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As a wise man once said, “When in doubt, use Jake Ciely’s rankings.” With fantasy football drafts underway these next few weeks, here are Jake’s cheat sheets for 2024. As for today:
- 📺 Preseason watch guide
- 💬 Word on new kickoffs
- 🥇 Tyreek Hill, in context
NFL Preseason Week 1 Watch Guide
Hey, we made it, kind of! Here’s the full schedule for Week 1 of the NFL preseason, with notes on one game each day:
Thursday, 7 p.m. ET: Panthers at Patriots (NFL Network). While rookie Drake Maye still projects as a Week 1 backup to Jacoby Brissett, Patriots beat writer Chad Graff noted that Maye will start at some point this season, likely “around midseason.”
The Patriots would be wise to give the 21-year-old plenty of game-like reps this offseason, and Chad expects Maye “to get some extended looks in the preseason games.” For more on Maye, read Chad’s recap after one day following the No. 3 pick’s every move at Patriots camp.
Also Thursday:
- 7 p.m. ET: Lions at Giants (FOX)
Friday, 7 p.m. ET: Falcons at Dolphins (FOX). Kirk Cousins is “hoping to play in at least one of Atlanta’s three preseason games but isn’t optimistic he’ll get that chance,” according to beat writer Josh Kendall.
While I also doubt the team risks injury to its nine-figure QB, we should get an extended look at his likely successor, No. 8 pick Michael Penix Jr., who Josh noted was “sharp on Day 1 but [has] been shaky since. Nothing awful just looks like [the] rookie is getting weighed down by volume now.” Or maybe he’s tired of the PowerPoint presentations on conspiracy theories?
- 7 p.m. ET: Texans at Steelers (NFL Network)
- 7:30 p.m. ET: Eagles at Ravens (COZI)
Saturday, noon ET: Commanders at Jets (CBS). If the preseason offers us anything, it’s a look at players in their new uniforms. Last year, Aaron Rodgers played 10 snaps in the Jets’ third preseason game. I loved it. And then that was almost all we got of him.
While Rodgers won’t suit up this year, Commanders HC Dan Quinn said Jayden Daniels will play in the team’s first preseason game. Still not the official starter, Daniels was uncorking highlight after highlight last week. Also keep an eye out for third-round Commanders rookie WR Luke McCaffrey (yep, another McCaffrey brother), who could win the No. 2 role opposite Terry McLaurin.
It’s a busy Saturday:
- 1 p.m. ET: Bears at Bills (FOX, NFL Network)
- 4 p.m. ET: Raiders at Vikings (FOX, NFL Network)
- 4:35 p.m. ET: Packers at Browns (Packers TV, WEWS)
- 7 p.m. ET: Buccaneers at Bengals (WTTA)
- 7 p.m. ET: 49ers at Titans (KPIX5)
- 7 p.m. ET: Chiefs at Jaguars (NFL Network)
- 7 p.m. ET: Seahawks at Chargers (KONG)
- 8 p.m. ET: Saints at Cardinals (FOX)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET: Broncos at Colts (NFL Network, FOX). Sean Payton’s first year in Denver led to the cutting of Russell Wilson, incurring the largest dead cap hit in NFL history ($85 million).
This Sunday, we should get the first look at Bo Nix, Wilson’s replacement who has stood out in training camp with his ability to manipulate coverage with his eyes. While Payton is mum on the starter, Broncos beat reporter Nick Kosmider noted that Nix is still in competition with veteran Jarrett Stidham, while former No. 2 pick Zach Wilson has seemingly fallen to third on the depth chart. This first game will be telling.
- 4:30 p.m. ET: Cowboys at Rams (NFL Network, CBS)
What Dianna’s Hearing: New kickoffs might be work in progress
Last Thursday night, everyone — fans, coaches, league execs, players, front-office execs, journalists — got our first look at the new hybrid kickoff rules in action. There was some praise and some criticism. One high-ranking team exec reached out to me (after reading Friday’s Scoop City newsletter, by the way) to raise an important question: Is this really safer?
“The coverage players are on top of the blockers very quickly, and if (a blocker) misses the block or takes a false step, there are more opportunities for high-speed collisions with the returner,” the exec said, adding that he’s seen that scenario play out in his team’s practices as well.
The exec, who acknowledged that the rule change was well-intended, believes the new kickoffs will at least need to be tweaked, especially in anticipation of an increase in return opportunities.
Back to you, Jacob.
Tyreek Hill, the NFL’s No. 1 Player?
Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill had an awesome week.
- July 29: EA Sports awarded Hill a 99 overall rating, making him the year’s highest-rated receiver in Madden, just ahead of Justin Jefferson.
- August 2: The NFL revealed that his peers voted him No. 1 in the Top 100 Players of 2024 list, making him the first receiver in the league to gain the honor (more on that in a second).
- August 3: It was announced that the star receiver reached an agreement with the Dolphins on a reworked contract worth $90 million over the next three years (with $65 million guaranteed).
We’ll get to that rankings thing.
First, let’s hit the serious stuff, the Dolphins’ cap situation: The team also extended WR Jaylen Waddle and QB Tua Tagovailoa this offseason. Remember, Waddle’s average per year is reported at $28.5 million, Hill’s is $30 million and Tua’s is $53.1 million. But given the timing of Waddle’s extension, its impact isn’t felt until 2027, when the then-33-year-old Hill’s contract ends:
Given this, and with Miami sitting at $22 million in cap space per OvertheCap, the Dolphins’ cap situation is fine. Or is it?
It’s the opposite of fine. It’s not good. $34.8 million in dead money (for players like FA Xavien Howard) doesn’t help a situation that cost them dearly this offseason — Miami lost foundational DT Christian Wilkins to the Raiders, and massive G Robert Hunt departed to the Panthers — while they still currently project to be $44.3 million over the 2025 salary cap. Yikes.
But back to Hill, the No. 1 player?
Yes, if I was drafting a Madden team for one game, Hill might be the first overall pick. Yes, Tyreek Hill should be near the top of any NFL players list.
But no, they should not be allowed to publish a list of the “Top 100 Players of 2024” unless back-to-back Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes is ranked first. And Mahomes can take solace in this: He’s ranked fourth, behind No. 3 Christian McCaffrey (whom Mahomes beat in the Super Bowl), No. 2 Lamar Jackson (same, in the AFC Championship) and No. 1 Hill (same, in the Wild Card Round).
While the Chiefs quarterback should be first, Hill is arguably No. 2. It’s crazy to think that the Chiefs might’ve had four of the list’s top 10 players (including No. 6 Chris Jones and No. 9 Travis Kelce), had they never traded Hill. But in one of the true win-win trades in NFL history, the Chiefs gave up Hill for a haul of picks from Miami, which resulted in:
- Chiefs: CB Trent McDuffie, WR Rashee Rice, WR Skyy Moore, OT Darian Kinnard, DT Keondre Coburn and plenty of cap space. They’ve gone 7-0 in the playoffs since trading Hill, and they’ve now drafted Xavier Worthy, who can replicate Hill’s speed, at least.
- Dolphins: Tyreek Hill and a happy Mike McDaniel. No playoff wins, though.
That final point is the most important for a Dolphins’ franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game in 23 years.
Will the flash of McDaniel’s offense be enough to break through? I’m not optimistic. It hasn’t worked yet, and only gets more expensive.
For more top 100, check out The Athletic’s countdown of pro football’s greatest players ever.
Around the NFL
The Titans signed former Seahawks fan-favorite S Quandre Diggs to a one-year contract worth up to $5 million. Entering his 10th year, the 31-year-old Diggs started every game for Seattle in the past four seasons.
Chargers edge Joey Bosa left yesterday’s practice early with a hand/wrist injury. If healthy (and it’s a big if, given the last two seasons), Bosa joins Khalil Mack (17 sacks last year at age 32) to form the team’s most talented position.
Panthers WR Xavier Legette is day-to-day after an MRI on his injured foot ruled out a fracture. The first-round pick is losing valuable practice reps.
Rams star WR Puka Nacua left practice early with what appeared to be a knee injury. The injury bug is active in L.A., as the Rams also have three starting offensive linemen who are week-to-week.
Jacob’s Picks
📕 Reggie Wayne on the Colts receivers: Cool story by James Boyd, who gets the scoop on what the Colts’ WR coach thinks of Michael Pittman, Josh Downs and rookie Adonai Mitchell. (The Athletic)
📺 Jalen Hurts, mic’d up. Fun look into the Eagles camp, with Saquon Barkley’s quads making a cameo. (YouTube)
🎙 Mythbusters. Are the Jets really Super Bowl contenders? Are the Patriots really that bad? Robert Mays and Mitchell Schwartz search for the truth in this wide-ranging episode. (The Athletic Football Show)
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