NFC NORTH

GREEN BAY

After a year of JAMEIS WINSTON/TAYSOM HILL, will the Saints want QB AARON RODGERS for 2022?  Thoughts like that motivate Jason LaCanfora of CBSSports.com:

If you think teams aren’t already thinking about what it would cost to land Aaron Rodgers by early 2022, you would be fooling yourself. For starters, I could see Denver, New Orleans, Seattle (if it trades Russell Wilson), the Giants, New England (pending what it does in this draft), Miami, Washington, Chicago and Minnesota interested. The Packers would never trade him in the division, but you are kidding yourself if you don’t think Rodgers can control the process by having the ability to play the retirement card, and by requiring some reworking of his contract.

NFC EAST

WASHINGTON

Longtime Burgundy and Gold TE JORDAN REED, last year with SF, is calling it quits.  On 4/20, he announces his retirement to head into a career in cannabis.  John Keim ofESPN.com:

Former Washington Football Team tight end Jordan Reed said he’s retiring from the NFL because of lingering issues from multiple concussions suffered throughout his career.

“I was pretty sure I was going to keep playing; I was feeling good about where I was at,” Reed told ESPN. “But then I had some lingering effects and sought out professional help to get diagnosed. They told me it was not a good idea to keep playing. I agreed with them.”

Reed visited Orlando’s Plasticity Center in late winter for a brain scan. He said based on the results it was recommended he retire. Reed said it took him a while to make the decision.

“Before when I had a concussion I would feel better afterwards and I wouldn’t have lingering effects,” Reed said. “If I didn’t have any symptoms I would have kept playing,” he said. “I’m OK with it because I know the reason why I’m making the choice is for family and my children, so I can be there for them. It’s just time.”

Reed, 30, played seven seasons with Washington and spent last year with San Francisco, catching 355 passes with 28 touchdowns in a career often slowed by injuries. He played 10 games with the 49ers last season, catching 26 passes.

When healthy, Reed scared opposing defenses because of his quickness to beat one-on-one matchups with linebackers and his size (6-foot-2, 242 pounds) to beat safeties. It’s why, in 2015, Reed caught 87 passes for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns and was a key reason Washington won the NFC East. He made his lone Pro Bowl appearance after the following season.

But injuries limited Reed throughout his career, as he never played in more than 14 games in a season and three times played in 10 or fewer. He suffered at least seven documented concussions and dealt with soft-tissue injuries as well as knee and toe issues. Fractures in his big toes led to him needing surgery and affected his game over multiple seasons.

Reed said he’s getting involved in the cannabis industry after relying on marijuana to help with his injuries. He said he already owns some assets in the industry, but is seeking partners.

“I always knew the dangers of opioids,” Reed said. “I chose to lean on cannabis for a lot of that pain.”

NFC SOUTH

NEW ORLEANS

Luke Johnson of NoLa.com with some thoughts from Coach Sean Payton on the continuation of his process even without QB DREW BREES:

It is April, Sean Payton was just out at TPC Louisiana to play a charity golf event before the Zurich Classic tees off this week, and his New Orleans Saints team is still months away from taking the field for training camp.

That is to say, it’s still early in this process. So the Saints coach said the idea of life after Drew Brees hasn’t hit too hard yet. At some point when everybody returns to the facility, he knows he will be reminded his right-hand man of 15 years is no longer there.

Payton met with local media Tuesday afternoon for the first time since Brees announced his retirement last month. Playing with him at the event Tuesday was Taysom Hill, one of the quarterbacks who will compete for the chance to succeed Brees in the starting lineup.

This upcoming season will mark the first time since Payton took over as head coach in 2006 that someone other than Brees will take snaps under center. He was asked if he was excited about the prospect of coaching with a different quarterback, and he started his answer by saying there’s excitement every new season.

 Jalen and J.J. McCleskey vying to become Saints 2nd ever father-son duo

“The approach is still the same though,” Payton said. “We’ve got a good core group of young, talented players that have won a lot of games and have experienced that taste of the postseason. I think you build your team around that.

“Is there an elevated level of excitement? I think it’s the same. As a coach, you owe it to that roster to work hard and put them in the best position to have success.”

The team intends to have Hill compete with Jameis Winston for the starting quarterback position. Payton expressed confidence in both of them Tuesday. Both are scheduled to hit free agency after the 2021 season.

The Saints re-signed Winston to a one-year deal the day after Brees announced his retirement. Last year was his first with the Saints, and he attempted just 11 passes including the playoffs. But Payton said that year was important for both the player and the team to get a sense of each other.

“You learn about a person — his personality, his intelligence, how he is in the locker room, how he interacts with his teammates, all those things,” Payton said. “… It was a good process. Watching him come in, obviously he’s got a tremendous skill set and he’s someone that I think did a good job with his teammates.”

 Kentucky LB Jamin Davis is an NFL draft fast riser. Could he be on the Saints radar?

Hill and the Saints have been together for four seasons now, but last year was something of a first in their relationship as well. He started four games while Brees was sidelined with rib injuries, giving both himself and the team their first chance to see what he could do in the role.

When asked if that experience — during which the Saints went 3-1 as Hill compiled eight total touchdowns — was the tip of the iceberg, Hill said he believed it was.

“I would also say I think the mindset is different: Hey, Drew went down, you’re called on to step in and do everything you can to not mess it up as a back up,” Hill said. “That was my mindset. I think the mindset shifts when you become the guy.”

AFC WEST

LAS VEGAS

The notable Raiders tweet upon the rendering of the Derek Chauvin verdict was authored by the team’s owner.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

In the aftermath of the verdict that found Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts in connection with the murder of George Floyd, the Raiders have created an unexpected controversy via a heavily-criticized tweet.

“I can breathe,” the team said from an account with 1.7 million followers.

“That’s my tweet,” owner Mark Davis said, via the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “I don’t want anyone in the organization taking heat. I take full responsibility for that.

“I was driving home from a meeting when the verdict came in. Soon after, I was listening to George Floyd’s brother, Philonise, speak. And he said, ‘Today, we are able to breathe again.’ I took my lead from him. In my mind, that was all I needed to say, ‘I can breathe.’”

The tweet, pinned to the account as the first message seen on the team’s page, has not been deleted.

“I believe it has a lot of context,” Davis said. “[Chauvin] was on his neck for more than nine minutes and was found guilty on all counts. And now, his knee is fully off his neck. Unfortunately, it’s a little too late.”

Davis said he told team personnel to post the message on the franchise’s platforms.

“I think justice was served,” Davis said. “It’s rare I make statements about anything and if I thought it offended the [Floyd] family, I would feel very badly and apologize. Other than that, I’m not apologizing. I honesty believe after listening to Philonise, this is a day that we can all breathe. . . . I feel bad if what I wrote was misinterpreted. But I listened to what the family said and how it felt, not some talking heads. I hope people understand that.”

Some surely do. Many surely don’t. The simple reality of social media is that anyone and everyone who disagrees with anything and everything someone has to say has a platform for sounding off.

AFC NORTH

PITTSBURGH

The Steelers extended Coach Mike Tomlin for three more years on Tuesday.  Longtime Steelers scribe Ed Bouchette, now with The Athletic, supports the move:

There are two ways to look at what seems like a debate over whether the Steelers should have signed Mike Tomlin to a three-year contract extension through 2024:

1. NFL coaches whose teams just lost four of their final five regular-season games and then a home playoff to another division team they’ve dominated for two decades sometimes do not see the next season. Particularly when they’ve had a Hall of Fame quarterback and had not won a playoff game in four seasons, losing their only two during that span in upsets at home.

2. Only Bill Belichick has been to more Super Bowls in this century. Tomlin’s .650 winning percentage over 14 seasons (145-78-1) ranks second among those who have coached at least 100 games, and 11th in NFL history. His teams never had a losing season, and while there was that late-season collapse, the Steelers won the 2020 AFC North for his seventh time, beating out favored Baltimore with a 12-4 record.

The Steelers obviously leaned heavily on that second point, and it is no surprise they would do so. Tomlin, who turned 49 last month, remains among the best coaches in the NFL and would be signed by someone else in a shotgun snap if he were a free agent; he might surpass the 10-year, $100 million deal the Raiders gave Jon Gruden (whose record after three years there is 19-29 with no winning season and no playoff berths).

One thing the Steelers know about stability is that it is good for business. They’ve had three coaches in what will be 56 seasons if Tomlin coaches through this extension. Chuck Noll coached 23, Bill Cowher 15, and each is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Tomlin, whose winning percentage exceeds both, is headed that way.

The anti-Tomlin arguments really boil down to this: What has he done for the Steelers lately? The franchise that boasts six Lombardi Trophies has spoiled its fans into thinking Super Bowl appearances are their birthright. Anything less is unacceptable, as was the Steelers’ 2017 march to the AFC Championship Game where they lost in New England after Le’Veon Bell left early in the game to injury.

Another part of that argument is the Steelers have won just one Super Bowl in Tomlin’s 14 seasons, all but 2019 with a future Hall of Fame quarterback. Surely, they should have won more with Ben Roethlisberger. Take Belichick out of the equation (although he did not fare so well last season without Tom Brady), only Tom Coughlin won more Super Bowls in this century, two with Eli Manning and the Giants. How did some of the other possible future Hall of Fame quarterbacks fare in this century? Coach Sean Payton, who missed out on three consecutive playoffs with identical 7-9 records in New Orleans, won one Super Bowl with Drew Brees, in the 2009 season. Brees, who retired after last season, never made it to a second. Aaron Rodgers? Same thing — one Super Bowl win in his only appearance. Philip Rivers never made it to a Super Bowl. Peyton Manning won one in 13 seasons in Indianapolis (then another in Denver). Dan Marino infamously appeared in one Super Bowl in 17 years and his Dolphins lost.

The point is, while having a great quarterback helps, it’s still hard to win Super Bowls — even for quarterbacks with great coaches.

Back to Coughlin, who won one more Super Bowl than Tomlin or Cowher. The Giants gave Coughlin the heave-ho, disguised as the coach’s resignation, after his 102-90 regular-season record over 12 seasons. Since then, the Giants have gone through four coaches with a combined 29-51 record plus 0-1 in the playoffs. Maybe the Giants should have consulted the Steelers before letting Coughlin go.

They could have told them many reasons why they stick with their men, highlighting one decision they made before the 2000 season. Cowher’s early teams were successful; he tied a coaching record by having his first six teams make the playoffs with one loss in the Super Bowl. Then his teams hit the skids. The Steelers went 7-9 in 1998 and 6-10 in 1999 with major collapses at the end of each season. There were many calls for his head, including a website created to FireCowher.

Dan Rooney responded by signing Cowher to a contract extension before the next season. The Steelers went 9-7 in 2000, just missing the playoffs, and then 13-3 in 2001, the first of four playoff appearances over the next five seasons that culminated in the franchise’s fifth Super Bowl victory in the 2005 season, ending a 26-year drought. Cowher will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August.

“Get ’em good or get ’em gone,” is an oft-repeated phrase in the NFL, usually applying to players. Too many teams also apply that to coaches, never giving them a chance to install their systems and philosophies, getting the types of players they want and working through some early difficulties. Part of the reason teams fire coaches so quickly is to satisfy the mob of fans unhappy with the coach and fearing it will affect their attendance. The Steelers have had the luxury of selling out their stadiums since 1972, which allows them not to sell out to their fans. They don’t draft or sign players for public relations purposes and they don’t employ their coaches that way, either.

Constantly changing coaches can disrupt a franchise’s progress. The most obvious is Cleveland, where they have had nine head coaches during Tomlin’s tenure with the Steelers. Their last winning season was 10-6 in 2007 before rookie coach Kevin Stefanski brought them home at 11-5 last season and then upset the Steelers in the playoffs. The turmoil in Cleveland with all the upheaval of coaching staffs and front offices finally seems to have subsided. Maybe the Browns, who have benefitted all these years with top 10 draft picks because of their dismal records, finally found the right coach.

God help Stefanski, though, if the Browns miss out on the playoffs the next two seasons.

Tomlin has his faults and his detractors will bend your ear talking about them: His supposed clock management and lack of “adjustments” during games, his stubbornness (they should have known Chuck Noll) and the pronouncements he makes that sometimes backfire, such as unleashing hell in December and talking about the “elephant in the room,” the AFC Championship Game rematch with the Patriots that did not happen after the Jaguars upset the second-seeded Steelers at Heinz Field.

Even the guy they named the Super Bowl trophy after had his faults. The Steelers have been uncanny in finding their past three coaches, have been more patient than any sports franchise with them during that time and it has paid off handsomely for them.

But the three-year extension they gave their coach did not happen because the Steelers have such great patience with their coaches. It happened because Art Rooney II, like his father, realizes that Mike Tomlin is one damn good coach.

AFC EAST

NEW YORK JETS

Jason LaCanfora of CBSSports.com says there are conspiracy theorists afoot in the NFL who think QB ZACH WILSON may not be a done deal to the J-E-T-S Jets at #2:

At least one team in the NFL is not fully convinced the Jets are selecting Zach Wilson with the second overall pick. And, perhaps, a few more.

It’s a thought worth considering, at the very least. And an option worth entertaining, at the very least, for a football franchise that has done such a horrible job of developing a first-rate passer. What if the Jets chose Justin Fields? Is that really out of the question? Is that somehow crazy?

Anything goes this time of year in the NFL, with the draft less than two weeks away and silly season in maximum overdrive. And at a time when there has suddenly been at least a little more wiggle room in Mock Draft Nation – and in Vegas – when it comes to San Francisco taking Fields and not Mac Jones with the third overall pick (readers of this space already knew that was coming), well, why is it not worth examining the possibilities that the Jets don’t grab Wilson?

Consider the fact that the narrative that the Jets were absolutely, positively going to take Wilson began well before the quarterback evaluation process was complete. In fact, it started to take shape before all of the quarterbacks had even completed their workouts. Now, count me among those who heard from proven, trusted sources, weeks ago, that Wilson was the Jets’ guy at that time and they had an eye on him all along … But that doesn’t mean they had to make the decision then, and they still don’t have to make it now.

Fields looked like a stud last week in his final opportunity to wow teams, he did his work against far tougher competition than the kid from BYU, and as much as there are oh so many people out there trying to tear him down, there are no shortage of teams that totally love the kid and believe he would be the first overall selection in many drafts (just not this one, because of Trevor Lawrence and all). So, again, let’s just keep in mind that the Jets are not contractually bound to take Wilson.

“Are we all sure that Wilson is going second?” one longtime AFC executive said. “Is that written in stone somewhere? Seriously, have they come out and said it? Maybe Wilson is the pick, but you can’t tell me he is absolutely a better prospect than Fields. We would take Fields there at 2. What if they do take Fields? Then San Francisco takes Wilson. Then New England comes up to 4 and gets Jones. There’s no way that could happen?”

Um, doesn’t seem totally crazy to me. Not in the least.

Teams have done the unexpected and surprised us before, just when we thought we had them all figured out. It’s one of the many things that makes this event so great. And while I get that one could make the case that the Jets have nothing to gain by pulling the okey doke and coming up with an elaborate ruse, well, I would counter by saying what exactly have the Jets done? Are we truly certain of all the things we believe we are certain of?

THIS AND THAT

QB SNAPSHOTS

Today we look at the two quarterbacks from the hills north of Atlanta who could be among the first three players off the board.

TREVOR LAWRENCE

Lawrence was born in Knoxville, Tennessee but he grew up in Cartersville, Georgia.

His father, Jeremy, works for a steel company as a safety and environment manager. At 6-6, he is as tall as his son.

Trevor’s mom is Amanda, a nurse practitioner, and he has two siblings.

He is extremely close to his older brother Chase who is not much of an athlete.  This from David Fleming of ESPN.com:

THERE WERE NO skulls available, so Trevor Lawrence grabbed a grapefruit instead.

In July 2019, just a few months after he led Clemson to 2018’s college football national championship, Lawrence was cajoled by his older brother, Chase, and sister-in-law, Brooke, to fill in as a model for a series of life-sized oil paintings that the couple had been commissioned to paint. Trevor, the projected No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, is 21 now, and has been a can’t-miss pro prospect since he was a teenager, and the one guiding force through it all has been his unique relationship with Chase, a free spirit, deep thinker and accomplished artist who, to the outside world, perhaps, seems like Trevor’s exact opposite.

“But they really truly are best friends,” says Brooke.

So when Chase, who is nearly 5 years older, explained the dark, Baroque-style, religious-themed painting he envisioned of a monk staring at a skull and then asked his little brother to help, Trevor happily donned a monk’s wardrobe, even after learning the piece was for an art collector who also happened to be a Georgia Bulldogs fan.

The brothers set up a makeshift studio in the darkened sunroom off the kitchen of their parents’ home. Trevor pulled the hood down over his face until the stark shadows captured his distinct chin and high cheekbones. (Chase, who has similar features and the same magnificent family mane, posed as the monk for the second painting in the series.) And just as Trevor grabbed the grapefruit/skull and leaned in ominously, gesticulating toward the candle-lit mantel, the boys’ mom burst in, freezing in her tracks at the bizarre scene.

“What in the world are y’all doing, some kind of weird ritual?” shrieked Amanda Lawrence, as everyone burst out laughing.

“It was hilarious, like a moment straight out of a sitcom,” says Brooke. “It was the perfect scene to walk into: Chase doing something weird and kinda creepy and Trevor there, right by his side, chilling. They both inspire each other and have a lot of influence over each other in a positive way, and it’s really sweet to see. I don’t know how all this talent is in one family, whether they’re athletes or artists, but it is a beautiful, tight-knit group and it’s a big reason why Chase and Trevor are both so successful.”

Especially when they work together.

– – –

Growing up in Cartersville, Georgia, the sum total of Chase’s athletic career was a few summers drawing in the dirt during Little League games, and he had even less interest (if possible) in his dad’s sport of basketball. Both Amanda, now a nurse practitioner, and the 6-foot-6 Jeremy Lawrence were both successful high school athletes. But after Chase was found lying down on the team bench and sleeping during a youth basketball game, his flummoxed parents happily relented: no more sports.

“I was a wild child; Trevor was the one who was always good at sports,” says Chase. “We knew he was going to get a full ride somewhere for something since he was in middle school. My whole family loves sports so much but, at the time, I couldn’t have cared less.”

Tall but rail-thin, Chase was more into drawing dragons, lizards and monsters, something he never thought could be his “thing” until he discovered Pardee, who pioneered a kind of colorful, creature-filled, pop surrealism — like Ralph Steadman meets “Stranger Things.”

“Alex Pardee is the reason I became an artist,” says Chase. “It was the coolest, weirdest stuff I had ever seen, it was edgy and disturbing, and when you’re a little angsty teenager, you think that’s so badass. But that led me to other artists and it opened up this whole new world for me.”

More importantly, when Chase was a ninth grader, at a time when being overshadowed by his superstar sibling might have led to a lifetime of resentment or remoteness for Chase, Jeremy did something that offers a window into the secret behind their talented and tight-knit family. (Chase and Trevor also have a younger sister, Olivia. After getting his driver’s license, the first time Chase drove by himself was to take Trevor to the hospital to meet their little sister, a memory that still makes Amanda tear up.)

Without knowing exactly what he was getting into, Jeremy, a manager at a steel company in Georgia, agreed to drive to a seedy gallery in Atlanta so that Chase could meet Pardee, his version of Tom Brady.

“My dad doesn’t know anything about art, and I know the whole time he was like, ‘This is so weird,’ but he did it for one reason: to support me,” says Chase, who attended college only after Jeremy encouraged him to study art. “I had so many questions for [Pardee]. I showed him my drawings, and he asked if he could have one, so we traded drawings. I still have his at my parents’ house. So how this all worked out is beyond crazy. The connections to Trevor and Pardee, I mean, that’s just so much incentive.”

Trevor is a fine student who graduated from Clemson last December, 2½

after his high school class graduated.  His degree is in Marketing, which Clemson considers a science.

He has been in a steady relationship with his high school friend, Marissa Mowry, a soccer player at Anderson University, and they recently wed.

He was a four-year starter for the Purple Hurricanes at Cartersville High School, winning 41 straight games (52-2 overall) and two state championships.  He displaced Kelly Bryant as Clemson’s starting four games of his true freshman season.  He was 34-2 as Clemson’s starter, with both losses coming in the College Football Playoffs.  So it was national title in 2018, loss to LSU in 2019, and his final game in 2020 was a loss to Ohio State and high school contemporary Justin Fields.

JUSTIN FIELDS

Fields went to Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Georgia.  It is under 20 miles, about 30 minutes, up US41 from Harrison High to Trevor Lawrence’s Cartersville High.

Fields started two seasons for the Hoyas although his 2017 senior season was cut short by a broken finger after seven games.  He played some as a sophomore, but his coach said he “didn’t want to put too much on him.”  He and Lawrence were considered one-two in various order by most recruiting services in the Class of 2018.

While Lawrence’s path was direct (commit to Clemson, play at Clemson), Fields was more circuitous.  He committed initially to Penn State, then switched to home state Georgia.  In 2018, he did not displace Jake Fromm as the starting QB and promptly transferred to Ohio State.

Fields parents are divorced.  His father, Pablo, is an Atlanta Police Department officer after a college career as linebacker at Eastern Kentucky.  His mother is Gina Tobey who supposedly influenced him to go to Georgia.  But when his transfer was being contemplated she said it was Pablo who “handles everything about football.”

He should have sat out a year with the Buckeyes, but an allegation of a racial slur enabled him to prevail over the NCAA’s standard regulations.  Wikipedia:

Fields enlisted the help of attorney Thomas Mars, who helped secure immediate eligibility for several transfers from Ole Miss in 2018, including quarterback Shea Patterson. Mars and Fields argued that Fields should be granted a waiver for immediate eligibility due to an NCAA guideline that waives the waiting period for athletes with “documented mitigating circumstances that are outside the student-athlete’s control and directly impact the health, safety and well-being of the student-athlete.” Fields was subject to an incident at Georgia in which a Bulldogs baseball player used a racial slur against Fields. This was believed to be the main incident constituting Fields’ claim of “mitigating circumstances”, although the full contents of the waiver request were never made public. On February 8, 2019, Fields was granted immediate eligibility for the 2019 season by the NCAA.

Fields started two seasons for the Buckeyes, and beat Lawrence and Clemson in the semifinal of the 2020 College Football Playoff.  He threw 6 TD passes in the game, shaking off a hard hit to his mid-section.  He was not as fortunate in the final against Alabama and Mac Jones.  So Notre Dame’s Ian Book is the only starting QB from last year’s CFB not expected to go in the top half of the first round.

Fields was a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year throwing 63 TD passes in 22 starts.

This is a good article about the comparative progression of Lawrence and Fields through high school.  They did not play in high school, although they did compete at football camps.  It does include a photo of Lawrence with very short hair.

2021 DRAFT

Chris Trapasso of CBSSports.com makes the case for not investing an early pick on Miami opt-out EDGE GREGORY ROUSSEAU:

Gregory Rousseau isn’t a top-100 prospect

Rousseau is the ultimate — and I mean ULTIMATE — developmental edge rusher/defensive lineman in this class. He played and produced for one season at Miami then opted out. The latter is completely fine, but because of his limited collegiate experience, it should surprise no one that he’s incredibly raw.

At nearly 6-7 and 266 pounds, he had a very uninspiring workout at the Miami pro day that exactly matches what he shows on film — less explosiveness than expected. While Rousseau has a gigantic tackling radius and can close quickly on the quarterback when his sights are set on him, he isn’t ready to defeat NFL tackles with hand work, and there’s minimal speed-to-power conversion to his game because he — naturally — rushes so high. There’s not much around-the-corner bend either. I wouldn’t feel comfortable picking Rousseau until the fourth round, but he’ll be picked a lot higher than that.

– – –

PETE PRISCO’S LATEST MOCK DRAFT

Would it be rude to note that Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com laid out this Mock Draft on 4/20?

Mock drafts are supposed to be fun. Right?

So I decided to have a little fun with this one. I have two of the top five quarterbacks dropping down in the first round lower than most expect. That includes Alabama’s Mac Jones, who many see going to the San Francisco 49ers with the third overall pick. I have him falling to No. 15 to the Patriots.

In this mock, I also have the Minnesota Vikings taking Trey Lance as their quarterback of the future. Hey, if the Packers can do it to Aaron Rodgers, why can’t the Vikings do it to Kirk Cousins?

But the real shock in this mock will be the sixth quarterback off the board. That’s Stanford’s Davis Mills to the Chicago Bears at No. 20. This would be a great move for the Bears, but one that would shock the football world.

I am a big believer in Mills, who I think will be better than one or two of the top five quarterbacks. Mills could spend a year behind Andy Dalton and then take over next season. Let’s be real: Neither Dalton nor Nick Foles is the Bears’ quarterback of the future.

Don’t hold me to this mock since I have two more coming next week. One is my annual what-they-should-do mock coming next Tuesday, followed by my final mock on Thursday.

So don’t go nuts about this one, although I do think a lot of it makes sense.

1 – JACKSONVILLE

Trevor Lawrence QB

CLEMSON • JR • 6’6″ / 220 LBS

Trevor-mania is in full swing in Jacksonville. They are taking a guy who will change the fortunes of the franchise. He’s that good.

2 – NY JETS

Zach Wilson QB

BYU • JR • 6’3″ / 210 LBS

With the trade of Sam Darnold, it’s clear they are taking a quarterback. That will almost certainly be Wilson, a gunslinger with a big arm who plays with a swagger.

3 – SAN FRANCISCO (from Miami)

Justin Fields QB

OHIO STATE • JR • 6’3″ / 228 LBS

They moved up to get a quarterback, and I just think it will be Fields. He has more upside than Mac Jones. Fields has a chance to be a star.

4 – ATLANTA

Kyle Pitts TE

FLORIDA • JR • 6’6″ / 240 LBS

They pass on taking a quarterback for the future to take a big-play weapon at tight end. Pitts would give them one of the toughest offenses to defend in terms of the passing game as he joins Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley.

5 – CINCINNATI

Penei Sewell OL

OREGON • JR • 6’6″ / 330 LBS

They have to protect Joe Burrow going forward, so this will make them strong at the two tackle spots. Sewell can play left tackle and Jonah Williams can play right. They pass on a receiver here.

6 – MIAMI (from Philadelphia)

Ja’Marr Chase WR

LSU • JR • 6’0″ / 208 LBS

With Pitts and Sewell off the board, they opt to take a receiver who can help Tua Tagovailoa. Chase is the clear No. 1 receiver in this class.

7 – DETROIT

Devonta Smith WR

ALABAMA • JR • 6’1″ / 175 LBS

They have to improve their outside passing game and Smith is that type of player. The receiver group could be addressed several times in this draft.

8 – CAROLINA

Rashawn Slater OL

NORTHWESTERN • JR • 6’3″ / 305 LBS

They have a major hole at left tackle and Slater could step in and start right away. He could also play guard if needed down the line.

9 – DENVER

Micah Parsons LB

PENN STATE • JR • 6’3″ / 244 LBS

They might be able to trade out of this spot since they aren’t taking a quarterback here in this mock, but I have them staying and taking Parsons to upgrade the middle of their defense.

10 – DALLAS

Patrick Surtain II CB

ALABAMA • JR • 6’2″ / 203 LBS

Surtain is the best corner in this draft, so it makes sense for the Cowboys to land him seeing as they have a major need there. He is NFL polished from years of learning from his father, who was an outstanding cover player.

11 – NY GIANTS

Jaylen Waddle WR

ALABAMA • JR • 5’10” / 182 LBS

They have to get more speed in their passing game and Waddle would be that guy. This would go against the grain for Dave Gettleman, who prefers picking big people.

12 – PHILADELPHIA (from Miami)

Jaycee Horn CB

SOUTH CAROLINA • JR • 6’1″ / 205 LBS

Horn is a top cover player who some in the league think is the best corner in this class. The Eagles have a major need, so it works.

13 – LA CHARGERS

Christian Darrisaw OL

VIRGINIA TECH • JR • 6’5″ / 314 LBS

They have to get a left tackle in this draft, and Darrisaw was outstanding last year. He would be a plug-and-play starter for them to protect Justin Herbert.

14 – MINNESOTA

Trey Lance QB

NORTH DAKOTA STATE • SOPH • 6’4″ / 226 LBS

They are set with Kirk Cousins for this year, but he has a huge cap hit next season. Lance will need time to sit and learn, which is why this would make sense. Could also go tackle here.

15 – NEW ENGLAND

Mac Jones QB

ALABAMA • JR • 6’3″ / 214 LBS

Some see him going in the third spot, but in this mock his fall would end here. The Patriots will draft a guy to step in and take over for Cam Newton a year from now.

16 – ARIZONA

Zaven Collins LB

TULSA • JR • 6’4″ / 260 LBS

Jordan Hicks is likely gone after this year, but Collins could push him for the job next to Isaiah Simmons. He could also help off the edge.

17 – LAS VEGAS

Alijah Vera-Tucker OL

USC • JR • 6’4″ / 315 LBS

They have some line issues that have to get fixed, which is why Vera-Tucker and his position versatility would work. He can move up and down the line to help at any spot that needs to be filled.

18 – MIAMI

Jaelan Phillips EDGE

MIAMI (FL) • JR • 6’5″ / 266 LBS

They need to upgrade the pass rush and Phillips has the tools to do that. He has some medial issues, but he’s a physical presence off the edge.

19 – WASHINGTON

Jamin Davis LB

KENTUCKY • JR • 6’4″ / 234 LBS

They could go receiver here, but the defense needs a playmaking linebacker. Davis is a skilled, talented player who was sensational as a starter last season.

20 – CHICAGO

Davis Mills QB

STANFORD • JR • 6’4″ / 214 LBS

Hey, they have to get their long-term guy at some point. Andy Dalton could play this year and then they could go to Mills next season. Nick Foles isn’t the answer either. This might seem crazy, but this group traded up to get Mitch Trubisky.

21 – INDIANAPOLIS

Azeez Ojulari EDGE

GEORGIA • SOPH • 6’3″ / 240 LBS

he Colts need to upgrade their pass rush and Ojulari is a rising player with a lot of raw talent. He seems to fit what the Colts like in their edge players.

22 – TENNESSEE

Kwity Paye EDGE

MICHIGAN • SR • 6’4″ / 272 LBS

Their pass rush was awful last season, so they added Bud Dupree. But they need more. If you are going to beat the Chiefs and Bills in the AFC, you have to knock the quarterback down. It works.

23 – NY JETS (from Seattle)

Greg Newsome II CB

NORTHWESTERN • JR • 6’1″ / 190 LBS

They need a lot of help on defense, with edge rusher and corner being the two biggest needs. So I have them going with corner here. Newsome can step in and start right away.

24 – PITTSBURGH

Najee Harris RB

ALABAMA • SR • 6’2″ / 230 LBS

There is all kinds of talk the Steelers will take a running back in the first two rounds. Harris seems like the perfect fit for their offense. I wouldn’t do this, but they just might.

25 – JACKSONVILLE (from LA Rams)

Kadarius Toney WR

FLORIDA • SR • 6’0″ / 193 LBS

Urban Meyer wants to get faster on offense, which is why Toney makes sense. He could step in and be a big-play threat to go with D.J. Chark, Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault.

26 – CLEVELAND

Christian Barmore DL

ALABAMA • SOPH • 6’5″ / 310 LBS

They released Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi left in free agency. Barmore is a power player who really flashed in the big games.

27 – BALTIMORE

Trevon Moehrig S

TCU • JR • 6’2″ / 208 LBS

They have big-time corners, but they need a playmaker on the back end. Moehrig is that type of player. They could also go receiver here, maybe Terrace Marshall of LSU.

28 – NEW ORLEANS

Caleb Farley CB

VIRGINIA TECH • JR • 6’2″ / 207 LBS

The only reason he’d be down this far is the medical concerns after back surgery. But he’s worth the risk here for a Saints team in need of a good, young corner.

29 – GREEN BAY

Elijah Moore WR

OLE MISS • JR • 5’9″ / 185 LBS

They have to get more help for Aaron Rodgers to go with Davante Adams. Moore can fly and he’s impressed inside as a slot player.

30 – BUFFALO

Asante Samuel Jr. CB

FLORIDA STATE • JR • 5’10” / 184 LBS

He is a smaller corner, but he is a tough, skilled player who won’t back down. The Bills need a top corner to pair with Tre’Davious White.

31 – KANSAS CITY

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah LB

NOTRE DAME • JR • 6’1″ / 215 LBS

He is a smallish linebacker who some think can play safety. If you watch the Chiefs closely, you see how they use Nick Sorensen in a hybrid role. This kid is a faster version of that. He’s a playmaker.

32 – TAMPA BAY

Carlos Basham Jr. EDGE

WAKE FOREST • SR • 6’5″ / 285 LBS

Jason Pierre-Paul isn’t a kid anymore, which is why Basham would work. They showed in the Super Bowl how important their pass rush was to winning it all. Basham is a bigger end who would be a nice rotation player next year and then take over down the road.

CHRIS BURKE’S MOCK DRAFT

Let’s double up the Mocks today with this from Chris Burke of The Athletic:

Odds are, you’ll skip right on past this part to get to the picks, but a word about this NFL mock draft’s premise …

All the first-round selections are there (plus Nos. 56, 57 and 67, on behalf of the teams sitting out the opening-day festivities).

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

The most tedious stretch of NFL Draft season will be the 10 minutes between when the Jaguars go on the clock April 29 and when they announce their pick. Nothing has happened to unseat Lawrence from his spot atop this class.

2. New York Jets: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

On March 29, Connor Hughes wrote that “the Jets will take Wilson, trade Darnold to the highest bidder and begin to build around their new young quarterback.” The Darnold trade has since happened, so Step 2 should be a go.

3. San Francisco 49ers (via Miami Dolphins): Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

As Matt Barrows recently pointed out, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is tight with John Beck, the ex-NFL quarterback who’s now the private QB coach for Fields (and Trey Lance). That’s an invaluable connection in a challenging scouting environment. Fields, somehow, is almost flying under the radar despite his outstanding skill set.

4. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

Letting Trey Lance sit and learn new coach Arthur Smith’s system for a year or two would make a ton of sense. So would trading down, maybe to No. 9, if the Falcons aren’t ready to take the QB leap again. Option 3 is to stick and create an absolutely matchup-proof passing attack of Pitts, Julio Jones, Hayden Hurst and Calvin Ridley.

5. Cincinnati Bengals: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

Not to get too hung up on his age, but Sewell could play out his rookie contract, fifth-year option and a four-year extension … and still only be 29. This is an incredible opportunity for the Bengals to hand Joe Burrow a potential All-Pro protector for the next decade-plus.

6. Miami Dolphins (via Philadelphia Eagles): Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

We don’t often see early draft trades like this one Miami made, with only limited clarity about which names will come off the board ahead of it. Did the Dolphins leapfrog Detroit to get their pick at receiver? Or did they want to semi-guarantee themselves one of Sewell or Rashawn Slater? Here, it’s the playmaker and WR1 in this class.

7. ***TRADE***  New England Patriots (from Detroit)

Detroit Lions get: Nos. 15, 46 and a 2022 third-round pick

New England Patriots get: No. 7 overall

Pick: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

An early defining moment for new Lions GM Brad Holmes, with a chance to replace traded-away franchise QB Matthew Stafford with a potential star. But, with Jared Goff as a safety net, the chance to stockpile picks might be too enticing. And in this range, the Patriots could come up for their prize without sacrificing too much beyond 2021. Let Lance sit and learn behind Cam Newton for a year, then turn him loose.

8. Carolina Panthers: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

The top four QBs being gone might take away the temptation to double dip, after Carolina’s trade for Sam Darnold. It’s a tough enough decision anyway, as this board falls, between Surtain and Rashawn Slater. Surtain would give them a top-two corner with NFL bloodlines and insulate their secondary in case free-agent addition A.J. Bouye cannot return to form.

9. Denver Broncos: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern

Phenomenal as Slater is, let’s not forget that he — like Sewell, Chase and others — has not played a game since the 2019 season. The Broncos have the perfect situation to let him settle in, with quality guards and right tackle Ja’Wuan James in place. By Week 1, Slater could be pushing James; by 2022, he should be a cornerstone piece.

10. Dallas Cowboys: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

This is another team that might be crossing its fingers, hoping Sewell or Slater slides a bit. Horn is a terrific consolation prize, and then some. He showed lock-down abilities against SEC competition. He’s not going to back down from any challenge.

11. New York Giants: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

In his mock last week, Brugler selected Alijah Vera-Tucker at No. 11 but wrote, “Personally, I would go Jaylen Waddle here.” Same. So that’s the pick. With Kenny Golladay demanding attention outside, Waddle could run wild across the middle of the field.

12. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami): DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

Would you rather have Ja’Marr Chase, whom the Dolphins took at No. 6, or Smith, pick 123 and an extra first-rounder in 2022? The Eagles could walk away with the latter, highlighted by a reigning Heisman winner who immediately would project as their top target.

13. ***TRADE*** Chicago Bears (from LA Chargers)

Los Angeles Chargers get: Nos. 20, 83 and a 2022 second-round pick

Chicago Bears get: No. 13

Pick: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

Bears GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy keep popping in on these QB workouts, including Justin Fields’ second pro day. Trading into the top five is a bridge too far, but this sort of jump is within reach. No one’s really buying all the “Andy Dalton QB1” propaganda.

14. Minnesota Vikings: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

Like a lot of teams, the Vikings appear to be waiting on this exceptionally deep O-line class to address their issues up front. Darrisaw is a big, physical dude who could be a plug-and-play option on either the left or right side in Minnesota.

15. Detroit Lions (via New England Patriots): Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC

The Lions absolutely will consider Sewell or Slater at 7, should that chance be there. Vera-Tucker, though, is a borderline top-10 talent in this class himself. Armed with even more future picks, Detroit could snag him here, drop him in as the starting RG or RT and not worry about that position for years.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern

Provided that teams are satisfied with Newsome’s health — he missed time during each of his three college seasons — his tape and testing deserve top-20 consideration. Malcolm Butler’s only in Arizona on a one-year deal. Newsome could be the long-term Patrick Peterson replacement.

17. Las Vegas Raiders: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

Hard to know what to believe this time of year, but it sure sounds like Raiders coach Jon Gruden is ready to bare-knuckle box any team that might swoop in and take Parsons from him. Adding Parsons on the second level after signing Yannick Ngakoue to provide a pass rush would reshape the Raiders’ front seven, for the better, in a matter of weeks.

18. Miami Dolphins: Kwity Paye, Edge, Michigan

With their second pick of Round 1, the Dolphins might have their choice of pass rushers. With a tantalizing athletic profile, Paye has a chance to be special off the edge. At minimum, he’s a high-upside defender capable of playing on all three downs, in any situation.

19. Washington Football Team: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

This already is (and will continue to be) a popular pairing, because Washington has such a glaring need at linebacker and the versatile Owusu-Koramoah offers so much to counter modern offenses. I’m not sure why there has been so little buzz of late on Owusu-Koramoah. He’s legit.

20. Los Angeles Chargers (via Chicago Bears): Azeez Ojulari, Edge, Georgia

Another tough decision in this mock: Leave the Chargers alone at No. 13 so they could take Darrisaw or move back, add picks and see what’s there at 20? Obviously, we’re in the latter scenario and on the board is maybe this draft’s top edge rusher. If you have to face Patrick Mahomes twice a year, it’d be great to toss an Ojulari-Joey Bosa combo at him.

21. Indianapolis Colts: Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

Again, this class is loaded with starter-caliber tackles. Want one here? Sure. Prefer to wait until Round 2 or 3? No problem. In Jenkins, however, the Colts could snag a mauler who’s flat-out mean in the trenches.

22. Tennessee Titans: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

Bateman doesn’t jump off the page like some other receiver prospects in this class, but he’s an NFL-ready playmaker who excels at making plays downfield, in tight windows. With Derrick Henry commanding attention, there’d be plenty of one-on-one chances for Bateman to exploit.

23. New York Jets (via Seattle Seahawks): Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

Other than quarterback (which they can take care of at No. 2), the Jets’ biggest need is at corner. Farley reportedly passed his recent medical checks, following back surgery, but that issue plus the strength at the top of this CB class could leave him on the board for New York. It’d be a great need-value fit.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

Would every team feel comfortable taking a running back in Round 1? Probably not. But the Steelers would, especially if that player — like Harris — can be an instant three-down upgrade. Harris could take a lot of heat off Ben Roethlisberger this year, then be the central focus of the post-Roethlisberger offense beyond that.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Los Angeles Rams): Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama

Barmore fits as high up as Minnesota’s pick at No. 14, so snagging him with the 25th overall selection would be a home run. The Jaguars have put together a few pieces for their defensive interior, but Barmore could be an immediate difference-maker, especially against the pass.

26. Cleveland Browns: Jaelan Phillips, Edge, Miami

The Browns’ Jadeveon Clowney signing shouldn’t shift any focus away from an impact pass rusher — Clowney’s deal is for just one year, and his value is in his inside/outside versatility more so than an ability to come screaming around the edge. Erase his medical history and Phillips might be a top-10 option in this draft; take it into consideration, as teams must, and his potential should outweigh the risk by this point.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Richie Grant, S, UCF

Day 2 should be a good spot for safeties, but can any of them sneak into the first round? This is a good spot for it — the Ravens have a need there, and Grant is a ballhawk who racked up 259 combined tackles over the past three seasons. Baltimore long has been a franchise that appreciated having a playmaker on the back end.

28. New Orleans Saints: Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

Watching Toney and Pitts play together in that Florida offense is just silly. In this mock, Pitts landed in a prime spot with the Falcons’ offense. And, at 28, Toney gets his own desirable match, alongside Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara in an attack that could light up the scoreboard even without Drew Brees.

29. Green Bay Packers: Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State

The Packers haven’t shied away from throwing draft capital at their secondary, and they’ll likely have to do so again this year. They would have several quality options here: Samuel, Eric Stokes, Tyson Campbell. They take the player that, as Brugler wrote in his draft guide, “flashes Jaire Alexander-type ability.”

30. Buffalo Bills: Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

Considered launching a cornerback run here, with the Bills following up that Packers pick by taking Eric Stokes. But Collins is a unique hybrid edge type, whose versatility and pass-rush ability would give the Bills options with him, even after locking down Matt Milano for four years.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas

Cosmi’s stunning pro day performance solidified him as a potential Round 1 tackle — teams go nuts for that level of athleticism at the position. A bonus: Cosmi has experience starting on each end of the line, so Kansas City could plug him at left tackle or right tackle and be confident.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Carlos Basham Jr., Edge, Wake Forest

A 274-pounder with sub-4.6 speed, Basham feels like a player who’s going to be racking up sacks for the next dozen years. He’d help the Bucs, rushing off the edge or inside, but also wouldn’t have to be the guy right out of the gate.

Three teams do not have a first-round pick in this year’s draft. Opening moves from Seattle, the Rams and Houston:

56. Seattle Seahawks: Brady Christensen, OT, BYU

This could be an all-time great offensive tackle draft. It’s going to be deep there, if nothing else. So, the Seahawks can jump on board even later in Round 2. Christensen shouldn’t need much time to acclimate to the NFL game, but looking long term he’d be a perfect option to learn behind veteran Duane Brown at LT.

57. Los Angeles Rams: Josh Myers, G/C, Ohio State

It doesn’t have to be with this pick, but the Rams almost have to draft a center. The Myers selection assumes that Creed Humphrey and Quinn Meinerz are off the board ahead of No. 57. This isn’t settling, though. Myers was a two-year starter at Ohio State, and he brings strength, smarts and versatility inside.

67. Houston Texans: Payton Turner, Edge, Houston

How about a hometown kid to help Houston start putting its roster back together? Turner is a 6-5, 270-pound prospect — with an 84-inch wingspan — who’s been riding a wave of positive momentum ever since he excelled during Senior Bowl practices.