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If the ad of a future announcement of the calendar is big news, your league is successful. We already have the list of 2024 NFL opponents for each team, with the schedule being released in full on May 15.
Today we compare this year’s QB class with the historic 1983 group. Also:
- 💼 In memory of Death
- ✈️Tyler Boyd’s landing point
- 👀 A rookie RB to watch
Comparing the quarterback class of 1983 to the group of 2024
The six quarterbacks chosen in the first round of this year’s draft share some impressive company, joining the class of 1983, the best draft class of all time, as the only two groups to accomplish this feat.
That 1983 first round produced three Hall of Fame QBs – John Elway at No. 1, Jim Kelly at No. 13 and Dan Marino at No. 27 – as well as a two-time Pro Bowler (Ken O’Brien, n ° 24). ), a usable holder (Tony Eason, n°15) and a… future commentator (Todd Blackledge, n°7).
While we certainly won’t guarantee that the 2024 QBs will include HOFers, this half-dozen bears some eerie similarities to those from 1983. Let’s explore.
The #1 choice. Elway was the first NFL rookie to make $1 million a year, while Caleb Williams might be the first rookie to make $10 million. Before enter the NFL.
Like Elway’s father, Williams is focused on maximizing his son’s football success. The two West Coast prospects were known for their combination of elite physical skills and work ethic. Elway was the only member of his class to win a Super Bowl. I could see it for Williams, who set a goal of immortality while pursuing Tom Brady.
The national champion. JJ McCarthy (at Michigan in 2023) and Todd Blackledge (Penn State, 1983) both thrived in college systems where they shared the load, won national titles in their final seasons, then were drafted by teams with starters current prospects (Sam Darnold, Minnesota and Bill Kenney, Kansas City).
The perfect build. At 6-4 and over 210 pounds, Drake Maye and Tony Eason were brought in to play QB. They share more similarities: both impressed in their college debuts (Illinois’ Eason had more passing yards than his opponent, Marino, while UNC’s Maye threw five touchdowns) and experienced exceptional first seasons as starting QBs in college (both set their school’s single-scoring mark). season passing records).
Both were also first-round picks of the Patriots. Eason, who made one Super Bowl appearance, had an otherwise forgettable career.
The surprise landing. The Dolphins were so certain Marino wouldn’t be available with their 27th pick that they never met with Pitt’s quarterback before the draft. They also had 25-year-old David Woodley, who had just led them to the Super Bowl. Miami expected to hire a defensive lineman, a position everyone thought the Falcons would fill this year.
But Marino fell off, in part due to a weaker final college season, while Michael Penix Jr. struggled in his final college game against Michigan. Both were excellent smugglers finding surprising homes.
The scope. With the 24th pick, the Jets shocked the league (and Ken O’Brien) by selecting a Division II QB ahead of Marino. It wasn’t as surprising as the Falcons’ selection of Penix, but is similar to the selection of Bo Nix at No. 12. In Dane Brugler’s top 300, the Oregon QB ranked No. 44.
Both gun-toting QBs spent time at one school before transferring, then led their new programs to winning seasons. Although O’Brien didn’t have a legendary career, he made two Pro Bowls and was a solid starter for nearly a decade. Is that enough, Broncos fans?
The hesitant perspective? Young Kelly never wanted to play in Buffalo. In fact, after the Bills drafted him, he spent a few years with the Houston franchise of the USFL.
Granted, this one is speculative and probably a reach, but it’s the last link, and I’m trying: If Jayden Daniels could have picked his NFL team, he might have sided with former coach Antonio Pierce in Las Vegas. And after Daniels’ meeting with the leaders of the commanders would have went south, his agent liked several publications on social networks questioning the franchise’s decisions. But if Daniels wins in Washington, any potential pre-draft hesitation will be forgotten.
What Dianna hears: Remember Death
In the halls of Cross Church in Rogers, Ark., Colts GM Chris Ballard, former Giants HC Tom Coughlin and ESPN legend Chris Berman gathered Monday with dozens of friends and family by Chris Mortensen to celebrate his life.
Known simply as “Mort” in the sports world, he died at the age of 72 after battling stage 4 throat cancer since 2016. Mort was an industry pioneer and a legend in the world of sports journalism. If you like sport, you know that “insiders” are now part of the landscape. Mort was the original.
“A lot of work. Right? It was a fun text he sent me after reading some of my columns after I signed up Athleticism last fall. Mort and I were colleagues for nearly a decade at ESPN, and he was always available to discuss a story, explain how we wanted to write a report, or call a source for more information. He was loved around the league and it seemed like everyone answered his calls. He often texted me to share his appreciation for his wife Micki, who took care of him when he battled pneumonia or was tired from a course of chemotherapy.
We ended our last exchange with him by reminding me that becoming a new mother was going to be my greatest achievement. “It’s such a blessing to be there for your children,” he said. “You will never regret it, and it is something that will have a great influence on their entire life.”
So yes, Mort was the best at what he did, and he will be remembered for that big scoop – Peyton Manning retired from football in 2016 – but in my eyes, his biggest scoop will always be navigating a competitive and constantly evolving sector and doing it with the utmost class, kindness with family always in the heart. It’s a life well lived.
Back to you, Jacob.
Titans add another WR in Tyler Boyd
Yesterday, the Titans signed former Bengals WR Tyler Boyd to a one-year contract worth up to $4.5 million. Boyd, 29, had 67 catches for 667 yards and two touchdowns last season. He spent his entire career in Cincinnati and leaves the franchise ranked seventh in total receiving yards (6,000) in career numbers. similar to TJ Houshmanzadeh.
In Tennessee, Boyd reunites with new head coach Brian Callahan – his offensive coordinator in Cincinnati for the past five seasons – and is expected to start as a slot receiver alongside newly signed Calvin Ridley and returning veteran DeAndre Hopkins. The Titans are officially in the Will Levis discovery era with one of the best WR groups in the league.
There’s a good chance that WR Treylon Burks, the 2022 No. 18 pick that Tennessee effectively traded AJ Brown for, will be moved. Titans reporter Joe Rexrode has more.
Around the NFL
Rice Rashee WR East under investigation for allegedly punching a photographer at a Dallas club. Rice, 23, also faces eight charges for his role in last month’s six-vehicle crash, for which Rice turned himself in.
Running back Jonathan Brooks is someone to watch, as Jake Ciely notes in his up and down fantasies: “If Brooks hadn’t suffered this injury, the first round could have been in play, because Brooks is ultra talented…Brooks doesn’t will probably not reach its ceiling. until 2025, when he could be an RB1 with the primary role and workload. But for 2024, it’s a lottery pick.
Quarterback Joe Burrow is “in a good position” and has been launching for over a month. As he nears the end of his expected six-month recovery from his wrist injury, Burrow has learned the most important lessons of his career.
WR Xavier Digne bounced back after a tough first practice at the Chiefs rookie minicamp. As Nate Taylor explains, the rookie – who had multiple reps from all three primary receiver positions in Andy Reid’s complex playbook – struggled on a windy first day. But on Monday, none of the Chiefs corners could cover Worthy.
Where is the Commanders sit down after a busy draft? Ben Standig looks at eight central questions for the team’s future.
Michael-Shawn Dugar shared his first impressions of sea hawks” Rookie Camp: “For most of the weekend, [new HC Mike] Macdonald just observed while his assistants were more practical.
With the departure of Bill Belichick after two decades overseeing football operations, the Patriots need a new general manager. On Monday, they began their official search for a “front office leader.” (Their recruiting director was in charge of their draft class and could land the big job.)
Jacob’s choices
📕 Cowboys winners and losers. Can Jerry Jones, the general manager, lose while Jerry Jones, the owner, wins? Yes, as Saad Yousuf explains in his review of the team’s offseason so far. (Athleticism)
🔧 Customize your ranking. Yesterday, Jake Ciely shared a fully customizable cheat sheet and prediction generator that lets you input the rules for your fantasy league. Its easy-to-follow instructions make it a no-brainer. (Athleticism)
🎙The best QBs, ranked. Diante Lee and Derrik Klassen join Robert Mays in recruiting this year’s top 15 passers. Dak Prescott at No. 6, ahead of Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow, was justified around the 50 minute mark. (The Athletic Football Show)
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(Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)