NFL Week 6 newest buzz, questions, information and fantasy suggestions

We’re cruising into Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season, and insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have been making calls to sources across the league for the most recent information and buzz on key conditions.

This week, they tried to get the heart beat of the Raiders constructing after Geno Smith had one other iffy sport. He is now as much as 9 interceptions on the season and hasn’t delivered on the promise of Las Vegas’ offseason commerce. Are the Raiders involved? On the flip facet, Daniel Jones has wildly exceeded expectations in Indianapolis. However do folks across the league assume the Colts quarterback can maintain his early-season success?

Jeremy and Dan additionally break down what they’re listening to on gamers who might get contract extensions over the subsequent few months and coordinators who’re placing themselves in place to get head teaching job interviews within the offseason. It is all right here, as our nationwide reporters reply massive questions and empty their notebooks heading into Week 6.

Leap to:
Rising Smith concern | Perception in Jones
Extension candidates | Rising coordinators

Are the Raiders frightened about Geno Smith‘s begin to the season?

Fowler: I’d classify it as mildly involved. The Raiders know Smith has to play higher — and shortly — however there isn’t any sentiment that Smith is a damaged quarterback. So I am not anticipating him to get benched or something this week. Scouts I’ve talked to consider Smith has been too late with the ball this season and is counting on arm expertise to pressure throws into tight home windows. On the flip facet, the Raiders had been with out their prime two tight ends (Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer) and left deal with Kolton Miller on Sunday in opposition to Indianapolis. And the receiver depth shouldn’t be nice total.

Additionally, his two picks in opposition to the Colts weren’t blatantly dangerous selections. The Colts appeared offsides on one in every of them, leading to a batted move, and Smith mentioned he threw to a spot the place a receiver was supposed to take a seat in opposition to Cowl 2 protection on the opposite. The scenario is clearly not good, however as was identified to me by somebody with the workforce, Raiders coach Pete Carroll and Smith have sufficient sweat fairness collectively from their Seattle days that Carroll might stick to him just a little longer in consequence.

Graziano: If the season spirals down the drain, might the Raiders have a look at Kenny Pickett? Presumably. That is what the Browns had been attempting to do earlier than they drafted two quarterbacks and Pickett bought harm in camp earlier than touchdown in Las Vegas on a commerce. However for now, it sounds just like the Raiders will trip it out with Smith. What I am listening to from lots from folks across the league is that offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s scheme is not creating sufficient benefits to beat the Raiders’ personnel deficiencies, and there isn’t any margin for error if Smith retains turning the ball over as a lot as he has.

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Fowler: The Raiders are working in a bizarre area between rebuilding and attempting to win now, and people two worlds seem in battle. New normal supervisor John Spytek took over a poor roster and believes in constructing by means of the draft. That takes time. However 74-year-old Carroll was primarily a win-now rent. He would not have the personnel to try this in 12 months 1 of this regime. The roster is missing premier gamers — save for Bowers and edge rusher Maxx Crosby — significantly on protection.

Smith was a wise offseason quarterback acquisition for a workforce with scarce choices within the draft. However he is quarterbacking a squad that may not be able to win for one more two seasons.

Graziano: What’s fascinating to me is that the contract Smith signed with the Raiders after the commerce would not actually tie them to him past this yr. He has an $18.5 million wage assure for 2026, after making $40 million this yr. If the Raiders minimize him after this season, they’d have paid him $58.5 million for one (presumably disappointing) yr. That is lots, however as Jeremy mentioned, this workforce needs to win quickly. If absorbing $18.5 million in lifeless cash subsequent yr to maneuver on helps them try this, I doubt it will stand within the Raiders’ manner.

What are folks across the league saying about Daniel Jones‘ scorching begin? Are they believers?

Graziano: Most individuals I discuss to consider Jones can proceed to achieve Shane Steichen’s system if he stays wholesome. He had turnover issues early in his profession, however much less so in later seasons with the Giants. And with RB Jonathan Taylor operating the way in which he is operating, a powerful offensive line in entrance of him and Jones’ personal means to create performs together with his legs, there appears to be a perception that the infrastructure round Jones is strong sufficient to maintain — once more, assuming he stays wholesome. It does really feel just a little bit just like the 2022 Giants season the place they went to the playoffs with Saquon Barkley operating wild and Jones gutting out powerful, low-scoring wins. Besides the Colts aren’t a low-scoring workforce!

Fowler: Dan, the folks I’ve talked to about Jones are shopping for the hype, although with slight apprehension. What’s turning into clear with these reclamation QBs is that perception and confidence are highly effective. Steichen is a talented playcaller with a deft quarterback contact who occurs to consider wholeheartedly in Jones as a participant and individual. That carries plenty of weight and has helped Jones rebound.

In New York, Jones was stricken by overthinking. He is enjoying extra freely now. The Colts have helped him enhance his footwork. And let’s be trustworthy, he is enjoying behind top-of-the-line offensive line-tailback mixtures within the league. That is an enormous support to any quarterback. I do know the Vikings had been bummed to lose Jones — who has preferrred dimension and a ton of instruments — within the offseason after his brief stint there.

Graziano: Sure, the way in which the Vikings’ season has begun makes one surprise if they’ve some degree of remorse about shedding him. However that is a narrative for one more time. I believe the easiest way to have a look at the Indianapolis scenario is that Steichen appears to have a great sense of what Jones’ strengths are and the way greatest to lean into them whereas minimizing the impression of his weaknesses.

There’s a straightforward comparability to be made to what Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings had been capable of do with Sam Darnold final season, and I believe that is the template. In fact, the hope could be for a stronger end to the season than the one Darnold had. But when and when that point comes, it ought to assist that Jones has some playoff expertise, whereas Darnold didn’t.

Fowler: There are a couple of areas of apprehension. Jones’ deep ball continues to be a bit spotty. He is underthrowing a few of them, which resulted in a late-game interception within the Week 4 loss to the Rams. Alec Pierce‘s jump-ball means helps bail Jones out at instances, however he has been out of the lineup because of concussion protocol. And there is loads of time (12 video games) for a Jones gaffe that turned a signature in New York to resurface in Indianapolis. Interceptions and fumbles had been as soon as a part of the Jones expertise. Can he stop the turnover snowball when errors occur? The Colts consider he can.

Which participant is more than likely to get an extension over the subsequent two months?

Fowler: I will begin on protection. Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson appears to be like destined for a brand new deal. Each side have had exploratory discussions about an extension, for which Hutchinson is eligible as a fourth-year professional. High move rushers now make quarterback cash, punctuated by Micah Parsons‘ four-year, $186 million deal with Inexperienced Bay.

Whereas I am unsure Hutchinson tops that quantity, he’ll be among the many highest paid at his place every time this deal will get achieved. He seemed destined for a Defensive Participant of the 12 months award final season earlier than struggling a leg damage in mid-October, and he has picked up the place he left off with 5 sacks and three compelled fumbles by means of 5 video games. Detroit has proven an eagerness to increase its marquee gamers, and there is none greater than Hutchinson.

However the actual reply may be the Indianapolis quarterback whom we simply mentioned.

Graziano: Hutchinson is an efficient one, and I am fascinated to see whether or not the Colts would do one thing with Jones in-season. That one is difficult, as a result of the foundations say you need to wait a yr after signing a man if you wish to regulate his contract in a manner that makes his cap quantity go up. However there are actually methods the Colts might try this in the event that they selected. However what would they do with Anthony Richardson Sr. in the event that they did?

As for pending extensions, the Eagles are all the time proactive, they usually have plenty of younger defensive gamers developing for extensions over the subsequent yr or two. I’ve my eye on defensive deal with Jordan Davis, who’s enjoying nicely in his fourth season and is extension-eligible. The Eagles picked up his fifth-year possibility for 2026, in order that they have time to determine what they need to do. However with fellow DT Jalen Carter eligible for an extension subsequent offseason and defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean the offseason after that, it would not shock me to see the Eagles attempt to get forward of issues and get some value certainty on Davis.

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Fowler: Good name on Philly. There are few different extension candidates on my radar. Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor has saved traces of communication open with New Orleans in latest months. Taylor has inside-out scheme flexibility and three move deflections by means of 5 video games. His scenario could possibly be just like the 49ers’ Deommodore Lenoir, who bought a five-year, $89.8 million extension final midseason. Additionally, Quentin Lake is a do-it-all chess piece for Sean McVay’s protection, and the Rams are considering retaining him if a deal is sensible.

On offense, Ravens tight finish Isaiah Seemingly and Packers receiver Romeo Doubs are on my radar within the coming weeks and months, relying how issues shake out on the sector.

Graziano: The Ravens had been speaking with at the very least three of their gamers — Seemingly, heart Tyler Linderbaum and security Kyle Hamilton — about extensions throughout camp. They bought Hamilton’s achieved, however the different two are nonetheless on the to-do checklist. Additionally they have to do one thing about quarterback Lamar Jackson‘s contract, too, as his cap quantity balloons to $75 million for 2026, however there would not appear to be a lot motion on that.

Doubs is fascinating as a result of the Packers are overloaded at huge receiver. They undoubtedly had commerce talks about Doubs this offseason, however he is additionally a dependable favourite of quarterback Jordan Love. Inexperienced Bay goes to must make some selections there within the coming yr or two.

How about “Monday Evening Soccer” hero Devin Lloyd? The Jaguars declined to choose up the linebacker’s fifth-year possibility for 2026, so he is a pending free agent. May they remorse that call and attempt to head off his free company if he retains enjoying at this degree?

Which coordinator has boosted his head-coach candidate inventory probably the most this season?

Graziano: I believe the reply might be Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, however the names I am listening to when it comes to coordinator head-coaching candidates aren’t essentially new — guys just like the Commanders’ Kliff Kingsbury, Payments’ Joe Brady, and so forth. And the Broncos’ Vance Joseph on the defensive facet. However there have not been any out-of-nowhere, red-hot begins exterior of a spot like Indianapolis, the place Steichen runs the offense.

Fowler: From the sleeper candidate information, it is laborious to disregard what Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile is doing. Jacksonville leads the NFL in turnovers created (14) by a large margin. The league’s second-worst protection in 2024 is enjoying with a critical edge underneath Campanile, a first-year NFL coordinator who got here up within the New Jersey prep scene. Jacksonville gave up yards in opposition to the Chiefs on Monday however was extremely disruptive and confused Patrick Mahomes within the largest second of the sport, a 99-yard pick-six from Lloyd. Campanile in all probability matches in that Mike Vrabel mould as a tough-minded defensive chief, so if a workforce is into that, he might get a couple of appears to be like.

I am actually intrigued by the younger defensive coaches this yr. We highlighted that a couple of weeks in the past with Minter, the Packers’ Jeff Hafley and the Rams’ Chris Shula. Add Campanile into the combination. He has juice.

Graziano: I believe the hot button is attempting to determine what from the primary 5 weeks is sustainable. If the Falcons or Colts have nice seasons on protection, does that imply Jeff Ulbrich or Lou Anarumo will reappear on the radar? I do not need to sit right here and throw out a ton of names, since this might all look lots totally different in a month, a lot much less two or three. However we have to have a look at who’s profitable, and which coordinators have contributed to important enhancements on these groups.

Fowler: It is also price noting that the Tampa Bay offensive pipeline is pipelining once more. Josh Grizzard has taken over and the Buccaneers’ offense hasn’t missed a beat. It nonetheless ranks excessive in most offensive classes regardless of a rash of accidents, and quarterback Baker Mayfield continues to be dealing. Todd Bowles’ earlier two coordinator picks — Dave Canales (Carolina) and Liam Coen (Jacksonville) — have moved into head-coaching jobs, and Grizzard has three months to point out that he belongs in that group. However the early returns are good for the previous Yale soccer captain, a standing that may intrigue some homeowners.