Tag: No. 1 pick

Aug 25, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Detailed view of the Tennessee Titans helmet against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Titans GM says team won’t trade out of No. 1 pick

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Tennessee Titans entertained offers but decided they will not trade the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft.

New Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi said at the team’s pre-draft press conference Tuesday that other teams were interested in trading up, but “the entire organization” came to the consensus decision to keep

“As we got towards the end of the process, we decided that ultimately we’re going to stay,” Borgonzi said.

Borgonzi wasn’t tipping who the Titans plan to select No. 1, but it’s widely expected to be Miami quarterback Cam Ward. A large contingent from the franchise attended Miami’s pro day to see Ward, including team owner Amy Adams Strunk.

The Titans previoulsy drafted quarterbacks Malik Willis and Will Levis in 2022 and 2023. But Tennessee dealt Willis to Green Bay last August and appear ready to move on from Levis, who has a 5-16 record as a starter in two mediocre NFL seasons.

Borgonzi is entering his first NFL draft as a general manager. He was hired by the Titans after working in a variety of scouting and front office roles for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2009-24.

The New York Giants, who select third overall, were one team reported to have interest in moving up to the top pick.

The first round of the draft is Thursday in Green Bay, Wis.

–Field Level Media

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan looks on during the fourth quarter as they play the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.

Titans remain undecided at No. 1, not rushing decision

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Titans coach Brian Callahan claimed the franchise is undecided on plans for the No. 1 overall pick in the draft and insists Tennessee is open to trade offers less than a month before their selection is made.

Callahan pointed to plans on the team calendar for the Colorado pro day, where they’ll finalize assessments of wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders as part of the final phase of their draft process.

“We’re going to do our due diligence,” Callahan said Monday at the NFL’s annual spring meeting in Palm Beach, Fla. “Whatever we’re doing doesn’t have to do with any specific player. I wouldn’t say it precludes anybody. We’re just making sure the process is done the right way.”

Miami quarterback Cam Ward is considered the most likely option for the Titans. Callahan, entering his second season with the Titans, was with the Cincinnati Bengals when the franchise picked Joe Burrow first overall in 2020.

“We’re open to everything at this point,” Callahan said. “If it’s something you feel is beyond the value you ever thought you could get that’s one thing. But you also have to look at what a potential quarterback could look like. Those guys, to me, are priceless.”

Ward’s pro day was his third known gathering with Titans’ officials, who also met with him at the NFL Scouting Combine in February and hosted him in Nashville in March. Callahan said they’ve also scheduled another video call with Ward to exhaust all available options.

Even with Colorado’s pro day ahead on Friday, general manager Mike Borgonzi disclosed at the combine that the Titans had already set their draft board with “only small moves” up or down likely because of the amount of film study and research the scouting staff had done on the class.

Borgonzi, groomed by the Chiefs the past 15 years and part of the organization when Patrick Mahomes was selected, spoke highly of Ward and Hunter. He has not indicated the door is closed on holdover quarterback Will Levis. However, Callahan and Borgonzi have been careful not to commit to Levis, either.

The head coach and GM were part of the Titans’ contingent that also included offensive coordinator Nick Holz at Ward’s pro day.

–Field Level Media

Feb 27, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State defensive lineman Abdul Carter (DL44) during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Titans narrow field at No. 1, invite top prospects to Nashville

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Decision day for the Tennessee Titans might come sooner than many expect with the 2025 NFL Draft seven weeks away.

Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi said at the NFL Scouting Combine he is fielding calls about trading the No. 1 pick, but the franchise is not willing to pass on any prospect they rate as a “generational talent.”

Part of their process in evaluating that distinction is continued face time with top-ranked prospects, including Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter, Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter and two quarterbacks: Cam Ward of Miami and Shedeur Sanders of Colorado. All four met last week with the Titans in Indianapolis, when teams are permitted 15-minute interviews during the NFL Scouting Combine, and are scheduled to visit the Titans’ team facility this month.

Carter will be the first to visit with a scheduled session on Thursday, NFL Network reported. Carter did not work out at the combine last week and team doctors might have more questions about shoulder and foot injuries.

If the Titans rank all four prospects with a similar grade, they could opt to slide back a few spots to be in position to guarantee getting one of the players in the “blue-chip” grading area while accumulating additional picks. Since making a change at general manager, the Titans have repeated that their focus is to attain “as many top 100 picks as possible.”

Hunter was described as a “special” talent by Borgonzi, who stopped short of the “generational talent” label for the Heisman Trophy winner.

Tennessee indicated it will hold onto incumbent starting quarterback Will Levis for now, but clearly the position has been underscored as a need by the new personnel staff.

Ward and Sanders met with the Titans but did not work out with quarterbacks at the combine.

–Field Level Media

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan speaks during a press conference at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.

GM not married to No. 1 pick; Titans won’t pass on ‘generational talent’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New Tennessee Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi wants to collect draft currency, even if it means parting with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Borgonzi, hired to replace Ran Carthon, and president of football operations Chad Brinker make up the new power structure in Nashville. They shared a streamlined vision for resurrecting the Titans following a 3-14 season.

“We want to make 30 draft picks over the next three years,” Brinker told reporters Wednesday. “And we want 12 of those to be in the top 100s.”

To stockpile picks, the Titans are willing to part with the most valuable selection in their draft war chest. Only two of their current draft picks — No. 1 and No. 34 prior to compensatory selections — are in the top 100. But Brinker said the Titans are not willing to pass on a “generational talent” if they determine that player exists in the 2025 draft.

Field Level Media’s top-ranked player is Colorado cornerback and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, a two-way star with the Buffaloes who is being evaluated by most teams as a defensive back who could moonlight as a wide receiver.

Miami quarterback Cam Ward rates above the rest in a top-heavy class at the position.

And Borgonzi underscored the importance of settling the franchise’s most pressing question: Who’s the QB?

An understudy of general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid with the Kansas City Chiefs, Borgonzi inherits a roster with one quarterback under contract. That’s Will Levis, who did not solidify the spot under first-year head coach Brian Callahan last season.

Borgonzi said he’ll have final say in free agency and the draft if necessary. The mission is more collaboration with Callahan and Brinker in what the Titans’ brass acknowledged is an atypical structure for an NFL front office.

That doesn’t change their focused first order of business.

“The quarterback is the most important position, arguably in sports,” Borgonzi said. “So you have to solidify the quarterback position. We’re going to be relentless attacking this until we find the answer.”

Borgonzi — a self-described anomaly as a “Northeast guy with a funny Boston accent that loves country music” — spent the past 16 seasons with the Chiefs. He climbed the ladder since being hired in 2009 to become assistant general manager the past four seasons.

While the Chiefs march toward their mission of a three-peat as Super Bowl champions, Borgonzi called for patience to build a roster “the right way.”

“There is some talent on this roster, but we’re a three-win football team right now, so that’s not good enough,” Borgonzi said. “So, we’re going to have to look everywhere to improve it.”

–Field Level Media

Aug 25, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Detailed view of the Tennessee Titans helmet against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Titans clinch No. 1 pick in 2025 NFL Draft

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The Tennessee Titans wore Houston Oilers throwback uniforms for their season finale against the Texans on Sunday.

After a sixth straight defeat to end the season, the Titans are on the clock for the first time since the Oilers days.

Tennessee is one of three teams to finish the season at 3-14, joined by the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants. The Titans got the nod in the tiebreaker by posting their record against the weakest strength of schedule out of that trio (.521).

The franchise will pick first overall for the first time since the Oilers drafted running back Earl Campbell in 1978. The only other time they went first overall was 1973, when the Oilers took defensive end John Matuszak.

Cleveland will pick second overall and New York will go third. All three teams could be in the market for a new franchise quarterback.

Rounding out the top five are the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars, who are 4-13. The Patriots could have secured the top pick with a loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday because their strength of schedule was weaker than Tennessee’s. Instead, they upset playoff-bound Buffalo 23-16.

The order of selections 1-18 will be finalized by the end of the day. The New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders (4-12) were active in the late-afternoon window and their draft order is still up in the air, but they cannot break into the top five.

–Field Level Media

Bears general manager Ryan Poles speaks during a press conference at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Bears GM Ryan Poles feigns suspense around No. 1 pick: ‘Tune in Thursday’

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Bears general manager Ryan Poles knows the identity of the No. 1 overall pick, but two days before the 2024 NFL Draft, he’s not quite ready to share.

“We know what we’re going to do,” Poles said Tuesday at a pre-draft press conference. “Everyone’s gotta tune in on Thursday to watch.”

The Bears hold the No. 1 pick via a trade with the Carolina Panthers and draft night in Detroit will bring Poles’ two-year plan to fruition when quarterback Caleb Williams, the Heisman Trophy winner in 2022, likely becomes the third player drafted first overall in Chicago’s storied history.

Beyond the ever-present smoke around the Bears and Williams, there are other reasons the majority opinion holds merit. Chicago has only two quarterbacks on the current depth chart — undrafted Tyson Bagent and journeyman backup Brett Rypien — making the position a massive need.

“We’re proud of where we’ve come from,” Poles said. “It’s going to be hard to make this team now.”

When Poles traded the No. 1 pick to the Panthers weeks before the 2023 draft and received a 2024 first-rounder as part of the return package, he said the prevailing thought was to be in position to draft a quarterback should 2021 first-rounder Justin Fields not prove he’s worthy of the QB1 role.

Leadership changes in personnel and top coaching spots often drive decisions to move on from quarterbacks drafted by previous regimes.

Fields, drafted 11th overall when then-GM Ryan Pace and the Bears moved up from No. 20 in a deal with the New York Giants, was traded to the Steelers last month to be the backup to Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh.

The new brass has tracked Williams incessantly.

Poles, head coach Matt Eberflus, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and other members of the organization have spent countless hours to reach this point. The Bears met with Williams at the NFL Scouting Combine — where Eberflus offers prospects the option of playing darts or putt-putt before the more intensive interview begins — before his pro day workout (where new Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen made an appearance) and were the only team to host Williams at team headquarters for a “top 30” visit.

“The journey to collect all the information is different for everyone,” Poles said. “There’s guys on our board that are high that didn’t come in for a 30-visit that we’ve had other touchpoints. Our networks in the building know the player inside and out that we really, really trust.”

Poles called reports the Bears are shopping the No. 9 overall pick speculation and said he doesn’t feel the need to make a trade to add picks despite holding an NFL-low four selections over seven rounds.

“I feel really good with where we’re at,” Poles said.

–Field Level Media

Dec 31, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) runs with the ball after a catch in the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Bears clinch No. 1 pick in 2024 NFL Draft via Panthers

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A season ago, the Chicago Bears received the No. 1 overall draft pick and traded it to the Carolina Panthers. The swap included Carolina’s first-round pick in 2024 heading to Chicago.

On Sunday, the Bears secured the first overall pick once again as the Panthers clinched the worst record in the league with their latest loss.

The Panthers lost 26-0 to the Jacksonville Jaguars for their eighth loss in nine games and fell to 2-14.

With the Arizona Cardinals upsetting the Philadelphia Eagles 35-31 to improve to 4-12, Carolina is two games clear of every other team in the standings with one week left in the regular season.

Chicago (7-9) has won four of its last five games after routing the Atlanta Falcons 37-17 on Sunday. Wide receiver DJ Moore, acquired from the Panthers when the Bears traded out of the No. 1 slot, racked up nine catches for 159 yards and a touchdown against Atlanta. Moore has 92 receptions and has set career highs of 1,300 yards and eight receiving scores.

The Bears will have to decide whether to move on from second-year quarterback Justin Fields and select a different signal-caller with the top overall pick — like Southern California’s Caleb Williams or North Carolina’s Drake Maye — or stick with Fields and draft another position.

Chicago has held the first overall pick twice, not counting the 2023 selection it traded away. The Bears drafted halfbacks Tom Harmon in 1941 and Bob Fenimore in 1947.

Arizona is tied with the Washington Commanders and New England Patriots at 4-12. Based on tiebreakers, Washington would pick second if the season ended Sunday, followed by New England third and Arizona fourth.

–Field Level Media

Apr 27, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Alabama quarterback Bryce Young walks the NFL Draft Red Carpet before the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers draft Alabama QB Bryce Young No. 1 overall

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quarterback Bryce Young was the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday, revealing the target of the Carolina Panthers’ two months of wheeling and dealing and what the franchise hopes is a turning point.

Young was 24-3 as a starter at Alabama and won the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore in 2021.

Young spent three seasons in Tuscaloosa, winning a national championship as a backup to 2022 first-rounder Mac Jones. He won the Heisman in his first season as Crimson Tide starter. In 36 games, he threw 80 touchdown passes and completed 624 passes for 8,356 yards. He posted a record of 24-3 as a starter and holds numerous program records, including five games with five touchdown passes and single-season marks for passing touchdowns (47) and passing yards (4,872).

Young is praised for his ability to succeed off-script and find passing lanes with creativity and anticipation, but skeptics question Young’s size. He’s far from the requisite body type of NFL quarterbacks at 5-foot-11, 204 pounds, which calls into question durability and longevity.

But the Panthers pointed to experience when downplaying the scouting strife of drafting a quarterback without prototypical height and weight.

General manager Scott Fitterer was with the Seattle Seahawks when the team selected 5-foot-11 Wisconsin prospect Russell Wilson in the third round, and head coach Frank Reich mentioned production and instincts as winning traits that far exceed size requirements. Fitterer said Seattle’s review of all game film found Wilson had three pass attempts batted down in his college career; Young had two.

The Panthers acquired the No. 1 pick by trading the No. 9 pick, their second-rounder (No. 61 overall), a 2024 first-round pick and a 2025 second-rounder to the Chicago Bears in March.

Quarterback was the No. 1 offseason priority for Panthers owner David Tepper, who attended pro day and private workouts with Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud.

The top quarterback on the depth chart when voluntary workouts began last week was Andy Dalton, ahead of 2022 third-round pick Matt Corral.

Tepper hired Frank Reich as head coach in January and another former NFL quarterback, Josh McCown, joined the staff to work with quarterbacks.

Carolina failed with two reclamation projects: Sam Darnold, who was acquired from the Jets and was drafted third overall in 2018, and Baker Mayfield, the No. 1 pick in the same draft acquired from the Cleveland Browns.

The Panthers were 7-10 last season and three quarterbacks — Darnold, Mayfield and PJ Walker — attempted at least 100 passes. The trio combined for 16 touchdown passes and 16 turnovers (13 interceptions).

The last Carolina starting quarterback with more than 15 touchdown passes in a season was Kyle Allen (17) in 2019.

Nine teams in the modern draft era (1967) have drafted first overall and made the playoffs the next season. The last time the Panthers drafted first, Carolina selected quarterback Cam Newton from Auburn. Newton was NFL MVP in 2015 and led the team to Super Bowl 50, a loss to the Denver Broncos and Peyton Manning.

Newton was still Carolina’s quarterback in 2018, the last time the Panthers reached the playoffs.

Young is the fourth QB in five years to win the Heisman Trophy and be selected with the No. 1 pick. He becomes the fourth Crimson Tide player to roll from Heisman winner to the first round of the NFL draft since running back Mark Ingram (2009 Heisman, 2011 first-round pick of the New Orleans Saints at No. 28).

–Carolina Panthers quarterbacks drafted in the first round:
1995 5th Kerry Collins Penn State
2011 1st Cam Newton Auburn

–First overall pick history since 2000:
2000 Courtney Brown DE Penn State Cleveland Browns
2001 Michael Vick QB Virginia Tech Atlanta Falcons
2002 David Carr QB Fresno State Houston Texans
2003 Carson Palmer QB USC Cincinnati Bengals
2004 Eli Manning QB Ole Miss San Diego Chargers
2005 Alex Smith QB Utah San Francisco 49ers
2006 Mario Williams DE North Carolina State Houston Texans Pro Bowl (2008, 2009, 2013, 2014)
2007 JaMarcus Russell QB LSU Oakland Raiders –
2008 Jake Long T Michigan Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
2009 Matthew Stafford QB Georgia Detroit Lions Pro Bowl (2014)
Super Bowl champion (LVI)
2010 Sam Bradford QB Oklahoma St. Louis Rams Heisman Trophy (2008)
Rookie of the Year (2010)
2011 Cam Newton QB Auburn Carolina Panthers Heisman Trophy (2010)
Pro Bowl (2011, 2013, 2015)
Offensive Rookie of the Year (2011)
NFL MVP (2015)
2012 Andrew Luck QB Stanford Indianapolis Colts Pro Bowl (2012, 2013, 2014, 2018)
2013 Eric Fisher T Central Michigan Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl (2018, 2020)
Super Bowl champion (LIV)
2014 Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina Houston Texans Pro Bowl (2016, 2017, 2018)
2015 Jameis Winston QB Florida State Tampa Bay Buccaneers Heisman Trophy (2013)
Pro Bowl (2015)
2016 Jared Goff QB California Los Angeles Rams Pro Bowl (2017, 2018, 2022)
2017 Myles Garrett DE Texas A&M Cleveland Browns Pro Bowl (2018, 2020, 2021, 2022)
2018 Baker Mayfield QB Oklahoma Cleveland Browns Heisman Trophy (2017)
2019 Kyler Murray QB Oklahoma Arizona Cardinals Heisman Trophy (2018)
Offensive Rookie of the Year (2019)
Pro Bowl (2020, 2021)
2020 Joe Burrow QB LSU Cincinnati Bengals Heisman Trophy (2019)
Pro Bowl (2022)
2021 Trevor Lawrence QB Clemson Jacksonville Jaguars Pro Bowl (2022)
2022 Travon Walker DE Georgia Jacksonville Jaguars –
2023 Bryce Young QB Alabama Carolina Panthers

–Field Level Media

Alabama Crimson Tide Bryce Young (left) and Ohio State' Buckeye C.J. Stroud (center) pictured in a file photo with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett talk with ESPN Game Day before the game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Odds swing sets Bryce Young as heavy favorite at No. 1

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Following the long-held believe that Vegas always knows, oddsmakers adjusted the futures betting markets in a big way with Alabama’s Bryce Young now a runaway favorite to be selected first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Young, who met with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday, had trailed Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud for most of March and briefly pulled to even odds this month.

On Wednesday, bettors placing a wager on the No. 1 pick found that Young jumped well ahead of the pack.

Young is now -360 to be the first pick in the draft at DraftKings, -270 at FanDuel and -300 at BetMGM. Stroud is running second at almost every sportsbook. Young was as high as +350 to be the No. 1 pick last month.

FanDuel lists Stroud at +200 and he’s +210 at BetMGM. Books have universally come to the realization the Panthers are down to two options at No. 1.

The third-best odds belong to Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson at +2000 (FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings).

Richardson’s odds to be drafted in the top five has also shifted with an over-under at 4.5 now +135 (over) at DraftKings. The under is -165.

–Field Level Media

Bryce Young throws during Alabama's pro day. Syndication Tuscaloosa News

Odds shift briefly makes Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud co-faves at No. 1

Posted on | by Field Level Media

It’s all up to the Carolina Panthers which college prospect — specifically, which potential franchise quarterback — will be made the No. 1 overall pick in this month’s NFL draft.

Where Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud was once the heavy favorite, the odds have fluctuated plenty throughout the spring, especially Thursday.

FanDuel Sportsbook moved Alabama quarterback Bryce Young into co-favorite status with Stroud at -110 on Thursday at 12 p.m. ET, amid reports that several people within the Panthers organization prefer the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner.

By Thursday evening, though, Stroud was bet back up to sole favorite status; he sat at -195 with Young not far behind at +140.

On March 10, the day after the Panthers traded with the Chicago Bears to obtain the No. 1 pick, Stroud was a -320 favorite at FanDuel to be selected first overall.

The Panthers hired Frank Reich as their new head coach this offseason, replacing Matt Rhule. Longtime NFL quarterback Josh McCown will be Reich’s offensive coordinator, and according to NBC Sports, McCown has raved about Young to friends, one of “several influential voices in the organization” leaning Young’s way.

The odds gap is narrow at other sportsbooks, as well; BetMGM has Stroud a -175 favorite and Young at +130, and DraftKings also lists Stroud at -175 with Young at +125.

Stroud worked out at Ohio State’s pro day on March 22, and Young followed suit at Alabama’s pro day the next day. Several key NFL decision-makers were present at both pro days.

The Athletic reported Thursday that the Panthers have scheduled top-30 visits with the top four quarterback prospects — Young, Stroud, Anthony Richardson of Florida and Will Levis of Kentucky — for next week.

Young threw for 8,356 yards and 80 touchdowns with 12 interceptions in three seasons with the Crimson Tide. His 47 touchdown passes in 2021, the year he won the Heisman, set an Alabama program record.

Stroud finished his Ohio State career with 8,123 yards, 85 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 25 games (21-4) as a starter. He was a two-time Big Ten offensive player of the year and the first quarterback in conference history to have back-to-back seasons with 30 or more touchdown passes.

–Field Level Media