Welcome to the latest edition of the Pick Six newsletter!
As we brace ourselves for the NFL offseason whirlwind, let’s kick off this week with a bit of fun NFL-related Presidents’ Day trivia: Can you name the five colleges that have produced both a U.S. president and a Super Bowl-winning quarterback? (Answer at the bottom of the newsletter).
- Top 25 Defensive Free Agents: Chiefs and Ravens Could Face Significant Losses After analyzing the top offensive free agents last Friday, it’s time to turn our attention to defensive standouts hitting free agency. Our own Jared Dubin has meticulously ranked the top 25 defensive players poised to hit the market, shedding light on potential impact signings.
Here’s a glimpse of the top 10:
- DL Chris Jones (Chiefs)
- DE/OLB Josh Allen (Jaguars)
- S Antoine Winfield, Jr. (Buccaneers)
- DE/OLB Brian Burns (Panthers)
- DT Justin Madubuike (Ravens)
- DL Christian Wilkins (Dolphins)
- CB Jaylen Johnson (Bears)
- CB L’Jarius Sneed (Chiefs)
- DE/OLB Danielle Hunter (Vikings)
- LB Patrick Queen (Ravens)
Both the Chiefs and Ravens have two representatives in the top 10, signaling potential defensive shake-ups in free agency. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s discussion on franchise tag candidates.
For the complete list of Dubin’s top 25 rankings, click here.
- Ideal Team Fits for Free Agent Quarterbacks While Kirk Cousins might headline the quarterback free agent class, there’s no shortage of experienced signal-callers hitting the market. Cody explores potential landing spots for each quarterback, regardless of the possibility of re-signing with their current teams.
Here’s a preview of a few names:
- Kirk Cousins: Broncos, Commanders, Falcons, Vikings, Raiders
- Baker Mayfield: Buccaneers, Falcons, Raiders, Vikings
- Ryan Tannehill: Jets, Patriots, Steelers, Vikings
- Gardner Minshew: Colts, Raiders, Steelers, Vikings
- Jacoby Brissett: Browns, Cardinals, Jets, Patriots
Explore Cody’s full breakdown on free agent quarterbacks here.
- 2024 MVP Odds: Patrick Mahomes Leads the Pack The MVP conversation heats up as odds for the 2024 season emerge. Surprisingly, reigning MVP isn’t among the top three contenders. Take a look at the frontrunners:
- Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs): +750
- Josh Allen (Bills): +800
- Joe Burrow (Bengals): +900
- Lamar Jackson (Ravens): +1000
- CJ Stroud (Texans) & Justin Herbert (Chargers): +1200
Early predictions favor Herbert, backed by expectations of improved coaching under Jim Harbaugh. Dive into Sullivan’s insights here.
- Unofficial Start of Free Agency: 38 Contracts Voided Today Presidents’ Day marks a significant milestone in the NFL calendar, with 38 players seeing their contracts voided today. Although teams have until 4 p.m. ET to negotiate extensions, the voiding opens the door to potential free agency moves.
Highlighted voided contracts include:
- Mike Evans (Buccaneers)
- Baker Mayfield (Buccaneers)
- Antoine Winfield Jr. (Buccaneers)
- Derrick Henry (Titans)
- Ryan Tannehill (Titans)
- Trent Brown (Patriots)
- Dalton Schultz (Texans)
- Kevin Zeitler & Gus Edwards (Ravens)
- Leonard Floyd (Bills)
For the full list of voided contracts, click here.
- Mock Draft Monday: Vikings Trade Up for QB In our weekly Mock Draft Monday segment, Josh presents the top 15 picks from his latest mock. Notable moves include the Vikings trading up to secure a quarterback and the Patriots swapping picks with the Vikings.
Here’s a sneak peek:
- Bears: QB Caleb Williams (USC)
- Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels (LSU)
- Vikings (via trade with Patriots): QB Drake Maye (UNC)
Explore the full first-round breakdown here for more insights.
- Extra Points: Pittsburgh’s Bid to Host NFL Draft In other news, the Steelers are lobbying to host the NFL Draft in either 2026 or 2027, aiming to follow Detroit and Green Bay in the hosting lineup. Russell Wilson’s Denver mansion hits the market, signaling a likely departure from the Broncos, while Nelson Agholor secures a one-year extension with the Ravens.
That wraps up today’s edition of the Pick Six newsletter! Stay tuned for more NFL updates throughout the week.
Trivia Answer: Miami (Ohio), Stanford, Michigan, Navy, and Delaware.
