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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have spent their early careers playing side-by-side in Cincinnati.</li><li>The Bengals wide receivers praised each other before a crucial free agency that could split them up.</li></ul><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-jamarr-chase-becoming-the-fastest-player-in-history-2022-2">Ja'Marr Chase</a> and Tee Higgins' days of lining up side-by-side may be behind them.</p><p>The fearsome <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bengals-rookie-kicker-evan-mcpherson-called-game-winning-field-goal-2022-1">Cincinnati Bengals</a> wide receivers could find themselves on separate teams come next season, as Higgins is set to hit free agency while <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-jamarr-chase-quit-college-football-season-before-super-bowl-022-1">Chase awaits a massive contract extension</a> to stay put in Cincy. But as far as many of the Bengals' key contributors are concerned, Higgins is crucial to the team's heart and soul — and not someone they'd take kindly to losing.</p><div type="image" title="Tee Higgins makes a catch against the Kansas City Chiefs." height="1666" width="2221" msid="106816165" hostid="261" sizebytes="205774"></div><p>In a press conference on Monday, star quarterback Joe Burrow said "we all want Tee back" because "he's what being a Bengal is all about." <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/ap-can-zac-taylor-take-long-suffering-bengals-the-next-step-2019-2">Head coach Zac Taylor</a> added that "it's hard to imagine life without Tee Higgins" in black and orange.</p><p>And now, Chase is joining the chorus of praise for Higgins.</p><p>"He's really the best wing man I've had," Chase told Business Insider while discussing their <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahaI_25inis">joint partnership with Bounty</a>.</p><div type="image" title="Ja'Marr Chase (left) and Tee Higgins celebrate a Bengals touchdown." height="1012" width="1350" msid="106816167" hostid="261" sizebytes="99212"></div><p>Higgins has made it clear that he'd rather return to Cincinnati than hit the open market this spring. He told Business Insider that having <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-burrow-eats-high-protein-no-dairy-diet-reduce-inflammation-2022-2">a quarterback like Burrow</a>, who "makes things easier for us," is a huge draw.</p><p>Of course, the 6-foot-4 Clemson product also enjoys playing alongside Chase. The star-studded receiving pair necessarily splits the attention of opposing defenses, leaving both wideouts with a bit more space to operate on any given snap than they might otherwise have.</p><p>"I never played with an impactful player like he is," Higgins told Business Insider. "It's my first time. Just seeing what he does on the field is unbelievable and sometimes it's just like, <em>man</em>."</p><div type="image" title="Ja'Marr Chase makes a one-handed grab." height="1667" width="2223" msid="106816169" hostid="261" sizebytes="207200"></div><p>Chase has plenty of incentive to continue playing alongside Higgins, too. But after the Bengals' final game of the season, the three-time Pro Bowler <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sports.illustrated/video/7320444576244698414">stopped short of committing</a> to signing a reduced contract extension in order to make room for the team to pay Higgins as well.</p><p>Still, Higgins has no doubt about his wingman's loyalty.</p><p>"He got my back just like I got his," Higgins told Business Insider.</p>

Ja'Marr Chase calls Tee Higgins 'the best wing man I've had' ahead of potential Bengals departure in free agency

NFL rookie of the year Ja'Marr Chase is shaping up to be the fastest player in history. Here's how he got to Super Bowl level in his first year.

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11897660" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nfl" source="Orion">NFL</keyword> rookie wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has helped lead his team to the AFC Championship game. </li><li>But Chase is coming off a one-year football break, as he spent the 2020 season doing workouts. </li></ul><p>Ja'Marr Chase is considered the frontrunner to win the NFL's offensive rookie of the year award. Better yet, he has the chance to help his team, the <keyword id="12387407" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="cincinnati-bengals" source="Orion">Cincinnati Bengals</keyword>, reach the <keyword id="12217426" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="super-bowl" source="Orion">Super Bowl</keyword> if they beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. </p><p>After a record-breaking rookie season, Chase has produced like a player with years of NFL experience, but he didn't even play football in 2020. </p><p>He, like many other high-profile college football players with NFL aspirations in 2020, opted out of his last college football season — his senior year at Louisiana State University — due to concerns over COVID-19.</p><p>Instead, Chase got a head start on his training for his program's pro day — where college football players perform athletic tests for NFL scouts to judge. </p><p>Chase <a href="https://lsutigerswire.usatoday.com/2021/04/21/inside-jamarr-chases-intense-draft-training-regimen-lsu-football-2021-nfl-draft/">did his training</a> with the pro <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword> training agency, <a href="https://www.teamexos.com/athlete/">Exos</a>. He worked with veteran NFL trainer Brent Callaway, who's worked directly with other NFL stars like Patrick Mahomes, Devin White, and Bradley Chubb. </p><p>"You saw his speed make dramatic jumps, and his strength make dramatic jumps," Callaway told Insider. "His teammates who are here now, they said 'when I saw him at pro day, that's a different level of Ja'Marr than I've seen before."</p><h2> When the pandemic hit, Chase changed his approach to pro-day prep</h2><p>Callaway typically starts working with NFL Draft prospects two months before pro days and the NFL Combine, which is the NFL-hosted athletic testing event for the nation's top college football players. </p><p>But Chase's training with Callaway started six months ahead of the wide receiver's pro-day. At that point, Chase was 19 years old and 10 months removed from his last football game in January 2020 — a win in the College Football National Championship. </p><p>Then the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything for college football. Hundreds of players across the country <a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/ncaa-football/news/college-football-players-opting-out-2020-season/9kzxnomq3mjc1turz3pey6s93">opted out of the 2020 season</a>, especially those that had already been established as top NFL prospects like Chase, like Buffalo Bills rookie edge rusher <a href="https://www.insider.com/nfl-rookie-pizza-for-salmon-hummus-and-rice-2022-1">Greg Rousseau</a>. </p><p>Chase opted out of the 2020 season and got straight to work with Callaway, who was impressed by Chase from the outset. </p><p>"Nobody comes in healthy, they all come in a little banged up from bowl games and practice," Callaway said. "But he was healthy, and he had a big training base underneath him."</p><h2>Chase trained 9 hours per day, 6 days per week to be in peak condition</h2><p>Callaway said Chase was extremely dedicated to his training regimen, which involved full days — 8 AM to 5 PM — of work, six days per week. He ate healthy food, had focused workouts twice a day, and physical therapy, in between practicing with a ball.</p><p>Callaway's training focused on four key aspects of Chase's football identity: mobility, stability, strength, and mechanics. His sessions included:</p><ul><li>An early 70-minute speed and agility, consisting of sprints and change-of-direction drills to start off every day</li><li>A daily physical therapy session that included massages, stretching, cupping, and dry needling</li><li>Wide receiver drills in which Chase run in-game routes, practiced catching, and simulated footwork</li><li>A strength training session that rotated daily with squats on Monday and Friday, bench press on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and bodyweight workouts on Wednesday</li></ul><p>Callaway said he saw gradual athletic growth during Chase's training, and that the future NFL star continued using that routine after they were done working together in early 2021.</p><p>"He was just focused on himself and getting healthy," Callaway said.</p><div type="image" title="NFL Draft" height="2665" width="3554" msid="89209687" hostid="261"></div><h2>Chase had one of the country's best pro day grades, went 5th in the NFL Draft, then broke a few rookie records</h2><p>Despite going an entire year without playing football, Chase was a <a href="https://www.nfl.com/prospects/ja%27marr-chase/32004348-4169-4469-b021-d2c20a7d7cf5">hot NFL Draft target</a>. During his pro day, he ran a 40-yard dash in under 4.4 seconds, had an 11-inch broad jump, and a 41-inch vertical jump; all of which ranked near <a href="https://www.andthevalleyshook.com/2021/4/1/22361266/jamarr-chase-terrace-marshall-shine-at-lsus-pro-day">the top among the nation's wide receivers.</a> </p><p>The Bengals drafted him fifth overall, and he went on to break the Bengals' single-season record for receiving yards in just his first year, and the most yards <a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2022/01/27/inside-numbers-jamarr-chase">ever by a rookie in a single game</a>. Now, he is just one game away from playing in the Super Bowl. </p><p>However, Callaway believes that Chase is a special case, and his example shouldn't be followed by the majority of aspiring NFL players who are still in college. </p><p>"I would tell you that an athlete sitting out for a college season is not a smart decision for a lot of athletes, because they need the time on the field," Callaway said. "But Ja'Marr was in a situation where, what else does he have to prove?"</p>

NFL breakout star Ja'Marr Chase quit college football to train with a pro agency instead. Now he's fighting for the Super Bowl.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Week 1 of the <keyword id="11897660" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nfl" source="Orion">NFL</keyword> season features a full slate of games this Sunday.</li><li>In daily fantasy, the difference between winning and losing comes down to finding value.</li><li>This week, we like Jalen Hurts, Melvin Gordon, and more to outplay their prices on <keyword id="11972480" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="draftkings" source="Orion">DraftKings</keyword>.</li></ul><p>Football season kicks off in full this Sunday, much to the delight of fantasy football players around the world.</p><p>While most fantasy enthusiasts have likely settled their drafts already, those that take part in daily fantasy leagues like DraftKings and FanDuel are still toiling away to set the perfect lineup before kickoff on Sunday.</p><p>Budgeting can get tight fast in daily fantasy - it's tough to leave Christian McCaffrey out of your lineup when you're SURE he's going to run all over the Jets. With this in mind, below are some potential value plays for Week 1 daily fantasy players. Picking these guys up isn't a sure thing, but they'll do well enough to get you some points and save you some dollars so you can spend more money on studs.</p><p>Take a look below for our best value picks for your Week 1 DraftKings lineups.</p><h2>QB: Jalen Hurts, $6,400</h2><p>Dual-threat quarterbacks can easily turn to fantasy heroes with one big play. Rather than overpay for Patrick Mahomes or Kyler Murray Week 1, backing Jalen Hurts against what should be a pretty soft Atlanta Falcons defense is a solid value play.</p><h2>RB: Najee Harris, $6,300</h2><p>He's a rookie playing in his very first NFL game, but this might be the cheapest you see Najee Harris listed all season. No team in the NFL works its workhorse running back more than the Pittsburgh Steelers, and this year, Harris is going to be that workhorse.</p><h2>RB: Melvin Gordon, $5,300</h2><p>Melvin Gordon is the top man on the Broncos depth chart and should dominate in the red zone for Denver until rookie Javonte Williams gets his sea legs about him in the NFL. The Giants are a team you can score against. At $5,300, it's a pretty affordable lottery ticket for a potential two touchdown day.</p><h2>WR: Odell Beckham Jr., $5,400</h2><div type="image" title="Odell Beckham Jr. walks off the field at a preseason game." height="1897" width="2529" msid="86099537" hostid="261"></div><p>I expect big things from the Browns offense this year. Odell Beckham Jr. is in need of a statement game after a middling first two seasons in Cleveland, and there's no better place for him to go off than in a shootout against Kansas City.</p><h2>WR: Ja'Marr Chase, $4,800</h2><p>Two years ago, Ja'Marr Chase connected with Joe Burrow for 20 touchdowns as the LSU Tigers marched undefeated to a national title. With the dynamic duo reunited in Cincinnati, it's hard to imagine the Bengals haven't drawn up a few special plays to get their professional partnership off to a big start.</p><h2>WR: DeVonta Smith, $4,500</h2><p>The Philadelphia Eagles have been searching for a star wide receiver since the glory days of DeSean Jackson. In the years since his ascendence, receiver has been a near-constant weakness, which made the Eagles decision to trade up in the draft to grab Heisman-winner DeVonta Smith an exhilarating moment for the team.</p><p>Smith is a shiny new toy, and one the Eagles hope will soon shine as one of the best receivers in the league. Look for a deep shot to Smith early in the game.</p><h2>TE: Kyle Pitts, $4,400</h2><div type="image" title="Kyle Pitts warms up ahead of a preseason game." height="1497" width="1997" msid="86099539" hostid="261"></div><p>We're riding a lot of rookies here, but with good reason. In the case of tight end Kyle Pitts, the Falcons need to fill the hole left by Julio Jones and the 10 targets per game he used to command in the Atlanta offense. Those targets are going to go somewhere, and Kyle Pitts is just the man to take them.</p><h2>DEF: Jacksonville Jaguars, $2,700</h2><p>The Jaguars defense is not great, but they are playing the Houston Texans, who are also not great. Things even out.</p>

The best value plays in your DraftKings lineup for Week 1 of the NFL season

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="1737299" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Alabama-Crimson-Tide">Alabama Crimson Tide</keyword> rolled over the Ohio State Buckeyes on Monday night to win the national championship.</li><li>Leading Alabama was Heisman winner <keyword id="10581845" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="devonta-smith">DeVonta Smith</keyword>, who had 12 receptions for 215 yards and 3 touchdowns in the first half alone.</li><li>Smith's night was cut short due to a finger injury, but not before proving why he's one of the hottest prospects heading into the NFL Draft.</li></ul><p>The Alabama Crimson Tide capped off a remarkable undefeated season with a dominant 52-24 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes in the national championship on Monday night.</p><p>Heisman winner DeVonta Smith was the start of the show for Alabama, leaving the Buckeyes defense in the dust time and time again as the Crimson Tide jumped out to a 35-17 lead at halftime and never looked back.</p><p>In a team loaded with impressive talent across the offense, Smith was a star, finishing the first half with 12 catches, 215 yards, and three touchdowns.</p><p>Heading into the game, the most receiving yards any player had ever recorded in a national championship was 221 by Ja'Marr Chase last year. Smith nearly topped that in the first half.</p><p>Smith is expected to be a top pick in the coming NFL Draft, and on Monday night, showed scouts he was ready for the pros with a nifty two-toe tap on the sidelines.</p><p>Unfortunately, Smith's dream night was cut short by an apparent finger injury after taking a big hit from a Buckeyes defender early in the second half.</p><p>It was a disappointing way to end the night, but Smith had already done enough for the Crimson Tide offense. After taking a 35-17 lead into halftime, Alabama went on to win 52-24, to win their third championship in the past six years.</p>

Heisman winner DeVonta Smith put on a show for the ages as Alabama wins championship, but an ugly injury cut his night short

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12801330" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="joe-burrow" source="Orion">Joe Burrow</keyword> invested in his <keyword id="11910605" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nutrition" source="Orion">nutrition</keyword> early by hiring a private chef, which isn't that common for young <keyword id="11897660" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nfl" source="Orion">NFL</keyword> stars.</li><li>Burrow's chef says the quarterback cut out all dairy, eats lots of protein, and craves spice.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/super-bowl-joe-burrow-trained-with-la-rams-doctor-captain-2022-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Burrow</a> has reached the NFL's biggest stage in just his second season in the league, and his diet has been a core component of his efforts to get there.</p><p>The 25-year-old <keyword id="12387407" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="cincinnati-bengals" source="Orion">Cincinnati Bengals</keyword> quarterback is set to lead his team in <a href="https://www.insider.com/super-bowl-la-rams-track-players-steps-scale-workouts-2022-2">Super Bowl LVI</a> this Sunday, little over a year after he suffered a devastating, season-ending ACL tear. Following a <a href="https://www.insider.com/super-bowl-joe-burrow-trained-with-la-rams-doctor-captain-2022-2">healthy diet</a> was central to his rehab as he got back to full strength. </p><p>Burrow, who was drafted first overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, had already taken an interest in nutrition before his injury — he used his first paycheck as a pro athlete to hire professional chef Jose Salazar to curate his meals six days a week, according to <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/now/does-joe-burrow-eat-personal-004912152.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC 9</a>. That only intensified last summer, when a veteran player — incidentally his <keyword id="12217426" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="super-bowl" source="Orion">Super Bowl</keyword> rival, LA Rams captain Andrew Whitworth — advised him that his diet will be essential if he wants to avoid injury.</p><p>Salazar said told ABC two of Burrow's biggest dietary rules are no dairy and spices have to be on everything. Salazar also said Burrow will often eat a pound of protein in each meal. </p><p>Burrow's healthy diet came with a sacrifice. The Bengals team tradition of eating <keyword id="11916300" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mcdonalds" source="Orion">McDonald's</keyword> regularly, often before games. One player, Chad Ochocinco, even claimed his McDonald's-based diet helped him avoid injury. </p><p>But that's not on the menu for Burrow. </p><h2>Ochocinco has made McDonald's a Bengals pseudo tradition</h2><p>Ochocinco has said he ate McDonald's before every game, and during workouts. Ochocinco, who played 12 NFL seasons and never missed a game to injury, has <a href="https://twitter.com/SInow/status/1468444576402739202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1468444576402739202%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2021%2F12%2F08%2Fchad-ochocinco-johnson-credits-mcdonalds-for-nfl-career%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> McDonald's was the reason for his physical resilience. </p><p>Now, Ochocinco said he has passed his strategy down to the current Bengals players, including offensive rookie of the year Ja'Marr Chase. </p><p>"He eats McDonald's and the whole team eats McDonald's," Ochocinco told Insider. </p><p>Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah credited his pre-game McDonald's for his touchdown performance against the Las Vegas Raiders in the team's first playoff victory on January 15. </p><p>"Before the Raiders game I had a sausage egg and cheese McGriddle, that's my go-to for breakfast, with hash browns and orange juice," Uzoma told Insider during a Super Bowl LVI press conference this week. "I'll eat McChickens like it's my job, and a sausage egg and cheese McGriddle, but that's about it."</p><p>McDonald's may have become a bigger aspect of the team's diet and team bonding experience during their Super Bowl run as well, as head coach Zac Taylor told Insider during a Super Bowl press briefing that his team's dining room has been closed recently due to COVID-19 concerns.</p><p>Jamie Hepner, a director at the performance analytics agency <a href="https://www.catapultsports.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Catapult Sports</a>, serves as one of the Bengals' <keyword id="11894571" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health" source="Orion">health</keyword> consultants, and he told Insider that he is "not surprised" about the team's McDonald's consumption. He added that they can limit the damage it might have on their body by doing "a number of other things right" in regards to <keyword id="11897658" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fitness" source="Orion">fitness</keyword> and nutrition.</p><h2>Burrow's dairy-free, high-protein diet may help him reduce inflammation </h2><p>For Burrow, avoiding inflammation has been key to his recovery from last year's injury.</p><p>By avoiding dairy, Burrow is following a line of thinking also used by <a href="https://www.insider.com/diet-and-lifestyle-rules-tom-brady-followed-tol-2022-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Brady</a>, who also avoided dairy, to extend his career until the age of 44. Brady <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/tom-brady-says-an-anti-inflammation-diet-is-good-for-him-would-it-work-for-you/2017/11/03/96eafaac-b8c1-11e7-a908-a3470754bbb9_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has expressed concerns</a> that dairy could increase his risk of injury by increasing inflammation, though the <a href="https://www.eatingwell.com/article/2056066/heres-what-a-dietitian-says-about-dairy-causing-inflammation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research is mixed</a>, and <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10408398.2014.883356" target="_blank" rel="noopener">some</a> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5991203/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">studies</a> have found that might be an overblown concern.</p><p>Protein is critical for a football player's health. It gives the body the tools to repair muscle fibers that break down while playing football, which is important for keeping fibers and ligaments strong and preventing them from breaking, according to <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-supplements-for-sports-injury" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Healthline</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/tom-brady-breakfast-smoothie-recipe-high-protein-dairy-free-2021-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brady</a> and other veteran stars like Ndamukong Suh and the NBA's Kevin Love follow similar high-protein diets aimed at reducing inflammation, but Burrow is ahead of the curve at 25 years old. </p>

Joe Burrow said he can't eat McDonald's every day like his teammates — he sticks to a high-protein, dairy-free diet

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The first round of the 2021 <keyword id="103436" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="NFL">NFL</keyword> draft is in the books.</li><li>The Jaguars, the Eagles, and the Bears ended the night as big winners.</li><li>The Raiders and the Packers were losers.</li></ul><p>The first round of the 2021 NFL draft is in the books.</p><p>After Thursday night, 32 players have been selected by their new teams, with <a href="https://www.insider.com/nfl-draft-best-players-available-round-2-3-2021-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plenty more talent still to come</a> in the next two days.</p><p>Take a look below at our winners and losers of the first round of the NFL draft.</p><h2>WINNER: Jacksonville Jaguars</h2><p>There was never a question of whom the Jaguars were taking first overall, and with good reason. Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is now the Jaguars' quarterback, helping bring the team into a new era with its new head coach, Urban Meyer.</p><p>A move doesn't need to be surprising to be the right one.</p><h2>WINNER: San Francisco 49ers</h2><div type="image" title="Trey Lance" height="1874" width="2499" msid="82332157" hostid="261"></div><p>While there weren't any surprises through the first two picks of the night, the 49ers dropped the first shocker of the draft when they selected North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance third overall.</p><p>Many <a href="https://www.insider.com/nfl-mock-draft-consensus-first-round-expert-picks-2021-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mock drafts had projected Mac Jones to the 49ers</a> after the team was reportedly smitten with the Alabama quarterback after <a href="https://www.insider.com/49ers-draft-pick-trade-mac-jones-trey-lance-justin-fields-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trading up for the third pick</a>. Had San Francisco gone with Jones, it would have been a highly scrutinized move, as it wasn't clear that the 49ers would have needed to move up to get him.</p><p>Instead, the 49ers took Lance, a move that is a win both for them in getting the better player and in terms of branding. If Kyle Shanahan believes Lance is the guy, he had to move up to get him, and if it works out, no one will question what the 49ers gave up to get there.</p><h2>WINNER: College teammates</h2><p>The first round of the draft was full of old college reunions. The Cincinnati Bengals took LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase to link up with Joe Burrow in the big leagues. The Dolphins brought in Alabama's Jaylen Waddle to play catch with Tua Tagovailoa, while the Eagles grabbed DeVonta Smith to pair with Jalen Hurts. Even the Jaguars facilitated a reunion, taking both Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne from the Clemson Tigers in the first round.</p><p>It was a good night for teammates.</p><h2>LOSER: Mac Jones</h2><p>After being projected as high as No. 3 only to fall down to No. 15, <a href="https://www.insider.com/mac-jones-falls-nfl-draft-loses-millions-contract-2021-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jones missed out on roughly $19 million</a> because of the way rookie contracts are drawn up in the NFL. That's a lot of money to lose because one team chose another guy over you.</p><h2>WINNER: Mac Jones</h2><div type="image" title="Mac Jones" height="1666" width="2222" msid="82332158" hostid="261"></div><p>Despite the monetary loss, there's reason to think that Jones falling to the Patriots will work out better for him in the long run than a rookie deal with the 49ers. Because San Francisco traded a boatload of picks to move up to No. 3, Jones would have been under a wild amount of pressure to be great right out of the gate through no fault of his own. It's not hard to imagine that experiment crashing and burning pretty quickly.</p><p>With New England, Jones is going to a system that should set him up for success. Jones is accurate and gets the ball out of his hand quickly. While his limited ability as a runner was a knock compared with other quarterbacks in the class, Jones can get the ball where it needs to go in the right offense and <a href="https://www.insider.com/mac-jones-patriots-tom-brady-shirtless-photo-twitter-2021-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">will be in good hands with Bill Belichick</a>.</p><h2>WINNER: New England Patriots</h2><p>Heading into the draft, it felt as if the Patriots might have to trade up to get their next quarterback because of a projected run at the position early in the first round. Rather than sell the farm to move up, the Patriots kept their cool and wound up having the draft fall right into their hands, picking up Jones at No. 15.</p><p>Sometimes the best move is no move at all.</p><h2>WINNER: Philadelphia Eagles</h2><p>The Eagles had been wheeling and dealing for some time heading into the draft.</p><p>Originally set with the sixth overall pick, Philadelphia traded back to No. 12 in a deal with the Miami Dolphins that got it an extra first-round pick in 2022. But the Birds weren't done there, pulling off a draft-day deal with a division rival to move back up from 12th to 10th on Thursday and select the Heisman winner DeVonta Smith out of Alabama.</p><p>It was a well-executed move for a team looking for a pass-catcher. At No. 6, the Eagles would have missed out on both Kyle Pitts and Ja'Marr Chase, widely considered the top two receiving threats in the 2021 draft class, so Philly elected to trade back and add value for next year. But then, when Smith was the last of a top-tier of receiving talent left on the board, the Eagles made their move again, jumping over the Giants to take the Heisman winner.</p><h2>LOSER: Las Vegas Raiders</h2><p>While the first round was relatively calm, all things considered there were a few wild picks made Thursday night, none more puzzling than the Raiders' selection of Alex Leatherwood. He is a solid talent, but taking him 17th overall felt like a pretty big reach, especially coming from a team with something of a history of needlessly overreaching in the draft. There's a chance that Leatherwood still would have been on the board in the second round for the Raiders, or they could have traded down from No. 17 and taken him later in the first.</p><p>This is not a knock on Leatherwood, who should develop into a fine player. But given where the Raiders were on the board, the move felt like a reach.</p><h2>WINNER: Chicago Bears</h2><div type="image" title="Justin Fields" height="1137" width="1517" msid="82332159" hostid="261"></div><p>The Bears got their guy, moving up from No. 20 to No. 11 to secure Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields. For Bears fans, Fields represents the most hope that the team has had at the quarterback position in a generation.</p><p>While it cost a hefty price to move up - including sending a future first-round pick to the Giants - if Fields can deliver for the Bears, it will all have been worth it.</p><h2>LOSER: New York Giants</h2><p>Giants fans were probably looking forward to drafting DeVonta Smith, <a href="https://www.insider.com/eagles-cowboys-trade-screw-the-giants-2021-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">only to watch one division rival</a> (the Dallas Cowboys) help another division rival (the Philadelphia Eagles) jump in front of the G-men and steal Smith at the last moment.</p><p>It's a tough break when your divisional opponents are teaming up against you. Maybe an alliance with the Washington Football Team is in order.</p><h2>WINNER: New York Giants</h2><p>While getting jumped for Smith was not ideal, the Giants made the best of a bad situation.</p><p>With their desired player unavailable at No. 11, the Giants traded down with a Bears team eager to move up, acquiring a 2022 first-round pick in the process. Then at No. 20, the Giants could snag wide receiver Kadarius Toney out of Florida, satisfying their need at receiver.</p><h2>WINNER: Sam Darnold</h2><div type="image" title="Sam Darnold" height="1799" width="2398" msid="82332161" hostid="261"></div><p>The Carolina Panthers traded for Sam Darnold ahead of the draft. But with the team holding the eighth overall pick, it was still possible that they would decide to pick another quarterback and head into the season with a competition for the starting job.</p><p>Thankfully for Darnold, the Panthers went the other way, taking South Carolina corner Jaycee Horn and, in the process, essentially sealing Darnold in as the team's starter for at least the coming season. While the Panthers had declined to pick up Darnold's fifth-year option ahead of the draft, Carolina locked him in for an extra season on Thursday night.</p><h2>LOSER: Andy Dalton</h2><p>When Andy Dalton joined the Chicago Bears, the team announced his arrival <a href="https://twitter.com/chicagobears/status/1374873691314618370?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with a tweet</a> that proclaimed him "QB1."</p><p>After the Bears traded up for Justin Fields, that title is now in doubt. Tough break for Dalton.</p><h2>WINNER: NFL sons</h2><p>In the top 10 picks on Thursday night, two sons of former NFL players were selected. Jaycee Horn, the son of Joe Horn, was taken eighth by the Panthers. He was followed by Patrick Surtain II, whom the Denver Broncos selected at No. 9.</p><p>Football is a family business.</p><h2>LOSER: Green Bay Packers</h2><p>Thursday was a nightmare for the Packers, and it had little to do with what happened in the draft.</p><p>Throughout the day, reports revealed that the reigning NFL MVP, Aaron Rodgers, <a href="https://www.insider.com/aaron-rodgers-wants-trade-packers-contract-beef-2021-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was unhappy with the Packers</a> and didn't want to return to the team. <a href="https://www.insider.com/packers-kick-field-goal-fourth-down-matt-lafleur-2021-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Given how last year ended</a>, it's easy to understand his frustration.</p><h2>LOSER: Houston Texans, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks</h2><p>You can't win the first round without a first-round pick.</p>

NFL DRAFT: 16 winners and losers from the first round

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Week 7 of the <keyword id="11897660" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nfl" source="Orion">NFL</keyword> season is almost in the books.</li><li>Tom Brady and Joe Burrow were the big winners of Week 6.</li></ul><p>Week 7 of the NFL season was filled with action.</p><p>Tom Brady made history and played to the crowd during a dominant win over the Bears, and Joe Burrow and the <keyword id="12387407" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="cincinnati-bengals" source="Orion">Cincinnati Bengals</keyword> continued their ascension to the top of the AFC.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions lost again and now stand as the only remaining winless team in the league.</p><p>Take a look below at all the winners and losers from Week 7 of the NFL season.</p><h2>WINNER: Tom Brady</h2><div type="image" title="Tom Brady gives his hat to a young fan in the stands during a game against the Chicago Bears." height="1120" width="1494" msid="87264454" hostid="261"></div><p>Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cruised to a 38-3 victory over the Chicago Bears, with Brady throwing four touchdowns. One of those four touchdowns was the 600th TD pass of his career, making Brady the first quarterback in NFL history to reach the milestone.</p><p>Unfortunately, receiver Mike Evans, who caught the historic touchdown, didn't get the memo. <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-mike-evans-throws-away-tom-brady-600th-td-ball-2021-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Evans briefly gave the ball to a fan sitting in the stands</a> before a Buccaneers staffer went over to negotiate and get the ball back for posterity.</p><p>Brady also took a moment before the game went final <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-tom-brady-gives-young-fan-hat-2021-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to reach out to a young fan who had been holding up a sign</a> that read, "Tom Brady helped me beat brain cancer." Brady shook the young fan's hand and gave him a hat, leaving him near tears.</p><p>Throw four touchdowns, set a bit of NFL history, give not one but two fans life-long memories, and cruise to victory over a conference opponent - it's all just a regular Sunday for Tom Brady.</p><h2>LOSER: Sam Darnold</h2><p>After the Panthers got off to a 3-0 start to the season, it looked as though <a href="https://www.insider.com/sam-darnold-winning-the-breakup-new-york-jets-2021-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sam Darnold had turned a corner</a>. Free from the dreadful clutches of Adam Gase and the New York Jets, Darnold was developing into the passer and player that he was always capable of becoming.</p><p>Since then, the Panthers have lost four straight games, including Sunday's dismal 25-3 showing against the New York Giants. Darnold completed just 16 of his 25 passes for 111 yards and an interception on the day and was ultimately benched in the fourth quarter for PJ Walker.</p><p>Darnold still has a hold on the starting job in Carolina for now. However, it's less clear whether or not the team will be as eager to keep Darnold under center moving forward, especially if he continues to struggle through the second half of the season.</p><h2>WINNER: Cincinnati Bengals</h2><p>We are almost halfway through the season, and the Cincinnati Bengals are the top team in the AFC. Think about that for a second. If the season ended today (it doesn't, but still), the Bengals would have a first-round bye in the postseason, and the road to the Super Bowl would run through Cincinnati.</p><p>The Bengals' brilliant start comes thanks to the play of second-year quarterback Joe Burrow and the standout debut of rookie receiver Ja'Marr Chase. Chase has 754 receiving yards, the most ever through seven career games.</p><p>With road wins over the Ravens and Steelers already in their pocket, the Bengals have control of the AFC North right now. If they can keep playing at the level they've started the season at and avoid the injury bug, they could be a force come January.</p><h2>LOSER: Kansas City Chiefs</h2><div type="image" title="Patrick Mahomes lays on the field after a play against the Tennessee Titans." height="1777" width="2372" msid="87264455" hostid="261"></div><p>After <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-patrick-mahomes-hit-wobbly-2021-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a blowout loss to the Titans</a>, the Chiefs are 3-4 and sit third in the AFC West. Mahomes and the Chiefs play in primetime next week against the New York Giants in what should be a get-right game for the former AFC favorites.</p><p>If Kansas City can't knock out the Giants, they're in for a struggle. Their next three games on the schedule: Packers, Raiders, Cowboys. The Chiefs still have time to turn things around, but <a href="https://www.insider.com/chiefs-bad-defense-patrick-mahomes-cant-do-everything-2021-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">they're running out of wiggle room.</a></p><h2>WINNER: Derek Carr</h2><p>The Raiders are 2-0 since <a href="https://www.insider.com/jon-gruden-resigns-emails-racist-homophobic-report-2021-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the departure of head coach Jon Gruden</a>. Credit to interim head coach Rich Bisaccia, who has led the team through the tumult to come out 5-2.</p><p>But Bisaccia himself gives credit to Carr. "Off the field, Derek is the voice of the Raiders right now. The players always want to listen to him," <a href="https://www.wsls.com/sports/2021/10/24/raiders-beat-philly-33-22-in-second-game-under-bisaccia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bisaccia said after the Raiders win over the Eagles</a>. "He's a tremendous leader both on and off the field."</p><p>In turn, Carr praised Bisaccia after the win, saying he and his teammates were doing everything they could to keep Bisaccia as the team's head coach moving forward.</p><p>Carr played brilliantly against the Eagles, completing 31 of 34 passes to finish at 91.1% completion. It's the second-highest single-game completion percentage from a player with at least 30 attempts in NFL history, trailing only Drew Brees.</p><h2>LOSER: Dan Campbell</h2><p>Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions pulled out all the stops against the Los Angeles Rams. Fake punts, surprise onside kicks, no bit of trickeration was off-limits.</p><p>It was great fun to watch, and at points, surprisingly successful!</p><p>Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. Campbell and the Lions lost 28-19 to fall to 0-7 on the season.</p><h2>WINNER: Zach Ertz</h2><p>Zach Ertz was playing second-fiddle to Dallas Goedert in Philadelphia. However, in his first game with the Arizona Cardinals, he showed he's ready to be a potent addition to an already dangerous offense.</p><p>The Cardinals are the last undefeated team in the NFL and have a Thursday night showdown against the Green Bay Packers that could very well be a preview of the NFC Championship.</p><h2>LOSER: Houston Texans</h2><p>Houston jumped out to a 5-0 lead over the Cardinals, then gave up 31 unanswered points over the final 40 minutes of play.</p><p>Even with the early deficit, the Cardinals spent much of the day playing with their food.</p><p>Better luck next time.</p><h2>WINNER: Kyle Pitts</h2><p>As every NFL broadcast was eager to remind you, Sunday was designated National Tight Ends Day. Rookie Kyle Pitts and the Atlanta Falcons were ready to celebrate.</p><p>Pitts finished with seven receptions for 163 yards, leading the Falcons to a 30-28 win over the Miami Dolphins.</p>

Winners, losers, and other telling moments from Week 7 in the NFL

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11897660" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nfl" source="Orion">NFL</keyword> football is back.</li><li>The Buccaneers and Cowboys kick off the action in Tampa Bay on Thursday night.</li><li>Once again, we're picking every game of the week against the spread.</li></ul><p>Football is back.</p><p>The Buccaneers and Cowboys kick off the NFL season on Thursday night in Tampa Bay.</p><p>To celebrate, we're once again picking every game against the spread, hoping to enjoy some good ol' fashioned gambling - and maybe make some money.</p><p>Take a look below at our best bets against the spread for Week 1 of the NFL season (* indicates home team).</p><h2>Dallas Cowboys (+8.5) over Tampa Bay Buccaneers*</h2><p>Since 2013, Tom Brady has been 5-3 in season openers, but just one win was by more than a touchdown. There's a concern to be had about the Dallas Cowboys - this is Dak Prescott's first game back from injury, and he will be without guard Zack Martin on his offensive line after he tested positive for COVID-19. Still, the Cowboys should have enough firepower to keep this close.</p><h2>Philadelphia Eagles (+3) over Atlanta Falcons*</h2><div type="image" title="Jalen Hurts scrambles to make a play." height="1771" width="2362" msid="86070421" hostid="261"></div><p>This is a tough pick between two teams with relatively low expectations for the 2021 season. My favorite bet from this game is not on the Eagles but on Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts to go over 39.5 rushing yards, which is his current total on DraftKings. He could make that up in one big play.</p><p>But if we're picking a side here, I will back the Eagles, as I am a homer.</p><h2>San Francisco 49ers (-7.5) over Detroit Lions*</h2><p>The vibes in Detroit are pretty terrible this year. Imagine being Jared Goff - <a href="https://www.insider.com/matthew-stafford-rams-lions-trade-jared-goff-first-round-2021-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shipped out of Los Angeles in exchange</a> for what everybody sees as an upgrade. Maybe he comes out playing with a fiery vengeance. However, it feels much more likely that the 49ers, who were torn apart by injuries last season, come back fully healthy and ready to stomp on a lesser opponent.</p><h2>Buffalo Bills* (-6.5) over Pittsburgh Steelers</h2><p>Buffalo is walking like a true AFC contender. They've taken the mantle of favorites in the AFC East after 20 years of New England dominance, and quarterback Josh Allen is <a href="https://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/id/32170255/kansas-city-chiefs-qb-patrick-mahomes-enters-season-nfl-mvp-favorite-buffalo-bills-qb-josh-allen-drawing-most-bets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of the most popular picks in Las Vegas</a> to be named NFL MVP. They face off against an aging Ben Roethlisberger that already looked pretty old last year. Circle the wagons.</p><h2>Arizona Cardinals (+3) over Tennessee Titans*</h2><p>These are two teams that could come through as somewhat surprising contenders. Last year, Kyler Murray started the season by rushing and throwing for at least one touchdown in eight of the Cardinals' first nine games. This feels like a close game, but Kyler and the points feel like a better bet.</p><h2>Washington Football Team* (+1) over Los Angeles Chargers</h2><p>This game is probably a stay-away on any other week, but it is the first week of the NFL season. We are all entitled to <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-ryan-fitzpatrick-game-winning-pass-penalty-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one silly bet on Ryan Fitzmagic</a>.</p><h2>Carolina Panthers* (-5.5) over New York Jets</h2><div type="image" title="Matt Rhule and Sam Darnold discuss a play during the preseason." height="1454" width="1939" msid="86070429" hostid="261"></div><p>In Matt Rhule's first season as head coach of Temple in 2013, he went 2-10. In his second season, he went 6-6. By his third, the Owls were 10-2 and playing for a conference championship. Then at Baylor, Rhule went 1-11 in his first season, 7-6 in his second, and 11-1 in his third, with a spot in the Big 12 title game and Sugar Bowl.</p><p>With the Panthers, Rhule went 5-11 in his first season. Don't be surprised to see those wins jump this year as he has shown an ability to turn things around pretty fast.</p><h2>Seattle Seahawks (-2.5) over Indianapolis Colts*</h2><p>Russell Wilson is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Carson Wentz played terribly last year and was <a href="https://www.insider.com/eagles-trade-return-carson-wentz-pittance-2021-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">traded despite having an untradeable contract</a>. He is now in his first season with a new team. Also, <a href="https://www.insider.com/nfl-covid-vaccines-quarterbacks-kirk-cousins-2021-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he's not vaccinated</a>. I am not going to overthink this one.</p><h2>Cincinnati Bengals* (+3.5) over Minnesota Vikings</h2><p>Joe Burrow showed flashes of brilliance last year before an injury cut his season short. Heading into 2021, he's armed with a trifecta of wide receivers - Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, and Ja'Marr Chase - that, for my money, is the most exciting young group in all of football. If Burrow can stay upright behind the Bengals offensive line (an admittedly big "if"), he and the Cincinnati offense should put on a show this year.</p><h2>Jacksonville Jaguars (-3) over Houston Texans*</h2><p>If the vibes are bad in Detroit, they are atrocious right now in Houston. Though he won't be playing, Deshaun Watson is still on the team despite <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31113664/summary-lawsuits-houston-texans-quarterback-deshaun-watson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">facing 22 lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct</a>. The team is still dealing with the fallout of <a href="https://www.insider.com/texans-trade-deandre-hopkins-cardinals-2020-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the terrible reign of Bill O'Brien</a>, which left their franchise devoid of both talent and draft picks. They are undoubtedly "rebuilding" but <a href="https://twitter.com/Jason_OTC/status/1435326332217577473" target="_blank" rel="noopener">somehow have one of the oldest rosters in the NFL</a>. Things could not be worse.</p><p>There are so many red flags betting Jacksonville here. It's a rookie quarterback and a first-year NFL head coach making their NFL debut on the road as favorites. Every rule in the gambling book says to grab the other side. Still, if I have to pick, I'll back the Jaguars. But probably best if most bettors just let this game go on without a wager.</p><h2>Green Bay Packers (-3.5) over New Orleans Saints*</h2><div type="image" title="Aaron Rodgers" height="1925" width="2566" msid="86070432" hostid="261"></div><p>Aaron Rodgers is coming off an MVP season and <a href="https://www.insider.com/aaron-rodgers-says-mvp-season-screwed-leaving-packers-2021-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seems geared up for another screw-you season</a> before leaving Green Bay for greener pastures. New Orleans has turned to Jameis Winston as the successor to Drew Brees. Winston is probably a better passer than he's given credit for, and if he keeps his turnovers to a minimum, he could be in for a big year. I just don't think that big year starts with a win over Aaron Rodgers.</p><h2>Cleveland Browns (+5.5) over Kansas City Chiefs*</h2><p>When Cleveland and Kansas City met in the postseason last year, the Browns did an impressive job containing the Chiefs offense, holding them to just 22 points. This game looks more likely to be a shootout than a slugfest, but Baker Mayfield and the Browns should have enough horsepower to keep pace and could have one of the best defenses in the league behind them this year.</p><h2>Miami Dolphins (+3) over New England Patriots*</h2><p>This one feels like a toss-up. Mac Jones could be in for an offensive rookie of the year type season, but I'd like to see it in a game before we anoint him as the next great thing.</p><h2>New York Giants* (+3) over Denver Broncos</h2><p>This year, the Broncos should be a better team than the Giants, but ultimately, this is a game between two mediocre-to-bad teams playing too early in the season for anyone to be sharp. Take the home dog or stay away entirely.</p><h2>Los Angeles Rams* (-7.5) over Chicago Bears</h2><div type="image" title="Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford at training camp." height="1026" width="1368" msid="86070436" hostid="261"></div><p>The Los Angeles Rams spent like $6 billion on a new stadium, and now they finally get to host some fans in it. Playing in primetime, expect them to run up the score on the Bears.</p><h2>Las Vegas Raiders* (+4) over Baltimore Ravens</h2><p>Like the Rams, the Raiders opened up a new arena last year but couldn't fill out the bowl in Las Vegas. You can expect the Raiders to show up and make good on their true debut in Sin City, even facing a tough opponent in the Ravens.</p>

NFL WEEK 1: Our picks for who covers the spread this weekend

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The first round of the <keyword id="11897660" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nfl" source="Orion">NFL</keyword> Draft kicked off in Las Vegas on Thursday night.</li><li>The New York Jets and Giants both crushed their first-round picks, setting themselves up for potential future success.</li></ul><p>LAS VEGAS — Just after 5 p.m. on Thursday NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stepped out on stage in Las Vegas, Nevada to the boos of thousands of football fans.</p><p>And with that, the 2022 NFL Draft officially began. Four hours, 32 picks, and several eye-popping trades later, Round 1 came to a close, with some teams, players, and characters coming out on top and others wishing the day had gone differently.</p><p>Take a look below at the 11 winners and losers of the first round.</p><h2>WINNER: Travon Walker</h2><p>The Georgia Bulldogs edge rusher was a late-riser up draft boards after a brillaint performance at the combine.</p><p>In the weeks leading up to the draft, Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson had largely been projected to go first overall to the Jaguars, but at some point in the past few days the tides shifted.</p><p>Ladies and gentlemen, <a href="https://www.insider.com/nfl-draft-first-pick-jaguars-travon-walker-2022-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">your first overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, Travon Walker</a>.</p><p>While other top edge talents like Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux might have put up better numbers than Walker in college, the upside Walker presented was too much for the Jaguars to pass up.</p><p>It's <a href="https://www.insider.com/nfl-draft-first-pick-jaguars-travon-walker-2022-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a home run swing</a>, and after a 3-14 campaign in 2021 with a defense that gave up more points than all but four teams in the NFL, the Jaguars are a team in need of a dinger. Regardless of whether or not it works out for the Jaguars, it's a boon for Walker, who goes down as the first defensive player taken No. 1 since Myles Garrett in 2017.</p><h2>WINNER: Hometown heroes</h2><p>After the Jaguars took Walker first overall, the door was open for the Detroit Lions to draft standout Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson.</p><p>Hutchinson broke the Wolverines' single-season sack record last year, and now will get to continue playing close to home as he begins his NFL career.</p><div type="image" title="Aidan Hutchinson poses after being drafted by the Detroit Lions." height="1600" width="2133" msid="91188618" hostid="261"></div><p>"I think it would be cool to stay around Michigan and be close to my family," <a href="https://www.insider.com/aidan-hutchinson-ready-to-learn-nfl-draft-jaguars-lions-2022-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hutchinson told Insider earlier in the week</a> when asked of the prospect of getting drafted by the Lions. "I'm sure it'd make the transition to the NFL easier. I think there's a lot of positives either way."</p><p>Hutchinson isn't the only potential superstar that will get to stay close to home.</p><p>North Carolina State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu was taken by the Carolina Panthers with the sixth overall pick, and Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett was taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 20.</p><p>With a large contingency of Steelers fans in attendance in Vegas, Pickett's selection earned one of the loudest reactions of the night.</p><h2>WINNER: Somehow, both the New York Giants and New York Jets</h2><p>With four top-10 picks between them, there was a lot of potential for the New York football collective to mess things up pretty bad at the 2022 NFL Draft. Instead, both teams, somewhat shockingly, crushed it.</p><p>For the Giants, finding a quality edge rusher and offensive tackle were both top priorities. When they were set to make their first pick of the night, at No. 5, one elite edge prospect (Kayvon Thibodeaux) and two elite tackle prospects (Ikem Ekwonu, Evan Neal) were left on the board.</p><p>Since the Giants were also picking at No. 7, New York smartly played their hand, selecting Thibodeaux fifth overall, knowing that regardless of who the Panthers took at No. 6, one of the best tackles in the draft would still be there at No. 7. Carolina went with Ekwonu, leaving the Giants to take Neal, who might have been the highest-rated tackle on their board anyway.</p><p>Largely, the Giants' success was a result of not overthinking their picks, but credit where it's due, that's a hell of a duo to start the new season with.</p><p>Similarly, the New York Jets found great value in both of their top-10 picks. The Jets were able to grab possibly the best cornerback to come out of this draft class in Cincinnati's Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, at No. 4, and followed that up by taking a player that could possibly be the best receiver to come out of this draft class in Ohio State's Garrett Wilson, at No. 10.</p><div type="image" title="Jermaine Johnson celebrates his selection in the 2022 NFL Draft with a group of Jets fans." height="1600" width="2133" msid="91188620" hostid="261"></div><p>But the Jets' success didn't stop there. As Florida State edge rusher Jermaine Johnson began to fall past where many had him projected, New York found a trade partner in the Tennessee Titans and were able to move back into the first round to snag Johnson at No. 26.</p><p>Heading into the draft, the Jets needed help all across the roster. In one night, they found players that could prove to be foundational pieces at three key positions for years to come.</p><h2>WINNER: Howie Roseman</h2><p>It's hard to imagine anyone having a better night than the young players drafted on Thursday, but if anyone did, it was Eagles general manager Howie Roseman.</p><p>Heading into the draft, Philadelphia was armed with two first-round picks, one of which had already been swapped with New Orleans ahead of Thursday.</p><p>With his first move, Roseman traded up from No. 15 to No. 13 to pick Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis. Not only is Davis a dynamic run-stuffer already, he will also get a year to learn the craft from Eagles veteran Fletcher Cox before eventually stepping into his sizeable cleats as the anchor of the team's defensive front.</p><p>But Roseman's biggest move of the night came next, as the Eagles flipped the No. 18 pick to the Tennessee Titans along with a third-rounder in exchange for star wide receiver A.J. Brown.</p><p>As the 18th pick was approaching, many of the top receiving prospects were already off the board. Rather than draft yet another wide receiver that might not work out — it's a position the Eagles have struggled to draft with the exception of DeVonta Smith last year — Roseman instead negotiated a deal for a receiver everyone already knows can dominate in the NFL.</p><p>It was a deal that shocked Eagles center Jason Kelce live on air.</p><p>"Howie Roseman is working that Howie Roseman magic," Kelce said. "He's moving up in the draft to get Jordan Davis, and now he's trading to get an unbelievable receiver. This is like Christmas right now.</p><p>"Howie is a man on a mission right now, man. He's making things happen, and I'm a big fan."</p><h2>LOSER: Arizona Cardinals</h2><p>The Cardinals also made a deal for a wide receiver, trading the No. 23 pick away to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for Marquise "Hollywood" Brown.</p><p>On another day, the Cardinals' deal for Brown might have raised a few eyebrows and little else, but with the immediate comparison to the deal the Eagles pulled off with the Titans, Hollywood's move to Arizona suddenly looks less appealing.</p><p>To be sure, this is a trade that could still work out fantastically for the Cardinals. Brown is a dynamic player and is being reunited with his college quarterback, Kyler Murray. The two are certainly capable of making sparks fly.</p><p>Still, given the price the Eagles paid for A.J. Brown, it's a tough comparison.</p><h2>LOSER: Lamar Jackson</h2><p>The Hollywood Brown trade came as a shock to the entire NFL, but no one was more surprised than Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.</p><p>It would be rather strange to learn that one of your friends is moving away by watching television, but there's a lot about the life of an NFL quarterback that is rather strange.</p><h2>WINNER: Wide receivers</h2><p>There was a ton of wide receiver talent up for grabs in Thursday's first round, and clearly front offices around the league were aware of it.</p><p>From picks No. 8-18, a whopping six wide receivers were selected — Drake London to the Falcons (No. 7), Garrett Wilson to the Jets (No. 10), Chris Olave to the Saints (No. 11), Jameson Williams to the Lions (No. 12), Jahan Dotson to the Commanders (No. 16), and Treylon Burks (No. 18) to the Titans.</p><p>Given the instant impact that the likes of Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson have had in their recent rookie seasons, expectations are high for this group. It's going to be fun to look back on this group in four or five years.</p><h2>LOSER: Aaron Rodgers</h2><p>Another year, another draft with the Green Bay Packers refusing to draft for Aaron Rodgers. Despite all of that receiving talent available this year, the Packers didn't make a move to get Rodgers another pair of trusted hands. Green Bay's refusal to give Rodgers another target is magnified by the recent departure of Davante Adams.</p><p>With the Packers sitting out of the receiving pool through the first round, look for Green Bay to be major players in the potential market for 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who recently asked for a trade from San Francisco.</p><h2>WINNER: Georgia Bulldogs</h2><p>The 2021 Georgia Bulldogs defense was one of the greatest defenses in the history of college football.</p><p>On Thursday, they cemented their claim further, breaking the NFL record for most defensive players taken in the first round from one school.</p><p>The five Bulldogs that went off the board were: Travon Walker to the Lions (No. 1), Jordan Davis to the Eagles (No. 13), Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt to the Packers (Nos. 22 and 28), and Lewis Cine to the Vikings (No. 32).</p><p>Additionally, linebacker Nakobe Dean is still on the board, and could be taken with one of the first picks of the second round on Friday.</p><h2>WINNER: Trading up to get your guy</h2><p>Trades make the draft, and Thursday's first round was full of exciting moves. Further, there's something inherently nice about teams moving up to get <em>their guy</em>. </p><p>Simply put, it's nice to be wanted.</p><p>In their press conferences after getting drafted, several players, including Jordan Davis and Devin Lloyd, expressed appreciation for their teams' making the effort to trade up for them.</p><p>Trades on draft day make the entire experience more exciting to watch and in some cases, leave players feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Feels like a win-win.</p><h2>WINNER: The Las Vegas Draft</h2><p>Heading to the NFL Draft in Las Vegas, I didn't know what to expect. Of all the things to turn into Coachella, "NFL teams hiring people," is about as strange a choice as you can make. And yet, the festival of football that the league has made of the modern draft sort of works.</p><div type="image" title="Fans attend the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas." height="1600" width="2133" msid="91188622" hostid="261"></div><p>It's weird, to be sure, but against the backdrop of Las Vegas, it feels right in place. Being here, it's entirely clear why the NFL was eager to get a team in Vegas — this town knows how to host a big event, and the NFL loves to throw them.</p>

NFL DRAFT 2022: 11 winners and losers from the first round of the draft

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The first week of the <keyword id="11897660" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nfl" source="Orion">NFL</keyword> season is in the books.</li><li><keyword id="12086550" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kyler-murray" source="Orion">Kyler Murray</keyword> was a big winner of Week 1, as were rookie wide receivers.</li><li><keyword id="12026044" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="aaron-rodgers" source="Orion">Aaron Rodgers</keyword> on the other hand had a pretty rough day.</li></ul><p>The first weekend of the 2021 NFL season is in the books.</p><p>Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals were big winners, as were rookie wide receivers reuniting with their quarterbacks from college.</p><p>Conversely, Aaron Rodgers had a tough day at the office, as did new Jaguars head coach <keyword id="12012502" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="urban-meyer" source="Orion">Urban Meyer</keyword>.</p><p>Take a look below at the winners and losers of the first Sunday of the NFL season.</p><h2>WINNER: Rookie receiver reunions</h2><div type="image" title="Ja'Marr Chase and Joe Burrow celebrate a touchdown." height="1655" width="2208" msid="86170217" hostid="261"></div><p>The 2021 NFL draft class was <a href="https://www.insider.com/nfl-draft-top-receivers-wr-2021-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">loaded with talented wide receivers</a>, and three standouts had brilliant debuts with some help from old college buddies.</p><p>Ja'Marr Chase, the fifth pick in the draft, caught 20 touchdown passes from Joe Burrow in 2019 as they <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/video-joe-burrow-throws-touchdown-points-at-future-championship-ring-2020-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">led LSU to the national championship</a>. Against the Vikings on Sunday, Chase and Burrow showed they haven't missed a step with the Bengals, connecting for 5 receptions, 101 yards, and a score in the overtime win.</p><p>DeVonta Smith and Jalen Hurts won a national championship together at Alabama in 2018 and played their first NFL game together on the same field as the national championship. Smith took his first NFL touchdown into the same corner of the end zone that he scampered into to win the college title.</p><p>Smith finished with 6 catches, 71 yards, and a score, and the Eagles beat the Falcons to take an early lead in the NFC East.</p><p>Tua Tagovailoa and rookie wide receiver Jaylen Waddle were was also on that 2018 Alabama roster and had a solid day for the Miami Dolphins. Waddle finished his first game in the NFL with 4 catches for 61 yards, including <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1437177283161190401" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the game-winning touchdown</a>.</p><h2>LOSER: Rookie quarterbacks</h2><p>Five quarterbacks were taken in the first round of the 2021 draft, with three of them - Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, and Mac Jones - starting in Week 1. All three failed to win their debuts. For Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars' 37-21 loss to the Texans was <a href="https://twitter.com/SInow/status/1437153113199321091" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his first regular-season loss since he started playing quarterback</a> in high school.</p><p>In fairness, all three quarterbacks played well. Lawrence threw for 332 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Wilson went for 258 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 pick. Jones finished the day with 281 yards and a score. The speed of the NFL didn't overwhelm them; they just didn't get the W.</p><p>Comically, you could argue that Trey Lance had the best debut, coming in for a goal-line set for the 49ers, <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1437109577472827393" target="_blank" rel="noopener">completing the only pass he threw for a touchdown</a> and helping his team to a 41-33 win over the Lions. Still. he may be stuck backing up Jimmy Garoppolo for a while longer after a solid performance in the season opener.</p><p>Justin Fields also scored a touchdown during his brief stint for the Bears as a part of a goal-line set.</p><h2>WINNER: Kyler Murray's MVP case</h2><p>Last year, Kyler Murray opened the season by throwing for a touchdown and rushing for another in eight of the Cardinals' first nine games. Against the Titans, Murray started a new streak, throwing for four touchdowns and rushing for one more to lead Arizona to a 38-13 win.</p><p>Not only did Murray put up stats, but he also did it in style. This is a type of play that maybe three quarterbacks in the NFL are capable of pulling off. Murray is one of them.</p><p>Murray entered the year at 12/1 odds to be named MVP. If the Cardinals catch fire to start the season, don't be surprised to see that number drop.</p><h2>LOSER: Josh Allen's MVP case</h2><p>Ahead of Week 1, Josh Allen was <a href="https://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/id/32170255/kansas-city-chiefs-qb-patrick-mahomes-enters-season-nfl-mvp-favorite-buffalo-bills-qb-josh-allen-drawing-most-bets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of the most popular picks by bettors in Las Vegas</a> to win MVP in 2021, but his season opener with the Bills left plenty to be desired.</p><p>What the heck is this?</p><p>Allen threw for 270 yards and 1 touchdown and rushed for 44 more yards in an upset loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.</p><p>While Allen's numbers might not pop off the page as terrible, two troubling stats emerge. Allen completed just 30 of his 51 pass attempts for a completion percentage of 58.8% - a mark that would have been the third-worst performance of last season for Allen. For a quarterback whose meteoric rise coincided with a sudden jump in completion percentage last year, it's an eyebrow-raising line. </p><p>Allen also completed just one pass for more than 20 yards. Given <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/josh-allen-arm-75-yard-touchdown-vs-jaguars-2018-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Allen's cannon arm</a>, it's not great that the Bills couldn't find a way for him to unleash it more.</p><h2>WINNER: Chandler Jones</h2><p>Edge rusher Chandler Jones was just as dominant on defense as Kyler Murray was on offense, finishing with five sacks and two forced fumbles.</p><p>Opposing quarterbacks, you have been warned.</p><h2>WINNER: Tyrod Taylor</h2><p>Tyrod Taylor had not played an NFL snap since he lost the starting job with the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2 of the 2020 season. After <a href="https://www.insider.com/tyrod-taylor-punctured-lung-chargers-team-doctor-2020-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a team doctor punctured Taylor's lung</a> while administering a pain-killer injection just before kickoff, the Chargers turned to rookie Justin Herbert. He played well, and the team never looked back.</p><p>Given his undeserved dismissal last year, it was nice to see Taylor shine in his first start with the Houston Texans, throwing for 291 yards and 2 touchdowns and leading his team to a win.</p><h2>LOSER: Urban Meyer</h2><div type="image" title="Urban Meyer reacts during a game against the Houston Texans." height="1560" width="2080" msid="86170218" hostid="261"></div><p>Urban Meyer might be rethinking his decision to try his luck in the NFL.</p><p>While turning around the Jacksonville Jaguars was set to be a tall order after the team finished as the worst team in football in 2020, Meyer had many things going for him heading into Sunday. First overall draft pick Trevor Lawrence is as sure of a bet as you can get in a rookie quarterback, and the Jaguars were facing off against a Texans team that's arguably more broken than Jacksonville.</p><p>But the Jaguars put up a stinker, losing to the Texans 37-21 in a game that wasn't nearly as close as the final score indicated.</p><p>Behind the scenes in Jacksonville, things may already be dire, <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/urban-meyer-era-begins-amid-tumult-and-discord-and-jaguars-morale-has-already-suffered/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Jason La Canfora at CBS Sports</a>.</p><p>Per La Canfora:</p><p style="padding-left: 40px;">"[Meyer] has everyone looking over their shoulders already," said one source with direct knowledge of the daily operations in Jacksonville. "He becomes unhinged way too easily, and he doesn't know how to handle losing, even in the preseason. He loses it and wants to take over the drills himself. It's not good."</p><p>If that was the mood in the locker room before Sunday's loss, it's tough to imagine things getting better soon.</p><h2>WINNER: Jalen Hurts</h2><p>Jalen Hurts has a year to prove he is the guy the Philadelphia Eagles want to lock in as their long-term quarterback. He made a pretty good case for himself, throwing for 264 yards and 3 scores. He added another 62 yards on the ground to cap off a dominant 32-6 win over the Atlanta Falcons.</p><p>That stat line is not something that happens often.</p><p>It's only one game, but if Hurts can keep the momentum rolling, he could secure his future in Philadelphia. After the Eagles' disastrous deal with Carson Wentz ended with <a href="https://www.insider.com/eagles-trade-return-carson-wentz-pittance-2021-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">him being traded for pennies on the dollar in the offseason</a>, it's a welcome development.</p><h2>WINNER: Jameis Winston</h2><div type="image" title="Jameis Winston celebrates after a win against the Green Bay Packers." height="1914" width="2552" msid="86170219" hostid="261"></div><p>In the most jarring stat line of the NFL week, Jameis Winston needed only 14 completions to throw five touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers in the first game of the post-Drew Brees era in New Orleans.</p><p>Even more impressive, he didn't throw an interception.</p><p>In 2019 with the Buccaneers, Winston led the league in passing and threw for more touchdowns than every quarterback aside from MVP Lamar Jackson. He also led the league in interceptions that year with 30 - nine more picks than any other quarterback.</p><p>If Winston can keep the good parts and avoid the mistakes, he could be in for a big year with the Saints.</p><h2>LOSER: Aaron Rodgers</h2><p>Aaron Rodgers played one of the worst games of his career on Sunday.</p><p>Completing just 15 of 28 passes for 133 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions, Rodgers had a QB rating of 36.8. Last year, Rodgers had a QB rating higher than 105 in 14 of 16 regular-season games during his MVP season.</p><p>Further, he made mistakes that were uncharacteristic of his now-expected greatness. I can't remember the last time he missed a throw this badly.</p><p>Rodgers joked that <a href="https://www.insider.com/aaron-rodgers-says-mvp-season-screwed-leaving-packers-2021-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the brilliant season he had in 2020 ruined his plans to leave Green Bay</a> in the offseason. Maybe Rodgers decided to make sure he could make a run for it after 2021.</p><h2>WINNER: Letting Russ Cook</h2><p>Last year, the "LET RUSS COOK" mantra propelled the Seahawks to great success early in the season and had Russell Wilson earning MVP buzz through the first half of the year.</p><p>On Sunday, Seattle showed that they are once again ready to let Russ cook, with Wilson throwing for 254 yards and 4 touchdowns while completing 18 of his 23 passes, including this gorgeous deep ball to Tyler Lockett.</p><p>If there is a more efficient quarterback in the NFL, I haven't seen him.</p><h2>WINNER: Sam Darnold</h2><div type="image" title="Sam Darnold calls a play against the New York Jets." height="1823" width="2430" msid="86170220" hostid="261"></div><p>In the offseason, the New York Jets dumped Sam Darnold off to the Carolina Panthers, choosing instead to put their fortunes in the hands of rookie quarterback Zach Wilson.</p><p>Darnold got to make the Jets pay for their decision the very first week of the new season, leading the Panthers to a 19-14 win over hid old team behind a solid stat line of 279 yards and a touchdown. Congratulations, Sam. Revenge surely tastes sweet.</p><h2>LOSER: Fans of the Washington Football Team</h2><p>Being a Washington football fan is hard enough. On Sunday, fans paid their hard-earned money to watch their team lose to the visiting Los Angeles Chargers 20-16.</p><p>On top of that, some fans had a pipe burst over their heads inside the stadium.</p><p>"That's sewage," one fan can be heard saying, informing the crowd that their already dire situation was infinitely worse than they had dared imagine.</p><p>Look on the bright side, Washington fans - things can only improve from here.</p>

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