Sound Good: 5 Observations on the Largest Put up-Draft Storylines

[ad_1] The NFL offseason — which is mainly a complete season unto itself — is about to come back to a screeching halt. Free company has come and principally gone. The draft is full. And now, groups will possible wait till June 1 earlier than making any extra strikes, due to the salary-cap and compensatory-pick issues. (That’s once we’ll little doubt see the Philadelphia Eagles commerce disgruntled receiver A.J. Brown.)

However there may be at all times one thing to debate within the NFL offseason.

All the time.

That is "Sound Good," the place I attempt to spin ahead, dive deeper and assume outdoors the field. If I do my job, you’ll have a greater understanding of what actually occurred over the previous week of the NFL offseason.

1. IF THERE’S ONE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW, IT’S… George Pickens’ contract scenario says one factor in regards to the Dallas Cowboys — and one other in regards to the NFL.

In relation to extending the All-Professional receiver, the Cowboys aren’t going to alter the best way they do enterprise — not even after the Micah Parsons scenario blew up final yr.

You recognize the story: Dallas and Parsons by no means agreed on a contract and negotiations went forgotten-milk bitter. Parsons is now a Inexperienced Bay Packer. The Cowboys have gamers and picks to point out for the commerce. A brand new-look protection is underneath development after final yr's model was putrid with out All-Professional edge Parsons.

And also you’d assume possibly the Cowboys is perhaps extra beneficiant with their gamers, maybe to earn extra goodwill — or maybe to keep away from fallout with one other mercurial star.

You’d assume mistaken.

In his first season with the Cowboys, George Pickens set profession highs with 93 catches for 1,429 yards and 9 touchdowns. (Photograph by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)

On the NFL house owners conferences in March, Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones set the desk for a way negotiations would go together with Pickens, calling the franchise tag "an integral a part of our technique over the subsequent two or three years as we glance to maintain our greatest gamers." And forward of the draft, govt vp and director of participant personnel Stephen Jones doubled down.

"We have decided that we're gonna have George play underneath the franchise tag, which will not be a primary for us," Jones mentioned. "There will not be negotiations on a long-term deal. That is definitely not a primary for this group and will not be a primary within the league."

Pickens signed his franchise tag on April 30.

On the Cowboys’ finish, it is a shrewd choice for roster administration. It’s what’s finest for the group, forcing the receiver — who might possible have made $40 million per yr (and possibly on a three- or four-year deal) on the open market — to play for a one-year, $27.3 million deal. And with Pickens, it’s necessary to notice how he’s not like CeeDee Lamb or Ja’Marr Chase, veteran receivers who repeatedly proved themselves on and off the sphere earlier than signing large offers.

No, Pickens is extra of a wild-card, whose play had been spotty at occasions till he arrived in Dallas final season. And he solely landed with the Cowboys as a result of the Pittsburgh Steelers had been fed up with him, transport him off for a third-round decide.

That isn’t to say that Dallas' choice is honest. However it's analytical and calculated. The Cowboys aren’t altering. Not for Parsons. Not for Pickens.

Now for the NFL, it’s one more reminder of how little energy the gamers have. On the house owners conferences, Jerry Jones talked about that Pickens entered the league underneath the collective bargaining settlement, which gamers negotiated. And so Pickens should observe the NFL and NFLPA’s agreed-upon contract guidelines, which embrace the franchise tag. In different phrases, Jones is saying: Don’t maintain out, don’t maintain in, don’t struggle this franchise tag.

However in fact, Pickens doesn’t have a lot of an alternate. When he entered the draft in 2022, the NIL period was not totally launched in faculty soccer — not just like the raging enterprise it's now. These days, star gamers can keep in faculty and make loads of cash. As we noticed on this yr’s draft, many do. However in the case of going professional in soccer, the NFL has no competitor. And the league’s contract system is extraordinarily team-friendly. It prevented Pickens from cashing in and securing the long-term monetary deal that he might completely demand, if not for the franchise tag.

Due to that, Pickens has no actual recourse — besides to demand a commerce and/or to stage a holdout or hold-in. That doesn’t appear to be on the desk. As a substitute, he’ll work to alter the narrative that he’s tough to work with. He’ll play on an improperly valued contract.

And in 2027, if all goes nicely, he’ll money in large.

2. MONDAY MORNING CONTROVERSY The place on the planet is Shedeur Sanders?

Deshaun Watson is in pole place to begin at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in 2026, per Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.

And … my goodness, why and the way?

The place is Shedeur Sanders?

This is likely one of the extra promising Browns groups we’ve seen in fairly a while, which — I do know, I do know — won't be saying a lot. However I genuinely imagine that Cleveland is agonizingly near pulling itself out of the basement and away from the purgatory of rebuilding, yr after yr.

However the Browns are usually not going to be aggressive in the event that they play Watson, one of many worst QBs in current NFL historical past. I’m not even being hyperbolic. Think about this telling statistic from ESPN’s Benjamin Solak: Over the previous 26 years, we’ve seen 907 seasons of quarterbacks with 200 passing makes an attempt or extra. In 2024, Watson’s season ranked 902nd in yards per dropback. And naturally, the QB tore his Achilles twice since that season.

That’s your man, Cleveland?

So I’ll ask once more: The place is Sanders?

Shedeur Sanders (2) seems to be on as Deshaun Watson runs a drill throughout a voluntary veteran minicamp in April. (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Getty Photographs)

I get it. In all probability, Cleveland will draft its man in 2027 — and that would be the yr the Browns can legitimately flip this round.

Possibly it’s so simple as: The Browns wish to lose loads of video games in 2026 — to rise to the highest of the 2027 draft (aka tanking). However that may shock me. The Browns can’t actually afford to tank, not with GM Andrew Berry and head coach Todd Monken on scorching seats.

Yeah, that’s proper, they may each get fired. Monken hasn’t coached a single down but, however the Browns struggled to draw a prime candidate within the 2026 hiring cycle, primarily due to the group’s wage cap points and quarterback points — which all tie again to Watson. If they've a robust, younger group with a excessive draft decide in a QB-rich 2027 draft, the Browns might rent a big-name coach or scorching coordinator prospect. (Monken joined Cleveland after getting fired from his OC gig with the Baltimore Ravens.) Take into consideration how the Chicago Bears attracted Ben Johnson with a well-timed rent a yr after choosing QB Caleb Williams with the No. 1 general decide within the 2024 draft.

It’s beginning to really feel clear that Sanders shouldn't be part of the Browns’ plan, that I’m inserting him into the dialog — as a result of he isn't inserting or asserting himself as QB1.

Time is working out.

Now can be a good time for Sanders to step up. To show he’s "LEGENDARY."

3. PEELING BACK THE CURTAIN Eric DeCosta did a superb job of defusing rigidity between NFL groups and the Consensus Draft Board.

There was an ongoing dialogue within the NFL in regards to the "Consensus Board," an aggregation of media-based large boards rating the highest draft prospects. It’s an effort to make use of the immense draft information to set the averages. The dialogue is usually contentious after a group veers from the consensus rating. However lastly, the dialogue took a extra productive flip this week.

And that was when Ravens GM Eric Decosta took the time to clarify what he’s seeing when he works together with his group’s board — and compares it to the consensus.

"Over the past three years or so, extra groups appear to be drafting the identical because the Ravens," DeCosta mentioned on "The Lounge" podcast. "There appears to be an alignment in some methods of boards. And a few of that is perhaps primarily based on modeling and analytics and extra information getting used, a few of that information which is business information and numerous issues. I am undecided if that is good or not."

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta speaks to the media throughout the 2026 NFL Scouting Mix in Indianapolis. (Photograph by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Photographs)

He mentioned there are draft prospects he calls "outlier gamers" who he would possibly rank, for instance, as first- or second-round picks however who the consensus boards present as fourth- or fifth-round picks.

"That was regarding besides that, in most of these circumstances, these gamers had been drafted nearer to the place we had them by different groups," DeCosta mentioned. "Which means, they weren’t falling [toward their consensus value]. … We see these guys getting drafted nearer to 35 than 105. So what that tells me — and once more, I feel we’re simply scratching the floor on this — however it tells me that there are gamers that groups like that the consensus boards haven’t heard about, valued correctly or latched onto."

He added: "There are these outlier prospects that the groups learn about that the consensus boards haven’t caught as much as."

DeCosta felt just like the open entry to information and analytics has helped the media’s consensus board align extra intently with groups’ boards — significantly because the years go on. However they don’t match universally.

All the dialogue began with the examination of the San Francisco 49ers’ draft class, which included a handful of "reaches," when utilizing the consensus board.

On this yr’s class, 49ers receiver De’Zhaun Stribling is perhaps the perfect instance of an "outlier participant." The 49ers took him at thirty third general — regardless of him sitting at eighty fifth on the consensus board — as a result of San Francisco feared he'd get drafted quickly after their slot. Experiences point out that the 49ers had been proper — a number of groups had Stribling circled for Spherical 2. And all it takes is one different group.

De'Zhaun Stribling had the sixth-best whole rating amongst all receivers, based on Subsequent Gen Stats, on the NFL Mix. (Photograph by Cooper Neill/Getty Photographs)

If the 49ers needed Stribling, they most likely wanted to take him at No. 33. And it’s now upon them to ensure he delivers upon that draft standing.

San Francisco GM John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan weren't as open as DeCosta to speak in regards to the course of and the best way the consensus board does (and doesn't) steer their line of pondering. They had been extra defensive and flippant, with Lynch saying, "We’ve bought consensus on this constructing. That’s the consensus that I care about." So I recognize that DeCosta took the time to succeed in the draft group with a extra beneficiant spirit.

4. RANDOM RANKINGS Listed here are six sleeper rookies that I like for fantasy soccer. I’ll do three for dynasty and three for redraft.

Ted Hurst, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Dynasty)

The Bucs' offense got here right down to earth final yr, which is why they pivoted from OC Josh Grizzard to Zac Robinson, an apple that fell off the Sean McVay tree. You may wager that GM Jason Licht drafted Hurst with Robinson’s offense in thoughts, and the rookie wideout will be part of a unit that has some uncertainty on the receiver spots past Emeka Egbuka. Jalen McMillan has but to take a full-time beginning position and Chris Godwin is growing old and oft-injured. Hurst is a developmental prospect out of Georgia State however has unbelievable bodily skills and was dominant on the FCS degree. Possibly he breaks out in 2027.

Ted Hurst is probably not well-known to NFL followers, however he had a 1,000-yard receiving season for Georgia State in 2025. (Photograph by Cooper Neill/Getty Photographs)

Mike Washington, RB, Las Vegas Raiders (Dynasty)

New Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak ran a two-back backfield in Seattle. Now, Kubiak didn’t have Ashton Jeanty final yr, and it’s possible the 2025 first-round decide will get a large share of the touches. However there's a likelihood that Washington has a much bigger position than anticipated, significantly given how ideally he matches Kubiak's system. He can be a extremely good handcuff in Vegas.

Chris Bell, WR, Miami Dolphins (Dynasty)

Bell is the final word high-risk, high-upside play. He was an impressive participant at Louisville, the place he would have possible earned his method into the highest 50 picks within the NFL Draft. However he tore his ACL, which landed him in Spherical 4 and on a Dolphins group devoid of receivers. Can he earn a large position whereas overcoming the knee harm? Draft him if you wish to be alongside for that journey.

Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, Baltimore Ravens (Redraft):

In order for you a late-round flier with excessive upside, Lane may very well be among the many finest choices. Baltimore has lengthy wanted an explosive, outdoors choice with good arms. That’s Lane. He ought to supplant veteran receiver Rashod Bateman for taking part in time, and the query will merely be whether or not Lane can convert his snaps in a extra environment friendly method than Bateman has.

Justin Joly, TE, Denver Broncos (Redraft):

The Broncos have been in search of a good finish who matches Sean Payton’s sensibilities. (He needs one other Jimmy Graham, however in fact, these guys don’t develop on bushes.) It doesn’t look like Evan Engram or Adam Trautman have fairly gotten it carried out in Denver. So Joly is a compelling man, significantly if we see him working with the first-team in coaching camp.

Jonah Coleman, RB, Denver Broncos (Redraft)

I’ll say it: I don’t assume second-round decide RJ Harvey was very spectacular final yr as a rookie. Not in fantasy. Not in actuality. He’s not so spectacular {that a} man like Coleman can’t vulture carries. And that’s much more true of J.Ok. Dobbins, who will possible be Coleman’s extra direct competitors. So if Coleman can steal Dobbins’ job and eat into Harvey’s touches, the rookie can be a extremely good fantasy choice. However for now, that’s a giant if.

5. HE SAID WHAT?! *Silence*

Usually, that is the house the place I discover a controversial assertion — or an thrilling quote. However I wish to discover an uncommon silence that surrounded QB Fernando Mendoza, the draft’s No. 1 general decide. Nobody is speaking about him. Nobody has actually mentioned him because the mix, when it turned clear that he was the sure-thing at first general.

There’s nothing controversial in regards to the squeaky-clean Mendoza.

From my vantage level, it has been intentional.

Mendoza has made appearances right here and there. He has let his aw-shucks persona shine. He has embraced his cultural achievements as one of many NFL’s few Latino quarterbacks. And he has used his highlight for good, elevating funds for the Nationwide MS Society in honor of his mom. However he has not generated a compelling headline since successful the nationwide championship.

That’s genuine to Mendoza, for positive. But it surely has all been within the title of securing the No. 1 general decide. That didn’t assist draft rankings. That thrust undersized and inexperienced Alabama QB Ty Simpson into the pre-draft dialogue as a sacrificial lamb within the embrace-debate TV world. But it surely was all to learn Mendoza, who has made the leap to the NFL as quietly as any first-overall decide in current reminiscence. That features understated personalities like Cam Ward and Bryce Younger going to understated groups just like the Titans and Panthers.

Regardless of the shortage of fanfare for Mendoza, you possibly can depend me as somebody who believes in his prospects.

Give him a while. He’ll develop on folks, each on and off the sphere. He could very nicely be a celebrity in 2027.

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