Six weeks into the NFL season and each conference has only six teams with a winning record. Five clubs have one win, the Lions are winless and four division races are all but over, barring major injuries to the first-place teams. Detroit (0-6) is the front-runner, but Houston, Miami, Jacksonville, the Giants and Jets each have a real shot with only one win.
news.yahoo.comEditor’s note: With the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions select ... a receiver? Pro Football Focus reports Waddle averaged 9.8 yards after the catch during his career, the most among all Power 5 receivers since 2014. Why he makes senseJaylen Waddle made sense for the Detroit Lions before the team remodeled their receiver room with athletic pass-catchers. He’s going to take a lot of pressure off the quarterback. He’s going to have an influence on the run game, as well.
mlive.comThe NFL draft is less than one week away, which means it’s time to check the national temperature for what analysts are feeling for the Detroit Lions at Pick 7. In our last mock draft roundup of the offseason, we welcome Virginia Tech offensive lineman Christian Darrisaw to the mix. Chase opted out of the pandemic-altered season one year removed from lighting college football on fire with Joe Burrow and Justin Jefferson. And while Waddle is arguably the most electric wide receiver in this year’s draft, he’s far from a one-dimensional prospect. Christian Darrisaw, OL, Virginia TechMocked by: Peter Schrager of NFL Network (trade back to Pick 16)Let’s round out this year’s mock draft roundups by welcoming a new name to the list.
mlive.comLuckily for the Lions, this class is loaded with three legit options at Pick 7, not to mention impressive Day 2 and 3 talent. When it comes to receivers at Pick 7, though, it’s all about Ja’Marr Chase, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. That thinking combines the thought process that Chase, Smith and Waddle are special prospects while looking at the unproven receiver rotation. NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah called him the “home run” pick for the Lions at No. Purdue’s Rondale Moore and Florida’s Kadarius Toney, among others, find themselves waiting in the dust left by Chase, Smith and Waddle as well.
mlive.comALLEN PARK -- Penei Sewell’s name continues to get mocked to the Detroit Lions despite the three top wide receivers remaining the favorites at Pick 7 less than two weeks until the NFL draft. Despite this, it’s hard to ignore the number of voices and the logic behind sending Sewell to Detroit. Related: How did last week’s trades impact the Detroit Lions and Pick 7? Sewell measured in at 6-foot-4, 331 pounds at his pro day, running a 5.09-second 40-yard dash and bench-pressing 225 pounds 30 times with new Lions offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn in attendance. Adding Sewell to that mix could give the Lions one of the more desirable offensive lines in the NFL.
mlive.com“They’re special,” ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. said during a pre-draft call on Thursday afternoon. “They’re guys that are, to me, they’re the highest-rated guys in this draft. They’re all special players. So they’re all just special players, and they proved it time and time again. And not only is he a great receiver, Waddle is also a great punt returner.
mlive.comALLEN PARK -- Jared Goff’s presence and his restructured contract hasn’t eliminated the idea of sending a quarterback to the Detroit Lions at Pick 7. NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his third mock draft of the offseason, sending Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields to the Lions without a trade back in the order. Last week’s mock draft roundup brought Penei Sewell and Rashawn Slater into focus around these parts. Fields is supremely talented, no matter the usual draft tactics in trying to question his work ethic. Like Smith, Waddle is a little all over the place regarding where he’s mocked.
mlive.comALLEN PARK -- Teams are officially wheeling and dealing in the order with the NFL draft less than a month away. Miami then sent its newly-acquired Pick 12 (via SF), Pick 123 and a first-round pick in next year’s draft to the Eagles for Pick 6. Now, how does this change things for the Detroit Lions at Pick 7? McShay has the Lions acquiring Pick 8 one spot back via the Panthers, landing Alabama wideout Jaylen Waddle in the process. It’s worth noting the two top tackles, Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater and Oregon’s Penei Sewell, get some love to Detroit at Pick 7 in this week’s roundup.
mlive.comPatrick Surtain II and Mac Jones had the spotlight at Alabama's Pro Day, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)DeVonta Smith was there for quarterback Mac Jones once again, this time it was at Alabama's latest pro day. “He didn't have to do that,” Jones told the SEC Network, which aired the pro day. '”Jones showcased his arm strength a week after participating in the Crimson Tide's first pro day. “Mac was just on me like, ‘Bro, come catch, come catch, come catch,’” Smith told the network.
Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith celebrates after scoring against Ohio State during the first half of an NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)The 2021 NFL Draft is just weeks away and the Detroit Lions have a big decision to make in the top 10. 7 is a wide receiver. 7:ProFootballNetwork: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama: “It seems the shine on DeVonta Smith has waned just a bit in the past few months since his Heisman Trophy-winning campaign. If Matthew Stafford still dropped back for the Lions, Chase would be a better fit.” (Read more here)AdSporting News: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama: “Waddle is a highly skilled all-around natural pass-catcher. The Lions need to overhaul at wide receiver with Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones Jr. and Danny Amendola all not re-signed.
Saban and Alabama opened spring practice Friday, March 19, 2021l with an immediate goal. For now, they need to find replacements for three of college football's top offensive weapons. Patterson, File)Nick Saban and Alabama opened spring practice Friday with an immediate goal. He also didn't get a spring practice last year because of the pandemic. The Crimson Tide holds its spring game on April 17 and opens the regular season against Miami on Sept. 4 in Atlanta.
The last NFL event not impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic was the 2020 combine in Indianapolis. A year later, with the 2021 combine canceled, the league has released a list of players who would have merited invitations. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)The last NFL event not impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic was the 2020 combine in Indianapolis. A year later, with the 2021 combine canceled, the league has released a list of players who would have merited invitations. Cornerbacks got the most invitations with 44, including all-Americans Shaun Wade of Ohio State, and Patrick Surtain of national champion Alabama.
ALLEN PARK -- This year’s draft class is loaded with potentially elite wide receivers near the top of the order, with the Detroit Lions in a position to grab one of the top names at Pick 7. Jaylen Waddle would be the pick, assuming Ja’Marr Chase and DeVonta Smith are gone,” Kiper said on Monday afternoon. “Jaylen Waddle would be the pick, assuming Ja’Marr Chase and DeVonta Smith are gone. So, it goes, my reading for it is Smith, Chase, Waddle. Kiper said the receiver class is the strongest position group in the class, echoing his words on last year’s crop of pass-catchers.
mlive.comThe Detroit Lions are heading into uncharted waters with a new general manager, head coach and starting quarterback. Check out fellow MLive Lions beat writer Kyle Meinke’s first mock draft of the offseason by clicking here. This pick isn’t a knock on Jalen Hurts, the team’s second-round quarterback pick last year, but more about Lance’s ceiling and opportunity for built-in patience to figure out what they have in each. Detroit Lions -- Alabama WR DeVonta SmithThe choice between DeVonta Smith and Alabama teammate Jaylen Waddle was more agonizing than expected. He had 36 tackles, four sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two touchdowns.
mlive.comIt’s once again time to check the national temperature for the Detroit Lions and their options at Pick 7 in April’s draft. Micah Parsons has been somewhat in the mix since the get-go at Pick 7, but the Penn State linebacker’s name has been attached more frequently in recent weeks. Parsons is impressive against the run, while his scary athleticism has made him a handful to handle in pass protection. Parsons opted out of the 2020 season due to “the potential risk to the health and well-being” of his son. Detroit receives Pick 19, Pick 82 and a 2022 first-rounder in this mock scenario that sends quarterback Trey Lance to Washington.
mlive.comAll of this put together means it’s time to look ahead to this year’s wide receiver draft class. The receiver was limited to five games this past season, catching 20 balls for 338 yards and two touchdowns. Jones took over in Golladay’s absence in 2020, with 76 catches for 978 yards and nine scores while playing 16 games. The Lions are expected to have a new starting quarterback in 2021, and as things stand, a freshly-stocked room of pass-catchers could be on the way too. Still, he’s the reigning Heisman winner and at the top of a loaded receiver draft class.
mlive.comOhio State and Alabama will square off for a national championship on Monday night. Alabama has won 17 titles, including five in the past 12 years, while Ohio State was won eight. Prediction: Alabama 35, Ohio State 27Aaron McMann: Alabama has been the best team all season, and has the best receiver and running back in the country. Prediction: Alabama 42, Ohio State 31Kyle Austin: Ohio State looked darn good against Clemson, but it’s looked shaky in a few other big games and Justin Fields has shown he can be rattled a bit at times. Prediction: Alabama 45, Ohio State 35
mlive.comNow the question is will he be able to play in the title game Monday night against Ohio State? “I think you absolutely have to prepare as if he's going to play,” Ohio State defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs said. Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson posted photos on Twitter showing her visiting with coach Ryan Day and the team in the school's indoor practice facility. WEST COAST EXPORTSThe West Coast will be well represented in the national championship game among the players, if not the football programs themselves. Alabama All-America tailback Najee Harris, Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave and Buckeyes All-America guard Wyatt Davis are all from California.
Then Waddle went down with a season-ending leg injury on October 24. 1 receiver, Smith shined. The week after Waddle went out, Smith had 11 catches for 204 yards and four touchdowns against Mississippi State. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith #6 of the Alabama Crimson Tide seen at AT&T Stadium on January 1, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. Smitty — as teammates and coaches call him — didn't emerge as a Hesiman contender this season until Waddle went down.
cbsnews.comThen Waddle went down with a season-ending leg injury on October 24. 1 receiver, Smith shined. The week after Waddle went out, Smith had 11 catches for 204 yards and four touchdowns against Mississippi State. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith #6 of the Alabama Crimson Tide seen at AT&T Stadium on January 1, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. Smitty — as teammates and coaches call him — didn't emerge as a Hesiman contender this season until Waddle went down.
cbsnews.comSmith became the first wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy in 29 seasons Tuesday night, breaking the monopoly quarterbacks have had on the award by beating out three of them. “Just to be one of the very few that played receiver to win the Heisman, it means a lot to me,” Smith said. Smith is the third Alabama player to win the Heisman, all since 2009. 1 receiver, Smith shined. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at https://westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Alabama coach Nick Saban said junior wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is out for the rest of the season after breaking his right ankle on the opening kickoff Saturday against Tennessee. “It’s a shame because the guy’s a great player,” Saban told CBS at halftime. Waddle has been one of the nation's top punt returners the past two years and has seldom had the ball kicked his way this year. Waddle currently leads all Crimson Tide returners averaging 19.3 yards per punt return in his career, nearly six years better than second place. Waddle opened this season with at least 120 yards receiving in each of the first four games and led Alabama with 557 yards on just 25 catches.
At the top of USA Today's most recent revenue rankings for college athletic departments are Texas and Texas A&M. Texas and Texas A&M have everything needed to put out a national championship-level football program. The Aggies and Longhorns refuse to play each other but combine to form an Axis of Underachievers in the Lone Star State. In three games against Alabama under Fisher, the Aggies are 0-3 by a combined 144-75. For now, though, Texas and Texas A&M continue to prove the adage that money can't buy happiness.
Briefly threatened early, Jones and the Crimson Tide (2-0) flexed their considerable big-play muscle in the passing game to put away the Aggies (1-1). “Our guys stayed the course and kept competing in the game,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “We won, so it's a good game,” Jones said, when asked if it was his best performance. Smith, a converted receiver, emerged as another needed threat in the passing game. Alabama: Any questions about production of the Tide's passing game after Tua Tagovailoa, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III have been answered.
3 Crimson Tide received that programs equivalent of a humbling last season, if an 11-2 record can qualify as such. Alabama failed to make the College Football Playoffs for the first time thanks largely to a 48-45, regular season-ending loss to rival Auburn. Making matters worse, that followed a 2018 season that ended with national championship game thrashing at the hands of Clemson. Speculation abounded that highly recruited freshman Bryce Young might push Jones for the starting job before COVID-19 canceled spring practice. Harris emerged as Alabamas latest star runner last season, gaining 1,224 yards and scoring 20 combined touchdowns rushing and receiving.
