Minus a long-term contract heading into the 2020 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys decided to place the exclusive franchise tag on their quarterback – Dak Prescott. The exclusive tag is not used all that often. The Washington Redskins were the last to do so applying the designation to QB Kirk Cousins.

By making the move, a few things are certain. One, Prescott cannot negotiate with any other teams this year. Two, if Dallas and their quarterback cannot come to an agreement on a new contract, the Cowboys will be forced to pay Prescott roughly $33 million for this season. The $33 million comes from the average of the top-5 NFL quarterback salaries, which is what any player designated with the franchise tag is due to earn.

And just like that, the New England Patriots’ Bill Belichick-Tom Brady dynasty was no more. Brady’s recent signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers brings an era in New England to an end. It also begins what could be an exciting chapter in Tampa.

Brady is the owner of six Super Bowl rings. Remember, those are given to winners. Is it possible that Brady can guide the Buccaneers to Super Bowl LV? Anything is possible.

Remember the 49ers?

In 2018, San Francisco finished the regular season 4-12. A year later, they went 13-3, won the NFC West Division title for the first time since 2012, and played in the Super Bowl. The Bucs went a respectable 7-9 in head coach Bruce Arians first season in Tampa.

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor had a rough first year. It took 13 weeks to earn his first NFL coaching victory. The season ended with a dismal 2-14 record.

That finish does afford the Bengals the opportunity to select first in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft. The question looming as the draft approaches is should Cincinnati trade the first pick in an attempt to acquire more picks and build their roster?

Yes, Trade Down

It is almost a foregone conclusion that former LSU quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow will be the first pick in the draft. With the emphasis on the quarterback position in the NFL, having a very good one is a must for teams with their eyes on the Super Bowl.

There is no question that the NFL is a quarterback-driven league. The best teams are usually led by the best quarterbacks in the game. There is a reason why the New England Patriots have won so many games over the past two decades – Tom Brady.

Brady will move on from the Patriots in 2020, but he remains one of the best in the game. Here’s how he and the rest of the league’s signal-callers rank heading into the new season.

TIER 1

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City

The big reason why the Chiefs were able to capture Super Bowl LIV was Mahomes. In his first full season as the team’s quarterback in 2018, Mahomes became one of just two – Peyton Manning is the other – players to throw for 5,000 yards-plus and 50 or more touchdowns in the same season. He was rewarded with the NFL MVP.

After helping Michigan State to two Final Fours, Draymond Green was a second-round draft pick of the Golden State Warriors in 2012. Eight years later, Green has been to three NBA All-Star games, won three NBA titles, and earned the 2017 league Defensive Player of the Year award.

And, he’s the NBA’s most overrated player.

Not a Shooter

Green has never been and will never be a long-range jump shooter. In today’s modern game, the 3-pointer rules, but Green’s jump shot leaves much to be desired. He is a career 32 percent shooter from behind the 3-point arc. By contrast, Green’s teammate Stephen Curry is a career 40-plus-percent 3-point shooter.

The global pandemic known as coronavirus (COVID-19) has led to the postponement or cancellation of numerous sporting events around the world. With the National Football League in its offseason, the coronavirus may have an impact on the league’s upcoming draft. Scheduled for April 23-25 in Las Vegas, Nevada, this year’s draft may be unlike any other.

Annual League Meeting

The 2020 NFL season officially begins on March 18. On that day, free agency starts as a number of big-name players are able to negotiate with teams around the league. The league’s annual meeting, which was scheduled for March 29 through April 1, has been cancelled.

Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien is a branch off the Bill Belichick coaching tree. O’Brien served under the New England head coach beginning in 2007 as an offensive assistant eventually assuming the role of offensive coordinator in 2011.

After navigating Penn State through the whole Jerry Sandusky ordeal, O’Brien took over as the head coach in Houston in 2014. In early 2020, O’Brien assumed the role of general manager as well, just like his mentor in New England.

O’Brien actually made many personnel decisions in Houston last year as the Texans left the job vacant after firing Brian Gaine in June 2019. Some of those decisions have left many wondering if O’Brien is fit to handle both the head coach and general manager positions.

Jameis Winston’s career in Tampa Bay was over long before the Bucs went out and signed Tom Brady in free agency. You simply don’t throw 30 interceptions for the quarterback-whispering Bruce Arians and automatically get your starting job back.

Winston’s contract with the Buccaneers expired and there was no way Tampa Bay was using the franchise tag on a guy who will likely be an NFL backup in 2020. With returning to Tampa Bay now definitely out of the equation, where will Winston end up next season?

With the acquisition of running back Todd Gurley in the free agent market, the Atlanta Falcons may now have the best running back-wide receiver tandem in the National Football League.

Some NFL teams have outstanding receivers, Tampa Bay for example, but lack star power in the backfield. Others may have, say a Le’Veon Bell in the backfield, but do not have an elite pass catcher.

What makes Gurley and Jones the NFL’s best?

Jones’ Domination

The sixth overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft, Jones is one of the elite all-around athletes in the league. In high school, Jones was a two-time state champion in Alabama in both the long jump (24-feet-2-inches) and the triple jump (47-5). He won a state title in the indoor high jump (6-6) as a senior and was the state’s track and field athlete of the year in 2007.

With the NFL Combine officially over and players receiving their grades, it’s time to once again list out the top 10 NFL draft eligible prospects. This is not a list of where guys should be drafted, just a list of the top overall prospects in the draft. Let’s get started!

What an incredible journey for Joe Burrow. To go from an afterthought at Ohio State, to an average SEC QB at LSU his junior year, finally ending up as a Heisman winner and national champion is truly remarkable. Here are Burrow’s stats during his junior year: 13 games, 2894 yards, 16 TDs, and 6 interceptions. Those stats are fine, especially in the SEC. Here are Burrow’s stats from this past year: 15 games, 5671 yards, 60 TDs, and 6 interceptions.