The Daily Briefing Friday, August 6, 2021

QB TOM BRADY seems to believe the NFLPA has allowed the NFL to manipulate the salary cap to the players’ detriment.  Rick Stroud in the Tampa Bay Times:

Tom Brady said he has found his voice in Tampa Bay, and it’s not restricted to the huddle.

The seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback on Thursday used his exceptionally large social media platform to tell players to “wake up” after Forbes listed the franchise values for all 32 NFL teams.

Thanks to an enormous new TV contract, franchise values increased 14 percent on average.

The point of irritation for Brady — and you would think the NFL Players Association ― is that players agreed to a 20-percent reduction in the salary cap due to lost revenues resulting from the pandemic.

The value of the Bucs increased 29 percent in 2020, according to Forbes, and the franchise is now worth $2.94 billion. Forbes listed the Bucs’ operating income at $1.9 million.

Of course, there is a big difference between franchise value and revenue. But that increased, too, due to new television contracts.

“The salary cap dropped by 20 percent … and the new media deals were announced the day AFTER 2021 salary cap was set …” Brady wrote. “NFL players better wake up.

“NFL players are IGNORANT.”

Meanwhile, Brady has consistently taken below-market deals to allow his team to sign better players.

NFC NORTH

GREEN BAY

It’s less than a week until QB JORDAN LOVE’s long wait for game action, even preseason game action, will end.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love hasn’t played in a football game since being drafted in the first round in 2020.

More than 18 months after participating in the 2020 Senior Bowl, Love is looking forward to his first pro contest when the Packers face the Houston Texans on Saturday, Aug. 14, in Week 1 of the preseason.

“I’m super excited for it,” he said Thursday. “The last time I played a game was the Senior Bowl coming out of college. Over a year and a half ago, I think. I’m super excited. This is the moment I’ve been preparing for ever since last year. It’s almost like I’ve been training a year just for this first preseason game. I’m super excited to get out there and get back to playing ball.”

Love didn’t play a snap during his rookie season, watching from the sideline as Aaron Rodgers won the 2020 NFL MVP award. Last year’s scrapped preseason wiped out a tangible opportunity for Love to impress and grow. This season, the Utah State product should get plenty of playing time during the three-game exhibition slate.

Given the drama with Rodgers has been pushed into 2022, all eyes will be on how the second-year quarterback performs in his first non-practice setting as a pro.

The Packers’ final two preseason contests versus the New York Jets (Aug. 21 at 4:25 p.m. ET) and at the Buffalo Bills (Aug. 28 at 1 p.m. ET) can be viewed live on NFL Network.

While it is not in writing or legally binding, there is a report that the Packers have promised to trade QB AARON RODGERS if he remains disgusted with team management come January.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers have an agreement. But it’s not in writing. Which means it’s not worth the paper it’s not written on.

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reports that the Packers have verbally agreed to trade Rodgers if he still wants out after the 2021 season.

That said, it’s not in writing; it’s a handshake deal. Both Paul Allen of KFAN and Chris Simms of NBC have said that Rodgers believed the Packers had agreed to trade Rodgers during the most recent offseason, and that the team reneged.

If accurate, why trust them again?

Throw in the fact that Rodgers’s reworked contract still allows them to pursue $11.5 million in unearned signing bonus money, and the Packers can dig in again, like they did this year.

MINNESOTA

It appears that the Vikings and NFL have a problem with QB KIRK COUSINS who presumes to have individual medical rights.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com finds him irrational:

For NFL players, a high degree of transparency traditionally applies to health issues that affect a player’s availability. As to COVID, which directly affects their availability, unvaccinated players routinely choose for little or no transparency.

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins demonstrated that mindset on Thursday, talking about the lengths to which he’ll go to avoid an infection while also refusing to address his reasons for not getting vaccinated, calling the matter personal and private.

But, really, what’s personal and private about things that could directly impact the ability of a player who earns many millions of dollars to play football? These are fair questions, especially when the anti-vaccine position taken by the player cuts so sharply against the clear preferences of the league and the team for which Cousins plays.

There’s a very good chance that the quarterback’s refusal to get vaccinated flows from his father’s attitude toward the pandemic. Don Cousins, a pastor in Orlando, has had some strong beliefs last year about the virus. Check out this thread, posted in September 2020 by Resist Programming. Don Cousins reopened his church during the pandemic. He didn’t require masks.

Kirk himself made it clear last year that he doesn’t believe in masks, and he uttered the phrase, “If I die, I die” regarding the possibility of catching the disease.

Although the thread predates the vaccine question, the anti-vaccine attitude meshes with everything Kirk and Don Cousins said last year. If you simply (and inexplicably) don’t take the virus seriously, why get vaccinated against it?

Cousins is in the small minority of unvaccinated NFL players. However, he’s the starting quarterback of the Vikings, ostensibly a team leader. When the team leader shrugs at the preferences of team management, it’s no surprise that so many others on the team have followed suit.

The Vikings have little choice but to deal with it. Cousins is due $21 million fully guaranteed in 2021 and $35 million fully guaranteed in 2022. The Vikings could cut him and receive a credit for whatever he earns elsewhere, but that would be an extreme and irrational reaction to the situation.

Then again, Cousins is taking an extreme and irrational position. Maybe the Vikings should fight fire with fire, and move on from a guy who clearly has no future in Minnesota beyond the expiration of his contract in two seasons, if he makes it that long.

NFC EAST

NEW YORK GIANTS

Three Giants have retired this week.

Another New York Giants player is retiring.

NFL Network Mike Garafolo reported Friday morning that guard Zach Fulton is hanging up his cleats, per a source informed of the situation.

Tom Rock of Newsday first reported the news.

Fulton marks the third Giants player to retire this week, joining offensive lineman Joe Looney and linebacker Todd Davis. Coach Joe Judge noted Friday that Fulton’s retirement was family and health-related.

Like Looney, Fulton’s decision came after realizing his body couldn’t stand up to the rigors of another season and perform as he hoped.

A sixth-round pick by Kansas City in 2014, Fulton started 46 games in four seasons with the Chiefs before heading to Houston for three seasons. He started 44 games for the Texans, including all 16 last year.

The soon-to-be 30-year-old was a depth addition for New York this season, mostly seeing backup snaps and cross-training along the line during camp. The retirements of Fulton and Looney this week leave the Giants a little thin depth-wise along the line.

NFC SOUTH

TAMPA BAY

Ed Sheeran is coming to Tampa for the first game of the NFL season.  Sheeran, it seems to the DB, has a significantly wider appeal than some of the acts recently showcased by the NFL.

Thinking Out Loud here, this could be a Perfect opportunity for the DB to get a Photograph of this performer.

After a year spent cheering apart, the 2021 Kickoff is a moment fans can come together to celebrate football returning.

Grammy Award-winning musician Ed Sheeran will be performing at the 2021 Kickoff Experience presented by EA Sports Madden NFL 22 ahead of the league’s season opener between the Dallas Cowboys and defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, Sept. 9.

The festivities will commence at noon ET at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park and feature football-themed interactive games, photo opportunities and other activities throughout the day. Parts of Sheeran’s performance, which is set for 7 p.m. ET, will air on NBC and during NFL Network’s pregame coverage, while a full stream will be available on the NFL’s Facebook page, NFL.com and the NFL app.

Fans in attendance are encouraged to stick around after the show to watch Cowboys-Bucs live on screens throughout the park at the 2021 NFL Kickoff Watch Party.

Fun fact – Sheeran’s performance will come close to the first birthday of daughter Lyra Antarctica.  The child was born nine months after Sheeran and wife, Cherry, visited that continent.

NFC WEST

LOS ANGELES RAMS

Rams coach Sean McVay is on the extreme end of coaches who nothing but downside to having the star players see some preseason action.  So no chance QB MATTHEW STAFFORD even plays a down in the upcoming three-game stretch.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Rams coach Sean McVay has never hidden the fact that he thinks the risks of injuries to key players outweigh the potential rewards of preseason games. And so it’s unsurprising that McVay says quarterback Matthew Stafford won’t play in the preseason. Ever.

McVay told Doug Gottlieb that he has already decided that Stafford won’t play this preseason, next preseason or any preseason.

“There is zero chance you’ll ever see Matthew Stafford take a snap in the preseason for the Rams as long as I’m the coach. That will never happen,” McVay said. “So he is not going to play. That’s why it’s important for us to try to get competitive opportunities against some of these other teams in practice settings. Practicing against the Cowboys this Saturday. We’ll get the Raiders twice. So we’re always looking for those things. But until you tell me that if a guy gets hurt in the preseason that we’ll get those games back or they’ll add them on the schedule afterwards as, ‘Oh, yeah, you get two games because you lost those guys in the preseason,’ it’s hard for me to make sense of it.”

McVay kept virtually every key player off the field throughout the last two preseasons as well, so his stance on protecting Stafford is no surprise. And it won’t be surprising if more and more coaches start to follow McVay’s lead and keep everyone important on the bench, making preseason games more and more boring for the fans.

AFC WEST

LAS VEGAS

It was announced that veteran LB K.J. WRIGHT, once a Seahawk, was visiting Vegas, but he has not stayed there.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Veteran linebacker K.J. Wright visited the Raiders today, but he hasn’t signed with the team.

Wright has completed his visit in Las Vegas and left without signing, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

After spending 10 years with the Seahawks, Wright hit free agency in March and hasn’t seemed to draw a lot of interest. Wright started all 16 games for the Seahawks last year, but at age 32, teams may think Wright’s best days are behind him.

Still, if Wright is willing to sign a team-friendly contract, he’ll likely find work somewhere. And Las Vegas would make sense, as Wright played some of his best years in Seattle under Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

There was a time when it looked like the Chargers would be an unfathomable burden on the Rams and the NFL – filling only a small portion of their massive new stadium for an eternity.  Then, along came QB JUSTIN HERBERT.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Fight for L.A. is back in the “undecided” category.

The Rams had ruled the return of the NFL to Los Angeles, buoyed by a head start, a far better interim stadium, and a better and more successful team. Now, as both franchises prepare for their second season in a new venue and the first with fans present, the Chargers are selling tickets at a rate they haven’t seen in a long time.

As recently noted by Daniel Popper of TheAthletic.com, the Chargers have “blown past” their average season-ticket amount of 45,611 during their final 20 years in San Diego. The team also said that sales over the past six months have been the most “robust” that they’ve seen in two decades.

The Chargers have an incredible nucleus of talent, along with one of the best young quarterbacks in the game. Soon to possibly be simply one of the best quarterbacks in the game. Beyond Justin Herbert, there’s Joey Bosa and Derwin James and Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and plenty of other great players who may be poised to make a jump, especially with Brandon Staley taking over as the head coach.

While the Rams and Chargers don’t compete in the same conference, they definitely compete in the same city. And the effort by the Rams to upgrade the quarterback position for 2021 likely was done with at least one eye on what the Chargers are doing. Before too long, the Chargers could become the dominant team in Los Angeles.

AFC NORTH

BALTIMORE

QB LAMAR JACKSON, unvaccinated like QB KIRK COUSINS of the Vikings, has now missed eight practices.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com takes note of the cost:

As the Ravens prepare for the regular season, franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson continues to be absent.

Jackson, who is unvaccinated, tested positive for COVID in late July. Per the league’s protocols, he must be absent for at least 10 days.

While it’s better that it happens now than during the regular season (although it’s not ideal that he’s missing so many practices), the chance lingers of something like this occurring once the season begins. For unvaccinated players, a positive test triggers an automatic 10-day break. For unvaccinated players, close contact with someone who has tested positive results in a minimum absence of five days.

If vaccinated, close contact results in no absence. If vaccinated, a player can return from a positive test after generating two negative outcomes at least 24 hours apart.

That’s where the competitive advantage (if vaccinated) or disadvantage (if unvaccinated) comes from. And while that approach applies to all players, the starting quarterback continues to be the most important person on a roster. Any starting quarterback who isn’t vaccinated faces the continuous risk of suddenly being gone for five days or 10 days or longer.

That’s why so many coaches and executives and owners are apoplectic about vaccine hesitancy among players. With so many experts (true experts, not just people with social-media accounts) give full-throated endorsements to getting vaccinated, people whose ability to do the thing they love to do is enhanced by getting vaccinated still won’t listen. It’s hard not to imagine this irrational stubbornness not impacting the relationship between player and team for years to come, whether it’s Jackson and the Ravens, Kirk Cousins and the Vikings, or any other starting quarterback or key player and the team that employs him.

FYI – the DB has been told that the NFL considers someone who has recovered from COVID to be “fully vaccinated” after just one jab of Pfizer or Moderna (or presumably J&J).

PITTSBURGH

Coach Mike Tomlin like rookie RB NAJEE HARRIS’ debut in the Hall of Fame Game.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

Najee Harris’ box score from Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game might not stand out, but the Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back showed why he’ll be the club’s workhorse in 2021.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin liked what he saw from Harris in the 16-3 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

“I thought that he showed some of the things that he’s been showing in practice settings,” Tomlin said, per the team’s official website. “That’s what we were looking for. We weren’t looking for the spectacular. I talked to him and others during the course of the week. We wanted to make routine plays, routinely. We wanted the pile to fall forward and things of that nature. He did all of the things we’ve been watching him do. It’s a really good start for him.”

Playing into the second quarter, Harris toted the rock seven times for 22 yards and added a reception on a screen that went for three yards. Harris’ 3.1 yards per carry aren’t eye-popping, but the rookie displayed the power, ability to get to the edge, and pass-game acumen to be a three-down RB right out of the gate.

“He wasn’t wide-eyed. He was ready for prime time, ready for action,” backup QB Mason Rudolph said of Harris, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.

Harris’ long run went for six, but he showed the ability to put a shoulder into a defender and grind out extra yards after contact, something the Steelers sorely missed from their backs last season. He also owns enough speed to get to the edge, displayed patience to the line of scrimmage, and good balance. Another key was the lack of negative plays from the RB. Just one of Harris’ runs lost yardage. If Pittsburgh can avoid the lost-yardage negative plays that plagued it last year, off the bat, they’re in better shape.

Looking like a Steven Jackson replica, Harris might not have blasted off a big gallop Thursday night, but he displayed the qualities that will make him a difference-maker in Pittsburgh. During preseason action, we aren’t looking for massive stats from those who play, but whether they display the traits that will carry over once the real games start. Harris fits that bill for the Steelers.

AFC SOUTH

TENNESSEE

QB DeSHONE KIZER, who was once in the JORDAN LOVE role, is now facing the end of the line.  Ben Arthur of The Tennessean:

The Tennessee Titans are adding new competition to their backup quarterback battle.

The Titans have waived  DeShone Kizer and are replacing him with veteran Matt Barkley, who will compete with Logan Woodside for the backup role behind Ryan Tannehill, the team announced Thursday.

Barkley wrote on Twitter earlier Thursday that he was joining the Titans.

“The next episode.. I’ve signed with the Titans!” Barkley said.

Barkley’s addition comes as Woodside had clearly outplayed Kizer early in training camp. A former second-round pick out of Notre Dame, Kizer’s play in practices was riddled with misfires and bad decisions in team periods. He ended the 2020 season on the Titans practice squad.

Woodside was the Titans backup last season, appearing in six games.

Barkley, 30, has played with the Philadelphia Eagles (2013-14), Chicago Bears (2016) and the Buffalo Bills (2018-20) in six NFL seasons. In 19 career appearances, he’s started seven times, posting a 2-5 record. He’s completed 58.4% of his passes for 2,699 yards and 11 touchdowns with 22 interceptions. His career passer rating is 66.6.

Barkley was a 2013 fourth-round pick of the Eagles out of USC.

– – –

EDGE BUD DUPREE is off PUP and tracking towards a Week 1 debut with the Titans.  Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Titans are getting one of their prized free agents back on the field.

Tennessee announced on Friday morning that edge rusher Bud Dupree has been activated off the physically unable to perform list after passing his physical.

Dupree tore his ACL late last year while playing for Pittsburgh. He then signed with the Titans in March.

Dupree is entering his seventh pro season after spending his first six with Pittsburgh. He has 39.5 career sacks, 54 tackles for loss, and 65 quarterback hits. He recorded 8.0- sacks in 11 games last year.

Additionally, the Titans announced they’ve activated defensive back Chris Jones off the reserve/COVID-19 list and waived offensive lineman Patrick Morris.

Jones went on COVID reserve back on July 28. He signed with the Titans in April after stints with Arizona, Detroit, and Minnesota.

Morris signed with the Titans a week ago. He appeared in three games for Denver over the last two years.

AFC EAST

BUFFALO

WR GABRIEL DAVIS was on a list we had earlier this week of players who seemed likely to lose playing time in 2021 (with the arrival of EMMANUEL SANDERS).  Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News tells us what he has done to avoid that fate:

NFL wide receivers like to talk on the field. It’s their nature.

Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer was commenting last week on the chirping of new veteran wideout Emmanuel Sanders during practice.

Rodgers called journeyman Jake Kumerow the Packers’ “second-best wide receiver in training camp last year.” The high praise from Rodgers came at an interesting time for Kumerow, who is making a case for himself during training camp with the Bills.

Asked if he could name a receiver who doesn’t like to talk, Poyer said:

“Gabe doesn’t say a whole lot. Gabe just goes out there and does what he’s supposed to do.”

Gabe Davis, the quiet man of the Bills’ wideout corps, lets his production on the field speak.

 “You will never get over it. You just have to learn to live with it and that’s what I’m doing now,” he said. “I’m in a better mental state right now,” Addison said.

“I’ve always been about humility,” Davis said after Tuesday’s training camp practice. “I can get the juice going, get up. But I’ve always been super humble and always know there’s opportunity but there’s also going to be some mistakes. So just try to go out and play to the best of my ability, shut my mouth. But then when I do do something, you might hear it.”

Davis emerged as a rookie last year as a big part of the Bills’ passing attack. The fourth-round pick from Central Florida caught 35 passes for 599 yards, third most on the team. Davis’ seven TD catches were second to Stefon Diggs’ eight.

With a full year of experience and NFL caliber strength and conditioning under his belt, he might be ready to take a leap forward in 2021. But don’t count on Davis making any brash predictions.

“I don’t try to compare from last year,” Davis said. “Any time my number is called, I try to go out and compete and play the best of my ability. I’m happy with everything that’s going on right now and got a lot of learning to do still. It’s going to be a good year.”

Nevertheless, Davis has been working to be better in Year 2.

He spent part of the offseason break training in South Florida with Diggs.

“We met down in Florida a little bit, ran some routes and did some things to freshen it up,” Davis said. “I went out there with Diggs. Running some routes, cleaning up some things, trying to work on my game a little bit. Diggs is a big help. He has a different style of play than I do. So I’m always trying to pick his brain on what he likes to do and watching what he does and trying to add that to my arsenal.”

Refining his route running is a constant priority, Davis said.

“I want to be able to make everything look the same, disguise every single route, be able to keep my shoulders square and be able to break off one foot,” he said. “That’s all I’ve been working on.”

There were some questions about Davis’ route-running entering the draft because he didn’t run a diverse route tree in college. He answered those questions early on by showing a strong command of the offense last training camp.

The Bills were 20th in rushing last season, and now have to navigate what their 2021 run game will look like.

Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll trusted Davis so much that Davis played 73.3% of the offensive snaps, more than any other receiver besides Diggs, who played 90%. (Cole Beasley saw 63%. John Brown, hindered by injuries, had 42%.)

Davis played all the wideout positions, with 35% of his snaps coming from the slot.

“I would say all the way through the offseason, OTAs, he’s a pro,” Daboll said. “I think he’ll continue to get better and better. I have a lot of confidence in him. He can play all the spots. He’s one of the guys that Stef gets a down day or something and you’re always like, ‘Gabe get in there.’ You don’t even tell him where he’s at, he just goes in and knows. I have a lot of confidence in him, and we were fortunate to get him there in the fourth round.”

Davis was key to the Bills’ wideout corps last year because he was the one receiver with better-than-average size. At 6-foot-2, 219 pounds, he gave the Bills a matchup edge against some smaller cornerbacks. He showed it on some of his longer receptions, a 44-yard leaping grab over the Chargers’ Tevaughn Campbell in Week 12 and a 51-yard grab over Miami All-Pro Xavien Howard in Week 17.

Davis might again be the lone wideout with exceptional size this year, or he might joined on the roster by Isaiah Hodgins, who is 6-3 5/8 and missed all last year due to injury.

MIAMI

Dolphins coach Brian Flores makes the case for CB XAVIEN HOWARD being kept in Miami, stewing about his contract.  Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com:

Xavien Howard is unhappy with his contract and has made it known that he wants out of Miami.

The cornerback still reported to training camp, though. He’s dealing with an ankle injury that head coach Brian Flores has described as “day-to-day.” And on Friday, Flores complimented Howard for how he’s supported his teammates even though he’s not currently practicing.

But Howard’s contract situation — he feels he’s outperformed the team-friendly, five-year extension he signed two years ago — is still unresolved. So Flores was asked in his Friday press conference if he could see any scenario where the Dolphins give in and trade Howard.

 “We don’t want to trade X. You can write that down,” Flores said. “He’s a very good player. He’s a big part of the team. We don’t want to trade him.”

Flores didn’t confirm the report that two playoff teams called the Dolphins to inquire about Howard, saying he would keep any discussions with other teams in-house. But Flores did note that he talks with Howard “every day.”

“I think every conversation is productive,” Flores said. “We’ve gotten into specifics of Xs and Os, contract, things of that nature and I think they’ve been productive. Like I said last week, I think we’re moving in the right direction. And we’ll just continue to keep talking to him and his representation. And, again, I think we want these things to happen quickly — we want them to happen right now. But some things take time and we’ll work through it and hopefully come to the best resolution for all sides.”

THIS AND THAT

UNDER 25 RANKINGS

Aaron Schatz of FootballOutsiders, writing at ESPN.com calculates which teams have the best talent under age 25.  It is hugely long, so we are going to severely edit it with a concentration on the teams at the top (Miami, Washington, etc) and the bottom (Houston).

Just how important is the quarterback position when it comes to evaluating the young talent on an NFL team?

That’s the question that faced us as we put together this year’s ranking of all 32 NFL teams based on talent under 25 years old. Is it better to be the Los Angeles Chargers, where Justin Herbert might be the most valuable young asset in the entire league after establishing himself with one of the best rookie quarterback seasons in NFL history? Or is it better to be the Washington Football Team, where the defense is packed with young talent led by Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young — but the quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, is emphatically not included in any calculation of talent under the age of 25?

In the end, we ended up with a third team in the No. 1 spot: the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins have amassed a lot of draft capital in recent years, and they’ve used those picks well. Like the Chargers, they have a promising young quarterback, even if his rookie year didn’t demonstrate the same amount of promise. Like the Washington Football Team, they have young talent all across the roster, although there’s no star who looks quite as stellar as Young. Unlike Los Angeles or Washington, the young talent in Miami includes both a quarterback and is deep at other positions.

These ratings consider not just talent under 25 but also the value and length of those players’ current contracts. This will push up the teams with productive players who have several years left on inexpensive rookie contracts and push down the teams that have already had to, or will soon have to, pay their experienced young talent. Check out the bottom of the article for more on our methodology.

Here are our rankings for this season. All ages are as of Sept. 1. Blue-chip players are cornerstone assets from whom teams will likely derive their biggest future value.

1. Miami Dolphins

2020 ranking: 16

Blue-chip players: QB Tua Tagovailoa, OT Austin Jackson, WR Jaylen Waddle, DT Raekwon Davis

Notable graduated players: DL Christian Wilkins, OT Robert Hunt

It’s not hard to rank a team at No. 1 in young talent when they’ve had five first-round picks over the course of the last two seasons.

Those five first-rounders are led, of course, by last year’s fifth overall pick, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Many fans see Tagovailoa’s rookie season as a disappointment, but honestly it is only a disappointment if you compare him to the stellar season that Justin Herbert had for the Los Angeles Chargers. Most quarterbacks, even first-rounders, start their careers off slowly, and Tagovailoa was no exception. Tagovailoa ranked 26th among qualifying quarterbacks in both ESPN QBR and Football Outsiders DVOA. That was the worst of last year’s three first-round passers, but not worryingly so. Looking at history, Tagovailoa had a slightly above-average rookie season. His passing DVOA ranked him 20th out of 54 qualifying first-round rookie passers since 1983 (min. 200 passes).

However, Miami is on top because the young talent here goes far past just Tagovailoa. Let’s start on the offensive line, where the Dolphins started two rookies last year. They certainly played like rookies: Left tackle Austin Jackson was in the top 15 for blown blocks despite missing three games, while guard Solomon Kindley ranked 84th out of 111 interior linemen in snaps per blown block. But both linemen also showed promise for growth in their second seasons. On the defensive side of the ball, nose tackle Raekwon Davis played well enough that he made veteran Davon Godchaux expendable this offseason. And cornerback Noah Igbinoghene could be moving into the starting lineup if the Dolphins meet Xavien Howard’s trade request.

These rookies from 2020 are joined by the Dolphins’ incoming rookie class, which featured four picks in the top 50.

2. Washington Football Team

2020 ranking: 12

Blue-chip players: ER Chase Young, ER Montez Sweat, SS Kamren Curl, DT Daron Payne, LB Jamin Davis

Notable graduated players: WR Terry McLaurin, LB Cole Holcomb

Washington’s young talent is almost all about the defense, which makes sense since Washington finished third in defensive DVOA last season after one of the 10 biggest year-to-year improvements on that side of the ball in our entire database (since 1983).

3. Los Angeles Chargers

2020 ranking: 23

Blue-chip players: QB Justin Herbert, LB Kenneth Murray, OT Rashawn Slater

Notable graduated players: FS Derwin James

There’s a reasonable argument that the Chargers should be No. 1 simply because of Justin Herbert, whom our methodology ranked as the most valuable young asset in the league after his phenomenal rookie campaign in 2000.

There’s more talent here than just Herbert, but it’s not as deep as what we find in Miami or Washington. Kenneth Murray, 22, is a natural run-and-chase player, a quality tackler and run defender. He was not the coverage star his speed suggests he should be, ranking just 68th among qualifying linebackers in success rate in pass coverage last year, and his value to the Chargers is held down by the relative lesser importance of off-ball linebackers in the current NFL.

4. Baltimore Ravens

2020 ranking: 2

Blue-chip players: QB Lamar Jackson, LB Patrick Queen, WR Marquise Brown

Notable graduated players: LT Orlando Brown (also traded), CB Marlon Humphrey, TE Mark Andrews

Let’s start with Lamar Jackson, because not every team has someone who has won the NFL MVP who is still under 25 years of age. Jackson won’t turn 25 until Jan. 7. Yes, his play last season didn’t match his MVP play from the year before, but he still finished the year seventh in ESPN QBR and he’s still one of the league’s most valuable young assets.

Jackson’s top two wide receivers this year are likely to be under-25 players as well: Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is five months younger than Jackson, while first-round rookie Rashod Bateman doesn’t turn 22 until late November. Top running back J.K. Dobbins is also only 22 this season; he turns 23 in December.

On the defensive side of the ball, Baltimore’s young talent starts at the inside linebacker position with both Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

2020 ranking: 7

Blue-chip players: QB Trevor Lawrence, CB CJ Henderson, WR DJ Chark, WR Laviska Shenault

Notable graduated players: LB Myles Jack, OT Cam Robinson

The young talent here is led by first overall pick Lawrence, considered to be the best quarterback prospect to come out of college in nearly a decade. But there’s a lot more beyond Lawrence. The problem is that most of those players either aren’t under contract for much longer or haven’t fully fulfilled their potential.

In the first category, we find wide receiver DJ Chark, a 2018 second-round pick who has one more year before he becomes a free agent.

The second category is highlighted by edge rushers Josh Allen and K’Lavon Chaisson, first-round picks from the 2019 and 2020 drafts, respectively.

6. San Francisco 49ers

2020 ranking: 5

Blue-chip players: QB Trey Lance, ER Nick Bosa, LB Fred Warner, DT Javon Kinlaw, WR Brandon Aiyuk

Notable graduated players: WR Deebo Samuel

Here’s another team with a promising young quarterback, third overall pick Trey Lance. Lance doesn’t turn 22 until May. Whether he takes the starting job sometime during the 2021 season or not until 2022, he’ll be throwing to weapons that include 23-year-old Brandon Aiyuk, who gained 70 or more yards in six of his final seven games last season. Lance will be handing off to third-round rookie Trey Sermon (age 22), and second-round rookie Aaron Banks (age 23) will be blocking for him.

But the 49ers have even more outstanding young talent on defense than they do on offense. All-Pro middle linebacker Fred Warner, who is still just 24, excels in pass coverage and signed a five-year, $95 million extension that included $40.5 million guaranteed.

7. New York Giants

2020 ranking: 1

Blue-chip players: QB Daniel Jones, OT Andrew Thomas, DL Dexter Lawrence, RB Saquon Barkley, WR Kadarius Toney

Notable graduated players: SS Jabrill Peppers, G Will Hernandez

Here’s another team where a lot of the young talent still has a ton of potential it hasn’t grown into yet.

That starts with quarterback Daniel Jones.

Another player who has yet to meet his potential is offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, selected fourth overall in the 2020 draft.

On the defensive side of the ball, the biggest young talent is defensive end Dexter Lawrence, who hasn’t quite matched his projection as a run defender but may be a better pass-rusher than originally expected.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2020 ranking: 20

Blue-chip players: OT Tristan Wirfs, LB Devin White, FS Antoine Winfield

Notable graduated players: WR Chris Godwin

The Buccaneers have a ton of young talent after a couple of very successful drafts. Their most valuable asset under 25 is probably right tackle Tristan Wirfs, who ranked 11th among all tackles in snaps per blown block. That was well ahead of the other young tackles drafted before him last April. Wirfs turns 23 in January.

Starting safety Antoine Winfield is a physical playmaker, also from last year’s draft class. He turns 23 this month. Inside linebacker Devin White turned 23 in February, and he still has three years in Tampa Bay before his rookie contract runs out. White led all inside linebackers in sacks, hits, and hurries and tied for the league lead in defeats. The Bucs also restocked their pass rush with this year’s first-round pick, 22-year-old Joe Tryon.

The main reason Tampa Bay doesn’t rank even higher in these rankings is that a lot of their best players under 25 have contracts that run out soon.

9. Cincinnati Bengals

2020 ranking: 19

Blue-chip players: QB Joe Burrow, WR Tee Higgins, WR Ja’Marr Chase, FS Jessie Bates

Notable graduated players: LB Germaine Pratt, RB Joe Mixon

This ranking for the Bengals is almost entirely due to offense. We’ll start with 2020 first overall pick Joe Burrow, who ranked 24th in QBR in his shortened rookie season. If he’s healthy after last year’s ACL tear, the Bengals will be expecting a big jump in his second season. However, Burrow was somewhat old for a rookie last year and will turn 25 during the upcoming season (in December).

10. Carolina Panthers

2020 ranking: 17

Blue-chip players: LB/S Jeremy Chinn, DT Derrick Brown, QB Sam Darnold, ER Brian Burns, WR D.J. Moore, CB Jaycee Horn

Notable graduated players: RB Christian McCaffrey, CB Donte Jackson

There’s no one stellar value here to match Chase Young or some of the young quarterbacks we’ve mentioned already (Herbert, Lawrence, Burrow, etc.). However, the Panthers have a lot of young talent that’s pretty good or has pretty good potential.

11. New York Jets

2020 ranking: 8

Blue-chip players: QB Zach Wilson, OT Mekhi Becton, DL Quinnen Williams, G Alijah Vera-Tucker

Notable graduated players: CB Blessuan Austin, TE Christopher Herndon

The Jets’ young talent starts with the most recent draft, where New York had three picks in the top 34.

12. Arizona Cardinals

2020 ranking: 3

Blue-chip players: QB Kyler Murray, LB Isaiah Simmons, LB Zaven Collins

Notable graduated players: SS Budda Baker, C Mason Cole

This rating is very heavily based on 24-year-old Kyler Murray, who improved his QBR from 58.0 to 68.3 in his second NFL season.

Other than Murray, the main young talent on the Cardinals’ roster is right in the center of the defense. Versatile linebackers Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins can be used as run-stoppers, pass-rushers or in pass coverage. Simmons is still just 23, while the rookie Collins is 22.

The rest of the Cardinals’ young talent either hasn’t lived up to expectations or hasn’t had a chance to do anything yet.

13. Las Vegas Raiders

2020 ranking: 14

Blue-chip players: WR Henry Ruggs, ER Maxx Crosby, RB Josh Jacobs, SS Johnathan Abram, OT Alex Leatherwood

Notable graduated players: OT Kolton Miller, WR Hunter Renfrow

The Las Vegas roster is still showing the effects of the 2018 Khalil Mack trade. The Raiders have had six first-round picks over the past three seasons. The young talent on this team would be even more impressive if all of those players were still starting.

14. Minnesota Vikings

2020 ranking: 31

Blue-chip players: WR Justin Jefferson, CB Cameron Dantzler, OT Christian Darrisaw

Notable graduated players: OT Brian O’Neill

Wide receiver Justin Jefferson just turned 22 this past June and is the most valuable young offensive asset in the league other than the young quarterbacks.

15. Buffalo Bills

2020 ranking: 4

Blue-chip players: LB Tremaine Edmunds, DT Ed Oliver, WR Gabriel Davis

Notable graduated players: QB Josh Allen, CB Taron Johnson

Josh Allen turned 25 in May, which is a big reason the Bills take a tumble in the under-25 talent rankings. But there’s still a good amount of young talent at other positions.

16. Chicago Bears

2020 ranking: 26

Blue-chip players: QB Justin Fields, LB Roquan Smith, CB Jaylon Johnson

Notable graduated players: None

The Bears have good young talent on both sides of the ball, although the defensive talent is more proven than the offensive talent. The defense is led by linebacker Roquan Smith, still just 24 years old after three years in the league. The offensive side of the ball is more about unmet potential, but there’s a lot of it here.

17. Denver Broncos

2020 ranking: 18

Blue-chip players: WR Jerry Jeudy, QB Drew Lock, C Lloyd Cushenberry, CB Patrick Surtain, TE Noah Fant

Notable graduated players: ER Bradley Chubb, WR Courtland Sutton

Denver didn’t have anybody at the top when we ranked young players according to future value, but it had five players between Nos. 40 and 120.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers

2020 ranking: 6

Blue-chip players: FS Minkah Fitzpatrick, LB Devin Bush, WR Chase Claypool, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

Notable graduated players: WR Diontae Johnson

Pittsburgh led the NFL in defensive DVOA last season, so it’s no surprise that its young talent base is highlighted by defensive players. The Steelers just wish they had them under contract for a bit longer.  On offense, the top asset is 23-year-old wide receiver Chase Claypool.

19. Tennessee Titans

2020 ranking: 13

Blue-chip players: WR A.J. Brown, DL Jeffery Simmons, G Nate Davis

Notable graduated players: LB Rashaan Evans, ER Harold Landry

Here’s another team where the most outstanding young talent is a year from falling out of consideration for this ranking. Wide receiver A.J. Brown is a yards-after-catch machine, and finished fourth and eighth in DVOA among wide receivers in his first two NFL seasons. Defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons had 21 hurries last season, an outstanding total for a 5-tech in a 3-4 base defense. Guard Nate Davis is a premier road-grader in the running game, although he could stand to take another step forward in pass protection. All three players are 24 years old.

20. Dallas Cowboys

2020 ranking: 24

Blue-chip players: WR CeeDee Lamb, CB Trevon Diggs, LB Micah Parsons

Notable graduated players: LB Leighton Vander Esch, WR Michael Gallup

The best young asset on the Cowboys’ roster is wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who amassed 935 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie.

The defensive talent is highlighted by this year’s first-round pick, 22-year-old linebacker Micah Parsons.

21. Atlanta Falcons

2020 ranking: 30

Blue-chip players: CB A.J. Terrell, G Chris Lindstrom, TE Kyle Pitts

Notable graduated players: None

Atlanta fans can certainly argue with this ranking based on how much they want to value 20-year-old tight end Kyle Pitts. The value calculations that start off this ranking are somewhat conservative about rookies, because many of them do not have a ton of value in their first season or two.

22. Cleveland Browns

2020 ranking: 9

Blue-chip players: OT Jedrick Wills, CB Denzel Ward, CB Greg Newsome

Notable graduated players: ER Myles Garrett, RB Nick Chubb

Cleveland ranks a bit lower than you might expect because injuries have kept us from seeing what some of its young players can do.

23. Detroit Lions

2020 ranking: 25

Blue-chip players: TE T.J. Hockenson, G Jonah Jackson, CB Jeff Okudah, OT Penei Sewell

Notable graduated players: C Frank Ragnow, CB Amani Oruwariye

The young talent in Detroit is built around three straight top-eight draft selections.

The top 2019 pick, 24-year-old tight end T.J. Hockenson, still hasn’t put up above-average DVOA through two years, but he did have 723 yards and six touchdowns last season while his blocking improved. The top 2020 pick, 22-year-old cornerback Jeff Okudah, underwhelmed with a miserable 36% coverage success rate and 11.9 yards allowed per pass as a rookie, but all that potential he showed in college is still brimming under the surface. The top 2021 pick, offensive tackle Penei Sewell, is still just 20 years old and is one of the most promising young tackle prospects in years. He won’t turn 21 until October.

24. Green Bay Packers

2020 ranking: 22

Blue-chip players: CB Jaire Alexander, SS Darnell Savage, QB Jordan Love

Notable graduated players: G Elgton Jenkins

Jaire Alexander is still just 24 years old and the best young cornerback in the game. \

On offense, 23-year-old running back AJ Dillon could get more playing time in his second year. Oh, and there’s a 22-year-old quarterback prospect named Jordan Love around here somewhere. But who knows when that guy’s ever going to get a chance to play.

25. Philadelphia Eagles

2020 ranking: 29

Blue-chip players: WR Jalen Reagor, WR DeVonta Smith, QB Jalen Hurts

Notable graduated players: ER Derek Barnett

Philadelphia’s young talent starts with the “skill position” players, but a couple of those players definitely need to show more production in their second seasons.

26. New Orleans Saints

2020 ranking: 21

Blue-chip players: G Cesar Ruiz, C Erik McCoy, ER Payton Turner

Notable graduated players: CB Marshon Lattimore

27. Seattle Seahawks

2020 ranking: 28

Blue-chip players: WR DK Metcalf, G Damien Lewis

Notable graduated players: SS Jamal Adams, ER L.J. Collier, DT Poona Ford

Wide receiver DK Metcalf is of course a complete dynamo, finishing fifth in receiving DYAR last season with 1,303 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He turns 24 in December.

This gets at the general issue for the Seahawks, which is that their young talent base doesn’t have many players below age 23.

28. Indianapolis Colts

2020 ranking: 15

Blue-chip players: RB Jonathan Taylor, ER Kwity Paye

Notable graduated players: G Quenton Nelson, OT Braden Smith, SS Khari Willis, CB Rock Ya-Sin

A lack of recent first-round picks knocks down the Colts in this ranking of under-25 talent, as does the fact that they had so many top players (especially those two offensive linemen) turn 25 in the past 12 months.

29. Kansas City Chiefs

2020 ranking: 11

Blue-chip players: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Notable graduated players: QB Patrick Mahomes, FS Juan Thornhill, DT Derrick Nnadi

When the best player in the game turns 25, you’re going to drop in a ranking of under-25 talent. That’s exactly what happens with Kansas City now that Patrick Mahomes has aged out of this ranking. He does leave behind a few talented young players, but nobody who has yet to start 16 games in a season.

30. New England Patriots

2020 ranking: 32

Blue-chip players: QB Mac Jones, OL Michael Onwenu

Notable graduated players: OT Isaiah Wynn, DT Byron Cowart, SS Kyle Dugger, CB J.C. Jackson

Mac Jones is the future of the Patriots and he’s just 22 years old; he’s clearly their most important young asset. After Jones, the best young asset here is one of last year’s big surprises: 23-year-old offensive lineman Michael Onwenu. The sixth-round rookie played all across the line. Ranked at right tackle, his most common position, he comes out sixth in snaps per blown block. He’ll replace Joe Thuney at left guard this year.

The Patriots rank lower in under-25 talent in part because they tend to redshirt rookies, which means there are a lot of players floating around here who haven’t done much yet but still have potential.

31. Los Angeles Rams

2020 ranking: 27

Blue-chip players: SS Jordan Fuller

Notable graduated players: G Austin Corbett

It’s hard to rank high in under-25 talent when you go seven years without a first-round pick

32. Houston Texans

2020 ranking: 10

Blue-chip players: None

Notable graduated players: QB Deshaun Watson, OT Tytus Howard, G Max Scharping

Looking at the past four drafts demonstrates why the Texans are in last place in our ranking of under-25 talent.

From the 2019 draft, first-round pick Tytus Howard is now 25. The Texans had two second-round picks, Max Scharping and Lonnie Johnson. They are both now 25. The third-round pick, tight end Kahale Warring, is still 24 but didn’t see the field in his first two seasons and now has a grand total of three career receptions.

In the 2020 draft, the Texans had no first-round pick due to the Laremy Tunsil trade. Second-round defensive tackle Ross Blacklock is now 23; he missed his first season and couldn’t break into the starting lineup in his second season. Third-round edge rusher Jonathan Greenard is 24 and played only 265 defensive snaps last year with one sack and three hurries.

In the 2021 draft, the Texans had no first- or second-round pick, again due to the Tunsil trade. That means their young rookie talent is highlighted by a couple of third-round picks, quarterback Davis Mills and wide receiver Nico Collins. Both are 22 years old.

We should also mention safety Justin Reid, who hasn’t played up to his potential in recent years because of injuries. Reid, now 24 years old, was the Texans’ highest pick in 2018 as a third-round selection. They didn’t have a first- or second-round pick that year either.

This roster is not in good shape.