2025 NFL Free Agency and Draft: CB

All I’m saying is there’s a pretty strong trend for this particular player, that’s pretty much it. If Barron, Harmon, Starks, and Emmanwori are all on the board 10 times, 6 times I’m taking Barron, 3 times I’m taking Harmon, and the last time I do a best out of 7 coin flip for the safeties.

As far as elite safety play goes, Lott, Reed, Chancellor, and Mathieu are just a few examples off the top of my head. NE has had some pretty good S play over the years. Reid for KC is pretty good too. There’s others but I’m not going down that rabbit hole. 

I will say at this point in the cycle to have a trend this strong by multiple members of the draft community there’s something there beyond just smoke. 

No one was more pissed, maybe you, when we passed on Hamilton. Livid. Then I checked into Cine and on paper there was a lot to like. So, instead of posting my gut wrenching disappointment over and over I looked for the upside. Anything else was pointless.

Obviously something in Cine’s brain pan or chest cavity was really off. By all accounts Emmanwori has a high football IQ. His floor year 1 is a standout ST performer on a team in desperate need of difference makers. Big nickel and Mettelus understudy, plus a mix and match starter to potentially negate guys like Gibbs, Swift, LaPorta, Green Bay TEs. The back 7 is really limited speed and size wise. 

I see possibilities. I’d like to 5 minutes with BFlo to see what he thinks.

Addendum 

Here’s the other thing that resonates when you think about it. It’s a copycat league. Think of all the playoff teams. Teams are starting to run more again. Give me a LB sized S who can play nickel, track down Gibbs, Swift, Lamar Jackson et al, man up on Barkley and King Henry. 

Further, Hitman is gone after this year. Mettelus replaces him and Emmanwori in the Mettelus role but on steroids.

Chess not checkers

JustInTime wrote:
All I’m saying is there’s a pretty strong trend for this particular player, that’s pretty much it. If Barron, Harmon, Starks, and Emmanwori are all on the board 10 times, 6 times I’m taking Barron, 3 times I’m taking Harmon, and the last time I do a best out of 7 coin flip for the safeties.

As far as elite safety play goes, Lott, Reed, Chancellor, and Mathieu are just a few examples off the top of my head. NE has had some pretty good S play over the years. Reid for KC is pretty good too. There’s others but I’m not going down that rabbit hole. 

I will say at this point in the cycle to have a trend this strong by multiple members of the draft community there’s something there beyond just smoke. 

No one was more pissed, maybe you, when we passed on Hamilton. Livid. Then I checked into Cine and on paper there was a lot to like. So, instead of posting my gut wrenching disappointment over and over I looked for the upside. Anything else was pointless.

Obviously something in Cine’s brain pan or chest cavity was really off. By all accounts Emmanwori has a high football IQ. His floor year 1 is a standout ST performer on a team in desperate need of difference makers. Big nickel and Mettelus understudy, plus a mix and match starter to potentially negate guys like Gibbs, Swift, LaPorta, Green Bay TEs. The back 7 is really limited speed and size wise. 

I see possibilities. I’d like to 5 minutes with BFlo to see what he thinks.

Addendum 

Here’s the other thing that resonates when you think about it. It’s a copycat league. Think of all the playoff teams. Teams are starting to run more again. Give me a LB sized S who can play nickel, track down Gibbs, Swift, Lamar Jackson et al, man up on Barkley and King Henry. 

Further, Hitman is gone after this year. Mettelus replaces him and Emmanwori in the Mettelus role but on steroids.

Chess not checkers

You make some fair points. I still wouldn't draft a safety over some of the other options that should be available. We'll see what the Kwesi/Grigson brain trust comes up with.

I’m always impressed with the reactionary timing of Will Johnson on tape.

Good Size. Good film. Good Program. Good production.

It seems like a lot of people are overthinking this one. https://t.co/mcatvwKZQv pic.twitter.com/nhePkwFFfO

— SCOUTD (@scoutdnfl) April 4, 2025

.@MJD mock draft 1.0: Jaguars take Tetairoa McMillan over Travis Hunter at No. 5https://t.co/AHFBPfWhlC pic.twitter.com/OZVsJCKuVc

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) April 3, 2025

:cool:

Nohl Williams, California (6-0 ½, 200, 4.48)

One scout said: “He’s the best corner on the West Coast. Last year he was, too. Fast and instinctive, can play outside or inside. The big thing is his ball skills. Led the country in picks (seven).”

This is an interesting RAS comparison for Trey Amos. They move really similarly on tape, too. pic.twitter.com/Or2m2kg7pf

— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) April 4, 2025

A lot to prove - and the talent to back it up.

Next step for @ECUPiratesFB DB Shavon Revel Jr.? ➡️ 2025 #NFLDraft 💪

📺: 2025 #NFLDraft – April 24-26 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/2aY6LKIghh

— NFL (@NFL) April 5, 2025

Will Johnson’s fluidity and change of direction make him a promising NFL corner. pic.twitter.com/msluADIuzM

— PFF (@PFF) April 5, 2025

Kansas’ Cobee Bryant is the Most Competitive Player in the NFL Draft😤 pic.twitter.com/M5xfi8TBqQ

— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 5, 2025

The #Vikings had a waiver claim on Jack Jones in 2023, but the #Raiders were rewarded him since they were higher. Minnesota’s interest in Jones dates back to his draft year. Keep an eye on this one: https://t.co/XCtII8pvgO

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) April 6, 2025

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/vikingzfanpage/status/1908947751276032229?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

Super talented but certainly a bit of a head case. I think my preference at this point would be to bring in Jones or Asante Samuel and just cross cornerback off our list of draft needs.

Jones, 27, has played in 42 games, including 21 starts, across three seasons with the Patriots and Raiders. He has seven career interceptions, four of which he returned for touchdowns, and 136 total tackles.

Does he have return skills?

Could @UMichFootball's Will Johnson be the first corner taken off the board? @MoveTheSticks dissects his game film 🫡

📺: 2025 #NFLDraft – April 24-26 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/XIdY5WZXHF

— NFL (@NFL) April 7, 2025

Much like Dallas Turner last year, I haven’t bothered to look at Will Johnson much because he’s not going to be available where we pick. Now, I’m not so sure.

The #Vikings are releasing CB Nahshon Wright, per the team. Wright was acquired in the Andrew Booth trade from the #Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/JWsQ1eNgtH

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) April 7, 2025

Interesting timing. It’s not like we need roster space.

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/vikingzfanpage/status/1909345049785086440?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

Interesting timing. It’s not like we need roster space.

Flo might have said no way and given him a chance to catch-on somewhere???

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/vikingzfanpage/status/1909345049785086440?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

Interesting timing. It’s not like we need roster space.

Maybe signing the recently released Jack Jones.

#Michigan All-American CB Will Johnson, one of the draft's top CBs, will work out for NFL teams on Monday at 10 am in Ann Arbor now that he's fully healed from a hamstring injury suffered in February.

A day later, he heads to Las Vegas to visit the #Raiders.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 8, 2025

"A lot of cornerback things happening here right now that pertain to the #Vikings" 👀

- @PhilMackey on CB Jack Jones being released by the Raiders pic.twitter.com/RPtR7El0dB

— SKOR North - Minnesota Sports (@SKORNorth) April 8, 2025

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/skornorth/status/1909652355659837442?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

I really think this is the direction we are going in with Samuel or Jack Jones. I think that's the decision when they figured Barron and Will Johnson won't be available in the draft, and there's some risk with the options they'd have to choose from. Safer to sign a veteran to round out the position group and spend draft resources in other areas. I think that's the smart way to play it at this point

Former #Raiders CB Jack Jones passed through waivers unclaimed and is now a free agent. https://t.co/xiOd0gHGnC

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 8, 2025

Knucklehead wrote:

Maybe signing the recently released Jack Jones.

He was just signed by the Bears.

JustInTime wrote:
https://x.com/vikingzfanpage/status/1909345049785086440?s=46&t=TjjB9Q4BmOwmN74RrrMjoQ

Interesting timing. It’s not like we need roster space.

He just signed with the Bears...