Welcome to the sixth edition of Pombo’s Weekly Football Rewind. This weekly series will go in depth about the latest news, rumors, signings, and trades of the past week.
The 49ers Trade Up
The San Francisco 49ers shook up the NFL draft board, as they moved up nine spots, acquiring the third-overall pick from the Miami Dolphins.
The 49ers gave up the 12th-overall pick in this year’s draft, a 2022 first-round pick, a 2022 third-round pick, and a 2023 first-round pick to move up to the third-overall pick.
The 49ers moving up almost guarantees that the 49ers will be selecting a quarterback. Jimmy Garoppolo’s tenure in San Francisco will come to a conclusion. Jimmy Garoppolo’s future has been a real point of emphasis in the weekly PWFR’s, and now, his future has become more clear. However, the 49ers have still announced that they are committed to Garoppolo in 2021.
49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan doubled down on that notion today:
“We don’t want to say goodbye to Jimmy'”
Regardless of what the 49ers are publicly saying, I’d be shocked if the 49ers entered training camp with Garoppolo on the roster.
Now who are the 49ers targeting with the third-overall pick?
Chris Simms of Pro Football Focus (who is a close friend of 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan) believes that Alabama’s, Mac Jones is there guy…
Mac Jones’ athleticism and quickness may be underwhelming, but his accuracy, decision-making, and leadership skills are really some of his best qualities. Some people love Jones, others don’t think he’ll translate in the NFL. Personally, I’m a big believer on Mac Jones, and believe he’s destined to be a star, and this would be especially true under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco.
Another underlining takeaway from this trade is that the Miami Dolphins seem committed to Tua Tagovailoa as their quarterback of the future.
The Jets Remain Silent on Sam Darnold
We’re almost in April, and to this point, nothing has developed with Jets quarterback, Sam Darnold. After being selected third-overall pick in the 2018 draft, Darnold has struggled in his three years in New York.
Darnold has a 13-25 record in three seasons, a completion percentage under 60%, along with 39 interceptions in 38 starts.
The Jets currently hold the second-pick of the draft, and everything point towards the Jets drafting B.YU. quarterback, Zach Wilson.
With the Jets set to hit the reset button at quarterback, Sam Darnold has become a likely trade chip. But, the Jets have continued to hold Darnold, and a multitude of potential trade partners have been eliminated. The Saints seem content to run it back with Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill, the 49ers traded up to likely select a quarterback, the Bears gave Andy Dalton $10 million guaranteed, the Washington Football Team brought in Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Rams traded for Matthew Stafford, the Colts traded for Carson Wentz, what’s left for Sam Darnold and the Jets?
The only teams that truly make sense are the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers. Both teams need an upgrade at the quarterback position, and both could be left at the alter during the draft.
The Darnold saga could drag on, because it seems like the Jets are holding out for a god father offer that just won’t ever happen.
With Jimmy Garoppolo now likely on the trade block (despite what Lynch and Shanahan say) the Jets could find themselves losing another potential suitor for Darnold…
Could the Jets have overplayed their hand?
T.Y. Hilton Stays in Indy
T.Y. Hilton has led the Colts in receptions in seven of the last eight seasons.
The 31 year old receiver is set to return, as he inked a 1-year deal worth up to $10 million deal with the Colts.
Hilton has regressed over the last couple seasons, as his catches have decreased over the last three years. After six-straight seasons of at least 900 receiving yards, Hilton has failed to hit that mark in the past three seasons.
It’s not clear how much Hilton actually has left in the tank, but taking a 1-year deal indicates that Hilton is betting on himself.
It was reported that Hilton was offered more money from the Baltimore Ravens, but declined, and re-upped in Indy.
Regardless, Hilton can still be an impactful weapon for Carson Wentz, and the emergence of Michael Pittman can take some pressure off Hilton.
The Dolphins and Eagles Shake up the Draft Board
After the Miami Dolphins moved down and acquired the 12th-overall pick from the San Francisco 49ers, they continued to shake up the draft board.
Shortly after the trade was finalized with the 49ers, the Dolphins acquired the sixth-overall pick, and a 2021 fifth-round pick from the Philadelphia Eagles, in exchange for the number 12-overall pick, a 2021 fourth-round pick, and a 2022 first-round pick.
This deal seems like a true victory for both sides. In terms of the Dolphins, they’ll likely get the player they wanted all along, and get an extra first-round pick in the process (from the 49ers). I expect the Dolphins to target a receiver or some help on the offensive line.
For the Eagles, they move down and receive an extra first-rounder, which will help a rebuilding team. At 12-overall, they likely can still find Jalen Hurts a much needed offensive weapon.
The Eagles are now starting to accumulate an array of draft capital…
The NFL will Likely Transition into a 17 Game Regular Season in 2021
The NFL has featured a 16 game regular season since 1978. But, the 16 game regular season that we all have come to know and love is likely come to an end.
NFL owners will soon vote on making the regular season 17 games, and according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, it is likely to pass. With the regular season extending to 17, the preseason is likely to be cut from four games to three.
Personally, I loved the fact that the NFL had the 16 game season. It truly was a perfect length, and the NFL schedule has become far superior to the rest of the major sports. But, now with this additional game, some teams will now have nine home games, others will have eight. It will certainly be an adjustment, and may have some growing pains.
But, the money always wins.
Is Stephon Gilmore Returning to the Patriots?
It looked like a virtual certainty that Stephon Gilmore would be traded this offseason. Gilmore wants a raise, and the Patriots will likely be hesitant to give the 30 year old Gilmore (coming off an injury) a significant raise.
Gilmore is under contract, making $7 million in 2021, but it is likely impossible that he would play at that price.
But, according to SI’s Albert Breer, Gilmore, “would be very open to signing a new deal in New England."
At the beginning of the offseason, it made sense for the Patriots to move on from Gilmore. Acquiring the most draft capital possible would benefit the future of the Patriots. But, after the Patriots’ spending spree, it would make all the sense in the world to keep him.
The Patriots are built to win now, and having Gilmore (at an appropriate contract) would give the Patriots the best chance to win.
Trading Gilmore would be inconsistent, as it would not follow their offseason theme, which is spend, spend…spend.
Giving Gilmore an extension would also lower his $16.3 million cap hit.
Coming into the offseason, I felt this scenario was impossible, but I think now it seems inevitable.