NFL Rumors: Tom Brady holds an Ace in Vegas, Stetson’s draft projection, and ex-Steelers defensive star comes home
By Kristen Wong
Another batch of NFL rumors surround Tom Brady’s very real interest in Las Vegas, Stetson Bennett’s draft projection, and a former Steelers defender finally coming home.
No rumors about Aaron Rodgers today! Hooray! Unfortunately, there are plenty about another of the NFL’s most popular speculation-mongering men, and he doesn’t even play football anymore: the incomparable Tom Brady.
You’ve heard about his thirst traps. You’ve heard him discuss his future at length and even announce the very public adoption of a kitten. You’ve also probably heard the rumors that continue to connect him to the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and Las Vegas Raiders. Out of all those teams, it seems like Brady’s interest in one of them was serious, and he could even be headed there in the far, far future.
As Brady continues to enjoy the retired life, a young prospect could be getting his start in the league soon and gets a 2023 NFL Draft projection from the Brady of mocks, Mel Kiper. And finally, could this Steelers free agent be on his way home this offseason?
Here are the three biggest NFL rumors from today.
NFL Rumors: Stetson Bennett projected to go “4th to 6th round” in NFL Draft
Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett has one of the most uncertain futures of any quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft, and top draft authority Mel Kiper is here to give his thoughts on the matter.
In a recent interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Kiper said he believes Bennett ranks anywhere between “the sixth and eighth quarterbacks.” Per most pundits, Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker ranks as the fifth-highest rated quarterback after the big four (Young, Stroud, Richardson, Levis), yet one could make an argument for Bennett being fifth, too.
After the first tier of quarterback prospects, Hooker and Bennett belong in a group alongside Stanford’s Tanner McKee and BYU’s Jalen Hall as not-immediate-starters and Day 3 picks.
Bennett’s stock dropped earlier this month when he was arrested for public intoxication, but the Bulldog got in a solid showing at the NFL Combine and reassured prospective teams about his moral character.
Kiper’s projection of Bennett as a fourth to sixth-round pick lines up with recent history: in last year’s draft, the top prospect was Kenny Pickett, who got taken off the board in the first round.
The next three, Desmond Ridder, Malik Ridder, and Matt Corral, were selected in the third round. By the time the fifth and sixth quarterbacks were taken, it was late in the fourth round and in the fifth round.
Which team will make a surprising move for Bennett in 2023? It can’t be any more shocking than Bill Belichick picking Bailey Zappe last draft.
Bennett ran an efficient offense for Georgia last season, has the physical measurables to succeed (big hand size, above average 40-yard time), and could develop into a NFL starter in a few years’ time. As it stands, he’s firmly Day 3 material.