Butkus Award rumors, news

Breaking news and rumors

Injuries and suspensions

Trade rumors, contract, salary

Stats and scores

Family

Top stories

Fantasy rankings and news

Schedules and games

Rumors and scandals

• Former Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley announces retirement

Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images The former 2014 first-round pick for the Baltimore Ravens has retired. After Ray Lewis retired from the Baltimore Ravens following their Super Bowl XLVII win, the team needed to ask for the impossible: a replacement. Two years later, they came as close one can fairly ask when drafting Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley with the No. 17 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. I...2025
Check it out Baltimore Ravens breaking news
• Cardinals mishandled Isaiah Simmons: 10 reasons why (Op/Ed)

Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images Reason 1: Isaiah shouldn’t have been the Cardinals’ 2020 1st round pick Note: for those of you who have expressed your disapproval for ROTB articles involving former Cardinals or opinion-based threads, this long article (2 days to write) is not for you. Cardinals mishandled Isaiah Simmons: 10 reasons why In a recent SI article by Donnie Druin, Isaiah Simmo...2025
Check it out Isaiah Simmons news and rumors
• Predicting the 2025 Saints team award winners

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images Picking potential standout players for New Orleans this upcoming season. As the offseason progresses and the New Orleans Saints await training camp, fans and staff can start to get a better idea of how the 53-man roster will shape up ahead of the regular season. Which players should we expect to shine and be the leaders of this season? Who are we hoping to make an...2025
Check it out Stephen Lew Imagn breaking news today
• What the Bengals linebacker room looks like after Germaine Pratt’s release

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson (55) celebrates after recovering a fumble in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 9 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Las Vegas Raiders at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. The Bengals collected their first win at home with a 41-24 victory over the Raiders. | Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images...2025
Check it out Germaine Pratt latest news
• NFL’s new player award should be named after a former Browns player

Photo Illustration by Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images The recognition is a long time coming but Joe Thomas’ name should be attached The NFL has always recognized its top talent. Individual awards for accomplishments are part of the league’s fabric. Most notable is the league’s “Most Valuable Player Award” given to a single player deemed to have had the greatest pe...2025
Check it out Joe Thomas breaking news today
• 5 offseason moves that have reshaped the Browns for 2025

RB Quinshon Judkins #10 | Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images Coaching changes, NFL free agency, NFL draft and more have shaped the 2025 Browns The Cleveland Browns won just three games last year. With so few wins and a ton of losses, obviously, changes needed to be made going into the 2025 season. And not just one or two here and there, almost every position that overflowed into the coach...2025
Read about Quinshon Judkins news today

• Predicting the 2025 Saints team award winners
2025

Visit the page Stephen Lew Imagn injury update
• 5 offseason moves that have reshaped the Browns for 2025
2025

See more articles Quinshon Judkins availability report
• NFL Draft: One Browns draft selection that no one is talking enough about

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images Keeping the defense a strong point is a must but the Browns draft class has just two defenders The Cleveland Browns went into this year’s NFL draft with 10 draft picks. They ended up with seven picks instead. Two seasons ago, the Browns’ defense was ranked #1. This group slipped a bit last year with key injuries to LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah (JOK), DTs ...2025
Click for news about NFL Draft injury
• Drafting For Linebackers, Cornerbacks and Safeties

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images Depth needed badly everywhere We continue with our assessments of the New York Jets roster in determining what plan of action to take during the 2025 NFL Draft. This is the outside part of the building process that is vital to the success of the defense. We now turn our attention to the linebackers and defensive backs, where the Jets need help but it’s not...2025
See also New York Jets injury report
• POD Community Mock: With the 15th pick, the Falcons select...

Photo by CFP/Getty Images With the 15th pick in the Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, the Falcons select... The Pride of Detroit 2025 Community Mock Draft rolls along with the 15th pick, currently held by the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons shocked the entire draft community last year by taking Michael Penix with the eighth overall pick despite signing Kirk Cousins to a massive deal ju...2025
Click for news about POD Community Mock injury report
• 2025 NFL Mock Draft: New Orleans Saints select pass rusher

Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images With the 9th overall pick in the 2025 Bleeding Green Nation community mock draft, New Orleans Saints GM FierceDisc65 selects ... Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia Prospect Profile Jalon Walker - LB/Edge - Georgia Height 6-1 Weight 243 Arm Length 32” Athletic testing unavailable due to injury sustained prior to Combine 2022: Played in all 15 games as a reserve ...2025
See also New Orleans Saints injury update
• Can Cardinals improve their ILB positions like the Eagles did in 2024?

Imagine if the Cardinals can hit a Zack Baun-like jackpot These days the Philadelphia Eagles must be feeling giddy about the emergence of Zack Baun as a 1st Team NFL All-Pro inside linebacker. Drafted with the 74th pick in the 3rd round by the New Orleans Saints, Zack Baun was supposed to be a Kyle Van Noy (Lance Zierlien’s player comp) type of edge dynamo, coming off his final All-American, 1st t...2025
Click for news about Zack Baun injuries
• Mock Draft Roundup 5.0: Lions beat writers release pre-Combine projections

Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Taking a closer look at the prospects from the 2025 NFL Draft that have been projected to the Detroit Lions over the past week. With the 2025 NFL Combine set to kick off next week, this week’s Mock Draft Roundup offers fans their last opportunity to check out which prospects are being mocked to the Lions before the big event—including...2025
See also Scott Winters availability report
• Marcus Mariota emerges as a backup option - The Splash Zone 2/4/25

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Welcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours. The Miami Dolphins are entering a very important offseason with jobs on the line. If the Dolphins cannot find the right pieces to add this offseason, Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel may be looking...2025
Read about Marcus Mariota injury
• Barry’s Thoughts and Jots from around the NFL, college football, the NFL draft, Jameis Winston and more

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images As we prepare for Browns vs Chiefs, football news including Bill Belichick in college provides some intrigue The Cleveland Browns season is winding down as the holidays are right in front of us. The NFL is in the stages of keeping up with who will make the playoffs and who will host post-season games, and who will watch the playoffs from the confines o...2024
See more Jameis Winston injury report

2025
"He was named First-Team All-American, First-Team All-Big Ten, and was a finalist for the Butkus Award and the Burlsworth Trophy."

2024
"He also won the High School Dick Butkus Award given to the nation’s best linebacker."

2023
"Campbell Trophy as college football’s top academic football player and the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker."

2022
"Butkus Award winner led vaunted Georgia defense in TFLs"

2020
"Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury wants to see how first-round draft pick Isaiah Simmons will fare at one position after the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Butkus Award winner played significant time in various roles for Clemson."

2019
"White was the 2018 Butkus Award winner as the nation's top college linebacker and was a first-team All-American "

2018
"Smith was the 2017 Butkus Award winner"

2017
"He also won the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s best linebacker."

2016
"Now, the reigning Butkus Award winner's draft stock is unclear."

2015
"0) and was a finalist last December for the Butkus Award, given to the top linebacker in college football."

• Former Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley announces retirement
2025

Check it out Baltimore Ravens salary rumors
• Cardinals mishandled Isaiah Simmons: 10 reasons why (Op/Ed)
2025

Continue with Isaiah Simmons salary
• What the Bengals linebacker room looks like after Germaine Pratt’s release
2025

See more articles Germaine Pratt contract rumors
• NFL’s new player award should be named after a former Browns player
2025

Click for news about Joe Thomas contract rumors
• 5 offseason moves that have reshaped the Browns for 2025
2025

Visit the page Quinshon Judkins trade rumors
• NFL Draft: One Browns draft selection that no one is talking enough about
2025

Visit the page NFL Draft
• Drafting For Linebackers, Cornerbacks and Safeties
2025

Visit the page New York Jets trade rumors
• Jalon Walker’s lack of a position is a feature, not a bug in the 2025 NFL Draft

Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images Walker is one of the best players in the NFL Draft, bar none. But where exactly do you play him? If there’s any player in the 2025 NFL Draft consensus big board that I absolutely love, it’s Georgia’s Jalon Walker. An EDGE/LB hybrid, Walker turned his one year starting at Georgia into a season worthy of the Butkus award, notching 6.5 sacks and being th...2025
Continue with Jalon Walker trade rumors
• POD Community Mock: With the 15th pick, the Falcons select...
2025

Visit the page POD Community Mock contract rumors
• 2025 NFL Mock Draft: New Orleans Saints select pass rusher
2025

See also New Orleans Saints salary rumors

• Cardinals mishandled Isaiah Simmons: 10 reasons why (Op/Ed)
2025

See more articles Isaiah Simmons stats
• NFL’s new player award should be named after a former Browns player
2025

See also Joe Thomas scores
• 5 offseason moves that have reshaped the Browns for 2025
2025

Check it out Quinshon Judkins
• Drafting For Linebackers, Cornerbacks and Safeties
2025

Click for news about New York Jets scores
• Can Cardinals improve their ILB positions like the Eagles did in 2024?
2025

Visit the page Zack Baun
• Jacksonville Jaguars 2025 NFL mock draft roundup (Mar 24)

Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images As the draft draws nearer, maybe it isn’t so certain the Jags draft Mason Graham. We are officially a month away from the 2025 NFL Draft. Obviously the name to know at this point is Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, but as the days keep going, more and more names are coming up as likely draft candidates. This week we dive into som...2025
Continue with Jacksonville Jaguars scores
• Mock Draft Roundup 5.0: Lions beat writers release pre-Combine projections
2025

Visit the page Scott Winters statistics
• Who are the No. 22-ranked 2025 NFL Draft prospects across the media big boards?

Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer and Michigan’s Colston Loveland headline players ranked No. 22 on various 2025 big boards. The Chargers are officially owners of the No. 22 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Today, we’re taking a look at a handful of players who are ranked No. 22 on various 2025 draft big boards from across the media. Let’s get i...2025
See also NFL Draft scores
• Barry’s Thoughts and Jots from around the NFL, college football, the NFL draft, Jameis Winston and more
2024

See more articles Jameis Winston
• Chargers 90-in-90: EDGE Khalil Mack

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images Since joining the Chargers in 2022, Khalil Mack has set both personal and franchise sack records, all after turning 30. Khalil mack was born and raised in Fort Pierce, Florida where he grew up mainly playing baseball and basketball. Despite believing basketball was the way to a college athletic scholarship, Mack found a groove with football that would take h...2024
See also Khalil Mack statistics

• What the Bengals linebacker room looks like after Germaine Pratt’s release
2025

Check it out Germaine Pratt
• Drafting For Linebackers, Cornerbacks and Safeties
2025

See also New York Jets
• Barry’s Thoughts and Jots from around the NFL, college football, the NFL draft, Jameis Winston and more
2024

See also Jameis Winston
• Jeremiah Trotter Jr. can’t wait to start the new stage of his career as a Philadelphia Eagle

Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images PHILADELPHIA, PA — Jeremiah Trotter Jr., dressed in a sharp blue suit and Clemson orange flower on his left lapel, sat there last Friday night on a bean bag in the basement of his father’s South Jersey home looking casually looking down at his cell phone. The names of the second and third rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft were being called, a...2024
See also Jeremiah Trotter
• Meet Up! Everything you need to know about LB Nathaniel Watson, Jr.

Linebacker is the only position on the entire roster in which there is a clear opening The Cleveland Browns went into the NFL draft knowing that whoever they selected the franchise did not require any of the new athletes to start this year, or even play for that matter. How cool is that? On the unofficial depth chart, all eleven offensive positions are filled. All the special team...2024
Click for news about Cleveland Browns
• Jeremiah Trotter Jr. will enter the NFL with a strong pedigree and a special motivation

Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Jeremiah Trotter Sr. knew this time would come since his son, Jeremiah Jr., was a 10-year-old. Trotter Sr., the Eagles Hall of Famer, four-time Pro Bowler and beloved linebacker, just admits with a bellowing laugh that he may be more anxious about the 2024 NFL Draft than Junior is. Jeremiah Jr., a 6-foot, 230-pound two-year starting insi...2024
Click for news about Jeremiah Trotter
• Seahawks Drafts from the Past: 2004 – Beware of Boulware

Photo by Allen Kee/NFLPhotoLibrary The Seattle Seahawks drafted a personal favorite and a few other key contributors in 2004 even though their first pick didn’t pan out. In the lead-up to the 2024 NFL Draft, let’s take a look back on the Seattle Seahawks draft classes from 40, 30, 20, and 10 years ago. I’ll list each draft pick and give a short summary of their career achievements – if ap...2024
See more Seattle Seahawks
• Meet Browns new linebacker: Jordan Hicks

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images The linebacker room this year will look a lot different The defensive unit with the Cleveland Browns is at an elite level. At least, that’s what occurred last year with a slew of new faces, the hiring of a new defensive coordinator in Jim Schwartz, and a stellar year by DE Myles Garrett who completed the year as the league Defensive Player of the Year. ...2024
Check it out Jordan Hicks
• 2024 NFL Draft positions of need: Off-ball linebacker

Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images A position that the Eagles have historically ignored in the draft is also one of need? Get outta here! Every team has different needs during NFL Draft weekend and, as you may have surmised from being a football fan for longer than 30 seconds, it informs each team’s board. The Philadelphia Eagles are no different and I have taken the libe...2024
Click for news about NFL Draft
• Cowboys news: Free agent running backs that Dallas should be interested in

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports Your Sunday morning Cowboys news. 5 best free agent options at running back for the Cowboys - Ali Jawad, Inside the Star The Cowboys had problems at running back, here are a few solutions. Zack Moss Let’s kick off the list with a lower-end but still solid option. Zack Moss spent the first two and a half seasons of his career with the Buffalo Billsbefore being ...2024
Click for news about Zack Moss

• Left Parentless and Homeless, Harvard Star's Amazing Journey May Lead to the NFL
2015

Read about Ivy League
• Notre Dame Linebacker Jaylon Smith: 'I'm the Best Player in the Draft'
2016

Check it out Jaylon Smith
• Draft grades: National analysts give Lions low marks for Day 1 picks
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports The Detroit Lions posted some of the lowest grades after Day 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Detroit Lions certainly took an unexpected approach to the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. After trading down, the Lions selected running back Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick and followed it up with Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell six picks later. While each player...2023
Check it out Kirby Lee
• The Browns defense is counting on linebacker JOK to rebound
Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images The soul of the defensive unit begins with 2-8 The Cleveland Browns defense last season had a linebacker problem: most of them became injured. It was really weird for one club to have so many guys go down at a singular position, but this was the narrative with Cleveland 2022 edition. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (JOK), Jordan Kunaszyk, Jacob...2023
Click for news about Nick Cammett
• Jaylon Smith Injury Update: NFL Draft Prospect Expected to Miss 2016 Season
2016

Check it out Jaylon Smith
• Why NaVorro Bowman Has the Chance to Become the New Face of the 49ers in 2015
2015

Click for news about Seattle Seahawks
• Browns midseason accolades: Myles Garrett, Amari Cooper and more

Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images Half of the 2023 NFL season is behind us The 2023 season for the Cleveland Browns is teetering at the halfway point with eight games completed out of the 17-game schedule. (Editor’s Note: Very annoying that the 17-game schedule robs us of clean quarter/halfway points.) This would be a great time to reflect on how the offense, defense, and special teams ...2023
See more articles Myles Garrett
• Meet Browns new linebacker: Jordan Hicks
2024

Continue with Jordan Hicks

1. NFL Draft

2. Super Bowl

3. Dallas Cowboys

. . .

2018. Butkus Award

• Draft grades: National analysts give Lions low marks for Day 1 picks
2023

Continue with Kirby Lee

• Cardinals mishandled Isaiah Simmons: 10 reasons why (Op/Ed)
2025

Read about Isaiah Simmons
• Predicting the 2025 Saints team award winners
2025

Continue with Stephen Lew Imagn
• What the Bengals linebacker room looks like after Germaine Pratt’s release
2025

Visit the page Germaine Pratt
• NFL’s new player award should be named after a former Browns player
2025

Visit the page Joe Thomas
• 5 offseason moves that have reshaped the Browns for 2025
2025

Continue with Quinshon Judkins
• NFL Draft: One Browns draft selection that no one is talking enough about
2025

See more NFL Draft
• Drafting For Linebackers, Cornerbacks and Safeties
2025

Visit the page New York Jets
• Jalon Walker’s lack of a position is a feature, not a bug in the 2025 NFL Draft
2025

Read about Jalon Walker
• Can Cardinals improve their ILB positions like the Eagles did in 2024?
2025

Check it out Zack Baun
• Mock Draft Roundup 5.0: Lions beat writers release pre-Combine projections
2025

Check it out Scott Winters

• Cardinals mishandled Isaiah Simmons: 10 reasons why (Op/Ed)
2025

Continue with Isaiah Simmons rumors
• Jacksonville Jaguars 2025 NFL mock draft roundup (Mar 24)
2025

Read about Jacksonville Jaguars whispers
• Payton Wilson’s big pick for Steelers is even wilder after draft day fall

This is a spectacular play by the rookie. Payton Wilson was one of the most decorated off-ball linebackers in the entire 2024 NFL Draft and was coming off an incredible final collegiate season at N.C. State. Wilson won both the Bednarik Award (given to the best defensive player in college football) and the Butkus Award (given to the best linebacker). He racked up a career-best 138 tackles, includi...2024
Click for news about Payton Wilson scandal
• Summer Scouting: A strong group of linebackers for a great defensive draft

Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports A strong linebacker class potentially rounds out a strong front 7 for 2025 The 2024 college football season is almost here, which will send NFL scouts criss-crossing the nation as they scout the upcoming draft class. As we’ve mentioned several times before, the defensive front looks to be the unquestioned strength of the 2025 NFL Draft class. As it stands now, ...2024
See more articles NFL Draft rumors
• Payton Wilson’s fall in the 2024 NFL Draft, explained

Photo by William Howard/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images One of college football’s best linebackers had to wait a while to hear his name called Every draft cycle there is a player — or more — who waits a little longer than expected to hear their name called. One such example from the 2024 NFL Draft is NC State linebacker Payton Wilson. While off-ball linebackers have seen their positiona...2024
Check it out Payton Wilson gossip
• Jaguars 2024 NFL Draft: Dillon’s final mock

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images The Jacksonville Jaguars take a bold approach to the 2024 NFL Draft in this day-of seven-round mock. We are mere hours away from the start of the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit, Michigan. Teams around the league are putting the finishing touches on their draft boards as they prepare for three days worth of picks that could make or break the foreseeable future ...2024
See also NFL Draft whispers
• Cowboys news: Dallas needs to learn from past draft mistakes to capitalize in 2024

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports The latest and greatest Dallas Cowboys offseason news! Prospects for Cowboys to Avoid in 2024 NFL Draft - Kristopher Knox, Bleacher Report The Cowboys are going to address running back at some point in the draft, with plenty of buzz about Texas RB Jonathan Brooks coming off an ACL tear. RB Jonathon Brooks, Texas The Cowboys need to bolster their backfield aft...2024
See also Kevin Jairaj
• Glimpse Ahead to Cardinals’ 2024 Season Part V Mitch Mock

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images Having laid out a number of off-season possibilities for the Arizona Cardinals throughout the first three articles of this series, now it’s time to consider what an encouraging off-season would be for the 2024 Arizona Cardinals. Here are some suggestions and an ROTB Mock Draft Simulator competition: 2024 Core: QB Kyler Murray RB James Conner S Budda Ba...2023
Visit the page Michael Hickey whispers
• Glimpse Ahead to the Cardinals’ 2024 Season Part III

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images Who will be the Cardinals’ 1st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft? If the 2024 NFL Draft were to commence today, the Arizona Cardinals would have the 3rd pick, behind the Bears (via the Panthers) at #1 and the Patriots at #2. The most intriguing question at the top of the draft is whether the Bears will decide to keep building around QB Justin Fields, or whethe...2023
See also Part III
• Giants 2023 NFL Draft: Best available players for New York on Day 3
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images If the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft, the New York Giants added three players who, at one time or another, were mocked to the Giants at pick No. 25. GM Joe Schoen did trade up twice, costing him three of the seven Day 3 picks that the Giants had going into the draft. New York does not pick again until the 172nd overall pick in Round 5. Here ar...2023
See more NFL Draft rumors