Chargers Rumors: Safety Battle, IOL, WR
As the Chargers look to shape their roster throughout training camp, the coaches will be paying close attention to the safety position, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Obviously, Derwin James is cemented into a starting safety spot, but there is expected to be competition both for the starting job next to him and for a potential fourth safety spot on the roster.
With former starting safety Nasir Adderley retiring upon the expiration of his rookie contract, the starting safety job next to James is wide open. Alohi Gilman enters camp as the expected starter, but second-year player JT Woods will have every opportunity to take the job out from under Gilman. Gilman has nine starts over his first three seasons and has made some significant contributions to the Los Angeles defense in that time. Woods had one start in ten appearances during his rookie year but is expected to take a leap forward in his sophomore season.
Both Gilman and Woods are locks for the 53-man roster, but Popper predicts that only one other safety will join James, Gilman, and Woods in September. He’s boiled that battle down to Raheem Layne and Mark Webb. After signing as an undrafted free agent last year, Layne appeared is six games as a rookie, standing out in training camp and carving out a role on special teams. As a 2021 seventh-round pick, Webb’s rookie season was cut short by injury before he spent the whole of last year on the practice squad. Popper believes that if Webb can stay on the field during camp, he has a serious chance at pushing Layne for that final roster spot.
Here are a couple other rumors coming out of LA:
- After watching the struggles of backup offensive lineman Brenden Jaimes through his first two seasons, the Chargers appear ready to work out other options. The team seems to be high on Zack Bailey as a more reliable backup guard than Jaimes, according to Popper. Bailey appeared in his first NFL contest last year after going undrafted in 2019, but Los Angeles believes he can be a strong secondary option on the interior. Backing up starting center Corey Linsley is expected to be veteran Will Clapp. Clapp started three games in place of Linsley last season and seemingly has done enough to lock up the backup center job.
- The final roster battle to watch in camp is at wide receiver, according to Popper. Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Joshua Palmer, and rookie Quentin Johnston are no brainers to make the final roster. Fellow TCU rookie Derius Davis has a really good chance to make the team due to his return abilities. Popper believes that the team could take one more wideout. Jalen Guyton‘s deep-threat ability and size could make a strong case for the job, but he’s coming back from a torn ACL, which could factor into the decision. His main competition is likely Keelan Doss. Doss got regular work this spring with the first-team offense while Williams and Palmer were absent. He made enough noise in OTAs and minicamp that he has a strong chance of pushing Guyton for a final roster spot.
Trade Candidate: Patrick Queen
The expectations have been high for Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen ever since he heard his name announced from the Bronxville home of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. In 2019, the Ravens felt the significant loss of four-time second-team All-Pro selection and Pro Bowler C.J. Mosley as they trotted out Patrick Onwuasor, Josh Bynes, and L.J. Fort in starting positions. With Queen failing to quite fill the shoes left by Mosley and the legends before him (Daryl Smith, Ray Lewis), he may find himself on the trade block heading into the 2023 season. 
For three years, Queen was part of a stout LSU defense. He didn’t find much playing time in his first two seasons with the Tigers, playing behind future Pro Bowler Devin White. In his junior season, though, Queen finally found significant time on the field, starting 11 of 15 games in the team’s National Championship season and winning defensive MVP honors for the season finale win over Clemson. Despite only having started 16 of 41 career games, Queen opted to forgo his senior year at LSU and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.
Queen ended up as the fourth inside linebacker drafted in the first round that year, but at this point in time, he may be the most successful of the four. All four first-round picks from that year had their fifth-year options declined, and while Jordyn Brooks has had some highly productive seasons in Seattle, the back half of Queen’s 2022 season may be the best linebacker play we’ve seen out of that draft class so far.
Queen hit the ground running in Baltimore, starting every game of his NFL career so far. In his first two seasons of NFL play, Queen put up the numbers that a starting inside linebacker should. Over his first 33 games, he collected 204 total tackles, five sacks, 19 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, three force fumbles, three fumble recoveries (one for a touchdown), three passes defensed, and an interception.
Despite lighting up all the different areas of the stat sheet, analytics failed to see the hype of Queen as a top linebacker. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the young linebacker ranked 82nd out of 83 ranked players at his position in his rookie year and 71st of 86 in his sophomore season.
Queen had a bit of a breakout year in 2022. He posted career-highs in total tackles (117), sacks (5.0), quarterback hits (14), passes defensed (6), and interceptions (2). Analytically, he also slotted in at PFF’s 31st best linebacker, a significant improvement over previous years. It wasn’t just the increased experience or finally adjusting to the speed of the game at the NFL level that led to this breakout. The midseason acquisition of first-team All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith paid huge dividends towards Queen’s improvement.
Smith’s addition affected Queen’s situation in more ways than just on-the-field improvement. At the conclusion of the season, a big money extension to Smith, the newcomer in Baltimore, made it clear where the Ravens’ priorities lie at linebacker. While they were surely happy to see the improvement from Queen throughout his third season in the league, Queen hadn’t quite shown enough in his first three years to warrant a fifth-year option pickup, and in the meantime, the Ravens were getting cozy long-term with Smith.
Early reports indicated that Queen could find himself on the trade block leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft. When nothing came of those rumors, it was reported that Baltimore had hopes of extending Queen. While that’s a nice sentiment, it’s not common to see two off-ball linebackers on the same team get paid big money. With Smith’s new contract averaging $20MM per year, paying Queen top dollar is just not feasible.
Queen himself spoke on the situation and claimed that he hopes to remain with the team for an extended period. In order to do that, though, Queen likely will have to take less money than he’s probably looking for in his second NFL contract. In an ideal world, Queen’s second contract could approach $8MM to $9MM per year. But with the Ravens recent deals, I think Queen would be lucky to get around $7MM. The Ravens may be able to offer something around a three-year, $20MM deal or a four-year, $25MM extension, but is that a deal Queen would consider?
Likely, Queen would see the vast improvement he made in Year 3 and opt to bet on himself in a contract year. He may see that he’s pricing his way out of Baltimore like many Ravens defenders before him. If that’s the case, the Ravens, seeing the writing on the wall that they may be losing Queen regardless, may decide that they want to get something in return for Queen as opposed to nothing.
If the two sides can’t reach common ground in extension negotiations, Baltimore may opt to trade their former first-round pick away for draft compensation. The move would also clear approximately $2.27MM of cap space, according to OvertheCap.com. It’s not the ideal scenario for either side, but both sides are going to feel they have leverage in this negotiation. Queen, having just completed the best season of his career, will want to get paid for his best football. The Ravens, on the other hand, secured one of the league’s best linebackers to a five-year deal and drafted Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson in the third round of this year’s draft. Obviously, Simpson is an unproven commodity, but if he can slot in successfully next to Smith, Queen may become superfluous.
So, that’s the situation. Queen and the Ravens both appear interested in a long-term relationship that keeps Queen alongside Smith in Baltimore. The Ravens, likely anticipating the desires of their top 2020 draft pick, have bolstered themselves with Smith and Simpson. If Queen decides to draw a line on his worth that the Ravens can’t reach, the team may be ready to move on from the ascending, young player and seek compensation for what they will eventually lose for nothing.
Latest On Rams OL Joseph Noteboom
Plenty of questions remain unanswered along the offensive line for the Rams heading into 2023, after the unit was devastated by injuries last season. The left tackle spot is one to watch, and veteran Joseph Noteboom should be a key member of the competition at that position. 
The 28-year-old was tapped as the Rams’ Andrew Whitworth successor on the blindside, and he began the 2022 campaign as the starting left tackle. Noteboom suffered an Achilles tear, however, which ended his campaign and added to the injury woes along the O-line for Los Angeles. He continues to rehab the injury, and his performance upon return could go a long way in determining his usage in 2023.
The former third-rounder will have competition in the form of Alaric Jackson, who was himself limited to eight contests last year. The pair drew similar evaluations in terms of PFF grades in 2022, and they are set to take part in an open competition for the left tackle role. Depending on how that plays out, Noteboom could find himself occupying a different role.
Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic writes that the TCU product is not guranteed to continue at left tackle (either as a starter or backup) moving forward (subscription required). A position change could be in play, something which might see Noteboom play at either right tackle or left guard. He has experience at both spots at the NFL level, but much more so in the latter role. His most recent LG snaps took place in 2020, though that position is likely earmarked for second-round rookie Steve Avila.
As Rodrigue notes, the Rams appear committed to retaining Noteboom on the books after he signed a three-year, $39MM deal last March. That pact raised expectations for him entering the campaign, but his Achilles rehab, along with the presence of Jackson, could threaten his first-team standing come the regular season. At the left tackle spot (and others), the Rams’ positional battles in the summer will be worth monitoring.
5 Key Stories: 6/25/23 – 7/2/23
The calendar has flipped to July, meaning training camps and a few other offseason checkpoints aren’t far away. In the meantime, some signficant developments have taken place around the league in recent days. Here’s a quick recap from the past week:
- Colts’ Rodgers, Berry Waived Amidst Year-Long Suspensions: Isaiah Rodgers and Rashod Berry were given indefinite suspensions for violations of the league’s gambling policy. The pair were found to have wagered on NFL games, and Rodgers reportedly bet on Colts contests. In the wake of the bans being handed down, Indianapolis waived both players, falling in line with actions taken by the Lions earlier this offseason under similar circumstances. The news of Rodgers and Berry (along with free agent D-lineman Demetrius Taylor) being sidelined for at least the 2023 campaign marks the latest major gambling-related punishments to be handed down this year. Bans for NFL players and staff members have been a major storyline in recent months, as teams look to better educate members of both groups about the rules regarding gambling and the consequences of violating them.
- Petit-Frere Suspended Six Games For Gambling: Continuing the theme of suspensions being handed down, Titans tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere was banned for six games. The 23-year-old placed wagers on non-NFL events while at the team’s facility, triggering the latest short-term punishment (relative to the indefinite ones) issues for gambling violations. Petit-Frere was a full-time right tackle starter as a rookie last year, and his absence to begin the campaign will be acutely felt by Tennessee. The Titans have a number of new faces along the offensive line after the unit was affected by the team’s cost-cutting measures this offseason. A temporary replacement will need to be found for the Ohio State alum, one of many players set to miss considerable time in 2023 as violations of the gambling policy continue to be identified.
- Howell Chosen As NFLPA Executive Director: The NFLPA has its new leader in place, with Lloyd Howell having been unveiled as executive director. The 57-year-old has no background in football, like his predecessor DeMaurice Smith, but he has a long track record working with the Booz Allen Hamilton consulting firm, one which has an existing relationship with the NFL. The union’s search for a new leader was shrouded in secrecy throughout the process, and the identities of the other finalists voted on remains unknown. Howell is in line to take over later this month, which will mark an end to Smith’s tenure; the latter had been in place since 2009. Talks on the next CBA, which is several years away, will be a key chapter in Howell’s new role.
- Patriots Extend Parker: The Patriots took care of some business with their in-house veterans, including a new deal for wideout DeVante Parker. The 30-year-old inked a three-year extension with a maximum value of $33MM. Guarantees and bonuses account for $14MM on the new pact, one which will secure his future with the Patriots for years to come after his acquisition from the Dolphins via trade last offseason. The Parker deal is not expected to take New England out of the running for free agent DeAndre Hopkins, however. Parker will look to take a step forward in terms of production in 2023 after his middling debut campaign with the Patriots, something which holds true of the team’s passing attack as a whole.
- Dolphins Submit Offer To Cook: Dalvin Cook has been linked to the Dolphins on a number of occasions this offseason, and he has an offer in place from Miami. The four-time Pro Bowler would add to the Dolphins’ running game considerably, though the team already has a number of options in place at the RB position. A homecoming would nevertheless allow Cook to fulfil his goal of operating as a starter, which could in turn boost his value for future contracts provided his next one will be short in length. Other suitors are in the mix, though, so his free agent process could very well extend beyond the beginning of training camp later this month.
Cowboys’ Micah Parsons To Play More Versatile Role In 2023?
Micah Parsons has established himself as one of the league’s most productive defenders during his first two years in the NFL. The two-time Cowboys All-Pro has also shown a intriguing degree of versatility with respect to his alignments, something which could be taken a step further this season. 
Parsons was drafted as an inside linebacker following his college career, but he quickly showed an ability to be a disruptive force off the edge. That led to the expectation that a full-time position switch to defensive end could be coming, but head coach Mike McCarthy made it clear last offseason that Parsons would instead remain a movable chess piece on Dallas’ defense.
The 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year logged 738 snaps along the defensive line last season, per PFF, adding 737 as a stand-up outside linebacker. Parsons’ 13.5 sacks showed how effective he can be in those alignments and earned him a top-10 finish in MVP voting. Instances in which he handled other duties (including in coverage) could lead to an even more varied workload moving forward.
“Just playing chess, being able to move around,” Parsons said, via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. “I think that’s the special ability that I have or I want to incorporate. We’re doing a lot of special things. I don’t want to give a lot away right now. But it’s going to be a really cool year. I’m probably going to play eight positions this year.”
While that figure may be on the high side, both the Penn State alum and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn acknowledged that training camp will be used as a testing ground to determine where Parsons can line up in different situations. He will still spend considerable time as an edge rusher, of course, meaning his endeavor to increase his playing weight will be one of significance.
Parsons is aiming to bring himself to 255 pounds (after spending last season at 245) to be better equipped to handle life at the line of scrimmage, but also to preserve what could be a very highly decorated career. By the time the season starts, he will likely have bulked up and the Cowboys will have spent time during the summer devising more unique ways to deploy him.
RB Notes: Hines, Rodriguez, Cook
Here are a few RB-related items from around the league:
- The Bills have invested heavily at the running back position in recent years, and at present, the club has 2022 second-round pick James Cook and 2023 free agent signee Damien Harris at the top of its depth chart, with newcomer Latavius Murray also in the mix. As quarterback Josh Allen is a significant part of Buffalo’s ground attack, and since the Bills also offer a bevy of quality receiving options, Ryan O’Halloran of the Buffalo News wonders how 2022 trade acquisition Nyheim Hines fits into the equation. As a member of the Colts, Hines proved that he can be a dynamic weapon, but he saw just 66 offensive snaps in nine games with the Bills last year. While O’Halloran expects Hines to continue making an impact as a return specialist, he finds it difficult to envision anything more than a gadget role for the NC State product on offense. On the other hand, RB coach Kelly Skipper suggested that Hines’ limited usage in 2022 was largely due to the complexity of the Bills’ playbook, and that Hines will see meaningful action both as a receiver and rusher this season.
- In a feature on Commanders rookie running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., which will be of particular interest to fans of the team and which details the devastating loss of Rodriguez’s mother in January, Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post notes that the Commanders had a third-round grade on the Kentucky product. Washington was able to land Rodriguez in the sixth round, and he is currently penciled in as the third RB on the depth chart, behind Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson. As a sixth-rounder, though, he is not guaranteed a spot on the roster, especially if the team’s interest in Kareem Hunt should evolve into something more. As new OC Eric Bieniemy noted, Rodriguez will need to impress on special teams, but if he can do so, he could be well-positioned for a productive tenure in the nation’s capital. Gibson is a free agent at season’s end, and while neither Robinson nor Rodriguez offer Gibson’s upside as a receiver, both players have the type of downhill, between-the-tackles power that the team values, and the duo could form a potent 1-2 punch down the line.
- Free agent RB Dalvin Cook recently suggested that he declined a visit with an unnamed club, and according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, that club was not the Dolphins (Twitter link). As of the time of this writing, the ‘Fins are the only named team that has definite interest in Cook’s services, though the latest reporting suggested that about six teams are in the market and that Cook has received multiple offers. Jackson says that Cook — who has previously expressed enthusiasm for joining his hometown Dolphins — remains interested in playing his home games in South Beach.
Bengals LB Coach James Bettcher Likely Successor To DC Lou Anarumo
Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo interviewed for the Giants’ head coaching job in 2022 and was a finalist for the Cardinals’ HC post this year. After a lengthy search process, Arizona chose Jonathan Gannon for the position, so Anarumo will return to Cincinnati for the upcoming campaign. Nonetheless, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic predicts that the 56-year-old will be a prominent member of next year’s coaching cycle (subscription required).
Should Anarumo leave the Bengals to become a head coach elsewhere in 2024, Dehner believes linebackers coach James Bettcher would most likely step into his shoes as Cincy’s DC. There are a number of reasons why that would be a logical move.
For one, a Bettcher promotion would represent schematic continuity, as he will have two years of experience working on Anarumo’s Bengals staff by the time the 2023 season comes to an end. And he also offers defensive coordinator experience himself, having served in that capacity with the Cardinals and Giants last decade.
During Bettcher’s tenure as Arizona’s DC from 2015-17, the club never finished outside of the top-six in total defense, a performance that earned Bettcher a head coaching interview in the desert following the 2017 season. That job ultimately went to Steve Wilks, and although Wilks reportedly offered Bettcher a chance to stay in his post, Bettcher accepted the Giants’ defensive coordinator position instead (he also received an offer from the Titans).
Bettcher’s time with Big Blue did not go according to plan, as the team finished in the bottom-10 in total defense in both of his seasons at the helm. In fairness, New York was not operating with much defensive talent at the time, particularly in the linebacking corps and secondary, which undermined Bettcher’s aggressive approach to play-calling. When Joe Judge became the Giants’ HC in 2020, he did not retain Bettcher, who sat out that season before taking a job as a senior defensive assistant with the 49ers in 2021.
Now 45, Bettcher joined the Bengals in his current role in 2022, a season that saw starting LBs Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt turn in the best performances of their careers. Cincinnati, of course, has emerged as an AFC heavyweight over the past several seasons, and while the Joe Burrow-led offense deservingly gets most of the credit for that development, the defense has steadily improved since Anarumo’s appointment as defensive coordinator in 2019. Last season, although the Bengals finished in the middle of the pack in terms of total defense, they did allow the sixth-fewest points per game and finished just outside the top-10 in takeaways.
If Anarumo’s unit continues its upward trajectory, or at least sustains its current level of performance, it stands to reason that he would generate more HC interest, and that the Bengals would want to promote a familiar and experienced candidate in Bettcher. Of course, the team would need to comply with Rooney Rule requirements before such a move could be made official.
Vikings Using Josh Metellus As Nickel CB
After finishing as the second-worst team in the league in 2022 in terms of total defense and passing defense, it came as no surprise that the Vikings parted ways with a few of the cornerbacks who played major roles in last year’s secondary. Patrick Peterson, Chandon Sullivan, and Cameron Dantzler all found themselves on other clubs this offseason, while Minnesota added Byron Murphy in free agency and will look for some of its recent draft selections to prove their worth under new defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
Players like Andrew Booth (second round, 2022), Akayleb Evans (fourth round, 2022), Mekhi Blackmon (third round, 2023), and Jay Ward (fourth round, 2023) are all in line for significant CB snaps this season (while Ward was drafted as a safety, he lined up at every position in the defensive backfield during his collegiate career at LSU). Plus, as Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com writes, Josh Metellus could see significant action in the slot, as the coaching staff gave him plenty of reps in that role during spring work and made a concerted effort to keep him on the field.
Metellus, a 2020 sixth-round choice, was used primarily on special teams in his first two years in the NFL. Last season, he saw the most extensive action of his pro career, earning three starts and a 22% defensive snap share. His time on defense, though, was spent mostly as a replacement for stalwart safety Harrison Smith, so the fact that Flores wants to see what Metellus can do as a nickel corner is notable.
Although Murphy is perfectly capable of playing in the slot and should be expected to line up there frequently in 2023, it could be that Flores wants his most experienced corner to spend the bulk of his time outside the numbers. That, along with the fact that Smith and Camryn Bynum will reprise their roles as starting safeties, could explain why Metellus is getting a long look at nickel.
According to Seifert, Metellus appeared comfortable in that spot, and assuming he carries that momentum into training camp, he will be ticketed for the most playing time of his career this season. With 2023 serving as his platform year, the timing is perfect for the Michigan product to maximize his earning power, particularly since slot corners are effectively starting players in today’s pass-heavy league (even if the market has been slow to recognize that).
In his time on defense last season, Metellus allowed a 68.4% completion percentage but generally kept the ball in front of him, as he yielded a modest 83.9 QB rating on the 19 balls thrown in his direction. He also recorded five passes defensed and the first interception of his career, which represents quality ball production in such a small sample.
Latest On Eagles’ RG Competition; Team To Add OT?
Like many players who lined up at offensive tackle in college, Eagles third-round rookie Tyler Steen is, according to Bo Wulf of The Athletic (subscription required), set to play guard at the NFL level, at least in his first professional season. Which certainly makes sense, as Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson are locked into the starting tackle jobs.
However, the decision to deploy Steen on the interior is notable for two reasons. One, it sets up an intriguing position battle at right guard between the rookie and 2022 second-rounder Cam Jurgens. Jurgens, a natural center, was drafted as the eventual replacement for five-time First Team All-Pro pivot Jason Kelce, but Kelce elected to put off retirement for another year and agreed to a new contract with Philadelphia in March. As such, there is only one starting spot available on the club’s O-line, and that is the RG post that was vacated when Isaac Seumalo defected to the Steelers in free agency this offseason.
Although Jurgens appeared in only 34 snaps as a rookie (28 of which came at center), he has the benefit of having spent a year learning the Eagles’ offense and the blocking schemes of OL coach Jeff Stoutland. He also lined up with the first-stringers during OTAs, and while that is obviously not as important as who gets the first-team reps in training camp, one would think that Jurgens has a leg up on Steen at the moment, even if the coaching staff has not tipped its hand one way or another.
The loser of the competition will nonetheless become a key reserve, as the guard depth presently consists of the likes of Sua Opeta, Tyrese Robinson, and Julian Good-Jones. The tackle depth behind Mailata and Johnson is similarly uninspiring, and since Steen is focusing his efforts on guard as opposed to tackle, Wulf expects GM Howie Roseman to add an OT before Week 1.
Of course, the market for quality tackles is largely bare at this point in the offseason, though George Fant remains available and would, in Wulf’s estimation, represent an ideal fit. Fant has extensive experience at both OT spots and could be waiting for a clearer path to a starting job to open up in camp. If such an opportunity does not become available, the Eagles have enough cap space (roughly $14MM as of the time of this writing) to entice him. Wulf names the Cardinals’ Kelvin Beachum as a potential trade target, as the rebuilding Arizona outfit used its top pick in this year’s draft on an elite offensive lineman (Paris Johnson Jr.) and could therefore see the 34-year-old Beachum as surplus to requirements, especially with longtime LT D.J. Humphries healthy again.
Wulf also sees wide receiver, inside linebacker, and pass rush as areas in which the Eagles could seek an upgrade, though he does not envision Roseman making a big splash at any of those spots, unless he can pounce on a pass rusher like Yannick Ngakoue that has lingered on the open market.
Latest On Titans, DeAndre Hopkins
The waiting game continues with respect to DeAndre Hopkins and his relatively small list of known suitors. One of them is the Titans, a team which has a standing offer in place for the All-Pro wideout. 
Hopkins visited Tennessee and New England last month, and each team was sufficiently impressed to put a contract on the table. The 31-year-old is staying patient with plenty of time remaining between now and training camp, which could extend his free agent period especially if his market fails to heat up in the coming weeks.
In that event, the Titans could represent an intriguing option for Hopkins. Tennessee is lacking in known producers at the WR spot, and a signing could give them a signficant boost in the passing game. On that point, ESPN’s Turron Davenport notes that the team believes it has a “legitimate chance” at landing the five-time Pro Bowler.
Tennessee has 2022 first-rounder Treylon Burks at the top of the depth chart as things currently stand, and expectations will be high for him after an underwhelming rookie season. To little surprise, though, the Arkansas alum publicly praised the in-house options in place, a group which includes Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Kyle Philips, Racey McMath and free agent signing Chris Moore. Hopkins would represent by far the most accomplished pass-catcher for the Titans if he were to ink a contract with them.
However, the former Texan and Cardinal has been closely connected to the Patriots during his time on the open market, and their new deal for DeVante Parker has not taken them out of the running for him. New England currently has just under $15MM in cap space, while Tennessee has $8.3MM, meaning the latter team would be underdogs in a potential bidding war.
Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly echoed Burks’ confidence in the Titans’ current setup, but a signficant step forward is needed through the air compared to 2022 when the post-A.J. Brown era began. Tennessee could see themselves competing with New England and potentially Carolina to land Hopkins, but belief within the organization that his arrival remains a distinct possibility is noteworthy. Hopkins’ market is one they, among others, will no doubt continue to monitor.