A day late and a dollar short

The United States has been thrust into the midst of a worldwide pandemic. Watching in shock as countries around the world literally shut down to combat the spread of this deadly virus. So naturally the U.S. waited and waited simply watching from afar as the virus engulfed most of China, then started to spread in Europe. Quickly Italy, France, and Spain were imposing national shut downs of nonessential travel, as well as going as far as levying complaints, fines, and even the occasional arrest of citizens who refused to abide by this. 

Meanwhile in America it was our state governments not federal that started to impose school shut downs, as well as postponements to nonessential government functions. But prior to any of these actions we watched several events unfold that prove that once again we are behind the trend of preventative actions against the spread of Covid-19. 

The first event that basically catapulted this entire virus into the global consciousness was the quarantine of a Diamond Princess cruise ship, which ultimately resulted in making the ship an incubator for the virus and stranding nearly 5,000 people on said ship. In total about 385 Americans were on the ship and flown back only after 14 of them tested positive for the virus. Those 14 people were allowed to fly on the same planes as unaffected people separated by a plastic sheet. (And here I thought we lived in the 21st century). Thankfully so far this action didn't end up furthering the spread of the virus but it undermined the idea of trying to keep those people who were infected under a suitable quarantine from healthy people. Then that's when the controversy on this action came about, the CDC came out and said they never would have advocated this move and actually said they would have recommended against returning the sick until a later flight or until they had received proper treatment. Later on Trump came out and said he would never authorized this action, but if he didn't who did? 

The second event that seemed to really point to me that we have somehow fallen behind other countries when it comes to response times to things of this nature. Trump finally restricted travel from European Nations in an effort to curb the spread of the disease, the only problem with this was the fact that the virus was already here. It has reached as far inland as Colorado, it had affected several states on both the East and West coast. By now it was too late for travel bans to truly affect the spread of the virus. But hey it looks good on paper come re-election time. These restrictions on travel were brought down roughly 3 months from the first case, and a little over a month since the first death outside of China was reported. To me the utter lack of foresight us something that has plagued America for years. We tend to react slow, waiting to see how the rest of the world addresses whatever new issue befalls us. Whether it was terrorist actions in our past, or things of this nature even with information in hand our entire government simply drags their feet to a solution costing American people their lives, or their livelihoods. 

It took another two months before states started to impose stay at home orders here and once again this was not a call made by the government but the governors themselves. There were several states or commonwealths that decided to shut down as early as Februrary but the bulk of our country was another 2 weeks behind shutting down in mid March. It has now been 6 weeks+ of stay at home orders and restrictions have begun to lift. This is likely an effort to start rebuilding our extremely volatile economy, and start to return to normalcy, but is it too early??

In Texas one of the first states to reopen reported 839 new cases already with numbers under the true amount due to asymptomatic people, and those yet to be tested. Yet here we are continuing to allow every state to reopen at their own pace, despite these numbers Texas continued an aggressive reopening plan with phase 2 about to begin that includes reopening daycares, bars, and breweries, as well increasing capacity in restaurants to 50% until phase 3 begins. At what point do the number of reported cases get high enough to slow down our plan to reopen? 

Jets would be insane to trade Jamal Adams

Jamal Adams is a former first round pick that has panned out exactly like a team would hope when he was drafted. He has developed into one of the best in the box safeties in the NFL. So why is there trade talk surrounding him? 

The situation all began when the Jets and Adams started talking contract extension. So far the Jets haven't made a reasonable offer to Adams which has made him feel insulted which I can understand but at the same time this is a guy headed into his 4th season, with a team option for a 5th year at a team friendly $9,860,000. Up from a total earnings of just over $7 million last season. However this still places him at half the going rate for a top 5 NFL safety. There are 11 safeties making over $11 million next season, while 16 players make $7 million or more. When you look at the list of names at the top it becomes clear pretty quick Adams deserves this distinction. 

Eddie Jackson is the highest paid at $14.6 million per season. He was signed to an extension after his 3rd season but wasn't a first round pick so he was under team control for just 2020 and would have been likely hit with the franchise tag in 2020 anyway. This move might be the exact reason Adams is pushing for an extension, same draft class. He signed this extension earlier this offseason making him the new highest paid safety.

Kevin Byard makes $14.1 million per season. He signed this extension prior to the 2019 season and was at the time the highest paid safety in the NFL until Jackson upped the ante. Byard is the prototypical ball hawk safety with 37 pass deflections, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 sacks, and 17 ints in just 4 years. He deserves every penny of what he was signed for.

Tyran Mathieu aka the honey badger is another cover first stop the run second safety. He is a former slot cornerback who moved to safety to move him around the field which has dramatically affected his career in a positive manner. At $14 million a year he is on his third NFL contract. 

Landon Collins is the only guy on this list that is a true strong safety. Collins was a free agent last season making the leap from the Giants to the Redskins after they offered him $14 million per year on average. He happily took it but there are questions about the viability of a true in the box safety at this cap hit. Pass coverage oriented safeties tend to earn more than those who are essentially glorified linebackers like Collins. 

The fifth highest paid safety is Earl Thomas who signed with Baltimore after a very rough ending to his stay in Seattle. He managed to get $13.75 million a year on average from Baltimore and he deserves it. Thomas is a hybrid who can play both roles at safety he can line up in the box or as a single high safety or even line up in man coverage with backs and tight ends. He might be the most versatile guy on this list..

However how does Adams stack up? The reality is Collins is his only comparison on this list being that Adams does the bulk of his work in the box. With that being said Adams is as valuable as they come in terms of box safeties. After 3 seasons he has missed just 2 games, racked up 266 tackles, 12 sacks, 25 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, 6 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries and 2 defensive touchdowns. He isn't the type of turnover machine Byard is or the hybrid CB/S Mathieu is but he is more valuable than Collins in my eyes due to his ability to rush the passer. 12 sacks in 3 years is unheard of for a defensive back. But that's the beauty of Adams' skillset he could play LB fulltime and still be a probowl level player. Instead he is a 6'1 215 lb safety that put up 18 reps in the bench press at the combine and ran a 4.56 40. He may leave something to be desired in coverage but for anything he may lack in coverage he makes up in pass rush ability. It's no wonder a team like Dallas wants him, when his 6.5 sacks in 2019 would have placed him second on the team. Behind only Robert Quinn who just signed with Chicago. 

As I mentioned above there is logic involved with extending Adams now, before he plays yet another stellar season and is now headed into 2021 on the last year of his deal. Extending Adams now, could actually save the team money long term when the salary cap continues to rise, and contracts continue to go up and up every year. So right now $15 million is probably the number to make him happy, but two years from now? That number could be $18 million a year, especially after the team left him to make around $7 million in 2020. Another factor that should make this an easy decision to resign him now is the fact that Sam Darnold is in his 3rd year in 2020, and consequently his 4th year in 2021. Meaning at that point the team will have only the 5th year option left at their disposal to keep Darnold on the team before an inevitability large extension comes for the QB. So saving any money on the back end of the Adams deal will actually help you come negotiation time with Darnold. If I am the Jets I offer him a 5 year $65 million dollar deal total. $13.5 yearly salary, and a $12.5 million signing bonus. You lock up Adams until his age 30 season, meaning you keep arguably your best defensive player on the roster and can now focus on an extension with Darnold sooner rather than later to once again save yourself money long term. With Adams in place until 2024 at least you can turn your focus to keeping a balanced roster, and you keep a veteran leader on your defense. 

Shocked that the Patriots extended Chung

The Patriots at the hands of Bill Belicheck have often moved on from popular and reliable players more times than I can count with even Tom Brady the biggest name of them all now wearing a different jersey. The Patriots have famously unceremoniously released or traded former stalwarts on the team without warning to the fans or the player. One of the more well known instances was the time the Pat's decided to play hardball with safety Lawyer Milloy. Milloy was hit with an ultimatum 5 days before opening day of the regular season; take a pay cut or be cut. He chose the latter, signed with Buffalo and quickly turned around and helped shut out his former team 5 days later. So I find it incredibly curious that they decided to extend Patrick Chung for 2 years, in turn receiving just under $1,000,000 in cap relief. 

Why do I question this move? There are several factors that come together when the Patriots decide to move on. Signs of decline, age, off field distractions and pay. Patrick Chung in my eyes has displayed 3 of the 4 the past few years. Let me explain. Heading into 2020 Chung is going into his 12th NFL season, and he will turn 33 just before the season. He is not your average strong safety either, the majority of his career he has been used as a hybrid LB playing closer to the line of scrimmage and taking a lot more punishment than your average DB. 

Despite his age, He has been relatively healthy missing just 23 games in 11 seasons so far but 2019 was a down year for him statistically. Chung was been fairly consistent hovering around 80 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception and 3-7 pass deflections until last year. Despite missing just three games he produced only 41 tackles, .5 sacks, and 3 pass deflections. When your statistics suddenly get cut virtually in half from one season to the next and there is only a 2 game discrepancy in playing time it raises some large questions. I don't claim to be a scout and it is within the realm of possibility that Chung had reasons that were not due to his own play for the dropoff, maybe it was scheme, or maybe it was simply the way teams game planned against them in 2019. Whatever the case Chung is now going to be 33 years old coming off a down year on a Patriots roster that has younger and cheaper options available. 

If these factors were my only two reasons for being confused by this extension I wouldn't be here writing this, no in fact it's my third factor which really makes it surprising Chung is still on the roster regardless of age, or declining play. In 2019 Chung was cited for cocaine possession, a crime that he has yet to serve a suspension for. The concerning thing is not that he possessed the cocaine. It's that this seemingly popped up out of nowhere, a blip on the radar after 10 years in the NFL and 4 years in college? Seems odd to me, is it really an isolated incident or is this something he has been able to hide for years because of the way NFL drug tests are structured, and the way cocaine will leave your body. Reading a bit on the subject cocaine stays in your body in amounts high enough to trigger a urine sample for just 3 days, potentially less depending on factors like weight, fitness regimen etc. things that would sway the passage of the drug to a minimal time. I tend to lean toward this guy having a history of use without being caught. It just seems as if you don't really pick up a habit like this in your early 30's with a multimillion dollar salary on the line. 

The fourth and final factor is his pay. Chung is one of the players the Patriots have relied on when it comes to finding cap relief. He quite literally has signed contract extensions in 6 of the last 7 seasons in an effort to continuously push the cap hit out further and further. While this only adds to his value on the roster, it also shows he makes enough money that he is part of the lack of cap space in the first place. He makes on average $7 million a year second highest in terms of safeties on the team. On top of that New England is spending $3 million a year on a similar player in Adrian Phillip's who will act as their 3rd safety this year, and spent a second round pick on arguably a more athletic prototype for the role Chung plays in Kyle Duggar. Duggar might play safety but has the body of a linebacker which makes him a direct replacement for Chung. This is not even considering that the Patriots also employ veterans Cody Davis, and Terrence Brooks who can take snaps at safety as well if Chung were gone and the Patriots weren't ready to rely on Duggar. The more I look at the way their roster is structured the more I am surprised Chung wasn't already released especially being the obvious lack of a viable starting veteran qb due to cap restraints. 

I guess the one thing you can never discount is a coaches appreciation for a certain player. I believe Bill Belicheck became an early fan of Chung when he held the defensive coordinator duties in Chung's second season his first as a full time starter. Chung took hold of the starting job and went on to have two of the biggest games of his career to open the season. In week 1 of 2010 Chung racked up 16 tackles, not to peak too early Chung went on to one of the most dominant performances you will ever see from a DB in week 4. He totalled 5 tackles, 1 int for 51 yards and 1 td, blocked a field goal AND a punt all in one game. That will win a coach's heart really quick, and show them the kind of weapon you can be. However I do believe the end is near for Chung in New England, Duggar is simply too good of a prospect for the GOAT to keep on the sideline for long. 

Sean Payton always finds value at RB

Sean Payton always manages to find value on the free agent market in names most people are long past considering as an option. We saw a perfect example of this a few years ago when the Saints signed Tim Hightower. Hightower had an interesting career he started out in Arizona, Played there for three seasons had a career year in 2010 with over 700 rushing yards and 5 tds only for the Cardinals to parlay that into a 5th round pick and DE Vonnie Holiday. Hightower would begin his stint as the starter before a torn ACL. he was released in final cuts in 2012. Then he vanished from pro football for the entire 2012 and 2013 seasons. He played 1 game for the Fall Experimental League's Florida Blacktips in 2014 then didn't suit up again until he signed a futures deal with the Saints, at 28 years old. He was shuffled on and off the roster several times before a serious injury to fellow RB Khiry Robinson. He would wind up latching on in New Orleans after that amassing 4 starts in 24 games with 229 Carries, 923 yards and 8 tds with 34 rec. for 329 yards and 1 td, adding 3 kick returns for 62 yards and 2 tackles. He served a key depth role in his age 28, and 29 seasons before hanging it up at 30 years old. 

Fast forward 4 years later, when Sean Payton already has Alvin Kamara arguably the second best dual threat back in the league, and Latavius Murray to take the short yardage and change of pace work. Surely the Saints wouldn't invest anymore money in veteran options at the position right? Wrong. The Saints always on the quest to improve their roster, decided to use some of the cap relief from releasing Larry Walford to sign Ty Montgomery. Montgomery is the epitome of versatility, and one of those guys who will play anywhere that gets him the ball. 

Montgomery entered college with a resume that was nearly unrivaled. He simply saw success no matter what sport he competed in. In high school he played wide receiver, running back, quarterback, and return man on the football field while running track and taking first place in the 2011 Championship. As a senior in high school he was more a running back than he was a receiver. That didn't stop Stanford from recruiting him as a receiver primarily. However Montgomery got to college and his role quickly progressed from strictly receiver with the occasional carry, on top of kick return duties that resulted in 24 receptions for 350 yards 2 tds, 2 carries 42 yards and 1 with 27 kick returns for 680 yards and 1 td. Before graduating after a season that saw him tie a career high in receptions (61), rushing attempts (23), while being the primary returner as well resulting in his first experience with punt returns racking up 12 returns for 250 yards and 2 tds to go with 429 yards. Not nearly as impressive as his junior season that saw him amass 74 offensive touches for 1,117 yards and 12 tds, 36 kick returns for 1,091 yards and 2 tds. After 8 years of football that saw him play every offensive and special teams position that gave him the ball the former track athlete was drafted in the third round by the Packers as a WR.

In 2015 when the Packers drafted Montgomery and decided he would focus on wide receiver they had Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, James Jones, Jeff Janis, and Jared Abbrederis. However the Packers like to develop receivers over time so the move still had logic. Over his first season the 5'11 220 lb receiver played in just 6 games before landing on IR. He caught 15 passes for 136 yards and 2 tds, 3 carries for 14 yards, and 7 kick returns 218 yards. No real evidence of the change in role to come for Montgomery. In 2016 he was an afterthought for 4 games before starting to see time at RB due to injuries. He finished the season with 77 carries for 457 yards, 44 receptions for 366 yards, 18 kick returns for 366 yards and a total of 3 tds. His career in the NFL was changed forever with teams now seeing him as a RB not a receiver which suits the Jack of all trades well as it gives him chances in the passing game and run game. 

After a couple seasons with a large role in Green Bay he started to lose favor with the coaches and wound up traded to Baltimore where he spent just 1 season. In 2019 he was with the Jets as the backup to LeVeon Bell. Ironically despite having a down year in terms of offensive stats it was the first year he didn't register a fumble, but somehow was able to force a fumble. Heading into 2020 Montgomery latched on with the Saints and Sean Payton. Where there is a very real path to a roster spot and a role on the team due to his versatility. There are really only two receivers and running backs entrenched on the roster with those names being Kamara, Murray, Thomas, and Sanders. Meaning Montgomery could actually compete at WR as the third option while adding depth at RB behind Kamara and Murray, while giving them another option in the return game other than Deontae Harris. It's a win win situation, and I expect him to carve out a role. 

1 year wonder in Indy? I don't think so

Indy signed Phillip Rivers to a one year deal but this is one of those instances where the team is simply hedging its bet on a veteran player. In this case that player is a 38 year old qb, in a time where playing to 40 is not only a possibility but with each passing year it becomes more common, especially in the upper tier of qbs where Rivers belongs. 

Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Doug Flutie, Vinny Testaverde, Warren Moon, Steve Deberg, Brett Favre, George Blanda, Josh McCown, Mark Brunnel, all played past their age 40 season, which is something I never expected to say about Rivers, however heading into his 17th year at age 38 might have his best chance ever in his career to compete for a Super Bowl after teaming up with his former O.C., and Super Bowl winner (as an assistant in Philly) Frank Reich, which could push him to play into his 40's despite the look that his 1 year deal, and reported high school head coaching job waiting for him after retirement. 

Let's look at the facts of Rivers reality with the Chargers. In 16 seasons with the team Rivers compiled a 128-107 record with the team, along with a 5-6 record in the playoffs. To put this in a bit more context during that time he had made the playoffs just 6 times in 16 seasons, while being sacked 446 times. In fact since 2010 Rivers had just 1 season in which he was sacked on average less than twice a game. In comparison Eli Manning was sacked 411 times in his career, but had just 2 seasons in which he was sacked an average of more than twice a game, Tom Brady who has played 4 more seasons than Rivers has been sacked exactly 500 times. That should give you an idea how much more frequently Rivers is dealing with hits at 38 years old, than Manning or Brady were in their previous stops. It also paints a rosy picture of the Colts for Rivers. The Colts offensive line allowed just 45 sacks the last two seasons combined, and return their top 6 offensive linemen for the 3rd year straight. The only changes have been the loss of Joe Haeg and the addition of depth to fill that hole via the draft and free agency. Keeping Rivers upright goes a long way toward staving off retirement in 2021 if the Colts aren't ready to hand the keys to Jacob Eason yet. The Colts boast one of the best offensive lines in the league and have prioritized building it up as a strength after watching as the previous hodge podge o line units helped lead Andrew Luck to an early retirement. 

The next reason? The skill position players. The Colts already had solid talent around Rivers, and that was before the draft. Come draft time the Colts used back to back second round picks on offense. Drafting presumptive starting receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (Son of former NFL RB), and RB Jonathon Taylor who at very least figures to split carries with Marlon Mack, but I wouldn't be shocked to see Taylor first off the bench with Mack playing the 3rd down role. The veteran players aren't bad either with Ty Hilton, Parris Campbell, Zach Pascal, Jack Doyle, and Trey Burton catching passes. This might be one of the most well rounded groups he has ever had around him. 

The defense. The Colts have been quietly building up a very solid defense over the past 3 years. Drafting guys like Darius Leonard, Rock Ya-Sin, and Kemoko Turay. They went out and acquired DeForest Buckner, and Xavier Rhodes to shore up areas of need demonstrating an aggressive nature of acquiring key pieces even if premium draft Capitol is required to get it done. 

The final reason why I see Rivers lasting in Indy is Frank Reich. Reich coached Rivers from 2013-2015 first as a qb coach then as his offensive coordinator all three years Rivers was around 30 tds, 15 ints, and all 3 of those years ranked in his top 4 seasons in terms of completion rate. More importantly I believe Reich earned Rivers trust the first year he coached him, when he helped him go from being sacked 49 times in 2012 to 30 times in 2013 by working on several factors in his game. Heading into 2020 Rivers can still get it done physically and has no question of whose team this is going forward however long he decides to continue playing. Reich knows Rivers, and the rest of his scheme and players, I believe he will have the Colts in Super Bowl contention in 2020, which could prompt Rivers to return knowing to cement his hall of fame resume he needs to increase his .579 win rate, and get himself a Lombardi trophy. 

Carolina's defensive youth movement

There is aiming to get younger on one side of the ball then, there is what the Panthers did. There is a drastic difference. The Panthers made 7 selections in the 2020 draft. It begun with defense, and never wavered from that theme with 7 straight defensive players selected. They literally added multiple DT's, a DE, 2 safeties that could play as nickel LB's, and multiple CB's. What I loved the most was the fact that they let the draft fall to them with tremendous value in their first four selections followed by versatile depth players that will contribute on special teams immediately. 

In round 1 the Panthers had their choice of the top rated players at multiple positions including names like Isaiah Simmons, Derrick Brown, Yetur Gross-Matos, or several offensive linemen. They decided to spend their pick on Derrick Brown. Brown is the prototypical 4-3 DT, he is big, athletic and has the agility to play anywhere along the defensive line. He fits Carolina's mentality of building a defense from the core outward with strong defensive tackles, and side to side linebackers.

In the second round Yetur Gross-Matos was somehow still available at pick 38. The Panthers are now able to pair Gross-Matos with Brian Burns who played OLB in a 3-4 alignment last season, but now gets to focus on rushing the passer with behemoths like Derrick Brown, Kawaan Short, and Bravvion Roy in the middle. This combination should create a menacing pass rush, without blitzing often. 

With their next draft pick, also a second rounder they drafted versatile DB Jeremy Chinn. Chinn was another solid value at pick #64. Chinn was rated as a mid second round to high third round pick and landed right where he was expected to on a team that let their 2019 starting strong safety walk in free agency. Drafting Chinn gave this new scheme a weapon who can create havoc as an extra LB, covering receivers in the slot, or as a deep safety. I expect this guy to start from day one even if he winds up splitting snaps with a veteran.

In round 4 the Panthers kept with this best player available strategy and drafted Troy Pride Jr. this guy was the highest rated cornerback on the board at the time and filled a large need. Pride Jr. is relatively raw as a DB having played receiver in high school. He didnt become a starter until his junior season leaving college with 33 starts but showed a few concerning traits if he is expected to develop a meaningful role. He has displayed a lack of confidence in his coverage abilities which has caused him to over compensate at times. He will be expected to develop into a quality starter under coordinator Phil Snow, secondary coach Jason Simmons and CB coach Evan Cooper all of whom have extensive knowledge of the position. 

Round 5 brought the first draft selection that I know of in the modern era that was actually drafted straight out of the XFL. Kenny Robinson is a 6'2 200 lb safety who at 21 years old comes in as a rookie having 5 games starting experience in a professional league, playing under former NFL coaches, including his DB coach Tim Lewis a former NFL CB and defensive coordinator himself. I am intrigued to see how he develops in the NFL and if his XFL experience gives him an edge at all. 

Round 6 Matt Rhule drafted someone he helped coach to first team all Big 12 honors last season. Bravvion Roy produced 5.5 sacks and 13 tackles for a loss in 2019 showing how imposing he can be at his defensive tackle position. This smells of one of those draft day steals to me. Roy will have every chance to compete for the third DT role in 2020. 

Round 7 was closed out by drafting another DB, their fourth of this draft. Cornerback Stantley Thomas-Oliver played wide receiver for two years in college, but the way he played when he made the move to defense it seemed as though he belonged on defense at CB all along. This guy started two years at CB playing better than most expected, despite his draft pedigree his play in 2018-2019, showed flashes of a dominant DB, the perfect project for the guys Carolina has tasked with leading their secondary into 2020. 

7 defensive draft picks, 3 defensive linemen, and 4 DB's somehow all 7 players should make the roster in year 1 too. 

Lynn Bowden Jr.

Fascinating player, who has such versatile athleticism he was able to be listed as a WR, yet line up as a qb, and compile a junior season that included 185 Carries for 1,468 yards, and 13 tds, 30 receptions for 348 yards and 1 td, 35 of 74 passing for 403 yards 3 tds, 3 ints, 9 kick returns for 220 yards, and 4 punt returns for 53 yards. That's 2,492 and 14 tds yards total for anyone keeping track. Insane production, and unbelievable versatility. 

Hearing Mike Mayock the GM of the Las Vegas Raiders who spent a 3rd round pick on the "WR", with thoughts of making him a "versatile running back". Something tells me his role will be like a Taysom Hill light, focusing more on running the ball and catching passes along with contributing on special teams. I dont expect to see him used in the passing game much if at all, but I could be wrong. This is just another example of how teams are changing their views on players and their talents. Years ago Bowden would have gone undrafted as a QB, maybe had a couple stints as a practice squad player, before fasing out of the league, but thanks to Taysom Hill, and Sean Payton teams have begun to alter how they view running quarterbacks. 

NFL announces Supplemental Draft will not be affected by Covid19

Over the past 6 months Covid 19 has turned all of our worlds upside down. However do to resiliency and likely a flow of viewership that I never expected prior to this the NFL forged on with the recommended schedule minus the benefits of having Pro days and face-to-face meetings. Football fans rejoiced as the NFL draft took place as it would have in a normal year however there had been growing speculation that this year's supplemental draft would feature a much larger class than ever before due to the circumstances of the covid-19 virus. This speculation turned out to be unfounded has the NFL has come out and announced that the virus will not be a reason for entry into the supplemental draft. Even if the college football season is shortened which could result in several players taking a hit to their draft stock. Now I personally would like to make an argument for the fact that the NFL should reconsider this decision.

My reasoning for reconsidering this decision is quite simple as of right now NFL teams cannot hold training camp or OTAs or minicamp everything has to be virtual right now. The same could be said for all of these college students so in theory not only are these students suffering potential of draft stock hit due to a shortened season but they are in turn accepting a lower grade of Education due to the fact that they cannot be at the facilities to learn from their professors in person. Obviously this presents a challenging situation for returning seniors who decided to forgo their chance to enter the draft after their junior season. I understand the concern of letting a mass Exodus of players right before what could be a shortened college football season and what it could mean for and what it could mean for the for the NCAA in terms of funding in 2021 and Beyond I losing players that may or may not be the main attractions to their respective schools. I think the NFL in the NCAA could offset this by only allowing players who would be returning for their senior season to reconsider and enter the supplemental draft.

Now the NCAA is viewing any loss of star power as a bad thing but they should be considering the well being of the students long term. The bottom line is having an option is not a bad thing. Especially when it results in more of your players playing professionally which only increases the visibility of the NCAA in what could basically be a lost season. 

However the main group that should have the motivation to make this work is the NFL. With a lack of NFL news through out this offseason adding extra intrigue to the Supplemental draft that usually comes and goes without much fan fare, which would only keep fans engaged during a year which is expected to result in large revenue losses. In my mind this is a no brainer. However the NCAA has an addiction for free labor and any loss of it prior to their end of eligibility is always viewed as a bad thing. 

A few NFL rookies I can't wait to watch

There are always players who intrigue me whether or not they are drafted by my team I kinda watch where they land. This year I decided to break down a few of the guys I liked predraft and address where they landed, how they fit with their new team and try and speculate on their role going forward. 

The first player on this list is division 2's Kyle Duggar. Duggar has been described as a safety in a linebacker's body, but also brought above average speed, and agility to the table for his size. Duggar at 6'1 217 lbs, ran a 4.49 40 yard dash, leapt 42 inches in the vertical, put up 225 lbs 17 times, and 134 inch broad jump displaying explosion in his lower body despite playing at what most people consider LB size now. However that is why this guy intrigued me prior to the draft, is he a LB in the NFL, or a safety? Or somewhere in between? My intrigue was peaked when he was drafted 37th overall by the New England Patriots. Bill Belichek is a defensive mind who loves versatile guys who can make an immediate impact with an eye toward the future as a starter. This is no different for Duggar except he may play starter level snaps despite actually being the third safety off the bench. With the ever evolving NFL tweener safety/linebacker type players are becoming a luxury that coordinators love to utilize. Some teams are even using safeties as their 3rd LB in base defensive sets allowing for better match ups. Instead of a LB being forced to line up on a speedy back, or shifty slot receiver that hybrid player can match up with that player, or be used to cover larger receivers, or tight ends, as well as being used as a QB spy against certain teams. This is precisely how I see Duggar seeing the field from day 1. New England now plays in a division with Sam Darnold, Tua Tagovailo, and Josh Allen. Darnold being the least athletic of the bunch. However during Jets games I expect Duggar to be matching up with LeVeon Bell, and Chris Herndon. Duggar will still be asked to compete for time with another player on the roster in Adrian Phillips. Phillips is not quite the height/weight/speed prospect that Duggar is but he is a crafty veteran who still could take a bite of Duggar's snaps as a third safety. At 5'11 210 lbs, but ran a 4.58 40. But don't count this guy out in 2018 he was voted to the probowl after 94 tackles, 9 pass deflections, 1 int, and 1 forced fumble. That's not to say Phillips is the same player as Duggar. Duggar might actually line up as a LB on passing downs rather than as a safety, where as you likely won't see as much of that from Phillips. We may legitimately see sets where McCourty, Phillips, Chung, and Duggar are all on the field at once. All of these guys present a versatile skill set allowing them to be moved around which could make New England's defense even more difficult to decipher than in years past. Duggar is likely going to replace Chung long term. Chung has been that hybrid player for years in New England but at 32 years old, and facing a potential suspension for a cocaine charge prior to the 2019 season Chung is exactly the type of player the Patriots look to move on from. I wouldn't be shocked to see Chung wind up released midseason if Duggar or Phillips show they deserve to start. 

Brian Cole is another guy I was intrigued by as well. At 6'2 213 lbs he played all over for Mississippi State. After entering college as a wide receiver he was released from his scholarship and went the JUCO route making the transition to CB. He excelled at cornerback at the JUCO level before making it back into D1 with Mississippi State as a cornerback. In 2019 he played a hybrid safety/linebacker role for the team and produced 67 tackles, 7.5 for a loss, 2 sacks, 1 int, and 2 pass deflections. Ultimately Cole was drafted to develop behind 31 year old Harrison Smith for a season or two before ultimately sliding into the strong safety role. In 2020 Cole could be used as a match up defender to step in when tight ends, or taller receivers come in to the game, and play special teams until Smith's exit in 2021. The Vikings are simply keeping a strength of their defense as such, Mike Zimmer has a background in coaching defensive backs and linebackers, I have a sneaking suspicion Cole is Zimmer's new pet project, I will not be surprised to hear Cole's name mentioned in Probowl talk a couple seasons from now. 

Clyde Edwards-Helaire fell into the best possible landing spot for him. The 5'7 207 lb running back was so proficient as a receiver and a runner he became the first SEC player to rush for over 1,000 yards and catch at least 50 passes in a season. He was drafted into an offense that already features Travus Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, and Damian Williams. So naturally Andy Reid and former RB coach and current coordinator Eric Bienemy went out and drafted the most versatile running back in the draft. Edwards-Helaire will make an immediate impact as a receiver on third downs, and could possibly even contribute in the return game at first. I expect him to split carries with Williams at first but this guy can be a starter in KC with as much as Reid passes the ball. I could see him even as a rookie putting up around 1,500 yards total between the run game, thru the air and as a returner. 

Extra Credit:

Khalil Tate, this guy is more of a long shot. After going undrafted this year as a qb he was signed by Philadelphia as a wide receiver. He is one of 14 players trying out at wide receiver however not many offer the skill set Tate does as a former qb. Tate may actually have an edge on the others as a practice squad player due to what is expected to be a gadget package for QB Jalen Hurts. If this package truly develops as Philly is selling it will, keeping a guy like Tate who can act as a psuedo backup in this new role, while further developing as a receiver on the practice squad it's a win win for Philly in my eyes. 

Indy's draft so far

Indy has already used 3 of its draft picks just 41 picks into the draft. Trading their first round pick to San Francisco to acquire DT DeForest Buckner, and immediately signing him longterm. They have since followed up by drafting two guys I really like, both of which were brought in to diversify the offensive talent around Phillip Rivers. 

Rivers may be the short term answer at quarterback for the Colts and it remains to be seen who they turn to long term, but the logic in building the skill position talent around an aging veteran is sound. Providing a sort of prebuilt offensive scheme with talented receivers and running backs for a young qb to step right into and have success. If you build it they will come is an adage that was once used about great NFL free agent qbs, and it's no different for a rookie qb this year or next for Indy. Solidifying your roster now, will only mean more success long term. 

Drafting WR Michael Pittman Jr., and RB Jonathon Taylor in the second round gave the Colts two of the better known, and more polished talents at their respective positions. Pittman Jr. strikes me as the next Allen Robinson, a 6'2-6'3 guy 220 lbs, true X receiver that can win 50-50 balls on the perimeter, and provide an excellent target in the redzone to help make up for the loss of the Devin Fuchness, and Eric Ebron leaving in free agency. Jonathon Taylor is a man amongst boys as a running back. At 5'11 220 lbs running a 4.39 40 yard dash, Taylor is a guy with the top line speed, agility, and power to be a 3 down back. Something the Colts have lacked for years. 

But they didnt stop there. In the 3rd round they addressed the secondary with a versatile DB who should play several roles for this team going forward. The 6'0 187 lb former cornerback has the athletic ability to be a solid match up with most tight ends and running backs at the next level. He can play as a big nickel defender, or come down in the box on running downs if needed. Julian Blackmon is a guy I expect to play a lot for the Colts even though they have solid depth in the secondary. They did let go of Quincy Wilson, and Pierre Desir. Maybe he plays more as a cornerback to begin with. 

In the 4th round the Colts addressed the future at the qb position with QB Jacob Eason. Eason drafted out of Washington has a lot of the same knocks on him as Rivers has. Lack of mobility, stands tall in the pocket, and sometimes will take big hits because of this. He has the potential to develop into a starter or the floor as a career backup. It really just depends if Reich and company can harness his arm strength but teach him touch. He strikes me as the type of guy Reich can get a lot out of. I envision him being in the conversation to replace Rivers if he leaves in 2021. If he stays past 2021 the likelihood that this guy winds up being his successor goes up in volumes. Ultimately this is the perfect kind of qb to draft in the 4th round. 

In the 5th round the Colts decided to add depth to their offensive line a spot that saw some loss this offseason with Center Josh Andrews and Guard Joe Haeg moving on. Danny Pinter is an offensive lineman by trade but this is a raw prospect who only 2 years ago was playing tight end in college before moving to tackle in 2018. He has solid athleticism for his size, and adds value as an eligible receiver in jumbo sets and as a swing guard for now. Solid value for a pick in the 5th round. 

Their first of four 6th round picks was used on Robert Windsor defensive tackle, Penn State. I think this guy will be one of those sleeper picks that winds up being a valuable rotational tackle in the Colts defense. In 2019 the Colts transitioned back to running a 4-3 base defense but still use some 3-4 concepts. Windsor is an attacking presence in the passing game and could play a versatile role lining up inside as a tackle in 4 lineman fronts and as an end in 3 lineman fronts. In four years of college Windsor played in 57 games as a redshirt senior. He showed solid production with 120 tackles, 19 for a loss, 13 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 3 recoveries. This guy was never a true starter in college and that is basically where he projects in the NFL, he will add depth, play some special teams, and play a rotational role but if he is starting long term you might be in trouble. He could be a practice squad candidate in year one unless he impresses enough in camp to beat out someone on the roster. 

The Colts then had three picks in a row from pick 211-213. They used them on these players:

211-Isaiah Rodgers cornerback and kick returner from UMass. He stands 5'10 170 lbs. he collected 11 ints in 4 years in college, scoring 4 tds on turnovers. 

212-Dezmon Patmon wide receiver from Washington State. Patmon is a Devin Fuchness replacement if he sticks at 6'4 225 lbs with his 4.48 speed and explosiveness that was on display when he recorded the third longest broad jump in the combine. Patmon was also productive catching 156 passes for 1,976 yards and 13 tds. However 119 receptions, 1,578 yards and 13 tds coming over the past two seasons. I expect him to make the roster as a 5th or 6th receiver simply due to his athletic profile. 

213-Jordan Glasgow Linebacker Michigan. Known for his undying motor, and special teams prowess he was only a one year starter but produced well in that one season with 89 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 passes defended, 1 blocked kick. At 6'1 225 lbs he could stand to gain some weight if they intend for him to play a true LB role. However the position he played in college was a hybrid safety role. He was asked to cover tight ends, blitz the passer, and help defend the run. 

The Colts originally entered the draft with 7 picks after the Buckner trade but Ballard wanted to trade down and pick up more mid to late round picks. He traded down from pick #75 in the 3rd round tossing in a 6th round pick #197 overall. They acquired the 85th overall pick moving down just 10 spots netted them a 5th round pick #149, and a 6th round pick #193 overall. 

They weren't done yet, trading away one of two 6th round picks, #182 overall to acquire two 6th round picks from the Patriots picks 212 and 213. 

With one last trade the Colts traded away a 2017 2nd round draft pick with a history of injuries in Quincy Wilson to the Jets for pick #211, which was in turn used to draft his replacement, Isaiah Rodgers a cornerback and kick returner. 

All in all Chris Ballard has dominated the middle rounds of the draft through three seasons as the GM in Indy. He has now selected 30 players in 3 drafts and I expect this trend to continue. Indy has developed a strategy of trading first round picks for proven (or so they think, Trent Richardson) veteran players while using trades to acquire more mid round picks. The second part of their strategy is picking players that can play right away in rounds 2 and 3. Ballard's success in round 2 is unrivaled in his 3 years.