With less than a week before the 2023 NFL Draft, we’ve officially reached the calm before the storm when it comes to pure NFL news and rumors. If something significant is happening at this point, it’s probably not positive.
NFL News and Rumors
Nevertheless, NFL Network Draft Analyst Daniel Jeremiah met with reporters and analysts across the country for a Zoom interview yesterday and shared some interesting thoughts. CeeDee Lamb will remain a Cowboy in 2024, and Matt Patricia is coaching again at an incredibly surprising place. But Odell Beckham Jr. tops the headlines.
Buccaneers Pick Up Tristan Wirfs’ Option
The Buccaneers were expected to keep star right tackle Tristan Wirfs, and they made the obvious move of exercising his fifth-year option. The 2020 first-rounder has been phenomenal when healthy and will make $18.24 million in 2024 — if he’s not extended before then.
Judge Orders Law Enforcement to Arrest Antonio Brown Over Unpaid Child Support
Former NFL Superstar Antonio Brown is once again having some legal trouble, according to TMZ Sports. Per the court documents issued by a Miami-Dade County judge on April 14, Brown is to pay $30,000 in child support. If he does that, he can be released from custody.
Jameson Williams Among Five Players Suspended For Gambling
The Detroit Lions had four players suspended on Friday for gambling. The fifth player is Washington Commanders’ defensive end Shaka Toney. The Lions released WR Quintez Cephus and safety C.J. Moore after the league levied the penalties. Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill were both suspended for the first six games of the NFL season.
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Toney, Cephus, and Moore can apply for reinstatement at the conclusion of the 2023 NFL season. The Lions were aware of the investigation and, a month ago, had dismissed staff members for violating the league’s gambling policy.
Leaked S2 Cognitive Test Scores Find Twitter
Long-time NFL writer Bob McGinn wrote in his story on the S2 Cognitive Test and the 2023 NFL Draft crop of QBs that multiple sources told him that Bryce Young scored in the 98th percentile while C.J. Stroud scored in the 18th percentile.
“Stroud scored 18,” an executive said. “That is like red alert, red alert, you can’t take a guy like that. That is why I have Stroud as a bust. That, in conjunction with the fact, name one Ohio State quarterback that’s ever done it in the league.”
It will be interesting to see just how much stock the test holds in the eyes of NFL decision-makers when push comes to shove on April 27.
Odell Beckham Jr. a Suspect in an Assault Investigation
According to TMZ, Beckham is a suspect in an assault investigation stemming from an incident a few weeks ago at a popular LA spot. An unnamed woman filed a report with officers claiming that Beckham grabbed her by the throat.
Delilah’s owner, John Terzian, spoke with TMZ about the alleged incident.
“We were contacted about an investigation and reviewed the videos, the claim is false. There is no evidence of this person even being in the area where she claims the incident occurred.”
Cowboys Pick Up CeeDee Lamb’s Fifth-Year Option
Lamb becomes the second first-round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft class to have their fifth-year option picked up. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported the news Thursday night, and the team followed with their own announcement.
MORE: Could Ezekiel Elliott Be Headed Back to Dallas?
Lamb is now set to make $19.74 million in 2024, which will clear the total amount of money he’s made throughout the first three years of his NFL career. The 24-year-old WR caught 107 passes for 1,359 yards in 2022. Cowboys VP Stephen Jones told The K&C Masterpiece on 105.3 The Fan that a Lamb extension is on Dallas’ radar.
Eagles Potentially Adding Matt Patricia to Coaching Staff?
While nothing is final yet regarding Matt Patricia’s addition to the Eagles coaching staff, Philadelphia HC Nick Sirianni told reporters that they’re “trending in the right direction.” He also talked about the coach’s résumé.
“Obviously, his résumé speaks for itself,” Sirianni said. “It gives you a great mind in there that’s done it at the highest level, and so it gives you great ability to bounce ideas off of with the defensive staff. Then also it gives me another former head coach that I can bounce ideas off of, as well, with things, which I think will be very helpful.”
Eagles cornerback Darius Slay has been outspoken about how he feels regarding his former head coach. However, Sirianni said that he has spoken to all parties involved about their comfort in a reunion.
Daniel Jeremiah Leary About C.J. Stroud Tumble
During an NFL Draft Q&A with Jeremiah, he was asked if there was a reason why C.J. Stroud had fallen out of favor. But Jeremiah doesn’t necessarily subscribe to that idea.
“Well, I don’t know that he really has,” Jeremiah told reporters. “I think sometimes everything gets taken with and ran with on the media side of things, and it could just simply be the Texans are the team we’ve long anticipated would take him. And that might be that the Texans just don’t feel like he is a great fit for them. So who is to say that that doesn’t mean they trade that pick and somebody comes up and takes him, that is, somebody comes up to 3 and takes him, or the Colts take him at 4?
“I don’t know that it’s this narrative that he is dropping like a rock as much as it is that it seems to be out there that they’re not in lockstep, unanimous in support of C.J. Stroud inside that one building in Houston. That’s basically, I think, what everybody is getting.”
Jalen Hurts Game Won’t Change Because of Money
Sirianni was direct when asked about whether the team would protect Jalen Hurts more now that he holds the most expensive contract in NFL history.
“We didn’t pay him more to do less,” Sirianni said. “Will we still think about how to protect him? Yeah, because that’s our job to protect our quarterback. But Jalen does a lot of things really well, and we want to utilize the skills that he has so he can continue to play at a high level.”
As impressive as Hurts is, the extortionate amount of money he earned in his extension doesn’t come from a Peyton Manning-like ability in the pocket. The threat Hurts provides as a runner, while often foolishly used to discount his production, is what makes him one of the most dangerous players in the NFL.
And while Hurts has missed time in both seasons as a starter because of injury, he’s one of the more cautious and heady runners at the position.
Broncos GM George Paton: ‘We Like Jerry. He’s Going to Be Here’
Earlier this offseason, ESPN suggested that Jerry Jeudy was on the trade market and that the Denver Broncos were asking for a 2023 first- or second-round pick for the 23-year-old receiver. Head coach Sean Payton shut those rumors down quickly, but the topic continues to come up. This time it was GM George Paton who offered his thoughts.
“We don’t anticipate doing anything with Jerry,” Paton told reporters. “Jerry finished strong — the last five games, over 500 yards. He was one of the top receivers in the league. We like Jerry. He’s going to be here.”
