The 2025 defensive line class is a goldmine. We examine and provide context. Not surprisingly, it took over an hour. Join us here —-> https://t.co/HvR2tw05cF

— Todd McShay (@McShay13) February 18, 2025

Rodrigue, from Assessing Matthew Stafford’s, Cooper Kupp’s situations with the Rams: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6137806/2025/02/17/rams-matthew-stafford-cooper-kupp-future/

That…brings us to Kupp, whose situation has not changed much since he learned of the Rams’ intent to trade him this offseason. The move is the product of a combination of factors, including his expensive contract and struggles to stay healthy and the emergence of a tight-knit core of young players who have built their identity inside a locker room that is detached from the previous Super Bowl era, especially after Aaron Donald’s retirement.

Kupp’s issues with injuries over the past three seasons should also come with some context. His all-out physical and mental effort to secure the NFL’s triple crown in 2021 and help the Rams win a Super Bowl certainly altered him, and it always seemed like he had to play catch-up with his rehabilitation process in the offseason until he could fully train this summer. And he still missed four games with an ankle injury during the season.

Because the Rams previously designed much of their passing and running game to flow through Kupp, they found themselves reliant on his health and adjusted elements of their offense when he wasn’t able to play, including difficult in-season pivots. Especially over the past year, they leveraged young star Puka Nacua (whom Kupp has mentored) into the No. 1 receiver spot, and they need to improve their overall speed and get younger at the new Nos. 2 and 3 spots.

Could Kupp still be a No. 1 target somewhere else? He was openly dismayed by his No. 2/3 role by the end of the season, which might hint toward his hopes with a new team. Teams such as the Pittsburgh Steelers (who inquired about Kupp before the trade deadline), Kansas City Chiefs or Denver Broncos could be fits where he’d see a decent volume of targets. Kupp also noted that the Rams would work with him to find a trade partner, which means they might accept less (and take on some of his remaining salary) for the right fit.

Kupp has a $7.5 million roster bonus due March 17, so the situation has to be resolved by then whether he is traded or released.

from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/13/rams-tackling-nfl-grades-stats-2024-season/?taid=67ae7982bbd52000018d3683&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

Next Gen Stats ranked every team based on their tackling grade and the Rams checked in at No. 15 with a score of 79.1 (C+) – a respectable spot, especially considering how poor the tackling was early in the year. In tackling efficiency, the Rams went from 26th in the first 10 weeks to eighth in the final eight weeks, which helped them climb to No. 15 overall.

Through the first 10 weeks of the season, the Rams ranked 26th in the NFL in tackle efficiency, while no healthy starter posted a missed tackle rate below 9.5% and the team had a win-loss record of 4-5. In the last eight weeks of the regular season, they ranked eighth in tackle efficiency while finishing with a 6-2 record, then converted 70 of 74 tackle opportunities in their Wild Card Round win over the Vikings. From Week 11 through the playoffs, seven starters (Christian Rozeboom, Omar Speights, Quentin Lake, Kamren Kinchens, Kamren Curl, Darious Williams, Bobby Brown) recorded a missed tackle rate of 8.8% or lower.

Jared Verse is one player who improved dramatically as the season went on. Missed tackles were a huge problem for him early in the year, missing 11 tackles in the first four games alone – which, in turn, cost him a handful of sacks, too. In the final 15 games, however, he missed just 10 tackles, according to Pro Football Focus.

zn wrote:

and the Rams pass rush got to the Eagles.

Against these guys.

The Eagles have some big offensive lineman… and they played big all the time. Watch LT, RG and RT use their size to give Hurts a comfortable pocket. pic.twitter.com/eR0KDVbgiy

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) February 11, 2025

2025 NFL draft rankings: Field Yates’ top 32 prospects

Field Yates

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2025/insider/story/_/id/42605227/2025-nfl-draft-rankings-board-top-prospects-best-positional-field-yates

We’re officially into the offseason for college football and the NFL — and all eyes are focused on the 2025 NFL draft. So now seems like an appropriate time to unveil a fresh set of player rankings for this class.

Two important things to understand here:

This isn’t representative of where I think players will get drafted. This is my personal ranking of how I stack the prospects based on their overall talent and what I see on tape. This list doesn’t factor in team needs or positional value. For my projection of where I believe players could actually be drafted, check out my new mock draft.

Even though the 2024 season is over, a lot can still change, and this list will remain fluid up until Round 1 on April 24. The combine is in a few weeks, and pro days follow. We’ll also learn more about injury situations for a handful of players over the coming months.

Here is my updated ranking of the top 32 players in the 2025 class, along with the top names at every position.

1. Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 185 pounds

One of the most unique prospects we have ever seen, Hunter has rare versatility and legitimate upside to be a top player as a wide receiver or cornerback. His ball skills are outstanding; he is a true playmaker on offense, and his instincts give him lockdown ability on defense. I’m sure he will get the opportunity to contribute on both sides of the ball in the pros in some capacity, but I have him ranked as primarily a cornerback right now. He finished the 2024 season with 36 tackles, 4 interceptions and 10 pass breakups on defense, along with 96 catches for 1,258 yards and 15 scores on offense.

2. Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 259

It’s a coin flip for the top player in the class between Hunter and Carter, whose profile screams Pro Bowl pass rusher. He has an elite first step and can bend the edge extremely well. He dominated this past season — his first as a full-time edge rusher after converting from linebacker — with 12 sacks, 23.5 tackles for loss and 61 pressures. I love his acceleration off the edge, which will lead to many game-wrecking moments in the NFL.

3. Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 320

Graham will wreck the interior of opposing pockets as a pass rusher and is stout against the run (14 run stops this season). He is strong at the point of attack, is willing to do the dirty work and has active hands that make him a brutal assignment to block for 60 minutes. He fires off the ball with great first-step quickness and combines that with an understanding of how to win with leverage. He has more upside than his 3.5 sacks over 12 games in 2024 would suggest.

4. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 215

Jeanty has exceptional speed, contact balance, vision, receiving ability and stamina, as he put together an incredible final season in college. He finished with 2,601 rushing yards and 30 total touchdowns (29 rushing, one receiving). No running back in this class comes close to his ability to make defenders miss in the hole, run through tackles, make decisive cuts and affect the passing game. We can debate the merits of taking a running back early all day, but Jeanty is a top-five prospect on talent alone.

5. Jalon Walker, Edge/LB, Georgia
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 245

Walker played 591 defensive snaps this season and moved between standup linebacker and lining up at edge. The latter spot is his best position despite his modest length. No Georgia player’s impact was felt more consistently this season than Walker’s. He had 6.5 sacks (tied for team lead), 62 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and a pair of fumble recoveries. He has the juice to fire off the edge and disrupt the quarterback.

6. Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 320

Campbell is a battle-tested tackle (38 career starts) with excellent footwork and body control. He was a Week 1 starter at left tackle as a true freshman back in 2022, and he rarely allows his quarterback to come under duress; only two sacks have been attributed to Campbell over the past two seasons. His ability to match and mirror opposing edge rushers gives him serious upside despite arm length concerns.

7. Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 265

Williams looks the part. He has rare length for the position and an explosive first step. Williams’ production is not exactly eye-popping (just 14 sacks in three seasons), but he does more outside of the box score as an edge setter. He brings power, bend and acceleration off the edge, and he hit double digits on tackles for loss for a second straight season (10.5) despite missing a few games with an ankle injury.

8. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 210

McMillan has exceptional size for the position and runs great routes. He is an explosive red zone target, tapping into his volleyball background to use his size to his advantage and make the tough 50-50 catches. He is the only FBS player with 1,300-plus receiving yards in each of the past two seasons (1,319 in 2024).

9. Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 257

Warren’s breakout 2024 season solidified him as one of the “don’t overthink this one” prospects of this class. In other words, you know what you’re getting with him in a pro offense. Warren is a force with the football in his hands, as his power helped him to 700 yards after the catch, third most in the FBS. He brushes tacklers off with ease, plays with great vision and shows sure hands on the tape. He’s a huge factor as a blocker, too. Warren finished the season with 104 catches for 1,233 yards and eight TD receptions.

10. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 202

Johnson was limited to six games in 2024, but we can go back to 2023 to see his potential. He had a case as the best player on arguably the best defense we’ve seen in recent college football history. Johnson has excellent size, reactive traits and ball skills, with nine career picks. If there is a question surrounding Johnson, it would be his speed. It’s unclear if we’ll get a timed answer before the draft, though, because of his toe injury.

11. Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 320

Banks will arrive to the NFL with an unusual amount of experience for a third-year player — he started from day one at Texas and held up extremely well against excellent competition. Much like Campbell, there are some questions about whether Banks has the ideal frame and length to play left tackle, but he has light feet, reactive traits and very good pass protection instincts. Over 42 career starts, he allowed just three sacks.

12. Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 223

The top-ranked quarterback on my board is the best innovator in this year’s class. Ward — a strong-armed, mobile and experienced player — often turns nothing into something. His decision-making early in games put Miami in some deficits this season, but his overall poise and fearlessness in key moments is unmistakable. Ward completed 67.2% of his throws, led the FBS with 39 passing TDs and ran for four more scores in 2024.

13. Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 245

Loveland has what it takes to change a passing offense at the NFL level as a mismatch player. Defenses have to decide whether a linebacker is skilled enough to hold up against him or if a defensive back has the adequate size. He is talented route runner with a quality catch radius and the ability to line up at a variety of different spots. He also runs fluidly and with purpose after the catch, and he can consistently generate separation against man coverage. Loveland produced despite a lackluster Michigan offense in 2024, posting 56 catches and 582 yards to lead the Wolverines in both categories.

14. Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 325

Booker brings about as much strength and force as any player in the entire class. His powerful frame creates lanes in the running game. But on top of his run-game prowess, Booker also did not allow a single sack in 741 snaps played for Alabama this season.

15. Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 310

It’s hard to find an offensive tackle who moves as smoothly as Simmons, as he has outstanding feet that lead to elite pass protection skills. Simmons suffered a major knee injury in October, which clouds his draft range a bit. But if not for the injury, he’d be inside my top 10 players overall. In 153 pass protection snaps this season, he did not give up a single pressure.

16. Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 248

Green led the FBS with 17 sacks in 2024, and he added 22 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles and 51 pressures. His excellent first-step quickness, power and deep arsenal of rush moves helped him become an unstoppable force for the Thundering Herd. While Marshall’s schedule did not include a bunch of NFL-caliber offensive tackles, scouts saw Green more than hold his own against Ohio State this past season. He also looked good at the Senior Bowl.

17. Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 290

Stewart is a big-swing prospect. On one hand, his traits are as impressive as any pass rusher’s in this entire class. He has excellent size, length, fluidity, power and acceleration off the edge. It also wouldn’t surprise me if he runs at or below 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the combine. But on the other hand, he had just 4.5 sacks over three college seasons. He must still prove he can become a much better finisher to realize his first-round potential.

18. Armand Membou, OT/G, Missouri
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 314

Few players helped their draft stock this season more than Membou. The 20-year-old showed incredible power and physicality for the Tigers. He’s a very capable mover, too, and he allowed just five sacks over 36 career games (36 starts). Some scouts believe he is best suited to play guard at the NFL level, but I won’t discount a future home at tackle considering his 81-inch arm length. He is an ascending player.

19. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 215

Sanders is the best pocket passer in this class, as his ball placement and ability to throw with touch are outstanding. He led the FBS with a 74.0% completion percentage and was fourth with 4,134 passing yards. He has a ton of experience (25 starts at Colorado and 25 more at Jackson State) and brings elite toughness to the table. However, he must play with more urgency in the pocket, as he took more sacks (behind a shaky offensive line) than any quarterback in the nation for a second straight year (42).

20. Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 310

Harmon made major strides in his first and only season with the Ducks after transferring from Michigan State. He led FBS tackles in pressures (35), and his length and power at the point of attack lend themselves to scheme versatility in the NFL. He can rock pass protectors backward to collapse the pocket and stuff runners with effortless strength. And another trait that is hard to quantify but you know when you see it: Harmon is a no-plays-off player. His motor runs nonstop.

21. Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 315

Conerly was a steadying force along the Oregon offensive line, as he surrendered just one sack in 2024 and even held Abdul Carter without a pressure in the Big Ten championship. While Conerly lacks elite foot quickness, he has very good length and a fundamental understanding of pass protection that make him so reliable.

22. Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 205

Starks was a ball magnet for much of his college career, as he posted six interceptions and 15 pass breakups over three seasons. He has the vision and speed to limit explosive plays on the back end, but he also has the coverage skills and agility to hang over the slot in man-to-man. He is a forceful safety against the run, as well. Starks has the versatility to play as a center fielder or in the slot in the NFL, though his production and overall impact dipped in 2024.

23. Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 305

The NFL has prioritized defensive tackles who can really rush the passer, and Nolen fits the bill. He finished with 6.5 sacks in 2024, his first and only season with Ole Miss after transferring from Texas A&M. His explosion off the snap and power make him disruptive, and he can run through offensive linemen or rush around them with his suddenness and acceleration. He needs to be more consistent than streaky, but someone with his upside doesn’t typically last long in the draft.

24. James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 243

Pearce entered the 2024 season with lofty expectations, as he has rare burst off the edge and the ability to bend around offensive linemen to create pressure. He had a solid 7.5 sacks, but his impact was not felt consistently enough. Even so, his physical traits are so good that NFL teams should be very interested in Round 1. He has length, power and body control, and he got pressure on 19.0% of his career pass-rush snaps.

25. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 208

This ranking would have raised eyebrows a year ago, as Burden was a dominant force in 2023 with 1,212 receiving yards. But 2024 was a bit of a disappointment; he totaled 676 yards on 61 catches. Still, Burden’s power, explosiveness and run-after-catch traits illustrate his potential. Over three seasons, Burden averaged 7.0 yards after the catch per reception and forced 72 missed tackles.

26. Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 339

In what is a loaded defensive tackle class, I’m not sure any DT is more difficult to move at the point of attack than Grant. He has a fantastic blend of size and power in the middle of a defense, and while he is not going to be the first man home on most pass rushes, he takes up space that allows others to go to work. (He also still had three sacks in 2024, along with 17 pressures.)

27. Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 244

For a linebacker to go in Round 1, he needs to have versatility and the capacity to be on the field whether the opponent needs one or 10 yards. Campbell is that guy, as he has excellent speed and range to hold up against the pass, along with the downhill force to make tackles as a run defender. He also rushed off the edge occasionally at Alabama. Campbell finished his final college season with 112 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 12 run stops, 5 sacks and an interception. He does it all.

28. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 205

Egbuka finished his Ohio State career as the school’s all-time leader in receptions (205), a testament to his dependability. He might not have the elite size or speed that travels to the NFL, but he does not have a glaring hole in his game. Egbuka runs great routes, rarely drops passes and can play both in the slot and on the perimeter. Scouts love his makeup, and he’s a clutch player who should fit in well with an NFL offense. Egbuka had 1,011 yards and 10 scores in 2024.

29. Donovan Jackson, OT/G, Ohio State
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 320

After spending his entire career as a guard, Jackson kicked out to left tackle for Ohio State in October when Josh Simmons went down due to injury. He more than held his own, which exemplifies the reliability he brings to the table. Jackson is still an NFL guard to me. He has the power, toughness and size to anchor after allowing four total sacks over 53 career games (40 starts).

30. Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 186

I’m a fan of corners who find the football, and Hairston knows how to do that. His five interceptions led the SEC in 2023, and he had three pick-sixes over the past two seasons (including on his lone 2024 interception). He has elite ball skills and excellent speed that I think will help him work his way up the boards as the process continues. I saw some really good timing and instincts from him at the Senior Bowl, and he should fly in the 40-yard dash later this month.

31. Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 227

Emmanwori is another prospect who might climb even further up the board over the next couple of months, as his physical tools are extremely hard to find in a safety. Several scouts I’ve spoken with believe he could be the first safety taken in the draft after a stellar final season that featured four interceptions and two pick-sixes.

32. Jonah Savaiinaea, OT/G, Arizona
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 330

Savaiinaea has experience at both tackle spots and at guard during his time at Arizona yet scouts still aren’t sure where he’ll settle at the NFL level. He has an enormous build and can generate significant power in the running game, but he must work to use that same power to build a sturdier base in pass protection. He allowed two sacks over three seasons, which included 36 starts.

from Facebook

MAGA billionaire Elon Musk suffers a crushing setback as a court rules that he and his DOGE minions must be blocked from further accessing crucial government databases.

This throws a major wrench into their fascist plans…

Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S. District Court of Washington, D.C approved a temporary restraining order to protect the systems.

Norm Eisen, attorney and co-founder of the States United Democracy Center, celebrated the ruling on Blue Sky, calling it a “big win by us at the State Democracy Defender’s Action and our partners, including Public Citizen.”

The case alleged that Musk and his unelected DOGE henchmen gained access to sensitive personal information about government employees and others without having the appropriate security clearance and oversight from Congress.

Thanks to the ruling, Treasury Department officials “will not provide access to any payment record or payment system of records maintained within the [Treasury] Bureau of Fiscal Service.”

Under the order, Musk’s minion Tom Krause and former employee Marko Elez will have access to Treasury’s Fiscal Service, but they will be barred from writing/editing any changes into it and will only be able to read it.

“This Order shall remain in effect until such time as the Court rules on the Plaintiffs’ forthcoming Preliminary Injunction Motion,” it stated.

.@chiefs @eagles @miltonw_12 with the tifecta; the sack…the fumble..the fumble recovery. The Philthy 4 is straight Nasty #FlyEaglesFly #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/f3AqBSidsY

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) February 10, 2025

Last night showed just how impressive Stafford was vs Philly in the snow with 4 cracked ribs

Reload this offense and make a SB run ! pic.twitter.com/QLtVSpoq1H

— Ramsoholic (@ShayTweetedThat) February 10, 2025