NFL Rumors: Bears downplay interest in Colts RB Jonathan Taylor
The Chicago Bears are out on Colts running back Jonathan Taylor -- or so they say.
ESPN's Adam Schefter recently revealed that per his sources, the Bears "won't be trading" for Taylor in 2023. Schefter was also asked about Bears' interest in Chiefs' Chris Jones and declined to give specifics -- that's a rumor for another day.
Ever since the Colts granted Taylor permission to seek a trade partner last week, the 24-year-old running back has been speculated to join a handful of needy teams. At the top of the list is arguably the Miami Dolphins, who missed out on Dalvin Cook earlier this offseason.
In 2023, the Bears have 2021 sixth-rounder Khalil Herbert anchoring their ball-carrying room, a rising star who averaged an insane 5.7 yards per rushing attempt last season. Behind Herbert is ex-Panther D'Onta Foreman and a host of unproven options.
It's not inconceivable to see the Bears -- who have two first-round picks in 2024 along with a second and third -- go after a game-changer like Taylor. But doing so would mean Chicago is suiting up for one of its most serious years in the Justin Fields era (Taylor and Fields on the ground? What a dynamic duo!), and the franchise may not feel like it's quite there yet.
Taylor has the credentials of a bona fide RB1 with only a slightly concerning injury history. The Colts have reportedly been sniffing around for a first-round pick for him, which is more of a scoffed-at dream than a reality.
Instead, Taylor could be worth a Day 2 pick, something the Bears could reasonably give up but don't seem to want to. Based on Schefter's report, Bears fans probably shouldn't get their hopes up about a Taylor trade. Chris Jones on the other hand....
NFL Rumors: Cowboys playing mind games with shocking Jalen Hurts revelation
The Dallas Cowboys just can't stop disrespecting Dak Prescott. As if the Trey Lance trade wasn't a big enough hit to Prescott's ego, owner Jerry Jones came out with surprising praise for current Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.
In a recent interview, Jones implied that they wanted to draft Hurts back in the 2020 draft had Hurts fallen further down the board.
Hurts was drafted in the second round at No. 53 overall by the Birds. Two picks earlier, the Cowboys selected Trevon Diggs. If Dallas really wanted Hurts that badly, the team could have picked Hurts over Diggs, but Jones probably thought Hurts was going to fall into the third round at the time.
Admittedly, the Lance trade isn't an outright slap in Prescott's face. It's more of a warning shot -- a very, very loud one.
The Cowboys still have Prescott, whose contract isn't movable, as QB1 for two more seasons. Lance just pushes Cooper Rush out of the picture and gives Dallas a higher-upside backup as well as a player who can potentially be flipped for more valuable draft capital in the future. The ex-49ers pick won't challenge Prescott for the starting job until 2025 at the earliest.
So if Prescott's immediate future in Dallas isn't in jeopardy, why is Jerry Jones spewing this "What if?" talk about Hurts?
Our only guess is: The mind games have begun. Boasting equally talented and complete rosters, the Cowboys and Eagles enter the 2023 burdened by colossal expectations, and their divisional matchups this season are sure to entertain. Bring on the Prescott vs. Hurts battles -- this is the kind of rivalry NFL fans live for.
NFL Rumors: Raiders expected to make a trade in coming days
On Sunday, Las Vegas Raiders beat reporter Vincent Bonsignore said he would not rule out a Raiders trade over the next couple of days. This opened up the Pandora's Box for Raiders nation, who collectively pondered: Who might Las Vegas trade for ahead of the upcoming season?
Bleacher Report's Moe Moton theorized that the Raiders could seek reinforcements at the linebacker and offensive tackle positions but didn't reveal any specific names.
Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen has been floated as a highly rumored trade chip in recent weeks, though Baltimore still seems high on the 2020 first-rounder and really likes Queen's pairing with Roquan Smith.
After top linebacker Denzel Perryman left Las Vegas to join Houston, the Raiders' linebacker corps does indeed sag compared to other units. They have projected starters Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo, neither of whom have sparkling track records, and inconsistent backups or raw rookies in Luke Masterson, Amari Burney, and a few others.
As for the offensive line, PFF projects the Raiders' O-line to be a bottom-half unit in 2023, citing the interior trio (Dylan Parham, Andre James, Alex Bars) as one of the more glaring blemishes on the roster. Left tackle Kolton Miller has developed into a quality starter, bucking the trend of the Raiders' disappointing draft picks of the last few years; other than Miller, Las Vegas could stand to improve with an addition or two in the trenches.
Both Bonsignore and Moton expect the Raiders to make a deal as soon as this week.
