How would you rank the 2020 desirability of the 32 NFL teams – if you were an NFL schedule maker how would you parcel out the national and doubleheader games.

We opted for a 1-10 ranking (from Jacksonville to Dallas)

NFC EAST

Dallas                9     America’s team with a potentially formidable roster

Philadelphia       6     Solid, will get primetime games

NY Giants          4     Helped, per our rules, by market size

Washington       2      Chase Young, new coach, could push this higher,

Division Total     21

NFC NORTH

Green Bay           8     Rodgers intrigue keeps interest high

Chicago               5     Kind of a blah roster, but a big market

Minnesota            5     Pretty average in all components of rating

Detroit                  2     Could inch higher with some wins

Division Total       20

NFC SOUTH

Tampa Bay          8      About half of this factor is the Brady novelty

New Orleans        7     We thought about an 8

Atlanta                 4      Falcons always struggle with pizazz

Carolina               2      Bridgewater and McCaffrey keep this from being a 1

Division Total       21

NFC WEST

San Francisco      8     The defending champs, fun offense, good brand

Seattle                  6     An interesting team in the Carroll-Wilson era

LA Rams              5     Should the new stadium make them higher ranked?

Arizona                 4     With Kyler Murray, the best of the bottom feeders

Division Total       23

Conference Total  85

AFC EAST

New England          6   Could be 2 higher or 2 lower by December depending on Stidham

Buffalo                     4    We thought about a 5 for this playoff team, still its Buffalo

NY Jets                   4     Can’t put them ahead of the Giants

Miami                      3     We have them here for now, if they win with Tua, look out

Division Total         17

AFC NORTH

Baltimore                  7     Does equal to the Saints seem about right?

Pittsburgh                 6     A stale brand, but a brand nonetheless

Cleveland                 4     Splitting the difference between 2018’s 2 and 2019’s 6

Cincinnati                 3     Burrow novelty effect worth a point or two

Division Total          20

AFC SOUTH

Houston                    6     Deshaun Watson worth 2 points

Indianapolis              5     Philip Rivers provides pizzazz

Tennessee               4      We can’t get too excited despite AFC Championship Game

Jacksonville             1      Checking in at #32 even with (or despite) 8 true home games

Division Total          16

AFC WEST

Kansas City               8     The best of the 4 8s behind America’s Team

Las Vegas                 6      The hype of a new stadium for a great brand

Denver                      3      Broncos brand believers would say this is too low

LA Chargers             2       The team without a fan base to drive viewers

Division Total           19

Conference Total       72

Top to bottom – blue for NFC, red for AFC  with a rough order inside each level (i.e. Pittsburgh ahead of Houston)

9 –  Dallas

8 –  Kansas City, San Francisco, Green Bay, Tampa Bay

7 –  New Orleans, Baltimore

6 –  Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, New England, Seattle, Houston

5 –  Minnesota, LA Rams, Indianapolis, Chicago

4 – Tennessee, NY Giants, Buffalo, Cleveland, Arizona, Atlanta, NY Jets

3 – Miami, Cincinnati

2 – Detroit, Carolina, Washington, LA Chargers

1 – Jacksonville

We would be interested in your thoughts…

DETROIT

Coach Matt Patricia with some verbal love for LB JARRAD DAVIS, in place of a fifth-year option.  Kyle Meinke of MLive.com:

The Detroit Lions have declined to pick up Jarrad Davis’ fifth-year option for 2021. But that does not mean they are done with Jarrad Davis.

In fact, quite the contrary.

Coach Matt Patricia said the middle linebacker remains a foundational piece of the defense, and remains very much in the club’s plans for the foreseeable.

“I think JD is a cornerstone of what we’re trying to do, and he’s in those big-picture plans of where we’re trying to go,” Patricia said on Tuesday morning during a video call with reporters from his home in Northville. “Just (trying to) make sure we have the best season we can this year and then just go from there. And he’s, you know, JD is by far –he’s a solid (as a) rock leader. Everything-you-want-in-the-program type of guy. So from that aspect of it, you know, he’s everything (we’re) building around, trying to get him to keep continuing to grow and develop and to get better. He’s a great kid. He’s awesome.”

Davis was acquired with the 21st overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft. Detroit needed a linebacker badly back then, and weighed Davis against other options like Reuben Foster. The former Alabama star was more talented, but also came with more red flags. Davis, on the other hand, was a big-time star at Florida who maybe had a lower ceiling, but also a higher floor because he had no red flags at all.

The choice between the two players proved to the right one, as Foster has played in just 16 career games — and none since 2018 — while dealing with an assortment of issues. But it’s not like Davis has been a slam-dunk either.

He’s been as-billed off the field, in the locker room, at film study, pretty much everywhere but between the white lines. He’s the captain of the defense, highly respected by his teammates and valued by coaches. That includes Patricia, whose scheme is built from the middle-out and asks a lot of the middle linebacker.

“There is no doubt that JD is one of our strongest leaders on defense,” Patricia said. “He’s a great player, someone we continue to build around.”

While it’s true Davis has emerged as a strong leader, his abilities as a linebacker remain checkered. He’s been especially lost in pass coverage, ranking 83rd out of 89 qualifying players at the position last year according to ProFootballFocus. He ranked 84th among linebackers overall.

He finished with 63 tackles, two sacks and one pass defended in 11 games, all career lows. He also missed 10 tackles. (Although he also forced a career-high three fumbles, and recovered another.)

Now the Lions seem to be plotting a new course at middle linebacker, using a second-round pick on Jahlani Tavai last season and then signing former second-round pick Reggie Ragland in free agency this year. With Jamie Collins also aboard to play all over the defense and especially on the edge, change is clearly afoot at linebacker, and Davis’ role will likely change with it.

Davis has been at his best as a pass rusher — he racked up six sacks in such a role in 2018, Patricia’s first as head coach — and could be ticketed for more of that with Tavai and Ragland capable of manning the middle of the defense. And if Davis is headed for a more specialized role, it makes sense the Lions would decline a fifth-year option that was valued at north of $10 million.

It also makes sense the Lions could still have Davis in their long-term plans, if the new role leads to an improved performance.

“We just made a decision that was best for the organization,” Patricia said. “It was certainly something we talked to JD about, and Bob (Quinn) did a great job of communicating all of the stuff that was going on, and, you know, just trying to push forward with certainly some uncertain times as we get into the season. Right now, just thought that that was the best decision.”

– – –

Some personal detail from Patricia on his new life at home.  Darin Gantt ofProFootballTalk.com:

Like the rest of the people in the football business, Lions coach Matt Patricia has been trying to adjust to working from home.

That means a lot of videoconferencing, and the occasional Barbie doll.

Via Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press, Patricia said during a Zoom call with reporters that being at home has given him a chance to spend more time with his family, time which would have otherwise been spent in the office running and offseason program.

“I’m playing a lot of Barbies too right now,” Patricia said. “When my 4-year-old daughter asks me to play, it’s really hard to turn that down. . . . That’s probably the thing I struggle with the most in my career is just not being home. That’s probably the hardest thing on me when I’m not here with my kids and my wife, which is the most important thing to me. I’ll say this. I don’t know if it’s made me a better dad. But I certainly appreciate all the time I have with my kids for right now.

“And my wife, we were actually just talking about this last night. I know there’s probably a lot of people that feel with the quarantine they get a little, whatever you want to call it, stir-crazy or kind of they’re looking at the same people every single day. But for me, I just appreciate it so much every day when I get a chance to get up and see my wife and see my kids.”

He hasn’t quite gotten to baking his own bread, but Patricia has also taken up the ukulele, as he’s trying to add new skills during quarantine conditions.

“I may call them songs,” he said. “You would call them noise. So we’ll probably just leave it at that.”

Either way, being at home has been sweet music for a lot of people in the business, including Patricia.

GREEN BAY

Thanks to GM Brian Gutenkist to give us plenty of fodder for the DB between now and the opening of training camps.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

Many believe that, because of his contract and cap charges, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will spend at least two more years in Green Bay. As recently explained, however, the Packers would save nearly $4.8 million in cap space and $22 million in cash by trading Rodgers after the 2020 season.

So if the Packers trade Rodgers after the 2020 season, where could he go? Let’s consider the possibilities.

Green Bay surely wouldn’t send Rodgers to another team in the division. When trading Brett Favre to the Jets in 2008, the Packers included a term escalating the price to three first-round picks if the Jets re-traded Favre to the Vikings, Bears, or Lions. And the Packers likely wouldn’t want to send him to a contender elsewhere in the conference; thus, while speculation about Rodgers landing with the 49ers is fascinating, the Packers probably wouldn’t want to send Rodgers home.

So it makes sense to look to the AFC for potential locations for Rodgers, and the one team that stands out the most (sorry, Derek Carr) is the Raiders. Jon Gruden, Aaron Rodgers, the Silver and Black. Las Vegas. It just makes too much sense to not happen.

Other AFC teams that could be interested include the Patriots (if Jarrett Stidham doesn’t pan out), the Colts (if they don’t have a strong post-Philip Rivers option), the Jaguars (if Gardner Minshew II isn’t the guy), the Broncos (if Drew Lock fails to become the guy many believe he will be), and the Browns (if 2020 Baker Mayfield looks more like 2019 than 2018).

Then there are the Jets, again. What if Sam Darnold doesn’t do enough this year to cement his grip on the job? What if the Jets opt for the same kind of all-in move that was made 12 years ago, when the Jets acquired Favre?

However it plays out, Rodgers could be playing his way out of Green Bay this year. His destination for 2020 could be an even bigger story than #Tommy2.0 in 2020.

We could see the Buccaneers in the NFC, maybe Carolina if TEDDY BRIDGEWATER doesn’t rise to the occasion.

NEW YORK GIANTS

Jason Garrett reunites with QB COOPER RUSH.  Zack Rosenblatt of NJ Advance Media:

The Giants added another quarterback to their stable of backups behind Daniel Jones on Tuesday.

For offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, it’s a familiar face, too: former Dallas Cowboys backup Cooper Rush.

The Giants, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, claimed Rush off waivers. The Cowboys cut him to make room for Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, who they signed over the weekend. To make room for Rush, the Giants waived wide receiver Reggie White Jr.

The signing of Rush could mean the end of the line for Alex Tanney, who spent the last two seasons as a backup behind Eli Manning in 2018 then both Manning and Jones in 2019. He’s considered a trusted confidant and friend to Jones, but doesn’t bring much in terms of on-field football skill.

Rush will come in and compete for the No. 3 quarterback job with Tanney behind Jones and free agent signee Colt McCoy, though Rush will have the leg-up.

The Giants will be installing a new offensive system with Garrett as Joe Judge’s offensive coordinator, and it’s likely that he’ll be bringing a lot of the same concepts he used in Dallas to East Rutherford. None of the Giants’ current quarterbacks, Jones included, has ever played in Garrett’s system.

Rush has never played for anyone but Garrett in the NFL, and he’s been the primary backup to Dak Prescott in Dallas the last couple of years.

All indications point to an offseason decimated by the coronavirus pandemic. The Giants might not even have in-person meetings or practices until training camp, at the earliest. If that’s the case, then bringing in someone like Rush would make sense for at least the offseason.

So he’ll compete with the 32-year-old Tanney — six years older than Rush with only 15 career pass attempts — and undrafted rookie Case Cookus for the No. 3 quarterback job while also helping Jones get acclimated to a new system.

Buy Daniel Jones Giants gear: Fanatics, NFL Shop, Lids, Dick’s Sporting Goods

For what it’s worth: Rush only has three career pass attempts in the NFL, though he completed 61.2% of his passes in the preseason last year with one touchdown and no interceptions on 67 attempts.

All things considered with the current situation, signing Rush made a lot of sense.

Now, it will make even more if he makes the final 53-man roster over Tanney.

TAMPA BAY

Safely retired as a one-team QB, Eli Manning sees some issues for QB TOM BRADY in the early going.  The UKGuardian:

Eli Manning, the man who beat Tom Brady in two Super Bowls, thinks his old rival may find it tough adapting to life with his new team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Brady left the New England Patriots in March after two decades and six Super Bowl titles with the team. The Buccaneers are blessed with weapons, such as Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Brady’s old teammate Rob Gronkowski , on offense but the Covid-19 lockdown is an added obstacle for the quarterback as he adjusts to a new playbook.

“I think it’s gonna be tough for him, just the fact he can’t be doing everything he wants to be doing with the team and getting ready,’’ Manning told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Monday. “Obviously they have some playmakers at receiver there, when you got talented receivers it makes it a little bit easier to get on the same page with ’em.

Related: Tom Brady will have more fun in Tampa, but will he win?

“It will be interesting how it all plays out and how quickly he can just adjust to a new organization and new players and new offense, all those new things, especially with the limited timing he’s gonna have being with them.’’

SEATTLE

Like QB CAM NEWTON, EDGE JADEVEON CLOWNEY is a recent number one overall pick of some accomplishment who does not have a job.

Jadeveon Clowney has a message for any team still thinking about signing him: He’s healthy and ready to contribute.

“I don’t know if people think I’m hurting because of what I went through because of the core [injury] or because [of injuries] in previous years,” Clowney told Fox 26 in Houston on Tuesday. “But I just want to let people know I’m ready, and I’m gonna be ready to go whenever the time comes.”

Clowney, the star defensive end who played for the Seattle Seahawks last season, said he thought that time would come when free agency opened some six weeks ago. But after initially being “fed up” with the lack of progress in early talks, Clowney said he has since taken a step back and operated without urgency.

“I’ve got a few [offers], but the process for me is really just weighing my options and taking my time,” he told Fox 26. “I ain’t in no rush right now. I know with what’s going on right now in the world, with the coronavirus and everything, it’s a slow process until teams really can see me and see what I got and give me physicals and everything.

“So I ain’t in no rush. I’m just waiting on the right opportunity and the right timing for me.”

In the meantime, Clowney said he has stayed focus on his rehab from core muscle surgery, which started two weeks after the procedure and consists of four sessions each week.

“I’m working. I’m staying ahead of schedule and working, and I’m going to be ready to go when training camp starts,” he said.

Where that training camp will be remains to be seen, but Clowney did say he’s open to a return to Seattle.

“I love Seattle,” he said. “I love everybody on the coaching staff. I wouldn’t trade those guys in. I hope we can work something out.”

Both Seahawks GM John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll have said in recent weeks that they haven’t closed the door on bringing back Clowney.

A source previously told ESPN that Clowney was seeking a deal averaging $21 million per season when free agency began in mid-March. He dropped his asking price to around $17 million to $18 million per season last month, sources said.

The Seahawks are said to be in the process of re-signing another of their veterans, the legendary RB MARSHAWN LYNCH.  Brady Henderson of ESPN.com:

Free-agent running back Marshawn Lynch says his agent has been in discussions with the Seahawks about a potential return to Seattle.

“Well, it’s almost on that ‘expect the unexpected,'” Lynch told ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt on Monday when asked about his future. “But just as far as right now, what I do know is, Imma keep it solid. My agent [Doug Hendrickson] has been in talks with Seattle, so like I said, we’ll see what happens. If it works out and I get back up there, it is what it is. And if not, s—, I’m lookin’ good. So I ain’t really trippin’ too much.”

Lynch, who turned 34 in April, unretired for the second time before Week 17 of last season to rejoin the Seahawks after injuries decimated their backfield. In three games — the regular-season finale plus the wild-card and divisional rounds — Lynch carried 30 times for 67 yards and scored four touchdowns. He hadn’t played in 14 months prior to that.

The Seahawks are believed to be in search of another veteran running back, with starter Chris Carson and 2018 first-round pick Rashaad Penny coming off season-ending injuries. Carson (hip) is expected to be ready by Week 1, but general manager John Schneider reiterated recently that Penny’s recovery from knee surgery might sideline him beyond the start of the season.

The other running backs on Seattle’s roster are rookie fourth-round pick DeeJay Dallas, second-year pro Travis Homer and two undrafted rookies: Anthony Jones (Florida International) and Patrick Carr (Houston).

C.J. Prosise and Robert Turbin are also free agents from last year’s Seahawks backfield. Alex Collins is another veteran running back the team has shown interest in.

Based on Lynch’s time in the NFL, he would stand to make at least $1.05 million in base salary if he were to play in 2020.

– – –

And, here’s TE GREG OLSEN on what he hopes to accomplish by signing with the Seahawks.  Darin Gantt of ProFootballTalk.com:

Greg Olsen‘s old enough to remember the last time players weren’t allowed in team facilities during the offseason, since he was playing during the 2011 lockout.

And even though there’s no routine, he thinks he’ll be ready when he can join his new Seahawks teammates.

Via Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune, the 35-year-old Olsen said he’s had a good offseason of training, since there’s not much else for him to do.

“You can’t travel a whole lot,” he said. “There’s no reason to miss your training, . . . there’s no excuse. You are in a rush to go nowhere.”

He also joked that his core strength was good, or at least better than actor Will Ferrell, who impersonated him during a team videoconference last week and showed off his abs. That has him thinking big thoughts, saying he joined the Seahawks after being released by the rebuilding Panthers so he could contend for a Super Bowl.

“I know I can play,” he said. “I know what I can do, . . . I’m not here, in year 14, to be a shell of myself.”

After two seasons plagued by foot problems, he came back to catch 52 passes (mostly from backup quarterbacks) last year. He may not be able to get back to the shape that saw him become the first tight end with three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons, but he’s an excellent addition for a Seahawks team that’s close.

KANSAS CITY

Presumably, the NFL season will start on Thursday, September 10 in Kansas City.  John Breech of CBSSports wonders who they will be slated to play when the NFL schedule is announced tomorrow night:

After making everyone wait nearly one month longer than usual, the NFL is finally going to reveal the 2020 schedule on Thursday, and although there are plenty of questions that won’t be answered when the schedule drops — Will fans be allowed to attend games? Will the season start on time? What happens if a player tests positive during the season? NO ONE KNOWS — there are plenty of questions that will be answered.

For instance, we’re finally going to know which two teams will be playing in the NFL opener, which is currently scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10. One team that will almost certainly be on the field is the Kansas City Chiefs, and that’s because the defending Super Bowl champs have hosted the traditional Thursday night opener in 14 of the past 16 years.

Although the NFL changed the tradition last year so that the Bears and Packers could kick off the league’s 100th season, the NFL is expected to return to tradition this year and let the defending champ host the opening game, which means the season will be opening in Kansas City. One clue that the opener will be happening in KC is the fact that the Royals have already agreed to move their game on Sept. 10 so that the Chiefs would have full use of the parking lot that serves both Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums.

So who will the Chiefs be playing in the opener?

That’s what I’m here for. We already know all the Chiefs home opponents for 2020 — Broncos, Raiders, Chargers, Patriots, Jets, Falcons, Panthers, Texans  — so I’m going to rank them from least likely to play in the opener to most likely. After that, I’ll present my dream scenario, which the NFL will likely ignore because they always ignore my dreams.

8. Panthers at Chiefs

The Panthers are a rebuilding team with a first-year coach and the last thing that anyone wants to see in the opener is the Chiefs slaughter a team that’s in the middle of a rebuild. If you’re scoring at home, the Panthers decided to move on from multiple 2019 starters including Cam Newton, Greg Olsen, Eric Reid, Mario Addison, Gerald McCoy, Bruce Irvin, and I could go on, but I think you get the point. Basically, the Panthers are going to have a lot of new starters on the field, and due to the shortened offseason, those starters aren’t going to have a lot of time to gel on the field. If the Panthers were to play the Chiefs in Week 1, the game would probably be a blowout and we’d all be turning it off before the end of the second quarter, which is saying a lot, because most of us have vowed to never turn off a game early ever again after going nearly two full months without any sports.

T-7. Chargers/Raiders/Broncos at Chiefs

If you like competitive football, then you should probably be rooting against an opener that involves the Chiefs playing an AFC West rival. Although I do think that every team in the division has gotten better this offseason, the fact of the matter is that none of them have any idea how to beat the Chiefs. Not only did the Chiefs go 6-0 against the division last year, but they’re 23-2 against AFC West teams in their past 25 games, with 14 of those wins coming by double digits. The Chiefs are also 13-1 in their past 14 home games against AFC West teams. Basically this would be a mismatch waiting to happen and I don’t want to watch that.

4. Jets at Chiefs

If this was a home game for the Jets, I’d probably have them up higher on this list, but it’s being played in Kansas City, and the problem with that is that the Jets have been one of the worst road teams in the NFL over the past few years. Since 2017, the Jets have gone 5-19 on the road and in each of those three seasons, they never finished better than 2-6. Sending them into Arrowhead Stadium for the opening game of the NFL season seems like it would be a disaster waiting to happen.

3. Falcons at Chiefs

If there’s team on the Chiefs’ home schedule that might be able to keep up with them in an offensive shootout, it’s the Atlanta Falcons, who very well might be going into the first week of the season with an offense that consists only of former first-round picks. Despite having all that talent, Falcons fans don’t sound too confident about the upcoming season.

@Nolo4dolo

Every starter on the Falcons is a first round draft pick. Somehow we’ll still find a way to lose lolhttps://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/falcons-projected-to-start-all-first-round-picks-on-offense-in-three-wide-receiver-looks-after-busy-offseason/ …

Falcons projected to start all first-round picks on offense in three-wide receiver looks after busy…

With Todd Gurley, Laquon Treadwell and Hayden Hurst in the fold, the Falcons’ offense is full of No. 1s

I have to admit that negativity is starting to wear on me. Maybe the Falcons in the opener isn’t such a great idea after all.

2. Patriots at Chiefs

If Tom Brady was still on the Patriots’ roster, picking the Chiefs’ opponent for the NFL opener would be a no-brainer. However, Brady isn’t on the roster, which is why New England isn’t in the top spot here. The Patriots couldn’t beat the Chiefs last season and that was with Brady, so I don’t really think they’re going to do much better with Jarrett Stidham or Brian Hoyer trying to go toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes. One reason I do like the idea of this game is because Bill Belichick is one of the greatest defensive masterminds in NFL history and if he could lead the Patriots to a win on opening night in Kansas City, it would make a statement that the Patriots aren’t dead and that Belichick can win with anyone under center.

1. Texans at Chiefs

The guys in the NFL scheduling department usually seem to have a sense of humor, which is why I think this will be the game that gets selected for the opener. The last time we saw the Chiefs and Texans on the field together, Houston blew a 24-0 lead in the playoffs, and the crazy thing is that that’s not even the most embarrassing thing they’ve done since January, because this is the same team that traded away DeAndre Hopkins for practically nothing (No offense David Johnson). This might not be a sexy matchup, but the fact of the matter is that the Chiefs don’t have a sexy home schedule, which means we’re going to have to settle for Deshaun Watson versus Mahomes in a battle to see who’s the best quarterback from the 2017 draft … JK, Mahomes has already won that battle.

Dream scenario for NFL opener: Chiefs at Buccaneers

Although the defending Super Bowl champion usually gets to host the opener, the NFL should should think about bucking tradition this year and give us Chiefs-Buccaneers. For this to happen, the NFL would have to send the Chiefs on the road to start the season, which the Chiefs might not approve of, but I have to think that every other NFL fan in the world could get behind this so that we could get TOM BRADY VERSUS PATRICK MAHOMES.

These two quarterbacks have already played three epic games against each other, so why not add a fourth one to the list. Sending the Chiefs on the road to open the season wouldn’t be completely unprecedented. Back in 2013, the Ravens were forced to open their season on the road in Denver due to a parking conflict with the Baltimore Orioles, who were scheduled to play on the same night. Although the Chiefs won’t be dealing with the same problem — because the Royals have already agreed to move their game — the truth is that the Chiefs just don’t have a very attractive home schedule and sending them on the road makes more sense.

If this game were to happen, it means the 2020 NFL season would both start and end in Tampa since Raymond James Stadium will be hosting Super Bowl LV. Of course, if the NFL is concerned that Brady might not be in sync with his new teammates in time to go toe-to-toe with Mahomes in Week 1, the Chiefs also play at New Orleans and Baltimore, and both of those games would also make for an attractive opener, but again, it would involve the Chiefs playing on the road. The good news for the NFL is that if you’re going to break tradition and send the defending Super Bowl champ on the road, this is the year to do it. After all, this has been a year of total craziness and no one will bat an eye if you decide to throw a curveball and buck tradition for the opener.

LAS VEGAS

When non-essential travel is allowed, QB DeSHONE KIZER should now be on a bus to Bustville.  Kizer was waived yesterday by the Raiders after spending 2019 a distant third on the depth chart.

Jordan Cohn of Radio.com with a retrospective of Kizer’s career:

DeShone Kizer once threw for three touchdowns in a tooth-and-nail game against the Green Bay Packers. Unfortunately, the Browns lost, but Kizer’s arm had gotten the team out ahead by two scores, a lead they held into the final quarter of play.

In another outing, Kizer showed off his ability at the goal line, scampering in for a nice rushing touchdown to tie up a divisional contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Each one of the above two descriptions is about as close to a Tom Brady-esque and Cam Newton-esque performance, respectively, that you’re going to find from Kizer at the NFL level. The Browns drafted him in the 2nd round of the 2017 NFL Draft with high expectations, perhaps due to the lofty expectations that Kizer placed for himself.

That’s because Kizer set his ceiling fairly high using two notable quarterbacks as his points of comparison (kudos to Redditor u/TiksonBobikson for the find).

@NFLDraft

DeShone Kizer says he can be greatest QB of all-time and combines Tom Brady’s intellect with Cam Newton’s body.

This isn’t to say that showing confidence is a bad thing for a young, aspiring quarterback. In fact, I’m sure the majority of NFL players think that they’re capable of becoming the next best thing. That’s how they achieve their dreams of breaking out in the college game and bursting onto the scene as a blossoming NFL star.

But the greatest quarterback of all time certainly doesn’t boast a career record of 0-15, nor does he lead the league in interceptions in his rookie campaign with 22, compared to just 11 touchdowns. The GOAT probably doesn’t get traded off of the team that drafted him after just one year, and most definitely isn’t waived by his new team and then waived again by another team the following year.

But unfortunately for Kizer, all of this is true. His career hasn’t been all it was cracked up to be, and he once again finds himself on the waiver wire, looking for a new chance. Should he find some of the talent that he used to achieve terrific success at Notre Dame and impress a willing suitor, it’s not too late for his career to start again… *cough* Bill Belichick *cough*.

JACKSONVILLE

EDGE AARON LYNCH has signed with the Jaguars.  Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com:

Free agent Aaron Lynch, who can play both defensive end and outside linebacker, has signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team announced Tuesday.

The signing of Lynch, 27, is another indication the Jaguars are going to use more 3-4 looks in 2020; the team has run the 4-3 defense since coach Gus Bradley was hired in 2013. Todd Wash came to Jacksonville from Seattle with Bradley as the defensive line coach and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2016, and coach Doug Marrone retained Wash as the defensive coordinator when he was hired in 2017.

The Jaguars drafted Josh Allen last season and K’Lavon Chaisson last month, both of whom can play both defensive end and outside linebacker. After the draft, Marrone said the Jaguars would employ some 3-4 looks with the strongside linebacker playing up on the line of scrimmage.

Lynch spent the past two years with the Chicago Bears and appeared in 29 regular-season games with five sacks.

While Lynch missed only three regular-season games, the veteran defender sat out extended portions of training camp because of injuries each of the past two summers.

The 6-foot-5 pass-rusher broke into the league with San Francisco (2014-17) after the 49ers drafted him in the fifth round out of Notre Dame.

– – –

The Jaguars says that they are not shopping RB LEONARD FOURNETTE, even as they decline his fifth-year option.  Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com:

The Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t pick up Leonard Fournette’s fifth-year option, but they are going to be counting on his being a big part of their offense in 2020.

The Jaguars were shopping the fourth overall pick in 2017 for more than a month without any serious trade offers, and general manager Dave Caldwell told the PFT PM podcast on Monday that Fournette is part of the team’s plans going forward.

“There were just some minor discussions with that but nothing substantial throughout the draft or prior to the draft,” Caldwell said on the podcast. “I think the mindset is that we’re going to go forward with Leonard on the team. I had a good talk with him on Friday. I know Coach [Doug] Marrone has had some discussion with him.

“He seems to be in great shape and mental frame of mind, and we feel that he’ll have a great season this year.”

Fournette, 25, is coming off his best season as a pro, rushing for a career-high 1,152 yards and totaling 1,674 yards from scrimmage. He led the Jaguars with 76 receptions, but he scored only three touchdowns and was one of only three players in the NFL to catch 50 or more passes without a touchdown reception (Dalvin Cook and Kenyan Drake were the others).

TENNESSEE

Free agent CB LOGAN RYAN has taken to Instagram to say that wherever he ends up, it won’t be back with the Titans.

My chapter in Tennessee has come to a close.

To the @Titans fans: Thank you for all the love. The energy and support this past season is what led to an epic run.

To my Titans Teammates: I love all y’all. Being a leader and earning y’all respect is what meant most to me. Win or lose we stuck together and backed down from no one. (Hyenas)

To the Animal Welfare Community: My foundation @rarf was founded and blossomed in TN. All those working hard to support our four legged friends I’m forever grateful.

I’m looking forward to continue to play at an elite level for a organization that’s a great fit for my family and me.

Everybody Stay Safe & Positive during these crazy times.

Ryan is heading into his 8^th NFL season at an unknown destination after three years with the Titans.  His first four seasons were with New England.

MIAMI

TUA TAGOVAILOA will not disturb the retirement of Miami’s #13.  And his new number was not retired for Garo Yepremian.  Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com:

The Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa will wear No. 1, the first quarterback in franchise history to do so.

Tagovailoa, drafted by the Dolphins with the No. 5 pick in last month’s NFL draft, is the most anticipated Dolphins quarterback since Dan Marino, the greatest player in franchise history.

Tagovailoa wore No. 13 in college at Alabama, a number that is retired by the Dolphins for Marino. Tagovailoa didn’t consider asking Marino to unretire his jersey, instead taking his own path with No. 1.

“For me, I’m not too worried about what number I have. I understand No. 13 is retired, and it should be,” Tagovailoa said shortly after he was drafted. “Dan Marino, he’s the GOAT. He’s like the mayor out there, and I have much respect for him. Whatever number I’m given by that organization, if it’s 78 or 99 — I’ll wear it. It doesn’t matter.”

After the Dolphins announced his number, Tagovailoa posted a photo to Twitter of him wearing his new jersey with the caption “For the Audience of 1.”

Seventeen players were assigned No. 1 during the 2019 season, most notably then-Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.

Tagovailoa will be the seventh player in franchise history to wear No. 1 in a regular-season game. Many of the previous players to wear it were specialists, such as punter Matt Turk (2000-04) and kickers Garo Yepremian (1970-78), Dan Carpenter (2008) and Cody Parkey (2017).

Hall of Fame Houston Oilers quarterback Warren Moon also wore No. 1.

NEW YORK JETS

As you might expect, the Jets are saying they won’t be too overconfident when they play the depleted Patriots.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

Jets quarterback Sam Darnold knows what the “big deal” has been in the AFC East this offseason.

The division has been ruled by the Patriots for two decades, but the quarterback who has been at the helm of New England’s offense won’t be back with the team. Tom Brady left for the Buccaneers in a move that Darnold noted was the cause of “headlines” around the league.

According to Darnold, it has not caused any change in the way that he and his team will view the Patriots.

“For us, every single game in the NFL is a tough one, and I think any player can attest to that,” Darnold said, via Bob Glauber of Newsday. “So we’re not going to take anyone more or less lightly just because — even though one of the greatest players, if not the greatest player of all time, left the organization. We’re not going to take them any more lightly.”

Oddsmakers are taking the Patriots more lightly than they did when Brady was with the team, but they’re still projected to win more games than the Jets and that serves as a reminder that there’s plenty for the Jets to focus on in house in the near future.

THIS AND THAT

FAVRE

Not a good look for The Ole Gunslinger, taking money for social hits he didn’t carry out.  Darin Gantt of ProFootballTalk.com:

Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre was paid $1.1 million for speeches he never gave, according to an audit of the Mississippi Department of Human Services.

The 104-page audit also uncovered some other shady investments of public funds designed to help the poorest Mississippians, including buying expensive cars, hiring family members of state officials and sponsoring a college baseball tournament.

According to Luke Ramseth of the Mississippi Clarion Ledger, Favre was paid $1.1 million in two installments by the Mississippi Community Education Center for appearances, promotions, autographs and speaking engagements. Auditors said after reviewing dates and other details they determined Favre “did not speak nor was he present for those events.”

Favre doesn’t face any criminal charges related to the misappropriation of public funds, but others will. His agent did not respond to requests for comment from the newspaper.

Mississippi State Auditor Shad White said the report “shows the most egregious misspending my staff have seen in their careers at the Office of the State Auditor,” adding that “if there was a way to misspend money, it seems DHS leadership or their grantees thought of it and tried it.”

More than $94 million in welfare money from the fiscal year 2019 was “questioned” by auditors.

It would have been a shaky use of public funds to pay him big money with welfare funds for “events” that he actually participated in, much less what happened or didn’t happen.

TOP 10 OFFENSES

A big project from Chris Wesseling of NFL.com puts three of the top 10 offenses in the NFL in one division – the NFC South:

Now more than ever, it’s a young man’s game at quarterback. At just over 23 years and four months, Patrick Mahomes in 2018 became the youngest player to win MVP honors since Dan Marino in 1984. Having just turned 23 when he picked up the award a year later, Lamar Jackson is the youngest MVP winner since Jim Brown in 1957. Leading talented offenses of their own, a coterie of quarterbacks capable of creative out-of-structure magic may be vying for the next MVP trophy. Houston’s Deshaun Watson, Dallas’ Dak Prescott, Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz and Arizona’s Kyler Murray represent a new wave, featuring arms strong enough for designed passes, legs quick enough for designed runs and quick-twitch athleticism necessary for second-reaction plays once the pass rush breaches the castle walls.

Assessing the recent 2020 draft class in light of the sport’s evolution, one AFC executive concluded, via Bob McGinn of The Athletic, “The stationary guy in today’s football, I don’t know how he survives. At any position.”

The stationary signal-callers seemed to stand dumbfounded in 2019, no longer possessed of the nimble feet and rocket arm necessary to escape trouble, bolster a diminished supporting cast and make jailbreak defenses pay for their sins of aggression.

Tom Brady suffered through the worst season of his legendary career. Drew Brees was outplayed by his backup’s backup in the season-ending loss to the Vikings. Philip Rivers barely staved off a midseason benching for Tyrod Taylor. Eli Manning was finally tapped on the shoulder. Ben Roethlisberger lasted just two games before an elbow injury sent him to the operating table.

As I survey the landscape of NFL offenses this offseason, I see the Chiefs and Ravens pulling away from the pack. Can Brady and Rivers reclaim some of that turf with the help of new — and plausibly superior — supporting casts?

With the draft and the bulk of free agency in the books, let’s examine the hierarchy of NFL offenses.

THE TOP FIVE

1) Kansas City Chiefs

Quarterback: A+ | Patrick Mahomes, Chad Henne, Shea Patterson

What can a 24-year-old quarterback do for an encore when he just authored one of the most epic playoff runs in his sport’s history? Even without a reliable backup plan, the Chiefs are the envy of the league at the game’s most important position. We have to go back to Aaron Rodgers’ prime years to find a quarterback with the arm talent, athleticism, improvisational skills and decision making Mahomes has displayed since he took the reins of Andy Reid’s offense in 2018.

Backfield: A- | Damien Williams, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, DeAndre Washington, Darwin Thompson

AFC West defensive coordinators were already checking under their beds for Mahomes before they turn out their bedroom lights at night. Now they have to contend with Edwards-Helaire, a runner-receiver hybrid conjuring up images of a young Darren Sproles and Priest Holmes. Throw in Super Bowl hero Williams and former Raiders scat back Washington, and this backfield is deep and multi-faceted compared to last year’s edition.

Receiving corps: A+ | Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce (TE), Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson, Ricky Seals-Jones (TE)

The quick-strike offense plays off Hill and Kelce, a pair of perennial Pro Bowlers and the focal points of opposing game plans. Against all odds, the Chiefs maintained their depth this offseason, agreeing to new deals with Watkins and Robinson — a pair of secondary receivers capable of sailing past 100 yards when the coverage is slanted toward Hill and Kelce. The speedy Hardman is an intriguing wild card after amassing 1,426 all-purpose yards as a rookie.

Offensive line: B | Eric Fisher, Andrew Wylie, Austin Reiter, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Mitchell Schwartz, Mike Remmers, Martinas Rankin, Lucas Niang

While Schwartz may be the best right tackle in football, the rest of the line operates at a high enough level with little fanfare to show for it. With Remmers on hand as a utility lineman and Niang drafted in the third round, this unit is in a better position to withstand a major injury in 2020.

2) Baltimore Ravens

Quarterback: A+ | Lamar Jackson, Robert Griffin III, Trace McSorley

Defensive coaches around the league are brainstorming new tactics to slow the reigning MVP, perhaps clinging to the Titans’ game plan in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. That’s easier said than done. Aided by an innovative coaching staff and an expanding arsenal of weapons at his disposal, Jackson is stating his case as the most electrifying dual-threat quarterback of all time.

Backfield: A+ | Mark Ingram, J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill

The Ravens aren’t resting on their laurels after boasting one of the most unstoppable rushing attacks the NFL has ever seen. As if their three-headed backfield hydra wasn’t scary enough, they landed Ohio State star J.K. Dobbins, a dynamic back viewed by some draftniks as the top talent at the position in this year’s class. It speaks to Baltimore’s largesse that Edwards is rendered an afterthought on the heels of an impressive second season, which featured 711 rushing yards at 5.3 yards per attempt.

Receiving corps: B | Mark Andrews (TE), Marquise Brown, Miles Boykin, Willie Snead, Devin Duvernay, Chris Moore, James Proche, Nick Boyle (TE)

Andrews’ emergence as a Pro Bowl tight end and Jackson’s go-to target enabled the Ravens to deal former first-round pick Hayden Hurst to Atlanta for valuable draft capital. Brown streaked out of the gates as a DeSean Jackson clone, burning defenses with his deep speed, before disappearing in November and December. His 126-yard performance in the loss to Tennessee bodes well for a strong sophomore campaign. An athletic freak perfectly suited for the NFL’s slot role, Duvernay is just the sort of chain-mover who should capitalize on Jackson’s quick strikes between the hashes.

Offensive line: B+ | Ronnie Stanley, Bradley Bozeman, Matt Skura, D.J. Fluker, Orlando Brown, Patrick Mekari, Tyre Phillips, Ben Powers, Ben Bredeson

Stanley’s emergence as a first-team All-Pro gives Baltimore a tackle tandem unrivaled by any outside of New Orleans. The interior is questionable, on the other hand, with the retirement of all-decade guard Marshal Yanda and the severe late-season knee injury sustained by center Skura.

3) New Orleans Saints

Quarterback: A- | Drew Brees, Taysom Hill, Jameis Winston

Still one of the league’s most effective passers, Brees has left lingering doubts about his waning arm strength in each of the past two postseasons. In fact, jack-of-all-trades Hill was the best player on the field for the Saints in their upset loss to the Vikings, succeeding downfield where Brees failed. Fresh off laser eye surgery, Winston offers more upside than any backup in the league — with the possible exception of the aforementioned enigmatic Hill.

Backfield: A- | Alvin Kamara, Latavius Murray, Dwayne Washington, Tony Jones Jr.

Playing through high-ankle and knee injuries, Kamara struggled to break tackles and make the first man miss last season. When he’s fully healthy, there may be no better mismatch in football than Kamara versus a safety or linebacker with open space to roam. Murray proved to be a fine fallback option, filling Mark Ingram’s vacancy as the power-back complement.

Receiving Corps: A | Michael Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Jared Cook (TE), Tre’Quan Smith, Adam Trautman (TE), Deonte Harris, Josh Hill (TE)

Thomas is the most reliable first down in the league, armed with vice-grip hands and a power forward’s physicality at the catch point. A trade deadline savior in San Francisco last year, Sanders will fill the sidekick role that has been a revolving door ever since Brandin Cooks was shipped out after an 1,173-yard season in 2016. Despite a few hiccups early, Cook came through as a big-time playmaker in the second half of the season. Drafted in the third round last month, the 6-foot-5 Trautman is an intriguing red-zone weapon.

Offensive line: A | Terron Armstead, Andrus Peat, Erik McCoy, Larry Warford, Ryan Ramczyk, Cesar Ruiz, Cameron Tom, Nick Easton

Having assembled a deep, balanced roster, the Saints could afford to approach the first round of last month’s draft with the idea of cherry-picking the best player available. That happened to be Michigan center Cesar Ruiz, who is expected to push veteran Warford for the starting job at right guard. Center is already manned by McCoy, who exceeded expectations as a rookie starter in 2019. Bookend tackles Armstead and Ramczyk are primed to enter each of the next handful of seasons as legitimate Pro Bowl candidates.

4) Dallas Cowboys

Quarterback: A- | Dak Prescott, Andy Dalton, Ben DiNucci

Leading the league’s most efficient offense by Football Outsiders’ metrics through the first half of the 2019 season, Prescott played well enough to keep his name on the periphery of the MVP discussion until the Thanksgiving debacle versus Buffalo. Should the franchise quarterback go down with an injury, the surrounding talent is strong enough to elevate newfound backup Dalton to the first postseason victory of his career.

Backfield: A- | Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, Jamize Olawale, Sewo Olonilua

At first glance, Elliott’s 2019 numbers don’t look much different than his first three seasons. Look closer, though, and you’ll see a back who struggled to make defenders miss at the second level. The big plays dried up, which helps explain why he lost more than 22 yards per game from his 2018 performance. Pollard proved to be a fine change of pace, averaging an efficient 5.6 yards on 101 touches.

Receiving corps: A- | Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb, Blake Jarwin (TE), Devin Smith, Dalton Schultz (TE)

Although he tends to disappear for stretches, Cooper has been one of the finest route runners and boundary receivers since landing in Dallas as Prescott’s No. 1 receiver. Would the Cowboys have shelled out $20 million per year for a new contract if they had an inkling that Lamb — the sixth-rated player on their draft board — would be free for the picking with the first round’s No. 17 overall pick? It’s an interesting thought. The suitably named Gallup is already one of the NFL’s most promising second fiddles, recording 1,107 yards despite missing two games with a knee injury early in his second season. Prescott might miss future Hall of Famer Jason Witten’s leadership, but Jarwin is a more athletic pass catcher with better run-after-catch skills.

Offensive line: B+ | Tyron Smith, Connor Williams, Joe Looney, Zack Martin, La’el Collins, Connor McGovern, Tyler Biadasz

Between center Travis Frederick’s retirement and left guard Connor Williams’ November ACL injury, the interior will have a different look in 2020. Veteran Looney held up just fine as Frederick’s 2018 stand-in, which bodes well for new coach Mike McCarthy. A third-round pick in 2019, McGovern could slide into Williams’ guard spot after missing his entire rookie season with a pectoral injury.

5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Quarterback: B | Tom Brady, Blaine Gabbert, Ryan Griffin

If Brady goes down, the suddenly swank Bucs can kiss their ballyhooed coming-out party goodbye. If Brady stays healthy, we’ll have a better idea how much his skills have eroded after languishing last season in a broken offense with precious little playmaking ability at his disposal. I don’t buy the trendy notion that the 42-year-old has seen no noticeable drop off in arm strength and mobility. His passes outside the numbers tend to dive at the catch point, and he’s too often a sitting duck in the face of pressure. That said, he has mastered situational football and maintains a preternatural feel for attacking the right area of the field at just the right moment. As the roster stands now, this is among the most talented pass-catching groups of his storied career.

Backfield: B- | Ronald Jones, Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Dare Ogunbowale, Raymond Calais

Jones was one of the most improved runners in the league last season, exploding through holes and breaking a slew of tackles. The problem is pass protection, a task he wasn’t trusted to perform with aplomb while Jameis Winston was under center. Now that Brady is running the show, that role takes on added responsibility for a quarterback with a long line of expert chip-blockers from Kevin Faulk to Danny Woodhead to James White. Vaughn is an interesting flier as a third-down pick, but don’t be surprised if a savvy veteran is brought in to round out this group.

Receiving corps: A+ | Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski (TE), O.J. Howard (TE), Cameron Brate (TE), Tyler Johnson, Scott Miller, Justin Watson

There were weeks last season when Evans made a run at Saints record-breaker Michael Thomas as the most dangerous big receiver in football. There were other weeks when Godwin made a run at Evans as the best all-around receiver on the roster. There may not be a better one-two punch out there. What can we expect from Gronkowski, fresh out of the WWE’s squared circle? For the bulk of the 2018 season, he was outplayed by new teammate Howard, who was well on his way to a Pro Bowl berth of his own before a foot injury ended the younger tight end’s season in November. With yet another Lombardi Trophy on the line, though, Gronkowski came through with game-changing plays against the Chiefs and Rams in the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl LIII.

Offensive line: B- | Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet, Ryan Jensen, Alex Cappa, Tristan Wirfs, Joe Haeg, Josh Wells

This will be an interesting experiment, watching Brady behind an offensive line that too often had Winston scrambling into and out of trouble. Although Marpet is a top-tier guard and Wirfs is loaded with potential at right tackle, the other three positions tend to be hit-or-miss depending on the competition level.

THE NEXT FIVE

6) San Francisco 49ers

Quarterback: B | Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Mullens, C.J. Beathard

Backfield: A- | Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman, Kyle Juszczyk, Jerick McKinnon, Jeff Wilson Jr.

Receiving corps: B+ | George Kittle (TE), Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Kendrick Bourne, Jalen Hurd, Travis Benjamin, Richie James Jr., Trent Taylor, Dante Pettis, Jauan Jennings

Offensive line: A- | Trent Williams, Laken Tomlinson, Weston Richburg, Daniel Brunskill, Mike McGlinchey, Justin Skule, Ben Garland, Tom Compton, Colton McKivitz

7) Cleveland Browns

Quarterback: B- | Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum, Garrett Gilbert

Backfield: A | Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, D’Ernest Johnson, Andy Janovich, Dontrell Hilliard

Receiving corps: A | Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Austin Hooper (TE), David Njoku (TE), Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Harrison Bryant (TE)

Offensive line: B- | Jedrick Wills Jr., Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin, Chris Hubbard, Kendall Lamm, Nick Harris

8) Indianapolis Colts

Quarterback: B | Philip Rivers, Jacoby Brissett, Jacob Eason

Backfield: A | Marlon Mack, Jonathan Taylor, Nyheim Hines, Jordan Wilkins

Receiving corps: B | T.Y. Hilton, Michael Pittman Jr., Parris Campbell, Zach Pascal, Jack Doyle (TE), Trey Burton (TE), Mo Alie-Cox (TE)

Offensive line: A | Anthony Castonzo, Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Mark Glowinski, Braden Smith, Le’Raven Clark, Danny Pinter

9) Green Bay Packers

Quarterback: A- | Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love, Tim Boyle

Running back: A | Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, Jamaal Williams, Tyler Ervin

Receiving corps: B- | Davante Adams, Devin Funchess, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jace Sternberger (TE), Josiah Deguara (TE), Equanimeous St. Brown, Jake Kumerow

Offensive line: B+ | David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Corey Linsley, Billy Turner, Rick Wagner, Jon Runyan, Jake Hanson, Simon Stepaniak

10) Atlanta Falcons

Quarterback: A- | Matt Ryan, Matt Schaub, Kurt Benkert

Backfield: B- | Todd Gurley, Ito Smith, Brian Hill, Qadree Ollison

Receiving Corps: A | Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, Hayden Hurst (TE), Laquon Treadwell, Russell Gage, Olamide Zaccheaus, Jaeden Graham (TE)

Offensive line: B- | Jake Matthews, James Carpenter, Alex Mack, Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary, Justin McCray, Matt Hennessy

* * * * *

OFFENSES KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers.