Category: NFL News

Why ex-49ers GM McCloughan is impressed by draft pick Cowing originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The 49ers addressed their wide receiver need twice in the 2024 NFL Draft, selecting Florida star Ricky Pearsall at No. 31 in the first round and Arizona standout Jacob Cowing with the No. 135 pick in the fourth round.

While much of the attention, rightfully so, is on Pearsall and what he brings to the 49ers, former San Francisco general manager Scot McCloughan spoke to The Athletic’s Matt Barrows about why he likes Cowing so much.

“Damn good football player,” McCloughan told Barrows. “He’s quick, fast. He’s instinctive, he’s competitive. He scored a lot of touchdowns, too, and can get down the field and go. He’s cool. He’s really, really cool.”

As NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco wrote shortly after the 49ers drafted Cowing, the 5-foot-8, 168-pound receiver has a chance to become San Francisco’s primary return man and could be used in multi-receiver formations in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

The slender Cowing ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, showing off his incredible speed.

The 49ers will get their first look at Cowing’s speed when he reports to Santa Clara on Thursday, May 9 for rookie minicamp, with the first practice scheduled for the following day.

McCloughan expects Cowing to turn heads when he steps on the practice field in the coming weeks.

“He’ll tear up rookie minicamp, seven-on-seven, all that stuff,” McCloughan told Barrows. “You’ll be like, ‘Wow!’ you wait and see. He’ll blow your mind. He’s fast and quick. He’s like a little bolt of lightning — gone!”

If McCloughan is right about Cowing, the 49ers will be very happy with the pick.

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With the NFL Draft coming to a close last week, the last major pillar of offseason roster building has concluded. That means the players who currently make up the rosters across the league are roughly going to be the ones who we see in Week 1. Over the last few months between free agency and the draft, clubs have been able to address key needs, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still some major questions as we enter the down period on the NFL calendar. 

Below, we’re going to comb through each team in the league and identify one major question that still looms over every franchise. These questions can range from a more macro view down to specific battles on the depth chart. 

How quickly can Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. build chemistry?

The Arizona Cardinals needed a blue-chip pass catcher this offseason and secured one by drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. with the No. 4 pick in the draft. The Ohio State product is lauded as a possible second coming of Larry Fitzgerald, but if the Cardinals are going to have any hope of competing for a playoff spot in 2024 he’ll need to get out to a hot start. With that in mind, the chemistry between Harrison and his new quarterback, Kyler Murray, is the key area of focus throughout the summer. If they can get on the same page before Week 1, it could set the stage for an eye-popping rookie season for the wideout. 

Will the Cousins/Penix saga ruin their season?

The biggest shocker from the 2024 NFL Draft came with the Atlanta Falcons drafting Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick after they had just given Kirk Cousins a monster contract in free agency. Cousins was said to be blindsided by the pick and it begs the question if this situation devolves into something that could turn their season sideways, especially if Cousins (who is coming off a torn Achilles) doesn’t get off to the strongest start. 

Can the offensive line hold up?

Baltimore’s…

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We’ve reached the first Friday after the NFL Draft, which is always a bit bittersweet, but there’s still plenty of post-draft analysis to get to here on my last day as the author of this daily newsletter.

As I felt last year, I had an absolute blast writing this every day. And, frankly, I think it got me more amped for the draft, which I previously did not think was possible. Hopefully you enjoyed my month-long stint as the NFL Draft stand-in for John Breech as NFL newsletter czar here at CBS Sports. Until next year … thank you! 

There’s still time to sign up for the Pick Six newsletter. Tell your buddies, too. All you have to do is click here and then share this link with them.

1. Biggest questions for all 32 teams 

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Tyler Sullivan wrote a critical piece after the draft — what is now the biggest, most striking question for the entire NFL. Like what happens with the Michael Penix Jr./Kirk Cousins saga? Can the Ravens offensive line hold up? Can Bryce Young take a step forward in Year 2? And here’s what Tyler’s wondering about the Packers after Jordan Love’s amazing ascension late in the 2023 campaign: “Can Jordan Love keep up his second-half play from last season?”

“The Packers have somehow threaded the QB needle once again as Jordan Love proved to be a legit starting quarterback for them in their first season post-Aaron Rodgers. Love had Green Bay on the brink of an NFC Championship appearance and was fantastic down the stretch of the regular season. In his final eight regular-season games, Love completed 70% of his passes and had a 112.7 passer rating to go along with 18 passing touchdowns and just one interception. If that’s who he is, Love is an MVP candidate.”

Man, with Williams in Chicago, J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota, the Lions coming…

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Most of the first-round picks in the 2021 NFL draft have played well enough that their teams have chosen to exercise their fifth-year options.

Of the 32 first-round picks, 18 had their fifth-year options picked up. That’s an increase over last year, when only 12 first-round picks from the 2020 NFL draft had their fifth-year options picked up.

Of the 14 2021 first-round picks who didn’t have their options picked up, 12 had their options declined, and two (Alex Leatherwod and Rashod Bateman) weren’t eligible for fifth year options.

Perhaps most notable is that four of the five quarterbacks drafted in the first round in 2021 — Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Justin Fields and Mac Jones — had their options declined. Only Trevor Lawrence had his option picked up.

Here’s the full list of 2021 first-round picks with their fifth-year option salaries. Players whose options were picked up are in bold:

1. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars — $25.664 million
2. Quarterback Zach Wilson, Broncos (via trade from Jets) — $22.408 million
3. Quarterback Trey Lance, Cowboys (via trade from 49ers) — $22.408 million
4. Tight end Kyle Pitts, Falcons — $10.878 million
5. Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals — $21.816 million
6. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins — $15.591 million
7. Offensive lineman Penei Sewell, Lions — $19.04 million (Also agreed to a long-term contract)
8. Cornerback Jaycee Horn, Panthers — $12.472 million
9. Cornerback Pat Surtain II, Broncos — $19.802 million
10. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith, Eagles — $15.591 million (Also agreed to a long-term contract)
11. Quarterback Justin Fields, Bears — $25.664 million
12. Linebacker Micah Parsons, Cowboys — $24.007 million
13. Offensive lineman Rashawn Slater, Chargers — $19.04 million
14. Offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jets — $15.313 million
15. Quarterback Mac Jones, Patriots — $25.664 million
16. Linebacker Zaven Collins, Cardinals — $13.251 million
17. Offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood, Raiders…

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USATSI

With the 2024 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, it’s time for the newest members of the NFL family to get paid. All 257 draft picks and their agents now turn their attention to their respective front offices and prepare to sign their first NFL contracts.

Thanks to the CBA, rookie contracts are more tied to the player’s slotted draft position, and there isn’t too much to be negotiated. But, there are still talks that need to take place before pen is put to paper. Former Clemson cornerback and newest Raven Nate Wiggins was the first first-rounder to sign his rookie deal. Below, we will break down the details of every first-round pick’s rookie deal once they are reported. 

*Values projected via Spotrac

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Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson signed a new contract earlier this year and he will play the first season of the deal with a new number.

The Bears announced that Johnson will wear No. 1 this year. Johnson wore No. 33 for his first four seasons in Chicago, but is moving back to the number he wore while in college at Utah.

Johnson is not the only Bears player changing numbers. Wide receiver Tyler Scott will wear No. 10 and give up No. 13 to new teammate Keenan Allen. First-round pick Caleb Williams wore the same number at USC, but the quarterback showed off his No. 18 Bears jersey at an introductory press conference last week.

Running back D’Andre Swift will wear No. 4 after wearing No. 0 with the Eagles last year while safety Jonathan Owens will wear No. 36. Owens wore No. 34 with the Packers last year, but the Bears retired that number in honor of Walter Payton.

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Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has turned down a $10 billion offer for control of the franchise, Hard Rock Stadium, and the Formula One Miami Grand Prix, according to USA Today. He discussed a deal with billionaire Ken Griffin, but the two sides could not finalize a deal. Ross wants to keep control of the three entities in his family, the report states. 

The Dolphins are valued at $5.7 billion, the 11th highest in the league. The stadium, as well as the Formula One race, adds to the value. 

The 83-year-old purchased 50% of the Dolphins franchise, as well as the stadium and surrounding land, back in 2008 for $550 million. In 2009, he purchased another 45%, with a total investment of $1 billion. 

The offer was larger than the Washington Commanders sale, which went for $6.05 billion in 2023, and even though it was not accepted, it could still have a major impact on the price of control for owners in the future. 

The stadium, with a capacity of more than 65,000, was renovated in 2015 and 2016 and added a training facility in 2021. They transformed their parking lot into a racetrack, which has not only brought value to the stadium and money to the area of Florida, but also helped grow F1. 

The changes and added events of the venue seem to have increased the appeal of a potential purchase. Ross has invested over $1 billion into the property in order to host big events, including the Super Bowl and the World Cup.

SportsCorp Ltd. founder Marc Ganis, a consultant who has worked with sports teams, called the Dolphins innovations “one of the great sports business success stories of the last decade.”

“I put the Dolphins’ entire operation, not just the team, in the Top 5 in the NFL,” Ganis said. “It’s the transformation of the entire operation to arguably the most successful, diversified, regional sports entertainment operation in the country – and by the way, let me just say…

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Purdy honored to join Young, Smith, Garcia at 49ers charity event originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

They took unique routes to achieve Pro Bowl status, and they are coming together for a shared cause.

Brock Purdy will join former 49ers quarterbacks Jeff Garcia, Alex Smith and Hall of Famer Steve Young for a panel discussion to headline the Dwight Clark Legacy Series on May 16 at the California Theatre in San Jose.

“What an honor to even be able to go up and speak with those guys, like legends in this organization,” Purdy said of the event, a benefit for the Golden Heart Fund.

“Obviously, being a part of a special night to raise money for such a great organization and to help out our alumni that have given everything that they’ve got for this organization. So being able to raise money to help them in their areas, it’s a great cause.”

The Golden Heart Fund was established in 2016 to support former 49ers players in times of physical, emotional and financial need. The Dwight Clark Legacy Event raised $200,000 for the Golden Heart Fund last year.

In addition to the quarterback panel, linebacker Dre Greenlaw will be presented as the winner of the Dwight Clark Award. Greenlaw will provide an update on his recovery from a torn Achilles that he sustained in the Super Bowl.

Purdy, the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, will make his first appearance at the event after finishing fourth in the voting for NFL Most Valuable Player. He was voted as the NFC’s Pro Bowl starter.

Purdy became the first 49ers quarterback named to the Pro Bowl since Garcia earned the recognition three consecutive years (2001 to ’03). Garcia was selected to four Pro Bowls in his career.

Smith was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft who spent eight years with the 49ers. He was selected to three Pro Bowls after being traded to Kansas City in 2013.

Young came to the 49ers after stints in the USFL with the Los Angeles Express and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a two-time NFL MVP and…

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