We commend you to PHILADELPHIA for some good dish on the Eagles.  And the whole thing if you subscribe to The Athletic.

NFC EAST

PHILADELPHIA

A deep dive from three reporters of The Athletic goes behind the scenes where no coach, certainly not Doug Pederson,

Four weeks into the 2019 season, Doug Pederson sat down for his scheduled inquisition.

The Tuesday tribunals with team owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman were a weekly occurrence during Pederson’s five-year tenure as Eagles head coach. In the meetings, Lurie and Roseman questioned Pederson about all aspects of his game management the week prior. Fourth-down decision-making, play calling, personnel choices — everything was on the table.

Days earlier, the team overcame a 10-0 second-quarter deficit to beat Aaron Rodgers and the Packers 34-27 and even its record at 2-2. The offensive key to the win was a steady dose of the running game that took advantage of Green Bay’s defensive game plan.

Apparently, that wasn’t good enough. Lurie, who has long advocated the use of analytics, wanted to know why Pederson hadn’t called more passing plays. The interrogation was the same after another win that season — this time in Buffalo on a day with 23 mph winds.

“(Pederson) was ridiculed and criticized for every decision,” one source told The Athletic. “If you won by three, it wasn’t enough. If you lost on a last-second field goal, you’re the worst coach in history.”

Following the season, Lurie wanted Pederson to get rid of offensive coordinator Mike Groh and wide receivers coach Carson Walch. It wasn’t the first time Pederson found himself on the opposite end of a disagreement with his bosses over his assistant coaches.

After Pederson’s first year as head coach in 2016, he fought to keep then-offensive coordinator Frank Reich, pushing back against doubts from above. Pederson put his foot down again with Groh and Walch, saying he wanted both coaches to return.

That’s when Lurie reminded the coach who makes the final calls at the NovaCare Complex.

Pederson was given 24 hours to make the moves, according to multiple sources. If he didn’t, he’d be fired.

A source close to Lurie says the owner never gave Pederson an ultimatum, but the next day the Eagles announced Groh and Walch had been let go. A year later it was Pederson, who declined comment for this story. Lurie and Roseman also declined to participate in this story through a team spokesperson.

Three years after the Eagles captured the first Super Bowl in franchise history, the team finished in last place in the worst division in football. Pederson is currently out of the NFL. Former franchise quarterback Carson Wentz is in Indianapolis. Lurie is more involved in all aspects of football operations than ever before and has kept Roseman by his side to usher in a new era with head coach Nick Sirianni, the fourth head coach in the GM’s tenure.

Over the past two months, The Athletic spoke to current and former Eagles staffers representing a cross-section of departments and viewpoints about the inner workings of the franchise. They were granted anonymity to be allowed to speak freely about sensitive topics, describing an environment characterized by second-guessing, paranoia and a lack of transparency.

According to Lurie, Roseman’s role is to foster a culture of collaboration between different departments, but the philosophical lockstep the Eagles emanated in the wake of their Super Bowl triumph was far from the truth. Tension simmered behind the scenes among different factions of football operations. Over the ensuing few years, the animosity festered to the point that certain departments were separated inside the building.

“The fact that Doug had the success he did with all the shit going on in the building, sometimes I look at our Super Bowl rings, and I’m like, ‘Holy cow, I don’t know how we did it,’” one source said.

In fact, the championship season began with many in the building wondering whether Pederson would even last the year.

In the days leading up to the 2017 opener, word of a three-hour meeting between Lurie and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz spread throughout the organization. The specifics were unknown, but multiple sources said there was a feeling around the team that Lurie was vetting an in-house replacement for Pederson in the event the Eagles got off to a slow start.

After a Week 1 victory in Washington, the team celebrated by dumping Gatorade on Pederson’s head. Philadelphia went on to win 10 of its first 11 games. But Pederson didn’t just have to prove himself on Sundays.

Over time, the Tuesday meetings wore on Pederson. Lurie has long considered the organization at the forefront of innovation, and the impression among Pederson’s supporters in the building was that Lurie’s weekly questions were largely based on postgame reports produced by the team’s analytics staff.

Sources say Pederson was beaten down by the constant second-guessing. “They treated him like a baby,” one said.

Alec Halaby, the Eagles’ vice president of football operations and strategy, has worked under Roseman since joining the team full time in 2010 and now runs the team’s four-person analytics department. The young executive with an Ivy League pedigree carries with him the kind of reputation that causes football lifers to scoff. And according to multiple sources, a rift grew between Halaby and some members of the coaching staff and scouting department.

“Within the building, he’s perceived as Howie’s guy,” said one source. “That’s a problem. … No coach wants somebody around who they think is undermining the perception of how well they’re doing.”

To some, Halaby is something of an interloper. They say he carries influence with Lurie in part because of a close relationship with fellow Harvard grad Julian Lurie, Jeffrey’s son, who stands to one day take over the family business. To others, Halaby is “brilliant” and simply willing to fight for what he believes is right. The more nuanced opinion is that Halaby is in a “no-win situation,” boxed into a specific characterization by the non-traditional football background he shares with Roseman and a personality that makes him a “square peg in a round hole.”

The blurriness of Halaby’s influence on the final decision-makers created rifts throughout the organization and contributed to the iciness between departments. One source described the analytics team as a “clandestine, Black Ops department that doesn’t answer to anybody except the owner,” even though Halaby officially reports to Roseman.

During the 2017 season, Halaby’s and Pederson’s relationship soured to the point where Pederson berated Halaby within earshot of the rest of the office, according to sources. In the opinion of some members of the coaching staff, Halaby was not to be trusted.

Frustration mounted on the scouting side as well. Rather than being presented with reasons for where certain draft-eligible players were rated by Halaby’s department, the scouting staff would simply be given a list of players the analytics department liked. According to one source, a top personnel official was upset to find out Halaby was grading players on his own despite never having been trained in the scouting department’s methodology.

Lurie’s investment in analytics is substantial. In addition to Halaby’s staff, the owner brought in Warren Sharp of SharpFootballAnalysis.com, who provides a weekly offensive game plan report during the season.

When Andrew Berry was hired by Roseman to be the Eagles’ VP of football operations in 2019, there was an expectation by some in the building he was brought in to help bridge the divide between the football side and the analytics department. But while Berry remains a popular figure in the organization and was described by one source as “the nicest guy in the world,” the damage between departments was already done. The interoffice dynamics were no more harmonious when Berry left to become the Browns general manager in 2020 than when he arrived.

Before the 2018 draft, the Eagles installed a state-of-the-art draft room across the building from what is traditionally considered the “football” side of the building, where the coaching staff and scouting department sit. One year later, Halaby’s department was moved from the football side of the building to an alcove near the new draft room. Though Halaby maintained his influence, the symbolism of Roseman banishing an entire department to “the other side of the building” was not lost on those who watched Roseman undergo the same move three years prior, when Lurie had cast him aside in favor of Chip Kelly.

Shortly after Lurie bought the team from Norman Braman in 1994, Sports Illustrated’s Peter King wrote, “Hollywood producer Jeffrey Lurie is a member of that most rabid subspecies of NFL fanatic, the draftaholic. In recent years he has prepared for the league’s annual college draft by holing up in the media room above the garage of his Beverly Hills home and watching tapes of the Blue-Gray Game, the Japan Bowl, the Senior Bowl — Lurie would have them all — on his big-screen, surround-sound TV.”

That passion remains strong. According to multiple sources, Lurie devours tape of college prospects and is an “active participant” in the pre-draft process.

Those who have experienced that process acknowledge its murkiness. Often, there’s no explanation given when the team strays from an established draft board. Sometimes, as with J.J. Arcega-Whiteside’s selection in 2019, Lurie puts his thumb on the scale when the team was prepared to make another selection (in that case, Ohio State’s Parris Campbell).

But the virtual nature of the 2020 draft made things even less clear to the majority of the football operations staff. For the most part, last year’s decisions were discussed in a small virtual room consisting of Roseman, Lurie, Pederson and vice president of player personnel Andy Weidl. As a result, each of the Eagles’ first three selections — TCU receiver Jalen Reagor, Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts and Colorado linebacker Davion Taylor — mystified some scouts and coaches watching along at home, just like everybody else.

Roseman has the final say over the roster. Any draft pick, trade or signing — good or bad — is on his record. Yet behind the scenes, there’s lingering ambiguity about how decisions are made. For an organization that publicly touts collaboration as if it’s offering a TED Talk on intraoffice cohesion, the lack of collaboration became a common refrain among those with knowledge of the decision-making process.

Coaches wanted their evaluations taken into account or felt like certain players were forced upon them, scouts didn’t understand why picks didn’t correspond with an established methodology, and other staffers were unsure how their analysis was being applied in decisions. Departments became siloed — or even pitted against each other — and the lack of collaboration made finger-pointing easier.

“Building that coalition and leading that group to work together in a constructive way is not Howie’s strength,” one source said. “In fact, it’s one of his weaknesses.”

Roseman is known to keep his own draft board, and scouts who spend months on the road evaluating players can feel marginalized when the rankings they’ve helped assemble are not followed. One source described Roseman pushing an assistant coach to give playing time to a recent draft pick while the assistant balanced conflicting recommendations from senior members of the coaching staff. Lurie, who regularly attends practice, inquired about a reserve’s playing time. There’s been confusion about why certain players were active and others were inactive on game days, with speculation centered on Roseman’s outsized influence on the game-day roster.

“Those are the types (of things) that happened where there’s no collaboration,” another source said.

Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins, who worked in the front office from 2016 to 2018, once delivered an impassioned speech in the team’s draft room to a group of employees in football operations. For those who had never seen that side of Dawkins up close, it was a stirring experience. With trademark intensity, the franchise icon spoke about his passion for the organization and addressed an office culture he said needed more teamwork, less in-fighting.

In other words, a house divided against itself cannot stand.

No one in the organization has drawn more fan ire this offseason than Roseman. After all, if the head coach and quarterback who led the team to a Super Bowl three years ago can both be jettisoned so quickly, why does the man responsible for hiring and acquiring both get to stick around?

“To think, three years later, the head coach, your starting quarterback who was 2017 MVP-caliber, the guy who won you the Super Bowl and damn near every coach who was on staff isn’t there, you have to think, ‘What happened?’” one source said.

According to multiple sources, the answer is that Roseman has made himself “essential” to Lurie. “This is a survivor,” said one source about Roseman. “This is someone who understands how to stay close with the most important person in the building.”

– – –

Roseman is also thought by some to be too friendly with his favorite players. He has publicly acknowledged his sentimentality for the Super Bowl roster as a flaw in recent years, but that closeness extends beyond what turned out to be bad football decisions. Wentz and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, for instance, held outsized sway over certain roster and coaching staff decisions, according to multiple sources.

Perhaps the most combustible way in which Roseman’s image consciousness plays itself out in the building is his paranoia about information leaks. There are horror stories across departments of Roseman scolding employees and threatening to search phones in reaction to the publication of inside information. On at least one occasion, according to a source, Roseman tasked an employee with combing through phone records in search of a leak’s origin. But the understanding in the building is that this particular Roseman anxiety is not principally over concern about the information getting out. Rather, he prefers to be the one to disseminate the information when and where he sees fit. In his view, information is currency.

Roseman is not without his defenders. He is described as “loyal to his guys” and willing to let those he trusts handle their jobs without meddling. Roseman has told a story about learning from Andy Reid the importance of putting on a positive front in the face of setbacks, which he has taken to heart. In the midst of a 4-11-1 season, Roseman maintained his rah-rah attitude in the building. Even his survival instincts are described with admiration by some.

And, of course, he designed the city’s first Super Bowl roster.

That championship run was delivered within two seasons of Roseman’s return to power. It was led on the field by Roseman and Lurie’s hand-picked coach and executed by a roster that featured only two players acquired during Kelly’s tenure in charge of personnel. Roseman and Lurie believed they deserved even more input, even if the constant second-guessing wore on Pederson.

Lurie pushes for the implementation of progressive, analytically supported ideas. His urgency to litigate every Pederson decision was also proof of his growing involvement in football operations. The Tuesday meetings, for instance, never took place during Andy Reid’s 14-year tenure in Philadelphia.

In the context of his peers, Lurie is a rare bird. Unlike some owners, the team is his top business and personal interest. He attends most practices during the season and has traveled to private workouts and Senior Bowls in years past. If Roseman, a master at managing up, invites Lurie’s input, what guardrails remain to prevent the owner from being too involved?

Even those who bristle at some of Lurie’s involvement call him a “good man” whose motives are sincere. “He loves football and wants to win,” said one source.

His main weakness, in the eyes of some, is his loyalty to Roseman, whom Lurie views as a friend. Nearly 30 years into his ownership of the team, having already achieved Super Bowl glory, perhaps Lurie has decided to be more involved and push forward with those he trusts.

When Lurie and Roseman decided to trade Wentz this offseason, they acknowledged the move reflected an organizational failure. In January, Roseman described Wentz as being like one of the fingers on his hand. “You can’t even imagine that they are not part of you,” Roseman said.

Nobody in the organization could’ve seen Wentz’s 2020 disaster coming, and nobody has a great explanation for why he performed like one of the NFL’s worst starting quarterbacks. Some pointed to his supporting cast and the injuries on the offensive line. Others said it was a coaching staff that ran out of ideas to help him.

And then there’s the Jalen Hurts theory. The Eagles’ decision to select Hurts in the second round last April caught many in the organization by surprise. When explaining the pick, Roseman said the Eagles wanted to be a “quarterback factory,” a comment he now wishes he could have back. Roseman thought he could snag a competent backup quarterback with upside at a low cost, and Lurie was all for the move. What they both underestimated was how the young players on the roster, particularly those who didn’t have a history with Wentz, would gravitate toward Hurts.

Some in the organization thought it shouldn’t have been an issue. Wentz had received a $128 million contract extension from the team, and in the eyes of some, Lurie and Roseman had coddled him throughout his tenure.

On the other hand, Wentz had experienced a turbulent four seasons in Philadelphia. Nick Foles led the team on its Super Bowl run in 2017 and to the divisional round of the playoffs the following year after Wentz suffered a pair of successive season-ending injuries. In 2019, Wentz suffered a concussion in the first quarter of the only playoff game he’s appeared in. In between it all, there were anonymous leaks suggesting that Wentz needed to do a better job connecting with teammates.

Multiple sources said the loss of Reich after 2017 played a role in Wentz’s regression. It wasn’t just that Reich had a connection with Wentz. One source described him as Pederson’s glue, a supportive right-hand man who served as a valuable intermediary.

The relationship between head coach and quarterback deteriorated as things went south in 2020. One source described Wentz as smarter than most of the coaches on staff, but that meant he wanted to control the game at the line of scrimmage with checks and audibles. His pre-snap orchestrations led to confusion among the other players and resulted in guys not being on the same page. Pederson struggled to find a balance between empowering Wentz and reining him in.

– – –

The Eagles effectively tanked the final game of the 2020 regular season, but the expectation immediately after the loss was that Pederson would return for his sixth season. He survived “Black Monday” and fulfilled his end-of-season duties. All that awaited was a meeting with Lurie.

But one discussion was not enough. Much like the end of the 2019 season, there were disagreements about Pederson’s staff that stretched into a follow-up meeting. That’s when the Eagles made the change.

Lurie called it a “difference in vision,” as the owner was focused on “the mid term and long term and not on how to maximize 2021,” while Pederson wanted to retain familiar coaches who could allow for a “smoother 2021” season. Even Lurie acknowledged that Pederson “did not deserve to be let go,” but it became clear that the Eagles would need a different voice for what the owner termed a “transition period” with the roster.

When Lurie held a video news conference in January to explain Pederson’s firing, he fielded multiple questions about his evaluation of Roseman: Why was the coach dismissed, but not the general manager? Lurie seemed almost incredulous that Roseman was a subject of intrigue.

A week later than other teams with coaching vacancies, Lurie kicked off a search that started with 25 candidates and was pared down to 10 for interviews. Sirianni was not considered a front-runner for the job at the outset. He didn’t interview elsewhere in 2021 and was not among the initial wave of interviewees.

In the phone call offering Sirianni the job, Lurie stated that he was “so incredibly excited for the coach you are and the coach you can become.” An outside perception lingers that Sirianni offered the Eagles a coach of least resistance for management’s involvement. The same was said about Pederson five years ago.

The Eagles enter the 2021 offseason program with fewer familiar faces. For a growing number of employees at the NovaCare Complex, the Lombardi Trophy is more a vestige of a previous era than a shared memory.

“The surprise factor (is) that it happened so quickly,” one source said. “Perhaps it’s not surprising given the culture of the organization.”

But others presented the idea that the drop-off wasn’t dramatic. Perhaps the Super Bowl season was actually the outlier.

There’s also the thought that even passable quarterback play would have obscured some of the problems that appeared glaring in the absence of it. If Wentz was merely a mediocre quarterback last season and the Eagles were merely a mediocre team, there would be less blame required.

Lurie keeps a handwritten checklist in the top drawer next to his bed with the tenets he believes are necessary for a successful organization. Among them are a dynamic head coach, a franchise quarterback and an innovative personnel executive. Roseman is the only one in the triumvirate who remains from the Super Bowl campaign. As he begins his fourth partnership with a head coach, Roseman’s survival instincts are thus far unmatched.

In January 2016, when the Eagles hired Pederson, a question was posed to Pederson and Lurie in the introductory news conference asking for clarity about who possessed final say over the roster.

“I know this,” said Pederson. “It’s a collaborative effort.”

And who breaks the tie?

Lurie, standing a few feet to Pederson’s right, raised his hand. Laughter filled the auditorium.

WASHINGTON

The WFT has found an international gem from Chile.

Washington’s top tight end last season, Logan Thomas, didn’t play the position in college. Its latest tight end acquisition didn’t even play the sport until recently.

The Football Team signed former Tulane basketball player Sammis Reyes on Tuesday. Reyes, who is of Chilean descent, is the latest prospect to find their way to the league through the International Player Pathway Program (IPP).

“I’m so proud of Sammis for all his hard work to develop as a football player, including over the past 10 weeks of training alongside our other international prospects,” NFL International COO Damani Leach said in a statement. “His signing with Washington is another testament to the International Player Pathway Program’s success and the league’s commitment to international growth.”

Reyes grew up in Chile before moving to the United States at the age of 14 where he eventually played basketball at North Broward Prep in Florida and then at Tulane. In two seasons on the hardwood for the Green Wave, the 6-foot-6 athlete started two of 32 games played and played 254 minutes total, scoring 24 points and recording 48 rebounds and 12 blocks. He also spent some time with the Chilean national team.

After college, however, Reyes turned to the gridiron.

“I wanted to go to the NBA; that was my dream my entire childhood, and of course it never happened,” Reyes told the South Florida Sun Sentinel in January. “So when I was 23, my current agent, my family and my close friends, they were like, … ‘You’ve got to give this football thing a shot. You’re fast, you’re strong, you’re powerful.’ So my friends, my best friends, and everybody around me convinced me to give it a shot.”

Reyes spent the last 10 weeks training with 10 other NFL hopefuls involved in the IPP at IMG Academy in Florida before showing out at Florida’s pro day on March 31.

The 25-year-old isn’t guaranteed a spot on Washington’s opening-day roster, but there is opportunity there to crack the final 53; as things stand, Reyes will compete with Temarrick Hemingway, Marcus Baugh, Tyrone Swoopes and Dylan Cantrell to back up Thomas.

NFC WEST

ARIZONA

The Cardinals have added RB JAMES CONNOR, the erstwhile Steeler.  Nick Shook ofNFL.com:

James Conner‘s first free-agent visit of the week proved to be his last.

Conner has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals, the team announced Tuesday.

Conner visited Arizona on Monday, drawing his first public interest during free agency after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Evidently, he was sold on what he saw and will be joining a team in which he can occupy an important role in the Cardinals’ backfield as its bigger, bruising running back.

The former University of Pittsburgh star will share the load with smaller spell back Chase Edmonds in a unit quarterbacked by Kyler Murray and headlined by players like DeAndre Hopkins and A.J. Green.

“I think Chase can do it all, and I believe I can do it all,” Conner said Tuesday of his expectations playing alongside Edmonds. “His decision-making, his speed, he runs hard too. He’s got that dawg mentality, just like I got. So we’re just gonna roll.”

Conner will be expected to contribute from the outset, as Arizona has clearly demonstrated it is all-in for 2021.

That will, of course, require being available. Conner’s greatest hurdle has been his own health in his career, playing at least 10 games in each of his four professional seasons, but never more than 14. Following his Pro Bowl season of 2018, Conner wasn’t able to establish a rhythm in 2019 or 2020 while also running behind a declining Steelers offensive line.

AFC NORTH

CINCINNATI

Tyler Dragon (Enter T. Dragon to the Daily Briefing) reports that QB JOE BURROW might be throwing to an old friend from LSU this season.

The Cincinnati Bengals claimed Moss off waivers on Monday, a source told The Enquirer. NFL Network was the first to report the news. It was later announced by the Bengals.

Moss and Joe Burrow were teammates together at LSU during the Tigers’ national championship run in 2019. The 6-foot-3 tight end tallied 47 receptions for 570 yards and four touchdowns during LSU’s national title winning season.

Feb 25, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Louisiana State tight end Thaddeus Moss (TE10) speaks to the media during the 2020 NFL Combine in the Indianapolis Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The LSU product was an undrafted free agent pickup by the Washington Football Team in 2020. He spent his entire rookie year on Washington’s injured reserve list. He never took the field for Washington.

In Cincinnati, Moss has a chance to reinvigorate his NFL career and join a quarterback who he has a rapport with. The Bengals are a good spot for Moss because the team wants to get more production out of the tight end position. Cincinnati hasn’t had a tight end finish a season with more than 43 catches since 2015.

Moss is the son of NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss.

CLEVELAND

The Browns are circling around EDGE JADEVEON CLOWNEY.

@RapSheet

Free agent pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney is set to fly to Cleveland on Tuesday night and visit with the #Browns on Wednesday, source said. His 2nd visit to the team. Nothing immiment right now, but the two sides have maintained contact and share mutual interest.

AFC EAST

BUFFALO

Only if you have submitted to a vaccination will you be allowed to watch the Bills in person this fall, per the edict of Erie County.  Sandra Tan of the Buffalo News:

The full-throated roar of Buffalo Bills fans may be heard during next season’s games at Highmark Stadium – but only if they are vaccinated and can prove it. Same goes for next season’s Sabres games.

“Our goal is to have a 100% full house for the Bills and the Sabres, starting in the fall,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said during Tuesday’s weekly media briefing.

Western New York is once again a statewide hot spot for Covid-19 following a steady monthlong climb in new cases.

Poloncarz announced the vaccination policy after expressing deep disappointment at the sudden drop-off in people making vaccine appointments.

Unlike past weeks, when Poloncarz warned that vaccine “eligibility does not equal availability,” Tuesday’s media briefing was filled with repeated pleas for people to take same-day and next-day county clinic appointments that were going unfilled. He also rolled out a new county vaccination appointment system that can be found at erie.gov/covid19/vaccine.

Poloncarz spoke of the “tremendous slowdown” in people making vaccine clinic appointments and noted that on Monday, he was among those trying to recruit people off the street to take open appointments at a pop-up vaccination clinic at a Main Street church in Buffalo.

Erie County officials said Tuesday that young adults are now the most likely to catch the virus, and it is more common for someone under age 65 to be hospitalized than it is for seniors.

“I’m a little surprised that we’ve seen this rapid move from just so much demand and not enough appointments, to where we basically have walk-in status,” he said.

His announcement about the stadium vaccination policy is part of a broad new campaign to move toward herd immunity by giving residents who might be hesitant or unwilling to get vaccinated a greater incentive to do so.

“You want to go to a Bills game later this year?” he said. “Get vaccinated with your first dose of the Moderna vaccine today. You get your second dose of the Moderna vaccine in four weeks. Two weeks later, you’ll be able to fill out the pass, and in the fall, you’ll be cheering on Josh Allen at the stadium.”

The new requirement would eliminate the need for the mass testing of fans for Covid-19 prior to game days, Poloncarz said.

As of Thursday, only 3.6% of the Niagara County residents who have received at lease one dose of the vaccine are Black, according to the state Health Department’s vaccine tracker.

The state’s Excelsior Pass app would be used for officials to verify people’s vaccination status.

Religious and medical exemptions will not be accommodated, he said.

“Some people are like, ‘Well that’s unfair,’ but there’s no God-given right to attend a football game,” he said.

Poloncarz said he is making his announcement now so that everyone will have enough time to prepare in advance of preseason ticket sales in July. He also said he has spoken with Bills officials about the county’s new policy.

“I believe they support it because we want to see all our fans back in the stadium this year,” he said.

Dr. Gale Burstein, county health commissioner, said anyone who needs a replacement vaccine card may call 858-7687 and press 5 on the menu.

The Bills responded in a statement Tuesday, saying, “As we did last year, we will continue to cooperate and comply with all New York State and local government regulations regarding our sporting events.”

So no one from the Bills was at the announcement, and the statement seems a bit grudging.

NEW ENGLAND

This from Nick Shook of NFL.com on CB STEPHON GILMORE and his future with the Pats.

Stephon Gilmore is under contract for 2021. Beyond that, there’s no telling where he’ll be.

The cornerback and 2019 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year is entering the final year of his five-year deal with the Patriots, and while he’s not quite at the same elite level that saw him win the award two seasons ago, he’s still a very good corner. He’s also 30-years-old and approaching his 31st birthday in late September, which is, as most know, the wrong side of 30.

It’s especially the wrong side for a player headed to free agency who might still carry the value worthy of a relatively lucrative contract, but isn’t guaranteed to receive such an offer from his current team. This is where Gilmore might find himself next spring, a future he knows isn’t too far away — and one with which he isn’t concerning himself with right now.

“That stuff will play out as it will,” he said, via the Boston Globe. “I just try to take it day by day, and that’s all I can do.”

Stand by for more of the right responses from Gilmore.

“It’s out of my control,” he said. “I’m just happy to be a Patriot right now, and see how it goes.”

Gilmore is a relatively affordable corner, currently in line to account for $16.265 million in cap space in 2021, per Over The Cap. It’s over $7 million less than he accounted for in 2020, and even after the Patriots spent lavishly in free agency, he’s not a financial concern.

Lined up opposite the younger J.C. Jackson in New England’s defense, Gilmore remains the Patriots’ top corner and will be expected to play accordingly as he has for the entirety of his time in New England. He just might not be expected back in 2022, especially if a team with deeper pockets comes calling.

For now, again, he’s not concerning himself with the unknown. There’s no guaranteeing more money elsewhere takes him out of New England. If recent trends stick, he could stay with the Patriots for less money in exchange for a pursuit of a title.

And right now, while a Lombardi is always the goal, the Patriots first must rebound from a disappointing 7-9 campaign. Plenty is left to sort out — for example, will the offseason spending spree produce more wins? — before Gilmore reaches a point of contemplating his next step.

Then again, his current situation might also require reexamination. Gilmore isn’t in the top 11 annual average salaries for corners in 2021, even if he’s certainly considered to be among them in terms of performance.

Ever a master of the right PR move, Gilmore wouldn’t bite when talking his existing deal.

“You’ve got to leave it in their hands,” he said. “Of course, I know what type of player I am, what type of person I am. I let everything lay on its own.”

Gilmore’s play will do the talking, just as it has for most of his career. He can handle the financial side later, no matter where it leads him.

THIS AND THAT

EDDIE GEORGE

Congratulations to the former Titans great, now the head coach at Tennessee State.  Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com:

One of Tennessee’s greatest football players is turning to coaching one of the state’s storied football programs.

Eddie George was officially hired Tuesday as the head coach of Tennessee State.

George is replacing Ron Reed, who had been with the Tigers since 2010 before the school parted ways with him Monday. Tennessee State, an HBCU, hasn’t made the FCS playoffs since 2013 and just wrapped up a 2-5 season.

George played his college ball at Ohio State, the flagship football program of the Big Ten Conference, but will now take his talents to the Ohio Valley Conference.

The former Titans great has no coaching experience, but he isn’t the first former NFL star to turn to FCS coaching with limited experience in recent years. Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders was hired as head coach of rival HBCU program and Southern Heritage Classic opponent Jackson State in September. Former Broncos receiver Ed McCaffrey was hired as the Northern Colorado head coach in December 2019.

We confess to missing McCaffrey’s hiring at UNC.  McCaffrey was the head coach at Valor Christian High School in 2018, going to Northern Colorado after one season.

The UNC Bears were 2-10 in 2019, McCaffrey’s first season then opted out of Big Sky competition last fall.  The big news is that McCaffrey’s son, Dylan, brother of Christian, has transferred into UNC for this fall’s campaign after being a highly-recruited player at Michigan who could never crack the Wolverines starting lineup.

MORE KELLEN MOND

In an action movie, you know that Jack Reacher or Indiana Jones will be standing triumphant at the end.  But there usually is another character that leaves you wondering what will happen to him, he might get killed off, he might not.

And we all know the QBs at the top of the draft won’t get out of the top 10, with only JUSTIN FIELDS seemingly possible.

So, there is more excitement in the DB’s eyes about what might happen with Texas A&M’s KELLEN MOND.

We’ve seen him in action – and he sure can sling it.

Here is Connor Orr of SI.com on what else he is doing to impress:

Leading up to the most consequential performance of his life, Kellen Mond wanted to write the script alone.

Amid his draft preparation, he decided against hiring a professional quarterback guru to arrange the receivers, tailor Texas A&M’s pro day workout to his strengths and act as his unofficial media hype man. He knew what the scouts coming to see him wanted from a quarterback. He knew what kind of questions they had about him as a person and a player. He knew what kind of throws created explosive plays at the next level.

Gone were throws out of the shotgun, since people would wonder if he could operate under center. Gone was all the stylistic fluff, the easy completions that would pad a résumé. After warming himself up, he started ripping medium- to long-distance passes, the kind of things that would be considered graduate-level throws in a professional offense. Deep posts. Go routes. Digs that came back between 18 and 20 yards. Over routes.

Gone were any of the pretenses that normally come with these often-sterile workouts. Questions about his ability to hit all corners of the route tree? Questions about his charisma and leadership ability? He laid out everything NFL personnel needed to know, stripped of all the bells and whistles, plain as day.

“With all the NFL I’ve watched, I felt like I could come up with my own routes to run,” Mond said. “I didn’t need a quarterback guru to tell my receivers where to be when I feel like that’s my job, to be the leader and to be in command of the entire pro day.”

On the types of pro days designed by quarterback coaches, he added: “You want to show you can be accurate with underneath throws and quick screens, but I think a lot of guys do it so they can show they have more completions. I wanted to show 14-yard option routes. Go routes. Pushing the ball down the field.”

Jimbo Fisher, his collegiate coach, didn’t flinch. Though he’d worked alongside Mond for years, helping develop the quarterback into one of three SEC players ever to throw for more than 9,000 yards and rush for more than 1,500 (Tim Tebow and Dak Prescott were the others), he had no clue Mond would show up that day and put on a spartan workout straight out of his own imagination.

“I didn’t know he was going to do it,” Fisher said by phone on Tuesday. “But it doesn’t surprise me. It doesn’t surprise me one bit.”

The result was more than a few raised eyebrows. One evaluator noted that Mond was initially discussed as a late third-round or early fourth-round prospect, but he could have pushed himself into the top 50 of this month’s draft. He won the Senior Bowl MVP award in late January, which helped ignite a conversation about his draft status that had felt a little stagnant beforehand.

Before that moment, little seemed to help him pierce the hype machine surrounding the draft’s consensus top-five quarterback prospects: Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, Trey Lance and Mac Jones. But Mond didn’t mind. After logging his first career minutes as an NCAA quarterback during his freshman year spelling an injured starter, he received death threats for his performance (a historic comeback win by Josh Rosen and UCLA). He now owns all of the Aggies’ most significant offensive records (passing yards, touchdowns and total yards).

Letting a few more people know what they’re missing about him shouldn’t be that hard. Just ask him.

“I think, one, having 40-plus starts in your career. That’s ridiculous,” Mond said. “Certain guys have less than 20. Plus-40 is incredible. Being able to play four years in the SEC. In my first three years of college, I played against 20 first-round picks. I’m playing against some of the best D-linemen and players in the league. And I got better each year.”

Mond’s direct-to-consumer approach with his predraft process raises some interesting questions. Heading into draft season, one of the common knocks on him was a perceived lack of charisma, that nebulous leadership it-factor that scouts can sometimes irresponsibly interpret and miscast.

Bypassing a quarterback coach, one who might instruct a prospect not only on how to doctor his pro day, but how to appear in front of NFL people, flipped the question on its head. What’s leadership? Creating your own path or paying someone to do it for you? What’s real and true authenticity? Doing what you think is right or contorting yourself into a prefabricated box? What is an actual gunslinger mentality? Staging a calculated performance with more choreography than Hamilton or trusting you could let it rip?

Fisher said that has always been Mond’s preferred method of operation. He is relentless. He digests the why in everything and he leads with a quiet calm. He’s had quarterbacks in the past who preferred a different approach. Neither was an indicator of success.

“I’ve learned over time, when you start to force a personality, you ruin a guy,” Fisher said. “Sometimes a guy can do it quietly; sometimes a guy can do it loudly.”

That authenticity helped Mond improve statistically every year at College Station. In three of his four games against Alabama (the closest thing to a professional defense any quarterback entering the 2021 draft has seen), he posted a quarterback rating of 120 or better. He threw for 430 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, for a QB rating of 172.6 against Clemson and its demonic coordinator, Brent Venables. He beat LSU twice.

Now Mond stands as one of the most fascinating quarterback prospects in a class where passers are guaranteed to go with each of the first three picks and could likely extend the streak beyond that.

“I think where he sits in the draft right now, outside of the big five that everyone is talking about, teams feel that if they hit, they can hit on a starter,” said Jim Nagy, the director of the Senior Bowl. “To me, the floor is a backup. We know he can be a backup. But if you hit, you’re hitting on a starter, and that’s what has teams so intrigued.”

Mond has little doubt he’ll hit. But if you were a scout at his pro day and digested the message, you already knew that.

“I bet a lot of people, if you would have told them that Kellen would be one of the top quarterbacks coming out after my sophomore or junior year, they would have told me no,” he said. “I’ve been able to overcome. Not listening to people. Proving some people right and proving some people wrong.”

2021 DRAFT

Two rounds of Mock Draft greatness from the legendary Mel Kiper, Jr. (he has explanations for his 2^nd rounders, which we are deleting for space, at ESPN.com):

The 2021 NFL draft is quickly approaching, and most of the pro days are over. Teams are starting to lock in their rankings. That means it’s time for an updated mock draft with everything I’m hearing two weeks out from Round 1 on April 29.

I’m expanding this projection to the first two rounds and making predictions for Picks 1-64. That means I’ll hit 31 teams this time, with the Seahawks and Rams both missing their first-round pick due to trades. The Texans are the lone team that doesn’t have a pick in Rounds 1 or 2.

I have two more trades in this mock draft, one for a team that desperately needs its franchise quarterback and another to get one of the best prospects I’ve ever graded at his position. You might be surprised.

I’m still tinkering with my Big Board and position rankings, and my final update will come out just before the start of the draft. My pal Todd McShay just made a big update to his rankings as well.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

With a depleted roster and in the beginning stages of a rebuild, new Jaguars coach Urban Meyer and general manager Trent Baalke have a chance to start fresh, take one of my highest-graded quarterbacks ever and build around him. The Jaguars have three more picks in the top 45 — at Nos. 25, 33 and 45 — to plug other holes, and they need to hit on those. Lawrence is a no-brainer as the top signal-caller in this class.

2. New York Jets

Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

I said last month that I was 50-50 on whether the Jets should keep Sam Darnold or take a quarterback here, and general manager Joe Douglas and coach Robert Saleh made their decision last week. Darnold is off to Carolina, and so this pick is clearly going to be a quarterback. I have Ohio State’s Justin Fields just ahead of Wilson in my rankings, but Wilson is the name I’ve consistently heard for New York. He can be a star with the right talent around him, but the Jets have to add another pass-catcher at some point, even after adding Corey Davis and Keelan Cole Sr. in free agency.

3. San Francisco 49ers (via MIA through HOU)

Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

It’s hard to ignore the Jones-to-San Francisco buzz within the league. Every sign two weeks out from the draft points to general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan being infatuated with Jones. I think he’s the quarterback they traded up nine spots to take. Is he the perfect fit for Shanahan’s offense? Only time will tell. Jones is my fourth-ranked quarterback and is No. 12 on my Big Board, and I’m not sure I see a superstar when I watch him on tape. He’s solid — and extremely accurate — but not spectacular. Lynch and Shanahan are obviously taking the long view here, and this decision is going to be discussed and debated for years.

Projected trade: Miami moves up … but not for a QB

We know the Falcons have talked to other teams about moving out of the No. 4 spot, and they could be open to the highest bidder. There’s a catch, though; they surely don’t want to move too far down, or else they’ll miss on their guy. So this trade allows them to add assets and still pick at No. 6.

I don’t think it would cost the Dolphins a first-round pick in 2022, but it’s tough to predict without knowing who else is bidding. For this exercise, I think it could take something like a second- and third-round pick next year for Miami to move up two spots. (The Dolphins have an extra third-rounder in 2022 from the 49ers.)

Why would the Dolphins move up two spots? To ensure that they get their guy, and to ensure that another team doesn’t trade into that spot to take that guy. Cincinnati at No. 5 could also take the prospect the Dolphins want.

4. Miami Dolphins (via mock trade with ATL through PHI)

Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

You didn’t see this one coming, did you? All along we’ve talked about the Dolphins adding weapons for Tua Tagovailoa, and Pitts is the ultimate weapon in this class. Why couldn’t they take him? This gives Miami four really good pass-catchers around Tagovailoa in Pitts, Will Fuller V, DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki. Pitts and Gesicki are versatile enough to play inline or out wide. They’re matchup nightmares for defenses. Another thing to note: Several teams have Pitts at No. 2 overall on their boards. Miami also gets to keep its pick at No. 18 to get help on defense.

5. Cincinnati Bengals

Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

This was the toughest call for me. It came down to Sewell and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who knows Joe Burrow well from their time together at LSU and would be an excellent fit next to Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. Ultimately, the Bengals’ offensive line was such a disaster that I don’t think they can pass on Sewell, who should start immediately at one of the tackle spots opposite Jonah Williams. The good thing for Cincinnati is that tackle and wideout are two of the deepest positions in this class, and it should be able to find a starter at those positions at the top of Round 2.

6. Atlanta Falcons (via mock trade with MIA)

Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

So new general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Arthur Smith move down two spots, add extra assets for a rebuilding team and still get a franchise quarterback. The 20-year-old Lance is green — he started just 17 games in college, all against FCS competition. The Falcons can let him sit behind Matt Ryan for at least a season. And here’s a list Lance will join (courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information): Since the 2006 draft, six quarterbacks with fewer than 20 college starts have been taken in the first round: Mitchell Trubisky (13), Cam Newton (14), Dwayne Haskins Jr. (14), Mark Sanchez (16), Kyler Murray (17) and Ryan Tannehill (19). There is some risk involved in picking a young, unproven quarterback this high.

7. Detroit Lions

Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

The 2019 Biletnikoff Award winner led the country that season with 1,780 receiving yards and 20 touchdown catches, and he’d instantly be the Lions’ top receiver on a depth chart that includes new signings Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman. He’s great at making contested catches and can break tackles and run after the catch. He’s a legit No. 1 wideout, which is sorely needed in Detroit.

8. Carolina Panthers

DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

My appreciation for Sam Darnold’s potential is well-documented at this point, so I don’t see Carolina taking a quarterback here after trading for the former Jets starter. Go and get him some help instead, either along the offensive line or at receiver. Smith is a stellar route runner who just gets open. Put him alongside DJ Moore and Robby Anderson and this is a top-10 offense. Why couldn’t Carolina compete for a wild-card spot in 2021?

9. Denver Broncos

Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

New general manager George Paton’s offseason moves seem to point to the Broncos sticking with Drew Lock rather than taking a quarterback in the top 10. Lock flashes enough that he deserves another season to prove he can be a starting-caliber quarterback. The defense must get some help, though, and Parsons would be an upgrade at inside linebacker. He could also rush the passer on third downs. He’s the best off-ball ‘backer in this class.

Projected trade: New England gets its quarterback

With only one of the top five quarterbacks still available, the Patriots jump five spots with the Cowboys, giving Dallas their 2022 first-round pick in return. The Cowboys don’t need a quarterback, so they’d be thrilled to get an offer like this and move down only a few spots, because their biggest holes are on defense and they can get a good player at No. 15.

This would be the first time in the common draft era (since 1967) that five quarterbacks went in the top 10 picks. The quickest that five QBs were picked was in 1999, when five went in the top 12.

10. New England Patriots (via mock trade with DAL)

Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

This makes five quarterbacks in the top 10, with Bill Belichick & Co. making the move up for Fields, my second-ranked quarterback. All the moves the Patriots made in free agency showed me that they believe they can get right back into competing for the AFC East title, but I don’t think Cam Newton is the quarterback to get them there. He had too many accuracy issues last season. He’s not the long-term answer. Fields had an up-and-down 2020 season, but he can be a star if he becomes more consistent. And I trust that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will get him there.

11. New York Giants

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

This is an important season for quarterback Daniel Jones. Can he take a Josh Allen-esque leap in Year 3? To do so, he has to get better pass-catchers around him. That started with the Giants adding top wideout Kenny Golladay in free agency, and Waddle would give them the draft’s best deep threat, a speedy playmaker who will also make an impact in the return game. I thought about edge rusher here as well.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA through SF)

Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

The Eagles traded out of the top 10 and moved to No. 12, which essentially took them out of the quarterback race. They could also miss out on the top wide receivers; I suspect they would jump at Waddle if he made it here. Just looking at this roster, though, corner should be a priority, and they’d have their pick of all of them if the board shakes out this way. Surtain is the most fundamentally sound defensive back in this class.

13. Los Angeles Chargers

Rashawn Slater, OT/G, Northwestern

Protecting Justin Herbert has been the theme of the Chargers’ offseason, with general manager Tom Telesco spending in free agency on center Corey Linsley and tackle/guard Matt Feiler. So let’s continue that theme with Slater, who played both tackle spots in college but could move to guard in the NFL. This could be a steal for L.A. Slater is likely to become Northwestern’s first Round 1 pick since Luis Castillo, who also was drafted by the Chargers (No. 28 in 2005).

14. Minnesota Vikings

Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

That’s four mock drafts for the 2021 class for me, and four offensive linemen to Minnesota in the first round. It’s a glaring hole on this roster. Darrisaw was outstanding at left tackle for the Hokies last season; our Stats & Info team tracked him at 264 total pass-block plays, and he allowed just three pressures and one sack. Put him at left tackle on Day 1 for the Vikings.

15. Dallas Cowboys (via mock trade with NE)

Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

Dallas trades back five spots with New England, gains what would likely be a 2022 first-round pick and is able to plug a need at No. 15. The Cowboys’ defense was dreadful last season, and they lost starting corner Chidobe Awuzie in free agency. They can pair Horn with 2020 second-round pick Trevon Diggs, who had a nice rookie season. The knock on Horn is that he had only two career interceptions, but that ball production should come in time.

16. Arizona Cardinals

Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

Farley is my top-ranked corner, but he could be the third off the board depending on his medical checks. He had back surgery last month — a microdiscectomy — and wasn’t able to work out at his pro day, which means teams weren’t able to see him up close after he opted out of the 2020 season. At his best, though, Farley has the highest ceiling of all the defensive backs in this class. Arizona let Patrick Peterson walk in free agency and signed Malcolm Butler on a short-term deal, but it could still address the position here.

17. Las Vegas Raiders

Alijah Vera-Tucker, OT/G, USC

The Raiders overhauled their offensive line this offseason, trading away tackle Trent Brown, guard Gabe Jackson and center Rodney Hudson. Maybe general manager Mike Mayock and coach Jon Gruden knew they could address the O-line in Round 1 because it’s a deep class, but they still have voids to fill. Vera-Tucker is my top-ranked guard, but he really came into his own while playing left tackle for the Trojans last season. He could play either spot for Las Vegas.

18. Miami Dolphins

Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan

Yes, this is the first edge rusher off the board, all the way down at No. 18. It’s not an elite class, but Paye could start a run on edge defenders all the way into Round 2. There is quality overall, even if there aren’t any instant stars. Paye is my top-ranked defensive end, a gifted athlete who didn’t put up sack production at Michigan (11.5 sacks in four seasons). Teams will be on his potential and traits, though. With two picks down so far and the trade up for Kyle Pitts, Miami has two players who rank No. 1 at their positions.

19. Washington Football Team

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

Washington could go a few different ways here, including offensive line or wide receiver. I like the fit of Owusu-Koramoah, though, as a three-down off-ball linebacker with cover skills. He’s extremely versatile — he lined up as a slot corner for the Fighting Irish at times last season — and fast. He must improve as a tackler, but he should slot in as an instant-impact player for a defense that is already one of the league’s best.

20. Chicago Bears

Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

Jenkins is the last of four offensive tackles on whom I have first-round grades. A three-year starter at right tackle for Oklahoma State, he’s outstanding in the run game. He’d fill the spot created by the release of Bobbie Massie. Chicago could also be in play for a pass-rusher, though it has put a lot of capital toward Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn. A young edge defender such as Jaelan Phillips could be a situational player as a rookie.

21. Indianapolis Colts

Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami

With my first-round offensive tackles all picked, Indianapolis should address its pass rush, even if it does bring back Justin Houston. Phillips might be the best pure pass-rusher in this class, but he needs to improve his all-around game. He also has some durability concerns — he had multiple concussions at UCLA before he transferred to Miami — which means his medical checks with teams are extremely important.

22. Tennessee Titans

Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss

Though the Titans are another team that could address their pass rush, I really like Moore’s fit as Ryan Tannehill’s primary slot target. Moore had 1,193 receiving yards in eight games last season, working predominantly out of the slot. He can be a high-volume, easy-throw target alongside A.J. Brown, who has blossomed into a legit No. 1 wideout. Cornerback is another position to watch for Tennessee.

23. New York Jets (from SEA)

Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern

The Jets are a tough team to predict, and their defense could use an overhaul; you know new coach Robert Saleh wants a chance to reshape the side of the ball he coaches with a prime pick. Newsome has been a riser over the past month; his 2020 tape is phenomenal, and he had a great pro day workout. He fits well with what Saleh wants in his corners. Newsome is the last of four cornerbacks who I think are likely to go in Round 1.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers

Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

The Steelers could go with an offensive lineman here, as center Maurkice Pouncey retired, tackle Matt Feiler left in free agency and free-agent tackle Alejandro Villanueva is still unsigned. But I’d love to see Harris in this offense to take the pressure off quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He could grind down defenses as a runner and help in the short passing game. If Harris goes in Round 1, he’ll be the fifth Alabama running back picked in the first round since 2000. The others: Josh Jacobs (2019), Trent Richardson (2012), Mark Ingram (2011) and Shaun Alexander (2000). Notably absent is Derrick Henry, who was a second-round pick in 2016 and somehow just had an underrated 2,000-yard campaign.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR)

Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU

I’ll stick with Moehrig to the Jaguars here as a free safety complement to free-agent signing Rayshawn Jenkins. I thought about a pass-catcher, but the Jaguars could find an impact player in Round 2 (they pick at Nos. 33 and 45). Offensive line could be another position to target, but they shouldn’t reach. Moehrig, who had 19 pass breakups over the last two seasons and won the Thorpe Award as the country’s best defensive back in 2020, isn’t likely to be on the board in Round 2. He’s my top-ranked safety.

26. Cleveland Browns

Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky

Davis is another defender who is rising since the season ended. He’s really only a one-year starter — he started one game in 2019 — but he was tremendous last season with 96 tackles, three interceptions and a sack. Davis was all over the field making plays. He could play any of the linebacker spots for the Cleveland 4-3 defense. The Browns could also target an edge rusher with this pick, even if they do sign Jadeveon Clowney.

27. Baltimore Ravens

Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU

As I wrote in my Mock Draft 3.0, quarterback Lamar Jackson needs an outside wide receiver who can run every route. That’s Marshall, and it’s rare that a team is able to find a guy like him this late in Round 1. That just shows how exceptional and deep this wideout class is going to be. Marshall fits even with Sammy Watkins joining Baltimore on a one-year deal. With Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue both gone in free agency, I also thought about Penn State edge defender Jayson Oweh, who has big-time upside.

28. New Orleans Saints

Zaven Collins, OLB/DE, Tulsa

The Saints haven’t been able to add players this offseason because of their salary-cap constraints, so this is their best chance to get a player who can make an immediate impact. They have to hit on their pick if they want to extend their championship window with Drew Brees retired. Collins is a versatile linebacker who was the only FBS player to have at least four sacks and four interceptions last season. He wasn’t asked to rush the passer much, but he still got four sacks. He could play outside or middle linebacker for New Orleans. He’s a fun defender to watch.

29. Green Bay Packers

Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

Like the Saints, the Packers haven’t been able to add roster improvements because they’re up against the cap, so let’s snag a wide receiver for reigning MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Bateman played outside and in the slot for the Golden Gophers, averaging 20.3 yards per catch in 2019. He would instantly become Green Bay’s No. 2 wideout behind Davante Adams. Bateman is the sixth and final Round 1 wide receiver in this mock draft. The Packers could also address the interior of their offensive line, particularly with longtime starting center Corey Linsley leaving in free agency.

30. Buffalo Bills

Azeez Ojulari, OLB/DE, Georgia

With starting defensive ends Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison over the age of 30, the Bills need to get younger on the edge. They took AJ Epenesa in Round 2 last year, but that’s not enough. The speedy pass-rusher Ojulari had 8.5 sacks and three forced fumbles last season. Cornerback and running back are other positions Buffalo could target.

31. Kansas City Chiefs

Jayson Oweh, OLB, Penn State

It has to be offensive tackle or edge rusher for the Chiefs here, right? The Super Bowl loss showed off some major weaknesses, even if this roster is still one of the league’s best. Oweh is an interesting case because his coaches raved about his athletic traits, and he just ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at 257 pounds. That’s unbelievable. Sacks aren’t everything, but he didn’t have any last season, and Oweh could be the first FBS defensive lineman since Dominique Easley (2014) to be selected in the first two rounds after not recording a sack in his final collegiate season, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Scouts rave about his upside, but I still would have liked more production.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama

General manager Jason Licht has done a great job putting together a great core, and the Bucs are essentially bringing back the exact same roster for 2021. That’s not a terrible idea when you’ve just won the Super Bowl. One spot where they could get younger is defensive tackle. Barmore could replace Ndamukong Suh long term and play next to elite nose tackle Vita Vea. Barmore has some potential as a 3-technique pass-rusher.

ROUND 2

33. Jacksonville Jaguars

Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

I would have loved to find a fit for Toney in Round 1, but this could be a great spot for him.

34. New York Jets

Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

35. Atlanta Falcons

Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami

36. Miami Dolphins (via HOU)

Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina

37. Philadelphia Eagles

Nick Bolton, ILB, Missouri

38. Cincinnati Bengals

Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina

39. Carolina Panthers

Landon Dickerson, C/G, Alabama

40. Denver Broncos

Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky

41. Detroit Lions

Malcolm Koonce, DE/OLB, Buffalo

42. New York Giants

Ronnie Perkins, DE/OLB, Oklahoma

43. San Francisco 49ers

Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia

44. Dallas Cowboys

Joe Tryon, DE, Washington

45. Jacksonville Jaguars (via MIN)

Hunter Long, TE, Boston College

46. New England Patriots

Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson

47. Los Angeles Chargers

Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia

48. Las Vegas Raiders

Richie Grant, S, UCF

49. Arizona Cardinals

Tutu Atwell, WR, Louisville

50. Miami Dolphins

Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan

So let’s recap my projections for the Dolphins. They get an instant starter at tight end at No. 4, a defensive end with upside at No. 18, an RB1 at No. 36 and a potential starter at tackle here. Mayfield played right tackle for the Wolverines, and he could play there for Miami, with Robert Hunt moving back inside to guard. He has great footwork for a lineman. Consider these four picks as needs filled for the Dolphins.

51. Washington Football Team

Davis Mills, QB, Stanford

52. Chicago Bears

Anthony Schwartz, WR, Auburn

53. Tennessee Titans

Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State

54. Indianapolis Colts

Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas

55. Pittsburgh Steelers

Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State

56. Seattle Seahawks

Joseph Ossai, OLB/DE, Texas

57. Los Angeles Rams

Ernest Jones, LB, South Carolina

58. Baltimore Ravens

Liam Eichenberg, OT/G, Notre Dame

59. Cleveland Browns

D’Wayne Eskridge, WR, Western Michigan

60. New Orleans Saints

Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue

61. Buffalo Bills

Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Minnesota

62. Green Bay Packers

Jackson Carman, OT, Clemson

63. Kansas City Chiefs

Walker Little, OT, Stanford

64. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford

We haven’t always been a fan of Kiper, but there was something about how he constructed this draft and presented it that felt well thought-out and believable.

And we note, that, for Kiper, Texas A&M QB KELLEN MOND is still sitting there to start the third round.