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Are sports fans really waiting on a vaccine before they go back to a game?  A poll wants you to believe that.  Kelly Cohen of ESPN.com:

The sports world has been at a standstill due to the coronavirus pandemic for roughly a month, and despite the widespread eagerness to restart games, a majority of Americans said in a recent poll they would not attend sporting events in person just yet.

Some 72% of Americans polled said they would not attend if sporting events resumed without a vaccine for the coronavirus. The poll, which had a fairly small sample size of 762 respondents, was released Thursday by Seton Hall University’s Stillman School of Business.

When polling respondents who identified as sports fans, 61% said they would not go to a game without a vaccine. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 3.6%.

Only 12% of all respondents said they would go to games if social distancing could be maintained, which would likely lead to a highly reduced number of fans, staff and media at games. For example, fan capacity for a Los Angeles Lakers or LA Clippers game at Staples Center is around 19,000.

The poll shows that the coronavirus pandemic would affect sports for the foreseeable future, even if some resume.

Just 13% of Americans said they would feel comfortable attending games again the way they had in the past.

“This virus has the attention and respect of the nation,” said Rick Gentile, director of the Seton Hall Sports Poll. “Those who identify as sports fans, at all levels of interest, line up closely with the general population in regard to their own safety and that of the players.”

According to medical experts, there might not be a coronavirus vaccine until 2021.

A compromise could be found in having games with no fans, an idea that garnered sufficient support. More than three-fourths — 76% — said they would watch broadcasts of games without fans and do so with the same amount of interest they had before the pandemic. Only 16% said they would be less interested, but 7% said they would be more interested.

Though there has been discussion of games without spectators, nearly half of respondents — 46% — said they think sports will be canceled through the end of 2020.

It is unclear from the above story if the respondents were gathered nationwide or in New Jersey and environs where Seton Hall is located.

Also unclear is if among the “sports fans” how many were couch potatoes and don’t normally go to games anyway – the kind of people who say they don’t go to games because it takes too long, costs too much, etc.

Clay Travis surveyed his listenership and has 86,000+ responses with 5 hours left at this point:

@ClayTravis

Would you attend a sporting event this summer or fall without a coronavirus vaccine existing?

Yes

 77.1%

No

 22.9%

86,020 votes

@ClayTravis

Based on my own poll — with tens of thousands of sports fans voting — I’m going to call this poll of 762 people, which is receiving a ton of attention, total b.s.

Travis is based in Tennessee which is one of the 40+ states with insignificant COVID infections.

NFC EAST

DALLAS

The Cowboys have decided to take a flyer on alcohol-addicted (and drug? formerly?) DE ALDON SMITH.  He fills in Jay Glazer of FOX Sports on what he has been doing since he last played in the NFL in 2015.  Michael Gehlkin of the Dallas Morning News listened in:

Aldon Smith’s low point during an extended NFL hiatus came two years ago when sleeping beneath a vehicle, he told Fox Sports during an interview that aired late Thursday evening.

The Cowboys signed Smith last week to a one-year contract worth up to $4 million. The deal, which is conditioned upon his eventual reinstatement from an indefinite league suspension for substance abuse and various arrests, comes after Smith missed the past four-plus seasons. He is expected to be reinstated before the scheduled start of the 2020 season.

Smith, 30, was asked to identify his “rock bottom” when away from the NFL.

“I would say 2018 was a tough year,” Smith told Jay Glazer, who trained him in Los Angeles. “In that year, I was in a really dark place, and I didn’t have a lot of value for how I thought about myself. When I was in a bad spot, it got bad. Pretty bad. I was sleeping under a car for some nights because my sickness took me there. And I had a home to sleep in. But I was in such a dark place that I didn’t see myself deserving anything other than that.

Past struggles for Smith include with alcohol sobriety.

A person close to him said that Smith has been sober for several months while living in a Los Angeles sober living house. The Cowboys and his agent Ron Slavin, who is based in Dallas, have discussed certain arrangements to provide Smith the sort of infrastructure and resources that can help him continue his off-the-field strides.

Smith began training in Los Angeles about six months ago, Glazer said, with Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy visiting the gym in January.

“I had played against him when I was in San Francisco and he was in Green Bay,” Smith said. “But that’s as far as we had contact. But when we met, it seemed like we had known each other. That was really important to me because going through this process, I wanted to surround myself with people who I felt that connection with. I felt like he genuinely cares about me and what I’m trying to do. Just me as a man. …

“That obviously played a vital role. And Jimmy is there, (defensive line coach) Jimmy Tomsula. He was my coach when I was in San Francisco, and we had a great relationship there. The pieces fit.”

Smith recorded 33 1/2 sacks in 2011 and 2012, setting a record for most sacks during the first two years of an NFL career.

His first four seasons came with the San Francisco 49ers before a nine-game stint for the Oakland Raiders.

The Cowboys added Smith with the hope he can recapture some of his old form. Defensive end Robert Quinn totaled a team-high 11 1/2 sacks last season in 14 games for the franchise. In March, he signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Chicago Bears, leaving a glaring void on the defensive line’s right edge.

Dallas is optimistic about Smith, but it’s impossible to know for certain what it has until Smith steps onto a practice field.

The club is expected to further address the position during the April 23 to 25 draft. Based on roster need, defensive back and defensive end are considered the likeliest positions for the Cowboys to address early. They own the No. 17 overall pick.

AFC SOUTH

HOUSTON

The Texans replace WR De’ANDRE HOPKINS with WR BRANDIN COOKS.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

Brandin Cooks is on the move, again.

The 2014 first-round pick of the Saints, traded to the Patriots for a first-rounder then to the Rams for a first-rounder, has now been traded to the Texans for a second-round pick. The Rams also are sending a 2022 fourth-round pick to the Texans.

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports that the Texans are sending their own second-round pick, selection No. 57, to the Rams for Cooks. The Texans will keep the 40th pick, from the Cardinals, if/when the DeAndre Hopkins deal is finalized.

Cooks already has earned a $4 million roster bonus this year. He’ll receive an $8 million base salary in 2020. His salaries in 2021, 2022, and 2023 are $12 million, $13 million, and $14 million respectively.

After generating a career-high 1,204 receiving yards in his first season with the Rams, Cooks had only 583 yards in 14 games last season. He also has a troubling concussion history.

So it’s hardly a wash for the Texans, who gave up one of the best receivers in football for one who has plenty of questions marks. Which means it may not be nearly enough to placate quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has seemed to be a little salty about the Hopkins trade.

Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com is not impressed:

In the latest battle of Bill O’Brien versus any conceivable or feasible notion of draft pick value, the Houston Texans fired off one of their last remaining selections to not solve their self-created problem, trading for wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Even if Cooks returns to his prior form, the Texans seem to operate in a vacuum in which there is no concept of what the other 31 teams are doing or thinking. This trade is an admission of failure from the Los Angeles Rams. It’s a flailing response to failure for the Texans.

It’s easy to understand why the Rams made this move, although it’s the end to yet another disastrous contract extension for general manager Les Snead. In the summer of 2018, I cautioned that the contract extensions handed to Cooks and Todd Gurley were poorly structured. Less than two years later, neither player is on the Rams’ roster.

Rams trade Brandin Cooks to Texans for second-round pick

Los Angeles Rams get: 2020 second-round pick (No. 57)

Houston Texans get: WR Brandin Cooks, 2022 fourth-round pick

Rams grade: B

Texans grade: D+

Cooks was under contract in 2018 for $8.5 million and could have been franchised in 2019 for $16.8 million, meaning the Rams could have theoretically gone year-to-year and paid him $25.3 million for his first two seasons in Los Angeles. Instead, his new contract paid him $42 million over its first two years. By waiting until after March 15 to trade Cooks, the Rams also triggered a $4 million roster bonus for him, which they’ll owe him on the way out. Los Angeles will have $21.8 million in dead money on its cap for Cooks in 2020 and more than $33 million in dead money between the failed deals for Cooks and Gurley.

All of that is a sunk cost, though, and given the Rams’ current situation, it’s easy to see how trading Cooks makes sense. Los Angeles was in a desperate cap situation and down its first-round picks in 2020 and 2021 after the Jalen Ramsey trade. Jared Goff’s passer rating and QBR both declined without Cooks on the field. But as the team tried to find a Plan B for the 6-1 defensive front it saw early in the season and changed its running game, it began to seem like the Rams might operate best out of 12 personnel, which would put Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett on the field and force the Rams to leave one of Cooks, Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods on the sidelines.

By trading Cooks, the Rams don’t have to make that choice. Even if they don’t go to 12 personnel as their primary offensive grouping, they’re not going to be in 11 personnel with three wideouts on virtually every single snap, as they were during the early days of the Sean McVay era. L.A. will likely want to bring in a wide receiver to replace Cooks, but it just acquired a second-round pick in a ridiculously deep wideout class. ESPN NFL draft analyst Todd McShay’s most recent mock draft has 12 wide receivers coming off of the board by the end of Round 2. I suspect the Rams will use one of their two second-rounders on a replacement for Cooks.

Of course, the Texans could have done the same thing with the second-rounder they just sent to the Rams for Cooks and chose not to do so. I can think of two arguments why they preferred to make this move in lieu of just drafting a wide receiver. Neither of them rings true enough to make this deal work for Houston.

One tossed around in the hour or so after the trade is that the Texans are better off going after Cooks than they would a rookie because the world is currently under quarantine and the practice schedule for the upcoming summer is uncertain. It seems unlikely that the league will be able to go through the typical OTA schedule in advance of preseason, which will make it tougher for rookies to catch up with the speed of the NFL game.

I agree that rookies are going to have a more difficult time in 2020, but I’m not sure the Texans are in a position in which they should be focusing solely on what’s going to happen this season. They were 19th in the league in DVOA last season and were one of the league’s most obvious candidates to decline. They were arguably outplayed in their home playoff win over the Buffalo Bills and then were embarrassed by the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round.

If 2020 was such a pressing concern for the Texans, they probably shouldn’t have traded away their superstar wide receiver for a second-round pick before using a second-round pick to acquire a less impressive wideout. If they had Drew Brees or Tom Brady at quarterback, that would be one thing, but the Texans have 24-year-old Deshaun Watson. They shouldn’t be going all-in.

The other argument is that Cooks is likely to be a better wideout over the next several years than whomever the Texans would have drafted in the second round. Leaving the money element aside, I absolutely agree. Cooks was one of the most productive receivers in the league from 2015 to 2018, racking up four 1,000-yard seasons with three different teams. I’ve seen people speculate that he isn’t a great locker room presence because he has now been traded three times, but as ESPN Texans reporter Sarah Barshop pointed out, Cooks appears to be a great teammate by all accounts.

Concussions wrecked his 2019 season, though, and they’re a serious concern for his long-term future. The former New Orleans Saints first-rounder suffered two brain injuries in 25 days last season, and he has five known concussions across his six pro seasons, including the one that knocked him out of the Super Bowl. No one can project the likelihood of Cooks suffering another concussion in 2020 or over the next several seasons, but it’s impossible to pretend that he is just another talented receiver in the prime of his career.

The other factor you have to consider in comparing Cooks versus a rookie wideout is money, and that’s a meaningful difference. Even with the Rams bearing the initial brunt of the Cooks deal, the Texans are paying him meaningful money. Houston owes him $47 million over the next four seasons. While only $8 million of that is guaranteed, the Texans are realistically making this trade expecting to pay Cooks $20 million over the next two seasons.

That’s not awful, but I don’t think there was a huge market for his services at that price, in part because the league sees just how many talented wide receivers are going to be available in this year’s draft. The free-agent wide receiver class was dead on arrival, with most guys being forced to settle for one-year deals or one-year guarantees. Even Amari Cooper took home only two years of full guarantees. Sammy Watkins, whose representation insisted wouldn’t take a pay cut, did just that because they saw the unfriendly market.

The Texans giving up a second-round pick to acquire a wide receiver in this market doesn’t make much sense. It’s even worse when you consider just how much they need to invest on the defensive side of the ball, how much is coming due to Watson and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, and what precious little draft capital they have left. There aren’t going to be any cheap, talented players on this roster two years from now, which is the exact problem the Rams faced this offseason. Getting a fourth-rounder back in 2022 isn’t going to solve that problem.

In a vacuum, if I told you the Texans replaced DeAndre Hopkins with Cooks, that wouldn’t be a disaster. Where this really goes off the rails, though, is with another O’Brien mistake. The one non-Cooper wideout to get a significant guarantee over two years in this draft class is Randall Cobb, who received a three-year, $27 million deal with $18 million guaranteed from Houston. Based on the rest of the market, Cobb’s value was realistically somewhere around one year and $5 million.

The Texans will pay Cobb and Cooks $38.7 million over the next two seasons, or an average of $19.4 million per year. Hopkins reportedly wanted a contract extension worth between $18 million and $20 million per season. I haven’t polled every team, but my suspicion is that about 28 or 29 of the 32 NFL teams would rather pay Hopkins that much money over the next couple of seasons than they would the combination of Cobb and Cooks.

The Texans also have Will Fuller and Kenny Stills under contract in 2020 for a combined $17.1 million, meaning that Cooks is nominally coming in as their fourth wide receiver. I suspect they could cut Stills, which would free up $7 million, but that would be getting rid of a player they gave up draft assets to acquire in the Tunsil trade last year just to accommodate the player they gave up draft assets to acquire this offseason.

To have this all make sense, you have to believe that the difference between having Cobb and Cooks on your roster as opposed to Hopkins and Stills is less than what the Texans needed to do to make that change. Houston sent the 57th pick and 131st picks out in those two deals and got back the 40th selection to go with fourth-rounders in 2021 and 2022. It also had to absorb the contract of running back David Johnson, who has a minimum of $12.3 million guaranteed due over the next two seasons. There was no market for Gurley, who has been a dramatically more productive player over the course of his career. Most teams would insist on getting a pick just to absorb that Johnson contract.

There’s no way to make this all add up, and while I try to keep each of these trades and decisions separate in evaluating deals, you can’t escape the specter of the Hopkins and Cobb deals in evaluating what the Texans are doing here. To spite one of their best players for wanting a contract extension too soon, they have made three disastrous decisions. We’re going to look back on this offseason the same way we look back at the decisions the Rams made during that summer of 2018: in total disbelief.

THIS AND THAT

PROSPECT PROFILE – CEEDEE LAMB

Oklahoma WR CEE DEE LAMB is from a family of Hurricane Katrina refugees.  Born in Opelousas, he was living in New Orleans at age 6 when his family evacuated.  They ended up in Richmond, Texas where he went to Foster High School and was a 4-star high school recruit.

There were plenty of travails for young Cedarian, who picked up the nickname that now defines him in youth football, but he also had a mother who would drive him an hour for youth football practice.  This from George Stoia of the OU Daily:

Leta Ramirez used to drive her 9-year-old son 45 miles one way to football practice five days a week.

She worked 9-5 as a medical assistant at the University of Texas Health Science Center, rushing home to pick up Lamb in hopes of getting him to the start of practice at 6:30. Most days, they battled 5 o’clock traffic making the hour-long trek across Houston from Northshore to Richmond. Lamb sat in the back of Ramirez’s 2007 Tahoe, doing homework and then sliding his shoulder pads on.

It all made sense to Ramirez. The team in Richmond — the Hurricanes — was one of the most well-coached little league teams in Houston, providing a much better opportunity for her son.

“It was a struggle,” said Ramirez, who has five children. “But when you have the chance to better one of your kid’s lives, you do it.”

Lamb took full advantage of his mother’s sacrifice. He became determined to be not just good at football, but the best he could possibly be.

Much of that work ethic came from those who raised him. Lamb was born into a football family. His dad, Cliff Lamb, played at MidAmerica Nazarene. His uncle, Adam Lamb, played at Texas Southern. And his other uncle, Chester Ramirez Jr., played at the Air Force Academy.

They each saw special traits in Lamb: Good hands, quick feet and a natural toughness. Cliff and Adam both remember the time Lamb caught a pass one-handed while falling out of bounds at 5 years old. They say it was eerily similar to the famous non-catch he had against UCLA last season.

But it wasn’t his talent alone that stood out. Instead it was the way he went about perfecting his game even at a young age.

Adam remembers working on drills with high school prospects one day while then 7-year-old Lamb watched from a distance. When he turned around after giving instructions, his nephew was doing the drills himself. Reed recalls the times he would find Lamb watching game film at just 9 and 10 years old, while his own sons were playing video games.

“That’s the thing about Lamb,” said Reed, who calls Lamb one of the best Houston Pop Warner players ever. “It’s always been about work ethic.”

Since arriving at Oklahoma, Lamb has become known as one of the hardest workers on the team. Lamb has gained over 20 pounds of muscle in two years, often working out with Sooners strength coach Bennie Wylie even on off days. He’s also grown as a leader, as evidenced by Riley making him one of four players who represented the Sooners at Big 12 Media Days in July.

For Reed, who’s known Lamb most of his life, none of this is surprising. But when Lamb showed up at Reed’s house in December to thank his old coach for helping him achieve his dreams, Reed couldn’t help but be overwhelmed.

“If there’s a kid out there that deserves a shot at the NFL, which I think he’ll be a first-round draft pick,” an emotional Reed said, “it’s definitely CeeDee.”

“I COULD SEE THE PAIN IN HIM.”

Hanging around Lamb’s neck is a gold chain with the No. 32 attached. He’s worn the necklace since the beginning of his senior year of high school.

It’s in honor of his late uncle Chester Ramirez Jr., who died July 3, 2016, from natural causes at 42.

A former standout football player and member of the Air Force, his uncle was one of the biggest influences in Lamb’s life. During his football career, Chester donned No. 32. He’s the reason Lamb wore No. 3 in high school and No. 2 in college.

“I kind of consider it a lucky number,” Lamb said at Big 12 Media Days. “He’s one guy who saw a vision in me before I even knew what that vision was.”

This wasn’t the first time Lamb had experienced tragedy. And it wouldn’t be the last.

His stepdad, Samuel Moreno Jr., was shot and killed when Lamb was 14, right before his freshman year of high school. His cousin, Casey Pickney, died this past March after a long battle with Lupus.

“They all shared a special bond,” Cliff Lamb said. “As a father, you teach your kids to love and respect everyone. So when you lose loved ones like that, it hits you hard… I think it made him a little tough-skinned. There aren’t many 20-some-year-olds that have experienced that much pain.”

Lamb has turned that pain into motivation.

After Moreno’s death, he made the varsity football team as a sophomore. After Chester’s death, he recorded 2,032 yards and 33 touchdowns — the second most in Texas high school history — his senior season at Foster. And after Pickney’s death, he hopes to have the best season of his career at Oklahoma, be drafted in the NFL and change his family’s life forever.

The loss of life has taught Lamb there are things bigger than football. He plays the game with a passion and motivation to remember those who believed in him.

“It’s played a big role in his life. It’s molded him. He’s always felt like he’s had to be the protector of our family,” Ramirez said. “I honestly think that’s what made him go full force at everything he does… Because he knows that those people are watching him from above.”

If you thought Cedarian “CeeDee” Lamb was a great name, we can only hope that his younger brother makes it big.  Taribbean!

Lamb’s growth as a man is why his younger brother, Taribbean Ramirez, wants to be just like him when he grows up.

“He’s a great big brother. I’ve always looked up to him,” Taribbean, 16, said. “He’s always been a great player and leader on and off the field. I want to live up to that. I want to become the man he’s become.”

Taribbean is following in Lamb’s footsteps at Foster, expecting to start at wide receiver this year as a junior. He gives a majority of the credit to his big brother, who has also been a personal coach.

At Oklahoma, Lamb was a good receiver for Heisman Trophy winner BAKER MAYFIELD in 2017.  He was an even better receiver for Heisman Trophy winner KYLER MURRAY in 2018.  And he helped make JALEN HURTS look like a pro prospect in 2019.

Some think he is elite, others question “separation.”  Nick Kosko at OUInsider.com:

CeeDee Lamb is among the top three wide receivers in the 2020 NFL Draft. The former Oklahoma star could be the first receiver selected later this month but former Alabama stars Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs are also loaded with potential.

Some analysts, like ESPN’s Mel Kiper rave about Lamb’s abilities, but other scouts are not ready to anoint Lamb as the top pass catcher in this class. NFL Draft scout Matt Miller likes Lamb but lacks certain skills that in areas guys like Jeudy and Ruggs thrive.

Miller explained why he prefers Jeudy and Ruggs over Lamb.

“I really, really like CeeDee Lamb. Reason he’s not WR1 for me is a lack of separation tape and limited experience vs. press coverage,” Miller wrote on Twitter. “Think his transition to the NFL could be more scheme dependent than the other more athletic players.”

Lamb set the receiving world on fire with 62 catches for 1,327 yards, 14 touchdowns and an absurd 21.7 yards per catch in 2019 in his final collegiate season. Miller points out that Lamb did not see a lot of press coverage, thus his success on the stat sheet.

The Big 12 is known for tons of offense and a lot of spread offensive concepts, giving Lamb the ability to catch a lot of balls in space. Throughout his Sooner career, Lamb amassed nearly 3,300 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns on 173 catches. He eclipsed the 1,000-yard threshold in both of his final two seasons and averaged 19.0 yards per catch overall.

Lamb may be lacking in terms of experience against press coverage and separation, but, as Kiper points out, his yards after the catch is impressive and his strength is likely the best among the draft eligible wide receivers.

“I call him CeeDee YAC and that’s yards after catch,” Kiper said on ESPN. “He has the stiff arm. He’s physical and rugged with the ball in his hands. He competes for every catch. The comparison that everybody goes to, I think it’s valid. Deandre Hopkins. You see the way he works and the way he competes and you see that with CeeDee Lamb. CeeDee Lamb doesn’t have 4.35 speed. Neither does Deandre Hopkins. He’s in that 4.5 to 4.57 range. But on the field, you don’t want to deal with him if you’re a cornerback because he brings the physicality.”

Shortly before we went into lockdown, Hurts spoke about Lamb vis a vis Jeudy and Ruggs – and said nothing.

“They’re all great players,” Hurts told NJ Advance Media. “They catch the ball, they get open, they all can run.”

 “You get it all out of all those guys,” Hurts said, “so they’re all great players.”

This from Stephen White at SBNation.com:

It’s impossible for me to avoid comparing CeeDee Lamb to Jerry Jeudy. I would say that even if Jeudy hadn’t been the only receiver I’ve done a breakdown on to this point. They are two of the top receiver prospects in this year’s draft, and there are many similarities between them.

Lamb and Jeudy “look” the same, with both guys measuring in at a little over 6’1 and weighing over 190 pounds. They were both used in a multitude of ways in their respective offenses — Jeudy at Alabama, Lamb at Oklahoma — this past season. I saw them both running a bunch of shallow crossers, quick outs, quick slants, jet sweeps, and a ton of screens from both out wide and in the slot. They also both showed big-play potential, although the way they made those big plays often diverged.

However, this isn’t a compare and contrast column, especially since Lamb is a big-time baller in his own right. Instead, I will just give you the lowdown on Lamb as I did with Jeudy, and then you can do the comparing and contrasting on your own.

What Lamb does well: Breaking ankles

Let’s start with the fact Lamb can make you miss in a phone booth. Any young whippersnappers reading this may have to google what a phone booth is, but trust me, you’ll get it after you do.

– – –

What Lamb does well: He’s tough to bring down

Another big selling point on Lamb is that he is a stronger runner with the ball in his hands than he looks.

Part of the reason he was so good at making big plays out of short passes is that he was able to keep his balance and stay upright when defenders tried to blast him, but didn’t wrap up. He actually reminds me a lot of Texans All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins. The way Lamb keeps working through contact is going to pay huge dividends in the NFL.

– – –

Where Lamb can improve: Making contested catches

Watching the tape, it’s clear that Lamb is fast, as his 4.5-second 40-yard dash at the combine showed. But while Jeudy’s time was only .05 faster, their speeds on the field look much different to me. Jeudy got open deep consistently, but Lamb didn’t seem to get a lot of separation when he was targeted on downfield throws.

And that brings me to my only real concern with Lamb after watching his tape: his ability to make contested catches on 50-50 balls.

– – –

I thought Lamb showed good-to-great hands in almost every other kind of situation over those four games. He went up high and caught several balls with his hands, and he caught several others while in traffic. However, it seemed like trying to catch those contested fades were just a different animal for him. And he’s not tall like Mike Evans, who can just sky over a defensive back to get it.

I think it’s an area Lamb can improve on to be a deep threat in the league. Like I said, his hands look really good otherwise, so it’s probably just a matter of working on his concentration. If he gets to where he can catch like Hopkins in those contested situations, or even come close, Lamb is going to be hell to try to defend.

I do think it’s something he can certainly do.

Lamb’s NFL future: High upside

I do see Lamb as a high first-round talent. However, after watching DK Metcalf and A.J. Brown last until near the end of the second round last year, I’m not sure if anybody actually knows what a first-rounder actually looks like anymore.

I will note that like Brown and Metcalf, I didn’t see Lamb run an extensive route tree in those four games. It was mostly 5-yard breaking routes, shallow crossers, deep over routes (which seemed to be his specialty), and various versions of deep balls.

I will put the disclaimer that watching the TV copy means I’m usually at the mercy of whether the broadcast showed a replay angle of his route. Still, as far as I could tell, Lamb’s route tree itself was pretty basic. But, just like with Metcalf and Brown, I’ve seen enough of Lamb athletically that I don’t think teaching him how to run a deep dig or out is going to be very hard. It’s not astrophysics.

With his quick feet and body control, I imagine Lamb will end up being one helluva route runner before it’s all said and done, anyway.

Lamb is a fantastic prospect, but there are some areas he needs to improve on to develop into a Pro Bowler, which is what you are looking for when you draft a guy high. I don’t think he will have a problem adjusting in the league, but I don’t think he’s a finished product yet.

Regardless, it would take a lot for him to fail as a pro. There are just too many things he does well, including blocking. I could definitely see him being an 80+ reception guy in an offense that emphasizes getting the ball into his hands quickly. And as I said earlier, when he gets the ball in his hands, that’s when the party really gets started.

What will be interesting to see if Jeudy or Lamb comes off the board first on draft day. Of course it will make for a lot of internet arguments for months and maybe years afterward, but I really believe both guys will be tremendous in the NFL, barring injury.

As an old sixth-round pick myself, I always like to remind people that it’s never where you start, but where you finish. The beauty is I think both guys can fit in just about any offensive system because of the different roles their college teams had them play. While I like Jeudy over Lamb right now today, there is no question that Lamb could overtake him in the league, and that’s the fun part for me.

Regardless, the future should be bright for both of these outstanding young men.

Next time, we’ll look at Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs – the Alabama dynamic duo.

2020 DRAFT

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, who has emerged as a COVID alarmist, condemns  QB TUA TAGOVAILOA for trying to save his draft position.

Tua Tagovailoa‘s virtual Pro Day workouts has generated plenty of buzz. But most in the media have overlooked one undeniable fact regarding the session, which occurred at the D1 Training facility, reportedly in Nashville: It violated the current Tennessee “stay at home” order.

Executive Order 22, as amended by Executive Order 23, make the situation as clear as it can be. D1 Training should have been closed. Neither Tua nor anyone else should have been there. It’s that simple, and it’s that clear. (It’s also clear from the video at the six-feet distancing requirement wasn’t being followed.)

These orders were put in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus. No matter how important it is to Tua to ensure that his draft stock doesn’t plummet amid rumors surely aimed at sparking a slide (right into the laps of one of the teams spreading the rumors, undoubtedly), there was nothing “essential” about his workout.

As to the various “stay at home” orders that currently are in place in most American states and communities, there is no NFL exception or pro athlete exception or “this stuff doesn’t apply to me” exception. The rules apply to everyone, and Tua and those who facilitated the workout are behaving as if they’re above the rules — sending a very bad message to anyone who is looking for any excuse possible to justify ignoring the rules.

So what Tua did is no different than what Dak Prescott and Dez Bryant have done. Indeed, it was a source attempting to defend Dak and Dez with a #whataboutism-style argument who put the dynamics of the Tua workout on our radar screen.

The fact that someone connected to Dak and Dez would point to someone else violating stay at home orders proves the point. With prominent athletes shrugging at these rules, others (including other prominent athletes) can point to those prominent athletes when justifying their own non-compliance with important restrictions aimed at saving lives.

And it would be nice if others in the media realized these obvious problems, too. Instead, they’re tweeting the video and basically saying nothing more than, “Cool throw, dude.”

So the State of Tennessee should do what?  So the NFL should do what – remove Tua from the draft, suspend him? 

Remember, as in Florio’s home state of West Virginia, COVID is practically non-existent in Tennessee (1,000 cases, that’s just cases, among 700,000 people in Davidson County which is the Tennessee “hot spot.”).  Stay At Home might be good advice, but is it really a constitutional law that cannot be skirted by a handful of people in a building closed to the public?

Florio, who abhors flying, is risk averse – although presumably he drives quite a bit, an activity that claims 40,000 lives of all ages per year.

– – –

Yesterday, Pete Prisco gave us a Mock Draft based on what NFL teams would do, mistakes and all. 

Today, Adam Rank of NFL.com is clear that this Mock is what teams should do based on Rank’s personal evaluation, even as he knows not all of them will be so brilliant:

Welcome to my third annual mock draft … with a twist! This is not to be a predictive piece by any stretch, but instead I will use my consulting services to help nudge teams in the right direction and tell them what they should do on April 23. If some of these teams had listened to me in recent years, Derwin James would be on the Bucs, D.J. Moore would be on the Packers (see I’m impartial) and Josh Allen would be a member of the Bills. Oh wait, the Bills did listen. You’re welcome, Buffalo.

Without further ado, let’s get rocking on the 2020 NFL Draft.

1 – CINCINNATI

Joe Burrow – QB

School: LSU | Year: Senior (RS)

I’ve seen the argument for the Bengals to take Chase Young here, and I respect it. The theory is sound. Just look at what Nick Bosa did for the 49ers last year. But, as I’m sure you’ve realized, the 49ers already had their franchise quarterback on the roster when they turned in the card for Bosa. And as much as I love Andy Dalton, it seems like you guys are ready to go your separate ways. He’s the 2011 Toyota Corolla you might still have an emotional attachment to because he took you to five straight playoff appearances — so what if the hubcap fell off every fifth mile? However, if you’re being honest with yourself, you know it’s time to upgrade to that decked-out Tesla you’ve had your eye on. So take Burrow, make him your franchise QB and let’s kick this turnaround into gear.

2 – WASHINGTON

Chase Young – Edge

School: Ohio State | Year: Junior

Washington, I know you’re hearing a lot of chatter, too. Talk of pulling a Josh Rosen/ Kyler Murray (maybe you prefer Jimmy Clausen/ Cam Newton better) type maneuver at No. 2 overall has been simmering for weeks. And again, I get why Tua Tagovailoa is an appealing option here. Especially if you believe Tua is going to be a generational QB. I love it. Great thought. I personally think he will. But here’s why you have to take Young here: Your roster is several players away right now. And so if the 2020 season doesn’t turn out so hot for you guys, and Dwayne Haskins struggles, you could very well be in the mix for Trevor Lawrence next year. Getting Young and Lawrence in back-to-back years is something they would talk about in A Football Life: The Redskins Dynasty of the 2020s.

3 – DETROIT

Isaiah Simmons – LB/S

School: Clemson | Year: Junior (RS)

You’re in a pretty good spot here, Lions. You can either take the cornerback everybody wants you to take. Or you can take the best defender on the board. But what you really need to do is to get the Dolphins or Chargers to move up here for Tua. Because you’re still going to end up with one of those stud defenders regardless, and you can grab some extra picks, too. And for the record, I’m going with Simmons because, well, do you even watch college football, brah?

4 – NY GIANTS

Jeff Okudah – CB

School: Ohio State | Year: Junior

Listen, I know you just gave James Bradberry $32 million guaranteed and are only one year removed from taking Deandre Baker 30th overall, and both are fine players, but they’re like the (much-needed) Taco Bell you scarf down on your way to a cocktail party so you at least have a base in your system in case the host isn’t serving food. (BTW, remember cocktail parties that weren’t online?) Okudah’s the bacon-wrapped shrimp you simply cannot pass up. Now, you could try to trade down a few spots to a QB-needy team and come away with an offensive tackle like Tristan Wirfs. But if Okudah is on the board at 4, and you stay put, then grab the corner who will help you avoid ranking 31st in touchdowns allowed to receivers (22) again.

5 – MIAMI

Tua Tagovailoa – QB

School: Alabama | Year: Junior

I don’t know what to do with you here, Dolphins. I told you to take Lamar Jackson at No. 11 two years ago and you didn’t listen. Last year, I told you to take Drew Lock — and you didn’t listen. Not sure if the third time’s the charm applies here. But Tua has a very good chance to be the best quarterback from this draft. Obviously, his hip injury is a concern, but he says he’s 100 percent healthy and ready to go. And you still have Ryan Fitzpatrick if the rookie does need some time to get right again. Tua is spectacular and somebody who can come in during his second season and light the league on fire the way Patrick Mahomes did, so you have to go for it.

6 – LA CHARGERS

Jordan Love – QB

School: Utah State | Year: Junior (RS)

You could play it safe here and go with Justin Herbert, who has really acquitted himself quite nicely going back to the Pac-12 Championship Game and on through the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine. Herbert could be a solid NFL quarterback. But you just got rid of a solid NFL quarterback. You need to make a splash. You’re moving into a new stadium, you’re going to likely be better than your neighbors, so this is a time to seize an opportunity. Southern California is the home of legends. Mike Trout. LeBron James. Anthony Rendon. Anthony Davis. Some hockey guys, I’m sure. You also play in a division with Mahomes. Chargers, you really need to take a shot here with a guy who could end up being the most celebrated (or ridiculed) pick in the draft. But look, you’ve played it safe for 50 years and what’s it gotten you? Take a chance here.

7 – CAROLINA

Derrick Brown – DT

School: Auburn | Year: Senior

Oh my gosh, Carolina. Your team is going to look different without Cam Newton and Luke Keuchly and Greg Olsen this season. But it’s all good. You’re set offensively with Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson and new quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Now shore up that defensive line with Brown, who can step in and be a difference-maker from Day 1.

8 – ARIZONA

Tristan Wirfs – OT

School: Iowa | Year: Junior

You made your move for Kyler Murray last season. You basically won the offseason when you fleeced the Texans for DeAndre Hopkins. I haven’t seen a team win the offseason like that since the Browns traded for OBJ to go with their second-year Oklahoma quarterback. … So, if you want to avoid the problems Cleveland had last season, make sure you address the offensive line. Take the best tackle on the board right now. I’d go with Wirfs, but I trust your scouting department to pick the right dude. Just please, please don’t ignore the offensive line.

9 – JACKSONVILLE

Jedrick Wills – OT

School: Alabama | Year: Junior

My friends down in Duval, you have a lot of draft capital and I love it. Here’s my thing, though. You’re kind of stuck here at No. 9. You can hope Simmons falls to you here. But I wouldn’t count on that. You also have a huge need for an outside cornerback, with the whole Darqueze Dennard deal falling through and D.J. Hayden being more of a slot guy. However, it looks like Simmons and Okudah will be gone by the time you’re on the clock. And if you stay in this spot, I would actually address the offensive line because you know Doug Marrone is going to want to run the football. It’s like having grilled chicken instead of a pizza for dinner. Sometimes you have to make the sensible choice, even if it’s not the most exciting.

10 – CLEVELAND

Mekhi Becton – OT

School: Louisville | Year: Junior

That has to hurt, seeing two dudes you really could have used get picked back-to-back right in front of you. But it’s cool. While you can go in a number of different directions here, I’m still leaning O-line. You just signed Jack Conklin to bookend the right side. Amazing. Now, you draft Becton to line up on the left side, and suddenly, you have a solid offensive line. And if you’ll allow one quick fantasy take (just one), I would go all-in on Nick Chubb if this happens. Especially with Kevin Stefanski as head coach.

11 – NY JETS

CeeDee Lamb – WR

School: Oklahoma | Year: Junior

Take the receiver of your choice here, Jets. I feel like the debate between who is better, Lamb or Jerry Jeudy, is going to last through the decade. I’m favoring Lamb at this point. He’s not the fastest guy on the board, but he’s an absolute beast once he has the ball in his hands. He is the kind of guy who will become an instant favorite in New York. Do the right thing for my guy, Sam Darnold.

12 – LAS VEGAS

Jerry Jeudy – WR

School: Alabama | Year: Junior

Here’s what I’d do. I’d get on the phone with the Packers and see if they’d be interested in the 12th and 80th overall picks for Davante Adams. I know that sounds a bit crazy. But we’ve seen other notable receivers — Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham, DeAndre Hopkins, Stefon Diggs — get traded in just the past 13 months. You all once upon a time ago even traded Amari Cooper. So back off, Packers marks. The compensation is actually better than what the Vikings received for Diggs. If you could pull this off, you’d have Derek Carr and DA reunited. At the very worst (and most likely), you select this stud out of Alabama.

13 – SAN FRANCISCO (from Indianapolis)

Javon Kinlaw – DT

School: South Carolina | Year: Senior

You have a real opportunity to grab a much-needed receiver in this spot. But I wouldn’t overspend on Henry Ruggs III with Lamb and Jeudy gone. (You might need to jump ahead of the Jets if you want a real shot at getting one of those guys). If we’re being open here, I know it wasn’t easy trading away DeForest Buckner. But the best way to get over that loss is to immediately fill the void with the 6-foot-5, 324-pound Kinlaw. Put him in there with Bosa and Co. and watch him flourish. He could become a Pro Bowler in no time. Besides, this draft is stupid deep at receiver and you still have the 31st overall pick. So, you are good.

14 – TAMPA BAY

Andrew Thomas – OT

School: Georgia | Year: Junior

First off, love the new uniforms. Those look amazing. Second, you need a running back. But I don’t recommend that you take one here. Address that in the second round, when your options at No. 45 could include J.K. Dobbins, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and maybe even a surprise slider like Jonathan Taylor. Take Thomas to protect your most important asset for the team, Tom Brady. Well, second-most next to that huge pirate ship that Kevin Owens didn’t get to jump off for WrestleMania. And having that tackle will help you run the ball, too.

15 – DENVER

Henry Ruggs III – WR

School: Alabama | Year: Junior

Great job on the decision to roll with Drew Lock this season. He looked great at the end of last year. And now you have surrounded him with some great players, adding Melvin Gordon to the mix for a team that had some nice pieces with Phillip Lindsay, Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton and Noah Fant. Complete the set here with Ruggs, who would be a great replacement for Emmanuel Sanders. I know corner could be a consideration. But you got A.J. Bouye to replace Chris Harris Jr., so you’re fine.

16 – ATLANTA

CJ Henderson – CB

School: Florida | Year: Junior

Look, as a person who plays a ton of fantasy football and always loves to match up players against the Falcons defense because of their struggles in the secondary, I hate to tell you guys to fix that. Especially if I have shares of Michael Thomas, Chris Godwin and D.J. Moore. But good lord, Atlanta. You have to fix that. All right. Maybe I’m being hasty. You weren’t bad at the end of last season. But you have a glaring need now that top corner Desmond Trufant was released. Henderson would be a huge help. He’s not a great tackler, but he’s a good defender while the ball is in the air.

17 – DALLAS

K’Lavon Chaisson – Edge

School: LSU | Year: Sophomore (RS)

I have something for you, Cowboys. You’ll like this one. Now, cornerback is an obvious need, but Henderson just went off the board. Pass rusher is also a need for this defense, now that my guy Bobby Quinn flipped a coin and left for the Chicago Bears (welcome!). Chaisson would come in and make an immediate impact on this defense. And if I’m shooting you straight here, the Cowboys have low-key made some great picks on D in the draft in recent years. No, not Taco Charlton. But guys like Leighton Vander Esch, Xavier Woods and Chidobe Awuzie. Chaisson would fit in quite nicely.

18 – MIAMI (from Pittsburgh)

Xavier McKinney – S

School: Alabama | Year: Junior

I was just about to tell you guys to go grab USC OT Austin Jackson to protect Tua down the road. And if you really want to do that, I’m not going to stop you (there’s obviously a need for O-line help). But your team is close to competing in the AFC East. Really, even though you finished with fewer wins than the Jets, who was the better team at the end of the year? Exactly. And with Tom Brady gone, the division is wide open. I really believe McKinney is the missing piece to target for a defense that made some nice upgrades in the offseason. So, go all-in for the Alabama safety.

19 – LAS VEGAS (from Chicago)

Jaylon Johnson – CB

School: Utah | Year: Junior

You already have your receiver, whether you convinced the Packers to take the deal for Adams or you selected Jeudy. Now is the time to look at your secondary. Johnson is the best corner on the board right now. I saw him a lot at Utah, and he’s very good. He can play outside or in the slot. But he’s going to be a starter from Day 1, and that’s exactly what you need. If you wanted to go get Patrick Queen or Kenneth Murray here, that’s cool. But you got my guy Nick Kwiatkoski and Cory Littleton this offseason, so you might be good at linebacker.

20 – JACKSONVILLE (from LA Rams)

Patrick Queen – LB

School: LSU | Year: Junior

Back again, Duval. Great to see you. I thought you would end up with a quality cornerback at this position. And shoot, I was wrong. I thought Johnson would be here for you. And he might be if I can go back and convince the Raiders to take a linebacker or maybe another receiver at No. 19. But I’m a big fan of Queen in this spot. This is a position of need without Telvin Smith. And if I’m being honest, after watching Queen at LSU, this guy is going to be an absolute steal in this spot.

21 – PHILADELPHIA

Justin Jefferson – WR

School: LSU | Year: Junior

I’m going to have to ask you to avoid the temptation to jump up when some of those receivers start flying off the board earlier in the draft. You’re going to be fine just sitting back and waiting for your guy. Jefferson is a player I really like. And why him over a guy like, say, Tee Higgins? That’s a fair question. Jefferson is an ace route-runner. Being in that LSU offense with Burrow and OC Joe Brady has him NFL-ready. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him end up as the top rookie receiver given the circumstances he would be walking into here.

22 – MINNESOTA (from Buffalo)

Tee Higgins – WR

School: Clemson | Year: Junior

I guess it was time to part ways with Diggs. Sometimes those relationships run their course, Vikings. No need to dwell on hurt feelings, though. Higgins would be a perfect fit for you. He works well down the field and a pairing with Adam Thielen could make it seem like nothing has changed. You’ll be right back to losing big games again in no time. Sorry, I had to do it. Love you, Vikings.

23 – NEW ENGLAND

Justin Herbert – QB

School: Oregon | Year: Senior

So, you’re really going to let the best quarterback in NFL history walk away and end up with a pretty good replacement? Now, I told the Chargers to stay away from Herbert earlier in this draft, but for good reason. History tells me the Chargers are not the kind of team that could help him overcome his inconsistencies. The Patriots certainly could. So many times, the success of quarterbacks comes down to their situation. Herbert would be fine if the Chargers selected him. He has a chance to be upper echelon if he goes to the Patriots. I would love to see it.

24 – NEW ORLEANS

Laviska Shenault Jr. – WR

School: Colorado | Year: Junior

Shenault has been described by my colleague Daniel Jeremiah as “arguably the best athlete in the draft” because he does a little bit of everything. A lot of his success will depend on where he goes in the draft. There are three or four teams that I believe could really get the best of him. Saints, you’re one of them. Don’t ask him to do a lot in his first year (it’s not like you have to with Alvin Kamara, Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders already in the mix). But given the chance to just fly down the field and run some jet-sweeps, I believe Shenault would become an instant fan favorite in New Orleans.

25 – MINNESOTA

A.J. Terrell – CB

School: Clemson | Year: Junior

The defense used to be the strength of this team, Vikings. But now you are rolling into the draft hoping guys like Mike Hughes, Holton Hill and Kris Boyd can step up at corner. Solid NFL players for sure, but you could use some help. You took a receiver with your first pick. It behooves you to take the best cornerback left on the board in this spot.

26 – MIAMI (from Houston)

Austin Jackson – OT

School: USC | Year: Junior

You know what? I’m almost regretting having you pass on Jackson with your previous pick. I really am. But guess what? Dude is still here! How about that noise? This is like the best of both worlds. Look, Dolphins. I’ve tried to help you in the past. But if you walk out of here with Tua, McKinney and now Jackson, this would be a draft for the record books. It really would be. Because all drafts are recorded. But I mean in a good way.

27 – SEATTLE

Ross Blacklock – DT

School: TCU | Year: Junior (RS)

There’s a need on the offensive line. But I don’t like much of what is left there in this spot. Blacklock is way too talented to pass over here. He has the skills to develop into a serious pass rusher from the interior of the defensive line. He seems like the kind of player that Seattle finds and turns into a stud. And if you somehow convince Jadeveon Clowney to return (I know, a long shot at this point), this line is going to be amazing.

28 – BALTIMORE

D’Andre Swift – RB

School: Georgia | Year: Junior

I love Mark Ingram. He’s great. His hype videos are the best. But he’s also 30. And I don’t want to go all Barney Stinson on you, but you don’t want to flirt with running backs over the age of 30. Swift makes too much sense here in this spot. The roster already includes Ingram, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. But if teams are going to allow the best back in the draft to fall to No. 28, you have to do it. And for the record, I’d take Jonathan Taylor here if Swift goes earlier.

29 – TENNESSEE

Yetur Gross-Matos – Edge

School: Penn State | Year: Junior

I would like to see you add some receiver help, too. Or maybe go after some offensive linemen. But you also need to look at your pass-rushing situation, which Gross-Matos should immediately help in the wake of Cameron Wake. And yes, even with Vic Beasley on board, you still can’t have enough quality pass rushers, especially in a conference that has Mahomes, Jackson and Deshaun Watson.

30 – GREEN BAY

Brandon Aiyuk – WR

School: Arizona State | Year: Senior

Look, if Aaron Rodgers is so great, why don’t you just skip your draft pick? Fine, fine. You have spent so much draft capital over the years on defense, how about you actually try to find some players for Rodgers to work with? You owe it to him to take the best receiver available. I understand I’m telling the Packers to pick the guy who just recently underwent core-muscle surgery. Sure. But he’s the most talented receiver remaining on the board. And for once you should at least try to help your quarterback instead of taking another defender (which I totally know you will).

31 – SAN FRANCISCO

Denzel Mims – WR

School: Baylor | Year: Senior

Look here, you waited on a receiver and you were rewarded with a pretty good one. I love him. Mims excels at going out and winning those 50/50 battles. He’s going to be a true gamer. One drawback for him is that I’m not sure his route tree is the most extensive. But that’s fine. We heard similar things about DK Metcalf last year and he was fine. Mims would be perfect to put in an offense with Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. Let him go down the field and do his thing. Mims would be a huge win for you.

32 – KANSAS CITY

Kenneth Murray – LB

School: Oklahoma | Year: Junior

I have no idea how Murray ended up falling all the way down here. He’s a good player, but hey, sometimes surprises like this happen when matching up fits and needs. He could end up going way earlier in the draft, and we just couldn’t let this guy fall out of the first round. He’s just way too good. So, congratulations, Chiefs. Things keep coming up roses for you. Of course, if you just wanted to reach out for one of the best remaining running backs, I’m not going to be mad about that, either.