montgomery to the Texans. Bummer for Lions fans, but he did less this past year, and the Lions could use the 4th and 7th round picks, as they also are re-tooling.

Quirky personal factoid: I named my rough and tumble cat Knuckles, somewhat after Montgomery.

 

[Nomad]

All of KC's success hinges on Mahomes, IMO. Things were going bad for him last season long before he tore his ACL. Some of the stats from last season are head shaking. A career low 89 passer rating (his career average is 100, and postseason average is 105!). A career low 22 TDs passes vs 11 picks. A career low big-time throws (23/17th) when he's usually in the top 5 every year (Stafford led the league with 46!).

And worst of all, he had only 1 4th QT/GWD comebacks as the Chiefs lost multiple one-score games. The year before the Chiefs were winning one-score games as Mahomes had a career high 7 4th QT/GWDs (Nix was the comeback kid last season leading the league with 8 4th QT/GWD).

Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City Chiefs QB | NFL and PFF stats

NFL and PFF player stats for Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes on Pro Football Focus.

www.pff.com

Something happen with Mahomes last season. He was not throwing the ball well at all. He had lost that magic to win one-score games late in the 4th QT. And it can't be because of age when you have 37 yr old Stafford with a bad back & all throwing the snot out of the ball winning MVP! (Mahomes is only 30 & he stays in good shape).

Something is not right here with the Gunslinger. The big question: Was this a one season anomaly or the start of a downward trend?

 

[Nomad]

Dolphins Exploring Trade for Promising Seahawks QB Jalen Milroe - Miami Today

The Miami Dolphins are in need of a new starting quarterback for the upcoming season, but their options in free agency and the draft are limited. As a result, the team is exploring a potential trade with the Seattle Seahawks for promising young QB Jalen Milroe, who was selected in the third...

nationaltoday.com

Probably a good move for Milroe since Darnold has firmly established himself as the franchise QB for years to come. And they seem content with Lock as the backup. Milroe will need time & patience to develop into a starter that he was drafted in the 3rd rd for.

 

[SHAD0W93]

If Mahomes continues the three season downward trend, it sucks the injury will stay hovering over his head. I hope he doesn’t rush back and taking time can even help him improve his pocket passing. I’d also be worried about another injury if he rushes back and doesn’t get enough game speed. I don’t know the statistics but it seems like more and more are getting injured in preseason and first couple weeks. It’ll be interesting to see if he goes to OTAs.

 

[Nomad]

Shadow, are you saying he was showing a downward trend in the two seasons prior to this most recent season? Because he's still ranked as a unanimous "Tier 1" QB.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6514160/2025/08/11/nfl-qb-rankings-tiers-2025-jackson-daniels/

Although Mahomes lost in the SB to the Eagles in the 2024 season, they went 15-2 & he had a career high 7 4th QT comebacks/GWD. Here's the write up from the GMs, HCs & OCs that voted him a Tier 1:

"Voters still consider Mahomes the best even though others have surpassed him statistically. "I think Mahomes is the best quarterback to ever live," an offensive coordinator said, "but the gap is smaller than it was a year ago."

This is Mahomes' fifth season as a unanimous Tier 1 selection. Only Aaron Rodgers, with six, has more unanimous selections since QB Tiers debuted in 2014.

"Mahomes is the best quarterback in the world," a GM said. "Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson had better individual seasons. In fairness, the infrastructure around Patrick has eroded."

Mahomes led the league last season in game-winning drives (seven) and fourth-quarter comeback victories (five), per Pro Football Reference. Both were single-season career highs as Kansas City went in games decided by eight points or less.

"Mahomes has the Brady seat now, until someone proves otherwise," an offensive coach said. "Last year, I saw a headline saying something to the effect of, 'Mahomes' worst year to date, and the Chiefs are undefeated.' This is when this guy is too good for his own good."The Chiefs' shrinking victory margins correlate with the shrinking gap between Mahomes, Burrow, Allen and Jackson.

"It would probably be Mahomes first just because he can beat you so many different ways," a defensive coordinator said. "He ain't fast, but he runs on you. He throws it from all over the place. I hate facing Lamar now that they have Derrick Henry. I hate to see Josh Allen, and then Joe (Burrow) has great targets, but you can get after him."

Mahomes ranked 10th in EPA per pass play, 17th in passer rating (93.5) and 26th in yards per attempt (6.8) last season.

"Patrick is obviously still a 1, but he is winning out of need at the end of games," a head coach said. "That is what it's about, but Burrow, Lamar and Josh played better than him in quarters one through four."

No voters came close to placing Mahomes in any other tier.
"Criticizing him is like walking into the Sistine Chapel and saying, 'I like Michelangelo's drawings, but his sense of color is off,'" a defensive coach with AFC West experience said."

The new Tier list will be coming out this August evaluating performances from this past season. I don't think one bad year will knock him down to Tier 2...but I don't know (?). Rodgers' decline from Tier 1 to currently Tier 3 occurred over several seasons of a steady decline in performance.