CHICAGO

Greg Roman harnessed the talents of Ravens QB LAMAR JACKSON – until he didn’t.  Now, he interviews for the OC position in Chicago, perhaps a sign that QB JUSTIN FIELDS will not be traded.  But he is one of five to be interviewed per NBC Sports Chicago.

The Chicago Bears fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and five other coaches just days ago, but so far they’ve reportedly cast a wide net in their search for a new leader.

According to reports, the Bears have interviewed at least five candidates for the position in the week since Getsy’s dismissal.

Greg Roman – Former Ravens offensive coordinator

Roman served as the coordinator for the Ravens for four seasons, including the 2019 campaign, where quarterback Lamar Jackson won NFL MVP honors. Jackson posted a 13-2 record while completing 66.1% of his passes, throwing for 36 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Importantly, Jackson also rushed for a career-high 1,206 yards in that season, going along with the pattern of Roman offenses being heavily run-oriented, according to NBC Sports Chicago’s Bears insider Josh Schrock.

Roman resigned his post after the Ravens lost the AFC Wild Card Round game earlier this year, skipping the 2023 season.

Before his time in Baltimore, Roman served as the offensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills.

Shane Waldron – Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator

Waldron, 44, is the current offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks. Seeing, however, that Pete Carroll is no longer the head coach in Seattle, the replacement would likely jettison Waldron.

Waldron has been Seattle’s OC since 2021. Before then, he was the passing game coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams. He spent 2017-20 with the Rams. He was also an operations assistant with the New England Patriots, with whom he won two Super Bowls.

Under Waldron, Seattle has ranked 16th, 10th, and 17th in scoring offense. They have ranked 24th, 12th, and 14th in passing yards per game. Waldron received a lot of praise for his work with Geno Smith in 2022 when the quarterback won the Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Klint Kubiak – San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator

Kubiak, 36, is the current passing game coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers. He’s been an offensive coordinator before; he was the OC for the Minnesota Vikings in 2021. He also spent the 2022 season as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach of the Denver Broncos. He’s the son of longtime NFL coach Gary Kubiak.

Kubiak took over as the 49ers’ passing game coordinator this season after Bobby Slowik left to become the Houston Texans’ offensive coordinator. Kubiak is thought of highly in league circles. He is seen as a cerebral offensive mind, much like his father, Gary Kubiak, and has had some experience as a play-caller after taking over the duties down the stretch for the Denver Broncos last season.

The Shanahan/Kubiak tree has had a lot of successful branches in the NFL. League evaluators view Kubiak as integral to Brock Purdy’s superb season.

Greg Olson – Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks

Olson, 60, is the current quarterbacks coach for the Seahawks. He was the former quarterbacks coach for the Bears, in fact, in 2003. He’s been in the NFL coaching sphere since 2001 with a wealth of experience.

He’s been an offensive coordinator before. He led the offense for the Detroit Lions (2004-05), St. Louis Rams (2006-07), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2009-11), Oakland Raiders (2013-14), Jacksonville Jaguars (2015-16) and the Las Vegas Raiders (second stint; 2018-21).

Liam Coen – Kentucky Football offensive coordinator

Coen, 38, has predominantly worked in the college football space since 2010. Kentucky is the fifth university he’s worked at, with an array of positions outside of offensive coordinator.

He was the offensive coordinator for the Rams in 2022. That season, the Rams owned the 27th-ranked offense in the NFL, posting 18.1 points per game. This season, in 2023, the Rams have the 8th best offense in the league, since Coen’s departure.

In his defense, he’s greatly improved Kentucky’s offense, bringing them to the No. 50 offense in the country which is a great improvement from their 111th-ranked offense last season.

DALLAS

Garrett Podell of CBSSports.com with more from the post-loss Cowboys:

Team owner and general manager Jerry Jones also addressed the squad, airing out his annoyance and distress regarding the Cowboys early postseason exit.

“We got to win,” Lewis said when relaying Jones’ message in a meeting with the players on Monday. “This is the Dallas Cowboys, we had everything to win. We can’t let this feeling keep going on. I just feel like he (Jones) wants to win right now. The urgency is now. It was always that, and we always had that on our shoulders, but he made that clear. That was his point.”

Turpin said Jones, 81-years-old, emphasized the ticking clock of Father Time.

“Jerry talked about how he doesn’t have too many years left in this business,” Turpin said. “He just wants it bad. He wants a ring bad.”

Lewis, a Cowboys third round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, is one of 16 of Dallas’ pending unrestricted free agents, and potentially seeing his career his the team that drafted him end this is painful for the 28-year-old defensive back.

“I just wanted to help the team win,” Lewis said. “We’ve been here together, all of us, for three years now, and I just wanted to finish it the right way. It hurt that we didn’t get the chance to do that. It’s life. It hurts that we lost like that. I might not be a part of this next year, so it kind of hurts.”

With their head coach’s job status up in the air, both Lewis and Turpin went to bat for him. McCarthy’s career record in four seasons as the Cowboys’ head coach is 42-25 (62.7% win percentage), giving him the highest career win percentage of any coach in team history. That’s something Lewis pointed to in comparison to the up and down tenure of Jason Garrett in which the team went 86-67 in 10 seasons (55.9% win percentage). McCarthy’s postseason record is 1-3 with the sole win coming in last year’s wild card round against 45-year-old Tom Brady and the NFC South champion Buccaneers in Tampa. That’s why he is currently on the hot seat.

“This is one of the hardest jobs in America, quarterback and the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys,” Lewis said when asked about McCarthy’s tenure as the team’s head coach. “I feel like he’s done a tremendous job all things in consideration. It’s hard, all things considered. A lot of media, a lot of people against you, all the outside noise and we just made sure that we stuck our arms around each other and stayed together. I think we did a really good job. He helped me a lot with my career, and I feel like I learned a lot with him. … Look what he did in comparison to what happened when he wasn’t here,” Lewis said. “We were struggling to be over .500. He had three straight 12-win seasons. So yeah, I hope so (McCarthy returns).”

Turpin’s gratitude to McCarthy is immeasurable given he and Jones paved the way for him to have an NFL career. He is tied for the most combined kickoff and punt return touchdowns in TCU history (six), but he was let go from the Horned Frogs football program after domestic violence charges that were eventually pled down to disorderly conduct. In October of 2021, he was arrested for misdemeanor assault against the same girlfriend, and Turpin officially issued a guilty plea for the charge of assault causing bodily injury.

He completed two years of deferred adjudication probation and completed a 27-week Partner Abuse Intervention Program where the charges were filed in Tarrant County. The Cowboys took a chance on Turpin after he earned USFL MVP accolades as a wide receiver and kick returner. He was named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2022 thanks to averaging 24.2 yards per kickoff return on 24 returns while ranking fifth in the entire league with 10.4 yards per punt return on 29 punts returns. Turpin is the only Cowboys player all-time to be named to the Pro Bowl as a designated returner.

“Mike McCarthy, that’s my guy man,” Turpin said. “He gave me an opportunity, especially coming this year on the offensive end,”  Turpin said Monday. I just got mad respect for Mike man. Whatever he do, he got my blessing.”

TAMPA BAY

Jeff Kerr of CBSSports.com assesses how far OC Dave Canales has ascended this year:

Bucs OC Dave Canales will be a head coach this offseason

Overreaction or Reality: Overreaction

Canales certainly has a case to be a head coach based on his work with Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield, and how he revived their careers. Smith had a career year under Canales when he was the quarterbacks coach with the Seahawks, developing him into a top-10 quarterback in 2022.

In his first year as a play caller with the Buccaneers, Canales helped make Mayfield the best free agent signing of the 2023 season. Mayfield threw for over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns in his first season with Canales, reviving his career and making him due for a long-term extension with the Buccaneers. In a quarterback-driven league, Canales should be a hot commodity for any franchise.

However, based on how far the Buccaneers wind up going in the playoffs and how first-year play callers tend to get passed over for another year before getting hired, Canales not getting many interviews or a job this hiring cycle wouldn’t be surprising. He should be a head coach based on his resume.

SEATTLE

With the departure of Pete Carroll, GM John Schneider has enhanced power as he prepares to pick a coach for the first time.  Bob Condotta in the Seattle Times:

For the first time anybody could remember, general manager John Schneider was a solo act Tuesday when he ascended the stage of the auditorium at the Seahawks facility.

For the past 14 years when Schneider met the media under the bright lights of the auditorium, he usually was accompanied by coach Pete Carroll, also the organization’s de facto leading man in all football areas since 2010.

But that changed last Wednesday when the Seahawks decided to replace Carroll.

“Not the same size crowd as the other day,” Schneider joked as he began a news conference that represented the first public comments by anyone with the team since Carroll’s goodbye news conference last Wednesday.

“But I get it,” he said with a smile. “I get it.”

The crowd greeting him Tuesday was smaller, but the responsibility that resides on Schneider’s shoulders is bigger than ever.

Schneider is in charge of hiring Carroll’s successor, and he revealed Tuesday that he will have authority over all of the coaching staff and final say on all personnel decisions no matter who is hired as coach.

Carroll previously had final say and control over both.

“The coaching staff did not fall under my umbrella [before],” Schneider said. “Now it will. And it’s not necessary a Jody Allen decision or choosing this person or that person. It’s just a contractual situation.”

Though the move to essentially fire Carroll could be viewed as pointing the finger at him and the coaching staff for missing the playoffs this season, Schneider said everyone shared in the blame.

“We are all here today because we underachieved in 2023,” Schneider said. “We all did. And now we are in a situation where we all need to get better, and we understand that the 12s, the fans, the community, Jody, everybody in this building deserves better.

“We had high expectations for 2023. We overachieved in 2022, and quite frankly we underachieved in 2023, and I think everybody recognizes that. But again it’s a time for all of us to look in the mirror in this organization, myself included obviously, and improve, learn and move forward.”

As for what went wrong in 2023, Schneider said he would not get into specifics.

But at one point he mentioned how one of his mentors, former longtime NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer, once told him, “One coach can’t stay in one spot for more than 10 years” and that there can be a danger in getting stagnant.

Asked to elaborate on where felt things might have gotten stagnant, he said that “maybe stagnant isn’t the best word. … It’s more of like a growth. How are we getting better every day?”

The Seahawks didn’t feel that was happening this season with a roster they felt was capable of more.

Asked if he felt the Seahawks were close to being a championship-caliber team this season, Schneider said simply, “I do.”

As for this season, he said, “I think everybody was very disappointed. We had several games that just got out of control a little bit.”

That included four losses of 10 or more points to playoff teams in the Ravens (37-3), 49ers (31-13, 28-16) and Rams (30-13).

That led to the meetings last Monday and Tuesday and in turn to Carroll’s firing.

Schneider said he was “not going to get into the specifics” of the talks between Carroll and the team’s upper management, which included Allen, officially the team’s chair, and vice chair Bert Kolde.

“Those are very confidential, very private,” Schneider said. “I would say that Pete knew how I felt about things and where we needed to improve, and Jody knew my opinions as well.”

Condotta says there are now eight names on Seattle’s dance card for head coach:

Seahawks general manager John Schneider had barely finished his first news conference in the post-Pete Carroll era Tuesday when two more names were revealed as the team’s possible next coach.

The two names added to the list Tuesday were Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. The NFL’s official media arm, the NFL Network, reported both names Tuesday, stating the Seahawks had put in requests to interview both.

It had already been reported that Seattle has requested permission to talk with six other NFL assistants — Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith, New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.

Via league rules, teams can conduct interviews virtually with NFL assistants this week and can begin in-person interviews Monday, though only with coaches on teams that have concluded their seasons (meaning, not with teams that reach the conference title game).

Schneider said the Seahawks will begin interviews Wednesday. It’s likely Seattle will conduct virtual interviews this week with an eye toward bringing in in-person candidates next week.

While Schneider has not directly hired a head coach in Seattle, Pete Carroll was already inked when Schneider took the GM job, he was a key part of a coaching search in Green Bay that ended up with a name that could be relevant later this week.  Rob Staton ofSeahawksDraftBlog.com:

Schneider dropped a big hint about his thought-process, noting he was conscious of ‘where the league is’ in 2024 in a clear reference to current trends. We all know what that is — offensive-focused football. He also referred to Alex Smith’s experience coming into the league, where he ended up having to work with three different offensive coordinators in three years, something that Schneider felt impacted his career greatly.

He followed that answer up when talking about the philosophy of going with an offensive, defensive or special teams coach. He spoke very openly about the challenge of losing an offensive coordinator if they succeed. I don’t think Schneider was spelling it out that the Seahawks are going to hire an offensive-minded Head Coach but it suggests he’s conscious of the potential issue if you don’t. Or, that if he does go with a defensive-minded guy, they need to have a proper plan in place.

Mike McCarthy’s name was mentioned a lot but I wouldn’t read too much into that. As Jeff Simmons mentioned on our stream today (watch it below if you missed it, there’s a ton of info), Schneider apparently introduced McCarthy to his wife and the pair are very close. Schneider was heavily involved in McCarthy’s hiring in Green Bay, so it’s unsurprising he would refer back to it. It doesn’t mean McCarthy is destined for Seattle if he loses his job in Dallas.

PITTSBURGH

The Steelers players were the first to know that Coach Mike Tomlin intends to return for the 2024 season – and then the news spread out into the world.  Grant Gordon of NFL.com:

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told players on Tuesday the speculation about him stepping away is unfounded and he plans on coaching the team in 2024, NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo reported.

The message to players comes less than 24 hours after head coach Mike Tomlin abruptly exited his postgame news conference before a question regarding his future could be finished.

Tomlin, who is entering the final season on his current contract, is expected to address the media later this week, Garafolo added.

In the aftermath of the Steelers’ season-ending playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday, a question was asked of Tomlin regarding his contract status. Tomlin turned to his left and walked out of the presser. The incident prompted more speculation regarding his future after rumblings that he would potentially step away from the club.

Tomlin has now squashed those rumblings, but not before his superstar player offered his support earlier on Tuesday.

“I want to play for Mike T,” Steelers three-time All-Pro T.J. Watt said, per The Athletic. “That was huge in my contract talks. I don’t want to play for anyone other than Mike T. You can see in the way I talk about him, how much I respect and appreciate him as a coach, as a man, as a leader. That’s my endorsement for him.”

THIS AND THAT

PFF AWARDS

As we await the AP awards, here are who ProFootballFocus thought were the best players:

The 2023 NFL regular season is over, which means it’s Award Season! The NFL playoff bracket is set, and while the rest of the NFL is already looking ahead to free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on the season that was and recognize the best performances of the year.

PFF’s awards are based on the regular season only — just like the Associated Press awards. Playoff performances can affect a player’s standing in the PFF 101 rankings after the postseason, but the following honors are awarded based on the 2023 regular season. In addition, while PFF’s play-by-play grading forms an excellent foundation, it isn’t the entire basis of the awards. The level of competition, a player’s role, scheme and several other factors factor in to determine the final winners.

MVP: QB LAMAR JACKSON, BALTIMORE RAVENS

Honorable mention: QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys; QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills; QB Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers; WR Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins

There has seldom been an MVP race as wide-open as this season. The only thing separating Jackson at the top has been a lack of letdown performances. Every time another player had the chance to seal his MVP candidacy, they had a disqualifying performance or got injured. When Jackson became the front-runner, he put together two of his best games against the best opponents on his schedule, solidifying his status.

DWIGHT STEPHENSON AWARD: EDGE MYLES GARRETT, CLEVELAND BROWNS

Honorable mention: WR Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins; EDGE Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys

PFF’s Dwight Stephenson Award is given to the best player in the NFL, regardless of position. In truth, Myles Garrett has been at this kind of level for several years now, but the improvement of the Browns’ supporting cast made it so much more obvious this season. Garrett, as the best player on the NFL’s best defense, was an unmatched force off the edge. His 27.5% pass-rush win rate wasn’t just the best in the league this year by 3.4 percentage points; it was the best PFF has ever measured over a single season. He was a true game-changer this season.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: WR TYREEK HILL, MIAMI DOLPHINS

Honorable mention: RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers; WR CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

Tyreek Hill was threatening to not just eclipse the single-season receiving record, but also become the first receiver to break 2,000 yards over a season, before getting hurt late in the year. He still broke the record for yards per route run, ending the season with 3.83, significantly ahead of the previous best mark set by Steve Smith in 2008. Hill is the most dangerous receiver in the league, and Miami’s innovation of quick-motion pre-snap only added to the threat.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: EDGE MYLES GARRETT, CLEVELAND BROWNS

Honorable mention: EDGE Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys; DI Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants

This was an incredible year for defensive players. Micah Parsons and Aidan Hutchinson became just the fourth and fifth players in PFF’s history to record 100-plus pressures over a season. DaRon Bland set an NFL record with five pick-sixes. But the top defensive player was Myles Garrett, who had the best season of his incredible career with a little bit more help around him.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: QB C.J. STROUD, HOUSTON TEXANS

Honorable mention: WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams; CB Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks; DI Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles

Stroud became the first rookie quarterback to make the playoffs with a rookie head coach since Andrew Luck and Chuck Pagano combined to achieve that feat in 2012. Stroud hit the ground running immediately and looked like a star with a supporting cast that didn’t seem like anything special on paper before the season. Stroud finished the regular season ranked 14th in overall PFF grade and will now look to make some noise in the postseason.

OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: QB C.J. STROUD, HOUSTON TEXANS

Honorable mention: WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams; RB De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

It was a great year for rookies on offense. De’Von Achane looks like he’s planning on averaging eight yards every time he carries the football. Puka Nacua broke rookie receiving records that have stood since 1960. But C.J. Stroud, who looked like a top-tier quarterback without a top-tier situation right from the get-go, gets the nod here.

DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: CB DEVON WITHERSPOON, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Honorable mention: DI Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles; EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans

Jalen Carter seemed like he had this award locked up halfway through the season, but his production cooled off as the Eagles’ defense collapsed. Devon Witherspoon became the second straight standout rookie cornerback after Sauce Gardner‘s standout 2022 campaign. Witherspoon was a force in all areas of the game for the Seahawks, notching three sacks as part of his 10 pressures on the blitz to pair with 10 pass breakups in coverage.

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR: S DAMAR HAMLIN, BUFFALO BILLS

Honorable mention: QB Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns; QB Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Comeback Player of the Year is a very indistinct concept that tends to anger people because of its lack of clarity. Baker Mayfield came back from poor play last season to lead the Buccaneers to postseason play. Joe Flacco has improbably led the Browns back to the playoffs as their fourth quarterback of the year, fresh off the couch at 38 years old. Also very impressive. Damar Hamlin made it back to an NFL roster and then back onto an NFL field after suffering cardiac arrest on one a year ago. Comebacks don’t get much bigger than that, even if his playing time was minimal.

BEST RECEIVER: WR TYREEK HILL, MIAMI DOLPHINS

Honorable mention: WR CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys; WR Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

When you break the record for yards per route run and threaten 2,000 yards over the season until the last couple of games, you were probably the best receiver in football that year. Justin Jefferson being injured for much of the year certainly helped Hill’s case, but CeeDee Lamb ran him close.

BEST OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: T PENEI SEWELL, DETROIT LIONS

Honorable mention: T Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers; C Frank Ragnow, Detroit Lions

Sewell’s 93.1 PFF run-blocking grade is one of the best single-season grades ever earned by an offensive lineman, trailing the likes of Trent Williams at his very peak. Sewell was a monster for the Lions in the run game all year long and was no slouch in pass protection, either. He allowed 20 pressures across 17 games.

BEST PASS RUSHER: EDGE MYLES GARRETT, CLEVELAND BROWNS

Honorable mention: EDGE Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys; DI Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants

Garrett recorded the best pass-rush win rate of any edge rusher over the past 17 seasons of grading. He finished the year with 14 sacks to his name and made at least one game-changing play on a two-point conversion that slipped through the cracks of the official counting stats. Garrett was the best pass rusher in the league this season, even if other players exceeded his numbers in some areas.

BEST RUN DEFENDER: EDGE MAXX CROSBY, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

Honorable mention: DI Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants; DI Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers

Crosby has forced his way into the conversation as one of the best edge defenders in the league, even at a time when the league is full of all-time talents. Crosby was an excellent pass rusher once again this year, but his run defense was on a whole other level. His 92.7 PFF grade in that area was the top mark in the league, and he finished the season with an absurd 58 defensive stops, six more than any other edge rusher.

BEST COVERAGE DEFENDER: CB JAYLON JOHNSON, CHICAGO BEARS

Honorable mention: CB Sauce Gardner, New York Jets; CB DaRon Bland, Dallas Cowboys; S Jessie Bates III, Atlanta Falcons

One cornerback finished the season allowing a lower passer rating into their coverage than the passer rating of simply taking an incomplete pass instead: Chicago’s Jaylon Johnson. He allowed just a 33.3 passer rating compared to the 39.6 mark that’s recorded on an incompletion, thanks to his four interceptions. Johnson allowed 195 yards all season long, and even those yards came at a miserly 7.8 yards per reception.

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: QB JORDAN LOVE, GREEN BAY PACKERS

Honorable mention: LB Blake Cashman, Houston Texans; EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel, Miami Dolphins; G Tyler Smith, Dallas Cowboys; CB DaRon Bland, Dallas Cowboys

Love had an inconsistent first half of the season before consistently improving over the second half and finishing the year playing as well as any quarterback in the game. His overall PFF grade ranked 12th for the season, and the only passer with a better grade from Week 9 onward was Brock Purdy. Love repeated the trick we saw from Aaron Rodgers of biding his time for years on the bench before seizing his opportunity when given the chance to start.

BEST PASS BLOCKER: T LAREMY TUNSIL, HOUSTON TEXANS

Honorable mention: T Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys; T Rashawn Slater, Los Angeles Chargers

Tunsil was once again peerless as a pass protector and got the benefit of playing in a lineman-friendly scheme brought over by offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik from San Francisco. Tunsil allowed just 20 pressures over 14 games, earning the second-best PFF pass-blocking grade of any tackle, narrowly trailing Dallas’ Tyron Smith, who missed more time.

BEST RUN BLOCKER: T PENEI SEWELL, DETROIT LIONS

Honorable mention: C Frank Ragnow, Detroit Lions; T Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers

Sewell’s run-blocking performance this season was not just excellent but historically excellent. He was one of the best run blockers in the game and one of the best PFF has seen in more than 15 years of grading. He was a big reason the Detroit run game was so successful and both David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs were able to have such good seasons.

BEST OFFENSIVE LINE: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Honorable mention: Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens

Detroit took the Philadelphia Eagles down to the wire, but for the second consecutive season, the Eagles fielded the league’s best offensive line. This season, Philadelphia had to navigate a new starter at right guard, with Isaac Seumalo departing in the offseason. Cam Jurgens and Sua Opeta — who have each played at that spot this season — were both notable downgrades over Seumalo, but the overall unit was still the best in football, given the standard of the other four starters.

BEST PASSER: QB TUA TAGOVAILOA, MIAMI DOLPHINS

Honorable mention: QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys; QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

The league already has too many awards skewed toward quarterbacks, but this one focuses on the best pure passer rather than overall play. Think of it as the Dan Marino award, and so it’s fitting that Tua Tagovailoa wins it this season. Tagovailoa had the league’s fastest average time to throw, and to achieve that with an average depth of target 8.2 yards downfield and an 8.3 yards per attempt figure is remarkable. His timing and accuracy are a huge part of the Dolphins’ offensive success.

BEST SPECIAL TEAMER: LB MATTHEW ADAMS, CLEVELAND BROWNS

Honorable mention: K Chase McLaughlin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; P Bradley Pinion, Atlanta Falcons

Other special teamers have better PFF grades than Adams, but none can match his combination of performance with playing time. We think of special teams as bit-part players who barely feature, but Adams played 433 special teams snaps — 30 more snaps of game time than Joe Burrow had this year. He ended the year with nine special teams tackles and an 86.0 PFF grade for his work.

BROADCAST NEWS

Frank Schwab of YahooSports.com ranks the eight Divisional QBs 8 to 1:

The top 15 paid players in the NFL this season, in terms of average per year, play the same position.

There’s a reason there’s a different salary tier for quarterbacks. There’s a reason the first two picks of last year’s draft were quarterbacks, and the first two picks of this year’s draft will be quarterbacks. There’s also a reason quarterbacks have won 15 of the last 16 MVP awards.

The final eight teams remaining in the playoff field show how the gap is widening between teams that have a good quarterback and those who don’t. Every team left in the playoffs has a quality quarterback. Even the two who get the most grief among the final eight, Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff, are former No. 1 overall picks who each threw for 4,000 yards this season. Jordan Love and C.J. Stroud were revelations as first-time starters. Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen are almost indisputably the top three quarterbacks in the NFL. And Brock Purdy had better efficiency numbers than all of them.

The quarterback carousel is going to be as crazy as ever, and for good reason. If you don’t have a quarterback, you’re a step behind and the gap is getting harder to close. There are recent examples of champions who overcame average quarterback play to win a Super Bowl or get very close, but you won’t find one in this field (Mayfield might be the one outlier, but he had 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns and a 94.6 passer rating this season … not bad. The Buccaneers are also the longest shot left in the playoffs). It might be a while until we see a mediocre quarterback win a Super Bowl again.

The Steelers-Bills game on Monday was a good example of the quarterback gap. The Steelers battled hard to make the playoffs and they do have good players on both sides of the ball. But the Bills were without question the better team. The difference might be as simple as one side had Allen, the other had Mason Rudolph. Switch the quarterbacks and Pittsburgh might have been the division champ winning by 14 at home. If you’re a team like the Steelers, or practically half of the league that’s sitting at home, you have a difficult puzzle to solve in trying to land a top-tier QB.

The NFL had a problem with its product this season. Quarterback play was down, due to injuries, some young players not emerging as hoped and some veterans struggling a bit. There weren’t enough good quarterbacks to have 16 entertaining games each week. But there were at least eight good quarterbacks. Every team that survived to the divisional round has one. That’s no coincidence.

Here are the rankings for the eight starting quarterbacks remaining in the playoff field:

8. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mayfield is clearly eighth on this list, but that’s not really because Mayfield hasn’t been good this season. He resurrected his career on a one-year deal with the Buccaneers. He had stretches of brilliant play, like posting a perfect passer rating in a game at Lambeau Field. Mayfield struggled in the final two games of the regular season but was sharp in a win over the Eagles. Mayfield wasn’t a top eight quarterback all season, but he’s a fine inclusion in the surviving playoff field.

7. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

It’s probably not fair to Goff to have him this low. He has played well since being traded from the Los Angeles Rams. He does have a Super Bowl appearance. He’s consistently underestimated. He’s in this spot because the remaining field of quarterbacks is really strong. It’s also arguable Goff should be ranked a couple spots higher. He did have 4,575 yards and 30 touchdowns after all.

6. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Over the Packers’ last nine games, Love has a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 21-1. His performance in a win over the Dallas Cowboys had to be eye opening to anyone who hadn’t been paying attention to Love’s hot streak in the second half of the season. Maybe it’s unfair to rank him ahead of Goff already, but it’s easy to get excited about how he played late in the regular season and against Dallas.

5. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

Purdy has taken over as the most divisive player in the NFL. Some think he’s pretty much a game manager who hit the lottery playing on a phenomenal 49ers team. Others think that he’s a big reason the 49ers are as good as they are. He clearly does benefit from great teammates and a fantastic scheme, which makes him hard to rank. Purdy’s production is hard to deny, but which quarterbacks ahead of Purdy on this list would you pick him over?

4. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

This is not a normal rookie. It’s remarkable how advanced Stroud is in every aspect. He has played in what amounts to two playoff games (Week 18 was a winner-take-all game at Indianapolis on the road), and in those games he was 36 of 47 for 538 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. That’s a 76% completion percentage, an incredible 11.4 yards per attempt and a ridiculous 149.1 passer rating. Maybe he’s in for a bad game, but it’s hard to predict it. Stroud is already a star.

3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Sure, Allen can get a little too reckless at times and that leads to turnovers. But no quarterback is asked to do more for his offense. And Allen often delivers. He accounted for 44 touchdowns in the regular season. He made huge plays against the Steelers in a wild-card win, including a 52-yard touchdown run. Allen does more with less than any other quarterback in the NFL, and it’s justified to have him at No. 1 in this list. But it’s a pretty strong field with just eight quarterbacks left.

2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Jackson is going to win MVP for the second time, and that’s a fine pick. He’s a special player deserving of being in the elite group that has multiple MVPs. The narrative that Jackson can’t win in the playoffs is overdone but Jackson hasn’t been great in three postseason appearances. He has three touchdown passes and five interceptions. The Ravens are 1-3 in those games. There’s only one way to end the talk of his postseason struggles, and the Ravens have the team to make a deep run. And Jackson is certainly capable of being as great in the playoffs as he has been in the regular season.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Mahomes did not have a better season than Jackson, Allen or probably Purdy. His supporting cast wasn’t that good, and Mahomes wasn’t great in many games either. For most of the season he was talked up as an MVP candidate and that was ridiculous from Week 1 on. Aside from a 424-yard, four-touchdown game against the Chargers in Week 7, Mahomes didn’t have one game over 306 yards and had just one game with more than two passing touchdowns.

And yet, if we were drafting quarterbacks for the rest of these playoffs, you’d probably pick Mahomes. There would be a good argument to be made for a few others, but Mahomes would be the right choice. And that’s why it’s hard to cross the Chiefs off the list as a possible Super Bowl champion.

2024 DRAFT

Dane Brugler of The Athletic has a tasty two-round Mock Draft to get us started in 2024:

1. Chicago Bears (from CAR): Caleb Williams, QB, USC

The Bears’ quarterback situation will be a hot topic as we wait for general manager Ryan Poles to reveal his cards. I don’t know what he’ll do, but I can tell you what other NFL teams believe he’ll do: trade Justin Fields and draft a quarterback at No. 1. This is as much a financial decision as it is a football decision.

Williams isn’t a perfect prospect, by any means, but he is the favorite for No. 1 because of his playmaking instincts. He needs to be more consistent, but his poise and creativity are what make him special.

2. Washington Commanders: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

Recently hired Adam Peters has taken over all football decisions for Washington and has a chance to flip things quickly with three picks in the top 40.

Obviously, this selection will depend on what the Bears do. Will it be as simple as drafting whoever doesn’t go No. 1 between Williams and Maye? Very possible. Maye is a fantastic consolation prize and has the talent to develop into a top-10 NFL quarterback.

3. New England Patriots: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

The Patriots were cruising to the No. 2 pick until two wins in their final five games dropped them to No. 3. While that likely takes them out of contention for Williams or Maye, the Patriots still have several favorable options.

With Bill Belichick no longer with the organization, there is a level of unknown here, especially considering New England needs help in so many areas. Despite questions about who will throw him the ball, though, drafting a legitimate No. 1 target is the wise move.

4. Arizona Cardinals: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

The Cardinals miss out on Harrison, but the gap between Harrison and Nabers is very thin. Arizona needs to become more explosive on offense, especially through the air — 53 NFL players this season had at least 10 catches of 20-plus yards and none played for the Cardinals. Nobody in college football produced more catches of 20-plus yards than Nabers (34).

5. Los Angeles Chargers: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

The Chargers’ draft outlook will certainly change based on upcoming GM and head coach hires. Regardless, the offense needs more firepower.

Many will scoff at tight end this high, but with his movements and pass-catching skills, Bowers is more offensive weapon than true tight end. As long as the Chargers have a plan for how to use his talent, Bowers should thrive if paired with Justin Herbert.

6. New York Giants: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

With his size/speed profile and ability to play through contact, Odunze is a quarterback-friendly target with the tools to be a legitimate No. 1 option. The Giants haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2018, but Odunze might change that as a rookie.

I know there will be plenty of “Why not a quarterback?” questions. Though I think a player like Jayden Daniels is possible, drafting a quarterback in the top 10 is an ownership decision — and we know Giants ownership loves Daniel Jones. GM Joe Schoen has been on the road this fall to see all of the top quarterbacks, but I’ll go with the QB-friendly target as the answer to the team’s passing woes.

7. Tennessee Titans: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

Alt and Peter Skoronski kicking butt on the left side of the Titans’ offensive line for the next decade is an easy pitch to make. I have nothing else to add.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

Arthur Smith is now the Falcons’ former head coach because he believed his scheme and (misuse of) weapons could elevate mediocre quarterback play. It is interesting to think about what Atlanta’s talented, ready-to-go roster would look like if you dropped in Daniels.

After producing a minus-12 turnover margin, you can bet that will be a point of emphasis for the Falcons. In 13 starts this season, Desmond Ridder had 12 interceptions and 12 fumbles; in 12 starts, Daniels accounted for only four interceptions and three fumbles.

9. Chicago Bears: Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama

Half of the Bears’ fan base will be upset with me going Williams at No. 1, and the other half will be cussing me out for having three wide receivers off the board before this pick. But those are realistic scenarios.

Even with the in-season trade for Montez Sweat, Chicago will be in the market for another impact pass rusher. An ideal fit in Matt Eberflus’ scheme, Turner is a freak athlete who rushes the passer, stops the run and should continue to get better and better.

10. New York Jets: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

Though his run blocking is a work in progress, Fashanu already offers pro-level pass protection because of his body control, light feet and ability to sit down versus power. His intelligence and A-plus character are the cherries on top.

11. Minnesota Vikings: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA

Over his two seasons at UCLA, Latu accounted for 34 tackles for loss, 23.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. He has first-step quickness and bend, but his crafty handwork and ability to diversify his attack separate him as a pass rusher. His injury history could be an issue, but this Vikings regime has taken chances with those risks in the past.

12. Denver Broncos: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

There won’t be a consensus CB1, but Arnold has the best package of traits — and I know several NFL scouts who feel the same way. Though he’s not the most disciplined corner in the draft, Arnold is a top-tier athlete with outstanding competitiveness and ball production (17 passes defended and five interceptions in 2023).

13. Las Vegas Raiders: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

Especially with a regime change, quarterback is the Raiders’ main question mark. But is there one worth reaching for here?

Raiders fans scarred by the Alex Leatherwood pick might not want another Alabama offensive lineman in the first round, but Latham is probably the strongest player in the draft. He has the functional movement skills to play either tackle or guard at a high level.

14. New Orleans Saints: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State

The quarterback situation will dominate draft talk, but the Saints must address the trenches (on both sides) this offseason. With his experience and traits, Verse is a plug-and-play pass rusher who fits the mold for what New Orleans likes to target in Round 1.

15. Indianapolis Colts: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

I would love to see the Colts add LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. here, but they must also improve defensively on the back end — especially in a division with C.J. Stroud and Trevor Lawrence. With his length, short-area suddenness and 4.3 speed, Wiggins has the traits that fit what the organization targets.

16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

Disruptive against both run and pass, Murphy had the best pass-rush win percentage (19.6) among all interior linemen in 2023 (no other DT was above 17.0 percent). He will get dinged by some for a lack of ideal length, but then he’ll run in the mid-4.7s at 300 pounds and provide a reminder that he is different.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

The Jaguars need long-term help at multiple positions, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if this pick addresses the defensive or offensive line. But adding another playmaker is as good a plan as any.

Thomas is an outstanding size/speed athlete with a basketball background and huge upside. By the time April rolls around, he might not be an option outside of the top 15.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Mims could be drafted top 10 or fall out of the top 20, and neither outcome would be overly surprising. The former five-star recruit has only eight starts to his name, but his limited tape is intriguing. He has an unbelievable combination of size, strength and movement skills. Ideally, the Bengals would want a more established prospect, but Mims’ talent might be too good to pass up.

19. Los Angeles Rams: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

Going into Aaron Rodgers’ age-36 season, the Packers made a forward-thinking pick and drafted their quarterback of the future (Jordan Love) in the back half of Round 1. Going into Matthew Stafford’s age-36 season, the Rams might be in a position to follow the same approach. Who knows when Stafford will hang ’em up, but with his injury past, the Rams at least need to consider it.

There is a wide range of opinions on McCarthy’s projection and draft value. Michigan didn’t ask him to consistently push the ball downfield, but he was outstanding on money downs and will have the word “winner” bolded and highlighted in his scouting report (27-1 career record with a national title). Though I think he’ll have mostly second-round grades, McCarthy’s tools and intangibles could get him into the top 25.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

One of the top athletes in the draft, DeJean has experience as an outside corner, inside corner and a box/middle-field defender. I’ll be sending a petition for the NFL to add a dunk contest at the combine so we can see DeJean go to work. And we already know he performs well wearing black and gold.

21. Miami Dolphins: Jackson Powers-Johnson, G/C, Oregon

If this happened, it would be one of my favorite team-player fits in the draft. The Dolphins have obvious needs at guard and center, and Powers-Johnson is arguably the best interior blocker in this class. With his size, strength and athleticism, it is hard to find bad tape on him from this past season.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

The MAC has produced several top-20 picks over the years (Khalil Mack, Ben Roethlisberger, Randy Moss). But the conference hasn’t had a top-25 cornerback since the ’70s. That might change in April with Mitchell, who is 6-foot-1, 200 pounds and will test in the 4.3s in the 40-yard dash.

23. Houston Texans (from CLE): Taliese Fuaga, OT/G, Oregon State

After averaging just 3.7 yards per rush this season, how will the Texans address a stagnant run game? Drafting the best run blocker in this year’s class would be a promising start. Fuaga was a right tackle at Oregon State, but a lot of scouts like him best as a guard.

24. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

After the loss to the Packers, I’m sure Cowboys fans were expecting to see a defensive player here. But Tyron Smith might leave in free agency, and if Dallas keeps Tyler Smith at left guard, left tackle shoots to the top of the needs list. Based on his raw traits, Guyton could go much earlier than this.

25. Green Bay Packers: Troy Fautanu, OT/G, Washington

The Packers haven’t drafted a first-round offensive lineman in more than a dozen years (2011), but I really like this fit. A college left tackle, Fautanu has the feet and length to stay outside, but a lot of scouts feel his skill set is ideally suited at guard.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

McKinstry has mostly second-round grades from scouts, but his tape and resume show a prospect with NFL-starting skills. According to one NFL scout, Nabers named McKinstry as the toughest cornerback he faced in college.

27. Arizona Cardinals (from HOU): Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU

The new Cardinals regime drafted offensive line in the first round last year and might do it again. A team captain at BYU, Suamataia started at right tackle in 2022 before moving to left tackle this past season. He displays the high-end tools to be a longtime NFL starter.

28. Kansas City Chiefs: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

The Chiefs have gone defense with their first pick in each of the last three drafts, which has played a part in vast improvements on that side of the ball. Newton will be picked apart for his lack of elite length, but he is disruptive against both run and pass, and adding him to the line would give the Chiefs options.

29. Buffalo Bills: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State

Coleman (6-4, 215) isn’t a burner and doesn’t have elite start-stop skills to instantly separate at the top of routes. But he is athletic with impressive body control and catch-point skills to turn off-target throws into completions. With his crazy catch radius, Coleman would give Josh Allen a different type of weapon than he is used to.

30. Detroit Lions: T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas

After being labeled an underachiever by scouts as an underclassman, Sweat changed several habits and put dominant-level play on his senior tape. For a player north of 360 pounds, he is an impressive mover with the natural power to shut things down up front. The Lions took a major step with their run defense this season, and Sweat would continue that focus.

31. San Francisco 49ers: Graham Barton, G/C, Duke

A college left tackle, Barton will move inside in the NFL, and I’ll bet he finishes as the top center on several draft boards. He might not have ideal length, but he has quick feet, strong hands and a stubborn finish.

32. Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Morgan, OT/G, Arizona

The Ravens could use depth at tackle and guard, and Morgan would help both spots. He played exclusively left tackle at Arizona, but some scouts project his skill set best inside. Regardless, Morgan plays balanced and physical in all phases.

Round 2

33. Carolina Panthers: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

Based on NFL scout grades, this is a little early for Mitchell due to his lack of polish — he is a loose athlete, but his technique is also much too loose. If the Panthers don’t land a big fish via trade or free agency (Tee Higgins?), they might feel pressured to target a high-upside pass catcher.

34. New England Patriots: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

The NFL feedback on Nix is interesting. Some believe he can sneak his way into the top 25, while others see him as a third-rounder. The reality probably will fall somewhere in the middle.

Nix, who was born two months after the Patriots hired Belichick, understands where to go with the football, and his scrambling can give defenses fits.

35. Arizona Cardinals: Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State

Robinson is a polarizing prospect — like Nix, some see him as a third-rounder, others think he’ll go much higher. But it is hard to see his explosive get-off falling out of the top 40, especially considering this mediocre group of pass-rush prospects.

36. Washington Commanders: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston

The Commanders landed their franchise quarterback in the first round and use this pick to help protect him. At 6-7, 310 with 36 1/2-inch arms, Paul is massive with functional movements ready to be coached. His older brother, Chris Paul, is already on the roster (seven starts at left guard in 2023), so the Commanders could roll out a brotherly tackle-guard combo.

37. Los Angeles Chargers: Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan

The Chargers could use a little bit of everything, including depth on the defensive line. The son of a four-time Pro Bowler, Jenkins has an interchangeable skill set to play multiple spots at a starter-quality level.

38. Tennessee Titans: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia

The Titans’ defense ranked 30th in the percentage of targets that resulted in a reception (71.0). Lassiter is smart, smooth and very competitive — only 38.5 percent of his targets this season resulted in a catch.

39. New York Giants: Bralen Trice, Edge, Washington

The Giants finished bottom five in several pass-rushing metrics, including sacks. Although he isn’t expected to test off the charts, Trice is an easy player to like because of his skilled, powerful hands and athletic urgency to quickly deconstruct blocks.

40. Washington Commanders (from CHI): Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota

Minnesota’s all-time leader in interceptions, Nubin is an alert, athletic safety who plays like a wide receiver when the ball is in the air. If the Commanders don’t re-sign Kamren Curl, Nubin would be a perfect replacement.

41. Green Bay Packers (from NYJ): Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State

Hicks (6-2, 215) is an intimidating presence with the way he fills or tunes up receivers crossing the middle. But his athletic profile is also a strong selling point and helps his versatility to play nickel, box or deep.

42. Minnesota Vikings: Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Texas

The Vikings double up on the defensive line. Well-built at 6-4, 295 with 34-inch arms, Orhorhoro is an impressive mover and offers a high ceiling after he was late to the game of football.

43. Atlanta Falcons: Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington

Falcons receivers accounted for a grand total of four touchdown grabs in 2023 — two each by Drake London and Scotty Miller. London has the talent to be a legitimate No. 1 option, but adding more competition at the No. 2 spot should be a priority.

44. Las Vegas Raiders: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

Probably the most polarizing quarterback in the draft, Penix was an outstanding college passer, but there are several areas of his game (and medical history) that complicate his projection. The Raiders shouldn’t be giving up on Aidan O’Connell, but they need to add new life to the quarterback room and see how it plays out.

45. New Orleans Saints (from DEN): Dominick Puni, OT/G, Kansas

The Saints aren’t ready to give up on Trevor Penning just yet, but they still need to address the offensive line in a major way. After playing with his older brothers at Central Missouri, Puni transferred to Kansas and put together back-to-back strong seasons, starting at both left tackle and left guard.

46. Indianapolis Colts: Chris Braswell, Edge, Alabama

GM Chris Ballard is always looking to build on the defensive line, and Braswell would be a promising piece. A member of Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List, Braswell had a breakout season in 2023 with an SEC-best 56 pressures (one more than Turner, his Alabama teammate).

47. New York Giants (from SEA): Javon Bullard, S, Georgia

With Xavier McKinney set to hit free agency, the Giants could be in the market for safety help. Bullard might not be a top tester, but he plays with range and made his presence known in the run game on every tape I studied.

48. Jacksonville Jaguars: Cooper Beebe, G, Kansas State

The Jaguars could upgrade several spots on their interior O-line. Beebe logged snaps at left guard and right guard in college and worked at center during practice, so he’d give Jacksonville options.

49. Cincinnati Bengals: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia

The Bengals go all-Georgia in the first two rounds. The trio of Ja’Marr Chase, Higgins and Tyler Boyd has likely played its final game together, but adding an inside-outside talent like McConkey would ease the transition.

50. Philadelphia Eagles (from NO): Junior Colson, LB, Michigan

The Eagles must add more talent to their linebacker room — and in this scenario, there hasn’t been an off-ball linebacker drafted yet. With his play style and mentality, Colson would check a lot of boxes.

51. Pittsburgh Steelers: Zach Frazier, G/C, West Virginia

Having grown up 90 miles south of Pittsburgh, Frazier embodies the toughness and physicality you expect from a Steelers offensive lineman. His late-season leg injury clouds his projection a tad, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he became a starting NFL center very early next season.

52. Los Angeles Rams: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri

One of the draft’s more physical corners, Rakestraw plays with the mentality and toughness to make plays against both pass and run. His injury feedback might directly impact where he is drafted, but the Rams could use a corner with his athleticism and compete skills.

53. Philadelphia Eagles: Calen Bullock, S, USC

All three Eagles picks have been back-seven defenders, and anyone who has watched that defense this season shouldn’t be surprised. Bullock is a true center-field safety. There are questions about his tackling, but he has outstanding range and budding instincts.

54. Cleveland Browns: Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon

The Browns need to get more explosive at receiver. As a true junior in 2023, Franklin was one of only two FBS receivers with 1,300-plus receiving yards and 14-plus touchdowns (Nabers was the other). He also ranked top three with eight catches of 40-plus yards.

55. Miami Dolphins: Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M

A long, rangy athlete, Cooper showed steady improvement throughout his time in College Station and capped it with a career year (led the Aggies in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks and forced fumbles). He can impact the game in a variety of ways.

56. Dallas Cowboys: Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas

This pick makes too much sense. With Tony Pollard a pending free agent, running back could be a need for Dallas. And even though Brooks tore his ACL in November, the Cowboys have never shied from taking risks, especially in the second round. Brooks was expected to be RB1 before his injury and still has a chance to be the first back off the board.

There is another layer here, too. Renowned surgeon Dr. Dan Cooper, the Cowboys’ head physician, performed Brooks’ surgery. No other team will have better information on Brooks’ recovery. I’m also told Brooks will be present at the East-West Shrine Bowl for interviews with NFL teams.

57. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

With some looming decisions this offseason, wide receiver might move up Tampa’s priority list. At his size, Worthy won’t have a high success rate on contested catches, but his vertical speed and ability to make crisp, sudden route cuts make him a tough cover.

58. Green Bay Packers: Kalen King, CB, Penn State

The Packers’ secondary has been an adventure this season. It ranked bottom five in several coverage metrics, including opponents’ first downs-per-attempt rate (36.1) and touchdown passes allowed-to-interceptions ratio (3.0). Adding more cornerback help makes sense, especially if a promising (albeit inconsistent) prospect like King is available.

59. Houston Texans: Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky

DeMeco Ryans and Bobby Slowik saw firsthand the impact of Deebo Samuel during their time in San Francisco. And if they want to add a stylistically similar weapon in Houston, Corley is the guy. With a 9.2 yards-after-catch average the past two seasons, he earned the nickname “YAC King.”

60. Kansas City Chiefs: Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas

I doubt Travis Kelce is going anywhere anytime soon, but Sanders is more of a complement than a replacement for the future Hall of Famer. The Texas tight end is a big, smooth athlete who could help as a rookie.

61. Buffalo Bills: Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami

It has been a while since the Bills had to seriously consider drafting a safety early, but that might change this offseason. Kinchens put up-and-down play on his tape, but he has a well-rounded skill set. A strong showing at the Senior Bowl can help get him into Round 2.

62. Detroit Lions: T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State

Cornerback is a need for the Lions, and Tampa would be an interesting fit. Coming from a basketball family, he has length and explosive ability to limit big plays — he allowed just three catches of 15-plus yards this season.

63. San Francisco 49ers: Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale

This might be early for a raw Ivy League prospect coming off a major injury, but Amegadjie would be a smart investment for a team that needs to start thinking about its future at offensive tackle. Amegadjie has outstanding arm length (36 3/4 inches), athletic gifts and the coachability that should help him get drafted higher than most expect.

64. Baltimore Ravens: Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri

At 6-5, 295 with 35-inch arms, Robinson is the epitome of “the first guy off the bus” type. He also raised his level of play this season (14 tackles for loss) and is the type of toolsy defensive lineman the Ravens like to target on Day 2.