Every NFL player is defying the variants and electing not to opt out for 2021.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

The window closed on Friday. The official news as to whether anyone opted to go through it came today.

Per multiple reports, the official transaction report (which officially will be released probably by the time this is published) shows that no players opted out for the 2021 season.

It’s no surprise, given the availabilities of vaccines in 2021 and the fact that so few opted out in 2020. Still, any player who signed his most recent contract before October 1, 2020 could have done it, for any reason.

That doesn’t entirely end the matter, however. If, for example, a guy like Bills receiver Cole Beasley decides he won’t get the vaccine but he resents operating under 2020 rules when the vaccinated get to party like it’s 2019, Beasley could simply retire for 2021 and return next year.

Of course, Beasley would owe $1.5 million in unearned signing bonus money. Opting out would have held everything in place for a full year.

As we originally pointed out (and, as Big Cat happily predicted on PFT Live, everyone else would repeat it without giving us credit), Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers could have saved more than $20 million by opting out of the 2021 season instead of sitting out while under contract. This doesn’t mean he won’t sit out; as we’ve also explained, Rodgers and his representatives believe that, if he never plays for the Packers again, he ultimately won’t be paying back a penny to the corporation that owns the team.

NFC NORTH

CHICAGO

We pick up the preseason previews of Frank Schwab (YahooSports.com) with #22, the Bears:

One tweet summed up the Chicago Bears’ pre-draft offseason excitement, or lack thereof.

(picture of Andy Dalton) QB #1

It was a meaningless late March tweet (which everyone outside of Illinois got a laugh out of), presumably to get fans excited, but how were Bears fans ever going to get fired up about Andy Dalton as their quarterback? Nothing against Dalton, but he’s no longer in the “preferred starter” phase of his career. He’s either a really good backup or the starting option when you have nobody else.

Through late April, the Bears were a mediocre team that failed on yet another try at quarterback with Mitchell Trubisky, with a coach and general manager who everyone seemed to want out but surprisingly got another year. They weren’t going to get a good quarterback with the 20th overall pick, either. The Bears were nowhere near the dire situation some other teams find themselves in, but it was getting hard to drum up any real optimism.

Then came draft night.

It would be hard to find a fanbase more excited about a pick than Bears fans were about Justin Fields. The Bears came into the draft with no real hope of landing a difference-making quarterback. Then Fields started falling. He got past the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos, two teams that might regret not taking the Ohio State quarterback. Finally the Bears found their partner to trade up, with the New York Giants at No. 11. They drafted Fields and reenergized their fanbase. Fan excitement shouldn’t be the reason a team takes any player in the draft, but it doesn’t hurt.

Fields gives the Bears hope of finally having a great quarterback. It’s a franchise that, somehow, hasn’t had a first-team All-Pro quarterback since 1950, and only a few Pro Bowlers in the Super Bowl era. Expectations will be huge.

It’s good the Bears got Fields, because the rest of the equation is shaky.

Matt Nagy probably set the record for quickest time between a coach of the year award and landing on the hot seat. A very good first year as Bears coach has mostly been forgotten. Nagy has struggled to establish an offensive identity. GM Ryan Pace’s draft missteps have been dissected often in Chicago and he has gotten plenty of blame for the Bears’ 42-54 record since he took over. Both were in danger of being fired after last season. Neither was.

It was a reprieve, and both seemed to realize it. If you didn’t already know how the news went over in Chicago, check out the comments from Bears chairman George McCaskey.

“We understand your frustration. We’re frustrated, too,” McCaskey said, according to the Bears’ site. “And it would be a perfectly natural reaction to say, ‘Back up the truck, major overhaul,’ whatever you want to call it. After one particularly dispiriting loss this season, a season-ticket holder sent me an email that read: ‘Fire somebody. We deserve better.’ I get it. You deserve your Bears being winners. The decisions we’re announcing today might not be the easiest or most popular, but we believe they’re the best decisions for the Bears.”

That’s not exactly the quote you wish to hear as the offseason starts.

The Bears enter a strange season. Pace and Nagy are clearly on borrowed time. They’re also tasked with doing what’s right to develop the quarterback of the future. Cynically, what’s best for them might not be best for the Bears. If Nagy waits until midseason to make the change to Fields, it’ll be viewed — right or wrong — as one to generate some late-season momentum and buy him another year. The easiest way for Pace and Nagy to save their jobs is to make the playoffs. They’ll need to exhaust all other options if that doesn’t happen.

Fields creates a diversion. That wasn’t the goal but it’s the result. If this was Dalton for a full season, Bears fans would focus on the future of their embattled coach and GM all season. That hasn’t been the story since the draft.

And who knows, perhaps Fields will get his chance early in the season and lead the Bears to enough wins to save both their jobs.

OFFSEASON GRADE

Moving up to draft Justin Fields was clearly the right move, but the cost was high. The Bears gave up the 20th pick, a fifth-round pick and first-and fourth-round picks in 2022 to move up nine spots. Nobody will care about the cost if Fields works out, however. The Bears’ draft got an “A” grade from Yahoo Sports’ Eric Edholm, and not just for Fields. There were other good picks, like Oklahoma State offensive tackle Teven Jenkins in the second round. Free agency grades aren’t as kind. The team lost cornerback Kyle Fuller, defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris, left tackle Charles Leno and excellent kickoff returner Cordarrelle Patterson. Not much came back. Andy Dalton signed for $10 million, which was necessary before the Bears drafted Fields and an overpay once the draft was done. A lot of money was spent giving the franchise tag to Allen Robinson II, a necessary move. We’ll give a little extra credit for the draft, but free agency brings down the grade.

Grade: C-plus

QUARTERBACK REPORT

Matt Nagy was asked on Cris Collinsworth’s podcast about Justin Fields’ chances to start Week 1 over Andy Dalton. Here’s the question and answer, via NBC Sports Chicago.

Collinsworth: Is there a possible scenario where Justin Fields plays on opening night?

Nagy: No, I mean Andy is our starter. Again, I can’t predict anything. You know how it goes. There’s so many things that can happen in between today and Week 1, but Andy is our starter and Justin’s our No. 2, and we’re going to stick to this plan.

There was a lot said by Nagy days after that comment about everyone competing, but it sounds like Fields will need to change Nagy’s mind in August. He could, but it seems the Bears are falling into an outdated trap.

Rookie first-round quarterbacks don’t need to sit anymore, and they rarely do. Carson Palmer and Aaron Rodgers sitting for a year happened ages ago, in NFL terms. If Fields shows he’s ready, he should play. Then again, that presumes rational coaching. Bill O’Brien once started Tom Savage over Deshaun Watson in Week 1; coaches still sometimes put too much belief in strategies that made sense 20 or 30 years ago. Also, coaches who need to save their jobs often make decisions with that in mind. If Fields is ready, he should play as soon as possible. But will he?

ODDS BREAKDOWN

The Bears’ win total at BetMGM is 7.5, and I don’t love the over. It could happen because the defense is still good and perhaps Justin Fields gets his shot earlier rather than later. He can transform a dull offense. But it’s still a team that will be relying on a rookie quarterback who was passed in the draft by multiple teams with QB needs, or a veteran who probably isn’t leading an offensive revolution. I like the Fields pick and it will pay off, just not this season.

FANTASY TAKE

From Yahoo’s Scott Pianowski: “David Montgomery went bonkers in the final third of the 2020 season. driving some managers to championships, but the public isn’t chasing that run. He’s merely the RB21 in early Yahoo drafts, and an affordable RB19 in NFFC formats.

The return of Tarik Cohen and the addition of Damien Williams might seem like a crowding issue, but Cohen is a mildly-overrated satellite back and Williams steps into his age-29 season. Although Montgomery’s late-season run last year was aided by a host of easy matchups, I still expect him to command a heavy market share this year. The Bears also have their share of weak opponents, for whatever summer SOS means to you. At the current price, Montgomery is a reasonable fallback as your second fantasy back.”

STAT TO REMEMBER

After four straight double-digit sack seasons, including a great 15-sack season in 2015, Khalil Mack hasn’t reached double digits in two straight seasons. He has come close, with 8.5 in 2019 and 9 in 2020. Mack is still one of the best defensive players in the NFL and his impact goes beyond sack totals. There’s nothing that indicates he has dropped off at all. If anything, he’s due for some positive regression and his sack total could spike again this season. That would be great news for the Bears. Perhaps new defensive coordinator Sean Desai will have some ideas on how to put Mack in advantageous positions.

BURNING QUESTION

What does David Montgomery’s hot streak mean for 2021?

When it looked like Montgomery might never be the lead back the Bears wanted him to be, the final six weeks of the regular season happened.

Montgomery had the hottest streak of his young career. The final six games: 598 rushing yards with a 5.2-yard average, 226 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns. The Bears won three in a row in that stretch, and that’s the reason they made the playoffs. Montgomery benefited from a soft schedule late in the season, but it’s impressive to put up those numbers no matter who you’re facing. Montgomery seems energized by the late-season surge. He said he has been working on his speed, among other things.

“It wasn’t enough for me last year, just knowing the untapped potential that I had within myself,” Montgomery said, according to the Bears’ site.

It’s reasonable to assume, even with pass-catching back Tarik Cohen back from injury, the Bears will start the season giving Montgomery all he can handle to see if 2020 carries over. The Bears have questions at quarterback and have been looking for help from the running game for years. Whether Montgomery can duplicate the production is a question, but he’s likely to get the chance.

BEST CASE SCENARIO

The 8-8 Bears sneaking in the playoffs as a No. 7 seed is the exact reason the NFL shouldn’t have expanded the playoffs. Nevertheless, Chicago still was a playoff team. Making it back to the playoffs isn’t a big stretch. Maybe the Bears can be more than a mediocre team backing in thanks to a watered-down field. Chicago’s defense is still very good. Depending on how long it takes for the Bears to realize Justin Fields needs to play, it’s possible he could transform the offense. You can’t depend on that from any rookie, but it’s within the range of outcomes for the talented Fields. If the Green Bay Packers can’t figure out the Aaron Rodgers situation, maybe it’s the Bears that can take advantage and win the division.

THE NIGHTMARE SCENARIO

The Bears’ postseason media conferences were weird. Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace stated without much doubt that they knew their jobs were on the line in 2021.

“Ownership has given us an opportunity,” Pace said, according to the Bears’ site. “They’ve given us all the resources we can ask for. And now, that’s on Matt and I to prove them right.”

“We need to do everything we can to get this thing right,” Nagy said. “We’re gonna exhaust ourselves. It’s a production-based business.”

That makes for an awkward season. Coaches have saved their jobs when they had one foot out the door, but more often it’s a distraction and the team realizes changes should have come a year earlier. Nagy might lead a list of coaches most likely to be fired in midseason. If the Bears get off to a slow start, that could end up being the outcome.

CRYSAL BALL SAYS-

I get the feeling the Bears have already decided Justin Fields will sit and wait, and they’re going to waste some early-season games on Andy Dalton. I don’t think the Bears will be bad, just not much better than last season and without the late-season kick to sneak into the playoffs. The Bears’ future should be bright with Justin Fields. I just don’t think that the excitement for that pick leads to more wins this season. Things are looking up at quarterback, but building up a contender around Fields might take some time.

DETROIT

Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic looks for a big 2021 from second-year RB D’ANDRE SWIFT:

Some have wondered what type of impact Jamaal Williams’ arrival will have on D’Andre Swift, but the second-year back from Georgia should still be in position to expand his game within coordinator Anthony Lynn’s offense this season. Swift was — by a wide margin — Detroit’s most elusive and electric back in space a year ago despite playing fewer than 400 snaps. That number should be higher this season, even with Williams’ arrival. Not sure how this combination will impact Swift’s fantasy value, but if you’re in a points-per-reception league, he could turn a corner there, too. Swift has the ability to be a three-down back. This could be the year we see him show it.

– – –

With an unexpired contract from the Chargers, Anthony Lynn initially planned on kicking back in 2021 and collect a check.  But things change.  Nick Shook of NFL.com:

Anthony Lynn’s football life met a new turn in 2021 when he was fired by the Chargers, and with it came an expectation for a well-deserved vacation.

A year off was in Lynn’s plans when a former player of his dialed him. Now he’s back on the sidelines, but instead of powder blue, he’s wearing a shade of Honolulu. Lynn is again coaching, this time alongside new Lions head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, two former Cowboys who played in Dallas when Lynn served as running backs coach.

“I got to know those two very well. They handled themselves like coaches as players. And so because coach [Bill] Walsh kind of picked me out and sat me aside and talked to me about coaching and it worked, I try to do the same thing with current players,” Lynn said during an appearance on the Compas On The Beat podcast with Gilbert Manzano and Fernando Ramirez. “I just helped plant that seed — when you’re done playing, that’s something I think you should do. And I did that with Dan and Aaron Glenn.

“And I was actually going to sit this year out, but when they called, I had to go because I wanted to be a part of that. I knew it was going to be special.”

So far, Campbell has made as many headlines for what he’s said as what the Lions have done, but their staff is filled with former NFL players who might turn Detroit into an attractive destination in the future. First, though, the Lions need to demonstrate they can win games and Lynn will be tasked with turning Detroit’s offense into a competitive group headlined by new arrival Jared Goff.

It’s a tall task, sure, but one Lynn has embraced because of who is involved in Detroit. On paper, this certainly isn’t a run-of-the-mill coaching staff.

“I just think given I’ve been on the sidelines since I was six years old — I have not had a break since I was six years old, literally every single fall,” Lynn said. “And I really had in my mind that I was going to take a gap year, man. Travel a little bit, go see some other teams, visit some of the coaches I knew, see how they’re doing things. I had made my mind to sit out.

GREEN BAY

While beating QB TOM BRADY (and Phil Mickelson) in The Match 6, QB AARON RODGERS is evasive (but not door-shutting) on his Packers future.  Mike Florio ofProFootballTalk.com:

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, participating in a made-for-TV golf event on Tuesday with Tom Brady, eventually was asked by commentators about his status with the team, after about four hours on the course.

“I don’t know,” he said of his future in Green Bay. “We’ll see. We’ll see, won’t we?”

Then asked about September 12, Rodgers didn’t seem to recognize the significance of the date. He was told that’s when the Packers open the regular season.

“Ohhhhh. Yeah, I don’t know,” he said. “We’ll see.”

He smiled through all of it. Packers fans surely aren’t in the mood for smiling. With three weeks to go until training camp opening, the time is coming for concrete answers, not beautiful mysteries.

– – –

Matt Schneidman of The Athletic says that WR AMARI ROGERS is a name to remember come Fantasy Football draft time:

Last year, it was tight end Robert Tonyan, who tied for the league lead among tight ends with 11 touchdown catches. This year, Green Bay’s breakout player will be wide receiver/return specialist Amari Rodgers. The rookie third-round pick out of Clemson is a natural slot receiver, something the Packers lacked, and a skilled punt returner, another tool the Packers were missing. Rodgers, who stands only 5-foot-9 but 212 pounds, can also serve as a gadget piece out of the backfield on jet sweeps, reverses and other motion action.

NFC EAST

PHILADELPHIA

As the Eagles move on from TE ZACH ENTZ, TE DALLAS GOEDERT becomes a 2021 breakout candidate per Zach Berman of The Athletic:

With Zach Ertz expected elsewhere next season, Dallas Goedert will likely take over as the No. 1 tight end. That should lead to even more production from a player who will be featured in new coach Nick Sirianni’s offense. Goedert ranks No. 13 among tight ends in receiving yards since he entered the NFL in 2018 and No. 11 in receptions and touchdowns, so he’s already among the more productive tight ends in the NFL. He played 66 percent of the Eagles’ offensive snaps in 2019 and 54 percent of the offensive snaps last season while limited to 11 games. Look for the playing time to increase if he stays healthy, and his target share should jump as well. A Pro Bowl bid is not out of the question.

NFC SOUTH

TAMPA BAY

The Biden Administration’s Navy has relented and will allow CB CAMERON KINLEY the chance to make the Buccaneers roster:

It appears cornerback Cameron Kinley will get his chance to make the Buccaneers roster in training camp this summer.

Lucas Tomlinson of FOX News reports that the Pentagon is set to announce that defense secretary Lloyd Austin will allow Kinley to attend camp with the Buccaneers. Kinley is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and had been barred from delaying his commission to the Navy in order to pursue a professional football career in June.

A 2017 rule barring athletes from delaying their commissions was reversed in 2019 to allow for exemptions, but Kinley did not receive one while players graduating from other service academies were able to get them. The decision was met with confusion from Kinley and calls from many others to reverse course.

Kinley played 27 games in college and left school with 88 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, an interception, and a forced fumble. He signed with the Bucs after going undrafted and took part in portions of their offseason program.

Apparently Secretary of Defense Austin is reversing the decision of his Secretary of the Navy.

– – –

Would this persuade you to buy a Subway sandwich?  Mike Florio ofProFootballTalk.com:

Tom Brady has a notoriously strict diet. Tom Brady nevertheless will endorse Subway, one of the most prevalent fast-food purveyors in the nation.

Terry Lefton of Sports Business Journal reports that Brady has never even entered a Subway, which has more than 22,000 locations in the United States alone. Brady’s TV ad, which will debut later this month, also reportedly will not show Brady holding Subway products, per Lefton.

The Subway endorsement deal nevertheless represents an attempted pivot by Subway back to the perception that it’s a healthier alternative to other fast-food options. It’s also an effort to beat back competition from sub chains like Jersey Mike’s; Subway, according to Lefton, reportedly has closed “thousands” of stores over the past three years.

Still, not many will buy the link between Brady and Subway. Earlier this month, for example, Brady endorsed Ronaldo’s very public disavowal of Coke products. Coke, by the way, has been the exclusive soda provider for Subway since wresting the deal from Pepsi in 2003. Absent a TB12 product line and/or an avocado ice cream desert option, no one who knows anything about Tom Brady is going to think that he’d swing by Subway on the way home for practice or a game — or ever.

NFC WEST

SAN FRANCISCO

Matt Barrow of The Athletic says that circumstance has contributed to his belief that RB TREY SERMON is a name to know:

Remember the glut of runners the 49ers had after taking two tailbacks in the draft? By June, the position didn’t seem as deep. Top runner Raheem Mostert was out with a minor knee sprain while the No. 2 back, Jeff Wilson, will be gone at least into October with a more serious meniscus tear. Those spring issues left Trey Sermon atop the depth chart. The third-round pick already was likely to be part of the tailback rotation. With Wilson out, he moved up a notch. Sermon is big, well-versed in zone-running schemes and has the backing of position coach Bobby Turner. The 49ers aspire to have more than 500 rushing attempts this season and, if he’s healthy, Sermon ought to get a big chunk of them.

SEATTLE

The Seahawks traded two first round draft picks to the Jets for S JAMAL ADAMS, without securing a contract extension.  And so far, no extension has been forthcoming.  Riley Gates of 247sports.com:

When the Seattle Seahawks gave up two first-round picks, among other things, to acquire All-Pro defensive back Jamal Adams last summer, it was well-known that he was nearing the end of his contract and would need a new one soon. On SportsCenter on Sunday morning, ESPN NFL insider Jeff Darlington said that the Seahawks, “have no choice,” but to give Adams an extension as his holdout continues.

“Jamal Adams, another interesting one here. He was absent from minicamp,” Darlington said. “Now, he’s going to count $9.86 million this year, but the component here that makes this one so fascinating is the Seahawks gave up two first-round picks last year to get Adams, so they really have no choice but to pay him, unless they’re just saying they were renting him for like a season or two with two first-round picks. That one, I think, will get done.”

Adams is regarded as one of the top defensive backs in the NFL and in his brief time in the league, he has proven his worth. The sixth overall pick out of LSU in the 2017 NFL Draft, Adams was with the New York Jets for the first three years of his career. But after the 2019 season — one that Adams was named a First Team All-Pro pick — and three years of struggling with the Jets, Adams was open about his frustrations with the team. He was then dealt to the Seahawks in late July of 2020.

During his first year with Seattle, Adams played in just 12 games while he battled through a groin injury. Adams recorded 83 tackles, 11 of which were for loss, and 9.5 sacks during the season. He was named to his third straight Pro Bowl and was Second Team All-Pro for the second time in his career.

The contract negotiation talks with Adams and the Seahawks are ones that have been very public and talked about multiple times with the team. Head coach Pete Carroll recently spoke about the holdout for Adams but didn’t appear to have any concerns about Adams’ future with the team.

“It’s been ongoing and it’s been amicable throughout,” Carroll said last week about contract talks with Adams, according to ESPN. “We recognize that he’s a fantastic football player and … it’s a big contract process. But I know he knows he’s been treated with a lot of respect and he’s been very respectful towards the club as well. They’ve been good talks. It just hasn’t been able to get settled at this point, but it’s coming. We expect him for [training] camp, and everything should be fine.”

AFC WEST

DENVER

Nick Kosmider of The Athletic touts WR JERRY JEUDY:

Even while struggling with drops, catching passes from three different starting quarterbacks and working through a nagging ankle injury, Jerry Jeudy, the No. 15 pick in the 2020 draft, still piled up 856 receiving yards, the second-most for a rookie in franchise history. We’ll insert the “it’s early” caveat here, but Jeudy looked sharp during offseason workouts open to media members, and recently, new quarterback Teddy Bridgewater said he was impressed by the professionalism and work ethic he has seen from Jeudy. As 2019 Pro Bowl wide receiver Courtland Sutton returns from an ACL injury to draw attention away deep down the field — that’s the hope, anyway — Jeudy should have more freedom in the middle of the field to turn his precise route-running ability into more game-changing plays.

LAS VEGAS

Before he was a target for QB AARON RODGERS, WR DAVANTE ADAMS caught passes from QB DEREK CARR.  Carr would like a reunion.  Michael David Smith ofProFootballTalk.com:

Derek Carr isn’t done talking about a reunion with Davante Adams.

Carr, the Raiders quarterback who played with Adams at Fresno State, said on Cris Collinsworth’s podcast that tampering rules don’t apply to players, and so Carr will continue talking to Adams about coming to Las Vegas, even though Adams is under contract to the Packers for another year.

“Davante, he’s one of my best friends,” Carr said. “I’m gonna offer him whatever I gotta offer. I’ll buy him a car, whatever I’ve got to do I’ll offer that man. I know he would fit in great with the receivers we have here. He would fit so well in that room. I’m allowed to say those things. Our organization isn’t, but I’m going to say it. He’s my best friend, I think he’s one of the best — he’s the best receiver in the NFL.”

Carr said his ideal scenario would be the Raiders beating the Packers in the Super Bowl in February, and then Adams signing with the Raiders in free agency in March.

“He’s focused on being a Packer and I know that because I see how he works,” Carr said. “I know how he works and I know how much it means to him. He’s focused on that and I’m focused on trying to get to the Super Bowl, win the Super Bowl, hopefully he’s in it so I can beat his butt too. That’s the plan, then recruit him over to the dark side.”

Adams has been more cautious, saying he won’t talk about playing for anyone but the Packers right now. Carr, however, will keep talking about how much he’d like the two former Fresno State teammates to be teammates in Las Vegas.

AFC SOUTH

INDIANAPOLIS

The Patriots went on a free agent spending spree this year.  GM Chris Ballard of the Colts doesn’t name them as he says that’s not how he builds a roster.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Colts General Manager Chris Ballard says the path to success in building an NFL roster is through patience, not a free agent spending spree.

Ballard said on The Athletic Football Show with Robert Mays that he would rather save cap space for the future than overpay a player just because he happens to be the best available at a given position in a given year.

“We’ve got good players out of free agency, and we’ve been successful,” Ballard said, via Jonathan X. Simmons of the Indianapolis Star. “We’re just not the biggest fans of right out the gate free agency where you’re paying B players A-plus money, which is gonna affect down the line. . . . There’s a cost to that.”

Ballard would rather have cap space available to sign players he drafted to second contracts.

“Our players know we want to keep them,” Ballard said. “We’ve done a pretty good job so far of keeping the players we wanted to keep in-house. We feel like we have a really good . . . I know culture gets thrown around, but we do. I think we have a really good culture. It’s one of accountability. One where they care about each other, and one where they want to win and do special things.”

Looking ahead to the 2022 season, the Colts are slated to have the most cap space in the NFL. So Ballard will have plenty he can spend next year. But that doesn’t mean he will.

AFC EAST

NEW ENGLAND

WR N’KEAL HARRY, another in a line of receivers drafted by the Patriots who have not measured up, wants out.  Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com:

After two years and just 45 receptions, Patriots receiver N’Keal Harry has requested a trade. The 32nd overall pick in the 2019 draft, Harry caught just 12 passes as a rookie. Last season, Harry caught 33 of 57 targets for 309 yards and two touchdowns for New England, which faltered to its first losing season in two decades.

Harry’s agent, Jamal Tooson, said that he has been communicating with the Patriots about a trade for his client for the past several months. But with the start of training camp starting up later this month, Tooson has formally requested a trade for Harry.

“Through two seasons, [Harry] has 86 targets, which obviously hasn’t met the expectations the Patriots and N’Keal had when they drafted a dominant downfield threat who was virtually unstoppable at the point of attack in college,” Tooson said, via NFL Network’s Mike Garofolo. “Following numerous conversations with the Patriots, I believe it’s time for a fresh start and best for both parties if N’Keal moves on before the start of training camp. … N’Keal understands a key ingredient to production is opportunity. He will continue to work hard to develop and refine his craft after missing a large portion of his rookie year to injury. His draft-day expectations for his NFL career have not changed. We are confident success is just around the corner for him and will aggressively pursue it.”

While he has yet to put up big numbers in the NFL, Harry was a highly productive receiver in college. In three years at Arizona State, the 6-foot-4 wideout caught 213 passes for 2,889 yards and 22 touchdowns while averaging 13.6 yards per catch. But as a rookie in New England, Harry’s aforementioned injury, along with the Patriots’ deep receiving corps, significantly hindered his opportunities. His numbers were slightly better with Cam Newton serving as the Patriots’ quarterback in 2020. Harry set career highs with eight catches (on 12 targets) for 72 yards in New England’s Week 2 loss to Seattle. He caught his third career touchdown in New England’s road loss to Kansas City two weeks later. And after an injury sidelined him for two games, Harry caught at least one pass in six of the Patriots’ final seven games.

THIS AND THAT

UNDERRATED TEAMS

Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com gives us four teams that he  thinks are under-rated for 2021:

Training camp is right around the corner, which means so is real football. You don’t have to be an expert to know teams like the Buccaneers and Chiefs are expected to be among the best of the best in 2021, a year after going head to head in the Super Bowl. But what about the teams flying under the radar? The potential contenders who aren’t getting nearly enough attention?

Below, we’ve identified four of the most underrated teams going into the 2021 season. Not all of them should be considered realistic candidates to win it all. But we’d be surprised if these four didn’t surprise plenty of people this year:

Note: Projected win totals courtesy of William Hill Sportsbook.

Denver Broncos

2020 record: 5-11

Projected win total: O/U 8.5

Despite going 12-20 under Vic Fangio and 32-48 since winning the Super Bowl with Peyton Manning, the Broncos are considered top-11 favorites to win it all this year. That has almost everything to do with Aaron Rodgers, who’s drawn their interest even though the Packers refuse to deal the star quarterback. If/when Rodgers rumors are put to rest (and assuming he doesn’t leave Green Bay), Denver will be widely projected to either challenge the Chargers for a wild card or miss the playoffs altogether. But there’s a reason Rodgers would seemingly put them over the top; unlike, say, the Jaguars or Jets or even Raiders, they’re built well enough to compete with A-Rod. Neither Drew Lock nor Teddy Bridgewater is a surefire top-15 starter, but between Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Noah Fant, Bradley Chubb, Kyle Fuller and a healthier Von Miller, they’ve got play-makers on both sides of the ball.

Indianapolis Colts

2020 record: 11-5

Projected win total: O/U 10

How in the world can a team fresh off 11 wins — a team that’s won 28 games and made the playoffs in two of Frank Reich’s three seasons as coach — be underrated? For one, the national buzz is still lagging. The Buccaneers, Chiefs and Packers all have more firepower as Super Bowl favorites, but considering Reich’s track record, Indy deserves more love. They’ve got the coach. They’ve got a ground game. They’ve got a stingy defense. And then there’s new quarterback Carson Wentz, who steps in after a premature exit from Philadelphia to replace Philip Rivers. For many, the pendulum has swung so far to the “he’s broken and/or bad” side of the argument, when in reality it’d be surprising if Wentz didn’t rebound to be at least a top-15 QB with fresh scenery. At the very least, he gives the Colts offense more upside. Couple all that with a winnable division, and they’re capable of really challenging in the AFC.

Minnesota Vikings

2020 record: 7-9

Projected win total: O/U 8.5

Both their coach and quarterback have built a reputation as predictable mid-tier performers: never bad enough to bottom out, but rarely elite enough to get over the hump. How else do you explain the Vikings literally going in, then out, then back into the playoffs every year since Mike Zimmer took over, or Kirk Cousins posting Pro Bowl numbers without also posting a signature postseason run? And yet, even if Aaron Rodgers stays in Green Bay, they’re poised to bounce back. Not only because Zimmer’s due for his biannual playoff ticket, but because Cousins has more motivation (hello Kellen Mond), the offense has bona fide play-makers (Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson) and, best of all, Zimmer’s defense is both deeper and healthier (welcome back, Danielle Hunter!) after an uncharacteristically porous year. They may not win the division, but the Vikings have the makings of a sneaky contender.

Philadelphia Eagles

2020 record: 4-11-1

Projected win total: O/U 7

How can a team that just won the Super Bowl a few years ago already be one of the NFL’s most underrated teams? Feast your eyes on the Eagles’ 2020 season, when organizational dysfunction and a historic regression from a former MVP candidate resulted in a total overhaul of both the team’s staff and QB spot. It’s back to square one in Philadelphia, where first-time head coach Nick Sirianni has been tasked with injecting creative energy into a plan that quickly went stale under Doug Pederson. Almost no one, from a national perspective, seems to be buying the possibility of the ex-Colts coordinator surprising out of the gate, with young Jalen Hurts under center. But couple the fresh staff with Hurts’ mobility, a healthier offensive line, a new No. 1 wideout in DeVonta Smith and some decent veterans on “D,” and a late challenge for the always-open NFC East title isn’t nearly as crazy as it sounds.

MOST DESERVING UNDERSERVED FAN BASE

Of the 12 teams that have never won a Super Bowl, whose fan base is most deserving of hoisting Lombardi?  NFL.com has that debate among its experts (they didn’t ask us but we’d think it would be between the Browns and Bills).

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming off a Super Bowl title in February thanks to a dominant defensive effort and a no-nonsense quarterback in Tom Brady, who has seven rings to his name. While the franchise celebrated its second championship, there are 12 NFL franchises that have yet to win one.

In contrast, four franchises have been spoiled with Super Bowl victories, hoisting the Lombardi Trophy five-plus times, more than any of the remaining 28 organizations: the New England Patriots have won six titles, the Pittsburgh Steelers have won six, the Dallas Cowboys have won five and the San Francisco 49ers have won five.

As we inch closer to the 2021 NFL season, we ask: Which fan base is most deserving of a Super Bowl title?

Joe Thomas

NFL.com analyst

I realize that the Green Bay Packers have no shortage of championships, with nine pre-Super Bowl era titles and four Super Bowl victories. But never has an organization and fan base been in so much distress while also being so stable and loaded with talent. After falling in consecutive NFC title games, their disgruntled reigning league MVP Aaron Rodgers held out of OTAs, and there’s no sign he’ll return to the team later this month when training camp begins. Winning the Super Bowl is the only thing that can calm the nerves and dial back the current DEFCON warning system of Packers loyalists.

Marc Ross

NFL.com analyst

Let’s go, Buffalo! Having worked for the team for three years, I know how passionate and hungry Bills fans are for a championship — especially after the agonizing four consecutive Super Bowl losses in the early 1990s. Some other fan bases need one, as well (see: Cleveland), but after last year’s AFC Championship Game appearance and having one of the NFL’s brightest stars in Josh Allen, the Bill-lief is sky high and can’t be crushed again.

Scott Pioli

NFL.com analyst

I’m going slightly off script and showing support for two fan bases: those of the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns. Both teams are very proud franchises with glorious histories full of great players, coaches, owners and classic NFL characters — all of whom helped grow this great game. Those figures had the “shoulders of giants” that our game now stands upon, and their fans are some of the NFL’s best. However, the Cleveland Browns have not won a championship since 1964, and the Detroit Lions haven’t since 1957.

Wouldn’t it be great if these two organizations met in Super Bowl LVI? We can call it the “Rust Bowl” or “Battle of Lake Erie.” (I know Detroit isn’t ON Lake Erie, but it’s on the Detroit River, which connects Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair.) Think about all of those fans from two historic, blue-collar cities descending upon Los Angeles in February. (Plus, this would allow them to escape the snow and ice.) Not only do they need a championship, they deserve it!

Maurice Jones-Drew

NFL.com analyst

Browns fans have been through it. But the team and fan base finally got a taste of success last season when Kevin Stefanski’s squad beat division-rival Pittsburgh on Super Wild Card Weekend after spending nearly two decades on the outside of the playoff picture. Now with one of the most complete teams in the NFL and the hunger for more, might they reach pinnacle of the sport? They certainly would deserve it.

Thomas went off script – and we wouldn’t pick Packers fans even if it was open to all 32.

Let’s see – the Unwinning 12 are Buffalo (a couple of feet away once), Cleveland, Atlanta, Carolina, Houston Texans, Tennessee (a foot away once), Detroit, Minnesota, Arizona, Chargers, Cincinnati and Jacksonville.

If the Browns and Bills are taken, we would go with the Vikings.

Here are the 10 winningest franchises in the Super Bowl Era and the number of Super Bowls they have won:

                                   Wins        SBs

1          Cowboys         501           5

2          Steelers           498           6

3          Patriots            475           6

4          Vikings           470           0

5          Dolphins          467           2

6          Broncos           466           3

7          Packers           460           4

8          49ers               455           5

9          Chiefs              451           2

10        Raiders           449           3

That is a lot of wins over more than 5 decades for no titles for the Vikings.