NFL News

[Futureshock]

Bears wisely plan to keep Justin Fields

Posted by Mike Florio on February 27, 2023, 9:40 AM EST

Getty Images

The news that the Bears are “leaning toward” trading the first overall pick means that the Bears are sticking with quarterback Justin Fields.

Which means that the Bears haven’t lost their minds.

As explained in Playmakers, draft picks are lottery tickets. When you have a winning lottery ticket, you don’t trade it in for more lottery tickets.

Fields has proven to be a winning ticket. He’s the most significant running threat at the quarterback position in the league. He has the potential to be one of the best overall quarterbacks in the league.

Why move him and take a chance on an unproven commodity at the quarterback position? History has shown — repeatedly — that it’s a crapshoot at the top of round one.

Here are the No. 1 overall picks at quarterback over the past 50 years: Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, Jared Goff, Jameis Winston, Andrew Luck, Cam Newton, Sam Bradford, Matthew Stafford, JaMarcus Russell, Alex Smith, Eli Manning, Carson Palmer, David Carr, Michael Vick, Tim Couch, Peyton Manning, Drew Bledsoe, Jeff George, Troy Aikman, Vinny Testaverde, John Elway, and Steve Bartkowski.

It’s nothing close to a no-brainer that a quarterback taken first in the draft will become a great player. It’s not quite 50-50, but it’s closer to that than 75-25.

In Fields, the Bears have a sure thing. A guy around whom to build. A potential short-list franchise quarterback.

Here’s the caveat. The Bears should be all in with Fields, but they need to be sure that Fields is all in with them.

His recent comments to Pardon My Take about wanting to play in a dome, which the Bears may not have during his career, could be the first sign that he wants to take his talents indoors. And he’s only a year away from being eligible for a new contract. What will he want? Will he want out at some point?

Before making a final decision on whether to keep Fields, it would be helpful to have a crystal ball that reveals the future of the relationship. But those issues will arise with any potential franchise quarterback, whether it’s Fields or Bryce Young or anyone else. Based on the skills and abilities we’ve seen to date, it would be ludicrous for the Bears to not keep Justin Fields.

[Futureshock]

Meanwhile, U of Florida's last QB...
Buccaneers told offensive coordinator candidates Kyle Trask will compete for starting QB

Posted by Michael David Smith on February 27, 2023, 9:26 AM EST

Getty Images

The Buccaneers will give Kyle Trask the opportunity to compete for the starting quarterback position in 2023.

That’s what Bucs head coach Todd Bowles told offensive coordinator candidates during the interview process, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

That process ended with the Bucs hiring former Seahawks assistant Dave Canales as their offensive coordinator. Canales indicated that he’s optimistic about Trask’s potential to run his offense.

With Tom Brady retired and Blaine Gabbert set to hit free agency, Trask will go into the league year as the only quarterback on the Bucs’ roster. Given that the Bucs are more than $56 million over the salary cap, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll spend much money on a veteran quarterback. So Trask may be the starting quarterback as much by process of elimination as because they think their 2021 second-round pick is now ready for the job.

[Futureshock]

NFL Top 100 2023 free agents: Lamar Jackson, Derek Carr, Geno Smith top the list

Posted by Charean Williams on February 27, 2023, 8:00 AM EST

Getty Images

The following are PFT’s top 100 free agents for the start of the 2023 league year. The rankings include prospective unrestricted free agents and released players. The list will be updated as events warrant, with signings, tags and re-signings denoted when announced and/or reported. Players released after initial publication may be added and all 100 players initially on the list will still be listed after any additions.

1. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson

2. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr

3. Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith

4. Giants quarterback Daniel Jones

5. Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave

6. Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne

7. Chiefs offensive tackle Orlando Brown

8. Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean

9. Eagles safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

10. Bengals safety Jessie Bates...

39. Lions offensive guard Evan Brown
67. Lions receiver D.J. Chark

[Futureshock]

Steelers want Mitch Trubisky around for a long time

Posted by Josh Alper on February 28, 2023, 10:39 AM EST

Getty Images

The Steelers benched quarterback Mitch Trubisky early in the 2022 season, but they aren’t planning for his departure from the organization.

Trubisky signed a two-year deal with the Steelers as a free agent last year and then saw the team draft Kenny Pickett in the first round of the draft. Pickett replaced Trubisky at halftime of the fourth game of the season and remained the starter when healthy for the rest of the year.

Speaking from the Scouting Combine on Tuesday, Steelers General Manager Omar Khan said the team’s plan is to keep Trubisky on hand as their backup quarterback for at least one more season. Khan said that the team hopes to have Trubisky on the roster for “a long time.”

Trubisky is set to make $8 million with a $10.625 million cap hit. The team would get that $8 million in cap space back by moving on from him, but the preference is clearly to have Trubisky rather than use that money elsewhere in 2023.

[ghandi]

Marcus Mariotta waived by Atlanta.....That 6th pick gets more valuable in trade scenarios every day.

[CGVT]

Marcus Mariotta waived by Atlanta.....That 6th pick gets more valuable in trade scenarios every day.

Mariotta was terrible. I was hoping he might have a Geno Smith type renaissance just because it would be a good story, but I watched him enough to be convinced that he just doesn't have it and never will.

I guess the Falcons have come to that conclusion too.

[chemiclord]

Yeah. If Atlanta is looking QB now, they were looking QB before. Mariotta wouldn't have changed that calculus in the slightest.

[Futureshock]

Marcus Mariotta waived by Atlanta.....That 6th pick gets more valuable in trade scenarios every day.

Atlanta drafted a QB last year. Desmond Ritter. They're gonna give him a shot. This changes nothing for us. Atlanta isn't in the draft a QB business this year.

[Futureshock]

Report: Bucs to release Leonard Fournette

Posted by Josh Alper on February 28, 2023, 2:43 PM EST

Getty Images

Running back Leonard Fournette has reportedly reached the end of the road in Tampa.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that the Buccaneers plan to release Fournette once the new league year starts on March 15. Fournette has $2 million of his 2023 salary guaranteed, so the team will wait until then in order to have it hit the 2023 cap rather than the current one.

Assuming Fournette’s departure is not designated as a post-June 1 cut, the Bucs will save over $3.47 million in cap space while incurring $5 million in dead money.

Fournette ran 189 times for 668 yards and three touchdowns in 16 games with the Bucs last season. He’s spent the last three years in Tampa and scored four touchdowns in the postseason during the team’s run to the Super Bowl LV title.

[Futureshock]

Browns, Jets will open preseason in Hall of Fame Game

Posted by Michael David Smith on February 28, 2023, 2:39 PM EST

Getty Images

The 2023 preseason will kick off with a meeting of the Browns and Jets.

The Hall of Fame Game will feature the Jets and Browns on August 3 in Canton, Ohio, according to multiple reports.

That will allow those teams to be involved in honoring Browns Hall of Famer Joe Thomas and Jets Hall of Famers Darrelle Revis and Joe Klecko. (The other six members of the Hall of Fame class are Ronde Barber, Don Coryell, Chuck Howley, Ken Riley, Zach Thomas and DeMarcus Ware.)

The Jets and Browns will play four preseason games in August, while the other 30 NFL teams will each play three.

[Futureshock]

Joe Schoen “cautiously optimistic” Giants will re-sign both Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley

Posted by Michael David Smith on February 28, 2023, 1:34 PM EST

Getty Images

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley are both slated to hit free agency on March 15, but General Manager Joe Schoen thinks he can bring both back for 2023.

Asked about signing both players to new contracts, Schoen said, “I would say cautiously optimistic.”

Schoen also said he and Jones’ new agents have had good conversations and are planning to talk more today. Schoen said he didn’t engage in any contract negotiations with Jones’ previous agents. Jones changed agents last week.

The Giants plan to use the franchise tag on Jones if they don’t reach a deal on a long-term extension with him, so one way or another Jones seems set to return as the Giants’ starting quarterback in 2023. Whether he’ll be giving the ball to Barkley remains to be seen.

[Futureshock]

Matt Eberflus: Justin Fields is on the right track, he just needs to make small adjustments to his game

Posted by Myles Simmons on February 28, 2023, 1:20 PM EST

Getty Images

When it comes to quarterback Justin Fields, General Manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus aren’t saying the exact same things.

Earlier on Tuesday, Poles said that while the plan is to keep Justin Fields as the team’s starter in 2023, the club will do its due diligence on the quarterbacks in the draft.

But Eberflus went a little bit farther in his characterization of the team having the No. 1 overall pick.

“I just think right now all options are open for us,” Eberflus said in his Combine press conference.

Now, Eberflus wasn’t directly talking about quarterbacks or Fields with that answer. But saying all options are on the table means that selecting a quarterback hasn’t been ruled out.

Eberflus was asked explicitly if he was ready to commit to Fields starting for the Bears in 2023. But Eberflus did not do it.

“Like we said, we’re just in the process of evaluation of everything right now,” Eberflus said. “Justin had a really good year last year. We’re excited where his progress is. And just like everybody else, he’s working to improve his game as well as the football team’s.”

Still, Eberflus noted that he thinks Fields is on a good trajectory.

“For the first year in the system, I think he’s on the right track,” Eberflus said. “He’s just got to make small improvements and adjustments to his game and he’s going to do that.

“Some of the conversations that we’ve had and that we’ve talked about, obviously at the end of last year, was really just to take what the defense gives you. I know that’s coach talk but that’s really what he needs to do. He’s obviously a tremendous athlete and can do a lot of different things. But if we call a designed run, sure. Third down, situations like that, situations in the red zone — certainly do it there. But when it’s first and second down, early in the game, just take what the defense gives you and move on.”

In his second season, Fields completed 60.4 percent of his passes for 2,242 yards with 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,143 yards with eight touchdowns, averaging a league-leading 7.1 yards per carry.

[Futureshock]

Joe Douglas: Derek Carr made “strong impression,” we’ll look at every option

Posted by Josh Alper on February 28, 2023, 12:50 PM EST

Getty Images

The Jets are in the market for help at quarterback and that search was central to General Manager Joe Douglas’ press conference in Indianapolis on Tuesday.

A recent meeting between the Jets and free agent Derek Carr was of particular interest since Carr remains available and the Jets can’t discuss any other options not already on their roster at the present time. Douglas said the meeting with Carr was a good one while doing nothing to suggest that the team is keeping close tabs on Aaron Rodgers‘ situation with the Packers.

“Obviously you guys have seen reports about us bringing Derek Carr in about a week and a half ago,” Douglas said. “I can tell you that was a fantastic visit. Really enjoyed spending time with him. He’s the only quarterback I can really shed any light on for you guys since he’s the only quarterback that’s a free agent. He left a strong impression with everybody. We’re going to be exploring the veteran quarterback market this offseason, we’re going to look at every available option. When it’s time to make the right decision, we’re going to make the best decision for the Jets.”

Packers G.M. Brian Gutekunst said Tuesday that the team has yet to speak to Rodgers about what 2023 has in store and the results of that conversation will have ripple effects on the Jets and other teams as the quarterback market takes shape ahead of the start of the new league year.

[Futureshock]

JORDAN LOVEQB, GREEN BAY PACKERS
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said he'd "absolutely" be comfortable if Jordan Love starts for the Packers in Week 1.


“I think he’s ready to play and I think he’s ready to be an NFL starting quarterback. Not every quarterback comes into this league ready to go out there and play. I think he needed a little time, but over the last year and a half or so, we’ve seen that’s the next step in his progression. He needs to go out and play," Gutenkunst elaborated. It's been suggested by Matt Schneidman that Love could ask for a trade if Aaron Rodgers returns to the Packers. The delicate tight-rope walk of non-committal by Gutekunst is probably about not stepping on Love's toes as much as it is leaving things open for Rodgers to return.

SOURCE: The Athletic
Feb 28, 2023, 2:15 PM ET

[Futureshock]

DEREK CARRQB, UNSIGNED FREE AGENT
The Associated Press' Steve Reed reports Derek Carr is meeting with the Panthers at the NFL Combine.


Carr is slated to speak with multiple QB-needy teams during the Combine. He's been connected to the Jets and Colts, and with Sam Darnold atop the current Panthers depth chart, Carolina would make sense as a landing spot for Carr. He would represent a marked upgrade for D.J. Moore and the rest of the Panthers' pass catchers.

RELATED:

• Sam Darnold
• , Carolina Panthers

SOURCE: Steve Reed on Twitter
Feb 28, 2023, 10:16 AM ET