7.12.22: Jimmy, Njoku, Hurts, Thomas, Rachaad, Bengals

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Seahawks

The Seahawks have conditional interest in Jimmy Garoppolo

Details:?According to Jeremy Fowler (ESPN), the Seahawks have?discussed ?adding Jimmy Garoppolo — in the event, he is released by the 49ers.

• A trade between the divisional rivals is considered highly unlikely.

Release??A Garoppolo release would clear $25.5 million in cap space for the 49ers. The savings would make it easier for the team to sign Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa to time-sensitive long-term extensions.

On Schedule:?Garoppolo is on schedule in his recovery from off-season shoulder surgery and will begin throwing soon (if he hasn’t already).

• This is an important development, as the 30-year-old will need to pass a physical in order to change teams.

Mystery Team??Connor Orr (Sports Illustrated) mentioned the Dolphins as a potential?mystery ?team for Garoppolo last week. Mike McDaniel served as Garoppolo’s offensive coordinator in San Francisco last year.

Image: Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire

Njoku

Browns plan to heavily feature TE David Njoku

Details:?The insight comes from Zac Jackson (The Athletic), who points to?comments ?made by Browns HC Kevin Stefanski.

• “We certainly want to feature (Njoku),” Stefanski said in June. “(He has) great size, great length in terms of catching the football and being able to go up and pluck contested catches. I think there is an evolution that will continue for David the player... He’s a big part of what we plan to do. There is no doubt about that.”

TE1:?The Browns released Austin Hooper in March, which cleared the way for Njoku to become the team’s primary tight end.

• Hooper received 61 targets to Njoku’s 53 last season.

Second Option??The Browns lack established pass-catchers behind Amari Cooper, which could create an opportunity for Njoku to become the second option in the Browns’ passing game.

Sign of the Future??The only time Njoku was targeted more than five times last season, he caught 7 of 7 targets for 149 yards and a touchdown.

Image: Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire

Hurts

The Eagles are confident that Jalen Hurts will be a better passer in 2022

Details:?The insight comes from Zach Berman (The Athletic), who gives the impression that the confidence is not generic offseason hype but rather a?legitimate ?feeling “inside the Eagles’ building.”

• The confidence springs from three areas: continuity, mechanics, and weapons.

Continuity:?For the first time since high school, Hurts is in the same scheme with the same play-caller. HC Nick Sirianni believes this will lead to quicker reads and more efficient release times.

Mechanics:?Hurts spent the offseason in California with a quarterback guru “refining” his mechanics. The work there should (theoretically) lead to better accuracy this upcoming season.

• Hurts completed 61% of his passes for 3,144 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions last season.

Weapons:?The Eagles added Pro-Bowler A.J. Brown in the offseason and are expecting a big second-year jump from DeVonta Smith. They also have one of the league’s better tight ends in Dallas Goedert and a speedy vertical threat in Quez Watkins (15 yards per catch).

Next-Gen:?While Hurts still has a lot to prove as a passer, his rushing ability is clear — Next-Gen Stats recently ranked him as the?most ?explosive runner in the NFL (ahead of Jonathan Taylor and Dalvin Cook).

Image: Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire

Thomas

Giants LT Andrew Thomas is on track for training camp

Details:?Thomas, who had ankle surgery earlier in the offseason, indicated that he will be?participating ?in training camp later this month.

Profile:?Thomas earned a very strong 78.9 PFF grade last season. He only?allowed ?two sacks and 18 quarterback pressures.

Bookends:?There’s hope that Thomas and first-round rookie right tackle Evan Neal (seventh overall) will solidify the offensive line — which will in turn unlock the full potential of Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley.

• Jones has been sacked 105 times across 39 career game appearances.
• According to PFF, the Giants had the league’s third-worst offensive line last season.

Interior:?There’s also optimism that the offseason additions of center Jon Felicano, right guard Mark Glowinski, and rookie tackle/guard Josh Ezeudu (third-round) will lead to improvements along the interior.

Image: Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire

Rachaad

Buccaneers rookie RB Rachaad White expected to push for a significant pass-catching role

Details:?Jenna Laine (ESPN) thinks White will have an opportunity to become the Bucs’?primary ?passing-down running back — which could cost Giovanni Bernard, who played the role last season, his roster spot.

Profile:?White (6-0, 214) rushed for 1,006 yards (5.5 ypc) and 15 touchdowns at Arizona State last season. He caught 43 passes for 456 yards and a touchdown out of the backfield.

• White, who ran a 4.48 in the 40-yard dash, earned a 9.88 RAS (“Relative Athletic Score”) — which ranks?21st ?among the 1,632 running backs who have been measured from 1987 to 2022.

High Praise:?White was a favorite of the fantasy/analytics community during the pre-draft process…

• Josh Norris (Underdog)?called ?White “ELECTRIC, shifty, and very comfortable in the receiving game.”
• Thor Nystrom (NBC Sports) anointed White as the “best receiving back” in the draft class and believes his “sports car acceleration” will be?too much ?for linebackers to handle in coverage.
• White’s 92.4 PFF grade since the 2020 season ranked?first ?among the running backs in the 2022 draft.

Image: Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire

Bengals

Connor Orr: The Bengals will be better than they were a year ago

Details:?Orr sees the Bengals as a “uniquely special team” (and top Super Bowl contender) for?three ?reasons — Joe Burrow, a deep offense, and an improved secondary.

Burrow:?Orr believes Burrow has the “DNA of a Peyton Manning,” which means that he has the willpower to “perpetually” lead the Bengals into the playoffs.

• Burrow threw for more passing yards than Josh Allen last season — despite attempting 126 fewer passes.

Deep Offense:?The Bengals have the best receiver trio in football (Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd), a top running back (Joe Mixon), and a revamped offensive line (three new starters).

• Opposing defenses can’t commit to stopping one star without opening up the field for another.

Secondary:?Orr believes rookie safety Dax Hill (first-round) and rookie cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (second-round) will improve a Bengals secondary that ranked 26th in passing yards allowed last season.

Image: Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire

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