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A Draft Pick, Free Agent Signing and Trade Target for all 32 teams
Title says it all. Going to suggest a player to be drafted in either the first or second round (or third for HOU at the moment) for each team, along with a player to target in free agency, and a player to potentially trade for. Trying to avoid overlap as best I can, but some may have similar targets. Resources used include PFF, The Draft Network, and OverTheCap. Enjoy!
Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
Trade Target: DT J.J. Watt, Houston Texans - The last deal between Arizona and Houston worked out well. Why not try again and add a serious piece to their pass rushing arsenal in Watt. An ideal interior fit for Arizona, Watt would help them push for the playoffs in his final seasons in the league. Draft Pick: C Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma - Reuniting Kyler Murray with his old center for the Sooners would be an excellent move. The Cardinals currently have Mason Cole at center, but could easily slide him over to guard to make room for Humphrey if they wanted a significant upgrade at an underrated position. Free Agent Signing: TE Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans - Arizona would be wise to look at adding Jonnu Smith into the equation on offense. One of the NFL's best after the catch at the TE position, he'd be another fun weapon to slot alongside Murray and Hopkins.
Atlanta Falcons (4-12)
Trade Target: S Tracy Walker, Detroit Lions - With a new regime coming in, Detroit is headed towards an extended rebuild, and acquiring assets for up-and-down players like Walker could be a consideration. Now, still young, Walker has plenty of potential for the Falcons, and if the price is right, could be a tremendous bargain. Draft Pick: QB Justin Fields, Ohio State - While Matt Ryan will remain the QB of the Falcons next season, due to his contract, the Falcons should plan for the future and add a Georgia native in Fields, one of the better QB's out of college football in recent years. He'd be able to develop behind Ryan under the tutelage of new head coach Arthur Smith. Free Agent Signing: CB Mackensie Alexander, Cincinnati Bengals - The Falcons do not have positive cap space at the moment (currently projected $30 million over the limit) so even after reworking deals and cutting some players, they'll be bargain shopping more than anything else. PFF projects Alexander to fetch a deal of about 2-years, $6 million, which could be feasible for the Falcons. He'd be a solid veteran presence across from CB A.J. Terrell.
Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
Trade Target: OLB Whitney Mercilus, Houston - I list him in "trade target" as he's technically under contract in Houston going into 2021. However, it's 99% more likely that the Texans cut him and Baltimore pursues him as a newly released free agent. Kind of cheating on my listings, but I like the idea of Mercilus in Baltimore after Houston cuts him. It'd be a coup for Houston if they could get a pick for him. Mercilus is a veteran pass rusher who could step into a role in Baltimore should OLB Matt Judon depart for greener pastures...green meaning money of course. Draft Pick: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota - The idea of Bateman in Baltimore remains one of my favorite potential pairings for any player likely to be selected in the first round of the draft. Similar to Keenan Allen in my opinion, Bateman could become the go-to wide receiver the Ravens lacked last season. Free Agent Signing: G Jon Feliciano, Buffalo Bills - The Ravens need to bolster the middle of their offensive line, and a tough veteran like Feliciano could be ideal target for the Ravens. With a big contract committed to LT Ronnie Staley, a cheaper veteran like Feliciano could match price tag with talent. Good value for the Ravens.
Buffalo Bills (13-3)
Trade Target: DT Malcom Brown, New Orleans Saints - The Saints are in cap space purgatory, and thus could be looking to offload some decent players like Brown simply to get back under the cap. He's a solid starting DT who could be available for cheap in the Saints push to real in their financial situation. A strong fit next to Ed Oliver on the inside. Draft Pick: LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina - Given their limited cap space, the Bills may have to decide between re-signing OT Daryl Williams and LB Matt Milano. If so, a replacement like Surratt could be a smart move for Sean McDermott and co. as Surratt is a quick backer who excels in space and has shown plenty of promise in coverage. Free Agent Signing: DE Romeo Okwara, Detroit Lions - The Bills aren't loaded with cap space (barely above 0 if the cap stays down at $175 million), but I'd imagine they'll find some ways to free some cap up. If they do, they may want to consider Okwara, a rising pass-rusher, as a replacement for some of their own departing edge rushers. He tallied 10 sacks this season after hitting 7.5 sacks in 2018 in Detroit. While not elite, Okwara's likely a solid value pass-rusher for a contender like the Bills.
Carolina Panthers (5-11)
Trade Target: DT Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears - The Panthers just drafted DT Derrick Brown, but pairing him and Hicks together could become a dominant duo in the middle of that defense. And with DT Kawann Short a likely cut candidate, Hicks could be an instant upgrade for Carolina. Draft Pick: LB Micah Parsons, Penn State - Forget the QB position, if the Panthers have the opportunity to land Parsons at 8th overall, they should pull the trigger. He'd be an immediate boost of speed, instincts and athleticism into their linebacker corps, a strong replacement for Luke Kuechly. Free Agent Signing: TE Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Rams - More of a move tight end than a traditional in-line blocker, Everett could be an exceptional value signing for someone, as he's not likely to command as much money as Hunter Henry or Jonnu Smith, but is a very good player himself.
Chicago Bears (8-8)
Trade Target: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers - Unless the Bears are set to bring back Mitch Trubisky, who played a bit better to end the season but still not strong enough, the Bears should look at the veteran QB market. While Garoppolo has had some injury issues, he's a notable upgrade over Trubisky and could give them a steady veteran presence for a couple of more years. Draft Pick: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech - There's growing buzz that Rashawn Slater could join Penei Sewell in the top-10, leaving him just out of the Bears' grasp. But Darrisaw is quite the consolation prize as he's a first-round caliber offensive tackle himself who could fill a big need for the offense in the Windy City. Free Agent Signing: WR Sammy Watkins, Kansas City Chiefs - Watkins and Bears head coach Matt Nagy did not cross paths in Kansas City, but a recommendation from Andy Reid could push the two together. The Bears are another team facing some cap complications, and thus may need a cheaper replacement for Allen Robinson on the outside. If so, Watkins has been a strong complimentary receiver who could pair well with rising youngster Darnell Mooney.
Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1)
Trade Target: G Joe Dahl, Detroit Lions - Finding protection and weapons for QB Joe Burrow is the primary goal for Cincinnati this offseason before they enter the coaching carousel in 2022. Dahl is a strong pass protector who has grown into a quality starter. However, with large contracts for C Frank Ragnow coming up, along with big deals in place for Decker and Vaitai, Detroit may need to send Dahl out for picks. Draft Pick: OT Penei Sewell, Oregon - There is buzz that Northwestern's Rashawn Slater may be viewed as OT1, and I get the hype, however, I'm sticking with Sewell for now. The Bengals should draft Sewell and get him ready to go as their franchise left tackle in 2021. Free Agent Signing: CB Troy Hill, Los Angeles Rams - The Bengals have a healthy chunk of cap space, and should use of that to bring back CB William Jackson III. However, they should not stop there, they should also make a push for a quality veteran cornerback like Hill to bolster their defense in the meantime.
Cleveland Browns (11-5)
Trade Target: LB Jaylon Smith, Dallas Cowboys - After looking like an elite linebacker from 2017-2019, Smith had a rough year under now fired defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. A fresh start in Cleveland could be ideal for both teams, as Smith is still young enough, 26 years, to be a strong piece to their defense for years to come. Draft Pick: DT Daviyon Nixon, Iowa - The Browns are in a strong position at 26th overall to sit and see who the top defensive lineman on the board is. If they're lucky enough for it to be a high potential defensive tackle like Nixon, it'd be an ideal situation to bring him in the replace Ogunjobi. A defensive end like Jayson Oweh or Jaelan Phillips could also work here. Free Agent Signing: S Marcus Williams, New Orleans Saints - The Browns could use a big upgrade on the back end, and Williams, at only 24 years old, would be a premium add for a team who finally broke through the playoffs. PFF projects Williams to command a deal around 4-years $57 million, and the Browns would likely have the money to make that happen, sitting tenth in cap space this offseason.
Dallas Cowboys (6-10)
Trade Target: CB Mike Hughes, Minnesota Vikings - Hughes was a first-round pick for the Vikings in 2018, but has not lived up to the billing so far. Dallas is in need of several new faces on its defensive backfield, and perhaps a new situation could be best for Hughes to turn his NFL career around. For Dallas, a cheap flier on defense. Draft Pick: CB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama - The Cowboys defense is a mess at many levels, and so picking a premium defensive player like Surtain would be a wise for Dallas to get things straightened out. He's consistently been pegged as the top corner of this draft cycle and makes a lot of sense in Dallas. Free Agent Signing: DT Dalvin Tomlinson, New York Giants - The Cowboys ranked 31st in total rushing yards surrendered in 2020, meaning they'll need to make it a priority to find a run-stuffer like Dalvin Tomlinson to get their defense back on track. While most teams are geared towards stopping the pass, you simply cannot be as bad in run stopping as Dallas was and expect to be competitive.
Denver Broncos (5-11)
Trade Target: QB Marcus Mariota, Las Vegas Raiders - An inter-divisional trade for a QB seems unlikely, but it's something for both sides to consider. The Broncos need to find a veteran QB to bring in to push QB Drew Lock, who has shown flashes in his first two years but has so far been too inconsistent to commit to long-term. Draft Pick: EDGE Joe Tryon, Washington - More likely a second-round selection here, the Broncos should consider finding a player to develop into Von Miller's replacement, given all the complications with their star pass-rusher recently. Tryon has a high motor and excellent athleticism to develop across from Bradley Chubb. Free Agent Signing: CB Quinton Dunbar, Seattle Seahawks - Dunbar was an excellent player for Washington previously, but did not meet expectations after getting moved to the Seahawks. Should he walk in free agency, perhaps putting him under a solid defensive coach like Vic Fangio could help him get back into the strong form that made him a coveted player in 2019.
Detroit Lions (5-11)
Trade Target: A Big Haul for Matt Stafford - We suggest one later on, but Detroit's in a full-on rebuild with Stafford wanting out. Peter King recently reported that at least five teams would be willing to offer their first-rounder for Stafford. Detroit should turn it into a bidding war and land as many draft picks as they can to bolster their rebuilding efforts. Draft Pick: QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State - The Lions are moving on from QB Matthew Stafford after he understandably requested out. With Detroit picking at 7th, there's a very good chance that Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, and Zach Wilson are all off the board. Thus, unless Detroit makes a bold move up the board, chances are that they go with Lance, who has the potential to be available with their pick. He has plenty of upside to develop into a starting QB behind a veteran QB, say Tyrod Taylor, reuniting with new Lions offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn? Free Agent Signing: LB Matt Milano, Buffalo Bills - If we were ranking worst position groups in the league, Detroit's LB corps is in strong contention. An outdated group of lethargic old-school thumpers, almost none of Detroit's LB's are capable of playing modern football at a high level. Detroit should invest some cash into someone who is, such as the Bills LB Matt Milano, an excellent backer with range and some ability in coverage.
Green Bay Packers
Trade Target: WR Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys - The Packers wide receivers performed quite well after all the criticism Green Bay received after not bringing in anyone for QB Aaron Rodgers. However, good is the enemy of great, and pairing Gallup with Davante Adams would give Green Bay an elite duo in terms of pass catchers. Draft Pick: LB Nick Bolton, Missouri - If Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was here as well, I think he could be another strong option, but Bolton is an excellent linebacker who can fill gaps inside and fly from sideline-to-sideline. Free Agent Signing: CB Gareon Conley, Houston Texans - Like the Falcons listed earlier, the Packers don't have positive cap space at the moment, and thus any free agent additions will likely be bargain bin deals. I like the example that PFF lists in their free agency preview, suggesting Conley could replicate Ronald Darby's return, taking a year deal with the aims of getting things turned around and landing a larger deal after that. An opportunity in Green Bay seems like a good start.
Houston Texans (4-12)
Trade Target: Every Pick they can get from the Jets - Even hiring a veteran coach like Culley to run the show and attempt to repair the relationship with Watson, it seems unlikely to me that Houston holds on, given the issues between Watson and owner Cal McNair. Thus, if forced to deal him, the Texans should aim to land at least three first rounders from a team like the Jets, who could see Watson as a better player than any of the QB's available behind Trevor Lawrence. Draft Pick: QB Zach Wilson, BYU - This obviously assumes a trade with the Jets sends #2 overall to Houston. If so, Wilson looks like the next best bet behind Lawrence in my opinion. He, along with the boatload of additional assets that would come along in this trade, should be a solid foundation for Culley and co.'s rebuild. Free Agent Signing: S Malik Hooker, Indianapolis Colts - The Texans will start their rebuild without any cap space, meaning that taking chances on younger guys like Hooker, 24 years old, to potentially find useful pieces is key. If they can land Hooker to play safety for them on a cheap 1-2 year deal, that'd be ideal for Houston.
Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
Trade Target: QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions - Easy one here. If the Colts had Stafford in 2020 they probably would have replaced the Bills in the AFC Championship Game. Stafford is only 32 years, meaning he still has a strong 4-5 years left to help the Colts' well-rounded roster make a championship push. Surrendering a first round pick and potentially a 2022 3rd (if there competition from others) is a gamble I'd definitely make if I were Chris Ballard. Draft Pick: DE Patrick Jones II, Pittsburgh - Assuming the Colts use their first on the aforementioned Stafford deal, then finding a balanced edge rusher like Jones would be a great move for Indy. With players like Denico Autry and Justin Houston headed to free agency (and getting old), the Colts would get a terror on the edge with a tremendous motor and tools to develop. Free Agent Signing: WR Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears - The Colts have a large amount of cap space, second in the league according to OTC's projections. Given that they will need to conserve some of that war chest for internal extensions, they would be wise to replace T.Y. Hilton with a more dominant receiver like Allen Robinson. An offseason adding Matt Stafford and Robinson together should make Frank Reich and Marcus Brady very excited for 2021.
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-15)
Trade Target: WR Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns - If the Browns are preparing to move on from Beckham Jr., then perhaps sending him down to Jacksonville to pair up with Urban Meyer could help get him playing elite football again. After posting 1,000 yard season in 3 of the previous 4 seasons, an injury once again cut his year short. Draft Pick: OT Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State - Not at #1 overall obviously. We all know that will go to QB Trevor Lawrence. However, with the Rams 1st round selection (acquired via the Jalen Ramsey trade), the Jaguars should look to use it on an upgrade to their offensive line in the form of Radunz. Free Agent Signing: OLB Shaquil Barrett, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Provided new defensive coordinator Joe Cullen brings a Ravens style 3-4 defense with him, then adding a premier OLB like Barrett while K'Lavon Chaisson develops would be a great move for Jacksonville. With the NFL's lead in cap space, Jacksonville could afford Barrett along with some other instant contributors.
Kansas City Chiefs (14-2)
Trade Target: WR Anthony Miller, Chicago Bears - The Chiefs could easily lose WR Sammy Watkins to free agency, leaving an opening for another wideout to join the rotation. Miller has been fairly productive in Chicago, and could be a solid option to join Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce in Andy Reid's passing attack. Draft Pick: G Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC - Vera-Tucker gets mocked to the Chiefs a lot, and it makes perfect sense why. A premier offensive line talent, he has some versatility after playing tackle for the Trojans. While I think his best fit is inside, he'd be an ideal player for Kansas City to add to bolster their protection after investing so much in QB Patrick Mahomes. Free Agent Signing: C Ted Karras, Miami Dolphins - The Chiefs will also be bargain bin hunting, as they're currently over the cap by $18 million. Thus, a starting caliber center like Ted Karras could prove useful for the defending Super Bowl champs (at this point). Karras signed with the Dolphins for only $3 million last season, and a similar deal with KC could be an absolute bargain when all is said and done.
Las Vegas Raiders (8-8)
Trade Target: DT Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears - I mentioned Hicks for the Panthers as well, but he'd be a great add for either team, perhaps even more so for the Raiders, who could easily see DT Johnathan Hankins depart in free agency. A disruptive player in the middle, he'd be a nice add in Las Vegas. Draft Pick: EDGE Azeez Ojulari, Georgia - After shockingly selecting DE Clelin Ferrell at fourth overall in 2019, the Raiders have still been searching for a game changer at DE to go alongside the productive efforts of Maxx Crosby. Ojulari profiles as a high potential pass rusher to scratch that itch for Jon Gruden and co. Free Agent Signing: S Anthony Harris, Minnesota Vikings - The Raiders may have to get creative to free up the cap space to land Harris, as they're currently over. But if they can do it, he'd be an ideal player to add to the Vegas' defense, now led by defensive coordinator Ken Whisen...uh...Gus Bradley. Harris is an elite free safety who would pair well with Jonathan Abram.
Los Angeles Chargers (7-9)
Trade Target: DT Danny Shelton, Detroit Lions - Shelton struggled in Detroit, but frankly, everyone on Patricia's defense did. Before that, Shelton posted strong results as a 3-4 interior gap-plugger, doing a quality job for both the Browns and Patriots before him. With Linval Joseph on the decline, adding a younger replacement for cheap could be in store. Draft Pick: G Wyatt Davis, Ohio State - LA needs a couple of new starters on its offensive line, and if the tackles fly off the board before they can get one at 13th overall, then perhaps a top notch guard could also suffice. Davis has been a consistent player for the Buckeyes and projects as an instant impact lineman for someone at the next level. Free Agent Signing: OT Alejandro Villanueva, Pittsburgh Steelers - A sturdy, veteran left tackle should be a big priority for the Chargers, as the imperative to protect QB Justin Herbert is high. After a breakout season for Herbert, he gives the franchise a ton of optimism under new head coach Brandon Staley. Keeping him upright is something Villanueva would do well at.
Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
Trade Target: QB Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars - The Rams are in a pickle with QB Jared Goff. He has not been a strong point for the team recently, but his contract is a bit too heavy to move right now. Thus, a cheaper way to acquire some genuine competition for Goff could be to trade for the affordable Minshew, a solid starter in his own right. Jacksonville will be bringing in Trevor Lawrence anyways to replace him, so perhaps acquiring a pick or so to send him out could be a wise move. Draft Pick: EDGE Quincy Roche, Miami - Provided that new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris isn't changing the scheme outright, Roche would be an excellent fit at 3-4 OLB in LAR. He's a dynamic pass rusher with excellent physical traits. If he falls to the Rams in the second-round they shouldn't think twice about selecting him. Free Agent Signing: LB Jarrad Davis, Detroit Lions - The Rams are another team already over the cap, so not a lot to spend on. However, they could use some help at inside linebacker, and Davis projects to be a relatively cheap piece to take a gamble on. Physically impressive, he's struggled with the mental side of the game. If Morris can get him sorted out, it could be excellent value.
Miami Dolphins (10-6)
Trade Target: WR Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons - The Dolphins will likely have the opportunity to draft a premier wide receiver in the first round, but could also use some of their stockpile to add an established star like Jones. Giving Tua as many options as you can is a wise move. Draft Pick: RB Najee Harris, Alabama - Reuniting Harris and Tua in a backfield would fill a big need for the Dolphins. Whether taking him with their second selection in the first round or hoping he drops to the second, Miami should get serious about finding a talented running back, Free Agent Signing: G Joe Thuney, New England Patriots - The Dolphins still have a decent amount of cap space (8th in the league) and could easily use some of that to target an upgrade to the interior of their offensive line by adding Thuney. Thuney crossed paths with Dolphins head coach Brian Flores in New England, and a reunion down south could be profitable for both parties.
Minnesota Vikings (7-9)
Trade Target: DT Tyquan Lewis, Indianapolis Colts - Lewis may not be on the trade block, but the Colts have both defensive tackles locked up ahead of him (Buckner, Grover Stewart). Perhaps they'd consider moving a young, promising 3-technique if Minnesota put together a quality offer for him. He'd instantly fill a need for the Vikings. Draft Pick: EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami - With the failed Yannick Ngakoue tenure, the Vikings still need to find a premium pass rusher. Rousseau sat out 2020, but was dominant the year before and projects as a highly athletic piece for Zimmer to develop. Free Agent Signing: OT Matt Feiler, Pittsburgh Steelers - Feiler offers a lot of versatility, which works great for Minnesota, as they could insert Feiler as a starting tackle, or slide G Ezra Cleveland into the LT position and put Feiler in at guard. Either way, a relatively affordable upgrade on the OL.
New England Patriots (7-9)
Trade Target: TE Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles - The Eagles are another team finding themselves in a less-than-ideal cap situation, and thus, will likely explore moving a top player like Ertz. While the Patriots have drafted a handful of decent role players at TE, they've lacked a player of Ertz's caliber. He'd be a nice upgrade to help whomever the Patriots land at QB. Draft Pick: WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama - It seems unlikely that Devonta Smith or Ja'Marr Chase slip to New England, but I'd imagine they'd be perfectly content with a potential stud like Waddle to bolster their mediocre group of pass catchers. He's a very smooth player with a lot of potential. Free Agent Signing: QB Andy Dalton, Dallas Cowboys - Dalton got off to a rough start with Dallas in relief of QB Dak Prescott, scoring a total of 13 points in 2 games while throwing 1 touchdown to 3 interceptions. However, he was admirable after that, throwing 13 touchdowns to 5 interceptions while posting a 4-3 record over that stretch. Dalton could be an upgrade over Cam Newton for New England while they hunt for a new franchise QB to replace Tom Brady.
New Orleans Saints (12-4)
Trade Target: Draft Picks for Kwon Alexander, Nick Easton, or Latavius Murray - The Saints game isn't necessarily who they should bring in, but if they can get picks for some players with bloated contracts that they may need to cut. If they can score some late-round picks to move these guys (or others) elsewhere, they need to pull the trigger. Draft Pick: WR Kadarius Toney, Florida - While it seems like the hype train on Toney has left the station, it'd be incredible if he slipped to the Saints at 28th overall in this draft. An explosive player, he'd be an ideal partner for WR Michael Thomas, giving Taysom Hill or maybe Jameis(?) some excellent weapons. Free Agent Signing: TE Jacob Hollister, Seattle Seahawks - The Saints, as mentioned, are in cap purgatory. Their signings will be quite minimum once they make the trades, cuts, and restructures required to get them back under the cap. However, one cheaper option could be a solid TE like Hollister, as TE Jared Cook is set to depart. Putting up 25 catches including 3 touchdowns at a price tag a shade over $3 million could be in New Orleans price range.
New York Giants (6-10)
Trade Target: G Gabe Jackson, Las Vegas Raiders - Jackson has been rumored to be available for a little while now. Not yet 30 years old, he's a steady veteran option on the interior of any offensive line and would fit quite well with the Giants. Draft Pick: WR Devonta Smith, Alabama - If the Dolphins don't take Smith, the Giants certainly should. Ensuring that QB Daniel Jones has the weapons he needs to grow into the franchise QB role is pertinent. Smith is a stud pass catcher and would be an excellent pick if he were on the board at 10th overall. Free Agent Signing: EDGE Matt Judon, Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens have let a handful of pass rushers walk, and if they do so with Judon this year, the Giants should go get him. While Yannick could also be a Ravens OLB on the market, Judon fits Joe Judge's style a little bit more than Yannick does, and could be available for cheaper, which is important for another cap squeezed team like the Giants.
New York Jets (2-14)
Trade Target: QB Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans - As I do think Justin Fields or Zach Wilson can be good franchise QB's, Watson already is an exceptional one. The Jets should put together a package of picks to go land the beleaguered QB and unite him with Robert Saleh, whom he listed as one of the guys he originally wanted Houston to interview. Draft Pick: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC - Assuming the Jets send both first-round selections to the Texans in the hypothetical Watson trade, the Jets would still have a premium pick to start off the second-round, one they should use to add a top tier WR like St. Brown who could be a star quickly. Free Agent Signing: CB William Jackson III, Cincinnati Bengals - If the Bengals can't lock Jackson up to an extension before free agency, the Jets should throw some cash at him to be a foundational piece of Saleh's defense in the Big Apple.
Philadelphia Eagles (4-11-1)
Trade Target: Draft Picks for Zach Ertz, DeSean Jackson, and Alshon Jeffery - Like the Saints, the Eagles probably should focus on offloading bloated contracts rather than bringing anyone in. The cheap rookie contracts that draft picks provide will be needed to steer themselves out of cap purgatory. Draft Pick: WR Ja'Marr Chase, LSU - The Eagles and Chase are an ideal fit, and new head coach Nick Sirianni sure could use the big play ability that Chase provides. Whichever QB ends up getting the start, they'll be happy to have a guy like Chase to throw to. Free Agent Signing: CB Bashaud Breeland, Kansas City Chiefs - The Eagles have a horrific cap situation themselves, and thus, a lower-end veteran like Breeland can give them a solid starter at an affordable price as the Eagles try and sort out their defense.
Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
Trade Target: QB Sam Darnold, New York Jets - The Steelers may have brought in Dwayne Haskins, but frankly I have little faith there. Instead, they should call up the Jets to figure out what Darnold will cost them. One season behind Roethlisberger in his final go could be a great change of pace for Darnold before taking over. Draft Pick: RB Travis Etienne, Clemson - Everyone is too cool for elite running backs in the wannabe scouting world. But Etienne is a stud, and the Steelers need a big upgrade at running back. If they don't like their options for QB late into the first, they should give serious weight to taking Etienne and landing an elite player rather than reach for a lesser player elsewhere. Free Agent Signing: G Elijah Wilkinson, Denver Broncos - Wilkinson had a very rough 2019 season, but has been a good deal better in 2020. He's still on the younger end, not even 26 years old, and could be an affordable gamble for Pittsburgh, who also needs to find their way back under the cap ($35 million over).
San Francisco 49ers (6-10)
Trade Target: QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions - If the Colts don't land Stafford, the 49ers absolutely should. Pairing Stafford and Kyle Shanahan would be fun to watch, and he'd be a much most consistent player for the 49ers than the oft-injured Jimmy G. It's a big move, but one Shanahan may want to consider to make another championship run. Draft Pick: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech - If the 49ers don't move for Stafford and keep their first-round selection, they should target a top tier corner like Farley as they have a handful of corners (Sherman, Witherspoon, Williams) set to hit the open market. Free Agent Signing: DT Shelby Harris, Denver Broncos - The 49ers top priority should be retaining OT Trent Williams, but after that, adding a veteran pass rusher on the interior could be a good move. Harris has been a consistent player for Denver, but has yet to be rewarded with a big opportunity, something he could get here alongside Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead.
Seattle Seahawks (12-4)
Trade Target: DT Jonathan Allen, Washington Football Team - I'm not sure the Football Team would move him, but he is on the final year of his deal, and Washington's going to have weigh future deals for DE's Montez Sweat and Chase Young into the equation. If they aren't willing to pony up for three studs on the defensive line, they may look to add some picks in exchange for Allen. Draft Pick: CB Greg Newsome II, Northwestern - A late riser up the board after a stellar junior year in Evanston. Newsome has ideal size (6'1, 190 lbs) for Seattle and could help fill a gap if they have to choose between Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar. Free Agent Signing: DE Carl Lawson, Cincinnati Bengals - A really good fit here, as the Seahawks very much need some pass-rushing help. Lawson has been an excellent player for the Bengals and could find the chance to compete in the playoffs if he heads west for Seattle.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5)
Trade Target: QB Sam Darnold, New York Jets - The Bucs are another team that should explore the asking price for Darnold. While Brady is still winning his battle against time, it seems unrealistic to expect it to continue for too much longer. The Bucs could potentially land his heir apparent in Darnold. Draft Pick: Christian Barmore, Alabama - Between Barmore and Daviyon Nixon, I think both have a case to make as DT1 in this class, but Barmore projects as a bit better fit to Todd Bowles' 3-4 defense than Nixon does. The Bucs add an impact defensive lineman to pair on the inside with Vita Vea, giving them flexibility in replacing Ndamukong Suh. Free Agent Signing: OLB Tyus Bowser, Baltimore Ravens - The Bucs have a good chunk of cap space available, but will need to prioritize some re-signings like LB Lavonte David, OLB Shaq Barrett, and TE Rob Gronkowski. Thus, they may not have a lot of cash to throw out there after bringing back some of their own. Bowser is a good value to add as a rotational pass rusher, scoring some decent grades from PFF as a backup for Matt Judon and Yannick in Baltimore. An expanded role in Tampa could pay off for both sides.
Tennessee Titans (11-5)
Trade Target: OLB Jacob Martin, Houston Texans - As sad as it is, Martin's 3 sacks in 2020 would have led the team for Tennessee. In a passing era, you need to get after the QB better than the Texans are doing. While team's are hesitant to trade within the division, the Texans should be more focused on acquiring picks to rebuild, which they could get by moving a decent rotational pass-rusher. Draft Pick: OLB Joseph Ossai, Texas - Really the Titans should be focused on landing a high potential pass-rusher, and Ossai figures to be a hot name in that range. He's a springy pass rusher who can inject some life into one of the league's worst team's at getting to the QB. Free Agent Signing: WR T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts - After a strong season in 2020, WR Corey Davis seems a bit unlikely to return, as he'll likely fetch more on the market than the Titans can afford to pay him. Thus, they should consider adding a veteran replacement to pair with budding star A.J. Brown at wide receiver.
Washington Football Team (7-9)
Trade Target: QB Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans - Another team I think should really make a push for Watson. It'll cost them at least a 2021 and 2022 first-round pick, along with probably another second and DT Jonathan Allen or some other player. It could definitely cost more than that! But Watson would solidify Washington as the top team in the NFC East for the next few years. With QB and DE locked in with Watson, Sweat, and Young, this could be a potential dynasty in the division. Draft Pick: OT Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State - A potential second-round target, Washington should look to find a developmental tackle to eventually slot into their lineup. Morgan Moses and Cornelius Lucas were a solid pairing last year, but both are about to turn 30 years old, and Jenkins has a lot of potential. A year to develop before taking a spot in the starting lineup would ideal for everyone involved. Free Agent Signing: WR Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions - Washington managed to build a passing attack out of Terry McLaurin and a handful of role players at RB and TE. While it worked in 2020, it does not seem very sustainable, as Washington should use its cap space to bring in a premier WR to pair with Terry McLaurin. Pairing up McLaurin's speed with Golladay's ability to go win contested balls is an ideal complementary pairing.
Lost in the Sauce: Rules finalized to take away LQBTQ rights, cement border wall, sell oil rights
Welcome to Lost in the Sauce, keeping you caught up on political and legal news that often gets buried in distractions and theater… or a global health crisis. I am doing a separate post for the insurrection and related events. I think it is important to make sure the news in this post doesn't get overlooked. Housekeeping:
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Russia
A new report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) found that Trump political appointees politicized intelligence around foreign election interference in 2020, resulting in significant errors. ODNI analytic ombudsman Barry Zulauf delivered the report to Congress on Thursday: “Analysis on foreign election interference was delayed, distorted or obstructed out of concern over policymaker reactions or for political reasons.” The biggest misrepresentation of intel involved diminishing the threat posed by Russia and overstating the risk of interference from China.
“Russia analysts assessed that there was clear and credible evidence of Russian election influence activities. They said IC management slowing down or not wanting to take their analysis to customers, claiming that it was not well received, frustrated them. Analysts saw this as suppression of intelligence, bordering on politicization of intelligence from above.”
WaPo: Zulauf, a career official, also found an “egregious” example of attempted politicization of the Russian interference issue in March talking points on foreign election threats, prepared “presumably by ODNI staff” and “shaped by” then-Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell.
The Justice Department and the federal judiciary revealed that the Russian Solar Winds hack also compromised their computer systems. 3% of the DOJ’s Microsoft Office 365 were potentially affected; it does not appear that classified material was accessed. The impact on the judiciary seems much more significant, jeopardizing “highly sensitive confidential documents filed with the courts.”
The sealed court files, if indeed breached, could hold information about national security, trade secrets and wiretap transcripts, along with financial data from bankruptcy cases and the names of confidential informants in criminal cases...
Appointees
D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine has accused U.S. Agency for Global Media Director Michael Pack of funneling $4 million in nonprofit funds to his own for-profit company. In a civil lawsuit filed last week, Racine states that for over 12 years, Pack used a nonprofit company he owned to direct money to his private documentary company, enabling “Pack to line his company’s coffers with a stream of tax-exempt dollars without...a competitive bidding process, public scrutiny, or accounting requirements regarding its spending.” Employees at Voice of America have filed a whistleblower complaint accusing Pack of using the agency “to disseminate political propaganda in the waning days of the Trump administration. The staffers take issue with a planned speech by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to be broadcast from VOA headquarters. The event, to be attended by a live audience, “is a specific danger to public health and safety” in the middle of a pandemic. Finally, the whistleblowers say the event is “ a gross misuse of government resources,” costing at least $4,000 in taxpayer funds to date and using 18 employees who would otherwise be producing VOA content. Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller has announced his appointees to the panel set to rename confederate military bases and plan the removal of confederate symbols/monuments. Most controversially, Miller named White House liaison Joshua Whitehouse, who oversaw the purge of the Defense Policy Board and the Defense Business Board last month. The other three Miller-appointees are former acting Army general counsel Earl Matthews, acting assistant secretary of Defense Ann Johnston, and White House official Sean McLean. The remaining four members will be appointed by the Senate and House Armed Services Committees.
The 10 Army posts named in honor of Confederate generals are Camp Beauregard and Fort Polk in Louisiana, Fort Benning and Fort Gordon in Georgia, Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Lee and Fort Pickett in Virginia, Fort Rucker in Alabama, and Fort Hood in Texas.
Trump
The Trump Inaugural Committee, a nonprofit, improperly paid a $49,000 hotel bill that should have been picked up by Trump’s for-profit business. D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine revealed the allegation in an existing lawsuit against the committee, which already accuses Trump’s hotel of illegally pocketing about $1 million of donors’ money. “The Trump Organization was liable for the invoiced charges...The [Committee’s] payment of the invoice was unfair, unreasonable and unjustified and ultimately conferred improper private benefit to the Trump Organization.” The Professional Golfer’s Association voted last night to move the 2022 PGA Championship from Trump’s Bedminster course. Jim Richerson, PGA of America president, said in a statement that “it has become clear that conducting” the championship at Trump’s property would “be detrimental to the PGA of America brand” and put the organization's ability to function "at risk." Amid speculation that Trump may spend inauguration day at his Scottish golf course, Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned him that even presidents can’t break the country’s pandemic restrictions. “We are not allowing people to come into Scotland now without an essential purpose, which would apply to him, just as it applies to everybody else. Coming to play golf is not what I would consider an essential purpose,” she said. Trump is on a Presidential Medal of Freedom spree, giving out the award to sports figures and Republican allies. Last Monday, Trump awarded the medal to Rep. Devin Nunes for his work undermining the FBI’s investigation of Russia’s election interference. “Devin Nunes’ courageous actions helped thwart a plot to take down a sitting United States president,” the White House press release states. Likewise, Trump gave the medal to Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) for his “effort to confront the impeachment witch hunt” and “exposing the fraudulent origins of the Russia collusion lie.”
The day after Trump supporters rampaged through the Capitol, Trump awarded the medal to retired professional golfers Annika Sorenstam and Gary Player. The president planned on giving New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick the medal on Thursday, but he declined the offer, saying that “the tragic events of last week occurred and the decision has been made not to move forward with the award.”
Courts
Dominion Voting Systems filed suit against pro-Trump lawyer Sidney Powell for defamation. Powell falsely claimed that Dominion had rigged the election, that Dominion was created in Venezuela to rig elections for Hugo Chávez, and that Dominion bribed Georgia officials for a no-bid contract,” the lawsuit states. Citing millions spent on security for employees, damage control to its reputation, and future losses, Dominion requests damages of more than $1.3 billion.
Dominion's lawyer told reporters last week the lawsuit against Powell “is just the first in a series of legal steps.” Ari Cohn, a free speech and defamation lawyer, told WaPo: “If I had to guess I would say that [Poulos] wants a very public vindication with a ruling establishing that Sidney Powell defamed them and that her statements were baseless...That's not something you generally get in a settlement agreement.”
Just last week, Trump again said at a rally that Dominion machines allowed “fraudulent ballots” to be counted during the 2020 election (clip).
The Supreme Court declined to fast track eight Trump-related cases related to the 2020 election, ensuring they won’t be taken up before Biden’s inauguration. The cases include one brought by attorney Lin Wood against Georgia’s Secretary of State, the so-called “Kraken” cases, and three brought by Trump’s campaign. It is possible the lawsuits will be declared moot after Biden is sworn in. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear two cases alleging that the Treasury Dept. incorrectly distributed Coronavirus aid meant for tribal governments. The Lower 48 Tribes argue that Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) are not eligible for CARES Act funding, while the Trump administration wants to divvy up the money between tribes and ANCs.
Immigration
A federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s final attempt to restrict U.S. asylum laws. District Judge James Donato (Obama appointee) ruled in favor of advocacy groups who argued that acting Homeland Security secretary Chad Wolf lacked authority to impose the new rules, which would have resulted in the denial of most asylum applications.
“The government has recycled exactly the same legal and factual claims made in the prior cases, as if they had not been soundly rejected in well-reasoned opinions by several courts,” Donato wrote. “This is a troubling litigation strategy. In effect, the government keeps crashing the same car into a gate, hoping that someday it might break through.”
On Monday, acting Homeland Security secretary Chad Wolf submitted his resignation, citing the recent court ruling that he is not a valid appointee to the position. His resignation letter does not cite the Capitol riots or Trump’s language inciting the insurrection. FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor will be the new acting secretary.
"Unfortunately, this action is warranted by recent events, including the ongoing and meritless court rulings regarding the validity of my authority as Acting Secretary. These events and concerns increasingly serve to divert attention and resources away from the important work of the Department in this critical time of a transition of power," Wolf added.
A new Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy will make it harder for immigrant minors to obtain asylum in the U.S. The change was made at the end of last month by then-acting agency leader Tony Pham, who served in the position for less than five months.
Beginning Dec. 29, ICE officers were told that they must review whether an immigrant child is still “unaccompanied” each time they encounter the minor… The memo indicates that the evaluation by ICE officers can come at any time, including when an officer is reviewing immigration court records of a child, and if it’s determined that an immigrant is no longer unaccompanied, they will move to change their status. Such a change could lead to making some children ineligible to have their asylum claims initially heard and processed… “If implemented aggressively, this policy could significantly decrease the number of children who ultimately receive asylum in the United States,” said Sarah Pierce, an analyst at the Migration Policy Institute. “They are really putting the onus on ICE officers to do everything they can as frequently as they can to remove these designations.”
The Trump administration is still awarding border wall contracts, even in areas where private land has not yet been acquired. The move will make it more difficult for Biden to stop construction of the border wall.
Attempts to halt construction completely, as Biden promised, will prove difficult, particularly if contracts continue to be struck -- a challenge [acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark] Morgan acknowledged Tuesday. "They could terminate those contracts if they want to, but that's going to be a very lengthy, messy process," Morgan said. "We're going to have to go into settlement agreements with each individual contractor," Morgan added, noting, that payments will have to be made for what they've already done, as well as for materials produced. He estimated the process could cost billions.
Trump is set to visit Alamo, Texas, today to celebrate the completion of more than 400 miles of the border wall. You can watch the event on YouTube at 3:00 pm eastern.
Miscellaneous
Stories that didn’t fit in the above categories... The Trump administration auctioned off leases to drill oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge last week. Only two private companies bid, each winning large tracts of land. Knik Arm Services, from Alaska, paid $1.6 million for a 50,000-acre tract along the Arctic Ocean. A subsidiary of Australian company 88 Energy paid $800,000 to win the smallest tract. One of the Health and Human Services Department’s final acts under Trump was finalizing the removal of Obama-era regulations barring discrimination among HHS grantees. The change will allow recipients of federal grant money - like adoption and foster agencies - to discriminate against LGBTQ people and those of a different religion.
Human Rights Campaign: “Statistics suggest that an estimated two million LGBTQ adults in the U.S. are interested in adoption… Further, research consistently shows that LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in the foster care system, as many have been rejected by their families of origin because of their LGBTQ status, and are especially vulnerable to discrimination and mistreatment while in foster care. This regulation would only exacerbate these challenges faced by LGBTQ young people.
Bring a snack, this'll take some time Recently, I've been kind of obsessed with the MLB amateur draft. That led me to make this post about the players who were traded before they played for the team that drafted them. But that wasn't enough. My penance is not yet complete. So, now, we're taking a look at all the players each team has drafted, and are seeing how good those teams would be. This is essentially a test of each team's scouting ability, regardless of what they did with the players once they signed. The MLB amateur draft began in 1965. Since then, 10 of the 30 teams in the MLB have been added to the league as expansions:
The Royals, Padres, Brewers (Pilots), and Nationals (Expos) in 1969
The Mariners and Blue Jays in 1977
The Rockies and Marlins in 1993, and
The Diamondbacks and Rays in 1998
As a result, the ranking will almost certainly be biased in favour of the other 20 teams. So, grain of salt taken, let's begin The Rules
Each team gets 9 players: 1 from offensive position, and 1 starting pitcher
I also recorded the best 4 remaining starters, but these players did not factor into the rankings or bWAR totals
The "best" player at each position will be determined by career bWAR
In the event of a tie, the winner will be decided by career fWAR
In order to qualify, a batter must have 500 PAs, and a starter must have 25 starts, as of Feb 1, 2021. These standards were slightly altered from the requirements for a batter (502 PAs) or a pitcher (162 IP) to be "qualified"
ONLY the team that signed a player has claim to them. If the player was not signed, they cannot be on that team
Each player's defensive position is determined by his designation in the "Positions" field on their baseballreference page (just below their name)
If a player is declared to be an "Outfielder", he is eligible for all 3 outfield positions
The player must have joined the team via the June amateur draft (primary or secondary phase), the January amateur draft (primary or secondary phase), or the August Legion Draft. No International Free Agents or Amateur Free Agents
The Rankings The teams are ranked by the cumulative bWAR of the best player at each position, from least to most WAR generated. Below the 9 best players are the best 4 remaining starters, and their respective career bWAR totals (these pitchers are not factored into the rankings or team WAR totals). Remember, the expansion teams are at a disadvantage of having less time to recruit players, with the newest teams getting the most severe handicap. If the type of round the player was drafted in is unspecified, he was drafted in the primary stage of the June amateur draft. At the end of the rankings is the "All-Star Team", the best player at each position from the whole group, as well as some general stats about the draft picks. Let's get started: 30. Miami Marlins (217.3 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Charles Johnson
22.6
1
1B
Adrian Gonzalez
43.6
1
2B
Austin Barnes
4.0
9
3B
Brian Anderson
8.7
3
SS
Robert Andino
1.9
2
LF
Christian Yelich
32.3
1
CF
Randy Winn
27.5
3
RF
Giancarlo Stanton
41
2
SP
Josh Beckett
35.7
1
Brad Hand (7.0)
Jose Fernandez (14.2)
Jason Vargas (17.5)
Josh Johnson (24.3)
29. Arizona Diamondbacks (226.5 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Chris Snyder
4.5
2
1B
Paul Goldschmidt
45.1
8
2B
Dan Uggla
18.2
11
3B
Jake Lamb
7.9
6
SS
Stephen Drew
15.9
1
LF
Justin Upton
33.9
1
CF
AJ Pollock
20.1
1
RF
Adam Eaton
18.6
19
SP
Max Scherzer
62.3
1
Josh Collmenter (7.3)
Trevor Bauer (17.5)
Brad Penny (18.9)
Brandon Webb (31.1)
28. Tampa Bay Rays (231.4 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
John Jaso
10.8
12
1B
Aubrey Huff
20.5
5
2B
Brandon Lowe
5.8
3
3B
Evan Longoria
56.7
1
SS
Tim Beckham
3.5
1
LF
Carl Crawford
39.1
2
CF
Kevin Kiermaier
27.4
31
RF
Josh Hamilton
28.2
1
SP
David Price
39.4
1
Jeremy Hellickson (11.7)
Alex Cobb (12.5)
Jason Hammel (12.8)
James Shields (31.0)
27. Colorado Rockies (282.7 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Chris Iannetta
15
4
1B
Todd Helton
61.8
1
2B
Craig Counsell
22.4
11
3B
Nolan Arenado
39.1
2
SS
Troy Tulowitzki
44.5
1
LF
Matt Holliday
44.4
7
CF
Chone Figgins
22
4
RF
Charlie Blackmon
17.9
2
SP
Aaron Cook
15.6
2
Jason Jennings (11.2)
John Thomson (12.3)
Kyle Freeland (12.8)
Jake Westbrook (13.1)
26. New York Mets (304.3 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Jody Davis
15.8
3 (January)
1B
Dave Magadan
21.1
2
2B
Daniel Murphy
19.6
13
3B
David Wright
49.2
1
SS
Hubie Brooks
13
1
LF
Greg Jefferies
19.6
1
CF
Lenny Dykstra
42.5
13
RF
Darryl Strawberry
42.2
1
SP
Nolan Ryan
81.3
1
A.J. Burnett (28.8)
Jacob DeGrom (38.1)
John Matlack (39.4)
Dwight Gooden (53.0)
25. San Diego Padres (321.6 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Nick Hundley
7.5
2
1B
Derrek Lee
34.6
1
2B
Trea Turner
16.6
1
3B
Chase Headley
25.9
2
SS
Ozzie Smith
76.9
4
LF
Kevin McReynolds
30.1
1
CF
Shane Mack
21.6
1
RF
Tony Gwynn
69.2
2
SP
Jake Peavy
39.2
15
Randy Jones (17.7)
Mike Caldwell (18.4)
Andy Benes (31.5)
Corey Kluber (32.3)
24. Toronto Blue Jays (330.4 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Yan Gomes
14.2
10
1B
John Olerud
58.1
3
2B
Orlando Hudson
30.9
43
3B
Jeff Kent
55.4
20
SS
Michael Young
24.7
5
LF
Shannon Stewart
24.9
1
CF
Vernon Wells
28.6
1
RF
Jesse Barfield
29.4
9
SP
Roy Halladay
64.2
1
Chris Carpenter (34.2)
Jimmy Key (48.9)
David Wells (53.5)
Dave Stieb (56.4)
23. Los Angeles Dodgers (335.5 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Russell Martin
38.8
17
1B
Mike Piazza
59.6
62
2B
Steve Sax
25.7
9
3B
Ron Cey
53.8
3 (June secondary)
SS
Bill Russell
31.3
9
LF
Matt Kemp
21.6
6
CF
Shane Victorino
31.5
6
RF
Davey Lopes
42.4
2 (January secondary)
SP
Clayton Kershaw
69.6
1
Rick Rhoden (35.4)
Charlie Hough (38.4)
Bob Welch (43.7)
Orel Hershiser (56)
22. Texas Rangers (337.6 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Jim Sundberg
40.5
1 (January secondary)
1B
Mark Teixeira
50.6
1
2B
Ian Kinsler
55.2
17
3B
Bill Madlock
28.2
5 (January secondary)
SS
Roy Smalley
27.9
1 (January)
LF
Mike Hargrove
30.4
25
CF
Pete O'Brien
19.2
15
RF
Jeff Burroughs
17.8
1
SP
Kevin Brown
67.8
1
Tom Henke (22.9)
Joe Coleman (23.2)
R.A. Dickey (23.7)
Kenny Rogers (50.5)
21. Chicago White Sox (358.2 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Ron Karkovice
14.6
1
1B
Frank Thomas
73.8
1
2B
Ray Durham
33.8
5
3B
Robin Ventura
56.1
1
SS
Randy Velarde
24.9
19
LF
Carlos May
10.5
1
CF
Mike Cameron
46.7
18
RF
Harold Baines
38.7
1
SP
Mark Buehrle
59.1
38
Gio Gonzalez (28.6)
Dough Drabek (29.2)
Rich Gossage (41.1)
Chris Sale (45.3)
20. Chicago Cubs (364.8 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Rick Wilkins
14
23
1B
Rafael Palmeiro
71.9
1
2B
DJ LeMahieu
24.8
2
3B
Josh Donaldson
41.5
1
SS
Scott Fletcher
32
1 (June secondary)
LF
Kris Bryant
24.3
1
CF
Bill North
26.8
12
RF
Oscar Gamble
22.9
16
SP
Greg Maddux
106.6
2
Joe Niekro (29.7)
Burt Hooton (35.6)
Jamie Moyer (49.8)
Rick Reuschel (69.5)
19. Los Angeles Angels (365.5 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Mike Napoli
26.3
17
1B
Carney Lansford
40.4
3
2B
Howie Kendrick
34.7
10
3B
Troy Glaus
38.1
1
SS
Damion Easley
20.5
30
LF
Darin Erstad
32.3
1
CF
Mike Trout
74.6
1
RF
Tim Salmon
40.6
3
SP
Chuck Finley
57.9
1 (January secondary)
Jered Weaver (34.6)
John Lackey (37.3)
Andy Messersmith (40.2)
Frank Tanana (57.2)
18. San Francisco Giants (380.0 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Buster Posey
41.8
1
1B
Will Clark
56.5
1
2B
Robby Thompson
33.9
1 (June secondary)
3B
Matt Williams
46.6
1
SS
Chris Speier
30.6
1 (January secondary)
LF
George Foster
44.2
3 (January)
CF
Garry Maddox
36.8
2 (January)
RF
Jack Clark
53.1
13
SP
Madison Bumgarner
36.5
1
Bob Knepper (21.9)
Joe Nathan (26.7)
Matt Cain (29.1)
Jim Barr (30.7)
17. New York Yankees (380.9 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Thurman Munson
46.0
1
1B
Fred McGriff
52.6
9
2B
Rex Hudler
6.3
1
3B
Mike Lowell
24.9
20
SS
Derek Jeter
71.3
1
LF
Brett Gardner
43.0
1
CF
Willie McGee
34.2
1 (January secondary)
RF
Don Mattingly
42.4
19
SP
Andy Pettitte
60.2
22
Stan Bahnsen (22.7)
Tim Belcher (26.0)
Mark Leiter (40.0)
Ron Guidry (47.8)
16. Seattle Mariners (401.4 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Jason Varitek
24.2
1
1B
Tino Martinez
29.0
1
2B
Bret Boone
22.9
5
3B
Kyle Seager
33.4
3
SS
Alex Rodriguez
117.5
1
LF
Raul Ibanez
20.9
36
CF
Ken Griffey Jr.
83.8
1
RF
Jose Cruz
19.6
1
SP
Mark Langston
50.1
2
Erik Hanson (22.1)
Mike Moore (27.9)
Mike Hampton (28.2)
Derek Lowe (34.3)
15. Cincinnati Reds (402.7 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Johnny Bench
75.2
2
1B
Joey Votto
62.1
2
2B
Justin Turner
29.5
7
3B
Todd Frazier
24.8
1
SS
Barry Larkin
70.5
1
LF
Eric Davis
36.1
8
CF
Reggie Sanders
39.8
7
RF
Paul O'Neill
38.8
4
SP
Gary Nolan
25.9
1
Mike Leake (16.9)
Don Gullett (18.2)
Tom Browning (19.8)
Charlie Liebrandt (33.3)
14. Milwaukee Brewers (422.7 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Darrell Porter
40.9
1
1B
Jeff Cirillo
34.5
11
2B
Paul Molitor
75.7
1
3B
Ryan Braun
46.9
1
SS
J.J. Hardy
28.1
2
LF
B.J. Surhoff
34.4
1
CF
Robin Yount
77.3
1
RF
Gary Sheffield
60.5
1
SP
Chris Bosio
24.4
2 (January Secondary)
Moose Haas (17.3)*
Bill Wegman (17.8)
Yovani Gallardo (22.1)
Ben Sheets (23.2)
*Moose Haas tied with Jim Slaton for 17.8 bWAR. However, Haas has 22.7 fWAR, whereas Slaton has 15.8 fWAR 13. Houston Astros (424.9 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Craig Biggio
65.5
1
1B
Lance Berkman
52
1
2B
Bill Doran
32.9
6
3B
Ken Caminiti
33.5
3
SS
Carlos Correa
26.3
1
LF
Luis Gonzalez
51.7
4
CF
Kenny Lofton
68.4
17
RF
Ben Zobrist
44.6
6
SP
Roy Oswalt
50.0
23
Darryl Kyle (20.2)
J.R. Richard (22.2)
Ken Forsch (26.0)
Floyd Bannister (26.4)
12. Detroit Tigers (425.0 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Lance Parrish
39.5
1
1B
Jason Thompson
25.0
4
2B
Lou Whitaker
75.1
5
3B
Travis Fryman
34.4
1
SS
Alan Trammell
70.7
2
LF
Bobby Higginson
23.1
12
CF
Curtis Granderson
47.0
3
RF
Kirk Gibson
38.4
1
SP
Justin Verlander
71.8
1
Dan Petri (17.1)
Rick Porcello (19.9)
Jack Morris (43.5)
John Smoltz (69.0)
11. Cleveland Indians (427.4 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Ron Hassey
14.7
19
1B
Jim Thome
72.9
13
2B
Jason Kipnis
21.8
2
3B
Buddy Bell
66.3
16
SS
Francisco Lindor
28.7
1
LF
Albert Belle
40.1
2
CF
Brian Giles
51.1
17
RF
Manny Ramirez
69.3
1
SP
CC Sabathia
62.5
1
Jeremy Guthrie (18.4)
Charles Nagy (24.8)
Greg Swindell (30.5)
Dennis Eckersley (62.1)
10. Kansas City Royals (435.8 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Mike Sweeney
24.8
10
1B
George Brett
88.6
2
2B
Mark Ellis
33.5
9
3B
Alex Gordon
35.1
1
SS
Bill Pecota
9.1
10 (January)
LF
Johnny Damon
56.3
1
CF
Carlos Beltran
70.1
2
RF
Willie Wilson
46.1
1
SP
Zack Grienke
72.2
1
Mark Gubicza (37.4)
Kevin Appier (54.5)
Brett Saberhagen (58.9)
David Cone (62.3)
9. St. Louis Cardinals (441.0 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Ted Simmons
50.3
1
1B
Keith Hernandez
60.3
42
2B
Matt Carpenter
28.3
13
3B
Andy Van Slyke
41.3
1
SS
Placido Polanco
41.9
19
LF
Albert Pujols
100.7
13
CF
Ray Lankford
38.2
3
RF
J.D. Drew
44.9
1
SP
Jerry Reuss*
35.1
2
Lance Lynn (24.2)
Bob Forsch (24.6)
John Denny (32.2)
Dan Haren* (35.1)
*Jerry Reuss and Dan Haren tied with 35.1 bWAR, but Reuss has 11.3 more bWAR than Haren 8. Atlanta Braves (444.4 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Brian McCann
31.9
2
1B
Freddie Freeman
28.8
2
2B
Ron Gant
34.1
4
3B
Chipper Jones
85.3
1
SS
Andrelton Simmons
36.8
2
LF
Dale Murphy
46.5
1
CF
Brett Butler
49.7
21
RF
David Justice
40.6
4
SP
Tom Glavine
80.7
2
Zane Smith (20.2)
Jason Schmidt (29.5)
Kevin Millwood (29.8)
Adam Wainwright (41.0)
7. Minnesota Twins (466.6 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Joe Mauer
55.3
1
1B
Gary Gaetti
42.1
1 (June secondary)
2B
Brian Dozier
23.1
8
3B
Graig Nettles
68.0
4
SS
Jay Bell
37.2
1
LF
Chuck Knoblauch
44.6
1
CF
Kirby Puckett
51.1
1 (January secondary)
RF
Torii Hunter
50.7
1
SP
Bert Blyleven
94.5
3
Dave Goltz (23.1)
Scott Erickson (24.8)
Brad Radke (45.4)
Frank Viola (47.0)
6. Philadelphia Phillies (468.7 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Bob Boone
27.4
6
1B
Mike Schmidt
106.9
2
2B
Ryne Sandberg
68.0
20
3B
Scott Rolen
70.1
2
SS
Jimmy Rollins
47.6
2
LF
Lonnie Smith
38.5
1
CF
Marlon Byrd
25.8
10
RF
Larry Hisle
25.0
2
SP
Cole Hamels
59.4
1
Aaron Nola (21.7)
Randy Wolf (22.8)
J.A. Happ (22.9)
Kevin Gross (27.7)
5. Baltimore Orioles (485.9 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Matt Wieters
18.3
1
1B
Eddie Murray
68.7
3
2B
Bobby Grich
71.1
1
3B
Doug DeCinces
41.7
3 (January secondary)
SS
Cal Ripken Jr.
95.9
2
LF
Jayson Werth
29.2
1
CF
Steve Finley
44.2
13
RF
Nick Markakis
34.0
1
SP
Mike Mussina
82.8
1
Ben McDonald (20.8)
Mike Flanagan (25.5)
Jake Arrieta (25.9)
Mike Boddicker (31.3)
4. Pittsburgh Pirates (490.8 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Jason Kendall
41.7
1
1B
Richie Hebner
33.0
1
2B
Willie Randolph
65.9
7
3B
Jose Bautista
36.7
20
SS
Freddie Patek
24.1
22
LF
Barry Bonds
162.8
1
CF
Andrew McCutchen
44.6
1
RF
Dave Parker
40.1
14
SP
John Candelaria
41.9
2
Rick Honeycutt (21.6)
Bronson Arroyo (23.4)
Gerrit Cole (26.0)
Tim Wakefield (34.4)
3. Washington Nationals (493.5 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Gary Carter
70.1
3
1B
Tim Wallach
38.5
1
2B
Tony Phillips
50.9
1 (January secondary)
3B
Ryan Zimmerman
38.5
1
SS
Mark Grudzielanek
26.5
11
LF
Tim Raines
69.4
5
CF
Andre Dawson
64.8
11
RF
Bryce Harper
33.7
1
SP
Randy Johnson
101.1
2
Stephen Strasburg (33.3)
Cliff Lee (43.2)
Steve Rogers (44.7)
Javier Vazquez (45.6)
2. Oakland Athletics (515.9 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Gene Tenace
46.8
20
1B
Mark McGwire
62.2
1
2B
Phil Garner
29.7
1 (January secondary)
3B
Sal Bando
61.5
6
SS
Mike Gallego
17.0
2
LF
Rickey Henderson
111.2
4
CF
Chet Lemon
55.6
1
RF
Reggie Jackson
74.0
1
SP
Tim Hudson
57.9
6
Mike Morgan (26.2)
Kevin Tapani (29.2)
Barry Zito (31.9)
Vida Blue (45.1)
1 Boston Red Sox (641.9 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
ROUND DRAFTED
C
Carlton Fisk
68.4
1 (January)
1B
Jeff Bagwell
79.9
4
2B
Dustin Pedroia
51.6
2
3B
Wade Boggs
91.4
7
SS
Nomar Garciaparra
44.3
1
LF
Ellis Burks
59.8
1 (January)
CF
Fred Lynn
50.2
2
RF
Dwight Evans
67.1
5
SP
Roger Clemens
139.2
1
Bruce Hurst (34.1)
John Tudor (34.2)
Jon Lester (44.6)
Curt Schilling (79.5)
THE ALL-TIME DRAFTED ALLSTARS (921.9 bWAR)
POSITION
PLAYER NAME
bWAR
DRAFTING TEAM
C
Johnny Bench
75.2
Cincinnati Reds
1B
Mike Schmidt
106.9
Philadelphia Phillies
2B
Bobby Grich
71.1
Baltimore Orioles
3B
Wade Boggs
91.4
Boston Red Sox
SS
Alex Rodriguez
117.5
Seattle Mariners
LF
Barry Bonds
162.8
Pittsburgh Pirates
CF
Ken Griffey Jr.
83.8
Seattle Mariners
RF
Reggie Jackson
74.0
Oakland Athletics
SP
Roger Clemens
139.2
Boston Red Soc
Mike Mussina (82.8)
Bert Blyleven (94.5)
Randy Johnson (101.1)
Greg Maddux (106.6)
Overall Statistics So, there you go. Boston is apparently full of scouting gods (or at least used to be), and the newest teams get hit really hard by having fewer years to draft. Mostly out of personal curiosity, I also decided to track some general statistics about the entirety of the project:
POSITION
TOTAL bWAR
bWAR PER PLAYER
AVERAGE ROUND DRAFTED
C
1007.4
33.58
5.50
1B
1685.1
56.17
6.22
2B
1071.7
35.72
7.65
3B
1341.0
44.70
4.60
SS
1185.6
39.52
5.23
LF
1370.8
45.69
4.75
CF
1321.2
44.04
7.40
RF
1273.3
42.44
5.34
SP
2044.2
68.14
5.70
TOTAL
12300.3
45.56
5.71
AND THAT'S ALL, FOLKS! You made it. Maybe you read through it all, maybe you just looked for your own team. Whatever the case, thanks for reading. Any criticism/suggestions on how to improve would be greatly appreciated. I've just started doing this kind of thing, and I find that I'm enjoying it. Signing off for now, I may be back again with another massive post (I have an idea, but don't know how well it will work out)
some FA I'd like for the Jags and a 7 round mock, let me know what u think
Free agents: Allen Robinson - not sure how likely this is but I'd love to see him in the black and teal again and he would provide Lawrence a safety outlet with how well he catches contested passes, not to mention a Veteran presence in a pretty young receiver room would be nice Trent Williams - sign him to a 1/2 year deal, he could come in as an elite tackle to protect Lawrence, take an OT in the draft who could either plug in on the right side or play behind our tackles and slide in for Williams once he is gone. It is highly unlikely we get Trent over the 9ers but this would be a dream scenario for Lawrence and our medical staff. Hunter Henry - This signing is similar to Eifert in that the Jaguars are gambling on Henry to be the player he was before multiple injuries. However, he is much younger than Eifert so he still has room to grow into his former self again, and even if his ceiling is limited to the player he is now, he is still a good Tight End to have on our roster. I'd much prefer we sign a TE rather than drafting one because I don't love any of the guys in this class at our spots in the draft. Marcus Williams - our safeties aren't it. plain and simple. Williams has been a great safety for the Saints since 2017 (i think it was 2017) and would instantly boost our secondary which needs any talent it can get. Jonnu Smith - Jonnu is a dangerous weapon after the catch, he didn't receive a large amount of targets on the Titans but the Jaguars will obviously look to change that. If Jonnu can handle a large volume of targets he will be a big home run hitter for our offense. *i'm not saying we will get all these guys this offseason, these are just guys I think we should look at pretty much I want some veteran talent on offense that can lead our young guys and provide instant impact for Lawrence, for the defense we need to solidify our secondary by any means necessary before we do anything else. 7 round mock draft: 1.Trevor Lawrence QB, Clemson No explanation needed, don't screw this pick up. 25. Jalen Mayfield OT, Michigan Mayfield is a high ceiling prospect, he has ideal size and length to be an elite starting T or G. He only had two full years in college and then only played 2 games this year, starting a total of 15 games for Michigan. His college career was tough as he played against many now NFL edge rushers, most notably being Chase Young and Gross-Matos, but he held his ground against all of them. Being as young as he is I think he will only get better developing into an elite franchise tackle. 33. Gregory Rousseau EDGE, Miami Rousseau went from playing mainly WR in highschool to being an immensely productive edge rusher for Miami. Despite his amazing production his frame is not built as an edge rusher yet and he has a lot of his technical flaws. Normally Rousseau does not last until the second in my drafts but all the players that had gone before him made sense considering Rousseau's boom or bust potential. If the Jaguars are able to snag Rousseau they could allow him to sit behind Allen and Chaisson and bulk up and get coached up to his potential. If Rousseau reaches his ceiling the Jaguars will have a lethal pass rushing rotation with Rousseau Allen and Chaisson all being good young edges. This pick would make it the third time in recent history the Jaguars had a great defensive player fall to them (Myles, Allen and now Rousseau) 46. Jevon Holland S, Oregon Holland is a player who could be drafted to play as your free safety or as a nickel corner. He is a great athlete with great hips and feet making his coverage look fluid and easy. He could come in and start at safety for the Jaguars while also frequently rotating to the nickel corner in certain packages giving our defense a lot of versatility. Holland will be a guy who roams the field sideline to sideline and is always in play for the ball no matter what play is called. The Jaguars need to massively improve their safeties as Josh Jones and Jarrod Wilson are not the answers. 65. Tyson Campbell CB, Georgia C.J. Henderson was up and down this season and ended it on the IR, he will for sure be back in the starting rotation come 2021 and will hopefully look more consistent. Sidney Jones looked solid for us but was on and off the field with injuries near the end of the season. Our other corner backs can not start for us next year, no matter what. Tyson Campbell comes in from Georgia with the ideal size, length and athleticism to be a starting corner for us on the boundary. However, Campbell doesn't show a good awareness of the game when on the field. With the addition of Holland the pick before the Jaguars can afford to pick Campbell and allow him to develop behind C.J and Sidney filling in for their injuries. 105. Amari Rodgers WR, Clemson With Trevor Lawrence at the helm of our offense you can never really have enough talent for him to throw to. Rodgers comes in as Lawrence go-to guy at Clemson, he is built more like a running back than a wide out and plays mainly in the slot. He doesn't run the cleanest routes and he struggles to catch passes outside of his body but has very sure hands and can create big plays in space. Rodgers would provide Lawrence some immediate chemistry with our offense and can operate as a Curtis Samuel/Tavon Austin type gadget player in our offense. 129. Janarius Robinson EDGE, Florida State Janarius Robinson's tape and production is underwhelming but his prototypical size and build along with his athleticism make him an exciting prospect. A lot of his lack of production can be attributed to FSU's terrible development and schemes, if hes taught how to use his size and strength properly he can become a solid starting edge. Robinson also has the height to be able to bulk up and move inside on the defensive line at 6'5. 144. Javian Hawkins RB, Louisville Javian Hawkins is purely a complimentary type back. At 5'9 195 lbs he offers a Sproles/Edwards-Helaire type skill set in that he is extremely fast and agile, has incredible get off, and is a giant threat in space. He lacks the size and natural ball carrier vision to run inside the tackles, but can provide home run plays outside the tackles or in the passing game. Hawkins would provide a nice contrast to Robinson for our offense. 169. Jack Anderson IOL, Texas Tech Anderson is a guard who has great size and strength, he is not a great athlete but is still able to execute pulls consistently. He relies on his strength a lot neglecting leverage and hand placement at times. Drafting Anderson does nothing for our offense immediately, he is a developmental guard who can sit behind and eventually replace norwell and cann. Once he becomes a starter he will most likely pan out to be an average starting guard. 225. Cade Johnson WR, South Dakota State There is no 2020 tape on Johnson but he is a guy who will likely run in the 4.4/4.3 range. He is your average deep threat receiver, nothing else super stands out with Johnson. The Jaguars here take a solid special teamer and an athletic receiver that could produce on gadget plays and potentially develop into a solid, cheap deep threat wr 4/5. 246. Tamorrion Terry WR, Florida State Tamorrion Terry, at 6'4 200 lbs, is one of the best route runners in this draft. It is rare to see someone off Tamorrion's size running so fluidly. He needs to learn to capitalize off his size and have a more alpha mentality when catching the ball, and needs to be coached out of drops issues - concentration and technique wise. Tamorrion is a receiver that if coached well could become a premier receiver in the NFL with his unique size and agility.
If you want to just get to the goodness, you can view the entire sheet here So I did one of these about a month ago and found some really great conversation. I didn't get to do another before the regular season ended, but my predictions should actually get a bit better due to knowing the full draft order and how some FOs are changing around. Let's go team by team AFCW KC - We start with the defending champion, who seek to replace their offensive and special teams coaches with internal hires: QB coach Mike Kafka and Asst ST Coordinator Andy Hill. Nothing surprising here. They enter the offseason just a bit over the cap, but restructures to Eric Fisher and Tyrann Mathieu should help fix that. They also bring in veteran AJ Green to start across from Tyreek Hill on a cheap one year deal. The draft helps the team maintain their strong offense. Two of their first three picks are on the OL, one on Irish tackle Liam Eichenberg and the other on Crimson pivot Landon Dickerson. Marshall adds depth to a depleted WR room. Spagnuolo has run a great unit despite a lack of high capital talent. He'll continue to do so with depth pieces in LB Browning, CB Griffin, and DE Sanders. LAC - The Chargers should hire the man that can turn around an undisciplined team. That man is Chiefs ST coordinator Dave Toub, who brings in Chad O'Shea to run his offense and Lovie Smith to run his defense. The rest of the transactions are centered around building a team to help Herbert suceed. Hunter Henry is retained and David Andrews is brought in to shore up the OL. VT rookie Christian Darrisaw and BC guard Alex Lindstrom add to this quickly improving unit. I don't think I need to justify most of the other picks. Florida kicker Evan McPherson is brought in to replace a kicking unit that was only 53% from 40+. LV - The Raiders' first act is to bring in Packers DB coach Jerry Gray, who has overseen the elite seasons of Jaire Alexander (20), Xavier Rhodes (17), and Alterraun Verner (13). Gruden and Mayock have been vocal about wanting to improve the secondary play, and Gray should be able to do just that. The Raiders are also able to free up space by cutting Tyrell Williams and Jeff Heath, as well as by restructuring Trent Brown. They add Sammy Watkins and Tevin Coleman to their depth chart. In the draft, they add my favorite safety in Oregon's Jevon Holland, who is a nickel/S hybrid with great physicality. They also add DT Jay Tufele, DE Carlos Basham, and DE Xavier Thomas to an underwhelming front 4. DEN - Elway's decision to step back as the GM is complimented by the hiring of former Falcons' GM Thomas Dimitroff, who has shown the ability to build a SB caliber roster and isn't afraid to be aggressive to get the right pieces for his team. Dimitroff starts his tenure by signing S Justin Simmons to a multi-year deal, as well as adding veterans Richard Sherman and Gus Edwards in free agency. He sits still with his first draft pick, adding the draft's top CB in Patrick Surtain before bringing the guns out and trading up to 30 to draft Florida QB and Heisman candidate Kyle Trask. While Trask doesn't bring the elite upside of someone like Fields or Lawrence, he proved he was more than capable of reading defenses and winning games. Dimitroff also drafts OT Brady Christensen, LB Dimitri Moore, and DE Tyreke Smith before the draft is over. AFCN PIT - Despite a stellar season, the Steelers are able to enter free agency with their full coaching staff in tact. They start by extending DPOY TJ Watt through 2025, as well as re-signing Al V to a cheap deal and cutting Steven Nelson and Eric Ebron. The Steelers are quietly full of holes, but their draft helps them fill them. Star RB Najee Harris falls to them at 28, and mammoth OT Daniel Faalele and CB TJ Carter are right behind him. QB Desmond Ridder gets picked up in the 4th. Ridder is a high upside athlete with a very inconsistent arm. He's a cheap gamble at a QB of the future. They also add punter Max Duffy from Kentucky. CLE - With plenty of cap and all of their picks, Berry and Stefanski are able to spend their first full offseason building off their 2020 success. They re-sign DE Vernon and LB Butler while extending QB Mayfield and RB Chubb. They also trade away David Njoku to the Jets for a 4th, and they add S Keanu Neal and DT Suh in free agency. The draft falls their way. They grab the uber physical slot corner Shaun Wade in the 1st before coming around for Pitt DT Jaylen Twynam. I know this FO doesn't care about LB, but McGrone at 87 is too good a value to pass up. BAL - EDC is busy this offseason. With plenty of cap space to play with, he is able to start off by re-signing Ngakoue and extending Lamar Jackson. He then adds two key offensive pieces in WR Allen Robinson and C Ted Karras. The Ravens have a solid draft. They pick up Texas LB Joseph Ossai, who is a mean power rusher to replace Judon. They also add OG Vera-Tucker and S Bubba Bolden. Justyn Ross in the 5th is a risk, but his red zone ability means a lot to this team. CIN - As much as I would've liked to replace DC Lou Anarumo, the Bengals have stated that he is staying on the team. No matter. The Bengals spend money on their key players, franchise tagging CB Williams Jackson and extending S Jessie Bates. Bobby Hart is cut and replaced with former JAX LT Cam Robinson, giving this team flexibility in the draft. They start the draft by trading down with CAR, picking up an extra 1st and 2nd along the way. With Sewell off the board, the Bengals draft star TE Kyle Pitts, giving Burrow a huge target in the middle of the field. They then add back to back linemen with Myers and Randunz in the 2nd before adding Aidan Hutchinson and Pete Werner on defense. AFCE BUF - Brandon Beane's first task of the offseason is replacing OC Brian Daboll, who has left to coach the Jaguars. He does so by hiring Panthers OL Coach Pat Meyer, who has over 20 years of coaching experience. Beane retains LB Matt Milano on the franchise tag before signing QB Josh Allen to a huge extension. The Bills trade out of the first round, picking up the 41st and 72nd picks to do so. They use those picks on Bulldog CB Eric Stokes and Miami TE Brevin Jordan, with Kentucky EDGE Jamar Watson stuck in between them. They also add two OL in the draft, as well as two DTs, a LB, and another CB. This defense is replenished with youth while Allen gets the middle of his offense strengthened. MIA - The Phins start by using their huge cap space to add key playmakers. They sign two former Packers in Corey Linsley and Aaron Jones, as well as a big time pass rusher in Matt Judon. The draft goes really well for Miami. With 5 picks in the top 100, the Phins are in a great spot. They add generational OT Penei Sewell with the Texans' pick before letting WR Jaylen Waddle and LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah fall into their laps. NE - The Pats are a tough offseason to predict. A lot of their action hinges on QB. Well I thought I'd be a bit poetic and have Billy B trade for his former signal-caller, giving a pair of 4ths to SF for QB Jimmy Garoppolo. Jimmy G fits the traditional QB mold much better than Cam, and they're going to give him some tools to work with. The Pats add WR Curtis Samuel and TE Gerald Everett in free agency. They also retain JC Jackson, James White, and Jason McCourty while bringing in KJ Wright and Jadevon Clowney on cheap deals. In the draft, the Pats are patient. They let WR Devonta Smith fall to them at 14 and LB Zaven Collins get to them at 45. They spend their draft filling out the holes in the roster, adding a TE, two DTs, and another WR. They also take a shot on Miami QB D'Eriq King, who is an inconsistent passer with a nice upside. NYJ - I had a bit of fun with the Jets. I had JD bringing in Titans OC Arthur Smith to coach the team. Joining him are PIT secondary coach Teryl Austin, who has experience as a DC, and BAL assistant TJ Weist. With one of the highest cap spaces, the Jets are active this offseason. They re-sign S Marcus Maye and CB Brian Poole. They add some key playmakers in WR Will Fuller, LB Bud Dupree, and RB Kenyan Drake. They also add OG Joe Thuney and trade for TE David Njoku. The Jets are done with Darnold, shipping him off to Tampa for a 3rd round pick. In the draft, the Jets are smart. They don't overthink it. They draft Ohio St QB Justin Fields, who has shown time and time again that he has the tools to be a franchise QB. They also add Sooner center Creed Humphrey and Miami DE Quincy Roche. Javonte Williams comes at 66 to compliment Drake, and Surratt comes at 91 to be a red zone target. Perhaps my one regret with this class is failing to address CB sooner, but Deommodore Lenoir at 90 is a pick I'm a real fan of. AFCS TEN - The Titans unfortunately lose OC Arthur Smith to the Jets, prompting Vrabel to promote QB coach Pat O'Hara to the position. The Titans aren't flush with cash, but they are able to retain TE Jonnu Smith while adding WR Marvin Jones and DE Melvin Ingram on cheap win now deals. In the draft, the Titans address their weakest position early, grabbing Georgia's Azeez Ojulari at 25. They then add CB Asante Samuel in the 2nd before grabbing a potential Isaiah Wilson replacement in Teven Jenkins in the 3rd. Elijah Moore at 128 is interesting. He's a poor man's Rondale Moore in this class. Tennessee also adds a K in Miss St's Brandon Ruiz, who has only ever missed one PAT and was 10/12 in 2020. IND - Colts fans are going to hate me for this, but Carson Wentz is going to be the starter in 2021. Let's come back to that. First, we have to hire a DC. They promote DB coach Alan Williams. They also re-sign CB Xavier Rhodes, who had a surprising resurgence under Williams, as well as Justin Houston. Darius Leonard gets a big extension and is now the league's highest paid LB ever (well starting in 2022). Agholor adds WR depth and Dalton gives some insurance at QB. Ok so Wentz. Just hear me out. The Colts have plenty of cap space, and the Eagles are paying them to take on the deal. Wentz thrived under Reich in the past, and a lot of his issues seem fixable with a proper offseason. Now in the draft, the Colts try to give Wentz the tools to succeed. They add Texas OT Sam Cosmi in the 1st, giving a long term answer should AC call it quits. They also add Florida WR Toney in the 2nd, a man who has taken huge strides in 2020. HOU - We need to start by saying that JJ Watt is gone. I have the Texans trading him and a 5th to SF for Dee Ford and a 2nd. While this is a sad move, it's a necessary one. Watt frees over $17M in cap space for a team with no cap space. That, combined with the firing of both Johnson RBs, allows the team to add CB K'Waun Williams and RB James Conner for relatively cheap deals. Other than the Watt deal, Houston's big move this offseason is bringing in Seahawks executive Scott Fitterer to run the front office while former Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy runs the team. Bieniemy adds Raheem Morris as his DC and Phil Galiano as his ST coach. The Watt trade proves hugely critical. Houston now has a pick inside the top 60, which they use on Oklahoma St WR Tylan Wallace. They also add CB Paulson Adebo, who is a raw but super physical player from Stanford. Joe Tryon and Trey Sermon add depth to the DL and RB rooms respectively. This team is still working its way back to the top, but this draft is a good start. JAX - The Jaguars have a great offseason. They hire Vikings executive George Paton, who has turned down previous jobs for the right opportunity, to be their GM. He hires BUF OC Brian Daboll to run the offense. Daboll brings his former assistant Ken Dorsey to help him on offense while Dan Quinn calls the defense. Paton adds several key free agents capable of starting immediately. Rashard Higgins becomes the WR3 on this team while Julie'n Davenport replaces Cam Robinson. Mack Alexander and Troy Hill complete the CB room, and Anthony Harris gets some big money to start in the secondary. While Paton isn't afraid to spend his money, the real crux of the offseason occurs in the draft. They take Trevor Lawrence, obviously. But they also add DT Marvin Wilson to replace Taven Bryan, as well as Alex Leatherwood, who can challenge Davenport for the LT spot and kick into LG if he fails. Pat F becomes to long term answer at TE and Andre Cisco is that big hitting playmaker to fill in the gap next to Harris. NFCW SEA - With a good amount of money to spend, the Seahawks prioritize their in house men. Shaquill Griffin and Chris Carson are retained, and Carlos Dunlap and Tyler Lockett are restructured. Jamal Adams gets an enormous deal, surpassing Budda Baker's from just a few months ago. TY Hilton is also brought in. The draft goes well for Seattle. They are able to add a productive pass rusher in Victor Dimukeje without trading up. They also nab Florida CB Marco Wilson and add to their trenches with Josh Ball and Mustafa Johnson. The Hawks are keeping things more or less the same and trying to build on a successful 2020. LAR - Despite all the buzz, I have a hard time seeing DC Brandon Staley getting a HC job after one year at the helm. Instead, the Rams FO remains in tact. They lose Andrew Whitworth to retirement, but they are able to retain breakout CB Darious Williams. With such little cap, it's crucial that the Rams are able to fill out the starting lineup with rookies. That happens with DE Hamilcar Rashed, LT Jalen Mayfield, and LB Monty Rice filling up their cards. ARI - Despite a promising start to the year, the Cards have fallen flat. They'll need to look at their 2nd half collapse to assess where this roster stands. With a decent amount of money, they prioritize some in house players, re-signing Patrick Peterson, Zane Gonzalez, and Andy Lee. They also bring in DE Trey Hendrickson, who has been on fire for New Orleans, as well as former UDFA RB Phillip Lindsay. The Cards take Gamecock CB Jaycee Horn with their first pick before adding to their OL with Trey Smith in the 2nd. Kenny Gainwell (yes, he can gain well) looks like a potential star in the 3rd. SF - This is the fun one. So out the gate, Shanahan has to replace Robert Saleh at DC. We're sticking to LB coach DeMeco Ryans, who has earned high praise from Shanny. Now the fun stuff. The 49ers aren't flush with cash, but they are comfortable. That gives them some room to play around. SF re-signs Trent Williams and Jason Verrett before extending LB Fred Warner. They also add C Austin Blythe, who has been solid for the division rival Rams. Jimmy G can't seem to stay healthy, so he gets shipped off back to the Pats for a pair of 4ths. To replace him, the 9ers make a big move and give up their 1st and 5th round picks for QB Matthew Stafford. But wait, they aren't done. They also package DE Dee Ford and their 2nd round pick for veteran DE JJ Watt and a Day 3 pick. Shanahan believes that his roster is ready to win. Without a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd round pick, the 49ers have to be wise with their draft picks. They add Michigan's Ambry Thomas, as well as guard Zion Johnson, two guys that can push to start as rookies. Sterns, Smith-Marsette, Castro-Fields, and Herbert should all rotate into the lineup as well. NFCN GB - There isn't too much action in the offseason for the Packers. They cut Preston Smith to free up some money, and they extend Davante Adams to a backloaded deal. They also retain Allen Lazard and Robert Tonyan. It's a quietly solid draft. They are able to add a dynamic playmaker in Rondale Moore before addressing their defense with DT Jordan Davis and LB Chazz Surratt. Chuba Hubbard in the 5th gives some depth to a depleted RB room. CHI - So Bears fans aren't going to like this, but I gave Trubisky a franchise tag. Trubisky went 4-1 to close the season and got them into the playoffs. To make room for this deal, the Bears restructure Akiem Hicks and cut both Bobbie Massie and Jimmy Graham. They also bring Corey Davis in to be the ARob replacement. They add local OT Rashawn Slater in the draft, a Daniel Jeremiah favorite who has some positional versatility. Chris Olave in the 2nd helps make up for the ARob departure, and Nasirildeen in the 3rd provides a hard hitting safety to play alongside Eddie Jackson. DET - For the Lions, I decided to hire Saints exec Jeff Ireland, who has had a long history with successful teams. He hires SF DC Robert Saleh, who brings with him SF's passing game coordinator Mike LaFleur to run the offense. While there have been reports that Stafford isn't going anywhere, I have them dealing him to SF for the 15th overall pick. They do tag Kenny Golladay to a one year deal to prove his worth to a new regime. They also sign Kwon Alexander to start at LB and Jacoby Brissett to be their new bridge QB. Frank Ragnow gets a huge extension too. In the draft, the Lions start off aggressive. They ship off two 1sts, a 2nd, and a 3rd to get Zach Wilson. With the SF pick, they add Miami's Greg Rousseau, a versatile linemen with plenty of upside. They then add Nico Collins and Tre Walker to the WR room. MIN - After losing OC Gary Kubiak to re-retirement, the Vikes promote QB coach Klint Kubiak to the position. They also hire former HOU ST man Tracy Smith to replace Marwan Maalouf. The team moves some money around, restructuring Riley Reiff and extending Harrison Smith. In the draft, they are unable to trade back but do grab the best guard in the class with Ohio State's Wyatt Davis. They also add S Paris Ford and DT Alim McNeil in the 3rd to potentially start as rookies. Brock Purdy in the 4th comes in to be the backup and possible heir to the QB room. NFCE WAS - I feel like I'm going to dissapoint WAS fans a bit. I had them signing Cam Newton to compete with Alex Smith. The good news is that the rest of their offseason is productive. They hire KC exec Brandt Tills to be their new GM, and they are able to retain Scherff, Darby, and Dustin Hopkins. Jared Cook and Emmanuel Sanders come in to start for them as well. Rashod Bateman falls into their lap at 19, and Jackson Carman tumbles to 51. Jamie Newman in the 3rd is a bit of a risky pick, but I really like his upside. He can develop on the bench for a year. NYG - The Giants are quiet in free agency. They do retain Leonard Williams and Logan Ryan. Restructuring Zeitler's deal allows them to bring in Ryan Kerrigan. Their draft goes fairly well though. Micah Parsons falls to them at 8, and they grab Amon-Ra St. Brown (a potential top 30 pick) in the 2nd. Joe Judge will count on a year of improvement from his young OL and QB to compliment a strong and disciplined defense. DAL - The one coaching change I have for Dallas is the replacement of Mike Nolan with Gus Bradley. Other than that their offseason is relatively quiet. They sign Dak to a long term deal (as they should have done last year). And Dalvin Tomlinson comes in to start at DT. They use the draft to fix their defense, adding Farley, LeCounte, and Rumph as potential starters. Walker Little in the 3rd gives them some much needed OL depth. PHI - The Eagles are active this offseason, with a massive debt in cap space and no DC. They hire PIT DL coach Karl Dunbar to coach the defense, and they cut Goodwin, Jeffery, DJax, and Malik Jackson. The big news is that they are sending Wentz to Indy in a Osweiler-CLE esque deal, pairing a 3rd with him. They spend the draft retooling, adding Ja'Marr Chase in the 1st before going to the defense with Tyson Campbell and Dylan Moses on Day 2. Cade Mays and Cordell Volson add depth to a depleted line, and Divine Deablo will push for serious playing time. NFCS NO - Similar to the Eagles, the Saints are going to have to blow it up after this season. Brees retires, and they cut: Kwon Alexander, Emmanuel Sanders, Nick Easton, Malcolm Brown, Janoris Jenkins, Josh Hill. They also extend Lattimore and Ramczyk to backloaded deals before restructuring Cam Jordan. In the draft, they take Mac Jones in the 1st and hope to surround him with the same level of talent he had at Bama. They add Derion Kendrick in the 2nd and Dazz Newsome in the 4th. TB - The Bucs are in a great spot to push for a 2021 Championship while maintaining a bright future. They have a good amount of cap and are able to retain David, Godwin, Barrett, and Gronk. They also trade a 3rd for Sam Darnold. In the draft, they work on maintaining a suffocating defense with DT Daviyon Nixon, DE Jayson Oweh, and DE Shaka Toney. Kylin Hill, Damon Hazelton, and Tre' McKitty add some potential dynamicism to this offense. CAR - The Panthers start by bringing SF VP Adam Peters to run the show. He signs Okung and Moton to big money deals before turning his attention to the draft. Peters sees that Bridgewater limits this team's ceiling, so he trades up for Trey Lance, giving up a pair of 1sts and a 2nd to grab his QB of the future. Lance is raw, no doubt, but he'll be in a great spot learning behind Teddy. The Panthers then add Bolton in the 3rd to replace Whitehead. Amari Rodgers in the 5th is a fun pick. He plays exactly like Curtis Samuel. ATL - The Falcons overhaul their entire front office, bringing in Indy's Ed Dodds to run the show with Matt Eberflus next to him. Mike McDaniel gets promoted to OC from his run game coordinator position in SF, and Franky Ross follows Eberflus to coach the special teams. Without any money to spend, the Falcons are relatively quiet. They cut Fowler, Ricardo Allen, and Allen Bailey to free up space. They add Charvarius Ward and Jamaal Williams in free agency. The focus primarily on defense in the draft, adding Kwity Paye in the 1st after trading back with Detroit. They also draft S Trevon Moehrig, DT Christian Barmore, and DE Daelin Hayes. Travis Etienne comes in to play next to Jamaal Williams, fulfilling all fantasy players' dreams. Overall I felt like there are definitely some moves in here that are going to cause tension. But I think that's also realistic. This was a lot of fun, but I don't expect to be doing another one of these for a while. I need to turn my head back to scouting (I've only truly watched about a third of the players in this draft). Let me know what your thoughts are. What did I do well? What do you hate?
Will Texas Lawmakers Legalize Casino Gambling in 2021? With the state government facing a cash shortfall, a billionaire casino magnate is making a bold play for the Lone Star State. By Jacob Asmussen hoping to convince state lawmakers to legalize casino gambling in Texas. Will the Texas Lege Roll the Dice on Gambling This Session? The gambling caravan is back, but it’s losing momentum By Mike Clark-Madison, Fri., Jan. 15, 2021 Texas Pro Teams Backing Effort To Legalize Sports Betting In State February 8, 2021 Texas’ “biggest sports teams” -- including the Cowboys, Rangers, Mavericks, Stars and FC Dallas -- are “mounting a major new effort to legalize sports betting” in the state, according to Lauren McGaughy of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Gambling Age in Texas. The current minimum gambling age in Texas is 21 for land-based casinos and online gambling and 18 for horse racing, lottery and online bingo. Nevertheless, we should remind you that there are only three functioning casinos in the state and they are owned by the Kickapoo tribe. Online gambling is illegal. Casino locations would be taxed 18% of their gross gaming revenue. Taxes collected would be put toward the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. The legal age to gamble at casinos in Texas would be set at just 18 and up. If legalized the way it is now, the bill would actually take effect until December 1, 2021. Texas Might Legalize Sports Betting In 2021 There is The possible legalization of casino gambling in Texas has further created some complications. In 2020, the late Sheldon Adelson had spent $4.5 million to support the Republicans in maintaining control over the Texas House before his passing. Las Vegas Sands has hired 51 lobbyists to push for the expansion of gambling in Texas. by Patrick Svitek Jan. 26, 2021 5 PM Officials for Las Vegas Sands are still pushing to allow casinos in Texas is the second-largest state of the US both in terms of population and area. It is considered a hub of technology and innovation. Being one of the most critical states, and being called the Cowboy State, its history of gambling is rampant. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tossed cold water on efforts to expand casino gambling and sports betting during the 2021 legislative session. There has been a renewed push in Texas to regulate casino gaming, and this move could pave the way for regulated sports betting in 2021. If sports betting is legalized in Texas, it will serve as the catalyst for the other two big states – California and Florida – to hasten the legal efforts into regulating the industry that has already seen over $3 billion in the monthly handle.
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