Another day, another step closer to the 2021 NFL season. If you haven’t caught on by now, John Breech is off the grid this week, so I — Cody Benjamin — will be your friendly guide to all the latest from around the NFL. And we’ve got plenty to get to on Wednesday.
This is the Pick Six Newsletter. Buckle your seat belts. (And please, do yourself a favor and make sure you’re signed up to receive this newsletter every day! You don’t want to miss our daily offerings of everything you need to know around the NFL.)
We’ve got playoff predictions, major Colts news, a report from Rams camp, and much more:
- Today’s show: Which playoff teams could miss the postseason in 2021?
Every year, it’s inevitable: Somebody fresh off a playoff run drops out of the tournament entirely. On Wednesday, Ryan Wilson joined Will Brinson on the “Pick Six NFL Podcast” to predict which teams could suffer that fate in 2021, going from playoff team to out of the race in a year’s time.
Ryan’s pick: The Steelers, who won the AFC North in 2020. “It starts with the offensive line and Big Ben,” he said. “The offensive line is completely revamped … (and) if the running game isn’t working because of the O-line, it sort of makes Najee Harris as the (top) draft pick, it makes that moot.” Wilson thinks the Browns and Ravens will also be better, squeezing Pittsburgh out of contention.
Brinson’s pick: The Colts. He believes Indy is “well coached on both sides of the ball” and will benefit from a “terrible division” and good defense. But with Eric Fisher still recovering at left tackle, Quenton Nelson still recovering at left guard and new quarterback Carson Wentz coming off his own injury, Will isn’t confident Indy will be the contender everyone envisions.
Catch the entire episode (and subscribe for all kinds of daily NFL talk) right here.
2. Insider notes: Stafford, McVay already in lockstep at camp
CBS Sports senior reporter Jonathan Jones was in California this week to dive into Rams training camp, and his top takeaway from Los Angeles’ 2021 preparations should be encouraging to local fans: The relationship between coach Sean McVay and new QB Matthew Stafford is firing on all cylinders. Apparently, according to Jones, it has been from the get-go, with McVay and Stafford recounting celebratory drinks they shared at the time of the QB’s trade from Detroit. Here’s Stafford’s latest praise for his new boss:
“It’s been great working with him. He’s a really a bright guy has great energy and knows how to command a room but at the same time he’s so approachable and everybody loves him. It’s really fun challenging each other. He’s trying to get the best out of me and I’m trying to get the best out of him. That kind of friendly fun competition and pushing each other is what it’s all about. I’m loving it.”
3. Top players by jersey number: Ranking the best from 1-99
The NFL loosened restrictions on jersey numbers earlier this offseason, allowing a bunch of new positions to wear single digits, among other changes. With that in mind, we decided to look at every single number — from 1 to 99 — and identify the best current player at each spot. From Kyler Murray to Aaron Donald, the list is chock-full of big names, each representing their numbers well.
Here’s a sneak peek at the full list, with Murray kicking off the top 10:
- Kyler Murray, Cardinals QB
- Julio Jones, Titans WR
- Russell Wilson, Seahawks QB
- Dak Prescott, Cowboys QB
- Jalen Ramsey, Rams CB
- Baker Mayfield, Browns QB
- Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers QB
- Lamar Jackson, Ravens QB
- Matthew Stafford, Rams QB
- Tyreek Hill, Chiefs WR
4. Colts update: Wentz on track for Week 1, Reich and Ballard extended
Indianapolis stole all the headlines on Wednesday, and fortunately for Colts fans, both major updates are promising:
- Carson Wentz, Quenton Nelson expected back by Week 1: Arguably the two most important players on the team are on the mend following foot surgeries, but ESPN reports both are on track to return for Indy’s opener against the Seahawks.
- Coach Frank Reich, GM Chris Ballard sign extensions: Looking to make their third playoff appearance in four years, the Ballard-Reich contingent has gotten an early — and significant — vote of approval from ownership, landing a new deal that’ll keep them in Indianapolis through the 2026 season.
5. Under-the-radar QBs who could burst onto 2022 draft scene
Before the 2020 college football season, few predicted Zach Wilson would even come close to being a top two NFL Draft pick. Now, with Wilson prepping for his Jets debut, NFL Draft expert Chris Trapasso has projected which under-the-radar prospects could be next to steal the show and catapult themselves into the first round of the 2022 draft. Here are his names to watch:
6. ‘Hard Knocks’ rankings: Dak Prescott stands out in Cowboys premiere
HBO’s annual training camp series returned Tuesday night with the Cowboys kicking off their third appearance on the show. Who stood out during the first episode? Who has lots of room to grow? We documented winners and losers from the premiere, and no one stood out more than QB Dak Prescott, who’s still battling back from ankle and shoulder injuries:
“I sat last year enough,” he muttered to teammates as coaches limited his team reps for precautionary reasons. “I’ll let ya’ll know if I’m f—— sore or something’s bothering me.” At the very least, this guy cares a lot about getting back on the field and returning to form in 2021.
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