2023 NFL Season Predictions
Full Season Schedule,Final Standings, and Playoff Bracket available at
Adjusted 2024 First Round Draft Order (Includes trades to date)
1.Cardinals
2.Colts
3.Bears (via Panthers from Bryce Young/ DJ Moore trade)
4.Buccaneers
5.Raiders
6.Cardinals (via Texans from Will Anderson trade)
7.Rams
8.Bears
9.Giants
10.Commanders
11.Seahawks
12.Patriots
13.Falcons
14.Jaguars
15.Broncos
16.Jets
17.Steelers
18.Ravens
19.Saints
20.Titans
21.Vikings
22.Cowboys
23.Chargers
24.Chiefs
25.Dolphins
26.Packers
27.Lions
28.Bills
29.49ers
30.Texans (via Browns from Deshaun Watson trade)
31.Eagles
32.Bengals
Awards Picks (also receiving votes in parentheses)
Most Valuable Player: Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals (Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Deshaun Watson, Josh Allen)
Offensive Player of the Year: Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns (Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Brandon Aiyuk, Tony Pollard, Tyreek Hill, Christian Watson, Chris Olave)
Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns (T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons, Nick Bosa, Gregory Rousseau)
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons (Jahmyr Gibbs, Will Levis, De'Von Achane, Bryce Young, Quentin Johnson, Zay Flowers, Sam LaPorta)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Christian Gonzalez, CB, New England Patriots (Will Anderson, Jack Campbell, Brian Branch, Emmanuel Forbes)
Comeback Player of the Year: Damar Hamlin, S, Buffalo Bills
Most Improved Player: Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay Packers (Skyy Moore, David Njoku, Brandon Aiyuk)
Head Coach of The Year: Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins (Dan Campbell, Zac Taylor, Kevin Stefanski, Mike Vrabel)
Offensive Assistant Coach of The Year: Ben Johnson, Offensive Coordinator, Detroit Lions (Eric Bieniemy, Pete Carmichael, Tim Kelly, Ken Dorsey, Kellen Moore)
Defensive Assistant Coach of the Year: Jim Schwartz, Defensive Coordinator, Cleveland Browns (Lou Anarumo, Aaron Glenn, Patrick Graham, Brian Flores, Vic Fangio)
Additional Speculation On Season Storylines (Listed by team) List does not include all NFL teams
Las Vegas Raiders
Raiders fire Josh McDaniels after starting 2-10 and losing to the Chiefs Week 12 in Las Vegas, and promote defensive coordinator Patrick Graham to be their interim head coach.
Patrick Graham will finish the season with a record of 2-3, leaving the Raiders with a final record of 4-13.
The Raiders will fire general Manager Dave Ziegler, interim coach Patrick Graham, and a majority of the rest of McDaniels' staff after the regular season is completed.
Tennessee Titans
Starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill gets injured early in the season, and the Titans allow scond-year QB Malik Willis and rookie Will Levis to struggle for the starting spot before Levis wins it outright after during Tennessee's bye week in Week 7.
Levis then manages to lead the Titans to an 8-3 record from the bye week on, putting up Rookie of the Year-worthy numbers... if he had started the full season.
The Titans still manage to fall in the Wildcard Round to a tough Browns team, but this year still cements Levis as the starting quarterback going into 2024, with Tannehill likely to be moved by the front office in the offseason.
Washington Commanders
Ron Rivera is fired after a Week 16 loss to the Jets, finishing his season in Washington with a record of 4-11. Assistant head coach and Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is promoted to be the interim head coach.
Bieniemy then coaches the Commanders to a 2-0 record in the final games, and after the season, his interim tag is dropped in order to make Eric Bieniemy the full-time head coach of the Washington Commanders in 2024.
Aside
Originally, I had afew wonkier predictions, namely the Cardinals and Colts trading their respective picks to quarterback-needy teams so those unnamed teams could select one of USC QB Caleb Williams or UNC QB Drake Maye.
My only reservation was that by the time October comes around, we're gonna have seen a much better sample size of football in 2023, so I'm certain I'll have opinions on it. I'd just like to save some for the wilder stuff for when there's a clearer picture to expand upon.
Ideally, I'd like to do one of these at the end of every month of the season, so we'll see how that goes.
End of the way, I wanted to put something out to reign in the new year, and I hope you're along for the ride.
Now who's ready for some mothafuckin football?
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Pre Free Agency Mock Draft
With free agency set to begin in six days, mock draft season is alive and well. Draft strategies will obviously change with signings and trades; but, for now, here’s a two round projection. The projected trades were made using Pro Football Focus’ mock draft machine. I used 70% trade acceptance as the bare minimum. In the words of Fabrizio Romano: here we go.
1 Tennessee (from Chicago) - Bryce Young QB/Alabama
Tennessee receives 1
Chicago receives 11, 72, 2024 1st, 2024 3rd, 2025 4th, RB Derrick Henry
PFF Trade Acceptance: 74%
The Titans are facing an identity crisis. After coming out swinging this past season, they lost their last seven games and, in the process, the division. Their current quarterback options are the extremely raw Malik Willis or the pricey Ryan Tannehill. With a horrid cap situation created by former GM, Jon Robinson, expect the Titans to try to move on from Tannehill. They didn’t gamble away a lot of draft capital under Robinson, so expect new GM, Ran Carthon, to put his stamp on the team right away. In addition to getting their franchise quarterback, they’ll shed Henry’s contract to a Bears team who is likely losing David Montgomery to free agency and has almost $100 million in cap space, so they’ll gladly take on his contract if it means getting arguably the most consistent rusher over the last few seasons. Running backs don’t last long in this league, but they’ll take a flier along with five draft picks. As for Bryce Young, he may be small, but that didn’t stop the Cardinals from taking Kyler Murray first overall in 2019. Young is an even better passer and a proven winner. The Titans need that…badly.
2 Houston - Will Levis QB/Kentucky
Quarterback is the obvious route for the Texans. Which one of the “big four” is to be determined. I like Levis’ size and confidence here and he put up major numbers in the toughest conference in college football. The man might be afraid of milk, but he’s definitely not afraid of slinging the pigskin.
3 Carolina (from Arizona) - C.J. Stroud QB/Ohio State
Carolina receives 3, WR DeAndre Hopkins
Arizona receives 9, 93, 2024 1st
PFF Trade Acceptance: 79%
The Cardinals will receive a ton of calls for this pick, especially if quarterbacks go with the first two. I like Carolina’s odds given the bevy of picks they received in the Christian McCaffrey trade. They need to start fresh at the position as they haven’t drafted a quarterback in the first round since Cam Newton twelve years ago. The strategy of taking the rejects of the class of 2018 hasn’t worked in their favor. Stroud is a safer bet than Richardson, but either of them are worth the selection. The Cardinals will also be looking to shed cap space and Carolina needs another bonafide starter to pair with DJ Moore. It’s a good match all around.
4 Indianapolis - Anthony Richardson QB/Florida
The AFC South arms race continues as the Colts take the last of the bunch, making this the first NFL Draft in history where quarterbacks go 1-2-3-4. Richardson is raw but had a great combine, and new head coach, Shane Steichen, can liken his game to Jalen Hurts whom he just coached this past season in Philadelphia. Like the Panthers, the Colts need a new start at quarterback. Their strategy of taking washed up veterans hasn’t worked out since they lost Andrew Luck to retirement. Just say no to Jimmy G.
5 Seattle (from Denver) - Jalen Carter DT/Georgia
This pick is obviously contingent on Carter’s upcoming legal case. The loss of life is obviously more important than a game, so time will tell about Carter’s status. Barring anything major happening in his case, Carter is still the best overall prospect in this draft class and the Seahawks need a makeover on the defensive line. Carter would be an instant fix in both the run stop and pass rush. But, again, the legal situation takes precedence.
6 Houston (from Detroit via LA Rams) - Will Anderson Jr. EDGE/Alabama
Houston receives 6
Detroit receives 12, 65, 2024 5th
PFF Trade Acceptance: 77%
The Lions could stay put and draft someone like Devon Witherspoon. But, with Houston needing help in the pass rush and looking to fill the void left by JJ Watt, they’ll use their arsenal of picks to trade up for a relatively safe bet. Anderson Jr. will be an instant impact player for new defensive minded head coach, Demeco Ryans. Hopefully, the Texans give Ryans more than one season unlike their last two head coaches.
7 Las Vegas - Devon Witherspoon CB/Illinois
Expect Vegas to take a swing for one of the top quarterbacks in the class. If they miss out, they’ll need to address their ailing secondary and offensive line. Witherspoon is the best prospect on the board at this point, so that’s the direction they’ll go.
8 Atlanta - Tyree Wilson EDGE/Texas Tech
The Falcons struggled to get to the quarterback. Wilson does not. Next.
9 Arizona (from Carolina) - Christian Gonzalez CB/Oregon
The Cardinals have some pieces in their secondary, but they’ve lack a true CB1 since Patrick Peterson left the desert. Gonzalez should fill that role immediately.
10 Pittsburgh (from Philadelphia via New Orleans) - Peter Skoronski OT/Northwestern
Pittsburgh receives 10, 2024 3rd
Philadelphia receives 17, 49
PFF Trade Acceptance: 89%
The Eagles could stay put and draft someone like Skoronski or Joey Porter Jr.; but, Howie Roseman loves his first round trades and cannot pass up the opportunity for an extra second round pick, especially with an expected mass exodus of free agents. As for the Steelers, they’ll look to protect young franchise quarterback, Kenny Pickett, with one of the best offensive line prospects since Quenton Nelson.
11 Chicago (from Tennessee) - Quentin Johnston WR/TCU
Chicago trades down, gets a load of draft capital, one of the best running backs in the league, AND the best receiver in the draft? Sounds like a huge win, especially for Justin Fields.
12 Detroit (from Houston via Cleveland) - Calijah Kancey DT/Pittsburgh
The Lions barely missed the playoffs with one of the worst defenses in recent memory. They’ll start their much needed makeover with the best run stopper on the board.
13 Green Bay (from NY Jets) - Lukas Van Ness EDGE/Iowa
Green Bay receives 13, 74, 2024 1st, 2024 3rd, 2025 1st, 2025 3rd, WR Elijah Moore
NY Jets receive QB Aaron Rodgers
PFF Trade Acceptance: 73%
This is probably way more value than Rodgers will actually fetch, but that’s how PFF’s trade machine was working for me. The Jets have the pieces at skill position and at defense, but Zach Wilson is not the answer…at least not yet. Once upon a time, a young first round selection spent the first few years on the bench behind a future Hall of Famer and it helped him develop into one of the all time greats himself when that quarterback left. That young quarterback’s name? Aaron Rodgers. Wilson is still young, but a few years on the bench, he could still mature into a bonafide starter in this league. Rodgers would give the Jets a much needed edge in a wide open AFC East. As for the Packers, they pick up a young, talented but disgruntled receiver who could use a change of scenery and a legitimate wrecking ball on the defensive line. Plus, Lukas Van Ness from Iowa just sounds like a typical Green Bay selection.
14 Baltimore (from New England) - Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR/Ohio State
Baltimore receives 14, 76, 2024 1st, 2024 3rd, 2025 1st, QB Mac Jones
New England receives QB Lamar Jackson
PFF Trade Acceptance: 73%
Like the Jets, New England is about a quarterback away from truly contending. They have the cap space for Lamar and will certainly use that and their draft capital to bring in the former MVP and this is a move you absolutely make in the post-Brady era to get the fanbase excited again. As for Baltimore, the top four quarterbacks will be gone at fourteen, so they’ll take a flier on the talented but inconsistent Mac Jones and pair him with one of the top pass catchers in the draft.
15 Green Bay - Dalton Kincaid TE/Utah
Jordan Love will need all of the help he can get and the best thing you can do for a first time starter is give him a security blanket at tight end. Kincaid should fill in nicely where Robert Tonyan left off.
16 Washington - Joey Porter Jr. CB/Penn State
Despite Ron Rivera’s confidence in Sam Howell, quarterback is still an issue. I still expect them to go for one of the big four or even take a swing for Lamar Jackson. But, sixteen is too low to get it done in my opinion. So, they go with both the best available player and the next largest positional need with the Penn State product. In a division where they face AJ Brown, Devonta Smith, CeeDee Lamb, and a receiver to be named later in this mock twice a year, they need a shutdown corner to minimize their Pro Bowl caliber impacts.
17 Philadelphia (from Pittsburgh) - Paris Johnson Jr. OT/Ohio State
On the surface, defense might be a more pressing issue, especially with the likes of Javon Hargrave, James Bradberry, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson all likely leaving this offseason. But, the Eagles still need depth and future starters in front of Jalen Hurts. In addition to the aforementioned defensive starters, Philadelphia is likely to also lose Isaac Seumalo in free agency, leaving a hole at right guard. Johnson Jr. is a tackle by nature, but he can slot into the interior to start his career. More importantly, he can fill in for Lane Johnson in the event of another injury as Jeff Stoutland’s unit looked way worse without him at right tackle. Lane may not be an Eagle for much longer, especially with his injury history. So, the next Johnson will operate as both a day one starter on the inside and a future starter on the outside.
18 LA Rams (from Detroit) - Nolan Smith EDGE/Georgia
LA Rams receive 18, 2024 4th
Detroit receives 2024 2nd, CB Jalen Ramsey
PFF Trade Acceptance: 73%
As previously mentioned, the Lions need a makeover on the defense. They have the cap to acquire Ramsey as LA will likely move on from him given their cap situation. The All Pro may have had a down year, but if you can get a player of his caliber at this price, you make the trade. He’ll take some pressure off former first round pick, Jeff Okudah, and create a deadly tandem. As for the Rams, they’ll start their youth movement with a rising pass rusher to pair with Aaron Donald.
19 Tampa Bay - Bryan Bresee DT/Clemson
The Bucs have a load of issues across the board, so they’ll go best available. Like Washington, they’re in need of a signal caller; but, they’re also likely too low on the board to make a move for one of the big four.
20 Seattle - Myles Murphy EDGE/Clemson
After taking an interior lineman with their first pick, the Seahawks will continue their front four makeover with the best edge rusher on the board. This could also be a trade down spot as Seattle is often inclined to do.
21 LA Chargers - Zay Flowers WR/Boston College
Justin Herbert needs more weapons to continue his development into one of the league’s top tier quarterbacks. With Keenan Allen hitting the market, they’ll desperately need a WR2 to pair with Mike Williams.
22 Baltimore - Deonte Banks CB/Maryland
With quarterback and receiver addressed, the Ravens look to the other side of the ball. The local talent should pair nicely with Marlon Humphrey as they’ve needed a consistent complement to him for quite some time.
23 Minnesota - Jordan Addison WR/USC
Like most years, corner is the most pressing need for the Vikings. But, receiver is not to be overlooked, even with Offensive Player of the Year, Justin Jefferson, on their side. Adam Thielen has likely played his last game in a purple jersey and the combination of KJ Osborn and Jalen Reagor (LOL) hasn’t cut it as bonafide complements to Jefferson. Enter Addison, who will be an immediate upgrade over the names listed aside from Jefferson.
24 Jacksonville - Michael Mayer TE/Notre Dame
The Jaguars have three tight ends hitting free agency. Like Justin Herbert, Trevor Lawrence will need more playmakers around him on his quest to be one of the top of the league. Some mocks put Mayer ahead of Dalton Kincaid, but either tight end will make an immediate impact in Doug Pederson’s offense.
25 Cincinnati (from NY Giants) - Anton Harrison OT/Oklahoma
Cincinnati receives 25, 89
NY Giants receive WR Tee Higgins
PFF Trade Acceptance: 82%
Despite reports to the contrary, Cincinnati should look into trading Higgins given their cap situation and depth at the position. The AFC North champs still have a few issues to address, especially their injury-prone offensive line, which proved to be an Achilles Heel in the AFC Championship game. Last year, it took the Eagles a first and a third to acquire AJ Brown. Expect a similar price tag for Higgins. The Giants have the draft capital to do it and the cap space to give Higgins his much deserved WR1 payday.
26 Dallas - Bijan Robinson RB/Texas
WR2 and CB2 might be bigger needs for the Cowboys; but, with Tony Pollard hitting free agency and Ezekiel Elliott possibly being a cap casualty, Dallas will have to readdress the backfield. Even if Elliott stays, he’ll need a complement as he’s no longer a three down back in this league. Enter Robinson, whom some consider a top ten caliber pick. He’s a steal here for Dallas, which makes my stomach churn.
27 Buffalo - Brian Branch S/Alabama
Buffalo is facing a facelift on the defense. With Jordan Poyer hitting the market and Micah Hyde set to do the same next year, the Bills will need fresh blood at the position. Branch is also rated as highly as a top ten pick, so he’s a steal for the AFC East champs.
28 Cincinnati - Emmanuel Forbes CB/Mississippi State
Eli Apple and his unwarranted trash talk are likely gone. The Bengals are thin at corner, so they’ll take advantage of a deep class with another first round pick.
29 New Orleans (from Denver via Miami and San Francisco) - Mazi Smith DT/Michigan
With Derek Carr going from black and silver to black and gold, the Saints will turn their focus to a front four that is in desperate need of help.
30 Philadelphia - Cam Smith CB/South Carolina
The Eagles love drafting in the trenches and haven’t taken a cornerback in the first round since they took Lito Sheppard in 2002. But, with James Bradberry likely out of the picture and Avonte Maddox better suited in the slot, they’ll need a bonafide CB2 to pair with Darius Slay.
31 Kansas City - Will McDonald IV EDGE/Iowa State
The Chiefs are at a luxury of taking the best available player and could use another edge rusher to make their defense even scarier. Wide receiver could also be the move here.
32 Pittsburgh (from Chicago) - Tyrique Stevenson CB/Miami FL
The Steelers were one of the worst teams defending the pass this season. Stevenson will try his darndest to buck the trend in 2023.
33 Houston - Josh Downs WR/North Carolina
Will Levis will need weapons around him, especially with Brandin Cooks continuing to search for a new home.
34 Arizona - Felix Anudike-Uzomah EDGE/Kansas State
With JJ Watt retiring, Arizona will look to get an immediate impact player to replace him. The Kansas State product has been steadily rising up draft boards.
35 Indianapolis - Broderick Jones OT/Georgia
After securing their franchise quarterback, they’ll need to protect him. Shane Steichen’s offense worked so well in Philadelphia because of their strong offensive line. Expect him to keep that philosophy in Indianapolis.
36 LA Rams - Dawand Jones OT/Ohio State
The Rams need stability at tackle. They felt Andrew Whitworth’s absence last season and need to replace him.
37 Seattle (from Denver) - O’Cyrus Torrence IOL/Florida
After upgrading their defensive line, the Seahawks will look to address the opposite trench. Torrence is the best interior lineman this class has to offer.
38 Las Vegas - Matthew Bergeron OT/Syracuse
After going secondary round one, the Raiders will need to keep whomever is under center next year upright. Bergeron is a bit of a reach, but they desperately need to protect their next signal caller. Jimmy G, anyone?
39 Minnesota (from Carolina) - Garrett Williams CB/Syracuse
Minnesota receives 39, 2024 6th
Carolina receives 87, 2024 4th, EDGE Danielle Hunter
PFF Trade Acceptance: 84%
Minnesota doesn’t have a ton of draft picks to play with and have a cap crunch ahead of them. Expect them to move on from Hunter, who will pair nicely with Brian Burns in Carolina. In return, the Vikings go with a position that’s been a weakness of theirs for years.
40 New Orleans - BJ Ojulari EDGE/LSU
New Orleans continues to address their weak front four with a local product.
41 Tampa Bay (from Tennessee) - Tanner McKee QB/Stanford
Tampa Bay receives 41
Tennessee receives 196, WR Chris Godwin
PFF Trade Acceptance: 81%
With Derrick Henry gone in this mock draft and Ryan Tannehill likely to follow, the Titans will have breathing room to acquire a WR1 for Bryce Young. Tampa is also pressed for cap space and has plenty of talent at wideout, so they’ll part with a big contract in exchange for competition with Kyle Trask.
42 Cleveland - Nathaniel Dell WR/Houston
In his limited playing time this season, Deshaun Watson was way, way less than advertised. More talent at wideout could help him bounce back in 2023.
43 NY Jets - Steve Avila IOL/TCU
After upgrading at quarterback, the Jets’ biggest need is fixing their often wounded offensive line.
44 Atlanta - Daiyan Henley LB/Washington State
After addressing a bad pass rush in round one, the Falcons continue their defensive overhaul in round two, this time at the second level.
45 Buffalo (from Green Bay) - Jack Campbell LB/Iowa
Buffalo receives 45, 234
Green Bay receives 139, WR Stefon Diggs
PFF Trade Acceptance: 78%
Despite acquiring Elijah Moore in the Aaron Rodgers trade, the Packers could use an impact WR1 to create a solid receiving corps with Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. Diggs is clearly unhappy in Buffalo and would love the opportunity to face his former club in Minnesota twice a year. As for the Bills, they’re likely losing Tremaine Edmunds in free agency and will look to replace him.
46 Houston (from New England) - Siaki Ika DT/Baylor
Houston receives 46, TE Jonnu Smith
New England receives 2025 2nd, WR Brandin Cooks
PFF Trade Acceptance: 78%
The Patriots reunite with the disgruntled Cooks to give Lamar Jackson a deep threat. Jonnu Smith has been disappointing behind Hunter Henry and could use a change of scenery. The Texans are losing their tight ends in free agency and will look to get a starter for Will Levis. In addition, they upgrade their defensive line and give a complementary piece to Will Anderson Jr.
47 Tennessee (from Washington) - Darnell Wright OT/Tennessee
Tennessee receives 47, 118, 2024 6th, 2025 3rd
Washington receives QB Ryan Tannehill
PFF Trade Acceptance: 73%
As previously mentioned, the Titans will look to move on from Tannehill and the Commanders need an upgrade at quarterback, so it’s the perfect marriage. Wright is a bit of a reach, but the Titans desperately need a new anchor on the line with Taylor Lewan being a cap casualty.
48 Detroit - Luke Musgrave TE/Oregon State
The Lions traded their starting tight end, TJ Hockenson, for an extra pick this round. It’s only appropriate that they draft his replacement.
49 Philadelphia (from Pittsburgh) - Jahmyr Gibbs RB/Alabama
The Eagles are unlikely to re-sign Miles Sanders and, despite his strong postseason, Kenneth Gainwell has yet to prove himself as a RB1. He and Gibbs will create a solid one-two punch in the backfield (hopefully, they resign Boston “Giant Killer” Scott as the third punch.)
50 Tampa Bay - Luke Wypler IOL/Ohio State
The interior line in Tampa had a series of injuries that proved to be costly. They need to get younger and healthier.
51 Seattle - Michael Wilson WR/Stanford
After upgrading their defensive line and interior offensive line, Seattle will look to give Geno Smith another receiving option.
52 Miami - Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson CB/TCU
With Byron Jones out of the picture, the Dolphins will need to draft his replacement. That first round pick would have come in handy had it not been for Stephen Ross tampering.
53 LA Chargers - Sam LaPorta TE/Iowa
The Chargers continue to add pieces to help Justin Herbert’s development.
54 New Orleans (from Chicago via Baltimore) - Eli Ricks CB/Alabama
New Orleans receives 54, RB Khalil Herbert
Chicago receives 2025 2nd, EDGE Cameron Jordan
PFF Trade Acceptance: 78%
New Orleans has the worst cap situation in the league and will look to get something for upcoming free agent, Cameron Jordan. Chicago needs a pass rusher and has the cap to pay for a Pro Bowl caliber defensive end here. As for the Saints, they previously drafted Jordan’s replacement in BJ Ojulari and paired him with Mazi Smith, so they’ll look to address their secondary next. They also acquire a potential starting running back in Herbert, which may come in handy if Alvin Kamara faces legal action. With Derrick Henry in Chicago, the Bears can afford to move Herbert.
55 Detroit (from Minnesota) - Drew Sanders LB/Arkansas
The Lions continue their defensive overhaul. After drafting Calijah Kancey and trading for Jalen Ramsey, Detroit looks to the second level for more playmakers.
56 Jacksonville - Julius Brents CB/Kansas State
Duval hasn’t had consistency at cornerback since Jalen Ramsey was shipped to LA. Brents could offer a solution.
57 NY Giants - Kelee Ringo CB/Georgia
Ringo is a polarizing prospect, ranging from top twenty pick to third rounder. We’ll split the difference here and give New York a much needed upgrade at corner.
58 Dallas - A.T. Perry WR/Wake Forest
CeeDee Lamb is one of the best in the league, but Dak Prescott needs more help as Michael Gallup cannot seem to stay healthy and Noah Brown is about to get paid elsewhere.
59 Buffalo - Zach Charbonnet RB/UCLA
Devin Singletary may not return to Buffalo, so they’ll need a new face in the backfield.
60 Cincinnati - Darnell Washington TE/Georgia
With Tee Higgins out of the picture, the Bengals will need another reliable pass catcher. Washington provides that and is also a proven winner.
61 Carolina (from San Francisco) - Devon Achane RB/Texas A&M
After trading Christian McCaffrey and possibly losing D’Onta Foreman to free agency, Carolina will need a new rushing option behind their new quarterback.
62 Philadelphia - Moro Ojomo DT/Texas
With Javon Hargrave likely out of Philadelphia, Jordan Davis will need a partner on the inside. Fletcher Cox may come back, but how much gas does he have left in the tank? They’re also likely losing midseason acquisitions Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph. The Eagles are fine at edge rusher with Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat returning as well as Derek Barnett coming back from injury and Brandon Graham reportedly re-signing as well. It’s the interior defensive line that needs help.
63 LA Rams (from Kansas City) - Clark Phillips III CB/Utah
LA Rams receive 63, 2024 7th, 2025 7th
Kansas City receives 136, 2024 3rd, 2025 4th, WR Allen Robinson II
PFF Trade Acceptance: 77%
The Rams continue their youth movement/cap shedding and draft Jalen Ramsey’s replacement. Like Kelee Ringo, Phillips III ranges from first to third round depending on the mock draft. The Chiefs acquire a potential WR1 for Patrick Mahomes as Juju “TikTok Boy” Smith-Schuster may be playing elsewhere next season.
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Deshaun Watson and His Legal Suits: Civil and Criminal
By Caroline Hood, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Class of 2021
June 21, 2022
On June 6, 2022, the 24th civil lawsuit against Deshaun Watson was filed, accusing him of sexually inappropriate behavior that in some cases was coercive. A few women stated he went as far as to sexually assault them. These legal troubles have been ongoing since March 16, 2021, when the first woman filed her suit against him. All the women have echoed the same complaints.[i]
Watson is a NFL quarterback who started his football career playing for Clemson, leading them to a national title. [iii]Since entering the NFL, Watson has played solely for the Texans.[iv] However, recently he was traded to the Browns in a sixth-round pick during the 2024 NFL Draft. The Browns agreed to give up their next three first round picks and several other picks in the following years in the trade for the two players. [v]This trade was quite interesting because the publicity surrounding Watson has been negative since the suits began, but the Browns have released statements, defending their pick.[vi]
Over the course of the past year, Watson and his lawyer, Rusty Hardin, who was recognized in 2013 as one of the most influential lawyers in America and in 2015 was awarded the honor of Texas Lawyer Lifetime Achievement Award, have fought the various suits.[viii] Along with the civil cases, criminal cases were filed against Watson, and the FBI and the NFL are still investigating him. However, two grand juries did not indict him, one did not even think it was necessary to file the charges. But now Watson will have to face the civil suits. Interestingly, the plaintiffs were originally labeled Jane Doe, as so many assault cases are, but Hardin argued his client could not build a defense without knowing the identity of his accuser. Hardin won the argument and some of the plaintiffs revealed their identity, refiling. However, a few of the plaintiffs dropped out, citing fears for their safety. Hardin argued successfully citing two rules of civil procedure: 1. If the name is known then it must be stated. 2. The judge must allow the defense to have notice that is fair of the different accusations against them. [ix]
Interestingly, on June 8, 2022, the Texans were added to the case as defendants. This is because as the trials went on and more was discovered it seems clear to the prosecution that the Texans helped facilitate Watson’s behavior. Watson met with 66 massage therapists during his time in Texas. While he worked for the Texans, he met with them in the Houstonian, which was provided to them by the Texans, and they gave him an NDA for the women to sign. Even though it is possible the Texans could have made these meetings easier for Watson, it is the owner of the New U Spa in Texas who helped connect Watson with many of the different massage clients. The massage therapists have stated that she knew that Watson wanted sex from them and that she told them to satisfy him. The owner also appeared to receive monetary benefits from Watson. [xi]
As the case has been brough to trial, it is worth mentioning that Watson has not denied that he had sex or “happy endings” with these massage clients, but he argues that they both wanted it to occur.[xii] Also, some of the massage therapists he has worked with have come forward and commented on their time with him, stating that he was never inappropriate with them. [xiii]
As the civil cases move forward, Hardin has stated that Watson will be invoking the fifth amendment.[xiv] This amendment allows people to not testify when what they say could incriminate themselves. [xv]Thus, it seems for the civil cases, we will not hear directly from Watson on his innocence. This case will definitely be one that gets a lot of national attention due to his position, and it will be fascinating to see what the jury and the NFL decide and how that impacts further cases in the future and NFL football team practices. Perhaps, other teams will take notes from the Texans and avoid possible practices that could lead to situations such as this in the future. We will have to wait and see.
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[i] Reiss, Aaron. Timeline of Deshaun Watson lawsuits: Texans added as defendants in civil suits - The Athletic, received 10 June 2022.
[ii] Turner, Megan. Deshaun Watson Lawsuits: Summary Of All 19 Cases – OutKick, received 17 June 2022.
[iii] Wittry, Andy.Deshaun Watson: College football career, stats, highlights, records | NCAA.com, received 8 June 2022.
[iv] Deshaun Watson Career Stats | NFL.com, received 11 June 2022.
[v] Young, Matt. What the Texans got from the Browns in the trade for Deshaun Watson (chron.com), received 11 June 2022.
[vi] Mandato, Carmen. Cleveland Browns address backlash as Deshaun Watson officially signs with team amid sexual misconduct allegations (nbcnews.com), received 12 June 2022.
[vii] District Court of Harris County, Texas. Microsoft Word - 2021.04.19 Defendant Deshaun Watson's Original Answer.docx (go.com), received June 17 2022.
[viii]Reiss, Aaron. Timeline of Deshaun Watson lawsuits: Texans added as defendants in civil suits - The Athletic, received 10 June 2022.; Famous People Today’s Staff. Rusty Hardin - Net Worth, Wife (Tissy), Biography - Famous People Today, received 12 June 2022.
[ix] Reiss, Aaron. Timeline of Deshaun Watson lawsuits: Texans added as defendants in civil suits - The Athletic, received 10 June 2022.
[x] District Court of Harris County, Texas. Deshaun Watson Wins First Court Battle With Recent Judgment – OutKick, received 17 June 2022.
[xi] Vrentas, Jenny. Deshaun Watson’s Massages Were Enabled by the Texans and a Spa Owner - The New York Times (nytimes.com), received 12 June 2022.
[xii] McDade, Aaron. Deshaun Watson Still Faces Legal Trouble After Grand Jury Doesn't Indict (newsweek.com), received 11 June 2022.
[xiii] Reiss, Aaron. Timeline of Deshaun Watson lawsuits: Texans added as defendants in civil suits - The Athletic, received 10 June 2022.
[xiv] McDade, Aaron. Deshaun Watson Still Faces Legal Trouble After Grand Jury Doesn't Indict (newsweek.com), received 11 June 2022.
[xv] Content Team. 5th Amendment - Definition, Examples, Cases, Processes (legaldictionary.net), received 17 June 2022.
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