NFL Player News

He was smiling as he went to the locker room and walking under his own power. Unfortunately for the Bears, immediately after Peppers left the Lions dialed up a deep ball to Calvin Johnson for a touchdown.

McCord (6’3/218) transferred to Syracuse for the 2024 season after spending the previous three seasons at Ohio State. The former five-star recruit started 12 games during the 2023 season after former teammate C.J. Stroud left for the NFL, throwing for 3,170-24-6, but opted to hit the transfer portal at the end of the season. In his one-year stint at Syracuse, McCord led the FBS in completions (391), pass attempts (592), and passing yards (4,779) and threw for 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His 12 picks led all ACC quarterbacks. McCord’s confidence in the pocket and ability to avoid pressure (44 sacks in 37 career games) are pluses to his game, as is his deep ball accuracy (52.6 deep ball completion percent 2023-2024), but his willingness to put the ball in danger has proven costly at times. Per PFF, McCord has a career turnover-worthy play rate of 3.6 percent. He also has a brutal five-interception game on his resumé that he posted last season in a game at Pitt, and his 24 turnover-worthy plays last season led all Power Five QBs. That said, his 36 big-time throws last season led all FBS quarterbacks. McCord is a feast or famine player who will provide plenty of big plays, but whether or not those plays can offset the mistakes in a less-forgiving NFL environment will likely determine his fate as a pro. His familiarity with a pro-style offense should help with his transition, but McCord would benefit from a redshirt year or two that will allow him to fine-tune his skills and improve on decision-making.

Gordon (6’1/226) has the prototypical size of a bruiser back and was a workhorse who averaged 20.9 touches per game in his final two seasons at Oklahoma State. In addition to his career rushing line of 537-2,920-36, Gordon also caught 80 passes for 585 yards and four scores in his career, and led the FBS in rushing yards (1,732) and total plays (324) in 2023. More of a straight-line runner than an east-to-west guy, Gordon forced a missed tackle on 23.4 percent of his career rush attempts and averaged 3.47 YCO/ATT – both very average totals for college backs. Gordon’s production from 2023 proved unsustainable in 2024, as he managed just 854 yards on 189 carries, but the more concerning total is the 4.5 YPC he averaged while doing so. Although it is worth noting Oklahoma State’s offense struggled as a whole last season, ranking 74th in points scored and 89th in completion percentage. Gordon posted a 4.61 at the combine and has a slightly above average RAS of 6.21. His lack of top-end speed could hurt him at the next level, but Gordon’s 2023 tape shows a player with plenty of redeemable traits in both the running and passing game. He adds physicality entering a Dolphins backfield built with mostly speed.

Kone’s (6'1"/190) winding JUCO-to-MAC journey forged a battle-tested perimeter corner who plays with a chip on his shoulder and a fearless mentality. With good length (30.88” arms) and speed (4.43 forty), Kone has the physical makeup teams covet, and his 70-tackle, nine pass breakups senior season proved he’s not shy about contact. He thrives in zone looks, where his instincts and ball-tracking shine, racking up 21 PBUs and 3 INTs over the past three seasons. Despite his 7.80 RAS, some testing red flags—particularly a poor vertical (31.5-inch) and shuttle (4.37)—show up in his transitions and recovery quickness. He can get grabby at the top of routes and leans too heavily on side-saddle technique, which limits his man coverage viability. Still, he plays hard, tackles well, and has the demeanor of a core special teamer with CB4 upside in zone-heavy schemes.

Strong (6’1/185) played five seasons, logging an astounding 2,770 reps, putting himself on the NFL radar in 2023 by allowing just nine receptions on 33 targets with a minuscule 11.8 NFL passer rating allowed and 26 yards after catch surrendered over 710 snaps for an 83rd percentile cover grade. Last year he was targeted 13.4 percent of the time on 387 cover snaps, allowing a 38.5 percent completion rate and a fantastic 15.4 defensive QBR. Just 10 stops in the last two seasons spanning 1,458 snaps backup his struggles getting off blocks and losing containment in run support. Didn’t exhibit advanced athletic traits in testing, posting a 71st percentile 4.50s 40-yard dash and a 9’08” broad jump (27th percentile) with no agility tests. Strong weighed in at a 38th percentile 185 pounds with his 59 NFL NextGen stats grade RAS ranking a dismal 30th amongst Combine performers. In coverage he scrapes at receiver’s hands at the catch point and has mirroring ability, but is better when the play is in front of him due to tight hips. Strong is a cagey former receiver whose instincts and slight frame make him more appealing in a zone coverage scheme.

Baron (6’4/258) is a twitchy linear rusher with NFL-ready measurables and a frame that pops on tape buoyed by an 8.65 RAS anchored by elite burst (4.62 40, 35.5” vert). A one-year starter at Miami after transferring from Tennessee, Baron brought heat off the edge in Lance Guidry’s four-man front, finishing 2024 with 11 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, and a team-high 45 pressures. Baron is a fastball rusher with a hot motor and the closing burst to finish. His 84.4 PFF pass-rush grade backs up the flashes, and he’s capable of dipping and flattening when his hands hit clean. But there’s tightness in his hips, and he struggles to shed once locked up. Run defense is a rollercoaster—solid pursuit effort, but inconsistent leverage and discipline at the point. Baron’s traits are more enticing than his production. He’s not a bendy threat and offers limited counters, but his explosiveness and effort make him a quality sub-package fit with rotational upside in a 4-3 front.

Primarily a blocker at Alabama, Ouzts (6’3/274) has minimal receiving production but adds special teams experience. He demonstrated strong lead blocking in the run game for Jalen Milroe and the Alabama backfield over the past couple of seasons. Ouzts caught 16 passes for 192 yards and three scores through his four seasons while contributing on the third unit. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler describes him as “a throwback player with gladiator mentality.” He is physical and aggressive, traits NFL teams will value out of a lead blocker. His stout size and run-blocking skills make Ouzts a candidate for a fullback role in the NFL.

Gladstone adds that “when it comes to his onboarding process,” the Jaguars will also “sprinkle in the defensive side of the ball.” The hope is that “by the time we get to the regular season those should be balanced out.” The Jaguars certainly intend to play Hunter on both sides of the ball but the priority is clear. Hunter is a wide receiver first and a a cornerback second.

As a freshman in 2021, Burke (5’11/186) immediately established himself as a high-level collegiate player, becoming the first freshman to start the opener for OSU since Andy Katzenmoyer. His play crested in 2023 when he earned First Team All-B10 recognition with eight PBUs 23 stops three interceptions and an 81.7 cover grade. Despite starting all 16 games of Ohio State’s National Championship run, Burke allowed a troubling 72.3% catch rate for 413 yards with a meager 7.2% forced incompletion rate. Enthusiastic in run support, the four-year starter recorded 48 tackles with 3.0 TFLs last season. He ran a 77th percentile 4.48s 40, but opted out of any further testing at the Combine. Burke is a little sluggish mirroring receivers through their breaks and has difficulty with double moves on vertical routes. This deficiency was exploited by Oregon with Burke getting smoked for seven receptions on seven targets in a 162-yard baptism by fire, allowing the only two touchdowns he would surrender all season. More comfortable in zone (81.0 zone grade) than man (58.5 grade), Burke should be able to carve out a role in the zone-heavy NFL.

Hawes (6’5/253) spent five years at Yale before transferring to Georgia Tech for his final season. He didn’t play his first two seasons and his most productive as a pass-catcher was 16 catches for 195 yards with the Yellow Jackets. An effective lead blocker, Hawes can be used in the run game. As a receiver, he has a small sample size of production and is limited as a route runner. Hawes was not much of a red zone threat but can do damage over the middle of the field against linebackers. While his primary trait will be blocking, Hawes’ physical frame will buy him a chance at receiving production in the NFL.