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I’d like to direct you to the NBA’s stats page for the month of March, at least as of 11:18 p.m. on March 17. When you sort all players by the number of points they’re scoring on average this month, you see the league’s holy trinity scrunched together in the teens with one unusual name sandwiched between them. Coming in at No. 14, with 26.6 points per game, is Stephen Curry. At No. 16, with 26 points per game, is LeBron James. At No. 17, with 25.9 points per game, is Kevin Durant. Par for the course, right? Three legends all topping 25 points per game this month. Wait, who was that guy you mentioned before, the outlier in that group?

It’s Quentin Grimes, folks, nestled just between Curry and James at 26.4 points per game this month, and if you’ve watched much of the Philadelphia 76ers over the past few weeks you likely consider the comparison to three all-time greats appropriate. For most of the first five years of his career, Grimes was a perfectly serviceable player. He’s been the starting shooting guard on a playoff team and a consistently useful role player for several franchises. Someone you’d be happy to have on your team, but not someone you’d ever expect to build your team around.

But ever since he landed in Philadelphia, he’s been a superstar. Mirages like this can happen. Remember when T.J. Warren turned into Michael Jordan in the bubble? It’s similarly plausible that we’re witnessing the beginning of something, a breakout that could translate into something much bigger for Grimes. Goran Dragić didn’t become a full-time starter until his fifth season, and then became an All-NBA player in his sixth. Kyle Lowry didn’t make his first All-Star team until his ninth season. Chauncey Billups was a journeyman before he was a Finals MVP. Player development isn’t always linear.

So, for lack of a better way of putting this, what’s the deal? What is happening here? What does it mean for Grimes? For the 76ers? And for the teams that don’t currently employ him? Let’s try to figure that out here, starting with Grimes and then working our way outward.

So… is Grimes a star now?
Well, it might be too early to call him a star, but this isn’t just a hot shooting streak. Not only is Grimes shooting “only” 37.7% on 3-pointers, but he is currently sporting by far the lowest 3-point attempt rate of his career. Entering Monday’s action, only 46.2% of his shots as a 76er have come from deep. Everywhere else he’s played, more than half of his shots were triples, and for his career, nearly 65% of his shots have been 3s. He’s already made twice as many 2s as a 76er (85) as he did all of last season.

These aren’t easy looks, either. Let’s go back to his best full season before this one, the 2022-23 campaign for the Knicks. A staggering 89.7% of his field goals were assisted. He was, almost exclusively, a catch-and-shoot player. But in Philadelphia? More than half of his shots (50.4) have been unassisted. Now, that’s not quite a superstar level. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is unassisted on 75.3% of his field goals, the high-water mark in the superstar class. But Grimes is still in pretty good company here. Players like Desmond Bane, Tyler Herro and Coby White are all in his ballpark. All very good scorers Grimes would do well to emulate.

Most of this growth as a self-creator is coming as a driver. Since arriving in Philadelphia, Grimes is averaging 9.3 drives per game and shooting 60.9% on those drives. That field goal percentage isn’t sustainable. Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s drive king, is at 57.9% and even that figure at meaningful volume for a guard is historic.

Grimes is shooting over 70% in the restricted area. That’s MVP territory, and if Grimes keeps it up, well, we’re going to be having a different, more involved conversation a year or two from now. For now, he’s driving at roughly the rate that players like Zach LaVine and Anfernee Simons do. These are players who mix driving and jump-shooting well, and again, players Grimes would be lucky to consider contemporaries. If he keeps scoring in the 97th percentile in terms of isolation efficiency, he easily could.

There’s a reasonable amount of March skepticism going around here. It’s valid. Weird things happen in March. Teams are resting up for the playoffs. Other teams are tanking. It’s not the highest quality basketball even by regular-season standards. But ask the Houston Rockets how much respect they had for Grimes on Tuesday as he torched them for 46 points. In a game that Houston badly needed for seeding purposes, they trapped and face-guarded him on critical possessions.

Now, to be fair, Houston felt comfortable guarding him like this because he’s playing on a tanking roster, but consider the alternative. If Grimes can score 46 with all of the attention that comes with being a No. 1 option, what would he look like with a better team around him? The truth there is complicated. Grimes is never getting relegated to “camp out in the corner” duties again, but it’s unclear just how many shots are available on a roster that includes Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain and, potentially, a top-six pick next season. That reality helps create one of the most fascinating divides between player and team in recent NBA history. Right now, Grimes and the 76ers want entirely different things.

The wildly differing incentives between player and team
By now, you’re likely all aware of what’s happening in Philadelphia. If the ping pong balls on lottery night grant the 76ers a pick anywhere between No. 1 and No. 6, they keep it. If their pick comes in at No. 7 or later, it goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder. For a multitude of reasons, they badly need to keep that pick. Grimes, right now, is their biggest impediment to doing so. He is winning them games that they would rather lose.

There’s an irony to this, because as badly as the 76ers need to keep that pick, Grimes is probably better off in a world in which they don’t. Think about the offseason that’s awaiting him. He’s a restricted free agent. It tends to be very difficult for restricted free agents to get paid fair value on the open market because teams with cap space know that their former employer can just match the deal. Therefore, Grimes’ best chance at getting paid is with the 76ers.

That’s where this gets tricky. Philly is already paying max money to Embiid, George and Maxey. The books are already tight. Lottery picks aren’t expensive in the grand scheme of the NBA, but they are when you’re working to avoid one of the aprons. Whether or not Philadelphia has a firm budget set for next season is unclear. Perhaps the 76ers are comfortable going into the second apron. But they likely will have some hard line in the sand, and the longer Grimes keeps this up, the more he’s worth. He should prefer Philadelphia’s books remain as clear as possible so that all of the extra money goes to him rather than a rookie.

The Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets meet on Tuesday for the fourth time this season in Eastern Conference action as the Celtics look to extend their seven-game winning streak in this head-to-head matchup. The Celtics have all but locked themselves into the No. 2 seed in the East, going 49-19, including 26-7 at home. The Nets are 23-45 overall, including 12-23 on the road. The Celtics have won all seven of their matchups over the last two seasons, but they haven’t always come easy with two of the three wins this season coming by four points or fewer. However, two of their wins have also come by at least 25 points over the last two years. Jayson Tatum (knee) is questionable and Jaylen Brown (knee) is out for Boston.

Tipoff on NBA TV is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from TD Garden in Boston, Mass. The latest Nets vs. Celtics odds from the SportsLine Consensus list the Celtics as 13.5-point favorites, with the over/under at 215.5. The Celtics are -893 (risk $893 to win $100) money line favorites, while the Nets are +598 underdogs.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons.

Here are the model’s NBA best bets for Celtics vs. Nets on Tuesday:

Celtics (-13.5)
The Celtics are 4-1 at home over the last three years against the Nets with three of the four wins coming by at least 14 points. Boston has bested Brooklyn by an average of 27.8 points during those four wins at TD Garden. The Celtics are 4-2 against the spread over their last six home games as one of three teams in the league with a top-10 scoring offense and defense. Boston is tied for seventh in points per game (116.6) and third in scoring defense (108.2 ppg). Meanwhile, the Nets are without leading-scorer Cam Thomas again, who is expected to miss the rest of the season after re-aggravating his hamstring injury on Thursday. The Nets are 2-10 over their last 12 games with the second-worst offense (105.6 ppg) this season. Given the stark statistical differentials, the model predicts the Celtics cover the spread in well over 60% of simulations. While some sportsbooks have moved the Celtics to 14-point favorites, DraftKings Sportsbooks still have the Celtics at -13.5 at -110 odds.

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Over 215.5
The Over has hit in two of their three meetings this season, including in their most recent 115-113 Celtics victory in Brooklyn on Saturday. The Celtics have scored at least 110 points in eight of their last nine games and they’ve had no issues scoring against Brooklyn at TD Garden over the last three years. The Celtics are averaging 121.8 ppg at home against the Nets during that span. Meanwhile, the Over has hit in five of the last eight Nets games as after having a multi-week stretch as one of the top-scoring defenses in the league, Brooklyn is allowing 115 ppg over its last three contests. Even with Brown out and Tatum questionable, Boston’s depth will be too much for the Nets to contain as the model projects the Over to hit almost 60% of the time.

Derrick White Under 27.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-110 on BetMGM)
White has finished Under this number in three of his last five games. He’s been struggling from deep lately, which has hindered his scoring which is often the leading part of any P+R+A winning wager. The 30-year-old has shot 27.3% from deep or lower in four of his last five games. White (knee) didn’t play on Saturday against the Nets in the second half of a back-to-back, and although he’s off the injury report for Tuesday, that doesn’t mean he’ll be playing at 100% health. White has gone Under this total in three of his four games against the Nets over the last two seasons, and while the majority of sportsbooks are offering White’s P+R+A at 27.5, BetMGM is offering it at the best price at -110 odds.

Is Giannis Antetokounmpo somehow flying under the radar this season? Only two players in the NBA rank in the top 10 in scoring and rebounding. Nikola Jokic (third with 29.1 PPG, third with 12.8 RPG) is in the NBA MVP discussion along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Meanwhile, you don’t hear about Antetokounmpo’s insane numbers (second with 30.4 PPG, sixth with 12.1 RPG) nearly as often. He also became the sixth-youngest player ever and 52nd player overall to hit the 20,000 career points milestone.

Even with all of Antetokounmpo’s incredible individual achievements, the Milwaukee Bucks are tied for fourth in the Eastern Conference at 38-29 along with the Indiana Pacers. If Milwaukee wants home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, it will need to finish off the season strong. A major test awaits for the Bucks, as they have five road contests in a row, starting Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m. ET.

In this matchup, Milwaukee opened as a 2.5-point road underdog to Golden State, but this spread has swung to Milwaukee -3.5. The Bucks are -158 (bet $158 to win $100) on the money line according to SportsLine consensus, while the Warriors are +133 (bet $100 to win $133) underdogs.

But what if you want to bet on player props, especially on whether Antetokounmpo has a monster effort in a key road game? The SportsLine model has you covered. It continuously refreshes the most recent available data and can help you spot the biggest discrepancies in the lines. The SportsLine model, which can be found on every game forecast page on SportsLine under the “Prop Picks” tab, assigns ratings of up to five stars for each projected value play on every NBA slate. Those picks can be integral to building winning parlays on DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks, Underdog Fantasy or Sleeper Fantasy and in same-game parlays on any betting site.

Let’s check out the SportLine model’s three highest-rated player prop recommendations for Bucks-Warriors and see what the payout would be if they were put into a same-game parlay — and check out the optimal same-game parlay for every game on Tuesday’s NBA schedule at SportsLine.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Under 12.5 rebounds (-114): 4 stars
Antetokounmpo has actually been averaging under 12.0 rebounds in both February (11.7) and March (11.9). He’s failed to grab 13 rebounds in 11 of the 15 games he’s played in over those two months. The SportsLine model is banking on that recent trend to continue, only projecting 10.7 boards for Milwaukee’s superstar against the Warriors.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Under 6.5 assists (+114): 4 stars
Backing an Antetokounmpo Under isn’t the most fun, so why not add another into the fold? He’s dishing out 6.0 assists per game this season, the second-highest mark of his career. But with the SportsLine model only calculating 5.7 assists tonight and the Under being priced at +114, that’s more than enough to designate this as a 4-star recommendation.

Kyle Kuzma Under 6.5 rebounds (-118): 3.5 stars
There aren’t any Warriors player props available yet for this game since this is the second night of a back-to-back for them, so we’re adding a Kuzma prop to complete this SGP. Kuzma has gone Under 6.5 rebounds in four of his past five games, including bringing down just one board in his last game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The SportsLine model has spit out 5.6 rebounds for this clash.

After a quiet true freshman season, Arch Manning was thrust back into the limelight during Texas’ spring game on Saturday. The former No. 1 overall prospect stole the show while completing 19 of his 26 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, incumbent starter Quinn Ewers only played two series with the offense before giving way to younger options.

That in mind, let’s make one thing clear: There’s no QB controversy in Austin, Texas. No matter how great Manning performed, Ewers is well-seated as the featured act in a deep Texas quarterback room. His continued development and comfortability in Texas’ offense have made sure of that.

“To the outside world, it may look like, ‘Wow, Arch is closing the gap on Quinn Ewers,'” Horns247’s Chip Brown told CBS Sports. “Inside that quarterback room, the thought process is, okay, Quinn Ewers is one of the top quarterbacks in college football, and if he has to miss time, Arch Manning looks like a quarterback who could come in and win a game or two like Maalik Murphy did last year.”

It would be hard for anybody to usurp a player like Ewers, even if his main competition is a former No. 1 overall prospect with a football bloodline that includes a grandfather in the College Football Hall of Fame and two uncles — one of which is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame — that won a combined four Super Bowls as quarterbacks. After a shaky 2022 season with the Longhorns, Ewers led his team to a Big 12 title and an appearance in the College Football Playoff last season while throwing for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns.

“Sarkisian is just a massive proponent of playing second- and third-year quarterbacks, and so he knew he was going to take some pain in Quinn’s first year,” Brown said. “There were ups, there were downs … Then it got better, obviously, last year. He had the three-turnover game against Oklahoma, but he finished that game 26-of-28 passing. And so by the time they get to the end of the year, he’s killing it.”

Despite Manning’s insistence that he has no intentions of leaving via the transfer portal, there’s always some level of concern given the modern college football environment and Manning’s pedigree, which would lend itself to a starting opportunity at multiple programs around the nation. No one around Texas is expecting that outcome, though.

“Arch Manning did not want to go somewhere where he would have to be the savior,” Brown said. “He wanted to be able to grow and enjoy the process. Sarkisian laid that out for him and he liked that idea, so everything that’s playing out right now is going exactly according to the way that Arch Manning and Arch Manning’s family thought it would.”

So, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Manning fans will have to wait at least another year to see him play meaningful snaps in the burnt orange. Until then, enticing peeks at the future — like the spring game — will have to suffice.

In what is becoming a tradition under Deion Sanders through his young stint as Colorado coach, the Buffaloes have endured a busy week in the spring transfer portal. There’s a full-on carousel spinning in Boulder, Colorado with several notable players leaving the program and some of the top names in the portal committing to the Buffs.

On April 16 — the first day of the spring window — 14 Colorado players entered their names into the portal. That included Cormani McClain, former five-star prospect and 247Sports’ No. 1 ranked cornerback in 2023. McClain represented Sanders’ first major recruiting coup at Colorado in 2023. While McClain wasn’t a major contributor last year for the Buffs, his departure would have a negative impact on the optics of the program moving forward.

Read more: Sanders among coaches under the most pressure entering 2024 season

This news comes on the back of a major loss in starting offensive lineman Savion Washington. The 6-foot-8 standout started 10 games at right tackle for the Buffaloes last season and played well despite some struggles elsewhere in the offensive trenches. With Washington hitting the portal, Colorado now has to replace all five of its starting offensive linemen and 114 combined starts from last season’s unit.

But it hasn’t been all bad news. Colorado had a loaded slate of visits this past weekend, and the staff has already parlayed a few of those into impactful commitments. Former Ohio defensive lineman Rayyan Buell and Pittsburgh edge rusher Dayon Hayes immediately improve Colorado’s profile on the line of scrimmage, while ex-Texas offensive lineman Payton Kirkland provides much-needed depth at a position of great need.

LIVE transfer portal updates: Follow along with latest news and analysis as the 2024 spring window opens

Here’s a rundown of the players that Colorado has lost to the transfer portal thus far with the spring window opening as Sanders gears up for his second year leading the program.

College football’s spring transfer portal window has been open for a week and, with one week left until the portal closes May 1 to undergraduates for the rest of this athletic year, there are some teams that have already impressed — and some that seem to be falling behind in the early going. Whatever the case may be, there’s already been enough action to determine some “Winners” and “Losers” from the last seven days.

Colorado is an enigma. On one hand, the Buffaloes are up to their usual business of making a splash via the portal, but there’s also been a notable exodus from Boulder that’s hard to discount. Roster flips are nothing new for Deion Sanders, but this same sort of overhaul led to a 4-8 record last season.

Elsewhere, SEC teams like Alabama and Ole Miss are loading up on talent at positions of need. Both the Crimson Tide, helmed by first-year coach and former Washington boss Kalen DeBoer, and Rebels are hoping to make a run for the expanded College Football Playoff in 2024.

On the other side of the spectrum, Arizona State, which is making a move to the Big 12 in 2024, has had a sour start to the spring thus far. So has Louisville, fresh off its run to the ACC Championship Game in coach Jeff Brohm’s first year leading the program.

Here are the winners and losers from the first week of the spring transfer window.

Winner: Colorado
Though it should come as no surprise to those that have paid attention to what Sanders is doing in Boulder, Colorado is off to a hot start in the spring transfer window. The Buffaloes had a huge weekend and parlayed impactful visits into a flurry of commitments from players at positions of need. Pittsburgh edge transfer Dayon Hayes, one of the best pass-rushers on the market, and Ohio defensive line transfer Rayyan Buell will add some much-needed disruption along Colorado’s defensive front. Texas offensive line transfer Payton Kirkland may not be a plug-and-play starter, but he’s got four years of eligibility remaining and will have a shot at establishing himself in a relatively thin room. Former Ohio State running back Dallan Hayden had a phenomenal freshman campaign but fell behind in a loaded running back room the past couple years; he’ll have an opportunity to shine in Colorado. Overall solid work, and there could be more on the way if Colorado’s visit schedule is any indication.

Loser: Colorado
How can Colorado be listed as both a “winner” and a “loser,” by this article’s definition? While it’s true that the Buffaloes have had more impactful additions than any other school during the spring window, they’ve also lost over 17 players to the portal thus far. Whether those that have left are worthy of a starting role or not, as Sanders has called into question, established and consistent depth is important for a team that’s trying to build off of three straight losing seasons. And some of those departures have almost certainly been more than depth pieces. The killer so far is running back Dylan Edwards, who flashed as a freshman and has a longstanding relationship with Sanders. Edwards had four touchdowns in Colorado’s rousing opening win vs. TCU.

Offensive lineman Savion Washington started at right tackle, playing 660 snaps, and was a lone bright spot on an otherwise lackluster offensive line last season. He was one of three linemen to enter the portal from a unit that so desperately needs depth and an injection of talent.

Former five-star cornerback Cormani McClain has some questions off the field, but his talent is undeniable. Former Cincinnati tight end Chamon Metayer, a four-star transfer from the winter window, re-entered the portal after going through spring practice. Even if they’re mere second-stringers, there’s some quality pieces that Colorado lost.

Colorado 2024 Transfer Portal Tracker

Winner: Alabama
Although Kadyn Proctor’s return to Tuscaloosa was telegraphed, it’s still a huge that coach Kalen DeBoer and Co. were able to seal the deal and return the Crimson Tide’s former and now future starting left tackle. To briefly recap the Proctor saga: he entered the transfer portal in January following Nick Saban’s retirement, quickly ended up at Iowa (his home-state school), told Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz in March (a day before Iowa started its spring practice slate) that he’d be returning to Alabama, and confirmed the move back to the Crimson Tide the day the spring transfer window opened. To make a long story short, Proctor — a Freshman All-SEC selection in 2023 — is entering his second year as Alabama’s starting left tackle. Though it’s overshadowed by the Proctor news, credit to Alabama for nabbing Miami (OH) kicker Graham Nicholson out of the portal. The former Lou Groza Award winner will replace Will Reichard, one of the Crimson Tide’s most impactful offseason losses.

Alabama 2024 Transfer Portal Tracker

Loser: Arizona State
It hasn’t been the best week for second-year coach Kenny Dillingham. Two days after the portal opened, news broke that former starting quarterback and top-50 overall prospect Jaden Rashada would be entering the portal. Though he struggled at times during an injury-riddled true freshman season, and Michigan State transfer Sam Leavitt pushed for the starting job during spring practice, losing a player of Rashada’s caliber is a blow. Leading receiver Elijhah Badger, who had 1,640 yards and 10 touchdowns receiving in three years as a Sun Devil, and tight end Bryce Pierrer, Arizona State’s only returning scholarship player at the position, quickly followed. On Monday, 247Sports reported that starting cornerback Ed Woods is expected to transfer out of the program.

Arizona State 2024 Transfer Portal Tracker

Winner: Ole Miss
Following the departure of star Quinshon Judkins to Ohio State, Ole Miss’ staff had running back highlighted, circled and underlined at the top of its list of transfer needs. So far, the Rebels have hit it out of the park in that department. Former New Mexico rusher Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who had 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns rushing last season, committed on April 19. Miami running back Henry Parrish Jr., who initially signed with Ole Miss out of high school and spent two years in Oxford, followed suit by announcing his return to the Rebels Monday. He had at least 600 yards rushing in each of his two seasons with the Hurricanes. Those two will form quite a formidable stable with the returning Ulysses Bentley IV as Ole Miss uses a by-committee approach to replace Judkins’ production.

Ole Miss 2024 Transfer Portal Tracker

Loser: Louisville
Louisville’s defense has taken its fair share of hits in the early going. A pair of starters in linebacker Jaylin Alderman and defensive lineman Jermayne Lole are leaving the program. Lole has battled through injuries throughout his career but has NFL upside if healthy and is a particular blow. The Cardinals have also had a string of players that transferred in during the winter window decide to look elsewhere as the spring has played out. That includes four-star running back transfer and former Toledo star Peny Boone, who was named the 2023 MAC Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns, and former Tennessee starting safety Wesley Walker. Offensive line depth, with former Houston transfer Reuben Unije and 6-foot-8 tackle Luke Burgess entering the portal, has also taken a significant hit.

Louisville 2024 Transfer Portal Tracker

When it comes to the NFL Draft, there are a lot of people involved in the decision-makings process for each team, from executives to coaches to scouts. The Baltimore Ravens are also getting their quarterback involved.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said Lamar Jackson is sharing his opinions on who Baltimore should pick in the April event. During NFL’s Annual League Meeting, Harbaugh noted that he and Jackson have similar thoughts regarding college prospects.

“He is looking at guys now,” Harbaugh said (via ESPN). “He and I agree on a few guys. We haven’t disagreed on anybody yet. We’re sharing our vision together.”

This is not Jackson’s first run at being a part-time quarterback, part-time scout. Jackson broke down every receiver in the draft from South Florida after the 2022 season, giving Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta his notes. With the No. 22 pick in that following draft, the Ravens took pass catcher and Fort Lauderdale native Zay Flowers, who led the team in receiving yards last season.

It is no surprise the defending NFL MVP wants a say in who he throws to and with wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Devin Duvernay both exiting this offseason and other receivers nearing the end of their contracts, the team has a hole to fill on offense.

Last year, DeCosta said Jackson has “strong opinions” on the prospects and it seems those strong opinions are also present this year.

The Ravens’ first three picks are currently No. 30, No. 62 and No. 93.

Baltimore has drafted seven wide receivers over the past six years and whether the Ravens take someone at that position with their first-round pick is something we will have to wait until April 25 to find out. The team also has to address its offensive line.

At the NFL Scouting Combine in February, DeCosta spoke about wide receivers, complementing the prospects in this year’s draft.

“That’s a position where some of these guys are like race cars; they break down at times,” DeCosta said. “And so, having depth at that position is critical, [and] we saw that this year. We think we built the room out pretty well this year and were able to sustain some injuries along the way. So, we will look at that. I think it’s a very, very deep year in the draft. This draft class is pretty impressive from a receiver standpoint.”

The Ravens offense already got a major addition, when the team added running back Derrick Henry in free agency.

Harbaugh says there is “no doubt” that the offense will “look different.”

“That’s the one thing we believe in — keeping it moving. You can never keep it the same,” Harbaugh said.

When figuring out how the Ravens often will look next season, Harbaugh wants Jackson to have a lot of say.

“He’ll come back, and he’ll look at everything, and we’ll want to know what he thinks,” Harbaugh said. “Like, ‘Do you prefer this or this? Are you comfortable in this direction or that direction? What do you like? [Are there] any other ideas you had since we talked last?’ I believe he’ll be a big part of the architecture of the offense.”

The Ravens are once again expected to make a deep playoff run and Jackson says he is more motivated than ever to win a championship. The Ravens were just eight points away from a Super Bowl appearance, but fell to the defending and eventual champion Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship.

Welcome to the ceremonial kickoff of Year 2 of the With the First Pick newsletter, and we’re launching today because we know the insatiable need for NFL Draft nuggets will only intensify as the month progresses. Here, you’ll get NFL Draft news, prospect evaluations, and enough mock drafts to make your head spin … on a daily basis. As the internet’s preeminent NFL newsletter creator John Breech wrote Friday, we’re rebranding the Pick Six newsletter for the next month, starting today, continuing through the end of April, and maybe into early May. I, CBS Sports NFL Draft analyst Chris Trapasso, will be with you every step of the way.

I’ll be tracking everything that transpires in the NFL and spin everything into a draft angle. There’s always a draft angle! Trust me. At least in my head there is, and with this newsletter you’ll be getting a daily glimpse inside my draft-obsessed brain from now until the morning of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Before I begin, this paragraph will be your daily reminder to tell all your buddies and that one uncle who’s always texting you the importance of drafting mid-round offensive linemen to sign up for the With the First Pick newsletter. All you have to do is click here and then share this link with them.

Today’s NFL mock draft 🔮: Three-rounder with trades!
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Top QB prospects Caleb Williams (left) and Drake Maye Getty Images
My esteemed NFL Draft analyst colleague Josh Edwards completed no easy task: a three-round mock with a few swaps included. Instead of only highlighting some fascinating Round 1 selections, I’ll dip into the imaginary Day 2 here.

1. Chicago Bears – Caleb Williams, QB, USC
2. Washington Commanders – Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
3. New England Patriots – Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
4. Minnesota Vikings (mock trade w/ Arizona) – J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
5. Cincinnati Bengals – Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
6. Detroit Lions – Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
7. Los Vegas Raiders – Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
8. Philadelphia Eagles – Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
9. New York Giants — Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
10. Pittsburgh Steelers – Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami

Of course, there’s plenty to digest here in this three-rounder, including history being made with quarterbacks off the board with the first four picks. As every day goes by, this feels more like a lock to actually happen in real life, doesn’t it?

I’d love Robinson to Detroit to give Aidan Hutchinson a legit running mate rushing around the corner — although James Houston is no slouch when healthy. Benson is my RB1, and the Giants need a back after watching Saquon Barkley sign with the rival Eagles. I seriously think Benson deserves Breece Hall-type buzz. He’s that big, fast and elusive.

And for the Steelers, an instinctive, playmaking, hard-hitting safety is essentially part of that organization’s DNA. The poor pre-draft workout sinks Kinchens’ stock, but he and Minkah Fitzpatrick would formulate a stellar pairing on the backend in Pittsburgh.

‘With the First Pick’ podcast 🎧: Three-headed mock draft
Above was a three-rounder, but here, in what is Mock Draft 12.0 for the With the First Pick crew, our resident GM Rick Spielman, Super Bowl-winning cornerback Bryant McFadden, and draft analyst Ryan Wilson ripped through a one-round mock draft, alternating selections along the way.

I won’t spoil every juicy pick, but there was a surprise edge rusher sent to the Falcons at pick No. 8. Cowboys fans, Wilson will pique your interest with a massive trade up for arguably the most uber-talented blocker in this class, an offensive tackle who’d fill the void left by Tyron Smith re-locating to New York to play for the Jets. There’s also an Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love esque baton-passing pick for the Chiefs that would be a nightmare scenario for the rest of the league attempting to stop Kansas City from a three-peat. Listen to the entire episode right here.

Prospect of the day 📈: Javon Baker, WR, UCF
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UCF WR Javon Baker Getty Images
All you’ve heard for months now is how good and how deep the 2024 wideout class is, so it’s only natural I feature one of the receivers who represents the depth that has been mentioned ad nauseam since the Senior Bowl in late January.

It was love at first sight for me with Baker on film.He’s got nifty releases to beat press at the line, deceptive route-running salesmanship, and a leaping/rebounding combination that led to the fourth-best contested-catch win rate in the class. He has it all. Well, except for speed. Baker’s slower 40-yard dash time could be the lone reason he’s still on the board well into the second round, and if he’s a third-round pick, no one should be shocked.

But this is a former Alabama pass-catcher who rocked after transferring to UCF with over 100 catches and more than 1,800 yards with 12 touchdowns in Orlando.

Notable combine results: 4.54 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 37-inch vertical, 10-foot-1 broad jump
Combine measurements: 6-foot-1 and 1/4, 202 pounds
Current CBS Sports prospect ranking: No. 46 (No. 9 WR)
Pro Day primer: Top prospects to watch 👀
Yale OL Kiran Amegadjie: Pro days are all but officially done — although we will get an individual workout from Iowa’s Cooper Dejean on April 8 — but I’m compelled to keep this section part of the Year 2 kickoff because Amegadjie could be the first non-Power 5 prospect offensive player off the board. He’s that good on film at 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds with the second-longest arms among offensive linemen in the class. The Yale Bulldog blocker is a masher in the run game with plenty of athletic gifts, although he probably kicks inside to guard in the NFL. Honestly, I got serious Trey Smith vibes evaluating him, and Smith has been a rock for the Chiefs in their back-to-back Super Bowls. He’s bound for a monstrous payday next offseason, if not before.

News & Notes 📝
Inside how NFL teams handle draft month. We’re thrilled to have Shrine Bowl director Eric Galko contributing to the site over the next month, and as someone who works closely with NFL teams, he wrote an enlightening piece detailing the finishing touches teams put on their respective draft boards starting today.
Cowboys, Ezekiel Elliott have mutual interest in a reunion. Given the enormous extension Jerry Jones gave Elliott just a few years ago, and the owner’s long standing affinity for bell cow running backs, this should come as no surprise. And if these two link up, I wonder how much it alleviates Dallas’ need at running back in the 2024 draft. Hmmm.
Pro day workout incoming for NC State basketball star DJ Burns? The 11-seed Wolfpack have made a Cinderella run to the Final Four, and at the center of it all has been the 6-foot-9, 275-pounder, who scored 29 points in the upset over Duke in the Elite Eight. And the athleticism he’s demonstrated on the court has apparently drawn legitimate NFL interest.

Patrick Peterson is willing to be patient in finding a new team for 2024. As free agency is in the midst of its second wave, the former Steeler will wait things out until he gets the right call.

When that call comes, Peterson wants a warning if he’s going to play a different position than cornerback. He’s open to playing safety, but with certain conditions.

“I don’t want to start at safety because that’s a different animal back there,” Peterson said, via the NFL on Fox podcast. “That’s a different view back there. If that is the case, I would need to be warned going into the season to get my body, my mental prepared. It’s different being at the safety from the cornerback position, having those open-field tackles.”

Peterson has played cornerback for the majority of his 13-year career. He played 1,045 snaps listed as a defensive back, playing 218 snaps at free safety and 105 snaps at box safety (per TruMedia). He hasn’t played safety full time, which might be what some teams want him to be.

“As corners, we’re used to knifing in and slicing guys down,” Peterson said. “When you’re in the open field as a safety, especially if you’re in the middle of the field, that guy’s got 24 yards right and 24 yards left of you. There ain’t no way to cut him off by any means. You’re the last line of defense.

“So if that is something, I would need notice and probably, you know, get one of these old-time safeties like an Ed Reed or (Troy) Polamalu to coach me up.”

Peterson had 42 tackles and two interceptions in 17 games last season in Pittsburgh, as opposing quarterbacks had a 62.8 passer rating targeting him. He can still start in the NFL, even if cornerback appears to be his preferred position.

Trevor Lawrence didn’t have the season he nor the Jacksonville Jaguars anticipated. Lawrence had 21 giveaways in a season which he regressed after a promising first year under Doug Pederson, as the Jaguars went 0-5 in his last five starts to miss the playoffs.

The turnovers were shades from 2021, a disastrous first season from Lawrence under Urban Meyer. In that season, Lawrence had 22 giveaways (17 interceptions and five fumbles lost). Lawrence lost confidence in his game from that first season with Meyer, something Pederson fixed in his first year under his tutelage.

Has Lawrence reverted back to his ways under Meyer. Pederson was adamant at the NFL Annual League Meeting last week, saying Lawrence was “light years” past there.

“Just where he is mentally, just the mental part,” Pederson said, via a Jaguars transcript. “We’ve got to get better as a football player, but mentally he’s in a good place. Again, I wasn’t here in 2021, so I don’t know, but I can only speculate and say that he couldn’t have been in a very good mental headspace coming out of that year, but now he’s playing meaningful games.

“He’s taken, the last two years, our team right there and now we’ve got to push through that. Now it bothers him. That part bothers him. Football bothers him and that’s a good thing. That’s where we’ve got to get him pushing us through that envelope, that wall. The way we ended our season, that’s his motivation too.”

Lawrence has finished with 20+ giveaways in two of his three seasons. He had 17 in the 2022 season when the Jaguars won the AFC South (eight interceptions, nine fumbles lost). Turnovers have always been a problem for Lawrence since he entered the NFL, which Pederson continues to work on. Pederson wants to cut down the giveaways by reducing the fumbles.

“Obviously, interceptions are going to happen but it’s the pocket stuff. It’s the fumbling in the pocket, out of the pocket. That’s the part that we can help him with, the ball security stuff,” Pederson said. “It’s hard for young players because they feel like they can make every play. It’s okay to throw the ball away.

“We just have to keep educating him in these situations. You can coach it. You are the guy that’s touching the ball every snap. We have to make smart decisions too.”