If everyone is vaccinated, can the NFL reduce some of its precautions? Kevin Seifert ofESPN.com:

The NFL has “no intention” to require COVID-19 vaccinations for players, coaches or team staff members, according to the league’s chief medical officer.

Speaking Thursday on the NFL Network, Dr. Allen Sills said he hopes “everyone” will get vaccinated and added that “you’ll see vaccinated individuals be able to have certain privileges, and certain precautions that are lifted that won’t apply to unvaccinated individuals.” But it does not appear that vaccination will be a prerequisite for participation in the 2021 season.

“What we are focusing on is education,” Sills said. “We want everyone to have the facts.”

Sills compared those privileges and precautions to plans for team facilities during the annual player draft next month. The league informed teams this week that those who are having only fully vaccinated people in their draft rooms will face fewer restrictions than those who include some who have not been vaccinated.

Revisions to the league’s COVID-19 protocols are one of the most high-profile stories of the offseason.

On Wednesday, ESPN NFL insider Chris Mortensen reported that the NFL and NFLPA are negotiating the extent of in-person offseason workouts. The NFLPA is continuing to advocate for an entirely virtual offseason, similar to what the league administered in 2020, but will demand daily testing if there are any workout in person.

Owners believe daily testing will not be necessary this summer in training camp, at which point most players will have had an opportunity to be vaccinated.

NFC EAST

WASHINGTON

WR ADAM HUMPHRIES has signed a one-year deal with the Washington Football Team.  He has history with QB RYAN FITZPATRICK. Nicki Jhabvala of the WashingtonPost:

The Washington Football Team on Thursday signed veteran wide receiver Adam Humphries, giving the team and new quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick a trusted pass catcher to work out of the slot alongside Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel. Humphries’s contract, according to people with knowledge of situation, is for one year.

Humphries, 27, entered the league in 2015 as a college free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Two of his four seasons in Tampa, 2017-18, were with Fitzpatrick as his quarterback and Nate Kaczor as his special teams coordinator. Humphries played every game in that span, working primarily out of the slot as a receiver while doubling as a punt returner.

In 2018, he posted career highs of 76 catches, 816 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns, two of which he caught from Fitzpatrick in a blowout win over the Ron Rivera-coached Carolina Panthers.

Humphries parlayed his career season into a four-year, $36 million contract with the Tennessee Titans the next year, but struggled to find similar success. An ankle injury cost him four games in 2019 and after a brief stint on Tennessee’s reserve/COVID list last year, he suffered a concussion that eventually landed him on injured reserve. The Titans released him in February. In his seven games during the 2020 season, he caught 23 passes for 228 yards with two touchdowns.

When healthy, Humphries is a reliable pass-catcher who fills a void in Washington’s offense. He also provides another versatile option next to McLaurin, who played nearly a quarter of his snaps last season in the slot; recent signee Samuel, who had the second-most rushing yards among receivers last year with 200, and Antonio Gibson, the receiver-turned-running back leading Washington’s ground game.

Humphries’s signing is the latest move in a franchise-wide overhaul for Washington. Since January 2020, when Rivera was hired as head coach and top football decision-maker, Washington has installed a new coaching staff and front office, overhauled its entire quarterbacks and running backs rooms, and revamped its receiving corps and secondary.

NFC WEST

LOS ANGELES RAMS

Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com with a deep dive into the rift between Coach Sean McVay and QB JARED GOFF.  The whole thing is , excerpts below:

Inside the home locker room at SoFi Stadium, standing underneath a neon-glowing Los Angeles Rams logo, coach Sean McVay called out quarterback Jared Goff in front of players and coaches. It was a postgame scene many had never before witnessed.

McVay glared in Goff’s direction, shouting that he needed to play better and couldn’t continue to turn the ball over. McVay didn’t say the quarterback’s name, but those who were there said they knew to whom McVay was talking.

Minutes later, a heated McVay continued to call out Goff, but this time to reporters, the first time in four seasons as coach he took aim at a player rather than putting the blame on himself after a loss.

“Our quarterback has to take better care of the football,” McVay said about Goff, the player general manager Les Snead traded six picks to move up and draft No. 1 overall in 2016.

That was Week 12 of the 2020 season, and Goff had turned the ball over three times in a 23-20 loss to the NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers. But McVay’s frustration with the franchise quarterback had been brewing for some time.

In the span of two seasons, routine coach and quarterback sideline squabbles turned into one-sided shouting matches, with McVay no longer holding back. Two opposite personalities that once worked harmoniously — McVay’s hyper-focused drive to Goff’s cool-and-calm demeanor — no longer meshed. Goff’s thumb injury allowed McVay to start a different quarterback late last season. That, coupled with Matthew Stafford’s request for a trade from the Detroit Lions, proved to be the end for Goff in L.A.

Two weeks after the 2020 campaign, which ended with a divisional playoff loss at the Green Bay Packers, the Rams traded Goff, two first-round picks and a third-round pick to the Lions in exchange for Stafford.

It was a startling turn of events considering Goff won two NFC West division titles and an NFC championship and helped lead the Rams to Super Bowl LIII. For those accomplishments, he was rewarded with a four-year, $134 million extension, including a record-breaking $110 million guaranteed, only 17 months before the trade.

“Unfortunately, the way it ended is never how you envision it,” Goff said during an introductory news conference last week in Detroit. “But it’s the way it goes.”

– – –

interviews with more than two dozen sources, including Rams players, coaches and front-office personnel, either on the record or on condition of anonymity, painted the portrait of a relationship between McVay and Goff that fractured in 2019 and slowly decayed throughout the 2020 season.

After seven winless starts as a rookie under former Rams coach Jeff Fisher, Goff played masterfully in his next two years with McVay as coach and a supporting cast that included All-Pro running back Todd Gurley II and All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald. The lanky quarterback passed for 8,492 yards and 60 touchdowns with 19 interceptions in 2017 and 2018 and earned two Pro Bowl selections. Meanwhile, his future successor passed for 8,223 yards and 50 touchdowns and 21 interceptions with Detroit during that span.

With a mega-payday looming for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Rams wanted to get ahead of the market reset and re-sign Goff despite the two seasons remaining on his rookie contract.

McVay inherited Goff at quarterback when he took the job in 2017 but felt confident about what he had seen during their two seasons together. He signed off on the decision to give Goff the contract extension.

“Jared Goff, as long as I’m fortunate enough to be in this role, hopefully this guy is stuck with me for a long time,” McVay said a few months after the Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots.

A day after the deal was announced, Goff smiled about his future with McVay.

“He’s joked that I’m stuck with him; I told him, ‘I think I’m OK with that,'” Goff said. “It will be a good marriage … I’m happy to be with him for a long time.”

However, in the two seasons that followed, the Rams’ offense steadily declined — going from third in scoring in 2018 to 12th in 2019 to tied for 22nd in 2020 — along with Goff’s production.

Along with it, the question began percolating inside the Rams’ building: Did we make a mistake?

What the Patriots and coach Bill Belichick did to the Rams’ offense during the Super Bowl, holding it to 260 total yards, including 60 rushing yards, didn’t just ruin a game plan and the chance to return to L.A. with a title. It upended a scheme, exposed a quarterback and provided the NFL — the ultimate copycat league — a blueprint of how to grind McVay’s offense to a halt.

McVay knew getting back to the Super Bowl would not be easy, but he didn’t expect the offense to take a significant step backward, as the downtick in scoring resulted in the Rams missing the playoffs in 2019.

The offensive line underwent turnover. Sturdy left guard Rodger Saffold departed in free agency, the Rams declined an option on veteran center John Sullivan’s contract and right tackle Rob Havenstein was sidelined midway through the season because of a knee injury. Gurley, the 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, had knee issues, and McVay struggled to consistently incorporate the run in the game plan.

With the infrastructure around him beginning to falter, Goff needed to take control.

McVay grinded at all hours, trying to solve the offensive issues. With no full-time offensive coordinator — a position McVay did not fill after current Packers coach Matt LaFleur departed following the 2017 season — it fell on McVay to right the ship.

It became apparent to some inside the building that Goff had not developed into a quarterback who could thrive without a strong cast.

“The situation around him affected his game. If the O-line wasn’t always firing or if he was missing a wide receiver, things didn’t go well,” a team source said. “If he had a clean pocket and everything was going perfect, he’s a top-five quarterback.”

Shane Waldron — Goff’s fourth quarterbacks coach in four seasons (and now the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks) — manned the position room along with assistant Zac Robinson. McVay would drop in.

The Rams’ previous two quarterbacks coaches — LaFleur and Zac Taylor (now the Cincinnati Bengals’ coach) — provided buffers between McVay and Goff.

McVay would be able to get his message, no matter how tough, to Goff through the quarterbacks coach, ensuring no disruption to the relationship.

“Sean is an amped-up guy; Jared was always calm and collected,” a team source said. “I thought they balanced each other out.”

But as the 2019 season progressed without the desired results, McVay began to coach Goff more directly and their dynamic began to slowly unravel.

“Sean got more involved, was tougher on Jared and didn’t realize that he wasn’t building him back up,” a league source said.

Goff complained to others about McVay and vice versa. The two wouldn’t sit down often enough to hammer the issues out, a league source said.

On the sideline, where emotional outbursts are not uncommon, “It gradually became more hostile, with McVay cussing out Goff, and Goff would feel crushed,” a league source said.

– – –

Ultimately, the merger between the Type A, football-hyper personality of McVay and the laid-back Goff didn’t work.

Spend enough time around McVay and you’ll notice some common refrains. Among them, “Consistency is the truest measure of performance.” Throughout the 2020 season, McVay harped on Goff’s need to improve.

“Consistency is the biggest thing. I know it’s like a broken record, but it is the truth,” McVay said when asked what he wanted to see from Goff through the final quarter of the regular season.

“He was good this season,” a team source said about Goff. “Except when he was awful.”

– – –

Work ethic wasn’t an issue; Goff put in the hours. It was a matter of understanding, diagnosing and applying what was coached.

Goff struggled to recognize coverage disguises and didn’t consistently identify coverage post snap as the play developed. When a defense ran Cover Zero with no safeties deep, his decision-making process often didn’t happen quickly enough to hit the big play.

“As a quarterback, you can’t lose games,” a team source said. “We just needed him to manage it and do his part.”

The Rams had the NFL’s top-ranked defense in 2020 under first-year coordinator Brandon Staley, who is now the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. Led by NFL Defensive Player of the Year Donald and All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, the Rams allowed a league-low average of 18.5 points per game.

For a second consecutive season — and despite hiring full-time offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell, who also served as quarterbacks coach — the offense was a glaring issue when coupled with a defense otherwise worthy of a Super Bowl run.

“It’s been a struggle of a year because we had a strong defense,” a team source said, “which put more pressure on our offense to play well.”

The lack of offensive productivity ate at McVay, who arrived in L.A. from Washington with an offensive acumen and proved to be an innovator in his first two seasons, constructing a high-scoring juggernaut behind 11 personnel (three receivers, a tight end and running back) and a lot of play-action.

McVay told people around him he felt as though he had to call every play perfectly for Goff. And Goff felt increasingly micromanaged as McVay continuously ramped up the complexity of his offense in an attempt to outscheme the defense, a league source said.

“There’s a handful of times, every single game, that you’re not proud of it, and then there was a lot of times when you did feel like you were getting some looks that you would hope for; sometimes it worked out, and sometimes it didn’t,” McVay said about his playcalling after the season. “I have high expectations and standards for myself and for our offense.”

Goff’s natural throwing talent was not an issue, but his inability to consistently use it became one.

Through seven games and a 5-2 start, Goff — with O’Connell, his fifth quarterbacks coach in five seasons — showed progress in the face of changing voices. It was a similar dynamic to what three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Alex Smith, who had five offensive coordinators in five seasons after being the No. 1 pick of the 49ers in 2005, struggled with early in his NFL career.

But it all crashed down in Week 8.

Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores, who previously was part of the Patriots’ defensive staff that dismantled the Rams’ offense in Super Bowl LIII, dialed up the pressure.

The Dolphins blitzed Goff on 26 dropbacks, the most he faced in a single game in 2020.

Goff averaged 2.6 seconds from the time of the snap to throw the ball, which was his fourth-fastest time in 2020, and he passed for 355 yards and a touchdown.

However, too often Goff appeared confused and out of sorts, as he turned the ball over four times — two interceptions and two lost fumbles — and the Rams fell 28-17, losing to rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in his first NFL start.

“Our execution has to be better. I have to coach better, and I have to put our players in better positions, and that’s the bottom line,” McVay said after the loss, adding later, “This is a sick taste in your mouth.”

In the aftermath, McVay remained convinced the game plan should have worked, while Goff thought differently, a team source said

Throughout the building, tension rose in regard to McVay’s handling of Goff, whom some thought the coach did not hold accountable like others.

“We get our ass chewed out for f—ups,” a team source said. “But the stuff with the quarterback gets swept under the rug.”

Goff rebounded the following two weeks, with a solid performance in a win against the visiting Seahawks and then helping to put on a show on Monday Night Football, passing for 376 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions in a road victory over eventual Super Bowl champion Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But the wheels came off again a week later in a fourth consecutive loss to the Niners, who won despite starting backup quarterback Nick Mullens and playing without several other key starters. Goff sat alone on the sideline after two first-half turnovers. He finished with 198 passing yards and three turnovers — two interceptions and a lost fumble.

At some point amid the inconsistent season, sources said McVay contemplated whether the Rams would be able to return to the Super Bowl with Goff at quarterback.

Tension with Goff had grown. On the sideline, McVay would routinely yell at his quarterback, but some noticed there came a point when McVay wouldn’t circle back to apologize. Some chalked it up to the competitive environment, others to McVay’s inability to hide his frustration with Goff.

For Goff, it became increasingly difficult how often his coach took aim at him — whether on the sideline, in meetings or the practice field.

“Sean lost touch with how much he was breaking Jared down, but there’s got to be the build back up,” a league source said. “[McVay] was either unaware or disinterested in protecting Jared’s confidence.”

– – –

With a division title at stake in Week 16 in Seattle, Goff stumbled again in a 20-9 loss. He passed for 234 yards with an interception he called the among the worst plays of his career, and he made a glaring error when he slid short of a first down. To Goff’s credit, he finished the game after breaking the thumb on his throwing hand upon smacking it an opponent’s helmet in the final seconds of the third quarter.

Goff underwent surgery the following day and had three screws inserted in anticipation of recovering quickly enough for a playoff run.

In the meantime, McVay had the opportunity to make the change at quarterback, starting undrafted free agent John Wolford in Week 17. Some in the organization were convinced McVay wanted to do it earlier but didn’t because of Goff’s contract.

“He didn’t have the balls to sit Jared,” a team source said.

Wolford, who hadn’t played in a regular-season game since joining the Rams in 2019, would make his first NFL start in a must-win home game against the Cardinals to earn a playoff bid.

“The worst thing for Jared,” a team source said, “is that [McVay] got a taste of John Wolford.”

With a hired nutritionist, throwing coach and personal trainer outside of the Rams’ facility, Goff put in the work required of most starting NFL quarterbacks. But when compared to Wolford, whom some refer to as Baby Brees, it fell short.

Wolford arrived early during the week for practices — 6:30 a.m. — and stayed late, even when he was on the practice squad. “Just a different animal,” a league source said.

“He’s addicted like McVay,” a team source said.

The energy around the practice facility shifted when Wolford took over.

“It was just kind of an opportunity for John to breathe some life into the offense with his athleticism, intelligence,” a team source said.

Some players were excited about Wolford starting — not necessarily because they didn’t like Goff, but because they thought the mobile Wolford provided a spark.

Wolford overcame an interception on his first pass to throw for 231 yards in a 18-7 win over Arizona while rushing for a team-leading 56 yards.

With a wild-card playoff in Seattle up next, McVay decided early in the week Wolford would start, despite having yet to see Goff’s post-surgery recovery progress. Goff insisted he would be ready to play, but McVay’s decision was final, explaining a game plan would need to be installed to prepare Wolford.

“Functionality was going to be an issue with the thumb,” a team source said. “But I think it was probably that combination of, ‘Holy cow, we just saw John play, we got in rhythm, we kind of had a new game plan.'”

“The Arizona-Seattle weeks, those were our best weeks of practices,” another team source said. “The confidence of the team was high.”

Goff, 12 days removed from thumb surgery, was the only active backup against the Seahawks in the wild-card contest, a game-day decision that left some players confused about Goff’s availability should Wolford need to come out.

With 5:40 remaining in the first quarter, Wolford suffered a neck injury, and Goff was inserted. He proved — despite limited opportunity to practice the game plan throughout the week — he could lead the Rams to another playoff victory, closing out a 30-20 upset at Lumen Field.

Despite Goff’s improbable effort versus the Seahawks, questions again began brewing about who would start ahead of a divisional playoff at Green Bay.

Wolford ended up being ruled out late in the week because of the injury, but he did travel to Wisconsin; Goff would start.

However, if it were not for Wolford’s injury, several sources said McVay would have started him against the Packers.

When asked if Wolford would have started if he were available, McVay avoided answering the question.

“[McVay] was totally all-in 100 percent on starting Wolford over Goff,” a league source said.

“When we found out John couldn’t go,” a team source said, “we felt defeated.”

The desire for Wolford wasn’t unanimous, as Goff retained some supporters in the locker room.

“Jared was our starting quarterback,” another team source said.

– – –

Opinions throughout the building on Goff — the football player — fluctuated. Some fully supported him; others thought a change would be beneficial.

– – –

Together, McVay and Goff won 42 games over four seasons — tying Goff with the Seahawks’ Russell Wilson for total wins and putting Goff second only to Brady over that span.

But the Rams’ chance to acquire Stafford, who turned 33 last month, was too great of an opportunity to get the offense back on track.

“Put simply, chance to bet on going from good to great at that position,” Snead said. “Especially from where our team was, our core group of players, where they were in their career, the coaching staff we have, felt like it was just too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

Goff, 26, admitted he took the initial news of the trade personally.

“At first, absolutely,” Goff said. “I think it builds that chip on your shoulder a little bit. I won’t lie about that. There is that little extra motivation and chip that you do feel.”

After the trade was agreed on, McVay and Stafford — who both were vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer — celebrated their partnership with a dinner.

The Rams felt it was better to admit a mistake on a contract extension and move on than to make no changes and try to make another season work after two inconsistent seasons with Goff under center.

“Some decisions work; some don’t,” a team source said. “We are going to take big swings.”

“It’s disappointing and unfortunate the way it ended.”

SEATTLE

EDGE CARLOS DUNLAP will play for Seattle in 2021 after all. Mike Florio ofProFootballTalk.com:

Cut earlier this month by the Seahawks to avoid a $3 million roster bonus and to create $14 million in cap space, pass rusher Carlos Dunlap is back with the team.

According to agent Drew Rosenhaus, Dunlap has agreed to terms to rejoin Seattle. Per Rosenhaus, it’s a two-year, $16.6 million deal, with $8.5 million guaranteed.

Dunlap, 32, was trade to the Seahawks by the Bengals during the 2020 season. He had spent his entire career in Cincinnati, but he had a falling out with the organization regarding his playing time and the manner in which the team was using him.

He had five sacks in eight games with the Seahawks in 2020. For his career, Dunlap has 87.5 sacks.

THIS AND THAT

FREE AGENCY

Michael Lombardi, in The Athletic, looks at his winners and losers in free agency:

The first wave of free agency is all but over, and in an offseason hampered by salary cap restraints, the activity has been quieter than normal. But there’s still plenty to discuss, and below we’ll go into deals I loved, deals I hated and the teams who still have a lot of work to do.

But before we break down some of the moves, can we take a moment to discuss fans’ and the media’s constant reaction to overpaying? It reminds me of a meeting during the free-agency period when former Raiders owner Al Davis asked a coach about his evaluation of a free-agent player. The assistant coach started to discuss the deal’s finances, claiming what the player was worth and not worth, instead of focusing on the actual talent evaluation. Davis listened closely, paused, and then said to the coach, “With all due respect (he loved that line, and when he uttered those words, you knew what followed was not going to be good to the person he was directing the conversation toward), you don’t know a f—ing thing about what players cost.”

Coaches have no idea of value. How could they? They spend most of their time watching schemes, breaking down game film, and not understanding the NFL’s market and player compensation packages. The deal side is a different world from coaching. It’s similar when you go house hunting and constantly say “the home is not worth the value.” The value assessment is based on no real, tangible evidence other than the eye test, and in free agency or real estate, the eye test is a disaster. Besides, most of the deals that fans and coaches are appraising are 25 percent overvalued — in part because the deals all come directly from the agents to the NFL insiders for reporting. Agents tell the NFL insiders the max level of the deal, including every incentive, which are never easily earned. The deals never align with what is reported to what is actually in the contract, as it would not be as compelling to the agents to report a lesser deal.

Understanding value is not easy for those in or out of the league. Placing an accurate numerical value on any talent is never easy, especially when schemes are intertwined. In baseball, you can play third base for the Mets, get traded to the Yankees and play for them the next day. The scheme is not a factor in baseball or basketball.  Sheer talent matters most — either the talent matches their salary or it does not. In football, it becomes more complicated. Part of the financial evaluation is answering a few fundamental questions: Does the scheme fit the player? Does the scheme highlight the player’s talent? If you don’t understand the scheme, how can you accurately evaluate the contract? How can you place a dollar sign on the talent?

Yes, most teams (New England included) overspent during the start of free agency. That’s a given. No team that signed a deal at the beginning received a bargain. They did, however, pay less this year because of the salary-cap limitations. Had this been a non-COVID-impacted free agency market, with the cap increasing by 20 million, the deals completed would have been 20 percent higher. Why? Because what we all first learned about economics applies to the NFL free agency — supply and demand.  When supply is low and demand is high, prices rise. When demand is low, prices fall. Few teams had money, which made the market soft, favoring the teams, making it hard for the agents to create bidding wars.

Players misjudged the market this season, they thought the NFL was crying wolf. So many players and agents never saw the depression coming, which has made the free-agency period open and close faster than ever before, with many players likely regretting not taking their deals during the season.

Here’s my free agency review:

Three moves I loved

1. Green Bay re-signing Aaron Jones. As I have written before, Jones is not a running back, he is a weapon. He can impact the passing game with his route-running talent, which places him in the Dalvin Cook, Alvin Kamara category. No team wants to pay a running back who can only carry the ball. Teams will pay for a multidimensional back, and Jones fits that description.

2. Panthers signing Haason Reddick and Falcons signing Mike Davis: Reddick played well for the Cardinals last season, accumulating 12.5 sacks, five in the game against the New York Giants. Reddick knows Panthers head coach Matt Rhule from his Temple days, an example of the scheme fitting the player’s talent. Meanwhile, Mike Davis was a talented player from South Carolina who has been inconsistent over his six-year NFL career — he was disappointing in San Francisco, excellent in Seattle, bad in Chicago and really good in Carolina. Davis is a power back; he can catch and is hard to tackle in the open field. I love this signing for the Falcons, as they finally have a legitimate, healthy runner who can help their new offensive scheme under head coach Arthur Smith.

3. Washington signing CB William Jackson III. Jackson is a tall, long corner with ball awareness who can play physically at the line of scrimmage, a perfect fit for the great pass rush of the Washington Football Team. Jackson has only three career interceptions, partly due to the lack of pass rush in Cincinnati and the fact that the Bengals were always trailing in games — it’s hard to take chances when the team is behind. Jackson will benefit from the pass rush in DC, and his pure coverage skills will give Washington a legitimate coverage corner.

Three moves I hated

1. Adoree’ Jackson signing with the Giants. I loved Jackson coming out of USC. His speed and his ball skills made him a corner who could turn defense into offense. However, in the last two seasons, he has played in only 14 games, making few plays on the ball and lacking the return skills he displayed in college. I would love the Giants’ signing if they paid a modest salary, betting on Jackson returning to the game with a passion and more durability. But the Giants paid him as if he were a big-time starter, with guaranteed money for doing very little over the last two seasons. Who were the teams that the Giants were competing against for acquiring Jackson? The Titans know Jackson well, they desperately need coverage corners, and they walked away from the contract. What does that say?

2. Andy Dalton signing as the likely starting quarterback for the Bears. If you told me Dalton was the backup, I’d say OK, not perfect, but he fits the backup description — smart, can play on limited reps, can allow the offense to function. When you cross that threshold from backup to starter, things get complicated and cloudy. Yes, Dalton has started 142 games in his NFL career, but he’s started just 33 over the last three seasons. In those 33 games, Dalton is 11-22 with a 6.71 YPA and 51 touchdowns to 33 interceptions. I call Dalton a 20-20 quarterback because he can move the ball from his 20-yard line to his opponent’s, and then he makes mistakes. Bears fans must ask themselves: Can the team carry Dalton? And based on last year, that answer is no.

3. Yannick Ngakoue signing with the Raiders. I loved the Vikings’ trade for Ngakoue last season and thought he’d be a great addition to their defensive front. Then I watched him run up the field and avoid contact and run past the passer and I understood why Jacksonville traded him and why the Vikings wanted him gone. The Ravens learned the hard way, and at certain points during their season, they kept Ngakoue off the field even in passing situations. The worst place to be in football is past the quarterback, and yet Ngakoue loves to run past the passer as if he gets rewarded for being close to the quarterback’s launch point. When two teams walk away after trading significant assets, my antennas go up. He has 25 quarterback hits in the last 30 games and 16 sacks — and unless this improves, his $21 million guarantee will not make the Raiders happy.

Three moves that would look good in 2015

1. AJ Green to the Cardinals. Had this been 2015, I would love this move, but it’s 2021, and there is an old saying in personnel: “Then is then, now is now.” And Green now does not look like the same player. He averaged 11.1 yards per catch and had two touchdowns. More than the numbers, Green did not look like he had the same burst or acceleration as he had in the past. He looked like a declining player.

2. Kyle Long to the Chiefs. Missing a year of football is never easy, and missing a year after struggling to stay healthy in previous seasons causes big concerns. I love Long, both the player and the person — I just would have loved this deal for the Chiefs in 2015, not today.

3. Patrick Peterson to the Vikings. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer knows how to get the most out of veteran corners, evidenced by how long Terrance Newman played for him in Cincinnati and Minnesota. Perhaps Peterson will become the new Newman and find a fountain of youth to help his man-to-man skills. I’m always skeptical of older corners, not because they cannot run, but more because they know they cannot run and get penalties called on them. Peterson had 14 infractions called against him, four were declined and eight counted for first downs. In 2015, he had no pass interference calls, only six defensive holding calls. I like this move then, not now.

Three teams with work to do

1. Colts: Indy decided to hold on to their cap room, reserving their cash for player extensions. They still need to fix their left tackle position since Anthony Castonzo retired, which I am sure will come from the draft. Knowing Colts general manager Chris Ballard, he will continue to add to the roster by using cap-friendly contracts.

2. Packers: The Packers return their 13-win team almost in its entirety for next season, which means they need to add more depth and improve their kicking game, which was one of the reasons they failed to beat Tampa. They need a better swing tackle, more speed on defense and for Aaron Rodgers to get his contract extended with more cash in his deal.

3. Titans: The Titans must improve all three levels of their defense, especially in the secondary at corner. They struggled to cover last year, and that combined with their lack of a pass rush made their defense a pushover. Expect them to highlight defense in the draft.

So now with free agency over, what next? Well, we’ve entered the “Team X loves Player Y in the draft” phase of the NFL offseason. And just as the free agency speculation was flying a few weeks ago, you’ll hear plenty of rumors about how this team wants to take this player or trade up for that player. As you start getting excited for your team’s draft, don’t believe all the rumors about who’ll pick whom — but we’ll discuss that next week.

STOCK

Dick Stockton is retiring.  Andrew Marchand of the New York Post with a fitting remembrance:

When Dick Stockton was growing up in Kew Garden Hills in the 1940s and ’50s, his father would bring home eight newspapers a night. From The Post to the Times to the World-Telegram, they were all there.

Dick and his father, Joe, would consume each and every one of the sports sections, making sure to read columnists — Jimmy Cannon, Red Smith, Arthur Daly — and all the beat writers. Father and son would compare and contrast the styles. Dick dreamed of being in those pages.

“I originally wanted to be a sports writer,” Stockton told The Post.

After graduating from Syracuse in 1964 with that goal in mind, Stockton took a slight turn into sportscasting, where his career has included narrating one of the most famous home runs in baseball history, becoming the voice of the legendary 1980s Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals and enjoying a run that spanned CBS, TNT and, for nearly the last three decades, Fox Sports.

Now, after 55 years and on his own accord, he is retiring.

“I just think it is time,” the 78-year-old Stockton said.

In 1975, the Curse of the Bambino was 57 years old when Carlton Fisk came up for the Red Sox in the bottom of the 12th of Game 6 of the World Series. Stockton was in the booth when Fisk hit a line drive.

“There it goes! A long drive! If it stays fair … Home run!”

It was matter-of-fact, quick and on point. Especially after Stockton next shut his mouth, letting the sellout crowd provide the overjoyed ambience as Fisk rounded the bases. After 36 seconds of silence and after Fisk was mobbed at home plate, Stockton spoke again.

“We will have a seventh game in this 1975 World Series!”

He succeeded in the biggest moment of his career.

“It is strictly instinctive, at that time,” Stockton said. “If I had said that ball was foul and it was a home run, I wouldn’t be talking to you right now.

“Nothing has ever exceeded that one in my book [for me].”

9 NBA Finals

The rebirth of the NBA generally is credited in large part to the 1980s rivalry between Magic Johnson’s Lakers and Larry Bird’s Celtics. They met three times in the Finals, and Stockton was the play-by-player on CBS for all of them.

He did a total of nine Finals, matching Marv Albert. Mike Breen has done the most with 15 and counting.

While Lakers-Celtics had allure, Stockton immediately pointed out that the individual games were often not competitive.

“What is interesting was most of those games were not close,” Stockton said. “One team or the other would impose their will on the other guy and they win by scores of 18 or 20 points.”

Name change & breaks

Out of college in the mid-’60s, Stockton had an overnight radio job in Philadelphia doing the news. He would work from 10:30 p.m. until 6:30 a.m. to make $200 per week.

He would quickly move into TV and by around 1965, he landed at the local NBC affiliate. At that point, he was still using his family name, Stokvis. Win Baker, who was the GM of the station, said people wouldn’t know how to spell it if they didn’t see it.

“I was right there with him,” Stockton recalled. “I said, ‘Stockton.’ He said, ‘Fine.’ And that’s what happened.”

He moved on to Pittsburgh, where he would develop a relationship with Art and Dan Rooney, whose family owned the Steelers. By the time he was 24, the Rooneys recommended Stockton for a job as the pregame host on CBS’s NFL coverage. This was before the creation of “The NFL Today.”

In 1994, after Fox shook NFL broadcasting by acquiring the NFC package previously owned by CBS, Stockton moved with it.

For one of Fox’s first games, a-just-out-of-college entry level production assistant named Eric Shanks picked Stockton up at his New York City apartment for Giants-Eagles.

Stockton would become a mentor to Shanks, now Fox Sports’ CEO.

“I always said that, ‘Dick Stockton could do games here as long as he possibly wanted to do games here,’” Shanks said. “I will take Dick Stockton, on his worst day rolling out of bed, over almost any other play-by-play guy’s best day. When he called me [to tell me he was retiring,] I was upset. I was emotional. I really didn’t think he would call it right now. I’m sad.”

In recent years, Stockton has worked a lighter schedule, but Shanks said Stockton’s attitude toward how to create the right atmosphere for broadcasts is threaded through Fox Sports.

Full circle

As a kid in Queens, he learned his love of sports and journalism from his dad, Joe, who worked in printing, but not newspapers. His mom, Terry, played the piano and the two sung “Rodgers and Hammerstein.”

In retirement, he is still playing the piano for his second wife, Jamie. His first marriage was to sportscaster Lesley Visser.

With his fingers crossed because of the pandemic, of course, he is looking forward to traveling Europe with Jamie in the fall.

In the meantime, he continues to write on DStockton.com. He said he has enough material to produce a book. His columns also appear in the Thousand Islands Sun, which is in Alexandria Bay, N.Y., where he and his wife spend their summers.

“I guess what is interesting is what comes around goes around,” Stockton said. “My first love of writing has never really left me.”

This from Mark Dalton of the Cardinals:

@CardsMarkD

Hats off to Dick Stockton who’s retiring after 55 yrs of network TV sports broadcasting.

That includes play by play on 635 NFL games.

Also 66 Cardinals gms. 1st was 10/26/80 for CBS as STL Cards sacked BALT Colt Bert Jones an NFL record 12 times.  Last 9/27/20 vs DET for FOX.

The DB was with Dick for about a quarter of those 635 games.  What a gentleman.

His memory is amazing – actually getting better the further back you go. He could name the starting lineup of every baseball, basketball and hockey team of the 50s and 60s.

His list of broadcast partners in all sports – enormous.  Just about everyone you can think of.

His skill as a piano player is exceptional with a seemingly endless list of show tunes.

2021 DRAFT

Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN has a Mock for you.

Let’s dig into my third mock for the 2021 NFL draft, with post-free-agency projections for Picks 1-32 in April’s draft. After a flurry of moves last week, this is when we can finally see what teams really need — and which teams filled holes with multiyear free-agent deals.

After I put three trades in my Mock Draft 2.0, I have two more in this edition. One is for a team moving up to take a quarterback, and the other allows a team to get a player who might be a top-five lock in any other year. I think you’ll find them interesting.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

With four picks in the top 45, new Jaguars coach Urban Meyer and general manager Trent Baalke can get Lawrence some premier help. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them take a wide receiver with one of their second-rounders (Nos. 33 or 45), and there should be stellar options on the board (Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman, Ole Miss’ Elijah Moore or LSU’s Terrace Marshall Jr. would be ideal weapons). Offensive line and tight end are other positions to prioritize. But c’mon, this pick is Lawrence all the way. And the Jags have the No. 25 selection to add a high-end talent as well.

2. New York Jets

Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

I’m down to 50-50 here on the Jets keeping quarterback Sam Darnold. Free agency didn’t tip off general manager Joe Douglas’ plan; he went out and got much-needed receiving help with Corey Davis and Keelan Cole Sr., but this team needed weapons regardless of who is playing quarterback. We still have a ways to go until Round 1 begins, but this is the scenario in which Douglas gets a second-round pick for Darnold — maybe from the 49ers, Broncos or Panthers, if my upcoming mock trade doesn’t happen — and the Jets move forward with a new face of their future. Wilson has a superstar ceiling.

Trade: Carolina makes its move

The Panthers trade up five spots to get a quarterback, while the Dolphins move down to No. 8 and acquire what could be a 2022 first- or second-round pick (plus more considerations).

Miami already owns four picks in the top 50 — including the Texans’ first- and second-round picks — and now it could add another premier pick (or multiple ones) in next year’s draft.

With a loaded quarterback class, Miami is in a great position to trade down a few spots and still fill its needs. This is a win-win trade for both teams.

3. Carolina Panthers (via mock trade with MIA through HOU)

Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

We’ve seen the Panthers be aggressive to try to add a quarterback this offseason — in the Matthew Stafford sweepstakes — and it’s clear that Teddy Bridgewater isn’t their long-term answer at the position. I think the top four quarterbacks will be off the board by the time Carolina picks at No. 8, which means it is going to have to keep up that aggressiveness if Matt Rhule & Co. like Fields or North Dakota State’s Trey Lance. Fields could be eased in as the starter, and he’ll have a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver with DJ Moore. The Panthers would instantly become a must-watch offense every Sunday.

4. Atlanta Falcons

Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

With its salary-cap situation, Atlanta mostly has to stay out of free agency, and it even had to restructure quarterback Matt Ryan’s contract to get under the $182.5 million cap. As a result of that restructure, the organization can’t move on from Ryan until 2022, at the earliest, but that’s OK. Lance is going to need time to adapt to the speed of the NFL. He started only 17 games in college, all of which were against FCS competition, and it’s a big jump to the pros. The Falcons need to start thinking about the future. They also are a prime trade-down option, particularly to try to get better value for a defender — and acquire more picks.

5. Cincinnati Bengals

Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

All along, I’ve thought it was going to be an offensive tackle here, but if Pitts and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase are on the board, can the Bengals really pass them up? Joe Burrow has to get more playmakers around him. I think Pitts is just too good, and he would instantly upgrade this offense. He is one of the most talented tight ends I’ve ever graded, and there are people in the NFL who think he could be the second-best prospect in this class. With a deep offensive line class, Cincinnati could likely find a starting tackle or guard at the top of Round 2.

6. Philadelphia Eagles

Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

The Eagles are another team that didn’t have the cap space to be spenders in free agency, and this could be the ideal scenario for general manager Howie Roseman and new coach Nick Sirianni. They don’t have the pressure to take one of the top four quarterbacks and let him compete with Jalen Hurts. Now, they can evaluate Hurts in 2021 alongside an elite wide receiver in Chase, then figure out next offseason whether Hurts is the guy around whom they want to build their team. This is a roster that has several holes, and Philadelphia has a long ways to go until it is back to being a Super Bowl contender. Chase would be a great addition to get this franchise back on track after a rough 2020.

7. Detroit Lions

DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

The Lions’ projected starters at wide receiver? New signings Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman. There’s not much else behind them, with Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. both signing elsewhere. I would say this pick is likely going to the best wideout on the board, and Smith would be a tremendous choice. The Heisman Trophy winner doesn’t have the biggest frame (6-foot-1, 175 pounds), but you shouldn’t underestimate him. He is one of the best route runners I’ve scouted, and he beats any corner put in front of him. Detroit is clearly rebuilding, so I also wouldn’t be surprised if it trades down to pick up more draft capital.

8. Miami Dolphins (via mock trade with CAR through HOU)

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

Let’s go back-to-back Alabama wide receivers and reunite Waddle with his former college quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Adding Will Fuller V in free agency shouldn’t put Miami out of the running for a wide receiver with its top pick; Fuller got only a one-year deal, and this team needs to add playmakers around Tagovailoa for 2021 and beyond. A top three of Fuller, Waddle and DeVante Parker would be one of the NFL’s best, and each of them could take the top off a defense. Waddle is the best deep threat in this stellar class. The Dolphins also could address their front seven here and use the No. 18 pick on a wideout.

Trade: The Vikings jump five spots for an elite talent

With top offensive tackle Penei Sewell still on the board, I’m projecting the Vikings to move up five spots to get their instant starter at left tackle. That could cost a lot of capital; Minnesota leads the NFL in total picks in this class (11), although it doesn’t have a second-rounder as a result of the trade for pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue. This would likely cost at least Minnesota’s second-rounder in 2022 and likely more.

For the Broncos and new general manager George Paton, this is about adding value and not reaching for a defender at No. 9 that they could get at No. 14, while also acquiring premium picks next year.

9. Minnesota Vikings (via mock trade with DEN)

Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

I like the fit here, particularly with Riley Reiff leaving in free agency. Sewell is an elite talent, and if this quarterback class wasn’t so strong, he might be a lock for the top five. The Vikings have had offensive line issues for years, but Sewell would plug their hole on the left side. An elite O-line covers up roster flaws, and this is a step toward improving the entire offense. If Minnesota stays at No. 14 or does the opposite approach and trades down, keep an eye on safety. With Anthony Harris gone in free agency, there’s a void there next to Harrison Smith.

10. Dallas Cowboys

Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

The Cowboys brought back slot corner Jourdan Lewis, but there’s still a hole at one of the outside spots, with Chidobe Awuzie walking in free agency. This selection could reunite former Alabama teammates Surtain and fellow CB Trevon Diggs. Surtain is the most fundamentally sound defensive back in this class. Offensive line is another position to watch — particularly if Oregon’s Penei Sewell is still on the board — though Dallas could save that for Day 2.

11. New York Giants

Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan

The question I asked when I did my mock draft 2.0 was: Can the Giants get Daniel Jones a No. 1 wide receiver? Well, they’re certainly paying free-agent acquisition Kenny Golladay like one. That means general manager Dave Gettleman could try to address another position with this pick, likely on defense. Though I don’t have an edge rusher rated this high, Paye isn’t far off, and teams always reach for pass-rushers with intriguing physical prowess. I’ve heard that Paye is going to impress scouts at his pro day on March 26 and put up incredible testing numbers across the board. The production wasn’t there at Michigan — 11.5 sacks in four seasons — but I would bet on his upside, and you can see his tremendous first-step ability if you turn on the tape.

12. San Francisco 49ers

Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

I’m still not sold on Jimmy Garoppolo as coach Kyle Shanahan’s top quarterback going forward, but do the 49ers want to give up the draft capital to trade up to get one of the top four guys? This is a team already without its own third-round pick because of the trade to acquire Trent Williams last year. (It does have a third-round compensatory pick, however.) My feeling is that San Francisco could instead stay put in Round 1 and address its biggest hole with one of the top cornerbacks. Farley is one of the best pure cover corners in this class. Here’s a “wow” stat, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information: In 2019 (remember, he opted out of the 2020 season) Farley allowed a completion percentage of 24.4% when he was the targeted defender in coverage, which ranked No. 1 in the FBS. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Farley is having surgery on his back Tuesday, but as of now, I don’t think the injury will affect his draft stock.

13. Los Angeles Chargers

Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern

The Chargers have upgraded their offensive line in free agency with center Corey Linsley and tackle Matt Feiler, but I’d still take Slater if I were general manager Tom Telesco. That’s how bad this line was in front of rookie quarterback Justin Herbert. As far as I’m concerned, only Linsley and right tackle Bryan Bulaga are locks for their positions, and Slater could battle for the left tackle job with Feiler or move inside. There are some teams that see Slater as the best guard in this class, even after he starred at left tackle for Northwestern. (He opted out of the 2020 season.) I don’t think there’s any way Florida tight end Kyle Pitts makes it to No. 13, but he would be a great fit for the Chargers.

14. Denver Broncos (via mock trade with MIN)

Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

Denver moves down five spots in my projected trade and still gets the best off-ball linebacker in this class, a defender with the flexibility to play every linebacker spot. He could also put his hand in the dirt and rush the passer. Parsons opted out of the 2020 season, and I’m excited to see how he tests at his pro day on March 25. There’s a wide range on where Parsons could go, but his athletic testing numbers could make him a top-15 lock. I had thought this team would target a corner at No. 9, and that could still be an option with Kyle Fuller getting only a one-year deal in free agency.

15. New England Patriots

Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

Look at that — New England doesn’t even have to trade up to find its quarterback. Cam Newton is returning for another season, of course, and that was a smart deal to bring back a well-respected guy whom the rest of the locker room loves. But Newton is not likely to be the Patriots’ guy past 2021, and Jones could soak up the pro game for a season before taking over as the starter.

I’ve gotten in trouble before for saying that a few quarterbacks are “Tom Brady-like,” but I’m really talking about accurate, tall pocket passers. I’m not predicting that these guys are going to become Hall of Famers. When I watch Jones, I can see some of the traits that have made Brady so good for so long. Jones is a pinpoint thrower who can manipulate the pocket and find targets down the field. He is a leader in the locker room, too. This is a good fit. (Again, though, I’m not saying he is as good as the greatest quarterback to ever play the game, although you can find my pre-draft scouting report on Brady here).

16. Arizona Cardinals

Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

With potential future Hall of Famer Patrick Peterson gone to Minnesota in free agency, cornerback is a clear need for the Cardinals. Horn had just two interceptions in three college seasons, but he locked down wideouts, and he would be a Day 1 starter for this team. I also thought about pass-rusher — Arizona added J.J. Watt to play with Chandler Jones, but they’re both over 30 and have had injury issues — and wide receiver. A.J. Green is not a long-term solution.

17. Las Vegas Raiders

Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky

Get to know this name, because Davis is a big-time riser. When I sat down recently to watch his 2020 tape, I loved what I saw. He has tremendous range. He is physical. He can play inside or outside. He can cover and has some ball skills, including picking off three passes last season. Davis is the total package, and he could slot in at middle linebacker for Jon Gruden’s Raiders team. The other position to monitor here is on the offensive line, with former starters Trent Brown, Gabe Jackson and Rodney Hudson all being traded away in the past 10 days.

18. Miami Dolphins

Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami

When I look at this roster, I don’t see many holes. This team is going to contend for the AFC East title again next season. Since I gave Miami a wide receiver at No. 8, let’s address the pass rush with Phillips, a former five-star prospect who thrived in 2020 at Miami after transferring from UCLA. He had 5.5 sacks in his final three games, really catching the eyes of NFL scouts. If you’re talking about a pure pass-rusher, he might be the best in the entire 2021 class. He’ll need some time to become a complete edge defender, but he is going to get to the quarterback in a hurry.

19. Washington Football Team

Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

Washington is out of the range for the top quarterbacks in this class, so this pick is tough to predict. I do like what coach Ron Rivera and new general manager Martin Mayhew have done in free agency, adding a top cornerback in William Jackson III, an underutilized wideout in Curtis Samuel and a perfectly capable stopgap quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick. There’s still a gaping hole at left tackle, though, and Darrisaw could fill it. He had a tremendous 2020 season, and he is a stellar all-around blocker.

20. Chicago Bears

Alijah Vera-Tucker, OT/G, USC

Chicago is in a similar quarterback situation to that of Washington, except the Bears’ roster around their signal-caller is more depleted. I thought about an edge rusher or corner here, but the right tackle spot is wide open. Could Germain Ifedi, who played guard for Chicago last season, move outside? It’s possible. But I’d still draft a tackle at No. 20 and either start him on the right side or play him at guard and groom him to take over at left tackle for veteran Charles Leno Jr. Vera-Tucker is a high-upside lineman with all the traits to be a longtime starter at tackle.

21. Indianapolis Colts

Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami

Under general manager Chris Ballard, the Colts never go all out in free agency, focusing instead on low-cost, short-term deals. And even though they could still bring back veteran edge rusher Justin Houston, this could be a spot to take a young defender. Rousseau had 15.5 sacks in 2019 and then opted out of this past season. He has an up-and-down evaluation, but you can’t deny his production and size (6-foot-7, 250 pounds). He has a high ceiling. Indianapolis also has a hole at left tackle after Anthony Costanzo retired.

22. Tennessee Titans

Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

With Corey Davis leaving in free agency, this is a really thin wide receiver depth chart behind A.J. Brown. Toney could have a few different suitors in this range, and Ryan Tannehill would love him. Toney could contribute as a dynamic receiver, runner and returner, and new offensive coordinator Todd Downing should get him the ball 10 times a game. Toney will do damage out of the slot: In his career, he averaged 15.6 yards per catch when lined up in the slot, adding 10 scores.

23. New York Jets (from SEA)

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

I like what general manager Joe Douglas has done in free agency, but the Jets have to address their defense with this pick. I’d keep an eye on every position outside of defensive tackle — Quinnen Williams is a future superstar — and draft the best defender on the board. For me, that’s Owusu-Koramoah, a sideline-to-sideline tackling machine. Yes, New York gets back C.J. Mosley, and it added Jarrad Davis in free agency, but coach Robert Saleh & Co. can find ways to get all three of them on the field. Owusu-Koramoah has some coverage traits that could make him valuable on third down. If one of the top corners drops to No. 23, the Jets should pounce.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers

Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

The Steelers have serious salary-cap issues, which means they have had some tough losses in free agency and haven’t added any players from other teams, just yet. They did retain wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, however, and they could still bring back longtime left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, who is unsigned. I’d still address the offensive line here — tackle Matt Feiler left in free agency too, and center Maurkice Pouncey retired — and Jenkins is a tough pass-protector and mauler in the run game. I thought hard about Alabama center Landon Dickerson, who could be a Day 1 replacement for Pouncey.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR)

Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU

Finally, a safety off the board. The Jaguars added Rayshawn Jenkins in free agency, but expect him to play closer to the line of scrimmage. They still need a deep safety to compete with Jarrod Wilson. Moehrig has range and can play as the center fielder and is also a solid tackler. I wouldn’t rule out a wide receiver to Jacksonville here, and it also could be in the market for an offensive lineman. This team is still far away from contention, though, so this could be a spot to watch for a team trying to trade into Round 1.

26. Cleveland Browns

Zaven Collins, OLB/DE, Tulsa

Browns general manager Andrew Berry is having a nice offseason, adding help on defense and getting impact players in the secondary in safety John Johnson III and cornerback Troy Hill, both former Rams. And the way this draft is shaking out, there could still be solid defenders available late in Round 1. If Cleveland can find a pass-rusher to put opposite Myles Garrett, that’s a huge win, which is why I considered Oklahoma’s Ronnie Perkins and Texas’ Joseph Ossai here. But Collins is a versatile defender who could play linebacker or defensive end, and I like his fit with the Browns. Get him on the field and watch him make plays.

27. Baltimore Ravens

Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU

This is my third mock draft, and I’ve pegged Marshall to the Ravens in all three, which pretty much guarantees that they will go in another direction. It just makes too much sense, though. Lamar Jackson needs a wide receiver who can line up on the outside and run every route. That’s how Jackson can take the leap forward in Year 4. Marshall had 10 scores and averaged 15.2 yards per catch last season, and he had 13 touchdowns while catching passes from Joe Burrow in 2019. This is another spot in which I thought about center Landon Dickerson.

28. New Orleans Saints

Tutu Atwell, WR, Louisville

The Saints are another cash-strapped team that must build its roster through the draft, and they lost some serious talent in free agency. The list below doesn’t even including future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees, who retired earlier this month. With Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill battling for the QB1 spot, let’s add a playmaker around whomever wins the starting spot. The 5-foot-9 Atwell reminds me a little bit of former first-round pick Marquise Brown, who has flashed in two seasons with the Ravens. Atwell is explosive and could be used on jet sweeps. He is dynamic with the ball in his hands. Line him up outside and in the slot, and get him the ball.

29. Green Bay Packers

Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern

There are few “official” pro day times in this weird year, and so I have to rely on people in the league whom I trust to help with testing numbers. Newsome ran a 4.38-second and a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at the Northwestern pro day recently, and his speed shows up on tape. As my pal Jim Nagy pointed out, Newsome has great feet. The knock on him is that he had only one interception in three seasons, but ball production will come in time. It’s not for lack of breaking up passes. Alabama center Landon Dickerson could fit here as a Corey Linsley replacement, and I’m sure Aaron Rodgers is again lobbying for some help at wide receiver.

30. Buffalo Bills

Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

I’m just a big fan of Harris. He runs hard — he led the FBS in forced missed tackles last season — and adds value as a pass-catcher. He will improve the team that drafts him. Buffalo doesn’t have many clear needs, but it has to create better balance on offense to take some of the pressure off quarterback Josh Allen. Harris is an every-down back who can share the load. Offensive line and wide receiver are two more positions that the Bills could target.

31. Kansas City Chiefs

Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame

The Chiefs are shaking up their offensive line, signing guards Joe Thuney and Kyle Long in free agency and letting tackles Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher and interior linemen Austin Reiter and Kelechi Osemele walk (although Kansas City could still bring back one or some of them on short-term deals). And even after retaining Mike Remmers, it makes sense to draft a young tackle who could start down the road. There’s some buzz around Eichenberg, who was the Fighting Irish’s left tackle for the past two seasons. He has great feet and packs a punch in the run game.

Notable free-agent additions: G Joe Thuney, G Kyle Long, TE Blake Bell

Notable free-agent losses: None yet — WR Sammy Watkins, OT Mitchell Schwartz, OT Eric Fisher, C Austin Reiter and G Kelechi Osemele are all unsigned

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama

The Bucs have spent free agency getting the band back together for another season, with wide receiver Chris Godwin, tight end Rob Gronkowski and edge rusher Shaquil Barrett among the players who have been re-signed. Barmore could be a replacement for Ndamukong Suh, who doesn’t yet have a free-agent deal. Barmore was a game-wrecker down the stretch for the Crimson Tide, with five sacks in his final five games. He would be an outstanding fit next to nose tackle Vita Vea, who has emerged as one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the NFL.