Inside: Three great stories to read, two prop bets and some big what-ifs for 2025.
First, I wanted to shoutout “The Athletic Football Show” for its Lessons Learned episode. If you want to understand how teams won in 2024, this episode with Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Nate Tice is a must-listen. Onward.
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What if … the Chiefs were better?
Yesterday, James Boyd and Austin Mock took an alternative look at the 2024 season — one in which Jayden Daniels went No. 1 to Chicago, Saquon Barkley stayed in New York and my Bengals had a league-average defense. (A guy can dream!)
One that’s often overlooked: What if Chiefs WR Rashee Rice stayed healthy?
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It’s a distant memory now, but Rice’s three healthy 2024 games had him on pace to finish with 136 catches for 1,632 yards and 11 touchdowns. That’s a small sample to extrapolate, but Rice was thriving as Kansas City’s No. 1 receiver. Amazing that they lost him that early and still went 15-2 en route to winning the AFC.
For the full list of what-ifs, read the article here.
Inspired by that list, I wanted to look ahead to 2025. What if …
The Steelers sign Aaron Rodgers? The Super Bowl window for Pittsburgh’s aging defense keeps shrinking, while Rodgers will be another year removed from an Achilles injury and the plethora of minor injuries that hampered him in 2024. Can the 41-year-old pull another Brett Favre? (At 40, Favre led the Vikings to the NFC Championship after a brief stint with … the Jets.) Speaking of Minnesota:
The Raiders sign Sam Darnold? Alec Lewis detailed Darnold’s free-agent options, noting that of the QB-needy teams, none have more cap space than Las Vegas. The 27-year-old Darnold would benefit from a decent offensive line, TE Brock Bowers and perhaps some time with minority owner Tom Brady.
Khalil Mack returns to the Bears? While their offensive line needs most of the assistance, this defensive line could also use help. Chicago allowed opposing QBs the league’s second-most time to throw (3.1 seconds). The 33-year-old Mack would meet this glaring need better than any other free agent while building on his four-year legacy in Chicago.
The Broncos sign Aaron Jones? This would give Sean Payton the reliable runner he’s craved since landing in Denver. Fresh off a career-high 1,138 rushing yards, the 30-year-old Jones can replace impending free agent Javonte Williams, becoming the Alvin Kamara to Audric Estime’s Mark Ingram in Payton’s system.
The Patriots trade for Brandon Aiyuk? Finally! Following his early-season injury in October, and with 2024 first-round WR Ricky Pearsall ready to break out, all while a massive Brock Purdy extension looms, the 49ers’ asking price should be cheaper than before. Meanwhile, the Mike Vrabel-Drake Maye Patriots are now more attractive for Aiyuk, who would give Maye a desperately needed No. 1 receiving option. (If not Aiyuk, expect New England to bid heavily for Tee Higgins.)
What Dianna’s Hearing: Should Giants trade up to No. 1?
On the latest episode of the “Scoop City” podcast, co-host Chase Daniel and I dipped our toes into the draft. Chase explained why, if there’s a quarterback worth trading up for, it’s probably Miami’s Cam Ward. And I made the point that the team trading up for him should be the Giants, currently sitting with the third pick.
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This is a make-or-break year for GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll. Landing the right quarterback is the best — and maybe only — way they can make it through 2025. I wouldn’t be surprised if they made a call to Tennessee, trying to make sure they can get the quarterback they want.
Back to you, Jacob.
Every Friday, I share three stories from The Athletic that you might have missed.
Don’t forget Zach Wilson
In 2024, Jayden Daniels went No. 2 and outplayed Caleb Williams. Same story in 2023, with C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young. That would’ve been the best-case scenario for the 2021 Jets, who spent the No. 2 pick on Zach Wilson. But instead of outshining No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence, Wilson is now competing with Denver’s scout team. Don’t give up yet, though — Nick Kosmider explains why the 25-year-old free agent still looks like a starter.
Bridgewater embraces life
Upon returning to the NFL last month, some Lions teammates referred to Teddy Bridgewater as “Coach Teddy.” That’s the title he’d earned at his high school alma mater, Miami Northwestern, where days prior, he’d finished coaching a state championship team. Bridgewater’s fascinating journey is explained by Dan Pompei. One reader commented: “Best story that I’ve read in a long time. Made my day. Thank you.”
Stars embrace dad bods
“You would think he was a soccer dad or something,” former Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill once said when discussing the dad bod build of Patrick Mahomes. But Kansas City’s quarterback isn’t the only superstar athlete changing our traditional ideas of fitness. Rustin Dodd explains what we get wrong about athleticism.
Around the NFL
Six massage therapists accused Ravens K Justin Tucker of sexual misconduct, per a Baltimore Banner investigative report. In a statement, Tucker called the allegations “unequivocally false.” Here’s what we know.
The Skills Showdown was last night, with Jared Goff winning the Precision Passing challenge (watch it here). Coverage for the actual Pro Bowl — which now includes a relay race, tug-of-war, game of Madden and punting challenge — starts on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN. Here’s a full Pro Bowl watch guide.
Super Bowl props, pt. 2/7
Shifting to halftime bets, I think we see:
- Kendrick Lamar’s first song: “tv off.” With lyrics like “Walk in New Orleans with the etiquette of L.A., yellin’ MUSTAAARD,” it feels made for the Superdome. There’s even a pass interference line. The betting favorite is “HUMBLE.”
- Total songs performed: Over 10.5. His performance at the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show (with Dr. Dre and company) saw multiple mashups in a short period. That’s a strength of Kendrick’s, plus his one confirmed guest, SZA, has hits of her own.
Next week: Super Bowl matchups to watch, ranking 2025’s free agents and the greatest debates of all time.
Yesterday’s most-clicked: The Athletic’s latest 2025 mock draft, in which the Patriots land Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan.
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