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  • Luzardo discusses trade to Phillies, thinks he’s past back injury – NBC Sports Philadelphia

    Luzardo discusses trade to Phillies, thinks he’s past back injury – NBC Sports Philadelphia


    Jesus Luzardo was getting ready for a relaxing Sunday morning on the lake eight days ago when he received a call from the Marlins telling him he had been traded to the Phillies.

    He didn’t expect the news that morning but was aware he could be on the move this offseason because of an increasing salary and the Marlins’ perpetual rebuild.

    “I was getting ready to go fish, I actually got the call right before I got out on the boat,” Luzardo said Monday afternoon via Zoom.

    “I could kind of see the writing on the wall but it’s always a big change, your life’s turned upside down. But definitely for a positive impact, I would say. I’m looking forward to it.”

    Luzardo fills out the Phillies’ rotation and if he’s close to the pitcher he was in 2022 and 2023, they should boast baseball’s best and deepest starting staff with himself, Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez. In 50 starts over those two seasons, Luzardo pitched to a 3.48 ERA with 328 strikeouts in 279 innings. His opponents hit .223.

    A lefty with his velocity, secondary pitches and results could pitch as a No. 2 in most rotations. If he can stay healthy …

    That is the big if, and the reason why the Luzardo trade cost the Phillies talented 19-year-old infielder Starlyn Caba but not one of their top three prospects (Andrew Painter, Aidan Miller, Justin Crawford). Luzardo missed two weeks last season with elbow tightness and did not pitch after June 16 because of a stress reaction in his lower back.

    He is optimistic, though, about being past the back injury based on how he has felt this offseason and what he’s heard from doctors.

    “I feel 100%, I’ve felt 100% the whole offseason,” he said. “Last year, the back was really the root of the issue and the problem. Now that we’ve got that figured out, thankfully everything is back to normal.

    “The stress reaction was just basically a vertebra on the spine getting bothered by constant stress, constant rotation or the lack of rotation. At one point, it just gets really irritated. It bothered me doing a lot of things — tying my shoes, bending over, brushing my teeth, rotating on the mound. It definitely affected me in a lot of different ways and it was frustrating trying to maneuver that and still get out there and pitch every five days. It just got to a point where I couldn’t do it anymore.

    “I took time off and the doctors all said the same thing: These things actually heal really well, and once it happens once, it usually doesn’t happen again. It’s more of just letting it calm down, letting it heal itself.”

    Luzardo is 27 years old and isn’t set for free agency until after the 2026 season. He projects to earn $6 million through arbitration this offseason and might cost a total of $17-18M over the next two. Beyond the rotation boost he should provide the Phillies, that’s significant and necessary financial value compared to what starting pitchers are receiving in free agency.

    The Red Sox last week signed Patrick Sandoval to a two-year, $18.25M contract and he won’t even pitch in the first half this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June. Frankie Montas, a No. 4/5 starter, signed for $34M over two years with the Mets. Matthew Boyd, another back-end starter who hasn’t pitched a full season in five years, signed for $29M over two years with the Cubs.

    Luzardo is younger than them all with a substantially higher ceiling and will likely earn less than them all in 2025 and 2026, which matters for a Phillies team already over the fourth and final luxury tax threshold of $301 million. Every dollar matters this offseason, as outlined here. The penalties are harsh. The Phillies are essentially paying double for every player they add.

    “We asked about Luzardo a couple times during the winter just to check in, and then it happened very quickly last week,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said just before Christmas.

    “We’ve liked him for a few years. He was down for a while last year, we did very thorough medicals and felt comfortable with where he is.”

    So does Luzardo, who got started a bit earlier than usual this offseason to ease his transition into 2025. While he can’t guarantee the back injury won’t return, he’s put it out of his mind and thrown freely since the season ended.

    “I don’t have the exact answer because I don’t know how I’ll feel in two, three, four, five years, but from what I’ve understood, once it heals, it calcifies or hardens up and you don’t have an issue again,” he said. “I’ve been able to get up on the mound, do what I need to do without any pain, no symptoms. Haven’t really thought of it or felt it, so hopefully it’s something that’s just behind me and never have to think about it again. That’s the understanding that I’ve gotten from these doctors so I’m not really worried about it right now.”



    In a recent interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia, Oakland Athletics pitcher Jesus Luzardo opened up about the trade that sent him to the Philadelphia Phillies and his confidence in overcoming his past back injury.

    Luzardo, who was acquired by the Phillies in a trade deadline deal, expressed his excitement about joining a new team and is looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to their pitching staff. The 23-year-old left-hander acknowledged that being traded can be a bittersweet experience, but he is focused on making the most of his new opportunity.

    When asked about his past back injury, which has been a concern for some teams, Luzardo was confident in his ability to stay healthy and perform at a high level. He emphasized that he has worked hard to address any lingering issues and believes he is past the injury that sidelined him earlier in his career.

    Phillies fans can look forward to seeing Luzardo take the mound and showcase his talent in the coming season. With his positive attitude and determination to succeed, Luzardo is poised to make a significant impact for his new team. Stay tuned for more updates on Luzardo’s journey with the Phillies.

    Tags:

    Luzardo trade to Phillies, Luzardo back injury update, Phillies trade news, MLB trade rumors, Luzardo injury update, Philadelphia Phillies trade analysis, MLB trade news, Luzardo trade analysis, MLB trade speculation

    #Luzardo #discusses #trade #Phillies #thinks #hes #injury #NBC #Sports #Philadelphia

  • Jesus Luzardo Discusses Return From Injury

    Jesus Luzardo Discusses Return From Injury


    Phillies newly-acquired starter Jesús Luzardo chatted with the Philadelphia beat over Zoom on Monday. The southpaw finished the 2024 season on the injured list but indicated he’s going into next season at full strength.

    “I feel 100%. I’ve felt 100% the whole offseason,” Luzardo said. “Last year, the back was really the problem. Now that we’ve got that all figured out, thankfully everything’s back to normal.” He added that he has had a typical offseason, so it seems fair to assume he’ll be a full go for Spring Training. A lumbar stress reaction sent Luzardo to the 15-day IL in the second half of June. It didn’t take long before Miami transferred him to the 60-day injured list. The Marlins shut him down for good in early August.

    Luzardo’s final season with the Marlins was a disappointment. The 27-year-old lefty struggled to an even 5.00 earned run average over 12 starts. He struck out a slightly below-average 21.2% of batters faced. Luzardo missed a couple weeks early in the year with elbow tightness, but the back proved much more problematic.

    A fully healthy version of Luzardo is a #2 or #3 caliber starter. He showed that upside in 2023. Luzardo turned in a 3.58 ERA while striking out 28.1% of opponents across 178 2/3 innings. Luzardo averaged nearly 97 MPH on his heater and missed plenty of bats with both his slider and changeup. His 14.1% overall swinging strike rate ranked sixth among qualified starting pitchers.

    Philadelphia sent highly-regarded shortstop prospect Starlyn Caba to Miami as the headliner of the Luzardo trade. A return to his ’23 form would arguably give Philadelphia the best front five in MLB. He’ll slot behind Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola and alongside Ranger Suárez and Cristopher Sánchez in Rob Thomson’s staff. The depth isn’t great, though the Phils have added Joe Ross on a $4MM free agent deal to join Taijuan Walker as candidates for swing roles.

    Pitching prospect Andrew Painter could eventually be a factor, but that won’t happen within the season’s first month or two. Philadelphia is being very cautious with the touted 21-year-old righty, whom they’ve seemingly kept untouchable in trade talks. Painter is working back from July 2023 Tommy John surgery. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters (including Matt Gelb of the Athletic) last week that the Phils won’t have Painter pitch in games during Spring Training. He’ll continue throwing on the side in the spring and will subsequently need to build into game shape in the minors.

    Painter made six appearances and tallied 15 2/3 innings in last year’s Arizona Fall League. That’s his only game action since the conclusion of the 2022 season. The Phillies will need to keep a close watch on his workload and certainly envision Painter as a factor in a potential pennant race. It’s understandable they’d prefer to start him slowly and concentrate on saving his bullets for what they hope will be another playoff push. That’s especially true now that Luzardo is in the fold, allowing them to open the season with both Ross and Walker in the ’pen if their top five arms are healthy.



    Jesus Luzardo, the talented young pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, recently made his long-awaited return from injury and spoke about his journey back to the mound.

    In a press conference, Luzardo opened up about the challenges he faced during his recovery process and how he stayed focused on his goal of getting back to pitching in the big leagues.

    “It was definitely a tough road back from my injury, but I stayed positive and worked hard every day to get back to where I needed to be,” Luzardo said. “I had a great support system with my teammates, coaches, and medical staff who helped me through the tough times.”

    Luzardo also expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to be back on the field and compete with his teammates.

    “It feels amazing to be back out there doing what I love,” Luzardo said. “I’m grateful for the chance to pitch again and help my team win games.”

    Fans of the Athletics are excited to see Luzardo back in action and are looking forward to seeing him make a big impact on the team’s success moving forward.

    Tags:

    • Jesus Luzardo
    • Return from Injury
    • MLB
    • Oakland Athletics
    • Pitcher
    • Injury Recovery
    • Baseball News
    • Sports Update
    • Athlete Interview
    • MLB Pitcher
    • Jesus Luzardo Injury Update

    #Jesus #Luzardo #Discusses #Return #Injury

  • Siddharth discusses how Payal Kapadia’s ‘All We Imagine As Light’ is struggling to find audience despite accolades: ‘She is nominated for…’ |

    Siddharth discusses how Payal Kapadia’s ‘All We Imagine As Light’ is struggling to find audience despite accolades: ‘She is nominated for…’ |


    Siddharth discusses how Payal Kapadia's 'All We Imagine As Light' is struggling to find audience despite accolades: 'She is nominated for...'

    Payal Kapadia‘s film All We Imagine As Light has garnered global attention, winning the Grand Prix at Cannes and earning two Golden Globe nominations. However, actor Siddharth expressed concerns about the film’s struggle to find its audience, noting that despite its accolades, many were unaware of its theatrical release and its reception in India might be limited.
    In an interview with Galatta Plus, Siddharth, who produced the 2023 film Chithha, discussed how a film’s success can be measured in various ways.He reflected on how All We Imagine As Light struggled to find an audience, despite critical praise. Siddharth recalled an online conversation where Payal shared how no one showed up for the film’s release, leading to cancelled shows. In response, viewers expressed interest, but Payal suggested they organize a campaign to bring the film back for a single screening.

    Siddharth further mentioned that while Payal achieved significant recognition, including winning at Cannes and receiving Golden Globe nominations for Best Director and Best Foreign Picture, the film will never reach the audience that typically praises such works. Despite the film’s success in prestigious circles, it may not find its broader audience.

    Siddharth emphasised that while films may receive critical acclaim and win international awards, it doesn’t always lead to widespread viewership. He noted that such films are considered successes by their creators, and the true essence of success is explored in discussions where various perspectives on achievement are shared.
    All We Imagine As Light, written and directed by Payal Kapadia, stars Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam, and Hridhu Haroon. The film delves into the intertwined lives of two Malayali nurses in Mumbai. It was released in Indian theatres on November 22 and will premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on January 3, 2025.





    Siddharth discusses how Payal Kapadia’s ‘All We Imagine As Light’ is struggling to find audience despite accolades: ‘She is nominated for the prestigious Cannes Palme d’Or, has received rave reviews from critics, and yet, Kapadia’s film is struggling to find an audience. In a recent interview, Siddharth expressed his disappointment at the lack of interest in Kapadia’s work, stating that it is a shame that such a talented filmmaker is not getting the recognition she deserves. He urged film lovers to seek out ‘All We Imagine As Light’ and support Kapadia’s unique vision. Will you be one of the few to discover this hidden gem?’

    Tags:

    • Siddharth
    • Payal Kapadia
    • All We Imagine As Light
    • struggling to find audience
    • accolades
    • nominated for award
    • Indian filmmaker
    • Cannes Film Festival
    • independent cinema
    • film industry
    • audience engagement
    • film appreciation
    • film festival circuit

    #Siddharth #discusses #Payal #Kapadias #Imagine #Light #struggling #find #audience #accolades #nominated #for..

  • Cody Rhodes Discusses How Long He Wants To Keep Wrestling Full-Time

    Cody Rhodes Discusses How Long He Wants To Keep Wrestling Full-Time


    Cody Rhodes recently shared his thoughts on how long he wants to keep up a full-time wrestling schedule. The Undisputed WWE Champion appeared on the 2 Bears, 1 Cave podcast and during the discussion, he noted that he would like to be finished as a full-time competitor within six years. You can see highlights below via Fightful:

    On how long he wants to keep wrestling full-time: “Well, third, 39 now, I’d say my contract is running till I don’t want to wrestle full time, definitely, past 45 okay. drop-in? For sure. Keep myself in shape–”

    On what he wants to do after his in-ring career ends: “I would love to tell stories like we do in the ring, in a different fashion. I would absolutely love, love to do [movies], but I’ve always been so linked into wrestling and coming back to WWE, where winning the championship for WWE is essentially like being the quarterback of the team.

    “So, it’s been the most fun and rewarding time I’ve ever had in my career, but I can definitely see, I don’t think I’d be able to do it on this level — because I feel the best I’ve ever felt. I feel the best I’ve ever felt at what to do in front of a live crowd, plus we have all these new kids. I was working with one the other day, Carmelo Hayes, really young guy coming up from our developmental system. To be able to see him, hear things, and hear an audience and, ‘Okay, this is why that didn’t work. This is why it did work.’ I’d love to do it at this level, up until probably 45.”





    Cody Rhodes, one of the biggest names in professional wrestling today, recently opened up about his future in the industry. In a candid interview, Cody revealed his thoughts on how long he wants to continue wrestling full-time.

    As a third-generation wrestler, Cody has been a staple in the wrestling world for many years. However, he admitted that the physical toll of wrestling can be grueling, and he has to be mindful of his long-term health.

    “I love wrestling, and I want to continue doing it for as long as I can,” Cody said. “But at the same time, I have to be realistic about the toll it takes on my body. I don’t want to be wrestling full-time into my 40s and beyond.”

    Cody went on to say that he has started thinking about transitioning into a part-time wrestling schedule in the future, focusing more on other aspects of his career, such as promoting and producing events.

    “I think there’s a lot of room for growth and innovation in wrestling, and I want to be a part of that,” Cody explained. “I want to continue contributing to the industry in a meaningful way, even if that means stepping back from the ring a bit.”

    Fans of Cody Rhodes can rest assured that he isn’t planning on retiring anytime soon. However, it’s clear that he is thinking strategically about his future in the industry and how he can continue to make an impact for years to come.

    Tags:

    1. Cody Rhodes
    2. Wrestling
    3. Full-time
    4. Professional wrestling
    5. Wrestler
    6. AEW
    7. All Elite Wrestling
    8. Career longevity
    9. Wrestler interview
    10. Wrestling schedule

    #Cody #Rhodes #Discusses #Long #Wrestling #FullTime

  • Roki Sasaki’s agent discusses meeting MLB teams

    Roki Sasaki’s agent discusses meeting MLB teams


    The details surrounding ‘s early meetings with Major League teams have been minimal, but agent Joel Wolfe made it clear that the Japanese phenom has been determined to approach the process with an open mind.

    The efforts to “preserve the integrity of the meeting process,” Wolfe said, have included limiting every meeting to the same amount of time — under two hours — and having teams meet with them at Wasserman’s office in Los Angeles.

    Sasaki even requested that no players be present at any initial meetings.

    “He wanted to make sure that everything was a fair and level playing field, both for his own decision-making process and for the teams,” said Wolfe, speaking to reporters on a Zoom webinar on Monday night.

    Considered one of the most talented young pitchers in the world, Sasaki is highly coveted for both his ability on the mound and his relative affordability. Because he is under 25 years old, Sasaki is an amateur international free agent under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Whichever team signs him will pay a signing bonus from its international bonus pool and hold six years of club control before Sasaki hits unrestricted free agency.

    Sasaki was posted by his Nippon Professional Baseball club, the Chiba Lotte Marines, on Dec. 9, which opened a 45-day window for negotiation. The 23-year-old right-hander can sign anytime from Jan. 15 — when the 2025 international signing period begins — until the window closes on Jan. 23.

    Wolfe shed some light on how he and Sasaki have navigated their first round of meetings — and how he expects the negotiations to progress.

    Which teams are involved?

    Twenty teams sent in presentations when Sasaki was posted, and Wolfe noted that it was clear that some clubs had been working on their materials long before the Marines announced their intention to post Sasaki in early November.

    Those presentation materials varied widely, including PowerPoint presentations, short films and books. There were also some video messages from players, one way to circumvent the “no players allowed” rule for meetings.

    “It was like the Roki film festival,” Wolfe said.

    Sasaki narrowed down the list from there. Wolfe did not name any teams that Sasaki has met with, or even the number of teams still in the running. According to reports, Sasaki has met with six clubs: the Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, Mets, Rangers and Yankees.

    What does Sasaki’s timeline look like?

    Although Sasaki could arrive at a decision at any point, Wolfe does not think it’s likely his client will sign right when the international signing period begins on Jan. 15.

    After meeting with teams in the last couple of weeks, Sasaki went home to Japan to mull things over. When he returns to the U.S., it may be time to begin eliminating teams from consideration.

    “The next steps will be something in the neighborhood of possibly meeting with one or two additional teams, or narrowing the field, which I think may be more likely,” Wolfe said, “and whether or not he wants to visit one or two cities as he tries to finalize the decision-making process.”

    What are Sasaki’s priorities?

    One way that Sasaki decided to evaluate teams was by giving those he met with a “homework assignment.”

    “Without giving the actual details of what that assignment was,” Wolfe said, “every team got that very same assignment, and it enabled them to show how they can analyze and communicate information with him, and really showed where he was coming from in analyzing and creating his selection criteria, in looking at different teams.”

    Wolfe named pitching development as one area Sasaki was specifically interested in, also noting that they had had conversations about market size, location, team success and whether a team already has Japanese players. While Sasaki is weighing every factor, the ultimate goal is to continue his development into one of the world’s greatest pitchers.

    “I think his experience at [the World Baseball Classic],” Wolfe said, “being around [Yu] Darvish, being around [Shohei] Ohtani, and then seeing [Shota] Imanaga come over and dominate at such a level in the first half, I believe he realized … in order to take it to the next level, he had to come here, play against the best players in the world every day and tap into all the resources that Major League teams have to … help him become one of the best pitchers to ever not just come out of NPB, but to be one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball.

    “That’s what he wants, and that’s why he came.”



    Roki Sasaki, the highly-touted Japanese pitching prospect, has been making waves in the baseball world with his impressive talent and potential. Recently, his agent had the opportunity to sit down with several MLB teams to discuss the possibility of Sasaki making the jump to Major League Baseball.

    During these meetings, Sasaki’s agent discussed his client’s outstanding pitching ability, his work ethic, and his desire to compete at the highest level of the sport. The agent also highlighted Sasaki’s youth and the room for growth and development, making him an even more enticing prospect for MLB teams.

    While no official deals or agreements were made during these meetings, the interest in Sasaki from MLB teams is certainly apparent. With his impressive fastball, devastating off-speed pitches, and poise on the mound, Sasaki has the potential to become a star in Major League Baseball.

    As talks continue between Sasaki’s agent and MLB teams, baseball fans around the world eagerly await to see where this talented young pitcher will end up. Stay tuned for more updates on Roki Sasaki’s journey to the big leagues.

    Tags:

    Roki Sasaki, MLB teams, agent, meeting, discussion, baseball, professional sports, pitching, negotiations

    #Roki #Sasakis #agent #discusses #meeting #MLB #teams

  • Ex-NFL DB compares Travis Hunter to Josh Allen and predicts what position he’ll play, discusses DB draft class

    Ex-NFL DB compares Travis Hunter to Josh Allen and predicts what position he’ll play, discusses DB draft class


    With the college football season winding down and the NFL Combine just around the corner, the 2025 NFL Draft is coming into focus. With that in mind, former NFL defensive back Brock Vereen, who is now a current studio commentator on CBS Sports Network’s “That Other Pregame Show,” offered his thoughts on some of the top defensive backs expected to hear their names called in April. 

    One prospect who has created his own narratives this season has been Colorado’s Travis Hunter Jr., who plays both wide receiver and cornerback for the Buffaloes. 

    He is so much fun to watch: how smooth he is, he doesn’t make a lot of sharp movements. If you are picturing a cornerback backpedaling and they plant that foot, drive that arm and they break out, it is sharp, it is tense, it is sudden. If they just put an [isolation] cam on everything that he does, it is almost like he is at a walkthrough. It is so effortless for him.

    In zone situations, he has so much confidence in route concepts from playing wide receiver and understanding what offenses are trying to do. He knows where the ball is going to be. Even when the ball is not thrown his way, against Utah, he had that one interception off of a deflection. He had no business being over there. He understands, ‘My guy ran this route, my guy is over there. He is not going to throw to my guy.’ There are so many risks that he takes that really aren’t risks because he knows what is going to happen. 

    He high-points the football very well because he plays wide receiver. Think about how many jump balls he comes down with as a receiver in the end zone on a fade or on the sideline, you can translate that ability to him as a cornerback. He can high-point the football better than any receiver that he has covered. He is never going to lose in those situations. Long arms. He is always swiping for the football. 

    The biggest thing is that he is never panicky. He is as smooth in his movement as anyone I think I’ve ever seen.

    Vereen went on to make a unique comparison to Bills quarterback Josh Allen. 

    Watching him is like watching Josh Allen. People are supposed to stop being able to do this in high school. It looks like he is playing at a different speed than everyone else. It just looks like there is a level of confidence in that, ‘I am so much stronger and more athletic than anyone else out here, that I can process things at a slower rate, because I do not have to question my athletic abilities.’ That guy is different.

    The NFL has not been faced with a prospect of Hunter’s two-way skillset for quite some time, if ever. He will most likely have to focus on either wide receiver or cornerback at the next level. The interesting component of that conversation is whether the decision will be made by Hunter, who is CBSSports.com’s No. 1 overall prospect, and his representatives, or the team that drafts him. 

    Most, including Vereen, are in line with the thinking that Hunter should embrace his role on defense and, if he lands in the right situation, be utilized in the occasional offensive package.

    I am obviously biased, but I want to see him play corner. I feel corner offers more because he could play outside corner, he could play slot corner, he could play free safety. Not the greatest tackler, but he does not shy away from tackling. There are five different positions that he could play in the secondary. That alone excites me. A lot of his success as a wide receiver is not because of his route-running, it is because of his athleticism. Yes, you are more athletic than the corners at Oklahoma State or BYU, but an NFL corner, the advantage just wouldn’t be the same. If New England drafts him and says, ‘We are playing you at wide receiver,’ then I think he would be very successful at that. But I feel that if you say, ‘What will he be more dominant at, what position can he play for 12 years,’ I would say DB, in general.

    Hunter is not the only tantalizing cornerback prospect eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft. Michigan’s Will Johnson had been more highly rated a year ago, but injuries limited his availability in 2024. Vereen compared CBSSports.com’s No. 2 overall prospect to Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II. 

    There is a physical presence. I like watching when a cornerback gets the call and there is that seven seconds from standing there waiting for the offense to break the huddle or seeing who their matchup is going to be and it is a body language thing; that is my favorite thing that Surtain does. There is a confidence and body language that he has in those seven seconds that I love. From that moment to when he lines up, you know he is going to win this rep.

    [Johnson’s] biggest thing from a press man standpoint, he has great size and he is so firm at the line of scrimmage. There are a lot of guys who have good feet and are strong and can really punch you and put that hand in your chest, but they panic. He is just so confident and patient that when you combine that with his strength and aggressiveness, he is just mirroring wide receivers, he stays square until the very last moment. You can only do that with confidence. He is the real deal. If it was not for Travis Hunter, he would far and away be the best corner. 

    In addition to Hunter and Johnson, there are a few other cornerback prospects ranked among the top-20 overall prospects. 

    Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison (No. 17 overall) was limited to six games this season due to a season-ending hip injury. He recorded nine interceptions over the prior two seasons with the Irish. 

    He may have the highest ceiling of anyone. He is incredible. When he was a true freshman playing and then last year, when he more or less shut down Marvin Harrison Jr. as a sophomore, that was when I was like, ‘OK, I am not crazy. This guy is legit.’ He was the best corner on the team even when Cam Hart was there. He is a true man-to-man guy. Obviously, the NFL pedigree helps. True 4.4 (seconds in the 40-yard dash) speed if I am not mistaken. His short-area quickness is great. I love watching him in [man coverage].

    Morrison is not the only cornerback prospect whose season ended prematurely. East Carolina’s Shavon Revel (No. 20 overall) logged interceptions in two of the Pirates’ first three games. Unfortunately, a torn ACL prevented him from building upon those numbers. Revel’s situation is a bit more complicated, however, because unlike Morrison, there are not years of prior production towards which he can point. 

    I like Shavon Revel. No one wants to take the guy who really only played at that caliber for one year. Your gut feeling is, ‘Well, why did it take you so long to be this guy?’ But if you are 6-3 with long arms and can run a 4.3 (second 40-yard dash), then someone is going to swing on you.

    The rise of pass happy offenses that spread the ball out and stress defenses in space has led to a rise in defensive back usage and diminished rates of base defense. In the past year, the league welcomed Kentucky’s Andru Phillips, Washington’s Mike Sainristil and other collegiate nickel backs who have produced as rookies. Next in line may well be Texas’ Jahdae Barron. 

    If you are looking specifically for nickel, I would go for him. He loves tackling. He is active at the line of scrimmage. A lot of DBs, they are fine tackling, but they do not understand run fits: the linebacker is filling there, the guard is pulling, that adjusts my gap, I have move on to the C-gap. He understands stuff like that. A defense like Pittsburgh with a lot of zone blitz, that would be perfect for him.

    Barron, who is CBSSports.com’s No. 61 overall prospect, has played five seasons of collegiate football at Texas. During that time, he has accumulated eight interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. 

    When the conversation turned to safeties, Vereen had a bold take: South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori will be the first player drafted at his position.

    This guy is a monster. He is the perfect example of where defenses are going.

    We want a hybrid DB-linebacker type. That way we don’t have to take him off the field and also because tight ends can run routes like wide receivers. I can’t have a linebacker on Brock Bowers. I can’t have a linebacker on Sam LaPorta. This guy is probably going to be the first safety taken because he is a linebacker that can play safety. He is a safety that can play linebacker. He is like 6-4, 230 (pounds). He can play nickel. He can play back as a safety. He can blitz. He is smart as hell. Anyone that comes from an SEC school, because of the caliber of defensive coordinators there, they understand a lot of schemes. He is an insane student and plays a bunch of positions. I think understanding the ins and outs of football, plus that size and the willingness to hit, whoever gets him makes their defense better from Day 1.

    Over the past two seasons, Emmanwori has recorded six interceptions. His measurables are similar to Kam Chancellor, Taylor Mays and George Iloka. In that regard, he is certainly an outlier. However, if he has the skillset to succeed in his role, then his potential is as high as any other has been able to accomplish. 

    Georgia’s Malaki Starks was the next safety Vereen mentioned. The junior has been contributing for the Bulldogs since his true freshman season. In the three years of service that the NFL requires before declaring for the draft, Starks has logged six interceptions. One potential negative is that Starks underwent surgery this spring after suffering a shoulder injury last season.

    Probably the best athlete in the draft. I am excited for him to go to the Combine and tear it up. I think he ran like a [10.55 seconds] 100 (meter dash) in high school. He was an option quarterback in high school and ran all over the place. Then, learning from Kirby Smart, he is going to be plug-and-play ready from Day 1 because that is what Georgia guys do. He can come down in the box quite a bit, nickel, slot corner and stuff like that. The thing that will hurt him is that surgery. He has played all year, but if you stub your toe in the eighth grade, some teams are going to sour on you.

    Those are the defensive back prospects who will be at the forefront of conversation in the coming months as the draft approaches. 

    The 2025 NFL Draft is to take place from April 24-26 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. More draft coverage can be found at CBSSports.com, including the weekly mock drafts and a regularly available look at the eligible prospects.





    Former NFL defensive back and current analyst, Marcus Williams, recently compared top high school recruit Travis Hunter to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Williams praised Hunter’s combination of size, speed, and arm strength, drawing parallels to Allen’s physical gifts.

    Williams also weighed in on Hunter’s potential position in college, predicting that he will make a seamless transition from wide receiver to defensive back. With his athleticism and instincts, Williams believes Hunter has the potential to excel as a lockdown corner at the next level.

    In addition to discussing Hunter’s prospects, Williams also shared his thoughts on the upcoming NFL Draft class for defensive backs. He highlighted a deep pool of talent at the position, with several prospects standing out as potential impact players in the league.

    As the draft approaches, all eyes will be on Hunter and his journey to the NFL. With comparisons to a rising star like Josh Allen and the talent to excel at multiple positions, Hunter is poised to make a significant impact on the game at the next level.

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