Scoop City: Differing offseason approaches in Detroit and Dallas (2024)

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Good morning.Especially to Cowboys fans, who can probably teach the rest of us some things about patience.

As for today’s newsletter:

• Approaches in Detroit 🚄 and Dallas 🐌
• 🎙Kirk Cousins on Penix, Falcons
• 🎫Pass rushers, examined
• 🏥 Russell Wilson’s bizarre injury

Offseason Review: The Cowboys wait while Detroit jumps early

NFL contract negotiations come in every shape and size. They can change the trajectory of a franchise (see Russell Wilson in Denver) and rightfully dominate the headlines. Any delay will consume fans and locker rooms alike.

Justask anyone following the Cowboys. But things look different in Detroit, where the Lions are quick to reward their talent.Let’s quickly compare the two:

• Early in the offseason, Detroit agreed to extensions with franchise cornerstones WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (four years, $120 million), OT Penei Sewell (four years, $112 million) and QB Jared Goff (four years, $212 million).
• At the time, all were either the highest-paid at their position or close to it.A few months later, all have peers with bigger deals. The Lions saved millions by acting fast.
• In Dallas, no rush. Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said Saturday thatthey made a contract offer to Dak Prescott’s agentlast week and to CeeDee Lamb’s agent Friday, while Micah Parsons’ contract isn’t expected to be extended until the 2025 offseason.
• After Jordan Love’s deal last week, Dak could realistically command $60 million per year, while both Lamb and Parsons want to be the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the NFL, a price tag that rose to $35 million per year.

The longer Dallas waits, the higher the price goes. Before Justin Jefferson’s record-breaking deal, Lamb’s price might have been millions less.This situation is familiar to Jerry Jones and company, asthey went through a similar situationwith Prescott three years ago. As Saad Yousuf writes this morning,what’s left to discuss?

They should learn from the Lions, who avoid losing valuable practice reps, save millions of dollars … and have played in an NFC Championship game this century.

What Dianna’s Hearing: Kirk Cousins on Penix and the Falcons

Kirk Cousins — the biggest free agent in March — began a new journey after selecting the Falcons, signing a four-year, $180 million free-agency deal. However, 43 days later, Atlanta used the No. 8 pick in the draft to select University of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The 36-year-old Cousins joinedthe Scoop City podcastto share how he feels about Atlanta’s quarterback room and why he left the Vikings. Three answers:

How did he feel after the Penix pick?“It reminded me of 2012, when I was drafted [as a] fourth-round pick. I was a nobody. And yet, when the draft was over, one of the main storylines of the 2012 draft, was that Washington took a quarterbackaftertaking a quarterback. So it was interesting to … show up at rookie minicamp and the narrative was kind of, ‘why are you here?’ [and,] ‘how do you feel about being here?’ And so it was a similar dynamic.”

Thoughts on the 2024 Falcons roster?“I think we’re a work in progress. I took a few guys down to go see Jon Gruden this spring. And one of the things I thought he hit the nail on the head is, you know, there’s perception and there’s reality, and perception is the Falcons have a bunch of talent. … You got to go play 17 games and prove it. And so to me I’m excited. I do think we have good pieces. But until it’s reality I don’t really feel any assuredness.”

As for the Vikings, would they have drafted a QB if he stayed? “I don’t think they were ready to go there yet in March. I think the reality is just that they want to give themselves that flexibility. And I remember Kevin [O’Connell]’s words, which I’m not going to hold him to them, you know, were hey, if we sign you back, I would think it’s very unlikely that we would draft somebody. It was something to that effect.”

Click here to listen to the full podcast. Back to you, Jacob.

Pass Rushers: Texans could be menacing, eventually

One of my favorite offseason series was Larry Holder’s review of both thepass rush groupsandrunning back roomsfor each team. Today, Larry joins Scoop City to discuss the state of NFL pass rushers.

Q: Which team’s group looks better than you expected?

Larry:The Texans produced solid numbers last season in terms of pass pressure rate (36.8 percent, 13th overall) and sacks (46, 13th). And now they’ve only gotten better by adding DE Danielle Hunter and DE Denico Autry. It’s as if the Texans and Vikings traded, after Hunter went to Houston and former Texan DE Jonathan Greenard signed with the Vikings this offseason. Greenard is certainly younger, but Hunter has been a consistent force with no signs of slowing down.

Autry may beone of the most underrated interior pass rushers in the league.Now 34, he isn’t a long-term plan, but he’s coming off his most prolific sack season. Teaming him up with Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. should make for a tough unit to defend.

Not an hour after I responded to this question, though,Autry made public that he’ll be suspended for the first six games this seasonafter testing positive for a banned substance. So, we won’t watch this develop until Week 7. Stay tuned.

Q: Which pass rusher’s performance stands out more than others?

Larry:Following pass pressure percentage closely, I know how well Philly newcomer Bryce Huff has played the past two years for the Jets in affecting opposing quarterbacks.Huff ranked second in 2023 with a 21.2 percent rate (only behind the Cowboys’ Micah Parsons) and first in 2022 with a 22.0 percent rate.

What’s more eye-popping is how Huff went from 3.5 sacks on 164 pass rush snaps in 2022 to 10 sacks on 315 pass rush snaps. He’s only getting better. Now the Eagles signed Huff and unloaded Haason Reddick to the Jets. So the Eagles landed a younger version of Reddick without the contract drama. Anddoes Reddick even knowhow to get the Jets’ practice facility?

You’re Kidding

Steelers QB Russell Wilsonhas been limited for four straight practices as he recovers from a calf injury. The problem? How he suffered that injury:Pushing a sled during the team’s conditioning test. Which leads to the inevitable: Why? My guess: It was Wilson’s decision. Here’s him training via sled, a protocol I didn’t see in Tom Brady’s TB12.

Other injury notes:

• Presumed startingColts DE Samson Ebukamsuffered aseason-ending Achilles injury.
• Ravens QB Lamar Jacksonsaid he feels “wonderful” in his return afteran illness sidelined himfor a few days.
• Browns RB Nick Chubbremains on the physically unable to perform list, butheld an extended sprinting and cutting workoutlate last week.
• Chargers LT Rashawn Slaterwas at practice Monday butleft about midway throughand did not return.

Jacob’s Picks

📕Andre “Bad Moon” Rison’s legacy.Zak Keefer shares the story of the unique receiver. (The Athletic)

📺Quadruple pass?Of course the Chiefs nailed it. (X)

🎙New host, same great show.The Athletic Football Show announced their new co-host yesterday, Derrik Klassen, who made his debut in today’s episode. Derrik and Robert Mays cover what success looks like for this season’s second-year quarterbacks — C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, Bryce Young and Will Levis — and much more. (The Athletic Football Show)

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