Interviews

The Beat: ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez On The Rams

August 26th, 2016 at 12:40pm CST by Zachary Links

With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Now, we continue the series by discussing the Rams with the team’s newest beat writer, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com. You can follow Alden on Twitter @Alden_Gonzalez and check out his stories here.

Zach Links: For those of us who aren’t in the Los Angeles area – what’s the excitement level like in L.A. for the Rams’ return?

Alden Gonzalez: It’s been about what you would expect for a team returning to a huge media market, and by that I mean it’s been high. They sold 171,000 tickets to their first two preseason games. That is absurd. Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith, who played at Los Angeles Coliseum in Week 2, raved about how loud it was through even the fourth quarter, when all the subs were in. And each open-to-the-public practice I’ve attended has filled up at least one section of bleachers. The novelty will eventually rub off, of course. They’ll have to win pretty quickly in order to maintain attention spans out here.

Zach Links: The Rams are expected to extend coach Jeff Fisher and GM Les Snead before the start of the season. Do you think it’s wise to extend them given that Fisher’s teams have gone 27-36-1 in the last four years?

Alden Gonzalez: Yeah, I do. I know it isn’t the popular opinion, but extending a GM or a coach does not mean that individual cannot eventually get fired. Especially not for a multi-billionaire like Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who would barely flinch at having to eat whatever remains of contracts for Snead or Fisher if such a scenario took place. Snead and Fisher are at the end of their current deals, and it’s hard to operate like that. The Rams have enough newness going on – new quarterback, new city, one of the youngest rosters in the NFL – and it looks like they at least want some stability up top. Snead and Fisher both know the pressure is on to start winning, whether their contracts are extended or not.

Zach Links: How high is the ceiling for Jared Goff? Do you think we’ll see him take over as the starter at some point in 2016?

Alden Gonzalez: I expect him to be the starter at some point in 2016; the only question is when. Barring an uplifting performance in Week 3 of the preseason, though, I do not see him starting the Monday Night Football opener on Sept. 12. He just hasn’t shown enough yet. He needs to be more decisive, he needs to take care of the football and he needs to do a better job of picking up blitzes. All that, in addition to learning to call plays from the huddle and learning to take snaps from under center – two things he really never did at Cal. As far as upside – I think he can be an elite-level passer if he irons those things out. The raw tools are there.

Zach Links: A second franchise tag for Trumaine Johnson would cost the Rams $16MM+ next year. To date, they have been unwilling to pay him like a top NFL cornerback. Do you expect to see Johnson wind up somewhere else in 2017?

Alden Gonzalez: I think they’ll try to keep him. The Rams lost two key pieces in their secondary this offseason, in cornerback Janoris Jenkins and safety Rodney McLeod, and can’t afford to lose Johnson, too. The Rams reportedly offered Jenkins a five-year, $45 million extension before he chose to sign with the Giants. If Johnson has a solid year as the primary corner, I expect the Rams to try to retain him. He’s shown enough.

Zach Links: The Rams picked up their fifth-year option for Tavon Austin, meaning that he’ll earn $12.2MM+ in 2017. Do you have as much confidence in Austin as the Rams’ front office apparently does?

Alden Gonzalez: Last year was something of a breakout season for Austin, who caught for 473 yards and rushed for another 434. Perhaps he hasn’t produced to the level of his forthcoming salary, but the Rams are so desperate for playmakers at wide receiver that they badly needed to retain Austin. His time could be running out, though. Fourth-round pick Pharoh Cooper has very similar attributes and is already locked in as the Rams’ No. 3 receiver.

Zach Links: How do you think the Rams’ first season in Los Angeles will go? What record do you see them finishing with?

Alden Gonzalez: If I had to guess, it’d be 7-9, again. Let’s just go through it real quick. Their defensive line is elite, but, as stated earlier, they lost some key pieces in their secondary and have to fill the void of James Laurinaitis at middle linebacker. That’s a lot of new personnel in the second and third levels. Offensively, Todd Gurley is a stud. But the Rams’ biggest issue last year was their passing game, by far the worst in the league, and they didn’t do much to drastically alter that. Basically the only way that improves is if three rookies – Cooper, quarterback Jared Goff and tight end Tyler Higbee – really step up. And then on top of all that is the fact they play in the same division as the Seahawks and Cardinals, two teams that may have the two deepest rosters in the NFL. The Rams are still young, though. They may be a year away.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images and PFR on Instagram.

The Beat: Ryan O’Halloran On The Jaguars

August 25th, 2016 at 10:08am CST by Zachary Links

With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Now, we continue the series by discussing the Jaguars with Ryan O’Halloran of the The Florida Times-Union. You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ryanohalloran and check out his stories here.

Zach Links: Right now, the Jaguars don’t sound intent on signing Greg Hardy, even though they auditioned him earlier this summer. Do you sense that a change of heart is possible? Or have the Jaguars concluded that Hardy is not worth all of the baggage that comes with signing him?

Ryan O’Halloran: The only way a change of heart is possible is if the Jaguars are equal parts beset by injuries or ineffectiveness at the defensive end spot early in the year. If they were afraid of his baggage, they wouldn’t have brought Hardy in for a visit. This way, they’ve met him, heard his side of things and worked him out so if they need to call him on a Tuesday to sign him and get to town for practice on a Wednesday, they don’t have to do all of the research.

Zach Links: The Jaguars shelled out lots of money for Malik Jackson, a player who has only one season as a full-time starter on his resume. Will the Jaguars come to regret the six-year, $85.5MM deal ($31.5MM guaranteed) or will he prove to be a difference-maker for years to come?

Ryan O’Halloran: More often than not, these gigantic deals become regrettable down the line. That said, the guess here is Jackson will be a difference-maker early in the contract. Against the Jets in the preseason opener, he showed good power by pushing a guard back and impacting Ryan Fitzpatrick’s throwing motion. The Jaguars needed a three-down interior defensive lineman like Jackson and also needed to overpay to get him.

Zach Links: Tashaun Gipson also got a nice payday courtesy of Jacksonville with his five-year, $36MM deal ($12MM guaranteed). Will he help solve the Jags’ woes at safety after their group was among the league’s worst in 2015?

Ryan O’Halloran: Gipson is the key to the Jaguars’ free agent class. The free safety spot has been unsettled since Dave Caldwell/Gus Bradley were hired in January 2013. Dwight Lowery (2013), Josh Evans (2013-15), Winston Guy (2014) and Sergio Brown (2015) have all started there and been unimpressive. Enter Gipson. If he can be the sideline-to-sideline free safety, it will allow the Jaguars’ cornerbacks to play tighter man coverage and allow strong safety Johnathan Cyprien to play closer to the line of scrimmage and better take advantage of his skills (run support, not coverage).

Zach Links: How good can Jalen Ramsey be in the long run? Who does he remind you of?

Ryan O’Halloran: I haven’t seen enough of him to come up with a comparison. It’s tough to say what Ramsey’s ceiling is because he played three positions in three years for Florida State – free safety, slot corner and outside corner. The Jaguars are asking him to play inside and outside corner.

Zach Links: As the 53-man roster deadline approaches, what roster battles should Jaguars fans be keeping an eye on?

Ryan O’Halloran: For a team that went 5-11, it’s surprising that there aren’t more battles going on, but that speaks to the Jaguars’ activity in free agency and the draft. Here are a couple: Left tackle (Kelvin Beachum or Luke Joeckel). Left guard (Joeckel or Tyler Shatley or Mackenzy Bernadeau or Chris Reed). No. 5 receiver (Bryan Walters or Arrelious Benn).

Zach Links: How do you expect 2016 to go for the Jaguars? What record do you think they’ll finish with?

Ryan O’Halloran: This is the most talented team of the Caldwell-Bradley Era, but that won’t mean a playoff berth. I’ve got them with a 7-9 record.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

The Beat: Jeff Schudel On The Browns

August 24th, 2016 at 9:40am CST by Zachary Links

With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Now, we continue the series by discussing the Browns with Jeff Schudel of the The News-Herald and Morning-Journal. You can follow Jeff on Twitter @jsproinsider and check out his stories here.

Zach Links: As expected, the Browns named RGIII as their starting quarterback this week. What are your expectations for him? Can he recapture some of the magic he showed early on in Washington?

Jeff Schudel; I do have high expectations for RG3, but that might be a relative term. He will become the Browns 25th starting quarterback in 18 years when he takes the first snap against the Eagles on Sept. 11, so if he manages to throw more touchdown passes than interceptions and win five or six games he’ll be a success. Griffin has surprised me with his running. I don’t expect him to run as much as he did in 2012 when he was a rookie with the Redskins, but Hue Jackson will design runs for him.

Zach Links: Speaking of the quarterback position, what do you think the Browns should do with Josh McCown? Should they continue to hold out for a third- or fourth-round pick from the Cowboys in a potential trade?

Jeff Schudel; In my opinion the Browns should not take less than a third for McCown. That is probably too steep for a quarterback that was 2-17 over the last two seasons, but he is worth more to the Browns as a backup than a fourth-round pick would be. The odds of RG3 making it through 16 games behind this offensive line are slim. Rookie Cody Kessler isn’t ready to play.

Zach Links: Are you optimistic about Josh Gordon‘s long-term prospects? Do you think he’ll get his off-the-field affairs in order and focus his full attention on football going forward?

Jeff Schudel; I do have faith in Josh Gordon. He has a strong support group within the Browns and he seems to be hanging around the right people. He is a smart young man who has done dumb things in the past. I think this is critical for Gordon’s success: He is suspended for the first four games of the regular season, but he can be around the team in meetings, the weight room and all activities except practice and games. It seems to me players with substance abuse problems have a much better chance of success if they can be around their support group.

Gordon knows this is his last chance. He will never be reinstated if he is suspended again. I am not speaking for the Browns, but one more strike and I could not imagine them giving him another chance. Goodell would, I presume, likely make their opinion irrelevant.

Zach Links: How will Desmond Bryant‘s absence affect Cleveland’s pass-rush?

Jeff Schudel; The Browns are thin behind Desmond Bryant. John Hughes is likely to end up with his job, but Hughes was absent from training camp from Aug. 2-16 for personal reasons involving a family member. He says he is back for good. Bryant had only six sacks, but that led the team in 2015. The Browns will have to get more from outside linebacker Paul Kruger (2.5 sacks last year) to minimize Bryant’s loss.

Zach Links: Out of the Browns’ 14 rookies, which ones are you especially excited about?

Jeff Schudel; Corey Coleman is going to be a productive player, but as the 15th overall pick and the first receiver off the board he should be. He is fast, tracks the ball well and can run after the catch.

Two later picks could also make an impact. Carl Nassib, the defensive end from Penn State picked in the third round, 65th overall, led the nation with 17.5 sacks past year. He has shown in preseason he can get to the quarterback in the NFL. He is playing against NFL backups for now and will have to prove he can succeed against front-line offensive tackles to get more playing time.

Rashard Higgins, a fifth-round receiver taken with the 172nd pick from Colorado State, could be a move-the-chains receiver. He runs precise routes, fights through traffic, and can catch the ball in a crowd.

Zach Links: What differences have you already noticed in Cleveland with Jackson at the helm?

Jeff Schudel; It is impossible not to notice a difference with Jackson running the show. He is more than an administrator. He actually coaches players if they aren’t doing something correctly. Players have bought into his coaching style.

I think it is significant that Jackson hired Ray Horton as defensive coordinator. Horton has credentials and experience to be a head coach. To me that means Jackson has enough confidence in himself that he isn’t afraid an assistant will take his job.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

The Beat: Will Leitch On The Cardinals

August 23rd, 2016 at 11:40am CST by Zachary Links

With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with writers and columnists from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Now, we continue the series by discussing the Cardinals with Will Leitch. Will is a senior writer for Sports on Earth, a contributing editor for New York Magazine, and hosts the daily podcast “The Will Leitch Experience.” You can follow Will on Twitter @WilliamFLeitch.

Zach Links: Like many Cardinals fans, you were puzzled by Carson Palmer‘s collapse in last season’s playoffs. This offseason, the Cardinals tied themselves to the veteran through 2018 with an extension. How do you feel about Palmer as the Cards’ QB heading into this season?

Will Leitch: Yeah, he was a nightmare in the playoffs, like he’d forgotten everything that had made him and the team great throughout the season. You’d actually seen that in the Packers game, some dunderheaded mistakes that weren’t indicative of how he played in the regular season, but I thought it was attributable to him still not having that playoff-victory monkey off his back. And then he was ten times worse against Carolina. So, yeah, it’s worrisome, but not NEARLY as worrisome as it would have been if Palmer hadn’t have come back, or if he gets hurt. Palmer is the perfect fit for this offense — the only thing that isn’t perfect is that he isn’t 27 — but more to the point, he’s the only available fit for this offense. As bad as the playoffs were, the team would be completely lost without him. I’m terrified that he goes down in Week Two and the whole team implodes. The Cardinals have had some truly awful quarterbacking over the last decade; I’m twitching just thinking about it. No offense to Drew Stanton, but yes: Palmer is the whole sandwich here.

Continue reading our Q&A with Will Leitch..

Zach Links: Before the extensions for Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald, there was speculation that 2016 could be the final season for both players. Despite the deals, do you think we might see one or both of them call it quits after this year?

Will Leitch: It would require a career-ending injury for Palmer. Fitzgerald was surprisingly great last year, but he’s obviously not the player he was, overtime against the Packers aside. He’s a slot guy, and while he serves that role well now, you can see him fading a little more each year. He’s awesome, but he’s still a 33-year-old WR.I think the bigger issue with him is if the Cardinals can win a title. It’s clear the Super Bowl loss to the Steelers still kills him — I know how he feels — and he desperately wants a title to go into the Hall with. If he gets one, I can see him retiring on the spot.

Zach Links: The Cardinals shocked everyone in March when they acquired Chandler Jones via trade from the Patriots. What kind of impact do you expect Jones to have this year?

Will Leitch: Oh, we’re very excited. The one thing the Cardinals weren’t terrific at last year was rushing the passer, so Jones is ideal. Now, I get a little nervous when Bill Belichick gives up on a player, but he’s exactly what we were clamoring for. If he’s three-quarters of what he was last year, we might be monsters.

Zach Links: The Cardinals left St. Louis when you were 12 years old, but you remained a fan when they relocated to Phoenix. You’ve made the case that it’s easy for Rams fans to do the same in 2016 thanks to the internet and NFL Sunday Ticket. Do you expect that the Rams will have a lasting contingent of fans in St. Louis? Or will most Missourians wind up being football widows?

Will Leitch: Well, Stan Kroenke was such a monumental asshole on his way out the door that I don’t think any St. Louis fan wants anything to do with the team, and I don’t blame them. Good riddance. If they want to remain Rams fans, they can, but if they’re playing the nostalgia game, we’d love to have them back. At least the Bidwills didn’t excrete in the Mississippi River on their way out of town.

Zach Links: How do you see this year playing out for the Cardinals? Will they win the NFC West? Do you see them in the Super Bowl mix?

Will Leitch: I think they’re a complete team, but the two things that scare me the most remain issues: 1. Palmer’s injury history (again, we’re toast without him), and 2. the Seattle Seahawks. I’d argue the three best teams in football are all in the NFC: The Cardinals, the Seahawks, and the Panthers. The Seahawks caught some bad breaks last year, but they’re machines. I might pick them to win the division. Then we get the Cardinals-Seahawks NFC Championship game we’re all desperate for. (It would be so amazing.) Unless Palmer gets hurt. If that happens, well, I hope we stay ahead of the 49ers.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images and PFR on Instagram.

The Beat: Troy Renck On The Broncos

August 21st, 2016 at 9:30pm CST by Zachary Links

With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Now, we continue the series by discussing the Broncos with Troy Renck of Denver7. You can follow Troy on Twitter @TroyRenck (Note: The conversation took place on Friday, prior to the Broncos’ Saturday’s preseason game against the 49ers).

Zach Links: Is Ronnie Hillman in danger of not making the team? Are you surprised by him being on the roster bubble?

Troy Renck: Yes, Hillman is in real danger of not making the cut. He is competing against Kapri Bibbs who has kick return ability and it is hard to see both players making it. Bibbs is a more versatile special teams guy than Hillman is and they are really intrigued by Devontae Booker’s potential.

Zach Links: At what point did you realize that Hillman could be a roster casualty?

Troy Renck: As soon as they drafted Booker. Hillman went out into free agency and, unfortunately for him, he played his worst football in the playoffs. That was everyone’s last view of him and when he found a tepid market, he came back to Denver on a cheap deal. In my opinion, they re-signed Hillman to protect themselves in the draft so that they didn’t have to reach for a running back. Luckily for them, they got Booker.

Zach Links: What does Vance Walker’s absence mean for the Broncos? How might they look to fill the void?

Troy Renck: It hurts. He was already the guy filling in for Malik [Jackson] and he’s a really good run stuffer and a versatile guy. They signed Jared Crick and they’re hopeful that he can be an every down guy. It also puts the onus on Darius Kilgo. They need him to step up and provide real depth. Overall, it’s an area of concern for sure.

Zach Links: Who do you think should start at quarterback for the Broncos in Week 1?

Troy Renck: I don’t know the answer to that yet. It’s just such a huge game for Trevor Siemian on Saturday for me. He is likely to get a quarter and half with the starters and, if he nails it, he has the edge. It’s no longer like Sanchez controls his own destiny. If Siemian nails his performance, he’s the leader. The easy bet would have been Sanchez because of the experience, but obviously there hasn’t been enough distance between the two since April to make that a lock.

Zach Links: Which Broncos rookies do you think could contribute right away?

Troy Renck: Andy Janovich. He’s going to be their starting fullback right off the bat. He’s been impressing on special teams. Booker’s ability in pass protection has surprised me, he’s much more advanced in that area than I expected.

I’m also encouraged by Paxton Lynch’s progress. He’s really taken to the team’s coaching and so far so good with him. I think Lynch is their best athlete at the position and when he has to color outside of the lines, he is the best. He’s not ready yet to run the offense, but he has been impressive.

Zach Links: How do you see this season playing out? Can the Broncos repeat as champs?

Troy Renck: I don’t see a Super Bowl title for Denver but I see a team that can go 11-5 and get back to the playoffs. I don’t know that they can get home field advantage and that hurts. A lot of things fell into place for the Broncos last year. They set a record for games won by seven points or less, which demonstrates that they had some good breaks. They created some of those breaks for themselves, of course, but they won on really close games.

I think their defense is going to be outstanding, but I don’t know if they have enough to get home field advantage to get them though the playoffs. It could be a hard road through the playoffs, but I see a playoff team and a team that can win the division for the sixth-straight year.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

The Beat: Terry McCormick On The Titans

August 17th, 2016 at 2:20pm CST by Zachary Links

With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Now, we continue the series by discussing the Titans with Terry McCormick of the TitanInsider.com. You can follow Terry on Twitter @terrymc13.

Zach Links: After a strange year with the Eagles, do you think DeMarco Murray is poised to be an elite running back once again?

Terry McCormick: I don’t think he’ll get to the 1,800 yards that he got with the Cowboys two years ago because you have Derrick Henry in the mix, but I do think he’ll be an effective running back for the Titans, much more so than he was with the Eagles. He’ll be in a run based offense and will get plenty of opportunities to carry the football and that was evident from outset in the preseason game. The Titans want to run the football and want to run it often and he’ll be the lead back in that. He won’t put up numbers like he did in Dallas, but his numbers will rebound nicely. I’d look for him to finish the year with something between 1,100 and 1,400 yards.

Zach Links: The Titans signed Andre Johnson late last month. What can he bring to the table at this point in his career?

Terry McCormick: It’s obvious he’s not the Andre Johnson that he was five or six years ago with the Texans, but the trade of Dorial Green-Beckham opens up a spot for him on the roster. He brings not only veteran leadership to the table, but also brings what coach Mike Mularkey wants from his receivers: guys that will run the correct route and get there on time and catch the football. Part of the problem with [Green-Beckham] was that he was too inconsistent. Despite his vast physical skills, you couldn’t always rely on him to do those things. Johnson is a veteran presence and I could see him being the fourth receiver on the team. He definitely looks like he’ll make the roster.

Zach Links: What did you make of the Green-Beckham trade? Did you think the Titans should have tried to get more for him?

Continue reading about the Titans..

Terry McCormick: I think maybe they should have hung on to him and given him more time to figure things out. Guys with his skill set don’t come down the pike too often. But, in the minds of GM Jon Robinson and the coaches, they weren’t willing to wait on him to try and figure things out. They gave him a year and a half and, while he showed flashes of greatness, they didn’t happen often enough or consistently enough. He also tended to compound things with bad plays and what they got was a guy who had really high highs and really low lows. They weren’t willing to go forward with that.

I think they should have given him more time, but I understand why they gave up on him. It does seem like they gave him away for only a backup offensive lineman type (Dennis Kelly), but other teams saw the flaws that the Titans saw and that hurt his stock.

Zach Links: The Titans wound up at No. 8 overall in this year’s draft and selected Jack Conklin instead of fellow tackle Laremy Tunsil. Do you think Conklin will prove to be a wise pick?

Terry McCormick: I think Conklin was very good pick and they are very happy with what he’s done so far. He’s a rookie and he’ll have growing pains when he goes against J.J. Watt or Von Miller types, but when you look at everything with Tunsil form the bong video to the problems he’s had getting accelerated with the Dolphins, I don’t think they’ll regret one bit passing on Tunsil.

Zach Links: Will the Titans improve significantly in 2016? What record do you see them finishing with?

Terry McCormick: I think they’ll be much improved and more competitive. Anything can happen in the AFC South, which was one of the weakest divisions in the NFL last year. With that said, I see them finishing 6-10 or 7-9 while being competitive in most games. I’m not ready to say they’re ready to go to the playfofs, but I think if they can take a big leap forward, they’ll be in the playoff picture next year.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images and PFR on Instagram.

The Beat: Bob Condotta On The Seahawks

August 10th, 2016 at 11:02am CST by Zachary Links

With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Now, we continue the series by discussing the Seahawks with Bob Condotta of the The Seattle Times. You can follow Bob on Twitter @bcondotta and check out his stories here.

Zach Links: Marshawn Lynch dominated headlines this offseason after he announced his retirement in February and reportedly may have waffled a bit on the decision in May. Was Marshawn giving real thought to playing in 2016? If so, did he want to play somewhere other than Seattle?

Bob Condotta: My understanding is no, that he was never thinking of playing this season in Seattle or anywhere else.

Zach Links: Recently, the Seahawks extended coach Pete Carroll through 2019 and GM John Schneider through 2021. Did the Seahawks attempt to get Carroll to sign through 2021 to match up with Schneider?

Bob Condotta: I haven’t been able to determine that. But years on contracts has not seemed to matter much to Carroll since his initial deal. He also signed a three-year extension following the Super Bowl win in 2013, so the one he just got matches that one. Despite whatever chatter is out there, there’s no real thought that Carroll would ever leave Seattle for another job. But with Schneider being 20 years younger than Carroll, there was a thought it was important to sew him up for as long as possible. So I think that accounts for the difference in contracts.

Zach Links: In 2014, Michael Bennett signed a team-friendly deal to stay in Seattle. In 2015, he began complaining about his under-market contract and he continues to be unhappy with the pact. Do you think the Seahawks will cave and give him a significant pay bump this summer?

Bob Condotta: Hard to tell. I do know Bennett would like them to. His agent and the team have continued to have negotiations. But the Seahawks have worries about setting a precedent of giving new deals to players with more than a year remaining on their contracts. That’s the only reason they have hesitation about giving Bennett a new contract.

Continue reading about the Seahawks..

Zach Links: Doug Baldwin‘s new four-year, $46MM extension ($24.25MM in guarantees) makes him one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. Were you at all surprised by the size of the deal?

Bob Condotta: No. Baldwin is one of those players whose value to the Seahawks may be hard for people outside of Seattle to really ascertain. Baldwin in a lot of ways embodies everything that the Seahawks preach — an undrafted free agent who initially forged his way on to the roster via special teams and has embraced every role the team has given him on the way to becoming one of the most productive receivers in the NFL. Given the way the Seahawks play, merely judging him by his stats is to miss the point of all that Baldwin does for the Seahawks. But the Seahawks understand that, and also know that the other Seahawks understand what Baldwin’s value is to the team. Seattle has been aggressive about rewarding its own core players, those who grew up in the organization. Baldwin was simply the latest to get his reward.

Zach Links: The Seahawks signed former Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans late last week. What, in your opinion, does he have left in the tank at this point?

Bob Condotta: Really hard to tell at this point, with Evans just one practice in to being a Seahawk. Ask me in a week or so and I can give a better answer. It may be especially hard to tell in the first week since the Seahawks are initially working Evans at left guard while he played right guard during his New Orleans career. Seattle is doing that cause it wants to see if Evans can be a swing guard — it’s unlikely he would beat out Germain Ifedi to be the right guard at this point. But if he can play left guard or show some versatility, that’s what the Seahawks want to see.

Zach Links: Do you think the Seahawks will wrestle the NFC West crown away from the Cardinals this year?

Bob Condotta: I certainly think they can. Seattle had a lot of issues last season that they don’t have entering this season — a hold out, injuries to every key player in the secondary, to name two — and also have a quarterback and receiving group entering the prime of its career. Seattle and Arizona may be the two best teams in the NFC by the time the season is done. But while the Seahawks certainly respect Arizona they don’t fear the Cardinals. The Seahawks feel if they are healthy and playing right they can beat anybody.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

The Beat: Justin Rogers On The Lions

August 8th, 2016 at 12:40pm CST by Zachary Links

With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Now, we continue the series by discussing the Lions with Justin Rogers of the Detroit News. You can follow Justin on Twitter @Justin_Rogers and check out his stories here.

Zach Links: Marvin Jones was the best available wide receiver this year and the Lions pounced quickly to sign him. Do you think he’ll be targeted almost as much as Golden Tate this year? Will his five-year, $40MM contract be a good deal in the long run for the Lions?

It could be close, but I still expect Tate to be targeted at a higher rate, simply because he’s a bit more lethal on throws close to the line of scrimmage. That said, Matthew Stafford and Jones have developed chemistry rapidly, and the former Bengals wide receiver is truly a good fit in the Lions offense, offering a skill set that makes him a threat at all levels, including the deepest parts of the field.

A lot of people scoffed at $8MM per year for Jones, but it felt right at the time and seems like an even better value when you see the potential he has in the offense. Obviously time will tell, but I could see Jones catching 80 balls for close to 1,000 yards this year, and we all understand his potential in the red zone.

Zach Links: The Lions added some notable names at WR late in the offseason by signing Anquan Boldin and Andre Roberts. What does Boldin have left in the tank? Do you think that Roberts can get back to his old form?

Justin Rogers: Based on the fact that he caught nearly 70 balls in San Fran last season, Boldin obviously isn’t running on fumes. He’s looked like a nice fit in the slot, giving the Lions’ nickel corners fits with the way he uses his thicker frame to box out the defender and create extra separation on routes across the middle.

The Lions have a lot of weapons, so they don’t need Boldin to be a focal point of the offense. Depending on the health of Eric Ebron, Boldin will be the fourth or fifth option in the passing game and catching 40-50 balls would be an upgrade from what the team has recently been working with at WR3.

Zach Links: Many expected the Lions to use their first-round pick on Taylor Decker and they did not disappoint when it was their turn at the podium in April. Do you expect Decker to shine right off of the bat or will he need some time to develop, as rookie left tackles often do?

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Justin Rogers: The Lions aren’t messing around, plugging the rookie in as the starting left tackle on Day 1. While they could still flip him to the right side if he struggles in the preseason, the expectation, at this point, is he’ll stick on the blindside.

Naturally, there will be struggles. It’s a big jump in competition and he’ll face some of the best athletes in the world rushing from that side, but it probably won’t be a massive drop-off from Riley Reiff. And with Reiff moving to the right side, solidifying the weakest link on Detroit’s line, the unit, on the whole, should be improved.

Zach Links: Were you surprised by the Lions’ decision to keep Jim Caldwell as head coach? What does he have to do this year in order to continue in that role in 2017?

Justin Rogers: Not really. In two seasons, Caldwell has gone 18-14 with a playoff appearance. Obviously last season’s start was embarrassing, but the way they fought to the end and responded to mid-season coaching staff changes, speaks to the roster’s unwillingness to quit on their coach.

It’s a low-risk proposition for general manager Bob Quinn. You stick with the guy the players like and respect and see if they can maintain the momentum from the end of last season, and if it doesn’t work, you install your guy.

Even though Quinn said it won’t strictly on making the playoffs playoffs, I do anticipate a postseason berth is the only way Caldwell can guarantee his return in 2017.

Zach Links: The Lions have Ziggy Ansah under team control through 2017 after exercising his fifth-year option. Do you expect the two sides to start discussing an extension soon?

Justin Rogers: Maybe next offseason, but there’s no rush. The team has other key contributors from that 2013 draft class, namely Theo Riddick, Devin Taylor, Larry Warford and Sam Martin to get done first. Plus, Stafford is also up for an extension in short order.

They can wait on Ansah, and the franchise tag, while never ideal, is always in your back pocket if his agent is playing hardball.

When Ansah does sign a long-term deal, it’s going to be massive.

Zach Links: How do you see this season playing out for the Lions? Will they make the playoffs after their sub-.500 showing last year?

Justin Rogers: For me, it hinges on two things. First, how well does the young offensive line gel? If it’s quickly, and Stafford gets better protection and there are some more consistent holes opened in the run game, the offense can be pretty good.

On defense, everyone wants to know if DeAndre Levy is healthy and back to form. He’s currently on the non-football injury list after missing nearly all of the 2015 campaign with a hip injury. Take him away and the team’s overall talent at linebacker is average, at best. With him, you have a Pro Bowl-caliber playmaker behind an under-the-radar front four.

With Levy healthy, 9-10 wins is realistic, especially considering the favorable schedule. Without him, seven seems more likely.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

The Beat: Adam Teicher On The Chiefs

August 1st, 2016 at 9:36am CST by Zachary Links

With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Now, we continue the series by discussing the Chiefs with Adam Teicher of ESPN.com. You can follow Adam on Twitter @adamteicher and check out his stories here.

Zach Links: Heading into the offseason, I think a lot of people were expecting Eric Berry and the Chiefs to hammer out an extension before the July 15 deadline. Were you surprised when no deal was struck?

Adam Teicher: Many people assumed that the Chiefs and Berry would come to a last-minute agreement because that’s what happened last year with franchise player Justin Houston. But the Chiefs weren’t as motivated to get a long-term deal done with Berry as they were with Houston. While they feel Berry is a good player and has many intangible qualities that make them a better team, they don’t feel he is indispensable, as they thought with Houston. So, in that light, no is the answer to the question. The Chiefs weren’t going to meet Berry’s price, but they did with Houston.

Zach Links: Berry rightly views himself as one of the league’s very best safeties, but the two sides were said to be miles apart on terms. Do you think Berry is taking any of this personally?

Adam Teicher: It’s hard to know what Berry is thinking because he’s kept to himself publicly through the whole process. The fact he has yet to accept the Chiefs’ mandatory one-year contract offer, his only option at this point to play for them this season, would indicate he’s not happy with his predicament.

Zach Links: Ultimately, do you think Berry will sign a long-term deal to stay in Kansas City?

Adam Teicher: It’s difficult to see that at this point. If the Chiefs weren’t willing to satisfy him with a long-term offer this year, why would they do it next year? Perhaps things will change in that regard this season but I don’t think they will.

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Zach Links: The Chiefs focused on keeping their own guys in-house this offseason, but they did make a splash in free agency when they signed right tackle Mitchell Schwartz to a five-year, $33MM deal. Do you think we’ll see KC’s offensive line improve significantly in 2016?

Adam Teicher: There’s a reasonable chance of that. Schwartz should be a huge upgrade. The Chiefs started nine different offensive line combinations last year, some by necessity because of injuries but some by choice. They were constantly shuffling their starting line combinations in camp last year and things were never settled at many positions. They’ve already settled on their five starters for this year and that continuity should help, too.

Zach Links: Which veterans do you think will be on the bubble when it comes time to trim the roster down to 53? Which unheralded players could surprise people by making the team?

Adam Teicher: Running back Knile Davis and wide receiver/kick returner De’Anthony Thomas will have trouble keeping their jobs. Davis is fourth in line behind Jamaal Charles, Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West. The Chiefs don’t need four backs. The Chiefs drafted Tyreek Hill in the fifth round and he’s a similar player to Thomas, who hasn’t been able to stay consistently healthy and produced little for the Chiefs when he was in their lineup, particularly on offense. The Chiefs have a couple of young players in tight end Ross Travis and linebacker Justin March who will likely make the team. Travis has the best chance of making an impact, too. He was a basketball player only at Penn State and is still learning football but the Chiefs have some expectations for him.

Zach Links: In this year’s draft, the Chiefs traded down from No. 28 and tapped Mississippi State defensive lineman Chris Jones in the second round. Did you like that move? What do you think Jones’ ceiling is?

Adam Teicher: Jones should be a productive player, eventually if not immediately. The Chiefs are eager to see him once they’re able to practice in pads. They think he has potential as a pass rusher. He will have to earn whatever playing time he gets this year because the Chiefs are happy with what they’ve been getting from their three starters, Dontari Poe, Allen Bailey, and Jaye Howard. But Jones will get some snaps when they give one of the others some rest.

Zach Links: Doug Pederson is in Philly and the Chiefs have turned to Matt Nagy and Brad Childress to serve as co-offensive coordinators. What, if anything, will change in KC’s offense?

Adam Teicher: The biggest change might be in the two-minute offense. The Chiefs have streamlined their two-minute playbook in an effort to improve in an area where they haven’t been very good. Otherwise, not much will change. Andy Reid still has considerable influence over the offense and Childress and Nagy have been with the Chiefs for three years, so they’ve been part of the process in the past.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

The Beat: Vic Carucci On The Bills

July 29th, 2016 at 3:31pm CST by Zachary Links

With the season fast approaching, we’re chatting with beat writers from around the league to gain insight on each team’s offseason and how those moves will impact the season ahead.

Now, we continue the series by discussing the Bills with Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News. You can follow Vic on Twitter @viccarucci and check out his stories here.

Zach Links: As you reported this week, the Bills and Tyrod Taylor‘s agent have been in frequent contact with regards to a long-term deal. Taylor is a unique case because while he had a strong 2015, he doesn’t have a long track record of success. What sort of deal do you think would make sense for both sides?

Vic Carucci: I could see something that provides Taylor with enough guaranteed money to satisfy him (and, remember, you’re talking about a player who played under sixth-round contract for most of his career as a backup in Baltimore) but also includes enough reasonable incentives to give him a good chance to move into the pay range he desires ($18MM or so) while also protecting the Bills. The biggest concern, for both parties, is the injury risk from Taylor’s inclination to run, so I think that will be a factor as well in how the contract is structured.

Zach Links: To date, the Bills have not been willing to offer Stephon Gilmore the kind of monster long-term deal that he is after. However, a Gilmore extension would probably give Buffalo enough room to extend Taylor. Do you see the Bills and Gilmore working out an extension sometime soon?

Vic Carucci: I don’t. I think he’s locked into the idea of getting a Josh Norman-like deal, and the Bills aren’t going to give him that. The Bills are compensating him fairly for this season, anticipating the scenario of him potentially playing into the final year of his rookie contract. They will see where they stand cap-wise at midseason, and perhaps they could resume what to date have been stalled talks. As far as the impact on Taylor, I think the Bills view it as a separate situation and, depending on how/if it works out with Taylor, there would likely be other contracts adjusted/restructured to accommodate whatever its resolved with the QB, if it’s resolved.

Zach Links: Do you think the Bills made the right pick when they selected Shaq Lawson No. 19 overall? Does his shoulder issue concern you at all in the long run?

Vic Carucci: I liked the pick. The health risk was always on the table, and by having the surgery done in the offseason, it at least creates the possibility of having Lawson available for half the season. Although his absence could adversely impact the hopes of Rex Ryan of an immediately dramatic turnaround for his defense, I think you need to take a longer-term view with Lawson. When healthy, he should be a difference-making pass-rusher for many seasons.

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