The Daily Briefing Friday, September 2, 2022

AROUND THE NFL

CHICAGO

The Bears hint they are all but done with negotiating with the City of Chicago and are heading to the hinterlands.  NBCSports.com on a media appearance by Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune:

The Bears might be packing their bags quicker than fans imagined. Chicago Tribune reporter Brad Biggs said the Bears could announce the new stadium plans “before the end of the calendar year.”

The Bears made their plans for building a new stadium very clear last September when the organization purchased the rights to Arlington Park for just south of $200 million.

“There’s nothing else like it in Chicagoland,” President Ted Phillips said back in January. “So the opportunities — you know, we haven’t even begun to envision what it could be. But we’re hopeful, if we close, that we’ll be moving forward with turning it into a wonderful destination site.

“Again, the timing of it we don’t know because we haven’t even closed on the land. [If] we don’t close on the land, then all that vision won’t come to fruition. But we’re excited it could be an entertainment destination with multiple facets to it that I think could really help put Arlington Heights on the map as a destination spot.”

The organization intends to close on the land near the start of 2023, which is likely part of what Biggs referred to as the announcement to come before the end of the calendar year.

Since the Bears’ move on building a new stadium, the city of Chicago has been keen on keeping the team in Chicago. Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced three plans back in July to renovate the stadium. The biggest part of the plan is building a dome for the stadium to rebel against the cold weather during football season and make the venue a year-round experience for concerts, events, etc.

Despite the city’s efforts, the Bears have consistently denied their intentions to remain at Soldier Field. The likelihood is the Bears will break their lease with the city and Soldier Field and move out to Arlington Heights once the stadium is finished.

“It’s a matter of when and not if,” Biggs said. “They want to get out of Soldier Field, which wasn’t a great stadium when they opened it in 2003. They’d like to confer their own situation. That’s not going to happen overnight.”

Arlington Park sits more than 30 miles from Soldier Field, northwest out I-90 and up I-290, past O’Hare Airport.

DETROIT

An update on WR JAMESON WILLIAMS.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Lions made a big move in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, trading up to No. 12 overall to select Jameson Williams, even though Williams had torn his ACL playing for Alabama in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship game. Williams won’t play at the start of the season, but the Lions are still very satisfied with their decision.

Lions General Manager Brad Holmes isn’t offering a precise date for when Williams will return, but Holmes said Williams is making good progress in his recovery, and that the Lions see Williams as a player who’s going to contribute for a lot more than just his rookie year.

“He is on track, again, I’m not going to put out a hard date, but I will say, the weeks and weeks he’s strung together with his rehab, and he’s so gifted from a genetic standpoint,” Holmes said, via MLive.com. “Once he keeps that consistency going, it actually could accelerate that return that we’re thinking. You got to be a little bit conservative and on the safer side when it comes to forecasts and those returns to play. But hopefully, he stays on track, and hopefully it’s sooner than later, but we’re going to continue to be smart with him. We’ve always said that from Day 1. . . . We’ve got to be smart because we didn’t make that move for him just for Year 1. This is a long-term investment.”

The most likely scenario appears to be that the Lions get Williams on the field somewhere around mid-season. But when they traded up for him, they were really thinking of 2023 and beyond.

PHILADELPHIA

The Eagles claimed RB TREY SERMON on waivers from the 49ers. Adam Schefter tweets.

@AdamSchefter

Eagles and 49ers discussed a trade for Trey Sermon last week; instead the Eagles claim Sermon on waivers today.

Glenn Erby of USA TODAY:

Sermon was taken No. 88 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Ohio State.

Sermon was outplayed by Jeff Wilson, Tyrion Davis-Price, and Jordan Mason, who are all slated to back up starter Elijah Mitchell, who led the team with 963 yards on 207 carries last season.

The Eagles now own sermon’s original rookie contract for the next three years.

In nine appearances as a rookie, he rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown while catching three of his four targets for 26 yards.

ATLANTA

WR JARED BARNHARDT went for LAX to ATL to make an NFL roster.  But it wasn’t a flight from Los Angeles.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

Former college lacrosse star Jared Bernhardt has only been a football wide receiver since May, but he showed enough this summer to make the Atlanta Falcons’ initial 53-man roster.

The 6-foot-1 athlete beat out a host of better-known wideouts to make the Falcons’ roster ahead of the season after an impressive preseason campaign.

“You look at the background, you look at the pedigree, you look at all these different things and then you take a chance on him,” wide receivers coach T.J. Yates said, via the team’s official website. “And then you throw him in OTAs and he’s doing OK, and as soon as we got to training camp, he just took off.”

Bernhardt’s route to the NFL has been unique.

The 24-year-old was a star lacrosse player at Maryland, taking home the Tewaaraton Award as the nation’s best collegiate lax player in 2021. Bernhardt then moved to Ferris State as a grad transfer to try his hand at football, where he played quarterback, leading the Bulldogs to a Division II national title.

NFL teams viewed Bernhardt as a receiver/returner. After going undrafted, he landed with the receiver-needy Falcons, where he’s turned heads.

“From where he started in the short amount of time is close to remarkable,” Yates said. “He has the ability to take a coaching point and immediately apply it like right away and do exactly what he is asked to do.”

Bernhardt is a good athlete, and his lacrosse background enables him to play in tight quarters. The wideout showed great rapport with rookie QB Desmond Ridder during preseason action, snagging the game-winning touchdown in the first preseason game against the Detroit Lions. He then led the Falcons with 67 yards on three catches against the New York Jets.

Bernhardt did enough that the Falcons didn’t think they could sneak him through waivers during initial cuts, keeping the rookie as one of six wideouts along with first-rounder Drake London, Olamide Zaccheaus, Bryan Edwards, KhaDarel Hodge and Damiere Byrd.

“You saw the constant improvement and the ability to trust him,” said head coach Arthur Smith. “I think he deserves a shot right now.”

With all undrafted rookies, there is always a chance Bernhardt could get squeezed off the roster at some point if the Falcons need to add players at other positions. But for a former lacrosse player-turned-quarterback-turned-receiver to make the initial roster is a testament to his ability and quick study. Now, he’ll have to continue to prove he deserves that shot.

Here is a little more on Bernhardt’s background:

Bernhardt grew up in Longwood, Florida. His father, Jim, was a football coach at Hofstra, Brown, Central Florida, and Penn State and was the director of football research for the Houston Texans. Bernhardt attended Lake Brantley High School, where he played football and lacrosse. In football, he played quarterback in a triple-option offense and rushed 1,457 yards and 12 touchdowns and passed for 751 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games as a senior. Bernhardt was an All-American midfielder in lacrosse at Lake Brantley and committed to play collegiately at the University of Maryland as a sophomore.

NEW ORLEANS

Serious charges have been filed against Saints S MARCUS MAYE in a road rage incident.  Katherine Terrell, now back with ESPN:

New Orleans Saints safety Marcus Maye was arrested Thursday on a charge of aggravated assault with a firearm stemming from an alleged road rage incident that occurred in Metairie on Monday, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office said.

He has been released from custody after posting a $30,000 bond but was not present in the open portion of Saints practice on Thursday.

Maye’s attorney, Eric Hessler, denied the allegations in a statement obtained by NFL Network on Thursday.

“Marcus vehemently denies the allegation from a motor vehicle incident, and looks forward to defending himself when all the facts come out,” the statement said.

According to a news release from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, “Maye was identified as the driver of a black SUV that was involved in an incident in which he is accused of pointing a firearm at another vehicle that was occupied by several juvenile females.”

“We were made aware of it this morning and we’re still gathering all the information, so we’re not going to have a comment on it at this time until we get more information,” Saints coach Dennis Allen said after practice on Thursday.

Maye is already facing potential discipline from the NFL regarding an arrest on Feb. 22, 2021, when he was with the New York Jets, on charges of driving under the influence and misdemeanor charges of DUI/damage to property and person, leaving the scene of a crash and careless driving. His court date on Aug. 24 was continued until 9 a.m. ET on Nov. 16.

Maye, a sixth-year veteran who spent the first five seasons of his career with the Jets, was signed by the Saints to a three-year, $28.5 million contract in March as part of an overhaul in the secondary.

Maye and Tyrann Mathieu were both signed to replace Marcus Williams and Malcolm Jenkins.

ARIZONA

CB ANTONIO HAMILTON was cooking with gas.  Really.  And unfortunately.  Grant Gordon of NFL.com:

Heading into his seventh NFL season, cornerback Antonio Hamilton’s work on the practice field had earned him a starting spot with the Arizona Cardinals, but an accident in the kitchen will delay the start of his 2022 campaign.

Hamilton was placed on the Cardinals’ reserve/non-football injury list after an accident while cooking at his home, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Thursday. Garafolo added that Hamilton badly burned his foot after spilling cooking oil.

Hamilton will miss at least the first four games of the season for the Cardinals before he’s eligible to return.

The cornerback released a statement and photo via Twitter, stating he suffered second-degree burns following the “freak accident.”

“It’s disappointing for him,” Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury said, via the PHNX Cardinals podcast’s Bob Brack. “He had earned a starting role.”

With Hamilton out, the Cardinals are likely to promote Marco Wilson or the recently acquired Trayvon Mullen to a starting role.

Hamilton is entering his second season with the Cardinals, having played in all 17 games last season with two starts. Prior to that, Hamilton played two seasons apiece with the Raiders and Giants before a single campaign with the Chiefs. He has four career starts in 74 games played with 88 tackles and zero interceptions.

SAN FRANCISCO

In February, an artist in Porto, Portugal said she would draw a new picture of QB JIMMY GAROPPOLO every day until he was no longer a 49er.  If she is true to her pledge, she will be doing it for much longer than anticipated.  Matt Barrows of The Athletic:

Rita Carvalho was waiting for her boyfriend to get off work late Monday when her phone started buzzing. One notification, then another, then dozens all at once.

All essentially said the same thing: Jimmy Garoppolo was coming back … was she?

Carvalho, after all, has become a celebrity in 49ers circles because of her daily depictions of the quarterback, which began in February and have the same heading: “Drawing Jimmy G every day until he gets traded” (or released). The artist goes by Rita Oak on social media because “carvalho” is Portuguese for “oak.”

It seemed certain Garoppolo’s 49ers tenure and Carvalho’s series finally would come to an end on cutdown day this week when — surprise! — he instead agreed to return for the 2022 season. That triggered the avalanche of texts and notifications as Carvalho, who lives in Porto, Portugal, waited in a mall for her boyfriend, Felipe Sousa.

Could she keep going with her daily drawings? Would she run out of ideas? When she began her project, she thought it would last a month or so. But Garoppolo had shoulder surgery in March, which scuttled any trade possibilities. Now there was another plot twist.

“I was just alone, sitting by myself and looking at all those notifications,” she said via a video call Wednesday. “It was crazy. Because I think it was the one outcome that we didn’t predict. At the time, it was overwhelming. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t make a decision.”

Her followers went to sleep that night wondering if it was the end of the Rita Oak series. When they woke up, she had an emphatic answer in the form of a drawing of Garoppolo depicted as the protagonist in “The Wolf of Wall Street” declaring to frenzied admirers, “The show goes on!”

It was drawing No. 209, and it’s already one of her most popular works. And, of course, it has a double meaning.

“It was also me saying, ‘I’m also staying,’” Carvalho, 25, said. “So I think it was a perfect reference for the day.”

There aren’t many NFL fans in Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city. Carvalho’s neighbors tend to follow futebol. Sousa, however, caught a 49ers game on television about 12 years ago and fell in love. Years later, he wanted to get his girlfriend interested in the sport and made a wise move: He told her all about the 49ers’ quarterback.

“He thought I would like Jimmy because he was the handsome one,” she said.

After the NFC Championship Game in January, everyone was sure Garoppolo would leave the 49ers one way or another. The team had drafted his replacement, Trey Lance, and Garoppolo was set to earn a team-high $25 million for the upcoming year. Garoppolo seemed to confirm his departure during a misty-eyed news conference at the close of the 2021 season.

Two days later, Carvalho began her daily drawings. Most take one to two hours, although a more detailed one, like a “Stranger Things”-themed drawing she did, can take five hours. She often uses pop culture references — scenes from movies or television — but also likes to use current NFL events. That’s what she did in March when she drew a picture of then-unhappy Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield in a classroom while Garoppolo lectured at the chalkboard.

What’s he teaching Mayfield?

“How to be an adult,” Carvalho said, laughing.

Tight end George Kittle makes frequent appearances in her work, usually as Garoppolo’s sidekick or friend. He’s Chewbacca in one. He’s Hutch to Garoppolo’s Starsky in another. Interestingly, he’s Ringo, not George, in a reimagined Beatles album cover. (Fullback Kyle Juszczyk is George.)

“It’s his personality,” Carvalho said. “He’s just a fun guy, living life, happy. I hope that comes across in my drawings — the bond that they have.”

Kittle definitely gets the joke. In fact, he’s made Carvalho’s “South Park”-themed drawing his avatar on Twitter.

“Because she drew me as Cartman, and I thought that was pretty good,” he said.

The “South Park” drawing has been among Carvalho’s most popular, joining the “Wolf of Wall Street” and a “Titanic” reference — you guessed it: Kittle is holding Garoppolo on the bow of the ship — in that category.

Carvalho’s favorite uses the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes and also features Kittle. She likes it because there’s an emotional element that, to her artist’s eye, seems to capture the spirit of the tightknit 49ers.

She loved the depiction so much that she originally intended for it to be the last drawing of the Garoppolo series, the one that would run when the quarterback indeed exits San Francisco. Instead, she posted it on July 20 and came up with a new idea for her final act, which she thought would run this week.

She only hinted at the theme: It’s from a movie.

“I don’t want to give too much away because it’s gonna be good,” she said.

Everyone will have to wait until Garoppolo’s gone in … well, no one’s quite sure anymore.

This update from Garoppolo by David Bonilla at 49er Web Zone:

Garoppolo spoke to the media for the first time since last season’s playoffs, sharing why he opted to undergo shoulder surgery at such a critical time. Everyone felt that the quarterback’s thumb might require surgery and that the shoulder injury he suffered in the playoffs would heal on its own.

“It actually turned out the other way,” Garoppolo said. “The thumb wasn’t as serious as the shoulder was. … [The thumb] really took care of itself, didn’t need surgery or anything like that, so that was nice. But the shoulder, I really don’t like to get surgery if I don’t have to, so I was really in the thought of, ‘I could rehab this thing. I played three or four games on it. Whatever. I think I can get through this.’

“After about three, four weeks of that, it wasn’t happening; it wasn’t working. We were like, ‘Alright, we’ve got to get the surgery.’ That’s when we made that choice, and I’m happy the way it worked out. I don’t think it was the exact way I wanted it to work out, but everything happens for a reason.”

Garoppolo was well-aware that opting for surgery would negatively impact his trade value.

“You know in the back of your head that could happen, but you’ve got to take care of your body,” Garoppolo shared. “If your body’s not going to be able to go out there and perform, then what are you worth? So I had to get that taken care of. That was priority one, and the rest took care of itself, I think.”

Garoppolo admits that this offseason was one of the stranger experiences of his career. He even briefly contemplated asking to be released. That was short-lived, though, and Garoppolo believes everything worked out for the best.

“Me, I’m happy with where I’m at,” Garoppolo said. “Happy to be with the Niners. I think the Niners are happy to have me back. I think things are working out pretty well.”

As for the shoulder, the quarterback is happy where it is now.

“Just with practice, every day will help a little bit more and more,” Garoppolo said. “I’ll just get more and more used to it, but I feel good with it. I feel very confident. I’m happy with where it’s at.”

DENVER

Deadlines spur action, even if they are artificial deadlines that can be extended with a blink of an eye or a wave of the hand or the keystroke of a computer.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

Late Wednesday night, the Broncos and quarterback Russell Wilson reached an agreement that will keep Wilson in Denver for seven years. It almost didn’t happen.

The two sides had a deadline of midnight on September 1 to get a deal done in 2022, PFT has learned.

G.M. George Paton hinted at how close the contract carriage came to turning into a pumpkin, at least until after the 2022 season ended.

“It came down to the wire last night,” Paton told reporters. “We had a deadline. I felt we would figure it out, but you never know. We’ve never done a deal together. [Agent] Mark [Rodgers] is tough. [Vice President of Football Administration] Rich [Hurtado] is tough. You’re like, ‘How is this going to work?’ . . . I went home last night. It was like 11:30 [p.m.] and I hadn’t heard anything. . . . I fell asleep, then the phone rang. I don’t know what time — maybe 11:45. It was a FaceTime. It was Russ and Ciara. I couldn’t figure out the phone, so I lost them. I was like, ‘Are they going to ask for more money? What are they doing?’ They called again and I answered, and it was one of the best phone calls I’ve ever received. Ciara, Russ and even Mark was on the call. It was pretty cool stuff and I’ll remember that. That’s the best I’ve felt after a deal.”

It’s not the first time Wilson used an artificial deadline to get a new contract. In 2019, he made it clear to the Seahawks that a new deal had to be done, if at all, by start of the offseason program. And it happened.

Artificial deadlines can be a challenge, because they’re artificial. Both sides need to be fully committed to respecting the deadline — and to acting accordingly if it passes without a deal.

For the Broncos and Wilson, the reason for it was obvious. The season opener against the Seahawks is coming. No one needed the contract to distract from the task at hand.

TENNESSEE

A brutal practice injury fells EDGE HAROLD LANDRY.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

The Tennessee Titans suffered a brutal blow days before the start of the regular season.

Pro Bowl edge rusher Harold Landry suffered a torn ACL, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported per sources informed of the situation.

It’s a cruel jolt for the defending AFC South champs.

Landry was a keystone to the Titans’ defense, netting 12 sacks in 2021, 10th-most in the NFL. A menace off the edge, Landry added 22 QB hits and 14 tackles for loss last season.

Coming off the best seasons of his career, Landry inked a five-year, $87.5 million contract extension with the Titans in March.

Losing Landry before the season even kicks off takes some shine off a potentially intriguing Tennessee defense with a destructive front and rising young secondary. With Landry injured, more pressure falls on Bud Dupree to shake off a down campaign and become the disruptor off the edge he was signed to be last offseason.

Mike Moraitis of USA TODAY on a well-traveled addition to the Titans practice squad:

The Tennessee Titans desperately needed to make improvements to their wide receivers room ahead of the 2022 season. On Thursday, the team brought in some potential help, signing wide receiver Josh Gordon to the practice squad.

Gordon, who was recently cut by the Kansas City Chiefs, met with the Titans on Wednesday, and it apparently went well enough that Tennessee is taking a look at the troubled wideout.

The 31-year-old once looked like he’d become a superstar after leading the NFL in receiving yards in 2013, but it has been all downhill since then.

Gordon has run into several off-the-field issues, leading to six suspensions overall, five of which pertained to substance abuse issues, per ESPN.

But Gordon is getting yet his latest chance to right the ship in Nashville, and he has a good shot to earn a roster spot with the terrible depth situation the Titans have at wide receiver right now.

And this from John Glennon:

@glennonsports

Adding WR Josh Gordon to the practice squad, per @AdamSchefter, is a much more low-risk option for #Titans than signing him to 53-man roster.

If Gordon shows reliability and talent, he gets shot at the NFL roster.

If he doesn’t, not a big loss to team.

THIS AND THAT

NFC 1 TO 16

Rams to Atlanta? Buccaneers to Giants?  How does the panel of anonymous experts compiled by Mike Sando rank the NFC on the eve of the 2022 season.

1. Los Angeles Rams

Votes: 1-1-2-1-1 | Avg: 1.2 | Median: 1

The Rams own the NFL’s third-best record behind Kansas City and New Orleans since Sean McVay became their coach. They return most key players from their Super Bowl-winning team last season. Most of the execs slotted them into the top spot without much discussion, although adequately replacing left tackle Andrew Whitworth and pass-rusher Von Miller isn’t assured.

“Their offense is going to score — it’s obvious they have playmakers,” an exec said. “Injuries on defense might be the thing that could derail them, but when you look at their older guys — Aaron Donald, Leonard Floyd and now Bobby Wagner — those guys never miss games.”

2. Green Bay Packers

Votes: 2-2-1-3-2 | Avg: 2.0 | Median: 2

The Packers will find out how much replacing Davante Adams with a mix of decent veterans and unproven rookies hurts them — not for any single game, which can be mitigated, but over the course of a full season.

“I love their running backs, and they have good O-line depth, which gave them the luxury of trading one of their guys (Cole Van Lanen) to Jacksonville,” one voter said. “They have good core pieces. There is an opportunity for them. But I think a lot of it is the receiving corps is really young and unproven. And then I have questions for them at safety.”

Everyone expects the Packers to be good. The question is whether they’re win-it-all good.

“I do think having a ‘blue’ wide receiver is important,” another voter said. “The only ones who could do it would be one of the rookies, and I don’t think it’s the fourth-rounder (Romeo Doubs). Can it be the second-rounder out of North Dakota State (Christian Watson, who has been sidelined)? I don’t know.”

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Votes: 3-8-3-2-4 | Avg: 4.0 | Median: 3

Tom Brady retiring, unretiring and mysteriously missing 11 days of camp raised questions about where his mind might be at age 45. The deterioration of the offensive line’s interior raised questions about how Brady’s body might hold up.

“Losing the center (Ryan Jensen), Ali Marpet retiring and the other guard (Aaron Stinnie) getting hurt, yeah, I think it was a heckuva party for two years, but it might be ending,” the voter who dropped Tampa Bay to eighth said. “(Leonard) Fournette showed up overweight, Mike Evans is a little older, Chris Godwin is coming off the injury, (Ndamukong) Suh is not there anymore, Lavonte David is no kid … I think it was a great two-year run.”

That was an outlier view even though other voters also expressed some concerns.

“Defensively, Todd (Bowles) will do a good job,” another voter said. “I just worry what it is going to look like offensively. If there is a dropoff, it is going to be offensively.”

4. San Francisco 49ers

Votes: 4-4-4-4-3 | Avg: 3.8 | Median: 4

This is a solid showing for a 49ers team changing from veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a largely unknown second-year alternative (Trey Lance) whose limited play last season amplified questions about his readiness.

“I just think it’s a great offense with (Deebo) Samuel, (Brandon) Aiyuk and (George) Kittle,” one of the voters ranking the 49ers fourth said. “The highs with Trey Lance are going to be higher than they were with Jimmy G. Now, the lows are going to be lower too. They can go as far as the quarterback takes them.”

5. Philadelphia Eagles

Votes: 5-3-5-7-5 | Avg: 5.0 | Median: 5

This is six spots higher than where execs had the Eagles entering last season, when it was less clear how the team might fare with Jalen Hurts in the lineup at quarterback. What Hurts showed last season was enough for execs to upgrade the Eagles, but only to a point, even though some now see Philly as having one of the NFL’s top rosters.

“This year’s roster is more talented, top to bottom, than any roster Philly has had in recent years,” said an exec who had the Eagles sixth in the NFC entering last season and fifth this time. “They have the best O-line in football. They have excellent D-line depth. I’m not sold on the quarterback, so there is cap there. The safety position is also interesting. They traded for Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, but he wore out his welcome in New Orleans. We will see.”

6. Dallas Cowboys

Votes: 6-9-7-6-6 | Avg: 6.8 | Median: 6

Roster attrition at receiver and along the offensive line in particular did not stop Dallas from faring decently in this exercise. Not that voters were excited about them.

“The issue with them is the division,” an exec said. “They could conceivably win three of four, maybe four of four, against the Giants and Commanders. They might even split with the Eagles. They could stumble their way to nine wins, but if they make the playoffs, they are one and done.”

It’s not a particularly glorious possibility.

“Jerry (Jones) keeps talking about running the ball with Ezekiel (Elliott) for whatever reason,” another exec said, “but they are banking on some young guys stepping up on the offensive line.”

7. Arizona Cardinals

Votes: 7-7-10-8-7 | Avg: 7.8 | Median: 7

The Cardinals check in two spots higher than last summer as New Orleans and Minnesota slipped.

“I think Washington, Arizona and Dallas will be battling for the final two playoff spots in the NFC,” one voter said.

I asked another voter whether his No. 7 ranking for Arizona was a seven that could become a four, or a seven that could become a 12.

“I think it’s a seven that could be a 12,” he said. “I don’t believe in the quarterback as a leader, and a lot of the things that have played out in the media have shown it.”

8. Minnesota Vikings

Votes: 8-10-8-5-10 | Avg: 8.2 | Median: 8

Execs had the Vikings eighth and with the same 8.2 average and a slightly higher median (seven) one year ago, which seems appropriate for a team some have considered “stuck” in the middle. One of the execs who ranked the Vikings only 10th this year did think the team would benefit from the transition to a new, more positive head coach. “But I don’t know who they are better than,” he said. “Is it going to make Kirk Cousins be an MVP candidate?”

Not likely, but execs have seen enough offensive skill for the Vikings to put up points consistently.

“They haven’t been able to get a corner, so you worry a little bit about the coverage,” another exec said. “And then you are going to a new scheme and philosophy on defense, and I’m not sure they have the personnel to do it. That is their limitation.”

9. Carolina Panthers

Votes: 10-5-11-9-13 | Avg: 9.6 | Median: 10

Carolina edging New Orleans in both average and median comes as a surprise. One of the execs jokingly suggested the voter ranking the Panthers fifth must work for Carolina.

“Baker Mayfield is the whole reason they are not in the cellar,” this voter said. “But he is not the answer. They are still really going to struggle this year.”

The voter ranking Carolina fifth said he thought Mayfield, as a smaller quarterback, would fare better in the warmer, more hospitable NFC South than he fared in the colder, more rugged AFC North.

“If they can keep (Christian) McCaffrey healthy, I think it is a pretty well-rounded team, and I think they can beat the teams in their division at home, and New Orleans/Atlanta on the road,” the Carolina optimist said.

There was not much support for the process Carolina has used in arriving at this point, but there is some thought the Panthers could be competitive with Mayfield replacing Sam Darnold.

“I like Baker, and then they should have a good defense — they have three good corners, they have (Brian) Burns, they have (Derrick) Brown on the inside,” a voter said. “That is what kept them in games last year. They do have weapons on offense, the line should be better, and who are they going to play in that division that is going to give them a run? Tampa is the only one, in my opinion.”

10. New Orleans Saints

Votes: 12-13-6-11-8 | Avg: 10.0 | Median: 11

Oddsmakers see the Saints as three times more likely than Carolina to win the NFC South. The predictive model developed by The Athletic’s Austin Mock favors the Saints relative to Carolina even more strongly (all of Mock’s projections appear in a table at the bottom of this column).

“Their defense is so talented, if they can just manage the game on offense, not lose it, they will beat teams like Carolina,” said an exec who had the Saints eighth and the Panthers 13th.

The Saints swept Tampa Bay last season.

“If Tampa falls off some, I think the Saints have a real possibility to be a top team in that division because of how good the defense is,” the voter added.

The skepticism surrounding New Orleans reflected questions surrounding the offense: an already inconsistent Jameis Winston returning from ACL surgery to play behind a diminished offensive line within an offense that, for the first time since 2005, is not led by Sean Payton.

10. Washington Commanders

Votes: 11-6-9-12-12 | Avg: 10.0 | Median: 11

Washington went 7-10 last season with Taylor Heinicke as its primary starting quarterback. Do the Commanders win a couple more games with Carson Wentz to finish above .500? It’s not such a stretch, especially for a team facing a weak schedule of opposing quarterbacks.

“They are the tortoise in the race, and they will just be there at the end,” the voter who placed Washington sixth in the NFC said. “The coordinator (Scott Turner) and the scheme in Washington fit Wentz’s talents better, and I don’t think Wentz feels he has to carry the team. My concern is, when does Chase Young come back, and then will he be Chase Young?”

Another exec expanded on the point about Wentz and the offensive scheme in Washington.

“Wentz will probably do OK in Washington because they are going to play-action, throw those deep comebackers, let him throw the ball down the field,” this exec said. “But if Carson has to read it and really work the offense, he is not very good.”

12. Detroit Lions

Votes: 9-14-12-15-11 | Avg: 12.2 | Median: 12

The Lions jumped four spots from where they stood in this exercise last summer. They jumped past Chicago among NFC North teams.

“They are more talented on offense, and I think their coordinator (Ben Johnson) is a sneaky guy to watch — sharp young coach,” the voter ranking Detroit 11th said. “I think they are going to be so much better offensively.”

Another exec thought the Lions had bought in to coach Dan Campbell.

“They do scrap, they do play as hard as he talks about, and now that they upgraded, they are pretty good up front, so they got a chance,” this exec said.

13. New York Giants

Votes: 15-16-13-10-9 | Avg: 12.6 | Median: 13

Execs expect the Giants’ offensive line and offensive coaching to improve, but the margin for error is small for a team lacking in depth and short-term flexibility.

“How many wins do you get just by becoming more competent from a leadership standpoint?” one of the voters asked. “I don’t think they are a playoff team by any means, but could they surprise and win eight? Maybe.”

14. Chicago Bears

Votes: 13-12-15-13-14 | Avg: 13.4 | Median: 13

The Bears did not do much personnel-wise to raise expectations this offseason. Theirs is a long-term view.

“They did not do enough to address their offensive line,” one of the voters said. “They didn’t have a first-round pick. They drafted a 25-year-old receiver in the third round (Velus Jones Jr.) who is a special teams guy. They are at the bottom of that division from a roster/talent standpoint. Detroit is a lot better. Minnesota is not going to fall because they do have offensive talent there.”

15. Seattle Seahawks

Votes: 14-11-14-14-15 | Avg: 13.6 | Median: 14

The Seahawks will most likely need to be very good on defense and special teams — better than they have been recently — to approximate their relative success in 2010 and 2011, the only seasons under coach Pete Carroll when Russell Wilson wasn’t the starting quarterback. Seattle went 7-9 twice at the time.

“It didn’t look good this preseason,” an exec said. “When you have two quarterbacks, you have none. I think it could be bad.”

Carroll has never finished worse than 6-10 in 17 seasons as an NFL head coach.

“The two tackles they drafted can play, but they don’t have a quarterback,” the voter who ranked Seattle 11th said. “Geno Smith is not very good and Drew Lock, he did it in the preseason game against Pittsburgh when he got sacked late in the game. He impresses you and you are like, ‘All right, here you go,’ but his errors are game-changing. Bad interceptions, bad sacks, bad fumbles.”

16. Atlanta Falcons

Votes: 16-15-16-16-16 | Avg: 15.8 | Median: 16

No shock here. The Falcons are rebuilding and everyone knows it. Is there any way they can surprise?

“No, I just don’t think they have anything,” one of the voters said. “They have one of the worst-pass-rushing teams in the league. Couple that with their quarterback situation in combination with the offensive line and it’s tough.”

AWARD-WINNING BETS

The mavens at CBSSports.com express their opinions about who are the best bets for the postseason awards as collected by Tyler Sullivan:

The exhibitions are in the rear-view mirror and we are on to the 2022 regular season. Before the action truly kicks off between the Bills and Rams in the opener on Sept. 8, we here at CBS Sports have to call our shots. The NFL staff has come together and made its predictions for various awards that’ll be handed out prior to Super Bowl LVII and we’re about to reveal them below.

While some of these are straight-up predictions for the awards, others highlight some good value on the betting market, giving you a more well-rounded look at where some of the games biggest stars stand entering the year. Before we get started, here’s a rundown on the staff members making the picks: Pick Six Podcast host Will Brinson; Senior NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson; staff writers John Breech, Jared Dubin, Jordan Dajani, Josh Edwards, Shanna McCarriston, Tyler Sullivan, and Cody Benjamin.

Key MVP odds

Josh Allen (+700)

Patrick Mahomes (+800)

Justin Herbert (+900)

Tom Brady (+900)

Aaron Rodgers (+1000)

Joe Burrow (+1300)

Russell Wilson (+1600)

Matthew Stafford (+1600)

Dak Prescott (+1700)

Lamar Jackson (+2000)

Kyler Murray (+2200)

Brinson: Trey Lance (+3000). Why not? Second-year QB who sat out a season learning behind a veteran now gets to play in a QB-friendly offense with a high-level play-caller and tons of weapons who can explode when you get them the ball in space. Sounds a lot like the Chiefs and Mahomes a few years ago. And if your argument is Lance runs too much, Lamar’s 2019 season checks some boxes too.

Dajani: Justin Herbert (+900). A special passer that is just getting better. With an improved roster, he will be right in the thick of the MVP mix all year long.

Edwards: Tom Brady (+900). It would not be a surprise if Tampa Bay won the NFC. Narratives often play a role in award outcomes and Brady playing his potential final season at 45 years old should not be overlooked. Meanwhile, the AFC could cannibalize itself with all of the talent.

Wilson: Justin Herbert (+900). He’s going to make a legit case as the best player in the league. Better than Mahomes, Allen, Brady or Rodgers.

Dubin: Josh Allen (+700). He had a pretty good case in each of the last two seasons, and I think this is the year he finally breaks through as the Bills take control of an incredibly tough AFC. The options Buffalo has personnel-wise will unleash the best version of Allen we’ve seen so far.

McCarriston: Allen (+700). Allen has made his mark in the league and it is his time to get the regular-season MVP honor. He’s been in the conversation before, but I think this year he will do just that much more to get the award. He has the wide receivers, the experience and the capable head coach, all ingredients that can make for an MVP-level season. The Bills really should’ve already been to a Super Bowl with Allen leading the offense, if not won one already, and I think the drive to excel this season will push Allen further than he has been before.

Benjamin: Justin Herbert (+900). No one has a better, more complete supporting cast on both sides of the ball, at least on paper. And he’s already got all the physical tools.

Sullivan: Patrick Mahomes (+800). Even with the departure of Tyreek Hill, Mahomes is still going to put up his numbers. I also still see the Chiefs as the favorite in the AFC West. So, if he is able to still produce to the level that we’ve grown accustomed to and goes through the gauntlet of his division, I don’t see why Mahomes wouldn’t be at the forefront of the MVP conversation.

Breech: Josh Allen (+700). At some point, someone not named Aaron Rodgers is going to win this award and I think that’s going to happen this year with Allen.

Offensive Rookie of the Year best bets

Brinson: George Pickens (+1000): This is an impossible award to predict this season, with so few quarterbacks and the odd places some of the studs ended up landing. Pickens looks like the real deal and if he sees legit reps for the Steelers could be a monster.

Dajani: Breece Hall (+1100). With Zach Wilson’s struggles in the pass game, New York will rely on the ground game. This will give Hall the opportunity to impress.

Edwards: Kenny Pickett (+900). As of this moment, Pittsburgh has not named a starter at quarterback. While Mitchell Trubisky is the probable outcome, it would be unwise to ignore the first-round selection given the advantage quarterbacks have when it comes to winning award. Drake London and Treylon Burks could also put up big numbers.

Wilson: Kenny Pickett (+900). This seemed like a silly bet a few weeks ago but he was a pleasant surprise in the preseason and while I don’t expect him to start the season, I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s under center as soon as Week 3.

Dubin: George Pickens (+1000). With no obvious quarterback or running back candidate, I’m pivoting to a wide receiver. I loved Pickens pre-draft and everything we’ve seen from him during training camp has only confirmed my feelings about what type of player he is.

McCarriston: George Pickens (+100). George Pickens is slated to have a big rookie season and despite the quarterback situation not being settled yet, according to head coach Mike Tomlin, I believe he will have a great year. Pickens had a decent preseason and has impressed in training camp. Everything right now is pointing to Pickens having a highlight-worthy year.

Benjamin: George Pickens (+1000). Kenny Pickett is the safer choice assuming he eventually takes over at QB, but this guy has the juice to be the next big thing out wide.

Sullivan: Kenny Pickett (+900). It’s only a matter of time before Pickett is named Pittsburgh’s starter. By what we saw during the preseason, he looks ready to ascend to QB1 right now. Given his position, he’ll be a shoe-in to win this award so long as he sees the field in relatively short order.

Breech: Romeo Doubs (+1400). Aaron Rodgers might not win his third straight MVP, but he’s likely still going to have a huge season and Doubs is going to be the biggest benefactor of that.

Defensive Rookie of the Year best bets

Brinson: Travon Walker (+850). Another tough award, but have to go with a pass rusher here. As such, I’ll take the young guy on my surprise division winner, especially since him going first overall was such a win during the draft. Pass rushers are the easy picks here and he won’t face double teams with Allen in town.

Dajani: Travon Walker (+850). A versatile pass rusher who will get better as his rookie season goes on.

Edwards: Kayvon Thibodeaux (+600). The preseason brought a bit of a scare when the Oregon product was cut blocked. In recent history, Defensive Rookie of the Year has gone to a player with at least nine sacks. Thibodeaux is a dynamic talent who can reach that threshold. The only concern is whether New York will be competitive enough to force opponents to pass late into games.

Wilson: Aidan Hutchinson (+450). He has a chance to be special, and he’ll be an important piece to the Lions’ defensive line this season. If he can get to nine sacks — and that feels eminently reasonable — he’ll be in great shape for DROY.

Dubin: Sauce Gardner (+1200). This award usually comes down to sacks or picks. I suppose I’m betting he has a flashier-looking interception total than Aidan Hutchinson’s sack total.

McCarriston: Travon Walker (+850). My pick for Defensive Rookie of the Year is Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Trayvon Walker. He was the No. 1 pick in this year’s NFL Draft, so he clearly has the resume to back up his abilities. Many No. 1 picks end up not living up to their expected potential, but his training camp and preseason performances show he is quickly adjusting to the NFL.

Benjamin: Aidan Hutchinson (+450). Yes, it’s the safe pick, but he’s got the grown-man strength to instantly headline Detroit’s previously quiet pass rush.

Sullivan: George Karlaftis (+2000). A bit of a long shot here, but the first round pick is playing on a team that will be in the thick of the AFC playoff race all season and should put up some decent sack numbers. That’s a perfect recipe to win this award.

Breech: Sauce Gardner (+1200). Sauce already has his own sauce at Buffalo Wild Wings and pretty soon he’ll be able to eat his sauce out of the rookie of the year trophy he gets because he’s going to win the award. 

Defensive Player of the Year best bets

Brinson: Derwin James (+5000). Typically speaking you need to post sack numbers to win this award, but Derwin has such an incredible all-around game it wouldn’t be surprising at all if he ended up netting some hardware with a fully healthy season on a Chargers team that wins 12+ games.

Dajani: Micah Parsons (+1000). The Penn State product will prove that his rookie campaign was no fluke.

Edwards: Myles Garrett (+750). Garrett has had at least 10 sacks in each of the past four seasons, including 16 a year ago. It is a very competitive award with Aaron Donald always being a factor, T.J. Watt’s dominance and Micah Parsons’ rise to prominence.

Dubin: Aaron Donald (+700). Donald is not just the best defensive player, but best overall player in the NFL. As I say every year when we do this exercise, I will pick him for DPOY every season until that is no longer clearly true. Somebody else might win, but he will be the league’s most impactful defender.

McCarriston: Myles Garrett (+750). I went back and forth on this one, but I’m going to give it to Myles Garrett this season. He will make a big impact on an otherwise mediocre team and is their best defensive player. He is coming off a solid year, landing in third for sacks in the league with 16 and I think he will put up similar numbers this season.

Benjamin: Joey Bosa (+2000). Brother Nick probably gets even more love these days, but now Joey has a motivated Khalil Mack on the other side. Buckle up.

Sullivan: Maxx Crosby (+4000). Another long shot, but if you’ve been following me this offseason you know I’ve been banging the drum for Crosby. Last year, he totaled a league-leading 101 pressures and only finished with eight sacks. That feels like a massive disparity, which should be corrected in 2022 with a higher sack total. It also helps that Las Vegas brought in Chandler Jones to free him up even more.

Breech: Michah Parsons (+1000). This award should probably be named after Aaron Donald because he almost always wins it, but I’m not going to pick him this year. Instead, I’m going with Parsons, who is arguably already the best defensive player on the Cowboys’ roster right now.

Comeback Player of the Year best bets

Brinson: Christian McCaffrey (+900). Not sure why Derrick Henry is favored here when CMC is much more likely to hit the markers needed to win the award. If he plays more than 14 games I think he’s got a great chance to lock this award down given how many games he’s missed the last two years. Especially when Matt Rhule should be desperate to give him tons of touches.

Danjani: Derrick Henry +450. Last year, the best running back in the NFL was on pace to approach 2,000 rushing yards for the second straight season before his foot injury. Now back healthy, he’s again going to have the opportunity to carry an offense. Henry led the league in rushes, yards and touchdowns in 2019 and 2020.

Edwards: Derrick Henry (+450). Henry has stayed healthy for most of his career. Last season’s injury must have fans and fantasy players alike on edge, but compared to other candidates and a relatively light workload in 2021, he is going to have every opportunity to win if available in that offense.

Wilson: Baker Mayfield (+1000). He plays with a chip on his shoulder and when he’s healthy he can be effective. The Panthers’ offensive line was upgraded in the offseason and if Christian McCaffrey can stay healthy, Mayfield will be in position to help Carolina surpass its over/under win total of 6.5 games.

Dubin: Christian McCaffrey (+900). If he can finally stay healthy, he’ll once again be pretty clearly the NFL’s most productive running back. I think that’ll be enough for this award.

McCarriston: Christian McCaffrey (+900). It’s a risk, but I’m going with Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey. He has a history of injuries, so obviously staying healthy will be key, but if that is possible I believe he is slated for a huge year. McCaffrey has missed so much time due to injury recently, that when he is on the field I think he will want to make up for missed time.

Benjamin: Christian McCaffrey (+900). When he’s healthy, he’s a game-changer. And Baker Mayfield will be leaning on him all year as a safety valve.

Sullivan: Christian McCaffrey (+900). There’s a reason McCaffrey is going to go inside the top 3 in your fantasy football drafts this summer. If he’s healthy, he’s one of the most lethal weapons in the NFL.

Breech: Christian McCaffrey (+900). When McCaffrey is healthy, he’s unstoppable and after battling injuries for two straight seasons, I think McCaffrey will finally stay healthy this year.