The Atlanta Falcons have big plans for wide receiver prospect Zachariah Branch despite his recent arrest in Athens, Georgia, on two misdemeanor charges.

The two charges Branch is facing include obstructing public sidewalks/streets, prowling, and obstruction of a law enforcement officer. He was booked at 1:26 a.m. and released at 3:44 a.m., posting a $39 bond, according to the Athens Clarke County arrest log.

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The former USC Trojan and Georgia Bulldog was drafted by the Falcons soon after the incident.

According to the police report, Branch failed “to comply with multiple verbal lawful commands” while blocking a sidewalk.

The police were called because of a large crowd that formed outside a bar in Athens. “The crowd was blocking the entrance, and individuals were attempting to enter the establishment despite it not being open for entry at that time,” according to the police.

Branch was ranked in the top 100 prospects according to draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. The speedy receiver ran a 4.35 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.

The New Orleans Saints have signed Ole Miss defensive tackle Zxavian Harris from undrafted free agency.

During the draft, Harris had one of the biggest falls in the NFL.

Before the draft, Harris was the 63rd-ranked player according to ESPN and was the 5th-ranked defensive tackle. He was ranked the best remaining unsigned player.

Only two Ole Miss players heard their names called: wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling and offensive tackle Jayden Williams.

Harris was also projected to be the first Ole Miss player selected, according to USA Today’s full seven-round mock draft.

The only explanation for an unprecedented fall like this is off-field concerns, which took him off the team’s draft boards.

Harris was arrested and charged in 2024 for domestic violence and obstructing an arrest. He was also charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, being a minor in possession, not using headlights, running a stop sign and felony fleeing in 2023.

He is also dealing with an injury, despite competing at the 2026 NFL draft combine, undergoing surgery on his right foot after the combine, and not participating in Ole Miss’ pro day on March 18.

His college coach, Pete Golding, was asked about Harris’ unexpected fall, saying, “With Zay, I don’t think it’s how you start, it’s how you finish.”

“I think a lot of that could be looking at the body type and all those types of things. Zay loves football. He’s tough, he’s competitive. He’s got a really good skillset.”

Gennings Dunker caught the eyes of many at the NFL combine with his flowing red mullet. The 22-year-old tackle out of Iowa had people calling his mullet the “best mullet the combine has ever seen,” as he was doing drills at the combine.

Dunker ran a 5.18 40-yard dash, but the analyst could not help but focus on his hair. Slowing down the replay of the run to show his mullet flowing. Dunker measured in at 6-foot-5 and 319 pounds.

Dunker was a part of the nation’s best offensive line, with Iowa taking home the 2025 Joe Moore award.

During an interview with the NFL Network’s Good Morning Football host Kyle Brandt, Brandt compared Dunker’s vibe to that of actress Sydney Sweeney.

“Gennings Dunker, lineman from Iowa. This guy took over social media. Just a glorious, shiny, majestic mane, obviously conditioned right before. This guy’s hair is so good, you don’t even pay attention to his mustache or his tattoos,” Brandt added. “Or the fact that he’s actually really, really talented. The fact is, he’s got kind of a Sydney Sweeney thing going with his authentic talent there, distracted by the physical assets. I get it. Incredible. The high pants, the everything. Jennings, Dunker, great tackle out of Iowa.”

That got a smile out of Dunker as he almost certainly has never heard that comparison before. Brandt would later compare Dunker to Broncos All-Pro guard Quinn Meinerz.

Dunker hopes to hear his name called during the NFL draft, which begins on April 23 and will be in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles performed in the NFL combine on Thursday and caught the eye of many after destroying the combine.

Styles, a projected top-10 pick in this year’s NFL draft, put up one of the best vertical jumps for a linebacker in over two decades. 43½-inch vertical jump is the highest by an off-ball linebacker since 2003 and the highest by any linebacker since Cameron Wake did a 45½-inch jump in 2005.

The linebacker measured in at 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds, as Styles is ranked 7th on ESPN’s Mel Kiper’s big board. Styles ran a 4.46 40-yard dash, which was the same time as his college teammate, Arvell Reese, who had the combine’s best time so far. Styles had an 11-foot-2 broad jump and stoodout during the position drills.

“I think I would say that – the great defenses you look at, there’s at least two or three guys who can play a multitude of roles,” Styles said when answering questions at the combine. “Like for example, this year for the Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori was a versatile player, and when you have guys like that on your defense, you’re able to do a lot of different things as a coordinator.”

Styles truly had one of the best combine performances ever, grading out at 10.00 on the relative athletic score, the first linebacker to do so since 2022.

The Cincinnati Bengals and rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart have yet to agree to a contract, as the rookie remains unsigned.

The Bengals’ front office, which is notorious for frustrating players, added new language to Stewart’s deal that was not in the contract of the team’s last two first-round picks.

The language would allow the Bengals to forfeit future guarantees if Stewart were to get into trouble, including a suspension, off-field conduct issues or an arrest.

“I’m 100 percent right,” Stewart said. “I’m not asking for nothing you all have never done before, but in you all case, you all just want to win an argument instead of winning more games.”

This is the longest holdout by a first-round pick since the collective bargaining agreement in 2011. The previous longest was Joey Bosa in 2016 with the San Diego Chargers.

Stewart has more leverage than rookies in the past due to the NIL money he earned in college and his options outlined in the CBA.

If Stewart doesn’t ever sign with the Bengals, he would be eligible to re-enter the NFL Draft in 2026. Any team, except for the Bengals, would be eligible to draft him.

A team can also trade an unsigned rookie for up to 30 days before the start of the regular season. If Stewart and the Bengals can’t agree on the language of the contract, he could be on the market.

Stewart isn’t the only Bengal sitting out. Star defensive lineman Trey Hendrickson hasn’t participated in offseason activities as he holds out for a contract increase.

“Last year, we had two. This year, we have one,” Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said of the holdouts the Bengals have dealt with. “So we do have less. You’d love to have none, but that’s life in the NFL.”

The Jacksonville Jaguars are not picking up the fifth-year option on linebacker Devin Lloyd. He is now set to become a restricted free agent after the season.

Lloyd, who was the 27th pick in 2022 out of Utah, has had an up-and-down career in the NFL. Statistically, he’s built up some nice seasons, finishing with over 100 tackles in all three seasons of his career.

Lloyd, however, has had problems with making mistakes, often being out of place in pass coverage or position.

The option would have guaranteed Lloyd $14.75 million for the 2026 season.

The Jaguars recently picked up the fifth-year option of former first-round pick Travon Walker, who has had a solid start to his NFL career.

For Lloyd, it appears that after this season, he could be on a new roster.

As we get farther away from the NFL draft and the slide of former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, more details have emerged regarding why Sanders slid to the fifth round.

Sanders “rubbed teams the wrong way” with his approach to certain interviews, according to CBS NFL insider Jonathan Jones.

“I was told that he more or less sandbagged those interviews,” Jones said.

Given the surprising nature of Sanders’ fall, this development sheds light on why teams were hesitant to draft him, even in the later rounds.

Sanders finished his last season at Colorado with a 9-4 record, throwing for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns.

He has always been at the center of criticism. Sanders made comments at the combine that started rumors of “unprofessional” behavior.

“A lot of things began to add up for teams,” Jones said.

While the fifth round isn’t where Sanders expected to be drafted, the Cleveland Browns are a team where Sanders could earn a starting position.

The Browns’ current quarterback room has Deshaun Watson, Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel and Sanders.

It’s possible the starting job could come down to the two rookies.

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders received a prank call during the NFL draft from someone claiming to be the general manager of the New Orleans Saints.

It turns out that person is Jax Ulbrich, son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Ulbrich posted to social media on Sunday, apologizing for his actions.

“On Friday night I made a tremendous mistake,” Ulbrich said. “Shedeur, what I did was completely inexcusable, embarrassing and shameful.”

The video of the prank call was posted on social media. Ulbrich and another person are sitting on a couch holding a phone and a notebook.

The man making the call identifies himself as Saints GM Mickey Loomis.

“We’re going to take you with our next pick here, young man,” the caller said into the phone.

“Yes sir, let’s be legendary,” Sanders replied.

The caller then quickly apologized before hanging up the phone.

Sanders, who was eventually drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round, was expected to be drafted in the first round, or at the latest, the second. The prank call was made during the second day of the draft.

The Atlanta Falcons released a statement apologizing for the call and revealing how the number was leaked.

“[Jax Ulbrich] unintentionally came across the draft contact phone number for Shedeur Sanders off an open iPad while visiting his parents’ home and wrote the number down to later conduct a prank call.”

The New York Giants, as expected, took Penn State defensive lineman Abdul Carter with the third pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

What wasn’t expected was for the Giants to trade up in the first round to take Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart with the No. 25 pick.

The Giants traded pick 34, 99 and a third-round pick in 2026 to move up nine spots and take Dart. It was very possible Dart would have been available for the Giants at 34.

There was speculation that the Giants were going to draft Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders after trading up. The Giants met with Sanders on multiple occasions and held private workouts with him.

Ultimately, Dart was the choice they made.

Dart joins a quarterback room of Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. It’s unlikely he gets playing time right away, but he’ll be able to learn from two veteran quarterbacks.

“I think from a developmental standpoint and the ability to grow, I think it’s a perfect situation for a young quarterback,” Giants GM Joe Schoen said.

Carter was the more traditional pick. Considered one of the best defensive prospects in the draft, he now joins a front with Kayvon Thibodeaux, Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns.

“As a kid, I had a dream that I got drafted to the Giants,” Carter said. “This moment is just surreal for me and my family.”

The Tennessee Titans drafted Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, which surprised nobody.

Ward, 22, has been linked to the Titans for months. Both the team and Ward have hinted that he would be the first overall pick.

“I’ve worked so hard for this moment,” Ward said immediately after being drafted. “I was just a little kid who wanted it.”

Most mock drafts had the Titans selecting Ward, and most draft analysts had Ward as the highest-ranked quarterback in the draft class.

In 2024, Ward finished third in Heisman trophy voting. He finished with 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His 39 touchdowns were the most for a quarterback in college football.

Ward will likely be the starter for Tennessee when week one rolls around. The Titans for the past two seasons, have primarily used Will Levis as the starting quarterback. Levis has a record of 5-16 in 21 starts.

In addition to Levis, Ward joins a quarterback room with Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle.

The Titans finished 2024 with a 3-14 record. Tennessee, which hasn’t made the playoffs since 2021, is hoping it’s found a franchise quarterback to move the team in a positive direction.

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was finally selected by the Cleveland Browns in Saturday’s fifth round of the NFL draft.

Sanders was expected to be picked in the first round. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Sanders as his top quarterback prospect.

“We all didn’t expect this, of course,” Sanders said in a video posted to social media. “But I feel like with god, anything’s possible.”

Sanders entered the draft coming off a prolific 2024 season. He threw for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns and just ten interceptions. He completed 74% of his passes.

Coming into the draft, Sanders was one of the most highly debated prospects. Some thought he was the top overall player in the draft, while others didn’t believe he was a first-round talent.

The New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants were the teams most believed Sanders would land.

The Saints and Steelers elected not to draft a quarterback, while the Giants traded up to the No. 25 spot in the draft to take Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart instead.

The NFL Draft is just a day away, but Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys are looking at more than just their draft board to improve the team.

Jones, the Cowboys’ owner and general manager, said after a news conference on Tuesday that the Cowboys are working on a “pretty substantive trade.”

The Cowboys’ front office has been criticized during the offseason for not making many notable trades or free agent acquisitions. If the Cowboys can acquire a major piece and hit on their draft picks, the narrative around their offseason would flip.

“We’re looking at two things that could happen before or after the draft,” Jones said to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

The Cowboys have over $37 million in cap space, the sixth most in the NFL. While a chunk of that will go to the Cowboys’ draft selections, that money could be essential in acquiring a star in a trade.

The Cowboys have also been working on an extension for superstar Micah Parsons. Jones has previously said that Parsons and the Cowboys have agreed on the general terms of the contract, but need to work out the finer details.

So far in the offseason, the Cowboys have added linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr., running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, cornerback Kaiir Elam and defensive lineman Solomon Thomas. The move that made the most noise in the offseason was acquiring second-year quarterback Joe Milton, who surprised NFL fans with his week 18 performance.

The players Dallas would trade for are relatively unknown. There have been rumors surrounding Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens, however, nothing is set in stone.

The NFL Draft is just days away. The New York Giants, who hold the third pick, are getting a closer look at former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

Sanders, who is considered one of the top quarterback prospects in the draft, is holding a private workout for the Giants one week before the draft, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero.

There have been rumors connecting Sanders to the Giants. Former Miami quarterback Cam Ward is likely to go first overall to the Tennessee Titans, while Sanders’ former teammate Travis Hunter could land with the Cleveland Browns, who have the second pick.

In the past year, the Giants have made major changes to their quarterback room. Longtime Giants quarterback Daniel Jones was released midway through the 2024 season. In the offseason, the Giants added quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to the roster.

If the Giants decide to draft Sanders, he will likely sit on the bench and learn from Wilson in his rookie season.

The Giants have had their eyes on Sanders for a long time. Giants personnel was reportedly in attendance for every Colorado game this past season, according to Pelissero.

How the Giants proceed in the draft is still up in the air. Former Penn State defensive lineman Abdul Carter has been mocked to the Giants. It’s also possible the Browns take Sanders despite having Deshaun Watson on the roster.

All the questions will be answered in days to come.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has received much criticism on the field since his trade from the Houston Texans in 2022.

Browns’ owner Jimmy Haslam recently referred to the trade as a “big swing and a miss” after three seasons of recurring injury from Watson and mediocre play at best when Watson is on the field.

Watson has a different view of the situation.

“Everybody is doubting me,” Watson said on a video on his Instagram page. “I know, I’m going to be way better than before.”

When Watson was with the Texans, he was widely regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, leading to a four-year, $160 million deal with the team. After demanding a trade and landing on the Browns, he signed a fully guaranteed 5-year, $230 million deal.

That contract now appears to be among the worst deals in NFL history.

Watson’s future with the Browns is unclear. If the Browns decide to cut Watson, they would owe $173 million in dead money for 2025 and $136 million for 2026. Both numbers would be larger than the previous record for dead money owed for a single player, set by the Denver Broncos in 2024 after cutting Russell Wilson.

The Browns traded for former Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett. It’s also possible the Browns, who currently hold the second overall pick in the NFL draft, could target either quarterback Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders in the first round.

Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter is reportedly passing on a surgery to repair a stress fracture in his ankle. Carter is widely projected to be selected early in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft, but this injury casts a shadow over that future.

Carter already announced that he would not do drills at the NFL Combine, and it’s unclear if that decision was made with his injury in mind. After the injury was revealed, he had two options: get the surgery and miss several months on the field, or prove to teams that he doesn’t need it. 

Both moves could have hurt his draft stock. The surgery would have required inserting a screw in order to properly correct the fracture. Trying to play through it could dramatically increase the risk of aggravating the issue at a later point. Either way, injury concerns will be at the forefront of every team’s scouting report before they select him now. It’s another question for the star edge rusher to answer.

Avoiding surgery gives Carter the chance to be selected first overall, which he has repeatedly stated as his goal going into rookie season. Regardless of his choice, he likely would have been selected in the first 10 picks, but avoiding a procedure keeps his lofty ambitions intact.

“You can’t stop GREATNESS!” Carter posted on social media after the announcement. “Y’all thought I was going that easy? This just gonna make the movie more interesting!”

In his third season at Penn State, Carter earned 12 sacks and 68 combined tackles in 16 games. He was a core member of a Penn State team that advanced to the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs and is widely considered the best defensive player in this year’s draft.

The Tennessee Titans are being highly elusive with their NFL Draft plans, keeping all options open while they continue scouting work. At this point, they’re only offering one promise for their first-overall pick.

“We won’t pass on a generational talent with the first pick in the NFL draft,” Titans president of football operations Chad Brinker told reporters. “We won’t do that.”

Many bettors believe that Brinker is expressing indirect interest in Colorado duel threat Travis Hunter, as the odds for Hunter to be picked first overall plummeted after his statement. In reality, however, he provided so little information that it hardly had to be said in the first place. Brinker didn’t identify a generational talent in the draft, nor did he even confirm that Tennessee has found one. Essentially, he told fans that the team is willing to draft a good player with its first-overall pick. Good to know.

With young quarterback Will Levis entering his third season, the Titans are in a strange position for a seemingly blessed team. Giving up on Levis now in favor of quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward would be a quick pivot by NFL rebuilding standards. On the other hand, surefire prospects like Hunter may not provide enough immediate value for a struggling Titans roster.

The other option is to trade down, which could be effective in a number of scenarios. Tennessee could reaffirm its belief in Levis and choose to build around him with a healthy return for the first-overall pick. The Titans could also develop an interest in a quarterback further down the draft board, which could incentivize them to trade down for more picks and maximize value later on.

As of right now, it’s obvious that Tennessee has no plan beyond a few months of preparation. Keeping the pick could give the Titans the power to change their franchise with a single move, but there are plenty of teams that would pay heavily for the same opportunity. The pressure for the flagging franchise to take action will only mount as the march to the draft continues.

In a move that shocked the football world, the Atlanta Falcons sent shockwaves through the NFL landscape by not only signing Kirk Cousins to a record-breaking contract but also by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Falcons’ decision to invest in Cousins, handing him a staggering four-year, $180 million deal, raised eyebrows across the league. While Cousins brings a wealth of experience and talent to the table, the huge price tag attached to him left many wondering if the Falcons had overpaid for their new franchise quarterback.

However, the news came when Atlanta used their first-round pick on Penix, which caught Cousins entirely off guard. Reports from NFL Media suggest that Cousins was “shocked” and “disappointed” by the Falcons’ decision, highlighting the apparent lack of communication between the quarterback and the organization.

The situation wasn’t lost on observers, as Cousins’ departure from the Minnesota Vikings was reportedly influenced by the team’s transparency regarding their intentions to potentially draft a quarterback early. Yet, the Falcons’ move to select Penix at No. 8 overall contradicted this narrative.

In a recent appearance on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast, Cousins addressed the Falcons’ decision, displaying a stoic acceptance of the situation. Despite his initial surprise, Cousins adopted a different outlook, emphasizing the need to focus on what he can control and to let go of what he cannot.

“You’re reminded that there are things you can control and there’s a lot that you don’t control…let’s deal in reality and be a steward, not an owner,” he said. “I just believe that I have to steward what comes my way and control what I can control. A steward doesn’t worry about what they can’t control…I just have to steward this and do what I’ve always done as a player and let the chips fall where they may.”

Drawing parallels between his current predicament and his past experiences, Cousins recounted a story from his high school days, where he learned the harsh reality of competition in football and his willingness to embrace challenges.

Cousins maintained a diplomatic stance, refusing to harbor ill feelings towards his new team. Instead, he emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration in pursuing a common goal: winning a Super Bowl.

As the Falcons embark on a new era with Cousins under center and Penix waiting in the wings, the pressure will be on both quarterbacks to deliver results on the field. Only time will tell if Atlanta’s bold moves will pay off or will be remembered as costly gambles in the NFL history books.

The Washington Commanders selected former LSU quarterback and 2023 Heisman Award winner Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Daniels’ name was in multiple rumors in the days and weeks leading up to the draft, but by Thursday, he was guaranteed to join the Commanders as their new starting quarterback. For most of the offseason, Washington kept quiet about their draft day plans but showed their satisfaction after the selection.

“We knew it was Jayden for a while,” Commanders general manager Adam Peters said. “It would have taken a lot for it not to be Jayden. The whole building, I would say, was unanimous on that one. It’s easy to see why.”

Daniels threw 77.2% for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and four interceptions in his final year with the Tigers as he won the Heisman Award. He also ran for 1,134 yards and ten rushing touchdowns, leading the team to a 10-3 record and No. 13 overall final ranking. Daniels threw for almost 3,000 yards in 2022 with LSU but only finished the year with 17 passing touchdowns and taking a career-high 43 sacks.

Before his time with the Tigers, Daniels played three seasons at Arizona State, throwing for 6,024 yards, 45 total touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 29 games. In his five-year college career, Daniels finished 23rd all-time in total touchdowns and 28th in total passing yards.

“I turned on Jayden for the first time, and I couldn’t believe how good he was,” Peters said. “He was really good, the way he can process, the way he can see the field, the way he goes through his reads, the way he delivers [the ball] on time. He’s the best deep-ball thrower in the draft, and that’s even before we start watching him run. The way he runs, he just takes your soul as a defense. You think you got him, and then all of a sudden, he rips off a 40-yard run. And this is against the SEC – the best of the best.”

Despite Washington’s confidence in their pick after the draft, they stayed quiet for much of the offseason, as even Daniels was unsure he would be their selection.

“They did a pretty good job of not showing their hand too much,” Daniels said after he was selected. “[But] I was pretty confident off the conversations I had. I’m here now, and I can’t wait to get to work.”

Now, with the Commanders, Daniels takes over for a team that has seen eight starting quarterbacks over the past four seasons. They also haven’t finished with a winning record since 2016; their last playoff win came in 2005. Despite that, the team is under new ownership headed by Josh Harris, a new general manager at Peters, a new head coach in Dan Quinn, and finally, a new quarterback at Daniels.

“They’re going to get someone that’s a competitor that wants to win no matter what,” Daniels said. “I want to help the team win, and at some point in the future, we’ll get this thing turned around.”

Daniels joins an offense with receivers Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, running backs Brian Robinson and new additions Austin Ekeler and tight end Zach Ertz. For a team that has yet to finish a year with ten wins in over a decade, their latest set of offensive playmakers has the potential to bring new life into the Commanders’ organization.

For the first time in over 80 years, the Chicago Bears held the first overall pick of the NFL Draft and selected USC quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams’ arrival with the Bears wasn’t a surprise, as he has been the favorite to be taken first overall since he won the Heisman Award in 2022. Williams played a year at the University of Oklahoma before transferring to USC. He had a college career passing percentage of 66.9% for 9,782 yards with 120 total touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

“I didn’t know how I was going to react in the moment,” Williams said after he was picked. “I was trying to think through it in my head throughout the process, but nothing feels better than actually being in the moment, actually getting that call. You know, I don’t feel nervous; I don’t feel any of that. I was anxious and ready to go, just ready to get the call so I could walk out there on stage and just finally be back on a team is honestly what I’m excited for.”

Chicago previously drafted Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields with the 11th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, but after three up-and-down years, he signed with Pittsburgh in the offseason. Before Fields, the Bears drafted UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky with the second overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. Like Fields, Trubisky was in and out of the starting lineup for his four years with the Bears and was never able to find his footing as the team’s cemented starter. Williams, instead, comes to fix the Bears’ lingering quarterback issue after one of the most successful college careers in recent years. They were also the only team who visited with Williams before the draft.

“I felt good at that point,” Williams said. “Getting around the guys, the coaches, the executives. And so, I was around the facility mainly…Obviously, the facility is where I’m going to be at for the majority of my time, throughout weeks and days. I was around the guys in the facility, and I felt comfortable. I felt good. I was happy and ready to go.”

In his freshman season with the Sooners, Williams battled with Spencer Rattler for the starting position. He eventually landed the role and finished the year with 27 touchdowns and four interceptions. Following his success and searching for an easier starting role, Williams transferred to USC, where he reunited with his old head coach, Lincoln Riley.

In 2022, Williams had one of the most dominating years in recent college football memory, leading the Trojans to an 11-3 record while throwing for 4,532 yards, 42 touchdowns and five interceptions. Though losing in the Cotton Bowl to Tulane, Williams walked away from the season, winning both the AP College Player of the Year and Heisman Awards. USC came into 2023 returning only a few starters and struggled heavily to protect Williams on the offensive line. Despite the team finishing with only a 7-5 record, he ended the year throwing for 3,333 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions. Along with his 93 passing touchdowns in three years, Williams also finished with 27 rushing touchdowns for almost 1,000 rushing yards.

Despite being one of the oldest teams in the league, the Chicago Bears single-season throwing record is famously the lowest in the NFL, with Erik Kramer throwing for 3,838 yards in 1995. It was a feat expected to be broken by both Fields and Trubisky after they were brought in, but neither was able to get within 600 yards in their combined seven seasons with the team. However, Williams comes to the team known for his gunslinging ability and lack of fear of throwing the ball downfield. Many expect him to be the help needed for a team known for its strong defense but with desperate struggles to find a reliable quarterback to lead them to playoff success.

“When you talk to his teammates, they don’t like him; they love him,” Bears general manager Ryan Poles said about selecting Williams. “His leadership, how he brings people together, he’s intentional with his leadership. Same goes with the staff. I’m having a hard time finding a person that doesn’t like him or even love him and thinks that he can reach the highest limits. The feedback’s been good.”

To help Williams find playoff success and perhaps the team’s single-season passing record, the Bears drafted Washington receiver Rome Odunze with the ninth pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Odunze was the third receiver off the board but finished the year as the leading receiver in college football with 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns. He played four years for the Huskies, ending his career with 3,060 yards and 25 total touchdowns in 36 games.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid announced that receiver Rashee Rice will be a virtual participant in the team’s opening offseason program. Dallas Police arrested Rice following a six-car crash he caused due to racing with another person on the highway. The team awaits a legal ruling before deciding on Rice’s long-term future in Kansas City.

“We’ll just see how it goes. I want to keep gathering any information from the law enforcement people, and we’ll just see where everything goes from there. Let the process take place,” Reid said. “Well, yeah, listen, as long as he’s learned from it, that’s the important part of it. We’ll take it from there and see what takes place. Right now, we’re just kind of gathering everything and trying to make sure we have all the bases covered.”

Rice caught 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns in his 2023 rookie campaign with the Chiefs. The 23-year-old also caught six passes for 39 yards in the team’s Super Bowl win over the San Fransisco 49ers and was second among rookies in receiving yards throughout the season. Last year, Rice was also the second-leading receiver for Kansas City, only behind tight end Travis Kelce.

With Rice potentially missing the entire season or more as he and the team await the ruling, the Chiefs have a decision to make in the upcoming draft. Reid hinted that the team is looking to take a receiver with their 32nd overall pick, but they could go the other direction if they have faith in Rice’s future. Reid also said the team is interested in finding a new left tackle, which could also come through the draft.

“I’d tell you those two positions he’s (General Manager Brett Veach) looking at, but he’s also going through everything, so we’ve got spots and depth that we can use really everywhere, and we’ll just see how the whole Rashee thing goes,” Reid said. When it’s all said and done, we should have players in there ready to go.”

To replace Rice’s role on the team, the Chiefs have eyed Texas wide receivers Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell, Georgia’s Ladd McConkey and Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstrey as potential options in the draft. In a year when many teams are looking to take a quarterback, Kansas City is instead looking the other way, and it could land a steal with the final pick of the first round.

Behind Kelce and Rice, who led the team in receiving, were Skyy Moore, Marquez Valdez Scantling, Justin Watson, Kadarius Toney, and Noah Gray. However, none even managed half as many yards as quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ top two targets. Kansas City is set to return most of these players in 2024, but the team struggled throughout the season with dropped balls and missed routes, and the loss of Rice could prove even more fatal in that department.