THE DAILY BRIEFING

NFC NORTH

CHICAGO

The Chargers have shipped WR KEENAN ALLEN to the Bears after more than a decade of loyal service.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Chargers wanted to dump receiver Keenan Allen’s compensation package for 2024, and they did.

 

On Thursday night, they announced the trade that will send Allen to Chicago.

 

Sure, they’ll say all the right things as he makes his exit after 11 seasons with the San Diego and L.A. Chargers. Most teams mostly always do. But it’s just another example of the cold, hard fact that every player in the league is an interchangeable part in a football machine that kept moving before them, kept moving with them, and will keep moving after them.

 

Contracts don’t mean anything when one side can tear them up and the other side must honor then. In Allen’s case, a suitor was found. For a fourth-round pick, the Chargers got the cap space they needed and the cash relief they wanted. In all, $23.1 million won’t be paid to Allen this year by the Chargers.

 

It will be paid to Allen by the Bears, who were sufficiently happy to take on the contract that they gave up a fourth-round pick to get it.

 

Allen exits with 904 catches, 10,530 yards, and 59 touchdowns. He has franchise records for receivers in yards and catches. He got to 900 catches in 139 games, faster than any receiver in NFL history.

 

“What Keenan Allen has meant to the Chargers for more than a decade cannot adequately be expressed through mere words,” Chargers president of football operations John Spanos said in a statement. “Keenan’s impact lives in the hearts of our fans, in the communities which he has served and amongst the countless teammates who have formed a brotherhood with him. There will only be one Keenan Allen, and we cannot thank him enough for the contributions he has made to our organization both on and off the field.”

 

Thank you, now scram. That’s not a knock on the Chargers. Every team does it. The act of terminating a player’s employment has morphed in recent years into a bizarre social-media celebration.

 

The good news for the Chargers is that they got value for Allen’s contract. With receiver Mike Williams, who was cut on Wednesday, they got nothing.

 

The better news is that they found a way to keep pass rushers Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa, under restructured deals. And the entire episode sends a message to all players that it’s a new day in L.A. under coach Jim Harbaugh and G.M. Joe Hortiz. That there are no sacred cows.

 

Except for quarterback Justin Herbert. Who will hold that status for as long as he plays well enough to justify his pay. The moment he sufficiently dips, he’ll be yanked out of the machine, traded or cut, and thanked with effusive, heartfelt posts on X, Instagram, or whatever toxic digital fast-food wasteland is poisoning our minds at the time.

 

Happy Friday!

DETROIT

Extensions, and presumably raises, for GM Eric Holmes and Coach Dan Campbell.  Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com:

Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes have transformed the Detroit Lions from laughingstock franchise to Super Bowl contenders in just three seasons.

 

That’s how well Detroit’s coach and general manager have worked together. And Thursday, amid the yearly free agency rush, they were rewarded with contract extensions that will keep them together through the 2027 season.

 

Under their leadership, the Lions’ turnaround has been remarkable, culminating, so far, last season when Detroit claimed its first division title in three decades and won its first postseason games since 1991 before falling one game shy of reaching the franchise’s first-ever Super Bowl.

 

The Lions, who began Campbell and Holmes’ tenure with a 3-13-1 record in 2021, last season won two playoff games in a single postseason for the first time since 1957 and tied the franchise record for most wins in a season with 12 (12-5).

 

Despite the team’s success, Holmes said he and Campbell are only getting started, and that they are focused on building a perennial contender in Detroit.

 

“I don’t want anybody to think that this was a one-shot, Cinderella, magical journey that just happened,” Holmes said at his end-of-season press conference.

 

“No, it’s real. This is exactly what was supposed to happen, and I understand that based on history, from what’s happened in the past. I understand if you have a season like this, it’s easy to feel like this was kind of a one-shot, magical, lucky, cute story. Which I’m tired of hearing. It was none of that.”

 

Why did Detroit do the deals now?

Both men have earned their extensions. There was no reason to wait.

 

The extensions show Lions ownership is pleased with the jobs Campbell and Holmes are doing and remains committed to their vision of sustaining long-term success in Detroit.

 

“We are thrilled to have Brad and Dan under contract for the next four seasons,” Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp said in a statement. “They have been the driving force behind the rebuild of our football team and the success that we have enjoyed. The continuity they provide for our football program will continue to be the key to our future success on the field.”

 

Holmes’ original deal took him through the 2025 season. Campbell’s contract was set to expire after 2026.

 

“I think it really speaks to the stability and how much confidence Sheila has in Dan and Brad,” Lions special teams ace and new NFL Players’ Association president Jalen Reeves-Maybin said. “I think it’s dope for sure that they get a little bit richer.”

NFC EAST

PHILADELPHIA

The Eagles look to rehabilitate LB DEVIN WHITE with a one-year deal.  ESPN.com:

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Devin White is signing a one-year deal worth up to $7.5 million with the Philadelphia Eagles, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

 

The Eagles are hoping White will provide a boost to a linebacker corps that struggled in 2023 and was frequently targeted by opposing offenses. He is projected to start alongside Nakobe Dean, who missed 12 regular-season games with foot injuries. With Dean sidelined for much of the year, the linebacker spot turned into a rotating cast, with veteran Zach Cunningham being the closest thing to a constant. Cunningham is currently a free agent.

 

Speed in the back end was an issue for the Eagles’ defense, which finished 30th in points allowed (25.2 per game). White has 4.4-second speed in the 40 and can use it to get in the backfield, as evidenced by his 23 career sacks and 40 tackles for loss.

 

Frustrated by not getting a new contract last offseason, White requested a trade but instead played under the fifth-year option. He struggled with foot and groin injuries throughout the 2023 season and was replaced by K.J. Britt as the Buccaneers fought for a playoff berth. The two rotated in the postseason, with White playing 37 defensive snaps in two games.

 

White, 26, showed what he is capable of with an interception of Trevor Lawrence that keyed a 30-12 rout of the Jacksonville Jaguars on Christmas Eve. Playmaking has never been the issue for White, however — instead, it has been consistency, as he has been caught out of position multiples times. He surrendered an opening-drive touchdown to Najee Harris in the flat while playing the Pittsburgh Steelers and gave up a costly TD to Christian McCaffrey while playing the San Francisco 49ers last season.

NFC SOUTH

 

CAROLINA

Country music superstar Luke Combs is puzzled by the direction of the Panthers, his favorite team.  David Newton of ESPN.com offers an explanation:

– Country music star Luke Combs is a huge fan of the Carolina Panthers. The native of nearby Huntersville isn’t shy about wearing their colors onstage and off. He went so far as to jokingly predict before the 2023 season that the Panthers would go 17-0 (they finished an NFL-worst 2-15).

 

“Bryce is the guy!” Combs said of then-rookie quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 pick of the 2023 draft.

 

But on Monday, when the Panthers traded edge rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants for a second-round pick (No. 39) in April’s NFL draft and a 2025 fifth-round pick (plus a swap of 2024 fifth-round picks), the two-time country music Entertainer of the Year took to social media to express his frustration.

 

🎤@lukecombs

.

@Panthers  WHAT ARE WE DOING?!?!? No first round pick for McCaffrey a few years back and now none for Burns?!?! Are we just fire bombing the whole team here or what? I usually don’t comment on these kinds of things but it’s just becoming slow torture at this point.

 

The frustration is understandable and shared by other Carolina fans.

 

It stems from the Los Angeles Rams suggesting before the 2022 trade deadline they’d consider giving up two first-rounders (2024, 2025) for Burns, the No. 16 pick of the 2019 draft.

 

It stems from Carolina trading running back Christian McCaffrey, the No. 8 pick of the 2017 draft, to the San Francisco 49ers before the 2022 trade deadline for second-, third- and fourth-round picks in 2023, and a fifth-rounder in 2024.

 

It stems from six straight losing seasons since owner David Tepper purchased the team.

 

So when Carolina didn’t get even one first-rounder for Burns, the reaction was outrage and disbelief — and not just from Combs. NFL analysts gave new general manager Dan Morgan low grades for the move. ESPN’s Matt Miller gave the Panthers an “F.”

 

But let’s get some perspective. Like in Combs’ songs, there’s a story behind the lyrics.

 

Burns wasn’t happy when he didn’t get a long-term deal before last season. You could hear disappointment in his voice when he did interviews. He admitted he had thoughts of playing not to get hurt instead of going all-out.

 

Burns also wasn’t willing to back down from the $30 million annual contract he felt he’d earned in 2022 (when he had a career-high 12.5 sacks), which he eventually got from the Giants.

 

The Panthers, who are more than one player away from becoming a contender, were never going to pay that much. They were willing to let Burns play under the franchise tag for $24 million this year, but no long-term solution was in sight.

 

When the Giants reached out last week and again on Monday, Carolina listened. That the market for Burns was now minimal compared to 2022, when he was still under contract for a reasonable amount, meant the offer wasn’t going to include any first-round picks.

 

Instead of keeping Burns for another season, running the risk of him being unhappy, letting that filter through the locker room, and then seeing him move on after that, Morgan & Co. took what they could get.

 

Remember, the Panthers were 2-15 with Burns last season. That largely had to do with an offense that was one of the worst in the NFL.

 

But how much better could Carolina get in 2024 with Burns and his $24 million eating up a huge chunk of cap space?

 

So the team hit the reset button and moved on.

 

On the surface, it is a bad look for Morgan in his first year as a general manager, but it’s one that needed to be made.

 

During his NFL playing career as an inside linebacker for the Panthers, Morgan played with a purpose and a plan. Those who have watched him grow as an executive insist he will rebuild Carolina with the same mentality.

 

Remember, he was part of the 2001 Carolina team that went an NFL-worst 1-15 and two years later reached the Super Bowl.

 

That growth happened because Carolina built from the inside out. That’s what the start of free agency has been for Morgan. He got deals with guards Robert Hunt (Miami Dolphins) and Damien Lewis (Seattle Seahawks) to provide Young the protection needed to improve.

 

Stats tell the story. Of the 62 sacks made on Young last season, 23 came from the guard position, according to ESPN Stats & Information. That was the second-highest total in the league, ahead of the Giants’ (31).

 

Carolina guards had the worst pass block win rate in the NFL at 86.2%. The Kansas City Chiefs, who won the Super Bowl, ranked first at 97.3%.

 

Morgan plans to release Bradley Bozeman, who was responsible for an NFL-worst 12 sacks in 2023, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

 

The 35 sacks Carolina surrendered from interior pressure ranked 31st in the league. Their combined pass block win rate (86.6%) ranked last.

 

So the Panthers gave Hunt a five-year, $100 million deal and Lewis a five-year, $53 million deal to fix the problem. They’ll fix the center position with Austin Corbett (who has been a fixture at guard when healthy), or another free agent, or maybe even a draft pick.

 

There is a plan, and it starts with fixing the offense and helping Young play to the potential he showed at Alabama.

 

The defense likely will suffer. Beyond trading Burns, the Panthers lost inside linebacker Frankie Luvu to the Washington Commanders despite efforts to re-sign him. They are moving on from cornerback Donte Jackson (traded to Pittsburgh), safety Vonn Bell and 2020 second-round pick Yetur Gross-Matos.

 

Earlier this week, Carolina acquired receiver Diontae Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers and agreed to terms with defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, linebacker Josey Jewell and cornerback Troy Hill.

 

The Panthers are visiting with Chase Young and D.J. Wonnum on Wednesday and Jadeveon Clowney on Thursday, per league sources. They need two edge rushers with Burns gone, so the answer to what that plan is could come soon.

 

Call it a cleansing of the Matt Rhule and Frank Reich coaching eras that were short-lived failures.

 

While none of this makes sense to Combs and others, the lyrics to this season haven’t been finished. As with most country hits, times could get worse before they get better, like in Combs’ song “When It Rains It Pours.”

 

But as he reminded us in those lyrics, things can get better: “Then I won a hundred bucks on a scratch-off ticket. Bought two 12-packs and a tank of gas with it. She swore they were a waste of time. Oh, but she was wrong.”

 

What are the Panthers doing?

 

Stay tuned, Luke.

NFC WEST

ARIZONA

John Breech of CBSSports.com is surprised at how highly the Cardinals valued QB DESMOND RIDDER:

After just two seasons in Atlanta, Desmond Ridder’s time with the Falcons has come to an end.

 

CBS Sports lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones has reported that the Falcons were finalizing a deal that will send Ridder to Arizona. The Cardinals announced the deal Thursday. In exchange, Arizona is sending Rondale Moore to Atlanta.

 

For the Falcons, Ridder became expendable this week after they signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal in free agency.

 

After the Cousins signing, Ridder probably figured he wasn’t going to be sticking around in Atlanta much longer. The former third-round pick had a rough 2023 season and by the time the year ended, Falcons owner Arthur Blank didn’t sound happy about the quarterback situation. Back in January, Blank made it clear that he was frustrated with the team’s quarterback play in 2023. He also said that he would let the new coaching staff pick their own starting quarterback, which was the first sign that Ridder was likely done with the Falcons.

 

It was a tumultuous year for Ridder, who got benched twice during the 2023 season. The first benching came in November, but that only lasted two weeks and he was given his job back before the month was over. Ridder then ended up making four more starts after that before being benched again. Overall, Ridder started a total of 13 games last season and the Falcons went 6-7 with him under center.

 

The former third-round pick never really meshed with coach Arthur Smith and he wasn’t able to take advantage of the offensive weapons that the Falcons put around him. During his two seasons with the Falcons, Ridder threw 14 touchdown passes, but he also turned the ball over 21 times (12 interceptions, nine lost fumbles).

 

And now, let’s get to the part where we grade the trade for both teams.

 

Falcons receive: WR RONDALE MOORE

This is an absolute steal of a deal for Atlanta. With Ridder on his way out, the Falcons were in a position where they would have likely taken anything they could get in a potential trade. Usually, that ends up being a Day 3 pick in the NFL Draft, but in this case, the Falcons actually hit a home run.

 

Not only did they trade away a player who likely wouldn’t have played a single down for them in 2024, but they got back a huge weapon in return. Moore will now be joining a loaded Falcons offense that already includes Drake London and Darnell Mooney at receiver.

 

Moore, who was selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, has finished with at least 40 receptions in each of his three NFL seasons. In 2023, he finished fourth on the team in receiving yards with 40 catches for 352 yards. Opposing defenses will be worrying about London and Mooney in 2024, which could open the door for Moore to have a big year.

 

Atlanta trade grade: A

 

Cardinals receive: QB DESMOND RIDDER

This isn’t a horrible trade for the Cardinals. They had a need at backup quarterback, and they filled that need by adding Ridder. Giving up Moore is somewhat of a surprise, especially since Arizona will likely be losing Marquise Brown in free agency. With both guys out, that means Arizona will be going into 2024 without two of their top-four receivers from last season.

 

Before this trade, the Cardinals had Clayton Tune behind Kyler Murray on the depth chart, but now, that job will go to Ridder.

 

Arizona trade grade:  C+

 

SAN FRANCISCO

Will LB De’VONDRE CAMPBELL be joining the 49ers?  Josh Alper ofProFootballTalk.com:

The last game that linebacker De’Vondre Campbell played as a member of the Packers was against the 49ers and the next game he plays may be as a member of the NFC West club.

 

Matt Maiocco of NBCSportsBayArea.com reports that the 49ers have “strong interest” in signing Campbell to a contract for the 2024 season.

 

The 49ers have already tried to sign one linebacker as a free agent this week. They had a verbal agreement with Eric Kendricks, but Kendricks backed out of it and opted to sign with the Cowboys instead.

 

Campbell was released by the Packers, so, like Kendricks, signing him would not factor into the NFL’s formula for determining compensatory draft picks. The veteran had 75 tackles for the Packers last season and he had eight tackles in the 49ers’ divisional round win over Green Bay.

 

SEATTLE

In an under the radar move, the Seahawks take QB SAM HOWELL off the hands of the Commanders.  Brady Henderson of ESPN.com:

The Seattle Seahawks acquired quarterback Sam Howell in a trade with the Washington Commanders on Thursday.

 

Seattle received Howell, a fourth-round draft pick (No. 102 overall) and a sixth-rounder (No. 179) in exchange for picks in the third (No. 78) and fifth (No. 152) rounds. The third-rounder the Seahawks are giving up is their own — they have an extra pick in the round via a trade with the Denver Broncos last April.

 

During his weekly radio show on Thursday, Seahawks general manager John Schneider said “several” other teams were involved in possibly trading for Howell and that Seattle is acquiring him to be Geno Smith’s backup – not to compete with Smith for the starting job.

 

“He had a great day against us this past fall,” Schneider told Seattle Sports 710-AM. “He’s a quarterback but he’s really a football player. That’s what I love about him. Really tough, young. He’s 23 years old and has 18 starts in the league already. He’s the same age as like [Jayden] Daniels from LSU and [Spencer] Rattler and [Michael] Penix [Jr.], and he’s a year younger than Bo Nix.

 

“We were just really excited to be able to acquire him. We know he’s a serious dude. He’s into it, he works his tail off. We got great reviews on him and we loved him coming out of college. So yeah, we’re happy to get him in the mix. Geno’s the guy and Sam will be backing him up.”

 

Howell, who started for Washington last season, threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to the Seahawks in November.

 

Howell solidifies the Seahawks’ quarterback depth after Drew Lock agreed to sign with the New York Giants in free agency. Smith and Howell are the only quarterbacks on Seattle’s roster.

AFC WEST

KANSAS CITY

The Chiefs are signing WR MARQUISE “Hollywood” BROWN.  Myles Simmons ofProFootballTalk.com:

The Chiefs have brought in a receiver.

 

Marquise Brown has agreed to a one-year deal with Kansas City, according to multiple reports.

 

The initial reporting is that Brown’s contract is worth up to $11 million.

 

A first-round pick in the 2019 draft, Brown played his first three seasons with the Ravens. He had his best season in 2021 when he caught 91 passes for 1,008 yards with six touchdowns.

 

Baltimore traded Brown to Arizona on the first night of the 2022 draft. His production has dipped over the last two seasons as he’s also dealt with injuries. In 14 games last season, he caught 51 passes for 574 yards with four touchdowns. His 41.0 yards per game was down from 59.1 in 2022.

Despite winning Super Bowl LVIII, the Chiefs had a clear need at receiver. The team released Marquez Valdes-Scantling late last month.

 

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes reacted positively to the news of Brown’s signing, posting a smiley face emoji on social media.

AFC NORTH

 

BALTIMORE

RB DERRICK HENRY found a purple suit with a special memory for his introductory press conference in Baltimore.  Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com:

Henry was dressed in a purple suit jacket with a black shirt and tie, which is what he wore to his grandmother’s funeral in 2016. Purple was the favorite color of his grandmother, who raised him.

 

When Henry was told about a news conference for the Ravens, he scrambled through moving boxes to find this suit.

 

“I definitely wanted to wear this color to honor her and show all the fans around Flock Nation that I’m ready,” Henry said, “I’m on board.”

Flock Nation?  We didn’t know.

He also addressed his shelf life.

 

Only three questions into his introductory news conference with the Baltimore Ravens, Derrick Henry addressed the biggest concern about his future.

 

What was the star running back’s response to those who say his best days are behind him?

 

“Tell them to keep watching,” Henry said Thursday. “People always going to have something to say — always going to have opinions. I’m just ready to work, ready to get things started and do my best to help this organization.”

 

One of the NFL’s most dominant runners over the past eight seasons, Henry officially signed his two-year, $16 million contract with the Ravens. He’s finished with over 1,100 yards rushing and double-digit touchdowns in each of the past two seasons, but he turned 30 in January — an age when running backs can experience a decline in play.

 

In the Super Bowl era, there have been 26 running backs who have recorded 1,000-yard rushing seasons after turning 30, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Of those 26 backs, 13 of them gained over 1,000 yards rushing multiple times in their 30s.

 

The Ravens expressed confidence in Henry, who was their first addition in free agency this year.

 

“He’s kind of a unicorn, to be honest,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said. “It’s a combination of speed, power, durability.”

 

Over the past five seasons, Henry has shown that speed and power, leading running backs in most rushing yards after first contact and most touches reaching at least 20 miles per hour. His 3,527 yards rushing after first contact are 932 more than any other running back since 2019, and his 22 touches of reaching at least 20 mph are more than Saquon Barkley (18) and Jonathan Taylor (17) over that span.

 

Henry has also proved to be one of the most dependable running backs, playing at least 15 games in seven of his eight seasons in the league.

 

“Those kind of guys are rare,” DeCosta said. “We’ve had some here in Baltimore. They’re just different from everybody else, and I think Derrick’s a good example of that.”

 

DeCosta said the Ravens tried to acquire Henry before last year’s trade deadline, and the four-time Pro Bowler said he thought there was a “good chance” he was coming to Baltimore at the end of October. About five months later, the Ravens landed Henry to a deal that could be worth up to $20 million, including $9 million guaranteed in the first year, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

 

“When you evaluate the tape, you watch the player, you see the history of the player, you talk to people who have been around the player, it made all the sense in the world for us to target Derrick,” DeCosta said.

 

Henry agreed to a deal with the Ravens on Tuesday, the second day of the NFL’s negotiating window in free agency.

 

At that point, 10 other running backs had agreed to contracts with other teams, but Henry said there was no doubt that he was ending up in Baltimore.

 

“It really was a no-brainer for me,” Henry said. “This is where I knew I wanted to be. I love the style, the physicality that they play with on all three phases. I feel like it fits my style of play as well.”

 

THIS AND THAT

 

2024 DRAFT

A Mock Draft from Josh Edwards of CBSSports.com:

The 2024 NFL Draft is six weeks from today. With NFL free agency in full bloom, teams now have a more clear understanding of their needs, both present and future. The draft is the next opportunity to fill any of the remaining glaring needs.

 

In today’s thought exercise, we explore how runs on a few position groups and desperation can impact decision-making with not one, not two, but three trades in the first round.

 

Without further ado, let’s kick this off!

 

For more draft coverage, you can hear in-depth analysis twice a week on “With the First Pick” — our year-round NFL Draft podcast with NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson and former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. You can find “With the First Pick” wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc. Listen to the latest episode below!

 

1 – CHICAGO (from Carolina)

Caleb Williams QB

USC • JR • 6’1″ / 215 LBS

Despite the chatter that Chicago is undecided about what it should do at the quarterback position, the Bears are going to take Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall. They can build the offense around him from that point forward.

 

2 – WASHINGTON

Jayden Daniels QB

LSU • SR • 6’4″ / 210 LBS

Washington is going to take a rookie quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft. The only question is whether it will be Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye. In this scenario, they take a more mobile Daniels to be the face of the franchise.

 

3 – NEW ENGLAND

Drake Maye QB

NORTH CAROLINA • SOPH • 6’4″ / 230 LBS

New England has done nothing to suggest it will bypass the opportunity to take a rookie quarterback. The Patriots could decide that their roster is not in a place where a rookie can just be dropped in at the game’s most important position, but that would be a surprise. If the first three teams are locked into quarterbacks, where does the fourth come off the board?

 

4 – ARIZONA

Marvin Harrison Jr. WR

OHIO STATE • JR • 6’4″ / 205 LBS

Arizona is rebuilding with two first-round picks. The first of those two choices is used on Marvin Harrison Jr. The Cardinals offense has lacked size in recent years and Harrison remedies that issue.

 

5 – MINNESOTA (Mock Trade from LA Chargers)

J.J. McCarthy QB

MICHIGAN • JR • 6’3″ / 202 LBS

With three quarterbacks taken with the first three picks, Minnesota has to get aggressive in order to secure the fourth quarterback off the board. They trade up to No. 5 overall so that Kevin O’Connell can work with Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy since Kirk Cousins has moved on to Atlanta.

 

6 – NY GIANTS

Malik Nabers WR

LSU • JR • 6’0″ / 200 LBS

New York lacks a No. 1 wide receiver who can create his own opportunities. Malik Nabers has great body control down the field. He would be a great complement to what the Giants already have in Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt.

 

7 – TENNESSEE

Joe Alt OT

NOTRE DAME • JR • 6’7″ / 322 LBS

Tennessee has already made big free agency moves signing center Lloyd Cushenberry, running back Tony Pollard and wide receiver Calvin Ridley. The Titans continue the investment in the offense and Will Levis with the selection of Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt.

 

8 – ATLANTA

Dallas Turner EDGE

ALABAMA • JR • 6’4″ / 252 LBS

Atlanta does not have a pass rusher who inspires fear from the opposition. Dallas Turner has the athletic profile of a pass rusher who can reach that level. He is a young, ascending player with his best football ahead of him.

 

9 – CHICAGO

Rome Odunze WR

WASHINGTON • JR • 6’3″ / 215 LBS

If nothing else, it is an exciting offseason for Bears fans adding a quarterback (Caleb Williams) and now a wide receiver in the first round. They have a talented group, including wide receiver D.J. Moore and tight end Cole Kmet.

 

10 – NY JETS

Olumuyiwa Fashanu OT

PENN STATE • JR • 6’6″ / 317 LBS

The Jets traded for Ravens right tackle Morgan Moses so perhaps that leads them to look for a left tackle specifically. Olu Fashanu has been overlooked a bit of late because others are rising, but he is the missing piece to Aaron Rodgers’ protection.

 

11 – LA CHARGERS (Mock Trade from Minnesota)

Taliese Fuaga OT

OREGON STATE • JR • 6’6″ / 334 LBS

The selection of Taliese Fuaga gives Los Angeles stability on the right side, but it also allows Rashawn Slater to remain on the left side. The franchise now has three former first-round selections on its offensive line as new head coach Jim Harbaugh installs a physical brand of football.

 

12 – CINCINNATI (Mock Trade from Denver)

Brock Bowers TE

GEORGIA • JR • 6’4″ / 240 LBS

Cincinnati still needs a right tackle and potentially a cornerback, but the idea of taking Brock Bowers is too good to bypass, especially considering Tee Higgins’ trade request.

 

13 – LAS VEGAS

JC Latham OT

ALABAMA • JR • 6’6″ / 360 LBS

Jermaine Eluemunor departed in free agency so that creates a void at right tackle. JC Latham may hit a little too close to home considering they recently used another first-round selection on an Alabama right tackle (Alex Leatherwood) who did not pan out.

 

14 – NEW ORLEANS

Brian Thomas Jr. WR

LSU • JR • 6’4″ / 205 LBS

New Orleans is moving on from Michael Thomas so that puts a lot of emphasis on Chris Olave. Brian Thomas Jr. is not as versatile as Olave, but he does bring a new element to the offense.

 

15 – INDIANAPOLIS

Jared Verse EDGE

FLORIDA STATE • JR • 6’4″ / 260 LBS

Indianapolis’ defensive line is stacked with Kwity Paye, Dayo Odeyingbo, Grover Stewart, Raekwon Davis, DeForest Buckner, Samson Ebukam, Tyquan Lewis and now Verse. The Colts still have a decision to make on Paye’s fifth-year option.

 

16 – PITTSBURGH (Mock Trade from Seattle)

Amarius Mims OT

GEORGIA • JR • 6’7″ / 340 LBS

Pittsburgh is not a team that likes to wait around to see if its target is going to be available. In this scenario, the Steelers move up a handful of picks to ensure they do not miss out on new right tackle Amarius Mims. Mims’ selection allows them to move Broderick Jones back to the left side, which he played at Georgia.

 

17 – JACKSONVILLE

Quinyon Mitchell CB

TOLEDO • JR • 6’0″ / 196 LBS

Wednesday’s Calvin Ridley development may pigeon hole Jacksonville into taking a wide receiver but the team also released Darious Williams. The Jaguars are losing steam as an AFC contender this offseason.

 

18 – DENVER (Mock Trade from Cincinnati)

Bo Nix QB

OREGON • SR • 6’2″ / 217 LBS

A run on the quarterback position breathes an air of desperation into the Broncos as they move back and take a prospect with significant collegiate experience. Bo Nix has been consistently productive since arriving in Eugene.

 

19 – LA RAMS

Terrion Arnold CB

ALABAMA • SOPH • 6’0″ / 196 LBS

Los Angeles finally has a first-round pick and use it on a position that has lacked a difference-maker since the organization traded away Jalen Ramsey. Terrion Arnold is the second cornerback off the board in this instance.

 

19 – SEATTLE (Mock Trade from Pittsburgh)

 Troy Fautanu IOL

WASHINGTON • JR • 6’4″ / 317 LBS

Seattle has not yet found a starting-worthy offensive guard in free agency so the Seahawks turn to the draft. Troy Fautanu could play tackle in a pinch — and the Seahawks found themselves in that exact situation in 2023 — but he could be a fantastic guard.

 

21 – MIAMI

Byron Murphy II DL

TEXAS • JR • 6’1″ / 308 LBS

Las Vegas signed Christian Wilkins away from Miami in free agency and the Dolphins have only added to a mounting list of needs. The selection of Byron Murphy II allows the Dolphins to cross off one of those needs in the first round.

 

22 – PHILADELPHIA

Laiatu Latu EDGE

UCLA • SR • 6’5″ / 265 LBS

It has been an interesting offseason for edge rushers in Philadelphia to say the least. Brandon Graham was re-signed while Josh Sweat and Haason Reddick have been made available in a trade. They signed Bryce Huff in free agency. I anticipate more moves coming for Philadelphia and that could open the door for Latu.

 

23 – HOUSTON (from Cleveland)

Kool-Aid McKinstry CB

ALABAMA • JR • 6’1″ / 195 LBS

Houston has had an exciting offseason already trading for Joe Mixon and signing Danielle Hunter, Denico Autry and Azeez Al-Shaair. Kool-Aid McKinstry steps in opposite Derek Stingley Jr. and forms one of the AFC’s best secondary duos.

 

24 – DALLAS

Jackson Powers-Johnson IOL

OREGON • JR • 6’3″ / 320 LBS

Tyron Smith remains a free agent and Tyler Biadasz has signed in Washington. Changes have already come to the Cowboys offensive line and the selection of Jackson Powers-Johnson gives them some flexibility to get the five best on the field.

 

25 – GREEN BAY

Kingsley Suamataia OT

BYU • SOPH • 6’6″ / 325 LBS

The David Bakhtiari era has finally come to an end in Green Bay. Kingsley Suamataia has played both sides of the line but would be a mauler in Matt LaFleur’s system.

 

26 – TAMPA BAY

Graham Barton OT

DUKE • SR • 6’5″ / 314 LBS

Tampa Bay has done everything in its power to retain its best players but the offensive line has taken a hit over the past few offseasons losing key players like Alex Cappa, Ryan Jensen, Ali Marpet and Shaq Mason. Graham Barton has played left tackle but projects inside at the next level.

 

27 – ARIZONA (from Houston)

Chop Robinson EDGE

PENN STATE • JR • 6’3″ / 254 LBS

Arizona lacks players capable of taking a game over on its defensive front. Chop Robinson is still a vision but he has the athletic profile to become a high-impact performer in the NFL.

 

28 – BUFFALO

Adonai Mitchell WR

TEXAS • JR • 6’4″ / 196 LBS

Buffalo did sign Mack Collins after losing Gabe Davis, but there is still some question about Stefon Diggs’ long-term future. Adonai Mitchell gives the offense more speed and insurance in the event that Diggs’ time comes to an end.

 

29 – DETROIT

Nate Wiggins CB

CLEMSON • JR • 6’2″ / 185 LBS

Detroit acquired Carlton Davis and brought back Emmanuel Moseley but Nate Wiggins gives that room depth. Cornerback becomes a position of strength. Wiggins is still developing so having veterans around him can buy time.

 

30 – BALTIMORE

Tyler Guyton OT

OKLAHOMA • JR • 6’7″ / 328 LBS

Baltimore traded away right tackle Morgan Moses and are left with Daniel Faalele. The Ravens may feel comfortable with him based on what they have seen in practice but it would also not be a surprise if the team used its first-round selection on Tyler Guyton just as they did eight years earlier with Ronnie Stanley.

 

31 – SAN FRANCISCO

Johnny Newton DL

ILLINOIS • JR • 6’2″ / 295 LBS

San Francisco signed Jordan Elliott and traded for Maliek Collins after releasing Arik Armstead. The 49ers have bigger positions of need but I can not help but think about how obsessed the organization has proven to be with defensive linemen.

 

32 – KANSAS CITY

Keon Coleman WR

FLORIDA STATE • JR • 6’4″ / 215 LBS

Kansas City needs consistency at the wide receiver position. Keon Coleman gives the Chiefs size at the position and he had just a 2.3% drop rate in 2023, according to TruMedia.