Football Talk In May (and a little basketball)
Fifth-Year Options Not Picked Up
As we enter a slower time of the NFL year, I wanted to examine and review some players who did not have their fifth-year options picked up.
Not having the option picked up means the management is willing to go into the 2023 NFL season and run the risk of the player having a breakout year and suddenly requiring a better deal than the fifth-year option or a franchise tag.
This also means the franchises may be willing to move on from these players for draft compensation or trade for another player where two teams fill opposing needs at the end of the training camp or during the season.
To be completely transparent, many of these players did not have their options picked up based on their injury history the first three seasons, so it is now a gamble for the team, player, and any team willing to give up some capital for that player.
You often see teams making trades for a player who might have a head coach or positional coach from that staff now with a new team. For example, Sean Payton may see a player from his days with the Saints that he would want to add to the Broncos.
Defensive Help Needed
· Chase Young DE Ohio State (Commanders)
He had a stellar rookie season but, since then, has not been able to stay or get healthy. Only 11 starts in the past two seasons. He may be a tremendous one-year rental for a playoff-caliber team before the deadline if proven healthy.
· Javon Kinlaw DT South Carolina (San Francisco)
He is another injury-riddled player who has been unable to stay on the field since his rookie season. With free agency moves this off-season, if Kinlaw is healthy and a team is interested, he could be gotten for a low day-three pick.
· Jeffrey Okudah CB Ohio State (Atlanta)
Unlike the previous two players, Okudah started his career with injuries having only seven starts before the 2022 season. Still, he turned it around and started 15 games, had 73 tackles, and an interception. He was the third pick in the draft but with a different regime, so this off-season, he was traded to Atlanta for a 5th-round pick. He is a name to watch this season, as he appears to be heading in the right direction.
· Noah Igbinoghene, CB Auburn (Miami)
He has yet to perform close to warranting his draft position or a fifth-year option. He has only started five of 32 games and has been unable to hold off undrafted players for a more significant role in the defense. With a new defensive coordinator in place, he will get a fresh start but also has even more competition with Jalen Ramsey and Cam Smith coming to town. I expect him to be traded during roster cut-down time, maybe to Arizona, Houston, or a team with a run-on injury at the corner position.
· Isaiah Simmons LB Clemson (Arizona)
Not picking up the option on Simmons for a struggling franchise like Arizona with a draft pick that has produced is a head-scratcher to me. Simmons has 37 starts out of the 50 games he has played, 258 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and four interceptions. I’m not sure what Arizona is doing, but if they go into complete rebuild mode, see what a guy like Wink Martindale, Vic Fangio, or Dan Quinn would do with a guy like Simmons.
· Patrick Queen LB (Baltimore)
The always fiscal conservative Ravens appear to be moving on from a first-round pick with 50 50 starts, 321 career tackles, ten career sacks, and three interceptions. I cannot figure this out exactly, but drafting the LB from Clemson seals his fate. Queen appears to be a steal if someone is looking for a solid inside linebacker. Betting he has a new home with a new deal before the season starts.
· Jordyn Brooks, LB Texas Tech (Seattle)
Bad luck for Jordyn after an outstanding 2022 season where he led the team with 161 tackles but suffered a torn ACL in the last game of the 2022 season against the Jets, meaning 2023 is likely an injured-reserved season. Full recovery and rehab from the ACL injury is the primary focus now and will give him some leverage going into the 2023 off-season. Interesting to monitor his progress and recovery.
· K’Lavon Chaisson LB LSU (Jacksonville)
His career was headed in the right direction, with three in 2020 and 8 starts in 202 . In the 2022 season was knocked out with a knee injury. His progress through camp and the fact that he was not part of the current regime’s draft classes makes him a name to remember, probably more so near the trading deadline, where they may be able to move him for a day three pick.
· Kenneth Murray LB (San Diego)
He had an excellent bounce-back season in 2022, playing 70.9% of snaps, playing in every game, and starting 14. He has had some injury issues that cost him some time in 2021, and he is not the game-changing linebacker yet, so the fiscal and performance concerns, I’m sure, made passing on the option the main reason. Again, Murray could be an excellent addition to a team during the deadline and should only cost a day-three pick.
Offensive Side of the Ball
· Mekhi Becton OT Louisville (NY Jets)
Stop me if you’ve heard this before; his Jets career started well with 14 starts as a rookie, but he missed all of 2022 and only one game in 2021. The Jets have challenged him to earn the starting role, but if there are any questions, GM/HC/QB Aaron Rodgers will not feel safe behind him, and he could be added for a future draft pick or maybe a former Packers player.
· Austin Jackson OT USC (Miami)
Ankle injuries cost Austin most of 2022, with only playing in two games last year (two starts), but he did log 28 starts the prior two seasons. His starting role could be more secure and will be a battle to watch in camp as his experience would benefit most teams even as a swing tackle so that he could be on the move this summer for a new fresh start.
· Cesar Ruiz OG Michigan (New Orleans)
A player who improved in 2022 and has been the most dependable offensive lineman for the Saints. Ruiz was part of 98.5% of snaps in 2022 and 100% of plays in 2021, so he is ascending in the right direction but still, the Saints felt passing on his option was the best move. A team with a right guard or center should watch what happens with the Saints.
· Jalen Reagor, WR TCU (Minnesota)
This option did not raise either of my eyebrows and only made sense. Reagor only had eight receptions last year and likely will need help securing a roster spot with the Vikings.
· Clyde Edwards-Helaire RB LSU (Chiefs)
After an impressive rookie campaign, the diminutive running back is heading in the wrong direction with participation (52.8% snaps in 2020, 28.6% in 2021, and 19.5% in 2022). This year is the crossroads of his career with the Chiefs and in the league. It might be a worthwhile addition for a team like the Commanders, who now have former Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy calling the plays and bringing the Chiefs’ offense to town.
Proof (as if you needed it) College Football Pays the Bill
Here is an example of why programs need college football to cover all the other sports it funds.
Honestly, I was surprised to see the big three making money and baseball under a million in profit for a top SEC school. You can see that the National Champions Woman’s team lost nearly four million. Football is king.
NFL Schedule is coming….be ready
Some cool things are coming with the NFL schedule release, including
The first-ever Black Friday game (released via Amazon on May 10)
Conference bounce between networks
Two game limit for Thursday games
Not every team gets on primetime slots
On May 10th individual games will start to be released
This year the schedule is set to feature 14 playoff rematches from last season. Most ever in NFL history.
Commanders Might Have Cost them a Draft Pick.
Please leave it to the Commanders to potentially cost themselves a 2024 NFL Draft pick by trying the Hail Mary of Hail Marys and reach out to Andrew Luck about a comeback. Of course, all , parties deny it, and probably not enough evidence to prove anything, but I hope new ownership cleans house with this once proud franchise and gets grown-ups in the front office and on the sidelines.
The Future of the NBA
I always wondered who would take the baton from LeBron as “the guy” for the NBA. I know a lot of insecure Jordan (and Kobe to a degree) loyalists won’t concede LeBron is a top-five player, but he is still the natural face of the NBA. I know who will take that title from LeBron for 15 to 18 years. His name is Victor Wembanyama, and if you have not watched this video yet, do yourself a favor and check him out.
I hope he gets shot in an NFL Training Camp.
Kory Curtis QB Ohio State & Gannon University had a UDFA contract fall through at the last moment but if you read the article and watch the video no question he deserves a camp invite. He may have to go the XFL and USFL route in the next few years, but the kid has skills and deserve to show them off in the league.
College Football Playoff Announces 2024 and 2025 Game Dates
The new schedule will be as follows:
2024 Season
First Round (On-Campus)
• Friday, December 20, 2024: One game (evening)
• Saturday, December 21, 2024: Three Games (early afternoon, late afternoon and evening)
Quarterfinals
• Tuesday, December 31, 2024: Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (evening)
• Wednesday, January 1, 2025: Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (early afternoon), Rose Bowl Game (late
afternoon) and Allstate Sugar Bowl (evening)
Semifinals
• Thursday, January 9, 2025: Capital One Orange Bowl (evening)
• Friday, January 10, 2025: Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (evening)
CFP National Championship
• Monday, January 20, 2025: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
2025 Season
First Round (On-Campus)
• Friday, December 19, 2025: One game (evening)
• Saturday, December 20, 2025: Three Games (early afternoon, late afternoon and evening)
Quarterfinals
• Wednesday, December 31, 2025: Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (evening)
• Thursday, January 1, 2026: Capital One Orange Bowl (early afternoon), Rose Bowl Game (late
afternoon) and Allstate Sugar Bowl (evening)
Semifinals
• Thursday, January 8, 2026: Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (evening)
• Friday, January 9, 2026: Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (evening)
CFP National Championship
• Monday, January 19, 2026: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
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