TNT basketball broadcaster Charles Barkley joined Sports Illustrated's Jimmy Traina on the SI Media podcast this week to discuss a host of topics, including an incredible story between the exchange of a watch between Barkley and future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady.
"[Brady] and Wayne Gretzky are the two nicest GOATs [Greatest of All-Time] I've ever been around," Barkley began. "As a matter of fact, see this watch here? I've been offered $250,000 for this watch," Barkley told Traina.
"So I'm broadcasting one of the [TNT golf matches for charity], probably four or five years ago, I make a nice comment about this watch and this watch is a pretty penny. I'm talking double-digit thousands. I said, 'That's a nice watch.' He says, 'Thanks, Chuck,' blah blah blah. We do the broadcast another two or three hours. One of Tom's boys comes up to me and he says, 'Hey Tom is looking for you.' ...I go up [to the clubhouse] and I say, 'Tom, what's up?' And he says, 'Chuck, take my watch.' I go, 'What?' I said, 'Tom, I'm just saying you have a nice watch.' [He says], 'I appreciate the compliment,' and he just gives me this watch. A couple of collectors have offered me $250,000 for it. I wouldn't sell it for any amount. That's what a guy Tom is. Him and Wayne Gretzky for being the GOATs of their sports are two of the nicest, most humble guys I ever met."
Barkley said it was never his intention for Brady to give him his watch.
"I didn't want him to think I gave him a compliment on the watch because I wanted the watch," Barkley added. "It was a nice watch. I said, 'Tom, you don't have to do that.' But when he said it a second time, I said thank you."
It's clear there is a healthy amount of mutual respect between two all-time greats in their respective sports, but it's pretty wild that Brady handed over a watch that is being appraised for a quarter of a million dollars.
Ever since Josh Harris's ownership group purchased the Washington Commanders from Daniel Snyder in 2023, there has been plenty of speculation about the new boss changing the franchise's team name.
The franchise, which was established in 1932, became the Washington Football Team in 2020. The name Commanders graced the team's jerseys beginning in '22 when Snyder was still calling the shots.
"As you would imagine, everyone has an opinion on the name. Some good, some bad, and some in the middle," owner Majorie Harris, the wife of Josh Harris, said to reporters Wednesday. "I think that we have a lot of work to do. That name issue is going to be on the side for now until we can get things going.
"Quite frankly, I had a whole day in the community. I kept referring to the team as the Commanders. You know what, it sounds pretty good to me. So for now, it's the Commanders."
Had the opportunity to ask Commanders owner Majorie Harris about the team name:
"Quite frankly, I had a whole day out in the community, and I kept referring to the team as the Commanders. And you know what? Sounds pretty good to me. So, for now, it's the Commanders." pic.twitter.com/SdsORINpYu
Last summer, team co-owner Magic Johnson hinted that the Commanders' name could be headed under another rebrand with the new ownership group in town.
"I think everything's on the table, especially after this year," Johnson said on The Today Show in July. "We'll see where we are with the name, but I can't say [for sure] right now."
Per ESPN's John Keim, the organization was down to three finalists for the new team name—the Commanders, the RedWolves and the Washington, D.C. Football Club. The franchise also considered the Presidents, Brigade, Redhogs, Football Team, Armada and Defenders.
For now, though, it appears rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels will begin his NFL career wearing a Commanders jersey.
Andy Dalton was dubbed the best backup 12 months ago. He’s no longer considered the best after all the shuffling that went on this offseason. Crowning Dalton No. 1 might not look good now, but it didn’t help that he only played one game last year as Bryce Young’s backup with the Carolina Panthers. It was, however, an impressive 361-yard performance against the Seattle Seahawks.
We’ll pat ourselves on the back for ranking Gardner Minshew II No. 3 last year. He was a first down away from guiding the Indianapolis Colts to the postseason after replacing an injured Anthony Richardson. Expect Minshew to be ranked high again on this year’s list, but there will be plenty of new names. Our new No. 1 backup wasn’t even on the list last year.
A few rookies drafted in the first round are in the midst of a starting competition, but it’s obvious that they’ll be the starter by Week 1 or not long after. With that in mind, we left off rookies Bo Nix, J.J. McCarthy and Drake Maye and added their veteran competitors.
Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, the top two picks in the draft, are expected to be immediate starters. As for Michael Penix Jr., he’s expected to start his career as Kirk Cousins’s backup.
Let’s find out where on this list Penix lands and who will be crowned the No. 1 backup quarterback in the league. Last year’s rankings are in parentheses.
32. Jake Haener, New Orleans Saints
Haener had somewhat of a laidback rookie season as a third-stringer behind Derek Carr and Jameis Winston. With Winston now in Cleveland, Haener, the 2023 fourth-round pick out of Fresno State, got promoted to No. 2.
31. Sean Clifford, Green Bay Packers (31)
Clifford, a 2023 fifth-round pick, only threw one pass during his rookie season. The Packers are taking a gamble by relying on an inexperienced player to back up Jordan Love, but it says something that the team was comfortable with him filling the role for his second season.
30. Easton Stick, Los Angeles Chargers (29)
Stick finally saw game action last season, but the sixth-year veteran had four rough starts, including the embarrassing 63–21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
29. Josh Johnson, Baltimore Ravens
Johnson has played for 14 NFL teams and is currently in the midst of his second stint with the Ravens. Johnson has had his fair share of impressive games, but at age 38, he might not have much left if he’s needed to step in for Lamar Jackson this season.
28. Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders (11)
Mariota is now on his second team since a failed starting stint with the Atlanta Falcons. He wasn’t needed much with the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Washington Commanders are hoping for the same during Daniels’s rookie season. Mariota has 74 career starts with the Tennessee Titans and Falcons.
27. Davis Mills, Houston Texans (13)
Mills lost his starting job to Stroud in 2023. / Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Mills lost his starting gig after the arrival of C.J. Stroud last season. He could be a decent backup based on his 26 starts with the Texans from 2021 to ’22.
26. Tyson Bagent, Chicago Bears
Bagent made a name for himself as an undrafted rookie last year, delivering an impressive win against the Raiders. But Bagent struggled with consistency throughout his four starts while filling in for Justin Fields.
25. Hendon Hooker, Detroit Lions (26)
Hooker was viewed as a potential first-round prospect last year, but a torn ACL caused him to fall to the third round. Now that he’s healthy, he’ll slide in as Jared Goff’s backup for his second season.
24. Mike White, Miami Dolphins (9)
The Dolphins quickly signed White in free agency last year as insurance for Tua Tagovailoa, who has dealt with injuries early in his career. White wasn’t needed with Tagovailoa playing in every game, but he showed during his New York Jets stint that he’s capable of keeping a team afloat in case of emergency.
23. Desmond Ridder, Arizona Cardinals
Ridder is one of a handful of Week 1 starters from last season who ended up on this list. The third-year quarterback struggled to establish a rhythm with the Atlanta Falcons. Perhaps leaving Arthur Smith’s offensive scheme will help Ridder find his footing as Kyler Murray’s backup.
22. Mitchell Trubisky, Buffalo Bills (15)
Trubisky in his second stint with the Bills. / Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Many Pittsburgh Steelers fans weren’t happy with us ranking Trubisky at No. 15 last year. That turned out to be generous after Trubisky had a rough five games and was benched for Mason Rudolph. But maybe the 2017 No. 2 pick gets back on track during his second stint in Buffalo.
21. Kyle Trask, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (18)
The Buccaneers named Baker Mayfield the starter over Trask last summer and didn’t look back en route to another NFC South title. Trask, the 2021 second-round pick, is a bit of a mystery, but it might say something that the team considered starting him a year ago.
20. Cooper Rush, Dallas Cowboys (6)
Rush had competition last year after the team traded for Trey Lance, the 2021 No. 3 pick of the San Francisco 49ers. But the team kept him as the No. 2 behind Dak Prescott and re-signed him this offseason for the same role. Rush is best remembered for his five starts in ’22.
19. Tyrod Taylor, New York Jets (14)
Taylor has had a solid career as a reliable backup who tends to protect the football and runs an offense efficiently. He might play it too safe at times, but he rarely makes his coaches pull their hair out. There were lots of frustrations about Zach Wilson’s performance last year after Aaron Rodgers went down.
18. Jarrett Stidham, Denver Broncos (16)
Stidham had mixed results in his two starts after the team decided to pull the plug on Russell Wilson, who was released in March. With the tough circumstances, Stidham passed for 496 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also started two games for the Raiders in 2022.
17. Kenny Pickett, Philadelphia Eagles
The 2022 first-round pick started a combined 24 games with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but his lack of arm strength and skittish performances led to Pittsburgh trading him to Philadelphia to make room for Wilson. In those starts, Pickett had a 14–10 record, completing 62.6% of his passes with 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
16. Mac Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jones never lived up to his first-round selection with the Patriots. / Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
The 2021 first-round pick failed to get on the same page with his teammates on the field and with Bill Belichick the past two seasons as the Patriots’ starter. There were high hopes for Jones after an impressive rookie season in ’21, when he passed for 3,801 passing yards with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
15. Mason Rudolph, Tennessee Titans
Rudolph was left off this list last year because he was the third-stringer in Pittsburgh behind Pickett and Trubisky. He ended up being the better of the three, guiding the Steelers to a late three-game winning streak to sneak into the postseason. Rudolph averaged 238 passing yards in those three starts with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
14. Jimmy Garoppolo, Los Angeles Rams
Garoppolo’s days as a starter are likely over after one season with the Raiders. He’ll get a fresh start under the guidance of Sean McVay, who helped reignite Baker Mayfield’s career a few years back. Garoppolo, 32, went from standing in the Rams’ way as the starter for the 49ers to becoming the backup to Matthew Stafford. He has played in 81 career games with 63 starts during 10 NFL seasons.
13. Joshua Dobbs, San Francisco 49ers(19)
Dobbs’s chaotic 2023 season will be best remembered for guiding the Vikings to a victory against the Falcons five days after being traded by the Cardinals. Dobbs also had a memorable win against the Dallas Cowboys as a member of the Cardinals. But Dobbs is a bit erratic at times, but his highs tend to win games and it helps that he received guidance from Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell last season and now will get to learn from 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan.
12. Carson Wentz, Kansas City Chiefs
Wentz is in a good situation in Kansas City backing up Patrick Mahomes. / Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Wentz helped the Rams defeat the 49ers in Week 18, sending Stafford to Detroit to face his former team in the wild-card round. After waiting months for another opportunity, Wentz proved in the lone start he has plenty left to offer.
11. Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns (5)
Winston, the 2015 No. 1 pick, continues to be erratic, but he often gives his team a fighting chance with his gun-slinger mentality. Winston has 80 career starts with 141 touchdowns and 99 interceptions.
10. Andy Dalton, Carolina Panthers (1)
Dalton’s priority last season was to help Bryce Young get acclimated to life in the NFL. He did step up in the one game Young missed, passing for 361 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in Week 3 against the Seahawks. Dalton has 163 career starts since entering the league in 2011.
9. Jacoby Brissett, New England Patriots (2)
Brissett has developed a reputation for being ready at any moment, which he did with the Patriots to start his career and did with the Colts, Dolphins, Browns and Commanders. Brissett nearly pulled off a comeback victory against the Rams after Sam Howell was benched. The ninth-year veteran has appeared in 79 career games with 48 starts.
8. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings (7)
Darnold moved up the rankings because he spent a year learning from Shanahan and will now get to work with O’Connell, who did wonders with Dobbs and Nick Mullens last season. Darnold did have a rocky start in the Week 18 matchup against Wentz and the Rams, passing for 189 yards and one score.
7. Drew Lock, New York Giants (17)
Lock kept the Seahawks’ playoff hopes alive by guiding them to a victory against the Eagles to snap a three-game losing streak. Lock might be suited for the backup life with how quickly he can get hot on the field. But his lows caused him to flame out as a starter with the Broncos. He’ll now get to push Daniel Jones in practices with the Giants.
6. Sam Howell, Seattle Seahawks
Howell has struggled to protect the football and avoid sacks. / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Howell is another streaky quarterback who can push the ball downfield. But he struggled with protecting the football and avoiding sacks during his lone starting season with the Commanders last year. The 2022 fifth-round pick passed for 3,946 yards with 21 touchdowns and 21 touchdowns last season.
5. Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers
Fields could get a chance to compete for the starting job, but all signs point to him opening training camp behind Wilson. If Fields takes the backup role, he’ll need to adjust quickly when his number is called. Fields’s consistency was often an issue with the Chicago Bears, but he had many highs as a three-year starter. He had 40 touchdowns, 30 interceptions and completed 60.3% in 38 starts the past three seasons.
4. Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
Perhaps this is a bit high for Penix, but obviously the Falcons think highly of him after using their No. 8 pick to draft him in April. That probably also meant many teams had Penix on their radar, leading Atlanta to make the controversial pick. Had he gone elsewhere, Penix appeared ready to be an immediate starter based on his memorable final season at Washington. Instead, he’ll wait for his opportunity as Kirk Cousins’s backup.
3. Joe Flacco, Indianapolis Colts
Flacco delivered one of the best comeback stories in recent memory, helping the Browns make the postseason and winning Comeback Player of the Year. He turned back the clock and resembled the quarterback who helped the Ravens beat the 49ers in the Super Bowl. The 39-year-old posted a 5–1 record, averaged 323.2 passing yards per game and added 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
2. Gardner Minshew II, Las Vegas Raiders (3)
Minshew saved the Colts’ season by stepping up after Anthony Richardson sustained a season-ending shoulder injury after four games. It got rough at times, but Minshew gave the Colts a fighting chance in most games. In his 13 starts, Minshew had 3,305 passing yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He’ll now compete with Aidan O’Connell for the starting job.
1. Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals
Many assumed Cincinnati would falter from the playoff race after Joe Burrow sustained a season-ending wrist injury with seven games left on the schedule. But the Bengals remained in playoff contention through Week 18 because of Browning’s sensational performances, including a three-game winning streak. He didn’t just keep the team afloat, he elevated the offense by averaging 276.5 passing yards and completing 70.37% of his passes in his seven starts. He outdueled Trevor Lawrence on Monday Night Football with 354 passing yards and one touchdown.
Per the report, police responded to reports of an assault at the nightclub at around 2:30 a.m. local time Monday. One man was taken to the hospital with injuries described as being non life-threatening, including visible swelling on the side of his face.
According to WFAA, police sources said officers were conducting interviews with witnesses at an address in Dallas listed for Lit Kitchen and Lounge.
As of Tuesday evening, police said no charges had been filed officially, per The Dallas Morning News.
Rice, 24, has endured a tumultuous offseason following a breakout rookie season with the Chiefs in 2023, during which he won the Super Bowl.
In March, Rice was arrested in Dallas due to his involvement in a seven-car crash on the highway which resulted in at least seven people sustaining injuries. Rice faces eight felony charges from that incident, including six counts of collision involving bodily injury, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and one count of aggravated assault, according to police.
J.J. Watt does not have time for Austin Rivers's foolishness. On Tuesday, the ESPN analyst told Pat McAfee that plenty of NBA players could make it in the NFL, but the reverse wasn't true. Watt offered Rivers a tryout to prove it.
While trying to argue the best athletes in the world reside in the NBA, Rivers told McAfee, "I can take 30 players right now in the NBA and throw them in the NFL. You cannot take 30 NFL players and put them in the NFL."
The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year tweeted, "You don't got a job in either right now, go head and try it."
Watt then followed that up by saying, "For the record, I could absolutely not play in the NBA. 6 hard fouls is about all I could give you and call it a day."
Rivers is probably correct that a number of super-athletic NBA players could make it at receiver or running back in the NFL, and there are a few big guys who could play offensive line. On the flip side, given the fine-tuned skills it takes to succeed in basketball, NFL players may not translate to the NBA. It's not that he's wrong, it's the dismissive nature of his statement.
McAfee and Watt both pushed back hard. I'd imagine a number of NFL guys would agree with their assessment that Rivers was being disrespectful of the level of athleticism in the league.
Imagine sitting in the NFL schedule makers’ suite with full decision-making power and seeing an opportunity to pit the New York Jets against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football for the season-opener.
Here you have Sean Payton in a rematch with Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, whom Payton ridiculously hurled under the bus for a perceived inability to coach Russell Wilson, just months before Payton then shoved Wilson out the door and endured the biggest dead-cap hit in NFL history for his troubles. You have a healthy Aaron Rodgers, who would undoubtedly back Hackett amid the week-long rehashing of words, not to mention be enduring his own unpredictable personal publicity cycle that tends to follow him wherever he goes (a much-anticipated book on Rodgers’s life is set to be released a few weeks before, and Rodgers could very well be on the campaign trail for Robert Kennedy Jr., who reportedly considered Rodgers as a possible vice presidential candidate earlier this spring). You have Broncos rookie Bo Nix potentially starting his first NFL game. This is about as layered a programming event as one could possibly fathom, but is good only as long as Rodgers is healthy.
And while this is not a prediction—colleague Albert Breer actually brought the possibility to my attention while taping this week’s MMQB Podcast—it’s a window into how the NFL seems to operate when putting together the order of its yearly slate. Last year, it was almost egregiously tailored toward creating an attractive schedule of games with a strong narrative backbone, seemingly at the detriment of some less-interesting teams that had to slog through the season on shorter rest more frequently (and the Texans, who played no prime-time games but wound up making the playoffs and fostering Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year award winners).
This year, we’re left wondering whether the lineup will be as merciless, and the Jets are front and center as a kind of test case as to how little the league cares about the side effects of its own appetite for games that get people talking. In 2023, the Jets had a ridiculous six prime-time or standalone games as a result of signing Rodgers and pairing him with a promising young team that featured both the reigning Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year. This was the finale of an offseason-long tailwind that the team tried its best to manage despite myriad outside forces trying to take their piece (including, but not limited to, Hard Knocks also setting up its encampment in Florham Park last summer).
But I think it merits saying that the NFL cannot do this to the Jets again. The same can be said for any team that has not come off significant success the previous season but is wedged into a large part of the league’s programming calendar for the sole purpose of being a curiosity; an entity that would be just as valuable a television property in chaos as it would in prosperity.
I’ll back up and admit that, in 2023, no one could blame the schedule makers for the Jets in particular, and I would guess that the team’s owner, Woody Johnson, was thrilled with the attention after years of—at best—a sort of painful indifference. I also understand those who would offer little other than the world’s smallest violin playing the world’s saddest song for a team that hunted its mercurial quarterback out of a darkness retreat.
To me, though, lopping basically 10% of your prime-time programming onto the plate of a team that was still trying to figure out its own identity and recover from the offseason and preseason hangover is daring them to fail, and then purchasing a short on the inevitability that it will so you cash in anyway. That’s not acting in the best interest of an optimal NFL, that’s taking a baseball bat to a bee’s nest. Sure, obtaining honey is one of the many outcomes. Is it the most likely? Hell no. That’s facilitating a reality show to prop up every convoluted, content-starved tentacle attached to the core of the product (I suppose I would count Sports Illustrated and myself among those people, for the record). It’s a gauntlet that is impossible to win through and creates a disproportionate number of road games with short rest. Though the Jets had a sizable positive rest differential, it’s so incredibly difficult to struggle publicly with a full prime-time treatment once every three weeks.
So, we’ll see how the NFL decides to treat the Jets in 2024, whether they double down on the reality show or return the favor with a more generously anonymous slate.
Joe Burrow is back on the practice field for the Cincinnati Bengals and he looks fully healthy after undergoing season-ending wrist surgery in November. On Monday and Tuesday, he was firing passes all over the field and looked unbothered by the injury.
Burrow addressed his recovery after practice and claimed he "felt great" and that it was "good to be back." The 27-year-old quarterback said he hasn't had any setbacks in the six months since surgery and that the past two days of practice have been encouraging.
"Felt good the last two days," Burrow said. "I never really know how it's going to feel when I wake up the next morning, but I was encouraged by the last couple of days for sure."
Doctors have cleared Burrow for everything but contact, and it's a fair assumption that won't happen until the preseason.
To protect himself moving forward, Burrow said he bulked up during his recovery. After a number of injuries during his young career, he added muscle while working his way back.
"We're bigger," Burrow said. "Definitely bigger. We'll see where I'm at at the end of the offseason. I feel good about where my body is at right now. I'm going to continue to get stronger and bigger throughout the offseason and just kind of play it by ear depending on how I feel." He added, "I'm really strong. Bigger than I was. We're going to continue to eat right, life and go through my routing and see where I'm at."
While his 2023 season was plagued by injury and abruptly ended in November, Burrow has developed into one of the NFL's best quarterbacks. A Pro Bowler who led the Bengals to a berth in Super Bowl LVI, the former No. 1 overall pick has lived up to that billing. In 2021, Burrow's best season, he completed 70.4% of his passes for 4,611 yards, with 34 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. His passer rating of 108.3 was a career-high, as was his 8.9 yards per attempt average. He followed that up with an excellent season in 2022, completing 68.3% of his passes for 4,475 yards, with 35 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a career-best QBR of 60.8.
The Bengals will go as Burrow goes, so seeing him back on the field and healthy is a major boost to the franchise.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might have had the quietest offseason among the teams in the NFC South, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the reigning division champions are on the decline.
The Buccaneers could make it four consecutive division titles after retaining their key in-house free agents, including Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield. But the Atlanta Falcons, who had a fast start to the offseason, could be on the rise with the free-agent addition of Kirk Cousins.
The Falcons were viewed as clear favorites in the NFC South after adding Cousins to an offense that included Bijan Robison, Drake London and Kyle Pitts. But the gap might have closed after they used a first-round pick on quarterback Michael Penix Jr., while their divisional rivals strengthened their respective rosters with top picks that weren’t used on signal-callers.
The New Orleans Saints drafted a quarterback (Spencer Rattler in the fifth round), but used their first-round pick on offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga to help Derek Carr.
The Carolina Panthers also prioritized their offseason to assist quarterback Bryce Young, but they still have a long way to go to catch up to the rest of the pack.
Here are grades and analysis for how the NFC South teams did this offseason.
Mayfield turned his career around in Tampa Bay, making his first career Pro Bowl.
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Offseason grade: B
Key additions: C Graham Barton, Edge Chris Braswell, OG Ben Bredeson, Edge Randy Gregory, S Jordan Whitehead
Key subtractions: CB Carlton Davis III, LB Devin White
Analysis: The Buccaneers avoided offseason splash moves and prioritized their core group, one that surprised in 2023 with Mayfield’s resurgence. Tampa Bay should again contend for the NFC South title after retaining Evans, Mayfield and safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who was hit with the franchise tag. Evans and Mayfield gained long-term extensions after helping the Buccaneers advance to the divisional round.
It’s not the flashiest roster, but the Buccaneers have talent throughout and continue to improve the offensive and defensive lines. Tom Brady might be jealous of the offensive line the Buccaneers have built for Mayfield over the past two seasons. Tampa Bay selected Graham Barton, possibly the best center in the draft, to join a group that made strides last season after failing to protect Brady in 2022.
The Buccaneers, however, took a risk handing Mayfield a three-year extension worth up to $115 million after one dynamic season in Tampa Bay. Mayfield, the former top pick of the Cleveland Browns, will also be without Dave Canales, the offensive coordinator who became the Panthers’ coach in the offseason. But the Buccaneers made many savvy moves to ensure Mayfield’s ’23 season wasn’t a fluke.
Key subtractions: RB Cordarrelle Patterson, QB Desmond Ridder, TE Jonnu Smith
Analysis: The Falcons quickly went from being NFC South favorites with Cousins to a team with quarterback concerns following the first-round selection of Penix. Not only did the Falcons create an awkward scenario, they failed to improve the 2024 squad by using their No. 8 pick on a player who might not play for a few seasons. Had the Falcons gone with the best player available, perhaps they would have gotten an A grade for the offseason and be viewed as NFC South favorites for longer than a month.
But the Falcons could still have the best team in the division if Cousins makes a full recovery from the torn Achilles he sustained last season with the Minnesota Vikings. Cousins will get to work with coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, two former Los Angeles Rams assistant coaches who had plenty of success under Sean McVay. With the Falcons having talented skill players, perhaps Cousins and a new coaching staff were the final pieces for Atlanta to clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2017. But they might have been viewed as Super Bowl contenders had they drafted one of the top edge rushers in the draft instead of Penix. Maybe Penix gets an opportunity to start a game or two in 2024 to impress and quiet the critics.
New Orleans Saints
Offseason grade: B-
Key additions: OL Taliese Fuaga, LB Willie Gay Jr., CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, QB Spencer Rattler, WR Cedrick Wilson Jr., Edge Chase Young
Key subtractions: S Marcus Maye, OG Andrus Peat, WR Michael Thomas, QB Jameis Winston
Analysis: With a veteran-filled roster, New Orleans balanced the present and the future after saying goodbye to key players and hello to prominent rookies. The Saints are far removed from the days of Drew Brees and Sean Payton, but they neglected the full rebuild route the past three seasons and missed the postseason every year in that span. The organization seems to have finally adjusted after parting with Michael Thomas, Marcus Maye and Andrus Peat. The moves they made provided some cap space flexibility for the Saints, something they haven’t had much of in recent years.
For the most part, the 2024 Saints should have a similar look to last season heading into Year 2 with Carr as the starting quarterback. Carr had mixed results in his first season in New Orleans, but played well in the final month and should have better protection with the arrival of Fuaga, a rugged run blocker who can play tackle and guard. But the Saints might be making a mistake by relying on Trevor Penning and Ryan Ramczyk as the starting tackles again. Penning has struggled since being a 2022 first-round pick and Ramczyk has dealt with injuries. If Carr gets time to operate, he’ll have Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed to hurt defenses downfield.
Young, the No. 2 pick of the 2020 draft, will be on his third team in five seasons.
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
On defense, the team took a chance on Chase Young, who had a rocky 2023 season after being traded by the Commanders to the 49ers. But the move could pay off, with veteran defensive end Cameron Jordan needing help. New Orleans could have a foundational piece in second-round cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.
Carolina Panthers
Offseason grade: C+
Key additions: RB Jonathon Brooks, Edge K’Lavon Chaisson, Edge Jadeveon Clowney, S Jordan Fuller, OG Robert Hunt, WR Diontae Johnson,LB Josey Jewell, WR Xavier Legette, OG Damien Lewis, Edge D.J. Wonnum
Key subtractions: S Vonn Bell, Edge Brian Burns, S Jeremy Chinn, Edge Yetur Gross-Matos, CB Donte Jackson, LB Frankie Luvu
Analysis: Let’s get the bad out of the way because there have been plenty of offseason positives for the worst team in the NFL last year. The Panthers’ rebuild project took a hit after they elected to trade Brian Burns to the New York Giants for two draft picks, neither in the first round. It’s been well documented that the Panthers had the opportunity to trade Burns in 2022 for multiple first-round picks. With that in mind, it was strange that the Panthers didn’t just keep Burns on the roster to continue building the defense with stud defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who cashed in this offseason with a lucrative contract extension.
The Panthers also spent money on the offensive side to assist Young, the 2023 No. 1 pick coming off a rough rookie season. Perhaps no offseason acquisition was more important than the hiring of Canales, the offensive guru who helped reignite the careers of Mayfield and Geno Smith. The Panthers added weapons and protection for Young, including the splash signing of guard Robert Hunt, whom the team might have overpaid for with a monster five-year, $100 million contract. Veteran wideout Adam Thielen won’t have to carry the team like he did last season, with the trade for Diontae Johnson and first-round selection of Xavier Legette. Also, the Panthers improved the poor ground game by using a second-round pick for running back Jonathon Brooks.
Offensively, the Panthers might have done enough this offseason to gain positive results from Young in Year 2. The defense, however, might not be able to replace the production of Burns. Newcomer veterans Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum will need to step up to help Brown and the rest of the defense.
The conversation around the NFL draft is always about the first few rounds.
Everyone knows about the star quarterbacks and the top players at the forefront of each position group’s depth chart. But each autumn, we learn about the biggest steals of the draft, young players who were selected on Day 3 and immediately became important players for their respective teams.
But who are those guys this time around? Who fits the bill in terms of talent, fit and opportunity?
Here are five players to keep your eyes on as the 2024 season develops.
Will Shipley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
If there’s any position to bet on with late-round choices, it’s running back. And with as much as the Eagles are willing to pound the rock, Shipley is a logical choice.
The fourth-rounder won’t see the majority of carries considering D’Andre Swift is the entrenched starter, but he was a three-year contributor at Clemson, running for 2,748 yards and 31 touchdowns. Look for him to play as a rotational back for Philadelphia.
Brenden Rice, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Rice was one of the draft’s stunning developments, falling to the seventh round before he was finally scooped up by the Chargers. Yet, considering Los Angeles’ receiver room, Rice might have a chance to play a ton of snaps.
The Chargers released Mike Williams and traded Keenan Allen this offseason, replacing them with second-round pick Ladd McConkey and little else. At USC in 2023, Rice caught 45 passes for 791 yards and 12 touchdowns. The son of first-ballot Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, he has ample upside.
Rasheen Ali, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Ali combined for 2,536 rushing yards in his two best seasons.
HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal / USA
Much like Shipley and the Eagles, we’re talking about a running back with a run-heavy team. Although Derrick Henry, Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell are ahead of the fifth-rounder on the depth chart, the Ravens run enough so Ali could see touches, especially if Henry is managed to an extent.
At Marshall, Ali was extremely productive when healthy. In his two best seasons of 2021 and ’23, Ali combined for 2,536 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns. At 206 pounds, he provides a bit of youth for Baltimore’s backfield.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Carolina Panthers
There’s no reason to think Sanders won’t see starter-level snaps for the Panthers in 2024. While Tommy Tremble is a veteran ahead of Sanders on the depth chart, he’s long been a backup-level piece.
The fourth-rounder started two years for the Texas Longhorns, catching 99 passes for 1,205 yards and seven touchdowns. At the scouting combine, Sanders ran a 4.69 40-yard dash time at 6'4" and 245 pounds. Expect the rookie to be a security blanket for second-year quarterback Bryce Young.
Javon Baker, WR, New England Patriots
Baker had 108 catches in his two seasons at UCF.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Baker might prove to be one of this draft’s steals. Projected as a Day 2 pick out of Central Florida, the Atlanta native was selected in the fourth round.
At UCF, the 6'1" and 202-pounder was a two-year starter after transferring from Alabama, catching 108 passes for 1,935 yards and 12 touchdowns. In New England, he’s going to have ample opportunity to play alongside fellow rookie Ja’Lynn Polk with No. 3 pick Drake Maye as his quarterback.
Fantasy football isn't just all about redraft leagues, where managers pick a new team every season. The fantasy world has expanded over the decades, and dynasty leagues are one of if not the most challenging and comprehensive of those expansions. In these formats, you have one main draft (a startup) where you compile a roster that you will keep year after year.
In the seasons that follow, your league will hold yearly rookie-only drafts with the goal of building not only for the present but for the future as well. Younger players are going to hold more value in dynasty leagues. Tyreek Hill is a great player and all, and he’ll be picked in the top five in redraft leagues. That’s because you’re drafting him for just the next season.
But, entering his age-30 season, the Cheetah isn’t as valuable in dynasty formats. You’ll see that sort of pattern with many fantasy stars who are in the middle or latter stages of their careers. That list includes the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Derrick Henry and even Travis Kelce.
So, for those managers looking to take that next step in their fantasy football obsession, here are my positional dynasty startup rankings for 2024. Because age is more important in this format, I’ve included every player’s age starting in September 2024 (the start of the new season).
Let’s start building the foundation for a real “dynasty” roster!
2024 Fantasy Football Dynasty Quarterback Rankings
Rank. Player - Team - Age
1. Jalen Hurts - PHI - 26
2. Josh Allen - BUF - 28
3. Patrick Mahomes - KC - 28
4. C.J. Stroud - HOU - 22
5. Anthony Richardson - IND - 22
6. Lamar Jackson - BAL - 28
7. Joe Burrow - CIN - 27
8. Caleb Williams - CHI - 21
9. Jordan Love - GB - 25
10. Jayden Daniels - WAS - 23
11. Justin Herbert - LAC - 26
12. Brock Purdy - SF - 24
13. Dak Prescott - DAL - 31
14. Trevor Lawrence - JAC - 24
15. Kyler Murray - ARI - 27
16. Tua Tagovailoa - MIA - 26
17. Drake Maye - NE - 22
18. J.J. McCarthy - MIN - 21
19. Justin Fields - PIT - 25
20. Bryce Young - CAR - 23
21. Jared Goff - DET - 29
22. Deshaun Watson - CLE - 28
23. Kirk Cousins - ATL - 36
24. Bo Nix - DEN - 24
25. Will Levis - TEN - 25
26. Baker Mayfield - TB - 29
27. Matthew Stafford - LAR - 36
28. Michael Penix Jr. - ATL - 24
29. Derek Carr - NO - 33
30. Aaron Rodgers - NYJ - 40
31. Geno Smith - SEA - 33
32. Russell Wilson - PIT - 35
33. Daniel Jones - NYG - 27
34. Gardner Minshew - LV - 28
35. Sam Howell - SEA - 24
36. Aidan O'Connell - LV - 26
37. Jarret Stidham - DEN - 28
38. Sam Darnold - MIN - 27
39. Zach Wilson - DEN - 25
40. Drew Lock - NYG - 27
2024 Fantasy Football Dynasty Running Back Rankings
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) on Dec 24, 2023.
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Rank. Player - Team - Age
1. Bijan Robinson - ATL - 22
2. Breece Hall - NYJ - 23
3. Jahmyr Gibbs - DET - 22
4. Jonathan Taylor - IND - 25
5. Christian McCaffrey - CAR - 28
6. Travis Etienne - JAC - 25
7. Kyren Williams - LAR - 24
8. De'Vone Achane - MIA - 22
9. James Cook - BUF - 24
10. Kenneth Walker - SEA - 23
11. Isiah Pacheco - KC - 25
12. Josh Jacobs - LV - 26
13. Saquon Barkley - PHI - 27
14. Jonathon Brooks - CAR - 21
15. Rachaad White - TB - 25
16. Rhamondre Stevenson - NE - 26
17. Javonte Williams - DEN - 24
18. Zamir White - LV - 25
19. D'Andre Swift - CHI - 25
20. Trey Benson - ARI - 22
21. Najee Harris - PIT - 26
22. Joe Mixon - CIN - 28
23. Tony Pollard - TEN - 27
24. David Montgomery - DET - 27
25. Alvin Kamara - NO - 29
26. Brian Robinson Jr. - WAS - 25
27. Nick Chubb - CLE - 28
28. Derrick Henry - BAL - 31
29. Zack Moss - CIN - 26
30. Tyjae Spears - TEN - 23
31. Zach Charbonnet - SEA - 23
32. James Conner - ARI - 29
33. Aaron Jones - GB - 29
34. Jaylen Warren - PIT - 25
35. Devin Singletary - NYG - 27
36. Blake Corum - LAR - 23
37. MarShawn Lloyd - GB - 22
38. Kendre Miller - NO - 22
39. Jaylen Wright - MIA - 21
40. Jaleel McLaughlin - DEN - 24
41. Chase Brown - CIN - 24
42. Austin Ekeler - LAC - 29
43. Chuba Hubbard - CAR - 25
44. Bucky Irving - TB - 22
45. Jerome Ford - CLE - 24
46. J.K. Dobbins - LAC - 26
47. Raheem Mostert - MIA - 32
48. Antonio Gibson - WAS - 26
49. Tyler Allgeier - ATL - 24
50. Roschon Johnson - CHI - 23
51. Gus Edwards - LAC - 29
52. Ty Chandler - MIN - 26
53. Rico Dowdle - DAL - 26
54. Keaton Mitchell - BAL - 22
55. Dameon Pierce - HOU - 24
56. Khalil Herbert - CHI - 26
57. Ezekiel Elliott - DAL - 29
58. Ray Davis - BUF - 24
59. Elijah Mitchell - SF - 26
60. Alexander Mattison - LV - 26
61. Tank Bigsby - JAC - 23
62. Braelon Allen - NYJ - 20
63. Will Shipley - PHI - 21
64. Kenneth Gainwell - PHI - 25
65. Audric Estime - DEN - 21
66. Miles Sanders - CAR - 27
67. Clyde Edwards-Helaire - KC - 25
68. Jamaal Williams - NO - 29
69. Tyrone Tracy - NYG - 24
70. AJ Dillon - GB - 26
71. Kimani Vidal - LAC - 23
72. Isaiah Spiller - LAC - 23
73. Isaac Guerendo - SF - 24
74. Jordan Mason - SF - 25
75. Deuce Vaughn - DAL - 22
76. Trey Sermon - IND - 25
77. Israel Abanikanda - NYJ - 21
78. Justice Hill - BAL - 26
79. Isaiah Davis - NYJ - 22
80. D'Onta Foreman - CLE - 28
2024 Fantasy Football Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) on Jan. 7, 2024.
Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
Rank. Player - Team - Age
1. Justin Jefferson - MIN - 25
2. Ja'Marr Chase - CIN - 24
3. CeeDee Lamb - DAL - 25
4. Amon-Ra St. Brown - DET - 24
5. Garrett Wilson - NYJ - 24
6. Puka Nacua - LAR - 23
7. Marvin Harrison Jr. - ARI - 22
8. A.J. Brown - PHI - 27
9. Chris Olave - NO - 24
10. Drake London - ATL - 23
11. Brandon Aiyuk - SF - 26
12. Malik Nabers - NYG - 21
13. Nico Collins - HOU - 25
14. Michael Pittman Jr. - IND - 26
15. Jaylen Waddle - MIA - 25
16. Tee Higgins - CIN - 25
17. Devonta Smith - PHI - 25
18. D.K. Metcalf - SEA - 26
19. Rashee Rice - KC - 24
20. Rome Odunze - CHI - 22
21. Tyreek Hill - MIA - 30
22. Tank Dell - HOU - 24
23. Zay Flowers - BAL - 23
24. Deebo Samuel Sr. - SF - 28
25. Jordan Addison - MIN - 22
26. D.J. Moore - CHI - 27
27. Jaxon Smith-Njigba - SEA - 22
28. George Pickens - PIT - 23
29. Brian Thomas Jr. - JAC - 21
30. Jayden Reed - GB - 24
31. Xavier Worthy - KC - 21
32. Ladd McConkey - LAC - 22
33. Christian Kirk - JAC - 27
34. Keon Coleman - BUF - 21
35. Terry McLaurin - WAS - 28
36. Christian Watson - GB - 25
37. Davante Adams - LV - 31
38. Calvin Ridley - TEN - 29
39. Stefon Diggs - HOU - 30
40. Xavier Legette - CAR - 23
41. Ricky Pearsall - SF - 24
42. Adonai Mitchell - IND - 22
43. Cooper Kupp - LAR - 31
44. Mike Evans - TB - 31
45. Diontae Johnson - CAR - 28
46. Amari Cooper - CLE - 30
47. Jameson Williams - DET - 23
48. Josh Downs - IND - 23
49. Courtland Sutton - DEN - 28
50. Ja'Lynn Polk - NE - 22
51. Chris Godwin - TB - 28
52. Jakobi Meyers - LV - 27
53. Marquise Brown - KC - 27
54. Romeo Doubs - GB - 24
55. Jerry Jeudy - CLE - 25
56. Demario Douglas - NE - 23
57. Roman Wilson - PIT - 23
58. Malachi Corley - NYJ - 22
59. Gabe Davis - JAC - 25
60. Curtis Samuel - BUF - 28
61. Rashid Shaheed - NO - 26
62. Mike Williams - NYJ - 29
63. Quentin Johnston - LAC - 22
64. Marvin Mims Jr. - DEN - 22
65. Jahan Dotson - WAS - 24
66. Keenan Allen - CHI - 32
67. Dontayvion Wicks - GB - 23
68. Josh Palmer - LAC - 24
69. Khalil Shakir - BUF - 24
70. Jermaine Burton - CIN - 23
71. Wan'Dale Robinson - NYG - 23
72. Rashod Bateman - BAL - 24
73. Elijah Moore - CLE - 24
74. Michael Wilson - ARI - 24
75. Troy Franklin - DEN - 21
76. DeAndre Hopkins - TEN - 32
77. Tyler Lockett - SEA - 31
78. Darnell Mooney - ATL - 26
79. Jalin Hyatt - NYG - 22
80. Javon Baker - NE - 22
2024 Fantasy Football Dynasty Tight End Rankings
Lions tight end Sam LaPorta makes a catch during warmups before the NFC divisional playoff game.
