NFC NORTH

DETROIT

Dan Graziano says WR JAMESON WILLIAMS is a good Fantasy investment – or words to that effect:

Don’t be surprised if … this is the year Jameson Williams becomes a star.

What I’m hearing: The 2022 first-round pick was injured when the Lions drafted him, so he didn’t really have much of a rookie year. Then he was suspended to start the 2023 season for gambling, so the coaches said there wasn’t much carryover from the offseason into the regular season for him. But this offseason, Detroit says he has taken massive steps forward, opening up the different ways the team can use him. And with no injury or suspension in his way, the Lions believe he can hit the ground running and be a big part of their offense in Week 1.

We all know from his college career about his rare deep speed, but Lions coaches trust him a lot more on routes between the numbers than they might have a year ago. The traits are certainly there, and a scary 1-2 punch with him and Amon-Ra St. Brown is possible.

MINNESOTA

Dan Graziano says don’t dismiss QB SAM DARNOLD:

Don’t be surprised if … Sam Darnold actually plays well.

What I’m hearing: Yeah, the bar has dropped precipitously here for a guy who was once the third pick in the draft. But did you know he’s only 27 years old? Darnold spent last season as the backup to Brock Purdy, learning Kyle Shanahan’s system in San Francisco. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who comes from the same coaching tree, was able to pick up on the improvements that Shanahan helped Darnold make in terms of footwork and decision-making, and the Vikings believe Darnold is in a good place.

Lost in much of the coverage of the J.J. McCarthy knee injury was the fact that the Vikings were almost certainly going to open the season with Darnold as their starter to begin with, even if McCarthy had been healthy. And let’s not forget that he has Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Aaron Jones and eventually T.J. Hockenson to target.

Will the Vikings’ offense be what it was with Kirk Cousins at QB? Not likely. But I don’t think it’s going to be an incompetent mess. This could be Darnold’s last chance to turn his career around, but it’s a good one.

NFC EAST

DALLAS

QB DAK PRESCOTT on the state of his contract.  Todd Archer of ESPN.com:

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said he does not need a contract extension to be done before the season starts Sept. 8 against the Cleveland Browns.

But does Prescott want it finished?

“I think it says a lot if it is or if it isn’t,” Prescott said Thursday. “But ‘however’ doesn’t really matter to me, to be honest with you.”

What does it say if a deal is not completed?

“Just how people feel,” Prescott said.

On Wednesday, owner and general manager Jerry Jones was asked what more he needs to see from Prescott in order for a deal to get done.

“You could easily say, ‘If you haven’t seen it by now, you haven’t seen it,'” Jones said. “I’m such a fan of Dak’s and appreciate all of the great things that we all know that is there. And I appreciate his work ethic more than anything out here. I can’t tell you how proud I am that we’ve got him this year to start this campaign. …

“When you look at a situation, you’ve also got to weigh, ‘OK, what are the consequences of the other side of the coin?’ And so Dak’s situation right now for me, from my mirror, has more to do with our situation than it does with the merits of Dak Prescott being the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys.”

Prescott said he understands Jones’ thinking.

“That’s the business and the nature of this game that we play,” Prescott said. “Yeah, I mean, I stopped, honestly, listening to things that he says to the media a long time ago. Doesn’t really hold weight with me.”

Prescott is set to play on the final year of a four-year, $160 million deal he signed in 2021. He is scheduled to make $29 million this season and count $55 million against the salary cap.

Green Bay’s Jordan Love, Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow are the highest-paid quarterbacks at $55 million per season, followed by Detroit’s Jared Goff at $53 million.

The Cowboys have had discussions with Prescott’s agent, Todd France, throughout the summer, but a deal does not seem close. Prescott said it would be up to France and the organization if negotiations continue into the regular season, not him.

The Cowboys and France negotiated over multiple years before their agreement in 2021. The Cowboys have only a matter of months now because they cannot place the franchise tag on Prescott after the season, which will allow him to hit the open market next March.

If that happens, Prescott will count $40 million against the Cowboys’ 2025 salary cap.

Prescott has said on numerous occasions he wants to remain with the Cowboys, but he has acknowledged there could be a future with him playing in another uniform.

“I’m super blessed to play this game, to be in Year 9, to feel as I do, healthy as I do, as confident as I am, the experience that I’ve had. I’m blessed to play this game,” Prescott said. “I’m getting paid a lot of money to do it. I’ve already got paid. To get paid again, that’s just part of it. I’m due up for that whether it’s signing here or whether it’s somewhere else that I don’t care to think about at this moment. It’s all part of it.

But Dan Graziano, also of ESPN.com, hears a contract could be coming – at least by the end of the year:

Don’t be surprised if … Dak Prescott actually does get that contract extension before the end of the calendar year.

What I’m hearing: CeeDee Lamb’s deal was the front-burner item for the past several weeks, in part because he wasn’t in camp and Prescott was. Now that Lamb is signed, the Cowboys can turn their attention to keeping their quarterback on a long-term deal.

Prescott has a historic amount of leverage, thanks to a contract that prohibits the team from using the franchise or transition tags on him after this season and a $40.1 million dead-money salary cap hit Dallas would absorb in 2025 if it lets him walk. But people close to this situation say talks in recent weeks have been positive, and there’s at least some optimism that a deal can be struck either before or early in the regular season. Whenever it happens, expect Prescott to become the highest-paid player in the league at more than $55 million per year.

NEW YORK GIANTS

Giants WR MALIK NABERS will wear the Giants “retired” number 1.  Lauren Merola and Charlotte Carroll in The Athletic:

This year holds a lot of firsts for New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, including his new number.

With permission from Ray Flaherty’s family, the longest-retired jersey in the NFL will resurface, and the rookie will don the No. 1 for the Giants this season. The Giants retired the Hall of Fame defensive end’s number in 1935. It was the first number sidelined in pro football history.

“I understand the responsibility and I will do everything in my power to honor the Flaherty family and this organization,” Nabers said in a statement. “I will wear the number with great pride.”

Nabers, the sixth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, wore No. 8 at LSU and traded it in for No. 9 during NFL training camp. Early in camp, Nabers asked general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll if he could switch to a new number, according to the New York Post. Mara agreed Nabers could wear No. 1 only if the Flaherty family allowed it.

Flaherty’s son, Ray Flaherty Jr., officially agreed to it Wednesday, per the Post, intending to re-retire his father’s No. 1 once Nabers also retires from the NFL.

Flaherty played on the Giants’ 1934 championship team, joining the Giants in 1928. Four years later, after landing with New York, he led the NFL in pass receptions with 21 catches for 350 yards. Flaherty went on to coach Washington to championships in 1937 and 1942.

Flaherty died of natural causes in 1994 at 89.

What it means for Nabers

Nabers became one of the Giants’ go-to targets throughout his first training camp and now he’ll get the No. 1 jersey to match his expected role. After the Giants failed to land a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, they shifted gears to getting Daniel Jones a top playmaker — the likes of which haven’t been seen in East Rutherford since the Odell Beckham Jr. days.

They went with the prized receiver out of LSU whose competitive makeup appealed to the coaches and the front office. The Giants draft and Nabers’ scouting process was documented in-depth on “Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants.” Throughout camp, he’s proven he was worth the pick, bringing in acrobatic one-handed grabs and showing versatile use. He tallied the second-most completions (30) this camp during the 11-on-11 portions with Jones.

Asking the Flaherty family for permission to unretire the number and allowing Nabers to wear No. 1 cements how ownership feels about its newest prospect and his anticipated role in the franchise. The Giants are celebrating their 100th season this year so it’s a fitting new bit of trivia, too.

PHILADELPHIA

Dan Graziano hears that the Kellen Moore offense loves WR DaVONTA SMITH:

Don’t be surprised if … DeVonta Smith — not A.J. Brown — ends up as the Eagles’ leading receiver.

What I’m hearing: “Smith looks amazing,” or something to that effect, was what I was hearing whenever I talked to anyone about Eagles training camp over the past month. Remember that the Eagles extended Smith’s contract this offseason before they extended Brown. That doesn’t mean you should overlook Brown, as this should be one of the best wide receiver duos in the entire league and new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is liable to move them and newly acquired Jahan Dotson around the formation to find mismatches. But Smith has elevated something about his game each season in the eyes of the Eagles, who drafted him 10th overall in 2021, and he could be poised for a massive breakout — possibly even surpassing Brown as the team’s No. 1 wideout.

NFC SOUTH

TAMPA BAY

A tip from Dan Graziano:

Don’t be surprised if … Bucky Irving has the best year of any rookie running back.

What I’m hearing: Rachaad White is still the starter in Tampa Bay, but the Bucs would really like to see him improve on his 3.7 yards per carry average that he has put up through his first two NFL seasons. Irving, their fourth-round draft pick this year, has impressed the coaches in camp and during the preseason, and he is a candidate to earn a lot more work if White and the run game don’t improve on last season’s inefficiency. Irving rushed for 1,063 yards and 10 touchdowns at Oregon last season.

NFC WEST

ARIZONA

Dan Graziano hears optimism about the Cardinals offense:

Arizona Cardinals

Don’t be surprised if … the Cardinals have a top-10 offense.

What I’m hearing: I’ve heard nothing but positives about quarterback Kyler Murray, which is a far cry from what we were hearing out of Arizona a couple of years ago. The Cardinals were 10th in offensive EPA, 10th in yards per play (5.6) and second in rushing yards per game (152.8) last season after Murray returned from his 2022 season-ending injury in Week 10, and adding receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. this year should be a massive boost to the passing game.

Murray has now had a fully healthy offseason in Drew Petzing’s offense, and based on what it looked like with him at quarterback in the second half of last season, there’s plenty of reason for optimism on that side of the ball. The defense might be a problem, but the offense in Arizona could be a lot of fun to watch.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

With re-enforcements in the draft, the Rams may whether the loss of DT Aaron Donald – this according to Dan Graziano:

Don’t be surprised if … the Rams’ defense is just fine without Aaron Donald.

What I’m hearing: I think the public has some concern that the Rams’ defense will take a big step back following the retirement of the otherworldly Donald. But the Rams don’t share that concern, and teams that have scouted them this preseason think they have a chance to be very good — especially up front.

Rookie first- and second-rounders Jared Verse and Braden Fiske (college teammates at Florida State) look poised to play big roles on the defensive front. Byron Young, the Rams’ 2023 third-round pick out of Tennessee, impressed the Texans with his performance against their offensive line starters in their joint practices. The Rams are young on defense, but they were young on defense last season and managed to make the playoffs in what looked like a rebuilding year. And we already know the offense will be good.

So if the 49ers can’t get their off-field stuff sorted out (more on that in just one second), the Rams could absolutely pose a problem for them in the NFC West division race.

SAN FRANCISCO

WR BRANDON AIYUK has his new deal – $120 million for 4 years.  Nick Wagoner ofESPN.com:

In the most heated moments between the San Francisco 49ers and receiver Brandon Aiyuk, there was an inescapable feeling that each side wanted to walk away from the table believing it had “won” the negotiation.

That desire led to a staring contest that finally, mercifully, came to an end Thursday when the Niners and Aiyuk agreed on a four-year, $120 million deal that will keep him in San Francisco through the 2028 season, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

According to league sources, Aiyuk accepted the same deal that had been on the table since Aug. 12.

After six or so months of public back and forth, trade demands and nearly completed deals, the real winners in this battle are logic and common sense.

This isn’t necessarily a marriage born out of love so much as necessity. If the Niners are to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders this year and beyond, they need their best pure receiver in the fold. If Aiyuk is to continue to rack up All-Pro seasons and stay in the mix for the Super Bowl ring he narrowly missed out on last year, he needs the 49ers.

Despite the rocky moments and near trades that led to this point, this was the conclusion that made the most sense, even if that occasionally got lost in arguments over dollars and cents along the way.

Upon keeping Aiyuk, the Niners did the thing they always do around this time of year, signing one of their foundational players for the long term late in the summer. They previously did it with tight end George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner, receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. and defensive end Nick Bosa.

All except Bosa took less time than Aiyuk, but it was clear for much longer than just the past few months that this was the outcome the 49ers wanted. As far back as the 2023 league meeting in Phoenix, the Niners were already rebuffing trade offers for Aiyuk with an eye on signing him long term.

At the time, Aiyuk was coming off a solid third season in which he posted 78 receptions for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns. But 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch thought Aiyuk was on the verge of a breakthrough and believed that he would take another step with a full season paired with quarterback Brock Purdy.

That’s exactly what happened as Aiyuk quickly became Purdy’s favorite target because of his ability to beat man and zone coverage, dominate in the intermediate middle of the field and make plays deep.

The result was a career season in which he finished with 75 catches for 1,342 yards (seventh in the NFL) and seven touchdowns while finishing second in the league in yards per reception (17.9), first in yards per target (12.9) and third in yards per route run (3.26).

Philosophically, the Niners want to reward their homegrown A-list players and openly acknowledge that they’d rather invest resources into skill position players who score touchdowns than, say, the offensive line. Both of which made re-signing Aiyuk of the utmost importance even if his price got a little higher than the Niners wanted to go.

Perhaps rookie Ricky Pearsall could have eventually become a capable Aiyuk replacement but the Niners know from experience what a risky proposition that is.

San Francisco learned the hard way in 2020 when it traded defensive tackle DeForest Buckner as his price got too high. They then used the pick acquired for Buckner on tackle Javon Kinlaw, a massive mistake that required signing Javon Hargrave to an $84 million contract to fix that issue.

From Aiyuk’s perspective, staying with the Niners was also the rational outcome. He’s from Rocklin, California, about three hours away from Levi’s Stadium, grew up a Niners fan and has a home in the Bay Area. The 49ers are the only team Aiyuk has ever known, he has worked his way into his current role and he exemplifies everything the Niners want in a wideout with his tenacious run blocking complementing his pass-catching ability.

Since Aiyuk entered the league in 2020, the Niners have been to at least the NFC Championship Game in three of four years. While he has to share the offensive load with Samuel, Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey, among others, that collection of talent also provides plenty of one-on-one opportunities for Aiyuk in the passing game.

Those chances have translated into success, especially with Purdy at the helm. Aiyuk and Purdy worked well together from the moment Purdy took over in Week 13 of the 2022 season. In 22 regular-season games together since, Aiyuk ranks 10th in the NFL in receiving yards per game (77.5), third in yards per reception (16.7), first in yards per target (11.8) and third in yards per route run (2.92).

In 40 games before Purdy became the starter, Aiyuk was targeted 6.4 times per game, nearly the same amount as he has been with Purdy starting (6.5). In those games, Aiyuk averaged 55.6 receiving yards, 13.3 yards per reception, 8.8 yards per target and 1.8 yards per routes run.

All of which is to say that while keeping Aiyuk is huge for Purdy, it’s equally important for Aiyuk to have some stability with a quarterback with whom he has strong chemistry. That’s especially true when compared with the uncertain long-term quarterback situations for trade suitors such as New England, Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

And while Aiyuk might have been in position for an increased workload elsewhere, his new contract means he should be around long enough to eventually ascend into the team’s top offensive option as others move on. That might explain why, despite there reportedly being more green on the other side from the likes of the Patriots, Aiyuk didn’t find the grass to be a darker shade outside of San Francisco.

It took longer than either side would have liked but the conclusion remains the same: Aiyuk and the 49ers are better off together than apart.

Tim Kawakami of The Athletic approves of the result, if not the process:

Yes, the weirdest negotiation ever produced possibly the most sensible big deal of this 49ers era, just in time for Aiyuk to get up to speed for the Sept. 9 opener against the New York Jets. Cause and effect? Did it have to get this bizarre, building up to Wednesday’s practice-or-else showdown and then Thursday’s breakthrough, for this smart deal to be consummated at last? Well, maybe.

Sometimes, these deals are relatively straightforward. Nick Bosa’s negotiations were prolonged last year, but both sides knew he wasn’t going to sign until the 49ers offered him exactly what he thought he was worth, and when that number was hit, he signed. Let’s just presume those are the same conditions facing the 49ers and Trent Williams in his holdout right now. And sometimes, these situations are decided quickly. The 49ers took one look at DeForest Buckner’s contract requests back in 2020 and quickly traded him to the Indianapolis Colts.

But the Aiyuk talks were not straightforward. They sure weren’t quick. They were confusing to watch and, from everything that’s been reported and everything I’ve heard, they were confusing to be a part of, too. The 49ers’ negotiators didn’t really understand what Aiyuk was doing and were less than enthralled with his social-media adventures. Meanwhile, Aiyuk’s camp was endlessly frustrated with the 49ers’ hardline negotiating style. And maybe the two sides needed to produce some shocks to find out if the other was really paying attention.

The end result is what matters, of course. All sides knew that Aiyuk’s best fit was with the 49ers and that if he departed, the 49ers would almost certainly replace him with a far less talented receiver. I don’t think Aiyuk ever really wanted to be traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, though that’s what he wanted people to believe. I don’t think the 49ers ever really wanted to trade him anywhere, though they told Aiyuk’s camp that they were all too ready to pull the trigger with several teams.

This deal, as reported, seems almost identical to the four-year, $120 million deal that Detroit gave to Amon-Ra St. Brown in April. That deal had $77 million in guarantees. Aiyuk’s reportedly has $76 million. Both have annual average salaries of $30 million, which lands squarely in the top five among WR deals, ranking just ahead of Tyreek Hill and below Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb and A.J. Brown.

Who “won” this deal? It’s hard to tell. For now, let’s call it a tie, because it all makes sense. This is the deal that has made sense for Aiyuk and the 49ers ever since St. Brown signed. This is the same deal that, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, has been on the table from the 49ers since Aug. 13. Jed York and Paraag Marathe offered enough money. Aiyuk signed for what he’s worth.

So why did it take so long? Why did this have to get a little mean and a little out of control? Why did this come so close to a divorce, presumably all the way up to Thursday morning, when Aiyuk missed his second consecutive practice after the 49ers deemed he was healthy enough to participate?

My guess is that this just was an unfortunate clash of styles and personalities, which is odd, since Aiyuk’s agent, Ryan Williams, is a friend and business associate of John Lynch. But remember when Aiyuk was in Kyle Shanahan’s doghouse back in 2021 and nobody could really figure out why for several weeks? Aiyuk is a well-respected member of the 49ers’ locker room, but he also can be quite cryptic. Unlike his good friend Deebo Samuel, whose feelings are never cloaked, Aiyuk can be hard to read. Even for coaches.

But Aiyuk bounced back from that period and started playing his very best football for Shanahan and the 49ers. I suspect there will be a similar result after these months of strain. I also can guess there will be another episode like this somewhere down the road. It just seems to be a part of the Aiyuk-49ers story.

In this instance, Marathe is not renowned for being an empathetic negotiator. He’s great at his job and has “won” more than his share of big-time negotiations for the 49ers. But in this negotiation, with a stubborn wide receiver that the 49ers absolutely could not afford to lose, things got off-line fast and never got on-line until the very end of this. And the logical offer they could’ve made in April wasn’t made until Aug. 13, let’s point that out.

It took a major jolt from the 49ers, playing extreme hardball at the 11th hour, to get this deal done. They needed it done right now. They couldn’t have Aiyuk around the building, healthy but refusing to practice, into next week, when full-scale preparations will begin for the Jets game. They couldn’t hold a roster spot for him if he wasn’t going to get ready to play. They needed an answer. Things got direct. And they finally got their answer on Thursday.

I give York, Marathe and Lynch credit for this — they could’ve pulled the $120 million offer earlier this week, and they didn’t, but they did seem to be threatening unnamed dire consequences into the future. Of course, if the challenge to Aiyuk this week had blown up in their faces, I would’ve had a very different conclusion. But they got the deal done and they finished up their weirdest negotiation with a very fair agreement.

I also don’t believe this deal, as rich as it is, seriously hurts the 49ers’ future salary-cap situation. They were always going to have to pay near the top of the market to retain Aiyuk through his prime years, just like they’ve done with Bosa, Fred Warner, George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey. They’ll have to do it again, likely at nearly double the Aiyuk numbers, for Brock Purdy when he’s eligible for an extension next offseason. It might lead to discarding Deebo next offseason, which actually was calculated years ago, when they signed Deebo to his easily exited deal.

But also, large guarantees can push down the early cap costs. St. Brown’s cap hit for this season, for instance, is just $4.9 million. The cap jeopardy comes if a player with large guarantees doesn’t retain his value into the third or fourth seasons of the deal, when the hits spike high and the exit costs spike higher. Aiyuk, at 26, seems ideally suited to be just as valuable or more in 2027 — when the 49ers will absolutely want to have as many great receivers available to catch Purdy’s passes — as he is right now.

So it’s a good deal for both sides that easily could’ve happened months ago, but circumstances and personalities prevented this. Presumably, Shanahan, Lynch, Marathe, York and Aiyuk will engage in some celebratory hugs and cheeriness over the next few days, and they deserve the moments, if they are all in the mood for it. But hopefully they will be off-camera and, for the sake of us all, nowhere near social media.

AFC WEST

KANSAS CITY

As the Texas legal process continues without a resolution in the case of WR RASHEE RICE and his very bad driving, the NFL says he will be able to play without suspension.  Mike Jones of The Athletic:

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice won’t be placed on the commissioner’s exempt  list stemming from his arrest after being charged with aggravated assault involving a car crash earlier this year — for now, a league spokesman said Thursday in a news video conference. This would clear the way for Rice to play Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens next Thursday.

NFL executive vice president of communications, public affairs and policy Jeff Miller said the league continues to closely monitor developments regarding Rice and his legal problems this offseason as it waits to see how the legal investigation plays out. League spokesman Brian McCarthy followed up saying, “We don’t anticipate he’ll be placed on commissioner’s exempt unless there is a material change in the case.”

In late March, Rice was involved in a multi-vehicle crash in northeast Dallas, according to police. He was the driver of a Lamborghini sport utility vehicle that caused the crash, which created a chain-reaction collision involving four other vehicles, police said. Rice and Theodore Knox, who is a cornerback at SMU, fled the scene, according to police.

Rice, 24, is facing one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury. Rice’s attorney Royce West confirmed that Rice turned himself in at the Glenn Heights Police Department in Texas. Records showed Rice was booked and released on a $40,000 bond.

Rice and Knox, the driver of the Corvette involved in the collision, are being sued for $1 million by two crash victims. According to the lawsuit filed in Dallas County, Texas, Irina Gromova and Edvard Petrovskiy, who were in separate vehicles involved in the crash, suffered severe injuries. The injuries include “trauma to the brain, lacerations to the face requiring stitches, multiple contusions about the body, disfigurement, internal bleeding and other internal and external injuries that may only be fully revealed over the course of medical treatment.”

In an Instagram story posted on April 3, Rice said he takes “full responsibility” for his part in the crash.

In May, a 29-year-old man accused Rice of assault for allegedly punching a photographer inside a Dallas nightclub. The man transported himself to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, a police spokesperson told The Athletic. But the man has reportedly refused to file any charges and no one has been arrested.

Rice is coming off a 2023 rookie season where he caught 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. He appears primed to become the top wide receiver target for Patrick Mahomes in 2024 as well.

LAS VEGAS

As usual, people are going into the season not expecting much from QB GARDNER MINSHEW II.  But, the DB wouldn’t be shocked if he exceeds expectations and is a mid-level QB, much like QB BAKER MAYFIELD with the Buccaneers.  Here are some thoughts from Antonio Pierce, his coach, as relayed by Myles Simmons ofProFootballTalk.com:

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce elected to go with experience when he named Gardner Minshew the team’s starting quarterback earlier this month.

Minshew, 28, has started 37 games since the Jaguars selected him in the sixth round of the 2019 draft. And he most recently helped take the Colts to the brink of making the postseason in 2023.

Speaking with the media on Thursday, Pierce praised Minshew for the work he’s been doing inside the building to help the team get ready for the season.

“Yeah, he’s a football junkie,” Pierce said, via transcript from the team. “We always talk about Maxx [Crosby] and Christian [Wilkins] about being the first guys in the building, but he’s not too far behind. And he stays late, and he’s done a lot of things without a lot of hype and things that we talk about throughout the building that’s starting to show up a little bit. And I think our team is really taking notice of that.

“And, obviously, since we’ve named him the starting quarterback, he’s kind of taken on that role with our skill position players and our O-line. So, it’s been good to see in the building.”

Minshew and the Raiders will be in Los Angeles to start the season against the Chargers in Week 1.

We can’t find it now, but somewhere we read a thread from Scott Kacsmar saying that the line between QBs has never been smaller.  With the modern schemes and coaching, someone with less than elite pure arm talent, but good understanding of the offense, can find open receivers in the short and intermediate range and put points on the board.

AFC NORTH

BALTIMORE

QB LAMAR JACKSON is said to be seized with a new urgency.  Jamison Hensley ofESPN.com:

– Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta has seen a different Lamar Jackson on the field this year, and it goes beyond the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player’s weight loss.

“What I’ve noticed about Lamar really is more of an intangible thing,” DeCosta said Thursday. “His urgency as a leader, his urgency with the other players. He’s just really in tune with the other players every single day in practice. He’s so engaged with the coaches, he’s engaged with his teammates. Heck, he’s engaged with me.”

DeCosta said Jackson talks to him about personnel, and it happened just after a recent practice.

“He just really wants to win badly, and I think I’m seeing that as a player,” DeCosta said. “I’ve always known that, but now I’m seeing his personality kind of come out more where I can really get a sense that this guy is so hyper-focused on this season and really working to get a ring.”

In his six-year career, Jackson has been one of the league’s most successful quarterbacks, winning two NFL MVP awards and leading the Ravens to the best record in the league twice. But Jackson has struggled in the playoffs, going 2-4 in the postseason and failing to advance to a Super Bowl. Jackson and the Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-10 in last season’s AFC Championship Game.

When Jackson entered the league as a 21-year-old first-round pick, he was known more for his speed and big-play ability than his leadership. Now, at 27, Jackson has tried to become more vocal with teammates.

“They’re not used to me speaking that much, probably in the locker room playing around,” Jackson told the Ravens’ podcast “The Lounge” this week. “But, on the field, they’re seeing another side of me. I’m hungry. So everybody has to be hungry.”

DeCosta did point out that he has seen a difference in how Jackson is moving. Jackson was down to 200 pounds this offseason, which is 15 pounds lighter than last season and 30 pounds below his 2022 weight.

“He looks fast as heck,” DeCosta said. “He looks really, really fast.”

Jackson and the Ravens open the NFL season on Sept. 5, when they play at the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs.

– – –

Dan Graziano sounds the warning about a tight end that did not get drafted in the DB’s Fantasy League:

Don’t be surprised if … Isaiah Likely is the Ravens’ second-leading receiver.

What I’m hearing: Second-year wideout Zay Flowers is the team’s No. 1 receiver, and the Ravens believe he’s poised for a big second-year leap. But Likely, who filled in at tight end when franchise stalwart Mark Andrews was hurt last season and developed a rapport with quarterback Lamar Jackson, is a guy the Ravens want to get on the field even with Andrews healthy. He caught 21 passes for 322 yards and five scores after taking over for Andrews in the TE1 role in Week 12.

The Ravens tried out a lot of multiple-tight end looks this offseason, and when I was at Ravens camp, Likely told me he was “learning every position, because in this offense, they want me to be able to go everywhere, whether it’s in the backfield, in line, in the slot, out wide or whatever. So just learning everything and being that chess piece to move around.” The Ravens view Likely as a playmaker who creates mismatches at various parts of the field, and they’d like to use him all over their offense.

CLEVELAND

The Browns moved around some of QB DESHAUN WATSON’s money – and voilá, they have $35 million in cap space.  Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon-Journal:

The Browns have again restructured quarterback Deshaun Watson’s contract.

The team has converted $44.79 million of Watson’s base salary into a signing bonus, a league source confirmed for the Beacon Journal. ESPN’s Field Yates was the first to report.

The move — the third time the Browns have restructured Watson’s deal since acquiring him from the Houston Texans in March 2022 — creates $35.832 million in cap space. That gives Cleveland more than $62 million in cap space, which is a league high.

“I’m not going to go into any details when it comes to player’s contract,” assistant general manager/Vice President of Football Operations Catherine Hickman said Thursday. “The only thing I’ll say is as an organization, our philosophy is to be aggressive when we think about resource allocation and management. So we always look at all options.”

The restructuring means Watson’s cap number for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, the final two of his current five-year, $230 million contract, is $72.935 million. The dead cap number, per Spotrac, is $172 million in 2025, $99 million in 2026 and $26.9 million in void dead cap.

For this season, Watson’s base salary with now be $1.21 million. He’ll carry a cap number of $27,942,678, while the dead-cap hit would be $200,712,678, per Spotrac.

This restructuring is along the same lines as what the Browns have done previously with Watson’s deal. They did almost the same move just before the start of free agency in March 2023 when they converted $44.835 million of Watson’s salary into a signing bonus, while adding a void year in 2027, in order to clear $35.868 million cap space.

“I think it’s not just Deshaun specifically here,’ Hickman said. “I think it’s just from a philosophy how we think about our contract structure and philosophy and management of our resource. So I’m not going to go into anything specific here outside of just being creative and aggressive on how we want to create that flexibility.”

The Browns gave Watson the fully guaranteed contract when he was acquired in a trade from the Texans. The deal was structured similarly to most long-term deals Browns general manager Andrew Berry has negotiated, with an extremely team-friendly first year — a $1.035 million base salary and a $9,395,500 cap hit — before going up in the second year.

Watson has played 12 games over the first two seasons with the Browns. He lost 11 games in 2022 to a personal conduct suspension in connection with more than two dozen allegations by women of sexual assault and sexual misconduct in massage appointments.

Shoulder injuries, including season-ending shoulder surgery on Nov. 21, cost Watson 11 games last season. He suffered a broken glenoid in a Nov. 12 game at the Baltimore Ravens, a game in which he went 14-of-14 passing in the second half to lead Cleveland to a 33-31 come-from-behind win.

PITTSBURGH

Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com says sometimes the best deals are the ones you don’t make, in this case the Steelers not getting WR BRANDON AIYUK:

And just like that, the Steelers’ months-long quest to obtain Brandon Aiyuk has come to an unsatisfying conclusion for the black and gold. Aiyuk is staying in San Francisco after he reportedly agreed to a four-year, $120 million extension, thus ending the biggest storyline of the 2024 NFL offseason.

Pittsburgh fans are surely disappointed with Thursday night’s news, and it’s easy to see why. The Steelers could have acquired a 1,300-yard receiver who is smack dab in the middle of his prime. Aiyuk would have likely made the Steelers a legitimate contender to come out of the AFC. At a minimum, his presence would have increased Pittsburgh’s odds at getting its first playoff win in eight years.

The knee-jerk reaction is that Aiyuk staying in San Francisco is nothing short of a catastrophe for Pittsburgh. Yet there are several reasons why this may be better for the Steelers in the long run.

For starters, the Steelers already have a bona fide No. 1 receiver in George Pickens, who, based on his exploits during the first two weeks of training camp, appears primed to have his best season yet. The third-year wideout has extremely lofty goals for himself.

“I’m just trying to be the greatest,” Pickens told CBS Sports following Pittsburgh’s second training camp practice.

In the same interview, Pickens gave a clear answer when asked if the Steelers need to bring in reinforcements at receiver (i.e. Aiyuk).

“Nah, I think we’re good enough,” Pickens said.

It’s early, but it appears Pickens may be right in his assessment. Veteran Van Jefferson has impressed basically everyone with the work he’s done in camp. Rookie Roman Wilson was also showing his potential before being temporarily sidelined with an injury. Fellow wideout Calvin Austin III has also enjoyed a solid summer.

Could the team use more depth? Probably. But that question will be answered during the preseason, when Pittsburgh’s less-heralded wideouts (a group that includes veteran Scotty Miller) get a chance to show what they can do. That’s why the preseason still matters.

The Steelers also have other pass catchers at other positions. Running back Jaylen Warren finished second on the team last season with 61 receptions. Pat Freiermuth caught seven touchdown passes as a rookie in 2021 and is expected to again be a focus in the red zone in 2024. Fellow tight ends Connor Heyward and Darnell Washington will also likely see increased roles in Arthur Smith’s offense.

Back to Pickens for a second. While the Steelers lost a solid wideout when they traded Diontae Johnson to the Panthers, it seems that his departure has given Pickens the opportunity to grow as a leader among Pittsburgh’s receiving corps. Pickens appears to have taken advantage of that opportunity, but that harmony could have been compromised with Aiyuk’s arrival.

In some ways, the Steelers’ pursuit of Aiyuk was similar to a gambler chasing their bets. Pittsburgh gambled by trading Johnson, and paid for it by not replacing him with another proven veteran wideout. But was selling the farm to get Aiyuk (which the Steelers would have had to do to acquire him) the best way to rectify the situation?

As already noted, the Steelers already have a No. 1 wideout in Pickens. What Pittsburgh needs is a solid No. 2 option that will give Pickens more room to operate. There does not appear to be any outside options regarding a player like that currently, but who’s to say that a relatively affordable, solid No. 2 wideout won’t be available some other time between now and Nov. 5, the league’s trade deadline?

As is the case every year around that time, good players will be available via trade from teams that are looking to be sellers. Pittsburgh could end up getting a good wideout at a good price with half a season left to play. By then, the Steelers will know whether or not outside receiver help is needed.

Pittsburgh is hoping that it won’t come down to that, that its receiving corps — as currently constructed — is good enough. Pickens himself said he and his teammates didn’t need outside help. He’ll get a chance to prove it now.

– – –

Dan Graziano hears that the Steelers may make something new and better out of RB NAJEE HARRIS.

Don’t be surprised if … Najee Harris has 1,500 yards from scrimmage.

What I’m hearing: The Steelers declined Harris’ fifth-year option for 2025, but that doesn’t mean they’re done with him. They want to see how he (and everyone else) performs in first-year coordinator Arthur Smith’s offense before making any long-term decisions. There’s a feeling in the building that Smith’s offense is well-suited to Harris’ skills, and with big-time question marks at quarterback and wide receiver (plus Smith’s history), I expect the Steelers to lean on their running game a lot.

Jaylen Warren, Harris’ top competition for backfield touches, has already missed time in camp with a hamstring injury. Plus, Harris has cleared 1,000 rushing yards in each of his three NFL seasons so far, and he had 74 catches for 467 yards in his rookie season of 2021. I think he’ll be the major focal point of the Steelers’ offense.

AFC SOUTH

TENNESSEE

Dan Graziano hears good things about RB TONY POLLARD in Nashville:

Don’t be surprised if … Tony Pollard has a bounce-back season.

What I’m hearing: Pollard is one year further removed from his 2022 season-ending ankle injury, which can only help. The Titans signed him on the first day of free agency to a fairly substantial contract (for a running back, anyway) at three years and $24 million. Yes, they have Tyjae Spears in the backfield as well, but I’m not sure they view Spears as ready to take over the lead role all by himself.

I doubt Pollard ends up with twice as many touches as Spears, the way Derrick Henry did last season. But I also expect this team to lean fairly heavily on the backs as both runners and pass catchers while it brings Will Levis along at quarterback. And Tennessee seems to view Pollard’s experience as a differentiating factor between him and Spears, who is in Year 2. Pollard — who went over 1,000 rushing yards for a second straight year last season — is my bet to be the lead back in Tennessee.

AFC EAST

BUFFALO

Dan Graziano says WR KHALIL SHAKIR is the name to know in the Buffalo pass attack:

Don’t be surprised if … Khalil Shakir is the Bills’ top wide receiver this season.

What I’m hearing: There were a number of reasons — most of them financial — that the Bills were OK with trading Stefon Diggs to Houston and losing Gabe Davis to Jacksonville in free agency. Last year under then-interim (now full-time) offensive coordinator Joe Brady, they began to establish an offense that leaned more on the run and funneled pass attempts to tight end Dalton Kincaid and running back James Cook. They’ll likely build off that and again run the offense through Kincaid and Cook while the wide receiver room sorts itself out.

Obviously, the Bills have high hopes for rookie Keon Coleman, and they’re planning on some sort of role for free agent signee Curtis Samuel. But Shakir is a third-year player who has been working with Josh Allen for much longer than Coleman (and Kincaid), and the Bills have been very happy with his progress this offseason. Shakir quietly had 611 receiving yards last season.

NEW ENGLAND

Not really a surprise here from Dan Graziano:

Don’t be surprised if … the Patriots have the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft.

What I’m hearing: The Pats know they’re short in several key areas, most significantly the offensive line. That’s one of the main reasons that, despite his outplaying veteran Jacoby Brissett in the preseason, rookie Drake Maye will open the season on the bench while Brissett gets the starting nod. I believe you’ll see Maye as the starting quarterback at some point, but right now, the Patriots are still trying to answer questions about the group around him and make sure that he’s not in a position to drown in negativity when he does get in there.

New England went into camp thinking its defense would help keep things afloat, but the loss of Christian Barmore (potentially for the entire season) to a blood clot issue and the trade of Matthew Judon have thinned the Patriots out badly in the defensive front. ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) rates their schedule as the toughest in the league, and you can see why right away. In September alone, they have to play the Bengals, Jets and 49ers on the road, as well as the Seahawks at home. FPI also says New England has a 21.9% chance to land the top pick, highest in the league.

THIS AND THAT

BROADCAST NEWS

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com with advice for FOX and Tom Brady:

Tom Brady has a problem. And, until Brady resolves it, Fox has a Tom Brady problem.

The solution might be staring everyone right in the face.

The league’s extreme restrictions — effective right now — on Brady’s access to all teams other than the Raiders seems to be calculated to force him to choose between buying a piece of the Raiders and working as Fox’s top broadcaster for NFL games. But if he still wants to do both, there’s a possible solution that allows him to have his football cake and eat it.

The answer is a three-person crew. Call up Greg Olsen.

Olsen, a two-time Emmy winner in his category, wants to be part of the biggest and best games. He’s earned it. And Olsen recently told Derek Futterman of BarrettSportsMedia.com that he’s not opposed to joining the Brady/Kevin Burkhardt booth.

“I think that’s a conversation that if it was something that was even on the table, we would have definitely leaned into and considered and talked through what the mechanics and the situation of that looks like,” Olsen said. “I’m not one to just close doors without at least knowing what’s behind them. So yeah, that’s not something I would have been opposed to by any stretch. It just never was worth much consideration just because it was never really a possibility.”

Maybe it could be. If Brady is willing to share the mic (and the spotlight), Olsen could give analysis based on the access he’ll have and Brady could approach things from a different, access-free perspective.

It really does require selflessness to make a three-person booth work. No one in a two-person operation wants to inject a third voice, since it cuts into the available talking time for the two people already there.

Still, the best booth of all time had three people (Gifford, Meredith, Cosell). And Brady, Olsen, and Burkhardt could be pretty good.

Really, if Brady is too selfish to pick a lane between owner and broadcaster, he should be selfless about inviting Olsen in. With Brady necessarily being less prepared without access, Olsen’s presence would make sure the audience is being properly served.

If Brady cares about the audience. If he does, he’ll either choose between the Raiders and Fox — or he’ll invite Olsen to pull up a chair and put on a headset. If he doesn’t, he’ll try to call games without having the benefit of information and insights that every other NFL broadcaster always has.

SUPER BOWL PICKS

NFL.com asked its 27 editorial contributors, some former players and coaches, some just folks like the DB, who is going to win the Super Bowl.  Nine had the Chiefs.  Here they are:

With the 2024 NFL season just around the corner, our analysts predict which teams will compete for — and capture — the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans.

NOTE: All odds — listed alongside each team — are courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook & Casino and are current as of 9:30 a.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 30.

1 Kansas City Chiefs

9 votes · +575

Keegan Abdoo: Chiefs over Packers. Patrick Mahomes cements his status on the Mount Rushmore of signal-callers, leading the Chiefs to the first-ever Super Bowl three-peat.

Judy Battista: Chiefs over Lions. Even Cinderella can’t stop an unprecedented Chiefs three-peat. Patrick Mahomes will lead the offense to another last-minute score to prevail in a thrilling, high-scoring game that anoints the Lions as the champs-in-waiting and the Chiefs as the current dynasty that poses a legitimate threat to match the Belichick-Brady Patriots’ six titles.

Ali Bhanpuri: Chiefs over Packers. Some folks are tired of Kansas City. Bored with the Chiefs’ relentless success. Desperate for something different. Not me. I love watching greatness. And we’re in the midst of one of the finest runs the sports world has ever seen. Nothing to do but sit back and enjoy the show (and another “L” on the Packers’ ledger).

Brooke Cersosimo: Chiefs over Eagles. Just as I said last year at this time: I’m not going to pick against the Chiefs until they give me a reason to. The three-peat is on the line, and I expect Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes to do everything in their power — personally, I’m ready for all the trick plays — to secure the trophy.

Michael F. Florio: Chiefs over Eagles. History suggests to not pick a team to three-peat. But who knocks off Mahomes and the Chiefs head-to-head? It is so hard to pick against them. They win a rematch from two years ago, breaking the Eagles’ hearts late in the game once again.

Christian Gonzales: Chiefs over Packers. Patrick Mahomes’ experience in the fourth quarter pays off as he leads Kansas City to a three-peat over Jordan Love’s Packers.

Bobby Kownack: Chiefs over Lions. Kansas City fully embraces its Big Bad status by achieving a historic three-peat at the expense of Dan Campbell’s lovable group of kneecap-biters.

Dan Parr: Chiefs over Lions. The Lions make it to their first Super Bowl! Unfortunately for them, Patrick Mahomes has made a heckuva living dashing the hopes of longtime underdogs. I’m not picking against the three-peat.

Chad Reuter: Chiefs over 49ers. I’m not picking against the Chiefs as long as Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are running the show in Kansas City. The Niners come up just short of a title yet again, with Mahomes’ offense back to its usual form in 2024.

2  San Francisco 49ers

5 votes · +625

Mike Band: 49ers over Chiefs. The two most complete teams in the NFL clash in the Big Game for the third time in six seasons. Coach Kyle Shanahan exorcises his demons in this one, delivering San Francisco its first Lombardi Trophy in 30 years.

Jeffri Chadiha: 49ers over Bengals. San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan finally enjoys a Super Bowl win after watching quarterback Brock Purdy and a feisty defense outlast Cincinnati.

Marcas Grant: 49ers over Bengals. Cincinnati slays the Mahomes dragon to reach the Super Bowl, but ultimately, Kyle Shanahan buries his own postseason demon thanks to Brock Purdy and a sound defense.

Michelle Magdziuk: 49ers over Bengals. Kyle Shanahan finally gets over the hump in his third try as the 49ers head coach, and brings San Francisco its first Lombardi Trophy since the 1994 season.

Steve Mariucci: 49ers over Chiefs. Meeting in this game for the third time in the last six seasons, the 49ers finally get it done by leaning on their veterans and executing in all three phases. A more experienced Brock Purdy shows poise and sets himself up for a big payday when he leads the Niners to the mountaintop for the first time in three decades.

3  Green Bay Packers

3 votes · +1700

Michael Baca: Packers over Chiefs. With the table set for Kansas City to capture the first-ever Super Bowl three-peat, Green Bay wrecks the party thanks to a high-powered offense led by Jordan Love and a retooled defense fueled by Rashan Gary. Love always wins, and the Packers QB will be hoisting a Super Bowl MVP trophy as a result.

Jeremy Bergman: Packers over Jets. The Aaron Rodgers Bowl will pit the first two franchises to win a Super Bowl against each other. A low-scoring affair will see the ex-Packers QB fall just short in his revenge game and come to his latest spiritual epiphany: Love conquers all.

Kevin Patra: Packers over Texans. It took Brett Favre five years as the starter in Green Bay to win a Super Bowl ring. Three for Aaron Rodgers. Jordan Love bests both legends, lifting the Lombardi Trophy in his second year at the helm as he outduels C.J. Stroud in a Super Bowl shootout.

T-4  Baltimore Ravens

2 votes · +900

Tom Blair: Ravens over Lions. Detroit rolls in on a playoff hot streak, while Baltimore makes it via a series of nail-biters — only for Lamar Jackson to pull the rug out from under the Lions with a dramatic come-from-behind win.

Marc Ross: Ravens over Packers. Lamar Jackson finally silences his critics, overcoming his previous playoff failures by first ending the Patrick Mahomes/Chiefs three-peat bid in the AFC Championship Game and then holding off a future Super Bowl champ in Jordan Love.

T-4  Cincinnati Bengals

2 votes · +1300

Eric Edholm: Bengals over Lions. No guts, no glory. The ultimate “underdog” Super Bowl between two zero-time winners would be a blast. There are no overwhelming favorites this year, but the Bengals’ defense must improve if they’re to beat the fearless Lions — or even reach the Super Bowl, for that matter.

Gennaro Filice: Bengals over Rams. With this Super Bowl taking place in New Orleans, LSU legendJoe Burrow returns to the state where he became a Heisman Trophy-winning national champion and nabs the Bengals’ first Lombardi Trophy.

T-4  Detroit Lions

2 votes · +1000

Matt Okada: Lions over Ravens. Lamar Jackson ends Kansas City’s bid at a three-peat in the AFC title game but falls to America’s New Team, the Detroit Lions, on an overtime TD pass to Jameson Williams.

Nick Shook: Lions over Texans. Two teams reach their first-ever Super Bowl, but only one can emerge victorious. Detroit finishes what it started a year ago, capping an incredible turnaround by bringing the Motor City its first Lombardi Trophy.

T-7  Buffalo Bills

1 vote · +1700

Gregg Rosenthal: Bills over Lions. In a battle of franchises that have never won the big one, Josh Allen bowls over Levi Onwuzurike at the goal line with 17 seconds left for his MVP moment.

T-7  Jacksonville Jaguars

1 vote · +4500

Maurice Jones-Drew: Jaguars over Rams. These two teams may be flying a bit under the radar heading into Week 1, but they’ll be the ones to beat come February. Trevor Lawrence — fresh off getting the bag this offseason — proves no stage is too big when he outduels Super Bowl champion Matthew Stafford to lead the Jags to their first title.

T-7  New York Jets

1 vote · +1700

Lance Zierlein: Jets over Lions. On a team loaded with defensive talent, Aaron Rodgers caps off his Comeback Player of the Year campaign with a run through the playoffs. It culminates in a win over Detroit, which continues inching forward.

T-7  Philadelphia Eagles

1 vote · +1300

Brendan Walker: Eagles over Chiefs. Seeking revenge for the Lombardi lost two seasons ago, Philadelphia upends Kansas City’s three-peat pursuit while securing the second Super Bowl win in franchise history.

So no one is buying into the epic rise of the Chicago Bears that some are forecasting elsewhere.  The best teams not to get one selection?  We would say the Rams, Dolphins and Texans.  And, no Cowboys.