Analyzing NFL minimize day, Titans' large transfer; CFP championship contender tiers

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🏈 Good morning to everybody, however particularly to …

THE TENNESSEE TITANS

On a day that featured loads of transferring elements throughout the NFL, nobody made an even bigger transfer than the Tennessee Titans. The Titans moved shortly on a wierd state of affairs between Ernest Jones IV and the Rams and acquired the standout linebacker for almost nothing Tuesday, bringing an enormous increase to their protection.

• Two days in the past, it was reported the Rams gave Jones permission to seek a trade, despite the fact that he mentioned he by no means requested for one. Jones, who’s coming into the ultimate 12 months of his rookie deal, had been looking for an extension, although, and he and Los Angeles weren’t making a lot progress.
• So in got here Tennessee, who got Jones and a sixth-round pick in exchange for a fifth round pick. Once more, that is nearly nothing for a serious improve.
• Jones, who is barely 24, had 145 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss final season. He additionally has a robust postseason resume with seven tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss in Tremendous Bowl LVI in opposition to the Bengals and 9 tackles and two sacks in final 12 months’s wild card recreation in opposition to the Lions.

I do not know if he’ll get so as to add to that resume this 12 months — I nonetheless have questions on Will Levis — however there is not any doubt the Titans have finished an superior job including expertise this offseason: Jones, L’Jarius Sneed and T’Vondre Sweat on protection and Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard, JC Latham and Lloyd Cushenberry III on offense. I am beginning to come round on Tennessee in Yr 1 beneath new coach Brian Callahan, and this augments that feeling.

👍 Honorable mentions

🏈 And never such a great morning for …

NFL PLAYERS WHO GOT CUT

The worst day on the NFL calendar has come and gone, and like yearly, there was loads of carnage as groups trimmed their rosters to 53 gamers. We’ve a full cuts tracker for every team, roster cut day takeaways and listed here are some notable names looking for new houses.

Tyler Sullivan performed matchmaker for cut players and new teams — rosters will proceed to evolve over the approaching days — and here is certainly one of my favourite matches.

• Sullivan: “Samaje Perine — Perine continues to be a dependable pass-catching possibility out of the backfield whilst he enters his age-29 season. … Final season, he caught 50 of his 56 targets for 455 yards. … Potential touchdown spot: Packers. With the information that operating again AJ Dillon is gone for the 12 months, this makes an excessive amount of sense for Inexperienced Bay. Perine might be a super addition to a depleted backfield behind Josh Jacobs to work in passing down conditions.”

Cody Benjamin, in the meantime, checked out quarterbacks looking for new homes. As for quarterbacks not searching for new houses, certainly one of Garrett Podell’s biggest takeaways was the Falcons protecting three sign callers.

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 Placing CFP title contenders into tiers

One of many largest pluses of increasing the Faculty Soccer Playoff, for my part, is that it permits for extra postseason magic. The BCS required profitable one recreation. The CFP, till this season, required profitable two. This 12 months, it can require no less than three and will require 4, much like how the NFL playoffs work. We’re getting much more championship-defining video games with out shedding the significance of the common season. 

We have already mentioned who our experts think will make it. However who’s as near a lock because it will get? Who’s behind that, and who’s proper on the sting? Who’s lurking within the shadows? Will Backus broke the race down into four tiers, and the highest tier — projected convention champions — is stuffed with the large canines … and ‘Dawgs.

• Georgia — “The Bulldogs are as sturdy as ever on their protection. Now they’ll pair that with a probable first-round choose at quarterback in Carson Beck, arguably the most effective offensive line within the nation and a few large ability expertise.”
• Ohio State — “Coach Ryan Day welcomes a high quality switch class and satisfied UCLA coach Chip Kelly to depart his job and be a part of the workers as offensive coordinator.”
• Clemson —“Florida State was the preseason favourite to win the ACC, however the Seminoles have already put themselves behind the eight ball with a Week 0 loss to Georgia Tech.”
• Utah — “Seventh-year quarterback Cam Rising is again to steer the offense, whereas the protection is stacked with one of many Massive 12’s finest entrance sevens.”

In the meantime, at the hours of darkness horses class, Will consists of …

• Backus: “Tennessee: There’s numerous optimism round Knoxville, thanks largely to new beginning quarterback Nico Iamaleava and the presence of bona fide superstars like edge rusher James Pearce Jr. Coach Josh Heupel has a really deep squad to work with outdoors of these two, one that might carry the Vols fairly far.”

Bear in mind, there’s additionally one assured Group of 5 spot, and Will has top contenders for that.

🏀 WNBA Rookie Rankings: Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese making historical past

This WNBA season has been superior, and that is due to so many gamers and so many elements. The popularity is lengthy, lengthy overdue, however there is not any doubt the rookie class has helped push issues alongside. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are in a Rookie of the Yr battle for the ages.

On one hand you’ve gotten Clark, who already broke the rookie assist record, is on pace to break the WNBA single-season assist record and can seemingly break the rookie 3-point record tonight. She has the Fever getting ready to their first playoff berth since 2016.

Alternatively you’ve gotten Reese on pace to shatter multiple rebounding records and changing into the first player in league history with three straight 20-rebound games. She additionally simply dropped a fire Reebok line, for which Isabel Gonzalez has the inside scoop. Just like the Fever, the Sky can be within the playoffs in the event that they began as we speak.

So which one owns the highest spot in Isabel’s Rookie Rankings? It is shut, however Isabel says …

• Gonzalez: “1. Caitlin Clark — Clark nailed 4 3-pointers in [Monday’s] recreation, tying her with Dream guard Rhyne Howard for the single-season rookie file of 85. Clark is true behind Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride in complete 3-pointers made this season (87). … And if that wasn’t sufficient, Clark is the one guard within the league this season to register 25+ steals and 25+ blocks.”

And this rookie class is not simply two gamers, both. Rickea Jackson is coming on strong in Los Angeles.

📺 What we’re watching Wednesday

🎾 We’re watching the US Open. Here’s how.
⚾ Yankees at Nationals, 6:45 p.m. on Prime Video
🏀 Solar at Fever, 7 p.m. on NBA TV
🏀 Liberty at Sparks, 10 p.m. on NBA TV