Jake Rigdon

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Senior Bowl 2023: Who did well, and who has their work cut out for them ahead of NFL draft

The 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl wrapped up this weekend as the Jake Haener-led National team defeated the American team 27-10. Haener, of Fresno State, was named the Most Valuable Player after the quarterback completed 12-of-19 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown. Haener is the No. 137 overall prospect in the latest Fanspeak-Jake Rigdon big…

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Fanspeak Mock Draft 2.3: What should New Orleans do with its late first-round draft pick?

Any parent with at least two children knows the drill: At least one of those kids’ rooms is always a disaster. You try to explain to the child that if he or she just spent 5 minutes a day picking up, then they wouldn’t have such a big mess on their hands. But that never…

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Fanspeak Mock Draft 1.26: What if teams don’t reach in the first round?

Every year, there’s at least one surprise pick in the first round. Sure, teams like Dallas and New England can say Tyler Smith and Cole Strange had first-round grades in their own respective draft boards. Forget the fact that Smith should make most rookie first teams – the general consensus at the time was that…

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Fanspeak Mock Draft 1.19: First-round trade possibilities – who will move up?

While we’re still waiting on word from a few Georgia prospects, the rest of the underclassman draft intentions are finally in, and now we know the draft order for most of the first round. In other words, it’s time to examine trade possibilities. Who needs a QB? At least five teams need to come out…

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Fanspeak Mock Draft 1/12: Reversing anti-draft stance would give Rams hope for future

“At least we won the Super Bowl.” That’s what every Los Angeles Rams’ fan thought following the conclusion of a disappointing, injury-marred 5-12 season. They may be saying that for several years. Consider the following challenges on the Rams’ horizon: The head coach is mulling his future with the team. The QB situation is murky,…

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Fanspeak Mock Draft 1.4: What would it take for Carolina to land a top QB in 2023 NFL draft?

The Carolina Panthers have to draft a quarterback in the first round, right? The team has drafted 10 QBs in its history, including two in the first round: Kerry Collin of Penn State, the team’s inaugural pick at No. 5 overall in 1995, and Cam Newton of Auburn, the No. 1 overall pick in 2011.…

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Fanspeak Mock Draft 12.28: Watch for these two QB-needy teams to try to move up for the No. 2 pick

As things stand now, Houston will likely wind up with the No. 1 overall pick and is expected to take either Alabama quarterback Bryce Young or Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud. But if Chicago or Arizona wind up with the No. 2 overall pick, then it would create a sort of QB musical chairs for…

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Fanspeak Mock Draft 12.21: Will 3rd-round QB picks come back to haunt Atlanta, Carolina in 2023 draft?

History shows that most teams don’t draft a quarterback after round 1 unless they’re hoping that quarterback develops into a long-term backup. Sure, there are notable exceptions to the rule. Former fifth-round pick Tom Brady and former fourth-round pick Dak Prescott come to mind. Now retired Hall of Fame QB Drew Brees was a second-rounder.…

Fanspeak Mock Draft 12/13: What if NFL teams didn’t worry about drafting for need in the 1st rd?

What if every draft pick was a luxury pick? That only happens when a team feels like it has its proverbial bases covered at every position. That likely means it has above-average veterans or promising, young backups at every position. You almost don’t want to draft certain positions because you’re just not sure how much…

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Fanspeak Mock Draft 12.7: King for a day (or season), LA Rams now must pick for need in Rounds 2 and 3

Here’s the scenario … Your team can win one Super Bowl, but there’s a catch: Your team will be among the worst in the division for the foreseeable future after winning the big game. Would you still take the Super Bowl win? We all know what Los Angeles Rams GM Les Snead would do. The…