The NFL is suspending Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for two games for violating its policy on performance-enhancing substances, the league announced Friday, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Garoppolo isn't planning to appeal his suspension and will miss the first two games of the 2024 season, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Raiders are expected to release the veteran quarterback in March instead of paying him an $11.25-million roster bonus, which is due on the fifth day of the new league year, Schefter adds.Garoppolo violated the policy by reportedly using a prescribed medication without using a valid therapeutic use exemption from the league.Garoppolo's suspension would void his salary guarantee for the 2024 season, allowing the Raiders to move on from him with minimal financial penalties, according to Over the Cap.The 32-year-old passer signed a three-year, $72.75-million deal with Las Vegas last March. The dead money from releasing Garoppolo prior to next season would drop from $28.4 million to $17.1 million.A key signing for former general manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels, Garoppolo began 2023 as the Raiders' starting QB. Yet the former two-time Super Bowl winner was benched after the team's Week 8 loss to the Detroit Lions in favor of rookie Aidan O'Connell. Las Vegas posted a 4-3 mark with Garoppolo starting under center.He concluded his 2023 campaign passing with 1,205 yards, seven touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a 65% completion rate.With Tom Telesco taking over as GM and Antonio Pierce promoted to coach, the Raiders could be looking to add a quarterback through free agency or with the No. 13 overall pick in the upcoming draft. O'Connell and Brian Hoyer would be the only passers on Las Vegas' roster following Garoppolo's pending departure.Garoppolo will be seeking his third team in as many offseasons after spending six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers (2017-2022) prior to joining the Raiders. The Eastern Illinois product began his career with the New England Patriots (2014-16).Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.A year after we were tasked with deciphering what the Bears would do with the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, we're back to figuring out what they'll do with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. But will that matter?The reason for this deja vu is that Chicago traded the pick last year - a genius move at the time that only got better when the recipient Panthers finished dead last this past season.Draft OrderPICKTEAM1Chicago Bears2Washington Commanders3New England Patriots4Arizona Cardinals5Los Angeles Chargers6New York Giants7Tennessee Titans8Atlanta Falcons9Chicago Bears10New York Jets11Minnesota Vikings12Denver Broncos13Las Vegas RaidersTrading the pick is an option again for Chicago, depending on how the team's management feels about Justin Fields a year later. But the smart money seems like it's on the Bears dealing him and picking a new franchise quarterback, restarting the clock on a rookie contract at the position.There's even the provocative option of doing both - dealing Fields for assets while trading out of the first slot for another haul and taking one of the many other quarterback prospects in the top 10.One prop available in the market prices the Bears at -500 to make the first selection (the field is +350). Unlike this time last year, when Bryce Young was just -130, it seems there's more certainty about whose name will be called first, no matter how it shakes out.No. 1 overall pick oddsPLAYERODDSCaleb Williams-900Drake Maye+500Marvin Harrison Jr.+1300Jayden Daniels+1800J.J. McCarthy+2500Michael Penix+4000Others available at theScore Bet at 90-1 or longerCaleb Williams' odds imply a 90% chance he goes first overall. But at this stage in the handicapping process, we should start by figuring out how talent evaluators feel about the favorite and whether he's a "sure thing," like recent heavy favorites Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow.Some have their questions.

New Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury described what he expects from his next quarterback as Washington enters the offseason likely to pursue a new signal-caller."The (Kansas City) Chiefs quarterback," Kingsbury jokingly said Thursday when asked what his ideal fit for a QB would be."When the money is on the table, you gotta be able to make some plays with your feet, move around enough to escape a bad play," Kingsbury added. "Doesn't mean you gotta run like Lamar (Jackson) or Kyler Murray, but you better be able to move a little bit and buy yourself some time. ... You want that player to be the hardest worker on your team, you want them to lead those guys."The Commanders turned to Sam Howell in 2023, but the 2022 fifth-round pick may not have done enough to keep the starting job. He finished the season with a 63.4% completion rate for 3,943 yards and 21 touchdowns against an NFL-high 21 interceptions. Washington owns the second overall pick in this year's draft and is expected to add a new QB1.The 2024 quarterback draft class is headlined by Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels. All three stand out when it comes to mobility. Kingsbury worked with Williams - who's the favorite to go first overall to the Chicago Bears - during his time as an offensive analyst at USC in 2023. A former head coach with Texas Tech and the Arizona Cardinals, Kingsbury has worked with several high-profile QBs throughout his career, including Williams, Murray, and Patrick Mahomes.Kingsbury was originally expected to join the Las Vegas Raiders as OC in 2024, but the 44-year-old pulled himself out of consideration after negotiations broke down. He then signed a three-year contract with Washington.Kingsbury declined to explain why he opted against the Raiders. He praised what the Commanders have been building instead."Don't want to get into specifics of the process as much, but obviously (the Commanders provide) a historic franchise, incredible fan base, the opportunity to work with (general manager) Adam Peters, (head coach) Dan Quinn," Kingsbury said.He added, "The ownership group, what they're trying to do, their vision. It's exciting. Exciting times. ... Just honored to be here."The Commanders finished 4-13 in 2023 and struggled on both sides of the ball, ranking 25th in points scored and 32nd in points allowed. They made big changes after the season, most notably hiring Quinn and Peters. The NFC East team will also have a new defensive coordinator in Joe Whitt Jr.Washington landed Maye at No. 2 in the latest edition of theScore's 2024 NFL Mock Draft.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed doesn't believe the team can re-sign both him and defensive tackle Chris Jones this offseason."I hope I'm here," Sneed said on "Up & Adams" on Thursday. "But you know, never know how it goes ... You know they can't keep both of us (me and Jones). I don't think they got enough for both of us. But you know, they gonna make it happen. I hope so."Sneed and Jones are set to become unrestricted free agents when the new league year opens in March. The Chiefs can only place the franchise tag on one of them, and Jones' tag would cost more as he was tagged last season.General manager Brett Veach said last week that extending Jones and Sneed is his top priority.The 27-year-old Sneed has been a stabilizing force for Kansas City's secondary in recent years, and he had another tremendous campaign in 2023. He racked up two interceptions with 17 passes defended in 20 starts, allowing only 53 receptions on 102 targets, according to PFF.Jones has been one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL since racking up 15.5 sacks in 2018. The 29-year-old said at the Super Bowl parade on Wednesday that he's "not going anywhere."Kansas City currently has $22.8 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap. The franchise can increase that number by restructuring quarterback Patrick Mahomes' massive contract.When asked about his message for Veach, Sneed said, "Man, pay me. Pay me ... That's all I got to say. Pay me."Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Three Super Bowls and three Super Bowl MVPs - that's the resume Patrick Mahomes has already built for himself at just 28 years old. After establishing the Kansas City Chiefs as the first dynasty since the New England Patriots, there's only one question remaining:How long until he catches the GOAT?Mahomes still has a long way to go before matching Tom Brady's seven Lombardi Trophies. But when it comes to early career pace, Mahomes may hold the advantage.Let's start by comparing how Mahomes and Brady stacked up through their age-28 campaigns in regular-season play. While Mahomes has the benefit of one more year's worth of games as a starter, it's age that ultimately dictates the length of an NFL career.Regular season at 28Of course, Brady began his career in a different era - the early 2000s NFL didn't quite feature the high-powered passing attacks that dominate the league today. It wasn't until 2007 that his counting stats started to trend upward as he was unleashed in the Patriots' juggernaut passing attack. Mahomes, meanwhile, has been lighting up the stat sheet from the jump.The real legacy-defining comparison comes by evaluating postseason success. Brady and Mahomes both have a knack for stepping up in the big moment and leading their teams to victories when it matters most.Playoffs at 28Brady's mystique stems just as much from his immortal-like longevity as it does from his unmatched seven titles. Whether Mahomes can match Brady's staying power in his own quest for the GOAT crown is unknown. But with the pace he's on, maybe he won't even need to.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the 2023 season in the books, NFL teams will begin balancing budgets and reshaping their rosters. Here are 15 veterans whose hefty contracts, age, or performance could place them on the chopping block ahead of free agency.(Contract information courtesy of OverTheCap)Broncos QB Russell WilsonYears left on contract: 5

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.With another Super Bowl victory for the Chiefs in the rearview mirror, there's no better time to look back at the biggest long-shot winners in the 2023 betting season.Remember, hindsight is always 20/20, so don't let these potentially missed opportunities entice you to take more swings next season. Rather, let them serve as a reminder that there are extremely profitable futures bets that can be made if you know where and when to look.Here are the 10 most profitable NFL singles bets that could have been made since August.Buccaneers: Win NFC South (+900)

San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan announced Wednesday that he's relieved defensive coordinator Steve Wilks of his duties following the Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Wilks spent one season in San Francisco after taking over for DeMeco Ryans, who left to become the Houston Texans' coach.During an end-of-season press conference Tuesday, Shanahan said he expected all of his coaching staff to return for 2024. He said Wednesday that he didn't announce Wilks' departure then because he was unsure if they'd part ways.Shanahan added that it was a tough decision but said Wilks' system didn't align with what the 49ers had previously used."That was the hardest part. I knew that was a challenge," Shanahan said, according to Josh Dubow of The Associated Press. "We have committed to not just a system, but the players that have been in the system from our D-line, our linebackers, they played in it for such a long time."It was my goal to not have to change all of them and bring in Steve who was unbelievable and how loyal he was and him trying to do it. But it just ended up not being the right fit. It hurt for me to do this but that's exactly why I had to."San Francisco put together a strong first-half performance last Sunday, holding Patrick Mahomes and Co. to three points.But the 49ers struggled to stop the Chiefs offense in the second half and overtime, with Mahomes ultimately leading a 75-yard, 13-play game-winning drive to secure Kansas City's second straight title.The 49ers finished the 2022 campaign as the NFL's top-ranked defense in both points and yards allowed. While the unit was still strong in 2023, it slipped to eighth and third in yards and points allowed, respectively.Wilks was the Arizona Cardinals' head coach for one season in 2018. He was then the interim coach of the Carolina Panthers in 2022 and spent time with the Cleveland Browns before joining San Francisco.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs signed defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to a contract extension, the team announced Wednesday.Spagnuolo has been with the Chiefs since 2019 and won three Super Bowls with the franchise. He called a masterful game in Super Bowl LVIII, holding the San Francisco 49ers' offense to just 22 points.The 49ers ranked first in EPA/play and success rate on offense in 2023. The Chiefs' defense was able to swarm quarterback Brock Purdy all night while holding star running back Christian McCaffrey to 80 yards on 22 carries.Kansas City's defense was stellar all season, ranking second in points per game and fourth in defensive success rate. The team saw development from young players, including Trent McDuffie, L'Jarius Sneed, and Leo Chenal.Spagnuolo was hired by the Chiefs after taking a year off in 2018. He was the New York Giants' defensive coordinator from 2015-2017 and spent time as the interim head coach in 2017 after the club fired Ben McAdoo.The Chiefs have tough decisions to make on the defensive side of the ball this offseason, as crucial pieces are set to become unrestricted free agents in March including Chris Jones, Drue Tranquill, and Sneed.Spagnuolo became the first offensive or defensive coordinator in NFL history to win four Super Bowls with the victory on Sunday.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Commanders are hiring San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach and running backs coach Anthony Lynn as their run-game coordinator, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Washington tried to hire Lynn last year, per Schefter, and he is close with general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn.Lynn coached the Los Angeles Chargers from 2017-20, finishing his tenure with a 33-31 record and one playoff appearance. He spent the last two seasons with the 49ers.The 55-year-old will work under new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who opted to join the Commanders after reportedly pulling out of contention for the same role with the Las Vegas Raiders over a contract dispute.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the Kansas City Chiefs trailing early in the Super Bowl, Travis Kelce was captured shouting at Andy Reid before bumping into his coach and momentarily knocking him off balance.Reid and Kelce downplayed the sideline spat after the Chiefs came back to beat the San Francisco 49ers in overtime, and the star tight end said Wednesday on his "New Heights" podcast that his actions were "definitely unacceptable.""I can't get that fired up to the point where I'm bumping coach and it's getting him off balance and stuff," Kelce said. "When he stumbled, I was like, 'Aw, shit' in my head."Kelce said he wasn't angry at Reid and that his outburst was about telling his coach that he could rely on him to turn around the game. He added that he immediately wished he could take it back."He's checked me a few times, and I just wanted to let him know that I wanted this thing and that he can put it on me and I got him," Kelce said. "It just came in a moment where we weren't playing very well. I wasn't playing very well, and we had to get some shit going."

49ers general manager John Lynch is hopeful the team and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk can come to an agreement to keep him in San Francisco long term."You want a guy like Brandon Aiyuk to be a part of you going forward," Lynch told reporters.He added: "Whether you're a trained eye or you're a fan, you can see the passion he plays with, you can see the production that he's had. ... We're extremely prideful in what he's become, and he should be as well."Aiyuk is set to play the 2024 season on a fifth-year option worth $14.1 million, according to Spotrac. He's eligible for the franchise tag if the two sides can't agree to an extension before March 2025.The 25-year-old Aiyuk led the team in targets (105), receptions (75), and receiving yards (1,342) this season. He secured a second-team All-Pro nomination, and his 1,342 receiving yards ranked seventh in the NFL.However, Aiyuk had a quiet playoff run, totaling only nine catches for 149 yards in three postseason contests."If that's the right move, yeah," Aiyuk said when asked if he wants to remain with the 49ers, according to Matt Lively of CBS Sports. When asked what the right move would look like, he replied, "Being a champion."San Francisco selected Aiyuk in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He has 269 catches for 3,931 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns in 62 career games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Super Bowl LVIII in the books, the football world's attention turns to free agency. There'll be plenty of intriguing names available when the NFL's negotiating window opens March 11. Here's an early look at the 50 best players slated to hit the market.1. Chris Jones Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyFranchise-tag candidateAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value30DT1$32M/yearJones remains one of the NFL's most intimidating defenders. He finished with his third-most career sacks (10.5) in 2023. The All-Pro might've taken a few more run plays off than usual as he chased the incentives in his reworked deal, but he's still capable of being a defense's lynchpin for years to come. He'll get one of free agency's biggest deals.2. Kirk CousinsAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value36QB1$40M/yearCousins was on pace for the best season of his career before he tore his Achilles. The veteran signal-caller totaled 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns with only five interceptions in eight games. However, both Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Cousins - who can't be tagged - have expressed interest in a reunion.3. Josh AllenFranchise-tag candidateAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value27EDGE1$27M/yearThe Jaguars have said they won't let Allen get anywhere close to the open market and will likely use the franchise tag as a precursor to a huge extension. We don't blame them. The pass-rusher is the key piece on Jacksonville's defense and tied for second in the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2023.4. Tee HigginsFranchise-tag candidateAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value25WR1$23M/yearDespite being the No. 2 wide receiver in Cincinnati behind Ja'Marr Chase, Higgins has all the tools to be a top pass-catcher. The 25-year-old missed five games in 2023, but he'd previously had at least 900 yards and six scores in every campaign. Higgins is expected to receive a big contract if the Bengals don't franchise tag him.5. Brian Burns Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / GettyFranchise-tag candidateAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value26EDGE2$27M/yearYoung, productive pass-rushers like Burns don't see free agency very often. He has 246 pressures and 46 sacks in five years since entering the league as a first-round pick in the 2019 draft, per PFF. The Florida State product has been able to stay healthy, missing only three games in his career.6. Justin MadubuikeFranchise-tag candidateAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value26DT2$24M/yearMadubuike was a steady force over his first three seasons before becoming one of the biggest breakout players of 2023. He more than doubled his total career sacks numbers by earning 13 this past season. Teams will likely be ready to pay big with the chance to secure Madubuike for his prime years.7. Jaylon JohnsonFranchise-tag candidateAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value25CB1$20M/yearJohnson's trade demands during this past season didn't distract him from tallying a career-high four interceptions. Adept at playing both zone and man coverage, the young defensive back is expected to be coveted after posting PFF's highest coverage grade (91) among cornerbacks.8. Antoine Winfield Jr.Franchise-tag candidateAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value26S1$19M/yearWinfield stated his case for being the NFL's best safety after earning first-team All-Pro honors thanks to a wild stat line: 122 tackles, six sacks, six forced fumbles, three interceptions, and four fumble recoveries.9. L'Jarius SneedFranchise-tag candidateAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value27CB2$18M/yearSneed's capability in coverage both in the slot and on the outside can't be understated. His dynamic abilities were on full display during the Chiefs' latest Super Bowl run after he surrendered just a single touchdown all season.10. Christian Wilkins Megan Briggs / Getty Images Sport / GettyFranchise-tag candidateAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value28DT3$22M/yearWilkins is set for a big payday after playing last season on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal. He set a career high in sacks with nine and has been a stabilizing force for the Dolphins' defense since being selected 13th overall in 2019.11. Mike EvansFranchise-tag candidateAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value31WR2$21M/yearAn ageless wonder, Evans produced a stunning 10th straight 1,000-yard season. Outside of the occasional drop, the veteran is as well-rounded as they come and is deserving of one final big contract.12. Danielle HunterAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value29EDGE3$20M/yearHunter set a career high in sacks with 16.5 last season. He's been one of the most consistent pass-rushers in the NFL, racking up 62 sacks in his last 73 games. Hunter - who can't be tagged - has spent his entire seven-year career in Minnesota and was rumored to be traded at least year's deadline.13. Leonard WilliamsAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value30DT4$18M/yearWilliams had four sacks in 10 games for the Seahawks last season following a midseason trade from the Giants. His pass-rush productivity has dropped since his career year in 2020, but the veteran will be sought after in free agency.14. Michael Pittman Jr.Franchise-tag candidateAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value26WR3$22M/yearPittman is a prime franchise-tag candidate after a career season in 2023. Despite playing most of the year with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew, the wideout set his best-ever marks for catches (109) and receiving yards (1,152).15. D.J. Reader Michael Hickey / Getty Images Sport / GettyAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value30DT5$15M/yearReader is one of the league's best interior run defenders when healthy. He's racked up 104 tackles and 18 quarterback hits for the Bengals over the last three seasons.16. Bryce HuffAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value26EDGE4$17M/yearHuff totaled 10 sacks and 67 pressures, according to PFF, as a rotational pass-rusher last season for the Jets. He could become one of the league's most productive pass-rushers with a more prominent role.17. Saquon BarkleyAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value27RB1$12M/yearBarkley couldn't match his 2022 production after the Giants franchise tagged him last offseason. Still, the former first-round halfback has posted at least 1,000 scrimmage yards and 10 total touchdowns in each of the past two seasons. His ability as a home-run threat makes him one of the more enticing players in an undervalued running back market.18. Tyron SmithAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value33OT1$14M/yearSmith has been a pillar of the Cowboys since he was drafted in 2011. Despite his age, the eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle remains capable of anchoring an offensive line. But concerns about his availability should be top of mind after he missed 33 games the last four seasons.19. Baker MayfieldFranchise-tag candidate Age in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value29QB2$35M/yearMayfield had a career resurgence in Tampa Bay last season after playing for three teams in a two-year span. He set career highs in passing yards, touchdowns, and completions while leading the Buccaneers to the divisional round. The 2018 first overall pick said after the team's postseason loss that he would love to return to Tampa.20. Jonathan Greenard Ryan Kang / Getty Images Sport / GettyAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value27EDGE5$16M/yearGreenard was one of the league's most productive pass-rushers this season, totaling 12.5 sacks in 15 games. He's missed 18 contests in the last three seasons, but he's still relatively young and should be rewarded for his standout 2023 campaign.21. Robert HuntAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value28OG1$14M/yearAfter beginning his pro career at tackle, Hunt has seamlessly slid over to guard over the past few seasons. He boasted PFF's highest pass-blocking efficiency among guards who played over 500 snaps in 2023.22. Kendall FullerAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value29CB3$15M/yearFuller was one of the few bright spots in the Commanders' meager secondary. Noted for his technical ability in the secondary, PFF's seventh-ranked cornerback can adapt to any scheme as he's lined up at various positions throughout eight seasons.23. Xavier McKinneyAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value25S2$13M/yearMcKinney can play in the back half of the defense or toward the line of scrimmage. His five takeaways in 2023 (three interceptions, two fumble recoveries) proved he can create turnovers and be reliable in pass coverage.24. Patrick QueenAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value25LB1$17M/yearQueen has come on leaps and bounds since a shaky start to his career. Sure, it helps to play on one of the NFL's best defenses. But he won't turn 25 until August, so his potential likely hasn't yet been reached.25. Kyle Dugger Perry Knotts / Getty Images Sport / GettyAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value28S3$12M/yearWith a large and sturdy frame (6-foot-2, 222 pounds), Dugger is as much a force against the run as he is in pass coverage. He racked up 343 tackles and nine interceptions over four seasons with the Patriots.26. Calvin RidleyAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value29WR4$18M/yearRidley was inconsistent after his year-long suspension. He flashed his old self at times and finished with 1,000 yards, but he also had nine games with 40 yards or fewer. His contract will depend on if teams believe his issues were just rust or not.27. Josh JacobsAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value26RB2$11M/yearJacobs' rushing averages took a tumble a year after he led the league with 1,653 yards. The 26-year-old possesses plenty of upside as a capable option as both a receiver and runner, although he missed the Raiders' final four games of the season due to a quad injury.28. Kevin DotsonAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value27OG2$14M/yearA fresh start with the Rams seemingly revitalized Dotson's career last season. He's PFF's second-highest-graded guard when it comes to run blocking.29. Chase YoungAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value25EDGE6$15M/yearYoung didn't take his game to the next level after being acquired by the 49ers at midseason. In fact, the former No. 2 pick regressed, producing only 3.5 sacks in 10 games. It might be best for the pass-rusher to take a one-year prove-it deal.30. Marquise Brown Ric Tapia / Getty Images Sport / GettyAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value27WR5$18M/yearBrown has never quite lived up to expectations as a former first-rounder, recording just one 1,000-yard season in five years. However, he possesses rare speed that is invaluable in the Cover 2-heavy modern NFL.31. Derrick HenryAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value30RB3$8M/yearHenry is definitely no longer the world-shaking force he once was, but the star running back should still have something left in the tank. While his production dipped in 2023, Henry still put up over 1,000 yards and 12 scores.32. Josh UcheAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value25EDGE7$13M/yearUche had a disappointing campaign after a tremendous 2022 season where he racked up 11.5 sacks. He was subjected to trade rumors at the deadline but ultimately stayed put in New England.33. Frankie LuvuAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value27LB2$11M/yearA menacing force as an off-ball linebacker, Luvu's career-high 125 tackles and 5.5 sacks last season showcased his progression.34. Kamren CurlAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value25S4$12M/yearOne of the more unheralded free agents, Curl should draw plenty of suitors after being one of the few positives in the Commanders' secondary. Although interceptions have been elusive for him over the past three seasons, he's more than made up for the lack of turnovers with his reliability as the last line of defense.35. Dalton Schultz Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value28TE1$10M/yearSchultz passed up a three-year deal to return to Dallas before opting to sign a one-year deal with Houston, setting himself up for another payday. While 635 yards and five scores aren't spectacular, he should benefit from a weak tight end group.36. Andre JamesAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value27C1$10M/yearThe 26-year-old has blossomed into one of the league's better young centers while starting 48 games for the Raiders over the last three years.37. Chidobe AwuzieAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value29CB4$11M/yearAwuzie is set to explore free agency for the second time in his career. After standing atop the Bengals' depth chart over the past three seasons, the 6-foot, 200-pound defender is perfectly suited to upgrade any cornerback room and fit in any defensive scheme.38. Jordyn BrooksAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value26LB3$10M/yearBrooks quickly bounced back from a torn ACL he sustained in the final game of his 2022 campaign. The former Seahawks linebacker should continue to elevate his play after recording 4.5 sacks less than a year removed from his significant knee injury.39. Michael OnwenuAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value26OT2$13M/yearGifted with the versatility to play either guard or tackle, Onwenu's stature as a pass-blocker has seen him surrender just nine sacks in four seasons.40. Jadeveon Clowney Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / GettyAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value31EDGE8$9M/yearAfter a long search, Clowney finally found the perfect home in Baltimore. The former No. 1 pick looked reborn in the Ravens' scheme, tying a career-high with 9.5 sacks.41. Lavonte DavidAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value34LB3$6M/yearSurpassing 100 tackles in 10 of his 13 seasons in the league, the 34-year-old David still has a coveted knack for diagnosing plays post-snap.42. Stephon GilmoreAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value33CB5$8M/yearThere's expected to be a market for the former All-Pro despite him being on the wrong side of 30. The wily veteran proved that he's not too long in the tooth after posting a career-high 68 tackles to go along with 13 passes defensed and two interceptions in his first season with the Cowboys.43. Bobby WagnerAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value34LB4$6M/yearAfter leading the league with 183 tackles, Wagner illustrated that his age doesn't equate to diminished production ahead of his 13th season. The nine-time Pro Bowler's IQ is still an asset to teams in need of a veteran voice, even if his coverage skills have diminished.44. Gabe DavisAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value25WR6$13M/yearDavis might not be the NFL's most well-rounded receiver, but his value as a consistent deep threat is massive. He's averaged 16.7 yards per catch during his career and has 27 touchdowns in four years.45. Jonah Jackson Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images Sport / GettyAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value27OG3$11M/yearJackson has made a name for himself as an interior offensive lineman and has a penchant for getting to the defense's second level. He's started 57 games since being drafted in 2019.46. Tony PollardAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value27RB4$7M/yearPollard didn't meet expectations in Year 1 as the Cowboys' feature back. Although he exceeded 1,000 scrimmage yards for the third consecutive season, the dual-threat tailback submitted the lowest breakaway percentage (rushing yards on designed attempts of 15 more than 15 yards) in 2023, per PFF.47. Connor WilliamsAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value27C2$10M/yearWhile Williams displayed above-average skills as a pass-blocker, it was his ability as run-blocker that truly set the Dolphins center apart before he tore his ACL last December.48. Geno StoneAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value25S5$8M/yearStone flourished in his first season as a full-time starter in Baltimore. The former seventh-round pick established himself as a more than capable coverage defender, leading all safeties in the league with seven interceptions in 2023.49. Austin EkelerAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value29RB5$5M/yearEkeler's explosiveness may be behind him after he tallied just seven 10-plus-yard carries last season. However, the former undrafted halfback remains an adequate option both as a runner and pass-catcher out of the backfield.50. Devin White Grant Halverson / Getty Images Sport / GettyAge in Sept.Pos. RankEst. Market Value26LB5$10M/yearWhite experienced a slight dip in production last season after racking up three straight campaigns with over 100-plus tackles. Yet there's no doubt that the 2019 fifth overall pick still possesses the athleticism to be a key contributor in the middle of a defense.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman says he can barely remember anything that happened after he caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII."I kinda don't remember it in a sense, I kind of blacked out, for real," Hardman said to TMZ. "Like, I knew I caught the ball, man, and we won the game, but after that, it was kind of blank. I guess the magnitude of the game was just overwhelming, but after that, it was just nothing but celebration out there."Hardman, who says he hasn't slept since Sunday's win, reeled in a short pass from Patrick Mahomes in overtime to walk off the San Francisco 49ers."I mean, I'm trying to figure out what's bigger than a walk-off in the Super Bowl, but I don't know yet," Hardman added.He was also responsible for the Chiefs' longest pass play of the game - a 52-yard reception in the second quarter.Hardman has now won three Super Bowls with the team that drafted him in the second round in 2019. His route to the latest was unusual, as Hardman signed with the New York Jets last offseason before being traded back to Kansas City in October.He said his journey over the 2023 season made this championship "a little bit more emotional" for him. He also missed last year's Super Bowl win due to injury.The wideout is slated for free agency this offseason.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday that he asked members of his staff to go through overtime rules with his players before this past season's playoffs, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner.Shanahan's comments come after multiple 49ers players said they didn't know the NFL's new overtime procedures ahead of San Francisco's 25-22 OT loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.The 44-year-old coach, however, said he also instructed his assistants to address the rules before the extra frame began Sunday."We told everyone as we were waiting for the coin toss to ... make sure they're sure before we go out," Shanahan added. "So, we asked position coaches to do that. But I didn't cover it in a meeting on the Super Bowl week. I don't think that changes anything."49ers quarterback Brock Purdy confirmed QB coach Brian Griese explained the rules to him at the end of regulation."I had an understanding of it," Purdy said.The NFL updated its postseason overtime rules in 2022 to allow for each team to get a possession, barring a defensive score, regardless of what the team with the ball first does. The game then becomes sudden death. Sunday's Super Bowl loss was San Francisco's first playoff contest to go to overtime under these rules. In the regular season, the game ends if a TD is scored on the first overtime drive.The 49ers had the first possession in overtime against the Chiefs but settled for a field goal. Patrick Mahomes then quarterbacked a 13-play touchdown drive to win another Super Bowl."We went through all the analytics and talked to those guys," Shanahan said, according to Fox Sports. "We wanted the ball third. If both teams matched and scored, we wanted to be the ones with a chance to go win."Niners fullback Kyle Juszczyk was among the players who said Monday they weren't aware of the changes. Juszczyk clarified his comments Tuesday, saying he knew about them but forgot."That changes nothing for me as a player, whatsoever," Juszczyk added, according to Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle. "If I know the rule or don't know the rule, I'm trying to do the exact same thing on the field. It's just people looking for a way to shit on (Shanahan)."Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead will undergo surgery for a torn meniscus suffered in early December and miss most of the offseason program, the veteran said Tuesday, according to Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle.Armstead sat the final five games of the regular season after getting hurt in the Week 13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. He returned for the postseason and played in all three of San Francisco's playoff games, including the Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.The 30-year-old is coming off his ninth NFL season, all with the 49ers, who drafted him in the first round in 2015.Armstead finished the 2023 regular season with 27 tackles and five sacks in 12 games before adding 11 tackles and one sack in the playoffs.He's entering the final campaign of a five-year, $85-million contract.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce didn't win a Super Bowl this year, but he certainly celebrated like a champion Sunday after watching brother Travis Kelce take home a third title with the Kansas City Chiefs.In an interview with Will Reeves of ABC News, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes spoke about what it was like to party alongside Jason in Las Vegas following Super Bowl LVIII."I was there, and I saw Jason, and he was the life of the party," Mahomes said. "Those Kelce brothers, man, they're the life of the party wherever they go."Jason cheered on his younger brother Sunday in Las Vegas while decked out in red-and-yellow plaid overalls and a shirt featuring Travis' nickname, "Big Yeti." The elder Kelce sibling later joined Travis and the rest of the Chiefs at a nightclub, where he was spotted celebrating in a Luchador mask.

Eagles pass-rusher Haason Reddick would like to remain in Philadelphia, he told Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz."I would like to get an extension done here at home," Reddick said. "At no point did I ever tell the organization I want to be traded."The Eagles granted Reddick's camp permission to find a deal because of his expiring contract, Schultz reports. Reddick's comments add context to earlier reports that he was granted permission to find a trade partner."This is home for me," he added. "I was born and raised here. Two of the most fun years playing football in my life came here. I've cherished being an Eagle."Reddick signed a three-year, $45-million deal with the Eagles ahead of the 2022 campaign. He'll carry a cap hit of approximately $21.9 million in 2024 if he isn't extended, according to Over the Cap.Reddick has racked up 27 sacks over two seasons in Philly. He was named a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro in 2022 after tallying a career-high 16 quarterback takedowns.The Temple product has 58 sacks, 69 tackles for loss, and 16 forced fumbles in 114 career games with the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, and Eagles.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Super Bowl LVIII is officially over, but with the scouting combine and free agency looming, NFL front offices don't have much time to relax.Here's every team's biggest question heading into the 2024 offseason.Arizona Cardinals Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWill they make a huge move?The Cardinals desperately need to improve at wide receiver and pass-rusher. No wideout went over 600 yards this season, and no defensive player recorded more than six sacks. A big move in free agency may be in the cards. With two first-round picks, including the No. 4 selection, Arizona could add some serious star power.Atlanta FalconsWill they find their QB1?The Falcons opened Pandora's box in 2023 by benching Desmond Ridder multiple times. With no long-term answer under center, Atlanta's biggest priority this offseason is finding a quarterback who can lead the team. With the No. 8 pick, the Falcons could land a top prospect. They can also seek a veteran name in free agency - someone like Russell Wilson may work (if he's released).Baltimore RavensWhich pending free agents will they re-sign?After significant members of their sideline staff departed this offseason, the Ravens could also lose some on-field talent. Odell Beckham Jr., Patrick Queen, Kevin Zeitler, Jadeveon Clowney, Justin Madubuike, and Geno Stone headline their 2024 free agents. Just how many will Eric DeCosta be able to retain?Buffalo BillsWhat does the future hold for Von Miller and Stefon Diggs?Miller was extremely disappointing in 2023, recording zero sacks in 12 games. Meanwhile, Diggs left his future open again by stating he can't control whether he'll be back. Diggs and Miller own two of the Bills' three biggest cap hits for 2024, too. However, they both carry even bigger dead cap hits, which makes a cut or trade unlikely.Carolina PanthersCan Dave Canales save Bryce Young?The Panthers enter this offseason with operation "Save Bryce Young" as their No. 1 priority. To lead the project, they hired former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Canales. He's as good a bet as anyone after rejuvenating Baker Mayfield in 2023. However, Young may be even more difficult after a disaster of a rookie season.Chicago Bears Patrick McDermott / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhat happens with Justin Fields?The Bears have a dilemma. Do they move on from Fields or trade the No. 1 pick to a quarterback-needy team and bypass the chance to draft Caleb Williams? Skipping the opportunity to draft Williams - a premier prospect - is a huge risk on its own. But another drawback to keeping Fields is the risk of his fifth-year option. Pick it up, and Chicago commits a good chunk of change to 2025. Don't exercise it, and it risks him overperforming in a contract year.Cincinnati BengalsWhich skill-position stars won't return?The Bengals' front office has some big decisions to make. Wide receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd are scheduled to be free agents, while running back Joe Mixon is due a $3-million roster bonus on March 16, per Spotrac. Will any return to Cincinnati next season?Cleveland BrownsWhat will the offense look like next season?Will Kevin Stefanski call plays, or will that fall to new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, who worked with Josh Allen and the Bills before being terminated last season? Cleveland could eye a wide receiver in free agency, with the likes of Higgins, Calvin Ridley, and Gabe Davis scheduled to hit the market.Dallas CowboysHow does this team get over the hump?The Cowboys elected to retain Mike McCarthy despite another playoff disappointment. How does the team fix this issue? Jerry Jones says Dallas is ready to go all-in next season, which could foreshadow an offseason of additions. Jones will also have more long-term decisions approaching, such as what to do with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, who are entering contract years and could be in line for extensions.Denver BroncosWhat's the plan at quarterback?All signs point to the Broncos cutting ties with Wilson after two seasons. If that happens, how will Sean Payton choose to replace him? Denver holds the No. 12 pick in the draft and could acquire a top quarterback. The only question is: which one?Detroit Lions Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images Sport / GettyHow much will it cost to extend Jared Goff?Goff put together one of his finest seasons as pro, leading the Lions to their first NFC title game appearance in 32 years. Now, they'll have to pony up. Goff's deal, which expires after 2024, averages $33.5 million per year. Daniel Jones' average annual value of $40 million might be the starting point in negotiations.Green Bay PackersHow much gets a Jordan Love extension done?The Packers have their guy at quarterback. Love proved that down the stretch, throwing for 23 touchdowns to three interceptions over his last 10 games (including playoffs). His base salary for 2024 is a measly $10.5 million after inking a one-year extension last offseason. There's no telling how high his average salary will be on a long-term extension, though around $45 million or higher might not be too surprising.Houston TexansWill they re-sign Jonathan Greenard?C.J. Stroud led the Texans to a division title and playoff win as a rookie. How do they build on that in Year 2? Keeping their biggest free agent in Greenard is a good start. The 26-year-old led the team in sacks last season with a career-high 12.5.Indianapolis ColtsCan they keep Michael Pittman Jr.?Pittman had his best season as a pro in 2023, setting personal bests in receptions (109) and receiving yards (1,152). He did this while catching passes from Gardner Minshew for majority of the year. Will the Colts extend Pittman, use a franchise tag, or let him walk? How much will an extension cost?Jacksonville JaguarsWhat's the future hold for Trevor Lawrence, Josh Allen, and Ridley?General manager Trent Baalke's offseason agenda is looking very full. Re-signing Allen after a breakout 17.5-sack season should be the easiest goal thanks to the franchise tag Baalke has at his disposal. Getting a long-term extension done with Lawrence, which Baalke said will happen at the "appropriate time" might be a little tougher given the trajectory of quarterback contracts. As for Ridley, will Jacksonville bring him back or let him test free agency?Kansas City Chiefs Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / GettyWill they be able to keep this defense together?For all the talk about Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs' defense stole the show on their playoff run after limiting teams with high-octane offenses, such as the Bills, Ravens, and San Francisco 49ers. Their ability to run it back will probably depend on whether they can re-sign Chris Jones and L'Jarius Sneed, two players who played remarkably down the stretch.Las Vegas RaidersWill they draft one of the top QBs?Aidan O'Connell played as well as anyone could've expected in his rookie season. Still, the Raiders may shoot for a quarterback with a higher ceiling. Picking 13th in the 2024 draft, Las Vegas will likely be linked to the likes of Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, Michael Penix, and J.J. McCarthy, among others.Los Angeles ChargersWhat does a Greg Roman offense look like with Justin Herbert?The Chargers reportedly hired Roman to be their offensive coordinator, reuniting him with new head coach Jim Harbaugh. Roman's previous stints in the NFL involved working with dual-threat quarterbacks such as Colin Kaepernick, Lamar Jackson, and Tyrod Taylor. How will he shape an offense around one of the game's biggest pocket passers in Herbert?Los Angeles RamsCan they stop Kevin Dotson from hitting free agency?Les Snead's most savvy move in 2023 was acquiring Dotson from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The guard played spectacularly and is in line for a major contract ahead of free agency. His projected market value is $16.4 million per year, per Spotrac.Miami DolphinsHow much is Tua Tagovailoa worth?Tagovailoa was out to prove his 2022 improvement was no joke last season - and he did exactly that. With a league-leading 4,624 yards and a career-high 29 touchdown passes, Tagovailoa played all 17 games and led the Dolphins to the playoffs. The only question is whether the Dolphins are prepared to give him a very lucrative contract. The former top-five pick's contract expires after 2024.Minnesota Vikings Stephen Maturen / Getty Images Sport / GettyWill Kirk Cousins return?Cousins will be 36 years old next season and is coming off a torn Achilles, but he was off to a hot start in 2023 before his injury. Will they re-sign him or let him explore the free-agent market, where he'll be the top quarterback available? This decision might impact free-agent pass-rusher Danielle Hunter's future and Justin Jefferson's extension talks.New England PatriotsWhat to do with No. 3 pick?The Patriots are starting fresh. Not only at head coach - with Jerod Mayo slated to take over from Bill Belichick - but possibly also at quarterback after Mac Jones struggled massively. If New England wants to start a new era, it should have its fair share of picks with the third overall selection. Heisman winner Jayden Daniels or North Carolina passer Drake Maye could be options.New Orleans SaintsWhat happens with Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas?Kamara is coming off a career-low 1,160 yards from scrimmage in 2023, while Thomas again failed to stay healthy and was limited to 10 games. Both could realistically be released this offseason. Kamara would save the Saints just over $1.5 million in cap space if cut, while Thomas reportedly has nearly $120 million in roster bonuses if he's kept.New York GiantsHow do they save Daniel Jones?Jones followed up his breakout 2022 campaign with a disaster of epic proportions. The signal-caller fought injuries - including a neck issue and season-ending torn ACL - and threw two touchdowns to six interceptions in six starts. However, the Giants will need to find a way to make it work considering Jones carries a $47.1-million cap hit and $69.3-million dead cap hit in 2024.New York JetsHow do the Jets improve the offensive line?If the Jets want to maximize their biggest investment in Aaron Rodgers, having him play more than four snaps would be smart. Only three teams allowed more sacks than the 64 New York gave up in 2023. Unless the Jets want to risk another pressure-cooker season, they'd be wise to invest in the offensive line through free agency and the draft.Philadelphia Eagles Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / GettyHow do the Eagles fix the back end of their defense?The Eagles' defense fielded more aerial traffic than an airport in 2023. Ranking 30th in points allowed and 31st against the pass, the secondary is due a major shakeup. The problem is where these changes come from. Veteran corners Darius Slay and James Bradberry carry monstrous dead cap hits. Excluding Kevin Byard, the safety group is also uncertain, with Sydney Brown's return date unknown due to a torn ACL suffered in the regular-season finale.Pittsburgh SteelersCan Kenny Pickett be saved?The Steelers entered the offseason with the goal of trying to salvage Pickett's development. That's why they hired Arthur Smith as their offensive coordinator. Smith's ran a run-heavy offense with the Tennessee Titans, allowing Ryan Tannehill to flourish. Can he do the same in Pittsburgh with Pickett?San Francisco 49ersWhat else does this team need?Despite having one of the most loaded rosters in recent memory, Kyle Shanahan's 49ers squandered a 10-point lead in the Super Bowl to the Chiefs again. They'll face some important decisions this offseason with the likes of Chase Young, Jauan Jennings, and more set to be free agents.Seattle SeahawksHow will Mike Macdonald mold the roster?The Pete Carroll era is over. Macdonald crafted the league's stoutest defense as the Ravens' defensive coordinator. How will he recreate that in Seattle, and who fits in that vision? How he views the identity of the Seahawks will likely tie back to the free-agent futures of linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Bobby Wagner plus defensive lineman Leonard Williams.Tampa Bay BuccaneersWill Baker Mayfield be retained?Mayfield has played his way to a gigantic contract after a career-high 4,044 yards and 28 touchdown passes. Will the Bucs be the team giving him his money, though? Mayfield has said the franchise's pick to replace Canales, who left to be the Panthers' head coach, will be key in his decision. Tampa Bay hired Liam Coen to fill Canales' role, but will that be enough? Perhaps a lucrative contract will be more convincing.Tennessee Titans Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyIs this it for Derrick Henry in Tennessee?It could be the end of an era as Henry approaches free agency. Henry rushed for 1,167 yards last year, his lowest total over a full season since 2018 while also averaging just 4.2 yards per carry. The Titans haven't ruled out re-signing their star running back, but they might also feel inclined to move forward with 2023 third-round pick Tyjae Spears as their lead back.Washington CommandersWhat's in store at quarterback?Sam Howell might not be the answer. While his 2023 campaign featured a few highs, it also contained way too many lows. The Commanders have an easy out, though. They own the No. 2 pick, and the arrival of new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury from USC may foreshadow a major move.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday's thrilling Super Bowl matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers delivered the most-watched telecast ever, with 123.4 million average viewers across all platforms, CBS Sports announced Monday.The platforms include CBS Television Network, Paramount+, Nickelodeon, CBS Sports, Univision, and NFL+.Kansas City defeated San Francisco 25-22 in overtime thanks to a Mecole Hardman walk-off touchdown catch to cap the seventh-longest game in Super Bowl history.This year's viewership marks a 7% increase from last year's Big Game, which had set the previous record (115.1 million), according to CBS. A total of 202.4 million viewers watched all or part of the Chiefs' triumph over the 49ers across networks, the highest unduplicated total audience in history.Super Bowl LVIII was also the most-streamed Super Bowl ever.

The Pittsburgh Steelers released quarterback Mitch Trubisky after two seasons, the team announced Monday.In addition to Trubisky, the Steelers also released offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor and punter Pressley Harvin III.The trio's release saves the Steelers $12.8 million against the 2024 salary cap, according to The Athletic's Mike DeFabo.The veteran signed with Pittsburgh as a free agent in 2022 and began the year as the opening-day starter before being replaced by then-rookie Kenny Pickett.A former second overall pick, Trubisky spent most of his final season with the Steelers as the No. 2 quarterback behind Pickett. He made two starts - both losses - in 2023 when Pittsburgh sidelined Pickett but lost the starting job to third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph after throwing two touchdowns to three interceptions.Okorafor was benched for rookie tackle Broderick Jones after a Week 8 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Meanwhile, Harvin struggled with consistency, averaging 39.1 net yards per punt in 2023.Trubisky posted eight touchdown passes and 10 interceptions while accumulating a 2-5 record during his Pittsburgh tenure.The Steelers are expected to make significant changes to their quarterback room this offseason, with impending free-agent passer Ryan Tannehill on the team's radar, NFL Network's staff reports.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys agreed to terms with Mike Zimmer for him to become the club's new defensive coordinator, he confirmed to ESPN's Ed Werder on Monday."I'm excited and honored to be back with a great organization," Zimmer said. "I'm thrilled to work with Mike McCarthy, for whom I have had a ton of respect (for) in our NFC North days, and to do anything I can do to help the Joneses and the Cowboys."Monday's news arrives nearly a week after the former Minnesota Vikings head coach apparently agreed to join the organization. It also follows a report earlier Monday that Rex Ryan was still in the running for the role."Mike Zimmer's deal is not done yet," ESPN's Adam Schefter said on "The Pat McAfee Show." "They have reached out to Rex subsequent to that and they reached out to him ... (Sunday) just to say, 'Hey, any shot of this?'"Zimmer, 67, has remained out of football since he was fired by the Vikings after the 2021 season. He replaces Dan Quinn, who was named as the Washington Commanders' head coach on Feb. 1.The Vikings established a 72-56-1 regular-season record under Zimmer from 2014-2021. Zimmer is set to embark on his second stint with the Cowboys after previously working his way up from an assistant role to defensive coordinator from 1994-2006.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With no NFL team having ever won three straight Super Bowl titles, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes can't wait to have a shot at making history yet again after leading Kansas City to its second consecutive championship."It's legendary. No one's ever done it," Mahomes said Monday about going for a three-peat, according to NFL.com's Michael Baca. "We knew it's legendary to win back-to-back. I think eight other teams have done it. We had heard it all week."We had talked to the guys about it, and we felt like we had the best opportunity that we had ever had to go out there and do that and fell short the year before. So, all you can do is come back next year with a fresh mindset knowing it's going to be even harder. We got to continue to play our best football."The Chiefs topped the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in Super Bowl LVIII to become the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles since the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004.Kansas City wasn't dominant all season and had ups and downs throughout the campaign, largely due to repetitive mistakes on offense. However, with help from a premier defense, Mahomes and Co. stepped up in the playoffs to lift its third Lombardi Trophy in the last five years.The Chiefs trailed for most of Super Bowl LVIII but ultimately prevailed, with Mahomes being named Super Bowl MVP for the third time in his career."I want to take the credit, but honestly, it was everybody," Mahomes said of the Chiefs' inconsistency in 2023. "I knew it was going to turn around, the way the guys worked. Whenever stuff got tough, especially in that receiving room or offensive line or whatever, or with me."Everybody came to work the next day, and we'll just get that extra work in. Let's do those extra things. And when you see that, you know it's going to turn around. Our defense kept us in that all year long."Coach Andy Reid recently said that his team's home loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day "was a good wake-up call."Despite retirement speculation regarding Reid and Travis Kelce, the legendary coach and tight end have confirmed they'll return to the Chiefs to try to make history in 2024.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andy Reid isn't ready to declare the Kansas City Chiefs a dynasty, but he'll happily accept the label from others.Speaking at a press conference Monday morning, the Chiefs head coach said he'll let the media decide whether his team deserves to be called a dynasty after winning Super Bowl LVIII."Yeah, well, listen, it's history. How you write it will be how you write it," Reid said, according to Pro Football Talk's Myles Simmons. "Whether it's a dynasty - we won't determine if it's a dynasty, you guys do. But I would tell you that it's as fine a group as I've been around, and I've been very fortunate, been around some great organizations, good teams. This group here and the organization are tremendous."If somebody said dynasty, tagged it onto it, I would be very proud of that."The Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime Sunday to win their second consecutive Super Bowl championship and third in five years. The New England Patriots were the last team to win back-to-back Super Bowls in the 2003 and 2004 seasons.Kansas City is now in a position to become the first team in NFL history to three-peat, though Reid isn't getting ahead of himself."You know, we'll see," he said. "We've got great competition in the AFC West. We just had some hirings, coaching hirings, and these guys are good football coaches with good quarterbacks, good teams. So, it's not going to just be easy."Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The champagne hasn't yet dried on the Chiefs' second-straight victory celebration, but we're already looking ahead to next season.Oddsmakers opened the Super Bowl LIX betting market even before Kansas City won Sunday's big game yet again. But does knowing the Chiefs are the two-time champs change how the market feels about next season? In short, no.It's a little different this time around, though. The Chiefs were the Super Bowl LVIII favorites after defeating the Eagles in the final seconds of last year's game. But at the end of this year's final contest, Kansas City isn't atop the Super Bowl LIX oddsboard.Let's try to make sense of these extremely early odds using estimated market ratings from the end of each team's season.We'll use the last-known ranking for Joe Burrow's Bengals, Justin Herbert's Chargers, and Kirk Cousins' Vikings (though there's no certainty Cousins will return to Minnesota) since they all established their team's rating before season-ending injuries. Aaron Rodgers didn't have time to stabilize the Jets' rating, but his track record alone seems to carry enough weight with oddsmakers, placing New York 13th on the list.Lastly, since ratings are estimated off closing lines, playoff losses that might discredit a team's rating haven't yet been factored in. The Ravens, Cowboys, and Browns are all lower down the oddsboard than their season-ending power rating would suggest.With free agency and the NFL Draft on the horizon, there's plenty of room for these rankings to change, and we'll update them as necessary throughout the offseason.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan's opening play script (and first-drive scoring bets) fell apart with a fumble, but the 49ers' defense looked ready for the challenge of Andy Reid's game plan. As a result, a slow-starting Super Bowl LVIII needed a boost.For many of a certain age, Sunday's halftime show Usher'd us back to a place and time - in college bars and dorms in the early 2000s - when we were "Caught Up" in the rhythmic beat of youth.It was an all-too-brief, cheerful respite from a game that reminded us of that same era - in the shadows pre-PASPA repeal, with less institutional betting knowledge than we have now - when winning bets were hard to come by. The first half made it seem like every bet on the over was destined to fail and left a haunting feeling that we'd have to let things "Burn" if a minor miracle like overtime (Yes: +1100) didn't come.Anytime touchdowns... anytime now?Sure, Christian McCaffrey (-250) kept the world on its axis by scoring his usual touchdown (on a trick play - the first half's lone adrenaline shot). But all the usual suspects (Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, and Isiah Pacheco) were kept out of the end zone.If you thought you were playing it safe with scorers, the betting ledger in the anytime touchdown category looked more like a list of "Confessions" unless you had a second-tier option available around 8-to-1 (Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jauan Jennings, or Mecole Hardman).Hardman's game-winning score (as high as +6600 for the last TD) came dripping with irony after his near-fatal fumble in the divisional round sent him to the bench for all but one offensive snap in the AFC title game. The touchdown catch also perfectly capped a contest in which bad became good, down turned up, black felt white, and square was sharp.Square, don't careKelce didn't like that his dad grounded him for staying out past curfew with that woman with the guitar.At least that's what his first-half tantrum toward Reid might have looked like to a portion of the Super Bowl's "one game per year" viewership. Kelce's props - the "squarest" overs in all the land - were in big trouble when he was largely absent in the first half. It didn't matter, as he and Mahomes meticulously chipped away to go over all their pertinent totals, turning this recap's theme from "Everybody Lost" to "Just Us" (or at least it feels that way):PLAYER MARKET LINE RESULTPatrick MahomesPassing yards262.5Over (333)Passing TD1.5Over (2)Pass completions25.5Over (34)Pass attempts36.5Over (46)Rushing yards26.5Over (66)Travis KelceReceptions6.5Over (9)Receiving yards71.5Over (93)MVP almost got weirdWhat if the 49ers had won?Don't let the social media victory laps fool you, there was no "right side" in Super Bowl LVIII. Needing five quarters, the Chiefs won an often ugly toss-up. A San Francisco win would've left voters with an interesting Super Bowl MVP decision. McCaffrey's 80 yards in two stat columns might have swayed voters. But with throwing and receiving touchdowns, Jennings had the one-game resume to join the Super Bowl annals of flukey MVP winners. Sportsbooks would've loved him to be in this club since it wipes out all the bets on the sensible choices. It's like playing a Vegas roulette wheel and seeing the ball land on green quadruple-zero - a slot that nobody even knew was an option.The Chiefs also had an off-the-radar MVP candidate, as Harrison Butker (300-1) kicked his heart out. Making four field goals, including immediately topping Jake Moody's Super Bowl record-setter (kicking overs, anyone?), wasn't enough to get the nod and suggests it may never happen for a kicker.Instead, voters opted for Mahomes. As the greats do on off-nights when the door is ajar, he made the best of his good fortune, loitering long enough to take advantage of an accidental muffed punt (something unaccounted for on the endless Super Bowl prop menu) and a rare short field. Fittingly for this weird edition of the NFL's championship, a play in which nobody directly won or lost a prop bet was the game's turning point.Mahomes won MVP, validating what was, to be honest, technically a bad bet. Why bet Mahomes for MVP at +130 when you could back the Chiefs' moneyline at +110 (or better) and avoid exposure to Kansas City's metaphorical green spaces on the table?Bad beat?It depends on what number you got, but one of the most popular prop bets was supporting Brock Purdy to go over 12.5 rushing yards. Despite its early popularity after the Niners quarterback scampered all over the Lions in the NFC title game, Purdy's number came down to 11.5 as the Super Bowl neared.In what felt like a conservative mistake, Reid opted to kick the game-tying field goal with six seconds remaining rather than try one more play for the win. Butker's kick left a couple of seconds on the clock, and Purdy - sitting on 13 rushing yards - came out for a kneel-down for a 1-yard loss to send the game to overtime. He finished with 12 yards rushing.A contradictory gameMore notes on a contradictory box score for bettors:

Multiple San Francisco 49ers players admitted they weren't aware of the playoff overtime rules and that the team didn't strategize for extra time ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl LVIII."I didn't even know about the new playoff overtime rule, so it was a surprise to me," 49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead said after losing 25-22 to the Kansas City Chiefs, according to ESPN. "I didn't even really know what was going on in terms of that."Niners fullback Kyle Juszczyk said he believed the club decided to receive the ball first after winning the overtime coin toss because that's how teams attack it in the regular season."I guess that's not the case. I don't really know the strategy," Juszczyk said postgame, per Lindsay Jones of The Ringer.The new playoff overtime format guarantees both teams a chance to possess the ball. If the clubs match scores on their first drives, the first team to get the next point wins. In the regular season, the game ends if a team scores a touchdown on the first overtime drive.The 49ers kicked a field goal on their opening possession of Sunday's overtime. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the offense followed up with a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to win the game.Head coach Kyle Shanahan said potentially having the ball third is why San Francisco elected to receive to begin overtime."None of us have a ton of experience with it, but we went through all the analytics and talked to those guys, and we just decided we wanted the ball third," Shanahan said.Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said his club would've opted to take the ball second had it won the coin toss.Safety Justin Reid said coach Reid first spoke about the overtime rules in training camp. Defensive tackle Chris Jones added that Kansas City knew its overtime strategy heading into the Super Bowl."We talked through this for two weeks," Jones said. "How we was going to give the ball to the opponent; if they scored, we was going for two at the end of the game. We rehearsed it."Shanahan is winless in three Super Bowl appearances as a head coach or coordinator. His teams have led by at least 10 points in each of those games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan believes his team can bounce back next season after a 25-22 overtime defeat in Super Bowl LVIII."We're hurting right now, but it doesn't take away from how proud of our guys I am. I'm really proud of them today, too. As part of sports, as part of football, as part of life," Shanahan said after the contest, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk."I'm glad we put ourselves out there. I love our team. We'll recover, and we'll be back next year strong."Shanahan is now 0-3 in Super Bowls as a coordinator or head coach. His team has had at least a 10-point lead at some point in each loss.The 49ers' offense couldn't take advantage of the defense's solid performance. The latter held the Chiefs to only six points until late in the third quarter and forced two turnovers. Kansas City produced just 206 yards on its first nine possessions.

Draft season is officially here.The conclusion of the 2023 campaign turns our focus to offseason festivities, highlighted by an incredibly intriguing class of incoming rookies. And while we're still in the early stages of the pre-draft process, it's never too early for a mock draft.Here's our first of many looks at how the first round could shake out this year.Caleb Williams, QB, USCJustin Fields made some major strides toward the end of this past season. He'd absolutely be returning as the starter if Chicago didn't own Carolina's pick from last year's Bryce Young trade. But that's not the world we're living in. Resetting with a supremely talented passer on a rookie contract is an absolute no-brainer. Williams has superstar potential at the next level.Drake Maye, QB, UNCSome would argue there isn't much space between Williams and Maye in the battle for QB1. Kliff Kingsbury's overall record as a head coach might not blow you away, but the new offensive coordinator has an excellent track record in quarterback development. He could have another elite talent to work with in Maye - a young passer with an outstanding skill set that could thrive at the professional level.Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio StateThe Patriots passing up a quarterback might seem odd. But are they really going to settle for whoever falls to them at No. 3? That's no sure thing with a potential generational receiver like Harrison on the board.Malik Nabers, WR, LSUNabers projects as the next LSU star to dominate the NFL with game-breaking potential on every snap. The nation's second-leading receiver averaged an outrageous 17 yards per catch last season and caught 14 balls for touchdowns. He's exactly the type of explosive talent out wide that the Cardinals lacked last season.Joe Alt, OT, Notre DameJim Harbaugh is going to want to play his brand of offense with the Chargers. Doing so will, first and foremost, require some reinforcements up front. Alt working opposite Rashawn Slater would give Los Angeles an outstanding young duo of bookend tackles.Rome Odunze, WR, WashingtonIn most drafts, Odunze would be the first wideout selected. While he's third in this year's version, one could argue he's as talented as the first two. The Washington star carried the nation's top passing attack by leading the country in receiving yards and catching 13 touchdowns. He thrives in contested-catch situations - something that'll be very appealing to Daniel Jones.Brock Bowers, TE, GeorgiaTaking a tight end this early is typically a controversial move. That shouldn't be the case with Bowers. The do-it-all playmaker has the skill set to be the centerpiece of Tennessee's offense for the next decade.Jayden Daniels, QB, LSUThe Falcons know Desmond Ridder isn't the quarterback of the future and grab the Heisman winner Daniels out of LSU. He's one of the best dual-threat options we've ever seen - throwing for over 3,800 yards and rushing for over 1,100 last year. Adding Daniels to an offense with Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson will bring some excitement back to Atlanta.Dallas Turner, EDGE, AlabamaTurning a pair of top-10 picks into a quarterback of the future and a dynamic edge rusher would be a heck of a haul for the Bears. Turner could pair with Montez Sweat in helping Chicago's resurgent defense take another major step forward.Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon StateThe Jets add Fuaga to give Aaron Rodgers more protection up front coming off an Achilles injury. The Oregon State standout dominated opponents in the Pac-12 last year and will provide a huge boost in the rushing attack as well as pass protection.Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida StateKeep an eye on the Vikings as a team that could look to make a massive move up for a quarterback. If no such opportunity presents itself, Verse would be a great fallback option. Minnesota could have a pressing need on the edge with Danielle Hunter heading for free agency.J.J. McCarthy, QB, MichiganMcCarthy wasn't asked to do nearly as much in college as the three quarterbacks already taken, but the Michigan star rose to the occasion whenever he was needed in the Wolverines' title-winning campaign. McCarthy showed flashes of a wide-ranging skill set in college with plenty of pop in his arm to compete at the professional level. He finished his career with Michigan 27-1 as a starting quarterback. That combo of talent and intangibles will be exactly what Sean Payton is looking for in his quarterback.Terrion Arnold, CB, AlabamaThe Raiders are another team that could go all-in to trade up for a quarterback - especially if there's an opportunity to reunite Jayden Daniels with Antonio Pierce. There are plenty of options if that doesn't work out, though. Arnold would give an ascending Las Vegas defense a potential No. 1 corner.Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn StateFashanu was the top tackle on most analysts' draft boards heading into the college season, but he didn't dominate in the same fashion he showed in 2022. Nevertheless, the Penn State star has the size and athleticism to be a standout performer in the professional ranks.Quinyon Mitchell, CB, ToledoThe Colts have a massive need at cornerback. And as an organization that loves its athletes, we're betting that Mitchell is going to end up near the top of their draft board. The Toledo product is an outstanding cover man who could tear up the combine at the end of the month.Byron Murphy, DL, TexasMurphy may not have the ideal size for an interior lineman, but the Texas star is an absolute menace at both rushing the passer and stopping the run. He's the type of versatile lineman that new head coach Mike Macdonald will target for his defense.Nate Wiggins, CB, ClemsonThe Jaguars have a lot more holes to fill than we expected this time last year. Those efforts could start in the trenches on either side of the ball, but the value in adding a top corner makes plenty of sense here, too. Wiggins and Tyson Campbell could be a strong duo to build around on the back end.JC Latham, OT, AlabamaIt seems like offensive line is an annual need for the Bengals, and this year's prospect to boost that unit is Latham out of Alabama. At 6-foot-6, 360 pounds, Latham is one of the most physically intimidating players in the draft and should fit well in the rugged AFC North.Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLATradition suggests there could be some movement here, but Les Snead and Sean McVay might have a newfound affinity for draft picks after the success of last year's rookie class. Addressing a high-value position of need with Latu would be a nice way to use their first Day 1 selection since 2016.Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, OregonThe Steelers could go for Bo Nix or Michael Penix here, but neither is a sure thing at quarterback. Instead, Pittsburgh shores up the offensive line with one of the best center prospects in recent years. Powers-Johnson is an exceptional athlete at the position and will be a standout Day 1 starter for Pittsburgh.Troy Fautanu, OT, WashingtonThe Dolphins' offense has to get better up front if it's going to make the most of its supremely talented playmakers. Fautanu was the best player in a dominant front five that helped Washington reach the national title game.Cooper DeJean, CB, IowaIt's no secret the Eagles desperately need defensive back help, and DeJean is the type of athlete who could instantly make an impact for Philadelphia. The versatile Iowa star can play all over the secondary and also be a dangerous weapon in the return game.Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn StateRobinson should be a consensus first-rounder after he puts on a show at the combine in a few weeks. An explosive edge rusher opposite Will Anderson Jr., the 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year, would give the Texans a scary defensive front.Amarius Mims, OT, GeorgiaIt'll be tempting for Jerry Jones to take receiver Brian Thomas Jr. here, but the Cowboys address the offensive line with the 6-foot-7, 340-pound standout from Georgia. Adding Mims to a unit that features 22-year-old Tyler Smith will give Dallas a pair of excellent young tackles.Tyler Guyton, OT, OklahomaFinding a long-term replacement for David Bakhtiari should be Green Bay's No. 1 priority heading into the offseason. While Guyton may need some time to develop, his physical skills give him as much upside as any tackle in this draft.Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSUWith Mike Evans entering free agency, the Bucs address the receiving core with the electric Thomas out of LSU. Thomas is a threat all over the field but especially shines in the red zone, leading the nation with 17 touchdown grabs last year.Bralen Trice, EDGE, WashingtonThe Cardinals need a major infusion of defensive talent if they're going to get the most out of Jonathan Gannon's system. Trice is a powerful edge defender who should be an every-down contributor from Day 1.Keon Coleman, WR, Florida StateThe 6-foot-4, 215-pound Coleman brings arguably the biggest catch radius in the draft with him to Buffalo. The Florida State standout has numerous jaw-dropping highlights and will instantly take over for pending free agent Gabe Davis.Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, AlabamaThe Lions are only a few pieces away from being a Super Bowl team. Several of those pieces will have to be in the defensive backfield, so McKinstry feels like the perfect pick here.Jer'Zhan Newton, DL, IllinoisLike Murphy earlier in the draft, Newton is another defensive tackle that might not feature ideal length but has exceptional production on tape. If there's any team that can maximize his potential on the interior, it's the Ravens.Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, MissouriRakestraw is as tough as they come at corner and will fit in well with the 49ers' scheme. San Francisco may have other needs, but Rakestraw represents the best available talent toward the end of the opening round.Troy Franklin, WR, OregonThe Chiefs can't go into next season without making some major investments at wide receiver. With an impressive combination of size and speed, Franklin could provide the vertical playmaking ability that Marquez Valdes-Scantling was supposed to bring to this offense.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and tight end Travis Kelce downplayed their sideline spat during Super Bowl LVIII."He caught me off-balance; I wasn't watching. It was a cheap shot," Reid joked following Kansas City's 25-22 overtime victory, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. The 65-year-old clarified that Kelce came over to say, "Just put me in, I'll score."

Travis Kelce guaranteed that he's returning for the 2024 season with the Kansas City Chiefs, brushing off speculation he'd call it a career after winning back-to-back Super Bowl titles."Hell yeah. I want that three-peat," the 34-year-old said postgame, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Kelce caught nine passes for 93 yards on Sunday, helping Kansas City storm back to a 25-22 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. It's the team's third Super Bowl title in the last five years under quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid."What we had in there with this team, to see guys rise to the occasion, to see guys put stats aside ... that's something special that not only you learn from, but I'll take with me. And these memories will last forever," Kelce said, according to USA Today.The Chiefs scored only three first-half points and trailed for most of Super Bowl LVIII. However, Mahomes, Kelce, and Co. engineered yet another comeback victory to lift the Lombardi Trophy. Wide receiver Mecole Hardman walked off the 49ers with a 3-yard touchdown catch in overtime.Hardman played his first four NFL seasons with the Chiefs but signed with the New York Jets during the 2023 offseason. Kansas City made an October trade to reunite with the wide receiver after he had just one catch in five appearances with the AFC East team."Mecole is one of my favorite teammates ever. ... We were so excited when he got back in the building because he's the kind of a guy that brings everybody together," Kelce said Sunday.The superstar tight end has amassed 907 career catches for 11,328 yards and 74 touchdowns across 159 regular-season games in 11 seasons with the Chiefs. He hauled in 984 yards in 2023, his first campaign with fewer than 1,000 yards since 2015.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Mahomes sent a warning shot to the rest of the NFL after winning his third Super Bowl."It's the start of (a dynasty), we're not done," Mahomes told CBS' Tracy Wolfson. "I know we're going to celebrate tonight. ... We've got a young team. We're going to keep this thing going."The Chiefs won their third title in the last five years by beating the San Francisco 49ers in overtime. They also became the first back-to-back champions since the New England Patriots nearly two decades ago."The Kansas City Chiefs are never underdogs," said Mahomes.Mahomes earned Super Bowl MVP for a third time after throwing for 333 yards and two touchdowns against one interception. He also led the Chiefs with 66 rushing yards, including several clutch runs on the final game-winning drive.The star quarterback boasts an all-time resume despite playing six seasons as a starter.Only Tom Brady (seven), Terry Bradshaw (four), and Joe Montana (four) have won more Super Bowls than Mahomes.The 28-year-old has two regular-season MVPs, one Offensive Player of the Year award, and six Pro Bowl nominations. He's twice led the NFL in touchdown passes.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Six months ago, Patrick Mahomes was reluctant to call the Kansas City Chiefs a dynasty because they hadn't won three Super Bowls together. He doesn't have to worry about that anymore.Mahomes found Mecole Hardman in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown in overtime to help the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium.It's the Chiefs' second straight Super Bowl title and third championship victory in the last five seasons. They're the first team to win back-to-back Lombardi Trophies since the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004.Mahomes - who was named Super Bowl MVP for a third time - engineered an 11-play drive that resulted in a clutch 29-yard Harrison Butker field goal with three seconds left in the fourth quarter to force overtime. The 49ers' offense had the ball first in the extra frame but couldn't score a touchdown, settling for a 27-yard field goal.Kansas City struggled offensively for most of Super Bowl LVIII and went to halftime down 10-3. The Mahomes-led Chiefs have trailed by double-digit points in all four of the superstar quarterback's career Super Bowl appearances. The 28-year-old is now 3-1 in the Big Game. He lifted his first Lombardi Trophy with a 31-20 victory over the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV despite trailing by 10 in the fourth quarter.Mahomes completed 34 of 46 pass attempts for 333 yards and two touchdowns against one interception in his latest triumph over the 49ers. He also led his team with 66 rushing yards. Travis Kelce once again was his favorite target, hauling in nine catches for 93 yards.Hardman played the hero for the Chiefs in Las Vegas after starting the season on the New York Jets. Kansas City - which struggled offensively with wide receiver drops for most of the 2023 campaign - landed Hardman as part of an October trade. It was a reunion as the speedster began his career with K.C. and helped the team win its first two Super Bowls of the Mahomes and Andy Reid era.Reid is only one of five head coaches with at least three Super Bowl rings. Only Bill Belichick (six trophies) and Chuck Noll (four) have won more.Defenses dominated Super Bowl LVIII early on, with the Chiefs forcing a Christian McCaffrey fumble on the game's first drive. The matchup's 0-0 tie wasn't broken until the second quarter when rookie kicker Jake Moody converted a 55-yard field goal. The kick set a Super Bowl record that only lasted minutes until Butker nailed a 57-yarder in the third quarter.San Francisco forced a fumble of its own in the second quarter, knocking the ball out of Isiah Pacheco's hands in the red zone to end a promising Kansas City drive.The 49ers extended their second-quarter lead thanks to a perfectly executed trick play that featured receiver Jauan Jennings throwing a 21-yard touchdown pass to McCaffrey. Jennings became only the second wide receiver ever to throw a touchdown in the Super Bowl along with former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Antwaan Randle El (Super Bowl XL).The 49ers' defense continued to have the Chiefs' number after halftime, with rookie Ji'Ayir Brown picking off Mahomes early in the third quarter. Mahomes went 217 playoff passes without an interception before that play. However, Kansas City capitalized after San Francisco muffed a third-quarter punt. Mahomes found a wide-open Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the end zone for a touchdown to give K.C. its first lead of the night.That didn't last long, though, as Jennings put the Niners on top again with a 10-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter. The pass-catcher joined former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles as the only players ever to record a passing and receiving touchdown in a Super Bowl.Despite leading for most of the matchup, the Niners weren't able to hold on. Their last Super Bowl title now dates back to the 1994 season. San Francisco has gone 0-3 in the Big Game since then.Sunday's defeat also marked another heartbreaking loss for coach Kyle Shanahan, who's 0-3 in the Super Bowl. In addition to losing both Super Bowl matchups to Mahomes' Chiefs, Shanahan was also the Atlanta Falcons' play-caller and offensive coordinator when they blew a 28-3 lead to the Patriots in February 2017.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Mahomes collected his third Super Bowl MVP after leading the Kansas City Chiefs to a 25-22 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas on Sunday.With the Chiefs facing a do-or-die situation, Mahomes capped a 13-play, 75-yard game-winning drive in overtime with a walk-off touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman to clinch the win. Kansas City had to score at least three points after the 49ers kicked a field goal on the first possession of overtime.The Chiefs trailed by as much as 10 points Sunday, making it the third time in Mahomes' career that he's overcome a 10-point Super Bowl deficit.Despite being limited by the 49ers' defense early, Mahomes went on a tear to end the game, engineering four consecutive scoring drives. The first came as the Chiefs capitalized on a 49ers muffed punt in the 3rd quarter when Mahomes hit Marquez Valdes-Scantling on a 16-yard touchdown to give them a 13-10 advantage and their first lead of the game.He then led two game-tying possessions in the fourth quarter before his heroic walk-off drive in overtime. Both his game-tying drives were capped by Harrison Butker field goals, including a kick in the final seconds of the final quarter of regulation."The Kansas City Chiefs are never underdogs," Mahomes said postgame.The 28-year-old quarterback finished Super Bowl LVIII with 34 completions on 46 pass attempts for 333 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.He's now won three Super Bowls over the last five years and has made the Chiefs the first team to capture back-to-back Lombardi Trophies since the New England Patriots in 2003-04.Only Tom Brady has more Super Bowl MVPs (5) than Mahomes, who's tied with Joe Montana.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw tore his Achilles while running back onto the field during the second quarter of Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon will be available for Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers.The Georgia Southern product was activated from injured reserve on Saturday but was listed as questionable before Sunday's contest. McKinnon underwent core muscle surgery five weeks ago and is considered a long shot to return to action.McKinnon has been out of the Chiefs' lineup since he hurt his groin against the New England Patriots in Week 15. He played in 12 games before the injury, racking up 252 scrimmage yards to go along with five total touchdowns.The 31-year-old halfback rushed for 34 yards on four carries and hauled in three passes in the Chiefs' Super Bowl LVII win over the Philadelphia Eagles last season.Chiefs receiver Skyy Moore is also active Sunday after battling a knee injury in the regular season.Kansas City will be without offensive guard Joe Thuney, who was placed on injured reserve Saturday due to a pectoral ailment. Nick Allegretti is projected to start at left guard on Sunday in Thuney's absence.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney won't play in Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers.The Chiefs didn't list Toney on the injury report. He hasn't played a game since Week 15 against the New England Patriots, recording two receptions for five yards. Toney failed to eclipse 35 receiving yards in a contest this season."We'll see," head coach Andy Reid said Tuesday when asked whether Toney would play in the Super Bowl. "(Toney's) been practicing, we'll just see whether he's up or not."Kansas City put Toney on every injury report between Week 16 and the conference championship versus the Baltimore Ravens with either hip or ankle injuries. However, the 25-year-old claimed ahead of the Chiefs' previous playoff contest that he was healthy.Toney was crucial in Kansas City's 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. He caught a touchdown pass and returned a punt 65 yards to set up a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.The Chiefs acquired Toney in a trade with the New York Giants in October 2022 for third- and sixth-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. He has 430 total scrimmage yards in 20 games with Kansas City.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers has been trying to recruit Davante Adams to the New York Jets, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.However, the Raiders are in win-now mode and have no plans to trade their star wideout, Rapoport adds.Earlier in the 2022-23 campaign, it was reported that the Jets would attempt to trade for Adams in the offseason after their attempts at the trade deadline failed.Adams and Rodgers were teammates from 2014-2021 on the Green Bay Packers. The 31-year-old wideout made five Pro Bowls and recorded 8,121 yards with Rodgers as his quarterback.Rodgers, 40, was traded to the Jets before the 2023 season, though his first season in New York was limited to four plays. He suffered a torn Achilles in the Jets' regular-season opener.Adams is under contract with Las Vegas through 2026. His 2024 cap hit is $25.4 million, and his dead cap hit is $40.4 million, per Spotrac.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Multiple NFL owners have contacted Bill Belichick to see if he's interested in coaching in 2025, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Belichick wants to continue to serve as a sideline boss, and the expectation around the league is that he'll find a place to do it next season, Pelissero adds.The 71-year-old Belichick interviewed for the Atlanta Falcons head coaching job in January. The Falcons chose to hire former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, prompting other owners to reach out to Belichick, per Pelissero.Belichick left the New England Patriots in January after spending 23 years as the team's head coach and general manager. He won six Super Bowls with the Patriots and sits second all-time in NFL coaching victories with 333. Belichick needs 15 wins to surpass Don Shula as the winningest coach in league history.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Super Bowl LVIII kicks off Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET in Las Vegas. These key battles within the big game will influence whether the Chiefs or 49ers rule the NFL.Tremendous QB storiesThe indomitable Patrick Mahomes has reached his fourth Super Bowl in five years, equaling what Tom Brady achieved last decade. Mahomes became an all-time great at warp speed. If the Chiefs repeat as champs - no NFL team's done that since the mid-2000s Patriots - he will join Brady and Troy Aikman as quarterbacks who won three Lombardi trophies in their 20s.Mahomes persistently coughed up the ball in 2023, tossing a career-worst 14 picks, but hasn't made a single turnover-worthy play in the playoffs, per PFF. None of his last 203 passes in the postseason have been intercepted, meaning Brady's record streak (237) could be broken Sunday. Mahomes avoided errors and was only sacked twice as Kansas City routed the Dolphins at home and edged the Bills and Ravens in demanding road duels. Perry Knotts / Getty Images Cooper Neill / Getty ImagesBrock Purdy's miniscule cap hit - 93 NFL QBs earn more money annually, per Over The Cap - enabled the 49ers to construct a stacked roster. His command of the offense, escapability when forced to scramble, and unflappability at 24 years old helped him guide that group to Vegas.The last pick in the 2022 draft usually gets the job done. Purdy ranked in the top five in completion rate (69.4%), passing yards (267.5 per game), touchdowns (31), and explosive 20-plus-yard completions (72, the NFL high). The Lions intercepted a poor throw in the NFC title game, and another floater struck a cornerback's hand and facemask before Brandon Aiyuk dove to snatch it. The improbable 51-yard gain sparked a major Niners comeback.Chiefs' defensive excellence Mark Goldman / Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesIn an NFL first, no opponent scored 30 points against Kansas City over 20 regular-season or playoff games, per Stathead. A superb defense that ranked second in yards and scoring kept the Chiefs in every matchup and quieted talented offenses.En route to the Super Bowl, K.C. surrendered 41 points (13.7 per game) against quality Miami, Buffalo, and Baltimore teams. Only 10 of those points were scored after halftime. Clutch takeaways in the AFC title game - the Chiefs stripped Lamar Jackson, forced a touchback fumble at the goal line, and intercepted Jackson when he passed into triple coverage - offset the K.C. offense's second-half slowdown.The Chiefs pester passers. Ranking second in sacks (57) and quarterback hits (125) this season helped them force the fifth-most punts, face the third-fewest field-goal attempts, and allow fewer scrimmage touchdowns than every team except Baltimore, per Pro Football Reference. Their four takedowns of Jackson in the conference championship included a sack on a safety blitz that pushed the Ravens out of kicking range.The 49ers are a great foil. Boasting enviable depth, they were the sixth offense in the Super Bowl era to field four 1,000-yard playmakers, per Stathead.The San Francisco defense is gifted, too. Edge rusher Nick Bosa's seven QB hits (to go along with two sacks) top the playoff leaderboard, per PFF. The ballhawks around him forced multiple turnovers in seven of 11 Niners games from November through January.49ers' rushing edge Thearon W. Henderson / Getty ImagesPounding the ball upfield is a literal strength for the 49ers. Fronted by powerful linemen, their run blockers earned the highest collective PFF grade this season. Christian McCaffrey led the NFL in rushing yards gained before contact (853) and was second in yards after contact (606), showing he's hard to catch and bring down.McCaffrey leads all playoff rushers in touchdowns (four) and missed tackles forced (12). During the regular season, the Niners ran for more yards than the NFL team average (112.7) in 15 matchups. Their run defenders held 14 opponents below the average total, partly because they dissuaded clubs from testing them and faced the fewest rushing attempts.Slumping lately, San Francisco surrendered big gains in the NFC playoff rounds. Tacklers whiffed as Packers running back Aaron Jones scampered for 53 yards, Lions wideout Jameson Williams scored on a 42-yard end around, and Detroit back Jahmyr Gibbs tiptoed into the end zone from 15 yards out.Like McCaffrey, Chiefs lead back Isiah Pacheco housed a rushing TD in each of his last four playoff outings. Their streaks are tied for the 11th-longest in postseason history, per Stathead. Shouldering a heavy load, Pacheco's 24 carries apiece against the Dolphins and Ravens helped K.C. set the tempo and dominate possession in those wins. Perry Knotts / Getty ImagesTelltale team statsThe 49ers outperformed the Chiefs this season in three notable ways:Turnover margin: San Francisco's 28 takeaways and 18 giveaways produced a plus-10 differential. Compiling the inverse stat line, Kansas City committed 28 giveaways with 17 takeaways to finish minus-11. The Chiefs didn't win the turnover battle in any game between Week 6 and the conference championship.Red-zone scoring: The Niners' 67.2% touchdown rate led the league. The Chiefs crossed the plane on 54.1% of trips, which ranked 17th. San Francisco bagged a dozen more TDs in the situation (45-33) despite only visiting the red zone six more times (67-61), per Pro Football Reference.Second-half scoring: The 49ers tallied an extra touchdown per week in second halves. They averaged 14.1 points to the Chiefs' piddling 7.6, per Team Rankings. Many offenses cool after halftime - teams in the lead run the ball more, and trailing clubs force throws that get picked - but Mahomes' unit only managed to outscore the lowly Jets, Titans, and Patriots.The Chiefs gained 6.3 yards per play in first halves - the equivalent of ranking third in offense. Their average second-half play gained 4.8 yards, which was akin to ranking 28th. Mahomes' completion rate (62.7%) and passer rating (85.7) after halftime resembled Gardner Minshew's modest output over full games.Counting the postseason, the Chiefs are 12-2 when they lead or are tied at the break. Halftime deficits led to four defeats, though they came back to beat the Bengals on New Year's Eve and the Bills in the divisional round. Because of the defense's impenetrability, they fended off the Ravens despite punting on five straight second-half drives.Secondary MVP candidates Mark Goldman / Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesQuarterbacks tend to be the Super Bowl MVP. Their 32 triumphs in 57 tries include 14 wins this century. Mahomes has been honored twice already.Five wideouts, three linebackers, and a safety have swiped the award since 2000. Gaudy stats draw attention to unconventional candidates. Star defenders sometimes prevail when the opposing offense is silenced.The following pass-catchers and defensive weapons could conceivably swing the game and garner votes:Travis Kelce: The Chiefs tight end leads the NFL in playoff receiving touchdowns (three) and catches (23 for 262 yards, or 87.3 per matchup). His 11 grabs on that many targets in the AFC title game included some acrobatic snares in close coverage. Heating up, Kelce just scored in consecutive games for the first time since September.Aiyuk: Explosive when Purdy eyed him this season, the 49ers' top wideout ranked seventh in receiving yardage (1,342) while placing second in yards per catch (17.9) and yards per target (12.8). Aiyuk's huge gain against the Lions accounts for half his playoff production (100 yards) to date. He has one more shot to break open a massive game. Cooper Neill / Getty ImagesGeorge Karlaftis: The Chiefs edge rusher grabbed a fumble against the Ravens and has 2.5 playoff sacks despite failing to generate consistent pressure. Karlaftis' pass-rush win rate in January was 7.3%, down from 12.7% this season, per PFF. That said, paths to Purdy will open if nose tackle Chris Jones destabilizes the 49ers' offensive line from the interior.Fred Warner: The All-Pro linebacker has anchored strong Niners defenses since 2018, back when Jimmy Garoppolo, C.J. Beathard, and Nick Mullens quarterbacked the squad to four wins. Warner earned his position's top PFF grade in 2023 by making the kind of splash play (four interceptions, four forced fumbles) that, if timed well, can complete a championship quest.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Haason Reddick received permission to seek a trade, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Philadelphia will only do a deal if the compensation and cap considerations make sense, according to John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia. They're trying to find a win-win for both sides, Clark adds.Reddick is entering the final season of a three-year, $45-million deal signed with the Eagles in 2022. He's set to have a $21.8-million cap hit in 2024, according to Over The Cap.The 29-year-old has 27 sacks in two years in Philadelphia after racking up 23.5 sacks across two campaigns between the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals. Reddick has 50.5 sacks over the last four seasons, ranking fourth in the NFL behind T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, and Trey Hendrickson.The edge-rusher market has skyrocketed recently, with Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, Garrett, and Watt all making at least $25 million per season.Reddick's $15 million per year salary ranks 18th highest among NFL edge rushers, behind players such as Emmanuel Ogbah, Von Miller, Harold Landry, and Shaquil Barrett.The Eagles have $20.2 million in cap space, per Over The Cap. They've used many resources on the defensive line, selecting Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, and Nolan Smith in the first round of the last two drafts.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs are poised to give head coach Andy Reid a contract extension regardless of Super Bowl LVIII's outcome on Sunday, sources told CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones.The Chiefs are reportedly expected to increase Reid's salary as part of the new deal. He currently earns $12 million per year, which ranks around the 10th highest among NFL coaches, adds Jones.Reid is set to take the sidelines for the fifth Super Bowl appearance of his career. He's among the all-time winningest coaches, posting a 258-144-1 record over 25 years. Reid's also the only coach in NFL history to win 100 games with two franchises, accomplishing the feat with the Philadelphia Eagles and Chiefs.Despite being the oldest active head coach in the league, the 65-year-old said earlier this week that he isn't considering retirement.Reid guided the Chiefs back to the Super Bowl after finishing the regular season with an 11-6 record in 2023. Kansas City opened the postseason by taking down the Miami Dolphins in the wild-card round before earning road wins over the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens.Widely regarded as an offensive savant, the Chiefs are expected to continue contending for Super Bowl titles with Reid at the helm. Kansas City has never endured a losing season in the 13 years with Reid as its coach.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis "grilled" general manager candidates during the interview process about a strategy on how to trade up from the No. 13 pick to potentially draft a new quarterback, sources told Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Head coach Antonio Pierce also wants to be aggressive in trying to find a franchise signal-caller, NFL Network adds.The 2024 NFL Draft is rich in quarterbacks, with USC's Caleb Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye, LSU's Jayden Daniels, Oregon's Bo Nix, Washington's Michael Penix Jr., and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy all expected to be selected in the first two rounds.Las Vegas hired Tom Telesco as its new general manager in January. Telesco spent 11 seasons in the same role with the Los Angeles Chargers before landing with the Raiders.During his tenure with the Chargers, Telesco only traded up once in the first round of the draft, moving up to the No. 15 pick in 2015 to select running back Melvin Gordon III.The Raiders signed quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a three-year, $72.75 million contract last offseason. But things didn't go as planned: Garoppolo was benched before the club's Week 9 victory over the New York Giants. The 32-year-old has $11.25 million in guaranteed salary remaining on his deal and is set to have a $28.3 million cap hit in 2024, according to Over The Cap.Rookie signal-caller Aidan O'Connell started 10 games for the team in 2023, including the final nine contests after Garoppolo was benched. He went 5-5 in those appearances, totaling 2,218 passing yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.Las Vegas' offense ranked 21st in success rate and 23rd in points per game in 2023.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterback Mac Jones' tenure with the New England Patriots could end this offseason.The 25-year-old is considered a trade candidate and expected to land elsewhere ahead of the 2024 season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo.The Patriots drafted Jones in the first round in 2021. The Alabama product won the starting job in his first year and led New England to a playoff berth while posting a 10-7 mark as a starter. He also finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.However, Jones struggled over the ensuing seasons. After passing for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in his first year, Jones' numbers dropped to 2,997 yards, 14 TDs, and 11 INTs in 2022.His numbers continued to plummet in 2023, passing for 2,120 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The Patriots demoted Jones to third-string quarterback behind Bailey Zappe and Nathan Rourke at the end of the campaign.New England has undergone several changes since the regular season ended. The team parted with longtime head coach Bill Belichick and replaced him with Jerod Mayo. The Pats also hired Alex Van Pelt as their new offensive coordinator.The Patriots aren't expected to pick up Jones' fifth-year rookie option this offseason, a source told MassLive's Mark Daniels. Jones will carry a $4.9-million cap hit next season before having the opportunity to hit free agency in 2025.New England owns the No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft this spring.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints are expected to hire San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak as their next offensive coordinator, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.A deal is expected to be finalized after the Super Bowl, reports Pelissero. Kubiak is the son of former Houston Texans and Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak.He spent this season with the 49ers after being the Denver Broncos passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022. Kubiak worked as the Minnesota Vikings' quarterbacks coach for two years before the club promoted him to offensive coordinator in 2021.The Saints moved on from offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael in January after 14 years with the team. New Orleans' offense has struggled since quarterback Drew Brees retired in 2020, ranking 23rd in EPA/play over the last three seasons, according to Ben Baldwin's database.The Saints have already begun putting together Kubiak's offensive staff, which is expected to include quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko and offensive line coach John Benton, Pelissero adds.Janocko has been the quarterbacks coach for the Chicago Bears for the last two years. Benton served as the New York Jets offensive line coach and run game coordinator from 2021-22.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon is questionable for Super Bowl LVIII after being activated off injured reserve Saturday.McKinnon hasn't played since the team's Week 15 win over the New England Patriots due to a groin injury.The 31-year-old tailback scored five total touchdowns in 12 regular-season games this season. The majority of his production came through the air, including four of his scores. He had 25 receptions for 192 yards.All-Pro guard Joe Thuney, whom the Chiefs ruled out earlier in the week, was officially placed on injured reserve to make room on the roster for McKinnon. Nick Allegretti is expected to start in Thuney's place.Kansas City also elevated defensive tackle Mike Pennel from the practice squad for the matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. Pennel appeared in three games with the Chiefs during the 2023 campaign.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pass-rusher Micah Parsons won't push the Dallas Cowboys to negotiate a contract extension until star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb gets his deal signed first."I know they gotta get CeeDee Lamb done. I think that's the priority right now," Parsons told Maurice Jones-Drew of NFL Network."If they're ready to talk about a deal and get a deal done, I'll be super excited. You know I'm ready to be (with the) Cowboys for life, this is the team I wanted to be with, this is the team I want to win a championship with."Lamb and Parsons are critical players for a Cowboys team that has gone 36-15 in the regular season over the last three years. Lamb is set to enter the final campaign of his deal after the team picked up his fifth-year option last offseason. The 24-year-old has a $17.9-million cap hit in 2024, according to Over The Cap.The Oklahoma product has been one of the most consistent playmakers in the league since being drafted 17th overall in 2020. Lamb has 395 catches for 5,145 receiving yards across four seasons. He set career highs in yards, receptions, and touchdowns in 2023.Parsons is eligible for a contract extension after completing his third season in the NFL. The Cowboys have until May 2 to exercise Parsons' fifth-year option."What's meant for me is meant for me," Parsons said. "I'm not gonna rush the process, I'm gonna just enjoy the process and keep working until it's time."Parsons, 24, has 40.5 sacks and 213 tackles in 50 career games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Shedeur Sanders opted not to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft, but he's confident he'd be the first quarterback taken off the board if he had.In an interview with Sports Illustrated's Brice Butler in Las Vegas ahead of Super Bowl LVIII, the Colorado signal-caller and son of Buffalos head coach Deion Sanders called himself the best quarterback in college football right now."I'm biased, but I don't see a quarterback that's better than me," Sanders said. "I don't see a quarterback that went through as much adversity as me, that had four (offensive coordinators) in four years."Coming from an HBCU, coming to a Power 5 (program), having real pressure on me. A lot of people don't understand, that's a lot more adversity than you think just even being the son of Deion Sanders."USC's Caleb Williams is widely projected to be the first quarterback selected in the 2024 draft, followed by North Carolina's Drake Maye. Some have also touted LSU quarterback and 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels as a potential top-five pick.Sheuder, who will return to Colorado in 2024, completed 69.3% of his passes for 3,230 yards with 27 touchdowns and just three interceptions in 11 games for the Buffaloes last season.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.For the first time, the big game is in Las Vegas. Of course, you don't need to fly to Sin City to make things even more interesting Sunday night.Super Bowl LVIII kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET, but before the flashbulbs go off a stone's throw from the Strip, here's everything you need to know about betting the San Francisco 49ers-Kansas City Chiefs matchup.Who ya got?The valuable bet to win Super Bowl LVIIIMVPWho to back for Most Valuable PlayerPlayer propsPassing props for Patrick Mahomes and Brock PurdyFinding value in receiving prop marketsBest wagers to make in rushing prop marketsDefensive and special teams propsAnytime touchdown scorersGame propsHandicapping the big game's "firsts"The deep cuts in the Super Bowl prop betting menuBetting insightsEarly betting splitsFirst look at the odds for Super Bowl, MVP, and player propsOne-sided prop bettingOutrageous available prop betstheScore's ultimate Super Bowl LVIII prop sheetPlease Play Responsibly. 19+. ON Only. Gambling Problem? Call ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.The Super Bowl is fast approaching, and there are still plenty of bettors on the sideline who've yet to place a wager on the Chiefs-49ers game.But there's also a large number who have, and they typically fall into two categories. The general public, who can't contain their excitement for the big game and want to take a stand early, and a group of bettors sportsbooks often refer to as "wise guys" or sharps.They have opinions on games and props that the sportsbooks respect. Whenever a sharp places a bet, traders are generally asked to adjust the line accordingly. This is how line movement occurs and closing lines are formed.The two-week break before the Super Bowl gives "wise guys" plenty of time to dissect the oddsboard, and this year, they've been keying in on a few specific players at both theScore Bet and ESPN Bet, two sportsbooks operated by PENN Entertainment.Deebo Samuel was the prime target for sharps when player props first opened. The 49ers' dynamic playmaker is a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses, and sharps are especially keen on his ability as a ball carrier.Samuel's rushing attempt total opened at 2.5, with the over paying +105. That price was immediately cut to -105 after sharps disagreed with the odds, but the move didn't prevent one-sided action. As it stands, 99.% of the handle and 99.7% of the bets on Samuel's rushing attempt total have ended up on the over, and the price has now moved all the way to -170.The rushing attempt market isn't the only Samuel prop sharps backed, as they also piled in on his rushing yard total of 13.5, even though he's failed to surpass that total in six of his last seven games. Samuel's rushing yard total is now set at 16.5, and the over for 13.5 yards is paying -150.The sharps also targeted Samuel's quarterback, Brock Purdy. The biggest prop bet taken between the two aforementioned sportsbooks was on under 20.5 passing completions at +122. The odds for over 20.5 are now even money. Purdy's had 20 or fewer pass completions in 11 of 18 games played this season.A few of the other markets sharps have backed are as follows: