2022 NFL Draft Results

The Facts: The NFL and NFL Players Association approved a new helmet this offseason that helmet maker Vicis designed specifically to protect quarterbacks from the kinds of injuries they suffer when their heads hit the ground. Unsurprisingly, Tagovailoa is interested. Tagovailoa, who suffered multiple concussions on exactly those kinds of hits last season, said he is wearing he newly designed helmet at Organized Team Activities to see how comfortable he is in it. “I’m still trying to feel it out, so what better time to feel it out than OTAs? I heard it’s supposedly better than the helmet I was wearing last year,” Tagovailoa said. “If it could be that much more safe, then why not give it a shot?” Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: Tagovailoa said he’s not sure if he’ll wear the helmet during the season, but he wants to give himself plenty of time to try it out on the practice field. Of course, quarterbacks don’t get hit in practice, and Tagovailoa won’t really know how much extra protection the helmet gives him until he needs it. But it’s something he’s considering, and other quarterbacks may follow suit.

The Facts: By this point, everyone knows how spectacular Denver's face-plant was in 2022. Hopes of a Super Bowl quickly crumbled in the Mile High City, where Wilson and the Broncos proved they weren't contenders, but pretenders under the since-fired Nathaniel Hackett. Sean Payton is now in charge and Denver has a renewed sense of optimism. Count OT Garett Bolles as one of the hopefuls who not only believes the Broncos will surprise folks, but also that Wilson is going to shock the world. "He's a great dude, he's the same guy every single day, he works his butt off,' Bolles said, via ESPN.com. "And I'm ready for that stuff to go away and when it goes, everyone's going to eat crow.' Reported by NFL.com

Diehards Line: Denver's disintegration wasn't simply a tale of a team failing to meet expectations. Following the disappointing 2022 season, reports emerged describing special treatment of Wilson, who reportedly kept his own office in the Broncos' facility, among other things. Bolles said Thursday those reports angered him, and he's taking them "very personal." Bolles believes he has good reason to be confident that Wilson will turn around what was a miserable season for the All-Pro and Super Bowl-winning quarterback. "He's the same guy, he doesn't change; he's a leader,' Bolles said. ... Because the Broncos traded so much to acquire Wilson, they have no choice but to turn it around in 2023. The alternative means mass firings, save for perhaps Payton, another key figure for whom Denver had to trade away assets to add. The pressure is on. Bolles is attempting to ensure Wilson never feels even a hint of it.

The Facts: Los Angeles agreed to terms Thursday with veteran receiver Robinson, per his agents. Reported by NFL.com

Diehards Line: Robinson spent the 2022 season in Baltimore, hauling in 48 catches for 458 yards and two touchdowns, finishing as the Ravens' leading receiver. The 28-year-old previously played six seasons with the Chiefs.

The Facts: Young has officially ascended to the throne. The Alabama product and No. 1 overall pick took his place atop the highest of Panther pedestals Thursday, joining the starting lineup for the first time in Carolina's organized team activities. HC Frank Reich told reporters this is all part of his plan to have Young ready to go for training camp, the regular season and beyond. "Bryce has taken the snaps with the ones this week," Reich said Thursday. "That was something at the beginning that (general manager) Scott (Fitterer) and I kind of earmarked the time when we thought would be best. Kind of mapping out, talked it through with the staff, you know, at the beginning of the offseason, this was kind of the time that we had marked this week to just kind of move him up." Reported by NFL.com

Diehards Line: All that said, Young isn't the official starter. "Not yet," Reich said when asked if he felt comfortable naming Young the Week 1 starter. "He's showing everything you want to see. But again, this goes back to even the draft, you don't make a decision until you have to make it, right? We'll just keep giving him and our team the opportunity to get better and to earn that starting role. So far, he and a lot of our guys are taking the steps needed to earn that spot. But we don't have to make that decision yet, so we'll just kind of keep chugging along here." Reich is, in typical coach fashion, avoiding speaking in absolutes when it's early June. For all intents and purposes, though, this is Young's job, and Young's team.

The Facts: Mixon's status in Cincinnati has been a hot topic all summer, with rumors swirling that the Bengals could move on given his hefty contract. But the RB told SI's All Bengals reporter Elise Jesse during an interview at his youth camp he's not fretting about the speculation, citing his relationship with owner Mike Brown as the reason he's confident he won't be going anywhere this season. "You hear a lot of noise, but at the same time, when you don't pay attention and you don't see it, none of that affects you," Mixon said. "What matters most is Mike Brown. He comes up to me at practice and he's always happy to see me, and that's the best feeling. It don't get no better than that." Reported by NFL.com

Diehards Line: Added Mixon: "He's the owner, and he makes the decisions. He embraced me since day one and I love Mike and I know Mike loves me too, so it's a great thing to have. I feel like our front office, everybody is great to me, everybody has backed me 100 percent, and it's a great feeling. Just the love and support that I get from them continuously. Very appreciative. Words really don't explain the true feeling of what that means to me. ..." Mixon is slated to count $12.79 million against the salary cap in 2023. With no guaranteed money left on his base salary, the Bengals could save more than $10 million by releasing the running back at this point. It's possible the Bengals could squeeze Mixon to take a pay cut before Week 1. He's also dealing with legal issues this offseason. In April, he pleaded not guilty to refiled menacing charges. The Bengals lost backup RB Samaje Perine in free agency and waited until the fifth round to draft Chase Brown to go along with backups Trayveon Williams and Chris Evans. The Bengals roster remains one of the best in the AFC, and with looming big contracts on the horizon -- Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase -- it could be the final run with this current group, including Mixon.

The Facts: The Minnesota Vikings are expected to officially release Cook on Friday, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per a source. Reported by NFL.com

Diehards Line: Other reports suggest they'll make one more effort to trade Cook before releasing him, but the two sides have long been rumored to be heading their separate ways this offseason. The Broncos and Dolphins are among the teams interested in Cook. Meanwhile, Alexander Mattison will be Minnesota's primary back for 2023.

The Facts: Herbert is in line to become one of the NFL's top earners as he approaches the final years of his rookie deal. HC Brandon Staley on Monday described contract negotiations with Herbert as "ongoing" ahead of the team's annual golf charity event, according to ESPN's Lindsay Thiry. Reported by NFL.com

Diehards Line: Herbert, who is under contract through the 2024 season after the Chargers exercised the former first-round pick's fifth-year option this past April, maintained his commitment to the franchise on Monday despite not having an update on the situation. "They've done such a great job of taking care of us and my message really hasn't changed," Herbert said, via Thiry. "It's been an honor to be a part of this team. It's great to come to events like this and whatever happens, happens and it's out of my control at this point." Herbert is set to make $29.5 million n 2024 under the fifth-year option, but he's scheduled to only earn $4.23 million this upcoming season. Those numbers are a far cry from a QB market that is flourishing, with Eagles' Jalen Hurts and Ravens' Lamar Jackson each earning $255 million-plus contracts this offseason. Upon the announcement of those long-term deals, Tom Telesco suggested they weren't necessarily a "blueprint" that would affect negotiations with Herbert. The Chargers GM also said this offseason that Herbert's looming payday is "a good problem to have." Indeed, the Chargers struck gold when selecting Herbert, who underwent shoulder surgery this offseason, with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. In three seasons, the 25-year-old has 14,089 passing yards, 94 touchdowns and 35 interceptions with a 66.9 completion percentage. They know a big payday is coming. It's just a matter of when.

The Facts: Hopkins is slated to fly to Nashville on Sunday for a visit with the Titans, sources tell NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Reported by NFL.com

Diehards Line: Hopkins and Mike Vrabel were together in Houston. Now Vrabel’s team gets the first visit with Hopkins, the five-time Pro Bowl pick released by Arizona last month. Pelissero notes the Titans aren’t the only team in talks with Hopkins. But the first visit shows there is mutual interest with Tennessee.

The Facts: Allen is this year’s Madden cover athlete. EA announced today that Allen will be on the cover of Madden 24, the latest edition of the long-running NFL video game. On social media, Allen called it, “A childhood dream come true.” Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: The selection cements Allen’s status as one of the game’s biggest stars, and a popular player who sells merchandise. Last year, John Madden himself was on the cover of the game that bears his name, in memory of his life and his great service to the game of football. Previous cover players have included Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes for Madden 22. Lamar Jackson for Madden 21 and Mahomes alone for Madden 20.

The Facts: Henry said on Tuesday that he has worked to forge a relationship with new general manager Ran Carthon and is not worried about reportedly being shopped around by the Titans in March. Carthon denied shopping the Pro Bowl running back in April. "Talking to him, meeting him in person. I've put a face with the name," Henry said in his first public comments this offseason. "Just doing all of those things. When we get to football, we're not worried about that other stuff." Reported by ESPN.com

Diehards Line: Henry rushed for 1,538 yards (his third-best total) last season and holds a $16.3 million cap hit this year. The Titans had limited cap space to work with during the offseason but have managed to add veteran free agents and still leave Henry's contract intact. Tennessee used a third-round draft pick to select running back Tyjae Spears this year after selecting Hassan Haskins in the fourth round in 2022. At 29 years old, Henry might be entering his final season with the Titans given how he has two low-cost voidable years remaining on his deal. Henry says he wants to hit the ground running in new coordinator Tim Kelly's scheme. That's why Henry checked in for voluntary OTAs this season as opposed to working out on his own until the mandatory portion of the offseason starts. "It's a completely new offense, so I just came in here trying to learn everything," Henry said. ... Henry is entering his eighth NFL season, tying him with veteran safety Kevin Byard for the longest-tenured players on the team. Both players were selected in the 2016 draft. Byard was asked to take a pay cut during the offseason and refused. The veteran safety checked into minicamp after missing voluntary OTAs. The Titans were noticeably more energetic on defense with Byard on the field.