Rise and Grind: Trades, Busts, and Netflix Binges for Your Morning Huddle 🏈☕

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.

Chiefs send star CB L'Jarius Sneed to the Titans, the 2021 QB draft class stinks, Netflix announces a new sports series, the Cardinals are 'open for business', Terrell Owens lost $80M, and we've got a deep dive on the value of an NFL draft pick.

Let’s dive in.

QUICK HITS

• Chiefs CB L’Jarius Sneed traded to Titans for 2025 3rd round pick, swap of 2024 7th round picks (NFL.com)

• WR Mike Williams signs one-year, $15 million deal with Jets (Yahoo Sports)

• Saints sign former 49ers pass-rusher Chase Young to one-year, $13 million deal (CBS Sports)

• Denver sends WR Jerry Jeudy to Browns (NFL.com)

• Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort ready to wheel-and-deel on draft day (Sports Illustrated)

• NFL will allow Eagles' "Tush Push" play to remain next season (CBS News)

• Former Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch retires from NFL after six seasons (NFL.com)

• Lions DE Romeo Okwara announces he's "decided to step away from the NFL" (NFL.com)

• CB Cam Sutton named in arrest warrant on domestic violence charge, released by Lions (ESPN)

• NFLPA asks NFL to not outlaw controversial tackle, citing further confusion for players (CBS Sports)

• 49ers must forfeit draft pick over salary cap error (Sports Illustrated)

• Peter Schrager says goodbye to ‘Good Morning Football’s’ NYC era as the show heads to LA (Deadline)

• Pennsylvania governor pushes for Pittsburgh to host the 2026 or 2027 NFL draft (PFT)

• Netflix announces new sports series 'Receiver' (Netflix)

• ESPN’s standalone subscription could hit $30 (Digital Trends)

• Terrell Owens lost nearly all of the $80M he earned during his playing career — ‘They Just Basically Stole From Me’ (Yahoo)

• Here are the six rule changes proposed by the NFL for 2024, proposals will be voted on at the league’s annual meetings which take place March 24-27 (NFL.com)

WHO’S UP? WHO’S DOWN?

Who’s up?
The Chicago Bears. The Bears find themselves in an enviable position heading into the 2024 NFL draft. With the 1st overall pick, they can finally land the franchise quarterback that has eluded the storied franchise. Top prospect Caleb Williams is the likely target when the Bears are on the clock. Williams dazzled at the USC pro day, showcasing his electric arm talent and athleticism. The former Trojan has all the tools to be a star at the next level. The Bears have cycled through quarterbacks ever since the departure of Jay Cutler. Mitchell Trubisky, Nick Foles, Andy Dalton and Justin Fields have all failed to cement themselves as the long-term answer under center. Now Chicago has the chance to draft a blue-chip prospect like Williams, who could finally provide stability at the most important position. Whoever the Bears end up selecting, one thing is clear: the future looks bright at quarterback. After years of searching, it appears Chicago has finally found itself in the perfect position to draft the signal caller who can lead the franchise back to prominence.

Who’s down?
The 2021 QB draft class. The highly touted 2021 NFL quarterback draft class has largely proven to be a bust just three seasons in. Of the five QBs taken in the first round that year, only Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars, 1st overall) remains with his original team as the presumed franchise quarterback. Zach Wilson (Jets, 2nd overall) has struggled mightily and faces an uncertain future as he’s literally un-tradable. Trey Lance (49ers, 3rd overall) was traded after losing the starting job to 2022 draft gem Brock Purdy. Justin Fields (Bears, 11th overall) was recently dealt to the Steelers after failing to develop in Chicago. And Mac Jones (Patriots, 15th overall) was dumped to the Jaguars for a late-round pick following a regression under Bill Belichick. The lack of success stems from poor talent evaluation, overvalued prospects, and inadequate roster support/coaching. Now Lawrence, Wilson, Lance, Fields, and Jones serve as cautionary tales entering a 2024 draft loaded with highly touted QBs. Their struggles show it remains a major crapshoot, despite the annual hype. This year's crop could prove a bumper harvest, but 2021 was a disaster. The entire class has vastly underwhelmed through three seasons, proving many teams still miss badly on QBs despite investing premium picks.

NUMBERS YOU SHOULD KNOW
A deep dive on the value of a draft pick

Ever wonder how team executives determine the value of draft picks when it comes to trades? Wonder no more — the NFL draft value chart was created in the early 1990s by Jimmy Johnson during his coaching tenure with the Dallas Cowboys. This numerical chart assigns a point value to each draft pick, allowing teams to assess the relative value of selections when considering draft pick trades. For example, the #16 overall pick is worth 1,000 points, equivalent to the #31 pick (600 points) and #18 pick in the second round (400 points). Though initially devised by Johnson, the chart gained league-wide popularity and has been used for decades since as a trade value reference guide. The point values aim to represent the expected production and value that each draft slot holds. Higher picks in earlier rounds garner more points, with the first overall pick worth a whopping 3,000 points. While some tweaks have been made over the years, the chart remains largely unchanged since its inception. It does not account for compensatory picks, which came after its creation and cannot be traded. With the chart an entrenched part of draft dealings, teams continue to rely on the time-tested values as they maneuver selections through trades every year. Even as the draft has evolved, Johnson's chart remains a constant tool used across the NFL.

Here are the top NFL draft day trades according to the Opening Drive.

🏈 San Francisco 49ers trade up to draft Jerry Rice (1985) - The 49ers traded two mid-round picks to move up and select the greatest receiver of all time, who helped them win 3 Super Bowls.
🏈 Dallas Cowboys trade up to draft Emmitt Smith (1990) - The Cowboys traded a 3rd round pick to move up and select the NFL's all-time leading rusher, who was key to their 3 Super Bowl wins in the 90s.
🏈 Tampa Bay Buccaneers trade down then up to draft Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks (1995) - The Bucs traded down, got extra picks, then used them to move up and draft two first-ballot Hall of Famers who led them to a Super Bowl.
🏈 New York Giants trade for Eli Manning (2004) - The Giants traded draft picks for the rights to Manning, who brought them two improbable Super Bowl titles.

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