NFC NORTH

GREEN BAY

Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com makes the case that is premature to purchase a ticket to Bustville for QB JORDAN LOVE.

Jordan Love needs a preseason. For that matter, he needs an offseason. An actual offseason — not one the quarterback spent in front of an iPad and using Zoom to communicate with the Green Bay Packers coaches.

When it came to on-field work, Love’s rookie year was essentially a lost season.

Sure, he got a year’s worth of meeting time, game-planning and living the NFL life. But as the third-stringer behind a starter (Aaron Rodgers) and a backup (Tim Boyle) who never missed a practice all season, it meant rarely — if ever — did Love take snaps with the Packers’ offense. Instead, he ran the scout team in practice and was inactive for every game.

Combine that with the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions that reduced the offseason to a virtual one, shortened training camp and eliminated all preseason games, and Love isn’t anywhere close to where anyone would like in his development.

“It’s very important for Jordan to get as many live reps,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said last week when asked about the development of his most recent first-round pick.

The proposed 17-game regular season likely would mean a reduction of the preseason by one game. Still, that would mean three more preseason games than Love got last season. Love threw 64 passes during team (full-squad 11-on-11) drills in training camp last August.

“The way we [went] about practice with no preseason is Aaron kind of takes all the starter reps, then both Tim and Jordan would split the rest,” Gutekunst said. “We feel very good about what he was able to do in the small window of development that he had. But I think this preseason and moving forward are going to be very, very important. And that’s not just for him. It’s for a lot of our younger players.

“But the quarterback position is unique in that way, and I think that it was unfortunate we didn’t get that time last year, but we’re looking forward to it hopefully this preseason.”

Love needs it if the Packers are going to feel comfortable elevating him to the backup role — Boyle is a restricted free agent — and figure out if he’s a realistic eventual replacement for Rodgers. Or, if they’re going to recommit to Rodgers after his MVP season, then they probably need to put Love on display to drum up trade interest.

“After going through a season without preseason games, I realize how valuable and how important they are,” Gutekunst said. “I do think with joint practices and some of the things that we’ve done in the past, there’s going to be some opportunity to kind of allow a lot of those preseason reps to go to your younger, more inexperienced players — which I think is going to be not only important from an evaluation but also a growth and development [standpoint] as we move forward.”

NFC EAST

DALLAS

QB DAK PRESCOTT has a big-money four-year contract.  Thoughts from Judy Battista of NFL.com:

Here was the biggest mistake the Dallas Cowboys made in how they handled Dak Prescott’s contract negotiations: They let everyone get a look at the Cowboys without Prescott under center and the view was ugly.

As a result, Prescott’s gruesome leg injury — suffered in the Cowboys’ fifth game of the 2020 season, sending the team into a frequently unsightly carousel of Andy Dalton, Ben DiNucci and Garrett Gilbert — accomplished the remarkable, increasing Prescott’s leverage and assuring that the Cowboys’ slow-playing of their embrace of their franchise quarterback would cost them dearly.

On Monday night, we found out just how dearly.

The four-year deal is worth $160 million, including a staggering $126 million guaranteed. The $40 million annual average salary makes Prescott the second highest paid player in the league, behind only Patrick Mahomes, and slightly ahead of Deshaun Watson.

Everybody can be happy with the new contract, Prescott for the millions of obvious reasons and the Cowboys for finally wrapping up a negotiation that should have been done two years ago but which now falls under the heading of better late than never. Those are the most important points. But there are other key takeaways from the latest quarterback blockbuster move of the offseason.

1. – Prescott and Jerry Jones are getting ready for an even bigger payday — for both of them — coming soon. This deal is for just four years, which means Prescott will be a free agent again at the still-in-his-prime age of 31. If the Cowboys want to keep Prescott — who also has a no franchise tag clause in this contract — they’ll have to be back at the negotiating table in just three years. That gives Prescott a fortuitously timed second bite at the free agent apple right when the new media deals which are being negotiated now and which could command double the rights fees from the television networks will be exploding team coffers, with the pandemic-caused revenue dip for 2021 long in the rearview mirror. Nobody knows that better than Jones. And, presumably, Prescott and his agent.

2. – The Chiefs should be very thankful for Mahomes. He remains the game’s highest-paid player, as he should be. But because the contract extension he signed last year runs for 10 years — Mahomes wanted a longer deal — he will still have seven years remaining on the deal when Prescott again hits free agency after the 2024 season. You can’t call a contract for $500 million a bargain, but it does allow the Chiefs to spread the hit over a much longer period of time, making it significantly easier to keep other high-priced talent around Mahomes.

3. – There is a ton of pressure on the other teams in the NFC East right now. Washington and Philadelphia currently aren’t sure who their starting quarterbacks will be this season and, in Washington’s case, the answer is probably not even on the roster. And the Giants, while improving, still need a talent upgrade at significant roster spots and questions remain about Daniel Jones. It took only seven victories to win the division in 2020, and the Cowboys, despite their backup-quarterback induced disaster, had a chance to win it on the regular season’s final day. With the best quarterback in the division under contract, prepare for months of talk this offseason about the Cowboys being the favorite to win the NFC East — and it won’t be wrong.

4. – Remember when the Cowboys gave Ezekiel Elliott the big contract before giving one to Prescott? It was a mistake not to prioritize Prescott over everyone else in 2019. It’s good for Prescott that it worked out this way, but that shortsightedness cost the Cowboys today, and will likely cost them again when Prescott is ready for his next contract. The no trade and no tag provisions mean Prescott controls his future. With this new contract, his present is already blindingly bright.

5. – It is very good to be a star player right now. This has been the offseason of quarterbacks exercising their extraordinary power in the NFL. For Prescott, he used his leverage to get the big money, relatively short-term deal he coveted with the Cowboys. He, though, merely follows the likes of Matthew Stafford, who requested a trade from the Lions and upgraded to the Rams, and Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson, who are making life miserable for the Seahawks and Texans, respectively, in hopes of either improving their working conditions or forcing trades. Maybe NFL players will never have anywhere near the power of NBA players because their contracts are not guaranteed, but it is refreshing to see the occasional player pull the strings instead of the other way around.

More from Jon Macota of The Athletic:

The Cowboys understood by being unable to come to agreement with Prescott the previous two years that he wasn’t going to remain at a bargain price. After all, that’s what he was during the previous five seasons. The fourth-round pick in 2016 averaged less than a million dollars per year his first three seasons in the NFL. That increased to a little more than $2 million by Year 4. He finally received a significant contract last season, playing under the fully-guaranteed $31.4 million franchise tag. He’ll now make more in one season than he did in the previous five combined.

And that’s the going price for one of the league’s top starting quarterbacks. Prescott’s new contract will average $40 million per season, putting him behind only Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, whose deal averages $45 million. Right behind Prescott is Houston’s Deshaun Watson at $39 million per season and Seattle’s Russell Wilson at $35 million per season.

The next top quarterbacks to sign new deals — Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, Buffalo’s Josh Allen, etc. — will likely move past Prescott’s number. That’s just how the franchise quarterback market works. It’s by far the most important position so they receive by far the biggest contracts. And that market shows no signs of going in the other direction.

There wasn’t much of an alternative for the Cowboys. Team owner and general manager Jerry Jones remembers what it was like not having a franchise quarterback. Dallas experienced it after Troy Aikman retired following the 2000 season. For the next five years, the Cowboys started Quincy Carter, Anthony Wright, Ryan Leaf, Clint Stoerner, Chad Hutchinson, Vinny Testaverde, Drew Henson and Drew Bledsoe before finally finding their next franchise quarterback in Tony Romo.

As Jones has famously said, at his age, he doesn’t have time to have a bad time. The 78-year-old felt so good about the Cowboys’ roster following the 2019 season that he didn’t even interview an assistant coach or a college coach to replace Jason Garrett. He wanted an established NFL head coach who could immediately guide the team to deep playoff runs. While that didn’t pan out in Mike McCarthy’s first season, it was a sign that Dallas was highly unlikely to start rebuilding with a young draft pick at quarterback if they didn’t think they could keep Prescott. There weren’t many other good options had they not gotten a new deal done with Prescott.

ESPN reported that Prescott’s deal is actually a six-year contract with two voidable years at the end to allow Dallas the ability to spread the cap hit out over a longer period of time, making his 2021 cap hit only $22.2 million. That hit would have been $37.7 million if Prescott had played under a second franchise tag.

That’s a significant reduction for a year when the cap is expected to be reduced to around $180 million after it was $198.2 million in 2020. The cap is expected to increase significantly in 2022.

It’s pretty clear that Prescott’s side won this deal. He had almost all of the leverage and the Cowboys knew it. Not even a season-ending severe ankle injury in Week 5 drove down Prescott’s price. In hindsight, the Cowboys should have gotten this deal done two years ago. They waited and the price continued to increase. And it would have been even more at this time next year if he reached the open market.

Prescott gambled and ended up with the money and the team he wanted to be with the entire time. Now he has to play the best ball of his career. There’s always pressure on the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. There will be even more now that he’s the highest-paid player in franchise history.

“I grew up wanting to be a Dallas Cowboy, and I am,” Prescott said in August. “And I’ve got dreams of being a Dallas Cowboy till I’m done throwing the football.”

Other thoughts through the magic of Twitter:

@AdamSchefter

One league source on the Dak Prescott deal: “You know what this is? This is Jerry Jones tipping off the extraordinary TV deal that is coming.”

@AdamSchefter

Dak Prescott’s salary-cap number for this season will be $22.2 million instead of the $37.7 million that would have come along with the franchise tag – a savings of $15.5 million against this season’s cap.

@GehlkenNFL

Cowboys secured their QB for future, have more cap space in 2021. They win this deal. Dak Prescott is paid worth, can enter market again at age 31 with a no-franchise-tag clause. He wins this deal.

The media won’t talk about this negotiation anymore.

We all win.

PHILADELPHIA

The push for QB JALEN HURTS starts at the top, per ESPN’s Tim McManus via Chris Mortensen:

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie has instructed the team to prioritize making Jalen Hurts successful in 2021 as opposed to creating a true quarterback competition, sources told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.

Hurts is currently the only quarterback under contract in Philadelphia. More quarterbacks will be added, but Lurie wants his staff to build around Hurts and determine whether he is the answer moving forward, the sources said.

Appearing on the Adam Schefter Podcast, Hurts said he views the Eagles’ decision to trade Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts this offseason as a vote of confidence in him moving forward.

“I think it was just an opportunity for me,” Hurts said in his first public comments since the trade, when asked whether he was surprised when he heard the Wentz news. “I think it shows the trust and what they think I can be as a player, so I wanna prove them right.”

Philadelphia agreed to trade Wentz to Indianapolis last month for a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 second-rounder that can turn into a first-round pick. The transaction will become official when the league year begins on March 17.

The relationship between Wentz and the Eagles became strained during a rocky 2020 season in which Wentz struggled badly before being replaced by Hurts, the team’s second-round pick last April, for the final four games. Once it became clear Wentz preferred to continue his career elsewhere, the wheels were set in motion to deal him.

One of the reasons Philadelphia felt comfortable trading Wentz was the presence of Hurts, who gave the offense a spark when he was inserted into the lineup and helped engineer an upset victory against the New Orleans Saints in his first career start. Hurts cooled off some down the stretch and finished with a 52% completion rate and six touchdowns to four interceptions while rushing for 354 yards and three scores.

The Eagles will add to the position in free agency and/or the draft, but as it stands, Hurts enters the 2021 season as the presumed starter.

“I think, you know, nothing changes for me and my mindset, going in every day trying to get better as a player,” he said. “Be the best leader I can be. Impact the guys around me, and ultimately it’s just about winning football games and being consistent and doing that, so my mentality, it doesn’t alter not one bit.”

The Eagles hold the No. 6 overall pick in the draft and could be in the market for a receiver. Two of the top wideouts in the draft class, Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith, were teammates of Hurts at Alabama.

WASHINGTON

G BRANDON SCHERF is tagged for the second straight year.  John Keim of ESPN.com:

Washington has placed the franchise tag on right guard Brandon Scherff for a second consecutive year, the team announced Monday night.

Scherff will receive $18.03 million in the 2021 season — a 20% increase over last season. But Washington still hopes to sign him to a long-term deal. It has until July 15 to do so, and a source described talks so far as amicable.

Scherff, who turned 29 in December, played on the franchise tag last season, earning $15.03 million. He also became the first Washington player to be named first team All-Pro since punter Matt Turk in 1996. Scherff has made four Pro Bowls, including the past two.

Coaches liked how Scherff played inside, but also how well he blocked on the move in the screen game.

But injuries also have been an issue. Scherff hasn’t played all 16 games since 2016 and has missed a combined 18 games the past four years. He ended up on injured reserve in 2017 and ’18.

NFC SOUTH

TAMPA BAY

Like Josina Anderson, fellow ESPN rumormonger Adam Schefter is also hearing that a TOM BRADY extension/renegotiation could be in the works.  Josh Alper ofProFootballTalk.com:

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported on the air Monday that the two sides have made “good momentum” toward an agreement that would extend Brady’s stay with the team. Doing so would put him on track to continue playing beyond his 45th birthday in August 2022.

It would also likely knock down Brady’s cap hit for 2021 from $28.375 million to a number that would allow more space to use in attempts to hold onto impending free agents like Shaq Barrett, Lavonte David Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski, and Ndamukong Suh.

NFC WEST

SEATTLE

DE CARLOS DUNLAP hits the open market.  Brady Henderson of ESPN.com:

The Seattle Seahawks are releasing veteran defensive end Carlos Dunlap, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The move clears $14.1 million in badly needed cap space but leaves the Seahawks without their most accomplished edge rusher and a two-time Pro Bowl selection. The team is expected to attempt to re-sign Dunlap at a discounted rate once he tests the market.

Dunlap acknowledged the impending move in a tweet Monday afternoon.

Dunlap, who turned 32 in February, was scheduled to count $14.1 million against the cap in the final year of his contract, which had no remaining guaranteed money. That cap charge included a $3 million bonus he would have earned had he remained on Seattle’s roster by March 21.

The roster bonus was added to Dunlap’s contract as part of a restructure he agreed to in order to facilitate his trade last October from the Cincinnati Bengals. Dunlap helped ignite the Seahawks’ staggering pass rush by recording five sacks and 15 QB hits in nine games, including playoffs. He missed one game with a foot injury that he played through for part of his time in Seattle. He had six tackles and four passes defended with the Seahawks.

AFC WEST

DENVER

The mysterious investigation of EDGE VON MILLER will not produce any charges whisper authorities in Parker, Colorado.  Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com:

Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller will not face criminal charges after an investigation by the Parker (Colorado) Police Department earlier this year, according to the district attorney’s office for the 18th Judicial District.

The office declined to file charges “based on our review of information that is currently available,” according to a statement Friday.

The district attorney’s office said the case did not meet the standards of probable cause of admissible evidence “to support a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt, and that the decision to charge is in the interests of justice.”

The office said it would not comment further on an investigation “in which there was never a citation, arrest or filing.”

Police in Parker, a suburb southeast of Denver, had acknowledged that Miller was the subject of an investigation. Miller has not publicly commented on any part of the investigation, nor has he responded to requests for comment.

Neither the police nor the district attorney have said what the investigation was for or what charges Miller could have faced.

On Thursday, Broncos general manager George Paton said the team wanted Miller back for the 2021 season — Miller has an option year in his contract the team must engage — but added he wanted to see the “legal process play out.”

“Obviously it’s a serious situation, but we want to let it play out before we comment on that,” Paton said.

If the Broncos pick up Miller’s option before the start of the new league year, they would guarantee $7 million of Miller’s $17.5 million base salary and engage the final year of a six-year, $114.5 million deal signed in 2016.

Asked Thursday if Miller’s return could hinge on a salary cut even after the legal process had played out, Paton said the team was “still working through that.”

“We want to bring Von back … I don’t want to get into everything, but we want to bring him back,” he said. “Obviously the legal process, what he’s going through, it’s a serious situation, obviously, and I don’t know all the details, but we respect what’s going. We do want Von back.”

Miller, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and Super Bowl 50 MVP, missed the 2020 season after an ankle injury just days before the opener. At the time, coach Vic Fangio said he had expected Miller to have “a hell of a year.”

Miller had eight sacks in 2019, his lowest total since 2013, when he finished with five after serving a six-game suspension for violating the league substance abuse policy and then suffering a torn ACL in December.

He is the longest-tenured Broncos player and was John Elway’s first draft pick as the team’s top football executive. Elway stepped away from the general manager’s role earlier this year before Paton was hired in January.

– – –

S JUSTIN SIMMONS has been re-tagged.

The Denver Broncos are placing the franchise tag on safety Justin Simmons for the second consecutive season, it was announced Friday.

Simmons, who was poised to become an unrestricted free agent, becomes the first player to be tagged this offseason. The Broncos now have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal.

“Designating Justin with the franchise tag is a procedural move that allows us to continue working on a long-term deal,” general manager George Paton said in a statement Friday. We are completely focused on making sure Justin remains a big part of the Denver Broncos for many years to come.”

NFL teams have until Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET to place the franchise tag on their most valuable player.

Simmons, the Broncos’ third-round pick in the 2016 draft, played on the franchise player tag in 2020, worth $11.4 million. He finished with 96 tackles and five interceptions. It was his third consecutive 90-tackle season. He has consistently been an active player in run defense along the line of scrimmage with the versatility to match up on a variety of players in coverage.

The 27-year-old has the combination of on-field performance and off-field community engagement, given that he has played every defensive snap for each of the past three seasons and was the Broncos’ nominee this past season for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

When Paton was hired in January, Broncos president of football operations John Elway said trying to re-sign Simmons was “one of the biggest things” Paton had on his to-do list.

AFC SOUTH

TENNESSEE

The Titans send last year’s disappointing first round pick T ISAIAH WILSON to Miami for basically nothing.  Turran Davenport of ESPN.com:

The Tennessee Titans have agreed to trade offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson, their first-round pick last year, to the Miami Dolphins, sources told ESPN on Monday.

The Titans will send a seventh-round pick in 2022 and Wilson to Miami for a 2021 seventh-rounder to complete the deal, sources said.

Wilson will need to pass his physical in Miami once the new league year begins next week for the trade to be officially completed. If he doesn’t, he would revert back to the Titans.

Tennessee signed Wilson, the 29th overall selection in last April’s NFL draft, to a four-year, $11.6 million contract in August. Wilson’s time with the Titans didn’t get off to a good start, prompting the team to move on from him less than a year later.

The right tackle out of the University of Georgia played only four snaps in his rookie season, which culminated in his being placed on the non-football injury list in December. Before that, Wilson found himself on the reserve/COVID-19 list twice — during training camp and in October.

He also had a couple of run-ins with the law.

The first incident came when Tennessee State police broke up an off-campus party Wilson had attended during training camp. In their report, the police documented that Wilson went to the second-floor balcony, where he appeared to briefly consider jumping. He received a trespass warning.

The second incident occurred when Wilson was arrested and charged with a DUI in September when he lost control of his vehicle and struck a concrete wall.

Titans general manager Jon Robinson addressed Wilson’s status during a virtual news conference last month, telling reporters he had not spoken to Wilson since putting him on the NFI list and suggesting that Wilson “makes a determination on whether he wants to do what it takes to play pro football.”

The Dolphins liked Wilson leading up to the 2020 NFL draft, and he could have been a candidate for a Day 2 pick by the team, a source told ESPN. Now, the Dolphins are taking virtually a free chance to help Wilson revive his NFL career.

Wilson played at Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn, New York, where Dolphins coach Brian Flores attended high school. Wilson also attended Georgia with Dolphins guard Solomon Kindley.

Miami now hopes those connections will help get more out of Wilson than Tennessee did.

More from Cameron Wolfe:

@CameronWolfe

The main cost of Miami trading for  Isaiah Wilson — if he passes a physical — is nearly $4M guaranteed money left on his deal over next 3 seasons. Swap of 7th round is essentially nothing. True definition of buying low, but it shows how fed up Titans were with 2020 1st rounder.

AFC EAST

MIAMI

From the perspective of the Dolphins, who is the better WR draft prospect, JAMARR CHASE or DEVONTA SMITH?  Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com:

A top Miami Dolphins priority this offseason is surrounding quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with better offensive playmakers, and their top asset is the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

The draft’s top two wide receivers — Alabama’s DeVonta Smith and LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase — have to be on the short list of candidates for that pick and there’s strong arguments for both to be the first receiver selected.

Smith, the Heisman Trophy winner, excels with unique quickness, acceleration, route running and has a knack for separating and making plays. His 175-pound frame is the big question. Chase, who opted out of the 2020 season but was college football’s best wide receiver in 2019, excels with strength, body control, technique, route running and in tight-window situations.

Both have vocal supporters as the draft’s top receiver. ESPN analyst Louis Riddick is a big proponent of Chase as a WR1, saying, “If/when Ja’Marr Chase runs that 4.45 or less in the 40 [-yard dash] this spring, go ahead and send him straight to Miami.”

Tagovailoa, who played with Smith at Alabama and has talked about reuniting with him in Miami this offseason, told NFL Network last month: “A lot of people say Smitty is too small, doesn’t weigh too much. You guys see his film, this guy can play. I’d be very excited to have someone like Smitty on our team.”

ESPN’s Todd McShay dropped a mock draft Thursday, projecting Miami to draft Smith with the No. 8 pick after a trade down with the Carolina Panthers.

Smith vs. Chase is a spicy debate, so we enlisted three different perspectives — ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN front office insider Mike Tannenbaum and an NFL scout to break it down.

Kiper: Edge goes to Smith

Smith and Chase are 1 and 1A for Kiper. He gave the slight edge to Smith, who he says will go down as one of Alabama coach Nick Saban’s top 2-3 players ever coached because of his work ethic.

“Ja’Marr had that one phenomenal year with [QB] Joe Burrow opposite [WR] Justin Jefferson with Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the backfield. He’s 6-1, 205-to-210, so bigger than DeVonta. Now, DeVonta had the better body of work. Plus, DeVonta played this year and played phenomenal. Ja’Marr didn’t,” Kiper said. “If Tua is your QB moving forward, it would probably be DeVonta because of the familiarity. It’s been a pretty even split from the people I talk to on [who is the] top receiver between those two.”

Dolphins coach Brian Flores addressed Smith’s size at the Senior Bowl, saying, “you can nitpick all you want about a guy’s size, but good players are good players are good players. He made a lot of plays in the biggest games of the year. He’s a very good player, and it’s been good getting to know him. He’s a good kid, too.”

Kiper agrees, saying questions about Smith’s size “don’t make any sense.”

“He’s over 6-feet tall, 175 pounds. Marvin Harrison [an Indianapolis Colts Hall of Famer] was 179 pounds coming out of Syracuse. That’s the comparison,” Kiper said. “He’s got the height. He’s durable. He’s strong. He got the finger injury in the national title game on a dropped pass. He took a lot of hits and stayed healthy. He was uncoverable against top competition. DeVonta’s quickness, acceleration off the line and out of his break was on another level. In terms of weight, what are we talking about here?”

Tannenbaum: Chase a rare athlete

Chase is Tannenbaum’s No. 1 receiver because of his pro size and play style.

“He’s very versatile. He’s super smart. You can’t move around like he did without really knowing the offense. Athletically, he’s rare. He was a better player than Justin Jefferson. You look at what Jefferson did [as a Minnesota Vikings rookie], it’s scary thinking about how good Chase can be,” Tannenbaum said. “I’m very curious how the league handles opt-out guys. In a big decision like Chase, I would really drill down on why. It was a pandemic, I wouldn’t hold it against him if he didn’t feel safe. But I would want to know what accountability do they have, do they run away from other challenges, does this speak to their mental toughness, are they easily influenced? I would want him to take me through his decision process.”

Though Tannenbaum prefers Chase, he also compares Smith to Harrison, who was uncoverable when Tannenbaum was the New York Jets’ general manager.

“The national championship against Ohio State, I left the stadium thinking, ‘Wow, is DeVonta Smith the best player in the draft?’ He was magical,” Tannenbaum said. “Smith has historic change-of-direction, his ability to run routes and create separation, his hands are exceptional, he makes very tight-window catches. His build is definitely a concern — he’s slight. You wonder, can he stand up to the rigors of pro football, then you think Ohio State’s defense is going to have a lot of NFL players. There’s something special about DeVonta. Can Smith be sustainable? With a player like him and his character, I won’t bet against him.”

AFC scout: Both have upside, but one is elite

One non-Dolphins AFC scout closely watched both wide receivers and gave the edge to Chase, citing primarily size and traits. He told ESPN he would draft Chase in the top-5 if he had a reliable quarterback, and would draft Smith in the top-15.

“Ja’Marr is the best WR in this class and would’ve been the best in 2020 draft as well,” the scout said. “He’s a do-it-all WR with dynamic ability after the catch. Very natural and strong! Makes plays at all three levels. I think he has a chance to develop into an All-Pro guy.

“DeVonta is a great football player. He’s tough — stronger than his frame and size indicate. He’s very deceptive. Not sure what his 40 is, but he closes cushion and consistently gets behind the defense. Similarly in his routes, he has slip and he’s quicker than you think, always getting separation without stressing. But Chase is bigger, faster, stronger and better after the catch. Both will be good rookies.”

THIS AND THAT

2016 RE-DRAFT

With the benefit of hindsight – Adam Rank of NFL.com says the Rams would not take QB JARED GOFF all over again.  That and the rest of a re-created first round from 2016:

1 – Los Angeles Rams (Original No. 1 pick: Jared Goff)

Dak Prescott

QB, Mississippi State

Prescott was amazing as a rookie and he’s reached at least 3,300 passing yards and 28 total touchdowns in every full season he’s played. And he was absolutely crushing it last year before his injury. The guy’s good. You almost worry that he was so good as a rookie that he would have saved Jeff Fisher’s job, resulting in the Rams never hiring Sean McVay. Maybe Goff was the right pick here after all! I’m kidding. But I would like to think about that for a future podcast or something.

2 – Cleveland Browns (Original No. 2 pick: Carson Wentz by Philadelphia)

Joey Bosa

DE, Ohio State

For a few years there, the Browns were questioned for trading out of this pick and inherently passing on Wentz. Lampooned, really. But I would say that it’s all worked out pretty well for Cleveland over the past couple of seasons. Imagine what would have happened if the Browns had selected Bosa second overall. The fan base obviously would’ve warmly welcomed the Ohio State product. He’s also good at football, posting double-digit sacks in three of his five seasons.

3 – Los Angeles Chargers (Original No. 3 pick: Joey Bosa)

Michael Thomas

WR, Ohio State

The Chargers nailed their pick with Bosa, but with him going No. 2 overall in this exercise, L.A. selects Thomas. The Chargers have always had those tall, physical receivers, so Thomas seems like a perfect pick to pair with Keenan Allen. The Bolts also had a need for a speedy receiver at the outset of the 2016 offseason, but they signed Travis Benjamin that March, so I favor Thomas over Tyreek Hill here. This isn’t saying Thomas is better than Tyreek, but it’s a better fit for the 2016 Chargers.

4 – Dallas Cowboys  (Original No. 4 pick: Ezekiel Elliott)

Ezekiel Elliott

RB, Ohio State

The Cowboys selected Zeke here in real life. And I would say that it was a smart pick. Even though the “running backs don’t matter” crowd still hates it to this day. But Elliott has been good for the Cowboys. The guy did lead the league in rushing twice, rolling up 1,631 yards and 16 total touchdowns as a rookie. It hasn’t been Zeke’s fault. I would still make that call today. Like, do you think the Cowboys were a Jalen Ramsey away from winning a Super Bowl?

5 – Jacksonville Jaguars (Original No. 5 pick: Jalen Ramsey)

Jalen Ramsey

CB, Florida State

The Jaguars originally selected Ramsey in this slot, and I’d have them do it again. Obviously, things did not end well between the two parties. But maybe in this alternate reality, Myles Jack is not ruled down. Maybe the Jaguars go on to the Super Bowl and beat the Eagles. And maybe I become an AEW announcer. There are a lot of different ways this could have gone. But that 2017 Jaguars team was special, and I wouldn’t change that. (Plus, if the worst thing is you get a ton of picks from the Rams, you do it.)

6 – Baltimore Ravens (Original No. 6 pick: Ronnie Stanley)

Tyreek Hill

WR, West Alabama

The Ravens originally nabbed Ronnie Stanley at No. 6. And he’s turned out to be a really good pro player, earning All-Pro honors in 2019. I wouldn’t even mind if Baltimore used this pick on Stanley again. The Ravens always seem to lack an abundance of playmakers, though. Yes, they had future Hall of Famer Steve Smith in 2016, but he was in the final year of his career. I think selfishly I just want to see those two receivers paired together to see what they could do.

7 – San Francisco 49ers (Original No. 7 pick: DeForest Buckner)

Ronnie Stanley

OT, Notre Dame

The 49ers originally took DeForest Buckner here. And it would make a lot of sense for the 49ers to take him again, considering he was a key part of San Francisco’s success in reaching Super Bowl LIV. But the 49ers traded him and have a huge need on the offensive line. Meanwhile, the D-line’s still quite stout. So I’m going to have them take Stanley right here. I mean, honestly, you can’t go wrong either way.

8 – Philadelphia Eagles (Original No. 8 pick: Jack Conklin)

Carson Wentz

QB, North Dakota State

Stay with me, as this gets a little convoluted here. This pick was originally the Dolphins’, but it was moved in a deal that featured Kiko Alonso and Byron Maxwell. And then, eventually, this ended up as the Titans’ pick. But let’s just say for a moment that this pick stays with the Eagles. I have them taking Wentz here. I know it ended horribly. Every Eagles content creator is going to roast me for doing this, and that’s fine. But here’s what I’m telling you: The Eagles don’t get their lone Lombardi Trophy without Wentz. Obviously, Nick Foles earned Super Bowl MVP honors to close out a magical playoff run. But we don’t get to that point if Wentz doesn’t put in his own MVP-caliber season in 2017. Seriously, Foles is great in small runs, but not over a full season. Look at his history. You needed Wentz. So you make this pick again. And hey, this time you don’t even have to make that final trade up to No. 2!

9 – Chicago Bears (Original No. 9 pick: Leonard Floyd)

DeForest Buckner

DT, Oregon

Chicago moved up to No. 9 to snag Leonard Floyd originally. I’m going to have the Bears move up here, as well. But instead of Floyd, Buckner’s the target. A solid pro, who, — as I previously mentioned — became an All-Pro with the Colts last season. And if I didn’t mention it, I certainly meant to. Buckner going to Chicago and eventually playing for Vic Fangio and with Khalil Mack means Super Bowl. That’s right, I’m saying Super Bowl.

10 – New York Giants (Original No. 10 pick: Eli Apple)

James Bradberry

CB, Samford

The Giants selected Eli Apple with this original pick in 2016. He’s played for two other teams since and is now approaching free agency. So, instead, I have the G-Men taking Bradberry, who became an elite shutdown corner for this past season for … the Giants. So New York eventually did make the right pick from this 2016 CB crop — it just took a lot of time and free agency money.

11 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers  (Original No. 11 pick: Vernon Hargreaves)

Xavien Howard

CB, Baylor

The Bucs used the selection they swapped with the Bears and took CB Vernon Hargreaves III, who was waived in 2019. But since the 2016 Bucs still needed some help at the cornerback position — and despite how fun it would be to imagine Derrick Henry landing there — I’m going with Howard, who has become an elite cornerback in the NFL, even earning some DPOY votes this past season.

12 – New Orleans Saints (Original No. 12 pick: Sheldon Rankins)

Chris Jones

DT, Mississippi State

The Saints drafted Sheldon Rankins with the No. 12 overall pick, and he’s been solid. But Jones has become one of the most dominant defensive tackles in the game. This is no disrespect to Rankins, by any means. But Jones is a headliner. Like Metallica. Rankins is also a headliner, but like Coldplay. A good band, but not on the level of Metallica.

13 – Miami Dolphins (Original No. 13 pick: Laremy Tunsil)

Laremy Tunsil

OT, Mississippi

Some weird circumstances — to put it mildly — caused Tunsil to tumble on draft day back in 2016. But given the opportunity, I believe the Dolphins would still make the move. If nothing else, they would eventually get some first-round picks from the Texans, so it’s safe to say this selection worked out for them.

14 – Las Vegas Raiders (Original No. 14 pick: Karl Joseph)

Kevin Byard

S, Middle Tennessee State

The Raiders went with Karl Joseph originally. And well, he showed promise during his rookie season with the team. But then, yeah … It wasn’t quite that great. If you’re going to draft a safety, you have to take Byard, who was the NFL interception co-leader in 2017, when he earned first-team All-Pro honors.

15 – Tennessee Titans (Original No. 15 pick: Corey Coleman)

Derrick Henry

RB, Alabama

Another one that gets complicated … But if the Titans stay here at No. 15, they don’t select Jack Conklin — which they did at No. 8 in real life — but instead use this pick on a player they got in the second round. And if you want to debate the merits of drafting a running back at this spot, please stop. Because Derrick Henry is the truth. Also the truth: The Titans did very well in this draft.

16 – Detroit Lions (Original No. 16 pick: Taylor Decker)

Jack Conklin

OT, Michigan State

The Lions originally went offensive line here with Taylor Decker. And Decker has been pretty good. Even has a touchdown reception to his name! But Conklin is a two-time All-Pro, so he’s a better selection right here. It’s kind of like the way Blink-182 is a headlining band. Not that Good Charlotte isn’t. Fine, this bit worked better with Metallica a few blurbs ago, but the same applies here.

17- Atlanta Falcons (Original No. 17 pick: Keanu Neal)

Keanu Neal

S, Florida

The Falcons selected Neal at this spot and he’s been a solid performer for the Falcons, even reaching the Pro Bowl in 2017. And Neal was a key contributor in the Falcons’ Super Bowl season as a rookie. He has battled some injuries in recent years, but he did return to play 15 games in 2020, even recording his first NFL sack. So I’m happy to keep him here.

18 – Indianapolis Colts (Original No. 18 pick: Ryan Kelly)

Ryan Kelly

C, Alabama

The Colts have one of the best offensive lines in football — maybe the best — due in no small part to the man in the middle. Kelly’s made a pair of Pro Bowls and earned a second-team All-Pro nod in 2020. Indy sticks with this pick.

19 – Buffalo Bills (Original No. 19 pick: Shaq Lawson)

Yannick Ngakoue

DE, Maryland

The Bills went with Shaq Lawson here originally. And he was fine. Not spectacular. But fine. However, I would go with Ngakoue, who was brilliant with the Jaguars, especially in 2017. (Before, of course, it ended poorly in Jacksonville. Troubling common thread with Ramsey there.) Ngakoue would be huge for this current Bills team.

20 – New York Jets (Original No. 20 pick: Darron Lee)

Jaylon Smith

LB, Notre Dame

The Jets used the No. 20 selection on Darron Lee. He did get a Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs … but he was inactive for the big game. So I’ll have the Jets take Smith, whose career was delayed because of a brutal injury in college. But he was a Pro Bowler for the Cowboys in 2019.

21 – Washington (Original No. 21 pick: Will Fuller)

Will Fuller

WR, Notre Dame

Back in 2016, Houston swapped spots with Washington to take Fuller. And Washington ended up with Josh Doctson. That’s not going to happen this time around. The Football Team will select Fuller, who has been one of the league’s most explosive receivers, when available. Yes, that last part has been a struggle. But put him on this FT with Terry McLaurin and you’ve got yourself a pretty nice receiving tandem.

22 – Houston Texans (Original No. 22 pick: Josh Doctson)

Taylor Decker

OT, Ohio State

Houston will not be taking Doctson here, as Washington did. But since Houston would eventually trade picks for Laremy Tunsil, why not use this selection on Decker? He’d provide more stability on the O-line, something Deshaun Watson would’ve appreciated in his first few years. Maybe in this Bizarro World, Watson’s happy as a clam in Houston!

23- Minnesota Vikings (Original No. 23 pick: Laquon Treadwell)

Joe Thuney

OG, North Carolina State

The Vikings took Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell with this pick. And look, I missed on him, too, so I won’t clown on the Vikings for that. There aren’t a lot of a great receivers to pick here, so I believe Thuney would be an excellent choice here for Minnesota.

24 – Cincinnati Bengals (Original No. 24 pick: William Jackson)

Kenny Clark

DT, UCLA

Cincy’s original pick in this slot, William Jackson, hasn’t been bad, but Clark would be so huge for the defense. The Bengals had Domata Peko Sr. and Geno Atkins in 2016, but Peko moved on after that season — and Clark would’ve been a perfect replacement.

25 – Pittsburgh Steelers (Original No. 25 pick: Artie Burns)

Justin Simmons

S, Boston College

The Steelers always seem to nail it, no matter where they’re drafting from. OK, they originally took Artie Burns here, so maybe not always. With hindsight, Simmons seems like so much of a Steelers move that I have to do it. I mean, this might prevent them from nabbing Minkah Fitzpatrick in the future — unless one of them switches spots — but we’re not playing that game.

26 – Seattle Seahawks (Original No. 26 pick: Paxton Lynch)

Cody Whitehair

OL, Kansas State

The Seahawks are going to stay in their spot here and not trade with the Broncos, which they did in real life. Back in 2016, Seattle moved down to No. 31 and then went offensive line with Germain Ifedi, who would eventually play with the Bears. In this exercise, the ‘Hawks stay put and take current Bear Cody Whitehair. As a Bears fan, I don’t like this at all. Whitehair has been a great pick.

27 – Green Bay Packers (Original No. 27 pick: Kenny Clark)

Sheldon Rankins

DT, Louisville

In 2016, the Pack spent the No. 27 pick on Kenny Clark, but he’s off the board in this activity. Still, I have Green Bay sticking with defensive tackle. Now, Rankins has had some injury problems, but he’s been solid when available, and I’m sure he’d be great for the Packers.

28 – Kansas City Chiefs (Original No. 28 pick: Joshua Garnett)

Matt Judon

OLB, Grand Valley State

The Chiefs traded out of this spot originally, as the 49ers moved up for Joshua Garnett. And that wasn’t great. In this adventure, K.C. stays put and takes Judon. And maybe he’s on the field in the 2018 AFC Championship Game instead of Dee Ford … who never lines up offsides … giving the Chiefs at least one more Lombardi Trophy!!!!! I know, I’m getting too far ahead of myself.

29 – Arizona Cardinals (Original No. 29 pick: Robert Nkemdiche)

Myles Jack

LB, UCLA

Arizona took a big swing with Robert Nkemdiche and it didn’t work out. But I really do believe a player like Jack would have been perfect for the Cardinals, who have enjoyed great success with similar types of versatile talents. I was shocked Jack went in the second round in the original draft — that can’t happen again.

30 – Carolina Panthers (Original No. 30 pick: Vernon Butler)

Hunter Henry

TE, Arkansas

The Panthers obviously had Greg Olsen still on their roster. And they looked for help on the defensive line back in 2016, taking Vernon Butler in this slot. But I’m thinking of a bunch of 12 personnel with Olsen and Henry — sound good? And then Henry eventually serves as Olsen’s successor. The Panthers would be thrilled to have this.

31 – Denver Broncos (Original No. 31 pick: Germain Ifedi)

Jared Goff

QB, California

The Broncos traded up to take Paxton Lynch in 2016. That move busted big time. And you know, we could debate whether Goff is really just a product of Sean McVay, but for the defending Super Bowl 50 champions, I believe it’s worth the risk to take Goff in this spot and see what he might be able to do. The 2016 Broncos still had Gary Kubiak and a pretty good defense. Finished 9-7 that season. Maybe if they make this pick, they actually make it back to the playoffs.

FREE AGENCY WINNERS

Tom Pelissaro of ESPN.com has a dozen free agents who are going to clean up beyond your wildest expectations in a few weeks.

Here’s a look at some pending unrestricted free agents who might end up getting more money than you think:

Corey Davis

WR | 26 years old

There are a lot of headliners at receiver — Allen Robinson, Chris Godwin, Kenny Golladay, Will Fuller and JuJu Smith-Schuster, among others — though that group figures to get thinned out via potential tags for Robinson, Godwin and/or Golladay. A less-heralded name to watch is Davis, the No. 5 overall draft pick in 2017 whose strong fourth season (65 catches for 984 yards and five TDs in 14 games) puts him in position to cash in on the Titans’ decision to decline his fifth-year option.

Dalvin Tomlinson

NT | 27 years old

The belief is the Giants will re-sign or tag (again) emerging star Leonard Williams, leaving his 27-year-old teammate Tomlinson — who has started every game since New York drafted him in the second round in 2017 — as a premier player in the UFA market (assuming he doesn’t get tagged himself). The 2021 draft class is considered very weak for defensive tackles, which could recession-proof the FA interior group to a degree — even in the second wave, where the likes of Denver’s Shelby Harris, Tennessee’s DaQuan Jones, Chicago’s Roy Robertson-Harris, Cleveland’s Larry Ogunjobi and New England’s Adam Butler should do well.

Jonnu Smith

TE | 25 years old

Gerald Everett

TE | 26 years old

The big-ticket TE item is the Chargers’ Hunter Henry, who could end up getting franchise tagged again — this time for $12.73 million — if the sides can’t strike a long-term deal. But with executives seeing a relatively thin tight end group in the ’21 draft, look for some other veterans to cash in, too. The 25-year-old Smith, coming off a career year for the Titans with 41 catches and nine total touchdowns, is in line to strike it big. Also, look for a nice payday for Everett, a rotational player throughout his career with the Rams who has a rare athletic skill set.

John Johnson

S | 25 years old

Marcus Williams

S | 24 years old

Perhaps if he had a less anonymous name, Johnson would get has much recognition outside NFL circles as he does inside. That may change once he signs a new deal after four productive seasons with the Rams. With Justin Simmons already tagged in Denver as the sides try to work out a long-term deal and the Jets’ Marcus Maye probably heading that way, as well, Williams — who has started 60 games over four seasons and is still only 24 — is another in good position to cash in.

Corey Linsley

C | 29 years old

Joe Thuney

OG | 28 years old

Trent Williams

OT | 32 years old

It’s a lean year for free-agent offensive linemen, especially with Carolina tackle Taylor Moton and perhaps Washington guard Brandon Scherff (again) headed for franchise tags. But expect a few players to command monster deals near the top of the market for their positions: Linsley, the All-Pro center last season with the Packers who’s still only 29; Thuney, 28, who played on the franchise tag with the Patriots last season; and Williams, 32, who returned from a year off, played well in 14 starts for the 49ers and now is widely expected to become one of the NFL’s highest-paid tackles, again.

Ronald Darby

CB | 27 years old

Troy Hill

CB | 29 years old

It’s also a lean year for outside corners beyond Seattle’s Shaquill Griffin and Cincinnati’s William Jackson, who both are in line for lucrative contracts. That should benefit the likes of Darby, who’s still only 27 and rebounded from three injury-riddled years in Philadelphia to start every game — and play well — last season for Washington. Hill started every game last season and is on the short list of guys who can play inside and outside.

Matt Milano

LB | 26 years old

Even at age 31, Lavonte David remains one of the NFL’s best true off-ball linebackers and figures to get a strong deal after helping the Bucs to a Super Bowl win — potentially staying in Tampa. But don’t be surprised if there’s also a big payday somewhere for Milano, who’s undersized and played just 10 games (five starts) for the Bills in 2020 because of injuries, but has been productive when he’s on the field.