WASHINGTON

Rookie QB JAYDEN DANIELS has impressed veteran WR TERRY McLAURIN.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

Wide receiver Terry McLaurin has played with a number of different quarterbacks during his time with the Commanders and he hopes that the revolving door has been removed this offseason.

Jayden Daniels joined the team as the second overall pick in the draft and the rookie quarterback’s development will have a lot to do with how successful McLaurin is in the coming years. The first couple of months as teammates has the wideout feeling good about where things are going in Washington.

McLaurin said on Tuesday that Daniels is “really prepared” and that “there’s an open door of communication” about what Daniels needs to do to get ready for the regular season. McLaurin said that it’s a first for him to work with a young quarterback who “knows who he is, but he’s also not afraid to say when he’s wrong.”

“He’s humble, but he’s confident in his ability,” McLaurin said, via the team’s website. “He’s played at the highest level. He’s played against really good competition, and he knows that he can make all the throws. He’s not putting the cart before the horse. He’s literally taking this thing day-by-day.”

McLaurin’s praise extended to Daniels’s “amazing” touch on deep balls and for his anticipation on timing patterns, so the good impressions have run the gamut in OTAs. The intensity will get turned up in training camp and preseason, but it sounds like McLaurin has little doubt that Daniels will be able to handle what’s coming his way.

ARIZONA

We hadn’t heard or read the word “perspicacious” in a long time.  Grant Gordon ofNFL.com:

Marvin Harrison Jr. is a quick study on the football field

Just ask Arizona Cardinals teammate Michael Wilson, who’s forcing Harrison to study up on his vocabulary, as well.

“I mean he really hasn’t had any busts in the playbook and I think he’s very perspicacious and always seeking information and very self-aware,” Wilson, a second-year wideout out of Stanford, said of Harrison during Tuesday’s Cardinals availability.

Harrison, the No. 4 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, was later asked about Harrison’s description of him.

“Perspicacious? Nah, see that’s that Stanford education,” Harrison smiled. “I ain’t got that.”

For the record, perspicacious — according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary — means “of acute mental vision or discernment.”

Wilson drew eyebrow raises with his vocabulary flex, while Harrison garnered laughs at his response.

Nonetheless, it’s the latest positive review for Harrison, whose physical abilities have wowed during offseason workouts and his ability to pick up the nuances of an NFL offense are clearly already impressing. Perhaps it’s of little surprise considering he’s the son of a Hall of Famer and has been plying his gridiron trade for most of his 21 years.

As Harrison at this juncture appears to be the as-advertised total package, he could likewise be the star addition who aids in his teammates taking their talents to the next level.

Wilson, 24, had a promising rookie campaign in 2023, turning in 38 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns. He doesn’t foresee Harrison’s addition undercutting his ascension. Rather, he believes he’ll rise up right next to his new teammate, giving quarterback Kyler Murray a pair of elite WRs to target.

“I think my mindset is whether he’s here or not doesn’t change my job description and more role,” Wilson said. “My role is to be as good as a player that I can be, to catch the football when it comes to me, and to maximize myself and become as good as I possibly can be. And whether he’s here or he’s not here, that doesn’t change my role. So, from my understanding, nothing changes with him here, I think it just makes the team better. With that being said, I still have the utmost confidence in myself and just how highly I speak of Marvin, I think I can be in that same tier in that category and that’s my personal goal too is to eventually become one of the best receivers in the NFL. And I want to go from being a good receiver last year to being a great receiver.”

Having Wilson emerge as a “great receiver” would be a massive boon for the Cards, no matter how sterling Harrison’s opening campaign can be.

Perhaps having Wilson enlighten and extend his teammates’ vocab can only be a positive, too.

Harrison’s on board with perspicacious regardless of whether he recognizes the term or not.

“He knows I don’t know what that word means,” Harrison laughed. “He can keep that to himself. That’s awesome, whatever that means that’s awesome.”

Coach Jonathan Gannon provides his thoughts on Harrison per Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

Some members of the Cardinals dug deeper into the dictionary than others when it came to saying what they like about rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., but the semantic differences were less important than the unified rave reviews the first-round pick is getting.

Harrison’s fellow wideout Michael Wilson called Harrison “very perspicacious” while talking to reporters on Tuesday. Many people likely had to look up that perspicacious had to do with Harrison’s insight and understanding of things, but it didn’t take as long to parse head coach Jonathan Gannon’s feeling that he’s getting more than he expected from the rookie already.

“My expectation for him, he meets and exceeds it thus far,” Gannon said, via the team’s website.

Quarterback Kyler Murray has joined the chorus of praise for Harrison, who said he has worked to not “come in here with a big head” this offseason. The rest of the Cardinals might be making that a little more difficult as they look forward to big things from Harrison on the field this fall.

KANSAS CITY

TE TRAVIS KELCE says he is good to go in 2024.  Grant Gordon of NFL.com:

If Travis Kelce has learned anything from being around Taylor Swift, it’s that playing the hits is a tried-and-true approach.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end was asked about his football future and how much more he might have in the tank on Tuesday, echoing a statement he made roughly 11 months ago.

“I’m gonna do it until the wheels fall off,” Kelce said Tuesday, “and hopefully that doesn’t happen anytime soon. But I can definitely understand that it’s (closer) toward the end of the road than it is the beginning of it, and I just gotta make sure I’m set up for after football, as well.”

Things have changed since Kelce’s first “wheels come off” quote, however. In late April, he signed a new two-year extension that made him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL by average salary.

Then again, his off-field opportunities also are peaking. Perhaps winning three Super Bowls, co-hosting a wildly popular podcast and dating Swift, the most famous pop singer in the world, have opened a few doors for the future Hall of Fame tight end.

It’s not as if Kelce hasn’t thought about the end of his playing days, especially with his brother, Jason, having walked away from the game this offseason after 13 seasons with the Eagles. But Travis Kelce is just enjoying the ride too much now to make a definitive plan for how he’ll exit the game.

“At the same time, I’m a football player,” Kelce said on Tuesday. “I love playing in the NFL. This will always be my main focus. But outside of that, football ends for everybody. So kind of dipping your toes in the water and seeing what you like in different areas and different career fields, I think (the) offseason is the best chance you can get to try to explore all that and set yourself up for after football.”

Kelce will turn 35 this season. Rob Gronkowski famously retired before his age-30 season, later returning to play for two more years with Tom Brady in Tampa before walking away at 32. But other recent tight ends have been able to go beyond Kelce’s current age and remain relevant.

Tony Gonzalez played right up to his 38th birthday. Jason Witten originally retired at 35 but came back after a year out of the game to play two more seasons, until he was 38. Antonio Gates also made it to his age-38 season. The Bears recently re-signed 40-year-old Marcedes Lewis.

Asked about the cumulative wear and tear to his body, Kelce plans to just shake it off.

“Wear and tear me, baby,” he said. “I’m ready for it, man. Put the load on me.

“I love being accountable for the men and women in this building and (the) Chiefs Kingdom. I love the aspect of everybody counting on me to try and make that play for the team and just do the right things on the field and better judgment for the team. I don’t think that anything from last year put more miles on me, made me less of a player. I think it was, all in all, it was just focus, being my own worst critic and capitalizing in situations that I should’ve.”

Kelce sounds like a man willing to play it year by year at this point, even if he pushed back against the idea that 2024 might be his final season. Even with last season’s statistical dip from his brilliant 2022 campaign, Kelce’s wheels very much looked intact during a strong playoff performance (32 catches, 355 yards, three touchdowns) en route to a third Super Bowl title.

“I really can’t put a timeframe on it, man,” Kelce said. “I love coming to work every single day. Obviously, I know there’s opportunities outside of football for me, and I think you’ve got to keep in perspective, I’m still a little kid when I come into this building, man.

“I know I’m 34 years old, about to be 35, but I have a love to do this right here in the middle of the heat in June. I love coming to work every single day and doing this.”

CLEVELAND

Now that the deal for WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON is done, Cleveland WR AMARI COOPER wants a similar contract.  It leads to Mike Florio heaping praise on QB DESHAUN WATSON:

Two years ago, the Cowboys decided that receiver Amari Cooper’s $20 million per year contract was too rich for their silver-and-blue blood. Now, Cooper has decided that it’s not nearly enough.

And he’s right.

The market at the position has changed dramatically since the Cowboys unloaded Cooper’s contract onto the Browns, at a time when the Cowboys would have cut him if they couldn’t have found a trade partner. Also, the salary cap has spiked, repeatedly.

Now, Cooper is skipping mandatory minicamp in an effort to get a new deal as he enters the final season of his contract, at a base salary of $20 million.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson was asked about Cooper’s situation on Tuesday.

“He’s the best in the game, and I believe that,” Watson told reporters. “He shows it each and every year. He showed it the last two years with different quarterbacks. So, I think you got to put him up there, if not the best.”

Watson also said he has no problem with Cooper taking a stand.

“Amari is our brother, our teammate, we support him, and the decisions that he got to make for himself is on Amari,” Watson said. “But everyone in this locker room respects him and knows exactly what he’s about. And whenever he gets back, he’s going to be ready to go. . . . He’s got to handle what he got to handle, and nobody is looking any different on him. And like I said, we all support him. And he was here this weekend with us, and we had a good time.”

That’s the right way for any quarterback to handle a teammate who’s trying to get more money. Show support, and stay out of the way.

It’s a far cry from one of the prime examples of what a quarterback shouldn’t do when a teammate is trying to get paid. In May 2005, Brett Favre openly chastised receiver Javon Walker’s effort to get a better deal from the Packers.

“If Javon wants to know what his quarterback thinks, and I would think he might, I’d tell him he’s going about this the wrong way,” Favre said. “When his agent tells him not to worry about what his teammates think and all that stuff, I’d tell him I’ve been around a long time and that stuff will come back to haunt you.”

Favre kept going in his pro-management rant, which came just days after the team drafted his inevitable replacement, Aaron Rodgers.

“Maybe I’m old-school, but I always thought you honor a contract,” Favre said. “Sure, sometimes guys pass you up in salary, and maybe it’s a lesser player, but it’s all based on what a team has as far as value in that person.”

It got worse. “I sure hope the Packers don’t give in to him,” Favre said.

And this: “We can win without him.”

The game has changed dramatically since 2005, with fans and media realizing the risks of football give players a finite window to get paid, with a very real possibility that the compensation will come with chronic physical pain and potential mental problems later in life.

Fortunately, no quarterback since Favre has attacked a teammate who was simply looking to get fair compensation. Watson, on Tuesday, said exactly what he needed to say to show support for a teammate who believes that, in the last year of a contract that has become obsolete given changes to the market and increases in the salary cap, he deserves an adjustment.

BUFFALO

Another Josh A, Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com, reports on the offseason work of QB JOSH ALLEN.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen isn’t convinced that the perfect throw exists, but he’s working to find it.

Allen said on Tuesday that if you show him any throw, he will “tell you something wrong with it probably” and he found a lot to dislike about his throwing motion while reviewing his 2023 season. Allen hurt his shoulder early in the season and said playing through the injury led him to change his mechanics in order to avoid pain, so he spent time this offseason working to set things right.

The quarterback worked with digital mapping technology to break down his throws from last season in order to “be as efficient as possible with my throwing motion” in the future. The result isn’t a massive change, but Allen hopes the recalibration leads to the desired results.

“I wouldn’t call it a complete overhaul of my throwing motion, but definitely some things to work on and clean up,” Allen said, via Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. “Anytime you go through something like that, sometimes it’s gonna feel really good, sometimes it’s not gonna feel really good. It’s just like changing your swing in golf, as long as you’re trusting it and you keep working on it, each and every day results will come.”

Allen remained productive after the injury, but he did set a career high in interceptions over the course of the season. Anything he can do to cut that number down in 2024 will be a welcome development in Buffalo.

NEW YORK JETS

Absent a further explanation, the absence of QB AARON RODGERS from mini-camp for which he will pay the Jets something like $100,000, is raising eyebrows.  Shanna McCairston of CBSSports.com:

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not attend mandatory minicamp on Tuesday and the absence wasn’t excused, according to Robert Saleh. The Jets head coach said Rodgers had a previously scheduled event that is “important to him.” The veteran will now be subject to a fine due to the missed session(s).

Rodgers is subject to $16,953, $33,908, and $50,855 in fines for missing all three days, totaling $101,716.

The missed practice was no surprise to Saleh, but a previous conversation about the quarterback missing time does not warrant the absence to be labeled as “excused.”

“Aaron and I spoke before OTAs started. He’s been very good in communication. He’s been here the entire time. It’s unexcused, but he had an event that was very important to him, which he communicated,” Saleh said.

The event Rodgers is attending instead of being present at team activities hasn’t been made known by Saleh or the Jets.

Rodgers was in the building just one day earlier. On Monday, he had his physical and participated in photo day. Rodgers was present for OTAs and other team activities, so the missed day of practice appears to be an isolated situation.

The team had two unexcused absences on Tuesday; Rodgers and defensive end Haason Reddick, who is believed to want a new contract.

Interesting that Saleh said “important TO HIM”.  If, for example, Rodgers was attending the birth of a child, it would just be “important” you would think (and probably excused).

Analysis from Mike Florio:

Under the CBA, the fine for missing the first day of mandatory minicamp is $16,953. It’s a drop in the bucket for Rodgers. But it sends a clear message.

There’s a question as to whether the Jets had the discretion to excuse the absence. The Collective Bargaining Agreement speaks expressly in terms of “unexcused” absence. This implies that an absence can be excused.

That said, the CBA also states that “[d]iscipline will be imposed uniformly within a Club on all players for the same offense.” So if the Jets excused Rodgers for whatever the event was that he chose to attend in lieu of showing up, it potentially sets a precedent that would apply to other players.

Regardless of those legalities, the situation could have been handled differently. If the absence was expected for weeks, it could have been leaked or disclosed that Rodgers won’t be present. It would have been less jarring than it was when it happened out of the blue on Tuesday, especially since he was attending most if not all of the voluntary sessions.

Regardless, the Jets didn’t excuse the absence. And the Jets will be fining Rodgers. It will be interesting to see what Rodgers has to say about it, whenever he speaks again to reporters. Or whenever he appears next in the safe space of a Rodgers-friendly podcast.

Jeff Kerr of CBSSports.com comments:

Aaron Rodgers should have been at Jets mandatory minicamp

Overreaction or Reality: Overreaction

Rodgers had an unexcused absence from the first practice of Jets mandatory minicamp because of an event that’s important to him. That’s fine by the Jets, but not one they can hand out to just one player. Rodgers will get fined for the day and he and the Jets will move on.

This is only the first practice Rodgers has missed, as the quarterback has been present at every voluntary workout. Missing a practice in June doesn’t relate toward missing a training camp practice in August for a similar event.

The Jets may not be happy Rodgers was absent, but they can’t allow every player on their team to miss practice for “events” that come up. If anything, the Jets are at fault for making this a headline when it didn’t have to be.

This story is a nothing-burger.

THIS AND THAT

THE BAD 5

Jordan Dajani of CBSSports.com says these are the five worst teams going into 2024:

We are now just three months away from the return of NFL football, and the 2024 season is chock full of intriguing storylines. How far can Aaron Rodgers take the New York Jets? Will C.J. Stroud really make the Houston Texans a Super Bowl contender? Can the Detroit Lions overtake the San Francisco 49ers as the premier NFC squad?

Our attention naturally goes to the teams that could thrive in the upcoming season, but what about the ones that may struggle? Below, we will attempt to predict the bottom-five teams in the NFL in 2024.

Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook

5. Las Vegas Raiders

Over/Under win total: 6.5

I hate having to place the Raiders on this list because I like Antonio Pierce and believe his defense has top 10 potential. But there are two reasons why Vegas could be a bottom-five team: offense and schedule.

The Raiders didn’t add a rookie quarterback in the draft to replace Aidan O’Connell, but did add Pro Bowl alternate Gardner Minshew. Weirdly enough, he and O’Connell had the exact same completion percentage (62%), TD-INT ratio (1.7) and sack percentage (6.5%) in 2023. I feel like working with Shane Steichen was a pretty beneficial situation. I’m not sure we can say the same thing about Luke Getsy. The Raiders also lost one of their primary offensive weapons in former NFL rushing champ Josh Jacobs. Yes, Davante Adams is a stud and Brock Bowers has promise, but can O’Connell or Minshew carry this offense to wins?

To make matters worse, the Raiders are tied in having the eighth-toughest schedule in 2024 based on opponents’ combined 2023 win percentage. Per the “Las Vegas Review-Journal,” the Raiders are favored in just two games in the lines posted at Station Sports and Caesars. Vegas will need several upsets to surpass its preseason Over/Under win total.

4. New York Giants

Over/Under win total: 6.5

The Giants tied the worst sack differential of ALL TIME last season (-51). They hope the additions of Jermaine Eluemunor, Jon Runyan and Brian Burns change that. The Giants’ hopes again appear to hinge on quarterback Daniel Jones, who New York decided not to replace this offseason, instead using its premier pick on star wideout Malik Nabers. Will Jones be good enough to get the most out of Nabers? Maybe the better question is: Can he stay healthy? Jones suffered yet another neck injury in the Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins, missed three games then returned to the lineup and immediately tore his ACL.

New York lost its best playmaker this offseason in Saquon Barkley, plus A’Shawn Robinson and Xavier McKinney on the defensive side. There are also some questions about former NFL Coach of the Year Brian Daboll. He had a fallout with defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, then blocked Mike Kafka from interviewing with the Seattle Seahawks. A total of seven assistant coaches were fired or left the organization by the end of March, per NJ.com. You could make the argument that’s not a great look for Daboll, but turnover was expected after last year’s disaster. Now, can he turn it around?

3. Denver Broncos

Over/Under win total: 6

The Russell Wilson era is over, and while the divorce was costly, it was the correct move. Sean Payton has his new quarterback in Bo Nix, which should inspire some optimism. But not many saw the former Oregon Duck being selected No. 12 overall. If Payton had the choice of J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr. or Nix, which quarterback would he take? How would he rank these three prospects? Either way, I expect Nix to start Week 1. He’s the most experienced quarterback in college football history, which has to help in some way.

It was tough to figure out what the Broncos were in 2023. They started off 1-5, then won five straight thanks to a defensive revolution, and lost four of their final six to fall out of playoff contention — including a Christmas Eve loss at home to Bailey Zappe and the lowly New England Patriots.

The Broncos also lost some notable contributors this offseason, trading Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns and releasing All-Pro safety Justin Simmons, while center Lloyd Cushenberry and linebacker Josey Jewell walked in free agency. Vance Joseph’s defense appears capable of shouldering the load at times, but the Broncos offense can’t struggle like it did last year — especially in the improving AFC West. Denver has registered seven straight losing seasons. That’s the second-longest active streak behind the Jets’ eight.

2. Carolina Panthers

Over/Under win total: 5.5

The Panthers were undoubtedly the worst team in the NFL last year at 2-15, and quickly parted ways with head coach Frank Reich. In comes Dave Canales, who has truly been a quarterback whisperer over the past few years. But how quickly can he turn Bryce Young into a legitimate starter?

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft averaged 5.5 yards per attempt in 2023, which were the fourth fewest in NFL history. His 73.7 passer rating also ranked last in the league. Young’s disastrous campaign was not totally on him. His offensive line stunk, his weapons weren’t raking in Pro Bowl votes, his offensive play-caller changed several times and his first head coach was fired 11 games into the year. Carolina was the first team in NFL history to not lead in the fourth quarter throughout an entire season! That’s right, both of their two wins came as time expired.

Carolina added a couple of offensive guards and a couple of wideouts in Diontae Johnson and rookie Xavier Legette. But to be frank, the Panthers are going to have to prove they are finally on the right track. David Tepper is not the most beloved owner in the league, and Canales is set to become the seventh Panthers head coach over the last six seasons. No other team in NFL history has had seven coaches in a six-season span.

1. New England Patriots

Over/Under win total: 4.5

The Patriots are, of course, entering a new era with a new head coach in Jerod Mayo, and a new quarterback in Drake Maye. Truth be told, it’s impossible to predict what this team is going to look like, but the fact that they are coming off the worst season of Bill Belichick’s head-coaching career does not exactly help.

It’s not a given Maye will start immediately, but one has to imagine your No. 3 overall pick will win that job if he can do enough through training camp/preseason. I’m interested in the new Patriots wide receivers room. Who is the No. 1 pass-catcher in that group? Kendrick Bourne is coming off a torn ACL, JuJu Smith-Schuster hasn’t looked like the player he was with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and then we have some young guys like Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker.

Caesars Sportsbook believes the Patriots will be the worst team in the NFL this season, and one thing that makes life much tougher on them is the AFC East. Aaron Rodgers is back healthy for the Jets, who could be a playoff team, and then you have legitimate playoff teams in the Dolphins and Buffalo Bills. New England is playing a last-place schedule, but it’s also tied in having the eighth-toughest slate in 2024 based on opponents’ combined 2023 win percentage.

RE-RANKING THE 2020 DRAFT

With the benefit of five years of hindsight, Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic evaluates who won and lost in the 2020 Draft:

The 2020 NFL Draft made, and broke, a lot of people.

The Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers all found starting quarterbacks who are still with their original teams (and, for the most part, are playing well). The Detroit Lions passed on a quarterback, instead drafting Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah. A year later, GM Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia were fired. The New York Giants skipped that fruitful QB derby, too, because of Dave Gettleman’s decision to select Daniel Jones a year prior. New York’s selection (Andrew Thomas) is working out, but Gettleman was gone by the start of 2022.

Several players from that class — Justin Jefferson being the latest example — have just hit big-money extensions, while a few others are already on their third teams. Taking into account what we now know about every prospect on the board, let’s go back and re-stack the 2020 class, position by position.

Who are the best players to come out of that draft?

Quarterbacks

1. Joe Burrow                   Cincinnati Bengals

2. Justin Herbert               Los Angeles Chargers

3. Jalen Hurts                   Philadelphia Eagles

4. Jordan Love                 Green Bay Packers

5. Tua Tagovailoa            Miami Dolphins

2020 order: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (Round 1-pick 1); Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (1-5); Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (1-6); Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (1-26); Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (2-53).

Fascinating group. Burrow and Hurts each has been to a Super Bowl — and Herbert has a better EPA/attempt number than both of them. Love’s EPA, meanwhile, is the best of anyone in the class, and Tagovailoa’s awakening under Mike McDaniel has been terrific to watch. This is a really tough one to re-stack.

Even though Burrow’s health is a potential caveat here, I’m sticking with him at No. 1 based on the fact he’s still the most accurate passer in this group (by a bit) and, when right, can get it done in any system or situation. I’m also very excited to see what Jim Harbaugh can do for Herbert — he’s going to help Herbert become a better football player. On that, I have zero doubt.

If we do this again in a year, Love might be two spots higher. Same time, I’m not about to start betting against Hurts.

Tagovailoa was the toughest evaluation for me back in 2020 and remains so today. Nobody in this class gets rid of the ball faster, and Tagovailoa’s work in the pocket when he’s not pressured is surgical. I wind up thinking about Tagovailoa similarly to how I think about Jared Goff — a very good passer who can lead a team anywhere it wants to go, but who needs a good (not average) O-line and run game with reliable weapons. The offense will make him as much as he’ll make it go. That’s not the case with Burrow, Herbert or, possibly in time, Love.

Running backs

1. Jonathan Taylor               Indianapolis Colts

2. A.J. Dillon                        Green Bay Packers

3. D’Andre Swift                  Chicago Bears

4. Antonio Gibson               New England Patriots

5. Clyde Edwards-Helaire    Kansas City Chiefs

2020 order: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs (1-32), D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions (2-35); Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts (2-41); Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams (2-52); J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens (2-55).

The Chiefs were coming off a championship and looking for a specific fit when they selected Edwards-Helaire, who had 55 catches playing with Burrow his final year at LSU. Swift had productive stretches with Detroit and one good year with Philadelphia, though durability — and that he’s never rushed behind anything less than a great O-line — limits his value. Dillon is a less line-dependent player with better durability.

The biggest knocks coming out on the clear prize of this group, Taylor, were ball security and an inability to do anything on third down. He’s lost six fumbles but also caught a combined 125 passes while rushing for 4,660 yards in four NFL seasons.

Wide receivers

1. Justin Jefferson                Minnesota Vikings

2. CeeDee Lamb                  Dallas Cowboys

3. Brandon Aiyuk                  San Francisco 49ers

4. Tee Higgins                       Cincinnati Bengals

5. Jerry Jeudy                        Cleveland Browns

2020 order: Henry Ruggs, Las Vegas Raiders (1-12); Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos (1-15); CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys (1-17); Jalen Reagor, Philadelphia Eagles (1-22); Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings (1-22).

If we re-drafted the whole thing, would Jefferson go No. 1 over Burrow and Herbert? No matter where you land on that question, Jefferson is in the books as the steal of the 2020 draft at No. 22.

Perhaps the lesson from evaluating the 2020 receiver class is to always let the tape be your guide — Jeudy and Ruggs had outstanding combines and pro-day workouts (the Nick Saban-Alabama PR machine didn’t hurt); Lamb was ultra-productive in college; I have no explanation for Reagor over Jefferson (and assume Eagles GM Howie Roseman doesn’t either).

Jefferson? He was very good at literally everything. Some got lost in the numbers on a few other prospects and allowed themselves to be convinced Jefferson’s value was heavily tied to Burrow. But if we go back, put blinders on and just watch the tape, we’d probably all see what Jefferson’s showing us today.

Tight ends

1. Cole Kmet                  Chicago Bears

2. Adam Trautman        Denver Broncos

3. Harrison Bryant          Las Vegas Raiders

4. Albert Okwuegbunam  Philadelphia Eagles

5. Colby Parkinson          Los Angeles Rams

2020 order: Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears (2-43), Devin Asiasi, New England Patriots (3-91); Josiah Deguara, Green Bay Packers (3-94); Dalton Keene, New England Patriots (3-101); Adam Trautman, New Orleans Saints (3-105).

Even though he’d had just one super-productive season at Notre Dame, most people believed Kmet was going to be a good player for two reasons: 1. He was barely 21 with almost no wear on the tires; 2. He was (and is) just a massive man. Kmet was not a polished blocker coming out, but he was so big (6-foot-5, 262 pounds, 33-inch arms) and explosive that it just felt like a matter of time. Now, he’s a very sturdy three-down starter in Chicago.

Five tight ends went in the top 105 picks in 2020. If anyone was slept on a bit, it might’ve been Trautman. A small-school player at Dayton, Trautman is a terrific all-around athlete (6.78-second three cone, 4.27 short shuttle) who transitioned from WR to TE in college. He’s back with Sean Payton in Denver now — keep an eye on this one moving forward.

Offensive guards

1. Robert Hunt                   Carolina Panthers

2. Jonah Jackson              Los Angeles Rams

3. Kevin Dotson                Los Angeles Rams

4. Damien Lewis              Carolina Panthers

5. Ezra Cleveland             Jacksonville Jaguars

2020 order: Robert Hunt, Miami Dolpins (2-39); Damien Lewis, Seattle Seahawks (3-69); Jonah Jackson, Detroit Lions (3-75); Tyre Phillips, Baltimore Ravens (3-106); John Simpson, Las Vegas Raiders (4-109)

Hunt was our top-ranked guard in 2020, then OG1 in the draft — and he’s backed it up for four years, culminating in a huge free-agent contract with Carolina.

Things get much tighter after that, and the next few years with this group could be really interesting. The Rams now have both Nos. 2 and 3 on this list, after trading for (and recently extending) Dotson and signing Jackson. It’ll all depend on health, but the interior trio of Dotson, Steve Avila and Jackson could be pretty great.

Offensive tackles

1. Tristan Wirfs                        Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2. Andrew Thomas                    New York Giants

3. Michael Onwenu                   New England Patriots

4. Mekhi Becton                       Philadelphia Eagles

5. Jedrick Wills Jr.                   Cleveland Browns

2020 order: Andrew Thomas, New York Giants (1-4); Jedrick Wills Jr., Cleveland Browns (1-10); Mekhi Becton, New York Jets (1-11); Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-13); Austin Jackson, Miami Dolphins (1-18).

Dominant at right tackle his first two seasons, Wirfs moved over to the left side after Year 3 and actually got a little better as a run blocker. For my money, Wirfs and Penei Sewell are the NFL’s top two tackles under 25 years old. Thomas’ debut season with the Giants was rocky but his response has been outstanding — he’s had Pro Bowl-level stretches, when healthy.

Onwenu is one of my favorite linemen in the league. A college guard for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, he was a terrific run-blocking tackle as a rookie in New England and has spent time at both guard and tackle since. He’s a tough, massive, quick-footed powerhouse. And Becton? He’s with Jeff Stoutland now. It’d be foolish to give up on the 6-7, 364-pounder, despite the injury issues.

Wills is a tough one, as his follow-ups to a pretty great rookie season have been average to disappointing. We’ll see if he turns that around before he hits free agency in 2025.

Centers

1. Lloyd Cushenberry           Tennessee Titans

2. Tyler Biadasz                   Washington Commanders

3. Cesar Ruiz                      New Orleans Saints

4. Aaron Brewer                   Miami Dolphins

5. Matt Hennessy                   Philadelphia Eagles

2020 order: Cesar Ruiz, New Orleans Saints (1-24); Matt Hennessy, Atlanta Falcons (3-78); Lloyd Cushenberry, Denver Broncos (3-83); Tyler Biadasz, Dallas Cowboys (4-146); Keith Ismael, Washington Commanders (5-156).

It’s been a steady climb for Cushenberry, one of the few bright spots during some rather awkward Denver years. The former LSU standout was our top-ranked center entering the draft and a steal in the third for the Broncos. He just got a sizable deal from the Titans and is rather head and shoulders above the rest here.

Dallas moved on from Biadasz, who grabbed $30 million from Washington and has been a solid (though not dominant) presence inside for four years. Ruiz’s flexibility between center and guard, along with his athleticism, will continue to give him opportunities. Frankly, though, he hasn’t been great yet at either inside spot for the Saints.

The guy to watch here could be Hennessy, who looked like he was coming on before injuries got in the way. If he can stay healthy, he could be a terrific add for Philadelphia.

Edge

1. Alex Highsmith                       Pittsburgh Steelers

2. Jonathan Greenard               Minnesota Vikings

3. Bryce Huff                            Philadelphia Eagles

4. Chase Young                        New Orleans Saints

5. Michael Danna                      Kansas City Chiefs

2020 order: Chase Young, Washington Commanders (1-2); K’Lavon Chaisson, Jacksonville Jaguars (1-20); Yetur Gross-Matos, Carolina Panthers (2-38); Darrell Taylor, Seattle Seahawks (2-48); A.J. Epenesa, Buffalo Bills (2-54).

A lot of changes here, from what’s been a very interesting edge class to monitor. Many viewed Young as a can’t-miss prospect prior to the draft, and though injuries haven’t helped, his best win rate for a season is the 14.7 percent he had in 2023. He’s still an awesome athlete, but nothing about his presence has been dominant or consistent.

Highsmith, meantime, was a college walk-on whose game is equal parts effort and quickness. He’s delivered 31.5 sacks and 186 pressures so far in Pittsburgh, far outperforming his third-round slot. Ditto for Huff, who has a near-20 percent career win rate (career high 25.6 in 2022) and is probably the best pure pass rusher in this group. Greenard, a third-round pick, just signed a four-year, $76 million deal with the Vikings.

Epenesa has an argument to be ranked top five based on everything he can give from a run-pass standpoint, but Danna — lost in the wash on a talented Michigan team in 2019 — has been consistent and versatile as a twitchy utility knife up front in Kansas City.

Defensive tackles

1. Justin Madubuike          Baltimore Ravens

2. Derrick Brown                 Carolina Panthers

3. DaVon Hamilton            Jacksonville Jaguars

4. Javon Kinlaw                 New York Jets

5. Raekwon Davis               Indianapolis Colts

2020 order: Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers (1-7); Javon Kinlaw, San Francisco 49ers (1-14); Justin Madubuike, Baltimore Ravens (3-71); DaVon Hamilton, Jacksonville Jaguars (3-73); Neville Gallimore, Dallas Cowboys (3-82).

Madubuike is basically the definition of a Baltimore Ravens draft pick. He had every physical trait a DT could need when the Ravens found him in the third round, just without the consistency. His first two seasons were mostly developmental. He’s exploded over the last year and a half, producing 18.5 sacks since 2022 (13 last year) and becoming one of football’s premier pocket pushers. Just a terrific example of scouting, planning, development and work ethic.

Brown was DT1 in 2020, both in pre-draft rankings and the actual draft itself. He hasn’t had an explosive sack season yet, but he is up to 138 combined pressures over four years. He needs help.

Injuries and inconsistency have been an issue for Kinlaw, who did have a 36-pressure, 3.5-sack season last year before moving to the Jets. If anyone could make a move up this list, it’s him.

Linebackers

1. Patrick Queen                Pittsburgh Steelers

2. Logan Wilson                Cincinnati Bengals

3. Jordyn Brooks               Miami Dolphins

4. Kenneth Murray            Tennessee Titans

5. Isaiah Simmons             New York Giants

2020 order: Isaiah Simmons, Arizona Cardinals (1-8); Kenneth Murray, Los Angeles Chargers (1-23); Jordyn Brooks, Seattle Seahawks (1-27); Patrick Queen, Baltimore Ravens (1-28); Willie Gay, Kansas City Chiefs (2-63).

Four first-round linebackers? Goodness. To be fair, one (Simmons) was a hybrid, but still. Would any of them go in the first round if we did it over again?

Simmons’ combo of athleticism and body composition remains incredibly special, and he’s going to continue to get chances to settle in at LB after playing mostly safety and corner in college.

Queen has been the most impactful defender in the box, both versus the run and providing pass pressure. If anyone has earned that slot, it’s probably him. The best value of the 2020 draft was Cincinnati snagging Logan Wilson in the third round. Wilson has been a good run defender and gotten better each year with the Bengals, earning an extension last summer.

Cornerbacks

1. Jaylon Johnson                Chicago Bears

2. A.J. Terrell                        Atlanta Falcons

3. L’Jarius Sneed                 Tennessee Titans

4. Trevon Diggs                   Dallas Cowboys

5. Amik Robertson              Detroit Lions

2020 order: Jeff Okudah, Detroit Lions (1-3); C.J. Henderson, Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9), A.J. Terrell, Atlanta Falcons (1-16); Damon Arnette, Las Vegas Raiders (1-19); Noah Igbinoghene, Miami Dolpins (1-30)

Some pretty brutal picks. Okudah busted in Detroit, Jacksonville traded Henderson after a year, and Arnette is now out of the league due to legal troubles. Same time, there were some very good corners in this class, including Terrell, who has been consistent and steady in Atlanta.

Jaylon Johnson’s 2023 Pro Bowl campaign with Chicago was outstanding, perhaps the best individual year by any CB in this class to date. Sneed also has an argument for the top spot, as he’s been more consistent outside over the long haul. Johnson’s a younger player, though — he just turned 25 in April.

Safeties

1. Antoine Winfield Jr.               Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2. Xavier McKinney                   Green Bay Packers

3. Grant Delpit                           Cleveland Browns

4. Kyle Dugger                         New England Patriots

5. Geno Stone                         Cincinnati Bengals

2020 order: Xavier McKinney, New York Giants (2-36); Kyle Dugger, New England Patriots (2-37); Grant Delpit, Cleveland Browns (2-44), Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-45); Jeremy Chinn, Carolina Panthers (2-64).

Pretty good safety group here, including two guys (Winfield and McKinney) who were arguably first-round values taken in the second. Every guy on this list had a productive 2023 season — and that doesn’t include Washington’s Kamren Curl, Minnesota’s Josh Metellus or Los Angeles’ Jordan Fuller, all of whom have had good stretches as pros.

It’s hard to argue with New York’s original decision to take McKinney over Winfield, although the Giants’ handling of McKinney’s free agency left plenty to be desired. The only knocks on Winfield coming out were height and length. He was a four-year college starter with football in his blood — sometimes, the safest player is the best player.