NFL free agency rumors, Tom Brady’s future, draft talk and more

The NFL Draft is loaded with prospects, genuine intrigue and fabricated storylines. We parse through it all, along with Tom Brady and free agency talk.

Indianapolis. What a week.

Yours truly spent five days and nights there. Let me tell you, I’m more beat up than a ’93 Toyota Corolla. Long days, and much longer nights. That’s the business.

Out of the frenetic NFL Scouting Combine experience, we’ve learned a ton about what to expect in the coming days and months. While the nuggets cascade throughout the column, these are some of the leading storylines for me after Naptown:

Burrow puts any tension with Cincy to rest

Joe Burrow is going to be playing for the Cincinnati Bengals.

One of the main stories coming into the Combine was whether Burrow would publicly declare his intentions if picked by the Bengals. While he didn’t specifically say “I’ll play for the Bengals,” he proclaimed he’d play for any team that drafted him.

Since the Bengals are going to draft him, there’s no more drama to be had around the LSU talent.

Tua taking all the right steps to prepare for draft

March 9. That’s the date when Tua Tagovailoa hopes his doctors give him the full-go medically.

To this point, the medicals have been encouraging on the Alabama star. However, we won’t truly know his status until throwing at his pro day on April 9, two weeks before the NFL Draft begins.

GOING DEEP: Tua’s draft stock has two critical dates to monitor 

Teams interested in Tagovailoa will be digging to find any information about him prior to his workout. However, the actual session will speak volumes. Does he look ginger? Is there a gait? Is his lower body still powerful? How does the arm look? Are his mechanics the same?

All of these questions will need to be answered positively if Tagovailoa goes in the top five selections. Here’s to hoping the kid heals perfectly.

This receiver class is even better than many of us thought

Remember when legions of NFL pundits said this was the best receiver class in a generation? They were right.

The buzz around Indy was how deep this class is in general, with some personnel men believing mid-to-late second-round picks would have gone in the latter position of the 2019 first round. As for the receivers, it’s a bonanza.

Henry Ruggs, Jerry Jeudy, Ceedee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, Denzel Mims, Laviska Shenault, Jalen Reagor, Brandon Aiyuk and Tee Higgins are all potential first-rounders and mortal locks to be top-50 picks.

GOING DEEP: Denzel Mims is demanding your attention

If this class ends up living up to its expectations, we could be doing retrospectives on it for decades to come.

The QB class is five deep in the first round

Burrow and Tagovailoa get the headlines, but don’t forget about Justin Herbert and Jordan Love. Both could be top-10 choices, while Love has a chance to shoot up boards as we get closer to the draft. Each helped themselves this week in Indy.

The former Utah State star has the perfect style of play in 2020, and if a team isn’t concerned about his 17 interceptions as a senior, there’s no reason to pass on Love.

GOING DEEP: Jordan Love is a fascinating prospect

Additionally, keep an eye on Washington’s Jacob Eason. Eason has a rocket for a right arm, he’s smart and he put good tape on the reel in both the SEC and Pac-12. Factor in a big frame, and a general manager will nab him late in the first.

The tackle class has absurd depth throughout the top 20 picks

Your team need an offensive tackle? Good timing.

The draft is stocked with tackles who both have great film and dominated the combine. Louisville’s Mekhi Becton damn near broke the mold in Indy, measuring 6-foot-7 and 364 pounds before running an absurd 5.10 40-time.

Georgia’s Andrew Thomas is a mauler and technician, perhaps the best prospect at the position. Tristan Wirfs of Iowa and Alabama’s Jedrick Wills are also potential top-10 choices, while Ezra Cleveland out of Boise State had one of the top combine performances in years. Great class.

Power rankings

Top 10 NFL stadiums gone but not forgotten

1. Orange Bowl – Miami Dolphins
2. RFK Stadium – Washington Redskins
3. Memorial Stadium – Baltimore Colts/Ravens
4. Three Rivers Stadium – Pittsburgh Steelers
5. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – Los Angeles Rams/Raiders
6. Mile High Stadium – Denver Broncos
7. Cleveland Municipal Stadium – Cleveland Browns
8. Oakland Coliseum – Oakland Raiders
9. Metropolitan Stadium – Minnesota Vikings
10. Texas Stadium – Dallas Cowboys

Honorable mention: War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo), Giants Stadium, Astrodome, Candlestick Park, Veterans Stadium, Wrigley Field

Quotable

"“I know Mitch is very hungry. He knows we want him to play better. He understands that we want to coach better. We cannot worry and dwell about what happened last year. You do that you get stuck in mud. We gotta get better for this year.”"

– Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy on Mitchell Trubisky going into 2020

The Bears probably start Trubisky come Week 1, but the leash will be short.

When the team hired former Bengals offensive coordinator Bill Lazor for the same role on Jan. 13, current Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton immediately became an option to provide competition. This was something we talked about repeatedly in recent episodes of Stacking The Box.

Now, reports are surfacing regarding Chicago’s interest in engineering a trade. It would make too much sense.

Trubisky is the starter for now, but the heat will be intense all offseason and well into camp.

Podcast

This Tuesday, listen to an all-new Stacking The Box with host Mark Carman, former NFL player Geoff Schwartz and league insider Matt Verderame. Make sure to subscribe on iTunes to have all the latest episodes dowloaded to all your devices!

Random stat

The Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Bears have been grouped together since 1933, when the Lions were still the Portsmouth Spartans.

When the NFL split the teams into two conferences, the trio went into the Western. In 1967, they joined the Central Division and stayed there through the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 (it became the NFC Central). In 2002, the divisions were realigned again. Again, they stayed together the NFC North.

No other pair of teams, let alone a trio, have been together so long.

Info learned this week

1. Don’t believe anything about Brady’s future plans

There have been numerous Tom Brady reports over the past week. Don’t believe any of them.

While all the reporters involved are beyond reproach, it’s simply too fluid of a situation. Brady has been with the New England Patriots for 20 years. Owner Robert Kraft is something like a second father to him. He also has lifelong friends on the team, knows the offense and doesn’t need to relocate if he decides on the Patriots.

Of course, there’s an argument to leave.

New England has a litany of free agents and precious few weapons. The Tennessee Titans have a better roster, Mike Vrabel as its head coach and would be an instant Super Bowl contender with Brady. The San Francisco 49ers are a long shot, but if they have interest, it’s a return home and again, a better team around him. The Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers are moving into a new market and stadium respectively, and need a face for their billboards. Perhaps the financial offer is absurd.

Ultimately, this could play out a variety of ways. Brady could be prepared to leave before Kraft makes a Godfather offer. Brady could decide he needs a new challenge. We’re going to find out in the coming weeks.

Until then, everything is a rumor and little more.

2. Winston’s future in doubt with Buccaneers

Jameis Winston returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is possible, but no guarantee.

The prevailing thought coming out of Indianapolis says if the Buccaneers only have one tag to apply (if the new CBA is ratified as expected, that’ll be the case), it’s likely used on edge rusher Shaquil Barrett. Then there’s head coach Bruce Arians, who spoke to the media on Tuesday and openly mentioned both Brady and Philip Rivers as interesting alternatives to Winston.

General manager Jason Licht drafted Winston with the first-overall pick in 2015 and signed a five-year extension this summer. He’s long been fond of Winston, as have many in the Bucs’ building. However, the team is faced with the decision of paying him based on throwing for 5,000 yards last season, or letting him walk over the 30 interceptions.

Nothing has been decided yet. Winston could sign an extension, surprisingly get tagged or hit free agency. However, the chatter suggests it’s a long-term commitment or a tour of the market.

3. Chiefs trying to keep most of Super Bowl team together

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach is a busy man.

Veach talked openly during his media session about wanting to keep his Super Bowl team together, and he’s living up to it. The Chiefs set up a bevy of meetings with their free agents, including the representation of guard Stefen Wisniewski and defensive tackle Mike Pennel, per FanSided. Veach is also planning on using the franchise tag to buy more time with star defensive tackle Chris Jones, who the team wants to sign long-term.

With only $13.67 million in projected cap space, Veach will need to be creative. The Chiefs are declining guard Cam Erving’s option, which saves them $3.2 million. However, once Jones’ tag counts against the cap, Kansas City is essentially at break-even.

GOING DEEP: Here’s how Patrick Mahomes’ contract might go down

From there, Veach has to determine what path to take with receiver Sammy Watkins. The 26-year-old is due $21 million against the cap but can be released for a $14 million savings. Veach spoke about wanting to retain Watkins, surely on a lower number. If he can’t, the Chiefs will cut bait and use their savings presumingly on their other free agents.

Still, retaining players such as corner Bashaud Breeland and safety Kendall Fuller won’t come cheap, with both expected to have significant markets.

So much work for Veach, and only two weeks before the market opens.

4. Plenty of players with be getting franchise tag

The free-agent market will be solid, but many of the big names won’t get there.

Here’s a list of players likely to be tagged, whether it be the franchise or transition:

• Chris Jones – Kansas City Chiefs
• Yannick Ngakoue – Jacksonville Jaguars
• Hunter Henry – Los Angeles Chargers
• A.J. Green – Cincinnati Bengals
• Shaquil Barrett – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Dak Prescott – Dallas Cowboys
• Ryan Tannehill – Tennessee Titans
• Justin Simmons – Denver Broncos

A few others players deserve mention. Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert has been adamant about keeping Bud Dupree in town. If they can’t agree long-term before March 12, the tag is an option. However, the Steelers are tight against the cap.

GOING DEEP: Joe Thuney receiving interest from a dozen teams

Also, we mentioned Winston and the Bucs above. If Tannehill gets a multi-year deal, it opens up the door for Derrick Henry to get the tag treatment with the Titans.

5. Salary cap is set to explode over upcoming CBA deal

The salary cap is going to be eye-popping in upcoming seasons.

Per multiple sources, FanSided has learned the 2021 cap could reach $240 million. It’s also expected that come the end of the new 10-year CBA, the salary cap may climb to a whopping $400 million, double it’s current number.

How contracts extending into the next few years will be interesting to watch. Will agents insist on a deal maintaining its cap percentage throughout its life (ex: $10 million this year equaling five percent of the $200M cap, and then roughly $12 million in 2021 to keep in line?), or will teams get a major bargain in the early portion of the CBA? One agent I spoke to thinks the latter is more likely.

With so much money about to hit the league from a 17th game and two additional playoff tilts, contracts — and the cap — are set to erupt.

History lesson

The Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys and — to some extent — the New Orleans Saints have the American Football League to thank for their existences.

AFL founder Lamar Hunt wanted to buy the National Football League’s Chicago Cardinals in 1959, but was rebuffed. When told expansion was also off the table, he launched his own league the following year. Hunt’s team? The Dallas Texans. As an opening salvo, the NFL suddenly warmed to expansion, creating the Dallas Cowboys in 1960.

The following year, the NFL again added to its portfolio with the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings were supposed to be an AFL franchise, but when the NFL offered to allow owner Max Winter to join the established league, he jumped at the chance.

Finally, the Saints are a bit of a different story. The New Orleans franchise was always an NFL outfit, but the idea of playing pro ball in the Big Easy was an AFL brainstorm. The upstart league scheduled an All-Star Game there for 1964, but relocated at the last minute after black players faced biting racism throughout the week leading into the contest. Three years later, the Saints came to be.

Parting shot

The Washington Redskins and New York Giants both have new head coaches and second-year quarterbacks. While Washington’s Ron Rivera was complimentary of Dwayne Haskins, he wouldn’t commit to him starting. Fair enough, even if it’s lip service and some added pressure.

Meanwhile, the Giants are lost.

Head coach Joe Judge and general manager Dave Gettleman held consecutive pressers on Tuesday, and both were bizarre. Gettleman’s was one of the weirdest I’ve ever been present for. The veteran GM started a fire by saying the team would take the best player at No. 4 overall, including a quarterback. He then refused to name Daniel Jones the starter, this after Judge has yet to mention the youngster’s name publicly since being hired.

Gettleman finished off the 15-minute diatribe by becoming annoyed with reporters asking him about his ramblings.

The whole thing explains why the Giants are lousy. The leadership is lost. Maybe Judge ends up being a good coach, but Gettleman is doing him no favors. From appearances, though, it seems Judge is setting the tone on keeping hush-hush on the roster, and Gettleman is following.

Very strange.