NFC NORTH

CHICAGO

This:

@ShanePHallam

In December, Tyson Bagent threw 2 interceptions and was sacked 8 times against Colorado School of Mines.

He will face the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday

GREEN BAY

Coming off a bye, QB JORDAN LOVE is still stewing after he threw a trio of picks to the Raiders.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

NFL players often talk about a 24-hour rule that allows them to celebrate or lament a result before turning the page and moving on to the next game.

It’s a bit harder to wash away a loss when you don’t have another game right in front of you, though. That was the position Packers quarterback Jordan Love found himself in after he went 16-of-30 for 182 yards and three interceptions in a Week Five loss to the Raiders.

Love said on Wednesday that the loss lingered longer than others because of how the schedule was laid out and he’s hoping the extended bad feelings will be a benefit to his attempt to lead the Packers to a win this week.

“It’s not a great feeling, definitely left a very sick taste in my mouth that whole week,” Love said, via Jason Wilde of Madison.com. “But, it’s part of the game. I’ve had three-interception games before. You’ve got to find a way to bounce back. Having that sick taste in my mouth, it’s going to keep pushing me forward, keep motivating me to keep going, keep getting better.”

The Packers will be facing the Broncos and Denver’s also had an extended period to wallow in defeat after losing to the Chiefs last Thursday night. We’ll find out which team has been able to put their bad feelings to better use on Sunday.

NFC EAST

DALLAS

Mike McCarthy pleads special circumstances for QB DAK PRESCOTT or any QB of America’s team.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy thinks a lot of other quarterbacks would wilt under the pressure that Dak Prescott faces.

McCarthy says Prescott faces scrutiny that other quarterbacks don’t — and wouldn’t be able to withstand.

“I love Dak Prescott as our quarterback,” McCarthy said on Mad Dog Radio, via Jon Machota ofTheAthletic.com. “I think the way he’s built all the way through, obviously his physical skill set is excellent. But what he endures mentally and emotionally compared to the other 31 [NFL starting quarterbacks] is unique. Speaking on experience of being around great quarterbacks [Joe Montana, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, etc.], I’ve never seen a quarterback under a microscope like he is. Just his consistency, his personality and work ethic, and how he handles all that, and navigates all that, and he goes out and performs every week, I think it’s special what he has to endure.”

McCarthy thinks being quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys is its own kind of challenge.

“I think the intensity of the microscope on Dak, I’ve never seen anything like it,” McCarthy said. “For him to be as consistent, his attitude is very much the same every day as far as how he attacks the preparation part of it, you have to be unique to deal with that. And this is Year 8 for him, so he’s been dealing with this a long time here. The intensity is nothing like I’ve ever seen.”

It’s a job that comes with a lot of scrutiny, but also with an outsized amount of credit — if the Cowboys win.

The DB thinks being the QB of any NFL team has tremendous pressure.  If you concede McCarthy’s point that being the Cowboys QB is the greatest of the 32 (and we are not sure we would), we wouldn’t say it is exponentially different.

If being the Dallas QB is a 10, being the Eagles QB is a 9.  Even being the Cardinals QB would be a 7 or 8.  Within the market that the QB operates, the pressure is always tremendous.

It’s not like Dallas is a 10, the other teams are half that.

NFC SOUTH

NEW ORLEANS

RB ALVIN KAMARA has been indifferent in his return from suspension, but the Saints are getting RB JAMAAL WILLIAMS back tonight against the Jaguars.  From The Athletic:

New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams will be activated from injured reserve and play Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars, team sources said. Here’s what you need to know:

The Saints designated Williams to return off injured reserve earlier this week after he sustained a hamstring injury in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers. He has missed four games with the injury.

Williams has 74 rushing yards on 27 carries this season. He led the NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns last season with the Detroit Lions.

Thursday will be the first time Williams and Alvin Kamara play a game together with the Saints. Kamara was suspended for this season’s first three games for his role in an altercation in Las Vegas last year.

How will this help the Saints?

The Saints signed Williams, 28, to be a complement to Kamara and help in goal-line situations. You would think Williams could help New Orleans in the red zone. The team ranks 28th in red zone efficiency as the offense has been frustrating to watch at best.

I’ll be curious to see how the division of carries pans out after Williams proved last season he could be a primary back. He tallied 262 carries and 1,066 rushing yards in 2022. — Larry Holder, senior NFL writer

TAMPA BAY

The Buccaneers are seeking to be annoyed/irritated/miffed/peeved/informally angry (those are synonyms of “pissed off’) this week.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

After last Sunday’s loss to the Lions, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield said that “we sucked today” and shared his opinion that “we’ve got to get pissed off as an offense” in order to produce better results in the coming weeks.

Mayfield spoke to reporters again on Wednesday and he has not changed his tune over the last few days. Mayfield clarified that he meant getting pissed off as a way for everyone to focus on taking “pride in your work, about executing and doing your job each play” and head coach Todd Bowles said he was on the same wavelength as his quarterback.

“In certain instances we should be pissed off every week,” Bowles said, via PewterReport.com. “I think we are pissed off. I just think we have to play smart and more disciplined football as far as understanding what we have to do. And everybody has to go out and do their job. We have to coach it better and play it better, that includes and entails being pissed off.”

The Buccaneers are still on top of the NFC South despite last Sunday’s loss to Detroit and they can solidify that with a win over the Falcons this weekend. That win might not piss anyone off in Tampa, but being pissed off on the way there might be just what the doctor ordered.

– – –

It’s pretty obvious when DT VITA VEA is missing from practice – and he is missing on Thursday.  Alper again:

Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea’s availability for Sunday’s game against the Falcons may be in doubt.

Vea was listed as a limited participant in practice on Wednesday because of a foot injury he suffered during last Sunday’s loss to the Lions. Reporters at Thursday’s practice noted that Vea was not on the field at all during the open portion of practice.

The Bucs could be playing it cautious in order to get to Sunday with Vea healthy enough to play. Friday’s participation and injury designation will provide more information on that front.

Vea has 19 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles so far this season.

AFC WEST

LAS VEGAS

QB DAVANTE ADAMS looks at his paycheck – and thinks it only makes sense if the Raiders were to throw him the ball more.  Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com:

Despite back-to-back wins, Raiders star receiver Davante Adams is frustrated.

Adams got only nine targets, with six catches for 74 yards in victories over the Packers and Patriots.

“I’m sure people are thinking, ‘They won the game, so why is there an issue?’” Adams said Wednesday, via Mark Anderson of the Associated Press. “When you’re a player like me, mentally my benchmark is not wins and losses, it’s greatness. So when I go out there, I expect to have that ability to put that on the table and have an influence on the game. That’s my purpose for being here.

“I came here to win and to do it the right way, so if it doesn’t look like it’s supposed to look, then I’m going to be frustrated if I’m not part of that plan.”

In the 2022 offseason, the Raiders traded their first- and second-round draft picks to the Packers to acquire Adams and signed him to a five-year, $141.25 million contract. He had 100 receptions for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, the fourth time in the past five seasons he has reached 100 catches and 1,000 yards.

He is on track to do it again this season, but 20 targets, 13 receptions, 172 yards and two touchdowns came in one game.

The Raiders have scored a total of 38 points their past two games and are averaging only 16.7 points per game.

“If Jakobi [Meyers] was to go out and have a monster game or the offense was to score every five plays . . . it is what it is,” Adams said. “It’s not about me, but I’m one of the bigger pieces as to why this offense is going to go.”

Adams said he’s not calling out Josh McDaniels or the staff, but simply wants the quarterbacks to give him a chance.

“I’m not naive,” Adams said. “At the end of the day, it’s not easy throwing to somebody who gets the coverage that I get.”

Jimmy Garoppolo didn’t practice Wednesday because of a back injury. Rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell could get his second start of the season if Garoppolo is unable to play this weekend against Chicago.

As “I want the ball” comments go, it’s pretty rational.

AFC NORTH

CLEVELAND

QB DESHAUN WATSON may be close to a return.  Myles Simmons ofProFootballTalk.com;

Amari Cooper broke a little news in his Thursday press conference about Cleveland’s quarterback situation.

Deshaun Watson may be returning to practice on Thursday.

“Deshaun, it seems like he’s going to practice today,” Cooper said. “So, I’ll be communicating with Deshaun this week — barring any setback or anything like that.”

Does that mean he’s expecting Watson to play on Sunday against the Colts?

“You’ll have to ask Deshaun,” Cooper said. “I don’t know.”

Watson has not practiced since the Browns returned from their Week 5 bye. In the lead up to the Week 4 contest against the Ravens, Watson was on the field for practice but he wasn’t throwing.

Watson described his injury on Wednesday as a “micro-tear” in his right rotator cuff.

Cooper said that if Watson is able to play this week, it would be a “huge boost” to the team.

“Deshaun is our guy,” Cooper said. “At the end of the day, we all know who Deshaun is. We’ve seen all the plays that he’s been able to make throughout his career. It’s just like any other team. You’re confident when your starting guy is in the lineup, 100 percent. So, it would be a huge boost.”

We’ll see if Cooper is right about Watson practicing later on Thursday.

AFC SOUTH

INDIANAPOLIS

It is now confirmed – the rookie season of QB ANTHONY RICHARDSON is done and the 2023 Colts belong to QB GARDNER MINSHEW.  Stephen Holder of ESPN.com:

Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson will undergo season-ending surgery to repair his right (throwing) shoulder, owner Jim Irsay announced Wednesday.

Richardson, this year’s fourth overall draft pick, sustained an AC joint sprain against the Titans on Oct. 8. In the days since, the Colts’ medical staff, in conjunction with other specialists across the country, has been deliberating on the next steps for the team’s franchise quarterback.

Those conversations led to the final decision, Irsay said.

“After consultation with our medical staff, Anthony, and those close to him, it has been determined that he will undergo surgery to repair his injured shoulder, which will end his season,” Irsay wrote in a post on X.

The parties felt strongly that surgery was the best option practically from the beginning, a source told ESPN, but the doctors wanted to take their time and consider all available information. Not all shoulder sprains require surgery, but among the chief factors that made a procedure the best option, according to the source, is the fact that Richardson is a quarterback. The necessary range of motion and movements associated with playing the position made it an easier choice.

“We collected several medical opinions and we felt this was the best course of action for his long-term health,” Irsay wrote. “We anticipate a full recovery and there is no doubt Anthony has a promising future.”

Coach Shane Steichen said the decision was always going to be about the future.

“That’s a huge part of it,” Steichen said. “You take the guy fourth overall, [he’s] a tremendous competitor, great player. The longevity of him needs to be at a premium, so this is the best thing for him moving forward.”

Richardson has had a hard time coping with the reality of missing so much time, Steichen said, but the coach thinks there’s an opportunity for him to grow.

“This will be a great learning experience for him moving forward,” Steichen said. “He’ll be engaged, he’ll be in the meetings, he’ll be at practice, and he’ll learn this year sitting back and watching and learning … When you go through tough times, it’ll make you stronger and this is a tough time for any player. [It’s] your rookie year, you want to be out there with his teammates. I know he’s crushed about it, too. But I think it’ll help him make stronger.”

This from Shane Steichen.  Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com:

Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen worked with Minshew in Philadelphia over the last two seasons, so the quarterback and play-caller already have plenty of familiarity. And now knowing Richardson won’t be back this year allows everyone to shift their full focus to No. 10.

“It gives you clarity,” Steichen said in his Wednesday press conference. “This is Gardner’s team and we’ve got a ton of confidence in Gardner and his abilities moving forward and this offense, the defense, and special teams. We’ve got a great opportunity this week to go against the Browns and go compete.”

With Minshew not as much of a run threat as Richardson, Steichen conceded that the offense will change a little bit.

“[Y]ou lose some things,” Steichen said. “Again, we have a ton of faith in Gardner and his ability to go operate at a high level.”

For his part, Minshew said he feels for Richardson even as the 2019 sixth-round pick now gets an extended chance to show what he can do.

“The dude has done nothing but learn and get better, lead the guys since he’s been here,” Minshew said of Richardson on Wednesday. “Obviously, losing him is definitely a different feel without him. He brought a lot a lot of energy, a lot of juice — we’re going to miss him.

“That being said, we’re 3-3 right now, excited for the opportunity ahead of us, have everything we want in front of us so just go out and try to win one game at a time.”

JACKSONVILLE

The Jaguars are calling QB TREVOR LAWRENCE questionable for tonight in New Orleans.  NFL.com:

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence predicted Tuesday that his status for Thursday night would likely be a game-day decision. That appears to be just the case.

Lawrence is officially questionable for the Jaguars’ road game against the New Orleans Saints.

In a Week 6 win over the Indianapolis Colts, Lawrence tweaked his left knee. Though he avoided a major injury, the ailment could still knock out Lawrence for at least one game, which would be a first in his two-plus-season career.

That’s a 40-game starting streak on the line.

TENNESSEE

The Titans are said to have a going away present for RB DERRICK HENRY:

@NFLNotify

𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧:

The #Titans are expected to explore trade options for Derrick Henry at the trade deadline.

Henry turns 30 in January and his time as a top RB in the league will likely be coming to a close soon.

The Titans plan on working with Henry to get him to a contender to finish off his career.

Interesting, the 2-4 Titans no longer view themselves as a contender?

Henry actually is playing better, at least statistically than you might think.

Last year, we were surprised to see he rushed for 1,543 yards and 13 TDs. That was 2^ndin the NFL.  A pretty darn good 4.4 yards per carry.

Not much fade in 2023.  He has 425 rush yards, a 4.3 average.  That’s a pace for 1,204 rush yards.

So who might want Henry? Alex Kay of Bleacher Report is on the case with four possibilities – all contenders:

Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens get: RB Derrick Henry

Tennessee Titans get: WR Devin Duvernay, 2024 second-round pick, 2024 fifth-round pick

At 4-2, the Baltimore Ravens have a tenuous grasp on the AFC North lead and should make at least one major move before the deadline to boost their playoff chances. Baltimore’s offense has seemed a bit out of sync since losing starter J.K. Dobbins to a season-ending injury in the opener, making running back a prime position to see an in-season upgrade.

While the Ravens’ rushing attack looks good on paper—it ranks No. 5 in the league with an average of 144.8 yards per game—much of this success is due to Lamar Jackson. The quarterback is the team’s leading rusher and has been responsible for 327 yards and five scores on the ground. Jackson’s dual-threat abilities make him one of the league’s most dangerous players, but he’s also finished each of the last two seasons on the sideline due to injury. Baltimore’s brass should be looking to lessen the amount of wear-and-tear on the quarterback by acquiring a back capable of assuming a large workload.

Since Dobbins went down, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill have been handling the backfield duties in a timeshare. Edwards has seen more action—tallying 282 yards and a score on his 72 totes—while Hill has been more effective in his limited work, racking up 150 yards and three touchdowns on 37 rushes. While these aren’t bad marks, they aren’t particularly impressive either. Both started the campaign as depth options for a reason and Baltimore should be trying to get a true lead back to round out the offense for a Super Bowl push.

Henry would be an ideal fit and the Ravens just got a firsthand look at how dangerous he can still be. While Baltimore managed to knock off the Titans during a Week 6 clash in London, Henry was one of Tennessee’s lone bright spots in the contest and put up 97 yards and a score on just 12 carries. Having Henry shouldering the rushing load in an offense that boasts plenty of talented playmakers like Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman could be exactly what this squad needs to make a run.

The Ravens have a shade under $7 million in available cap space, making a trade relatively feasible—especially if they include someone like wideout/return man Devin Duvernay and his $4.3 million expiring contract. While taking on Henry’s deal would give Baltimore little room to work with after ironing out all the details, there’s no other available player who could have as much of a positive impact on this roster. He’ll be worth every penny for a team that could be in for an underwhelming season if it doesn’t get some backfield help soon.

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Bills get: RB Derrick Henry

Tennessee Titans get: RB Latavius Murray, 2024 second-round pick, 2024 fifth-round pick

The Buffalo Bills have been perceived as a Super Bowl contender for the better part of the last half-decade but have only reached the conference championship game once since drafting Josh Allen in 2018. While the team had plenty of firepower during last year’s regular season, it ran out of gas in the playoffs with the ground game notably stalling out.

The Bills largely failed to address that issue in the offseason and have come out of the gate in 2023 looking somewhat inconsistent on the offensive side of the ball. While Buffalo is averaging an impressive 374.8 yards and 28.8 points per game, respectively the No. 6 and No. 3 marks in the league, a closer look reveals that much of this production has come against weaker opponents.

The Bills ran up the score on the Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Commanders during the first month of the campaign—tallying up a combined 75 points in those games—and have just one truly impressive win under their belt this year in the form of a 48-20 victory over the Miami Dolphins. The team underwhelmed in a season-opening loss to the New York Jets and mustered just 20 points in a losing effort against the Jaguars in Week 5.

Buffalo even looked out of sync during its most recent win, narrowly scraping by the undermanned New York Giants by a slim 14-9 margin. That result should prompt Buffalo’s front office to become buyers at the deadline, as it’s becoming clear this unit needs some assistance if it is going to finally get over the hump and bring a Lombardi Trophy to western New York.

A lack of upper-echelon skill-position talent is hamstringing the Bills’ ability to become a consistently elite squad this year. While Stefon Diggs remains one of the league’s top wideouts and there’s hope that rookie Dalton Kincaid evolves into a top-tier tight end, the backfield lacks a standout star right now. James Cook hasn’t been bad by any means—he’s put up 363 yards and a score on 75 carries while chipping in another 140 yards on 14 receptions—but the second-year rusher isn’t yet on the level of truly elite talents like Derrick Henry.

Cook isn’t getting much help either. Latavius Murray has surprisingly emerged as the second-most productive back on this roster during a resurgent season, but he still has just 131 yards and two scores across 31 carries.

Trading for Henry would give Buffalo one of the most potent running back platoons in the league. He’d add the edge and depth that the team needs to keep pace with the surging Dolphins, a squad that leads the league in rushing by a wide margin right now. Miami has used that strength to reach the top of the AFC East standings at 5-1, and the Bills cannot afford to squander the tiebreaker advantage they currently have over their rival.

While the Bills aren’t flush with cap space—they have just under $2 million available—they could make a Henry trade work with some creative maneuvers. Shipping over Murray would both clear up a roster spot and take some salary off the books while giving Tennessee a veteran replacement for Henry. The rest of the cap room required could be made up for in the form of various restructures, cuts and through negotiations with the Titans to assume some of the financial burden.

Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals get: RB Derrick Henry

Tennessee Titans get: 2024 second-round pick, 2024 fifth-round pick

The Cincinnati Bengals have been one of the more disappointing teams of the 2023 season thus far.

Although Cincinnati is in the AFC North basement, the season is far from over. The squad has managed to shake off a 1-3 start by clawing to .500 thanks to back-to-back victories. Joe Burrow seems to be steadily improving after he looked like a shell of his superstar self upon re-aggravating a calf injury that plagued him since training camp. The quarterback has thrown for five touchdowns during the team’s current win streak, three more scores than he accounted for over the first month of the campaign.

While this resurgence has led to some optimism in Cincinnati, things could quickly go south again if the ground attack doesn’t come alive soon. The Bengals rank dead-last in rushing this season with a pitiful 69.8 per game. The team’s decision to retain Joe Mixon following a career-worst year has completely backfired. The veteran running back is averaging a mere 3.8 yards per carry in 2023—even fewer than he did last year—and he’s hardly made an impact as a pass-catcher, reeling in 16 passes for 104 yards across six appearances.

Unfortunately for the Bengals, there doesn’t seem to be anyone capable of picking up the slack here. Trayveon Williams is the only Cincinnati player aside from Burrow to log more than two carries on the year, but he’s totaled just 20 yards on his five totes. With Mixon slumping and appearing washed up at the age of 27, the Bengals have little choice but to swing a trade if they want to fix this backfield in time to salvage the 2023 campaign.

If Cincinnati does elect to become buyers at the deadline, Derrick Henry is likely the best available option by a good margin. He’d be an ideal fit in this offense and would help ease the burden on Burrow while the quarterback continues to rehabilitate his calf. Henry could work as a lead back and potentially even revitalize Mixon’s career, allowing the incumbent starter to be inserted into the lineup as a change-of-pace and pass-catching option.

The Bengals even have the salary-cap room to make this trade work almost seamlessly. The franchise has the third-most cap space in the league right now with an estimated $12.6 million in available finances. If Cincinnati is willing to send over some decent draft capital to the Titans in exchange for their superstar running back, this deal should get done.

Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles get: RB Derrick Henry

Tennessee Titans get: RB Boston Scott, 2024 second-round pick, 2024 fifth-round pick

The Philadelphia Eagles were linked to Derrick Henry during the offseason and even reportedly had a trade lined up for the veteran running back. During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show (h/t Eagles Nation), Akbar Gbajabiamila said his tweet “blew it up” and caused negotiations to break down.

While the Eagles went on to sign D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny to replace free-agent loss Miles Sanders and haven’t been struggling when it comes to the rush—they’re averaging 150 yards per game on the ground, more than any team but the Miami Dolphins—they could still benefit from revisiting that failed deal and adding an elite talent like Henry before the deadline.

As good as Philadelphia has been at moving the ball, it isn’t scoring as much as last year. Despite ranking No. 2 in the league with a blistering 395 yards of offense per game, the Eagles are only averaging 25.8 points. While that is still a top-seven mark, it’s a drop-off from the 28.1 points per game they put up in 2022. The team also hasn’t put up more than 23 points since Week 4 and has benefitted from soft matchups during an easy slate of games to open the campaign.

Philadelphia’s offensive woes reared their head during the team’s Week 6 loss to the New York Jets, its first defeat of the year. The Jets picked off Jalen Hurts three times despite missing top cornerback Sauce Gardner and limited Swift to a mere 18 yards on 10 carries.

Adding Henry would give the Eagles more firepower out of the backfield. While Swift had been averaging 5.7 yards per carry before being stonewalled on Sunday, he hasn’t been able to find the end zone with any regularity. The back has managed to score just two touchdowns on his 86 carries this season. Compare that to Henry, who has punched in a whopping 81 touchdowns on the ground over his seven-plus NFL seasons, and it’s easy to see why the veteran can be an asset for Philadelphia.

Henry would take the pressure off Hurts to score with his legs. While the quarterback has been responsible for five of Philadelphia’s seven rushing touchdowns this season, defenses are starting to key in on the signal-caller in short-yardage and goal-line situations. The Jets did allow Hurts to notch a rushing score and pick up 47 yards on his eight carries, but they notably didn’t let the Eagles get into any 3rd-and-1 or 4th-and-1 situations. By doing so, they avoided the demoralizing and seemingly unstoppable “tush push” sneak play that Philadelphia has utilized to great effect since Hurts became the starter.

Having Henry in the mix to grind out tough yards and keep defenses honest in situations where a Hurts rush is currently obvious would be a major boon for this offense. Taking on the final year of Henry’s $12.8 million contract might be tough for a team that is currently over the cap, but having Tennessee agree to pay a portion of the salary and sending over Boston Scott (a player the Titans can use to help replace some of Henry’s production) would help clear up some of the financial hurdles, while cuts, restructuring and other financial wrangling could do the rest.

THIS AND THAT

BILL BARNWELL’s TRADE VALUE – THOSE WORTH 2 #1s

Bill Barnwell, hopefully paid by the word, has a long piece at NFL which looks at the trade value of every NFL player he thinks is worth a first round pick.  You should take a look at your team’s coverage here.

Below, we pulled out every player that he deems to have a of at least 2 first round picks.

There are 18 in total – and only the Lions and Bengals have two.

Positionally: 7 QBs, 4 rushers, 3 OL, 2 CBs, 2 WRs.

The two wide receivers and one of the QBs played on the same college team together.

Are CB SAUCE GARDNER and CB PATRICK SURTAIN really worth that much?  He does have several other CBs who are worth a First Round Pick and Change

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills

Multiple first-round picks: QB Josh Allen. Even with Allen struggling through stretches of the past two seasons with injuries and subpar decision-making, his ceiling and ability to make just about any throw would be an easy sell for quarterback-needy teams if he ever hit the market.

New York Jets

Two first-round picks: CB Sauce Gardner. You could make a case that Gardner has been the NFL’s best cornerback since entering the league last season, which is heady stuff given the traditional track record of corners in Year 1. Even Darrelle Revis wasn’t a star until Year 2. Nine other defenders since 1980 have been first-team All-Pros as rookies. The worst player from that bunch might be pass-rusher Jevon Kearse, which should tell you how good the other eight guys are.

AFC NORTH

Cincinnati Bengals

Multiple first-round picks: QB Joe Burrow. I don’t think this one requires much explanation.

Two first-round picks: WR Ja’Marr Chase. Chase fits all the criteria for landing two first-rounders as a non-quarterback. He’s young, has a credible case as the best player in football at his position and plays a premium spot in the lineup. He also has four more years of cost control remaining, with $8.3 million due between 2023 and 2024 before the possibility of two franchise tags in 2025 and 2026. He has a strong case alongside Dallas’ Micah Parsons and Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson as the most valuable non-quarterback in the sport.

Cleveland Browns

Two first-round picks: DE Myles Garrett. Garrett is the best player on the best defense in football right now. He has been remarkably consistent since entering the league, as a right high-ankle sprain in 2017 is likely the only thing that has kept him from racking up double-digit sacks in each of his first six seasons. Players in their late-20s who get paid $25 million per season typically don’t have significant trade value, but Garrett’s production and position make him an outlier.

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans

Two first-round picks: QB C.J. Stroud. Is it too early to put Stroud in this category? There wasn’t massive interest in trading up for the No. 2 overall pick in April when teams could have chosen Stroud, but he’s off to a wildly impressive start. He ranks 14th in QBR over a stretch where most of his best linemen, including star left tackle Laremy Tunsil, haven’t been available for some or all of the season. He has been winning games with Tank Dell and Nico Collins as his top receivers, which has put the Ohio State narrative to rest before Halloween of his first season.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Multiple first-round picks: QB Trevor Lawrence. We haven’t yet seen the sort of MVP-caliber breakout Lawrence was hinting at with his play in the second half of the 2022 season, but we’re still talking about a consensus No. 1 overall pick who carried a mediocre roster to the playoffs a year ago. He isn’t even eligible for a contract extension until next year, and that cost-controlled runway will help keep his price down for the next few seasons. There’s no reason to overthink this one.

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos

Two first-round picks: CB Pat Surtain. I almost want to see Surtain traded as a cruel experiment. The Denver defense has been historically awful this season even with Surtain, who has been a Pro Bowl-caliber corner since entering the league in 2021. How bad could Denver look without its best player?

Surtain is right in line with Khalil Mack and Jalen Ramsey, who were traded for two first-round picks toward the end of their rookie deals. He would be the only realistic source of additional draft capital for the Broncos if they do want to go after one of the young quarterbacks in the 2024 draft, but it would also cost a defense that has looked horrific, its only young star.

Kansas City Chiefs

Multiple first-round picks: QB Patrick Mahomes. I don’t know — six? Seven? Ten? I’m not sure there’s a realistic number of first-round picks the Chiefs would be willing to take for Mahomes, especially given that his presence on another roster would all but ensure that those picks came in toward the bottom half of the first round.

Los Angeles Chargers

Multiple first-round picks: QB Justin Herbert. He is coming off a disastrous start against the Cowboys on Monday night, one in which he ended the game with an interception and missed Keenan Allen for what should have been a pair of long completions off double-moves. While he can be frustrating, Herbert’s ability to make spectacular throws would appeal to any team in need of a signal-caller.

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys

Multiple first-round picks: OLB Micah Parsons. The cap for the vast majority of non-quarterbacks in a trade would be two first-round picks, as we saw with the Khalil Mack and Jalen Ramsey deals. Parsons’ production on a rookie deal at a premium position makes him the exception to that rule. He has made first-team All-Pro in each of his first two seasons, and it would be a shock if he wasn’t there again at the end of Year 3. Even after this season, the 24-year-old will have up to four years of cost control remaining on his deal.

There are limits, I suppose. If Dak Prescott decided to retire tomorrow, would the Cowboys trade Parsons for Trevor Lawrence? The Jaguars probably wouldn’t take that trade. The Bengals wouldn’t trade Joe Burrow, nor the Chargers with Justin Herbert. As incredible as Parsons has been, he still comes in as having less trade value than the best young quarterbacks in the sport. I don’t think the Bengals would deal Burrow for three first-round picks, but the Cowboys would probably have to give that offer serious thought if Parsons was heading out the door.

Philadelphia Eagles

Multiple first-round picks: QB Jalen Hurts. When a quarterback makes two of the biggest single-season leaps in recent memory and does it in back-to-back seasons, he’s a special player. Hurts is coming off arguably his worst performance since taking over as Philadelphia’s full-time starter in last week’s loss to the Jets, but he has still been an extremely valuable player in 2023 and was the league’s second-best signal-caller a year ago.

Detroit Lions

Two first-round picks: DE Aidan Hutchinson, OT Penei Sewell. The two building blocks of the Dan Campbell era are off to spectacular starts in 2023. Hutchinson has made the leap into a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, as he’s wrecking protections shaded toward him on a weekly basis. His numbers might be even more impressive if he had a legitimate No. 2 option on the other side of the field, something that might come into play when James Houston returns from a broken ankle.

Sewell is the successor to Lane Johnson as the NFL’s best right tackle; frankly, he might already be there. Right tackles can be perceived as less valuable relative to their brethren on the left side, but Sewell was an excellent left tackle at Oregon and looked like a natural there when he filled in for an injured Taylor Decker in 2021. Having just turned 23 earlier this month, he’s still one of the league’s youngest starting tackles. He’s a superstar.

Minnesota Vikings

Two first-round picks and change: WR Justin Jefferson. I would put Jefferson ever so slightly ahead of his former college teammate Ja’Marr Chase. Jefferson is nine months older, but he has been more productive while playing with a much less impressive quarterback. I don’t think Jefferson would land three first-round picks in a trade, but the Vikings likely would be able to nab two first-rounders and a midround pick or a starting-caliber veteran if they decided to rebuild from the ground up and trade him. (I do not endorse this plan.) The recent hamstring injury hurts Jefferson’s short-term value, but it doesn’t appreciably change his long-term path toward Canton.

Carolina Panthers

Two first-round picks: OLB Brian Burns. Well, we know the Panthers wouldn’t take two first-round picks and more from the Rams for Burns a year ago, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. Now, a year later, those same first-rounders likely would get a deal done. Burns is a year closer to free agency, and the Panthers have struggled to sign him to a new contract, in part because they implicitly valued him as a player worth more than two first-round picks by turning down the offer from L.A. With Carolina desperate for draft capital after making the Bryce Young trade, a Burns swap could get them valuable playmakers to put around their young quarterback. If they asked the Rams for wideout Puka Nacua, would Los Angeles be willing to include him in the deal?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Two first-round picks: OT Tristan Wirfs. The one thing Wirfs could have done to up his value after excelling on the right side over the last few years was move to left tackle. After the Bucs cut Donovan Smith last offseason, Wirfs has slid in on the blind side and looked like a plus left tackle from Day 1. He ranks 12th in pass block win rate and doesn’t have a single sack attributed in his direction all season. Wirfs is every bit as good as Laremy Tunsil was when the Texans made the Godfather offer to acquire him from the Dolphins in 2019. He’s comfortably the most valuable player on this roster.

San Francisco 49ers

Two first-round picks and change: DE Nick Bosa. Outside of the torn ACL that cost him most of the 2020 season, Bosa’s résumé is spotless. He has a Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year award in his trophy case before turning 26, has averaged a whopping 13.5 sacks per 17 games and is widely regarded as an excellent two-way defender. Don’t let Bosa’s slow start of 2.5 sacks fool you; he already has 16 knockdowns, which would typically deliver about seven sacks. The numbers will come.

Again read the whole thing, there are a lot of people who you might think should be on this list who are worth a “First Round Pick and Change.”

TRADE THEM

Garrett Podell of CBSSports.com offers a list of 10 players who should be traded:

Here is a look at 10 NFL players who would be better off trading in their current jersey for new one, not as a Halloween costume, but as a full-time swap.

Davante Adams

LV • WR

Davante Adams is one of the best wide receivers in football. His 17 receiving touchdowns are the most in the NFL since the start of the 2022 season. He has also been named a First-Team All-Pro in each of the last three seasons. However, his goal isn’t to just be one of the great receivers of today. Adams wants to be known as one of the best wide receivers of all-time and conclude his football journey in Canton, Ohio as a Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee.

Through his first nine NFL seasons, Adams recorded 769 receptions for 9,637 receiving yards and 87 receiving touchdowns. Only one other player in league history has topped 750 catches, 9,500 receiving yards and 85 receiving touchdowns in their first nine seasons: Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison.

However, Adams’ Hall of Fame trajectory may be in peril if he sticks around in Las Vegas for much longer.  He has gone three straight games without a touchdown or 100 yards receiving from Weeks 4-6. This also occurred in Weeks 13-15 last season, his first with the Raiders. The last time that happened to him as a Green Bay Packer, his NFL home for his first eight seasons from 2014-2021, was Weeks 14-17 of the 2015 season, his second year as a pro.

Adams also hasn’t been incredibly satisfied with the Raiders’ team performance during their 3-3 start this season, saying, via KSNV News 3 Las Vegas, “You can win a game and look shitty, and we’ve done that too many times.”

He initially came to the Raiders to win and keep putting up numbers in an effort to prove he can do both without Aaron Rodgers. Adams made one of his points with the First-Team All-Pro season in 2022. If he truly wants to win and keep his Hall of Fame dreams alive, he would be better off somewhere else.

Brian Burns

CAR • LB

The Carolina Panthers are the NFL’s last winless team at 0-6, and they need plenty of help along the offensive line, at wide receiver and in the secondary to name just a few areas. Problem is, they traded their 2024 first-round pick and 2025 second-round pick to the Chicago Bears as part of a package to move up eight spots to select quarterback Bryce Young first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Two-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Brian Burns, age 25, deserves better. Since the turn of the decade in 2020, he has been one of the NFL’s top disruptors, but Burns has yet to reach the postseason.

Brian Burns stats since 2020

                                               NFL RANK

QB Pressures        191             10th

Sacks                    34.5            9th

Tackles For Loss  45              T-5th

A year ago, the Los Angeles Rams reportedly offered multiple first-round picks to pair Burns alongside three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald on their defensive line, but the Panthers opted not to take the deal. Now is the time to shop Burns, who is in a contract year. It would be win-win considering Carolina could acquire much-needed draft capital, and Burns could play for a team that has a win in 2023.

Hunter Renfrow

LV • WR

Everything can change in two years in the NFL. In 2021, Hunter Renfrow totaled 103 catches for 1,038 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns to earn the first Pro Bowl selection of his career. Then, the Raiders rewarded him with a two-year, $32 million contract extension in the 2022 offseason. However, he just hasn’t been fit in head coach Josh McDaniels’ offense since 2022. His best attribute is his ability ad-lib his routes and drift into open space to make himself available for his quarterback.

McDaniels’ offense is predicated on structure, and that has simply been a bad fit. This season, Renfrow has just six catches for 59 yards on nine targets despite playing in all six games. He has only been targeted twice in the last two weeks, including not at all in the Raiders’ 21-17 win against the New England Patriots in Week 7, a game in which he had only seven offensive snaps. It doesn’t help that Las Vegas signed former New England Patriot Jakobi Meyers to a three-year, $33 million contract this past offseason to play a similar role as Renfrow out of the slot.

Renfrow is only 27, and he could still provide plenty of value to another team’s offense should he be given a chance to succeed, something not currently present with McDaniels.

Chase Young

WAS • DE

Chase Young earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2020 after leading his rookie class in sacks with 7.5, but his career has been rocky since then. He tore his ACL nine games into the 2021 season, and he didn’t return to action until the final three games of the 2022 season. That uncertainty since 2020 caused the Commanders to decline the fifth-year option on their former second overall draft pick, positioning him to become a free agent after the 2023 season.

Another year removed from the injury, and the 24-year-old Young has returned to form. His 31 quarterback pressures this season are the fifth-most in the NFL and his 6.2 pressures per game rank as the second-most in the league trailing only Raiders Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby (6.3 pressures per game). However, a trade would do him wonders as it would get him out of a bad situation. Prior to the Commanders’ 24-16 win at the Atlanta Falcons, Washington had allowed 33 or more points in each of their previous four games.

In the victory against the Falcons on Sunday, they were out-gained by 209 total yards (402 to 193), the most by any team in a win this season. Much of that has to do with Washington’s leaky secondary as their 248.2 passing yards allowed per game ranks as the sixth-most in the league this season. The Commanders 2023 first-round pick, cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, has struggled to adjust to the NFL with his six-foot, 180-pound frame. He didn’t have any snaps in Week 6, and his 401 passing yards allowed in coverage was the second-most yards allowed in coverage in the NFL from Weeks 1-5, ahead of only Arizona Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson’s 423 in that span.

Offensively, quarterback Sam Howell may struggle to stay healthy given he has absorbed 34 sacks in six games, the third-most sacks taken through a team’s first games in the Super Bowl era, since 1966. That inability to stay upright comes despite the Commanders facing the sixth-lowest blitz rate (24.2%) in the NFL this season. Young is in a bad spot, but he could lift a contender’s defense to new heights if given the opportunity.

Carl Lawson

NYJ • DE

Defensive end Carl Lawson was once seen as a key piece of the New York Jets rebuild as they signed him to a three-year, $45 million contract in the 2021 offseason. He ruptured his Achilles tendon in 2021, and after starting all 17 games in 2022 and recording seven sacks, the second-most in a season of his career, he now finds himself on the outside looking in when it comes to playtime in 2023.

New York is the only team in the NFL to have three players with 25 or more quarterback pressures this season, but none of them are Lawson: linebacker Bryce Huff (33 pressures, fourth in NFL), defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers (26, tied for 13th in NFL) and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (25, tied for 16th in NFL).

Lawson received a season-low 14 snaps (20% of the defensive snaps) in Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs, and he was a healthy scratch in Week 5. Lawson did get 21 defensive snaps in Week 6 in the 20-14 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, accounting for 30% of New York’s defensive snaps, his highest rate of the season. New York has run out of room for the 28-year-old, but he could still provide some juice to another team’s pass-rush.

Antonio Gibson

WAS • RB

Antonio Gibson, Washington’s 25-year-old running back, appeared to be on pace to become a Pro Bowler after his first two NFL seasons. He totaled over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and double-digit scrimmage touchdowns in each of his first two seasons in 2020 and 2021, including the only 1,000-yard rushing season of his career in 2021 when he totaled 1,037 yards on the ground.

However, Gibson’s rushing opportunity has dwindled significantly since the Commanders drafted running back Brian Robinson Jr. in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Robinson totaled 56 more carries than Gibson in 2022 despite Gibson playing in three more games, and that gap has only widened in 2023. Robinson has 61 more carries (77-16) than Gibson through six games this season.

Given his age plus his versatility as a pass-catcher — 124 catches (11th-most in the NFL among running backs from 2020-2022) and 894 receiving yards (12th-most in the NFL among running backs from 2020-2022) in his first three seasons — Gibson could be a valuable contributor to a team whose backfield is need of a little more burst. He simply isn’t going to have the chance to be a meaningful part of an offense as long as he is in Washington.

Zach Ertz

ARI • TE

Zack Ertz was once one of the NFL’s best receiving tight ends, earning three consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2017-2019. He even holds the record for the most catches in a single season by a tight end with 116 back in 2018. While the 32-year-old has slowed down a little since joining the Arizona Cardinals in 2021, Ertz could provide a strong target in the red zone for a team with eyes on playoff contention.

That is not his current situation as a member of the 1-5 Arizona Cardinals. A reunion with the Eagles could make sense as well as joining a number of other teams in need of another strong pair of hands.

Derek Barnett

PHI • DE

Derek Barnett will forever have special place in the hearts of Philadelphia Eagles fans everywhere after his strip sack of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady helped secure the franchise’s only Super Bowl win back in the 2017 season.

Fast forward to 2023, and the defensive end has mostly fallen out of the Eagles’ loaded defensive line rotation. He suffered a torn ACL in Week 1 of the 2022 season, and he has been unable to crack 20 snaps in all six of Philadelphia’s games this season. The Eagles defensive front is a strength as they employ Pro Bowler Haason Reddick, franchise stalwart Brandon Graham, Pro Bowler Josh Sweat and 2023 first-round pick Nolan Smith at their defensive end/edge rusher positions.

The Super Bowl champion is still only 27 after being selected 14th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, and he could be a nice rotation piece for a team who has a little more playtime available along their defensive line.

Courtland Sutton

DEN • WR

Jerry Jeudy

DEN • WR

The Denver Broncos are a mess in Year 1 under new head coach Sean Payton. They are off to a 1-5 start, tied for their worst six-game start in team history. The defense has allowed 33.3 points per games this season, the most in the NFL. Even when their defense does well, they still lose. Denver lost 19-8 at the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6. They have allowed fewer than 20 points in 12 games since the start of the 2022 season, but they have a record of 4-8 in those games.

While Payton said the Broncos “aren’t looking to do business” with their players before the trade deadline, they have already done so, flipping defensive lineman Randy Gregory to the San Francisco 49ers and releasing outside linebacker Frank Clark.

Courtland Sutton (37 targets) and Jerry Jeudy (29 targets) have been the most utilized pass-catchers in Denver’s offense this season, but Denver would be wise to attempt to flip them for more draft compensation. Sutton has four receiving touchdowns already this season, the same amount he had in each of the prior two seasons combined. Jeudy was the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, so there may be some teams out there willing to bite on the 24-year-old given his draft pedigree. Both would be better suited elsewhere in a less dysfunctional environment.

2024 DRAFT

Nick Baumgardner and Diante Lee of The Athletic offer a Mock Draft for you consideration:

1. Chicago Bears (via CAR): Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Of course, there is a scenario where Chicago sticks with Justin Fields and trades down (we’re not making trades here). Perhaps more likely is the Bears fire their current coaching staff and start over after another lost year. If that happens, our money’s on them giving the new staff its own QB rather than sticking with Fields — a talented quarterback, but one who’s in need of a reset. — Nick Baumgardner

2. Arizona Cardinals: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

Although Fashanu might have been the top-ranked offensive tackle in the 2023 draft had he turned pro, he’s still one of the younger blue-chip talents in this year’s class. Fashanu checks all the physical boxes with his length and 6-foot-6 frame. He has the athletic ability to thrive in any run-blocking scheme or in one-on-one matchups with edge rushers. I’d love to see him paired up with Paris Johnson Jr. as Arizona’s new regime tries to rebuild. — Diante Lee

3. Chicago Bears: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

The Bears could have a generational opportunity in front of them, especially if they land two picks in the top three. We’ve already covered our reasoning for restarting with Williams, so it doesn’t take a scientist to figure out why pairing the QB prospect with easily the best WR in this class — and arguably the top prospect overall — would be the way to go. — Baumgardner

4. Denver Broncos: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

Sean Payton and the Broncos could breathe a major sigh of relief in this scenario, as landing Maye would give the Denver offense a young signal-caller with the traits and tools necessary to maximize the offensive talent Denver has. Maye is the kind of blue-chip QB that would be considered the top prospect in most classes — and he still should be in that conversation, even up against Williams. He could be a franchise-changing player. — Lee

5. New York Giants: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

The Giants need to continue working on their roster’s durability, depth and general talent in the trenches. Adding a player like Mims — a crazy blend of length and speed at 6-foot-7, 330 pounds — would make that task a lot easier. Counting Evan Neal, who could kick inside to guard, and Andrew Thomas, the Giants would have three keepers to build around up front. — Baumgardner

6. New England Patriots: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State

Verse would be the most talented edge rusher drafted by the Patriots since Willie McGinest in the mid-1990s. He has the speed, motor, versatility and size to toggle between even and odd fronts — something we know Bill Belichick values. His opponents are doing everything in their power to keep him from affecting the game, but he’s been good as a run defender, and his gravity has created opportunity for his teammates to thrive. — Lee

7. Washington Commanders: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

Alabama has struggled to keep its quarterback upright all season, but don’t blame Latham, whose play has been as strong as ever. At the midway point of the season, Latham has allowed just one sack and four total pressures — his ceiling is high as a pass protector. He has the ability to play either tackle spot and enough athleticism to meet the high demands of blocking NFC East pass rushers. Washington needs to restructure its offensive line in a way that better fits the vision of OC Eric Bienemy. — Lee

8. New York Jets: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

Despite an upset of Philadelphia and a 3-3 record, our model doesn’t see the Jets figuring it all the way out this season without Aaron Rodgers. If Rodgers is indeed back and ready to roll next year, though, why not hand him (and WR Garrett Wilson) the best college tight end we’ve seen in at least a decade — perhaps longer. All gas, no brakes, right? — Baumgardner

9. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

A year after Peter Skoronski fell into their laps, the Titans could continue their offensive line project with one of the most athletic big men in this year’s class. Alt has been terrific in protection and as a run blocker for Notre Dame this season. Playing him next to or opposite Skoronski — and in front of RB Derrick Henry — could be great. — Baumgardner

10. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

There’s potentially an intriguing world awaiting a young quarterback in Minnesota — WRs Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and TE T.J. Hockenson as pass-catching weapons, OT Christian Darrisaw blocking for you. McCarthy currently leads all FBS passers (minimum 100 snaps) in EPA per dropback. Despite playing in Michigan’s run-heavy attack, his efficiency also has been very consistent outside of one poor showing. Oh, and he’s still just 20 years old. — Baumgardner

11. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

Grabbing Joey Porter Jr. in the 2023 draft was a strong start, but this Steelers defense still needs to add depth and talent to its secondary. McKinstry has the kind of arm length and speed needed to play on the outside in a heavy man/single-high scheme. He tracks the ball well enough in the air to produce in 50-50 situations and will tackle consistently on the perimeter. — Lee

12. Arizona Cardinals (via HOU): Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

We’ve got the Cardinals eying a long-term build and waiting on a new QB while the Kyler Murray situation plays itself out. It’s hard to argue with the value Arizona has added here, though, even if it’s not at quarterback. Wiggins’ blend of length and vertical speed is exactly what you want from a young corner. — Baumgardner

13. Las Vegas Raiders: Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama

Personally, I think Turner is the best defensive player in the class — but, at 250 pounds (or lighter), he won’t be everyone’s favorite edge. Las Vegas could use some more juice up front, though, and a speed rusher like Turner would be a great change of pace from the high motor Maxx Crosby brings. Turner’s growth as a run defender has been impressive, and he’s made significant plays in each of Alabama’s wins. — Lee

14. Indianapolis Colts: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

WIth Indianapolis holding onto Jonathan Taylor, it’s time for the Colts to add more playmakers at receiver. A versatile threat like Nabers would be an ideal piece for Shane Steichen’s offense. Whether on jet sweeps, screens or deep down the field, Nabers can win against one-on-one coverage and create after the catch. QB Anthony Richardson having at least one go-to threat next season would open up this offense significantly. —Lee

15. Atlanta Falcons: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas

The Falcons have way too much good, young talent to go another year down the road with only Desmond Ridder. If Atlanta wants to draft a QB and put him in a competition with Ridder, so be it, but something has to happen there. Ewers, who could well be QB3 on a lot of draft boards this April, would reunite with former Texas teammate Bijan Robinson. — Baumgardner

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: J.T. Tuimoloau, Edge, Ohio State

Between the prospect’s athletic profile and the team’s roster-building priorities, this is an easy marriage to predict. Tuimoloau is still a bit raw, but his hand-fighting ability and quick feet portend to a high-level edge defender. With three sacks and 20 pressures in 2023, it feels like he’s turning a corner. Tampa Bay has been looking for more of a pass-rush presence since it won the Super Bowl in 2020. — Lee

17. Los Angeles Rams: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston

Wide receiver was tempting here. However, Les Snead has been outstanding historically at finding receiver value later in the draft. (Rookie Puka Nacua isn’t the only example). Instead, the Rams could add one of the longest humans on the planet to hold down the left side of their line. Through six games this season, Paul hasn’t allowed a sack, hurry, pressure or QB hit. — Baumgardner

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Kalen King, CB, Penn State

King is the kind of corner you love to have, and hate to play against. His athleticism and aggressiveness when the ball is in the air are why he’s been so productive (24 career passes defended). Now that the aforementioned Porter is out of the way, King is receiving the same kind of respect Porter once saw — offenses don’t look to throw his way. Cincinnati has built its defense around playmakers just like King in the secondary. — Lee

19. Green Bay Packers: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

One of our favorite players in this class, regardless of position. DeJean is a ball-hawking, speed-burning corner who also has safety skills and could be an asset in the return game. He’s another plus-defender from Iowa and could check multiple boxes for the Packers. — Baumgardner

20. Seattle Seahawks: Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State

If positional value wasn’t such a major consideration here, Seattle likely would be penciled in for an interior defender like Jer’Zhan Newton. But Robinson has explosive potential, and the Seahawks are just as much in need of edge-rushing help as they are impact players inside. Robinson’s violent get-off would stand out among a Seattle edge rotation that’s full of useful role players but has no other difference-makers. — Lee

21. Houston Texans (via CLE): Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State

This might be too low in Round 1 for Coleman. It’s hard to say, as his time at Michigan State was more flash than consistency, but this season’s performance after a transfer to Florida State has been head-turning. He’s a first-round talent, it’s just a matter of where he lands. C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins and Tank Dell would have fun playing alongside him. — Baumgardner

22. New Orleans Saints: Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas

Sanders is a versatile receiving threat that can fit any role in a passing game. Underneath, he can take checkdowns and break tackles to gain hidden yardage. As an intermediate route runner, he has the agility to get separation at the top of the route, and enough size to body up defenders and win at the chains. Downfield, he’s a legitimate threat on 50-50 balls. Sanders is still working on his consistency, but he could thrive with all of New Orleans’ speed around him. — Lee

23. Los Angeles Chargers: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA

Latu is PFF’s highest-rated defender in college football through six games (29 pressures and a 23.3-percent win rate). There are injury concerns from Latu’s past — he briefly retired because of a neck injury — but his production when healthy has been undeniable. He’s not the explosive athlete the edges at the top of the board are, but he’s a first-round pass rusher in this class if the medicals check out. — Baumgardner

24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

Jacksonville’s defense seems to be in a good place right now, but its defensive front still could use a twitchy guy to push pockets and penetrate against the run. Newton wouldn’t eat double teams and still make plays on a consistent basis, but he could be a problem as a big three-technique or quick-footed nose in a bear front. With 25 pressures already this season, Newton is the best interior defensive lineman in the country. — Lee

25. Baltimore Ravens: Josh Newton, CB, TCU

A veteran with press-coverage skills and no fear living on an island — sounds like a Baltimore Raven if ever there was one. Newton has forced seven incompletions and registered four pass breakups so far this season. — Baumgardner

26. Detroit Lions: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia

Lassiter is a well-balanced coverage player and would fit within Detroit’s new defensive approach. As a zone defender, Lassiter changes directions and closes on the ball quickly, and he secures tackles well enough to allow a coordinator to be creative with his usage. He’s not as consistent in his technique or production in press-man situations, but he’s also not a liability. Expect him to be an ideal No. 2 corner at the next level. — Lee

27. Buffalo Bills: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

The Bills were able to give Josh Allen some underneath help last season by drafting TE Dalton Kincaid, but Egbuka is the type of route runner who can bail out a quarterback when things go off-script. Washington’s Rome Odunze could be another candidate here. — Baumgardner

28. Dallas Cowboys: Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has built a defense that feels like a combination of his groups in Seattle and Atlanta: speed on the back end, relentless pass rush up front. Kinchens would fit right in as a ball-hawking, man-hunting safety that loves to play in the middle of the field. He forced six turnovers last year and had a pick to open the season against Texas A&M. When he’s healthy, he’s a playmaker in coverage who also likes to show up as an enforcer in the run game. — Lee

29. Philadelphia Eagles: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. is the current Heisman favorite, and Odunze is a massive reason why. He leads all FBS receivers (minimum 25 catches) in explosive-play percentage (36.2 percent). He’s also ranks No. 2 in first downs or touchdowns per play (60.3 percent). — Baumgardner

30. Miami Dolphins: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU

With it seemingly inevitable that Terron Armstead will miss multiple games each year due to injury, Miami needs to have long-term contingency plans in place. Enter Suamataia, who has a nastiness in the run game that Mike McDaniel would welcome, plus the athletic ability to pull or get to the second level in outside zone. Suamataia has allowed only a half-dozen pressures (and no sacks) this season, and he’s still not a finished product. — Lee

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

A long, versatile tackle who can run like a tight end, Guyton could fill a few different roles for Kansas City. The Sooners’ offensive line deserves a lot of credit for Oklahoma’s turnaround this season, and Guyton is right at the forefront of that charge. — Baumgardner

32. San Francisco 49ers: Zak Zinter, G/C, Michigan

San Francisco has built and maintained its incredibly efficient offense without having elite O-line talent (save for Trent Williams). Because the 49ers almost always find themselves at the back end of the draft these days, building long-term health for that unit means finding versatile players with strong athletic profiles. Zinter fits. He has effectively played every spot along Michigan’s line — and played them well. He’s allowed just one pressure in 2023, and he has the agility and speed to fit right into a zone-heavy scheme. — Lee