THE DAILY BRIEFING
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The big meeting Monday between The Commish and his scheduling team must have gone well, as the NFL says the 2023 schedule is a go for announcement Monday night. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:
The NFL’s 2023 schedule will be released on Thursday night.
The league made it official this afternoon, announcing that the full schedule will be released Thursday at 8 p.m. ET with special programs on both NFL Network and ESPN.
A preview of the full schedule will come on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, with NFL Network and ESPN announcing international games, Amazon announcing the first-ever Black Friday game, and select games being revealed on Fox & Friends, CBS Mornings, the Today show and Good Morning America.
@NFLScheduleNews and @NerdingOnNFL will be busy the next couple of days. Here are some scoops:
@OzzyNFL
NFL Schedule News!!!
The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to host MNF on Christmas Day, per sources.
Their opponent will likely be the San Fransisco 49ers or New York Giants.
We’ll hopefully be able to confirm soon.
And this:
@NerdingOnNFL
NFL SCHEDULE RUMOR
Eagles @ Chiefs – Week 2
Donna Kelce posted a Facebook comment on May 5th stating “Chiefs plays Eagles week 2 in Arrowhead”
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NFC NORTH
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DETROIT
An interesting take from Coach Dan Campbell on late-developing QB HENDON HOOKER per Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:
Quarterback Hendon Hooker’s age got a lot of notice heading into this year’s draft.
At 25, he’s more seasoned than most rookies entering the league and that was seen as a drawback for some because of the time it might take for him to develop into a starter. The Lions did not let Hooker’s age keep them from making him the 68th overall pick last month and head coach Dan Campbell said on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast that the team views Hooker’s age as a plus rather than a minus.
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“We did go into this offseason saying that we wanted to bring in some competition at quarterback,” Campbell said. “We didn’t know exactly where that might be, who that would be at the time, but we did like Hooker. We knew he was coming off the injury, but there was something about him that was appealing. He’s very mature, he looks the part, he’s got a big arm. H’’s just got to learn to play in the NFL. He’s a pro, now, and I like the fact that he was older. We all kind liked the fact that he was older. I think you want your quarterback to be more mature.”
Hooker is coming off a torn ACL and Campbell said that the team views 2023 as “a redshirt year for him” since he’ll be rehabbing and Jared Goff remains on hand as the starter. Hooker’s been talked about as a possible successor to Goff, but Campbell said “it’s going to be a long time” before the team knows if that will be the case in Detroit. That would make Hooker even older, but it’s clear Campbell isn’t put off by that.
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NFC SOUTH
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NEW ORLEANS
The Saints drafted Fresno State QB JAKE HAENER whose most frequent comparison had been QB BROCK PURDY. But team exec Jeff Ireland has even a higher likeness in mind. Jeff Duncan of NoLa.com:
The New Orleans Saints believe rookie fourth-round quarterback Jake Haener has some similarities to the best quarterback in franchise history according to Jeff Duncan of NoLa.com.
Jeff Ireland, the Saints assistant GM and college scouting director, made the comparison between Haener and Drew Brees during a recent press conference. Haener, who like Brees is short but an accurate passer, has great potential. “You wouldn’t think he was 6-foot tall when you watch him,” Ireland said of Haener. “He’s got great processing ability. He’s got great vision. He’s got a quick stroke. He’s extremely smart. He’s a sixth-year senior, so he’s really mature for being a college senior. He’s competed in two different programs, he’s competed at Washington, competed at Fresno State. And I was just really impressed with the person, how he plays. He’s had several fourth-quarter comebacks. He does kind of remind you or there’s some similarities to No. 9.”
Ireland acknowledged that there’s only one Drew Brees, but he also said Haener has special traits.
“You can’t really compare him, and I’m always careful to use the comparison because he doesn’t compare to Drew, he’s the only one,” Ireland said. “But there are some similarities that make you feel like, OK, maybe he can play similarly to that person. And you thought, OK, well you got another short quarterback in the league, you got Bryce Young. He just got picked first in the draft. What if Jake’s in that offense [at Alabama]? I just think, hypothetically, Jake would have success if he’s at Alabama. So we tossed a lot of these things around, like the idea of having a young developmental quarterback learn a new system with Derek [Carr] and Jameis [Winston]. So that’s just a smart business move, in our opinion. We felt like that was a smart move to get a young player in there to develop. We just want to see him develop in a system where we feel like it’s going to be successful, learn from two guys that have been doing this and battled as starters in this league. We feel like that’s smart business.”
More from Crissy Floyd of USA TODAY:
While Haener should not be expected to start right away, he should be considered to be a player who has the ability to take the reins. At a bare minimum, he projects as something of a Jimmy Garoppolo type.
Despite being knocked for his frame at a minimal height of a flat 6-foot, Haener brings so much more to the table, as was reflected by his impeccable performance at the Senior Bowl in which he separated himself from every other quarterback at the event by a county mile. He was named MVP for the Senior Bowl game itself, following recent picks like Justin Herbert, Daniel Jones, and Dak Prescott.
Haener has shown the ability to evade pressure, make throws out of structure, and put proper arm strength on passes despite not having a Howitzer. He has a high level of mental processing and incredible football IQ, and can throw into impossibly tight windows down the sideline at all levels of the field.
I spoke with Haener ahead of the draft on some of the things he had been negatively graded for in scouting reports.
“Stetson (Bennett is) about two years older than I am,” Haener said. “I’m still 23 and there’s a lot of quarterbacks out there about 23, 24 at this point so age I don’t think is a big deal. And height, it is what it is. I can’t control that and there’s probably a lot of people saying that if I was one or two inches taller that I’d probably be going a lot higher than I’ll go but I can’t control that. I play bigger than I am and do everything that I can in my power to get guys fired up and play at a high level that I’m capable of.”
And he was confident in what he showed the scouts.
“I feel like people have gotten a pretty good judgment of what I can do and I think it will continue to get better,” Haener continued. “Here I feel like is kind of a rough estimate of what accuracy looks like. How the ball comes off my hand. I feel like people can see that I throw a nice ball and that I have the arm strength there. When I get with guys I’m comfortable with, a system I’m comfortable in, I will continue to get better.”
It will be interesting to see what Haener accomplishes in New Orleans, but there is no question that the sky is the limit. He’s landed in a great spot to continue developing his craft.
Did he really separate himself from the other QBs at the Senior Bowl by a “country mile”? The other QBs were –
MAX DUGGAN, TCU
MALIK CUNNINGHAM, LOUISVILLE
TYSON BAGENT, SHEPHERD
CLAYTON TUNE, HOUSTON
JAREN HALL, BYU
Trevor Sikkema of ProFootballFocus.com saw it this way:
JAKE HAENER, FRESNO STATE
Haener would likely get my vote for the quarterback who had the best week in Mobile. Though it didn’t feel like he attacked deep down the field in the same way Duggan did in practice, Haener was consistently accurate and seemed to have the best handle on his offense. That showed up in the game, as he finished 12-for-19 with 139 passing yards and a passing touchdown. He also had the highest passer rating (66.8) during the three practices. It was an impressive week for Haener, who certainly boosted his stock.
Danny Mogollen of SportsGrid:
I like Haener the best, but I lean toward him being a backup at the next level.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com had him as one of the Senior Bowl’s 10 “risers”:
Jeremiah: “There wasn’t a stellar group of quarterbacks in Mobile, but I thought Haener flashed the most of this year’s crop. The ball jumped out of his hands during practice, and he was accurate. He’s already shown he’s tough, coming back from an ankle injury last season and spearheading the Bulldogs’ run to a Mountain West championship. I think Haener’s stock could benefit from Brock Purdy’s incredible run as a rookie after he was drafted with the final pick last year.”
Cam Mellor of ProFootballNetwork.com:
1) Jake Haener, Fresno State
Impressing at seemingly every turn, Fresno State’s Jake Haener had the most impressive body of work throughout the week. Capitalizing on a solid three days of practice, Haener led the National Team to a victory over the American Team during the Senior Bowl to close the week.
Haener had the Senior Bowl’s most lively arm, demonstrating strength from multiple platforms and the wherewithal of when to use it. The simulated practices didn’t offer much for quarterbacks in the way of situational football, but Haener seemed to also possess the best quick-learning skills of the playbook installation.
Haener led the game’s opening possession and looked great in the process. He finished 12 of 19 for 139 yards and a touchdown.
When it came to his actual on-field practice performance, Haener’s arm strength and talent popped. He had the most consistent week and lengthened the gap between him and the rest of the quarterbacks in the middle tier of the 2023 NFL Draft.
He was the Senior Bowl MVP. Paul Rudder of as.com brings us up to date:
The QB was stellar, with his 12 of 19 passes for 145 yards and 1 touchdown.
Introducing Senior Bowl MVP, Jake Haener
Though it’s true that NFL scouts pay more attention to the practice week that precedes the Senior Bowl, it would be a mistake to think that emphasis isn’t placed on performance during the actual game. With that in mind, there is definitely one young man who stood up to be counted. Fresno State’s Jake Haener came into this game both fresh off of a productive 2022 and squarely on the radar of evaluators from the NFL. After his team’s dominant victory over the Americans, courtesy of his MVP performance, it’s fair to say he should be.
But, who is Jake Haener?
A three star recruit out of Monte Vista High School, according to ESPN, Haener chose Washington. While he would only play in three games for the Huskies in his freshman year, he would end up with an impressive QB rating of 87.7. The very next season, he would transfer to Fresno State where it became clear he might have something. In that sophomore year, he’d get on the field six times during which he’d register a completion rate of 64.7 with an average of 8.7 yards per pass. There were also 14 TDs and a final rating of 103.4. Worth mentioning, were his 42 rushes for a total of 201 yards on an average of 4.8 per rush.
By the time his junior year rolled around, it was clear that Haener had found his feet. Across 13 games, the signal caller posted an unbelievable 4098 passing yards on 490 attempts, to go with a rate of 67.3%, on an average of 8.4 yards per try. What was the haul for all of those numbers? An outstanding 33 touchdowns and a season rating of 107.8. On the ground, he was responsible for 55 scrambles for a total of 195 yards on an average of 3.5 per run. His senior year, was essentially business as usual. In the 9 games that he played; he logged an eye opening 2620 yards on 318 attempts with a completion rate of 72% on an average of 8.2 yards per pass. His 18 TDs weren’t bad either, as well as his QB rating of 114. The point is, Jake Haener is very, very good quarterback.
Ok, not what, but WHO is Jake Haener?
If there is one thing that Haener has demonstrated throughout his college career – aside from his sensational attributes – it’s his quiet confidence. Indeed, when Haener spoke earlier this week during the practice sessions, his words were those of a player who knows he’s good, but also understands there’s always room to be better. Humble, but lethal.
“I feel like I’ve been pretty consistent so far with my accuracy and you know there’s just something with progression reads that are a little off and timing and things like that, which happen,” Haener said. “But I feel like the ball has been popping off my hand pretty good and when I have to, throwing into tight windows.” What he said next was interesting, as he spoke about the advice, he had received from the Senior Bowl coaching staff, which basically amounted to, ‘more of the same.’ “Just to continue doing what I’m doing and play with a little more anticipation,’ Haener said. ‘Speed up, speed up my process. The faster you play, the better you play. So, you just continue to try to do that.” Well, he definitely did that in the Senior Bowl, so keep an eye on this kid, he’s likely to be going places.
Haener should not need media training. His mother is a veteran TV news anchor, once in Fresno, now in the San Francisco Bay Area. He went to the same high school as Zach Ertz. He is a scratch golfer. Mitch Stephens of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote this when he was a high school senior:
Monte Vista-Danville quarterback Jake Haener has long been a charming kid, his coaches say. Outgoing. Verbal. Maybe even a little chatty.
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The third-year starter has thrown for 5,721 career yards, 57 touchdowns and only 16 interceptions. He leads the third-ranked Mustangs (1-0) into an East Bay Athletic League opener 7 p.m. Friday at No. 22 Foothill-Pleasanton (0-2).
Haener joins a long list of college-bound Monte Vista quarterbacks, including Kyle Wright (Miami), Brett Nottingham (Columbia) and Jeff Lockie (Oregon). All were groomed by Bergman, a college quarterback at Arizona and Santa Clara in his 20th season at Monte Vista.
“He’s got such confidence and turned into a great leader,” Bergman said of Haener. “Nothing rattles him. He can be off target five or six throws in a row, but he’ll shake it right off and make the right read and throw.”
Opposing fans can’t get to him, either. The son of KTVU anchor Julie Haener, the good-natured quarterback constantly gets razzed about being the offspring of a Bay Area celebrity. Student bodies often bring large photos of his mom and chant her name.
“I don’t get upset at all,” Jake said. “I think it’s sort of hilarious.”
He embraces his mom’s fame and admires her determination to make it in a very competitive field. Same goes for his father, Ryan, a successful salesman of orthopedic implants.
“Both started from the ground up,” Jake said. “I think that’s where I get my competitive edge.”
Both were athletic, too. Ryan was a fast and burly high school quarterback and safety from Fresno, and mom competed in equestrian. Jake is a scratch golfer and played JV baseball as a freshman, but gave up everything for football.
“He’s a football junkie,” Bergman said. “He’s constantly watching films, studying tendencies. He loves it.”
He worked on his body, too, making himself stronger and leaner. No workout could make him taller, the one thing he can’t control and the one big knock on him from college scouts.
He has 10 offers, but jumped at the chance to play for Chris Petersen at Washington, which his mom and grandfather attended. Petersen has had lots of success with shorter QBs, including Kellen Moore at Boise State.
“The (lack of) height thing has been on me since I was 9,” said Haener, who has long idolized the Saints’ Drew Brees. “It’s helped push me and forced me to play with a chip on my shoulder.”
Said Bergman: “Jake has a big arm, is a great leader and just makes plays. Thankfully, Chris Petersen just looks for football players and not all the measurements. It’s a lost art in recruiting. That’s why he’s had so much success.”
So there you have it – is he Drew Brees, Brock Purdy, Taylor Heinicke maybe?
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NFC WEST
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SEATTLE
Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic says the Seahawks got the right man in WR JAXON SMITH-NGIBA.
John Schneider had two thoughts in his mind as he left the Woody Hayes Athletics Center at Ohio State.
He and coach Pete Carroll headlined a Seahawks contingent in town to watch the Buckeyes’ pro day. The biggest draw was quarterback C.J. Stroud, though equally important was the performance of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, considered to be one of the best wideouts in the 2023 draft class.
Schneider didn’t watch Smith-Njigba in person during his prolific 2021 season in which he set the Big Ten receiving record with 1,606 yards. And a hamstring injury sidelined Smith-Njigba for all but 60 snaps of the 2022 season, so aside from the scouting combine, the pro day offered Seattle’s general manager a front-row seat to watch Smith-Njigba work.
Smith-Njigba had already delivered at the combine a few weeks earlier. He was smooth, fluid and sure-handed in position drills and posted elite short-area numbers in the three-cone and shuttle drills. He chose not to run the 40-yard dash in Indianapolis, and Schneider expected that to be the case again in Columbus. But Smith-Njigba opted to run, and Schneider estimates he was between 4.48 and 4.50 at 200 pounds (The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had him running 4.52 at 197). Schneider was happy to see him run and again look polished and precise in his position drills.
With the game tape, combine interview, an in-person talk at the pro day, the 40 time and another excellent positional workout, Schneider felt great about Smith-Njigba as a prospect. He thought Smith-Njigba was the best receiver in the class.
He also thought he wouldn’t be able to pick him without trading up.
‘There’s no way that guy is going to make it to 20,” Schneider said to himself at the time.
On draft night, he was happy to be wrong.
Ever since DK Metcalf established himself as a potential No. 1 receiver next to Tyler Lockett in 2019, the Seahawks have been in search of a reliable third wideout. They’ve compiled a long list of swings and misses. Josh Gordon. Freddie Swain. Phillip Dorsett. Dee Eskridge. Marquise Goodwin. Bo Melton. Dareke Young. Laquon Treadwell. The Seahawks haven’t given up on Eskridge or Young, a seventh-round pick in 2022, but they still entered this draft with a clear vision for what they wanted in a third receiver.
They wanted a slot receiver who understood zone coverage and how to feel underneath defenders and make himself available to the quarterback. They needed someone who was more quick than fast, but at the same time, crafty and explosive with the ball in his hands. Against man coverage, their preferred receiver needed to be proficient at the line of scrimmage and have a wide catch radius. He must also be a dependable blocker in the run game, which is still a key piece of the team’s identity.
Basically, the Seahawks were looking for Smith-Njigba.
Smith-Njigba is the perfect fit for Seattle’s offense. Which is why drafting him with the 20th pick — the highest Carroll and Schneider have ever taken a receiver in 14 drafts — was such a no-brainer. As its pick approached, Seattle did the leg work to be prepared to trade back if necessary, but those conversations ended when Smith-Njigba was still available.
“It was an easy decision just because he’s plug-and-play,” Schneider said on Seattle Sports radio after the draft. “With our situation, it totally made sense.”
In 2022, Seattle used 11 personnel on 52.8 percent of its plays, which was below the league average of 61.3 but still the team’s most popular player grouping, according to TruMedia. A third receiver is essentially a starter. That’s why Carroll and Schneider considered it an urgent position of need in the draft.
Most of Seattle’s evaluation of Smith-Njigba was based on his 2021 season, which provided an excellent look at how he might fit into a Seahawks offense that already has two dynamic pass catchers. In 2021, Smith-Njigba played beside Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, who went on to be the 10th and 11th picks, respectively, in the 2022 draft. Wilson and Olave were 1,000-yard receivers as rookies, and Smith-Njigba might be more talented than both in large part because he’s considered the best route runner.
“The tempo in which he changes directions is very special,” Ohio State receivers coach Brian Hartline said in an interview with The Athletic. “Special meaning that I don’t see a whole lot of guys that do that. His catch-to-run mechanics, his ability to catch the ball and transition to a ball carrier is very uncommon. He does it at a very high level. That also plays into his overall speed and the way he plays the game.”
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“I’m just a student of the game,” Smith-Njigba said during a KJR-FM radio interview when asked about his route running. “I love ball. I love the receiver position. I’ve been a receiver since I started playing football at 3 years old. My creativity, it’s unique.”
Smith-Njigba later added: “I love this position, and I think there’s no ceiling for me, where I can take it.”
Lockett and Metcalf are accustomed to receiving more than 100 targets per year, so a third receiver playing beside them must be able to maximize his opportunities. Aside from scoring touchdowns, the best way for Smith-Njigba to do that is to be reliable on third downs. Last season Seattle was a below-average third-down team on passing plays, converting only 32 percent of the time, according to TruMedia. Even when Geno Smith had time to throw, moving the chains in obvious passing situations was often difficult because of the attention defenses paid to Metcalf and Lockett.
It should take no time at all for Smith-Njigba to help Smith in that area. His performance against Michigan in 2021 offered great examples. In that game, the Buckeyes lined him in the backfield to create mismatches against linebackers. Michigan tried giving him free releases off the line on third down in the slot, only to get burned when its defensive backs weren’t able to stay with him in tight spaces. But jamming him at the line didn’t work, either. Whether third-and-medium or third-and-long, Stroud was able to trust that Smith-Njigba would be open.
“Everything that a football player encompasses — winning, being productive, making plays, being competitive — he embodies all of that,” Hartline said. “And he does it at the highest level I’ve seen.”
Hartline, who was the Buckeyes’ passing game coordinator in 2022 and has since been promoted to offensive coordinator, said the way Smith-Njigba performed on Saturdays was a direct reflection of the work he put in during the week.
“He wants to be the best player on the field every time he’s on the field,” Hartline said. “He works accordingly. He is very competitive in practice. He wants to dominate in practice. There’s never a time he doesn’t want to put his best foot forward. Wanting to win on everything he does clearly shows how competitive he is and how much it matters to him.”
A dynamic slot receiver who can block also gives Seattle offensive coordinator Shane Waldron more options with his play calls. It’s the unglamorous part of the job that not all receivers embrace, but much like Metcalf and Lockett, Smith-Njigba takes pride in that part of the job, in the run game and on the perimeter on screens. It’s part of his desire to win at everything he does, even if he’s not touching the ball.
“He was our best blocker,” Hartline said. “When he was blocking, we knew we were good because the job was getting done.”
Carroll and Schneider emphasized finding the right character fits when assembling this draft class. The competitiveness is certainly part of what made Smith-Njigba attractive. His confidence also meshes well with what Seattle already has among its receivers. Metcalf already feels there isn’t a defender in the league who can stop him. Lockett isn’t as vocal about it, but he’s similarly confident. Smith-Njigba is wired the same way. It shows up in his play and the way he carries himself.
On draft night, Smith-Njigba was asked what he does best as a receiver. His reply was as precise as his routes.
“I get open,” he said.
During his radio interview, Smith-Njigba compared his game to a mixture of the Rams’ Cooper Kupp and the Bills’ Stefon Diggs, two of the best slot receivers in the league. When one of the hosts closed the interview by asking whether he should draft Smith-Njigba on his fantasy football team, he replied, in part, “You want to win, right?” Smith-Njigba’s attitude and demeanor contribute to him being such a perfect piece to complement Lockett and Metcalf.
“Those guys can do it all, but you just add another weapon that can do it all, I think it’s going to be dangerous,” Smith-Njigba said. “Geno back there slinging it, the potential is crazy. The potential is crazy, and I love playing with great players. I’m blessed to be a Seahawk, and I’m blessed to play in that stadium in front of those fans. We’re gonna light it up for sure.”
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AFC SOUTH
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HOUSTON
Owner Cal McNair denies that either he, now his wife Hannah, told the Texans draft team to pick a QB – as sensible as that might have been. DJ Bien-Amie of ESPN.com:
– Texans owner Cal McNair said Monday that neither he nor his wife, Hannah, forced his team’s front office to draft Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.
“Hannah and I don’t make the picks. We’ll make it clear there,” McNair said during the 20th annual Houston Texans Charity Golf Classic. “We have a great group of scouts led by Nick [Caserio] and James Lippert, and they did a lot of work on the draft board, and then they followed that on draft day, and they moved up when they saw the value was there and moved back.”
During the first round, the Texans selected Stroud with the No. 2 pick and then traded their No. 12 selection, the No. 33 pick, and a future first-rounder to the Arizona Cardinals to move up to the No. 3 pick to select Alabama defensive end Will Anderson Jr.
There was speculation that the McNairs forced Caserio, the team’s general manager, and coach DeMeco Ryans to select a quarterback since the Texans’ quarterbacks posted the worst QBR in the NFL last season.
McNair expressed optimism about the Texans’ moves throughout the offseason and expects the team to show improvement from the past three seasons, when the organization went 11-38-1.
“I think you just have to look at the roster, and I think it’s a better roster this year, very competitive,” McNair said. “They want to have competition spots on the roster. So, I see a lot of progress. A lot of good things.”
Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com takes a deeper look at the Texans maneuverings that ended up with two of the top three picks in the draft (with consensus players for those spots) and yet they still come out criticized.
TWO HOURS BEFORE the NFL draft started last week, no one outside of Houston knew what the Texans would do with the No. 2 overall pick. Neither, as it turns out, did the Texans.
It had been widely reported the Carolina Panthers would select Alabama quarterback Bryce Young at No. 1, clearing the runway for Houston to make its decision. But the Texans were still trying to reconcile their love for Alabama pass-rusher Will Anderson Jr. with the sober realization they needed a franchise quarterback, according to multiple sources. In those final hours, the best guess among sources inside the Texans’ facility was Anderson would be the pick at No. 2, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Ultimately, Texans general manager Nick Caserio settled on a way to avoid the either/or scenario: He would do both, no matter the cost. The Texans had 12 picks coming into Thursday, including five in the top 75. After Anderson was drafted Thursday night, Caserio said in a news conference he had worked on outlining a deal to send a massive collection of draft capital to the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 3 pick to select the pass-rusher. Caserio then pivoted to Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud at No. 2.
What appeared to some to be a brilliant smokescreen, and to others a tightly held secret plan, was instead a genuinely fluid situation until the moments before the Texans picked Stroud, based on ESPN reporting in the days since. The Texans didn’t fool the world; they bid an exorbitant price for No. 3 — sending the Cardinals the No. 12 pick, their second-round pick (No. 33) and first- and third-round picks in 2024 — in the last available moments to circumvent what would have been an agonizing choice.
“The decisions that we make,” Caserio said at the post-draft news conference, “[are] what we feel is in the best interest of the organization.”
The Texans spent two years in the quarterback wilderness after Deshaun Watson’s final game with the organization following the 2020 season. Watson asked to be traded, vowing to not play for the Texans again. Then more than two dozen women made allegations of sexual misconduct against the quarterback, who was traded to the Cleveland Browns in March 2022. The Texans compiled the NFL’s worst record since 2021 (7-26-1).
But the Watson trade, which included three No. 1 draft picks, gave the Texans multiple chances to reload with premium players. They entered the 2023 draft with their own pick at No. 2 and the Browns’ at No. 12. Those spots could not provide complete fulfillment, however. They could either draft Anderson or they could grab one of the year’s top quarterbacks at No. 2, but the other would almost certainly be off the board by No. 12.
The player who sparked the most excitement within the team’s brain trust, especially first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans, was Anderson.
ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE sources, Anderson was the top-rated player on the Texans’ draft board for most of the offseason — ahead of Young, Stroud and every other quarterback available. Ryans played at Alabama and consulted with Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban throughout the pre-draft process, according to a source. Ryans envisioned Anderson as the kind of game-changing edge rusher all great defenses have, similar to the one he had built around in his previous job as the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator: Nick Bosa.
Anderson’s pass-rush production at Alabama (34.5 career sacks) suggests he could flourish in Ryans’ 4-3 scheme, although some teams around the league considered Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson as an equal or better pass-rushing prospect. Anderson twice earned unanimous All-America honors as well as the Nagurski Trophy as college football’s best defensive player, having compiled 130 pressures from 2021-22 — 42 more than any other FBS player in that span.
“I appreciate it so much,” Anderson said at a Friday news conference about the Texans trading up to select him. “I told them a dozen times probably, like I’m so appreciative of them. I don’t take this for granted. That showed me how much they actually wanted me here.”
The Texans haven’t had a player produce a double-digit-sack season since J.J. Watt in 2018, and other than quarterback, there is arguably no position more valuable in the modern NFL than pass-rusher.
Ryans added he and Caserio were “on the same page” about Anderson’s projections. But their consensus left a question. Could the Texans get away with drafting Anderson at No. 2 and then almost certainly missing out on a quarterback at No. 12?
Caserio was entering his third draft as Texans general manager. Watson’s absence and subsequent departure had disrupted the team-building plan he arrived with, and circumstances left Caserio with few options. The Texans’ previous regime had traded away their first- and second-round picks in 2021, so he selected quarterback Davis Mills in the third round. The 2022 quarterback class was one of the weakest in memory and offered no options of value at the Texans’ No. 3 overall pick, where Caserio selected LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. Pitt’s Kenny Pickett was the first quarterback of the board at No. 20.
But given the presence of Young, Stroud and Florida’s Anthony Richardson this year, it would be much harder to defend coming out of the draft without a more permanent solution. How could the Texans justify passing on a potential franchise quarterback to a fan base that had watched so much losing in the wake of Watson’s departure?
UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, some NFL owners would demand a quarterback. Texans chair and chief executive officer Cal McNair isn’t one of them. Two days before the draft, Caserio told ESPN’s Ed Werder that McNair had given him space to operate as he saw fit.
“The biggest thing he’s just been supportive of what we’re doing,” Caserio said. “They’ve fully appreciated what we’re trying to do. And they’ve enabled us the opportunity to kind of do what we feel is in the best interest of the organization.”
Caserio acknowledged he would need to inform McNair “about what we’re going to do and the rationale behind it,” but added: “They’ve been great from the standpoint of just kind of allowing us to kind of work through it.”
At the same time, an NFC front-office source said Caserio did not need a push from the owner to know he needed a quarterback. On top of compiling the NFL’s worst record over that span, primary starter, Mills, has ranked No. 32 in the league in Total Quarterback Rating. Ryans is his third coach in as many seasons. Caserio is running out of time to give the Texans hope, much less turn them into a winner.
Stroud was the team’s next-highest-ranked quarterback after Young. Caserio said later in the post-draft news conference: “He’s a competitive player, has an edge about him in a good way, loves football, wants to compete, wants to be great. Good size, comes from a good program.” He added: “Certainly has a long way to go. I think he’ll admit that.”
But neither Caserio nor Ryans could shake the idea of losing Anderson in the pursuit of a quarterback. So in the days leading up to the draft, Caserio set out to see if he could move up high enough from No. 12 to get both.
He had preliminary talks with Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort, with whom he had worked with the New England Patriots from 2003 to 2004 and 2006 to 2019, to find out “whether or not this was something we were interested in doing,” he said. Later, he asked the Indianapolis Colts (No. 4) and the Seattle Seahawks (No. 5) about their interest levels.
Ultimately, sources said, the Texans were concerned the Tennessee Titans could trade up from No. 11 to No. 3 to draft Stroud. And if the Cardinals opted to keep their pick, Anderson would have been a prime target for them.
Buzz around the league at the time centered around the Texans’ apparent preference for Anderson. Caserio’s time with the Patriots taught him the value of keeping his business secret, and only a handful of people knew he was working to move into the Cardinals’ spot. In the days leading up to Thursday night, according to sources, people who had personal relationships with Caserio in Houston and New England tried to get an idea what he was up to. They couldn’t. Stroud’s agent, David Mulugheta, did not know that the Texans would target Stroud if they could make the trade, although Caserio did tell Werder that Mulugheta’s previous representation of Watson would have no effect on their decision.
In reality, the Texans didn’t know what was going to happen, either. Ossenfort and the Cardinals drove a hard bargain, which is why the best guess from Texans sources Thursday afternoon was Anderson would be the pick. But as the draft opened, Caserio was confident enough in the pending deal that he selected Stroud at No. 2. (Had he chosen Anderson first, the Cardinals might have gotten new offers at No. 3 from teams seeking either Stroud or Richardson.) But there was no wizardry involved as he and Ossenfort agreed on the trade during the 10-minute allotment they had at No. 3. To get the deal done, Caserio committed the second-biggest overpayment of draft capital for a non-quarterback in the past 20 drafts, according to ESPN Analytics’ approximate value-based draft-pick valuations tool.
The only deal for a non-quarterback during the past 20 drafts to exceed the Texans’ deal was the Atlanta Falcons’ move from No. 27 to No. 6 in 2011 to select receiver Julio Jones. The Falcons also gave up their first-round pick in 2012, two second-round picks and a fourth-round pick.
A closer comparison can be traced to 2013, when the Dolphins traded with the Raiders to also move up from No. 12 to No. 3. The Dolphins drafted pass-rusher Dion Jordan at No. 3. In exchange, they gave up only a second-round pick (No. 42 overall).
Writing on Twitter, former Philadelphia Eagles and Browns executive Joe Banner called the Texans’ trade last week “one of the biggest overpayments of all time.”
Caserio, however, brushed aside questions about the terms of the deal after the draft.
“From our perspective, it’s not about what the points tell you on the chart,” Caserio said in the news conference last Thursday. “If you have conviction about a player and you want a player and you think the trade is the right thing for you to do, then you go ahead and do it. … The trade was really driven more by: This is a player we thought would bring a lot of value to our team.”
Internally, the Texans settled Thursday on a more nuanced justification, according to sources. They considered the trade to be their cost for drafting a quarterback. Without it, they wouldn’t have drafted Stroud and would have missed out on Richardson. Anderson would have been the pick. It wasn’t a secret. It wasn’t a smokescreen. It was a frenzied conclusion of their efforts to find a different answer to the either/or question.
To compare – Houston draft picks as is, players Houston could have drafted:
WITH TRADE WITHOUT TRADE
2 C.J. Stroud C.J. Stroud/Will Anderson
3 Will Anderson Arizona
12 Arizona Will McDonald IV/Lukas Van Ness
33 Arizona TE Michael Mayer/Will Levis
2024 #1 Arizona Still Houston
2024 #3 Arizona Still Houston
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AFC EAST
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NEW YORK JETS
The Jets were all in on EDGE WILL McDONALD IV, whether at 15 or 13 – if Robert Saleh is to be believed post-draft. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:
As part of the Aaron Rodgers trade, the Jets moved down from the 13th pick to the 15th pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. Jets head coach Robert Saleh says that didn’t matter.
The Jets took defensive end Will McDonald at No. 15, and Saleh told Rich Eisen that McDonald would have been their pick at No. 13.
“The difference between 13 and 15 in the way everything shook out made no difference to us,” Saleh said.
That flies in the face of the widespread belief that the player the Jets wanted was offensive tackle Broderick Jones, who went No. 14 when the Steelers traded up with the Patriots to get him. But if Saleh is to be believed, McDonald was the guy they wanted all along.
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THIS AND THAT
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STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Looking at Peter King’s power rankings earlier this week we were struck by how none of the top 12 teams were in either of the two South divisions. But, as John Breech ofCBSSports.com points out – based on 2022 records, the East divisions have the toughest schedules and it is easy going in the South. So if someone like say the Jaguars had a 10-7 team against a .500-type schedule, they might go 12-5.
If the Eagles are going to win the NFC East for the second straight season and get back to the Super Bowl, it’s not going to be easy and that’s because they’ll be facing the NFL’s most difficult strength of schedule in 2023.
It’s been 20 years since the NFC East has produced a repeat champion and based on this year’s strength of schedule, that’s a drought that likely isn’t going to end this season. Philadelphia has a strength of schedule of .566, which not only gives them the most difficult schedule for the upcoming season, but it makes them one of only two teams in the NFL — along with the Dolphins — who will have a strength of schedule above .550.
The Eagles’ rough schedule includes 10 games against 2022 playoff teams, which is tied for the most in the NFL. To put that in perspective, the other Super Bowl team from last year — Kansas City — will only have seven games against playoff teams from last season.
The Eagles’ home schedule is especially brutal with six of their eight games coming against teams that made the playoffs last year (Cowboys, Giants, Bills, 49ers, Dolphins and Vikings). If you add the Commanders, that means seven of Philly’s eight home games will come against teams that finished 2022 with a record of .500 or better.
The second-most difficult schedule belongs to the Dolphins, who will face a brutal road schedule this year with games against the Bills, Chiefs, Chargers, Eagles, Ravens and Aaron Rodgers’ Jets.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the easiest strength of schedule belongs to Atlanta at .417. The Falcons only play four 2022 playoff teams, which is the lowest number a team can play in a season based on the current scheduling formula.
If you’re looking for a division that could produce a few surprise teams next season, then you might want to look at the NFC South. One dark horse in that division could be Derek Carr’s Saints, who will be facing one of the easier schedules in the NFL.
At .427, the Saints have the second easiest schedule going into 2023 (The Falcons and Saints are the only two teams facing a strength of schedule under .430).
The good news for the Saints and/or the Falcons is that over the past SEVEN YEARS, at least one team playing one of the two easiest schedules has made the postseason. If that trend stands, then either New Orleans or Atlanta (or both teams) will be making it to the playoffs in 2023.
The addition of the 17th game has added some spice to the strength of schedule measurement and that’s because it means that good teams are now playing more difficult schedules. From 2002 to 2020, the schedule was inherently the same for everyone, whether they were playing a “first-place” schedule or a “last-place” schedule. Each team played four games against a team that finished in first place, four games against teams that finished in second, four games against teams that finished in third and four games against teams that finished in last place.
With the addition of the 17th game, a first-place team will now play FIVE first place teams, which means you’re rarely going to see a division winner with an easy schedule. Every team in the NFC East has a tough schedule this year, but the Eagles’ is the most difficult because they have to play five first place teams, unlike the Cowboys, Giants and Commanders, who will only play four games against first-place teams.
Of the eight teams playing a “first-place” schedule in 2023, the Jaguars have it the easiest,which is notable, because first-place teams have done well in that situation since the NFL switched to a 17-game schedule in 2021. The Cowboys had the “easiest” first-place schedule in 2022 and they were able to turn that into an 12-5 record. The Bills had the “easiest” first-place schedule in 2021 and they were able to turn that into an 11-6 record.
As for teams who are playing a “last-place” schedule this year, the Falcons scored the biggest win as they have the easiest schedule among last place teams. On the other hand, the Jets, who are also playing a last-place schedule, have the sixth most difficult schedule in the NFL, which means this could be a rough year for them, even with the addition of Aaron Rodgers.
One team to watch could be the Houston Texans, who have the easiest strength of schedule in the AFC. They might not make the playoffs, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see them improve by several games over their 2022 record of 3-13-1.
If you’re looking for teams that could take a step back this year based on strength of schedule, those would probably be the Giants and Dolphins, who will be playing two of the five toughest schedules.
The one thing about strength of schedule is that there’s no perfect way to measure schedule difficulty before the season kicks off. Thanks to injuries, free agency and trades, rosters are changing all the time and they will continue to change between now and the start of the season in September. That being said, strength of schedule does give you a good idea of what your favorite team will be facing in the upcoming season.
Here are the 2023 strength of schedule rankings for each team (combined 2022 record of all 17 opponents, combined winning percentage).
The DB put East teams in RED, South teams in GREEN
RANK FOESCOMBINED 2022 WIN%
1 Eagles .566
2 Dolphins .554
3 Patriots .549
4t Cowboys ..549
4t Giants .549
6 Jets .545
7 Bills .542
8 Commanders .535
9 Rams .533
10 Raiders .524
11 Cardinals .519
12t Chargers .517
12t Broncos .517
12t Seahawks .517
15 49ers .514
16 Chiefs .512
17 Bengals .510
18 Bears .497
19 Vikings .497
20 Lions .495
21 Ravens .484
22 Buccaneers .483
23 Jaguars .477
24 Packers .476
25 Steelers .470
26 Browns .460
27 Panthers .453
28 Titans .448
29 Colts .434
30 Texans .431
31 Saints .427
32 Falcons .417
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BROADCAST NEWS
We have heard that in the new TV contract every game is a “free agent.” But Michael Mulvihill of FOX Sports tweets, in response to a Mike Florio tweet about a Peter King item, that it is more complicated than that.
ProFootballTalk
@ProFootballTalk
A broadcasting tradition unlike any other disappears in the 2023 schedule, when the CBS/AFC and Fox/NFC relationships of the past become irrelevant to the assignment of Sunday afternoon games.
Michael Mulvihill
@mulvihill79
While any given game is now eligible to appear on any network, Fox/NFC and CBS/AFC still have appearance minimums per team that keep the traditional conference affiliations relevant. Expecting to see a lot of misunderstanding on this point.
Michael Mulvihill
@mulvihill79
Fox will have at least twice as many Cowboys games as any other network.
And while I wish it were true that “CBS can no longer lay claim to the Chiefs”…..they can.
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2023 DRAFT
Matt Bowen of ESPN.com has 16 perfect fits from the recent draft:
We talk a lot about value and need when sizing up NFL draft picks, but finding the right team fit is also crucial in projecting rookies to the next level. So which of the top players selected in the 2023 draft landed in the perfect spot for their skill sets?
I picked out my 16 favorite fits among prospects who will have an impact in Year 1, factoring in scheme, tendencies and coaching. I see players here who are set up for success as rookies and beyond as they join their new teams. Let’s dive in on the ideal landing spots, starting with an elite pass-rusher who could have high sack totals right out of the gate. I listed the 16 prospects by draft pick order.
Will Anderson Jr., DE, Houston Texans
Drafted: Round 1, No. 3
Why he is a perfect fit: Anderson’s pass-rushing traits will be maximized in DeMeco Ryans’ defense. With loaded fronts and five-man surfaces, Ryans can scheme one-on-one rushes for Anderson to use his first-step quickness and power against offensive tackles. And Anderson can also be set up well on the Texans’ twists and stunts, creating open daylight for the Alabama star to get home with his high-level short-area speed. Anderson logged 34.5 sacks and 184 pressures during his three years in Nick Saban’s defense, and Ryans’ system is an ideal fit to create NFL pass-rush production.
Anthony Richardson, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Drafted: Round 1, No. 4
Why he is a perfect fit: Considering both his rare dual-threat traits and the Colts offensive system, Richardson lands in a prime spot for his pro development. First-year head coach Shane Steichen schemed for Jalen Hurts last year in Philadelphia, mixing in designed runs, run-pass options and play-action elements while also giving Hurts opportunities as a pocket thrower. Expect the same script for Richardson in Indianapolis as he develops in the NFL.
While Richardson can still improve his lower-body mechanics and generate a stronger sense of accelerated vision from the pocket, the tools are there for the young quarterback to produce in an offense designed to highlight his playmaking ability at the position. He completed 53.8% of his passes last season, but he threw 17 touchdown passes and averaged 6.4 yards per rush. This is a great spot for Richardson to learn the pro game and continue developing his skill set.
Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Drafted: Round 1, No. 8
Why he is a perfect fit: Robinson is an all-purpose playmaker who can produce in any game situation. That’s a fit here for Arthur Smith’s run-heavy offense, where Robinson will also see schemed targets as an asset in the pass game. Last season, the Falcons logged 559 rushing attempts, the most in the league. And they led the league in designed run rate at 51.1% of offensive plays.
That sets up for Robinson to be a volume runner in Atlanta, especially on zone schemes. He can press the perimeter here, burst to daylight or bend the ball back. Robinson can run with power, shake defenders and hit home runs. He has the physical profile and traits to produce high-end numbers as a rookie in Smith’s offense.
Jalen Carter, DT, Philadelphia Eagles
Drafted: Round 1, No. 9
Why he is a perfect fit: For new defensive coordinator Sean Desai in Philly, expect Carter to be used in multiple spots across the defensive front to be a disruptive force against both the run and the pass games. In the Eagles’ base fronts, Carter can play as a 5-technique (head up the tackle) or 4-technique (inside shade of the tackle), where he can win at the point of attack. In Philadelphia’s sub-package fronts, I believe Carter is your 3-technique defensive tackle. There he can be stunted inside or put in one-on-one situations to work the edges on guards in protection.
Carter is an explosive and powerful interior rusher with game-wrecking traits, and he will team up with Jordan Davis and Fletcher Cox to create problems for opponents on the inside. He totaled six sacks and 54 pressures over the past two seasons, but his numbers don’t do his talent justice.
Christian Gonzalez, CB, New England Patriots
Drafted: Round 1, No. 17
Why he is a perfect fit: The Patriots major in single-high coverages, playing over 60% of coverage snaps with a post safety in the deep middle of the field last season. That’s an easy fit for Gonzalez, who has the coverage traits and speed to match in man-on-man and the fluid lower-body flexibility to play from an off-position in three-deep zone. Gonzalez can flip the hips and use his great backfield vision to get a jump on the ball here. His 6-foot-1 frame will also show up when he is asked to jam and sink in the Patriots’ two-deep shells.
It’s just a really good fit — at a position of need — with Gonzalez in New England. He had four interceptions last season and should help in the department as a rookie.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Drafted: Round 1, No. 20
Why he is a perfect fit: Smith-Njigba has the versatility to play as a boundary or field receiver on the outside, but the fit here mainly points to slot alignments in the Seahawks’ 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE) sets. Smith-Njigba can use his lateral quicks and route-running traits to uncover for quarterback Geno Smith, with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett playing outside. He can make an immediate impact on schemed concepts, isolation routes and catch-and-run targets.
Smith-Njigba has the skill set to complement the Seahawks’ veteran wideouts, and his arrival in Seattle boosts the pass game for Pete Carroll’s team from a matchup perspective. He was limited to five catches last season while dealing with a hamstring injury but dominated in 2021 with 1,606 receiving yards.
Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Drafted: Round 1, No. 23
Why he is a perfect fit: Addison should see immediate target volume playing opposite Justin Jefferson in Kevin O’Connell’s heavily schemed route tree. Addison brings serious separation speed at the top of his routes, but the Vikings will also use motion, movement and formation savviness to give the rookie free access off the ball. O’Connell can get Addison into the route quicker there, while also creating open voids for him against zone looks. And with slot/outside versatility, Addison’s detailed route tree fits well in Minnesota’s staple three-WR sets.
Over three collegiate seasons (two at Pitt, one at USC), Addison compiled 3,134 yards and 29 TDs. With Adam Thielen off to Carolina, there are targets available in Minnesota.
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo Bills
Drafted: Round 1, No. 25
Why he is a perfect fit: The Bills ran just 32 snaps of 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TE) last season, the lowest total in the league. But with Kincaid now in the mix, we should expect a shift in offensive philosophy from coordinator Ken Dorsey. I think Buffalo can create great pass-game matchups with two tight ends in the game. Paired with Dawson Knox, Kincaid can be the move/flex target at the position, with seam-stretching ability and catch-and-run skills.
Kincaid will be an inside, vertical stretch target for quarterback Josh Allen against split-safety coverages, but he can also be deployed as a boundary X receiver to create man-coverage mismatches. Think of him as a versatile pass-catcher who gives the Bills matchup looks against both base and sub-personnel packages. He’s coming off a productive year with 70 catches, 890 yards and eight scores.
Jonathan Mingo, WR, Carolina Panthers
Drafted: Round 2, No. 39
Why he is a perfect fit: Frank Reich’s route tree is loaded with crossers and in-breakers, which caters to Mingo’s powerful frame and ability to produce after the catch. Plus, Mingo can stretch defenses on fades or seams at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds. This sets rookie quarterback Bryce Young up to make rhythm throws off play-action and while dropping back, with a receiver who can play through contact at all three levels of the field. And that includes making plays at the third level for Young on one-on-one vertical throws.
Brian Branch, S/CB, Detroit Lions
Drafted: Round 2, No. 45
Why he is a perfect fit: A multidimensional defensive back with first-round traits, Branch brings even more versatility to the Lions’ upgraded secondary. The Alabama product can match over the slot, play from depth or spin to the post. I see great range and high-level instincts on tape. He did it all last year, too. Branch had 89 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, two interceptions and three sacks across 13 games.
After signing C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency, the Lions and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn can use more three-safety sub sets to play matchups. You’ll see late rotation and disguise with the position versatility in this Detroit secondary. That gives you an edge in the pre- and post-snap chess match.
Keion White, DE, New England Patriots
Drafted: Round 2, No. 46
Why he is a perfect fit: White’s versatility is a positive fit for a Patriots team that will use a variety of fronts on defense. Bill Belichick can play White at defensive end, widen him as a stand-up edge or loop the rookie off the traditional New England stunts to create “A” gap pressure.
Given White’s physical profile at 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds, we could also see the Patriots bump him inside in pass-rushing situations. Coming off a 7.5-sack season, he is a matchup option for one of the league’s most multiple defensive systems.
Keeanu Benton, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers
Drafted: Round 2, No. 49
Why he is a perfect fit: I picked Benton here because he fits in the Steelers’ front as a nose guard due to his size and play strength. At 6-foot-4, 308 pounds, Benton can take on double-teams, and the hand usage skills are there for him to disengage from blockers and pick up run-game stops (12 last year).
Benton can push the pocket in passing situations, too, creating even more interior disruption for one of the NFL’s top defensive lines. He posted 4.5 sacks in his final year at Wisconsin. Let’s not make this one complicated; Benton is an ascending player who will be deployed in a perfect spot that fits his traits.
Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Chicago Bears
Drafted: Round 2, No. 56
Why he is a perfect fit: It’s the play demeanor and the coverage fit in Matt Eberflus’ defense that have me excited about this match. Stevenson shows the physical coverage skills to match up with boundary X receivers in the Bears’ nickel sets, which would allow Kyler Gordon to stay inside at the slot position. Plus, Stevenson can reroute in Cover 2, jamming and sinking. And he will hit in the run game, too. He had 68 tackles and three interceptions over the past two years.
Chicago is building a secondary with urgent and aggressive defensive backs, and Stevenson fits that profile.
John Michael Schmitz, C, New York Giants
Drafted: Round 2, No. 57
Why he is a perfect fit: In addition to Schmitz’s finishing ability as a blocker, which showed up consistently during Senior Bowl workouts, it’s the zone-run fit in Brian Daboll’s offense that sticks out. This is where the 6-foot-4, 320-pound rookie center can reach, combo, climb and cut off second-level defenders. He’s an instinctive and detailed technician here, and that opens up more running room for Saquon Barkley to get vertical on inside and outside zone schemes.
Drew Sanders, ILB, Denver Broncos
Drafted: Round 3, No. 67
Why he is a perfect fit: Sanders has the second-level range and coverage ability to earn early snaps in Denver, but I look at his blitzing ability with coordinator Vance Joseph for the fit here. That’s where I expect Sanders to make his impact as a rookie, with Joseph setting him up in sub fronts to blitz the interior gaps. In Joseph’s aggressive scheme, Sanders can produce pressure numbers in his first pro season, and the physical tools are there for the linebacker to potentially see some snaps off the edge, too.
He had 110 tackles and 9.5 sacks last season, and Denver was near the bottom of the league in sack rate (5.4% of opponent dropbacks).
Devon Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
Drafted: Round 3, No. 84
Why he is a perfect fit: The run game fit in Mike McDaniel’s offense works with Achane. The Texas A&M product is decisive when he gets on a downhill track, with the perimeter speed to bounce the ball outside. But McDaniel can also deploy Achane as a motion/movement player — fly sweeps, screens and targets in the pass game.
Achane ran a 4.32-second 40-yard dash at the combine. He can roll, and the manufactured touches in McDaniel’s system will create explosive-play opportunities for the versatile rookie running back. Despite being undersized at 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, he had 35 runs of 10-plus yards last season and averaged 5.6 yards per carry.
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