THE DAILY BRIEFING
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A google search of “Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Events” has resulted in the potential dates for all three London international games in 2023.
Considering both Buffalo and Tennessee will host games in this stadium, we can assume the first Titans game on October 15th is correct and their second game on October 29th belongs to the Jaguars.
This hypothetical schedule would be:
Bills vs TBA – October 8th (Week 5)
Titans vs TBA – October 15th (Week 6)
Jaguars vs TBA – October 29th (Week 8)
With the Patriots game in Germany being either Week 9 or 10, and the Chiefs following directly after in Week 10 or 11. |
| NFC NORTH |
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DETROIT
The Lions and QB JARED GOFF are talking about an extension. Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit:
The Detroit Lions have entered the extremely early stages of discussing a contract extension for quarterback Jared Goff. Lions general manager Brad Holmes told local radio station 97.1 The Ticket on Tuesday morning, that he’s talked with both Goff and his agent.
“We’ve had dialogue there, and we’ve had dialogue with his agent,” Holmes said. “And we’re in a good place right now.”
UPDATE NOTE: There was a faulty phone connection here with the radio station that, per a team resource, caused connection to drop for a second, missing a key word from this Holmes. Here is the full quote from Holmes, emphasis added:
“We’ve had internal dialogue there, and we’ve had dialogue with his agent. And we’re in a good place right now.”
Admittedly, it’s a vague statement from Goff, but it does represent a progression in the team’s relationship with Goff. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Lions quarterback said no conversations had been had yet.
”I mean of course you’d be open,” Goff said. “It hasn’t been brought to my attention, but yeah, of course, open to anything. Not up to me. I’m a player, I don’t have to make those decisions. And if I did, I would have made that decision a long time ago. Give me and all my friends all the money in the world. But I just get to play, and if that comes about, that’d be great. But we’ll see.”
Goff’s current contract has him signed through the 2024 season, so there is no urgency to necessarily get a deal done this offseason. He is currently costing the Lions $31 million against the cap this year and will cost Detroit $32 million next year. But given Goff’s strong year in 2022 and the recent extension of players like Daniel Jones (four years, $160 million), and Jalen Hurts (five years, $255), he has a good argument for a significant raise.
Detroit also drafted quarterback Hendon Hooker in the third round of last week’s draft. Holmes didn’t really get into how it impacted Goff’s future. For now, their focus is on getting Hooker healthy from the torn ACL he suffered back in December. |
| NFC SOUTH |
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ATLANTA
RB BIJAN ROBINSON will wear #7. Frank Schwab of YahooSports.com:
Mike Vick doesn’t have his number retired with the Atlanta Falcons, but his No. 7 is still iconic in the franchise.
You’ll still see plenty of No. 7 jerseys around Atlanta, and there will be plenty more to come. Running back Bijan Robinson, the eighth overall pick of the NFL draft last week, is an exciting rookie and he’s going to sell a lot of merchandise. His jersey choice was notable.
Kicker Younghoe Koo had been wearing the No. 7 jersey. He’ll make a switch for the new star rookie back.
Robinson wore No. 5 with the Texas Longhorns. That number was taken by last year’s top 10 pick, receiver Drake London. Robinson had to find a new number, and he picked one that is quite familiar in Atlanta.
Vick has a complicated NFL legacy, but his stardom endures. Robinson, the favorite to win NFL offensive rookie of the year, has a chance to become a very popular player in Atlanta. Plenty of Falcons fans might soon have a pair of No. 7 jerseys in their closets to choose from.
So London has #5, Robinson has #7 and TE KYLE PITTS wears #8.
At the moment, 9 of the 10 single digit numbers are assigned – and none go a specialist:
0 Lorenzo Carter OLB 6-5 252 27 6 Georgia
1 Jeff Okudah CB 6-1 202 24 4 Ohio State
3 Mykal Walker ILB 6-3 230 25 4 Fresno State
4 Taylor Heinicke QB 6-1 210 30 6 Old Dominion
5 Drake London WR 6-4 213 21 2 USC
6 Logan Woodside QB 6-2 201 28 4 Toledo
7 Bijan Robinson RB 5-11 215 21 R Texas
8 Kyle Pitts TE 6-6 246 22 3 Florida
9 Desmond Ridder QB 6-3 207 23 2 Cincinnati |
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CAROLINA
GM Scott Fetterer pinpoints the moment that QB BRYCE YOUNG became “The Guy.” Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:
The easy move for the Panthers was to go to No. 1 in the draft. The harder move was picking a quarterback from among the various options.
In a Tuesday interview with #PFTPM, Carolina G.M. Scott Fitterer addressed the manner in which the team decided to make Bryce Young the No. 1 overall pick.
“We went through a really continuous process, and we tried to poke holes,” Fitterer said. “We looked at him from every different angle. We went to our analytics guys, we went to player engagement, went to, like, the psychologist. You look for anything that you might miss just on tape and on evaluation. We have all these fact checks in place.
“Once that person’s able to stand in there and stay at the top of the board the whole time, you know you have your guy. But it was a real process. We really didn’t decide until the Monday prior to the draft. When I went and walked into Frank’s office said, ‘OK, who we taking?’ You know, just kind of a quick question. He said, ‘Bryce.’ I talked to Mr. Tepper about it. I think we were all on board. It was a consensus throughout the organization Bryce was the right guy for us.”
Fitterer was asked whether there was a moment that, for him, Young emerged as the right choice.
“The one thing that stands out is probably at dinner, the night before his Pro Day,” Fitterer said. “We’re sitting in a restaurant, and we’re talking to him. And this is the first time, you know, you’ve interviewed him at the Combine in an 18-minute interview. We’ve talked to him at other places, but this is the time you see him in a social setting, where we’re sitting around a table, and we’re really just getting to know the guy, and he’s holding court. We had a couple-hour dinner with him, and as you’re sitting there at dinner, you’re just looking at this guy, and I’m thinking in my head the whole time, ‘OK, is this the right guy for us? Is this the guy we want kind of being our face? Is he the one we want leading our team in the huddle when it’s the fourth quarter?’ And you have all these questions in your head as you’re sitting at dinner just watching him talk to other people. And that’s kind of the moment that I had personally where I thought, ‘OK, this is the guy. This is the guy that we want leading the team.’”
So how does the manner in which Young handles himself at dinner create confidence that he’s the right guy to lead the team on the field?
“You feel the presence of the player, just like the command that they have,” Fitterer said. “As he’s sitting there at dinner, he was so poised and you’re like, ‘OK, if I put this guy in a huddle,’ if Frank and I saying, ‘This is the guy, we’re putting him in the huddle, game’s on the line.’ Bryce is the guy we want our players looking at, knowing this is the guy that can get it done for us. We can win with this guy. And I think that’s kind of where that social part overlaps in the football side when you get to know the person and not just the player.”
Obviously, the social side means nothing if the physical tools aren’t there. For the Panthers, both sides came together and made Young the right pick. |
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TAMPA BAY
The Buccaneers have put the brakes on declaring T TRISTAN WIRFS as their left tackle. Charean Williams of ESPN.com:
Chances are Tristan Wirfs moves from right tackle to left tackle.
A recent report indicated Wirfs’ move is a done deal since the Buccaneers didn’t draft a left tackle. It makes sense given Luke Goedeke, a second-round pick in 2022, can play right tackle.
But General Manager Jason Licht on Tuesday tapped the brakes on naming Wirfs the starter at left tackle just yet.
“We certainly feel very comfortable with a person like Tristan, with his skillset and his athleticism and size and intelligence and all that, that [his transition to left tackle] is going to be pretty seamless, but that hasn’t completely been etched in stone yet,” Licht said on WDAE radio, via joebucsfan.com. “Now, we’re still going to remain fluid here in the offseason. We’re going to see how it goes, and we just want to make sure that we’re putting the best five out there. Now, he’s certainly going to be one of the best five, but what combination? So, we feel good about Luke; we feel that he can do that at right tackle. But, you know, we still have time just to make sure that we’re putting them in the right spots.”
Wirfs has made two Pro Bowls at right tackle and started 46 of a possible 50 games in his three seasons since the team made him the 13th overall selection. It guarantees him $18.244 million for 2024, though the Bucs surely will seek to sign him to a long-term deal.
The Buccaneers exercised the fifth-year option on his contract. |
| AFC WEST |
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KANSAS CITY
We have seen and heard enough about Jackson Mahomes, the brother of Chiefs QB PATRICK MAHOMES, to know that he’s a jerk. He is now an alleged, by authorities in Johnson County, Kansas, to be guilty of sexual assault. The AP:
Jackson Mahomes, the younger brother of Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, was arrested Wednesday and is facing charges of aggravated sexual battery.
Mahomes, 22, was booked into Johnson County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond at 7:42 a.m. local time Wednesday, according to online records. He is scheduled to be arraigned Friday.
Police in Overland Park, Kansas, confirmed to KCTV5 in Kansas City that the arrest stemmed from a woman’s accusation that Mahomes assaulted her in February.
Surveillance video published Wednesday by TMZ appears to show Mahomes kissing a woman while his hands are grasping her neck. The 40-year-old woman, who is the owner of Aspens Restaurant and Bar Lounge in Overland Park, also accused Mahomes of shoving a member of the restaurant’s wait staff in a separate incident.
Mahomes’ attorney, Brandon Davies, denied the woman’s accusations in a statement to KCTV5 in March.
“We have provided law enforcement with the tools and evidence they need to evaluate the claims against Jackson,” Davies said in the statement. “Every interaction between people needs to be placed in the proper context. Releasing a short clip of any video does not provide proper context. We have faith in the process and look forward to a swift resolution of the matter.”
Jackson Mahomes has a large social-media following and frequently attends Chiefs games. He celebrated the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory earlier this year with his brother at the championship parade in Kansas City. |
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LAS VEGAS
Former Raiders WR HENRY RUGGS III is going to plead guilty in his fatal accident. It sound like he has agreed to be sentenced to at least 3 years in prison. Elizabeth Merrill and Anthony Olivieri of ESPN.com:
Former Las Vegas Raiders receiver Henry Ruggs III unconditionally waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday and will plead guilty to one count of DUI resulting in death and one count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in a 2021 case in which he’s accused of killing a woman in a car crash.
According to a plea agreement presented Tuesday in Las Vegas justice court, Ruggs will serve three to 10 years in Nevada state prison. The case now moves to the 8th Judicial District Court for a hearing on May 10, when he is expected to formally plead guilty.
Ruggs attended the hearing Tuesday and, when asked whether he understood the proceedings, replied, “Yes, your honor.”
The charges dropped as part of the plea deal were one count of DUI causing substantial harm regarding his passenger and two counts of reckless driving.
“This is the first step toward a fair resolution to this matter and we look forward to closure for all the parties involved,” David Z. Chesnoff and Richard A. Schonfeld, attorneys for Ruggs, said in a statement released after Tuesday’s proceedings.
Eric Bauman, chief deputy district attorney, declined to comment until next week’s plea hearing.
Police say Ruggs, who is 24, was drunk and reached speeds of 156 mph in Las Vegas’ valley west of The Strip in the early-morning hours of Nov. 2, 2021, when his Corvette Stingray hit Tina Tintor’s Toyota RAV4, propelling it 571 feet and setting it on fire. Tintor, 23, and her dog, Max, burned to death, a coroner ruled in December 2021.
As we’ve also seen in the case of RB ALVIN KAMARA, justice works slowly in Nevada. Eighteen months after the incident, Ruggs has a “preliminary” hearing. |
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LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
GM Tom Telesco says we shouldn’t expect QB JUSTIN HERBERT’s deal to mimic the recent contracts of QBs JALEN HURTS and LAMAR JACKSON. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:
In a pre-draft press conference, Chargers General Manager Tom Telesco said that there were no updates when it came to a contract extension for quarterback Justin Herbert and Herbert said a few days later that there is no timeline in place to get something done.
During the period between those comments, Lamar Jackson agreed to a five-year extension with the Ravens that many have pointed to as a blueprint that the Chargers and Herbert can use to map out their own path to a deal. There was a similar reaction to news of Jalen Hurts‘ extension with the Eagles, but Telesco said on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Tuesday that the team does not see any pact as a guide to their own agreement.
“Any time there is a contract signed at that position, yeah, it’s going to come up in conversation,” Telesco said. “I wouldn’t say there is any quarterback contract out there that is a blueprint. I wouldn’t say that at all. But, like anything else, there’ll be contracts that’ll be talked about. We’ll cherry-pick some things out of that contract we like. The agent will cherry-pick some things out of that contract that he likes. In the end, we’ll get to a compromise at some point, something that works for everybody. That’s what we’ll do here. I don’t really have a timeframe for it, to be honest with you, but we’ll get there.”
No contract may provide an exact blueprint, but multiple deals for other quarterbacks create a framework for the kinds of conversations that the Chargers and Herbert will have about guarantees, cash flow and other details of a deal they hope will keep them in business together for many years to come. |
| AFC EAST |
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NEW YORK JETS
As expected, no 5th-year option for T MEKHI BECTON. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com:
The New York Jets declined the fifth-year option for offensive tackle Mekhi Becton — a long-anticipated move that makes the 2020 first-round pick a free agent after the 2023 season.
The Jets had until Tuesday to make the decision. The option would’ve guaranteed Becton a salary of $13.5 million in 2024, but his injury history made it prohibitive.
Becton, picked 11th overall out of Louisville, has played only one game since 2020. He injured his right knee in the 2021 opener, requiring season-ending surgery. He hurt the same knee early in training camp last summer, resulting in another surgery that ended his season.
He also has battled a weight issue. Drafted at 363 pounds, the 6-foot-7 Becton reached about 400 pounds during his inactivity.
Becton changed his approach this offseason, moving to New Jersey full time and hiring a different trainer. His weight is down to 342, a source said. He continues to rehab his knee, hoping to return for the start of training camp.
Cimini with this related move:
After failing to address their offensive tackle need until Day 3 of the NFL draft, the New York Jets bolstered the position Monday by signing veteran free agent Billy Turner, the team announced.
Turner, 31, who started seven games last season for the Denver Broncos, will be reunited with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Before playing for Hackett in Denver, Turner was a full-time starter for the Green Bay Packers, where he blocked for Rodgers from 2019 to 2021. Hackett was a member of that coaching staff as the offensive coordinator.
Turner will sign a one-year contract that could be worth up to $3.1 million, according to a report by the NFL Network.
The Jets are trying to load up at the tackle position to create competition. Many thought they would draft a tackle in the first round, but they didn’t pick one until the fourth round — Pitt’s Carter Warren. The holdovers at tackle are Duane Brown, 37, oft-injured Mekhi Becton and Max Mitchell.
– – –
The Jets are also giving QB AARON RODGERS a familiar target. Cimini:
Continuing to surround Aaron Rodgers with familiar faces, the New York Jets are expected to sign former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb to a one-year contract, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday.
It was Cobb who walked off the field with Rodgers after the Packers’ season-ending loss to the Detroit Lions — the longtime teammates seemingly soaking up a nostalgic moment in what would be their final game at Lambeau Field after playing together for 10 seasons.
Cobb becomes the fourth ex-Packer to sign with the Jets, joining wide receiver Allen Lazard, quarterback Tim Boyle and tackle Billy Turner. Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett also is part of the big reunion, as he served as the Packers’ offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2021.
The addition of Cobb comes as no surprise, considering his close relationship with Rodgers. Cobb was on the star quarterback’s so-called wish list — players he recommended to the Jets during their March meeting at his home in Malibu, California.
Lazard, free agent tight end Marcedes Lewis and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who signed with the Baltimore Ravens, also were on Rodgers’ list.
Rodgers, who officially was traded to the Jets last week, said during a January appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he wants “the Randall Cobbs of the world — if he wants to keep playing — in my locker room. Guys you can win it with.”
Cobb joins a talented Jets receiving corps that includes Lazard, Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson, Corey Davis, Mecole Hardman Jr. and Denzel Mims.
Primarily a slot receiver, Cobb will join Hardman in that position. The Jets’ primary slot receiver last season, Elijah Moore, was traded to the Cleveland Browns in March. |
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THIS AND THAT |
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AFTER THE DRAFT: VETERANS WHO “WON” or “LOST”
Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com on the veterans whose status rose or fell following draft action elsewhere:
What we don’t discuss much during draft weekend is the impact those new additions will have on players currently on NFL rosters. Outside of a quarterback getting new playmakers, we typically don’t have many conversations about what an exciting rookie means for a team’s veteran players. Some will have it easier because they have more help. Others will retain their opportunity because their team didn’t draft a replacement. Some who were on the precipice of being released or traded will move on because their team found a new solution.
Let’s take a step back from the draft and look at the veteran players whose situations were affected by draft decisions. Some are further entrenched than they were before; others might feel like they’re standing on shakier ground.
I’ll run through the veterans who might be considered winners and losers from the draft, starting with a quarterback who had a very exciting weekend:
Winner: Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens
Jackson finally came to terms on the extension he and the Ravens had been battling over for the last two years. We’re still waiting for the exact specifics of his five-year, $260 million deal, but it reportedly has $185 million in some form of guarantees and will surely have more than $100 million fully guaranteed at the time of signing. He is going to take home life-altering money, and after negotiating his own deal, he won’t even need to give 3% to an agent.
On top of that, the Ravens further signaled their commitment to a more balanced offense by using the No. 22 overall pick on wideout Zay Flowers. In Jackson’s final game before getting injured in 2022, his top three wide receivers in terms of snaps were Demarcus Robinson, Devin Duvernay and DeSean Jackson. Now, if everyone stays healthy, his Week 1 wideouts will include three former first-round picks: Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Odell Beckham Jr.
The Ravens have also replaced run-first offensive coordinator Greg Roman with former Georgia playcaller Todd Monken, making him one of the few Georgia products to join the NFL this offseason without becoming a member of the Eagles. The pressure will be on Jackson to deliver as a passer, but with the contract complete, there won’t be the same off-field stressors for the league’s highest-paid player.
Loser: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Jets
After finally completing his long-rumored move to the Jets, Rodgers has been the toast of the town in New York City, stopping by Madison Square Garden for playoff wins by the Knicks and Rangers. Jets fans rightfully believe they have a superstar at quarterback for the first time since their last move for a longtime Packers signal-caller, when Gang Green traded for Brett Favre before the 2008 season. The Jets and Rodgers should both feel like winners.
In terms of what happened during the draft, though, I don’t think Jets general manager Joe Douglas got what he wanted for his new quarterback. In addition to trading a second-rounder and what will likely be a first-round pick in 2024 for Rodgers, the Packers were able to convince Douglas to swap first-round picks, causing the Jets to move down two spots to No. 15 overall. The Steelers then used that swap to jump ahead of the Jets, making a deal with the rival Patriots to move up for left tackle Broderick Jones at No. 14 overall, who was popularly mocked to the Jets throughout the last month.
Douglas used his first-round pick on edge rusher Will McDonald IV. The Jets used their second-rounder on center Joe Tippmann and their fourth-round selection on tackle Carter Warren, but Douglas wasn’t able to add the high-end tackle solution he had hoped.
Right now, the lead tackles for the Jets are 37-year-old Duane Brown and 2020 first-round pick Mekhi Becton, who has played one game over the past two seasons because of injuries. The Jets declined Becton’s fifth-year option for 2024, and missing out on a tackle made things even more difficult.
Douglas responded after the draft by dipping back into the ex-Packers well and signing offensive tackle Billy Turner to a one-year deal for just over $3 million. Turner is a versatile veteran, but he was a cap casualty for the Packers a year ago and missed time with a knee injury last season. The interior of the line should be sound, but there are major questions about whether the tackles will be able to hold up in New York this season.
Winner: Geno Smith, QB, Seahawks
Moving to a former Jets quarterback, Smith had about as smooth of a draft weekend as possible. There was plenty of speculation the Seahawks might consider drafting a long-term replacement for him at No. 5 overall, but after three quarterbacks came off the board in the first four picks, general manager John Schneider & Co. opted to use the pick on cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Doing so increases the chances Smith will be the team’s starting quarterback in 2024.
On top of that, the Seahawks landed a new receiver for him in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who somewhat surprisingly fell to Seattle at No. 20. Smith-Njigba instantly becomes the NFL’s most exciting third wideout and offers some security if receivers Tyler Lockett or DK Metcalf miss time with injuries. For a guy whose top receiver with the Jets was once Jeremy Kerley, Smith is spoiled for choice in Seattle.
Loser: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Titans
On the other side of the coin, Tannehill’s draft weekend went in the opposite direction. The Titans used their first-round pick on offensive lineman Peter Skoronski, but despite a crater in their depth chart at wide receiver behind Treylon Burks, they didn’t address wide receiver until the seventh round. They also traded up in Round 2 to draft falling quarterback Will Levis at No. 33 overall, marking the second consecutive season where the Titans used a Day 2 pick on a quarterback.
Tannehill is in the final year of his contract, and the team shed several veteran salaries this offseason after hiring new general manager Ran Carthon. Safety Kevin Byard and running back Derrick Henry could also be on the way out this summer. Even if Tannehill does stick around this season, his chances of playing well — or keeping his job through the end of the season — diminished further after the draft.
Winner: Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Raiders
Garoppolo is another quarterback whose role with the team over the next couple of seasons might have been compromised by a first-round pick at quarterback, but the Raiders resisted the urge to draft Will Levis at No. 7 overall. When they traded up with the Colts in the second round, they used the No. 35 pick to land tight end Michael Mayer, then added another wide receiver in Round 3 with Tre Tucker.
I’m not sure the best things for the Raiders as an organization included moving up for a tight end and using a Day 2 pick on another wide receiver, but it’s certainly going to make their new quarterback’s life easier. Garoppolo won’t have the same breadth or quality of options he had last year in San Francisco, but assuming the Raiders bring back Josh Jacobs on his franchise tag, Jimmy G won’t be far off.
And while the Raiders traded up again to grab quarterback Aidan O’Connell with the final pick of the fourth round, O’Connell is more of a long-term backup prospect than a serious threat to Garoppolo over the next two seasons.
Winner: Kirk Cousins, QB, Vikings
Cousins is yet another one of the quarterbacks who might have been concerned about his short- and long-term future with his organization. The longtime Vikings starter is a free agent after the 2023 season, and the regime that originally signed him is no longer in the building. Last year, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah added a year to his contract last offseason to create cap space. In March, though, the team only did a restructure with void years to open up space.
A trade to the 49ers didn’t make financial sense for the other side, so Cousins was always going to be on the 2023 roster. If the Vikings had traded for Trey Lance or used their first-round pick on a quarterback, though, there was a decent chance Cousins wouldn’t finish the season as the starter.
Minnesota made it through most of the weekend without adding real competition for him before eventually using a fifth-round pick on 25-year-old Jaren Hall, who doesn’t project to be an NFL starter. As a result, Cousins should be assured of starting through the entirety of the 2023 season. If he can help the Vikings stave off what is widely expected to be a decline driven by their record in one-score games regressing towards the mean, he might even be the guy in 2024 and beyond.
Loser: David Montgomery, RB, Lions
After four solid seasons with the Bears, Montgomery hit free agency and landed a mid-tier deal with the Lions. He signed a three-year, $18-million contract, which guaranteed him $8.75 million upfront — $3 million of his $5.25 million base salary in 2024 is guaranteed now, with the rest firming up next March. The Lions moved on from running back Jamaal Williams, so it looked like Montgomery would be the lead back in a rotation alongside oft-injured speedster D’Andre Swift.
All of that made sense until the Lions took Jahmyr Gibbs with the No. 12 overall pick. General manager Brad Holmes eventually traded Swift to the Eagles — Gibbs projects to take over his role to start the season — but Detroit didn’t use the 12th pick on a back to have him touch the ball 10 times per game. Gibbs is sure to take over as the primary back as the season goes along, and there’s a much greater chance now that Montgomery doesn’t see that remaining $2.25 million on his deal in 2024.
Loser: Tyler Allgeier, RB, Falcons
If Montgomery was blindsided, imagine how Allgeier felt! The Falcons seemed to land on a successful running back out of nowhere in coach Arthur Smith’s first season by promoting Cordarrelle Patterson into the role and unlocking an 11-touchdown campaign out of the legendary returner.
Last season, with Patterson in and out of the lineup, Allgeier took over as a rookie fifth-rounder and ran for 1,035 yards. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry and generated 154 rush yards over expectation (RYOE). The only running backs who averaged more RYOE per carry over 200 or more attempts were Nick Chubb, Travis Etienne and D’Onta Foreman. He looked like a low-cost success story for a team with needs all over their roster.
With the No. 8 overall pick in the draft, the Falcons responded to two years of finding running backs out of nowhere by using a premium pick on star Bijan Robinson. Robinson is likely to excel in Atlanta, and Smith will move his new playmaker around the formation here and there, but it’s hard to paint this as anything but a disappointment for Allgeier. After proving he deserved the lead back role as a rookie, he will inevitably lose significant time in 2023.
Winner: Najee Harris, RB, Steelers
One back who hasn’t impressed after being drafted in the first round is Harris, who has averaged just 3.9 yards per carry over his first two seasons. A middling offensive line hasn’t helped, but he has generated minus-129 RYOE over that stretch, suggesting that an average back with the same blocking would have been more productive. Jaylen Warren, Harris’s backup a year ago, posted 31 RYOE across 77 carries.
There were rumors the Steelers might consider using a draft pick on a runner to push Harris this season, but new general manager Omar Khan didn’t select one. Instead, Khan moved up in the first round to take tackle Broderick Jones, who is expected to immediately step in on Kenny Pickett’s blindside and push overmatched 2022 starter Dan Moore into a rotational role.
With guard Isaac Seumalo joining from the Eagles in free agency, Harris will have a much better chance of delivering on lofty expectations in what could be a make-or-break 2023 campaign.
Winner: Tony Pollard, RB, Cowboys
Pollard was another veteran back who might have been preparing for competition after this draft. After an impressive 2021 season led to a larger role and a national breakout in 2022, his season ended unexpectedly with an ankle injury during the postseason. The Cowboys cut longtime starter Ezekiel Elliott and used the franchise tag to retain Pollard, but with a hole in their rotation and uncertainty about his readiness for 2023, a move for someone at back in the first two rounds would hardly have surprised Cowboys fans.
Instead, the Cowboys didn’t use a pick on a running back until the sixth round, when they picked Deuce Vaughn. Pollard’s primary competition still appears to be former Bucs and Chiefs back Ronald Jones, who doesn’t offer any threat as a receiver and barely played during his year in Kansas City. Dallas could still add a veteran in the months to come, but Pollard’s path to the majority of work in 2023 and a possible long-term extension appears clear.
Winner: Rachaad White, RB, Buccaneers
White is another back who looked like his path toward a more significant workload could be blocked by a draft pick, but he skated through the draft window without competition. The Buccaneers did not use any of their picks on a back, leaving him to compete with Chase Edmonds, Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Patrick Laird for starting duties.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucs added a veteran between now and the start of the season. I’ve mooted a link between Tampa and Ezekiel Elliott, whose skill set would complement White’s and allow the second-year back to play the Tony Pollard role in Tampa. Derrick Henry and Dalvin Cook could also be cut candidates in the months to come.
With Tampa strapped for cap space and likely to pursue veterans at more expensive positions if they become available, though, White’s most likely competition for starting time would have been from a draft pick.
Losers: Donovan Peoples-Jones and Anthony Schwartz, WRs, Browns
General manager Andrew Berry & Co. keep adding players to their receiving corps. After acquiring Elijah Moore and blocking 2022 third-round pick David Bell’s path to a starting job, the Browns used their first selection in this draft on another third-round wideout: Cedric Tillman. The 6-foot-3 Tillman should stick outside, with the Browns hoping his frame and 86th-percentile hand size give quarterback Deshaun Watson an inviting target on downfield throws and contested catches.
In the process, Tillman is expected to take snaps away from the outside receivers in Cleveland who aren’t Amari Cooper. Peoples-Jones was a starter last season and is entering his contract year, while Schwartz is yet another third-round pick who hasn’t been able to get untracked in a Browns uniform. Schwartz has never been able to deliver on his potential as a speed threat and could be a cut candidate this offseason, while the arrival of Tillman suggests Peoples-Jones’ future will be with another organization in 2024.
Winner: Tyquan Thornton, WR, Patriots
Thornton looks to be heading toward more meaningful snaps. Despite suggestions the Patriots would look to target a wide receiver in Round 1, coach Bill Belichick passed on Jaxon Smith-Njigba to select cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Belichick didn’t draft a wideout until Round 6, when he used a pair of selections on Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas.
As the speediest wide receiver on New England’s roster, Thornton will undoubtedly have a role as the designated deep threat. There’s still some veteran flotsam in the way of every-down work, most notably DeVante Parker, whose $5.7 million base salary is not guaranteed. Kendrick Bourne, who the organization seemed to sour on in 2022, is also out of guaranteed money. If the Pats cut either player in camp, Thornton would be in line to benefit.
Loser: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Broncos
It’s tough to parse exactly how coach Sean Payton views his wide receiver depth chart. He inherited a group with Jeudy, Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick, with the latter coming off a torn ACL. That would seemingly be enough for most NFL offenses, but even with limited draft capital, the Broncos still felt strongly enough about Marvin Mims to move up into the last spot of the second round and take him.
From his time in New Orleans, we know Payton typically found a primary role for a bigger receiver to work the middle of the field. That player was initially Marques Colston before he gave way to Jimmy Graham and then Michael Thomas. Of the players on Denver’s depth chart, it would seem likely Sutton, Patrick or tight end Greg Dulcich, all of whom are 6-foot-4, would be in line to play that role.
The 5-foot-11 Mims is more plausibly going to be a downfield burner, which leaves Jeudy between two worlds. The Broncos picked up his fifth-year option, but with a desperate need for draft capital after trading for Payton and Russell Wilson and seemingly too many wide receivers to go around, would dealing Jeudy help Denver? I’m not sure he could net a first-round pick with two years left to go on his deal, but even a second-rounder in 2024 would help Payton retool his roster in the years to come.
Winner: Braxton Jones, OT, Bears
While Jones was a left tackle during his college career at Southern Utah, few expected the 2022 fifth-round pick to be an instant starter at that position during his rookie NFL season. The only other fifth-round pick to start most of his rookie season at left tackle was Everett Lindsay with the Vikings in 1993. (The only other player drafted after Round 5 to pull it off over that same timeframe was sixth-rounder Jamaree Salyer, who filled in ably for Rashawn Slater last season with the Chargers.) Jones wasn’t great on the blindside, but he also wasn’t the worst lineman the Bears ran out last season, either.
Having only taken on the left tackle spot after roster shuffling, it seemed likely the Bears would add someone to play the position and move Jones somewhere else along the line. Instead, general manager Ryan Poles used his top pick in this draft on Tennessee tackle Darnell Wright, who only broke out as a senior after moving to the right side of the line. The Bears are expected to keep Wright on that side, which would give Jones another year to prove himself as a left tackle. Given the financial benefits of sticking on that side, landing in Chicago and staving off the competition could be extremely lucrative for him.
Loser: Cam Robinson, OT, Jaguars
One established tackle who didn’t have a great weekend was the guy who protected Trevor Lawrence’s blindside most of last season in Jacksonville. Robinson went down with a knee injury in December, and while he was expected to return for Week 1, the former franchise-tagged player was slapped with a six-game PED suspension last week. The suspension will cost him a minimum of $5.3 million and likely voids the guarantees on his $16 million base salary in 2023, meaning the Jags could move on from him altogether without owing any more of his three-year, $54 million extension.
General manager Trent Baalke and the Jags signaled their displeasure by using a first-round pick on tackle Anton Harrison. Walker Little had been expected to take over for the departed Jawaan Taylor, but after the suspension, Little’s now projected to move to the left side and fill in for Robinson during his absence. Harrison is projected to become the full-time right tackle, so if Little holds his own in camp, Robinson might be out of a job altogether.
Loser: Jonah Williams, OT, Bengals
Many of the players on this list didn’t benefit in the draft because their team drafted competition for them on the roster. Williams might be upset because the Bengals didn’t land a tackle. He requested a trade in March after the Bengals signed Orlando Brown Jr., a move which forced the former left tackle to move to the right side and compete with La’el Collins for starting work. As a player entering his fifth-year option season, it was no surprise Williams balked at moving to a less-lucrative position in a contract year.
The Bengals could have moved him during the draft for picks if they had landed a right tackle of the future, but they used their early-round selections to supplement a defense in the middle of retooling. Williams might see competition from Collins, but Collins underwent knee surgery in January and could be a cap casualty. As it stands, it seems more likely Williams will be spending his 2023 in Cincinnati at right tackle.
Loser: Budda Baker, S, Cardinals
Baker is another player with a public trade request who reportedly wants to either become the league’s highest-paid safety or be traded to a team willing to accommodate that request. With two years and $27.3 million left on his deal, the Cardinals don’t have a significant motivation to redo his contract, and new general manager Monti Ossenfort inherited a dismal cap situation from former GM Steve Keim. Baker is a great safety, but the best chance of a trade was going to involve him being dealt for draft picks over the past week.
Instead, the draft came and went without a deal for the five-time Pro Bowler. The Cardinals also didn’t take a safety during the draft, leaving them without a replacement for Baker. Ossenfort could try to land 2024 picks for him in a trade, but all signs seem to point toward one more season in Arizona. |
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POST DRAFT POWER RANKINGS
From Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com:
With rosters pretty much set, it’s time to do the post-draft Power Rankings, the first ones with a real look toward the 2023 season. The top remains the same, with the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 1 and the Philadelphia Eagles in the second spot.
The Chiefs will have to navigate a brutal AFC to get back to the Super Bowl and have a chance to repeat. With Patrick Mahomes still healthy and capable of carrying this team, they have to remain the top team.
The Eagles will have a much easier path to get back to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Chiefs last February. The NFC isn’t close to being as good as the AFC. Just look at the quarterbacks. In addition to Mahomes, the AFC has Joe Burrow, Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert and Trevor Lawrence. The NFC has Jalen Hurts, which is why the Eagles are the favorites, and then after that it’s a group that includes Dak Prescott, Kirk Cousins and some others. It is not close to the AFC group.
But that doesn’t mean a team can’t emerge. I probably like Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff more than most, so the Lions are a contender with a good roster that was supplemented by a great draft. Coach Dan Campbell has a talented team that should be the favorite in the NFC North and push for even more. The Lions? It’s weird just writing that. The Lions are up to 11th in my rankings.
Some will wonder why the Jacksonville Jaguars are sixth, but here goes: They have rising stars in guys like Lawrence and they’ve added a big dimension to the offense with Calvin Ridley. Plus, they will play six games against a division loaded with quarterback uncertainty and four more against the NFC South, which isn’t exactly the best division in football. So the Jaguars should win 11-13 games this year. If they don’t, something bad happened.
The bottom teams are both from the NFC West. I have the Arizona Cardinals last with the Los Angeles Rams just above them. Both teams are in rebuild mode and the Cardinals have a quarterback in Kyler Murray coming off a torn ACL.
A reminder, though, that just when we think we have a handle on this league, it reminds us we really don’t. See my mock draft from last week.
1 Chiefs
They have some changes on their offensive and defensive lines, but as long as Patrick Mahomes is slinging it and Andy Reid is coaching it, they will be fine. The defending champs open in the top spot.
2 Eagles
Their roster is even more loaded than it was after the Super Bowl loss. They killed the draft, which will make them even better. This team is clearly the best in the NFC.
3 Bills +1
Some have said the window is closing on this team, but I don’t buy it. They had a good, solid draft, which will help Josh Allen. The change to Sean McDermott calling the defense should make it more aggressive.
4 Bengals -1
The Bengals and Joe Burrow will be in the top 10 for the foreseeable future. They are so talented and they are coming off an impressive draft that will help keep the defense improving.
5 49ers
The team is as talented as any, but it’s the quarterback situation that has uncertainty. When will Brock Purdy be ready to go? If he’s out for a while, can Trey Lance or Sam Darnold hold it down?
6 Jaguars +1
They didn’t do a lot in free agency, but this is based on the growth of a lot of young players, especially Trevor Lawrence. The schedule is also very favorable.
7 Cowboys -1
Mike McCarthy takes over play calling for Dak Prescott this season. Adding veterans Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore is big, and they also had a good draft.
8 Jets +13
They’ve made a big leap up these rankings after getting Aaron Rodgers. The talent is all over this roster, but now comes the tough part for the young guys, which is handling expectations.
9 Dolphins +3
As long as Tua Tagovailoa stays healthy, they will be good on offense. The defense has improved by adding Jalen Ramsey on the corner. The problem is the division is brutal.
10 Chargers -2
As usual, the Chargers will enter the season with high expectations. Is this the year that they live up those? The talent is there if they stay healthy.
11 Lions +3
This is a team on the rise with a lot of good, young players in a division that isn’t great right now. That’s usually a formula for success. Watch out for the Lions.
12 Ravens -2
Ravens Now that Lamar Jackson is signed, they are back to being a contender in the AFC North. Adding Odell Beckham Jr., and Zay Flowers as receivers has to make new coordinator Todd Monken a happy man. It’s time for Jackson to sling it around.
13 Giants -4
They were a playoff team a year ago and have a young roster moving in the right direction. The big question is whether quarterback Daniel Jones, who they signed to a big deal, can continue to grow.
14 Browns +9
If Deshaun Watson can revert to his old form, they will be a major factor in the division race. He looked bad last year, which has to be concerning. They have done a nice job adding to the roster through the draft and free agency.
15 Seahawks -2
In a weakened division, they have a chance to win it if San Francisco doesn’t solve the quarterback position. Geno Smith has to play like he did last year.
16 Steelers
If second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett can take the next step, they will be much higher than this. That’s the main question hanging over this team. Improving the line in front of him is a must.
17 Vikings -6
They were a playoff team last year, but the defense was bad. The change to go to Brian Flores as the coordinator will be a good one. They will be much more aggressive, which is needed
18 Commanders +1
They have enough talent to push the Eagles, with one big caveat: Sam Howell. If he’s as good as Washington thinks he can be, they will be good. If not, they will draft a quarterback next year.
19 Packers -4
The Jordan Love era begins as Aaron Rodgers is gone to the Jets. Love flashed last season, so they have to be excited to see where he can go. Their draft was loaded with pass catchers who will help him.
20 Saints +2
Derek Carr is in as the quarterback, which is an upgrade. The roster has talent, although age is creeping in, so this might be the last chance for some of these guys – even in a bad division.
21 Titans -1
They will always be tough, feisty and play hard, which is the Mike Vrabel way. But do they throw it around well enough with Ryan Tannehill? When does Will Levis play? It’s always the same story about their passing game.
22 Panthers +2
Bryce Young will be the quarterback, which should be an upgrade over recent years. If he’s really good, they will win the division. That’s a big if for a rookie.
23 Bears +9
This is another team moving in the right direction. Justin Fields needs to improve as a passer, but they made moves this offseason to help that become a reality. They are a year away.
24 Buccaneers -7
They think Baker Mayfield can get them to nine wins, which might win the division. They definitely added some much needed speed in the draft.
25 Raiders
Jimmy Garoppolo takes over as the quarterback for Derek Carr. They did have a good draft, but they are the third or fourth team in the division – and it’s not close behind the top two teams.
26 Falcons
This is a big season for third-year coach Arthur Smith. They have belief in second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder, which will likely decide if Smith is back for a fourth year
27 Patriots -9
The Mac Jones situation bears watching. Do they like him or not? One thing’s for sure, coordinator Bill O’Brien will be better for this offense than the mess from last year.
28 Broncos +2
Sean Payton takes over as coach with the job of turning around Russell Wilson’s career after a bad 2022 season. The roster has talent, so it’s all about Wilson.
29 Colts -1
Rookie Anthony Richardson will be the starter right away, and he has a ton of talent. But it might take some time for him to develop. That’s OK. New coach Shane Steichen will be good for him.
30 Texans +1
This will be a growth year for new coach DeMeco Ryans. Rookie C.J. Stroud will be the quarterback and his development could take time. But this team is coming.
31 Rams -2
They are in rebuild mode, which will make for a long season. But with Matt Stafford, Aaron Donald and coach Sean McVay they do still have some stars.
32 Cardinals -5
The roster is one of the worst in the league and Kyler Murray is coming off a torn ACL. New coach Jonathan Gannon has a lot of work to do. At least they had a good draft and have a lot of picks – two in the first round – next year. |
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2024 DRAFT
We waited almost a week to give you the first 2024 Mock Draft. This comes from Dane Brugler of The Athletic who introduces us to Kool-Aid, Jer’Zhan, Olu, Chop, Laiatu and others:
Is it too early for a 2024 mock draft? Of course!
This is basically a watch list of 32 intriguing prospects eligible for the 2024 NFL Draft. It just happens to be in a mock draft format. And if you don’t like the draft order, then blame Vegas, because I used the inverse order of the updated Super Bowl odds.
1. Arizona Cardinals: Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Although there are financial ramifications with Kyler Murray’s contract, the Cardinals won’t be passing on a quarterback if they are indeed picking No. 1 next April. Based on his 2022 tape, Williams is worth the top pick — NFL scouts believe he would have been the No. 1 selection this past draft, had he been eligible.
2. Arizona Cardinals (via HOU): Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Not only would Harrison have been the easy WR1 in the 2023 NFL Draft, but also he would have competed with Will Anderson Jr. to be the first non-quarterback selected. He has small-man athleticism in a big man’s frame and the detailed savvy you’d expect of Marvin Harrison’s kid.
3. Indianapolis Colts: Olu Fashanu, LT, Penn State
Fashanu was my OT1 and No. 5 overall prospect for the 2023 draft when he announced he would be returning to school for another season. His movement skills, natural power and blocking instincts are an awesome combination.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
With 45 total touchdowns last season, Maye not only put himself on the NFL radar, but he also jumped near the top of the list. With his size, arm and athleticism, he has skills comparable to those of Justin Herbert.
5. Tennessee Titans: Dallas Turner, edge, Alabama
When scouting Anderson or other Alabama defenders, it was impossible to overlook No. 15 flying off the edge and making plays. Throw on the Texas A&M tape from last season and watch Turner go to work.
6. Washington Commanders: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
Only a redshirt sophomore (plus he skipped his senior year of high school), Ewers is still very young in several areas. But he has the top-shelf arm talent to make wow plays look routine. If the mental development catches up to his physical skills, Ewers will be an easy top-10 pick.
7. New England Patriots: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Bowers is among the one-percenters who are physically ready for the NFL after their freshman seasons. He’s a tad undersized for the position, but his athletic skill — especially with the ball in his hands — is outstanding.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Jared Verse, edge, Florida State
A projected first-round pick had he entered the 2023 NFL Draft, Verse enjoyed his first year in Tallahassee and decided to stay for another season. His play speed and NFL-quality hand usage make it tough for blockers to control him.
9. Los Angeles Rams: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
A tall, long corner who can run, McKinstry not only has a fun first name, but he also put strong play on his 2022 tape. He tied with Emmanuel Forbes — just selected No. 16 by Washington — for the SEC lead in passes defended (16) last season.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers: Maason Smith, DL, LSU
LSU had high expectations for Smith last season until he suffered a knee injury in the season opener while celebrating a play. If Smith returns to full health this season, he will regain his first-round trajectory.
11. Chicago Bears (via CAR): J.T. Tuimoloau, edge, Ohio State
One of the top recruits in the country three years ago, Tuimoloau started to live up to the hype last season (watch the Penn State tape). He has intriguing physical abilities, and scouts are eager to see his technical development as a junior.
12. Seattle Seahawks: Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State
Ohio State had three offensive linemen drafted this past weekend, but Jackson returns to Columbus with All-America potential. If he turns his flashes into more consistent high-level play, he has a chance to be a first-round pick.
13. Green Bay Packers: JC Latham, OT, Alabama
As the Tide’s starting right tackle, Latham consistently pitched shutouts in pass protection last season — he didn’t allow a sack in his first year as a starter. With improvements as a run blocker, he will earn starting-level grades from scouts.
14. Chicago Bears: Christian Mahogany, G, Boston College
Mahogany is another player returning from a knee injury, so scouts are eager to see him back on the field in 2023. He popped on the tape when I scouted Zion Johnson two years ago, and he will be trying to follow in his former teammate’s footsteps as a potential first-rounder.
15. Las Vegas Raiders: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
The fourth quarterback drafted in this mock, and you don’t need to squint to see the talent with McCarthy. He is a loose athlete for his size with NFL-level arm strength and the poise to make plays.
16. Denver Broncos: Kalen King, CB, Penn State
With teams staying away from Joey Porter Jr. last season, King saw plenty of action and was one of only three FBS players with 20-plus passes defended. Penn State still has never had a defensive back drafted in the first round, but King might be able to change that.
17. New York Giants: Chop Robinson, edge, Penn State
A Maryland transfer, Robinson established himself as one of the Big Ten’s more promising pass rushers last season. He needs to turn the flashes into more consistent play. Watch him against Michigan State or Auburn, though, and you can see the exciting potential.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
At 6 feet 3 and 295 pounds, Newton is a quick upfield penetrator with athletic twitch and a relentless play style. If he can improve his snap anticipation, he should be even more productive as a fourth-year player in 2023.
19. New Orleans Saints: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
I heard Nabers’ name multiple times at this year’s combine by 2023 draft prospects anointing him as the “next” big-time receiver to come from the SEC. He reached 1,000 yards receiving last season and played his best ball in the final few games.
20. Houston Texans (via CLE): Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
In Alt and Blake Fisher, Notre Dame has a pair of offensive tackles to keep on the radar for next year’s draft class. Alt is a former high school tight end, and his father, John, was an offensive lineman and first-round pick of the Chiefs in 1984.
21. Jacksonville Jaguars: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Iowa had a really good showing in the 2023 NFL Draft, and the cupboard isn’t bare. DeJean is an explosive athlete (watch his high school dunking highlights) and led the Hawkeyes last season with five interceptions.
22. Baltimore Ravens: Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
I gave Jenkins a second-round grade based on his 2022 tape. If he takes the next step in his development in 2023, the first round could be in range. He is quick off the ball to make plays versus the run and as a pass rusher.
23. Miami Dolphins: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Penix was very up and down during his time at Indiana (2018-21), but he looked like a new player after transferring to Washington. His 2022 tape and production (35 total touchdowns) make you sit up in your seat. If he can build upon last year and stay healthy, Penix has a chance to keep rising into the first-round range, especially considering the firepower the Huskies return on offense.
24. Los Angeles Chargers: J.T. Sanders, TE, Texas
As he developed chemistry with Ewers, Sanders set a school single-season record for a tight end with 54 catches and announced himself as a legitimate pro prospect. His athletic traits have the attention of scouts.
25. Detroit Lions: Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State
Injuries were an issue for him last season, but when on the field, he lived in the backfield. I’m expecting Hall’s speed-and-quickness testing numbers to be outstanding during the draft process.
26. Dallas Cowboys: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
I’m sure it would pain his father (former Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter) to see his son with a star on his helmet. But it would also be a proud-parent moment if the younger Trotter can get into the first round.
27. New York Jets: Graham Barton, OT/G, Duke
Barton might not have elite length, but he moves well and consistently executes his assignments on film. He might be 2024’s version of Peter Skoronski.
28. Cincinnati Bengals: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Ohio State had a pair of first-round receivers (Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave) two years ago, and they might do it again next April. Harrison is a lock, and Egbuka has the athletic and nuanced skills that will appeal to pro teams.
29. San Francisco 49ers: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
The first round might be a tad lofty for Morgan, who is coming off a late-season injury, but he is a balanced athlete with a promising tool set. Arizona hasn’t had an offensive player drafted in Round 1 since Trung Canidate in 2000.
30. Buffalo Bills: Laiatu Latu, edge, UCLA
Given his injury background, Latu’s medicals could be an issue when it comes to his draft grade. But on the field, he is a savvy rusher in the way he uses his hands and body rhythm to beat blockers.
31. Philadelphia Eagles: D.J. James, CB, Auburn
A former Oregon transfer, James was a pleasant surprise last season. He did a great job limiting big plays and will enter this season with an early-round projection.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
Nubin would have been a Day 2 pick had he declared for the 2023 draft, but he elected to return to Minnesota for his senior year. With his athleticism and opportunistic ball skills, he has NFL starting ability. |
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