Baltimore Sports Today

Baltimore Sports News Continuously Updated

Daily Slop – 3 Apr 25 – Luke McCaffery is changing his jersey number

by


A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, and a sprinkling of other stuff

Commanders links

Articles

Bullock’s Film Room

NFL Draft Profile: CB Trey Amos

I’ve seen Amos linked to the Commanders at both their first and second round pick, which shows there’s quite a wide range of opinions on his value and where he’ll be drafted. Given all of that, I thought I’d spend some time watching him to see what he does well, if he’d be a good fit for what the Commanders are looking for and find out if he should be in the mix for the Commanders at pick 29.

Amos is an intriguing prospect. He’s a big, long cornerback measuring in at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds with 31¼-inch arms. With that size and length, Amos gets profiled pretty quickly as a physical press corner that can line up on the line of scrimmage, jam receivers at the line and be disruptive in their releases as he sticks tight to them in man coverage. There are certainly parts of that description that fit him well. His length does give him the advantage when he does line up in press coverage and he’s certainly not afraid to be physical at the line of scrimmage when jamming receivers.

So how does Amos fare when he’s not able to just lock up a receiver at the line of scrimmage while playing press? He’s still a very capable press corner but does have some things to work on.

This time Amos works in press coverage against Georgia, who have their receiver run a go route down the sideline. There’s both good and bad things to take away from this rep for Amos. For starters, Amos gets happy feet just before the snap. Ideally you want press corners to have calm, patient feet at the snap that forces receivers to declare their intentions instead. But here, you can see Amos is trying to anticipate the snap and starts moving his feet just before the snap of the ball. That means when the ball is snapped, Amos is already on his heels and shuffling backwards rather than staying patient and square to the receiver.

This movement takes Amos away from the receiver, which means he can’t extend his arms out and reach him to jam him at the line even if he wanted to. It was something I saw quite a few times from him, so it will be something he needs to improve on at the next level. Despite that, Amos does alright for most of this rep. As the receiver releases outside and tries to run by him, Amos opens up his hips and turns to run with the receiver, using his inside arm to make contact and force the receiver wider. Amos stays on top of the route and uses that arm length to drive the receiver closer to the sideline, closing the potential throwing window for the quarterback.

However, he does fall into a trap about 10 yards down the field. With the receiver pressed to the sideline, Amos decides to try and look back inside and sneak a peek at the quarterback to try and find any potential throw that might be coming. You can see his head turn back to the quarterback and as a result, he loses track of the receiver. The receiver uses that to his advantage to gain a step and run by him, but fortunately the quarterback threw the ball elsewhere.

The Athletic (paywall)

NFL execs unfiltered on free agency: What’s the Giants’ QB plan? Thoughts on all NFC teams

Washington Commanders

Added: $33M (18th) | Lost: $51.5M (7th) | Differential: -$18.5M (24th)

The Commanders signed or re-signed 23 free agents to one-year contracts, by far the highest number for any team this offseason. They traded picks for 30-year-old left tackle Laremy Tunsil and 29-year-old receiver Deebo Samuel. They surprisingly signed Javon Kinlaw to a three-year, $45 million deal after releasing Jonathan Allen.

“They are going for it,” an exec said. “(Coach) Dan Quinn is like, ‘Let’s go.’ I do respect that. It’s a boldness that is not afraid to fail. Kind of like Howie Roseman in Philly pouncing on Saquon Barkley.”

What is there to fear after Jayden Daniels’ breakout rookie season?

“I’m afraid that is the team that is going to have the quarterback hit the sophomore slump, and now you have invested in all these older guys and you are not really building a team anymore, you are just adding pieces,” another exec said, noting that C.J. Stroud’s production fell off after a breakout rookie season. “At some point, you get diminishing returns with all those old guys.”

It’s notable that one team with a quarterback on a rookie deal (Houston) traded its starting left tackle to another team with a quarterback on a rookie deal (Washington).

“If you are Houston, ‘Hey, we had Tunsil, and our offensive line was no good. He wants a new deal, and we can get value,’” an exec said. “If you are Washington, ‘Hey, Tunsil makes us better.’ Both things can be right. Houston probably does not want to give him a new deal and knows he will not be happy without one.”

Commanders.com

10 seventh-round draft prospects to watch on Day 3

In preparation for the draft, Commanders.com will look at 10 players who the Commanders could draft in each round they have a pick. We’ll start with the seventh round and move up to their first-round selection at No. 29.

Raheim Sanders, RB, South Carolina: Sanders is not coming off his best season as a runner — his career-high of 1,443 yards was two years ago — but he did have nearly 1,200 scrimmage yards with 13 total touchdowns. He adds a level of versatility that could elevate Washington’s backfield.

Tai Felton, WR, Maryland: The Ashburn, Virginia, native has plenty of speed in his skill set. He ran a 4.37 at the combine, which might result in a team taking him in an earlier round. Still, if Felton falls to Washington in the seventh round, he could be an interesting piece to its receiver room.

Robbie Ouzts, TE, Alabama: Whichever team ends up signing Ouzts will not do so because of what he does as a pass-catcher. With Ouzts, it’s all about blocking, and Alabama often used him as a lead blocker. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein also described him as being “built like an ironworker who has a squat rack in the garage.”

Riggo’s Rag

Commanders must test Bengals’ trade resolve as Trey Hendrickson friction builds

The Commanders need an elite edge rusher to take the next step.

Commanders must explore Trey Hendrickson trade after scathing Bengals criticism

He’s a model professional who always gives maximum effort to the cause. The leadership is exemplary, and his 35 sacks over the last two seasons are up there with anyone around the league. Washington would benefit greatly from having this sort of weapon on its defensive front, something that would also make things easier for the interior trio of Johnny Newton, Daron Payne, and free-agent signing Javon Kinlaw.

t’s the sort of all-in move that’s become synonymous with Peters in recent months. However, this would be the most difficult target to acquire.

The Commanders have only five draft picks at their disposal in 2025. They won’t get a better player in the first or second round, but this might impact Peters’ ethos to build through the college ranks even more after making a pivot from the original plan this offseason.

Podcasts & videos

Field Talk Podcast: Washington Commanders GM Adam Peters

Bengals & Hendrickson Dispute Intensifying, Kirk Cousins Update & The Tush Push

NFC East links

Big Blue View

New York Giants draft rumors: Schefter — ‘feels’ like Browns and Giants will pass on Shedeur Sanders

The rumor mill continues to swirl, and we continue to realize that nobody really knows anything

NFL insider Adam Schefter said on the ‘Pat McAfee Show’ that it “feels” like both the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants will pass on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the second and third picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.

“It certainly feels like the Cleveland Browns are inclined to look elsewhere, aside from quarterback,” Schefter said. “And it’s starting to feel like the New York Giants at No. 3 are starting to look elsewhere other than quarterback.”

We posted mock drafts from Bruce Feldman of The Athletic and Field Yates of ESPN on Tuesday where Sanders was the choice at No. 3.

Giants GM Joe Schoen said on Monday that after signing veteran quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston the Giants “can go any which direction” with the third pick.He also said to use a pick that high on a quarterback the franchise has to believe that player is capable of winning a Super Bowl.

NFL.com

2025 NFL Draft: Ideal top two picks for every team

Cowboys

Round 1: No. 12 overall: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Round 2: No. 44 overall: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State

The Cowboys have not had two wide receivers log 800-plus receiving yards in the same season since CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper in 2021 — so it would not be a surprise if they locked up McMillan with their first pick to pair with Lamb. McMillan’s size and agility would make him a downfield threat as well as a reliable target over the middle for quarterback Dak Prescott. Dallas would surely love for Ashton Jeanty to fall to 12, but that’s unlikely. Finding Henderson available at 44 would be good value, as he’ll offer more wiggle and explosiveness than free-agent signees Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams.

Giants

Round 1: No. 3 overall: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Round 2: No. 34 overall: Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama

Sanders seems destined to play under the bright lights of the big city. The Giants signed veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to relatively inexpensive short-term contracts, but the team still needs a future leader. Sanders commands the offense from the pocket and is effective on the run while carrying the same kind of self-confidence his father is well known for. If Booker’s lack of pure athleticism causes him to drop out of the first round, the Giants would snap him up to fill their need for a tough-minded interior blocker with experience at left and right guard.

Eagles
Round 1: No. 32 overall: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss

Round 2: No. 64 overall: Jaylin Lane, WR, Virginia Tech

The reigning Super Bowl champions don’t have a lot of weaknesses and are typically aggressive when moving up for players to fit their roster, so I see them grabbing the explosive Nolen, whom they might have to trade up for, to fill Milton Williams’ former 3- and/or 5-technique spot on the defensive line. Lane’s speed and quickness make him a great fit to share slot duties with DeVonta Smith; despite his smallish frame (5-9 3/4, 191), Lane does not shy away from contact after the catch.

Round 2: No. 61 overall: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss

The Commanders have signed veterans to play on the edge but lack a true speed demon. Green’s flexibility and quickness would give opposing offensive tackles fits, and he’s also willing to throw in a bull rush if given the chance. And while Washington has upgraded its receiver corps with the addition of Deebo Samuel, quarterback Jayden Daniels still needs a big-bodied big-play threat like Harris to pair with Terry McLaurin and round out the offense.

Pro Football Talk

Patriots trade Joe Milton to Cowboys

According to multiple reports, the Cowboys have traded for Milton to backup quarterback Dak Prescott.

The Patriots will receive a fifth-round pick in exchange for Milton and a seventh-round pick.

NFL league links

Articles

ESPN

Inside the NFL fight over the tush push … and what’s next

Despite appearing in just 0.28% of total plays last season, the tush push took up more time in conversation in Tuesday’s voting session than the rules proposal that altered the kickoff, a rules change that will affect 28 times more plays than push sneaks. The will they or won’t they? surrounding the potential tush push prohibition was the biggest news of the annual league meeting. And it was so pressing that the proposal was the subject of the first question faced by Goodell at his meeting-ending news conference.

The conversation around Green Bay’s proposal to institute a 10-yard penalty for immediately pushing the player who takes the snap was so back-and-forth that the proposal ultimately didn’t make it to a formal vote and was tabled. Even the word “immediately” within the phrase “immediately at the snap” was a subject of debate.

“It’s a layered conversation,” said one NFL team source, whose club voted for Green Bay’s proposal but also acknowledged that it didn’t like that the rule had competitive implications that attacked one team’s success — Philadelphia’s.

“If it’s a competitive conversation, the Eagles just coach it better than the rest of us,” Panthers head coach Dave Canales said. “So I don’t want to take away a competitive advantage from the team that figured out how to have the quarterback sneak [be] so effective.”

“We spent so much time on this single play,” said a source who was in the room for the sessions. “How many times did the pushing even make a difference last year? Once or twice, and the teams were less successful than they were on traditional sneaks.”

“Sean [McDermott] and I have talked about this a little bit, just on the competition committee,” McVay said. “Some of the pushback is about health and safety risks, and Howie made a great point about the fact that, hey, there’s other plays, well, why is that any different than normal sneak, some of the short yardage and goal-line situations? I said, it’s a very valid point, and then I did acknowledge the fact that I didn’t like the optics [of the play], even though I know I sound like a hater, wanting it out, because you guys [the Eagles] do it better than anybody else. And they were telling me that I was a hater for that.”

“You’ve got two or three passionate guys, coaches that, and in this case, Howie the GM, that are sharing their thoughts,” McDermott said. “All three of us are about doing what’s best for the game.”

Multiple sources told ESPN that Sills presented hypothetical injury data to clubs during sessions this week, based on projected modeling. The NFL declined to comment on Sills’ presentation through a league spokesperson.

“Most of [the injury data] is subjective,” said Moore, who called the play 39 times last season in Philadelphia. “I feel very comfortable with the league keeping it.”

One club executive said he didn’t like the play and doesn’t think it should be in the game because it’s not a football play, but he also didn’t agree with the injury risk as the reason to ban it. He argued all pushing of ball carriers in the game should be banned, as it was in a previous iteration of the rulebook.

A source with direct knowledge of the competition committee’s thinking said before the voting session Tuesday that clubs had to take the injury conversation seriously. “You can’t disregard it,” the source said.

“Nobody wants to vote no on it, and then God forbid, something happens.”

NFL.com

Trey Hendrickson says Bengals exec’s comments on contract talks were ‘disappointing’

Following Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn’s comments at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting on Tuesday, in which she said Hendrickson “should be happy at certain rates that maybe he doesn’t think he’d be happy at,” the pass rusher joined The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday to express his displeasure.

“That was a little disappointing because communication has been poor over the last couple of months,” Hendrickson said. “That’s something that I hold in high regard. They have not communicated with my agent directly. It’s been something that’s been a little bit frustrating, but again, this is the business of it. I’m incredibly blessed to be in the NFL, and I’m excited to be a Bengal, right?”

Hendrickson, who is set to make $15.8 million on the final year of his current deal, said he was assured the past several seasons that the club would address the issues he had with his contract, including long-term security, which the team has yet to reciprocate.

“Last year and the year before I’ve been talking about long-term contract, guaranteed money, things like that. It was discussed with me in a meeting, which I’m very fortunate to have had with my agent, that we would get something done this year. So that being said, last year, ‘Go out and play, play at the level you have, we’ll get it done’ — that was communicated with me. So basically, this year, it’s going to get worked on. They also reiterated that at the combine. So that just kind of clears the air on that. Moving forward, the happiness of my camp … [the Bengals] are more than welcome to call me. I’ve had my cell phone, same cell phone number since high school, open line of communication is always open with me and my agents. So if they have anything they’d like to discuss, we’ve been nothing but willing to listen.”

“I don’t think I want to play for incentives that will be out of my control. I don’t think I want to play for a short-term contract and see where it goes. I would like to tell my wife here is where we’re going to live, here’s where we’re going to build a family together. Some of those things come from what I’ve been able to do on a football field. I like that to do the talking for me.”

The Bengals allowed Hendrickson to seek a trade earlier this offseason, partly so he could see how the rest of the NFL valued him in hopes of striking a deal. The inability of the sides to come to an agreement or trade suggests either no one is willing to meet Hendrickson’s contract price, or they’re not willing to meet Cincy’s trade demands — or both.

With OTAs opening later this month and the 2025 NFL Draft approaching on April 24, Hendrickson’s situation will become more pronounced, particularly if both sides continue to chatter in open spaces.

Discussion topics

Athlon Sports

10 Greatest NFL Quarterback Classes of All-Time

The Class of 2024 cracks the list, with a chance to move up in the years to come.

9. Class of 2024

Six quarterbacks taken in the first round tied the record set by the amazing class of ’83. The fact that all six went in the first 12 picks is a sign that a) these guys have immense potential and/or b) a lot of teams were desperate to find a franchise quarterback. Jayden Daniels was far and away the best of this bunch as a rookie — he had one of the best seasons an NFL rookie has ever had, quarterback or otherwise.

5. Class of 2020

While the 2020 draft produced four first-round quarterbacks, it was second-round pick Jalen Hurts who was the first to win a Super Bowl. That said, all five of these QBs are good enough to be perennial contenders, vy for postseason honors and have an outside shot at Canton.

Notable Names

  • Joe Burrow (Bengals, No. 1)
  • Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins, No. 5)
  • Justin Herbert (Chargers, No. 6)
  • Jordan Love (Packers, No. 26)
  • Jalen Hurts (Eagles, No. 53)

Vital Stats

  • 1 Super Bowl win
  • 1 Super Bowl MVP
  • 3 Super Bowl appearances
  • 2 Comeback Player of the Year

All aTwitter