NFC SOUTH

CAROLINA

CB A.J. BOUYE will try to regain his mojo with the Panthers.  David Newton ofESPN.com:

The Carolina Panthers on Wednesday agreed to a deal with free-agent cornerback A.J. Bouye as they attempt to improve their secondary heading into this month’s NFL draft.

Bouye, a Pro Bowler in 2017, will be suspended for the first two games of the 2021 season as part of a six-game ban he received last year for violations of the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

He will be allowed to participate in offseason and preseason practices, according to the league.

Carolina signed 10-year veteran corner Rashaan Melvin to a one-year deal earlier in free agency.

Bouye, 29, was released by Denver in February after appearing in only seven games because of injuries and the suspension. He was traded to the Broncos from Jacksonville in March 2020, after being a big part of the Jaguars’ run to the AFC Championship Game in the 2017 season.

Bouye entered the NFL in 2013 with Houston as an undrafted free agent. He played well enough that he received a five-year, $67.5 million deal with Jacksonville in 2017.

He had six interceptions that season in 16 starts. He has only two picks since, and he had none for Denver last year. In 69 career starts, he has 14 interceptions overall.

Bouye likely will be penciled in as the starter in Carolina opposite Donte Jackson, who is in the last year of his rookie deal.

NFC WEST

SAN FRANCISCO

According to Frank Schwab of YahooSports.com, the betting markets believe that Alabama QB MAC JONES is headed to the Bay Area:

Whether or not you believe that the San Francisco 49ers traded up to the third overall pick for Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, the betting market is convinced that’s the case.

BetMGM offers odds on many draft props, and one of them is which player will go third overall. Jones, the Alabama quarterback who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, has taken over as the favorite to go No. 3 and it’s not close.

Jones is -200 to go third overall, meaning a bettor would need to wager $200 to win $100. Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields is next at +260. That’s a huge gap. If you’re still not convinced Jones is going No. 3 overall, maybe you should be.

Mac Jones is favored to go to 49ers

There has been a lot of skepticism over Jones going at No. 3, because it goes against just about everything we’ve heard in the offseason about the order of the quarterbacks.

Trevor Lawrence is going first overall. He is -10000 at BetMGM to go first. That’s as much of a lock as there is. Zach Wilson going second to the New York Jets has become the big favorite. Those odds are -1100. For most of the offseason the conventional wisdom was that either Wilson or Fields would be the second quarterback off the board, and the other would go third. Maybe Trey Lance would be the surprise in the top three quarterbacks, but it wasn’t going to be Jones.

It only takes one team to fall in love with a player, and it certainly seems that’s what happened with the 49ers and Jones. San Francisco gave up a ton in a trade to move up to No. 3. The trade alone wasn’t a huge shock, because the team clearly is ready to move on from Jimmy Garoppolo soon.

The surprise was that the big move up was for Jones, who nobody had mocked in the top five before the trade.

If you don’t believe the reports that the 49ers have zeroed in on Jones with the third pick, you can make some money betting Fields, Lance or someone else.

The team has not said who it will be drafting, though it has acknowledged it will be a quarterback. There have been more than a few reports that it would be a surprise if Jones isn’t the pick. There’s no reason for the 49ers to put out false information. They’re not trying to entice a trade; the 49ers already traded a lot to move up and aren’t flipping the pick. Whichever quarterback they prefer won’t change the Jacksonville Jaguars’ pick of Lawrence or the Jets picking Wilson. Simply put, there’s no reason for the 49ers to lie, other than messing with everyone for the fun of it. That’s unlikely. We’re so used to misinformation before the draft, but there’s no reason to believe this is a smokescreen.

The odds have moved significantly this week as more reports come in. If Jones isn’t the third pick it will be a shock, not to just the reporters passing along that information, but to bettors as well.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

Rams GM Les Snead is talking about a long-term plan for the team and QB MATTHEW STAFFORD.  Jordan Rodrigue in The Athletic:

When the Rams traded for quarterback Matthew Stafford in January, they also inherited his two-year, $43 million deal. But according to general manager Les Snead, the team has longer-term hopes in mind for the 33-year-old that could keep him in Los Angeles for quite a bit longer than his current contract dictates.

“I don’t think we did it thinking two years,” said Snead of the trade during an hour-long interview with our 11 Personnel podcast on Tuesday. “Based on his age, you can legitimately think five to seven, eight years if you look at what Drew (Brees) has done …

“With quarterbacks of his pedigree, a lot of those guys have played into their late 30s, for sure. So that was definitely the vision with (Stafford).”

When the trade agreement was initially struck between the Lions and the Rams, a source said that a contract extension was something the team was certainly considering for Stafford — yet it initially was framed as a financial relief situation as they prepared to face the shrunken 2021 salary cap. Stafford’s $9.5 million base salary in 2021 can be automatically converted into a cash bonus, which is seen as a little bit of a “safety valve” in case the Rams need the extra funds as they maneuver through free agency and beyond.

The Rams have yet to make either move, but now we can be certain that an extension is on the table — and it’s logical to estimate that those talks could solidify as Stafford continues through his first season in Los Angeles and the team sees how much they really can do with him at quarterback and how their offense will function.

“I’m not too worried about it,” Stafford said in March of the possibility of an extension. “My job No. 1, first and foremost, is to play at a high level to help this team win football games. That’s what I’m focused on at the moment. … All that other stuff will take care of itself. At the moment, I’ve got two more years left on my deal, so I’m just going to play and let all that other stuff take care of itself.”

Stafford last underwent contract negotiations in 2017, when he signed a five-year, $135 million extension with Detroit (with $60.5 million guaranteed).

AFC NORTH

CINCINNATI

The Bengals have started a Ring of Honor with two Founding Members – one of whom is actually The Founder.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Bengals announced the creation of a Ring of Honor at Paul Brown Stadium on Thursday and the building’s namesake is one of the first two members.

Hall of Fame tackle Anthony Muñoz joins Brown in being the first members of the organization to be enshrined. Brown founded the team and was its first coach and General Manager while Muñoz was a nine-time All-Pro and won the NFL Man of the Year Award during his 13 years in Cincinnati.

“I am humbled to be a member of the inaugural class of the Bengals Ring of Honor alongside Paul Brown,” Muñoz said in a statement released by the team. “I think about all of the guys I played with when I think about this honor. The organization has had some amazing, amazing players over the 50-plus years of existence. I think it’s great because now we get to celebrate all of the guys and that’s what it’s all about.”

Two more members will be elected by season ticket holders and all four people will be officially inducted during halftime of a Bengals game this year.

Elizabeth Blackburn, the 28-year-old great granddaughter of Paul Brown, is heading up the Ring.  Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:

The Bengals made the announcement Thursday morning with the inaugural class of four set to be inducted at a game to be announced. Season ticket members are to vote to select two more legends to join Paul Brown, the franchise founder who professionalized football, and Munoz, the game’s greatest left tackle.

“A special meeting,” executive vice president Katie Blackburn says of the Munoz moment. “It’s going to be a great addition to the stadium. It’s so fond to think back on so many of our players and the role they played here and the things they did while they were here. I think it’s a great way to help continue to keep those stories and moments alive in everyone’s memories.” 

Munoz arrived with the third pick in the 1980 draft via the partnership of Paul and Mike Brown. While Munoz saw Paul every day at work, Mike worked next to his father every day for a quarter of a century running the Bengals. It turns out one of the lessons Mike Brown learned helped produce the team’s newest chapter with the Ring of Honor.

“I respected him the way a son respects a father, but I also had a huge respect for him when it came to how he went about his job,” Mike Brown says. “To this day he’s the template I have in mind when we do things. I’m aware of how I think he would have done them. I have a tendency to put that forward. It’s the basis of my belief as how to run this team. It all stems from him. He had a great belief in efficiency. He didn’t want to waste people’s time. He didn’t believe in excessive meetings. He believed in delegation. ‘Here, you go run with it and we’ll judge the results.'” 

Which is exactly what director of strategy and engagement Elizabeth Blackburn did. Blackburn, 28, the youngest member of the family meeting, has been on the job for 14 months but has been a Bengal for life. Her inspiration for a Ring of Honor came from the fans themselves during her forays into social media.

On her watch new uniforms are being rolled out and the social media numbers have clicked the Bengals into the league’s top tier. But the Ring of Honor is the vision closest to her heart. “I want that bright future to bring along the past,” she says and the first four names are ready to be raised as sophomore quarterback Joe Burrow takes them into a new era. 

“She took it and she ran with it from start to finish and has made it her project and that’s impressive,” says Katie Blackburn, her mother echoing the Paul Brown creed. “I couldn’t be more proud. She had the initiative and determination to make it happen, which is awesome.” 

The one thing that gnawed at Elizabeth Blackburn while reading post after post about a lack of a Ring of Honor is that Mike Brown didn’t care about his players. Knowing how much they were a part of her family’s lives made it doubly hurt.

She has heard about the handwritten letters he has penned players and the ones he has received from them. Munoz has been at those reunions where Mike Brown would invariably end up in the middle of it all with a group of old players and one of his guffaws punctuating a long-ago yarn. Ring of Honor candidates and role players have walked through his door. 

“I knew how much of a misperception that was,” Blackburn says. “It was because a name on a façade wasn’t enough for him. He loves the former players. I think there was concern about just a name on a wall not doing them justice.”

Elizabeth Blackburn believes the power of modern communication can turn a stone cold number into warm nostalgia. What better way to usher in the new than honor the old?

“Now with our more enhanced capabilities in content, with video as well as just more vehicles to share photos digitally, it’s a perfect time to unveil a Ring of Honor in a way that is more than just a name,” Elizabeth Blackburn says. “It is really about the content. The stories people can consume through the app, through the website, as well as video and photo libraries, to really paint the 360-degree picture of each of our legendary players and coaches who have done so much for this franchise as well as the sport and the community at large.” 

Since Paul Brown was already in the Hall of Fame when he coached the Bengals’ first game in 1968, Munoz is the only Bengal elected to Canton in the 53 years of the franchise. Anger at the snub runs in the family. 

“The Hall of Fame has chosen to ignore our players to a high degree and this is a way to honor them,” Mike Brown says. “I think a lot of our players have been overlooked by the Hall of Fame that deserve consideration. We can do something about that by honoring them here.” 

Elizabeth Blackburn was five years old the day Munoz was inducted. If Canton won’t have a ceremony, the Bengals will.

“The fact we have only one player in the Hall of Fame, I hate it,” Elizabeth Blackburn says. “I know that the Bengals have a rich history with an amazing legacy and impact on the sport of football. If there’s something in our control that we can do to help celebrate that and remind fans, players, the community, other teams and former players of the beautiful past that we have, I want to do that.”

Ken Anderson and Sam Wyche immediately come to mind for the next two spots.  Ken Riley?  Lamar Parrish?  Isaac Curtis?  Boomer Esiason? Marvin Lewis?

This from CincyJungle.com:

The other likely candidates are Boomer Esiason, Chad Johnson, Ken Anderson, and Ken Riley, as they were all featured in the announcement video. The two other names will be revealed during a home game this season.

AFC SOUTH

HOUSTON

QB DESHAUN WATSON’s sponsors are dumping him.  Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com:

Nike has suspended its endorsement deal with Deshaun Watson, and sources told ESPN that Beats by Dre is ending its sponsorship of Watson amid the sexual assault and inappropriate behavior allegations against the Texans quarterback.

“We are deeply concerned by the disturbing allegations and have suspended Deshaun Watson. We will continue to closely monitor the situation,” Nike said in a statement Wednesday.

Houston-based Reliant Energy said in a statement that its relationship with Watson was scheduled to end this spring and that the company has “no plans for future engagements or contracts with him,” and supermarket chain H-E-B said in a statement that “There are no plans for future engagement” after its deal with Watson expired after the 2020 season.

Watson’s counsel fights back with a motion for an emergency meeting.  Barshop again:

Deshaun Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, has filed a motion Thursday for an emergency hearing, asking a judge to rule that lawyer Tony Buzbee has to identify one of the women who filed a lawsuit under the pseudonym of Jane Doe.

That motion was granted by the Harris County District Court, with the hearing scheduled for Friday at 12 p.m. ET. Hardin plans to submit the same filing Thursday for each of the plaintiffs.

Of the 22 civil lawsuits filed against Watson alleging inappropriate behavior and sexual assault, only two women have been publicly identified. The motion filed Thursday pertains to lawsuit 2021-15937, which was filed March 18. Because these lawsuits were filed individually, Hardin would need to file a motion for each of the lawsuits filed.

Watson has denied the allegations in the lawsuits.

“When we asked Mr. Buzbee to identify his clients weeks ago, he refused and told us to file a motion,” Hardin said in a statement. “Today we filed that motion. As discussed in our filing, Mr. Buzbee’s use of anonymous lawsuits violates Texas law and the basic concept of fairness.

“While I understand that anonymity often is used as a shield for victims, Mr. Buzbee is using it as a sword. While shielding his clients from public scrutiny, Mr. Buzbee continues to use their anonymous allegations to destroy Mr. Watson. This is simply not right. And we look forward to resolving these matters in court.”

In the motion, Hardin writes that “because Plaintiff’s counsel filed the actions anonymously, Mr. Watson’s counsel can only speculate about Plaintiff’s identity.”

“Mr. Watson’s counsel cannot in good conscience publicly respond to the specific allegations being made because any response would be based on dangerous speculation about the identity of the accusers,” Hardin said in the motion. “It is easy to imagine the harm that would be caused if Ms. Doe was mistakenly identified.

“The only way to allow Mr. Watson to properly defend himself is for the Court to follow the law by requiring Ms. Doe to identify herself in her civil lawsuit.”

The motion for the emergency hearing is because Watson’s answer to the lawsuit is due on April 19, and “due to plaintiff’s counsel’s repeated refusals to identify for Mr. Watson’s counsel the real name of Ms. Doe, Mr. Watson’s counsel cannot fully evaluate or plead his defenses to her claims.”

In a statement Tuesday, NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy called the allegations against Watson “deeply disturbing,” noting, “we take these issues very seriously.”

McCarthy said that the league launched an investigation under its personal conduct policy last month after the first allegations and that the NFL is “continuing to closely monitor all developments in the matter.”

JACKSONVILLE

QB TREVOR LAWRENCE won’t be in Indianapolis for a league physical this weekend.  Liz Roscher of YahooSports.com:

In-person medical exams are taking place this weekend for NFL draft prospects, and almost 150 potential draftees are already in Indianapolis getting checked and scanned in advance of the draft on April 29.

One person won’t be joining them, though: likely No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence. The Clemson quarterback had surgery in February to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, so while it seems odd that he’s missing medical exams that could reveal how his surgically-repaired shoulder is healing, he’s got a really good reason for being absent. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, he’s getting married to his girlfriend Marissa Mowry this weekend.

Lawrence and Mowry have been engaged since July 2020, when he proposed to her on the field at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium.

It’s a little strange that a potential top draft pick with a healing shoulder is just completely missing these medical exams, but Lawrence has nothing to lose or gain by missing them. He’s the consensus No. 1 pick, and getting married instead of an MRI won’t change that. Are the Jacksonville Jaguars going to cross a potential franchise quarterback off their draft list because he decided to tie the knot? Even if that feels like a very Jaguars thing to do, not even they would do that.

Congratulations and best wishes to Trevor and Marissa. Spending a Saturday marrying the love of your life sounds infinitely more fun than getting physicals with 150 fellow draft prospects.

AFC EAST

MIAMI

RB NAJEE HARRIS seems like a match for the Dolphins.  Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.comwonders if they should pounce at #18, which would annoy the don’t draft an RB early crowd.

Since the moment Alabama running back Najee Harris leaped over a Notre Dame defender en route to a 53-yard run during January’s Rose Bowl, Miami Dolphins fans have been dreaming of the 6-foot-2, 232-pound playmaker wearing aqua on Sundays.

There has been plenty of debate about the Dolphins’ No. 6 pick in the 2021 NFL draft, which is expected to be a pass-catcher with LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase, Alabama’s DeVonta Smith and Florida’s Kyle Pitts as Miami’s most likely options.

But let’s focus on running backs, which could be a target for the Dolphins’ other top picks at No. 18 as well as two second-round picks (Nos. 36 and 50).

The Dolphins are interested in drafting a feature running back, sources told ESPN, with added intrigue in bigger, complete backs.

Harris, who is listed by ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay and Matt Miller as this draft’s top-rated running back, was connected to Miami when he was a late add to the Dolphins’ Senior Bowl roster. Harris seems likely to be available at No. 18, but much less likely to be there at No. 36. The dilemma is whether the Dolphins should take the plunge at No. 18, or see if there is better value in drafting a more premium position such as pass-rusher with Georgia’s Azeez Ojulari, Miami’s Jaelan Phillips and Michigan’s Kwity Paye among the top options.

A panel of nine football analysts rank their top three running back prospects in order, assigning 3 points for first place, 2 for second and 1 for third:

PANELISTS                RBS

NFC pers. exec          Etienne, Williams, Harris

AFC scout                 Etienne, Williams*, Harris (This scout listed Williams 2A and Harris 2B.)

AFC scout                 Williams, Etienne, Harris

NFL RB                      Williams, Harris, Etienne

Kiper                         Harris, Etienne, Williams

McShay                   Harris, Etienne, Williams

Miller                       Harris, Etienne, Williams

Seymour                  Etienne, Harris, Williams

Harmon                     Etienne, Williams, Harris

We start by taking a deeper look at the draft’s top options. ESPN asked nine football analysts who their top-three prospects are in order, and the panel includes Kiper, McShay, Miller, three NFL scouts or personnel executives, a NFL running back and Running Back Academy draft prep coaches Jerry Seymour Jr. and Torri Harmon.

All nine listed the same three names, but in different orders — Harris, Clemson’s Travis Etienne, and North Carolina’s Javonte Williams. Beyond that, there was little consensus on order (see chart for full breakdown).

The results illustrate it is a pick-your-flavor type of running back class, so is Harris, Etienne or Williams worth the Dolphins’ mid-first round pick?

“I don’t think any of these backs are worth a first-round pick,” said the AFC scout, who listed Etienne as the top-rated running back. He had higher grades on Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor and LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire last year than the 2021 class.

Our ESPN draft analysts all selected Harris as the top running back, with Kiper noting, “he’s a complete running back. He’s good at everything — run, catch, block and he doesn’t fumble.”

Miller said Harris’ “ability to run with power is exceptional at 230 pounds, but the agility, ability to create laterally and make people miss inside the tackle box stands out more.” Miller also mentioned Williams “runs more violently than any back in this class.”

Etienne received the highest vote total among our panel, and those who favored him pointed to his superior speed and explosiveness. The NFC personnel executive worried how Harris’ lack of long runs would translate to the modern NFL, and noted Etienne could be effective in an Alvin Kamara-type of role.

Miami has done its homework. Dolphins co-offensive coordinator Eric Studesville led Etienne through drills at Clemson’s pro day. Etienne said he would love to be coached by Studesville. Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and Studesville watched Williams at North Carolina’s pro day. The Dolphins’ staff spent a week with Harris at the Senior Bowl.

If Miami misses out on one of the top three rushers, a couple of our evaluators mentioned North Carolina’s Michael Carter and Ohio State’s Trey Sermon as leading the next tier of running back prospects. Both have limitations, though Sermon is the better fit when paired in a two-headed backfield with promising receiving back Myles Gaskin. Sermon is likely a third- or fourth-round pick.

The Dolphins did significant evaluation last year with the idea of potentially selecting a feature back, sources said, but with Taylor, Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins (Ravens) and Florida State’s Cam Akers (Rams) on the board, they drafted developmental cornerback Noah Igbinoghene at No. 30 and right tackle Robert Hunt at No. 39. All three backs went in Round 2.

Taylor went No. 41 to the Indianapolis Colts, then finished third in the NFL in rushing with 1,169 yards and 11 touchdowns. Akers and Dobbins went No. 52 and No. 55, respectively, and both had successful rookie seasons. Igbinoghene struggled significantly as a backup outside cornerback and did not play much after September.

It’s too early to give a final evaluation, but the decision to bypass Taylor appears like an early mistake. The Dolphins cannot afford to make the same mistake again.

Last season Miami attempted to build up its backfield piecemeal by signing Jordan Howard to what amounted to a five-game, five-million deal and trading a fifth-round pick for Matt Breida. Both moves failed, though Gaskin, a 2019 seventh-round pick, had a surprisingly strong season (584 yards and three touchdowns).

Conclusion

The Dolphins should use one of their four top-50 picks on Harris, Williams or Etienne to help second-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and complete the offense. Harris might be a bit of a reach at No. 18, but he’s worth the chance if the Dolphins love the player.

In our poll, there wasn’t a huge gap separating the players, so I’d opine that depending on how the draft board falls there might be better talent and positional value at No. 18 for the Dolphins to draft rather than use it on Harris there. Miami selecting Williams at No. 36 seems more like the ideal solution. Though if Miami is eyeing Williams or any running back early in Round 2, it needs to possibly trade ahead of the running back-needy New York Jets (No. 34) and Atlanta Falcons (No. 35).

The DB would think Miami would explore trading up from #36 if the back they want is still there at, for example, #28.

NEW ENGLAND

Bill Belichick hasn’t done that great a job lately in his role as Director of College Scouting.  The team is sending out messaging that he won’t be going it alone any more. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

Last week’s comments from Patriots owner Robert Kraft, covered extensively here and on PFT Live, included a blunt and candid assessment of the team’s recent failures in the draft.

“Really, the teams who draft well are the ones who will be consistently good,” Kraft told reporters last Wednesday. “I don’t feel like we’ve done the greatest job the last few years and I really hope and believe I’ve seen a different approach this year. In the end, it all comes down to what happens on the field and how people execute and you really don’t know how good a draft is for at least two years.”

Two years after the 2019 draft, we know that first-round receiver N’Keal Harry has not been good. Albert Breer of SI.com recently reported that coach Bill Belichick ignored his personnel department in picking Harry over players like Deebo Samuel and A.J. Brown, both of whom were preferred by the team’s scouts. Belichick ignored that input and instead took Harry, based on Harry’s performance during a non-workout visit to the team and Belichick’s relationship with Harry’s college coach, Todd Graham.

Breer interprets Kraft’s reference to a “different approach” as reflecting an indication that Belichick is now listening more to those in the building who are setting the table for Belichick.

That said, Kraft also could have been referring to the fact that there’s a different person ultimately setting the table for Kraft, given the departure of former V.P. of player personnel Nick Caserio for the Texans. Although source-guessing is regarded by some in this business as a no-no, it’s impossible to ignore the reality that Breer interviewed Caserio just last week. Also, given that Kraft’s critique of the teams recent drafts and reference to a “different approach” easily could be interpreted as an indictment of Caserio, it makes sense for Caserio — who is no longer muzzled by Belichick — to be the one to tell the story of Belichick going off the board for a player who has become a bust, in order to deflect any criticism away from Caserio, especially as it relates to the ill-fated selection of Harry.

Regardless of whether the information came from Caserio, it’s undeniable that Caserio is mentioned nowhere in Breer’s 435-word blurb regarding recent draft failures in New England. Given his title and the fact that he’s the most significant change from recent years to this year, it’s impossible not to at least consider the possibility that Kraft was referring at least in part to Caserio when citing the different approach that the owner has seen.

And regardless of whether Kraft was calling out Belichick or Caserio or both, the team’s history of drafting and developing high- to mid-round receivers over the past 20 years has been largely abysmal, with players who ultimately busted includingHarry in 2019, Malcolm Mitchell in 2016, Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce in 2013, Taylor Price in 2010, and Chad Jackson in 2006.

THIS AND THAT

REMAINING FREE AGENTS

Sheil Kapadia of The Athletic looks at the best remaining free agents:

Below is a look at the best un-signed NFL free agents. Players will be removed from this list as they sign with teams, so keep this one refreshed. The number next to each player’s name is where they ranked in the original top 150. An asterisk indicates that the player was not in the original top 150. The number in parentheses is their age at the start of the 2021 season.

13. Eric Fisher, OT, Kansas City Chiefs (30)

Fisher is a tough player to slot, given that he’ll be spending his offseason rehabbing after suffering a torn Achilles in January. As a point of reference, Eagles guard Brandon Brooks tore his Achilles in January of 2019 and started all 16 games the next season. So Fisher being healthy by Week 1 of 2021 is not out of the question. He has 113 career starts and is a two-time Pro Bowler. Demand outweighs supply at left tackle, meaning Fisher should still have a strong market, despite the injury.

19. Justin Houston, Edge, Indianapolis Colts (32)

He’s on the wrong side of 30, but Houston continues to produce. He was eighth among edge defenders in pass-rush win rate and had eight sacks to go along with 12 QB hits.

20. Alejandro Villanueva, OT, Pittsburgh Steelers (33)

Villanueva didn’t become a starter until he was 27. He’s never missed a game and is a two-time Pro Bowler, although 2020 was not his best season.

29. Jadeveon Clowney, Edge, Tennessee Titans (28)

He was searching for a big payday last offseason but didn’t find it and had to settle for a one-year, $13 million deal with the Titans. Now Clowney’s stock is likely to be significantly lower. He failed to notch a single sack in eight games and then underwent season-ending knee surgery. Clowney might have a hard time finding the deal he’s looking for once again this offseason.

30. Trai Turner, OG, Los Angeles Chargers (28)

It’s tough to know exactly what his market will be. Turner has 89 career starts and is a five-time Pro Bowler. The Chargers traded for him before last season, but Turner was limited to just nine games because of injuries and did not perform well when healthy. He could look to sign a one-year deal to build his value back up and re-enter the market next offseason.

32. Melvin Ingram, Edge, Los Angeles Chargers (32)

It was a tough contract year for Ingram. He appeared in seven games before heading to injured reserve with a knee injury. Ingram has had a very good career, but he finished 2020 with no sacks and four QB hits. If healthy, Ingram is a disruptive player and a versatile pass rusher capable of lining up in different spots. His market will likely come down to whether teams are confident he can bounce back from the injury.

37. Mitchell Schwartz, OT, Kansas City Chiefs (32)

He was limited to six games in 2020 because of a back injury but hadn’t missed a start the previous eight seasons. Schwartz developed into one of the league’s better right tackles during his time in Kansas City. If he is healthy, Schwartz is probably the best available right tackle. But given his age and the back injury, there are obviously some risks.

40. Richard Sherman, CB, San Francisco 49ers (33)

He’s a tough player to slot. Sherman will be 33 at the start of next season and appeared in only five games in 2020 because of injury. He was 30 when he signed with the 49ers in 2018 and delivered two great years, making the Pro Bowl in 2019. If healthy, Sherman can still be effective. But given his age, he might be looking at another incentive-laden deal or a one-year contract.

41. Casey Hayward, CB, Los Angeles Chargers (32)

He signed with the Chargers during the 2016 offseason and made two Pro Bowls in five years before being released. Hayward has 95 career starts, including 13 last season. He’s past his prime but should still be able to help a team as a starting outside corner on a short-term contract.

48. Kwon Alexander, LB, New Orleans Saints (27)

He signed a big deal with the 49ers during the 2019 offseason but ended up playing just 13 games for them. San Francisco traded Alexander to the Saints during last season, but he tore his Achilles’ in December. If healthy, Alexander would be among the top off-ball linebackers in this class. But he’s missed 22 games over the past three seasons.

49. K.J. Wright, LB, Seattle Seahawks (32)

Wright has 140 career starts, and 2020 was one of the best seasons of his career. He had 11 tackles for loss, 10 passes defended (tops among linebackers), two sacks and three quarterback hits. Wright is a great teammate and probably knows the Seahawks’ defense better than most of the coaches, having played in the same scheme for 10 seasons.

49a.* Steven Nelson, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers (28)

The Steelers gave him permission to seek a trade and then released him. Nelson started 30 games for Pittsburgh over the past two seasons and previously spent four seasons with the Chiefs. He is a quality starting cornerback who should appeal to teams looking for secondary help.

62a.* Geno Atkins, DT, Cincinnati Bengals (33)

Atkins’ best days are behind him. He’s 33 years old and missed eight games last season because of a shoulder injury. But the eight-time Pro Bowler should still get one more opportunity to prove he’s a quality starter.

69. Bashaud Breeland, CB, Kansas City Chiefs (29)

He was a free agent last offseason and did not find a big market, settling for a one-year, $3 million deal to return to Kansas City. Breeland started 11 games. He will interest teams that are looking for a physical press corner on the outside. Breeland ranked 61st out of 106 corners in yards per snap allowed in man coverage. He’s shown that he’s a competent starter, but it’s tough to come up with a reason why Breeland’s market will be much different than last offseason.

74. Antonio Brown, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (33)

The Bucs signed Brown during last season, and he had 45 catches for 483 yards and four touchdowns in eight regular-season games. Will he now search for a new team or return to Tampa on what might have to be a one-year deal? If the Bucs lose Godwin in free agency, they could view Brown as an attractive replacement. Brown served a suspension last season but is still facing a lawsuit for alleged rape.

82. Golden Tate, WR, New York Giants (33)

He appeared in 12 games, played 44 percent of the snaps and had 35 catches for 388 yards in 2020. Tate lined up in the slot 82 percent of the time. Since released by the Giants, he’s clearly in the decline phase of his career, but Tate could compete for playing time as a slot receiver on a one-year deal.

85. Jurrell Casey, DT, Denver Broncos (31)

The Titans traded him to Denver last offseason, but Casey appeared in just three games before suffering a season-ending biceps injury. He had five sacks and 10 QB hits in 2019. If healthy, Casey should be able to land a starting job at defensive tackle.

86. Everson Griffen, Edge, Dallas Cowboys/Detroit Lions (33)

Griffen signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Cowboys last offseason and then was traded to the Lions. He’s likely to see a reduced role going forward but still produced as a rotational pass rusher with six sacks and 14 QB hits.

87. Ryan Kerrigan, Edge, Washington Football Team (33)

The four-time Pro Bowler got phased out last season, playing just 38 percent of the snaps. But he still produced 5.5 sacks. Kerrigan will likely look to catch on somewhere as a rotational pass rusher, although it’s possible he could find a starting job.

95. Russell Okung, LT, Carolina Panthers (32)

He’s had trouble staying healthy with just 13 starts over the last two seasons. But Okung is a crafty veteran who could be a short-term option for a team in need of a starting left tackle.

97. Tre Boston, S, Carolina Panthers (29)

He was released just one year into a three-year, $18 million contract. Boston has started 76 games in seven seasons. He’s typically been a free safety but played more than 400 snaps in the box last season. Boston did not have his best season in 2020, with 15 missed tackles — third most among safeties, according to Sportradar. But he offers a veteran starting safety option for teams that don’t want to spend at the top of the market.

99. Kenny Vaccaro, S, Tennessee Titans (30)

Vaccaro has made 109 career starts, including 13 last season. He split his time at strong safety and free safety and also played 100-plus snaps as a slot corner, according to Pro Football Focus. Vaccaro will be among the options for teams that are in need of a starting safety.

100. Bradley McDougald, S, New York Jets (30)

McDougald was part of the Jamal Adams trade. He started seven games last year before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. McDougald has 82 career starts and can play free or strong safety. He should be a low-cost option for teams in need of a competent starter.

NEXT TARGET – ARIZONA

Shalise Manza Young of YahooSports.com thinks major sporting events should only be held in those of the 50 states that meet approval from left-wing media and/or Democrat politicians.  Here she targets a state that hasn’t even finalized their plans to bring order to its voting laws.

Hey, NFL and NFL teams:

I know 2020 was kind of a blur for many of us, what with the COVID-induced sameness of day-to-day life, when a great number of us found ourselves suddenly thrust into a routine that meant not only working from home but also becoming teachers, tutors, tech supporters, and Zoomers. And to be honest, it took its toll.

But that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten.

We haven’t forgotten your solemn team statements after George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police, your sudden interest in Juneteenth and encouraging team employees to patronize a Black-owned business or read a book by a Black author, or your token gestures like painting “End Racism” on fields for a couple of weeks. We haven’t forgotten commissioner Roger Goodell’s video where he said “We, the National Football League, condemn … the systematic oppression of Black people.”

And this week, we saw the memo Goodell sent to league employees recently, which highlighted the voting rights efforts the league and teams promoted last year while almost blithely ignoring the actual depths of depravity Georgia lawmakers went to in their omnibus voting restriction law, signed by Gov. Brian Kemp last month under a painting of a former slave plantation where 100 Black human beings had been kept in bondage.

We’re here to remind you of those past words and demand that if your current words have any meaning, it’s time to act.

Super Bowl LVII is set to return to Glendale, Ariz. in February 2023. Yes, that’s nearly two years from now.

But what isn’t two years from now are the voter suppression laws that Republican legislators in that state are trying to pass, laws that figure to disproportionately affect Black, Brown and Native voters in Arizona.

Via the Brennan Center for Justice, state legislators have introduced 23 bills around voting, including making absentee voting more difficult, making it easier to remove citizens from early-voting rolls, preventing voter registration drives on non-government property, and prohibiting two things that have been successful in other states: automatic voter registration and Election Day registration.

You have the power to stop these bills from passing, NFL.

(I reached out to the NFL for comment twice and did not get a response. George Atallah of the NFL Players Association, which has no say in where the Super Bowl is played, said voting rights are a priority for the union’s social justice task force, and that both the task force and union executives are keeping a close eye on Arizona and other states.)

Instead of being reactionary, as Georgia-based companies like Coca-Cola and Delta were after that state’s grotesque voting changes were signed into law, you can go to Arizona lawmakers (quietly, if you’d prefer) and tell them that Super Bowl LVII, and any Super Bowl after that, won’t be in their state if they pass these bills.

You wouldn’t be alone in this action, either. You saw MLB’s decision to move this year’s All-Star game out of Georgia, and in 2017, North Carolina’s attempt at a so-called “bathroom bill” cost it an estimated $3.76 billion after the NCAA pulled tournament games and the NBA pulled its All-Star Game from there.

North Carolina rescinded the bill, but the financial damage was done.

In 2015, the NCAA — which is headquartered in Indianapolis — pressured the state of Indiana over a “religious freedom restoration” law that targeted LGBTQ individuals, and the law was altered.

But even if telling Arizona to nix its racist anti-voting bills or lose the Super Bowl wasn’t so clearly the right thing to do, the vast majority of your fans agree. According to a January Data for Progress poll, 67 percent of Americans support Congress’ H.R. 1, the “For the People Act,” which includes a host of changes meant to make the right to vote easier, not harder, for all.

And NFL, you’ve fought for the right side of history before, remember?

In 1991, team owners voted to pull Super Bowl XXVII out of Arizona and move it to the Rose Bowl because Arizona voters didn’t make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a paid holiday.

King is an icon, and so much of what he fought for are things we’re still fighting for today, but a holiday is window dressing.

Hosting a Super Bowl is a privilege. Voting is fundamental right. In the last few months after Democrats, buoyed by Black voter turnout in particular, elected Joe Biden to the presidency and then elected Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff to Georgia’s U.S. Senate seats, the reaction in Republican-led state legislative bodies hasn’t been to do a better job of convincing citizens to vote for them. It’s been to make voting harder for those who historically don’t vote for them. As of March 24, the Brennan Center counted over 350 proposed laws aimed at restricting voting, across numerous states.

You offered your stadiums as voting sites last November. You’ve said, as individual teams and as a league, that voting rights is a key issue for you. You’ve acknowledged the historical and continuing oppression of Black Americans and other marginalized communities. You know that over two-thirds of your players are Black, and they are growing less and less afraid every day to exercise their power to push for change. (To be clear, it’s not on those Black players to convince you or anyone else that they deserve the rights codified to them in our Constitution.)

Actions are always more powerful than words.

It’s time to act, NFL. Tell Arizona Super Bowl LVII is gone from Glendale unless legislators kill these voter suppression bills.

We await a list of approved states for re-location.  Presumably California will make the cut.  But no Super Bowls for Texas, Florida or Atlanta besides Arizona if Manza Young is in control.

TRAGEDY IN SOUTH CAROLINA

The gunman in a shooting rampage in Rock Hill, South Carolina played in the NFL.  The AP:

The gunman who killed five people including a prominent doctor in South Carolina was former NFL player Phillip Adams, who killed himself early Thursday, according to a source who was briefed on the investigation.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly, said Adams’ parents live near the doctor’s home in Rock Hill, and that he had been treated by the doctor. The source said Phillips killed himself after midnight with a .45 caliber weapon.

Adams, 33, played as a defensive back for multiple teams including the 49ers and the Atlanta Falcons after starring at South Carolina State. He also suffered multiple injuries in the NFL, including concussions and a broken left ankle.

Records show Adams was previously arrested on an assault and battery charge in Orangeburg in 2009, for which he was not convicted, as well as for carrying a concealed gun in Charlotte in 2016.

The York County coroner’s office said Dr. Robert Lesslie, 70, and his wife, Barbara Lesslie, 69, were pronounced dead at the Rock Hill scene along with grandchildren Adah Lesslie, 9, and Noah Lesslie, 5.

A man who had been working at the home, James Lewis, 38, from Gaston, was found shot to death outside, and a sixth person was hospitalized with “serious gunshot wounds,” York County Sheriff’s Office’s spokesperson Trent Faris said.

Faris said deputies were called around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday to the Lesslies’ home, and spent hours searching for the suspect before finding him in a nearby home.

“We have found the person we believe is responsible and we are with him at this time and that’s all I can say about the suspect,” Faris said.

The investigation is ongoing, he said.

“Dr. Lesslie was my doctor growing up,” Faris said. “Dr. Lesslie has been one of those people that everybody knows. He started Riverview Medical Center in Rock Hill and it’s been a staple in Rock Hill for years.”

2021 DRAFT

Ben Standig of The Athletic offers this Mock Draft:

Mock NFL drafts are ultimately a guessing game, even for those in front offices. Some do more than randomly guess which teams will draft Kyle Pitts, Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith, but rumors run wild and evaluations vary — especially in a year in which a once-in-a-century pandemic forced everyone to audible. What’s actually tangible? Team needs and, from there, perfection.

This is not about getting every pick right, but rather, identifying ideal scenarios for each team. Within reason, of course. Trevor Lawrence isn’t falling to Chicago at No. 20. Besides, the Bears are set with their starting quarterback. Sorry, that’s too mean.

The goal for this version is to offer two scenarios: how a two-time winner of The Huddle Report’s national mock draft contest assesses the first round and the initial selections for the three teams not picking in it; and to show what the best-case scenario is.

That could mean the same name for both angles or a specific player sliding down the board a few spots. Perhaps it’s a team selecting a prospect from one area of need, knowing there’s plenty of depth at another spot later in the draft, or getting aggressive and trading up. No trades were made in this exercise, but I didn’t leave blinders on when recognizing that approach should work best for certain teams based on the board and their circumstances.

Beyond my usual homework and the residual overthinking, I consulted with current and former scouts and personnel executives on my 1-32 — not to have them make picks (any praise and mockery is all mine) but for a sense of the prospects and those team needs. No draft simulators were harmed or used in this process, though I certainly frequented prominent public big boards, including Dane Brugler’s list of the top 100 prospects.

Remember that swapping out one player for another, especially at different positions, puts the Butterfly Effect into action. Ask me to create another mock tomorrow, next week or anytime between now and the big Day 1 on April 29 and expect changes galore. No guessing needed there.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

The pick: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

Ideal pick: Lawrence

Not much to see here as far as bold mock-draft predictions. Everyone slotted Lawrence into this spot regardless of which team held it since he won the national championship as a freshman in 2018. Comparisons involving Lawrence are to other pre-draft-evaluation stars like Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck, rather than to the other quarterbacks in his class. The main question is whether Jacksonville, under new impresario Urban Meyer, puts the 6-foot-6, athletic quarterback in the best position to succeed.

2. New York Jets

The pick: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

Ideal pick: Wilson

Wilson’s wild ride from semi-obscure college quarterback to the No. 2 player selected is almost complete. Sam Darnold’s presence shouldn’t matter to the Jets unless there’s a massive trade offer for the No. 2 pick that requires GM Joe Douglas to consider giving it up. With a chance to draft a dynamic and creative quarterback who can produce accurate throws from several arm angles, don’t bet on that. There’s a hit-or-miss quality with several quarterbacks in this class, but good luck passing on Wilson’s upside.

3. San Francisco 49ers

The pick: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

Ideal pick: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

Based on the reporting and reaction following the 49ers’ recent blockbuster trade up to No. 3, the sense is 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan covets Jones’ anticipation in the passing game and his apparent NFL readiness. Others can see Lance working in Shanahan’s system and being a player with the requisite high ceiling to justify the hefty trade price. Logically, the 2019 NFC champions are aiming to contend again following an injury-ravaged season, which means letting any rookie quarterback watch and learn. That’s in play with Jimmy Garoppolo on the team. Although Garoppolo and Lance make for a sharp short- and long-term pairing, the 49ers’ interest in Jones seems sincere.

4. Atlanta Falcons

The pick: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

Ideal pick: Pitts

The post-truth serum question for the Falcons’ new brain trust of general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Arthur Smith is this: “Do you see Matt Ryan as the starting quarterback beyond this season?” The recent restructuring of the 35-year-old’s contract means dead cap figures will exceed $40 million in each of the next two seasons. That suggests Ryan is going nowhere. That’s cool, but Atlanta could also take advantage of its lofty draft slot — one it seeks to avoid on its own results anytime soon — by grabbing its quarterback of the future. There’s not an ideal non-quarterback fit in terms of needs, but Pitts is mind-blowingly talented and would provide Ryan with yet another wow target.

5. Cincinnati Bengals

The pick: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

Ideal pick: Sewell, or trading down to the Nos. 7-9 range

The low-key big winners following the 49ers trade? The Bengals. They now have the most trade paths because the Falcons won’t help the Panthers, their quarterback-hungry division rivals, move up from No. 8. If Cincinnati makes a trade with Carolina or Denver, assuming either team would move up to take a quarterback, it is guaranteed to land Sewell or one of the top three wide receivers. For now, the focus stays on what the Bengals do at No. 5. Yes, the signing of Riley Reiff provides some immediate cover at tackle, but is it enough to pass on Sewell, whom some evaluators consider a generational talent? Quarterback Joe Burrow already has two fine wide receivers, but Cincinnati can add a potentially elite one with this pick. That is, if the Bengals ignore basic football logic. Great quarterbacks make plays even with middling receivers, but they can only do so much if they’re always scrambling behind a leaky line.

6. Miami Dolphins

The pick: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

Ideal pick: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

Dolphins GM Chris Grier has entered “chess, not checkers” mode with impressive trades that add draft picks without sacrificing upside. The trades with the 49ers and Eagles landed Miami an extra first-rounder and kept it poised to grab one of the elite pass catchers. Whether it’s Pitts, Chase or Waddle, who is the sneaky call here, good luck wiping the smile off quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s face this spring and summer.

7. Detroit Lions

The pick: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

Ideal pick: Chase

There’s a solid case to be made that the Lions will select a quarterback after moving on from Matthew Stafford, but new GM Brad Holmes sought recent Super Bowl starter Jared Goff from the Rams to give the quarterback he helped draft a fresh opportunity. After losing Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones in free agency, wide receiver is among Detroit’s primary concerns. Well, beyond perpetually ranking among the NFL’s most inept franchises. Adding Chase or Smith would provide Goff and the offense with a needed playmaking jolt. Detroit could have its choice of them if a fourth quarterback has been taken.

8. Carolina Panthers

The pick: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

Ideal pick: Lance

Thwarted from acquiring Stafford or the No. 3 pick, it’s becoming harder to project the Panthers ending up with a quarterback without imagining one falls to them. That’s not impossible, especially if the run on wide receivers starts early, but we’ll keep the trade machine humming just in case. We know how aggressive Carolina owner David Tepper is. Lance makes for quite the evaluation challenge, as he started only 17 games — all in the FCS — in college and just one since 2019. The dual-threat quarterback could use an NFL redshirt season to adjust. That’s possible with Teddy Bridgewater on the team.

9. Denver Broncos

The pick: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

Ideal pick: Fields

This is one of countless ways Round 1 could unfold, and there’s a chance all five of the top quarterbacks are off the board before the Broncos pick. That’s why they should be working the phones for a quarterback trade if there’s any hint Lance, Fields or perhaps Jones remains after the first five picks. Denver wants to bring in competition for Drew Lock but didn’t acquire any in free agency. Interesting. Otherwise, coach Vic Fangio could do some damage by deploying an athletic linebacker like Penn State’s Micah Parsons in his defense.

10. Dallas Cowboys

The pick: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

Ideal pick: Surtain

While the first nine teams jockey over quarterbacks and pass catchers, the Cowboys logically have their eye on a player whose purpose is to muck up those designs. Surtain’s pro day helped solidify his standing as the top cornerback. As one league source phrased it: “Long, pretty, physical. Everyone’s No. 1 now.” Dallas could pivot to offensive tackle if Denver selects Surtain at No. 9.

11. New York Giants

The pick: Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern

Ideal pick: Slater, or trading down for another offensive lineman or edge rusher

The strictly-need selection is a pass rusher. It’s a bummer for Big Blue that doing so maybe something of a stretch at No. 11, thus making the Giants a trade-up partner for teams in the Nos. 13-20 range. Eyeing another offensive lineman in the first round a year after selecting Andrew Thomas fourth could raise eyebrows, but Slater can play all over the line. Though he’s a tick undersized, one talent evaluator said Slater is one of the most technically sound offensive linemen he’s ever scouted.

12. Philadelphia Eagles

The pick: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

Ideal pick: Smith

Mock drafts tend to have Chase, Waddle and Smith off the board before this pick, but I’m rewarding Philadelphia for trading down from No. 6 to No. 12. While the three wide receivers might rate higher than other prospects, football-building 101 and history suggest their stocks will drop by draft day. It’s possible the 175-pound Heisman Trophy winner slides further if teams shy away from the minute playmaker, and if so, there aren’t teams in the Nos. 13-19 range overtly seeking wide receivers. Who is? Philadelphia.

13. Los Angeles Chargers

The pick: Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC

Ideal pick: Trading up into the Nos. 7-9 range if Sewell slides

At some point, the Chargers must find a cornerback to replace Casey Hayward, but protecting quarterback Justin Herbert should rank high on their list of offseason needs. After bolstering the interior of the offensive line in free agency, here comes help at tackle. Some scouts see Vera-Tucker primarily as a guard in the NFL. If the Chargers concur or simply are floored by Sewell’s potential, moving into the top 10 should be considered if he gets past the Bengals.

14. Minnesota Vikings

The pick: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

Ideal pick: Darrisaw

Saying goodbye to Reiff isn’t exactly a loss, but it did create a hole at left tackle. Enter Darrisaw, a 6-foot-4, 322-pounder with good arm length and feet for the position. One scout said Darrisaw is a “talented dude. Good athlete, big man. Dancing bear. He’s light on his feet. One of those guys who athletically can play on balance and stay in front of people. You can rely on that guy to block the edge. He’s a little raw, but he’ll be just fine.” Darrisaw won’t fall any further than Washington at No. 19 or Chicago at No. 20, but his ceiling is a bit harder to gauge without knowing when Slater and Vera-Tucker are taken or how many teams rank Darrisaw behind only Sewell.

15. New England Patriots

The pick: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

Ideal pick: Trading up into the Nos. 7-11 range if one of the quarterbacks slides

After their wild free-agency spending spree, the real answer here is the Patriots should trade up for a quarterback — not so much for this season, though maybe if the offense’s new toys don’t help Cam Newton return to his previous form, but the future. Otherwise, this turns into a best-player-available situation. Parsons is worthy of a top-five pick based on talent. Maturity questions, though, could drop him into the middle of the first round. If offered a double-ideal scenario, Vera-Tucker addresses the loss of $80 million guard Joe Thuney.

16. Arizona Cardinals

The pick: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

Ideal pick: Horn

It’s often a bad idea to follow the mock draft trend, and there’s no more trendy marriage than the Cardinals with the son of former NFL wide receiver Joe Horn. And yet, here we are, especially now that Horn is often considered the second cornerback in the class. Patrick Peterson bolted for Minnesota in free agency, and Arizona’s projected starters, Malcolm Butler and Robert Alford, are only on one-year deals.

17. Las Vegas Raiders

The pick: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

Ideal pick: Trade up or down for an offensive tackle

Is Owusu-Koramoah this year’s Isaiah Simmons, an über-athletic hybrid defender who vaults up first-round boards as the draft process continues? One scout told The Athletic he rates the faster-than-fast linebacker as the top defensive player in the class despite his lack of size. The Raiders have a solid group of linebackers, but they might roll with a jackpot call if they have the proper plan to maximize Owusu-Koramoah’s abilities. Forcing the needs angle means selecting an offensive tackle.

18. Miami Dolphins

The pick: Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan

Ideal pick: Not a running back

There will be a temptation to draft Alabama’s Najee Harris or Clemson’s Travis Etienne. Fight the urge. We know teams can find viable backs outside of the first round, plus Miami next picks at No. 36. Pass rushers remain at a premium and will start coming off the board around here. It’s not clear which goes first, as there are arguments for each of the top four, including Paye, who had 8.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss in 16 games over the last two years. With their extra picks, perhaps the Dolphins trade up for one of the offensive tackles or move down for additional draft picks, knowing they could snag a needed running back later.

19. Washington Football Team

The pick: Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky

Ideal pick: One of the top offensive linemen if they fall

The NFC East champions have yet to adequately replace Trent Williams, so ideally, they land a left tackle. Instead, Washington snags a 6-foot-4, 234-pound, three-down linebacker who ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. Beyond impressive measurables, one scout imagines coach Ron Rivera finding similarities between this Davis and Thomas Davis — the Carolina version, that is. Considering the draft’s depth at linebacker, Washington could wait and instead target TCU free safety Trevon Moehrig.

20. Chicago Bears

The pick: Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

Ideal pick: Making a splashy trade to change the narrative

There’s an unmistakable smell of desperation emanating from Bears headquarters. Initially, that stemmed from a failed quarterback search this offseason before overpaying Andy Dalton. Then, the front office whiffed on landing any high-profile newbies. The draft offers a final chance for GM Ryan Pace to add help and have folks stop crushing him. Maybe that means trading up to pair Waddle or Smith with Allen Robinson, or not taking no for an answer with a full-throated pursuit of a quarterback. The practical play is to select an offensive tackle or corner. Farley was frequently projected to be drafted 10 picks earlier before he underwent a recent back procedure.

21. Indianapolis Colts

The pick: Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami

Ideal pick: Phillips

We can’t just continue wishing one of the top left tackles remained available, though the perfect world for GM Chris Ballard means a choice between a blindside protector for quarterback Carson Wentz or a pass rusher. Phillips is something of a polarizing prospect, but one scout said he grades the 265-pounder as the top defensive end in the class.

22. Tennessee Titans

The pick: Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

Ideal pick: Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

The Titans offense took a hit in free agency, as it lost wide receiver Corey Davis and tight end Jonnu Smith. Adding Toney and his joystick-esque movements puts a needed wiggle back into the attack. Of course, we are talking about a team that drafted wide receiver A.J. Brown in the second round in 2019 and whiffed mightily on right tackle Isaiah Wilson in the first round a year ago. The point is, perhaps the Titans wait on a wide receiver and try finding another offensive tackle. Tennessee could also continue fortifying its pass rush even after signing free agent Bud Dupree.

23. New York Jets

The pick: Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern

Ideal pick: Newsome

Do the Jets want a running back to help alleviate pressure on Darnold or Wilson? Should they add another pass rusher opposite newcomer Carl Lawson? Arguments in favor of either approach are valid, though just not as robust as anyone pushing the Jets to select a cornerback. The Athletic’s draft insider, Dane Brugler, ranks Newsome, a clear riser since the season ended, as his No. 18 prospect despite some injury concerns.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers

The pick: Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

Ideal pick: Jenkins

Sticking with Ben Roethlisberger works if the Steelers can adequately protect him. Because they largely ignored the offensive line in free agency, it makes sense they would seek help in the draft. Teams will like to see Jenkins mauling defenders, though one scout’s last memory is of Oklahoma pass rusher Ronnie Perkins on the attack against the 6-foot-7 tackle when the two Big 12 rivals squared off this season.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars

The pick: Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU

Ideal pick: Moehrig

The Jaguars should be in talent-acquisition mode in Year 1 under Meyer regardless of position. ESPN’s Todd McShay rated Moehrig, who is 6-foot-1, as the top safety thanks to his terrific ball skills, and Brugler lists him only behind UCF’s Richie Grant. Because Jacksonville also holds the first pick in the second round, it can wait on a pass rusher or gamble that Etienne, Lawrence’s Clemson teammate, falls that far.

26. Cleveland Browns

The pick: Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami

Ideal pick: Rousseau

By opting out of last season, Rousseau forced scouts to evaluate his 2019 tape, which isn’t a bad thing since the versatile edge rusher finished second in the nation to Chase Young with 15.5 sacks. Cornerback and defensive tackle are under consideration for the Browns — and perhaps wide receiver considering the constant noise about Odell Beckham Jr.’s future.

27. Baltimore Ravens

The pick: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

Ideal pick: Azeez Ojulari, OLB, Georgia

Let’s save the Ravens from themselves by moving past any thoughts of a wide receiver, even though that remains a worrisome area. There are some edge rushers who would be available and address a specific need, but Collins represents a very unique opportunity, according to Brugler. “With the size of a defensive end and the athleticism of a safety, Collins offers intriguing scheme-versatility and every-down ability,” Brugler wrote of his 27th-rated prospect.

28. New Orleans Saints

The pick: Azeez Ojulari, OLB, Georgia

Ideal pick: Newsome, or one of the top cornerbacks

The Saints did a solid job of keeping their roster intact amid a preposterous salary-cap situation. Cornerback Janoris Jenkins was among those released in the process. New Orleans might pivot for defensive linemen — Sheldon Rankins and Trey Hendrickson signed elsewhere — if the top cornerback prospects are gone.

29. Green Bay Packers

The pick: Landon Dickerson, G/C, Alabama

Ideal pick: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

Put me down as a believer: The Packers will once again ignore Aaron Rodgers’ hopes and dreams of adding a wide receiver on Day 1. They can avoid any further talk of a rift with the three-time league MVP by drafting one on Day 2 or selecting Bateman with this pick. Wide receivers are plentiful in this draft class, which is why there’s value in taking the first center. Green Bay lost former starter Corey Linsley in free agency.

30. Buffalo Bills

The pick: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

Ideal pick: Harris

Props to the Bills’ front office and coaching staff for creating a culture that had their main free agents choose to stay in Western New York, with some even signing team-friendly deals. The devaluation of running backs benefits the rising AFC runners-up. Harris’ well-rounded skill set will immediately jump him over Devin Singletary and Zack Moss on the Bills’ depth chart, and he will balance an offense led by quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

31. Kansas City Chiefs

The pick: Carlos Basham, DE, Wake Forest

Ideal pick: Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame

There are plenty of ways to describe Notre Dame’s historic program, regardless of whether one is a friend or a foe. Here’s another: Left Tackle U. Since 2014, Zack Martin, Ronnie Stanley and Mike McGlinchey have all started at the position and heard their names called in the first round. Eichenberg is this year’s entry. Not everyone is sold on the three-year starter being drafted in the first round, though multiple scouts told The Athletic they view the hulking 6-foot-6 tackle among the top five at his position. If the Chiefs don’t agree or plan to wait for help at offensive tackle, Basham boosts their defensive playmaking, as he had 16 sacks over his final 20 college games.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The pick: Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama

Ideal pick: Ojulari, or one of the edge rushers if they fall

To repeat as Super Bowl champions, the Buccaneers will need to take down quarterbacks like Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson. Fortifying the pass rush will help the cause, not to mention provide a backup plan beyond this season with defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, 32, entering the final year of his contract. Perhaps Ojulari or Basham is that guy, but if they’re gone, Tampa Bay adds an interior defensive lineman with Ndamukong Suh only returning on a one-year deal.

And for the teams without first-round picks …

56. Seattle Seahawks

The pick: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia

Ideal pick: Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State

The “Legion of Boom” was an all-time position group — and is a distant memory at this point. One of its replacements, cornerback Shaquill Griffin, signed with Jacksonville.

57. Los Angeles Rams

The pick: Quinn Meinerz, C, Wisconsin-Whitewater

Ideal pick: Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma

Center Austin Blythe signed with the Chiefs, and although Meinerz generated sincere praise during the pre-draft process, the jump from Division III to the NFL could take more time than an NFC contender can offer. Humphrey, a two-time Big 12 offensive lineman of the year, is more of a plug-and-play center. He’s also more likely to go earlier in Round 2.

67. Houston Texans

The pick: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC

Ideal pick: Kellen Mond, QB, Texas A&M

The post-pro-day buzz has Mond’s draft stock rising into the mid- to late second round. If the noise proves false, Houston should pounce for all the obvious reasons, namely Deshaun Watson’s uncertain future. Tyrod Taylor would start if Watson doesn’t, but he only signed a one-year contract. As for St. Brown, Brugler’s No. 11 wide receiver, Houston needs more help at wide receiver no matter who the quarterback will be after Will Fuller moved on.