Rodgers, SF-PHI, Mac, Giants, Bills, Panthers

Latest details on a potential Aaron Rodgers trade + why rushing production could determine the winner of SF-PHI  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Jan 25, 2023 [Sign up]( [Legit Football]( Together With: Stathead [Stathead](  Rodgers [Aaron Rodgers] The Packers will only trade Aaron Rodgers to an AFC team Details: The insight comes from Adam Schefter, who said that the Packers are expected to [explore]( trading Rodgers to an AFC team. - The AFC requirement rules out QB-needy teams in the NFC like the Commanders, Panthers, Saints, Falcons, and Buccaneers. Cost: Peter King guesses that Green Bay will want [at least]( two first-round picks in a trade. Interesting: King thinks Jets owner Woody Johnson would “happily” pay that price. - Though King does not know if the west coast-based Rodgers would sign off on a trade to New York. - While Rodgers does not have a no-trade clause, he would be involved in the trade process. Time for Love? Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Packers are open to trading Rodgers because they [like]( what they have in Jordan Love. Image: Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire SF-PHI [Miles Sanders] Run game production could determine winner of SF-PHI matchup 49ers: The 49ers are 1-3 when out-rushed by opponents this season and 15-0 when they win the rushing battle. Eagles: The Eagles were out-rushed in all three of their losses this season. Run Defense: The 49ers ranked 2nd in rush defense (77.7 yards allowed per game, 3.4 yards per carry) during the regular season. While the Eagles ranked 16th (121.6 yards allowed per game, 4.6 yards per carry). Momentum: The Eagles will enter the game with more momentum in the running game, having rushed for 268 yards against the Giants in the Divisional Round. - The 49ers rushed for 113 against the Cowboys. McCaffrey: While Christian McCaffrey is expected to play, his calf injury is worth monitoring — as it clearly limited him against the Cowboys. - McCaffrey — who averaged 5.7 yards per touch in the regular season — averaged just 3.6 yards per touch (57 scrimmage yards on 16 touches) against Dallas. Image: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire Mac [Mac Jones] Mac Jones is “very excited” about Bill O’Brien hiring Background: Bill O’Brien joined Alabama’s staff in 2021, just as Mac Jones was about to leave campus to prepare for the draft — but before Jones left, he took a few weeks to [help]( O’Brien learn the offensive system. Integrate: O’Brien — who was on the Patriots staff from 2007 to 2011 — is expected to integrate the Patriots’ playbook with concepts from Alabama’s, which should benefit Jones. - Jones completed an NCAA record 77.4% of his passes for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions in his final collegiate season. - O’Brien coached Jones’ successor — Bryce Young (the favorite to go No. 1 in this April’s draft) — to a Heisman trophy. Bounceback: Jones will look to bounce back from a disappointing 2022 season. The 24-year-old completed 65.5% of his passes for 2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions across 14 starts. O-Line The Patriots appear to be [closing]( on a deal to make Oregon OL coach/run game coordinator Adrian Klemm their next offensive line coach. This is significant because a lot of Jones’ struggles were related to poor pass protection. - Oregon's offensive line allowed the fewest sacks (5) in the FBS last season. WR Help: ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler thinks the Patriots could [trade]( for DeAndre Hopkins, as Bill Belichick is “a huge admirer” of the 5x Pro Bowler. Image: Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire Giants [Jones and Barkley] Giants prioritizing an extension for Daniel Jones over Saquon Barkley Details: The insight comes from ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, who writes that while the Giants would like Barkley back, an extension for him does [not]( seem “nearly as big a priority.” Too Rich: According to Ralph Vacciano (FOX Sports), Barkley wants to be [paid]( $16 million annually, like Christian McCaffrey, which is too rich for the Giants' liking. - Back in late October, the Giants were willing to offer $12 million — and that was before Barkley’s production dipped in the second half of the season. Tea Leaves: The tea leaves seem to indicate that the Giants will let Barkley test the market and revisit talks if/when no other teams offer McCaffrey-type money. The franchise tag ($10.1 million for RBs) is another potential option. Top Priority: GM Joe Schoen is more focused on locking up Jones, who is coming off a breakout year. - Passing: 67.2% completion rate, 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns, 5 interceptions - Rushing: 120 carries, 708 yards, 7 touchdowns Risk: Giving Jones a long-term deal does carry some risk, as he only has one season of borderline franchise QB production. His poor performance in the Giants’ Wild Card loss to the Eagles has also raised some doubts among the fanbase. Image: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire Bills [Josh Allen] Sean McDermott says improvement needed from Josh Allen, offensive and defensive lines Details: McDermott, in his end-of-season press conference, [specifically]( mentioned that Josh Allen will need “to improve in certain areas to move this organization forward.” - McDermott also singled out the the offensive and defensive lines. Allen: While many justifiably fawn over Allen’s talent and gunslinger approach, he is arguably the most reckless quarterback in the league when it comes to ball security. - Allen finished the regular season and playoffs with 23 turnovers, the [most]( by any player in a single season over the last three years. Offensive Line: The Bills’ offensive line struggled to protect Allen (hit eight times) and run block (3.3 yards per carry) in the team’s Divisional Round loss to the Bengals. Inconsistent play from LG Roger Saffold, RG Ryan Bates, and RT Spencer Brown was a season-long theme. Defensive Line: Buffalo struggled to generate pass-rush after losing Von Miller to injury in Week 12. The defensive line was also gashed by Cincinnati in the loss. Challenge: External improvements will be challenging, as the first year of Allen’s $258 million contract extension will kick in next season. GM Brandon Beane has already acknowledged that the team will [not]( have enough cap space to make big player acquisition moves. Image: Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire Panthers [Shane Steichen] Panthers down to seven HC candidates Details: The [candidates]( are Jim Caldwell, Steve Wilks, Frank Reich, Shane Steichen, Ejiro Evero, Ken Dorsey, Mike Kafka, Sean Payton, and Kellen Moore. Longshot? Landing Payton seems like a long shot, as he’s looking for a team with a top-tier quarterback. Young Offensive Mind: Steichen, Dorsey, Kafka, and Moore fit the ‘young offensive mind’ category. Each is capable of breathing new life into an otherwise stale organization. Retread: Hiring Caldwell or Reich would be an attempt by Carolina to replicate the Doug Pederson redemption story in Jacksonville. - Though neither have Pederson’s Super Bowl-winning credentials (as a head coach). Defense: The Panthers don’t seem intent on hiring a defensive-minded coach, with only two candidates — Wilks and Evero — from that side of the ball. Best Bet: Steichen appears to be the favorite. Image: David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire Together with Stathead Question of the Day Which QB has the record for single-game passing yards in the Conference Championship Round? - Peyton Manning - Daryle Lamoncia - Matt Ryan - Dan Marino Sign up for a monthly subscription and get your first month free, or use “[LEGIT20](” to save $20 off one year of Stathead Football. [See Answer]( Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up [here](. [Unsubscribe]( Copyright © 2022 Legit Football. All rights reserved. 710 Main Street South #572, Southbury CT 06488