One of the things I really appreciate regarding the network of NFL folks I’ve built is that plenty of these guys aren’t afraid to tell me what they think I got right about a player - my tackle synopsis got a bunch of thumbs up, if you will - but also let me hear it when they think I’ve missed the mark. And when it came to the tight end position, there was some definite pushback.
One scout questioned ranking Eli Stowersbeing in Tier 2, explaining that his organization doesn’t consider Stowers a tight end, even though he’s officially listed as one (I don't see him as one either). The scout described him as a “package only” player, meaning his team assigns him to a limited set of plays and doesn’t expect him to participate in the full range of responsibilities typical of the position at this point in his development.
An assistant coach I know well strongly disagreed with my ranking of Notre Dame’s Eli Raridon, texting, “At worst, he’s the third-best tight end in the class.” I responded by pointing out Raridon’s two ACL tears and limited production. The coach shot back: “If you can’t find a way to make this kid part of your offense and get more out of him, you shouldn’t be coaching offense.” This reflects the split in how coaches and evaluators prioritize potential versus past availability and production.
After taking a moment, I replied, "Can I quote that text?" "Absolutely, jackass," came the response.
That was followed by a GIF of someone laughing, which, admittedly, I can sometimes relate to.
I went back and watched some more Raridon and will admit he runs better than I saw the first time around, making some defenders miss, and he shows some good lower-body explosiveness. Based on how the Irish used him, he might be more capable of assuming an all-around role as opposed to just being more of a ‘Y’ run-game player.
Dae’Quan Wrightjust missed the cut for me as others of note. I was told that was a mistake. “An absolute terror with the ball in his hands,” said one exec of the Mississippi tight end. “And because he can gain separation, he gets a head of steam, and I’ve seen some guys make business decisions when it comes to tackling him.”
Wright is 6’4”, 246 pounds. He struggles to block bigger bodies, but ask him to clean out a safety or a smaller linebacker, and he gets it done. Wright’s a day three guy, but could contribute right away.
Anyway, I’m sure someone else will have something to say to me as we move forward, and I won’t delete those messages (so selfless, am I).
SHOTS FIRED
Other than a couple of social media posts, we hadn’t heard much from Maxx Crosby on his failed trade to Baltimore. Well, get your popcorn, because Crosby took aim at the Ravens on his podcast this week, and if what he says is true - and I have no reason not to believe him - then Eric DeCostahas some explaining to do.
As you know by now, the Ravens slapped it into reverse and backed out of a trade agreement with the Raiders that would have sent Las Vegas first-round picks this year (14th overall) and next for Crosby, citing medical concerns with the edge rusher’s surgically repaired knee (was operated on 9 weeks ago to address a torn meniscus).
Crosby said he was “terrified” when Baltimore informed him it had concerns about the condition of the knee and wanted more eyes on the scans.
“It just kind of hit me, like, what the f——?” he said on “The Rush with Maxx Crosby.” “Is there something wrong? I’m freaking out. Lowkey and deep down, I’m like, I can’t get another surgery.”
Crosby should have known something was up from jump. For starters, the Ravens took days to ask him to come cross-country, and instead of booking a private jet - standard for deals of this magnitude - booked the 28-year-old and his family on a flight to Washington D.C., then had him driven two hours to the facility. Once there, Crosby didn’t meet with DeCosta initially.
“I didn’t get to see the GM at all,” he said. “I thought I was gonna see him when I first got there. I didn’t see him for five hours.
“I don’t know why. I am not gonna speculate. I even asked, ‘Where’s Eric?’ You know what I mean? He just made the trade. I didn’t see him for five hours.”
When he did finally come face-to-face with head coach Jesse Minter, Crosby recalled the energy being off.
“I’m so excited, fired up. ... I dapped (Minter) up, he had a blank face,” he said. “(DeCosta) was standing in the hall, in the room next to me to the right. And that was the first time I seen him.”
That’s when the Ravens informed him of their concerns. He repaired to the hotel with his wife, took a nap, and, when he awoke, answered a call from a member of Baltimore’s staff, who said they were confident a deal would get done. Five minutes later, Crosby’s agents were informed the trade was off.
“I’m frozen. I’m like, ‘What the f—,” he said. “I’m f—ing livid, confused, the whole nine all in one. And so I told (his agent), ‘I’m trying to get out of here.’”
DeCosta held a press conference last Wednesday, saying he was gutted by the situation but that his job is to do what’s best for the organization. There were a whole bunch of words before and after that shed no more light on the situation, but after he vetoed the trade, Baltimore signed free-agent pass rusher Trey Hendricksonto a four-year contract. Again, DeCosta claims the Ravens planned to add both Hendrickson and Crosby. Based on what the latter just revealed, it sure seems like the initial reaction to the stunning change was correct, and the Ravens got cold feet.
Wonder if we’ll hear from DePaula or ownership at the league meetings at the end of the month?
BIG SWING
The Denver Broncos haven’t signed a single outside free agent this offseason, and yet it's safe to say they are going for it. Just a couple of months removed from hosting - and losing - the AFC Championship game as the #1 seed, the Broncos executed the biggest trade of 2026 (at least one that, you know, actually went through), spinning 1st, 3rd, and 4th round picks to the Dolphins for Jaylen Waddle and a 4th.
Yes, it’s a high price to pay, but Waddle immediately becomes the Broncos' best playmaker. He began his career with three straight 1,000-yard seasons, and despite a dropoff in Miami’s offensive production, he almost had his 4th in 5 seasons this past year (910 and 6 TDs). He’s got $64 million remaining on a contract that runs through 2028-29, and $10 million of his near $15 million this season has already been paid by the Fins. That’s a nice little bonus for Denver.
Adding Waddle allows Courtland Sutton to settle into a more natural role as the #2 passing-game option, while the Broncos’ younger wideouts - Pat Bryant, Troy Franklin, and Marvin Mims - now can become package-specific players. This move should also be a real benefit to Bo Nix, who has been a very efficient passer on the crossing patterns Waddle excels at.
Meanwhile, imagine being Malik Willis. The new Dolphins quarterback is being paid handsomely, so I’m not lighting a candle for him. However, he signed on to lead an offense that had Waddle, Devon Achane, and some nice ancillary pieces. Now? It's just he and Achane. Good luck with that.
It also begs the question: what is Miami’s plan? It appeared, with the releases of Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and Bradley Chubb, among others, that this was a year to reset the books, stink on white, wheat, and pumpernickel, and get a top 3 to 5 pick. Next year’s draft class may have as many as a half-dozen 1st round quarterbacks (still early, but that’s the chatter). Maybe the Fins will still end up in that range, but what if Willis is just good enough - and they get the new head coach bounce (Jeff Hafley) - to win 5 or so games? Miami lived this in Brian Flores’ first season as head coach in 2019, ending up with Tua instead of Joe Burrow (and famously bypassing Justin Herbert). I’d call that a game-changer.
Lastly, no, I don’t think the price for Waddle changes what the Eagles eventually get for AJ Brown(and again, Brown wants out). I’d like to thank Adam Schefter for reporting what I did 10 days ago, late this week, and crediting me. Oh, wait...
Waddle is 27 and doesn’t turn 28 until late November. He has no knee issues that will have doctors scouring the scans, like they will for Brown, who turns 29 in June. His contract is also far more manageable. Perhaps Howie Rosemanwill still get a 1st for Brown, but the idea of a first and then some, as it’s been presented to me, seems unlikely.
DARE I SAY...
I kinda, sorta like what the Jets have done here in free agency. That doesn’t mean I think they’re a playoff team. Let’s not get crazy here. Woody Johnson is still the bespectacled, bumbling, irrational owner. We have no idea whether Aaron Glenn will be a competent head coach, let alone a good one. And they still don’t have a franchise quarterback - and this doesn’t appear to be the draft to get one. But in terms of raising the floor, this has been a good start for GM Darren Mougey and Glenn (who has the most say).
I mention QB, and while Geno Smith is no longer the answer, he is an upgrade over Justin Fields. If he can find his form of two seasons ago - “they wrote me off, but I ain’t write back” - I could see him doing enough to make the Jets frisky. Smith certainly can access damn near every area of the field. Fields could not, and Aaron Rodgersbefore that chose not to.
There is still work to do at receiver - though the team was pleased with what it saw from Adonai Mitchell (part of the return for Sauce Gardner) to go alongside Garrett Wilson. The Jets also retained RB Breece Hall and have two terrific tackles in Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou to build around. They will have to replace Alijah Vera-Tucker, but they have plenty of experience with that.
But where New York did its best work on the defensive front 7. They traded edge rusher Jermaine Johnson straight up for nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat, and he is a mountain of a man (365 lbs on a good day). He will eat up space on the interior, needed after the Quinnen Williams deal last year. They added three good professionals to play alongside Sweat. Edges Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare bring some juice, while another DT, David Onyemata, will aid the run defense.
Behind them, the Jets brought back Demario Davis for a third go-round in the Big Apple, err, New Jersey. He is not the player he once was, but Davis is “one of the best leaders I've ever been around,” according to Glenn, who coached him in New Orleans. He’s 37, and they gave him $15 million guaranteed (over two years), but that locker room needed a culture shift, and Davis should influence that.
Lastly, because of the Gardner and Williams trades - and their own ineptitude - the Jets have four picks in the top 44 (2, 16, 33, 44). They need a couple of different makers, and at 2, they’ll get one, whether it’s edge rusher Arvell Reese of Ohio State (most likely) or his college teammate, Sonny Styles(LB, edge). What they do after that, though, will determine whether Mougey and Glenn have a young core capable of serving as the foundation for the future. The Jets haven’t tasted playoff life since 2010.
