The Daily Briefing Wednesday, July 6, 2022

NFC NORTH

DETROIT

Chris Burke of The Athletic on the promise of RB D’ANDRE SWIFT:

Coaches love to tell their players that “the best ability is availability.” The Lions may as well print that on D’Andre Swift’s page of the media guide.

During his rookie season in 2020, Swift had just started to hit his stride as a featured piece of the offense when a concussion sidelined him for three weeks. Last year, Swift missed the preseason while nursing a groin injury, then suffered a shoulder injury on Thanksgiving that limited him to two games (and 11 carries) the rest of the way.

Before the latter setback, Swift was on pace for 1,650 yards from scrimmage for the ’21 season. He’d finish with 1,069 anyway, despite barely playing from Week 11 on.

Since entering the league, Swift has been a borderline elite three-down back with the ball in his hands. But can he weather a 17-game season? And do it with enough in the tank for the Lions to feed him the ball 20 times per week?

“Just staying healthy will definitely be the challenge,” Lions assistant head coach Duce Staley said. “And, you know, injuries happen. One of the things Swift and I had a conversation about is, you’ve got to be able to play through some of these as a running back. We all know there’s a difference between being injured and hurt.”

Staley keeps hammering home that mentality because Swift can be such a dynamic weapon for the Lions’ offense. That’ll be true regardless of exactly how the offense operates under head coach Dan Campbell and newly installed offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

Campbell hasn’t committed to one or the other calling plays yet, but Swift’s two biggest outbursts of the 2021 season (33 carries for 130 yards at Pittsburgh; 14 carries for 136 yards and a touchdown at Cleveland) came in the first two games after Campbell took over the offense from former offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn.

Then came the aforementioned shoulder injury, courtesy of a hard tackle by Chicago linebacker Roquan Smith.

Perhaps because of Swift’s absence, the Lions skewed further from the run game over the season’s second half — with or without starting quarterback Jared Goff in the lineup. From weeks 1 through 8 last season, per the Cook Index, the Lions were the second run-heaviest team in the NFL. In weeks 9 through 18, with Campbell calling plays, they dropped to 12th.

Swift, though, doesn’t need carries to be effective. In his 26 games, he has 108 receptions and more than 800 receiving yards. Keep in mind, too, that Goff targeted his backs on 24.8 percent of his passes last season, the third-highest rate among quarterbacks with at least 300 pass attempts.

The Lions are going to get Swift the ball. Swift, at an 8.1 yards-after-the-catch clip last season, will make things happen when they do. The numbers need to improve on the ground — Swift averaged 4.1 yards per carry in 2021, down from 4.6 in ’20. They should, provided the Lions can keep their potentially dominant offensive line together.

Last year, even though Detroit’s projected starting O-line did not play a single regular-season snap together, Swift gained 1.68 yards before contact per rush, third among backs with at least 150 carries. That’s a nod to the work done in front of him.

If that line rolls out there in its entirety, well …

“Yeah, that crosses my mind at least once a day,” Swift said. “Having them all healthy, that’d mean the world.”

As for himself?

“I feel like if I’m healthy, the sky’s the limit,” Swift said. “I feel like Duce is going to take me to that level.”

GREEN BAY

Would playing with QB AARON RODGERS put the spring back in the step of WR JULIO JONES?  Steve DelVecchio of Larry Brown Sports:

The Green Bay Packers lost their best wide receiver this offseason when they traded Davante Adams, and they have not made any significant moves to replace him. That could change in the near future.

The Packers are the favorite to sign free agent wide receiver Julio Jones, according to the latest odds from Bookies.com. They list Green Bay with +325 odds to have Jones on their roster in Week 1. The Indianapolis Colts are next at +350.

Allen Lazard recently resolved his contract situation with the Packers. The team also signed Sammy Watkins this offseason, but they still have questionable depth at the receiver position.

Jones, 33, spent last season with the Tennessee Titans. He battled injuries and caught just 31 passes in 10 games. Jones spent the first decade of his career playing with Matt Ryan in Atlanta. He had seven 1,000-yard seasons and made seven Pro Bowls during his time with the Falcons.

NFC EAST

DALLAS

Members of the media don’t think the Cowboys should have partnered with a particular coffee company.  Ryan Young of YahooSports.com:

The Dallas Cowboys launched a new coffee sponsorship on Tuesday morning, and it’s not going well.

The timing of it was, well, about as poor as it possibly could have been.

The Cowboys launched a partnership with Black Rifle Coffee on Tuesday, which they now call “America’s Coffee.” As part of their Independence Day celebration, the team is giving away two tickets to a game this fall and a year subscription to Black Rifle Coffee.

While that looks like a simple giveaway that teams across the sports world do all the time, many were offended by the partnership after looking at the coffee company in question.

Black Rifle Coffee offers roasts like the “AK-47 Espresso Blend,” the “Murdered Out Coffee Roast,” the “Gunship Roast” and the “Silencer Smooth Coffee Roast,” to name a few. They’ve also been connected with Kyle Rittenhouse — who was acquitted after shooting three men during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 2020 — and endorsed former President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban.

Considering how big of an issue gun violence is in the United States — and the fact that seven people were shot and killed after a mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, on Monday — the Cowboys drew plenty of backlash.

(various appalled tweets)

Nothing screams America’s Team more than partnering with a coffee company that has “thin blue line” “AK-47” “freedom fuel” and “murdered out” named coffee and has this as their header picture

NEW YORK GIANTS

Was RB SAQUON BARKLEY shopped around this spring?  Sam Robinson ofProFootballRumors.com says no:

Saquon Barkley joined James Bradberry as high-profile Giants trade candidates this offseason, one in which the rebuilding team severed ties with select veterans to cut costs. This included Bradberry, released in May after a Texans trade fell through, but Barkley remains with the team.

Trade rumors involving the former Offensive Rookie of the Year swirled for a stretch earlier this year, but the Giants did not discover much of a market. The Giants may have discussed prospective Barkley trades, but Dan Duggan of The Athletic notes it is unlikely they were truly shopping the talented back (subscription required).

No offer wowed new GM Joe Schoen, and the former No. 2 overall pick is expected to play a versatile role in Brian Daboll‘s first Giants offense. Barkley is not the only New York skill-position player to be thrown into trade rumors this offseason. Kadarius Toney and Darius Slayton joined him. While the Giants do not appear prepared to unload Toney after just one year, Slayton has consistently been mentioned as a player who might not be on Big Blue’s 2022 roster.

Neither of those players has displayed a ceiling remotely close to what Barkley has, though injuries have significantly affected the Penn State product’s trajectory. A 2019 high ankle sprain, 2020 ACL and MCL tears, and more ankle trouble last season turned Barkley from being fast-tracked to a monster extension to a player whose Giants future beyond this season is very much in doubt. Barkley joins Daniel Jones in that lot, but the Giants did pick up the former’s fifth-year option (only $7.2MM) a year before declining to exercise Jones’.

Still, Barkley’s injuries and a 2021 season in which he averaged 3.7 yards per carry have obviously dropped his stock. If it becomes clear the Giants do not see a future with Barkley, an in-season trade — when teams would not have to pay his full salary, which doubles as the league’s sixth-highest running back cap number — could be in play. Of course, Barkley also has a chance to revive his value behind what could be the best offensive line with which he has played. The Giants added at least three new starters, including first-round right tackle Evan Neal and longtime Colts guard Mark Glowinski, and may have made a tremendous play-caller upgrade by hiring Daboll.

Barkley’s dominant rookie season (NFL-leading 2,028 scrimmage yards, to go along with 15 touchdowns) and the fact that he is only going into his age-25 season should keep the door open for a reasonable payday — if he can stay reasonably healthy this season. Barkley joins Kareem Hunt, Josh Jacobs, Damien Harris and Devin Singletary among the backs eligible for free agency next year. A strong 2022 would allow him to headline that class while also potentially moving the new Giants regime to consider a second contract.

NFC WEST

SEATTLE

After the Broncos fetched a huge payday for the Bowlen family, eyes have swung to Seattle where Paul Allen’s sister Jody and other heirs own the team.  Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com:

Jody Allen, chair of the Seattle Seahawks and trustee of the Paul G. Allen Trust, said in a statement released Tuesday by the team that neither the Seahawks nor the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, which the Allen Trust owns as well, are currently up for sale.

“As chair of both the Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle Seahawks, my long-term focus is building championship teams that our communities are proud of,” Allen said. “Like my brother Paul, I trust and expect our leaders and coaches to build winning teams that deliver results on and off the court and field.

“As we’ve stated before, neither of the teams is for sale and there are no sales discussions happening.

“A time will come when that changes given Paul’s plans to dedicate the vast majority of his wealth to philanthropy, but estates of this size and complexity can take 10 to 20 years to wind down. There is no pre-ordained timeline by which the teams must be sold.

“Until then, my focus — and that of our teams — is on winning.”

Jody Allen has served as Seahawks chair and the franchise’s de facto owner since her brother and former team owner, Paul Allen, died in October 2018. Paul Allen, a co-founder of Microsoft, bought the Trail Blazers in 1988 and the Seahawks in 1997.

Questions about the future of Seahawks ownership have been raised this offseason after the Walton-Penner family entered into a purchase-sale agreement in June to purchase the Denver Broncos for a record $4.65 billion; the NFL’s finance committee and three-fourths of the league’s owners must still approve the deal. Jody Allen’s statement also comes after Nike founder Phil Knight reportedly offered to purchase the Blazers for over $2 billion.

Asked during offseason workouts about the possibility of a sale, longtime Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Jody Allen has “never entertained that thought at all.”

The expectation is that the Seahawks will eventually be sold, as NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported at the time of Paul Allen’s death. As Jody Allen indicated Tuesday, however, now is not that time.

Allen’s heirs have hundreds of millions of reasons to wait another couple of years.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

Via Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal, the 1997 law that funded the construction of the team’s stadium in Seattle provides that the State of Washington would be entitled to 10 percent of the gross proceeds, if the team is sold before May 2024.

This gives the trust that holds the team nearly two years to plan for a sale and to finalize it. Our guess is that leaks of a potential sale are trickling out now, in order to put the possibility (or perhaps inevitability) of a sale on the radar screen of potential purchasers. Over the next year or so, interested parties can begin to lay the foundation for their eventual bids. By next fall, the process can accelerate to a full-blown auction.

Perhaps this was the plan all along, from the moment Paul Allen passed. His sister, Jody, would own the team until May 2024, at which time the team could be sold without 10 percent coming off the top.

If/when it’s time to sell, look no farther than the folks who pursued the Broncos. As PFT reported last week, 76ers co-owner Josh Harris was ready to bid $5 billion, if he knew that would deliver the franchise for him. This means he’d likely pay something in that same neighborhood for the Seahawks, as of May 2024. Others who may be interested in an NFL team are now on notice to start breaking open piggybanks and otherwise raising cash and lining up partners for a push to acquire the Seahawks.

– – –

Are the Seahawks in on a trade for QB BAKER MAYFIELD?  Mike Florio tries to sort out the rumors:

The truth regarding Seattle’s interest in Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield remains muddled, And that may be exactly how the Seahawks and/or the Browns want it.

On Tuesday afternoon, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media said the Seahawks have never had strong interest in Baker Mayfield. On Tuesday evening, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, who recently reported that the Seahawks continues to have a high level of interest in Mayfield, took issue with Rapoport’s characterization, calling it “inaccurate.”

If the Seahawks are interested, they’re doing a great job of keeping it from becoming as obvious as, say, the Panthers’ interest in Mayfield. Carolina and Cleveland had trade talks during the draft. The negotiations fell apart over the respective portions of Mayfield’s $18.8 million salary that the Browns and Panthers would pay. More recent reporting indicated that the interest isn’t dead, even after the Panthers pulled the plug during the draft and picked Matt Corral.

Seattle, which did its best to misdirect everyone for months on whether Russell Wilson would be traded, possibly is doing the same thing here, working to create the impression that they aren’t interested despite being interested in upgrading from Geno Smith and the U.S. Open’s new favorite punching bag, Drew Lock. It makes sense to keep it quiet, for multiple reasons. They want to get Mayfield as cheaply as possible, both as to draft picks and compensation. With no one else poised to pull the trigger, and with the chances of the Browns and Mayfield coexisting somewhere south of slim and none, the Browns need two viable suitors in order to get the best possible deal that they can.

Over the weekend, we tried to identify the full universe of teams that could or should be interested in Mayfield, as a better option to the best they currently have at the top of the depth chart. Including the Browns, who absolutely should want to keep Mayfield if they lose Deshaun Watson for the full season, 11 teams should at least be thinking about it.

It’s a combination of chess, checkers, and chicken. Someone will eventually make the move. The Seahawks may simply be waiting for the right time to do so, while maintaining plausible deniability in the event that it doesn’t happen. In their first season post-Russ, they can’t afford to create the impression that they don’t believe in Smith or Lock, if they can’t get Mayfield. But they still don’t want Mayfield badly enough to just get it done and move on.

As the clock ticks toward the start of training camp, something needs to happen. Mayfield doesn’t seem to be inclined to take an excused absence from camp while the Browns wait for a quarterback to get injured and for someone to cough up a first-round pick and more, like the Vikings did for Sam Bradford in 2016, when Teddy Bridgewater suddenly was lost for the season in late August. Mayfield wants to get it done, so that he can commence the process of learning a new offense and a new team and a new coaching staff and a new everything, in order to have the kind of season that will set him up for a new contract.

Will it be Seattle? Will it be some other team that has spent the slow time studying game film and OTA tape and wondering whether Mayfield gives them a better chance to win as many games as possible in 2022?

It can happen at any time. It needs to happen soon, or an awkward situation between the Browns and Mayfield could get downright acrimonious.

That could be what the Seahawks are counting on. That the Browns will cut and run in order to avoid another distraction in an offseason featuring more than a few of them.

Regardless, if someone else truly believes in Mayfield, and if Mayfield is all-in with that team, they should just go ahead and do it. If it works, the extra stuff they have to surrender via trade compensation or salary won’t matter. If they wait too long, it will become harder to make it work — and they may not get him at all.

Yes, Detroit Lions, I’m talking directly to you.

AFC WEST

DENVER

Frank Schwab of YahooSports.com says the Vegas Super Bowl money is lining up heavily on the Broncos, who have not been in the playoffs in five years.

The Buffalo Bills have gotten the most Super Bowl bets in the futures market at BetMGM. But the Bills aren’t the team the sportsbook is most worried about.

The worst outcome for BetMGM, at least at this point in the summer, is Russell Wilson bringing a Super Bowl to the Denver Broncos.

The biggest liability in the Super Bowl market at BetMGM is the Broncos, who are 16-to-1 odds and getting a lot of attention.

Since Peyton Manning retired, most Broncos teams have had pretty good talent and a black hole at quarterback. It has been said often through the years that the Broncos would be dangerous with a top option at quarterback.

That’s why the Wilson trade was a big one. The Broncos paid up for Wilson, but it’s worth it to get a player who has been one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks since he was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks.

The Broncos’ outlook completely changed with the trade. Their skill-position talent can thrive. A defense that has been solid doesn’t need to do it all. Denver plays in a very tough division and there’s still some question over how it will all fit together with Wilson, but things are looking up.

And there are plenty of hopeful bettors, holding tickets that could pay off pretty well.

AFC NORTH

CLEVELAND

See SEATTLE for some news and rumors regarding QB BAKER MAYFIELD and the Seahawks.  Here are the 11 teams, referenced in that report, that Mike Florio ofProFootballTalk.com thinks should/could be in play for Mayfield:

The Browns.

If Judge Sue L. Robinson decides that Deshaun Watson should miss the entire season, or if on appeal the Commissioner makes that ruling, the Browns will need a quarterback for all of 2022. Mayfield makes the most sense, on paper. Unfortunately, the bridge between Baker and the Browns has been obliterated. The only way to mend fences would be for the Browns to offer him more money and an unimpeded path to the open market in 2023. Even then, it’s probably not enough.

The Steelers.

When the Steelers made quarterback Kenny Pickett the 20th overall pick in the draft, the door seemingly slammed on the possibility of Mayfield making a beeline to the ‘Burgh if he’s ultimately cut by the Browns. But with Pickett by all appearances not ready to play, isn’t Mayfield (if healthy) a better option than Mitch Trubisky? Mayfield definitely is. And while that would be an intriguing answer for 2022, it could throw a wrench in the plans for 2023, if the Steelers have a great year with Mayfield. Some would call that a good problem to have.

The Panthers.

They’re reportedly still haggling with the Browns over the amount of money the two teams would pay toward Mayfield’s 2022 guaranteed salary of $18.8 million. At some point, the logjam needs to be broken. If the Panthers wait too long, one of these other teams may snatch him.

The Falcons.

Baker Mayfield is a better option than Marcus Mariota. Maybe the Falcons will come to terms with that during the slow weeks. Maybe they’ll realize that it won’t get any easier to get people to buy tickets and attend games absent a quarterback who plays well enough to make an NFC South also-ran into a potential contender.

The Seahawks.

Despite periodic reports of significant interest, they’ve done nothing to demonstrate it clearly and conclusively. Maybe they’re simply playing the cards close to the vest in the hopes that he’ll eventually be released. Regardless, the Seahawks are doing a good job of selling the idea that they’re comfortable with Geno Smith or that new darling of the U.S. Open, Drew Lock.

The Saints.

They were one of the teams pursuing Deshaun Watson. That necessarily makes them a potential contender for Mayfield, despite the presence of Jameis Winston. Maybe the Saints genuinely believe that Winston when healthy is better than Mayfield when healthy. Reasonable minds definitely would differ on that point.

The Lions.

Those familiar with this specific web destination may remember that I’ve been trying to type this one into existence. Mayfield is better than Jared Goff. Period. And Mayfield much better fits the current vibe that coach Dan Campbell is trying to create than the California kid who landed in what must feel to him like Bizarro Oz.

The Giants.

The new power structure didn’t pick up the fifth-year option on Daniel Jones. Although they refuse to explain it this way, they basically are betting that he won’t be good enough to make them want to apply the much pricier franchise tag in 2023. Isn’t Mayfield better and more accomplished than Jones? Yes and yes. If the Giants aren’t sold that Jones will be the guy for 2023, why not grab Mayfield now and see if he can become the future for a team that is still trying to adequately replace Eli Manning?

The Texans.

They claim to be all in with Davis Mills. And, in fairness to Mills, he’s possibly working his way toward a fairly high ceiling. Still, if the goal is to win now, Mayfield is the better option. And while they could have had him as part of the Watson trade, the Browns likely would have placed too much value on Mayfield at the time. As part of a separate transaction, the Texans possibly could get him for a lot less.

The 49ers.

Could the best bridge to the Trey Lance era not be Jimmy G. but Baker Mayfield? Maybe. But they’ll be far better off letting Lance commence the process of becoming the best version of himself that he eventually will be.

The Dolphins.

I know I said I’d list the teams in no particular order, but I saved this one for last. TuAnon won’t like this, one bit. But let’s be fair. Mayfield, when healthy, can do much more than Tua has ever done. And with Mike McDaniel drawing up the plays, Mayfield could be exactly what the Dolphins need to hit their full potential in 2022 and beyond. If they can get him for cheap, they definitely should consider it. Even if they won’t.

That’s the full list. It probably means he’ll end up with a team that didn’t make the cut. Regardless, if he’s healthy, Mayfield has the ability to be very good. He could be the difference between making the playoffs and not qualifying. He could be the difference between one-and-out and winning a playoff game or two. Don’t let a 2021 season marred by a nasty Week Two shoulder injury cloud that reality.

AFC EAST

BUFFALO

EDGE VON MILLER wants to be the defensive QB TOM BRADY.  Thomas Neumann ofSI.com:

Von Miller already has established himself as one of the finest pass-rushers in NFL history.

He’s racked up 115.5 career sacks on his way to eight Pro Bowl selections. Named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s all-decade team for the 2010s, he’s also a two-time Super Bowl champion.

Despite all those accomplishments, the 33-year-old Miller apparently wants to achieve much more. He signed a six-year contract potentially worth $120 million with the Buffalo Bills in March, and he recently told the Buffalo News that he intends to fulfill the entirety of the pact.

“This is a six-year deal, so I’m looking forward to playing the whole thing,” Miller told the Buffalo News last month at minicamp. “I’m trying to play the whole thing out. Tom Brady’s done it. Bruce Smith has done it. All the guys that I look up to when it comes to longevity in careers. So I just take it one day at a time, and I’m just gonna take whatever God gives me. My intention is to play the whole thing out.”

If Miller does play six seasons in Buffalo, that leave him just shy of age 40. But if anyone can do it, it’s probably Miller, who goes to great lengths in training and recovery. Those efforts include nutrition, cold tubs, acupuncture, cryotherapy and massage.

“I’m 33, but I honestly don’t feel 33,” Miller told the Buffalo News. “I think mentally, once you start feeling old, it’s just done. … When I’m running out here with the guys, I make it a point to show to my teammates and earn their trust that, hey, I’m 33 years old, but I can run with you. I can run with anybody, and I’m healthy and I take care of my body.”

Miller is entering his 11th NFL season after being selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2011 NFL draft out of Texas A&M by the Broncos. He was named MVP of Super Bowl 50 with Denver and won a second Super Bowl last season with the Rams.

THIS AND THAT

VETERAN DRAFT

Chad Reuter does a seven-round equivalent of a 32-team Madden draft.  We give you his first round and his team results:

Each April, I build a complete seven-round NFL mock draft that attempts to find homes for former college players in the pros based on their value, as well as the roster needs and schemes of their new teams.

But what if we instead used the mock draft concept to re-imagine the NFL landscape, allowing each team to build the foundation of a roster designed to win now. Which veterans would be the most coveted? Where might the top incoming rookies land?

This sort of mass redistribution of talent would obviously never happen. But with training camps still a few weeks away, let’s have a little fun. This mock draft is simply one version of countless possible projections given players’ expected value in 2022 — and only 2022 — and each team’s current coaching staffs and front offices.

Before we get started, a few important notes:

Teams are listed based on the first-round order from the 2022 NFL Draft, restoring traded away picks to the original holders.

The subsequent rounds are “snaked” to distribute talent more evenly among the 32 franchises.

No trades or compensatory selections were included.

Because of the uncertainty surrounding his playing status for the upcoming season, Browns QB Deshaun Watson wasn’t included.

1  Jacksonville Jaguars

Aaron Rodgers QB

The Jaguars pick the four-time MVP to start things off; he’s still able to perform at the highest level, creating productive plays inside and outside the pocket.

2  Detroit Lions

Tom Brady  QB

This is a 2022-only deal, so any concerns about age are alleviated. The Lions could grab Brady for his leadership and ability to run an offense.

3  Houston Texans

 Patrick Mahomes  QB

The Texans weren’t able to land Mahomes in the 2017 draft, but now they select the incredibly talented and productive passer.

4  New York Jets

Josh Allen  QB

New York makes up for the mistake of drafting the more “pro-ready” Sam Darnold over the “toolsy” Allen in the 2018 draft.

5  New York Giants

Joe Burrow   QB

Burrow is already a top-five quarterback. He would be drafted higher if this was not a 2022-only draft.

6  Carolina Panthers

Justin Herbert  QB

Herbert, who was selected one spot ahead of Carolina’s top pick in the 2020 draft, has used his size and arm to make the top tier of NFL passers in just two years.

7  Chicago Bears

Russell Wilson   QB

Eleven years after starring at Wisconsin, Wilson returns to the Midwest to give the Bears their long-awaited star QB.

8  Atlanta Falcons

Lamar Jackson   QB

Jackson is ultra-productive as a runner and his arm is dangerous when given time and strong targets.

9  Denver Broncos

Dak Prescott      QB

Dak will be a steady influence at quarterback for the Broncos, much as the team expects offseason acquisition Russell Wilson to be in 2022.

10  Seattle Seahawks

Aaron Donald    DT

Seattle becomes the first team to get off the quarterback train, picking the best defensive player in the league to wreak havoc as a pass rusher and run defender.

11  Washington Commanders

Kyler Murray   QB

Murray’s quickness outside the pocket and ability to stretch the field with his arm would endear him to Commanders fans.

12  Minnesota Vikings

Derek Carr   QB

The addition of Davante Adams for the real 2022 Raiders squad could push Carr up passer rankings this year, making this pick seem like a bargain.

13  Cleveland Browns

Matthew Stafford   QB

Cleveland gets a solid veteran in Stafford, who proved he still has plenty left in the tank on his way to a Super Bowl win with the Rams.

14  Baltimore Ravens

Davante Adams   WR

With the quarterback run over, the Ravens select the top skill-position player on the board in Adams.

15  Miami Dolphins

Tyreek Hill    WR

Given the price the Dolphins just paid for Hill in real life, it’s hard not to see them grabbing his speed and play-making ability at this point in the draft.

16   Indianapolis Colts

Myles Garrett    Edge

Garrett’s power and speed make him the top edge rusher available for 2022.

17  Los Angeles Chargers

Jalen Ramsey   CB

The Chargers “steal” Ramsey from their SoFi Stadium partners in the first round, hoping he can lock down one side of the field like their real 2022 free-agent acquisition, J.C. Jackson.

18  New Orleans Saints

Cooper Kupp  WR

Kupp can do it all, and the Saints have missed a true playmaker at the receiver position with Michael Thomas sidelined for all but seven games in the past two seasons.

19  Philadelphia Eagles

T.J. Watt   Edge

Watt’s generally known as a stand-up rusher but he’s become quite adept at winning from a three-point stance. The Eagles should not pass on his value.

20  Pittsburgh Steelers

Trent Williams    OT

Williams will be 34 years old this season but will again be the top tackle in the league because of his excellent pass protection skills and dominating run blocking.

21  New England Patriots

Micah Parsons   LB

Bill Belichick can line up Parsons anywhere on the field: inside, outside, over the slot, off the ball. His supreme versatility and explosiveness are highly coveted.

22  Las Vegas Raiders

Ja’Marr Chase   WR

The Raiders have a tough choice between all of the elite pass-catchers still on the board, but they take a downfield playmaker who is still on the rise.

23  Arizona Cardinals

Travis Kelce    TE

I wouldn’t argue with anyone who says Kelce is the top weapon at tight end in league history.

24  Dallas Cowboys

Nick Bosa    Edge

Bosa can be flat-out dominant when healthy, so the Cowboys start their defensive squad by bringing him to The Star.

25  Buffalo Bills

George Kittle   TE

Kittle is the league’s top all-around tight end but his recent injury history drops him behind Kelce in this mock.

26  Tennessee Titans

Derrick Henry  RB

I mean, how can I put Henry on any other team? He’s just too powerful for Mike Vrabel and Co. to pass on here, even after last season’s foot injury.

27  Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Deebo Samuel   WR

Samuel might ask the Bucs not to use him as a runner too often as he tries to lengthen his career. They should be totally fine with that given his ability to make plays as a receiver.

28  Green Bay Packers

Cameron Heyward    DT

Heyward is an older player at 33, but he will still be a strong defensive leader who makes his presence known no matter where the Packers slot him on the line.

29  San Francisco 49ers

Joey Bosa   Edge

The Niners switch Bosa brothers, losing out on Nick but grabbing Joey to chase after quarterbacks from a two- or three-point stance (as he did at Ohio State).

30  Kansas City Chiefs

Jaylen Waddle   WR

The Chiefs like speed, and Waddle has plenty. I can imagine general manager Brett Veach asking the Dolphins for Waddle in the Tyreek Hill trade, only to be turned down before the two sides eventually made the deal.

31  Cincinnati Bengals

Jonathan Taylor    RB

Taylor is a yardage-eating machine who sets the foundation for the Bengals’ offense.

32  Los Angeles Rams

Chris Jones    DL

I love the idea of the Rams playing Jones at five-technique to utilize his rare combination of power and quickness.

And the full seven rounds with QBs in bold.  Is there any team without a first round QB that could compete?  The Saints have ANDY DALTON (?!?!) in the 7^th round.

Arizona Cardinals

Round 1: Travis Kelce, TE (No. 23 overall)

Round 2: Jeffery Simmons, DT (No. 42)

Round 3: Justin Fields, QB (No. 87)

Round 4: Harold Landry, Edge (No. 106)

Round 5: Chris Godwin, WR (No. 151)

Round 6: Sauce Gardner, CB (No. 170)

Round 7: Quandre Diggs, S (No. 215)

Atlanta Falcons

Round 1: Lamar Jackson, QB (No. 8 overall)

Round 2: Rashan Gary, Edge (No. 57)

Round 3: D.K. Metcalf, WR (No. 72)

Round 4: Minkah Fitzpatrick, S (No. 121)

Round 5: Joe Thuney, OG (No. 136)

Round 6: Cordarrelle Patterson, RB (No. 185)

Round 7: Zach Ertz, TE (No. 200)

Baltimore Ravens

Round 1: Davante Adams, WR (No. 14 overall)

Round 2: Jalen Hurts, QB (No. 51)

Round 3: Xavien Howard, CB (No. 78)

Round 4: Leonard Williams, DE (No. 115)

Round 5: Shaq Barrett, Edge (No. 142)

Round 6: Tyrann Mathieu, S (No. 179)

Round 7: Elgton Jenkins, OG (No. 206)

Buffalo Bills

Round 1: George Kittle, TE (No. 25 overall)

Round 2: Trevor Lawrence, QB (No. 40)

Round 3: Ryan Ramcyzk, OT (No. 89)

Round 4: Joel Bitonio, OG (No. 104)

Round 5: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge (No. 153)

Round 6: Tre’Davious White, CB (No. 168)

Round 7: Michael Pittman Jr., WR (No. 217)

Carolina Panthers

Round 1: Justin Herbert, QB (No. 6 overall)

Round 2: Kyle Pitts, TE (No. 59)

Round 3: CeeDee Lamb, WR (No. 70)

Round 4: Chase Young, Edge (No. 123)

Round 5: Denzel Ward, CB (No. 134)

Round 6: Braden Smith, OT (No. 187)

Round 7: Leonard Fournette, RB (No. 198)

Chicago Bears

Round 1: Russell Wilson, QB (No. 7 overall)

Round 2: Maxx Crosby, Edge (No. 58)

Round 3: Lane Johnson, OT (No. 71)

Round 4: Corey Linsley, C (No. 122)

Round 5: Jonathan Allen, DT (No. 135)

Round 6: DeAndre Hopkins, WR (No. 186)

Round 7: D.J. Reed, CB (No. 199)

Cincinnati Bengals

Round 1: Jonathan Taylor, RB (No. 31 overall)

Round 2: Kirk Cousins, QB (No. 34)

Round 3: Derwin James, S (No. 95)

Round 4: Trey Hendrickson, Edge (No. 98)

Round 5: Stephon Gilmore, CB (No. 159)

Round 6: Marquise Brown, WR (No. 162)

Round 7: David Andrews, C (No. 223)

Cleveland Browns

Round 1: Matthew Stafford, QB (No. 13 overall)

Round 2: Keenan Allen, WR (No. 52)

Round 3: Montez Sweat, Edge (No. 77)

Round 4: Jevon Holland, S (No. 116)

Round 5: Kolton Miller, OT (No. 141)

Round 6: Fletcher Cox, DT (No. 180)

Round 7: Justin Tucker, K (No. 205)

Dallas Cowboys

Round 1: Nick Bosa, Edge (No. 24 overall)

Round 2: Quenton Nelson, OG (No. 41)

Round 3: Alvin Kamara, RB (No. 88)

Round 4: Terry McLaurin, WR (No. 105)

Round 5: Patrick Surtain, CB (No. 152)

Round 6: Davis Mills, QB (No. 169)

Round 7: Rob Havenstein, OT (No. 216)

Denver Broncos

Round 1: Dak Prescott, QB (No. 9 overall)

Round 2: Stefon Diggs, WR (No. 56)

Round 3: Rashawn Slater, OT (No. 73)

Round 4: Saquon Barkley, RB (No. 120)

Round 5: Budda Baker, S (No. 137)

Round 6: Leonard Floyd, Edge (No. 184)

Round 7: J.J. Watt, Edge (No. 201)

Detroit Lions

Round 1: Tom Brady, QB (No. 2 overall)

Round 2: Tyron Smith, OT (No. 63)

Round 3: Demario Davis, LB (No. 66)

Round 4: Brandon Scherff, OG (No. 127)

Round 5: Emmanuel Ogbah, Edge (No. 130)

Round 6: D.J. Reader, DT (No. 191)

Round 7: Allen Robinson, WR (No. 194)

Green Bay Packers

Round 1: Cameron Heyward, DT (No. 28 overall)

Round 2: Jimmy Garoppolo, QB (No. 37)

Round 3: Tee Higgins, WR (No. 92)

Round 4: Brian Burns, Edge (No. 101)

Round 5: Donovan Smith, OT (No. 156)

Round 6: Ezekiel Elliott, RB (No. 165)

Round 7: Nate Hobbs, CB (No. 220)

Houston Texans

Round 1: Patrick Mahomes, QB (No. 3 overall)

Round 2: Demarcus Lawrence, Edge (No. 62)

Round 3: Darren Waller, TE (No. 67)

Round 4: Christian McCaffrey, RB (No. 126)

Round 5: Michael Thomas, WR (No. 131)

Round 6: Casey Hayward, CB (No. 190)

Round 7: Ed Oliver, DT (No. 195)

Indianapolis Colts

Round 1: Myles Garrett, Edge (No. 16 overall)

Round 2: Jaire Alexander, CB (No. 49)

Round 3: Jameis Winston, QB (No. 80)

Round 4: Arik Armstead, DT (No. 113)

Round 5: Shaq Mason, OG (No. 144)

Round 6: Garrett Wilson, WR (No. 177)

Round 7: Ryan Jensen, C (No. 208)

Jacksonville Jaguars

Round 1: Aaron Rodgers, QB (No. 1 overall)

Round 2: Chandler Jones, Edge (No. 64)

Round 3: DeForest Buckner, DT (No. 65)

Round 4: Harrison Smith, S (No. 128)

Round 5: Tyler Lockett, WR (No. 129)

Round 6: Chidobe Awuzie, CB (No. 192)

Round 7: La’el Collins, OT (No. 193)

Kansas City Chiefs

Round 1: Jaylen Waddle, WR (No. 30 overall)

Round 2: Ryan Tannehill, QB (No. 35)

Round 3: Austin Ekeler, RB (No. 94)

Round 4: Antoine Winfield Jr., S (No. 99)

Round 5: Creed Humphrey, C (No. 158)

Round 6: Danielle Hunter, Edge (No. 163)

Round 7: Roquan Smith, LB (No. 222)

Las Vegas Raiders

Round 1: Ja’Marr Chase, WR (No. 22 overall)

Round 2: J.C. Jackson, CB (No. 43)

Round 3: Marcus Mariota, QB (No. 86)

Round 4: Lavonte David, LB (No. 107)

Round 5: Quinnen Williams, DT (No. 150)

Round 6: Orlando Brown Jr., OT (No. 171)

Round 7: Jadeveon Clowney, Edge (No. 214)

Los Angeles Chargers

Round 1: Jalen Ramsey, CB (No. 17 overall)

Round 2: Dalvin Cook, RB (No. 48)

Round 3: A.J. Brown, WR (No. 81)

Round 4: Zach Wilson, QB (No. 112)

Round 5: Za’Darius Smith, Edge (No. 145)

Round 6: Garrett Bolles, OT (No. 176)

Round 7: Ben Jones, C (No. 209)

Los Angeles Rams

Round 1: Chris Jones, DT (No. 32 overall)

Round 2: Matt Ryan, QB (No. 33)

Round 3: Josh Allen, Edge (No. 96)

Round 4: Joe Mixon, RB (No. 97)

Round 5: Amari Cooper, WR (No. 160)

Round 6: Kendall Fuller, CB (No. 161)

Round 7: Frank Ragnow, C (No. 224)

Miami Dolphins

Round 1: Tyreek Hill, WR (No. 15 overall)

Round 2: AJ Terrell, CB (No. 50)

Round 3: Trey Lance, QB (No. 79)

Round 4: De’Vondre Campbell, LB (No. 114)

Round 5: Jessie Bates III, S (No. 143)

Round 6: Preston Smith, Edge (No. 178)

Round 7: Andrew Thomas, OT (No. 207)

Minnesota Vikings

Round 1: Derek Carr, QB (No. 12 overall)

Round 2: Mark Andrews, TE (No. 53)

Round 3: Mike Williams, WR (No. 76)

Round 4: Randy Gregory, Edge (No. 117)

Round 5: Marlon Humphrey, CB (No. 140)

Round 6: Jimmie Ward, S (No. 181)

Round 7: Laremy Tunsil, OT (No. 204)

New England Patriots

Round 1: Micah Parsons, LB (No. 21 overall)

Round 2: Cameron Jordan, Edge (No. 44)

Round 3: Vita Vea, DT (No. 85)

Round 4: Carson Wentz, QB (No. 108)

Round 5: Hunter Renfrow, WR (No. 149)

Round 6: Jason Kelce, C (No. 172)

Round 7: Chris Lindstrom, OG (No. 213)

New Orleans Saints

Round 1: Cooper Kupp, WR (No. 18 overall)

Round 2: Darius Leonard, LB (No. 47)

Round 3: David Bakhtiari, OT (No. 82)

Round 4: Grady Jarrett, DT (No. 111)

Round 5: Jordan Poyer, S (No. 146)

Round 6: Gregory Rousseau, Edge (No. 175)

Round 7: Andy Dalton, QB (No. 210)

New York Giants

Round 1: Joe Burrow, QB (No. 5 overall)

Round 2: Micah Hyde, S (No. 60)

Round 3: Khalil Mack, Edge (No. 69)

Round 4: Christian Wilkins, DT (No. 124)

Round 5: Darius Slay, CB (No. 133)

Round 6: Christian Watson, WR (No. 188)

Round 7: Dawson Knox, TE (No. 197)

New York Jets

Round 1: Josh Allen, QB (No. 4 overall)

Round 2: Fred Warner, LB (No. 61)

Round 3: Mike Evans, WR (No. 68)

Round 4: Kenny Clark, DT (No. 125)

Round 5: Matt Judon, Edge (No. 132)

Round 6: Jack Conklin, OT (No. 189)

Round 7: Carlton Davis, CB (No. 196)

Philadelphia Eagles

Round 1: T.J. Watt, Edge (No. 19 overall)

Round 2: Tristan Wirfs, OT (No. 46)

Round 3: Najee Harris, RB (No. 83)

Round 4: DeVonta Smith, WR (No. 110)

Round 5: Tua Tagovailoa, QB (No. 147)

Round 6: T.J. Hockenson, TE (No. 174)

Round 7: Justin Simmons, S (No. 211)

Pittsburgh Steelers

Round 1: Trent Williams, OT (No. 20 overall)

Round 2: Justin Jefferson, WR (No. 45)

Round 3: Nick Chubb, RB (No. 84)

Round 4: Kevin Byard, S (No. 109)

Round 5: Mitchell Trubisky, QB (No. 148)

Round 6: Aidan Hutchinson, Edge (No. 173)

Round 7: Rasul Douglas, CB (No. 212)

San Francisco 49ers

Round 1: Joey Bosa, Edge (No. 29 overall)

Round 2: Terron Armstead, OT (No. 36)

Round 3: Bobby Wagner, LB (No. 93)

Round 4: Daniel Jones, QB (No. 100)

Round 5: Brandin Cooks, WR (No. 157)

Round 6: Aaron Jones, RB (No. 164)

Round 7: Adoree’ Jackson, CB (No. 221)

Seattle Seahawks

Round 1: Aaron Donald, DT (No. 10 overall)

Round 2: Von Miller, Edge (No. 55)

Round 3: Marshon Lattimore, CB (No. 74)

Round 4: Baker Mayfield, QB (No. 119)

Round 5: Jamal Adams, S (No. 138)

Round 6: Diontae Johnson, WR (No. 183)

Round 7: Penei Sewell, OT (No. 202)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Round 1: Deebo Samuel, WR (No. 27 overall)

Round 2: Mac Jones, QB (No. 38)

Round 3: Robert Quinn, Edge (No. 91)

Round 4: Marcus Williams, S (No. 102)

Round 5: Dallas Goedert, TE (No. 155)

Round 6: Wyatt Teller, OG (No. 166)

Round 7: Devin White, LB (No. 219)

Tennessee Titans

Round 1: Derrick Henry, RB (No. 26 overall)

Round 2: Zack Martin, OG (No. 39)

Round 3: Trevon Diggs, CB (No. 90)

Round 4: Teddy Bridgewater, QB (No. 103)

Round 5: Haason Reddick, Edge (No. 154)

Round 6: Tremaine Edmunds, LB (No. 167)

Round 7: Robert Woods, WR (No. 218)

Washington Commanders

Round 1: Kyler Murray, QB (No. 11 overall)

Round 2: Marcus Davenport, Edge (No. 54)

Round 3: Jordan Mailata, OT (No. 75)

Round 4: D.J. Moore, WR (No. 118)

Round 5: Kenny Moore, CB (No. 139)

Round 6: Adrian Phillips, S (No. 182)

Round 7: Damien Harris, RB (No. 203)