It’s weeks like this that prove the NFL doesn’t really have an offseason.
NFL free agency may have stalled, with teams waiting for June 1 to manage their compensatory picks. But the draft news is ramping up, with the first round next Thursday. Surely, we’ll start to see smokescreens and misdirection. And maybe we’ll see a blockbuster trade or two.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s assess what happened around the NFL this past week. This is “Sound Smart,” where I try to spin forward, dive deeper and think outside the box. If I do my job, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s happening this NFL offseason.
1. IF THERE’S ONE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW, IT’S THAT…
You can blame Patrick Mahomes for the lack of fanfare around Fernando Mendoza.
Nine years after the Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes No. 10 overall, his selection is still changing the landscape of the NFL.
It’s a tremendous compliment to how much the Kansas City quarterback has achieved. In a roundabout way, I think Mahomes’ resounding success is the reason why there’s limited hype around Mendoza, the presumptive No. 1 pick this year.
Let’s flash back to 2019, when Tom Brady last won a Super Bowl with the Patriots. He was the gold standard. Pocket quarterbacks were the status quo, and mobile QBs seemed to be a trend. At the NFL Combine, players often compared themselves to Brady — admittedly drawing eye rolls in the process.
But now? College quarterbacks want to compare themselves to Mahomes, Josh Allen and other mobile QBs.
Patrick Mahomes (left) and Josh Allen are the new models of NFL quarterbacking for college prospects. (Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images)
That’s not Mendoza. He’s more of a Brady type — a pocket quarterback. (Mendoza’s style is most comparable to Detroit’s Jared Goff or former longtime Falcons QB Matt Ryan.) Make no mistake: Mendoza is deserving of that No. 1 spot. But there seems to be a lack of fanfare around him, and I think it’s because everyone is so accustomed to dual-threat QBs (Cam Ward, Caleb Williams, Bryce Young, Trevor Lawrence) going in that top spot.
“[Mahomes] positively impressed lots of people to discover a man like that,” an NFL GM advised me. “I feel everyone’s making an attempt to sort of get away from the stationary quarterback — the standard pocket quarterback — due to the best way these defensive fronts are these days. You need to have any individual that may transfer across the pocket, have feeling across the pocket, after which lengthen performs and create with their legs if want be.
“So, yeah, I’d say, in that breath, possibly [Mahomes] did change the mindset of some coaches and a few evaluators.”
2. MONDAY MORNING CONTROVERSY — AVERTED
Lamar Jackson confirmed up for offseason exercises, which is an indication of fine issues to come back for Baltimore.
Lastly, the Ravens can get pleasure from a optimistic storyline.
Critically, a factor occurred in Baltimore that wasn’t controversial.
It has been a tumultuous offseason for the Ravens, who fired longtime head coach John Harbaugh and changed him with first-time head coach Jesse Minter. It may very well be an incredible rent, however it’s, little question, controversial.
The Ravens then started the method of buying and selling for celebrity edge rusher Maxx Crosby — earlier than backing out. The medical info didn’t take a look at, they stated, so Crosby was returned to the Raiders and Baltimore signed free-agent Trey Hendrickson. Once more, it may very well be an incredible transfer, however additionally it is controversial.
Let’s not draw back from highlighting the great objects together with the controversy. Two-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson confirmed up for voluntary offseason exercises, which he skipped final 12 months. Jackson is due for a brand new contract, and he’s nonetheless constructing a relationship with Minter and new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. So it’s a giant deal that he was current for the voluntary portion.
Final 12 months, Jackson had his worst common season since 2021, and simply as necessary, his group is making an attempt to construct one thing new — and really a lot round him. He wanted to be there.
3. EVERYONE’S AFRAID TO SAY
If Kirk Cousins was initially avoiding the Raiders, I’d perceive why.
Quarterback competitions are not often honest, if ever.
So I can perceive why it took so lengthy for Kirk Cousins to land with the Las Vegas Raiders. It was, in spite of everything, reported nearly instantly after his launch by the Falcons on March 11 that he could be a Raider. However the veteran quarterback took his time to be 100% positive that Las Vegas was one of the best place for him.
And that issue most likely has little or no to do with anybody at present on the Raiders. It has every thing to do with the man who’s about to be a Raider: Mendoza. Actually, Las Vegas could be a great soccer staff in 2026. It will defy what we all know concerning the Raiders, typically talking, as a result of the group has received 10 video games (or extra) only one time since 2017. However when you look merely at their offense — which is commonly the important thing to a giant turnaround (like what the Patriots and Bears did final 12 months) — then you definitely’ll see motive for optimism.
Working again Ashton Jeanty was probably the greatest prospects in final 12 months’s draft, and there is nonetheless hope for him. Brock Bowers is one of the best tight finish within the NFL at simply 23 years previous. New head coach Klint Kubiak was one of the best offensive coordinator in soccer final 12 months. Heart Tyler Linderbaum was one of the best offensive lineman on the free agent market.
Whether or not it’s additions or returners, there’s loads to love concerning the Raiders.
Even whereas the state of affairs is murky at QB, it’s the great sort of uncertainty. Las Vegas ought to have a tough choice to make in September as a result of it has a wholesome competitors between Cousins and the projected No. 1 general choose, Mendoza.
Kirk Cousins was all smiles whereas being launched by the Raiders final week. (Photograph by David Becker/Getty Photos)
Which will get me again to my unique level: QB competitions are not often honest.
Tom Brady has made it clear that he does not need Mendoza to start out immediately. And Cousins is a legit choice to make that plan occur. Collectively, they’ll attempt to do what, traditionally talking, rarely occurs: have the No. 1 choose start his NFL profession as a backup quarterback.
However it will be anomalous. Cousins should know that. And so it made sense that he did not need to soar at being a probable backup for the Raiders.
“I actually don’t need to begin except I’m the most suitable choice, and I advised Klint that,” Cousins advised reporters final Wednesday. “The perfect participant ought to play. So long as that’s the case, I’ve no qualms about nonetheless it performs out. I do assume Fernando goes to be an incredible addition to our staff. I feel he’s going to have an incredible future in our league.
“I’ve no drawback being a voice within the room to assist him to the diploma I can. He’s going to have nice help round him with the teaching employees. However to have the ability to watch a veteran quarterback undergo his habits and routines and course of, that may be an incredible asset for him.”
Cousins appears to grasp his function for the Raiders in 2026. He may know — properly earlier than Las Vegas realizes it — that he’s not more likely to maintain off Mendoza for lengthy. The highest choose within the draft is nearly at all times a Week 1 starter.
[How a ‘Life-Giving’ FaceTime with Tom Brady Helped Kirk Cousins Sign with Raiders]
4. PEELING BACK THE CURTAIN
Two NFL Draft prospects are attempting to allay harm issues and land within the high 10.
There won’t be two prospects with extra necessary medical info than receiver Jordyn Tyson and deal with Francis Mauigoa. And that’s why we’re seeing them each make late pushes to get the required info in entrance of NFL groups.
Within the case of Tyson, he has determined to host a exercise for NFL groups on April 17 — only one week earlier than the draft. Final season at Arizona State, Tyson suffered a hamstring harm in mid-October and missed three video games. He additionally sat out of drills on the NFL Mix and ASU Professional Day.
It’s uncommon to see a hamstring harm drag on this lengthy, however Tyson has maintained he’s wholesome and might be able to play. This exercise may go a good distance in confirming that. And since there’s a variety of parity between the highest three receivers on this draft class (from Carnell Tate to Makai Lemon to Tyson), it may go as far as to thrust him right into a spot as the highest receiver.
Arizona State extensive receiver Jordyn Tyson missed drills on the mix and his professional day, so he is holding a exercise this week to point out he is wholesome and able to play. (Photograph by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos)
[Ranking the Top 10 Wide Receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft]
With Mauigoa, he did a medical recheck final Friday to deal with issues concerning a again harm that gave him points on the finish of final season at Miami. Groups should have come away from the mix feeling just like the medicals left them with questions. So Mauigoa’s recheck is an effort to reply these questions — and land within the high 10 on April 23.
