GREEN BAY

GM Brian Gutenkist signals he is open for business – up or down.  Jim Owczarski of the Green Bay Press-Gazette:

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst conducted a conference call Monday afternoon in advance of the NFL draft, the first time he or any member of the organization has spoken publicly about football matters since the scouting combine in late February.

The nearly 40-minute call covered numerous topics. Here are some key takeaways:

On whether Gutekunst is in position to be aggressive with trades with his 10 picks in the draft:

“Certainly, we have five in the first five rounds and then five in the last two rounds so I think we’ll be able to be as aggressive as we need be. Though it really obviously always comes down to the player and what kind of players it requires as far as whether we’re going to try and make a move to go up (from the No. 30 spot in the first round). But I’d like to move around. I think it‘s a very good draft and I’d like to move around if we can get to the areas of the draft that I think are strong. But again it takes two so we’ll just kind of … I do like picking toward the back of the draft than up front there. Obviously that means we had a pretty good season last year but at the same time that’s a long wait; see a lot of good players come off the board so we’ll be prepared to move up if we need to be and we’ll be prepared to move back if that what’s best for us.”

DALLAS

Even if QB DAK PRESCOTT caves and signs his franchise tender, he is getting north of $30 mil.  Nick Shook of NFL.com:

The NFL ran the numbers again and Dak Prescott vaulted into the top 10.

Prescott’s exclusive franchise tag was recalculated according to the league’s top-five salaries at the quarterback position, and the Cowboys signal-caller’s tag number in 2020 jumped by more than $4.5 million to $31.409 million, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per a source informed of the updated total.

Franchise tags are based on 2020 restricted free-agent numbers and are finalized after the restricted free-agent period ends, Rapoport added. The original number — which for Prescott was $26.824 million — is a placeholder.

Prescott’s updated tag number puts his single-season pay into the top seven in the entire NFL in annual average salary, right between Atlanta’s Matt Ryan ($30 million per year) and Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz ($32 million per year). Prescott moved up from No. 13 on the same list to No. 7 as a result of the recalculation.

The $31 million is significantly closer to the rumored number Prescott was seeking in long-term contract talks before Dallas was forced to use the tag to keep the quarterback before the start of free agency in March. That should be encouraging to Cowboys fans, and it might increase the odds of Prescott either signing a long-term deal or accepting the risk of playing one season on the tag. Either way, Precsott is officially a $30 million man in 2020.

WASHINGTON

How much would you give up for T TRENT WILLIAMS after a year on the outs with the Redskins?  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

Former Washington General Manager Scot McCloughan said this week that current Washington left tackle Trent Williams would be drafted ahead of any of this year’s tackles despite being about 10 years older than the incoming crop of players.

Williams can’t be drafted, of course, but he could be traded. Williams has asked Washington to trade or release him and Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the team has spoken to multiple other clubs about a possible deal.

Rapoport notes that the need for a physical in the current environment is a hurdle they’d have to clear before making a trade involving 2020 draft picks, although another team could still roll the dice if they share McCloughan’s feelings about how much better the veteran is than the younger and cheaper options.

None of the suitors for Williams’ services are named in the report, but Jenna Laine of ESPN.comreported that the Buccaneers discussed a deal with Washington that would involve tight end O.J. Howard in February. That was before Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski arrived in Tampa and ate up a lot of the cap room the Bucs would need for Williams, but they could find ways to free some up if they decided to really load up the wagon for the 2020 season.

TAMPA BAY

Gronk is a Buc.  ESPN.com:

Gronkowski’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said Tuesday on SportsCenter that the five-time Pro Bowler has been “really invigorated” physically since he retired from football nearly 13 months ago.

“He tells me he feels fantastic, the best he’s ever felt,” Rosenhaus said. “His weight’s back up to 260. He passed his physical with flying colors today. He’s just really excited about playing football again, and being in Florida is exciting for him.”

Gronkowski told Fox Sports in a text message: “I’m back. I always said when I have that feeling and it feels right, I will be ready to take the field again. And I have that feeling. I’m ready.”

It should be noted that in addition to Brady’s arrival, Gronkowski used to own a home in Tampa and has spent plenty of time in the area.  Like Brady, he has been a good buddy of Derek Jeter.

Jenna Laine with a good stat at ESPN.com:

Brady and Gronkowski can become the third Hall of Fame duo to connect for touchdown passes with multiple franchises, according to research by the Elias Sports Bureau. They would join Y.A. Tittle and Hugh McElhenny with the 49ers and Giants, and Ken Stabler and Dave Casper with the Raiders and Oilers.

Gronkowski adds to the riches of pass-catchers Brady will have at his disposal in Tampa. Wide receiver Mike Evans is fourth in receiving yards in the NFL over the past two seasons (2,681), and fellow wideout Chris Godwin was third in receiving yards (1,333) in 2019. Gronkowski led all tight ends in receiving yards in 2017 (1,084) with Brady in New England. Gronkowski had a “down” year in 2018, registering 682 receiving yards in 13 games with the Patriots — but that still would’ve been the most in a season by a Bucs tight end since Kellen Winslow Jr. (763) in 2011.

Adding Gronkowski is a clear indication coach Bruce Arians is more than willing to collaborate with Brady, as Arians’ offense isn’t known for significant use of the tight end, with 74 targets to tight ends in 2019 — 15th in the league — while Brady targeted the position extensively in New England.

“I think that’s one thing that drew us both together is I’ve always collaborated with my quarterbacks, whether it be putting a playbook together with Ben [Roethlisberger] or starting with Andrew [Luck] from scratch,” Arians said last month. “[It’s about] just finding out the likes and dislikes of a quarterback.”

In this case, it was a 6-foot-6 tight end moonlighting in the WWE. Gronkowski still had one year left on his contract with the New England Patriots after retiring following the 2018 season. The Bucs will now foot the bill on his $10 million price tag. They’ll have to move some money around, as they have just $13.5 million in salary-cap space and still need to pay their draft picks, but it’s workable, as was forking over a fourth-round draft pick in return for a seventh.

QB-TE DUO      TDS

Philip Rivers-Antonio Gates        89

Tom Brady-Rob Gronkowski       78

Drew Brees-Jimmy Graham        51

In Las Vegas on Feb. 3, the Bucs opened at 50-1 to win a championship, prior to signing Brady. That number dropped to 22-1 (ninth best) on March 17, and to 14-1 (tied for fifth) on April 21, after Gronkowski’s trade was finalized.

Gronk for just a little less than a 4^th round pick.  Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com, as is his custom, looks at the deal.

New England Patriots get: 2020 fourth-round pick (No. 139)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers get: TE Rob Gronkowski, 2020 seventh-round pick (No. 241)

Patriots grade: C

Buccaneers grade: B+

Why the Patriots got only a fourth-round pick

Why did it cost the Buccaneers only a fourth-rounder to acquire arguably the greatest tight end in football history when the Falcons sent a second-round pick to the Ravens for Hayden Hurst and the Steelers sent a fourth-round pick to the 49ers for Vance McDonald? Bill Belichick almost never misses a chance to extract maximum value in a trade; he suddenly let Gronk leave at a discount out of the kindness of his heart?

The reality is that trades are about leverage, and the Patriots didn’t have any. They desperately could have used Gronkowski as a weapon for Jarrett Stidham, Brian Hoyer or whomever else is going to play quarterback in 2020. It’s clear Gronk didn’t want to be there and probably would have simply stayed retired if New England hadn’t facilitated a trade.

If Gronkowski had pushed his way back onto the active roster, the Patriots would have been in an immediate financial bind. They have just $2.1 million in cap space, and he has $10 million due in the final year of his deal. Guard Joe Thuney’s $14.7 million franchise tag became fully guaranteed when he signed it in March, so the Pats couldn’t have created room by letting the offensive lineman leave.

Realistically, the Pats don’t have much cap flexibility thanks to the $24 million in dead money they owe in 2020, so it would have taken something like a new contract for cornerback Stephon Gilmore to create immediate, short-term cap space. Even if they do create that space, it’s probably more valuable for them to use it on a veteran quarterback such as Andy Dalton or Cam Newton.

With Gronk wanting to play alongside only Brady, the Pats had just one team with which to negotiate. The Buccaneers were able to point toward similar deals from the past, such as when the Raiders sent a fifth-round pick to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick and the rights to the retired Marshawn Lynch. Teams have not typically treated retired players or coaches as valuable propositions, in part because those players and coaches intend to stay retired unless they get traded to the team of their choosing. The same thing seems to be true here.

What about the Bucs’ other tight ends?

The next question I had after I saw the trade compensation was wondering why O.J. Howard wasn’t included. After all, the Patriots still desperately need tight end help, and Howard has a base salary of only $2 million in the final year of his rookie deal to go with a possible fifth-year option at $9.2 million in 2021. He spent much of 2019 in Bruce Arians’ doghouse, and with Gronk joining Howard and Cameron Brate in the tight end room, it seems as if the 25-year-old former Alabama star would be on his way out of town.

If anything, though, the odd man out in this trio could be Brate. For one, even though Howard didn’t have the sort of receiving workload we would have expected, he played far more frequently than Brate. Howard lined up for 745 snaps despite missing two games, and Brate was on the field for 408 snaps across 16 games. Brate also ran pass routes on more than 83% of his snaps. Howard went out on a pass route just over 36% of the time. If the Bucs intend to use Gronkowski primarily as a receiving weapon, it makes sense for him to replace Brate in the lineup, not Howard.

The Bucs also are operating under financial constraints. They have about $3.6 million in cap room after absorbing the final year of Gronk’s deal and should still be in the veteran market for help at running back, right tackle, defensive tackle and possible depth in the secondary. They’ll address some concerns in the 2020 NFL draft, of course, but vets are going to want to play with Brady. Howard is still relatively cheap, as mentioned, but Brate has a base salary of $4.3 million, which is double what Howard would cost via trade. If Brate was the only tight end the Bucs were offering, the Patriots might not have been interested at that price.

Gronkowski can play whatever role the Buccaneers want when healthy, so at the end of the day, they can deal either of their tight ends and play the other with Gronkowski when they want to work out of 12 personnel. They should be able to get something in this compensation range back in return, which would mean they upgraded from Jameis Winston and Brate or Howard to Brady and Gronkowski for nothing more than money. That’s the sort of magic we used to see the Patriots pull off.

What’s left in the Gronk tank?

The last time we saw Gronkowski on a football field was in Super Bowl LIII, when his catch set up the only touchdown in a 13-3 Patriots victory over the Rams. The 2018 season was difficult for the star tight end, with a clearly hobbled Gronk missing time and failing to serve as the red zone destroyer we knew from years past. He averaged 52.5 receiving yards per game — his lowest average since 2010 — and scored only three touchdowns. We did see a resurgence from him as a receiver in the postseason, during which he caught six passes for 79 yards in the AFC Championship Game win over the Chiefs and six catches for 87 yards in the Super Bowl.

Even if Gronkowski didn’t rack up a ton of touchdowns in his final season, he was still an effective receiver. He finished sixth in Football Outsiders’ DYAR statistic, which measures performance against replacement level and adjusts for game situation. The Patriots seemed to spend 2018 doing their best to conserve his legs for the postseason. He ran routes less frequently than he had since 2012. They turned to him in moments and on drives when they needed big plays. While the Dolphins revealed that Gronkowski was probably not cut out to play safety on the laterals play they used to beat the Pats during the regular season, he was typically able to answer the call when the Patriots needed those big plays.

In Tampa, for whatever Gronkowski offers as a receiver, he could actually be more valuable to the Bucs as a blocker. The 30-year-old retired as arguably the league’s best blocking tight end independent of his receiving skills, and the Pats’ running game was a mess in 2019 after losing his ability to manhandle defensive linemen at the point of attack. With right tackle as the most significant weakness on the Tampa roster, adding Gronk means Arians can support that tackle with a dominant blocking tight end. The Bucs probably don’t want Brady to throw the ball 626 times in 2020, which was Winston’s league-leading total in 2019. Adding Gronkowski as a blocker should make it easier to run the football.

When they get into two-tight end sets, the idea of Gronkowski and Howard as blockers would give the Bucs the sort of run/pass mismatch the 49ers thrived on last season and the Patriots used to infuriate defensive coordinators in years past. Come out in your base defense and the Bucs can split out Chris Godwin, Gronkowski and Howard against your linebackers and safeties. Come out in a nickel or dime package and you get Gronkowski and Howard blocking defensive backs in the run game.

All of that depends on Gronkowski being healthy enough to play, though, and those concerns aren’t going away. He missed an average of just over four games per season during his last seven NFL campaigns. There’s a chance he plays 16 games, of course, but it’s more realistic to project him to play something closer to 12 to 14 games on average, with the realistic possibility of a more serious incident costing him the majority of the season.

In addition to a multiligament knee injury and the normal wear and tear that physical tight ends deal with, Gronkowski suffered a serious back injury in college that already has led (directly or indirectly) to back surgeries in 2009, 2013 and 2016. He was reportedly concerned he might need a fourth back surgery in 2018, which led to thoughts about retirement. I’m sure a year of rest and reduced weight has helped his back, but we have already heard he is putting on weight to get back into football shape, and one year of rest isn’t going to solve a decade of back issues.

I can point to one person who thought it was time to move on from Gronkowski before the 2018 season, and his opinion is usually pretty insightful. In April 2018, Belichick agreed to send Gronkowski to the Lions for a first-round pick and a swap of second-rounders. Gronkowski was able to effectively veto the deal by threatening to retire. While that deal was obviously for much better compensation, Belichick was clearly willing to move on from Gronkowski just before his receiving production dropped off in 2018. In general, when Belichick has decided to move on from one of his star veterans as they approach or pass 30, he hasn’t regretted that choice.

That was with Brady, of course, and Belichick no longer has the star quarterback to make players who struggled elsewhere excel with the Patriots and vice versa. As recently as last season, players wanted to leave their dysfunctional organizations to win in New England. Now, we’re seeing one of the best players in Patriots history tread that path in the opposite direction.

Liz Roscher of YahooSports.com with more on the Brady-Gronkowski love:

In a matter of just a few hours on Tuesday, Rob Gronkowski went from retired football player and WWE 24/7 champion to the newest member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gronk’s un-retirement happened so quickly that it seemed like it came out of the clear blue sky, but it appears to have been in Tom Brady’s plans all along.

In an interview with WEEI on Wednesday morning, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said that Brady was shopping himself with Gronk during free agency, essentially telling teams that they were a package deal.

@TheGregHillShow

“Tom Brady told interested suitors that he wanted to bring Gronk with him wherever he signed.”  @RapSheet

This isn’t hard to believe because Brady and Gronk made a great team while they were on the New England Patriots. It is interesting (and a little puzzling) that Brady was advertising them as a package deal, because Gronkowski would need to be acquired from the Patriots for that to happen. In the end that didn’t turn out to be a problem, though we don’t know if Gronkowski’s acquisition was a condition of his signing, or just something he asked the Bucs to do.

As for whether Bill Belichick’s notoriously frosty and mercenary attitude had anything to do with Gronk retiring and then returning a year later to play for a different team, Rapoport didn’t think so. He still believes Gronk’s retirement was about the condition of his body and mind and not about Belichick at all.

@RyanHannable

Ian Rapoport on @TheGregHillShow was asked if Rob Gronkowski retired because of Bill Belichick: “I got the sense talking to him a length that it was more about the body and overall love (for the game) than Bill (Belichick).”

ARIZONA

SAN FRANCISCO

Before there were the Buccaneers, the 49ers were thought to be a team of interest to QB TOM BRADY.  GM John Lynch admits to having pondered changing course from QB JIMMY GAROPPOLO.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

Jimmy Garoppolo 1, Tom Brady 1.

More than two years after the Patriots chose Brady over Garoppolo, the 49ers acknowledge that they chose Garoppolo over Brady.

G.M. John Lynch, appearing on Tuesday’s edition of The Rich Eisen Show, via ESPN.com, admitted that the 49ers had internal discussions about potentially pursuing Brady.

“When you’re talking about one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time with Tom Brady, of course you’re going to have some internal discussion,” Lynch said. “And then you hear rumors that hey, he’d like to come home, that kind of thing.”

Lynch’s comments come dangerously close to confirmation of a report from Chris Simms that Brady made it known that the 49ers were his first choice, and that the 49ers, after considering the situation carefully, decided to stick with Garoppolo.

“We’re always into getting better, so you always look at everything, especially a situation like that,” Lynch said. “But within a day or two, Kyle and I looked at each other and said, ‘You know what? We really like what we have in Jimmy. We love everything that he brings and we really believe it’s a long-term answer.’ I would tell you we’re more convinced than ever about who our quarterback is in Jimmy Garoppolo.”

Lynch also said that the 49ers kept Garoppolo in the loop as to their ponderings regarding Brady. The mere fact that they felt compelled to tell Garoppolo suggests that it was something more than a passing fancy, and that the 49ers gave it real consideration.

Likewise, Lynch admitted that the Brady consideration happened after both Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan made public commitments to Garoppolo at the Scouting Combine, which meshes completely with the broader timeline that applies to Brady making it known to the 49ers that he indeed wanted to come home.

“Kyle and I had just made a statement at the Combine, stating how much we believed in Jimmy,” Lynch said. “Then these rumors come out. . . . If you start chasing every rumor out there and making a statement on it, then you are doing that all the time. Yes, this was a bigger one, but the important thing was we had talked to Jimmy and told him exactly what I told you.”

But they also considered Brady; they didn’t slam the door on it. However long those deliberations lasted, it fits with Simms’ report that: (1) Brady wanted to play for his hometown team; (2) the 49ers considered it; and (3) the 49ers decided not to do it.

Whether that disclosure from Lynch will change the perception of those who have been shouting down the Brady-to-San-Fran chatter is a different issue. Regardless, Lynch has now admitted it.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

The people have spoken – and the best reason to watch the Chargers (should they be allowed to play) is their new uniforms.  Joe Rivera of The Sporting News with the consensus opinion:

How do you improve on greatness? Nike and the Chargers may have an answer.

The Chargers on Tuesday revealed their new kits for the 2020 season. They are, in a word, perfect.

@Chargers

the best got better.

There are myriad color schemes and combinations to go with their palette, which include the traditional powder blues which will be used for home games, a white top that will be used for away games — along with a choice of either white or gold pants — and two different shades of darker blue as alternate or Color Rush uniforms.

Another big change for the uniforms: The lightning bolt extends across the helmet and now features player’s numbers again — a staple of uniforms in prior years. The numbers have been updated as well, so they fill more space on the uniform’s front and back. It creates a more complete look overall.

In all, these might be the nicest of Nike’s NFL uniform redesigns. They have a strong case for the top spot, especially considering some of the fumbled redesigns by other teams along the way. Six teams this offseason have already gotten updates, both minor and major. The Rams are the last remaining team to introduce a new uniform. That’s expected some time in May.

Twitter, of course, is always willing to offer constructive feedback on these things. Here’s what the Tweet Machine had to say:

@SaquonBarkley26

Chargers uniforms got better somehow 😶😶

@MrPorkChoppSays

BOLT TF UP⚡⚡

@bruinrob11

No cap, I wanna be at the first away game where the ⁦@Chargers⁩ wear this uni. It’s so sick! #BoltUp

He is talking about the white over gold pants version.

@Spence_Reid4

I hate the Chargers but man these are cleanhttps://twitter.com/patmcafeeshow/status/1252596307937591299 …

@PatMcAfeeShow

I’m a MASSIVE fan of the Bolt dahn the side of the leg

@millermason16

S/O to the chargers for being the first team this year to release a good uniform \

@troyknudsen10

@Chargers win the uniform battle… \

@PittGuru

The Chargers killed it.  Truly sharp swag.  Love the combos.  ⚡️⚡️https://twitter.com/chargers/status/1252595439716556800 …

The Spotters Union also likes the big, clean font for the numbers, plus the number on the helmets.

NEW ENGLAND

The betting markets seem more bullish on Brady than Belichick.  Ben Fawkes ofESPN.com filed this last Friday:

While the 2020 NFL draft is still on the horizon, the league’s betting market has already begun taking shape — and oddsmakers believe the New England Patriots are really going to miss Tom Brady.

Caesars Sportsbook released NFL win totals and playoff odds for all 32 teams on Thursday, and one of the biggest surprises was the Patriots opening with a win total of 8.5, the team’s lowest since 2003.

“My raw number on the Patriots is less than eight [wins],” Jeff Davis, head oddsmaker at Caesars, told ESPN. “Outside of the secondary, which is one of the best in the league, the rest of their roster I think is one of the worst in the NFL.”

The Patriots under Bill Belichick and Brady had been prolific for bettors, covering the spread in 59.6% of games and going 14-3-1 to the over against their win total since 2002.

Other sportsbooks such as MGM, FanDuel and William Hill have New England’s win total at 9, while it’s as high as 9.5 at DraftKings.

“I’m very much struggling to find this team being a 10-win team,” Davis said. “I’m just not buying this team at all. This team will show just how good Belichick and his staff are, compared to some of the other staffs. This might be the year that reality sets in with New England.”

The Buffalo Bills have a win total of 9 and are the +100 favorite to win the AFC East at Caesars Sportsbook, with New England at +140. If that held until the start of the regular season, it would be the first time the Patriots weren’t favored to win the division since 2003.

Charles Robinson of YahooSports.com opines on Belichick fatigue:

In Rob Gronkowski’s way, he spent the majority of the 2019 season telling us everything we needed to know about why he wasn’t on the football field with the New England Patriots.

He used physical and mental descriptors like tired, beaten up, drained, joyless. And in between, he took jabs at Bill Belichick’s Patriot Way, occasionally expressing relief over his “retirement” from a mission-first, enjoyment-last existence. A kind of culture that achieved greatness, but also exacted a toll. By the time Gronkowski left the Patriots, very little of this was a secret. In fact, we have often celebrated Belichick’s single-minded and ruthless prioritization of winning.

Now that the Patriots’ dynasty has officially been dismantled, we’re figuring out that the unthinkable end is ultimately a Belichick story. One where quarterback Tom Brady, team owner Robert Kraft and a litany of other stars (including Gronkowski) were merely significant characters in a history-making narrative about a head coach. A relentless Hall of Famer who will be remembered as the greatest ever at his craft — but also the architect of his dynasty’s demise.

Belichick has always been the sun, fueling the center of the New England universe. Eventually, the uncompromising intensity of his mission burns out everything orbiting him. The result is a turnstile of high-profile players, with the end always seeming to come awkwardly or coldly or unbelievably. Just like Brady and a litany of talent before him. And just like Gronkowski, whose return to the NFL speaks as loudly as Brady’s New England exodus one month ago.

As it turns out, Gronk didn’t bail on football in 2019. He didn’t even bail on New England. In reality, his one season away from the game was a flight to freedom from Belichick. That’s undeniable now, with Gronkowski sitting out for a season and then demanding a trade to join Brady in Tampa Bay. Like Brady’s departure, it can be spun in a few directions and it surely will be. The fact remains that neither the Patriots’ Hall of Fame quarterback or Hall of Fame tight end wanted to finish their careers under Belichick.

In hindsight, maybe this whole unraveling started last offseason, when Gronkowski cleared his locker and bounced. Once he tunneled his way out of the franchise, maybe it was only a matter of time before Brady looked around in 2019 and started to think about life on the other side of the Patriots wall. One year later, it’s basically the NFL Films answer to “Shawshank Redemption” — with Brady and Gronkowski blissfully reuniting on a beach in Tampa Bay.

Lest we forget, it’s not the first time the pair has locked arms with each other in defiance of Belichick. They infamously drew the Hoodie’s ire in 2018, when both were using Brady’s trainer, Alex Guerrero, to rehab injuries outside of the guidance of New England’s medical staff. And both continuously had each other’s backs in the toughest of times — whether it was Gronkowski’s struggles with injuries or Brady’s Deflategate fiasco or simply the never-ending grind of living inside a Belichick regime.

The bond was strong enough that when Gronkowski sat out in 2019, some of his most impassioned comments often provided a backdrop for Brady’s emotions. At times during last season, Gronkowski was sharing criticisms of the Patriot Way that would be telling about Brady’s mindset, if not downright prescient when it came to the unfathomable divorce that took place this offseason.

That included a moment of clarity after a 9-1 Patriots start, when Brady had a news conference after a win over the Philadelphia Eagles and the quarterback seemed to be bordering on miserable. After seeing that, Gronkowski shared a thought that now seems like it had far more gravity than anyone realized at the time.

“He’s so frustrated, too,” Gronkowski said on a Fox Sports pregame show, after seeing Brady’s demeanor following the Patriots’ Week 11 win. “It’s like, ‘Yo, you guys are 9-1.’ That’s one part I don’t miss about being [in New England]. Hands down. I’m not going to lie. I don’t miss that. They’re frustrated. They’re 9-1. They win a game against Philly last week. We lost to them two years ago in the Super Bowl. They should be happy. Instead, you’re sitting there Sunday night thinking, ‘What did I do wrong?’ No, that’s not the feeling you should be having. But you won the game. Enjoy it. Go out next week, and build off it.”

Those comments made it seem more likely than ever that Gronkowski wasn’t going to be returning to the Patriots in 2019 — if ever. It turned out they explained a lot about the mindset Belichick often instituted to win. Players always described it as unrelenting. Right up to the point when a player was either picking confetti out of his hair or preparing for a parade in Boston.

NEW YORK JETS

As interpreted by Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, GM Joe Douglas has all but revealed his first round pick for the Jets:

Joe Douglas dropped his biggest hint yet that he’s going to attempt fortify the offensive line with the Jets’ first pick of the NFL draft Thursday night. Gang Green obviously needs upgrades in several areas like wide receiver, edge rusher and cornerback, but it’s always made the most sense to beef up last year’s underperforming line from last season with the No. 11 pick.

So, what clues did Douglas provide in a Monday conference call?

Well, he waxed poetic about three unproven offensive linemen without pedigrees on his roster, making it crystal clear to every objective observer that help on the offensive line is on the way.

The Jets will have to resist the temptation of grabbing one of the top wide receivers like Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb or Alabama’s Henry Ruggs or Jerry Jeudy at No. 11.

Douglas is fully aware that he needs a true foundation tackle to help protect Sam Darnold.

Chuma Edoga, last year’s third-round pick, had his fair share of struggles in eight starts on the left and right sides as a rookie. Free-agent acquisition George Fant has 24 career starts in three seasons as an emergency starter/jumbo tight end. Connor McDermott is a depth piece with no career starts at tackle in three years.

Fant and Edoga are penciled in as the starters, but the hope is that a first-round rookie will be a pillar for the next decade.

“Like wide receiver, the tackle class is a good class,” Douglas said. “With us right now, with George coming in, I think he’s going to be an ideal fit athletically for what we’re doing in our scheme. A guy like Chuma, who has a ton of ability. He’s got unbelievable feet. He’s going to have an opportunity to compete for a starting spot.”

“And then,” Douglas continued, “I want to give a shoutout to Conor McDermott, too. He was a tackle that we acquired from waivers last year, who busted his butt, grinded every day. Great work ethic, Great personality. He was able to come in and start the last two games at offensive guard and play at a pretty good level. We were able to win those games. He played good ball.”

There’s nothing wrong with patting your in-house guys on the back, but let’s get real for a moment: The Jets know that they need to make at least one significant improvement at tackle.

 “I think if we can find a guy [who’s] the right fit that can come in and upgrade the tackle spot and help us,” Douglas said, “that’s going to be an interesting addition as well.”

Count on that happening sooner rather than later.

THIS AND THAT

THE DB’S MOCK DRAFT

Let’s do this. No surprise at the top, then things get interesting at #3.  There’s no fun in picking JUSTIN HERBERT or TUA for Miami at #5 and giving the other guy to the Chargers at #6.  When the Jaguars move up, you heard it here first.

1 – CINCINNATI

Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

Will Andy Dalton be traded later?

2 – WASHINGTON

Chase Young, EDGE, The Ohio State

Did they think about moving on from DeWayne Haskins, already?

3 – JACKSONVILLE (Mock Trade with Detroit)

Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

Does history repeat itself?  In 2014, David Caldwell and the Jaguars took Blake Bortles, who looked like a classic QB, with the 3^rd overall pick.  We just find it hard to believe the Jaguars are really going into 2020 with a commitment to Gardner Minshew.  We figured trading #3 for #9 and #20 would be about right (and then were surprised to find out that is 2200 points on the Jimmie Johnson chart on either side).  Whether this is precisely what happens or not, surely the Lions aren’t just going to sit here and draft CB Jeffrey Okudah…

4 – LA CHARGERS (Mock Trade with NY Giants)

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

The Bolts jump ahead of Miami to claim Tua.  The Giants pick up #37 and throw back a mid-rounder to the Chargers.

5 – MIAMI

Isiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

The DB thinks Simmons is a rare defender, a defensive game changer.  The Dolphins aren’t unhappy to land him instead of two QBs they view as flawed for different reasons.

6 – NY GIANTS (Mock Trade with LA Chargers)

Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

Dave Gettleman’s rare trade still yields the Big Ugly he would have drafted anyway.

7 – CAROLINA

Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

Replacing Gerald McCoy

8 – ARIZONA

Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

Pick a tackle to protect Kyler Murray.  We’ll throw our dart at Becton.

9 – DETROIT (Mock Trade with Jacksonville)

Jeffrey Okudah, CB, The Ohio State

The Lions get the same guy they might have drafted at #3, and they have another pick coming up at #20.

10 – ATLANTA (Mock Trade with Cleveland)

CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

Okay, Thomas Dmitroff has moved up in the past and we’ll buy the chatter that he wants one of the two top cornerbacks. Cleveland picks up a 3^rd and Atlanta’s 2^nd 4^th.

11 – NY JETS

Jedrick Wills, T, Alabama

OT or WR?  We think new GM Joe Douglas goes for size with so many receivers available later

12 – LAS VEGAS

CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

A clean skill player with wide-ranging talents seems to fit Mike Mayock’s mold within the demands of Jon Gruden.

13 – SAN FRANCISCO (from Indianapolis)

Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

We have seen speculation that Kyle Shanahan covets Ruggs’ extreme speed.  So be it.

14 – TAMPA BAY

Andrew Thomas, T, Georgia

He’s been linked to this pick for a long time.

15 – DALLAS (Mock Trade with Denver)

Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama

The Cowboys leapfrog the Browns to land the Alabama safety.

16 – PHILADELPHIA (Mock Trade with Cleveland after Mock Trade with Atlanta)

Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

With McKinney gone, the Browns slide down again.  The Eagles are able to move to get the receiver they have atop their board for a 4^th and a 7^th.

17 – DENVER (Mock Trade with Dallas)

Josh Jones, T, Houston

Foiled on Jeudy, the Broncos settle for another JJ.

18 – MIAMI (from Pittsburgh)

K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU

The Dolphins continue to build their defense.  They are not in a panic to get a QB with Ryan Fitzpatrick in the house.

19 – LAS VEGAS (from Chicago)

A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson

Mayock, Clemson, why not?

20 – DETROIT (Mock Trade with Jacksonville)

Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

Okudah and Kinlaw are two top talents incoming

21 – CLEVELAND (Mock Trade with Philadelphia)

Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

One of the most solid players in the draft

22 – MINNESOTA (from Buffalo)

Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

With Stefon Diggs gone, this makes a lot of sense.

23 – NEW ENGLAND

A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa

Just can’t see Jordan Love as a Bill Belichick QB.  Epenesa or Zack Baun, the Wisconsin LB, seem more like Patriots

24 – NEW ORLEANS

Patrick Queen, LB, LSU

Homestate pick makes football sense here.

25 – NY GIANTS (Mock Trade with Minnesota)

Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State

The Giants spin the pick they got from the Chargers with a 4^th to move up and grab the Penn State edge rusher.  The Vikings think they get homegrown DB Antoine Winfield as value at #37.

26 – MIAMI (from Houston)

Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

If we were the Dolphins, the DB might sign Cam Newton to pair with Ryan Fitzpatrick and just keep drafting talent.  Wouldn’t RB D’Andre Swift look good here?  But we’ll let the Dolphins take Love.

27 – TAMPA BAY (Mock Trade with Seattle)

DeAndre Swift, RB, Georgia

The Buccaneers complete a dream offseason by moving up with the Seahawks (who are always ready to move down).  Their 2^nd, 3^rd and the 7^th they got for Rob Gronkowski are a small price to pay for the best back in the draft.

28 – BALTIMORE

Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan

29 – TENNESSEE

Austin Jackson, T, USC

30 – GREEN BAY

Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor

31 – SAN FRANCISCO

Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

They will probably bail out of this, but we haven’t figured out the right trade for this so let’s go with Fulton.

32 – KANSAS CITY

Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU

2020 DRAFT

More signs that this is an especially deep draft and that second round picks are very valuable.  Nick Shook of NFL.com:

This draft is setting up to be a special one in terms of the talent available. Look no further than one anonymous NFL general manager, who told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport something intriguing.

For the first time in this GM’s career, he has more than 32 prospects with first-round grades.

It might not sound all that unusual, considering there are 32 picks in the first round, but it is indeed unique. Typically, a draft has around 20 to 24 first-round grades, with the value naturally existing in the highest picks. This class is different.

Thanks to a foursome of premier tackle prospects and an incredibly deep receiver class, there’s a boom in talent in this year’s crop. The class is so deep, we’ve even heard NFL Media reporters and analysts project slides for some players who might be considered No. 1 picks in previous years.

The fun begins Thursday night. Until then, keep filling out those mocks.

– – –

Shook also collects rumored trade movement:

Crumbs of information are starting to turn into piles.

The Arizona Cardinals have expressed interest in trading down from the eighth-overall pick, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported. Without a second-round pick due to the deal that landed All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the Cardinals may use a trade back to acquire additional draft capital as they continue assembling a collection of young talent. Arizona could leverage the prime position of No. 8 — where an interested suitor could select an offensive lineman, a premier defender or even a quarterback — to stock up on some picks.

That’s not all. Not to be outdone, the Carolina Panthers are also among the teams open to sliding back a few spots if an interested party would like to move up to select its prize prospect.

Is it coincidence that the Panthers, who are picking seventh — one spot ahead of the Cardinals — joined the discussion about trading back shortly after the Cardinals’ willingness to listen to offers for eight became public? Perhaps it is, but it’s following a trend that has taken over much of this space this week.

On Friday, Lions GM Bob Quinn made it clear to reporters he’s listened to and will continue to hear trade offers for the No. 3 pick. On Monday, the Giants intimated a similar willingness about their No. 4 pick, an effort which has also included extensively interviewing a quarterback they’re highly unlikely to take (Oregon’s Justin Herbert). Weeks before this, the Redskins (picking at No. 2 overall) floated the idea they might seriously be interested in Tua Tagovailoa, which influenced a handful of mock drafts at the time, even when Dwayne Haskins is already on their roster. Washington doubled down on such smokescreening and price-inflating efforts Tuesday when Rapoport reported the team has begun receiving calls on the No. 2 pick.

Most of this bartering and sales competition is coming from one unavoidable truth in today’s NFL: The quarterback is the most important position in the sport. Two teams picking in the top six are in need of a quarterback of the future — the Dolphins at No. 5 and the Chargers at No. 6 — which could drive up the price of the picks in front of them. And now that there’s interest in moving from the teens into the top 10 — the Falcons have very much dominated this topic — clubs that follow the QB-needy Dolphins and Chargers (the Browns, picking at No. 10, are also rumored to be interested in trading back) are also looking to leverage their picks for more assets.

– – –

Charles Davis, now of CBS, checks in at NFL.com with his Mock Draft.

1- CINCINNATI

JOE BURROW   QB LSU

This has been a fait accompli since the draft process began in January. The Bengals officially choose their new face of the franchise.

2 – WASHINGTON

CHASE YOUNG   DE OHIO ST.

The best edge rusher and arguably the best player in the 2020 NFL Draft.

3 – DETROIT

JEFF OKUDAH   CB OHIO ST.

The Lions need help along the defensive front, too, so Auburn DT Derrick Brown will also be considered here.

4 – NY GIANTS

TRISTAN WIRFS   T IOWA

HUGE debate for the Giants here … protect Daniel Jones or select the most versatile defender in the draft in Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons? Keeping the QB upright wins.

5 – MIAMI

TUA TAGOVAILOA   QB ALABAMA

There has been a lot of chatter that Oregon QB Justin Herbert will be the “safe” pick for the Dolphins. Instead, they choose the bold route and welcome the “Lefty Drew Brees” to Miami.

6 – LA CHARGERS

JUSTIN HERBERT   QB OREGON

The Chargers take their QB of the future, but an OT will be in consideration.

7 – CAROLINA

DERRICK BROWN   DT AUBURN

Carolina could go in a variety of directions here. I’ve had Brown in this spot in all of my mock drafts.

8 – ARIZONA

ISAIAH SIMMONS   LB CLEMSON

Dynamic and versatile, Simmons will give the Cardinals defense a new identity.

9 – JACKSONVILLE

JAVON KINLAW   DT SOUTH CAROLINA

The Jaguars could go in a number of different directions with so many needs to fill, but they opt for a player who can help them try to regain their identity on defense.

10 – CLEVELAND

MEKHI BECTON   T LOUISVILLE

Massive and agile, the 6-foot-7, 364-pound Becton will start immediately at left tackle opposite free agent acquisition Jack Conklin on the right side.

11 – NY JETS

JEDRICK WILLS   T   ALABAMA

Plenty of reasons why the Jets could select a WR here to help out QB Sam Darnold, but they opt to support their young QB by adding to his protection detail.

12 – LAS VEGAS

JERRY JEUDY   WR ALABAMA

GM Mike Mayock and coach Jon Gruden fill a screaming need on the Raiders’ roster with a precise route runner who’s ready to come in and make an immediate impact.

13 – SAN FRANCISCO

CEEDEE LAMB   WR OKLAHOMA

The receiver run is underway, as the Niners add my top-rated player at the position.

14 – TAMPA BAY

ANDREW THOMAS   T GEORGIA

Perhaps the most ready-to-play OT in the draft, Thomas should provide immediate protection for G.O.A.T. QB Tom Brady.

15 – DENVER

HENRY RUGGS III   WR ALABAMA

Second-year QB Drew Lock gets the fastest pass catcher in the draft to continue opening up the Broncos’ offense.

16 – ATLANTA

CJ HENDERSON   CB FLORIDA

The Falcons struggled for much of the 2019 season on the defensive perimeter. So, when the best man-coverage player is available for them at No. 16, they don’t hesitate to grab him.

17 – DALLAS

K’LAVON CHAISSON   EDGE LSU

Star pass rusher Tank Lawrence approves of this selection.

18 – MIAMI (from Pittsburgh)

XAVIER MCKINNEY   S ALABAMA

McKinney can play at all levels on the back end of the defense, boasting terrific instincts and range.

19 – LAS VEGAS (from Chicago)

PATRICK QUEEN   LB LSU

The Raiders further bolster their linebacker corps with a guy who has great speed, closes, tackles well and has a terrific football IQ.

20 – JACKSONVILLE (from LA Rams)

A.J. TERRELL   CB CLEMSON

The Jags start to fill the massive hole left in the wake of the Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye trades by selecting the Clemson corner.

21 – PHILADELPHIA

KENNETH MURRAY   LB OKLAHOMA

I came into this process thinking the Eagles were a lock for a WR here, but the mature, speedy tackler from OU slots into the middle of their defense.

22  – MINNESOTA (from Buffalo)

JUSTIN JEFFERSON   WR LSU

Exactly what the doctor and QB Kirk Cousins ordered: a dynamic receiver who can make big plays in the slot and outside the numbers.

23 – NEW ENGLAND

A.J. EPENESA  DE IOWA

Brings power to the pass rush and could potentially do his most damage as a rusher inside in sub or nickel packages.

24 – NEW ORLEANS

JORDAN LOVE   QB UTAH ST.

If coach Sean Payton is truly committed to QB Taysom Hill as his future QB1, perhaps this pick is a defender.

25 – MINNESOTA

JAYLON JOHNSON   CB UTAH

One of my favorite CBs in the 2020 class, Johnson has plenty of strength and confidence to match up on the perimeter at the next level.

26 – MIAMI (from Houston)

JOSHUA JONES   T HOUSTON

The Dolphins will likely consider an RB here, but protecting their new franchise QB, and getting better push up front, makes Jones the choice at No. 26.

27 – SEATTLE

YETUR GROSS-MATOS   EDGE PENN ST.

Willowy and rangy with some juice. Some believe Gross-Matos won’t make it out of the teens on Day 1.

28 – BALTIMORE

ZACK BAUN   LB WISCONSIN

Adaptable, versatile and brings excellent pressure off the edge. Baun fits what the Ravens covet in a defender.

29 – TENNESSEE

AUSTIN JACKSON  T USC

I’m going with an OT with upside to fill free-agent departure Jack Conklin’s spot at right tackle. I do keep hearing that the Titans like Auburn DE Marlon Davidson’s physical play, though.

30 – GREEN BAY

BRANDON AIYUK  WR ARIZONA STATE

Explosive and tough, Aiyuk would be a great addition to Aaron Rodgers’ arsenal. But what if the Packers decide to plan for the future and go QB here? Could Green Bay make a bold move for Jalen Hurts?

31 – SAN FRANCISCO

TREVON DIGGS  CB ALABAMA

Big, physical former WR who will make plays on the ball and tackle. Diggs will immediately compete to start opposite Richard Sherman.

32 – KANSAS CITY

D’ANDRE SWIFT   RB GEORGIA

The Chiefs could go big and target the offensive line with the last pick in Round 1, but the allure of Swift in this offense might be too much for GM Brett Veach and coach Andy Reid to pass up. Defensive tackle Ross Blacklock from TCU makes sense here, too.

– – –

Tom Fornelli of CBSSports.com offers 9 sleepers.  Did you know Booger McFarland had a son in the draft?  His commentary is much abridged:

1. QB Jake Fromm, Georgia

I shared a lot of my thoughts on this year’s quarterback class earlier this week when I released my computer rankings (“computer” being a replacement for “statistically-based mathematical formula of my own creation” here). I was a little surprised to see that Fromm finished second in this year’s class, but not shocked. Fromm was a highly-regarded recruit out of high school who took the reigns from the higher-rated Jacob Eason at Georgia after Eason went down with an injury. Fromm never let them go, and Eason headed to Washington and is now in this same draft class.

Fromm is a QB with plenty of deficiencies. He’s not the guy who is going to wow you in workouts with amazing arm strength. He’s not 6-foot-4. What he is, however, is a smart, efficient QB. Also, by all accounts he’s a hard-worker, and he’s a commanding presence in the huddle and a QB room. In other words, he has those intangibles you always hear about. To me, Fromm is a player who can develop into a reliable NFL starter, or prove to be a high-quality backup. Those are both valuable things to have.

He might never be a star, but I’m confident that Fromm has what it takes to spend a decade in the NFL in some capacity.

2. RB Anthony McFarland Jr., Maryland (who is apparently NOT the son of Booger)

McFarland has been one of my favorite players to watch at the college level for the last couple of years. He doesn’t have eye-popping production (1,648 rushing yards, 24 receptions, 199 receiving yards, 13 total TDs), but that’s more of a result of the way he was used in Maryland’s offense than his ability. Also, he’s perhaps generously listed at 5-foot-9. Still, while he’s not large, he’s strong, and there’s a chance he could prove to be a three-down back at the NFL level.

3. WR Gabriel Davis, UCF

It’s challenging to figure out where players in this year’s receiver class are going to go because it’s such a deep class. In most years, Gabriel Davis is a guy who might project to be a second-round pick. This year, if teams decide there’s so much talent available at the position that they can wait on it, he might slip as far back as the fifth.

4. TE Devin Asiasi, UCLA

If I’m drafting Devin Asiasi, I’m not doing it intending to have him lining up and blocking guys like Khalil Mack. If Asiasi had shown the ability to do that at the college level, he’s likely a second-round pick at a minimum. Of course, he could develop those skills — he’s 6-foot-3, 260 pounds — but if I’m drafting him, it’s for his ability as a receiver.

5. OL Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn

I’m not as high on this offensive tackle class as a lot of others. Like nearly everybody else, I believe there are four guys clearly in the top tier who will likely be first-rounders. I just don’t know if any of those four are high-probability studs at the next level.

After those four, things get even murkier, but Prince Tega Wanogho is somebody I like from a projection standpoint.

6. DL Khalil Davis, Nebraska

Davis did not become a starter until his senior season, starting 11 games for Nebraska in 2019, though he did appear in 37 games in his first three seasons. He showed up in a big way last year, however, finishing with eight sacks, 30 pressures, and 22 hurries, according to Sports Info Solutions. Those are substantial numbers for an interior lineman, but they are a bit misleading. Nebraska played four games against teams that finished the season ranked, and Davis had only one of his eight sacks in those four games.

The truth is that while his pass rush numbers are strong, his pass-rush ability isn’t quite there yet. But it can be…Considering how hard he works on the field, and his athleticism, I think there’s a chance he can do so. When you factor in where he’s likely to be selected, he’s an excellent value pick.

7. EDGE Bradlee Anae, Utah

Year after year I fall in love with players on the Utah defense, and Anae is a player who first caught my eye as a sophomore in 2017. He’s been a starter for the Utes the last three seasons, and in 41 games he’s compiled 28 sacks, 102 hurries and 150 pressures. He has done all of this despite not being what I would consider a tremendous athlete. His frame isn’t ideal, either, as his weight and arm length ranked in the 12th and 11th percentile, respectively, for defensive linemen in the Mockdraftable database.

What he does have, however, is a quick first step and a variety of pass-rush moves that allow him to beat bigger, faster players.

8. LB Cale Garrett, Missouri

Garrett missed the final seven games of Missouri’s 2019 season after suffering a torn pectoral in the team’s win over Troy in early October. In the two seasons before that, he amassed 209 tackles for the Missouri defense, and while he’s not the player you’re going to marvel at when he comes off the bus, it’s hard to miss him when he’s on the field. Just look for the ball, and he’s going to be there.

He’s not a great athlete, but he makes plays thanks to an ability to read an offense and figure out what it’s trying to do.

9. CB Amik Robertson, Louisiana Tech

I don’t get to see much Louisiana Tech football, so I can’t say I knew of Robertson from seeing him play all the time. The truth is I “discovered” him while digging through Sports Info Solutions’ database while looking up other corners in this draft. Time after time, Robertson’s name kept popping up in the same tiers as the top players at corner in this draft, so I decided to look closer at him.

I have liked what I’ve seen… Truth be told, of all the players I’m writing about in this article, Robertson is my favorite.

10. S Jaylinn Hawkins, Cal

Like Robertson, I didn’t notice Hawkins while looking for him. Instead, I was watching Cal’s other safety, Ashtyn Davis. Davis is projected to go much earlier in this draft, but Hawkins can be useful for a team needing a safety to take more of the traditional box role.