NFL Player News

Dale’s son spent part of the offseason working as Miami’s starting right guard while Donald Thomas recovered from a torn biceps. The 2008 fourth-rounder shouldn’t be out of work long.

A three-year starter for the Buckeyes Jackson (6’4/315) spent most of his time as a First Team All-Big Ten guard who allowed just one sack with a 98.7% pass block efficiency rate and zero penalties in 2023. However he was pressed into service at left tackle for the final nine games of OSU’s national championship run following a season-ending injury to Josh Simmons. The Second Team All-American gave it his best shot, but pass rushers like Abdul Carter and Josaiah Stewart ate him up on the edge leading to a career high 19 pressures with a 46.5 grade on true pass sets. Fortunately for Jackson, he returns to guard for NFL Draft purposes where he can use his broad shoulders and 33.5” arms to pop and drive opponents. He has the prototype guard frame and requisite hip flexibility to torque and turn defensive linemen and is quick enough to kick out and reach his mark on second level blocks. Jackson is one of the most accomplished and projectable guards in the class.

Let’s get this out of the way first: Golden (5’11/191) is fast. Despite the fact that Golden never looked quite as fast as his 4.29 Forty suggests, no one is disputing Golden’s wheels. He is also young, currently checking in four months shy of his 22nd birthday. Everything else? It’s more complicated. Golden failed to reach 1,000 yards last season despite appearing in a record-breaking 16 games, while he totaled just 988 during his two years as a Houston Cougar. Golden got bullied by man coverage in Austin, averaging an anemic .98 yards per route run when singled up. He did improve as the 2024 season wore on, stepping up for big plays as the Longhorns struggled to rely on Isaiah Bond. Golden also has nice hands, and is capable of highlight reel catches. Better on the outside than in, Golden currently lacks a complete route tree. He’s also not yet much of a tackle-breaker. This pick and projection is all about Golden’s speed and youth. His tape reveals an inconsistent wideout who could nevertheless develop into a versatile option capable of doing damage at all three levels of the field. That’s a No. 1 receiver profile. You just wish those skills had been more evident during his three years in big-time college football. Golden is a high-risk, high-reward Dynasty selection.

Hampton lands with the Chargers and run-first offensive coordinator Greg Roman. The highly-efficient Hampton should have no problem operating as the Bolts’ lead back ahead of deeply inefficient Najee Harris in 2025. Harris could take some short yardage and goal line work away from Hampton, however. A solid if distant No. 2 behind Ashton Jeanty in this year’s running back draft class, 22-year-old Hampton (6’0/221) enters the league as a power back who tacked on 67 receptions over the past two seasons. A 1,500-yard rusher on 250-plus carries each of the past two years, Hampton is a genuine workhorse. He’s also a big-play threat, ripping over 45 runs of 10-plus yards last season. That includes 26 of 15-plus yards. Hampton confirmed his explosiveness at the Combine, posting a 4.46 40, 38-inch vertical, and 10’ 10’’ broad jump. The questions are not about his physical skills, but rather his finesse and feel. Hampton seemed to lack elite vision in the ACC, and wasn’t instinctual when it came to utilizing pace steps and waiting for the hole to develop. Those are the kinds of flaws that can doom even the most physically-gifted backs, but maybe Hampton just needs a little NFL coaching. He’s a high-floor, reasonable-ceiling pick as the second back off the board behind the great man Jeanty.

A local product from Austin, TX, Barron (5’11/194) arrived on campus in 2020 and proceeded to play 56 games over the next five years for the Longhorns. He played as a slot corner/safety for most of his first four years in Austin, only starting outside last year when he allowed a stingy 7.7 Yards Per Reception with a 7.9 ADOT and just three of the 37 receptions he surrendered going for 15+ yards. Only gave up more than 35 receiving yards in a game one time all year, and even that was 43 yards on one reception versus Kentucky. Only 63 of his 541 snaps were in press man coverage, with Texas DC Kyle Flood employing a zone-heavy scheme. Strong tackler who stays square to the ball carrier and is tough to shake with a 9.1% missed tackle rate. He thrived in his new role, earning a 91st% cover grade with five interceptions and a superb 34.2 NFL passer rating allowed when targeted. Verified his exceptional tape with a 94th percentile 4.39s 40-yard dash and a solid 8.62 Relative Athletic Score. Is extremely instinctive and feels at home in zone, as his 91.5 zone grade will attest. At his best when he can read the play and peel off from primary responsibilities to cover multiple routes at once. As a movable chess piece who can line up all over the formation, Barron should be able to immediately step in and play heavy reps as a rookie.

Long connected to the Steelers, Harmon (6’5/310) spent his first three seasons at Michigan State as a run-stopping three tech before transferring west to Oregon. He found another gear with the Ducks, earning Second-Team AP All-American accolades to go along with 55 pressures, leading all FBS interior defensive linemen. Harmon’s 17.6% pass rush win rate ranked third nationally, while his 9.1 PRP charted second overall. He’s also a credible run defender, having recorded 25 stops and an 80th percentile run defense grade, though his 26.7% missed tackle rate needs drastic improvement. He ran a blazing 4.95 40-yard dash (88th percentile) and is blessed with 34 3/8th” arms. He opted to not perform any other Combine tests. Harmon has a hair trigger get off that he blends with NFL-friendly traits to keep blockers off balance and penetrate into the backfield. A one-man pressure machine, he uses an arm-over technique to devastating effect which makes him difficult to square up for opposing linemen. Harmon is a first-rate disruptor who can have a long career if he can refine his tackling success rate.

We know that the Giants tried to trade up to get the number one overall pick and draft Cam Ward earlier tonight. The Giants have also been repeatedly linked to Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart, who could be the target if the Giants can swing a deal and jump back into the first round.

After drafting Alabama OG Tyler Booker in the first round tonight, there was some thought that the Cowboys would then move Tyler Smith back out to left tackle. Instead, Dallas will start Smith and Booker at guards and keep Tyler Guyton at left tackle. Yes, that’s three Tylers on the starting offensive line for the Dallas Cowboys.

Egbuka (6’1/205) earned a starting role in his second season and immediately ran with it to the tune of 74 receptions, 1,151 yards, and 10 scores. He added two touchdowns on the ground. Egbuka thrived in the No. 2 role opposite Marvin Harrison Jr. while catching passes from C.J. Stroud. An ankle injury derailed his junior season and he returned for a final outing in 2024. Unfortunately for Egbuka, Ohio State had freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith in the fold and Egbuka was forced to play second fiddle to a future star once again. He did, however, top 1,000 yards with double-digit touchdowns for the second time. Egbuka ran three-quarters of his career routes from the slot and will start his career primarily as a slot receiver for Tampa Bay. That makes him a slightly awkward fit for a team that just brought back Chris Godwin on a three-year deal. Godwin is currently recovering from a dislocated ankle, but his contract suggests Tampa Bay isn’t worried about his long-term outlook. It’s also a nightmare scenario for Jalen McMillan, who broke out late in 2024 after Godwin went down. McMillan may struggle to earn playing time in the now-crowded receiver room.

Zabel will join a Seattle offensive line graded in 2024 as the league’s sixth worst pass blocking unit and eighth worst run blocking unit. Grey Zabel (6’6/312) exits college after five years having earned FCS All-American accolades en route to his second National Championship last season. He shuttled between right tackle and guard over his first four seasons, logging 633 of his 911 snaps at RT where he posted a 2.7% pressure rate and an 88.5 pass block grade. He moved over to left tackle last year and excelled in both phases, recording a sensational 92.9 pass protection grade paired with an 87th percentile run grade. Excellent footwork and movement ability offsets less than ideal 32” arms, with Zabel routinely stonewalling his overmatched FCS opponents to the tune of a 99.1% pass block efficiency rate. His athleticism was verified in testing with Zabel recording a 99.5th% 36.5” vert and a brisk 4.60 shuttle (87th%) for a superb 9.49 Relative Athletic Score that ranks 3rd among 2025 tackles. Any concerns about how he stacks up against upper level competition were quelled when Zabel shined in Senior Bowl practices, punching his ticket as a top flight OL prospect.

It seems like every class has a supremely talented and athletic EDGE defender whose measurables overshadow their on-field production. Stewart (6’5/247) only recorded two sacks in each of his final two seasons, while posting a disappointing 44.7 tackle grade and a dismal 26.9% career missed tackle rate according to PFF. However, Stewart’s 88.2 run grade and 39 pressures indicate he was creating havoc in the backfield despite the modest sack numbers, having earned a positive grade on 24% of his rushing snaps. His draft stock shot up with a dominant Senior Bowl showing followed by a perfect 10.0 Relative Athletic Score he posted at the Combine. It’s easy to see why Stewart is a tantalizing prospect, as his physical profile and speed/power combo are legitimately rare. However his pass rush toolkit is unrefined and consists of mostly a well timed bull rush where he simply overpowers his opponent. Stewart’s raw athletic traits will hopefully help him get by until he polishes up his move set and becomes a fully formed EDGE.