MINNESOTA

No signs of WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON at the Vikings voluntary camp.  Will Ragatz ofSI.com:

Vikings superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson did not report to TCO Performance Center on Monday for the start of the team’s voluntary offseason program, head coach Kevin O’Connell revealed to the media. That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, as Jefferson — who is still awaiting a record-breaking contract extension — skipped the voluntary portion of the offseason last year as well.

Jefferson first became eligible for an extension last year. He chose to skip basically the first two months of the Vikings’ spring offseason program, including numerous OTA practices. When he arrived at the facility for the first time for mandatory minicamp in mid-June, he cited other obligations like endorsement deals as a reason for his absence up to that point. Jefferson attended all of the Vikings’ mandatory practices from that point, including training camp, and went on to have over 1,000 yards in just eight full games. According to various reports, the Vikings and Jefferson’s camp got close to agreeing to an extension before the season started, but it didn’t happen.

Presumably, Jefferson will follow the same plan this offseason. There’s more pressure on the Vikings to get a deal done this year, as Jefferson is headed into the fifth and final year of his rookie contract. Unless an extension gets worked out soon, it’s probably safe to assume that Minnesota’s superstar won’t be around until at least mandatory minicamp in June — if not later.

O’Connell would love to have Jefferson in the building as soon as possible, but he isn’t sure when that’ll happen.

“I’ve had a lot of great dialogue with Justin,” O’Connell said. “My hope is we can get him around the team. Want him here as much as we can have him, but also understand there’s a lot of factors involved.”

When Jefferson does eventually sign a new contract, it’s likely going to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, surpassing Nick Bosa’s $34 million per year. The Eagles just extended DeVonta Smith for $75 million over three years ($25 million AAV with $51 million guaranteed). Jefferson’s going to get a lot more than that, and his camp will be pushing for heavy guarantees.

The Vikings are just beginning their offseason program with phase one, which consists of meetings and strength/conditioning workouts. OTA practices will get going in late May.

NEW YORK GIANTS

Mike Kafka is back as OC after a flirtation with the Seahawks.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com on the unclear path forward:

The Giants have two new coordinators on head coach Brian Daboll’s staff this season and it looked like they might be making three changes early in the offseason.

Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka interviewed for the Seahawks’ head coaching job and Seattle wanted to speak to him a second time about becoming Mike Macdonald’s coordinator after they made that hire. There was some thought Kafka was looking to move on after Daboll took back offensive play-calling duties last season, but the Giants blocked the move and added an assistant head coach title for Kafka.

On Monday, Kafka said he’s “excited to be here” when asked about interest in making a lateral move and that “last year is last year” when it comes to calling plays. He said “we’ve learned from it, we’ve grown from it” and that they’ll be figuring out how things will operate in 2024.

“Yeah, every year is different,” Kafka said, via a transcript from the team. “You got to go through the evaluation process, and this year is no different. It’s day one of phase one, so there is a long time to go. But I’m excited and I’m excited in my role and doing whatever we can do to get better each day.”

The Giants were coming off a playoff berth at this time last year, but they head into next season off a 6-11 record and a big question mark at quarterback with Daniel Jones coming off a torn ACL. The draft could bring a challenger to Jones or help elsewhere on a unit that will need serious improvement for the Giants to boomerang their way back up the standings.

WASHINGTON

The Commanders have hired an NFL insider.  Mike Florio finds it interesting.

The league office laid the foundation for new ownership in Washington. New ownership in Washington has now hired a long-time member of the league office.

I’m not saying it’s not a coincidence. I’m just saying it happened.

The Commanders have hired Dave Gardi. He had most recently been the NFL’s V.P. of football initiatives. In Washington, via ESPN.com, Gardi will “handle a number of in-game management duties and will support the coaching staff and front office on compliance with League protocols, officiating trends and health and safety guidelines.”

Basically, he’ll make sure the Commanders are complying with the rules. And also, frankly, coming up with creative ways to secure an advantage while still complying with the rules.

He knows how the sausage is made at 345 Park Avenue. He can use that knowledge to get an edge for the Commanders. The fact that he’ll be involved with “in-game management duties” means that the Commanders fully expect him to leverage his background to help the Commanders.

The move also invites speculation as to whether, for example, a league that has suddenly begun pinching pennies might have lowballed Gardi, prompting him to look elsewhere. It’s also possible that someone in a position of power decided it was time for Gardi to go. (The league office usually doesn’t fire people; sometimes, it outplaces them to teams.)

That said, Gardi had never been mentioned as a potential successor to Commissioner Roger Goodell. Typically, that’s the development that puts a promising executive on the Big Shield endangered species list.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times on the case of two guys named Jim – Harbaugh and Rockford:

Corduroy sports coats. Shiny disco shirts unbuttoned to mid-chest. Bell-bottom slacks. Muscle-bound goons with noses crooked as Mulholland Drive.

And unsolved capers lining the sun-splashed streets like palm trees.

That’s how young Jim Harbaugh saw Los Angeles when he was growing up in Michigan.

“Laying on your stomach, hands on your chin, elbows on the floor, looking at the palm trees and mountains, sun, ocean,” said Harbaugh, 60, new coach of the Chargers. “`Wow, I want to be there someday.’”

Now, here he is, in the land of “The Rockford Files,” his all-time favorite show, which turned 50 last month. The series starred a square-jawed James Garner as Jim Rockford, who spent a couple of years in San Quentin (falsely accused) then scratched out a living cracking cases for $200 per day plus expenses. Garner died in 2014 at age 86.

 “James Garner had all the things a leading man needs,” said David Chase, a writer and producer on the show who later created “The Sopranos.” “He was great looking. He was smart. He had a sense of humor. And he was also a really good guy.”

For six seasons, from 1974 to 1980, legions of fans fell in love with the show — and L.A. — the Harbaughs among them.

From “Dragnet” to “Adam-12” to “Columbo,” TV shows in those days highlighted a push and pull to the City of Angels, portrayed as a crime-ridden Eden. Sunshine and smog. Glistening wheels and gridlock. Sweltering days and cold cases. Glamour and grift.

There was even a yin-yang dichotomy to Rockford’s accommodations. He lived beachside in Malibu … in a ramshackle house trailer.

So taken was Harbaugh that when he took over in January as coach of the Chargers, he spent his first two months living in an RV across the street from the sand in Huntington Beach.

“On the sand it was $120 a night, but across the street it was $80,” said Harbaugh, who chose the cheaper option even though he makes considerably more than $200 per day plus expenses.

“An homage to Rockford? Yeah, that’s a perfect word for it,” he said. “It’s a tip of the cap to James Garner and all of the writers of that brilliant show.”

In an ultra-competitive industry filled with insecurities and backstabbing, Garner was one of those rare people who was pretty much universally beloved.

“Jim Garner was my favorite actor of the hundreds I’ve worked with,” said Jerry London, who directed eight episodes of “The Rockford Files.” “He’s the greatest guy. No stress, friendly, happy. I loved going to work on that show because of Jim. He was a great person.”

That spirit came through in the show’s rascal of a main character and spilled into living rooms all over the country.

“Jim’s true personality came through as Rockford,” said London, whose directing credits encompass some of the most popular shows of the 1970s and ‘80s, among them “Hogan’s Heroes,” “Happy Days,” “The Brady Bunch,” “The Bob Newhart Show” and the mini-series “Shogun.”

“Garner always did everything with a little comedy, so it was funny. Even the dramatic scenes were quirky because they always had kind of a wink of the eye. It was fun to watch. I think the people related to that and related to him.”

Garner’s daughter said her father always kept Hollywood at an arm’s length.

“My dad was a humble man from Norman, Oklahoma,” Gigi Garner said. “He never let any of that star stuff get to him. And I think people related to him. They just felt like they knew him, or he was their friend. He just had that kind of personality.”

Lindsay Wagner was 24 when she co-starred in the pilot episode of “The Rockford Files,” and she loved working with Garner. She said she might have had a recurring role on the show had she not gotten the opportunity to star in “The Bionic Woman,” a spin-off of “The Six Million Dollar Man.”

“That early in the business when it’s all kind of new and all the different egos and the things that you run into, the power trips, and James Garner was so down to earth, naturally funny,” Wagner said. “He treated everyone on the set the same. He was just as respectful and cheerful and social with the people that build the sets, to the grips, to the director, to the co-stars. He just had a wonderful respect for people and everybody’s contribution.”

Wagner said Garner had an uncanny ability to shift gears and go from real life to acting and back again.

“He would be telling the grips a joke and it would be, ‘OK, everybody, places. Quiet down,’ and he’s still telling the joke,” she said. “And we all get in our places. I start trying to get grounded and focused in on my character, and he’s still telling the joke. And the director says, ‘OK, come on. Silence.’

“Jim shuts his mouth and he turns around and starts doing his lines, completely in character. It was just natural for him. He just had an amazing ability to focus and get right into something, whereas myself, I like quiet for a minute or so before we start so I can get grounded and block everything out. He could just compartmentalize. On a dime, he’d be right into character.

“And as soon as they’d say, ‘Cut,’ it was, ‘So anyway…’ right back to the joke he was telling.”

Garner was an outstanding high school football and basketball player and might have been a football star at his beloved University of Oklahoma but for his knee issues. Those resurfaced in a big way during his Rockford years.

 “Every hiatus every year I had one or both knees operated on,” Garner said in a 1999 interview with the Television Academy. “I never had time to get well. We were working on pavement, working on hard floors, doing all kinds of stunts, running, jumping, all that. The knees finally gave out. And if you look, go through the history of guys who have done action-drama television series, none of them have good knees.

“It started with football. I had my right one operated on when I was about 18 and never had any problems until the first year of Rockford. It just kept locking on me, and I had to have it fixed. And then the next year I had both of them fixed … By the end of the six years, I was not only physically but mentally shot.”

In the actor’s memoir, “The Garner Files,” he wrote that legendary quarterback Joe Namath called him once to recommend a knee surgeon, and that he finally had both knees replaced. He also wrote he needed muscle relaxants and painkillers just to get through the filming of an episode.

“I got beat up a minimum of twice per show,” he wrote. “I don’t know why, but viewers loved to see me get whipped. Maybe they knew I’d get even later on.”

Garner could be warm and friendly, yet he was anything but a pushover. Once, he and Stephen Cannell, who created “The Rockford Files,” discovered a rival producer had stolen some scripts and given them the slightest of tweaks in hopes of making his own L.A. detective show, one that never would get off the ground. What’s more, the guy had come up with his own version of “The Rockford Files” theme song.

Garner and Cannell were infuriated and they played the knock-off song for Mike Post, who agreed it was a rip-off but not close enough to sue for copyright infringement.

As the widely told story goes, that same producer later approached Garner at the studio gate and pleaded his case, repeatedly putting his hand on the star’s shoulder. Each time, Garner told him not to steal material and not to touch him.

That happened one too many times, however, and Garner dropped him with a single punch. He then turned to the gate guard, shrugged and said, “I told him not to touch me.”

Post, whose catalog of TV music spans six decades and includes such hit shows as “Hill Street Blues,” “Magnum, P.I.,” “Doogie Howser, M.D.” and “Law & Order,” said he and his late composing partner Pete Carpenter had Garner’s Oklahoma roots in mind when they wrote the Rockford theme.

“Garner wasn’t a full-on Southerner, he was a Southwesterner,” Post said. “So we wanted something that sounded a little Southern. Pete and I were at the right place at the right time, me being a rock-and-roller that could orchestrate and conduct, and Pete being a big-band guy and a jazz guy … With Rockford Files, we wanted to write a one-minute earworm that people couldn’t get out of their head.”

It worked for Harbaugh, who on request happily whistles that catchy theme song. He says his son whistles it even better.

Harbaugh loved the humility of Rockford — and Garner in real life — and said that falls in line with what his own dad taught him.

“Rockford wasn’t trying to impress anybody,” the coach said. “I think we all go wrong when we try to make that leap to, `Today I’ve got to impress somebody.’ Because then you’re not yourself anymore. You don’t have a lot of practice at that.

“If you want to get better at something, just work a little harder at it. And whatever you do, don’t get a big head. That’s a trap. A deep, dark, lonely trap.”

The car chases. There seemed to be one in every episode, and the Harbaugh brothers loved them.

“We never had a cool car,” said John Harbaugh, Jim’s older brother and coach of the Baltimore Ravens. “We had a red VW bug that leaked more oil than it burned gas. We shared it once Jim got his driver’s license.”

The family lived on a hill. That beetle was banged up because when John first got his license, he didn’t realize that because it was a stick shift, he needed to put the handbrake on when parking. One day the car rolled backward down their street for a full block.

“We got a call from our neighbor on the corner,” John recalled. “The stop sign was completely bent over and the car was sitting on top of it. It was like, ‘Hey, your car’s on our stop sign.’ Then I ran into somebody from behind, so that car got smashed like an accordion.”

Stunt drivers they weren’t. Incidentally, Garner did his own stunts, bum knees and all, and was a racecar driver in real life. One of his favorite maneuvers was a J-turn, in which he would floor it in reverse, then whip the car around 180 degrees and keep moving forward in the same direction. It was such a hallmark move of the show that many people simply call that a Rockford turn.

The bug was primarily John’s car. Jim drove the family’s brown 1966 Mercury Comet — decidedly not a Rockford-type Firebird — and friends nicknamed it “The Vomit.” He pretty much destroyed that by running into a curb.

“You couldn’t put a nice car into our hands in those days,” John said.

When Jim was playing quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, he owned a piece of the Pennzoil car at the Indianapolis 500. One year, parents Jack and Jackie Harbaugh were invited onto the track for prerace festivities.

“While there, Jackie spotted Jim Garner walking toward us and jumped in his path like a basketball player taking a charge,” Jack recalled in a text message. “Jim made a great move to get around her and she shuffled her feet to get in front of him. He countered her move and was getting around her and she called out she was Jim [Harbaugh’s] mom. He stopped, smiled and they had a conversation. One of Jackie’s all-time favorite stories.”

Jim Harbaugh was playing quarterback in a preseason game for the Chicago Bears, his first of six teams. On the Los Angeles Raiders sideline at the Coliseum one summer, he spotted Garner, who was friends with team owner Al Davis and a big fan of the Silver & Black.

At halftime, as his teammates headed for the locker room, Harbaugh made a beeline for his favorite TV star.

“Mr. Garner, my name is Jim Harbaugh.”

“I know who you are, Jim,” Garner said. “What can I do for you?”

“I’m a big fan of yours and I’m wondering, can we take a picture?”

So there they stood on the Raiders sideline, Harbaugh fresh-faced and beaming, with his arm around Garner, in a striped Raiders golf shirt, Panama hat and shades. Garner later autographed the photo, one of Harbaugh’s prized possessions.

The two would strike up a friendship, chatting by phone on occasion and once playing golf at Bel Air Country Club, one of Garner’s favorite hangouts.

“I fly out there, have breakfast with James Garner and he takes me out to play golf,” Harbaugh said. “He brought along [longtime Rams executive] Don Klosterman who couldn’t walk very well and had some problems with his hips. Well, Klosterman gets a hole-in-one. It’s the only hole-in-one I’ve ever seen in person. He could barely stand up. He was playing some really good golf with bad hips.

“That’s a top five in my life, playing golf with James Garner and Don Klosterman.”

One of the aspects of Rockford — and Garner — that Harbaugh most appreciates is authenticity. These are flawed people with their own weaknesses and blind spots, not pristine Hollywood creations.

“He’s the hero who it doesn’t always go perfect for,” Harbaugh said. “It’s more like real life. He doesn’t get paid in the end, or he takes a bullet in the hip. But he’s really loyal, a force for good. More like a real person.

“One of Rockford’s best lines is when he’s asked if there’s anything he won’t do for money. ‘I won’t kill for it, and I won’t marry for it. Other than that, I’m open to just about anything.’ That’s very human to me.”

Living on the beach might have been an homage to Rockford, but Harbaugh didn’t do it blindly. His offensive coordinator, Greg Roman, had lived in an RV for three months when he joined John Harbaugh’s staff in Baltimore.

Harbaugh and Roman each had RVs on Huntington Beach, parked about 100 feet apart and a 14-minute drive from team headquarters. The coach has since moved into a house with his family; the offensive coordinator soon will follow suit.

“Here’s the story,” Roman said. “Jim and I started talking, and I said, ‘You take that Chargers job, man, and I found this RV place right on the beach.’ He goes, ‘Really? Jim Rockford. You’re Jim Rockford. I want to be Jim Rockford. We’re doing this thing.’”

When Harbaugh pulled up stakes and headed for his new house, he gave Roman a stack of Rockford DVDs for film study.

“It’s like going back in time for him,” Roman said. “I think that really impacted him as a child. And just like Rockford, Jim is a problem solver. I’ve got a problem and I’ve got to investigate and solve it. That’s him. That investigative thinking, I’m sure that resonated with him as a kid. That’s how he is on the job.”

Lifting the Chargers to new heights? The case is there for him to crack.

THIS AND THAT

BAD FREE AGENT CONTRACTS

Gilberto Manzano of SI.com identifies 10 recent free agent signings that he believes are not a good use of money:

Every new partnership starts with plenty of optimism, but many of the ones formed in free agency don’t work out. (It wasn’t hard finding 12 bad contracts from last free agency.)

Here are 10 free agents from this year’s frenzy who might not have a fruitful partnership with their respective new teams.

10. Russell Wilson, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

I went back-and-forth on including Wilson on this list, because the Steelers are only paying him $1.2 million for a one-year contract, a massive bargain for a starting quarterback. But that’s the problem: The Steelers have reportedly made Wilson the starter this offseason, instead of making him compete with Justin Fields, whom the Steelers gained in a trade for only a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick, another bargain.

The Steelers added two quality signal-callers without needing to rebuild with a rookie quarterback—a blueprint other QB-needy teams without a high first-round pick should follow. But Pittsburgh would be wise to split the starting snaps between Wilson and Fields from the get-go. Wilson has struggled the past two seasons and probably won’t regain his form from his Seattle days. Fields has upside and could do wonders with the Steelers’ impressive roster. He could still win the job, but it’s all about timing, and taking over for a struggling squad in October doesn’t seem ideal.

9. Robert Hunt, OG, Carolina Panthers

Every young quarterback should have a bodyguard like Hunt, a rugged blocker in many aspects who doesn’t allow his signal-caller to take extra hits. Bryce Young will benefit from having Hunt in the middle of the Panthers’ offensive line. But the Panthers overpaid for his services, with a whopping five-year, $100 million contract with $63 million guaranteed.

With the lucrative contract, comes added pressure for Hunt, 27, who didn’t make an All-Pro team nor a Pro Bowl during his first four seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Now Hunt will need to play like the best guard in the NFL to live up to this hefty contract. That’s a high bar, but the Panthers probably won’t care if Young excels in Year 2 and takes a lot fewer sacks than the 62 he had last season.

8. Tyron Smith, OT, New York Jets

The Jets benefited from Smith having a quiet market, adding him on a one-year, $6.5 million contract, which could go as high as $20 million. If Smith ends up making eight figures in 2024, that likely means he stayed healthy and was a quality left tackle for Aaron Rodgers. But Smith is entering his age-34 season and has dealt with many injuries throughout his decorated career. The last time he played a full season was in 2015.

If the Jets draft a tackle in the first two rounds, this signing would look a lot better next month. And maybe they would have been better off focusing on the draft because this class is loaded with tackles. But after the season the Jets had, there’s nothing wrong with a former All-Pro being on the team as insurance.

7. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles needed help on offense, not just on defense, which took the bulk of the blame for last year’s second-half collapse. Barkley’s versatility should help Jalen Hurts & Co., but it wouldn’t be surprising if Eagles beat reporters are writing stories about the team searching for ways to get Barkley more involved in the offense five games into the season.

Philadelphia signed Barkley to a three-year, $37.5 million contract, which puts him behind Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara and Jonathan Taylor on the running back pay scale for 2024. It’s tough seeing Barkley, 27, playing as well as McCaffrey and Taylor. He’s dealt with injuries in his career and had a rough ’23 season, averaging only 3.9 yards per carry. Barkley hasn’t been as explosive as McCaffrey in a few years and isn’t as young as Taylor. He could be just as productive as Kamara, but Kamara hasn’t lived up to the contract extension he signed with the New Orleans Saints.

6. Patrick Queen, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Queen is a physical downhill linebacker who also excels in coverage. He fits a need and the play style of the Steelers. But signing Queen to a three-year, $41 million contract comes with a few risks. The 2020 first-round pick struggled his first three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before enjoying a breakout ’23 season.

Queen, who didn’t have his fifth-year option exercised on his rookie deal, won’t get to play next to Roquan Smith in Pittsburgh. Coincidentally, Queen’s play picked up after gaining a rhythm next to Smith and getting the hang of Mike Macdonald’s defensive scheme. Perhaps Queen needed a few years to find his footing and could excel playing behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith in Pittsburgh..

5. Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers

Jacobs, the 2022 rushing champion, received a nice four-year, $48 million contract with plenty of money upfront—he’s set to make about $14 million this year. It’s essentially a year-to-year deal for the Packers, who could save $2 million in cap space by cutting Jacobs next year.

Both sides benefit from Jacobs receiving money that rivals what running backs made about four years ago. This move, however, doesn’t make sense from a personnel perspective and a budgeting standpoint. Jordan Love wasn’t in need of a workhorse back. The team could have paired AJ Dillon, who re-signed on a one-year, $2.7 million contract, with a rookie or another veteran running back without having to commit $14 million. The Packers are on the rise with Love and a handful of promising pass catchers. Now they need to find a way to get Jacobs heavily involved, possibly disrupting the chemistry from last season. Jacobs, 26, also has dealt with injuries in career, including missing four games last season.

4. Leonard Williams, IDL, Seattle Seahawks

Williams might have profited from the Seahawks spending a second-round pick to acquire him in a trade with the New York Giants and the team not wanting to lose him after half a season. The Seahawks doubled down and re-signed Williams to a three-year, $64.5 million contract.

That decision is a gamble because Williams is entering his age-30 season and his arrival didn’t help improve the Seahawks’ disappointing defense last season. Individually, Williams played well and could continue doing so with new coach Macdonald, the Ravens’ defensive coordinator the last two seasons. The Seahawks are banking on Macdonald improving a very expensive defense, which includes Williams and Dre’Mont Jones making over $17 million annually. The Jones signing didn’t lead to many positive results last season.

3. Jonathan Greenard, Edge, Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings could afford taking a chance on a young player with upside after the free-agency departures of Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter. But Greenard, who agreed to a four-year, $76 million contract, has only had one dominant season in his career, after recording a career-high 12.5 sacks for the Houston Texans last season. He only had 10.5 sacks combined in his first three seasons.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans won’t be joining Greenard in Minnesota and neither will Will Anderson Jr., the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year. Greenard, 26, will need to be the Vikings’ best player on the defensive front. He has also dealt with injuries, missing nine games in 2022. If Greenard plays up to his potential, perhaps this deal becomes a bargain for the Vikings.

2. Gabe Davis, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

The free-agent addition of Davis might have looked better had the Jaguars re-signed Calvin Ridley, but even then they would have paid too much for a player because of a specific need. Davis is a terrific blocker with big-game ability, evident by his four touchdowns against the Chiefs in the postseason a few years back. But he’s had too many quiet games with the Buffalo Bills, which didn’t stick out as much because he still contributed as a blocker.

Now with Ridley gone, Davis can’t afford to have quiet games, and will be counted on to be the team’s No. 2 target behind Christian Kirk (who isn’t a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver). Davis signed a three-year, $39 million contract to head south with the Jaguars. The Bills signed Curtis Samuel to a three-year, $24 million contract to replace Davis.

1. Calvin Ridley, WR, Tennessee Titans

Ridley left Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars to be the No. 1 wide receiver for Will Levis and the Titans. There’s nothing wrong with the team adding a dynamic wide receiver to help a second-year quarterback, but they might regret this contract in a year or two.

Ridley, who turns 30 later this year, signed a massive four-year, $92 million contract with the Titans—it’s understandable why the Jaguars didn’t match that price. For that contract, Ridley comes with too many concerns, including age, availability and performance. He played in every game for the Jaguars last season, something he did only once in five seasons with the Falcons. But Ridley struggled to learn Doug Pederson’s offense and had a few costly drops with the Jaguars. Perhaps playing with new Titans coach Brian Callahan will make the Ridley signing worth the risks.

2024 DRAFT

Eleven QBs, five tiers – Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com has a panel of anonymous personnel types assign the prospective draftees a spot (plus some interesting player comparisons):

For the third time in four years, quarterbacks will dominate the discussion around the NFL draft.

The 2021 and 2023 classes saw passers occupy three of the first four picks, and that could be the case in the 2024 NFL draft beginning April 25 (8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC, ESPN App). The teams at the top — Bears (No. 1), Commanders (No. 2) and Patriots (No. 3) — are all hoping to channel Houston’s success with C.J. Stroud last season, coveting the idea of a brilliant passer under a rookie contract. This is one of the deeper quarterback drafts in recent memory, with at least seven passers angling for Day 1 or Day 2 billing.

The NFL’s new reality is quarterbacks, always highly scrutinized, are ultimately elevated come draft season. And they will play early: Eight rookie draft picks started a total of 60 games last season. The premium nature of the position and long-standing mythology around it ensures fans and draft observers will be watching closely to see where the quarterbacks land.

The NFL executives, scouts and coaches tasked with evaluating those players will be watching, too, after spending weeks and months determining how they believe each will fare at the next level. We turned to those insiders to give us a window into the construction of quarterback draft boards, offering their own player comparisons and a sense of where they believe each of the draft-worthy QBs could be selected. We then placed those quarterbacks in order and into tiers, reflecting the consensus of experts within the league on the abilities of each player.

Tier 1

Caleb Williams, USC

Most frequent scout/exec comp: Aaron Rodgers

The only quarterback to receive a Tier 1 grade on every ballot. “He’s a star,” an NFL coordinator said of Williams. Added an NFL personnel director: “From a talent standpoint, he’s in his own class.” Williams’ “rare gifts” make him an exception to the rest of this year’s group, a veteran AFC scout said, because of his high-level instincts, foot quickness and accuracy. He doesn’t have one glaring weakness on which scouts harp. “He makes ‘holy s—‘ throws on a regular basis,” the scout said.

Not all teams were thrilled with Williams’ pre-draft process. He treated the NFL combine as if he were visiting a real estate open house, casually, declining medical exams and doing a few team interviews before leaving Indy. Teams described his interviews as “good, not great” and “relatively engaged” and noted Williams was not in full-blown interview mode like other prospects, though they suspect that’s a byproduct of being a player who knows he’s going No. 1.

Williams’ pro day was “just OK,” according to an AFC exec. “I don’t think he’s had a great spring,” the exec said. “He’s still going first. That’s pretty much a done deal. But while he was a no-brainer three months ago, there’s at least a conversation now. Even still, I think he’s a smart kid, a good kid. He just knows where he’s going.”

Most say the perception that Williams insists on making plays on the run instead of within the confines of a system is overblown. Of the 87 players in Football Bowl Subdivision history to record 10,000 yards of total offense and 100 touchdowns responsible for, Williams has the fewest turnovers at 19.

“Go back to Oklahoma and early USC with [Williams’ No. 1 Trojans receiver in 2022] Jordan Addison and he played on time,” an NFL offensive coach said. “He has that gear and will be willing to do that, I believe. His supporting cast was not as good [in 2023] so he had to make some things happen.”

Other comps included Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray.

Despite any quirks, including questions about his combine strategy, Williams is not considered a red flag from a personality standpoint by scouts who spoke to us.

“Everyone who spends time with him says he’s a really good kid,” an AFC scout said. “The noise on the outside… I don’t think that’s him.”

Tier 2

Jayden Daniels, LSU

Most frequent scout/exec comp: No clear consensus

Daniels has a slight edge on Drake Maye for the No. 2 spot in the 2024 quarterback hierarchy because of his readiness to play. Firmly on the radar as a top-three pick, Daniels is tabbed by many executives as the most viable option for Washington at No. 2, though first-year GM Adam Peters has hidden his plans well.

Daniels proved a potent passer, particularly in the intermediate range, during his Heisman Trophy campaign at LSU, improving greatly from his erratic start at Arizona State. He produced a historic season at LSU, ranking first in FBS with 4,946 yards of total offense, third highest in SEC history, behind only Joe Burrow (2019) and Johnny Manziel (2012).

“Elite traits,” an NFC executive said. “He’s always been an athlete but showed more clubs in the bag. Throws the ball really well and his decision-making is good. Accurate. Grown a lot as far as operating a passing game with rhythm and timing. Can make progressions. An impressive prospect.”

That said, Daniels’ arm strength is considered above average, not elite. He’s a running quarterback but a more polished thrower than many dual-threat passers, per multiple scouts. Multiple execs compared his running style to Robert Griffin III out of Baylor, showing impressive straight-line burst. Daniels’ frame and durability are concerns. Other comps included Russell Wilson and Bryce Young.

“He played 190 to 200 [pounds] his whole career and he takes shots,” an NFC exec said. “This year, he showed more play from the pocket, which helps him a ton. Better thrower than Lamar [Jackson] was coming out and it’s not close. He can do the read-option and the mobility stuff. The question is, when those easy 20-yard runs aren’t there in the NFL, is he willing to take the easy 8-yard gain from the pocket and avoid taking hits? He’s got to protect himself better. I think he will.”

Daniels threw with precision at his pro day, with Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury noticeably excited by what he saw. The feedback on Daniels’ team interviews was positive, with one AFC coach calling his presence “like the cool kid that everyone wants to talk to and be around,” which will help him in locker room settings.

Down-in, down-out accuracy is a concern for some.

“Love the total package, and his legs will buy him time to create and make plays, but from a condensed pocket, in those ‘gotta have it’ situations, he can struggle when the pocket isn’t clean,” an AFC scout said. “He would make the receiver work for the ball, where at the next level that’s a batted pass or incompletion.”

Drake Maye, North Carolina

Most frequent scout/exec comps: Josh Allen (with less arm strength), Carson Wentz

Teams that place high value on physical traits in their quarterback evaluation will love Maye, who is the classic upside play with high boom-or-bust potential. “Extremely gifted athlete, best size of all the guys — confident he’s still developing with enormous upside,” said an NFC exec of the 6-foot-4, 223-pound Maye. “Can make all of the throws and is a very good athlete to create on his own as a runner and passer. Highly competitive. He’s got star potential.”

Maye helped elevate a subpar supporting cast to produce 359 plays of 10-plus yards since 2022, second to Michael Penix Jr. in the FBS. While some evaluators place him in Tier 1, above Daniels and on par with Williams, others knocked him for lack of refinement.

“Huge upside, but way more of a project than he appears to be,” an NFL coordinator said. “Footwork all over the place, same with his eyes. Kind of just makes plays off raw talent and athleticism. Thought he would be much more polished.”

Multiple coaches say Maye flourishes while creating off schedule but not often enough when on time, with one pointing out: “I’ve got a 50-play cut-up of him dropping back, seeing an open window and taking off to run.”

To be sure, Maye underwent coordinator changes at North Carolina and didn’t have enough support at the receiver and offensive line spots. His running ability is a premium, with shades of Allen, though his arm strength isn’t considered on par with Allen or Justin Herbert — “good but not that good,” as one AFC scout put it, who rated it at a seven out of 10. Maye throws an impressive deep ball, particularly on post routes, coaches say.

“He does need some time, and there will be growing pains, but you take him because he has the most upside of everybody,” one high-ranking NFL personnel man said. “There’s major ability there. I worry that if you take him and you don’t have a supporting cast and a good offensive line or receivers and he has to play right away, he will struggle early.”

Multiple evaluators pointed out Minnesota is the perfect place for Maye in that regard, should the Vikings move up to get him. Scouts noted he’s smart, relaxed and even witty in interviews.

“Super competitive and will rush for 400 to 500 yards a year,” an AFC scout said. “He’s just never played big in big moments, doesn’t have that signature win to elevate his team, though he wasn’t always in the position to provide that.”

Tier 2.5

J.J. McCarthy, Michigan

Most frequent scout/exec comp: Mix of Kirk Cousins and Brock Purdy

McCarthy is easily the most fascinating — and polarizing — quarterback prospect in the draft. Evaluators are truly all over the map. Some see elite talent, maybe the best long-term play of the group, while others see fringe first-round or even second-round talent. He’s very close to Tier 2.

“I don’t see him getting past [Pick] 5 or 6,” an NFC exec said. “Definitely not getting out of the top 10. Anticipation, decision-making, preparation, coming from pro-style offense — he’s got a lot going for him. You see him process, go through progressions. That’s an easier predictor of what it would look like at the NFL level.”

Added a high-ranking NFL official: “I’m buying the hype that he goes high. He’s got something to him from a leadership and makeup standpoint that resonates.”

McCarthy gets the game manager label, having averaged 22.6 passing attempts per game over the past two seasons (29 games). That lack of in-game volume only heightened the scrutiny around McCarthy’s pro day, where McCarthy “validated some things” with “one of the best pro days I’ve seen as a passer,” according to one veteran NFL personnel evaluator.

“Movement ability, arm talent, laying the football, throwing off-platform. He did it all [at his pro day],” the evaluator said. As one NFL national scout put it, “[McCarthy] wasn’t a game manager because they had to hide something — he has high-level traits. It’s more a function of Jim Harbaugh’s offense. He’s never been asked to throw 30-plus times a game but I think he can handle it.” An AFC offensive coach counters: “[Former Michigan coach Jim] Harbaugh didn’t trust him like he did Andrew Luck. When he makes a mistake, Harbaugh leans into the running game even more so during the flow of the game.”

Multiple teams believe Minnesota or Denver could be trade-up options for McCarthy, who’s considered a good fit in both places. He’d be best served to sit a year behind a veteran, per multiple scouts. McCarthy’s 39.0 total QBR when under pressure was among the best of nearly 250 FBS quarterbacks with at least 25 starts over the past decade, trailing only Joe Burrow (49.0) and Trevor Lawrence (44.0). Stroud was tied with McCarthy at 39.0.

“I just don’t see it,” said an AFC scout of the McCarthy hype. “I don’t see consistent accuracy, his ability to get it done inside the white lines, and [the Michigan staff] didn’t call games or play offensively like they trusted him.” But one reason he’s rising? “What you’re seeing now is the coaches and coordinators are more involved in the draft process [in March and April], and they are realizing, s—, he’s a pro already,” the NFC exec said. “And he showed more arm strength at his pro day than I thought he had.”

Tier 3

Michael Penix Jr., Washington

Most frequent scout/exec comps: Tua Tagovailoa (with a better arm), Jordan Love

Penix is in the Round 1 conversation according to multiple teams, despite a lengthy injury history. He’s one of the best pure passers in the draft, a true point guard who distributes with relative ease — and with zip.

“A lot will be determined by medical [evaluations] and teams will differ, but, no, I don’t think he’s there in [Round] 2,” an AFC executive said.

Penix’s collegiate medical history is checkered, including two ACL tears to his right knee that ended his 2018 and 2020 seasons, and injuries to both his non-throwing and throwing shoulders. But he put together a completely healthy season for Washington last year and received a clean bill of health during NFL combine testing, with independent approval from renowned knee and shoulder specialist Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Penix followed that up with explosiveness at his pro day, with 40 times in the 4.5s along with a 36½-inch vertical, though scouts would like to see him use those athletic traits more. Multiple teams say the medical realities are something teams will have to monitor and have a plan for but likely won’t sink his draft stock.

Penix was prolific in 2023 with 4,903 yards and 36 touchdown passes for the Huskies. He throws with a bit of a windup but overcomes it with a natural release.

“He’s just solid at everything,” said an AFC exec who placed Penix immediately after Maye and Daniels, and before McCarthy. “He can get streaky, but he’s a good decision-maker who distributes the football well — if a guy’s open, he’s going to find him. That, to me, is his secret sauce.”

Penix can throw with touch and timing. One NFL offensive coach thought Penix struggled at times throwing accurately to the left side of the field but is “brilliant” when throwing to his right. He will need to improve throwing from outside the pocket, where he completed 38.5% of his throws last season, ranked 114th nationally. But that’s nitpicky given his enormous production at Washington, where he became the first Pac-12 player with multiple 4,500-yard passing seasons.

“Very natural thrower,” an exec said. “I thought he struggled to play in short and intermediate areas where precision is required in the NFL, though I think he can handle that. It’s just that those windows are bigger in college so he’ll have to adjust when they shrink.”

Penix was “exceptional” in team interviews, according to multiple coaches. He turns 24 in May, which could turn off teams obsessed with upside.

“There’s a lot to like — he’s like a good point guard with a plus arm,” an AFC exec said. “I wouldn’t classify him as the type of player who will carry a team, but if he’s got a good supporting cast, he can deliver the ball consistently. People get hung up on the left-handed thing but that doesn’t matter.”

Bo Nix, Oregon

Most frequent scout/exec comps: Andy Dalton, Jimmy Garoppolo (more explosive player)

Considered one of the safest prospects among quarterbacks, Nix set NCAA records for starts (61) and completion percentage in a single season (77.4), the latter surpassing Mac Jones’ 77.3 in 2020. His 4,508 passing yards in 2023 broke an Oregon school record. Nix, the son of coach and former Auburn quarterback great Patrick Nix, was edged slightly by Penix in the voting.

“He’s as efficient as they come,” an AFC offensive coach said. “If it’s on time, he can spin it out and throw with accuracy.”

Nix possesses adequate arm strength and good mobility and will take what a defense gives him. Several teams consider him a Day 2 option — and a good fallback for teams that don’t select a passer in the early first round — but acknowledge he could get pushed up due to the quarterback needs of several teams. A complaint from multiple teams: Nix tends to freeze up in big moments.

“Coaches love him,” an NFC exec said. “Knows football, coach’s son, can talk it and walk it. He can talk it up on the board, but when the lights come on and picture changes, it’s a little bit of a concern. If he thinks it’s Cover 2, safety rotation on snap, one-high [and instead] becomes Cover 3, how quickly can he adjust and process?”

Multiple coaches who interviewed Nix said his interviews felt scripted and rehearsed but he shines when he lets loose and shows personality. Nix turned 24 in February.

“Probably doesn’t have [same] ceiling as some of the other, younger quarterbacks with upside,” an NFC scout said. “But he’ll be a solid player. Fit and system will matter. For him to be successful in the NFL he’ll have to play as a ball distributor, making plays based on timing and rhythm patterns. He can extend plays and play with toughness but sometimes relies too heavily on his legs.”

Tier 4

Spencer Rattler, South Carolina

Most frequent scout/exec comps: Sam Howell, Will Levis

Closer to Penix and Nix than people might think, Rattler has a compelling Day 2 argument on draft week due to his confidence as a thrower and in interview settings.

“He can freaking spin it, now,” an AFC offensive coach said. “One of the best pure throwers in the draft.”

Several scouts agreed with that assessment. A veteran AFC scout called him the most underrated QB in the process.

“He grew up over the duration of his career — live arm, tough as s—,” the scout said. “Horrible OL play, was getting killed out there this year.”

Rattler took 40 sacks in 12 games last season, finishing with five 300-yard games but 19 touchdowns to eight interceptions. Rattler’s 67.5 career completion percentage is the best in South Carolina’s history.

Rattler “exuded confidence” in team interviews, per an NFL coordinator. He had maturity questions to answer in the process, from unflattering high school clips as part of the “QB1” series to sulking after a benching in Oklahoma. But teams have been pleased with how Rattler has moved beyond such dialogue.

“He is said to have matured from the past and I believe it — super humble kid,” an AFC executive said. “We had good information on that that he came on the other side of it. The bigger concern might be decision-making from the pocket. You would have liked to have seen more production from him.”

Michael Pratt, Tulane

Most frequent scout/exec comps: Aidan O’Connell, Jake Browning

Tulane’s all-time leader in passing yards (9,603) and passing touchdowns (90), Pratt turned a two-win Tulane team into a 21-3 juggernaut his last two seasons. Pratt was impressive in a 46-45 win over Caleb Williams and USC in the 2023 Cotton Bowl, the school’s most significant bowl win since the 1935 Sugar Bowl. A knee injury affected his final season with the Green Wave, but he followed that up with a solid Senior Bowl performance as a standout in midweek practices.

“Better arm talent than given credit for and he’s very aggressive — will let it rip and make challenging throws,” an AFC executive said. “Not super high-end traits but adequate, decent size, will compete. Won’t wow you with his ball placement on a consistent basis.”

The four-year starter was a three-year captain at Tulane. He has adequate size at 6-foot-2½ and 217 pounds, and a common refrain from NFL evaluators is that Pratt will play in the league for a long time as a reliable quarterback — if only as a solid backup with upside to play potentially meaningful snaps.

“Gritty, competitive with enough arm and athleticism to hurt you in different ways,” an NFC exec said. “Great kid, hard worker, smart. You can talk yourself into upside with him. At worst is a great backup but worth taking a chance on.”

Joe Milton III, Tennessee

Most frequent scout/exec comps: Ryan Mallett, Josh Freeman

Milton is an intriguing talent with an ultra-raw skill set. At 6-foot-5, 235 pounds with a massive arm, he will attract teams looking for Day 3 value. He had the best velocity as a passer at the Senior Bowl, which he validated at his pro day with several 70-plus-yard deep shots.

“He’s got shades of Cam Newton based on his ability — but his football acumen and his accuracy are issues,” an AFC scout said. “Just doesn’t have the feel for the game or the position that you’d like to see.”

Milton’s 28.6% completion rate on passes of 20-plus air yards tied for 104th in the FBS. The flip side: Milton threw 216 passes at Tennessee before his first career interception, the second-longest streak of attempts without a pick in program history behind Hendon Hooker (261). Teams are skeptical of Tennessee’s college-friendly Air Raid system that coaches and scouts say allows quarterbacks to read half the field on on-read plays while stationary, which isn’t life in the NFL.

“He’s a developmental player that someone will take a chance on and hope they can mold him into an NFL quarterback,” an NFL personnel evaluator said. “He’ll be exciting to work with because of the immense talent and he hasn’t played a lot of football, so he’s a bit of a blank canvas. And he has rushing ability to go with the arm strength.” Added an AFC exec: “Was great in interviews, showed good recall and football acumen. There are just moments where he just short-circuits out there and makes you scratch your head at his decision-making.”

Tier 5

Jordan Travis, Florida State

Most frequent scout/exec comp: Tyler Huntley

Travis was efficient at Florida State with 20 touchdowns, two interceptions and an 80.1 QBR through 11 games before fracturing his ankle Nov. 18 vs. North Carolina. Travis ditched the walking boot before the NFL combine and plans to be ready for training camp. He’s mostly considered a Tier 5 passer, but some evaluators see more upside. Travis turns 24 in May and measured at 6-foot-1 1/8, 200 pounds at the combine.

“He reminds me a little bit of Dak Prescott coming out of Mississippi State — Dak wasn’t a refined passer at the time but he got the job done and was a gamer. This kid has some of that to him.”

Travis showed mobility throughout his FSU career, rushing for 1,950 career yards and scoring seven touchdowns in four consecutive seasons.

“Relatively small frame with a wonky windup but a good release on the ball — he’s got a shot,” an AFC personnel evaluator said.

Sam Hartman, Notre Dame

Most frequent scout/exec comps: C.J. Beathard, Nate Sudfeld

Hartman is an experienced signal-caller who threw for 101 touchdowns over his last three collegiate seasons. He spent five seasons at Wake Forest before transferring to Notre Dame for his final year of eligibility. Over the past half-decade, no FBS quarterback has completed more passes thrown 20-plus yards downfield than Hartman (138). His 45 passing touchdowns on deep throws during that span is second to Dillon Gabriel (49).

Hartman turns 25 in July, and teams don’t see great upside, with him clearly projected as a down-the-line backup, well behind Travis in the voting.

“Doesn’t have the ability to be an NFL starter. More of a quality backup,” an AFC executive said. “Really like him as a guy and a player, but he doesn’t have the arm strength and athleticism that you need in my opinion.”

Funny side note: Asked for a comp, an NFL personnel evaluator offered “Brad Pitt.”

– – –

Texans QB C.J. STROUD, who threw to WR MARVIN HARRISON, Jr. at Ohio State, has some advice for the Cardinals and other NFL teams.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Texans don’t need a receiver, and they don’t have a first-round pick. So quarterback C.J. Stroud can’t be reunited with Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

Stroud also can’t imagine Harrison being on the board for very long.

Asked by reporters on Monday whether Harrison should be the first receiver taken, here’s what Stroud said:

“Put on the tape. He’s done it from really his freshman year, his true freshman year, to now. . . . I think I read something like he’s NFL ready, but other guys have more potential. That makes no sense. Like, what? If you’re ‘NFL ready,’ how is that not potential? You want longevity, you want somebody who has been doing it. For him, that’s what he sleeps, eats and breathes. He’s a worthy talent, but his work ethic and how he gravitates that room. I challenged him that last year when Jaxon [Smith-Njigba] went down, he had to take over as leader, and he did that. He’s not really vocal, but he became vocal, and you can see his personality start to come out as he started to play more. For me, I think I would love to play with him again. I probably won’t get that opportunity for a while, but I’m super proud of him. Whoever’s up there man, be smart. Don’t be dumb. Don’t think too hard.”

The concern, as explained by Chris Simms when ranking the 2024 receivers, is whether Harrison has the explosiveness to blow past NFL-caliber defensive backs and create real separation.

Maybe he doesn’t need it. Maybe Harrison can make the catches that need to be made while otherwise covered. Or maybe, like Stroud did, Harrison will access an even higher level of performance once he’s competing with the best of the best.

Which will make it even hard for Stroud to play with Harrison again, since whoever gets Harrison won’t be inclined to let him go.

And it’s hard to imagine Harrison getting past the Cardinals at No. 4. If he gets past the Patriots at No. 3. Either way, don’t expect Harrison to get past the Chargers at No. 5.