Welcome to the Thursday edition of the Pick Six newsletter!
I’d like to start things off here by wishing a happy 249th birthday to America. Yes, I know it’s not until tomorrow, but there won’t be a newsletter tomorrow, so I have to get the birthday wishes out today. I’d also like to wish an early birthday to Jamie Gillan and Austin Trammell, the only two active NFL players who were born on the Fourth of July.
Anyway, everyone is in a rush to start their weekend early, so I won’t waste any more of your time. Let’s get to the rundown.
As always, here’s your daily reminder to tell all your friends to sign up for the newsletter. To get them signed up, all you have to do is click here. It makes a great Fourth of July gift and that’s mostly because we deliver fireworks to your inbox every week day.
1. Did the Steelers actually get better this offseason? Breaking down their moves at every position
Imagn Images
One of the busiest teams of the NFL offseason was the Pittsburgh Steelers, who seemed to make a big move every week over the past few months. They started the offseason by trading for DK Metcalf and then they pulled off a shocker this week by acquiring both Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith from the Dolphins.
Although the Steelers made plenty of headline-grabbing acquisitions, did they actually get better? That’s what CBS Sports lead researcher Doug Clawson wanted to know, so he broke things down by position.
Quarterback
In: Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard
Out: Justin Fields, Russell Wilson
Verdict: Marginal improvement. “You could definitely argue this is a lateral move but I’ll say it’s marginal improvement. Rodgers was one of the worst starters in the NFL last year (33rd in completion percentage over expected) but finished the season playing better ball and has more upside than Wilson.”
Running back
In: Kaleb Johnson, Kenneth Gainwell
Out: Najee Harris
Verdict: improvement. “Najee Harris’ departure is a case of addition by subtraction, even after four straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons to begin his career. He ranked third-worst in the NFL in explosive run rate (5.7% of rushes went for 12+ yards) among players with 200+ carries last season. Jaylen Warren and rookie third-round pick Kaleb Johnson can both add explosive plays the Steelers offense desperately needs.”
If you want to see the breakdown for each position, we have that here. Doug’s final overall verdict is that the Steelers are an improved team from last season, so you can take that with you into the weekend Steelers’ fans.
2. Ranking players who were traded this offseason by who ended up in the best situation
When a player gets traded in the NFL, there’s no guarantee that they’re going to be successful at their next stop. For the most part, their success is going to depend on what kind of situation they landed in, so with that in mind, Jeff Kerr decided to rank players who got traded this offseason by who ended up in the best situation.
1. DK Metcalf to the Steelers. “He’ll be the No. 1 wide receiver with Pittsburgh and an easy target to thrive with Aaron Rodgers. Metcalf’s numbers should improve in Pittsburgh as he’s the focal point of a good passing game. Would it be surprising if Metcalf has the same impact in Pittsburgh as A.J. Brown has had in Philadelphia?”
2. Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders. “The Commanders badly needed an upgrade at left tackle after getting blown out in the NFC Championship last season. They were able to get one of the better ones in football with Tunsil, a five-time Pro Bowler at the position who is still in his prime at age 30.”
3. Joe Thuney to the Bears. “The Bears significantly needed to improve their offensive line, and acquiring a four-time All-Pro in Thuney was a significant upgrade for a team that needed to upgrade the interior of that unit.”
Kerr ranked a total of 12 players and you can see everyone on his list here.
3. Top 2025 NFL players by jersey number: From 0 to 99, here are the best players donning each number
You know it’s the offseason when we start ranking players by jersey number, but that’s exactly what we’re going to do today and I actually think you’re going to love it. Cody Benjamin went through all 100 available numbers and came up with the best player in the NFL who is currently wearing each number.
Let’s take a look at a few of the numbers from his ranking:
1: Ja’Marr Chase (Bengals). Chase beat out Jalen Hurts for the title of best player wearing No. 1.
4: Dak Prescott (Cowboys)
12: Puka Nacua (Rams). This number once belonged to both Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, but now, it’s been almost abandoned by starting quarterbacks around the NFL.
22: Derrick Henry (Ravens)
30: Chuba Hubbard (Panthers)
58: Penei Sewell (Lions)
62: Joe Thuney (Bears)
82: Jaylin Noel (Texans). Name one player who wears No. 82. You can’t. That’s how a rookie ended up in this spot.
87: Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
99: Leonard Williams (Seahawks)
If you want to see how the entire ranking of all 100 numbers turned out, be sure to click here.
4. Commanders set to unveil new alternate uniform: Eight total teams will release new look for 2025
There is nothing more exciting than the release of a new uniform and we’re going to be getting several of them over the next few weeks. At least eight teams are expected to unveil a new alternate uniform or new alternate helmet during the month of July and the first one will be coming next week.
The Commanders revealed the release date for their new alternate uniform and we also know when the Chargers will be releasing their new alternate uniform. The guys over at SportsLogo.net have the release dates for the other alternate uniforms, so let’s check those out:
July 9: Commanders to unveil new alternate uniform and helmet
July 15: Chargers to unveil new alternate uniform and helmet
July 15: Buccaneers to unveil new alternate uniform
July 16: Browns to unveil new alternate helmet
July 21: Steelers to unveil new alternate uniform and helmet
July 22: Saints to unveil new alternate uniform and helmet
July 23: Packers to unveil new alternate uniform and helmet
Late July (TBA): Seahawks to unveil new alternate uniform
These aren’t the only eight teams that will be getting a new alternate uniform. The NFL’s “Rivalries” program is also debuting this year. This was announced DURING the draft, so a lot of people missed the initial announcement (We’ve got the details here). Over the next four seasons, one NFC division and one AFC division will each get to debut a new “Rivalries” uniform. The four teams in the AFC East and the four teams in the NFC West will be the first teams to partake in the program, so they’ll all be getting a new “Rivalries” uniform for 2025, but there’s no release date yet for any of those uniforms.
If you’re scoring at home, that means there will be a total of 14 teams unveiling a new uniform or helmet, plus one team (Seattle) that’s expected to unveil two new uniforms.
5. Longest NFL suspensions of the past 20 years
Former Ravens kicker Justin Tucker got hit with a 10-game suspension last week, which is certainly lengthy, but it’s not even one of the 20 longest suspensions of the past 20 years. If you’re wondering how I know that, it’s because Cody Benjamin decided to do some research on the topic.
Let’s take a look at the 10 longest suspensions over the past two decades:
- Indefinite: Justin Blackmon (DUI, substance abuse)
- Seven seasons: Rolando McClain (substance abuse)
- Four seasons: Travis Henry (substance abuse)
- Three seasons: Daryl Washington (substance abuse)
- Three seasons: Johnny Jolly (substance abuse)
- Two seasons: Aldon Smith (substance abuse)
- Two seasons: Tanard Jackson (substance abuse)
- Two seasons: Michael Vick (Dogfighting charges)
- 18 games: Josh Gordon (substance abuse)
If you’ve never heard Blackmon’s story, it’s actually pretty interesting. The Jaguars made him the fifth overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and he actually had an impressive rookie year where he caught 64 passes for 865 yards and five touchdowns. However, after his rookie season, he would only play in FOUR more games for the REST of his career due to suspension.
Gordon is another name on this list that most NFL fans might know. He actually led the NFL in receiving in 2013 with 1,646 yards, but he was hit with multiple suspensions after that and was never the same player (He only played in five games from 2014 thru 2016).
Tucker is one of 32 players over the past 20 years who has been suspended for at least 10 games and if you want to see the full list, we have that here.
6. Extra points: Steelers players are hanging out with Aaron Rodgers in Malibu this week
Getty Images
It’s not the busiest time in the NFL, but there’s still a lot happening, so I went ahead and put together a small roundup for you.
- Aaron Rodgers is hosting the Steelers receivers in Malibu. The Steelers new quarterback said he was going to try and get his receivers and tight ends together this offseason, and that’s happening this week. Rodgers is hosting everyone near his home in Malibu and it looks like everyone is having a good time. You can check out a few pictures from the practice session here.
- Bills first-round pick facing sexual assault allegation. Bills cornerback Maxwell Hairston has been hit with a lawsuit that is accusing him of sexual assault. The lawsuit was filed by a female who went to the University of Kentucky with Hairston. She alleges that the assault occurred in 2021 after he followed her into her dorm. We’ve got more details on the case here.
- Cleveland mayor calls out Browns. The Browns will be leaving the city of Cleveland once their new stadium is built and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb NOT happy about that fact. “We are deeply disappointed that the final state budget includes both a $600 million public subsidy for a domed stadium in Brook Park and changes to Ohio’s [Art] Modell Law — provisions we strongly opposed and requested be removed,” Bibb said this week, via WKYC.com. “Relocating the Browns will divert economic activity from downtown, create a competing entertainment district, and disrupt the momentum of our lakefront redevelopment.” The Browns’ proposed new stadium will be located in Brook Park, which sits roughly 17 miles away from downtown Cleveland.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Die neue NBA nach dem Transfer-Beben – So viel verdient Franz Wagner jetzt
Jetzt weiß Franz Wagner (23) endlich genau, was er in der nächsten Saison der nordamerikanischen Basketball-Liga NBA verdienen wird. Denn zum Start des Transferfensters wurde die Gehaltsobergrenze bei 131,684 Millionen Euro festgelegt. Wagner bekommt von Orlando Magic genau 25 Prozent davon, also 32,92 Mio. Damit ist er aktuell Deutschlands höchstbezahlter Sportler. Durch Gehaltssteigerungen über die fünf Vertragsjahre landet er insgesamt bei 190,94 Millionen Euro.Doch für Wagner geht es nicht ums Kassieren, sondern ums Gewinnen. Bisher flog er mit Orlando zweimal in der ersten Play-off-Runde raus. Sein Team investiert aktuell in Verstärkungen. Es gilt, das Chaos in der NBA auszunutzen. Denn gerade in der Eastern Conference haben gleich drei Top-Teams ihre Stars langfristig verloren: Jayson Tatum (27/Boston), Tyrese Haliburton (25/Indiana) und Damian Lillard (34), der in Milwaukee entlassen wurde, fallen alle mit Achillessehnenrissen aus.Kurioser Verdacht im Netz: Doppelgänger-Theorie um BVB-Star Bellingham<!-->[-->Quelle: […]
První Japonec ve Slavii. Už se málem popral, chce titul a zírá, jak Češi řídí
Kollerschlag (Od našeho zpravodaje) – „Chci se se Slavií zapsat do historie,“ říká pro Sport.cz Hašioka. „Slyšel jsem, že trenér už je nejúspěšnější v české lize a chtěl bych mu pomoct k dalšímu titulu.“Už na konci června příchod japonského fotbalisty z anglického Lutonu zaujal.– Není to destinace, z níž cizinci běžně míří do Česka.– Je také prvním Japoncem v košaté historii klubu z pražských Vršovic.– Stane se teprve čtvrtým vyslancem země vycházejícího slunce, který se objeví v nejvyšší tuzemské soutěži.– A v ní kromě plzeňského Matěje Vydry aktuálně nenajdete hráče, který by se mohl chlubit starty v Premier League.„V tom je fotbal krásný a nevyzpytatelný. Kdyby Hači nehrál v Anglii, nikdy si na takového hráče nesáhneme,“ říká trenér Trpišovský.Nechápete?Vítejte u příběhu šestadvacetiletého pravého beka či wingbeka, od něhož si mistři z Edenu docela dost slibují v nové sezoně. Liga se rozjíždí už za osm dní.Proč zvítězil fotbal nad baseballemAsiat s blonďatým přelivem pochází z japonské prefektury Saitama, která […]
Schmerzgrenze enthüllt – Das will Bayern für Liverpool-Star Diaz zahlen
Nach der Klub-WM ist vor den nächsten großen Entscheidungen beim FC Bayern!Für Max Eberl (51) wird es ein enorm wichtiges Transferfenster. Entscheidet sich dabei sogar seine Zukunft als Sportvorstand bei den Bayern?Eberl bastelt an den neuen Bayern. Er wird an den Einkäufen und auch an Transfereinnahmen gemessen. Dabei soll das Ziel lauten: Zwei Topspieler sollen kommen, dazu mehrere Spieler aus der zweiten Reihe, die ein hohes Gehalt beziehen, verkauft werden.Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Oben auf dem Zettel steht neben Nick Woltemade Liverpool-Angreifer Luis Diaz. Vom Interesse der Bayern am Kolumbianer wurde im BILD-Podcast „Bayern-Insider“ erstmals am 22. Juni berichtet. Die Gespräche sollen sehr konkret sein. Und obwohl öffentlich eine Absage von Liverpool kommuniziert wurde, ist der Fall für die Spielerseite klar: Diaz hat den Bayern mitgeteilt, dass er nach München wechseln will. Diese Zusage macht den FC Bayern im Poker so zuversichtlich. […]
Uruguay resumes training for Copa América after players protest conditions
After refusing to train in protest one week before the start of Copa América Femenina, the Uruguayan women’s national team has resumed training and is on its way to Ecuador to compete in South America’s premier soccer competition, The Athletic has learned.The national team’s players union, Mutual Uruguaya De Futbolistas Profesionales (MUFP), told The Athletic on Tuesday that the national team’s protest was a result of “some differences in negotiations.”AdvertisementThe dispute began after several days of unsuccessful exchanges between the team and the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF). By Saturday, players shared statements across social media declaring they would refuse to train “because we still have no favorable response to the improvement of our conditions.” Neither the team nor the union shared specific details about those conditions.“This measure is not against our passion, but rather for a fair right,” their statement […]
Wales Euro 2025: The search for a letter that led to the creation of a national team
More than 30 years have been and gone. No one has seen the letter. But those in Wales know of its legend.In 1992, three women — Laura McAllister, Michele Adams and Karen Jones — penned a missive to Alun Evans, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) general secretary, requesting an audience. He duly accepted.AdvertisementThe footballers walked into Evans’ plush Cardiff office in the centre of the Welsh capital with anger. They walked out with a formally recognised Wales women’s national team.Thirty-two years later, Wales are competing at Euro 2025, their first major tournament. It would not have happened without ‘The Letter’.Lore such as this is ever-changing. In the case of women’s football, where archives have been reliant on oral history due to a lack of resources, fact-checking is a matter of democracy.Neither McAllister, Adams, nor Jones can remember how they […]
Giants walk off Phillies on Patrick Bailey’s 3-run, inside-the-park homer
Jul 8, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey (14) runs home after hitting a three-run home run off Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jordan Romano (68) for a walk-off win during the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images Patrick Bailey bounced a three-run, inside-the-park home run high off the right-field wall with one out in the last of the ninth inning Tuesday night, delivering the San Francisco Giants a 4-3 walk-off victory over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. A two-run home run by Kyle Schwarber had given the Phillies a 3-1 lead in the seventh, an advantage the Philadelphia bullpen carried into the ninth. Closer Jordan Ramano (1-4), who had entered the game with one out in the eighth, immediately got himself into a jam in the ninth when Casey Schmitt opened […]
Related
Die neue NBA nach dem Transfer-Beben – So viel verdient Franz Wagner jetzt
Jetzt weiß Franz Wagner (23) endlich genau, was er in der nächsten Saison der nordamerikanischen Basketball-Liga NBA verdienen wird. Denn zum Start des Transferfensters wurde die Gehaltsobergrenze bei 131,684 Millionen Euro festgelegt. Wagner bekommt von Orlando Magic genau 25 Prozent davon, also 32,92 Mio. Damit ist er aktuell Deutschlands höchstbezahlter Sportler. Durch Gehaltssteigerungen über die fünf Vertragsjahre landet er insgesamt bei 190,94 Millionen Euro.Doch für Wagner geht es nicht ums Kassieren, sondern ums Gewinnen. Bisher flog er mit Orlando zweimal in der ersten Play-off-Runde raus. Sein Team investiert aktuell in Verstärkungen. Es gilt, das Chaos in der NBA auszunutzen. Denn gerade in der Eastern Conference haben gleich drei Top-Teams ihre Stars langfristig verloren: Jayson Tatum (27/Boston), Tyrese Haliburton (25/Indiana) und Damian Lillard (34), der in Milwaukee entlassen wurde, fallen alle mit Achillessehnenrissen aus.Kurioser Verdacht im Netz: Doppelgänger-Theorie um BVB-Star Bellingham<!-->[-->Quelle: […]
První Japonec ve Slavii. Už se málem popral, chce titul a zírá, jak Češi řídí
Kollerschlag (Od našeho zpravodaje) – „Chci se se Slavií zapsat do historie,“ říká pro Sport.cz Hašioka. „Slyšel jsem, že trenér už je nejúspěšnější v české lize a chtěl bych mu pomoct k dalšímu titulu.“Už na konci června příchod japonského fotbalisty z anglického Lutonu zaujal.– Není to destinace, z níž cizinci běžně míří do Česka.– Je také prvním Japoncem v košaté historii klubu z pražských Vršovic.– Stane se teprve čtvrtým vyslancem země vycházejícího slunce, který se objeví v nejvyšší tuzemské soutěži.– A v ní kromě plzeňského Matěje Vydry aktuálně nenajdete hráče, který by se mohl chlubit starty v Premier League.„V tom je fotbal krásný a nevyzpytatelný. Kdyby Hači nehrál v Anglii, nikdy si na takového hráče nesáhneme,“ říká trenér Trpišovský.Nechápete?Vítejte u příběhu šestadvacetiletého pravého beka či wingbeka, od něhož si mistři z Edenu docela dost slibují v nové sezoně. Liga se rozjíždí už za osm dní.Proč zvítězil fotbal nad baseballemAsiat s blonďatým přelivem pochází z japonské prefektury Saitama, která […]
Schmerzgrenze enthüllt – Das will Bayern für Liverpool-Star Diaz zahlen
Nach der Klub-WM ist vor den nächsten großen Entscheidungen beim FC Bayern!Für Max Eberl (51) wird es ein enorm wichtiges Transferfenster. Entscheidet sich dabei sogar seine Zukunft als Sportvorstand bei den Bayern?Eberl bastelt an den neuen Bayern. Er wird an den Einkäufen und auch an Transfereinnahmen gemessen. Dabei soll das Ziel lauten: Zwei Topspieler sollen kommen, dazu mehrere Spieler aus der zweiten Reihe, die ein hohes Gehalt beziehen, verkauft werden.Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Oben auf dem Zettel steht neben Nick Woltemade Liverpool-Angreifer Luis Diaz. Vom Interesse der Bayern am Kolumbianer wurde im BILD-Podcast „Bayern-Insider“ erstmals am 22. Juni berichtet. Die Gespräche sollen sehr konkret sein. Und obwohl öffentlich eine Absage von Liverpool kommuniziert wurde, ist der Fall für die Spielerseite klar: Diaz hat den Bayern mitgeteilt, dass er nach München wechseln will. Diese Zusage macht den FC Bayern im Poker so zuversichtlich. […]
Uruguay resumes training for Copa América after players protest conditions
After refusing to train in protest one week before the start of Copa América Femenina, the Uruguayan women’s national team has resumed training and is on its way to Ecuador to compete in South America’s premier soccer competition, The Athletic has learned.The national team’s players union, Mutual Uruguaya De Futbolistas Profesionales (MUFP), told The Athletic on Tuesday that the national team’s protest was a result of “some differences in negotiations.”AdvertisementThe dispute began after several days of unsuccessful exchanges between the team and the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF). By Saturday, players shared statements across social media declaring they would refuse to train “because we still have no favorable response to the improvement of our conditions.” Neither the team nor the union shared specific details about those conditions.“This measure is not against our passion, but rather for a fair right,” their statement […]
Wales Euro 2025: The search for a letter that led to the creation of a national team
More than 30 years have been and gone. No one has seen the letter. But those in Wales know of its legend.In 1992, three women — Laura McAllister, Michele Adams and Karen Jones — penned a missive to Alun Evans, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) general secretary, requesting an audience. He duly accepted.AdvertisementThe footballers walked into Evans’ plush Cardiff office in the centre of the Welsh capital with anger. They walked out with a formally recognised Wales women’s national team.Thirty-two years later, Wales are competing at Euro 2025, their first major tournament. It would not have happened without ‘The Letter’.Lore such as this is ever-changing. In the case of women’s football, where archives have been reliant on oral history due to a lack of resources, fact-checking is a matter of democracy.Neither McAllister, Adams, nor Jones can remember how they […]
Giants walk off Phillies on Patrick Bailey’s 3-run, inside-the-park homer
Jul 8, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey (14) runs home after hitting a three-run home run off Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jordan Romano (68) for a walk-off win during the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images Patrick Bailey bounced a three-run, inside-the-park home run high off the right-field wall with one out in the last of the ninth inning Tuesday night, delivering the San Francisco Giants a 4-3 walk-off victory over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. A two-run home run by Kyle Schwarber had given the Phillies a 3-1 lead in the seventh, an advantage the Philadelphia bullpen carried into the ninth. Closer Jordan Ramano (1-4), who had entered the game with one out in the eighth, immediately got himself into a jam in the ninth when Casey Schmitt opened […]
Be the first to leave a comment