One of the best player breakdown articles I've read in recent memory. Kyle and I have had a similar opinion on Jayden Daniels since the 2024 draft process began. He took some deep dives into meaningful data worth considering as we enter 2026.
startkyleorton.substack.com/p/jayden-dan...
NOT MUCH, WHAT'S UP WITH YOU!?!?!?!
Told my wife it smelled like updog in the living room. Now I'm sleeping in the basement, where it does not smell like updog.
I loved Sean Tucker coming out. His free agency will be interesting to see. He's a player who has shown plenty of flashes, but over the last two years, he has been more miss than hit as a runner.
Among 69 RBs with ≥ 100 carries since 2024, he ranks:
* 56th in YCO/ATT (2.74)
* 65th in MTF% (11.0%)
I take no pleasure in reporting that if you remove the random 14-136-1 game he had in 2024, things look even worse. Removing that game, Tucker has averaged 3.7 YPC since 2024. I am very, very sorry to report this. I'm actually crying.
His yards before contact per attempt (2.88 YBCO/ATT) are good for seventh best, and while he offers some pass-catching upside, 65.7% of his 143 receiving yards since 2024 came on two receptions.
Hope he makes the most of whatever chance comes next.
I loved Sean Tucker coming out. His free agency will be interesting to see. He's a player who has shown plenty of flashes, but over the last two years, he has been more miss than hit as a runner.
Among 69 RBs with ≥ 100 carries since 2024, he ranks:
* 56th in YCO/ATT (2.74)
* 65th in MTF% (11.0%)
a few thoughts on the texas situation
badfaithtimes.com/no-gerrymand...
Alec Pierce might own me in 2026.
Yeah at his Pro Day.
I got the need. The need for refined route runners with good hands regardless of their 40 time!
I remember him as a legend in my Madden franchises.
I'm a big fan of this random anecdotal theory. Interestingly, we've seen some of the slowest receivers in the 40-yard dash be some of the more refined route runners. Anquan Boldin, Keenan Allen, and DeAndre Hopkins immediately come to mind.
A slightly expanded list of receivers to go below 4.30 in the 40-yard dash, courtesy of MockDraftable.com.
Yeah, there will certainly always be outliers.
Per the NFL's combine site, every receiver who has gone below a 4.30 40-yard dash. Fast receiver = bad receiver? Curious!
When you see a white receiver...
You have him completing less than 87.5 percent of his deep passes in 2026?
He completed 7-of-8 passes of ≥ 20 air yards in 2025, throwing for 230-2-0 on those.
Malik Willis attempted 14 passes of ≥ 9.0 air yards in 2025. He completed 13 of them for 331-2-0.
Shane Steichen should've checked out his NegPL% in college!
Obviously, I am saying Riley Leonard is the key to unlocking Alec Pierce. Which I'm sure @dennycarter.bsky.social would be happy to endorse.
A little more context on Pierce's 2025, which was better than any of his previous seasons, if I am being fair.
Weeks 1-14, when Daniel Jones started, he had a career-high 0.191 TPRR. Things reverted back to his career average post-Jones. Interestingly, he also had a 0.231 TPRR w/ Riley Leonard.
I suppose it's only right to tell the folks the other player was Tyquan Thornton.
I've seen a lot of analytical draft analysis on the timeline over the last few weeks, which is great and awesome. It's a fun time of year. But having done this for some time (I am unc), I want to call out some things to watch out for on the numbers-driven side.
Alec Pierce was nice as a player on a rookie contract who just ran deep and occasionally did the big play thing. If I'm an NFL team, I wouldn't want too much money tied up in a guy who commands targets at the same rate a bunch of JAGs do.
ESPN's Wide Receiver Open Scores combined from 2022-2025. Alec Pierce, Jahan Dotson, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are once again hanging with the dregs. Seems bad, Idk.
I don't think they've received any third-round offers. The article the blurb cites says they "definitely expected to be tempted by a third-round offer," suggesting that one hasn't come their way yet.
Kevin O'Connell should be doing everything he can to try to get a Sam Darnold redo. Mac Jones might be the most logical option for that.
You could literally spend a whole weekend watching every J.J. McCarthy college drive.
