7 NFL storylines that may decide the subsequent yr’s new challengers

The 2023 NFL Scouting Mix is about to get began subsequent week, because the NFL world descends upon Indianapolis for the longest and strangest job interview there’s.

Which suggests the NFL offseason is about to start in earnest.

Over the subsequent few weeks we’ll see the tip of the franchise tag window, the “authorized tampering interval” — at all times an amusing phrase — and the beginning of free company. All of it builds in direction of the 2023 NFL Draft, set to happen on the finish of April in Kansas Metropolis.

As this whirlwind kicks off, listed here are the key storylines to look at within the NFL this offseason.

QB motion

Hey, keep in mind how wild final yr was with quarterbacks transferring all over the place? Russ to the Broncos, Matt Ryan to the Colts, Carson Wentz to the Commanders, Baker Mayfield to Carolina, and the Browns buying and selling for Deshaun Watson? This yr is on observe to be much more nuts.

Clearly the elephant in the dead of night Hobbit-hole is Aaron Rodgers. No matter he decides to do could have a domino impact on the remainder of the league. Groups who suppose they’re solely a QB away from successful a championship will completely promote the farm if he desires to be dealt, and to that finish all the pieces roughly facilities on the New York Jets.

Past that, nonetheless, there’s simply a lot intrigue. Derek Carr is a free agent, and a mammoth improve to a QB-needy staff, no matter how a lot he’s been slandered previously. Jimmy Garoppolo can be a free agent now, and is a dependable, high-floor participant who can simply stabilize a staff with a powerful protection that’s on the lookout for consistency underneath heart.

Then we have now among the wilder potential tales for QB motion this offseason. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens could possibly be breaking apart until there’s a magic breakthrough of their contract negotiations. Sure, Baltimore has the ability to franchise tag Jackson for 2 straight years, however that dangers a possible holdout — which helps no person. There’s each chance the Ravens tag and commerce Jackson earlier than the draft, maximizing their return now and probably on the lookout for their QB of the long run within the draft.

Simply so as to add to the drama, now we have now Daniel Jones in New York reportedly wanting $45M a yr. Is he price that? No. Are you able to blame him making an attempt to get the bag? Nope. I don’t suppose something occurs with Jones when it comes to motion, however wilder issues have occurred. This leaves us with a really actual chance of FIVE beginning quarterbacks transferring earlier than the season begins, and big-name gamers at that who will shake up divisions.

Want WR assist? This may not be the yr

Just lately, I used to be taking a break from working and doing what everybody does when taking a break from working.

Scrolling social media.

That’s once I got here throughout a pair of graphic that stopped me in my tracks. First was this from The thirty third Group, highlighting the highest free brokers this offseason at vast receiver:

That may be a … skinny group at vast receiver. Now, as a New England Patriots fan at coronary heart, it’s robust to discover a larger fan of Jakobi Meyers than I’m, however the second I noticed this graphic I believed two issues:

Jakobi Meyers is probably going enjoying elsewhere subsequent yr.

This may not be the deepest free company class at vast receiver that we have now seen in recent times.

So, that leads us to the second graphic:

These are Lance Zierlein’s vast receiver rankings for the previous two drafts. Zierlein does unbelievable work annually masking the draft, and his evaluation carries loads of weight. What stands out right here is how his vast receiver rankings differ from the place consensus stacks the place, a minimum of for the time being. Listed below are the highest 5 vast receivers in keeping with the “Consensus Huge Board” at NFL Mock Draft Database, an amazing useful resource each draft season: Quentin Johnson, Jordan Addison, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jalin Hyatt, and Zay Flowers.

In different phrases, opinions are blended on this receiver class. On his annual pre-Mix convention name, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Media described the draft class of receivers as “not as loaded” as earlier years:

What does all of this imply? May we see groups lean into the draft due to how the NFL free company group seems? May the shortage of consensus on the draft class translate into a giant pay day for receivers like Meyers, Allen Lazard and JuJu Smith-Schuster?

Watching the vast receiver place unfold this offseason can be fascinating.

Potential QB extensions for the Class of 2020

As famous above, there’s the potential for unprecedented quarterback motion this offseason. Whether or not Lamar Jackson will get a long-term take care of the Baltimore Ravens is definitely one quarterback contract situation to look at, however different potential QB contract conditions to watch contain the Class of 2020.

With what we have now seen from Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and Tua Tagovailoa, there could also be an incentive for his or her groups to attempt to transfer sooner moderately than afterward contract extensions. Suppose again to when Patrick Mahomes signed his ten-year take care of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. It appeared large on the time, however subsequent offers for Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, and Deshaun Watson have pushed Mahomes’ deal — when it comes to common annual {dollars} — right down to the fifth-highest within the NFL amongst quarterbacks.

For groups, the earlier you progress on the extension, the higher. As a result of the longer you wait, the extra the market can be reset by the point your passer places ink to paper.

The sale of the Washington Commanders

Picture by Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Photographs

Dwelling in Maryland, there are two questions I’m requested most frequently, as soon as folks study what I do for a dwelling.

“Will the Commanders discover a quarterback?”

“Will Snyder lastly promote the staff?”

With respect to the primary query, evidently the group goes to do all the pieces doable to make Sam Howell the long-term resolution to their quarterback downside.

Relating to the second, we would see a decision on that entrance within the subsequent month.

Based on latest reviews, a possible sale of the Washington franchise could possibly be within the works forward of the NFL Annual Assembly, slated for the tip of March. Amazon proprietor Jeff Bezos is reportedly the “most popular bidder” for numerous NFL officers, and Bezos simply employed an funding agency to consider his potential bid.

So hopefully I can have some solutions on the bus cease earlier than faculty someday quickly.

Can Sean Payton repair Russell Wilson?

Based on new reporting from The Athletic, throughout his closing days with the Seattle Seahawks, quarterback Russell Wilson approached possession, asking that head coach Pete Carroll and normal supervisor John Schneider be fired.

Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos days later.

The quarterback pushed again on the reviews on social media, however there’s something very intriguing concerning the story from The Athletic. Wilson had a possible coach in thoughts, apparently, to take over in Seattle.

Sean Payton.

Wilson now will get his probability to be coached by Payton, because the Broncos have employed him to be their subsequent head coach. Payton is within the strategy of filling out his workers, including former quarterback Davis Webb because the staff’s quarterbacks coach, and Joe Lombardi can be added to the workers as nicely. Lombardi was most just lately the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers, however spent years underneath Payton in New Orleans.

Wilson took a giant step again final season, posting the worst statistical season of his NFL profession. Can Payton, and the offensive workers he’s placing round Wilson in Denver, flip issues round?

What do the Bears do with the No. 1 draft choose?

The Bears acquired a present from former head coach Lovie Smith when his Houston Texans pulled out a miracle comeback over the Indianapolis Colts within the final recreation of the season to sabotage their very own maintain on the No. 1 total choose within the 2023 NFL Draft and switch it straight to Chicago. The Bears are coming off a 3-14 season, however the growth of Justin Fields was so encouraging that Chicago simply may need a franchise QB for the primary time since Sid Luckman’s heyday within the Nineteen Forties. Sure, it’s been a very long time.

The Bears already knew they have been going to be flushed with probably the most cap area within the NFL this offseason. Now they personal the No. 1 total choose, and with it the promise of a commerce down that might restock the staff with future draft picks for years to return. Somebody goes to need to commerce up for a QB — whether or not Bryce Younger, CJ Stroud, Will Levis, or Anthony Richardson finally turns into the highest prospect continues to be up for debate — and the Bears ought to money in with a giant haul of belongings.

What’s going to Chicago worth in a commerce? They might attempt to tackle a veteran star into their cap area along with future picks, with Carolina’s Brian Burns being talked about as one possibility. They may doubtless demand a primary rounder for the 2024 draft, and ideally a choose nonetheless within the top-10 this yr. The Bears want all the assistance they will get on the defensive entrance seven after buying and selling their two finest gamers from that group, Roquan Smith and Robert Quinn, halfway via final season. That is their massive probability to present Fields a gifted supporting forged and set themselves as much as be the subsequent younger staff that takes a big leap up the standings.

Bijan Robinson’s draft place

Picture by Tim Warner/Getty Photographs

Texas RB Bijan Robinson is without doubt one of the finest total abilities on this upcoming draft class. His gamebreaking potential as a runner and receiver on high of his subsequent stage agility and play power. The again needs to be thought-about a lock for the primary spherical.

How excessive is the true query.

Due to the fluctuating worth of drafting a working again within the first spherical, in comparison with drafting a again within the later rounds (or by no means), Robinson’s total draft inventory seemingly is determined by if NFL groups worth his potential greater than the typical RB. As well as, not many groups seem to be they’ve a real want on the place. Robinson could possibly be seen as a luxurious choose, one thing that many groups don’t have the flexibility to absorb the primary spherical. Wherever he goes, although, Robinson needs to be a star.

Throughout his pre-Mix convention name, Daniel Jeremiah indicated that groups is perhaps Robinson earlier within the first spherical than some would possibly count on:

Aaron Rodgers

There’s no denying that Rodgers is the most important issue within the quarterback shuffle, which we mentioned earlier — however Rodgers is a narrative in an of himself.

It doesn’t matter what he decides about his future it’s going to be a narrative. Hell, at this level he’s allegedly embezzling welfare funds away from fully morphing into Brett Favre. There are such a lot of swirling reviews about Rodgers starting from the Packers wanting to maneuver on, Rodgers demanding a commerce, and even simply retiring outright.

These tales lengthen far past only a quarterback wanting out, and due to how his 2022 contract extension was structured with Inexperienced Bay, giving him loads of assured cash, it should affect the cap scenario of the Packers immensely.

Then, in fact, we at all times have Rodgers’ weekly appearances on The Pat McAfee Present so as to add to the intrigue. Which bizarre pseudoscience or self-help routine will he champion subsequent? Received to tune in to see. It doesn’t matter what, it’s going to be filled with drama.