This will be the final season of Thursday Night Football on FOX as the new platform of Amazon Prime takes over in 2022. Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com:

Thursday Night Football will move to a digital-only format with Amazon Prime Video in 2022, a year earlier than originally announced, the NFL said Monday.

As a result, 2021 will mark the final season of the Thursday night package on FOX.

The NFL’s quicker-than-expected shift to a larger streaming package reflects trends accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, among other factors. It is part of a larger set of broadcast deals the NFL reached in March that will also expand digital distribution for all of its current broadcast partners, including FOX, CBS, NBC and ABC/ESPN.

Amazon first partnered with the NFL in 2017 as part of tri-broadcast distribution on Thursday nights. Those games will be available to a national audience only on Amazon Prime Video when the new agreement kicks in for 2022. The NFL, however, has pledged to broadcast them over the air in the broadcast markets of the participating teams.

NFC NORTH

CHICAGO

Dan Hanzus of NFL.com bumps the Bears up four spots in his power rankings for landing QB JUSTIN FIELDS.

19 – Chicago Bears

Previous rank: No. 23

Man, did the Bears need that. Hope! Excitement! The promise of a more compelling tomorrow! That’s what came back to Chicago when Ryan Pace made the bold move to trade up and acquire Justin Fields with the 11th overall pick on Thursday night. Fields figures to push Andy Dalton for the starting job on a Bears team that can contend in the NFC North with legitimate quarterback play. Should we mention here that the Chicago Bears suddenly have one of the best QB rooms in the league? A hugely compelling rookie in Fields and the best veteran backup in football in Dalton? Even Nick Foles is still on hand to tell Super Bowl LII stories. What in the name of Sid Luckman is going on around here?

DETROIT

RB RAKEEM BOYD gets his next chance with the Lions.  Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com:

The Detroit Lions announced Monday that they’ve agreed to terms with 13 undrafted free agents, including Rakeem Boyd, whose name might ring a bell for football fans.

Not only was Boyd a star running back at Arkansas, he also starred in Season 3 of Netflix’s “Last Chance U.”

“Swear ima make em pay.. been in this position before,” Boyd tweeted Saturday.

Boyd fits the mold of tough-nosed players the new regime added during this past week’s NFL draft. In 2018 and 2019, he led Arkansas in rushing before opting out of the end of the 2020 regular season to focus on the NFL.

As a junior, he rushed for 1,133 yards with eight touchdowns in 12 games.

He entered the national spotlight on “Last Chance U” during his stint at Independence Community College in Kansas, where he rejuvenated his career after transferring from Texas A&M because of academic issues.

Boyd finished his college career at Arkansas, where he averaged 5.81 yards per rush across three seasons, sixth highest in school history.

GREEN BAY

Terry Bradshaw didn’t always see eye-to-eye with Chuck Noll during his time with the Steelers, but he never played elsewhere.  So he is not a fan of QB AARON RODGERS and his apparent demands per Darrerlle Lincoln of Total Pro Sports:

There are a ton of people who are on Aaron Rodgers side in his fight against the Green Bay Packers — Terry Bradshaw is not one of those people.

The biggest story in the NFL world right now is the ongoing drama between the Green Bay Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The future hall of fame player is reportedly upset at the team over several moves that they have made, which includes drafting QB Jordan Love.

Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Famer and NFL on Fox broadcaster Terry Bradshaw did not mince words when he was asked about the entire situation.

“With him being that upset shows me just how weak he is,” Bradshaw said on the “Moose & Maggie” program on WFAN radio.

“Who the hell cares who you draft? He is a three-time MVP in the league and he’s worried about this guy they drafted last year [in the first round].”

Bradshaw thinks there might be more to the story than meets the eye.

“I don’t know what was said behind the scenes,” he said. “I don’t know if he said, ‘Look I’ll play [in 2020] and then I want out of here,’ and they said, ‘Fine.’ Then he is the MVP of the league. None of us know unless he told some insiders and they are saying it. I don’t hear it. For him to be upset, my God, I don’t understand that.”

Bradshaw, who won four Super Bowls in the 1970s, dealt with the same situation when the Steelers drafted Mark Malone in the first round in 1980, three years before he retired.

“I had them coming at me from all angles,” Bradshaw said. “I embraced it. Because when we went to practice, I wasn’t worried about those guys. They didn’t scare me a bit. So I don’t understand why he is so upset at Green Bay.”

Rodgers reportedly wouldn’t consider coming back unless the GM is fired. He even went as far to threaten retirement.

“Are you kidding me?” Bradshaw said. “Really? Aaron, that’s where this is?

“Here’s what I would do: I wouldn’t budge. Let him gripe. Let him cry. Retire. You are [37]. Go ahead and retire. ee you later. I’m really strong about stuff like that. It just makes him look weak. How dare you draft somebody?”

“Obviously he doesn’t need the money,” Bradshaw said. “Probably he should just retire and go [host] ‘Jeopardy.’ Either he gives in, or Green Bay don’t give in. Move on.”

“I flat would call him on it,” Bradshaw said. “I have never hem-hawed about something so much in my life. … He has really put them in a pickle. Green Bay is really in a pickle, and if he retires then that takes care of that.”

He continued:

“Shut your mouth and play quarterback,” Bradshaw said. “You’re a blessed man to be making millions that all of us on this Zoom call would give anything to make that in a lifetime of earnings. I have no respect, I have no patience for people that do that.”

“Where does a player have the right to criticize the front office?” Bradshaw said. “When they are in fact the stars of the football [team] and making all this money, they think that empowers them to have a position and a place to say, ‘I want this. I want that.’ Quietly, they know what they need. To have a player make these demands, it drives me nuts.”

More stuff is coming out about Rodgers’ displeasure.  He thought that over-achieving WR JAKE KUMEROW was useful.  The Packers cast Kumerow aside.  Evan Western ofAcmePackingCompany.com:

On Thursday, when news of Aaron Rodgers’ dissatisfaction with the Green Bay Packers came to the forefront of the NFL news cycle, few would have predicted that a lightly-used journeyman wide receiver out of the University of Wisconsin—Whitewater would become a prominent player. However, on Monday, Jake Kumerow’s name stepped into the fray as a key figure in the ongoing soap opera.

For some context, Kumerow signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2015, then spent the next three seasons bouncing around their practice squad. After a two-week stint on the New England Patriots’ practice squad in 2017 campaign, he landed with the Packers before week 17. Kumerow would go on to make the active roster in 2018, but was placed on injured reserve immediately after final cuts, returning for the final five games of that season. He then spent 2019 as the Packers’ fourth or fifth wide receiver and was in the running for a similar role in 2020 before being released at final cuts on September 5th.

In total, Kumerow played in 21 games for the Packers, catching 20 of his 32 targets for 322 yards and two touchdowns.

However, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Kumerow’s release served as a sort of last straw for Rodgers:

“Rodgers, I’m told, also wanted to be more involved in some of the personnel decisions. This is crazy, but it does seem that the one thing that drove Rodgers nuts was when the organization released Jake Kumerow just a day after (Rodgers) praised him publicly. Described as a little bit of a death knell in the relationship.”

As Rapoport mentioned, Rodgers praised Kumerow less than 48 hours before last year’s final cuts, which came a few months after the Packers moved up to select Jordan Love in the first round of the draft. Here’s a look at that praise:

@JonMeerdink

Aaron Rodgers, Sept. 3, 2020: “Jake Kumerow has been such a solid performer for us the last couple of years. I love his reliability. I think he’s a fantastic, steady player who’s very heady on and off the field…He makes plays, he plays with a lot of confidence and he’s a guy you love having on the squad.”

The Packers would keep five receivers after final cuts in 2020, with former 6th-round draft pick Equanimeous St. Brown and an undrafted Malik Taylor making the squad. Kumerow would go on to join the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad before earning a midseason elevation and catching his only target of the year for a 22-yard touchdown. He was later released and picked up on waivers by the New Orleans Saints late in the season, then released again and signed a futures contract to rejoin the Bills.

Meanwhile, St. Brown caught seven passes for 117 yards and a score over 12 games, while Taylor was active for all but one 2020 contest with five grabs, 66 yards, a touchdown, and a few reps on kickoff returns.

A few weeks into the season, Rodgers was asked about the Packers’ receiving corps and joked about the Kumerow situation, which in hindsight is a clear sign of his frustration about that particular transaction: “I do have a lot of trust about our top 3. I said what I said about Jake and he got released, so I’m not going to go too in depth.” Of course, Rodgers would go on to win his third NFL MVP award without Kumerow on the roster, helping the Packers to a second straight NFC Championship Game.

At best, Kumerow would have been the Packers’ fourth wide receiver in 2020. Had the receiving corps stayed healthy, that would have been a modest role at best with the Packers playing so much 12 and 21 personnel in Matt LaFleur’s offense. However, as a result of injuries to Allen Lazard and Davante Adams during the season, wide receivers outside the Packers’ top three (those two players plus Marquez Valdes-Scantling) totaled 541 snaps on offense over the course of the regular season: 196 for St. Brown, 166 for Taylor, and 139 for Darrius Shepherd, with a few others here and there. That suggests there would have been some opportunities for Kumerow to contribute in a meaningful way.

Regardless of the on-field impact of the decision, however, it clearly was a final straw for Rodgers, who evidently feels that his opinions are not being considered (or are not being considered enough) by the Packers’ front office. This strikes at a deep-seated issue that helps bring more clarity to the reasons for Rodgers’ frustrations with the team’s front office. At the same time, it seems surprising that a decision about a player buried deep on the depth chart would be the trigger for a chain reaction that results in Rodgers going nuclear on the organization months later.

Surely, Rodgers has seen WR ANTONIO BROWN signed, and re-signed, by the Buccaneers in reaction to input from the QB.  But he can’t get his choice for the last receiver on the roster…

Complicating things, is that the Packers traded up, traded up, for QB JORDAN LOVE.  Yet Love did not even suit up for a game in 2020, much less play a snap.  He was kept behind TIM BOYLE on the weekly depth chart (and the Packers allowed Boyle to leave to sign with Detroit).  So Love is giving off the whiff of a bust…

This from Albert Breer of SI.com:

I don’t know how big a part of the equation this would play in the Packers’ decision-making, but I can say that I’m not convinced, based on a few things I’ve heard, the Packers believe Jordan Love is ready to be at the wheel for a championship team. Remember, for all this noise, Green Bay was a better fourth quarter away from the Super Bowl in January, and I do think when you’ve got a team like that, if you’re a GM like Brian Gutekunst or a coach like Matt LaFleur, it’s your responsibility to protect said team’s ability to compete for a title. And right now, I don’t get the sense that throwing Love out there would do that.

Interesting how Rodgers played this, waiting until all the options that could give the Packers a pretense of respectability had moved around the board – Stafford, Goff, Fitzpatrick, Darnold, Bridgewater…

See DENVER and SEATTLE for more.

NFC EAST

WASHINGTON

Dan Hanzus of NFL.com seems to like what Washington did in the draft, yet somehow he gives them the most significant fall in his post-draft power rankings:

24 – Washington Football Team

Previous rank: No. 19

Ron Rivera knows the strength of his team is defense, and he set out to make that side of the ball even stronger with the first-round selection of Kentucky linebacker Jamin Davis. The heart of Washington’s D is in the front four, and Davis addresses an area of need — a speedy and versatile linebacker who can go sideline-to-sideline and cover. Meanwhile, Ryan Fitzpatrick dodged any fresh competition entering the QB room, and appears to be locked and loaded as the starting quarterback. That hasn’t happened for Fitzmagic since his final season with the Jets in 2016. What a fun career.

NFC SOUTH

TAMPA BAY

Dan Pompei of The Athletic collected inside opinion on Tampa Bay’s pick of QB KYLE TRASK late in the second round:

Scouts were intrigued by the Bucs’ selection of quarterback Kyle Trask with the last pick of the second round. One thought Trask could have gone about one round earlier. Another said he had Trask rated equally with Mac Jones, taken with the 15th pick in the first round by the Patriots.

While Trask fits Bruce Arians’ profile for a quarterback in the estimation of one evaluator, he said he does not see Trask as the next Tom Brady. “He doesn’t have the quick processing to get the ball out like Brady does,” he said. “At his pro day, everything he did was methodical.”

NFC WEST

LOS ANGELES RAMS

Dan Hanzus of NFL.com did his post-draft power rankings – and somehow moved the Rams up despite LAR hardly drafting at all:

7 – Los Angeles Rams

Previous rank: No. 9

As you undoubtedly know, the Rams are obsessed with trading top draft assets for established veterans, and no amount of oceanfront square footage at a Malibu Airbnb will make them a buzzy team this time of year. Still, we found some intrigue in their first pick at 57 overall: Tutu Atwell, the 155-pound Louisville receiver who became the lightest draft pick to enter the league since at least 2006, per ESPN. Atwell’s diminutive build feels like it could be a problem at the next level, but he also adds another element to a solid receiver room that already includes Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson and DeSean Jackson.

SEATTLE

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com floats the idea of a QB swap between the Seahawks and Packers:

The Packers have a problem, of which we’re all well aware. The Seahawks have one, too, even though it has subsided in recent weeks.

Could the easiest solution for both teams involve a Ken Stabler/Dan Pastorini-style straight-up trade of starting quarterbacks?

With Aaron Rodgers wanting out of Green Bay and Russell Wilson by all appearances nearing the end of his run in Seattle, would it make sense for Seahawks G.M./Packers shareholder John Schneider to offer Wilson for Rodgers?

On the surface, it would. But there are deeper issues lurking.

First, trading two disgruntled quarterbacks doesn’t mean those quarterbacks immediately will be happy in their new cities. The Packers would have to be willing to run the entire offense through Wilson, like Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City. They’d also need to be ready to pay Wilson like Mahomes after the 2022 season, if not sooner, when Wilson’s agent seeks Wilson’s next monster deal. Also, the Seahawks would have to be willing to inherit the uniquely prickly personality of Aaron Rodgers.

Schneider, a former Packers scout, presumably runs his team the same way the Packers run theirs. Players play, coaches coach, General Managers, um, generally manage. Wilson grew disillusioned with the Seahawks for reasons similar to Rodgers’ discontent with the Packers. Neither team is willing to give its franchise quarterback a major voice in running the franchise. The only difference is that the Seahawks have yet to draft Wilson’s potential replacement.

That may be one of the reasons why the Seahawks aren’t currently on Rodgers’ wish list. He wants more control, more deference, more autonomy, more everything. He likely knows he wouldn’t get it in Seattle. He could get it in Denver.

He also could get it elsewhere, too. Rodgers is good enough that most teams would gladly hand him the keys and happily accept his eccentricities. Even with plans set for 2021, other teams would be foolish to not consider the possibility of finding a way to get one of the best quarterbacks in football history on the team, even if it’s only for three or four years.

AFC WEST

DENVER

Why would the Denver Broncos, currently rostering DREW LOCK and TEDDY BRIDGEWATER as their QB options, rank around 9^th in the post-draft Super Bowl odds?  Joe Nguyen of the Denver Post buries the lead:

The Broncos are getting some love from oddsmakers after the NFL draft weekend.

Denver has +2,000 odds — meaning a $100 would win $2,000 — to win Super Bowl LVI, according to BetMGM. It’s the ninth-best shot to win the Lombardi Trophy. It’s steep rise from the +6,600 odds (24th-best odds) the Broncos had after Super Bowl LV ended in February. Kansas City is the favorite at +500, followed by the Buccaneers (+800).

The Broncos have the second-best odds to win a championship among Denver’s big four teams, behind the Avalanche (+450) and ahead of the Nuggets (+2,500) and Rockies (+20,000), according to BetMGM.

Denver has +2,400 on the Fanduel Sportsbook, ranking 10th among NFL teams, and +2,500 on the Draftkings Sportsbook, tied with Dallas and Seattle for ninth.

Meanwhile, to punch a ticket to the big game, Denver has +700 odds to win the AFC championship, according to sportsbetting.com. The odds are slightly worse on Fanduel where the Broncos are +1,200.

One reason for the Broncos’ climb may be the speculation that Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is seeking a trade and Denver is a possible destination. Sportsbetting.com seems to think so, putting the 37-year-old QB at +250 to be traded to the Mile High City by Sept. 9. The Broncos are the favorites ahead of the Raiders (+700), Dolphins (+1,000), Browns (+1,200) and Saints (+1,200).

The DB wonders why the Washington Football Team – a defending division champ scheduled to start RYAN FITZPATRICK and with a veteran coach known for handling interesting players – doesn’t show up on these lists of possible Rodgers destinations?  You also could think about the Eagles, known for their bold QB moves, right?

AFC NORTH

BALTIMORE

The Ravens have signed an old foe.  Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com:

Baltimore has landed a right tackle.

According to multiple reports, former Steeler Alejandro Villanueva is signing a two-year, $14 million deal with $8 million guaranteed with the Ravens.

The move was expected after Baltimore traded Orlando Brown Jr. to Kansas City last month. The signing did not happen until May 4 so that it would not count in the compensatory draft pick formula.

After starting at left tackle for the last six seasons in Pittsburgh, Villanueva is slated to play right tackle for Baltimore. The club’s left tackle, Ronnie Stanley, signed a five-year extension with last October, prior to suffering a season-ending ankle injury. Brown filled in for Stanley at the position for the rest of the season. His insistence on wanting to play left tackle was one factor in why the Ravens traded him to the Chiefs.

Villanueva was No. 58 on PFT’s list of top 100 free agents. He’s started 90 consecutive games since Week 7 of the 2015 season.

CLEVELAND

Dan Hanzus of NFL.com does his post-draft power rankings and seems stunned to find out he has to put the Browns at #6:

6 – Cleveland Browns

Previous rank: No. 7

This is how far the Browns have come in a couple of years: By the middle of the draft, they were taking a swing tackle for offensive line depth. Yes, the Browns have built out one of the most impressively balanced rosters in football, and it allowed GM Andrew Berry and company to use the draft to zero in on specific areas of need. They did it, too — fortifying the secondary with first-round pick Greg Newsome II (No. 26), then using their second-rounder to land inside linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (No. 52), a do-it-all defender widely seen as one of the draft’s best bargains. Near the end of NFL Network’s draft coverage, Daniel Jeremiah imagined the Browns as “a 13-4 type team.” This is not a drill.

AFC SOUTH

TENNESSEE

In scouting circles, it’s kind of unforgiveable to draft someone who is charged with a crime that you don’t know about.  It happened to the Titans over the weekend.WSMV.com in Nashville:

Rashad Weaver, a fourth-round pick of the Tennessee Titans, was charged with simple assault over the weekend, WPIX in Pittsburgh reported on Monday.

Weaver, 23, is charged with punching a pregnant woman in the side of the head after an altercation on April 18.

“The allegations against my client, Rashad Weaver, are completely false and reckless. Mr. Weaver takes these charges very seriously, and we look forward to clearing his good name,” attorney Dennis M. Blackwell said in a statement. “Without question and without hesitation, we deny Rashad punched anyone, especially a woman. We intend to conduct a full investigation of these charges, and intend to pursue all legal remedies available to Rashad.”

According to court records, the complaint was filed in Allegheny County on Friday, the second day of the recent NFL Draft. Weaver was picked by the Titans on Saturday.

Court records show a summons was issued on Monday.

The Tennessee Titans said Monday they were aware of the charges against Weaver.

“We were made aware of this news this morning. We obviously take this seriously and are in the process of gathering details and working with the league,” the Titans said in a statement.

According to a criminal complaint WPIX obtained, witnesses said they saw Weaver, who is 6’5” tall and weighs around 280 pounds, fighting with a group of people around 2:30 a.m.

A woman told police that Weaver approached her and her friends at a bar and accused them of spilling a drink on him. The woman and her friends left, and Weaver followed.

Witnesses say Weaver punch the woman, who is about 5’7” tall and weighs 140 pounds, no the side of the head and saw her fall into the street.

The woman went to the hospital a few days later because she was vomiting and was diagnosed with a concussion. She also verified she was pregnant at the time of the assault.

Weaver has been charged with assault. He faces a preliminary hearing on Oct. 5.

Weaver was a consensus All-American last season for the University of Pittsburgh. He was picked by the Titans in the fourth round on Saturday.

The DB would advise any NFL player or prospect not to get excited about a spilled drink, whether due to clumsiness or even direct provocation.  Alcohol on your clothes is a distinct possibility at 2:30 a.m. and needs to be factored into the decision to go carousing at such an hour.

We do understand that the facts alleged here may not comport with what happened.

But punching is unforgiveable, so is following into the street.  Even saying something hostile in the bar is not smart.  Then throw in the fact that it’s a woman, even if her pregnancy might not have been obvious.

We sure hope Weaver’s lawyer knows something that’s not obvious here.

More from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, with an incident report from cops on the scene in the bar and outside it shortly thereafter:

Officers on foot patrol around 2:30 a.m. came upon a group of people gathered on South 17th Street between East Carson and Bingham streets. The group was gathered around a woman who was on the ground, according to the complaint, and witnesses said a man in a yellow shirt had punched the woman.

The man in the yellow shirt was later identified as Weaver, police said.

One witness said she saw Weaver punch the woman in the head, police wrote, and another said she did not see a punch thrown. She said she saw the woman fall to the ground. Officer Anderson O’Kelly, who wrote the criminal complaint against Weaver, noted the woman had scrapes and bruises but he did not see any injury consistent with a punch to the head.

The victim would later tell police she went to the hospital several days after the assault and was diagnosed as having a concussion, according to the complaint.

Police wrote that the altercation seemingly started about five minutes earlier inside the Foxtail bar on East Carson. The victim and Weaver argued inside the bar, and the woman threw a drink on him. Police separated the two and “sent them on their way.”

According to the complaint, the woman and her friends walked in one direction and Weaver left in the other direction. He allegedly said to officers that he “had no problem hitting a female if they needed it.”

Investigators said no security cameras captured the incident.

AFC EAST

MIAMI

Congratulations to QB TUA TAGOVAILOA!  This from Joe Houtz of Phinsider.com:

Over the weekend, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returned to Tuscaloosa to receive his diploma. The star quarterback was one of 102 athletes graduating from the University of Alabama this past weekend.

Tua officially graduated last summer with a Bachelor’s degree in communication studios. However, like most of the graduating class of 2020, Tagovailoa never had the chance to walk on stage and accept his degree. That was until yesterday evening when all of his hard work and dedication paid off.

Unlike most of his peers, Tagovailoa’s future is already in motion. He’s the franchise quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, and after a rookie season where he went 6-3 as the starter, excitement is at an all-time high for Brian Flores’ team.

THIS AND THAT

“BREAKOUT” DRAFT PICKS

Can a center truly ever “breakout”?

That was the first question we had when we looked at this list of under-the-radar draft picks that Lindsay Jones of The Athletic thinks will have immediate impact:

The rush of the NFL Draft is over, and now we can really dive in on how the league’s newest players will improve their teams. And not just the top-10 picks: History tells us that some players who went later (sometimes, much later) could make a big impact, perhaps as soon as this season.

Let’s look at a few players who might not have received the biggest headlines over the weekend, but we could be talking about come fall.

Teven Jenkins, OT, Bears

Round 2, No. 39

I liked Jenkins as the Bears’ second-round pick, because if you’re going to invest in rookie quarterback Justin Fields, you better have a plan to protect him. That’s what Jenkins will do. And now that the Bears have released veteran left tackle Charles Leno, Chicago’s starter for the last seven years, it’s clear they’ll need Jenkins on the field early. Jenkins was an accomplished run blocker at Oklahoma State; this offseason will be about getting him ready to protect Fields’ blind side.

Rondale Moore, WR, Cardinals

Round 2, No. 49

In The Athletic’s recent 2020 redraft, I suggested that the Cardinals should have taken a wide receiver early last year, even after the DeAndre Hopkins trade. They waited until the second round this year, but they landed a good player in Moore, for good value. Moore’s value will be as a foil to Hopkins; he should be able to help the Cardinals stretch the field vertically, a piece of the offense that was often missing last year. His ability to line up in the backfield, in the slot or outside should also make Arizona’s offense much more difficult to defend snap to snap.

Micah Parsons and Jabril Cox, LBs, Cowboys

Parsons: Round 1, No. 12; Cox: Round 4, No. 115

Going to cheat a little here, since Parsons was a high-profile prospect. But he and Cox could be the future of the Cowboys’ linebacker position, instead of the duo of Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith. Consider that in the past week, longtime Cowboy Sean Lee retired, and Dallas declined to pick up Vander Esch’s fifth-year option. That makes 2021 a contract year for Vander Esch, with two rookies breathing down his neck. We can assume the Cowboys will get Parsons, their first-round pick, onto the field immediately. A path for Cox, a fourth-round pick out of LSU, might not be quite as clear given the veterans in front of him on the depth chart. But if he shows coverage ability, he could earn significant snaps before long.

Alijah Vera-Tucker, G, Jets

Round 1, No. 14

Zach Wilson will get all of the tabloid back pages (and deservedly so), but guard Vera-Tucker will be critical to the Jets’ offensive improvement. General manager Joe Douglas traded two third-round picks to move from No. 23 to No. 14 to draft Vera-Tucker. Good teams invest in the line, and the Jets have now finally done so in a meaningful way, with tackle Mekhi Becton and Vera-Tucker, who is a Week 1 starter. I love the idea of the Jets solidifying the left side of their offensive line for years to come.

Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Chargers

Round 2, No. 47

Samuel’s positional and scheme versatility should be a perfect fit in new head coach Brandon Staley’s defense. Could Samuel play inside as a slot corner? Yes. Can he play press coverage while lined up outside? Yes. Does he give Staley options to move the Chargers’ other two corners, Michael Davis and Chris Harris Jr., around? Yes. Those factors combined with a clear need for a No. 3 cornerback means we should expect to see Samuel on the field soon.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions

Round 4, No. 112

Almost by default, St. Brown will be asked to produce right away for a Lions offense that entered the draft thin at wide receiver. Detroit will surely count on free-agent additions Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman, but as the projected slot receiver, St. Brown is in an interesting position heading into his rookie season. Quarterback Jared Goff is at his best when he can rely on his slot receiver (see: Kupp, Cooper), and one of the Lions’ best hopes at becoming an efficient offense (we’ll get to explosive later) would be if Goff and St. Brown can hit it off quickly.

Creed Humphrey, C, Chiefs

Round 2, No. 63

You have to respect the Chiefs’ process here, and the way that coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach continue to lean into overhauling the offensive line. The Humphrey pick follows the Chiefs’ offseason plan to get better and deeper at each line spot. He likely won’t be lined up with the starters on Day 1 of training camp, but he has the athletic upside to eventually win the job over Andrew Wylie. This is a pick that’s as much about making the Chiefs better in Week 1 as it is securing protection for Patrick Mahomes for years to come.

Odafe Oweh, edge, Ravens

Round 1, No. 31

I’ll take you behind the curtain of The Athletic’s NFL Draft live blog for a second. When Baltimore selected Rashod Bateman at No. 27 on Thursday night, I reacted with all caps in our internal Slack channel. “LOVE IT,” I wrote. I’ve been harping on the need for Baltimore to upgrade at receiver for months, as longtime listeners to “The Athletic Football Show” know. One of our editors, a longtime Ravens fan, didn’t agree. He thought the Ravens’ most pressing need was a pass rusher. All he needed was a bit of patience.

Oweh (who went by his middle name, Jayson, at Penn State) landed in an ideal spot, given the Ravens’ history of developing pass rushers and the hole on their defensive roster he’ll be asked to fill immediately. This looks like the perfect marriage of a player with traits and fit.

Javonte Williams, RB, Broncos

Round 2, No. 35

I didn’t love that the Broncos’ only quarterback move last week was trading for Teddy Bridgewater. But I’m back to bring some glass-half-full sunshine to my friends in Denver: Williams might be awesome. Local fans will miss Phillip Lindsay’s enthusiasm and spark, but Williams may quickly become a favorite because of his violent running style. I wouldn’t be shocked if he becomes a three-down back sooner rather than later. Melvin Gordon was underwhelming in his first season in Denver, and now Williams might actually be able to take his job.

INSIDER PICKS AND PANS

Dan Pompei of The Athletic talked to his insiders – and here are some picks they liked and some they didn’t:

There were high fives and raised glasses in every NFL front office about the players they selected. What’s more interesting is how front offices reacted to the players other teams selected.

The Athletic surveyed NFL evaluators about how the 2021 draft played out.

Front-office people said they were impressed with the drafts of the Cowboys, Chargers, Giants, Jaguars, Jets, Ravens, Steelers and Vikings, among others.

With linebacker Micah Parsons and cornerback Kelvin Joseph as their first- and second-round picks, the Cowboys were viewed as a team that added two high-end talents to its defense. One scout thinks Joseph was the third-best cornerback in the draft. He also believes both of the Cowboys’ fourth-rounders — linebacker Jabril Cox and offensive tackle Josh Ball — will be NFL starters. He said Ball could have gone in the second round.

The Chargers were praised for their solid first two picks, offensive tackle Rashawn Slater and cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., as well as wide receiver Josh Palmer. One front-office person said he thinks all three are starters, with Palmer being a No. 2 receiver who runs excellent routes. Their second pick in the third round, Tre’ McKitty, was called “the best blocking tight end in the draft.” One predicted fourth-round pick Chris Rumph II will enhance the team with excellent technique, intelligence, savvy, athleticism and character.

The Giants impressed by trading down in the first round, picking up an extra first-round pick next year, and taking wide receiver Kadarius Toney.  Scouts also believe their next three choices — pass rusher Azeez Ojulari, cornerback Aaron Robinson and pass rusher Elerson Smith — represent “really good value.”

For sheer depth of talent added, no team touched the Jaguars, who benefited from having the first pick in the first five rounds and extra picks in the first and fourth rounds. One team graded running back Travis Etienne, whom the Jaguars chose with the 25th pick, in a three-way tie with Najee Harris and Javonte Wilson as the highest-rated running back. Representatives from four teams said they had cornerback Tyson Campbell, picked 33rd by the Jags, higher than his Georgia teammate Eric Stokes, who was selected 29th by the Packers. One even had him ahead of Greg Newsome, who went to the Browns with the 26th pick. Scouts said offensive tackle Walker Little, picked in the second round, and safety Andre Cisco, selected in the third, could have been chosen higher if not for injuries. And getting defensive tackle Jay Tufele in the fourth round represented excellent value.

The Jets went offense with their first four picks in an attempt to support No. 2 pick Zach Wilson, their new quarterback. They were able to fill needs without reaching or sacrificing value, according to one front-office man. “They got three starters,” a scout said about Wilson, offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker and wide receiver Elijah Moore. “Two of them should be high-level.” Safety Hamsah Nasirildeen was deemed an excellent gamble in Round 6, as one scout said he had first-round talent, and three said he could have been chosen as high as the third round even though he’s still getting over an ACL injury.

The Ravens were seen as “solid as always” by one scout. Another evaluator said they had “unbelievable value for every pick.” He was particularly impressed with the selections of two wide receivers, Rashod Bateman in the first and Tylan Wallace in the fourth. He said Wallace would have been a first-round pick if not for knee problems that began with a torn ACL in 2019. “Lamar Jackson will have a chance to shine with those receivers,” he said. He also said pass rusher Odafe Oweh, taken with the 31st selection, would have been a top-10 pick next year had he returned to Penn State for the 2021 season. Third-round picks Ben Cleveland, a guard, and Brandon Stephens, a cornerback, will be above-average starters, in his opinion.

As for the Steelers, one front-office person said they “hit a home run” with first-round pick Harris. “He can be really good for them, a workhorse who brings the added dimension of being able to catch the ball,” he said. “He’s more complete than any of the backs they’ve had, even Le’Veon Bell.” A second front-office person likes tight end Pat Freiermuth, their second-round pick, as well. “They couldn’t have had two more predictable picks,” he said.

The Vikings moved down nine spots in the first round to No. 23 and took offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw. One front-office person said Minnesota could have taken Darrisaw with the 14th pick and no one would have thought he’d been drafted too high. Another said he expects the Vikings to have four starters from the draft in Darrisaw, linebacker Chazz Surratt, guard Wyatt Davis and defensive end Patrick Jones. Besides Darrisaw, each was taken in the third round. Two of those picks were acquired in the trade down in the first round.

2022 DRAFT

And you thought we wouldn’t have a Mock Draft for awhile?  Sorry, Dane Brugler of The Athletic has one for 2022 – and as he says, it is a useful exercise in getting to know names:

With five quarterbacks selected in the top 15 picks, the 2021 NFL Draft centered on the quarterback position — and the 2022 class will be much of the same. Next year’s crop of passers doesn’t have a Trevor Lawrence-type, no-doubt-about-it guy at the top. But there are more than a handful of talented quarterback prospects who could be drafted in Round 1 a year from now.

There are five quarterbacks in this way-too-early mock, and that doesn’t include other intriguing prospects like Kedon Slovis (USC), Matt Corral (Ole Miss), Carson Strong (Nevada), Jayden Daniels (Arizona State), Desmond Ridder (Cincinnati), Dillon Gabriel (UCF) and a few others who could ascend boards with strong seasons this fall.

Trust me, I understand a mock draft almost 365 days before the actual draft is very silly. But this exercise is less about accurately connecting players to teams and more about introducing 32 names to keep on the radar for the 2022 class.

Note: This draft order is based on the current Super Bowl odds, so don’t yell at me for the order!

1. Houston Texans — Spencer Rattler, QB, Oklahoma

The future in Houston for Deshaun Watson is uncertain, which could put the Texans in the quarterback market next offseason, especially if they own the No. 1 pick. In his first season as a starter last year, Rattler made plenty of mistakes, but he got better as the campaign progressed. He should continue that development under coach Lincoln Riley.

2. Detroit Lions — Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina

Until he proves otherwise, Jared Goff is likely the short-term option in Detroit while the organization searches for the long-term answer. It is tough to watch Howell and not see similarities to Baker Mayfield — both positive and negative. His maturation will be interesting to track without Javonte Williams, Michael Carter, Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome, all taken in last week’s draft.

3. Cincinnati Bengals — Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge, Oregon

This past draft was the first without a pass rusher in the top 10 since 2012, but Thibodeaux will help the position make a comeback next April. The former five-star recruit has lived up to expectations in Eugene and is the current favorite to be the first non-quarterback drafted in 2022.

4. New York Jets — Derek Stingley, CB, LSU

Stingley put his name on the NFL map as a true freshman playmaker for LSU’s 2019 national championship team. He battled through an injury-plagued 2020 season, but the talent to be a blue-chip pro prospect is there.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars — Kenyon Green, OT, Texas A&M

An All-American at left guard as a sophomore, Green is expected to make the move to left tackle as the Aggies’ only returning offensive lineman. He is a balanced, explosive mover with the upper-body power and awareness that NFL teams covet.

6. Philadelphia Eagles — Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

Jalen Hurts has a “prove it” season coming up, and if he doesn’t take command of QB1, then the Eagles will likely be in position to draft a different quarterback in the top 10. If the draft were tomorrow, Willis probably isn’t a first-round pick. But if he makes key improvements, scouts believe he could climb this high. Check out Bruce Feldman’s recent article on his exciting talent.

7. Las Vegas Raiders — Drake Jackson, DL, USC

When I was studying USC’s tape during the 2019 season, I thought I found a sleeper prospect when No. 99 kept popping on film. Turns out Jackson was only a true freshman, and he quickly announced himself to the world as a future top pick.

8. New York Giants — Kyle Hamilton, DS, Notre Dame

A long, explosive safety, Hamilton is a unique athlete for his size with the competitive mentality to match. Though he has the physical skill set to be a top pick, his mental development has also been apparent during his first two seasons in South Bend.

9. Carolina Panthers — Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

After playing primarily right guard as a freshman, Neal moved out to right tackle last season and was one of the better run blockers in the country while also holding his own in pass protection. At 6-foot-7 and 360 pounds, he might transition to left tackle in the fall as the Tide look to replace a first-round pick, Alex Leatherwood.

10. Washington Football Team — JT Daniels, QB, Georgia

Georgia’s inconsistencies last season can be tied to its issues at quarterback. But over the final few games with Daniels as the starter, the Bulldogs looked like a different team. If he continues to make positive strides, he could put himself in the top half of Round 1.

11. Atlanta Falcons — DeMarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M

While watching the 2020 Florida tape, I was trying to study Bobby Brown. But Leal kept drawing my eye with his agility, especially for a 290-pounder. The second Aggie in this mock draft, he has true inside-outside versatility and the dominant traits to make plays in the backfield.

12. Arizona Cardinals — Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson

At this time last year, Derion Kendrick was the Clemson cornerback that NFL scouts were talking about. But now that buzz belongs to Booth. Although he has room to tidy up his technique, he does an outstanding job of locating and making plays on the ball (check out his one-handed interceptions).

13. Minnesota Vikings — Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida

Over the last six years, Florida has produced 11 defensive back draft picks, including several first-rounders, and Elam is next in the pipeline. He needs to cut down on the penalties and improve his tackling, but his length and ball skills help him shut down passing windows.

14. New York Giants (from Chicago) — Christian Harris, LB, Alabama

Alabama’s top returning tackler, Harris is entering his third season as the starter and is one of the more experienced players in the SEC. He has outstanding run-stopping and blitzing skills, but his development in coverage will ultimately determine whether he is drafted this high.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers — Phil Jurkovec, QB, Boston College

Another quarterback who can put himself in the first round discussion with continued development, Jurkovec is a well-built competitor with better mobility than expected — similar to a current Pittsburgh quarterback. Scouts are eager to see the development of this Notre Dame transfer.

16. Tennessee Titans — Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

The first wide receiver off the board in this scenario, Wilson has a knack for getting open and winning at the catch point. With a new quarterback and so many mouths to feed in the Buckeyes’ offense, his stat line this season might not look dominant, but his tape and traits will be a different story.

17. Los Angeles Chargers — Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

A 6-foot-2 corner out of Detroit, Gardner had an All-American true freshman season in 2019 and had another strong year as a sophomore, collecting three interceptions each season. His competitive temperament gets the best of him at times and penalties have been a problem, but his coverage grades stand out.

18. New England Patriots — Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

While I studied Feleipe Franks’ tape last season, Burks made himself impossible to overlook with a number of highlight-worthy plays each week. A good-sized athlete at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, he has a huge catch radius and makes even the most difficult grabs appear routine.

19. Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami) — George Karlaftis, edge, Purdue

Although he was injured during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Karlaftis was dominant as a freshman in 2019, leading the team with 17 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. His heavy-handed attack and GPS for the football should translate well to the next level.

20. New Orleans Saints — Jordan Battle, DS, Alabama

Battle became a full-time starter as a sophomore last season and didn’t disappoint, earning high marks from the coaches for his play versus the run and the pass. Safeties have been shut out of the first round each of the last two years, but players like Hamilton and Battle will try to change that next spring.

21. Indianapolis Colts — Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

Washington has become the Pacific Coast version of “DBU” and McDuffie is next in line to be an early-round pick. Entering his third season as a starter, the California native doesn’t have ideal size, but he plays with obvious swagger and compete skills to stay on top of routes.

22. New York Jets (from Seattle) — Kingsley Enagbare, edge, South Carolina

South Carolina always seems to have at least one defensive lineman who will be a future NFL starter, and Enagbare is that guy to watch this fall because of his length and athletic twitch. Also known as “JJ,” he became a starter last season as a junior and led the team in sacks (six) and forced fumbles (three).

23. Dallas Cowboys — Darian Kinnard, OG, Kentucky

A college right tackle who will likely move inside to guard in the NFL, Kinnard is an ass-kicker in the run game and surprised NFL scouts when he decided to pass up a spot in the top 100 to return to school. With improved consistency in pass protection, he might be able to break into the first round.

24. Denver Broncos — DJ Dale, DT, Alabama

The only true defensive tackle in this mock draft, Dale is a stout nose. He won’t fill up the stat sheet, but his impact is clear. He earned the starting job as a true freshman and has been an understated performer for the Tide the last two seasons.

25. Green Bay Packers — Zach Harrison, edge, Ohio State

At 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, Harrison is straight out of central casting and will light up stopwatches at next year’s scouting combine. He didn’t take as big of a jump between his freshman and sophomore seasons as expected, but with another offseason working under Larry Johnson, Harrison could be a breakout star this fall.

26. Cleveland Browns — Myjai Sanders, edge, Cincinnati

With his initial first step, Sanders is quick to introduce himself on tape. He was a potential top-50 pick if he declared for this year’s draft, but he returned to Cincinnati to continue to get stronger and become a better finisher in hope of becoming a first-round pick.

27. Baltimore Ravens — Jamaree Salyer, OT/G, Georgia

Over the last two seasons, Salyer has lined up at left tackle, right tackle and left guard, and it will be interesting to see where he lines up as a senior. It doesn’t always look pretty, but his wide base and natural power help him overwhelm defenders.

28. Miami Dolphins (from San Francisco) — Aidan Hutchinson, DL, Michigan

Hutchinson was considered a borderline first-rounder last fall before a fractured leg ended his season and forced him to return to school. He is on pace to be fully healthy for the fall, and scouts will be interested if he shows the same pre-injury lower-body agility and upper-body power.

29. Buffalo Bills — John Metchie III, WR, Alabama

Alabama’s streak of consecutive drafts with at least two wide receivers taken in the first round will likely end next April. But if Metchie cracks the first round, he will be the sixth Crimson Tide pass catcher to do so since 2014. He finished second on the team in receiving last season, and his 16.7 yards per catch average was better than DeVonta Smith’s 15.9.

30. Detroit Lions (from LA Rams) — Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

The second Ohio State receiver drafted in this mock, Olave was considered a borderline first-round pick before he decided to return to Columbus for his senior year. His body type is only average, but his speed and ball skills are appealing traits for the next level.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Tyler Linderbaum, OC, Iowa

My top-ranked center, Linderbaum flies out of his stance to reach blocks or advance to the second level. He plays with tight hands and a flexible lower body to cleanly redirect or move laterally.

32. Kansas City Chiefs — Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson

Based on talent, Ross belongs in next April’s first round. But he missed the 2020 college football season because of a congenital fusion in his spine that puts his draft grade in limbo until the team’s doctors can examine him at the combine. Clemson expects him to be fully healthy and on the field this fall.