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The latest
PFF’s top 10 Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates for 2019 | Pro Football Focus
10. S JUAN THORNHILL, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
The former cornerback is both freakishly athletic and freakishly productive. He not only notched 10 picks over the last two seasons at Virginia but also 16 pass breakups. Those are crazy numbers that if he comes close to replicating will put him in the rookie of the year conversation.
“He has juice and he’s a good player — you can’t grow 4.33 [speed] on trees,” one scout told Yahoo Sports. “But route-running and all that, he’s a work in progress. He ain’t Tyreek.”
Gary Johnson worked his way into some first-team snaps at the Chiefs’ rookie minicamp, which concluded on Monday — although he didn’t have the opportunity to flash some of aggressive and physical play that earned him a spot on the All-Big 12 second team last season. These were helmet-and-shorts workouts, after all — not full contact.
NFL’s top 10 offenses: Saints, Colts, Eagles best of bunch | NFL
6) Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterback: A+ | Patrick Mahomes, Chad Henne, EJ Manuel
Backfield: C+ | Damien Williams, Carlos Hyde, Darwin Thompson, James Williams
Receiving corps: B | Travis Kelce (TE), Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson, Sammie Coates, Cody Thompson, Tyreek Hill*
NOTE: There’s uncertainty about Hill’s future in the NFL as prosecutors continue their reopened child abuse probe involving the Chiefs’ wideout.
Mellinger Minutes: Danny Duffy, Chris Owings, Tyreek Hill and Mother’s Day | Kansas City Star
The Chiefs will go to the Super Bowl because they have a 24-year-old quarterback who is the reigning MVP and swear-to-God has room to get better. With or without Tyreek Hill (more on that soon) this is one of if not the best offense in the league, and particularly adept at scoring late and coming from behind.
Hall of Fame cases for next wave of RBs: Peterson, Gore locks | NFL
3. Jamaal Charles, RB, Retired
In my opinion, the resume of each entrant to the Hall of Fame must include at least one distinctive accomplishment. The fact that Charles’ career yards-per-carry mark (5.368) is better than any other running back’s in NFL history is an eye-opener. Counting against him is the fact that he failed to top 400 rushing yards in six of his 11 seasons. To me, he’s something of a long shot to reach the Hall, but he has a chance, especially if he reaches the final round of voting and his presenter is able to make a strong, convincing case for him.
Played for: Kansas City Chiefs (2008-2016), Denver Broncos (2017), Jacksonville Jaguars (2018)
Career stats: 119 games | 1,407 carries | 7,563 rush yds | 5.4 ypc | 44 rush TDs | 20 rec TDs | 10,156 scrimmage yds
Around the league
Jason Pierre-Paul to get second opinion on neck | NFL
“As we stated last week following the news of Jason’s auto accident, our immediate concern was for both Jason and his passenger. While Jason was treated and released in south Florida the same day of the accident, we wanted to ensure that our medical team had an opportunity to perform a thorough evaluation here in Tampa, and that process is currently ongoing.”
OBJ’s aim: Turn Browns into ‘the new Patriots’ | ESPN
“I plan on being there for the next five years and trying to bring as many championships there as possible, turning [the Browns] into the new Patriots,” he told GQ.
Eric Ebron eyes TE TD record entering contract year | NFL
“I believe Gronk still holds the record for most touchdowns, which is 17. So, if I want to do anything that is gonna be real spectacular or really good, I gotta go get 17,” Ebron told reporters Tuesday. “And if I go and get 17, I help my team win games. I did that, proved that and I feel like if I’m at my best, then I feel like this team will be at their best.”
Telvin Smith on trade rumors: ‘I’m never leaving Duval’ | NFL
“Understand this, I never left Duval,” Smith said in the video clip, via Demetrius Harvey of LockOnJags. “I’m never leaving Duval; it’s Duval til we die. You understand me? Y’all seen trade rumors and stuff. Y’all seen me go anywhere? Exactly. Y’all seen the rumors go somewhere, but y’all ain’t seen me go nowhere cause I ain’t going nowhere. You understand me?
The Inside Story of the Rams’ Super Bowl Defense | Sports Illustrated
Three months ago, the Rams defense produced what could prove to be the most impressive forgotten Super Bowl performance in history. Tom Brady and the Patriots came in averaging 27.3 points a game in the regular season and 39 points a game in the playoffs, and Los Angeles held them to just 13. It wasn’t a perfect outing; the Patriots still moved the ball, including on the ground late. And true to form, there were things McVay thinks can improve, but he acknowledges that “if our defense next year plays like this again, we’re going to win a lot more games than not.”
In case you missed it at Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs sign free agent wide receiver, finalize other transactions
The Chiefs have been active since putting out their first 90-man roster on Monday
Chiefs sign two UDFA defensive backs from Florida Atlantic
Both played under former Raiders and USC head coach Lane Kiffin
How the Chiefs might build their 53-man roster
There’s every reason to expect there will be more changes as we continue through the offseason — one new player has already been signed since the roster was released — but we thought it would be illuminating to use the 53-man roster from the beginning of September as a guide to break down the 90-man roster by position, and help us see where the team might be headed in 2019.
Patrick Mahomes will serve as ambassador to new London football academy
The NFL MVP will be part of a new school that will teach American football to British teenagers.
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