NFL’s most explosive players 🧨
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Hope you had a great Fourth of July weekend, football fans!
How did you celebrate the United States of America's 249th birthday? Let us know in the comments.
If you were Paste BN Sports' Tyler Dragon, you were busy identifying the NFL's most explosive players; those special athletes on offense and defense who are capable of providing fireworks on the gridiron. He also has four rookies who could join the ranks of the NFL's most explosive this coming season.
Here's a sampling ...
💥 Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson — Jackson is coming off a season in which he led NFL in passer rating (119.6), set career highs in passing yards and touchdown passes, and became the first quarterback in league history with at least 4,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards (915).
💥 Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett — This offseason, the Browns made Garrett the highest-paid defensive player in NFL (for now). For a Browns team that lacks star power and impact players, he’s worth every penny.
💥 Jacksonville Jaguars CB/WR Travis Hunter — Hunter has an opportunity to have a significant impact as a rookie. The two-way player is expected to line up on both sides of the ball in Jacksonville, although most of his snaps are likely to come on offense in Year 1.
HOT READS 🎯
The best NFL reads from Paste BN and our Sports Network:
🏈 Former NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith plans to publish a book, in which he has thoughts about commissioner Roger Goodell, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and some other notables (cough cough Aaron Rodgers). 📖
🏈 In case his NFL career doesn't pan out, Shedeur Sanders has other options. The Browns' rookie quarterback appeared on the negotiation list for the CFL's Toronto Argonauts. 🍁
🏈 After shipping Jonnu Smith (as well as Jalen Ramsey) to the Steelers, the Dolphins traded for a tight end who was retired. Said retired tight end promptly came out of retirement following the transaction.
🏈 The Washington Commanders hope to one day have a new home on the site of the old RFK Stadium. Last week, D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser expressed concern about getting that deal across the goal line. 🏟️
🏈 The Tennessean's Nick Suss put in some work, ranking every quarterback drafted in the first round since 1970.
🏈 The Akron Beacon Journal's Chris Easterling picks out four non-rookie Browns who could be breakout players in 2025.
🏈 Notre Dame appears to be loading up on recruits with famous former NFL player fathers.
🏈 Speaking of Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish's 1956 Heisman Trophy winner Paul Hornung is a legend in Green Bay. So, why isn't his No. 5 retired by the Packers? The Green Bay Press-Gazette's Richard Ryman has an answer.
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KICKOFF COUNTDOWN: 5️⃣9️⃣days ⏳
There are 59 days until the 2025 NFL season opens with the Kickoff Game between the Dallas Cowboys and defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4.
That is also the number of career touchdown receptions for free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. None was more spectacular than his third career touchdown catch, which came against the Dallas Cowboys on "Sunday Night Football" in 2014. You know the play ...
What started out as a career that appeared seemingly destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame – 1,000-yard receiving seasons and 35 touchdown receptions in his first three seasons – has not quite lived up to that promising start since. Injuries – including a knee injury in the Los Angeles Rams' Super Bowl LVI win over the Cincinnati Bengals – have cost Beckham playing time. In the nine seasons since 2015, Beckham has two 1,000-yard seasons and 24 touchdown catches while playing for five different teams.
NFL CLASSICS 🏈: FROM THE YOUTUBE ALGORITHM 🎞️
This is where we reprise some NFL lore and recall classic, memorable moments from yesteryear.
Dome roof collapse? ✔️
Burning Astroturf? ✔️
Wayward hot-air balloon? ✔️
Blown transformer? ✔️
Super Bowl blackout? ✔️
The fine folks over at NFL Throwback posted a video last week of the craziest stadium moments. How many do you remember?
If you enjoy reading 4th and Monday 📰, encourage your football fan friends to subscribe 📱. Follow the writer of this newsletter on social media @jimreineking and drop a line if you want to talk some football 🏈.