Aaron Rodgers drama will get messier plus 10 rookies who might make an immediate affect within the NFL this season

Earlier than we are saying goodbye to the 2021 NFL Draft, we thought we would squeeze in another present about it this week — solely this present comes with a twist: We welcomed Josh Norris to the podcast. If you do not know who Norris is, that is OK, he isn’t precisely a family title. Nevertheless, he may quickly develop into one within the draft world and that is as a result of he put collectively essentially the most correct mock draft of 2021 and presumably essentially the most correct mock draft within the historical past of mock drafts. 

Yearly, The Huddle Report goes by way of all of the mock drafts on the web and offers them a rating. The scoring system is fairly easy: Your mock draft will get two factors for those who appropriately undertaking a participant to the proper group and also you get one level for those who appropriately undertaking {that a} participant will go within the first spherical. Total, Norris scored 59 factors, which was the best of 2021 and the best rating ever given by the Huddle Report. 

Norris, who works for Underdog Fantasy, joined Will Brinson to speak about — what else — the draft. One in every of Norris’ finest picks was having Trey Lance go the 49ers in a transfer that most individuals did not see coming. Lance ended up being a scorching matter of dialog on at the moment’s present with Norris and Brinson inspecting what the 49ers might seem like in 2021 and the way shortly the rookie might find yourself changing Jimmy Garoppolo. 

The 2 additionally mentioned a number of different draft subjects like why Terrace Marshall Jr. will likely be an ideal match for the Panthers, why Asante Samuel Jr. fell up to now within the draft and why the Raiders proceed to draft guys within the first spherical who nobody thought would go within the first spherical. 

To take heed to the remainder of at the moment’s present — and to comply with the podcast — remember to click on right here. 

2. Aaron Rodgers drama will get messier 

In some unspecified time in the future, all of this Aaron Rodgers drama goes to come back to an finish, however sadly for the Packers, it would not seem to be issues are going to be coming to an finish anytime quickly. It is now been seven days because it turned recognized that Rodgers needed out of Inexperienced Bay, and I’ve to say, it looks as if I study 17 new issues in regards to the state of affairs every single day. 

Over the previous 24 hours alone, this is what has come out in regards to the Rodgers drama in Inexperienced Bay: 

• Rodgers has an fascinating nickname for Brian Gutekunst. In accordance to The Athletic, Rodgers has been referring to the Packers common supervisor as “Jerry Krause” in texts with associates, which is not precisely a praise. If you do not know who Krause is, he is the Bulls GM who was loathed by Michael Jordan throughout Chicago’s run of success within the Nineteen Nineties.
• Rodgers informed free brokers he was leaving Inexperienced Bay after the 2021 season. Apparently, Rodgers has needed out of Inexperienced Bay for a couple of months. Earlier than the free company interval began this offseason, Rodgers went out of his option to let different free brokers know that he would not be returning to Inexperienced Bay in 2021, in accordance with NFL.com. If that is true, Rodgers principally undermined the Packers and it might imply there’s doubtless no path to reconciliation. 
• Packers suppose different groups might need been tampering. The Packers suppose a minimum of two groups — the 49ers and Broncos — might need been tampering with Rodgers. Because the QB is beneath contract with Inexperienced Bay, no different group is allowed to contact him, so it appears the Packers wish to know the way the 49ers knew to name about Rodgers the evening earlier than the draft. Did Rodgers or somebody in his camp tip them off? If the Packers determine to file tampering chargers, issues might get fascinating. 
• Favre would not suppose Rodgers will likely be returning to Inexperienced Bay. Nobody is aware of extra about quarterback drama in Inexperienced Bay than Brett Favre. Not solely did Favre undergo the same state of affairs again in 2008, however he is additionally associates with Rodgers. Favre’s prediction is that this all doubtless ends with Rodgers leaving the Packers. 
• John Kuhn thinks issues might nonetheless work out between Rodgers and the Packers. The one bit of excellent information for the Packers this week got here from John Kuhn. The previous Packers fullback, who has spoken with Rodgers, says he believes that the QB desires to play in Inexperienced Bay and that Rodgers may return it if he will get a contract that can assure he is the group’s quarterback previous the 2021 season. For extra on what Kuhn needed to say, remember to click on right here. 
• Packers want to add quarterbacks for coaching camp. It seems that the fact of the Rodgers state of affairs has lastly hit the Packers, as a result of they’ve determined to start out searching for quarterbacks so as to add earlier than coaching camp. If Rodgers actually is completed in Inexperienced Bay, that would go away Jordan Love as the one QB on the roster. If the Packers find yourself signing one QB, that is not an enormous deal, as a result of that may very well be seen as a camp arm, but when they signal two or extra quarterbacks, that would appear to point that they are dropping hope of a doable Rodgers return. 
• Packers apparently provided to make Aaron Rodgers the NFL’s highest-paid QB. One fascinating nugget that got here out on Wednesday is that the Packers apparently provided to make Rodgers the NFL’s highest-paid QB, however “these overtures have been turned apart,” in accordance with The Athletic. What’s not clear is the size of the deal that Rodgers was provided. If he was provided a contract that will have made him the highest-paid QB in 2021, however provided no safety after that, then Rodgers doubtless stated no as a result of he is made it clear he isn’t going to signal a deal like that. If it was a multi-year supply and Rodgers turned it down, then you possibly can go forward and assume he will not be returning to Inexperienced Bay. 

Once more, all this Rodgers stuff is from JUST the previous 24 hours. Based mostly on every thing that is occurred, I will not be stunned if my bosses ask me to start out a e-newsletter that solely covers Aaron Rodgers. 

3. Rating the ten rookies with the perfect probability to have an immediate affect

For each group within the NFL, the entire level of the draft is to get higher and the one option to get higher from the draft is that if the gamers you chose find yourself panning out. With that in thoughts, CBSSports.com NFL Draft author Chris Trapasso put collectively an inventory of 10 rookies who might make an immediate affect in 2021. 

Earlier than we get to the checklist, I ought to point out that there is one main rule right here: Trapasso did not embrace any quarterbacks on the checklist and I agree together with his determination. Everybody already is aware of that Trevor Lawrence goes to make an immediate affect for the Jaguars so it would not actually do us any good to incorporate him on the checklist. What I am attempting to say right here is that each one quarterbacks have been excluded from the checklist. 

Additionally, this checklist would not simply embrace first-round picks. There are 4 gamers who have been chosen within the second spherical, together with two gamers who have been chosen within the third spherical. 

Alright, let’s get to the checklist: 

1. Kyle Pitts, TE, Falcons (fourth total choose)
2. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Bengals (fifth total choose)
3. Jamin Davis, LB, Washington Soccer Crew (nineteenth total choose)
4. Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Dolphins (18th total choose)
5. Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Chargers (forty seventh total choose)
6. Brady Christensen, OT, Panthers (seventieth total choose)
7. Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Giants (fiftieth total choose)
8. Andre Cisco, S, Jaguars (sixty fifth total choose)
9. Elijah Moore, WR, Jets (thirty fourth total choose)
10. Richie Grant, S, Falcons (fortieth total choose)

For a full clarification on why Trapasso ranked every participant the place he did, you are going to wish to click on right here so you possibly can learn his full story. 

4. Lions middle lands record-setting contract

Being a middle may be essentially the most thankless job in soccer. Not solely do it’s a must to get the ball to the quarterback on EVERY SINGLE PLAY, however after that occurs, you even have to dam — and for those who mess up at both a kind of issues, you are not going to have a job for very lengthy. 

The most effective facilities within the NFL is Frank Ragnow and the Lions confirmed him how a lot he is appreciated on Thursday once they gave him a contract extension that makes him the highest-paid middle within the NFL. 

This is a fast have a look at the deal: 

• Ragnow will get four-year extension. The 2018 first-round choose had two years left on this prior contract and with 4 years added on, which means his new deal will run by way of the 2026 season. 
• Massive cash. The four-year deal is price a complete of $54 million, which features a whole of $42 million in whole ensures and $25.5 million that is assured at signing. 
• New document for facilities. At $54 million over 4 years, Ragnow is getting a mean of $13.5 million per season, which tops the outdated document of $12.5 million that was held by each Corey Linsley (Chargers) and Ryan Kelly (Colts). No different middle within the NFL even has a contract that pays greater than $11.5 million per 12 months. 

This transfer was a no brainer for the Lions. Ragnow has been a full-time starter since his rookie 12 months in 2018 when he was chosen with the twentieth total choose. The 24-year-old, who turns 25 on Could 17, appears to solely be getting higher with age. In 2020, Ragnow arguably had his finest season but and was rewarded by being voted to the Professional Bowl and being named second-team All-Professional. 

5. One factor every group obtained proper within the draft and one factor every obtained unsuitable