Senior NFL Writer
Daniel Rios is a Senior NFL Writer at EssentiallySports who specializes in trade and roster analysis, along with team projections and the season's major storylines.
A graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, Daniel has written for Sports Illustrated, the LA Daily News, and Sports360AZ. During his time at Arizona State, he covered major events including the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and the NFL Combine, gaining hands-on experience at some of football's biggest stages.
A lifelong football fan, Daniel has a particular passion for the NFL Draft. He has hosted live draft shows alongside NFL legend Brian Urlacher and produced coverage around the event, and he brings that same energy to his daily reporting for EssentiallySports.
Talking CFB: Rutgers Makes Greg Schiano Announcement, Former ECU HC Set to Make Coaching Return, Big 12 Team Makes Unexpected CFP Return & More
Daniel Rios breakdown the college football news you need to know before we get into Week 11 of the college football season
Biggest Winners from Week 10 of College Football: Arch Manning, CJ Carr & More
College Football writer Daniel Rios gives a list of winners from Week 10 of college football after a loaded Saturday
NFL Power Rankings After the Trade Deadline: Where Every Team Stands Heading Into Week 10
With Week 9 of the NFL season concluding the race to the Super Bowl is heating up. Here's the power ranking of where each team stands
NFL Trade Deadline Grades: Ranking Every Major Trade From Josh Downs to Jeffery Simmons
With the NFL trade deadline over, it's time to grade every trade made. From Jeffery Simmons to Josh Downs, how'd every team do?
NFL Playoff Picture After the Trade Deadline: How Kirk Cousins’ Move to Minnesota Changes the NFC Race
NFL Writer Daniel Rios breakdowns the current NFL playoff picture heading into Week 10 of the NFL season, right past the midway point
NFL Trade Deadline: 8 Players Who Should Be Traded Before Tuesday, Including Jonathan Taylor and Khalil Mack
NFL Writer Daniel Rios breakdowns which eight players should have new teams before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday
2027 NFL Draft Safety Rankings: Top 10 Prospects Featuring Kingston Lopa, KJ Bolden & More
Football writer Daniel Rios covers his top 10 safeties in the 2027 NFL Draft class as we enter the final stretch of the college regular season
2027 NFL Draft Stock Watch: LaNorris Sellers, Trinidad Chambliss Headline Week 9 Risers
NFL Writer Daniel Rios highlights which players had strong performances in Week 9 of college football to boost their draft stock.
NFL Week 8 Film Review: Jeffery Simmons Transforms Bears, Lions Unleash Creative Run Game
NFL Writer Daniel Rios dives into the film from Week 8 and brings the major talking point from this past week of NFL action
NFL Week 7 Film Review: Steelers’ Defense Dominates, Cowboys’ Run Game Breaks Out & J.J. McCarthy Shines
NFL Writer Daniel Rios shares his main takeaways after watching the film from NFL Week 7 highlighting certain teams' performances
2027 NFL Draft: 3 Underrated Prospects Flying Under the Radar
NFL Writer Daniel Rios highlights three underrated 2027 NFL Draft prospects that aren't getting the attention they deserve.
Chiefs Film Review: Why Kenneth Walker Struggled Against Seahawks and Patrick Mahomes’ Offense Is in Trouble
NFL Writer Daniel Rios breaks down what happened with the Chiefs' offense in their loss to Seattle on Sunday Night Football.
