Broncos pass-rusher Nik Bonitto isn’t acting like a finished product, even after putting together a strong regular season. He said he still sees plenty of places to sharpen his game, both against the run and as a pass rusher.
“ I still have a lot of room to grow in my game - in the run and in the pass, ” Bonitto said, via PFT. “ Just keep trying to fine-tune these things, keep looking at other guys around the league that are doing it at a high level and seeing how I can put it into my game to continue to be the best player I know I can be. ”
Bonitto also made it clear he wants that production to carry into the biggest games.
“ It’s obviously great when you can do it in the regular season, ” Bonitto said, “ but doing it in the postseason in those big type of moments, it gives you that confidence to know you’re supposed to be there, and you can make those types of plays on big stages. ”
In Cleveland, ESPN’s Adam Schefter thinks the Browns could make a move in their quarterback room before the season starts, with Dillon Gabriel standing out as a possible trade chip.
“ The headlines of that camp, without question, are going to be who wins that starting quarterback job, ” Schefter said on his podcast, via Browns Wire. “ Is it going to be Deshaun Watson, is it going to be Sheduer Sanders, are they going to keep the other two quarterbacks?
Could they find a trade partner for Dillon Gabriel? ”
Out in Jacksonville, John Shipley of Sports Illustrated laid out his projection for the Jaguars’ 53-man roster, and a few spots are still very much in play.
At quarterback, Shipley sees Nick Mullens as the lone backup to Trevor Lawrence, with Carter Bradley and Joey Aguilar getting cut.
The backfield could be one of the more interesting battles in camp, according to Shipley, who has Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. splitting the main workload while LeQuint Allen claims the third and final running back spot. He also called undrafted rookie J’Mari Taylor one of the roster’s best sleepers, though he’d like to see him kept on the practice squad.
Shipley’s projection includes four tight ends: Brenton Strange, Nate Boerkircher, Tanner Koziol, and Quintin Morris. Hunter Long is the odd man out in that scenario, though Shipley noted Morris may not be completely safe either.
On the offensive line, Chuma Edoga gets released in Shipley’s projection only a year after signing a two-year deal. He said that decision could depend on whether Cole Van Lanen opens the season on the PUP list.
Shipley also has veteran defensive lineman Matt Dickerson getting cut, though he could still sneak onto the roster if Jacksonville keeps one fewer cornerback.
At linebacker, Shipley projects seventh-round rookie Parker Hughes to be cut, even though the Jaguars usually keep their draft picks. He could still battle second-year linebacker Jack Kiser for one of the final spots.
In Other News...
Jaguars Early Roster Prediction Puts Two Familiar Veterans On The Bubble
An early look at the Jaguars 53-man roster picture has already put a couple of familiar veterans in an uncomfortable spot. ESPNs Michael DiRocco left tight end Hunter Long and offensive lineman Chuma Edoga off his projection, a sign that both players are facing real competition as Jacksonville sorts through a deeper, younger group around them.
Longs path looks crowded by Brenton Strange and a wave of newcomers at tight end, while Edoga is battling a numbers game on the offensive line after the Jaguars added more talent up front. If those roster decisions hold, Jacksonville would also gain some salary cap flexibility, which only adds another layer to two spots that already look far from secure. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Suddenly Linked To Veteran Help As Camp Pressure Builds
Jacksonvilles offseason has stayed unusually quiet since the draft, but with training camp getting closer, the conversation around the roster is starting to shift toward veteran help. The biggest question remains up front, where the Jaguars could still use more interior pass-rush support after a spring that brought only limited post-draft movement and left Ruke Orhorhoro as the most notable addition.
If the team does decide to dip into free agency, a few familiar names fit the bill. Haason Reddick would bring edge pressure at a lower cost, Bobby Okereke would give the Jaguars another experienced linebacker next to Foyesade Oluokun, and Denico Autry stands out as the most intriguing option if Jacksonville wants more disruption inside. No move has happened yet, but the fact that those names are even in the conversation says plenty about where the pressure points still are. [Read more 🡒]