{"id":6671,"date":"2025-03-14T22:39:26","date_gmt":"2025-03-14T22:39:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/?p=6671"},"modified":"2025-03-14T22:39:26","modified_gmt":"2025-03-14T22:39:26","slug":"the-daily-briefing-tuesday-march-4-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/the-daily-briefing-tuesday-march-4-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"The Daily Briefing Tuesday, March 4, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

AROUND THE NFL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
NFC NORTH<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>MINNESOTA<\/strong><\/strong>Adam Schefter says the Vikings will not be putting a franchise tag on QB SAM DARNOLD: @AdamSchefter<\/em><\/em>Vikings QB Sam Darnold is unlikely to be franchise tagged ahead of Tuesday\u2019s 4 pm ET deadline, per league sources. <\/em><\/em> <\/em>Minnesota still is interested in working to re-sign Darnold, but it is likely to be without any tag.<\/em><\/em>– – -Whether out of conviction or diplomacy, WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON will not be drawn into a discussion of which QB he would preserve.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com<\/a>: Sam Darnold? J.J. McCarthy? Daniel Jones? Aaron Rodgers? (I\u2019m kidding, I think.)<\/em><\/em> <\/em>As far as all-universe receiver Justin Jefferson is concerned, the identity of the Vikings\u2019 quarterback is a detail.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>\u201cI\u2019m not sure who the quarterback is gonna be, and just like I said last year, it truly doesn\u2019t matter personally, to me,\u201d Jefferson told Pat McAfee and company on Monday. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter who\u2019s gonna throw me that ball. I\u2019m gonna make the most of my opportunities. I\u2019m gonna try to make him look [like] the best quarterback in the whole NFL. You know, just making the contested catches. Making those catches that look difficult be easy. So, just having that confidence in me and just creating that connection with the quarterback, no matter who the quarterback is gonna be. That\u2019s the main part. And just having that confidence in each other to \u2014 when it\u2019s all said and done and it\u2019s getting [to be] crunch time, they know who to go to.\u201d<\/em><\/em> <\/em>During his five years with the Vikings, Jefferson has caught passes from Kirk Cousins, Sean Mannion, Josh Dobbs, Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall, and Darnold.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Whether Darnold will be back remains to be seen. If it\u2019s not him, it will likely be McCarthy. Or, possibly, someone like Jones.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Regardless, Jefferson has shown that he can produce at a high level regardless of who the quarterback is, especially in the three years that head coach Kevin O\u2019Connell has been directing the team\u2019s offense.<\/em><\/em> <\/td><\/tr>
NFC EAST<\/strong><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>NEW YORK<\/strong> GIANTS<\/strong>Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com<\/a> on the Giants as they head into the offseason without a QB: On one hand, the Giants made no major changes after sinking to 3-14 in 2024. On the other hand, co-owner John Mara declared after the season that he\u2019s \u201cjust about run out of patience.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>The situation creates a strange dynamic for the Giants in 2025. Mara\u2019s words will naturally make coach Brian Daboll and G.M. Joe Schoen believe they need to win in 2025, or else. Which could cause them to make moves aimed at maximizing the team\u2019s success this year, at the potential expense of laying the foundation for longer-term success.<\/em> <\/em>At the center of this difficult balance is the quarterback position. They were interested in adding Matthew Stafford. Now that he\u2019s off the board, they\u2019ve been linked to Aaron Rodgers. Both are the kind of quarterback who can provide, best-case scenario, a short-term boost. But then what?<\/em> <\/em>A young quarterback could pay dividends, in time. But perhaps not in time to save the current regime.<\/em> <\/em>The vibe has been that they\u2019d like to emerge from the offseason with one of each. If they sign someone like Rodgers, do they still take a quarterback at No. 3? Parking a rookie on the bench won\u2019t help produce the kind of results that will keep Mara\u2019s patience tank from hitting E. If the goal is to win now, they need to take the best available plug-and-play player when they\u2019re on the clock.<\/em> <\/em>Mara surely realize the predicament his coach and G.M. face. Between winning now and building for tomorrow, they\u2019ll want to win now.<\/em> <\/em>That\u2019s why, now that Mara has decided to keep both men in place, they need to know he\u2019ll indeed have the patience that lets them think about the team\u2019s best overall interests.<\/em> <\/em>Maybe he has told them, privately. Maybe his \u201cpatience\u201d remark was about blowing off steam and\/or pandering to fans who have even less patience than he does. Regardless, it\u2019s rarely an ideal approach to have the coach and the G.M. believe their jobs are on the line in the upcoming season. Because they\u2019ll naturally do what it takes to win in the coming year, without regard to whether they\u2019ll take a step back in the next one.<\/em> <\/em>Really, why should they care about the next one if there\u2019s a good chance they won\u2019t be sticking around for it?<\/em> <\/em>The fact that this year\u2019s quarterback class lacks the same number of clear-cut future starters as 2024 makes it a little easier. Sign a veteran. Take a quarterback in round two or three. And hope he can be ready to take over after Rodgers or whoever else they sign.<\/em> <\/em>It won\u2019t be easy for the Giants to get to the playoffs in 2025. If they do whatever they think they need to do to get there, it could compromise 2026. Watching them strike that balance would make an offseason spin on Hard Knocks nearly as entertaining as it was in 2024.<\/em> <\/em>Of course, given how last year\u2019s experience turned out, the Giants will never do that again. Along with the other 31 NFL teams.<\/em> <\/td><\/tr>
NFC WEST<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/em><\/strong>SAN FRANCISCO<\/strong>WR DEEBO SAMUEL sends his love to 49ers management despite the trade: Deebo<\/em><\/em>@19problemz<\/em><\/em>49ers know where I stand with them and it\u2019s nothing but love. Love John and Kyle to death no bad blood no way shape or form. They know I\u2019m more than appreciative of everything they done for me as a player and a man nothing but love <\/em>\u2764\ufe0f<\/em>.<\/em><\/em> <\/td><\/tr>
AFC NORTH<\/strong><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>BALTIMORE<\/strong><\/strong>Joel Corry of CBSSports.com<\/a> imagines that QB LAMAR JACKSON was a free agent this year and comes up with a staggering amount he would have earned as a free agent: The Baltimore Ravens took a calculated risk by giving a non-exclusive franchise designation to quarterback Lamar Jackson in March 2023 for $32.416 million. That was after he played the 2022 season under his $23.016 million fifth-year option because he was adamant about getting a fully guaranteed contract. <\/em> <\/em>Several weeks later, Jackson’s contract saga finally ended when he agreed to a conventional deal shortly before the start of the 2023 NFL Draft in late April, making him the NFL’s highest-paid player at $52 million per year.<\/em> <\/em>Jackson signed a long-awaited five-year, $260 million contract with $185 million of overall guarantees where $135 million was fully guaranteed. The $135 million included a then-record $72.5 million signing bonus. Jackson got a no-trade clause, and there’s also a provision preventing the Ravens from designating Jackson as a franchise or transition player when his contract expires after the 2027 season.<\/em> <\/em>Jackson has taken his game to another level since signing the contract. He was named the NFL’s MVP in 2023, which was the second time he won the award.<\/em> <\/em>Surprisingly, Jackson didn’t repeat as MVP after having a historic 2024 season. Jackson was the first ever to throw for at least 4,000 yards and run for at least 900 yards. His 4,172 passing yards (sixth in the NFL) were a career high, as were his 41 touchdown passes (tied for second), 8.8 yards per pass attempt (first) and 119.6 passer rating (first) — the last of which was the fourth-best mark in a season in NFL history. As a runner, his 915 yards were his most since the 2020 season. He also led the NFL with 6.6 yards per carry.<\/em> <\/em>No player in NFL history had led in both yards per pass and yards per run at the same time until Jackson. With only four interceptions, Jackson had an outrageous touchdown-to-interception ratio of more than 10-to-1. Nobody with 40 or more touchdown passes has thrown fewer interceptions in the same season.<\/em> <\/em>Fortunately for the Ravens, Jackson signed a multi-year contract rather than follow in Kirk Cousins’ footsteps. Cousins was the last quarterback to embrace the franchise tag. After playing under franchise tags for consecutive seasons with the Washington Commanders in 2016 and 2017, Cousins broke new ground by signing the NFL’s first lucrative, fully guaranteed veteran contract with the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 as an unrestricted free agent. <\/em> <\/em>Cousins’ three-year, $84 million deal, which made him the league’s highest paid player at $28 million per year, was worth up to $90 million with incentives. He had regressed statistically in 2017 from the previous year and Washington missed the playoffs with a 7-9 record for third place in the NFC East when he got the deal.<\/em> <\/em>Jackson would likely be on the cusp of becoming the most important unrestricted free agent in NFL history when the 2025 league year starts on March 12. Baltimore designating Jackson as a franchise player for a third consecutive year would have been cost prohibitive, especially if the exclusive designation had been used in 2024.<\/em> <\/em>The exclusive franchise number is the average of the top-five quarterback salaries (salary cap numbers with some minor adjustments) at the end of the restricted free agent signing period in that year (April 18 in 2025). The salary (i.e.; cap number) at the date the player receives the designation is used in these calculations when there is a subsequent contract restructure strictly for cap purposes prior to the end of the signing period. Jackson’s exclusive franchise number for 2024 would have been $55.717 million. A third and final franchise tag in 2025, with a 44% increase over the 2024 figure, would have been $80,232,480.<\/em> <\/em>Using the non-exclusive tag again for $38,899,200, a 20% raise over the first designation, probably would have been too big of a risk for Baltimore to take. After an MVP season, some team could have been more willing to potentially lose two first-round picks by signing Jackson to an offer sheet than in 2023. Jackson didn’t draw much interest from other teams prior to signing his actual contract. In all likelihood, the Ravens would have exercised their rights to match the offer sheet. It would have been $56,014,848 the third time in 2025 after two straight non-exclusive tags.<\/em> <\/em>Jackson would be operating under ideal circumstances. He just had a career year. The 2025 quarterback draft class is weak, especially compared to 2024. Several teams with a significant amount of cap space need a quarterback.<\/em> <\/em>Jackson undoubtedly would have raised the NFL salary bar by a considerable margin whether he remained in Baltimore or signed with a new team. Dak Prescott is currently the league’s highest-paid player with the four-year, $240 million contract extension averaging $60 million per year he signed last September hours before the Dallas Cowboys’ regular season opener. The deal contains a record $231 million in guarantees where $129 million was fully guaranteed as signing, which includes the largest signing bonus in NFL history at $78,453,333.<\/em> <\/em>The biggest increase in the quarterback market from a single deal since the lockout ended in 2011 is Patrick Mahomes’ 28.57% over Russell Wilson’s 2019 extension from the Seattle Seahawks averaging $35 million per year. Mahomes signed a backloaded a 10-year, $450 million extension (worth up to $475 million with incentives) averaging $45 million per year with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020.<\/em> <\/em>It’s hard to believe Jackson in free agency would have the same impact as Mahomes on the quarterback market. That would put Jackson’s contract at just under $77.15 million per year. <\/em> <\/em>The next biggest increase belongs to Aaron Rodgers. He moved the quarterback market up 11.71% in 2022 when he topped Mahomes with a contract from the Green Bay Packers that was widely considered to be $150.815 million over three years averaging $50,271,667 per year,  although there were two additional below-market years (2025 and 2026) in the deal. Rodgers’ 2018 extension with the Packers averaging $33.5 million per year was 11.67% more than the $30 million-per-year extension Matt Ryan received from the Atlanta Falcons a couple of months earlier.<\/em> <\/em>Jackson getting a similar market increase as Rodgers would be $67 million per year. As another reference point, Prescott’s deal raised the quarterback market by 9.09%. Adjusting Prescott’s contract for the 9.32% increase in the salary cap this year to $279.2 million from $255.4 million in 2024 would essentially be $65.5 million per year. Jackson is clearly superior to Prescott.<\/em> <\/em>I consulted a few current and former NFL team front office executives I have good relationships with about Jackson hitting the open market this year. Their responses are anonymous.<\/em> <\/em>One NFC team executive thought Jackson not having an agent might hinder the process. “Self-representation probably works better when dealing only with your own team for an extension than a bunch of teams in free agency,” he said. <\/em> <\/em>The consensus was Jackson would become the NFL’s first $70 million-per-year player. “An MVP quarterback in his prime has never been a free agent,” said an NFC team negotiator. “Brady was much older. So was Peyton (Manning) and he was coming off a serious injury. I wouldn’t rule out the price being driven up to $75 million per year if the Ravens had a couple of other teams as serious competition.”<\/em> <\/em>The Las Vegas Raiders were mentioned the most as a potential suitor for Jackson. After hiring 73-year-old Pete Carroll as head coach, signing Jackson would jump start Las Vegas’ rebuilding process. The Raiders have the NFL’s second-most 2025 cap room behind the New England Patriots, who don’t need a quarterback, at just under $97 million, according to NFLPA data.<\/em> <\/em>The New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers were regularly named as teams that would likely have interest in Jackson. General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll will be on the hot seat next season after keeping their jobs with the Giants despite going 3-14 in 2024. The Giants have slightly more than $48 million of cap space.<\/em> <\/em>The Steelers have lacked quarterback stability since Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season. Jackson would allow the Steelers, who have nearly $60 million in cap space, to “kill two birds with one stone” by also weakening a bitter AFC North rival.<\/em> <\/em>A couple of the executives thought an unexpected team would get in the mix for Jackson. One team that fits the bill is the Cleveland Browns because of a tight salary cap situation. Some salary cap gymnastics with restructuring contracts and releasing players would be necessary for Cleveland to sign Jackson. Perennial All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett would surely rescind his trade request with Jackson coming aboard.<\/em> <\/em>The majority opinion was Jackson would get the fully guaranteed contract he initially desired, although Deshaun Watson would be a cause for concern. Watson received an unprecedented fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract in connection with his March 2022 trade to the Browns despite having four years worth $136 million remaining on the four-year contract extension averaging $39 million per year he signed with the Houston Texans in September 2020.<\/em> <\/em>Since the trade, Watson hasn’t come close to resembling the quarterback who led the NFL with 4,823 passing yards and set a Texans franchise record for touchdown passes (33) in 2020. Watson has probably played his last down with the Browns because of the torn right Achilles he suffered seven games into the 2024 season, his subsequent re-rupture of the Achilles and his consistent poor performance with Cleveland — even though a fully guaranteed $92 million remains on his contract, which runs through the 2026 season.<\/em> <\/em>“A fully guaranteed contract would probably be the cost of doing business to get Jackson,” said an AFC team executive. I would prefer a shorter deal but would do five years if Jackson insisted.” A former longtime AFC team contract negotiator thought Jackson might choose to sign a three-year contract like Cousins because he would be able to hit the open market again at 31 years old.<\/em> <\/em>Cousins had leverage when negotiating two contract extensions with the Vikings because the original contract contained a no-trade clause and language preventing Minnesota from designating him as a franchise or transition player in 2021. Since Jackson’s contract would surely contain these provisions, he would be positioned for an extension after two years, like Cousins got, in 2027 with a three-year deal.<\/em> <\/em>Front loading hasn’t been a consideration with the fully guaranteed contracts. The cash in each year of Cousins’ and Watson’s respective deals has equaled the average yearly salary. For example, Watson’s contract averages $46 million per year. He is making $46 million in each year. Presumably, a fully guaranteed contract for Jackson would be structured the same way. <\/em> <\/em>Jackson would seem to be looking at a fully guaranteed three-year contract between $210 million and $225 million if he hit the open market next week. At $70 million per year, Jackson would be getting 16.67% more than Prescott. A $75 million per year deal would re-set the quarterback market by 25%.<\/em> <\/em>Standard operating procedure is for a quarterback to sign an extension heading into a contract year at the latest. A majority of quarterbacks taken in the first round get extensions with two years remaining on their rookie contracts. Occasionally, a quarterback will play out his contract and receive a franchise tag before signing long term. None of the tag recipients have been willing to take it to the extreme other than Cousins. <\/em> <\/em>It’s probably going to take a perfect storm of events for another above-average-to-MVP-caliber quarterback in his prime to hit the open market like Cousins did. NFL teams should be thankful other quarterbacks don’t follow the Cousins blueprint because it would likely be more beneficial financially for these players in the long run<\/em>. <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>CINCINNATI<\/strong><\/strong>For the second consecutive season, the Bengals have used the franchise tag on WR TEE HIGGINS. Word last month was that the Bengals would use the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins if they weren\u2019t able to sign him to a long-term deal ahead of Tuesday\u2019s tag deadline and that\u2019s proven to be correct.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Higgins confirmed on Monday that the Bengals have used the tag on him for the second straight season. The tag carries a salary of $26.16 million because of the 20 percent raise mandated for a second tag.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Chiefs guard Trey Smith is the only other player to receive a franchise tag at this point.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>The Bengals have said that they want to sign Higgins to a longer deal, but Higgins doesn\u2019t appear to believe that the team is working as hard as it could to make that happen. They also have wide receiver Ja\u2019Marr Chase and defensive end Trey Hendrickson up for contract extensions this offseason and keeping everyone may prove to be too much for the Bengals to pull off.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Higgins had 73 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns during the 2024 season.<\/em><\/em> It\u2019s not like $26 million, or more than $1.5 million per game, is bad compensation for Higgins who might not crack a top 10 list of NFL receivers. <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>THIS AND THAT<\/strong> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>BROADCAST NEWS<\/strong>As appeared likely if you watched the Super Bowl Pregame Show, Jimmie Johnson will not be back on FOX NFL Sunday.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com<\/a>: The Fox studio show is going to be a bit different for the 2025 season.<\/em> <\/em>Jimmy Johnson announced on a Monday appearance on The Herd that he is leaving the show and retiring from broadcasting. Johnson first worked for the network after his run as the Cowboys head coach ended in March, 1994 and then returned after coaching the Dolphins from 1996 to 1999.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI\u2019ve made an extremely difficult decision,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cI\u2019ve been thinking about it for the last four or five years, but I\u2019ve decided to retire from Fox. I\u2019m gonna miss it, I\u2019m gonna miss all the guys but it has been a great run starting 31 years ago.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Curt Menefee, Terry Bradshaw, Michael Strahan, Howie Long, Rob Gronkowski, and Jay Glazer make up the rest of the studio crew on Fox NFL Sunday.<\/em> My goodness, 31 years! Here\u2019s hoping that Johnson shows up in some remotes from his home in the Keys even while retired next year. <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>2025 DRAFT<\/strong>Lance Zeurlein of NFL.com<\/a> came away with this Mock Draft after the Combine: The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine is over. And with the results in Indianapolis, there are sure to be some risers (and fallers) on draft boards around the league.<\/em> <\/em>This is reflected in my second mock of the 2025 NFL Draft’s first round, as I try things out — including some shakeups at the top — to see where the dominoes might fall. My first few mock drafts always have some aggressive swings — which we often see in the actual draft — and then I respond as I believe the teams might.<\/em> <\/em>Now, NFL franchises will address various needs in free agency — which officially kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on March 12 — and that will obviously impact how things play out at April’s draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin. But in the calm before the FA frenzy, here is my latest simulation of Round 1.<\/em> <\/em>1 Tennessee Titans<\/em><\/strong>Abdul Carter<\/em><\/strong>Penn State \u00b7 Edge \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>Let’s just give Tennessee the best player at a high-impact position. The Titans obviously could consider a quarterback here, but my guess is they won’t have one graded highly enough to select at No. 1 overall.<\/em> <\/em>2  Cleveland Browns<\/em><\/strong>Travis Hunter<\/em><\/strong>Colorado \u00b7 WR\/CB \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>Hunter can come in and start at receiver or cornerback right away. He’d have a big impact at either position for the Browns.<\/em> <\/em>3  New York Giants<\/em><\/strong>Cam Ward<\/em><\/strong>Miami \u00b7 QB \u00b7 Senior<\/em><\/strong>He’s a serious-minded quarterback with a big arm and the ability to grow into a dangerous pitch-and-catch combo with Malik Nabers.<\/em> <\/em>4  New England Patriots<\/em><\/strong>Armand Membou<\/em><\/strong>Missouri \u00b7 OT \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>LSU product Will Campbell is tough, but so is Membou — and the Missouri tackle has less technique to clean up. Let’s put a new face into the fourth pick of the draft, giving New England the best offensive lineman on my board.<\/em> <\/em>5  Jacksonville Jaguars<\/em><\/strong>Tetairoa McMillan<\/em><\/strong>Arizona \u00b7 WR \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>The Jaguars are all in on Trevor Lawrence, adding another weapon on the perimeter to create their own version of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.<\/em> <\/em>6  Las Vegas Raiders<\/em><\/strong>Jalon Walker<\/em><\/strong>Georgia \u00b7 Edge \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>With Tom Brady in the mix, look for the Raiders to start targeting prospects known for leadership and a love of ball — guys like Walker.<\/em> <\/em>7  New York Jets<\/em><\/strong>Will Campbell<\/em><\/strong>LSU \u00b7 OT \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>Give the Jets credit: They keep trying to build the fronts. But that undertaking has produced mixed results. They swing again, and I think this one is a hit. Campbell’s a player who can add toughness and football character to this lineup at right tackle.<\/em> <\/em><\/strong>8  Carolina Panthers<\/em><\/strong>Mykel Williams<\/em><\/strong>Georgia \u00b7 Edge \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>The Panthers need pass-rush help in the worst way. In this simulation, they turn to an ascending prospect with a high floor, but the physically gifted Williams will need some time to maximize his intriguing skill set.<\/em> <\/em>9   New Orleans Saints<\/em><\/strong>Shemar Stewart<\/em><\/strong>Texas A&M \u00b7 Edge \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>The Saints could try to trade out if the board falls like this, but in this scenario, they make the risk\/reward pick in Stewart. Hopefully, he can take the torch from Cam Jordan, who’s turning 36 this summer.<\/em> <\/em>10  Chicago Bears<\/em><\/strong>Josh Simmons<\/em><\/strong>Ohio State \u00b7 OT \u00b7 Junior (RS)<\/em><\/strong>For the second time in three drafts, Ryan Poles takes an offensive tackle with the No. 10 overall pick (SEE: Darnell Wright in 2023).<\/em> <\/em>11  San Francisco 49ers<\/em><\/strong>Mason Graham<\/em><\/strong>Michigan \u00b7 DT \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>Graham doesn’t offer the eye-popping traits that some prospects possess, but he’s very safe and fits what the 49ers are looking for.<\/em> <\/em><\/strong>12  Dallas Cowboys<\/em><\/strong>Ashton Jeanty<\/em><\/strong>Boise State \u00b7 RB \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>Jeanty is one of the best players in this draft. While this is a deep RB class, I’m guessing Jerry Jones will take a swing at special here over good later on.<\/em> <\/em>13  Miami Dolphins<\/em><\/strong>Nick Emmanwori<\/em><\/strong>South Carolina \u00b7 S \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>The Dolphins simply don’t have many safeties under contract. Emmanwori provides elite traits and outstanding potential if the motor runs hot.<\/em> <\/em><\/strong>14  Indianapolis Colts<\/em><\/strong>Tyler Booker<\/em><\/strong>Alabama \u00b7 IOL \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>I wanted to put tight end Tyler Warren here, but the opportunity to pair Booker with Quenton Nelson might be too enticing for Chris Ballard to pass up.<\/em> <\/em>15  Atlanta Falcons<\/em><\/strong>Mike Green<\/em><\/strong>Marshall \u00b7 Edge \u00b7 Junior (RS)<\/em><\/strong>The Falcons desperately need pass rush. Green absolutely dominated his competition en route to a huge 2024 campaign (FBS-high 17 sacks). He’s an explosive, ready-made rusher with start-now talent.<\/em> <\/em>16  Houston Texans PROJECTED TRADE WITH ARIZONA CARDINALS<\/em><\/strong>Kelvin Banks Jr.<\/em><\/strong>Texas \u00b7 OT\/OG \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>The Texans are officially in “win now” mode, as they trade up to grab a player who can improve protection at guard in Year 1 before eventually bouncing out to take over a tackle spot.<\/em> <\/em>17  Cincinnati Bengals<\/em><\/strong>Tyler Warren<\/em><\/strong>Penn State \u00b7 TE \u00b7 Senior<\/em><\/strong>The AFC is an arms race, and the Bengals are lucky enough to snare a do-everything tight end who adds another layer of danger to their offense.<\/em> <\/em>18  Seattle Seahawks<\/em><\/strong>Matthew Golden<\/em><\/strong>Texas \u00b7 WR \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>With Tyler Lockett as a potential cap casualty and rumors swirling that DK Metcalf could be traded, Golden becomes an easier fit here.<\/em> <\/em>19  Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/em><\/strong>James Pearce Jr.<\/em><\/strong>Tennessee \u00b7 Edge \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>Pearce is a slippery pass rusher with an explosive get-off — that might be hard for the Bucs to pass up, considering their need for edge juice.<\/em> <\/em>20  Denver Broncos<\/em><\/strong>Colston Loveland<\/em><\/strong>Michigan \u00b7 TE \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>Building around Bo Nix is likely to continue to be a priority. An athletic pass catcher with good size could be high on the Broncos’ wish list.<\/em> <\/em>21  Pittsburgh Steelers<\/em><\/strong>Will Johnson<\/em><\/strong>Michigan \u00b7 CB \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>The slide ends for Johnson. If he runs a strong 40-yard dash at Michigan’s pro day, that will boost his stock. For now, he ends up taking his impressive ball talent to Pittsburgh.<\/em> <\/em>22  Los Angeles Chargers<\/em><\/strong>Kenneth Grant<\/em><\/strong>Michigan \u00b7 DT \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>Jim Harbaugh’s quite familiar with this jumbo DT out of Michigan, and the Chargers need help up the middle. It’s a perfect match.<\/em> <\/em>23  Green Bay Packers<\/em><\/strong>Jahdae Barron<\/em><\/strong>Texas \u00b7 CB \u00b7 Senior<\/em><\/strong>With CB Jaire Alexander seemingly on the way out, the Packers might run this card up to the podium.<\/em> <\/em>24  Baltimore Ravens   PROJECTED TRADE WITH MINNESOTA VIKINGS<\/em><\/strong>Josh Conerly Jr.<\/em><\/strong>Oregon \u00b7 OT \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>The Ravens make a small move up the board — leapfrogging the Rams — to grab their long-term replacement for Ronnie Stanley at left tackle.<\/em> <\/em>25  Arizona Cardinals   PROJECTED TRADE WITH HOUSTON TEXANS<\/em><\/strong>Luther Burden III<\/em><\/strong>Missouri \u00b7 WR \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>Arizona adds an underrated weapon to pair with Marvin Harrison Jr., helping to unlock the offense’s potential.<\/em> <\/em>26  Los Angeles Rams<\/em><\/strong>Jihaad Campbell<\/em><\/strong>Alabama \u00b7 LB \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>The Rams are light at linebacker. Campbell offers a terrific blend of chase-down speed and third-down talent (in coverage and as a rusher).<\/em> <\/em>27  Minnesota Vikings  PROJECTED TRADE WITH BALTIMORE RAVENS<\/em><\/strong>Maxwell Hairston<\/em><\/strong>Kentucky \u00b7 CB \u00b7 Junior (RS)<\/em><\/strong>Minnesota adds the buzziest cornerback coming out of the combine. Hairston lit up the track at Lucas Oil Stadium with a 4.28 40-yard dash.<\/em> <\/em>28 Detroit Lions<\/em><\/strong>Azareye’h Thomas<\/em><\/strong>Florida State \u00b7 CB \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>Detroit could go in a few directions here, but improving the back end with a long, physical, press-man cornerback might be the top priority.<\/em> <\/em>29  Cleveland Browns PROJECTED TRADE WITH WASHINGTON COMMANDERS<\/em><\/strong>Shedeur Sanders<\/em><\/strong>Colorado \u00b7 QB \u00b7 Senior<\/em><\/strong>Sanders’ slide is over, as the Browns flip their No. 33 overall pick and an additional selection to the Commanders in order to take a swing at a QB of the future.<\/em> <\/em>30  Buffalo Bills<\/em><\/strong>Walter Nolen<\/em><\/strong>Mississippi \u00b7 DT \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>Nolen’s maturity has come into question in conversations I’ve had with some team sources, but his talent is undeniable.<\/em> <\/em>31  Kansas City Chiefs<\/em><\/strong>Nic Scourton<\/em><\/strong>Texas A&M \u00b7 Edge \u00b7 Junior<\/em><\/strong>Scourton has good size and toughness, plus the ability to make plays on all three downs as a dual-phase edge.<\/em> <\/em>32  Chicago Bears PROJECTED TRADE WITH PHILADELPHIA EAGLES<\/em><\/strong>Grey Zabel<\/em><\/strong>North Dakota State \u00b7 IOL \u00b7 Senior<\/em><\/strong>It could be tempting to grab a receiver like Emeka Egbuka, but Ryan Poles is determined to fix his offensive line, so a trade up for a sturdy C\/OG like Zabel would make sense. Caleb Williams certainly would benefit from two first-round O-linemen.<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

AROUND THE NFL NFC NORTH  MINNESOTAAdam Schefter says the Vikings will not be putting a franchise tag on QB SAM DARNOLD: @AdamSchefterVikings QB Sam Darnold is unlikely to be franchise tagged ahead of Tuesday\u2019s 4 pm ET deadline, per league sources.  Minnesota still is interested in working to re-sign Darnold, but it is likely to be without…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[6,7,11,8,13],"class_list":["post-6671","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-daily-briefing","tag-chris-myers","tag-chris-myers-sports","tag-daily-briefing","tag-fox-sports","tag-nfl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6671","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6671"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6671\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6671"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6671"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6671"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}