Behind CeeDee Lamb, the Dallas Cowboys could definitely use more wide receiver support, but they haven’t really addressed the issue this offseason.
The Cowboys did not choose a receiver in the NFL Draft until Ryan Flournoy was chosen in the sixth round, and they did not sign any receivers in free agency.
Dallas benched Michael Gallup, leaving Lamb behind with Brandin Cooks and not much more. It’s also important to remember that Cooks was a major letdown for the team in 2023.
Why, therefore, have the Cowboys not addressed this problem?
Dallas obviously has severe budgetary limitations, which is why the team decided not to pursue Derrick Henry or any other elite running back available as a free agent. It’s also a major factor in the team’s failure to sign long-term contracts with Micah Parsons, Dak Prescott, or Lamb.
It’s obvious that the Cowboys are watching their spending, and that makes total sense.
But Dallas will most likely need to start filling some of these vulnerabilities if it is to compete for a Super Bowl the following season.
For this reason, former New Orleans Saints standout Michael Thomas is someone the Cowboys should consider, according to Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus.
Thomas used to be one of the best wide receivers in football, but injuries have severely limited his effectiveness in recent years. Due to a knee ailment, he only participated in 10 games last season but still managed 39 receptions for 448 yards and a touchdown.
However, he might be a low-risk, high-payoff acquisition.
In the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, the Saints selected the 31-year-old, who played NCAA football at Ohio State.
In each of his first four NFL seasons, he gained more than 1,000 yards, including his league-high 1,725 yards in 2019. That season, Thomas led the NFL in catches for the second consecutive year, totaling 149 receptions.
Thomas made three consecutive visits to the Pro Bowl between 2017 and 2019, and he was also selected to the First Team All-Pro twice.
But in 2020, Thomas was sidelined after just seven games due to an ankle issue. After missing all of 2021, he only participated in three competitions in 2022.
It might be worthwhile for the Cowboys, who are in desperate need of receiver support, to give Thomas a chance.
The New Orleans Saints have made some changes to their quarterback position this offseason. Derek Carr, Jake Haener, and rookie Spencer Rattler have been the team’s mainstays. Nathan Peterman and rookie Spencer Rattler have also joined the group. However, the Saints have now cut one veteran out of the group: Kellen Mond was waived on Wednesday, according to Nick Underhill, and offensive lineman Tommy Kraemer was also waived. As of right now, the Saints’ quarterback position is as follows: Derek Carr, Jake Haener, Nathan Peterman, and Nathan Peterman. Mond was not expected to be in the team’s long-term plans.
Either way, he did not spend much time in the building. He’ll try to find cover somewhere.
Logan Mailloux’s plaque was reportedly swiftly taken out of the team’s locker by the Rocket.
The Alabama Crimson Tide’s projected starting quarterback in 2024 is Jalen Milroe.
The Alabama Crimson Tide’s projected starting quarterback in 2024 is Jalen Milroe.
Gaining Nick Saban’s trust before SEC play earned him the starting job last season, and he’ll probably do the same under new head coach Kalen DeBoer. Last season, Milroe completed 2,834 yards of passing with 23 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He was a formidable weapon on the ground as well, amassing 531 yards and 12 scores through rushes.
It’s important to remember that following the spring practice, DeBoer wanted to showcase all four of Alabama’s quarterbacks on the depth chart. That kind of potential is difficult to ignore. Regarding his quarterbacks, DeBoer remarked, “We have four, very talented” (h/t On3). “I understand that you tend to focus on the starter, but there is some excellent talent.”
They are so appreciative of our process and what we’re doing that words cannot describe how they feel. The Crimson Tide also includes redshirt freshman Dylan Lonergan and redshirt sophomore Ty Simpson, a former five-star prospect, in addition to Milroe. Freshman quarterback Austin Mack accompanied DeBoer from Washington to Tuscaloosa through the transfer portal. Mack was a four-star quarterback in the past.
That leaves DeBoer with four bright and qualified quarterbacks, any of whom could become the next Michael Penix Jr. in his offensive scheme.
According to DeBoer, “every single one of those guys improved from the beginning of the spring.” “They feel more at ease in the offensive role. Being better does not imply perfection. They read a few throws here and throws there. They are all in, fully engaged with the playbook. They think they will be accepted into this program.
Why the NBA did not ban Jamal Murray is revealed in a report.
Why the NBA did not ban Jamal Murray is revealed in a report.
Former five-star quarterback reveals where he plans to transfer
Sam Huard, a quarterback for Cal Poly and a former five-star recruit, made his decision last month after logging onto the transfer portal.
Huard has reportedly committed to play for Utah, according to Brandon Huffman of 247Sports. Huard discussed the choice with Huffman, noting Utah’s “unbelievable” football culture as a major factor.
Huard remarked, “I adored the setting and the neighborhood.” “Overall, it felt like an amazing place for me to take the next step, and I loved the people too.” According to 247Sports’ rankings, Huard was ranked as one of the top three quarterback prospects for the 2021 high school class.
He was positioned between the top three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft—No. 2 Caleb Williams and No. 4 Drake Maye. For Cal Poly past season, Huard completed 185 of 304 passes for 2,205 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Huard played center for the Mustangs, who finished 3-6. Huard played his first two seasons at Washington before transferring to Cal Poly in January 2023.
During his tenure with the Huskies, he appeared in five games with just one start. At Washington, Huard completed 24 of 44 passes for one touchdown and four interceptions. Huard joins a quarterback group in Utah captained by senior Cam Rising, who missed the entire previous campaign due to a knee injury.
The Minnesota Vikings and wide receiver Justin Jefferson are still at odds over a contract extension, even with NFL training camp little over two months away.
As Jefferson gets ready to reach the last year of his contract, a number of wide receivers have signed large long-term contracts with their respective teams. At this time, he must be growing more frustrated. Naturally, discussions with Jefferson might differ slightly from those with individuals such as Amon-Ra St. Brown, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith.
The Vikings have more work ahead of them because Jefferson is expected to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. According to general manager Kwefi Adofo-Mensah, Minnesota has no plans to trade Jefferson and fully intends to hold onto him for the long run.
However, things get more difficult for the Vikings the longer this goes on. Although the Vikings have the franchise tag and Jefferson is skilled enough to control his own destiny, Alec Lewis of The Athletic has alerted Minnesota to the possibility of a “storm cloud” developing during the discussions.
What is meant by that? In any case, Minnesota may end up placing a franchise tag on Jefferson in March of next year if it is unable to reach a long-term agreement with him before the season begins.
That would keep Jefferson from becoming a free agent, but it would probably irritate him along the way. The Vikings might potentially find themselves forced to trade Jefferson before the 2025 season, which would be extremely messy.
Although it is obviously a long way off, Minnesota must take it into account while it works on a new contract for their ace pass-catcher. When healthy, Jefferson has shown to be one of the NFL’s top receivers, and he wants to be paid accordingly.
Lewis reports that one agent believes the LSU player would sign a contract worth about $34 million a year, while another believes he can make between $35 and $36 million a year over the course of five seasons.
The aforementioned Brown recently received a three-year, $96 million extension from the Philadelphia Eagles, making him the highest-paid receiver in football. That works out to $32 million a year, and Jefferson and his team will undoubtedly demand more.
In the upcoming weeks and months, we’ll see if the Vikings are able to move forward with their negotiations with Justin Jefferson. If not, the next year in Minnesota might prove to be extremely fascinating.
