Practicing for Phase II of his life? I have thought of him being able to do this in the first year....Move the frig over, Tony Romo!
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20 Years Ago Today, the Patriots Executed the Greatest Trade in Sports History

On January 27th, 2000, the New England Patriots sent a first-round pick to the New York Jets for the right to hire Bill Belichick as their head coach. While I can't personally contextualize the trade (seeing as I was 4 years-old), the press reaction was skeptical. After all, Belichick had an impressive resume as a coordinator, but his only stint as head coach in Cleveland was a bit of a mess; he led the team to the playoffs but left with a 36-44 record over four years and aggravated everybody from media to fans with his demeanor and cold decision-making. And the Patriots used a first-round pick to hire him!

Here we are 20 years later, and in retrospect, it's the greatest trade in sports history. No other trade across all the other leagues resulted in the lasting impact that Belichick has had on the Patriots and football as a whole. The only two that I think come close are the infamous Babe Ruth trade back 1919 and the Kobe Bryant draft-day trade in 1996.

Ruth gave the Yankees four championships over 15 years and to this day is considered one of the greatest players to grace the field. Bryant eventually turned into a legend of his own making and led the Lakers to five NBA championships, including a dynastic run in the early 2000s of three straight titles and four Finals appearances in five years. His accomplishments have been rehashed over the last 24 hours in the wake of his tragic passing, and the trade that landed him in Los Angeles may go down as the best in basketball history.

But neither had the same impact as the Patriots landing Belichick. He's controlled every aspect of the greatest dynasty modern sports has seen, and perhaps the greatest dynasty of all time. No NFL team is supposed to be this dominant for this long. It should be impossible for a team to win so consistently with the short careers of the players and a salary cap that grew more complicated as the years went on. The game itself has changed so stylistically and schematically that the Patriots' first Super Bowl victory is barely recognizable compared to games played this season.

Yet here we are. Two decades of winning and looming over every championship hopeful around the league. Belichick occupies his own pantheon, ahead of any individual who's stepped on an NFL field in terms of lore. Sure, you can't mention Belichick's impact without Tom Brady, and how fortunate the franchise was that a sixth-round pick turned out to be the greatest quarterback of all time. As much of a football genius he is, even Belichick didn't expect this. He did wait until pick 199 to take Brady, after all.

But while Brady was the handsome face of all that winning, Belichick was always lurking, always working behind the scenes to make sure every tiny little detail throughout his team was perfect, both personnel man and head coach. He alone is the constant beside Brady, the curator of the Patriots organization that everyone has come to recognize as synonymous with football excellence.

Robert Kraft sending a first-round pick to the Jets changed everything in ways we will never be able to grasp. No trade has been better. No trade has been bigger. And it's hard to imagine any transaction topping it.

SoFi Stadium isn’t the only project the Rams are working on this offseason

Construction of the multibillion-dollar Inglewood stadium the Rams will move into next season is nearing completion.

Reconstruction of the team that did not reach the playoffs for the first time in coach Sean McVay’s three seasons is only beginning.

“There was some great in 2019, there was some bad, there was some OK,” Kevin Demoff, the Rams’ chief operating officer, said Wednesday after a tour of SoFi Stadium. “And we have to figure out how we get back to the level that we’ve been normally accustomed to the past two years under Sean.

“It’s been great to have three straight winning seasons and two division titles and a Super Bowl run, but this year wasn’t up to our standards.”

The Rams in 2019 could not escape the fate of numerous teams that faltered the season after losing in the Super Bowl. They finished 9-7 and were surpassed in the NFC West by the Super Bowl-bound San Francisco 49ers and the second-place Seattle Seahawks.

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McVay wasted little time making significant moves: He did not renew the contracts of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips or running backs coach Skip Peete. A few days later, he hired Brandon Staley, a linebackers coach for the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos the last three seasons, as Phillips’ replacement.

McVay also hired former Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell as a nonplay-calling offensive coordinator. But McVay still must replace special-teams coordinator John Fassel and Peete, both now members of the Dallas Cowboys staff under new coach Mike McCarthy.

On Wednesday, Demoff declined to discuss the Rams coaching staff, saying he would defer to McVay to address the subject when it was complete.

General manager Les Snead has said that a “different formula” for remaking the Rams would be necessary now that the franchise is no longer in the financial window they used to their advantage when quarterback Jared Goff was playing on a rookie contract.

In the last 19 months, Goff, running back Todd Gurley, receiver Brandin Cooks and defensive lineman Aaron Donald received massive extensions. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey, acquired in a midseason trade that cost the Rams first-round draft picks in 2020 and 2021, also is in line for a potential record-breaking deal.

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Left tackle Andrew Whitworth, center-guard Austin Blythe, edge rusher Dante Fowler, linebacker Cory Littleton, defensive lineman Michael Brockers, kicker Greg Zuerlein and backup quarterback Blake Bortles are pending unrestricted free agents.

The Rams have six draft picks, none in the first round, a number that could increase to as many as eight if they are awarded compensatory picks for the departures of free-agent offensive lineman Rodger Saffold and safety Lamarcus Joyner after last season. The Rams have one pick each in the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds.

Next month, Rams officials and coaches will attend the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. Free agency starts in March. The draft is in late April.

“We have a ton of decisions to make,” Demoff said.

The Rams also will unveil a logo and redesigned uniform combinations in the months leading up to the opening of the stadium, which will host a Taylor Swift concert July 25.

After four seasons as a temporary tenant at the USC-controlled Coliseum, the Rams finally will play in owner Stan Kroenke’s privately financed stadium that they will share with the Chargers.

“I always view 2020 as the end of the relocation, the beginning of the next chapter of the Rams and everything that everybody has asked questions about for years comes to true fruition,” Demoff said. “But for the football team it’s just the next year after 2019.”

Looks like our renters will be in the market for a new QB. With the issues they have on the OLine and health all around this is an interesting move. Granted when I saw him last year he looked done.

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ROD's Spread Pick'em Playoff pool is down to 6 contenders for the championship.

8-Points
@bubbaramfan
@Curt760

7-Points
@OC--LeftCoast
@Riverumbbq
@So Ram
@The Ramowl

Bubba and Curt are the front runners. It really depends on who they pick, and who wins.

However... because any of these 6 are still active, we request all 6 finalists reply here - before kickoff - with your TOTAL SCORE.

Total Score = Sum of both teams points

Bubba and Curt, as our leaders, have selected this as the tie breaker process.

Good luck to our remaining players. If you are not a finalist, you are encouraged to make your final pick to finish your game out!

Cheers!

CGI

Glad I saw this article. I have been thinking about this trade to the Dolphins makes sense. I know most won’t like it though.
Todd Gurley has been an excellent RB for
The Rams. Just think you have to cut bait & chum to the Dolphins. Could be a win win ??
https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2020/...elease-draft-compensation-savings-los-angeles

So @Ramrasta took his girlfriend to the Pro Bowl yesterday. I asked him to send me pics. So here's EVERY pic my oldest decided he needed to send me...



OK... I thought. There's Rampage.




Then he sends this pic with this message... "I just watched the greatest thing ever. Women's youth tackle football. They were tackling each other by their hair'.




There is something extremely disturbing in this pic. Can you see it?

The message he attached to this pic was "confused fans".




The message attached to this... Rams cheerleader with a gross bob haircut. He knows I hate short hair on girls. LOL




No message sent with this one.




And finally this shot of a cool hat he picked up.


So apparently,,, that's the only action I needed to see from the Pro Bowl. LOL
I didn't want you guys to miss out!

Drew Bledsoe recalls believing Tom Brady would never be a starter

When Drew Bledsoe first began working with Tom Bradyduring the 2000 season, Bledsoe never would have believed that Brady would supplant him as the Patriots’ starting quarterback.

In fact, Bledsoe never thought Brady would start for any NFL team, ever. In a recent interview with ESPN, Bledsoe said he viewed Brady as a kid he’d take under his wing and make sure he didn’t blow all his NFL money, because he’d only be making backup money in his career.

“When he was on practice squad his rookie year, I actually called my financial advisor about him,” Bledsoe recalled. “I was like, ‘I really like this kid. He’s never gonna be a starter. He’s gonna be Jason Garrett or one of those guys who’s just going to be around forever. You’ll really like the kid.’ And we really liked the kid, we kind of brought him in, he was over at our house for dinner probably once a week. I really liked the kid, and still do. But nobody, outside of maybe Tom himself, would have ever predicted that he would go on to be a starter in the league and be in the conversation as maybe the greatest of all time.”

Bledsoe’s memory isn’t quite right; Brady was never on the practice squad. But Brady was, at the start of his rookie season, the Patriots’ fourth-string quarterback, and not many people believed he was a future starter. If Bledsoe hadn’t been injured during Brady’s second season, there’s no telling how long it would have taken for Brady to get his opportunity. Bledsoe didn’t think it would ever happen.

Maybe I missed this, but figure it is interesting to Rams fans. Peters signed an extension shortly after Christmas.

———

Ravens, CB Marcus Peters agree to contract extension; deal is reportedly for three years, $42 million

The Ravens have reached an agreement on a contract extension with Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters, the team announced Saturday, rewarding a well-traveled but proven ballhawk who’s helped transform the team’s defense.

The extension is reportedly a three-year deal through 2022 worth $42 million, including $32 million guaranteed. The contract also will pay Peters $20.5 million next year, according to ESPN. Only five cornerbacks this year were under contract for more than $14 million annually, his extension’s yearly rate.

Peters, a two-time All-Pro pick who turns 27 next month and was set to hit free agency this offseason, has re-emerged as one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks following a midseason trade. He has returned three interceptions for touchdowns this season, two with the Ravens, and sealed a win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 14 with a last-minute deflection on fourth down.

As Peters has excelled, so, too, has the Ravens defense. When the Ravens acquired him from the Los Angeles Rams in mid-October for linebacker Kenny Young and a 2020 fifth-round pick, he was rated Pro Football Focus’ No. 15 cornerback; he’s now third overall. Since Peters’ debut in Week 7, the Ravens’ defensive efficiency has improved from No. 22 to No. 4, according to Football Outsiders. Heading into Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team is on a franchise-record 11-game winning streak and has already secured the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed.

Drew Brees gives timeline on when he'll make a decision about whether or not to retire

For the first time in his long, prestigious NFL career, New Orleans Saintsquarterback Drew Brees is considering retirement. The 41-year-old Brees spent this week practicing for the 13th Pro Bowl appearance of his career, and he told reporters on Saturday that he's not yet ready to make a decision regarding whether he'll be back for a 20th NFL season, but he will be soon.

"I'm really waiting until football is totally done," Brees told The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate on Saturday. "Obviously being here, I'm just very much focused on my family and this opportunity to be be around the guys, playing the game. Then, I'll kind of lay low for a little bit, get away and then assess. I kind of have a process in mind. And I'll give it a month or so."

He acknowledged that this is a bit of a strange situation for him to be in. Previously, he'd known for sure that he would be back with the Saints the following season.

"I have never been in the situation where I was mulling over the thought of (returning)," Brees said. "To me, each one of these contracts, I don't know how many it's been with the Saints, I've played with them 14 years, each one, it's not a matter of if it gets done, it's when. At this stage of my career, it's not a given that I'm coming back every year, but when that time comes, I'll always be a Saint."

Brees has been remarkably productive and durable throughout his career in New Orleans, which has to be considered a bit of a surprise considering the shoulder injury that contributed to his departure from the San Diego Chargers. But this season, Brees missed five-plus games with a thumb injury -- the first multi-game absence he's had since all the way back in 2003. With a 41-year-old quarterback, the risk of those types of injuries is perhaps a bit higher than a younger player.

Luckily for the Saints, they invested more in the backup quarterback position than almost any team in the league, and Teddy Bridgewater led the team to a 5-0 record in Brees' absence. They were unable to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs, though, and they were upset by the Vikings in the first round. Brees didn't have his best stuff in that game, but he still performed at a high level for most of the regular season.

Saints GM Mickey Loomis told The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate that the team would "obviously" bring Brees back, if that's what he wanted to do. If he decides against a return, it seems likely that Bridgewater would be elevated to the starting role. The Saints also have Taysom Hill around to contribute at the position, and Asshole Face scheming those players into position to succeed. They should still be able to find that success, but it'd obviously be better for them if Brees came back for one more try.

Dolphins Scouting Justin Herbert More Than Any Other Team, Per Report

The Miami Dolphins head into the offseason ready to do whatever it takes to land their franchise quarterback. While reports have tied the team to Tua Tagovailoa, it now appears Miami could have its eye on Justin Herbert.

According to Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, no team has done more work on the former Oregon Ducks star quarterback than the Dolphins, who are armed with three first-round picks in the 2020 draft (Nos. 5, 18 and 26).

The senior quarterback is coming off a dominating performance at the Senior Bowl. Herbert spent the week stunning scouts and coaches in attendance with arm strength, accuracy and leadership throughout the week.

In fact, he came away with Senior Bowl MVP honors and drew even more praise for his work in practice and during meetings with teams. Once considered a potential top-10 pick, Herbert might have pushed his draft stock up even further.

It’s very possible that the Dolphins could be high on both Herbert and Tagovailoa coming out of the Senior Bowl. While Tagovailoa is immensely talented, he’s still recovering from a devastating hip injury, and it adds to potential concerns over his long-term durability.

There’s also a growing chance that a team could trade up ahead of Miami for Tagovailoa, or the Detroit Lions could even take him with the No. 3 overall pick.

Miami is clearly exploring all of its options to make sure it finds the right quarterback to lead its franchise into the future. While Tagovailoa seemed destined to join the Dolphins, there now at least appears to be a chance that Herbert could be their choice on draft day.

Hey Rams fans.

My wife and a few friends just booked an Air BNB so that we'll be in Vegas for the draft. I'm pretty excited I think it should be a really fun time.

From what I have gathered there will be a red carpet on the fountains in front of the Bellagio and then there will be a main draft stage set up next to the Ceasars Forum.

I also gathered that it is free. Seems like gates will be opening at 12:00 pm and closing at 9:00 pm or when the draft ends.

I want to kind of have an open discussion regarding the draft. Have any you ever been to the draft? What about since they started having them in host cities?

I know NAshville set quite the standard last year. Were any of you able to attend? Do you anticipate that it'll be hard to get into with it being a free event on The Strip?

Matthew Stafford Trade Rumors: Writer Hints at Huge Lions Move

The Detroit Lions could have a big decision to make as it relates to what to do with Matthew Stafford, and that decision might not be that cut and dry according to some.

As rumors have persisted, could the team move on from Stafford this offseason and look to deal him. According to Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, that’s just what he’s been hearing coming out of Mobile, Alabama and the Senior Bowl.

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According to Kelly, rumors continue to persist that the Lions will move on from Stafford this offseason, or at the very least could consider doing just that.

The Lions moving on from Stafford outright could be problematic given his massive dead cap hit, and also the downgrade from an established veteran to a player who has never played in the NFL before. Obviously, for the Lions to even consider such a move, they would need a ton of draft pick in return.

At the very least, such rumors provide a valuable smokescreen for the Lions, who could use any type of advantage when it comes to the No. 3 pick in terms of levrage. Most understand the Lions need defense, but if there are rumors they are hunting a quarterback, that could force a better trade for their pick or perhaps even No. 2.

Rams vs Packers mark it down!

https://www.tmz.com/2020/01/26/kobe-bryant-killed-dead-helicopter-crash-in-calabasas/

I can't believe that happened. I'm hoping that this is fake, but it doesn't look likely.

Rest in peace, Kobe...

.


I asked Bob Keating, a superb young investigative reporter who had just started working with us, to look into this for a story. The assignment was simple — all this money had been raised, where was it going, was it actually doing good?

He discovered it was not doing good, but, horrifically, unimaginably, the exact opposite. The Ethiopian dictator, Mengistu, until then deadlocked in the war, was using the money the west gave him to buy sophisticated weapons from the Russians, and was now able to efficiently and viciously crush the opposition. Ethiopia, then the third poorest country in the world, suddenly had the largest, best equipped army on the African continent.

By this time we had all seen the pictures and TV footage of Bob Geldof, the figurehead of Live Aid, bear hugging and playfully punching Mengistu in the arm as he literally handed over the funding for this slaughter. It was on TV now alright, but as an endless, relentless reel of heroic Bob Geldof highlights. He drenched himself in the adulation and no one begrudged him it, until our investigation exposed the holocaust that Live Aid’s collected donations had help perpetrate on the Eritrean independence fighters.

Most damningly, Keating reported that Geldof was warned, repeatedly, from the outset by several relief agencies in the field about Mengistu, who was dismantling tribes, mercilessly conducting resettlement marches on which 100,000 people died, and butchering helpless people. According to Medicins Sans Frontiers, who begged Geldof to not release the money until there was a reliable infrastructure to get it to victims, he simply ignored them, instead famously saying: “I’ll shake hands with the Devil on my left and on my right to get to the people we are meant to help.”


this is only one example. i'm sure you'll find many more. look at the haiti debacle.

the next time you want to give up your hard earned money you better make sure that the money you're donating will actually get to the people you're trying to help with your donation. impossible to do in the aftermath of whatever tragedy in the world the news media decides to tell us about.

.

Link

Pro Bowl 2020: AFC and NFC Starters, Full Rosters and Predictions

There's only one opportunity for fans to watch an NFL game this week: the 2020 Pro Bowl on Sunday.

It may not have as much at stake as a playoff matchup, but the Pro Bowl is still a great way to watch some of the NFL's top stars in action one last time before the offseason.

This year's Pro Bowl is filled with talented players, although those who were selected from the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs won't be involved ahead of the Super Bowl on Feb. 2.

Terrell Davis and Bruce Smith will serve as legends captains for the AFC team, which will be led by Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. The NFC will have legends captains Michael Vick and Darrell Green and Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll leading the way.

Here's everything you need to know about this year's Pro Bowl matchup.

2020 NFL Pro Bowl Information

Date: Sunday, Jan. 26
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando
TV: ESPN and ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN

Pro Bowl Rosters (Subject to Change)

Note: Players from the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will not be playing in the Pro Bowl as they prepare for Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2.

* indicates starter

AFC Roster

Offense

Quarterbacks: Lamar Jackson*, Baltimore Ravens; Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (Super Bowl); Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans; Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans (replacement)

Running Backs: Nick Chubb*, Cleveland Browns; Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans; Mark Ingram, Baltimore Ravens

Fullback: Patrick Ricard*, Baltimore Ravens

Wide Receivers: DeAndre Hopkins*, Houston Texans (injured); Keenan Allen*, Los Angeles Chargers; Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns; Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs (Super Bowl); Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos (replacement); DJ Chark Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (replacement)

Tight ends: Travis Kelce*, Kansas City Chiefs (Super Bowl); Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens; Jack Doyle Indianapolis Colts (replacement)

Tackles: Ronnie Stanley*, Baltimore Ravens; Laremy Tunsil*, Houston Texans; Trent Brown, Oakland Raiders (injured); Orlando Brown, Baltimore Ravens (replacement)

Guards: Marshal Yanda*, Baltimore Ravens; Quenton Nelson*, Indianapolis Colts; David DeCastro, Pittsburgh Steelers (injured); Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns (replacement)

Centers: Maurkice Pouncey*, Pittsburgh Steelers (injured); Rodney Hudson, Oakland Raiders; Ryan Kelly, Indianapolis Colts (replacement)
Defense

Defensive ends: Joey Bosa*, Los Angeles Chargers (injured); Frank Clark*, Kansas City Chiefs (Super Bowl); Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars; Melvin Ingram, Los Angeles Chargers (replacement); Josh Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars (replacement)

Interior linemen: Cameron Heyward*, Pittsburgh Steelers; Chris Jones*, Kansas City Chiefs (Super Bowl); Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals; Jurrell Casey, Tennessee Titans (replacement)

Outside linebackers: Von Miller*, Denver Broncos; T.J. Watt*, Pittsburgh Steelers; Matt Judon, Baltimore Ravens

Inside linebackers: Darius Leonard*, Indianapolis Colts; Dont'a Hightower, New England Patriots (injured); Tremaine Edmunds, Buffalo Bills (replacement)

Cornerbacks: Stephon Gilmore*, New England Patriots; Tre'Davious White*, Buffalo Bills; Marcus Peters, Baltimore Ravens (injured); Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens; Joe Haden, Pittsburgh Steelers (replacement)

Safeties: Minkah Fitzpatrick*, Pittsburgh Steelers; Jamal Adams*, New York Jets; Earl Thomas, Baltimore Ravens

Special Teams

Kicker: Justin Tucker*, Baltimore Ravens

Punter: Brett Kern*, Tennessee Titans

Returner: Mecole Hardman*, Kansas City Chiefs (Super Bowl); Andre Roberts, Buffalo Bills (replacement)

Special teamer: Matthew Slater*, New England Patriots

Long snapper: Morgan Cox*, Baltimore Ravens

NFC Roster

Offense

Quarterbacks: Russell Wilson*, Seattle Seahawks; Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints; Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (injury); Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings (replacement)

Running Backs: Dalvin Cook*, Minnesota Vikings; Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers (injury); Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys; Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints (replacement)

Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk*, San Francisco 49ers (Super Bowl); C.J. Ham, Minnesota Vikings (replacement)

Wide receivers: Julio Jones*, Atlanta Falcons (injury); Michael Thomas*, New Orleans Saints; Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (injury); Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (injury); Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys (replacement); Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions (replacement); Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers (replacement)

Tight ends: George Kittle*, San Francisco 49ers (Super Bowl); Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles; Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons

Tackles: David Bakhtiari*, Green Bay Packers (injury); Tyron Smith*, Dallas Cowboys; Terron Armstead, New Orleans Saints; Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles (replacement)

Guards: Zack Martin*, Dallas Cowboys; Brandon Brooks*, Philadelphia Eagles (injury); Brandon Scherff, Washington Redskins; Trai Turner, Carolina Panthers (replacement)

Centers: Jason Kelce*, Philadelphia Eagles; Travis Frederick, Dallas Cowboys

Defense

Defensive ends: Cameron Jordan*, New Orleans Saints; Nick Bosa*, San Francisco 49ers (Super Bowl); Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings (replacement)

Interior linemen: Aaron Donald*, Los Angeles Rams (injury); Fletcher Cox*, Philadelphia Eagles; Grady Jarrett, Atlanta Falcons; Kenny Clark, Green Bay Packers (replacement)

Outside linebackers: Chandler Jones*, Arizona Cardinals; Khalil Mack*, Chicago Bears (injury); Shaquil Barrett, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Za'Darius Smith, Green Bay Packers (replacement)

Inside linebackers: Bobby Wagner*, Seattle Seahawks (injury); Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers (retired); Jaylon Smith, Dallas Cowboys (replacement); Eric Kendricks, Minnesota Vikings (replacement)

Cornerbacks: Marshon Lattimore*, New Orleans Saints; Richard Sherman*, San Francisco 49ers (Super Bowl); Darius Slay, Detroit Lions; Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams (injured); Kyle Fuller, Chicago Bears (replacement); Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota Vikings (replacement)

Safeties: Budda Baker*, Arizona Cardinals; Harrison Smith*, Minnesota Vikings; Eddie Jackson, Chicago Bears

Special Teams

Kicker: Wil Lutz*, New Orleans Saints

Punter: Tress Way*, Washington Redskins

Returner: Deonte Harris*, New Orleans Saints

Special teamer: Cordarrelle Patterson*, Chicago Bears

Long snapper: Rick Lovato*, Philadelphia Eagles

Pro Bowl Predictions

Lamar Jackson does something exciting once again

The Pro Bowl doesn't feature much running on offense, as both teams typically air it out, but that isn't going to stop Lamar Jackson from finding some way to electrify.

The likely NFL MVP winner this season, Jackson impressed all year as he led a dynamic Ravens rushing attack. And although he totaled 1,206 yards on the ground, he also passed for 3,127 yards and an NFL-high 36 touchdowns.

That's why the 23-year-old will still make a big play at some point during his first Pro Bowl appearance.

Jackson is going to have some talented players around him in the AFC starting lineup, such as Browns running back Nick Chubb and Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen. So, expect the quarterback to get them the ball in impressive fashion and find a way to get into the end zone.

Stephon Gilmore comes up with a big play

The Patriots' defense was ranked No. 1 in the NFL this season, and Stephon Gilmore played a big role in that.

The veteran cornerback had a career-high six interceptions and scored the first two touchdowns of his eight-year NFL career. He also had 53 tackles and 20 pass deflections, which tied a career high, in his impressive third season with New England.

Gilmore is going to draw a tough assignment early in the game—perhaps Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas—but that won't stop him from making an impact, just as he has all season.

There are no blitzes in the Pro Bowl, so the 29-year-old should have plenty of help in coverage. That will lead to him forcing a turnover at some point and making a big play for the AFC.

AFC continues its Pro Bowl winning streak

After switching to a draft-style format from 2013-15, the Pro Bowl returned to an AFC vs. NFC matchup in 2016. And since then, the AFC has dominated.

The AFC has won each of the last three Pro Bowls since the return to this format, which has given it a 24-22 lead in the all-time series. Last year, the AFC had its most convincing victories as Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Jets safety Jamal Adams earned MVP honors in a 26-7 win.

It's always difficult to predict the Pro Bowl, as both teams have talented players and the stakes aren't as high as other NFL games. But the pick here is for the AFC to continue its recent dominance.

The NFC has more starters missing the game, due to either injury or Super Bowl preparation, and the AFC will take an early lead, with stars such as Jackson and Chubb leading the way. The AFC's defense will then make some plays to help it earn the victory.

Super Bowl 2020: Revisiting the Patrick Mahomes draft-day trade and how the Chiefs' gamble paid off

Fans of the Kansas City Chiefs will always remember the 2017 NFL Draft. In the first round, they made a trade that would alter the future of their franchise and the landscape of the NFL at large.

The 2017 draft class was a bit top-heavy when it came to quarterbacks. It wasn't considered a deep class, but there were a couple of signal callers who had the potential to develop into NFL stars. Mitchell Trubisky, Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes were considered the top three quarterbacks in the draft once Day 1 arrived. However, it's important to remember just how far Mahomes shot up draft boards. Early in the process, he was discussed as a Day 2 pick, then a fringe first-rounder, but all it took was one team to fall in love.

The San Francisco 49ers sat at No. 2 overall, and they needed a quarterback. Brian Hoyer was slated to be their starting signal caller, and they were thought to be a team that would take a flier on a rookie. Instead, the Chicago Bears called and offered four picks to move up one spot from No. 3 to No. 2. Since the Bears had just signed Mike Glennon to be their starter less than two months earlier, the general consensus was that they would take a defensive player, such as Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas. Instead, the Bears opted to take Trubisky at No. 2 overall.

With the 49ers on the clock at No. 3 overall, they could have taken someone like Mahomes or Watson, but they decided to shore up the defensive line by taking Thomas.

As the draft went on, Trubisky ended up being the only quarterback to be selected in the first nine picks, and the Buffalo Bills were put on the clock at No. 10 overall. The Chiefs then decided to make a bold move, and trade their first-round pick (No. 27 overall), their third-round pick (No. 91 overall) and their 2018 first-round pick to acquire No. 10 overall. Many thought the Chiefs were moving up for the two-time Heisman Trophy finalist and college footballchampion Watson. They were wrong.

Watson was considered by many to be the top quarterback in the draft. He put up record numbers for the Tigers and led Clemson to back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances. He compiled a 32-3 record as a starter, had the best winning percentage in school history for a quarterback and finished third in ACC history in total offense -- only behind Philip Riversand former Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd. While you could argue that Watson didn't have as high of a ceiling as some of the other quarterbacks in the class, he definitely appeared to be the most "sure thing."

Instead, the Chiefs decided to take the big-armed quarterback out of Texas Tech: Mahomes.

The Whitehouse, Texas, native wasn't highly touted during the early stages of the draft process. His footwork was torn apart by analysts and many pointed to the fact that his stats were inflated due to the Air Raid offense. But as we mentioned earlier, he gradually began to climb up draft boards as the draft day approached. Not many saw Mahomes being selected at No. 10 overall, but most Chiefs fans were excited after watching five minutes of his highlights tape.

Mahomes ended his Texas Tech career ranked third in passing yards, touchdown passes, and completions. He ranked second all time among Red Raider quarterbacks with 22 rushing touchdowns and also in total touchdowns. In his junior season, future Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury helped him become the nation's leading passer.

While Kansas City had Alex Smith as its starting quarterback, he was coming off a season where he passed for 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions. It wasn't out of the realm of possibility that the Chiefs were looking to upgrade their quarterback situation -- even if they had just gone 12-4 during the 2016 season. Kansas City could redshirt Mahomes for a year, plus Smith's contract included no guaranteed money in 2018.

The Chiefs' 2017 draft class had only six players, but with prospects like Tanoh Kpassagnon, Kareem Hunt and Jehu Chesson, the potential was there. All attention, however, was given to Mahomes.

The young quarterback threw for 390 yards and four touchdowns in his first four preseason games, and he recorded an overall passer rating of 109.3. He wouldn't see any more action until Dec. 31, when he got to start the regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos. It certainly wasn't a great performance, as Mahomes completed 62.9 percent of his passes for 284 yards and one interception, but behind the scenes, it appeared that the Chiefs were ready to make a big change under center.

Smith couldn't have played better than he did in his final season in Kansas City. He passed for a career-high 4,042 yards, 26 touchdowns, and only five interceptions, but the Chiefs opted to trade him to the Washington Redskins. With that big move, Kansas City officially entered the Mahomes era.

The 2018 campaign was a storybook season for the Chiefs. It began against the Los Angeles Chargers, when Mahomes threw for 256 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-28 victory. The Chiefs won eight out of their first 10 games, and finished in first place in the AFC with a 12-4 record. While their defense was subpar, it appeared the Chiefs were gearing up for a Super Bowl appearance thanks to their wunderkind under center. Kansas City rolled past the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round, but had to take on the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game. The contest was to be played at Arrowhead, however, which gave fans confidence that could end the Patriots dynasty and advance to Super Bowl LIII. While Mahomes threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns, the Chiefs fell in overtime to the eventual Super Bowl champions, 37-31.

Even with a disappointing end, the season proved that the Chiefs were onto something special. Mahomes won the 2018 MVP award after passing for 5,097 yards, 50 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Only two quarterbacks in NFL history have thrown for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a single season: Peyton Manning in 2013 and Mahomes in 2018. While Manning threw for more yards and touchdowns in 2013, Mahomes averaged more yards per attempt and tallied a touchdown on a higher percentage of his passes.

Entering the 2019 season, the Chiefs were considered a Super Bowl favorite. They got off to a bit of a shaky start, however. Tyreek Hill was injured in the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Mahomes played hurt through back-to-back losses against the Colts and Houston Texans, then he dislocated his kneecap against the Broncos in Week 7. He would miss two games due to the injury, and his return to the field in Week 10 was spoiled by the Tennessee Titans, who won a 35-32 thriller thanks to a blocked field goal on the last play of the game. That Nov. 10 setback ended up being the Chiefs' last loss of the season; they closed the regular season with six consecutive victories, and then won both playoff games by double digits to advance to Super Bowl LIV.

Mahomes finished with 4,031 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and five interceptions in 14 regular-season games. Clearly, his numbers weren't as good as last year's, but he really stepped up his game in the postseason. In Kansas City's two playoff games, Mahomes threw for 615 yards and eight touchdowns. He also was the Chiefs' leading rusher in both games; he had a combined 106 yards and one touchdown.

The answer was pretty clear early on, but the Chiefs' draft-day gamble paid off. Mahomes holds NFL records for most touchdown passes thrown in his first eight career games, the youngest quarterback to throw for six touchdowns in a game, the most consecutive road games with three or more touchdown passes and he was the fastest player to 7,500 career passing yards. He also already owns a handful of Chiefs franchise records. As my colleague Sean Wagner-McGough wrote about this week, Mahomes is already considered one of the best quarterbacks to have played in the NFL.

The Chiefs and 49ers will face off next Sunday for a chance at NFL glory. San Francisco's No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft will be chasing around the quarterback the 49ers probably wish they would have drafted at No. 3 overall -- but hindsight is 20/20.

The 49ers received four draft picks to move back one spot, but they actually traded two of those away. Thomas was of course selected at No. 3, but they traded the No. 67 overall pick to the Saints -- who took the rookie of the year, running back Alvin Kamara -- and traded No. 111 overall to the Seattle Seahawks, who took safety Tedric Thompson. The 49ers then used the 2018 third-round pick to draft linebacker Fred Warner at No. 70 overall. He started all 16 games this season, and he recorded 118 combined tackles, three sacks, nine passes defensed, and one pick-six.

Hoyer started the first six games of the 2017 season, but he was benched in Week 6 for rookie C.J. Beathard, who was the quarterback the 49ers drafted in the third round that year. Hoyer would be released only a couple of weeks later while Beathard took over as the permanent starter.

In October 2017, the 49ers then made the big move which would help them get to Super Bowl LIV: they sent a second-round pick to the Patriots in exchange for Jimmy Garoppolo. He made his first appearance as a 49er in Week 12 against the Seahawks when Beathard went down with an injury. Garoppolo then took over as the permanent starter the next week, and he led San Francisco to five consecutive victories.

Garoppolo entered the 2018 season as the unquestioned starter, but he tore his ACL in Week 3 against the Chiefs. When he returned in 2019 to again try to complete his first full season as a starter, he led the 49ers to a 13-3 record while throwing for 3,978 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.

Both the Chiefs and 49ers are happy with where they currently stand, but it's interesting how that 2017 draft affected how the future would turn out for these two teams.

Preface:
Offense needs to get back to averaging over 5 yds per carry in the run game. Also, needs a second identity when Defenses go with a 6-1 Front to slow down the Zone Blocking. To me, this means using Power run blocking where the Interior D-lineman get Dbl teamed and using 2-TE’s.

Defense needs to improve in the category of limiting Big Plays and becoming TOP 8 team in scoring Defense. We all would like to see an improvement in the Run defense, but that’s not as important as limiting big plays in the passing game. The 49ers are going to the SuperBowl with a Run defense ranked about 14th I think, so that is not a detriment to post-season success. Using a 3 man Front with Aaron Donald as a DE frustrates me. There is lack of balance on the other side of the line as far as penetration. My aim is to improve this.

Cut:

S Eric Weddle

Edge Clay Matthews

DT Tanzell Smart

OG Jamil Demby


Restructure: Brandin Cooks ( 8-Mil savings )


Let Walk:

DE Michael Brockers

Edge Donte Fowler

LB Bryce Hagar

ST Jojo Natson

OC/G Austin Blythe

S Marqui Christian

DL Morgan Fox


Resign:

OT Andrew Whitworth

QB Blake Bortles

LB Corey Littleton

All ERFA

All Practice squad



Outside FA’s:


Edge Shaq Lawson - brings pass rush production and Run defense at lower price than Fowler

DL David Onyemata - Great penetrator who generated 3 Sacks & 11 QB hits playing on the inside. Will take over as the DE starter opposite Donald.

DL Vernon Butler - Another inside penetrator who will take playing time from SJD and Gaines on the Nose. Or, can be used pairing him and Donald as DT’s in an even front. Generated 6 sacks & 9 QB hits for the Panthers last season.

DL Keionta Davis - A lighter gap penetrator who can spell Donald & Onyemata. This is a league minimum player who had injuries while on the Patriots.

OL Andrus Peat - An inexpensive veteran for the interior O-line. Should sign in the 2 – 3 Mil range.


Trades:

RB Todd Gurley to the Texans for 2020 & 2021 3rd Rnd picks. This will provide approx. 4.5 Mil in Cap savings this year. As mush as I like Gurley, this is a business decision first. You don’t need a 15-Mil per year RB in order to generate 30 points per game. The Rams will be able to do RB by committee. Secondly, on top of the issues of the Championship game with the Saints, where he was not mentally in the game, I have witnessed some indifference in his body language regarding pass blocking this past season.

TE Gerald Everett to the Bengals for a 4th Rnd (#1) in 2020.


Draft:

Trade down with Dolphins:

Rams send 2nd Rnd #20 ; Dolphins send 2nd Rnd #24 & 4th Rnd #39


Trade down with Chiefs:

Rams send 2nd Rnd #24 : Chiefs send 2nd Rnd #31 & 4th Rnd #31


Rams own 10 selections



Rnd 2 pick #31 S Kyle Dugger

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Dugger offers the Rams the flexibility to use him as a 2ndd Safety in the Box, or as an additional coverage LB. He is stout enough to be a weakside LB and fast enough to cover TE’s, slot receivers and RB’s. He also is a returner who returned 4 kicks for TD’s this past season.



Rnd 3 pick #20 C Caesar Ruiz

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With all of the recent picks the Rams have made recently for the O-line, Center Brain Allen is the only one I’m not comfortable with. I prefer Ruiz’ larger base along with his mobility to get the second level.



Rnd 3 pick #37 (from Texans) Edge Bradlee Anae

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Anae's size and pass rush ability will help turn the OLB corps into one the Rams strongest position groups. He single handedly tore up the oppositions O-line at the Senior Bowl, registering 3 sacks in the game.



4th Rnd pick #1 ( From Bengals ) WR Devin Duvernay

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Duvernay will become Brandin Cooks replacement. He has long speed, great hands ( 3 drops in 140 targets ), can break tackles…. Built like a RB, and has great production in the Screen game. What the Rams do offensively fits his game to the T. He hasn’t blocked much and will need to work on this.



4th Rnd pick # 20 RB Lamical Perine

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Perine is a great cut-back runner that fits with the Rams ZBS. He is also a good receiver and is stout enough in pass / blitz protection.



4th Rnd pick #31 ( from Chiefs) DL Jason Strowbridge

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Strowbridge is 6’5 / 270 lbs and beat O-lineman in drills at the Senior Bowl from 1-tech, 3-tech and 5-tech. He has the quickness to get past lineman and knows how to keep blockers hands off…has a very good swim move. Would be the first off the bench in a rotation.



4th Rnd pick #34 ( Comp ) TE Cheyenne O’Grady

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O’Grady, at this point of the draft, has the best combination of blocking and receiving skills of any of the TE’s remaining. He is already a good seal blocker but will have to work on his inline power. He is a load to bring down and has many plays of gaining YAC with many defenders holding on. His inline ability allows Rams to use more Dbl TE formations. Mundt does a good job but O’Grady will allow Mundt to be used in more of “move” or “H” role in the offense.



4th Rnd pick # 39 ( from Dolphins ) LB Akeem Davis-Gaither

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Davis-Gaither is an undersized LB with great coverage ability. He can shine on special teams while being groomed to replace Corey Littleton.



6th Rnd pick #20 CB Nevelle Clark

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Clark has great size for a CB, 6’1” – 190 lbs along with a long reach for breaking up passes and also is a very good tackler. In the last 2 seasons at UCF, Clark has 4 INT’s, 24 pass deflections and 1 TD. Will make a good #2 boundary Corner.



7th Rnd pick #20 RB Trey Sermon

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Sermon’s 2019 season was cut short due to a knee injury or else he might be selected earlier. He finished with 54 rushing attempts for 385 YDs, over 7 yards per carry. A good one-cut runner that fits the Rams scheme. He is also adept at picking-up the blitz. With Henderson, Perine, Sermon, along with keeping Brown 1 more season to groom the young ones, the RB room will be very competitive.

Roster:

Offense-

QB- Jared Goff, Blake Bortles, John Wolford

RB- Darrell Henderson, Lamical Perine, Trey Sermon, Malcolm Brown

WR- Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Brandin Coooks, Josh Reynolds, Devin Duvernay, Nsimba Webster

TE- Tyler Higbee, Cheyenne O’Grady, Johnny Mundt

OL- Andrew Whitworth, Andrus Peat, Caesar Ruiz, Austin Corbett, Rob Havenstein, David Edwards, Joseph Noteboom, Bobby Evans, Brian Allen



Defense-

DL- Aaron Donald, Greg Gaines, Joseph-Day, Vernon Butler, David Onyemata, Jason Strowbridge, Keionta Davis

OLB- Shaq Lawson, Obo Okoronkwo, Samson Ebukam, Bradlee Anae, Jachie Polite

ILB- Micah Kiser, Corey Littleton, Natrez Patrick, Travin Howard, Akeem Davis-Gaither

CB- Jalen Ramsey, Troy Hill, Darious Williams, David Long, Nickell Roby-Coleman, Nevelle Clark

Safety- John Johnson, Taylor Rapp, Kyle Dugger, Nick Scott

Report: Patriots hire Jedd Fisch from Rams

Jedd Fisch has joined the Patriots’ coaching staff in a yet to be determined offensive capacity, Jim McBride of the Boston Globereports.

Fisch was the Rams’ senior offensive assistant the past two seasons, adding assistant offensive coordinator to his job title for 2019.

He spent the 2017 season as offensive coordinator at UCLA.

Fisch has coached at five other NFL teams in addition to the Rams. He has worked for the Texans, Ravens, Broncos, Seahawks and Jaguars.

Fisch was the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator in 2012 and 2013

He has coached for Steve Spurrier, Dom Capers, Brian Billick, Mike Shanahan, Pete Carroll, Gus Bradley, Jim Harbaugh and Sean McVay, among others.

Teenager's petition to move Super Bowl to Saturday has over 30K signatures

The Super Bowl has always taken place on a Sunday, but a New York teen is attempting to change that. Frankie Ruggeri, 16, has started a petition on Change.org to get the Super Bowl moved to Saturday going forward.

People are certainly getting behind the idea, as the petition has more than 30,000 signatures.

Ruggeri believes that more fans will be able to watch the Super Bowl if it is moved to Saturday. The teen also brings up the point on that petition page that people have to go to work and school on Monday, which means some younger children can't watch the game in its entirety.

A 2019 survey from the Workforce Institute predicted that a record 17.2 million people will call out of work following Super Bowl LIV, so he might be on to something.

The 16-year old got the wheels turning on his big idea when he was speaking about the NFL playoffs with his family recently.

"He has a lot of passion in his heart," Frank Ruggeri told CNN about his son. "When he gets on one thing, he really sticks with it."

The petition isn't stopping Ruggeri from staying up to watch the big game. Ruggeri, who is a fan of the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams, will be watching and rooting for the San Francisco 49ers when they take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Super Bowl has been historically linked to being on Sunday, so it would certainly be interesting to see if more people continue to get on board with Ruggeri's idea.

After McVay's hire of our new defensive coordinator, I think it sheds some light on the direction in which our defense is heading in 2020. As always, I create my mocks based on my understand of the philosophies of our coaching staff and personnel office. However, I am not trying to guess what the Rams will do. Rather, I am offering a scenario that I think would be a good one if I were in their shoes. I tried to change up the players a bit to expose y'all to more names. I still love guys like Josh Uche, David Woodward, Tyler Biadasz, Quintez Cephus, etc.

Cut
S Eric Weddle
HB Malcolm Brown

I wish I could cut Weddle more than once. I'm so fed up with his performance. With Brown, we expect Henderson to take a leap in Year 2, so we can let Brown walk.

Re-sign
K Greg Zuerlein
OT Andrew Whitworth
OLB Dante Fowler Jr. (Franchise Tag)
DL Morgan Fox
All Practice Squad Players
All ERFAs

Yes, we're letting Littleton walk. I don't take pleasure in that, but we have to make hard decisions. Littleton's price tag is too high for me. He's a good but not elite ILB. We bring back Brockers on a relatively cheap, short-term deal. He's still a solid starting DL. Whitworth has announced that he wants to return. It makes logical sense to bring him back. It'll give Noteboom additional time to recover from his injury. We franchise Fowler with the plan to extend him. (I've gone back and forth on this one. Originally, I had us franchising Fowler and trading him to the Dolphins for a late second and a future fifth, but I think he's worth keeping around. He has really impressed me over the second half of the year.)

Trades
Rams trade OLB Dante Fowler Jr.
Dolphins trade Round 2 Pick #24 and a 2021 Round 4 Pick

The Dolphins have a ton of picks this year and could use pass rush help. They also have the cap room to extend Fowler. He's still young at 25 years old and just put together a strong season. He's also a Florida native who fits well into Flores' scheme.

Rams trade WR Josh Reynolds
Bills trade 2021 Round 5 Pick

In this mock, we keep Robert Woods, but we still have a lot of mouths to feed in the passing game. Reynolds is entering the final year of his deal, so we flip him to Buffalo for a future 5th (to compensate for the 5th we traded to Cleveland).

Rams trade CB Nickell Robey-Coleman and Round 7 Pick #20
Bengals trade Round 6 Pick #1

The Bengals' slot CB, Darqueze Dennard, is a FA. NRC is still a quality slot CB who fits Cincy's scheme. With Ramsey, Hill, Long, and Darious Williams, we have enough depth and talent at CB to trade NRC and save a few bucks on his salary.

Rams trade: Round 2 Pick #24 and Round 4 Pick #20
Redskins trade: Round 3 Pick #2, Round 4 Pick #2, and Round 5 Pick #2

We trade down with the Redskins.

Free Agency

Stephen Weatherly OLB

Weatherly has been stuck behind Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter in Minnesota, but I think he's an underrated player. At 6'5" 265, he seems big for a 3-4 OLB at first glance, but he's an athletic big man who played 3-4 OLB in college. Personally, I think he's an underrated player who could break out if given a larger role. He's a really good run defender on the edge who has the athleticism to drop into coverage when needed. His pass rush potential isn't entirely clear at this stage, but he has shown flashes when given PT in Minnesota. I think he has the potential to be a real bargain for us.

NFL Draft
Round 2 Pick #20 - Zack Baun ILB Wisconsin
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Analysis: Two-year starter who posted 75 tackles, 19.5 TFLs, and 12.5 sacks as a senior playing as a 3-4 OLB. Due to Wisconsin's scheme, he has a lot of coverage snaps over the past two years. His athleticism, cover skills, instincts, and size (6'3" 240) all indicate to me that Baun would be a phenomenal 3-4 ILB in our scheme. He has a lot of similarities to former Badger Joe Schobert, who made the transition from 3-4 OLB to MLB in the NFL.

Round 3 Pick #2 - Matt Hennessy C Temple
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Analysis: In my opinion, he's the second best Center in the Draft behind Biadasz. Although, I've seen some have Cushenberry or Ruiz as the top two centers. Hennessy needs to continue bulking up, but he's already a polished technician with outstanding athleticism. I was quite impressed with how coordinated Temple's protection was as well. He's the only Center in this class on Biadasz's level as a technician, but Hennessy is the better athlete, while Biadasz is bigger and stronger.

Round 3 Pick #20 - Jonathan Greenard OLB Florida
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Analysis: I think Greenard is a guy who will see his draft stock take a bit of a hit at the Combine. I don't think he's a standout athlete, but he's a very savvy player with a great motor and a polished pass rush game. A number of pass rushers in this class could learn a lot from watching Greenard's footwork. He really understands how to vary his path and use feints and stutters to get tackles out of position. At 6'4" 260, he's capable of setting a hard edge too. Durability is a concern, though.

Round 4 Pick #2 - Leki Fotu DL Utah
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Analysis: What can you say about the 6'5" 330 pound freakishly gifted Samoan? Fotu is sushi raw, but you can't teach his size, strength, and explosiveness. He's going to need a good bit of a polishing, but he should be able to play immediately on running downs as a 5-Tech. Like Akiem Hicks, if this kid develops and puts it together, he'll be an absolute force as both a run defender and pass rusher.

Round 4 Pick #34 - Van Jefferson WR Florida
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Analysis: The son of former NFL WR turned NFL WR Coach Shawn Jefferson, Van is a very polished player. His varied route tempos, arsenal of releases, quick-twitch athleticism, crisp routes, and heady play make him a very difficult guy for CBs to cover. Van also possesses natural, reliable hands. He's not a stellar athlete, but due to his quickness and coordination, he doesn't need blazing speed. However, his thin frame and lack of play strength hinder him against physical CBs and in jump ball situations. I think he's comparable to Brian Hartline.

Round 5 Pick #2 - Anthony McFarland HB Maryland
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Analysis: It's hard to say where McFarland will go in the Draft, but if he falls this far, you sprint to the podium. McFarland is just a phenomenal athlete. He's twitchy, fast, and explosive. He's surprisingly strong for a smaller HB and possesses impressive contact balance. He also flashes a lot of potential in the passing game. Ultimately, he looks like a kid who could develop into a hell of a change of pace HB.

Round 6 Pick #1 - Josiah Coatney DL Ole Miss
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Analysis: I must say that Coatney flew under my radar, but I was quite impressed watching his film. He has a lot of intriguing tools and could play all over our front (from 0-Tech to 5-Tech). Coatney is quite strong and heavy-handed. He shows a more diverse set of pass rush moves than you expect, and his push-pull move can be quite devastating due to how jarring his punch is. He needs to play with more consistent leverage and work not to get washed out in the flow on zone-stretch plays, but the kid has a lot of potential and versatility.

Round 6 Pick #20 - Stephen Sullivan TE Louisiana State
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Analysis: Sullivan is an intriguing project to me. He bounced back and forth between WR and TE for LSU. At 6'6" 250, he has a lot of developing to do, but he has tools. He doesn't have the quickness to play WR and needs to play more physically as a route runner if he's going to stick at TE. But he's a willing blocker with long arms, big mitts, and consistent hands. He also has better wheels than your average TE. He just needs a lot of polish as a blocker and router runner.

Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
WR: Brandin Cooks
WR: Robert Woods
WR: Cooper Kupp
TE: Tyler Higbee
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Competition
C: Matt Hennessy
RG: David Edwards
RT: Rob Havenstein

SDE: Sebastian Joseph-Day
NT: Greg Gaines
UT: Aaron Donald
OLB: Clay Matthews
ILB: Competition
ILB: Zack Baun
OLB: Stephen Weatherly
LCB: Jalen Ramsey
RCB: Troy Hill
SLCB: David Long Jr.
FS: John Johnson III
SS: Taylor Rapp

K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide

#Rams Prospect Meetings (what we've been told or what has already been reported):
TE Brycen Hopkins, Purdue (SR) - DTR
OT Hakeem Adeniji, Kansas (SR) - DTR
OT Matthew Peart, UConn (SR) - DTR
OT Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn (SR) - DTR
EDGE Bradlee Anae, Utah (SR) - Christian Campbell
EDGE Joshua Uche, Michigan (SR) - DTR
LB Cameron Brown, Penn State (SR) - DTR

Legend:
East-West Shrine Game = (EW)
Senior Bowl = (SR)
NFLPA Collegiate Bowl = (PA)
College Gridiron Showcase = (CGS)
Multiple meetings = (*)
NFL Scouting Combine = (COM)
Pro Day Meeting = (PRO)
Private workout = (WOR)
30 Private visit = (PRI)
Local workout = (LOC)

Other Meeting = (^)

Downtown Rams sourced = - DTR