AROUND THE NFL

Daily Briefing

Per the orders of the NFL, team offices are shuttering for up to two weeks.  Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times:

Due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wrote a memo Tuesday telling teams their facilities must close for at least two weeks as of 6 p.m. Wednesday. Teams can conduct normal business during that period, NFL Network reported.

Until now, office hours had been the jurisdiction of each team — and dependent on local recommendations about whether or not to work from home.

On March 16, the Bears closed both their downtown offices. A limited number of staffers were allowed to work from Halas Hall, but coaches, in particular, were sent home. The league banned all visits to team facilities by free agents and draft prospects.

According to NFL Network, those still allowed inside facilities after Wednesday include medical staff; security and facilities management; and employees who specialize in technology for remote workers.

The NFL’s GMs are recommending a postponed draft.  The NFL, so far, is standing pat.  Mark Maske of the Washington Post:

The league is not considering postponing next month’s NFL draft despite a push by some general managers for such a delay, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Keeping the draft April 23-25 will present obstacles for teams as they try to plan around limitations due to the novel coronavirus outbreak — including being unable to meet with draft-eligible players.

The NFL did move to address what it viewed as a competitive imbalance when it informed teams in a memo Tuesday that all teams’ facilities will be closed beginning Wednesday at 6 p.m. That policy is to be reassessed April 8, according to the memo, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post.

“To ensure that all clubs operate on a level playing field, and that the NFL continues to conduct itself in a responsible way at this time, it is appropriate to outline certain principles that will apply during the current period,” the NFL’s memo to teams said. “These principles have been reviewed with and endorsed by the Competition Committee and will remain in effect until further notice.”

The league’s decision to close all team facilities did not come solely in response to the recommendation of a seven-member committee of general managers that the draft be postponed. The NFL already had planned to study the issue this week, as some teams had closed their facilities and other hadn’t.

But those competitive imbalances were a concern of the GM committee, which advises the league on a variety of football operational issues.

The GMs also were concerned about other issues affecting draft preparations, according to a person familiar with the deliberations. Draft-eligible players have been prohibited from visiting teams, and teams were barred from allowing coaches and scouts to attend players’ pro-day workouts on college campuses. The issues raised by the GMs’ committee were first reported by ESPN.

The draft has been reduced to a TV-only event, but the league intends to keep it where it is on the calendar, the person familiar with the NFL’s planning said.

The live event in Las Vegas associated with the draft has been canceled. It potentially could be staged at the Los Angeles studios of the league-owned NFL Network.

Some but not all teams previously had closed their facilities, sending staffers to work from home. The league’s order issued in Tuesday’s memo exempts employees providing medical care to players, security employees and IT experts.

“The challenges we face are not unique — many businesses and individuals throughout the country are experiencing and addressing similar issues,” the memo said. “Please be assured that the NFL is well-positioned to meet these operational challenges as we prepare to offer our fans and the country an outstanding 2020 NFL season.”

The NFL Draft has been an April-early May fixture for a long time now, but prior to 1975 it was at the end of January or even earlier.

NFC NORTH

DETROIT

Thoughts from LB JAMIE COLLINS upon arriving in Detroit (not physically, contractually).  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

When the Lions announced that head coach Matt Patricia and General Manager Bob Quinn would return for the 2020 season, word from ownership was that the expectation is that the team will be playoff contenders.

The implication that failing to reach that level would negatively impact a potential return for the 2021 season wasn’t made explicit, although it probably didn’t need to be. The team’s offseason moves will factor heavily into whether they can make a big jump from 3-12-1 and one of the new arrivals believes he’ll help push the team where it needs to go.

Linebacker Jamie Collins said he thinks the Lions are close to “doing big things” and that his experience will be crucial to getting them there.

“One play here, one play there,” Collins said, via the team’s website. “When you’re a player, you look at the game different than outsiders and fans. We break down the game and process the game and digest the game just different than the average person. It’s always one or two plays that’s the difference in the game and I just feel like me being a veteran now, I can bring some veteran, some professional little things to get us over the top, and I’m definitely up for the challenge.”

The move to the Lions marks Collins’ second departure from the Patriots. He wasn’t able to help the Browns change course in two-plus years in Cleveland, but the Lions are banking on this time working out better after he rebounded in his return to New England last year.

NFC SOUTH

CAROLINA

The QB CAM NEWTON Era is over in Carolina.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:

Cam Newton is no longer a Panther.

The Panthers announced on Tuesday that they have released Newton, after trying and failing to find a trading partner for him.

“Cam has meant a lot to this organization and the Carolinas,” Panthers General Manager Marty Hurney said in a statement. “Everyone saw his performances on the field. I had the privilege of seeing how hard he worked off the field, and his commitment to this team when no one was watching. He’s the ultimate competitor and it physically hurts him to lose. He willed this team to victory on many occasions and will always be considered one of the greatest players in the history of this franchise. His contributions to this team, this community and the game of football will leave a lasting impact on our organization.”

Newton will now become an unrestricted free agent, who will see if some team wants to make the 2015 league MVP its starting quarterback. Newton reportedly passed a physical, although a team that signs him may want to get its own medical staff to examine him.

If Newton can get healthy and stay healthy, he could be a game changer for some team. But given the way injuries have plagued him the last two years, that’s a big “if.”

The Panthers were 68-56-1 in games started by Newton.  That’s a 54.8% winning percentage, 7^th-best among the 15 quarterbacks who started 100+ games in that time.

– – –

The Panthers have added WR ROBBY ANDERSON, formerly of the Jets.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

The top wide receiver left on the market found a home.

Robby Anderson is signing a two-year contract with the Carolina Panthers, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. The deal is worth $20 million, with $12 million in 2020, Rapoport added.

The New York Daily News first reported the signing.

After the receiver market was slow out of the gate of free agency, it’s finally gotten to a gallop, with the No. 23 available player in NFL.com‘s Top 101 free agents list off the board.

In Carolina, Anderson rejoins new coach Matt Rhule, who he played for at Temple.

Anderson’s addition to the Panthers adds another super-speed element alongside D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel on a Teddy Bridgewater-led offense. The trio could blow the top off of defenses from any side of the field.

In four years with the Jets, Anderson splashed track speed, able to blast by defensive backs with ease. His play, however, was inconsistent, as he earned more than 800 yards just once in his career. The 26 year old generated 52 catches for 779 yards and five touchdowns in 2019.

When he’s on, however, Anderson can be a menace for secondaries, capable of taking it to the house on any play.

Speed gets paid in the NFL, and $12 million in Year 1 of the deal is solid for both parties. The contract also allows Anderson to hit the market again in two years when he’ll be turning 29.

TAMPA BAY

No grand entrance.  Just a conference call as QB TOM BRADY gets started with the Buccaneers. Nate Davis of USA TODAY:

Welcome to TB, TB12.

After striking a deal to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, Tom Brady had his introductory press conference with his new team Tuesday via a conference call (a necessary format given the coronavirus pandemic) with NFL reporters.

And though Brady largely kept many of his answers close to the vest – hard to tell if he’ll stray from the “Patriot Way” of providing as few sound bites as possible – he did shed some light on why he’s chosen to relocate to Tampa after spending the first two decades of his incomparable career with the New England Patriots.

“It’s an exciting moment for me in my life,” said Brady of the free agent journey he opted to embark on by having out clauses woven into his final deal with the Pats.

“Entering something that’s obviously very unique to me – first time it’s happened in 20 years. I’m kinda taking it day by day.”

Last week, he agreed to a two-year, $50 million contract with the Bucs that could balloon to $59 million if certain incentives are met. General manager Jason Licht said pursuit of Brady was the Buccaneers’ “No. 1 priority” this offseason.

“There were a lot of things that really were intriguing to me about the organization – the players, and the coaches, and the willingness of everyone to try to accomplish the goal of what playing football is, which is to win,” Brady said of Tampa Bay, talking up new teammates like receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin while not making any predictions about the team’s 2020 outlook on the heels of a 7-9 season.

“I’m going to try to do everything I can in my position and what I’m responsible for to make that happen. And I’ve got to trust that everyone else is doing the exact same thing. In that part, it’s no different than what I’ve experienced for 20 years in my own role.”

The Buccaneers last made the playoffs in 2007 but haven’t won a postseason game since beating the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII following the 2002 campaign. Tampa Bay has six playoff victories in its 44-season history. Brady has six Super Bowl rings.

Brady said he didn’t make the determination he was leaving New England until March 16, when the free agent negotiation window opened. He visited Patriots owner Robert Kraft at his Brookline, Massachusetts, home that night to inform him of the decision. Coach Bill Belichick was also notified that evening.

“I’m not responsible for how other people with say certain things,” Brady said of his departure. “Mr. Kraft has been a great influence in my life for two decades.

“When I’m done playing, I’ll look back and have a chance to re-evaluate my entire career. … But at the same time, I’m excited for the opportunity I have.”

Brady later added of his time in New England: “There’s nobody who’s been a bigger fan of the New England Patriots than me. … I have so many great relationships that will be maintained.”

Now he embarks on life – one that continues to be complicated by the COVID-19 outbreak – with the Bucs and coach Bruce Arians, he of the “no risk it, no biscuit philosophy.”

 “I’ve obviously paid attention to he and his offense for a long time,” said Brady of his brash coach. “Everybody has a somewhat different styles and philosophies of how they call things and so forth. But football, to me, is about throwing the ball to the guy who’s open.

“You get the ball to the guys who can do something with it. There’s some really talented players here on this offense that have very unique skills sets. And it’s really my responsibility – I have one ball, and I gotta be able to deliver that ball to the guy who can do something with it.”

Sounds like the biscuit will be far more carefully guarded than it was by Jameis Winston in 2019, when he led the NFL with 30 interceptions.

Brady now has to move his family to Florida. Asked if he’ll obtain No. 12 from Godwin once he arrives, Brady suggested it wasn’t a priority right now, his focus instead aimed at learning his new teammates – an objective he hopes can be eased by technology given the current difficulties of travel, not to mention convening a group of players on a football field.

“You’ve just got to try to manage it as best as possible,” Brady said of the environment borne of coronavirus.. “The important part is everyone’s trying to make it work. And everyone’s trying to figure out how to adjust and adapt to some new realities that we’re all facing.

“Again, I’m not making any predictions about that, I’m just gonna take it day to day with how I’m doing. And I’m gonna try to learn things I need to learn. One day at a time is a cliché, but it’s definitely not a cliché in the way that I’m trying to live my life right now. It’s just been a new reality for all of us.”

AFC WEST

LAS VEGAS

Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com on how QB MARCUS MARIOTA is emulating QB RYAN TANNEHILL:

Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota said the right things about being a backup to Derek Carr this year. And he may have known the right things to say because he heard Ryan Tannehill say the same things about him in Tennessee last year.

Last year, Mariota was the Titans’ starter, and when Tannehill arrived, everyone insisted that Tannehill was just Mariota’s backup. This year, Carr is the Raiders’ starter, and everyone is insisting that Mariota is just Carr’s backup.

But, as everyone learned in Tennessee last year, a starter is only the starter until he isn’t. And just as Mariota was benched for Tannehill, Carr could be benched for Mariota.

This week, Mariota said, “I’m going to do my best to support Derek in every possible way that I can.”

Last year, Tannehill said, “I’m going to try to help Marcus as much as I can.”

This week, Mariota said of whether he’ll get to play, “First and foremost this is Derek’s team, and I understand that. I understand that going in.”

Last year, Tannehill said of whether he’ll get to play, “I don’t try to think about that. I have way too much respect for Marcus, him as a player, him as a person.”

This week, Mariota said, “a strong, stable, supportive quarterback room makes that job a whole lot easier.”

Last year, Tannehill said, “we’re aligned in trying to push each other and make each other better. Ultimately, we want to help this team win.”

The bottom line is this: Tannehill was brought in to be Mariota’s backup — until Titans coach Mike Vrabel decided otherwise. And Mariota was brought in to be Carr’s backup — until Raiders coach Jon Gruden decides otherwise.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

The Chargers collision course with the Rams on the Los Angeles color scale has been averted with a move likely to thrill.  Nick Shook of NFL.com:

The Los Angeles Chargers play their home games under the sunny skies of Southern California, but they’re embracing the appeal of some fresh powder blue.

In a move likely to be cheered by most, the Chargers are officially making a shift to powder blue. The Chargers revealed their updated logo Tuesday, a simpler icon that replaces their previous double-outlined lightning bolt with one that features a powder blue line that borders a Sunshine Gold bolt. The bolt itself has changed slightly as well, taking on less of a symmetrical arch and flattening out in what can be considered a sharper look.

Also sharp: the Chargers’ new wordmark, which is italicized and features crisp serifs on the Ls and A in the team’s city identification of Los Angeles. A notable feature in the wordmark can be seen in the team’s nickname, with a lightning bolt shooting out of the bottom of the A in “Chargers.” Both halves of the wordmark — “Los Angeles” and “Chargers” — are available to stand alone when desired.

A darker blue isn’t disappearing entirely. While the Chargers have moved to a powder blue and gold set for their primary colors, Los Angeles’ version of royal blue — different than the L.A. neighbor Rams’ idea of royal blue — remains in the team’s Color Rush look that harkens back to the days of Junior Seau and the early years of Ladainian Tomlinson. This alternate logo is available for use with both a royal blue bolt outlined in the same Sunshine Gold and the inverse, with a Sunshine Gold bolt outlined in royal blue.

These changes aren’t entirely surprising, as the Chargers designated their alternate powder blue jersey as their home uniform in 2019 and paired it with a new gold facemask to better marry the two elements.

New uniforms will follow these new marks at a later date. If they follow the same theme of sharper and simpler, they should be an upgrade, helping the Chargers settle into their new digs with a cleaner look.

AFC SOUTH

JACKSONVILLE

QB JOE BURROW won’t be throwing to TE TYLER EIFERT.  Grant Gordon of NFL.com:

For seven seasons with the Bengals, tight end Tyler Eifert flashed brilliance and was mired by injuries.

Now he’s headed south for a fresh start, as Eifert and the Jaguars have agreed on a two-year deal, NFL Network’s Tom Peliserro reported Tuesday.

Taken 21st by the Bengals in the 2013 NFL Draft, Eifert is hoping to be another kind of cat when he ventures to Jacksonville looking to continuing showing the skill he always has, but do so while avoiding injury.

The 2019 season was the only one of his career thus far in which he’s played all 16 games, but he saw just four starts and logged 43 catches for 436 yards and three touchdowns.

Previous to 2019, Eifert played in just 14 games over the three-season span of 2016-2018. That came off his most productive statistical season of 2015 when he earned his only Pro Bowl berth with 52 catches for 615 yards and an eye-popping 13 touchdowns in 13 games.

The highlight-filled 2015 campaign came after Eifert’s injury woes began with a one-game 2014 year ended by a dislocated elbow.

In 2016, Eifert’s year ended on injured reserve with a lingering back injury. The 2017 campaign came to a halt due to a back injury and the next season ended early due to a broken ankle.

Perhaps the warmer climate in Florida will aid Eifert’s prospects as he also looks to become a target over the middle for second-year signal-caller Gardner Minshew. Though Eifert’s 43 grabs last year were hardly mind-spinning, he gives the Jaguars an option they haven’t had as of late. Last season, tight ends James O’Shaughnessy (14 receptions), Geoff Swaim (14), Seth Devalve (12) and Nick O’Leary (nine) combined barely edged past Eifert’s total.

In Duval, there will be a new start for Eifert and a new option for Minshew.

AFC EAST

NEW ENGLAND

Seth Wickersham of ESPN.com has a deep dive into the split between TOM BRADY and the Patriots.  The whole thing is    highlights below:

Once the shock of Brady’s announcement settled in — it still seems strange to imagine him in another uniform, devising a game plan with another coach — the question of why consumed us. What did Brady need that Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft failed to deliver? Was it an extension? Was it joy? Were the relationships, strained for the past few years, broken beyond repair?

Nobody knows what motivates great athletes. It’s as mysterious and unique as their own DNA. Brady has struggled to explain it for himself. Sometimes the motivation came from anger that he was draft pick No. 199; other times from understanding and learning from why he was pick No. 199. But in interviews with people close to Brady, team and league executives, coaches and owners involved in the Brady sweepstakes, it’s clear that there’s a feeling he is chasing, and has been chasing for years.

Not just to prove the Patriots wrong, but to find — no, rediscover — an essential version of himself.

THERE HAVE BEEN many moments in recent years when the relationship between Brady and the Patriots had been strained — in the years following his knee surgery in 2008, when he spent more time in Los Angeles and less in Foxborough, culminating in a “disconnect,” as Yahoo Sports reported, in contract talks in June 2010; during Deflategate, when many close to Brady felt that Kraft and Belichick had left him alone to take the fall, even after he had defended the franchise during Spygate and throughout his career. But it all reached a fever pitch in the fall of 2017. The team was defending its fifth Super Bowl, and for the first time, Brady used his platform to advocate a philosophy other than the Patriot Way. He used it to advocate his own business, TB12 Sports, and its accompanying book, “The TB12 Method,” which he wrote with the help of his trainer and friend, Alex Guerrero. The issues in the Patriots building caused by The Method — how it pitted players against the team training staff, how Belichick felt forced to curtail Guerrero’s access — are widely reported and well-known, but the heart of the problem between Brady and Belichick in late 2017 was the same as it was in March 2020: Brady wanted a contract extension.

Brady made it clear that he was playing football until his mid-40s. He preferred to sign a deal to ensure that he retired a Patriot, but if the team refused, he was fine moving on. He wanted clarity. He met with Belichick, and the meeting ended with a “blowup,” a source said. He met with Kraft. He got mixed signals. Team president Jonathan Kraft told NFL Network in January 2018 that Brady had “earned the right” to decide when he wanted to stop playing for the team. On the other hand, that right never came in the form of a contract extension, at least not one Brady felt would last the rest of his career.

After the Patriots lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII, Brady was deeply dissatisfied. The offense had put up 613 yards with no punts. When Belichick addressed the team upon its return to Foxborough, Brady mostly stared straight down, barely glancing up at his coach. Brady told people in the building that he wasn’t coming back. Needing distance, he detached from the team that spring. He left passive-aggressive comments on social media. He pleaded the fifth. He looked lost at the end of his Facebook docuseries, “Tom vs. Time,” saying of his passion, “What are we doing this for? … You gotta have answers to those questions.” ESPN’s Ian O’Connor, in his book “Belichick,” reported that Brady wanted a “divorce” from his coach. And Brady made it clear to author Mark Leibovich in the book “Big Game” that he was fed up with Belichick’s culture, which is to say that he was fed up with Belichick. When asked in Leibovich’s book how he would feel if the Patriots released him, Brady was blunt: “They can do whatever they want.”

“These last two years have been very challenging for him in so many ways,” Brady’s wife, Gisele Bundchen, disclosed in “Tom vs. Time.” “He tells me, ‘I love it so much, and I just want to go to work and feel appreciated and have fun.'” Her words didn’t just serve as confirmation of long-standing issues inside the building. They set a new bar, to which we should have paid more attention: Brady wasn’t just looking to win Super Bowls, victory at all costs, the ethos of most of his career, fabulously successful and spectacularly unhealthy. He wanted what everyone wants from an employer: to feel valued and to love work. They seemed like two reasonable asks — until Brady realized that in New England, under Bill Belichick, he might be asking the impossible.

WE LISTENED AS those close to Brady insisted he would be the first to go. Tom Brady Sr. once told me that once Belichick found a quarterback “who is better for a dollar less, [Tom will] be gone.” Brady Sr. also told Leibovich, “It will end badly.” Some close to Brady actually looked forward to that day, in a weird way, believing that the team would collapse without him — without the human backstop who bailed out everyone’s mistakes, who helped Belichick to all but two of his winning seasons as a head coach, who engineered five Super Bowl wins when trailing or tied in the fourth quarter.

In August 2018, Brady received a revised contract — with incentives adding up to $5 million, boxes he never checked. He was mostly throttled in Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams, but with the game tied 3-3 and less than eight minutes left, as always, Brady delivered. In maybe his last legacy throw as a Patriot, he hit Rob Gronkowski down the sideline between three defenders to set up what would be the decisive touchdown. In retrospect, the win might have served as a sign that the team could compete at a high level without him. The franchise has always been ruthless in its internal evaluation of players. Its scouting reports would shock fans if they could see them, even when it came to Brady — especially when it came to Brady. So a sixth Super Bowl earned him nothing but another difficult negotiation. NBC Sports Boston reported that last August, Brady was prepared to walk out of camp in anger. Eventually, he signed a new deal, spun as an extension. It was, in reality, a one-year deal, which he could void at the end of the season. He put his Brookline, Massachusetts, home up for sale, and so did Guerrero. A quarterback who once starred in a cheeky comedy sketch in which he yelled “I’m the f—ing quarterback!” would now refer to himself as just a Patriots “employee.”

Brady seemed invigorated after the Patriots signed Antonio Brown in September. Weirdly invigorated — weirdly off brand for Brady — considering all of the bizarre behavior that led to the wide receiver’s release from the Raiders. Brady seemed to see Brown not just as a matchup nightmare, like he had in Gronk and Randy Moss, but as a rehabilitation project, allowing him to stay at his house, taking him under his wing, posing for selfies with him on social media. But it lasted one game. Brown was accused of rape, and after a Sports Illustrated article detailed more troubling behavior — after Brown sent threatening texts to the woman who accused him — Kraft stepped in and, according to NBC Sports Boston, “insisted” that the team release Brown. It was a business decision, from an owner who has always claimed to not be involved in football decisions. When Brown apologized to the Patriots on social media, all but begging for another chance, Belichick made it clear that it wasn’t his call. “You’ll have to talk to Robert about that,” he said.

This wasn’t fun, and Brady didn’t feel appreciated. In the words of a confidant, “He was like, ‘Why am I doing this?'” The Patriots’ defense was winning games, but the offense was stagnant. Brady told friends that he felt Belichick had taken the offense for granted because of how good it had been for so long. Brady told NBC that he was the “most miserable 8-0 quarterback in the NFL.”

But it still seemed inevitable, when the Patriots took on the Titans in the playoffs, that somehow, someway, Brady and Belichick would find a way. In the fourth quarter, the Patriots took over at their own 11-yard line, trailing 14-13 with 4:44 left. The crowd summoned that familiar energy in anticipation of Brady magic. Sure enough, he hit James White over the middle for 20 yards and Phillip Dorsett II for 6 yards. He then dropped back and looked left to Julian Edelman, who was running a short out route, a route the two of them had executed to perfection dozens of times in games, hundreds of times in practice, an automatic connection …

… but the ball bounced off Edelman’s stomach and fell to the ground.

– –

It was over.

BUT NOT OFFICIALLY, of course. Nobody, not even those close to Brady, knew officially. Brady was in Miami for Super Bowl LIV, attending parties and NFL 100 festivities. So was Kraft, and league executives who conversed with him came away with the impression that his dream of Brady retiring a Patriot was unlikely. Nobody was budging. Brady wanted a commitment; the Patriots would commit only year to year. The tenet that had made the Patriots so hated and successful over the years — the emotionless pursuit of victory — seemed to finally touch the untouchable quarterback.

After the Super Bowl, Brady was back in Boston, in a house his family had largely emptied out. He was acting on his own, quietly putting out feelers, leaving owners and executives to wonder whether he had a free-agency plan. To many of the executives who did due diligence, Brady seemed so driven by an animus toward Belichick that they couldn’t tell if he actually wanted a fresh start or if he just needed leverage to force Kraft to step in.

Reporters took sides. Some of us believed he would leave; some of us believed he would stay. All year, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeff Darlington and NBC Sports Boston’s Tom E. Curran had warned fans this might be it in New England. Rumors flew. The Colts. Raiders. Chargers. Titans. Dolphins. Panthers. Broncos. One hot piece of speculation in league circles gained steam after the Pro Bowl, when reports emerged that Drew Brees was considering a move to broadcasting. It opened the door: Brady to the Saints, playing for Sean Payton, in a dome. Fire emojis everywhere. But no: Brees decided to return to his longtime home, opining that Brady would return to his longtime home, as well.

By early March, some reports claimed that Brady’s options were down to the Patriots, Titans and, surprisingly, the 49ers. Brady made it clear through various channels that the team of his childhood would be the team of his future, if the 49ers wanted. The 49ers discussed it, but in the end, the team was committed to Jimmy Garoppolo. The Titans figured to be the likely destination, especially after Brady and Edelman were filmed FaceTiming with Titans coach Mike Vrabel during a Syracuse basketball game. Edelman and Brady sat courtside, and at one point, Edelman said to a camera, “He’s coming back!” Brady looked less than thrilled and mumbled something that set off a social media hysteria of lip-reading. But the Titans preferred Ryan Tannehill over Brady — a decision that would have been unthinkable a year ago.

A deadline neared: The league year would begin on March 18 at 4 p.m. ET. A call earlier that month between Brady and Belichick ended without an agreed-upon extension, with Brady’s camp viewing it as further proof that the team wanted him only under its rigid terms and the team exploiting the chance to leak that it had an offer for him and that the ball was in Brady’s court. For all of Belichick’s greatness, and for all of the praise that he had thrown on Brady in public and all of the hard coaching he had dished in private, the relationship had run its course.

On Monday night, March 16, Brady called Kraft and made the short drive to his house for a conversation about which he had long imagined. Kraft, in a round of phone calls to Patriots beat writers the next day, would say that he assumed Brady was visiting to finalize a new contract. “I thought he was coming over as he has for the last 10 years to quietly get things done,” Kraft told NBC Boston, despite reports that he would leave all negotiations to Belichick. But Brady told Kraft that it was over, and the owner would leave little doubt as to why. “Think about loving your wife and for whatever reason, there’s something — her father or mother — that makes life impossible for you and you have to move on,” he told NFL Network.

In a social media announcement the next morning, under the headline of “Forever a Patriot,” Brady informed the world that he would not be forever a Patriot after all.

Three days later, at 9:31 a.m. on March 20, the Bucs tweeted a photo of Brady in his kitchen, wearing a black hoodie, signing his new contract. He looked young, but more than that, he looked relieved. He had his pick of teams, the Chargers or the Bucs, and he went with what felt right. Tampa is a short flight to family in New York. The weather is warm. Head coach Bruce Arians has spent a career not only fostering a fun environment but also nurturing and learning from some of the game’s best quarterbacks, from Peyton Manning to Andrew Luck. “He’ll win some games down there,” an executive from a rival team said. “He’ll change the culture of the building.”

In the flurry of the past few years, especially the past few months, it was easy to forget. But maybe, in wondering what motivates the most accomplished quarterback ever, we lost track of a simple and human fact: Sometimes we chase what makes us happiest.

NEW YORK JETS

There is an opening for a receiver in Tampa Bay as WR BRESHAD PERRIMAN signs with the Jets.

Breshad Perriman is heading to his fourth franchise in as many seasons, but this time he’s coming off the best year of his career.

Perriman is signing with the Jets on a one-year deal in which he can earn up to $8 million with $6 million guaranteed, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported, per Perriman’s agent, on Tuesday evening.

A first-round bust for the Ravens selected 26th in the 2015 NFL Draft, Perriman made his way to the Browns in 2018, but the trade for Odell Beckham essentially crowded the receiver room and Perriman made it to Tampa in 2019.

Perriman’s 645 yards receiving and six touchdowns that he tallied with the Buccaneers last year were each career-highs and had him tabbed as the No. 68 free agent in the NFL.com 101.

Now, on the same day as news of Robby Anderson making his way to the Panthers, the Jets fill a need at receiver with Perriman, hoping they’ll see the 2019 version.

THIS AND THAT

2020 DRAFT

Mel Kiper Jr. serves up a Mock Draft:

This is my first mock draft since before the combine, and you’ll see a few prospects who rose after their performances in Indianapolis. And this is also the first mock draft in which we know how most of NFL free agency has played out, so team needs are much clearer.

1. Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

Andy Dalton is still on the Bengals’ roster — there aren’t many teams left on the quarterback carousel that make sense as a trade partner — but this is a no-brainer: Take Burrow and build your team around the Heisman-winning quarterback. Cincinnati already has a WR1 in A.J. Green and RB1 in Joe Mixon, and there are a few solid offensive pieces elsewhere, including the impending debut of 2019 first-round pick Jonah Williams, who missed all of last season with a shoulder injury but can step in immediately and protect Burrow’s blind side.

2. Washington Redskins

Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

If Washington is serious about Dwayne Haskins as its unquestioned starter at quarterback, it has to take Young, the clear top pass-rusher in this class and one of the best edge-rushing prospects of the past decade. Ron Rivera already has some talented defenders with whom to work (including Jonathan Allen, Montez Sweat, Landon Collins and free-agent signing Kendall Fuller) and Young could top 10 sacks as a rookie. The big question for the Redskins: Can they get back a decent pick in a Trent Williams trade? He wants out, and they don’t have a second-round pick after moving up for Sweat last year.

3. Detroit Lions

Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

The Lions’ best-case scenario with this pick? Field offers for teams trying to trade up to draft Tua Tagovailoa — the Dolphins (Nos. 5, 18 and 26 picks) and Chargers (No. 6 pick) make the most sense — and still land Okudah. That would give them extra premium draft picks and the top corner in the class to replace Darius Slay and pair with free-agent signing Desmond Trufant. After a 3-12-1 season, general manager Bob Quinn and coach Matt Patricia need wins now, and the additions of Jamie Collins, Danny Shelton and Nick Williams will help their defense immediately.

4. New York Giants

Isaiah Simmons, OLB, Clemson

This is another spot to watch for a trade. If the Lions stay put and take Okudah, could a team jump in front of the Dolphins to snag Tagovailoa? Because I can’t project trades here, I’ll mock Simmons to the Giants. He’s a phenomenal athlete who ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at 238 pounds and has great film from the past two seasons. He and free-agent addition Blake Martinez would really strengthen the G-Men’s linebacker unit. General manager Dave Gettleman has to think about an offensive tackle here, too, with Mekhi Becton, Tristan Wirfs or Jedrick Wills Jr. as possibilities.

5. Miami Dolphins

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

The Dolphins have three first-round picks and two second-round picks, but their best-case scenario is to stay put, get their quarterback of the future and pick up starters on Day 1 and Day 2 of the draft. With the offseason quarterback carousel mostly completed — Jameis Winston, Andy Dalton and Cam Newton still need to find new teams — Miami is in the best spot to draft its guy. Tagovailoa, who’s rehabbing after dislocating his right hip and suffering a posterior wall fracture in November, was planning to throw for NFL teams on April 9, but that’s up in the air. There’s a chance teams won’t get to see him go through a full workout; they’ll have to trust his tape — and trust their medical staffs, who will have a clear view of where Tagovailoa is with his injury now.

6. Los Angeles Chargers

Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

The Chargers appear uninterested in the quarterbacks in the free-agent or trade market, with Tyrod Taylor slotted in as their Week 1 starter. But maybe they’re not interested in another veteran because they know they’re in a good position to draft Tagovailoa or Herbert, and they can give Taylor the job while grooming a quarterback of the future. Based on their offseason additions (guard Trai Turner, offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga, defensive tackle Linval Joseph and cornerback Chris Harris Jr., among others), the Chargers think they can win now. Drafting the 6-foot-6 Herbert gives them the best chance to bridge their present with their future, similar to what the Chiefs did in 2017 when they drafted Patrick Mahomes.

7. Carolina Panthers

Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

This makes three mock drafts, three projections of Brown to Carolina. And I don’t see a reason to go away from it (unless Isaiah Simmons falls here). With Gerald McCoy and Vernon Butler gone in free agency, there’s a gaping hole at the tackle spot next to Kawann Short. Brown isn’t going to be a 10-sack-per-season guy, but he has some pass-rush upside from the interior. And with a 6-foot-4, 326-pound frame, he’ll be a monster against the run.

8. Arizona Cardinals

Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

With DeAndre Hopkins on his way to Arizona, the Cardinals filled their need for a new No. 1 wide receiver. One spot they haven’t addressed? Right tackle, where they could upgrade on former undrafted free agent Justin Murray, who started 12 games last season. This team could have its pick of a deep top tier of tackles, but I like the fit with Wirfs, who was predominantly a right tackle in college. He’s a load in the run game and has great feet in pass protection. Arizona must protect quarterback Kyler Murray, who was sacked 48 times last season, tied for most in the league.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars

Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

Marcell Dareus and Calais Campbell are gone, while 2018 first-round pick Taven Bryan has disappointed, which means the Jaguars’ once-excellent defensive line needs reinforcements. They have tremendous edge rushers in Yannick Ngakoue and Josh Allen, but Kinlaw would give them a 324-pound run-stuffer with some upside as an interior pass-rusher. I considered a quarterback here, but it appears Jacksonville is committed to Gardner Minshew. Cornerback is an option, too, though Jacksonville could use the No. 20 pick to address the secondary.

10. Cleveland Browns

Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

I really liked Cleveland paying up in free agency for Jack Conklin, who will upgrade the right tackle spot. But this team could still use a new starter at left tackle, which is why I like Becton here. A mountain of a man at 6-foot-7, 364 pounds, Becton also has excellent feet and agility — he is the heaviest player to run a sub-5.2 40-yard dash at the combine since 2006. Chris Hubbard, signed in 2018 to replace Joe Thomas, hasn’t worked out; it’s time to get Baker Mayfield better protection.

11. New York Jets

Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama

The Jets made an effort to fix their porous offensive line in free agency, bringing back guard Alex Lewis and adding tackle George Fant and interior linemen Connor McGovern, Greg Van Roten and Josh Andrews. But that’s not enough. They need another infusion of talent, particularly at right tackle, where Chuma Edoga played last season. Wills was a two-year starter at right tackle for the Crimson Tide, and he could step in on day one and be New York’s most talented lineman. Wide receiver is a position to watch here, with Robby Anderson signing in Carolina. I also thought about pass-rusher, but this is a little too high for second-ranked edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson.

12. Las Vegas Raiders

CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

After the Raiders signed both Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkowski in free agency, you can scratch off-ball linebacker from their list of needs. That still leaves wide receiver and cornerback, though. And since Las Vegas has two first-round picks and this class of receivers is much deeper at the top than the cornerback group, let’s give Jon Gruden & Co. a potential No. 1 corner in Henderson here. He had an up-and-down 2019 season, but he cemented his standing as the second-ranked cornerback in this class at the combine, where he ran a 4.39 40. The Raiders get to grab a receiver at No. 19. Could Vegas be an option if one of the other quarterbacks — Justin Herbert or Jordan Love — make it here?

13. San Francisco 49ers (from IND)

Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

This pick now belongs to the 49ers, after the Colts traded it to acquire interior disruptor DeForest Buckner. San Francisco could use the pick for a straight replacement for Buckner at defensive tackle — if Javon Kinlaw drops out of the top 10, he could do damage in the middle of its defense — but I see wide receiver as a higher priority, particularly after Emmanuel Sanders walked in free agency. Adding Jeudy, who caught 77 passes for 1,163 yards and 10 TDs last season, to a group with Deebo Samuel and Kendrick Bourne makes this a really exciting (and young) trio of wideouts for Jimmy Garoppolo. The 49ers are also trade-down candidates — after the No. 31 overall pick, they don’t pick again until Round 5.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

After the Bucs largely bypassed free agency to address their offensive line — they did add swing tackle Joe Haeg — this is the spot in which they need to get help protecting Tom Brady. (It felt strange to type that.) With Demar Dotson still a free agent, the right tackle spot is wide open. Thomas played both left and right tackle for the Bulldogs, and he would help keep Brady’s jersey clean. I also thought about a running back to help Brady, with D’Andre Swift a great option to catch a bunch of passes from the future Hall of Famer. But offensive tackle feels like a lock at this point.

15. Denver Broncos

Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

The Broncos have made a few solid additions this offseason, signing guard Graham Glasgow and running back Melvin Gordon and trading for defensive tackle Jurrell Casey and cornerback A.J. Bouye. They haven’t addressed left tackle — former first-round pick Garett Bolles could be on his way out after a disappointing tenure — or wide receiver, where they have Courtland Sutton but not much else. Ruggs, who ran a 4.27 40 at the combine, would be a great complement to Sutton’s size, as he could run crossers and catch deep balls from second-year signal-caller Drew Lock.

16. Atlanta Falcons

K’Lavon Chaisson, OLB, LSU

The Falcons replaced Vic Beasley Jr. with Dante Fowler Jr. in free agency, but they shouldn’t stop there. General manager Thomas Dimitroff needs to add another premium pass-rusher, either at edge or along the interior. Takkarist McKinley, a first-round pick in 2017, just hasn’t developed. After fighting through injuries, Chaisson had just 9.5 sacks in his college career, but he has a high ceiling, flashing elite get-off at the snap with a few pass-rushing moves in his arsenal. Before Atlanta picked up Todd Gurley to replace Devonta Freeman, I thought this might be a spot to watch for a running back.

17. Dallas Cowboys

CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

The Cowboys don’t have many glaring needs, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see them draft a cornerback or safety (Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix appears to be a one-year flier). I’m going to stick to my board, though, and go with the best prospect available. Lamb, No. 12 in my latest rankings, shouldn’t fall far; with fantastic route-running ability and big-play potential, he’s capable of being a No. 1 receiver at the next level, and he could play outside or in the slot. Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and Lamb would instantly become one of the NFL’s top wide receiver trios. Keep an eye on defensive end here, though, as Dallas could add young talent to that group.

18. Miami Dolphins (from PIT)

D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia

The Dolphins entered free agency with the NFL’s most cap space, and they used a bunch of their money on defense, signing cornerback Byron Jones to a record-breaking deal while also adding linebackers Kyle Van Noy, Shaq Lawson and Elandon Roberts and edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah. And yes, they brought in veteran running back Jordan Howard, too, but it was a low-cost deal. Let’s give Tagovailoa and the offense some help with Swift, a threat as a runner and receiver and the clear top back in this class. I expect Miami to address offensive tackle with one of its three first-round picks, and that could come at No. 26.

19. Las Vegas Raiders (from CHI)

Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson

If the Raiders take a cornerback at No. 12, they have to address receiver here. They can’t go into the season with Tyrell Williams, Hunter Renfrow and Nelson Agholor as Derek Carr’s top wideouts. So how about Renfrow’s college teammate, Higgins, a 6-foot-3 pass-catcher with elite ball skills. Higgins isn’t a speedster — he didn’t work out at the combine, but he ran a 4.54 40 at his pro day — but he could be an instant red zone threat for Carr.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR)

Antoine Winfield Jr., S/CB, Minnesota

Where could Winfield play? How about … everywhere. He has the versatility to play deep safety, nickel corner, strong safety and even some linebacker. At 5-foot-9, 203 pounds, he’s not the biggest guy, but you couldn’t tell from his tackling on tape — he’s not afraid to hit a ball carrier. Winfield stayed healthy in 2019 and had seven interceptions. He’s a ballhawk, which is something Jacksonville could use after it traded Jalen Ramsey last year. I really like Winfield, and this is a great landing spot for the best defensive back left on my board.

21. Philadelphia Eagles

Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

Philadelphia addressed its hole at cornerback by trading for Darius Slay. The next hole that needs to be filled is at wide receiver, where Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson had injury-plagued 2019 seasons and rookie second-round pick J.J. Arcega-Whiteside struggled. That resulted in a tough year for Carson Wentz and the Eagles’ offense, although they still went 9-7 and won the NFC East. Since this is a deep class of wide receivers, the Eagles should come out of the first round with their guy. Jefferson, who caught 111 passes from Joe Burrow last season, is a great fit.

22. Minnesota Vikings (from BUF)

Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor

Yes, this is another team that has a need at wide receiver, and this is the draft to get one. Minnesota got this pick by trading Stefon Diggs last week, and the Vikings could use it to find a direct replacement. Adam Thielen is the clear WR1, but there’s not much else on the roster that should excite Vikings fans. Mims is one of the biggest risers from the pre-draft process, as he was tremendous at the Senior Bowl and then blew up at the combine, running a 4.38 40 at 6-foot-3, 207 pounds and testing well in the other workouts. He had 28 touchdowns over the past three seasons at Baylor.

23. New England Patriots

Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

Are the Patriots really going to roll with Jarrett Stidham, Brian Hoyer and Cody Kessler as their 2020 quarterbacks? I’m not buying it. I’ll stick with a QB here, although I’m moving Love back into the fourth spot in my QB rankings, ahead of Jacob Eason. At 6-foot-4, Love has all the traits that teams look for in a starter, but his 2019 stats — 20 TD passses, 17 INTs — will scare off some. I don’t put much stock in it because of all of the talent (and an entire coaching staff) that he lost from the 2018 season, when he had 32 TD passes and six INTs. It’s tough to know whether Bill Belichick is going to treat the season as a rebuild, but taking Love makes sense either way.

24. New Orleans Saints

Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

The Saints perpetually have salary-cap issues, but they have done a nice job filling holes this offseason, adding safety Malcolm Jenkins and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders while bringing back guard Andrus Peat and defensive tackle David Onyemata. This is a roster that should compete for a Super Bowl in 2020. Off-ball linebacker, though, is a position where New Orleans could get some help, and neither of my top inside linebackers have come off the board yet. Murray, a stellar athlete and tackling machine, is a good value pick here.

25. Minnesota Vikings

A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa

This has to be corner or defensive end, right? Free agent Everson Griffen has already said his goodbyes to Vikings fans, while Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander and Xavier Rhodes all departed this offseason. We know Mike Zimmer is always thinking about his defense, and that unit could use some help with one of Minnesota’s first-round picks. Epenesa could be a capable replacement for Griffen as a defensive end with a big frame (6-foot-5, 275 pounds) who is good against the run and has room to grow as a pass-rusher.

26. Miami Dolphins (from HOU)

Josh Jones, OT, Houston

So we’ve given the Dolphins a quarterback and running back so far, and let’s stay on offense and address the tackle position, where Miami is still depleted. With Jones on the board, this is a no-brainer for me. He made 45 career starts at left tackle for the Cougars, and he dominated during practices at the Senior Bowl. Remember that the Dolphins still have two more second-round picks to help them get back on track. And after boosting their defense in free agency, the Dolphins are trending in the right direction.

27. Seattle Seahawks

Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State

This is a tough one for me because the Seahawks are still in the hunt to re-sign Jadeveon Clowney. If they spend a bunch of money to bring Clowney back, they might not want to spend the capital on an edge rusher here, particularly after drafting L.J. Collier in Round 1 last year. Still, the 6-foot-6, 266-pound Gross-Matos makes a lot of sense, because we know that Pete Carroll likes big defensive ends who could move inside and rush the passer on passing downs. Offensive tackle should be an option here, and Seattle also has an extra second-round pick.

28. Baltimore Ravens

Patrick Queen, ILB, LSU

The Ravens didn’t really address the inside linebacker position in free agency, which means I don’t see a reason to change from my first two mock drafts. Queen fills a direct void as a replacement for C.J. Mosley, who Baltimore lost in free agency a year ago. I also considered center/guard Cesar Ruiz, who could take over for the retired Marshal Yanda at guard.

29. Tennessee Titans

Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State

After Cleveland’s excellent combine performance in which he ran a 4.93 40 (third-fastest among offensive linemen) and looked great in the agility drills, I went back to the tape to study him. And what I saw was a left tackle who I was underrating. A three-year starter for the Broncos, Cleveland isn’t just a workout wonder — he was a great tackle in the Mountain West. The Titans are set at left tackle with Taylor Lewan, of course, but with right tackle Jack Conklin departing in free agency, Cleveland could compete with former swing tackle Dennis Kelly, who was re-signed. Tennessee added Vic Beasley Jr. last week, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see them add another edge rusher here.

30. Green Bay Packers

Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame

Green Bay cut Jimmy Graham and hasn’t added any receiving help this offseason, so I’m sticking with a wide receiver for its pick, though it’s the third different wideout in my three mock drafts. Like Denzel Mims, Claypool had an electrifying combine, running a 4.42 40 and putting up a 40.5-inch vertical at 6-foot-4, 238 pounds. This might be a slight reach, but a team could fall in love with his traits, and he produced last season, catching 66 passes for 1,037 yards and 13 touchdowns. He could be a matchup nightmare for Aaron Rodgers.

31. San Francisco 49ers

Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn

If the 49ers can get a wide receiver with their first pick, they could turn to the defense with this pick. With DeForest Buckner gone, I thought about defensive tackle, but they still have some talent there with former top-five pick Solomon Thomas moving inside permanently. Justin Madubuike could be an option. But corner is a more pressing need, and you only have to watch Super Bowl LIV to see that. Richard Sherman, who turns 32 later this month, is only signed through 2020, and the Niners don’t have a set No. 2 corner. Igbinoghene, a track athlete who is still raw, is my third-ranked corner, and he could also help as a return man.

32. Kansas City Chiefs

Cesar Ruiz, C/G, Michigan

The Super Bowl champs haven’t made many moves this offseason, but their positions of need are clear: cornerback and interior offensive line. Kendall Fuller signed a big deal in Washington, and Bashaud Breeland is still on the market, leaving big shoes to fill. But with Noah Igbinoghene gone to San Francisco one pick earlier, I don’t have a corner with a first-round grade on my board. So let’s give the Chiefs Ruiz, who could slide to guard to replace Stefen Wisniewski.