DETROIT

WR AMON-RA ST. BROWN, who burns hot normally, is on fire after the Pro Bowl teams are released.  Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com:

Amon-Ra St. Brown wasn’t in the greatest mood after Thursday’s practice as he greeted the media outside of his locker room stall.

The Detroit Lions star wide receiver admitted to being “hot” that he wasn’t named to the Pro Bowl as an original selection.

Instead, Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb, Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans, Philadelphia’s A.J. Brown and the Los Angeles Rams’ Puka Nacua were the four receivers picked to represent the NFC in the Pro Bowl.

“The receivers that got picked, they’re great players, but I was hot,” St. Brown said.

St. Brown is enjoying a career-best season with eight 100-yard receiving games, which is tied with Lamb and Miami’s Tyreek Hill for the most in the NFL.

He also has 112 receptions for 1,371 yards and 10 touchdowns this season for the Lions (11-5), who clinched their first division title since 1993.

St. Brown’s 112 receptions is tied with Hill for second in the NFL this season and is the third-most by a Lions player in a season, behind Herman Moore (123 in 1995) and Calvin Johnson (122 in 2012) with one regular-season game remaining.

“I guess I didn’t do enough during the season, so I’ve got to go harder,” St. Brown said.

Five of St. Brown’s Lions teammates were named to the Pro Bowl: tight end Sam LaPorta, center Frank Ragnow, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, tackle Penei Sewell and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (special teams).

Hutchinson described his first Pro Bowl selection as “amazing.”

“It means a lot. It was one of my goals coming into this year, and to be able to achieve that is great,” Hutchinson said. “But right now, I got all my focus really on this playoff run.”

As a first alternate, it’s highly likely that St. Brown — like last season, when he was called to replace Brown — could be added to the Pro Bowl, at least if the Lions fail to make a Super Bowl run.

However, the 2021 fourth-round pick, who can still name all 16 receivers who were drafted ahead of him at No. 112, feels he should’ve been an original selection. He considers this latest snub as fuel to the fire.

“Yeah, gotta go harder,” St. Brown said.

We thought A.J. Brown might have been a pick on reputation – but his numbers are equal to, if not better than, St. Brown’s at 105-1,447-10 TDs.

DALLAS

Bill Barnwell on what could be the fatal flaw of the Cowboys:

3. Dallas Cowboys

Chances of winning Super Bowl: 11.9%

The Cowboys’ flaw: Rush defense

The Cowboys are built to be bullies. They have a great passing attack that’s designed to get Dallas ahead early in contests, or at the very least dare teams to chase them in shootouts. Once the Cowboys get a lead and make you one-dimensional on offense, it’s curtains. Their pass rush is too dominant when they get to pin their ears back and go after the quarterback, and the secondary has too many ball hawks. If you toss the ball up 40 or 50 times, they will nab a pick or two.

If you get an early lead, though, you’ve got a shot. The Cowboys aren’t as effective when they’re forced into a dropback passing attack. More noticeably, though, the Cowboys struggle to stop the run. They’re 31st in defensive success rate against the run, meaning opposing offenses stay ahead of schedule or pick up first downs or touchdowns on the ground at the NFL’s second-highest rate. A team that doesn’t have Leighton Vander Esch right now and uses 205-pound converted safety Markquese Bell as a starting safety most weeks doesn’t want to be in a position to chase down ball carriers over and over again as the game goes along.

We’ve seen this pop up repeatedly in Cowboys losses. In Week 3, the Cardinals ran the ball 30 times for 222 yards and two scores, the 12th-most rushing yards by any team in a single game all season. The 49ers dropped 41 carries for 170 yards in their blowout win a couple of weeks later, albeit in a game where the Cowboys held Christian McCaffrey to 51 yards on 19 rush attempts. The Bills really sealed the image of the Cowboys, though, by racking up 266 rushing yards on 49 carries in their comfortable victory over Dallas in December, including a 25-carry, 179-yard performance from James Cook.

The Cowboys aren’t the biggest team at the second and third level, but their issues on defense haven’t really been about tackling. They’re getting outmuscled at the line of scrimmage. Opposing rushers average 2.7 yards before first contact against the Cowboys, which is 23rd in the league. In their losses this season, that figure rises to 3.0, which is 29th. Without slowing down those backs, the Cowboys allow running backs to reach 15-plus mph at the eighth-highest rate of any NFL team, amounting to nearly 22% of opposing carries (NFL Next Gen Stats).

Team to avoid: San Francisco 49ers. Well, you’ve seen the two recent playoff games and the blowout loss earlier this season, right? The Niners convert 29.4% of their rush attempts into first downs, the NFL’s second-best rate, and 46% of their runs result in successful plays for the offense by EPA, which is fourth best. McCaffrey’s calf injury could complicate things, but Jordan Mason had 10 carries for a season-high 69 yards when these two teams played earlier this season.

SAN FRANCISCO

Bill Barnwell on what might keep the 49ers from hoisting Lombardi:

1. San Francisco 49ers

Chances of winning Super Bowl: 34.9%

The 49ers’ flaw: Interceptions

Like the Ravens, the 49ers are so good that we have to focus on something that has strictly been a problem for them in losses as opposed to something that has ailed them throughout the season. In Brock Purdy’s 12 victories this season, he has thrown two interceptions across 324 pass attempts. That’s an interception rate of 0.6%. Quarterbacks obviously throw interceptions less often in victories, but Purdy’s interception rate is less than half the league average rate of 1.4%.

In Purdy’s four losses, though? He has tossed nine picks on 120 pass attempts, for an interception rate of 7.5%. Again, while interceptions happen more in losses than victories, his rate of picks in defeats is more than twice the league average rate of 2.9%.

Of course, there’s a chicken-or-the-egg question here. The 49ers are more likely to lose because Purdy is tossing interceptions, as opposed to Purdy simply throwing interceptions in games that happen to be defeats. Three of Purdy’s losses have come against the Browns, Ravens and Vikings, who have three of the four best defenses.

Do Purdy’s interceptions come in bunches? He hasn’t played long enough for us to really know, and I’m not sure that Purdy loses confidence or gets shaky once he has thrown a pick, but I do think there’s something to that idea. It has less to do with confidence and more to do with game script.

During his career with the 49ers, Purdy has been blessed with a great defense and excellent playmakers. He has spent the vast majority of his career playing from ahead. Being in those situations allows the 49ers to present the threat of the run, work their play-action game and create opportunities for their receivers to run away from defenders after the catch.

When the 49ers are trailing and Purdy’s being forced to drop back and throw in obvious passing situations, the game changes. We have only 108 dropbacks from Purdy in those situations as a pro, and his numbers haven’t been terrible by any means — but he has thrown four picks and lost two fumbles on those plays. It’s very difficult to get back in games when you’re turning the ball over once every 18 dropbacks.

We saw that in the Ravens game. Purdy didn’t play terribly after a bad first interception, but the Baltimore defense had little trouble anticipating and jumping where he wanted to go with the football. He has gotten a reputation as a game manager because he posts low turnover rates most of the time, but anyone who has watched him closely would tell you that Purdy trusts his reads and receivers, and he is very willing to put the ball in danger, especially when the 49ers need to catch up. On good days, he makes throws like this one and they turn into touchdowns. On bad days, those are picks.

Team to avoid: Baltimore Ravens. This one seems a little obvious given how we just saw the Ravens dominate the 49ers in San Francisco, but Baltimore also has been the NFL’s best starting team. The Ravens have the best first quarter (plus-66, tied with the Cowboys) and first half (plus-142) point differentials, making them the most likely team to get out to an early lead against the 49ers. And as we saw on Christmas, if the Ravens get that lead, watch out.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

Part of a longer story by Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic on the impact of QB MATTHEW STAFFORD:

The engine that makes the entire system go is Stafford, who at 35 is having an undeniably cool season. Simple statistics (24 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 3,965 yards and a 62.6 completion percentage in 15 games) don’t really tell his story like his game film does. He is sixth among quarterbacks in EPA per dropback and tied for fourth in plays that go 20-plus yards. In December after returning from a sprained UCL in his right thumb that caused him to miss a game, Stafford went on a 170-throw streak before registering an interception (he had two in Week 17) and tossed a combined six touchdowns and 573 yards with no interceptions against the top defenses of Cleveland and Baltimore. This week, he was voted to the Pro Bowl.

“I don’t even think the stats do justice to what an impact he’s making on our team and that’s saying a lot because I know the stats are really impressive,” McVay said. “The level of play, the confidence that he breeds with everybody else, the command, the leadership, the things that he enables us to be able to do offensively that you wouldn’t be able to do with other quarterbacks, it’s all of those things.”

Stafford’s fingerprints on the offense, and his flair, are expressed in each game and in every piece of the playbook. He’s holstering finger-pistols after big throws. His throwing arm sleeve — worn to protect the elbow he spent much of 2022 managing — has been copied by younger teammates in practice (“he comes to L.A., (and) he throws the shooter sleeve on,” joked receiver Cooper Kupp). Stafford has slimmed down a little and sped up a little, too, partially to match schematic changes and partially out of self-preservation.

Stafford is making every throw with every arm angle possible — when healthy, he always has. Side-arm and submarine zips on third down to Tyler Higbee and Demarcus Robinson while on the move in Weeks 15 and 16 are highlights that come to the minds of teammates and coaches, as does a 23-yard shot to Puka Nacua while absorbing a big hit against the Ravens. Of course, the no-look passes always get mentioned.

“He’s got every club in the bag,” said offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. “I don’t know … how many clubs you get, but he’s stealing.”

Even Stafford’s run fakes are executed with a certain style. In Week 15, after Stafford flipped an end-around handoff to Robinson off a run fake, he nonchalantly walked away with his back to the play. “He just makes it cool,” McVay said. “It just makes it look cooler than what the play is designed (to do). Like, ‘Sh–, I didn’t think it would look that cool.’ He just puts his own personality on these plays.”

Against Cleveland in early December, Stafford got a defensive look at the line of scrimmage that he thought might come up and had discussed with McVay and the coaching staff earlier that week (the counter was added on McVay’s call sheet by Saturday). The Rams’ initial play call was a duo run, but Stafford audibled into the new play, got everyone reset and then hit Nacua for a 70-yard touchdown.

McVay broke down the play in the all-team meeting the following week to show every player and coach what happened. “(He’s) playing quarterback and doing our job,’” McVay said. “… I’m sitting there saying, ‘Sh–, that’s a pretty good idea. I should’ve thought of that earlier in the week.”

Stafford’s ability to make plays like that — with that kind of flourish — affects his teammates, many of whom spent their teenage years watching him play in Detroit.

“The dude is a legend,” said rookie defensive tackle Kobie Turner. “I just feel a complete sense of calm and peace whenever he’s on the field. … And then he got a little swag to him, when he puts his guns in the holsters. I remember (McVay) detailing, he was showing us some of the film from a previous game we had played and he said, ‘You should never get tired of seeing good ball.’ … He’s the guy.”

– – –

The DB actually knew Bill Groman, a fine scout and gentleman.  He’s in the news this week as Mike Florio expounds:

The stellar rookie season from Rams receiver Puka Nacua has re-introduced the football-following world to Bill Groman.

With 29 yards on Sunday against the 49ers, Nacua will set the record for the most receiving yards from any rookie in NFL history. The record was set by Groman in 1960, during the first season of the AFL.

Groman, who played college football at Heidelberg, joined the Houston Oilers for the first season of the AFL. In 1960, he gained 1,473 receiving yards. His record, which was incorporated into the NFL numbers along with all AFL records, has stayed unbroken for 63 years.

Groman had a great second season as well, with 1,175 yards and 17 touchdowns. Through two seasons and 28 games, Groman scored 29 touchdowns.

He won four AFL Championships, two with the Oilers and two with the Bills. However, a knee injury suffered in the 1961 AFL Championship limited his career, dramatically. His production after the 1961 season never came close to what it was in his first two years.

Still, Groman had a first year like none other. Even if/when Nacua gets to 1,474 yards on Sunday, Groman’s per-game average of 105.4 yards will stand until a rookie gets to 1,789 receiving yards in his first NFL season.

Bill Groman died in 2020 at the age of 83. He spent 30 years in scouting after his playing career ended.

From his Wikipedia page, we learn that Groman’s pro career was almost accidental, that pro football in the form of the AFL sought him, he did not seek it.

Groman attended Heidelberg University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree while lettering in three sports that included football. He did not have initial aspirations of being a pro player, instead moving on to teaching after leaving college in 1958. He taught science for eighth graders in Perrysburg, Ohio, near where he grew up before one day being approached to have lunch with a fellow teacher and her husband in Bob Snyder, a former coach in the NFL. After a round of catch, he realized the talent in Groman and called up a former teammate of his at Notre Dame that happened to have been recently hired for the head role with the Houston Oilers in Lou Rymkus.

KANSAS CITY

Bill Barnwell says the Browns would be a bad match-up for the Chiefs in the playoffs:

4. Kansas City Chiefs

Chances of winning Super Bowl: 4.2%

The Chiefs’ flaw: Catching passes

Isn’t it bizarre that we’ve come to a point where the biggest concern about the Chiefs is their ability to sustain a viable passing attack? Patrick Mahomes is throwing the shortest average pass in the NFL and ranks 28th in the league in QBR on deep throws, and his wide receivers can’t catch anything underneath.

With a Marquez Valdes-Scantling drop against the Bengals as the latest culprit, Chiefs’ wide receivers continue to let opportunities literally slip through their hands. The numbers I wrote about earlier this season haven’t shifted much; Andy Reid’s wideouts are dropping 7.5% of the passes thrown in their direction, the worst mark for any NFL team by a comfortable margin. With one Mahomes-less game left to go before the playoffs, it seems likely that the Chiefs’ wide receivers will finish with the worst drop rate in a single season for any team over the past decade.

Earlier in the season, I wasn’t as concerned about the offense, in part because tight end Travis Kelce was still maintaining his prior levels of efficiency. At the risk of angering Taylor Swift fans, I regretfully have to inform the public that Kelce’s performance has declined. Over the first half of the season, Kelce was averaging 2.64 yards per route run, which was the ninth-best mark for any player in football and even better than the 2.44 yards per route run he averaged during an incredible 2022 campaign. But since Week 10, he has averaged 1.61 yards per route run. That’s a reasonable figure, but it’s in line with what players like Tucker Kraft and Evan Engram are producing over the same time frame. Owing to heavy focuses in coverage, Kelce is also getting targeted on 20.4% of his routes, down from 28.5% a year ago.

I would expect the Chiefs to boost Kelce’s snap rate from the 80% range he has been in for most of the regular season to north of 90% during the postseason, but he hasn’t been the All-World tight end we know and love for two months. The Kelce of the first half was on pace for a 114-catch, 1,194-yard season. The second-half Kelce prorates out to 87 catches for 940 yards.

Jerick McKinnon was able to become a valuable part of the offense as a receiving back during the second half of the season in 2022, but he is on injured reserve with a groin issue, and it’s unclear whether he’ll return for the playoffs. Reports before last week’s game suggested that Richie James and Justyn Ross could see expanded roles alongside rookie Rashee Rice (who missed practice Wednesday with a hamstring injury), but James and Ross combined for one catch and 6 yards on 19 offensive snaps against the Bengals.

Team to avoid: Cleveland Browns. Jim Schwartz’s defense has the league’s best QBR against running backs and tight ends this season. Only the Panthers (of all teams) have allowed fewer receiving yards per game to backs and tight ends than the Browns. A matchup where Mahomes needs to throw to his wide receivers might not go well.

LAS VEGAS

Should the Raiders players pick the next coach?  Because if they did it would be interim Antonio Pierce.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Raiders soon will launch their latest search for a new head coach. Star defensive end Maxx Crosby believes it shouldn’t take long to find the right person.

Crosby on Thursday made the case for interim coach Antonio Pierce getting the job.

“There’s only 32 [NFL] head coaches in the whole world,” Crosby said Thursday, via Paul Gutierrez ofESPN.com. “So you’ve got to find a leader of men. And when you’ve got one of them in the building currently, I don’t know why you would let them go.”

Earlier this week, receiver Davante Adams expressed support for Pierce.

Owner Mark Davis declined to keep interim coach Rich Bisaccia two years ago, even though the Raiders made it to the playoffs and nearly beat the Bengals. That should, in theory, make Davis more inclined to not make the same mistake again.

Hovering over the situation is Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal recently connected the preliminary dots that could bring Harbaugh back to the team with which his coaching career began, in 2002.

The hiring of agent Don Yee and Yee’s connection to Tom Brady and Brady’s connection to the Raiders could mean something. Or nothing. Regardless, Davis has to balance the possibility of hiring Harbaugh against the possibility of Harbaugh landing with the Chargers instead.

BALTIMORE

Will RB DALVIN COOK get a Super Bowl ring despite his lack of success with the Jets? Jeff Zrebiac of The Athletic:

The Baltimore Ravens are signing former Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook to their practice squad, league sources said. With the Ravens set for a first-round bye as the AFC’s top seed, this will give the team’s decision makers some time to evaluate the veteran and determine how he potentially could factor into the team’s playoff plans.

Cook was released earlier this week by the New York Jets after signing a one-year, $5.8 million guaranteed contract with the team in mid-August. But Cook, 28, was hardly used this season with 67 carries for 214 yards and no touchdowns in 15 games after Breece Hall’s resurgence from an ACL tear last season.

Cook forfeited his remaining guaranteed money for Week 18 so the Jets would grant his release.

The Ravens lost starting running back J.K. Dobbins to an Achilles injury in Week 1. They also lost ascending rookie Keaton Mitchell to a season-ending knee injury in mid-December. Since Mitchell’s injury, the Ravens have been going with a three-man backfield of Justice Hill, Gus Edwards and Melvin Gordon. They also recently signed running back Jake Funk to the practice squad.

Cook is expected to take a physical for the Ravens on Friday. The Ravens will then need to create a spot for him on the practice squad.

What’s the risk for the Ravens?

There are no guarantees that Cook will factor in the Ravens’ playoff plans. If he passes his physical Friday, he’ll join the practice squad. Since the Ravens will get a first-round bye in the playoffs, team officials will have two weeks to evaluate him and determine whether he’ll be added to the game-day roster for the divisional round.

This move carries no risk for the Ravens and no promises for Cook. If he doesn’t look the part in practice, the Ravens can just move on. If he looks like he still have plenty of juice, the league’s top-ranked run game has another piece for a potential playoff run.

Where do Cook and Gordon fit on the depth chart?

Hill and Edwards are locked into their roles as the team’s top two backs. However, the season-ending knee injury sustained by explosive rookie Mitchell in mid-December has created an opening for another back. The Ravens signed Gordon, who had been on the team’s practice squad, to the active roster and he scored a touchdown Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. The Ravens also added former Los Angeles Rams running back Funk to the practice squad and now Cook will join that group.

Gordon figures to get extensive action Saturday against the Pittsburgh Steelers as the Ravens will want to protect Hill and Edwards for the playoffs as much as they can. A strong performance by Gordon could strengthen his hold on the No. 3 running back spot. If he struggles, the door will open even more for Cook to join the mix in time for the opener.

Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com on who the Ravens will send out to play the Steelers Saturday night:

The Ravens officially ruled out quarterback Lamar Jackson and receiver Odell Beckham for Saturday’s game against the Steelers.

The team already has clinched the No. 1 seed, so John Harbaugh has decided to rest Jackson and Beckham. That means the star players will go three weeks between games, with the Ravens getting a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

Jackson had limited practices Wednesday and Thursday and Beckham missed the past two days.

The Ravens also ruled out offensive guard Kevin Zeitler (knee/quad/coaches decision), linebacker Malik Harrison (groin), cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf) and defensive back Daryl Worley (shoulder/ankle) for the Saturday’s game.

Receiver Zay Flowers (calf) is doubtful after not practicing all week.

– – –

Bill Barnwell on what might keep the Ravens from hoisting Lombardi:

2. Baltimore Ravens

Chances of winning Super Bowl: 28.9%

The Ravens’ flaw: Fumbles

The Ravens have been their own worst enemy. Their three losses have mostly come down to sloppy play and unforced errors. Some of that amounts to drops: The Ravens have a league average drop rate of 3.8% in their victories but a whopping 8.7% drop rate across their defeats, comfortably the worst mark in football. Ravens fans will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the 2019 playoff loss to the Titans, where Mark Andrews and the rest of the Baltimore receiving corps suddenly lost their ability to catch passes.

The other factor that has stood out for the Ravens in their setbacks? Fumbles. Baltimore has fumbled on about 2% of its offensive snaps, which is just over the league average — but those fumbles have disproportionately appeared in losses. The Ravens have fumbled 13 times across their 13 victories, but they’ve fumbled eight times in their three losses. They held onto the ball against the Browns in Week 10, but they fumbled four times against the Colts in Week 3 and four more times against the Steelers in Week 5.

The Ravens lost four of those fumbles, and the mistakes produced only six points for opposing offenses. But Jackson & Co. had their own drives ended by the turnovers. The Ravens didn’t score on any of the drives in those games where they recovered their own fumbles, which is stifling and frustrating for an offense that scores at the NFL’s fourth-highest rate.

Ravens fans will naturally hope that the four-fumble days are a thing of the past. Jackson had a habit of holding the ball far away from his body earlier this season, though he has rectified that. One of the fumbles was on a bad snap from backup center Sam Mustipher, while a second was by reserve running back Kenyan Drake; the latter player is no longer with the organization, while Mustipher has played 18 offensive snaps over the past 13 games behind Tyler Linderbaum. The players taking those snaps at running back and center may be less likely to make mistakes.

Even with the drops and fumbles, the Ravens have still led at the two-minute warning in their defeats, which means they came remarkably close to becoming the third team in league history to win their first 17 games in a season. Any team that comes up against Baltimore is going to be a little worried about its chances. The biggest threat to the Ravens might be the Ravens themselves.

Team to avoid: Cleveland Browns. The Browns have forced fumbles on 2.9% of opposing snaps, the highest mark for any defense. The Jaguars are just behind them at 2.7%, though they were the only team that fumbled when Baltimore traveled to Jacksonville earlier this month, with Trevor Lawrence losing both fumbles to set up 10 points for John Harbaugh’s team.

BUFFALO

The Bills are favorites in the big neutral site game in Miami on Sunday night.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Dolphins are 11-5 and the Bills are 10-6, and Sunday night’s meeting between them is in Miami, but Buffalo is the pick of the betting world.

The Bills are favored by either 2.5 or 3 points at various sports books in the Sunday night finale that will determine the AFC East champion and the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

That shouldn’t be a surprise. The Bills have been one of the most inconsistent teams in the NFL this season, but at their best they’re one of the handful of elite teams in the league. And the last time they played the Dolphins, on October 1, the Bills were at their best, crushing Miami 48-20.

In fact, the Bills are viewed in gambling circles as the team with the third-best chance to win the Super Bowl, behind only the Ravens and 49ers. That’s despite the fact that the Bills haven’t even clinched a playoff berth yet and could end up seeing their season come to an end with a loss to the Dolphins on Sunday night.

The Dolphins may take some extra motivation in knowing they’re underdogs, but so far, Vegas has mostly had them pegged: The Dolphins have been underdogs five previous times this season, and they’re 1-4 straight up in those games.

MIAMI

A quick explanation for the fire in Miami at WR TYREEK HILL’s home.  The AP:

A fire at the $6.9 million home owned by Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill was started by a child playing with a cigarette lighter in a bedroom, a fire official said Thursday.

“It was an accidental fire,” Davie (Florida) Fire Marshal Robert Taylor told The Associated Press.

Taylor did not provide the age of the child or the amount of damage caused by the fire. He said the investigation is now closed.

The house is located in the town of Southwest Ranches, which is about 30 miles northwest of Miami, and was purchased by Hill in May 2022 shortly after the Kansas City Chiefs traded him to the Dolphins.

Miami television station WSVN showed a large amount of black smoke coming from the roof as firefighters doused the house with water. Firefighters appeared to be working on the highest parts of the structure. Many of the bedrooms, a home theater and a den were among the rooms upstairs, according to the property listing.

Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told reporters gathered outside the house Wednesday that some family members were home at the time of the fire.

“He and his family are safe,” Rosenhaus said. “No one was injured, No. 1, no pets, so for that, we’re very grateful. We’re very grateful to the firefighters that put the fire out. Thankfully, the fire was contained to a limited area in the home. Obviously, there’ll be some smoke and water damage. It’s very difficult for anybody, obviously, to have your home catch on fire, but Tyreek was handling it, he and his family, with as much poise as you could hope.”

Hill has not yet commented on the matter and was not at Dolphins practice Thursday.

Hill is currently the NFL’s leader in receiving yards with 1,717. He is the only player in NFL history to record at least 1,700 yards in multiple seasons. He is hoping to help lead the Dolphins to a win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. A victory would clinch the AFC East for Miami for the first time since 2008.

Hill’s teammates expressed concern and support for him.

“You don’t think that it’s ever going to happen to you until it does,” fullback Alec Ingold said. “It’s something as a team, we’ve got to be able to come together and make sure that we can reach out to Tyreek and be human beings with him and make sure everything is squared away and we can do everything we possibly can to help our teammate.”

The Dolphins are going into the big game distracted, if practice attendance means anything.  Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald on absences besides Hill’s:

Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle) and running back Raheem Mostert (ankle/knee) did not practice on Thursday, raising doubts about their status for Sunday’s game against visiting Buffalo.

Both missed the Baltimore game because of ankle injuries.

Mike McDaniel said Waddle would take practice reps this week if he was deemed able to. To this point, he hasn’t been able to. At least Waddle was walking around without any visible limp in the locker-room on Thursday.

Mostert’s status remains in question primarily because of the ankle injury that is limiting his ability to make cuts.

THIS AND THAT

QBs ON THE MOVE IN 2024

Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com with some guesses, perhaps educated:

Quarterbacks are just one piece of the puzzle in the NFL, but they’re a mighty large piece, in case you haven’t noticed. It’s no coincidence, for example, that the Ravens and 49ers are current Super Bowl favorites while possessing MVP front-runners in Lamar Jackson and Brock Purdy, respectively. The same thing happened in 2022, with the Chiefs and Eagles.

Accordingly, the upcoming 2024 offseason is bound to be full of QB drama, from teams courting — or cutting — big-name veterans, to rebuilding squads hoping to secure elite prospects at the top of the draft.

Which notable signal-callers are set to be available? And where could they end up? Below, we’ve got you covered with an overview of the entire market, from top free agents and trade candidates to projected landing spots and contracts:

Top free agents

Kirk Cousins

MIN • QB • #8

Before 2023, Cousins was widely considered a good, serviceable starter — nothing more, nothing less. Then, in a contract year, he went on a tear before suffering the first serious injury of his career, and Minnesota’s slew of turnover-happy replacements underscored his steady hand. The Vikings would be smart not to overcompensate for his loss, overlooking longer-term upside for the sake of yet another reunion. But they have the flexibility to bring him back while also throwing a dart elsewhere (more on that below). And while Cousins has capitalized on free agency before, he likes Minnesota and could prioritize familiarity at 35.

Projection: Re-signs with Vikings on two-year, $76M deal ($38M per year)

Baker Mayfield

TB • QB • #6

After a roller-coaster ride from the Browns to the Panthers and Rams, Mayfield has exceeded expectations in Tampa Bay, controlling the ball better to keep the Buccaneers playoff-relevant in a post-Tom Brady world. His career resume still suggests he’s a QB you compete with rather than build around, but at 28, he’s young enough to warrant another starting gig. Like the Seahawks with surprise breakout Geno Smith in 2022-2023, the Bucs could be motivated to reward him while retaining long-term flexibility. Mayfield, meanwhile, figures to value continuity after years of bouncing around, though staffing changes could affect that.

Projection: Re-signs with Buccaneers on two-year, $54M deal ($27M per year)

Top trade candidates

Justin Fields

CHI • QB • #1

At 24, three years removed from going No. 11 overall in the draft, with 2,100+ career rushing yards and gradually improving passing marks, Fields is precisely the kind of developing young QB you’d typically strive to retain. But the Bears’ failure to give him a reliable supporting cast, coupled with his own turnover woes — he has 41 in 39 games — has them in position to reset with the No. 1 overall pick, plus another top-10 pick. Should Chicago move on? Not necessarily. Fields clearly has unteachable NFL-caliber tools, and those picks could finally improve his weaponry. But it’s possible, if not probable, they’ll prefer to start fresh.

Projection: Traded to Falcons in exchange for a 2024 second- and fourth-round picks

Kyler Murray

ARI • QB • #1

There are major red flags on Murray’s resume as a former No. 1 pick: He’s missed extended time due to injury in his last three seasons, he’s led a single winning season in five years as the starter, and he’s generally been far more effective as a scrambler than a passer. But like Justin Fields in Chicago, there’s little question about his physical gifts, and he’s been part of two rebuilding regimes. New coach Jonathan Gannon has indicated he’s all in on Murray, 26, as the team’s long-term QB, and we’re inclined to believe him, with Arizona more likely to allocate resources toward a rebuild of his supporting cast going into 2024.

Projection: Remains with Cardinals

Russell Wilson

DEN • QB • #3

The former Seahawks star was always going to need an MVP-caliber resurgence to win new coach Sean Payton’s approval as the highly paid face of the franchise. He wasn’t bad in 2023, but his numbers also masked a general streakiness and sluggishness running the Broncos offense — all the way up to his polarizing Week 17 demotion, which effectively signaled the end of his short-lived Denver career. At 35, it’s clear Wilson is no longer the elite dual threat he once was. But his downfield touch returned at points in 2023, and he should have a decent market after his inevitable release, especially with Denver already paying his 2024 salary.

Projection: Signs three-year, $90M deal ($30M per year) with Steelers

Top draft prospects

Caleb Williams

USC • QB • #13

The USC star is widely considered the most enticing 2024 prospect at his position, thriving as an off-script playmaker with fluid legs and a laser arm. CBS Sports NFL draft expert Ryan Wilson compares him to Chiefs great Patrick Mahomes. It’s a lofty bar, of course, and Williams will have to learn when not to play hero in the NFL. But the big-play possibilities are apparent, making him a safe bet to go in the top five and have an immediate impact due to his natural athleticism.

Projection: Drafted in the first round by the Commanders

Drake Maye

UNC • QB • #10

If Caleb Williams is the class of the 2024 QB prospects due to sheer playmaking ability, then Maye is the polished alternative. A total package of size, vision, mobility and arm talent, he compares to Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, per CBS Sports draft expert Ryan Wilson. In other words, he can’t be ruled out as the potential No. 1 pick, potentially offering a more sustainable pocket-passing trajectory — a franchise QB built to play both inside and outside structure.

Projection: Drafted in the first round by the Bears

Jayden Daniels

LSU • QB • #5

Most draft experts seem to agree there are three QBs likely to go at the top of the first round, with Daniels trailing Drake Maye and Caleb Williams. He is certainly the slightest of the trio at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, raising concerns about long-term durability. But his combo of deep-ball accuracy and effortless speed has CBS Sports expert Ryan Wilson likening him to Ravens star Lamar Jackson. His best path to success is perhaps an offense particularly tailored to his strengths.

Projection: Drafted in the first round by the Patriots

Michael Penix Jr.

WASH • QB • #9

Fresh off a dominant Sugar Bowl win over Texas, Penix might be getting even more buzz as an early first-rounder if not for his age (he’ll be 24 as a rookie) and injury history (he suffered two ACL tears at Indiana). Widely hailed as a respected field general for Washington, doing all the little things well from the pocket, he compares to Dolphins MVP candidate Tua Tagovailoa, per CBS Sports draft expert Ryan Wilson, except with an even stronger arm.

Projection: Drafted in the first round by the Broncos

Bo Nix

OREG • QB • #10

Nix has all the tools to make plays out of structure, possessing above-average athleticism and good arm strength, but he’s drawn criticism for unpredictable mechanics. CBS Sports draft expert Ryan Wilson sees shades of Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield in the Oregon product, for better and worse, but an NFL team could easily buy into his explosive upside.

Projection: Drafted in the first round by the Giants

J.J. McCarthy

MICH • QB • #9

If there’s a QB prospect destined to rise late in the draft process, it might be McCarthy, whose pocket presence and accuracy as both a tight-window and play-action thrower could give him a relatively high floor in the NFL. CBS Sports draft expert Ryan Wilson believes he’s comparable to Ryan Tannehill when the Titans QB was coming out of Texas A&M.

Projection: Drafted in the second round by the Vikings

Next-tier free agents

Veteran backup types

Joe Flacco (Browns) has enjoyed a career revival at 38, slinging it to every level as a fearless replacement for the injured Deshaun Watson. He should have a market as a veteran No. 2 and might be inclined to stay in Cleveland.

Ryan Tannehill (Titans) is probably done in Tennessee after Will Levis’ gutsy entrance as the starter. Perhaps a return to Miami could be in the cards, where he could offer the Dolphins a more experienced backup for Tua Tagovailoa.

Jameis Winston (Saints) has embraced his No. 2 role behind multiple veterans in New Orleans, but a reunion with Sean Payton in Denver could make sense, where he might be able to serve as a stopgap starter ahead of a rookie.

Jacoby Brissett (Commanders) could be a candidate to reunite with ex-Colts coordinator Matt Eberflus in Chicago, presuming the Bears retain their coach and restart at QB, ushering in a new rookie at the top of the draft.

Carson Wentz (Rams) may stay put as Matthew Stafford’s backup. Another option could be the Packers, where Green Bay might prefer to add a more experienced No. 2 behind young Jordan Love.

Tyrod Taylor (Giants) is more likely to say goodbye than injured starter Daniel Jones, who’s owed $47M in 2024. Perhaps he’ll stay in New Jersey, hopping over to the Jets as insurance behind rehabbing star Aaron Rodgers.

Gardner Minshew (Colts) has fared reasonably well filling in for Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis, making him a candidate to return under coach Shane Steichen for another run as the backup plan.

Marcus Mariota (Eagles) brings mobility to the No. 2 role behind Jalen Hurts in Philly, but the Eagles could look to promote Tanner McKee in 2024, leaving Mariota to seek out other clubs with running QBs.

Tyler Huntley (Ravens) has flashed as a fill-in for Lamar Jackson. Perhaps he’d draw an offer to compete for a QB1 gig elsewhere. But he’s familiar with Baltimore, and the Ravens probably prefer to keep him.

Sam Darnold (49ers) might like another crack at a starting job, but what better place is there to be a backup?

Drew Lock (Seahawks) has done well coming off the bench for Geno Smith.

Next-tier cut / trade candidates

Jimmy Garoppolo (Raiders) is all but a lock to exit after his demotion following Josh McDaniels’ dismissal.

Trey Lance (Cowboys) is probably destined to stay put as a No. 3/developmental QB in Dallas.

Davis Mills (Texans) could desire a different opportunity with C.J. Stroud fully entrenched in Houston.

Mac Jones (Patriots) is a safe bet to be replaced regardless of whether the Patriots overturn their staff.

Zach Wilson (Jets) didn’t pan out filling in for Aaron Rodgers, who was acquired to replace him in the first place.

Mitch Trubisky (Steelers) lost the No. 2 job to Mason Rudolph late in 2023.

Other top draft prospects

Quinn Ewers (Texas) is a bit reminiscent of 49ers standout Brock Purdy, per CBS Sports expert Ryan Wilson.

Spencer Rattler (South Carolina) was once heralded as an Oklahoma prospect. He could be a high-upside Day 3 swing.

Wild cards

Derek Carr (Saints) is likely to stay put, owed $35.7M in 2024, but he can be designated a post-June 1 cut without putting a dent in New Orleans’ 2024 salary cap. The Saints have long delayed a full-on rebuild.

Geno Smith (Seahawks) just signed a new deal with Seattle prior to 2023, but he could be cut or traded to save almost $14M in 2024. That’s only likely if the team makes an early-round selection at QB in the draft.

Daniel Jones (Giants) landed a big deal that pays $40M per year ahead of 2023, but his regression and injury could force New York to rethink its long-term QB plans. He could be designated a post-June 1 cut, though it wouldn’t save any 2024 cap space.

2024 DRAFT

It’s not exactly a Mock Draft, but Trevor Sikkema of ProFootballFocus.com gives one player from each class to each of the 32 member clubs – his “perfect prospect” for each team

ARIZONA CARDINALS: WR MARVIN HARRISON JR., OHIO STATE

The Cardinals bringing Kyler Murray back as early as they did in the season was an early sign that they were going to stay committed to him even while being in striking distance for a top quarterback pick. Harrison would be perfect for Arizona as the immediate WR1 to support Murray.

ATLANTA FALCONS: QB JAYDEN DANIELS, LSU

By going back and forth between Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke this season, the Falcons have made it clear they know what their biggest need is. They likely won’t be picking high enough for Drake Maye or Caleb Williams, but the electric dual-threat Heisman winner, Jayden Daniels, could be just as good of a fit. His rushing ability (elite rushing grade in 2023) would give the Falcons another electric ground game weapon.

BALTIMORE RAVENS: OT AMARIUS MIMS, GEORGIA

Though the Ravens might have more pressing needs elsewhere, investing in the offensive line could be ideal. Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses will both be over 30 years old next season. Moses (33) will be entering the final year of his deal. That could be the perfect situation to draft a player such as Amrius Mims. The 6-foot-5, 330-pound former five-star offensive tackle doesn’t have a ton of starting experience to his name. But he’s young, very athletic and when he has been on the field, has looked the part. He could be the ideal investment for Baltimore.

BUFFALO BILLS: WR TROY FRANKLIN, OREGON

Outside of Stefon Diggs, the wide receiver room in Buffalo has been lacking. A big piece that is missing is another deep threat element to the Bills’ passing game given how unreliable Gabe Davis has been. With Davis a pending free agent, they will likely look to replace him. Franklin would be the perfect player to do just that. He registered 37 receptions of 15 yards or more this season with a 23.4% deep target percentage and a 94.3 receiving grade on passes beyond 20 yards.

CAROLINA PANTHERS: WR EMEKA EGBUKA, OHIO STATE

The Panthers just need someone – anyone – who can be a reliable target in the receiving game. Egbuka could be available to pick at the top of the second round. He can play a variety of positions as a receiver (X, flanker, slot) and could be the perfect high-volume rookie receiver for them to jump-start that passing attack.

CHICAGO BEARS: QB CALEB WILLIAMS, USC

Fields is playing some of his best ball right now. I won’t deny that, but I still believe resetting the QB contract timeline with a starting-caliber franchise quarterback as a rookie is the best course of action for the Bears. Caleb Wiliams, while not perfect, does so many things well, and he even does what feels like the impossible, at times. For what he can do for that franchise on a rookie contract, he could be perfect for the Bears.

CINCINNATI BENGALS: TE BROCK BOWERS, GEORGIA

The Bengals lack tight end production – 28th in team tight end receiving grade and 23rd in team tight end receiving yards. Getting their hands on a player of Bowers’ caliber, who earned elite PFF grades in all three seasons he played for the Bulldogs, would be perfect.

CLEVELAND BROWNS: WR TEZ WALKER, NORTH CAROLINA

The Browns don’t pick until the second round, so picking a perfect prospect for them is a bit tricky, but when I look at their offense, they have a go-to receiver in Amari Cooper, an explosive tight end in David Njoku, and a good slot option in Elijah Moore. Therefore, they need a deep-threat receiver. Over the last two years at Kent State and North Carolina, Tez Walker’s 16.8-yard average depth of target ranked in the 96th percentile, and his 78.3% separation percentage is in the 87th percentile.

DALLAS COWBOYS: IOL GRAHAM BARTON, DUKE

Barton has been the left tackle for the Blue Devils for the past few seasons but limited arm length could push him into an interior spot at the next level. Dallas drafting Barton gives them a ton of flexibility with Tyler Smith as well, who can play both tackle and guard. This allows Dallas to build its offensive line in a flexible way over the next few years.

DENVER BRONCOS: QB BO NIX, OREGON

With Russell Wilson now on the bench and on his way out of Denver, the Broncos need a new quarterback. The problem is, I can’t in all good conscience put Caleb Williams or Drake Maye here knowing how much it would take to move up that high in the draft. If they stay in the middle of the first round, where they are projected to pick, Nix would be an ideal option. Nix has legit NFL arm strength in both distance and velocity, as well as added mobility with his legs. He’s also the most experienced college quarterback of all time with 60 games as a starter. He and Sean Payton could work well together.

DETROIT LIONS: CB TERRION ARNOLD, ALABAMA

If it weren’t for injuries, maybe this need wouldn’t be as high, but the Lions still need to get better on the defensive side of the ball. A lockdown CB1 type of cornerback feels like their perfect fit given where they’ll be drafting. Arnold has serious ball skills with five interceptions and 13 forced incompletions this season.

GREEN BAY PACKERS: CB COOPER DEJEAN, IOWA

The Packers have secondary needs, both at safety and cornerback. Thankfully, there is a player in this class who could fill either need. DeJean, listed at 6-foot-1 and 207 pounds, has played outside corner for the Hawkeyes over the last two seasons, doing so very well. I would certainly start him there in the NFL. He’s recorded seven interceptions and 13 forced incompletions over the past two seasons and is one of the best secondary playmakers in the class.

HOUSTON TEXANS: WR ROME ODUNZE, WASHINGTON

The Texans look like they hit a home run with quarterback C.J. Stroud. The next step is continuing to build the receiver corps to dominate the passing game. Odunze has the talent to be WR1 in other draft classes. The way he can run routes at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds is so impressive. Plus, his contested catch numbers got even better in 2023. He and Stroud would truly be a perfect QB-WR connection.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: CB NATE WIGGINS, CLEMSON

Wiggins might be the top cornerback in this draft for defensive coordinators to point to a receiver and say, “Don’t let them catch the ball.” At 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, Wiggins has the length to handle receivers of all shapes and sizes. The Colts are young at cornerback, but they still need a premium CB1 type. That can be Wiggins.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: OT JORDAN MORGAN, ARIZONA

Morgan played offensive tackle for the Wildcats, but he has some nice position flexibility as a guard or tackle. The Jags have a more pressing need on the interior, and Morgan could start there while giving them the option to flex him to a tackle position in the future, if needed.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: WR AD MITCHELL, TEXAS

Look, I’m not breaking any news here saying the Chiefs have to improve at receiver this offseason. They have a good young receiver in Rashee Rice to be a nice slot/after-the-catch guy. Now, they need a bigger, taller receiver who can dominate in the red zone. That’s what the 6-foot-4, 200-pound AD Mitchell can be. He has 10 touchdowns this season as one of the best route-running big receivers in the class.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: DI JER’ZHAN NEWTON, ILLINOIS

Raiders could certainly be in the quarterback conversation, but with many of the first-rounders spoken for in this exercise, we instead look to the defense. Just because Newton doesn’t play quarterback doesn’t make him any less perfect for the Raiders, who desperately need a difference-maker on the interior in the run and pass game. Newton is one of the few (maybe only) first-round caliber interior defensive linemen.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: WR MALIK NABERS, LSU

The Chargers just drafted a first-round receiver in Quentin Johnston last offseason, but he has struggled mightily to show he could have the caliber of a WR1 for that team. I don’t think his presence keeps the Chargers from getting a talent like Nabers, especially with a new regime that didn’t draft Johnston coming in.

LOS ANGELES RAMS: OT JC LATHAM, ALABAMA

The Rams had one of the worst rosters on paper to enter the season, but thanks to Matthew Stafford and that offense, they’re headed to the playoffs. They made do with the offensive line they currently have, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t use some upgrades, specifically at offensive tackle. Latham is a super-sized offensive tackle prospect at 360 pounds, but he moves so well for a player of his size.

MIAMI DOLPHINS: OT AMARIUS MIMS, GEORGIA

When healthy, there aren’t a ton of needs on this Miami team, but a talented offensive lineman feels like the right move for them. Mims is green on experience, but the 6-foot-5 and 330-pounder has elite movement skills and tools to be a long-term starter at tackle. Mims opposite Terron Armstead would be ideal.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS: QB BO NIX, OREGON

The Vikings have been on the quarterback carousel since Kirk Cousins went down for the season. Cousins is set to become a free agent this offseason, so if he’s not brought back, a young quarterback becomes paramount for them. To me, Nix would be perfect with his tools, dual-threat ability and experience to work with Kevin O’Connell.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: QB DRAKE MAYE, NORTH CAROLINA

This one is pretty simple. Bailey Zappe and Mac Jones are not the long-term answers in New England. Maye could be. Flip a coin between him and Caleb Williams — since we don’t really have a “fit” to help decide between them with speculations of a new coaching staff.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: QB JAYDEN DANIELS, LSU

After what has been one of the more disappointing seasons in the NFL this season, the Saints could still end up winning the division, but that doesn’t take away how frustrating things have been for them, specifically at quarterback. Derek Carr will be their quarterback in 2024 due to his contract, but the year after that his contract gets flexible. Drafting a talent like Daniels in the first round to get the fifth-year option while not putting him in a situation where he has to start right away — not to mention the LSU-New Orleans connection — could be perfect.

NEW YORK GIANTS: QB DRAKE MAYE, NORTH CAROLINA

For as bad as it looked with Daniel Jones to start this season, if the Giants have a chance to draft Drake Maye, I’d do it. Maye had by far the most big-time throws of any quarterback in the FBS over the last two seasons and would be the perfect new investment for Brian Daboll’s offense.

NEW YORK JETS: OT JOE ALT, NOTRE DAME

We’ve said it a million times this season, but the 2024 offseason is truly an all-in approach for the Jets with Aaron Rodgers healthy again at quarterback. Offensive line in the first round is the best way to do that. Alt has been a three-year starter for the Fighting Irish and has the snaps under his belt to step in right away at left tackle for the Jets. The reason I have him as the choice over Penn State’s Olu Fashanu is I think Fashanu will have a learning curve due to the strength needed for the professional game. I don’t have that concern with Alt.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: CB QUINYON MITCHELL, TOLEDO

The Eagles retained both of their starting cornerbacks last offseason, but Mitchell still feels like the perfect investment for them at that position. Over the past two years, he has earned elite coverage grades with an astounding 35 forced incompletions, six interceptions and even eight more dropped picks.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS: CB KOOL-AID MCKINSTRY, ALABAMA

The Steelers did the right thing by investing in a future starting cornerback in 2023, selecting Joey Porter Jr., but they need to continue to do so, even with a first-round pick this year. Their secondary is aging fast beyond Porter, and Mckinstry is one of the most experienced press-man cornerbacks in the draft. The soon-to-be Alabama product has forced 28 incompletions over the past two seasons.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: OL TROY FAUTANU, WASHINGTON

The Niners are a near-complete team, well in contention for a Super Bowl. When you’re at that point, one of the best investments you can make is along the trenches. Fautanu has started at left tackle for Washington over the past two seasons, but his long-term home in the NFL might be at guard. He’s a highly competitive offensive lineman whose pride and passion for the game allow him to succeed at tackle despite his lack of physical tools, specifically length. That’s the kind of depth trench player you want on a competing team.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: ED DALLAS TURNER, ALABAMA

The Seahawks could use more pass-rush talent, and Turner has been one of the most productive pass rushers in the country by pressures generated this season. He also recorded a 20%-plus pass-rush win rate in 2023.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: ED LAIATU LATU, UCLA

No edge rusher in college football has been more productive than Laiatu over the past two seasons. Latu has generated 128 quarterback pressures with a 22.3% pass-rush win percentage over that span. The Buccaneers need more consistent backfield production from their edge players, and Latu would be an ideal candidate to provide that.

TENNESSEE TITANS: OT TALIESE FUAGA, OREGON STATE

The Titans have not gotten good enough play from their offensive tackles. Fuaga is a highly competitive prospect who plays with a mean streak that Mike Vrabel teams are built on. He has earned a 90.5 run-blocking grade over the past two seasons.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: QB CALEB WILLIAMS, USC

The Commanders are now within striking distance of one of the top two quarterbacks in this class. Truth be told, Williams or Maye would be perfect for them, but Williams being from Washington, D.C., makes him the perfect prospect for this franchise with a bit of a homecoming element to it.