The Daily Briefing Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Warren Sharp says you are correct if you think there have been more 4^th quarter comebacks than usual:

@SharpFootball

wins when losing entering the 4th quarter*

2022:  45

2021:  26

2020:  30

2019:  29

2018:  33

2017:  27

2016:  31

*thru wk 14

45 wins this year despite trailing thru 3 quarters is the most since 2011 and 2nd most since 1990

coaches keep taking their foot off the gas too early

– – –

We are checking the various Power Rankings to see if any of them agree with the DB’s contention that the Lions are a Top 10sh team.  Dan Hanzus of NFL.com is the first to agree, jumping Detroit seven spots after their win over the Vikings:

10  Detroit Lions   6-7

Previous rank: No. 17

These Lions are for real. Dan Campbell’s team continued to roll the opposition on Sunday, this time piling up 464 yards on the NFC North-leading Vikings in a 34-23 win at raucous Ford Field. The offense is led by Jared Goff, who is playing quarterback at a very high level right now. The veteran threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns, and he has not tossed an interception in five weeks. Goff and Co. will face a stiff test with a Week 15 trip to the Meadowlands to face the Jets. If this offense proves it can travel against a tough defense in the elements, we’ll be talking about a playoff team in Detroit come January.

NFC NORTH

CHICAGO

So QB BAKER MAYFIELD can run the Rams offense just over 48 hours after being claimed by the Rams.  But WR CHASE CLAYPOOL remains lost in Chicago’s playbook after nearly 48 days.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

The Chicago Bears’ trade-deadline acquisition of Chase Claypool spawned hope the wideout would bolster a talent-poor receiver room.

Thus far, the tree has borne little fruit.

In five games with the Bears, Claypool has 12 catches on 22 targets for 111 yards and no touchdowns. Given that he was thrown in the fire with a new club, it’s disappointing but not stunning that Claypool has taken time to get more involved in the offense. Coming out of the bye week, the hope is that the 24-year-old’s grasp of the scheme will be complete a month later.

Coach Matt Eberflus said Tuesday that it’s still a work in progress.

“I wouldn’t say he’s there yet,” Eberflus told reporters. “I would say he’s getting there. He’s getting there and working there just like everybody else. But again, it’s all new to him and there’s a lot of volume of offense that he has to learn and he’s getting there.

“He needs alignment, assignment and get all the things down, the route depths and the routes, the discipline of running the routes. He’s in a good spot. He’s in a good spot. We’re looking forward for him to get better every single week.”

The Bears paid a hefty price to bring in Claypool at the deadline. Sending a high second-rounder to Pittsburgh for a player with just a year remaining on his rookie contract is a lot. For it to be worth it, the Bears need to see the chemistry between Claypool and quarterback Justin Fields down the stretch.

Chicago is already eliminated from the postseason. The Bears are playing for development. Claypool represents an effort to buffer Fields with playmakers after doing little last offseason. The spring will bring other chances to build that foundation.

The final four weeks of this season are for showing promise to springboard into 2023. Thus far, the Bears have seen little return on their investment in Claypool. With Darnell Mooney out with injury, the wideout should get plenty of chances to turn the corner.

GREEN BAY

“Romeo, wherefore art though Romeo? Is what Packers fans have been asking.  Now, it looks like he shall return.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs is slated to return to the field Monday night against the Rams, giving Green Bay its rookie receiver pairing of Doubs and Christian Watson on the field together.

“I’m fully expecting to play Monday,” Doubs said.

Doubs and Watson were drafted this year in the hopes that they could make a big impact together for years to come. They’ve both played well at times, but it hasn’t been together much: Watson struggled early and missed time with injuries, but came on strong and was the NFL’s offensive rookie of the month for November, while Doubs had a good start but has missed the last month with an ankle injury.

“I’m looking forward to it. Christian’s been balling. I can’t wait to be out there with him because we’ve been looking forward to that opportunity. Can’t wait to see it happen,” Doubs said. “We can do a lot for the offense. It will be really exciting to get back on the field.”

It’s been a disappointing season in Green Bay, but Doubs and Watson playing well together in the final weeks of the season would be one reason for optimism heading into 2023.

MINNESOTA

Robert Griffin III has some numbers:

@RGIII

The Vikings are 10-3 and have been outscored by 1 point this year.

There have been 250 teams in NFL history with 10 or more wins in their first 13 games and the Vikings are the ONLY TEAM in the group with a negative point differential. That is why people doubt them. Fair or not.

NFC EAST

PHILADELPHIA

Thoughts on the Eagles from ESPN experts Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler:

The Philadelphia Eagles (12-1) have clinched a playoff berth and will likely have a permanent place on the Super Bowl LVII contender shortlist. What’s your biggest remaining question about them?

Graziano: Really, the same one I have about the other top contenders in the NFC, which is only whether they have the killer instinct they need to win in the postseason. We don’t know that about the Cowboys, or really about this version of the 49ers. And we won’t for another month and a half. But the Eagles are set up, assuming they hold on and get this first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. With Jordan Davis back, the run defense is better, and that was a potential Achilles’ heel. They don’t have obvious weaknesses. The only question I have is whether they can win in the postseason, and there’s only one way for them to answer that.

Fowler: Dan, as far as roster construction and the number of ways they can beat you, the Eagles don’t have much to nitpick. They are balanced, their line play is great, they can beat you with the run or the pass, and they can shut down receivers with their secondary. My biggest question still lies with Jalen Hurts, who, yes, deserves a ton of credit for his third-year growth, strengthening his MVP campaign by the week. But in the playoffs, when the game tightens and good defenses restrict Philly’s RPO-heavy offense, can Hurts read the whole field from the pocket and deliver? I’m not saying he can’t, but that’s a question I still need answered, and many evaluators around the league are wondering the same thing. The Bucs made him do it in the playoffs last year, and he struggled mightily. He seems like a different quarterback now.

– – –

Eagles QB GARDNER MINSHEW has yet to speak publicly on the death of Mike Leach, his coach at Washington State, but this from his father.  Corey Howard of KHQ:

“The one thing that’s so refreshing about him is he’s the same person all the time,” Flint Minshew, father of former WSU Quarterback Gardner Minshew, said of Coach Mike Leach on Tuesday. “He treated everybody the same…Everyone knows how smart he was and how quirky he was but let me tell you, genuinely he was a very good person who cared for other people. And that’s one thing, as a father I’ll always appreciate, how he treated and still to this day, treated my son. We’ll never be able to repay that and we’ll always honor that.”

Flint Minshew had a special relationship with Coach Leach, who recruited his son to play quarterback for the Cougars. And the recruitment pitch was pretty simple Flint recalled.

“He (Leach) called him and said, ‘You can hold a clipboard at Alabama or you can come up here and lead the country in passing.”

For Gardner, a recruitment pitch wasn’t really even necessary.

“It was always a dream to play for him (Coach Leach) even when he was with Texas Tech,” Flint said. “We’ll always owe him a debt of gratitude because Gardner wasn’t highly recruited, had no Division I offers out of high school, played junior college, went to East Carolina and when Coach Leach called and offered he immediately committed on the spot before we ever took a trip up to Pullman.”

Coach Leaches recruitment of Gardner to WSU was simple.

“He (Leach) called him and said, ‘You can hold a clipboard at Alabama or you can come up here and lead the country in passing,” Flint said. “And Gardner had to go earn it. He didn’t just handed to him and boy, let me tell you, that was a match. I think they both appreciated each other more than any of us will ever know.”

It was a match made in Heaven. Two unique, genuine personalities coming together to make something special happen in Pullman, if only for a brief moment in time.

“He allowed Gardner to be who he was, too. He didn’t try to make people who they weren’t,” Flint said. “That’s very empowering. A lot of coaches ego’s would not let Gardner be the kind of character he is. And that’s who he (Coach Leach) is, too. Mike never tried to stymie that, he encouraged it.”

Their friendship speaks for itself as to what they accomplished together on the field, but off the field, like true pirates, they were thick as thieves.

“I can’t imagine some of the conversations they would have with each other,” Flint said. “When Gardner got to Washington State there was some app that some of the players had and they would pull this trick on Gardner and Coach Leach… and it would make it seem like the other person was calling you and so both of their phones would ring at the same time and they would both answer and neither one called the other one but they would end up talking for an hour or two.”

Flint has talked with his son since the news of Coach Leach passing broke and said Gardner is obviously very upset.

“It’s very rare, even just with normal people that you have someone that genuine,” Flint said. “I was talking to Gardner and I said they only to honor him is to every time someone ask you about him you tell about who he was and what he did for you and how you act and carry yourself and you just try to reflect those things that he instilled in you and allowed you to be.”

NFC SOUTH

ATLANTA

This isn’t a good look for QB MARCUS MARIOTA.  Josh Kendall of The Athletic:

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith knew he was taking a risk last week when he chose to make rookie Desmond Ridder his starting quarterback. What he didn’t know at the time is that he wouldn’t have a safety net for that decision.

That’s how things turned out, though, when veteran Marcus Mariota left the team at least temporarily to have what Smith described as a “chronic” knee issue evaluated. The Falcons don’t know when or if Mariota, who started the first 13 games of the season, will return to the team, and they anticipate placing the quarterback on injured reserve, Smith said.

The knee “is nothing that has been an issue this season, but that’s (Mariota’s) prerogative so … ” Smith said. “Of course, you want all your guys to be here, but guys have to make decisions. It’s part of professional sports. You have to have contingency plans.”

Atlanta signed Logan Woodside, a seventh-round draft pick in 2018, off Tennessee’s practice squad to serve as the backup quarterback. Woodside has completed 1 of 3 passes for 7 yards in his NFL career, which makes him the most experienced quarterback on the roster.

Ridder has yet to play in a regular-season game, and the only other player on the Falcons’ roster who could reasonably play the position is Feleipe Franks, who was 0-for-1 passing with one interception last year before being moved to tight end in the offseason.

Smith informed Mariota of the decision to make a change at quarterback on Thursday morning. The Falcons learned Friday that Mariota planned to step away from the team. This is the second time Mariota has been benched while playing for Smith. The first came in 2019 when Mariota was Tennessee’s starting quarterback and Smith was the Titans’ offensive coordinator.

“Those (conversations) are never easy,” Smith said. “You try to be truthful, whether they agree or not, those are the conversations you have to have.”

The Falcons signed Mariota to a two-year, $18.75 million deal in the offseason. If he is cut after the season, they would save $12 million worth of salary-cap hit and have to count only $2.5 million worth of dead money to the cap.

The decision to elevate Ridder was “performance-based,” Smith said. Mariota was 184-for-300 passing for 2,219 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season. His 88.2 passer rating is 21st in the league and his EPA per game (.66) ranks 20th among quarterbacks.

The Falcons (5-8) have lost four of their last five games.

“We’ve talked about trying to get over the hump in some of these close games and where we’re trying to push the offense,” Smith said. “We feel like it’s the best decision where (Ridder) is at and where the team’s at. I wouldn’t have made this decision if I didn’t think it was in the best interest of this team, not only short term but probably long term as well.”

Ridder, who was 34-for-56 passing for 431 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in the preseason, has made enough progress in the last month that the Falcons believe the offense “can operate at full capacity” with him in the game, Smith said.

“We would have had to adapt if he had had to play early in the season,” Smith said. “I feel really good about where he’s at right now. If I thought we had to restrict him, that wouldn’t be the best move and that wouldn’t be fair to this team.”

Falcons running back Caleb Huntley said he was surprised when he learned of the news via social media on Thursday. Huntley’s and Ridder’s lockers are side by side in the team’s practice facility, and Huntley said he thinks Ridder is ready for the challenge.

“He’s a cool guy, funny, I feel like he can command the huddle,” Huntley said. “I knew his time was going to come sooner or later. I think he’s ready for it.”

Ridder looked sharp during Atlanta’s walk-through on Monday, Huntley said.

“He’s always looked pretty good at practice,” Huntley said. “He makes the throws that he needs to, and he’s always confident, so I know he’ll be ready.”

Monday was the team’s first official workout since a Dec. 4 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Falcons had a bye last week. Smith made the decision to change quarterbacks last week, but the team didn’t announce the decision until Monday.

Running back Tyler Allgeier, who goes to dinner with Ridder and fellow rookies Drake London and John FitzPatrick the night before every game, spent part of his off week catching passes from his friend to help build on-field chemistry, he said.

The team’s more veteran players will take plenty of time with Ridder this week as the Falcons get ready to face the Saints (4-9) on Sunday in New Orleans, wide receiver Damiere Byrd said.

“Just go out and work with him, get our timing down, get his trust in us, get our trust in him, just kind of get in that routine with him,” Byrd said. “I’m here for whatever our coaches feel is necessary to help us win these next few games so we can get in the playoffs.”

Atlanta is one game behind division leader Tampa Bay. The Falcons’ top priority is to maximize this season’s potential, Smith said, but the coach at least acknowledged the fact that evaluating Ridder now could have future benefits for the team.

“There is risk anytime you make a move, but you have to be willing to take that if you want to break through,” Smith said. “We have been in a lot of close games, made a lot of progress, but our objective is to get over that hump. If it benefits us in the long term, that’s a really good thing for us.”

With Mariota absent, QB LOGAN WOODSIDE moves into the backup role.

TAMPA BAY

Is it tacky for a young defensive back to ask QB TOM BRADY to sign a ball that was thrown by Brady to the DB for an INT?  Jenna Laine of ESPN.com:

As if throwing two interceptions in his return home to the San Francisco Bay Area and losing 35-7 weren’t enough, Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady was asked by 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw to autograph the ball he intercepted.

“It was s— for me, to be honest. It was complete s— (laughter),” Brady said on his “Let’s Go!” podcast with Jim Gray. “But I try to be a gentleman. No, actually, I mean, look, it was a great play he made.”

“I’m happy he’s got the ball,” Brady said. “I wish I didn’t throw it, but I’m trying to be a good sport. Because a lot of times I’m not a good sport. I can be a pretty bad sport. In the moment when they get me in the right frame of mind, I’m actually a good sport.”

The play happened with 9:50 to go in the third quarter on a pass intended for Mike Evans that Greenlaw leaped up and tipped to himself.

It was just the third career interception for Greenlaw, a fifth-round draft pick by the 49ers in 2019, who led the Niners with 15 tackles Sunday.

Greenlaw was shown on the Fox broadcast after the game talking to Brady as he was signing the ball, and the pair shook hands.

“I went like a little fangirl,” Greenlaw told reporters after the game. “I tried to soothe him up, make him feel better. ‘Man, yeah, you’re the greatest ever,’ all that good stuff. But he is, he is.”

Brady, known for being a fierce competitor and admittedly a “bad sport” — he didn’t shake quarterback Nick Foles’ hand after the New England Patriots lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII and after the Chicago Bears defeated the Bucs in 2020 — revealed a softer side of himself.

Greenlaw added, “The worst thing he could tell me is no. I was always told if you don’t ask, you’ll never know.”

He told Brady, “I just want you to know, you’re the greatest ever. … I’ve been watching you since I was 2 years old, man.”

“He’s a good guy,” Greenlaw said. “That’s big-time. I appreciate him. He’s the greatest. He’s the GOAT, so I appreciate that.”

Linebacker Fred Warner received an autographed football from Brady as well.

Warner told Brady, “It’s an honor for us, man, just to play against you. Seriously.”

“I had to run up there with him just to make sure that Tom was going to sign them,” Warner said. “It was a cool moment. Tom — he’s a standup guy, seriously. He told us how much he respected our game at the end there, and that’s cool by him.”

It wasn’t the first time Brady has autographed game equipment for defensive players, nor was it the first time Brady autographed an intercepted ball.

Last year, he autographed a ball for Jets cornerback Brandin Echols, then a rookie and, like Brady, a sixth-round draft pick.

Brady also sent a signed jersey to Commanders defensive end Chase Young after the Bucs defeated Washington in the wild-card round of the 2020 playoffs, days after Young proclaimed to the media, “Tom Brady … I’m coming. I want Tom!”

NFC WEST

SAN FRANCISCO

From Scott Kacsmar:

@ScottKacsmar

It’s Week 15 and the 49ers have still not allowed a 60-yard runner this season.

Of course, he is right:

Caleb Huntley ATL                59

Javonte Williams DEN           58

Rachaad White TB                56

Christian McCaffrey CAR      54

It has been over a year since they allowed a 100-yard rusher – that was Bears QB JUSTIN FIELDS with 103 on 10/31/21.

AFC NORTH

BALTIMORE

Ravens CB MARLON HUMPHREY is looking forward to welcoming QB DESHAUN WATSON to the Ravens-Browns rivalry.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

Quarterback Deshaun Watson will meet the Ravens on Saturday for the first time since joining the Browns and the two sides should see plenty of each other over the rest of his time in Cleveland.

The Browns have gone 1-1 with Watson, although he posted better numbers in last Sunday’s loss to the Bengals than he did against the Texans in Week 13. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey said that he thinks “it’s not really the best time to play him” because Watson hasn’t generated much film since returning from his 11-game suspension to open the season, but added that the Ravens defense is not planning to take it any easier because of that.

“We want to give him a not-so-soft welcoming,” Humphrey said, via the team’s website. “So, it’s cool to welcome him to the rivalry. Hopefully, it won’t be a good rivalry-welcoming for him.”

Watson lost both games he played against the Ravens as a member of the Texans. Extending that losing streak would be a big step toward a playoff spot in Baltimore.

AFC SOUTH

JACKSONVILLE

Dan Hanzus of NFL.com has the Jaguars up to #17 in his NFL Power Rankings:

17  Jacksonville Jaguars  5-8

Previous rank: No. 24

Trevor Lawrence didn’t play like a quarterback with a bum toe on Sunday. The second-year passer continued to build on his hugely encouraging sophomore season, throwing for 368 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-22 win over the reeling Titans in Nashville. Lawrence’s top target was Evan Engram. Long an enigma during his time with the Giants, the tight end looked like a fully realized force in a monster 11/162/2 effort. The win moves Jacksonville within two games of Tennessee in the AFC South with four to play — still long-shot odds, but a situation worth monitoring. Lawrence and Co. are peaking at the right time.

AFC EAST

NEW ENGLAND

Needless to say the NFLPA is going to demand a review of how all the spotters missed the injury to WR DAVANTE PARKER.  ESPN.com:

The NFL Players Association has initiated an inquiry into why Monday night’s game wasn’t stopped when New England Patriots wide receiver DeVante Parker showed concussion symptoms, a source told ESPN’s Dan Graziano on Tuesday.

Parker was wobbly getting up after a hit in the first half, and teammate Nelson Agholor had to signal to the officials to stop the game and remove Parker before the next play.

On Tuesday, Parker called out the NFL via his Instagram story, writing: “Get on yalls f—in jobs @NFL,” and thanked Agholor for being “aware of the situation.”

Earlier this season, the NFLPA initiated a review after Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was allowed to return to a Sept. 25 game despite hitting his head on the ground and stumbling while attempting to return to the huddle. Tagovailoa told both the Dolphins’ team physician and the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant that an ankle and back injuries caused him to stumble. He was cleared to play in a game four days later and again hit his head on the ground, suffering a concussion and was briefly hospitalized.

Following that review, the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant for the Sept. 25 game was fired and the NFL and the players’ union implemented an amendment to the concussion protocol. Both parties agreed to amend the protocol by adding ataxia to the list of “no-go” symptoms.

“‘Ataxia’ is defined as abnormality of balance/stability, motor coordination or dysfunctional speech caused by a neurological issue,” their joint statement read. “In other words, if a player is diagnosed with ‘ataxia’ by any club or neutral physician involved in the application of the Concussion Protocol, he will be prohibited from returning to the game, and will receive the follow-up care required by the Protocol.”

Parker sustained his head injury on a 10-yard catch at the 4:19 mark of the first quarter following a hit and tackle by Arizona Cardinals defensive back Antonio Hamilton over the middle.

Parker entered Monday with 23 receptions for 436 yards and one touchdown on the season. He had played 65% of the team’s offensive snaps.

THIS AND THAT

WHAT’S UP WITH ODELL

We found this at YahooSports.com, without a byline, on why WR ODELL BECKHAM, Jr. continues his tour unsigned:

In early October, when Odell Beckham Jr. was no longer in the mood to be cryptic about his disappointment with the Los Angeles Rams and their “lowest of lows” contract offer for 2022, a source from the team posed a question that resonates louder than ever this month. At the time, Beckham was still months from being viable on the football field due to a torn ACL last season, but the Rams were doing their best to stay in his good graces.

Then Beckham tweeted Oct. 12 that the Rams didn’t offer him “ANYthing” and that while the free-agent wideout knew his “worth,” the deal offered by the Rams “isn’t reflective of that.”

Tools that turn into titles

“What is his worth, and who is offering it to him?” a Rams source asked a few days after the Beckham tweet. “That’s everyone’s market, right?”

The source added that they weren’t trying to be dismissive and reiterated that the Rams wanted a reunion with Beckham after he helped win the Super Bowl in February. But they also expressed a caveat that three members of the Rams’ braintrust offered when I visited training camp in August: Beckham wouldn’t be ready to play until late in the season. By then, circumstances could’ve changed for both sides.

In regard to the Rams, that was exactly right. Seemingly everything has gone wrong this season, knocking the team out of postseason contention and making a Beckham pursuit a moot point.

But for Beckham?

The circumstances surrounding his contract expectations are still pretty familiar. He believes he knows his worth. And as of Dec. 13 — two months since his complaints about the Rams — Beckham doesn’t have an NFL team willing to give it to him. Not the Dallas Cowboys. Not the New York Giants. Not the Buffalo Bills. And not any of the other Super Bowl contenders that could’ve lined up visits with him this week but curiously haven’t tried.

All of which makes a multitude of teams wrong about Beckham’s worth, unless maybe he’s sailing with a free-agency map that’s upside down.

To underline that reality, let’s consider a line from from one of the founding fathers of day-trading, Jesse Livermore. As the 1900s stock market savant once framed it, “Markets are never wrong. Opinions often are.”

In this case, Beckham’s opinion of his worth is demonstrably wrong. If it weren’t, he’d be on an NFL roster right now. Instead, veteran players such as T.Y. Hilton and Cole Beasley have signed with the Cowboys and Bills, respectively. Meanwhile, nobody in the NFL seems entirely sure what Beckham looks like running around on a field after his second ACL surgery because he declined to work out on any of his free-agency visits earlier this month.

While they might not be in a hurry to say so publicly, that was a problem for the teams that were most eager to sign him. Meanwhile, Hilton worked out for Dallas on Monday morning and had a contract by the afternoon. And Beasley agreed to sign a practice squad deal that could very well make him a week-to-week roster decision for the team.

All of this comes just days after Beckham said publicly that he didn’t see the point of playing in the regular season. Which, if we’re being real here, is in the same zip code as a team not seeing the point of signing a player who doesn’t want to play in the regular season.

Different opinions. Different decisions. Beckham remains unsigned. Hilton and Beasley do not. That’s the market speaking.

Of course, it’s not like this is all because of a workout issue. Beckham does not want a short-term deal like the one he signed with the Rams last offseason. He made a bet on himself in 2021 that he wouldn’t get injured, and he lost. It’s understandable that he doesn’t want to make that bet again.

Instead, he went into last offseason wanting security. A one-year deal wasn’t going to entice him, especially not when it would give him only a sink-or-swim window of a few games — which might be just enough for him to get injured again but not quite enough to ramp up his free-agent market.

It was clear from talking to the Rams in the preseason that Beckham was looking for a long-term deal. He wanted something substantial from the team, given that he’d helped them win a Super Bowl. He expected some loyalty in return. When that didn’t happen, he was upset. But his contract attitude hadn’t changed. If he was going to sign somewhere, it was going to be for some long-term security, and it was going to be for the kind of money that made him — at worst — a mid-level No. 1 wideout in terms of salary.

What teams have in mind for Beckham is something different. In fact, the Cowboys just showcased roughly what Beckham would’ve been looking at in terms of contract structure with the team. Hilton got $600,000 for the remaining four games this season and will get $50,000 bonuses for each of those games that he’s on the team’s active roster. Aside from that, he can land as much as $700,000 in postseason incentives.

A team source told Yahoo Sports that the Cowboys were prepared to offer Beckham more money than that if a deal had been discussed. However, it would’ve been heavily incentivized and short-term in nature. Unfortunately for Dallas, that’s the kind of structure Beckham isn’t interested in. It might be the market, but it’s still not the market inside Beckham’s head.

At some point, one side has to give here. And time is getting extremely short. Either Beckham is going to step closer to a team’s short-term outlook, or a franchise is going to lean into the wideout’s long-term hopes.

As of Tuesday night, significant compromise appears dead. And until something changes, that’s the best way to describe the status of Beckham’s 2022 season.

2023 DRAFT

Todd McShay of ESPN.com with his first Mock Draft of the cycle – and he is quick to have the Lions abandon QB JARED GOFF and the Falcons cash in on QB DESMOND RIDDER before he’s thrown a pass.

1. Houston Texans (1-11-1)

Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

According to ESPN’s FPI, the Texans have an 82.6% chance to land the top pick. And considering their 25.7 Total QBR is better than only the Panthers’ this season, there shouldn’t be any surprise about their intentions here. Houston simply has to upgrade on Davis Mills/Jeff Driskel, and Young — my QB1 in the class — can be the franchise building block it desperately needs.

Scouts will knock Young’s frame (he’s listed at 6-foot), but there is no debating his high-level processing ability, excellent ball placement to all three levels of the field and mobility when forced to go off schedule. He has regularly lifted a lackluster offensive supporting cast in Alabama this season, and he can do it again with the Texans. Plus, he’d be matched up again with John Metchie III, the former Bama receiver who missed his rookie season while being treated for leukemia but caught 96 balls from Young in 2021.

2. Seattle Seahawks (via 3-10 DEN)

Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

This pick is higher than Seattle thought it would be when it sent Russell Wilson to Denver in March — and it will have options here. First, if the Seahawks aren’t sold on Geno Smith long term, they can happily select Ohio State passer C.J. Stroud and let Smith walk in free agency. Second, they can trade back with a team that wants Stroud and pick up even more picks for their ongoing rebuild. Or third, they can add a difference-making defender.

It’s still early to project trades or truly evaluate Smith’s future, so I’m opting for the third option — and going with Carter over Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. Seattle has a bigger need on the interior than edge, and I think Carter could be dominant there with a lightning-fast first step and plenty of disruptive power. He reminds me of Quinnen Williams.

3. Chicago Bears (3-10)

Will Anderson Jr., OLB, Alabama

Bears GM Ryan Poles would be thrilled with this scenario. Chicago is another trade-back candidate here, because Stroud is still out there. But then again, my No. 1 prospect is still available. After dealing away Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn, the Bears need edge rushers, and Anderson is explosive, instinctive and overpowering. Over the past two seasons, he has averaged more than a sack per game (27.5) and has piled up 56 tackles for loss and 131 pressures. That kind of production would be welcomed to a defense that has just 16 sacks this season (last in the NFL).

4. Detroit Lions (via 4-9 LAR)

C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

Everything fell perfectly for the Lions here, allowing them to draft their signal-caller of the future without moving up. Stroud has thrown 37 touchdown passes this season — and still has as many as two games left — and is third in the nation in QBR (87.7). Jared Goff has played well under center of late, but he’s not the long-term answer. Stroud — who makes good decisions with the football, displays great touch and has a big arm — could learn behind Goff for a season before Detroit moves on and builds around a talented passer on a rookie deal. Detroit has a top-five offense right now (26.2 points per game), and a very good supporting cast is already in place.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (via 4-9 NO)

Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

This is a serious luxury pick for the 12-win Eagles after landing this selection from the Saints in the 2022 offseason. Per ESPN Stats & Information research, the last time a team went to a Super Bowl (as ESPN’s FPI projects) and then had a top-five draft pick was 1992, when Washington won the championship and then drafted Desmond Howard fourth overall via a trade-up. I considered Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee here, because GM Howie Roseman values the interior defensive line, and pairing Bresee with Jordan Davis up the middle would give Philadelphia quite the run-stopping duo. However, Miles Sanders is set to be a free agent, this offense leans heavily on the run (433 rushes, second most in the NFL), and Robinson is a special prospect with elite size, speed, power and elusiveness.

I know the “it’s too early for a running back” arguments are coming, and I agree 99% of the time. But why spend heavily on re-signing Sanders or bringing in another back in free agency when Robinson — who is an upgrade — is available here on a rookie deal? Robinson cruised to 1,580 yards and 18 TDs on the ground this season while breaking 91 tackles. Dropping him into the league’s best offense would be scary for every other team. Philly also has another first-rounder down the board …

6. Atlanta Falcons (5-8)

Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

The Falcons are yet another team that needs an upgrade at QB. Marcus Mariota flashed this season but ultimately hasn’t been a solution, and we’ll see what they get out of Desmond Ridder, who is set to start in Week 15. I’m envisioning Levis — who probably has the strongest arm in this class — driving the ball on a rope to Drake London and Kyle Pitts, or using his mobility and sturdy 232-pound frame to extend plays and contribute to Atlanta’s strong run game. Levis still needs some developing, especially when it comes to decision-making, but the traits are outstanding.

With the rest of the NFC South all scrambling for answers under center after this season, Atlanta could be primed to emerge from the pack once Levis settles into the pro game and cleans up his mistakes.

7. Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1)

Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

Everyone knows Indy needs a quarterback, but it shouldn’t be reaching for the fourth-best passer in the class at No. 7. I’m sure the Colts will attempt to move up, but let’s not forget about the other problems with this roster. You can’t blame all 46 sacks allowed (tied for the NFL’s most) on Matt Ryan’s lack of mobility, especially considering the offensive line’s 46.8% pass block win rate is dead last in the NFL. Skoronski might not have ideal length at 6-foot-4, but his quickness and technique pop on tape. Plus, he is a stout run-blocker, which would open things up for Jonathan Taylor. Skoronski could slide into the left tackle role and help fix a unit that fell off quite a bit in 2022.

8. Las Vegas Raiders (5-8)

Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech

I thought a little about quarterback — Derek Carr isn’t due any guaranteed money after this season — and offensive tackle, but only four teams have fewer sacks over the past two seasons than the Raiders (60). Chandler Jones and Clelin Ferrell have both been disappointing, and Ferrell is a free agent after this year. I just moved Wilson up to fourth in my rankings, and teaming him up with Maxx Crosby and Jones would spark this juiceless pass rush.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-8)

Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

Offensive line is the biggest need, and Johnson is an easy mover with quickness, power, improving technique and versatility to play multiple positions. He settled in as the Buckeyes’ left tackle this season, allowing just one sack, and he would go a long way in helping protect Kenny Pickett. The Steelers didn’t use any draft picks on the line in April and have allowed 34 sacks this season (tied for ninth most). It’s time to get a cornerstone for this unit.

10. Arizona Cardinals (4-9)

Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

Defensive linemen J.J. Watt and Zach Allen are both free agents after this season, and Leki Fotu is set to follow after 2023. Bresee could help fill that need on a struggling defense. His numbers won’t wow you, and he missed some time this season, but when he’s 100 percent, Bresee is an incredibly talented run-stuffer with the length and bend to make a big impact and play a role as an interior pass-rusher. Cornerback (Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr.) and edge rusher (Myles Murphy, Bresee’s teammate at Clemson) could make sense, too.

11. Carolina Panthers (5-8)

Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

OK, this one is going to raise some eyebrows. Full disclosure, taking Richardson this early is way too rich for my blood. He lacks experience and isn’t NFL ready. We’ve seen a QB with 13 or fewer starts go this high only two other times since 2000, per ESPN’s Stats & Information (Alex Smith and Mitch Trubisky). But what choice do the Panthers have? If they can’t find an answer in free agency and end up picking outside the top 10, they might resort to desperate measures in desperate times.

Richardson’s physical traits are excellent, too, including elite mobility, great size (6-4 and 232 pounds) and a rocket arm. If Carolina can make a savvy coaching hire and get the right staff in place to develop him, then this could absolutely work. The Panthers have been outside the top 20 in QBR for the past four seasons and are last this year (21.9), so it’s time to invest in a signal-caller in the draft — even if that means reaching a bit. One other thing to watch: I think the Panthers could try to get ahead of the Falcons and Colts to draft Will Levis.

12. Houston Texans (via 5-8 CLE)

Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

We got Houston a quarterback atop the board, so how about a security blanket target for Bryce Young here in the middle of the first round? Mayer is a big target with a wide catch radius and the strength to run over defenders after the catch. And after back-to-back seasons with 800-plus receiving yards and seven or more TD catches, he might be the safest prospect in the class. He’d be a reliable pass-catcher, a go-to option in the red zone and an effective in-line blocker for the Texans. Pretty solid Thursday night for GM Nick Caserio.

13. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-8)

Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

The Jaguars spent on Christian Kirk, Evan Engram and Zay Jones, and all three pass-catchers have played well this season. Plus, Calvin Ridley should be in the mix next season after Jacksonville acquired the suspended wideout at the deadline. But Trevor Lawrence still needs a big receiver. He excelled with Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross in college, and Johnston fits that same mold at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. With 903 receiving yards through 12 games, Johnston has a wide catch radius, strength after the catch and good vertical speed. I love this fit.

14. Green Bay Packers (5-8)

Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson

The Packers took a step backward this season and have a bunch of needs, including safety, receiver, offensive line, tight end and edge rusher. I’m going best available in Murphy, my No. 8 prospect. He brings burst, power and bend off the edge, and he’d prove versatile in Green Bay’s scheme. Rashan Gary will be coming off a torn ACL next season, and the Packers have managed only 24 sacks this season (tied for 26th). Murphy has the tools to be a force in the NFL.

15. New England Patriots (7-6)

Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

Simply put, the Patriots won’t find significant success with Mac Jones at quarterback if they can’t keep him upright. They’ve allowed 32 sacks and posted a 57.8% pass block win rate this season — both registering as 19th best in the NFL. Jones has the size, quick feet and upper-body strength to improve this unit. He hasn’t allowed a single sack this season in 13 starts at left tackle, and Isaiah Wynn is on an expiring contract, so there will be a need at one of the team’s tackle spots in the offseason.

16. Detroit Lions (6-7)

Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State

OK, time to address the Lions’ defense. We’re all excited about the potential of C.J. Stroud in that offense, but if they keep giving up 6.2 yards per play (last in the NFL), it won’t matter too much. Jeff Okudah has been up and down after being the No. 3 overall pick in 2020, and Amani Oruwariye and Mike Hughes are both expected to be free agents in the spring. Porter — the son of former Steelers edge rusher Joey Porter — is my top cornerback, showcasing high-level recognition skills, and he’d give that defense more scheme flexibility. He didn’t have a pick this season, but he did have 11 pass breakups. Detroit walks away from Round 1 with playmakers on both sides of the ball.

17. New York Jets (7-6)

O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida

This Jets offensive line is still very thin despite a handful of recent moves. Mekhi Becton has played one game over his past two seasons, and George Fant, Connor McGovern, Nate Herbig, Dan Feeney, Mike Remmers and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif are all free agents after 2022. Alijah Vera-Tucker — a 2021 first-rounder — has been very good but is out for the season because of a triceps injury.

Enter Torrence, who has allowed one sack over 47 career starts. His 347-pound frame is tough to get around, and he plays a technically sound game. Not only would Torrence provide interior protection for whomever starts at QB in 2023, he’d also help spring Breece Hall (also out for the year) as an excellent run-blocker.

18. Seattle Seahawks (7-6)

Brian Branch, S, Alabama

It’s all defense in Round 1 for Seattle, after it took Jalen Carter at No. 2 — and Branch can impact every area of that side of the ball. You’ll see him down near the line of scrimmage trying to make a run stop, blitzing through gaps, holding up in coverage and showcasing his range and instincts on the back end. He fits this system and would be a great complement to rookie corners Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant. Jamal Adams is turning 28 next season, while Quandre Diggs will be 30, so adding to the safety room would be prudent. But Branch has played quite a bit of slot corner, and that’s where I’d expect him to make an impact early in his career.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)

Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

Tampa Bay will definitely need offensive line help, though the top four linemen are all off the board. It will also have to solve its quarterback future elsewhere if Tom Brady retires. So I’m focusing instead on the cornerback spot opposite Carlton Davis III, because Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting are both pending free agents. Gonzalez is a strong press corner with good speed, physical traits and versatility, and he picked off four passes this season. The Bucs have only seven interceptions this year (tied for 24th), so a ball-hawking defensive back like Gonzalez would be welcome.

20. New York Giants (7-5-1)

Jordan Addison, WR, USC

Finding a Daniel Jones replacement on Day 1 likely won’t be an option this late, and I’m guessing the Giants stick with Jones on a short-term contract and add some competition for him in free agency or on Day 2 of the draft. But New York has to add pass-catchers, regardless of who is throwing to them. Sterling Shepard can’t stay healthy, Kenny Golladay has been a massive disappointment, and Kadarius Toney is now in Kansas City. The current depth chart reads Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins and Richie James. That isn’t going to get it done. So how about pairing Wan’Dale Robinson (out because of a torn ACL) with Addison, an explosive receiver with ability to come down with 50-50 balls, stretch the field or pick up extra yards in open space? That should boost an underwhelming pass offense.

21. Washington Commanders (7-5-1)

Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia

Here come all the corners in a hurry! Washington moved on from the struggling William Jackson III at the trade deadline and now needs depth at cornerback. Ringo has the length at 6-foot-2 and man coverage skills to perfectly fit Jack Del Rio’s defense and help boost the Commanders’ takeaway count (seven interceptions this season, tied for 24th). He has great speed, and I’m expecting him to rise draft boards after he shows off those wheels at the combine.

22. Tennessee Titans (7-6)

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Only the Bears and Ravens have fewer WR receiving yards this season than the Titans (1,303), and rookie first-rounder Treylon Burks has just 25 catches and hasn’t stayed healthy. Worse, Tennessee has watched A.J. Brown dominate in Philadelphia after it traded the star receiver there on draft night in April. The offensive line and edge rush spots should be addressed, too, but receiver has to be fixed.

Smith-Njigba’s five-catch, 43-yard season might be concerning, but the hamstring injury that limited him in 2022 shouldn’t impact him in his rookie year. And he’s only one year removed from more than 1,600 receiving yards and nine TDs while fighting for targets alongside Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. This guy is a smooth route runner with good acceleration and soft hands, and he’d be a prime target for Ryan Tannehill/Malik Willis out of the slot.

23. Los Angeles Chargers (7-6)

Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

J.C. Jackson signed a big-money deal with the Chargers this past offseason but then struggled and went down for the year with a knee injury. I like Asante Samuel Jr., but Los Angeles needs some depth here. Its nine interceptions and 7.3 yards allowed per attempt are both middle-of-the-pack numbers, and when you face Patrick Mahomes twice a year, supporting the secondary is never a bad call. Smith is versatile, instinctive and quick, and he ended up with six pass breakups this season.

24. Denver Broncos (via 9-4 SF/MIA)

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama

This is a tough one. The defense is solid, Denver doesn’t really need another receiver, and Russell Wilson is locked in as the quarterback. I’d love to get the Broncos another offensive tackle, but there’s a decent drop-off in talent there after Broderick Jones. Gibbs is pretty intriguing, even for a three-win team. My 20th-ranked prospect, he’s elusive with burst in and out of cuts and is a very effective pass-catcher out of the backfield. Gibbs not only rushed for 850 yards so far this season but also caught 42 passes. He could make the sort of impact we see regularly from Alvin Kamara and Dalvin Cook. And while Javonte Williams will return after tearing his right knee’s ACL and LCL, it remains to be seen how effective he’ll be off that injury while entering the third season of his four-year rookie deal.

25. Baltimore Ravens (9-4)

Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah

The Ravens are tied for second in interceptions (14), and Phillips would only add to their ball-hawking ways. He had six picks this year and shows the fluid hips and speed to stick with receivers in coverage. Toss in that Marcus Peters and Kyle Fuller are both on expiring deals, and this makes sense. And yes, I hear the cries for a receiver, but with the top three off the board, I think Baltimore might lean on the position that presents better value here and defer its search for another wideout to Day 2 (or free agency). Don’t count out Boston College’s Zay Flowers or UNC’s Josh Downs, though.

26. Cincinnati Bengals (9-4)

Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

Six cornerbacks in the past 11 picks, and the Bengals get a good one here. Witherspoon allowed fewer than 10 yards as the primary defender in eight of 12 games this season, and he had more interceptions (three) than TDs and 20-plus-yard catches against combined (two). Plus, Cincinnati’s CB group thins out a bit after the season with Eli Apple and Tre Flowers hitting free agency. I love Witherspoon’s physicality, and while he’ll need to run well at the combine to lock down a first-round spot, his tape is a treat to watch. If not cornerback, the Bengals could maybe reach for an offensive lineman because that unit is still very flimsy (38 sacks allowed, sixth most).

27. Minnesota Vikings (10-3)

Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

If one of those six corners slides, I could see them landing here. Or maybe the Vikings reach down the board for linebacker Drew Sanders (Arkansas) or center John Michael Schmitz (Minnesota). But with Adam Thielen turning 33 this offseason, they should be looking for another complement to Justin Jefferson at receiver. Flowers has terrific instincts and elusiveness, forcing missed tackles and scoring 12 touchdowns this season. He’s only 5-foot-10, but he could do damage out of the slot in this offense immediately as a rookie.

28. Buffalo Bills (10-3)

Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M

Johnson is great working close to the line of scrimmage, making plays against the run and in underneath coverage. With Jordan Poyer (turning 32 this offseason) headed toward free agency, and Micah Hyde (will be 33 late in the 2023 season) set to do the same after next year, it’s time for the Bills to think about their future at the safety position. Johnson played only nine games this season, but he still had 72 tackles and forced three fumbles.

29. Dallas Cowboys (10-3)

Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa

Van Ness could be a steal this late on Day 1. He has footspeed and power as a pass-rusher and the versatility to come off the edge or bump inside. I wouldn’t rule out a cornerback, receiver, linebacker or lineman here, but this one is all about the value. Bringing in Van Ness — who has six sacks this season — would help shore up the edge rush and continue to allow the Cowboys to move Micah Parsons around.

30. Kansas City Chiefs (10-3)

Jared Verse, DE, Florida State

The Chiefs pieced together an effective pass-rush this season, but 17 of their 42 sacks have come on blitzes. Carlos Dunlap is under contract for only this season, and Chris Jones and Frank Clark are set to be free agents after next season. Kansas City drafted George Karlaftis in Round 1 in April, but it needs more. Verse overwhelms blockers with his speed and power and is disruptive in the backfield (14 tackles for loss). Alternatively, Kansas City has both starting offensive tackles unsigned after this season, and it could still use more receiving options, so either of those positions could warrant a look.

31. Philadelphia Eagles (12-1)

Isaiah Foskey, DE, Notre Dame

ESPN’s FPI has the Eagles winning the Super Bowl in this projection and closing out Day 1 of the draft. After getting Bijan Robinson earlier, Philly would likely pivot to the defensive side of the ball. Brandon Graham is in the last year of his deal, Derek Barnett tore his ACL in September and Robert Quinn is just a rental after coming to town at the trade deadline. So while the Eagles lead the NFL in sacks (49), they will still be looking for pass-rush help opposite Josh Sweat after the season. Foskey uses his great initial burst to put offensive tackles on their heels, and he had 11 sacks in each of the past two seasons. Other spots for the projected champs to consider would be the secondary and linebacker.

Who would be the best available for Day 2?

Andre Carter II, OLB, Army

Keion White, OLB, Georgia Tech

Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina

Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor

Drew Sanders, ILB, Arkansas