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We can all learn something from A.J. Brown, who brought an electric bike to a charity race: “Work smarter, not harder.”
Today’s NFL update:
- 📸 New-look players
- 🎙 Roger Goodell’s plan
- 🥇 Best offseason moves
- 👀 Dak Prescott: Present at OTAs
First impression of new-look NFL players
Lamar Jackson spoke to the media about his trimmed physique, which The Athletic reported to be 25 pounds less than his 2022 weight of 230. Unfazed by teammates calling him “Slim Jackson,” he feels agile and able to move more. The most elusive player in the NFL is more agile!?
- But will he miss the bulk? Jackson’s 847 rushing attempts since 2018 rank first among quarterbacks by a sizable margin (Josh Allen is second, with 653). At 205 pounds, Jackson would be lighter than rookie Jayden Daniels.
Baltimore made up for Lamar’s trim figure by adding Derrick Henry, the 6-3 247-pound hulk whom we saw taking handoffs yesterday and catching passes out of the backfield. The 30-year-old has been making a great impression, with HC John Harbaugh calling him a true pro. “Go big guy, go,” added Lamar.
- Concerns about Henry’s health are overblown. Despite leading the NFL in rushing attempts in four of the past five years, Henry has only once played fewer than 15 games. He joins a Ravens offense that led the NFL in rushing attempts and yards last season. Wheels down.
Saquon Barkley will run behind an Eagles offensive line that PFF ranked No. 1, a stark change from the Giants’ 30th-ranked unit. Saquon recently spoke about seeing Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert in the huddle: “That’s not a bad group to be a part of.”
The midnight green suits Saquon. Right, Tiki Barber?
Hollywood Brown is part of the Chiefs’ focus to improve their vertical passing attack, a part of their offense that’s been missing since Tyreek Hill left in 2022. With Marquez Valdes-Scantling and others attempting to stretch the field, the Chiefs finished 2023 with 2.6 drops per game, most in the NFL.
- With throws like this, Mahomes could help Brown, 26, unlock his potential while adding another aspect to the Kansas City offense.
It’s not a new look, but Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor are back after taking just two snaps together last season. Despite an injury-riddled 2023, the Colts finished 9-8, barely missed the playoffs and had the league’s 10th-most rushing yards.
- Richardson averaged 4.5 yards per carry in limited action, while Taylor will look to return to his average of 5 yards per carry after a career-low 4.4 last season. Option plays like this should help both.
Justin Fields, sporting the No. 2 jersey, is taking snaps in Pittsburgh as the No. 2 quarterback. One insight from Josh Schrock: Fields has reverted to his original footwork after the Bears had him keeping his left foot forward during shotgun snaps. Check it out:
Diontae Johnson was acquired by the Panthers to give Bryce Young an open target. During the first week of OTAs, HC Dave Canales said Johnson flashed the skills he’d shown in Pittsburgh, where he had the NFL’s best open score in 2022, per ESPN Analytics.
- During a conversation with The Athletic, Johnson said he still expects to be the primary read on most passing plays, but insists he will be “just worried about doing my job and getting open and making my plays when they come my way.”
What Dianna’s Hearing: The latest from Goodell
- No vote, but “real progress” on private equity investment in teams. He expects to have more movement on the topic by the end of this year.
- There is progress being made on Tom Brady becoming a Raiders minority owner, but there still are issues to work through, including access Brady would get to other teams for his Fox broadcast duties.
- The NFL draft will be held in Pittsburgh in 2026.
- The league’s tampering probe into the Falcons (Kirk Cousins) and Eagles (Saquon Barkley) is ongoing.
Back to you, Jacob.
Sando’s All-32: Best moves of the offseason
This morning, The Athletic’s Mike Sando listed a move he liked from each team’s offseason. Here are five of those, with Mike’s thoughts in quotes:
- Most intriguing: “Offensive coaches sometimes love to complain about the quarterbacks they inherit, as [HC Sean] Payton did last season. It’s refreshing when they bet their reputations on a prospect, as Payton has done [with Bo Nix].” Former Bronco Peyton Manning said yesterday that he is happy for Nix to be in Peyton’s quarterback-friendly system.
- Underrated return: “Bringing back Vonn Bell at safety seemed like the surest way the Bengals could restore stability in their secondary. The price was ideal (only $1.21 million).” A second-round pick in 2016, Bell had four interceptions with the Bengals in 2022 before the Panthers signed him.
- Missing piece: “Xavier McKinney’s addition in free agency was expensive ($16.8 million per year) at a time when the safety market has regressed, but … new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley made it clear upon arriving in Green Bay that he values the free safety position in his defense. Now, it’s up to him to maximize what McKinney can do.”
- Best bargain: Miami “adding Odell Beckham Jr. for $3 million, one-fifth the price Baltimore paid last season.” While he’s not the player he once was, 2023 saw him post his highest receiving total (565 yards) in four years. He’s still got some juice and should be a strong WR3.
- Coaching upgrade: “The Steelers finally have a coherent vision on offense following Arthur Smith’s hiring as coordinator. Smith [is] the first established coordinator the Steelers have employed on offense since Todd Haley’s final season in 2017.” Despite a winning record in all six seasons since Haley left, the Steelers have only had a positive regular season point differential twice.
Mike has notes on the remaining 27 teams in the full article.
Contract Update: Dak not concerned
In Dallas, OTAs began without superstars CeeDee Lamb or Micah Parsons. Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence and Trevon Diggs were also absent.
Dak Prescott, meanwhile, was one of the first on the field. He has no plans to skip offseason activities while contract talks are ongoing.
Still, after he led the NFL in touchdown passes (36) while trimming his interception percentage to his lowest since 2018 (1.5 percent), expect Dak’s next deal to be near Joe Burrow’s $55 million APY, the top of the market.
Around the NFL
Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell won’t be available for Week 1, but HC John Harbaugh is optimistic the explosive sophomore will return this season.
Colts WR Michael Pittman left practice early after colliding with a defensive back. He limped off and was accompanied by trainers, who were looking at his left knee. HC Shane Steichen said after practice that Pittman Jr. “banged knees” and that “he should be fine.”
Commanders DT Jonathan Allen is reinvigorated in Washington, where No. 2 pick QB Jayden Daniels continues to impress with his poise and comfort level.
Andy Reid on the comments made by Harrison Butker: “We all respect each other’s opinions. Not necessarily do we go by those, but we respect everybody to have a voice. It’s the great thing about America, man.”
Patrick Mahomes on Butker: “I’ve known him for seven years. I judge him by the character he shows every day and that’s a good person. … We’re not always going to agree. He said certain things I don’t agree with.”
Greg Olsen, recently demoted to the No. 2 team at Fox, won an Emmy earlier this week for Outstanding Personality/Event Analyst. No pressure, Tom Brady.
Jacob’s Picks
📕 Adjusting to life in the NFL, with Blake Corum. “Coach McVay, his offense is amazing,” said the rookie running back. “It is a lot, though.” Jourdan Rodrigue has the story. (The Athletic)
📺 Caleb Williams in OTAs. Chase Daniel on the rookie’s highlights: “Bears fans should be hyped right now.” (X)
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(Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)