CHICAGO

RB ROSCHON JOHNSON may be someone you need to know before your Fantasy draft.  ProFootballTalk.com:

The Bears parted ways with their leading rusher from last season this offseason and rookie Roschon Johnson is one of the players who will be competing for time in the backfield this summer.

Johnson joined the team as a fourth-round pick in April after running for 554 yards and five touchdowns as a complement to Bijan Robinson at Texas last season. He’ll be competing with Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman for a role in the Bears offense and he shared one thing he believes will help his cause in an appearance on NBC Sports Chicago’s Under Center Podcast.

Johnson was a quarterback in high school and he thinks that experience “helps me diagnose things better to put myself in the best position” to succeed in his current position.

“Ultimately, from a character standpoint, I feel like you’re going to get a leader at the position who has played quarterback,” Johnson said. “So, it’s kind of like that element of leadership that comes from a quarterback but at the running back spot that you normally don’t get from other guys. Running backs aren’t necessarily trained to look at defenses like that.”

It remains to be seen how things will stack up in Chicago’s backfield, but Johnson should get plenty of chances to show he can contribute once the Bears get to training camp later this month.

DALLAS

RB TONY POLLARD is apparently content to play for $10.9 mil guaranteed in 2023.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

Cowboys running back Tony Pollard signed his franchise tag earlier this offseason and it looks like that will be the only thing he signs ahead of the 2023 season.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that Pollard is not expected to sign a multi-year deal with the Cowboys before Monday afternoon’s deadline for tagged players to sign anything other than a one-year deal with their teams.

Barring a late change of heart on both sides, Pollard will be in line to make $10.091 million this year. He won’t be able to sign a new deal with the Cowboys until after the 2023 season and will then be on track for another tag or free agency if he’s unable to agree to a deal.

Two other running backs were tagged this year, but Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs have not signed their tags and there is not much optimism about long-term agreements in either case as deadline day gets underway.

PHILADELPHIA

Doug Pederson, now the head coach in Jacksonville, is not surprised by the growth and success of QB JALEN HURTS.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

Doug Pederson was the Eagles head coach for Jalen Hurts’ rookie year in 2020, so he had a front-row seat to the early stages of the quarterback’s career.

That’s part of why Pederson feels the way he does about Hurts after seeing how the quarterback performed in 2022.

“It’s really no surprise to me the success that Jalen’s having right now and just wish him the best moving forward,” Pederson told John Clark of NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com on an episode of The Takeoff podcast. “But the things that impressed me the most are probably the things you see off the football field. The leadership ability, his work ethic, the way he approaches the game, the way he studies the game, the way he wants to be coached — he wants to be coached hard. The things that sometimes the fans don’t see. They obviously see the end product on the football field. And he’s a tremendous kid and tremendous talent.

“He’s the right guy for that job and just wish him nothing but great success moving forward.”

Hurts finished No. 2 in MVP voting behind Patrick Mahomes last season. He completed 66.5 percent of his passes in 2022 for 3,701 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions while rushing for 760 yards with 13 touchdowns.

With Hurts behind center, the Eagles are once again expected to be a top contender in the NFC in 2023.

CINCINNATI

RB JOE MIXON will remain a Bengal for 2023.  Ben Baby of ESPN.com:

The Bengals are keeping starting running back Joe Mixon.

On Friday night, the Bengals agreed to restructure Mixon’s contract to keep him for the upcoming season, his agent, Peter Schaeffer, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Mixon had a $9.4 million nonguaranteed base salary for this season and represented a $12.8 million hit against the salary cap.

The six-year veteran has spent the entirety of his NFL career with the Bengals. In 14 games last season, Mixon rushed for 814 yards and seven touchdowns. He missed two games while he recovered from a concussion. Still, Mixon’s numbers dropped from what they were during his Pro Bowl season in 2021, when he had a career-high 1,205 rushing yards.

While the production dipped, Mixon’s cap charge for 2023 created uncertainty regarding his future with the team. At the NFL scouting combine in February, de facto general manager Duke Tobin said it was unclear whether Mixon was going to return. But after the draft in April, when the Bengals didn’t take a running back until they selected Illinois’ Chase Brown in the fifth round, Mixon’s status with Cincinnati seemed a bit more solid.

“His future is here with the team,” Taylor said after the Bengals drafted Brown. “I like Joe Mixon.”

Throughout his four-year tenure with the Bengals, Taylor expressed his support for Mixon, the former Oklahoma standout the team drafted in 2017.

Mixon did not answer any questions from reporters during the Bengals’ offseason workouts but expressed his excitement to continue with the team.

“Year 7, back at it,” Mixon said April 17 in a brief statement before he left the locker room.

Mixon was with the team during voluntary and mandatory workouts while he awaits the settlement of his legal situation. Mixon is facing a misdemeanor aggravated menacing charge that is set for trial Aug. 14, during Cincinnati’s training camp. According to police records obtained by ESPN, Mixon allegedly pointed a gun at a woman Jan. 21 in a road rage incident and threatened to shoot her.

Cincinnati police said the incident took place 24 hours before the Bengals played the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs. Mixon has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

PITTSBURGH

Former RB Le’Veon Bell admits to a career altering mistake.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Former NFL running back Le’Veon Bell now regrets ever leaving the place where his career started.

Bell posted a video on social media over the weekend apologizing to Steelers fans and saying that in hindsight, he never should have left Pittsburgh.

“I never apologized to the fans for sitting out, or leaving the Steelers,” Bell said. “I never apologized. So I want to say I apologize for leaving the best damn fans there is in this damn world. I shouldn’t have left. I apologize, I should never have left. I apologize. That’s my fault. That’s on me.”

Bell spent his first five NFL seasons with the Steelers and was a two-time first-team All-Pro. But in 2018 he decided to sit out the entire season rather than sign the franchise tag. In 2019 he signed a lucrative free agent contract with the Jets, but he did not play well and was released during his second season. He then spent time with the Chiefs, Ravens and Buccaneers.

Out of the NFL last year, Bell defeated fellow former NFL running back Adrian Peterson in a boxing match. Bell then took two more boxing matches, winning one and losing one.

JACKSONVILLE

The Jaguars have extended TE EVAN ENGRAM.  This from Larry Holder of The Athletic:

The Jaguars and tight end Evan Engram have agreed to a three-year deal ahead of Monday’s franchise tag deadline, his agent Mike McCartney tweeted Sunday. Here’s what you need to know:

The deal is worth $41.25 million and includes $24 million guaranteed, per multiple reports.

After five seasons with the Giants, Engram, who turns 29 in September, signed a one-year deal with the Jags last offseason and thrived in Jacksonville in 2022.

He is coming off a career year in terms of receptions, hauling in 73 passes on 98 targets for 766 yards and four touchdowns.

How does Engram stack up?

The risk of signing only a one-year deal last offseason paid off for the 2017 first-round pick. He was one of the most consistent and potent tight ends in the league last year. Engram ranked third in Expected Points Added per target, via TruMedia, and second in reception percentage among the 10 most-targeted tight ends in 2022.

Here’s a look at the rates for those tight ends last season:

George Kittle              0.41             69.8

Travis Kelce              0.4                72.4

Evan Engram           0.27              74.5

Mark Andrews           0.17             64.6

Pat Freiermuth          0.14              64.3

Tyler Higbee             0.04              66.7

T.J. Hockenson         0.02            66.7

Gerald Everett           0.01           66.7

Tyler Conklin            0.01             66.7

Dalton Schultz         -0.07            64.0

In terms of Pro Football Reference’s “Approximate Value” for the 2022 season, Engram ranked within Nos. 5-7 with the Eagles’ Dallas Goedert and the Bears’ Cole Kmet. Engram finished 10th among all tight ends using Sports Info Solutions’ “Total Points Earned” metric. — Holder

More on the deal from Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

On Sunday, the Jaguars and franchise-tagged tight end Evan Engram worked out a three-year deal to replace his one-year tender. On Monday, we got a look at the terms.

And now you will, too.

Here are the full details, per a source with knowledge of the contract.

1. Signing bonus: $12.5 million.

2. 2023 base salary: $2 million, fully guaranteed.

3. 2023 per-game roster bonuses: $500,000 total.

4. 2024 option bonus: $7.5 million, fully guaranteed at signing.

5. 2024 offseason workout bonus: $500,000.

6. 2024 base salary: $2 million, fully guaranteed at signing.

7. 2024 per-game roster bonuses: $500,000 total.

8. 2025 offseason workout bonus: $500,000.

9. 2025 base salary: $14.75 million, $1.5 million of which becomes fully guaranteed in 2025.

10. 2025 per-game roster bonuses: $500,000 total.

The deal also includes $250,000 per year in available incentives.

The three-year contract has $24 million fully-guaranteed at signing. He previously was due to make $11.345 million fully-guaranteed under the tag. He would have made $13.614 million under the tag in 2024.

His guarantee at signing trails the two tags by $959,000. If he earns the per-game roster bonuses and the 2024 workout bonus, his two-year cash flow will exceed the two tags by $541,000.

The Jaguars essentially hold an option for the third year, at a total payout of $15.75 million.

It gives Engram enhanced security, giving him two years of the tag but also giving the Jaguars a vehicle for keeping him around for 2025, if they want.

TENNESSEE

WR D’ANDRE HOPKINS tires of waiting for a better offer from a team with a better passing attack.  Turron Davenport of ESPN.com:

The Tennessee Titans are expected to sign free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to a two-year deal that could be worth up to $15 million in the first year, sources told ESPN’s Dianna Russini.

The deal, which is expected to be complete over the next few days, will give Hopkins a base salary of $12 million in the first year and could reach up to $15 million with incentives, sources told Russini.

Hopkins shared a photo of him with Titans running back Derrick Henry on social media Sunday. Hopkins followed up later Sunday night on social media defending his choice of Tennessee as a free agent.

“I always loved having haters and doubters but I appreciate it even more now. Titan up!!” Hopkins wrote.

Hopkins, 31, brings 10 years of NFL experience with him to Nashville. He instantly becomes the most veteran receiver in the Titans’ inexperienced wideout room. Hopkins will slot into the role as an outside receiver opposite second-year wideout Treylon Burks.

The Titans hosted Hopkins on a visit last month before he met with the New England Patriots the following week. Hopkins has previous experience with various coaches on the Titans’ staff.

Titans coach Mike Vrabel was the linebackers coach and later the defensive coordinator for the Houston Texans when Hopkins was voted to two of his five career Pro Bowls. Hopkins posted 104 receptions for 1,165 yards and seven touchdowns in 2019 when current Titans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly was calling the plays for the Texans.

The Cardinals released Hopkins on May 26. His future in Arizona had been in question since the end of the 2022 season because of his team-high $30.75 million cap hit, which ranked highest among wide receivers in the NFL and seventh highest overall.

The Titans’ wide receiver group had a total of two 100-yard receiving games last season.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com seems to think that Bill Belichick wasn’t willing to spend the money on Hopkins that Mike Vrabel was:

Friendship, smiendship.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Titans coach Mike Vrabel have had a great relationship over the years. They surely still do. But, on Sunday, Vrabel won the face-off with Belichick for receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Both teams wanted him. Hopkins wanted more than either team was offering. Eventually, he accepted what likely was the better financial offer — reportedly, two years, $26 million with $12 million this year and potential incentives of $3 million. (t’s not known whether it’s a real two-year deal; our guess is that the Titans hold an option for 2024.)

It’s unclear what the Patriots offered. At one point, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com floated the idea of $10 million with incentives of another $2 million to $3 million. Although he never officially reported those numbers, they had a feel of wink-nod accuracy.

Hopkins surely wanted at least $15 million for 2023, since that’s what Odell Beckham Jr. got from the Ravens. And Belichick presumably could have gotten Hopkins if he had simply been willing to out-bid Vrabel.

Skip

Ultimately, Belichick wasn’t willing to do it. Which is a bit of a head-scratcher. With mounting pressure on Belichick to win in an ultra-competitive division, the fact that he wanted Hopkins presumably should have been enough to overcome a million here or a million there.

Now, Vrabel — whose position seems to be secure no matter what happens in 2023 — has gotten Hopkins, and Belichick will have to make do without him.

That said, there’s always been a sense that Belichick had a bit of ambivalence about Hopkins. His reputation for not wanting to practice much, if at all, was a potential issue. Besides, when Belichick truly wants someone he tends to approach silently and close the deal before anyone realizes he was in the hunt. Maybe he simply wasn’t all that interested in Hopkins in the first place.

Obviously, it’s a more compelling story if he was.

MIAMI

WR TYREEK HILL expresses confidence in the playcalling genius of Coach Mike McDaniel, the passing skill of QT TUA TAGOVIALOA, but mainly in the receiving and running ability of Tyreek Hill.  Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com:

Tyreek Hill has a clear goal for this season.

The Miami Dolphins wide receiver said on his podcast, “It Needed to Be Said,” that he will break the 2,000-yard receiving mark, something that’s yet to be accomplished in NFL history.

“I will break 2,000 yards next year, bro,” Hill said. “2,000 yards was on my bucket list to get before I leave this league … 2,000 yards and another Super Bowl — we getting that. Believe that.”

The NFL record for receiving yards in a single season is 1,964, set by former Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson Jr. in 2012. Hill was on pace to break 2,000 yards last season, after hitting 1,104 yards in his first nine games; myriad injuries at the quarterback position derailed his campaign, but he still set career highs with 1,710 yards on 119 receptions.

Remarkably, Hill admitted earlier this offseason that he got by mainly on his athletic ability in his first year with the Dolphins and hadn’t quite grasped the playbook.

“Last year, I was just out there balling,” he said in June. “I was just out there just using all athleticism. Like, ‘Here, [Dolphins quarterback] Tua [Tagovailoa], I’m going to be here and we’re just going to do that.’ So, this year should be a crazier year not only for me, but for also for the other wideouts.”

Miami added receivers Braxton Berrios and Robbie Chosen to a room that already included Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who also set a career high last season with 1,356 yards.

Whether Hill can flirt with or surpass the 2,000-yard mark largely depends on the health of Tagovailoa after the quarterback was limited to 13 regular-season games in 2022. But Hill remains confident in his odds of making NFL history.

“I feel like I’ve got the right tools around me,” he said. “I’ve got obviously the most accurate quarterback in the NFL, I’ve got one of the best head coaches in the NFL and also my position coach is a monster also. So just having those three things and me just keeping the same mindset each and every day that I want to get better and I want to break the record and I do want to break the record.

“So I feel like this is one of those years that I can achieve it.”

THIS AND THAT

OFFENSIVE LINE RANKINGS

ProFootballFocus.com ranks them 1-32.  We have their detailed analysis of 1-10, and the list of the top 32 (who are analyzed at the site):

Few things are more important to a team’s success than the quality of its offensive line. With five starting spots up for grabs, it also forms the focus of a lot of offseason maneuvering and additions for teams between trades, free agency and the draft.

The projected starters are as things currently stand and do not reflect a few inevitable changes that will take place with position battles in training camp and preseason. They are a best guess in certain situations and at times look past the coach speak that is taking place around OTAs.

Green text = New Starter

1. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (NO CHANGE FROM FINAL 2022 RANKINGS)

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Jordan Mailata

LG Landon Dickerson

C Jason Kelce

RG Cam Jurgens

RT Lane Johnson

The Eagles remain the best offensive line in the game on paper. They lost a starter in the offseason, but 2022 draft pick Cam Jurgens is ready to step in to fill that void.

The biggest flaw with this line in 2022 was penalties. With 44 as a unit, the Eagles were tied for the most penalized line in the NFL.

Best Player: Lane Johnson

Lane Johnson is the standard by which all right tackles are measured, particularly as Tristan Wirfs is moving to the left side in Tampa Bay. The last time he allowed a sack was the 2020 season.

2. CLEVELAND BROWNS (UP 4)

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Jedrick Wills Jr.

LG Joel Bitonio

C Ethan Pocic

RG Wyatt Teller

RT Jack Conklin

Cleveland’s line underperformed last season, but the pieces are there for this to be as good as any unit in the game.

Center Ethan Pocic had a career year in the middle for the Browns in 2022, and they retained his services in the offseason. He allowed just 10 pressures all season.

Best Player: Joel Bitonio

Joel Bitonio finished the season named as a PFF All-Pro at left guard. He allowed one sack all season and earned an 84.5 PFF run-blocking grade.

3. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (UP 1)

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Donovan Smith

LG Joe Thuney

C Creed Humphrey

RG Trey Smith

RT Jawaan Taylor

For the second time in a few years, the Chiefs have overhauled both tackle spots in an offseason. Donovan Smith allows them to keep career right tackle Jawaan Taylor on the right side.

Smith allowed six sacks in 2022 in his worst season in the NFL, but he will only be 30 this season and could easily bounce back to a solid baseline.

Best Player: Creed Humphrey

Creed Humphrey didn’t give up a sack all season and earned a 79.7 PFF pass-blocking grade. He is a dominant force.

4. BALTIMORE RAVENS (DOWN 2)

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Ronnie Stanley

LG Ben Cleveland

C Tyler Linderbaum

RG Kevin Zeitler

RT Morgan Moses

Ben Cleveland will look to replace Ben Powers, who had a career year at left guard before leaving in free agency. Cleveland has played fewer than 500 career snaps and posted generally average PFF grades.

With just 24 penalties in 2022, this was the least penalized offensive line in football during the regular season.

Best Player: Ronnie Stanley

Ronnie Stanley earned an 82.2 PFF pass-blocking grade after returning from a long injury layoff last season. He is an elite pass blocker at left tackle.

5. DETROIT LIONS (UP 3)

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Taylor Decker

LG Jonah Jackson

C Frank Ragnow

RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai

RT Penei Sewell

Detroit’s interior was a revolving door last season, with several problems along the way. The return from injury of Halapoulivaati Vaitai at guard could be huge, both literally and figuratively.

Detroit’s offensive line never ranked outside the top 10 in the rankings last season and should be notably better with a healthy interior.

Best Player: Frank Ragnow

Penei Sewell continued to look excellent, but Ragnow at his best is as good as any center in football. He allowed one sack all last season.

6. DALLAS COWBOYS (UP 6)

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Tyron Smith

LG Tyler Smith

C Tyler Biadasz

RG Zack Martin

RT Terence Steele

Dallas gets multiple players back from injury, even if the specter of getting hurt is never far from Tyron Smith at this point in his career.

The Dallas line began last season at this No. 6 spot before injury caused it to slip, but the talent belongs this high.

Best Player: Zack Martin

Zack Martin was arguably the best guard in the NFL while Quenton Nelson was at his best, but now it’s not even an argument. He’s a dominant player at the position.

7. ATLANTA FALCONS (DOWN 2)

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Jake Matthews

LG Matthew Bergeron – Rookie

C Drew Dalman

RG Chris Lindstrom

RT Kaleb McGary

Atlanta’s offensive line benefits hugely from the most run-heavy offense in football, but since that’s not going anywhere, they belong at the sharp end of the rankings.

Rookie Matthew Bergeron has the chance to upgrade the biggest problem spot on the line last season. None of the three players who played significant snaps at left guard had a PFF grade above 75.2.

Best Player: Chris Lindstrom

Guard Chris Lindstrom was the best-graded run blocker in the NFL this season at any position. He allowed just nine pressures and finished with a 93.1 PFF run-blocking grade.

8. GREEN BAY PACKERS (DOWN 5)

Projected Starting Lineup

LT David Bakhtiari

LG Elgton Jenkins

C Josh Myers

RG Jon Runyan

RT Zach Tom

The great unknown about this offensive line is just how much it benefited from Aaron Rodgers playing quarterback. Though Rodgers typically holds the ball, he also manipulates the pocket as well as any passer in football. Jordan Love is unlikely to match that trait.

Zach Tom posted outstanding PFF grades at left tackle but will now be asked to play on the right side, where just 84 of his snaps came in 2022.

Best Player: David Bakhtiari

Injury and then an appendectomy limited him to just 597 snaps, but David Bakhtiari didn’t allow a sack or a hit all season and surrendered only 10 hurries across 339 pass-blocking snaps. His knee is potentially now a chronic concern, but he is still an elite pass protector.

9. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (UP 8)

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Rashawn Slater

LG Jamaree Salyer – Played LT in 2022

C Corey Linsley

RG Zion Johnson

RT Trey Pipkins

Jamaree Salyer’s impressive play at left tackle last season filling in for an injured Rashawn Slater has earned him a starting spot at guard. Salyer posted a 76.4 PFF pass-blocking grade as a rookie and had just three penalties.

Best Player: Rashawn Slater

Slater played only 175 snaps before going down injured last season, but even in that short time he showed he had picked up where he left off as a rookie. He allowed three total pressures across 113 pass-blocking snaps and is one of the best left tackles in the game.

10. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (UP 8)

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Bernhard Raimann

LG Quenton Nelson

C Ryan Kelly

RG Will Fries

RT Braden Smith

The Colts’ line was a mess last season but should have been much better. This ranking assumes a significant bounce back to their previous baseline of play.

Quenton Nelson, one the best lineman in all of football, allowed four sacks in his first four years in the league before letting up five in 2022, his worst year as a pro.

Best Player: Quenton Nelson

Theoretically, Quenton Nelson is still the best lineman in this group, but he is now under pressure to reverse a steep decline in his play. After three elite seasons to start his career, he has had back-to-back seasons with a PFF grade below 70.0 overall.

11. DENVER BRONCOS (UP 10)

12. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (UP 4)

13. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (DOWN 2)

14. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (DOWN 5)

15. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (DOWN 2)

16. CAROLINA PANTHERS (DOWN 1)

17. CINCINNATI BENGALS (UP 11)

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Orlando Brown Jr.

LG Cordell Volson

C Ted Karras

RG Alex Cappa

RT Jonah Williams – Played LT in 2022

Orlando Brown Jr. has the potential to propel this offensive line forward after the team already did some nice work to improve the unit last offseason. He has an overall PFF grade of at least 68.6 in every season of his career.

Jonah Williams had a rough year at left tackle but can rebuild his reputation in a contract year on the right side.

Best Player: Orlando Brown Jr.

Orlando Brown Jr. has earned at least a 74.4 PFF pass-blocking grade in every season of his career, spanning multiple offenses and positions.

18. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (DOWN 11)

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Trent Williams

LG Aaron Banks

C Jake Brendel

RG Spencer Burford

RT Colton McKivitz

If it wasn’t for Trent Williams, this line would be a concerning group on paper. It still may need to lean on Kyle Shanahan’s offense to put some gloss on its performances.

San Francisco’s line ranked fifth in PFF pass-blocking efficiency over the 2022 campaign. However, they lost their starting right tackle in the offseason, a player who rotated in at guard all season, and they will likely have a competition at center.

Best Player: Trent Williams

Trent Williams finished as the best-graded tackle in the NFL for the third straight season. He is a future Hall of Famer and one of the best players in the game.

19. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (DOWN 9)

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20. MIAMI DOLPHINS (UP 2)

21. CHICAGO BEARS (DOWN 7)

22. BUFFALO BILLS (UP 1)

23. NEW YORK JETS (UP 8)

24. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (UP 5)

.

25. HOUSTON TEXANS (UP 1)

26. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (DOWN 7)

27. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (DOWN 7)

28. LOS ANGELES RAMS (DOWN 3)

29. NEW YORK GIANTS (UP 1)

30. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (DOWN 3)

31. ARIZONA CARDINALS (DOWN 7)

32. TENNESSEE TITANS (NO CHANGE)

Projected Starting Lineup

LT Andre Dillard

LG Peter Skoronski – Rookie

C Aaron Brewer – Played over 900 snaps at LG in 2022

RG Daniel Brunskill

RT Nicholas Petit-Frere

The Titans’ line was a disaster in 2022, and while they overhauled it in the offseason, it isn’t enough to crawl out of the cellar of these rankings.

Andre Dillard got substantial money in free agency but has just 736 snaps of average-at-best play in the NFL after losing his job to Jordan Mailata in Philadelphia.

RUNNING BACK TIERS

Lots of folks are doing “QB tiers” but Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com takes a swing at RB tiers:

In the spirit of Will Brinson’s quarterback tiers, we’re turning to these oft-overlooked ball-carriers around the league. Which ones are bona fide weapons? Which ones are closer to the “replaceable” label often thrown upon the position? Here’s one opinion on the RB landscape going into 2023, with all 32 projected starters — plus a bonus wild card — separated into six tiers:

Tier 1: The game-changers (5)

Christian McCaffrey (49ers), Derrick Henry (Titans), Josh Jacobs (Raiders), Nick Chubb (Browns), Austin Ekeler (Chargers)

These are what you might call the last of a fading breed: the three-down, do-it-all workhorses. McCaffrey has an injury history from his Panthers days, but he proved in his half-year San Francisco debut he’s still a QB’s best friend when healthy, fully competent on the ground but even more reliable as a target machine. Henry’s bound to feel the wear and tear of his heavy, bruising role someday, but you just can’t teach his superhuman combo of size and silky speed. Jacobs went from fellow bruiser to physical and explosive in a 2022 breakout. Chubb, despite a smaller role in the pass game, is still supremely underrated for his week-in, week-out production; his vision and stocky power have effortlessly produced 6,300+ yards in five years. And Ekeler has long provided McCaffrey-like volume out of the backfield in Los Angeles.

Tier 2: The ‘prove-it’ stars (5)

Jonathan Taylor (Colts), Saquon Barkley (Giants), Aaron Jones (Packers), Dalvin Cook (TBD), Alvin Kamara (Saints)

All five of these vets have either recently been at the top of the RB mountain or still are, albeit with minor lingering questions. Taylor is a lot like Nick Chubb in that he makes consistently stellar rushing look easy, but an ankle injury slowed him in 2022 and could still be a factor going into this year. Barkley has unteachable tools and was a dual-threat centerpiece of Brian Daboll’s debut, but he’s still looking to prove he can stay healthy for consecutive years. Jones is one of the game’s most natural playmakers, but a slew of nicks and bruises have prevented him from enjoying a true breakout season. Cook is even more explosive at full speed, offering breakaway ability, but his availability — he’s played just one full season — helped the Vikings justify his cost-saving release. Kamara, meanwhile, is like a more electrifying version of Ekeler as a high-volume pass target, but injuries have slowed him lately, and he’s also facing a potential multigame suspension due to an off-field misdemeanor.

Tier 3: The next generation (8)

Travis Etienne Jr. (Jaguars), Tony Pollard (Cowboys), Rhamondre Stevenson (Patriots), Dameon Pierce (Texans), Kenneth Walker III (Seahawks), Isiah Pacheco (Chiefs), Bijan Robinson (Falcons), Jahmyr Gibbs (Lions)

Here lies the great middle, comprised almost exclusively of first- and second-year prospects with the juice to leap into a top tier. Etienne made up for a lost rookie year by eclipsing 1,400 scrimmage yards as a Trevor Lawrence outlet. Pollard is finally set for a full-time role after years as Ezekiel Elliott’s more explosive relief. Stevenson faces the uphill battle of retaining a majority role in the Patriots’ crowded backfield but was busy as both a runner and receiver as a rookie. Pierce flashed the imposing strength to warrant a bell-cow job under DeMeco Ryans. Walker combined power with slippery change-of-direction ability in an Offensive Rookie of the Year bid. Pacheco’s high stride helped give the Chiefs a bonus punch during their title run. And both Robinson and Gibbs enter the NFL with the kind of electricity that should bolster strong run games in Atlanta and Detroit.

Tier 4A: The serviceable vets (3)

Najee Harris (Steelers), Joe Mixon (Bengals), Miles Sanders (Panthers)

If you’re looking for solid, if unspectacular, results, these are your guys. Harris certainly has the yardage and body type to justify an old-school role at the heart of the Steelers offense, but in today’s NFL, you’d like far more than 3.9 yards per carry over two seasons. An improved line should help, but he still profiles as more of a traditional back than a game-changing one. Mixon has been similarly inefficient, though he’s also enjoyed more hot streaks over the course of his career. Sanders has smooth home-run ability, but his vision and pass-catching have been scattershot.

Tier 4B: The high-upside bets (5)

Breece Hall (Jets), D’Andre Swift (Eagles), Javonte Williams (Broncos), J.K. Dobbins (Ravens), James Cook (Bills)

Hall was extremely efficient as a big-play cruiser before going down with an ACL tear in New York. Swift saw injuries tarnish a mercurial Lions run but has the multipurpose skills to break out in the Eagles’ friendly attack. Williams was a bowling-ball rookie for Denver before his own ACL tear shortened 2022. Dobbins has been severely limited due to injuries (notice a theme here?) but is ultra-efficient when active alongside Lamar Jackson. And Cook is looking to go from situational speed to full-timer, replacing the departed Devin Singletary in Buffalo.

Tier 5: The placeholders (7)

Brian Robinson Jr. (Commanders), Alexander Mattison (Vikings), James Conner (Cardinals), Rachaad White (Buccaneers), Cam Akers (Rams), D’Onta Foreman (Bears), Raheem Mostert (Dolphins)

This isn’t meant to be a slight against these backs; some of them may well prove to be top-15 starters, if things swing their direction. But the reality is, at a position where rotations are more common than ever, these vets are most likely to either share the backfield or eventually surrender it entirely. Robinson deserves props for his off-field journey to a physical rookie year, but he’s already been labeled a two-down type. Mattison is entering a trial run as Dalvin Cook’s more straightforward successor. Conner is a tough red-zone body with a big injury history. White managed just 3.7 yards per carry in a quasi-starting debut. Akers has struggled to stick in three years under Sean McVay. Foreman has flashed big-bodied production in his last two stops but figures to lose touches to the more explosive Khalil Herbert. Mostert can fly but is also part of an inevitable committee in Miami.

2018 RE-DRAFT

Tyler Greenwalt of YahooSports.com wonders what teams would do if they knew in 2018 what they know now (i.e. BAKER MAYFIELD does not go to the Browns):

2018 NFL Re-Draft

Five quarterbacks were taken in the first round this year, with four going in the top four. Hindsight being 20/20, we know now that only two really worked out in the end. This class has already proven to be a solid crop after five years in the league. Three players have made three first-team All-Pros and 17 have been named to multiple Pro Bowls. But we’re sure a few teams would still like to switch their picks.

1. Cleveland Browns – QB Josh Allen over QB Baker Mayfield

Cleveland takes arguably the best quarterback of this class in the strong-armed Allen, who can seamlessly fit into the Browns’ offense. Though he took time to develop with a good offensive mind, Allen is the best pick here with three Pro Bowls and 18,397 passing yards in five seasons.

2. New York Giants – OG Quenton Nelson over RB Saquon Barkley

A quarterback makes sense here, but instead New York grabs the best offensive lineman for the aging Eli Manning. Nelson has been a Pro Bowler in all five of his NFL seasons and is also a three-time first-time All-Pro.

3. New York Jets – QB Lamar Jackson over QB Sam Darnold

Revisionist history is great, isn’t it? While the real-life Jets would likely have loved to take Mayfield here, Jackson is obviously the better choice after New York traded up with the Colts. Jackson was NFL MVP in his first season as a full-time starter and is one of the most dynamic players in the league right now.

4. Cleveland Browns – RB Saquon Barkley over CB Denzel Ward

The Browns continue to lean into the offense with the selection of Barkley instead of Ward, an equally good pick. The combination of Allen and Barkley would immediately elevate the Browns in the AFC North and speed up their rebuild.

5. Denver Broncos – LB Shaq Leonard over DE Bradley Chubb

Chubb was still a solid selection, but Leonard is arguably the best linebacker of this class despite being a second-round pick in reality. He’s a three-time All-Pro player already with 15 career sacks and 12 interceptions in his career.

6. Indianapolis Colts – OT Orlando Brown with Quenton Nelson off the board

Indianapolis still goes offensive line here with Brown. He has been a four-time Pro Bowler since being taken in the third round and would be an immediate starter for the Colts. He has made four consecutive Pro Bowls since 2019.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – S Minkah Fitzpatrick instead of trading back

The Bills don’t trade up for Mayfield or Sam Darnold, so the Buccaneers keep their pick and take one of the best safeties of the draft. Fitzpatrick is already a three-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro with 19 career interceptions and 47 defended passes.

8. Chicago Bears – LB Roquan Smith

9. San Francisco 49ers – OT Mike McGlinchey

The only original picks of the top 10 remain intact. Smith is a great linebacker who was an All-Pro and Pro Bowler in 2022. McGlinchey, meanwhile, fit a need for San Francisco and was a consistent starter before he signed with the Broncos this offseason.

10. Arizona Cardinals – QB Baker Mayfield over QB Josh Rosen

The Cardinals desperately need a quarterback here after Carson Palmer retired, so they still trade up with the Raiders but take Mayfield instead of Rosen. Despite his recent fall, Mayfield was a solid NFL quarterback in four seasons with the Browns. But there’s no telling if he’d ever amount to anything behind that Cardinals offensive line.

11. Miami Dolphins – S Derwin James with Minkah Fitzpatrick off the board

Miami still takes a safety, just not the one they did in reality. James is a fantastic consolation prize. While injuries derailed two of his first three seasons, James made the Pro Bowl in his other three years and was an All-Pro his rookie season.

12. Buffalo Bills – QB Sam Darnold instead of trading up for Josh Allen

Since Allen is long gone by the seventh pick, the Bills stand firm but still take a quarterback. Darnold showed promise at times with the Jets and Panthers, and then-Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll fixed Allen’s flaws early in his time in Buffalo. Maybe he could do the same with Darnold.

13. Washington Commanders – RB Nick Chubb instead of DT Daron Payne

This pick could go either way. Payne is a cornerstone of the franchise now, but Washington didn’t have a good running back on the roster apart from 33-year-old Adrian Peterson. Chubb, who actually went in the second round, rushed for 1,000 yards in four of his first five seasons and also made the Pro Bowl during that time.

14. New Orleans Saints – DE Bradley Chubb over DE Marcus Davenport

Chubb was considered the best pass rusher of the draft, so New Orleans takes him instead of Davenport after he falls to them. Chubb has 28.5 sacks in his career and also made two Pro Bowls.

15. Oakland Raiders – MLB Fred Warner over OT Kolton Miller

Warner is one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL right now and goes to the Raiders instead of in the third round to the 49ers. He’s already a two-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro with 411 solo tackles, 23 quarterback hits and 35 defended passes.

16. Buffalo Bills – TE Mark Andrews over LB Tremaine Edmunds

Buffalo gives Darnold a weapon instead of adding to the defense with this pick. Andrews is a top-five tight end in the NFL, with 4,313 receiving yards, 336 receptions and 34 touchdowns already. He’s also a one-time first-team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler.

17. Los Angeles Chargers – CB Jaire Alexander with Derwin James off the board

The Chargers snag the best cornerback of the class in a pick before the Packers could. Alexander is one of the premier shutdown defensive backs in the NFL with 10 interceptions already.

18. Green Bay Packers – CB Denzel Ward with Jaire Alexander off the board

Green Bay still goes defensive back here and takes who many believed to be the No. 1 player at the position. Ward was a Pro Bowler in his rookie season and again in 2021 for the Browns, and has 13 career interceptions.

19. Dallas Cowboys – LB Leighton Vander Esch

20. Detroit Lions – C Frank Ragnow

The best players available for the positions each team needed. Both have been quality starters as well.

21. Cincinnati Bengals – OT Kolton Miller over OL Billy Price

Cincinnati needed offensive line help and Miller is a quality option here. He’s been the Raiders’ starting left tackle since 2018 and would be for the Bengals as well.

22. Tennessee Titans – DT Daron Payne over LB Rashaad Evans

Payne falls to the Titans, who scoop up their interior defensive lineman of the future at No. 22. Payne is one of the best at his position with 26 sacks in his career and one Pro Bowl appearance.

23. New England Patriots – OL Alex Cappa over OT Isaiah Wynn

New England takes the more productive tackle here. Cappa, who went in the third round to the Buccaneers, became a primary starting guard for the past four seasons.

24. Carolina Panthers – WR Calvin Ridley over WR D.J. Moore

It’s a toss-up, but Ridley is the more dynamic talent while Moore might be more consistent. Ridley looked like a star after his 1,300-yard season in 2020. Personal issues and a gambling suspension have thwarted a solid start to his career, but in reality he has a chance to shine with the Jaguars.

25. Baltimore Ravens – WR D.J. Moore over TE Hayden Hurst

Three other Ravens from this draft class were all taken before Baltimore could even pick this time around, and all were originally selected after Hurst. The Ravens instead grab Moore, who has turned into one of the more consistent pass-catchers in the league with three 1,000-yard receiving seasons to his name and at least 800 receiving yards every season.

26. Atlanta Falcons – WR Courtland Sutton with Calvin Ridley off the board

Ridley and Moore are gone, but Atlanta still goes offense with Sutton as a complement to Julio Jones. Sutton has become a big-bodied vertical threat with 3,487 yards, 14 touchdowns and Pro Bowl in his career.

27. Seattle Seahawks – DT Vita Vea over RB Rashaad Penny

Vea is a great young defensive tackle who would fit well in Seattle. He has 18 sacks in his career and one Pro Bowl.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers – S Jessie Bates II over S Terrell Edmunds

Rather than take Edmunds here, the Steelers draft Bates to bolster their secondary. Bates has been a consistent starter for the Bengals with 14 career interceptions and 327 solo tackles.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars – LB Tremaine Edmunds instead of DT Taven Bryan

There are a lot of defensive options here, so the Jaguars go with the best overall linebacker available in Edmunds. He already has two Pro Bowls and 565 combined tackles to his name.

30. Minnesota Vikings – OT Brian O’Neill over CB Mike Hughes

O’Neill went in the second round to the Vikings, so Minnesota snags him here instead. He has been a full-time starter for the Vikings every season he has been in the league and made the Pro Bowl in 2021.

31. New England Patriots – RB Sony Michel

32. Philadelphia Eagles – OLB Harold Landry instead of trading back

In reality, the Ravens traded back into the first round in this spot to take Lamar Jackson, who went much earlier in this scenario. So, the Eagles stick around and take Landry here, who actually has the most sacks of any player from this class, with 31.

Greenwalt also re-drafts 2004 and 2011 here.  You can rest assured that Ben Roethlisberger does not last to the Steelers at #11 in 2004.