The Daily Briefing Monday, June 20, 2022
THE DAILY BRIEFING
NFC EAST
DALLAS Coach Mike McCarthy has run afoul of NFL offseason rules yet again. Jack Baer ofYahooSports.com:
The league fined McCarthy $100,000 for practices deemed too physical, per ESPN’s Todd Archer, the second straight year the coach has received such a sanction. The Cowboys have also been docked an organized team activity during the 2023 offseason.
The Cowboys were one of three teams fined last offseason for overly physical practices, the two others being the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars. In that case, McCarthy was fined $50,000 while the team itself was fined $100,000 and docked an OTA for this current offseason.
WASHINGTON QB TAYLOR HEINICKE does not think he has a chance to beat out highly-paid QB CARSON WENTZ this August:
Last year, Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke entered the season as Ryan Fitzpatrick’s backup.
Then Fitzpatrick suffered a hip injury that ended his season in Week One. So Heinicke became the team’s starter for 15 of the last 16 games, missing one contest while on the COVID-19 list.
Heinicke compiled a 7-8 record as a starter, completing 65 percent of his passes for 3,419 yards with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
But Heinicke knew the Commanders would go after another quarterback in the offseason, which they did by acquiring Carson Wentz.
So now even though Heinicke has experience and showed some flashes, he knows it’s unrealistic to think that he can knock Wentz off from being Washington’s starter this year — in large part because of their respective contracts.
“I don’t think that’s an option,” Heinicke said in his Wednesday press conference. “You look at the NFL and at the end of the day, it’s kind of a business. If you’re paying someone $30 million and you’re paying someone else $2 million — you’re paying this guy $30 million to play, you know?
“Carson’s a great quarterback and you see it through OTAs and minicamp. And I hope he goes out there and succeeds. And again, my job is just to back him up. Hopefully, he’s on his deal, help him out in whatever way I can, and if for some reason he goes down, I’m ready to go play. That’s how I look at it. But, again, the NFL’s a business. You’re paying a guy a lot of money, you’re paying him money for a reason. He’s gonna go play.”
Heinicke’s right in that Washington is likely to give Wentz every opportunity to show he can be a viable NFL quarterback this season. But based on the way Wentz’s last two seasons have gone, it’s probably wise to never say never.
AFC NORTH
BALTIMORE The Ravens are counting that now is the time for WR RASHOD BATEMAN. Kevin Patra of NFL.com:
When the Baltimore Ravens traded Marquise Brown to Arizona during the 2022 NFL Draft, it thrust second-year receiver Rashod Bateman into the No. 1 wideout role.
After a solid rookie season, Bateman is looking forward to meeting those expectations.
“That’s the role that I’ve always wanted to be in,” Bateman said, via the Baltimore Sun. “I’m excited to take that role.”
A groin injury got Bateman’s rookie season off to a slow start, as he missed the first five games. But as he became more immersed in the offense, it was easy to see the talent that made him a first-round pick.
Bateman finished the season with 46 catches for 515 yards and a touchdown. They’re numbers he could more than double as the Ravens’ go-to target.
“He’s getting open at the line super, super quick,” tight end Mark Andrews said of Bateman. “And then he’s got a burst of speed people don’t really talk about. Second-year, he’s a guy that’s just gonna get better and better and better. The sky’s the limit for him.”
The Ravens traded away Brown and didn’t use a draft pick on a receiver, signaling their faith that Bateman can be that alpha who can win against double coverages. At the top of Baltimore’s WR depth chart sits Bateman, Devin Duvernay and James Proche — none have hit the 60 career catch mark yet.
CLEVELAND Kim Ogg, the District Attorney for Harris County, Texas, has heard the criticism of her office for failing to charge QB DESHAUN WATSON. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.comruns at length with her comments:
Some, including attorney Rusty Hardin, want people to believe that the decision of a pair of Texas grand juries to not indict Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson means that Watson has been exonerated. The top law-enforcement officer in Harris County, Texas disagrees.
At the end of a podcast interview of Kim Ogg, Mike Melster gave her the floor, so that she could say anything about the situation that she’d like to say. Here’s what Ogg said: “We respect our justice process. I love the law. It’s designed to get to the truth. That’s really what people want. I don’t think as a culture we can live with injustice. Remember, a grand jury no bill is not an exoneration. People, even when they clear the criminal justice system, often face accountability and repercussions in other parts of our legal system. And so I think to determine whether justice was done in this case you’re going to have to wait and see how it all comes out on the civil side of things and then through the NFL on the administrative side of things. And then people will determine whether that’s justice.”
That’s always been the case. But once the Harris County grand jury decided not to indict Watson on nine criminal complaints in March, and thanks in part to a tweet that naively linked the absence of an indictment with proof of innocence as part of the broader quid pro quo inherent to the world of breaking transactions five minutes before they are announced, teams launched their pursuit of Watson.
After a weekend of reports regarding this team and that team and some other team being interested in Watson, the Panthers, Falcons, Saints, and Browns officially entered the four-team race. The Browns, after being the first team out, decided to go all in with a five-year, $230 million, fully-guaranteed offer. It worked. The Browns got Watson.
Hooray for the Browns!
The exclamation point quickly became a question mark as reality crept back into the equation. Twenty-two civil lawsuits remained. An NFL investigation continued. The possibility of more lawsuits and more attention and more scrutiny and more people loudly wondering what the Browns were thinking became, within three months, reality.
Ogg’s comments underscore the fact that no one should have gotten swept up in the chase for Watson’s contract, not without a settlement of all existing lawsuits and a commitment by Watson to quickly resolve any other claims that may surface. Say what you will about Dolphins owner Stephen Ross (and we’ll admit we’ve sat plenty), but he had the right idea — all cases must be settled before a trade is made.
The Browns should have done the same thing. But with four teams falling all over themselves to get Watson, the Browns weren’t in a position to dictate terms. None of the four terms were.
Ogg’s comments also reinforce my belief that prosecutor Johna Stallings used the cover of the ridiculously secretive grand jury process to subtly (or otherwise) make it known to the grand jury that, as Ogg said, Watson didn’t have to be indicted to face “accountability and repercussions in other parts of our legal system.” Again, it would have been very difficult to convict Watson with proof beyond a reasonable doubt, especially since he has the money to hire a dream team of defense counsel who would have if-it-doesn’t-fit-you-must-acquit-ted their way to win after win after win in criminal court.
Ogg’s point is that Watson’s reckoning (if any) will happen elsewhere. In civil court and/or in the Court of Roger Goodell. And she’s right.
Hopefully, that will be the final word on this knee-jerk notion that the lack of an indictment means the existence of innocence, from Hardin or anyone else. No indictment most definitely does not mean absolute innocence, and the person ultimately responsible for the presentation of these cases to a grand jury in Houston has said so herself.
Despite the enormous amount of time consumed, the NFL’s investigation into Watson would seem to be incomplete if what Florio is spinning is true:
As the NFL prepares to do something about the longstanding investigation of Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, some details have emerged regarding the extent of the review.
Friday’s article from Mark Maske of the Washington Post, which drew most of its attention for the suggestion that the league will start the formal disciplinary process by recommending a one-year suspension for Watson, also explains that the NFL, through Lisa Friel, interviewed “at least” 11 of the 24 plaintiffs represented by attorney Tony Buzbee, “along with other women.” Friel, per Maske, also reviewed “relevant available documents.” Also, and as previously known, Friel interviewed Watson over a total of four days in Houston.
It’s unclear why the other 13 plaintiffs weren’t interviewed. Two emerged only recently. Did the other 11 decline? Or did Friel decide that their accounts weren’t needed?
It’s also unclear who the “other women”? Two who made criminal complaints against Watson have not sued him. Eighteen massage therapists issued statements of support for Watson early in the process. Recently, Jenny Vrentas of the New York Times reported that Watson received private massages from at least 66 women in a 17-month period.
The term “relevant available documents” could be extremely broad, from all text messages and social-media posts generated by Watson’s various massages to the deposition transcripts of everyone who has testified in the case to the civil complaints, the answers to the complaints, and any other paperwork created by the 24 lawsuits. Friel also may have asked attorney Rusty Hardin to give the league the “packet” that was sent to the Harris County prosecutor Johna Stallings for transmission to the grand jury. If it was good enough to get a grand jury to not indict Watson, Friel should be curious to see how the packet characterizes the case — especially if anything Hardin said conflicts with her own impressions based on a diligent review of the evidence.
It’s a lot of material to review. To be thorough, however, every document must be examined. Something that influences the final decision can be lurking anywhere. It’s one of the most basic realities of litigation that includes a vast array of documents. Someone must search the haystacks for the needles, without knowing that any needles are even lurking among the hay.
One thing that didn’t occur was that, as Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg told Mike Meltser in a recent podcast interview, neither the league nor the Browns contacted her. Both league and team would surely say that they didn’t do it because she couldn’t tell them anything about the grand-jury proceedings. But there’s always value in having a conversation. Even if she’s limited in what she can say to them on the record, the establishment of a good relationship with Ogg — starting from the launch of the process — possibly could have yielded some useful off-the-record guidance.
That’s how the world works. How various different forms of sausage get made. If Friel and Ogg (and/or Stallings) had established a relationship that resulted in the development of mutual trust, Friel could have finagled the truth as to why Watson wasn’t indicted. Maybe, as I believe, Ogg and Stallings suspected that Watson did something he shouldn’t have done, they believe it would be impossible to avoid the creation of “reasonable doubt” by Rusty Hardin and his legal team, and they deferred as a practical matter to other aspects of the justice system, whether through the civil lawsuits or, as Ogg told Meltser, the administrative process.
It’s still not known what the league will ultimately do. It’s unclear how thorough the league has been in investigating the situation. However, anything less than completely and totally thorough is not thorough enough, if the league wants anyone to believe that it wanted to make an accurate and clear and legitimate decision as to what Watson did or didn’t do, and as to what the consequences should or shouldn’t be.
The fact that more cases are being filed and more information seems to be surfacing makes it impossible, frankly, to know everything before making a decision. That’s why, in the end, the best decision could be to press pause on Watson’s playing career until the league knows everything that can be known about conduct that has led to 24 lawsuits, two more that will be filed, and possibly even more after that — especially if, for example, the belief that the league didn’t do enough about the situation becomes the catalyst for even more women to sue.
If the Browns are having buyer’s remorse over Watson and the mess surrounding him, can they do anything about it? Nick Cesario, the Texans GM, says no. John Breech ofCBSSports.com:
When the Browns originally traded for Deshaun Watson in March, he was facing 22 different civil lawsuits for sexual misconduct. In the three months since the trade went down, the number has shot up to 24 and it could jump up to 26 with two more lawsuits expected to be filed in the coming weeks.
With Watson’s legal situation getting even murkier, some fans around the NFL have started wondering if the Browns would be allowed to rescind the trade that they made with Houston. Texans general manager Nick Caserio was asked that exact question during a recent appearance on SportsRadio 610 in Houston and he basically explained that the trade is a done deal and that there’s no way for anyone to undo it.
“Any trade — forget about this particular one — any trade that takes place, so there’s a process that you have to go through,” Caserio said, via Pro Football Talk. “Teams agree on that and then once you agree on that, it gets submitted to the league. The transaction gets processed and it goes on file with the league. Unless there’s somebody that’s gonna go in there, you know, overnight in a mask and try to get on a computer, and may have a cyberattack like that, I’m not sure anything that can be done there.”
Basically, hacking the league office is the only way this trade is getting undone.
The Texans general manager then explained that the Watson trade was just like any other trade as far as league protocols go.
“No different than a draft day trade,” Caserio said. “Even though it kind of happens more in real time. You have an agreement in place, OK, you contact the league. Or we have a trade, we have an agreement, send the paperwork along, and everybody goes on their merry way. Unless I’m missing something, or unless [you] call [Roger] Goodell and ask him for interpretation and opinion, I would say that whatever trades have happened have happened in the past, and now we’re just focused on training camp and moving forward with the team.”
It’s also worth noting that the Texans have already used two of the draft picks they acquired in the trade, which makes it basically impossible to undo anything. To land Watson, the Browns sent three first-round picks (2022, 2023, 2024), one third-round pick (2023) and two fourth-round picks (2022, 2024) to Houston.
Two of those six picks were used this year: The Texans got the 13th overall pick from the Browns, which they traded to the Eagles. The trade dropped Houston to the 15th overall spot where they grabbed offensive lineman Kenyon Green. The Texans also got the 107th overall pick from the Browns, which they used to draft running back Dameon Pierce.
One thing to keep in mind here is that Caserio explained why a trade can’t be undone because he was asked about it, not because the Browns are actually looking to have it rescinded. There’s been no indication that the Browns are looking to move on from Watson. As a matter of fact, it’s been the opposite. As recently as last week, Cleveland.com reported that the Browns are “firmly committed” to Watson and his fully guaranteed $230 million contract despite the new lawsuits.
PITTSBURGH Mark Kaboly of The Athletic likes Steelers RB Coach Eddie Faulkner:
He probably wakes up in the middle of the night after dreaming about it and sketches it on a piece of paper.” — Steelers fullback Derek Watt
PITTSBURGH — That’s likely a little bit of an exaggeration when it comes to Steelers running backs coach Eddie Faulkner and how he comes up with unique drills for players every day at practice, whether at OTAs, minicamp, training camp or the regular season.
Or is it an exaggeration? Take the “Plinko” drill, an exercise — named after the game from “The Price is Right” — in which the running back ping-pongs through a pegboard-like arrangement of cones. Or the newest favorite that debuted this spring, in which players hone their hand-eye coordination by trying to snag playing cards that have been flipped into the air.
“I know he does his homework,” running back Trey Edmunds said. “I am sure he is upstairs during his free time drawing them out. Let me tell you, he takes pride in coming up with crazy drills.”
And there is a seemingly endless supply to the drill instructor’s playbook.
“He kind of goes over it a little bit during the meetings, and we are like, ‘You made that up on the fly,’” Benny Snell said. “He is like, ‘No way, I saw this on Instagram, and this is can be applied to this and that.’ They are tough drills, and throughout all the reps you see us take, you will see us slip and mess up.
“It is a lot to remember, but it is good work. It’s not very fun, but it is the work we need.”
Faulkner, 44, went undrafted out of Wisconsin in 2001 and spent time with the Steelers that summer but never played in the NFL. He also never coached in the pros before being hired by the Steelers in 2019. Now he’s entering his fourth year as their running backs coach, and he’s had great success with James Conner for two years and Najee Harris last year. Although he has been blessed with some talented running backs to work with, Faulkner has gotten the most out of them with his teaching skills.
In the eyes of Mike Tomlin, positional coaches are imperative at the pro level and are a direct reflection of the head coach and his teaching and communication skills.
Often times during practice, Tomlin stands and watches with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face. What Tomlin is grinning about is never revealed, whether it is the wild maneuvers Faulkner is having players perform or the satisfaction with the results. But you can assume Tomlin is in favor of them because the drills have gotten more frequent and a little more head-turning.
“(Teaching is) very significant, particularly in terms of the development of younger players, the teaching of the game,” Tomlin said. “Part of the teaching is clean communication, organization, thoughtful organization of lesson plans and so forth. And so it’s very much a teach-oriented position.”
Conner rushed for more than 700 yards in 2020 despite starting only 11 games. Harris rushed for 1,200 yards a year ago, but the hidden number is 585. Conner in 2020 and Harris in 2021 combined for 585 touches with a combined two fumbles. Almost all of Faulkner’s drills require ball security as the No. 1 aspect.
“The ball is everything, so these drills include punches of us trying to get up and those factors you come across during the game,” Snell said.
“Ball security is a big part,” Faulkner said. “Every time we do the ball security drill to open practice — people ask me about the physio ball and what I use it for, and when the ball comes out, the guy is usually going down or getting back up. Getting them to tighten up in those types of situations subconsciously.
“Outside of that, I like the agility drills. Most of my drills I like to give them a reactionary thing where they can say I will run this way, that way and then this way. That’s not real football.”
Nothing is off limits to Faulkner during the spring. He will try anything once, and if it doesn’t work, he will scrap it. By the time training camp kicks off, the drills are more streamlined, but they are still ongoing. They happen right after the stretch period. Then during special teams drills, he works with Harris on his specific drill of hopping on with one foot on a stability ball.
“We have asked him a couple of times where he is getting this stuff,” Watt said. “We will take an extra minute or two for him to describe it and illustrate it to us because we need to hear that again. He has some unorthodox stuff but it all applies. You realize later on that this is why we did this or that.”
Where does Faulkner come up with this stuff?
He will scour social media for ideas. The Twitter account @TeachTapes is a good source for what others are doing with drills. He will combine drills to get what he wants out of it. Most of it is focused on reactionary plays, like lining up four running backs to the left and four to the right and throwing a football through eight sets of hands to a back to simulate combat catches.
There is the “chip and release” drill, spin and hurdle, yards after contact simulated by rolling on a physioball down the field and jump-cut reaction drills. Vision and agility are always part of the reactive cut drills.
“There are only so many standard drills you can do, so he likes to mix it up and add on another component to the drill,” Watt said.
Sometimes he does go a little too far, and the players let him know.
“Heck yeah,” Faulkner said. “I am like, ‘I’m not doing that again.’ It is a trial-and-error thing. Experimenting with it is the fun part of the job. Everything is going to have a finish to it, whether it is a stiff-arm or finishing with a pad on it. Instances where they have to keep their balance and they have to stay off the ground to maintain ball security.
“I am always trying to think of elements of the game and then drill it, and sometimes you have to be creative doing it.”
AFC SOUTH
INDIANAPOLIS After failing with the importation of QB CARSON WENTZ, did the Colts get it right with QB MATT RYAN in 2022? Zak Keefer of The Athletic:
The praise poured in after he first arrived, from coaches and players and just about anyone who crossed paths with him in the building.
This is what the Colts said about Matt Ryan then:
“He’s damn near a coach on the field,” said offensive coordinator Marcus Brady.
“You feel him in this building,” said defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.
“He reminds me of Philip,” added DeForest Buckner, and he wasn’t the only one comparing Ryan to former Colts QB Philip Rivers … or former Colts QB Andrew Luck … or former Colts QB Peyton Manning.
Almost eight weeks later, after the Colts wrapped their mandatory minicamp last week, this is what they had to say after getting their first chance to work with him on the field:
“He could basically run this offense and this team by himself,” said rookie wideout Alec Pierce.
“I knew he was good, but his accuracy is insane,” said coach Frank Reich.
“With Matt, the ball is out,” added tight end Mo Alie-Cox. “Like, you turn your head and the ball is gonna be on point.”
And the franchise’s all-time leader in games played, new wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne, with perhaps the most eye-popping quote of the spring: “Man, it makes me almost want to throw up because he reminds me of Peyton so much. He’s the epitome of a leader.”
Welcome to the Matt Ryan era in Indianapolis. The transition has been stunningly seamless. Ryan, the 14-year veteran, has quickly earned the respect of teammates and coaches, absorbed Reich’s offense and offered glimpses of just how different it might look in 2022.
Make no mistake: They love this guy.
No one’s looking back. No one’s lamenting what went wrong. The wounds of Jacksonville and the uncertainty that followed? In the rearview mirror. It’s not a stretch to say Ryan has reinvigorated the franchise.
The focus is forward, and the new quarterback is the biggest reason.
“Matt was unbelievable,” Reich said. “Really, A-Z, he did everything right. Just great leadership, great play. I mean, the whole way he took command …”
It’s a benefit Carson Wentz didn’t have a year ago: a full offseason to acclimate himself on and off the field in Indianapolis. The Colts essentially held two weeks of walk-throughs last spring and were done before Memorial Day; this year, the players were in town eight weeks, a stretch that more closely resembles a normal NFL calendar. Reich and Ryan took advantage.
“It’s unreal,” Reich said. “I mean, I forgot how much I love this, how much we need this. We got so much done. It’s amazing that you can play a season without doing this. So many details are covered.”
The differences between Ryan and his predecessor are also obvious: Ryan’s release is quicker and more decisive, and that should aid the Colts in Reich’s timing-based offense this fall. His receivers, tight ends and running backs have all echoed this, noting how much faster the ball comes out, and how it’s always on time.
With Wentz, the receivers always spoke about his arm — the ability to launch it deep down the field.
With Ryan, the conversation is different. They talk about his accuracy, his command of the offense, his leadership.
Ryan’s also better than Wentz at seeing the middle of the field, and that’s where a majority of his completions came last week.
A few highlights:
• He drilled Michael Pittman Jr. on a deep crosser in Wednesday’s practice, slipping the ball over a linebacker and beneath the approaching safety. It was a great catch, for sure, but Ryan’s ability to find his top receiver in heavy traffic was impressive. Look for Reich to call these routes a lot more this season.
• Any real signs of Ryan’s deteriorating arm — he turned 37 last month — weren’t evident last week. He launched a deep throw in Tuesday’s practice, dropping it right in the hands of streaking wideout Dezmon Patmon, who’d snuck behind the defense. Problem was: Patmon dropped the pass. It would’ve been a 50-yard touchdown, but that wasn’t on the QB.
• Still, the best throw of Ryan’s week came in Wednesday’s practice, when he threaded a dime to Nyheim Hines for a 35-yard touchdown. Hines was out wide, and Ryan rifled it past the cornerback and beneath the safety, precisely where the ball had to be, and Hines snagged it just as he hit the end zone. Beautiful throw and catch.
Ryan isn’t nearly as athletic as Wentz and doesn’t have the ability to extend plays like him. Wentz’s deep-ball ability led to some explosive plays, too, but most of those came early in the season, before the Colts’ passing game faded and the team was forced to become more run-centric than anyone in the league.
Ryan’s fit in Reich’s system is obvious, and he’s spent the better part of eight weeks getting to know his new teammates and their tendencies. He didn’t want to overdo it at first — didn’t want to come in and act like Rivers or Luck or Manning — but Ryan does have a certain standard he operates at, and he sees his role as franchise quarterback essential to the development of the Colts’ young receiver room.
But first, he had to know what he was talking about.
“Number one, you have to learn the offense,” Ryan said. “You have to be able to speak their language. That’s the thing I said from the start: You’ve got to help me here (because) at the very beginning guys are probably further along than I was, there’s no doubt. And not being too hard-headed and saying, ‘Listen, I’m gonna need your help.’”
Once he did that, Ryan felt comfortable pushing them. Alie-Cox mentioned that after they break every huddle, Ryan screams, “Get set!” In a recent conversation with former tight end Jack Doyle, who retired in March, Alie-Cox mentioned how much Ryan’s on-field personality reminded him of Luck’s.
In other words: If you’re not sharp, he’s on you about it.
“I’m trying to help them become the best player they can be, and I expect the same from (them), too, if it’s their turn to get me going,” Ryan said. “And they’ve done that. Our guys have done a good job of that and I’m really just trying to be myself and make sure that I’m as knowledgeable in the offense as I can be to help those guys.”
THIS AND THAT
RANKING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE 10 NEW COACHES Bucky Brooks of NFL.com tells us which of the 10 new coaches are positioned for success:
There is no such thing as a bad head-coaching job in the NFL. With just 32 available, every position is coveted. And this offseason, 10 of these desirable gigs changed hands — a whopping figure that tied the NFL record, previously set in 2006, 1997 and 1978.
Now, coaching changes are typically made when a franchise has stagnated, if not fully collapsed. Thus, the new head man immediately faces an uphill battle. And yet, this league isn’t exactly known for patience. Right now, 10 ownership groups/fan bases expect new leaders to transform their teams into contenders. From establishing a championship culture to dazzling opponents with clever schematics, the new guys are all tasked with reaching the same promised land despite starting out with completely different circumstances.
With the bulk of offseason roster reconstruction behind us and NFL teams hitting summer break, I believe this is the perfect time to assess each new coach’s environment for the coming season. Who’s in the best position to enjoy immediate success? Who’s facing the most challenging task in Year 1? Here’s my countdown, from the least favorable to the most favorable setup in 2022.
10 Lovie Smith Houston Texans It is hard to imagine a coach taking on a tougher challenge than the Texans’ rebuilding project. The organization has allowed a lot of talent to walk out of the door in the past few years without finding suitable replacements for the star power. Smith will attempt to win games with a “hustle hard” approach that places a premium on effort, energy and execution. The grizzled coach is relying on a young quarterback with limited experience, but Davis Mills started to show promise down the stretch of his rookie season. With limited skill-position weaponry beyond Brandin Cooks, the Texans need their 23-year-old QB to take care of the football and make some winning plays. Defensively, Smith needs to build upon the small successes the unit experienced in 2021. After adding some key players in free agency and the draft, Houston will need its newbies to step in and flourish immediately. Whether it is Derek Stingley Jr. thriving as a CB1 or Jalen Pitre flourishing as a versatile defensive back, Smith needs a productive season from his rookie class to help the Texans compete in 2022. Perhaps Smith can get some surprising contributions from veteran additions to fill in the gaps, but he will need a team of overachievers to be at their best in order to overcome the deficiencies that plague the roster.
9 Matt Eberflus Chicago Bears The old-school coach brings a disciplined and detailed approach to an organization that had lost its identity as a blue-collar bunch. Eberflus hopes to rely on effort, toughness and enthusiasm to make up for a lack of blue-chip players on the roster. The first-time head coach has a potential five-star quarterback on the roster in Justin Fields, but the second-year pro needs more weaponry around him to push the ball down the field. In addition, Chicago needs more trench warriors on each side of the ball to better control the point of attack. The play of the offensive and defensive lines must improve immediately for the Bears to gain ground on their rivals. Eberflus is intent on finding more “M&Ms” (motor and mean), but he will likely need to coax better effort out of his holdovers to make immediate improvements in Year 1. While effort and enthusiasm can make up for some of a team’s deficiencies, the rookie head coach will need to convince his team to outwork opponents in order to chalk up wins this season.
8 Doug Pederson Jacksonville Jaguars Despite taking over a franchise with one winning season over the past 14 years, the Super Bowl-winning head coach has a solid chance to reverse the course of these Jaguars and swiftly put the Urban Meyer disaster in the rearview mirror. As a quarterback guru with a proven track record of developing young players at the game’s most important position, Pederson inherits one of the most hyped QB prospects in memory in Trevor Lawrence. While it could take some time for the coach to surround his second-year signal-caller with enough talent for him to realize his full potential, the additions of Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Evan Engram should help Lawrence showcase his talent as a dart thrower from the pocket. In addition, Pederson has to show everyone inside the building how to think, act and perform at a championship level. There are some intriguing pieces in place to build around, but the fearless head coach has to flip the mindset in Duval.
7 Brian Daboll New York Giants The ultra-creative play-caller finally gets his chance to run a squad after demonstrating outstanding flexibility and adaptability throughout his time in Buffalo. After transforming Josh Allen into a superstar while helping the Bills become title contenders, Daboll encounters a new challenge with the Giants as he attempts to build up Daniel Jones and Co. into a powerhouse after years of futility. The defensive nucleus is intriguing, with plenty of top-end talent up front (Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari) that should enable the team to get back to the blueprint that’s produced Super Bowl wins in the past. While there is plenty of work to be done on offense, Daboll’s smoke-and-mirrors approach could mask some of the team’s deficiencies.
6 Kevin O’Connell Minnesota Vikings The reunion of Kirk Cousins and O’Connell — the latter served as the former’s QB coach in Washington back in 2017 — should enable the Vikings to hit the ground running under the rookie head coach. The veteran quarterback knows the system, which should help the offense carry the water until the defense catches up. That said, the first-time head coach and offensive play-caller will have to master the art of managing the entire team while navigating the call sheet and game situations. In addition, O’Connell must oversee the rebuild of a defense that is adjusting to a new scheme while blending in a handful of new players. Given the playoff expectations that come with a big-money quarterback in his prime, the pressure is on O’Connell to figure things out in a hurry in Minneapolis.
5 Mike McDaniel Miami Dolphins The quirky running game specialist, a former assistant for Kyle Shanahan, takes over a program with a solid foundation in place. The Dolphins have a talented young roster with hidden gems all over the depth chart. The team added more speed and explosiveness to the lineup this offseason, with three-time All-Pro Tyreek Hill and a group of swift playmakers (Cedrick Wilson, Raheem Mostert, Chase Edmonds) coming on board to join Jaylen Waddle. McDaniel’s creativity should make life miserable for defensive coordinators around the league via a dynamic running game and RPO package setting up big-play opportunities. Although the performance of Tua Tagovailoa is the key to the offense’s success, the auxiliary pieces around the young quarterback give him a great chance to take a big step in Year 3. If the Dolphins’ QB1 makes any strides, it’s hard to envision the team missing out on the playoffs in McDaniel’s debut campaign.
4 Nathaniel Hackett Denver Broncos The Broncos have been searching for a long-term answer at quarterback since Peyton Manning’s retirement following Super Bowl 50 in 2016. That’s one of the reasons why Hackett was hired. He’s a well-respected quarterback whisperer who has proven he can help field generals thrive in the pocket (SEE: his work with Blake Bortles in Jacksonville). And then, less than two months after Hackett’s hiring, Denver acquired an established superstar in Russell Wilson, who could be the final piece that allows this loaded Broncos roster to finally reach its potential. It might take some time for the offense to click as the coach and quarterback develop chemistry, but the talented playmaker has a knack for making any play call the correct one due to his spectacular improvisational skills. If the defense makes a smooth transition from Vic Fangio to new coordinator Ejiro Evero without regressing as a unit, Denver has the potential to make a worst-to-first leap in the AFC West standings.
3 Dennis Allen New Orleans Saints The veteran defensive coordinator — and former Raiders head coach — gets a chance to lead a team with five-star talents on both sides of the ball. Allen has already demonstrated his ability to outfox opponents with his defensive schemes, but the Saints’ new head coach must oversee an offensive transition, with Pete Carmichael Jr. taking over primary play-caller duties after Sean Payton’s departure. Carmichael , who has served as New Orleans’ offensive coordinator since 2009, has plenty of weapons to work with after the team added Jarvis Landry and rookie Chris Olave to a receiving corps that features a two-time All-Pro (Michael Thomas) returning from injury. If Jameis Winston plays like he did prior to last year’s season-ending knee injury, I believe the Saints are poised to emerge as Super Bowl contenders with Allen at the helm.
2 Josh McDaniels Las Vegas Raiders If McDaniels can apply the valuable lessons learned from his failed first run as a head coach with the Broncos, he could quickly transform the Raiders from a good team to a great one. The AFC West contenders are coming off an impressive run to the playoffs despite being wrapped in adversity throughout last season, and McDaniels (along with new GM Dave Ziegler) has upgraded a roster that already had some great talents. The additions of Davante Adams and Chandler Jones give the squad a pair of blue-chip playmakers with winning pedigrees. The overall talent and depth of the Raiders’ roster could overwhelm foes while McDaniels focuses his efforts on teaching players how to limit critical mistakes (turnovers, penalties and big plays allowed) that lose games. With Derek Carr in place to provide the requisite leadership and clutch performance needed from the QB1, McDaniels has a great chance to get it right this time around.
1 Todd Bowles Tampa Bay Buccaneers Bowles was dealt a tough hand in his first head-coaching opportunity, going 24-40 with the New York Jets from 2015 through 2018. It’s a lot easier building a champion when you have a seven-time Super Bowl winner at quarterback. With Tom Brady electing to end his brief retirement, Bowles inherits a title contender with a three-time MVP teaching a daily master class in winning football. Although the team will undergo a bit of a learning curve with Bowles taking over for Bruce Arians, the continuity within the coaching staff should ensure stability that allows the Buccaneers to race out of the gate when the regular season starts. If Bowles can get the defense to play at a top-five level, he might help the team add another Lombardi to the trophy case.
Actually, quite a few of these 10 coaches could prosper this year – taking over teams with quality QBs like KIRK COUSINS, RUSSELL WILSON, TOM BRADY and DEREK CARR.
TOP 10 RECEIVERS From Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com:
Quarterbacks own the headlines in the NFL, but if one position made a play to become the new hot topic in 2022, it was wide receiver. This offseason saw a number of big names change teams, and a handful of others cashed in with record contracts. And it’s no wonder, considering how important a No. 1 pass catcher is in today’s game.
But which of the NFL’s wide receivers are truly the best entering 2022? We’re glad you asked, because we ranked them.
What, exactly, was our criteria for sorting the best of the best? We tried to balance past production, present value and future outlook. But at the end of the day, it might be easier to consider the following list our best answer to these two questions: which WRs do we trust the most? And which WRs are best positioned to succeed this year? In close calls, we tried to separate WRs from their respective teams to consider their value; for example, if you swapped A.J. Brown and Allen Robinson, whose team would be better off?
Without further ado, the top 10:
10. A.J. Brown (Eagles) The Seahawks’ DK Metcalf, the top alternative here, gets all kinds of love for his freakish combo of imposing size and speed, but Brown has a similar profile with just as, if not more, consistent production. Lingering injuries are something to monitor, and his numbers aren’t always gaudy, but he’s a bona fide alpha, creating plays with both his bulk, power and explosiveness. He’s also set up to succeed as the Eagles’ new No. 1, working alongside ascending pass catchers like DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert.
9. Keenan Allen (Chargers) Allen’s been doing it the right way for so long that it’s almost surprising he only just turned 30. A pure route-runner who could be any QB’s best friend, he’s logged at least 100 catches and 1,100 yards in four of his last five seasons, and he’s poised to remain Justin Herbert’s top safety valve in a potentially big year for the Chargers. If Mike Williams is L.A.’s big-play outlet, then Allen has been the team’s Mr. Reliable for a half-decade and counting, serving as one of the NFL’s steadiest high-volume targets.
8. Deebo Samuel (49ers) Deebo was a dawg well before he broke out as the 49ers’ offensive MVP in 2021, always bringing a running back’s vision and tight end’s physicality to multiple roles out wide. Kyle Shanahan simply kept feeding him, either downfield or in the backfield, to prompt his statistical emergence. In terms of bang for your buck, you won’t find many better athletes at his size (6-0, 215), and while it’s fair to wonder if he’d still dominate the stat sheet as a strictly traditional receiver, he’s got way too much raw speed to overlook.
7. Mike Evans (Buccaneers) Annually underrated, Evans has eclipsed 1,500 receiving yards “just” once in his eight NFL seasons. But he’s never failed to top 1,000, and he’s gotten a bit more reliable in terms of catch rate since teaming up with Tom Brady. Size has always been on his side (6-5, 231), but he still moves smoothly at almost 29, and he still stars as a deep-ball threat, averaging over 14 yards per catch for five straight seasons. Plug him into any lineup, and you’ve got yourself a receiver who, naturally, is almost always open.
6. Tyreek Hill (Dolphins) Perhaps no one listed here is under more pressure to perform than “Cheetah,” now the NFL’s highest-paid wideout after an abrupt trade from Kansas City. His stockier stature (5-10, 185) has never prevented him from owning opponents in big spots; not only is he a lightning-fast deep-ball extraordinaire, but he’s unafraid of outmuscling guys in tight windows. But it’s not crazy to wonder how his game, sans Patrick Mahomes, will translate to a Dolphins offense seemingly more geared toward short-area concepts.
5. Stefon Diggs (Bills) After five years as the swaggering star of the Vikings’ WR room, Diggs has become an even more complete target as Josh Allen’s favorite outlet. He simply does everything well. The speed element is still there, making him a sturdy candidate to haul in Allen’s rocket launches, but he really wins off the line and in his breaks, mastering his routes and maintaining reliable hands. As he inches closer to 30, he might rely even more on possession skills, but in Buffalo’s deep, explosive offense, that’s hardly a bad thing.
4. Cooper Kupp (Rams) If Stefon Diggs makes route-running look cool, well, Kupp does the same, albeit more frequently. Only injuries prevented him from emerging as a true No. 1 earlier in L.A., where he quickly became Matthew Stafford’s go-to man in 2021. Durability is something to keep an eye on, considering his high volume and slighter build, but Kupp’s mastery of the mechanics should survive wear and tear. He’s not the biggest, he’s not the fastest, he’s not the strongest. But he creates space and reels in passes with such ease.
3. Ja’Marr Chase (Bengals) Big plays are the name of the game in today’s pass-happy NFL, and Chase wasted absolutely no time following in the footsteps of another LSU product-turned-All-Pro (more on him below) as a rookie. Was he a little streaky at times? Sure. But he was also the biggest reason for QB Joe Burrow’s ascent to MVP and Super Bowl candidacy. His instant burst after the catch is reminiscent of peak Odell Beckham Jr. The only mission with him is getting the ball in his hands, because he’s got the talent to do the rest.
2. Justin Jefferson (Vikings) His historic start is similar to that of Vikings legend Randy Moss, and the comparison isn’t wild. In two short years as Minnesota’s top target, he’s not only replaced Stefon Diggs’ swagger and production but topped it. The slender No. 1 is the perfect contemporary wideout — lightning fast with good hands, good height and good routes. Nothing against Kirk Cousins, but imagine if he played with Patrick Mahomes, too. He’s one of the safest bets to rack up both volume and highlight-reel touchdowns.
1. Davante Adams (Raiders) The Raiders may or may not have the offensive line and defensive depth to justify deep-playoff hopes, but it’s no wonder they paid up to land Adams, and not just because he’s friends with Derek Carr. The longtime Packers star has played a full season just twice in his eight-year career, but when he’s on the field (even banged up), he’s the total package, averaging over 90 yards per game in three of his last four seasons. He gets open at every level, has reliable hands and shows up on clutch downs. Any concern about his split from Aaron Rodgers should be mild if his public and private chemistry with Carr is any indication of their future together.
The best of the rest DK Metcalf (Seahawks), Mike Williams (Chargers), Chris Godwin (Buccaneers), D.J. Moore (Panthers), CeeDee Lamb (Cowboys), Tee Higgins (Bengals), DeVonta Smith (Eagles), Amari Cooper (Browns), Terry McLaurin (Commanders), Tyler Lockett (Seahawks), Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins), Brandin Cooks (Texans), Odell Beckham Jr. (free agent)
As you can see, we could’ve easily turned the top 10 into a top 20, because all of these guys are clear-cut starting material. Metcalf was the closest to cracking the top 10, as few receivers are as physically imposing, though he’ll now be catching passes from QB(s) other than Russell Wilson. Godwin has top-10 ability but is coming off an injury. Moore does, too, but remains attached to a mediocre QB setup in Carolina. Lamb, Higgins, Smith, McLaurin and Waddle have varying styles and skill sets but could easily become the next generation of perennial Pro Bowlers. Cooks has somehow managed Pro Bowl-caliber production despite flipping teams every other year, while Beckham remains a star talent when healthy and paired with other help.
The next tier Allen Robinson (Rams), Hunter Renfrow (Raiders), Adam Thielen (Vikings), Tyler Boyd (Bengals), Diontae Johnson (Steelers), Michael Pittman Jr. (Colts), Amon-Ra St. Brown (Lions), Darnell Mooney (Bears)
We’ve got a mix here of older or experienced possession receivers, a la Robinson and Thielen, and younger up-and-comers like Pittman and St. Brown. All of these receivers still have — or can unearth — Pro Bowl talent, but they aren’t necessarily true No. 1 targets at this stage of their respective careers. Most of them, in fact, have been or could be elite as No. 2 or No. 3 options.
The asterisks Calvin Ridley (Falcons), DeAndre Hopkins (Cardinals), Michael Thomas (Saints)
All three are premium talents when fully healthy and motivated, but all three are major question marks for 2022. Ridley, in fact, won’t suit up at all, serving a yearlong suspension for violating the NFL’s gambling rules. But assuming he returns in shape, for the Falcons or someone else, he’s got proven home-run ability. Hopkins has long been one of the game’s better possession targets, bringing elite hands to Houston and Arizona, but missed six games due to injury in 2021 and will miss another six this year due to suspension. Thomas, meanwhile, is three years removed from a 1,700-yard season as the Saints’ ultra-reliable No. 1, but he’s played all of seven games in two years. Maybe his route-running will dominate again, but first he’s gotta get healthy.
2023 DRAFT A top draft prospect is out for the 2023 season. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:
Boston College guard Christian Mahogany was a notable name on 2023 draft boards, but it looks like his ascent to the NFL may have to wait a year.
Mahogany, who was ranked as the No. 2 guard in next year’s draft class by Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN, tore his ACL while working out on his own recently. He told Pete Thamel of ESPN.com that he is likely to miss the season and that he now expects to return to school in 2023 in order to rebuild his stock.
“I think I’m probably going to come back because it’s hard [after an injury],” Mahogany said. “I’m going to leave no doubt on my college career. Especially after an injury like this, I’m going to prove that I can still do it.”
Mahogany started for Boston College the last two seasons and played alongside Chargers first-round pick Zion Johnson. Texas A&M’s Layden Robinson is currently the No. 1 guard on Kiper’s board.
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