NFC NORTH

DETROIT

The Lions are making C FRANK RAGNOW the NFL’s highest-paid at his position.

The Detroit Lions and Frank Ragnow have agreed to a four-year contract extension that makes him the highest-paid center in the NFL, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Ragnow had been under contract for two more seasons after the Lions exercised their fifth-year option on his deal last week.

The 24-year-old is entering his fourth NFL season after being drafted in the first round out of Arkansas in 2018. He has started all 45 games he has appeared in and earned his first Pro Bowl berth last season.

He ranked fourth among qualifying centers in run block win rate and seventh in pass block win rate last season, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

The Lions are saying a report that RB KERRYON JOHNSON has been released is incorrect:

Lions General Manager Brad Holmes says the status of running back Kerryon Johnson has not been determined.

Despite a report that Johnson will be released, Holmes said this morning on PFT Live that Johnson’s status isn’t certain.

Holmes described the situation with Johnson as “a work in progress.”

Even if the Lions have decided that Johnson won’t be on the roster this year, it may be worth trying to trade him, rather than release him. Johnson is just 23 years old and has shown enough flashes of talent that some team may be willing to trade a late-round pick for him.

Johnson is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and has a salary of $1.37 million this season.

GREEN BAY

Whether or not GM Brian Gutenkist deserves ridicule or not, he received it from QB AARON RODGERS. After confirming all of the other stuff we’ve had here in the last few days, including Rodgers’ dislike of the waiving of WR JAKE KUMEROW, Bob McGinn of The Athletic layers in some new dirt:

According to sources, Rodgers has mocked Gutekunst in group chats with his teammates in Green Bay by referring to the GM as Jerry Krause. The late Krause, the general manager of the Chicago Bulls during their run of six NBA championships, was loathed by Michael Jordan for some personnel moves with which Jordan disagreed.

The Packers are well aware of Rodgers’ hard feelings toward Gutekunst but, at this point, are taking the high road insisting their sole focus is having Rodgers as their quarterback in 2021 and beyond.

In recent months, according to sources, the Packers have offered to make the 37-year-old Rodgers the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback. Those overtures were turned aside. The fractured relationship between quarterback and team seems to have little or nothing to do with money.

Would the Packers fire Gutekunst to appease Rodgers, thereby insuring that he would get back behind center?

Mark Murphy, the team president, has made communication skills at all levels of the organization a centerpiece of his administration. It’s possible a case could be made that Gutekunst alienated the team’s star player partially due to poor communication.

Publicly, the Packers have played nicey-nicey and been adamant that Rodgers won’t be traded. Because of salary-cap ramifications, it’s unlikely a deal would be consummated until after June 1 anyway.

If Rodgers, as expected, skips the offseason and doesn’t report for training camp in late July, the pressure will build on the club to move on from Rodgers and remove what would be an enormous distraction to the development of Love as the starter. By the same token, if Rodgers wants to resume his career elsewhere, he would want to join a new team as expeditiously as possible.

If the Packers sit on Rodgers for the entire season, he would be out his $14.7 million base salary and $500,000 workout bonus for 2021. His contract, which runs through 2023, also contained a roster bonus of $6.8 million for being on the roster as of March 20.

If the Packers decide to trade Rodgers, chances are they wouldn’t send him to a team in the NFC. Based on the reports of what the Bears offered the Seahawks for quarterback Russell Wilson, 32, the market value for Rodgers could be three first-round draft picks, if not more.

Notoriously circumspect in press briefings, Gutekunst and coach Matt LaFleur stepped out of character in the last week, almost boasting about the team they’ve assembled and its future after successive 13-3 seasons.

On April 26, Gutekunst said, “We’re a really good football team.” On Thursday, he said, “I think we’re right at the tipping point of being a dominant, dominant defense.” On Saturday, he said, “Our football team is going to be hard to make.”

For his part, LaFleur said on Saturday, “When you feel like you have a great team on the cusp … certainly you don’t want to take any steps backward.”

Whether the words were meant for Rodgers or not, the Packers probably will get creative in their attempts to repair the breach.

They know their immediate Super Bowl chances are contingent on having Rodgers in the lineup. They also know how abstruse Rodgers can be.

“Once he gets something in his head, he usually doesn’t back down,” a longtime friend of Rodgers said Monday.

Speaking purely from conjecture, the friend said he thought there would be just a 2 percent chance that Rodgers ever would play for the Packers again.

We found McGinn’s use of the obscure word “abstruse” difficult to understand, so we looked it up.

ab·struse

adjective

difficult to understand; obscure.

– – –

Former teammate John Kuhn is more optimistic things can be salvaged between Rodgers and the Packers.

In an interview with Zach Gelb of CBS Sports Radio, Kuhn said that he’s spoken with Rodgers recently and that he doesn’t believe the relationship between Rodgers and the Packers is beyond repair.

“I have talked to Aaron Rodgers,” Kuhn said. “I won’t say exactly what we talked about. I will say he’s conflicted because this man loves to play the game of football. This man loves to be a Green Bay Packer and this man truly sees careers. He’s watched friends leave. He watched Brett Favre’s career towards the end. He’s watched all these things play out in front of his eyes. He’s taken notes throughout his entire career. He’s seen some situations that didn’t feel were done or finished the way that they could or should have. And he’s just trying to take his own destiny within his own hands. To that effect I actually admire him because not many players in the NFL have that opportunity. I sure as heck didn’t. I played until everybody told me you can’t play anymore and it’s a humbling feeling and Aaron Rodgers has an opportunity to try and take a little bit of that power back.”

Rodgers is feuding with Packers G.M. Brian Gutekunst about the moves and direction of the roster under his leadership in recent years. And with Rodgers entering the last year of his contract before it becomes feasible for the Packers to move on with a first-round quarterback in waiting in Jordan Love laying in wait, Rodgers is seemingly trying to assert his status and prominence to get what he wants. Kuhn, now a host of a sports radio show on 97.3 The Fan in Milwaukee, believes that mostly remains a desire to play for the Packers for the long-term and a contract that will ensure that outcome for him moving forward.

“He has a little bit of leverage here in this situation and I think that’s going to put the Green Bay Packers in a tough spot,” Kuhn said. “Ultimately, at the end of the day, I truly believe Aaron wants to come back to Green Bay, but he doesn’t want to do it on a lame-duck contract which, even though there’s three years on his contract if you really look at the terms of it, it pretty much sets up for a clean break at the end of the 2021 season for the Packers himself considering that Jordan Love is on a rookie salary. So I think that he wants more insurance that he’s going to be a long-term starting quarterback option for the Green Bay Packers and that I believe is something that would intrigue him to make amends with the team and come back to this season.”

– – –

Dan Wetzel of YahooSports.com defends the legacy of Jerry Krause:

Beyond Rodgers’ continued diva behavior, there are all sorts of issues with the insult.

Krause is hardly the incompetent villain Jordan painted him to be. There is the fact that football isn’t basketball, where the impact of a single star player is greater and, perhaps most notably, Rodgers, as good as he is, sure isn’t Michael Jordan.

Start with Krause, who Jordan, Scottie Pippen and coach Phil Jackson absolutely loved to make fun of and bully. In a continuous effort to find motivations and enemies (real or imagined), Jordan focused on the often awkward Krause as a target. Whatever. It worked and worked and worked.

Jordan was the most important factor in those Bulls championships. There is no denying that. Yet it is deliberately obtuse to think that organizations — including shrewd general managers — don’t also play a role in the success of any team.

The only two players who were on the Bulls’ 1991 title team and their 1998 title team were Jordan and Pippen. The entire rest of the roster had to be overhauled, despite poor draft position, to create two separate three-peat runs.

Obviously MJ was the key, but on the fly Krause brought in key parts such Toni Kukoc (29th pick overall), and Dennis Rodman and Luc Longley (via trades) who weren’t obvious additions. He found ways to get younger with replacement — swapping John Paxson for Steve Kerr, for example — and created a situation for Jordan to shine.

Jordan deserves more credit than Krause, but to somehow invoke his name as some kind of front-office insult is ridiculous. Michael Jordan doesn’t get the final word on what’s good and what isn’t.

Besides, Krause’s statement about the importance of an “organization” is hardly inaccurate, especially in football. This isn’t basketball, where only five guys are on the court at a time — each playing both offense and defense — and where playoff rotations might go only nine deep. This is football, where you need all 48 on Sunday to win.

Rodgers knows this. Everyone knows this. Patrick Mahomes was running for his life in the Super Bowl. Tom Brady couldn’t win during his final season in New England. And just last year, Rodgers heaped praise on one of his NFC North rivals.

“You know, a guy that probably doesn’t get anywhere near the credit for doing [stuff] … he wears No. 9 and plays in Detroit,” Rogers said of then-Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “That dude, what he does with the ball, is impressive. It’s really, really impressive.”

Stafford never won much of anything in Detroit — no division titles, no playoff games. He suffered through three consecutive rebuilds and a parade of new coaches and new general managers.

The Lions, of course, are the definition of a dysfunctional organization. Players — Stafford, Barry Sanders, Calvin Johnson — came and went and didn’t win, especially against a Green Bay franchise that has been well-run and capturing championships for decades.

Rodgers wasn’t making Jordan’s point by bringing up Krause, he was making Krause’s.

– – –

At a Dallas press conference, Rodgers’ former coach Mike McCarthy tip-toed up to getting involved, then backed down. Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com:

McCarthy, of course, was asked about the Rodgers news. McCarthy, of course, wanted no part of it.

“I think it’s like everything in this business,” McCarty said, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com. “I don’t think anything ever surprises you, and I think things like that go on. Conversations are always going on when it comes to player acquisition. Obviously, everyone knows the impact that Aaron Rodgers has made on the Green Bay Packers, but I didn’t really give it much thought. I haven’t seen anything happen, so it’s a good news story. . . . Jerry [Jones] told me when I got here, all news is good news.”

Jones added, “I told him that I found it’s sometimes better to stir a little stuff up than it is to make it run smooth, and we’ll go with that.”

McCarthy then was asked if he had any flashbacks to the end of Brett Favre’s time in Green Bay. Favre played three more seasons with the Packers after they drafted Rodgers in the first round in 2005 before Rodgers assumed the mantle.

In the 2020 draft, the Packers traded up to select quarterback Jordan Love in the first round, putting an expiration date on Rodgers’ career in Green Bay.

“That was an experience that. . .,” McCarthy said, pausing and chuckling. “Oh God, help me out, Jerry.”

Jones did what perhaps the 49ers should have done: The Cowboys owner pointed to the tampering rule to shut down the Aaron Rodgers talk.

“I will. I’m gonna mess you up here, guys,” Jones said in response to McCarthy. “I believe I’d stay away from that one, Mike. I’ll get fined for tampering if I comment on it. I’m not so sure with your background up there what might evolve from that. That was then; this is now.”

McCarthy said: “Yes, sir. Focus on the Dallas Cowboys.”

McCarthy’s Packers days are behind him. They soon could be behind Rodgers, too.

NFC EAST

DALLAS

QB DAK PRESCOTT says don’t worry about the pace of his recovery – he’s good to go now. Tyler Sullivan of CBSSports.com:

Dak Prescott is chugging along in his rehab following that gruesome season-ending ankle injury during the 2020 season, and it appears like he’s making some significant strides in his recovery. While speaking to reporters during a charity event where the Cowboys quarterback was delivering meals to the homeless, Prescott gave an encouraging update on where he’s at as he gears up for the start of the 2021 season.

“I’m close. I can go play in a game right now and in my head be very, very successful,” said Prescott, via the official team website. “There’s no doubt that when I need to be successful and when I need to do the things that it takes to be on the field, I’ll do exactly that and the time will be right.”

Of course, this is a fantastic development for Prescott and Dallas’ prospects of contending in the NFC East this coming season. While Prescott didn’t reveal a definitive timetable for when he will be back on the field, CBS Sports Cowboys insider Patrik Walker has previously reported that the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback has been one of a number of Cowboys at the team facility ramping up their strength and conditioning work leading up to OTAs, which will occur in the next few weeks.

Naturally, the Cowboys likely won’t press the issue with Prescott as it relates to how much he’ll be allowed to do once he’s given medical clearance by doctors and is able to re-join his teammates on the field. That said, Prescott was seen doing drills recently and Walker reported back on April 7 that there had been no setbacks with his surgically repaired ankle, so things are certainly trending in the right direction.  

Not only has the 27-year-old been able to make positive strides in his rehab, but the Cowboys showed tremendous faith that he’ll be able to return to his elite status by handing him that long-awaited contract extension in early March. This mega-deal will pay Prescott $160 million ($126 million guaranteed and a $66 million signing bonus) over the next four seasons. With Dallas shelling out that kind of dough, they certainly expect Prescott to be able to put this injury in his rearview mirror, which he seems well on his way of doing.

NFC WEST

SEATTLE

CB RICHARD SHERMAN sends a message to the Seahawks.  Michael David Smith ofProFootballTalk.com:

Free agent cornerback Richard Sherman does not know where he’ll be playing in 2021, but he’d be open to a return with either of his former teams.

Sherman, who played for the Seahawks from 2011 to 2017, said there’s no bad blood with anyone in Seattle and that he’d like to make another run there.

“I spend my entire offseason in Seattle,” Sherman said on ESPN Wednesday. “It’s where I live. It’s where my family is. So it’s never out of the cards. Pete and I have had conversations throughout the offseason and everything needs to shake out right. They’re still figuring things out, I’m still figuring things out.”

Sherman also said he’d be open to remaining with the 49ers, where he has played the last three seasons, although he seemed to think that would only happen if the 49ers have an injury at cornerback.

“There’s always a chance it can work out back in the Bay,” Sherman said. “It’s one of those things that would happen late or during the season if it happens at all.”

Despite some speculation that Sherman could end up in New Orleans, he said he doesn’t believe he’s what the Saints are looking for after they spent a third-round pick on cornerback Paulson Adebo.

“I think it’d be a fit, I just don’t think they have the need,” Sherman said of the Saints.

The 33-year-old Sherman, who played in just five games last season, may be waiting a while before he finds his NFL home for 2021.

AFC WEST

DENVER

An interesting decision is upcoming for the Broncos, who can deprive T Ja’WUAN JONES of all his money for blowing out his Achilles off-campus.  Jason Owens ofYahooSports.com:

Denver Broncos right tackle Ja’Wuan James suffered an Achilles tear on Tuesday, a devastating blow for an athlete in his prime.

Making matters considerably worse, James might be out $10 million because of the injury. He suffered the tear while working out away from team facilities, a detail that allows the Broncos to void his otherwise fully guaranteed contract.

To make the situation perfectly clear, the NFL sent out a memo on Wednesday reminding teams — and players — that the Broncos don’t owe James a dime of his salary.

NFL makes example of James amid dispute with NFLPA

The injury occurred during a dispute between the NFL and the NFLPA over offseason workouts. Teams across the league reached the voluntary workout portion of their calendars in late April, also known as Phase 1.

This phase of workouts has long been chided by players as less than voluntary, a stance that the NFLPA made formal this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The union urged players to abstain from attending team-organized voluntary workouts, citing concerns over COVID-19 protocols.

Players from more than two-thirds of the league’s teams, including the Broncos, submitted formal statements endorsed by the NFLPA that they would not be attending voluntary workouts.

James injured away from Broncos workouts

While some players who have workout bonuses like Von Miller did show up for official Broncos workouts, others chose to prepare for the season off site. James was one of those players.

That was a decision that did not come without risk, a lesson James is learning the hard way. The off-site injury voids his guaranteed money, information that was widely known in the aftermath of James’ injury Tuesday. But the NFL made sure to hammer the point home with this memo on Wednesday:

NFL: Broncos ‘have no contractual obligation to provide salary’

“Injuries sustained while a player is working out ‘on his own’ in a location other than an NFL facility are considered ‘Non-Football Injuries’ and are outside the scope of a typical skill, injury and cap guarantee. Such injuries are also not covered by the protections found in paragraph 9 of the NFL Player Contract, meaning that clubs have no contractual obligation to provide salary continuation during the year the injury was sustained.”

Translation: You negotiated this, NFLPA. You encouraged players to skip team-facilitated workouts. Now James is potentially out $10 million. This is on you.

The memo, which leads by mentioning James and his $10 million salary specifically, also addresses players who might be confused over what’s going on. Take Patrick Mahomes, for instance:

The memo continues:

“According to media coverage, several players have expressed surprise that Mr. James’ injury was not covered by his Injury Guarantee, although this point has been made frequently in our discussions with the NFLPA about the offseason program.”

Whether James gets paid his full salary, negotiates a portion of it or gets nothing at all is unclear at this point. That’s up to the Broncos. Whatever they choose, the NFL is reminding everyone that the outcome of James’ 2021 paycheck is on his — and the NFLPA’s — hands.

AFC NORTH

CINCINNATI

Will the combination of QB JOE BURROW and WR Ja’MARR CHASE make NFL history like they did in the SEC?  Coach Zac Taylor hopes so.  Myles Simmons ofProFootballTalk.com:

Not needing a quarterback after drafting Joe Burrow at No. 1 overall last year, the Bengals had every player in the draft but tight end Kyle Pitts available to them at No. 5 overall last week.

They chose LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, reuniting him with Burrow after the pair won a national championship together.

While Burrow wasn’t campaigning for his team to select Chase, the quarterback really didn’t have to. Though many thought Cincinnati would select an offensive lineman to protect Burrow — particularly after the QB tore his ACL and MCL last season — head coach Zac Taylor feels Chase can make a special impact on the offense.

“Everybody was happy with the result and understands what this guy is going to do for us,” Taylor said, via Paul Dehner Jr. of TheAthletic.com. “We take Ja’Marr Chase because you think he’s going to be one of the all-time great receivers here over the next 10-15 years. You don’t want to be influenced by, ‘Is there a lineman there in the second round?’ If you think this guy is as good as we think he is, we just need to get him on the football team.”

Still, with a deep class of offensive linemen, Cincinnati was able to land Clemson’s Jackson Carman at No. 46 overall. The opportunity to select a player like that later solidified the choice of Chase.

“This year, consequently, just happened we knew there would be a good group of linemen there in the second round we knew we could get,” Taylor said. “If you knew this player would turn out to be A.J. Green, what would make you pass on him? If you look back on his career and say he’s going to have the same impact and career that A.J. Green had, what makes you say let’s pass on him and go get this other guy because there’s not a lineman you like in the second round — knowing what you know about A.J. Green. To me, that weighs into it a little bit, this is the impact we think this guy is going to have on us.”

After 10 seasons, 649 receptions, 9,430 yards, and 65 touchdowns with the Bengals, Green signed with the Cardinals as a free agent in March. But if Chase can become as productive as Green, who began his career with five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, then there will be no doubt the LSU wideout was the right choice.

THIS AND THAT

GIL BRANDT’S FIVE BEST OFFSEASONS

The Hall of Famer tells us who has done the best job of roster building (or in Tampa Bay’s case – preservation) in the last few months:

Now that most teams have done the bulk of their roster-building ahead of the 2021 NFL season, with the main portion of free agency and the 2021 NFL Draft in the rearview, let’s take a look at which teams have had the best overall offseasons so far. Below is my list of the five best offseasons, taking into account both free agency and the draft:

1 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs became the first defending Super Bowl champions in the free agency era (since 1993) to bring all 22 starters back for the following season, along with kicker Ryan Succop and punter Bradley Pinion. They retained receiver Antonio Brown, who played a key role in their playoff run. And they extended Tom Brady, creating more immediate cap space and ensuring the future Hall of Famer will be at quarterback through at least 2022. If Tampa’s offseason had ended there, it might have still qualified the team for this list. But the offense was further bolstered by the addition of pass-catching back Giovani Bernard. And the draft yielded promising pieces for the future. Pass rusher Joe Tryon could potentially replace Jason Pierre-Paul, entering the final year of a two-year pact, while quarterback Kyle Trask will conceivably someday have the chance to do something no other young QB has to date: replace Brady in the starting lineup.

2 – New England Patriots

After clearing salary-cap space in the first year of the post-Tom Brady era, the Patriots went against type, setting a record for guaranteed money handed out in free agency. The spree was headlined by tight ends Hunter Henry (signed for three years and $37.5 million) and Jonnu Smith (four years, $50 million), receivers Nelson Agholor (two years, $26 million) and Kendrick Bourne (three years, $22.5 million) pass rusher Matthew Judon (four years, $56 million), defensive tackle Davon Godchaux (two years, up to $16 million) and defensive back Jalen Mills (four years, $24 million). New England also re-signed quarterback Cam Newton, center David Andrews, running back James White and defensive lineman Lawrence Guy and returned offensive tackle Trent Brown — who played for the team in 2018 — via trade with the Raiders. Let’s not forget linebackers Kyle Van Noy (back in town on a two-year deal worth up to $13.2 million after spending 2020 with the Dolphins) and Dont’a Hightower, who opted out because of COVID-19.

Finally, there’s the eight-player draft class, headlined by the 15th overall pick, QB Mac Jones, who could solve the position for the team long-term. New England brass no doubt hopes this class yields better results than previous years’ efforts, and there is reason for optimism, given that it is rounded out by promising players like defensive lineman Christian Barmore (No. 38 overall) and pass rusher Ronnie Perkins, whom I ranked as a top-60 prospect but fell to the Pats at No. 96.

3 – Jacksonville Jaguars

Being the worst team in the NFL in 2020 paid dividends at the 2021 NFL Draft, where the Jaguars were able to land a bona fide franchise QB prospect (Trevor Lawrence) with the No. 1 overall pick. But that was just one of the more high-profile elements of new coach Urban Meyer’s efforts to lay the groundwork for Jacksonville to become a winner once again. The Jags also added offensive help for Lawrence in both the draft (running back Travis Etienne, Lawrence’s former Clemson teammate, drafted 25th overall, and tackle Walker Little, selected 45th) and free agency (receiver Marvin Jones and running back Carlos Hyde). The secondary received upgrades in both phases of the offseason, as well; rookie cornerback Tyson Campbell (No. 33 overall) has a chance to get on the field quickly, while veteran acquisitions Shaquill Griffin (three years, $44.5 million), Rayshawn Jenkins (four years, $35 million) and Rudy Ford (two years, $4.2 million) bolstered the talent base.

4 – New York Jets

The big news for the Jets was pressing the reset button at quarterback. No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson enters a better situation than his predecessor, former first-rounder Sam Darnold, who was traded to Carolina last month. This is thanks in part to general manager Joe Douglas’ decision to trade up to the 14th overall pick to select guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, then add more offensive help in the form of receiver Elijah Moore (No. 34) and running back Michael Carter (No. 107), who I think has a real chance to surprise some folks. Free agent receiver Corey Davis (three years, $37.5 million) also stands out as a key new piece.

That’s not to say the defense was ignored; free agent Carl Lawson (who landed a three-year, $45 million deal and tied for eighth in the NFL last season in QB pressures, with 50, per Next Gen Stats) addresses a major area of need at edge rusher, while defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (two years, up to $17 million) will help up front. The signings of former Lions first-rounder Jarrad Davis (one year, $7 million) and the expected return of linebacker C.J. Mosley after he opted out last season further shore up the front seven. The secondary could still use some work, but the Robert Saleh era is off to a promising start.

5 – New York Giants

Quarterback Daniel Jones is heading into a sink-or-swim Year 3 — but never let it be said GM Dave Gettleman didn’t do everything in his power to give him the weapons needed to succeed. Receivers Kenny Golladay (signed on a four-year, $72 million contract) and Kadarius Toney (drafted 20th overall after Gettleman, yes, traded down!) and versatile tight end Kyle Rudolph (signed to a two-year, $14 million deal) join a skill-position group that will be further augmented by the return to health of running back Saquon Barkley. On defense, Gettleman secured a long-term agreement with centerpiece defensive lineman Leonard Williams. He also rolled the dice on comeback Adoree’ Jackson (three years, $39 million) rebounding from the knee injury that ruined his 2020 season. Another move that could pay huge dividends: snagging pass rusher Azeez Ojulari, a first-round talent who slipped to the second round.

2021 DRAFT

Chris Trapasso of CBSSports.com has 10 rookies that are well-positioned with their new teams to make an instant impact.

Last year, Justin Herbert erupted out of the gate. So did Tristan Wirfs. And Justin Jefferson. And Chase Young. Here’s my list of the top 10 instant impact rookies from the 2021 NFL Draft class.

*You’ll notice I didn’t include quarterbacks. Outrageously obvious. You’d learn nothing from me writing Trevor Lawrence is instant impact.

10. Richie Grant, S, Falcons

Grant, my selection for the best Falcons pick — when factoring in value — will be instant impact in Atlanta. The Falcons safety group consists of Erik Harris, Duron Harmon, and 2020 fourth-round pick Jaylinn Hawkins. Grant brings the most energy and sheer versatility to that collection of safeties.

However the Falcons want to use him — and it’s likely he wears a variety of hats — Grant will excel. Just like what was the case at UCF. He’s an older prospect who’ll turn 24 in November, so there better be early returns on the Falcons making Grant the No. 40 overall selection in 2021 draft.

9. Elijah Moore, WR, Jets

Moore exemplifies what it means to be a high-floor prospect. He produced early in his college career at Ole Miss, steadily improved his production each season in Oxford and tested extremely well at his pro day.

Outside of his smaller frame — which actually fits quite well into the slot — there’s not a noticeable flaw in Moore’s game. He’s sudden against press at the line of scrimmage, snaps in and out of his breaks to generate separation, and is one of the more sure-handed receivers in this rookie class. Plus there’s some downfield juice to his game as well.

I know Jamison Crowder has established himself as one of the league’s steadiest slot targets. But Moore will quickly become a favorite target of new Jets quarterback Zach Wilson.

8. Andre Cisco, S, Jaguars

Safeties with Cisco’s skill set are unicorns. I’m serious. He’s nearly 6-foot-1 and 216 pounds — large for a modern-day NFL safety. He routinely makes splash plays against the run because of his twitch, skill to avoid or shed blockers, and speed to the football.

But he’s not a box safety! He’s a rangy ball hawk. Cisco had 13 interceptions in 25 career games at Syracuse. Insane ball production. His instincts are phenomenal, and — paired with his athletic gifts — allow him to find the football. Often.

Safety Andrew Wingard led Jacksonville defensive backs with two picks in 2020. Cisco can and will be placed into a playmaker role in Joe Cullen’s defense in 2021, and his production and athletic traits indicate he’ll be ready to pick off where he left off at Syracuse early in his NFL career.

7. Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Giants

Ojulari did not deserve to have to wait until the 50th pick in the 2021 draft to hear his name called. He was a consistent pressure-creator as a 20-year-old rusher in the SEC at Georgia. And, I get it — the safe assumption with a 6-2, 249-pound edge defender is that he gets worked against the run.

That’s not the case with Ojulari. He sets a mean edge and can rip through blockers to make impact plays in the backfield against the run. But of course the main reason he was selected by the Giants was to get after the quarterback, and the former Bulldogs star has the first-step burst, bend around the corner, speed-to-power conversion, and just enough pass-rushing moves to be a high-caliber pressure-generator in the NFL.

And the Giants are lacking a true alpha at the edge position. Ifeadi Odenigbo was signed in free agency, an underrated pass rusher for years in Minnesota, but Ojulari has more juice. More upside. And I believe he’s good enough right now to be instant impact flying around the edge in New York’s defense.

6. Brady Christensen, OT, Panthers

Have to get one offensive linemen in here, and I didn’t want it to be a first-round pick. Too obvious. Quietly, Christensen is the likely Week 1 starter for the Panthers at left tackle, protecting Sam Darnold. Sure, he’ll battle it out with 2019 second-round pick Greg Little, but the former Ole Miss star hasn’t come close to meeting expectations early in his NFL career and has no connections to the current Carolina staff.

Christensen’s BYU film was pretty darn clean. And it should have been for a 24-year-old blocker with 38 games on his college resume. He moves well for his size and was a quality battler in pass protection with high-end balance.

5. Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Chargers

Samuel screams instant impact on film. He’s feisty at the line of scrimmage, stays in phase during the route like a five-year veteran — thanks to jagged athletic traits — and plays the football in the air like his father.

And it was time for the Chargers to add a youthful cornerback to the roster. Disregard the fact that Samuel is not even 5-11. Neither is Denzel Ward. He can play on the perimeter in Los Angeles’ offense and thrive. If he does need to play in the slot — which many cornerbacks have to do on occasion — there’s precedent with new Chargers head coach Brandon Staley making it work with a 5-10 defensive back.

With the Rams, the nearly identically-sized Troy Hill flourished inside and ultimately signed a lucrative deal with the Browns in free agency. Samuel is going to be star from the jump in the NFL.

4. Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Dolphins

The Dolphins likely love what they got out of Emmanuel Ogbah in 2020 — nine sacks, five batted passes and six tackles for loss in his first year on the edge in Miami.

The former second-round pick out of Oklahoma State has carved a nice career for himself on three separate teams, and he still isn’t 28 years old. However, he’s probably never going to be a premier, No. 1 outside pass rusher in the NFL. That’s likely what precipitated the Dolphins selection of Phillips at No. 18 overall.

Had he not had concussion concerns, Phillips probably would’ve gone in the top 10. He checks all the boxes needed to be a consistent, three-down rusher in today’s NFL.

3. Jamin Davis, LB, Washington Football Team

Davis is a run-and-chase linebacker. What does that mean? It implies he’s fast and is a “see ball, get ball” type of second-level defender. There’s more explosion and twitch to his game than finesse in and around climbing blockers.

Fortunately for Davis, he has Da’Ron Payne, Jonathan Allen, Montez Sweat, and Chase Young in front of him. All first-round monsters who’ve played exceptionally well early in their careers for the Football Team.

And Ron Rivera knows linebacker play. We know that from his time in Carolina. And Davis has the fluidity to flip his hips and find the football while sinking down the seam. That’s huge. The one-year Kentucky standout is going to overflow the stat sheet as a rookie.

2. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Bengals

Ok, this comes from the Captain Obvious drawer. I don’t care. Chase needed to be included in this article. Sure, there’s Tee Higgins — who turned in a fine rookie year — and the super-steady Tyler Boyd in Cincinnati.

But this man set the SEC on fire in 2019 with Joe Burrow throwing him passes. They have a serious connection. And you don’t select a receiver at No. 5 overall and not making the top pass-game option immediately. The only minimal concern I have with Chase is his propensity to lean on physicality to beat press at the line instead of crafty footwork or hand use. Other than that, he’s an elite rookie receiver from the first snap of the 2021 season.

1. Kyle Pitts, TE, Falcons

Pitts, man. He’s a different breed. And he’s in an offense that absolutely has to account for JULIO JONES. And Calvin Ridley, who’s fresh off a 90-catch, 1,354-yard, nine-touchdown 2020. Sure, his production was inflated because Jones was injured. But the big man is back, which is going to give Ridley even more advantageous cornerback matchups.