QB PATRICK MAHOMES is an advocate for the use of microchips to aid officiating.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes wants the NFL to go high tech to improve officiating.

The NFL has a microchip in every football as part of its data tracking, and bits of that data are sometimes revealed to the public through the league’s Next Gen Stats. But Mahomes says the chip should also be used to alert the officials to when a ball crosses a goal line.

“I’ve always thought the chip in the ball has to happen sometime, where if you cross the line, it just tells you a touchdown,” Mahomes said on the WHOOP podcast, via the Kansas City Star. “The biggest thing to me is when they get in the pile by the end zone, there is literally no way to tell if he’s in the end zone or not. It’s like you said, it’s just whatever they call. … I’m sure it’ll happen soon enough.”

The problem, however, is that on most touchdown calls, the question is not just, Did the ball cross the goal line? The question is usually, Which happened first, the ball crossing the goal line or the runner’s knee touching the ground? And a chip in the ball can’t answer that question. Even if the NFL used an instant replay system that benefited from a microchip that told the replay official exactly when the ball crossed the goal line, that wouldn’t necessarily help the official figure out when the runner, whose knee is obscured by a pile of players, went down.

So a microchip in a football might help with some replay reviews, but it wouldn’t necessarily be the major fix that Mahomes is hoping for.

Another issue, as the DB sees it, is that if the tip of the football touches the goal line, it is a touchdown.  So what if the microchip is in the middle of the ball or at the “wrong” end?  Where are these chips on an aerodynamic football?  Inside the laces?

– – –

More from Patrick Chung.  Michelle Steele from ESPN.com:

Former NFL player and coach Eugene Chung is waiting to be contacted by the league as it reviews his claim that he was told during a recent job interview that he was “not the right minority.”

But Chung says he isn’t looking to settle scores.

“I’m not looking to shame anybody, I’m not looking to call anyone out, or name names … what good comes of that?” Chung told ESPN in an interview that aired Tuesday. “I really don’t think he was saying it in a discriminatory or malicious way; it was matter of fact.”

While Chung is refusing to name the team or individual involved — saying “it’ll go with me to the grave” — the comments have drawn condemnation from the Fritz Pollard Alliance and have prompted the league to look into the matter. It’s an especially embarrassing incident for the NFL, which has modified its rules this year to encourage diversity on team staffs. For the first time this offseason, for example, the league is offering draft picks as an incentive for teams that develop a minority candidate who is then hired as a general manager or head coach.

It’s with that context in mind that Chung mentioned he is a minority, in addition to his other attributes, while interviewing for a job this offseason. According to Chung, the interviewer said the team didn’t “look at you as a minority.”

Asians make up 6% of the U.S. population, and according to one survey, fewer than 2% of players in the NFL.

Increasing incidents of anti-Asian violence across the country inspired Chung to go public with his experience.

“With everything that’s going on in this country and in the world, I have stayed quiet, and I’ve always kept my head down,” Chung said. “That was what I was taught by my father who immigrated here — he’s like, ‘Do your work as best you can, stay quiet. Don’t cause any trouble.’

“I don’t feel like I’m causing trouble, I’m just bringing information to light.”

NFC NORTH

GREEN BAY

Kenny Mayne is departing ESPN because his bosses didn’t value him as much as others do.  QB AARON RODGERS, perhaps in the same situation with Green Bay, appeared on SportsCenter Monday night to pay tribute to him – and make a little news.  Charles Robinson of YahooSports.com:

Aaron Rodgers has a problem with the corporation’s philosophy. That’s what is causing him to stand apart from the Green Bay Packers.

This is how Rodgers summed it up Monday night, appearing on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” and breaking his silence on a rift that widened this offseason between the MVP quarterback and the Packers. While Rodgers stopped short of naming names or specific incidents, he did point fairly unambiguously at the Green Bay front office when he described what has caused his impasse with the team. Appearing on “SportsCenter” to celebrate the final show of his friend and longtime ESPN anchor Kenny Mayne, it was the most expansive message to date from Rodgers about his problems with Packers management.

“I think sometimes people forget what really makes an organization,” Rodgers told Mayne. “And, you know, history is important, legacy of so many people who’ve come before you. But the people, that’s the most important thing. The people make an organization. People make a business and sometimes that gets forgotten.

“You know, culture is built brick by brick — the foundation of it by the people. Not by the organization, not by the building, not by the corporation. It’s built by the people. I’ve been fortunate enough to play a number of amazing, amazing people and got to work for some amazing people as well. It’s those people that build the foundation of those entities. I think sometimes we forget that, you know?”

Asked by Mayne if he was demanding a trade, Rodgers didn’t answer, instead turning the conversation into a direction that appeared to point toward general manager Brian Gutekunst. And more specifically, Gutekunst’s drafting of quarterback Jordan Love without Rodgers ever having been aware the organization was mulling the idea of taking his successor in the first round of 2020.

“With my situation, look, it’s never been about the draft pick, picking Jordan,” Rodgers said. “I love Jordan. He’s a great kid. [It has been] a lot of fun to work together. I love the coaching staff. Love my teammates. Love the fan base in Green Bay. An incredible 16 years. It’s just kind of about a philosophy and maybe forgetting that it is about the people that make the thing go. It’s about character. It’s about culture. It’s about doing things the right way.”

Rodgers spoke affectionately about working with or for virtually everyone involved with the Packers franchise — but notably left the front office out of that mix. He also conceded something sources close to Rodgers have been saying for months: That Rodgers believed the franchise’s front office was making plans to move on from him sooner rather than later, but that he disrupted that plan by winning the regular-season MVP.

“A lot of this was put in motion last year and the wrench was just kind of thrown into it when I won MVP and played the way I played last year,” Rodgers said. “So this is just kind of, I think, the spill-out of all that. But it is about the people and that’s the most important thing. Green Bay has always been about the people. From Curly Lambeau being owner and founder to the ’60s with [Vince] Lombardi and Bart Starr and all those incredible names to the ’90s teams with coach [Mike] Holmgren and [Brett Favre] and the Minister of Defense [Reggie White] to the run that we’ve been on. It’s about the people.”

Mike Florio comments:

But it’s really not. Saying football is “about the people” is no different that saying “football is family.” No, football is business and it’s good for business to say things like “football is family.”

For Rodgers, it’s good for his standing in the eyes of a skeptical fan base to say, “It’s about the people.”

The truth is that it’s only “about the people” to the extent it’s about people Rodgers doesn’t like. Whether it’s G.M. Brian Gutekunst, CEO Mark Murphy, or one or more others in the front office, it’s clear that Rodgers has had enough of some of the people in the Packers organization, to the point where he wants to continue his career with other people.

Florio on the set-up to Rodgers newsy comments:

To little surprise, Rodgers resisted making news. For the most part, he avoided doing so.

Beyond confirming that he didn’t show up for the start of the team’s OTA sessions, Rodgers avoided most questions about his status with the team.

“I’m just here so I won’t get fined, Ken,” Rodgers said initially. Mayne persisted.

“This is not about me,” Rodgers said. “This is about you. This is about years and years of watching you on TV. You, not just the highlights, but tuning in to watch you and Keith Olbermann and Stuart Scott changing the ways that late-night SportsCenters were done.”

Mayne didn’t relent.

“This isn’t what they want,” Mayne said. “They didn’t call on you for a tribute video here. You could have shot that on Instagram or something.”

“I don’t give a shit,” Rodgers said, laughing.

This tweet from Tyler Dunne:

@TyDunne

One item in today’s story: Heard Aaron Rodgers was telling some opposing players this past season that he was looking to build a team elsewhere and wanted to see if they’d be interested in teaming up.

Has obviously been thinking of this a while.

AFC NORTH

CLEVELAND

TE DAVID NJOKU is, at the moment, okay with the Browns.  Tweets from Jeremy Fowler:

@JFowlerESPN

The Browns seemed to have weathered the storm with tight end David Njoku, who requested a trade last summer. I’m told per source that Njoku is in a good place with the franchise.

@JFowlerESPN

Njoku teased this with the recent comment ‘I ain’t goin nowhere!!!!’ underneath a Bleacher Report post proposing a trade to the Jaguars.

AFC SOUTH

HOUSTON

QB DESHAUN WATSON still wants to be traded.  Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com:

When Houston Texans players take the field this week for the start of Phase 3 of the offseason program, Deshaun Watson won’t be among them.

Watson will not attend organized team activities, which are scheduled to take place in Houston over the next three weeks, and still wishes to be traded, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Monday, per sources.

The fifth-year Texans quarterback initially requested a trade from the team in January before he was accused in 22 separate lawsuits filed in March and April of sexual assault and misconduct during massage sessions.

The Houston Police Department has been investigating Watson for the past two months.

The NFL is also currently investigating the accusations against Watson. The QB could face punishment under the league’s personal-conduct policy and could be placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List.

Watson has not been around the team since the lawsuits against him piled up. He has not made any public comments since March 16 when he denied wrongdoing in response to the first lawsuits in a statement on social media. Last week, the QB posted videos to his Instagram Story of himself working out.

With Watson’s legal situation and desire to be traded complicating his future with the club, the Texans have stocked up at the quarterback position this offseason. Houston signed veteran backup Tyrod Taylor, traded for Bengals backup Ryan Finley — whom they released Monday — drafted Stanford’s Davis Mills in the third round and just last week signed journeyman backup Jeff Driskel.

Despite Watson’s off-the-field allegations, teams are still interested in acquiring the Pro Bowl quarterback, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.

Texans general manager Nick Caserio said in April that the team will “respect the legal process” as it pertains to Watson’s status with the team. Asked earlier this month about his expectations for how the QB situation will shake out, the first-year GM said, “We’re just glad that we have the players that we have in the building.”

Texans OTAs begin today, May 24, and continue May 26-27, June 1, June 3-4, June 7-8 and June 10-11. Their mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 15-17.

JACKSONVILLE

Michael Lombardi of The Athletic takes a swipe at TE TIM TEbow.

Tim Tebow deservingly won the Heisman in 2007 for playing great during his college career at Florida. Since ending his collegiate career, he should win another award for being a self-indulgent salesman.

After not playing in the NFL since 2015, Tebow, upon signing with the Jags, has become the No. 1 selling jersey in the NFL. More than Tom Brady, more than Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson. Tebow can certainly move merchandise, but beyond jersey sales, I am not sure what the Jaguars are getting by signing him. When I learned that Jacksonville would sign Tebow and convert him to tight end, I kept asking myself: What’s in this for the Jags? Why would they take the risk when the chances for reward are so slim? In fact, are there any rewards at all other than doing a favor for a former player and local hero who keeps asking for more chances than he deserves?

The signing of Tebow reminded me of a scene in The Sopranos when Tony was seeking legal advice from his attorney Neil Mink. Mink tells Tony that the FBI is a business; they will not invest money into something that won’t prove beneficial. So, if they’re spending time investigating him, they expect a reward— one false step by Tony and the FBI will be taking him in.

The NFL is also a business, and teams rarely invest money or precious time into something that lacks a huge upside. Seriously, how does signing a 33-year-old former quarterback who has never played tight end in his life make sense? The Jaguars’ coaching staff will have to invest countless hours into Tebow’s transformation with little chance of success. For this to work, and to justify the time and energy the Jaguars are putting into it, Tebow needs to be an upper-echelon talent, not just a good special teamer or a third tight end.

I am not anti-Tebow as a person; I am anti-Tebow as a football player, taking a roster spot, being allowed to change course as if he’s had the same prior success as Michael Jordan. I understood when Jordan tried his hand at baseball and teams were interested. Hell, if Jordan had wanted to lace up skates and attempt an NHL career, I would have been all for it. Jordan’s achievement as a premier talent, a generational elite athlete, meant that the world would get out of his way if he wanted to change sports. He earned that right. Tebow? He hadn’t earned anything other than a huge following of people who “remember when” he was a star at Florida. And as Tony Soprano once said, “’Remember when’ is the lowest form of conversation.”

Tebow is not an elite athlete or talent. That’s not debatable nor a knock, just an evaluation of his skills relative to other professional athletes. He has excellent hand-eye coordination and can throw a baseball or football, demonstrating solid all-around athletic skills. But nothing is elite. He does not have elite speed, quickness, or anything that separates him from others. (I don’t want to hear about Tebow being an elite competitor or teammate, as that is not a skill worthy of an opportunity.)

As a tight end, Tebow won’t be hard for any safety to cover one-on-one, and he will not be able to block the edge against bigger, stronger defensive linemen or backers. In college, he won with his power, toughness, willingness to compete, and was hard to tackle, allowing him to have a great career that included winning a Heisman and two national championships. The mismatch of his power and skills when he played quarterback in college allowed him to have great success; those mismatches don’t exist at tight end in the NFL. That skill set allowed him to have an NFL career as a running QB, but his lack of throwing the ball with accuracy, timing, feel, and rhythm made him a one-dimensional quarterback who could not sustain success.

From his college career, Tebow created a mythical persona who seemingly does the impossible. For all his faults as a complete quarterback even in college,Tebow continued to make play after play. He did the unexpected, the unpredictable, rarely lost, and everyone began to believe there was nothing Tebow couldn’t accomplish — until he turned pro and his game didn’t fit.

“I have one job and that is to win games with the Jacksonville Jaguars,” Jaguars coach Urban Meyer recently said. ”If Tim Tebow or Travis Etienne can help us win, then that’s my job to get them ready to go play.”

I agree with Urban that he has one job; he also has to understand time is his enemy — there are not enough hours in the day to develop all the talent. Deciding who to develop becomes critical because the NFL is a business, and a coach’s time equals money. Meyer as the head coach must decide who gets the reps, who gets the extra attention based on the magnitude of the reward. All of Meyer’s high draft picks will get the needed time because they invested money in them. (Don’t forget the draft is all about money — each pick has a certain monetary value.)

One of the main functions of being a head coach is deciding who gets the reps at practice, so a head coach must evaluate talent correctly. He must decide which player based on draft status or prior play warrants the ever-dwindling practice reps. A head coach has to constantly ask himself: If we give this player more reps, more detailed coaching, can we expect him to become an integral part of our team?

The golden rule all head coaches must follow is that they don’t want to develop backup players — they want to spend time and money developing starters. This debate becomes the internal strife most front offices and coaches face daily. The front office wants the coach to keep working with the player, believing with more time and “development,” the player will blossom.

Meanwhile, the coach feels the player lacks the essential qualities to contribute significantly, making him feel like he is wasting time — essentially, all he is doing is practice coaching. This is when whoever is in complete control of the roster must step in and make the long-range decision based on the magnitude of the reward. Once the main decision-maker (in this case, Meyer) determines the player cannot reach an acceptable starter level, the team needs to replace him and find another. Why waste coaching time? This is how teams develop the back end of the roster — always searching for better players who can play well and not cost top dollar. The back end of the roster is reserved for cheap, young talent that could potentially develop — not a 33-year-old changing positions.

With the reduction of practice time, teams can no longer keep players on the field even if the players want the extra work. The rules govern by the CBA demand that everyone come off the field at a certain time. Players who cannot gain practice reps because they are too low on the depth chart need to be ready at a moment’s notice to show their skills. Typically these players need more time to develop; they need a season on the practice squad to hone their talents. How can Tebow learn a new position to perform effectively when he is only getting one or two reps at the position? Why would you sign a player who needs development but has no eligibility to be developed? Is Tebow ready to play now? Of course not, and Meyer will learn that the hard way. The NFL is not college when it comes to player development and time on the field.

There are two Tim Tebows: The one the media has created and fueled and the other who is not good enough to play professional sports. No one can deny his popularity. But as John Updike wrote, “Celebrity is a mask that eats into the face. As soon as one is aware of being somebody, to be watched and listened to with extra interest, input ceases, and the performer goes blind and deaf in his over animation.”

Tebow is self-indulgent by taking a roster spot away from a rookie or any other player who has paid his dues and only needs a chance at those few reps available, and Urban Meyer deserves blame for allowing him to do so. Why does Tebow deserve this attention that others won’t get? Because the mask is what keeps Tebow in the light, the constant need for attention when his career no longer deserves our attention. Meyer will lose credibility with his players the longer he allows the Tebow experiment to continue, because as we have learned over the years, Tebow won’t be the one to end this masquerade.

On the other hand, TE TREY BURTON, who knows a lot about the conversion from QB to TE under Urban Meyer, is supportive.  Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com:

Trey Burton, a leader of the quarterback-turned-tight end plan, is rooting for Tim Tebow’s NFL comeback attempt.

Tebow, who played quarterback during his previous six-year stretch in the NFL, signed last week with the Jacksonville Jaguars and will attempt to make their roster as a tight end. The former Heisman Trophy winner will turn 34 in August and hasn’t been with an NFL team since 2015, when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles during the preseason.

The Jaguars’ decision to sign Tebow — a move that reunites him with first-year head coach Urban Meyer — has generated widespread interest and has been heavily scrutinized. But Burton, who was teammates with Tebow during the Eagles’ 2015 preseason, told ESPN that he is supporting the former star.

“I don’t understand the outrage,” said Burton, a free-agent tight end who’s spent seven seasons in the NFL. “There are 90 [roster] spots. If they want to bring someone in, why not? A lot of teams take fliers on guys from various backgrounds every year.”

Like Tebow, Burton signed with Meyer and the Florida Gators to play quarterback. But Meyer told Burton he was too athletic to sit on the bench, and switching positions just might work.

So Burton became a tight end at Florida and, despite going undrafted in 2014, caught on with Philadelphia, helping the Eagles secure a Super Bowl as the passer on the famed “Philly Special” touchdown.

Burton’s versatility earned him a four-year, $32 million deal with the Chicago Bears before the 2018 season. For his career, he has 159 catches for 1,532 yards and 15 touchdowns. Florida also produced Jordan Reed, another successful NFL tight end who had signed with the Gators as a quarterback.

Burton knows Tebow faces an arduous transition, largely because of the physicality and “learning how to hit every single day” with proper hand placement.

“From an athletic and mental standpoint, there’s no doubt he’ll do a great job,” Burton said. “It’s the day-to-day physical part, the technique that’s the toughest thing.

“As a quarterback, you’re in the pocket looking into coverage. At tight end, you know the coverages but you have to go full speed in a three-point stance and diagnose. You see the linebacker, the defensive end and the safety on your side of the field. … There’s a lot more to it than whether he can do it or not. It’s deeper than that.”

Tebow isn’t promised anything with the Jaguars, as his $920,000 contract includes no guarantees. His first days on the job have been low-key, with the understanding on all sides that he is just another player with an uphill battle to make a team.

Burton also isn’t worried about Tebow taking a job that could go to more qualified free-agent tight ends, recognizing that Meyer’s relationship with Tebow goes a long way — and highlights the coach’s faith in the player. Burton isn’t sure how Meyer might utilize Tebow because his offense will probably change in the NFL.

And like many Tebow fans, Burton figures the player will give himself a fighting chance, at least.

“I really hope he does well. I love what he’s about, how he plays the game,” Burton said. “There’s no doubt in the world, he’s the type of guy to try and defy the odds. You say he can’t do it, well, he’s going to give it all that he has.”

THIS AND THAT

TJ OLSEN

As he transitions into television, former tight end Greg Olsen is faced with a prospective heart transplant for his son.  David Newton of ESPN.com:

TJ Olsen needs a new heart.

Those who have followed the career of former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen, who retired in January to pursue a job as an NFL analyst for Fox Sports, are familiar with TJ’s story.

TJ, 8, was born in 2012 with a congenital heart defect that required four surgeries, including three open heart procedures and the installation of a pacemaker.

He had been leading as typical of a childhood as possible, even serving as a bat boy for his older brother’s 2019 Little League team that fell one win short of making the Cal Ripken Invitational World Series in Florida.

On Monday, Olsen announced in a series of tweets TJ’s heart was “reaching its end” and it “ultimately could lead to a transplant.”

Olsen and his wife, Kara, established the HEARTest Yard initiative shortly after the birth of TJ and his twin sister, Talbot, to raise money for less fortunate families going through crises like theirs.

The three-time Pro Bowl selection has donated millions to the foundation and to the construction of a 25,000-square-foot facility at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte known as the “HEARTest Yard Congenital Heart Center.” TJ is in the care of doctors at the facility.

“We don’t know how long we will be within these hospital walls,” Olsen wrote on Twitter. “We do know that we are in full control of our attitudes and our outlook.”

Olsen made Charlotte his permanent home even after spending the last year of his career with the Seattle Seahawks. He told ESPN in 2019 how much joy he got out of doing things like coaching his son’s Little League team after years of dealing with TJ’s surgeries.

He called it arguably the best time of his life.

“I learned that the simplest things made me the happiest,” Olsen said. “On a Friday night when a lot of people wanted to do a million different things, I was taking the boys to practice, then meeting my wife and daughter and the other families for pizza down the street, sitting there and hanging out with the other families and my kids and wife.

“We didn’t need to do anything fancy or go on fancy trips. It was really a unique experience. I really enjoyed it.”

Now TJ is fighting for his life again, and Olsen is there fighting with him.

“TJ has been a fighter since birth,” Olsen wrote in thanking everyone for their prayers. “We are going to get through this as a family and be better off as a result of this experience.”

2021 WIN TOTAL BETS

Vic Tafur of The Athletic on whether you should be the under or the over on how many games teams will win in 2021:

Without further ado, here are the best bets, followed by the rest of the teams and a couple of bonuses at the end if you make it that far.

Best bets

(All numbers come from BetMGM. If you want to wager on the win totals, use this link for a bonus and a free three-month subscription/extension)

Washington Under 8 (plus 115)

You gotta love Fitzmagic … and apparently you do love Ryan Fitzpatrick as the Washingtons are now -140 (you have to wager 140 to win 100) to go over the number. Ron Rivera overachieved and they won 7 games last year (on a fourth-place schedule) to win the NFC East. Now, Washington gets to play a first-place schedule against the likes of the Chiefs, Buccaneers and Bills. And for every comeback that Fitzpatrick has led for the nine teams that he has been on … he has been on nine teams.

Saints Over 9 (-110)

The Saints won 12 games last year carrying Drew Brees like a sack of potatoes (no offense to the Brees fans. He’s a Hall of Famer who stuck around one year too long). And his departure means they’re three games worse? (If he had played just marginally better in the playoff game and Jared Cook hadn’t fumbled, they beat the Bucs and Aaron Rodgers has another ring and a new contract). Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill will be just fine.

(Fantasy bonus: Michael Thomas has averaged half a catch and eight yards more (7.7 and 92) in games where Brees did not play for the Saints.)

Lions Under 5 (-110)

I am going to need to see it with the new “bite your kneecap off” coach. And the schedule is a killer as the Lions open with the 49ers, at Green Bay, the Ravens, at Chicago and at Minnesota. They also have road games at the Rams, Steelers, Browns and Seahawks. That said, I do think Goff and the Lions will cover the point spread in a lot of losses. (Getting a franchise left tackle in Penei Sewell with the seventh pick was huge for Goff and something I think the top 6 teams look back on.)

Patriots Over 9.5 (plus 125)

Remember, there are 17 games this season. So, we’re saying New England just has to go at least 10-7, a year after it was a play away from being 8-8 when their starting quarterback (Cam Newton) was awful his first two games back from having COVID-19. The Patriots also got a lot better in free agency (with Matthew Judon and yes, I liked the Nelson Agholor signing and think he can be a No. 1) and the draft.

Cardinals Under 8 (plus 120)

The Cardinals added J.J. Watt but play in the toughest division in the NFL. Kyler Murray is one of the most exciting players in the league, but I am still not sold on whether Kliff Kingsbury can get the best out of him or this team. He is not good at making in-game or in-season adjustments. They also could be behind the eight-ball early as they have three road games in the first four weeks. (We should have cashed on the Cardinals under last year and are back like John Wick.)

The rest of the league

Chiefs Over 12 (-120)

Kansas City won 14 games last year despite some injury issues and now has a rebuilt offensive line and a Top 10 defense to go with the best player in the NFL. The only reason to consider the under is if you think the AFC West is improved this year. I don’t.

Buccaneers Under 11.5 (plus 100)

The Bucs are the first Super Bowl champ to bring back all 22 starters ever. Which tells me they are going to be focused on the playoffs and not winning 13 games in the regular season.

DB note – 4^th easiest schedule, Brady saying he wants to go undefeated, stacked team. Let’s do the numbers – 4-0 against the NFC East, 5-1 against the NFC South, 3-1 against the AFC East, that’s 12-2 and we haven’t even figured the games with the Rams, Colts and Bears.  We think 14-3 is very reasonable and they only need 12.

Ravens Over 11 (-110)

I have Baltimore winning 12 games, but six of their nine home games are against teams that reached the playoffs last season.

Bills Over 10.5 (-150)

Buffalo has won double digit games each of the last two years and now gets an extra home game.

Browns Over 10 (-140)

The Browns were one of the most injured teams last year and they get Odell Beckham back, so there could still be some value here

Colts Under 10 (-130)

Carson Wentz takes over for Philip Rivers and and gets a brutal schedule (NFC West, Buccaneers, at Ravens, at Bills).

Rams Over 10 (-130)

The Rams made the big move and traded for Matt Stafford, and when it happened everybody was pretty excited. But people around the league may have a point in that by panicking to dump Jared Goff for Stafford, Sean McVay won’t be able to do as much schematically because Stafford is a lot less mobile than Goff. And that the gap between Stafford and Goff is not that big if you look closer at Stafford’s losses in Detroit. I will still take the over because of the Rams’ defensive stars and improving run game, but I do now have cold feet.

49ers Over 10 (-140)

The NFL itself has money on this one, as they gave a six-win team five prime-time television games. Trey Lance, even if you’re a fan, is going to need some time to be ready to play, coming off a one-game season for North Dakota State. So you’re betting on Jimmy Garoppolo and the players around him — which is fine, since the Niners have won 72.7 percent of the games Garoppolo has started since 2017.

Seahawks Over 9.5 (-140)

The NFC West is going to have three 10-win teams, as Pete Carroll didn’t just forget how to coach pass defense and Russell Wilson could easily have that long overdue MVP season.

Dolphins Over 9 (-150)

Miami won 10 games while playing more rookies than any other team in the NFL. Giddy up.

Chargers Over 9 (-115)

Justin Herbert was impressive last year and Anthony Lynn’s clock management and playcalling was so dreadful that it’s probably worth two or three wins. And L.A. gets its best defensive player back in Derwin James.

Cowboys Under 9 (plus 125)

Dak Prescott is back. Though it wasn’t like the Cowboys were winning before he got hurt last season. They probably get to nine wins, but that might be their ceiling with games at Kansas City, at Tampa Bay, at New England and at New Orleans.

Titans Over 9 (-120)

People love to doubt Ryan Tannehill and now the departure of coordinator Arthur Smith gives them new reason to do that. Not me. He is the real deal and this team is tough. Their defense has some question marks again but added Bud Dupree; a two-win drop from last year seems like a little much. Especially when they play the Texans and Jaguars four times.

Vikings Under 9 (plus 100)

That’s a good line. I think the Vikings probably win nine games. It’s hard to have much more faith in Kirk Cousins or Mike Zimmer than that.

Broncos Under 8.5 (plus 115)

Some people apparently still think this is where Rodgers ends up, as the over-under has been bet up from 7.5 to 8.5. Either that or Teddy Bridgewater has some friends with deep pockets. The defense is definitely better, though.

Steelers Under 8.5 (plus 105)

Pittsburgh started off 11-0 last season and then lost four of five. This probably is 39-year-old Ben Roethlisberger’s last season ands while he can still sling short passes to his plethora of receivers, I don’t think Najee Harris is enough to take the load off him or a suspect offensive line and defense.

Falcons Under 7.5 (plus 120)

Their schedule looks manageable enough, and Matt Ryan has a pretty cool new toy in Kyle Pitts. But Atlanta hasn’t won more than seven games in three years and new coach Arthur Smith is under no pressure to win now.

Panthers Under 7.5 (-140)

The Panthers were a very competitive 5-11 last season (without Christian McCaffrey for 13 games) and I don’t think rolling the dice on Sam Darnold is a bad idea. They even have a relatively friendly opening schedule (vs. Jets, vs. Saints, at Texans, at Cowboys, vs. Eagles). I put my toes in the water, but all of that still doesn’t mean they are going to win three more games than last season.

Bears Over 7.5 (plus 105)

Matt Nagy may think he can play $10 million man Andy Dalton and groom Justin Fields. That would not be smart. Fields is good enough and smart enough to play now, and the Bears could rely on their defense and running game until he gets comfortable enough to make big plays with his feet and arm.

Raiders Over 7 (-125)

The Raiders have faded down the stretch the last two seasons but still managed to top last year’s over-under of 7.5 wins with 8. Their defense has to be better this season, but is their offense as good with a younger snd cheaper line and no Agholor? No. We’ll still go with the over as 7 or 8 wins is the likely outcome.

Giants Over 7 (-140)

This would be up in the best bets section if I had more faith in Daniel Jones. They get Saquon Barkley back and added Kenny Golladay

Eagles Under 6.5 (plus 125)

That would be a three-game jump for Jalen Hurts and Co. That’s not out of the question given a healthy offensive line, a good secondary featuring Darius Slay and Anthony Harris and a last-place schedule. It would also require a leap of faith on new coach Nick Sirianni.

Jaguars Under 6.5 (-120)

Do you love Trevor Lawrence? Then the over is for you. If you don’t think he is as good as Joe Burrow, that the Jags didn’t address their defense enough and are not convinced Urban Meyer will have the same success in the NFL that he did in college, may we suggest the under.

Bengals Over 6.5 (-110)

Joe Burrow is the truth. The Bengals were 2-5-1 before he was carted off, so 7 wins is definitely not out of the question. Plus, Zac Taylor probably gets fired if the Bengals don’t win at least six. Trey Hendrickson and Mike Hilton definitely make the defense better.

Jets Under 6 (-110)

Zach Wilson seems like a reach at the No. 2 overall pick. That said, everyone around the league is super high on new coach Robert Saleh and the schedule is not that scary. But a four-game jump from last year seems ambitious. (A lot could actually be riding on the opener in Carolina against old friend Sam Darnold.)

Texans Under 4 (-110)

Yeah, it’s a bonfire. Houston dumped talent and made an uninspiring coaching hire and then drafted quarterback Davis Mills with its first pick (which came in the third round) as Deshaun Watson is out with 22 pending lawsuits surrounding sexual-assault allegations.

Will any team go 0-17?

This one pays 14-1 and I think Houston has a shot. But Tyrod Taylor got a raw deal last year with the Chargers and is probably good enough to get one or two wins, with the help of new defensive coordinator Lovie Smith.

Will any team go 17-0?

The Chiefs and Bucs would have a small chance to do it (and have you cash in on the 18-1 bet) if they were really motivated, but they probably each lose one or two games in their division alone.

JUNE

In the 365/24/7 NFL, June 1 has a special connotation.  Bill Barnwell of ESPN.comexplains and predicts some resolutions to contract situations:

Only in the NFL is June 1 not actually on June 1. On paper, June 1 plays a huge role for teams as they plan their futures and plot their roster moves. It serves as a line of demarcation for salary-cap purposes as players are cut and traded. It also mostly locks in the compensatory draft pick formula for each organization, allowing teams to sign players without having to worry about canceling out one of the picks they earned for losing a free agent.

But in the NFL’s reality, June 1 came on May 3, if not earlier. Heading into the NFL offseason, each team is allowed to designate two players as post-June 1 releases. On May 3, the league announced to teams that they were able to process signings and other roster decisions as if they were post-June 1 moves. What amounted to an accounting decision spurred several signings and will result in a handful more in the weeks to come.

Let’s get into how the June 1 deadline works for NFL teams, give a couple of examples of how it influenced decision-making over the past few months and then explore what happens next. Now that teams are on the other side of May 3, what sort of signings are more likely to happen? And more interestingly, perhaps, are there potential trades that make sense?

How ‘June 1’ works

Let’s consider two examples of why June 1 matters. First, take the Baltimore Ravens, who have historically been as invested in the compensatory pick game as anyone else. Over The Cap projects that the Ravens are set to earn two fourth-round picks for losing pass-rushers Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue.

Baltimore wanted to address the offensive line this offseason in free agency, and by being very specific about who they signed, the Ravens were able to hold onto those comp picks. First, they signed guard Kevin Zeitler, who was cut by the Giants. (Players who are released by their former teams don’t factor in the compensatory pick formula.) Then they waited until after the June 1 (really May 3) deadline to sign tackle Alejandro Villanueva.

Since free agents signed after that deadline don’t impact the compensatory pick formula, the Ravens added two starters without canceling out either of those fourth-round picks. Those two fourth-rounders are important for a team like Baltimore, which routinely finds players like Judon in the mid-to-late parts of the draft.

Consider the Julio Jones situation for the second example. In terms of accounting, the June 1 deadline determines how much unpaid bonus accelerates onto a team’s cap, which impacts their available space. As part of Jones’ most recent extension, the Atlanta Falcons gave the wideout a $25 million signing bonus in 2019 and an $11 million option bonus in 2020. While Jones gets paid that money up front, NFL teams are allowed to spread the accounting for bonuses evenly over the remaining length of a player’s contract, with a five-year maximum. This works out well for teams until they want to move on from a player.

Leaving the base salaries aside, this is what the accounting for Jones’ bonuses looks like on Atlanta’s cap:

YEAR   SIGNING BONUS          OPTION BONUS

2019     $5 million                           $0

2020     $5 million                          $2.75 million

2021     $5 million                          $2.75 million

2022     $5 million                         $2.75 million

2023     $5 million                         $2.75 million

If the Falcons want to move on from Jones during the 2021 offseason, there’s an issue: They’ve paid Jones $36 million in bonuses but accounted for only $12.75 million of those bonuses on their 2019 and 2020 caps. Once Jones comes off their roster, that remaining $23.25 million comes due. While it’s currently scheduled to hit the cap between 2021 and 2023, moving on from a player causes the remaining unaccounted bonus money to accelerate into the present. Paying this money for a player who isn’t on your roster is what’s commonly referred to as dead money.

Here’s where the timing matters. If the Falcons traded Jones before the June 1 deadline, all of that $23.25 million has to be accounted for on their 2021 cap. By waiting until after the June 1 (again, May 3) deadline, the Falcons gain more flexibility. If Atlanta trades Jones now, it would be responsible for only the dead money already on the 2021 cap, which amounts to $7.75 million. The remaining $15.5 million would accelerate onto next year’s cap, where the Falcons have a little more wiggle room.

Accounting is boring, I know, but this helps determine when and how NFL teams make decisions. So which moves can teams make now that they are unencumbered by the compensatory pick formula and can create some more short-term cap space? Let’s start with what would be the biggest move of them all …

An Aaron Rodgers trade …

Obviously, the biggest news of the offseason would be the Green Bay Packers trading away the reigning MVP. I’ve already written a lengthy piece detailing possible trade offers for Rodgers, which you can read here.

Falcons trade Julio Jones to … Jacksonville Jaguars

Atlanta Falcons get: 2022 second-round pick, WR Laviska Shenault Jr.

The rumor mill continues to focus around Atlanta’s star wideout, with Jones telling FS1’s Undisputed show this week that he is “outta there.” The Falcons chose to restructure Matt Ryan’s contract this offseason and then drafted Kyle Pitts to supplement their receiving corps. Calvin Ridley is coming up for a significant extension. Atlanta is in rough cap shape, and Jones, 32, is occupying $23.1 million in room this season, which is the largest hit for any wideout in football. Jones is just beginning his three-year, $66 million extension, a deal the Falcons handed him with two years left to go before the 2019 campaign.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank has already paid Jones $36 million of that deal in bonuses, which is just one of the ways this trade would be painful. Jones is due a little over $38.3 million over the next three seasons, which would be reasonable enough for an acquiring team. Given that the top-tier wideout market cratered this offseason, though, and Jones missed chunks of 2021 with a hamstring injury, what would the market for Jones look like?

There’s always a chance that some team gets blown away by the name and offers a first-round pick to the Falcons for their future Hall of Famer, but I don’t think that’s likely. At this point of the offseason, most teams would struggle to fit Jones into their cap situation, even with a restructure. Outside of the Colts, who aren’t the type of team to give away significant draft capital for a player in his 30s, and the Raiders, who are out on their own limb, every team that would be in the running for Jones would have a quarterback on a rookie contract.

And even those teams would have some trouble justifying a Jones deal. The Browns, Chargers, Dolphins, Cardinals and Panthers are already set at wide receiver. The Ravens, Giants and Bengals just used a first-round pick on a wideout. The Eagles don’t have cap space. The Bears don’t have cap space and are already down their first-round pick in 2022.

I think you could limit this to five teams with quarterbacks on rookie deals in the Jaguars, Broncos, Jets, Patriots and 49ers. The Broncos have one of the deepest wideout depth charts in football. The Jets just spent big money on Corey Davis and have used consecutive second-round picks on wide receivers. The Kyle Shanahan link makes the 49ers a tantalizing option, but San Francisco is already down so much draft capital from the Trey Lance deal — and it will need to use its cap space to re-sign guys like Fred Warner and Nick Bosa in the years to come.

So, then: Patriots or Jaguars? I know Bill Belichick has bought low on veteran receivers before and come away with one of the best seasons in league history from Randy Moss. When Belichick traded for Moss, though, he wasn’t taking on much risk. The Pats dealt a fourth-round pick for Moss, who was 30 at the time. Moss agreed to take a massive pay cut and played on a one-year, $3 million pact. I don’t think Jones is about to take a similar haircut, nor should he. Belichick just got burned sending a second-round pick to the Falcons for Mohamed Sanu Sr., who immediately suffered a high-ankle sprain and never recovered. I think he would tread very carefully here.

For the Jaguars, though, this deal is plausible. Jacksonville has plenty of cap space, and Trevor Lawrence is at least three years away from an extension. The Jags already established that they want to surround Lawrence with weapons, which is why they signed wideout Marvin Jones Jr. and drafted running back Travis Etienne in the first round this offseason. Etienne is taking snaps at wide receiver in minicamp, suggesting that the Jaguars want to use him in a hybrid role as a runner and receiver.

That role seemed earmarked for Shenault, which opens up a trade possibility. Shenault flashed promise as a rookie, but he was drafted by the now-deposed Dave Caldwell regime in Jacksonville. The 22-year-old still has three years left on his rookie deal, which would make him a low-cost option at receiver for a Falcons team that desperately needs cost-controlled talent. Shenault is not the sort of plug-and-play downfield weapon Arthur Smith had in Tennessee, but there’s plenty to like with the Colorado player.

So, this trade might satisfy both team’s needs. The Jaguars get a true No. 1 at wideout to play alongside Jones and DJ Chark Jr. while helping Lawrence develop. The Falcons get a low-cost solution to try to start replacing Jones and a second-round pick that projects to fall in the top half of the round. It’s no fun to see a team move on from a franchise icon, but if it’s going to happen, this would be one logical way for Atlanta to clear out cap space and get valuable players in return.

Eagles trade Zach Ertz to … Buffalo Bills

Philadelphia Eagles get: 2022 seventh-round pick, TE Tommy Sweeney

It has become clear that Ertz’s future isn’t in Philadelphia. The Eagles didn’t offer the tight end an extension last season, owing to their cap woes, the presence of Dallas Goedert and what ended up as a disastrous campaign for the veteran. Ertz set career lows across the board in virtually every measure of any kind, a scary sign for a player who just turned 30. On top of all that, Ertz’s $12.7 million cap hit is the largest at his position in 2021.

The Eagles can save $8.5 million in cash and on their 2021 cap by moving on, but Ertz is not going to have a market at that price tag. Ertz would probably be looking at something in the $3 million to $4 million range on a one-year deal if he were released, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he took a pay cut as part of a deal.

Naturally, with coach Frank Reich and QB Carson Wentz in Indianapolis, the Colts have been popularly linked with Ertz. They already have plenty of tight ends, though, and there’s another team I think makes more sense. Bills general manager Brandon Beane proclaimed at the beginning of the offseason that his team needed to upgrade on Dawson Knox at tight end, but the only move Buffalo has made at the position is signing Jacob Hollister to a one-year deal.

Beane has been aggressive — and successful — in rehabilitating players who seemed to be struggling elsewhere over the past few years. He has also repeatedly gone after weapons for QB Josh Allen. Dealing a late-round pick and a player on the bottom of the roster in Sweeney for Ertz would give the Bills a well-regarded teammate and a player who was thought of as a premier tight end as recently as a year ago. With Ertz reducing his salary to $3.5 million as part of the deal, I love this low-risk, high-reward move for Buffalo.

Kawann Short, DT

Prediction: signs one-year, $3 million deal with the Buffalo Bills

This one’s too obvious, right? The Bills love adding former Panthers players, especially if they cost a fraction of their former price tag. They’ve also built a deep defensive line that relies on rotating players in and out of the lineup from snap to snap.

Short is three years removed from his last truly impactful season, and he has missed 27 games over the past two seasons with injuries. But Buffalo is where former Panthers go to revitalize their careers. The Bills may not really need another defensive lineman on paper right now, but at this price tag, the upside Short offered during his peak would be too valuable to pass up.

Sheldon Richardson, DT

Prediction: signs one-year, $6 million deal with the New Orleans Saints

The Browns turned over both of their starting defensive tackles this offseason by letting Larry Ogunjobi leave and cutting Richardson. The latter move came after the Browns signed Jadeveon Clowney, and while the organization suggested that it would like to bring Richardson back, that reunion has yet to transpire.

Richardson can be a valuable three-down defensive tackle, which is something the Saints could use after losing Sheldon Rankins this offseason. It would obviously involve voidable years, but Richardson would slot in as the starter next to David Onyemata and allow Shy Tuttle to stay in a situational role.

Geno Atkins, DT

Prediction: signs one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings

You may see a theme of players reuniting with their former coaches in this piece. Atkins’ breakout years came when Mike Zimmer was the defensive coordinator in Cincinnati, and the Vikings head coach could use some pass-rushing help in Minnesota. Atkins was anonymous last year as the Bengals reduced his role in the lineup, but the 33-year-old is only two seasons removed from a 10-sack campaign. Atkins would slot in as an interior rusher on passing downs as part of a rotation with run-stuffer Michael Pierce.

Melvin Ingram III, EDGE

Prediction: signs one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers

Despite his success over the past several years, Ingram had zero sacks in seven games with the Chargers in 2020. The 2012 first-rounder struggled with a knee injury, which has undoubtedly limited his market. Given the need for edge-rushing talent around the NFL, though, it’s hard to imagine Ingram not finding an opportunity at some point this offseason.

One of the teams most in need of help on the edge is the Chargers, who haven’t really replaced Ingram this offseason. Los Angeles has one spot locked down with pass-rusher Joey Bosa, but if he were to get injured, coach Brandon Staley would be left with the likes of Kyler Fackrell and Uchenna Nwosu as his primary options on the edge. Bringing back Ingram would suit both parties.

Justin Houston, EDGE

Prediction: signs one-year, $6 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens

It hasn’t even been a great market for healthier pass-rushers. Houston posted eight sacks and 12 knockdowns for the Colts this past season, but possibly owing to the knee injuries in his past, there hasn’t been much interest in a new deal for the former Defensive Player of the Year. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Houston re-signed with the Colts, but Indy did use a first-round pick on Kwity Paye and hasn’t yet made a move to bring Houston back.

One natural landing point for Houston would be in Baltimore, where the Ravens will have to try to replace standout linebacker Matt Judon. John Harbaugh’s team used a first-round pick on Odafe Oweh, but he might not be ready to contribute at the highest level as a rookie. Signing Houston would give the Ravens another option on the edge as part of their exotic blitz packages while allowing Oweh to ease his way into a larger role.

Since this deal comes after the June 1 cutoff, Baltimore would also be able to sign Houston without losing a compensatory pick.

Steven Nelson, CB

Prediction: signs one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals

One of the casualties created as Pittsburgh attempted to get under the salary cap, Nelson didn’t attract any trade interest on his prior deal before being released. Despite reports that 14 teams have inquired about the former Chiefs cornerback, none of those teams have actually gotten a deal over the finish line. Per Pro Football Reference, Nelson allowed a 97.0 passer rating last year, up more than 31 points from his 2019 mark with the Steelers.

Plenty of teams need cornerback help, but the Cardinals appear to be punting on it. Arizona did use a pair of midround picks at corner, but its current starters on the outside appear to be Malcolm Butler and Robert Alford. Butler is a viable reclamation project, but Alford hasn’t played since 2018 as a result of injuries. Nelson would give the Cardinals a replacement in their lineup for Patrick Peterson and prevent them from having to count on Alford to stay healthy.

Richard Sherman, CB

Prediction: signs one-year, $4 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers

The future Hall of Famer could make sense for a number of teams, which is why he has been linked to the Jets, Saints and even the Seahawks this offseason. Sherman is 33 and missed 11 games in 2020 with a calf injury, but he was an effective cornerback during his time with the 49ers. He’s not going to be the All-Pro corner from the peak Seattle days, but Sherman is still a very viable NFL starter at this point of his career. Sherman’s understanding of the game and insight into preparation may also be valuable to teams as they develop younger corners on the roster.

San Francisco was able to get by without Sherman, thanks in part to a remarkable season from Jason Verrett. Verrett signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal to return to the 49ers, but the former Chargers star had missed 70 out of 96 possible games across his first six pro seasons before suiting up 13 times in 2020. Adding Sherman would protect the 49ers against another Verrett injury and bring back a key part of their locker room, which could mean more than it would in a typical year given Robert Saleh’s departure.

K.J. Wright, LB

Prediction: signs one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Rams

Sherman’s former teammate played well last year in Seattle, but the market for veteran off-the-ball linebackers is typically bleak, and Wright has been one of the players squeezed. The Seahawks have talked about bringing Wright back, but coach Pete Carroll could also be ready to insert 2020 first-rounder Jordyn Brooks into the lineup as Wright’s replacement. Wright said he wouldn’t take a hometown discount to stay with the Seahawks, but he’s probably looking at a short-term deal in the $3 million range.

Just as Sherman used the opportunity of leaving Seattle to sign with a division rival in San Francisco, what about Wright making a move to Los Angeles? The Rams basically have a void at linebacker as a product of their cap issues and heavy spending elsewhere on the defensive side of the ball. Wright would step in on the weak side as an immediate starter, possibly alongside rookie third-rounder Ernest Jones.

Russell Okung, OT

Prediction: signs one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers

One more first-rounder to complete the set. I’m stunned that Okung hasn’t yet signed a contract, given that he’s the last useful left tackle standing on the open market in a league where a handful of competitive teams still need to lock down their quarterback’s blindside. Okung missed time with a pulmonary embolism in 2019 and a calf injury last season, but he was a solid left tackle when on the field.

The Steelers have been pinching pennies just to get under the salary cap, but if there’s any position where they need to spend money, it’s at left tackle. Pittsburgh let Alejandro Villanueva move on this past season, leaving Chukwuma Okorafor as the favorite to start on the line’s most important position. Okorafor started last year at right tackle after Zach Banner went down injured, but Ben Roethlisberger would be staring down one of the least imposing sets of starting tackles in the league on paper without an addition. It might take voidable years or a Dogecoin option to get the deal done, but Okung would be a major upgrade for a team that has one more shot with Roethlisberger.

Trai Turner, G

Prediction: signs one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Detroit Lions

An imposing run-blocker who made five straight Pro Bowls from 2015 to 2019, Turner was limited to nine games by multiple injuries last season. The Chargers cut Turner after the season in a quiet market, but there are too many lineman-needy teams out there for Turner to start the year without a job.

The Lions are starting over on offense, and we know how much coach Dan Campbell wants wrecking balls at the line of scrimmage. Turner would step in at right guard and help solidify the line in front of new Detroit quarterback Jared Goff.

Golden Tate, WR

Prediction: signs one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Tennessee Titans

If we assume that Larry Fitzgerald is retiring, Tate is the most notable wide receiver available on the market. The former Seahawks draftee didn’t look great in his two-year run with the Giants, although you could blame Daniel Jones for some of those problems. Tate is likely looking at a one-year deal for the veterans minimum if he wants to continue playing.

With the Titans cutting Adam Humphries and losing Corey Davis this offseason, I think there’s a reasonable fit for Tate as the third or fourth wideout in Tennessee, where his tenacity as a blocker could make him a useful part of the offense.

Todd Gurley II, RB

Prediction: signs one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs

Let’s finish up with Gurley, who is still somehow only 26 years old. The former two-time All-Pro averaged just 3.5 yards per carry and ranked 44th out of 47 backs in DVOA last season. At this point, Gurley will have to be realistic: He’s not going to get an opportunity to serve as a starting back. He hasn’t been an explosive receiver over the past couple of seasons, but his best role might be as a third-down back, where he can block and serve as a sure pair of hands on checkdowns.

At this point of the offseason, though, just about every running back spot is filled. Gurley could wait for an opportunity to open up via injury, like Devonta Freeman did a year ago, but I wonder whether there’s a fit on the AFC champs. The Chiefs obviously are moving forward with Clyde Edwards-Helaire as their starter, but the backups for their first-round pick are the unconvincing duo of Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon.

Gurley would have to come into camp and compete with those guys for a roster spot, but there’s an opportunity for a few snaps per game on one of the league’s best offenses behind Edwards-Helaire.