Cowboys Aiming For WR Addition
In 2025, CeeDee Lamb will of course operate as the focal point of the Cowboys’ passing attack. The team is lacking in depth beyond him at the receiver position as things stand, so to no surprise an addition is being sought out. 
“We’re still open to looking at a really explosive number two that could upgrade us,” Stephen Jones told the media at the league meetings (via the team’s website). “But as I said, I like our room and certainly like the players we currently have.”
Dallas re-signed returner KaVontae Turpin to a three-year, $13.5MM deal this offseason. He has seen his offensive usage increase each year to date, and a continuation of that trend could result in a rotational role in the passing game. The Cowboys’ lone outside WR addition so far is Parris Campbell, who should not be considered a roster lock based on his play with the Colts and Eagles.
Even if Turpin and Campbell wind up carving out a role, though, Dallas could stand to add at the position. Veteran Brandin Cooks departed by returning to the Saints, leaving a vacancy after he spent two years as a veteran No. 2 option. The Cowboys could turn to free agency for an experienced pass-catcher; ex-Dallas wideout Amari Cooper, along with the likes of Keenan Allen, Tyler Lockett, Tyler Boyd and Elijah Moore remain unsigned.
Jones recently said the Cowboys were not finished in free agency, even though many teams often wait until after the draft to make moves on the open market at this point of the offseason. Efforts to make a short-term acquisition could very well include adding at the WR spot. Dallas currently has roughly $36.66MM in cap space, although internal moves like extensions for Micah Parsons and several others need to be accounted for as well.
“Yes. We could,” Jerry Jones confirmed (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) when asked if the Cowboys could make an addition prior to the draft. “We certainly don’t know that because to do either or, that I’m anticipating, involves other teams. But I would suspect we may do something.”
Indeed, a trade – like the one which brought in Jonathan Mingo from the Panthers in 2024 – could be explored to make a move or two at any number of positions. Receiver in particular looms as one to watch for as the offseason unfolds.
Panthers Planning S Addition
The Panthers made a number of lucrative additions on the defensive side of the ball early in free agency. That effort included a three-year deal for Tre’von Moehrig, but more can be expected at the safety position. 
Moehrig enjoyed a strong walk year in 2024, his fourth and final campaign with the Raiders. The 25-year-old posted 104 tackles, adding a pair of interceptions, 10 pass deflections and two fumble recoveries. Moehrig has established himself as a notable contributor near the line of scrimmage in particular, and a workload along those lines in Carolina would not come as a surprise.
The Panthers’ depth chart also includes veteran Nick Scott and 2024 UDFA Demani Richardson. Bringing in one or more contributors through free agency or the draft could bring about competition for a starting gig or depth in the secondary. Especially after losing Xavier Woods on the open market, adding a deep safety to complement Moehrig’s skillset would be a feasible approach.
“We’ll see what happens there,” general manager Dan Morgan said when speaking about the safety position (via the team’s website). “The numbers aren’t where they need to be there, but we’ll get there, and, you know, we just gotta stay patient, stay with the plan, and let it happen. But in terms of a ball hawk on the backside, yeah, we’re going to look for somebody, we’re going to look for players to take the ball away. Who that is, I don’t know, but we’re actively pursuing and we’ll be aggressive when the time comes.”
Carolina recently hosted free agent Julian Blackmon on a visit, and Morgan noted the same is true of Marcus Williams. Blackmon remained a Colts starter while playing on a one-year deal in 2024, while Williams was benched midway through the season before expectedly being released by the Ravens. A deal with one of those – or another experienced option like Justin Simmons – would add a starting-caliber option to the mix.
The Panthers are one of many teams which have conducted a pre-draft visit with Nick Emmanwori. The South Carolina product is seen as one of the two first-round safety prospects in this year’s class (Georgia’s Malaki Starks being the other), although taking him eighth overall would be seen by many as a reach. In any case, the Panthers are worth watching with respect to adding further at the safety spot before the season begins.
Bears Eyeing CB Kyler Gordon Extension
Kyler Gordon is among the extension candidates on Chicago’s roster, and a new deal was floated as a likely objective for the team earlier this offseason. The latest comments on that front from general manager Ryan Poles confirm that is the case. 
“That will still be a priority,” Poles said of a Gordon extension (via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin). “For me, in our exit meetings at the end of last season, I told all the guys in terms of future, if it was contracts, coming back… the important thing is I’ve got to get with our new coaching staff and kind of see how the different players fit based on the scheme. We’ve been able to have those conversations and I know Kyler is a guy that we want to be a part of this moving forward.
“So the timing of that, I’m not sure how that all is going work out, but that is a priority.”
A second-round pick in 2022, Gordon has established himself as a core member of Chicago’s secondary. He has made 34 starts to date, and another campaign of primarily operating in the slot can be expected for 2025. The 25-year-old could command a lucrative deal on the open market next offseason if he gets the opportunity, especially if he builds off his five career interceptions and 17 pass breakups.
Given Poles’ remarks, though, it is clear avoiding such as scenario is a goal for the Bears. Chicago made a major investment in fellow corner Jaylon Johnson last offseason, inking him to a four-year, $76MM extension after using the franchise tag. Adding considerably to the resources devoted to the secondary with a second Gordon contract would lead to challenges at other positions, of course, but especially with quarterback Caleb Williams on his rookie deal doing so would be feasible.
Tyrique Stevenson has started all but two games to date in his career, and he could again find himself as a first-team option next season. As Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes, though, Terell Smith could compete for that role this summer. Regardless of how that shakes out, adding further options at the position could be a goal during the draft, Biggs adds. Any moves for slot corners would be viewed as a depth addition, given Gordon’s presence on a defense which will be led by Dennis Allen moving forward.
The Washington product is slated to earn $1.89MM in 2025 as things stand. That figure could rise considerably in the form of a signing bonus should a long-term pact be worked out, something to watch for as the offseason unfolds.
Titans Cancel Travis Hunter Workout
It was learned earlier today the Titans will not conduct a private workout with quarterback Shedeur Sanders. One had been on the books, with the same being true of his Colorado teammate Travis Hunter. 
Now, though, Tennessee will also pass on a Hunter workout. The Ringer’s Todd McShay notes no workout with the Heisman winner will take place. That represents another sign Miami quarterback Cam Ward will hear his name called first overall when the draft kicks off later this month. In addition, it obviously brings about further intrigue about where Hunter will wind up.
The Titans had already narrowed down their list of options for the top pick to the prospects frequently linked to the top of the board. Ward, Hunter, Sanders and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter were recently named by head coach Brian Callahan as those receiving consideration. One or more members of the Colorado pair could still be in play, of course, and the same applies to Carter. Barring a trade down – something which some in the building support – though, Ward can be expected to operate as Tennessee’s next starting signal-caller.
As for Hunter, McShay echoes previous reporting which points to the Browns leaning in that direction. Cleveland owns the second overall pick, and taking Hunter would likely allow the team to make a notable addition at the receiver position. The Browns are believed to see the two-way standout primarily as an offensive player, and in general the sentiment around the league seems to have shifted that way (after previously being pointed toward Hunter playing mainly as a cornerback).
The Browns entered the offseason in need of a starting quarterback with Deshaun Watson likely to miss a portion of the 2025 season (if not the entire campaign). The team swung a deal for former first-rounder Kenny Pickett, but more additions could be coming. Cleveland has frequently been linked to a Kirk Cousins acquisition. It remains to be seen if the Falcons will be prepared to trade him, however, and if a team will be willing to absorb most of his scheduled 2025 compensation in the process.
Selecting Hunter could ultimately result in Pickett – whose brief run as the Steelers’ starter did not go as planned – handling QB1 duties in Cleveland, or the team could add a rookie later in the draft. Either way, the Browns are the team worth watching the closest with respect to his stock at this point as the Titans further signal their intentions at the top of the board.
Serious Discussions On 18-Game Schedule Yet To Begin; 2027 Implementation Possible
In the lead-in to the recent league meetings, it was reported talks on expanding the NFL schedule to 18 regular season games would likely be a topic of serious discussion. That did not prove to be the case, but the universal expectation remains that adding one regular season contest is a goal the league will accomplish soon. 
“I would say that there’s a lot of talk about it,” Cowboys owner (and strong proponent of an 18-game slate) Jerry Jones said (via Mark Maske of the Washington Post). “But certainly it’s in the future…. But it wasn’t really a main topic [at this year’s league meetings].”
The league is expected to ramp up efforts on working out an arrangement to implement an 18-game schedule this offseason. Any agreement on that front needs to be collectively bargained, and the current CBA runs through the 2030 campaign. A deal could be reached well before that point, though, and it would come as no surprise if negotiations with the NFLPA picked up with a more firm target in place.
On that point, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports the 2027 season is viewed as the earliest point at which an 18-game schedule could be instituted. That falls in line with previous indications regarding schedule expansion, as well as the views of many other observers. The date for each of the next two Super Bowls is already locked in, but that is not the case for the one which will conclude the 2027 season. Finalizing the details for Super Bowl LXII could very well wait until a new scheduling agreement is in place. The timing of new media rights agreements (which could be re-negotiated after the 2029 campaign) also looms as a factor in this situation.
The possibility of removing one exhibition contest and adding a second bye week to the season has been raised as part of the discussion on scheduling changes. Doing each of those – along with starting the year on Labor Day weekend – would line up the Super Bowl on Presidents Day, something commissioner Roger Goodell has spoken in favor of. In addition to adding a bye week (something viewed as “non-negotiable” from its perspective), the union has been linked to seeking concessions on issues like compensation, travel and roster size to get finalize an agreement.
NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell initially struck a tone suggesting he would be open to discussing an expanded schedule, although more recently he has publicly confirmed there is no appetite for the move amongst players. In spite of that, Jones’ report (which notes no formal presentation was made to owners about a revised schedule) states the matter of 18 games was treated as “a fait accompli” at the league meetings. Alterations to the offseason setup, including a shortened or removed voluntary workout program and a longer training camp period, could accompany a new schedule format.
Jones adds that tanking remains a potential concern for the NFL. Lengthening the season would open the door to additional games amongst teams eyeing the coming draft more than a competitive end to the campaign. That factor has informed matters like the hesitation to move back the trade deadline, one of many matters which could be subject to change in the event an 18-game schedule were to come into existence. While nothing is imminent on that front, 2027 represents a logical timeframe for all parties involved to keep in mind.
Bengals Approaching Deadline On Stadium Lease Agreement
Negotiations are ongoing between the Bengals and Hamilton County over the future of Paycor Stadium. A June 30 deadline looms which will play a key role in deciding how the franchise proceeds with respect to its location. 
The Bengals will have to choose by that date on exercising an option to maintain the current lease with Paycor Stadium and thus remain in the downtown Cincinnati area. Doing so would represent the first of five two-year rolling extensions of the current agreement. Talks on an deal for stadium renovations have not yielded much in the way of recent progress, however.
“We wish there was a little more urgency and it was moving faster,” EVP Katie Blackburn said at the annual league meetings, via Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic (subscription required). “I do believe that the county would like to get something done. We just seem to be very slow in making it happen.”
Finances are among the issues yet to be worked out in this case. A $1.3 billion renovation project was proposed in September, but no arrangement has been made with respect to how it would be funded. Use of state money could be an option, although nothing has been decided in that respect yet. A consultant was recently hired by the county to help bridge the gap between the parties; unless significant progress can be made in the coming weeks, though, the situation could notably change.
In the event the Bengals do not pick up the option by the looming deadline, the team’s lease will expire on June 30, 2026. If that were to be the case, the door would be open to the team exploring other locations for the future. Such a scenario would be unlikely, but discussions on that front will no doubt increase unless an agreement can be reached shortly.
“We could, I guess, go wherever we wanted after this year if we didn’t pick the option up,” Blackburn added. “We’ll see… We are having discussions, and so we’re hopeful that the county is thinking about it a lot, too, and wants to get it addressed in a way that would be beneficial to both of us.”
Blackburn noted the Bengals’ affinity for remaining in place as negotiations continue. Depending on how they proceed, the possibility of a change in location could become a key talking point for the franchise this offseason.
Shedeur Sanders To Work Out With Browns; Titans Visit Canceled
APRIL 5: In the wake of Colorado’s pro day, Titans officials met with Sanders and his camp. A decision was made to cancel his Tennessee workout, as noted by team reporter Jim Wyatt. Ward remains the favorite to go No. 1 in the draft, and this development certainly represents another indication that will be the case.
MARCH 27: Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders will privately work out for the Titans and the Browns, who hold the first and second overall picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. The workouts are scheduled for the days following Colorado’s April 4 pro day, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Sanders has already spent time with both teams; he interviewed with the Titans at the East-West Shrine Bowl in January and went to Cleveland on a top-30 visit at the beginning of March.
At the moment, Sanders is not the expected pick for either team. The Titans are working out Miami quarterback Cam Ward for a second time on Friday, and the Browns are “leaning towards” Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter at No. 2.
But with the draft still a month away, nothing is set in stone. Last month, the Titans were expected to trade the first pick and the Browns were trying to fend off Myles Garrett trade suitors. Now, Tennessee appears to view Ward as its quarterback of the future, and Cleveland signed Garrett to a massive extension.
Garrett’s trade request partially stemmed from the Browns’ lack of direction at quarterback. While his $40MM APY seems like enough motivation on its own, he insisted the extension wasn’t only about money. Garrett also said on a podcast (via the Browns’ social media) that he has an idea of who the Browns will start at quarterback in 2025 and likes it enough to stay in Cleveland.
However, the Browns’ only quarterback addition this offseason was Kenny Pickett. Dorian Thompson-Robinson was sent to the Eagles as part of the deal to acquire Pickett, and both Jameis Winston and Bailey Zappe signed with other teams in free agency. The Browns also missed out on Russell Wilson, leaving 2024 backups like Joe Flacco and Carson Wentz as Cleveland’s remaining options.
That quarterback room doesn’t inspire much confidence, indicating the Browns still have another plan to address the position. That could involve drafting Sanders (or another rookie QB), or a post-draft trade for Kirk Cousins.
Mike McDaniel Addresses Tyreek Hill’s Dolphins Future; Latest On Terron Armstead
For a player who received a $54MM guarantee last summer, despite three years remaining on his previous contract, Tyreek Hill keeps coming up in trade rumors. This can be expected given how the mercurial star’s 2024 season ended.
More Hill social media inferences toward a potential Miami departure surfaced recently. Though Twitter emojis do not exactly qualify as significant trade buzz, Hill having checked himself out of the Dolphins’ Week 18 game and then casting doubt about his Miami future postgame obviously did. Noise about a Hill South Beach exit has persisted.
GM Chris Grier said in January no Hill trade request had come out of the strange Week 18 development, and while Mike McDaniel said such behavior will not be tolerated going forward. Several weeks later, the fourth-year Miami HC did indicate he expects to keep working with the future Hall of Famer.
[RELATED: Dolphins’ Calais Campbell Offer Leads To Cardinals Deal]
“I can certainly say with certainty that at this certain moment,” McDaniel said when asked about Hill’s 2025 Dolphins status (via the Miami Herald’s C. Isaiah Smalls II), later adding “We are fully planning to move forward for a better version of our relationship with Tyreek.”
Hill made an effort to recommit to the Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa in February, but his name continued to come up in trade rumors soon after. The Dolphins have the veteran speedster on their books through 2026; trading Hill before June 1 would cost the team $28.29MM in dead money. Only Stefon Diggs, via his 2024 Bills-to-Texans move, brought a larger dead cap hit among receivers.
While it would benefit the Dolphins to retain Hill, moving him ahead of an age-31 season would presumably bring more value than dealing him at 32. Miami having Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle on big-ticket deals also would make a cost-conserving effort logical, but for now, the team still rosters Hill. The period leading up to the draft represents the next trade window, one that would likely close on Day 2 of the draft.
Although Hill is coming off an injury-plagued season, he effectively cinched up Hall of Fame entry one day by stacking back-to-back 1,700-yard seasons on a resume that included a host of productive Chiefs campaigns. With injuries preventing Tagovailoa from finishing six games, however, Hill’s production cratered; he finished with 959 yards in 17 games. Hill underwent an offseason procedure on his wrist, and the Dolphins will hope — barring a strong offer prying him from Miami — he can recapture his pre-2024 form.
Hill’s fourth Dolphins offense may be unlikely to include Terron Armstead, who is still mulling retirement. While injury prone, the accomplished tackle has continued to play well. He is coming off a 15-game season, matching a career-high mark, but reports earlier this offseason pointed to a retirement and Patrick Paul taking over at left tackle. McDaniel, however, has not received word Armstead is done.
“We have had unbelievable amount of conversations about his body and how he feels. I think, tied into that, where he’s at relative to other years and how we can realistically forecast that, I think that’s going to really shape the answer to that question,” said McDaniel, who expects (via the Herald’s Barry Jackson) a decision soon. “It hasn’t ever been about Terron’s play, right? It’s been about how he’s been available, and he’s been straining to be more available for us than a counterpart would. He’s played through a lot of stuff.”
A February report suggested Armstead would reduce his base salary to the veteran minimum to lighten the cap burden on the Dolphins, as the Pro Bowler’s salary is nonguaranteed. If Armstead is to make a surprising return for his age-34 season, the Dolphins would need to regroup and work with him on a salary well north of the vet minimum. Pro Football Focus graded Armstead as the NFL’s fourth-best tackle last season. A 2024 second-rounder, Paul played 337 offensive snaps as a rookie.
NFC West Notes: Greenlaw, Seahawks, Rams
Not only did the Broncos manage to withstand an 11th-hour 49ers push for Dre Greenlaw, the AFC West team appears to have won out for the talented linebacker despite submitting a lesser offer. Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch trekked to Greenlaw’s Texas home to convince the longtime Fred Warner wingman to stay, and the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch notes this mid-March meeting involved the team topping the Broncos’ offer. It is not known if San Francisco beat Denver’s overall number ($31.5MM) or guarantee at signing ($11.5MM), but Branch points to Greenlaw’s injury history keeping the 49ers from a substantial effort to retain the six-year veteran, who was on the team’s radar for a third contract. Greenlaw, 27, missed most of the 2021 season with a groin injury and played only a handful of snaps after suffering an Achilles tear in the first half of Super Bowl LVIII.
The Broncos will bet on Greenlaw and ex-49ers teammate Talanoa Hufanga returning to full strength, while the 49ers have Dee Winters — a 2023 sixth-round pick who started 10 games last season — in place as the top internal option to complement Warner. The draft could change this equation, but the 49ers have stood down on the veteran front after their regrettable De’Vondre Campbell stopgap investment in 2024.
Here is the latest from the NFC West:
- Not on the level of Greenlaw’s departure, Laken Tomlinson‘s Texans defection still leaves the Seahawks with a guard need once again. The team hosted Teven Jenkins, Lucas Patrick, and John Schneider also said (via ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson) a meeting with Jaguars RFA Cole Van Lanen occurred. No offer sheet emerged for Van Lanen, who has three career starts. The Jags gave Van Lanen the low-end RFA tender ($3.26MM). Seattle still has RG starter Anthony Bradford contracted, but Schneider said no veteran addition would be likely until after the draft. That is when Tomlinson arrived last year, but the draft will be a place to look here for the Seahawks.
- Cooper Kupp‘s three-year, $45MM Seahawks deal features an important 2026 date. The team guaranteed the former All-Pro receiver $17.5MM at signing, but $26.5MM in total. Kupp will see the remaining $9MM shift from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the ’26 league year, Cards Wire’s Howard Balzer notes. Seattle could escape the Kupp contract, should the homecoming not prove a fit, for $8MM in 2026 dead money (due to signing bonus proration).
- Additionally, the Rams did not designate Kupp a post-June 1 cut, The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue adds. This created a $22.26MM dead money bill for the team. It had been assumed the Rams would attempt to halve that by using the post-June 1 option, which would have spread part of the bill into the 2026 offseason. Although this is a lofty single-player dead cap hit, the Rams will be free of the Kupp contract after this year.
- The Seahawks will deviate from their usual approach by adding a fullback, it appears. Importing Klint Kubiak‘s offense will mean a likely fullback inclusion, as Schneider said (via The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar) the team is looking to add one via the draft or free agency. While the likes of Mack Strong and John L. Williams once thrived in Seattle, the team has not used a fullback regularly in many years. Kubiak’s offense, derived from his father’s attack, does make use of the niche position, however.
- Returning to the topic of Seahawks contracts, they made a much cheaper receiver investment by signing Marquez Valdes-Scantling. The brief Kubiak Saints option agreed to a one-year deal worth $4MM in base value ($3MM guaranteed), per ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson. While this is far less than MVS played for in Kansas City, it beats his Buffalo and New Orleans pacts.
- The Cardinals‘ second Zay Jones contract also checked in south of the initially reported value. Pegged at $4.4MM, Jones’ deal is worth $2.4MM in base value, Balzer notes. Arizona guaranteed the veteran only $1.3MM. Jones, who turned 30 last week, caught just eight passes for 84 yards with the Cards last season.
Cardinals To Meet With James Pearce, Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams
The Cardinals let Chandler Jones walk in free agency during the 2022 offseason, and they lost all-time great J.J. Watt and eventual All-Pro Zach Allen in 2023. Arizona did not come especially close to picking up the pieces during the 2023 and ’24 seasons, but the team’s offseason has acknowledged the need for a better pass rush.
After re-signing trade pickup Baron Browning, the Cardinals reunited Jonathan Gannon with Josh Sweat. PFR’s No. 2-ranked free agent joined the team on a four-year, $76.4MM deal. It does not appear the Cards are content with Browning, Zaven Collins and BJ Ojulari as Sweat’s complementary pieces, as some high-profile “30” visits are on tap.
Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams and James Pearce Jr. are set to meet with the team, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. Dennis Gardeck‘s six-sack season in 2023 represents Arizona’s highwater mark post-Watt, with converted ILB Collins leading the way with just five in 2024.
The Cards extended Collins last year, giving the former Steve Keim-era first-round pick a two-year, $14MM deal. Collins is signed through 2026, but nothing is guaranteed beyond this season. L.J. Collier is also back, but the ex-Seahawks first-round EDGE is on a one-year, $3MM accord that comes with $1.5MM guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. A $1MM incentive package is included in Collier’s second Cards contract.
With Sweat headlining this group, the Cardinals have the makings of a far more formidable pass rush — one that includes 2024 first-round D-lineman Darius Robinson — compared to recent years, but their “30” visits indeed point to a strong interest in making another high-level investment to strengthen its pressure cadre. It would almost definitely take a first-round pick to land Walker, Williams or Pearce. The Cardinals hold the No. 16 overall pick.
Walker sits fifth on Daniel Jeremiah’s latest NFL.com big board, making it rather unlikely he falls to No. 16. While last year’s draft seeing no defender go in the top 14 brought an early imbalance, an abundance of quarterback selections made that possible. No QB run is expected beyond Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders this year, which will likely see this draft’s top non-Abdul Carter defenders go earlier.
A backup during Georgia’s 2022 national championship-winning season, Walker began to play a bigger role in the latter slate. Over the past two seasons, Walker combined for 11.5 sacks. Last season, he posted 11 tackles for loss en route to All-American acclaim. Walker has experience on and off the ball, which is rather familiar territory for a Cardinals team that drafted both Collins and Haason Reddick.
Respectively sitting 22nd and 26th on Jeremiah’s board, Williams and Pearce may well be available at No. 16. A Walker Georgia teammate, Williams played more than his slightly higher-regarded teammate as a freshman and closed his college career with 14 sacks in three seasons. Williams finished with nine TFLs and two forced fumbles in 2024. He earned second-team All-SEC honors last year but played through a sprained ankle during his final Bulldogs slate. Pearce was more productive than either, combining for 17.5 sacks from 2023-24; this included an SEC-leading 10 in ’23. The Saints (No. 9 overall) have also come up as a potential Pearce suitor.
The Panthers, who boast a bigger EDGE need compared to the Cardinals, also met with Walker, ESPN.com’s David Newton notes. Carolina holds the No. 8 overall pick. The NFC South team also has seen Williams connections form. Although the Panthers made an addition here, Patrick Jones does not quite move the needle like Sweat does. The team is still searching for a Brian Burns successor, whereas the Cards spent to hope Sweat can deliver Chandler Jones-like production.