Sam Penix Articles - Page 6

With the first round of the NFL Draft set to kick off Thursday at 8 PM, we will finally get the answer to a question that has been asked for nearly two months; just how high will D.K. Metcalf being a Combine marvel get him drafted? The physical specimen, designated as a wide receiver, looks […]

There are some really great edge rushers in the 2019 NFL Draft. Nick Bosa, Josh Allen, and Brian Burns are all likely to be top-10 picks, with Montez Sweat and Clelin Ferrell also first round prospects. But there is one player who was a member of that group up until the NFL Combine. Florida’s Jachai […]

Draftniks are always looking for NFL players to compare college prospects to, and every now and then a player has a perfect pro comparison. But Ohio State’s Nick Bosa is on a different level here; he is so identical to his older brother, Los Angeles Charger Joey Bosa, that they could pass for football clones […]

Duke’s Zion Williamson has been the consensus best player in college basketball since he committed to Duke, and for good reason. The 18-year-old possesses a truly rare blend of size and athleticism, along with elite body control that allowed him to dominate the ranks of the NCAA this season. In 33 games, he averaged 22.6 […]

The first round of the NFL Draft always garners the most attention, but what truly makes a Draft class great isn’t its talent at the top, but its overall depth. In 2018, 32.2% of NFL players weren’t even drafted, and another 32.2% were Day 3 selections, according to Over The Cap. Stars are found early […]

Aerial attacks are becoming more prevalent in the NFL, and defenses are responding by using three linebackers less and less, opting instead to use an extra safety to defend the pass. Safeties must be versatile, able to cover receivers and tight ends as well as provide support against the run. It’s why many will target […]

With the NFL becoming more and more focused on throwing the football, every defense needs solid cornerbacks, and having just one won’t do. There are so many different types of wide receivers, all with different skill sets and different ways they can beat coverage. Corners have to be versatile in how they defend the pass, […]

Some teams may not hold them in as high regard as in the past, but the linebacker position is still incredibly valuable in today’s NFL. Players are being asked to do more and more as offenses become more creative. Here are the five best LB prospects in this NFL Draft class: 5.  Te’von Coney, Notre […]

Interior pressure is becoming more and more important in today’s NFL, and teams are always in search of their own Aaron Donald. The 2019 Draft presents the deepest defensive tackle class in a very, very long time, and the first round will be filled with big men. Here are the five best in an absolutely […]

On a night that was supposed to be Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade’s, the Los Angeles Lakers just couldn’t stay out of the news. President Magic Johnson announced he was stepping down from his position, and now the entire organization is in chaos. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Johnson’s announcement was spontaneous, as he hadn’t […]

After waiting for the frenzy of the first week of free agency to die down, the Indianapolis Colts made their first splash of the offseason by signing edge Justin Houston to a two-year contract worth $24 million. The 30-year-old has been one of the league’s top pass-rushers for the last seven years, and fills a […]

Pass rushing is at an all-time premium in today’s NFL, and fortunately for many teams picking high in the 2019 Draft, this class is loaded with DL talent. Here are the five best edge rushers this year. Honorable mention: Rashan Gary, Michigan Gary was hyped as the next great defensive player coming out of high […]

It’s official. The Los Angeles Lakers have been eliminated from playoff contention, and LeBron James will miss the postseason for the first time since his rookie season in 2003-2004. It’s hard to blame James for his teams’ performance; he did miss 17 games due to a groin injury, and there were times when his effort […]

The first round of the NFL Draft is always filled with surprise trades, and this year will be no different. There are plenty of difference-makers at the top of the board, and many teams will be vying for the chance to take them. Here are five teams who should seriously explore moving up. 5. Cleveland […]

The Cleveland Browns have been the splashiest team this offseason, with their biggest acquisition being All-Pro wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Cleveland looks like a legitimate playoff team on paper, but there is still room for improvement. Here are the three biggest needs that the Browns still need to address, either through the NFL Draft […]

Offensive line talent in the NFL is at a premium nowadays, even as the quantity of quality players isn’t very high. Fortunately, there are plenty of very good OL prospects in the 2019 NFL Draft class, and more than six could go in the first round. Here are the five best. 5. Dalton Risner, right […]

As the NFL becomes increasingly infatuated with the passing game, defenses are prioritizing interior pressure, and the 2019 Draft class is filled with many excellent defensive tackles. While Quinnen Williams and Ed Oliver headline the group, there will be good value to be found later on. Ohio State’s Dre’Mont Jones began the pre-draft process as […]

The Green Bay Packers began the offseason with an aggressive free agency period, vastly improving their defense by signing Adrian Amos, Preston Smith, and Za’Darius Smith. With the pass rush and secondary upgraded, Green Bay must find a way to rebuild their linebacker group, as Clay Matthews, Jake Ryan, and Nick Perry have all moved […]

If Rob Gronkowski proved anything during his Hall of Fame career, it’s that tight ends are still incredibly important in today’s NFL, perhaps just as much as wide receivers. With the added bonus of extra in-line blocking, teams are beginning to invest higher picks in the position, and there could be at least three TEs […]

The 2019 NFL Draft class is filled with some excellent defensive tackle prospects, most notably Alabama’s Quinnen Williams and Houston’s Ed Oliver, both projected top-10 picks. More than 10 DTs could go in the first two rounds, yet some are being overshadowed and underrated, such as Clemson’s Dexter Lawrence. Because of his 6’4″ 342lbs frame […]

As the league continues to embrace devastating air assaults, teams are constantly in search of their next pass-catching weapon, and a number are available in the upcoming 2019 NFL Draft. Every team wants to find the next Julio Jones or DeAndre Hopkins, but many instead end up with Corey Coleman and Laquon Treadwell. Despite how […]

The Philadelphia 76ers are in Orlando to take on the Magic tonight, and while the game will have playoff implications for both teams, the more interesting story involves a player who won’t be on the floor. At the trade deadline in February, Philly traded 2017 first overall pick Markelle Fultz to the Magic in exchange […]

It seems as though every year there is a “generational talent” at running back in the NFL Draft. In 2018, it was Saquon Barkley. In 2017, Leonard Fournette. In 2016, Zeke Elliott, and so on. While the term “generational” has pretty much lost its meaning, there is no denying that there have been some elite […]

The 2018 NFL Draft was heralded as the best quarterback class in recent memory, and so far it has lived up to the hype, producing four or five franchise QBs in the first round alone. While the 2019 NFL Draft does’t appear to be nearly as a loaded, there are still some solid prospects. Here […]

It’s one of the ultimate what-ifs in NBA history. The Los Angeles Clippers could have drafted Kyrie Irving in 2011 had they protected that draft pick after trading Baron Davis to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The fallout would have been crazy from a historical perspective, as LeBron James maybe never returns to the Cavaliers due to […]

Making selections in the NFL Draft is all about finding value with your pick; balancing a player’s possible ceiling and floor with his position and impact on your team. Every now and then a prospect, like Myles Garrett, will come along with both a high floor and ceiling, making him as close to a can’t-miss […]

On Monday, the Boston Celtics gave a touching tribute to former All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas during their loss against the Denver Nuggets. Thomas’s experience in Boston was so positive that even though the Celtics traded him for Kyrie Irving, he has indicated that he would have an interest in playing there again. However, as […]

As the Los Angeles Lakers wind down their incredibly disappointing 2018-2019 season, all the focus is on the future of the team, and in particular, the future of LeBron James. The superstar forward had a typically excellent season from a statistical standpoint, but there were (too many) times when his effort was lacking. He has […]

The Carolina Panthers are coming off a 7-9 season and failed to reach the playoffs for the fourth time during Ron Rivera’s stint as head coach. The main reason for this was the health of quarterback Cam Newton; although he started 14 games and had one of his better statistical seasons, Newton was never himself, […]

The linebacker position has increased in importance in the NFL over the past few seasons as defenses seek to add players who can play the inside run and cover from sideline-to-sideline. A solid class of free agents have been paid handsomely, with Kwon Alexander leading the pack with a four-year, $54 million contract from the […]

After nine seasons of leading the Kansas City Chiefs defense, strong safety Eric Berry now hits NFL free agency. Berry was a special player while he was on the field, making five Pro Bowls, three All-Pro teams, and beating Hodgkin’s lymphoma. His release will cost the Chiefs nearly $15 million in dead cap this year, […]

The Seattle Seahawks were supposed to take a big step back during the 2018 season, but instead improved their record to 10-6 and made another playoff appearance, although they lost in the wild card round to the Dallas Cowboys. As long as Russell Wilson is under center, Seattle will be competitive, but in order to […]

Electronic Arts’ “Madden NFL” video game is one of most successful game series of all time, selling over 130 million copies since 1988. Beginning with Madden NFL 2001, each game featured a new NFL star on its cover, and fans quickly noticed a correlation between an athlete landing on the cover of Madden and a […]

After weeks of rumors (some credible, some otherwise), the Cleveland Browns actually traded for New York Giants star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. All it cost Cleveland was the 17th and 95th overall picks in the 2019 NFL Draft and strong safety Jabrill Peppers. It’s a fantastic trade for the Browns, and instantly makes them […]

Every year the NFL Draft is filled with players with questionable pasts, and 2019 is no different. While most of these players have become better people since their respective incidents, there are some NFL teams who will just not draft players with off-field issues, no matter when they occurred. Here are five players who may […]

After a disappointing 6-9-1 finish to the 2018 season, the Green Bay Packers are gearing up for busy offseason as they attempt to bolster the roster in order to maximize the rest of Aaron Rodgers’ time with the team. Rodgers will turn 36 in December and has struggled with injuries for the past two years, […]

Michigan’s Rashan Gary may be the most polarizing player in this draft class outside of Okaloma quarterback Kyler Murray. Gary was a top recruit in 2016, and despite the hype, his college career was disappointing. In his three seasons at Michigan, Gary totaled 9.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss in 34 games. That’s not […]

Under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel, the Tenneessee Titans finished 9-7 and narrowly missed the playoffs in the 2018 NFL season. Running back Derrick Henry enjoyed a sensational second half of the season, but the rest of the offense performed poorly. Quarterback Marcus Mariota threw just 11 touchdown passes compared to eight interceptions. Mariota is […]

Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward was one of the best rookies in the NFL last season after being drafted fourth. Many questioned general manager John Dorsey’s decision to draft the undersized corner rather than pair edge rusher Bradley Chubb with Myles Garrett, but Ward proved to be the correct pick after a Pro Bowl year. […]