Last month, the Commissioner floated for the first time in a long time the possibility of 18 regular-season games. On Wednesday, he addressed the possibility — while also downplaying it.

“The key thing for us is looking at making sure we continue to do the things that make our game safer,” Goodell told reporters at the conclusion of the quarterly meetings in Nashville. “Seventeen games is a long season. That’s number one. Working with our players association is number two. We would reach an agreement with them if we were going to proceed in that level. . . . Third, this is not necessarily in order, is the quality of our game. We would do it in the context of reducing the number of preseason games. We think that’s a good trade. Less preseason games and more regular-season games. I think most anybody would think was beneficial.”

Goodell made the reference to 18 games in a draft-week appearance on Pat McAfee’s show. Goodell tried to say the issue didn’t come up in the specific context of adding an 18th game.

“I wasn’t floating something that we’re actively thinking about now,” Goodell said. “It is something that we think about in the long-range context. Again, moving to quality and making sure that we’re doing everything possible to bring our fans what they want. And they want obviously more football. But I’m not sure they want more preseason football.”

Regardless of whether it’s a next-year or next-decade objective, it’s on the radar screen. And the issue did indeed come up in the specific context of adding an 18th game.

Here’s the question McAfee posed to Goodell: “I have a question abou games. We went from 16 to 17 games. . . . Soon as it happened, I was like, ‘OK, this is a clear opening to 18 games.’ And then if you add an extra bye week in there . . . now we got 20 weeks. Twenty prime-time games, let alone whatever other days we’re going to. Now the NFLPA is always gonna fight against having more games. Is there a plan to continue to expand, because 17 games feels good now? . . . Is there a thought of adding another one, maybe adding another bye week, so we can get more exposure, more TV deals, or are we good at 17 right now?”

“I think we’re good at 17 now,” Goodell replied, “but listen we’re looking at how we continue. I’m not a fan of the preseason. . . . But the reality is, you know, I think I’d rather replace a preseason game with a regular-season [game] any day. That’s just picking quality, right? So if we got to 18 [regular-season games] and two [preseason games], that’s not an unreasonable thing.”

Under that logic, 20 and zero isn’t unreasonable, either. And that’s where it will eventually go, I believe.

Despite Goodell’s comments, the push for 18 is coming. The only question is whether the union accepts it under the threat of a lockout when the current CBA expires or whether the league and the union work out a deal to expand to 18 games sooner than that.

Goodell was pushing for 18 back when the NFL hated gambling. Now that the NFL loves gambling (in part because the league and the owners have aligned with the house), they want more games because it’s more things on which people can bet, and collectively lose, their money.

Think of it this way. The NFL is the hottest casino in Las Vegas, but the NFL doesn’t have enough craps tables to satisfy the demand. More games are more tables.

So, yes, 17 will become 18. Which will become 19. Which will become 20.

And 32 teams will become 34 teams. Which will become 36. Which will become 38. Which will become 40.

It might not happen in my lifetime. It might not happen in yours. But it will happen, sooner or later.

CHICAGO

Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com does not think the Bears solved their most pressing problems:

The superlative: Team most likely to have the same items on its shopping list in 2025

Bears fans are rightfully excited about the 2024 season. They’re about to bring back a defense that ranked second in the NFL in points allowed per drive over the second half of the season and join it with an offense that added quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receivers Rome Odunze and Keenan Allen this offseason. If Williams is the sort of prospect many project and the defense holds its gains from a year ago, Chicago should be competing for a division title, if not raising its sights even higher.

One thing I’ve learned over the years, though, is you’ll often be disappointed if you look at year-to-year roster changes that way. Assuming everything that went right one year will go right the next and that everything that went wrong will be improved by offseason changes is usually a good way to be disappointed. I’m optimistic about the Bears, but I don’t think they’re going to have a top-five offense and defense in 2024.

If that doesn’t happen, it’ll probably be because they didn’t do enough to address their concerns along the line of scrimmage. While Matt Eberflus’ defense broke out in the second half of 2023 after acquiring edge rusher Montez Sweat via trade, the pass rush still ranked 21st in sack rate and 25th in pressure rate. (As I wrote last week, the Bears’ turnaround was mostly driven by a dramatic spike in turnover rate, which is more difficult to sustain from year to year.) They didn’t sign a significant pass-rusher to join their rotation this offseason.

And along the offensive line, the most notable addition they made was Ryan Bates, who lost his job with the Bills after struggling as a starter at guard in 2022. Chicago seems set to try the utility lineman at center in 2024, where he’ll compete with former Rams starter Coleman Shelton. Both players have experience, but neither has been a plus lineman as a pro.

Questions remain about former fifth-round pick Braxton Jones, who missed six games last season and allowed pressures on 14.2% of opposing dropbacks while playing left tackle. Justin Fields’ inconsistencies in the pocket didn’t help, but the Bears are now trusting Jones to protect their latest franchise quarterback. GM Ryan Poles used a third-round pick on Kiran Amegadjie, but the tackle from Yale is regarded as more of a project than a ready-made rookie starter.

Nobody should fault the Bears for drafting Williams and Odunze in the top 10 — and Poles could still add players in the months to come — but don’t be surprised if we’re sitting here next March counting on Chicago to prioritize offensive linemen and pass-rushers in free agency.

GREEN BAY

Will QB JORDAN LOVE have a new deal by the time we kick things off in September?  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

Before Jordan Love’s first season as the Packers’ starting quarterback, he signed a two-year deal with the team that offered him more money than he’d make under his rookie deal while offering the team an out if things didn’t work out in 2023.

Love took the Packers to the playoffs, beat the Cowboys in the Wild Card round and almost knocked off the 49ers the next week, so the Packers did not avail themselves of an escape clause. Given how well Love did, he set himself up for another, bigger extension and the lack of one has not kept him from taking part in the team’s offseason program.

The quarterback wasn’t willing to confirm that he’ll remain around in the event that a deal does not come together in the near future, however. During a media session in the team’s locker room, Love was asked if he would play out the year under the terms of his current deal.

“I don’t really know what’s going on, but we’ll see. I’m not really gonna get into too much contract stuff. . . . We’ll see. I don’t know yet. We’ll see,” Love said.

There’s a lot of time to strike a deal ahead of training camp and the regular season and Love’s presence at OTAs is a good sign that the relationship is strong, but the questions about what approach Love will take will keep coming as long as no new deal is in place.

DALLAS

Bill Barnwell exposes the “all in” bluster of the Cowboys:

Team most likely to utterly and completely ignore whatever its owner is saying

Owner Jerry Jones’ repeated proclamations that the Cowboys are “all-in” this offseason seem utterly and completely at odds with how his team has conducted the offseason. When you think of a team that is all-in, you probably envision one using every spare inch of its salary cap space, trading up in the draft and making the sorts of moves that make headlines and sell jerseys.

That isn’t exactly happening in Dallas. The Cowboys have lost seven players who lined up for at least 400 snaps last season, including longtime left tackle Tyron Smith and running back Tony Pollard. They’ve brought in exactly two veterans throughout free agency: linebacker Eric Kendricks and former lead back Ezekiel Elliott. They traded down with the Lions in Round 1 of the draft, gaining an extra third-round pick, but while allowing two offensive linemen to come off the board before they eventually drafted tackle Tyler Guyton. This does not look or feel like an all-in football team.

The Cowboys can’t be all-in in terms of adding talent this offseason because of the raises due to the players already on their roster. Wideout CeeDee Lamb has seen a bump from his $4.5 million salary in 2023 to $18 million as part of his fifth-year option, and he should top an annual average salary of $30 million per season on a contract extension. Edge rusher Micah Parsons, who is ticketed to make $5.3 million in the fourth year of his rookie deal, is eligible for a new contract that should get him north of $35 million per year.

And then there’s Dak Prescott, who holds all the leverage in negotiations in advance of the final year of his deal. Jones & Co. holding a hard bargaining line during Prescott’s prior contract talks accomplished little; the quarterback ended up getting franchise-tagged and then landed a market value deal with no-trade and no-franchise-tag clauses, meaning he’s now a year away from unrestricted free agency. The starting number in terms of average salary on his deal starts with a six. In all, that’s three players who were making about $50 million combined in 2023 who should be up around $125 million as early as this season.

I’m not so sure being all-in is a great way to run a football team, anyway. In 2021, the Rams felt pretty good when they traded two first-round picks for quarterback Matthew Stafford, added pass-rusher Von Miller at the trade deadline and eventually won Super Bowl LVI, but that’s not always a foolproof strategy. Ask the Dream Team Eagles or the Saints in the twilight of the Drew Brees era, teams that pushed the pedal to the metal and came up short. Even with a veteran roster, trading down and building a team that can win over multiple seasons is a smart philosophy. The Cowboys, who have made heavy investments in analytics over the past couple of years and generally made smart decisions during the draft, feel less and less like a team driven by Jones’ whims than ever before.

As it stands, they have set fans’ hopes artificially high without making the underlying moves to reinforce that optimism. Jones might be playing 4D chess, hoping to pin the blame on Prescott or coach Mike McCarthy when the Cowboys fail to live up to those all-in expectations in 2024. More realistically, given how they have conducted their offseason, it just feels like there’s a disconnect between what they’re doing and what Jones is saying to the public.

WASHINGTON

Bill Barnwell has a superlative for the Commanders:

The superlative: Team least likely to make headlines

In the post-Daniel Snyder era, the new ownership and front office in Washington has generally shied from doing splashy things or making the sort of high-profile decision the former team owner seemed to make and regret time after time during his two decades in charge. Whether that meant big-name free agents, coaches and executives or outlandish contracts, the Commanders seemed to operate in their own universe at times.

It’s always a big deal when a team drafts a quarterback in the top five — Washington’s offseason will be made on how Jayden Daniels pans out — but what was otherwise striking was how normal and understandable so many of their moves seem. The new regime hired a well-respected but untested general manager in San Francisco’s Adam Peters, then flirted with other coaching options before eventually hiring Dan Quinn, a culture-builder who took the Falcons to Super Bowl LI and dramatically improved the Cowboys’ defense within his first two years of joining those organizations. (Don’t ask about what happened in between.)

When it came to personnel, the Commanders didn’t take a big swing and instead invested in bargain deals for a handful of veterans. Their biggest signing was former Quinn charge Dorance Armstrong, who had 21 sacks over the past three years in a situational role in Dallas. They plumbed the depths of the Panthers’ defense for Frankie Luvu and Jeremy Chinn, players who looked like potential Pro Bowlers at different times over the past few years. Running back Austin Ekeler and corner Michael Davis were meaningful parts of a playoff team in Los Angeles as recently as 2022. Their highest-profile signing was Bobby Wagner, whose one-year deal is as much about reestablishing the team’s culture as it is landing a valuable middle linebacker.

Trying to hit singles isn’t a guaranteed path to success, and some of Washington’s other moves raised more questions. The decision to hire Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator after his teams failed to launch in Arizona seems questionable, and we’ll have to see how his offense melds with new O-line coach Bobby Johnson’s running game. Quinn’s defenses have been great only when he has had stars such as Earl Thomas and Micah Parsons, and he doesn’t have that sort of player in this lineup. And to some extent, the Commanders’ moves were defined by their limitations: This hasn’t been an organization in which players have wanted to come play, and they weren’t one star away from meaningfully contending for anything. In the big picture, though, it’s worth appreciating the contrast between the old Commanders and the new ones.

NEW ORLEANS

Bill Barnwell explains why the Saints are stuck with their current core and cannot re-build:

The superlative: Team most likely to run it back

As part of their annual protest against the NFL’s salary cap, the Saints are tasked with executing a series of restructures and extensions to create the room needed to get under the league maximum. Players get paid their base salaries up-front as bonuses, the team gets under the cap and New Orleans fans can tweet out stuff about how the cap is fake and their executives are wizards. It’s a fun time every year.

One of the impacts of that philosophy, practiced to the extreme extent that the Saints employ restructures, is that they end up locked into the vast majority of their core. Even if they wanted to, the Saints couldn’t afford to cut a half-dozen veterans to become cap compliant or to clear out room to add talent in free agency. The only practical way for them to make their situation work is to restructure deals and keep kicking the can into the future.

Most organizations would see what happened with the 2023 Saints as a reason to make major changes. Facing the league’s easiest schedule, the oldest team in the league by snap-weighted age went 9-8 and missed out on the postseason. The fan base seemingly turned on the team’s most notable new addition in years, quarterback Derek Carr, who was booed off the former Raiders starter off the field on multiple occasions. Outside of the season-ending blowout win over the Falcons, there were precious few positive vibes around this franchise.

Instead, whether because of the cap issues or their belief in the roster, the Saints are essentially running things back again. Of the 22 players who suited up for 500 snaps on offense or defense for them a year ago, 19 will return. The only exceptions are offensive tackle James Hurst, who retired, and guard Andrus Peat and cornerback Isaac Yiadom, whose contracts expired before leaving in free agency. Veteran wideout Michael Thomas and safety Marcus Maye narrowly miss out on that total and were released, but you get the idea: The New Orleans team you saw in 2023 is mostly going to be the players you see on the field in 2024, just one year older.

SAN FRANCISCO

Brandon Staley is rehabilitating his reputation with the 49ers, and he’s enjoying it.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

After Brandon Staley was fired as the Chargers head coach late last season, he found himself on the list of candidates for a number of defensive coordinator jobs but did not land any of them.

The 49ers were one of the teams he interviewed with and they offered him a different job on Kyle Shanahan’s staff. The 49ers confirmed this week that the title is assistant head coach/defense and Staley spoke to reporters for the first time in his new role on Wednesday.

Nick Sorenson is the coordinator and Shanahan said Staley knows that and is on the staff because “he can help us in a number of roles” that include being a sounding board for Sorenson. That’s a big change for Staley, but he said that he doesn’t “think looking at it as a reset is a bad thing” because of how well he fits with Shanahan and General Manager John Lynch.

“Talking to Kyle and John, there is a lot of common ground in how to lead a football team,” Staley said, via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News. “That is what I was looking for more than anything, an opportunity where you feel you’ll be aligned with the right people who do things the right way and you have a chance to improve, and where you also have a chance to affect a team that can compete for a championship. All those stars kind of aligned. It’s been energizing. That reset has allowed me to do that.”

Staley only spent one year as a coordinator before a stint with the Chargers that was seen as a disappointment because of how they consistently came up short in big spots. Taking a step back was going to be necessary for getting another chance at a lead coaching job and doing it with a team that has developed a different reputation is as good a way as any as starting on that road.

SEATTLE

Ryan Grubb is the new OC in Seattle.  He’s new to the NFL, but he has the development of QB MICHAEL PENIX, Jr. on his resume.  This from Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Geno Smith is heading into his fifth year with the Seahawks and his third as their starting quarterback, but much has changed this offseason.

New head coach Mike Macdonald and new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb are bringing in a different system, and after the start of Organized Team Activities, Smith said it’s the right offense for him.

“Very impressed,” Smith said. “From the stuff he’s done in college, he has a great track record, and just being part of the system, being able to learn from him, the type of guy he is, the type of man he is, type of coach he is, I think there’s going to be great things coming for us. Coach Grubb is doing a great job of being demanding, making sure that guys are studying and on point and knowing their assignments, but also giving guys some grace. It is a new system, a new offense, and guys are going to mess things up, and that’s not necessarily a terrible thing. Grubb’s doing a great job and it’s our job to make the plays come alive and make it all look good.”

Grubb has never coached in the NFL before, and Smith noted that undrafted rookie tight end Jack Westover, who played for Grubb at Washington the last two seasons, is the only player on the team who has played in Grubb’s offense before. But Smith said he’s a natural fit in Grubb’s offense.

“I’m a drop-back passer,” Smith said. “I feel this is a drop-back offense.”

KANSAS CITY

Members of the media went after Coach Andy Reid and QB PATRICK MAHOMES with the goal of either tearing the Chiefs apart or exposing Reid and Mahomes as troglodytes like PK HARRISON BUTKER.  We don’t think they succeeded.  Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com:

Patrick Mahomes defended the character of Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during the team’s opening week of OTAs on Wednesday and also offered words of encouragement for wide receiver Rashee Rice, who has been involved in two separate off-field incidents.

Butker became embroiled in controversy for comments he made during a commencement address this month at Benedictine College. During his 20-minute speech, Butker addressed female graduates in the audience about the “most diabolical lies” they have been told and using his wife, Isabelle Butker, as the example, intimated that the graduates should be most excited to take on the “vocation of homemaker.”

Mahomes said he did not “necessarily agree with” several comments made by his teammate of seven years but chose to “judge him by the character that he shows every single day.”

“There’s certain things that he said that I don’t necessarily agree with, but I understand the person that he is, and he is trying to do whatever he can to lead people in the right direction,” Mahomes said of Butker. “And that might not be the same values as I have. But at the same time, I’m going to judge him by the character that he shows every single day. That’s a great person, and we’ll continue to move along and try to help build each other up to make ourselves better every single day.

“But at the end of the day, we’re going to come together as a team, and I think that’ll help out as eliminating those distractions outside of the building, as well.”

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he speaks with Butker “all the time” but that he did not feel the need to address the kicker’s comments because “everybody’s got their own opinions.”

“We’re a microcosm of life,” Reid said. “Everybody is from different areas, different religions, different races. And so, we all get along, we all respect each other’s opinions — and not necessarily do we go by those, but we respect everybody to have a voice. [That’s the] great thing about America. And we’re just, like I said, a microcosm of that, and my wish is that everybody could kind of follow that.”

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com is surprised that the Chiefs would want to have someone like Butker around – and suspects it is only because he is a very good kicker:

The Chiefs had nothing to say last week when the commencement address from kicker Harrison Butker were making waves. Now we know why.

Like Bill Murray finding a Baby Ruth at the bottom of an empty pool, the man who runs the show in K.C. regards the situation as no big deal.

“I didn’t talk to him about this,” coach Andy Reid told reporters on Wednesday. “I didn’t think we need to. We’re a microcosm of life here. Everybody’s from different areas, different religions, different races. And so we all get along. We all respect each others opinions. And not necessarily do we go by those, but we respect everybody to have a voice. It’s a great thing about America, man. And we’re just, like I said, a microcosm and . . . my wish is that everybody could kind of follow that.”

Butker’s remarks included criticism of the current president on the issue of abortion. As to whether Butker will accompany the Chiefs for their traditional post-Super Bowl White House visit, Reid said, “I’m sure he will, yeah.”

Reid also was asked what he would say to women employed by the Chiefs who raise concerns with Reid regarding Butker’s comments about women in the workforce.

“That hasn’t happened,” Reid said. “I don’t think he was speaking ill of women. He has his opinions, and we all respect that. I let you guys in this room and you have a lot of opinions that I don’t like.”

Reid also said the situation isn’t a distraction for the Chiefs. “The guys are good with that,” Reid said. “They understand. They understand how things work. I mean, everybody’s got their own opinion. And that’s what so great about this country. You can share those things and you work through it. And that’s what guys do.”

Right or wrong, Reid views the situation as a non-issue. Whether that’s because they currently have bigger problems (e.g., Rashee Rice) or whether Reid agrees with everything Butker said is open for debate and discussion.

Still, Reid seemed to be borderline dismissive and at one point almost flippant about the flap. He was likely trying to make a joke when he said, “I let you guys in this room and you have a lot of opinions that I don’t like.” Still, there’s a difference between the stuff the media says about a football team and the hot-button subjects Butker addressed.

The bottom line is this. If Butker weren’t a really good kicker, he’d be susceptible to replacement for someone who doesn’t stand out, one way or the other. If/when he gets a case of the yips, Reid’s shoulder shrug could quickly morph into a pink slip.

The NFL’s initial statement on Butker’s speech reflected the Woke sentiment that seems to be prevalent in the New York office.  This from last week:

“Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity,” said Jonathan Beane, the senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer at the NFL. “His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”

But presumably weighing the reaction from among perhaps a majority of the league’s fans and stakeholders, The Commish re-calibrated to a more neutral tone when he spoke at the NFL meetings on Wednesday.  Ryan Morik of FOX News:

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, though, took a different route, praising the country for its ability to give its citizens freedom of speech.

“We have over 3,000 players. … They have a diversity of opinions & thoughts just like America does. I think that’s something that we treasure & that’s part of ultimately what makes us as a society better,” Goodell said on Wednesday, via Yahoo Sports.

Goodell’s comments echoed the sentiments of Butker’s quarterback and coach, Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.

BALTIMORE

QB LAMAR JACKSON has consciously made himself lighter.  Maybe 20+ pounds lighter.  Ryan Mink of Ravens.com:

In Lamar Jackson’s first meeting with Baltimore reporters since last year’s AFC Championship game, his weight was the dominant topic of conversation.

Jackson was peppered with eight questions about his trimmer figure, which is noticeable at the start of Organized Team Activities this week.

There’s a reason why his teammates are saying, even somewhat facetiously, that they didn’t recognize the two-time MVP when they got back together this offseason. Jackson declined to say what he currently weighs. Earlier this month, he told Complex Sports that he’s down to 205 pounds – a 25-pound loss from 2022 and 10 pounds since last season.

Jackson said Wednesday that he doesn’t know how many pounds he lost, adding that he’s at “two-something” hundred pounds right now.

“I’ll say it was important enough to be able to move around a little bit extra, that’s all,” Jackson said. “Just so I can be more agile and be able to move more.”

Jackson said he doesn’t have a target weight he wants to play at this season (“Just under 230”).

He also declined to reveal how he lost so much weight, joking “Not to offend anyone, but you’re going to have to pay for that.”

Asked if he does now feel more agile, Jackson responded with a “heck yeah.”

“I feel great,” Jackson said. “It’s been so long [since feeling this agile]. We had COVID that happened to us; it slowed us down a little. But I feel great now. I feel great.”

Jackson took off on one long run during Wednesday’s practice, but it’s hard to gauge whether, or how much, quicker he is compared to previous seasons. His teammates say he looks fast to them, but he’s always looked fast.

If he stays at 205 pounds, Jackson would be lighter than almost every starting quarterback in recent decades, and none that played that low ran as much as Jackson. But Jackson has never fretted about his durability.

“We sacrifice our body each and every game [and] practices,” he said. “I believe it really doesn’t matter about the weight.”

Ravens Strength & Conditioning Coordinator Scott Elliott said at the start of the offseason program that the Ravens intend to “add lean muscle” on top of his frame, but that Jackson is in “great shape.”

Head Coach John Harbaugh echoed those sentiments Wednesday, saying the Ravens don’t have a target weight for Jackson.

“I mean, it’s fine. I think that’s Lamar. He’s a pro. He knows what he’s doing. He knows where he wants to be with that,” Harbaugh said. “My concern is that he’s in shape, best shape of his life, and he’s working toward that. He’s ready football-wise, all the details that go with that – mentally, physically, spiritually ready to go. That’s kind of what I think about. I know he talks to the strength and conditioning people. He’s got his own people. He talks to [director of sports nutrition] Sarah [Snyder] all the time. He’s a pro. He knows what he’s doing.”

INDIANAPOLIS

So far so good for QB ANTHONY RICHARDSON.  Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com:

Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is back behind center beginning his second year after his first was cut short by season-ending shoulder surgery.

Head coach Shane Steichen noted this week that the young signal-caller doesn’t look much worse for the wear coming off of his surgery.

“I think with any player you have a little rust every once in a while, but he’s been pretty smooth out there so far — completing a lot of balls, completion percentage has been good, knowing where to go with the football, which is a good sign,” Steichen said in his Wednesday press conference. “But I like where he’s at right now big time.”

Steichen noted that Richardson is doing well with his reads against different coverages and knowing where to go with the ball. Part of that is having the experience he gained through his first season, even as he played only four games.

“I think after your rookie year you kind of find a rhythm — what is your routine going into the offseason? Now that you’ve got a full offseason, what’s your routine going to be? What are your study habits in the offseason going into Year 2? He’s done a great job with that coming in early, getting his treatment, watching tape, going through that process after film,” Steichen said. “He’s in the weight room right now taking care of his body. I just saw him in there. So, that routine is big going into Year 2, that offseason routine. But yeah, excited for him.”

Wednesday was Richardson’s birthday, as he turned 22. But he doesn’t seem to come off that young to Steichen.

“Yeah, shoot. A young player, but he has just a great spirit about himself, the character that he has, how he treats people, in the building, outside of the building. It’s phenomenal,” Steichen said. “I think that’s key to success is having high character guys and he definitely has that. So, that goes a long way.”

THIS AND THAT

BROADCAST NEWS

We wish Ed Werder well in his new endeavors as it appears ESPN has let him go.  Awful Announcing:

Ed Werder’s time at ESPN has come to an end.

After 26 years at the Worldwide Leader, the seasoned NFL reporter took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that he will no longer be with the network and will “immediately begin considering other opportunities to continue my work covering the NFL.”

Here’s more of Werder’s statement:

“My ESPN career was highlighted by being assigned to cover 20 consecutive Super Bowls and included having my contributions honored at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t express appreciation to my incredible colleagues and to the players, coaches and other NFL team members who trusted me with their unique insight when covering their games or breaking news. I’ve created some incredible lifelong memories.

“My gratitude to all who have been in the audience, and I remain thankful to have been provided the most coveted platform in broadcast journalism.

“While this marks the end of my partnership with ESPN, I expect to continue working because, as so many studio hosts have proclaimed—and I still devoutly believe—’Ed Werder has more.’”

ESPN released its own statement on Werder’s departure:

“Ed Werder has been a mainstay on ESPN’s NFL coverage for more than 25 seasons. He has elevated our programs, including Sunday NFL Countdown, and the multiple platforms he’s contributed to while reporting at signature games, Super Bowls, and nearly all league events. His journalistic instincts and relationships have benefitted fans throughout the years. We thank Ed for everything he contributed and wish him success in the future.”

Having covered the NFL for more than 40 years, Werder spent the past 26 of those at ESPN. Since 2019, he has served as the Dallas-based bureau reporter covering the NFL and the Cowboys. Prior to ESPN, Werder reported for prominent outlets such as Sports Illustrated (1987-95), the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (1989), the Orlando Sentinel (1991), and the Dallas Morning News (1992-96 ) while serving as a beat writer covering the Cowboys and Denver Broncos.

Werder’s departure marks the end of an era at ESPN. His 26 years with the network, covering 20 Super Bowls and earning recognition from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, solidifies his place as a legend in ESPN’s lore and sports journalism.

With a wealth of experience and a clear passion for all things NFL, it would be surprising if Werder doesn’t find a new platform sooner rather than later. Werder said he expects his coverage to continue in some form as he explores other opportunities to cover the NFL.

While ESPN may no longer be his home, Werder’s impact on NFL coverage will undoubtedly be felt for years.

He had the Buccaneers beat for the Orlando Sentinel in 1991, a 2-14 season under Richard Williamson.

EACH TEAMS TOP THREE PLAYERS

As selected by Trevor Sikkema of PFF.com:

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Kyler Murray                   6th season

Budda Baker                  8th season

Marvin Harrison Jr.        1st season

The Cardinals were projected to get the No. 1 overall pick entering last season, but they exceeded expectations — if not in the win column, certainly with how competitive they were given their roster circumstances.

Quarterback Kyler Murray returned from an ACL tear and looked fine. His previous season was a down year, but he is still a top talent. Budda Baker is coming off a down year after requesting a trade but is still one of the Cardinals’ best players. Running back James Conner earning an 89.2 rushing grade last season made it a close decision between him and Baker.

Rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. is genuinely one of the best players on the team, and his numbers will show that if he’s fully healthy this year.

Also Considered: RB James Conner, TE Trey McBride

ATLANTA FALCONS

Chris Lindstrom 6th season

Jessie Bates III 7th season

Kirk Cousins      13th season

Chris Lindstrom was once again the highest-graded Falcons player on offense last season, earning an 89.7 overall grade. This marks the third year in a row where he has graded above 84.0 as one of the best offensive linemen in football.

Safety Jessie Bates III also earned an elite season grade (90.6), and he was named a first-team All-Pro. Quarterback Kirk Cousins is new in town and coming off one of his least aggressive seasons in terms of pushing the ball down the field and big-time throws, which could be a sign his age is catching up to him. But he has been so efficient in his career that he can’t be left off this list, as he will be a major catalyst for Atlanta’s playoff push, if one is to be made.

Also Considered: CB A.J. Terrell, DI Calais Campbell

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Lamar Jackson 7th season

Roquan Smith   7th season

Kyle Hamilton    3rd season

Lamar Jackson earned an elite PFF overall grade with an 83.0 passing grade and a 92.5 rushing grade in 2023 on his way to earning a second MVP award.

Roquan Smith has been a game-changer on defense since arriving from Chicago, and Kyle Hamilton had a breakout 2023 season, earning elite grades as a pass rusher and in coverage as an extremely versatile defensive back who earned All-Pro honors.

Justin Madubuike made this one a close call, with his 13-sack 2023 season helping him solidify his role as the centerpiece of the team’s defensive line.

Also Considered: DI Justin Madubuike, TE Mark Andrews

BUFFALO BILLS

Josh Allen         7th season

Matt Milano       8th season

Greg Rousseau 4th season

Josh Allen is the easy choice here; he remains one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL, as he led the league with 41 total big-time throws (playoffs included). Then this list gets tough.

Stefon Diggs, Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, Von Miller and Tre’Davious White are either no longer on the team or no longer what they were as impact players. Matt Milano is one of the best linebackers in the NFL but is coming off a season-ending foot injury.

Greg Rousseau recorded just five sacks last year but played the second-most snaps of any defensive lineman on the team (660) and earned the highest grade (87.2).

Also Considered: DI DaQuan Jones

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Derrick Brown                   3rd season

Jaycee Horn                     4th season

Jadeveon Clowney         11th season

Derrick Brown was the lone bright spot for the Panthers last season, earning an elite 90.9 overall grade while playing more than 900 snaps.

Cornerback Jaycee Horn missed all but four games last season, yet he is, without a doubt, still one of the best players on the team.

Edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney posted the third-highest season grade of his career last year (85.7), and although he is new to the team and only getting older, he is one of the Panthers’ top players. No single full-time Panthers offensive player earned a season grade above 78.0 in 2023.

Also Considered: G Robert Hunt

CHICAGO BEARS

Jaylon Johnson    5th season

D.J. Moore           7th season

Montez Sweat      6th season

Cornerback Jaylon Johnson earned an elite 91.0 coverage grade last season en route to a new contract as a second-team All-Pro.

Edge rusher Montez Sweat came to Chicago from Washington and was just what the doctor ordered for the Bears’ defensive line. From Week 9 on, he recorded a team-leading 39 pressures and six sacks.

Despite poor quarterback play, D.J. Moore recorded the highest receiving grade of his career (89.5) and set new bests in receiving yards, catches and touchdowns.

Also Considered: QB Caleb Williams, WR Keenan Allen, LB T.J. Edwards

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Joe Burrow                     5th season

Ja’Marr Chase                4th season

Trey Hendrickson           8th season

The Bengals’ studs didn’t play as well as they could have in 2023, making this a harder list to compile.

Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase remain on top, as they are two of the best at their positions when healthy. Chase surpassed 1,000 yards receiving and an 84.0 receiving grade for the third straight season.

Trey Hendrickson gets the nod for the No. 3 spot after earning an 84.1 overall grade and a 90.7 pass-rush grade in 2023. The only players with more sacks than Hendrickson over the past four years are T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett.

Also Considered: WR Tee Higgins, S Jordan Battle

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Za’Darius Smith                            10th season

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah        3rd season

Myles Garrett                               8th season

Myles Garrett has been insanely productive for his entire NFL career, and yet, he somehow took things to new heights in 2023. On his way to Defensive Player of the Year honors, Garrett recorded a 94.2 overall grade with an unbelievable 10 PFF pass-rush game grades above 90.0. He also set the PFF record for highest pass-rush win percentage in a season (27.3%).

Za’Darius Smith made it two straight seasons with a pass-rush grade above 84.0, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah took a big leap in 2023 as the centerpiece of the Browns’ defense. He recorded a 76.8 overall grade with an 87.4 pass-rush grade and a 73.2 coverage grade.

Also Considered: CB Denzel Ward, WR Amari Cooper, RB Nick Chubb

DALLAS COWBOYS

Micah Parsons  4th season

CeeDee Lamb   5th season

Dak Prescott     9th season

It’s unfortunate that Dak Prescott’s final game of the season, a playoff loss to the Packers, went as poorly as it did, because he was playing like an MVP during the regular season His 87.0 passing grade was the highest mark of his career. Both he and CeeDee Lamb posted offensive grades above 91.0 to lead the Cowboys on that side of the ball.

Meanwhile, edge defender Micah Parsons earned the team’s highest PFF overall grade (92.5) and pass-rush grade (93.7). Demarcus Lawrence also produced an elite overall grade (91.2), and he would have been strongly considered here if he wasn’t on the same team as Parsons.

Also Considered: G Zack Martin, EDGE Demarcus Lawrence

DENVER BRONCOS

Patrick Surtain II            4th season

Quinn Meinerz                4th season

Courtland Sutton           7th season

It was not a great year in Denver. Cornerback Patrick Surtain II is the obvious choice on this list, yet he finished 2023 with a career-low 64.7 coverage grade.

Offensive guard Quinn Meinerz played more than 1,000 snaps and earned an 83.7 overall grade, which was the best among full-time Broncos starters.

Wide receiver Courtland Sutton was fine last season, but it was clear the offense would lack potency with Russell Wilson as the quarterback.

Also Considered: EDGE Baron Browning, T Garett Bolles

DETROIT LIONS

Amon-Ra St. Brown       4th season

Aidan Hutchinson          3rd season

Penei Sewell                  4th season

Detroit has a roster capable of winning a Super Bowl, and it is led by the same trio of stars we had on this list last year.

Amon-Ra St. Brown earned an elite receiving grade for the second straight season. Meanwhile, Penei Sewell took a massive leap from an 82.3 overall grade in 2022 to a 93.5 mark in 2023. Aidan Hutchinson also ascended to the elite level, generating a 91.4 pass-rush grade thanks to his 121 quarterback pressures.

Also Considered: QB Jared Goff, C Frank Ragnow, DI Alim McNeill

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Jaire Alexander 7th season

Rashan Gary     6th season

Jordan Love      4th season

It was a down year for Rashan Gary and Jaire Alexander compared to what they are capable of, but they were still the Packers’ two highest-graded defenders, with 80.9 and 75.9 overall grades, respectively.

As for the offense, Jordan Love has to take one of these spots for the leap he made. He was elite in the second half of 2023, earning a 90.7 passing grade in the final eight games of the regular season.

Also Considered: None

HOUSTON TEXANS

C.J. Stroud                2nd season

Nico Collins                    4th season

Will Anderson Jr.           2nd season

C.J. Stroud had an incredible rookie season campaign and posted an 83.1 overall grade on the year. He recorded the third-most completions of 20-plus yards (32) with the lowest turnover-worthy play rate when throwing that distance.

Wide receiver Nico Collins was on the receiving end of a lot of those big passes, earning the team’s lone elite offensive grade (91.0. He shattered his career bests in basically every receiving category.

Rookie pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. chipped in with an 82.6 overall grade, a 77.4 run-defense grade and a 76.6 pass-rush grade.

Also Considered: T Laremy Tunsil, CB Derek Stingley Jr.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Michael Pittman Jr.        5th season

DeForest Buckner         9th season

Quenton Nelson            7th season

Picking these three was a debate between talent level and recent production. Offensive linemen Bernhard Raimann, Braden Smith and Ryan Kelly all earned season grades higher than Nelson, but Nelson is still the best of the bunch, for now.

Samson Ebukam earned a higher overall grade than DeForest Buckner, but Buckner beat him out in pass-rush grade (87.1).

Wide receiver Michael Pittman did take over for running back Jonathan Taylor from last year’s list due to his consistency as the team’s top receiver.

Also Considered: RB Jonathan Taylor, CB Kenny Moore II, T Bernhard Raimann

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Josh Allen                      6th season

Travis Etienne                4th season

Trevor Lawrence            3rd season

Josh Allen was an easy choice for this exercise last year, and it’s even easier ahead of 2024. His 84.7 overall grade in 2022 jumped to 89.4 in 2023 thanks to his 16.5 sacks.

Trevor Lawrence was the highest-graded offensive player in Jacksonville last year (81.1). His deep passing was excellent, helping him rank top 10 in most categories on throws beyond 20 yards. But he also turned the ball over at a high rate.

Running back Travis Etienne was consistently impactful in the first two years of his career, notching 1,000-plus yards and 0.25 missed tackles forced per carry in each season.

Also Considered: LB Foyesade Oluokun, CB Tyson Campbell, DI Arik Armstead

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Patrick Mahomes           8th season

Travis Kelce                 12th season

Chris Jones                    9th season

The Chiefs’ “Big 3” has been the cornerstone of their back-to-back Super Bowl runs.

Patrick Mahomes didn’t have his most efficient season in 2023, but it was still Mahomes. Chris Jones posted an overall grade above 89.0 for the sixth time in the past seven years and excelled once again as a pass rusher. Tight end Travis Kelce posted a receiving grade above 87.0 for the eighth straight season.

Cornerback Trent McDuffie also deserves plaudits after he earned an 84.8 overall grade and an 81.5 coverage grade in 2023.

Also Considered: CB Trent McDuffie, C Creed Humphrey

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

Davante Adams       11th season

Kolton Miller             7th season

Maxx Crosby            6th season

It was a down year for the Raiders’ offense, as no player earned an overall grade above 82.0. Davante Adams recorded his lowest receiving grade since 2017, but a lot of that was beyond his control — even if PFF grades are there to judge beyond production. He’s still Davante Adams.

Kolton Miller earned the highest overall offensive grade on the team (81.1), marking his third straight year of topping 81.0.

Maxx Crosby was once again brilliant, earning an 82.7 overall grade with a 92.7 run-defense grade.

Also Considered: LB Malcolm Koonce

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Justin Herbert        4th season

Rashawn Slater     4th season

Khalil Mack           8th season

It felt like Justin Herbert was a one-man show in 2023. Despite a poor showing from his offensive line and receiving group, he still earned an 83.1 passing grade while starting to push the ball downfield more with his big arm.

Rashawn Slater recorded the lowest overall grade of his career (76.6), but his consistency and talent level put him in this group.

Khalil Mack returned to his elite ways, with a 91.8 overall grade, a 90.8 run-defense grade and an 86.3 pass-rush grade. It was his highest single-season grade since 2020.

Also Considered: S Derwin James, EDGE Joey Bosa, CB Asante Samuel Jr.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

Puka Nacua                  2nd season

Cooper Kupp                  8th season

Matthew Stafford           16th season

This list becomes far easier to construct following Aaron Donald‘s retirement.

The Rams’ young additions on defense could show up here soon, but they aren’t quite in the top-three conversation yet. Instead, we have two stud receivers in Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp and the man who is still throwing at a high level despite entering his 16th season, Matthew Stafford.

Nacua earned an 88.1 grade as a rookie with over 1,400 yards and 105 receptions. Stafford earned an 83.8 passing grade with 32 big-time throws, while his 2.1% turnover-worthy play rate placed second in the league — behind only Dak Prescott.

Also Considered: None

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Tyreek Hill                  9th season

Jaylen Waddle            3rd season

Tua Tagovailoa          5th season

Tyreek Hill continues to look unguardable when healthy, as his 93.5 overall grade in 2023 was the highest of his career. He has never recorded a season grade below 80.0.

Fellow receiver Jaylen Waddle also had a fantastic season, earning a 90.2 overall grade and passing the 1,000-yard mark for the third straight year. Tua Tagovailoa claims the third spot following his 90.2 passing grade and 36 big-time throws last year.

Also Considered: T Terron Armstead, CB Jalen Ramsey, EDGE Jaelan Phillips, RB De’Von Achane, S Jevon Holland

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Justin Jefferson                5th season

T.J. Hockenson                6th season

Christian Darrisaw          4th season

Justin Jefferson is one of the best receivers, if not the best, in the NFL. The 2023 campaign marked his fourth straight receiving grade above 90.0.

T.J. Hockenson has also become a very reliable and steady presence in the Vikings ‘offense, earning a 79.6 grade on the season.

Tackle Christian Darrisaw wasn’t as dominant in 2023 as in 2022, but his 85.1 PFF grade in 2023 is nothing to stick your nose up at.

Also Considered: T Brian O’Neill

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Matthew Judon  9th season

Kyle Dugger      5th season

Jabrill Peppers   8th season

Offensive lineman Mike Onwenu was an option here, but that’s about it for Patriots offensive players.

Matthew Judon had a down year but is still one of the top players on the team. Jabrill Peppers earned the highest grade of any New England player (87.3), buoyed by a 90.7 run-defense grade and an 83.2 coverage grade. Kyle Dugger also didn’t have a great year, but we know he is better than the 61.7 grade he recorded. Rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez may have been in the mix if not for injury.

Also Considered: OL Michael Onwenu

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Chris Olave       3rd season

Demario Davis  13th season

Tyrann Mathieu 12th season

Demario Davis continues to perform at a very high level despite entering Year 13. He posted the best overall grade on either side of the ball in New Orleans, at 89.6, which was the second-highest mark of his career.

Chris Olave has established himself as the go-to player on offense with back-to-back receiving grades above 82.0 to start his career.

Tyrann Mathieu got the nod for the third spot here after earning an 81.3 overall grade while logging more than 1,000 snaps at age 31.

Also Considered: T Ryan Ramczyk, EDGE Carl Granderson

NEW YORK GIANTS

Dexter Lawrence            6th season

Andrew Thomas            5th season

Brian Burns                    6th season

Although Andrew Thomas was the Giants’ highest-graded player on offense in 2023, it took only a 77.1 overall mark to achieve the feat. Still, he has elite potential from what we saw in 2022.

New York’s defense was much better last year, as Dexter Lawrence earned an elite 92.9 grade with an 89.5 run-defense grade and a 92.6 pass-rush grade.

The third spot goes to new Giant Brian Burns, whose impact will be felt immediately. He has earned a 70.0-plus PFF pass-rush grade in each of the past four seasons.

Also Considered: EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux, WR Malik Nabers

NEW YORK JETS

Quinnen Williams          6th season

Sauce Gardner              3rd season

Garrett Wilson                3rd season

Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner remain two of the top players in the league at their positions after once again pacing the Jets’ defense in PFF grade, earning 90.8 and 88.6 marks, respectively.

Garrett Wilson claims the third spot instead of Aaron Rodgers because Wilson’s talent level is incredibly high, even though his 73.5 receiving grade in 2023 was a big step down from his 85.9 figure as a rookie.

Also Considered: QB Aaron Rodgers, RB Breece Hall

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Jalen Hurts       5th season

Jalen Carter      2nd season

A.J. Brown        6th season

The Eagles’ finish to the 2023 season led to a feeling of disappointment from this group when it was all said and done, but bright spots were aplenty.

A.J. Brown once again posted an elite receiving grade in 2023, and Jalen Hurts was right behind him with an 87.1 mark. The third spot could have easily gone to one of the starting offensive tackles, but Jalen Carter was incredible as a rookie. He earned the highest defensive grade on the team (89.5) with an 84.6 pass-rush grade and a 16.6% pass-rush win rate.

Also Considered: T Lane Johnson, T Jordan Mailata

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

T.J. Watt                         8th season

Cameron Heyward         14th season

Minkah Fitzpatrick         7th season

Watt was once again one the best defensive players in football, earning a 91.9 overall grade for the year as a strong Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

It was a down year, grades-wise, for Cameron Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick, who both missed significant time due to injury. When you look at the rest of the roster these are still the top three players on the team.

Also Considered: EDGE Alex Highsmith

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Trent Williams   13th season

Fred Warner      6th season

Nick Bosa         5th season

Six or seven players on this roster could easily form the top three on a team. Ultimately, we are sticking with the same choices from last year.

Trent Williams posted a 92.0-plus PFF grade for the fourth consecutive season, and Fred Warner earned the best single-season grade of his career in 2023 (90.9). Then there is Nick Bosa, who surpassed a 90.0 pass-rush grade for the third year in a row.

It’s not just the dominance and excellence of these three; their consistency keeps them here over some seriously talented players also considered.

Also Considered: RB Christian McCaffrey, WR Deebo Samuel, QB Brock Purdy, TE George Kittle

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

D.K. Metcalf                    6th season

Geno Smith                    11th season

Devon Witherspoon       2nd season

Kenneth Walker III made a strong push for one of the two offensive spots on this list this season, as he earned the highest offensive grade on the team (83.5). But Geno Smith also earned an 83.5 mark and has put together two years of really solid quarterback play.

Meanwhile, D.K. Metcalf nearly set a career-high receiving grade in 2023 (82.3).

In just his first year in the league, Witherspoon earned the highest overall grade of any Seahawks defender — an 84.1 figure with a 79.7 coverage grade.

Also Considered: RB Kenneth Walker III, EDGE Leonard Williams

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Tristan Wirfs                  5th season

Antoine Winfield Jr.       5th season

Mike Evans                  11th season

Antoine Winfield Jr. was the star of the show for the Buccaneers in 2023. His 90.7 overall grade, 91.5 run-defense grade, 92.7 pass-rush grade and 84.0 coverage grade were all career highs except for coverage, which was his second-best mark. His 2023 performance was Defensive Player of the Year worthy.

Tristan Wirfs and Mike Evans didn’t post elite grades — 83.6 and 81.8, respectively — but were still two of the team’s top players. As always, Lavonte David remained incredibly impressive in his older age, and he was considered.

Also Considered: LB Lavonte David, WR Chris Godwin, DI Vita Vea

TENNESSEE TITANS

Jeffery Simmons           6th season

DeAndre Hopkins          12th season

L’Jarius Sneed                 5th season

This was not an easy decision — and not in a good way.

With Derrick Henry no longer on the roster and Jeffery Simmons having a down year by his standards, there weren‘t a ton of obvious picks for this exercise.

Simmons remains one of the most talented and impactful defensive linemen, so he stays, even after earning a 68.4 grade this past season.

DeAndre Hopkins’ 81.7 overall grade was the highest on the offense outside of Henry. And the new man in town, L’Jarius Sneed, was a top cornerback for the Chiefs’ Super Bowl runs and had to slide into one of the three spots, even amid some uncertainty in a new defense.

Also Considered: EDGE Harold Landry III

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

Terry McLaurin              6th season

Jonathan Allen               8th season

Frankie Luvu                  7th season

The only three defensive players to earn a season grade above 70.0 for Washington last year are no longer on the team. On the other side, the top offensive player was Jacoby Brissett, who is also elsewhere. You can see why the organization completely cleaned house.

Quarterback play has held Terry McLaurin back from truly being a consistent star, and even then he passed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the fourth straight season.

Jonathan Allen earned the lowest season grade of his career (60.5), but it was a clear outlier. The last spot goes to one of the Commanders’ many new guys: Frankie Luvu. Luvu is coming off three strong seasons in Carolina, especially as a blitzer.

Also Considered: DI Daron Payne, T Sam Cosmi