This is the digital version of Scoop City. If you want it earlier, start every morning with Scoop City delivered to your inbox. Sign up here.
It’s a good day, especially for Bears fans. They had one of the NFL’s best young defenses. They added Caleb Williams and Keenan Allen. Now, they get to see their team on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” starting on August 6.
Today’s NFL update:
- 💬 RB, HC and GM on OTAs
- 👥 Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks
- 📃 Jaylen Waddle’s deal
- 👀 New kickers, on kickoff
Insight into OTAs: Players, coaches and GMs
Organized team activities are typically the first stretch when we see free agents, rookies and returning vets together under the watch of a full staff.
How do players approach OTAs? What do coaches l0ok for? Since I’ve never participated myself — and there’s a good chance you haven’t either — I brought in a former player, coach and general manager to better understand OTAs.
I spoke to former Lions RB Zach Zenner. He went undrafted in 2015 before Detroit signed him as a free agent. That made OTAs even more important to his long-term success. He shared the schedule:
“Rookies typically lift first around 7 a.m. And then you’ll have a rookie offensive meeting before everyone else joins for the full meetings. After that, you’ll go out and practice.
“After practice, there was the rookie development program, which is another one to two hours of life skills training. Where to buy a nice suit, how to write a check, etc., which could be brand new information depending on where you’re at in life.
“So that was the typical schedule for four days a week, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Once you get home, you spend an hour or two studying, looking over the playbook.”
I also asked former Washington coach Ron Rivera what coaches look for during OTAs. Here’s his answer:
“First and foremost, I’m watching my coaches. Seeing how prepared and ready they are for this period and how they plan to best utilize players. We talk about lessons from prior seasons and work to improve our scheme going forward.
“I’m also watching players, starting with the guys returning from injury. Are they healthy? I’m also checking in on our young players to see how they have developed, if they are ready to take the next step physically and mentally.
“It’s also the first chance to watch free agents and rookies, seeing how quickly they adapt to our culture and scheme.”
What about general managers? Former Dolphins GM Randy Mueller:
“I want to see how the young/new guys assimilate into our classrooms, schemes and the locker room with the other players. I might spend most of my time looking at undrafted free agents from college, just seeing if someone we knew very little about has jumped out and impressed.
“As for what they do on the field, that’s more important in training camp with pads. OTAs are so regulated, much of it is shorts and helmets, not football like, outside of 7-7 for perimeter players.
“I always wanted the coaching staff to put in as much stuff from a teaching and learning standpoint as possible so when camp comes around, its recall-based learning.”
Last question: What was considered a successful OTA?
“For me, it was GETTING THROUGH IT HEALTHY,” said Randy, with his emphasis added. “I always felt a giant relief once the last minicamp or OTA was over before the short summer break when we were no longer risking injuries.”
What Dianna’s Hearing: Pittsburgh’s QB battle
Since the arrivals of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in the Steel City, both quarterbacks have been saying all the right things when asked about who will be the starter opening weekend against the Falcons.
For now, Wilson and Fields will battle for the starting gig, but to find out who has the inside track so far, just look at where the reps at practice are allocated. That, combined with some conversations with sources in Pittsburgh, indicates Wilson is getting a majority of the work.
Advertisement
With Wilson most likely to start, I expect Fields to have a role in new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s offense. Be ready for some packages designed for Fields, like we once saw Smith draw for QB Marcus Mariota in Tennessee. If Wilson struggles, Fields could find himself behind center in a more permanent role.
Back to you, Jacob.
Another Receiver Paid: Jaylen Waddle gets his deal
Yesterday, the Dolphins agreed to terms with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle on a three-year contract extension worth a maximum of $84.75 million, including $76 million guaranteed.
The No. 6 pick in 2021, Waddle is now one of the five highest-paid receivers in the league, based on average annual value:
- $32 million: A.J. Brown
- $30 million: Amon-Ra St. Brown
- $30 million: Tyreek Hill
- $28.2 million: Jaylen Waddle
- $28 million: Davante Adams
In 2023, the average for the five highest-paid receivers was $26.75 million per player. In 2013, that figure was less than half, $13.3 million per player. Receivers are valued more than ever, right?
Yes, but the jump is smaller than it appears. On a total cash basis, absolutely. But as a percentage of the salary cap, which shows us how teams value the position when compared to others, the numbers barely changed: the average top-five receiver accounted for 11 percent of the cap in 2013 and 12 percent of last season’s cap.
New kickoff rules = bigger kickers?
Yesterday, Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub said the new kickoff rule could mean 6-4, 205-pound kicker Harrison Butker is replaced on kickoffs by a player like safety (and longtime emergency kicker) Justin Reid or former rugby player Louis Rees-Zammit, both of whom were working on kickoffs yesterday.
In the XFL, which used a model similar to the NFL’s new kickoff rules, “kickers were involved in probably at least 25 to 40 percent of the tackles. We don’t want Butker in that situation,” added Toub.
If this sentiment proliferates around the league, look for the kickoff kicker to be bigger, faster and stronger. Which three former kickers did we miss out on seeing in this new era? Great question, self. A quick list:
3. In 2005, Eagles LB Mark Simoneau was the first defensive player to convert an extra point since the 1980s.
Advertisement
2. Vikings LB Kamu Grugier-Hill used to kick off to the goal line for the Eagles.
1. Former Lions DT Ndamukong Suh, your typical 6-4, 305-pound soccer player:
Two certainties: we won’t be seeing a return of barefoot kickers anytime soon, and backup quarterbacks will likely remain off limits (Doug Flutie did drop kick an extra point once, retiring after the play).
More: Ted Nguyen wrote an excellent primer on the new kickoff rules.
Jacob’s Picks
📕 The Brock Bowers story, by Vic Tafur. The Raiders beat reporter has background on the No. 13 pick, who has a love for the outdoors and is an “extreme talent” at the tight end position. (The Athletic)
📺 Cooper Kupp joined Julian Edelman to explain what really happens in an NFL offseason. (YouTube)
🎙 Sean McVay’s journey. Back in 2020, the Rams head coach joined Albert Breer to discuss his time in Tampa Bay and the trajectory of his career. (Apple)
Sign up for our other newsletters:
The Bounce 🏀 | The Windup ⚾ | Full Time ⚽ | Prime Tire 🏁 | Until Saturday 🏈
(Photo:
Chris Unger/Getty Images)