NFL free agency has died down, and we’re just heading into the meat of the 2023 draft, so it’s an interesting time to see just where we stand on all kinds of football subjects. This week, 4-Down Territory hosts Kyle Madson of Niners Wire and Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar get into all kinds of things from big-time pro days to which remaining free agents should be signed to which rules proposals should be approved at the owners meetings.
00:00 – Key takeaways from Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, and Will Levis pro days
04:19 – Which available player are you most surprised by his current availability?
09:38 – Which other first-team reunion do you think would best benefit all parties involved?
13:55 – Which proposed rules changes do you think most needs to be added?
You can watch this week’s episode of “4-Down Territory” right here.
Who impressed the most at their pro days?
Three projected first-round quarterbacks – C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, and Will Levis — had their pro days last week. Some say that pro days are pretty worthless when it comes to evaluating prospects, but did any of those three guys show you anything they hadn’t before?
Doug: I think that Stroud and Levis showed what they are at their pro days – Stroud, the nearly mechanically perfect quarterback who can make every throw, and Levis, the rocket-armed guy who will miss some of the easiest throws among the fireworks. Not that Young had anything to prove after his collegiate career at Alabama, but the way the ball came off his hand at his pro day was pretty incendiary, and this was a major statement after he didn’t throw at the scouting combine Some teams will still have questions about Young’s 5-foot-10, 204-pound frame – especially when his actual playing weight was not above 200 pounds – but even a cursory look at those pro day throws should leave no doubt that Young is as equipped for NFL success as any prospect in this class.
Kyle: I didn’t see anything in the pro days that changed my mind, but I’ve grown into really liking C.J. Stroud. It’s hard in the era of the dual-threat QB to lean on those traditional QB evaluations, but man Stroud is really freaking good. And I think he will benefit from being surrounded by good talent. The Panthers haven’t operated like a team that expects to lose a lot next year and I think their defense has a chance to be good enough that it can overcome some rookie mistakes. I was wary of Stroud coming into draft season, but man I’m betting on his tools. I agree completely on Young. He can absolutely play in the modern NFL. His coaching staff just needs to be smart with him and adapt the offense to overcome any obstacles his size might create. As for Levis… I can’t shake the Justin Herbert thing. I was out on Herbert, and now he’s one of the 7 or so best QBs in the league. I have a hard time punting on big, athletic, strong-armed dudes — even if he did miss some bunnies at his pro day.
Which available free agent should already have been signed?
Moving to free agency, now that most of the big names have been signed or re-signed, which available player are you most surprised by his current availability?
Doug: I’ll cheat and name two edge-rushers – Justin Houston and Yannick Ngakoue. I get that Houston turned 34 in January, but he totaled 12 sacks, six quarterback hits, and 24 quarterback hurries for a Baltimore Ravens team that didn’t have a ton going for it otherwise in a pass-rushing sense. Houston still has what it takes to excel both outside and inside the tackles as a power rusher with surprising speed off the edge. And Ngakoue has been with five different teams over the last four seasons – this includes two trades – but wherever he is, he produces. Last season for the Colts, he put up 12 sacks, nine quarterback hits, and 23 quarterback hurries. And outside of DeForest Buckner, Ngakoue was similarly ill-served with pass-rush help. He’s still only 27 years old, and I’m not sure why he wasn’t signed in the first wave of free agency. Perhaps teams are waiting for him to lower his price, but were I one of those teams, I wouldn’t wait too long.
Kyle: How is Marcus Peters still available? He’s obviously not in his prime anymore, but he just turned 30 and had some really good games for Baltimore last year. I don’t think he can change a defense or anything, but at this point he’s going to be a bargain who can at least help most secondaries in the league.
I’m also a little bit surprised Odell Beckham isn’t signed yet. I’m not delusional. I don’t think he’s a top five or 10 or even 20 WR at this point, but he can still play! Maybe the Jets are just waiting on the Rodgers deal, or maybe his asking price is too steep, or maybe teams are wary of bringing him in after his most recent ACL tear. Even if his play has fallen off some though, Beckham would improve virtually every receiving corps in the league. Some team is gonna land him for cheap and they’re going to get better when they do it.
Which player-team reunion would make the most sense?
One player who was signed in free agency last Saturday to his original team was future Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner. Everyone in Seattle is very happy about this, while Wagner’s former Rams teammate Cooper Kupp is decidedly not. Whether it’s via trade or free agency, which other first-team reunion do you think would best benefit all parties involved?
Doug: The Arizona Cardinals selected Calais Campbell in the second round of the 2008 draft – and no, that is not a mistake on our part. Calais Campbell has been in the NFL since 2008. If you look at Arizona’s current defensive line depth chart following J.J. Watt’s retirement and the Broncos’ signing of Zack Allen, there’s precious little left for new head coach and former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon to work with. Maybe the Cardinals select Alabama edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr. with the third overall pick – that seems to be the consensus pick in mock drafts – but that will only help as much as Anderson can do by himself. Campbell may turn 37 in September, but he showed last season that he’s still got enough in the tank to make a difference as a multi-gap defender, and his veteran acumen would help a line that will have to be rebuilt from the studs.
Kyle: Let’s get back to Odell Beckham. The Giants can’t use him?! Get Daniel Jones some help, man! Snag a WR in the draft. Use Beckham in the slot, and see if Jones can’t put up some high-end passing production with a real receiving corps. I’m also kind of into the idea of Frank Clark in Seattle. Make him a situational edge rusher, move him around the defensive line, and see if he can’t help that pass rush. Including the playoffs Clark had 56 pressures and nine sacks last year. He would’ve been 2nd and 3rd on the Seahawks in those categories, respectively. With Wagner back, adding Clark could give Seattle a formidable front seven.
Which rule change proposal makes the most sense?
NFL owners will be meeting in Arizona this week to, among other things, discuss several proposed rules changes. Which one do you think most needs to be added to the league’s rule book?
Doug: Rule Proposal 8, submitted by the Rams, would allow for roughing the passer to be reviewable. It doesn’t take much football viewership to understand that the ways in which officials have called the penalty over the last few years – aided by the codicil in the rule book which states that roughing the passer should be called if there is the slightest question – has been substandard at best, and ridiculous at worst. Giving coaches the opportunity to have those calls reviewed might at least make things more reasonable, as long as the replay officials are going to adhere to the plan – which they clearly didn’t when pass interference was made reviewable in 2019, the review administration was kind of a joke, and the whole thing was scrapped the following spring.
Kyle: I have two. Rule Proposal 1, which would allow the use of the No. 0 on jerseys, is electric and I need it. Make it a tradition that like, the best defensive player gets 0 or something. I don’t know. But it will look super cool and I need it. Shoutout to the Eagles.
The second rule proposal is also very good though and also by Philly. It would allow teams to try a 4th and 20 from their own 20 instead of doing an onside kick. This is great. Ban onside kicks. They’re dumb. This would be I think more achievable, and it’s an opportunity for more action! It’s a whole play instead of one kick that may or may not even be interesting. I’d also love to see which coaches just decide randomly to go for it in the middle of the second quarter. So many great possibilities here. I need it. (Although we’d have to make sure Kyle Shanahan knows he’s not allowed to punt the 4th and 20).
