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Will Campbell makes sense at 1.04 as things currently stand, but NE/Campbell just feels like such a reach. There's much debate as to whether he'll be able to stick at LT in the NFL.

I gotta think NE will use some of that ample cap space to sign a FA LT like Alaric Jackson so they're not in a position to have to reach on draft day. If so - and assuming Carter and Hunter are off the board at 1.04 - things could get weird.

Could the Pats - who are rumored to love Carter - see Jalon Walker (similar skill set to Carter) as a fall-back option? Walker is #3 on Brugler's big board and #6 on Jeremiah's board. I'm surprised Walker is so rarely talked about as an option for NE.

My darkhorse at 1.04: Ashton Jeanty. Pound-for-pound the best prospect in the draft and would immediately give the offense an identity that's right up Vrabel's alley.

@The Champ 

It's most likely that the Stafford stuff is negotiation tactics and he just resigns with the Rams. But it's fun to speculate just in case it's not. Can't wait for the free agency dominoes to start falling so there's enough clarity to start pumping out some mock drafts.

Giants/Stafford doesn't make sense for either party. Pick 1.03 for Stafford obviously isn't going to happen. Stafford would only make sense for a team that's "a QB away". That's not the Giants and I'm not even sure if that's the Steelers.

@palacio1500 

Daniels is returning to Kansas for 2025

@The Champ 

You're right - it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. The Rams are a good team and Stafford isn't going to find a better situation.

From what I've read, it's mostly about the Rams wanting to get younger and cheaper on offense (as they did with the defense) while extending their window for contention. They're hesitant to commit to Stafford, who - with his age and injury history - could decline sharply at any time. It's about proactively avoiding getting themselves into a NYJ/Rodgers-type situation. It kinda makes sense from that angle, but like you said - who are the Rams going to find that's better than Stafford?

That's where Darnold comes in. Trading Stafford only makes sense if the Rams plan on signing Darnold, IMO. Darnold is still only 27 and mostly thrived in a McVay-tree system. I have my doubts whether Darnold will ever have another season as good as '24, but playing under McVay would likely give him the best chance. It just seems like the McVay system squeezes every ounce of potential outta QBs.

I'm seriously beginning to wonder about Ward and Sanders going in the top-5.

Lance Zierlein just released his prospect grades for Combine participants. I know that his word isn't gospel and that he has tweaked his grading a bit recently, but his grades are usually solidly predictive of a prospect's draft range. He gave Ward 6.39 and Sanders 6.30 - Ward's grade is the same as Bo Nix and Sanders' grade is Desmond Ridder/Malik Willis-level. I get that there's a QB tax on draft day, but top-5 for 6.3ish graded prospects is a serious reach.

@manowak313 

For the record I don't think Charlie does much political talk on the site.  This list is by Charlie.   

@Cwillyrun1 

Agree. Jeanty is a better value than McMillan or Burden at #6, IMO. I see so many mocks forcing one of those WRs to the Raiders, saying "the Raiders get their #1 receiver". For me, the Raiders already have their #1 receiver - he just happens to be a TE.

@Cwillyrun1 

Unfortunately, I think the Jets will have interest in Cousins. There's already talk that they want a veteran, with Cousins at the top of the list and Fields a darkhorse. Cousins makes sense financially and schematically. Looks like another season of good defense/lousy offense, 5 to 8 wins and no playoffs. It just never ends.

Starting to think the Raiders will sign Darnold the second they have the opportunity. They have cap space to burn and neither Brady or Carroll are "rebuild"-type guys. Your TEN/Darnold idea has legs too, depending on how they feel about Ward/Sanders.

A trade for Carr appears to be the most logical move for the Steelers.

Russell Wilson to the Colts.

Still like Fields to the Giants.

Cousins to the Jets or Browns...starting to lean more toward the Jets.

@Mr. Bitter It appears the short list for Darnold might be Vegas, Tennessee and Pittsburgh, that is, if Minnesota elects to not offer him a deal and take a comp pick next year. I'd say Indy too but their space may not be enough to match other offers.

The new coach in New Orleans isn't committing to Carr, so maybe a trade to Pittsburgh or Indy could be in play. 

If Cousins does hit the market and considering his dead cap salary, do you think your Jets may have interest in him, and should they?

@Cwillyrun1 

Assuming the chalk Raiders/Darnold marriage happens, Jeanty to LV at 1.06 makes so much sense it hurts. He's exactly what Pete Carroll wants at RB. Jeanty is a freak athlete that will tear up the Combine, so I don't think it would be considered a reach by draft day.

@Cwillyrun1 

The Titans signing Darnold is an intriguing scenario and not being talked about enough, probably because most assume TEN will just draft a QB 1st overall. That's why I'm eager to see what they do in free agency - pursuing Darnold could indicate pro scouts don't rate Ward/Sanders as highly as the media. We'll see. The Titans have a new GM so their approach to this offseason may not be the same as the last.

I think the "generational prospect" stuff was largely thrown out there by TEN to keep teams guessing as to what they'll do at #1. (Same reason they're talking up Will Levis when they know he sucks.) Teams at #1 do this every draft season. Carter and Hunter are blue chips, but I don't know about generational. They're not quite Micah Parsons and Champ Bailey, IMO.

I just read a report that the Steelers reached out to the Jaguars to inquire about a potential trade for Trevor Lawrence. That's obviously not going to happen, but kinda reaffirms my guess that PIT wants to make a big move at QB, whether it be Darnold, a trade for Derek Carr or an out-of-leftfield trade for Kyler Murray or something. Winning Super Bowls is the standard in PIT, and now they're overshadowed in their own state by the Eagles. A lateral move for Kirk Cousins or something is not going to cut it.

I agree with you on George Pickens. If I'm the Steelers, I'm trading him this offseason. That's not a guy you want to make a long-term investment in, especially for WR1 money. I'd rather get a Day Two pick for Pickens, sign Amari Cooper and draft Egbuka or Golden than wait another season for Pickens to grow up.

I don't think the Jets will trade Garrett Wilson. He's all we currently have in the WR room, and it's rumored that Wilson gave the Jets a "It's him or me" ultimatum regarding Aaron Rodgers. Wilson obviously won that battle. (Not that the Jets probably needed much urging.) We also have only $14 M effective cap space and have to start thinking about new contracts for Sauce, Garrett, AV-T, JJ II, so it's not like we can get in on the Tee Higgins bidding.

@Mr. Bitter Sure, the Steelers can sign Darnold, but that limits what options they otherwise have. Not only is Harris a FA, but Warren is a RFA. They have a few OL's who are free agents. To me, it makes more sense for them to make a play for a WR1. Pickens is a #2 at best. There's no guarantee Burden or Egbuka fall to #21 so maybe they make a play on Higgins or trade for Garrett Wilson.

Tennessee spent the 2nd highest amount in FA last year. Adding Darnold and focusing on the best player at #1 could be their plan. The previous management said they could work with Levis but that's changed. They also mentioned something about drafting a generational talent and that would seem to point to Hunter going #1.

@Mr. Bitter That's part of why Wilson's likely not a good fit in Vegas, Kelly wants a more mobile QB and the Raiders are rebuilding. I see Sanders and Ward off the board by the 6th pick, so if Dart's there in the 2nd, I'm guessing he's their pick with Jeanty in the 1st.  Dart has a good arm and he's mobile so it's logical. And I don't like the Raiders.

I thought about Cousins and maybe it's not Pittsburgh, but Indy. He's an upgrade over Flacco and he has a few good years left. On the radio today a former NFL player said Rodgers will definitely start next year in a QB needy league. I was surprised he said Pittsburgh, but again, a player paid with dead cap money for his salary.

In the second round the Fins don't need a project at corner. DT Kenneth Grant or TJ Sanders would be a great fit next to Sieler.

Dolphins have Patrick Paul taking over at left tackle and Austin Jackson at right tackle.

They need two good guards.

@The Champ 

The fact that TEN is making it a point to talk up Levis, tell everyone that he'll be working with QB coach Jordan Palmer, etc, seems to me a pretty transparent attempt to muddy the waters and maintain leverage with that 1st pick. I have to think the Titans realize Levis isn't an NFL starter. His turnover/brain fart issues going back to college have only gotten worse in the pros, and he's almost 26 already. He is what he is.

What the Titans do during free agency will be telling. Let's say they aggressively try to sign Darnold...what does that say about Ward/Sanders? That would give credence to the reports that pro scouts don't even see them in a tier with Bo Nix as a prospect, and that media groupthink is the only reason they're anywhere near the top of the 1st round in mock drafts.

@The Champ 

I can't see Rodgers going to a rebuilding team or accepting anything less than a starting role. He should probably just retire before he has to do his podcasts in a wheelchair.

@The Champ 

I forget which week it was (late season), but I watched an IND game shortly after Richardson said something along the lines of "I can barely walk". Richardson was sidelined, but the cameras caught him in street clothes before the game, pumping up his teammates and such. I swear he was running full gallop, doing that jumping back bump thing with teammates, etc. I'm no doctor, but I thought it was odd. Not exactly a gamer, I suspect. Colts management already seems pretty frustrated with him.

Also: He can't throw a rock into the ocean.

@WFDevTeam 

You just want Rodgers behind that Giants O-line so Vic Fangio can unleash hell on him twice a year.

@Mr. Bitter 

So you don't deny it make for some great stories given tragedies being held in such high esteem.

@WFDevTeam 

That story would be a tragedy. Rodgers would be paralyzed within six weeks behind that saloon door of an O-line.

@Mr. Bitter 

I'd like to see Rodgers put together one more good run of play.  I think just for the sake of the story lines he might as well go over and play for the Giants for a year.  The stories would write themselves not matter how he actually plays.

@WFDevTeam 

Do you mean "cursed"? C'mon man, I'm trying not to think that way. I know you root for the green team that has its sh*t together like no other, but you don't have to rub it in.

But seriously, I think The Champ is right about Rodgers. I don't see why any team would want him at this point beyond name recognition.

Yeah, the Jets suck at developing QBs, but the Rodgers situation was different. There's no development with a 41-year old future HOFer - everything was set up to his liking so he could hit the ground running. The problem is - while Rodgers will probably be able to spin a pretty ball and dissect a defense in a nanosecond until he's 70 - he can't move at all anymore. He's a sitting duck back there and that isn't going to get better at his age. No mobility=non-starter in the modern game.

I don't think he has value as a bridge QB, either. The ego is too big and the game just always came too easily for him. The best bridge QBs/mentors are always humble, marginally talented vets like Jacoby Brissett for a reason. What advice is Rodgers going to give a young QB? "Hey man, forget about minicamp - what you need to do is hang out in the desert and do stupid hippie sh*t"

@Mr. Bitter 

Hasn't playing QB for the Jets proven impossible for all kinds at this point?  Aren't there certain franchises that have something about them that no QB can succeed?  

@The Champ 

Not sure about the NYG/Jameis Winston match. I have to think a bridge QB that takes care of the ball will be prioritized after the Daniel Jones experience. Also not sure about Winston mentoring a young QB - especially a QB that needs to rein in his free-wheeling style like Ward.

@Cwillyrun1 

Chip Kelly seems relatively adaptable as far as working with different styles of QB. (He's had success with Michael Vick, Nick Foles and every style in between.) But you're right - Kelly would likely prefer a QB with better mobility and ability to layer the middle of the field than Wilson. Gonna rethink that one. Wilson to the Colts, maybe?

I've heard the stories about Wilson sabotaging Carroll in SEA. I've also heard that they've since mended fences. Truth might be somewhere in the middle. Not sure. All I know for sure is that - so far - Tom Brady's hires seem more "big name" than guys that would be best for an earnest rebuilding job, which is what the Raiders really need. The Raiders are the current betting favorites to sign Darnold, and it makes perfect sense...another splash signing not best for the long term.

Christ, I pray you're wrong about NYJ/Wilson. I don't see it. The Jets have an all-time bridge QB in Tyrod Taylor that the locker room loves.

@The Champ 

100% agree on Aaron Rodgers. In football years, he's old as dirt. His wheels are completely shot. He's a royal pain in the ass. The Jets had talent all over their depth chart, hired Rodgers' preferred OC, and let Rodgers basically hand-pick his receiving targets, yet he still didn't come close to making it work in NY. He's finished.

@Cwillyrun1 

The Steelers absolutely can afford to sign Darnold. You predict TEN will sign Darnold, yet TEN ($44 M) currently has only $3 million more in cap space than PIT ($41 M), and less effective cap space than PIT. PIT will likely cut Larry Ogunjobi, Preston Smith and Cole Holcomb - freeing up another $27 million.

Also: I doubt that keeping Najee Harris around will be a top priority for PIT. He's a committee backfield grinder getting by on 1st round pedigree. PIT could easily find one of those to compliment Warren on the cheap.

@The Champ The Steelers don't have the cap space to sign Darnold at about $35 million + and retain Najeh Harris while signing decent free agents. Darnold would take up most of the cap space.

Cousins isn't chasing the money. The Falcons are paying it with their dead cap hit. He's not choosing Cleveland with them being over the cap as of now and with a poor O-line.

In my opinion, Wilson doesn't fit with the direction the Titans want to go in. And the Vikings like McCarthy, but it'd be a few years before he's really ready and the Vikings have a contending team now. JMO. So Rodgers might be the one who fits best considering that, and they have a ton of cap space.

My stab at the QB carousel:

--Sam Darnold to the Steelers.  I agree with Mr. Bitter that the team has floundered in the QB mediocrity (or worse) since late career Big Ben.  I think Darnold could have been a one-year KOC miracle, one that flamed out in the final 2 games, but Pittsburgh has to take an upside swing on a QB.   

--Kirk Cousins to the Browns.  The Stefanski connection at play here.  And this doesn't necessarily preclude the Browns from picking a QB.

--Russell Wilson to the Titans as a bridge QB, though this still wouldn't necessarily preclude them from taking a QB at the top of the draft. 

--Justin Fields to the Colts.  Ballard could be feeling the heat, Richardson is awful, and Fields will seem as accurate as prime Steve Young to Colts fans after watching Richardson.

--The Giants come away with Ward in the draft.  The Daboll/Schoen regime has still not drafted a potential franchise QB.  This draft could give them an opportunity to do so.  As a veteran signee to possibly start in Week 1, the G-Men sign Jameis Winston, who at least could get the ball down the field to Malik Nabers.  

--The Vikings go with JJ McCarthy as the starter.  I believe they really like him and want to see what he can do.  They certainly could sign a veteran backup as insurance (Daniel Jones?), but someone with the name and baggage of Aaron Rodgers, yeah, no.

--Speaking of Rodgers, I believe that no one will want him for a starting gig and, thus, I think that he retires.  

--The Raiders draft Sanders.  While Chip Kelly's presence makes me think that someone like Fields could be a good fit, I think that Tom Brady's influence will take precedence here.  My guess is that Brady values accuracy above all else, and Sanders, if he hits, seems like he'd be adept at being a quick processor and decisive, accurate passer.  

On the subject of QB's....

Darnold to Tennessee. I don't see him back with Minnesota with McCarthy there. Dranold will want more than a 1-2 year contract. The Vikings pivot to Rodgers on a 2 year deal. He follows in Favre's footsteps... GB, Jets and Vikings while McCarthy has a few years to learn and develop. 

Wilson goes to the Jets. He seems to fit with what Glenn and the rah-rah ownership want out of players there. No, he doesn't end up in Las Vegas. Wilson tried to get PC fired and Wilson isn't a Chip Kelly type of QB.

Cousins goes to the Steelers. They want a QB who can move the ball adequately and manage games. Fields won't be back with Pittsburgh either. He's a backup type. Maybe Cleveland? Dallas to backup Prescott?

Cleveland drafts Ward at #2, although Sanders is a better QB. They don't want to risk having Sanders hold out. Cleveland seems to be a QB wasteland anyway. Sanders goes to the Giants at #3. The Raiders wait until the 2nd on Dart. The other QB's after that... not sure they go higher than the 3rd or 4th rounds.

Mock drafts before free agency are speculative and before the combine and pre-draft workouts, prospect rankings aren't set.

That said, the latest 4 round mock draft is a mix for the Broncos. I agree with Loveland and Hampton in the first 2 rounds. If Warren is off the board, CL's the next TE up. If Hampton's off the.board next up, in my opinion, would be Henderson at RB. No to Kaleb Johnson, his receiving skills are a negative. But what I don't agree with is the 3rd and 4th round picks. Bech is the same type as Vele and Franklin, good size but not the best at separation. If they go WR, it'd be one that can spread the D. Based off of the mock and who's available, and lacking free agency signings, Xavier Watts would make sense in the 3rd. The Broncos need a starting capable free safety more than a backup CB in round 4. Then in the 4th, I'd go with Helm at TE. Yes, double dip. 

The Broncos could run 2-TE sets, Warren/Loveland moving around and Helm inline with both very capable pass catchers. Moreover, the opposing D doesn't know if it's pass or run with a serious running back on offense. Payton had Jimmy Graham and Jeremy Schockey so it's not unprecedented. The point is, the Broncos will look to accelerate Nix's growth and give him weapons.

February mock drafts are just pissing in the wind unless they're guided by educated guesses as to how the QB carousel will play out.

PRE-DRAFT:

CLE/Kirk Cousins - Natural system fit and probably the only economically realistic non-rookie QB option for CLE.

NYG/Justin Fields - Schoen and Daboll's seats are white hot. They need an experienced QB capable of providing efficient play and some of the dual-threat elements that are foundational to Daboll's system. Fields makes sense as a (very) poor man's Josh Allen, and isn't much older than Ward/Sanders.

PIT/Sam Darnold - PIT may just re-sign Fields, but if they had faith in Fields then why didn't they reinsert him into the lineup when Russell Wilson was floundering?

Mike Tomlin is feeling heat. Stability is needed at QB and I think PIT will be aggressive as soon as the free agency market bell rings. Darnold is likely free agency fool's gold, but desperate times/desperate measures.

LV/Russell Wilson - Wilson is by no means the answer at QB for LV, but unless they sign Darnold, his familiarity with Carroll makes him a logical fall-back option to lessen the pressure to reach/trade for Shedeur Sanders on Draft Day.

Also: The fact that signing Wilson would be a crappy decision is baked into my guess here, as LV is currently in a cycle of making crappy decisions.

DRAFT DAY:

TEN/Cam Ward - Not buying the "we might roll with Will Levis" stuff for a second. Ward is obviously a reach at 1.1, but we've all seen the QB supply-and-demand movie before, and I don't think the "generational prospect" option that TEN floated exists in this draft.

NYJ/Shedeur Sanders - Sam Darnold and Kirk Cousins aren't options for the Jets for obvious reasons, so I'm guessing NY will talk-up Tyrod Taylor pre-draft and target Sanders as QBOTF on draft day, maybe even in a trade up. New OC Tanner Engstrand had great success with a "point guard" QB in DET. Sanders' skill set fits.

POST-DRAFT POSSIBILITY:

IND/Derek Carr - Judging by Chris Ballard's comments, I think IND might already be done with Anthony Richardson.

It's too early to tell if this will be the offseason Saints GM Mickey Loomis finally commits to a proper rebuild, but I'm guessing it will.

Carr's contract situation ensures he'll remain in NO pre-June 1st, but a post-June 1st trade/release is possible. Carr makes sense as the next in that Rivers/Wentz/Ryan/Flacco line of washed-up short-term solutions in IND, while the Saints could accept Richardson in a trade for a one-year trial under Kellen Moore - which would likely end up with NO in position to draft Arch Manning in 2026.

@Barnowl1952 

I'm a Jets fan, so I feel your pain. You're talking to a guy who watches Super Bowl III* - a game played well before I was born - at least once a year just to remind myself that "it's possible".

All of CLE's current problems are ripple effect from the decision to go with Watson over Mayfield. Just a catastrophic move. Again, I feel your pain. The Jets put all their eggs in the Aaron Rodgers basket while Geno Smith and Sam Darnold go to Pro Bowls.

I hope for your sake that Garrett is just venting frustration - maybe as a loud-and-clear message to CLE management to turn things around ASAP - because Watson's contract makes a proper rebuild nearly impossible. Besides, Berry and Stefanski won't survive a rebuild. I'm guessing Garrett stays and CLE signs Kirk Cousins, but I could be wrong.

* - Super Bowl III was probably rigged and Matt Snell was easily MVP.

@Mr. Bitter 

I didn't know the Eagles SOS was 30th.  That and the flue going around means I think it can go anyway but I still think the Eagles get the job done here.

Saquan Barkley and Jalen Carter have been the best offensive and defensive players this postseason. They're both in a lather. However, I could see Mahomes and Chris Jones stepping up to remind everyone that they're still the best at their respective positions. As another commenter said: It's a toss up.

As with any toss up game, I'm looking for that one weakness that tips the scales. Some are predicting that the inexperience of Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean will be that exploitable weakness, but Vic Fangio consistently puts them in the best positions for success and both have performed like Pro Bowl vets all season. I don't see why that would stop now.

The Eagles are the more balanced team. There are no glaring weaknesses to exploit. I'm guessing that KC's ineffective run game and iffy O-line catches up to them. (Specifically the gross Carter vs. Caliendo mismatch and the not-exactly-nimble OT duo of Joe Thuney/Jawaan Taylor vs. the speed and bend of Josh Sweat and Nolan Smith.)

PHI 23 KC 21

No way I'm betting this game, as I could be underestimating Reid/Mahome's three-peat motivation. There's also the possibility that penalties/turnovers go KC's way and the game ends with a Kelce walk-off TD, immediately followed by his retirement announcement and proposal to Taylor Swift. (I'm only half-kidding.)

GL to those taking the plunge.

@WFDevTeam 

The only spot where its bad is the defensive line in terms of spend but when you have jalen carter it balances that out right quick

@rgreaper13 

I meant Malachi Moore S Alabama

My Steelers Mock: 

Rd 1 Emeka Egbuka WR OSU

Rd 2 Deone Walker DL Kentucky

Rd 3 Kaleb Johnson RB Iowa

Rd 4 Zy Alexander CB LSU

Rd 5 Malachi Moore CB Bama

Rd 6 Xavier Truss OT Georgia

Rd 7 Tyler Shough QB Louisville

Rd 7 Kaimon Rucker EDGE North Carolina

Eli Stowers a sneaky late TE. But many seem to be overlooking him. Not saying hes Warren, but def should be ahead of some of the TEs peeps have in that 7-12 range

To be clear folks tho. My lists-much like any good ones would be-are fahlewid. Want to be clear. And Walts are too. Things have changed and will continue to change as we see workouts, combine, etc. If your a fan of an NFL team tho, these are the guys ya should want your team to draft. No specific order but Carter/Hunter/Graham in that order. But Shemar Stew, Walker from Kentucky, the BC edge, Jayden Higgins, Jalen Royals, Repsero, David Walker, Kyle Kennard, Lott, Arroyo, Gray Zabel, Anthony Belton, Cam Scat, Ollie Gordon, Dylan Sampson, Jay higgins, Rod Moore, both Kansas State corners, Glendon Miller, DeRickey, Right, upton Stout, Jamon Dumas Johnson, Jalen Travis. 

Obv are plenty of solid to good players outside of guys listed. But any fan should be crossing fingers that your teams end up with some of the guys i listed. They are gonna be a lot of the top players to emerge from this draft and most can be had in 2-7th rds. I think analysts & media have jaded fans. Too many fans are under delusion that this is a bad draft with no good players. But its a myth & not the case. While they sure thing cant miss generation talents are supposed to be missing in this draft, it doesn't mean everyone just sucks. Dont be small minded. Its actually an extremely deep draft. Especially on the DL & OL, as well as with wr/edge/TE and RB. Just think of this draft like wide receivers. Ok, so maybe there is only 1 justin jefferson or jamar chase in Abdul carter. It doesnt mean the rest of the guys are wr 4s & 5s. No, just instead of no Jamar Chases, theres a bunch of Stefon Diggs & Terry Mclaurins. Guys who can have pro bowl seasons & very good seasons in the coming yrs. So much value in that early 2nd to early 4th rd before dropping hard. But even then, there are still starters even after that point who will be available beyond that. 

So even though Shedeur is +800 to go #1, you still think he will go #1 overall? Ward is +100, Hunter +220, Carter +240. 

I'm sticking w PHI and have a few +7.5 teasers. Something tells me Barkley doesn't run over KC (KC D only 1 R>40 yds all season). Trying to figure out how the dome plays into this. Im not a fan of Hurts passing game, but have faith in ex-Dal OC. Fangio too.

KC #26 vs TE (Goedert over)
PHI tied #2 vs TE (Kelce under)

"Riley Leonard has plus size, arm strength, and accuracy."

You are way off on this one.

Riley Leonard isn't going to be taken on the 2nd day.  As a ND fan having watched every second of every game, I can say that, for all of his other fine attributes, his is not an accurate passer.  In fact, accuracy is the worst part of his skill set.  Leonard will be taken round 6/7, if at all.

@jhrjhr5 

TEN will be playing in a $2.1 billion, publicly-paid new stadium in a few seasons. Will Levis or a retread like Darnold/Cousins/Wilson/Rodgers aren't going to put butts in those seats. They've gotta get their franchise QB and build hope for the future.

@jhrjhr5 

Ward/Sanders definitely aren't Caleb Williams/Jayden Daniels, but I think they're better than Pickett/Willis, Bortles/Manuel, etc. I don't think most teams will have a whole lotta true 1st-round grades on their boards in this draft, so the value of Ward/Sanders should spike accordingly - especially for teams desperate at QB. TEN/CLE/NYG all qualify as desperate, IMO, and there just aren't any viable non-draft options beside maybe Sam Darnold.

Gabe Jacas (Rd 3 pick 88) is off the board as he is returning to Illinois next season.

Also you guys may want to start to include Pat Bryant, WR Illinois, in your mock drafts.  You have him grossly underrated

@broncoselway I'm old enough to remember when having the better run game and D meant your were the favorite.  But sadly as for long as I could remember the Eagles were never the team with the better run game and D and the Eagles were almost always the underdog.  Somehow now that its the Eagles they are still the underdog and while usually underdogs are treated as plucky, and the hero of so many movies, somehow these Eagles while being the underdogs are also the villains in the way of Kelce-Swift fairy tale ending.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  

@barrymalcolm44 

sorry i couldnt resize the pic. Before the 2 minute warning the clock ran out on KC before the game clock, no delay of game penalty? Pic From MLFootball. 

Buffalo needed four downs to consistently move the ball or extend drives.  The mark of a desperate, not a superior team. It would not have been as close as it was without the 4 down risk taking that ultimately backfired. Ultimately, Buffalo defense was simply no match for Chiefs and Mahomes. No pro bowl, no first team, no big point scoring differential. Doesn’t matter.  Now have to listen to Hurts being oversold for the next two weeks. Allen was ten times better than Hurts. Bills left it all on the field. Ultimately gave Chiefs all the could handle. And it still wasn’t enough.  Theres one mission left, stop Barkley. Force Hurts to beat you. Live with the results.

WAS +6  Gut call here. All logic says PHI easily controls the trenches, and Carter and Barkley dominate in an easy Eagles victory...but WAS has been proving me wrong all season. Also, I don't fully trust Sirianni/Hurts in this spot. WAS comes up one miracle short of the SB but cover. PHI 31 WAS 26

KC -2  Good-guy Josh Allen finally beating the villainous Chiefs is a solid narrative, but there is no more profitable narrative than KC in the SB a win away from a three-peat. Big game from Xavier Worthy, and Mahomes outperforms Allen. KC 27 BUF 23

No bets. Just gonna sit back and enjoy. GL to all.

@Barnowl1952 

What is Cleveland's option? Kirk Cousins?? The Browns have to keep swinging until they connect on a QB. Otherwise, they'll just remain in NFL purgatory.

Any drama created by selecting Sanders or Ward would be a walk in the park compared to the drama that was unleashed by the Deshaun Watson acquisition. I mean, this is the Jimmy Haslam Browns we're talking about.

I'm not as concerned about the Jurgens injury since Dickerson was a top center in college and could easily slide over to take his spot and the loss of Daron Payne negates the Commanders advantage anyway. 

For the Commanders, however,  the injury to Cosmi is brutal since it kills a potential advantage they might've had with Nakobe Dean being out. Jayden Daniels will be forced into passing from the pocket a lot where he'll have to deal with Jalen Carter vs a backup guard.

@Nagurski : I would tend to agree with you about not trying to Handicap the referees. It's not like the NBA where there are only 3 on the floor and serious fans know their tendencies as well as their names. I believe there are 8 [ or more ] officials for NFL playoff games and the Head Referee seldom calls the penalties with the exception of roughing the passer. The other officials pretty much labor in obscurity - does one referee [ back judge for example ] tend to call more pass interference or 'tend to let the boys play' ? After each quarter these referees switch with the field position meaning they are in each team's backfield for half the game. 

 I don't know if any teams have a coach that monitors all NFL referees - grading them on the number of calls and frequency the penalties are called. In baseball, professional handicappers keep grades and charts on umpires when they work home plate - lists are accumulated of umpires that call more/less strikes or balls. If at the end of the year one umpire has a 13-3 record of games going over the total and also called less strikes than balls it would be easy to classify the umpire as an over umpire. I believe most teams keep charts on all the umpires so no team really has a significant advantage. Whether the individual teams do an effective job of communicating this information to the players is debatable when you look at the batting statistics for most players. Also, all players when batting react to the pitch location according to their individual strike zone. They don't change their batting style each game because of a scouting report. The coach's can provide charts to the batters showing zones or locations that the umpire calls a higher percentage of strikes [ low and outside for example ] but most batters seldom adjust to this. However, the top Managers can make significant adjustments by knowing an umpire's tendency to call more balls - he can give more take signals, or if he knows the umpire calls more balls, he can call less steals and make the pitchers throw more pitches and wear out the other team's bullpens.

 Instead of trying to handicap the referees in the playoffs, I would pay more attention to the coach's. Is there a reason that Sean Payton's teams always seem to over achieve or that Matt Eberflus's teams don't know how to win close games ? I think we all know the answer. In the final 2 matchups Reid is the obvious best Head Coach but how would you rate the other 3 ? Quinn took an overachieving team to the Super Bowl [ Atlanta ] but blew the big lead and game against Brady and never seem to recover from that fiasco. Is this his year of vindication ? Sirianni can be strange but has an excellent record and took one team to the Super Bowl and lost a lead late to the Chiefs although he received little criticism for his team losing ? Sean McDermott has a career 86-45 overall record but always seems to come up short ? If history repeats itself, it would suggest that the Chiefs have the best chance to advance to and win the Super Bowl, but I don't think the gap between these head coaches is that huge this year and I wouldn't count on it for handicapping purposes. If you think one coach is significantly better, that is an angle to consider. Good luck