THE DAILY BRIEFING
| NFC EAST |
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PHILADELPHIA
So QB JALEN HURTS took basically the same deal the QB LAMAR JACKSON spurned. But Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com says Jackson actually was offered a better deal than Hurts took.
As we wait for the full breakdown of the new Jalen Hurts contract in Philadelphia, some details have begun to emerge. Below, we’ll compare key terms of the deal Hurts accepted with the offer Jackson rejected last August.
This information comes from prior reporting (mainly by ESPN.com) and information from league and union sources with knowledge of the terms.
Since the focus is new money, it’s important to first set aside the amounts Jackson and Hurts were due to make in the final year of their rookie deals. Jackson was due to make $23.5 million in 2022. Hurts was due to make $4.3 million in 2023.
For both players, the base offer consisted of a five-year extension. In raw dollars, Jackson was offered $50 million per year. Hurts accepted $51 million per year.
At execution, the total injury guarantees for Jackson would have been $175 million. For Hurts, they are $180 million.
The full guarantee at signing would have been $133 million for Jackson. For Hurts, it will be $110 million.
And here’s a key point. By Year Two, Hurts will have his full guarantee increase to $126.5 million. Jackson would have had $168 million fully guaranteed by the second year of the deal.
That’s the practical guarantee. The amount the player definitely will get, because he’s not getting cut after one season.
Also, Hurts will receive $60 million by the end of the first new year of the deal. Jackson would have had $87.63 million by the end of the first new year.
Considering the old money, Hurts is on the books for $259.3 million over six years. Jackson would have been under contract for six years, $273.5 million.
So, yes, Jackson’s offer looks better than the deal Hurts accepted, at least based on those metrics. It also suggests that the Hurts deal will do little to bring Jackson and the Ravens to a long-overdue consensus. |
| NFC WEST |
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SAN FRANCISCO
Would the 49ers dispose of QB TREY LANCE? Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com:
With the NFL Draft next week, could a recent No. 3 overall pick be on the move?
The possibility is apparently arising with 49ers quarterback Trey Lance.
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, San Francisco has been fielding calls about a potential trade for Lance. Rapoport’s Wednesday morning reporting does not mention any teams with interest and notes no trade is imminent. But with the 49ers making it clear that Brock Purdy is likely the club’s starter when he’s healthy, teams have inquired about Lance.
Both head coach Kyle Shanahan and General Manager John Lynch said at the annual league meeting last month that the 49ers would listen to a potential deal for anyone. But that doesn’t mean they would be inclined to make a trade.
While the 49ers made a blockbuster trade to move up to No. 3 overall in 2021, Lance has not played much for the club. Jimmy Garoppolo remained the starter when Lance was a rookie. And while Lance took over as QB1 heading into the 2022 season, he suffered a broken ankle in Week Two and missed the rest of the season.
Purdy took over at quarterback after Garoppolo suffered a season-ending foot injury and is now the incumbent starter.
Purdy’s rehab from elbow surgery has been going well, with the quarterback saying last week that everything is going as planned. That could allow the 49ers some flexibility when it comes to potentially trading Lance.
San Francisco also signed Sam Darnold for depth at QB.
Lance has appeared in eight games with four starts over his young career. He’s completed 55 percent of his passes for 797 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s also rushed for 54 yards with a TD. |
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LOS ANGELES RAMS
Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports that QB MATTHEW STAFFORD is refreshed and healthy.
A year ago, as the Los Angeles Rams began their offseason program, quarterback Matthew Stafford wasn’t cleared to throw as he dealt with an elbow injury.
When he spoke Monday at the start of the Rams’ voluntary offseason program, he noted the difference in being back now and said it’s “fun” for him to “be as refreshed as I am coming back into this building.”
Stafford, who played in nine games last season before ending the year on injured reserve with a spinal cord contusion, confirmed on Monday what others in the organization have said this offseason: that he’s healthy and a full-go for the offseason program.
“I’m not 25, but I definitely feel good,” said Stafford, who turned 35 in February.
In 2022, coming off a Super Bowl victory, Stafford did not throw at all during the offseason program and was on a limited throwing schedule during training camp. On Monday, Stafford said he has been “in a good head space as far as how I’m feeling [and] what I’m able to accomplish while I’m here” while in the building this offseason.
“And that puts me in a good mood, gets me excited to be here and kind of helps me make sure that my attitude, my energy level, is at the correct place every single time I come in here,” Stafford said. “And I feel like it’s there right now.”
When asked if that wasn’t the case last year, Stafford said it was because he “wasn’t able to do much. And that’s frustrating for me.” |
| AFC NORTH |
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BALTIMORE
Mike Sando of The Athletic sees four ways that the embroilment between QB LAMAR JACKSON and the Ravens can play out.
It’s a great week for the Philadelphia Eagles and quarterback Jalen Hurts … and another dreary one for the Baltimore Ravens and their estranged quarterback, Lamar Jackson.
Hurts’ five-year, $255 million contract extension with the Eagles refocused attention on the stalemate between the Ravens and Jackson, with the 2023 NFL draft barely a week away. Though the deal between Hurts and the Eagles had been expected for months, there are no indications a resolution is near for Jackson and the Ravens.
Multiple scenarios remain in play, with the draft serving as the next pivot point. With that in mind, I’ve worked through four possible outcomes for the Ravens and Jackson, from a pre-draft trade to a nuclear option. The risks, rewards and tradeoffs associated with each scenario promote a fuller understanding of the dynamics at play.
Scenario 1: Pre-draft trade
The Houston Texans are the most interesting team heading toward the draft.
Beyond rumors that general manager Nick Caserio could depart after the draft, reports have surfaced suggesting the Texans might not select a quarterback with the second pick if Carolina chooses Alabama’s Bryce Young first.
This makes little sense on the surface. Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud are quarterbacks widely considered worthy of top-five selections. Houston needs a quarterback.
The fact that Stroud employs the same agent who helped orchestrate Deshaun Watson’s acrimonious departure from the organization 13 months ago could be relevant. The Texans could plausibly fear entering into a long-term quarterback marriage with Watson’s agent so quickly as they look to make a clean break from a painful chapter.
Jackson could solve the problem for Houston by arming the Texans with an upper-tier quarterback carrying star power to pair with their new defensive-minded head coach, DeMeco Ryans.
The Texans hold the second and 12th picks in the draft. Trading one of those selections to Baltimore as part of a package for Jackson could position the Ravens to land an exciting replacement for Jackson in this draft. Jackson has already asked for a trade. Jackson would have to work with the Ravens and any other team to facilitate a deal, which could be tricky, but if team and player conclude the relationship is beyond repair, why prolong their suffering and inevitable divorce?
By retaining at least one pick in the top 12 this year, Houston might still be able to land an elite defensive player, which would be ideal for Ryans, without gambling on a college quarterback.
The Ravens would extricate themselves from a difficult situation, signing up for three or four seasons of a quarterback on an affordable cookie-cutter deal requiring almost no negotiation. Their new quarterback would pair with their new offensive coordinator, arriving on time to maximize their chances for success in a new era of Ravens football.
Scenario 2: Post-draft offer sheet
Jackson’s inability to find suitors as a non-exclusive franchise player makes it appear as though the quarterback has overplayed his hand. But the silence Jackson has encountered says as much about the market as it says about Jackson.
Fighting for a Watson-type deal would be easier if Jackson were in a Watson-type situation. He is not.
Last offseason, Watson leveraged a fully guaranteed five-year deal from Cleveland partly because Houston was publicly committed to trading him, which allowed Watson to operate almost like an unrestricted free agent.
Everyone knew Houston had to trade Watson. No one knew the Browns would be desperate enough to pursue Watson until Watson had no choice but to listen. Watson completed a Hail Mary that might never be available to another player.
Jackson is operating in a more restrictive environment. The Ravens have not renounced their interest in retaining him. As a result, teams that might sign Jackson to an offer sheet fear Baltimore would exercise its right of first refusal. No one wants to do the Ravens’ negotiating for them. Watson faced no such restrictions last offseason. He had real power.
Dynamics could change after the draft.
At present, teams signing Jackson to an offer sheet would have to send 2023 and 2024 first-round picks to Baltimore if the Ravens declined to match, per rules governing franchise players. The compensation changes to 2024 and 2025 first-rounders once the 2023 draft passes. Teams could be more willing to risk future assets than current ones, although Baltimore might be proportionally incentivized to match.
A post-draft move could make additional sense if the Ravens draft a quarterback with the 22nd pick or somewhere in the first couple rounds. They would then have a viable alternative to Jackson. They do not employ one now. Meanwhile, other teams hoping to land quarterbacks in the draft might not land one, which could motivate them to consider Jackson.
Houston and Indianapolis are two obvious candidates to consider Jackson after the draft if they do not use early choices for quarterbacks. Neither employs a higher-profile veteran starter, so pursuing Jackson would not risk damaging existing relationships.
Scenario 3: Cooler heads prevail
Jackson has sought a fully guaranteed deal along the lines of the Watson contract with Cleveland. The Ravens have resisted affirming this precedent.
Why not meet in the middle?
A fully guaranteed three-year deal for $150 million, give or take a few million, would let both sides claim victory.
Jackson would secure the highest APY associated with a fully guaranteed deal, with a chance at returning to the market quickly.
The Ravens would be doing what the Minnesota Vikings did in signing Kirk Cousins, as opposed to what the Browns did when they signed Watson. Cousins signed a fully guaranteed three-year, $84 million deal during the 2018 offseason without setting a precedent owners came to regret. Three years fully guaranteed differs from five years fully guaranteed. It could be better for both parties.
Jackson’s career earnings trajectory would spike enough for him to keep pace with and possibly later surpass high-profile peers who entered into longer-term deals, including Josh Allen. Playing on the tag this season and next season could make it harder for Jackson to make up lost ground, especially if injuries continue to limit his availability, or his performance slips.
The Ravens would face some salary-cap challenges because shorter deals make it tougher to spread out charges for accounting purposes, but they would also keep Jackson without committing to him for an especially long term. That could appeal to Baltimore in light of Jackson’s recent injuries, protecting the organization if Jackson wears down physically from running so frequently.
A fully guaranteed shorter-term deal is the most logical solution for digging the sides out of their dug-in positions, unless the relationship is already beyond repair, or unless Jackson’s highest priority is establishing a long-term fully guaranteed precedent. Succeeding on that front becomes more difficult every time Hurts and other top young quarterbacks accept traditionally structured deals.
Scenario 4: Nuclear option
Under this scenario, Jackson and the Ravens would continue their staring contest. Jackson would miss offseason workouts, minicamps and training camp. He would fall behind in learning the Ravens’ new offense. He might struggle to build rapport with teammates, making it difficult for the team to maximize its recent investment in receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Jackson might even miss a game or two, reporting in time to collect most of his $32.4 million franchise-tag salary. He could try to extract concessions from Baltimore, such as forfeiture of the tag next offseason, in exchange for reporting.
Jackson would gain nothing from sitting out the season unless he thought his absence might force the Ravens into a trade. After July 17, franchise players cannot sign new deals with their current teams until March 2024. Players must report for at least six games to get credit for a season; otherwise, their contracts “toll” and they move no closer to free agency. This happened to Le’Veon Bell during his final season with Pittsburgh.
Jackson’s $32.4 million salary on the franchise tag is payable in 17 per-game increments. Each game he misses would cost him $1.9 million, with implications for 2024 as well.
The Ravens retain the right to use the franchise tag on Jackson again in 2024 at 1.2 times his 2023 salary or at the as-yet-unknown value of the tag next year, whichever is greater.
Missing three games this season would reduce Jackson’s $32.4 million salary to $26.7 million. Multiplying that reduced salary by 1.2 equals $32 million, less than the value of the tag this year. Jackson would be losing cash now while forfeiting the 1.2 multiplier and betting that the 2024 tag price is high enough to make up the difference. That wouldn’t make much sense.
If the Ravens questioned Jackson’s motives last season when he did not return from injury on their projected timeline, then missing the playoffs, imagine their outlook if Jackson showed up sometime in September under the guise of, “I’m just here so I don’t get fined.”
Who wants that? |
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CLEVELAND
QB DESHAUN WATSON is feeling at home with the Browns. Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com:
On his first day of the Browns’ offseason program a year ago, Deshaun Watson faced uncertainty. He was with a new team, learning new teammates, and had a suspension hanging over his head.
He eventually served an 11-game suspension for violating the league’s Personal Conduct Policy after more than two dozen women accused him of sexual misconduct during massage sessions.
The Browns quarterback begins this offseason feeling different about where he is.
“It’s night and day,” Watson said Tuesday.
Watson had not played in almost two years when he returned to the field last season. He did not play like a quarterback worthy of the largest guaranteed contract in NFL history, throwing for 1,102 passing yards, seven touchdowns, five interceptions and posting a 3-3 record in six starts.
“Last year, it was just a whirlwind, but it was a good learning lesson for myself and for me to be able to grow,” Watson said. “Coming in this year, I’m ahead of the game from where I was previously.”
Watson now has settled 23 of 25 civil lawsuits in Texas and deferred questions to his “legal team” about the two remaining cases.
He has served his suspension, and he now feels comfortable in Cleveland and with the Browns.
“Last year, I had only been to Cleveland twice — when I came on a pre-visit and when we played,” Watson said. “Outside of that, it was my first time up here with everything going on. All of that is in the past, like I said before, and I’m looking to move forward with my life and my career, just being able to really plant myself in this community, this city and also in this organization for a very long time. Win a whole bunch of games.”
Watson has spent most of the offseason near Houston, throwing to some of the team’s wide receivers. His return to the team facility this offseason also has had a “night-and-day” feeling to it for the Browns compared to this time last year.
“For Deshaun, to have that season under his belt and those experiences and be able to learn from everything that’s happened last year into the past, I think he’ll be a better player for it,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “I think we’ll all be better for everything we’ve been through.” |
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PITTSBURGH
The Steelers are finalizing a trade for WR ALLEN ROBINSON that mainly relieves the Rams of a portion of his guaranteed salary. Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com:
The Steelers are expected to trade for Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Allen Robinson, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday.
In the trade, which is contingent on Robinson passing a physical, the Steelers would receive Robinson and a seventh-round draft pick (No. 251) for Pittsburgh’s seventh-round pick (No. 234), sources told Schefter.
Robinson is scheduled to undergo the physical Wednesday in Pittsburgh, the sources said. The Rams will pay $10.25 million of Robinson’s $15.25 million guaranteed salary for the 2023 season, and the Steelers will pay the remaining $5 million, according to the sources.
Robinson, 29, would become another experienced player acquired by the Steelers this offseason. A team that typically builds through the draft, the Steelers have been aggressive in free agency under new general manager Omar Khan, signing veterans such as cornerback Patrick Peterson, who’s entering his 13th season, and guard Isaac Seumalo. Robinson will become the third-most experienced member of the Steelers’ roster behind Peterson and defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, who also has played 12 seasons (all with Pittsburgh).
Robinson signed a three-year, $46.5 million contract with the Rams last offseason, but he finished the year on injured reserve after suffering a foot injury late in the season. Robinson injured his left ankle against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12, and tests conducted the following week revealed a stress fracture in the foot. He underwent surgery and missed the final six games.
In his lone season with the Rams, Robinson had 33 catches for 339 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games.
Before joining the Rams last year in free agency, Robinson spent four years each with the Bears and Jaguars and earned a Pro Bowl nod with a breakout season for Jacksonville in 2015, when he racked up a career-high 14 touchdowns and 1,400 yards. Robinson was consistently productive as Chicago’s top receiver for most of his four seasons with the Bears, racking up 3,561 yards and 18 touchdowns in 57 games. He was also a mentor to Bears receiver Darnell Mooney, particularly in 2021, and helped Mooney to his first 1,000-yard receiving season.
His addition would give a youthful Steelers wide receiver room, already a position of strength, a veteran voice. Robinson would be the oldest wide receiver of the group and figures to be an important presence for 2022 second-round draft pick George Pickens. |
| AFC EAST |
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BUFFALO
It’s April, and QB JOSH ALLEN is pledging to keep himself safe. We shall see if he remembers in the heat of battle. Greg Gordon of NFL.com:
Father Time inevitably slows down everyone.
The soon-to-be-27-year-old Josh Allen already realizes this, having admitted that he’ll likely have to soften his hard-charging playing style as he enters his sixth NFL season.
“It sounds crazy, but I’m getting older,” Allen said Tuesday, via USA Today’s Lorenzo Reyes. “I know I can’t continue to do this. I know when I’m using my youth, I feel like I can, but over the course of my career I’m going to have to learn to adapt and change.”
One of the preeminent quarterbacks in the game, Allen is also a dual threat whose rushing style sees him scramble as much as rumble. He’s run for at least 421 yards each season and since he carried the ball 89 times in 12 games during his rookie season, Allen has racked up at least 102 carries for four seasons running.
Durable even with his rough-and-tumble style, Allen knows his body can only take so much punishment as his body ages and the seasons — and hits — pile up.
Thusly, Allen believes he must make playing quarterback paramount as opposed to being an overall offensive threat.
“I’ve always had the mindset of, I’ve been a football player first and a quarterback second,” Allen said. “At some point that is going to have to switch. When that point is, I don’t know. I guess I’ll let my body tell me.”
Allen’s body of work has screamed aloud year after year that he’s one of the most dangerous threats in the NFL — by air or ground.
However, Allen, who dealt with an elbow injury for much of last season, is clearly realistic that it’s only so long before he’s going to need to emphasize playing smarter than harder. Perhaps that starts this season.
“There were sometimes last year when I’m in the open field, I don’t need an extra two yards,” Allen said. “Get down, slide and live to fight another down. Again, it has worked up to this point, but I understand that there’s going to be a point in time when it’s not going to work so well.”
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DB DEMAR HAMLIN has been cleared to return to football. Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic on what that means and other Bills topics:
With just over a week to go before the 2023 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills conducted one final day of press conferences before the last substantial roster-adding event of the offseason. General manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott met with the media individually Tuesday to discuss the state of their roster.
It was also the start of the Bills’ voluntary offseason workout program, where safety Damar Hamlin made one of the most highly anticipated announcements of the offseason. So what does Hamlin’s announcement mean for him and the Bills, and what did we learn about what the Bills could do in the draft next week?
Here are several takeaways from the Bills’ pre-draft press conferences:
Hamlin is back, but what’s fair to expect of his return?
As the Bills have gone through their offseason planning, the whispers of Hamlin’s progress grew louder and louder. Hamlin announced Tuesday he planned to return to the NFL just over four months after suffering cardiac arrest on the field due to Commotio Cordis, a rare disruption of heart rhythm when a blow to the area directly over the heart occurs at a critical instant during the cycle of a heartbeat.
It’s a remarkable, surreal and full-circle development to have seen him sitting in front of a microphone with a Bills backdrop behind him. One that poetically connected what felt like the end of the team’s season in 2022 in Cincinnati to the official start of their 2023 campaign with the veteran voluntary offseason program. Hamlin was cleared for all activities and, this week, worked out in team facilities. The natural next step is to wonder what comes next.
Above all else, it begins with the Bills putting achievable markers on his plate and not placing weighty expectations on him, two things they had made known before Hamlin announced his return. In his own words, Hamlin said physically he’s “pretty much building this thing up from zero to 100.” But it’s so much more than the physical aspect, as Hamlin’s mental health and well-being in playing the sport that nearly cost him his life will carry a lot of weight for him and the team. Hamlin called the mental aspect “the hardest hurdle” and a “roller coaster of emotions.” But upon his most recent check-up on the way to being cleared, his specialist thought football could serve as a valuable tool to Hamlin.
“He pretty much told me he recommended me to go back to playing in a way because he said it would be good for the mental health aspect of things, and which, I agree,” Hamlin said. “I have the right people in my corner to talk to and support me mentally. So I trust them, and I trust the people here. I trust my medical team, and I know that I’m in good hands.”
In such an unprecedented incident to the NFL, and a subsequent return by the player it happened to, the most important Bills expectation of Hamlin will be that the progress he makes in 2023 does not have to be linear. The physical and mental variables have to turn into a slow, but steady approach for everyone involved.
“That’s where I’m at in this process,” Hamlin said. “Anytime I try to think too forward, you know, it gets cloudy. It takes a lot to be great in this game, and I’ve got a long way to go. I’ve got a long journey to go, but I’m committed to it each day, day in, day out, so I thank everybody for being on this journey with me.”
Does Hamlin’s return change any draft plans?
Considering the challenges Hamlin’s return will bring over the coming months, it would be unwise to expect two different things. First, that they’d be looking at him as a potential long-term starter once Micah Hyde or Jordan Poyer move on from Buffalo. And second, that Hamlin will be able to contribute on the field in games as early as this season. These two things are not a guarantee, nor should they be in the front of Beane’s brain. Hamlin and every other young player are on different planes for obvious reasons. However, knowing that Hamlin could possibly come back and contribute this year, along with some other factors on the roster, could get the team to pass on adding a safety in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Bills already have Hyde, Poyer and free-agent signing Taylor Rapp as their unquestioned top three safeties. If all goes well with Hamlin, he could be their fourth and a special teams contributor. But if it’s a case of too much, too soon for Hamlin, they have the option to switch second-year cornerback Christian Benford to safety. The Bills were quite impressed by Benford as a rookie, but with the spots spoken for at cornerback, there is no clear future path to get Benford on the field as a starter there. Switching him to safety is something they have been considering all offseason. They also have cornerback Cam Lewis, who moonlighted at safety last year. No matter what, the Bills have in-house options for safety if Hamlin isn’t ready, and the entire picture could get them to pass on safety in the draft for another year.
If the Bills do trade up in the first round, don’t expect a big jump
Beane has his draft-day tendencies pegged, self-aware to know that he gets a bit antsy and wants to move up the board for a player he really likes. It’s why Beane has traded up on draft day far more often than trading down. But a few quite daunting things are standing in the way of a move up the board from No. 27 this year. For starters, the Bills have only six picks in this year’s draft, which puts a huge strain on their maneuverability to trade up and land a player they covet. They have entered the next phase of roster building in which they need to maximize the impact of draft picks on a roster with several bloated salaries and aging players on those bigger contracts. So, removing a pick of a player who could have starting potential on a cost-controlled deal is less appealing to Beane.
His best means to make a significant move up from No. 27 would be to use a 2024 pick, but Beane admitted he “doesn’t love” the idea of trading future picks of the first three rounds, even referencing he didn’t move one to trade up for franchise quarterback Josh Allen. That also might be an excellent way to look at how Beane views his current picks for a potential trade-up opportunity. It might have to be for a pretty special player who fits their vision well for them to send out their second or third-round pick. But that player might not exist this year, as Beane said “it’s not great” when asked how many players they have graded in the first round in 2023. And the odds a first-round grade gets down to a spot where the Bills are within trading range aren’t likely as good as most years. So never say never with Beane, but using all he said, it is most likely the Bills either stay put at No. 27 or move down if they can find a trade partner.
Another vote of confidence for Spencer Brown in 2023
As the offseason has gone along, the notion of adding an offensive tackle in the draft to replace third-year right tackle Spencer Brown is a popular one across the fanbase. Most recently, in our Bills mock draft mailbag, Tennessee tackle Darnell Wright was the second-most popular top choice of all our submissions. But Beane has gone out of his way to defend Brown’s 2022 season on two separate occasions, mentioning Brown’s offseason back surgery in 2022 as context needed and making it seem like they were counting on the right tackle to start again in 2023. On Tuesday, McDermott joined Beane in a collective belief in Brown’s potential. McDermott was asked if he felt comfortable with what he saw from Brown in 2022 to project forward to 2023.
“I don’t think it’s maybe a fair sample because he didn’t really have an offseason,” McDermott said. “I thought he did some really good things during the year and I think he took a step up. It’s just a matter of what’s next. He knows. We’ve got to find more consistency and I think he said that it’s one of his goals. I’m excited to see him move forward and to improve, because I think it’s in there. I really do.”
As Beane did, McDermott brought up the back surgery as a defense. He also believes Brown improved last year and that there’s more untapped potential, again, much like Beane. The Bills have not talked about young players this way unless they have high hopes for them for the upcoming season, which casts more doubt on a first-round offensive tackle.
Defensive tackle gaining some steam?
If defensive tackle was a sneaky need for the Bills this offseason, Beane put it on the radar on Tuesday. When asked if there’s a position he thinks they need to draft this year while considering expiring deals on their current roster, the general manager singled out one spot in particular.
“The one position we don’t have a lot on the future is D-tackle,” Beane said. “So if you were poking at something the Bills would need to keep an eye on, that would probably be where you’d start.”
The Bills’ top four defensive tackles, Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, Jordan Phillips and Tim Settle, are all free agents after 2023. Even if the Bills were to extend one of them, it’s still a spot that could need three new players by the start of the 2024 season as Buffalo likes to rotate heavily at the position. The time to act on that is in this year’s draft, on a cost-controlled four-year deal to at least give them some kind of plan past the 2023 season. It doesn’t have to be with their first-round pick because there is some nice depth at the position available in the second, third and fourth rounds, and a handful of them fit the Bills quite well. But if the Bills don’t have a lot of options at some other need areas on the board at No. 27, someone like Michigan’s Mazi Smith could be too tempting to pass up.
The Campbell, Kuechly, McDermott connection?
With a hole in the starting lineup at middle linebacker, Iowa’s Jack Campbell has been the apple of Bills fans’ collective eye over the last month. During the pre-draft process, Campbell has been working out with Panthers great and linebacker Luke Kuechly, which is notable from a Bills perspective. Kuechly is one of McDermott’s favorite players he’s ever coached, and he even invited Kuechly to Buffalo for a week in the past to take part in coaching some practices. The two have clearly remained tight. When McDermott was asked if he picked Kuechly’s brain about Campbell, McDermott laughed, wore a wry smile and said, “No, I haven’t.” In the thick of draft season, do with that what you will. But given the need at linebacker and how well Campbell would fit into the picture, there’s a strong argument for that as a draft-day outcome, regardless if it’s in the first round or a move-up in the second round. |
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THIS AND THAT |
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HOW FAR WILL JALEN CARTER FALL?
Drew Rosenhaus’ big challenge is trying to stop a precipitous fall for DT JALEN CARTER:
A new Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel profile of agent Drew Rosenhaus focuses in part on his representation of Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Carter has become one of the most controversial prospects in this year’s draft, due in large part to a no-contest plea to speeding and reckless driving charges after a multi-car incident that resulted in two people dying.
During the segment, Rosenhaus and HBO’s Jon Frankel visit with Carter. Frankel asks Carter if he believes the incident will matter on draft day.
“Yeah, I feel like it’s gonna matter a little bit,” Carter said in response. “Because, you know, NFL teams look deep into your life. But it could’ve been something I did back in elementary [school]. You know, I’m pretty sure they’d know. So you know, this coming out at the time it did come out I’m pretty sure is going to affect a little bit.”
Carter also said that “a couple teams asked me about it” during the pre-draft process, “but they really didn’t get too in depth about the accident.” Said Carter, “They just wanted to hear my side and that was it.”
The segment also shows Rosenhaus calling ESPN’s Adam Schefter and explaining that Carter won’t visit teams not drafting in the top 10.
“I wouldn’t decline these visits if I wasn’t confident that he was going to go in the top ten,” Rosenhaus says into the phone. “This is a good guy. Jalen is a good kid. We’ll stay in touch on this one. I know he is going to be one of the more compelling stories of the draft. You bet, Adam. Take care man, sure.”
Within “minutes,” per Frankel, Schefter posted a tweet: “Georgia DT Jalen Carter is visiting the Bears today. It is his second visit, with him already having visited the Eagles. Carter’s agent Drew Rosenhaus said he is declining visit requests for any team drafting outside the top 10 picks. ‘I’m confident Jalen will go in the top 10,’ Rosenhaus said. ‘He’s a good person, a family man, loves football and is a generational talent.’”
Agents like Rosenhaus usually aren’t on the record for calls like this, but that’s how the insider sausage gets made, either by voice or — more commonly — by group text, with Schefter sometimes getting his a few minutes before everyone else.
So what happens on draft night if Carter starts to slide? Specifically, what will Rosenhaus do if Carter is still on the board after No. 5, where the Seahawks are currently due to pick?
“I will tell him in the green room to keep a stiff upper lip and to maintain a positive attitude that we’re going to be drafted at any second now,” Rosenhaus said. “And yes, I’ll be on the other line calling teams and saying, ‘You better pick this guy right now, because I’m talking to other clubs that could potentially take him.’”
So what happens if you’re wrong? Frankel asked.
“I won’t be,” Rosenhaus said. “I won’t be.”
This further underscores that the decision not to visit with teams not drafting in the top 10 wasn’t a stunt or a gamble. It was a reflection of Rosenhaus knowing with certainty that someone within the top 10 will take Carter, if he’s there. That flows from the kind of relationships that someone like Rosenhaus has created through 35 years in the business. |
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HENDON HOOKER
Hendon Hooker is 25, having spent six seasons on a college campus.
He is from Greensboro, NC, the son of Alan Hooker who was a prominent QB at North Carolina A&T. At Dudley High School, Hooker led the Panthers to a pair of state titles.
His first four seasons were at Virginia Tech, a red-shirt year, a year as a backup and two non-descript partial seasons as a starter. All told, 16 career starts for the Hokies with an 8-8 record between 2017 and 2020.
Then in 2021 he showed up at Tennessee under Josh Heupel and things ramped up. In 2021, he threw 31 TD passes with just 3 INTs while going 6-5 in his 11 starts. Then, in 2022, he beat Alabama and had the Vols nationally ranked before a season-ending injury in the 11th game.
All told, in two seasons at Tennessee, he threw 58 TD passes with 5 INTs.
Bucky Brooks of FOXSports.com looks at whether or not Hooker should be considered as a first round pick:
If you believe the rise of Hendon Hooker is another case of NFL scouts chasing ghosts ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, you probably ignored the Tennessee Volunteers’ reemergence as a title contender behind the Herculean exploits of a pinpoint passer with a prototypical game that has been celebrated in league circles.
While the attention has focused on Florida’s Anthony Richardson and Kentucky’s Will Levis as the candidates to become the third quarterback off the board, Hooker outplayed each of his SEC counterparts and is a more productive player. The 6-foot-3, 217-pounder completed 68.8% of his passes for 6,080 yards with 58 touchdowns and just five interceptions across two seasons in Knoxville. In addition, Hooker led the FBS with 9.5 yards per pass attempt in 2022, directing a high-powered offense that featured a vertical passing game.
Though those numbers have been called inflated due to coach Josh Heupel’s uptempo system, it is hard to ignore the stark contrast in production between Hooker and Richardson (54.7% completion rate, 3,105 pass yards, 24-15 TD-INT, 1,116 rush yards and 12 rush scores in two-plus seasons at Florida) and Levis (65.7% completion rate, 5,232 pass yards, 43-23 TD-INT, 284 rush yards and 11 rush scores in two seasons at Kentucky) over the same span.
Considering Hooker posted superior numbers within the same conference, the perceived rise up the charts is a byproduct of the football world catching up to who is buzzing in league circles. Hooker’s late-season ACL injury removed him from the conversation as a top prospect, but seasoned evaluators have been high on the Vols QB1 since he started to torch SEC competition in the middle of the season.
Hooker lit up Alabama for 385 pass yards and five touchdowns while completing 21-of-30 passes in an upset of the third-ranked team in the country. The performance came on the heels of the Vols quarterback surgically carving up Pittsburgh, Arkansas, Florida, and LSU over a four-game stretch in which he connected on 69.5% of his passes for 1,211 pass yards and eight touchdowns without an interception.
The efficiency and consistency jump off the stat sheet and are apparent when studying the tape. Hooker repeatedly delivers the ball on time and on target against a slate of defenses loaded with NFL-caliber talent. Moreover, he showed that he could make pinpoint throws on touch, timing and anticipatory passes that require him to be on the same page as his intended receivers on option routes.
In particular, Hooker’s arm strength and range stand out on vertical passes. He punishes defenders for squatting on short and intermediate routes with rainbow tosses of post routes, fades and switch routes down the boundary. The deep ball is arguably the best pitch in his arsenal, but Hooker also displays the ability to throw drafts or knuckleballs based on the proximity of the defender to the receiver.
From delivering “dimes” on in-breaking routes (square-ins and deep crossers) to hitting receivers in stride on shallow crossers, Hooker consistently paints the strike zone from the pocket. His superb ball placement and accuracy is one of his superpowers as a pocket passer, but he also dazzles as a high IQ processor with excellent pre-snap diagnostic skills and post-snap execution.
Despite the narrative surrounding the Vols offense and the simplistic reads within the passing game, Hooker made it operate like a well-oiled machine with his exceptional management skills and situational awareness.
As a runner, Hooker displayed crafty playmaking ability with the ball, particularly on zone-read and designed quarterback runs in the red zone. Although the torn ACL might slightly alter his approach as a runner as a pro, the seasoned playmaker has a knack for picking up first downs when he needs to utilize his legs.
From a critical standpoint, Hooker’s age (25) has been cited as a concern but others are near that age in this class (Stetson Bennett is 25, Jake Haener and Aidan O’Connell are 24). While having an older prospect on the board is not ideal, the quarterback position is one where players can play into their 40s as pocket passers. In addition, Hooker’s maturity should be viewed as a positive as a seasoned player with significant reps.
With those experiences enabling him to step into the huddle with confidence and knowledge, Hooker should be a coveted prospect. The performance of Brock Purdy and Kenny Pickett suggests that experience matters with quarterback prospects, and Hooker’s journey as a five-year player should serve him well at the next level.
While the football world is shocked at his ascension, the Vols quarterback deserves consideration as a first-round pick based on his tools, talent and résumé.
Jonathan Smith of SouthboundandDown looks at Hooker:
If you believe the rise of Hendon Hooker is another case of NFL scouts chasing ghosts ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, you probably ignored the Tennessee Volunteers’ reemergence as a title contender behind the Herculean exploits of a pinpoint passer with a prototypical game that has been celebrated in league circles.
While the attention has focused on Florida’s Anthony Richardson and Kentucky’s Will Levis as the candidates to become the third quarterback off the board, Hooker outplayed each of his SEC counterparts and is a more productive player. The 6-foot-3, 217-pounder completed 68.8% of his passes for 6,080 yards with 58 touchdowns and just five interceptions across two seasons in Knoxville. In addition, Hooker led the FBS with 9.5 yards per pass attempt in 2022, directing a high-powered offense that featured a vertical passing game.
Though those numbers have been called inflated due to coach Josh Heupel’s uptempo system, it is hard to ignore the stark contrast in production between Hooker and Richardson (54.7% completion rate, 3,105 pass yards, 24-15 TD-INT, 1,116 rush yards and 12 rush scores in two-plus seasons at Florida) and Levis (65.7% completion rate, 5,232 pass yards, 43-23 TD-INT, 284 rush yards and 11 rush scores in two seasons at Kentucky) over the same span.
Considering Hooker posted superior numbers within the same conference, the perceived rise up the charts is a byproduct of the football world catching up to who is buzzing in league circles. Hooker’s late-season ACL injury removed him from the conversation as a top prospect, but seasoned evaluators have been high on the Vols QB1 since he started to torch SEC competition in the middle of the season.
Hooker lit up Alabama for 385 pass yards and five touchdowns while completing 21-of-30 passes in an upset of the third-ranked team in the country. The performance came on the heels of the Vols quarterback surgically carving up Pittsburgh, Arkansas, Florida, and LSU over a four-game stretch in which he connected on 69.5% of his passes for 1,211 pass yards and eight touchdowns without an interception.
The efficiency and consistency jump off the stat sheet and are apparent when studying the tape. Hooker repeatedly delivers the ball on time and on target against a slate of defenses loaded with NFL-caliber talent. Moreover, he showed that he could make pinpoint throws on touch, timing and anticipatory passes that require him to be on the same page as his intended receivers on option routes.
In particular, Hooker’s arm strength and range stand out on vertical passes. He punishes defenders for squatting on short and intermediate routes with rainbow tosses of post routes, fades and switch routes down the boundary. The deep ball is arguably the best pitch in his arsenal, but Hooker also displays the ability to throw drafts or knuckleballs based on the proximity of the defender to the receiver.
From delivering “dimes” on in-breaking routes (square-ins and deep crossers) to hitting receivers in stride on shallow crossers, Hooker consistently paints the strike zone from the pocket. His superb ball placement and accuracy is one of his superpowers as a pocket passer, but he also dazzles as a high IQ processor with excellent pre-snap diagnostic skills and post-snap execution.
Despite the narrative surrounding the Vols offense and the simplistic reads within the passing game, Hooker made it operate like a well-oiled machine with his exceptional management skills and situational awareness.
As a runner, Hooker displayed crafty playmaking ability with the ball, particularly on zone-read and designed quarterback runs in the red zone. Although the torn ACL might slightly alter his approach as a runner as a pro, the seasoned playmaker has a knack for picking up first downs when he needs to utilize his legs.
From a critical standpoint, Hooker’s age (25) has been cited as a concern but others are near that age in this class (Stetson Bennett is 25, Jake Haener and Aidan O’Connell are 24). While having an older prospect on the board is not ideal, the quarterback position is one where players can play into their 40s as pocket passers. In addition, Hooker’s maturity should be viewed as a positive as a seasoned player with significant reps.
With those experiences enabling him to step into the huddle with confidence and knowledge, Hooker should be a coveted prospect. The performance of Brock Purdy and Kenny Pickett suggests that experience matters with quarterback prospects, and Hooker’s journey as a five-year player should serve him well at the next level.
While the football world is shocked at his ascension, the Vols quarterback deserves consideration as a first-round pick based on his tools, talent and résumé. |
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2023 DRAFT
Peter Schrager of NFL.com claims his NFL sources are telling him this is how the first round could play out:
As always, this isn’t what I would do — it’s what I’m hearing from my sources around the league.
1 Carolina Panthers (from CHI)
Bryce Young Alabama · QB · Junior
Teams I’ve spoken with compare him more often to a point guard than a quarterback, and that’s OK. He’s going to have the collective voices of head coach Frank Reich, quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, senior assistant Jim Caldwell and veteran QB Andy Dalton in his ear. Young’s small stature is a legit red flag to some evaluators; I still think he’s the pick at No. 1. The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner is a natural leader who can be the face of a franchise.
2 Indianapolis Colts PROJECTED TRADE WITH HOUSTON TEXANS
C.J. Stroud Ohio State · QB · Sophomore (RS)
Would Indianapolis trade DeForest Buckner and the No. 4 overall pick to move up two spots? I think Houston would have to listen if it’s offered. Remember, new Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans was with Buckner for three seasons in San Francisco, and “DeFo” just restructured his contract. If Buckner is not included in the trade, how about adding a second- or third-round pick instead? It’s also worth noting that Stroud is represented by the same agent as Deshaun Watson; I wonder if this could play any role in the selection of the Ohio State quarterback, based on the acrimonious way Watson’s time with the Texans ended.
3 Arizona Cardinals
Will Anderson Jr. Alabama · Edge · Junior
I will say this, and you can print it and scream it from the mountaintops: I’m sure Arizona would love to trade back; I just don’t know if there’s a team looking to trade up to land Anthony Richardson or Will Levis. Will Anderson Jr. is a safe and smart pick for a team that needs talent at just about every position.
4 Houston Texans PROJECTED TRADE WITH INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Tyree Wilson Texas Tech · Edge · Senior (RS)
After trading out of No. 2, Houston passes on a QB again and continues to build up the defense. Wilson has an 86-inch wingspan and grew up in Texas. Had a foot injury not prevented this gifted edge rusher from competing in the NFL Scouting Combine (or during Texas Tech’s pro day), everyone would have been buzzing about him for the last month and change.
5 Seattle Seahawks (from DEN)
Anthony Richardson Florida · QB · Sophomore (RS)
The Seahawks love Geno Smith, and there’s no doubt he’s the man for 2023. But with two picks in the top 20, they can go with a quarterback here — after all, they surely don’t plan on picking in the top five again anytime soon. If another QB-needy team doesn’t leapfrog them, the ‘Hawks can secure a signal-caller for the future. Seattle has time to get Richardson in the room with coordinator Shane Waldron so that he can learn the offense.
6 Detroit Lions (from LAR)
Jalen Carter Georgia · DT · Junior
Elite player whose off-field/character questions could be a red flag for some teams. Carter met with Detroit on Monday. The thought of this defensive tackle joining last year’s No. 2 overall pick, Aidan Hutchinson, is quite intriguing — two blue-chip talents on one defensive line.
7 Las Vegas Raiders
Peter Skoronski Northwestern · OT · Junior
Skoronski is a steady, reliable guy who can play multiple spots on a Raiders’ offensive line that desperately needs some help. He’s smart as a whip, and Josh McDaniels and Co. have long valued above-the-neck qualities.
8 Atlanta Falcons
Nolan Smith Georgia · Edge · Senior
Atlanta adds another defensive piece to a unit that’s been rebuilt this offseason. An explosive combine opened some eyes in the media to Smith, but NFL teams have been high on the former five-star recruit for the last few years.
9 Chicago Bears (from CAR)
Christian Gonzalez Oregon · CB · Junior
This strong, smart, speedy corner out of Oregon (via Colorado) is a gamer. The Bears have so many needs, and snagging a top cover man with the ninth overall choice makes them better tomorrow. He could go before Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon.
10 Philadelphia Eagles (from NO)
Bijan Robinson Texas · RB · Junior
I know the Eagles haven’t drafted a running back in the first round since the 1980s. I also know there aren’t many elite players in this class. Robinson is one. Pure and simple.
11 Tennessee Titans
Hendon Hooker Tennessee · QB · Senior (RS)
I can see Tennessee moving up to get a quarterback like Anthony Richardson or C.J. Stroud. GM Ran Carthon and coach Mike Vrabel were making the rounds at the pro days for all the top QBs last month. But if the Titans aim to land one at their current draft slot, I’m leaning toward Hooker being their choice over Will Levis, despite Hooker being a 25-year-old coming off a torn ACL. This might shock the world — or, by the time the draft arrives, it might not be that big of a shock at all.
12 Houston Texans (from CLE)
Will Levis Kentucky · QB · Senior (RS)
If Houston can scoop up a veteran like DeForest Buckner (in the prospective trade spelled out above) or a future pick by trading out of No. 2, snag Tyree Wilson or Will Anderson and get its QB of the future within the top 12 overall picks? That’d be a good night for GM Nick Caserio and the new coaching staff. Houston is a curious case in this draft, for sure, and after Indianapolis, I don’t have a perfect spot for a Levis. But if you’re the Texans and you don’t go QB at 2, the Kentucky product has to be a real consideration at 12.
13 New York Jets
Broderick Jones Georgia · OT · Sophomore (RS)
I am not sure if Aaron Rodgers will be the Jets’ quarterback by the time they are on the clock, but either way, I don’t see this pick going to Green Bay. I do see the Jets addressing the offensive line, one of the team’s biggest needs after injuries riddled the unit a year ago. Teams appear to be split on whether Jones, Peter Skoronski or Paris Johnson Jr. will be the first O-lineman taken.
14 New England Patriots
Devon Witherspoon Illinois · CB · Senior
Witherspoon is a top talent and could be off the board within the first eight overall picks. I have him remaining available here … and the Patriots pouncing. New England could also go with a WR — and in the scenario I’m sketching out with this mock, they’re all still on the board, too.
15 Green Bay Packers
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Ohio State · WR · Junior
The wideout class is weird this year in that there’s no apparent slam-dunk No. 1, and the scouting and coaching communities don’t seem overly enthusiastic about any of the prospects as clear-cut blue-chip players. To each his own. I’ll put JSN as the first WR taken, but that’s no sure thing. Green Bay snagging a receiver now — with Aaron Rodgers (presumably) leaving the building, after years of the Packers neglecting the position in the first round — would be humorous. Oh, the irony.
16 Washington Commanders
Dalton Kincaid Utah · TE · Senior
When healthy, Kincaid can do it all. He flourished at Utah, and though not a punishing blocker in the run game, he can hang there, too. He told NFL Network’s Omar Ruiz at Utah’s pro day in March that he was cleared to begin working out and expected to be cleared for full contact by May. He should go first of the tight ends. Washington’s new offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy, knows a thing or two about utilizing the position, given his history in Kansas City.
17 Pittsburgh Steelers
Paris Johnson Jr. Ohio State · OT · Junior
The Steelers like plucking prospects from Ohio State. Johnson is a versatile pass protector who can play right away and shouldn’t escape the top 20. I have Pittsburgh passing on Joey Porter’s son, which just doesn’t feel right. Oh well.
18 Detroit Lions
Joey Porter Jr. Penn State · CB · Junior (RS)
The Lions loaded up on DB talent in free agency, but they could still be in the market for a top corner prospect if they pass on Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon at No. 6. Porter can hang with both of those other cats and could still be on the board when Detroit comes back on the clock at No. 18. Tough mentality — a real Aaron Glenn/Dan Campbell type of guy.
19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Deonte Banks Maryland · CB · Junior (RS)
Banks has enjoyed a really nice pre-draft period, working out at an extremely high level and interviewing well with NFL teams. The Buccaneers brought back Jamel Dean but lost Sean Murphy-Bunting to the Titans. Tampa Bay has many needs. It would be interesting if Will Levis and/or Hendon Hooker were still on the board at this point, which is certainly possible in the real thing.
20 Seattle Seahawks
Lukas Van Ness Iowa · Edge · Sophomore (RS)
The redshirt sophomore didn’t start at Iowa due to Kirk Ferentz’s seniority-based approach, but he has a high motor and has been a star of the pre-draft workout circuit. Still, Van Ness is a polarizing prospect, as some teams aren’t as high on him as others. It feels like he could go anywhere from No. 6 to the end of the first round.
21 Los Angeles Chargers
Michael Mayer Notre Dame · TE · Junior
Another offensive weapon for Justin Herbert. Mayer is a fine all-around tight end prospect. He’s not as explosive as, say, Kyle Pitts, but he’s still a highly regarded pass catcher. Not to mention, he can pass block and loves to road grade in the run game. Bottom line: The Notre Dame product can play right away in an NFL offense.
22 Baltimore Ravens
Darnell Wright Tennessee · OT · Senior
Wright’s a likely first-rounder, though NFL teams seem a little mixed on the mauling tackle. There’s no questioning his dominant performance in Tennessee’s thrilling win over Alabama last October, when Wright erased ballyhooed edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. In this simulation, the Ravens grab the 6-5, 333-pounder and figure he’ll be a key piece of the team’s future, whether Lamar Jackson is or not.
23 Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Addison USC · WR · Junior
I know of at least one team that has Addison as its top-rated wide receiver. With Adam Thielen now in Carolina, this pairing makes sense. That said, Minnesota can go a variety of ways here. With Kirk Cousins in the last year of his contract, quarterback could be an option, but the Vikings might have to aggressively jump up the board in order to get their man at that position.
24 Jacksonville Jaguars
Brian Branch Alabama · DB · Junior
I think it’s offensive lineman or defensive back here for the Jaguars. Branch was the slot corner for Alabama, but he could play all over Jacksonville’s secondary.
25 New York Giants
Zay Flowers Boston College · WR · Senior
Explosive receiver who met with the Giants last week in New Jersey. Another offensive addition for Daniel Jones.
26 Dallas Cowboys
Jahmyr Gibbs Alabama · RB · Junior
The Cowboys have an incredibly strong track record when it comes to recent first-round picks: WR CeeDee Lamb and LB Micah Parsons have both made the past two Pro Bowls, while OL Tyler Smith showed plenty of promise in Year 1. After the release of former No. 4 overall pick Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas has room for another back. With Bijan Robinson off the board, Jerry Jones and Co. scoop up the explosive Gibbs.
27 Buffalo Bills
Myles Murphy Clemson · Edge · Junior
Buffalo adds another young pass rusher to an already-deep rotation. If the Bills are going to compete with Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow over the next decade, they can’t stop adding to that D-line.
28 Cincinnati Bengals
Darnell Washington Georgia · TE · Junior
The Bengals signed Irv Smith Jr. in free agency and have high hopes for him, but it’s a one-year prove-it deal following an injury-riddled 2022 campaign. Washington would be another weapon for the offense — and the big man can block, too. Three tight ends in the first round? Weird draft, I know.
29 New Orleans Saints (via SF through MIA, DEN)
Jonathan Mingo Mississippi · WR · Senior
In a receiver class that’s short on size, Mingo is a physical presence (6-2, 220 pounds) who tested well in Indianapolis (4.46 40-yard dash, 39.5-inch vertical leap, 22 bench reps). Mingo is not as polished as some other wideouts in this class, and not every scout is a fan, but many in the coaching community seem to love him. New Orleans late in Round 1 feels right.
30 Philadelphia Eagles
Will McDonald IV Iowa State · Edge · Senior (RS)
The Eagles are always on the hunt for trench talent, and Nick Sirianni has a strong link to Iowa State coach Matt Campbell, his former college teammate at Mount Union. McDonald is a first-round talent.
31 Kansas City Chiefs
Quentin Johnston TCU · WR · Junior
The Chiefs made it work with what they had at wideout last year and envision big production from some young pass catchers going forward. But if Johnston’s still available at No. 31, I could see Brett Veach pouncing on a big, physical wideout with moves. |
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