Tag: package

How the Justin Fields package became the Steelers’ secret weapon

The Pittsburgh Steelers may have unlocked their ultimate offensive weapon with the debut of the Justin Fields rushing-package in Week 11.

In what can only be described as a purely defensive contest, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 11 victory over the Baltimore Ravens paved the way for the debut of the long-awaited ‘Justin Fields package’ on offense.

Russell Wilson struggled against the Ravens’ defense, throwing for 205 yards while completing 63.9% of his passes and producing his lowest QBR of the season: 67.5. However, much of the blame should be placed on Pittsburgh’s pass protection, as the Ravens constantly had Wilson under pressure and sacked him four times.

Where the offense looked promising, however, was in several Justin Fields packages that featured three plays: one QB-power play and two QB-RB option plays that sealed the Steelers’ Week 11 victory.

Wilson’s ‘moon ball’ is a deep threat unlike anything the NFL has seen this season, but Pittsburgh’s implementation of Fields’ rushing abilities will make opposing defenses second-guess every meeting with the Steelers.

Wilson and Fields can tear through defenses in their own unique ways, and it was refreshing for fans to see what the Pittsburgh Steelers will be capable of moving forward when utilizing both talented QBs.

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2020 first rounder Cesar Ruiz could be part of Deshaun Watson trade package

Saints’ 2020 first rounder Cesar Ruiz could be part of Deshaun Watson trade package:

There’s already an agreement in place for the New Orleans Saints to trade for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson — if he waives his no-trade clause, both sides already know what they’ll be giving up. And while few specifics have come out on which picks and players could be part of the deal, we’ve known for a while that the Texans are seeking five or six assets, including three future first-round draft picks, other picks, and a couple of young starters on their rookie contracts.

One player who could be in the mix is right guard Cesar Ruiz, New Orleans’ first round pick in the 2020 draft. A college center at Michigan, Ruiz has struggled to hold down the starting job after changing positions in the NFL, and a change of scenery may be good for him. He was first suggested as someone who fit the Texans’ criteria by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhilll; now we’re hearing it from the Houston side, too, in Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson. Maybe there’s a fire putting off all this smoke.

Losing a young asset like Ruiz would hurt, but his specific performance could be replaced easily enough. There frankly isn’t much of a gap between what he’s done at right guard and what the Saints have seen from backup left guard Calvin Throckmorton, a former undrafted free agent who played on the right side at Oregon. And if the Saints can re-sign All-Pro left tackle Terron Armstead, they could push veteran backup James Hurst into a competition with Throckmorton to step into Ruiz’s spot. They could take the hit.

But Ruiz is unlikely to be the only player involved in a possible trade. Others the Saints could move include safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, cornerback Paulson Adebo, or wide receiver Marquez Callaway, or any other young starter on a cheap contract. We’ll just have to see how it plays out.

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What would a Saints trade for Deshaun Watson even look like?

What would a Saints trade for Deshaun Watson even look like? The Texans have been said to want five or six assets, including players and three first round picks:

Several teams are looking to trade for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, and the New Orleans Saints are at the forefront. Distasteful as I find the idea of the Saints adding someone with 22 credible accusations of sexual misconduct, I’ve still got a job to do. So let’s see what a Saints trade for Watson might look like.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the price for Watson has not changed over the last year: Houston wants a package built around three future first round draft picks. That’s just the foundation. If the Saints or any other team want to separate from the pack, they’ll have to stack more assets to reach a deal with the Texans.

So we’re starting with New Orleans’ first rounder in 2022 (No. 18 overall) as well as their first-round pick in 2023 and 2024. Houston would likely want a pair of second rounders in addition to that. And then, based off the Denver Broncos’ trade for Russell Wilson, New Orleans would have to add a couple of players to the mix. As was the case for Denver, maybe the Saints can also negotiate a pick swap in the later rounds (the Broncos got back a 2022 fourth rounder in exchange for a fifth round pick).

Which players could be involved? No one who has restructured their contract this offseason can be moved without costing the Saints a lot of dead money. Their best remaining options include defensive end Marcus Davenport, defensive tackle David Onyemata, safety Malcolm Jenkins, quarterback Taysom Hill, right guard Cesar Ruiz, and former Texans cornerback Bradley Roby. Inexpensive starters like center Erik McCoy and defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson could also be on the table.

The Texans already have some quarterbacks in the building so Hill probably doesn’t appeal to them. Davenport is from San Antonio and could appeal to Houston, who need more pass rushers. It’s unclear if Roby would be a good fit in Lovie Smith’s defense but it’s worth considering a reunion given his familiarity with the team. Gardner-Johnson could be high on their radar, too. Houston’s secondary is rough at all levels and he could be a big addition for them. The Texans could try to convince the Saints to include McCoy but the Saints likely view him as equal to a second round pick, if not a first. They shouldn’t trade McCoy and a premium draft pick. It needs to be one or the other. That’s the case for a few other players we mentioned.

With all this in mind: here is the kind of trade package Houston may be looking for:

  • 2022 first round pick (No. 18)
  • 2022 second round pick (No. 49)
  • 2023 first round pick
  • 2024 first round pick
  • Defensive end Marcus Davenport
  • Defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson

If that feels like a lot, it’s because it is. A 26-year-old quarterback who has already earned three Pro Bowl appearances won’t be cheap. This gets the “five or six” assets Houston has said to covet, and the three first rounders we know they want. They also get an impactful pass rusher (who, like McCoy, could be valued as a second round pick) and a firebrand in the secondary. And this seriously guts New Orleans. They won’t pick in the first round again until 2025. They’re without maybe their best pass rusher and a foundational defensive back. But the strength of their team is on defense, and that’s where they’re likeliest to lose talent in a trade like this.

Now you’ve got to ask if it’s worth it. If Watson can elevate the Saints offense while they take these hits on defense, and without premium draft picks to fall back on in the foreseeable future. It’s a massive gamble. If Watson underperforms or draws more allegations like happened in Houston, this is a disaster for New Orleans. There’s an outrageously high level of risk. Whether you or I have the appetite for that kind of deal is up to us, but the Saints wouldn’t have gotten to this stage if they weren’t comfortable with it.

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What could a Saints-Seahawks trade for Russell Wilson look like?

The New Orleans Saints have the resources to trade for Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson, or at least enough to make a compelling offer.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is continuing to pop up in trade speculation. NFL Network’s Michael Silver reported in February that teams who had called Seattle believed it would take three first-round draft picks to get the ball rolling — and talks have since continued, per ESPN’s Dianna Russini, so that’s a price someone might be willing to pay.

Could one interested buyer be the New Orleans Saints?

Maybe. They don’t have a clear heir to Drew Brees, who is expected to announce his retirement after taking a $24 million pay cut to help the team’s salary cap situation. Taysom Hill didn’t look like a long-term fix in his handful of starts. Jameis Winston has a stronger resume but isn’t under contract. Wilson would provide the stability New Orleans needs at quarterback.

But acquiring him is tricky. His 2021 cap hit isn’t a problem at just $19 million for any team he’s traded to, all of which is made up in a base salary that can be restructured for even more flexibility (NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill gets into the nuts and bolts of his contract here). The Saints are in a fluid situation and there’s inconsistent data out there, but estimates put them at between $59 million and $64 million above the projected cap — a nice improvement over the $101 million or so they started out in the red. They have more work to do to get cap compliant before free agency, but the finances wouldn’t be much of a hurdle if they want to go get Wilson. And they have every incentive to do so.

But what could that cost? Here’s a suggestion.

The offer starts with three first round picks: No. 28 this year, and the Saints’ top selections in 2022 and 2023. That seems like a lot, but their last three first rounders were Marcus Davenport and Cesar Ruiz. Would you trade those players for Wilson? Yeah, though so.

That’s not all it will take, though. The Saints aren’t the only team who could be in on Wilson, even if others aren’t on his approved list. Another team might make a better offer and Wilson could talk himself into joining them. So the Saints need to do more to sweeten the deal.

Simply adding more picks isn’t viable; per NFL rules, teams can only swap picks up to 2023 right now, with selections in 2024 becoming available after this year’s draft. Piling on second-round selections is a tough sell because you’ll need those picks to make up for what you’ve lost in the first round.

So let’s look at the roster and consider packaging veteran players in a deal. Now, this isn’t an opportunity to get rid of unpopular players like Davenport or three-time Pro Bowl guard Andrus Peat. There would be plenty of debate among fans about whether certain players are off-limits in trade talks — players among the best of their peers like Alvin Kamara, Ryan Ramczyk, and Marshon Lattimore.

Trading Michael Thomas has been a hot topic this offseason, but the Seahawks probably wouldn’t be interested in him. They already have some horses at receiver in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Cameron Jordan would add a lot of juice to their defensive line, as would David Onyemata, but the losses New Orleans is taking up front in free agency might make them wary of moving either player.

So let’s look back at the first trio. Kamara impressed Seahawks coach Pete Carroll in 2019, leaving Carroll gushing about Kamara after he dropped 161 scrimmage yards and a pair of touchdowns on the Seattle defense. It’s easy to see Carroll falling in love with Kamara, much like he was once infatuated by Jimmy Graham’s talents. They haven’t gotten anything out of Rashaad Penny, a recent first-round draft pick, and Chris Carson has a tenuous hold on the top running back spot.

Ramczyk is a great right tackle, but the Seahawks have a solid set of bookends in Duane Brown on the left side and Brandon Shell on the other. And he’s probably as untouchable as it gets for the Saints given the premium paid to tackles. With Terron Armstead entering the final year of his contract, it’s vital the Saints establish some consistency at one tackle spot or the other (ideally by signing both of them to extensions).

That leaves us with Lattimore, a Pro Bowl cornerback. Like Ramczyk, he’s a year away from free agency on his fifth-year option. Moving him would free up almost $10 million against the cap. Unlike Ramczyk, he’s been more inconsistent throughout his career, and paying him close to $20 million (as top corners earn these days) is dicey. The Seahawks still haven’t replaced Richard Sherman as their alpha cornerback, and maybe Carroll can be swayed into believing he can coach Lattimore up to his potential.

Ironically, three-time Pro Bowl guard Peat would be a good fit in Seattle. The Seahawks don’t have a real left guard they can trust, with Mike Iupati retiring and Jordan Simmons underwhelming there. Could he be packaged with Lattimore and several draft picks to get a deal done? Maybe so.

Here’s my proposal. The Saints get Wilson, in return trading:

  • Cornerback Marshon Lattimore
  • Three-time Pro Bowl guard Andrus Peat
  • 2021 first round pick (No. 28 overall)
  • 2022 first round pick (TBD)
  • 2023 second round pick, conditional (becomes a first rounder if Wilson either leads the league in passing yards OR wins a Super Bowl)

The Seahawks might object to that conditional pick, but that’s where Wilson’s leverage comes into play. The no-trade clause he can choose to waive gives him rare input. He can step in and demand the Seahawks accept it. Other teams could still offer better deals, but he can force his hand here if he chooses. In the interest of still getting a nice return, Seattle might concede.

There are other tweaks available. Seattle could put a laser focus on Kamara. Maybe the Saints try and sell Carroll on Taysom Hill as the paragon of his preferred ground-and-pound style of play. Maybe he puts his foot down and demands three first round picks, no strings attached.

Ultimately all we can do is guess about how negotiations might play out, if they happen at all. But the Saints have enough ammo to get a deal done if they so choose. If a franchise quarterback like Wilson is available to take the wheel from Brees, they owe it to themselves and their fans to give it their best shot.

What could a Saints trade for Matthew Stafford look like?

The New Orleans Saints have the draft picks to trade for Lions QB Matthew Stafford, but they might need to include a player to seal the deal

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Matthew Stafford won’t play for the Detroit Lions in 2021. He and the Lions have agreed to part ways in a trade, and oddsmakers are already hard at work in guessing where he may land, though the New Orleans Saints are far from favored (they aren’t even in the top 10). Still, could he be the next quarterback Sean Payton looks to work with once Drew Brees entered retirement?

If he’s available, the Saints have to at least call about what it would take to move him. Taysom Hill didn’t show the Saints enough in his four starts last season to trust the franchise with, committing a dozen turnovers (10 fumbles, 2 interceptions) and taking 14 sacks on just 135 dropbacks. And Stafford is the kind of quarterback the Saints might hope Jameis Winston becomes some day. He’s miles ahead of either of the backups in New Orleans right now, and he’s made throws that Saints fans haven’t seen from their quarterbacks in years. His injury history needs vetting, but he turns 33 on Feb. 7 and could play for most of the next decade if things shake out the right way.

The salary cap hits are affordable. Stafford carries numbers of just $20 million in 2021 and $23 million in 2022. New Orleans could lower those figures if needed through one of their most frequent tricks: converting base salary into a signing bonus and adding automatically-voided future years onto the contract to prorate the resulting payouts. From the perspective of salary cap accounting, this is a better fit than, say, Deshaun Watson or Aaron Rodgers. It’s easier to work with given their cap situation than those larger deals.

But what could a trade package entail? It’s going to start with a first-round draft pick, but there are teams ranked above the Saints in priority who can offer more-valuable selections, meaning New Orleans would have to pile up assets to outweigh other options. And they aren’t lacking for competitors if this is a path they want to take.

“The Lions, of course, began immediately fielding calls from teams interested,” reported NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. “From what I understand, about a third of the league, almost a third of the league, has called the Lions. Significant interest in Matthew Stafford.”

One option to consider is whether including a player might sway Detroit’s decision. The Lions hired Saints secondary coach Aaron Glenn as their defensive coordinator on Campbell’s staff, and it’s possible they could include a cornerback in the deal to help install Glenn’s defense and give a proven quantity rather than a mystery box to open on draft day. In the most uncertain draft year ever due to health and safety restrictions, that could be valuable.

So there’s a couple of different directions to take that. Patrick Robinson was buried on the Saints depth chart for much of the year but played well when called upon (though late-season injuries limited how often he could help). He’s a likely salary cap candidate with his release yielding $2.6 million in savings, and probably not as enticing as younger or more prominent players.

Janoris Jenkins could be a possibility but he’s just one year younger, and also has an injury history. His contract will change one way or another (cutting him frees up $7 million, but he’s played well enough to stick around at a lower rate). What about Marshon Lattimore, the team’s other starting corner?

Glenn was Lattimore’s first position coach in the NFL, and no one knows his strengths and weaknesses better. He’s someone the Lions could trust to hold down one spot while Glenn and his assistants focus on coaching up Jeff Okudah and other cornerbacks. Lattimore is also entering the final year of his contract, forcing the Saints into making a very tough decision: whether to sign him to a long-term extension (lowering his $10.244 million 2021 cap hit) or to trade him and reboot that roster spot.

It’s a tough call to make, and worth considering on its own merits. Lattimore has been such a high-variance talent, alternately erasing Mike Evans one week and getting dusted by Allen Lazard the next. When he’s dialed in and focused and healthy (his college hamstring issues have lingered into the NFL), there aren’t many better corners than him. And he’s a great tackler in the open field, doing a lot to boost the Saints run defense. His next contract should reel in at least $17 million annually given how the market is rising. Will the Saints sign him to that, though?

That’s a decision the Saints have to reach sooner rather than later. If they aren’t willing to pay him that highly, they should consider trading him and recouping what they can now. And that might mean including him in a package for Stafford.

And if that’s the case, Lattimore should be more valuable than the picks most teams can offer, even first rounders. So maybe the Saints can trade Lattimore and a second-round pick for Stafford and move on to the next era. That’s comparable to the package that got Alex Smith moved from Kansas City to Washington (who swapped cornerback Kendall Fuller and a third-round pick for the veteran quarterback; Fuller later signed a contract averaging $10 million per year). Stafford is a better quarterback than Smith was at the time, and the compensation reflects that. It’s tough to see the Saints giving up both Lattimore and a first-round pick they may hope to use to replace him.

Alternately, what about a package of their 2021 first-round pick, a third rounder in 2022, and Robinson as a corner who Glenn knows can start in their rebuilding defense? The draft capital is more valuable, but that offsets the loss of a player the Saints may cut anyway.

So are those deals you’d sign off on? Would the Lions even entertain them? We shouldn’t expect any sort of friendly discount between Campbell and Payton, given neither of them are probably going to be involved with trade conversations anyway (that’s between Mickey Loomis and first-year Lions general manager Brad Holmes).

It would leave the Saints with a big hole to fill on defense but a clear vision of where the offense is headed in life after Brees. If nothing else, it’s something worth considering during a brief lull in what should be an exciting Saints offseason.

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WATCH: Mullen talks about Emory Jones and quarterback run packages

Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen spoke with the media on Monday about backup QB Emory Jones’ absence as well as quarterback strategies.

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The Gators’ offense executed well once again on Saturday despite a loss to Texas A&M on Saturday. But in that game it was missing a component of its offense, as backup quarterback Emory Jones, who spells Kyle Trask with a wildcat, run-first package, wasn’t available.

Talking to the media on Monday, Florida coach Dan Mullen said having the option to run packages for Jones makes it harder for defenses to prepare.

“I think one thing Emory does in coming up is, like changing the running back, he brings a little different perspective to the position, and even running some of the plays he’s going to be a little bit different,” he said. “Obviously the quarterback run that I alluded to earlier, when he is in there, it does draw up very, very nicely, and the personnel fits it very nicely as well, so that’s just another thing for the defense to have to defend and have to prepare for of finding where the guys are out on the field.”

Mullen also hinted that there are more packages for Jones that the team hasn’t gotten to yet. He said there are packages that include both Jones and Trask, and even ones the team ran in camp that also include third-string quarterback Anthony Richardson in addition to Trask and Jones.

“I haven’t even gotten to our two-quarterbacks-on-the-field package yet, or we did have one in training camp where we had three quarterbacks on the field in one deal, but haven’t got to that yet, not that I want to give away all our secrets,” Mullen said. “But, no, I think when you’re utilizing personnel in different ways, it certainly puts and adds pressure to the defense of how they’re going to match up against those different people.”

Mullen was coy when asked about specifics, of course.

“I’m not going to tell you where they’re all going to be, but it is interesting to figure out who’s out there. I mean obviously one of them will take the snap, but you don’t know where everybody else might be, so.”

Though Trask has solidified himself as one of the best passers in college football, Mullen clearly thinks that by forcing opponents to prepare for more than one quarterback, the Gators will be more successful.

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