A deep dive into the youngest quarterback division in the NFL
The AFC South has had some quarterback changes in recent years, with four of the division’s starting quarterbacks being 24 years of age or younger. In the future, the AFC South may be the NFL’s best quarterback division. An in-depth look at its emerging young talents is provided here.
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars | 24 years old
Lawrence was regarded as one of the top young rising prospects at the quarterback position heading into the 2023–24 campaign. After Lawrence had a season marred by injuries, starting 8-3 and finishing 1-5, this viewpoint was altered. Lawrence may be competing for a new deal in Jacksonville, therefore he needs to perform well the next season. Though he still has a lot of potential, he needs to do more if he hopes to compete in this difficult class.
Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts | 21 years old
Richardson appeared to be the early favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year at the beginning of the previous season after racking up 713 total yards and seven touchdowns in his first four games.His season was cut short by a right shoulder injury. Before suffering an injury, Richardson demonstrated enough skill for Indianapolis fans to be enthused about the young quarterback. However, if the former Florida signal-caller is to become the Colts’ starting quarterback, he must remain healthy.
Will Levis, Tennessee Titans | 24 years old
Despite not starting the season, Levis was able to take over when Ryan Tannehill was sidelined by injuries. Levis’ double-digit comeback against the Miami Dolphins, in which he threw for 327 yards and a touchdown, was his season’s high point. Although Levis has struggled with consistency in his early career, the Titans are fully committed to the former Kentucky Wildcat, as evidenced by the addition of WR Tyler Boyd, RB Tony Pollard, and WR Calvin Ridley this offseason. With all he needs to succeed in Nashville, Levis will be well-equipped.
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans | 22 years old
With one of the best rookie campaigns in NFL history, Stroud helped the Texans win their first playoff game since 2019 and finish 10-7 overall. Stroud has assumed control of the AFC South and may do so for some time to come. This offseason, Houston gained a significant weapon in the form of three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs. In addition to being the favorites to win their division the next season, Stroud and the Texans are also the favorites to face the Kansas City Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl champions, in the AFC.
The 13-man UDFA group was officially announced by the Broncos on Friday, and in order to meet the 90-man offseason cap, the team had to cut two players from its roster. The group complied by benching two seasoned veterans.According to Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post and Mike Klis of 9News, Denver notified defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence and wide receiver Phillip Dorsett of their respective release. In August of last year, Dorsett signed a practice squad contract with the Broncos, shortly after the teams finalized their 53-man rosters.
In 2023, the former first-round pick participated in two games and caught one pass after failing to make the Raiders’ 53-man roster during training camp. The Broncos were the fifth NFL team to sign Dorsett. This offseason, the nine-year veteran celebrated his 31st birthday. In the NFL, Dorsett performed best in Indianapolis and New England.
Memorably, the 2015 first-round pick was part of the July 2017 transaction that sent Jacoby Brissett to the Patriots, following a career-high 528 receiving yards from Dorsett. Since then, he has not been near 100 yards of that total.
The Miami alum caught 20 catches for 257 yards with Houston in 2022. Since August 2023, Lawrence, 25, has been a member of five teams. After failing to make Arizona’s first roster under Jonathan Gannon last season, the former fourth-round pick of the Cardinals, who started 13 games with his old team from 2020–22, found success with the Dolphins practice squad.
He later bounced to the taxi squads of the Texans and Panthers. In January, the Broncos awarded him a reserve/futures contract.
According to Jonathan Bailey of Philadelphia Hockey Now, Ivan Fedotov, the goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers, CSKA Moskva of the KHL, and the Russian Ice Hockey Federation have all been sanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation for not honoring Fedotov’s 2022 entry-level contract. In an effort to sign with the Flyers before the 2022–2023 season, Fedotov inked the contract in May 2022.However, as he attempted to leave Russia, he was stopped by the authorities and made to perform a year of military duty. This service took place on an aircraft carrier in the Murmansk region, well away from the battle lines, according to Kevin Kurz of The Athletic. This season, he signed a two-year KHL deal with CSKA, which is why the fines were justified. According to a release from the IIHF, the official penalties are as follows:
Fedotov will not be allowed to participate in any IIHF events, including the Olympics, for the following three years. If Fedotov decides to play for a foreign team instead of the Flyers, he will be suspended from club play for six months. The two-year prohibition on international transfers for CSKA will start on August 11, 2024, and terminate on August 10, 2026. A fine of one million Swiss Francs has been imposed on the Russian Ice Hockey Federation. If Fedotov is looking for any bright spots, he should be pleased with his final performance in Russia.
In 44 games, he registered 21 victories and a.914 save percentage. In five postseason appearances, he added a.916 mark. After the season, CSKA ended his contract, which gave him permission to relocate to Philadelphia a year ahead of schedule. Just before the Flyers season came to a conclusion, Fedotov made that decision. He played in his first three NHL games and stopped 43 of the 53 shots he faced. During the 2021–22 season, Fedotov cemented his place in Russian hockey by helping CSKA win the Gagarin Cup and Team Russia win a silver medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Throughout, he put up impressive numbers, establishing a.919 save percentage.
in 26 KHL games and six Olympic games at a.943 clip. Although NHL players Andrei Vasilevskiy or Igor Shesterkin would probably be selected for a future Russian Olympic team, Fedotov would surely be considered among the last few choices. LeBron James’ storied NBA career is coming to a conclusion, but there may still be some time left in it before everything is said and done. The Lakers want James to stay on their roster for two more seasons after picking him in the second round this summer, and James wants to play for two more seasons in the league, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
LeBron James intends to continue playing for two more NBA seasons, Shams said. In addition to wanting to get him back, the Lakers also want to add Bronny James in the second round. Next week, they will begin conducting coaching interviews. I would consider names like David Adelman, Reddick, and Kenny Atkinson. Before he exercises his player option, LeBron wants to see what the Lakers do. LeBron has the option to extend his contract for an additional year or to opt out and become a free agency this summer with a player option for the 2024–25 campaign.
It’s no secret that LeBron, who is 39 years old, is considering retirement more and more, and this summer presents a significant chance for him to prepare for his comeback. LeBron could spend his last two seasons living out his lifelong dream of playing alongside his own son on the NBA court by sticking with the Lakers and pushing them to select Bronny in the second round.A seamless transfer for his kid, who is still trying to establish himself as an NBA potential, may also be directly ensured by him. Even if they are no longer among the favorites to win it all, the Lakers might still be fairly relevant in the West with LeBron James, Bronny, and Anthony Davis.
The Lakers are committed to sticking with this strategy despite its shortcomings, so it will be interesting to watch how things work out for them when it comes time to assemble the team this summer. Bronny James Is Heading Home Bronny James’ college career was already off to a rough start after experiencing a cardiac collapse over the offseason, and there’s no doubt that it caused him to regress months of development on the court.
It’s hardly surprising that he underperformed when he did play again, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game on 36% shooting. At the conclusion of his freshman season, Bronny appeared sluggish for USC, and some speculated that he would have been better served by sticking around for one or two more years to hone and improve his skills. Rather, this past summer, James went to the transfer portal and formally started the process of transitioning to the NBA. LeBron’s evident desire to play alongside Bronny has elevated James Jr. to an intriguing and maybe franchise-altering possibility this season, despite Bronny’s predicted draft position being at most an early second-round selection.
Although some have expressed disapproval of Bronny teaming up with his father, considering the amount of discussion around the matter, it now appears likely.
Don’t be shocked if Bronny becomes his father’s starting teammate if the Lakers have a chance to select him with their pick this year. Still, there is still time for the King to add even more accomplishments to his already impressive record, so this is not the last we will see of him in the current NBA.
There’s a certain kind of wholesomeness about Ezekiel Elliott’s return with the Dallas Cowboys, but it won’t be the same as Zeke’s glory days from his first season.
There’s a certain kind of wholesomeness about Ezekiel Elliott’s return with the Dallas Cowboys, but it won’t be the same as Zeke’s glory days from his first season.One of the main narratives around the team ever since he signed after the draft has been what supporters should anticipate from the former No. 4 overall pick.
The Cowboys would be wise to approach the position with a committee mentality rather than hoping to have one RB1 lead the way like they did while Elliott was there, as I stated shortly after the signing. On Saturday, head coach Mike McCarthy made it very clear that this is the Cowboys’ strategy for the 2024 NFL season.McCarthy told reporters, “I don’t think that’s fair,” in response to a question about whether he thought Zeke could return to his previous persona. “In his first few years, the guy carried the ball more than anyone in history.
We’re running back by committee, so that won’t be his role, but I believe he’ll play at the kind of play he’s played during my tenure here.” McCarthy’s candor regarding Zeke’s role should allay any worries that fans and the media may have about the Cowboys pressuring the matter in an attempt to make Elliott a workhorse once more.It will be interesting to watch McCarthy, who is accustomed to using the running back by committee strategy, strike a balance in rotating a room full of guys with varying degrees of experience, including Elliott. It’s also possible that Rico Dowdle will lead the group over Elliott. “With Elliott back, it’s as natural a transition as you’ll ever see,” McCarthy remarked.
Huge personality in the locker room, he entered with that amazing smile and seemed to have never left. However, he has also undergone some personal changes, including a new protective system and new knowledge.”
