# NFL 2023 Off-Season Thread
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801
**Category:** The Game Room
**Tags:** football-nfl
**Created:** [February 14, 2023, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801 "2023-02-14T21:26:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2023, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/41 "2023-02-28T16:19:16Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> > [@Akaj](#):
> >
> > Interesting that, of the four QBs taken 1-2 in 2015 and 2016, three (Mariota, Winston, Wentz) are currently without a team
>
> Jameis Winston, as far as I can tell, is still under contract with the Saints; it appears that he signed a two-year contract with them last March.
Oops, I stand corrected. (I thought I read they’d dropped him in their pursuit of Carr.) But he’s still pretty unlikely to ever attain the stardom projected for a #1 pick.
> [@Railer13](#):
>
> Don’t forget the other QB drafted in the first round in 2016, Paxton Lynch, taken in the #26 spot by the Broncos.
As much as Denver fans would like to, amirite?
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2023, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/42 "2023-02-28T16:22:28Z")
> [@Akaj](#):
>
> As much as Denver fans would like to, amirite?
We Chiefs fans have been reveling in the post-Manning QB decisions made by the Broncos over the past several years.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2023, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/43 "2023-02-28T16:23:56Z")
> [@Akaj](#):
>
> Oops, I stand corrected. (I thought I read they’d dropped him in their pursuit of Carr.)
This appears to be a hot rumor, but has not yet happened. This article from this morning boils down to, “the Falcons just cut Mariota; is Winston next?”
> **[Falcons cut Marcus Mariota; will Saints-Jameis Winston split be next?](https://saintswire.usatoday.com/2023/02/28/falcons-cut-marcus-mariota-saints-jameis-winston-contract/)**
>
> The Falcons announced they have released Marcus Mariota on Tuesday; will a split between the Saints and Jameis Winston be next?
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [February 28, 2023, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/44 "2023-02-28T21:44:33Z")
In another roster move being made to free up cap space prior to the start of the new league year, the Bucs will be releasing running back Leonard Fournette (though Fournette indicates that this is at his request).
The Bucs had the league’s worst rushing offense last season, and Fournette’s contract would have had a cap hit of over $8 million for 2023. As it is, the Bucs will still be in cap hell – they are currently projected to be at $55 million over the cap, largely due to Tom Brady’s contract. They only have one quarterback on the roster right now: third-year player Kyle Trask, who has thrown nine passes in his NFL career.
> **[Bucs to cut Fournette; RB says it was his request](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35754143/buccaneers-release-rb-leonard-fournette-source-says)**
>
> The Buccaneers will release running back Leonard Fournette before the new league year begins March 15.
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### Author:  [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2023, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/45 "2023-03-01T16:18:05Z")
The potential top pick may have destroyed his value.
> **[Jalen Carter, star University of Georgia defensive lineman, facing...](https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/01/us/jalen-carter-crash-chandler-lecroy-devin-willock/index.html)**
>
> University of Georgia's star defensive lineman Jalen Carter — projected as a top pick in the upcoming NFL draft — is facing charges of reckless driving and racing in connection with a crash that killed teammate Devin Willock and team employee...
This happened Jan. 15, not years ago. So Carter already knew he would be a top 5 pick, maybe #1, and still got involved with this kind of idiocy.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2023, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/46 "2023-03-01T19:54:16Z")
So he was drunk and racing, and the other car was basically stolen with another drunk person operating it. The other car crashed and killed both people in it.
I wonder if he’ll face any responsibility for the deaths in this.
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### Author:  [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2023, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/47 "2023-03-02T15:01:42Z")
The charges (so far) are just misdemeanors, so jail time seems unlikely. (IANAL, of course.) The real punishment will be the fall in his draft value. Teams were already aware that there were questions about his level of motivation, and now he’s revealed himself to be the kind of guy who could be a monumental bust, out of the league in 2-3 years.
[The difference in first-year salary](https://overthecap.com/draft) between the #1 pick and the #10 is ~$3.3 million. If he falls to the first pick in round 2, it’s ~$5.5 million.
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### Author:  [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2023, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/48 "2023-03-05T06:55:12Z")
Fun day watching the Combine. I think the Bears have to be loving the way today shook out. While you always expect talented athletes to excel in a controlled environment like the Combine, but even still, the QBs at the Combine really showed out today.
Bryce Young did not participate, but we was measured at 5’ 10 1/8" and 204 lbs. The weight is up about 20 pounds from what he was listed at in college. Some people were suggesting he might measure just over 5’ 11" and that certainly didn’t happen, but at least he got into 2 digits in the inches column. He will likely throw and run at his Pro Day.
CJ Stroud was damn near perfect. I predict that he will leapfrog Young as the #1 QB on several analysts’ boards following this showing. I also think he’ll be the #1 overall prospect on multiple team’s boards based on his measurables and his throwing performance. I think Young sitting it out will hurt his stock, but then again, him standing next to Stroud, Levis and Richardson and throwing probably wouldn’t have been great for him either. Fortunately for him his game tape is great.
Will Levis and Anthony Richardson were both INSANE. Richardson probably has the best measurables of any QB ever. Levis uncorked a 59 mph throw, only to be one-upped by Richardson’s 60 mph throw. Josh Allen holds the record of 62 mpg. But that’s not really a super important stat, what matters is how they deliver the ball and both guys looked effortless and accurate. Levis was probably the best thrower, Richardson second best and Stroud a close third. Each guy was close to flawless on deep balls and sluggos, 3 pure throwers. It was so obvious that they are on a completely different level than everyone else.
We shall see what happens once the hype settles, but all 4 of these guys look like candidates for the 1st overall pick. Richardson has the weakest resume in terms of production, but he makes up for it in spades when you look at his upside. Levis and Stroud are just prototypical studs. I know we probably say this almost every year, but we could have the top 4 picks be QBs.
What does this mean for the Bears? Tough to say. Certainly, having a lot of elite talent at the top is great if you have the 1st overall pick. Best case is that the Texans fall in love with one guy, probably Young, and trade up. Then there’s a feeding frenzy for teams outside the top 5 to move up to 2 allowing the Bears to move back twice. A similar situation could play out if the Colts trade up to 1 and the Bears are sitting there at 4 with only one of the top guys left of the board.
Alternative theory of the case, if you’re iffy on Young’s size and you think that either of Stroud, Levis or Richardson are interchangible prospects, you probably prefer to sit back and take what’s left. I find this idea difficult to believe, even if you really like all those guys, if you’re a GM you really want to control your fate. Taking leftovers just isn’t how the game works. These GMs are watching every snap, taking interviews, putting them on the whiteboard, scouring the campuses for stories…they WILL have a stack ranked list and they probably will fall in love with a guy. Gonna be tough to be sitting there chewing your nails on draft day wondering if someone else sees what you see. More guys showing out means more possibilities for a GM to get smitten.
In other news, this WR class looks like utter trash. I’m sure a few guys will be special once they hit the league, but right now this just looks like a mush of guys with no one really standing out. There isn’t a physical freak in the group. There isn’t a guy that has an ironclad pedigree from a top program. This isn’t great for the Bears who desperately need to find some pass catchers on day two. The TEs actually look a lot more exciting.
Tomorrow we get to watch the OLs which will be must-see TV for any Bears fan.
Last thought, it’s kind of wild seeing 3 different Illini DBs at the Combine showing up at or near the top of a number of different lists. Speaks well of the job Bielema has done in his short tenure, also scary to think what will become of their defense in 2023.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2023, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/49 "2023-03-05T09:24:57Z")
> [@Omniscient](#):
>
> Will Levis and Anthony Richardson were both INSANE.
Levis may be **actually** insane.
>
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### Author:  [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2023, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/50 "2023-03-05T12:37:58Z")
Ha!
That reminds me of this one girl on MTV’s The Challenge who is deathly afraid of ketchup. She started fighting with her toxic on-again/off-again romantic interest and he got super pissed so he squirted ketchup on her. She freaked the fuck out.
Pretty much everyone else was all “Uh… ketchup?”
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### Author:  [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2023, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/51 "2023-03-05T19:09:40Z")
Ah, that’s nothing.
> **[LOOK: Kentucky quarterback Will Levis drinks his coffee with mayonnaise](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/look-kentucky-quarterback-will-levis-drinks-his-coffee-with-mayonnaise/amp/)**
>
> The Wildcats' QB has an interesting addition to his morning pick-me-up
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### Author:  [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/52 "2023-03-05T20:01:38Z")
> [@Akaj](#):
>
> But I wouldn’t be surprised if the Seahawks tried to sign him to a modest deal while also drafting their QB of the future.
Seahawks pick #5 this year. With this class, I don’t see how you cannot draft QB and then worry about your edge rusher with pick #20.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2023, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/53 "2023-03-05T20:58:24Z")
I was thinking the same thing.
If there are 4 potentially great QBs, you have a pretty good chance of being able to get one at #5. And while Geno is pretty good, he’s not the QB of the future for the franchise. And I bet they can good a good rusher at 20.
This draft is going to be so interesting.
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### Author:  [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2023, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/54 "2023-03-06T16:37:17Z")
Derek Carr is going to the Saints.
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### Author:  [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2023, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/55 "2023-03-06T16:59:09Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> > [@Akaj](#):
> >
> > Oops, I stand corrected. (I thought I read they’d dropped him in their pursuit of Carr.)
>
> This appears to be a hot rumor, but has not yet happened. This article from this morning boils down to, “the Falcons just cut Mariota; is Winston next?”
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#):
>
> Derek Carr is going to the Saints.
See, I was just clairvoyant!
> **[Report: Jameis Winston a 'Likely' Cut by Saints After Rumored Derek Carr...](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10067815-report-jameis-winston-a-likely-cut-by-saints-after-rumored-derek-carr-contract)**
>
> New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winson is a "likely salary-cap casualty" with the team signing Derek Carr on Monday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.…
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### Author:  [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2023, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/56 "2023-03-06T17:34:49Z")
Booooo!
So what, now the Jets are going to get Jameis Winston or some shit?
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2023, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/57 "2023-03-06T17:40:09Z")
> [@EllisDee](#):
>
> now the Jets are going to get Jameis Winston or some shit?
Aaron Rodgers is still lurking out there.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2023, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/58 "2023-03-06T19:03:10Z")
Bless his heart.
[ ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FC1yDGaUYAk7iHN.jpg)
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### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2023, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/59 "2023-03-06T21:06:48Z")
Calvin Ridley’s suspension is over.
> **[NFL reinstates Ridley from gambling suspension](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35799228/nfl-reinstates-jaguars-calvin-ridley-gambling-suspension)**
>
> The NFL reinstated receiver Calvin Ridley from his indefinite gambling suspension Monday.
Still, he hasn’t played in an NFL game since October 2021 and that’s a very long time in the Not For Long league.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-off-season-thread/979801/60 "2023-03-06T21:10:43Z")
> [@dalej42](#):
>
> Still, he hasn’t played in an NFL game since October 2021 and that’s a very long time
True, though it’s not unlike what would happen if a guy suffered a bad ACL tear mid-season, and wasn’t able to get back to playing condition for the following season. But, yes, he missed nearly two full seasons.
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