2020 Miscellaneous NFL News

[nate82]

Probably nothing but Russell was left off of the teams season ticket letter it did have other players like Metcalf on there. I am going to with this meaning nothing but there is not much else to talk about right now so here we are grasping at straws.

 

I think for a Wilson to the Bears trade to work it has to include Mack, Foles and picks going to the Seahawks. Depending on the cap situation which doesn't sound like it is going to be resolved within the next week or so.

 

The cap is another thing and I think the franchise tag date is on 3/9. I think that is right and that maybe extended if the cap numbers are not fully known.

[HiAndTight]

I love RW, simply for the 1 year as a Badger (boy, to think a "what if" on having him for 4 years there)... But I wonder how he will age as a QB?

 

His game isn't a heavy run game (ala Vick, Newton, Lamar) - more of a Steve Young type. But I wonder how his game changes if he starts becoming less mobile. His INT rate has been up and down through his career and I'm thinking we will see it spike more if he can't move around as much. He still has the issue of being shorter for a QB and has used his mobility to negate that limitation.

 

And if he does go to Chicago, I'll be forced to hope he goes all "Cutler" on them.

 

Right...that's what I was kinda thinking. He's so good at eluding the pass rush and moving around in the pocket to create throwing lanes, but once that's gone...if he's just an immobile 5'10 QB, that's gonna be rough.

 

It worked for Brees because he had a great system in place and he's had a great OL for a while now. Consistently better OL than Rodgers, and that's been one of our strengths.

[HiAndTight]

I always thought that was most of the reason for drafting a running/mobile QB in the first place: You can afford to have more breakdowns in pass protection since your QB can scramble. Plus you can put more attention into finding run-oriented OLinemen than pass-protection ones. Obviously every QB wants amazing protection in front of him, but at the same time would have Seattle won their SB or generally been as dominant if they put more money into linemen instead of the great defensive players that they've had?

 

I think we're all figuring Seattle takes an OL with their first pick. And I wonder if this might change how vocal star QBs are in the future. Will they all speak out more once they get older and stop tolerating all the hits they take? Will it be more common to ask for a trade to a team with a better OL, or when you're a star player on an otherwise-garbage team? If anything I'm surprised star QBs have been as quiet as they've been up to this point, considering franchises really do revolve around them. Star basketball players speak up all the time, yet they're probably less impactful to their team than a QB is to theirs. Replace Rodgers with Foles, or Winston with Brady, and what do you got?

 

 

I don't think that's a very good approach to take, but it does kinda seem like the one Seattle has taken. Everyone's known their OL has had big wholes since they been a contender really. Yet they've really neglected the OL in the draft. From trading a guy like Max Unger years ago for Jimmy Graham to constantly drafting more DT's than OL(not sure if that's actually true, but just glancing at it, it feels true) in the early rounds, they've kinda neglected that position.

 

They're a well-run franchise, but you just can't keep asking your QB to make up for a terrible OL. This past year they did hit on a guard. Got a very good young player in Damien Lewis...but again, he was a guard. They haven't drafted a tackle since Britt 5 or 6 years ago and I don't know if they really thought he was a tackle or not. He's played mostly at center.

 

 

I guess you are probably right though. They must figure since they've got a mobile QB, they can put more of an emphasis on other positions. Also...I'm guessing they didn't think they were trading for a very small OLB'er who could suddenly no longer play Safety when they gave up multiple picks(2 1sts and a 3rd+ a decent safety) to grab Adams. That trade is looking real ugly right now and one I'm almost positive they'd take back. That's a great player to have...if you have two guys like Amos and Savage already in place. It's a luxury.

 

But I'm sure as hell not gonna cry for the Seahawks and as much as I like Wilson, I'm not gonna feel bad for him when he gets to Chicago(if) and he finds things aren't any better here and the fans turn on him.

[nate82]

Well the Cowboys and Prescott have finally came to an agreement.

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/dak-prescott-cowboys-agree-to-new-contract

 

4-years $160m. I think this is an overpay and I have never really been a big fan of Prescott but ok I guess.

[PinaMadness]

What a terrible contract for the Cowboys. $40 million per year to a slightly above average quarterback coming off a gruesome injury who wasn't winning games before he got hurt. Between this and Zeke's contract, the Cowboys will be hurting for a long, long time. I love it.

[jerichoholicninja]

Dak, like Russell, will be complaining in a season or two that his team sucks and he wants out. That's what happens when you have one player take up 20ish% of your cap and then try to pay 51 other guys with the leftovers. Cowboys are in an even worse spot with Zeke and Cooper also taking up huge chunks.

[CheezWizHed]

But don't worry. MM will figure it out for them. I'm sure plenty of 3 and 4 WR looks with Zeke sent out wide or pass blocking.

[nodakfan17]

That’s basically the same deal he was offered last year (though I think the sticking point was that Dak wanted a 5-year deal at $40mm/year).

 

So Dak bets on himself, loses, and still gets $40mm/year?

 

Good for him and good for Packer fans.

[PeaveyFury]

But don't worry. MM will figure it out for them.

 

Tongue-in-cheek post, I know. But this truly is the type of contract that literally gets coaches fired. Dak is Jones' guy, Jones gives him a stupid contract, and only one person can actually feel the consequences when it destroys their cap, prevents them from improving the team, etc.

 

It truly is funny that this isn't even the first time the Cowboys have done this with a non-elite QB, since they literally did it with Romo ~12 years ago. Acceptable, above-average NFL QB that you pay like he's the best in the league.

 

The modern league is hard enough to win in when you pay even the elite QB's their going rate and they make your cap situation rough. Doing so with a non-elite QB like Dak is potentially franchise-destroying.

[wallus]

Dak is not good enough to carry that team to anything other than 1st round exits. I would be extremely mad if my team paid a good but not great QB 40 million and then a running back big money.

 

To be fair, I enjoy laughing at Cowboys fans so this is excellent news.

[CheezWizHed]

So how many QBs in the NFL are better than Dak right now? When he first came in the league, I didn't think much of him and though inaccuracy would be his downfall. But the last three years have been very strong for him. I did a quick eyeball comparison with him, Rodgers, and Brady - R&B seem to have a higher TD percentage and a lower INT rate (though Brady this year wasn't great). But yards and percent completion he is right there - Rodgers actually had two very blah years prior to 2020.

 

My NFL QB ranking:

Mahomes

Rodgers/Brady - I have them neck and neck. Rodgers the better QB, Brady the better leader.

Deshaun Watson - Please stay away from the NFC north!

Dak

Josh Allen - big year last year, but will he sustain?

Lamar Jackson - I'm not a fan of running QBs as they don't last long. But when healthy, he is still dangerous.

Russell Wilson - Maybe a career lull, but I'm worried he is dropping off.

 

If Dak has another year like 2019 (which 2020 started out pretty close), I don't know how to say he isn't elite in the league...

[PeaveyFury]

Has there been one QB who largely makes plays due to his legs that has been able to successfully come back from a significant lower-body injury and match his pre-injury success?

[nodakfan17]

Has there been one QB who largely makes plays due to his legs that has been able to successfully come back from a significant lower-body injury and match his pre-injury success?

After tearing his ACL as a rookie, Deshaun Watson rushed for 551 yards and 5 TDs in Year 2; however, classifying him as a mobile quarterback might be perceived as a slight because he’s such an accomplished passer.

 

But to your point, there can’t be many.

[CheezWizHed]

From 2016-2019, Dak rushed for 277-357 yards/year. From 2008-2012, Rodgers rushed for 207-356 yds/year.

 

In 2019, Dak threw for 4902 yards. Rodgers has peaked at 4643 yards in a single season (2011).

 

Dak isn't an running QB. He is more of a mobile QB like Rodgers and Wilson. Rodgers rushed for 149 yards this past year and certainly didn't move like he used to. Given his age, I'm guessing Dak will come back more mobile than Rodgers. If he wasn't doing well in recovery, I doubt Dallas would've committed so much.

[PeaveyFury]

Dak isn't an running QB.

 

Didn't say he was: "QB who largely makes plays due to his legs".

 

Dak uses his legs to run when necessary and create space/buy time for guys to get open. Very much like Rodgers early in his career. If his mobility is more limited, it could be problematic for his game.

 

If he wasn't doing well in recovery, I doubt Dallas would've committed so much.

 

You apparently give the 'brain trust' (term used looosely) a bit more credit than I do!

[Fear The Chorizo]

So now the Cowboys have among the highest paid QB and RB in the league just as their once ballyhooed O-line that really made life as easy as possible on those positions is starting to fall apart due to age/injuries....yeah that should end really well!

[CheezWizHed]

Dak isn't an running QB.

 

Didn't say he was: "QB who largely makes plays due to his legs".

 

Dak uses his legs to run when necessary and create space/buy time for guys to get open. Very much like Rodgers early in his career. If his mobility is more limited, it could be problematic for his game.

 

If he wasn't doing well in recovery, I doubt Dallas would've committed so much.

 

You apparently give the 'brain trust' (term used looosely) a bit more credit than I do!

 

Fair point about the "brain trust" of the Cowboys.

 

But even saying "largely makes plays due to his legs" is misleading. Would you qualify Rodgers game by saying that? They run about the same. Yes, Rodgers uses his legs to his advantage to extend the play and escape, it is far more about quickness and feeling the pressure than actual speed. No one would say Rodgers "largely makes plays due to his legs."

[PinaMadness]

But don't worry. MM will figure it out for them. I'm sure plenty of 3 and 4 WR looks with Zeke sent out wide or pass blocking.

Nothing a little pad level won't cure.

[ThisIsMyCrew]

The NFL and NFL Players Association agreed Wednesday to a salary cap of $182.5 million per team for 2021, a long-anticipated 8% decrease from last season, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

 

This will likely get the ball moving on some cuts and trades. Now that teams know the cap.

[PeaveyFury]

The extra 2.5 million over the somewhat expected $180 will obviously help the Packers.

 

EDIT: With the updated number, the Packers are about $8.5 million over the cap based on their current Top 51. They'll obviously need more than that to A)sign their draft class, and B)do ANYTHING in free agency. But, for the next week the focus is on getting $8.5 million off the books.

 

Logically, Preston Smith is literally $8 million of that. A Davante extension opens up another $9 million or so, which is enough to both get under the cap and to sign the draft class. I'd expect something to happen with both of them this week.

 

More work needs to be done to actually sign anyone else, so it'll be an interesting week...

[Fear The Chorizo]

The extra 2.5 million over the somewhat expected $180 will obviously help the Packers.

 

EDIT: With the updated number, the Packers are about $8.5 million over the cap based on their current Top 51. They'll obviously need more than that to A)sign their draft class, and B)do ANYTHING in free agency. But, for the next week the focus is on getting $8.5 million off the books.

 

Logically, Preston Smith is literally $8 million of that. A Davante extension opens up another $9 million or so, which is enough to both get under the cap and to sign the draft class. I'd expect something to happen with both of them this week.

 

More work needs to be done to actually sign anyone else, so it'll be an interesting week...

 

So much for it being $200M this year after adding the extra regular season game and new TV contract...some will still think the 2022 cap number will magically go up to $240M to alleviate all salary cap concerns across the league, but honestly future cap increases will lag slightly behind the anticipated big revenue jumps when fans return to stadiums because the 2020 season was played with basically no gameday revenue and 2021 will likely have crowd limitations, too. Good on the NFL to add that 17th game/TV $ to help inflate this year's cap above where it could have been once they knew revenues were going to plummet in 2020 to avoid widespread cuts - hopefully the 2022 cap bump will push a bit over $200M to give a team like the Packers some room to get Alexander locked up longterm and also not force their hand on trading Rodgers or Clark if they don't want to.

 

This cap number also is terrible news for this offseason's free agent class - there still are going to be alot more good veteran players cut that will flood the market even with it being set at $182.5M.

[pacopete4]

Yes, the ripple effects of this will be felt in the following seasons. That is for sure.

[PeaveyFury]

This cap number also is terrible news for this offseason's free agent class - there still are going to be alot more good veteran players cut that will flood the market even with it being set at $182.5M.

 

Yep. It'll be interesting to see if some will be willing to accept a modest 1-year deal to try and cash in next offseason during better circumstances.

[CheezWizHed]

Yes, the top guys are going to get paid regardless, but the lower to middling FAs are going to be hit the hardest. Jones and Linsley will probably get expected level deals, but King, Williams, and Wagner might be interesting situations.

[PinaMadness]

For all the talk about extending Adams, I have not heard one peep about negotiations between him and the Packers. I have heard rumblings though that Z. Smith may be extending. He recently tweeted he wants to remain a Packer the rest of his career.

 

EDIT: Ok, I just saw the Z extension mentioned on the Packers thread, but still haven't heard anything about Adams.