HEADLINES

Month: April 2024

WR Tee Higgins Expects To Play For Bengals In 2024

April 14th, 2024 at 9:45pm CST by Ely Allen

Bengals veteran wide receiver Tee Higgins has had an interesting offseason so far. Despite a number of headlines over the past couple of months that seem to point to an exit out of Cincinnati for the 25-year-old, Higgins gave a soundbite today that appeared to insinuate quite the opposite. Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team provided footage of Higgins telling the media that he anticipates playing with the Bengals in the 2024 NFL season.

After hearing for much of the 2023 season that the team wanted to reach a new extension with Higgins, the Bengals opened the offseason by applying the franchise tag to their No. 2 receiver. The Clemson-product didn’t respond well to the tagging, eventually opting to request a trade about two weeks later. Cincinnati responded a few days after, declaring that they had no intentions of honoring Higgins’ request and planned to keep him.

Despite these intentions, we heard earlier today that there had been no discussions yet between the Bengals and Higgins concerning a new contract. Out of nine players who received the franchise tag to start the offseason, only Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and Higgins remained unsigned to new contracts. While Tampa Bay appears optimistic about their chances to extend Winfield, we haven’t gotten any such indications from Cincinnati.

Higgins’ interview today provided us with the best view into the situation we’ve seen yet. The team has been trying (and failing) to reach agreeable terms on a long-term deal with Higgins for the past two years, so it makes sense that Higgins is able to take this stalemate in stride. The two side still have until 4PM ET on July 15 to reach a long-term deal, but if that doesn’t occur, Higgins will still be sure to receive a fully guaranteed one-year, $21.8MM contract by signing the franchise tag.

The team would do well to get a new deal done with Higgins sooner rather than later, though. The Bengals will soon be opening up extension talks with star wideout Ja’Marr Chase, and another young star, Justin Jefferson in Minnesota, will likely work alongside Chase to completely reset the market at receiver. Even if it means spending a little more than desired, Cincinnati could save some money by making sure to extend Higgins before the market for receivers inflates.

Latest On Eagles’ First-Round Options

April 14th, 2024 at 8:47pm CST by Ely Allen

The Eagles were able to avoid the hangover that has often haunted past Super Bowl runner ups, making the playoffs last year after an 11-6 regular season before falling in the Wild Card round to the Buccaneers. As a result, they hold the 22nd pick of the 2024 NFL Draft and will now be tasked with finding a player at that value to help them get back to the big game.

So, the question becomes: where on the roster could the Eagles use the most improvement? Cornerback has been a common position people have pointed to in Philadelphia, one of those people being Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports, and this year’s crop of draft prospects is well-suited to fill that need.

The team’s starters, Darius Slay (33) and James Bradberry (31), are aging and struggled in 2023, as did oft-injured veteran Avonte Maddox. Slay missed the final four games of the regular season and didn’t perform well in his playoff return. Bradberry rebounded horribly from his 2022 second-team All-Pro selection. After grading out as the league’s 27th best cornerback in 2022, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Bradberry ranked 100th of 127 graded corners in 2023.

Maddox had been released and re-signed after an injury-riddled 2022 season then only appeared in four games in 2023. The Eagles have young prospects in Kelee Ringo, Eli Ricks, and Josh Jobe who show promise, but none seem ready to take on a full-time role.

There are about four cornerbacks expected to go in the first round, and thanks to likely early runs at offensive positions, a number of them should still be around by the time Philadelphia selects. Top cornerback prospects like Alabama’s Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry, Clemson’s Nate Wiggins, Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell, and Iowa’s Cooper DeJean all stand a decent chance at becoming the Eagles’ first cornerback taken in the first round since Lito Sheppard in 2002.

ESPN’s Matt Miller offered up another possibility if Philadelphia opts not to draft a cornerback. Although not necessarily a position of need, Miler suggests that offensive tackle may be a target for the Eagles, pointing specifically to Oklahoma tackle Tyler Guyton, who has been training with Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson, a fellow Sooner. Philadelphia boasted an impressive bookend with Jordan Mailata and Johnson ranking as the league’s third- and 13th-best tackle in the league, per PFF. So why would they draft a tackle?

Miller points to the teams handling of Jason Kelce, whose eventual retirement seemed to loom every offseason. They attempted to stay ahead of the decision, drafting Nebraska center Cam Jurgens with the 2022 second-round pick. Miller see them potentially doing the same with Johnson, who turns 34 years old shortly after the draft. Guyton may be able to come in and essentially redshirt until a job opens up for him to take over.

Patriots Hosting Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy

April 14th, 2024 at 6:30pm CST by Ely Allen

The closer and closer we get to the 2024 NFL Draft, the more certain it seems that a run of quarterbacks will start the event. What continues to be entirely uncertain is the pecking order of passers following USC quarterback Caleb Williams. One popular name who continues to see his stock rise is Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who is set to visit the Patriots over the next two days, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

McCarthy originally entered the pre-draft process as a likely candidate to be selected outside of the first round. The former starter of the reigning College Football Playoff champion Wolverines, McCarthy flew up draft boards as the pre-draft process went on, essentially cementing his status as a likely Day 1 pick. As he’s continued to impress at the NFL scouting combine and Michigan’s pro day, McCarthy’s draft stock has risen even more, making a case not only to be a top-four draft pick, but also to be the No. 2 overall selection after Williams.

Following the Bears’ No. 1 overall pick, the Commanders and Patriots follow at Nos. 2 and 3. McCarthy visited Washington earlier this week, and now he’ll get out to New England for a visit with the Patriots. McCarthy has come a long way from being in danger of falling outside of the first round and is now garnering attention from two teams at the top of this month’s draft.

It’s not all up to McCarthy, though. LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels and North Carolina passer Drake Maye have long been in the conversation for the those second and third picks, as well. Maye saw the Commanders and Patriots comprise the largest NFL contingents at his pro day. Daniels, though, is seeming to be the favorite to be picked by Washington. If Daniels is, indeed, the choice at No. 2 overall, this weekend’s trip to New England could do a lot to affect the Patriots’ intentions at No. 3.

Of course, there’s always a chance that the Patriots could choose to trade back out of the third overall selection, not taking Maye, Daniels, or McCarthy, but that’s a very unlikely scenario. According to Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston, the price for New England to move out of the top three is likely going to be too high for any team to accomplish a move up into their draft slot.

So, McCarthy’s visit looms large. The 21-year-old will reportedly have dinner tonight with team officials before spending tomorrow in Foxborough for his visit. He’ll be the last out of himself, Daniels, and Maye to meet with the team, but if he can leave the best, lasting impression, he could find himself as the preferred option at No. 3, if he doesn’t get chosen by Washington at No. 2, of course.

WR Notes: Adams, Aiyuk, Bills

April 14th, 2024 at 4:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

Davante Adams has been mentioned in trade speculation on a number of occasions, but new Raiders general manager Tom Telesco has made it clear the team is not looking to find him a new home. Adams himself has offered a similar commitment.

“If I wanted to be gone, I’d be gone by now,” the three-time All-Pro said Sunday during an appearance at his youth camp (h/t Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal). Adams has been connected to the Jets in particular given New York’s addition of Aaron Rodgers last offseason, but the team has made other veteran WR plans. The Jets added Mike Williams on one-year deal after his Chargers release, leaving the Raiders in place to make Adams the focal point of their passing game for a third season.

Adams was among the members of Vegas’ core who endorsed giving Antonio Pierce – after finishing the 2023 campaign as interim head coach – the full-time gig for 2024. That wound up being the case, and the Raiders will no doubt lean heavily on the 31-year-old on offense with running back Josh Jacobs no longer in the fold and, potentially, a rookie quarterback competing for playing time with Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew. Three years remain on Adams’ deal (although no guaranteed salary is in place for 2025 or ’26).

Here are some other WR-related notes from around the league:

  • 49ers standout Brandon Aiyuk has seen his future questioned recently, despite comments from general manager John Lynch confirming the team’s willingness to get a new deal done. With little progress being made on extension talks, the former first-rounder unfollowed the 49ers on Instagram, as noted by NFL Network’s Clayton Holloway. While such a move has become increasingly common over the years during contract disputes, Aiyuk is not eyeing a deal sending him elsewhere. The 26-year-old has not requested a trade, per his agent. Aiyuk is set to earn $14.12MM on his fifth-year option in 2024 absent a more lucrative San Francisco agreement being worked out.
  • General manager Brandon Beane included edge rusher Von Miller as part of the Bills‘ party at least year’s Combine, and the latter intends to become a general manager once his playing days are over. Beane and Miller were linked once again on Friday when the future Hall of Famer posted a video with the caption reading in part: “Brandon Beane arriving to the 2024 NFL draft to trade up for a WR.” The Bills have been named as a team to watch on the receiver front in the draft, with Gabe Davis departing in free agency and Stefon Diggs being dealt to the Texans. While Buffalo has signed Curtis Samuel, the team could use a Day 1 rookie addition. The Bills currently own the 28th overall pick, and a move up the board could give them access to a number of highly-rated wideouts from the celebrated 2024 class.

Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Addresses Potential First-Round Trade

April 14th, 2024 at 2:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

In need of a long-term answer at quarterback, the Vikings have consistently been connected to a trade-up from the No. 11 spot to acquire one of the class’ top passers. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah recently confirmed there are multiple signal-callers the team is high on, but Minnesota could of course elect to remain in place if the asking price for a trade becomes too high.

“It’s a very deep class,” Adofo-Mensah said (via ESPN’s Kevin Seifert). “But I do think you have to be ready for every scenario. If there’s elite players at premium positions on the board, I don’t think you’re supposed to reach or force or anything like that. It’s just not what I believe, all the while understanding that [quarterback] is the most important position in the sport. So, it’s calculating both those things at the same time.”

When the Vikings pulled off a deal with the Texans to add the 23rd selection in April’s draft, rumors intensified that an aggressive move up the board could be in play. To that point, a recent report stated the team’s ownership is eyeing a high-profile investment under center, something which could require a costly trade-up maneuver (and, of course, a willing trade partner). Moving into the top five of the order would give Minnesota access to at least one member of the top QB tier and thus a successor to Sam Darnold.

The latter signed a one-year, $10MM deal in free agency to serve as a stopgap option following Kirk Cousins‘ departure. As Seifert notes, Adofo-Mensah was willing to hold firm on his valuation of Cousins, deciding against a commitment of guaranteed money beyond the first year of another new deal with the 35-year-old. Maintaining a similar approach in negotiations with teams currently holding premium draft picks could drive the Vikings to wait until Day 2 this April (or the 2025 draft) to find a development quarterback.

“You’re in a blind auction in a sense,” Adofo-Mensah added. “And you don’t know when the next person is going to raise their hand and call a name. And so, you’ve really just got to be strategic about how you position yourself… That’s how we’ve got to look at the board in every place. And then we’ll come up with our valuations for every player in that way, and we’ll make our calls and we’ll go from there. And ultimately, if the league is willing to do something that we are not willing to do, we can’t let that necessarily dictate our actions.”

Indeed, teams like the Raiders and Broncos are known to be in the market for a similar trade aimed at landing a top QB prospect. If Vegas and/or Denver is prepared to pay a higher price than Minnesota, the latter team could use its existing resources to fill other roster spots. Still, the Vikings have the draft capital needed to win a potential bidding war, and they will therefore remain a team to watch closely as the draft draws nearer.

5 Key Stories: 4/7/24 – 4/14/24

April 14th, 2024 at 1:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

The countdown to the draft continues, and teams around the league remain busy hosting prospects set to be selected at every point in the order. Plenty of intrigue is building regarding the teams positioned to add a potential franchise quarterback in particular, though some notable developments concerning established players have also taken place. Here is a quick recap of the NFL’s top stories from the past week:

  • Jags Extend Allen: Another franchise tag recipient landed a long-term deal when the Jaguars inked Josh Allen to a five-year extension. Falling in line with the deal Brian Burns landed upon arrival with the Giants, Allen secured $28.25MM in annual base value and $76.5MM guaranteed at signing. That places him near the top of the edge market and cements his status as a foundational member of Jacksonville’s defense for the foreseeable future. Allen, 26, set a new franchise record with 17.5 sacks in 2023 after failing to reach double digits in that regard each of the past three years. Repeating last season’s success would represent a major development for the Jaguars’ front seven.
  • Chiefs’ Rice Facing Eight Felony Charges: As expected, Rashee Rice now faces charges stemming from his involvement in a hit-and-run incident during which two vehicles which were racing were involved in a six-car crash. The Chiefs wideout – who was driving one of the cars – has been charged with eight felonies (seven counts related to collision involving bodily harm and one count of aggravated assault). Rice turned himself in to police and posted a $40K bail. The 23-year-old’s situation therefore remains one worth monitoring closely in terms of legal developments and the potential league discipline which could accompany them. Theodore Knox, a former teammate of Rice at SMU, was driving the other vehicle; he has been suspended from the Mustangs’ football team and he now faces the same charges as Rice.
  • Daniels Likely Commanders’ Selection At No. 2? The Commanders represent a key turning point in the upcoming draft by owning the second overall pick. With Caleb Williams likely to come off the board first, Washington will have a choice of Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy and Jayden Daniels at the No. 2 slot. Many around the league expect the latter to be the Commanders’ ultimate selection, although the team has ‘top-30’ visits lined up with all three passers. Daniels won the Heisman in 2023, his second season at LSU. The Arizona State transfer has drawn praise for his processing as a passer along with his rushing abilities, but concerns over his age and build have been raised. Whichever rookie heads to the nation’s capital this summer will likely have the chance to compete for the starter’s gig right away, and Daniels’ floor could position him well to see early playing time in 2024.
  • Bucs, Winfield Making Progress On Market-Setting Extension: Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. remains on track to play on his franchise tag in 2024. That one-year pact carries a value of $17.12MM, but a more lucrative long-term agreement could be on the horizon. Optimism exists Winfield and the Buccaneers could work out a deal making him the league’s highest-paid player at his position. While the veteran safety market took a notable hit ahead of this year’s free agent period, keeping Winfield in place for years to come would likely prove to be a valuable move on Tampa Bay’s part. The second-generation defensive back earned first-team All-Pro acclaim in 2023, and at the age of 25 he is positioned to be a staple of the team’s backend for years to come. GM Jason Licht is confident a deal with both Winfield and standout left tackle Tristan Wirfs can be hammered out.
  • Eagles Begin Smith Extension Talks: Like Winfield, DeVonta Smith could soon have a second contract in hand. The latter is now negotiating an Eagles extension, and optimism exists an agreement can be worked out relatively soon. Smith has been a key figure in Philadelphia’s passing game during his three-year tenure, reaching the 1,000-yard mark in each of the past two campaigns. The Eagles’ offense already features a number of lucrative commitments (from quarterback Jalen Hurts to offensive linemen Landon Dickerson, Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson as well as fellow receiver A.J. Brown). Smith – who will no doubt have his fifth-year option picked up this spring, keeping him in place through 2025 – could be in line to command a sizable raise compared to his rookie pact, though. No wideouts have been extended in their first offseason of eligibility during the era of fifth-year options, so it will be interesting to see if a Smith pact can be finalized this spring or summer.

Andrew Luck Did Not Consider Resuming Playing Career

April 14th, 2024 at 12:12pm CST by Rory Parks

Andrew Luck returned to Indianapolis on Friday, nearly five years after he shocked the football world by announcing his retirement at the age of 29. As Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star writes, Luck was in town for the 12th annual Chuckstrong Tailgate Gala, a fundraising event for cancer research held by former Colts head coach Chuck Pagano (Luck’s first HC as a pro).

Since Luck left the league, his name has naturally popped up now and again on PFR pages. Even after the first two seasons of the post-Luck era were in the books, Colts owner Jim Irsay was still holding out hope that the No. 1 overall pick of the 2012 draft would return, and the Commanders briefly discussed a Luck pursuit in the 2022 offseason (a discussion which led to a brief tampering controversy, as Indianapolis still controls Luck’s rights).

All of those reports have suggested that Luck did not waver in his retirement decision. Then-HC Frank Reich said in 2020 that he did not expect Luck to return to the field, and longtime Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton said in 2021 that his former teammate was having “the time of his life” in retirement.

And, during this past Friday’s fundraiser, we heard straight from the (former) horse’s mouth that Luck never felt the urge to unretire and resume his playing career.

“When I retired, that part of it was put to bed in my mind in a very simple, sort of direct way,” Luck said. “There were a lot of complications around it, you know, certainly tormented inside, as you guys saw that night, but I think that part of it has stayed.”

The “torment” he references — which was evident in his press conference announcing his retirement — stemmed from the fact that he still loved the sport, the competition, and his teammates. However, as Erickson succinctly puts it, Luck’s career had become “a cycle of pain, injury and rehab that he did not want to pursue anymore.”

That said, Luck does feel that he owes a debt to football. “I have certainly realized I still love this game, and I want to have it integrated in my life,” Luck said. “It’s just, it’s got to be different. Football gave me a lot. A lot. Most importantly, again, the relationships and the experiences with people that I loved. … I think part of me feels, and I don’t mean this in a cheesy way, but part of me feels like, you know, it’s my turn to give back to this game.”

The Stanford product returned to school to obtain a master’s degree in education, which he hopes to use in youth sports in some fashion. To that end, he serves as a part-time coach for Palo Alto High, though it is unclear if he ultimately wants to pursue coaching on a full-time basis.

At a time when 46-year-old Tom Brady is contemplating the possibility of a second “un-retirement,” and when other players like Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, and Matthew Stafford — who are all older than the 34-year-old Luck — are still starting-caliber options, a four-time Pro Bowler who walked away in the prime of a potential Hall of Fame career explains that he never considered coming back. If nothing else, that underscores the magnitude of the emotional and physical beating that Luck endured during his final several years as an active player.

Although his retirement decision was clearly a difficult one, the peace that Luck was quickly able to make with it suggests that it was also the right one.

Cowboys To Move Markquese Bell Back To Safety

April 14th, 2024 at 11:07am CST by Rory Parks

A collegiate safety, Markquese Bell joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and played in just 22 defensive snaps in his rookie season. In 2023, he was moved to linebacker and given a much larger workload, and he acquitted himself rather nicely.

In 17 games (eight starts) last year, Bell racked up 94 total tackles to go along with four passes defensed and two forced fumbles. He also fared well in the eyes of the advanced metrics, with Pro Football Focus assigning him a 76.8 overall grade that ranked 18th out of 74 qualified players. His 83.5 coverage grade, perhaps a function of his safety background, was the fifth-highest mark among his LB peers.

Former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn left Dallas to become the Commanders’ head coach this offseason, and his replacement, Mike Zimmer, will be moving Bell back to his natural safety position, as David Moore of the Dallas Morning News confirms. Zimmer prefers to have good size at the linebacker spots, and Bell — who is listed at 205 pounds — does not offer that. Plus, despite his PFF rankings, Bell’s lack of size and lack of experience as an LB were exposed at times last season, including the Cowboys’ stunning playoff ouster at the hands of the Packers.

Dallas has already reunited Zimmer with former Vikings charge Eric Kendricks, who will operate alongside Damone Clark and DeMarvion Overshown. Clark started all 17 games for Dallas in 2023 and compiled 109 tackles, though the 2022 fifth-rounder sometimes struggled with the increased responsibilities. Overshown, a 2023 third-rounder, had a promising camp and was expected to take on a meaningful role as a rookie, but a preseason ACL tear kept him off the field for the entirety of the campaign.

Despite Kendricks’ veteran presence and the upside of Clark and Overshown, Moore still believes that the linebacker unit is the weak link of the Dallas defense. The fact that the Cowboys are moving Bell out of that group is further indication that they plan to select an LB in the early stages of the upcoming draft. We recently heard that the club does not plan to use its first-round choice on the position, but in Moore’s estimation, a Day 2 selection would be more than defensible.

The team scheduled “30” visits with Michigan’s Junior Colson and Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper, and Moore names Ohio State’s Tommy Eichenberg and Clemson’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr.  as other potential targets. Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, meanwhile, hears that the Cowboys “really like” NC State prospect Payton Wilson (subscription required).

Dallas has starting safeties Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson on lucrative multi-year pacts; Hooker’s deal runs through 2026, while Wilson is under club control through 2025. Therefore, Bell may not be a starting safety, but given his relative success last season, Zimmer should find a way to get him on the field often.

Chiefs’ Louis Rees-Zammit On 2024 Role

April 14th, 2024 at 9:45am CST by Rory Parks

When former Gloucester Rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit signed with the Chiefs late last month, it was reported that he would be utilized in a running back/wide receiver hybrid role as well as in the return game. As the player himself recently noted, he will primarily be deployed as a return specialist.

Rees-Zammit, 23, entered the NFL via the league’s International Player Pathway program and also drew interest from the Jets, Browns, and Broncos. He indicated that he chose Kansas City over his other suitors because of the clarity of the vision that the Chiefs’ coaching staff has for him, which includes a focus on return duties.

“Yeah, so the plan we’ve got is, obviously, the new kickoff rules this year are absolutely massive,” Rees-Zammit said (via Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com). “That’s where my main position is going to be. So I’ve got to fight to be a starter in that positon this year.”

Of course, the new kickoff rules that Rees-Zammit references are those that were recently approved by league owners and that are laid out by ESPN’s Jeff Darlington here. The special teams coordinators who crafted the changes are hoping for a kickoff return rate of at least 80% in 2024 after just 21.7% of kickoffs were returned in 2023. The modifications have already had an impact on roster decisions; we recently learned that the Steelers initiated contract talks with All-Pro returner Cordarrelle Patterson when talks on the new rules were gaining steam, and the Ravens’ recent acquisition of Deonte Harty was motivated at least in part by Harty’s return abilities.

The Chiefs returned just 12 total kickoffs in 2023, nine of which were handled by Richie James, who is presently a free agent. James also led Kansas City with 20 punt returns, and it is certainly possible that, if Rees-Zammit makes the club, he will be tasked with punt return work as well.

The Welshman did indicate that he would not be limited to the third phase of American football, and that he would have a role in KC’s offense. He certainly possesses the athletic traits to do so, having posted a 4.43-second 40-yard dash time, 9’7″ broad jump, and 29″ vertical jump during his pro day.

Ultimately, though, his chances of cracking the roster and his contributions will depend on how quickly he picks up the game.

“And then it’s within the offense, it’s about how quick I can learn the playbook,” he said. “Because, you know, we’ve got a plan to put me in various positions, play out the backfield at running back, be a slot receiver, just being able to use me as much as possible and be creative with me. So it’s all about me learning the playbook and getting the chemistry with all the players on offense to be able to use me.”

Jets Interested In Trading Down From No. 10; Team Eyeing First-Round Tackle?

April 13th, 2024 at 10:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles tear prevented the Packers from picking up the Jets’ 2024 first-round pick, as the future Hall of Fame quarterback well miles short of the 65% snap threshold. But the Jets do enter this draft without a second-rounder due to the terms of the Rodgers swap.

The Packers obtained the Jets’ No. 41 overall pick, leaving the AFC East team without a choice between its first-round slot (No. 10) and third-round pick (72). The Jets would be interested in adding another Day 2 choice and would be ready to move down from 10 to make that happen. The Jets would ideally like to add a second-round pick — or at least a top-100 selection — by moving down from 10, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini notes.

This draft’s run on quarterbacks is expected to take place before the Jets go on the clock at 10, with the Cardinals’ No. 4 overall slot potentially the place QB-needy teams will target to climb up. The Chargers have also expressed a willingness to trade down from 5. By the time the Jets are picking, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy will almost certainly be off the board. That would stand to limit the interest in the team’s No. 10 pick, though Cimini adds the team is interested in selling its top choice to one of the QB-needy clubs.

This would probably require Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. to generate enough interest it entices the Broncos (No. 12) or Raiders (No. 13) to fork over an asset to be sure of landing one of the draft’s top six passers.

The Raiders may not have a uniform opinion of how to proceed at quarterback in this draft, with a rumor indicating their top two decision-makers are split on a trade-up maneuver. The Broncos are believed to want to move up, but they are limited regarding draft capital. Also down a second-rounder from the Sean Payton trade, Denver may be more likely to move down in hopes of Nix still being on the board. The Vikings (No. 11) have made their intention of finding a long-term passer fairly clear, and despite the franchise never drafting a QB in the top 10, it is ready to move up to acquire a Kirk Cousins successor.

A team like the Giants not selecting a QB at 10 and then considering a move back into Round 1 for a passer could be something to monitor, and a climb back into the top 10 would outflank the Broncos or Raiders. That would also be costly, as the Giants do not pick again until No. 47. The Jets also are probably not interested in dropping that far, as they have a rather important Rodgers-centric season approaching.

If the Jets stick at No. 10, they would have a bevy of first-round tackle options awaiting. Joe Douglas is likely interested in adding a long-term option to initially work behind Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. This would be an interesting move for a team with its GM and HC on hot seats, as a first-round tackle would not have a direct path to the starting lineup in 2024. Of course, Smith’s injury history — and the injury trouble the Jets have encountered up front over the past two years — will obviously make an O-line move worth considering. Joe Alt visited recently.

Then again, if one of this class’ top three receivers is still on the board at 10, that would be difficult to pass on. The Jets have hosted Rome Odunze on a “30” visit and has another meeting scheduled with Malik Nabers. Georgia tight end Brock Bowers may also be in play for a team committed to maximizing Rodgers after a lost year.

On the O-line front, the Jets are set to meet with Washington’s Troy Fautanu on Wednesday, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz tweets. Already visiting the Jaguars, Ravens, Bengals, Steelers and Eagles, Fautanu is expected to be one of several tackles to come off the board in Round 1.

Some teams are projecting Fautanu as a guard, per NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, who views the former Huskies standout as a tackle. ESPN.com’s Mel Kiper Jr. agrees with the teams that slot Fautanu as a guard. Fautanu spent most of his Pac-12 career at tackle, starting only two career games at guard. The Jets gave John Simpson a multiyear deal and are moving Alijah Vera-Tucker back to guard; with Smith and Moses north of 32 and each on one-year deals, Gang Green is much needier at tackle.

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