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New York Giants will pick No. 3 in 2025 NFL Draft
The Giants finish 3-14, and pick third overall
The Giants capped a miserable season with a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles backups to fall to 3-14 on the year. Unfortunately for the Giants, both the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns also ended their year on losses. The New England Patriots, meanwhile, beat the Buffalo Bills to finish 4-13 and are drafting fourth.
Both the Titans and Browns have pressing needs at quarterback. The Titans benched Will Levis in favor of Mason Rudolph, and while the Browns are stuck with Deshaun Watson for now, they could look to the draft for an eventual replacement.
The Giants’ victory over the Colts — or their win over the Browns — could have locked them out of the top of the quarterback draft completely. Had the Patriots kept the first overall pick, they might have been amenable to a trade. New England’s win, however, may have put the Giants in the same situation as they were in a year ago, when none of the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, or Patriots had any interest in striking a deal.
The Giants’ offseason starts now, and could be complicated regardless of what happens with the front office and coaching staff. The team only has Tommy DeVito under contract and need a quarterback to build around.
dallascowboys.com
Jerry Jones on McCarthy, Zimmer and Micah contracts; Cowboys’ outlook for 2025
On a timeline for a McCarthy decision:
“I’ll follow the kind of the timeframe that I’ve done in the past. So the way that it’s evolved in the past will be a timeframe, and I can tell you the past is not necessarily consistent in terms of a timeframe. … At the risk of talking about something that I don’t want to talk about at this time, but we’ve got a lot of work to do, but certainly we’re all looking for ways to get better.
“… That’s what the next few days and weeks or about now, founded on everything that’s happened this year and everything that’s happened over the last four years, for they’re not really much different than any time that we’ve had a year that is over. I’ve had coaches under contract that I thought we might consider a change and they were thinking maybe a change under contract. So this business of under or out of contract is not an influencer with me at all.”
On when contract talks will begin with Micah Parsons:
“I’ll talk to Micah. I’ll talk to him about it. As a matter of fact, I think he’s called and I think he’s sitting with me at the Cotton Bowl, so that’s probably where we’ll do some talking.”
On if he’d ever consider giving up GM duties:
“No, just no. I bought the team. I think the first thing that came out of my mouth when somebody asked [after that transaction], ‘Did you buy this for your kids?’ I said, ‘Hell no. I bought it for [myself], and I didn’t buy an investment. I bought an occupation and I bought something that I was going to do for the rest of my life, and that’s what I’m doing.’
“And so, no. The facts are that since I have to decide where the money’s spent, then you might as well cut all the bulls-it out. That’s who’s making the call anyway.”
Blogging the Boys
Jerry Jones says he did not know about contract incentive involving QB Cooper Rush
Word first broke that Dallas was going to have Lance see “significant” snaps at quarterback on Saturday and did so amid a bit of controversy. This was the case as it was reported earlier in the week that quarterback Cooper Rush had an incentive in his contract worth $500,000 that was dependent on play time percentage that he would surely not reach if he did not play on Sunday (he wound up not playing at all).
Cowboys QB Cooper Rush gets $500,000 in incentives if he plays 55% of the team’s snaps this season.
Going into Sunday he’s played 52.5%. Depending on snaps, he’ll need to play most or all of the game to reach that incentive, otherwise he’ll only earn $250k for reaching 45% mark
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) January 2, 2025
Jerry Jones was asked about this whole saga in the aftermath of Sunday’s game and defended the team’s, or at least his own, position by saying that he did not even know about the incentive until he read about it, seemingly when the world did.
Jerry Jones is the operating general manager of the Dallas Cowboys. You can believe what you would like to as far as what that exactly means, but it doesn’t change that it is true in a titular sense.
As you can imagine this generated another wave of discussion about Jerry and the Cowboys. Bob Sturm put it well in that Jerry cannot claim to be the general manager of the team and not know about something like this given that it is a GM’s job to do so.
“I didn’t even know about it until I read about it.”
Ok, buddy. Here is the reality: either you are the GM or you aren’t. If you don’t know what your own team contracts say, then you are the worst GM in the league. Every GM’s job is to know that. https://t.co/KWA1DHhll0
— Bob Sturm (@SportsSturm) January 5, 2025
NFL.com
2024 NFL season, Week 18: What We Learned from Sunday’s games
Commanders at Cowboys
- Mariota pushes Washington into No. 6 seed. Following a mistake-filled first half by the starting offense, Marcus Mariota came in to save the day and punctuated his great performance with a spectacular game-winning touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter. Down three points with six seconds left to play and no timeouts from the Dallas 5-yard line, kicking a field goal for overtime was on the table for Dan Quinn, but he nodded for one more shot at the end zone. Mariota delivered, lofting a pretty jump ball for Terry McLaurin, who came down with the game-winning catch with two seconds left. It was the final play of an 11-play, 81-yard drive led by the Commanders’ backup quarterback, who completed 5 of 6 passes for 41 yards on the possession and kept it alive with a 33-yard run on fourth down three plays prior to his game-sealing throw. Mariota, who finished 15-of-18 passing for 161 yards and three total touchdowns (two passing, rushing), led the Commanders to TDs on three of four second-half possessions, and earned Washington the NFC’s No. 6 seed with the victory. If there was ever an example of the importance of having a seasoned veteran at backup QB, this was it. And Mariota turned around an otherwise gloomy day into a celebration as Washington ends its regular season on a high note.
- Lance showcases himself in season finale. Making his first start since Week 2 of the 2022 season, Trey Lance got a chance to show where he stands before entering free agency. Those results were up and down. The 24-year-old came out of the gate hot, completing his first three passes for 70 yards, but the chain-moving drive only set up what would be a continuous struggle in the red zone. The Cowboys settled for field goals on four of six red-zone opportunities and Lance’s inaccuracy in close quarters was partly to blame. The best example was on Dallas’ final drive of the first half when Lance impressively scrambled out of pressure on fourth-and-goal but underthrew a wide-open Rico Dowdle for a would-be TD. It was one of several TD opportunities for Lance, who finished 20-of-34 passing for 244 yards while adding 26 rushing yards, but he remains without a TD toss in over three years. His ability to move the chains and leading a turnover-less offense showed he could command, but ultimately falling short in the red zone resulted in Dallas dropping an otherwise winnable game. Lance concludes his fourth season with a respectable performance, but if it catapults him into the starting opportunity he’s seeking in 2025 remains to be seen.
- Commanders’ starting offense sloppy in Week 18. Through two quarters, things looked bleak for Washington having produced its worst first-half performance this season with 64 total yards, 20 passing yards, and four first downs (all season lows). Jayden Daniels immediately felt that wrath, getting sacked on two of the first three plays of the game and twice more before getting sat out of precaution after halftime. His final numbers on the day (6 of 12 for 38 yards) could have been better if not for a couple of uncharacteristic drops by McLaurin and another big one by Olamide Zaccheaus in the second quarter that would’ve been for a TD. The Commanders’ silent rushing attack didn’t help Daniels’ cause and Jamison Crowder’s muffed punt in the first half (caused by his own teammates) was another example of Washington’s sleep walk in Week 18. Thanks to Mariota, the Commanders avoided an ugly loss before the playoffs, but there will be plenty of material for them to improve upon as they head into the wild-card round.
Next Gen Stats Insight for Commanders-Cowboys (via NFL Pro): Terry McLaurin hauled in eight catches for 62 yards on 12 targets in Week 18 against the Cowboys, including the game-winning touchdown with 6 seconds remaining in regulation; 57 of his 62 yards came in the fourth quarter. McLaurin faced Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland on 28 routes, which accounted for seven of his eight receptions, 56 of his 62 yards, and the game-winning touchdown.
NFL Research: The Commanders won 12-plus games in a season for the first time since 1991 (14-2, won Super Bowl XXVI).
Eagles at Giants
- McKee, Eagles backups beat up Giants to close out regular season. The Eagles’ third-string quarterback, Tanner McKee, diced up the Giants’ beleaguered defense to the tune of 27-of-41 passing for 269 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. McKee was calm in the pocket, peppering the New York defense with short darts. The third-stringer displayed a good understanding of what the defense was trying to do pre-snap and hit the correct targets. Despite playing without the starting receivers and having little ground support, McKee and the Eagles put up 303 yards, including 211 in the first half to build a 10-0 lead. Philly fans have been clamoring for McKee to get a chance at the backup gig after good preseason outings. The Eagles have resisted in the past. Perhaps Sunday’s performance will change the calculus in 2025.
- Nabers shines in another loss. In a forgettable season, at least the Giants had Malik Nabers. The rookie caught five passes for 64 yards and the Giants’ only touchdown. Nabers is sensational, and despite missing two games, finishes the season with 109 total catches — a rookie wide receiver record and briefly leapfrogs Raiders tight end Brock Bowers for the most ever by a rookie. However, the season ended in predictable fashion for the 2024 New York Giants. Defenders jumped offsides on fourth downs, a host of missed tackles, and a Drew Lock interception to seal the deal. Despite Philly sitting every starter it could possibly muster, Big Blue played small. The offense couldn’t sustain drives, failing twice on downs in the first half and going three-and-out thrice. The defense got punctured by a third-string QB and backup pass catchers. The loss to backups gives Giants ownership another level to consider in deciding whether or not to move forward with general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.
- Eagles get out healthy ahead of wild-card meeting with Packers. Philly sat the likes of Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, Zack Baun and others to give their key playmakers a rest before the postseason. Those who did play, like Dallas Goedert (coming off injury) or Jordan Davis came through unscathed. Mission accomplished for Nick Sirriani’s club, which will take on the Green Bay Packers in the opening round. It’s a rematch of Week 1, when the Eagles outlasted the Packers in Brazil.
Next Gen Stats Insight for Giants-Eagles (via NFL Pro): Malik Nabers hauled in five of his eight targets for 64 yards and a touchdown in Week 18, accounting for 51.8% of the Giants’ air yards. Nabers recorded his lone touchdown on a 45-yard reception in the fourth quarter, which was his second-deepest reception by air yards (29) this season.
NFL Research: A 14th loss marks a franchise worst for the New York Giants, who went winless in the NFC East.
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NFL.com
Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill indicates he’s done playing in Miami: ‘I’m out’
Hill caught only two passes for 20 yards on Sunday before exiting the game in the fourth quarter. Head coach Mike McDaniel said he was told Hill was not available and that he hadn’t suffered a new injury.
Hill, 30, stopped short of saying he was definitely asking for a trade. But Sunday night on social media, he posted what appeared to be a farewell message to fans.
McDaniel sidestepped Hill’s comments about possibly wanting out when asked by reporters and plans to meet with his receiver soon.
“I’m not going to (put) too much weight on second-hand, postgame disappointment statements,” McDaniel said. “We will see how (the) next couple days progress in convos with him and I.”
After reworking his deal last year, Hill remains under contract for the next two seasons, with salary cap hits of $27.7 million (2025) and $51.9 million (2026), via OverTheCap.
Hill famously asked out of Kansas City, leading to the Chiefs to trade him to Miami prior to the 2022 season. The Chiefs have won two Super Bowls since Hill left and are the No. 1 seed in this year’s playoffs. The Dolphins officially were eliminated from the postseason on Sunday, and Hill is coming off his worst full-season statistics since his rookie year.
Over the Cap
The Cost to Trade or Cut Tyreek Hill
Cutting Hill outright is not feasible for Miami unless he gives up his guaranteed salary. The cost to cut Hill would be $55.95 million on the salary cap if Hill was a straight release. They could opt for a post June 1 cut but the dead money next year would be either $40.4 million if they did not exercise the option or $27.7 million if they did. Exercising the option would reduce the ability for Miami to offset that guarantee when Hill signed elsewhere.
Trading Hill would be reasonable as the dead money is just $28.3 million, which is about his current cap number. If they waited until the summer to execute a trade the number would drop to only having to account for $15.9 million in 2025 and the rest of it in 2026. That might give the Dolphins whatever cap room they need to function for the 2025 year since they have a bad salary cap situation where they project to be around $11 million over the salary cap.