NFL News

[Futureshock]

Aaron Rodgers: Everything has been weird and different, but I’m embracing the change

Posted by Josh Alper on May 2, 2023, 3:37 PM EDT

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Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been a member of the Jets for about a week and he’s still figuring things out in his new home.

Rodgers said on The Pat McAfee Show Tuesday that he’s still getting lost around the team’s facility and that “everything has been weird and different” because he’s spent the last “18 beautiful years” in Green Bay. While it’s weird and different, Rodgers also said that the new surroundings have been invigorating as well.

“I definitely feel energized to be in this building and I’m embracing the change. . . . It’s been good to be out there with all the guys and there’s a lot of excitement around here,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers has been taking part in the team’s voluntary workouts since the trade became official last week and said he thinks it is important to be around more often than in past seasons because he’s getting to know so many new people. He’ll be hanging with one of those new teammates on Tuesday night when he goes to the Knicks-Heat playoff game with cornerback Sauce Gardner in the latest installment of Rodgers enjoying the fruits of being a celebrity in his new hometown.

[Futureshock]

Penny Hart works out for Falcons

Posted by Josh Alper on May 2, 2023, 2:11 PM EDT

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The Falcons didn’t add any wide receivers in the draft, but they are taking a look at a possible veteran addition to the group on Tuesday.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the team has Penny Hart in for a workout.

Hart appeared in 39 games for the Seahawks over the last three seasons and saw the majority of his time on special teams. Hart caught 11 passes for 82 yards on offense and he has been credited with 17 tackles.

Drake London, Mack Hollins, Scotty Miller, KhaDarel Hodge, and Frank Darby are the veteran members of the wideout corps in Atlanta. The team also signed three undrafted free agents in recent days.

[Futureshock]

Bills sign Poona Ford

Posted by Michael David Smith on May 2, 2023, 2:09 PM EDT

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Free agent defensive tackle Poona Ford is heading to Buffalo.

The Bills are signing Ford to a one-year deal, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Netework.

The 27-year-old Ford has spent his entire NFL career with the Seahawks, who signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Texas in 2018. Last year he played in all 17 games for the Seahawks, with 16 starts, and was on the field for 56 percent of the Seahawks’ defensive snaps and 16 percent of special teams snaps.

At 5-foot-11 and 310 pounds, Ford is a wide body in the middle of the defensive line who should beef up the Bills’ run defense.

[Futureshock]

Please no...

Expanded draft could cut down on UDFA chaos

Posted by Mike Florio on May 2, 2023, 11:47 AM EDT

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The current draft rules create chaos when it comes to undrafted free agents, especially since the rule against lining up deals with undrafted free agents is routinely ignored. One way to reduce the chaos could be to expand the draft.

In theory, the idea of adding rounds to the draft won’t be appealing — especially to the NFL Players Association. Fewer rounds means fewer players who are told where their careers will begin, with no say whatsoever in where they go.

In practice, however, it could make sense to add another round or two (or maybe even three), in order to cut down on the premature land rush that forces players and agents to make unofficial commitments while multiple rounds of the draft are still playing out.

Here’s why. As a league source with extensive knowledge of the process recently explained it to PFT, the draft consists as a practical matter of enough players to get through nine rounds before the talent drops off dramatically. Also, in the later rounds of the draft, most teams have a much higher rating on the remaining players on their boards.

That’s because, the longer the draft goes, the more the deviation among the 32 boards reveals itself. Teams find players in round two on whom they had first-round grades. They find players in round four on whom they had second-round grades. As the draft reaches round six and seven, they have a couple of guys left with grades as high as round three.

As a result, teams mobilize to line up unofficial deals with potential undrafted free agents, since those are players they regard as good enough to draft. So why not just extend the process?

Through 1992, the draft had 12 rounds. In 1993, the draft had eight rounds. The next year, the draft dropped to seven rounds.

Again, the union would initially, and justifiably, bristle at the idea of expanding the draft. But if it cuts out the chaos and if the money for the players taken in the eighth or ninth round is good enough to justify it, maybe it could be an alternative to the current free-for-all effort to prematurely line up undrafted free agents.

For now, it’s simply something to explore, for the league and the union and the teams. In the end, it could be a way to introduce order into a process that has become, after the draft ends, more than a little disorderly.

[Futureshock]

Put my $ on the ex-Spartan over the ex-Wolverine...

Pete Carroll: Kenneth Walker, Zach Charbonnet will be battling

Posted by Josh Alper on May 2, 2023, 10:39 AM EDT

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The Seahawks used a second-round pick to add Kenneth Walker to the roster in 2022 and the running back made a quick transition to the NFL by running 228 times for 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns during his rookie season.

Walker’s success didn’t stop the Seahawks from going back to the well in the second round this year. They took Zach Charbonnet out of UCLA and then added Georgia’s Kenny McIntosh in the seventh round to add further options to the backfield.

During an appearance on Seattle Sports 710 Monday, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll explained how he sees Charbonnet and Walker co-existing at the top of the depth chart.

“He’s so versatile. He just will fit in and be a great addition. And really, we’re gonna find out how far he can take it in terms of the receiving part of it. We know he’s really good at it. But so is Kenneth, so those guys will be battling,” Carroll said. “And we also went all the way down to get Kenny McIntosh because of his versatility. There’s so many positives about these guys.”

Speaking about running backs in general, Carroll said he has “so much respect for that position and so much regard for what that weighs into our football team.” The team’s draft additions put action behind those words.

[Futureshock]

Packers, Jordan Love work out two-year deal to replace fifth-year option

Posted by Mike Florio on May 2, 2023, 10:11 AM EDT

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The Packers won’t be exercising the fifth-year option for quarterback Jordan Love, after all.

They won’t need to.

The team and the player have agreed to a one-year extension, via multiple reports. It reportedly has $13.5 million fully guaranteed, and it’s worth “up to” $22.5 million — which clearly means he has to reach certain playing-time and/or team/individual achievements to get there.

It’s a win-win for the Packers and Love. Green Bay faced the question of whether it would commit to $20.3 million fully guaranteed for 2024. Love faced the prospect of making $2.298 million for 2023 with no security beyond the current season.

If Love meets the various triggers, he’ll make what he would have made under the fifth-year option. He’ll also have significant protection (more than $10 million) against the possibility of playing poorly in 2023, or of getting injured.

It’s a sensible approach for any team with a largely unproven first-round pick entering the fourth year of his rookie deal. In lieu of the option/no-option black-and-white decision, come up with a hybrid approach that gives the player more than he would get in year four, along with the ability to make everything he’d get in year five — if things pan out.

[jaadam4]

It’s funny to see all these players not have their 5th year option picked up. Maybe the Lions had it right finding their players and not worry about positional value.

[Forsh]

It’s funny to see all these players not have their 5th year option picked up. Maybe the Lions had it right finding their players and not worry about positional value.

Huge yes and no both. I think the weirdest move was the trade for the DT. Holmes must know something on that guy ... cuz I think it's weird to trade 3 picks that were higher than the guy was predicted to go for that player

[jaadam4]

I was meaning the first round and the options. Yeah I don’t get the Martin pick but Holmes knows what he’s doing so I’m on board.

[whatever_gong82]

THIS! I wanted Brown...

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2023/05/01/nfl-draft-2023-raiders-texans-cj-stroud-peter-king-fmia/

Parade-Raining

Ready for a cautionary tale? Look at the first round of the 2020 Draft, which is in the news after Washington decided to not exercise the fifth-year option on 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young. This draft is not exactly the Land of Misfit Toys, but it is a perfect illustration of how it’s fun to get excited about first-round picks, while the reality is significantly more sobering.

One note of perspective: This was the Covid draft year, with teams doing most of their prospect fact-finding via phone and Zoom. In 2020, for instance, the Eagles wouldn’t have been able to dive as deep into Jalen Carter as they did this year, and wouldn’t have been able to have him visit their facility. So who knows if that would have affected where he got picked.

How the first round from just three years ago looks today, with the overall pick and player in each category:

Big hits

1. QB Joe Burrow. Joey Franchise for the Bengals.
4. T Andrew Thomas. Giant fixture. One of few wins for Dave Gettleman.
6. QB Justin Herbert. Worthy Charger heir to Fouts and Rivers.

7. DT Derrick Brown. Cornerstone player for Panthers.

13. T Tristan Wirfs. Franchise tackle and building block for Bucs.
16. CB AJ Terrell. Dependable, sturdy starter at important position.
17. WR CeeDee Lamb. Average season: 87 catches, 1,132 yards.
22. WR Justin Jefferson. Best non-QB in this draft.


Hits
5. QB Tua Tagovailoa. If he stays healthy, he becomes a big hit.
8. LB Isaiah Simmons. Nice player, not versatile megastar Cards hoped for.
24. OL Cesar Ruiz. Useable right guard starter for Saints.
25. WR Brandon Aiyuk. Slow start, but coming on as major SF factor.
27. LB Jordyn Brooks. Averaged 134 tackles a year for Seahawks.
28. LB Patrick Queen. Has started all 51 Ravens games since being drafted.

Up in the air
2. Edge Chase Young. One very good year, two invisible ones.
9. CB C.J. Henderson. Better on his second team (Panthers) than first (Jags).
10. T Jedrick Wills. 10^th overall pick should be better-than-average starter.
14. DT Javon Kinlaw. Done almost nothing to merit mid-first-round status.
15. WR Jerry Jeudy. Averaged 52 receptions, 3 TDs per year.
18. T Austin Jackson. A meh starter due to open at right tackle in Miami in ’23.
23. LB Kenneth Murray. Low-impact inside ‘backer.

Incomplete
26. QB Jordan Love. It’s your time, kid.

Misses
On the field
3. CB Jeff Okudah. Will try to save his career in Atlanta.
11. T Mekhi Becton. Last NY chance for guy who’s played one game since rookie year.
19. CB Damon Arnette. A disaster from the jump.
20. LB K’Lavon Chaisson. Eleven starts, low impact for Jags.
21. WR Jalen Reagor. Will go down as the wideout picked before Justin Jefferson.
29. T Isaiah Wilson. One of the worst first-round picks ever.
30. CB Noah Igbinoghene. Three years, five starts, 603 defensive snaps.
32. RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Not egregious, but beaten out by a seventh-rounder in ’22.

Off the field
12. WR Henry Ruggs. Tragic car accident ruined his career.
31. CB Jeff Gladney. Killed in 2022 car wreck.

Thirty-two picks, eight franchise players. And 18 of 32 have been, at best, just average players through three years.

As we saw Thursday night, the first round is really fun. But the 2020 draft shows the first round is not always a transcendent, positive event for many teams.

A major Quinn whiff with the Okudah pick.

Man, the only thing that Bob Quinn do right is in drafting offensive linemen, but Brad Holmes has already proven that he can do that by himself.

[Topweasel]

Huge yes and no both. I think the weirdest move was the trade for the DT. Holmes must know something on that guy ... cuz I think it's weird to trade 3 picks that were higher than the guy was predicted to go for that player

If we use first and second round as a blue print I don't think we should base anything on 3-7 by anything other than did we get the right player and do they produce. Specially considering we were a team with a legit winning record.

Also I think it might be smart for people to review Jimmy Johnson's draft pick value chart. It is probably something that's more fluid for actual teams as the value needs to change depending on the crop of players. But the value for a pick even a first round picks drops very rapidly. It's based on the general performance of players in those rounds. Mid to late 3rd though basically the 7th is all one interchangable mess. To top it off the Lions aren't building a team from the ground up, if you can't pocket the picks there is a limit to how many players you want to draft. Better to move to get the right pick then trying to keep them and throwing darts at positions.

[ghandi]

It’s funny to see all these players not have their 5th year option picked up. Maybe the Lions had it right finding their players and not worry about positional value.

Read an article today talking about that...It said from the 2020 draft, 20 players did not have their 5th year option picked up.....Whats so unusual about 2020? It was the first covid year.....It said that GMs had to rely heavily on game tape as they couldnt do pro days and other ways of evaluating players....iirc the combine was cancelled that year too wasnt it?

[El Axe]

If we use first and second round as a blue print I don't think we should base anything on 3-7 by anything other than did we get the right player and do they produce. Specially considering we were a team with a legit winning record.

Also I think it might be smart for people to review Jimmy Johnson's draft pick value chart. It is probably something that's more fluid for actual teams as the value needs to change depending on the crop of players. But the value for a pick even a first round picks drops very rapidly. It's based on the general performance of players in those rounds. Mid to late 3rd though basically the 7th is all one interchangable mess. To top it off the Lions aren't building a team from the ground up, if you can't pocket the picks there is a limit to how many players you want to draft. Better to move to get the right pick then trying to keep them and throwing darts at positions.

FYI, the Lions draft day deals clearly used this newer value chart (or one very similar): https://www.drafttek.com/NFL-Trade-Value-Chart.asp

It's a little flatter than the old Jimmy Johnson chart -- that is, it gives more value to later picks. It makes sense that it would evolve, since the talent pool keeps getting deeper.

image.png

[Futureshock]

FYI, the Lions draft day deals clearly used this newer value chart (or one very similar): https://www.drafttek.com/NFL-Trade-Value-Chart.asp

It's a little flatter than the old Jimmy Johnson chart -- that is, it gives more value to later picks. It makes sense that it would evolve, since the talent pool keeps getting deeper.

image.png

What did the Cardinals get from falling from 3 to 12?

[Futureshock]

Mike Tomlin explains what he means when he says he wants “goons”

Posted by Mike Florio on May 3, 2023, 3:59 PM EDT

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New Steelers nose tackle Keeanu Benton recently sai coach Mike Tomlin wants “goons” on the field. Appearing on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio with Evan Cohen, Mike Babchik, and Willie Colon, Tomlin was asked to elaborate.

“Hey, a better person to define goon is sitting there with you,” Tomlin said, referring to Colon. “You know, that guy really shaped my perspective on what appropriate gooning is. And to be bluntly honest, man, this dude played with an edge, he could be characterized as a mean person on the football field, but always in control, always calculated, always smart.

“And I think that’s the gist of what I’m talking about. We have to play with a certain collective demeanor. But we also gotta play and play to win. And that means not beating yourself. And so that means bringing a certain level of intellect to the physicality. And that’s something that Willie mastered. You guys know he’s a sharp guy, he conducts business with you guys every day and does it at a very high level, man. But to be able to do those things and play the game with a certain edge, with a certain demeanor, is things that we cover.”

Whether it’s goon or dirtbag or any other similar term, the bottom line is that football remains a violent game, and it requires players who are willing to exercise physicality — not recklessly but surgically.

That’s what the Steelers do. It’s who they’ve been for 50 years. And it’s one of the reasons why they’re always in the mix.