2026/2027 Season NFL Thread

[Passacaglia]

Might as well get this going early! I'm dropping the "regular season" part from the title, since we kept it going into the playoffs last season.

Let's get this started with a Lions reporter tempted by the "cap out" button...

Detroit Lions can produce 2nd-most cap space in NFL with simple contract moves | Pride Of Detroit (https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detroit-lions-salary-cap-contracts/157254/detroit-lions-can-produce-2nd-most-cap-space-in-nfl-with-simple-contract-moves#comments)

Boom! Right there, the Lions drop Goff’s 2026 cap hit by $40 million, leaving him with a cap hit that ranks just 16th at the quarterback position (his current cap hit is fifth-highest).

The Lions could do simple restructures for a few other contracts, as well. Amon-Ra St. Brown ($27.5 million), Alim McNeill ($23.85 million), and Penei Sewell ($19.9 million) all have high salary numbers that can be partially restructured into signing bonuses to increase cap space. In fact, according to OverTheCap, the Lions can create $128 million in 2026 cap space with just simple restructures, the second most of any team in the NFL.

[NobodyHere]

What is Daniel Jones worth?

[GrantDawg]

What is Daniel Jones worth?


That's such a good question. He already scored a huge contract that he bombed out of, and now he has shown out to demand another one. He might end up being his generations Kirk Cousins, but possibly less successful.

[RainMaker]

I would say a lot since this draft is pretty crap unless you're one of the teams that is content with tanking next season. Teams that probably need a QB (assuming Vegas drafts Mendoza):

Cleveland
Indianapolis
New York Jets
Minnesota
Miami
Pittsburgh
Arizona

Then you have teams that might be looking around like Houston or Atlanta.

So there should be some pretty strong bidding for a guy like Jones. I'd think Minnesota and Indianapolis would be the frontrunners. And I think it would require a bare minimum of around 3 years, $110 million which would be similar to what Darnold got.

[GrantDawg]

I would say a lot since this draft is pretty crap unless you're one of the teams that is content with tanking next season. Teams that probably need a QB (assuming Vegas drafts Mendoza):

Cleveland
Indianapolis
New York Jets
Minnesota
Miami
Pittsburgh
Arizona

Then you have teams that might be looking around like Houston or Atlanta.

So there should be some pretty strong bidding for a guy like Jones. I'd think Minnesota and Indianapolis would be the frontrunners. And I think it would require a bare minimum of around 3 years, $110 million which would be similar to what Darnold got.
I do wonder if he wants to stay in Indy. If I were him I'd be very tempted to head to Minnesota.

[Bobble]

Might as well get this going early! I'm dropping the "regular season" part from the title, since we kept it going into the playoffs last season.

Let's get this started with a Lions reporter tempted by the "cap out" button...

Detroit Lions can produce 2nd-most cap space in NFL with simple contract moves | Pride Of Detroit (https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detroit-lions-salary-cap-contracts/157254/detroit-lions-can-produce-2nd-most-cap-space-in-nfl-with-simple-contract-moves#comments)

Boom! Right there, the Lions drop Goff’s 2026 cap hit by $40 million, leaving him with a cap hit that ranks just 16th at the quarterback position (his current cap hit is fifth-highest).

Quote:
The Lions could do simple restructures for a few other contracts, as well. Amon-Ra St. Brown ($27.5 million), Alim McNeill ($23.85 million), and Penei Sewell ($19.9 million) all have high salary numbers that can be partially restructured into signing bonuses to increase cap space. In fact, according to OverTheCap, the Lions can create $128 million in 2026 cap space with just simple restructures, the second most of any team in the NFL.

Sounds like just enough money to pay Maxx Crosby!

[CrimsonFox]

Dolphins released WR Tyreek Hill and he's not returing. wonder which sharks will circle him.

[albionmoonlight]

Tyreek seems like a guy who is going to get overdrafted in fantasy and get way too much preseason national coverage because of his name. And then he’ll end the season with 34 catches for 427 yards.

32 years old, coming off a very serious knee injury, and his game depended heavily on elite athleticism. Enormous regression incoming.

[Ksyrup]

Next year's SB is on Valentine's Day. Make your Saturday plans now.

[albionmoonlight]

Since the SB is so late now, they should move it to Saturday anyway

[NobodyHere]

Since the SB is so late now, they should move it to Saturday anyway

:+1:

[QuikSand]

so much money being made on the run-up days, game on Saturday is a financial loser

[Sweed]

Since the SB is so late now, they should move it to Saturday anyway

This sounds like a good idea, and is something I never really thought about. It would be more fun watching knowing you had Sunday off.

I wonder how it would affect dollars spent at the SB location? Would people being able to get away on Sunday morning/afternoon come at a cost to hotels, restaurants, etc.? I suppose those that can afford to go it wouldn't make a difference. The rich would just come to town a day earlier anyway?

If it were always on Saturday and most everyone having the next day off Super Bowl parties might be a bit wilder? A few more dui's on Saturday night?

And as I typed my post I see QS posted this..

so much money being made on the run-up days, game on Saturday is a financial loser

[QuikSand]

What is Daniel Jones worth?

I confess I have just mentally penciled him in to go back to the Colts, and haven't really even mulled him as a part of the Browns thread, or my armchair Dolphins planning, etc. Doesn't that feel penetratingly obvious to us all, that they make that move and he takes it in good faith?

I get that "the market" matters in what the two sides should agree to, but... he just doesn't feel like a free agent to me.

[albionmoonlight]

I don't see how the Colts trade for Sauce in a win-now move and then let their QB go. IMO, they are tied to Jones whether it makes sense or not.

[GrantDawg]

We will knkw soon enough. The tag deadline is coming. They either need to make a deal or tag him. If he hits the open market there will be a bidding war.

[Passacaglia]

We will knkw soon enough. The tag deadline is coming. They either need to make a deal or tag him. If he hits the open market there will be a bidding war.

I don't think the tag is that important -- I think that no one will want/have a need for him as much as the Colts do.

[bhlloy]

I think Darnold and the Vikings means any GM making a decision to move on from a QB who has had any amount of success with their team has to be really freaking confident in their ability to find a better option, and there’s almost certainly not a better option out there this year. I think they have to suck it up and bring him back but I don’t envy their position.

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, Darnold makes this decision easy. And if not easy or it ends up being too much money for what they get out of him, at least it's justifiable at the time.

[QuikSand]

So, since the "harvest the discarded early-drafted QBs for latent great value" theme is going around now... who's next there? Trey Lance? Will Levis? Mac Jones for $25m?






(no, it's sam Howell)

[Ksyrup]

Malik Willis was a 3rd rounder but he seems poised for a possible break-out.

[bhlloy]

I think if you really believe in your ability to develop a QB there’s still something there in Lance. He needs so much more experience and time but there are flashes every time I watch him.

If I’m an owner I feel way better giving him the majority of the season and betting that there’s a NFL QB in there somewhere than I do Shedeur or Dillon Gabriel, put it that way.

[flere-imsaho]

Twenty-Eight QBs qualified for QBR using ESPN's methodology (as good as any to create a list of QBs who contributed meaningfully to the 2025 Regular Season), so those are the men I'll be considering.

Tier 1: Consistently: execute & elevate the game plan, improvise successfully, decode & exploit defenses, destroy souls.
Matthew Stafford, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen

You could argue that Mahomes & Allen took a step back this year as both of their organizations decided to see what would happen if they continued to underinvest in the rest of the offense, and that Stafford's success relied a lot on a good line, great playcaller, and elite playmakers, but in a normalized world where Allen has a Top 10 WR, Mahomes has a functioning O-Line, and Puka spends the season suspended due to a PR disaster, these three are still likely responsible for getting their teams a similar number of double-digit wins in the regular season.


Tier 2: Got a lot better, and could still get better.
Trevor Lawrence, Sam Darnold

Despite their success this year, these two still carry reputations as limited and/or prone to bozo playing. But I'd argue that you look at the 2nd half of the season and the playoffs and both of these guys are rounding into elite territory. Yeah, they took a few years to get there and yeah, we expect elite QBs to flash elite-ness from the start, but the elevated play of both this year shows, IMO, that QBs can grow into elite-ness through nurture, and that's important for looking at prospects in the future. You might argue that someone like Darnold doesn't really have a ceiling past where he is now, but go back a few years and we all probably thought his ceiling was down in Tier 6. My point is growth of current ability can also unlock growth of ceiling.


Tier 3: Elite veterans we're starting to suspect might be capped out.
Dak Prescott, Lamar Jackson

Setting aside that Jackson probably played most the season hurt, at this point you kind of know what you have with these guys. They can execute & elevate game plans, improvise successfully, decode & exploit defenses, but there's a cap, you know. Maybe just as simple as not consistently (or ever) destroying souls. Yeah, they'll drag their team to a win here and there, but at this point it's too much to ask them to drag the entire team kicking and screaming to the promised land. However, unlike some guys further down, if the franchise can put even an adequately-constructed team around them, the holy grail is still in play.


Tier 4: Pretty sure he can be Tier 1 or Tier 2 with a functioning O-Line.
Justin Herbert

The knock on Herbert for years has been that the stats nerds love him but he's just not translating that into wins. Well, the counterpoint to that is that the Chargers have consistently been a franchise to make dumb team-building decisions, and that means something. Fast-forward to this season and with finally reasonable play-calling, a defense with a pulse, and a bunch of skill players finally leveling up, things were looking good until he lost his O-Line. And then backup O-Line. And then the backups to the backups. So much so that towards the end of the season the approach to pass protection included "well, Justin's just going to have to gain yards via running or passing while simultaneously fending off the free rusher". So, let's give the guy one more chance with an O-Line with a pulse and check in next year.


Tier 5: Flashes of Awesome, Flashes of Bozo
Drake Maye, Jordan Love, Baker Mayfield, Caleb Williams

All of these guys dragged their teams to wins this season, and all of these guys also gave games away. If Tier 6 is guys who generally aren't going to lose you games, but are also guys who generally won't drag their teams to wins, these guys are going to be a big part of why you won or lost. At this point with Love & Mayfield you're probably going to have to resign yourself to hoping for a good streak of things bouncing the right way (Baker's first half of the season, for instance) at the right time. Maye & Williams, however, can still grow into Tier 2 or Tier 1.


Tier 6a: Game-winners in the right situation, otherwise NOPE
Brock Purdy, Daniel Jones, Jared Goff

Give these guys playcallers who know how to accentuate their strengths and minimize their weaknesses, and populate the offense with solid contributors (and a star or two) and you'd in great shape, in no small part because all three clearly recognize they need to play inside that box to excel, which is no small thing among people as privileged as NFL Quarterbacks.


Tier 6b: Game-managers in the right situation, but need help
Bo Nix, Jalen Hurts

Yeah, Hurts has come through in some big-time games, and Nix had a bunch of 4th quarter heroics, but mainly they operate as cogs within superior systems where the system is mainly set up to succeed through them not being dumb vs. executing at a high level (even within a box, as with those in 6a). I guess what I'm saying is that compared to the guys in Tier 3 who can elevate an adequately-constructed team, these guys really need a strongly-constructed team as their platform to succeed. Variance aside.


Tier 7: Veterans slinging their last
Aaron Rodgers, Joe Flacco, Jacoby Brissett

The thing these guys have in common is they can figure out a defense and they know what they're supposed to do. The problem is that they're still going to try to do stuff they did years ago (or maybe, in Brissett's case, never did), and it's not going to pan out. On balance, their contributions are going to lose you more games than win them, but they're not yet the demoralizing tire fire most of the guys below them tend to be.


Tier 8: Could be the next Sam Darnold
Mac Jones

His brief cameo stepping in for Purdy this year was encouraging. Let's not forget that he began his career with Matt Patricia as his OC. Right now I'd trust him more than anyone below him, but it's still a bit of a guess.


Tier 9: Hugely talented and will be out of the league with CTE in 2 years
Jaxson Dart

It's hard to get a real good read on the guy given the organizational mess the Giants were this year, plus his many times out with concussions, but he definitely flashed more than the guys below him on this list. And while you love a guy who's going to put his body on the lines for wins, uh, maybe not so much Jaxson?


Tier 10: Trending towards "probably not going to lose you games, but probably not going to win you games either"
Tyler Shough, Bryce Young, Cam Ward

Each have flashes, sure, but not the kind of flashes that scream "going to be an elite QB". Yeah, that's tough on the two rookies, but I think we know who Young is at this point.


Tier 11: Trending towards "gonna be the guy who loses you winnable games"
CJ Stroud

To be fair, a lot of other QBs who didn't qualify for QBR would be in this Tier. It's just crazy how much Stroud has regressed since his rookie season. You want to believe that the right coach turns this around for him, but boy o boy does the evidence not look good at the moment.


Tier 12: Yep, that's enough
Tua Tagovailoa, Geno Smith

Whatever previous success they had deserted them this season. While they might be too expensive to cut (Tua) or hang on as a backup somewhere (Geno), the end of the line has come and there's likely no going back.

[JPhillips]

Gotta question a rankings list that leaves off 2 Pro Bowl QBs.

[albionmoonlight]

Gotta question a rankings list that leaves off 2 Pro Bowl QBs.

LOL

[Ksyrup]

I'd probably put Nix in 6a right now, only because the "strongly-constructed sytem" piece is doing the heavy lifting. Yes, Denver's OL is solid but that offense has zero consistent playmakers. I love Sutton, but he's a 2 at best. We had to bring back Lil'Jordan from the Giants halfway through the season. Mims and Franklin have promise, but JSN they ain't and Mims is more of a ST stud than consistent WR at this point. TE production was like second-worst in the league and we brought a 41-year old out of retirement when things got desperate. The best teams have a stud TE. Run game is OK but still, no game-changers.

I wish they had traded up for one of the 2 stud TEs last year instead of drafting Harvey. He's a necessary type of back in Payton's offense but probably could be replaced by a veteran.

[CrimsonFox]

I think Darnold and the Vikings means any GM making a decision to move on from a QB who has had any amount of success with their team has to be really freaking confident in their ability to find a better option, and there’s almost certainly not a better option out there this year. I think they have to suck it up and bring him back but I don’t envy their position.

GMs really need to stop playing rookies too soon and also need to stop "moving on" from people that are still developing.

[GrantDawg]

GMs really need to stop playing rookies too soon and also need to stop "moving on" from people that are still developing.
Both are very true. The first thing is related to the second thing as well.

[Ksyrup]

If you hit on a QB in the draft who is anywhere from serviceable to great, then you have a ton of cap space to build a contender around them until they need to get paid. That seems to me to be the driving factor in playing rookie QBs and moving on quickly when the gamble doesn't immediately pay off.

[flere-imsaho]

Gotta question a rankings list that leaves off 2 Pro Bowl QBs.

I laughed. :D

[GrantDawg]

If you hit on a QB in the draft who is anywhere from serviceable to great, then you have a ton of cap space to build a contender around them until they need to get paid. That seems to me to be the driving factor in playing rookie QBs and moving on quickly when the gamble doesn't immediately pay off.
Which creates the endless cycle of QB draft loto, which is just not doing the game or the QB's any favors.

[GrantDawg]

Dola: And why are they doing it? To win Super Bowls. Who just won a Super Bowl? A team that did not do that. They also hired a Defensive coach which is also a big no-no according to the couch-GM's.

[Ksyrup]

It might not make sense for every team given their salary cap and contracts. Seattle obviously had room for that. Denver didn't. They had millions in dead cap money from Wilson, took a rookie QB, and has made the playoffs 2 straight years while paying the OL and defense.

[bhlloy]

The last QB to win a Super Bowl on a rookie contract was Mahomes in 2019. Feels like we're well overdue for a correction there in the other direction.

[Ksyrup]

Everyone wants to win a SB. The reality is you do what you can to get into the playoffs and take your chances. Only one team finishes the season on a win.

[Drake]

I don't see how the Colts trade for Sauce in a win-now move and then let their QB go. IMO, they are tied to Jones whether it makes sense or not.

Daniel Jones is built for Indiana. He's built like a classic QB (and white), plays like a classic pocket QB (and white), is a really good/heartwarming (white) interview. He just feels like a local (white) kid, which means we're willing to put up with some downside while he grows into his upside.

I really don't mean to make that sound like Indiana folks are racist. Out comfort level is just sort of passively racist. We probably wouldn't say it out loud, but we're still in the 1980s with an unspoken belief that QB is a white position. But we also tend to believe that QBs shouldn't run the ball (except on sneaks, uncontested bootlegs, or gritty runs down the middle that show toughness and resolve and win us national championships), which also doesn't make us overtly racist, but sort of suggests it.

This is related to how we don't like our basketball players to be too flashy, and our ideal players can shoot the 3 all day long, because everybody knows that white kids don't mix it up in the middle. Steph Curry (and Reggie Miller, for God's sake) aside, white kids play on the wings as shooting guards and point guards.

So, resigning Daniel Jones as the face of the franchise is a no-brainer. Unless we could get Mendoza. But I think sticking with Jones would be an immensely popular move for next season.

That said, a couple of 5-12 seasons would change our minds, but Phillip Rivers would probably still be in the rolodex if that happens, unless Mac Jones becomes available. Or maybe we'll take a flyer on Jaxon Dart after the Giants ruin him.

[Ksyrup]

That all may be true, but if Anthony Richardson was instead Lamar Jackson, I think people would come around pretty quickly. He'd be the Reggie Miller of football.

[NobodyHere]

Anybody got an extra 6.7 billion dollars lying around?

Seahawks put up for sale - 10 days after Super Bowl win (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/seahawks-put-up-for-sale-10-days-after-super-bowl-win/ar-AA1WChkD?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=69972a259dfc4f8f965c9edd17100c60&ei=32)

[Thomkal]

Anybody got an extra 6.7 billion dollars lying around?

Seahawks put up for sale - 10 days after Super Bowl win (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/seahawks-put-up-for-sale-10-days-after-super-bowl-win/ar-AA1WChkD?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=69972a259dfc4f8f965c9edd17100c60&ei=32)


I guess sell high applies here?

[Bobble]

Daniel Jones is built for Indiana. He's built like a classic QB (and white), plays like a classic pocket QB (and white), is a really good/heartwarming (white) interview. He just feels like a local (white) kid, which means we're willing to put up with some downside while he grows into his upside.

I really don't mean to make that sound like Indiana folks are racist. Out comfort level is just sort of passively racist. We probably wouldn't say it out loud, but we're still in the 1980s with an unspoken belief that QB is a white position. But we also tend to believe that QBs shouldn't run the ball (except on sneaks, uncontested bootlegs, or gritty runs down the middle that show toughness and resolve and win us national championships), which also doesn't make us overtly racist, but sort of suggests it.

This is related to how we don't like our basketball players to be too flashy, and our ideal players can shoot the 3 all day long, because everybody knows that white kids don't mix it up in the middle. Steph Curry (and Reggie Miller, for God's sake) aside, white kids play on the wings as shooting guards and point guards.

So, resigning Daniel Jones as the face of the franchise is a no-brainer. Unless we could get Mendoza. But I think sticking with Jones would be an immensely popular move for next season.

That said, a couple of 5-12 seasons would change our minds, but Phillip Rivers would probably still be in the rolodex if that happens, unless Mac Jones becomes available. Or maybe we'll take a flyer on Jaxon Dart after the Giants ruin him.

Waiting for the Larry Bird of football?

[albionmoonlight]

Speaking of Indiana, I guess the Bears are likely to move across the border?

[NobodyHere]

Speaking of Indiana, I guess the Bears are likely to move across the border?

The Chicago Bears were built for Indiana. Unless they are black bears. But I don't want to make any suggestions on the Hoosier state's racial preferences.

[flere-imsaho]

So, resigning Daniel Jones as the face of the franchise is a no-brainer. Unless we could get Mendoza.

Nah, last name. MAGAGOPINDIANA will want him deported.

[JPhillips]

It's like the Reds and try hard players. For as long as I can remember Reds fans have favored a less talented player who tries hard over the objectively better player. Rose over Morgan. Sabo over Davis. Casey over Dunn.

[Drake]

It's like the Reds and try hard players. For as long as I can remember Reds fans have favored a less talented player who tries hard over the objectively better player. Rose over Morgan. Sabo over Davis. Casey over Dunn.

So here's the question I ask myself: is this a bad thing? Let's set aside the passive racism I suggested above and posit instead an idea of a homogeneity that ignores race, because in the Midwest, race is something of an outlier (or an other...which, I understand, implicates race, but let's pretend for a second that we're honest Midwestern rednecks -- in, believe it or not, an open-handed and generous sort of interpretation where you just don't think about racial issues because your town is 95% white, so you don't actually have to think about it on a daily basis. [Welcome to rural Indiana.]).

If sports are aspirational...if we want our successful sports stories to be a reflection of our communal values...is it merely racist to think in terms of people who look like us and seem like us and wanting them to succeed based on grit and effort? To, in fact, platform grit and effort and work ethic as a plausible route to success in any given endeavor?

And then I realize that the balance is off from the start. We ignore that talent is just what it is. We treat grit as a replacement for inherent ability and want to make it a substitute for qualities that aren't inherently race-coded, but we want to pretend like they are. As though Rudy is the rule rather than the exception. If we want to assume that athletic talent is roughly equally distributed across racial lines, then why do we want to favor the player who looks like us, or has a last name like ours, to prove that somehow, someway, if we'd taken a different life path, that guy on the TV winning the game could be us.

Would we rather pay money to see less gifted, but authentically gritty guys succeed than than the literal best players in the world? Would we rather be a scrappy NC State than a clearly superior Georgetown? And what does that say about the nature of fandom as a mirror of our own lived experience?

I think you're on to something here. As fans, we can appreciate the transcendent talent. We love our Michael Jordans and Mariano Riveras. We want those guys on our team. But we also want to believe that slobs like us, if they work hard enough, can compete -- maybe not at the same level, but at an approximate level. We can have our moment in the sun, if nothing else. Maybe we can't be Michael Jordan, but we can be Steve Kerr or John Paxton.

I don't know where I'm going with this, and I've had too much bourbon tonight to think about it clearly. But I suspect that in Indiana, at least, it matters. And not because we're racist. But also because, due to our homogeneity, we also are.

And in that passive sort of put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is way, does that mean that your Midwestern teams are largely doomed to consistent failure unless and until the (white) lightning strikes and all the stars align?

It's okay to just tell me I'm overthinking this.

[Ksyrup]

David Eckstein says hi.

[cuervo72]

So here's the question I ask myself: is this a bad thing? Let's set aside the passive racism I suggested above and posit instead an idea of a homogeneity that ignores race, because in the Midwest, race is something of an outlier (or an other...which, I understand, implicates race, but let's pretend for a second that we're honest Midwestern rednecks -- in, believe it or not, an open-handed and generous sort of interpretation where you just don't think about racial issues because your town is 95% white, so you don't actually have to think about it on a daily basis. [Welcome to rural Indiana.]).

Could probably have a decent convo with Radii about this, wherever he may be found (occasionally FOBL slack). As a former transplant in IN who I *think* occasionally still witnessed a racist slip as he mostly blended in with the populace. :)

[albionmoonlight]

Leaving race out of it, I agree that it is more fun to root for scrappy tryhards. And I think that you are right that it is simply easier to relate to a guy trying his best than it is to relate to being built like Myles Garrett or Shaq.

But if you are tying to build a winning team, you want as many outlier freaks of nature as you can get.

I guess in my perfect world, my team would have a bunch of athletic freaks and we'd win all the time, but the league's other teams would be filed with a bunch of scrappy tryhards that I can relate to and root for.

[miami_fan]

I guess sell high applies here?

That and this is what the late Paul Allen wanted.

His estate announced on Wednesday that it has "commenced a formal sale process" for the franchise "consistent with Allen's directive to eventually sell his sports holdings and direct all estate proceeds to philanthropy".

[JPhillips]

I don't know enough about Indy to comment on the specifics there, but Cincy has an underdog complex as a city. It shows up in sports, culture, politics, everything. Cincy was the most important city in Ohio and probably second only to Chicago in the Midwest, but now it's probably number three in Ohio and not really relevant regionally. Most of the population views that as an unfair attack by some ill-defined outsiders. So they love their sports heroes who overcome the "unfair" advantages of others.

They also love stars who are a little showboaty and rub it in the face of historically better teams and that comes from the same underlying trait.

[JonInMiddleGA]

That and this is what the late Paul Allen wanted.

Didn't I read something this week about how the NFL was pushing them to follow the instructions in the will for a while now and that they were apparently prepared to suspend ownership participation in the governor's meetings (whatever the NFL calls those, you know what I mean) but were holding that in abeyance to give them a little more time to make a formal announcement.

[Sweed]

Anybody got an extra 6.7 billion dollars lying around?

Seahawks put up for sale - 10 days after Super Bowl win (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/seahawks-put-up-for-sale-10-days-after-super-bowl-win/ar-AA1WChkD?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=69972a259dfc4f8f965c9edd17100c60&ei=32)

Trump?

[RainMaker]

Speaking of Indiana, I guess the Bears are likely to move across the border?

I think it's a dumb location if the intent is to hold big events in other areas but if Indiana wants to pay for a stadium, more power to them. We'll keep our tax dollars.

[NobodyHere]

I think it's a dumb location if the intent is to hold big events in other areas but if Indiana wants to pay for a stadium, more power to them. We'll keep our tax dollars.

How much would fan support for the team be affected by such a move?

I wonder if the Colts have made any protests to the league.

[RainMaker]

Hammond is essentially a suburb of Chicago (I think it actually borders it directly). Probably easier to get to for anyone in the South and West suburbs than Soldier Field is. Not really much different from how the Meadowlands is setup. The big knock would be lack of public transportation and a skyway toll that is currently like $8 each way.

The other option of Arlington Heights seems better because it's up North where most of the money is. It's minutes from O'Hare and a private airport. Has good public transportation to get to from the city. The area is filled with restaurants and hotels (it's a big suburb with other big suburbs surrounding it). And it is relatively setup to handle traffic (it used to be a big racetrack that had tens of thousands every weekend).

If the goal is to host a Super Bowl, Final 4, and other big events, I'd much rather have my stadium in Arlington Heights. But it ain't my money.

[flere-imsaho]

RM is spot on with his analysis of the two sites. I would imagine the corporate sponsors who want to buy suites would vastly prefer Arlington Heights, due mainly to location.

[Passacaglia]

Hammond has also previously had an NFL team: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammond_Pros

[RainMaker]

I guess I don't see what is in it for Indiana outside of some politicians wanting to "own the libs" by giving some billionaire failkids billions in taxpayer money. Even if they hosted big events, people are going to stay in the city and just drive out for the game.

It's like this year's Super Bowl. People hung out in San Francisco most of the week.

[flere-imsaho]

I'm sure they figure it'll be the anchor of what will become an entertainment/commercial hub that will revitalize the area. Or at least that's what they'll tell their constituents as part of their case for higher office.

Plus, kickbacks and other grift.

[JonInMiddleGA]

NFL wide receiver, local stand out Rondale Moore dies at 25 (https://www.wlky.com/article/nfl-wide-receiver-local-stand-out-rondale-moore-death-indiana/70448738)

[cuervo72]

Wow, shit. Shocked.

[Ksyrup]

Damn.

[Ksyrup]

My daughter sent me something from Twitter saying he was found in his garage with a self-inflicted gunshot.

[RainMaker]

Remember him cooking Ohio State in that game years ago.

[Ksyrup]

This is actually a really interesting clip. You wonder how well he coped with not being great and then the injuries.

<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" style="height:500px" data-embed-height="740">
<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/1rbcfue/highlight_jj_watts_response_to_rondale_moores/">[Highlight] JJ Watt's response to Rondale Moores Passing : "Can’t even begin to fathom or process this. There’s just no way. Way too soon. Way too special. So much left to give. Rest in Peace Rondale."</a><br> by
<a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Ancient_Response_787/">u/Ancient_Response_787</a> in
<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/">nfl</a>
</blockquote><script async="" src="https://embed.reddit.com/widgets.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>

[GrantDawg]

I remember having high hopes when the Falcons picked him up, and he got injured in the preseason and never played one game. Sad.

[GrantDawg]

Two big "no duh" moves from the Falcons. They announced they are definitely cutting Cousins on the first day of the NFL year. That was a certainty once they redid his contract. The second is they franchise tagged Kyle Pitts. I think he might still be available if a team wants to give up something in trade, unless they can get him to sign a decent contract.

[flere-imsaho]

My prediction is that that was a contract year for Pitts, and if he signs a contract in ATL or elsewhere he'll go back to being underwhelming.

[cuervo72]

Heh. I had the following exchange with my cousin six weeks ago:

Him: Goedert is their biggest free agent. I love the guy and he had a very good year but I’m wondering if we can get more from the position. Like maybe a Kyle Pitts. #Eagles #whataletdown

Me: Man, I dunno. I know some Falcons fans (internet know), and I think they had five years of frustration in him getting his head out of his ass and acting like he was actually interested in whatever was going on on the field. Talented for sure, and maybe he's matured, but I don't know if that's a given.

Him: Athleticism wise, he’s off the charts. And I don’t disagree with much of your comment but they’ve had a ton of turnover in Atlanta, I’m sure that doesn’t help his case much. If you’re moving on from brown, you have to make that up in some way. It doesn’t have to be one player to do it, and maybe that would benefit a guy like Pitts while a new player gets integrated in browns old position.

[albionmoonlight]

31 fan bases tell themselves "Pitts is only 25. He's got so much potential. Maybe we should take a flyer on him."

Atlanta fans know the truth.

Tagging Pitts was a no-brainer move considering the cost of the TE tag. But it also potentially saved some other team from overpaying for that sweet sweet potential.

[GrantDawg]

31 fan bases tell themselves "Pitts is only 25. He's got so much potential. Maybe we should take a flyer on him."

Atlanta fans know the truth.

Tagging Pitts was a no-brainer move considering the cost of the TE tag. But it also potentially saved some other team from overpaying for that sweet sweet potential.
If he plays on it, it gives him another chance to back up the contract year. Who knows, maybe having to actually care might become a habit. I still wouldn't sign him to a big contract, and really my hope is someone decides to float a nice draft pick the Falcons way for him.

[GrantDawg]

Jeff Schultz says Malik Willis will likely get $30 million dollars a year. That's a lot of money to gamble on a kid that has 6 starts.

[Sweed]

Jeff Schultz says Malik Willis will likely get $30 million dollars a year. That's a lot of money to gamble on a kid that has 6 starts.

No doubt someone will pull the trigger. Just needs to be smart enough to not go anywhere near the Jets. Scary when $30 mil is "take a flyer money" and hope it works on a QB. :eek:

[albionmoonlight]

Jeff Schultz says Malik Willis will likely get $30 million dollars a year. That's a lot of money to gamble on a kid that has 6 starts.

Holy small sample size, Batman. That's crazy!

[albionmoonlight]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Klint Kubiak has been the Raiders coach for 2 weeks and he already looks like the husband whose wife is missing on a Netflix true crime miniseries. <br><br> <a href="https://t.co/j3lLPSj3uv">pic.twitter.com/j3lLPSj3uv</a></p>&mdash; Jeff Bell (@4WhomJBellTolls) <a href="https://twitter.com/4WhomJBellTolls/status/2026994580101472621?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[albionmoonlight]

Falcons are gathering information about allegations against assistant coach LaTroy Lewis - NBC Sports (https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/falcons-are-gathering-information-about-allegations-against-assistant-coach-latroy-lewis)

Falcons in the lead for being the "We just wanted a low-drama offseason. Was that too much to ask?" team for 2026.

[QuikSand]

Jeff Schultz says Malik Willis will likely get $30 million dollars a year. That's a lot of money to gamble on a kid that has 6 starts.

I keep hearing that figure. It takes, in practice, either a second team willing to pay nearly that much, or one team oblivious enough to not realize that to be true.

lol Jets

[RainMaker]

It's a really bad draft for QBs and a really bad free agent market for QBs. I'm guessing that the guarantees won't be particularly high but this is a league that gave Justin Fields $20 million a year after failing twice.

[GrantDawg]

Falcons are gathering information about allegations against assistant coach LaTroy Lewis - NBC Sports (https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/falcons-are-gathering-information-about-allegations-against-assistant-coach-latroy-lewis)

Falcons in the lead for being the "We just wanted a low-drama offseason. Was that too much to ask?" team for 2026.

He was released today. This team can't catch a freaking break.

[flere-imsaho]

He was released today. This team can't catch a freaking break.

Pretty sure my school district does better background checks than the majority of NFL teams.

[bronconick]

The Sonic and Knuckles era in Detroit is over. Monty sent to Houston for a 4th, a 7th, and a young, but meh C/G

[GrantDawg]

What the heck did the Bears do to Drew Dalman?

[Ksyrup]

Paid him enough that he could decide to retire at 27, I guess.

[Thomkal]

Kyler Murray to be released next week on the first day of the new NFL season if they don't trade him before then.

[bronconick]

What the heck did the Bears do to Drew Dalman?

Stanford grad who talked to Andrew Luck? Take your 25 million and leave healthy.

[Atocep]

I can't believe the Bears got a 2nd for DJ Moore with thst contract.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I can't believe the Bears got a 2nd for DJ Moore with thst contract.

Agreed.

Now they are releasing Tremaine Edwards.

Are they gearing up to get Maxx Crosby? Getting draft capital and clearing cap space.

That would be very, very annoying. Maxx Crosby and Micah Parsons in our division? No thank you.

[flere-imsaho]

Don't worry, they'll both likely be injured half the season.

[Thomkal]

Maxx Crosby to the Ravens for 2 first round picks.

[Danny]

Maxx Crosby to the Ravens for 2 first round picks.


From the Raiders perspective, im very happy with the trade. Really good value. Crosby is a great player with his snap count and injuries the last couple years I dont think he fits the timeline of the team. This trade accelerates a proper rebuild around Mendoza. We finally seem to have competent management.

[flere-imsaho]

Good deal for the Raiders. Great, even. Not so sure about this for the Ravens. I'm sure Crosby will help, but giving up two firsts for a guy with that injury history is a gamble.

[bronconick]

RIP Joe Burrow
2 games vs. TJ Watt
2 games vs. Myles Garrett
2 games vs Maxx Crosby
Add in that Cincinnati doesn't pay for offensive linemen

[JPhillips]

Nah. The Bengals line was top ten against the pass last year and they are bringing back all five starters.

[CrimsonFox]

THere goes Geno

[albionmoonlight]

A white wide receiver averaging 40 catches per season is about to make $27 million a year.

What a country!

[AlexB]

Tua to be released. It is close turning into a RL empty cupboard dynasty in Miami!

As a Dolphins fan, if we couldn’t find a trade partner, it was only way to go: seems a good guy, but limited arm strength, poor decisions under pressure and/or the first read isn’t open, and TBH I worry about his long term health not just as a football player but also in life after football

[albionmoonlight]

The post-June 1 designation will leave the Dolphins with a $67.4 million dead hit against the salary cap in 2026, followed by $31.8 million in 2027.

You do you, Miami.

[QuikSand]

I think, but I guess I'm not certain, that those two numbers are reversed. I think it's the bigger hit delayed until 2027.

All the Phins scuttlebutt I have heard is that these two moves today (releasing Tua post-June 1, and offloading Minkah Fitzpatrick's salary for a bag of chips) are to clear enough space to be viable contenders for Malik Willis's services.

[GrantDawg]

Tua to the Falcons is all the smoke right now. I don't have it. Get him cheap for a year and have him compete for the starting job. Lefty QB's with injury troubles is a weird thing to collect, but everyone needs a hobby.

[albionmoonlight]

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/700409915696480317/1480593967908126891/HC-lnqEaIAALf7u.jpg?ex=69b03e16&is=69aeec96&hm=d1fd374fbfab74b1a8dff9f168f21e76b8542af309378a586eba472988ff5c64&=&format=webp&width=708&height=885

[albionmoonlight]

Maybe he can afford a haircut if he gets $50 million

[JonInMiddleGA]

Tua to the Falcons is all the smoke right now. I don't have it. Get him cheap for a year and have him compete for the starting job. Lefty QB's with injury troubles is a weird thing to collect, but everyone needs a hobby.

I'd agree, even if I think he's better than the current top option.

Putting him on the roster just means they have to then find another QB that can stay on the field ... but good roster decisions aren't exactly a franchise trademark either.

[Ksyrup]

Imagine it's the end of the 2022 season and somebody tells you that in about 3 years, the Dolphins are going to release Tua with a $99M cap hit and pay Malik Willis $68M.

[Atocep]

I like how the legal tampering period just moved up the illegal tampering.

[flere-imsaho]

Daniel Jones trying to go for Kirk Cousins' lifetime earnings crown?

[QuikSand]

LinderBOMB amirite

[Atocep]

LinderBOMB amirite

Center market this offseason was kind of nuts with how many wanted one. Poles was smart to get a 1 year guy and sit this one out.

[Danny]

LinderBOMB amirite

He was by far my #1 want this signing period with that Kubiak wants in a center. Single biggest improvement one signjng could make this year. It is an overpay but given ee are paying geno 30 million i dont mind an extra 7 or so for a top young center.

[Atocep]

3 years and $30 mil for Devin Bush seems like a steal honestly. Great fit for the DA defense and adds some sorely needed speed at LBer.

[GrantDawg]

I'd agree, even if I think he's better than the current top option.

Putting him on the roster just means they have to then find another QB that can stay on the field ... but good roster decisions aren't exactly a franchise trademark either.
There is not anybody out there they were going to get this year that is any better, This is a sink or swim season for Penix. It is good to have a vet to push him a bit, and both being left handed actually makes sense. I don't see how this is worse decision than bringing in Flaco who would also be a one and done guy. Tua will be basically free.

[GrantDawg]

Daniel Jones trying to go for Kirk Cousins' lifetime earnings crown?
I said they should have franchise tagged him, but they got cute and transition tagged him. That's going to end up costing them lots of money. He is by far the best gettable option right now for QB, and that means someone is going to overpay. And yes, is going to end up with lifetime earnings crown and won't even will have had as many decent season as Cousins.

[JPhillips]

Cook is a big upgrade for the Bengals at safety. Missed tackles were their number one problem and he's a very sure tackler.

Now to get people to help make sure fewer runners get to the safeties.

[Thomkal]

Cards sign RB Tyler Allgeier from the Falcons and they also re-did RB Jame Connor's contract. I guess we are all set for RB now, yeah?

[Lathum]

Kelce coming back. Color me surprised. I thought he would just settle for jet setting around the world with his soon to be wife.

[JPhillips]

And now Boye Mafe to the Bengals as well.

Seems like a lot of bank for him, but he's also easily their best pass rusher now.

[GrantDawg]

Cards sign RB Tyler Allgeier from the Falcons and they also re-did RB Jame Connor's contract. I guess we are all set for RB now, yeah?
Loved that guy. He is a speedy bowling ball of a runner. Such a good deal for a low-mileage vet.

[Thomkal]

Loved that guy. He is a speedy bowling ball of a runner. Such a good deal for a low-mileage vet.


Yep saw him in a couple game-hope he lives up to it

[Ksyrup]

Kelce coming back. Color me surprised. I thought he would just settle for jet setting around the world with his soon to be wife.

It's a catch-22. In a corporate merger - which is exactly what this is - his claim to fame is football, so when he gives that up, he's less useful to her.

[Ksyrup]

Not exactly loving Denver's (non) moves so far. Running it back with the worst TE room in the NFL, bringing back Dobbins for 6-8 games, and losing Franklin-Meyer. Maybe there's a splash deal for Achane or a true #1 WR or big draft day moves, but... meh.

[Danny]

Chef Spytek is cookin!

[Thomkal]

Gino Smith traded to Jets-tick tock Kyler Murray tick tock

[NobodyHere]

A guy with the name Pittman deserves to be in Pittsburgh.

Still I wish the Colts would've got more than a 6th round pick.

[CrimsonFox]

Gino Smith traded to Jets-tick tock Kyler Murray tick tock

So the Jets thing is just a buy up bad quarterbacks?

[Danny]

Brilliant move by the Jets bringing in the tank commander to March for Arch

[Sweed]

Brilliant move by the Jets bringing in the tank commander to March for Arch

Might be interesting to see what the Manning family would do if the Jets end up with the #1 pick. Pull an Eli or Elway? Yes, it's New York, but it's also the Jets.

Also I don't know enough about NIL or college eligibility in today's world. Could Arch play another year in college if he wanted to?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Might be interesting to see what the Manning family would do if the Jets end up with the #1 pick. Pull an Eli or Elway? Yes, it's New York, but it's also the Jets.

Also I don't know enough about NIL or college eligibility in today's world. Could Arch play another year in college if he wanted to?

Yeah, he's got another year of eligibility after the upcoming season.

He redshirted 2023, has played 2 seasons, upcoming would be third, so he could do that if he wanted to.

[GrantDawg]

So I guess Crosby isn't going to the Ravens.

[Danny]

They obviously knew he was rehabbing. Seems like a cold feet situation. Has this happened before with a blockbuster deal?

[Thomkal]

Failed his physical then? Ow

[Danny]

Failed his physical then? Ow


He had surgery and was rehabbing. Raiders say they backed out. I think they regretted the trade

[GrantDawg]

They are blaming it on the medical. May have just been cold feet, or it was something they didn't expect showed up.

[Danny]

Wouldn't be aurprised if they sign Hendrickson tomorrow and figure he and two firsts is better than Crosby

[JPhillips]

Not used to the Ravens being a complete cluster. They are still top two in the Horth, but this has been a very bad off season so far.

[Danny]

https://x.com/JasonLaCanfora/status/2031528397688455335?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2031528397688455335%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/2031535426289242488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2031537016828047404%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es3_&ref_url=

[Ksyrup]

Personally, I'd like no other team to trade for Crosby, forcing the Raiders to choose which of the FAs they just signed they will need to un-sign due to salary cap implications.

[albionmoonlight]

Not used to the Ravens being a complete cluster. They are still top two in the Horth, but this has been a very bad off season so far.

"The Raiders and Ravens had a blockbuster deal announced. But it fell through because one of the teams was a clown show."

ME: "That makes sense. Ever since Al Davis passed away. . ."

"The clown show team was the Ravens"

ME: :jawdrop:

[flere-imsaho]

:D

[flere-imsaho]

Cold feet is the most obvious answer.

[Jstraub]

Personally, I'd like no other team to trade for Crosby, forcing the Raiders to choose which of the FAs they just signed they will need to un-sign due to salary cap implications.

This is interesting but I don't believe the Raiders get to 'choose' like you describe. My understanding is that if a team is over the announced cap at the beginning of the league new year (today at 4 PM EST I think?) the NFL starts voiding contracts in reverse chronological order until the team is under the cap. And I think this has only happened a few times since the salary cap inception in the 1990s.

BTW, this is not how its programmed in any of the FOFs but I wish it was.

[Ksyrup]

Picked one guy off the shelf and then walked down the next aisle and saw a prettier version.

[Ksyrup]

This is interesting but I don't believe the Raiders get to 'choose' like you describe. My understanding is that if a team is over the announced cap at the beginning of the league new year (today at 4 PM EST I think?) the NFL starts voiding contracts in reverse chronological order until the team is under the cap. And I think this has only happened a few times since the salary cap inception in the 1990s.

BTW, this is not how its programmed in any of the FOFs but I wish it was.

That's fine. I doubt they lined up their FA signings in a way that would ensure they kept the guys they most wanted on the off-chance the Crosby trade was nixed.

But regardless of how it plays out, I think this is an issue right now, right? Is someone about to get Crosby in a deadline fire sale deal?

[Jstraub]

Its definitely an issue and super shading dealing by the Ravens. The ravens screwed over not only the Raiders but the domino effect of that presumed trade had far reaching effects to many teams and players. I cant imagine the NFL doesn't step in here and do something.

[flere-imsaho]

Cold feet is the most obvious answer.

Alternatively, if we assume normalcy and it's the Raiders who are the tire fire team and the Ravens who are not, is it possible that the Ravens had more specialists look at Crosby's injury situation, and more in-depth, and came to conclusions they didn't like?

[Danny]

Personally, I'd like no other team to trade for Crosby, forcing the Raiders to choose which of the FAs they just signed they will need to un-sign due to salary cap implications.

Lol they actually are still under the cap even with Crosby back

[Danny]

They are at 37 million in cap space after Crosby is back but before Stokes and Quay Walker contracts announced. So figure about 20 million left afrer all signings based on how they've been structuring the contracts.

[Ksyrup]

Too bad. I wanted CHAOS!

[albionmoonlight]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It’s a 2-year, $88 million deal that can be worth up to $100 million, as <a href="https://twitter.com/Schultz_Report?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Schultz_Report</a> reported. <a href="https://t.co/jCeBNWCSYK">https://t.co/jCeBNWCSYK</a></p>&mdash; Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/2031752423656575021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[albionmoonlight]

The Colts treating Daniel freakin' Jones like he's Pat Mahomes about to get away from them has been the funniest part of this offseason.

[dubb93]

That actually slots him in nicely on the QB salary chart right in between Mahomes and Stafford.

[dubb93]

Deep down I was hoping they would take a chance on Kyler with a minimum contract and ink Hendrickson and an affordable WR to replace Pittman.

[Thomkal]

So what happens when he fails his physical too?

[Ksyrup]

Seattle and Denver are the only teams not to make an external FA signing yet.

Someone looked it up, and the largest FA WR contract ever signed on a team coached by Sean Payton is Emmanuel Sanders for 2 years, $16M. But even beyond WR, this team ain't done nothin' yet except running it back with most of last year's team, including the worst TE room in the game.

Maybe they are planning a trade or two or a draft splash, I don't know. But this team needs playmaker upgrades at WR, RB and TE, IMO. But hey, we resigned Lil'Jordan!

[RainMaker]

The Colts treating Daniel freakin' Jones like he's Pat Mahomes about to get away from them has been the funniest part of this offseason.

Is it worse than giving Alec Pierce $120 million over 4 years?

[JPhillips]

I think the hardest decision in sports is to let a guy walk who you can't replace, but who also is unlikely to get you a championship. I call it the Antoine Walker decision. No matter what you do as GM, it's probably going to cost you your job.

[Thomkal]

Kyler Murray signs a 1 year deal with Minnesota. Given the curse of the Cardinals, he will now go on to be healthy all season, start, and lead them into the playoffs.

[cuervo72]

I think the hardest decision in sports is to let a guy walk who you can't replace, but who also is unlikely to get you a championship. I call it the Antoine Walker decision. No matter what you do as GM, it's probably going to cost you your job.

Eh, just call it the Daniel Jones decision, it's the same one the Giants had previously.

[albionmoonlight]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Broncos are trading for Miami WR Jaylen Waddle, per source.<br><br>Denver receives: Waddle and Dolphins’ 4th-round pick (11th in round) in this year’s draft.<br><br>Miami receives: Broncos’ 1st round pick (30th overall) along with their late 3rd and 4th round picks (30th in each round) in…</p>&mdash; Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/2033924240861245648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Seems win/win. Broncos get a weapon. Miami gets to look to the future.

[AlexB]

I agree - although Waddle's numbers are good, he doesn’t quite pass the eye test (to me at least) as an elite receiver.

He’s definitely good, but the draft capital gained is better than a good/very good WR that ultimately won’t make any difference in a season when we will clearly not be competitive

However, trading Achane would be a different story: he does look the real deal and we should build around him

[Ksyrup]

I'll take it. At least we did something. I'd like a real TE too. Njoku? Anyone would be an upgrade. Not sure how deep the TE draft is.

[flere-imsaho]

Are you getting a WR1 at 30? Maybe a 50/50 chance? 25%? He probably ends up as a steady #1 WR. Not elite, but I don't think Payton's system needs an elite WR1, just above average and reliable.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'll take it. At least we did something. I'd like a real TE too. Njoku? Anyone would be an upgrade. Not sure how deep the TE draft is.

Reading a little tells me one first-rounder, a few day two mostly non-traditional types. Deep enough that day three might produce a lucky gamble that turns out to be productive.

[GrantDawg]

Falcons RT Kaleb McGary annouced he is retiring. He blew out his knee before the season started last year, and I guess decided it wasn't worth working his way back. He leaves something like $32 million dollars on the table. He was a fantastic run blocking tackle, but shaky on the pass blocking side. Considering the Falcons start and back up next year will be left handed, they might have need a change anyway. The guy that filled him for him last year was atrocious. That guy is you problem now, Arizona.

[RainMaker]

A lot of linemen retiring early it seems. Feels like the position is just brutal on the body. Probably not helping when you're over 300 pounds too.

[Ghost Econ]

So I guess Mike Vrabel is having an affair with a journalist who covers the Pats. Probably won't hurt him, but definitely not a good look for him or the team.

[NobodyHere]

So I guess Mike Vrabel is having an affair with a journalist who covers the Pats. Probably won't hurt him, but definitely not a good look for him or the team.

They had 14 wins last season, Vrabel is going to be fine.

[Passacaglia]

So I guess Mike Vrabel is having an affair with a journalist who covers the Pats. Probably won't hurt him, but definitely not a good look for him or the team.

Belichick's girlfriend is going to have to get another T-shirt.

[Ksyrup]

They had 14 wins last season, Vrabel is going to be fine.

She might not. No wonder she's been pushing the AJ Brown to Pats rumors. She obviously has inside info.

[Ghost Econ]

So I guess the Jags decided that a fulltime corner was worth the 2nd pick in last year's draft and Travis Hunter is done playing 2 ways. If he isn't a generational CB, that seems like a colossal waste of a pick.

[albionmoonlight]

Seems like fulltime corner with a handful of gadget plays/packages on offense is where he'll end up.

[Atocep]

So I guess the Jags decided that a fulltime corner was worth the 2nd pick in last year's draft and Travis Hunter is done playing 2 ways. If he isn't a generational CB, that seems like a colossal waste of a pick.

I said through the draft process he was massively overrated and this is exactly why. He was a mid to late first round pick on each side of the ball but there was no way he was playing both sides well enough in the NFL to justify going top 5.

This is gonna end up being a horrible trade for the Jags. Cleveland already has Mason Graham and Quinshon Judkins and they still have whatever they get from the 24th pick.

[Ksyrup]

Russini resigns from The Athletic. To not "lend it more oxygen." Sure, Jan.

[JPhillips]

Damn, the Bengals are trading the #10 pick for Dexter Lawrence.

[Atocep]

Supposedly the Giants really want Jordyn Tyson at 10

[JPhillips]

Makes a lot of sense for both teams. Let Harbaugh really start fresh and give Burrow the defensive star they need.

[bhlloy]

Dexter Lawrence is obviously a different player to Trey Hendrickson, and better, but I can’t help thinking if you wanted to improve the defense you had a very good player you could have held onto without giving up the 10th overall pick on a rookie contract.

[Lathum]

I like the move. Dexter was a great player for us, but this team needs a lot of help and I trust HArbaugh to not screw up the pick.

[JPhillips]

That relationship was over. Look at how he keeps taking shots at the Bengals. He's also 32 and I think it's an open question just how much he has left.

Lawrence, really the move to go all-in, has been what the Bengals refused to do for their entire existence. Maybe it doesn't work, but it's worth the try given the generational talent at QB.

[Ksyrup]

John Lynch admitting that he's using AI to evaluate draft picks and that the best thing about it is that you don't need to be an expert in drafts, saying it was similar to asking AI to create a travel itinerary, is ... a thing. Is there a reason he makes so much money if it's that easy?

[Passacaglia]

Can't wait to see him try to draft Treveyon Henderson and Malachi Moore.

[albionmoonlight]

I wonder if he’s using “AI” like just loading in the draft class and asking who they should draft.

Or is he using “AI” to, say, filter CB prospects by 40 time and sort them by games started. The sort of thing computers have done for decades, but you can now charge more if you call it AI.

[Ksyrup]

Well, he said "evaluate" which I took to mean a substantive dive into who they should take beyond just some review of numbers on a spreadsheet.

Just bizarre. Personally, I don't even trust the Gemini overview Google produces when I do a search of a stupid random topic. I suppose it's a good thing I hope to only be working another decade or so...

[Lathum]

The GMs of the future are likely going to be like Theo Epstein was with the Red Sox 20 years ago. Whomever can build the best AI parameters to evaluate talent is going to win.

[JPhillips]

I read a story a few weeks ago on the new wave of data being used by some NFL teams. It sounded like the way Trackman changed baseball. GMs can track just about anything in terms of speed, acceleration, force, etc. through the all 22 video. This story was related to the draft and how the combine data didn't matter given all they can track through game film. There's no need to care about the 40 when you have copious amounts of game film showing top speed.

[bhlloy]

Well, he said "evaluate" which I took to mean a substantive dive into who they should take beyond just some review of numbers on a spreadsheet.

Just bizarre. Personally, I don't even trust the Gemini overview Google produces when I do a search of a stupid random topic. I suppose it's a good thing I hope to only be working another decade or so...

Problem is here you are confusing an LLM trained on a generic and massive training set and probably using the cheapest possible model on the backend with something that will be very specifically trained from the ground up and no expense spared on training and inference.

A specific AI model with the right harnessing can absolutely do better than a human in basically any task that has definable parameters you can think of at this point. There’s no reason at all that evaluating draft prospects isn’t one of those things. The only issue here is Lynch is probably being a bit too honest for his own good.

[Ksyrup]

Problem is here you are confusing an LLM trained on a generic and massive training set and probably using the cheapest possible model on the backend with something that will be very specifically trained from the ground up and no expense spared on training and inference.

Can you confuse 2 things if you don't know what either of them is?

[Lathum]

Can you confuse 2 things if you don't know what either of them is?

just ask ChatGPT!

[NobodyHere]

Chris Ballard is wondering why you need advanced AI models or even basic scouting when you already have the RAS to judge players by.

[Ksyrup]

just ask ChatGPT!

I would, but then I'd just have to research the answer for myself to make sure it's right because I don't trust that bullshit!

[henry296]

teams have been using "AI" in terms of machine learning models to predict performance for years.

[Danny]

teams have been using "AI" in terms of machine learning models to predict performance for years.


Al Davis used the term AI to describe the auto focus feature on his overhead protector

[QuikSand]

Supposedly the Giants really want Jordyn Tyson at 10

The betting markets are catching up, but my money is they want him badly enough to take him at 5, and to take BPA at 10. Over the last few days the odds have changed dramatically on Tyson to be the first WR taken, and to be taken in the top 5 slots. I bought as soon as I started hearing positive buzz after the Friday workout.

[albionmoonlight]

This struck me as something that folks here would be into:

- YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8rolEibsPg)

30 minutes, but I found the whole thing fascinating.

[miami_fan]

I am pretty sure I am the one person on this board that just realized that the draft starts tomorrow. I came to this realization reading that the Cowboys are not going to talk long term contract with George Pickens. Wasn't it a foregone conclusion that Pickens was going to be the guy who the Cowboys were going to give the long term contract early instead of waiting until the last minute like they did everyone else?

[RainMaker]

I kind of hate the new draft setup. I get it makes more money in TV rights but miss the old days of just having a weekend full of draft coverage. Plus the draft coverage today sucks and is just ads, celebrities, and crap mixed in with like 10 seconds of background on a pick.

[NobodyHere]

I am pretty sure I am the one person on this board that just realized that the draft starts tomorrow.

I didn't realize the draft was this week until yesterday. It's hard to get excited when your fav team doesn't have a 1st round pick and you know your 3rd fav team (Cleveland) is just days away from condemning a group of players to football hell.

[Swaggs]

I am pretty sure I am the one person on this board that just realized that the draft starts tomorrow. I came to this realization reading that the Cowboys are not going to talk long term contract with George Pickens. Wasn't it a foregone conclusion that Pickens was going to be the guy who the Cowboys were going to give the long term contract early instead of waiting until the last minute like they did everyone else?

It still drives me nuts that the Steelers traded Pickens for a 3rd and 5th (swapped with a 6th from the Steelers), when they were in 'win now' mode last year. They could have teamed him DK Metcalf last year with Aaron Rodgers and let him leave for a comp 3rd (or franchised him like Dallas is doing). Such a setback from a team that had horrible 1st round picks from 2018 to 2023. Getting Pickens in 2022 at least offset some of the stink of the Kenny Pickett pick in round 1.

I'd assume the Cowboys are comfortable letting Pickens prove himself this year. They can either pay him or get back a decent FA comp pick for him next year if he leaves.

[GrantDawg]

I kind of hate the new draft setup. I get it makes more money in TV rights but miss the old days of just having a weekend full of draft coverage. Plus the draft coverage today sucks and is just ads, celebrities, and crap mixed in with like 10 seconds of background on a pick.
It does really suck. I just generally keep up on social media. I don't watch any of the live broadcasts anymore. With the Falcons not having a first round pick i will barely even pay attention tomorrow.

[Thomkal]

Hard to get excited about the Cards pick because they have so many holes and likely will not take a QB until round 2. Be interesting to see if the new head coach wants to trade down or not.

[Ksyrup]

I usually watch the first round and then check in now and then for the rest of the draft over the weekend on picks.

[Kodos]

I get to see an IU player selected 1.1. I’ll watch tonight and that’s probably all.

[JonInMiddleGA]

The NFL says it has been "closely monitoring all developments" in the matter surrounding #Falcons edge James Pearce Jr.

Earlier today, Pearce entered into a six-month pre-trial intervention program that, if conditions are met, will result in all charges being dismissed, per attorneys Jacob Nunez and Yale Sanford. This agreement was made in consultation with the city of Doral and the victim, Rickea Jackson. There is no jail time and no admission of guilt

[Ksyrup]

I assume Vrabel will have to go through a full 7 rounds of counseling instead of just Round 1 now that pics of him and Russini from 6 years ago have surfaced?

[Ksyrup]

By the way, the first round is now down to 8 minutes between picks. I guess that's one plus of this becoming such a made-for-TV event.

[RainMaker]

By the way, the first round is now down to 8 minutes between picks. I guess that's one plus of this becoming such a made-for-TV event.

I'm sure they aren't going to cut some dumb segment with Druski or whatever celeb shows up and instead we'll just hear less about the players being drafted.

There are 2 telecasts for ABC/ESPN and I always wondered why they didn't make the ESPN one strictly focused on the actual draft and use the ABC one for the nonsense.

[Ghost Econ]

I assume Vrabel will have to go through a full 7 rounds of counseling instead of just Round 1 now that pics of him and Russini from 6 years ago have surfaced?

I mean, she has a kid named Mike born in 2021, so he's not the only one who may need counseling when this is all over.

[Atocep]

It sounds like the Bears are leaning toward Caleb Lomu or TJ Parker in round 1.

Both are interesting guys. Parker was a top 5 guy on some boards heading into this year but Clemson is a dumpster fire and all of their guys had their draft stock hurt. I've seen a lot of people trashing their coaching as they've gone over film of Clemson's season. Very good measurables and seems like a good fit for Allen. High floor guy with some ceiling.

Lomu is fascinating. Elite athleticism, feet, hands, movement, etc. Lacks strength. But he also doesn't turn 21 until December. He's a elite pass blocker and mediocre run blocker. Very high ceiling with the floor of a guy that can hold down LT in pass protection but also a guy you don't run toward very often.

Both are needs. If Lomu could lock down LT they could kick Ozzy inside when he's back and healthy. Parker fills the need for a 3 down edge.

[RainMaker]

I'm always on board for offensive line and even if Ozzy comes back healthy (a HUGE if), having too many good offensive tackles is never a problem. They also have some stopgap options for next year so they won't have to throw Lomu into the fire right away.

The draft is supposedly deep at defensive line and they do have 2 2nd round picks. They definitely need to address that as their pass rush was horrendous and there is no way they are going to maintain that turnover margin next season.

[Danny]

I mean, she has a kid named Mike born in 2021, so he's not the only one who may need counseling when this is all over.

Theres definitely some DNA tests coming. When he was four days old she tweeted she couldn't help but think of who are the great Michaels to play in the NFL

[GrantDawg]

I assume Vrabel will have to go through a full 7 rounds of counseling instead of just Round 1 now that pics of him and Russini from 6 years ago have surfaced?


Why does this matter? She wasn't a subordinate or worked in the organization. I really don't care who he sleeps with as long as it isn't some kind of sexual harassment. If you can prove he forced her to sleep with him for NFL info, then ok. Absent that, why does it matter? Him cheating on his wife is between him and his wife, and the same for hers.

[Ksyrup]

I think it matters because of the information that both could have passed to each other that would impact their jobs.

And also, she resigned and he's "in counseling" so it obviously is an issue to more than just them and their families.

[GrantDawg]

I think it matters because of the information that both could have passed to each other that would impact their jobs.

And also, she resigned and he's "in counseling" so it obviously is an issue to more than just them and their families.


I don't buy that. Coaches and press members have always had friendships. It is not forbidden. This is an overblown nothing because it involves sex.

[Ksyrup]

OK?

[JonInMiddleGA]

I don't buy that. Coaches and press members have always had friendships. It is not forbidden. This is an overblown nothing because it involves sex.

In this case we already have what could politely be termed "an error in judgement". If they'll cheat on their spouses with each other then it isn't entirely unreasonable to have concerns about them violating professional standards as well.

[Ksyrup]

I assume she's already done that by virtue of her profession. I don't know about him.

[GrantDawg]

People have sex with other people. People step out on their wives. Very few lose their jobs or even have their jobs affected by it.

[RainMaker]

I don't buy that. Coaches and press members have always had friendships. It is not forbidden. This is an overblown nothing because it involves sex.

I mean, that's kind of a big deal when both are married.

For Vrabel it's less of an issue and up to the Patriots on if they feel it impacts his job. But for Russini, that's a pretty big no-no professionally and she absolutely deserves to be fired.

[GrantDawg]

I mean, that's kind of a big deal when both are married.

For Vrabel it's less of an issue and up to the Patriots on if they feel it impacts his job. But for Russini, that's a pretty big no-no professionally and she absolutely deserves to be fired.


I'm mostly talking about Vrabel. I can see where she might have some kind of code that ahe broke which could be a problem. It doesn't affect his ability to coach one bit, though. As dor the big deal, it is for the families. For everyone else, it is just something to titter about.
It really just set me off that I got a push news thing about pictures of them six years ago. Who cares? We already know he cheated on his wife. I really didn't even need to know that.

[miami_fan]

The Vrabel/Russini relationship does not matter to me one bit. I am convinced and I think it is statistically a guarantee that male coaches and male reporters have a similar relationship and I don't give a shit about that either. Either way, if a reporter is a bit too favorable in their reporting or is a bit too chummy with a coach, the slurpage allegations are not too far away.

Back to the important draft stuff. What top player got the lowest scores on the new Wonderlic test and why will none of that matter once that player gets on the field?

[RainMaker]

For Vrabel, it really doesn't matter. As long as he keeps winning and isn't turning into a financial liability for the organization, I don't know why the Patriots would care. Russini on the other hand can't do that. You can't be impartial reporting on someone you're having a secret affair with.

[Ksyrup]

Funny stat I saw recently. In the past 2 years, FSU is 2-0 against Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson and 5-17 against the rest of CFB.

This draft will be interesting for me because having not watched hardly any CFB the past 2 years, I actually don't know most of the names that will be called this year. I hadn't even heard of Mendoza until about halfway through this past season when the Heisman stuff started to gain steam.

[Atocep]

Arizona doing Arizona things

Bad Oline and no QB and your priority is drafting a RB.

[RainMaker]

Absolutely hilarious pick for Arizona.

[GrantDawg]

Arizona doing Arizona things

Bad Oline and no QB and your priority is drafting a RB.

After signing a great running back in free agency.

[Atocep]

I had a feeling the mocks and analysts were higher on Downs than teams were.

[Atocep]

Excuse me?

[RainMaker]

The genetic gene pool in America Samoa is incredible apparently.

[Ksyrup]

What the hell am I missing? What's the connection between Tommy Shaw/Renegade and Pittsburgh?

[Atocep]

I'd have a hard time getting amped up drafting a 25 year old DE that's had surgery on both feet.

[Atocep]

I really like Thieneman fit with the Bears. He's an elite cover safety and some boards reportedly had him rated higher than Downs.

Plenty of Edges left on the board and the Bears have two 2nds. Tackle is a concern so I would have preferred going there but a coverage safety was a huge need too.

[JonInMiddleGA]

What the hell am I missing? What's the connection between Tommy Shaw/Renegade and Pittsburgh?

Google AI explains
"Renegade" by Styx is a legendary Pittsburgh Steelers tradition, played during home games (often in the 3rd or 4th quarter) to energize the crowd and defense during critical moments. The tradition began around 2002 at Heinz Field, becoming an iconic anthem that signals a potential momentum shift or "the mojo is working".

Playoff game against the Browns was the starting point best I can tell.

[Thomkal]

Arizona doing Arizona things

Bad Oline and no QB and your priority is drafting a RB.


I agree. They had tried to shore up RB with the backup from Atl in case Conner won't be able to recover from his injury, would have made sense to trade down get a couple more picks to fill the holes on the roster. O-line or CB would have been the better pick here

[Ksyrup]

Google AI explains
"Renegade" by Styx is a legendary Pittsburgh Steelers tradition, played during home games (often in the 3rd or 4th quarter) to energize the crowd and defense during critical moments. The tradition began around 2002 at Heinz Field, becoming an iconic anthem that signals a potential momentum shift or "the mojo is working".

Playoff game against the Browns was the starting point best I can tell.

Huh. I had completely missed that tradition. Never heard of it before now. At least it was something that made sense - I kept expecting some sort of commercial/tie-in to an 80s rock tour or something. Today's routine TV show marketing ties suck.

[JPhillips]

Both Downs and Bain were available at 10, but I expect Dallas would have tried to move up to 9 if the Bengals were on the board at 10, so Downs wouldn't be available. I like Bain, but I'm happy with Dexter Lawrence.

[Ghost Econ]

Is this the worst draft class since 2013?

[Thomkal]

I agree. They had tried to shore up RB with the backup from Atl in case Conner won't be able to recover from his injury, would have made sense to trade down get a couple more picks to fill the holes on the roster. O-line or CB would have been the better pick here


I've read up some on Love, and I feel better about it as it looks like he will be a good receiver as well as back. But I still not a fan of taking the best player on your board when you had bigger needs.

[Atocep]

I've read up some on Love, and I feel better about it as it looks like he will be a good receiver as well as back. But I still not a fan of taking the best player on your board when you had bigger needs.

He's probably the best running back in the draft since Saquon. The problem is when you have as many needs as the Cardinals then a running back doesn't really help much. The Giants made the same mistake with Saquon, actually. Great player but didn't really do much to help them win games. They wasted his entire rookie contract trying to get good enough to allow him to make an impact.

Fantastic player, bad pick.

[Atocep]

Is this the worst draft class since 2013?

2021 was pretty bad too. Chase, Sewell, Parsons, Surtain, and then no one else in the first has really lived up to their draft position.

Both Downs and Bain were available at 10, but I expect Dallas would have tried to move up to 9 if the Bengals were on the board at 10, so Downs wouldn't be available. I like Bain, but I'm happy with Dexter Lawrence.

Considering what was available at 10, the Bengals made the right call.

[albionmoonlight]

The NFL says it has been "closely monitoring all developments" in the matter surrounding #Falcons edge James Pearce Jr.

Earlier today, Pearce entered into a six-month pre-trial intervention program that, if conditions are met, will result in all charges being dismissed, per attorneys Jacob Nunez and Yale Sanford. This agreement was made in consultation with the city of Doral and the victim, Rickea Jackson. There is no jail time and no admission of guilt

I need to start telling all of my clients to get good at sacking quarterbacks

[JonInMiddleGA]

I need to start telling all of my clients to get good at sacking quarterbacks

Honestly, this was only slightly less than I expected him to get. I've kinda learned the norms for pleas in south Florida* over the past year & a half (lol) and this feels pretty close for the charges he was facing.

1st offender offers are HUGE there, juries are erratic at best, and with the most serious charge already dropped there was no remaining chance he'd get anything more than probation. Not much difference, other than purging his record, in the terms of PTD vs non-reporting probation (which I suspect he could have argued & gotten).


*this IS being handled by the same office (broadly) that Will works for

[albionmoonlight]

Honestly, this was only slightly less than I expected him to get. I've kinda learned the norms for pleas in south Florida* over the past year & a half (lol) and this feels pretty close for the charges he was facing.

1st offender offers are HUGE there, juries are erratic at best, and with the most serious charge already dropped there was no remaining chance he'd get anything more than probation. Not much difference, other than purging his record, in the terms of PTD vs non-reporting probation (which I suspect he could have argued & gotten).


*this IS being handled by the same office (broadly) that Will works for

Watching the sausage being made is a heck of a thing.

Hope he enjoying it there.

[GrantDawg]

Honestly, this was only slightly less than I expected him to get. I've kinda learned the norms for pleas in south Florida* over the past year & a half (lol) and this feels pretty close for the charges he was facing.

1st offender offers are HUGE there, juries are erratic at best, and with the most serious charge already dropped there was no remaining chance he'd get anything more than probation. Not much difference, other than purging his record, in the terms of PTD vs non-reporting probation (which I suspect he could have argued & gotten).


*this IS being handled by the same office (broadly) that Will works for


But I did feel like he would at least get probation. The record being expunged was possible, too, but i thought it would be after a year or two. This is very light for the charges, but shows you what having a good attorney can get you.

[GrantDawg]

Is this the worst draft class since 2013?


That really needs a few years to judge. There might be a few surprises before it is all said and done.

[RainMaker]

I really like Thieneman fit with the Bears. He's an elite cover safety and some boards reportedly had him rated higher than Downs.

Plenty of Edges left on the board and the Bears have two 2nds. Tackle is a concern so I would have preferred going there but a coverage safety was a huge need too.

When did white guys start running 4.3 40's?

[Atocep]

PFF's Wins Added Above Average for the 1st round. Taking a quarterback skews the totals. PFF loves them some Dillon Thieneman.

<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" lang="en" data-id="a/NQqQxih" data-context="false" ><a href="//imgur.com/a/NQqQxih"></a></blockquote><script async src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Ksyrup]

"Wilh the twenty-five-th pick of the 2016 draft, the Buffalo Bills select..."

Did I hear that correctly?

[CrimsonFox]

Probably . None of these guys can say one sentence

[JonInMiddleGA]

Watching the sausage being made is a heck of a thing.

Hope he enjoying it there.

He recently moved over to felony division & is (by far) the happiest he's been in the ... 20(?) months he's been there. Completely different vibe, far far FAR less internal bullshit.

[GrantDawg]

Falcons selected the brother of their current starting CB who plays the same position. It will be pretty wild if Terrell is CB1 and CB2.

[RainMaker]

How did anyone score on Ohio State? I think their entire defense is going to be drafted in the first 3 rounds

[Atocep]

The Vikings draft is showing why should have a GM.