HoosierCat

Post senior/shrine bowl 2 rounder from Matt Miller at ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2023/insider/story/_/id/35585484/2023-nfl-mock-draft-matt-miller-two-round-predictions-senior-bowl-shrine-bowl-quarterback-landings-spots-trade-projection First up: Hard to argue that one. Elsewhere around the division, Baltimore takes Quentin Johnson, WR, TCU and Pitt gets Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez. Notable: Miller has Buffalo snatching Cody Mauch at 27, with O’Cyrus Torrance going to Dallas at 26. And at 60: Position is definitely a need, don’t know anything about the player tho. Rest of the division: Pitt gets Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma and John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota. Cleveland lands Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan.

AJ Green calls it a career after 11 seasons. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35602517/cardinals-bengals-wr-aj-green-announces-retirement

In five years it won’t be just the pro bowl, the whole league will be flag football. https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2023/02/05/cincinnati-bengals-among-nfl-players-reacting-to-hip-drop-tackle-report/69875163007/

Taylor is a FA? Damn, Tomlin should be worried…

Pitt definitely eyeing OL:

Bummer for Dawand:

ESPN doing the rumor mill thing from the senior bowl today. Thoughts here on Lamar.

Mauch works for me!

Yup. Mixon was nothing special last year and he’s getting paid like he is.

I saw one report a couple days ago noting that Mike has spoken approvingly of the rolling guarantees as an idea they may use.

Yup, this.

CBS (emphasis added): Good news. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ten-nfl-players-who-have-earned-big-paydays-this-offseason-joe-burrow-and-nick-bosa-poised-to-set-market/

Senior Bowl Wednesday stuff from ESPN: Biggest takeaway from Day 2 I was really impressed with Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener and Michigan State receiver Jayden Reed in the first practice session. I love Haener's tape, and while he is undersized (6-foot, 208 pounds), every ball he threw on Wednesday was on the mark. Nothing phases him in the pocket. He showed really strong anticipation and an ability to change arm angles, and his confidence stood out. At one point, he climbed the pocket and rolled to his right to hit a receiver. And even though he completed the pass, Haener went right up the pass-catcher after the play to talk through where he wants him on those throws. Scouts love to see that stuff. He's one of those midround QBs that will be a solid backup but could potentially develop into a starter down the road in the NFL if he lands in the right system. Reed, meanwhile, entered the week as a fourth-round prospect for me after catching 55 passes for 636 yards and five TDs this season, but I'm not sure he gets out of Day 2 now. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up a second-rounder. He showed great release off the line of scrimmage, and the play speed is absolutely there. Reed made multiple plays going up and getting the ball downfield, and his play just popped among the receivers. I'll also shout out Oregon State tight end Luke Musgrave and Tulane running back Tyjae Spears. Both prospects had great afternoons, and they are definitely rising. -- Todd McShay Wednesday's best quarterback performance Max Duggan, TCU I thought Duggan was the most consistent quarterback during the second day of practice, as he made multiple throws into tight windows. At one point, he completed a challenging seam throw, showing poise and accuracy. And during the team period, Duggan had one of the best throws of Wednesday's practices when he tossed a corner route to Oregon State tight end Luke Musgrave. But his best series came during the two-minute drill, when he drove the American team offense down the field and nearly finished the drive with a touchdown. He has been forced to play more within structure at the Senior Bowl than he did at TCU, and he adjusted well to the circumstances during the second day. -- Jordan Reid Day 2 standout prospects Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin Benton flashed multiple times throughout the second day of practices, showing power on a 6-foot-4, 312-pound frame. He has a stout, stocky build but showed the first-step quickness and agility to handle playing in a 3-technique role. Benton can consistently rush from the inside and win (4.5 sacks and 18 pressures in 2022), and we saw a really nice spin move in practice. Benton had some top-50 buzz from scouts headed into the week, and it's easy to see why. With many NFL teams looking for inside pass-rushing, and with the 2023 draft class being light at the position, he has a chance this week to move up draft boards. He has been one of my favorite defensive line prospects to watch this week at the Senior Bowl. -- Matt Miller Michael Wilson, WR, Stanford After a standout first day (which Miller talked up on Tuesday), Wilson continued to get open during all competitive periods on Wednesday. He showcased savvy route running and strong/reliable hands, he has been the most consistent wideout of the group this week. At 6-foot-2 and 216 pounds, he has an impressive build. Wilson only recorded 26 catches last season, but his ability was hidden in the Stanford offense. Evaluators think that he could be a better pro than college player, and while he was seen as a mid-Day 3 selection before the Senior Bowl, he's now generating some early-Day 3 buzz. -- Reid John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota One of the biggest plays of Wednesday came on a screen pass during 11-on-11 drills. The ball was dropped to the right flat with defenders giving chase. Then came Schmitz, laying a crushing block to spring the runner into space. Schmitz has had a wonderful first two days of practice and has been the most impressive offensive lineman at the Senior Bowl. His ability in space will give scouts a Creed Humphrey-like vibe, and he also routinely handled seal blocks and head-up defenders in the session. If you're looking for the first center to come off the board, Schmitz is taking the spot. He allowed just one sack all season in 2022. -- Miller Nathaniel Dell, WR, Houston Dell gave us plenty of "wow" moments during the second day of practice. He has the ability to speed up and shut it down in an instant, and defensive backs had trouble keeping pace with his route stems and change-of-direction skills. He was also able to show off his catch radius on multiple occasions, hauling in multiple tough catches. Dell was the nation's leader in receiving yards this season (1,398), but at 5-foot-8 and 163 pounds, he's a smaller receiver who will require a specific role in the NFL. Still, teams in search of dynamic playmakers could target him in the middle rounds. -- Reid Quick-hitters from Day 2 Matt Miller Stanford cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly really impressed on Day 2, showing toughness in coverage and very good instincts when matched up with receivers in one-on-one drills. The National roster doesn't have a top-flight cornerback prospect, and through two practices, Kelly has been that team's most talented cover man. It's fair to say he has improved his draft stock in Mobile and is moving into my top 60. The big cornerback is en vogue in the NFL, and South Carolina's Darius Rush fits the bill at 6-foot-2 and 196 pounds. He plays a physical brand of football at the line of scrimmage, runs well down the field and made several impressive plays on the ball during one-on-one drills. He played in the shadow of Cam Smith at South Carolina but has made a name for himself with physicality, length and speed. He was buried on my board as a potential mid-Day 3 player before Mobile, but his play through two days looks more like that of a top-120 pick at a premium position, and he has the tools to be a good CB2 in the NFL. Illinois running back Chase Brown is the type of Day 3 runner that NFL teams should be excited about following the successes of Tyler Allgeierand Isiah Pacheco from the 2022 draft class. Brown is a hard-charging runner at 5-foot-10 and 215 pounds, and his tape showed a special ability to break tackles. Through two practices, he has displayed well-rounded ability as a receiver, pass protector and returner. SMU wide receiver Rashee Rice struggled throughout one-on-one drills and didn't show the speed to separate from sticky coverage. He was a 50/50 ball specialist at SMU but entered this week needing to answer questions about his speed and separation ability. But he will need to show more on Thursday to back up his current top-50 grade. Jordan Reid Northwestern defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore had an impressive showing during the one-on-one portion of Wednesday's practice, and during the team parts of the session, he was used at multiple spots along the interior. Adebawore is best projected as a 3-technique in a four-man defensive front. Florida interior offensive lineman O'Cyrus Torrence continued to look like a first-round player on Wednesday. He was my highest-ranked prospect coming into the week, and he has actually exceeded expectations. He showcased overwhelming power and the ability to anchor at the point of attack. Torrence projects as a mid-to-late Day 1 selection. Tulane running back Tyjae Spears opened a lot of eyes during the second day of practice. He had a 45-yard touchdown run during the team 11-on-11 portion of practice, displaying vision, burst and finishing ability. He's likely a complementary back at the next level as a versatile asset in both the pass and run game of an offense. Spears will be a popular target in the third or fourth round. Matt Bowen Jackson State linebacker Aubrey Miller Jr. is a powerful player at the point of attack with second-level range. He flashed those traits in one-on-one drills and team sessions on Wednesday. Oregon State tight end Luke Musgrave has the frame and catch radius to work the middle of the field in a pro system from traditional alignments. And in the two-minute drill at the end of the Wednesday practice, Musgrave flexed to the slot to work the second and third level on corners and seams. North Dakota State's Cody Mauch has the inside versatility to align at center or guard. He plays with second-level mobility and has the strength to handle power at the point of attack. It has been a really good week for Mauch in Mobile.

Yahoo roundup of tweets & videos: https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-senior-bowl-standouts-news-115226283.html (And yeah Dawand is frigging huge)

Some OL notes from Charlie Campbell over at Walter football.com. https://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2023.php

Well, $50 million for Joe and we’re already $7 million under. Going to have to cut Mixon just to afford the QB. Then we need at least 10 bills for Rookie Pool (the bastard) and his cousin Injury Pad. Cutting Boyd should about cover it tho we shoud cut Ossai just to be sure (and make Paulie A happy!). So yeah, we’re hard up against the cap, no room for FAs, Mike can’t even afford Jiffy Lube for the Lumina, gonna have to make Zac come over and change it.

They’ll be back. Meantime, what you’ve all been waiting for, I’m sure: official numbers from the league re the cap and tags. Via gbnreport.com, the 2023 cap has been set at $224.8 million, up 8% from $208.2 million in 2022. Cap figures for all teams: https://gbnreport.com/over-under-salary-cap-figures-february-1st/ At $43.7 million, Bengals have the fourth-most cap space in the league. Franchise/transition tag numbers for 2023: https://gbnreport.com/2023-franchise-transition-tag-figures/ At $20 million for a tag I think we can rule out franchising Pratt… I don’t think they franchise Bell but I might think about a transition tag there… Could they franchise/transition Hurst? OTC sets his market value around $7 million/year so not totally out of the ballpark. In the end I doubt they tag anyone with anything but just musing…

Steelers were likely to target OL in round 1 anyhow. The more prospects the better the chance someone decent is there at 28.

Bonus Shrine Bowl takes:

Oh, hey, yeah, this thing got going yesterday…some stuff from ESPN: Biggest takeaways from day 1 practice was mostly about the QBs but there was this: Standouts: Notes: https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2023/insider/story/_/id/35564252/senior-bowl-practice-2023-nfl-draft-best-quarterbacks-prospects-sleepers-risers-nuggets-know

Yeah, we are likely looking at two new OTs over the next two years, so BTA is as good a strategy as any. I don’t think you find a starting RT at 60. You could probably upgrade Adenji tho, and maybe find a project who might start in a year or three. At the end of the day, at 28 the Bengals are in “falling star” mode in the first IMHO. BPA is your best bet, and in the mock I did it happened to be Harrison. Just have to see how it shakes out in real life.

DeMeco Ryan to Houston https://www.nfl.com/news/texans-hire-49ers-dc-demeco-ryans-as-their-next-head-coach

The Denver Broncos agreed Tuesday to a trade with the New Orleans Saints to make Sean Payton the 19th head coach in the franchise's history, sources told ESPN. The Saints will receive the Broncos' 2023 first-round pick (No. 29 overall) and 2024 second-round pick for Payton and the Saints' 2024 third-round selection, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35564875/sources-broncos-finalizing-deal-saints-sean-payton

12 PS guys signed to reserve/futures contracts. https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-roster-moves-reserve-future-contracts-post-season-2022

What an asshole. Fuck off, Paulie.