The Daily Briefing Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Here’s a note from Evan Kaplan:

@EpKap

Another AFC vs NFC trend this weekend.

The 4 remaining AFC teams have 2 Super Bowl wins (both by Chiefs) and are a combined 2-9 in the SB.

The 4 remaining NFC teams have 15 Super Bowl wins (Cowboys 5, 49ers 5, Giants 4, Eagles 1) and are a combined 15-8 in the SB.

There have been 20 franchises with at least one Super Bowl win.  There are 3 remaining AFC teams – Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati – that can make it 21.

NFC NORTH

DETROIT

Huge news in Detroit.

Sometimes a coach “takes himself out of the running” for a job after the team that interviews him has already taken him out of the running.

But in this case, Lions OC Ben Johnson pulled out before he even headed to Charlotte for the interview.  NFL.com:

One of the top head coaching candidates is staying put in Detroit.

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson informed interested clubs he will remain on head coach Dan Campbell’s squad, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday night.

Johnson was on the itinerary for a Carolina Panthers interview Wednesday, and had previously interviewed with the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans for their HC openings. However, he’s off the market for now, but will likely remerge as a contender for head coaching vacancies if his trajectory continues upward next season.

Having played a major role in the Lions’ turnaround this season, Johnson is of the belief that something special is being built in Detroit and he wants to see it through, Pelissero reported.

Just 36 years old, Johnson’s debut season as Lions offensive coordinator was of the sensational variety.

Ranked 25th in total yards and 22nd in points scored in 2021, the Lions launched up to fifth and fourth in those categories, respectively, in Johnson’s first season as OC.

Quarterback Jared Goff had one of the best seasons of his career, running back Jamaal Williams set franchise records and career highs and Amon-Ra St. Brown continued to emerge as one of the brightest, young wide receiver talents in the game.

Johnson was with the Miami Dolphins from 2012-2018 in various offensive assistant roles before joining the Lions in 2019 as an offensive quality control coach under head coach Matt Patricia and then was moved to tight ends coach in 2020. In what would prove to be a hugely beneficial move, Campbell retained Johnson as TE coach in 2021 before hiring him as OC ahead of this past season.

Johnson’s offense was a catalyst in the Lions knocking on the door of the playoffs with a 9-8 record – their first winning mark since 2017.

Now, as the Lions look to get into the postseason and keep moving upward under Campbell, Johnson will remain on the staff, leading an offense that was one of the NFL’s best and most exciting in 2022.

Mina Kimes takes note:

@minakimes

1. This is HUUGE

2. I wonder if it means they’re gonna stick with Goff next season—at least as a bridge QB.

They weren’t going to “stick with Goff” in 2024 if Johnson left?

And Dane Bugler, who we also like, had Detroit using the 15^th pick on QB ANTHONY RICHARDSON?

We may be proven wrong, but in 2022, Goff was one of the 10 best QBs in football and he should be again.  The Lions are rising with a bullet.  They have the 6^th pick and the 18^th pick – and we think they will be going all in to get better fast with a pair of the best defenders they can find – probably a rusher and a corner.

We do not think they will waste a 2023 first-rounder on a QB who won’t be playing for them in 2023.

GREEN BAY

QB AARON RODGERS is ready to discuss his future with the Packers.  Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com:

Last June, Aaron Rodgers said he “definitely” planned to finish his career with the Green Bay Packers. Less than eight months later, he didn’t sound quite as sure.

First things first, Rodgers must decide whether he wants to play a 19th NFL season. He said Tuesday that he hasn’t reached that decision yet, a little more than a week after the Packers ended their season with an 8-9 record.

But if his plans don’t intersect with what the Packers want, then he can’t say for certain that he would never play for another team. In an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” that lasted more than an hour, Rodgers said he still thinks he can play at a high level, whether it’s for the Packers or another team.

“I think I can win MVP again in the right situation,” Rodgers said. “Right situation, is that Green Bay or is that somewhere else? I’m not sure. But I don’t think you should shut down any opportunity. Like I said during the season, that’s got to be both sides actually wanting to work together moving forward, and I think there’s more conversations to be had.”

Publicly, Packers coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst have expressed an interest in having Rodgers back. Last week, Gutekunst reiterated that the three-year, $150 million contract they gave to Rodgers last March was a commitment that “wasn’t certainly for this year.”

Rodgers took several days last week to meet with Gutekunst, LaFleur and other Packers staff members before he left Green Bay and returned to California for the offseason. While Rodgers said he “had all the conversations I wanted to have,” he did not indicate whether the Packers told him whether they planned to reload or rebuild.

“I think no player wants to be part of any type of rebuild; I said that years ago,” Rodgers said. “Reloads are a lot of fun because you feel like you’re close, you’re only a couple guys away. This game is about relationships, it’s about the players you play with and count on even if they don’t maybe show up huge in the stat book.”

Several of Rodgers’ closest friends — David Bakhtiari, Randall Cobb, Mason Crosby, Allen Lazard, Marcedes Lewis and Robert Tonyan — have uncertain futures with the team, whether it’s because they will be free agents or because they have contracts that might need to be renegotiated.

“There’s a lot of interesting names that we’ll see if there’s desire to re-sign certain guys that are glue guys in the locker room, [and that] will be an interesting conversation to be had,” Rodgers said. “Take all that away, I still need to mentally get to a point where I feel 100 percent locked in and ready to play a 19th season. And if I do, then we’ll rock and roll and figure that out. If I don’t, then we’ll go into the jungles for a while.”

“I still need to mentally get to a point where I feel 100% locked in and ready to play a 19th season. And if I do, then we’ll rock and roll and figure that out. If I don’t, then we’ll go into the jungles for a while.”

Rodgers, 39, is coming off one of his worst seasons. He had almost as many interceptions (12) as he did in the previous three seasons combined (13). After back-to-back MVP seasons, Rodgers threw for the fewest yards (3,695) in any season in which he played at least 15 games. He did not have a single 300-yard passing game. Since taking over as a starter, he had never before had a season with fewer than three 300-plus yard games. He also dealt with a broken thumb and injuries to his ribs and a knee during the season.

The Packers missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018. They lost 20-16 to the Detroit Lions in the regular-season finale when a win would’ve gotten Green Bay into the postseason. Had the Packers been eliminated before the finale, they might have considered shutting down Rodgers to give third-year backup Jordan Love an extended look.

“If they want to go younger and think Jordan’s ready to go, then that might be the way they want to go,” Rodgers said. “And if that’s the case and I still want to play, then there’s only one option, right? And that’s to play somewhere else. If it’s not and they are like, ‘No, no, no, we still want you to play,’ and this and that, then it’d have to be the right situation with the roster that looks like we can win it all because there’s no point in coming back if you don’t think you can win it all.”

Rodgers gave no timeline for a decision on whether he will play in 2023. He said that he planned to make another appearance on McAfee’s show next Tuesday but that he won’t have any update on his status for the upcoming season then.

“They’re not pressing for any type of specific answer, and I’m not mentally or emotionally at that point to give one,” Rodgers said. “If I’m asked about it, I’ll respond in honesty. But this is not going to be something where I’m going to respond to a bunch of inquiries about, ‘What are you thinking this week?’ Or ‘What are you thinking next week?’ It’s get away from it mentally and emotionally, and then physically as your body starts to come back after a few weeks of TLC, then I think you’re in a better frame of mind to contemplate your future.”

NFC EAST

DALLAS

Give Mike McCarthy credit for forming a strong bond with his QB DAK PRESCOTT.

Laura Okmin with a twitter thread:

Year 1, still getting to know each other, Mike McCarthy drove an injured Dak home after rehab. They wound up sitting on Dak’s porch for hours talking football and life. Those conversations – and that connection – continues today. “I feel for anyone who doesn’t have a relationship or connection like this. He’s so much more than a coach.”

There weren’t two men who got more vitriol thrown at them this week, but they did what they always do – led others with class. My favorite conversation of the Monday – this one, as they told me about extending that porch conversation before the game, spending 1-on-1 time, “talking football and life.” Take out what they do for a living, these men are truly two of the kindest, genuine men in this business. Couldn’t be happier for them

WASHINGTON

Some owners are starting to realize that this business of expelling owners because of activities that may be unappealing, but not criminal, is a slippery slope.  Mike Florio ofProFootballTalk.com:

Monday’s edition of Sports Business Daily contained a blurb regarding some predictable and obvious comments from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. The comments amounted to, for me, a predictable curiosity.

With Wednesday providing a pivot from the aftermath of the wild-card round and the divisional round, I predictably became curious.

This part isn’t surprising. Jones told Jarrett Bell of USA Today in December (the item was published on January 13) that Jones has “yet to see conclusive evidence that would rise to the level of other NFL owners voting to force Snyder to sell his franchise.”

Jones has no reason to rail against Snyder, because Jones (and surely other owners) would prefer not to set a precedent that could then be used against them. That’s one of the potential reasons why the NFL brushed the Beth Wilkinson investigation under the rug in 2021, concealing any “conclusive proof” she may have found — and glossing over the question of whether she believed based on her investigation (including her interview with Snyder and her conclusions as to whether he was or wasn’t being truthful) that he should be forced to sell.

Instead of making it about him, Jones made it about the impact that running Snyder off would have on luring other multi-billionaires to buy teams.

“My main thing about Washington is that I don’t want to do damage to the ability to attract capital,” Jones told Bell. “With sponsors alone, you want people to stand in line to be associated with the team. There are a lot of natural things that will occur on their own if you don’t mess it up.”

So, in other words, look the other way regarding owner misconduct, because you don’t want potential sponsors or owners to look for other places to spend their money.

Through it all, Jones sounds like someone who realizes that there’s a limit to everything, including the NFL’s willingness to tolerate Snyder’s alleged and/or actual antics.

“He’s got the perfect storm,” Jones said of Snyder. “If he decided to move on, who could possibly blame him? Or [his wife, Tanya]? On top of that, he’s not the most beloved guy around, which I guess I might identify with a bit, too.”

Jones also realizes that supporting Snyder comes with a cost.

“Is he worth me taking a sword?” Jones told Bell. “He’s not Al Davis. For me, he’s not.”

For now, the owners are treading lightly, waiting for Snyder to do what he seems to be doing. If he goes away on his own, the owners don’t have to force him out.

More importantly, they don’t have to talk about forcing him out. And Jones realizes those conversations, with so many in the room, will find a way to the prying eyes and ears of the media — especially if someone is secretly records the sessions, as someone did during deliberations regarding the league’s handling of the controversy arising from the national anthem.

“I would say we’ve had to be more formal in our conversations,” Jones told Bell. “We’re not as cavalier as we might have been. Follow me? Don’t know who’s listening. Who’s what? So, we’ve had to be more formal.”

If Snyder doesn’t sell on his own, those formalities inevitably will include a vote to force him to do it. For now, the owners (along with everyone else) are simply waiting to see whether Snyder will actually do it.

NFC SOUTH

CAROLINA

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com notes that Panthers owner David Tepper is now in position to re-create legally the alliance that cost Miami owner Stephen Ross a first round draft pick for attempting to forge it illicitly:

A year ago, no one knew that Saints coach Sean Payton and Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady were trying to join forces with the Dolphins. Eventually, word got out and the shit hit the fan and yada yada yada the Dolphins don’t have a first-round pick in 2023.

Now, with Brady poised to become a free agent in March and Payton currently drawing the interest of multiple teams, could Brady and Payton land on the same team next season?

Four teams are interested in Payton — the Broncos, Cardinals, Texans, and Panthers. The first two have quarterbacks under massive contracts. The Texans need a lot more than Brady to become competitive.

Enter the Panthers. The last to officially join the Payton chase, Carolina has a very good defense, very good receivers, a solid running game, and an offensive line good enough to make it all go.

They also have an owner who has been desperate for a great coach and a franchise quarterback. Even though Brady would be a short-term option, he’d fill the stadium and create a ton of excitement.

Also, the NFC South currently is, to put it simply, not good. The Panthers would instantly become the favorites to win the division. They could fatten up their record enough to become one of the top seeds, especially with the schedule rotation having them face the teams of the AFC South and NFC North in 2023.

A Payton-Brady duo (Payton joked last month on Brady’s podcast about the possibility) would also send a massive middle finger to 345 Park Avenue. In 2012, the league suspended Payton for a season over trumped-up bounty charges. Six years ago, the league suspended Brady for four games over trumped-up air pressure charges. And with their attempt to partner up costing Miami a first-round pick in 2022, finally making it happen would surely create consternation and chagrin at league headquarters.

It makes plenty of sense, and it’s hiding in plain sight. We’ll find out in the coming weeks whether it happens.

We would challenge the notion that the Panthers have “very good” receivers, at least on an NFL-wide scale.  But Florio may undersell the offensive line.

And we don’t know if the NFL Office would be filled with consternation and chagrin.  They would probably rather have Payton-Brady making an entire division relevant than split to divisions with other attractions.

Did Detroit OC Ben Johnson pull out of interviewing because of his love of the Lions or because he got wind that Payton was happening?

AFC SOUTH

TENNESSEE

The Titans have a new GM – Ran Carthon who comes from the 49ers.

The Titans are hiring Ran Carthon, the San Francisco 49ers director of player personnel, as their new general manager, sources told ESPN’s Dianna Russini and Jeff Darlington on Tuesday.

Carthon interviewed for the job on Friday with a panel of Titans executives, including controlling owner Amy Adams-Strunk. He brings 15 years of experience to the Titans.

During his tenure in San Francisco, Carthon served as the director of pro personnel for five seasons with the 49ers before being elevated to director of player personnel two seasons ago. The 49ers went to the Super Bowl and played in two NFC Championship Games over that span.

Carthon, 41, joined the 49ers after spending five seasons (2012 to 2016) as the director of pro personnel with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams. Carthon also spent four seasons (2008 to 2011) as a pro scout with the Atlanta Falcons. He broke into the league as an undrafted rookie with the Indianapolis Colts in 2004 and played with the club through the 2006 campaign.

The 49ers will receive compensatory third-round selections in the next two drafts as part of Rooney Rule incentives for teams to develop minority head coach and GM candidates.

The Titans fired general manager Jon Robinson in November citing disappointment with the general direction of the roster as a reason, Carthon will be tasked with turning things around for a Titans team that finished the season on a seven-game losing streak, leading to a 7-10 record.

Carthon is the son of two-time Super Bowl champ and former New York Giants running back Maurice Carthon, who also spent time as an NFL offensive coordinator.

Carthon’s hiring comes a day after Titans director of player personnel Monti Ossenfort was hired as the Arizona Cardinals’ new general manager. Ossenfort also interviewed for the Titans’ GM job.

AFC EAST

MIAMI

Mike Florio, ever skeptical, on a statement by Dolphins GM Chris Grier that QB TUA TAGOVIALOA is not prone to concussions:

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was knocked out on the field with one of the most disturbing concussions ever seen in an NFL game this season. Another concussion later in the year ended his season, and has led to major questions about Tagovailoa’s NFL future.

But Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier insists there’s no reason to be any more concerned about Tagovailoa than anyone else.

Asked about the concerns that players who have had concussions are susceptible to more of them, Grier says that concern is unfounded.

“From what our doctors and the consultants we’ve talked to through the NFLPA, that is not a true statement,” Grier said. “So for us, I don’t think he’s any more prone than anyone else. For us, we’re jut letting the doctors, the medical staff and the people in that field that know more. From everything we’ve been told that is not a concern.”

The Dolphins’ words have suggested they’re not overly concerned about concussions looming over Tagovailoa’s career. Their actions will speak louder, and the action from Grier that will speak most loudly this offseason will be whether the Dolphins pick up the fifth-year option on Tagovailoa’s contract. Grier said no decision has been made on that.

THIS AND THAT

2022 DRAFT RESULTS

Aaron Schaatz of Football Outsiders, writing at ESPN.com, ranks the results of the 2022 Draft, thus far, 1 to 32 (edited for space):

1. Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks came out of the 2022 draft with four starters and some useful depth on top of that. Their best rookie was fifth-round pick Tariq Woolen, who tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions. He finished with 16 passes defended and allowed a completion rate of just 47% in coverage. Left tackle Charles Cross and right tackle Abraham Lucas started 17 and 16 games, respectively. Cross was eighth at his position in SIS Total Points, while Lucas ranked 13th at his position.

The fourth starter was running back Kenneth Walker III. Walker had over 1,000 rushing yards with 10 rushing touchdowns, but advanced stats were less impressed by his performance because he combined a few highlight runs with a lot of runs where he got stuffed for minimal gains. He finished 41st out of 42 qualifying running backs in success rate and also had very little receiving value.

If you count nickelback as a starter — and you should in the modern NFL — the Seahawks also got a lot of value out of fourth-round pick Coby Bryant, who allowed a moderate 7.5 yards per target. In addition, edge rusher Boye Mafe started three games and racked up three sacks.

2. New York Jets

Let’s start with Sauce Gardner, who likely will win Defensive Rookie of the Year and led all rookies in SIS metrics with 64 Total Points saved. SIS charting lists Gardner with just 5.1 yards allowed per target and a 44% completion rate allowed in coverage. He also led the NFL with 20 passes defended. The Jets also could end up with the Offensive Rookie of the Year, as wide receiver Garrett Wilson is a strong candidate. Wilson finished with 1,103 yards and five touchdowns, and he ranked in the top 20 of ESPN Analytics’ advanced receiver ratings.

Breece Hall might have been a candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year if he had just stayed healthy. In half a season, Hall averaged 5.8 yards per carry and 11.5 yards per reception. Undrafted rookie Zonovan Knight eventually got some playing time as one of the players who tried to replace Hall. Defensive ends Jermaine Johnson and Micheal Clemons combined for five sacks and 21 pressures in part-time work. And backup safety Tony Adams had 16 total tackles in fewer than 75 total defensive snaps.

3. Kansas City Chiefs

Despite originally picking near the bottom of each round, the Chiefs came out of the 2022 draft with an excellent group of useful players. The Chiefs and Tennessee Titans were the only teams this year to have at least six rookies worth 10 or more Total Points, according to SIS charting metrics. (The Jets and Seahawks had five such rookies, with no other team above four.)

The Kansas City draft class starts at cornerback, with three rookies getting significant playing time. First-round pick Trent McDuffie, chosen with a pick acquired in trade from the Patriots, played just 11 games because of injury but started each one and allowed just 5.0 yards per target. McDuffie was one of the players whose injuries forced fourth-round pick Joshua Williams into the lineup, and he had a strong 53% completion rate, allowed although a couple of big plays given up meant he allowed a poor 8.7 yards per target. Seventh-round pick Jaylen Watson also started six games; he had a higher completion rate allowed than Williams (60%) but a lower yards-per-target figure (7.2).

With their own first-round pick, the Chiefs took edge rusher George Karlaftis. He started every game and had six sacks and 40 pressures. Running back Isiah Pacheco took over the starting job around midseason and averaged 4.9 yards per carry with five touchdowns. The Chiefs also got small contributions from backup safety Bryan Cook and wide receiver Skyy Moore.

4. Tennessee Titans

Tennessee’s most valuable rookie might have been a player they didn’t even draft. Punter Ryan Stonehouse broke an NFL record of over 80 years old by leading the league with a 53.1-yard gross punting average. Or perhaps the Titans’ most valuable rookie was second-round cornerback Roger McCreary. He didn’t break any records, but he did start all 17 games, albeit without impressive charting stats. (He allowed 8.8 yards per target, although he was also very strong against the run.) There were also defensive contributions from linebacker Jack Gibbens and cornerback Tre Avery.

On offense, the star was tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo, who broke out with some big catches in the second half of the season. But first-round pick Treylon Burks made some waves when healthy, and third-rounder Nicholas Petit-Frere started the entire year at right tackle. The Titans also got three starts out of quarterback Malik Willis, but that didn’t go so well, with a miserable 12.6 QBR.

5. Houston Texans

By the end of the year, the Texans were starting six rookies. First-round cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. had a strong season when healthy, with 6.6 yards allowed per target in nine starts. But he didn’t make anywhere near as many plays as second-round safety Jalen Pitre. If we add together tackles, assists, passes defended and turnovers, Pitre led all NFL safeties with 155 plays made as a rookie. The Texans also got 11 games started from linebacker Christian Harris, who had issues with broken tackles but was good in pass coverage.

On offense, Dameon Pierce was the starting running back for most of the season, with a fairly average season of 4.3 yards per carry. Kenyon Green started most of the season at left guard but doesn’t earn many Total Points because he finished near the top of the league in blown blocks. And Teagan Quitoriano was the starting tight end for the last third of the season, although he ended with just 113 receiving yards. The Texans should get even more out of this rookie class in the future if John Metchie III can regain his health after a cancer diagnosis cost him his rookie campaign.

6.  Jacksonville Jaguars

No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker had all the attention, but he was not the Jaguars’ most valuable rookie. Instead, third-round pick Luke Fortner went directly into the starting lineup at center, played all 17 games and finished second among offensive linemen in SIS Total Points. He had a low 1.8% blown block rate and just one sack allowed. Walker did start 14 games and had a total of 33 pressures with 3.5 sacks. The Jaguars also got plenty of value from two off-ball linebackers. Either Devin Lloyd or Chad Muma started each game this season, and Lloyd was second among rookie defenders in total defensive plays behind Jalen Pitre of the Texans.

7. Detroit Lions

The Lions’ rookie class primarily made waves on the defensive side of the ball. Second overall pick Aidan Hutchinson led rookies with 9.5 sacks and 53 pressures. He also tied the record for interceptions by a defensive lineman — rookie or otherwise — with three. Yet Hutchinson was not the most valuable rookie on the Lions, according to SIS Total Points. That title goes to safety Kerby Joseph, a 14-game starter who allowed a 55% completion rate in coverage and famously picked off Aaron Rodgers three times. The Lions also got 15 starts at linebacker from sixth-round pick Malcolm Rodriguez, who had a surprisingly low 11% broken tackle rate. And edge rusher James Houston had eight sacks and 15 pressures in part-time work.

On offense, the Lions expected to get very little from WR Jameson Williams this season since he was still recovering from a torn ACL, and that’s what they got: just one 41-yard touchdown. But a couple of plays nullified by penalties brought glimpses of the talent he’ll bring to the table with a full season in 2023.

8. Chicago Bears

The Bears used two second-round picks on defensive backs in the 2022 draft, and those were their major rookie contributors. But the Bears also had a lot of minor contributions from useful rookies, with six different players falling between three and 10 Total Points on the season.

9. New England Patriots

The most notable Patriots rookie was three-way third-round pick Marcus Jones, who won the Week 11 game against the Jets with a last-minute punt return touchdown but also scored touchdowns on an offensive reception and a defensive interception. However, the most valuable rookie, according to SIS Total Points, was the other cornerback Jones, fourth-rounder Jack. He allowed just a 45% completion rate in coverage and had two picks in 13 games.

New England’s offensive rookie class was highlighted by Cole Strange, who started all 17 games at left guard.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers fans will spend the next few years celebrating the Pickett-to-Pickens connection. Quarterback Kenny Pickett started for most of the season and put up a moderate 51.4 QBR. Wide receiver George Pickens was more impressive, leading all wide receivers in Football Outsiders’ DVOA and DYAR metrics and finishing in the top 20 of ESPN’s new advanced receiver tracking metrics. The young offensive talent went further with undrafted running back Jaylen Warren, who gained 4.9 yards per carry on 77 carries, and tight end Connor Heyward, who caught 12 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. The only rookie to have a regular role on defense was interior defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal, who played 11 games and started two.

11. Dallas Cowboys

First-round pick Tyler Smith was supposed to begin as the left guard, but an injury to veteran Tyron Smith forced the rookie out to left tackle and he started all 17 games there. Tyler was particularly good in the running game, with only five blown blocks all year by SIS charting. He was not so good in the passing game, ranking 62nd out of 64 qualifying tackles in PBWR.

Nickelback DaRon Bland, a fifth-round pick, was a bit more of a surprise as a major contributor..

12. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers didn’t have a first-round pick last year. Second-round edge rusher Drake Jackson was a part-timer with three sacks and did not start a game. The 49ers had two third-round picks, Tyrion Davis-Price and Danny Gray, and got almost nothing from them.

Instead, their rookie class was saved by Mr. Irrelevant. Brock Purdy led the 49ers to six straight wins, one replacing an injured Jimmy Garoppolo and then five as the starter. He had a 65.6 QBR and led all offensive players with 46 Total Points.

It wasn’t all Purdy (and Jackson), however. Fourth-round pick Spencer Burford started almost the entire year at right guard, although he ended up last among qualifying guards in RBWR and 55th in PBWR. The 49ers also got useful playing time from fifth-round cornerback Samuel Womack III and undrafted running back Jordan Mason.

13. Atlanta Falcons

Fifth-round pick Tyler Allgeier was arguably the most valuable running back from the entire 2022 rookie class. He finished with over 1,000 yards on the ground and ranked fifth in Football Outsiders’ rushing DYAR metric. First-round wide receiver Drake London played in all 17 games and finished the year with 72 catches for 866 yards and four touchdowns. Quarterback Desmond Ridder started the last four games with a reasonable 49.8 QBR.

14. Green Bay Packers

First-round linebacker Quay Walker had an excellent year, one of just 11 rookies to earn 40 or more Total Points in that SIS metric. Walker had 121 total tackles with a 10% broken tackle rate, outstanding for a rookie linebacker, and allowed just 2.4 yards per target in coverage. Green Bay’s other defensive first-round pick, tackle Devonte Wyatt, played a much smaller role, seeing 22% of defensive snaps.

Wide receiver Christian Watson really came on in the second half of the season, starting every game from Week 8 onward and catching 41 passes for 611 yards and seven touchdowns in a little more than half a season. He finished 20th out of 85 qualifying wide receivers in Football Outsiders’ receiving DVOA rating.

15. New York Giants

The Giants’ draft haul was headlined by two first-round picks; each player had a large role in 2022 but their stories diverge there. Kayvon Thibodeaux had four sacks, but SIS counted him with 42 pressures in 14 games, ranking him sixth among defensive ends in Total Points from the pass rush. On the other hand, right tackle Evan Neal was near the bottom of ESPN’s blocking metrics: 58th in PBWR, 56th in RBWR. The good news for Giants fans is that left tackle Andrew Thomas also struggled as a rookie, and he’s now one of the top tackles in the game. It takes time for players to grow.

Those first-round picks weren’t the only important rookies for New York. Daniel Bellinger started most of the season at tight end, catching 30 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson was limited by injuries but did catch 23 passes for 27 yards and a touchdown in the six games he was on the field. On defense, linebacker Micah McFadden started seven games, cornerback Cor’Dale Flott started six and safety Dane Belton started five.

16. Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers’ rookie class primarily made itself known on the offensive line, with Zion Johnson starting the entire season at right guard and Jamaree Salyer taking over for the injured Rashawn Slater early in the season at left tackle. SIS Total Points ranked Johnson 13th among guards and Slater 24th among tackles this season. Otherwise, the main Chargers rookie of note was kicker Cameron Dicker, who was on three other rosters earlier this season (appearing in a game for Philadelphia) and eventually became the Chargers’ kicker around midseason. Dicker’s only missed field goal (or extra point) all year was a 52-yarder in Las Vegas in Week 13.

17. Cleveland Browns

The Browns had a surprisingly strong draft class considering the absence of a first- or second-round pick. The star is third-round cornerback Martin Emerson Jr., who played 72% of Cleveland’s defensive snaps as the third corner

18. New Orleans Saints

The Saints had only five picks in last year’s draft, and one of their first-round picks, offensive tackle Trevor Penning, was healthy enough to play only six games this season. But the Saints still had a good rookie class with major contributions from one draftee on each side of the ball plus an undrafted surprise.

Wide receiver Chris Olave finished the season with 1,042 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Olave was the highest rookie wide receiver in ESPN Analytics’ advanced receiver ratings. Cornerback Alontae Taylor played in only 11 games but was outstanding in coverage, with just 4.3 yards per target allowed. And undrafted wide receiver Rashid Shaheed didn’t play until Week 6 but was a starter by the final five games of the season and ended the year with 488 yards and two touchdowns on 17.4 yards per reception.

19. Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore got very different production from its two first-round picks. Tyler Linderbaum led all rookie offensive linemen in SIS metrics with 43 points earned. He also led all centers in RBWR and was 12th in PBWR. However, safety Kyle Hamilton was primarily a part-time player who didn’t start until the final four games. Although he had 62 total tackles, two sacks and five passes defended, SIS ranks him just 76th in Total Points at the safety position this season.

The Ravens also got value out of tight end Isaiah Likely, who had 36 receptions for 373 yards and three touchdowns as the second option behind Mark Andrews.

20. Denver Broncos

If you follow fantasy football, you might recognize the star of the Denver rookie class as tight end Greg Dulcich. Dulcich constantly threatened to break out with a couple of 80-yard receiving games. But he also dealt with injuries, and at the end of the year, he had only 33 catches for 411 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games.

However, the real star of the Denver rookie class was actually cornerback Damarri Mathis, who moved into the starting lineup opposite Pat Surtain II in Week 6. Mathis allowed a high completion rate in coverage, 63%, but was rarely burned and therefore allowed just 5.4 yards per target.

21. Indianapolis Colts

Before the season, nobody would have expected seventh-round pick Rodney Thomas II to be the Colts’ most valuable rookie of 2022. However, the former linebacker grabbed the free safety position early in the season, eventually starting 10 games and garnering four interceptions. Bernhard Raimann started 11 games at left tackle, finishing 40th in RBWR but a poor 60th in PBWR. Wide receiver Alec Pierce started 12 games and finished with 41 catches for 593 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Jelani Woods came on late in the season with 18 catches for 233 yards just in the Colts’ final six games.

22. Buffalo Bills

The Bills came into the year knowing their star cornerback Tre’Davious White wouldn’t be back until midseason, so it’s good that their most valuable rookies came at the cornerback position. The surprise is that sixth-round pick Christian Benford out of Villanova was more valuable than first-round pick Kaiir Elam out of Florida. Benford started five games and allowed 8.5 yards per target in coverage. Elam started six games and allowed 9.0 yards per target in coverage.

The other major rookie for the Bills was backup running back James Cook, who carried the ball 89 times for 507 yards (a 5.7-yard average) and two touchdowns. Linebacker Terrel Bernard did start one game against the Jets at midseason but otherwise played primarily on special teams.

23. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins had only four selections in last year’s draft, so you wouldn’t expect them to have many rookies of note. But they did have one: undrafted free agent cornerback Kader Kohou out of Texas A&M-Commerce. Kohou eventually started 13 games, and you will be shocked to find out that he finished the season second among all rookies with 62 Total Points, according to SIS charting.

Miami’s second-most valuable rookie was also an undrafted free agent, safety Verone McKinley III, but he played only 22% of defensive snaps. Among drafted players, the top rookie was seventh-round quarterback Skylar Thompson and his unimpressive 27.3 QBR. Linebacker Channing Tindall played primarily on special teams. Miami’s other two draftees combined to play one game. Frankly, this ranking for the Dolphins is entirely Kohou.

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers got contributions from multiple rookies, but none of them really wowed when it came to on-field production. Based on SIS Total Points, the most valuable Buccaneers rookie was punter Jake Camarda, who was 10th in gross punt value by Football Outsiders metrics and also handled kickoffs. Defensive lineman Logan Hall was a bit of a disappointment, playing just 36% of defensive snaps, but he’s still got plenty of time to grow into a larger role.

On offense, running back Rachaad White started the second half of the season but averaged less than 3.7 yards per carry and a poor 5.8 yards per reception. A poor broken tackle rate also costs him in the SIS Total Points metric. Cade Otton started 11 games at tight end with 42 catches for 391 yards and two touchdowns but finished near the bottom of DVOA at the position. Luke Goedeke had to step right into the starting left guard role after an injury to veteran Aaron Stinnie, then got injured himself after seven games and couldn’t win the starting role back from Nick Leverett when he returned in December.

25. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings lost their top two picks to injury for most of the season, as first-round safety Lewis Cine played only three games and second-round cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. played only six. So their most valuable rookie was their next player selected, offensive lineman Ed Ingram. He started all 17 games at right guard but had disappointing numbers in ESPN’s tracking stats: 44th in RBWR and 62nd out of 63 qualifying guards in PBWR.

26. Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders had no pick until the third round, so not too much was expected from this group. The class was highlighted by two offensive linemen. Dylan Parham started all 17 games at left guard but was below average in both PBWR and RBWR. Thayer Munford Jr. had to start three games at right tackle in relief of Jermaine Eluemunor. (He also had a fourth “start” when the Raiders ran six linemen on the first play of the game.

27. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles selected only five rookies in last year’s draft and most of them are set up to be more important in the future than they were in 2022. Philadelphia’s most important rookie, by far, was an undrafted player, safety Reed Blankenship. He came on late in the year, playing an average of 77% of defensive snaps in his final six games of the regular season. Despite five starts, defensive tackle Jordan Davis wasn’t on the field as much as expected; he played between 30% and 40% of snaps in each of the first six weeks, then never played 30% of snaps in a game once he returned from injury in Week 13.

Otherwise, the Eagles’ rookies mostly sat on the sidelines.

28. Washington Commanders

The Commanders’ rookie class was laid low by injury. First-round wide receiver Jahan Dotson missed five games with a hamstring injury and had only four total targets in the three games he played after returning (Weeks 10-12). Overall, Dotson finished with 35 catches for 523 yards and seven touchdowns; his 12.5% receiving DVOA was second among qualifying rookie receivers behind Pickens. Second-round defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis went down with a knee injury in Week 1. Of course, you know about the gunshot wound that cost running back Brian Robinson Jr. the early part of the season, although he did return by October. He started nine games and gained 797 yards on 205 carries (a pedestrian 3.9 yards per carry).

The Commanders do get some credit for defensive tackle John Ridgeway, originally a fifth-round pick of the Cowboys. He played over 30% of defensive snaps for Washington after the Commanders picked him up off waivers in mid-September. Defensive backs Percy Butler and Christian Holmes primarily saw the field on special teams.

29. Arizona Cardinals

Arizona’s top pick, tight end Trey McBride, finally started to come on in the second half of the season. He had just three catches through Week 9 but snagged 26 catches for 241 yards since and scored his first touchdown in Week 17. The Cardinals also got contributions from a pair of edge rushers, Myjai Sanders and Cameron Thomas. Sanders started four games and Thomas none, but they combined for six sacks and 31 pressures. Cornerback Christian Matthew didn’t play much but allowed a reasonable 6.5 yards per target when on the field.

30. Cincinnati Bengals

First-round safety Dax Hill mostly took a redshirt year, with only two games in which he played more than six defensive snaps. Second-round cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt was the nickelback for the second half of the season but does not do well in SIS charting, with 8.5 yards allowed per target. Fourth-rounder Cordell Volson went right into the lineup at left guard and has started for the entire season but ranks just 58th out of 64 qualifying guards in pass rush win rate.

31. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams didn’t pick until the third round of last year’s draft and then saw that player, guard Logan Bruss, go down with an ACL tear in the preseason. Instead, their most active rookie was cornerback Cobie Durant, who started playing the nickel at midseason

32. Carolina Panthers

It’s not good for a rebuilding team to come in last when we list the value of the rookie classes in 2022, but here we are. It didn’t help that the Panthers had no second-round pick, sending that to the Jets in the Sam Darnold trade. Almost all of Carolina’s rookie value came from one man, first-round pick and starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu. He was unspectacular (46th out of 63 qualifying tackles in PBWR, for example) but started every game and still has plenty of promise for growth. The only other rookie worth more than two Total Points in SIS metrics was undrafted running back Raheem Blackshear.

BROADCAST NEWS

The ratings are in and they were huge.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

The game wasn’t good, but that doesn’t matter. In a win-or-go-home battle of America’s Team and America’s Quarterback, America tuned in.

Last night’s broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 generated 30.6 million viewers. it was the most-watched Disney Company playoff game since 1999, when the games were televised by ABC.

The game also outpaced last year’s boring Cardinals-Rams Monday night playoff game by 32 percent. And for good reason. This one featured the Cowboys and Tom Brady, the most coveted of the six wild-card games. (Coincidentally, or not, ESPN didn’t publish its scathing article regarding the handling of the January 2 delay in the Bills-Bengals game due to Damar Hamlin‘s cardiac arrest until after the playoff schedule was set.)

Either way, the numbers underscore the inconvenience that the league is willing to impose on the Cowboys — and the Cowboys’ willingness to embrace it. As coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday, “TV is king.”

And the Cowboys continue to be the king of TV. Fox gets the benefit of that reality on Sunday night, when the Cowboys visit the 49ers.

2023 DRAFT

Here is Mock Draft from Charlie Campbell of Walter Football:

1 –  Chicago Bears: Will Anderson, DE/OLB, Alabama

Thanks to the incompetence of the Houston Texans, the Bears were able to obtain the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Unless Chicago drafts a quarterback, it will trade out of this pick, holding it for a king’s ransom to the highest bidder. Given that so many teams are desperate for a franchise quarterback, the Bears will get a great haul for this selection. They will move down and select one of the top offensive linemen or defensive players available.

The Bears have a miserable offensive line, so Justin Fields doesn’t stand a chance when battling teams with elite pass rushes. The front office must do something about this. However, at No. 2 overall, they should pick the best player available, and it’s not like they don’t need an improved pass rush. In fact, the Bears have the worst pressure rate in the NFL aside from the Falcons.

Will Anderson has ridiculous speed and athleticism. He’s been a force in Alabama’s defense.

2 –  Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

The Texans won’t be able to get the quarterback they want because of their foolish decision to win in Week 18. They could trade up to No. 1, but that would make them look extra stupid.

Houston passed on all the quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft. No one blamed them for doing that, but they won’t be able to repeat that strategy this upcoming April.

C.J. Stroud completed 71 percent of his passes this past season. He’s a lethal passer, and as we saw in the college football semi-final, he can run if he needs to with his 4.65 speed.

Pick change: previously Bryce Young, QB

3 –  Arizona Cardinals: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

James Conner is as pedestrian as they come as far as starting running backs are concerned. Kyler Murray could really benefit from a big upgrade in the backfield.

Bijan Robinson is going to be another running back chosen early in the draft. All of his attributes are at sky-high levels.

4 –  Indianapolis Colts: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

The Colts need to find a permanent solution at quarterback, rather than play musical chairs at the position. In this scenario, the Colts can trade up with the Bears to leapfrog the divisional rival Texans to obtain the quarterback they want in this class.

Bryce Young has size issues – he’s 5-11 – but he has drawn comparisons to Kyler Murray.

Pick change: previously C.J. Stroud, QB

5 – Seattle Seahawks: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

The Seahawks need to do a better job of getting to the quarterback and also stopping the run, especially after that disaster against Josh Jacobs and the Raiders, and subsequently, D’Onta Foreman and the Panthers.

Jalen Carter has shown flashes of huge upside.

6 –  Detroit Lions: Tyree Wilson, DE/DT, Texas Tech

The Lions must improve their defense, and that would entail obtaining some talent for the defensive line to complement Aidan Hutchinson on the edge.

Tyree Wilson had a breakout ’21 season in which he recorded seven sacks. He could fill out and become a five-technique in the NFL.

7 –  Las Vegas Raiders: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

I’m stealing this pick from Charlie Campbell’s trade mock draft. This was the prototypical Al Davis pick, and Mark Davis may want to make a big splash. Besides, what else are the Raiders going to do at quarterback? And if Mark Davis ages very quickly, we could get a quote from him saying, “Anthony … Richardson … is a … great playa.”

Anthony Richardson is raw, but has a huge arm and great athleticism. He had a great 2022 debut, but struggled versus Kentucky the following week. He’s been inconsistent ever since.

Pick change: previously Joey Porter Jr., CB

8 – Atlanta Falcons: Myles Murphy, DE/DT, Clemson

The Falcons have been ranked dead last in pressure rate in each of the past two seasons. With plenty of defensive line talent in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Falcons should walk away with a blue-chip player to help in his department.

Myles Murphy has immense potential as a 3-4 defensive end in the NFL, but can also be a 4-3 edge.

Pick change: previously Will Levis, QB

9 – Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

The Panthers need a franchise quarterback. I’m sure they’ll attempt to move up for Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud, but if they can’t, they could settle for the third or fourth option in this class.

Will Levis has a big arm and could be chosen in the top 10.

Pick change: previously Quentin Johnston, WR

10 –  Philadelphia Eagles: Tuli Tuipulotu, DE, USC

Brandon Graham won’t be around much longer, so the Eagles will need an edge rusher for the future.

Tuli Tuipulotu used his explosion and twist to enjoy an incredible ’22 season.

Pick change: previously Myles Murphy, DE

11 –  Tennessee Titans: Peter Skoronski, OT/G, Northwestern

Taylor Lewan is a 32-year-old coming off a knee injury. He’s also due $14.8 million next season in what happens to be his contract year. I imagine the Titans will want to find help with their poor blocking.

Peter Skoronski is an athletic tackle who has kept his quarterback clean. He can play center as well.

12 – Houston Texans: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

The Texans need a second receiver across from Brandin Cooks in the near term, and a different No. 1 wideout for the long haul.

Scouts are smitten with Quentin Johnston, who has drawn comparisons to Julio Jones.

Pick change: previously Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR

13 – New York Jets: Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama

Mekhi Becton has been a huge disappointment, so the Jets may use this pick to find a new offensive tackle.

Tyler Steen did a great job on Bryce Young’s blind side after transferring from Vanderbilt.

14 – New England Patriots: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

The Patriots need offensive line help, but they also could stand to address their pedestrian receiving corps.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has incredible speed and athleticism. He had a huge 2021 campaign, which included a terrific Rose Bowl performance.

Pick change: previously Jordan Addison, WR

15 – Green Bay Packers: Paris Johnson, OT/G, Ohio State

The Packers need a receiver, but with the two top prospects at the position off the board, they can focus on bolstering their offensive line, which needs a better bookend for David Bakhtiari.

Paris Johnson has good athleticism for an offensive lineman, and he can play both tackle and guard.

16 –  Washington Redskins: Brian Branch, CB, Alabama

The Redskins can’t cover anyone, thanks to William Jackson being a complete bust as a free agent signing. They desperately need someone new to stay with A.J. Brown and CeeDee Lamb.

Brian Branch has nice size and cover ability.

17 – Pittsburgh Steelers: Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland

Kenny Pickett has enjoyed some bright moments in his rookie season. It would really help him if he had a franchise left tackle to protect his blind side.

Jaelyn Duncan is a team captain who showed some solid athleticism.

18 – Detroit Lions: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State

The Lions must address their secondary if they ever want to stop the pass.

The son of the former Steeler great is a 6-2 cornerback with high potential.

Pick change: previously Christian Gonzalez, CB

19 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

Jamel Dean will be a free agent soon, and the Buccaneers need the proper personnel to defend superior passing attacks.

Christian Gonzalez is a tall cornerback who is fast and athletic.

Pick change: previously Cam Smith, CB

20 – Seattle Seahawks: Isaiah Foskey, DE, Notre Dame

The Seahawks need to continue to add to their defensive line. As of this writing, they have the 10th-worst pressure rate in the NFL.

Isaiah Foskey had a huge 11-sack campaign. He possesses great potential.

Pick change: previously Tuli Tuipulotu, DE

21 – Jacksonville Jaguars: Max Melton, CB, Rutgers

The Jaguars have issues at cornerback, which is why they were 32nd against the pass at some point during the season. They’ll have interest in one of the top corners in the 2023 NFL Draft class.

Max Melton is a terrific athlete who is incredibly fast, so receivers can’t outrun him.

22 –  New York Giants: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

The Giants need to replace James Bradberry, which is something they could do with their first-round selection.

Cam Smith is a fast cornerback with long arms.

Pick change: previously Antonio Johnson, CB/S

23 – Baltimore Ravens: Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU

The Ravens have really struggled offensively when Rashod Bateman has been out of the lineup. They need to find another viable receiver for Lamar Jackson.

Kayshon Boutte has gotten rave reviews for his speed and athleticism. He had a huge game versus Georgia at the end of the year. He initially said that he will be returning to LSU, but he then changed his mind and declared for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Pick change: previously Jalin Hyatt, WR

24 – Los Angeles Chargers: Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan

The Chargers have finally given up on Jerry Tillery, but they needed to find help for the defensive line regardless, given how bad they are against the run.

Mazi Smith is a monstrous nose tackle who can generate a pass rush.

25 –  Dallas Cowboys: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa

Mediocre-at-best draft writers criticized Charlie Campbell’s breaking news story about one team removing Leighton Vander Esch from their draft board because of concerns regarding his neck. As always, Charlie was proven correct, as Vander Esch has missed plenty of time with his neck problems. The Cowboys need linebacker help as a result.

Jack Campbell has the size and athleticism to be a three-down player in the NFL.

26 – Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Cincinnati was interested in Trey McBride in last year’s draft, so perhaps they’ll use an early pick on a tight end.

The next NFL tight end to come out of Notre Dame, Michael Mayer murdered opponents with high production over the middle of the field.

Pick change: previously Isaiah Foskey, DE

27 – Minnesota Vikings: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

The Vikings must improve their pass rush, as their inability to get to the quarterback is putting stress on the cornerbacks.

Bryan Bresee has terrific quickness and athleticism.

28 – Denver Broncos: Luke Wypler, C, Ohio State

The Broncos must make sure they give Russell Wilson the best chance possible next year. Aside from finding a new head coach, they’ll need to give him better protection, including an upgrade at center.

Luke Wypler is an athletic center who played tackle in high school.

Pick change: previously T’Vondre Sweat, DT

29 – Buffalo Bills: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

The Bills could stand to add another weapon for Josh Allen so that the red zone issues are resolved.

Jordan Addison has game-breaking speed, and he had an incredible 2021 campaign with 17 touchdowns. He’s a major reason why Kenny Pickett was drafted in the first round.

Pick change: previously Jared Verse, DE

30 – Kansas City Chiefs: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee

The Chiefs could target a first-round receiver next April, given their huge need at the position.

Jalin Hyatt had a great season with lots of big plays for Tennessee.

Pick change: previously Cedric Tillman, WR

31 –  Philadelphia Eagles: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

Darius Slay and James Bradberry have been an amazing duo, but both will be 30-plus heading into 2023. The Eagles will need to replace one of them soon.

Devon Witherspoon is not quite six feet, but he has incredible speed. See where he ranks in our 2023 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings.

Pick change: previously Clark Phillips III, CB