This list of the five smartest moves so far this offseason isn’t necessarily the best players to switch teams. The Atlanta Falcons swung big on Kirk Cousins. It cost them a lot of money. The Las Vegas Raiders got a good player in defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. And they paid full freight at $110 million. This top five is all about the shrewdest moves we’ve seen teams make this offseason:

Chiefs sign WR Marquise Brown

It’s hard to imagine the Kansas City Chiefs won’t get a positive return on a one-year, $7 million deal for Brown, a former first-round pick and former 1,000-yard receiver with the Baltimore Ravens. Injuries depressed Brown’s value in free agency, but he has the talent to make a significant impact with the Chiefs if he stays healthy. And they will figure out ways to maximize his talent.

“I think Marquise gives you that speed element on the outside, or inside for that matter,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, via CBS Sports. “He’s played all the different spots. I think he’s a smart kid.”

This is a smart move for Brown too. He can revive his career during his age-27 season and sign a bigger deal next offseason. He just needs to stay healthy to post a very productive season with Patrick Mahomes throwing him the ball. And depending what happens with the Rashee Rice situation, Brown could be an important acquisition.

Bears land WR Keenan Allen

Allen has 10,530 career receiving yards. The Bears’ all-time receiving leader, Johnny Morris, had 5,059 yards. The Bears don’t get retroactive credit for what Allen did with the Los Angeles Chargers, but a franchise that has had mind-blowing troubles figuring out the modern NFL passing game now has two top receivers for soon-to-be quarterback Caleb Williams.

It’s hard to find a good receiver. The market on that position has shifted, putting receivers alongside pass rushers and elite tackles as the most valuable non-quarterbacks in the game. In two straight offseasons, GM Ryan Poles has pulled off a smart trade for a receiver. D.J. Moore was last year’s prize, and this offseason Poles took advantage of the Chargers’ cap issues and sent a fourth-round pick for Allen, a receiver with six Pro Bowls. Allen will be 32 years old this season so he’s a short-term answer, but that’s OK. Look at how Bryce Young struggled with little talent around him on the Carolina Panthers last season. That shouldn’t be a problem for Williams, who will be the No. 1 overall pick of the NFL Draft later this month. The Bears have made moves to help Williams succeed quickly, which is worth a mid-round pick for a very good receiver.

Eagles sign DE Bryce Huff

There’s a risk involved with Huff. He came out of practically nowhere for a 10-sack season. Sacks can be fluky and one double-digit sack season doesn’t necessarily mean a player is elite.

Huff is an unusual case, however. He was undrafted out of Memphis, but blossomed his fourth season with the New York Jets. And it wasn’t just the 10 sacks. His pass rush productivity (PRP) grade from Pro Football Focus, a rate stat that includes hurries as well as sacks, was second in the NFL only to Micah Parsons. He wasn’t just finding sacks, he was a dominant pass rusher on a per-play basis. The Eagles paid $51.1 million over three years to find out if Huff is legit, but that’s a fine gamble for a player who hasn’t even turned 26 years old yet. It was a worthwhile risk.

Lions sign DT D.J. Reader

The Lions needed to improve their defense after barely missing out on a Super Bowl trip. The best move they had in that task was signing Reader, one of the best run-stopping defensive tackles in the NFL. Reader got a two-year, $22 million deal that has just $7.425 million guaranteed, according to Spotrac. It’s a not a big investment as Reader nears his 30th birthday. Reader came at a value because of a torn tendon in his quadriceps, which is a severe injury. But Reader has offered an optimistic outlook on his recovery. If Reader returns early in the season and is back in his normal role of blowing up the opponent’s interior run game, that can be transformative for a Lions defense that needed an upgrade to take the next step.

Dolphins sign CB Kendall Fuller

The offseason wasn’t too kind to the Miami Dolphins. They had a lot of talent leave due to salary cap issues. But they did rally pretty well.

The best move the Dolphins had this offseason was landing Fuller, a versatile and productive cornerback. Fuller steps right into the lineup and makes sure teams can’t just avoid Jalen Ramsey on the other side all game. Fuller is 29 years old but there are no signs that he’s slowing down. Fuller signed for $15 million over two years, a surprising value at an important position. Miami is still chasing an AFC East title after just missing out on it last season, and while they did lose some key players, they did get Fuller on a smart deal.

– – –

Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com has his six teams that will make the playoffs in 2024 who failed to do so in 2023:

Every year, 14 of the NFL’s 32 teams make the playoffs. And on average, only about half of them return the following year. The other half are replaced, with something like six new contenders on an annual basis. It’s a true testament to the league’s parity, and perhaps the greatest argument for the existing salary cap, which requires all franchises to restock and rebuild.

As we look ahead to the 2024 season, which teams are primed to return to the dance after missing the postseason a year ago? Here’s our early rundown of the six best candidates:

Atlanta Falcons

2023 finish: 7-10 | Last playoff season: 2017

The Falcons had all the ingredients for a wild-card run in 2023, except a legitimate signal-caller. Now Kirk Cousins is under center, and while his career suggests more of a steady hand than a special talent, he’s got enough ascending skill talent and underrated defensive support to warrant an instant playoff berth in the wide-open NFC South.

Cincinnati Bengals

2023 finish: 9-8 | Last playoff season: 2022

The best ability is availability, and both Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins should be healthier after an injury-riddled 2023. Couple their return with a mildly improved lineup — Zack Moss in for Joe Mixon, Mike Gesicki at tight end, Sheldon Rankins and Geno Stone on defense — and it’s not hard to envision the stripes leaping right back into the AFC title mix.

Jacksonville Jaguars

2023 finish: 9-8 | Last playoff season: 2022

Doug Pederson has kept this team in the mix despite some mercurial play from both sides of the ball, and Trevor Lawrence should be better off with Mitch Morse anchoring the line. Gabe Davis is a capable replacement for Calvin Ridley out wide, and the defense still has lots of upside, with Arik Armstead aiding the already strong front seven.

New York Jets

2023 finish: 7-10 | Last playoff season: 2010

It all hinges on Aaron Rodgers (again). At 40, fresh off a season lost to an Achilles tear, are his MVP Packers days a distant memory? They could be. But at least his O-line and weaponry are slightly upgraded after the additions of Tyron Smith and Mike Williams. Robert Saleh’s “D” also remains fierce at every level. If not now, then when?

Seattle Seahawks

2023 finish: 9-8 | Last playoff season: 2022

They’re clearly in transition, sidelining Pete Carroll for first-time head coach Mike Macdonald while openly admitting long-term uncertainty under center. But the skill talent is still apparent, from DK Metcalf to Kenneth Walker III, and Macdonald has savvy pieces at every level of the defense. If he maximizes the talent there, why can’t they be scrappy again?

Tennessee Titans

2023 finish: 6-11 | Last playoff season: 2021

Some of their free agent spending has been puzzling; are they really at a stage where they should be paying top dollar to guys like Calvin Ridley, 29, and L’Jarius Sneed, 27, when protection for young quarterback Will Levis is paramount? Maybe not. But new coach Brian Callahan has some playmaking at his disposal. And he’ll bring a more contemporary offensive approach.

He has four AFC teams making the playoffs in his list, so four that did last year won’t (by his reckoning).

BALTIMORE

BUFFALO

KANSAS CITY

HOUSTON

MIAMI

CLEVELAND

PITTSBURGH

So which four aren’t going to make it?

For the sake of this discussion, let’s kick out Miami (for the Jets) and Pittsburgh (for the Bengals).

Are either Jacksonville and Tennessee both going to finish ahead of Houston and Cleveland?  Because Baltimore, Buffalo and Kansas City all seem pretty solid.

Not to mention Jacksonville and Tennessee both beating out the Colts and the Chargers?

MINNESOTA

OC Wes Phillips is suspended by the Vikings for three weeks in April after he reaches a DUI plea deal.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

After Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips was arrested in December for driving while intoxicated, he got a plea deal for a lesser charge of careless driving. Now the Vikings have decided that Phillips won’t get much punishment from the team.

Phillips has been suspended by the team for the next three weeks, according to multiple reports.

Three weeks in April are not particularly important to an offensive coordinator. The Vikings’ offseason program doesn’t start until April 15, and the first phase of that program doesn’t have any on-field work anyway, so Phillips isn’t going to miss any significant time coaching the Vikings’ offense. He’ll be back in time to have a say in the Vikings’ draft room.

Phillips was arrested on the Friday night before the Vikings’ Week 14 game against the Raiders and still made their Saturday trip to Las Vegas and coached in that game and the rest of the Vikings’ games last season as usual.

Phillips is heading into his third season as the Vikings’ offensive coordinator. He previously spent three years on the Rams’ staff, five in Washington and seven in Dallas. He is the son of former NFL head coach Wade Phillips and the grandson of former NFL head coach Bum Phillips.

ARIZONA

The Cardinals adopted a scorched earth legal and PR strategy to combat workplace whistleblower Terry McDonagh.  It’s cost them $3 million (plus whatever they paid the people who gave them the legal/PR advice).  Tisha Thompson of ESPN.com:

An NFL arbitrator ordered the Arizona Cardinals to pay $3 million to former executive Terry McDonough for “false and defamatory” statements the team made about him to the media, according to a decision filed in federal court on Monday.

In a 62-page decision dated March 29, Jeffrey Mishkin, the arbitrator appointed by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, determined the Cardinals and their owner, Michael Bidwill, defamed McDonough “with malice” in a multipage statement to media organizations that accused McDonough of spousal abuse and neglect of his disabled adult daughter — allegations McDonough has denied.

McDonough’s attorney, Mike Caspino, filed the decision in U.S. District Court in Arizona on Monday as part of McDonough’s request to the court to confirm the award.

“Despite what we consider to be a fundamentally unfair arbitration process, Terry McDonough is the first person ever to win against an NFL owner,” Caspino said in a statement about Monday’s court filing. “Why the NFL has not held Michael Bidwill accountable remains a mystery.”

The Cardinals issued their own statement later Monday that read: “We are pleased with the arbitrator’s decision dismissing all of Terry McDonough’s employment claims and finding that there was nothing improper about his dismissal from the team. As for Mr. McDonough’s other claim, we respect the arbitrator’s determination that our initial statement went too far. We accept responsibility for that statement and are grateful that the arbitration is now resolved.”

The NFL, meanwhile, declined to comment to ESPN on the arbitrator’s ruling.

Mishkin dismissed McDonough’s other claims of unlawful retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy. McDonough brought the arbitration claim against the team last April, alleging Bidwill and the team retaliated against him after he told Bidwill he was uncomfortable with the team’s use of burner phones to communicate with then-general manager Steve Keim, whom Bidwill had suspended for extreme DUI.

McDonough started working for the Cardinals in 2013 and became vice president of player personnel. He signed a two-year contract extension in May 2022 but was relieved of his duties in January 2023, three months before he filed the arbitration complaint.

In his decision, Mishkin found the statements made by the team, under the guidance of crisis communications firm CounterPoint Strategies, “false and defamatory” because McDonough and his wife “provided unrefuted testimony that Mr. McDonough has never committed an act of domestic violence or domestic abuse” and that “McDonough has never abandoned responsibility for his daughter or cut her off financially.”

The arbitrator also determined the team “published the defamatory statements with actual malice.”

Mishkin detailed how the Cardinals obtained information relating to the spousal abuse allegation against McDonough: In September 2018, former Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald received an unsolicited letter from McDonough’s former father-in-law accusing McDonough of abandoning his daughter. Fitzgerald gave the letter to a team executive who “did not notify Mr. Bidwill of the allegations in the letter” but instead “put the letter in Mr. McDonough’s employment file and never spoke a word of it to Mr. Bidwill until nearly five years later,” when the team searched McDonough’s “emails and files for potential content to include” in its statement, according to Mishkin’s decision.

The team’s “own conduct in giving the letter no credence or consideration whatsoever at the time they received it is clear evidence of their own subjective doubts about the veracity and accuracy of the allegations,” Mishkin wrote in his decision.

Mishkin also detailed how the team possessed emails between McDonough and his wife discussing child support payments and that Bidwill acknowledged that McDonough had been offered a contract in 2019 that would enable him to live in North Carolina near his daughter, which McDonough embraced.

According to the arbitration ruling, McDonough sought $15 million in lost future earnings, $10 million for emotional distress, $10 million for reputational harm and $60 million to $90 million in punitive damages.

Mishkin awarded McDonough $150,000 in general damages for “the harm to his reputation” caused by the defamatory statements, $600,000 in damages for emotional distress caused by the defamatory statements and $2.25 million in punitive damages.

Mishkin found that the team did use burner phones, but he did not find in favor of McDonough’s allegation that the Cardinals’ actions prevented him from being hired as a general manager in the league. Though McDonough was a finalist for the San Francisco 49ers’ GM job in 2017, he had no interviews for GM positions after that, Mishkin wrote.

Noting that the team’s statement remained on CounterPoint’s website throughout the arbitration process, Mishkin determined, “In publicly attacking Mr. McDonough’s personal character by publishing false and defamatory statements entirely unrelated to matters at issue in the arbitration was unjustified in the circumstances and is deserving of punishment.”

SAN FRANCISCO

Well-traveled QB JOSH DOBBS is thrilled to in Santa Clara.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

Josh Dobbs was pressed into service as a starting quarterback for multiple teams over the last two seasons, but he’d prefer to stay in one place for the foreseeable future.

That’s why it was appealing to him to get a call from the 49ers once free agency was underway last month. Brock Purdy is established as the starter, but Dobbs told Adam Schefter of ESPN that his goal was to find a place that has “a consistent front office, consistent coaching staff, and does a really good job of QB development.”

Dobbs found the 49ers provided those things along with a quarterback he has great respect for in Purdy.

“At the end of the day, he wins football games and he plays efficient football,” Dobbs said, via 49ersWebzone.com. “That’s all you can ask for. So that’s what I’m most excited about, just being able to obviously provide my perspective on what I’ve learned throughout the league and be able to assume whatever role that looks like this upcoming year. But to be around that and that coaching and that type of player and that type of room and that consistency, I think it’d be really good for me, and I’m excited to see what I’ll be able to add and help the team with for this upcoming year.”

If all goes well for the 49ers, Dobbs won’t be called on for any more starts but a full offseason with the team before being thrown into the fire should help if things go the other way.

Dobbs will be paid more than Purdy.

Although Purdy did nearly double his pay from an NFL program.

A big pay raise for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will have to wait until next offseason, but he did earn a significant check Monday when the NFL announced its annual performance-based pay distribution.

This year, the NFL compensated players an additional $393.8 million in performance-based pay for the 2023 season. The program compensates players based on their playing time and salary levels with the intent to give additional money to players who performed beyond their contracts.

For Purdy, that resulted in an additional paycheck of $739,795, which comes out to 75.1% of the $985,000 base salary he made in 2023. The additional check ranks as the 24th largest payout this year.

That comes on the heels of a season in which Purdy set a franchise record for passing yards (4,280) and became the first Niners quarterback since Jeff Garcia in 2001 to throw 30-plus touchdown passes in a season (31) on his way to his first Pro Bowl nod.

In his second NFL season, Purdy finished fourth in Most Valuable Player voting. Because he isn’t yet eligible for a lucrative contract extension, the performance-based pay incentive was the only way for him to earn extra compensation for his performance.

That could change next year. The Niners are already preparing to pay Purdy as their franchise quarterback, team owner Jed York said at last week’s league meetings.

“I think it’s a good problem when your quarterback is one of your highest-paid guys on your team and in the league,” York said. “It’s not like Brock is going to ask for something that no one has ever asked for before. … The quarterback is the most important position, not just in football but in all sports. And those guys should be paid a lot of money.”

Purdy is the only quarterback among the top 25 players on the performance-based pay distribution list, which is largely dominated by offensive linemen, as they hold seven of the top nine spots.

Former Baltimore Ravens guard John Simpson tops the list with a payout of $974,613 that nearly doubled his salary after playing last season on a one-year minimum contract of $1.01 million. Simpson signed a two-year deal with the New York Jets in March in which he could earn up to $18 million.

Philadelphia Eagles safety Reed Blankenship ($923,059), Buffalo Bills tackle Spencer Brown ($912,723), Cincinnati Bengals guard Cordell Volson ($905,972) and Miami Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou ($878,167) round out the top five.

KANSAS CITY

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com is on the WR RASHEE RICE case:

Was Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice driving the Lamborghini that was involved in a six-car accident on Saturday? Was the Lamborghini racing a Corvette?

Thanks to dashcam video of the incident, the answer to the second question is yes. The answer to the first question is definitely maybe.

Watch the video. The Corvette tries to pass a car in the left shoulder. The Lamborghini rockets into the picture from behind. The Lamborghini spins to a stop after the collision.

Look closely. It appears that one man emerges from the back seat on the passenger side — and that two emerge from the front seat on the passenger side. Based on the photos posted by TMZ.com on Monday, including the image of Rice with family members before the incident, it looks like Rice is the second person out of the front seat on the passenger side.

Which would suggest that he was the driver.

The video is better quality than the Zapruder film. It’s still not entirely clear that two men emerge from the front seat.

It’s better than nothing. Coupled with the fact that Rice leased the Lamborghini and the lease agreement specifies that only Rice could drive it, it’s looking more likely that Rice was driving. Which introduces far different penalties for leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries.

Who was driving the Corvette?

Rice has lawyered up, and said lawyer says he is “cooperating.”  The Athletic:

The lawyer for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice said in a statement Monday that Rice is “cooperating with local authorities” following a multi-vehicle car crash in northeast Dallas, Texas, on Saturday night.

A vehicle believed to be registered or leased to Rice was involved in the crash, per the Dallas Morning News.

“On behalf of Rashee Rice, his thoughts are with everyone impacted by the automobile accident on Saturday,” Rice’s attorney, Royce West, said in the statement. “Rashee is cooperating with local authorities and will take all necessary steps to address this situation responsibly.”

– – –

QB CARSON WENTZ didn’t show enough with the Rams last year for LA to prefer him over QB JIMMY GAROPPOLO.  But he did show enough for the Chiefs to sign him over BLAINE GABBERT:

Free agent quarterback Carson Wentz has agreed to a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, a source confirmed to ESPN.

Wentz will become Patrick Mahomes’ new veteran backup at the position, apparently replacing Blaine Gabbert, who held that role last season. Gabbert is an unrestricted free agent.

Wentz signed with the Los Angeles Rams as their backup quarterback in Week 10 after spending the first half of the season without a team. He spent the 2022 season with the Washington Commanders but was released in February 2023 with two years remaining on his contract.

Wentz, 31, started the Rams’ regular-season finale against the San Francisco 49ers because Los Angeles was resting quarterback Matthew Stafford. He completed 17 of 24 passes for 163 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also led both teams in rushing yards with 56 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.

THIS AND THAT

VONTAE DAVIS

Former NFL CB Vontae Davis has died too soon.  NFL.com:

Vontae Davis, a two-time Pro Bowl cornerback over 10 seasons in the NFL, has died at the age of 35, the Davie (Florida) Police Department confirmed on Monday.

Police said on Monday that officers responded to a medical call after a house assistant found Davis deceased.

Preliminary information suggests that foul play was not involved in Davis’ death, according to police.

A Bronko Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik finalist at Illinois, Davis was selected by the Miami Dolphins with the 25th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, starting nine games and earning PFWA All-Rookie honors in his first season in South Florida.

“We are heartbroken by the sudden passing of former Dolphins CB Vontae Davis and extend our deepest condolences to his family & loved ones during this difficult time,” the Dolphins said in a statement on Monday.

After three years with the Dolphins, Davis was traded to the Indianapolis Colts right before the start of the 2012 season. The cornerback earned Pro Bowl nods during the 2014 and 2015 seasons, recording four interceptions in each campaign and a league-best 34 passes defensed over the two-year span.

Davis dealt with ankle and groin injuries the following two seasons, sidelining him for 13 of 32 regular-season games.

After six seasons in Indianapolis, Davis joined the Buffalo Bills in 2018 on a one-year deal. However, less than two weeks into the campaign, the then-30-year-old defensive back walked away from the game.

Davis retired at halftime of Buffalo’s Week 2 loss to the Chargers, not returning to the field with his team for the second half.

“Today on the field, reality hit me fast and hard,” Davis said in a statement, explaining his unusual retirement. “I shouldn’t be out there anymore.”

Davis left football with 121 games played (113 starts), totaling 395 tackles, 97 passes defensed and 22 picks over his 10-year career.

The Washington, D.C. native played in the NFL alongside his brother, Vernon, a fellow-first-round pick and two-time Pro Bowler.

COACH WARREN SAPP

Look out, Boulder – here comes Warren Sapp, graduate assistant coach for football.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

Warren Sapp has joined Deion Sanders’ coaching staff at the University of Colorado.

Sanders said Sapp would be joining the staff late last year, but the school said in January that no move had been made. That changed on Monday as a video posted by Sanders’ son showed Sapp introducing himself to the team.

“Senior quality control analyst, it’s a mouthful, and you’ll hear me before you see me most of the time,” Sapp said. “But what we gonna do is, big fellas — stance, alignment and assignment . . . We’re gonna pour concrete because you know I like nice stuff. And we’re building mansions here, so that’s why I’m here — to help you build your mansion.”

In a statement to Brent Schrotenboer of USA Today, the school confirmed Sapp is a graduate assistant and that he has enrolled in continuing education classes at the school.

“Warren Sapp successfully completed all of the necessary steps required of anyone who is employed at CU Boulder, including a background check,” the statement said, “Athletic Director Rick George personally met with Warren to clearly articulate the department’s standards and expectations, to which he acknowledged and agreed.”

Sanders also announced that his former Cowboys teammate George Hegamin is the football team’s new director of leadership and engagement. Hegamin was also Sapp’s teammate for one season with the Buccaneers.

The DB can actually report from recent experience that Sapp, while still a larger than life personality, recently participated in a timely manner, without incident and in good humor in two charity golf events.

2024 DRAFT

Veteran scribe Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com offers this Mock Draft, his first of the season:

Unlike our lead NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson, I am late to the process when it comes to doing mock drafts. I will do four: this one, another in two weeks, then my who-they-should draft mock (teams should really pay attention to that one) and then the final mock the day of the draft.

Wilson has done 4000 of them, but who is counting?

The only ones that make sense are those that come after free agency and the NFL Scouting Combine. So here is my Mock No. 1. It includes a major trade.

That trade has the Minnesota Vikings moving up to the fourth spot with the Arizona Cardinals to take North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye. The Vikings would give up two first-round picks to do so, one of which they acquired in a trade two weeks ago from the Houston Texans, to land Maye. They would also have to sprinkle in a few more picks to sweeten the deal, but getting a franchise quarterback is a must.

In this mock, I have the quarterbacks going 1-2-3-4, with Caleb Williams going to the Chicago Bears with the first pick, followed by Jayden Daniels to the Washington Commanders at No. 2 and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy to the New England Patriots with the third pick. The Vikings would then take Maye.

The infatuation with McCarthy is strange in my eyes, but the league loves him, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him go ahead of Maye. So for this mock, that’s the way it will be — until we mock again in two weeks.

1 – CHICAGO (from Carolina)

Caleb Williams QB            USC • JR • 6’1″ / 215 LBS

It’s becoming obvious that Caleb Williams is the pick for the Bears. They have had a nice offseason, and if he’s the real deal, watch out for this team.

Round 1 – Pick 2

team logo

team logo

2 – WASHINGTON

Jayden Daniels QB              LSU • SR • 6’4″ / 210 LBS

They are definitely taking a quarterback and Jayden Daniels should be the pick. He’s the most-improved player I’ve ever seen in the draft process. That matters.

3 – NEW ENGLAND

J.J. McCarthy QB                 MICHIGAN • JR • 6’3″ / 202 LBS

Would I draft J.J. McCarthy here? No way. But he just seems like a Patriots quarterback — a leader and a winner.

4 – MINNESOTA (Mock Trade from Arizona)

Drake Maye QB                  NORTH CAROLINA • SOPH • 6’4″ / 230 LBS

They make the bold move to go get a quarterback, which they must do. Drake Maye is rumored to be their guy.

5 – LA CHARGERS

Marvin Harrison Jr. WR          OHIO STATE • JR • 6’4″ / 205 LBS

With Keenan Allen traded to the Bears and Mike Williams released, they need to get a receiver in the worst way. Marvin Harrison Jr. is considered by most to be the best.

6 – NY GIANTS

Malik Nabers WR                    LSU • JR • 6’0″ / 200 LBS

The Giants lack a true playmaker outside, which is what Malik Nabers can be. I think he’s the best receiver in this draft.

7 – TENNESSEE

Joe Alt OT                                    NOTRE DAME • JR • 6’7″ / 322 LBS

They took guard Peter Skoronski last year, so now they take Joe Alt to play next to him. The line in front of Will Levis suddenly would be much improved.

8 – ATLANTA

Dallas Turner EDGE                    ALABAMA • JR • 6’4″ / 252 LBS

The Falcons have seemingly been searching for a top-tier edge rusher for a decade. Dallas Turner has those types of skills. They did a lot for the offense in free agency, so now it’s time to add to the defense.

9 – CHICAGO

Jared Verse EDGE                     FLORIDA STATE • JR • 6’4″ / 260 LBS

The Bears need to add an edge player opposite Montez Sweat. Jared Verse has the speed and power teams love. They could consider offensive line here, but edge makes more sense.

10 – NY JETS

Rome Odunze WR                     WASHINGTON • JR • 6’3″ / 215 LBS

They are trying to get more help outside to go with Garrett Wilson. Rome Odunze is a big target who would make a nice complement to Wilson’s game — even with the one-year signing of Mike Williams.

11 – ARIZONA (Mock Trade from Minnesota)

Quinyon Mitchell CB                 TOLEDO • JR • 6’0″ / 196 LBS                

They signed Sean Murphy-Bunting in free agency, but you can never have enough corners. They also could look to add a receiver here, maybe Brian Thomas Jr. from LSU

12 – DENVER

Brock Bowers TE                        GEORGIA • JR • 6’4″ / 240 LBS

They don’t get a lot out of the position, so taking Brock Bowers would make sense. They could also look to get help for their offensive line.

13 – LAS VEGAS

Taliese Fuaga OT                          OREGON STATE • JR • 6’6″ / 334 LBS

You can never go wrong taking a big, powerful offensive lineman. Taliese Fuaga would fit better on the right side than Olu Fashanu from Penn State.

14 – NEW ORLEANS

Olumuyiwa Fashanu OT                 PENN STATE • JR • 6’6″ / 317 LBS

In this mock, Olu Fashanu falls down this far, which might be unlikely since he’s so talented. The Saints have to fix their line, and he would go a long way towards doing that.

15 – INDIANAPOLIS

Terrion Arnold CB                             ALABAMA • SOPH • 6’0″ / 196 LBS

They have two young corners they like, but in a division loaded with young passers on the rise, they need more. Terrion Arnold would be a nice addition.

16 – SEATTLE

Byron Murphy II DL                         TEXAS • JR • 6’1″ / 308 LBS

Taking an up-the-field type of player makes sense for new coach Mike Macdonald, who had Justin Madubuike in Baltimore. Byron Murphy II plays a lot like Madubuike.

17 – JACKSONVILLE

Brian Thomas Jr. WR                              LSU • JR • 6’4″ / 205 LBS

They tried to keep Calvin Ridley, but he went to Tennessee. So now they add a speedy, big player to go with Gabe Davis, Christian Kirk and Zay Jones. They could consider corner here as well.

18 – CINCINNATI

JC Latham OT                                             ALABAMA • JR • 6’6″ / 360 LBS

They need to get a long-term answer at right tackle and JC Latham is a perfect fit. He is a big, power player who will give them a nice right tackle even after they signed Trent Brown to a one-year deal.

19 – LA RAMS

Laiatu Latu EDGE                                UCLA • SR • 6’5″ / 265 LBS

With Aaron Donald gone, they need to get help on the edge to help improve the rush. They have some good, young down players, but need edge help. Laiatu Latu can be that guy.

20 – PITTSBURGH

Troy Fautanu IOL                                 WASHINGTON • JR • 6’4″ / 317 LBS

They need more help up front, and Troy Fautanu can play guard or tackle. He is a power player who fits the Steelers.

21 – MIAMI

Amarius Mims OT                                GEORGIA • JR • 6’7″ / 340 LBS

Terron Armstead is getting up in the years and was said to be considering retiring, so it’s time to get a long-term left tackle. Amarius Mims can play right guard in 2024 when Armstead is on the field.

22 – PHILADELPHIA

Kool-Aid McKinstry CB                          ALABAMA • JR • 6’1″ / 195 LBS

Corner is a big issue for them as age has become a problem with their starters. They need to get a young cover player who can improve the back end.

23 – ARIZONA (Mock Trade from Minnesota)

Jackson Powers-Johnson IOL           OREGON • JR • 6’3″ / 320 LBS

They need to get better inside and center Hjalte Froholdt is in the final year of his contract. Jackson Powers-Johnson would give them a nice player to develop the line around.

24 – DALLAS

Nate Wiggins CB                                    CLEMSON • JR • 6’2″ / 185 LBS

Corner help is needed with Stephon Gilmore gone. Nate Wiggins has outstanding cover skills, but some scouts have knocked him for his tackling. But he’s not as bad on tape as that sounds.

25 GREEN BAY

Cooper DeJean CB                                  IOWA • JR • 6’1″ / 207 LBS

They need help at corner and Cooper DeJean would make sense. He could also move inside to safety if they needed to do that down the road.

26 – TAMPA BAY

Graham Barton OT                              DUKE • SR • 6’5″ / 314 LBS

The center spot was an issue for them last year, so taking Graham Barton makes sense. He played tackle last year, but most teams think he’s better off inside.

27 – ARIZONA (from Houston)

Xavier Worthy WR                                    TEXAS • JR • 6’1″ / 172 LBS

They need deep speed in their offense. Xavier Worthy blew away the 40-yard dash at the combine, so he could be that guy. He isn’t big, but he can fly.

28 – BUFFALO

Troy Franklin WR                                          OREGON • JR • 6’3″ / 187 LBS

Troy Franklin is thin, but he can fly. The Bills need a burner to help open up the passing game. Franklin has that type of ability.

29 – DETROIT

Darius Robinson EDGE                                  MISSOURI • SR • 6’5″ / 296 LBS

They signed Marcus Davenport in free agency to a one-year deal, but they need more help. Darius Robinson could be a major steal in this spot playing opposite Aiden Hutchinson.

30 – BALTIMORE

Ennis Rakestraw Jr. CB                                MISSOURI • JR • 6’0″ / 188 LBS

The Ravens need to inject some youth into their corner spot. They also lost Ronald Darby to the Jaguars in free agency. Ennis Rakestraw Jr. didn’t test great, but he plays faster than his times.

31 – SAN FRANCISCO

Chop Robinson EDGE                              PENN STATE • JR • 6’3″ / 254 LBS

They signed Leonard Floyd, but they need more help rushing the passer. Chop Robinson has the speed that would show up in their defense.

32 – KANSAS CITY

Adonai Mitchell WR                                    TEXAS • JR • 6’4″ / 196 LBS

They signed Marquise Brown to a one-year deal, but they need long-term help. Adonai Mitchell can stretch the field, which they need. Could also consider corner here.