NFL Player News

It will be a welcome home party for Bryant (6'3/218) as he makes his return to the Bearcats. Bryant sat behind Desmond Ridder from 2018-2020 as he ascended into a top college quarterback, and because of that, he decided to transfer in order to get more playing time. As a starter EMU this season, he threw for 3,121 yards, a 14:7 TD: INT ratio, and completed 68.4% percent of passes. Although not official, Ridder is likely moving on to the NFL, allowing Bryant to over the starting job in 2022.

Gray (6’5/299) brings a ton of experience to the table. He ended his collegiate career playing in 56 games for the Beavers, which is a program record for him. He is an above-average pass blocker, posting a 63.1 PFF grade. Gray also allowed just one sack and one penalty the entire season on over 900 offensive snaps. As a pass blocker, Gray is physical off the ball and is well balanced on his feet. However, there are times where he isn’t quick enough peeling off from one guy to the other. He has late reactions to guys coming through on his inside. As a run blocker, Gray shows quickness off the ball. However, he has short arms and has average upper body strength. Overall, Gray is an above-average pass blocker. He does have some tools he’ll need to polish up in the run game. But, the potential is there for Gray.

A three-year starter and cornerstone of Oklahoma’s 4-2-5 front, Downs (6’3/269) is a high-motor, physical edge defender whose relentless effort shows up snap after snap. A two-time Second-Team All-Big 12 honoree, Downs posted 13.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks in 2022 before repeating that 4.5 sack output in 2023. Though his production dipped slightly in 2024, he still tallied 9.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks over 12 starts. From a PFF standpoint, Downs graded out solidly with a 72.8 overall defensive grade, including an 85.3 in tackling and 70.4 as a pass-rusher. His 25 stops and just 3.2% missed tackle rate in 2022 speak to his physicality and technique. However, his 31-inch arms and dismal 7.58 3-cone (28th%) confirm on tape what evaluators see: limited bend and difficulty disengaging from long tackles. A classic tweener, Downs may lack the traits of a high-end pass-rusher but brings special teams chops (382 snaps) and blue-collar consistency that make him an attractive late-round option as a rotational 4-3 base end.

After redshirting at Oklahoma, Conyers (6’4/260) spent three years at Arizona State before spending his final season at Texas Tech. He caught 30 passes for 320 yards and five touchdowns in his last season, adding two rushing touchdowns and a passing score. Conyers tested best among tight ends at the NFL Combine in both the three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle. He is a good athlete who can work in the short area and make contested catches. Although his blocking is inconsistent, Conyers has a flexible skill-set and can be moved around the field. Conyers’ athleticism has gotten him into the NFL, but he will need to clean up his route running and blocking to stick around a tight end room.

Crenshaw-Dickson (6’7/316) spent four seasons at San Diego State, shuttling between LT and RT before moving across the country to Florida for his final year. He handled SEC competition well as the Gators’ starting RT, allowing just one sack and zero quarterback hits with an 82nd percentile pass block grade. While experienced having started 46 collegiate games, Crenshaw-Dickson is very limited athletically, having posted sub-25th percentile agility and jumping tests in addition to 15 bench reps, which is a 9th-percentile mark for a troubling 2.51 Relative Athletic Score. Though he’s strong at the point of attack and uses his hands well to control defenders, Crenshaw-Dickson’s lack of coordination and agility limits his utility from an NFL standpoint.

“Rocket” Sanders (6'0"/217) started his collegiate career at Arkansas and broke out as a sophomore with a 222/1,443/10 rushing line. He was also dynamic as a receiver, catching 28 balls for 271 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Sanders missed the majority of his junior season with a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery. Rocket then transferred to South Carolina, where he ran for 881 yards and 11 scores on 183 attempts. Though his yards per carry never recovered to its 2022 high-water mark of 6.5, Sanders set career highs in yards after contact per carry (3.7) and yards per route run (1.5). He posted a 27/316/2 receiving line in his lone season as a Gamecock. Sanders is an instinctive runner who sees the field well and adds to his offense as a receiver. His pass-protection needs work and fumbles were an issue for him with nine total in his career. Both red flags could cost him playing time early in his career.

The undersized Higgins (6’0/224) is a fast processor and poor athlete (3.34 RAS), though he notably took his position’s top spot in the NFL Scouting Combine’s three-cone drill (7.01). Higgins will wow position coaches with his quick play recognition, but frustrate with his inability to shed blocks in downhill pursuit. Speedy ball carriers will outrun him in a foot race, but his Unanimous All-American and Big Ten Linebacker of the Year awards from last season are no accident. Higgins was a consistent disruptor in his two years as a starter, leading and/or tying for the positional Power Five lead with 188 solo tackles, 103 stops and four interceptions during that span. He could end up motoring his way onto the Ravens’ 53-man roster.

Yarns (5’11/193) played in all phases on offense for the better part of three seasons and closed his time at FCS’s Delaware with 844 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, plus 17 receptions for 297 yards and five touchdowns through the air. Yarns only saw multiple carries against one FBS school during his five years of college ball. He gashed Penn State for 86 yards, 66 of which came on a breakaway touchdown, on just six attempts in 2023. Yarns never hit 150 carries in a season and his slight frame won’t lend itself to workhorse duties in the NFL. His receiving production was also good, but far from elite. He will likely start his career as a special teamer before working his way into a third-down role in the pros.

Holden (6’2/205) joined Oregon in 2023 after spending three seasons at Alabama in a limited role. Despite ranking second on the team in routes run (361) last season, Holden finished fourth on the Ducks in targets (54) but did end the year with a career-high 718 receiving yards. He lacks elite speed (4.57 40-yard dash) and stands out more as a zone beater than a receiver who will beat a corner in man-to-man situations, but Holden has flashed in limited contested situations, hauling in 11 of the 19 contested targets (57.9 percent) he saw in his career. Holden is a five-year prospect with a respectable college career, but doesn’t stand out in any particular area. He profiles more as a practice squad player to start his career.

Jacksonville head coach Liam Coen called Henigan a “coach’s kid with a ton of production and a natural stroke.” Henigan (6’3/215) was a four-year starter at Memphis who left school as the AAC’s all-time leader in passing yards (14,266) and passing touchdowns (104) while also throwing 31 interceptions. The raw counting numbers are impressive, but Henigan’s accuracy numbers (64 percent career completion percentage) never stood out, nor did his arm strength, but he possesses decent athleticism to evade defenders and did well when it came to protecting the ball, throwing 31 interceptions in 50 career games while boasting a respectable 2.7 turnover-worthy play rate. When you factor out rushing yards lost on sacks, Henigan ran for 1,346 yards and 10 scores in his career. Henigan will make plays with his feet when needed. His experience as a starter will make him an interesting player to track in training camp, but his inability to make consistent plays beyond the short area of the field will likely limit his overall upside.

Loomis initially said there will be a quarterback situation between Carr and second-round selection Tyler Shough, only to declare Carr as the starter if he’s still healthy. At least they know what they’re doing. Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury that was made public a few weeks ago, and there’s been speculation that the injury could carry over into the start of the 2025 season. It’s also been suggested that Carr is using the injury as a way to force himself out of New Orleans. Carr signed a four-year, $150 million contract with the Saints during the 2023 offseason and has thrown for 6,023-40-13 in 27 games with the team. Loomis’ comments were made shortly after the conclusion of the NFL Draft. It goes without saying that there’s a lot to figure out here, but it wouldn’t be surprising if we later learn Carr isn’t being handed the keys to the starting job if healthy.