4 storylines emerging out of the 2020 NFL combine

Tom Brady chatter and top quarterback prospects.

The NFL combine is just as weird as it seems.

NFL decision-makers are packed into a relatively small city, where they have up-close interactions with draft prospects, media members and agents. The result is a strange meat market, where players are measured and interviewed to determine their worth in the upcoming draft. All the while, agents are buzzing around the city, often with hopes of getting sit-downs with teams to establish a market for their veteran free-agent clients. Free agency chatter and contract extensions are generally both born in Indy. The media is there to observe just about everything — often more than reporters should see.

There were no shortage of storylines heading into the event. But here are the ones that came out of the combine.

1. Tom Brady’s agent and the Patriots reportedly haven’t sat down to talk about new deal

Brady’s agent, Don Yee said the CBA is interfering with negotiations around contracts, because teams don’t know how much money they’ll have to spend in the coming years. That assessment feels a bit like a coverup. There’s no harm in both the Patriots and Yee sitting down for a meeting to talk ballpark figures and other potential needs Brady has, which reportedly include a stronger supporting cast. Brady is texting with Belichick, per NBC Sports Boston. But contract talks? Not yet, per MMQB.

The holdup has made for an awkward freeze over the quarterback market, which is expected to be robust with Brady, Teddy Bridgewater, Philip Rivers, Ryan Tannehill and Jameis Winston, among others, expected to be available. There might not be much movement until Brady and the Patriots know what comes next. But it’s a bad sign that the Patriots made time to meet with Devin McCourty’s camp and Philip Dorsett’s representation while failing to set up time for Brady. With every day New England defers discussions, Brady’s departure grows more likely — and at an exponential pace. It must be unsettling for Brady to hear little from his employer of 20 years.

2. Tua Tagovailoa may be in play for the second-overall pick

I pegged Tua as a player to watch at the combine, which was weird because he didn’t do anything but interviews and medicals. And yet it seemed like he provided enough information to thrust him even further up draft boards. He seems to be moving even higher than I anticipated.

The Washington Redskins have a quarterback, Dwayne Haskins. They picked him 15th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. And yet the turnover in Washington has left Haskins without a backer, as the Redskins parted ways with general manager Bruce Allen and coach Jay Gruden this offseason. Coach Ron Rivera is in charge.

And while I teased the idea that Tagovailoa could go at No. 3 overall, there seems to be a real possibility he might go with the second pick of the 2020 draft. And that wouldn’t be all that crazy either.

The precedent is set, with the Cardinals drafting Kyler Murray at No. 1 overall after selecting Josh Rosen at 10th overall. It’s not the most efficient use of draft selections, but if the process yields a franchise quarterback, it’s a worthwhile pick. Drafting another quarterback certainly doesn’t strain the team’s cap situation. Haskins costs just $3.6 million per year. Tagovailoa, if selected at No. 2, would cost roughly $8.5 million annually. For comparison, Andy Dalton is scheduled to make $17 million in 2020.

The Redskins would be wise to keep Haskins, if they draft Tua. And if they see Tua as a future franchise quarterback, Washington should take him to create a competition between their signal-callers. Quarterbacks are worth it.

3. Isaiah Simmons is the King of the Combine

Everyone knew he’d test with freakish numbers. Turns out, the linebacker can be compared easily to receiver Julio Jones from an athletic standpoint.

That’s a fun set of parallel measurements. But of course, Simmons doesn’t play receiver. He plays linebacker — or safety. While it’s amazing to see him win a track and field event in February, he needs to help franchises win games during the regular season and postseason.  His film speaks to a player who can do just that.

But perhaps we’re not discussing how important it is for him to land with a team that has a good idea of how to use Simmons. If he gets miscast in a bad scheme or bad position, he’ll have a hard time applying that athleticism. A team in the top five picks is likely to try its luck. I’m guessing the New York Giants at fourth overall.

4. Joe Burrow is OK with Cincinnati

Aside from the fact that Burrow has tiny hands, his feelings about the Bengals’ franchise was a huge storyline. There was some question as to whether he wanted to play in Cincinnati, perhaps stemming from the ownership group’s proclivity to pinch pennies.

Burrow dismissed those rumblings.

“I’m not going to not play,” Burrow told reporters. “I’m a baller. If the Bengals pick me, I’m going to play.”

I, for one, hope Burrow pulls an Eli Manning and lands with a more functional franchise than the Bengals. But for now, we’ll take Burrow’s comments at face value. The Bengals also plan to use the franchise tag on A.J. Green, a move which Burrow reportedly put on his wish list for the organization. Will they keep appeasing Burrow’s requests? That would make for an interesting precedent in Cincinnati.

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