When the NFL opens play next season, Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones — who is a member of the Competition Committee — expects a change in the kickoff rule.

Jones said he anticipates the committee to present to ownership in the spring meetings a one-year alternative that will make returns part of the game again. During the week, different options were presented — including the XFL model in which the kicking team lined up at the opponents 35 and the return team lined up at the 30 with only the kicker and return allowed to move until the ball is touched.

Of the 2,698 kickoffs in 2023, only 587 were returned with 1,970 touchbacks and 92 fair catches.

A handful of special teams’ coaches were involved in the meetings this week, including Cowboys coach John Fassel, who has said he likes the old XFL rule.

“I think everybody wants something different,” Jones said. “They don’t want a ceremonial play. They want it to be a real play and we just got to do it in a way that’s safe for the players so you don’t have the injury rate that we’ve had in the past; that it’s more in line with what a typical football play is. So I think that’s really important … I think it can be a positive play that the fans would really enjoy.”

The committee is still working through a rule change regarding the hip-drop tackle, but Jones believe it is something that can be officiated in a game.

“It’s got to be defined the right way but I think it can be,” Jones said. “I think it’s a play that, me personally, (it’s) certainly not something anyone condones. It’s a play that needs to come out. The question is how we do that. I think it’s going to be all of the above, in my opinion, but it’s got to be education to the players that this is not what we want.

“I think there are probably going to be fines involved in it, at all levels, and then I think at some point, it’s a little tougher, but a lot of people think it can be officiated. Not everybody but a lot of people do.”

CHICAGO

On the ground in Indianapolis, the Bears are signaling a trade of the beloved QB JUSTIN FIELDS.  Mike Florio:

The Bears can either trade the first overall pick and keep quarterback Justin Fields, or they can trade Fields and keep the pick. Based on the various things said at the Scouting Combine on Tuesday by G.M. Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus, it seems like the Bears are thinking seriously about moving on from Fields.

Poles, in the embedded interviews, said Fields need to improve when it comes to passing from the pocket and when performing in two-minute situations. Eberflus said the Bears need their quarterback to perform in third down, two-minute and the end of the game situations.

Those comments can be interpreted as a belief that Fields has limitations that won’t be resolved with more reps and games in Chicago.

If the Bears were planning to keep Fields, they could say so — and still trade the pick. Multiple teams presumably would be interested in moving up to No. 1 in order to get quarterback Caleb Williams, even if the Bears made it clear that they’re keeping Fields.

And it’s becoming very clear that Williams is unquestionably the top prospect in the current draft class.

The fact that the Bears won’t say they’re keeping Fields points to a potential plan to trade him. And if that’s what they’re doing, they need to do it quickly.

Teams interested in adding a veteran quarterback will have various opportunities to do so, when the league year opens. The longer the Bears wait to trade Fields, the harder it will be to get maximum value for him.

It’s unclear what they will get for Fields, or what they want for him. Whoever trades for Fields also will have to be ready to sign him to a new contract.

One league source suggested on Tuesday that the Bears should be looking for a second-round pick in 2024 and a conditional pick in 2025, based on his performance this season.

Ultimately, it comes down to the number of teams chasing Fields, and their willingness to make a significant offer to get him.

However it plays out, it currently looks like the Bears are looking to trade Fields and to draft Williams.

Of course, the Bears now expect another team to trade significant assets for a QB they have indicated can’t perform in big situations.

Whatever the decision, GM Ryan Poles indicates it is days away.  Jon Greenberg of The Athletic:

He has the No. 1 pick, the No. 9 pick, a ton of salary cap room and the bones of a scrappy roster. Who knows, maybe someone in Indianapolis will want to give him a decent draft pick for his quarterback Justin Fields before he drafts USC’s Caleb Williams.

Yes, it’s good to be Ryan Poles in the limbo space between NFL seasons, where he’s once again in the position to make the Bears’ future a lot better than their recent past. All he has to do is get it right. Everything. Free agency. The draft. The coaching changes. Keeping his head coach.

The only things at stake in the next two months are the immediate future of the Bears, the collective psyche of a tortured fanbase and maybe his job.

You know, nothing big.

But at least he’s the one with the leverage right now. How calm was he on the eve of combine week?

On Saturday night, he took his kids out to dinner in Lake Forest, Ill., sitting along the same wall of seats as Bears legend Charles “Peanut” Tillman and Brian Urlacher’s younger brother, Casey. (They were all at separate tables.)

On Sunday, he was with his family at the Blackhawks game for Chris Chelios’ retirement ceremony and Patrick Kane’s return to the United Center. Poles got tickets without knowing it was the hottest game on the schedule, but you’d hope he got some inspiration to make the Bears a winner again after watching Chelios get honored and Kane do his “Showtime” thing. Or from watching No. 1 pick Connor Bedard.

Now Poles is in Indianapolis, ready to share his strategy for Bears dominance with the Chicago media and the world.

“Contrary to reports out there, I have no master plan to present to everyone today,” he said.

Oh.

“I have nothing to reveal,” he said. “I wish I did.”

Not that he doesn’t have an internal clock ticking in his head. Asked how soon he wants to know the direction he’s taking at quarterback and what he’s doing with Fields, he said, “Tomorrow.”

But seriously, folks …

“No, I would love to know as soon as possible,” Poles said. “I would love to know, but I know that’s not how the process works. Sure, before free agency would be good. Like I said … if we were to do something with Justin, I want to do right by him and I know, again, living in that grey space, we would want to do something sooner rather than later. … At the same time, we’re also trying to figure out the draft process as well. There’s a lot of different things with different timelines going, and that’s what makes it a little difficult.”

Poles said his phone was getting a workout, though he didn’t confirm or deny it’s in the best shape of its life.

“Yeah, it starts slow,” he said. “We were at the Senior Bowl. I know people were kind of poking around. I haven’t had, like, big-time conversations with anyone. But everyone wants to take the temperature of what’s going on.”

He’s not pitching a table in the JW Marriott or Westin lobby saying, “Open for business” this year. But with two top-10 draft picks, he has to be willing to listen to every possibility. He talked about alternate timelines like he’s in a Marvel movie.

Poles answered some questions about cornerback Jaylon Johnson (he wants Johnson back, and they’re talking), but most of our questions Tuesday morning were about the big picture. To paraphrase the old James Carville election reminder: It’s the quarterback situation, stupid.

It’s not exactly a novel predicament for the Bears to be in quarterback limbo, but in this case, there’s a way out.

“There’s pieces that are similar,” Poles said of Williams. “Obviously, the one (that) stands out to everyone is just different arm angles. That’s a unique trait, not a lot of guys can do that. I’ll give Jeff King, who’s on my team, credit. He painted a picture of two types of quarterbacks: There’s artists and then there’s surgeons. So within that group, you can kind of see who’s the artist that’s really creative, doesn’t draw within the lines where there’s more of surgeons who are like your typical, like the (Tom) Brady’s and Peyton (Manning)’s. You kind of branch them out in those buckets and go from there. That’s where they’re similar.”

Bears fans haven’t seen many surgeons or artists under center, though there have been some Dr. Nick Rivieras and a lot of finger-painters and adult coloring-book enthusiasts.

Sure, the Bears could pass on the artist in Williams, trade down, and draft the surgeon in J.J. McCarthy, acquiring more draft picks in the process, but it would be a shocker. I ran into a high-ranking NFL team executive in a hotel lobby and asked for his opinion on the situation, and he didn’t pause to consider it. It’s draft Williams, trade Fields and move into the future. That’s what he sees. That’s seemingly what everyone sees.

With free agency coming up, Poles wants to figure out the first half of his quarterback situation soon and “do right by” Fields.

For all the surety we have about Williams, Poles and his staff still have to do the background work to figure out if they can trust the franchise and their own jobs with him.

“I think the person is a huge part,” Poles said of quarterback evaluations. “I’ve talked about that a lot. What’s the makeup? The leadership? How do they handle pressure? How do they handle pressure in a big city like ours? So a lot of those factors go in.”

Talking to Williams, rather than parsing rumors and thought experiments, seems like it will help them figure out what makes this guy tick and if he can handle one of the most cursed jobs in sports. If Poles misses on this quarterback, he’ll be back in the combine in a few years with a different team logo on his three-quarter zip. The same with his head coach.

When he talked Tuesday, Bears coach Matt Eberflus pointed to intangibles like leadership and “being a winner” as important attributes for a quarterback. He’s a defensive-minded head coach, but Eberflus seems confident he can help this scouting process.

“I’ve been looking at quarterbacks all my life,” he said. “And I know what a good quarterback looks like, and what’s hard on a defense is a guy who has the ability to create, a guy who has the ability to throw with timing and accuracy and the guy who can move the ball down the field when it’s the critical moments. So on third down, two-minute (drill), all those critical moments.”

MINNESOTA

Do the Vikings want QB KIRK COUSINS back?  Mike Florio detects a qualified “yes”:

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is rocketing toward free agency. And the Vikings are letting him.

That was the clear takeaway from our Tuesday visit with Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell at the Scouting Combine.

The Vikings want Cousins back. O’Connell made that clear. But he also said that Cousins has earned the right to “bet on himself.”

This position assumes the risk that Cousins will win his bet by finding another team that will pay him more than whatever the Vikings are willing to pay.

The Vikings are about to find out. Cousins is about to find out. The rest of us are about to find out. It all comes down to whether someone else is willing to make Cousins the kind of offer the Vikings won’t.

O’Connell seems to be very confident that Cousins will be back. O’Connell also is quietly confident that, however it plays out, the Vikings will have an answer at the quarterback position for 2024.

CAROLINA

GM Dan Morgan signals a franchise tag for EDGE BRIAN BURNS.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Panthers didn’t sign edge rusher Brian Burns to a long-term contract last year and they may not get one done with him this year, but Burns is unlikely to be moving on as a free agent.

Burns’ status was one of the lead topics at General Manager Dan Morgan’s press conference from the Scouting Combine on Tuesday and Morgan said that he will be speaking with Burns’ representatives this week.

“We’ll have a little more clarity on the situation after that, but we’re working on it,” Morgan said, via the team’s website. “I think right now, all options are on the table. You know, what those options are, we’ll find out. I’ll have a little more clarity on that after I meet with the agent.”

If that clarity doesn’t lead to a deal by next Tuesday’s deadline to use the franchise tag, Morgan said “think we would use it” to ensure that they can continue talking to Burns through mid-July. The tag would carry a one-year salary of $24.007 million if Burns plays out the year on it, but there’s a lot of steps for all involved to take before we’ll know if that’s in the cards.

KANSAS CITY

CB L’JARIOUS SNEAD is a strong candidate for a franchise tag.  Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com:

Earlier on Tuesday, Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach mentioned the ability to tag a player as an option to help keep both defensive tackle Chris Jones and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed.

Now there is some more reporting about how Kansas City could pull that off.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Chiefs have informed Sneed that they are prepared to franchise tag him if the two sides cannot agree to a long-term deal. Kansas City is also willing to trade Sneed off of the tag.

Fowler adds that Sneed is “agreeable” to that, which gives him the opportunity to negotiate with other teams once free agency opens. But Kansas City is still a contender to retain him.

Sneed, 27, has completed his rookie contract with the Chiefs. A fourth-round pick in 2020, Sneed has 40 career passes defensed with 10 career interceptions in 57 games with 54 starts. He also had 6.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, and 13 quarterback hits.

He made one of the most critical plays in Kansas City’s run to Super Bowl LVIII, picking up his first career postseason forced fumble on Zay Flowers during the second half of the AFC Championship Game.

If he cannot come to a long-term agreement with the Chiefs, Sneed will surely be one of the most in-demand cornerbacks on the open market.

LAS VEGAS

The Raiders don’t want to trade QB DAVANTE ADAMS.  Sam Robinson of ProFootballRumors:

While GM proclamations about trades involving marquee players have led to course reversals before, new Raiders front office boss Tom Telesco did make a notable effort to insist Davante Adams will not be going anywhere this year.

Regarding Adams, Telesco said Tuesday “He’s a Raider.” Adams had recently expressed excitement about returning for a third season in Las Vegas, but after a run as the No. 1 receiver for playoff-bound teams in Green Bay, the past two years have brought a step out of the spotlight — and more rumors about a potential departure.

Adams was among the players to stump for Antonio Pierce this year. Although neither Pierce nor Telesco were in their current roles when the Raiders traded first- and second-round picks for Adams, it certainly appears the new regime wants to keep the All-Pro target in place as the team’s top wide receiver. This follows up a recent report that indicated the Raiders have no desire to move on from Adams, despite the changes that have occurred since his acquisition.

The Jets came up as an Adams suitor at multiple junctures. The AFC East team made overtures about acquiring Adams, Mike Evans or Tee Higgins. None of the inquiries gained much traction, but a December report indicated the Jets had been monitoring Adams since they traded for Aaron Rodgers. The two, of course, played eight seasons together in Green Bay. Rodgers said he attempted to convince Adams to stay with the Packers in 2022, but the latter moved to reunite with college teammate and longtime friend Derek Carr. That partnership lasted one year, with the Josh McDaniels–Dave Ziegler regime cutting Carr. Adams stayed in Vegas but expressed frustration during the final weeks of the McDaniels period.

While seemingly more content with the Raiders’ setup under Pierce, Adams still saw his numbers drop from 2022. After a 1,516-yard Raiders debut that featured an NFL-high 14 touchdown catches, Adams totaled 1,144 yards and eight TDs in 2023. With the team in dire need of a quarterback upgrade — a situation Pierce has made no secret of — Adams is an expensive receiver on a team in transition. Adams will, however, be reuniting with ex-Packers assistant Luke Getsy in 2024.

“Open-mindedness and, like I said, that innovation to the offense and a good run-pass balance,” Adams said (via Gutierrez) of Getsy earlier this month. “And that’s what I’m used to, that West Coast style. Going to be fun getting to work on a new system, [yet] something that’s a little bit more familiar.”

It is unclear who will be targeting Adams next season, but Telesco — like Bengals exec Duke Tobin did re: Higgins at last year’s Combine — is providing a firm indication the accomplished wideout is in the Raiders’ plans for the upcoming season.

BUFFALO

Brandon Beane of the Bills is among the GMs jumping for joy at the $255 million salary cap.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

The NFL’s announcement last week that the 2024 salary cap will be $255.4 million was welcome news to the general manager of the team that’s currently the most over the cap.

Bills General Manager Brandon Beane, whose team is currently about $40 million over the 2024 cap with a couple weeks to get under, said on PFT Live that it’s a huge relief that the cap topped $255 million, when Beane was preparing to make roster moves to get down under $245 million.

“Our first challenge is getting our cap squared away and getting under,” Beane said. “I was excited to see it at 255 versus 245. We thought it would be mid-240s, we were actually conservative and counting a little lower. When I heard it was going to be closer to 250 to 240 I thought this is good, maybe it’ll be 248. Pops out at 255 and it saves you. Maybe it’s one less guy you’ve got to release or restructure.”

Beane said the Bills want to keep as many good players as they can while they have an elite quarterback, Josh Allen, in his prime. But he said he also doesn’t want to put the Bills in a position where they spend so much trying to win now that they’re in an impossible salary cap position in future years.

“You don’t want to just credit card everyone and just pile it up,” Beane said. “At some point it comes due, so you’re trying to balance it. I don’t want to walk in at 2025 or 2026 and say, ‘We’ve got $112 million to unload, how are we even going to get into the season?’”

The Bills still have some difficult moves to make to get under this season’s cap, but the higher cap makes that work a lot easier.

THIS AND THAT

RICHARD SHERMAN UPDATE

He’s out – after 55 hours in a Washington State jail.  This from Marca.com:

Former NFL star Richard Sherman has now been released from jail following a weekend behind bars thanks to his DUI (driving under the influence) arrest.

He was arrested very early on Saturday morning, and he has now walked away from jail with 5,000 fewer dollars in his pocket and an order from the judge to steer clear of alcohol.

The 35-year-old was pulled over by Washington State police just before 02:00 for speeding.

During the stop, the 5x Pro Bowler admitted to drinking two margaritas, according to cops. Sherman then refused a breathalyzer and was ultimately arrested and taken away to Kings County Jail.

He did not manage to see a judge until Monday morning which means he ended up spending around 55 hours behind bars.

His bail was set by the judge at 5,000 dollars so Sherman obviously paid it straight away given he made plenty of money during his NFL career.

Although he’s walking free, Sherman had several restrictions imposed by the judge who ordered him not to consume alcohol or use marijuana, as well as the standard constraints such as not getting arrested for anything else and showing up on time to all future hearings.

This is not the first time that Sherman has had a run-in with the law since his playing career came to an end.

The Seattle Seahawks legend was sentenced to 24 months of monitored supervision in March 2022 after pleading guilty to criminal trespassing and negligent driving.

Despite just being weeks from completing his sentence, Saturday’s arrest could mean the old case is revisited.

HOW THE QB CAROUSEL WILL END IN 2024

Clip and save this from Seth Walder of ESPN.com (we edited out some of the commentary on the more obvious picks for the 2024 starting QB):

The quarterback carousel is always in motion. And while many NFL teams know where they stand at signal-caller heading into the 2024 season, there are plenty facing uncertainty at football’s most important position.

The Vikings have to make a decision regarding Kirk Cousins, a 35-year-old free agent coming off a torn right Achilles and whose contract voids March 13. Their NFC North rivals in Chicago have to choose between continuing with 2021 first-round pick Justin Fields or drafting a rookie with the No. 1 pick in April. Then there are the Falcons, who need a quarterback to stabilize an otherwise strong roster. Big moves are ahead.

So before the 2024 offseason kicks into gear, we’ll attempt to solve the quarterback puzzle by predicting Week 1 starters for all 32 NFL teams. We distributed each team’s quarterback situation into four categories: locked in (starters who are virtually guaranteed to remain with the team they played for in 2023), decent bets (players who should return as starters but aren’t 100% locks), searching for a vet (teams looking to bring in an established QB) and rookie landing spots (teams that need a first-year QB to step in immediately). Let’s dive in.

Arizona Cardinals

Predicted 2024 starter: Kyler Murray

Status: Decent bet

I once thought it would be an upset if Murray was the Cardinals’ starting quarterback in 2024. But the Cardinals won their way out of the top three draft spots, and it now looks like Murray will be around for the long haul. His play after returning from a torn right ACL last season was a little disappointing — he had a 47.0 QBR (ranked 22nd) in eight games and posted a minus-3% completion percentage over expectation, an NFL Next Gen Stats metric he usually excels in — but that might be a product of returning from said injury.

Atlanta Falcons

Predicted 2024 starter: Kirk Cousins

Status: Searching for a vet

Atlanta makes sense for Cousins, assuming he’s fully recovered from the torn Achilles he suffered in Week 8. He’d be going from one former Sean McVay assistant (Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell) to another (Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson). And the Falcons are closer to contending than most think. The roster is fairly strong and was held back by the play of quarterbacks Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke. With a new coaching staff and a proven veteran quarterback in Cousins, the Falcons wouldn’t only be NFC South favorites — they could win a playoff game or two.

Baltimore Ravens

Predicted 2024 starter: Lamar Jackson

Status: Locked ib

Buffalo Bills

Predicted 2024 starter: Josh Allen

Status: Locked in

Carolina Panthers

Predicted 2024 starter: Bryce Young

Status: Locked in

Young’s draft price keeps him locked in. A Year 1 disaster (33.4 QBR and 11 touchdown passes on 527 attempts) isn’t fatal for a quarterback’s career. (Jared Goff had a horrendous rookie season for the Rams in 2016 before turning into a Pro Bowl-caliber player.) But it does cause Young’s clock to start ticking. If he doesn’t show significant improvement in 2024, the Panthers will be looking for a new quarterback.

Chicago Bears

Predicted 2024 starter: Caleb Williams

Status: Rookie landing spot

We don’t know what the Bears could potentially receive for the No. 1 overall pick, but I have a hard time imagining them trading out of that spot for a second straight year. To trade the pick would mean hitching their wagon to Fields, who hasn’t had an above-average season yet in his career. So much of roster building is getting a team in the position the Bears are currently in, where they can draft a high-end QB prospect without trading up — which is what I expect them to do with USC’s Williams.

Cincinnati Bengals

Predicted 2024 starter: Joe Burrow

Status: Locked in

Cleveland Browns

Predicted 2024 starter: Deshaun Watson

Status: Decent bet

Because he’s in Year 3 of his fully guaranteed, $230 million contract, Watson will almost certainly be the Browns’ quarterback. But if I were Cleveland, am I really running it back with Watson and potentially wasting this roster again? The problem is the Browns’ alternatives are severely limited given Watson’s cap number and their lack of a first-round pick, which they dealt to Houston to obtain Watson. I could at least imagine the Browns as a long shot Justin Fields destination because he can be acquired without a first-round pick and wouldn’t take up significant salary-cap space. Who knows, perhaps coach Kevin Stefanski could unlock his upside?

Dallas Cowboys

Predicted 2024 starter: Dak Prescott

Status: Locked in

Ignore any noise that suggests Prescott was the problem for Dallas this past season — heck, even in its playoff loss to the Packers, it was the defense that couldn’t contain Jordan Love. Prescott ranked second to Brock Purdy in QBR (72.7) and finished second in the MVP balloting behind Lamar Jackson.

Denver Broncos

Predicted 2024 starter: J.J. McCarthy

Status: Rookie landing spot

Even with Russell Wilson having $39 million guaranteed to him in 2024, it makes sense for Denver to cut him because if they don’t, they’ll fully guarantee his $37 million salary in 2025. With the No. 12 pick, Denver sits in the middle of a stretch of teams — between the Vikings (No. 11) and Raiders (No. 13) — that also might be in the market for a rookie QB. I have Denver choosing McCarthy (Michigan), though it’s a bit early to accurately decipher who could go where in the middle of the first round.

Detroit Lions

Predicted 2024 starter: Jared Goff

Status: Locked in

Lions coach Dan Campbell said it right to his quarterback in Detroit’s locker room after beating the Rams in the playoffs: “You’re good enough for f—ing Detroit, Jared Goff.” Indeed, he is. Goff has flourished in the Lions’ offense under coordinator Ben Johnson, who eschewed multiple head-coaching opportunities to stay in Detroit. The Lions’ offense should continue to be dangerous.

Green Bay Packers

Predicted 2024 starter: Jordan Love

Status: Locked in

The Packers’ big risk in moving on from future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers and turning the offense over to Love paid major, major dividends. The 2020 first-round pick became a top quarterback by the end of the season, which culminated in Love registering the highest postseason QBR game in the metric’s history (99.3 vs. the Cowboys in the wild-card round). Green Bay seems to have found another franchise quarterback.

Houston Texans

Predicted 2024 starter: C.J. Stroud

Status: Locked in

Indianapolis Colts

Predicted 2024 starter: Anthony Richardson

Status: Locked in

When he was on the field in 2023, the No. 4 draft pick flashed potential. But Richardson struggled to stay healthy, managing to complete only one of his four starts before his rookie season ended due to an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder. His ability to stay active remains a concern, but Richardson also clearly provides upside and hope to Indianapolis going forward.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Predicted 2024 starter: Trevor Lawrence

Status: Locked in

Lawrence didn’t take the expected step up in 2023, ranking 17th in QBR (56.1), but he’s arguably the least of Jacksonville’s problems heading into next season. Jacksonville is running it back with the same offensive coaching staff, and at minimum, they have to protect Lawrence better. (The Jaguars ranked 29th in pass block win rate last season.)

Kansas City Chiefs

Predicted 2024 starter: Patrick Mahomes

Status: Locked in

Las Vegas Raiders

Predicted 2024 starter: Michael Penix Jr.

Status: Rookie landing spot

Like the division rival Broncos, the Raiders need a quarterback and sit in a draft position where taking one makes a lot of sense. I’ve opted to pair them with Penix (Washington) here, in part because they’re behind Denver and Minnesota in the draft order and also because Penix was the sixth quarterback off the board in Matt Miller’s latest mock draft. But the Raiders might not need to pick Penix at No. 13; they could trade down and nab him later in Round 1 or take him in Round 2 if the board falls in their favor.

Los Angeles Chargers

Predicted 2024 starter: Justin Herbert

Status: Locked in

Los Angeles Rams

Predicted 2024 starter: Matthew Stafford

Status: Locked in

Stafford proved in 2023 that he’s still got it (3,965 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, 63.5 QBR), and with the Rams adding young talent in players such as receiver Puka Nacua and defensive tackle Kobie Turner, they’re a threat again. Stafford, Sean McVay and the Rams’ wideouts will make this offense dangerous in 2024.

Miami Dolphins

Predicted 2024 starter: Tua Tagovailoa

Status: Locked in

Though there might be some questions about whether Tagovailoa is the right quarterback in Miami for the long haul, he’s certainly the right guy for the Dolphins right now. The Dolphins ranked fourth in EPA per dropback in 2023 with Tagovailoa, who threw for 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns while registering a 60.8 QBR.

Minnesota Vikings

Predicted 2024 starter: Russell Wilson

Status: Searching for a vet

Let’s call this Wilson plus Oregon’s Bo Nix. Cousins might end up back in Minnesota, but I could see the Vikings balking at giving him a multiyear guaranteed contract. If he’s out of the picture, Wilson is probably the next-best short-term solution. (I’m assuming the Bears wouldn’t deal Justin Fields inside their division.) But don’t be surprised if the Vikings go after multiple players to fill Cousins’ void. If they do, acquiring Wilson and drafting a QB at No. 11 makes the most sense.

New England Patriots

Predicted 2024 starter: Jayden Daniels

Status: Rookie landing spot

Maybe the Patriots will trade down or become tantalized by Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and take him with the No. 3 pick. But this is a team that needs a quarterback after suffering with Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe last season and is in range to get a high-end rookie without trading up. That’s usually too good a position for teams to pass up, and LSU’s Daniels fits here.

New Orleans Saints

Predicted 2024 starter: Derek Carr

Status: Decent bet

Given that Carr has $30 million fully guaranteed to him in 2024 (with roughly $23 million recently converted into a signing bonus), he’s almost certainly locked in for New Orleans. Carr was OK in 2023, but the fact that the Saints couldn’t win the meager NFC South had to be considered a failure. Still, despite having some rocky moments, Carr ranked 16th in QBR (56.5).

New York Giants

Predicted 2024 starter: Daniel Jones

Status: Decent bet

The Giants erred when they signed Jones to a deal with $82 million fully guaranteed last offseason after one good NFL season. The 2023 season, in which Jones played six games with a 36 QBR before tearing his right ACL, was disappointing. The Giants will likely stick with Jones to start the season, especially since cutting him would incur a $68.8 million dead money charge, but you never know.

New York Jets

Predicted 2024 starter: Aaron Rodgers

Status: Locked in

The Jets hope to finally see positive returns from the great Rodgers experiment that lasted four plays in 2023. While there’s little doubt who will start at QB for the Jets, plenty of questions remain. Will Rodgers be the same coming off his left Achilles injury? Can Nathaniel Hackett’s offense work? Do the Jets find a second pass-catching playmaker in the offseason to join receiver Garrett Wilson and, critically, will they be able to protect Rodgers?

Philadelphia Eagles

Predicted 2024 starter: Jalen Hurts

Status: Locked in

Hurts disappointed in the second half of 2023 — his QBR from the Eagles’ ninth game on was a mere 51.0 — but the hope is new Philadelphia offensive coordinator Kellen Moore can get Hurts and the Eagles’ offense back in rhythm.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Predicted 2024 starter: Justin Fields

Status: Searching for a vet

The Steelers’ next franchise quarterback is not currently on the roster. Kenny Pickett hasn’t shown enough growth in two seasons, and even though Mason Rudolph played well in a few starts down the stretch, he hasn’t been consistent enough in his career to be a safe option going forward. That they managed 10 wins last season despite their weak QB group makes them a candidate to deal for Fields, who could be a decent fit with new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

San Francisco 49ers

Predicted 2024 starter: Brock Purdy

Status: Locked in

The 49ers fell short of a Super Bowl title yet again, but Purdy answered a lot of questions in 2023, leading the NFL with a 72.8 QBR. The debate will rage on: Is Purdy a star or simply a product of his environment? The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Purdy is a capable starter who can execute Kyle Shanahan’s offense at a very high level — the 49ers had the NFL’s top offense, after all — even if he isn’t an elite QB in a vacuum. That’s plenty good enough to be the starter in San Francisco, especially at his incredibly cheap price ($1.004 million cap charge in 2024).

Seattle Seahawks

Predicted 2024 starter: Geno Smith

Status: Decent bet

With former coach Pete Carroll gone, the Seahawks’ future at quarterback is slightly murky. Smith is under contract at a very reasonable price, with a $26.4 million cap charge in 2024. Because of that and generally solid play — he ranked 14th in QBR (59.5) and had a plus-2% completion percentage over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats — I think he’ll keep the job in the short term. But Seattle might keep its eye out for a longer-term solution.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Predicted 2024 starter: Baker Mayfield

Status: Decent bet

Mayfield is a free agent, but a return to Tampa Bay should be attractive for both parties. The 2018 No. 1 overall pick exceeded expectations in 2023 with a very solid 54.0 QBR (ranked 18th), and the Bucs don’t draft until pick No. 26, which might leave them out of the running for the top six QB prospects. Even if one falls and Tampa Bay takes him, there’s a decent chance Mayfield would begin the season as the starter. I wonder whether the Bucs would be so eager to bring Mayfield back had they missed the playoffs, but we’ll never know.

Tennessee Titans

Predicted 2024 starter: Will Levis

Status: Decent bet

By default, the Titans are committed to Levis as the 2023 second-round pick enters his second NFL season. I think that’s how it will end up, but Levis posted a 33 QBR in 2023, and the Titans sit at the No. 7 spot in April’s draft. If it were me, I’d take a long look at the quarterbacks available.

Washington Commanders

Predicted 2024 starter: Drake Maye

Status: Rookie landing spot

The Commanders lost their final eight games to move into the No. 2 slot in a quarterback-heavy draft, absolving them of the decision of whether to give Sam Howell another shot. Now they’ll get a top quarterback prospect — perhaps UNC’s Maye — without having to trade up and can keep Howell as a solid backup. Washington’s stock is on the rise.

2024 DRAFT

Jordan Dajani of CBSSports.com tries to discern where the U of Washington’s QB MICHAEL PENIX, Jr. might end up:

Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. is one of the more intriguing quarterback prospects in this class. He’s not likely to go in the top 10, and at this point doesn’t even seem like a lock for the first round. Yet Penix possesses the one quality that can turn a good quarterback into a great quarterback: arm talent.

Penix was named a First Team All-American this past season after leading the Huskies to the College Football Playoff National Championship game. While Washington fell to Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines, Penix had a great 2023 campaign. He led the FBS in passing yards with 4,903, and led the FBS in completions (60) and passing touchdowns (26) of 25+ air yards over the last two seasons.

The former Indiana Hoosier was named one of the AP Comeback Player of the Year winners in 2022 after throwing for 4,641 yards, 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions. One knock against Penix as a prospect is his injury history, as he tore his right ACL twice, and suffered a couple of shoulder injuries. On paper, that’s scary. But Penix clearly bounced back. He even became the first quarterback to throw for 4,500 yards in back-to-back seasons since Patrick Mahomes.

So, where will Penix land in the 2024 NFL Draft? Where would he be a good fit? Let’s take a look at the five best potential landing spots for Penix. These are not the most likely landing spots, but the best “fits.”

5. New York Jets

The Jets made the fatal mistake of not exploring the backup quarterback market last offseason, and it cost them the 2023 campaign. Aaron Rodgers is back for 2024, but New York still needs to figure out who will back him up. Rodgers turned 40 in December, so it’s not exactly like he’s the quarterback of the future. The Jets would be smart to add someone young with potential, and Penix could be that guy.

I don’t know how much faith I have in Nathaniel Hackett’s offense, which is why the Jets rank last on this list. But to sit and learn from one of the best quarterbacks to ever do it and prepare for your shot is quite beneficial.

4. Washington Commanders

The Commanders are likely to select their new quarterback at No. 2 overall, and Washington should be somewhat of an attractive landing spot for a young quarterback. Not only will this new player likely start right away, but new ownership is getting this franchise back on the right track, and the Commanders have an entirely new coaching staff. That includes Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator.

Parades weren’t thrown when the former Arizona Cardinals head coach was named the new OC, but maybe the fan base should be optimistic. It looked like he had the Cards in a good spot before things fell apart in 2022. He even had a top-10 offense in two of his first three seasons. Kingsbury has also worked with several notable young quarterbacks, such as Kyler Murray, Caleb Williams, Mahomes and Johnny Manziel. It didn’t work out in Arizona, but maybe Kingsbury could be a good offensive coordinator — and be beneficial for a young quarterback.

Washington needs to upgrade the offensive line this offseason, but Penix or any other young quarterback will have Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson to catch his passes.

3. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings could be in the market for a new quarterback with Kirk Cousins being one of the most attractive free agents on the open market. In fact, they should still be in the quarterback market even if Cousins returns on a short-term deal. Any young quarterback should be attracted to the possibility of playing half the year indoors under the creative and offensive-minded Kevin O’Connell, while throwing the ball to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Even if that quarterback has to wait for a year or two behind Cousins. That “Green Bay Packers” method of drafting, stashing and developing your young backup quarterback has worked more than once. Maybe the Vikings follow that path this offseason.

2. Denver Broncos

I personally would love to see Penix’s ball flying 70 yards through the thin air that exists in the Mile High City, and to see him work with Sean Payton. Payton never looked comfortable running his offense through Russell Wilson, so the Broncos appear to again be in the market for a new quarterback.

Yes, Denver has to play Patrick Mahomes twice a year, but are the Broncos a quarterback away from the playoffs? Potentially. Denver has some weapons on offense and then Vance Joseph facilitated what was really a miraculous turnaround on defense. I’ll take Penix in Denver.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are probably the biggest question mark when it comes to teams that may or may not be involved in the quarterback mix. They could run it back with Kenny Pickett, add a veteran like Ryan Tannehill or they could draft someone. What I like about the Steelers’ situation is that they will finally have a new offense. Arthur Smith was probably not a celebrated hire, but understand that he knows how to build a run game.

Despite the overall subpar run with the Atlanta Falcons, Smith had a top-10 rushing offense last year. During his time as the offensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans, his rushing offense finished top three for two consecutive years while Derrick Henry turned in his two best NFL campaigns. With Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, the Steelers can be effective on the ground. And that’s a great thing to have with a young quarterback. It should complement the bazooka Penix walks around with nicely.

– – –

Here is a Mock Draft, hot off the presses, from Mel Kiper, Jr. of ESPN.com:

Who’s ready for a new 2024 NFL mock draft? With combine workouts beginning Thursday — the defensive linemen and linebackers will kick things off — this is one of the most important weeks on the draft calendar. This is where coaches and front office executives can really get to know players. The interviews that happen behind the scenes are just as important as the on-field testing you’ll see on TV.

So what has changed since my Mock Draft 1.0? The Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII to lock in the Round 1 order, but we still don’t have a definitive answer on whether the Bears will keep the No. 1 pick. That looms large this week because Chicago dealt the top pick in early March a year ago and teams will want a chance to add quarterback Justin Fields — if he’s available. With free agency starting March 11 (when teams can begin negotiating with players), we’ll also figure out over the next couple of weeks what positions teams really need in the draft.

So let’s get into my new mock draft. Once again, I’m not projecting any trades. You can find my Big Board — my personal overall and position rankings — here. And check out the “SportsCenter Special: NFL Mock Draft 2.0” at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN 2 and the ESPN App, where I’ll be explaining each pick even further. Here we go:

1. Chicago Bears (via CAR)

Caleb Williams, QB, USC

As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Bears’ trading the No. 1 overall pick to Carolina, I continue to believe they will keep this selection and move on from Justin Fields. It’s about restarting the quarterback clock and taking one of the best all-around prospects of the past decade. Williams has a rare skill set in terms of arm strength, accuracy, decision-making and mobility. Chicago will need to continue to help him: The organization could add a playmaker with the No. 9 pick, and it also has cap space to make moves in free agency.

2. Washington Commanders

Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

I’m sticking with Daniels here over Drake Maye (North Carolina), though it’s tight. Several NFL teams have Maye over Daniels on their boards two months out from the start of Round 1. I love Daniels’ fit with new Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who will run a wide-open offense and put his quarterback in the best position to succeed. Washington already has two really good (and young) wideouts in Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, so Daniels and Kingsbury would be able to start quickly.

Daniels made a massive leap during his time at LSU, developing into a top-tier passer and runner. I can’t wait to watch him at the next level.

3. New England Patriots

Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

As I wrote in my Mock Draft 1.0, quarterback is the Patriots’ biggest hole this offseason. The organization can’t move forward and get back to competing for AFC East titles until it gets the position right. Mac Jones had a solid rookie season in 2021 but regressed badly the past two seasons; he could be traded or released over the next few months.

So unless New England takes a surprise run at one of the veterans on the market — Kirk Cousins? Russell Wilson, who is likely to be released? — Maye makes too much sense. Sure, he’s the third passer off the board in this class, but he might be the No. 1 pick in many other drafts. He’s No. 5 on my Big Board, has special touch on downfield passes and can deliver every throw with precision.

4. Arizona Cardinals

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

If the first three picks break this way, I suspect the Cardinals will rush their selection to the podium. Harrison is an elite wide receiver prospect with all the tools to be a future All-Pro. But unlike in usual drafts, when most trades up into the top five are for quarterbacks, I wonder if teams might try to trade up for Harrison. Would Arizona be able to pass up, for instance, a 2025 first-round pick to move down nine spots with Las Vegas? I’m not saying it would be able to get that haul, but it’d have to consider a deal if it did, right? The looming question is: Are the Cardinals a wide receiver away from contending?

Luckily, this doesn’t have to be decided today. Harrison would slot in perfectly as Kyler Murray’s No. 1 target, and Arizona also has the Texans’ first-round pick at No. 27.

5. Los Angeles Chargers

JC Latham, OT, Alabama

Here’s a big — literally — deviation from my debut mock draft. When I projected the Chargers to take tight end Brock Bowers (Georgia) in January, it was before they had hired Jim Harbaugh as their new coach. And we should know from Harbaugh’s time with the 49ers and at Michigan that he wants to build through the lines, which means starting with the 300-pounders. The 360-pound Latham started 27 games at right tackle in college, which is where he could slot in for L.A.

This is a little bit of a reach in my rankings — Latham is No. 22 on my Big Board — but he’s a nasty run blocker, which is why I see a fit for him in this offense. He’d form a great pair of bookend tackles with Rashawn Slater.

6. New York Giants

Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

The Giants are coming off a disastrous season in which they ranked 29th in points scored per game on offense (14.0), 30th in yards per play (4.5) and 32nd in sack rate per dropback (12.8%). That was with only six games from Daniel Jones, though, and the quarterback should be recovered from his knee injury by the start of the 2024 season. So what’s the best way to make sure that doesn’t happen again? Get Jones some help. They have too many Nos. 2 and 3 receivers. Odunze, who caught 92 passes for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, could be their No. 1 guy.

7. Tennessee Titans

Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

Tennessee is a team to watch for a trade down, as it has multiple roster holes, including at cornerback, wide receiver and defensive line. General manager Ran Carthon could try to acquire future draft capital — the organization already is without its third-round pick this year because of the move up for quarterback Will Levis a year ago.

If the Titans are staying put, though, they could do much worse than Alt, my top-ranked tackle in the class. He’s one of the most consistent pass-blockers I’ve studied over the past few years; he just doesn’t get beaten often. This would give them my top two O-linemen in back-to-back drafts, as they took Peter Skoronski at No. 11 a year ago.

8. Atlanta Falcons

Dallas Turner, OLB, Alabama

The Falcons are the most interesting team this offseason with regard to the quarterback position. The decision will define new coach Raheem Morris’ tenure, because the franchise has the skill-position talent to immediately compete in the NFC South. The problem here is I’m not ready to move J.J. McCarthy (Michigan) into the top 10, so Atlanta would either have to trade up — sacrificing much-needed draft capital — or reach a little bit for McCarthy or Michael Penix Jr. (Washington), who has a second-round grade in my rankings. This team might be better served using a significant chunk of its cap space on Kirk Cousins.

So I’ll stick with the top edge rusher in the class to the Falcons, who ranked 32nd in pass rush win rate (30.9%) last season. Turner had 10 sacks last season, taking his game to a new level as the Crimson Tide’s top defender. He has a really high ceiling.

9. Chicago Bears

Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

We’re back around to the Bears, to whom I gave quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1. I thought about offensive line, though it might be a little early for Troy Fautanu (Washington), the best guard in the class. I also considered cornerback, though Chicago could franchise-tag or sign to a big extension free agent Jaylon Johnson, which would plug that hole. And since this is a strange year for edge rushers — Laiatu Latu (UCLA) has medical questions that should be answered at the combine, and I don’t have a top-15 grade on Jared Verse (Florida State) — let’s instead select a dynamic playmaker to make Williams’ life easier.

Nabers had 89 receptions for 1,569 yards with 14 touchdowns last season, with 1,009 of those yards and 12 of those scores coming from when he lined up in the slot. That versatility would suit new coordinator Shane Waldron’s offense. I have four wideouts in the top 11 of my rankings, and all four likely would be top-10 locks in any other draft.

10. New York Jets

Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

How far could Bowers fall? My guy Field Yates got a lot of stick for slotting him to the Seahawks at No. 16. The reality is it’s tough to find an ideal spot for Bowers in the top 10 because of the depth of the quarterback, offensive tackle and wide receiver classes. Each of those positions is valued higher than tight end. So while I love him as a prospect — he’s No. 8 on my Big Board — it might take a trade for him to land in the top 10.

That is… unless the Jets take him here. Think about it: Aaron Rodgers is returning, they have a void at the position and they might jump at the opportunity to add a pass-catching tight end with rare run-after-the-catch ability. There’s a natural fit. And yes, New York has a bigger hole at offensive tackle, but what if it doesn’t totally love its options here? I always say — drafting strictly for need will get teams into trouble. So even with Olu Fashanu (Penn State) on the board, I’m going with a Bowers-Jets connection.

11. Minnesota Vikings

Jared Verse, DE, Florida State

I almost went corner here — Terrion Arnold (Alabama), Cooper DeJean (Iowa) and Nate Wiggins (Clemson) are my top three — but I wonder whether this instead could be the spot for an edge rusher. If Danielle Hunter leaves in free agency, Minnesota would have a massive void to fill.

Verse could be an asset on all three downs. He had 18 sacks over two seasons at FSU, where he also developed into a solid run defender. He was inconsistent at times, but he has some savvy as a pass-rusher. I’m really curious to see how he tests in the on-field drills at the combine.

12. Denver Broncos

J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

I’m following my co-workers and slotting in a quarterback to the Broncos. Why? This might be their only chance to add a high-ceiling signal-caller prospect this offseason — and not mortgage their future to do it. They’re almost certainly going to cut Russell Wilson, leaving a void on the depth chart. They don’t have the cap space to try to add a veteran. Moving up from No. 12 might require a future first-rounder that would hamper them down the road. So why not take a shot on McCarthy?

Look, this would be a reach by my rankings, but I could see why a team in the top 15 would talk itself into McCarthy. He has an intriguing skill set as a passer. He will test extremely well during combine workouts and impress coaches and front office execs in interviews. He wasn’t asked to carry the Wolverines with his arm the past two seasons, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t do it. Sure, McCarthy needs some refinement, but Sean Payton could get the best out of him in Denver.

13. Las Vegas Raiders

Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

Like Denver, Las Vegas is likely moving on from its veteran quarterback, as Jimmy Garoppolo was benched when Antonio Pierce took over as the interim coach last season. And like Denver, Las Vegas might have to go a different route to add its 2024 starting signal-caller. So with Pierce hired as the full-time coach, let’s look to improve his defense.

Murphy has the highest pass-rush upside of any of the interior defensive linemen in this class. He had five sacks and 33 pressures last season, a huge improvement over his 2022 season (1 sack, 14 pressures). At 308 pounds, he could play as the Raiders’ 3-technique tackle, wreaking havoc in both the run and pass games. Maxx Crosby had 14.5 sacks last season, but No. 7 overall pick Tyree Wilson disappointed as a rookie, putting up just 3.5. With Murphy on the interior, Crosby and Wilson could get more space to get after quarterbacks off the edge.

14. New Orleans Saints

Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

Trevor Penning, a first-round pick in 2022, has started just six games in two seasons and was one of the league’s worst pass-blocking left tackles when he did play in 2023. Could the Saints decide he’s not going to be their left tackle of the future? It shouldn’t be out of the question, especially as they again have salary cap issues.

If there’s not an edge rusher or wide receiver they like available here, they should take Fashanu, who has the potential to be that guy in New Orleans. Fashanu, who turned 21 in December, allowed a single sack and eight total pressures in 21 college starts. He often dominated edge rushers.

15. Indianapolis Colts

Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

Indianapolis got solid cornerback play from rookies JuJu Brents (Round 2) and Jaylon Jones (Round 7) last season, but it has to keep improving there. Frankly, the Colts need a talent injection on their entire defense, which is why I could see them picking the best available defender here.

Six-foot Arnold picked off five passes and allowed just four catches of 20-plus yards as the nearest defender in coverage last season. Minnesota has a clear void at the position, and he could be a day one starter.

16. Seattle Seahawks

Troy Fautanu, G, Washington

OK, so guard might not be the most exciting position for a mock draft, but I can assure you that Seahawks fans should be happy with Fautanu, who could stay near where he went to college. That’s because he’s a fun offensive line prospect to watch on tape. He has excellent feet and plays hard on every snap. Fautanu started 28 games at left tackle for the Huskies, but I see his future on the interior because of his 6-foot-4 frame.

With Evan Brown, Damien Lewis and Phil Haynes all free agents, Seattle will have holes to fill along the interior of its line. And Seattle ranked 28th in rushing yards per game (92.9), surely new coordinator Ryan Grubb wants to see upgrades there. Fautanu would give this offense an instant boost.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars

Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

I thought about offensive line — the Jags ranked 29th in pass block win rate (50.6%) last season — and wide receiver with this pick, but let’s look to the defense instead. I wrote earlier that it’s a strange draft, and that’s especially true with the cornerbacks. There’s no league consensus on the No. 1 guy. Or the No. 2 guy. Or the No. 3 guy. And I don’t see any going in the top 10 picks as of now. (Although we’ve seen before that blazing 40-yard dash times at the combine could move up defensive backs.)

Mitchell, though, lit up Senior Bowl practices a few weeks ago, showing that his college stats are no fluke. He’s rising. He was a shutdown player for the Rockets, picking off six passes while allowing quarterbacks to complete just 35.2% of their throws against him in coverage over the past two seasons. As I wrote when I added him to my Big Board, he didn’t allow a single touchdown in coverage in 2023.

18. Cincinnati Bengals

Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

The Bengals are one of the teams that will be helped by a deep offensive tackle class, as there could be as many as eight going in Round 1. With Orlando Brown Jr. locked into the position on the left side, their hole is on the right, as Jonah Williams is a free agent. Fuaga could play there from day one; he started 25 games at right tackle in college. He is a tenacious run-blocker in a 6-6, 335-pound frame. He allowed just one sack over the past two seasons.

19. Los Angeles Rams

Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

Fourth-round pick Cobie Durant was a revelation as a rookie in 2022, but he was inconsistent last season, and Derion Kendrick — taken in Round 6 in the same draft — didn’t take a step forward either. So while the Rams got a resurgent season from Ahkello Witherspoon, the veteran is a free agent, meaning there are big questions in this secondary. I see corner as their single biggest need.

DeJean, who would be L.A.’s first Round 1 pick since 2016 (yes, really), is my No. 1-ranked CB. He’s recovering from a broken leg suffered in November, but he still had seven interceptions over the past two seasons. That’d be huge for a defense that forced 15 takeaways in 2023, which ranked 30th in the league. DeJean isn’t expected to work out at the combine, but I still see him as a Day 1 selection.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers

Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

I went corner in my Mock Draft 1.0, and I don’t see a reason to change, though the Steelers just cut starting center Mason Cole and will have to replace him. Wiggins could pair a formidable pairing with Joey Porter Jr., who came on in the second half of last season. Wiggins allowed just 4.2 yards per attempt as the nearest defender in coverage last season, taking a leap forward from 2022, when he allowed 6.1. At 6-2, 185 pounds, he has a great blend of size and speed. With 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and a sack, he showed up all over the Tigers’ 2023 tape.

21. Miami Dolphins

Graham Barton, C, Duke

I noted in my debut mock that the Dolphins have decisions to make with free agent offensive linemen Connor Williams and Robert Hunt. The organization might get priced out of bringing them back. Miami cleared some cap space when it released edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah and cornerback Xavien Howard, but it has other holes to fill, too.

With Barton, the Dolphins would get a veteran lineman who spent the past three seasons as the Blue Devils’ starting left tackle. He started five games at center as a true freshman in 2020, though, and that’s where I think he could be a rookie starter. At 6-5, Barton is extremely consistent on a snap-to-snap basis. He’s technically sound as a run- and pass- blocker. I debated between Barton and Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon), my other top-ranked center, but Barton would be getting more first-round buzz if he hadn’t missed a few games to lower-body injuries.

22. Philadelphia Eagles

Laiatu Latu, OLB, UCLA

This week is huge for Latu, who medically retired from football due to a neck injury when he was at Washington in 2021. Will NFL teams be satisfied with his medical reports? It’s not exactly unheard of — Jaelan Phillips, a Round 1 pick in 2021, medically retired when he was at UCLA before transferring to Miami — but it’s why these pre-combine mock drafts are tough. Because for everything Latu did on the field for the Bruins — he had 112 pressures and 23.5 sacks the past two seasons — it won’t matter if teams flag his medicals and take him off their board. Based on what I saw on tape from 2022 on, however, Latu is a first-rounder.

As for the Eagles, you watched the end of their season, right? Their pass rush really struggled. They got just one sack and 10 total tackles from 2023 first-round pick Nolan Smith. I still believe in Smith’s talent, and adding Latu would give their front seven another toolsy edge rusher.

23. Houston Texans (via CLE)

Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

Houston is without its own Round 1 selection due to the trade up for Will Anderson Jr. from last April, but it has this pick as part of the Deshaun Watson deal from 2022. And even though the Texans are coming off a season that featured a surprising playoff win, I see clear needs for them in the front seven on defense and along the offensive line. So with Laremy Tunsil holding down the left tackle position, Guyton could step in at right tackle, where he started 14 games for the Sooners.

As I wrote in my Big Board rankings, 6-7, 327-pound Guyton is physically what NFL teams want in a future Pro Bowl-caliber right tackle. He moves like a tight end (he used to play there). He has a ton of natural talent, although he doesn’t have as much experience as the tackles likely to be taken ahead of him. For a team that ranked 29th in yards per rush attempt on offense (3.7) last season, Guyton could be an excellent addition.

24. Dallas Cowboys

Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Mims has even fewer college starts than Guyton, as he was limited to just eight over the past three seasons because of injuries and draft picks in front of him on the Bulldogs’ depth chart. But when he did play, he made defenders look silly. Mims, 6-7 and 340, allowed zero sacks and just five total pressures across 372 career pass blocks. Will NFL teams be scared off by his limited experience, or will they draft him high based on his size and potential? I lean toward the latter, because he was that good when he got on the field.

To make room for Mims, the Cowboys could part ways with longtime left tackle Tyron Smith, who’s a free agent, or have him compete with Terence Steele on the right side. He played right tackle in college but has the talent to play both sides.

25. Green Bay Packers

Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona

I’m squeezing one more offensive tackle into this Round 1 projection. David Bakhtiari hasn’t been able to stay on the field since 2020 due to a nagging knee injury, which means there’s a glaring void at left tackle in Green Bay. And I love what Morgan showed over 37 college starts, mostly at left tackle. His footwork in pass protection is outstanding, and he can stay in front of speedy edge rushers because of his arm length and quickness. He tore his ACL in November 2022 but was able to start 12 games last season, surrendering two sacks and seven total pressures. Green Bay could benefit from this deep OT group.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State

Sure, Tampa Bay won the NFC South and beat the Eagles in the playoffs, but it had some issues on both sides of the ball. On offense, it ranked 32nd in yards per rush attempt (3.4) and run block win rate (67.3%). On defense, it ranked 29th in passing yards allowed per game (248.9) and could lose free agent safety Antoine Winfield Jr.. So although I could have gone with offensive line or the secondary with this pick, I’m instead thinking toward the future at wideout.

Mike Evans, another free agent for the Bucs, will turn 31 before the season. Even if they bring him back, how much longer will he be at the top of his game? In Coleman, they could get a successor, a 6-4 big body who excels in contested catch situations. He had 18 touchdowns over the past two seasons at Michigan State and Florida State. He’s one of the most intriguing prospects at the combine, because I want to see how he tests in the on-field workouts.

27. Arizona Cardinals (via HOU)

Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri

I moved Robinson into my Big Board after the Senior Bowl in early February. He was one of the best prospects during practices, showing lightning-quick get-off at the snap and power in one-on-one pass-rush drills, all at 286 pounds. And when I went back to study his 2023 tape, you can see his performance was no fluke. Robinson put up 8.5 sacks and 35 total pressures. He’s a fit for teams that run a 4-3 base scheme.

Arizona’s defense had a rough 2023, ranking 32nd in QBR allowed (57.3) and rushing yards allowed per game (143.2) and 30th in sacks (33). The franchise should devote this second Round 1 pick — which was acquired from Houston’s trade up last April — to the front seven.

28. Buffalo Bills

Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

With Gabe Davis likely to sign elsewhere in free agency, the Bills have to find a No. 2 wideout this offseason. The draft might be their best opportunity to do that. There might be six or seven receivers taken in Round 1 in April. Thomas, who played mostly outside receiver for the Tigers, caught 68 passes for 1,177 yards and led the FBS with 17 touchdowns in 2023. At 6-4, he has a stellar combo of size and speed. He also has great hands. The best way to take Buffalo’s offense to a new level is with an upgrade on the other side of Stefon Diggs.

29. Detroit Lions

T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State

Here’s a corner who might be going a little under the radar. Tampa can start for a team from day one. He played nearly 900 coverage snaps for the Cyclones, and he saw every route. After giving up four touchdown passes as the nearest defender in coverage in 2021, he allowed only three in the next two seasons. He made a massive improvement in 2023. Although Tampa had only three interceptions in college, I think he could be more productive in the NFL.

Detroit, as I wrote in my mock draft in January, struggled in the secondary last season, ranking 30th in passing yards allowed to receivers (3,081). This is where it can get an instant starter.

30. Baltimore Ravens

Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia

I’d like to see the Ravens make moves on defense this offseason, and they likely will have to use their cap space to keep some of their own players, including safety Geno Stone and defensive tackle Justin Madubuike. Those moves should start at corner, so how about one more in this top 32? Lassiter makes six.

Lassiter didn’t get beat often last season. He didn’t allow a single touchdown as the nearest defender in coverage, and in total, he allowed nine receptions for 91 yards. Those are elite numbers. The problem? He had one career interception, and that came in 2021. Teams will have questions about his lack of on-ball production. I’m a believer that production from corners can be developed, and I’m not worried. I am interested in seeing Lassiter’s 40-yard dash time in Indianapolis, though.

31. San Francisco 49ers

Chop Robinson, OLB, Penn State

It has to be offensive line or edge rusher for the 49ers, right? They need to find young talent so they can use their cap space on their veteran stars. I went offensive tackle in my debut mock, but let’s switch to the defense here.

San Francisco could take the comp pick for defensive end Chase Young and let him walk in free agency, opening up a spot on the other side of Nick Bosa. That’s where I’d slot in Robinson, whose sack numbers were a little disappointing the past two seasons (9.5 total, four in 2023) but who has the potential to be a star. At 6-3, 250 pounds, he is extremely explosive. Give him time with 49ers D-line coach Kris Kocurek and he could be a star. The reason Robinson might be a late Round 1 pick is because of that questionable production, but scouts and execs love his tool set.

32. Kansas City Chiefs

Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

I don’t see a reason to change the position here. The Chiefs had major issues at receiver last season — their pass-catchers led the league in drops (38). The word I’ve used to describe Worthy is electrifying, because he has amazing movement skills in space. He can score from any spot on the field. He had 26 receiving touchdowns over three seasons at Texas.

The one problem with this fit is that Worthy had his share of drops in 2022. He cut those in half last season (from 10 to 5). Most of those were concentration drops. I can see why Chiefs fans might worry about a speedy playmaker who has problems holding on to the ball, but Worthy showed last season that he’s past the issue.