Attending to all of your mail, from 30,000 toes, on my method again to Boston from Phoenix …
From Bruce (@bdei80): When will Aaron Rodgers get traded?
Bruce, I believe it occurs before folks suppose as a result of I don’t suppose issues between the Packers and Jets are in almost as dangerous a spot as some appear to imagine they're. We talked about earlier within the week the rapport between GMs Joe Douglas and Brian Gutekunst from their time developing as younger highway scouts. The 2 head coaches, Robert Saleh and Matt LaFleur, are greatest buddies. So any uncooked emotions between Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, I believe, are manageable, due to the relationships in place.
There’s additionally been progress towards hammering out a deal, largely as a result of regardless of the entire who’s-got-leverage argument, there’s cause for either side to be motivated to get this one performed.
What is going to that deal appear to be? If I needed to guess, I’d put it at both the forty second or forty third total choose, and a conditional choose or picks down the road. And to reply your query immediately, I believe it may occur as early as this week, and definitely will get performed earlier than the draft. So have endurance, Jets followers—your quarterback is coming.
Jeffrey Phelps/AP
From Jon Weeks Burner (@joshstanleyekc): What are the Texans doing at choose 2?
Jon, I believe they’re taking a quarterback, and one of the best piece of proof I've to show it was with how they dealt with the supply of the primary total choose earlier within the month. For a time there, it definitely appeared just like the double commerce state of affairs would occur—with Chicago buying and selling first with Houston to 2, then with Carolina to 9. As we detailed a few weeks in the past, the Bears and Texans couldn’t fairly get to the end line on a deal.
That stated, that Houston was prepared to go as far down that highway as they did is a reasonably good inform they’re the place most rival groups suppose they're, and that’s locked in on taking a quarterback at 2. If there’s a bit of proof on the contrary, it’s that neither GM Nick Caserio nor coach DeMeco Ryans had been on the three quarterback professional days final week. However I are inclined to suppose that has extra to do with a brand new coach/GM pairing having higher work to do again on the workplace than what could be achieved in Columbus, Lexington or Tuscaloosa.
My guess is the Texans wind up with both CJ Stroud or Bryce Younger—whichever one isn’t taken first total by the Panthers.
From brandondiaz (@brandondiaz09): Ideas on the flexing of TNF?
Brandon, I personally suppose the flex scheduling and thought of groups taking part in a number of Thursday night time video games in a given 12 months (that aren’t back-to-back, and necessitate taking part in on a number of quick weeks) is a short-sighted thought cooked as much as satiate a broadcast associate in Amazon that’s important to the way forward for the league and paid high greenback for its bundle. Interval.
No much less a determine than the reigning Tremendous Bowl MVP, and a man who’s arguably develop into the face of the league, denounced the concept on social media. Patrick Mahomes most definitely isn’t alone. I talked to at least one common supervisor this week who raised the hidden toll of those video games on gamers—he stated his guys really feel the consequences of taking part in two video games in 5 days for weeks after the very fact. To make gamers, and significantly older gamers, try this twice in a season would presumably compound that drawback.
Then, there’s the truth that with flex scheduling, you’d be transferring groups into that state of affairs down the stretch (the proposal was for Weeks 14-17) that might virtually definitely be in competition (in any other case, you don’t flex them in). And that might affect a staff’s well being/standing going into the playoffs.
After that, there’s what this implies for followers who really go to video games, or plan group journeys to go see video games. These are the followers which might be most fervent about soccer and, sadly, additionally those NFL is aware of it’ll by no means lose, mad as they may recover from one thing like this.
Now, I get it. The NFL’s not a non-profit. These selections are made proceed to place the NFL to maximise income, and a share of that income leads to the gamers’ pockets, so it’s not like they’re simply getting taken benefit of right here. And to that, my query could be: When is sufficient sufficient? The reply? Most likely by no means, in the event you take note of how the NFL operates.
From Calum (@Calum_C): Any rumor or interview that stunned you? What was it?
Yup. Not telling.
From Blake A. Waters (@blake_a_waters): What staff is probably to make a push for Hendon Hooker late first spherical?
Blake, the Tennessee quarterback has a lot going for him. He was hyper productive as a senior, and one of the best participant on a staff that revitalized the Volunteers long-dormant model. He’s acquired ok dimension. He’s acquired a giant arm. And he completely crushed his conferences, which is how a number of the late first-round buzz began percolating.
The draw back right here is that he tore his ACL on the finish of Tennessee’s season, in all probability will miss a good portion of the spring and summer season, turned 25 in January and is coming from an previous Baylor, basketball-on-grass sort of offense. However in the event you can wait a 12 months, and also you’re comfy with the truth that he might not begin for you till after his twenty sixth birthday, there could be good worth in an reasonably priced end-of-round-one deal that offers you contractual management by 2027 (Some groups like Hooker greater than Anthony Richardson or Will Levis).
So a Minnesota or New Orleans may make sense within the 20s, as may a staff like Indy by both early within the second spherical, or after buying and selling up into the again finish of the primary.
From JoeShmo (@JoeShmo2123): Jon Gannon alluded to gadgets on the NFLPA report card being fastened on the Playing cards staff facility throughout his spherical desk dialogue. However he did not point out any specifics. Do you by probability have any? Thanks.
To start with, for many who missed it, the Cardinals actually took it on the chin within the NFLPA ballot and, truthful or not, had a notion drawback to wash up along with really making adjustments at their follow facility. For his half, Jonathan Gannon did a very good job of addressing all that on Tuesday—saying he’s been speaking to gamers in getting their solutions, and that proprietor Michael Bidwill has been receptive and open to any and all proposed adjustments.
Second, Arizona already had some renovations underway earlier than Gannon and GM Monti Ossenfort had been employed, or the NFLPA report card was launched. The Cardinals have already upgraded their weight room and their coaching room, changed the turf of their area home and invested in sports activities science initiatives. And, by the sounds of it, there’s extra coming.
Which, actually, is the upshot of doing one thing like this for the NFLPA. It places the warmth on groups to make enhancements for his or her gamers. I’d count on to see quite a lot of it taking place throughout the league this offseason.
From Noah Grey burner (@TheGoatMahomes): What's Odell's present asking worth for a brand new contract?
Noah, phrase earlier than his look on the Arizona Biltmore on Tuesday was that he was in search of one thing within the neighborhood of $15 million per 12 months. That’s down from the place he was beforehand, so I do suppose there’s room for negotiation right here, and I do suppose displaying up on the lodge the place the homeowners conferences had been going down was a savvy transfer from a enterprise standpoint.
To me, this comes right down to what Odell Beckham Jr. needs, from cash to geography to teaching to successful. He’s not younger anymore, however he doesn’t flip 31 till November. It’s not arduous to see him having one other good run or two, just like the one he was having with the Rams earlier than tearing his ACL once more within the Tremendous Bowl. Which is why I believe touchdown in the proper spot is crucial and, you’d hope, excessive on his record of priorities.
Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports activities
From Travis Champagne (@tchampagne34): We preserve listening to the Patriots are ready for the worth to come back down on Jeudy and Hopkins. What’s a worth you suppose or are listening to they're prepared to fulfill? Who's extra more likely to attain a worth level the Pats are prepared to fulfill?
Travis, I don’t know if that’s the case on DeAndre Hopkins. The Patriots test in on all the things, and I don’t suppose a cursory cellphone name, by which they in all probability additionally talked about different gamers, is a good indication of robust curiosity. Within the case of Hopkins, there’d even be quite a bit to type by, from his relationship with Invoice O’Brien to his contract to his well being to his age ... sufficient so, in the event you had been in, you’d need to get a glance up shut.
To my information, and to that finish, the Patriots aren’t one of many groups which have gotten (or sought) permission to speak to Hopkins and his camp from Arizona.
Jeudy is extra attention-grabbing to me. He’s 24. He’s nonetheless acquired the first-round expertise that was there in faculty, and has flashed within the professionals. There’s additionally some strong reasoning to why he hasn’t damaged by, on condition that he’s missed time the final two years with accidents and is now on his third offensive system in 4 years. Add the Nick Saban connection that’ll permit New England to get the proper data on him, and the Patriots pursuing Jeudy makes a ton of sense.
The issue? Denver’s probably not buying him. As we stated earlier within the week, the Broncos are creatively trying so as to add draft capital, with their first- and second-round slots gone to Seattle for Russell Wilson, and the first-rounder they acquired for Bradley Chubb despatched to New Orleans for Sean Payton. So in the event you’re prepared to assist Denver fill that gap of their warfare chest of draft picks, then you possibly can have a dialog about one among their younger pass-catchers.
I’m simply unsure New England could be prepared to fish in these waters, particularly with a crying want for sort out to be addressed with the 14th total choose.
From Fid (@RandyFidler): You are the Panthers GM draft day. Who're you deciding on and who would you goal with the 2nd spherical choose to enhance?
I believe Bryce Younger. Every part I’ve heard about Younger as a child is A-plus-plus. His OC from Alabama, Invoice O’Brien, instructed groups within the fall he’s by no means had a participant like Younger, and O’Brien coached Tom Brady. Scouts will inform you his accuracy, instincts, pocket motion, soccer IQ, competitiveness and toughness are all A-plus. I’ve additionally heard he completely blew away Carolina coach Frank Reich once they sat down and talked soccer.
If he was 6'3" and 220 kilos, there’d be no dialogue. He’d be the primary total choose. However he’s not, and that isn't a cursory subject for groups.
And it might be an issue for Younger, too, as a result of CJ Stroud does have closer-to-prototype dimension (6'3", 214 kilos) for the place, and brings quite a lot of what Younger does to the desk. The questions with him are extra on his willingness to run, put his physique on the road and create off-schedule—issues he really did flash in his remaining faculty sport, which occurred to be a nationwide semifinal towards Georgia.
Finally, I believe there’s a very good probability Stroud winds up going first, as a result of he’s shut sufficient to Younger traits-wise, and also you’re properly throughout the scouting guardrails size-wise for a quarterback with him. However I’ve heard sufficient folks name Younger particular—actually particular—to the purpose the place it’d be arduous for me to cross on him.
From Bandit (@ktownbandit): Sporting a N95 on the flight residence?
No. Full-on gasoline masks.
From I am a Bengals Fan Now! (@DonRidenour): Why do not you replace your pinned tweet?
Because you requested, Don, I’ll do it proper now.
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