Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco missed all of training camp and the preseason last year due to a back injury and got off to a rough start in the regular season with six interceptions in his first four games of the year.
Saquon Barkley will be tempting, but with Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson Jr. in the fold, the Browns should think more about continuing their overhaul of the defensive backfield, instead. Jamar Taylor is a rising young corner, but free-agent addition T.J. Carrie is better suited for the slot, Damarious Randall is tabbed for safety and Terrance Mitchell is a depth player. Fitzpatrick can start anywhere in the secondary and make plays from Day 1.
The Broncos will think about quarterback, for sure, but Barkley would fill their more pressing offensive skill need and would be the best player available. Should a team such the Bills or Cardinals trade up ahead of them to draft Josh Allen, the Broncos won’t force the issue with Baker Mayfield. Allen’s availability would make things more tempting, but Barkley is the more logical choice as a player can help John Elway’s team win now with Case Keenum getting a lot of money to start at QB the next two years.
“He wasn’t in my doghouse. I don’t have a doghouse,” Lewis said. “I think he’s all the ability we wanted. That’s why we drafted him. He had to get fixed. We knew he was injured going in and he got nicked up a couple of times in his lower legs and the other shoulder was bothering him. He’s all fixed now.”
It’s true that Ross was dealing with injuries, but even when he was healthy the Bengals sometimes made him inactive simply because they didn’t think he was one of their 46 best players. That’s not what you want from a Top 10 pick.
Ross set the record for the fastest 40-yard dash in the history of the Scouting Combine, so there’s no doubt about his athletic talent. But it’s time for him to be known for something other than running fast in shorts and a t-shirt. This year, the Bengals need Ross to do something on the field.
Kyle Rudolph continues to produce and has two years left on his contract, but he also is coming off ankle surgery and turns 29 in November. Minnesota lacks another athletic pass-catching option behind him, and new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo saw what the Zach Ertz-Trey Burton combination did for Philadelphia last season. Kirk Cousins already is loaded with targets on his new team, but in Washington, he thrived most when two tight ends (Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis) were key threats.