The Daily Briefing Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Pete Rozelle left at age 63. Paul Tagliabue was 65 when he stepped down. The current Commissioner will soon be on track to last until age 68, or longer.

Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports that the new deal for Roger Goodell, who turned 64 last month, will last until spring 2027.

It remains unknown whether the new deal will be Goodell’s last one, or whether the latest arrangement requires affirmative succession planning. Currently, there’s no one who is being prepared to take over for Goodell.

The owners, most of whom are significantly older than Goodell, presumably would prefer that he remain in the job indefinitely. They still would be wise to have a clear plan in place for the future. Even a ship cruising clear, open waters needs a captain who will avoid finding an iceberg into which it will be steered.

The new deal will be final if at least 24 of the owners approve it. There’s currently no reason to believe the proposed contract will be rejected.

– – –

Cam Newton is looking to return to action.  Tyler Greenawalt of YahooSports.com:

Cam Newton wants to play again in the NFL.

The 33-year-old veteran quarterback announced he will throw at Auburn’s Pro Day on Tuesday — more than a year after his last NFL game on Jan. 9, 2022, for the Carolina Panthers — in a social media video posted Monday night. In it, Newton rhetorically asked “how these randoms [quarterbacks] keep getting jobs?” before he state that there “ain’t 32 m***********s better than me.”

Newton played eight games for the Panthers that season after one season with the New England Patriots in 2020. He also started 148 games for the Panthers from 2011-2019 after Carolina drafted Newton with the No. 1 pick in 2011. Newton is currently the only player in NFL history with at least 30,000 passing yards and 5,000 rushing yards. He’s rushed for at least 500 yards in all but two of his seasons where he started at least 14 games. Newton won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2011 and NFL MVP in 2015.

Clips of his passes emerged Tuesday afternoon, where Newton was seen throwing to his younger brother, Caylin, a former Howard quarterback who played two seasons at Auburn before finishing his college career at William & Mary.

Caylin was the 2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference MVP at Howard after he threw for 2,629 yards, rushed for 504 yards and scored 26 total. The 5-foot-11, 208-pound Newton was a first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association return specialist at William & Mary with a 7.1 punt return average. As a receiver, he averaged 14.5 yards per reception with 37 catches for 537 yards and three touchdowns.

Are NFL teams interested?

While Newton plots his comeback, it’s unclear if his attempt will succeed. Most of the teams in need of a quarterback will likely look to the 2023 draft to find their next passer, whereas a team like the New York Jets is throwing all its chips into a trade for Aaron Rodgers.

Newton didn’t garner much interest when the Panthers first cut him, either, until the Patriots signed him three months into free agency. The Cleveland Browns were reportedly the only other team interested in Newton before he landed in New England on a one-year, $1.05 base salary deal.

He re-signed with the Patriots following the 2020 season when he threw for 2,657 yards and eight touchdowns and added 592 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, but was released on the final day of roster cuts before the 2021 season. The Panthers signed him back on a one-year, $10 million deal 10 weeks into the season to replace the injured Sam Darnold, but Newton went 1-7 as the starter and was benched multiple times before losing the job in Week 17.

Injuries have plagued Newton’s career since his MVP season. He suffered a shoulder injury in 2018 that hampered his throwing ability and then a foot injury forced Newton to miss all but two games in 2019 before the Panthers released him the following offseason.

Newton will try to make a go of it, and perhaps generate interest for his brother in the process.

MINNESOTA

Alec Lewis of The Athletic explores whether or not QB LAMAR JACKSON would make a good Vikings acquisition:

These days, it doesn’t take much to see a team and a player linked via free agency or a trade. People run with it like the wind.

This is in part what makes sports fun: thinking an idea makes sense and hoping it plays out.

That’s how this conversation feels, the one revolving around the Minnesota Vikings and Lamar Jackson. It first emerged when ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that executives around the league had discussed the potential fit. The thinking derives from the fact that Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is only under contract through 2023.

Of course, Cousins and Minnesota could agree on an extension. Until that happens, though, it’s worth exploring all options for the Vikings, no matter how far-fetched they may seem.

The Ravens placed the nonexclusive franchise tag on Jackson, meaning that the quarterback can negotiate potential deals with other teams. If he agrees to a deal with another team, the Ravens would have five days to match the offer.

So let’s look at why Jackson might make sense for the Vikings — and why he wouldn’t.

Why it makes sense

Minnesota is going to need a quarterback for the future

The Vikings do not have a quarterback on the roster who has a fully guaranteed salary for the 2024 season. We’ve written about the idea of drafting a quarterback in recent weeks. Minnesota could attempt to move up for one of the consensus top four QBs, though each of them has question marks. The Vikings could also take a flier at No. 23 (or later) on a passer they believe is underrated. Waiting for 2024 is another possibility.

Then there is the idea of a trade or free-agent signing. None would create a larger splash than Jackson.

He is still only 26 years old. In the last five years, he ranks fourth in efficiency among quarterbacks with at least 1,000 pass attempts behind Drew Brees, Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers. Securing his services would be hitching yourself to the most exclusive of wagons. Adding that type of talent at quarterback for the long term is any NFL team builder’s dream.

Jackson would be more certain than a top draft pick

If the Vikings don’t extend Cousins, they will no longer have the quarterback who has played more offensive snaps than all but one (Tom Brady) since 2018. In other words, Minnesota will no longer have a player it can count on each Sunday.

That’s a frightening prospect. Ask the Jets (Zach Wilson), Patriots (Mac Jones) and Steelers (Kenny Pickett). All are anxiety-inducing examples of what you can end up with if you choose to select a QB in the draft.

Jackson, conversely, is a proven commodity. He has won an MVP. He has thrown 36 touchdown passes in a season. He has led the league in QBR. All of that happened in 2019 when Jackson’s primary receivers were Mark Andrews, Marquise Brown and Willie Snead.

If any uncertainty exists, it’s about how good Jackson could look with a supporting cast featuring Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson and an offense-minded coach like Kevin O’Connell.

Ownership has been willing to dish out big money in the past

Money has been the sticking point for Jackson. On Tuesday, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio cited a source who shared that Jackson wants “a significant amount fully guaranteed — up to $200 million or more — with one or more non-guaranteed years on the back end” of a new contract.

That figure, $200 million, would make even most NFL owners blush. And it does stand in stark contrast to the three-year, $84 million, fully guaranteed deal the Vikings ownership greenlit for Cousins years ago. At the very least, though, that deal is worth mentioning because it does signal Minnesota’s willingness to give a player what he wants on the market.

Later on, we’ll discuss the complications that would arise for the Vikings in a deal this hefty. (There are plenty.)

Minnesota has Jefferson

It’s fair to consider why Jackson would be attracted to Minnesota. Any number of factors could make sense: the team’s ranking in the NFLPA player survey, O’Connell’s success with the Rams and more.

Most important, though, would be the chance to play with the best receiver he’s ever joined forces with.

In three NFL seasons, Jefferson has more receiving yards (4,825) than all but three Ravens receivers — ever. One of them is Andrews, who is a star in his own right. Still, pairing Jefferson with Jackson is a thought that once seemed confined only to a video game.

Why it doesn’t make sense

The Vikings’ cap constraints are real

This is when the dream of landing Jackson likely comes to an end and we wake up in a cold sweat.

The Vikings are hovering right around the salary-cap number. To clear the amount of space necessary to sign Marcus Davenport, Byron Murphy and Dean Lowry, Minnesota had to orchestrate pay cuts with certain players, add extra void years to players’ contracts and restructure Cousins’ contract.

They’ve made all of these moves, yet extending Jefferson, potentially Hockenson, Danielle Hunter and others remain on the docket. The Vikings have other levers they can pull to create cap space — a restructure of right tackle Brian O’Neill’s contract, for example. Still, their options are dwindling.

Compounding that reality is what the restructuring of Cousins’ contract means. By converting some of his 2023 salary into a signing bonus, the Vikings face a hefty dead-cap charge whether they move on from him this season or next. That means any deal with Jackson would likely have to be significantly backloaded.

Even then, a contract the likes of which he is seeking could prohibit other extensions — like Jefferson’s, Hockenson’s or even Christian Darrisaw’s down the line. In other words, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Rob Brzezinski will have earned Olympic medals in cap gymnastics if they can make this happen.

Cousins has a no-trade clause

Trading for Jackson would mean moving on from Cousins. We just tried to iron out the financial constraints of doing so, but there’s also this: Cousins has a full no-trade clause in his contract.

There’s no wiggle room here. Cousins’ camp added this protection for a reason and had the leverage to do so. In theory, the idea of a lucrative extension from an acquiring team could propel him to OK a trade, but there’s no guarantee he would want to leave.

Cousins has said he would prefer to finish his career in Minnesota. He does genuinely appreciate the team’s history, its culture, and the idea of playing in one system for a number of years. So, this could be another major hangup.

Minnesota needs draft capital to fill multiple holes

The Vikings have a plethora of needs: cornerbacks, linebackers, interior defensive linemen, interior offensive linemen and pass catchers.

A few weeks ago in Indianapolis, Adofo-Mensah outlined the declining probability of landing a starter the later a player is picked in the draft. If the Vikings were to give up multiple early draft picks in a deal for Jackson, how could they add impact players at positions of need?

With minimal cap space and even fewer high-end draft options, you are left with a team that has exceedingly little margin for error.

You would lose any benefit of a rookie QB contract

One of the greatest benefits of drafting a quarterback — beyond the idea that you could land a transcendent talent — is the surplus value you can get by having him on a rookie contract.

Think Jalen Hurts and what he allowed the Eagles to spend elsewhere last season. Or the Chiefs and how Patrick Mahomes’ rookie deal allowed them room for Chris Jones, Dee Ford, Tyrann Mathieu, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and more.

Jackson’s contract not only would eliminate the chance of the Vikings having that huge salary-cap benefit, but it would likely hamstring the team’s financial future even further.

Adofo-Mensah has made it clear that the team is seeking flexibility. Signing Jackson would take a huge piece of that flexibility away.

DALLAS

While we were gone, WR BRANDIN COOKS tied the record with his fourth trade.  Jori Epstein of YahooSports.com:

Brandin Cooks said it once.

He said it twice.

Before he concluded his answer, he had echoed his “I don’t know” refrain a fitting four times.

Why has the now-Dallas Cowboys receiver been traded an NFL-record four times?

“I really can’t answer that, honestly,” Cooks said Monday by phone. “You ask my teammates, any coaches I’ve been a part of, I would think they would say I’ve been one of the best teammates they’ve had.

“I’ve really never gotten upset because obviously that means someone out there wants me to be a part of their group to forego some great draft picks. … I didn’t get to free agency because people are jumping the gun to get me before I get there.”

Validity shadows Cooks’ admittedly rosy take: In a league where the average career span is about three years, Cooks is set to earn $18.5 million in his 10th NFL season. In six of his first nine pro seasons, he has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards.

“I like to think [that] you put my numbers up with anybody else,” Cooks said Monday, “they’re right there with them.”

Players without sufficient value are more likely to get cut than traded. Yet, NFL teams tend to cling to their best players, sometimes beyond what sound business principles would recommend.

As one high-ranking NFC executive told Yahoo Sports by phone when assessing Cooks’ journey: “If you’re wired the right way and you’re that talented, no one’s ever letting you out of the building.”

So what has prompted NFL front offices to trade away and for a player with Cooks’ talent and productivity four times? Does that history-making measure speak more to Cooks’ value or detriment, and does it most reflect the player, the teams he has played for or the broader wide receiver landscape?

Yahoo Sports consulted sources from each of Cooks’ four prior teams to better understand. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss their organizations’ philosophies, wove a narrative as complex as the tapestry of Cooks’ career jerseys.

A well-traveled history packaged around draft picks

Before dissecting why Cooks has relocated so frequently, let’s re-establish where he has been.

To make a very long story, well, shorter:

The New Orleans Saints drafted Cooks in 2014 with the 20th overall pick. He played three seasons, surpassing 1,100 yards each of the latter two — before the New England Patriots traded first- and third-round draft picks in exchange for Cooks and the Saints’ fourth-round selection.

In New England, Cooks immediately caught 65 passes for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns as the Patriots advanced to the Super Bowl. (They lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.) Then the Los Angeles Rams dealt first- and sixth-round picks for the speedy wideout and the Patriots’ fourth-rounder.

The Rams signed Cooks to a five-year extension worth $81 million with $49.5 million guaranteed. Cooks caught 1,204 yards and five touchdowns in the 2018 regular season, again helping his team advance to the Super Bowl. Cooks contributed a team-high eight catches and 120 yards in the biggest-stage loss to the Patriots.

After the 2019 season, the Rams traded Cooks and a 2022 fourth-round selection in exchange for the Houston Texans’ 2020 second-round pick. In his first two years in Houston, Cooks compiled 2,187 yards and 12 touchdowns. By 2022, under Houston’s third head coach in three years, he became the latest Texans player to vocalize his desire to bolt. The Texans and Cowboys conferred at the trade deadline but ultimately were stuck on his hefty salary.

When talks rekindled in free agency, the Texans agreed to shoulder $6 million of Cooks’ $18.5 million salary. The Cowboys dealt a 2023 fifth-round pick and 2024 sixth-round pick. Dallas welcomed a speedy, vertical threat on the outside to complement wide receiver CeeDee Lamb’s playmaking on crossing routes and physicality from the slot.

Cooks was excited to rejoin a contender after years amid a rebuild.

“The last three years, it is what it is,” Cooks said. “Better late than never.”

As Cooks ‘works his ass off,’ trades reflect player more than person

Amid that expressed hunger lies a player whose exits have resulted from different circumstances.

Cooks left the Saints following frustration with his role in the offense and head coach Sean Payton’s principles about ball distribution in three straight 7-9 seasons, said one executive with knowledge of the team’s thinking at the time. Cooks left the Patriots as his post-rookie contract value was set to balloon and left Los Angeles after his productivity didn’t match a contract fit for a No. 1 receiver. Houston’s rebuild wasn’t what an almost 30-year-old Cooks sought, and thus he arrives at contending Dallas.

Coach and personnel executives from each of the four teams agreed: Cooks’ off-field character has not prompted these moves. Former colleagues described a “great human” and “very grounded dude” who “works his ass off” and “takes his craft serious.” Perhaps his New Orleans frustration reflected a player not fully self-aware of the limitations of his skills relative to that iteration of scheme, one executive said — but the Houston trade demands were “out of character,” another felt, while a third said they “really don’t think this is any sort of reflection [of] him not being a good teammate or his personality.”

On the field, Cooks was lauded for his speed and vertical threat. He’s most likely to win on first and second down, relayed one past colleague, noting that extra creativity would be necessary for Cooks’ 5-foot-10, 183-pound slight frame to fully flash in third-down and red-zone opportunities.

That dilemma appears to have complicated the mega-contract Cooks was awarded. With great financial power came great financial responsibility. Cooper Kupp (1,161 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns) exploded for the 2019 Rams, while receiver Robert Woods collected 1,134 yards and two scores. Cooks averaged more yards per reception than the trio, but caught just 58.3% of targets compared to his colleagues’ 72+ percentages. And thus, Houston valued him more highly.

“He’s probably a No. 2 who has been paid as a No. 1 for most of his career,” one executive told Yahoo Sports. “He’s a complementary piece, one of [the] best in [the] NFL. But people who have acquired him likely viewed him as a primary threat which he isn’t.”

Are Cowboys bucking trend or falling into same pattern?

What prompted the Cowboys to trade for Cooks is clear: He’s a productive player whose skills differ from those of Lamb and receiver Michael Gallup.

The Cowboys have admitted they didn’t properly fill the void that trading away Amari Cooper created last spring. The Cowboys didn’t want to pay Cooper’s $20 million salary and sought a more vocal receiver, among other factors. The front office and coaching staff believe quarterback Dak Prescott’s league-worst 15 interceptions were not unrelated to the limits on his pass catchers. Lamb developed into a bona fide WR1, but the passing game wasn’t versatile enough in key moments including a divisional-round playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

So as the Cowboys return one of the league’s best defenses, and Dallas throws its chips behind head coach Mike McCarthy play-calling in a hotter-seat year for him, they executed a trade operating on a principle not unlike the Patriots and Rams: Win now.

“Everyone believes they are a vertical player away from unlocking their offense,” an executive who overlapped with Cooks said. “The concept of a player like Cooks is always going to be valuable and always going to get you a return in a trade situation so it’s worth taking that chance.”

Yet …

“When you look at all of these situations,” the executive continued, “they found out that it was a low-percentage throw for those QBs and not worth the investment financially.”

Cooks’ chemistry with Prescott is thus worth monitoring.

The Cowboys will be looking to validate less of an investment than some of their counterparts as they traded both the lowest-value picks for Cooks and left $6 million of Cooks’ payment responsibility across the state in Houston.

Still, their hope is Cooks will replicate the road he traveled in New England and Los Angeles — to the Super Bowl, or at the very least the NFC championship game that has eluded the Cowboys since the 1995 season.

Cooks is eager to prove he will.

“Man, I tell you, I couldn’t be more hungry,” he said. “Stepping into a locker room like this [with] those three years under your belt like that, that fuel is definitely fueling the fire and that hunger to be able to come out here and just show up and help my team win.

“I can’t wait. I truly can’t.”

NEW YORK GIANTS

WR DARIUS SLAYTON on why he re-signed with the Giants.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton re-signed with the Giants early in free agency, and he said there was no doubt in his mind that he wanted to be back.

“It would’ve been kind of crazy to leave as soon as we get the thing built,” Slayton said, via Newsday.

After playing his first three years on bad Giants teams, Slayton led the Giants in receiving yards last season as they went to the playoffs, and he said he’s excited about where the team is headed.

“I think just some of the guys we’ve been able to sign, it’s just a testament to what we’ve been able to build here and what [offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and coach Brian Daboll] have been able to bring to us,” he said.

Slayton was particularly happy the Giants made a long-term commitment to quarterback Daniel Jones.

“I might’ve been happier for his deal than my own deal, honestly,” Slayton said. “Just because [I’ve seen] the way that people viewed him before and the way they view him now. Anybody who follows me on Twitter knows Daniel Jones slander is not being tolerated on my timeline. That’ll be that way probably until the day I die. So I’m extremely happy for him. And I’m just glad he was able to get his deal.”

Slayton expects to be catching passes from Jones for years to come.

WASHINGTON

Josh Harris is looking for some Magic to pull out his bid to buy Daniel Snyder’s team.  Liz Roscher of YahooSports.com:

According to Sportico, NBA legend and Hall of Famer Magic Johnson is joining the group Harris has assembled to bid on the Commanders. It’s not known how much money he’s investing, though the group already has a ton of financial backing. Beyond Harris, who is worth over $7 billion as co-founder and managing partner at Apollo Global Management, the group also reportedly includes American businessman Michell Rales, who is worth over $6.5 billion.

Both Harris and Magic have significant experience when it comes to either buying teams or being part of an ownership group. Magic is part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and owns stakes in the Los Angeles Sparks and Los Angeles FC, and was reportedly considering buying into the Las Vegas Raiders last year. Harris Owns the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Jersey Devils and is a shareholder in Crystal Palace FC.

This is not the first time Harris and Magic have joined forces. They were both part of the ownership group that failed to buy the Denver Broncos in 2022. That franchise eventually sold to the Walton family for $4.65 billion, which is currently the U.S. record for most expensive sports team purchase.

However, the sale of the Commanders is expected to top that by possibly $500 million or more. Forbes placed a $5.6 billion valuation on the team, which is nearly $1 billion more than the Broncos’ sale price. While the Commanders are likely using their own valuation figures, the unofficial valuation does one thing: set the expectation that when the Commanders sell, it’ll be for more money than anyone has ever paid to own an American sports team.

CAROLINA

QB C.J. STROUD has emerged as the favorite to be the pick for the Panthers at number 1.  Is he JOE BURROW or DWAYNE HASKINS?  A huge contingent will head from Charlotte to Columbus for The Ohio State Pro Day.

The Panthers have the No. 1 overall selection in next month’s draft, having traded with the Bears for the right to have their pick of quarterbacks.

Assuming they stay put, the Panthers are expected to choose Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Alabama’s Bryce Young or Florida’s Anthony Richardson. Stroud is the betting favorite to land in Carolina.

Stroud will work out for scouts at Ohio State’s Pro Day on Wednesday, and the Panthers are sending an army to watch him throw.

Albert Breer of SI.com reports that owners David and Nicole Tepper, General Manager Scott Fitterer, head coach Frank Reich, assistant General Manager Dan Morgan, vice president Samir Suleiman, offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, senior assistant Jim Caldwell, scouting director Cole Spencer and scout Joel Patten will attend for the Panthers.

Ohio State also will have cornerback Cameron Brown, defensive tackle Jerron Cage, linebacker Palaie Gaoteote, defensive end Zach Harrison, safety Ronnie Hickman, offensive tackles Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones, safety/nickelback Tanner McCalister, long snapper Bradley Robinson, tight end Mitch Rossi, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, defensive tackle Taron Vincent and center Luke Wypler working out.

TAMPA BAY

Jenna Laine of ESPN.com on the arrival of QB BAKER MAYFIELD:

Speaking for the first time since signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent, former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and first overall draft pick Baker Mayfield acknowledged Monday that his confidence took a hit after bouncing from three different teams in 2022.

“That’s definitely been a struggle,” said Mayfield, who signed with the Buccaneers on a one-year deal to compete for the starting quarterback job with Kyle Trask following the retirement of Tom Brady.

“There were times where, kind of searching in the mirror thinking, ‘All right. What’s next? What do I need to do?’ But you’ve got to relate it back to your success. If I can review all the situations and experiences I’ve had and trust in those, and learn from them and not just harp on the negative stuff but take away just a little thing each time, that’s how you continue to grow. And I still believe that all the experiences I’ve gone through happened for a reason, and it’s going to help me in the long run.”

After four seasons with the Cleveland Browns and following the arrival of Deshaun Watson, Mayfield was traded to the Carolina Panthers in July 2022. He was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams in December 2022 and starting a mere 48 hours later, leading the Rams back from a 16-3 deficit to a 17-16 victory.

“It’s not how I drew my career up by any means,” he said. “If I was to tell you how it would go based on the plan, I wouldn’t have said I’d put on three different uniforms in the year 2022, but that’s how it happens. You’ve got to learn from it, roll with the punches, trust in God’s plan. But I’ve grown a lot. I appreciate all the things that have happened throughout my journey. It’s helped me get here today. I want to play this as long as I can so I’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way.”

He called the experience “different,” but said he realized there were ways he could affect teams in a positive way even when not starting. In Tampa — a city he admits knowing very little about prior to signing, other than it being home to the three-time Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning — he was not promised the No. 1 job. He’s still seeking long-term deal.

But Mayfield said he wanted to compete, likes Trask’s game and thought they could push each other. Mayfield also wanted to be part of a stable organization with a winning culture and playmakers. Tampa Bay has two Pro Bowl 1,000-yard receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and an aggressive defense under head coach Todd Bowles that Mayfield had competed against before.

So he’s “diving in headfirst,” as he put it. He’ll be all-in with OTAs and learning new offensive coordinator Dave Canales’ playbook, which has a few similarities to what Mayfield ran with the Rams, all while getting his wife, Emily, and Fergus, their 80-pound Goldendoodle-Irish setter rescue puppy, settled. And later, between June and July, he’d like to assemble teammates to work out independently away from the team.

“The thing I’ve realized the most in the last year, it is how can I help with what I’m best at?” Mayfield said. “And that’s, that’s being a good leader, being infectious, energetic, even when I’m not playing, helping guys out, you know, I’ve played a lot of ball, so I’ve seen a decent amount so I can help people out from being behind the scenes like I did last year quite a bit, and just enjoying the process. This is a dream I’m living. Why not enjoy it? But right now I want to compete and I want to win.”

When asked about concerns over how he might respond if he doesn’t win the starting job, Mayfield said, “Just take a look at last year. I really don’t have much to say other than that. I mean, everybody wants to talk about years ago, how I used to be. If you haven’t realized that I’ve changed a lot, then … that’s all right.”

“My personality might rub people the wrong way, but I am who I am and that’s how I was raised to be. I’m not trying to play to be your friend or to impress you. I’m doing it because I love it and I’m doing it because I love my teammates. And I think all my teammates would say that behind closed doors, [they] knew who I really am and that’s what really matters, my family and I trust in that. So it is what it is. I’m not too worried about the outside persona.”

Mayfield did ask for his release from the Panthers after learning that he would be demoted to third-string quarterback in Week 12 against the Denver Broncos. That was after going 1-5 as a starter in Carolina. Former coach Steve Wilks said, however, that Mayfield was “nothing but a professional.” Wilks said he had no issues with the way the quarterback and his agent handled the situation.

Then there’s the obvious question. Should Mayfield win the starting job, how does he follow up Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion who led the Bucs to the postseason three consecutive years and delivered a Lombardi Trophy to cap the 2020 campaign?

“Listen, I’m never going to be Tom Brady,” Mayfield said. “There’s a reason he’s won so many Super Bowls. He’s the greatest of all time. There’s no doubt about that. I’m not going to try to be Tom. I’m going to be me. That’s what has gotten me to this point. We’re going to do it differently, but that’s what makes this league so special. Everybody puts their own touch on it.”

SAN FRANCISCO

Before QB BROCK PURDY proved to be a hero, did the 49ers contemplate turning to QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER?  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

Tom Brady almost had company in the unretired quarterback category last year.

Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger told Mark Madden of 105.9 The X on Tuesday that Roethlisberger was in conversations with the 49ers during the 2022 season.

The 49ers lost starter Trey Lance in Week Two. Later in the year, Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a foot injury. In lieu of adding a veteran, the 49ers relied on rookie Brock Purdy.

“They were, I think, reaching out maybe just to gauge my interest,” Roethlisberger told Madden, via SteelersNow.com. “I had discussions. . . . I’d be lying if I didn’t say there was a small part of me that was intrigued. I could still do it and prove to people that I could still play. At the end of the day, I just can’t see myself in anything other than black and gold.”

It would have made for an interesting stretch run, if Roethlisberger had played well and stayed healthy. But for Brock Purdy’s elbow injury early in the NFC Championship, the 49ers may have landed in the Super Bowl.

BALTIMORE

While it is said that QB LAMAR JACKSON is his own agent as his status without a contract extends – Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com says he has an emissary, unlicensed by the NFLPA:

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is free to speak with other teams. He currently isn’t. But someone on his behalf has.

Per multiple sources, a representative for Jackson has contacted more than one team in an effort to spark negotiations aimed at a possible offer sheet. The representative is not certified by the NFL Players Association.

As one source explained it, the person has said that Jackson does not want a fully-guaranteed contract. Some regard this as a possible exercise in semantics, with Jackson still wanting a very significant amount fully guaranteed — up to $200 million or more — with one more more non-guaranteed years on the back end.

Another source said that the representative is telling other teams that Lamar is ready to move on from the Ravens.

Obviously, the Ravens would have the ability to match any offer sheet signed by Jackson.

Last year, the NFL specifically instructed teams not to negotiate with representatives not certified by the NFLPA, when Saint Omni was allegedly contacting teams on behalf of then-Bears linebacker Roquan Smith.

“Clubs are reminded that, under Article 48 of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, Player Contracts may only be negotiated with the player, if he is acting on his own behalf, or with the player’s NFLPA certified agent,” the August 2022 memo explained.

We’re told that the NFLPA is aware of the situation. It’s unclear whether the league was. It now is, if anyone at 345 Park Avenue (hello) is reading these words.

THIS AND THAT

2023 DRAFT

Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic battles the notion that RB BIJAN ROBINSON should not be drafted in the 1^st round, with a focus on the Lions:

Brad Holmes answered the question with a question.

Speaking with reporters at the NFL combine, the third-year Lions general manager was asked if his franchise — less than three years removed from starting over — would consider a “luxury pick” with one of its two first-round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft. Not a ridiculous idea, as the Lions were inches away from the playoffs in Dan Campbell’s second year and are now firmly rising on the national media darling chart.

However …

“Are we in position to make that luxury pick?” Holmes responded, questioning the questioner’s premise with the trademark tone of a man whose work is never done and whose hand is closely guarded.

There are multiple versions of a “luxury pick.” For many Lions fans, and more national observers, Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson is a popular one.

But let me propose a different player to consider. One who would end any conversation about whether the Lions need to draft a quarterback to join Jared Goff. One who would solve a need for a long time and one who would pair perfectly with everything Detroit is — and will be for the next several years — as an offense.

Not a quarterback luxury pick. The other luxury. The running back. The generational talent, built for the modern game, who could make everything a little bit easier everywhere else on the field for a long, long time.

The Bijan Robinson luxury.

I’ll start with this and will hold to it throughout: I do not care what the numbers say about drafting running backs historically, especially recently, in this case. And I don’t care because Texas sensation Bijan Robinson isn’t a normal running back.

The general batting average on running backs in the first round over the last few years is better than many give it credit for. Najee Harris (No. 24, 2021), Josh Jacobs (No. 24, 2019), Saquon Barkley (No. 2, 2018), Christian McCaffrey (No. 8, 2017). All were first-round worthy in their draft classes, and all are the modern definition of franchise running backs. None needs an elite quarterback to be successful or to have a major impact on a franchise.

I believe Bijan Robinson can be that type of player for the Lions.

I’ll let him tell you why.

“I’m a knee-bender when I run the ball. Another guy that was a knee bender was Barry Sanders,” Robinson told reporters at the combine recently. “To try to redirect (defenders) and try to be as low to the ground as you can get and understand, you have to feel defenders, and read their shoulders and read angles to break as many tackles as you can to try to get north and south.

“I watch (Sanders) probably every other day.”

My favorite thing about Sanders is that he doesn’t have one famous play. He doesn’t even have a signature highlight reel. Every single play is equally special, equally astounding and equally remarkable.

“He was so good,” Robinson said, “at doing things you couldn’t do.”

Sanders was both a marvel in his era while also being ahead of his time. A player like that in today’s game, with as much space as play-callers create on a consistent basis, would be lethal. I’m not here to tell you that Robinson is the next Sanders, because he’s not. There will never be another Barry Sanders. If anything, Robinson is a longer, slightly slower version of Edgerrin James — another Pro Football Hall of Famer with his own unique blend of power, speed, soft hands and a nose for daylight.

Robinson does share some of Sanders’ signature traits, however. His ability to bend himself lower to the ground than anyone on the field — setting up the defenders before shifting his weight without losing any speed and leaving everyone behind — is the chief reason why Robinson was able to rack up 212 missed tackles (104 last year alone) in only three years at Texas and more than 2,300 yards after contact.

The other top trait Robinson shares with Sanders is that he doesn’t need to lean on anyone or anything to make the offense dangerous. A three-down player who doesn’t have to come off the field, Robinson runs routes as well as several receivers in this class. He had only four drops on 77 targets in three years at Texas and he was probably underused at that. Robinson can readjust to bad throws in the air; he can high-point balls.

He can make every player in an offensive huddle look better.

There’s probably no chief reason why Robinson was underutilized at Texas. Backs don’t take the type of punishment they did in Sanders’ day, which is a great thing. Also, Texas heaped plenty on the plate of fellow running back Roschon Johnson during Robinson’s career. In an era when it literally pays to stand out individually (especially at a place like Texas), Robinson had no problem sharing carries or playing time with Johnson.

That’s because Robinson is an unselfish player, one who wants to do what’s best for the whole as much as he wants to do what’s best for himself.

“Roschon is the best teammate I’ve ever had. He brings out so much in a player and the team just how he goes about being a leader,” Robinson says. “Roschon is a god. He’s the other great running back in this class.”

If that’s not on a Dan Campbell-Brad Holmes “we are One Pride” B-I-N-G-O card, I don’t know what is.

Another thing surely on that card is stability at quarterback, and taking a player of Robinson’s caliber — and coupling him with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Detroit’s uber-talented offensive line — would allow the Lions to simply settle in on Goff (who just had his best year as a pro) for the next few seasons without hesitation.

The Lions turned a few heads in free agency by signing 25-year-old running back David Montgomery, formerly of the Bears. From a football standpoint only, this move makes a ton of sense. Montgomery is similar to Jamaal Williams in that he can run between the tackles and take punishment without wearing down — he’s also two years younger. The Lions clearly believe their locker room is stable enough to handle Williams’ departure. Montgomery will now be the team’s new thumper.

So, where would Robinson fit? As a long-term, home-run option right next to Montgomery. He fits because he’s a playmaker, arguably the best in this draft. This could mean D’Andre Swift, whose rookie deal ends after 2023, is the odd man out long-term. Last season, Football Outsiders ranked Detroit No. 7 in adjusted line yards (essentially, yards created by the offensive line) and No. 15 in second-level yards (yards the back creates 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage).

Reality is reality: Williams was as beloved as any Lion in recent memory and Swift has talent, but both left yards on the table last year. Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson run a matchup-based attack rooted in the run game. It’s not a system so much as it is a series of concepts designed to get the Lions’ best athlete(s) matched up against a defense’s weakest spot as many times as possible. Not unlike what Campbell helped Sean Payton run for many years in New Orleans, several with Alvin Kamara. Adding gas to the backfield would turn this offense from promising to scary. Detroit could also accomplish this by adding speed at tight end or wide receiver, perhaps in later rounds. Maybe they’ll look at someone like Tulane RB Tyjae Spears on day two.

But Robinson, in my opinion, is the best player among those options.

Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions have two first-round picks this year. (Robert Deutsch / USA Today)

The Lions could consider Robinson should he drop to No. 18, or if they could move up after drafting defense at No. 6. Drafting another three-down offensive playmaker (which is how we should view Robinson) would allow Detroit to, more or less, close the book on the offensive foundation and shift all its focus to fine-tuning the defense in an effort to immediately seize control of a suddenly wide-open NFC North.

The Lions will have to invest in a bridge plan for Goff at some point, but if he continues to play anywhere near the level he showed in 2022, that bridge plan doesn’t have to happen for a while.

“I think,” Holmes said in January, “it’s a lot easier to get worse at quarterback than to get better at quarterback in this league.”

Drafting running backs in the first round is not a popular practice in today’s NFL. Selecting Sanders wasn’t a sure thing for the Lions in 1989, either. Detroit also liked Florida State cornerback Deion Sanders and Alabama pass rusher Derrick Thomas for the No. 3 pick. But after team personnel saw Sanders run a 4.39 40-yard dash at his pro day a few weeks before the draft, they were convinced they’d found their unicorn. The Lions have not been right about much historically. They were damn sure right about that one.

There’s another unicorn ball carrier lurking for Detroit in this draft. And if the Lions take a similar swing at Robinson, I don’t think they’ll be wrong about this one, either.

Because Bijan Robinson isn’t a luxury pick. He’s a foundational game-changer.