Long-Live the Chain Gang

Good morning. This is the Opening Drive, the weekly newsletter that brings you the best of the NFL so you’re always the smartest one at the water cooler.

Ja’Marr Chase wants to get PAID, CeeDee got the call, Taylor Swift has been drawing up plays for the Chiefs 🙄, the league won’t get rid of the chain gang this season, and we take a look at playoff success of the highest paid wide receivers.

Let’s dive in.

QUICK HITS

• Jacoby Brissett named Patriots' Week 1 starter over first-rounder Drake Maye (NFL.com)

• Steelers go with Russell Wilson over Justin Fields as starting QB (ESPN)

• Ja'Marr Chase wants record deal that tops Justin Jefferson extension by penny, per report (CBS Sports)

• Chargers extend kicker Cameron Dicker (SI.com)

• Packers acquire QB Malik Willis in trade with Titans (ESPN)

• Dolphins sign coach Mike McDaniel to new contract, extend him through 2028 (ESPN)

• Colts TE Kylen Granson is officially the first player to say he will wear the Guardian Cap this season (NFL.com)

• NFL will not use Hawk-Eye technology to measure first downs in regular season (PFT)

• Robert Griffin III opens up about 'surprising' firing from ESPN (SI.com)

• Patrick Mahomes says Taylor Swift has been drawing up plays for the Chiefs (SI.com)

• Commanders owner Josh Harris says that 2030 is now a “realistic target” for a new team stadium to open (FOS)

• ESPN drops ‘Worldwide Leader’ moniker (Sportico)

• NFL owners vote to allow private equity funds to buy up to 10% stake in teams (NFL.com)

• Travis and Jason Kelce sign 3-year, $100 million dollar deal with Amazon for their podcast, "New Heights" (inkl)

• The Jackson County legislature, by a 5-4 vote, kills a November ballot measure to help pay for renovations to Arrowhead Stadium via a quarter-cent sales tax (PFT)

• NFL will not use automated first down technology for 2024 season (Awful Announcing)

• Fanatics names Marvin Harrison Jr.'s father in refiled lawsuit (ESPN)

• Tom Brady will face TV restrictions as Raiders part owner (PFT)

OPENING DRIVE REQUIRED READING

• The NFL has a roster cuts tracker for all the team-by-team player moves.

• Check out Ryen Russillo’s annual QB tiers pod with The Athletic’s Mike Sando.

WHO’S UP? WHO’S DOWN?

Who’s up?
CeeDee Lamb. The Dallas Cowboys have locked up their star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb with a blockbuster four-year, $136 million contract extension. The deal includes a staggering $38 million signing bonus, the largest ever for a wide receiver in league history.

Lamb, just 24 years old, has emerged as one of the premier offensive weapons in the game after being drafted in the first round in 2020. His combination of size, speed, and sure-hands has made him a nightmare for opposing defenses. Last season, he hauled in 135 catches for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns.

By locking up Lamb long-term, the Cowboys have secured a crucial piece of their offensive juggernaut for years to come. However, the massive deal is not without risk for the Cowboys. Wide receiver contracts have become increasingly lucrative, with several players resetting the market in recent years. Only time will tell if Lamb's production can justify the unprecedented financial commitment.

But for now, Cowboys fans can revel in the fact that one of the league's brightest young stars will be dazzling them with his talents at AT&T Stadium for the foreseeable future. In the high-stakes world of the NFL, Dallas just went all in on CeeDee Lamb. Now the question remains, what do the Cowboys do about QB Dak Prescott who is playing in the final year of his current contract.

Who’s down?
The entire NFL (sans the Indianapolis Colts). Brace yourselves, NFL fans, because the league is about to be hit by a Category 5 hurricane named Anthony Richardson. According to an anonymous NFL coach, "everybody is scared to death" of the Colts' young quarterback, and it's not hard to see why.

At 6'4" and 244 pounds, Richardson is a physical specimen with the talent and tools to match. His combination of size, speed, and arm strength has defensive coordinators across the league losing sleep, as they try to devise schemes to contain this unstoppable force of nature.

"He's like a hybrid of Cam Newton and Josh Allen, but with the mobility of Lamar Jackson," the coach gushed, clearly in awe of Richardson's talents. "You can't game plan for a guy like that. You just have to pray he has an off day."

Of course, the coach's comments should be taken with a grain of salt, as Richardson has only played in four games due to a season-ending injury in 2023. But that hasn't stopped the hype train from leaving the station, with analysts and fans alike salivating at the prospect of seeing the young phenom unleashed on the league.

"He's a once-in-a-generation talent," the coach continued, his voice trembling with fear. "If he stays healthy, he's going to rewrite the record books and leave a trail of broken defenses in his wake."

So, buckle up, because the Anthony Richardson era is upon us, and it promises to be a wild ride. Just don't say we didn't warn you when your favorite team's defense gets steamrolled by this unstoppable force of nature.

NUMBERS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Wide receivers are breaking the bank, but are they worth it?

Teams are shelling out record-setting contracts for elite wide receivers, but is it worth it? A deep dive into the numbers suggests the huge paydays may not be translating to postseason success.

Looking at the top 15 highest-paid wideouts, the results are underwhelming. Since signing their lucrative extensions, this group has combined for a paltry six playoff wins and zero – that's right, zero – Super Bowl victories.

It used to be that teams would draft a quarterback on a rookie deal and build a contender around him. But now, with QBs getting paid earlier than ever, that formula is being flipped on its head. Could the new recipe for success be to avoid splurging on a top wideout and instead find value deeper in the draft?

With more college offenses going pro-style, receivers are arriving in the league more NFL-ready than ever before. And with their rookie contracts being so team-friendly, it might just make more sense to let someone else overpay for the big-name talents.

Deebo Samuel's four playoff wins since his extension lead the pack, but the 49ers' postseason success can be largely credited to their stout defense and running game behind Christian McCaffrey. Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, and A.J. Brown have zero playoff wins since cashing in.

Paying elite receiver money doesn't seem to be the key to raising the Lombardi Trophy. As the league continues to trend towards offensive firepower, perhaps the smarter play is spending that cap space elsewhere while mining for receiving gems on cheaper rookie contracts.

The times are changing, and the old-school team-building philosophy of prioritizing the passing game may need to adapt. When it comes to winning in the modern NFL, dialing up a different approach could be the right call.

Did you know?

🏈 Jerry Rice has the most all-time playoff wins for a wide receiver with 17.
🏈 Justin Jefferson’s $88,743,000 is the largest fully guaranteed non-QB contract in NFL history.
🏈 The league minimum for rookie is $795,000 per year. A veteran (generally considered 3rd year and up) minimum is $1,055,000 per year.
🏈 The top-15 highest paid WRs are a combined 44-42 (.512 win pct.) in the playoffs (includes only games in which they were active or not on IR).

BEST LOOK 🔥 

Check out the full breakdown of all 32 teams here.

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