It is that time of year where NFL news merges with the draft.

So, consistent with before, draft and combine news is acceptable in the main forums. It’s the workhorse news right now, anyway.

We’ll keep the mock drafts in the draft forums.

Bottom line; it’s a slower time of year, share anything NFL here to maximize visibility and discussion.

Cheers!

https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nfl...rst-performances/16sx23nawg8kg1m5be5jkcmgwx/4

NFL Combine: 10 stars who overcame worst performances

The NFL Combine is far from being the be-all, end-all of a draft prospect’s value as an NFL player.

Here are 10 cases in point of current or recent stars who whiffed at their workout, only to emerge as some of the league’s best.

• Tom Brady, QB, 2000
  
  At the Combine, Brady looked far from a future six-time Super Bowl winning QB, which led to him being a sixth-round pick (No. 199 overall). He was historically un-athletic with his miserable 5.28-second 40-yard dash. His 6-5 frame also didn’t look great, weighing just 211 pounds. Of course, his intangibles, intelligence and competitiveness have made up for his physical shortcomings.

• Anquan Boldin, WR, 2001
  
  Through his years with the Cardinals, Ravens, 49ers and Lions, Boldin was a matchup problem because of his toughness and quickness. But at the Combine, he ran a bad 4.72 40-yard dash for his position,along with a 7.35 in the 3-cone drill. It caused the converted Florida State QB to fall to the second round, No. 54 overall to Arizona. He exploded for 10 catches, 217 yards and 2 TDs in his first NFL game, and he ended his 14-year career as a three-time Pro Bowler.

• Drew Brees, QB, 2001
  
  Brees started off his Combine by measuring shorter than he was listed at Purdue, not even 6-0. He combined that with struggles in making accurate passes and throwing some dreaded ducks on downfield throws. He settled for being the Chargers’ first pick of the second round, and he has gone on to be one of the game’s most prolific passers in New Orleans.

• Antonio Brown, Steelers, 2010
  
  It’s hard to believe Brown's speed, quickness and athleticism numbers failed to impress at the Combine, but along with his 4.56-second 40, he had only a 33.5-inch vertical and a 6.98-second 3-cone. His 8-foot, 9-inch broad jump was worst among wide receivers who tested that year. Now the sixth-round pick is running, jumping and blowing past everybody in the NFL.

• Arian Foster, RB, 2009
  
  Foster’s miserable 40-yard dash time of 4.68 seconds sealed his fate to go undrafted, as there already were some ball-security concerns with him coming out of Tennessee. Houston signed him because of his potential to thrive in its zone-blocking scheme, and he rewarded the team with four Pro Bowl seasons

• Kam Chancellor, S, 2010
  
  Chancellor measured at 6-3, 231 pounds and delivered a solid bench press with 22 reps. The problem was he did little to shake the notion that he was caught in between safety and maybe needing to transition to linebacker out of Virginia Tech with a slow 40 time (4.62). Seattle took the four-time Pro Bowler in the fifth round and accepted him as a hard-hitting hybrid.

• Alfred Morris, RB, 2012
  
  Coming out of Florida Atlantic, there were concerns about whether Morris was too heavy and too slow to be more of a feature back than a just a fullback. He struggled to dispel the speed questions with a 4.6 40-yard dash at the Combine. His quickness, however, remained underrated out of his workouts. Washington stole him in the sixth round, No. 173 overall, getting a two-time Pro Bowl durable workhorse before he moved on to be a backup for rival Dallas (and eventually San Francisco).

• Calais Campbell, DE, 2008
  
  Before he became one of the NFL's best havoc-wreaking ends, Campbell had to fight through a less than desirable Combine workout coming out of Miami. Tabbed early as a surefire first-round pick, at 6-8, 290 pounds, he struggled with both his strength (16 bench-press reps) and agility (5.04 in the 40, 7.45 in 3-cone). It allowed Arizona to nab the edge intimidator in the second round, No. 50 overall.

• Joe Haden, CB, 2010
  
  When Haden was coming out of Florida, there were concerns about his size hampering his ability to be a shutdown corner. Then speed became an issue at the Combine with a 4.57 40 and a 35-inch vertical leap, not in line with the good numbers at the hops-tailored position. Cleveland looked past that in the draft, and he has been a well-compensated cover man (now with Pittsburgh) for nine NFL seasons.

• Terrell Suggs, OLB, 2003
  
  We know Suggs as a strong, explosive, intimidating pass-rusher now, but coming out of Arizona State, he had a terrible Combine. Not only was he slow (4.8-second 40), but he also disappointed by doing a subpar 19 bench-press reps. It’s good Baltimore looked past all of that to take him at No. 10 overall, because it hasn’t been disappointing since.

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Not good. Not good at all.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...xth-straight-year-with-a-10-million-increase/

NFL salary cap rises to $188.2 million for 2019, the sixth straight year with a $10 million increase
Team checkbooks are expanding once again, as the cap is up from $177.2 million in 2018

For the sixth straight season, the NFL salary cap has increased by at least $10 million per team, jumping from $177.2 million in 2018 to $188.2 million in 2019, the league announced alongside the NFL Players Association on Friday.

An annual limit on player expenses for the NFL's 32 teams, the salary cap has risen ever since the implementation of a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in 2011, when it was set at $120 million. This year, it's increased by $11 million, meaning every team will have an additional $11 million to allocate toward player contracts.

The largest increase came between the 2016 and 2017 seasons, when the cap jumped by almost $12 million. First introduced at $34.6 million in 1994, it's the highest it's ever been entering 2019, as the NFL projected earlier this offseason.

Starting March 13 at 4 p.m. ET, teams will be eligible to officially use their cap space in free agency.

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Written by his wife! Bit of a different take, I enjoyed it. Sad reading for Bengals fans though.

With NFL teams having a record breaking amount of cap space, I've been thinking more and more that Fowler, Suh, Joyner and Saffold will all be playing elsewhere next year.

Saffold is the only one we really expect back, and if we don't re-sign him before testing the market, a team with a stupid amount of cap space could easily afford to make him an offer he couldn't refuse. If that were to happen, this is my official prediction for how events will unfold:

Cut: Mark Barron - no explanation needed

Trade: Michael Brockers to the Giants for 4th and 5th round picks - Brockers just wasn't effective last year and not worth his cap number - I don't see any real difference between his and Mark Barron's situations, except that Brock has some trade value. Both players were great in Wade's first year, both were not good in the regular season this year, and both played better in the playoffs. I'm less confident about this being the Giants now with Eli supposedly still going to be on the team, but I am somewhat confident that Brockers will be traded.

Rams will have $50 million in cap space - $15 million needed for RFAs and draft picks. Rams can/would get creative with some existing contracts and I feel good about having $40 million to spend in FA/via trade:

Trade: Rams first round pick this year and next, along with a 3rd this year for Von Miller.

FA:

Darian Stewart - makes too much sense

Ryan Groy - makes too much sense

Denzel Perryman - can come in and compete at ILB for relatively cheap

Tevin Coleman - this one might seem weird, but I could see McVay doing it - CJ did a good job, but I think Coleman can be had for around $8 million per year for a few years (thinking three) and will be much better - Rams can get out of this contract about the same time that Goff gets re-signed - this is probably shocking to some people, but based on Gurley being over utilized the last two years and McVay opting not to use Malcolm Brown more, my conclusion is that we need a better backup RB. If everything is predicated on the run game, this position is very important to the offense.

Draft:

Round 3 - Michael Jordan, OL OSU - here the Rams nab a guard to develop for a year - Jordan has some good and bad moments with OSU, but did better at guard than center.

Round 4 - Dontaveous Russel, NT Auburn - good run defender and Snead goes back to the Auburn well - not a guy that will be a threat rushing the passer but a rotational piece we should be able to play some right away

Round 4 - Jalen Hurd, WR Baylor

Round 5 - Iman Marshall, CB USC - will need some work obviously, but his size/athleticism will be enticing here.

Round 5 (comp from Brockers trade) - Wyatt Ray, EDGE BC - seems like a guy that will test well but his production was just okay - looks like his film isn't great either, which is why he could fall this far.

Round 6 - Isaiah Johnson, CB Houston - not a lot to like about him except for his size - at 6'4", worth the flyer with what is essentially a 6th round pick to see if he can learn from our talented CB room. Any pick at this point is going to struggle to make the team.

Round 7 - Trace McSorley, QB PSU - this pick, whoever it is, will be the longest of long shots - Rams will likely take a priority UDFA here, but I say bring McSorley in - his athleticism is intriguing at the very least.



Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
XWR: Brandin Cooks
ZWR: Robert Woods
SLWR: Cooper Kupp
TE: Tyler Higbee or Gerald Everett
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Noteboom
C: Sullivan vs. Brian Allen vs. Groy
RG: Blythe
RT: Rob Havenstein

5T: John Franklin-Myers
NT: Sebastion Joseph-Day
3T: Aaron Donald
WOLB: Von Miller
Mo LB: Cory Littleton
Mike LB: Perryman or Micah Kiser or Bryce Hager
SOLB: Samson Ebukam
RCB: Aqib Talib
LCB: Marcus Peters
SLCB: Nickell Robey-Coleman
FS: John Johnson
SS: Darian Stewart

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

I’ll be honest, I don’t know much about college football. So I’ll have to rely on the draft gurus who frequent this forum to inform me. That being said, I have heard of this Devon Bush Jr. kid from Michigan. From what I’ve read on Bush, he was a very productive MLB but a tad bit undersized. Would DBJr be a worthy draft pick at #31 and heir apparent to Barron (assuming Barron is gone)?

https://www.profootballfocus.com/ne...jaff&cjevent=46940ee23bb311e9820700280a1c0e14

Rams aplenty. EIGHT represented.
Maybe you can guess who before clinking link. Betcha can't.

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What exactly is he going to do at this point? He runs what, a 6.7 40?

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/20...-update-training-camp/?utm_source=thescoreapp

Cooper Kupp expected to be ready for Rams training camp

The Los Angeles Rams were dealt a significant blow in Week 10 last season when Cooper Kupp suffered a torn ACL. He missed the rest of the season and the playoffs, giving way to Josh Reynolds as a starter.

The Rams will be getting their top slot receiver back in 2019 and according to Sean McVay, Kupp will be back on the field in training camp. McVay said at the NFL combine Thursday that Kupp is expected to be ready for camp in July.

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Despite only playing eight games last season, Kupp still finished fourth on the team in receiving yards (566), receptions (40) and tied for first with six touchdowns. He was an integral part of the offense, not only being Jared Goff’s security blanket underneath, but also making plays down the field.

With Kupp healthy, the Rams have one of the most talented and deepest receiver groups in the NFL. Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods had phenomenal 2018 seasons with 1,000-plus yards and at least 80 catches each, while Reynolds provides great depth as the fourth receiver, as well.

The Rams could’ve used Kupp in the Super Bowl when they scored just three points and had trouble converting on third down.

As per rotoworld. McVay tweet

https://www.rotoworld.com/football/nfl/player-news/headlines#news-8869206

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...ami-20-nfl-ripe-for-more-wheeling-and-dealing

Trade Tsunami 2.0? NFL ripe for more wheeling and dealing

All signs point to a sequel of last year's trade tsunami. Before getting to the players who could be moved over the coming weeks, let's take a look at the conditions which point to a bigger wave coming this time around.

There is more cap space across the NFL than teams know what to do with.

Cap space is overrated. All but six teams have at least $15 million in space, according to Over The Cap, with nearly half the league over $30 million. All this room exists before the deluge of cuts and restructured contracts that will open up even more cash. When nearly every team has an advantage, it's no longer an advantage. Teams like the Eagles and Rams have shown that even organizations that spend close to the cap can easily maneuver their finances while staying aggressive. If your favorite team's decision-makers are using cap space as an excuse for inactivity, they are either uncreative or incompetent.

Veterans who no longer fit on their current teams still have attractive contracts.

One team's bloated contract is another team's opportunity. The rapid change in coaching staffs and front offices makes a lot of large recent deals look like values to other teams.

This is true for a few reasons. As the salary cap continues to skyrocket with television money washing over the league, even highly paid veteran starters could probably do better on the open market. DeSean Jackson, for instance, has $10 million left on the final year of his deal. That sounds significant until you consider he might be the best free-agent receiver available if he were released.

Antonio Brown is another case. The Steelers already paid Brown his huge signing bonus, so any team trading for him inherits a contract that pays him an average salary under $13 million over the next three years. Brown has made noise about wanting new guaranteed money -- who wouldn't? -- but he might not have a choice in the matter.

A road map from the best teams in the league.

I wrote in January of 2018 about how the Eagles and Patriots were the most active trading teams this decade. The Rams were the most high-profile team to use veteran trades to build the roster last offseason, picking up Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib and Brandin Cooks for draft picks. The Patriots gave up very little to acquire key championship contributors like Trent Brown, Jason McCourty, Cordarrelle Patterson and Danny Shelton via trades. Those low-cost deals are close to NBA-style contract dumps for players on the way out, with the Patriots and other teams picking out targets to nab from opposing rosters.

In this copycat league, more teams are likely to follow suit. The Browns picked up Jarvis Landry, Damarious Randall and Tyrod Taylor in trades last season, rather than risking the free-agent market.

Position scarcity in free agency.

It's nearly impossible to find a quality offensive lineman in free agency. The same is true for starting tight ends or No. 1 wide receivers. Attaining such upgrades outside of the draft takes creativity or huevos, like when the Cowboysdealt a first-round pick for Amari Cooper last season. It doesn't hurt that so many of the big trades favored the bold. Ultimately, a higher caliber of player could be available in trades rather than free agency.

While sequels rarely live up to the original, Trade Twonami (name credit goes to the Twitter GOAT Patrick Claybon) should stand the test of time. The annual increase in NFL trades is just part of the world we live in now, like rising sea levels and "Fast and the Furious" movies. Get used to it.

With all of that in mind, here are some names to watch as potential trade targets over the coming weeks:

Logical targets
Antonio Brown, Steelers wide receiver: I don't accept the notion that Brown is untradeable or lacks value. Concerns about Brown's off-field problems and attitude are significant, but he's still a future Hall of Fame wide receiver playing near the top of his game. As mentioned above, his contract should make him more attractive. So should his well-known maniacal work ethic, which results in short area quickness making him open anytime he sniffs single coverage.

Of course there are red flags here and Brown is 31 years old. But he's still a superior player to Amari Cooper and Brandin Cooks, who both fetched first-round picks in trades last year. NFL teams have looked past far worse problems than those facing Brown this offseason in the name of talent. The barren free-agent wideout market could inspire a trade during March, but it may take until draft week for the Steelers to get fair value for Mr. Big Chest from a team like the 49ers or Jets.

DeSean Jackson, Bucs wide receiver: D-Jax is likely to be dealt or stay with the Bucs because his contract is too good to simply cut. When Bruce Arians came aboard in Tampa, he mentioned he wanted to "re-recruit" Jackson in an effort to appease the veteran, who has been open about his desire to play elsewhere.

A one-year, $10 million contract is more than fair for the reigning league leader in yards per reception, and the short-term nature of Jackson's deal is an asset to a trade, not a detriment. The Bucs have Mike Evans and Chris Godwinlocked in on the outside and could use the money saved in a Jackson trade to re-sign slot receiver Adam Humphries. The Eagles and Patriots are both logical suitors for Jackson, the youngest 32-year-old in the league.

Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins quarterback: If Joe Flacco and his contract can nab a fourth-round pick, don't discount the chances of Tannehill attracting some attention for late-round picks. The Redskins could make sense in exchange for a late-round pick or possibly the Jaguars as a bridge quarterback to a rookie to be named later. Tannehill is due nearly $19 million in 2019, roughly what the Broncos paid Case Keenum last year.

John Ross, Bengals wide receiver: The new regime in Cincinnati clearly doesn't have much use for Ross, who is on the market according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. It's hard to imagine Ross getting more than a late-round pick in return after two unimpressive seasons, but teams are often stubborn to ditch their college evaluation.

Nick Foles, Eagles quarterback: I've written so much about Foles that there's no need to repeat myself here. The closer free agency gets, the more I'm skeptical Foles will inspire a trade. The franchise tag makes it complicated and even the Jaguars appear more likely to wait for him to hit free agency, especially if he makes it difficult for the Eagles to trade him.

Jahleel Addae, Chargers safety: As the Chargers' playoff win over the Ravens showed, the team has plenty of safeties. Addae could potentially offer starter snaps for a cheap price.

Kenny Stills, Dolphins wide receiver: For a while, the debate in Miami was whether the team should commit to Stills, DeVante Parker or Jarvis Landry. Now they could all be gone. After previous decision-maker Mike Tannenbaum rewarded Stills with a three-year deal last offseason, the deep threat gained only 553 yards in 2018. That lack of production was hardly all Stills' fault, but a new staff in Miami may want a fresh start at the position. He's "only" due $14 million combined over the next two seasons, which would make him attractive in a trade.

Shaq Lawson, Bills defensive end: Inconsistent first-round picks with looming fifth-year options are strong candidates for cheap trades in today's NFL.

Haason Reddick, Cardinals linebacker: A first-round pick who has struggled to find playing time, Reddick is slated to play under his third defensive coordinator in as many years. That's a recipe to be dangled on the open market.

Jamie Collins, Browns linebacker: Rumored to be available at the trading deadline last October, Collins seems more likely to be released rather than traded. But if the Browns are ready to let him go, they should call around the league to see if there are any takers.

Long shots
Gerald McCoy, Bucs defensive tackle: Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reported last week that the Bucs plan to keep McCoy at his $13 million salary. It makes sense because McCoy's talented enough to work in any system and the price is commensurate with his value. Still, an interested team could see the Bucs' ambivalence as an opportunity. With this probably being McCoy's last year in Tampa, perhaps the Bucs would entertain dealing McCoy for a decent draft pick.

Jerry Hughes, Bills defensive end: One of the best acquisitions by the Billsthis decade, Hughes was stolen from the Colts in exchange for Kelvin Sheppard back in 2013. Six years later, Hughes is still the Bills' best pass rusher, still likely to rack up more consistent pressure than his sack totals indicate. But at 30 years old with a $10 million cap figure, the Bills could potentially listen to offers if another team was willing to give up a draft pick.

Nelson Agholor, Eagles wide receiver: Agholor is a perfect example of a player that would never be a trade candidate in the past but could be an under-the-radar option now. He's due $9.3 million on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, a figure I suspect the Eagles will pay if they can't find a better replacement in the coming weeks. But if the team chooses to jump in the Antonio Brown sweepstakes or sign a player like Jamison Crowder, Agholor's contract may be attractive to another team that treats the terms as a "prove-it deal."

Karl Joseph and Gareon Conley, Raiders defensive backs: On paper, Joseph and Conley's solid finishes to last season should make them players for Jon Gruden to build around. But both Reggie McKenzie first-round picks were reportedly dangled at the trade deadline last year and could be swept out if new GM Mike Mayock wants to continue housecleaning. Even after Joseph's uptick in play, he seems like a long shot to get his 2020 fifth-year option picked up.

Jacoby Brissett, Colts quarterback: I don't believe Brissett will get dealt because there aren't that many teams looking for quarterbacks and he's worth plenty to the Colts as a quality backup to Andrew Luck. Why bother dealing Brissett if the Colts could only get a fourth-round pick or worse in return? And why give up a premium pick for anyone not named Nick Foles when there are passable options like Tyrod Taylor or Teddy Bridgewater in free agency?

Justin Houston, Chiefs defensive end: Houston is more likely to be released rather than traded with $15.25 million in salary due this year. But he would be one of the better pass rushers to hit the open market and it's possible a team would give up a late-round pick in order not to bid against other teams for him.

Marcell Dareus and Malik Jackson, Jaguars defensive linemen: Jackson is a strong bet to be released or traded, with any interested teams more likely to wait out the Jaguars rather than pay him the $13 million he's due in 2019. Dareus is more likely to remain a Jaguar, although it's possible he could be dealt twice on the same contract the Bills signed him to way back in 2015.

Michael Brockers, Rams defensive tackle: This is admittedly a shot in the dark. Brockers is a rock solid leader on the Rams' defensive line, but it's possible they could look to save roughly $10 million in cap space if they choose to spend big dollars elsewhere on defense this offseason. If the team could find a deal for Robert Quinn last year, then Brockers could possibly fetch the Ramsa pick, too.

Go Cards! I'm loving what they're doing. Hopefully we can re-sign Goldschmidt, but re-signing Mikolas was a hell of a move, and bringing in Matt Wieters on a minor league deal with the potential of becoming Yadi's backup was smart.

I'm so hyped for this season!

Johnny Tricycle just got kicked out of the CFL.

Hahahahaha......................what a "winner".

------------------------------------------

Johnny Manziel has been kicked out of the Canadian Football League.

The Montreal Alouettes announced Wednesday that they have been instructed by the league to terminate Manziel's contract because he "contravened the agreement which made him eligible to play in the league."

“We are disappointed by this turn of events," Alouettes general manager Kavis Reed said in a statement released by the team. "Johnny was provided a great deal of support by our organization, in collaboration with the CFL, but he has been unable to abide by the terms of his agreement. We worked with the league and presented alternatives to Johnny, who was unwilling to proceed."

Manziel, his agent and a CFL spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment from USA TODAY Sports.

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...b-status-whos-set-under-center-who-needs-help

NFL-wide QB status: Who's set under center? Who needs help?

IN DESPERATE NEED OF HELP

Jacksonville Jaguars: Nick Foles and the Jaguars appear headed for a financially massive union. The Super Bowl hero would be right to view Jacksonville as a promising landing spot. The defense boasts star power, and Foles would march in as the unquestioned QB1 after the club (invariably) cuts bait with fizzled-out starter Blake Bortles. The potential fly in the ointment comes if the Eagles don't franchise Foles, allowing him to hit the open market, and the QB decides to sign with, say, the Giants inside the NFC East. From where we stand today, though, Foles feels like a fit for the Jags ahead of hyper-average backup Cody Kessler.

Miami Dolphins: I'm operating under the assumption the Dolphins are about to cut Ryan Tannehill to the wind. That would leave Miami's QB room with nobody under contract beyond a pair of former sixth-rounders, Luke Falk and Jake Rudock. Openly starting over, the Fins could pluck a quarterback at No. 13 or grab an affordable veteran for 2019 before going all in on next year's juicier signal-caller class. It's not hard to imagine someone like Tyrod Taylor or Ryan Fitzpatrick clad in teal come Week 1.

Washington Redskins: Washington's season spun into darkness when Alex Smith and Colt McCoy suffered gruesome broken legs in the span of two weeks. With Smith's playing future entirely up in the air, coach Jay Gruden is under pressure to find a starter -- or two. Landing Foles would serve as a shocker, but how about Teddy Bridgewater?

SET FOR YEARS TO COME

Atlanta Falcons: Turning 34 in May, Matt Ryan statistically mimicked his 2016 MVP campaign last autumn and remains in charge of an offense flush with Julio Jones and plenty of weapons. Finding a better backup than Matt Schaub is a must, but Ryan hasn't missed a game since 2009. Look for him to remain one of the NFC's more reliable arms this fall.

Baltimore Ravens: There's zero debate about Baltimore's commitment to Lamar Jackson heading into 2019. With Joe Flacco shipped to Denver, the question is how Baltimore's offense evolves. "I wouldn't try to pigeonhole us just yet that we're going to try to be ground-and-pound," newly anointed coordinator Greg Roman said last month, adding: "Who really wins big doing that?" Roman later told The Athletic he plans to "build an offense that really accommodates" Jackson's strengths, which means leaning on his whirlwind mobility while fine-tuning his accuracy and ball security.

Carolina Panthers: A banged-up shoulder reduced Cam Newton to a compromised, short-range lobber by the end of last season. Concerns lingered over his status for September, but surgery revealed the injury was "not as extensive" as feared, per his doctor. Under contract through 2020, Newton owns the job for at least the next two seasons. He's streaky and sometimes frustrating, but the 2015 NFL MVP just pegged a career-high 67.9 percent of his passes and remains a mammoth beast on the ground.

Cleveland Browns: Cleveland's desperate chase for a franchise passer dominated offseason think-pieces inside this newsroom for a near eternity. I can't believe I'm typing this, but the Browns harbor high hopes with Baker Mayfield running the show. Finding rock-solid tackle play and another wideout would help, but Mayfield made good on his draft pedigree with the ideal blend of on-field heroics and fiery leadership. The promotion of Freddie Kitchens to head coach makes plenty of sense after the pair wreaked havoc together in a post-Hue Jackson universe. Finding a backup to battle player-coach Drew Stanton remains a priority if and when Tyrod Taylor lands elsewhere in free agency.

Green Bay Packers: Five simple words: Aaron Rodgers is your quarterback. Yes, he turns 36 in December. Yes, there is high pressure on newbie coach Matt LaFleur to maximize the star passer and tug Green Bay back to the Super Bowl. Yes, this roster has issues. Still, nobody would be surprised to get another half-decade out of Rodgers, who took plenty of flak during a 2018 campaign that saw him battle through injuries to toss 25 touchdown passes against just two lonely picks. An upgrade over backup DeShone Kizer would be nice, but the Packers hope their No. 2 stays tightly attached to the clipboard come September.

Houston Texans: Deshaun Watson and the Texans were exposed in January's ugly playoff loss to the Colts, but Houston's versatile, dangerously talented starter -- still just 23 -- capably shook off the effects of his rookie-year ACL surgery. The Texans must find a way to better protect him after Watson absorbed a league-high 62 sacks in 2018. With Brandon Weeden and Joe Webb hitting the market, the search is also on for a capable understudy.

Indianapolis Colts: Lost in the wilderness for a year-plus following shoulder surgery, Andrew Luck roared back to reposition himself as one of the NFL's raging stars. The Comeback Player of the Year triggered new highs for completion percentage (67.3) and passer rating (98.7) behind an offensive line that offered pristine protection for the first time in his career. At 29, Luck is fully back in the driver's seat as a top-tier quarterback. Behind him, the Colts boast one of the NFL's juiciest backups in Jacoby Brissett.

Kansas City Chiefs: Kansas City's bold move up the board to grab Patrick Mahomes two Aprils ago -- shipping two firsts and a third for Buffalo's 10th overall pick -- looks like sheer brilliance today. Can you imagine where the Bills would be with Mahomes running the show? The Chiefs starter can accomplish feats with the human body that others at his position could only fantasize about. Barring disaster, Mahomes will dominate the NFL for a generation.

Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff's Super Bowl meltdown is concerning, but his growth over three NFL seasons can't be ignored. The first-rounder found himself in the MVP conversation for much of the year before falling into a thorny slump down the stretch. Goff will sit under the microscope in 2019, but it's easy to forget he's just 24 years old. With two more years on his affordable rookie deal, the Rams starter would need to utterly implode to fall out of the role.

Minnesota Vikings: Act One for Kirk Cousins in Minnesota was hardly a hit. The $84 million quarterback spent too much of last season on the run behind a super-shaky offensive line. The infrastructure around him was far from pristine, but Cousins came up small in key defeats down the stretch to New England and Seattle alongside a pair of ugly losses to the Bears. Struggling at times to mesh with his wideouts, Cousins is under pressure to lead this talented but underperforming attack back to the playoffs. I'd expect a better showing in 2019.

New York Jets: Sam Darnold's rookie outing was sprinkled with ups and downs, but late-season starts against the Texans and Packers showed what New York's young starter is capable of. He deserves better blockers. He could use the help of star free-agent runner Le'Veon Bell. Darnold also needs new coach Adam Gase to rifle last year's dangerously vanilla playbook off the Brooklyn Bridge. Jets fans have traveled eons without a quarterback operating as something brighter than a full-blown disaster. Those dark times feel over.

Philadelphia Eagles: The past 14 months have shuttled Carson Wentz through the ringer. The one-time MVP candidate endured a scathing January report picking apart his leadership style. This came after the 26-year-old suffered a pair of season-ending injuries that helped turn Nick Foles into a folklore-dipped hero in Philly. The Eagles are committed to Wentz as their younger, higher-ceiling starter -- as they should be -- but the scrutiny will be turned way up in 2019. From another angle, it's the perfect setup for a Wentz bounce-back campaign.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Le'Veon Bell is history; Antonio Brown is next. The Steelers, though, house zero plans to move on from Ben Roethlisberger, with team president Art Rooney II labeling his 36-year-old starter as "close to being in the prime of his career." We've heard the critiques of Big Ben's leadership, but none of that prevents him from being one of the game's premier starters. Currently negotiating a contract extension, Roethlisberger remains driven to keep fawned-over young arm Mason Rudolph off the field.

San Francisco 49ers: The injury-kissed Niners ripped through quarterbacks in 2018, but the expectation is that Jimmy Garoppolo makes a full recovery from last year's early-season ACL injury. The late-bloomer with just 10 NFL starts turns 28 in November, but hopes are high for Jimmy G to roar back in 2019. Nick Mullens and C.J Beathard round out one of the league's deeper quarterback rooms.

Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson and the Seahawks have yet to open talks over a long-term extension. His 3,448 passing yards in 2018 under new play-caller Brian Schottenheimer were the lowest since his second season, but Wilson's 35 touchdowns marked a career best. Entering the final year of his deal, the 30-year-old passer is going nowhere barring a stunner.

LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH

Arizona Cardinals: I'm willing to erase everything we saw from Josh Rosen's rookie season. Chalk it up to problematic coaching and one of the NFC's more disastrous offensive lines. Rosen gets a fresh start under creative new coach Kliff Kingsbury. At the same time, I'm convinced a smattering of Cardinals officials -- despite their heavy protests -- remain tempted to shop Rosen and make Oklahoma's Kyler Murray their "Air Raid" darling for years to come.

Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen gives you saucy mobility and one of the game's more powerful cannons. He has plenty of work to do as a week-to-week pocket passer, but the Bills did Allen no favors by surrounding the rookie with one of the league's shoddiest collections of playmakers. Better protection and a few starting-level wideouts would do wonders.

Chicago Bears: Mitch Trubisky made visible strides in his second season. The prettier moments included a six-touchdown romp over the Bucs and one of the finer darts all year on a 25-yard rope to Allen Robinson that helped push Chicago into field goal position against Philly in the playoffs. Trubisky gives the Bears one of the game's premier scramblers, but his resume also includes decision-making gaffes, a handful of ghastly interceptions and too much inconsistency. That's understandable with a young quarterback who made just 13 starts at North Carolina, but Trubisky remains one of the NFL's work-in-progress starters.

Dallas Cowboys: Most Cowboys fans want to see Dak Prescott listed front and center in the SET FOR YEARS TO COME section above. After all, team owner Jerry Jones announced in November: "Dak is the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. He's young, and he's going to get extended." I'm not sure why that needs to happen this offseason, but I'm not a Texas billionaire rolling across America in a high-octane party bus. Jones is also the guy who admitted after the 2014 NFL Draft: "I get madder every day about missin' (Johnny Manziel)." This came with Tony Romo still attached to a deal that contained $55 million in guarantees -- and just two seasons before Jones publicly regretted not trading up to grab flameout Paxton Lynch. Instead, Dallas landed Prescott in the fourth round -- a fortuitous turn of events, but also a reminder of Jerrah's history of sporting a wandering eye for signal-callers. Prescott is likely zooming toward a new deal, but let's see where we are by November.

Denver Broncos: The Broncos remain in play to draft a quarterback, but the veteran-heavy depth chart now includes Joe Flacco ahead of a "shocked" Case Keenum, who didn't expect John Elway to pull off a deal for Baltimore's starter. Flacco is owed $18.5 million in 2019, making it clear the Broncos will shop or flat-out release Keenum and his $21 million cap hit. Flacco is a clear upgrade over Keenum, but the 34-year-old veteran is hardly a lock to stay healthy or keep the job beyond the coming season.

Oakland Raiders: Jon Gruden made it clear that no player -- star or scrub -- was safe during his first year on the job. After trading away pass rusher Khalil Mack and No. 1 wideout Amari Cooper, it was fair to wonder if the Raiders coach hoped to start over at quarterback, too. Instead, Carr remains the starter after his $20 million salary became fully guaranteed earlier this month. The safe money is on Carr earning another year to prove he's the guy. Gruden, though -- with five first-rounders over the next two drafts -- has a shot to hand-pick a rookie of his own. Kyler Murray, anyone?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bruce Arians has said all the right things about Jameis Winston as his starter. Still, this is the only QB1 who was both suspended and benched in 2018. Entering the final year of his deal, Winston faces intense pressure to eliminate the mind-numbing turnovers and convince the Bucs -- despite their public poetry -- that he's worthy of a monster new deal. In his favor, Winston is still just 25 years old and fits well inside this aggressive Arians-led attack.

Tennessee Titans: The debate over whether Winston or Marcus Mariota was the better overall pick in 2015 has grown depressing and largely meaningless. After generating just 11 touchdowns and eight picks over 14 appearances in 2018, Mariota is playing for his job.

STARING DOWN FATHER TIME

New England Patriots: I'm done doubting Tom Brady and finished wasting words on whether or not he'll soon fade into oblivion during his fifth decade on Planet Earth. The Patriots took fair heat for trading away Jimmy Garoppolo two Octobers ago, but keeping the backup would have cost $23 million under the franchise tag while putting New England back in the same dilemma this offseason. Coming off another Super Bowl title, Brady and the Patriots are committed to each other for at least another year -- if not another nine.

New Orleans Saints: The search for an heir to Drew Brees dates back to 2015. It sounds absurd today, but there was a time when Garrett Grayson was seen as that figure, a failed project which gave way to the team's open desire for Patrick Mahomes. With Teddy Bridgewater hitting free agency, the Saints are left with just Taysom Hill behind the 40-year-old Brees. Hill is a pure fascination as a jackknife magic-man who helps the team all over the field, but he won't stop the Saints from eyeing this draft for a genuine contingency plan. Brees is locked in for 2019, but the beyond is a mystery.

THE WILD CARDS

Cincinnati Bengals: Andy Dalton is a perfectly adequate, middle-of-the-road, milquetoast answer under center. Why not keep drafting passers and give your ginger-haired starter some competition? Marvin Lewis went out of his way to avoid that plan, but new coach Zac Taylor was hired to devise bold new plots on offense. A rookie signal-caller should not be out of the question.

Detroit Lions: General manager Bob Quinn made it clear the Lions would think about picking a passer at No. 8 in the draft, saying: "If there's a quarterback out there that we deem could help us this year or in the future, we'll never close the door on that." That's how you wind up in the wild-card tab of this wayward essay. Matthew Stafford is hardly Detroit's biggest issue -- instead, he's a solid veteran who just turned 31 -- but the Lions have made just three playoff appearances, all losses, during his decade as starter.

Los Angeles Chargers: At 37, Philip Rivers is a mensch; a man's man who hasn't missed a start since taking over the starting job from Drew Brees in 2006. There is zero reason to move on, but the Chargers -- like the Saints and Patriots -- must keep an eye on the future.

New York Giants: The team's openness to another long year with Eli Manning under center makes zero sense. After passing up the chance to draft Sam Darnold last offseason, the G-Men must boldly rethink their team-building plan at quarterback. Whether that means adding a rookie to compete for the job or making a serious run at Nick Foles -- assuming he escapes Philly's franchise tag -- it's time for a new look in Gotham.

It is that time of year when the trees are in bud, the frogs are horny and thoughts of getting the garden ready are at hand. I found this an interesting article that explains the differences and methodology used for each map. Most people are unaware except if they see it on the back of a pack of seeds.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/two-government-agencies-two-different-climate-maps/

Those dudes are cleaning up. Winning womens titles, breaking womens records, getting womens scholarships etc. Physically they are still male. Greater muscle mass, more testosterone, probably greater size etc. How is a biological female to compete? And what is a biological female? Sounds like a stupid question but what about a female who is naturally producing testosterone far greater than what is considered within the normal range for a female and has the muscle mass and size of a male? Should athletes be tested for a natural advantage in hormone production and disqualified if out of the acceptable range?

Your thoughts?

I just don't understand why this is so hard. Basically this article implies it will be business as usual in these upcoming discussions.
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26085764/no-consensus-reached-changing-nfl-replay

I know "we" benefited from that non-call in the NFC Championship, but how many times have we been robbed on an obvious non-call or improper judgement call where it would be worth one of our 2 challenges to review?

Maybe McVay uses it on the phantom hold where we were about to go up 10-3 in the 4th? For example.

I just don't get why there is even one second of contemplation over this. I haven't heard one good reason against. Can somebody explain this to me?

Think I’m being too dramatic? Well, let me set the stage for you.

First Seahawk game and it was in Seattle. Very hostile and noisy crowd, to say the least.

Cold and damp, ball was wet all day.

Incompetent officiating crew. To the point that it was suspicious._

Rams were 4-0 and Seahawks were 2-2, but on a 2 game winning streak.

GZ out, and Chris Santos, our 3rd kicker for the year, in. He did make 2 FG’s but missed a critical pat on a perfect snap and hold. Geez...

Rams lost Cooks due to concussion on that vicious helmet to helmet by Tedricks in the 1st half. No flag, even. Even on the re-watch it still blows my mind.

Rams lost Kupp due to concussion in 1st half due to Mingo body slamming Kupp’s helmet into turf. Nobody noticed it even happening at the time, so no flag obviously.

Reynolds, Hodge, and Everett forced to step up to replace Cooks and Kupp as best they could. Did a fine job, actually, but talk about unneeded extra Ram challenges...

Rams D had no answer for Seahawk running game. Gave up approx 200 yards, I believe. Couldn’t control Wilson very well when he scrambled around, either. Ram D surrendered 31 points to the Seahawks. Peters, in particular, embarrassed himself in coverage, giving up TWO TD’s. Geez...

Refs credited Morse with a TD despite replays showing he stepped out of bounds twice. Said, “insufficient to overturn call on field”.

One ref failed to throw a flag on Tedricks on a critical 3rd down play right in front of him when Tedricks clearly got there way early hitting Woods. Another official 20 yards away had to throw the danged flag. WTH?

And let’s don’t forget that infamous poor spot late that robbed Gurley and the Rams of a critical 1st down late in the game while clinging to a mere 2 point lead.

Enough adversity for the Rams, you think? Lol.

So now we come down to the moment of truth for the Rams in this game. My “turning point” moment, so to speak.

Rams out of time outs having been forced to use them all with 9 minutes remaining due to crowd noise.

Less than 2 minutes remaining.

4th and 6 inches to go and with a crowd being disruptive as heck with the noise.

Ball on approx Ram 40 yard line.

Only a 33-31 lead, so a Seahawk FG wins it for them.

Clearly a swing game in the division race and a game with obvious playoff implications down the road.

McVay sends out Hekker for the punt. But wait! Carroll uses his last TO even though clock is stopped due to official measurement!

IMO, it is now that a fire was ignited among Ram players and coaches.

McVay reconsiders and sends the O back out! Goff and that magnificent OL blew the Seahawks back and Goff sneaks for about 2-3 yards! Mr “unflappable” comes up fist pumping and loaded with emotion, quickly surrounded by his teammates. Might be my favorite danged play of the year because of the circumstances leading up to it and the final consequences.

Dang! Even on my TV a thousand miles away I could feel the emotion, hairs raising on my arms as I RE-WATCHED this dramatic game! Wow!

So, yeah. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that at that time and in that pivotal moment the Rams players and McVay bonded together in some fundamental way that they never lost again that season. There was love, respect, and a ton of well earned self confidence earned that day and at that moment by and for all parties involved. All of which enabled them to go 13-3 and eventually to the SB.

What a special game and ending...

Hot Damn!

I have been watching some interesting programs lately. And there seems to be a real race on to bring back the Mammoth. I know the Japanese are working on it and a Geneticist from Harvard. No matter how cool I find the science and the thought of seeing a live Mammoth. Should we, should we just because we can? I mean its world no longer exists not really, elephants teach their young how to be elephants. There will be nothing here to teach it how to be a mammoth. And if we do should we also bring back the cave lion and the short faced bear so they will have something to play with? I realize it will be a type of hybrid but then where does it end? Tasmanian tiger anyone or made a Dodo is more your thing?

Many people have some videos that are unedited, show little if any refraction and unmeasureable curvature over water at distances of 23 miles or so.

There are formulas for this, and it is miles squared x 8 inches.

THe measurements of our 'world' are off...none of the scientits care....which means nothing to me....but, I wonder how many people realize this.

Might as well make up for lost time with another mock before the Combine. I'm sure the Combine will change some things and give us a better read on where certain guys will go. As always, I've tried to change a few things up to expose y'all to additional options.
Cut
ILB Mark Barron

There's not much to say here. I think we're all agreed on this one. Barron stepped up in the playoffs, but we need somebody who offers more in terms of run fits.

Re-sign
OG Rodger Saffold
CB Sam Shields
ILB Bryce Hager
S Blake Countess
HB Malcolm Brown
ILB Cory Littleton - Second Round RFA Tender
CB Dominique Hatfield - ERFA Tender
RS Jojo Natson - ERFA Tender
DL Morgan Fox - ERFA Tender
CB Kevin Peterson - ERFA Tender
OLB Garrett Sickels - ERFA Tender
WR KhaDarel Hodge - ERFA Tender

I doubt there are too many surprises here. I would say the only two possible surprises are not re-signing Ndamukong Suh or Dante Fowler Jr. I think Suh wants his final multi-year contract. That will make it not feasible to bring him back. I like Fowler Jr., but I am wary of his price tag as a former top pick. I think we all expect Joyner to go.

Free Agency

Everson Griffen OLB

It looks like Griffen will be a cap casualty after Stephen Weatherly stepped in for him this year and played solid football. Griffen had a mental health issue during the season, sought recovery, and returned to record 4.5 sacks over the second half of the season. In the previous four years, Griffen averaged 10+ sacks per year. He's a strong run stopper on the edge who is still capable of pressuring the QB. He'll be a nice player to pair with Donald.


Dontari Poe NT

Poe is another guy who will likely be released and won't count against the comp pick formula. He's coming off a couple of average seasons, so I think we'll able to get him on a short-term deal at a reasonable price. He's a great fit for what Wade wants in his NT, and it's possible Wade's scheme could vault him to a big season and a big contract with somebody else (which is a selling point for us). Dontari is a massive man at 6'3" 350, but he's an exceptional athlete who should do well in a scheme that lets him attack the backfield.


Ryan Groy C/OG

We tried to sign Groy after the 2016 season when McVay and Kromer had just been hired. The Bills matched our offer and kept him. Groy hasn't played as well away from Kromer's system, so I think we can sign him now cheaper than what we offered a couple years ago. He'll provide quality depth at Center and Guard.

Trade
LA Rams trade Round 1 Pick #31
Jacksonville Jaguars trade Round 2 Pick #6 and Round 3 Pick #35

The Jaguars trade up for a player in the late first (possibly an OL). We get our third round pick back.

NFL Draft
Round 2 Pick #6 - Chauncey Gardner-Johnson FS Florida
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Analysis: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Taylor Rapp are both possibilities here. I'm a big fan of both guys. I think Chauncey has more potential, so I decided to grab him. Chauncey showed flashes in 2016 and 2017 as a traditional FS. However, he was dogged by bad tackling and angles. The Gators fired their terrible coaching staff and hired an outstanding coaching staff before the 2018 season. Chauncey moved from FS to a hybrid box safety/slot CB role and thrived in Florida's defense. Chauncey was responsible for getting the secondary lined up and communicating the responsibilities in a Phillips 3-4 defense (run by Todd Grantham, who coached under Wade in Dallas). Chauncey was one of the most improved football in college football this year. His tackling and angle issues largely disappeared (he still takes a bad angle on occasion). He displayed the ability to defeat WR blocks, blitz off the edge effectively, handle man to man and zone responsibilities, and great ball-skills. In the past, Chauncey showed off legitimate range and hard-hitting ability as a FS. Solving the issues that plagued him in the past have finally unlocked the Day 1/2 potential he's always had. At 6'0" 210, CGJ has the range and ball-skills to play center-field, the instincts and tackling ability to play in the box, and the cover skills to handle just about any responsibility. His hips are too tight to play slot CB full time in the NFL, but he's perfect for the jack of all trades safeties that Wade prefers. He's also a playmaking safety who posted 286 return yards (31.8 yards per pick) and 3 defensive TDs on his 9 career interceptions (in 3 years). I'd compare him to Malcolm Jenkins.

Round 3 Pick #31 - Kahale Warring TE San Diego State
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Analysis: I imagine that some of y'all are going to be very confused by this pick. I actually knew nothing about Warring until a friend told me to take a look at him recently. This kid is flying way under the radar, but I expect him to jump into the Round 3/4 range after the Combine. Warring played in SDSU's old school, run-first, pro-style smashmouth offense. He has a lot of experience working as an inline blocker with the technical prowess, functional strength, and size (6'6" 250) to be effective in that role in the NFL. As it stands now, he's a solid blocker who handles LBs and DBs with his polished technical skill, outstanding body control and feet, and strong understanding of positioning; DLs give him a bit more trouble one on one because of their superior power. Still, the kid can block effectively, but that's not what excites me about him. Warring is an incredibly impressive receiving TE. He's a smooth route runner with the quickness and change of direction skills of a big WR. His routes are very crisp, and he uses his size/strength to create additional separation at the break point. Warring also possesses strong mitts, outstanding body control, and the ability to climb the ladder and win in the air. I think a guy like this will excite McVay because he has the ability block inline and be a mismatch in the slot. Warring reminds me a lot of Zach Ertz coming out of college.

Round 3 Pick #35 - D'Andre Walker ILB Georgia
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Analysis: This is another that might surprise some people. Walker played OLB in UGA's 3-4, but I like him a lot as a 3-4 ILB. He reminds me of Dont'a Hightower. I don't see the tools for him to be a great NFL pass rusher. He doesn't get off the line well, he doesn't have the bend to turn the corner on a dime, he doesn't have an arsenal of pass rush moves or advanced pass rush plans, and his hand usage is uninspiring. That's why I don't like him at 3-4 OLB. That all said, at 6'2" 245, he's incredibly powerful and physical. He has the ability to stand up OTs, he blows up pulling OLs and fullbacks in the hole, he reads blocking schemes well and knows where to attack in the running game, and he hits hard. UGA has dropped him into coverage quite a bit. He showed a lot of comfort in zone coverage with smooth drops, and he showed the ability to turn and run with HBs in man to man coverage. He won't be an elite LB in coverage, but he has the athleticism and movement skills to hold his own. Where he'll shine for us is against the run. He's a guy who will be able to fill gaps and blow up blockers in the hole.

Round 3 Pick #36 - Chase Winovich OLB Michigan
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Analysis: With all of the talent at EDGE in this class, I think Winovich is flying under the radar. He won't wow you with athleticism, but he's a relentless player who plays every down like it's his last. Winovich has a great first step, plays with outstanding leverage, has a powerful punch, use his hands well, and converts speed-to-power very effectively. He's not an edge bender, but he has the first step, balance, and leverage to threaten the corner. He has advanced pass rush plans, has great screen recognition, and plays the run well. He probably won't ever lead the NFL in sacks, but he's a guy who will play the run well, make very few mistakes, and consistently make the QB uncomfortable. I love his instincts and play demeanor. I see him sticking in the NFL for a long time as a glue guy on defense. I'd compare him to now-retired Patriots OLB Rob Ninkovich.

Round 4 Pick #31 - Easton Stick QB North Dakota State
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Analysis: Easton Stick is my favorite of the non-first round QBs this year. My gut just tells me that kid is going to outplay his draft spot. First and foremost, Stick nails all of the intangibles. He's a winner who has a 49-3 career record and led his team to two national championships. He's a smart QB coming from a pro-style offense who ran the offense from the LOS and is fast through his progressions. He maneuvers the pocket well and is very elusive in the pocket; due to his sturdy frame, underrated strength, and impressive athleticism, he's very difficult to sack. Stick has a compact release which allows him to get the ball quick and the footwork for quick setups in the passing game. He's a patient passer who will let his routes develop, is comfortable hanging in the pocket, and is tough as nails when it comes to taking hits. When he's on, Stick shows plus accuracy to all levels and parts of the field. In addition to his passing ability, Stick is a great scrambler and athlete who is more mobile than former teammate Carson Wentz imo. The negatives on Stick is that he's a streaky passer and decision maker. He also has only a middling arm. He can generate plenty of zip when he's mechanically sound, but he is going to struggle with zip when forced to throw off platform and some of the most difficult throws that Goff can hit will be tough for him. He also can hold onto the ball too long. Regardless, I love this kid for our offense. He's smart, he moves through his progressions well, he's mobile, and he is comfortable in a run-first offense working from under center. Of course, the cherry on top of everything is that Stick has the best play-action fake in this Draft. I'd compare Stick to Rich Gannon, another small-school QB with impressive athleticism, an average arm, and a whole lot of moxie.

Round 5 Pick #31 - Sean Bunting CB Central Michigan
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Analysis: Bunting is an intriguing player on Day 3. He's a risk/reward pick with the skills and athleticism to be a starting CB. Central Michigan used him in a variety of coverages, and he looked capable in all of them. Bunting is a 6'0" CB with long arms who uses them extremely well when pressing. He has quality ball-skills and is quite good at using his length to get his hands on the ball. He has great short-area quickness and fluid hips, which allow him to mirror routes effectively. When he's on, he absolutely smothers WRs with his great movement skills, length, good route recognition, and natural ability to mirror. That all said, Bunting is grabby, needs to be more patient at the LOS in press (especially with his footwork), and lacks play strength. He's feisty in coverage, but he's disappointing in run support. He lacks a physical mindset, allows himself to stay glued to blocks, and tackles like its a chore. He's also a pile watcher. He's a skinny kid who needs to bulk up a bit and develop more of a physical mindset. That all said, you can't teach his athletic gifts, length, and natural cover/ball skills. Bunting has a lot of Marcus Peters in him, both the good and the bad.

Round 6 Pick #31 - Stanley Morgan Jr. WR Nebraska
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Analysis: Stanley Morgan Jr. is our type of WR. He loves to do the dirty work. Morgan is a competitive player who takes his blocking very seriously and plays to the echo of the whistle. As a pass catcher, he's a technician who plays with a high football IQ, runs crisp routes, and can be relied on to play like a professional on every snap. Morgan Jr. is a NFL-caliber athlete, but he's not going to blow anyone away in that regard. He's also a good hands catcher, but he'll drop an occasional pass in traffic. He shows great awareness and body control along the sidelines. And he has the versatility to play both in the slot and outside. Morgan actually reminds me a lot of Robert Woods. I think Woods is a better pure athlete, but Morgan has the same approach to the game. He revels in doing the dirty work, he's a consistent route running who takes his craft seriously, and he's going to show up week in and week out as a guy who will do his job well.

Round 7 Pick #37 - Devine Ozigbo HB Nebraska
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Analysis: Ozigbo broke out this year in a major way after reshaping his body over the off-season. At 5'11" 220, Ozigbo is a thickly built runner. It's noticeable how thickly built his lower body is and that translates to his game. He's a powerful runner who displays great leg drive to move the pile even after he's stacked up. What excites about his game is that he is shifty at his size with nimble feet and sound footwork. Ozigbo had a very productive year largely running in zone concepts at Nebraska. He has a great feel for how to attack defenses when running behind zone blocking schemes, with great cutback recognition and impressive vision on the second level. Ozigbo has shown some inconsistencies as a pass catcher, but he had a strong week at the East-West Shrine Game there, so it's possible that could become a strength. As a blocker, Ozigbo has the size, strength, and desire. He just needs to get better with his blitz recognition and angles. Those are things that will come with experience. All in all, Ozigbo is a great fit in our system.

Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
XWR: Brandin Cooks
ZWR: Robert Woods
SLWR: Cooper Kupp
TE: Tyler Higbee or Gerald Everett
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Rodger Saffold
C: John Sullivan
RG: Austin Blythe
RT: Rob Havenstein

5T: Michael Brockers
NT: Dontari Poe
3T: Aaron Donald
WOLB: Everson Griffen
Mo LB: Cory Littleton
Mike LB: D'Andre Walker or Micah Kiser or Bryce Hager
SOLB: Samson Ebukam
RCB: Aqib Talib
LCB: Marcus Peters
SLCB: Nickell Robey-Coleman
FS: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
SS: John Johnson

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

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Sorry if this was posted - didn’t see it yet.