Welcome to the Thursday version of the Pick Six publication!
Someone as soon as stated that “All publicity is sweet publicity,” and let me simply say that the Washington Commanders are actually placing that principle to the take a look at this week. The staff has been making damaging headlines all week, because of proprietor Daniel Snyder, and one way or the other, issues have now gone from dangerous to worse.
The Commanders got the worst grades of any staff within the NFL in a participant survey about working situations. We’ll be overlaying the small print of that survey at present, plus we’ll even be trying on the a number of burning questions in regards to the NFL mix as we head into the meat of that annual occasion.
As all the time, this is your weekly reminder to inform all your pals to enroll in the Pick Six publication. To get your pals to enroll, all you need to do is click on right here after which share this hyperlink with them. All proper, let’s get to the rundown.
1. NFLPA survey: Players love enjoying for Vikings and Raiders, hate enjoying for Commanders
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The Commanders do not simply have arguably the worst proprietor within the NFL, additionally they have the worst working situations for gamers.
The cause we all know that’s as a result of the NFLPA launched a shocking survey on Wednesday the place gamers have been requested to grade the working situations of their present staff. The NFLPA had 1,300 gamers fee how their present staff handles eight particular classes, together with: therapy of households, diet, weight room, energy employees, coaching room, coaching employees, locker room and journey.
The gamers have been requested to assign their staff a letter grade from “A+” to “F-” in every class. We’re going to check out the three groups that scored the most effective and the three groups that scored the worst.
Top grades:
1. Vikings. Of the 32 groups within the NFL, the Vikings have been the ONLY one to attain straight A’s. The Vikings have been ranked within the prime 5 in each class whereas tying for first in 4 of the eight classes (energy employees, coaching room, coaching employees, locker room).
2. Dolphins. Of the eight classes, the Miami was given seven A’s and a C+. That one dangerous grade got here within the “Treatment of households” class and it got here as a result of gamers weren’t completely happy that the staff solely fingers out a restricted variety of passes for household to be in a particular space the place they’ll see the gamers throughout postgame.
3. Raiders. Unlike the Dolphins, the Raiders did not have a single C on their report card, however they did have two B’s. One of the areas the place the Raiders scored properly was their locker room. Players in Las Vegas really feel like they’ve probably the greatest locker rooms within the NFL.
And now, listed here are the three worst scores:
30. Chargers. The Chargers are one in all two groups within the NFL that does not have a sauna OR a steam room. Also, gamers really feel like all the pieces is simply too small, from the cafeteria to the load room to the locker room.
31. Cardinals. The Cardinals acquired an F in 5 of the eight classes. The largest issues for Arizona is that gamers really feel like the load room is a security hazard and gamers are additionally sad that the staff expenses them for meals after they take it from the apply facility (The cash will get deducted from their pay test). The Cardinals additionally cost their gamers for any meal eaten on the facility after the season is over.
32. Commanders. Washington got here in final as a result of it acquired a D or an F in six of the eight classes. Also, many gamers really feel the Commanders are stingy. For one, they’re one in all simply six groups that requires a number of gamers to have roommates on the staff resort the night time earlier than a sport. The Commanders are additionally one in all seven groups that do not fly their gamers firstclass. Players additionally complained that there is not sufficient heat water and that the showers have poor drainage.
In some of the stunning complaints, gamers in Jacksonville say that the staff was coping with a rat infestation for a number of weeks through the 2022 season. YIKES.
If you wish to see the complete rankings from the participant survey, then be sure you click on right here.
2. Burning questions for the NFL mix
Although the mix formally began on Tuesday, the actual enjoyable does not start till at present, and that is as a result of at present marks the primary day of participant measurements and on-field exercises. With that in thoughts, we sat down with our three NFL Draft specialists (Ryan Wilson, Chris Trapasso and Josh Edwards) to reply some burning questions for the mix.
Q: What’s the most important storyline this week?
Wilson: “Bryce Young’s top and weight. There have been small QBs on the mix earlier than — Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray are among the many most outstanding — however by no means has there been a quarterback that was beneath 5-foot-11 and weighed lower than 190 kilos. We’ll see if Young has added weight, however regardless of the measurements are, he is nonetheless the most effective QB within the class.” (Note: Young’s top and weight will doubtless be measured Saturday.)
Q: Which prospect will erupt on the mix?
Edwards: “Kayshon Boutte from LSU. Boutte has been the forgotten broad receiver prospect on this draft class. He has good dimension and pace however his closing seasons in Baton Rouge have been outlined by inconsistency and off-field rumors. He ought to excel in an atmosphere that locations heavy emphasis on athleticism.”
Q: Who will run the quickest 40?
Trapasso: “Devon Achane from Texas A&M. It’s normally a non-marquee prospect, however I’m going with Achane, probably the greatest operating again prospects within the class. He is a blur on the sphere.” (Note: All three guys picked Achane.)
Q: Which QB may have the most effective mix?
Edwards: “Will Levis from Kentucky. Levis stacks up properly with regard to sheer dimension, mobility and arm energy. I feel groups will usually be impressed together with his interviews, significantly the quantity of data that he has absorbed in a short while at Kentucky.”
The guys really answered a complete of seven burning questions, and if you wish to see their solutions for every query, then be sure you click on right here.
3. Five groups dealing with a tough offseason
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The NFL offseason is the one time every year the place each staff has hope, properly, apart from this yr. According to our Tyler Sullivan, there are 5 groups which can be in for a tough experience this offseason.
From free company to the draft, there are many methods to make your staff higher through the offseason, however Sullivan thinks these 5 groups will wrestle to enhance themselves over the following few months.
Buccaneers. “For the second straight offseason, the Buccaneers noticed Tom Brady experience off into retirement, however this time feels a bit extra everlasting than final yr. So, Tampa Bay can be on the lookout for a brand new quarterback to steer them in 2023 they usually aren’t precisely able to make an enormous swing just like how they did it again in 2020, after they landed Brady within the first place. The Bucs shouldn’t have a commanding draft place to have the ability to take a top-ranked prospect on the NFL Draft and at present have a horrific wage cap scenario that finds them simply above $57 million over the cap.”Ravens. “This actually will depend on the way you view the Lamar Jackson scenario. If Baltimore is ready to retain him by agreeing to a profitable contract extension, then they haven’t any enterprise being on this checklist. However, the longer we go and no deal is struck, the extra of a risk it turns into that these two half methods.”Saints. “New Orleans is in the same scenario to its NFC South rival in Tampa Bay. The Saints have one of many worst cap conditions within the NFL and although they want a QB, they don’t possess a draft decide excessive sufficient to place them within the dialog to land one of many top-tier quarterbacks within the draft.”Dolphins. “The NFL stripped away the Dolphins’ first-round decide this yr attributable to what they deemed to be impermissible contact with Tom Brady when he was a part of each the Patriots and Buccaneers. After buying and selling their different first-round decide (from San Francisco) for Bradley Chubb they’re at present on the skin trying in on the opening spherical of the 2023 NFL Draft. For a staff that’s at present $15.3 million over the cap, injecting the roster with low-cost, younger expertise through the draft is a perfect technique to keep aggressive, however they will not be afforded that luxurious.”Rams. “The Rams are in a troublesome scenario in the case of the wage cap, in order that leaves little room to herald anybody who might present a serious increase to the on-field product. Then, in the case of the NFL Draft, they proceed to be exterior of the primary spherical and solely have two alternatives inside the highest 150 (No. 36 and No. 69 general).”
To take a look at Sullivan’s full rationalization for why every of those groups would possibly wrestle to enhance this offseason, be sure you click on right here.
4. Teams that would lose essentially the most in free company
I should have woken up on the flawed aspect of the mattress, as a result of we have now two damaging sections in a row within the publication. First, we checked out 5 groups that may have a tough offseason, and now, we’re going to check out that the groups that would lose essentially the most expertise in free company this yr.
This checklist comes from Jeff Kerr and this is what he got here up with:
1. EAGLES
Top free brokers: James Bradberry (CB), Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (S), Javon Hargrave (DT), Miles Sanders (RB), Isaac Seumalo (LG), Fletcher Cox (DT).
Kerr’s take: “The Eagles merely will not be capable to retain all of their prime free brokers, showcasing how deep this class is and the way proficient the roster was in 2022. Bradberry is arguably the most effective cornerback available on the market after a profession yr and Hargrave had double-digit sacks final season. Gardner-Johnson tied for the league lead in interceptions and Sanders was prime 5 within the league in dashing yards. If the Eagles can retain half of their high-profile free brokers, it is a good offseason for basic supervisor Howie Roseman.”
2. BILLS
Top free brokers: Jordan Poyer (S), Tremaine Edmunds (LB), Devin Singletary (RB), Rodger Saffold (LG)
Kerr’s take: “The large query is will they be capable to retain Poyer and/or Edmunds? Poyer is likely one of the finest safeties within the NFL and nonetheless a difference-maker in his 30s whereas Edmunds is about to develop into one of many highest-paid linebackers within the league.”
3. GIANTS
Top free brokers: Daniel Jones (QB), Saquon Barkley (RB), Julian Love (S)
Kerr’s take: “Jones and Barkley are why this free agent class is likely one of the finest. The Giants may have a troublesome determination to make on retaining each of them.”
Kerr ranked a complete of 10 groups on his checklist, and you possibly can take a look at the opposite seven by heading right here.
5. AFC West offseason staff wants
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Since the center of final week, we have been overlaying the offseason wants for every NFL staff by going via each division, and at present, we’ll be persevering with that run by going via the AFC West.
Bryan DeArdo went via each staff within the division and made a listing of their largest wants that they need to be seeking to fill this offseason. Every staff on this division is attempting to catch as much as the Chiefs, who received the AFC West for the seventh consecutive time in 2022.
All proper, let’s take a look at the wants for every staff:
BRONCOS
Team wants: LG, C, RT, LB, DT, TE
Cap area: $11.95 million
DeArdo’s outlook: “Without a first-round decide, the Broncos should be additional diligent in free company. Offensive line is undoubtedly GM George Paton’s prime precedence this offseason. Fortunately for Denver, there are a number of good offensive linemen who’re set to enter free company. Included in that group are guard Matt Pryor, tackles George Fant, Mike McGlinchey and Jawaan Taylor, together with middle Ethan Pocic, amongst others.”
CHIEFS
Team wants: WR, OT, S
Cap area: $526,422
DeArdo’s outlook: “Patrick Mahomes put up an MVP season regardless of not having a large receiver attain 1,000 yards. Even in the event that they re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman, receiver is a place the Chiefs will certainly add to this offseason. Fortunately for them, there are a number of notable broad receivers who’re anticipated to be buying their wears in free company. Robert Woods, D.J. Chark, Jakobi Meyers, Allen Lazard, Mack Hollins and Darius Slayton are among the many Chiefs’ attainable choices in free company.”
RAIDERS
Team wants: QB, OT, WR, EDGE, LB
Cap area: $46.31 million
DeArdo’s outlook: “Las Vegas has fairly a number of holes to fill, none larger than at quarterback. The Raiders will doubtless handle this want with the No. 7 general decide in April’s draft (extra on that in a bit bit).”
CHARGERS
Team wants: OT, DT, WR
Cap area: $19.67 million
DeArdo’s outlook: “Los Angeles is slowly changing into a contender, and it might make a substantial soar this yr if it has a stable offseason. Strengthening their operating sport and each trenches whereas replenishing their receiving corps would go a great distance making the Chargers a professional risk to the Chiefs’ crown.”
For a full take a look at every staff’s wants and who they need to go after, be sure you take a look at DeArdo’s full story by clicking right here.
6. Rapid-fire roundup: Jalen Carter returns to mix after being booked in Georgia
It’s been a busy 24 hours within the NFL, and because it’s practically unattainable to maintain observe of all the pieces that occurred, I went forward and put collectively a roundup for you.
Jalen Carter returns to mix. It’s been an attention-grabbing 24 hours for one of many NFL’s prime draft prospects. After police in Georgia filed a warrant for his arrest on Wednesday, Carter flew again to Athens and was booked at 11:33 p.m. ET Wednesday night time. The former UGA defensive sort out posted bond 16 minutes later and as of Thursday morning, he is now again in Indy for the mix. For full particulars on this story, be sure you go right here. Aaron Rodgers says he’ll decide quickly. In his first public interview since rising from his darkness retreat, the Packers QB stated he is going to decide quickly. Of course, everybody already knew that as a result of the Packers are going to wish to know his determination earlier than free company begins, which implies he has lower than two weeks to get issues found out. Chargers say they don’t seem to be eliminating Keenan Allen. There’s been some hypothesis this offseason that the Chargers would possibly dump their star receiver — reducing him would liberate $14.8 million in cap area — however Tom Telesco shot down that concept on Wednesday. The Chargers GM insinuated that Allen is a superb weapon and that he has no plans to do away with him anytime quickly. You can learn his full feedback right here. Brian Flores will get small victory in lawsuit towards NFL. A federal choose has dominated that Flores’ discrimination claims towards the NFL, Giants, Texans and Broncos can proceed in courtroom. However, the NFL additionally acquired a small victory. The league needed every case determined in arbitration and the courtroom dominated that if Flores desires to proceed his case towards the Dolphins, he’ll need to undergo arbitration for that one, in response to ESPN. Joe Montana jersey sells for report quantity. The jersey that Joe Montana wore in two Super Bowls was auctioned off this week and it offered for $1.212 million, in response to ESPN.com. That quantity smashed the report for many cash ever spent on a jersey at public sale (The earlier report belonged to a Tom Brady Buccaneers’ jersey that offered for $480,000). Montana has been auctioning off loads of memorabilia from his private assortment over the previous month and the Super Bowl jersey ended up promoting for greater than anything within the assortment.
