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PETER KING TACKLES NFL OWNERS MEETINGS & BIGGEST NFL OFFSEASON NEWS IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION OF “FMIA”

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“I think the more I hear about the Jets’ pursuit of Aaron Rodgers, the more it’d scare me — unless, and this is a big ‘unless’ — it involves at least a verbal agreement that he plays in 2024 as well.” – King on the potential stipulations in an Aaron Rodgers trade

“All I can say is the Ravens had better, deep in the back of their pragmatic minds, start to consider veteran alternatives — and maybe even the rookie second- and third-round QB market.” – King’s advice for the Ravens in the midst of the Lamar Jackson saga

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 27, 2023 – Peter King tackles the NFL owners meetings and the league’s biggest offseason news in this week’s edition of Football Morning in America, available now exclusively on NBCSports.com. King breaks down the annual NFL Meetings in Arizona, the Aaron Rodgers and Jets saga, Bryce Young’s evaluation, and more.

For more NFL coverage, Peacock offers daily programming on the NBC Sports channel, including Pro Football Talk at 7 a.m. ET, The Dan Patrick Show at 9 a.m. ET, Brother from Another at 3 p.m. ET, plus Chris Simms Unbuttoned on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and the weekly Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry and The Peter King Podcast. This week on Chris Simms Unbuttoned, Simms continues his annual position-by-position draft prospect rankings. On today’s episode, Simms unveils his 2023 NFL Draft wide receiver rankings. To learn more about the NBC Sports on Peacock channel and how to sign up, click here.

The NFL on NBC YouTube channel offers daily football content for free, with exclusive videos from Peter King Mike Florio, Chris Simms, and more. To access all of these videos and more, click here to subscribe.

The following are highlights from this week’s edition of Football Morning in America:

Peter King on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s success rate and why he is reportedly expected to receive a contract extension: “He works for the owners, who are mostly happy with his performance; he has kept the game from any work stoppages that resulted in lost regular-season or playoff games, and this CBA doesn’t expire till early 2031; he has lorded over a league that dominates the sports landscape even when it’s not playing games; and there’s the matter of franchise values.”

King on who he thinks could succeed Goodell one day: “Speculation will center on Brian Rolapp, as it should, and Troy Vincent if the league looks internally for Goodell’s replacement, with Rolapp having an edge among active league office execs. Some club executives — Mark Donovan (Kansas City), Tom Garfinkel (Miami), Kevin Demoff (Rams) — could surface as well. My not-so-dark horse is Anthony Noto, the CEO of personal finance giant SoFi, and former CFO of the NFL (2008-2010).”

King on the future of punts in the NFL: “The NFL wants to significantly cut down on punts in the game. There’s a proposal here to have touchbacks on punts returned to the 25-yard line, not the 20-, in part to encourage teams with a fourth down near midfield to go for it instead of punting it away.”

King on Alabama QB Bryce Young: “I’d been told previously that Young, in not getting many passes batted down at the line, has a sense of playing bigger than he is.”

King on the Lamar Jackson/Ravens situation: “All I can say is the Ravens had better, deep in the back of their pragmatic minds, start to consider veteran alternatives — and maybe even the rookie second- and third-round QB market.”

King on LB Bobby Wagner returning to the Seahawks after one season with the Rams: “It is a tribute to Wagner being mature and burning no bridges when he was a cap casualty with the Seahawks last spring…And it’s a tribute to Seattle GM John Schneider for how he handled Wagner since drafting him in the second round of the 2012 draft. The mutual respect drips from this return. Let it be a model for other great players and franchises.”

King on the NFL ‘very likely’ continuing to allow ball carriers to be pushed from behind: “My problem, aside from the fact that it’s not a football play, is that it’s only a matter of time before a quarterback gets hurt on the play…I think the NFL’s going to live to regret this inaction.”

King on what he’s hearing about Daniel Snyder’s Commanders sale: “One source with significant financial knowledge about the league said (Daniel) Snyder is highly unlikely to get his dream price for the team – $7 billion. Snyder, this source said, is more likely to sell the full asset for something just over $6 billion.”

King on the NFL’s plan to create more storytelling content in partnership with Skydance Media: “One NFL executive told me the most important part of the partnership will be spreading NFL appeal to the globe.”

King on the potential of flexing Thursday night games: “I’m dubious it’ll pass…But I’m told this is something Roger Goodell really wants to have in his toolbox…It still will be bad for the product and for the fans in-stadium, but it is sensible to legislate not being able to do it more than once per year.”

King on Georgia DT Jalen Carter’s draft stock: “I think I won’t be surprised, unless Seattle takes him at five, if Jalen Carter drops out of the top 10.”

King on Aaron Rodgers and the Jets: “I think the more I hear about the Jets’ pursuit of Aaron Rodgers, the more it’d scare me — unless, and this is a big ‘unless’ — it involves at least a verbal agreement that he plays in 2024 as well.”

King on the Jets signing WR Mecole Hardman: “The Jets have added a speed guy Kansas City let walk after an injury-plagued season but have surrendered the advantage of a comfortable rookie contract, and Hardman will eat up perhaps $3-million-to-$4-million more for a parallel player. All in all, it’s a shaky deal.”

King on the Jets trading WR Elijah Moore: “Dumping the 32nd pick of 2021, with 4.35 speed, after two lousy seasons is bad business. And (Jets GM Joe) Douglas didn’t pick up an extra pick here — he moved up 32 spots. Valuable spots, of course. But early third-round picks are valuable, and the Jets are without theirs now.”

Read the full FMIA column here and catch the weekly Peter King Podcast here.

The following are additional highlights of NBC Sports’ NFL coverage:

    • ProFootballTalk.com continues to provide the latest news and updates.
    • NBC Sports EDGE’s Rotoworld Football Show continues the NFL discussion and Bet The Edge Podcast provides daily betting insights.
    • The NFL on NBC YouTube channel offers daily football content for free, with exclusive videos from Peter King Mike Florio, Chris Simms, and more. To access all of these videos and more, click here to subscribe

A new “Football Morning in America” posts every Monday morning exclusively on NBCSports.com through the NFL season. It was announced in May 2019 that King signed an exclusive agreement with NBC Sports Group that included writing a weekly Monday morning NFL column for NBCSports.com; making regular appearances on PFT Live with Mike Florio; and continuing to contribute to Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports.

—NBC SPORTS—

Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay’s Weekly Mock Draft Specials Plus Repertoire of NFL Draft Shows Enhance ESPN’s Programming in Advance of NFL Draft Week   

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Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay’s Weekly Mock Draft Specials Plus Repertoire of NFL Draft Shows Enhance ESPN’s Programming In Advance of NFL Draft Week   

The post Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay’s Weekly Mock Draft Specials Plus Repertoire of NFL Draft Shows Enhance ESPN’s Programming in Advance of NFL Draft Week    appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

OHIO STATE QB C.J. STROUD IS NO. 1 PROSPECT ON CHRIS SIMMS’ 2023 NFL DRAFT QUARTERBACK RANKINGS, AVAILABLE NOW ON “CHRIS SIMMS UNBUTTONED” PODCAST

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 “I am beyond blown away…this is as close to Joe Burrow as I’ve seen coming out in the draft.” – Simms on ranking Stroud No. 1

“He’s as natural at playing the position as you’re going to see. He makes so many great quarterback plays…He’s No. 2 because of his size and his arm is good but it’s not on the same level as C.J. Stroud.” – Simms on Alabama QB Bryce Young

“Why is this guy not getting more buzz? What is there not to like? … If you’re going off film, I don’t know how he’s not in the top quarterback conversation.” – Simms on Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker

“The only guy who we’ve seen somewhat built like this is Cam Newton…His ceiling is probably the highest in the draft. His floor, though, it might be the lowest.” – Simms on Florida QB Anthony Richardson

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 20, 2023 – NBC Sports’ Chris Simms discusses this year’s top QB prospects heading into the 2023 NFL Draft and unveiled his quarterback draft rankings on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast, listing Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud No. 1. In the episode, Simms ranks and breaks down Stroud, Alabama’s Bryce Young, Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, Florida’s Anthony Richardson, UCLA’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Kentucky’s Will Levis.

Simms, a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2003 NFL Draft who played eight NFL seasons, is joined by NBC Sports’ Ahmed Fareed on the podcast. The two offer in-depth breakdowns, rankings, and NFL comparisons for this year’s top quarterback prospects.

“It’s an interesting class,” Simms said of this year’s quarterback prospects. “It’s a good class. I will say that, overall, it is a better class than last year, and I think that there’s a little bit of everything in the class, too, as far as flavors and styles of play… I think there’s less questions overall about these top guys than what we had last year.”

Fareed to Simms on his rankings: “This is all about the tape. This is film rankings. So, you didn’t have a guy No. 1 that you kind of thought from a year ago and now you’re trying to defend that No. 1 ranking and it’s hard to get off of it. You didn’t rank these guys until basically a week ago, so now you’ve looked at the film and this is what your rankings are based off of.”

Simms has had recent success in projecting college quarterbacks – including naming Patrick Mahomes as his most exciting prospect in 2017, listing Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen as his top-two QBs in 2018, and having Justin Herbert as his No. 2 QB in 2020.

In the lead up to April’s NFL Draft, Simms will rank and break down every position group, provide a list of sleeper prospects, and issue a final mock draft.

Simms’ Top Five QB prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft:

Tier 1
1 C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Tier 2
2. Bryce Young, Alabama
3. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
Tier 3
4. Anthony Richardson, Florida
Tier 4
T5. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA
T5. Will Levis, Kentucky

 

The following are highlights from Simms’ QB draft rankings:

No. 1: C.J. Stroud, Ohio State

“I am beyond blown away from what I saw…this is as close to Joe Burrow as I’ve seen coming out in the draft. When you just talk about great decision-making, quickness, I mean that was Joe Burrow…C.J. Stroud’s ability to make high-level throws and just drop the ball in the receiver’s pockets, hit them in the chest, wherever, is off-the-charts good…He’s a pure pocket passing quarterback, but that’s not to say he can’t move and be mobile too…When you really break him down, his incompletions are off-the-charts good …Decision-making, top-notch. The ability to make power, game-changing type throws, top-notch. And then go on to accuracy with the short game, it’s all off the charts. But what separates him is the amount of 15- to 30-yard throws that are on the money that change field position or the game on a consistent basis. Like I said, Joe Burrow is the only guy I can remember where I just kept going, ‘Whoa, another strike. Whoa, another strike.’ … This is not one where I’m going out on a limb and I’m splitting hairs. For (me), definite No. 1 pick.”

No. 2: Bryce Young, Alabama

“The natural, that’s what he is. He’s as natural at playing the position as you’re going to see. He makes so many great quarterback plays. Just like C.J. Stroud, the brain is on another level. The ability to read defenses, see the field, throw the appropriate throw…For a guy that’s a college quarterback, he’s as slick as you’re going to see. What I mean by that, you might not see a ton of wow, oh my gosh throws from Bryce Young, but you see a lot of wow, oh my gosh releases and stuff like that…His ability to throw slants and screens, he can be like (Patrick) Mahomes where he can just flick it out or Aaron Rodgers where you’re just like, ‘Woah, was that out quick.’ The ability to move in the pocket and buy time, bounce around, make people miss, and then have this incredible patience…There’s really so many good things to talk about. He’s a very good athlete, he’s a great decision-maker, he’s aggressive – but not as aggressive as C.J. Stroud – and he can make some wow, highlight-type plays. But he’s No. 2 because of his size and his arm is good but it’s not on the same level as C.J. Stroud.”

No. 3: Hendon Hooker, Tennessee

“Why is this guy not getting more buzz? What is there not to like? … All I know is I saw a really good-looking, on the money, pocket passing quarterback who makes great decisions, and like C.J. Stroud, is way more athletic than people are giving him credit for. And where he might be even better than C.J. Stroud, and definitely better than Bryce Young, is his ability to see over the line and throw over the line…Totally unaffected by the pass rush. That’s where I give him tons of credit. Decision-making, that’s another one where I go it’s really off-the-charts good. The amount of NFL, high-level throws. I just mean in the pocket, 12-yard out route. In the pocket, trash around you, 15-yard in-cut…he does all of that. That’s where I loved Hendon Hooker. His motion is not my favorite. He’s a natural thrower of the football, but his motion is a little too vertical…There’s the ACL and the age thing, that’s the concern with Hendon Hooker. If you’re going off film, I don’t know how he’s not in the top quarterback conversation.”

No. 4. Anthony Richardson, Florida

“He’s Micah Parsons playing quarterback. He’s a beast of beasts when it comes to the quarterback position. The only guy who we’ve seen somewhat built like this is Cam Newton…He’s one of one in that department. This is a quarterback who’s a great athlete who’s still just learning how to play quarterback. He’s less raw than Malik Willis last year. This guy’s arm is off-the-charts good. Is there a little boom or bust here? Of course. His ceiling is probably the highest in the draft. His floor, though, it might be the lowest…You’re not going to want to rely on him like you would Hendon Hooker or Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud…He needs to be taught a few things in how to use his body the right way in throwing the football… The quarterback-designed run game is going to be a real thing with him…From what I’ve seen, he’s a natural thrower.”

No. 5. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA

“What’s not to like about DTR? He’s taller than Bryce Young, he’s faster than Bryce Young, and I think his arm might be stronger than Bryce Young. He plays the position of quarterback right up there with the top guys. He can do everything. He has a little bit of a long wind-up. Maybe he doesn’t see the field as well as C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young. He plays smaller than 6’2”. But after that, I don’t know what else to say. I would argue that going through reads and reading the field, other than Stroud and Young, he’s the next best one in the group…His mechanics are great, his feet are great…This kid’s got starting NFL quarterback traits. I don’t understand why the guy isn’t getting more hype.”

No. 5. Will Levis, Kentucky

“He’s got a little bit of the boom or bust factor here. His size and toughness are off the charts. He is a good athlete. You take his 10 best throws, they’re up there with anybody. He can throw in lasers like C.J. Stroud or Richardson. The problem is, it’s too few and far between. His decision-making is towards the bottom of the list, too…He’s too flicky, the motion is a little all over the place…The ability to play and get it done is not as good as those top guys in that department. His potential is greater than (Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s)…His ceiling is high…Would I be shocked if he’s a starting NFL quarterback in three years? I would not be…The power isn’t the problem, but he can be a little all over the place with his location of the ball. He feels a little ‘all potential’-based.”

-NBC SPORTS-

PETER KING RECAPS OPENING WEEK OF NFL FREE AGENCY IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION OF “FMIA”

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“Unless Rodgers flat-out guarantees the Jets he’s there for two years, minimum, I’m not considering paying the 2023 one for him.” – King on the potential draft capital in an Aaron Rodgers trade

“If (Georgia DT) Jalen Carter is there when (Ryan) Poles picks, he has the kind of decision to make that could define his term as Chicago GM.” – King on the Bears’ first round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft

“If no one out there is giving him more fully guaranteed for three years, obviously feeling that his injuries must factor in, he could take a three-year deal and be a free agent again at age 29.” – King’s advice for Ravens QB Lamar Jackson

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 20, 2023 – Peter King shares his thoughts on each NFL team in the opening week of the league year in this week’s edition of Football Morning in America, available now exclusively on NBCSports.com. King breaks down NFL free agency signings, trades, and more.

For more NFL coverage, Peacock offers daily programming on the NBC Sports channel, including Pro Football Talk at 7 a.m. ET, The Dan Patrick Show at 9 a.m. ET, Brother from Another at 3 p.m. ET, plus Chris Simms Unbuttoned on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and the weekly Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry and The Peter King Podcast. This week on Chris Simms Unbuttoned, Simms begins his annual position-by-position draft prospect rankings. On today’s episode, Simms unveils his 2023 NFL Draft quarterback rankings. To learn more about the NBC Sports on Peacock channel and how to sign up, click here.

The NFL on NBC YouTube channel offers daily football content for free, with exclusive videos from Peter King Mike Florio, Chris Simms, and more. To access all of these videos and more, click here to subscribe.

The following are highlights from this week’s edition of Football Morning in America:

Bears GM Ryan Poles to King on his decision to trade the first overall pick in the NFL Draft: “My gut told me to trigger on it now. At the combine, I thought those quarterbacks did an outstanding job in their interview process. A lot of teams felt really good about some of those guys, but as you get further away from the combine, maybe there’s a bad pro day or something that turns teams off.”

King on the Bears’ draft position: “The biggest X factor in this draft will be Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who possibly will fall to nine now after being the best overall prospect two months ago, then having a disastrous off-season. Poles has to figure out if Carter’s a legit hard-trying football guy or an irresponsible problem person…If Carter is there when Poles picks, he has the kind of decision to make that could define his term as Chicago GM.”

King on the Broncos signing QB Jarrett Stidham: “So now (Sean) Payton buys him to be Russell Wilson’s backup, and nothing needs to be said to Wilson about it. If Wilson by midseason 2023 is having a similarly disastrous season to his first one in Denver, Payton won’t have to punt on the season. He’ll have an intriguing backup waiting in the wings.”

King on Stidham leaving Las Vegas for Denver: “I hear Stidham figured with (Jimmy) Garoppolo coming and the chance the Raiders could take a quarterback with their early first-round pick, he’d have a better chance at playing time under Sean Payton in Denver…To me, the opportunity with the Raiders likely not trading into the Bryce Young/C.J. Stroud stratosphere and with Garoppolo’s injury history would have been golden in Vegas.”

King on the potential draft capital the Packers want from the Jets in an Aaron Rodgers trade: “Unless Rodgers flat-out guarantees the Jets he’s there for two years, minimum, I’m not considering paying the 2023 one for him.”

King on the Commanders not meeting with QB Lamar Jackson: “I’m not suggesting the Commanders absolutely should sign a 26-year-old franchise quarterback with injury question marks, but to not even go down the road with (Lamar) Jackson? How do you say you’re doing everything you can to win when you don’t sit with him and see what Lamar Jackson is all about? What does that cost, exactly?”

King on the Ravens/Lamar Jackson contract situation: “If he has gotten a three-year guarantee in the neighborhood of $44 million a year, I think he’d be smart to take it, even if it won’t be as much as he wants. Simple reason: If no one out there is giving him more fully guaranteed for three years, obviously feeling that his injuries must factor in, he could take a three-year deal and be a free agent again at age 29.”

King on the Cowboys-Texans trade that sent WR Brandin Cooks to Dallas: “I think it’s a smart trade for both teams. Houston clears out a big salary and deals a player who wasn’t happy being there. The Texans now have a league-high 13 picks in the April draft.”

King on the Rams: “The L.A. Rams are in a gap year, trying to get their team and future and cap right in 2023 with a recharged Sean McVay. It’s smart, and don’t expect them to apologize for winning a Super Bowl while robbing from the future in 2021.”

King on WR Adam Thielen signing with the Panthers: “I think if I were the Bills, I’d have been more aggressive in trying to sign Adam Thielen…I don’t get a building team signing a player in his age-33 year. Thielen belonged with a contender.”

Read the full FMIA column here and catch the weekly Peter King Podcast here.

The following are additional highlights of NBC Sports’ NFL coverage:

    • ProFootballTalk.com continues to provide the latest news and updates.
    • NBC Sports EDGE’s Rotoworld Football Show continues the NFL discussion and Bet The Edge Podcast provides daily betting insights.
    • The NFL on NBC YouTube channel offers daily football content for free, with exclusive videos from Peter King Mike Florio, Chris Simms, and more. To access all of these videos and more, click here to subscribe

A new “Football Morning in America” posts every Monday morning exclusively on NBCSports.com through the NFL season. It was announced in May 2019 that King signed an exclusive agreement with NBC Sports Group that included writing a weekly Monday morning NFL column for NBCSports.com; making regular appearances on PFT Live with Mike Florio; and continuing to contribute to Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports.

—NBC SPORTS—

Andscape to Premiere Five-Part High School Football Documentary Algiers, America: The Relentless Pursuit exclusively on Hulu April 19

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Andscape, The Walt Disney Company Black-led media platform, will debut a five-part documentary series Algiers, America: The Relentless Pursuit, streaming exclusively as a Hulu Original on April 19. Directed by Jackson Fager (VICE News, HBO’s Fighting ISIS), the documentary tells the story of a successful high school football program in a community struggling with urban blight. 

The post Andscape to Premiere Five-Part High School Football Documentary <i>Algiers, America: The Relentless Pursuit</i> exclusively on Hulu April 19 appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

SEC Network Kicks Off Comprehensive Spring Football Schedule, Georgia’s G-Day Live on ESPN2

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Coming off their second straight College Football Playoff National Championship, Georgia will participate in their annual G-Day on Saturday, April 15 at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The Bulldogs will also have their Pro Day televised by SEC Network on Wednesday, March 15 at 10 a.m.

The post SEC Network Kicks Off Comprehensive Spring Football Schedule, Georgia’s G-Day Live on ESPN2 appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

PETER KING RECAPS BLOCKBUSTER TRADE FOR NO. 1 OVERALL PICK AND PREVIEWS 2023 NFL DRAFT IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION OF “FMIA”

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“Chicago got enough for the pick, assuming D.J. Moore can be the primo receiver Justin Fields desperately needs. Carolina paid through the nose, and recent draft history is littered with lousy tradeups into the top five for quarterbacks who didn’t pan out.” – King on the Panthers trade for the Bears’ No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft

“Trading to number one and choosing (Florida QB Anthony) Richardson might turn out to be brilliant. But picking Richardson number one after dealing five prime pieces for him is a major risk.” – King on the Panthers potentially drafting Florida QB Anthony Richardson

“This deal is an admission the Dolphins won’t be a title team without major improvement on defense.” – King on Rams trading CB Jalen Ramsey to Dolphins

“Take the Jets’ gig for the next two years…Imagine going down as the best for this franchise since Joe Namath. That’d be a cool way to end a great career.” – King’s advice for Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 13, 2023 – Peter King recaps the Bears’ and Panthers’ blockbuster trade for the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft in this week’s edition of Football Morning in America, available now exclusively on NBCSports.com. King also discusses the Dolphins’ trade for Jalen Ramsey, the NFL prospects for Bryce Young, and more.

For more NFL coverage, Peacock offers daily programming on the NBC Sports channel, including Pro Football Talk at 7 a.m. ET, The Dan Patrick Show at 9 a.m. ET, Brother from Another at 3 p.m. ET, plus Chris Simms Unbuttoned on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and the weekly Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry and The Peter King Podcast. To learn more about the NBC Sports on Peacock channel and how to sign up, click here.

The NFL on NBC YouTube channel offers daily football content for free, with exclusive videos from Peter King Mike Florio, Chris Simms, and more. To access all of these videos and more, click here to subscribe.

The following are highlights from this week’s edition of Football Morning in America:

BEARS-PANTHERS TRADE

Peter King on the Panthers trading for the Bears’ No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft: “The prevailing wisdom: Chicago got enough for the pick, assuming D.J. Moore can be the primo receiver Justin Fields desperately needs. Carolina paid through the nose, and recent draft history is littered with lousy tradeups into the top five for quarterbacks who didn’t pan out.”

King on the value of the Bears acquiring WR D.J. Moore: “When you try to figure out the relative value of Moore in the deal, think of it as probably equal to a mid-first-round pick — because in a down year for receivers in the draft and certainly in free agency, a wideout in the range of 15th- to 20th– best in the league with three manageable years left on his contract entering his age-26 year has great value.”

King on the Panthers’ QB preference in this year’s draft: “I’ve heard the same rumors everyone else has — that (Panthers head coach) Frank Reich loves Florida QB Anthony Richardson…Trading to number one and choosing Richardson might turn out to be brilliant. But picking Richardson number one after dealing five prime pieces for him is a major risk.”

King on Alabama QB Bryce Young’s chances of being drafted No. 1 by Carolina: “There probably wasn’t a quarterback in college football last year who was as smart and resourceful as Young…if (Reich) thinks Young’s markedly the best prospect, he’ll be good taking him.”

King on a potentially revamped Bears roster: “It’s amazing how different the Bears could look come training camp. Imagine Fields throwing to D.J. Moore outside or in the slot, with (OT Orlando) Brown protecting his blind side, and (Northwestern OT Peter) Skoronski plugged in either at guard or tackle as a day-one starter…That’s all fantasy football, of course, but (Bears GM Ryan) Poles has the cap room and draft picks to make some plug-and-play decisions between now and May 1.”

NEWS & NOTES

King on the Dolphins trading for CB Jalen Ramsey: “Miami will contend if Tua Tagovailoa can stay on the field most or all of the regular season. That’s a certainty. But this deal is an admission the Dolphins won’t be a title team without major improvement on defense.”

King on this year’s NFL free agency class: “The crop, as has been well documented, is the worst it’s been in some years. As one prime agent told me Saturday, ‘The full evaporation of the middle class in the NFL is underway.’ That might be a bit dramatic, but another agent told me over the weekend he expects teams to play one team against another more this year than ever before — because there simply aren’t enough desirable players on the market.”

King on Packers QB Aaron Rodgers: “Take the Jets’ gig for the next two years. Your life has been about adventure. (Weirdness too, but adventure.) Imagine going down as the best for this franchise since Joe Willie Namath off-off-Broadway. That’d be a cool way to end a great career.”

King on Ravens QB Lamar Jackson: “I have no idea what Jackson’s going to do — and I can’t find one team anxious to give him a fully (or nearly fully) guaranteed contract for four or five years.”

King on the positive report from 49ers QB Brock Purdy’s elbow surgery: “Just another reason why San Francisco won’t overreact and spend/draft significantly on a quarterback. This also gives Trey Lance a runway to be the number one guy through the offseason, with the reps and responsibility that entails. Overall, good news for (49ers head coach) Kyle Shanahan.”

King on Saints QB Derek Carr and Seahawks QB Geno Smith: “I think Derek Carr and Geno Smith are absolutely in the right places for them. Carr will love the offense and receiving talent with the Saints. Smith is the living, breathing example of a quarterback who is handed a golden chance and plays excellent football when no one thought he would.”

Patriots WR Matthew Slater to King on retired Patriots S Devin McCourty: “I do think that it’s important to acknowledge how good of a player he was. Our football team really had two heartbeats for a long time — Tom [Brady] and Devin. Devin was the one unifying voice on our defense for a long, long time.”

Read the full FMIA column here and catch the weekly Peter King Podcast here.

The following are additional highlights of NBC Sports’ NFL coverage:

    • ProFootballTalk.com continues to provide the latest news and updates.
    • NBC Sports EDGE’s Rotoworld Football Show continues the NFL discussion and Bet The Edge Podcast provides daily betting insights.
    • The NFL on NBC YouTube channel offers daily football content for free, with exclusive videos from Peter King Mike Florio, Chris Simms, and more. To access all of these videos and more, click here to subscribe

A new “Football Morning in America” posts every Monday morning exclusively on NBCSports.com through the NFL season. It was announced in May 2019 that King signed an exclusive agreement with NBC Sports Group that included writing a weekly Monday morning NFL column for NBCSports.com; making regular appearances on PFT Live with Mike Florio; and continuing to contribute to Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports.

—NBC SPORTS—

NFL Free Agency Fever: ESPN’s NFL Live and SportsCenter Special: NFL Free Agency Countdown Bring Fans Two-Hours of Daily Dedicated NFL Coverage March 13-16

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Free Agency Fever: ESPN’s NFL Live and SportsCenter Special: NFL Free Agency Countdown Bring Fans Two-Hours of Daily Dedicated NFL Coverage March 13-16

The post NFL Free Agency Fever: ESPN’s NFL Live and SportsCenter Special: NFL Free Agency Countdown Bring Fans Two-Hours of Daily Dedicated NFL Coverage March 13-16 appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..