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After trading for presumably their starting quarterback, Geno Smith, and losing nearly half of their defensive starters in free agency the Las Vegas Raiders appear to be heading in a new direction. Las Vegas will look like a very different team when they take the field next season.
Eric Edholm of NFL.com recently ranked every team in the National Football League following their early offseason moves. He ranked the Raiders as the 26th-best team. Edholm ranked the Raiders just in front of the New York Jets and right behind the New England Patriots.
"I thought the trade for Geno Smith made a lot of sense, and it didn't cost the Raiders a whole lot. Smith was pretty darned good the past two seasons with offensive coordinators who are no longer NFL offensive coordinators. The Raiders badly needed the upgrade, and yet it doesn't preclude them from drafting Smith's eventual replacement if they like a QB from the prospect crop," Edholm said.
While Edholm was encouraged by the addition of Smith and what it could mean for a struggling Raiders offense, he was not as optimistic about the offseason the Raiders' defense had. Although the Raiders finished 4-13, their defense was the strength of the team for the past two seasons.
"The Raiders were far from a good team but they had two of the better players at their position in Tre'von Moehrig and Robert Spillane. While their new teams paid handsomely for their services, the Raiders will still undoubtedly miss the several defensive starters they lost in free agency," Edholm said.
"Defensively, though, things are less cheery for me. Pete Carroll said at the NFL Scouting Combine he'd love to see the bulk of his in-house free agents return, and then Tre'von Moehrig, Nate Hobbs and Robert Spillane all signed elsewhere. Maybe Carroll was paying lip service to those guys, but this was a middle-of-the-pack defense at best last season; even with Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins coming back healthy, there are still a lot of holes in the desert."
Las Vegas currently has more questions than answers heading into next season. However, after multiple seasons of the same predictable moves and results from the Raiders, maybe not knowing what to expect can be a positive change for the moment.
More must-reads:
- Raiders reassert confidence in QB Geno Smith with massive move
- HC Sean McVay responds to Cooper Kupp's comments about Rams exit
- The 'Single-season touchdown catch leaders by NFL franchise since 1970' quiz
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HC Sean McVay responds to Cooper Kupp's comments about Rams exit
Current Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp raised eyebrows when he said that he didn’t have "a ton of clarity" from the Los Angeles Rams regarding why the team released him in March. While speaking with reporters at the NFL owners meetings on Tuesday, Rams head coach Sean McVay responded to Kupp's comments. "I think we do (feel we provided clarity)," McVay said, as shared by Jourdan Rodrigue and Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. "Here’s the thing…there’s an element of, there was clarity (about) 'this is the direction that we’re gonna go.' Now, to be able to provide all the context — we didn’t have all of the context that was applicable in regards to...what did we really envision that receiver room (looking like)? We thought Davante Adams would be a possibility." Analysts and reporters praised the Rams for essentially replacing Kupp with Adams. Adams tallied 85 total receptions, 1,063 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns playing for the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets this past season. Meanwhile, injuries limited Kupp to 33 regular-season games over the past three campaigns. "I think the most important thing was when we had made the decision that we were gonna seek a trade or at least grant him his release, that was very quickly after the season, which I thought he deserved that clarity in regard to the direction we were going," McVay continued. "Now, exactly why all those things occurred, there had to be a little bit of time to be able to provide the appropriate context. That wasn’t applicable in the moment." Kupp made it known in February that he didn't "agree" with the Rams' decision to try to trade him before his release. He had played only for Los Angeles from when the club made him a third-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft through the 2024 season, and he was named the Super Bowl LVI Most Valuable Player for his efforts in helping the Rams earn a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in February 2022. Kupp ultimately signed a three-year, $45M deal with the Seahawks a few days after his release from the Rams. "It doesn’t change the legacy, all the great things (and) more importantly, the great person that he is," McVay added. "But we do have a responsibility to the collective, and it was what we felt like was the best decision for our football team moving forward. Not easy. But that’s what our responsibility is."
Steelers Have A Clear Trade Up Partner To Make First Round Splash
The Pittsburgh Steelers are an absolute wild card heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. The team could realistically trade up or down in the event, and there are a handful of positions that are on the table for Pittsburgh. The obvious needs are along the defensive line, in the secondary, and at running back - but the quarterback situation also needs to be resolved. The franchise is waiting on a decision from Aaron Rodgers, and all signs are pointing towards him becoming the starter in Pittsburgh. If the organization lands the four-time MVP, that doesn't necessarily take it out of contention to draft a quarterback. Pittsburgh currently holds the 21st pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and there is an off chance that either Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart will fall to that pick. Both could go in the top 10 as well, and Sanders could go as high as second overall. There has been some speculation that Sanders could fall down the draft board, and if that begins to happen, the Steelers will be an interesting team to watch. Pittsburgh could trade up for the quarterback, or wait to see if he falls all the way to 21. If General Manager Omar Khan decides to trade up, Pittsburgh will have an ideal trade partner. Ben Devine is a trusted insider in Chicago, and the Chicago Bears have the 10th overall pick in the draft. The organization has had a very successful offseason up to this point where it addressed a lot of its needs. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to see them look to trade back, especially if a premiere prospect like Sanders is available. Pittsburgh isn't the only quarterback-needy team that could trade up, but swapping 21 and additional capital for 10 could be a possibility. Khan is familiar with Bears General Manager Ryan Poles, and the two have done business together on multiple occasions. It began during the 2022 season when Pittsburgh traded Chase Claypool to Chicago in exchange for the Bears' second-round pick in the 2023 draft. That pick wound up being the 32nd overall pick after the Miami Dolphins had their first-round selection forfeited. Pittsburgh picked Joey Porter Jr., and it was considered a steal for Khan as Claypool did not pan out in Chicago. The two also worked together during the 2024 offseason as Chicago sent Justin Fields to Pittsburgh. This familiarity isn't going to get Pittsburgh some friendly discount to trade up, but it might make the conversation start a bit sooner. Many believe Sanders has the chance to begin to slide on draft night, which makes an exchange like this somewhat possible. Steelers Have Made A Similar Move In The Past Pittsburgh has made a similar leap in the first-round of the NFL Draft somewhat recently. During the 2019 NFL Draft, the Steelers held the 20th overall pick, but the organization traded up with the Denver Broncos for the 10th overall pick. The Steelers were forced to give up their second-round pick in 2019 as well, while also forfeiting a third-round pick in 2020. The organization selected Devin Bush, and the move is looked back on negatively. Similar compensation should be expected if a leap of that size is made again. It would be a jump of 11 spots, and the Steelers would probably have to give up at least a a future second and their third in the 2025 NFL Draft. This makes a move like this far-fetched, as the franchise has many spots on the roster to address.
Injured Yankees Ace Gerrit Cole Shares Heart-Warming Update
Even while sidelined, Gerrit Cole remains a central part of the Yankees’ clubhouse and clearly, the fans haven’t forgotten him either. On Wednesday, Cole shared a rare message on Instagram, posting a photo of eight hand-drawn get-well cards from young fans. The cards were full of pinstripes, hearts, rainbows, and Yankees logos. They were wishing Cole well after his recent Tommy John surgery. “Feel Better,” and “Get Well,” were hand-lettered on the cards. Cole captioned the photo: “Thank you for all the support. This warms my heart. Go Bombers!” The post marked a rare public message from Cole since the news broke in mid-March that the Yankees’ ace would undergo surgery, sidelining him for the 2025 season. While the team hasn’t put an exact timeline on his recovery, Cole is expected to be out until sometime in 2026. Cole posted on Instagram last month, after the surgery, but he hasn’t been heard from much since. The Yankees' rotation was hit hard this spring. Besides losing Cole for the season and part of 2026, they are also without 2024 Reigning Rookie of the Year Luis Gil for at least three months after straining a lat. They also began the season without Clarke Schmidt, who is expected back in mid-April, after a spring training that was interrupted by back issues. Max Fried, whom the Yankees signed to a record $218 million deal this winter, has stepped in as their ace. They have to hope Carlos Rodon can find himself in his third year with the Yankees and rookie Will Warren will develop into a strong starter.
Boston Bruins made a big mistake by signing Nikita Zadorov and Elias Lindholm
With the 2024-25 regular season coming to a conclusion, the Boston Bruins are set to miss the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season. The team elected to sell at the trade deadline, trading away names such as Brandon Carlo, Charlie Coyle, Justin Brazeau and even their captain, Brad Marchand. The team is looking to reset in the offseason, but that wasn’t the plan or expectation for this season. The Bruins had an active free agency last summer, as their biggest moves involved two ex-Canucks in Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov. Both players inked relatively big contracts with the team, and both seemed like a fit at the time. However, as this season comes to an end, it’s safe to say at this point, the Bruins are likely going to regret signing both of these contracts. These contracts are looking like massive misses When the Bruins announced that they were signing both Lindholm and Zadorov, people had positive reactions based on the fit alone. However, those feelings quickly went away the moment their contract values were announced… Lindholm was inked long-term, signing a seven-year deal with an AAV of $7.75M. Zadorov was also given some term, as he signed a six-year deal with an AAV of $5M. Instant reaction was that the Bruins overpaid for both players, and that’s been the case. The Bruins as a whole have struggled this season, but the spotlight has been on Lindholm and Zadorov. Lindholm has recorded just 13 goals and 38 points in 75 games this season. Meanwhile, Zadorov has four goals and 17 points in 74 games while recording a career-high 137 penalty minutes. Both players aren’t even close to living up to their contracts, and given where the Bruins are headed, it could get quite ugly over the next few seasons. Both players benefited from great playoff runs Lindholm and Zadorov were both part of a promising Vancouver Canucks team that was a game away from advancing to the Western Conference Finals. Both were acquired by the Canucks from the Calgary Flames and had their ups and downs. Zadorov seemed to be an instant fit and played some of his best hockey in Vancouver, especially during the postseason, where he racked up eight points in 13 playoff games. Lindholm took more time to adjust but was also a great asset during the postseason, scoring 10 points in 13 playoff games. The Canucks opted to let both players walk, and Boston snatched them up. These players benefited from strong playoff runs, which enabled them to cash in during free agency. There’s also the fact that Lindholm plays a coveted position — center — and was connected to the Bruins for quite some time. He was a 40-goal scorer at one point while being Calgary’s No. 1 center, and Zadorov was seen as an addition to toughen up Boston’s blueline. The Bruins thought that by giving both these players a bigger role, their numbers would flourish just like in previous seasons, but so far, they’ve missed the mark fully. What do the Bruins do now? By the looks of it, both of these contracts are projected to age terribly for Boston. The good news is that with the cap rising, the effect these contracts pose will be lessened, but they’ll still likely be liabilities moving forward. It’s clear that the Bruins are headed toward some sort of retooling, but Lindholm and Zadorov signed in Boston with the idea that they’d be playing playoff hockey right away. Unfortunately, in the event that one or both of these players end up wanting out, trade interest would likely be very low. If you’re the Bruins, a couple of years of drafting high picks and developing your prospect pool is the easy way to go. The team had a productive deadline by selling, but the Bruins may not give up so easily. Regardless of what path they choose, their big-name free agents have to play better. Whether it’s a first-year slump or a foreshadowing of what’s to come, the Bruins could look back at their 2024 free-agency spree, only to regret their actions deeply.
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