AROUND THE NFL

We are a mere vote of the players away from a new CBA.  This appears at ESPN:

NFL owners on Thursday accepted the negotiated terms of a new proposed collective bargaining agreement, sending the vote to players ahead of a potential agreement between the sides.

All 32 owners met Thursday in New York City for an update on the current proposal.

Three-fourths of the owners had to approve the CBA for it to be ratified. While owners were not unanimous in their approval, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the proposal still garnered enough support to pass.

“Following more than ten months of intensive and thorough negotiations the NFL Players and clubs have jointly developed a comprehensive set of new and revised terms that will transform the future of the game, provide for players — past, present, and future — both on and off the field, and ensure that the NFL’s second century is even better and more exciting for the fans,” the league said in a statement.

“The membership voted today to accept the negotiated terms on the principal elements of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Players Association would also need to vote to approve the same terms for there to be a new agreement. Since the clubs and players need to have a system in place and know the rules that they will operate under by next week, the membership also approved moving forward under the final year of the 2011 CBA if the players decide not to approve the negotiated terms. Out of respect for the process and our partners at the NFLPA, we will have no further comment at this time.”

NFLPA team player reps and the NFLPA’s executive council, which had been planning a Friday meeting in Washington, D.C., on the topic, are now planning to hold a conference call Friday instead of meeting face-to-face. That call could result in a vote on whether to approve the owners’ offer or reject it.

If two-thirds of the NFLPA’s player reps approve the deal, it would move on to the next stage, in which all NFL players would vote and a simple majority would be required to approve it.

According to an NFLPA memo obtained by ESPN, some of the proposal’s key terms that player reps and the union’s executive council will weigh when they meet:

• The elimination of any game suspensions strictly for positive marijuana tests

• A reduction in the number of players subjected to testing for marijuana

• “Gambling definitions” that ensure players receive a portion of gambling revenue brought in by the league

• Alterations to training camp, including the “introduction to a 5-day acclimation period,” a limit of 16 days in pads and a limit of four joint practices in a three-preseason games scenario

• An increase in the active squad by one offensive lineman

One of the NFL’s best players, Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, took to social media Thursday night to voice his disapproval with the proposal.

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@JJWatt

Hard no on that proposed CBA.

Sources previously told ESPN that the proposed CBA would allow the league to expand the regular season from 16 games to 17 at some point in the next four years (although no sooner than 2021) in exchange for financial and other concessions the players have sought in negotiations. One concession is that the preseason will be shortened, sources said.

In addition, sources said that starting in 2020, the playoff field would be expanded to seven teams from each conference, and only one team from each conference would receive a first-round bye as opposed to the two that currently do.

The league’s desire to expand the regular season has been met with harsh opposition from many players, who view an expanded season as an unnecessary increase in the risk to players’ health and safety. But union leaders have touted to players the benefits of the proposed new deal, which includes a higher percentage of league revenue going to players, improvements in the drug policy and discipline policy, higher minimum salaries, higher per-team spending floors and relaxed offseason work rules — which were noted in the above-mentioned NFLPA memo obtained by ESPN.

In addition, players with existing contracts that stretch into 17-game seasons would have their deals amended to account for it, a source close to the negotiations said. Each payer in such a situation would receive a raise commensurate with one game check based on their negotiated per-game rate, but that amount would not exceed $250,000 per season.

One point of contention during the discussions has been the NFL’s antiquated “fully funded rule,” which teams often use in negotiations with players and agents as a means of refusing to guarantee larger portions of contracts. The rule, which dates to the early days of the league when there was some doubt about teams making payroll, requires all teams to hold in escrow any amount of guaranteed money over $2 million in a player contract. For example: If you get a $50 million contract with $25 million guaranteed, the team has to hold $23 million in escrow, ostensibly so you can be certain it will pay you.

The new CBA would raise the funding rule threshold to $15 million in the first year of the proposed deal and $17 million in 2029, the final year of the deal. So in that earlier example, in 2020, the team would only have to hold $10 million of the $25 million guarantee in escrow. Players had wanted the rule done away with completely, but they’ve secured a compromise that would, they hope, help create more favorable ground on which agents can fight for more guaranteed money in deals.

Charles Robinson of YahooSports.com on the significance of the “Hard No” tweet sent by J.J. WATT, presumably on his honeymoon:

What became clear late Thursday night was that some players were quick to express concern over various parts of the NFL’s latest offer, including a revenue split that still remains below 50 percent, little improvement on contract guarantees, virtually no changes to a restrictive franchise tag and a $250,000 cap on the additional 17th game check from an expansion of the regular season.

Problem with Game 17’s paycheck

That game check cap could be concerning for star players who signed long-term deals since the beginning of the 2019 free-agent period because they have the highest likelihood of making it to the 2022 season when a 17-game schedule would theoretically begin. Essentially, any player earning more than $250,000 a game (or $4.25 million in base salary) would be playing their 17th game of the season for a discount.

Under their current contract structures, a litany of superstars would fall into that “capped check” territory, including the Chicago Bears’ Khalil Mack, the Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald and Jared Goff, the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers, the Philadelphia Eagles’ Carson Wentz and a swath of others.

Interestingly, neither Watt nor Harris would fall into the capped check territory, with Watt’s current deal ending after the 2021 season and Harris expected to sign a free-agent deal this offseason. The capped check will trap only those players who signed deals before the new CBA and who play for those deals into 2022.

It’s not known exactly what Watt doesn’t like in the new CBA proposal, which includes a handful of player-friendly measures. Two players who spoke with Yahoo Sports on Thursday night expressed frustration that a player of Watt’s stature spoke out against the deal prior to a Friday conference call with the NFLPA that would determine if the league’s 32 player representatives would pass the CBA offered by the team owners on to a larger vote, including the entire NFL player membership.

“I wish we could get on the phone [with the union] and ask some questions before people start shooting things down already,” one player said.

A few high-profile agents expressed dismay about the proposal either privately or on Twitter, suggesting that the union hadn’t won enough concessions on cornerstone issues like salary guarantees and pushing the revenue split to a 50-50 share. But some also echoed the sentiment that it’s premature to tear apart the league’s offer before speaking with union leadership about what is on the table.

The union is expected to hold a conference call Friday and likely determine whether the NFL’s deal has enough merit to pass to the full player membership. For the full vote to take place, two-thirds of the league’s 32 player representatives have to vote in favor of advancing the CBA proposal to the next phase.

The players wanted The Commish, this Commish, to no longer be the judge, jury and executioner.  They got it in the new deal says Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

NFL players who think Commissioner Roger Goodell has too much disciplinary power may be pleased by one portion of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement that owners have approved and players will soon vote on.

The union informed players today that part of the offer on the table is to take final say on most disciplinary issues away from the commissioner and in the hands of a neutral decision maker.

That could mean that, for instance, if a player commits a violation of the league’s personal-conduct policy, final say on his discipline would come not from Goodell but from an arbitrator that both the NFL and the NFLPA agreed upon in advance.

That’s a concession many players have sought, and one that some owners may be glad to give up, given how often Goodell’s decision-making on player discipline has subjected the league to criticism and backlash.

And every low level player gets a 20% raise, right now, today in real hard money.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

One aspect of the proposed new Collective Bargaining Agreement that is sure to be embraced by the league’s lowest-paid players is a significant pay bump this year.

The union distributed a fact sheet about the new CBA to all players on Thursday, and one of the concessions the union said it received from the owners was an increase of “at least” $90,000 for all current players who make the league minimum in 2020.

For example, a player who was a rookie in 2019 and is currently slated to make the second-year player minimum salary of $585,000 would instead make at least $675,000 in 2020 if the players approve the new deal.

That’s a significant increase, and it’s money that comes immediately if the players agree to the owners’ proposal. There’s some sentiment among the players to reject the owners’ proposal and try to get a better deal in 2021, but if you’re a minimum-salary player, there’s a big risk to going down that road: You’re turning down a $90,000 raise now, and for all you know you’re going to get cut a year from now and never benefit from whatever better deal the union might be able to get next year.

Although a few high-profile players, like J.J. Watt, have spoken out against the deal, it’s important to remember that highly paid stars like Watt are a very small minority of the union membership. Many NFL players have short careers and can’t afford to turn down money now for the possibility of more money down the road. And those players all get a vote on whether or not to accept the owners’ offer.

And with the minimum going up significantly, all the other contracts near the bottom of the scale should also slide up.  With the floor higher, everyone else on the first story also rises up.  $1 million will quickly be $1.2 million.

Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com:

As a general rule in life, I don’t like change. I don’t veer far from my favorite thing on the menu at restaurants. I usually get a rental car that’s the same make as the car I own.

And I don’t appreciate my NFL playoffs being messed with.

The proposed change to the NFL postseason — one that seems likely to pass as soon as this new collective bargaining agreement is agreed upon — isn’t one I can get behind.

The league plans to add a seventh postseason team for each conference beginning in the 2020 season. It will also take away the first-round bye from each second seed, meaning only the team with the best record in the conference (including any necessary tiebreakers) will be the lone team in that conference sitting at home on Wild Card Weekend.

While this won’t add any weekends to the postseason calendar — something for which we are all thankful — it will introduce (more) mediocrity into a postseason that should be reserved for the best.

The NFL postseason has been perfect in my eyes. And since that magical Baltimore Ravens run following the 2012 season, no team from either conference has made the Super Bowl without being a top-two seed. Obviously, being a top-two seed means you spent four months more or less proving you’re among the best in the league, but being able to save your body from one more game than your opponent appears to be a material advantage.

Had this rule be in place before this season, not only would the 8-8 Steelers gotten into the playoffs, but the Kansas City Chiefs would have hosted them on Wild Card Weekend. It would have been a purposeless game (well, the purpose would have been to make more money) that only would have put a legitimate Super Bowl-contending team and their face-of-the-NFL quarterback unnecessarily in harm’s way.

Then, all things being the same, had Kansas City and San Francisco still met in South Florida for Super Bowl LIV, it would seem to me that the Niners would have had a distinct advantage of having played one fewer postseason game.

And so you say, “So what? This makes winning the regular season that much more important!” And yes, obviously it does. Adding a 17th game to the schedule, which likely wouldn’t take place until at least 2021, makes for a longer and more competitive season as 44% of the league vies for a postseason berth.

The margins throughout the league are razor-thin. In my opinion, at the top of the league each year, the margins are imperceptible. Giving just one team from each conference the weekend off is too great an advantage, especially considering that top seed can and eventually will be decided by tiebreakers.

This doesn’t make the playoffs more competitive. It waters down the field. Could a seven seed catch fire and make a run like a handful of six seeds have in years past? Absolutely. But the postseason should be an exclusive club.

The reason for the change is, of course, money. The league is always looking for new revenue streams (but curiously continues to leave jersey-ad patches on the shelf), and a 17th regular-season game plus another game on Wild Card Weekend will achieve that. Consider, too, that the NFL is set to cash in when the next round of TV contracts are up following the 2022 season, and these consistent $10 million spikes in the salary cap the last several years will soon look like little more than year-to-year inflation adjustments.

Change is upon us and, if you agree with me, there’s nothing that can be done. I just dislike fixing things that aren’t broken, and that’s what this proposed change feels like.

As the DB sees it, the extra playoff team isn’t that consequential.  Not necessarily a good idea, not really that important in most seasons, but it does make for more meaningful games in December and that should be good.

NFC NORTH

DETROIT

Veteran DT DAMON “SNACKS” HARRISON is on his way out of Detroit per Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com:

The Detroit Lions are releasing veteran defensive tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.

The Lions will save at least $6.75 million off the cap with his release. Harrison had no guaranteed money but had $3.5 million of his $8.5 million base salary guaranteed for injury only. The Lions will take a $5 million dead cap hit releasing him.

But his absence could leave Detroit without its three top defensive tackles from 2019; A’Shawn Robinson and Mike Daniels are headed to free agency.

The Lions have hybrid tackle/end Da’Shawn Hand, who missed the majority of last season, and 2019 undrafted free agent Kevin Strong as the top tackles on the roster at this point.

Detroit traded for Harrison on Oct. 25, 2018, sending the New York Giants a fifth-round pick for one of the better run-stoppers in the NFL. It was his first time not with a New York team in his career.

After sitting out spring workouts last year to take care of his family, the Lions gave Harrison a one-year contract extension in August, adding a year onto his deal and converting much of his base salary into a $7.5 million signing bonus.

By the end of the 2019 season, Harrison said he was contemplating retirement after he played through a multitude of injuries and “wasn’t able to ever get back to the form I’m used to.” Harrison, who turned 31 in November, said if he felt he couldn’t return to being the player he had been in prior seasons, he would walk away.

NFC EAST

DALLAS

QB TUA TAGOVIOLOA did not grow up dreaming of someday wearing Dolphins aqua.  Curtis Crabtree of ProFootballTalk.com:

If Tua Tagovailoa had his choice, he’d go from playing for one of the most iconic brands in college football to playing for one of the most iconic brands in the NFL.

In an interview with the NFL Network, Tagovailoa said he grew up a fan of the Dallas Cowboys and his ideal circumstance would include being drafted by the team in the April.

“We’ve looked at teams,” Tagovailoa said. “We’ve talked about teams. We’ve talked to teams. Somebody might trade up and you could possibly drop or you could possibly go higher. We’ve been talking about all those scenarios.

“If you’re saying to me, if I can choose what team I want to play on, as far as my favorite team growing up, then I probably tell you the Cowboys.”

Of course, the Cowboys aren’t exactly in need of drafting a quarterback with Dak Prescott in the picture and Tagovailoa acknowledged that Dallas is far down the draft order as well in holding the 17th overall pick.

“I’m not trying to bump him. I’ll learn under him,” Tagovailoa said of Prescott. “I’d handle it the way that the coaches there want to handle it. Honestly, I just want to be able play again. I wouldn’t mind learning under whatever guy that’s the starter. Give me a whole year to rest up and then go back out and compete, but I just want to go back out and play.”

Outside of the Cowboys placing the franchise tag on Prescott for one season and somehow drafting Tagovailoa with the intention of moving on from Prescott after 2020 campaign, there’s no logical reason for Tagovailoa to end up in Dallas. The one benefit beyond landing with his favorite team would be the year in the shadows to continue healing from the hip injury that ended his final year at Alabama. However, the Cowboys have been steadfast in saying Prescott is the team’s future at the quarterback position.

NFC SOUTH

TAMPA BAY

More speculation on Tampa Bay’s plan for QB JAMEIS WINSTON.  First, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com:

The JameisCoaster was on full tilt in 2019, thrilling one moment and inciting motion sickness the next. Winston is playing himself into the record books and out of the league at the same time. He’s one of eight men on the planet to pass for 5,000 yards in a season, but his 30 interceptions were the second most in the NFL since 1980.

Multiple people around the league expect the Bucs to place a franchise or transition tag on Winston — who would make between $24 million and $27 million in that case — or sign him to a short-term, modest deal well below the $30-million-per-year threshold reserved for top QBs.

Even the tag numbers might be too much, one personnel evaluator says, because the Bucs will probably be betting against themselves for his services.

NFL personnel folks are legitimately torn on Winston, but one says he’ll have a market because he has played a lot of football, has big-play ability and, at the least, can be a spark for an offense similar to what Ryan Tannehill has been in Tennessee.

That’s if Winston gets out of Tampa.

“He knows the [Bucs] system, he showed when healthy he provides the opportunity to win games, and he’s in the ideal offense for him,” one personnel man said. “They are a vertical passing team, second-level-type reads. That’s why you see explosive plays and aggressiveness, which lends itself to at least some turnovers. Jameis has that [Ben] Roethlisberger mentality, so if they can cut down the turnovers significantly, they can win games with him.”

Leading to a twitter thread from Dan Graziano:

@DanGrazianoESPN

The risk of the transition tag, which I don’t think has ever been used on a QB, is that another team makes an offer and you lose him without draft-pick compensation if you don’t match. But (a) you do get the right to match and (b) Bucs may value Winston more than other teams do.

@DanGrazianoESPN

Worst-case scenario for Bucs is another team offers Winston much more than they’re willing to offer him. But that would happen prior to free agency, and allow them time to make other plans. Otherwise, they keep him and work on a new deal knowing what his market was and wasn’t.

@Helmut97444710

Would‘t the Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag make much more sense?

@DanGrazianoESPN

Well, it would cost $2.5-$3 million more.

Jenna Laine, the ESPN Bucs beat writer chimes in:

@JennaLaineESPN

The Bucs have also entertained the idea of a two-year deal with the first year guaranteed and the second year being a team option for Jameis Winston, per sources. The first year would be roughly the same as the franchise tag $27 million.

AFC WEST

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Josina Anderson of ESPN.com carries a message from T RUSSELL OKUNG:

@JosinaAnderson

A source tells me that #Chargers LT Russell Okung has expressed his uncertainty in the direction of the organization. While the team has attempted to reassure him, Okung remains skeptical of the team’s direction and his future with the team.

AFC NORTH

CLEVELAND

Hip surgery for WR JARVIS LANDRY.  Jake Trotter of ESPN.com:

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry underwent surgery earlier this month to repair a nagging hip injury that hampered him throughout the 2019 season.

Landry had the surgery Feb. 4. A team source said Landry is expected to return at some point during training camp. The team said he is expected to make a full recovery for the 2020 season.

Dr. Chris Larson performed the surgery in Minnesota.

Landry, who was selected to his fifth Pro Bowl, caught 83 passes for 1,174 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2019. He didn’t miss a game, but was limited in practice on the injury report for most of the season.

THIS AND THAT

AFC FREE AGENT FITS

We have already had NFL.com’s free agent fits for the NFC, now here is the AFC list from Marc Sessler:

NFL free agency officially begins with the dawning of a new league year at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 18. As we race toward the open market, Marc Sessler explores one fun free agency fit for each AFC team.

BALTIMORE RAVENS: Emmanuel Sanders, wide receiver

The Ravens are bound to chase pass-rushing help after struggling all year to badger the quarterback. I’m matching Baltimore with Sanders, though, pairing the underrated, rugged wideout with second-year burner Marquise Brown inside an otherwise-lacking wideout corps that saw Willie Snead finish second among the group with just 31 grabs. After pinpointing Mark Ingram and Marcus Peters as ideal veteran adds for the roster, Baltimore’s front office is on a roll. Adding Sanders would do wonders for a Ravens offense desperate to correct January’s stunning collapse.

BUFFALO BILLS: Shaq Barrett, edge

This might require a gaggle of Buffalo henchmen kidnapping Bruce Arians after the Bucs coach said Barrett “ain’t going anywhere.” Adding another layer of complexity, Barrett has crooned about handing Tampa a hometown discount, adoring Florida’s income tax scenario and — most distressing for hopeful Bills fans reading this blurb — his personal distaste for moving his family across the country. Still, life’s minor annoyances don’t outweigh his once-in-a-lifetime earning potential after Barrett emerged from the wilderness as a roaming night terror for quarterbacks everywhere with a gaudy 19.5 sacks. His agent will listen to offers — and why not Buffalo? Bills coach Sean McDermott could evil-cast spells with Barrett paired next to interior behemoth Ed Oliver.

CINCINNATI BENGALS: Brandon Scherff, offensive guard

The correct answer might be NO HUMAN, as the Bengals are annoyingly allergic to making a splash in free agency. Their build-from-within strategy has failed along the offensive line, though, one that never recovered after allowing stalwart bookend Andrew Whitworth to walk in 2017. The club believes 2019 first-rounder Jonah Williams can grow at left tackle, but fellow first-rounder Billy Price has struggled inside over his first two campaigns. With the first overall pick all but guaranteed to be spent on quarterback Joe Burrow, the Bengals would be wise to hit the gas on building a rock-solid, star-dappled front five. Scherff would arrive as a mauling, white-knuckle force with strong starting experience under his belt in Washington. He’d operate as an anchor for autumns to come.

CLEVELAND BROWNS: Anthony Harris, safety

The longtime Browns fan in me is still smarting from last year’s offseason theatrics, which brought star wideout Odell Beckham Jr. and edge nuisance Olivier Vernon to Cleveland in a monster swap with the G-Men. That development generated a level of hype the flameout-prone Browns couldn’t live up to. Part of me desires Cleveland to go ultra-silent, sign nobody, become forgotten by society and (for once) happily surprise come September. From a more logical angle, the Browns require help in multiple areas. The offensive tackle situation is messy, and the roster could use a calming presence at safety. Coming off a top-tier season in Minnesota, Harris would reunite with new Browns coach and ex-Vikings assistant Kevin Stefanski while filling the likely void left by Damarious Randall and Morgan Burnett.

DENVER BRONCOS: Jack Conklin, offensive tackle

Denver has failed to produce a capture-the-imagination attack since Peyton Manning sat at the controls. Quarterback issues stirred years of malaise, but don’t ignore this ill nugget: No Broncos offensive lineman has earned a Pro Bowl bid since Ryan Clady flipped the switch in 2014. Cash and high draft picks have been spent up front, but troubles persist. First-rounder Garett Bolles has underwhelmed at left tackle, collecting holding flags like it’s a hobby. Across the way, right tackle Ja’Wuan James saw last season detonated by injury after landing as a big-money free agent. It’s frustrating to apply endless resources to one area, but darkness will linger until the line clicks. Conklin won’t come cheap, but he’s coming off a stellar campaign and would give the Broncos a low-risk bookend to build around for years to come. With newbie Drew Lock under center, building a five-man unit of maulers is a must for John Elway and friends.

HOUSTON TEXANS: Robby Anderson, wide receiver

Yes, Houston is already armed with fleet-footed Will Fuller, but fleet-footed Will Fuller has missed 20 games over the past three seasons due to a laundry list of injuries. His sick days have struck at the ugliest of junctures for the Texans, a team that scored nearly six fewer points in games Fuller missed last season. Availability is key, and Fuller has proven to be a roaming wild card on that front. Kenny Stills helps, but why not solve this lingering annoyance by snatching up a lightning-quick, still-evolving deep threat in Anderson? Trapped in a low-octane, weapons-free Jets offense last season, Anderson would bloom across from DeAndre Hopkins, setting both pass catchers free to set secondaries on fire.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Philip Rivers, quarterback

I can’t fathom Rivers finishing his career tucked away in Tampa with the Bucs. Teaming with the aggressive-minded Bruce Arians is attractive, but the more organic coaching fit is Rivers pairing with Colts figurehead and ex-Bolts aide Frank Reich. They adored each other in San Diego and would make for an intriguing duo in Indy. It’s no knock on Jacoby Brissett, who stepped in admirably for Andrew Luck — but it’s a necessary upgrade. Rivers would find himself behind an ultra-sturdy offensive line on a team with a savvy front office and plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. There isn’t a finer fit for the 38-year-old ironman.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Cory Littleton, linebacker

Jacksonville’s once-formidable defense collapsed into ultra-bedlam down the stretch last season, allowing 200-plus yards on the ground in three straight November affairs before closing as the fifth-worst run-stopping crew league-wide. The sudden exit of speedy linebacker Telvin Smith was never masked over in 2019. The cap-strapped Jaguars need versatile help at every level, making Littleton an appropriate target. Coming off a pair of rousing Rams campaigns that saw him combine to notch 7.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, five interceptions and two forced fumbles, Littleton operates as a three-down playmaking defender who can do it all.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Austin Ekeler, running back

The Super Bowl-winning Chiefs are laced with weaponry, but the backfield occasionally morphed into a clown car in 2019. Damien Williams enjoyed his moments, but no Chiefs back reached 500 yards on the ground or 250 through the air. The committee approach was far from fatal, but I’d love to see Patrick Mahomes author on-field madness with a player like Ekeler at his disposal. The Chargers wonder finished second among all backs in receiving yards (993) last season and showed flashes of dominance on the ground before splitting time with a back-from-holdout Melvin Gordon. Just 24 years old, Ekeler is primed for a string of monster seasons as one of the AFC’s most exciting talents. Stealing him away from a division rival would serve as a raging coup for the high-flying Chiefs. Ekeler’s a restricted free agent, though, so admittedly that might be easier said than done.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: A.J. Green or the next-best wideout

Green appears open to staying in Cincinnati — “I always wanted to be here my whole career,” he said last month — but what are the Bengals willing to pay him? The franchise tag feels more likely, but if the starry wideout reaches the open market, the Raiders would make for an ideal landing spot after Antonio Brown’s dance with the devil left the Silver and Black in a fix. If Green is tagged, general manager Mike Mayock should organize a search party in pursuit of the next best thing. How about Robby Anderson beguiling AFC West cover men, or Randall Cobb arriving as a solid veteran upgrade? Amari Cooper, of course, is the opposite of a love connection.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: Anthony Castonzo, offensive tackle

Chargers fans are annoyed by this half-baked article, which details the departures of Austin Ekeler (above) and Hunter Henry (below) on top of Philip Rivers. Hearing coach Anthony Lynn talk up Tyrod Taylor as a viable starter under center is equally disquieting. Same goes for the still-messy offensive line. In this dreamt-up scenario, the 31-year-old Castonzo arrives as a dependable bookend with just five missed games over the past four years. Whispers of retirement must be resolved, but the mountain of greenbacks commanded by free agent tackles should keep Castonzo’s interest alive.

MIAMI DOLPHINS: Joe Thuney, offensive guard

The Dolphins need help all over the grid. Certain to target a quarterback with the No. 5 overall pick — or trade up for one — Miami is tasked with rebuilding an offensive line that struggled to look like a pro-level unit for much of 2019 after shipping talented bookend Laremy Tunsil to Houston. Sharing New England ties with Dolphins coach Brian Flores, the 27-year-old Thuney has seen his Pro Football Focus grades improve in each of his first four seasons, finishing last year as the game’s fifth-rated guard. With an unnamed rookie passer likely to make starts in 2020, Thuney would give the Fins a veteran leader just entering his prime.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Tom Brady, quarterback

My editors would prefer I airlift Brady to Los Angeles or Vegas for the sake of clicks, but I’m betting on Foxborough. With Josh McDaniels returning to call plays — and enough cap room to add pieces — why go play behind a dangerously average Bolts front five? Why toil inside a Raiders offense sorely lacking skill-position thunder? Unless Bill Belichick secretly longs to part ways, one more swing around the sun feels right for Brady and the Pats.

NEW YORK JETS: Yannick Ngakoue, edge

The work-in-progress Jets are tasked with bolstering an offensive line that finished 30th in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric last season while New York fielded the second-worst ground game in the NFL. Sam Darnold deserves — and requires — better care entering his third campaign, but Gang Green is saddled with another burning need: locating a game-altering pass rusher. Ngakoue would make for a juicy addition on a front seven welcoming back a healthy C.J. Mosley at inside linebacker while hoping for a breakout second season from lineman Quinnen Williams.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS: Hunter Henry, tight end

With Ben Roethlisberger teed up for a healthy return, the Steelers must focus on surrounding their big-bodied flinger with new weapons. Henry has yet to experience a true breakout campaign, but the 6-foot-5, 250-pound target has produced moments suggesting a lofty ceiling. One year removed from a season-ending ACL tear, Henry spent 2019 competing for touches in a Bolts offense boasting two 1,000-yard pass catchers in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and nearly a third in Austin Ekeler. We haven’t seen Henry in a genuine feature role. He would fit with plenty of clubs, but the Steelers could use an X-factor at the position to brighten the final chapters of Big Ben’s NFL journey.

TENNESSEE TITANS: Get the band back together

The Titans must tackle one of free agency’s trickier to-do lists. The current squad came within a game of the Super Bowl thanks to a Comeback Player of the Year effort by quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the terrifyingly beautiful handiwork of power back Derrick Henry. Still, it’s fair to question whether Tannehill deserves a long-term pact off a limited-but-saucy sample size, while a monster extension for Henry — any running back, really — gives one the jitters. The widely acceptable solution is slapping the franchise tag on your quarterback and the transition label on Henry. Both moves would set up Tennessee for a critical one-year assessment heading into next offseason’s business cycle.

Sessler approached this assignment a bit differently than Nick Shook who did the NFC.  Shook doubled up the ideal fits, as Conklin and others showed up for two NFC teams.  Sessler didn’t give any player to more than one team.

FREE AGENT GEMS

Five names to watch offered by Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com:

So here are five other names to keep an eye on — five of the most underrated but important free agents of 2020:

CB Bashaud Breeland (Kansas City Chiefs)

You might think that someone like Breeland would be getting overrated after enjoying the Super Bowl spotlight, and maybe free agency will prove that to be the case, but the lead-up to March would have you believe he’s nowhere near a possibility for big, let alone top-tier, money at a premier position.

That’s partly fair, considering how he faded out of favor in Washington a few years back, but he’s also coming off one of the better stretches of his career, which just happened to be one of the most important stretches in Chiefs history. Kendall Fuller and Tyrann Mathieu obviously helped the cause in K.C.’s secondary, but Breeland was far from a slouch, racking up 15 tackles, three pass deflections, two tackles for loss and a pick in three playoff games. And that came after a regular season in which he allowed just 48.4 percent of passes thrown his way. He was active. He was confident. He just turned 28. He’s a very solid No. 2 CB, at worst.

RB Jordan Howard (Philadelphia Eagles)

Three years ago, Howard was coming off his second straight 1,000-yard season, having scored nine touchdowns as the centerpiece of the Chicago Bears’ offense. A lot has changed since then, namely the former starter being dealt to Philly for just a sixth-round draft pick ahead of 2019, during which he started a career-low four games and missed another six with a shoulder/neck injury.

While his health deserves monitoring, Howard is probably among the most reliable offensive options set to be available. Veteran running backs obviously don’t matter as much as they once did, but anyone who watched Howard in 2019 saw a guy who almost never lost yards — someone who pushed the pile on an absurd percentage of his carries. After a full offseason of rest, he should be more than capable of returning to a Day One starter role or, at worst, a steady committee piece. And get this: He’s still just 25.

DE Markus Golden (New York Giants)

Golden hasn’t been nearly as steady as Howard, but he’s got a similar story in terms of durability and team swaps lowering his perceived value, going from promising pass-rushing prospect — complete with a 12.5-sack breakout in 2016 — to an Arizona Cardinals castoff, forced into a one-year prove-it deal with the 2019 New York Giants.

The Giants’ 2019 defense, of course, was nothing short of awful for much of the year, and Golden returning to double-digit sacks (10) as a full-time starter for Big Blue has been overshadowed by the fact he missed 17 games from 2017-2018. But if you’re looking for a high-upside edge presence, especially as part of an already-solid rotation, you could do a heck of a lot worse. The fact he looked a lot like his 2016 self in New York after all the injury woes should be reason alone to give him a look, and he went long stretches as arguably the most consistent piece of the Giants’ defense.

DE Robert Quinn (Dallas Cowboys)

A refresher on how Quinn’s career began pretty much confirms how underrated he is right now. We’re talking about a guy who went 11th overall in the draft, went to two Pro Bowls in his first four years and once hit 19.5 sacks as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. And yet somehow, even after a solid year with the Cowboys, of all teams, he seems nothing like a hot topic entering 2020.

That’s not to say anyone should be rushing to pay big bucks to a guy who will be 30 in May and has been traded twice in two years, but one look at the numbers will tell you he might end up being the best value among the pass rushers on the market. His 24 QB hits in 2019 were the most among 4-3 DEs set to hit free agency, he’s had seven straight years with at least two forced fumbles, and he’s totaled 26.5 sacks over his last three seasons despite playing in three different systems. Do you want proven production off the edge? There’s no good Earthly reason not to consider him.

LB De’Vondre Campbell (Atlanta Falcons)

Linebackers don’t always get the hype they deserve, even though 2018 free agency showed us that teams will still happily dish out big bucks for guys they like (see: Alexander, Kwon; Hicks, Jordan). But the lack of buzz surrounding Campbell entering the 2020 market is bordering on criminal considering the raw numbers he’s put up over the last four seasons as a starter in Atlanta.

Deion Jones and other bigger names have deserved credit for the highs of Dan Quinn’s defense, and, to be fair, the failings of that same defense early in 2019 may have contributed — rightly or not — to less praise for Campbell, as well as other regulars. But he graded out as the Falcons’ most efficient tackler, per Pro Football Focus, and he’s gone three straight seasons with at least 90 tackles and 1.5 sacks, logging a career-high 75 solo stops — not to mention five pass deflections, two picks, and three forced fumbles — in 2019 alone. Someone’s going to get themselves a play-making outside linebacker.

2020 DRAFT

Writing at NFL.com, former NFL GM Charlie Casserly takes a swing at a Mock Draft:

In my first mock draft of this year, I tried to put myself in the position of each general manager, basing all selections on team needs and my ratings of the players of interest. Looking at this draft class as a whole, I see two definite areas of strength: wide receiver and cornerback. And that’s reflected below, with six players from each of those two positions flying off the board in Round 1.

1 CINCINNATI

Joe Burrow – QB

School: LSU | Year: Senior (RS)

Going back to the days of Paul Brown, the Bengals have always believed in the need for a franchise QB, making Burrow the crucial building block for this franchise.

2 WASHINGTON

Chase Young – Edge

School: Ohio State | Year: Junior

Plain and simple: Young’s the best player in this draft class. Perfect pick for the Redskins as they transition to a 4-3 defense under Ron Rivera. DE Ryan Kerrigan is a free agent after the 2020 season. Young and 2019 first-rounder Montez Sweat give Washington a fine young tandem rushing off the edges.

3 DETROIT

Jeff Okudah – CB

School: Ohio State | Year: Junior

Detroit needs to upgrade the pass rush, and Derrick Brown is the best D-lineman on the board. That said, I gave them Okudah because I have him rated higher than Brown. Not to mention, the Lions have a need at CB (even more so with the uncertainty surrounding Darius Slay). And of course, better coverage helps the pass rush get home.

4 – NY GIANTS

Mekhi Becton – OT

School: Louisville | Year: Junior

Rebuilding the offensive line — especially at tackle — is essential to protecting second-year QB Daniel Jones. Won’t surprise me if the G-Men take Alabama OT Jedrick Wills instead.

5 – MIAMI

Tua Tagovailoa – QB

School: Alabama | Year: Junior

It will depend on how his hip checks out with team doctors. Do the Dolphins have to trade up to make sure they get him? Are they interested in Justin Herbert?

6 – LA CHARGERS

Justin Herbert – QB

School: Oregon | Year: Senior

With the Philip Rivers era now in the rearview, the Bolts are looking for their next franchise QB. Are they comfortable with Herbert here? Is he the QB they want to lead the team? Would they have to trade up for him? Or might they address the position in free agency?

7 – CAROLINA

Derrick Brown – DT

School: Auburn | Year: Senior

With a number of defensive starters set to hit the open market next month, Carolina has heavy needs on that side of the ball.

8 – ARIZONA

Javon Kinlaw – DT

School: South Carolina | Year: Senior

Arizona has needs at OLB and DT. At this point, Kinlaw is the best player available at either of those two positions.

9 JACKSONVILLE

Isaiah Simmons – LB/S

School: Clemson | Year: Junior (RS)

Is he a better Tyrann Mathieu? What is his best position. Anything in the back seven will help the Jags’ defense.

10 CLEVELAND

Jedrick Wills – OT

School: Alabama | Year: Junior

Along with safety, offensive tackle is one of the Browns’ major needs. They need to find out if Wills can play on the blind side or whether Georgia’s Andrew Thomas could be a better fit.

11 – NY JETS

Andrew Thomas – OT

School: Georgia | Year: Junior

Gang Green must protect their third-year quarterback. At this point, who’s the best offensive lineman left on the board? Two other big needs: pass rusher and wide receiver. Is WR Jerry Jeudy too good to pass on? They need to be ready for him.

12 – LAS VEGAS

Jerry Jeudy – WR

School: Alabama | Year: Junior

Jeudy is a top-10 value who could fall because of teams in front having more pressing needs at other positions. But the Raiders could use a WR1. They could also go defense with this pick, though.

13 – INDIANAPOLIS

CeeDee Lamb – WR

School: Oklahoma | Year: Junior

D-line and wideout are the Colts’ top needs. If they can solve their QB question in free agency, the aerial attack could take off in a hurry, given the immense talent at receiver in this draft class. A 1-2 punch of T.Y. Hilton and Lamb sounds pretty potent.

14 – TAMPA BAY

Tristan Wirfs – OT

School: Iowa | Year: Junior

I believe the QB question will be solved before the draft, either by retaining Jameis Winston or bringing in another veteran signal-caller in free agency. Regardless of who ends up under center, the Bucs need help at right tackle.

15 – DENVER

Henry Ruggs III – WR

School: Alabama | Year: Junior

Denver has many needs, but speed at receiver is high on the list.

16 – ATLANTA

A.J. Epenesa – Edge

School: Iowa | Year: Junior

Atlanta needs help at corner and along the D-line. Florida CB C.J. Henderson might be the highest-rated prospect in those areas at this juncture, but the Falcons will have to study the DEs hard, because they may not get an instant-impact pass rusher in the second round.

17 – DALLAS

Xavier McKinney – S

School: Alabama | Year: Junior

A versatile player who can excel in man and zone defense. McKinney fills a need the Cowboys have had for quite some time.

18 – MIAMI (from Pittsburgh)

C.J. Henderson – CB

School: Florida | Year: Junior

The Dolphins have many needs and could go a lot of different ways in this slot. The strongest prospect at this point in the draft is a corner.

19 – LAS VEGAS (from Chicago)

Trevon Diggs – CB

School: Alabama | Year: Senior

The defense needs help at all levels. The Raiders believe they have one good CB to build around in 2019 second-rounder Trayvon Mullen, but with Patrick Mahomes in the division, one good CB is not enough.

20 – JACKSONVILLE (from LA Rams)

Kristian Fulton – CB

School: LSU | Year: Senior

The back seven is where the Jags must get better. Coming out of this first round with Isaiah Simmons and Fulton, they improve their coverage ability dramatically.

21 – PHILADELPHIA

Justin Jefferson – WR

School: LSU | Year: Junior

It became quite evident down the stretch last season: Philadelphia needs more juice in its receiving corps.

22 – BUFFALO

Tee Higgins – WR

School: Clemson | Year: Junior

Buffalo needs to score more points, and I’m sure Josh Allen wouldn’t mind having a big-bodied jump-ball specialist at his disposal.

23 – NEW ENGLAND

K’Lavon Chaisson – Edge

School: LSU | Year: Sophomore (RS)

I doubt New England will double down with another receiver in Round 1, and there isn’t a tight end or center who merits this high of a selection. The Pats could target a pass rusher like Chaisson or a safety.

24 – NEW ORLEANS

Laviska Shenault – WR

School: Colorado | Year: Junior

A playmaking receiver opposite Michael Thomas would boost an already-explosive offense.

25 – MINNESOTA

Austin Jackson – OT

School: USC | Year: Junior

Minnesota needs reinforcements on the O-line, especially at the edges. Jackson would be the fifth offensive tackle selected. Is he worth this pick?

26 – MIAMI (from Houston)

J.K. Dobbins – RB

School: Ohio State | Year: Junior

The Dolphins need a running back, and Dobbins has the modern tools to thrive at the position in today’s NFL.

27 – SEATTLE

Yetur Gross-Matos – Edge

School: Penn State | Year: Junior

Jadeveon Clowney is a free agent. The Ziggy Ansah experiment did not work. Seattle’s defensive scheme truly relies on having a good pass rush.

28 – BALTIMORE

Kenneth Murray – LB

School: Oklahoma | Year: Junior

The Ravens could use a WR1 and help in the front seven. Murray fills a need at ILB. Of course, they could trade down, too.

29 – TENNESSEE

Jonathan Taylor – RB

School: Wisconsin | Year: Junior

Derrick Henry is set to hit free agency. I’m sure the Titans will look to keep him around, but it could be on the franchise tag. And given how much this team relies on the ground game, Tennessee has to think about a backup plan.

30 – GREEN BAY

Raekwon Davis – DT

School: Alabama | Year: Senior

Green Bay’s run defense needs a lot of help. With WR as another position of need, the Pack could also target someone like TCU’s Jalen Reagor.

31 – SAN FRANCISCO

Damon Arnette – CB

School: Ohio State | Year: Senior (RS)

San Francisco’s relentless pass rush covers up some question marks at the corner position.

32 – KANSAS CITY

A.J. Terrell – CB

School: Clemson | Year: Junior

The defending champs could go OL, DE or WR (if Sammy Watkins is a cap casualty), but CB is a definite need.