Author: Matt Lombardo

The New England Patriots believe they have finally found an heir apparent to Tom Brady — if such a thing exists, after selecting Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. But, the former North Carolina quarterback’s arrival in Foxboro could spell the end of a former Patriots draft pick who’s made eight career starts behind center’s time in New England. New England Patriots Could Move On from Bailey Zappe Following Maye’s arrival, NFL Insider Ari Mairov lists Bailey Zappe as a possible surprise cut between now and the 2024 NFL season kicking off in…

The NFL Draft couldn’t have possibly played out better for the Chicago Bears. Or for Bears offensive tackle Braxton Jones. For general manager Ryan Poles and the Bears, the top-10 selections were a dream scenario. After all, Poles and the Bears emerged from night one of the draft with a generational quarterback prospect, with Caleb Williams chosen No. 1 overall, and rounded back pairing an elite weapon for Williams in wide receiver Rome Odunze at No. 9. Meanwhile, one of the biggest winners of the Bears’ draft was already on the roster. Why Chicago Bears’ Braxton Jones is a Big…

The Minnesota Vikings may have landed one of the steals of the 2024 NFL Draft. After trading up to select Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings plucked former Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner with the No. 17 overall selection. Turner has widely been heralded as one of the premier pass-rushers in this year’s draft class and should soften some of the blow this season and beyond from the Vikings losing Danielle Hunter in free agency. Last season in Tuscaloosa, Turner posted a career-high 10 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss, and looks like the caliber of player capable of making an…

General Manager Jason Licht and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers struck gold this offseason, managing to re-sign quarterback Baker Mayfield and All-Pro wide receiver Mike Evens. However, as the rest of the NFC South loaded up on offensive talent this offseason, and given a lack of quality proven depth behind Evans and Chris Godwin at wide receiver, bolstering Mayfield’s supporting cast in the passing game could be an area Licht and the Buccaneers should still prioritize as the 2024 season nears. Pro Football Focus’ Gordon McGuinness lists bolstering receiver depth as the top area the Buccaneers still need to address. “Mike…

The 49ers boast one of the deepest rosters in the NFL. After making a run to the Super Bowl last season, San Francisco has the added bonus of former Mr. Irrelevant and seventh-round draft choice Brock Purdy playing quarterback on one of the most team-friendly contracts in the NFL. Still, depth along the offensive line remains a bit of a concern for the reigning NFC champions, and could be a position the 49ers could target during free agency’s final wave leading up to the 2024 season kicking off this fall. San Francisco 49ers Urged to Sign Dalton Risner As the…

The New York Giants passed up the opportunity to select a quarterback in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, instead landing playmaking wide receiver Malik Nabers, but, Daniel Jones still faces a murky future in the Big Apple. Given the fact that neither general manager Joe Schoen nor head coach Brian Daboll were in the Giants’ organization when New York chose Jones with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 draft and the fact that Jones has led just one trip to the postseason, the 2024 campaign may prove to be a make-or-break season for Jones. Depending…

Brett Veach, Andy Reid, and the Kansas City Chiefs aggressively traded up in the 2024 NFL Draft to select Xavier Worthy with the intent that the former University of Texas star would add a game-breaking element to Patrick Mahomes’ supporting cast. While it has only been a few days of practice during the Chiefs’ rookie minicamp, Andy Reid is fired up about the chance to coach Worthy. “I thought he did a nice job picking things up and working through — we asked him to do a whole lot of stuff there,” Reid told reporters following the Chiefs’ rookie minicamp.…

At some point, the Kansas City Chiefs are going to need to ponder life without Travis Kelce. The future Hall of Fame tight end has developed into not only the focal point of the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense, but quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ most reliable weapon in the biggest spots of the biggest games. But, at age 34, having just seen his older brother announce his retirement from the Philadelphia Eagles and amid a whirlwind relationship with the world’s biggest pop star, there’s a real chance Kelce is far closer to the end of his career than even the middle of…

The Buffalo Bills are looking to retool on the fly, after trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans, and with emergent starter James Cook in the backfield. But, fourth-round rookie running back Ray Davis could play a vital role in 2024. High Expectations for Buffalo Bills’ Ray Davis NFL analyst Marcus Mosher of The 33rd Team put together a list of Day 3 selections around the NFL with the chance to make an immediate impact this season, and Davis made the cut. “The Bills don’t need a developmental running back with upside,” Mosher writes. “They need a competent No. 2…

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ draft class has been praised as one of the strongest in the league, especially because of the organization’s efforts to fortify the offensive line in front of quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Former NFL Executive Marc Ross believes put together a list of the 10 draft picks most likely to make an immediate impact around the league, and Pittsburgh’s second-round selection, former West Virginia center Zach Frazier makes the cut. “The Steelers clearly entered the draft with one thing top of mind: bolstering the offensive line,” Ross writes for NFL Media. “After selecting offensive tackle Troy…