| Traditionally, the NFL changes about half its playoff field from year to year – but that number could be as low as four new teams in 2024. The AFC is pretty much set with Buffalo, Kansas City and Houston repeating as division champions. Pittsburgh is on track to replace Baltimore as the AFC North champ with the Ravens a Wild Card, just as the Steelers were a year ago. So, on the AFC side there will be two new teams for the Wild Card ranks with Denver and the Chargers replacing Miami and Cleveland. Indianapolis would be new if it catches someone for a Wild Card, most likely Denver who it plays this week. In the NFC, the top two seeds last year, San Francisco and Dallas are on life support, but four of the other five playoff teams look headed for the postseason – Detroit, Philadelphia for sure and Green Bay almost assuredly. And Tampa Bay has the high ground in defending its NFC South title. And the other 2023 playoff team, the Rams, has about a 50/50 chance of either replacing current NFC West leader Seattle or current Wild Card 3 Washington – both hoping to crack the playoff field. So, it looks like four new teams in all likelihood – Denver, Chargers, Minnesota and Washington or Seattle. It would be five if the Rams don’t get in. To get to six, Atlanta would have to catch Tampa Bay. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASDespite a substandard season, the value of the Cowboys continues to ascend. Todd Brock of YahooSports.com: The Cowboys, though not not yet mathematically eliminated from playoff contention this season, will almost certainly extend their championship drought to a 29th year.Nevertheless, they are continuing their dynasty as the most valuable sports franchise on the planet… by far.Forbes has released its annual list of the NFL’s most valuable teams, and the Cowboys have come out on top for the ninth straight year, with a hefty margin separating them from everyone else.The team that Jerry Jones bought in 1989 for a then-record $140 million now has a valuation of $10.1 billion. That figure is up 12% from last year and makes the club the first franchise- in any sport- to hit a staggering eleven digits.Dallas was also the first team to reach the $5 billion threshold (in 2018) and the $6 billion mark, in 2021. To further illustrate how exponentially the NFL’s coffers have exploded in recent years, consider that even the Cincinnati Bengals, the league’s least valuable franchise for 2024, have now reached $4 billion, a number that was an unthinkable record when the Cowboys hit it… only nine years ago.The Cowboys’ current $10.1 billion valuation is $2.5 billion ahead of the second-ranked team, the Los Angeles Rams, and more than double that of 11 other NFL teams.Worth noting, though: that latter group of clubs includes Baltimore, Buffalo, and Detroit, teams that all have a much better chance of winning a ring before the 5-8 Cowboys… as well as the Kansas City Chiefs, who seek to win an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl this season.One has to wonder if Jones would trade a sliver of his valuation for some of the success those teams are enjoying this year. (The most jaded fans assume he would not.)A further breakdown of the Cowboys’ $10.1 billion valuation shows that nearly $800 million in 2023 came from local revenue, meaning ticket sales, sponsorships, merchandise, and other streams specific to the Cowboys. No other NFL team even topped $400 million.Almost four billion dollars of the $10.1 billion total is the Cowboys’ portion attributable to revenue shared among the league’s 32 teams. The size of Dallas’s market counts for another $2.27 billion. AT&T Stadium as a venue counts for $1.99 billion of value, and the Dallas Cowboys brand itself contributes $1.91 billion.That last number is especially impressive. No other NFL team comes even close to Dallas’s $1.91 billion; the New England Patriots have the league’s second-most valuable “brand,” at $694 million, but that’s still more than 2.5 times less than the Cowboys’.The Cowboys’ operating income is also tops in the league, pegged at $564 million; the Rams spend essentially half that, at $286 million.But they’re still turning an absurd profit. When Forbes first ranked the NFL’s teams by valuation in 1998, Dallas led the pack at $413 million. This year’s $10.1 billion represents a mind-boggling 2,346% increase. Try getting that kind of ROI on absolutely anything else. It’s no wonder private equity firms are scrambling to own even the tiniest crumbs of ownership now being offered by some clubs.But all of those astronomical dollar figures pale in comparison to the number that’s supposed to mean the most in professional football: five. That’s how many Super Bowl trophies stand in the lobby of the Cowboys’ team headquarters. That total hasn’t changed since 1996.Until it does, no matter how many digits and commas there are in this year’s bottom line, the word valuation has very little value whatsoever to Cowboys fans, who continue to wait for their team to make the cover of something other than a money magazine. We have the value of all 32 teams, as calculated by Forbes, at the bottom of today’s DB. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| ATLANTADan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com on QBs KIRK COUSINS and MICHAEL PENIX, Jr.: Where do things stand with Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix Jr. and the future of the Falcons’ QB1 spot?Graziano: I honestly don’t think anything has changed since the day Penix was drafted. The Falcons said then that their plan was to try to win now with Cousins and that Penix was drafted to be the future quarterback. I was with the Falcons last weekend in Minnesota, and my understanding is that the April plan is still in effect.After a fourth straight loss in which Cousins failed to throw a touchdown pass, Falcons coach Raheem Morris was quick to assert that they were not considering benching Cousins for Penix. I think Cousins will start for the rest of this season — or at least until the Falcons are eliminated from playoff contention — and then they’ll decide what to do in the offseason. Penix is going to turn 25 in May. He made 45 starts in college, including 28 during his last two seasons at the University of Washington. If he’s not ready to start in the NFL right now, he should be very soon.Fowler: The last time we discussed Cousins’ future, I pointed out that his late-season play could be a factor in his future with the team, especially with penchant for teams playing first-round picks sooner than later. (It was of course aggregated to “Falcons will trade Cousins if he struggles,” but that wasn’t really my point.) Now, his job status has become a weekly topic in Atlanta news conferences amid his struggles.At some point, the cries for Penix will be too loud to ignore if Cousins continues to throw interceptions — he has eight over the past four games. But I still believe the Falcons can maximize his talent. Cousins is third in the NFL with 3,396 passing yards, and the Falcons have a bevy of offensive talent around him, so Cousins’ production should return to the mean eventually. As long as the Falcons are mathematically alive to win the NFC South, Cousins should have a decent chance to finish the season.What would an offseason trade market look like for Cousins, whose $27.5 million fully guaranteed salary is reasonable for a quality starting quarterback? Are there enough teams willing to trade for an aging veteran?Graziano: It only takes one. And as usual, there are going to be enough teams looking for QB help that Cousins would have some kind of market. As you point out, the salary is more than reasonable for a starting-caliber quarterback. And having pocketed $62.5 million from the Falcons this year, Cousins might be amenable to reworking the contract to make something work with a new team.I have long believed the Falcons would have to look at trading Cousins after this season. Cutting him would cost $65 million in dead money in 2025, and they’d have to pay him his $27.5 million salary for next season regardless. Trading him would cost only $37.5 million in dead money and would get Cousins’ guaranteed salary out of their hair. Atlanta’s biggest problem might be Cousins’ substandard play of late, which could depress his trade market.It’s worth remembering that Cousins also has a $10 million roster bonus in 2026 that becomes fully guaranteed if he’s on the roster when the 2025 league year starts in March, so that has to be addressed. But off the top of my head, I could see the Giants, Jets, Raiders, Steelers, Browns, Titans, Saints, Panthers and Seahawks as teams that could be looking for a signal-caller in the offseason. They aren’t all going to be in position to draft one, and the free agent market tends to dry up quickly.Fowler: Cousins would be an upgrade for many of the teams you listed. The Giants would make sense for him to serve as a bridge starter for a draft pick, while Cousins and Stefanski always seemed like a logical pairing if Cleveland could afford it. But far as Cousins’ play, I go back to this question: What can Atlanta do to help him?Cousins does not have a play-action touchdown pass this season. That was a staple for him in Minnesota, where Kevin O’Connell had him throwing in rhythm. After asking a few scouts about what’s wrong with Cousins, they point to him feeling pressure or looking uncomfortable in the pocket. His once-high-level footwork hasn’t been as crisp of late, which could be a remnant of his recovery from the torn Achilles he sustained last October. His ball location hasn’t been quite as good, either. Perhaps Cousins can improve those areas in short order, but if he doesn’t, the Penix questions will persist. More on Cousins and his recent problems from Mike Florio: Kirk Cousins has had a rough month and a half.Since throwing four touchdown passes in a November 3 win against the Cowboys, the Falcons quarterback has thrown none in four games. He also has thrown eight interceptions.As noted by D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Cousins is the first starting quarterback with an 0-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio over four straigt regular-season games since Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger more than 18 years ago.Roethlisberger had none and nine in a four-game regular-season stretch that started in the final week of 2005 and continued through his third game in 2006. (In the intervening postseason, the Steelers won the Super Bowl.)Cousins, per Ledbetter, also is mired in the first four-game stretch of his career with passer ratings in each effort below 80. For the year, Cousins has finished under 80 in seven of 13 games.His full-season passer rating is 89.0, with 3,396 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. It’s not much better than 2023 Week 1 starter Desmond Ridder, who in 15 games with 13 starts had 12 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions, and a passer rating of 83.4.Ridder’s showing got him traded out of town. For Cousins, who received $100 million fully guaranteed when signing in March, it points to a one-and-done scenario, with Michael Penix Jr. taking over in 2025, and Cousins traded or released.If Cousins can hold Penix off for that long.Falcons coach Raheem Morris said this week that Penix will play when it’s time. For many Falcons fan, the ticking is louder than Mona Lisa Vito’s biological clock. |
| NFC WEST |
| SAN FRANCISCOAn utterly improbably combination of future events is now required for the 49ers to make the playoffs after Thursday’s loss. And this happened, making LB De’VONDRE CAMPBELL a household name. Grant Gordon of NFL.com: Nine-year pro De’Vondre Campbell declined to play for the San Francisco 49ers Thursday and the linebacker might not be on the roster much longer.Campbell refused to enter the game in the third quarter of the 49ers’ 12-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters after the game, and the veteran’s status on the team appears uncertain at best.“I don’t know,” Shanahan said when asked if the team would release Campbell. “We’ll figure something out.”Niners linebacker Dre Greenlaw, playing in his first game of the season after suffering an Achilles tendon injury in the Super Bowl, felt some tightness during the third quarter and exited the game. When Campbell was asked to take the field, he declined.Shanahan said Campbell gave him no reason as to why he would not play and shortly thereafter left for the locker room.San Francisco lost for the fourth time in its last five games, dropping to 6-8 with a very slim chance of making the postseason.When asked as to whether this was a sign that he had “lost the locker room” amid a season of struggles, Shanahan strongly disagreed.“I haven’t lost anybody,” he said. “That’s somebody that doesn’t want to play football. That’s pretty simple. I think our team and myself, we know how we feel about that. So, I don’t think we need to talk about him anymore.”It seemed as though players were united in their dismay with Campbell’s decision.“Look, if you’re on the roster and you suit up, you’re expected to play,” said 49ers tight end George Kittle, who was unaware of the situation during the game. “I think anyone in this building that got asked to go in, I would say 100% of everybody would die to get on that football field. And so, people go through, are going through random things off the field, I can’t speak on that. Whatever his decision was, it wasn’t for this organization, it wasn’t for this team and that’s on him. So, I’m not very happy about it. I wish I would’ve heard about it on the field, but I didn’t. Now, is that the reason we lost? Absolutely not. But it’s hard to win football games when someone doesn’t want to play football. Especially, when you’re suited up. It kinda puts you down, especially when you lose two linebackers and could have dressed another one.”Though Shanahan didn’t speculate on Campbell’s future, 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward minced no words in forecasting that Campbell would be an ex-teammate shortly.“He’s a professional, he been playing for a long time,” said Ward, who on Thursday played in his third game since returning to the team following the death of his 1-year-old daughter. “I mean, if he didn’t want to play, he shouldn’t have dressed out, he coulda told them that before the game. So, I feel like that was some sucka s— that he did. Definitely hurt the team. Cause Dee went down, and we needed a linebacker.“That’s some sucka stuff to me, in my opinion. Probably gonna get cut soon, so it is what it is with that.”Campbell, 31, did not play a snap on Thursday. A former Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers player, Campbell signed with the 49ers this offseason, largely to fill the void left by Greenlaw. He played each of the team’s first 13 games, starting 12, including last week against the Chicago Bears. Entering the evening, his 79 tackles were second on the team.Shanahan said he has never had a player refuse to play in a game before. He added some 49ers saw the situation unfold, but it wasn’t a distraction.“People noticed, but when someone says that, you move on,” he said, “you don’t deal with that anymore.” |
| AFC WEST |
| DENVERAn extension for LT GARRETT BOLLES in Denver. Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com: The Denver Broncos have given their longest-tenured player what he had hoped to receive — the opportunity to stay with the team that drafted him.Left tackle Garett Bolles, the Broncos’ first-round pick in the 2017 draft, has signed a four-year extension to remain in Denver, the team announced Thursday.Complete terms of the extension were not announced, but sources told ESPN that Bolles’ deal was worth as much as $82 million overall with just over $40 million in guarantees.In a post on X, Bolles offered: “It’s been a great 8 years! Thanks for everything! And … I’m not leaving. The show goes on! GB.” Bolles also added a short video that included game highlights and workout video.Bolles, who was the No. 20 pick in the 2017 draft, was the first tackle the Broncos had selected in the first round since Ryan Clady in 2008. The team has also not used any draft pick to select a tackle since Bolles was picked.Bolles had signed a four-year, $68 million extension in 2020 and was poised to be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. The 32-year-old has been one of the team’s most durable players throughout his career, rarely missing practice, and has started all 13 games this season.Bolles, who is the seventh-ranked tackle in the league in pass block win rate (93.2%), has started at least 16 games in a season in four previous seasons and has missed more than three games in a season only in 2022 when he suffered a fractured leg in the fifth game of the year.Even Bolles himself had expressed some uncertainty about his future in Denver earlier this season. He was in the final year of his contract while the team had completed extensions with guard Quinn Meinerz, cornerback Pat Surtain II and linebacker Jonathon Cooper well before they reached free agency, and the Broncos also signed tackle Mike McGlinchey and guard Ben Powers to high-end free agency deals in 2023.Throughout his playing career, Bolles has consistently said that he hopes to be a “Bronco for life” and that his family wants to stay in Denver. We vaguely remember that there was a time that Bolles was becoming persona non grata in Denver. This from SI.com on those troubled times: Holding penalties were a consistent issue early in his career, and the fanbase quickly turned on him.To add to the holding issues, Bolles had problems in pass protection and allowed 51 total pressures and eight sacks as a rookie. There was some improvement in Year 2, where he allowed 29 total pressures and two sacks. For year three, he allowed 31 total pressures and four sacks.During those first three years, Bolles was called for 45 total penalties, with only 13 declined or offset. |
| KANSAS CITYMike Sando of The Athletic with a deep dive on the Chiefs amazing record of unimpressive victories: The Kansas City Chiefs keep winning games no team should win so frequently, leaving opposing fans pointing to everything from dumb luck to favorable officiating to explain the maddening inevitability.Mathematically, the Chiefs’ 15-game winning streak in games decided by one score or less should happen once in 406 chances.With a 19-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on a last-second field goal that bounced off the left upright before clearing the crossbar Sunday, the Chiefs became the 26th team in league history to begin a season with a 12-1 record.Yet, they are one of one.The Chiefs’ point differential through 13 games (plus-56) is by far the smallest for any 12-1 team.The victory over the Chargers was Kansas City’s fourth of the season by one or two points, a total exceeded just once over a full season in the 105-year history of the NFL. The 1989 Green Bay Packers did it five times and finished 10-6, per Pro Football Reference.How do the Chiefs keep doing this? What is their secret? This specific Kansas City team appears configured to play many close games and win a higher percentage of them, even if the current 15-game win streak in one-score games remains a mathematical outlier, as we’ll demonstrate next.What will it mean in the playoffs? There are indicators to consider there as well.The odds behind the streakThe Chiefs have an 18-1 record since Week 17 of 2023, counting their four-game run to a second successive Super Bowl victory. That period includes the 15-game victory streak in games decided by eight or fewer points. The Chiefs have also won by 19, 13 and 10 during that span, while suffering their only defeat, 30-21, at Buffalo on Nov. 17.To calculate how likely a team would be to win 15 consecutive games of any kind, we take the team’s expected win rate in those games to the power of the streak duration. Counting playoffs, the Chiefs had a 42-21 (.667) record in one-score games from 2018-23 with Patrick Mahomes as their starting quarterback. I used this rate to plot Kansas City’s expected wins across 15 such games.(Sando worked out) the likelihood of a team winning between one and 15 games consecutively with projected win rates of 67 percent (Mahomes’ win rate in one-score games from 2018 to 2023) and 78 percent (his win rate in 2023-24).The microscopic 0.246 percent likelihood of a 15-game streak works out to a 1-in-406 chance.It’s historic. Is it unfathomable?There are ways to demystify the achievement.The 67 percent win rate creates an expectation that the Chiefs would win 10 of these 15 games. In that case, no one would be shocked if they won a couple fewer or a couple more. Let’s say they happened to win 12. Throw in some one-off occurrences, such as Kansas City blocking a last-second field goal against Denver in Week 10, and the remaining three victories might be explained. An unlikely scramble here, a fortunate penalty there.But there’s more to it than that.Perceptions of Chiefs heighten our disbeliefThe Chiefs win so frequently and at such a high level, including in the past two Super Bowls, that even the betting markets seem surprised when they do not dominate on the scoreboard.Point spreads can be instructive here.The Chiefs are 6-1 over their past seven games without covering the spread even once, per TruMedia.Since 2000, 21 other teams have gone exactly seven consecutive games without covering. They combined for an 18-129 (.122) record during those streaks. That’s 6-1 for the Chiefs, 18-129 for everyone else.It’s another way to feel as though the Chiefs are underperforming even when they win, which invites questions about their legitimacy, even though they aren’t the ones setting the expectations.Winning without impressing might be a Kansas City phenomenon.The 2020 Chiefs went 5-0 over a five-game stretch without covering the spread, the only team to accomplish that feat since 2000. The 2018 Chiefs own the second-best record since 2000 (3-3) among teams that failed to cover for six straight games.Nothing seems to come easily for these 2024 Chiefs.Their rate of explosive plays — defined as rushes gaining 12-plus yards and passes gaining more than 15 — has plummeted to 8.5 percent this season. That ranks 30th, ahead of only the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants, who have 2-11 records. The rate is down from 10.5 percent last season, which ranked 16th, and barely half what it was in 2018 (15.7 percent, which ranked second).Kansas City nonetheless ranks eighth in offensive EPA per play because the Chiefs have shown great ability to sustain long drives, partly because Mahomes ranks first in EPA per pass play on third and fourth downs (he’s 24th on early downs). The Kansas City defense, which has slipped to 18th in EPA per play this season after ranking fifth in 2023, ranks 25th in turnovers forced (10) this season and 27th over the past three.Longer, more laborious drives by the offense, combined with a defense that plays pretty well in general but does not take the ball away with frequency, could explain why games involving the Chiefs have fewer total possessions than games involving any other team but the Arizona Cardinals this season.With fewer possessions, each one becomes more valuable, which also could play into Kansas City’s advantages.Why the Chiefs win so many close gamesReconciling the Chiefs’ 12-1 record with their plus-56 point differential would be difficult without accounting for the roles elite quarterbacks and coaches might play.Most teams with point differentials near the Chiefs’ plus-56 would have records near 8-5 through 13 games.The Chiefs are one of seven teams since 1970 with 10-plus wins through 13 games despite having point differentials between plus-51 and plus-61, per Pro Football Reference.Top 13-game W-L records with +51-61 point margin2024 Chiefs (+56) 12-1 HOF HC/QB*2003 Patriots (+60) 11-2 HOF HC/QB*1978 Rams (+52) 10-3 2021 Packers (+56) 10-3 HOF QB*2015 Broncos (+56) 10-3 HOF QB1981 Cowboys (+58) 10-3 HOF HC2003 Eagles (+59) 10-3 HOF HC** Likely future HOFerSix of the seven had Hall of Fame-caliber quarterbacks and/or head coaches: Tom Brady and Bill Belichick with the 2003 New England Patriots; Aaron Rodgers with the 2021 Packers; a broken-down Peyton Manning (backed by an elite defense) with the 2015 Denver Broncos; Tom Landry with the 1981 Dallas Cowboys; Andy Reid with the 2003 Eagles; and, of course, Mahomes with Reid on these Chiefs.Kansas City also has a consensus top-five defensive coordinator in Steve Spagnuolo.These advantages could tip game outcomes when the margins for winning are smallest.Mahomes in particular is a master scrambler throughout games and especially in critical moments. His scramble rate jumps by about 50 percent in the fourth quarter of one-score games (9.8 percent, compared to 6.5 percent in all situations).Scrambles for gains of 10 yards against the Chargers on Sunday and 33 yards against Carolina in Week 12 moved the Chiefs into field-goal range during drives that ended with walk-off kicks. Last season, while protecting a 23-20 lead against the New York Jets, Mahomes scrambled 25 yards on third-and-23 to help the Chiefs run the final 7:24 off the game clock with a 15-play drive.The chart below shows the EPA he has added over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, counting playoffs, on scrambles in the fourth quarter and overtime when no more than eight points separated Kansas City from its opponents on the scoreboard. Mahomes is so much more prolific than others, he’s almost off the chart.A league-leading seven of these scrambles added at least 5 percent to the Chiefs’ win probability, per Next Gen Stats.While some critical officiating calls have helped the Chiefs win close games recently, including a pass-interference call against Cincinnati on fourth-and-16 in the final minute in Week 2, Kansas City ranks only 15th in penalty EPA per game in fourth quarters of one-score games over the past two seasons. Seattle has benefited the most and Cleveland the least in these situations.The Chiefs, despite having recent turnover at kicker, have made all 18 field-goal tries in the fourth quarter of one-score games over the past two seasons. Their average kick distance in these situations is the sixth-shortest in the league (35.2 yards), probably because Mahomes and the offense do such a good job getting into position. Cincinnati, by contrast, averages a league-long 46.4 yards on these kicks.The smallest things can make the biggest differences in the most critical situations.What it means in the playoffsBefore the Chiefs, the 1976 Oakland Raiders owned the distinction as the 12-1 team with the lowest point differential (plus-89). That Raiders team won the Super Bowl, but only after overcoming a 21-10 deficit in the fourth quarter to beat New England in the first round of the playoffs. Oakland got a 1-yard touchdown pass from Ken Stabler in the final 10 seconds to win 24-21 after officials controversially flagged the Patriots for roughing the passer on a third-and-18 incompletion. Not too difficult to imagine Kansas City pulling off something similar, is it?We might also revisit that list of teams that were 10-3 or better through 13 games, but with point differentials similar to Kansas City’s this season.Those 2003 Patriots and 2015 Broncos won the Super Bowl. The 1978 Rams and 1981 Cowboys reached the NFC title game. The 2021 Packers lost in the divisional round. The 2013 Eagles lost in the wild-card round.The Chiefs’ ability to win so many close games is a leading reason Kansas City has a league-best 78 percent chance to secure a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage in the playoffs.That means Kansas City probably needs to win only two playoff games to reach another Super Bowl.What’s a two-game winning streak for a team that has won 15 one-score games in a row? |
| LAS VEGASTashan Reed of The Athletic is among those thinking Coach Antonio Pierce is in danger of not being the Raiders coach in 2025. Owner Mark Davis with a lot of comments at the NFL Owner’s Meetings, wandering around a bit on the subject of Tom Brady: It’s no surprise that owner Mark Davis isn’t happy with his team right now. The Las Vegas Raiders are riding a nine-game losing streak and are tied for the NFL’s worst record at 2-11. When he was asked at the NFL league meetings Wednesday about head coach Antonio Pierce, Davis declined to commit to bringing him back in 2025.“I’m very disappointed, obviously. I want to see progress,” Davis said. “There’s no excuses. We have injuries and all of those things, but your team has to figure out how to get around those issues. The bottom line … is it comes down to me. And, if there’s going to be a finger pointed, it should be at me because, again, I’m the one who’s hiring the people who make the decisions on the field.“There’s a misconception that I’m making a lot of decisions on the football field, but I continue to tell y’all that I don’t. I delegate to the people who I hire. I give them goals. And then I get out of the way and let them try to do it and let the results speak for themselves. At this point, obviously, we’re not happy, but you have to go through the season and then we’ll re-evaluate. Right now, I’m not in that position of evaluating anything going forward.”The Raiders have four games left to play, and Davis reiterated that he won’t make a decision on Pierce until the season ends in January.“I don’t even want to talk about that right now,” Davis said. “We’re still playing through the season.”Davis’ tone has changed significantly in the last couple of months. On Oct. 15, he cut Pierce some slack for being “young as a head coach” and said, “We’ll be OK.” Almost two months later, Davis didn’t give Pierce a huge vote of confidence. He did, however, express that he’s been pleased that the team’s effort hasn’t waned as the losses have piled up.“The one thing that this team has done is they’ve fought hard,” Davis said. “In every game, they’re fighting hard. That’s something that you don’t find all the time when things aren’t as good as you want them to be. That’s a positive, the way that this team has responded.”When it comes to general manager Tom Telesco, Davis made it clear that he’ll be evaluated separately from Pierce. While they were both hired this offseason, Pierce had a nine-game stint as interim head coach in 2023. This is Telesco’s first year on the job, but Pierce has a 22-game sample size.“They didn’t come in as a team,” Davis said. “They are individuals.”Telesco’s first free agency class didn’t pan out well. Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins was the headliner but played just five games before suffering a Jones fracture, and quarterback Gardner Minshew II was terrible in 10 games before suffering a season-ending broken collarbone.But Telesco did put together a strong 2024 draft class. It has already produced four starters: star tight end Brock Bowers, center Jackson Powers-Johnson, right tackle DJ Glaze and cornerback Decamerion Richardson. And although his 11-year tenure as Los Angeles Chargers GM had its ups and downs, he still has a more proven track record than Pierce.Davis won’t make any in-season changes to the front office or coaching staff, but this offseason is shaping up to be an eventful one for the Raiders. On Wednesday, he gained several new partners to help him navigate it as the NFL owners voted to approve the Raiders’ sale of 15 percent of the franchise to Silver Lake co-CEO and Endeavor board chairman Egon Durban and Discovery Land Company founder and chairman Michael Meldman, who each acquired a 7.5 percent stake.The transaction marks the second time this year that Davis has sold a chunk of the Raiders equity. In October, he sold about 10.5 percent of the franchise to former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, co-founder of Knighthead Capital Management Tom Wagner and former NFL defensive lineman Richard Seymour. Brady and Wagner purchased stakes worth about 5 percent each, while Seymour purchased a 0.5 percent stake.Davis is still the Raiders’ controlling owner, which means he’s the one who holds decision-making power. Davis has owned the team since his father Al died in 2011.“It was bringing added value to the organization,” Davis said of the collective impact of the transactions. “Mr. Egon and Mr. Meldman are fantastic businessmen, and so is Mr. Tom Wagner. They’re going to help us immensely on the business side of the organization. And, of course, Mr. Brady is going to help us on the football side. At this point in time, we have the infrastructure that we’re going to need to move forward with some young, energetic people that are very brilliant and smart people.”Brady is expected to help the football operations department, but his role will be somewhat limited by his duties as a Fox television analyst. Davis said they communicate often, but “there’s not a day-to-day role or anything that’s been defined” for Brady.“When Tom was hired (as an analyst), I promised to Fox that we would not get in the way of Tom’s job and that he’s going to be one of the best announcers in the game,” Davis said. “Anything he does with the Raiders will be in the future, as far as that goes. Obviously, I talk to him all of the time and his input is greatly valued and will always be valued. We’ll see as time goes on how his role evolves.”Davis said he expects to benefit from Brady’s competitiveness and experience. But it sounds like the plan isn’t for Brady to have a formal role until his contract with Fox expires following the 2033 season.“I want Tom to have a huge voice — no question about it,” Davis said. “It’s part of building the infrastructure of the organization … a football person on that side of it that’s not a coach or a general manager. He’s somebody who can oversee the whole picture. I believe Tom, come time, will be the person who can do that.”Nonetheless, Brady will almost certainly be consulted when Davis decides on the futures of Pierce and Telesco this offseason. And Davis has already stated that Brady will help with the team’s pursuit of a long-term answer at quarterback. The Raiders are currently slotted to get the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, so they could be in position to land one this offseason. A former teammate of Brady’s is getting some buzz as a possible successor to Pierce. Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com with thoughts on Mike Vrabel: What are you hearing on the Giants, Jaguars and Raiders coaching spots? Could those jobs come open?Graziano: In Las Vegas, it seems harsh to move on from Antonio Pierce after only one season without a real answer at quarterback. But the addition of Tom Brady to the ownership group has potentially altered the dynamic, as team owner Mark Davis would like Brady to have a real role in the decision-making. It’s harder to get a read on this spot, but people around the league are watching this situation for potential change.Fowler: Sources I’ve talked to are torn on the Raiders. There is a feeling in some league circles that the job could come open, in part because the team cut a shorter-term deal with Pierce, their once-interim coach. And the Raiders need updates to several parts of their football operation. But Pierce inherited one of the league’s worst quarterback situations and suffered a rash of injuries, so a one-and-done would be severe.How legit is the Mike Vrabel buzz? Could he really get a job?Fowler: The buzz seems legitimate based on what I’ve heard around the league. Vrabel is considered a prime candidate to get one of the seven to eight jobs that will inevitably open. Some have pegged him for Las Vegas, should the Raiders’ job come open. Brady’s influence as a minority owner there could loom large for Vrabel or others with ties to the former quarterback. And if the Bears are looking for a candidate with experience, as some believe they ultimately will, Vrabel’s ability to build a winning culture could be attractive.But there are questions attached to Vrabel’s candidacy. What level of control does he want? Is he flexible on staffing? And how would he pair with a new general manager?Graziano: Your questions are legitimate ones, but they could also be applied to Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, Kellen Moore or any other candidate who’d be up for a gig. Teams are looking for culture-builder types like Vrabel. Because he doesn’t have an offensive background, Vrabel will have to answer the question of who he’d bring in to run his offense. But he has track record of success there, as two of his former offensive coordinators from Tennessee became head coaches (Matt LaFleur and Arthur Smith).That said, I think Vrabel is a legit candidate for at least one of the potential open jobs, and why wouldn’t he be? It’s not as if Tennessee’s situation has improved since the Titans fired him. This is a 49-year-old former player who was a Super Bowl champion and widely respected during his playing career, and he transitioned quite smoothly into a successful NFL head coach. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| JACKSONVILLEIs change afoot in Jacksonville? Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com: Graziano: Those teams are a combined 7-32 this season, so it’s reasonable to think any or all of them could open up. It’s important to say that a lot of what we hear about potential openings this time of year is speculation from the outside. We don’t usually know what the plans of team owners are until the season ends. That said, the people to whom I’m talking to believe Jacksonville is likely to come open, and the question there is whether GM Trent Baalke will get to stay to pick the next coach to replace Doug Pederson or if the Jags will change both spots.Fowler: Yeah, Dan, the common thread is that all three teams are very bad but unique in their own way. For the Jaguars, the sense I get from talking to people is that owner Shad Khan would make the head coaching job more attractive by also starting anew at general manager. People in Jacksonville are bracing for change, but whether that’s a full-house cleaning still needs to be determined. But most people are predicting the Jaguars to open barring a major surprise. |
| AFC EAST |
| MIAMIThe Dolphins cut a bad investment. Jack Bezantis of the Daily Mail:Miami Dolphins and Odell Beckham Jr have mutually agreed to part ways, with the wide receiver going on waivers until Monday.The news was first reported by Tom Pelissero and it comes after the 32-year-old, a Super Bowl winner who has dated Kim Kardashian, was not seen at Thursday’s practice.The Dolphins had said it was due to personal reasons on their injury report.But Beckham then posted on Instagram on Thursday night: ‘One thing about me no matter what… ima always land on my feet. God got me.’After signing an incentivized one-year deal with the Dolphins in the summer, Beckham has struggled in Miami. In nine games, he has recorded nine receptions for 55 yards and has not scored a touchdown.Pelissero hinted that two playoff chasing teams could make a move for Beckham to bolster their postseason aspirations.The 32-year-old struggled in Miami but has been linked with two playoff chasing teamsIt comes days after it emerged Beckham’s ex, Kim Kardashian, is dating someone else‘If he clears waivers, he will be free to sign with any team. Two teams he has played with before, the Rams and Ravens, are currently in playoff contention…’Beckham won the Super Bowl with the Rams in Los Angeles in 2022, when they beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 at SoFi Stadium.But Beckham tore his ACL in the second quarter of the game, an injury that saw him miss the entire 2022 season and, at one stage threaten his career, before eventually signing with the Ravens for last year’s campaign.Beckham also hit the headlines for his brief romance with Kim Kardashian. They split in March after a year of dating but at one stage it was claimed the reality star was considering having a child with Beckham.But for such a high-profile couple, they managed to keep things low-key and were not often seen together.It was reported earlier this week that Kardashian, 44, has since started dating somebody else.The Dolphins are in Houston this weekend against the Texans. Beckham’s now former team are 6-7, second to Buffalo Bills in NFC East.Tyreek Hill, the star wide receiver in Miami, also appeared to post a thinly-veiled reference to Beckham’s exit on Friday morning.Just minutes after the news broke of his departure, Hill wrote on X: ‘Take advantage of your opportunity.’ |
| THIS AND THAT |
| FREE AGENCY 2025Tyler Sullivan of CBSSports.com has a list for you of the top 25 current free agents: We’ll take an initial glimpse of the upcoming free agent class for 2025 and rank the top 25 players available to teams once the new league year rings in.Of course, these players are set to hit the free agent market, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they will. Teams could elect to deploy the franchise tag to prevent certain players from reaching free agency or simply agree to a contract extension before fielding offers from other teams. So, this collection of players will almost certainly be different than the group that actually hits free agency, but here’s a look at those who are on a current path toward being available.25. Talanoa Hufanga, safety, 49ersHufanga’s 2024 season was delayed due to an ACL injury he suffered last season. That said, the 24-year-old will be able to use this final month of the season to show that he’s rounding back into form, which will be great for his free agent status this offseason. A fifth-round pick in 2021, Hufanga has developed into a star safety, earning All-Pro honors in 2022, and is a pesky disruptor when healthy. Through three games played so far in 2024, Hufanga has totaled 13 tackles. 24. Carlton Davis III, cornerback, LionsA second-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019, Davis is currently playing in his first season with the Detroit Lions after he was acquired in a trade this offseason. He’s closing out a three-year, $45 million contract he signed with the Bucs and has helped stabilize Detroit’s secondary. The former Super Bowl LV champion has started all 12 of his games played and is second on the team with 11 pass breakups. Davis is also holding opposing quarterbacks to a 56.5 completion percentage and an 81.0 passer rating when targeted this season. 23. Dre Greenlaw, linebacker, 49ersGreenlaw has yet to play this season due to a torn Achilles he suffered during Super Bowl LVIII, but is expected to make his season debut in Week 15. That said, the 27-year-old is a high-impact player at full strength and, with a clean bill of health, should have a solid market this offseason. The former fifth-round pick in 2019 posted back-to-back seasons with at least 120 tackles in 2022 and 2023 while also breaking up 10 passes over that stretch.22. Aaron Jones, running back, VikingsJones has been one of the notable figures during this running back renaissance in 2024. After being cast off by the Green Bay Packers, the 30-year-old stuck around in the NFC North and signed on with the Minnesota Vikings. There, he’s continued to be a dual-threat back with his rushing and pass-catching ability. Coming into Week 15, Jones already has nearly 1,200 total yards from scrimmage to go with six total touchdowns. He is also averaging 4.5 yards per carry.21. Budda Baker, safety, CardinalsBaker is one of the physically punishing safeties in the league. Since being drafted by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, the now 28-year-old has earned three All-Pro nods (two First Team) and been named to the Pro Bowl six times. Baker is currently on track for a career year, already notching 132 tackles under his belt entering Week 15. That’s the second-most he’s racked up in a single season in his career (147 tackles in 2019). After requesting a trade in 2023, Baker did agree to a revised contract with Arizona that concludes after this season. Given that brief turbulence, it’ll be interesting to see how interested he is in reupping with the Cardinals.20. Camryn Bynum, safety, VikingsBynum is a player on the upswing that teams could be eager to pursue, given that he’s only 26. The former 2021 fourth-round pick out of Cal had a breakout season in 2023, notching 137 tackles, two interceptions, nine pass breakups, and three forced fumbles. Bynum has since carried that over into 2024 with 75 tackles, nine pass breakups, and three interceptions entering Week 15. He’s thrived playing under defensive coordinator Brian Flores but could be a valuable addition to a number of different systems.19. Nick Bolton, linebacker, ChiefsWhenever the Chiefs are in high-pressure situations, it seems like Nick Bolton is always making a clutch play. The 24-year-old joined Kansas City as a second-round pick in 2021 and has been a key piece to the Chiefs’ recent string of Super Bowl titles. While known for piling up 100-plus tackles, Bolton has improved as a pass rusher, already notching a career-high 2.5 sacks and tied his career-best with six quarterback hits this season. Kansas City will likely do whatever is within its power to keep him, but Bolton would be sought after, thanks to his championship DNA.18. Justin Fields, quarterback, SteelersFields will be a fascinating free agent to follow this offseason. While there’s a chance the Steelers try to retain him, the former first-round pick could look for a team that gives him a clearer path toward starting. If Pittsburgh decides to keep Russell Wilson, a reunion becomes less appealing. Fields has flashed throughout his career (mostly with his legs) but has yet to put it all together to convince a team he’s a quarterback they can build around. Given that free agency kicks off before the NFL Draft, it’s fair to wonder if Fields’ free agency will be a bit longer to see if he can latch on with a team that misses out on drafting a young quarterback.17. Cam Robinson, offensive tackle, VikingsRobinson was traded to the Vikings to help the team cushion the blow of losing starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw to a season-ending injury. Given that Darrisaw is slated to return next season, Robinson sticking around with the Vikings seems unlikely. While he hasn’t performed at a high level on a consistent basis, the 29-year-old has good size at 6-foot-6, 335 pounds, which will be appealing to teams with a need at this premium position. If he plays well down the stretch and into the playoff for Minnesota, he should be able to set himself up for a solid payday.16. Rasul Douglas, cornerback, BillsDouglas has bounced around the league a lot in his career. After being drafted in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, the West Virginia product has had stints (to varying lengths) with the Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans, Arizona, Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, and most recently the Buffalo Bills. Douglas is a physical corner with good size but has struggled a bit with the Bills this season, allowing 70% of the targets against him to be completed. While he’s not a true No. 1 corner, he should be a solid complementary piece to an NFL secondary.15. Stefon Diggs, wide receiver, TexansDiggs’ market will be interesting to watch. As part of his trade from Buffalo to Houston last offseason, the Texans agreed to an altered contract that set the receiver up to hit free agency in 2025. However, Diggs tore his ACL in late October, which has since erased his season. With that in mind, how his recovery is panning out will have a direct correlation to how well his market is in free agency. When healthy, Diggs has been a prolific receiver, but his numbers were starting to dip even before this injury. It’ll be fascinating how teams view him going forward, but there’s no denying his talent when everything is firing on all cylinders.14. DeAndre Hopkins, wide receiver, ChiefsHopkins will be 33 years old at the start of next season, which is one of the only reasons why he’s not higher on this list. The veteran receiver has been sensational since stepping into the league in 2013, earning five All-Pro nods. He spent the previous two seasons with the Tennessee Titans, and their muted offense did see his statistical output dip, but has since played well after being traded to Kansas City. Hopkins could be a major X factor in the postseason, which could further improve his free agent stock.13. Haason Reddick, outside linebacker, JetsIt’s been a tumultuous year for Reddick. After entering a contract dispute with the Philadelphia Eagles that eventually led to a trade to the New York Jets, the pass rusher continued to fight for a new deal and stayed away from his new club for the first chunk of the year. Eventually, Reddick jumped aboard with the Jets without a new contract, but it does paint the picture of how aggressive he will be in this free agency cycle. Those off-the-field issues aside, Reddick has been a reliable pass rusher ever since his breakout campaign in 2020. Since then, he’s gone four straight seasons with double-digit sacks coming into 2024. If teams believe that all Reddick needs is a new contract to get back to that level, he’ll have plenty of suitors.12. Josh Sweat, defensive end, EaglesThe 27-year-old pass rusher entered the league as a fourth-round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles and has turned into a Pro Bowl-caliber player. He’s consistently been able to pressure the quarterback and already has seven sacks and 13 quarterback hits for the Eagles this season heading into Week 15. It’s possible the Eagles will try to retain Sweat before he hits the market, but if he does reach free agency, he’ll be popular.11. Khalil Mack, outside linebacker, ChargersMack continues to play at an extremely high level even as he enters the twilight of his playing career. The former first-round pick in 2014 will be 34 at the start of next season but is still a key piece to the Chargers defense. In 2023, Mack finished with a career-high 17 sacks, leading to yet another Pro Bowl nod. Entering Week 15 of this season, Mack is up to five sacks and 13 quarterback hits, while Los Angeles has been among the top defenses in the league. Given the arrival of Jim Harbaugh, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Mack stay in L.A., but other Super Bowl contenders will also be salivating to pursue him as well.10. Russell Wilson, quarterback, SteelersWhat a resurgence for Wilson! After a nightmare tenure with the Denver Broncos, Wilson has restored his reputation with a strong first year with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since becoming the starter, Wilson is 6-1 and has Pittsburgh in first place in the AFC North. He’s also completing 64% of his passes with a 103.9 passer rating so far this year. Given his success, the Steelers will likely look to extend or franchise tag Wilson to retain him going forward.9. Chris Godwin, wide receiver, BuccaneersGodwin is one of the most talented an underrated receivers in the NFL, playing in the shadow of Mike Evans in Tampa Bay. The only true knock on the 28-year-old has been health, and that will likely be a factor yet again this free agent cycle. In Week 7, Godwin suffered a season-ending ankle injury. It’s unclear how much that’ll impact his availability for 2025, but if he gets a clean bill of health (or close to it) before free agency, he’ll be among the most pursued pass catchers on the market. Coming into 2024, Godwin has exceeded 1,000 yards receiving in four of his previous five seasons.8. Amari Cooper, wide receiver, BillsSimilar to Hopkins, Cooper is another pass catcher who was traded this season and could be an X factor in the playoffs. Cooper is starting to build up chemistry with Josh Allen, finishing Week 14 with his best statistical game since being acquired by Buffalo (six catches for 95 yards). Cooper is known for being a crisp route-runner and, while not necessarily a true No. 1 wideout, is capable of leading a receiver room.7. Ronnie Stanley, offensive tackle, RavensStanley is a bona fide star left tackle, which will make him a rich man if he gets to free agency. The 6-foot-6, 310-pounder is having a strong year with the Ravens, allowing just one sack and four total quarterback hits. Stanley will be 31 years old at the start of next season, so he’s still in the prime of his career.6. Charvarius Ward, cornerback, 49ersWard has climbed pretty far up the NFL hierarchy since entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of Middle Tennessee in 2018. Since then, the 28-year-old has a Super Bowl title on his résumé along with a Second Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl nomination. In 2023, Ward led the league with 23 pass breakups to go along with five interceptions. He’s battled injury this season, which has limited him to just nine games played. So long as he’s healthy this spring, however, he’ll be among the top-of-the-market free agents, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.5. Sam Darnold, quarterback, VikingsThe Vikings are in a pickle. Darnold has played at an MVP level this season and has the team in a prime position to reach the playoffs. That said, the Vikings did draft quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, so it’s unclear if they’ll commit to Darnold over the long haul. All this likely leads to the franchise tag being placed on Darnold, and then the Vikings can assess their options, so it’s highly unlikely he simply becomes a free agent. Nevertheless, Darnold has played well enough this season to demand a sizable contract from an NFL organization and will be just 28 years old at the start of the 2025 regular season.4. D.J. Reed, cornerback, JetsThe 28-year-old began his career as a fifth-round draft choice of the San Francisco 49ers in 2018 out of Kansas State. Reed has since turned into one of the better corners in the league and is hitting the market at the perfect time. He’s holding opposing quarterbacks to a 55.6 completion percentage when targeted this season, along with an 81.1 passer rating. Entering Week 15, Reed already has 10 pass breakups, a sack, and 50 total tackles.3. Jevon Holland, safety, DolphinsHolland is arguably the best safety in the league and will command a top-of-the-market contract, which will make it tricky for Miami to retain him. The 2021 second-round pick will also be just 25 years old at the start of next season, so his prime years are still in front of him. This season (entering Week 15), Holland is holding quarterbacks to just a 51.6 completion percentage when targeted while adding 46 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble onto his stat sheet.2. Trey Smith, guard, ChiefsSmith is looked at as the top interior lineman on the market. The 25-year-old entered the league in 2021 as a sixth-round draft choice of the Kanas City Chiefs and has been on hand for the club’s recent back-to-back run of Super Bowl titles. This season, the right guard has yet to allow a sack and has given up just five total quarterback hits.1. Tee Higgins, wide receiver, BengalsHiggins is the unquestioned top receiver on the market and arguably the top player overall. Given the financial commitment that the Cincinnati Bengals will need to give to fellow wideout Ja’Marr Chase and already franchising Higgins last offseason, he’s on track to reach the open market in 2025. While Chase is the top dog in that receiver room, Higgins has flashed the ability to carry an offense as a No. 1 option throughout his career. Higgins’ numbers aren’t jumping off the page this season, but that’s largely due to injury. When healthy, the eye test shows the high upside the 25-year-old possesses, and it will likely result in a massive contract from some WR-needy team. We blinked when we saw that WR TEE HIGGINS is only 25, but yep, he is (although 26 by March). We would think QB SAM DARNOLD would get the most money of this group when he hits free agency. Functional QBs are harder to find than pretty good wide receivers with injury histories. |
| JAY-ZAs some abandon Jay-Z amidst a flurry of accusations, the NFL remains staunchly in his corner. Jori Epstein of YahooSports.com: The NFL is aware of allegations against rapper Jay-Z, and the league, which partners with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation on music and social justice initiatives, does not plan to change its deal in response to a lawsuit alleging he raped a 13-year-old girl at an awards show after-party in 2000.“We’re aware of the civil allegations and Jay-Z’s really strong response to that,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday afternoon at the league’s annual winter meeting. “We know, obviously, the litigation is happening now. But from our standpoint, our relationship is not changing, including our preparations with the next Super Bowl.”The civil lawsuit was originally filed in October against Sean “Diddy” Combs, before attorney Tony Buzbee added Jay-Z as a defendant on Sunday.Jay-Z released a statement that day blasting Buzbee as a “deplorable human” who wants “to exploit people for personal gain” in pursuit of a settlement.“No sir, it had the opposite effect!” Jay-Z wrote. “It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!“These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!! Whomever should commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree?”Jay-Z added that Buzbee “seems to have a pattern of these type of theatrics.” Buzbee also represented more than 20 women who sued Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for sexual misconduct.Producing the halftime show is the most high-profile responsibility on which Jay-Z and the NFL partner. The league hired Roc Nation in 2019 as its live music entertainment strategist, Roc Nation helping to select performers for key acts including the Super Bowl halftime show.Rapper Kendrick Lamar will perform at this season’s Super Bowl in New Orleans. Beyoncé, who is married to Jay-Z, will perform at the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game on Christmas Day.Roc Nation also works with the NFL on its Inspire Change social justice initiative.Goodell praised both elements of the partnership.“On how the relationship is evolving, I think they’re getting incredibly comfortable with not just the Super Bowl but other events that they’ve advised us on, helped us on,” Goodell said. “They’ve been helpful in the social justice area to us.“They’ve been great partners.” |
| THE VALUE OF THE 32 TEAMSHere is the ranking from Forbes – from Cowboys to Bengals:#1. $10.1 billion Dallas Cowboys#2. $7.6 billion Los Angeles Rams#3. $7.4 billion New England Patriots#4. $7.3 billion New York Giants#5. $6.9 billion New York Jets#6. $6.8 billion San Francisco 49ers#7. $6.7 billion Las Vegas Raiders#8. $6.6 billion Philadelphia Eagles#9. $6.4 billion Chicago Bears#10. $6.3 billion Washington Commanders#11. $6.2 billion Miami Dolphins#12. $6.1 billion Houston Texans#13. $5.6 billion Green Bay Packers#14. $5.5 billion Denver Broncos#15. $5.45 billion Seattle Seahawks#16. $5.4 billion Tampa Bay Buccaneers#17. $5.3 billion Pittsburgh Steelers#18. $5.2 billion Atlanta Falcons#19. $5.15 billion Cleveland Browns#20. $5.1 billion Los Angeles Chargers#21. $5.05 billion Minnesota Vikings#22. $5 billion Baltimore Ravens#23. $4.9 billion Tennessee Titans#24. $4.85 billion Kansas City Chiefs#25. $4.8 billion Indianapolis Colts#26. $4.6 billion Jacksonville Jaguars#27. $4.5 billion Carolina Panthers#28. $4.4 billion New Orleans Saints#29. $4.3 billion Arizona Cardinals#30. $4.2 billion Buffalo Bills#31. $4.15 billion Detroit Lions#32. $4.1 billion Cincinnati Bengals Thoughts – So the average NFL franchise is worth just above $5 million – with no one more than a billion below it, but quite a few worth far more up to the Cowboys almost double.- – -How much would the St. Louis Rams be worth? You would think near the Chiefs at around $4.9 billion, so Stan Kroenke made about $2.7 billion in value with the move (minus the costs of extracting himself from St. Louis. Same thoughts on the now Las Vegas Raiders, now in the top 10, after moving from Oakland. We remember when some doubted that Las Vegas was a big enough market for an NFL team.- – -We’re surprised that the recent success of the Lions hasn’t boosted the valuation more. |
