The NFL’s Troy Vincent brims with confidence about even the most stringent LockDown Governor standing aside to the power of the NFL.  Jeff Kerr of CBSSports.com: The NFL doesn’t plan on playing football games in empty stadiums in 2020 unless it’s forced to. Troy Vincent, the league’s Executive Vice President of Football Operations, said on “The Brian Mitchell Show” on The Team 980 in Washington D.C. that the league is planning for full stadiums when the season begins.   “We are planning to have full stadiums until the medical community tells us otherwise,” Vincent said Friday, via NBC Sports Washington. “Now remember when we’re talking — we’re talking about August, September. So there’s a lot that can happen here. So we’re planning for full stadiums.   “We also know that we have to plan for half stadiums. Three-quarters. So we’re planning for all of these different scenarios. But first and foremost, we’re making every effort, working with the medical community, if we can have those stadiums with all people until they tell us otherwise when that time comes, that’s our plan. That’s our plan of action.”   The NFL released its schedule in May, but teams have not been permitted to practice or enter the practice facilities due to the coronavirus pandemic until last week (if state and local governments allow it). Commissioner Roger Goodell stated the clubs must be “in compliance with any additional public health requirements in their jurisdiction.” The teams have conducted virtual workouts in the absence of OTAs.   The Pittsburgh Steelers took precautions toward playing in stadiums at limited capacity, announcing only 50% of individual 2020 game tickets will be sold to the public. The Miami Dolphins have also taken measures toward making game day changes that incorporate social distancing. Hard Rock Stadium could be down to 15,000 fans for the 2020 season if the pandemic continues (capacity for the stadium for 65,000).   Both these moves caused Vincent to set the record straight as fans became curious on what the league will be doing. The league is also reportedly testing new protective masks for players and officials for 2020, which Vincent said has been “discussed at length.” It sounds like the NFL will proceed full bore – and dare any LockDown Governor or Mayor to impose “scientific” limits by dicta on the games and their attendance.  Don’t meekly step aside without being ordered to, and if 50,000 are watching in Tampa and Dallas while the stadium is empty in East Rutherford and the California teams are vagabonds – so be it. The NFLPA’s head DeMaurice Smith is not quite as sure.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: The NFL’s certainty that pro football will be played this year easily would be pegged at 11 on a scale of one to 10. The NFL Players Association doesn’t share that degree of confidence.   Appearing on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel in a discussion recorded on Thursday, May 21, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and two other sports union chiefs were asked to predict the likelihood that their leagues will return to action before the end of 2020, with ten being, “I’m absolutely certain.”   Smith put the number at “six, seven.”   Smith’s answer came third, after he punted the question (laughing while doing so) to MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark.   “Yeah, I will tell you I remain optimistic,” Clark said. “I do. I know that’s not a number, but I do remain optimistic. . . . Seven would be a C, eight would be a B. Eight and a half, maybe a B+. I am in the B+ range. I was an A-, B+ student, so I’ll land there. But I’ll tell you, it’s really not that simple. You know, even today, [I] got an update as to how, you know, we don’t know everything we wanna know and how things are continuing to change. But I do remain optimistic that we’ll get back out there and play.”   Gumbel then turned to National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts.   “I’ll give you a six,” Roberts said. “It was probably an eight last week. I’ve gotten some recent concerns expressed by players now that babies, children have been infected. So heightened concerns have come into the conversation. So, I’d say a six.”   Gumbel then asked Smith for his input.   “Well, UVA law graded on a curve,” Smith said. “So I’m gonna go with a, you know, probably a six, seven. But, you know, look, a lot depends on what happens with the other sports. And to say that we aren’t looking at what’s going to be happening in basketball and baseball — and we’re not looking at how they work through these things, we would — I’d be lying to you if we’re not. So how about if I go with six, seven on a curve?”   That’s not nearly the level of optimism that fans have developed, as fueled by the NFL’s repeated claims that the season will proceed. But it’s a reminder that the NFL may still need the NFLPA to agree with the plans for the 2020 season, especially if any significant adjustments to game location, travel, or other procedures will be implemented in order to get the games in. Hockey is returning in July with playoff games apparently starting late in the month.  But it is a timid plan with no fans in the stands (at least for the first three rounds) and only two cities required to set up a semi-permeable bubble for 12 teams each. Curiously, of the 10 cities chosen for these bubbles, only Dallas is in a Free State and three are in Canada which is still forcing travelers to quarantine for two weeks (Ohio is a border state, somewhat free). Bettman said Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Edmonton, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Toronto and Vancouver are being considered. The hubs would have secure arenas, hotels and practice facilities, and there would be aggressive COVID-19 testing and protocols at each site.   The Canadian government’s mandatory 14-day quarantine could force the NHL to pick two U.S. locales.   “The interpretation of the quarantine consistent with our players’ ability to travel in and not have to do a strict self-quarantine in a hotel room, we won’t be in a position to use any of the Canadian cities as a hub city,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. “We’re faced with having to find a solution to that. Hopefully we can.” The NHL has mumbled something about the number of locker rooms in the arenas to justify spurning Tampa, Phoenix and Nashville. Here is more on the format: The top four teams in each conference ranked by points percentage — Boston, Tampa Bay, Washington and Philadelphia in the East and St. Louis, Colorado, Vegas and Dallas in the West — will play separate round-robin tournaments to determine seeding in the first round. They will be played with regular-season overtime and shootout rules.   Those teams will be accumulating points within that round-robin, and if there are any ties, they will be broken by which team has a higher regular-season points percentage. As an example: If the Bruins and Lightning both go 2-1 in the round-robin, Boston would earn the top seed based on points percentage.   The remaining 16 teams, seeded by conference, will play best-of-five play-in series. These games will be played with playoff overtime rules, and these play-in series will determine which teams advance to a traditional 16-team Stanley Cup playoff bracket.   In the East, the play-in series matchups would be No. 5 Pittsburgh vs. No. 12 Montreal; No. 6 Carolina vs. No. 11 New York Rangers; No. 7 New York Islanders vs. No. 10 Florida; and No. 8 Toronto vs. No. 9 Columbus. In the West, it would be No. 5 Edmonton vs. No. 12 Chicago; No. 6 Nashville vs. No. 11 Arizona; No. 7 Vancouver vs. No. 10 Minnesota; and No. 8 Calgary vs. No. 9 Winnipeg.   “It’s completely different than what the norm is,” Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin said. “I think we all understand how unique this year is and how crazy it’s been. We’ve just kind of got to roll with it a little bit.”   Bettman said the NHL is still discussing whether to bracket the winners of the play-in round or opt for the players’ preference, which is to reseed the teams based on who advances. The NHL is also still discussing whether the first- and second-round series of the Stanley Cup playoffs will be best-of-five or best-of-seven.   The conference final and Stanley Cup Final will be best-of-seven series, to be played in one of the two hub cities. This story from ESPN.com says the conference and Stanley Cup finals will be played in the hub cities – but we thought we saw that the league had not formally announced that. It certainly will be odd if the NHL is conducting its biggest events in barren buildings in September, far from the game’s fans while the NFL is playing to full home stadiums (at least in Free States) and MLB is letting some fans into most ballparks.  In a country which at that time could have fewer than 100 deaths per day from Wuhan Covid-19.

NFC EAST

DALLAS This actually isn’t too much of a “hot mic” moment, but Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com treats it as such: There’s a general rule of thumb that applies whenever a microphone is in the vicinity: Assume it’s on, and assume others can hear you.   Browns owner Jimmy Haslam disregarded that advice during last week’s virtual ownership meeting.   Haslam, as explained by Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, made what Schefter describes as a “joke” during the roll call. When Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn’t respond, someone from the league office wondered whether Jones had his mute button turned on.   Said Haslam, into a microphone that wasn’t muted, “They should keep Jerry on permanent mute.”   PFT has confirmed that the comment was made, and that it appeared to lack any venom or vitriol. There’s a chance Jones doesn’t feel that way, especially since he has previously declared Haslam to be a “top-five owner” in the league.   When it comes to avoiding making unfortunate comments into a hot mic, Haslam definitely isn’t in the top five.

WASHINGTON RB ADRIAN PETERSON is missing T TRENT WILLIAMS.  John Breech of CBSSports.com: It’s not often that an active NFL player will publicly admit that he didn’t like a move that his team made during the offseason, but that’s exactly what Adrian Peterson did during a recent interview. The running back has watched the Redskins make plenty of moves this offseason: From hiring a new coach (Ron Rivera) to signing multiple free agents to drafting Chase Young, Washington has been busy over the past few months. Of all the moves the Redskins made this year, the one that Peterson took issue with was the team’s decision to trade left tackle Trent Williams to the San Francisco 49ers.   So what was Peterson’s reaction to the deal?   “I didn’t really like the trade, obviously,” Peterson said, via NFL.com. “I feel like Trent is the best offensive lineman in the game. I’m able to see him firsthand and what he’s able to do.”   The Williams trade, which went down during the NFL Draft in April, officially ended a long-running feud between the left tackle and the team that had been going on for more than a year. During the 2019 offseason, Williams vowed that he would never play another snap for the Redskins, and he ended up sticking to his guns. The seven-time Pro Bowler sat out the entire 2019 season and probably would have sat out the 2020 season if the Redskins hadn’t dealt him away. In the end, Washington ended up getting two draft picks — a  2020 fifth-round pick and a 2021 third-round pick — from the 49ers in exchange for the 32-year-old tackle.

AFC EAST

BUFFALO Unlike most teams, the Bills don’t have big plans in 2020 for their top draft pick.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: The Bills made defensive end A.J. Epenesa their top draft pick this year, but they aren’t planning for him to be in a major role right off the bat as a rookie.   Bills head coach Sean McDermott was asked about the outlook for Epenesa during an appearance on former Bills center Eric Wood’s podcast and pointed to the more experienced players that the Bills have on hand at the position. Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison and Trent Murphy make up that group and McDermott suggested Epenesa will do more watching than doing as long as those players remain available.   “In a perfect world, he’ll play a backup position the first season potentially to move inside on rush situations,” McDermott said, via Syracuse.com. “That’s asking a lot at this point because, learning as you know, learning two positions just in your first season and adjusting all the while to life in the NFL is a challenge so we’ll just focus on one position for now, but the more he can do the better for us and for his future.”   The perfect world and the real world can wind up bearing little resemblance to each other, so Epenesa may be pressed into duty earlier than McDermott might like. Getting him ready for that possibility will be one of many tasks for the Bills to deal with this summer.

MIAMI The Dolphins are taking advantage of relaxed rules in the Free State of Florida to make some money on the side.  Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com: The Miami Dolphins will soon let fans drive their cars inside the stadium where football games are played every weekend in the fall.   The Dolphins announced Tuesday that they are launching an outdoor drive-in theater inside Hard Rock Stadium that will be used to show marquee games in team history, classic movies, commencement ceremonies, concerts and more. They are also hosting an open-air theater that can host small groups for an intimate viewing experience in the complex plaza.   The Dolphins have mocked renderings of the drive-in venture, which they say can host up to 230 cars. They are promoting it as a family-friendly event that people can participate in amid the coronavirus pandemic.   Food and beverages can be purchased through an online system and delivered to cars. Restrooms will be made available. Fans can put their name on an email list via the stadium website to be notified when tickets are available.   “We’ve spent several weeks planning this to be able to provide people with a safe option to go out and enjoy movies, classic Dolphins content, concerts, and celebrate 2020 graduates,” said Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium vice chairman and CEO Tom Garfinkel. “It’s a fundamental human need to physically experience and celebrate events and experiences together, and we’re trying to provide options for everyone where they can be safely socially distant and socially present at the same time.”   Hard Rock Stadium became the first public facility to earn the Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s STAR accreditation, the standard used for facilities to implement cleaning, disinfecting and infectious disease prevention work practices to control risks involved with infectious agents like the coronavirus.   Garfinkel and the Dolphins have been proactive and innovative in ways to function during the pandemic. They released mock-up plans earlier this month for what it could be like to host approximately 15,000 fans in the stadium if the NFL and the government give clearance. Just to make sure you read that right – the facility is inside the stadium on the playing field, not in the parking lot which would be innovative enough in its own right.

NEW YORK JETS QB JOE FLACCO is a Jet, but he won’t be ready for Week 1. New York Jets quarterback Joe Flacco, who agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract Friday, confirmed speculation he won’t be ready for the Sept. 13 season opener against the Buffalo Bills because of his recently repaired neck.   “I can’t speak to exactly when I’m going to be ready, but it will not be day one,” Flacco said Tuesday in an interview with SiriusXM NFL radio. “Obviously, we’ll get with the doctors and I have another checkup come August, so we’ll see where that goes.”   Flacco, 35, who underwent surgery in early April for a herniated disk, could be cleared for contact in early to mid-September, sources said last week. He said he feels “normal right now” — he’s throwing and working out — but he probably will be limited to light work in training camp.   The Jets were aware of Flacco’s timetable when they finalized the deal. They’re confident he will be healthy enough to serve as Sam Darnold’s backup for much of the season. The football calendar is up in the air because of the coronavirus pandemic.   “First and foremost, I want to help the team in any way possible and also be a guy Sam can lean on, that he can learn from,” Flacco said in his first interview since being released by the Denver Broncos after only one season. “I would say those are the two most important things: Help out the guys on the team and help out Sam to do all they can.   “For me, personally, I want to play football. I’ve had some things happen, got injured and had to have surgery. I have to find my way back into the league. I want to play for years to come. I think these guys have given me a great opportunity and hope I can make the most of my situation and make the most of whatever my role ends up being.”   The former longtime Baltimore Ravens starter and Super Bowl MVP admitted he wavered on whether to continue playing. He said he was “changing my mind every other day” earlier in the offseason.   “My mind was just all over the place, even a couple of months into the offseason,” he said. “I was just kind of going crazy about the whole thing. The fact that I finally got [the surgery] done and put all that behind me, I can move forward now and look forward to football.”   Flacco, acknowledging he knows “nothing at this point” about coach Adam Gase’s offensive system, is participating in the virtual offseason program. He said he wouldn’t hesitate to participate in a minicamp amid coronavirus concerns.   “It’s tough to talk about this and not get political, but I want to get back to work,” he said. “I think everybody wants to get back to work. It would be very easy for me and a bunch of the guys that play to sit here and say, ‘Ah, we can quarantine until this and this and this.’   “… I could quarantine forever — I’ve been lucky, I’ve been fortunate — but I want to get back to work. I think we all do, man. We need this. We need to get back to work and get things going.”

THIS AND THAT

UNLOCKING THE LOCKDOWN Although the LockDown Governor of New Jersey will shut off your power and try to confiscate your gym if you defy his dicta as a private gym owner, he has been beneficent towards the state’s professional sports teams.  Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com: New Jersey lifted restrictions Tuesday on professional sports in the state, setting the stage for the New York Giants and Jets to host training camps at their facilities this summer.   The New Jersey Devils, New York Red Bulls and Sky Blue FC also reside in the state. They can immediately begin training and even have games, according to Gov. Phil Murphy.   The Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia 76ers also train in the state.   Murphy later added: “Where professional teams are concerned, with the facilities and resources they have to meet the demands of public health, we felt we could take that step forward.”   New Jersey has been among the hardest hit areas by the coronavirus pandemic. There were 155,764 cases and 11,191 deaths as of Tuesday morning, according to the governor.   The Giants and Jets are currently conducting their offseason virtually, as dictated by league rules. Any update on whether they are able to salvage any minicamps this spring or the guidelines for training camp this summer will be dependent on the league.   Murphy recently hinted that there would be professional football at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford this year, although it would likely be without fans. The area’s professional sports teams have been in constant contact about the protocols in place to protect the health and safety of the players, coaches and team personnel.   “Governor Murphy and his administration continue to guide New Jerseyans through this very difficult time. We have been in close contact with Governor Murphy’s staff to comply with the state’s protocols throughout. With today’s announcement by the governor, we are finalizing our plans to reopen the Quest Diagnostics Training Center,” the Giants said in a statement. “We will continue to have as many employees as possible working remotely. For employees who need to return to work at our facility, we expect to begin that process next week, and we will do so in a systematic and safe way that adheres to the state’s guidelines and NFL protocols.”   NFL teams in areas where it was permitted were allowed to reopen facilities last Tuesday. Only players undergoing rehab or therapy could return to the facility during the first phase of reopening. Coaches were not allowed, either. There was a limit — 50% of the organization’s staff and no more than 75 people — on those returning to the building.   The Jets plan to use a phased approach.   “We are working closely with Governor Murphy’s office, the league and our medical staff to establish prudent, health and safety measures for our staff and players,” the team said in a statement. “Based on those guidelines, we will begin to open our facility using a phased approach at a time that is the most practical for our operations.” – – – Should the LockDown Governor of North Carolina relent on his bans, Panthers fans still should be ready to be commanded to wear a mask to signal their state’s virtue. @NC_Governor A face covering signifies strength and compassion for others. Wearing one shows that you actually care about other people’s health.

VOTE YES ON “4th and 15” The “4th and 15” alternative to the onside kick was driven by safety concerns, but it is, to the DB anyway, so much a better alternative to the random chaos of the onside kick that we would vote for it irregardless or regardless. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com on a slight tweak to the rule.   The “fourth-and-15” alternative to the onside kick has been tweaked in advance of tomorrow’s vote by NFL owners.   The biggest change to the rules proposal is that it will now be an untimed down. The initial proposal put forward was for the clock to start on the snap and run as it would on a normal play. But as we’ve previously noted, that would give a team that takes a lead with a few seconds remaining an easy way to run the last few seconds off the clock: Have the quarterback scramble around and then throw the ball deep, like Patrick Mahomes did on the last play of the Super Bowl. As an untimed down, that’s no longer an option.   Changing the play to an untimed down makes it more exciting regardless of who’s winning: It both prevents leading teams from using it to run the rest of the time off the clock, and also gives trailing teams more time to mount a comeback. Under the current rules, a team that scores a touchdown to make it a one-possession game with 0:01 remaining on the clock has no chance, because an onside kick would use that last second. With the untimed onside kick alternative, that team would have a chance.   Other tweaks to the rules proposal include a clarification that the fourth-and-15 play can be used in regulation only, not in overtime. And a team that initially declares its intention to use the onside kick alternative can change its mind and kick off, but only if it calls timeout first.   Owners will vote on the onside kick alternative and other rules changes in a virtual meeting on Thursday. Does anyone know if a conventional onside kick is still an option as a surprise?

2021 DRAFT We have a full look at the 2021 QB Class below, but here are some thoughts from Daniel Jeremiah about the next Carson Wentz: Daniel Jeremiah @MoveTheSticks Finished 3 games of NDST QB Trey Lance. He’s outstanding. Crisp/clean footwork. He can make every throw & his decision-making is top shelf. He picks his spots to take shots but he will also show patience & take what’s given underneath. He can extend plays & he’s tough! – – – Clip and save this look at the 2021 Class of QBs and where they might land from David M. Hale and Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com: There was a time, not so long ago, when the flood of quarterback talent from college football to the NFL seemed to have dried up to little more than a trickle. There were some lean years for the position in the NFL draft. From 2010 to 2016, 19 quarterbacks were taken in the first round, but only three project to be starters in 2020 — and eight were out of the league last year.   But the tide, thankfully, has turned, and the 2020 class of Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert and Jordan Love will soon be joined by another pretty stellar group of passers in 2021. So with a college season and a full year of NFL draft prep still remaining, let’s take a look at this next group of impressive QBs ready to make the pro jump.   College football reporter David Hale examines the potential 2021 quarterback draft class, and national NFL reporter Kevin Seifert runs through the teams that could be in the QB market sooner rather than later. Stats to know are provided by ESPN Stats & Information.   MEET THE QUARTERBACKS FOR 2021   Trevor Lawrence, Clemson Stat to know: Lawrence’s 66 career passing TDs is the most by a player through his sophomore season in ACC history.   There’s a short list of truly can’t-miss QB prospects over the years, and Lawrence stacks up nicely with the John Elways and Andrew Lucks of the world. His combination of size (6-foot-6), athleticism, accuracy and intelligence makes him a near lock for success at the next level, and he has continued to refine his skill set despite immense early success.   Worried about the transition from college to the pros? He led Clemson to a national championship as a true freshman in 2018 and has a 25-1 record as its starting quarterback.   Justin Fields, Ohio State Stat to know: Fields’ 92.1 Total QBR in 2019 ranked third in the FBS behind Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa — both top-five picks in 2020.   Here’s the list of QBs who’ve had at least 40 touchdown passes and three or fewer interceptions in a season: Justin Fields. That’s it. After a rocky start to his career at Georgia, Fields — the No. 1 recruit in the 2018 class, according to ESPN — blossomed at Ohio State, leading the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff and demolishing Big Ten defenses in the process.   At 6-3 and 223 pounds, Fields has the wheels to run when necessary, but he has shown a propensity for managing the pocket, too, and his downfield accuracy is as good as that of anyone in the country. He accounted for more than 3,700 yards and 51 touchdowns in his first season as a starter in 2019.   Sam Ehlinger, Texas Stat to know: Ehlinger’s 32 passing touchdowns in 2019 was the second most in a season in Texas history. Colt McCoy threw 34 in 2008.   It seems like a long time ago now, but back in Week 2 of 2019, Ehlinger went toe-to-toe with Burrow and LSU, completing 31 of 47 passes for 401 yards, four TDs and no interceptions (and rushing for another 60 yards and a score). At that moment, he might’ve seemed every bit the better NFL prospect than his counterpart.   The rest of Ehlinger’s season was solid, but while Burrow and LSU devoured all comers, the road was a bit rockier for the Texas QB, who passed on the draft for a chance to finally climb the mountain and win the Big 12 in 2020. He has the size (6-3), accuracy and mobility to be a top pick in the 2021 draft, but getting Texas over the hump would be the icing on the cake. Ehlinger has accounted for 8,100 yards and 80 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Only Burrow has more among Power 5 QBs.   Jamie Newman, Georgia (graduate transfer from Wake Forest) Stat to know: Newman completed 25 passes of at least 25 air yards in 2019, the fifth most in the FBS.   Newman’s size (6-4, 230 pounds) and athleticism have drawn Cam Newton comparisons, but there are still some major question marks about whether he can produce at a consistently elite level. For one, he ran more of an option offense at Wake Forest last season, and he’ll test his skills in a predominantly pro-style attack after transferring to Georgia this year. But he was one of just seven Power 5 QBs with at least 2,800 passing yards and 500 rushing yards in 2019.   Newman also hasn’t yet gotten to play alongside the type of talent Georgia has, so he could benefit from a stronger supporting cast. One caveat: When he had star receiver Sage Surratt on the field with him the past two seasons, he completed 64% of his throws with 29 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 74.7 QBR. Without Surratt on the field, those numbers plummeted to 54% completed, six touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 40.5 QBR.   Brock Purdy, Iowa State Stat to know: Purdy’s 8.38 yards per attempt were second best among Big 12 QBs in 2019, trailing only Jalen Hurts.   A moderate recruit out of high school, Purdy has excelled from the jump at Iowa State, starting in 2018 as a true freshman before a stellar sophomore campaign in 2019. His mix of accuracy and athleticism has made him one of the most dangerous weapons in the offensive-minded Big 12. He posted two six-TD games last season, one of which came against playoff-bound Oklahoma.   His size (6-1) isn’t ideal, and to suggest Iowa State lacks a rich history of producing top NFL talent would be an understatement. The Cyclones’ last first-rounder came in 1973. But Purdy was one of just two quarterbacks with at least 3,900 passing yards, 35 touchdowns and fewer than 10 picks in 2019. The other was Burrow.   Kellen Mond, Texas A&M Stat to know: Mond was the only SEC player with 2,500 passing yards and 500 rushing yards in 2019.   Mond has good size (6-3, 217 pounds), plenty of athleticism (eight TDs on the ground last year), three years of starting experience and a QB guru for a coach in Jimbo Fisher. That’s a lot to like.   But Mond has also been pummeled by having a woeful offensive line; he was sacked more than all but one other Power 5 QB over the past three seasons (83 times) and blitzed as often as anyone. Another big concern is his numbers against quality opponents. Against winning teams last season, he averaged just 5.8 yards per attempt with a 112.1 passer rating.   K.J. Costello, Mississippi State (graduate transfer from Stanford) Stat to know: Costello, who played his first three years at Stanford, appeared in just five games as a junior in 2019, but in 2018, his 82.6 QBR was the sixth best in the FBS and his 35 completions of at least 20 air yards ranked fourth.   This time a year ago, Costello looked like a safe bet to be a future first-rounder. Then injuries and a bad Stanford offensive line took their toll. As a sophomore in 2018, Costello threw for more than 3,500 yards and 29 touchdowns, but injuries cost him six of the last eight games of 2019, and his performance was shaky at best.   Getting zero help from the ground game hasn’t made life easier, but a rebound season in which the 6-5 prospect can stay on the field would go a long way toward rejuvenating the reputation of a guy who was a prized recruit coming out of high school. And he’ll look to do it at a new school after transferring to Mississippi State.   Trey Lance, North Dakota State Stat to know: Lance threw 28 touchdown passes and zero interceptions in 2019, his first season as a starter.   If there’s a hot under-the-radar name among 2021 QBs, it’s definitely Lance, who set the FCS on fire last season. He completed 69% of his throws and racked up 42 total touchdowns en route to a national championship.   At 6-foot-3 and 221 pounds, Lance has physicality and good mobility, and plenty of NFL folks have already taken notice. The question is how his skill set translates to a higher level of competition. He has never thrown a pass against an FBS foe, and his playoff numbers — 60% completion rate with five passing TDs over four games — didn’t exactly match his regular-season production. Lance, who will be a third-year sophomore, is a wild card, but the upside is tremendous.   Other QBs to watch J.T. Daniels (formerly of USC) is in the transfer portal and looking for a home, but if he is eligible to play in 2020 and turns in a good season, he has the raw talent to be a top prospect. He was the No. 3 QB in the 2018 recruiting cycle behind Lawrence and Fields.   Since 2010, only two Power 5 QBs have completed 63% of their throws, accounted for 20 touchdowns and had fewer than eight turnovers while being sacked at least 35 times. One is Baker Mayfield. The other is Syracuse’s Tommy DeVito. DeVito’s 2019 season was marred by brutal O-line play, but he was a four-star recruit, and the success of another Dino Babers protégé, the 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo, could make him an intriguing option if he has a nice rebound in 2020.   This year’s top pick, Joe Burrow, certainly wasn’t on everyone’s radar this time last year, so why not take a long look at his likely replacement at LSU? Myles Brennan is 6-4 with a strong arm, and he spent the past two seasons learning under Burrow and former LSU passing game coordinator Joe Brady.   Whether Miami’s D’Eriq King is a genuine QB prospect or simply an exceptional athlete who plays QB is still up for debate. He was a superstar at Houston in 2018 — he joined Kyler Murray as the only FBS players that season to have at least 35 passing TDs and 500 rushing yards — before sitting out the bulk of 2019 then transferring to Miami. A big year in the ACC could go a long way toward convincing scouts of his NFL potential.   Notre Dame’s Ian Book has above-average athleticism and good accuracy, particularly in short and intermediate throws, but his downfield work and height (6-foot) don’t project as well to the next level.   WHICH TEAMS MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR A QB NEXT SPRING?   Indianapolis Colts Expected 2020 starter: Philip Rivers, 38 Contract status: Signed through 2020 season   If the Colts thought Jacoby Brissett was a long-term answer, they wouldn’t have signed Rivers — even if it’s only for one season. And unless fourth-round pick Jacob Eason somehow demonstrates enormous capacity in what could be a shortened training camp and regular season, the Colts will have an obvious opening in 2021.   New Orleans Saints Expected 2020 starter: Drew Brees, 41 Contract status: Signed through 2023 season, but 2022 and ’23 are voidable   Brees has been playing year-to-year for a while, but his agreement to join NBC Sports after retirement brings extra focus to his status. The Saints haven’t fully guaranteed him any cash beyond the 2020 season. They did sign Taysom Hill to a two-year contract extension that guaranteed him $16 million over the next two years, the kind of money a team would signal a possible transition starter, and signed free agent Jameis Winston to a one-year deal. Regardless, the Saints are operating in a way that suggests they believe they will need a new starter in 2021.   Pittsburgh Steelers Expected 2020 starter: Ben Roethlisberger, 38 Contract status: Signed through 2021 season   The Steelers are counting on Roethlisberger’s full recovery from elbow surgery, but he doesn’t have any full financial guarantees for the 2021 season. And there is no reason to project Mason Rudolph or Devlin Hodges as a long-term answer based on the pair’s 2019 performances as injury replacements.   New England Patriots Expected 2020 starter: Jarrett Stidham, 24, or Brian Hoyer, 34 Contract status: Stidham signed through 2022 season, Hoyer through 2020 season   To this point, Patriots coach Bill Belichick has done everything to suggest he plans to give Stidham the first crack at replacing Tom Brady. Hoyer is a trusted hand and backstop. Free agents Cam Newton and Andy Dalton could enter the conversation at some point. But if Stidham falls short, and the Patriots struggle in 2020, they could be in position to draft a higher-profile replacement.   Tampa Bay Buccaneers Expected 2020 starter: Tom Brady, 43 Contract status: Signed through 2021 season   Brady’s fully guaranteed $50 million contract means he will be the Buccaneers’ starter for the next two seasons, barring injury or retirement. But it would be irresponsible for Tampa Bay not to plan for life after Brady, who will be 44 at the end of 2021. His backups at the moment are Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Griffin.   Chicago Bears Expected 2020 starter: Mitchell Trubisky, 26, or Nick Foles, 31 Contract status: Trubisky signed through 2020 season, Foles through 2022 season   Many around the league expect the Bears to decline Trubisky’s fifth-year option, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Such a move would indicate the Bears have all but moved past Trubisky as a future starter. The Bears would face a significant cap hit for moving on from Foles before the 2021 season, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be shopping in the draft (again) for the next Sid Luckman.   Jacksonville Jaguars Expected 2020 starter: Gardner Minshew II, 24 Contract status: Signed through 2022 season   Minshew was a revelation as a rookie, but there is a big difference between delivering a bright spot during a lost season and establishing long-term bona fides. The Jaguars will no doubt be tempted to capitalize on the financial advantages of his rookie contract. But if they’re near the top of the 2021 draft, they might also be tempted to pursue another quarterback altogether.   Dallas Cowboys Expected 2020 starter: Dak Prescott, 27 Contract status: On franchise tag for 2020 season   Even if the Cowboys don’t get Prescott signed to a new deal, they can squat on his rights for at least one more season with a second franchise tag. But the cash and cap value of that tag in 2021 would be about $37.7 million, and more importantly, it wouldn’t put the Cowboys any closer to getting him signed for 2022 and beyond. No one thinks the Cowboys want to part ways with Prescott, but it takes two parties to make a deal. For that reason, the situation bears watching in 2021.   Las Vegas Raiders Expected 2020 starter: Derek Carr, 29 Contract status: Signed through 2022 season   The clues are in plain sight. In two seasons under coach Jon Gruden, Carr ranks No. 21 in Total QBR. The Raiders have lost 21 of their 32 games over that stretch, and free agent Marcus Mariota is the kind of high-end backup teams sign when they aren’t certain about their starter. Finally, Carr has no more guaranteed money remaining in his contract. That makes 2020 a potentially make-or-break year for Carr with the franchise.   Atlanta Falcons Expected 2020 starter: Matt Ryan, 35 Contract status: Signed through 2023 season   Ryan is exceptionally durable, having missed three starts in his 12 seasons. For good reason, few people think of him as nearing the end of his career — or even his time in Atlanta. But when the 2020 season begins, he’ll be only one year younger than Aaron Rodgers was when the Packers decided to draft Jordan Love. If it isn’t in 2021, it’ll be soon after that when the Falcons start thinking about the future. If the Falcons and MATT RYAN are on this list, shouldn’t the Lions and MATTHEW STAFFORD be their also?  We thinks DREW LOCK in Denver will be okay, but like Minshew and Stidham, do we really know?  And how about Washington and DWAYNE HASKINS, would they pass on Lawrence if they go 3-13?