If his recovery is on track — and by all accounts it should be — that money should mostly still be waiting for him after the season is over.

According to Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, one of the teams that could target Godwin and deliver a big payday could be Tampa Bay’s NFC South Division rival with the Carolina Panthers.

“Whether Carolina sticks with Bryce Young or searches for another quarterback, it’ll need to find a new top target,” Knox wrote on November 6. “The Panthers traded Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens. Panthers head coach Dave Canales was Tampa’s offensive coordinator in 2023.”

Canales had success with Godwin — once Canales decided to play him in the correct position. Despite Godwin’s success playing in the slot for the first 6 seasons of his career, after Canales was hired to be the Buccaneers offensive coordinator in 2023, he decided to move Godwin to one of the outside receiver spots.

Godwin understandably struggled. When Canales finally came to his senses late in the season and put Godwin back in the slot, it was just in time for the Buccaneers to win 5 of their last 6 games, win the NFC South and make the playoffs for the fourth season in a row.

Godwin Could Get Big Money From Panthers

Godwin is in the final year of a 3-year, $60 million contract he signed with the Buccaneers before the 2022 season. He was leading the Buccaneers and third in the NFL with 50 receptions for 576 yards and 5 touchdowns before his injury.

Godwin was on track for his fourth consecutive season of at least 1,000 receiving yards. He had his career high of 1,333 receiving yards in 2019 — the only time he earned NFL All-Pro honors and his only Pro Bowl selection.

If Godwin makes a full recovery, his play in 2024 could have seriously increased his value as a free agent — Spotrac projects his market value in the range of a 3-year, $70.3 million contract.

Panthers Mortgaged Future to Draft Young in ’23

The Panthers are the worst team in the NFL right now and it might not even be close. Carolina went 2-15 in 2023 and are 2-7 in 2024 headed into Week 10.

More than that, they mortgaged their future to select Young at No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL draft. Through 2 seasons, Young looks like a bust.

Young was benched for Andy Dalton just 2 games into the 2024 season and got his job back after Dalton was injured in a car accident. After a win over the almost equally as downtrodden New Orleans Saints in Week 9, Young improved to 3-17 as a starter.

If the Panthers are to get better in the near future, it will likely have to be through free agency. In order to move up to get Young with the No. 1 pick in 2023, the Panthers had to give the Chicago Bears their first and second round picks in 2023, their first round pick in 2024 and their second round pick in 2025. The Bears used that 2024 first round pick to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall.

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We know the Broncos don’t have a single running back on the roster who can change a game.

Despite all that, Denver is 5-3 and firmly in the playoff hunt. So making a reasonable move to try and bring in some help on the offensive side of the ball makes sense.

One of those reasonable moves might be trading for Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders, who ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler thinks could be up for grabs if a team makes a decent offer. For the Broncos that might mean committing to take on $2 million of the approximately $4 million guaranteed remaining on the 4-year, $25 million contract he signed in March 2023 and tossing in a seventh round draft pick that could turn into a sixth round pick if Sanders and the Broncos make it to the playoffs.

Sanders has been replaced as the starter by Chubba Hubbard for the 1-7 Panthers, who stand alone as the worst team in the NFL. They’re also shedding assets like M.C. Hammer in the early 1990s, having already traded wide receiver Diontae Johnson and a sixth round pick to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for a conditional fifth round pick.

The Panthers also seem ready to bring rookie running back Jonathan Brooks into the fold after they spent a second round pick on him in the 2024 NFL draft and he’s recovered from an ACL injury in 2023.

“My sense in talking to teams is that the Panthers want to keep Hubbard in the fold but are flexible on Sanders, who has 163 carries since signing a four-year, $25.4 million contract with Carolina in 2023 free agency,” Fowler wrote. “The rest of his $4.02 million salary is guaranteed, so Carolina might have to come out of pocket to facilitate a deal. The running back trade market just hasn’t picked up the way receiver has.”

Sanders Was Elite NFL Running Back With Eagles

Sanders was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles out of Penn State in the second round (No. 53 overall) in the 2019 NFL draft and had 1,327 yards of total offense as a rookie. He followed that with 1,976 yards of total offense over the next 2 seasons despite missing 9 games due to injuries.

Sanders put it all together in 2022 as the Eagles lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII, with career highs of 1,269 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns as he made the Pro Bowl for the first time. He also played in all 17 games. That translated to his big payday with the Panthers.

“It still feels as if Denver’s offense is missing something,” Fowler wrote. “It wouldn’t shock to see the Broncos comb the market for a pass-catching running back. Coach Sean Payton has always coveted those change-of-pace backs, which harks back to the Darren Sproles days.”

Broncos’ 1,000-Yard Drought Continues to Roll On

Barring some type of career-defining stretch over the final part of the 2024 regular season from either leading receiver Sutton (377 receiving yards) or leading rusher Javonte Williams (345 rushing yards), the Broncos’ streak of not having a player pass 1,000 yards rushing or receiving since 2019 will almost certainly continue on for another year.

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By almost any metric, Forbes has been one of the NFL’s worst cornerbacks almost every time he’s stepped on the field in the almost 2 years since — a player who teams might not even be willing to surrender a sixth or seventh round draft pick for in a trade.

Even in a season when the Commanders have become one of the NFL’s top storylines and sit at 5-2 and in first place in the NFC East Division headed into Week 8, cornerback has continued to be a problem — Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder listed the position as the Commanders’ biggest weakness at the midway point of the season.

“Washington could use cornerback help now and the problem is only going to get worse in the offseason when Benjamin St-Juste, Noah Igbinonghene and Michael Davis hit free agency in the offseason,” Holder wrote.

If the Commanders want help now, they should consider making a move to trade for Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft and a player who has languished on the NFL’s worst team for the first part of his career.

SB Nation’s Mark Scholfield and James Dator listed Horn among their NFL players to watch ahead of the November 5 trade deadline.

“We’ll wait to see how much the Panthers blow up their roster at the deadline, but at the very least the team should entertain offers for star cornerback Jaycee Horn,” Scholfield and Dator wrote on October 23. “One of the best man-coverage CBs in football this season, Horn’s best attribute is that he doesn’t give up explosive plays, which is the foundation of passing in the NFL right now.”

What Trade Offer for Horn Might Look Like

There’s a trade from the NFL’s recent past that might give us some template as to what the Panthers might get back for Horn via trade.

When the Jacksonville Jaguars traded Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams, the Jaguars received 2 first round picks and a fourth round pick in exchange for what was the game’s top young cornerback at the time — and who was about midway through his fourth season, like horn.

Horn isn’t on the same level Ramsey was at that point in his career. More than his talent, injuries have defined Horn’s career to this point, as he missed more games (31) than he played (29) through his first 3 seasons, although in the one season he played more than half of his team’s games in 2022, he had 3 interceptions and 7 pass deflections.

A reasonable offer for Horn, at this point, would probably be a second or third round pick, straight up. Anything more than that might not be worth it for the Commanders.

Horn’s Father Was Standout NFL WR in Early 2000s

Longtime NFL fans will know Horn’s father — 4-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Joe Horn was one of the league’s top receivers in the early 2000s and played 12 seasons in the NFL, with 4 seasons of over 1,200 receiving yards with the New Orleans Saints.

Joe Horn is best known for one of the most famous touchdown celebrations of all time, when he hid a cell phone (a flip phone!) underneath one of the goal posts and pulled it out after scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football.

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From their inception in 1995 until 2018, the majority of Carolina’s quarterback snaps were taken by only four names, and only one or two have managed to hit the heights of a true quality NFL quarterback.

With their future at the position about as unclear as any, let’s instead look back at the Panthers’ top 10 quarterbacks over their 30-year history.

Here’s our list of the 10 best:

10. Andy Dalton (2023-Present)

GettyAndy Dalton.

Many will — understandably — believe it is crazy to have Dalton on this list. To them I say: go and check out the alternatives! Dalton has only started a handful of games for the Panthers and has certainly looked better than their 1-3 record suggests, and unequivocally better than previous starter He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. Dalton has the potential to rise on this list if he manages to retain the starting position for the rest of the season and beyond.

9. Teddy Bridgewater (2020)

GettyTeddy Bridgewater.

As a player, the very adequate Bridgewater should be ranked a lot higher, but as a Panther, it is a borderline travesty that he makes this list at all; such is the dearth of depth of talent at the quarterback position for the Panthers over the years.

Bridgewater was neither the problem nor the solution during his sole year in Carolina, although he did — surprisingly to almost everyone — put up career highs in attempts, completions, passing yards, completion percentage and even rushing yards. However, his tenure will always be viewed as a disappointment; he was traded just a year after signing a three-year, $63 million deal, after the Panthers struggled to an unimpressive 4-11 record in 2020.

8. Kyle Allen (2018-2019)

GettyKyle Allen.

Almost the exact inverse of No. 9 Teddy Bridgewater, Allen’s contribution as a Panther vastly outweighs his general play as an NFL quarterback over the course of his career.

Allen was promoted to the starting job after Cam Newton suffered a season-ending injury after just two games of the 2019 season, and responded impressively, going 5-1 over his first six games. Unfortunately, that’s where the Cinderella story ends, as Allen and the Panthers suffered six consecutive defeats that eventually resulted in head coach Ron Rivera’s dismissal. He may not receive free drinks in every (or perhaps any) bar in Charlotte, but Allen’s mini-run will forever be entrenched in the hearts of Panthers fans.

7. Sam Darnold (2021-2022)

GettySam Darnold.

Perhaps a strange one for the casual observer reliving their memories of the ultimate failure of Darnold’s time in Charlotte. Cast your mind back to the true contents of his two years at the Panthers, though, and a different picture arises.

Darnold’s first season in Carolina did not quite go to plan, putting up a passer rating of just 71.9 with the team going a mediocre 4-7 with him as the starter. However, in year 2, Darnold bumped those numbers up to a then career high of 92.6 with a 4-2 team record, as the Panthers came within one game of winning the NFC South, back in 2022.

6. Matt Moore (2007-2010)

GettyMatt Moore.

One of the few backups in any team to have played double-digit games and maintained a winning record, Moore came out of the gate as an undrafted free agent in 2007 to a blistering start, going 6-2 in his first eight starts. In fact, his impressive performances paved the road for Carolina to cut Pro Bowler Jake Delhomme at the end of the 2009 season.

But his strong start never amassed a more significant legacy within the organization, as injuries in 2010 paved the way for Carolina to draft Auburn QB Cam Newton with the first overall pick in 2011, effectively ending Moore’s time with the team.

5. Rodney Peete (2002-2004)

GettyRodney Peete.

Peete’s single greatest contribution to the Panthers organization came in 2003, when he started — and won — the first game of what was eventually an NFC-winning season. Yet, the majority of Peete’s displays came the year prior, in 2002, when he managed to guide Carolina to a reasonable 7-7 season that ended up being arguably the best of his 16-year career, generating highs in completions, yards and touchdown passes. He went 8-7 over the course of his Panther career, and, unfortunately, that alone gives him a pretty good case for being a Top 5 Panther QB.

4. Kerry Collins (1995-1998)

GettyKerry Collins.

Kerry Collins is hardly a household name for the average football fan, but he is certainly on the Mount Rushmore of Panther quarterbacks. While he probably did not do his best work as a youngster in Carolina, reserving that play for his work at the Giants and in Tennessee, he did win a playoff game and managed a Pro Bowl appearance in 1996. For a team’s first-ever drafted QB, there are certainly a lot worse than Collins.

3. Steve Beuerlein (1996-2000)

GettySteve Beuerlein.

Kerry Collins’ backup and eventual replacement, Steve Beuerlein, is certainly one of the more understated good quarterbacks in franchise history. Taking the permanent starting job in 1998 after Collins’ injury and clashes with coaching staff, Beuerlein put up three very respectable seasons from 1998-2000, including a Pro Bowl 1999 season in which he led the NFL in passing yards. That year, he also became the first ever Carolina quarterback to throw for 3,000/4,000 yards in a single season.

2. Jake Delhomme (2003-2009)

GettyJake Delhomme.

The only potential rival for the No. 1 spot on this list, Delhomme was the first QB in Carolina to have both major regular and postseason success, highlighted by his very first season in which he came within a last minute Adam Vinatieri field goal of winning the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy in the 2004 Super Bowl — a feat that still eludes them to this day. Delhomme continued to stack good regular seasons on top of one another, including a 2005 Pro Bowl appearance, until his eventual release in 2010.

1. Cam Newton (2011-2019, 2021)

GettyCam Newton.

The clear No. 1 quarterback on this list. Newton holds every QB franchise record imaginable for the Panthers and is really the first name one thinks of when looking back on Carolina’s short history. Although Newton’s injuries and playing inconsistencies prevented him from being the All-World quarterback many projected he could become when he entered the league in 2011, he still had a huge impact on the franchise. Most notably, in having one of the best dual-threat QB seasons of all time in 2015, where he drove a steamrolling Panthers team to a 15-1 regular season record and Super Bowl appearance, only to be foiled by a fourth quarter Von Miller strip-sack late on that sealed the Broncos as 2016 Super Bowl champions.

See who just missed the list and sound off in the comments!

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So what if we’re not even to Halloween?

For all intents and purposes, the Commanders have a multitude of talented pass catchers they might be able to swing a deal for, with Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox adding Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the list of possible trade targets headed into Week 7 and ahead of the NFL’s November 5 trade deadline.

“The Commanders, who lack a reliable No. 2 receiver opposite Terry McLaurin, should also be interested (in Johnson),” Knox wrote. “Rookie Jayden Daniels could give Johnson something he doesn’t have in Carolina—a quarterback who create big plays on the fly.”

If the Commanders are interested in Johnson, they’ll get an up close look at him in Week 7, as the Panthers hit the road to face the Commanders on October 20.

Johnson One of Few Bright Spots for Panthers

The Panthers are 1-5 headed into Sunday’s game against the Commanders and their season has been defined by benching 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young after 2 games.

Even with that, Johnson has been one of the few brights spots for Carolina and leads the team with 29 receptions for 340 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns.

At different times since the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Johnson out of Toledo in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft, he’s been one of the league’s dominant special teams player and wide receivers.

Johnson was named NFL All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie at return specialist in 2019 and had career highs in receptions (107), receiving yards (1,161) and touchdowns (8) in 2021 before signing a 4-year, $36.7 million contract extension before the 2022 season.

Johnson has at least 700 receiving yards in each of the last 4 seasons and was traded to Carolina in March 2024.

Commanders Need Another Option Besides McLaurin

While the Commanders have been one of the NFL’s biggest and best storylines because of Daniels’ stellar play and are 4-2 headed into their game against the Panthers, it’s tough to overlook the fact that McLaurin has been their only effective wide receiver.

While McLaurin leads the Commanders with 29 receptions for 356 yards and 4 touchdowns, there’s a steep drop off at the position after that — Washington’s second and third leading receivers are tight end Zach Ertz and backup running back Austin Ekeler.

Outside of McLaurin, the highlight for the Commanders at wide receiver recently has been what’s looking more and more like a genius trade that involved 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson, who they shipped to the Philadelphia Eagles along with a fifth round pick in exchange for a third round pick and 2 seventh round picks before the regular season.

Financially, the Commanders ate $500,000 of Dotson’s $2 million salary in 2024 but the Eagles are on the hook for the entire $3.2 million he’s owed in 2025 — the final season of his fully guaranteed, 4-year, $15 million rookie contract.

Through 5 games in 2024 with the Eagles, Dotson has 12 receptions for 35 yards and no touchdowns.

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The decision by head coach and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales paid off immediately, as Dalton led the Panthers to a 36-22 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3 for their first win of the season.

Dalton, a 14-year veteran, was magic in the victory and became the first NFL quarterback to throw for over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns this season.

Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder proposed a trade for the Panthers that would reunite Canales with one of his former players by trading for Buccaneers’ backup quarterback Kyle Trask.

That move presumes the Panthers make a move to ship Young elsewhere — which could be on the table sooner than later as the more Young sits, the more his value will fluctuate.

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According to The Associated Press, it’s the earliest a quarterback who was a No. 1 overall pick has been benched for non-injury reasons since the beginning of the modern era of the NFL in 1967.

Young does have one defender among the other NFL starting quarterbacks, with Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Baker Mayfield coming to his defense just 2 days after the benching.

Mayfield was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns and unceremoniously shipped out of town in favor of Deshaun Watson just 4 years later. It began a career arc that saw Mayfield on 3 teams in 3 years before finding a home in Tampa Bay.

“Obviously, mine didn’t happen in the same time frame as Bryce, but quarterback’s hard,” Mayfield told NFL.com on Sept. 18. “Especially for young guys when you’re not surrounded with the pieces, you’re not given the opportunity to have success. A lot of the time, guys have the talent, they might have the brains, but they don’t have the right opportunity, the right fit. I’m sitting here right now in a way better fit than the other places I’ve been. That’s not to put other teams down, but it’s a matter of the pieces around you, the coaches. For Bryce, I could relate to this, it’s (about) finding that belief within yourself again. He’ll get it. His story is far, far from finished.”

Mayfield Found ‘Belief’ After Being Discarded

The Browns’ ditching of Mayfield was one of the more cold-hearted and short-sighted moves in recent NFL history and 2 years later Watson is clinging to his starting job and Mayfield is in the discussion as a possible Top 10 NFL quarterback with Tampa Bay and off to a 2-0 start in 2024.

The path here was anything but a straight line. Mayfield was traded to Carolina in exchange for a conditional 5th round pick and eventually benched for P.J. Walker before asking for and receiving his release following a 1-5 start.

Mayfield finished the 2022 season with the Los Angeles Rams, where he showed enough that the Buccaneers turned to him as their starter after Tom Brady’s second retirement, signing him to a 1-year, $4 million contract in March 2023.

Mayfield responded with a career year, going 9-8 while throwing for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, making his first Pro Bowl and leading the Buccaneers to a third consecutive NFC South Division title.

Tampa Bay rewarded him with a 3-year, $100 million contract in March 2024.

Young’s Career Might Be Over Before it Started

While Mayfield stood up for Young, a fellow Heisman Trophy winner, one look at what’s happened over Young’s nascent career tell a story of a quarterback who appears outmatched by NFL competition.

After a 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2 in which Young had a career-low QB Rating of 6.3, he dropped to 2-16 over his first 18 starts, including a 2-14 record in 2023. In those 18 games, Young has 11 touchdown passes — none in 2023 — against 19 turnovers (13 interceptions, 6 fumbles).

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“Well, I was trying to go there and they didn’t want me,” Thielen told Starcade Media while at the American Century Championship of the Chiefs’ lack of interest in him in 2023. “I’ll have to try to show them what I got [when we face each other].”

The video of Starcade Media’s brief interview with Thielen shows that it was nothing more than banter between the interviewer and interviewee. But it is worth noting that the Chiefs play the Panthers in Carolina on November 24. So, Thielen might have that game circled on his calendar as some added motivation to show he’s still a productive NFL receiver as he enters his age-34 season.

Adam Thielen: From Undrafted to Productive NFL WR

Thielen entered the NFL undrafted out of Minnesota State in 2013. Since then he has been a Cinderella story of sorts. He accumulated 534 receptions, 6,682 receiving yards and 55 touchdowns during his first nine NFL seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He was also named second-team All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowler in that timeframe.

During the 2023 offseason, Thielen took to free agency for the first time in his career and signed a three-year, $25 million contract with Carolina. As the No. 1 option in the Panthers’ passing game, Thielen came out of the gates red hot to start the 2023 regular season; he registered three 100-yard games over the first six games of the season. However, his production dipped over the remainder of the regular season; Thielen had just one game with over 75 receiving yards over the final 11 games.

Thielen’s dip in production was in part because he was in a very dysfunctional Carolina offense, but also because age is seemingly catching up to him.

Social Media Reacts to Adam Thielen’s Chiefs Comments

Users on X, formerly Twitter, reacted to Thielen saying the Chiefs didn’t want him.

“Would’ve been great next to Rashee Rice but they won anyways so it doesn’t matter that WR was their weak link,” one person commented.

“They didn’t want to sign Thielen because he doesn’t get arrested and isn’t a troublemaker. They like troublemakers Tyreek Hill, Rashee Rice, Kadarius Toney, Justyn Ross etc,” another person  wrote.

“We have so much receiver depth at this point we don’t necessarily need him but would’ve been nice to have a vet with solid hands,” someone else wrote.

“His last 2 years in Minnesota weren’t impressive so the Chiefs probably didn’t like the risk, and he probably asked 3 years which was never going to happen,” another commenter wrote.

“Chiefs can show them what a real QB looks like,” wrote another. “His asking price was WAY to rich to fit under the salary cap last year. Guess he wasn’t missed to much, Chiefs did win a Super Bowl! LOL!”

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Enter free agent linebacker Damien Wilson, who comes in at 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds. Wilson has 73 starts to his name over his eight-year career and won a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020. Wilson has also seen time with the Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars and, most recently, the Carolina Panthers.

Wilson was pitched as an “add now” option for the Browns by Bleacher Report following Week 1.

“The Browns struggled to stop the run at times last season because they didn’t have great play on the interior up front,” Bleacher Report wrote. “They also were trying to plug run gaps with light linebackers in Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (221 pounds) and Tony Fields (222 pounds). Sione Takitaki was the only ‘backer with real size at 6’1”, 238 pounds.

“Damien Wilson is a free agent who could come in and play an important role on run downs. At 6’1″, 245 pounds, he provides a little more bulk and thump as a run-stuffing linebacker.”

Browns Defense Shines in Opener as Takitaki, Walker Return

The Browns’ defense was lights out in the opener against the Bengals, stymying Cincinnati’s high-powered unit with a little help from some bad weather.

At linebacker, Sione Takitaki (23 snaps), Anthony Walker Jr. (33 snaps) and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (43 snaps) got nearly all the work. None of the three stood out, with Takitaki earning the highest grade on Pro Football Focus of 64.8. 

But the Browns had some big performances elsewhere on the defense, specifically from safety Grant Delpit and on the defensive line from star pass-rusher Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith. All graded out as “elite” on Pro Football Focus.

“It was a hell of a dress rehearsal with these guys. They have a very explosive offense, and they have very skilled players in each position,” Garrett said after the game. “So, this was a big one for us to see where we’re at and we really showed what we can do and we set the bar high, and this is the standard we got to continue to improve from here.”

Browns Gearing Up For Another AFC North Rival

The Browns have a difficult schedule to open the season, seeing all three of their AFC North rivals in the first four weeks. The Bengals — who were the two-time defending division champs — were arguably the biggest challenge but next up is a Pittsburgh Steelers team that will be hungry to erase the stink of a very disappointing 30-7 Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

The Browns are a 2.5-point road favorite but won’t be taking Pittsburgh lightly. The Steelers have won three of the last five meetings, including a 28-14 win at the end of last season.

“We got these six division games. We have three of them early in the first four weeks. We knew that, talked about that going into the week or going into the season, I should say. So, we’re well aware of what that means,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said on September 11. “Once you walk out of the building, we’ll turn our sights to the next opponent. And as you know, Monday Night Football, we have an extra day to prepare, so we’ll use those days to our advantage and getting our bodies right and certainly spending some time on the Steelers.”

The AFC North is expected to be one of the most competitive divisions in football, so starting the season 2-0 with wins against their rivals would be a huge step in the right direction for the Browns.

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Smith-Marsette, 24, was a standout during the preseason. In three games, he registered 9 catches on 10 targets for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was PFF’s highest-graded receiver throughout the preseason with a 91.1 offensive grade.

The Chiefs being able to trade Smith-Marsette shows how deep the team is at receiver. Prior to any official cuts taking place at Tuesday’s deadline, seven receivers in Kansas City have a strong case to make the 53-player roster: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, Rashee Rice, Richie James, Justyn Ross, and Justin Watson.

It would be unorthodox for the defending Super Bowl champions to keep that many receivers on the team given the Chiefs’ roster structure in years past. But due to the overall youth of that group and the injury-plagued past of Toney, it would be justified for the team to carve out seven roster spots for that grouping.

Kadarius Toney on Track to Play in Week 1: Report

One of the biggest questions on the Chiefs’ roster heading into Week 1 of the regular season is the health status of Kadarius Toney. Toney tore his meniscus on Day 1 of training camp and underwent surgery soon after, which forced him out of the remainder of camp and the preseason.

Head coach Andy Reid said after Kansas City’s preseason finale that the team would take it “day by day” with Toney and that it was “possible” he could return to practice the week following the end of the preseason.

On August 28, NFL Media’s James Palmer revealed that the Chiefs are optimistic that Toney will be ready for the team’s regular season opener against the Detroit Lions on Thursday, September 9.

“They think [Kadarius Toney] is doing great in terms of his recovery,” Palmer said on NFL Network’s NFL Total Access.

Twitter Reacts to Chiefs Trading Ihmir Smith-Marsette

Users on Twitter — which was recently rebranded to “X” — reacted to the Chiefs trading Ihmir Smith-Marsette to the Panthers.

“As a Chiefs fan, I would have loved to keep ISM,” one user wrote. “He rocked out in the pre-season. But if he wouldn’t make 53 and was likely to be plucked off practice squad, then nice to get a little value back. Based on predicted records, Chiefs likely move up 20+ spots in 2024 7th round.”

“Panthers got a good one I wanted him to make the chiefs 53 man I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes plays this year with Bryce [Young],” another user wrote.

“Panther fans clearly don’t know this guy. He’s electric, fast and easily better than any 7th rounder you gonna draft,” another user wrote.

“I didn’t have ISM making the 53 but had the Chiefs decided to hold onto him, I wouldn’t been mad at all,” another user wrote. “The kid absolutely balled out in training camp and preseason and the Chiefs capitalized on his performance. I wish him nothing but success in Carolina.”

“I told one of my buddies yesterday, that they were going to try to trade him for at least a conditional 7th because he deserves to be a starter,” another user wrote.

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According to ESPN Insider Adam Schefter who broke the news, the deal is worth up to $7 million and includes $6 million fully guaranteed. His new contract eclipses what he made in the two years he spent in Baltimore combined and was likely more than they were willing to pay despite what he still has left in the tank and the tremendous leadership he brings to the locker room and outside linebacker room in particular.

Houston appeared in 29 games over the past two seasons with the Ravens where he complied 14 sacks, 55 total tackles,  34 quarterback hits, 2 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, 13 tackles for loss, and one interception per Pro Football Reference.

After the resurgent year he had in 2022 when he finished as the team leader with 9.5 sacks, there was a chance that Houston could price himself out of Baltimore. The veteran edge defender market has been heating up over the past week after it stayed pretty well-saturated for most of the spring and summer with the 34-year-old being just the latest domino to fall.

Ravens Lose Another Veteran Leader to NFC South in Surprising Move

Houston isn’t the first former Ravens seasoned pass rusher and core leader to depart for greener pastures in the less competitive conference and join a really young team. Six-time Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell found a new home with the Atlanta Falcons on a one-year deal worth $7 million fully guaranteed according to spotrac.com shortly after he was released to create salary cap space on March 13, 2023.

What makes both of their decisions so surprising is that they both have gone on record numerous times to express that the pursuit of a Super Bowl championship is their main motivation for continuing their playing careers.

Each of them has a pretty solid case to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame already with 99 or more career sacks and given the heights they reached during their primes as well as contributions they’ve still been able to make in the twilights of their respective careers.

While the Panthers and Falcons have a wealth of promising young talent, neither is viewed as a title contender or is even favored to win their division as that distinction belongs to the veteran-laden New Orleans Saints according to vegasinsider.com who has them with the best odds to claim the NFC South crown.

Both teams are also led by inexperienced young quarterbacks who will be heading into their first or second seasons in the league. Carolina traded up for the first overall pick in this year’s draft to select Bryce Young out of Alabama and the Falcons have handed the reigns of their offense over to 2022 third-round pick Desmond Ridder who doesn’t inspire much confidence given his rookie year state line of just 2 passing touchdowns, a passer rating of 86.4, and a 2-2 record in two starts per PFR.

Thankfully, the Ravens have young up-and-coming players at both of their position groups that are chomping at the bit to prove themselves and not just fill their former mentors’ shoes but make an even greater impact on the field this upcoming season.

At outside linebacker, they third-year pro Odafe Oweh and second-year pro David Ojabo are poised to break out. The same can be said for fourth-year defensive linemen Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington who are both entering the final year of their rookie contracts and will be playing for new deals this year.

Potential Contingency Free Agent Options at EDGE

Unlike the past two years when Houston decided to lace up his cleats around this time of year at the onset or during early training camp, there are still plenty of quality and proven veteran outside linebackers that the Ravens could target to reinforce and provide more experience on the edges of their defense.

With the RUSH spot pretty much set with Oweh and Ojabo, the team could use more help at the SAM spot with veteran returner Tyus Bowser still on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Finding players that have experience playing roles where they can rush the passer, set the edge against the run, or drop into coverage on any given down can be difficult but here are a few available candidates that fit the description.

Kyle Van Noy

The Ravens have already brought in the nine-year veteran and two-time Super Bowl champion for a visit last month on July 21, 2023. He has experience playing both off the ball and on the edge full-time and is the most suitable option of the bunch. Van Noy has recorded 5 or more sacks in each of the last four seasons despite playing on three different teams during that stretch.

Melvin Ingram

The 11-year veteran and three-time Pro Bowler is coming off a solid bounce-back season in which he recorded 6 sacks with the Miami Dolphins in a similar rotational role to Houston had last year but he also has experience dropping into underneath coverage. Ingram is also a very powerful edge-setter against the run that can blow up plays in the backfield or before a ball carrier gets a chance to get the corner and turn upfield.

Jadeveon Clowney

The three-time Pro Bowler and former No. 1 overall pick has been linked to the Ravens every time he’s been available over the past few years and while it’s been a while since he has been asked to drop into coverage, it’s a skill that is in his repetiteur. He’s a much better run defender than pass rusher throughout his career but he can still bring the heat off the edge and has some familiarity with the Ravens coaching staff. He was on the Houston Texans during the time that defensive line coach Anthony Weaver was serving in the same role with them from 2016-2018.

Anthony Barr

The nine-year veteran has one of the most complete skillsets on this shortlist behind only Van Noy. He entered the league as a hybrid edge and off-ball player with the Minnesota Vikings and made four straight Pro Bowls from 2015-2018 in that role. Last year he appeared in 14 games and made 10 starts with the Dallas Cowboys where he primarily played off the ball as a 4-3 outside linebacker but he has the skillset to line up on the edge wreak havoc as well.

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Two coaches and a general manager all gave The Athletic concerning thoughts about where Mayfield really stands among NFL signal callers. The Athletic’s Mike Sando put Mayfield in the second-lowest of his five tiers for quarterbacks as a result.

“Mayfield is a low [tier] three, on his way to being a backup,” an unnamed offensive coach told Sando. “His accuracy has suffered, he takes too many risks, and it seems like his emotions negatively affect the way he plays.”

Once No. 1 pick in 2018, Mayfield led the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs in 2020. He hasn’t been the same since — especially amid four different teams in a year. His rough 2022 took him from the Browns to the Carolina Panthers followed by the Los Angeles Rams.

Mayfield signed with the Bucs in March on a one-year deal to compete with Trask in place of retired quarterback Tom Brady. It looked like Mayfield’s job to lose because Trask only had 10 snaps of regular season experience.

“I don’t know what’s missing,” an unnamed coordinator told Sando. “I’ve seen former No. 1 picks just melt under the pressure a little bit. Baker has been jettisoned around all over the place, and nobody really wants to put their arms around him and keep him.”

Baker Mayfield ‘May Win You a Game’

Mayfield has struggled in the area that Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales called the most important thing in deciding the starter — turnovers.

The former Oklahoma star threw four interceptions within the first week. Trask meanwhile strung together three practices of no interceptions, and he improved in an area that Mayfield once had the edge on.

“Mayfield moves well enough, throws well enough, does some things well enough but possesses no special ability,” an unnamed general manager told Sando. “He may win you a game because he may run around and people aren’t prepared, but at the end of the day, he is just a backup, in my opinion.”

Sando’s tier chart showed that Mayfield came into the league as a tier two quarterback but has fallen since 2021. Trask didn’t get rated because of his lack of experience, Sando wrote.

Bucs QB Competition is ‘Pretty Much Even’ on Reps

Trask could beat out Mayfield for the starting job in Tampa, and Canales said as much after practice on Tuesday, August 1. Canales praised the abilities of both quarterbacks and said he’s “looking forward to seeing who gets the job” before the regular season.

“I think what we are seeing is a couple of guys who both have to put themselves into that starter mind frame going into the practices, knowing, ‘Hey, today is my day. I get to roll with the ones. I get a few more reps.’ It is pretty much even, even with the way we go ones and twos, the way we do it,” Canales told reporters.

“I just see the two guys really challenging each other,” Canales added. “Then the cool part is in our room, which a lot of people don’t get to see and hear, is just rule number one, we are here to help the Bucs win.”

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According to a July 19 report from Brian Costello of the New York Post, the Jets plan to waive Mims if they cannot find a trade partner. Mims had previously requested a trade, dating back to August 2022, prior to catching 11 passes for 186 yards last season.

Multiple league sources tell Heavy that the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots are two teams expressing interest in Mims, especially should he hit the waiver wire.

Mims struggled to find consistent playing time in New York, since being chosen by the Jets No. 59 overall in the 2020 NFL draft. The former Baylor standout has 42 career receptions for 676 yards.

Despite having plenty of explosiveness, and game-breaking speed, Mims never quite reached his potential with the Jets. Chosen by Adam Gase and company, Mims has been buried on the bench since Robert Saleh’s staff took over.

However, given his skill set, Mims could be a breakout star to watch with a change of scenery. Fortunately for Mims, several teams could be looking to add to the position as training camps near.

Here is a look at Mims’ best fits, whether the Jets wind up trading or waiving the 25-year-old wideout:

1) New England Patriots

The Patriots had significant interest in All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins, according to sources, from the moment the Arizona Cardinals released him, so it would make sense that New England would be in the mix for a young receiver such as Mims.

Mims seemingly fits the profile of the Patriots‘ receiving corps, given his ability to stretch the field vertically primarily as a slot receiver. The Patriots also have gotten an up close and personal look at Mims, who has pulled down 10 receptions for 194 yards in five games against the AFC East rival.

2) Philadelphia Eagles

While the Philadelphia Eagles boast one of the most electrifying receiver duos in the sport, in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, depth could prove to be a concern for the reigning NFC Champions.

Not only would Mims push Quez Watkins for the starting slot receiver role, but he would be a potentially significant upgrade over the likes of Olamide Zaccheaus, Devon Allen, and Tyrie Cleveland. The Eagles’ depth receivers have combined to catch only 42 passes for 561 yards and 5 touchdowns in their careers.

3) New York Giants

Wide receiver is a position that the Giants have invested rather significantly in this offseason, in hopes of significantly bolstering quarterback Daniel Jones’ supporting cast.

After signing veteran Parris Campbell, and drafting Jaylin Hyatt in the third round, Mims could be an ideal fit to either push Darius Slayton for playing time or supplant him in Jones’ target hierarchy. It is worth pointing out that the Giants held joint practices with the Jets last summer, during training camp, so general manager Joe Schoen had the opportunity to evaluate him in a way that some executives might not have gotten to see.

4) Chicago Bears

Surrounding Justin Fields with premier weapons has been a two-year rebuilding project for general manager Ryan Poles and the Bears. Perhaps Mims is the next depth piece in Poles’ crosshairs.

Last season, the Bears plucked Chase Claypool in a deadline trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, before dropping dynamic playmaker D.J. Moore into the offense in a blockbuster deal with the Carolina Panthers to move back from the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. A change of scenery may be exactly what Mims needs, and he would arrive as the Bears’ No. 4 wide receiver with plenty of upside on the receiving end of Fields’ passes.

5) Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are in the infancy of a rebuild, around newly minted franchise quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. However, with running back Miles Sanders, receivers D.J. Chark and Adam Thielen, along with tight end Hayden Hurst, there’s some reliable explosiveness in that offense.

If Mims can stay healthy, there’s no reason that he can’t push Terrace Marshall Jr., whose career has gotten off to a disappointing start, for a starting role. At a minimum, Mims is a complementary piece to Chark and Thielen, and there would be far fewer roadblocks to playing time in Charlotte than he faced in New York.

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David, a three-time All-Pro, highlighted Mayfield’s 2020 season with the Cleveland Browns as reason for hope during an interview with SiriusXM NFL  Radio. Mayfield, who signed with the Bucs in March to potentially start in place of Tom Brady, had the best season of his career that year with a historic playoff win.

“Obviously, Baker already he’s been ‘the guy’ and, you know, he’s expected to live up to what everybody expected him to be,” David told co-hosts Alex Marvez and Robert Turbin via JoeBucsFan.com. “Baker is great for our locker room. I like the way Baker carries himself coming in with a ready-to-work mentality.”

“Everybody loves him already and the way he approaches practice is great to see. So there’s definitely some great things to see out of Baker. He’s a guy who’s done it before — took his team to the playoffs and done some great things so far,” David continued.

Mayfield led the Browns to an 11-5 record and a playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020 before a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. That marked the first postseason victory and winningest season for the Browns since 1994.

Cleveland had only one other 10-win season since that 1994 team. Despite Mayfield’s success in 2020, it didn’t last as the Browns dipped to 8-9 in 2021 amid Mayfield’s play and shoulder injury.

The Browns traded for quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2022 and traded away Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers. Mayfield got benched and released in Carolina, so he concluded the 2022 season with the Los Angeles Rams for a five-game stint.

Bucs QB Competition a Good Thing, Lavonte David Says

Tampa Bay signed Mayfield to a one-year, $4 million deal in March, but he will have to earn the starting quarterback job. The Bucs also publicly consider Kyle Trask, a second-round NFL Draft in 2021, a contender for the job.

“So the competition with those guys is going to be very, very competitive and I’m glad to be a part of it,” David added. “…During minicamp it was really fun to see, man, those guys are really having fun with it and they’re helping each other throughout the way. So that’s definitely something I love to see, as well.”

Lavonte David Wants to Prove Doubters Wrong

Challenges can bring a team together, and that’s what David sees happening with the Bucs after a losing season in 2022 and the loss of Brady.

“I just feel like this year I already see a change of just, you know, having a more togetherness, more of a continuity of the football team where everybody is just sticking together and depending on one another to take this thing to another level,” David told Marvez and Robert Turbin via JoeBucsFan.com.

“And obviously we’re already doubted, especially after losing Tom,” David added. “So we already got a chip on our shoulder, and [Todd] Bowles is the right guy to lead us to be able to go out there week in and week out and be properly prepared and play our butts off.”

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During the middle of New York Giants training camp in 2017, the undrafted tight end out of Temple was rushed into the hospital to undergo an emergency appendectomy.

The Giants waived him 48 hours later.

The NFL. Not For Long.

“I started my own podcast, the Not for Long Podcast,” Colin told Heavy during a lengthy phone conversation. “Now, it’s Not For Long Media. I think I was the first NFL player to have a podcast, and a media company, and I’ve been growing it from the ground up.”

Thompson once again finds himself an unrestricted free agent. After the Carolina Panthers opted not to re-sign him in 2022, the veteran tight end is training hard each day in the shadows of the Naval Academy, while waiting for his phone to ring and the next NFL opportunity to arrive.

But, it was his first stretch as a free agent that inspired him to form his own media company.

Returning home to his alma mater, Thompson joined the OwlScoop Podcast, before launching his own. The podcast, and now the media company, has not only set Thompson up for life after football but has allowed him to be a trailblazer of sorts during his football career.

“It’s allowed me to co-exist as a player and do some media stuff,” Thompson explained. “Instead of watching a couple hours of Netflix each night, I may make some phone calls, or go record a show. It’s a way for me to move a career along, while I’m playing. It’s not a distraction for me, it’s part of the journey.”

The podcast has opened doors off the field for Thompson. The 29-year-0ld, who has 1 career reception for seven yards and one touchdown in 26 games for the Panthers, had the opportunity in recent months to attend the NFL’s Broadcast Boot Camp and is scheduled to fill in as host on nationally broadcast platforms in the near future.

“It’s something I’ve had a lot of fun doing,” Thompson said of his media work.

The Player Behind the Microphone

At the conclusion of grueling training camp practices under the broiling Spartanburg, S.C. sun, players typically cannot wait to jump into the ice tub. Or, at the very least, retreat to the cooling confines of the air-conditioned Wofford College locker rooms.

Just as his teammates are hitting the showers, or getting stopped along the way by reporters looking for soundbites or the next viral clip after practice, it isn’t unusual for them to be greeted by a familiar face. Thompson’s.

“We’re doing on-field interviews after practice,” Thompson said. “And, I’m in my pads interviewing guys. That’s stuff that the team does, and I said ‘You know what, this is what I’m going to do.’ I talked to the team about it, they were cool with it, got the blessings from everybody, and they’ve been great with it.”

In the summer of 2022, Thompson had quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold as guests on the show. Christian McCaffrey has made appearances, prior to getting traded to the San Francisco 49ers. So, too, did ESPN insider Adam Schefter.

Not too long ago, players saying something controversial in the media was frowned upon.

However, nowadays, Travis and Jason Kelce have built a massive following for their hit “New Heights” podcast. Devin and Jason McCourty have seamlessly reached levels of stardom in media that mirror their impact on the football field.

“A lot of players can have their own media platform,” Thompson said. “I give a lot of credit to the open-mindedness of front offices and coaches now, whereas before, it was so taboo to do anything outside of the building. I always thought it was funny; you could invest in businesses and have that stress in your life, but if you did anything verbally, you were looked down upon. A lot of players have broke down those barriers.

Thompson’s network has allowed him to build relationships with players around the league, as well as some of the biggest names in media, in hopes of strengthening the foundation for what he’s building off the field.

“A lot of people like to have these massive guests on,” Thompson said, explaining the kind of content he aims to create each time he cracks upon the microphone. “I just like to have good stories, good conversations, people I trust from the lowest of media rankings to the highest, that I know will provide great content for our listeners and our viewers.

“I don’t have an ego-list, about other shows having these massive guests. I just want to have great quality, and great conversation.”

In addition to Thompson’s show, Not For Long Media has eight total podcasts, including the food-centric “Samboners” to the all-female hosted “2 Girls 1 League.”

Beyond athletes, Thompson has had world-renowned chefs appear, as well as smaller chefs aiming to make a name for themselves.

“I’ve had my buddies on who are private chefs that have elite English Premier League knowledge and no one knows who they are,” Thompson said. “But, I just think they’re really smart and have good stuff. I try to be equal opportunity with it, have some fun with it. I’m excited for the future, and I’m bullish about it.”

The Podcaster on the Field

Thompson is currently a free agent, and at age 29, there’s a pretty decent chance that there are more yesterdays than tomorrows ahead in his NFL playing career.

But, he’s in no rush to hang up his cleats and sit behind the microphone full-time.

As 2023 training camps near, there are handfuls of teams expressing interest in signing Thompson, who has spent time on the Giants and Chicago Bears‘ practice squads before spending the past three seasons in Carolina.

At the same time, though, Thompson has no delusions about the length of an NFL career. Hence, Not For Long Media.

Whether he’s sprinting to snag the star quarterback for an interview after practice, or setting up shop in his home studio, Thompson has a long-term vision for what he’s building.

“The 10-year plan is this to have this thing co-exist with what I’m doing in football,” Thompson said. “Whether I’m going to continue to play into my mid-30s, whether I get into coaching, or a bigger media role by calling games, it will always be a main thing in my life.

“But, I like having it to co-exist. It’s an easy way for me to connect with people, we can have coaches on, players on, and I’ve already had all these conversations, I’m just putting it behind a microphone.”

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Whether it is when to move on from a veteran quarterback, bring in a new head coach, or tear down an expensive roster and accumulate future draft picks to restock the cupboard with young talent, savvy general managers know when a given core has run its course and it is time to begin building anew.

Likewise, there comes a time in every rebuild when it is time to accelerate the process and spend via free agency and on the trade market to put your team over the top. The teams on this list have done exactly that, and as a result, could be primed to make a return to the postseason as early as this fall.

1) Chicago Bears

Marquee Additions: WR D.J. Moore, LB Tremaine Edmunds, LB T.J. Edwards, TE Robert Tonyan, OG Nate Davis, OT Darnell Wright, RB Roschon Johnson

General manager Ryan Poles is all-in on Justin Fields.

Poles spent both free agency and the draft surrounding Chicago’s young quarterback with elite playmakers, fortifying the offensive line, and adding potentially game-altering talent to the defense, aiming to bring back some of the Bears’ ferocity of the Monsters of The Midway’s heyday.

Fields, who passed for 2,242 yards with 17 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, while finishing seventh in the league in rushing with 1,143 yards and 8 touchdowns, now has a dynamic collection of pass-catchers in Moore, Chase Claypool, Darnell Mooney, and tight end Cole Kmet, along with thunder and lightning backfield duo of Khalil Herbert and battering ram D’onta Foreman.

There’s a really good chance that Poles’ Bears wind up the most improved team in 2023, which would go a long way towards Chicago returning to the postseason for the first time since 2020, after finishing 3-14 in 2022.

2) Detroit Lions

Marquee Additions: S C.J. Gardner-Johnson, CB Cameron Sutton, RB David Montgomery, RB, Jahmyr Gibbs, LB Jack Campbell, DB Brian Branch, QB Hendon Hooker

Brad Holmes has gone a long way in restoring the Detroit Lions‘ roar the past two offseasons.

Thanks to a relentlessly competitive culture driven by head coach Dan Campbell along with loads and loads of top talent from the top of the past two draft classes, Detroit seems primed to challenge for the NFC North crown.

Aidan Hutchinson came up just short of winning NFL Defensive Rookie of The Year, but his 9.5 sack campaign that featured 53 pressures demonstrated that he is a foundational centerpiece of an attacking defense. That defense got an infusion of veteran playmaking ability when Holmes pilfered safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson from the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason and paired him with one of the steals of the NFL Draft, Alabama safety Brian Branch.

Meanwhile, offensively, rookie Jahmyr Gibbs gives quarterback Jared Goff a slashing weapon in the backfield, and the Lions’ young receiving corps of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams might be the most electrifying duo in the league. Just for good measure, and extreme value, Holmes drafted Hendon Hooker, who many believe has elite franchise quarterback upside.

In a suddenly wide open division, expect the shrewd moves Holmes has made in recent years to propel the Lions to the top of it.

3) Carolina Panthers

Marquee Additions: RB Miles Sanders, WR Adam Thielen, QB Bryce Young, WR D.J. Chark, TE Hayden Hurst

Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer just put on a clinic of how to surround a rookie quarterback with everything necessary for immediate success … in the span of one offseason.

Not only did the Panthers trade up with the Bears to select Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, but few positions matter more to a young quarterback’s development than tight end, and Carolina signed Hurst, fresh off a season in which Joe Burrow had a 97.1 passer rating on his 65 targets.

Meanwhile, the trio of Thielen, Chark, and Sanders give the offense a veteran core of experienced playmakers. Sanders in particular has the potential to significantly boost Young, because of his prowess as a receiver out of the backfield, after catching 124 passes through the first four seasons of his career.

Frank Reich’s calming presence, along with reliable veteran weapons give Young the chance to prove immediately why the Panthers chose him No. 1 overall. Likewise, Carolina playing in a division with no clear-cut favorite, and with a young core in place, make it possible that Fitterer just might have his team on the fast-track to postseason success.

4) Pittsburgh Steelers

Marquee Additions: OG Nate Herbig, CB Patrick Peterson, OT LeRaven Clark, OT Broderick Jones, CB Joey Porter Jr.

All the Steelers seem to do is load up on talent.

Omar Khan clearly has a vision for what he wants Pittsburgh to become, though it is no easy task in a loaded AFC North Division. But, after Kenny Pickett showed moments of promise during the 2022 campaign, the quarterback entering his second season with dynamic wide receiver George Pickens as his top target there is much reason for optimism in the Iron City.

Khan added talented pieces along both lines of scrimmage, and in the secondary, both via free agency and the draft. But, it’s the additions of Herbig, Clark, and Jones in front of Pickett that just might unlock the Steelers’ sky-high potential in 2023.

5) Atlanta Falcons

Marquee Additions: DE Calais Campbell, S Jessie Bates, TE Jonnu Smith, LB Kaden Ellis, RB Bijan Robinson, DE Zach Harrison

It’s hard not to love what the Falcons and general manager Terry Fontenot are building.

Atlanta’s offensive skill players; Kyle Pitts, Drake London Bijan Robinson, and Mack Hollins have the potential to be electrifying. Meanwhile, the Falcons’ secondary is suddenly loaded with high end talent, which will prove valuable against some of the NFC’s marquee wide receivers, and allow the pass-rush duo of Campbell and Grady Jarrett time to wreak havoc in opposing backfields.

The biggest question of all remains at quarterback. As multiple executives have wondered aloud in conversations with Heavy, it remains to be seen whether Ridder can maximize Atlanta’s young core. Still, in the most wide open division in football, the youtful explosiveness around Ridder might be enough for Atlanta to be one of the NFL’s biggest surprises in 2023.

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“I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. It was the first time I had fun playing football in a few years,” Mayfield told media for the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship via the New York Post. “It brought that feeling of having that success and really remembering what it was all about, Kind of hit the reset button for me.”

Days after getting released by the Carolina Panthers on December 5, Mayfield debuted with the Rams in Hollywood style as he led a fourth-quarter comeback against the Las Vegas Raiders for a 17-16 win on December 8. His rally ironically came on the heels of Bucs quarterback Tom Brady leading a fourth-quarter comeback by the same score that week on December 5 in a 17-16 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

“To be around a coach like Sean McVay and a bunch of other guys… to be around those guys and to be in that offense and now looking forward to being in Tampa because it’s a very similar system with our new offensive coordinator [David Canales],” Mayfield said.

Canales notably worked with former McVay protégé Shane Waldron with the Seattle Seahawks. Canales coached the quarterbacks, and Waldron served as the offensive coordinator.

The tandem succeeded last year as Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith won Comeback Player of the Year after the Russell Wilson trade. Waldron served on McVay’s staff in Los Angeles from 2017 to 2020.

Whether or not Mayfield can match Smith’s turnaround and help alleviate the loss from Brady’s retirement remains to be seen. However, Mayfield had one word to sum up his upcoming season with the Bucs and training camp battle against Kyle Trask for the starting job.

“Revitalized,” Mayfield said. “I’m really excited and pumped up and just looking forward to the future.”

How Baker Mayfield Ended Up on Four Teams in a Year

Despite four stops in a year, Mayfield can envision a future more befitting of a No. 1 draft pick. The Cleveland Browns took him with the top pick in 2018, and he led the franchise to its first playoff win since 1994 during his four years by Lake Erie.

Cleveland changed course at quarterback in 2022 with a trade for Deshaun Watson, and the Browns traded Mayfield to the Panthers. Things didn’t work out for Mayfield there in just seven games with a 1-6 record, and the Panthers benched and released him.

Mayfield showed in four more games with the Rams that his debut wasn’t an anomaly. He led a 51-14 victory over the Denver Broncos on December 25, and he finished with 850 yards passing for four touchdowns versus two interceptions amid a 2-3 record.

Baker Mayfield Playing for Recent Champions of Late

That Rams team had an injury-riddled roster when he arrived, just a year after lifting the Lombardi Trophy. Now, Mayfield inherits a Bucs offense that still has key players from the 2020 Super Bowl run with Brady. Wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin still produce 1,000-yard seasons, and offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs and Ryan Jensen can still play at a Pro Bowl level.

“It was great to get to be around the whole staff, the organization, the teammates especially,” Mayfield said. “Get to know everybody and see just how they’ve had so much recent success and see the key pieces in that locker room.”

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Who will follow in the footsteps of Christian Watson, Kenneth Walker Jr., Garrett Wilson, and Brock Purdy as the offensive players who made their presence felt out of the chute and had a significant impact on their team’s season?

Here’s a look at the five offensive rookies who have a legitimate chance to make a significant impact on their teams during the 2023 season.

5. Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens

There might not be a rookie receiver who fell into a better position than Zay Flowers with the Baltimore Ravens.

Flowers is a prototypical field-stretcher with 4.2 40-yard dash speed, and he lands in an offense where he’ll be on the receiving end of passes from Lamar Jackson and surrounded by playmakers Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman who will command plenty of attention from opposing defenses.

If Baltimore becomes an offense that pushes the ball vertically downfield, and Jackson continues to make the strides as a passer he showed prior to getting injured last season, Zay stands to be the biggest beneficiary.

4. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions

The Lions are so all-in on Jahmyr Gibbs, that Detroit flipped D’Andre Swift to the Philadelphia Eagles in a draft weekend trade.

It’s Gibbs’ show in the Motor City, after averaging 6.1 Yards per Carry last season at Alabama and finishing sixth among running backs with a 1.83 Yards per Route run in the receiving game.

“He’s fast, elusive, instinctive, and can break off a big run at any time,” an NFC scouting director told Heavy. “He’s not overly powerful, but should complement David Montgomery very well in that backfield.”

Gibbs’ burst gives him the chance to be a slasher both on zone runs and getting to the outside, while his versatility as a receiver out of the backfield could create new layers to the Detroit Lions‘ offense.

3. Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers

Bryce Young hasn’t wasted any time making an impact.

Before training camp even gets underway this summer, Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich has already named Bryce Young the team’s starting quarterback, after choosing him with the No. 1 overall pick in April’s 2023 draft.

Young represents Reich’s first chance to develop a young quarterback since playing a hand in turning Carson Wentz into an MVP candidate in his second NFL season, and the Panthers have done their part to set the Alabama product up for immediate success after adding Adam Thielen, Miles Sanders, and reliable tight end Hayden Hurst to his arsenal. Young has the opportunity to provide much-needed stability in Carolina, which would be a big upgrade at quarterback.

2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks

It might be easy for Jaxon Smith-Njigba to get lost in a Seattle Seahawks receiving corps that includes D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but that would certainly be a mistake for opposing defensive backs.

Smith-Njigba is one of the more athletically gifted receiver prospects to enter the draft in recent years.

“He’s an exciting young player,” an NFC wide receivers coach told Heavy. “He’ll be an instant chain-mover on third down. Watching him, he’s extremely quick, plus he has all the natural instincts and ball skills that will allow him to be great early on.”

He was also ridiculously productive last season at Ohio State. During the 2021 campaign, Smith-Njigba averaged 16.8 Yards per Catch, while pulling down 95 of 112 targets for 1,595 yards and 9 touchdowns.

“Jaxon’s going to be a great fit with Lockett and Metcalf,” the coach explained. “They’re going to help him get up to speed quickly. I think he’s going to have a great rookie year.”

Seattle just might have the most complete receiving corps in the league, and Smith-Njigba has the chance to be an immediate playmaker in it.

1. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

Bijan Robinson is a silky smooth but ridiculously explosive runner, who now becomes potentially the focal point of the Atlanta Falcons‘ offense.

Not only did Robinson lead the nation in forced missed tackles, with 104, but 1,071 of his 1,575 rushing yards in 2022 came after contact, demonstrating just how equally elusive, explosive, and difficult he is to bring down. But, that’s not all, Robinson also logged 21 explosive runs of 10 yards or more.

“All the people criticizing the Falcons taking Bijan Robinson will be eating crow,” an AFC scout told Heavy during the NFL draft. “Bijan’s the closest thing I’ve seen to Marshall Faulk.”

Atlanta has quietly built an exciting young supporting cast around quarterback Desmond Ridder, but Robinson not only has the most upside but might play the biggest role in 2023 of any of the young weapons in the Falcons’ offense.

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As DeMeco Ryans, Frank Reich and Shane Steichen potentially start quarterbacks selected at the top of the 2023 draft, Sean Payton and Jonathan Gannon will look to lead drastic turnarounds with veteran quarterbacks.

Which head coach will orchestrate the quickest turnaround? Who has the best chance to transform a bottom-dweller into a surprise contender? Discover how this year’s head coaching hires stack up, with insight from executives across the NFL.

5. Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals

Not to put an expiration date on his tenure before it even begins, but Gannon has the best chance to be one-and-done.

The Philadelphia Eagles‘ defensive collapse in the second half of the Super Bowl left much to be desired, as did Gannon for skirting accountability when asked by reporters at the NFL combine about what happened in that game. Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals might boast the least-talented roster in the league.

Turning around the Cardinals in one season, in a division that houses two contenders, the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, as well as a Los Angeles Rams team that should rebound, would be a difficult task under the best of circumstances. But Gannon’s play-calling flaws were exposed by the Chiefs, and it remains unclear whether he has the temperament to be a successful NFL head coach.

4. Frank Reich, Carolina Panthers

Frank Reich, who was abruptly let go by the Indianapolis Colts last season, now finds himself in Carolina with a golden chance to develop a hand-picked young quarterback, Bryce Young. It marks his first opportunity to mold a potential franchise quarterback since his stint as Carson Wentz‘s offensive coordinator in Philadelphia from 2016 to 2017.

“The NFC South is wide open, so Frank will probably do pretty well,” an AFC personnel executive told Heavy. “Frank is the definition of a pro’s pro. His key will be Bryce Young and his ability to stay on the field. I worry that Bryce is going to get killed — like, smashed.”

Concerns about Young’s 5-foot-10 and 194-pound frame aside, Reich gets to oversee an offense that features dynamic dual-threat running back Miles Sanders along with reliable pass catchers Adam Thielen and tight end Hayden Hurst. Reich’s experience, play-calling prowess and track record for being a quarterback whisperer give him the chance to see immediate success.

3. Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts

Steichen was viewed as one of the most coveted head coaching candidates — and for good reason.

Steichen molded Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts into a legitimate MVP candidate while overseeing a balanced offense that featured dynamic deep-threat receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith yet also finished with the NFL’s fifth-ranked rushing offense.

Now in Indianapolis, Steichen has the chance to work with one of the most gifted quarterback prospects in recent years, Anthony Richardson. If Steichen can tap into Richardson’s immense potential — following the path of Hurts and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert — the Colts will be in phenomenal shape for 2023 and beyond.

2. DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans

If DeMeco Ryans is anything, he’s a culture driver and one of the brightest defensive minds currently in the sport.

“It’s an easy choice for me,” an AFC scouting director told Heavy. “It’s DeMeco Ryans. They’ve upgraded the talent on that roster significantly, and they finally have a head coach with sustainability.”

An NFC personnel executive echoed those sentiments, citing the Houston Texans‘ easy road in the AFC South as a potential driving force for Ryans to orchestrate a quick turnaround.

Ryans arrives in Houston after leading the 49ers’ top-ranked defense last season. The Texans made bold moves by adding the most highly regarded defensive prospect of this year’s class, Will Anderson, and potential franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud with consecutive picks. While winning the AFC South might be a tall order this season, Houston has assembled a talented and youthful roster that could pose a significant challenge to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023.

1. Sean Payton, Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos‘ new ownership group made a big splash, luring Sean Payton out of the television studio and coming away with the prize of this year’s hiring cycle.

“Hands down, it’s Sean Payton,” an NFC personnel executive told Heavy when asked his choice for the coach who will make the biggest immediate impact. “Sean’s a proven winner, has a veteran quarterback and [has] a damn good defense.”

Payton, who arrives in the Mile High City with a Super Bowl ring on his finger and the 2006 Coach of the Year award in tow, inherits Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson and a defense built around Pro Bowl cornerback Pat Surtain and All-Pro safety Justin Simmons.

If Payton can engineer a significant turnaround for Wilson after the most disappointing season of his career, the Broncos will have a puncher’s chance in the loaded AFC.

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With so many needs on the offensive line and defense, the Raiders may hold off on addressing the quarterback issue until next year. Regardless, they still should add a young quarterback behind Garoppolo in the event he gets injured. Brian Hoyer is a savvy veteran but he shouldn’t be taking snaps at this point in his career. The Raiders could add a quarterback later in the draft or they could look to add one that never got a fair chance on another team. Alex Kay of Bleacher Report pitched a trade that sends a fourth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers and in return, they would get 2022 third-round pick Matt Corral.

“The Las Vegas Raiders would make an ideal landing spot for Corral, given projected starter Jimmy Garoppolo’s age and injury woes,” Kay wrote. “With little chance of landing a franchise quarterback at No. 7 overall, the Raiders could try to find their quarterback of the future via a low-risk deal involving an early Day 3 pick.”

Does Corral Still Have Potential?

The 2022 draft class was one of the worst in recent memory when it came to quarterbacks. Only one quarterback was taken in the first two rounds and seventh-round pick Brock Purdy appears to be the best quarterback from the class. Corral was supposed to be one of the better prospects last year but fell to the third round.

Despite the Panthers having major issues at quarterback last season, Corral didn’t play a single snap. The team also traded for the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft and will be taking a quarterback. That shows that they don’t have much faith in Corral. He’s not the most physically gifted quarterback but he was solid in college. There could still be some potential there. Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels has a strong track record of developing quarterbacks and Corall would be a low-risk move for him to make and would give him a little bit more excitement out of his backup quarterback.

Are Raiders Truly Passing on Drafting a QB Early This Year?

Garoppolo is a very good stopgap quarterback but there’s a reason the 49ers were trying to move on from him for years. He just can’t stay healthy for a full season. There’s no reason to believe that a move to Las Vegas is going to change that. The NFL is run by quarterbacks and the Raiders might have the weakest in the AFC West. Aaron Rodgers just came to the AFC so Las Vegas likely doesn’t have a top-10 quarterback in just the conference.

At a certain point, the Raiders will need to take a swing at a quarterback. That could still be this year. The Raiders benefit from teams not thinking they’re going to take a quarterback. If they can stay at No. 7 and get the quarterback they want, that would be a huge win. It’s very possible the plan is to address the offensive line or the defense in the first round but drafting a quarterback can’t be ruled out.

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Byrd, who played with the Patriots in 2020, recently signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Carolina Panthers. Earlier this offseason, the Panthers obtained the No. 1 pick in the draft via a trade with the Chicago Bears. The Panthers will likely pick a quarterback such as Alabama‘s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud on April 27.

“I think it was just a thing that everything aligned,” Byrd said about returning to Carolina via Panthers.com. “Charlotte has always been my home. We never really left. No matter where we were, we would always come back here in the offseason. It was kind of aligned.”

The Panthers signed Byrd as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina in 2015 before stints with the Arizona Cardinals in 2019 and Patriots. He spent 2021 with the Bears and 2022 with the Atlanta Falcons.

With the Patriots, caught 47 passes for 604 yards and a touchdown in 16 games played. He played for the first team of the post-Tom Brady era that year.

Byrd notably caught passes from former Patriots and Panthers quarterback Cam Newton that season, their fourth season together between Carolina and New England. However, Byrd spent most of his first Carolina stint on the practice squad aside from 17 regular season games where he caught 12 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

Byrd became a regular receiver in Arizona before he joined the Patriots. He likewise played 17 games for the Bears and 14 for the Falcons during his one-year stints. He has 130 receptions for 1,689 yards and seven touchdowns in his career.

Receiver a Likely Target for Patriots in Draft

When the Patriots pick at No. 14 next week, it likely could be a receiver.

The Patriots lost key talent at receiver in the free agency departures of Jakobi Myers to the Las Vegas Raiders and Nelson Agholor to the Baltimore Ravens. JuJu Smith-Schuster signed with the Patriots after a season with the Kansas City Chiefs, but the need remains significant. DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne return as the top two receivers from last season, and neither had more than 35 receptions, 540 yards, or three touchdowns.

“You’re hoping there at 14 you can get a pretty good player,” Patriots director of player personnel Matt Groh told reporters on Tuesday, April 18. “I’d say throughout the first round, there’s an old philosophy: You’re taking a player in the first round, you’re hoping that player is going to come in and make an impact for you.”

Patriots Could Go Receiver Later in NFL Draft

Groh acknowledged that draft boards don’t always come together as planned, and he said the Patriots could grab a receiver later.

“Look, I think if you’re looking for a guy, it’s not just a first-round guy,” Groh said. “There’s a lot of good wide receivers in this draft, and there’s a lot of good wide receivers in this league that weren’t just first-round picks. So you can find these guys throughout the draft. Obviously, if you’re taking one in the first round, you better have some conviction about him.”

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Defensive tackle John Penisini was selected in the sixth-round by the Lions in 2020, and after playing a pair of seasons with the team, elected to walk away in the summer of 2022. Penisini, however, is now on track to come back.

According to agent GSE Worldwide agent David Canter on Saturday, April 8, Penisini will be coming out of retirement to sign with the Carolina Panthers this coming week.

“Very excited for our GSE Football client John Penisini who will be signing with the Panthers this week!,” Canter tweeted.

The reversal of fortune is notable, as the Lions had recently released Penisini from the reserve/retired list this offseason. Now, it appears as if that act was for a good reason, since he may have been eying a return to the league.

Detroit has a need for help at defensive tackle, as many see the interior as one of the biggest remaining needs on the team the rest of this offseason. The Lions re-signed Isaiah Buggs and John Cominsky, who can play along the interior. They could be looking at making additions in the draft, as well.

Nevertheless, Penisini will be coming back in the league to strengthen a Carolina defensive front that finished 10th in the NFL in run defense during 2022 allowing just 130 yards per-game.

John Penisini Made Retirement Announcement in 2022

Initially, Penisini revealed the news of his retirement on Saturday, June 11, 2022. He posted on his Twitter and Instagram account a note which not only revealed the choice at the time, but explained it to fans.

“I have made the decision to retire from football. I’m definitely going to miss my teammates and the coaching staff but I’m glad I got to experience it. I’m happy and excited for whatever life has for me. For my family, friends, teammates, coaches and all the people who supported my dream along the way I appreciate and love you guys. Go Lions,” Penisini wrote in the post.

At the time, Penisini had looked as if he was going to be a potential piece at defensive tackle for the Lions. Penisini had played two season in Detroit, and his first season with the team was under Matt Patricia, who selected him in the draft along with Bob Quinn in 2020.

Within the announcement, it had seemed as if Penisini was finished. Now, it seems as if he had a major change of heart and will be making his return to the league.

John Penisini’s Career Stats & Highlights

Before joining the Lions, Penisini played for Utah from 2017-2019 where he was most known as a clogger up front for the Utes.

In his career in college, he had 80 total tackles, 5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. He was a better run stuffer and didn’t offer much in terms of a pass rush, but was a player who was counted on to stuff the middle for the Lions and add depth at the tackle position.

When he came into the league, that’s just what he did. As a rookie, Penisini put up 35 tackles, 1 sack and started 12 games. That number dropped considerably under the team’s new regime, with Penisini collecting only 14 tackles in 2021 while playing in 16 games with no starts. Here’s a look at some of his college work:

Penisini did bring some of that same grit he showed in college to the pros putting up 49 tackles, one sack and one pass defended, and after making the choice to walk away very early in his young career, he has now decided on a comeback to the league.

Notably, the Lions are scheduled to play Penisini’s new team in Carolina during the 2023 season.

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“The Panthers traded kicker Zane Gonzalez to the 49ers, per his agent Mike McCartney,” Tom Pelissero wrote. “The teams will swap picks in 2025, per source.

“More specifically, it’s conditional 2025 late-round compensation to Carolina for Gonzalez, who had been told he’d be released. Instead, headed to SF.”

Does the addition of Gonzalez, even in exchange for a future pick swap, officially close the door on bringing back Robbie Gould for a seventh season in San Francisco? In the opinion of David Lombardi, a 49ers staff writer for The Athletic, that isn’t necessarily the case.

“The 49ers are paying next to nothing for Zane Gonzalez (conditional 2025 late-round pick) and he has no guaranteed money,” Lombardi wrote. “There is no indication that SF is done with its kicker search.

“They even could just be doing this to put pressure on Robbie Gould negotiations. All TBD.”

Fortunately, by Gould’s own admission, he still has plenty left in the tank, so if Lombardi’s opinion proves true, there’s a chance for a reunion left.

Robbie Gould Thinks He Can Still Kick Into His 40s

Discussing his future plans for professional football after the conclusion of his 18th professional season, Gould let it be known that he has no intentions of hanging up his cleats any time soon.

“I’m nowhere near retiring,” Gould told NBC Sports Bay Area. “I got a lot left to do from a career perspective — No. 1 being winning a Super Bowl. And, two, I’m pretty close to a lot of milestones I think would be pretty neat to be able to accomplish.”

After turning in an impressive 2022 season that featured just five missed field goal attempts and one missed extra point, it’s clear Gould can still kick at an above-average level in the NFL. Unfortunately for 49ers fans, there might be some competition for his services, as Gould himself has already mentioned a team he would happily play for in 2023 if afforded an opportunity.

Robbie Gould Has Eyes Outside of the San Francisco 49ers

Speaking to a ruckus crowd of fans at ESPN 1000’s Waddle & Silvy show for the station’s 25th anniversary special, Gould boldly declared that he would happily return to Chicago to close out his NFL career.

“If Chicago called me and said ‘we want you back,’ would I do it? Absolutely,” Gould said via Brendan Sugrue, the assistant editor of The Bears Wire.

After beginning his NFL career with the Bears in 2005, Gould played 11 seasons for Chicago before taking his talents to New York and eventually San Francisco, where he played from 2017-2022. While it’s unlikely the Bears will be winning a Super Bowl in 2023, as no team has ever gone from the worst record in the NFL to champions over a one-year period, it would be serendipitous to see Gould’s career come full circle, and for the Chicago resident to close out his career in front of his friends and family.

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“He processes at another level… he’s not a guy you wanna pass up.”@SteveSmithSr89 loves what @_bryce_young can bring to an NFL team.

Watch Bryce Young throw on NFL+ https://t.co/2OWHbNPAXX pic.twitter.com/fHivMZMhcZ

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) March 23, 2023

“Timing, accuracy, processing, mobility,” Smith said when asked what the Panthers are looking for with their No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL draft. “They want to know what they’ve seen on film and when they see him in person, it confirms what they have already seen. Yes, his measurables are not ideal, but I’d rather take a quarterback who processes quickly, who spins the ball. One scout told me he loves the way he spins the ball. His timing.”

Smith gave the Alabama quarterback serious praise in the process.

“He’s the quickest, and he processes at another level,” Smith said.

Analyst: Bryce Young is a ‘Franchise Maker’

ESPN’s Peter Burns waxed poetic following Alabama’s pro day on March 23, tweeting out that Young is a “franchise maker” who could serve as a leader on and off the field to whichever NFL team takes him in the 2023 draft’s first round.

In a league in which if you look at a QB sideways, they will throw a flag……there is no doubt that Bryce Young should be the 1st pick of the draft.

Anyone who over thinks Bryce Young as QB1 deserves what’s coming to them.

A leader on and off the field.
Franchise maker https://t.co/394WVZUb7n

— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) March 23, 2023

“In a league in which if you look at a QB sideways, they will throw a flag, there is no doubt that Bryce Young should be the 1st pick of the draft,” Burns wrote. “Anyone who over thinks Bryce Young as QB1 deserves what’s coming to them. A leader on and off the field. Franchise maker”

Fellow ESPN NFL analyst Jordan Reid had a similar take on Young’s ability to lead an NFL franchise from the jump.

Alabama QB Bryce Young

A+ poise, accurate, can beat you stationary inside of the pocket and with sandlot-like plays outside of it.

Size concerns, but he has the skillset to be a face of the franchise type of player right away. pic.twitter.com/7IRGlPTxuS

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) March 23, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

“A+ poise, accurate, (Bryce Young) can beat you stationary inside of the pocket and with sandlot-like plays outside of it,” Reid prefaced before saying, “Size concerns, but he has the skillset to be a face of the franchise type of player right away.”

Analyst: Panthers Lean CJ Stroud Due to Bryce Young’s Size

ESPN’s Todd McShay, who interviewed Young after his workout at Alabama’s pro day, believes the Panthers could lean towards Ohio State’s CJ Stroud due to Carolina head coach Frank Reich’s experience with bigger quarterbacks.

“I’m going to give you some names and some heights that Frank Reich has worked with over his career — Peyton Manning 6-5, Phil Rivers 6-5, Carson Wentz 6-5, Nick Foles 6-6, Andrew Luck 6-5, Matt Ryan 6-4 … that doesn’t mean Reich and the Panthers staff is going to say no to a 5-10 Young, but you have to lean more in my opinion to Stroud, who’s 6-3, and is a pocket passer with the stature that Reich likes,” McShay said.

McShay believes the No. 1 pick will either be Stroud or Florida’s Anthony Richardson, who he deems a “wild card.”

“But the more I’m thinking about it, the more likely is that it’s Stroud and the wild card is Anthony Richardson just because of the potential and the development and what Reich has done with quarterbacks over the years,” McShay said.

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Wide receiver DJ Chark remained unsigned on the market, and the longer he lingered, the more the thought was that he could potentially return to the team. That didn’t happen, and Chark finally found a home.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Chark reached an agreement with the Carolina Panthers on a one-year deal.

“The Panthers aren’t done adding on offense, agreeing to terms with WR DJ Chark on a 1-year deal, sources say. A complete remake of the Carolina offense is underway, and Chark will be a big part. As will their new rookie QB,” Rapoport tweeted.

After news of the signing leaked on the internet, Chark didn’t waste his time addressing the situation with a classy message for the Lions and their fans. As he said, he appreciated the whole experience with the Lions in 2022.

“The past year has been incredible for me. Signing with Detroit and meeting the great people of that organization is huge for me. Playing with my brothers and going from 1-6 to 9-8 was amazing. I believe transparency and honesty is everything. With that being said this chance in Carolina is second to none! Can’t wait to see what this journey holds for me!,” Chark wrote in the tweet.

Chark posted 502 yards and two touchdowns for the Lions during the 2022 season, and was a key part of the team’s offense late in the season as a big-bodied target for the offense. He signed a one-year deal with the Lions in the 2022 offseason, and had an up-and-down season with the team after sustaining some early injuries.

Upon his departure, clearly, Chark has no ill-will toward the Lions, Detroit or the fanbase. That’s a classy way for the wide receiver to leave the team for another NFC foe.

Lions Must Look for DJ Chark Replacements

With Chark out of the picture, the Lions are going to have to do their diligence on the market to see if they might find a veteran that can help replace some of his snaps.

Thus far in 2023, the wideout market has been up and down. Some big deals have been done at the top with Jakobi Meyers signing for three years and $33 million in Las Vegas and JuJu Smith-Schuester singing for three years and $25 million in New England. The Lions would be likely to look at a middle-tier player on an short contract like Chark just received.

In terms of what players are available in free agency, a few options do exist that could make sense for Detroit. A player like their former wideout Marvin Jones from Jacksonville or Jarvis Landry of New Orleans could be intriguing additions for the Lions at this stage of their careers on shorter deals.

Jones posted 36 touchdowns in his career with the Lions, and could offer the team some ability down field. Landry has been a five-time Pro Bowl player in the NFL, posting 7,870 yards and 38 touchdowns in his career.

If the Lions avoid free agency, they could look to the draft for another target, such as Quentin Johnston of TCU or Jayden Reed of Michigan State, a pair of players who could be had with some of Detroit’s earlier selections in the first few days.

DJ Chark Was Open to Anything in Free Agency

In terms of Chark, it seemed there was early interest from his side about a return to Detroit. Speaking with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Equanimeous St. Brown on The 33rd Team before free agency, Chark discussed his feelings heading into the period. As he said, a return to the Lions would ‘be great’ all things considered.

“Going into this year man, I’m trying not to even worry about what’s gonna happen. I feel like, you know, I’m gonna be where I’m supposed to be. If that’s Detroit, that’d be great because I got some real good friendships and I like it there and it’s really good. But, it’s a business. You never know, so we’ll see how that goes, but it’ll be smooth regardless,” Chark said on the show.

The Lions had to decide on their end whether or not to bring back Chark for 2023 as much as Chark had to decide whether to return to the team or not. In the end, football remains a business.

Seeing Chark exit Detroit in a classy way this offseason helps prove that in a big way when all is said and done.

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ESPN’s Todd McShay reeled off the heights of previous Reich-coached quarterbacks and while he didn’t necessarily write off Young, he did promote Ohio State product CJ Stroud during ESPN First Draft on March 15.

“I’m going to give you some names and some heights that Frank Reich has worked with over his career — Peyton Manning 6-5, Phil Rivers 6-5, Carson Wentz 6-5, Nick Foles 6-6, Andrew Luck 6-5, Matt Ryan 6-4 … that doesn’t mean Reich and the Panthers staff is going to say no to a 5-10 Young, but you have to lean more in my opinion to Stroud, who’s 6-3, and is a pocket passer with the stature that Reich likes,” McShay said.

To McShay, Stroud or Florida’s Anthony Richardson appear to be the most likely No. 1 pick for the Panthers.

“But the more I’m thinking about it, the more likely is that it’s Stroud and the wild card is Anthony Richardson just because of the potential and the development and what Reich has done with quarterbacks over the years,” McShay said.

CJ Stroud, Not Bryce Young, Deemed Best Pure Passer

According to McShay, Stroud is not only superior from a size standpoint to Young, but he’s also the best pure pocket passer in the draft.

“Frank Reich is looking for a distributor, a guy who has fast eyes, processes and is a smooth natural thrower of the football,” McShay prefaced before saying, “If you’re looking for the best pure pocket passer of this class, it’s C.J. Stroud.”

Bryce Young an Anomaly for First-round Quarterbacks

Mel Kiper’s primary concern with Young’s size is that no NFL coach or offensive coordinator has ever dealt with a quarterback who is five-foot-10 and under 200 pounds.

“Will Levis, right there for me, could be QB1,” Kiper prefaced before saying, “Nobody’s ever coached a Bryce Young. He’s the smallest quarterback in the history of the first round. I don’t many head coaches or offensive coordinator’s who have worked with a 5-10, 195-pound quarterback. When you’re looking at Bryce Young, he’s unique to the first round. Can he maintain that (weight)? Not manufactured weight. We’ve never had a player when you’re talking about real weight and height together, size overall, being this size.”

Kiper compared Young to fellow former Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, noting the Dolphins’ fear of Tagovailoa’s health due to his slighter frame at six-foot-one and 217 pounds.

“The big thing is can he hold up physically,” Kiper prefaced before saying, “You see Miami holding its breath with Tua (Tagovailoa). That’s what you’re going to be doing with Bryce Young.”

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According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, veteran free agent quarterback Andy Dalton is “expected to reach an agreement” on a two-year, $10 million contract with the Panthers that offers him $8 million fully guaranteed and carries a maximum value of $17 million. The 35-year-old served as the Bears’ starting quarterback for six games in 2021 — the year in which Justin Fields was drafted — before he moved on to New Orleans in 2022.

Dalton should have a shot at beginning the 2023 season as the Panthers’ starter, but he will be hard-pressed to make it into Year 2 of his contract with Carolina all but certain to select their new franchise quarterback with the top overall pick in the draft. Whether it is Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud — or a surprise, maybe? — it figures to be a similar mentorship situation for Dalton that he faced in Chicago.

Meanwhile, the Bears are primed to head into 2023 with Fields as their quarterback after trading down to No. 9 overall in the draft and acquiring a true No. 1 receiver, D.J. Moore, for him in the exchange with the Panthers. Moore’s arrival raises the skill level of Fields’ receiving options for next season, but the Bears still have more work to do to ensure their roster is appropriately tuned up for a better season in 2023.

Will Bears Stick With Trevor Siemian as Backup QB?

Fields seems to have the endorsement of the Bears franchise to be the starter for next season, but that doesn’t mean Chicago can’t still improve their quarterback room for next year as they navigate the early days of 2023 free agency.

Right now, veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian is set to be Fields’ backup in 2023, but the 31-year-old was far from impressive in his limited action in 2022, completing 15-of-26 passes (57%) for 184 yards, one touchdown and one interception over two games. The Bears can also save $1.965 million of the $2.465 million owed to Siemian in 2023 if they release him anytime between now and the start of next season, which could motivate them to secure a better veteran backup on the open market.

Some of the options with the best upside — Jarrett Stidham, Taylor Heinicke — have already signed new contracts, but Marcus Mariota, Jacoby Brissett and Teddy Bridgewater all remain unsigned after two days of the NFL’s legal tampering period. Any of the three could appeal to Chicago, assuming the value is right.

Could a Late-Round QB Interest Bears in 2023 Draft?

The Bears have made several key investments in the first two days of legal free agent negotiations, giving out deals to linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, interior offensive lineman Nate Davis and defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker, but the work isn’t done just yet with plenty of needs still to address in free agency or the draft.

With that in mind, signing a veteran quarterback might not be the move for general manager Ryan Poles, even if he wants to upgrade from Siemian. A more affordable approach to improving the depth behind Fields could be sinking one of the Day 3 draft pick into a quarterback prospect who is more of a developmental/project talent. Poles will have the satisfaction of being able to install one of his self-scouted passers into the offense — as he was not involved in the decision to draft Fields — while also saving a bit of money that would be going to Siemian, who would likely be cut in favor of the rookie.

TCU’s Max Duggan and Georgia’s Stetson Bennett are two quarterbacks who could tempt the Bears if they are still on the board when Chicago picks in the seventh round. While it is more unlikely, there is also a chance that Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker will be in play in the (admittedly rare) chance that he falls into the middle or late part of Day 3.

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According to Panthers insider Joe Person of The Athletic, the Bears could have gotten Carolina’s 2025 first-round pick added to their compensation for the No. 1 pick, but general manager Ryan Poles made Moore a “must-have” part of the trade and elected to add a true No. 1 pass-catcher for quarterback Justin Fields instead of an extra pick.

The trade for the No. 1 overall pick was always going to be Poles’ biggest undertaking yet, but the second-year general manager proved he could balance both the short- and long-term needs of his football team in his final deal with the Panthers. Rather than risk it with a free agent receiver from an admittedly weak class, he leveraged his best asset into a talent with more than 5,200 receiving yards over his first five seasons. Poles also did so while adding an additional premium draft pick in each of the next three drafts, counting the upcoming one this April.

The Bears now have four picks inside the top 64 of the 2023 NFL draft: The No. 9 pick (via the Panthers), the No. 53 pick (via the Baltimore Ravens from the Roquan Smith trade), the No. 61 pick (via the Panthers) and the No. 64 pick (their own third-rounder). They also have additional picks in the fifth and seventh rounds, but none in the sixth.

What Becomes Top Priority for Bears at No. 9 Overall?

Before the trade, the Bears seemed like a likely landing spot for either Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. or Georgia’s Jalen Carter, but that was when most people expected them to either stay at No. 1 overall or trade down somewhere within the top four picks. Now that they are picking ninth overall, though, the possibilities are much more open.

With the Bears taking such a big swing on offense in the deal for the No. 1 pick, it would make sense if they used their new first-rounder to invest in the defensive side of the ball. They are likely going to miss out on guys like Anderson and Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson as a result of their eight-spot drop in the order, but some of the other high-level defensive options could include edge rushers Myles Murphy, Lukas Van Ness and Nolan Smith or defensive tackles Calijah Kancey and Brian Breese.

It is also possible the Bears are also looking to see if Carter falls on draft boards in light of his recent legal troubles in Georgia. He is facing two misdemeanor charges for racing and reckless driving in connection with a fatal crash that occurred back in January, but if the situation resolves itself in a way that has the Bears feeling good about Carter’s fit and character, they could be looking to take him if he’s on the board at No. 9.

Then again, maybe the Bears are able to handle some of those defensive needs in free agency and find themselves looking for ways to improve the offensive side of their line with the No. 9 pick instead. Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski and Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr. could both be available when they are on the clock and might tempt them into moving PFWA All-Rookie selection Braxton Jones over to the right side for 2023.

Which Rookie WRs Could Appeal to Bears in 2023 Draft?

The Bears now have a solidified trio of starting wide receivers between Moore, Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney. They also probably have enough depth behind them between Equanimeous St. Brown and Velus Jones Jr. to feel comfortable about not signing any more receivers in free agency. If there is an addition to be made to the receiving corps beyond Moore, though, the Bears might find him in the draft.

Despite the depth, the Bears have good reason to draft a receiver out of the 2023 class, if only to act a bit more leverage in their upcoming negotiations with Mooney and Claypool — who are each entering the final season of their rookie contracts. Before Moore, one might have thought Poles would swing for the fences and trade down into position for someone like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jordan Addison or Quentin Johnston, but now a Day 2 or Day 3 prospect makes more sense.

The Bears have many needs at the moment, but depending on how those needs trim down in free agency, there could be an opportunity to spend as high as a second- or third-round pick on a new receiver, especially if someone like Zay Flowers or Jalin Hyatt falls into their range at No. 53 overall. Rashee Rice, Marvin Mims Jr., Josh Downs, Cedric Tillman and Tank Dell are also interesting talents who could interest Chicago.

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Buffalo lost 21-0 to the Carolina Panthers during their final preseason game, but Blackshear led the team with 47 yards rushing on 13 carries. While he didn’t make the 53-man roster, which speaks to the amount of depth in Buffalo this season, the Bills were able to secure Blackshear to the practice squad. However, the Bills weren’t able to hold onto Blackshear for long.

Pro Football Network‘s Aaron Wilson broke the news on Wednesday, September 21 that Blackshear was heading to the NFC South to sign with the Panthers, a team that was able to asses his talent level first-hand back in August. He’ll be on their active roster, per CBS Sports.

Per AP reporter Stever Reed, Carolina’s head coach Matt Rhule said of the new addition, “Blackshear was a young player the team wanted to take a look at… He comes in as the No. 4 RB for Carolina.”

The Bills’ practice squad has already made several changes since the start of the 2022 NFL Season. Last week, Buffalo released quarterback Josh Allen’s best friend and former college teammate, wide receiver Tanner Gentry, in order to sign defensive tackle Prince Emili.

In addition to Emili, the Bills’ practice squad includes backup quarterback Matt Barkley, former Vikings tight end Zach Davidson, offensive tackle Van Demark, cornerback Kyler McMichael offensive lineman Greg Mancz, offensive lineman Alec Anderson, running back Duke Johnson, wide receiver Tavon Austin, wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins, defensive end Mike Love, defensive tackle, Brandin Bryant, Defensive tackle C.J. Brewer, linebacker Joe Giles-Harris, and defensive back Ja’Marcus Ingram.

Bills Fans Were Not Happy to See Blackshear Leave

Blackshear’s preseason performance quickly made him a fan favorite in Buffalo, and Bills Mafia was sad to see him go. “That sucks, good for him tho,” one man tweeted, while another person wrote, “Blackshear >>>>>>> Moss.”

The running back seemed thrilled to be in Buffalo. After he signed his contract, Blackshear shared photos on Instagram to celebrate the moment and wrote, “Extremely Blessed 🙏🏾 #billsmafia.”

Before entering the NFL, Blackshear spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Rutgers before transferring to Virginia Tech.

Between 2017 and 2021, Blackshear tallied 1,912 yards and 14 touchdowns with 410 carries. The 5-foot-9, 190-pound back also caught 123 receptions for 1,213 and event touchdowns.

The Bills May Need Several Practice Squad Members to Step Up in Week 3

While the Bills (2-2) now have space to add another player to their practice squad, their main focus will be preparing for the team’s upcoming matchup against AFC East rival, the Miami Dolphins (2-2). And according to the Bills injury report released on Wednesday, the team may need several members from the practice squad to step up.

Both Ed Oliver (ankle) and Tim Settle (calf) were inactive for the Bills game against the Titans on Monday Night Football, and Bryant and Brewer were elevated from the practice squad to fill the void. On Wednesday, both Oliver and Settle were limited in practice.

Unfortunately, numerous key starters got injured during the Bills’ 41-7 win over the Titans including cornerback Dane Jackson (neck injury), linebacker Matt Milano (stinger), defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (hamstring), center Mitch Morse (right elbow), and safety Micah Hyde (neck injury).

While Milano was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, Hyde, Jackson, Phillips, and tight end Dawson Knox (right foot) did not play. Wide receiver Gabe Davis, who suffered a non-contact injury in practice and was inactive for Monday Night Football, was listed as limited, as was Morse.

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Burns turned to break free, but Jones held on tight, which caused the former to suffer an ankle injury. Burns left the game momentarily, but returned only to be subbed out for good due to issues with the ankle.

Burns’ status for the Panthers’ Week 10 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals was unknown as of Tuesday, November 9. Some members of the Panthers called Jones’ actions dirty and it sounds as if Panthers head coach Matt Rhule was a bit bewildered by the Patriots rookie QB’s actions.

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Rhule said this to reporters after the game:

I love Mac Jones. Tremendous competitor. I have no idea what was in his brain. I’m not here to talk about that, but I am here to defend our guys. Obviously, we can’t get guys hurt from something after the play. I don’t know what was in Mac’s head. My job on game day on the sidelines is to defend our players. What I don’t want to be is I don’t want to be the Carolina Panthers who everybody gets to hit out of bounds and horse-collar and turn their ankles late and nothing ever gets called. I look like a madman on the sidelines, but if that’s what it takes, I’m going to sit there and defend our players to the officials the entire game.

Here is a look at the play: 

Panthers linebacker Hasson Reddick called the play dirty. In a quote from Reddick captured by Grace Remington of Fox 46 News in Charlotte, there wasn’t much benefit of the doubt. 

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Mac Jones Responds to Accusations of Dirty Play

Prior to the game, Jones indicated he knew Burns from their high school days and that the latter had sacked and taunted him before they were pros. That led to some thought that there is a rivalry between the two men.

On WEEI’s Merloni & Fauria, Jones was asked about the play on Monday morning following the game. He denied doing anything dirty and explained his actions.

Jones said:

After I got hit pretty hard. I didn’t know what was going on. I thought he had the ball, and it was my job to try and make the tackle — that’s pretty much it. Obviously when you get up and see the ball down the field a little bit more, it was just a bang-bang play and I didn’t mean to hurt anybody or anything like that. I was just trying to tackle and make the play.

The NFL had plans to look into the play to see if there was anything egregious, and they will also investigate any so-called rivalry. Jones’ response to that portion of the question was:

Like I said during the game, no one is out there during the game but the players. I thought this would happen. I had to make the tackle, so I did what I did in real-time. It kind of is what it is…he’s a great player, and he’s been that way for a long time. He’s great at Florida State, and then obviously played well in the NFL, and has done a great job. I have no hard feelings against him or anyone on the team, and they have a great defense — statistically they’re really good. When you get a chance to go against a good defense, it’s always a lot of fun…I was young in high school, I don’t even know if he knew who I was at that time. There’s no beef or anything like that. Hopefully they see it how I saw it in the game, and they don’t look too much more into it because that’s what it was.

Does it Appear As Though Mac Jones Was Trying to Injure Brian Burns?

After watching the play several times, it doesn’t appear as though Jones intended to hurt Burns. Many would call his grabbing of Burns’ ankle a heady move after he was just destroyed by a sack and fumbled.

It’s hard to imagine within that split second, Jones could consciously attempt to twist Burns’ ankle. In fact, the torque on the ankle likely comes from Burns instinctively turning to free himself from Jones’ grasp.

It all happens too fast to place a blame on either man.

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