The Daily Briefing Monday, February 20, 2023

The field. Adam Kilgore’s excellent piece in The Washington Post answers most of the questions about the unimaginably bad conditions of the Super Bowl playing surface: “The NFL wanted a lush Super Bowl field. It ended up with an ice rink.”

You saw the Eagles take the high road about it, with GM Howie Roseman saying both teams had to play on it. Did you see how he said it? Just my guess, but he looked mighty ticked off that his speed rushers on defense, including sackmaster Haason Reddick, looked like they needed skates, not cleats, to play on that field. Only two things to add, and this comes from a groundskeeper in the NFL: Rye grass is notoriously slippery, and when this turf was overseeded with rye to make the field green, lush and gorgeous, it probably increased the chance of slippage. And the fact that this grass was kept outside at night, with temperatures in the high thirties and forties in Phoenix overnight, could have led to more condensation from the cool weather when it was moved inside—even if, as Kilgore reports, the league dried the field when it was back inside.

Whatever the reason, the NFL better figure it out in the next 11 months. The field was inexcusable. Reddick was in on sacks in nine of his previous 10 games, and he had 19.5 sacks in 19 previous games this year. Though he hit Mahomes twice, Reddick wasn’t close to sacking him. Philadelphia had a league-best 78 sacks in 19 previous games, but got shut out against KC—the first time in three months that happened. Kansas City could gripe too.

By the way, there’s one other field in the NFL with grass that’s kept outside and wheeled in on trays for games: Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Super Bowl LVIII is at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

GREEN BAY

GM Brian Gutenkist wanted to see more of QB JORDAN LOVE late in the season – even though the Packers were in playoff contention right until they lost the final game.  Zach Kruse of USA TODAY:

It never happened during the regular season, but new evidence is emerging that at least one high-ranking member of the Green Bay Packers was ready to begin the transition at quarterback from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love at some point late in the 2022 season.

From reporting by Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “At one point late last year, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst told an NFL colleague he was convinced it was time the organization move on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers and see what Jordan Love had in him.”

The Packers were floundering at 4-8 and Rodgers was dealing with injuries to his thumb and ribs in November, potentially creating a natural transition point to Love, but coach Matt LaFleur stuck with the four-time MVP quarterback down the stretch, and Rodgers helped get the Packers back to 8-8 before a season-ending and playoff-eliminating loss to the Detroit Lions in the season finale.

Now, the organization is once again at a crossroads. Rodgers might still be deciding his football future, but so are the Packers. Does the franchise want to bring Rodgers back for another run in 2023? Or is it time to make the move to Love, who has been on the bench and learning behind Rodgers for the last three seasons?

Love has played in only 10 career games and made just one start, attempting 83 passes overall in regular-season play since joining the Packers as a first-round pick in 2020. However, the former Utah State star shined brightly during a two-series stretch in Philadelphia, potentially giving the Packers confidence that he’s ready to take the next step and become a legitimate starting quarterback.

Gutekunst and LaFleur both believe Love is ready to play right now, but opportunity has been the biggest hurdle.

If Rodgers retires, or is traded, the keys to the car in Green Bay will all of a sudden belong to Love in 2023.

Rodgers turns 40 years old in December, is coming off the worst statistical season of his career and, based on his contract structure, has escalating dead cap hits the longer he remains in Green Bay.

The Packers must decide if whether or not to pick up Love’s fifth-year option in 2024 by early May.

Big decisions are coming from Rodgers and the Packers in the coming weeks.

NEW YORK GIANTS

QB DANIEL JONES is switching agents according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com:

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is in the process of making an agent change with a new contract and free agency on the horizon, multiple sources told ESPN on Sunday.

Jones has been represented by CAA since being the sixth overall draft pick out of Duke in 2019. The expectation, according to the sources, is that he will join Athletes First in search of a long-term deal.

Jones, 25, did not have the fifth-year option in his rookie contract exercised last year by the Giants’ new administration. But he had his most efficient season in a prove-it year and general manager Joe Schoen made it abundantly clear following the season that the Giants wanted to bring back their starter.

“We’re happy Daniel’s going to be here,” Schoen said in January. “We’re happy he’s going to be here. Hopefully, we can get something done with his representatives. And that would be the goal — to build a team around him where he can lead us and win a Super Bowl.”

The Giants will use the franchise tag on their quarterback if they are unable to get a long-term deal done before March 7, the deadline to use the tag. The non-exclusive tag for a quarterback is $32.4 million. But that would limit the team’s ability to spend this offseason to gain the weapons Jones and the Giants lacked in 2022.

The expectation prior to the agent switch was that a long-term deal with Jones would come in at more than $35 million per season, according to sources. That would currently put him inside the top 10 paid players at the position.

Jones led the Giants to a winning season for the first time in 2022, played brilliantly and won a playoff game while greatly reducing the mistakes that plagued him earlier in his career. He had just nine turnovers in 18 starts this past season, including the playoffs.

This was also the first season that Jones didn’t miss any games because of injury. A neck injury forced him to miss the final six games of 2021.

Jones proved this past season he could be a winning, two-way quarterback. He threw for 3,205 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions despite working with an insufficient receiving corps, and he ran for 708 yards and seven touchdowns.

Only four quarterbacks (Justin Fields, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen) ran for more yards this past season. Jones also finished tied for sixth in QBR. The Giants hope his performance is a building block for the future.

“I felt like I’ve improved as a player this year,” Jones said after the season. “As an offense, as a group, we improved a lot throughout the year. I’m proud of that. I think we have a lot of really good players and really good teammates.”

It has been an up-and-down first four seasons since Jones was a surprise top 10 pick. Jones threw 24 touchdown passes in 12 starts as a rookie but also had 11 lost fumbles.

Jones has thrown for 11,603 yards with 60 touchdowns and 34 interceptions in his career.

WASHINGTON

Peter King with the conventional media spin on Eric Bienemy:

Bieniemy to Washington. Eric Bieniemy going to Washington is good for the Commanders, horrible for the NFL. It’s beyond shameful that a two-time Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator makes a mostly lateral move (though with full play-designing and -calling power, which Bieniemy didn’t have in Kansas City) while the NFL has devoted so many resources to the paucity of Black coaches in the league. After the 2023 hiring cycle in the NFL, there are now four Black head coaches—Mike Tomlin, Todd Bowles, DeMeco Ryans and Mike McDaniel (who has a Black father and white mother) and two other minority coaches, Ron Rivera and Robert Saleh.

What I’d do if I were Roger Goodell: I’d clean out all those in the league office assigned to improving the record on Black coaches and hire a new leader for the initiative. I’d start over. NFL EVP Troy Vincent surely has the passion for the job but the results are too far from satisfactory. I don’t blame Vincent, but at some point there’s got to be a new voice, a new leader. Bring in a new person with fresh eyes. Then have yet another urgent session at the league meetings in Phoenix next month with every owner, president and GM on hand. Roger Goodell has to make influencing the decision-making of 32 owners a 2023 priority, even if he feels like he’s done everything he can.

Or here is Mike Freeman of USA TODAY:

On paper, Eric Bieniemy taking the Washington Commanders offensive coordinator position makes sense. He’ll call plays for the first time in his NFL coaching career and it will eradicate excuse No. 1.7 million on why he hasn’t been hired as a head coach. Of all the excuses used to not hire Bieniemy – he doesn’t interview well, Andy Reid is the true offensive genius, Bieniemy had Patrick Mahomes, Bieniemy uses 1% milk on his cereal instead of whole, he watches too much “Real Housewives” – the biggest was that he didn’t call plays, Reid did.

So that excuse is now gone though it was never a serious one. The list of offensive coordinators that served under talented offensive-minded head coaches, and still got head coaching positions, is long. We could go through the examples but I’m tired.

We could go down the list of Black assistant coaches who have been screwed but I’m tired. We could go down all the numbers but I’m still tired. You know all the data. We all do.

What I want to do is focus on the bottom line. It is sad, and pathetic, that Bieniemy has to take this job. It is humiliating for him and embarrassing for the NFL.

Bieniemy has coached in Super Bowls and he was Mahomes’ coordinator. In almost all situations, the offensive coordinator gets a nice share of credit for these things. But in the NFL coaching world, credit isn’t always given when you’re Black.

Doug Pederson was Reid’s offensive coordinator and later left to become head coach in Philadelphia. Matt Nagy held the same position under Reid and left to become the head coach in Chicago. For whatever reason, the same standards haven’t applied to Bieniemy. Can’t figure out why. Trying to put my finger on it. Give me a minute. It’ll come to me.

If you’re intellectually honest and consistent, who called plays under Reid, and who didn’t, is really irrelevant. Reid is the same coaching giant he was with Pederson or Nagy that he was with Bieniemy. Reid’s other two coordinators were allowed to escape his shadow. Bieniemy became trapped by it. Can’t figure out why. Trying to put my finger on it. Give me a minute. It’ll come to me.

Bieniemy will have play-calling duties in Washington but make no mistake this is still essentially a parallel move. This is like Spock leaving the Enterprise to become science officer on the Lexington. He’s already the science officer. Why would he do that? It would be totally illogical.

There’s another part of this that must be discussed. He’s going from NFL franchise royalty to the league’s jalopy. The Washington organization is a wreck, owned by a terrible, tiny little man. Kansas City is run like a great company and Dan Snyder runs to depositions.

The theory is that Bieniemy can go to Washington, work with a Sam Howell at quarterback, and if he can make that situation work, he can then get a head coaching job.

But think about it, really think about it. Why does he have to do that? No owner or GM could see his body of work and not see talent? No team feels it can take a chance on the coach that Mahomes called one of the best he’s ever worked with?

“He’ll make sure you dot all your I’s and cross all your T’s,” Mahomes said. “…Make sure you have an Eric Bieniemy in your life because he’ll make sure you’re ready to go.”

Said Reid: “Eric Bieniemy has been tremendous for us and I think he’s tremendous for the National Football League. I’m hoping he has an opportunity to go somewhere and do his thing, where he can run the show and be Eric Bieniemy.”

He will be Eric Bieniemy but he will not be running the show. That’s Ron Rivera. Bieniemy should be, somewhere, but he’s not.

And that’s just sad.

Rodger Sherman of The Ringer is also firmly pro-Bieniemy, but he does include some of the cons that might have dissuaded NFL decision makers from making him the face of the franchise:

At this point in his career, Bieniemy has been interviewed for head-coaching jobs 16 times by 15 NFL franchises, according to USA Today’s data. (The Jets have interviewed him twice.) Whatever process these teams are using to select coaches besides Bieniemy is not working: Only three of the 16 coaches (Bruce Arians, Brandon Staley, and Zac Taylor) picked over Bieniemy since 2019 have made the playoffs, while seven (Adam Gase, Urban Meyer, Nathaniel Hackett, David Culley, Brian Flores, Joe Judge, and Matt Rhule) have been fired. You may notice that some of the coaches hired instead of Bieniemy make the list of the absolute worst hires in NFL history.

Being the offensive coordinator of a team in the Super Bowl is generally a pretty good way to get an NFL head-coaching job. Of the last nine OCs in the Super Bowl besides Bieniemy—both winners and losers—five are now NFL head coaches. (Brian Callahan is still the Bengals OC; Byron Leftwich has since been fired by the Buccaneers.) We could also include Zac Taylor, who landed the Bengals job after serving as QB coach for the 2018 Rams. But Bieniemy has been the OC in three Super Bowls in four years, has won two rings, and still has no head-coaching job.

The common argument against hiring Bieniemy is that his success is just a product of Reid. Normally, simply being in the presence of a coaching genius for an extended period of time is enough for a coordinator to get a head-coaching job—if the genius liked this guy, he’s probably good, and maybe some of that genius rubbed off. It’s why we’ve seen 11 of Bill Belichick’s assistants become head coaches, even ones who weren’t play callers and who had little on their résumés besides working for the Patriots legend. Hell, we’ve even seen four of Sean McVay’s top assistants become head coaches. And this wasn’t a big hang-up when hiring Bieniemy’s predecessors, former Chiefs offensive coordinators Doug Pederson and Matt Nagy. Both were hired as head coaches after working with Reid even though they weren’t the primary play caller; with their new teams, Nagy won NFL Coach of the Year and Pederson won a Super Bowl (though both were eventually fired). (A different Reid protégé, Mike Kafka, emerged as a hot head-coaching candidate this year, interviewing for four of the five open jobs. Kafka is currently the Giants OC, but he previously worked under Reid and Bieniemy as the Chiefs QB coach, meaning Bieniemy has been surpassed on the coaching candidate hierarchy by his former subordinate.)

The reality is that teams hire offensive assistants who didn’t call plays pretty regularly! Nick Sirianni didn’t call plays for the Colts when the Eagles hired him, and Taylor and Kevin O’Connell didn’t call plays for McVay’s Rams, and those hires worked out quite well for the Bengals and Vikings, respectively. And when the Eagles hired Reid way back in 1999, he had never called plays before either. (Hackett didn’t call plays for the Packers when he was hired by the Broncos, but he sure aced his interview.)

Word around the league is that Bieniemy interviews poorly, whatever that means. Never mind that he was trying to prepare for interviews while in the midst of Super Bowl runs, or that he has clearly won over all the Chiefs players who ride for him—his inability to win over front-office suits apparently outweighs his on-field success. There could also presumably be some concerns among league owners about Bieniemy’s 2001 DUI arrest, his 1993 arrest for suspicion of harassment and assault on a parking lot attendant working a Colorado football game, and an arrest as a college sophomore for a bar fight. These are real red flags, but it seems odd that these decades-old offenses would make so many NFL owners finally draw some moral line in the sand.

We also note that as recently as September 22 of last season, Bieniemy had a confrontation with QB PATRICK MAHOMES that was caught on camera.  And former RB LeSean McCoy, a former Chief, sounded off against Bieniemy:

Former Kansas City Chiefs running back LeSean McCoy is once again commenting on offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy after cameras caught a visible disagreement with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

As the broadcast of Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts headed to halftime, Mahomes and Bieniemy were seen arguing, which after the game was deemed to be about deciding to run the clock out, instead of trying to score.

“Shady” McCoy commented on a video of the argument that was posted on Instagram.

All bieniemy does is argue wit the players .. KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT passing or PLAY CALLING

In May, McCoy appeared on a podcast and said he was not surprised as to why Bieniemy was not hired as a head coach during the offseason.

“Some players, he talks to them a certain way and some players would take it. I wouldn’t take it. There were some questions I would ask, because everyone is accountable,” McCoy said.

ARIZONA

Drew Petzing is Jonathan Gannon’s critical choice for OC.

After waiting until Feb. 14 to find a head coach, the Cardinals are wasting no time filling out their top coordinator roles.

Arizona is hiring Browns quarterbacks coach Drew Petzing as its new offensive coordinator, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Sunday morning, per sources.

Petzing, 35, has familiarity with Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon from working together on the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff from 2014-17, where Gannon served as assistant defensive backs coach and Petzing began as an offensive assistant before becoming the team’s assistant wide receivers coach in 2016.

Petzing spent two more seasons with Minnesota after Gannon departed the staff. He held the role of assistant QBs coach in 2018 and was promoted to WRs coach in 2019.

He then joined the Cleveland Browns in 2020, the organization he began his NFL career with as a football operations intern in 2013, to coach the club’s tight ends.

Petzing’s position group shined under his tutelage. Of the four Browns players that caught three or more touchdowns in 2021, three were tight ends — David Njoku, Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant.

The success led to Petzing’s promotion to quarterbacks coach in 2022, and now his offensive coordinator position with Arizona heading into the 2023 season.

He’ll face the task of rectifying an offense that took a massive step back during a surprising 4-13 season. The unit ranked 21st in points scored and 22nd in yards, both its worst marks since quarterback Kyler Murray’s rookie campaign.

If the Cardinals are to return to the postseason after a one-year hiatus, they’ll do so with an entirely new group leading the way. Following the hiring of Monti Ossenfort as general manager on Jan. 16 and tabbing Gannon as head coach on Tuesday, Arizona used Saturday to hire defensive coordinator Nick Rallis ahead of Petzing’s Sunday addition.

Rallis is a familiar face for Gannon, coming from the Eagles staff:

The Cardinals are hiring Nick Rallis as their defensive coordinator, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Saturday. Rallis had previously worked under Gannon as the linebackers coach for the Eagles.

And now less than a week after Gannon left his position as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator to become the head coach of the Cardinals, he’s brought in a member of his previous staff to join him.

According to Pelissero, multiple teams tried to lure away Rallis in the hours after Arizona made its offer, but in the end he elected to follow Gannon out west to work with the Cardinals defense.

Rallis started his NFL coaching career in Minnesota, working as a defensive quality control/assistant linebackers coach for the Vikings from 2018-2020 before heading to Philadelphia. And now after two more years there, Rallis has been named a defensive coordinator after only five years in the league.

With Rallis’ quick rise in the NFL coaching ranks, he is now the youngest coordinator in the league at 29 years old.

Gannon still has work to do in his first days as head coach, including hiring an offensive coordinator that can help him improve the Cardinals’ struggling offense. But he’s already begun making decisions on the defensive side, starting by bringing in a familiar face.

SAN FRANCISCO

The 49ers say they will not be trading WR DEEBO SAMUEL according to Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut.

The San Francisco 49ers entertained trade offers for All-Pro offensive weapon Deebo Samuel in 2022 before making him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL. One year later, there are new rumors regarding Samuel’s future in San Francisco.

After becoming one of the highest-paid receivers in football, Samuel experienced an injury-riddled season last year. After earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2021, the 6-foot playmaker played in just 13 games and failed to eclipse even 1,000 scrimmage yards.

Deebo Samuel contract: $8.653 million cap hit (2023), $28.57 million cap hit (2024)

While injuries played a primary role in the statistical decline, Samuel’s effectiveness also dropped. After averaging 18.2 yards per reception and 6.2 yards per rush in 2021, he finished last season with averages of 11.3 yards per reception and 5.5 yards per carry.

With San Francisco tight on long-term cap space and still needing to sign Nick Bosa and Brandon Aiyuk to contract extensions, speculation about Samuel’s future with the 49ers has ramped up

Addressing recent NFL trade rumors suggesting the New England Patriots are looking into Samuel, MMQB’s Albert Breer shut down the speculation on the Early Edition with Trenni Casey and Phil Perry on Thursday.

 “I checked in with somebody who would absolutely know on this, and they said, ‘A) We’re not trading him and B) They haven’t called. So wherever this is, it hasn’t gotten to the Niners’ desks. This isn’t something that’s been on the table for them at all.”

With San Francisco poised to enter the season with Brock Purdy as its starting quarterback, it can afford to spend heavily on other positions. Purdy carries just an $889,252 cap charge in 2023 and that figure only climbs slightly in 2024 ($1.004 million) and 2025 ($1.119 million).

As a result, there is less incentive to even consider moving Samuel unless the move is absolutely necessary. Given the 49ers are still a perennial Super Bowl contender and Samuel plays an important role in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, there is no motive to make a move.

It’s possible NFL teams could reach out about Brandon Aiyuk, hoping San Francisco is willing to follow the same path it did by extending Arik Armstead and trading DeForest Buckner. At least for now, though, any general manager hoping to acquire Samuel won’t have any luck.

DENVER

Would Sean Payton really hire Rex Ryan to run his defense?  Adam Schefter:

@AdamSchefter

Former Jets and Bills HC and current ESPN analyst Rex Ryan interviewed Saturday in Denver for the Broncos DC job. Ryan and former Broncos HC Vance Joseph are amongst a handful of candidates for the job; Ryan has told ESPN he would only leave the network “for the perfect situation.”

He has already made this important hire.  Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com:

Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton has hired long-time NFL assistant/special teams coach Mike Westhoff to be the assistant head coach.

According to league and team sources, Westhoff, who turned 75 last month, will oversee the Broncos’ special teams with Ben Kotwica having been hired as special teams coordinator. Westhoff and Kotwica worked together on the New York Jets’ staff from 2009 to 2012 under coach Rex Ryan.

Westhoff has not coached since he worked on Payton’s staff with the New Orleans Saints for two seasons (2017-2018).

A cancer survivor, Westhoff has long been one of the league’s most respected special teams coaches. He released a memoir — “Figure It Out” — last year that included his journey as an NFL coach.

Westhoff replaces Dwayne Stukes, who was fired in December when Jerry Rosburg took over as interim head coach for the last two weeks of the season. The Broncos fired head coach Nathaniel Hackett on Dec. 26.

Payton was formally introduced as the Broncos’ coach this month and has since gone about filling out his staff. Payton has interviewed several candidates for offensive and defensive coordinator over the past two weeks.

Former Broncos head coach Vance Joseph, who was the Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator for the past four seasons after he was fired by Denver following the 2018 season, was interviewing with Payton on Friday.

The Broncos have struggled on special teams amid a playoff drought of seven seasons. They finished last in the league in kickoff returns last season and were last in average drive start — the 23.9-yard line.

THIS AND THAT

TOP 50 FREE AGENTS

Matt Bowen puts this list together for ESPN.com:

The 2023 NFL free agent class looks loaded, especially at defensive line, offensive line, defensive back and running back. Depending on how the next few weeks play out, top-end quarterbacks could be available to join new teams when the negotiation period begins on March 13, and free agency officially opens two days later on March 15. Which playmakers and impact players will land big deals? We ranked the top 50 on track to hit the open market.

A few top players on expiring deals have already signed new contracts with their respective teams — including Green Bay guard Elgton Jenkins and Baltimore linebacker Roquan Smith — since I ranked my top 25 free agents in November, and a few more will join them with extensions or franchise/transition tags before free agency officially opens. But this list is deep with talent. To make the 1-50 ranking, I factored in each player’s age, positional value (QBs get a boost, explaining why six make the list), expected future production and scheme versatility.

Let’s get to it, starting with the obvious No. 1 potential free agent.

Note: Tom Brady was originally No. 7 on this list but announced his retirement on Feb. 1. Derek Carr was also added to this list on Feb. 15 after the Raiders released him.

1. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

Age entering 2023 season: 26

Jackson is the league’s most electric player, with an upper-tier skill set that creates major issues for opposing defenses. Before a knee injury that sidelined him for the final six games of the season, he had 2,242 passing yards — with 17 touchdowns — and 764 rushing yards with three more scores. He’s still young and can keep improving. With the positional value to demand a multiyear contract, Jackson is clearly the top player on the board. The Ravens have said they want to bring him back, and they could use the franchise tag next month.

2. Orlando Brown Jr., OT, Kansas City Chiefs

Age entering 2023 season: 27

At 6-foot-8, 340 pounds, Brown is a massive performer in the run game who uses his frame to compensate for average foot and body quickness in pass protection. During the regular season, he had a pass block win rate of 91.8% when blocking for Patrick Mahomes, which ranked 18th among all NFL offensive tackles. Brown played on the franchise tag in 2022 and surely is looking for a huge multiyear contract this offseason.

3. Javon Hargrave, DT, Philadelphia Eagles

Age entering 2023 season: 30

Hargrave’s 2022 tape has boosted his free agent profile. The veteran tackle had 11 sacks and 37 tackles this season. His 17.2% pass rush win rate when he was lined up on the interior ranked third in the NFL (behind Kansas City’s Chris Jones and Houston’s Maliek Collins). Slippery off the ball with an upfield burst, Hargrave can knife through protection to hit the quarterback or use his lower-body power to push the pocket. Hargrave had 23 sacks in three seasons with the Eagles. Plus, he has the ability to control a gap in the run front.

4. Daron Payne, DT, Washington Commanders

Age entering 2023 season: 26

Payne posted career numbers in his contract season with 11.5 sacks and 32 solo tackles from the defensive tackle position. A big, powerful mover at 6-foot-3, 320 pounds, Payne is a disruptive defender with foot quickness and lower-body agility who can play in multiple fronts. His pass rush win rate when lined up inside (12.7%) ranked 12th in the NFL. He could be in line for a big deal based on his 2022 film.

5. Geno Smith, QB, Seattle Seahawks

Age entering 2023 season: 32

Smith led the NFL in completion percentage (69.8%) this season, and his QBR (60.9) ranked sixth among all quarterbacks. That’s a big jump from the 58.8% completion rate and 43.6 QBR he posted over 46 games prior to this season. There’s no denying that Smith played extremely efficient football this season, seeing things fast from the pocket. And those traits travel well in any passing scheme. Smith finished the season with 4,282 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. If he doesn’t return to Seattle, he could be targeted to start elsewhere.

6. Derek Carr, QB, Las Vegas Raiders

Age entering 2023 season: 32

Carr was released from the Raiders after the Super Bowl and is now a free agent. He has the arm talent to make every throw in a pro offense, and he has good mobility on boot and second-reaction plays. He also makes smart decisions when he can throw from a clean platform. Carr’s footwork was erratic in 2022, and his pocket poise declined when facing pressure, which contributed to a completion percentage of just 60.8% (second-lowest of his career). After his 55.5 Total QBR ranked 14th in his final year with Las Vegas, he’s now a midtier starter who should have multiple options in free agency.

7. Mike McGlinchey, OT, San Francisco 49ers

Age entering 2023 season: 28

McGlinchey, a strong edge blocker who wins with angles and his ability to get off the ball, is the second offensive tackle in the top 10 here. The right tackle can handle power rushers, and he has the lower-body flexibility to match speed off the edge. McGlinchey’s pass block win rate this season (89.6%) ranked just 32nd among all tackles, but his run block win rate (81.2%) was fifth overall.

8. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants

Age entering 2023 season: 26

I consider Barkley a top-three running back. He has regained his explosiveness and suddenness after injuries limited him to 15 total games over the previous two seasons. He’s a difference-maker with big-play juice in both the run and pass game. Barkley had 32 rushes of 10 or more yards this season — sixth most in the league — and finished with 1,650 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns. He’s another candidate for the franchise tag if New York can’t work out a deal with him.

9. Jamel Dean, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Age entering 2023 season: 26

Dean has the length and top-end speed to disrupt throwing windows in zone coverage or match down the field against vertical concepts. He fits best as an outside one-third defender in a zone scheme, where he can use his backfield vision to break on the ball. He had double-digit pass breakups in each of his first three seasons, and he finished this season with a pair of interceptions, 45 tackles and eight more breakups. Dean will have multiple options on the market.

10. Daniel Jones, QB, New York Giants

Age entering 2023 season: 26

Jones should be viewed as a midtier starter, with the mobility to produce as a runner on designed carries or scramble attempts. This season, his 60.8 QBR ranked seventh in the NFL, and we saw his throwing volume increase over the second half of the season. A quarterback who can play tall in the pocket — and operate in the dropback passing game — Jones’ dual-threat ability (708 rushing yards) fits best with Brian Daboll’s system in New York. The Giants have big decisions to make about Jones and Saquon Barkley, but general manager Joe Schoen said recently the team plans to bring back Jones.

11. Jessie Bates III, S, Cincinnati Bengals

Age entering 2023 season: 26

With post and split-field range over the top and a history of creating on-the-ball production (14 career picks), Bates is an easy fit as a versatile defender in both single-high and two-deep schemes. He had four interceptions, eight pass breakups and 38 solo tackles this season. He allowed 15 catches on 30 targets for 243 yards, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, ranking third in the league among safeties who played at least 250 coverage snaps. Bates, who played on the franchise tag, will be coveted if he hits free agency.

12. Dalton Schultz, TE, Dallas Cowboys

Age entering 2023 season: 27

Schultz’s postseason production — 12 receptions, 122 yards and three touchdowns in two games — should erase any questions about a knee injury that slowed him earlier in the season. He’s a vertical seam stretcher who can be schemed on play-action or boot to use his ability to run after the catch. He has some speed when he gets free. Plus, Schultz — another guy who played on the franchise tag — won’t turn 27 until July.

13. James Bradberry, CB, Philadelphia Eagles

Age entering 2023 season: 30

Bradberry signed a one-year deal with the Eagles in the offseason and had a great season, picking up second-team All-Pro honors. He has terrific press-man traits and the length to close throwing windows, which helped him register three interceptions and 17 pass breakups. Bradberry, who can also fit as a zone defender because of his backfield vision, has the ball skills and the poise to win down the field, despite declining speed. Why is he ranked here? Because 30-year-old corners don’t often get long-term contracts. Still, expect him to make an impact in 2023.

14. C.J. Gardner-Johnson, S, Philadelphia Eagles

Age entering 2023 season: 25

Here’s another Philadelphia offseason addition. Gardner-Johnson is a safety who is versatile enough to play in the slot; he had six interceptions (tied for the league lead) in just 12 games this season. That’s a valuable trait, especially for a player who hasn’t reached his prime. He’s an urgent defender on tape, with the coverage traits and ball skills to fit in multiple defensive schemes.

15. Jawaan Taylor, OT, Jacksonville Jaguars

Age entering 2023 season: 25

Taylor is an easy mover at 6-foot-5, 312 pounds, and he has the ability to mirror speed and handle power rushers who try to test him on the interior. Taylor’s pass block win rate (88.8%) this season was in the middle of the pack — he ranked 37th among tackles — but he has room to grow. Every NFL team wants a tackle with high-end traits and starting experience, which is why Taylor makes the top 15 here.

16. Dre’Mont Jones, DT, Denver Broncos

Age entering 2023 season: 25

A versatile player with inside/edge flex, Jones had 6.5 sacks and 28 quarterback pressures this season. At 6-foot-3, 281 pounds, he played 451 snaps at defensive tackle and 224 at end, with four of his sacks coming while lined up on the edge. Jones can be displaced at times in the run game, but he has disruptive upside as a pass-rusher with first-step quickness and short-area juice. His pass rush win rate when lined up inside (15.9%) ranked sixth among all defenders. He’s an ascending player.

17. Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

Age entering 2023 season: 25

Jacobs posted career highs in rushing attempts (340), rushing yards (1,653) and receiving yards (400). He’s a downhill runner with lateral agility and the game-breaking speed to create explosive plays. He had 41 rushes of 10 yards or more this season — second most in the NFL — while catching 53 of 64 targets in Josh McDaniels’ offense. He led the league in rushing first downs (93) and had 24 more than Nick Chubb, who ranked second.

18. Tremaine Edmunds, ILB, Buffalo Bills

Age entering 2023 season: 25

The tape shows that Edmunds has improved as a coverage linebacker, with his route awareness and ability to get to depth as a zone defender. He’s a long, 6-foot-5 linebacker with downhill acceleration against the run and second-level range to track the ball. Edmunds had 66 solo tackles, one interception and one sack this season. He’s young, but the 2018 first-round pick has started 74 games in five seasons. That experience will be attractive for teams looking for an off-ball linebacker this offseason.

19. Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Age entering 2023 season: 26

Pollard slips down these rankings after he fractured his left fibula in the postseason loss to San Francisco. He showed during the season, however, that he has the traits of a lead back with a dual-threat upside. While splitting touches with Ezekiel Elliott, Pollard rushed for a career-high 1,007 yards while averaging 9.5 yards per catch on 39 receptions, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl. When healthy, Pollard has big-play ability and formation flexibility in the pass game.

20. Marcus Davenport, DE, New Orleans Saints

Age entering 2023 season: 27

Davenport’s injury history and lack of sack production this season (0.5) clouds his grade for free agency. But if we look at his numbers from 2021 — nine sacks, three forced fumbles — plus his physical traits (6-foot-6, 262 pounds), we know he’ll have multiple suitors in free agency. He can play in both base and sub fronts, and he has the skills to rush with power or set an edge in the run game. Despite Davenport’s low sack total, his 20 pressures this season point to his ability to disrupt the pocket, even if he doesn’t always get home.

21. Jakobi Meyers, WR, New England Patriots

Age entering 2023 season: 26

A nuanced route runner with strong hands and a 6-foot-2 frame, Meyers caught 47 of his 67 targets on throws inside the numbers this season, setting a career high with six touchdowns. He’s an intermediate target in the pass game with outside flex and has the ability to stretch defenses on seams and deep over routes. A former undrafted free agent, Meyers emerged as New England’s No. 1 option over the past two seasons. He could get a chance to cash in this spring.

22. Lavonte David, ILB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Age entering 2023 season: 33

David will turn 33 this offseason, but I’m still seeing a savvy, urgent player on tape. He is well schooled as a zone defender, dropping to depth to impact throwing lanes, and he still has the pursuit speed to track ball carriers. And we know he can find rush lanes to daylight as a blitzer, tallying 29 sacks in his career. He had 80 solo tackles, five pass breakups and three sacks this season. David, who has made nearly $79 million in his career since being drafted in Round 2 by the Bucs in 2012, can still be productive in 2023.

23. Jordan Poyer, S, Buffalo Bills

Age entering 2023 season: 32

It will be interesting to see how teams value a 32-year-old safety, but we still see the versatile ability of Poyer when he’s on the field. With four interceptions and eight pass breakups this season, he showed that he’s a productive defender who can play from post, split field or rolled-down alignments. He dealt with knee, ribs and elbow injuries this season and missed four games, but he has played in at least 15 games every season since 2017. Plus, his coverage skills still show on the stat sheet; he allowed just 14 catches for 102 yards as the nearest defender in coverage, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

24. Zach Allen, DE, Arizona Cardinals

Age entering 2023 season: 26

Allen is a player who can be moved around in sub packages to generate interior pressure. He had 5.5 sacks and 26 pressures from various alignments in the Arizona defensive front this season. He also had a run stop win rate of 37.9%, which ranked in the top 40 among all NFL defenders. The arrow is pointing up on the 6-foot-4, 280-pound Allen.

25. Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, San Francisco 49ers

Age entering 2023 season: 31

Garoppolo completed 67.2% of his passes with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions in 11 games before a foot injury ended his season. He’s still a good passer who can be a mid-tier starter on the market. He is a timing-and-rhythm thrower who fits best in an offensive system tailored around the play-action route tree. The injury history factors into his ranking here, but make no mistake: He will have suitors on the market.

26. Odell Beckham Jr., WR

Age entering 2023 season: 30

Beckham missed the entire season after he tore the ACL in his left knee during the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI victory last February. If the knee checks out in physicals, however, we know he can still make an impact as a No. 2 receiver. In 12 games with the Rams in 2021 — including the playoffs — Beckham caught 48 passes for 593 yards and seven touchdowns. Based on what I saw on that tape, Beckham has lost some of the explosion that made him one of the NFL’s most dynamic players a few years ago. Still, there’s detail to his route running; he can create immediate separation at the line of scrimmage.

27. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Age entering 2023 season: 26

Smith-Schuster is best utilized as a physical slot target who can work the dirty areas of the field, though the Chiefs flexed him out wide at times to scheme him open. He’s more explosive than most believe, with a skill set to produce after the catch. Smith-Schuster finished the season with 73 receptions for 933 yards and three TD receptions, and he has reached 900 receiving yards with seven or more touchdowns in all three seasons in which he played 15-plus games.

28. Cameron Sutton, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Age entering 2023 season: 28

Sutton, a third-round pick in 2017, is coming off his best pro season, as he finished with three interceptions and 15 pass breakups. He’s a scheme-versatile corner who can find the ball in zone coverage or stick to wide receivers in man, with the transition speed to close on throws. Defensive backs with this type of ball production don’t stay on the market for long.

29. Evan Engram, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars

Age entering 2023 season: 29

Engram was a volume target in Jacksonville this season, catching 77 passes for 766 yards and four touchdowns. Sixty of those catches were when he was lined up in the slot or out wide, so he’s not a traditional tight end. He is best suited for a system that moves him around the formation, as he can get loose underneath or work the second and third levels of the route tree and run after the catch. Engram signed a one-year deal last offseason, but he could get a multiyear deal this spring.

30. Dalvin Tomlinson, DT, Minnesota Vikings

Age entering 2023 season: 29

Tomlinson is a 325-pound nose guard who can play in 30 or 40 fronts. He can clog up running lanes with his size and strength while using his lateral quickness to engulf ball carriers. With 13 sacks over six seasons, Tomlinson isn’t going to bring high-end pass-rush production, but he will demand double-teams and provide an interior push to take away quarterbacks’ throwing platforms.

31. David Long Jr., ILB, Tennessee Titans

Age entering 2023 season: 26

Long finished the season on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, but the 5-foot-11, 227-pound linebacker was one of the best off-ball run defenders I watched on tape this season. With natural instincts to track the ball, he had 52 solo tackles and two interceptions in 12 games. What keeps him out of the top 25? He has some coverage limitations as a match/carry defender, and he can sometimes be influenced by run action that puts him out of position.

32. Yannick Ngakoue, DE, Indianapolis Colts

Age entering 2023 season: 28

Ngakoue had 9.5 sacks in 2022, bringing his total to 65 over eight NFL seasons. Given his subpar tape as a run defender, however, he should be targeted as a situational pass-rusher, a role in which he can use his top-end traits to win on the edge: burst off the ball, hand usage and the ability to bend around offensive tackles. We know NFL teams value edge rushers, and so Ngakoue will have a market, even if he tops out as a pass-rusher on nickel snaps.

33. Mike Gesicki, TE, Miami Dolphins

Age entering 2023 season: 27

Playing on the franchise tag this season, Gesicki caught just 32 passes, a big drop from the 73 he had in 2021. He just didn’t fit well in coach Mike McDaniel’s system in Miami. Given Gesicki’s 6-foot-6 frame and ability to flex to the slot or out wide, however, he could be an attractive target in free agency for a team that uses him all over the field in the pass game. Gesicki has upside in the red zone.

34. Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Las Vegas Raiders

Age entering 2023 season: 27

I anticipate a stronger-than-expected market for Ya-Sin, despite the fact that he had just two interceptions over his four pro seasons. With press-man traits, zone awareness and a competitive playing style, he is a physical corner who can disrupt at the line of scrimmage and tackle. The 2019 second-round pick had seven pass breakups this season, and he allowed just one touchdown catch as the nearest defender in coverage, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

35. Isaac Seumalo, G, Philadelphia Eagles

Age entering 2023 season: 29

A technically sound blocker at 6-foot-4, 303 pounds, Seumalo has the foot quickness to redirect defenders. He has the body control to wrestle back against power rushers and create a firm base in the pocket. He had a pass block win rate of 93.6% this season, which ranked 15th among all guards, and his 72.6% run block win rate ranked 20th.

36. DJ Chark, WR, Detroit Lions

Age entering 2023 season: 26

Chark, a vertical stretch target, averaged 16.7 yards per catch in 11 games for the Lions this season. He can be schemed to attack intermediate windows on deep in-breakers. At 6-foot-4, he has the ability to win outside matchups as a boundary target. He has 18 touchdowns over five seasons.

37. T.J. Edwards, ILB, Philadelphia Eagles

Age entering 2023 season: 27

Edwards can key and diagnose quickly from the second level as a stack linebacker, finishing with clean lines to the ball and playing to depth in zone coverage. He had 99 solo tackles this season — seventh most in the league — and can be schemed as a blitzer. He improved in coverage in 2022, which means he could be more valuable in free agency.

38. Byron Murphy Jr., CB, Arizona Cardinals

Age entering 2023 season: 25

Murphy intercepted four passes and had 12 pass breakups in 2021, but his production took a hit this season. He had just four breakups and didn’t pick off a pass. Even with the drop in on-ball production, he has the man-coverage traits to play inside or outside the numbers, and his youth will be intriguing for teams.

39. Brandon Graham, DE, Philadelphia Eagles

Age entering 2023 season: 35

Graham racked up a career-high 11 sacks in his 13th NFL season, playing as a rotational edge rusher. His age will factor into his market value and the length of his next contract. With his pass-rush history, however, he will be targeted as a sub-package defender for a contending team. Graham was a first-round pick by Philadelphia in 2010 and has never played for another team.

40. Ben Powers, G, Baltimore Ravens

Age entering 2023 season: 26

A road grader in the run game, the 310-pound Powers plays his best football in close quarters, where he can use his power at the point of attack. He was the league’s second-best guard in run block win rate (78.8%) this season. He can get stressed on his edge as space expands, but he did have a pass block win rate of 93.2%, which ranked 10th among all guards. He could be a nice pickup on the market.

41. Nate Davis, G, Tennessee Titans

Age entering 2023 season: 26

Davis, a good mover at 316 pounds, can reach block or climb in zone-run schemes, delivering a strike in contact. And he can set an anchor to take on power rushers in pass protection. He had a below-average run block win rate this season but ranked among the top 25 guards in pass block win rate.

42. Kaleb McGary, OT, Atlanta Falcons

Age entering 2023 season: 28

McGary, a first-round pick in 2019, has some quickness off the ball, and he can use his movement skills to play speed off the edge. Longer pass-rushers can create conflict for him by compressing him back into the pocket. He had an average pass block win rate this season, but his 68% run block win rate ranked 61st out of 64 tackles who played in at least 10 games.

43. Miles Sanders, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

Age entering 2023 season: 26

After missing at least four games in each of the previous two seasons, Sanders played in 17 games for the Eagles during the regular season, posting career highs in rushing attempts (259), rushing yards (1,269) and touchdowns (11). He showed big-play ability, too, putting up 34 rushes of at least 10 yards, fourth most in the league. A slasher with the ball in his hands, Sanders still has a tendency to bounce to the edge at times, and his lack of high-end receiving production — he averaged just 3.9 yards on 20 catches this season — pushes him down these rankings.

44. Drue Tranquill, ILB, Los Angeles Chargers

Age entering 2023 season: 28

Tranquill’s 95 solo tackles this season were a career high, and he can be schemed as a blitzer from multiple second-level alignments. He had five sacks and added four pass breakups. A middle linebacker who has the movement traits of a weakside linebacker in space, Tranquill has upside in both base and sub-package personnel.

45. Dalton Risner, G, Denver Broncos

Age entering 2023 season: 28

Risner fits best in a gap run scheme as a close-quarters mauler with a strong and rugged play style. He ranked 10th in the league in run block win rate (74.4%) among guards. He can anchor in pass protection, but he has some issues when asked to redirect on his edges. He was just average in pass block win rate in 2022.

46. Vonn Bell, S, Cincinnati Bengals

Age entering 2023 season: 28

Bell has the ability to match up against tight ends, and he plays with a physical demeanor in the box. He’s a dependable and tough veteran safety who can play top-down from split-field alignments and make plays on the ball. Bell intercepted a career-high four passes and added eight pass breakups this season. On nearly 500 coverage snaps, he didn’t allow any touchdowns as the nearest defender in coverage, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

47. Arden Key, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars

Age entering 2023 season: 27

With the positional flex to kick inside as a sub-package rusher, Key will have multiple suitors on the market, given his age and production over the past two seasons (11 sacks). With his length (6-5) and short-area closing speed, Key can be set up on the edge or schemed out of loaded fronts. He has some upside as a situational player.

48. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, Cleveland Browns

Age entering 2023 season: 30

Clowney’s production dropped off in Cleveland this season, as he had just two sacks in 12 games. He’s a straight-line power rusher who can set a hard edge versus the run game given his physical tools. He never has fully turned those tools into production, however; the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft has zero double-digit-sack seasons. Clowney could be a rotational addition by a contender in the offseason.

49. Sam Darnold, QB, Carolina Panthers

Age entering 2023 season: 26

Darnold could be targeted as a low-tier starter or as a high-end No. 2 on the market. In six starts this season, he completed 58.6% of his passes for 1,143 yards with seven touchdowns and three picks. He’s a good mover with arm talent and second-reaction ability. Yes, we still see Darnold’s limitations late in the down, where his decision-making can slip, but he’s still young. He could be an intriguing player for an offensive coordinator who wants to work with him.

50. Germaine Pratt, ILB, Cincinnati Bengals

Age entering 2023 season: 27

Pratt has the movement skills to play on the outside in a 40 front, can track the ball from the second level in the run game and creates coverage disruption as a three-down defender. He has logged over 90 total tackles in each of his past two seasons, while posting two interceptions and 10 pass breakups in 2022.