What Should Rebuilders do With These 10 New Contracts

By: Jay Pounds (@jaypoundsnfl)

Dynasty Owners, welcome back to my second article in as many weeks! It must mean free agency and the dynasty fantasy football seasons are now in full swing. If you happened to read any of my articles during last off-season, you will know my main piece of advice for free agency is to stay patient throughout the process because 30 days is a lot of time. Outside of making trades and picking up a select few free agents, I tend to sit back and wait for things to calm down before making any decisions this time of year and it has always worked out for the better. The main reason I preach patience this time of year is because I have seen several players dropped over the years and I know the Dynasty Owner ended up regretting it pretty quickly as they could have acquired draft capital and/or players versus dropping the player for nothing. With that said, be sure to watch who your league mates drop as it’s very likely you will find a productive player in the Free Agent Auction this time of year. I hope all of you have a great free agency and feel free to reach out with any questions you may have.

In today’s article I am going to focus on what rebuilding Dynasty Owners should do with these 10 new contracts that have recently been signed. While I haven’t seen any true stars sign just yet, I do see several names who can contribute on a weekly basis below. Steve and I did touch on several of these players during last week’s Dynasty Owner podcast. Be sure to check it out if you would like to hear more in-depth analysis. If you are rebuilding and happen to roster any of these players, please let me know how you are handling their new contract via Twitter.

Quarterback

  1. Geno Smith (SEA) – 3 years/$75,000,000 ($25,000,000 per year)

What to do with Geno Smith? I am not sure if the football gods know this answer unless Pete Carroll qualifies as a football god. Geno had a fantastic season in 2022, but we have seen one-year wonders at the quarterback position several times. I am looking at you Case Keenum ($3,125,000)! In my opinion, Geno is a risky player to keep for contenders without cutting important pieces, but I believe he is a must hold for all rebuilding users, especially if you are able to keep an Amnesty Provision handy. If Geno comes out and replicates his success from 2022, he should be fairly easy to trade for a nice draft pick and a bad contract. If Geno does not work out the Amnesty Provision will come into play.

  • Jimmy Garoppolo (LV) – 3 years/$72,750,000 ($24,250,000 per year)

I feel rebuilding Dynasty Owners have two clear options for Jimmy Garoppolo and that is to trade or cut him. Please allow me to explain. Over the past six seasons in San Francisco, Garoppolo has played in the most quarterback friendly system in the NFL and he was never an elite fantasy option during any of those seasons, has never thrown for more than 4,000 yards in a season despite having good weapons around him and has a terrible injury history. Garoppolo’s contract is not terrible which may allow for a trade, but I would not expect much in return with the mess he is entering into in Vegas. Garopollo was outplayed by seventh round rookie Brock Purdy ($934,252) last season which is a huge warning sign that Jimmy is going to struggle after leaving Kyle Shanahan.

Running Back

  1. Miles Sanders (CAR) – 4 years/$25,400,000 ($6,350,000 per year)

In all honesty I can’t think of a better landing spot than Carolina for Miles Sanders. I know some would have preferred him to stay in Philadelphia where he is comfortable, but I believe he will be utilized much more in Carolina, especially in the receiving game. Sanders will play for coach Frank Reich who seems to love utilizing his running backs in the passing game and Sanders has the skill set to thrive in this system. The only real worry for me is the downgrade in offensive line play, but I think the number of touches Sanders is in line to get will offset that. With all of that said, rebuilding Dynasty Owners should hold Sanders until Week 3 or 4 and trade him after he performs well and the worry is gone, though you may be able to use this info to get good value now! I would look for a first round rookie draft pick for Sanders if possible. Remind your trade partner how hard it is to find a workhorse running back, which is exactly what Sanders will be for the Panthers.

  • David Montgomery (DET) – 3 years/$18,000,000 ($6,000,000 per year)

I tend to tell rebuilding Dynasty Owners to trade running backs heading into their second contract and while that time will come for Montgomery, it is not right now. Montgomery finds himself in a great offense for fantasy running backs where Jamaal Williams ($4,000,000) rushed for a whopping 17 touchdowns last season. Having D’Andre Swift ($2,134,728) in the same running back room is worrisome, but I have seen enough to know Swift will likely never get a massive workload for a full season. I fully expect Montgomery to see almost all of the red zone work and receive more touches overall in 2023 than Swift. At some point this season, Swift will likely get banged up and when he does rebuilding owners should put Montgomery on the block and demand as much as possible for him.

  • Rashaad Penny (PHI) – 1 year/$1,350,000

I don’t know what is wrong with me today, but we have our third running back hold of the day! Hear me out on this one as it may be controversial because of Penny’s injury history. It is extremely likely that anyone who with Penny on their Dynasty Owner roster did not spend much to get him, and it is because of that I am telling you to hold Penny. When Penny has been on the field, he has been elite in the yards per carry (ypc) category, sitting at 5.7 ypc for his entire career. If Penny is able to stay healthy (a big “if” I know) and play at least 12 games behind one of the NFL’S best offensive lines, he could easily become a top 5 running back and should net a ton of value in a trade. At worst, Penny gets injured and you’re out very little. All of that said if someone offers you a good deal for Penny this off-season, you have to at least consider it. I would not sell cheap though.

Wide Receiver

  1. Jakobi Meyers (LV) – 3 years/$33,000,000 ($11,000,000 per year)

Our second Las Vegas Raider of the day and our second Las Vegas Raider signing that just does not make much sense. We will save all of that for another day. Meyers has been a very consistent player throughout his career and finally started to see success in the red zone in 2022 with 6 touchdowns, but the move to a new team worries me quite a bit. Meyers heads to a team with a true number 1 receiver who is dominant in the red zone, an aging, injury-prone quarterback, and a roster that did not look very good in 2022. In New England, Meyers was arguably the number 1 target and was guaranteed to see a good amount of action. As far as rebuilding Dynasty Owners are concerned, I would likely hold Meyers and see what happens as I don’t see anyone giving up much to acquire him right now. It is a real possibility that Meyers beats out Hunter Renfrow ($16,164,500) to become the number 2 receiver in Vegas which will hopefully raise his trade value.

  • JuJu Smith-Schuster (NE) – 3 years/$25,500,000 ($8,500,000 per year)

As a Steelers fan, I have a lot of love for JuJu Smith-Schuster, but I believe it is time for rebuilding users to move on from the veteran wide receiver. JuJu did not sign a huge contract by any means after a good 2022 season in Kansas City with the best quarterback in football, not Mac Jones ($3,896,588) in the New England weather. I am expecting JuJu to put up similar numbers to the player above him who he is replacing in the Patriots’ offense and I just don’t think that is worth $8,500,000 on a rebuilding roster. I don’t see JuJu bringing back a ton of value in a trade but if you can get a second round rookie draft pick from someone who is contending while freeing up cap space on your roster, I would do it in a heartbeat.

  • Adam Thielen (CAR) – 3 years/$25,000,000 ($8,333,333 per year)

I haven’t talked all that well about Thielen over the past year and despite a big decrease in salary, it is still time for rebuilding Dynasty Owners to get what they can and run. Outside of red zone production, Thielen has been a very average receiver over the past two seasons, and I am not counting on that red zone production continuing in Carolina at 32 years old and no Justin Jefferson ($3,280,701) on the opposite side. I do believe there is value to be had in a trade for Thielen as someone will get the idea that he is going to be the number 1 guy in Carolina and while he may be on the depth chart, I am not expecting it to show up on the field. I have thought hard about what value to put on Thielen, and I have no true answer. It will solely be up to your negotiating skills and your trade partner. The best bet may be to hold him until after the NFL Draft when he is paired with the number 1 overall pick in 2023.

Tight End

  1. Hayden Hurst (CAR) – 3 years/$21,750,000 ($7,250,000 per year)

Up next, we have our second Carolina Panther in a row, Hayden Hurst. Hurst has performed well out of the tight end spot in both Atlanta and Cincinnati and while I am not expecting him to replicate his 2022 season by any means, I do believe he will be serviceable, though it does come with a price of $7,250,000. As I mentioned earlier with Frank Reich and the running backs in the passing game, the same rings true for the tight end position and I am expecting Hurst to be a safety net for whichever young quarterback the Panthers’ draft. The problem with all of this is that it does not fit well on a rebuilding roster, yet you won’t get much for him in a trade. I believe the best course of action is to hold Hurst and see how things play out in a tight end friendly system and go from there. Hurst is on a 3-year deal, so you have plenty of time to be patient if you don’t mind the drop fee if he happens to struggle.

  • Mike Gesicki (NE) – 1 year/$4,500,000

I cannot wait to hear Steve Van Tassell’s thoughts on this signing in the next podcast. Steve has been a notorious Gesicki enthusiast and I am expecting he is thrilled! All jokes aside, Bill Belichick has spoken very highly of Gesicki over the years, and I am intrigued to see how he is utilized. Then again, The Hoodie said the same about Jonnu Smith ($12,500,000). Gesicki has been hit or miss throughout his career and I am expecting the same in New England. Expect a lot of two tight end sets and I believe we will see Gesicki line up at receiver throughout the season. At just $4,500,000, I believe Gesicki is a firm hold for all Dynasty Owners unless offered a 2nd round pick or a good player with a better future outlook.

Thank you all for reading and be sure to check out all of the upcoming Dynasty Owner content. We have the Dynasty Owner podcast, the Dynasty Owner Livestream, and articles to help with your Dynasty Owner teams. Good luck on your 2023 Chase for the Ring!

Prospect Preview: Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Position: WR

College: Ohio State

Height: 6’ 1”

Weight: 196

Age: 21

247 Rating: 0.9856 (5 Stars)

By: Nate Christian (@NateNFL)

The Rundown:

A favorite to be the top receiver in the 2023 draft class, questions surround Jaxon Smith-Njigba (JSN) after a mysterious junior season in 2022. Coming off an impressive sophomore season, we only saw Smith-Njigba play in three games in 2022 as Ohio State made a playoff run. Now going into the NFL Draft, he looks healthy and seems to be doing everything right in the pre-draft process. A very talented slot receiver, he could take on a large volume role for a team as he has a knack for getting open in the middle of the field.

College Production:

Alongside Garrett Wilson ($5,138,502) and Chris Olave ($4,817,969) while catching passes from C.J. Stroud, Smith-Njigba put together an incredible sophomore season with 95 receptions, 1,606 receiving yards, and 9 touchdowns which culminated with 15 receptions for 347 yards and 3 touchdowns in the 2022 Rose Bowl against Utah. The hype around Smith-Njigba going into the off-season was incredible, the bona fide WR1 in the 2023 NFL Draft class despite still being a full year out. Smith-Njigba would unfortunately pick up a hamstring injury and it would keep him out for the majority of his junior season (three limited games with a total of five receptions for 43 yards).

Strengths:

  • Quick-Twitch AthleteAs advertised by his 6.57 second 3-Cone Drill and 3.93 second 20-Yard Shuttle, JSN is a top athlete. His ability to get in and out of his cuts makes him hard to cover and hard to tackle.
  • TechnicianAnother in the long line of incredible route runners that have come out of Ohio State recently, Smith-Njigba may be one of the best yet. He runs a variety of routes, and his breaks are always tight and crisp. He does not waste much throughout his movement and uses his head well to get defenders flat footed.
  • Secure HandsWith a solid frame and long arms, Smith-Njigba is always a contender to get his hands on the ball, and from there he will bring in most passes. He is very comfortable catching the ball outside of his body and transitions quickly to running after the catch while keeping the ball secure.

Weaknesses:

  • Lacks Home Run SpeedWhile Smith-Njigba is certainly quick, he’s not necessarily fast. His 10-yard split would likely look great, but his top speed just lacks that elite ceiling. It won’t come back to haunt him too often, but you likely won’t see JSN pull away from NFL corners.
  • Limited to the Slot?With the 2021 season being just about 100% out of the slot, Smith-Njigba has been labeled a slot receiver and we didn’t get the 2022 season to see him play elsewhere. Brian Hartline, his WR coach at Ohio State, has talked about how JSN will not need to be limited to the slot at the next level and it’s an intriguing thought. Some Justin Jefferson ($3,280,701) vibes here.
  • Junior SeasonA lingering hamstring issue that takes you out of essentially the entire season is an unusual occurrence. I’m not reading much into it and overall, it’s irrelevant to his future NFL success, but it’s still just weird.

Projected Round/Contract:  

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a lock for the first round at this point, but the range within the top 31 picks is wide. Smith-Njigba’s talents could be worth a Top 15 pick if a team believes that he could be used in multiple positions at receiver (in the slot and outside at the Z), but many mock drafts have placed him in the back half of the first round. Adding in the fact that the wide receiver free agent market was weak this year, rookie wide receivers could be pushed up the board as teams look to fill the gaps in their depth chart through the NFL Draft.

If Smith-Njigba was picked in the middle of the first round of the NFL Draft, he would likely be looking at a salary of around $3.8 million to $4.4 million a year over the first four years of his rookie contract. With the upside he has in fantasy football as a volume target out of the slot, a salary in this range would make him an incredible value in Dynasty Owner.

Team Fits:  

The Houston Texans are starting to look like the best possible landing spot for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. With the recent trade of Brandin Cooks ($19,882,000) to the Dallas Cowboys, the team will be looking for a new WR1 to take the reins with their incoming rookie quarterback. The Texans currently hold the second and 12th overall picks in the first round. Whether that incoming quarterback is former Heisman winner Bryce Young or JSN’s college quarterback C.J. Stroud, the future would look bright for the partnership in Houston.

Another team that would be a fun spot for JSN would be the Seattle Seahawks. With two first round picks, they could look to pick up the top receiver in the class, but at #5 overall they may be too early and at #20 they may be too late. But if they can make it happen, JSN would be a great addition to the duo of DK Metcalf ($24,000,000) and Tyler Lockett ($17,250,000). As Lockett gets older, the team would be able to push that work to JSN and give themselves insurance at the position long-term in case Metcalf doesn’t re-sign in 2026. Plus there is no better way to treat your new quarterback(s) than to give them another great receiver to throw to.

Dynasty Building Blocks

Rebuilding? It’s Time to Trade these Players

By: Jay Pounds (@jaypoundsnfl)

Dynasty Owners, it is finally free agency time! While Dynasty Owner’s off-season is not in full swing just yet, the NFL sure seems to be as we have seen a few players sign deals already on top of two massive trades that included the number 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and the player who some may call the best cornerback in the NFL in Jalen Ramsey. If this is just a preview of things to come, we are in store for a very fun off-season. I don’t know if were done just yet as we very well may see Aaron Rodgers traded to the Jets before this article releases. Similar to Dynasty Owner, the NFL never sleeps!

In today’s article, we are going to look at players all of you rebuilders should be looking to trade immediately. All of these players listed below are great to have on a contending roster, but if you don’t have the right supporting cast around them, you’ll be picking in the 5-7 spot again next season. I did an article similar to today about a month ago when looking at players with one year remaining on their contract, but you will only find one repeat player on the entire list, and it just happens to be the first player listed.

Quarterback

  1. Tua Tagovailoa (MIA) – 1 year/$7,568,859

As I mentioned earlier, we have already discussed Tua’s future, but I believe it is important enough to touch on again. No, my opinion has not changed, and I am still firmly a believer in moving on from Tua while his contract is still on the cheaper side. My biggest concern with Tua has nothing to do with his talent and everything to do with injury concerns paired with a high salary in 2024 as the Dolphins already exercised his fifth year option of $23,171,000. It almost feels like we are at the point we can expect Tua to miss at least a few games each season and when paying someone what Tua will make come 2024 and maybe beyond, I need them on the field every game. If Tua does stay healthy, I believe he is worth the price tag he will receive but that’s a gamble. I am staying away from Tua here on Dynasty Owner. Salary cap space is too precious to waste.

  • Lamar Jackson (BAL) – 1 year/$32,416,000

Despite playing for the Ravens, Lamar Jackson has been one of my favorite players to watch since he came into the NFL just a few years ago and I hate that I am telling you to trade him. Lamar is a fantastic talent and has proved he can be wildly successful in the NFL, but I am worried about how he will age throughout his career (missed 10 games over the last two seasons) as well as the amount he is going to get paid. I know it seems unfair to worry about longevity for mobile quarterbacks, but I have seen enough evidence that it is a real factor, and it should worry us. Since Jackson’s M.V.P. season in 2019, he has only reached 300.0 Dynasty Owner fantasy points once (2020). When paying a player as much as Jackson is asking for you are definitely going to want him on the field as much as possible. Another huge concern I have with Jackson is the fact I do not see him staying in Baltimore which means the team acquiring him will have to cough up two first round picks on top of a huge contract for him. I’m not sure a roster can handle that over time, though I would bet on Jackson succeeding over Deshaun Watson ($46,000,000).

Running Back

  1. Saquon Barkley (NYG) – 1 year/$10,091,000

Up next, we have another player with a checkered injury history in Saquon Barkley. While Barkley has been injured often throughout his career, that is not the main reason I am telling you to move on from him. The bigger issue for me is the position he plays combined with his age. Remember when rebuilding you want to operate on a 2–3-year window and I would bet a lot of money that Barkley looks like a shell of himself come 2025-2026 versus still being a high end running back. I also don’t think I want to bet on the Giants succeeding while paying Daniel Jones $40 million per season. It has Baltimore and Joe Flacco ($3,500,000) circa 2013 written all over it. All of that said I do believe this is the best time to trade Barkley as he is coming off a season where he finished as the 6th ranked running back on Dynasty Owner and his salary is only going just under $3,000,000 ($2,874,000). In 2022, Barkley racked up 1,312 rushing yards, 338 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns, good enough for 294.0 Dynasty Owner fantasy points. I would highly recommend trading Barkley before the Dynasty Owner draft and at the latest training camp where injuries are always a concern.

  • Nick Chubb (CLE) – 2 years/$12,200,000

I always have to hate on a Cleveland Brown in my articles, don’t I? In all fairness, this is not a horrible list to be on because it means you can help a contender win a championship. While I do think Chubb will age better than most running backs, his lack of pass catching worries me as he gets older. In 2022, Chubb did have his best receiving season since 2019 by catching 27 passes for 239 receiving yards and 1 touchdown. If the Browns were bringing back a quarterback like Jacoby Brissett ($4,650,000). I would feel better about Chubb growing as a pass catcher, but I don’t see Kevin Stefanski wanting Deshaun Watson to dump the ball off all that often. Despite the lack of receiving throughout his career, Chubb has shown that he is an elite runner out of the backfield and should be running behind a good offensive line for another year or two. Chubb is exactly the type of player contending Dynasty Owners love and I would take advantage of that this off-season. Be sure to remind whoever you are trading with that Kareem Hunt ($6,000,000) will likely be leaving Cleveland this off-season.

Wide Receiver

  1. Davante Adams (LV) – 4 years/$28,000,000

In 2022 Davante Adams was traded from the team that drafted him, was no longer playing with a 4-time M.V.P. at quarterback, saw his starting quarterback get benched for a player making his first career start, and played for a new coach who failed in his first stint. Despite all of that,  he still finished as the number 4 ranked wide receiver in all of Dynasty Owner. Adams finished the Dynasty Owner season with a stat line of 95 catches, 1,443 receiving yards, and a whopping 14 touchdowns proving he will always be an elite red zone threat. If Adams can overcome all of that and see his production virtually unchanged, I’d say he can overcome the age barrier as well, but at 30 years of age, there is not much room for error if you are rebuilding which is why it is time to move on from the superstar. Adams does have a huge salary, but you should still be able to get good value for him in a deal if you can find a way to make the salaries work.

  • Keenan Allen (LAC) – 2 years/$20,025,000

About a month ago, I heard rumors that the Chargers may cut Keenan Allen and that now seems like a far-fetched idea, thankfully. Allen is the perfect fit alongside Justin Herbert ($6,644,688) and as long as he is in Los Angeles and on the field, I feel he will be a consistent Dynasty Owner player and should be on any contending roster. In 2022, Allen did deal with injuries, but when he was on the field he was as consistent as always scoring double-digit Dynasty Owner fantasy points in all but one game, the game he was re-injured in Week 7 against Seattle. Despite only playing in eight full games during the Dynasty Owner season, Allen finished with 58 catches, 650 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns. All of that said, Allen is at that dreaded age for receivers of 30 and it is time for rebuilders to move on as he will likely be out of Los Angeles and a few steps slower by the time you are ready to compete. If your trade partner has reservations just point to the 7-game stretch Allen had to end the 2022 season as your leverage.

Tight End

  1. George Kittle (SF) – 3 years/$15,000,000

George Kittle may be the toughest player to judge on this list. Kittle has shown he can be an elite tight end, but has had numerous injury issues on top of inconsistent production. Over the past couple of years, it seems when all of the 49ers playmakers are on the field, Kittle takes a step back and becomes more of a blocker. All of that leads me to believe it is the correct decision to move on from Kittle unless you are contending. For the 2022 Dynasty Owner season, Kittle had a stat line of 56 catches, 736 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns while playing in 14 games. Another negative for Kittle is the fact that heading into 2023, there is a lot of uncertainty in the Bay Area at the quarterback position. Should the 49ers go with Brock Purdy ($934,252) over Trey Lance ($8,526,319), I do believe it benefits Kittle as he seemed to perform his best with Purdy on the field, though he did put up a few stinkers with Purdy at quarterback. Overall if you are rebuilding and can get a good draft pick or player/players in return for Kittle, I would do it. If you are contending, I would keep Kittle unless you can get Mark Andrews ($14,000,000), Travis Kelce ($14,312,500), or T.J. Hockenson ($9,392,000) in a deal.

  • Evan Engram (JAC) – 1 year/$11,345,000

Steve Van Tassell and I talked about Engram quite a bit on last week’s Dynasty Owner podcast, be sure to check it out if you are looking for a more in-depth answer on Engram. I do like Engram heading into 2023 and it has a lot more to do with Trevor Lawrence ($9,198,372) than it does with Engram himself. Nonetheless, I’m expecting Engram to be a top 5-7 tight end again in 2023. Engram was inconsistent at times last season, but he did manage to score double digit points in eight games, which is not bad for the tight end position in 2022. Engram finished the season with a stat line of 73 catches, 766 yards and 4 touchdowns and was ranked 5th at the tight end position on Dynasty Owner. Engram’s salary did go up a little over $2,000,000 ($2,345,000), but another year with Lawrence should offset that cost. The big worry with Engram is the addition of Calvin Ridley ($11,116,000), but I feel that will affect Zay Jones ($8,000,000) much more as Ridley and Jones play the same position. If you are rebuilding and have Evan Engram on your roster, it shouldn’t be hard to find a good roster with a hole at tight end to wheel and deal with. It is possible to trade Evan Engram for value, I did it late last season!

Thank you all for reading and be sure to check out all of the upcoming Dynasty Owner content. We have the Dynasty Owner podcast, the Dynasty Owner Livestream, and articles to help with your Dynasty Owner teams. Good luck on your 2023 Chase for the Ring!

NFL Schedule and Franchise News

By Matt Morrison (@dynastyjerk)

Today, I will be bringing you a double dose of NFL news. First, like I do every year, I’m going to break down the big events on the NFL schedule. I usually do this article a little earlier in the season, but it makes sense to have it this week as well. Given that this is being published later than usual, some of these events will have already happened by the time you are reading this. That’s okay. The facts and points that I state still remain true and important for everyone playing in a dynasty fantasy football league with real NFL salaries and a salary cap, like Dynasty Owner. Within each of these events, I will break down some of the major news surrounding them.

Franchise and Transition Tag Period

February 21 – March 7

As you know, this time period has come and gone. All franchise and transition tags have been dealt out, and no more can be given until next year. But remember, just because a player signs a franchise tag, that doesn’t mean they cannot continue to negotiate with their current team for a long-term deal. In the same way, signing a franchise tag does not mean that the player cannot be traded. Remember last year Davante Adams ($28,000,000) was offered the franchise tag by the Packers a week before being traded to the Raiders.

For our purposes here at Dynasty Owner, there were five players who received a franchise tag in 2023. They are…

  • Lamar Jackson ($32,416,000)
  • Saquon Barkley ($10,091,000)
  • Tony Pollard ($10,091,000)
  • Josh Jacobs ($10,091,000)
  • Evan Engram ($11,345,000)

All five of these players “should” be returning to their previous teams and playing on the salaries listed here. I say the word “should” for three reasons. The first reason is that as I have already shown a player can be traded to a new team despite signing a franchise tag. Do I anticipate that to happen this year? I don’t, but of course it is possible. The second reason I say “should” is a little more complicated so I will explain it.

Before the tag deadline ended, Lamar Jackson was presented with a non-exclusive franchise tag. A non-exclusive franchise tag says that Jackson is allowed to continue to negotiate a contract with any other team that he wants. These negotiations could even lead to an offer. However, that offer must be brought back to the Ravens and they get a first right of refusal where they can either match the offer or decline it. If declined, the Ravens would be entitled to two first round picks in the future. Essentially, the Ravens are betting on the idea that Lamar will not receive a long-term offer from another team. This situation has many more layers that I’m not going to get into today, but let’s just say there are a wide range of outcomes for Lamar this season.

While it’s safe to assume that all the other four players on this list will be playing on their franchise tag in this upcoming season, there is one additional outcome. All of them, including Lamar, could receive a long-term contract extension from their current NFL team before the July 15th deadline for those extensions. This happened last year for David Njoku ($13,875,000) who was given the franchise tag by the Browns, then signed a 4-year, $54.75 million contract extension in late May. Should this happen to any of the five 2023 franchise tag players, the average salary from the new long-term contract extension will replace the franchise tag salary amount starting in the 2023 Dynasty Owner season.

NFL Combine

February 28 – March 6

The NFL Combine has also come and gone. I enjoy casually watching it every year, but I don’t get too involved with every player and every drill. For a much better breakdown than I could give, I would direct your attention to Nate Christian’s most recent article for Dynasty Owner. In it, he breaks down how six of the top prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft did.

Compensatory Draft Picks

March 9

Thursday March 9th is the date when the compensatory draft picks were awarded to NFL teams.

“These picks are based off of a measured and calculated formula. This formula looks at free agents that certain teams lost throughout the year that they were not ‘adequately compensated’ for. Essentially, the NFL calculates each team’s gained and lost value and then compares this to every other team. Picks are awarded accordingly. This doesn’t affect us as Dynasty Owners directly, but it has the potential to add picks to some of our favorite teams.”

(Originally written on 2/23/21)

As I mentioned, this only indirectly affects Dynasty Owners, but I did want to point out something unique. The 49ers far and away had the most compensatory picks given to them this year. They have seven total, and three of those are in the 3rd round (99, 101, 102). These picks were awarded for the fact that the 49ers had previous minority employees who were hired as a GM or head coach by another team. Again, this isn’t directly related to our teams at Dynasty Owner, but it’s interesting nonetheless.

NFL Free Agency Contact Begins

March 13

“There are strict rules in the NFL (like most sports) about how and when a player may be contacted about a possible contract. Up until this date, teams are prohibited from contacting free agents. Again, this may not mean much to us as Dynasty Owners other than the fact that we will probably be getting a heavy amount of rumors flying during this 48 hour period.”

(Originally wrote 2/23/21)

We may actually see quite a few deals get done between March 13th and the official start of free agency on March 15th as NFL teams look to get players signed before other teams have a chance to make competing offers. Honestly, these couple of days are some of the most exciting for the entire year.

New NFL League Year and Free Agency Begins

March 15

This is what many of us have been waiting for. It’s also what every NFL team has been waiting for. March 15th is the official start of the new NFL league year. Signings and trades will become official. and we all will look forward to a great 2023 season.

Dynasty Owner New League Year

March 17

The Dynasty Owner league year will officially begin on March 17th at Noon (Eastern).

“On the 1st day of the new league year, all of the contract extensions from the previous year and the new salary cap for that league year take effect to align with the start of NFL free agency….Once the New Dynasty Owner league year has changed and the salary cap has been updated, you will be given 30 days (March 17th – April 16th) to get under the updated salary cap. We do not allow your salaries to continue to increase once you are over the salary cap.”

(From the updated Dynasty Owner Constitution for 2023)

2023 NFL Draft

April 27 – 29

Speaking of best times of the year…this has to rank up there for everyone. The NFL Draft is the pinnacle of off-season excitement. I look forward to watching it again this year as I do every year.

Conclusion

As you can see, despite being the “off-season” this is a very busy time of year for NFL teams and Dynasty Owners. One could argue these are some of the most important weeks. Take this as a reminder of something that I often repeat and truly believe.

“There is no off-season in dynasty fantasy football.”

This is especially true for Dynasty Owners.  Be active every day, even during the off-season.

Message me on Twitter (@dynastyjerk) and let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I would appreciate it if you followed @Dynasty_Owner on Twitter as well as subscribed to Dynasty Owner on YouTube. Thank you all. Take care and be safe.

TheJerk

The Best Building Blocks from the 2023 NFL Draft – Locks and Sleepers

By: Jay Pounds (@jaypoundsnfl)

Dynasty Owners! By the next time you hear from me I believe the off-season will be in full swing. Make sure you get all paid up by March 18th to enjoy another full season of the best dynasty fantasy football on the planet. The quiet part of the football year is finally upon us and while there isn’t much to talk about there are a few fun topics floating around. Derek Carr ($37,500,000) was linked to a few teams, but ultimately the veteran signal caller signed with the Saints. Let me know on Twitter if you like the Carr and Saints combination heading into 2023. I personally wanted to see him sign with the Jets as I think they could be a very fun team if they had an above average quarterback. Can you believe I didn’t start with Aaron Rodgers ($50,217,667)? Rodgers is definitely one of the all-time greats at the position, but we went through this last off-season which puts me in “I’ll believe it when I see it” mode. If I had to guess, Rodgers will end up back in Green Bay but the Jets are a sneaky team to watch. When Jets owner Woody Johnson wants something in the off-season he usually doesn’t care what the cost is. Where do my fellow Dynasty Owners see Rodgers playing in 2023?

In today’s article, we are going to jump into the off-season full swing and take a look at some of the future building blocks of the NFL. I do want to note this article was written before the NFL Combine happened so I was unable to include anything from the event. C.J. Stroud had himself a day though!

Quarterbacks

Lock – C.J. Stroud (Ohio State)

Surprise, surprise, C.J. Stroud is my number one quarterback of the 2023 draft class. Yes, I will admit bias does play a role but to be fair It does not dictate everything as I had Justin Fields ($4,717,989) firmly behind Trevor Lawrence ($9,198,372) in 2021. C.J. Stroud had two excellent seasons at Ohio State throwing for over 8,000 yards and 85 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions and saved his best performance for the semifinals against the best defense in the country. My favorite attribute for Stroud has to be his throwing accuracy as he rarely misses his mark. If Stroud continues to be elite in terms of accuracy and utilizes his athleticism more at the next level, he should become one of the most dangerous players in the game. The knock-on athletic quarterbacks tends to be that they do not examine the field long enough, but I believe the opposite can be said for Stroud at times as he waits too long for a play to develop when he could have an easy first down with his feet. If Stroud lands in a decent spot, I am expecting a huge rookie season and career for the Ohio State product.

  • Other players to watch – Bryce Young (Alabama), Will Levis (Kentucky)

Sleeper – Hendon Hooker (Tennessee)

In all honesty, this may be cheating but injuries are a part of football and Hendon Hooker’s draft predictions prove just that. Had Hooker not went down to a torn ACL this past season, he would likely be a first round selection in the upcoming NFL draft and likely in the top 20. Instead, he is now projected as a Day 2 NFL Draft selection. During his injury shortened 2022 season, Hooker posted impressive numbers throwing for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions. Hooker also added 430 yards rushing and another 5 touchdowns. Should Hooker recover from his injury and return to form, he will be a tremendous value for Dynasty Owners anytime he steps on an NFL field. In my opinion, the biggest obstacle for Hooker will be his landing spot and his chances of becoming his new team’s QB1.

  • Other players to watch – Tanner McKee (Stanford), Anthony Richardson (Florida)

Running Back

Lock – Bijan Robinson (Texas)

The next Saquon Barkley ($10,091,000) is headed to the 2023 NFL Draft! Bijan Robinson has the allure of a generational talent at the running back position and well, let’s just say his numbers speak for themselves. In 2022, Robinson rushed for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding 19 catches for 314 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns and a whopping 16.5 yards per catch. Oh, and he also had similar production in his sophomore season. Robinson is an absolute freak of nature who can do it all at the position and the only real worry will be how quickly he adapts to the blocking side of things. When you read many of his scouting reports, this tends to pop up as a negative more often than not. When looking at the positives of Robinson’s scouting report, you will see things such as elite acceleration, excellent contact balance, great change of direction, great pass catching back, explosive in open space, and so much more that he has to be the top pick in the upcoming Dynasty Owner rookie drafts.

  • Other players to watch – Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama), Kendre Miller (TCU)

Sleeper – DeWayne McBride (UAB)

I’m sure this is a player not many of you have heard of, but I assure you that most of you will be impressed when you look into the pride of UAB, DeWayne McBride. In 2022, McBride ranked as the third overall running back in college football according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). While PFF is not the bible of football by any means, it is a good indication that the kid has a ton of talent. McBride not only has talent he has great size for the NFL and is listed at 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 215 pounds. In 2022, McBride had an impressive stat line of over 1,700 yards rushing and added 19 touchdowns, all while averaging a whopping 7.4 yards per carry. The big issue with McBride is in the passing game, which will no doubt be his biggest knock leading up to the draft as the UAB product caught just 5 passes in his entire college career. If McBride is able to solidify his pass catching ability throughout the draft process, he could rise up draft boards fairly quickly.

  • Other players to watch – Tank Bigsby (Auburn), Eric Gray (Oklahoma)

Wide Receiver

Lock – Jordan Addison (USC)

I believe many of you will be surprised by this selection and I must admit it hurts not having Jaxon Smith-Njigba in this spot. The tiebreaker that put Addison over the top for me is the fact he had excellent success for two different universities (USC and Pittsburgh). Granted Addison played for top level quarterbacks at both spots, but it is still impressive to me. Addison did have injury issues in 2022 but still came close to hitting the 1000-yard mark in just 11 games, finishing the year with 59 catches for 875 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns. The year before at Pittsburgh with Kenny Pickett ($3,516,976), Addison had 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns. Addison does have some weaknesses that could be an issue at the NFL level, but none are more concerning than his physicality. If Addison can add some strength over the next few years, he has the potential to become an elite possession receiver for years to come and with Dynasty Owner having PPR scoring, he should be a very consistent player. Addison’s biggest strengths are his route running, separation, and experience and I am expecting his talents to translate quickly to the NFL.

  • Other players to watch – Jaxon Smith-Njigba (OSU), Quinten Johnston (TCU)

Sleeper – Rashee Rice (SMU)

In the sleeper wide receiver spot, we have our second player who graded extremely well according to PFF but played for a small school in Rashee Rice. Rice is a physical specimen at the receiver position coming in at 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing in at 203 pounds and moving extremely well for his size. Watch his highlights and you will fall in love! Rice should be a great contested catch receiver with a huge catch radius and has the speed to break the big plays today’s NFL loves. I hate to compare these young kids to big stars, but Rice reminds me a lot of DK Metcalf ($24,000,000) as his main knocks coming out of college were where he played and the fact he did not run a full route tree. Both were unbelievable athletes and top tier playmakers, and we all know how things worked out for Metcalf. I’m betting on Rice come draft season!

  • Other players to watch – Jalin Hyatt (Tennessee) A.T. Perry (Wake Forest)

Tight End

Lock – Michael Mayer (Notre Dame)

The tight end #1 of the upcoming draft is no doubt Notre Dame product, Michael Mayer. Had Brock Bowers not played college football, Mayer would be getting much more hype than he currently is. It reminds me of the Kyle Pitts ($8,227,624) and Pat Freiermuth ($1,507,045) situation a couple of years back. Had Pitts not been around, Freiermuth would have been viewed similarly to T.J. Hockenson ($9,392,000) when he came out of college. Instead, Freiermuth fell to the middle of the second round of our rookie drafts here on Dynasty Owner. Enough of the comparisons, let’s get into the on-field production. In 2022, Mayer had a stat line of 67 catches, 809 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns all while playing on a team not known for its offense. My favorite strength for Mayer heading into the NFL is the fact that he is an excellent blocker which will allow him to get on the field early and often. In college, Mayer was asked to block defensive linemen on occasions and while he did not dominate, he did hold his own which speaks volumes to his readiness as a blocker. Mayer will not blow you away with his athleticism, but he is an extremely smart football player who has enough athletic ability to do extremely well at the next level at the tight end position.

  • Other players to watch – None are in the same area code as Mayer.

Sleeper – Darnell Washington (Georgia)

In case you haven’t heard, Darnell Washington is one of the biggest athletes to step on a football field on planet Earth. At 6 feet 7 inches tall and 270 pounds. Washington should have no issue holding his own as a blocker at the NFL level. At this point you may be wondering how this massive man qualifies as a sleeper. The reason for this is because his stat line from 2022 is not the most glamorous by any means. Washington finished the season with 28 catches for receiving 454 yards and 2 touchdowns, but he was also playing behind a generational talent at the position in Brock Bowers. I have my reservations about Washington, but he will be a tight end I target quite a bit during our Dynasty Owner rookie drafts based on potential alone. Imagine being an NFL quarterback and having an athletic tight end the size of a house to throw to in the red zone.

  • Other players to watch – Sam Laporta (Iowa), McCallan Castles (UC Davis)

Thank you all for reading and be sure to check out all of the upcoming Dynasty Owner content. We have the Dynasty Owner podcast, the Dynasty Owner Livestream, and articles to help with your Dynasty Owner teams. Good luck on your 2023 Chase for the Ring!

2023 NFL Combine Reaction

By: Nate Christian (@NateNFL)

Every year, the NFL Combine becomes bigger and bigger. Between the draftniks and NFL fans, there’s already a crowd, but add in the bettors plus the ever-growing dynasty fantasy football community and the NFL Combine has become an event to watch. We’re all glued to our screens looking for who is the fastest in the 40-Yard Dash (even if it doesn’t correlate to on-field success) or we’re listening to who the media is talking about, because oftentimes they are parroting what scouts and executives have said around Indianapolis. At the end of the day, when the 40-yard dash times aren’t as fresh and exciting, who really stood out at the NFL Combine? Who struggled to keep pace with the top of their class? That’s why you’re here!

Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

It’s easy to declare a “winner” at this year’s NFL Combine. Richardson was the only quarterback of the top four to participate in the athletic testing drills and he knew what he was doing. With an official 4.43 in the 40-yard dash and a 40.5” vertical jump, Richardson had one of the best combines of any player in draft history. To put up elite testing numbers as a 6’ 4” 244lb player (let alone quarterback) was incredible. Richardson made himself a lot of money in Indianapolis, but for those who have been paying attention, this is validation rather than a revelation. We knew Richardson was going to blow up the combine and it is still impressive for him to come through on that idea, but where is he as a passer? Richardson looked great in the throwing drills right next to C.J. Stroud. Richardson was able to show off his arm strength which often looked like him casually flicking the ball 50+ yards down the field, but it was still apparent that he lacks the consistent accuracy that a player like Stroud boasts. If Richardson secures top five draft capital (which is almost to be expected at this point), it’s going to be hard to pass on his upside once we get into the second half of the first round of Dynasty Owner rookie drafts.

Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA

Turn on the tape and Charbonnet will pop off as a big runner with intriguing lateral ability. Measuring in at 6’ 0” 214lbs, one of the big questions surrounding Charbonnet was about his athleticism and if it would be a sticking point in the process. Charbonnet took care of business during the combine and posted a 4.53 40-yard dash and a 37” vertical jump, eliminating any questions about his explosiveness and speed. Charbonnet is a physical runner and to pair that with his ability to create chunk plays and find his way into the second level, he makes an intriguing prospect who will certainly be off the board by the end of Day 2 of the NFL Draft. Charbonnet is a top five running back in this class and I’m looking forward to what NFL team looks to give him an opportunity to take over their backfield.

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama

The NFL Combine was a bit of a mixed bag for Jahmyr Gibbs. Coming into the weekend as the consensus RB2 in the class, Gibbs measured in at 5’9’ and 199lbs and drew some questions. After being listed at 5’ 11” and 200lbs in college, it’s a bit of a disappointment but not a dealbreaker to me. And what damage he did with his measurements he made up for with his testing. Gibbs had the second fastest time of any running back this year with a 4.36 40-yard dash. He has great acceleration and burst, and with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield at an elite level, any size concerns will be mitigated through his style of play and nose for finding open space. Gibbs cemented his place as the RB2 in this draft class.

Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU

It’s been a weird offseason for Boutte. After flip-flopping on his commitment to LSU or the NFL Draft, he eventually got pushed towards the NFL and was invited to the NFL Combine for a chance to move his way into the top tier of wideouts. He did not accomplish that goal. In fact, Boutte looked pretty average with a 4.50 40-yard dash (at 5’ 11” and 195lbs) and a 29” vertical jump. After a underwhelming junior season (48 catches for 538 receiving yards and 2 TDs), Boutte could have really used a springboard into the final stretch of the pre-draft process. He was unable to create that momentum this week and is looking at Day 2 NFL Draft capital with a chance of falling into Day 3 if he can’t start stacking positive workouts. Boutte is going to be a fade for me in just about every draft as I just don’t trust him at this point.

Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma

Quietly flying under the radar, Marvin Mims put together an impressive career at Oklahoma but has been met with very little hype from the NFL Draft community. After running a 4.38 40-yard dash and measuring in at 5’ 11” and 183lbs, Mims shouldn’t be so under-the-radar moving forward. His ability to consistently win deep (averaged 19.5 yards per catch over his college career) as well as create yards after the catch on shorter routes gives him great versatility and helps him check a lot of boxes as a prospect. Mims is expected to get Day 2 NFL Draft capital and could quickly have a role as the WR3 on an offense. He’s more than just a field-stretcher though and with comparisons to Brandin Cooks ($19,882,000) already on the internet, there is some exciting upside with Mims. He should be worth a look in the back half of the second round in your Dynasty Owner rookie draft.

Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State

Despite an impressive attempt from Darnell Washington (Georgia) to take over the TE3 role in this draft class, Musgrave did plenty to maintain his hold on the position. Coming in at 6’ 6” 253lbs, Musgrave ran a 4.61 40-yard dash and posted a 36” vertical jump. Impressive numbers for a big man like Musgrave. His strong athleticism combined with his smoothness on the field sets him up to be one of the top pass-catching tight ends in the league. In the mold of Mike Gesicki ($10,931,000) or Dallas Goedert ($14,250,000) it may take a year or two for Musgrave to reach the heights of the position, but he has a great base to get there and be a playmaker for an NFL offense.

More Top Free Agents: AFC

By Matt Morrison (@dynastyjerk)

A couple of weeks ago, I posted an article where I discussed some more of the NFC free agents that I didn’t get to in my initial Top 10 Free Agents article from early February. You can go read the entire article for the details, but allow me to remind you of the initial Top 10 players I talked about as well as the five I discussed in the NFC only article. All of the free agents are unrestricted free agents (UFA), meaning that they have played for four or more seasons and are free to negotiate and sign with any team.

RankPlayerPositionStatusPrevious Salary
1Saquon BarkleyRBUFA$7,217,000
2Tom BradyQBUFA$15,000,000
3Josh JacobsRBUFA$2,983,350
4Tony PollardRBUFA$796,945
5Lamar JacksonQBUFA$23,016,000
6Daniel JonesQBUFA$6,416,014
7David MontgomeryRBUFA$1,003,845
8Geno SmithQBUFA$3,500,000
9Miles SandersRBUFA$1,337,544
10Alexander MattisonRBUFA$867,793

Additional NFC Free Agents

PlayerPositionStatusPrevious Salary
Baker MayfieldQBUFA$18,858,000
Jimmy GaroppoloQBUFA$7,000,000
Jamaal WilliamsRBUFA$3,000,000
Allen LazardWRUFA$3,986,000
Dalton SchultzTEUFA$10,931,000

Well, today is the AFC’s turn and I have two running backs, two wide receivers and one tight end for you. Let’s jump into it.

More AFC Free Agents

Kareem Hunt

Hunt ($6,000,000) was a player who I thought was going to be traded prior to the 2022 trade deadline. The Browns were easily out of the playoff hunt (no pun intended), and Kareem seemed like the perfect player to trade for at least a late round pick. Hunt did not get traded and concluded his season as a Brown. He finished as the RB38 despite playing in every game last season. So, where does Hunt go from here?

He is an unrestricted free agent as his 2 year – $12,000,000 contract is expiring. His market value is a little dubious to figure out. He is a past workhorse running back, but he hasn’t put up more than 200 rushing attempts or over 900 rushing yards since his rookie season (2017). Maybe this is a blessing in disguise as he has much less “wear and tear” on his body when you compare him to other running backs taken in the 2017 class. Alvin Kamara ($15,000,000), Christian McCaffrey ($16,015,875) and Leonard Fournette ($7,000,000) are three names that come to mind.

I see Hunt moving on from Cleveland and finding his way to a team that will use him as a 1a/1b type running back. Miami would be a solid landing spot. I’ll guess that his salary is similar to his expired contract, so $6,000,000 – $7,000,000 is what I expect Hunt to make in 2023.

Devin Singletary

Much like Hunt, Singletary ($974,500) has many layers to his future contract situation. First is the emergence of James Cook ($1,458,014). I’m not convinced Cook is ready to become an every down back, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility. Singletary’s options also depend on if the Bills want to pursue a running back in the 2023 NFL Draft. Look for Singletary to make around the $6,000,000 mark per year.

Jakobi Meyers

Jakobi Meyers ($3,986,000) was one of my most rostered players last season in Dynasty Owner. It wasn’t something that I really planned, but it just happened that way. I recognized that he had a chance to be a fine value. He finished as WR40 with a sub $4,000,000 salary. This isn’t the greatest performance for a wide receiver, but he was a rock solid Bench wide receiver. Not only that, but he finished the season with games of 20.3, 16.9, and 12.2 Dynasty Owner fantasy points.

Meyers has earned a much larger contract going forward. He will almost surely make more than $10,000,000 per year, and I put him at closer to $12,000,000.

JuJu Smith-Schuster

JuJu Smith-Schuster ($3,250,000) should be returning to Kansas City in 2023. He performed very consistently throughout the season. He and Marquez Valdes-Scantling ($10,000,000) did a marvelous job replacing Tyreek Hill ($18,000,000). JuJu also had an excellent performance in the Super Bowl. He led all Chiefs’ players in receptions with seven.

JuJu should be invited back to the Chiefs, and if he is, I expect the 26 year old to make $15,000,000 per year.

Evan Engram

Engram ($9,000,000) finished as the TE5 for the 2022 Dynasty Owner season. He finished as TE5 despite some pretty inconsistent fantasy output. Engram had nine games of 9.0 Dynasty Owner fantasy points or less. Hopefully if you rostered him last year, you started him in Week 14. That week (39.2 Dynasty Owner fantasy points) accounted for more than 22 percent of his entire season output.

My gut tells me that Engram will re-sign with the Jaguars. They have adequate cap room and Engram seems to be a possible comfort target for Trevor Lawrence ($9,198,372) in the coming seasons. Engram’s salary should be roughly the same as his last contract at least on a per year basis.

Conclusion

For those of you wondering, I will be starting on New Contract talk once we get some substantial signings to talk about. Obviously, the majority of those signings will take place after the opening of NFL free agency on March 15th.

I thank you all for reading, and keep in mind that I will be talking about all of these players again as well as new players in the upcoming months. If there is any player that you would like me to talk about more, please send me a message, and I’ll do a full spotlight on that player.

Message me on Twitter (@dynastyjerk) and let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I would appreciate it if you followed @Dynasty_Owner on Twitter as well as subscribed to Dynasty Owner on YouTube. Thank you all. Take care and be safe.

TheJerk