The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL - Which teams are actually trying to win the Super Bowl?

Episode Date: June 16, 2023

The fundamental goal for an NFL team is obvious: win the Super Bowl. But just as obvious is the fact that not every team is a realistic contender. For some teams, taking necessary steps along the path to contention is more important than actively trying to win the Super Bowl. So on this episode of The Athletic Football Show, Robert Mays and Nate Tice ask and answer one simple question of all 32 NFL teams...are you really trying to win the Super Bowl this year?Follow Robert on Twitter: @robertmaysFollow Nate on Twitter: @Nate_TiceSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTubeStay cool and dry all summer with Birddogs and get a FREE Yeti-style tumbler at birddogs.com/athletic use promo code ATHLETIC at checkout Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the athletic football show. Welcome to the athletic football show. I'm Robert Mays. Joining me today. It's my good friend Nate Tyson. How you doing, buddy? I'm doing very well. It's good to have you back.

Thanks, man. I know most people are going to be listening and go like, well, I've just been hearing YouTube for the last couple of weeks. So what are you guys talking about? But back seeing you live in the flesh, well, no, the virtual flesh. Yeah, virtual flesh. Yeah. The virtual flesh.

You can see my face. It's good. It's good. slightly too. Oh, you had some color on the call earlier. I was in Greece for two weeks, man. You looked, you looked flushed in a good way. Like you were just, yeah, full of color. So it was great. But no, awesome to have you back. And yeah, ready, ready to get going again. Do you have fun at the wedding? I did. I did a great time. That was a beautiful setting. I said on the show I hosted it was like the weather was just. Oh, the weather was amazing. And we got so, so lucky with the weather. I was overjoyed. It was like 75 sunny for people.

with our venue was like on a rooftop in, in Fulton market in Chicago. So it was outside, inside. So like, everyone during the cocktail hours, just like standing on the balcony and like you could see the skyline in the background. It was just, it was as good as it could have been in the city of Chicago on Memorial Day weekend. So like 72 and it was awesome. It was awesome. Got to meet your mom. Yeah. Yeah. Uh, yeah. A couple of my friends drunkenly accosted you, which I, which I heard about. Yep. There was one who is your high, he was a high school guard or center. Yes. Yes. Oh. Yeah, I got to see him at three different stages throughout the night. And each one became, he was sweatier than the last one I saw every single time.

But that was really funny. Great ceremony, everything. I personally, and my wife had never been to Chicago, but we went to the Art Institute. We went to the Field Museum, which was both. It's exactly what we wanted people to do. That's why we had the wedding on Sunday of a Moro the weekend because we wanted people to make a weekend out of it. It's like, come in on Friday. And then on Saturday all day, you can just enjoy the city.

you can be a tourist and then Sunday we go to the wedding. So many people did that. We did like a welcome drinks the night before. So a lot of people got to just like hang out and drink. And it was funny. I saw you, I saw you during the cocktail hour. And then after dinner,

we were talking and then dancing on my own by Robin came on. And I ran away from you. I was like the song came on and I literally ran to the dance floor. And I was dancing most of the night. So I didn't really hang out with any of my guests. But that's why we did the welcome drinks the night before. Because I was like, during the wedding, I'm dancing. Like, I'm setting the tone over there.

And that was the other thing. Best, I will, I'm biased, obviously, wedding DJ was just, he was amazing. So I was very, very pleased. And if any of you are looking for a wedding DJ in Chicago, Matt Rohn is the king. I would die for Matt Rohn. I've said that many times over the last couple weeks. Also, an inspired choice, I have to compliment your new wife, the father, daughter dance. We're going with Bob Marley.

That was her dad's choice because he used to sing it to her. Yeah. That was really sweet. That was cool. Everyone sung along with that. That was very nice. You don't hear that one for a lot for the dance song. And that one hit that one hit the heart.

That one like felt good. That's when I was, you know, starting to get a little lubed up. So it was like perfect time. So I was belting out that song. That one I joined in on. So I thought I just wanted to compliment that as an inspired choice. It was a fun week.

And it's good to be back. It was. Congrats to you guys. Thanks, man. We had a really, really good time. And I hope everyone. everyone else had a really good time too because we were very concerned about that. Absolutely.

It is nice to be back. And we're going to dig into a lot of our offseason stuff over the next couple weeks. We wanted to do a show, again, I'll blame it back for a couple of days that we'd kind of grip it and rip it a little bit, but one I thought was a little bit different and interesting. And I was thinking about this on the plane as I was reading about DeAndre Hopkins visiting the Titans. And I was like, all right, well, if the Titans signed DeAndre Hopkins, like, what are the Titans trying to do? Are they trying to compete?

Are they trying to surround Will Levis with the right pieces if he ends up playing a little bit this year? Because I think some other teams that we'll talk about here, I think that's exactly what they've done. There's some urgency, but not a ton. So my question that I was asking myself was, how many teams are actually trying to win the Super Bowl? Like in 2023, if you took every team in the NFL, how many teams are actively trying to win it this year? And that's what we're going to do today. We're going to go through every team in the NFL. And based on where they are, what their offseason moves looked like, what their resource allocation has been, are they trying to win the Super Bowl?

Because over the last few years, I think we might even do it again this year. We talk about which teams can win the Super Bowl. But which teams can and which teams are trying to is a very different conversation. So that's what we're going to do today. I like that. It's not just the actual what they can do. It's the mindset. Yes.

It's the mindset going in. it's not us as neutral observers trying to go, well, you have some biases with one team, but mostly neutral observers going like, well, you know, really? Or going like, man, yeah, I understand why they're doing that. So I think this is a great exercise. And I love how it's the Titans is doing this because I believe we start our offseason talks with the Titans and one other team. And they were basically the catalyst for this show again.

They're a fascinating canvas. The Tennessee Titans are. I assume we'll talk about them a bunch over the next few months as we get toward the season. It'd be so much easier if they didn't have like Tana Hill and a great defense. And it would be so much easier to just talk about it. But yeah, I'm ruining their segment already. But it's like, yeah, they're just such a fascinating team. We're starting with the AFC West because that's where your note started with.

And I always make you go off my notes. So because I was gone for two weeks, we flipped it today. So I had to rearrange mine. We're going to start with the AFC West. Some of these answers are going to be very fast. It's why we can do all 32 teams in one show because it's not going to take a lot. So let's start with defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.

Nate, in your mind, are the Chiefs trying to win the Super Bowl in 2020. I don't know, but no, absolutely they are. And I think they are until Mahomes retires. I think that's their mindset. That's the Chief Chief Chiefs are done. Los Angeles Chargers. Are the Los Angeles Chargers trying to win the Super Bowl this season? Yes.

Yes, they are. Yes, they absolutely are. Take advantage of Herbert's last contract. Last year was a cheap deal. You know, look at their contracts. He was coming to free agents. Do you guys how expensive everybody else is? Yes, they are competing this year.

all in this year. Done. They are 13th in cash spending in the NFL this year, but they spent a ton last year. I mean, that's when they handed out a bunch of contracts. And so they're right up against the cap. There's a couple teams like that where you're saying what they paid last year is actually indicative of what maybe they think this year. So there's a couple teams where that note is actually very, very relevant. I think I'll mention the cash spending a lot because I do think it's an indication of how

aggressive teams are trying to be. But with the, this is a perfect example. Okay. The chargers have $12 million in 2023 cap space as it currently stands. They are 60 million over the 2024 cap. So the Chargers, yes, are trying to win the Super Bowl this year. These next two now, this is why I wanted to do the show because there are plenty of conversations that get a little bit trickier. The Denver Broncos. Do you think the Denver Broncos are trying to win the Super Bowl in 2023? I actually do think they are.

I do too. Yeah. I don't think Sean Payton knows anything else. I think that is a great point. Yeah. The Sean Payton part of this is. is totally reasonable, but then you look at what they've done. The Denver Broncos handed out $142 million guaranteed in free agency this season.

That is the most of any team in the NFL. I don't think you're doing that if you're not trying to win, and they've already committed to their quarterback. They've got a lot of pieces that are established on that team, both sides of the ball. As weird as it is, considering the season they had last year and the fact that they were picking in the top five or would have been if they own their pick, I do think they are trying to win the Super Bowl this season. I do. I think what you said with the free agency, I mean, they even sound like Frank Clark. They're trading up for guys in the draft, which again, that's some Sean Peyton aggressiveness.

But that is also, he's not a rebuilding coach. He got out in New Orleans, right? So he was like, oh, that credit card. Oh, Drew Breeze isn't here. Let's start finding the exit door pretty quickly. So it's kind of interesting, though. Their Vegas win total right now is about eight and a half wins at most places. I'm been bent over on that.

Just like I'm pretty optimistic about the, I think it's the year after the year, because it can't get any worse than it was last year, but they had a lot of injuries. Yeah. I think Sean Paine, we talk about the guardrails, but with Russell Wilson, I think Sean Payton's going to do that. So I'm, I think they're going to be pretty frisky this year, but I think they are totally all in just based on their personnel and all the moves they've made. Look at the deals they handed out along the offensive line, Ben Powers.

They went out and got Mike McGlenshey. They gave that contract to Zach Allen, big, big time deals. And then the Sean Payton thing. I don't know if they can win the Super Bowl. It is going to be hard for me. I will admit this right now. Real quick, that's a big difference. It is a big difference.

Yes, an actual contender or a playoff team. That's a big difference. That's a big leap to make. Okay, it's June 16th as we record this. I know over the next couple months, one of my biases and one of my blind spots as we get toward the season is going to be how much I have to get the Russell stink off of me after what's last season looked like. And I know it is going to affect me more than it probably should. But again, this isn't what they're going to do. It is what they are trying to do.

And I think they've spent their resources, they are trying to win the Super Bowl. I did a little Bronco study earlier this week because Broncos offense study. Because I really wanted to check out the receivers and see how Sutton looked at the end of the year and all that and Judy and all that. And it was bad, man, that office was it was bad in the moment. And then going back six months later, watching it, I counted in, it was the chiefs game. It was their second chiefs game. in the first two series, there was four mental errors or misassignments on just alignment.

Like a guy, they had a fake, like an orbit motion, they had like a fake reverse. The guy was going the wrong way. So the fake was going into the play. Then another play, Sutton and Judy lined up next to each other and they looked at each other like,

and Russ, like didn't know which one was on which side. Like it was just, just comical. And now it was like that, oh my God. And they were actually trying to compete last season. And that's what they looked at like in December,

after how many games. I know. It's a great argument for why it could be so much better this year, though, the fact that it really could be worse. They had so many injuries. That's something, yeah, we pounded on. They deserved a lot of the criticism. They truly did.

But they had some stuff going against them, some Lux-based stuff going against them. So that's why I just, even if that regress this, I mean, they could be okay this year. Last one here. The Las Vegas Raiders. Are the Las Vegas Raiders trying to win the Super Bowl in 2020? I think they think they are, but come on. This is so hard. It's so hard.

Because you don't know what they actually think. They are seventh in cash spending. They are 30th in available cap space. They have spent their cap space. They went out and they gave Jacoby Myers that contract. The bigger question to me, I think the central question, what I will pose to you, if you signed Jimmy Garoppolo to that deal, are you trying to win the Super Bowl? Yes.

I think the answer is yes, but I certainly don't feel good about it. No, no. It's like, yeah, it's like, yes, that's saying we're signing a VET QB that could be our starter, but it's not like, does it make you really feel like that's the move? Like, that's the needle mover that we just signed. And that's the Raiders. Like the moves they made last year was like, oh, we're pushing this year. We straight for Devante.

We signed Chandler Jones. Look at us go. And then they kind of doubled down on it, I guess. Jacoby Myers. They signed guys like Austin Hooper. Like, I don't know. It's not like they're playing the youth. They have like some like really good expensive vets.

And then I don't know, just a very strange team, very, very strange team. They're over under is at six and a half or seven and a half wins right now. And I think they truly think that they're like, I don't know, I don't know. Josh McDaniels, I know it's going to be trying to be competitive as all get out. But yeah, you look at this team as such a, such a weird situation. I'm going with. I'm going with no. But I can understand how you could say yes, based on some of the movies.

they've made. They're one of the most confounding teams of the league. We've talked about them a bunch. This is a good way to talk about teams that are confusing. I think this exercise is, and they were one of the teams that stood out the most. The line I wrote was they're stuck in compete mode this year because they set that course last year. Like that that was the boat and then they're trying to turn the boat slowly and like, oh shit, there's the iceberg coming ahead. Talking about cash spending again, they are eighth, okay, in cash spending in the NFL. And it's a lot of guys that they've signed last year. Right. So, Devante Adams, Max Cross.

Rosby, they gave that contract to Chandler Jones. They've got some expensive veterans on that team. And then that's with Jimmy making $24 million in cash this year. So I just don't know what they are. But I think that there's a chance they think they are. But I think that's one of the tougher ones on this list. All right. AFC North.

I think this was going to go pretty quick. Cincinnati Bengals. Are the Cincinnati Bengals trying to win the Super Bowl? Yes. Yes, they are. This is a big push in this window that they have right now. So yes, they absolutely are. They're over under's 11 and a half wins right now, by the way, which is, I thought it was 10 and

half or even 10, 11 and a half. What's the highest in the league? 11 and a half. 11 and a half. Them and chiefs and I think Eagles are 10 and a half. But yeah, yeah. So 11.5, though, is the high mark. Baltimore Ravens.

Yep. Yes, they are competing and going for that Super Bowl. The only number with the Ravens that I actually think is kind of counter to that point, even though I think the answer is definitively yes. they are 29th in the amount of money they spent on outside free agents this offseason. I think part of that is because the Lamar holding pattern was in place when free agency was really getting going. And then the only real big money contract they signed was Odell. They don't really go crazy in free agency typically anyway.

So it's not necessarily a surprise, but the mindset that they have, which I think is we are a competitor, we are a competitor. We are a contender this year. the only data point that is counter to that is the amount how aggressive they were in free agency. That's it. Right. Yeah. I like as you said, they're pointing that out, though. The timeline of moves really matters because it's like that not signing the deal early and getting it done early.

That's what holds you from doing other moves if they wanted to push and try and make some get creative, at least some free agency or maybe push a little harder. But no, that's a good point to make. I also think that if you look at the moves that they did make, it's every single one of them is one of those. the comp pick move with the comp picks in mind. Let's switch that for me up a little bit. Back to some old school Raider stuff after signing Marcus Williams last year. I'm ready for some August 1st signings from them too. Some August 8th, August 10th, vet signings that they'll probably make again.

This one I thought was very, very easy. Cleveland Browns. Yes. 100%. Just look at Deshaun Watson's contract. Done. That's all I need to know, like, if they're competing. But also, of course, the moves they made.

Which, again, we've talked about before, really like the moves they made this offseason. But yeah, they're absolutely competing this year. Just a lot of aggressiveness. I mean, they're the number one in the NFL in cash spending this year. And the Watson thing is with them having to convert his deal, that's going to be, that's going to happen pretty often over the next couple of years. But you look at the money they're spending on Denzel Ward, Amari Cooper, the Dalman Tomlinson this year. I mean, they've gotten the Zedria Smith trade is another example of this.

Trading for Lodge of Moore. I mean, they're going after it this season. And we'll see how what ends up happening and whether that ends up paying off for them. But they absolutely are. Okay. This one's the interesting one. Are the Pittsburgh Steelers trying to win the Super Bowl in 2023? At first I said no. And then I started thinking about it as I actually think they are. I actually think they're trying to take advantage of Kenny Pickett's rookie contract. They're going to make a push this year. I really think they're trying to win this year. Just look at the kind of like vet line signings. You know, just like a little stalwart moves right there. And then they have an expensive defense, really good. defense. We're really, really good players on the defense overall. You know, there's so a couple weaknesses, I think. But man, I think they're in a position where they're like, we're pretty

damn cheap on the offense. So let's take advantage of this. And we have a talented defense. And it's Mike Tomlin. But this is, this is one I had a lot of trouble with because it's one of those like, do I think they should be like that? Maybe not. But I think they do think that they're going to compete like that. The moves aren't ultra aggressive, right? Like they didn't sign any huge free agent contracts. They didn't leverage themselves financially in the way that some other teams do. They're in the bottom third of the league in cash spending overall. If you look at free agent spending, their total value in free agent spending was in the top 10, but guarantees, they only handed out $39 million guaranteed, which is that's in the bottom half of the league. So it's tempered

aggression with the quarterback on a rookie deal. The reason that, so my answer to this, just writing it out was yes. dot, dot, dot, dot, question mark. And the reason that I flipped that way while being on the fence a little bit is just because it's the Steelers. It's the Mike Tom one always compete thing. I think even if they weren't aggressive in the way that some other teams have been and trying to build a Super Bowl-worthy roster, just who they are in their bones. If it's a flip of a coin, I'm always going to go with yes for them. So I think that's what I would say.

Last year, no, right? Rookie quarterback, all of that. But this year, you know, you go get Alan Robinson. You go sign like a stopgap guy like Cole Holcomb, like little things like that. So I think it's yes, but I think it's more. more on the fence than it would have been in a lot of previous years for them. 10 wins is the expectation there. It just is.

That's just their mindset. They don't reload or they don't rebuild. They reload. Even with a rookie quarterback, they were like, no, we're pushing, baby,

we're trying. We're fighting in all these games. So that's, yeah, that's just their mindset. So I'm exact same boat with you as far as looking at the steers is that. Like,

do it, I think they're an actual contender? No, but I think they are always just in that mindset. That's how they are. I think they're going to be a really competitive team this year. Oh, yeah.

a very competitive team this year. And if you look at their roster top to bottom, there aren't a ton of like glaring holes on the Steelers' that chart. And they did a very good job of filling those holes with the resources that they had this year. That extra, that 33rd overall pick they wouldn't have had otherwise. They went out and got a corner.

So, and then that they did that with a lot of their resources this offseason. Yeah. My quick, I did a four game second half of the year, Steelers offense study. And honestly, all the uptick came from, their offensive line communicated better. that's that's honestly if you just want the short answer I might do something down the road I know I've had some people hit me up on Twitter like hey where's that video you're talking about we'll talk about it later but it's they some things are on hold yes some things are on hold right now but uh they cleaned up the lot of their communication especially on the offense so the passing game is still a little can't you know canuckish Canadaish but uh the run game really really cleaned up and also you know shit like they they shorted up some things so interested to see that offense is. this year, but even if some of the numbers were showing like a big improvement, it was more

like a mild improvement that maybe got helped out by some lesser defenses. All right. AFC South. Okay. Tennessee Titans. All right. From asking Mike Vrable, he's going to go, oh, yeah, we're aiming for that Super Bowl, but I do not think they are not aiming for the Super Bowl.

The answer is no, but I still think the Titans are worth talking about, okay? Yes, they are. So one of the few bits of news that has. crept up in the time that I was gone is that DeAndre Hopkins was released. It was really funny that we kind of put the show to bed on that Friday before my wedding and then like an hour later, Deandre Hopkins was released by the Cardinals. I was like, you're going to be kidding me. I know. Balder hit me up. He's like, hey, you might have to host a show if the trade happens. I was like, I got it. The timing of it was just hilarious. But so he still has not signed.

He's going on some visits now. He's going to New England, which fascinating. I would love to be in that meeting. The first time they sit down and Bill O'Brien tries to pitch him. Maybe Bill O'Brien's not even in that meeting. I have no idea. But what the strategy on New England's side of that looks like, I would love to be a fly on the wall. But so him going to Tennessee and potentially signing in Tennessee, all that says to me is

that the Titans want to put their quarterback in a better spot, even if they're not trying to win immediately. There are a couple more teams, one of which we could talk about next, that I think have made similar moves like that this offseason, where. there is some aggression to make sure your quarterback is in a good spot. It's not indicative of Super Bowl aspirations. And I think that's what DeAndre Hopkins potentiality says to me about the Titans. Yeah, I think it's just being tolerable there and also just the mindset of like, again,

we're not fully tanking. We're competitively rebuilding, you know, and I think that's indicative of that. You know what kind of reminds me of not roster wise, but maybe mindset wise is maybe that, and this is not a little bit apples and orange. here. But that first year of Shanahan, the 49ers, where they knew they weren't good, but they competed their asses off every single week. And it was kind of like, this team should guaranteed have the number one pick, but they don't now because they actually competed in so many games. I think that's kind of what I'm going to look at as the Titans. And they have enough players, like especially that defense and everything. So like you're saying with the DeAndre Hopkins thing is if they do hand the reins over to Levis sometime this season, it's much better to have freaking DeAndre Hopkins winning 50-50 balls than hopefully trail on Berks. Because something or hopefully, you know, one of these other guys that we have that becomes something, this, you know, or Slot guy that we drafted last year becomes something. So I think that's really, that's a good point to bring up about maybe why that would make sense for them. And also,

Hopkins seems like he's going to the highest bidder. He actually even said that. He's like, somebody, I think it was like a sources say kind of moment. Sorry, I'm not attributing this thing, but he was that rings doesn't always mean everything for him. He also will look at the, the money that he's getting too. So it might be indicative of what, teams that he's visiting as well. Next one here, Houston Texans. The Houston Texans trying to win the Super Bowl in 2023. They are not.

They are not. This is a step forward year, I believe, for a new regime, but a new quarterback. That is a very good way to put it. Yes. Step forward year. What's one foot in front of the other? And I think that's the Texans. I think that would be a breath of fresh air.

That's what that whole team needs, the whole organization needs. And I think they can do it with Demeco Ryan's and the quarterback and Will Anderson. I think they really did it. a nice mouthwash season. This team is, again, getting back to the Titans idea, this is the team that had in mind when talking about, all right, the moves that they made were totally in service of making sure their quarterback, their young quarterback was in a good spot.

Robert Woods, Dalton, Schultz, Case Keenum, let's make sure we build a nice little support system for the guy that we're drafting second overall. That's what they've done this year. That's really, yeah. We got two guys on base for you, CJ, knock them home. That's what we're doing with those moves. Even Shaq Mason, sure, up the interior.

Mason's another great example. He wasn't a free agent, so that's why I didn't mention him. But again, one year deal. Yep. Same sort of deal. Okay. Indianapolis Colts. They are not.

But they're more to sort out, but have more to them if they sort out their line a little bit. But, you know, I like where the Colts are trending. It's quick, in a quick six months, they went from like, oh, man, this team's so disappointing to kind of like the Colts now. I like the new head coach. Of course, I like Anthony Richardson. I kind of, there's some things.

Weird. The athletic football show. one of our members is going to say something nice about the Colts. I know, I know I just can't help myself get suckered into this. But I like where they're trending. I think it's going to be a fun year to watch them. They're one of the teams I'm interesting to watch just because they're Richard Sand and the new head coach. But yeah, they are not, they are not competing this year.

Watching the Colts last year, it was a slog to watch the Colts last year. Like they were a slug. No fly zone so quick. And I think that their moves, whether conscious or not, were made in service of breaking out of that. It's like, we're going to draft the crazy. athletes we possibly can to try to change the way that this team feels. And okay, we'll see if that ends up working, but it is a multi-year process. So I 100% agree with you.

They are not trying to win this year. There's a line, a coaching adage, and I talked about Justin Fields with this, but this is the whole court's organization is if you make a mistake, at least do it fast. At least do that with your players. If you're wrong about your players, at least draft the big, freaky athletes. I think that makes sense of the way they've drafted, but that's the problem with, That's my problem with the Colts recently is they don't do that. They don't make fast mistakes.

There's no aggression whatsoever. So going out and taking some big swings on some really good athletes this off season, I think, has been the right way to do it to turn this thing around. I'm so interested in watching the offense this year because I just, I believe in what the head coach can do. And I just want to see Richardson play. I mean, they're going to be must see TV the entire season. It's going to be so fun.

I'm going to really enjoy tuning in to a five and 11 Colts team playing against a four and 12 Texans team in like week 18 or whatever. And that should be like, ooh, math is too much for me right now. I've been back for like two days. No, that's exactly it. They're what they call them in NBA,

league pass team. Yes, the Colts are absolutely a league pass team because Anthony Richardson is a league pass player. And that's the entire point of drafting Anthony Richardson. Yes, absolutely. Yeah.

Let's actually get a quarterback that can actually run a yard on a scramble as a, as opposed to maybe tripping over themselves. Jacksonville Jaguar. Are they trying to win the Super Bowl in 2023? Yes, they are. This is another team that set the course last off season. And then they're just staying on that course this year.

I think they, I wish they kind of helped out there injected a little more of their defense, even though they was the most expensive defense in the NFL last season. Which, you know, maybe we've got a little more horse some horses there. But you got Trevor Lawrence. You got a top tier quarterback under a rookie contract, push it. And I think that's what their mindset is anyways. Yeah, they were 30th. in spending in free agency this offseason.

$21.7 million total. The only two teams that spent less than them in free agency this year, where the Packers and the Rams, the Packers and the Rams are 31st and 32nd in total cash spending. The Jags are actually 11th in total cash spending because of the contracts they handed out last year. But if you look at some of the underlying kind of numbers and signposts of what they're trying to be,

they restructure Brandon Shurfs contract. They restructure Christian Kirk's contract. The biggest, move they made in free agency this year was trading for Calvin Ridley in the middle of last season. So I think there is enough aggression and there should be for a playoff team with a young ascending quarterback to think we can absolutely break through this year. And that Ridley trade is a damn good move, man.

It's going to be. No matter how it works out, it is the right sort of bet. Yes. Pathways to a player like that. Again, it's a fourth round pick and he makes $11 million this year. Yeah. And he's a true number one. It's not. It used to be. Used to be. Yes. So even if he's not, it still is a bet worth making because of what he has shown. I totally agree. Yeah. The P of the eye tests so far has been, I know it's shorts. Everybody looks good in shorts. It's apparently it's a some magic might be created between Trevor and Calvin this year. So I'm excited to watch it. That's one pairing. I'm very excited to watch. I'm sure Doug Peterson's doing backflips. We just going like, oh my God.

So I'm the Jags The Jags salary cap situation So they're up against it They don't have much room at all Again based on some of the things that they did last year I'm curious if there's one or two moves where Whether it's an Evan Ingram extension Where they get him off the franchise tag

Something like that Where they can create a little bit more space To make like one more signing on defense Or just make one or two little moves They have $12 million in cap space actually As it currently stands but a lot of the contracts that they have with their bigger base salaries, the ones they haven't renegotiated or haven't restructured yet are ones they probably don't want to. And that's the issue, right?

Cam Robinson has $16 million based salary this year. Darius Williams is an $11 million based salary. They've already restructured, I believe, Christian Kirk, Brandon Shurf, and Aluqan. So, and Fatu Kasi. So I think they've already created about as much cap spaces they want to are able to with the deals that they have right now. I know they're primed for a mercenary pass rusher. But it just feels like they need it, right? It just feels like they need one more.

It's definitely the Ocean's 11 at the bar thing. It's just like, I could see Trent Balke, just like look at it, Doug Peterson, if you feel like we need one more? It feels like we need one more. He's just not saying a word, just not saying a word, just gone, yeah, we need one more. But no, I'd be calling Justin Houston.

Like, there are just be, come on. There are guys out there. Melvin Ingram? There are guys out there. Melvin Ingram, I actually, I like more. just because he's like the just pure chaos creator where you can line him up in a bunch of different spots and just let him go to town.

He's the one of the tower. Yes. That's what it is. They're cut from the same cloth as far as how you use them. All right. ASC East. This one, again,

I think is pretty quick. Yes. New York Jets. Yes. They trade for Aaron Rogers. Yes. What else? Or I think like one of the highest cap teams too.

I can't remember. I looked up something there. Oh, they're one of the oldest teams. That's what it was. Yes. But yes, yes, they absolutely are. You know what is, this is a quieter one, but to me is very indicative of this.

The moment that Chuck Clark got hurt, they immediately signed Adrian Amos. It's like, we need to make sure that we're checking every single box. When Clark got, because they announced the Amos signing first and then the news about Clark. And I was like, wow, they're really, wow, I had some juice in that safe. I like this. And then came out that Chuck Clark got hurt. I went through the exact same process. Yeah.

Because I didn't tweet anything about it. First I was going to. I was like, man, I really, wow. that's a good signing. Amos is still a good player. Yeah, but yeah, but yeah, that was insurance. I would have liked it independent of whether or not Chuck Clark had gotten hurt. So, okay, next one, Miami Dolphins. They are. Yes. I don't think Vic Fangio was coming out of retirement to go to a rebuilding team. The Dolphins are another team similar to the charges where even if you look at the amount of cast space they have this year, if you look at what it is next year

and all of the contracts that they've restructured to build this team, I think the answer is absolutely yes. They're $32 million over the 2020. salary gap as it currently exists. And they're the new, their fuck them picks East now. That's what the Miami Dolphins are now. And they didn't go crazy in free agency. They're actually in the bottom third of the league. I think they're like 25th or 26 in the total amount they spent on free agents this

off season. But Jalen Ramsey is the biggest move that they made. And they made a ton of moves last off season. So I think the answer is absolutely yes for them. Buffalo bills. Oh, I was going to say, they signed Isaiah win, which we haven't really talked about, which I liked. I know he's another injured offensive line.

But it's like, man, if he, if he gets, you get a majority of games out of him, that's a good starter. That, that, I like that. You know why I think that move is also indicative of what we're talking about here? Because that is a, we just need five move. We need that. That is a, we just need five move. Yep. Yes.

And we're not going to get crippled by only having four tolerable bodies. Yes, that's exactly what it is. I feel like that's, that is a point to the way that they're thinking right now. Yep. Buffalo bills. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. I think yes, yes, they actually are. They are the second oldest roster in the NFL this year, which is, and it might be the last hurrah for how this defense is built and everything, but it's, yeah, they absolutely are competing this year and aiming for the Super Bowl. It's basically Super Bowl or bust, really. It's certainly is. That's really what they are.

So pretty easy one to talk about. All right. New England Patriots. Okay. This is the one, I think they think they are. But on the outside, it's like, I don't think they should be. But I don't think Belichick knows anything else. And I think this defense is a Super Bowl worthy defense.

But the offense is, you know, we'll see. We'll see. We'll see how the offense looks this year. I truly have no idea. I know. I truly have no idea. I think the answer is yes, kind of similar to what we're talking about with the Steelers, where it's like, okay, it's because it's them.

You know, I think you have to. mean that way. Do you know where the Patriots ranking cash spending this season? Huh. Actually, hold on, I just want to think on it. Like 14th? 30th. Oh, really?

30th. Oh, let me think of my head. Yeah. Okay. They didn't really sign any big free agents. No, they didn't. And they're getting off the books of everybody else. And they're not a team that's going to restructure a bunch of guys.

Like, so they're never, they're just not going to be one of those teams that at the stage of the percentage. seating spends a lot of money that way, but they're a confounding team. I just, I think the answer is yes, and I think that the defense is very good, but I don't know. I mean, I feel better about them than I do about the Raiders in terms of their plan, but I still think they're one of the more confusing, hard to pin down teams in the league. Absolutely agree. I love that you grouped them together with the Steelers, because that's exactly how I feel.

I have no idea what to feel about their offense, but I really like their defense, and they have a head coach that doesn't know anything else. Hopkins is there, right? So I think he's one of, that move for them, the Hopkins move for them is a, let's try to push this thing move compared to what it looks like for Tennessee. So I think maybe the Hopkins thing is indicative of what they think of themselves. They're building their entire receiver core out of ball winners with some of them that can't separate.

Just kidding. Just bodying up everybody. They're just having a triple post offense. It's like the old like little league basketball, like, you know, travel basketball offense. where you just have two guys, the four and the five are in the post. And then you're just like, that's the offense. You post one of them up and the other one doesn't even get out of the way. This is like fourth grade I'm talking about, not talking about like high school or anything like that.

That's what the Patriots offense is. Just have a couple guys down the post and let's just pin the ball on them. So very quickly, let's count, let's count these. For the, for the AFC, Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders were saying no. I'm saying no. Okay. Bengals, Ravens, Browns, Steelers. Yeah.

Jags and then all the teams from the AFC East. So that's 13. Up 16. But that's the AFC, right? Like in the AFC is the group that you'd think that there'd be a bunch of them. And that's throwing off the Raiders. So like you could even argue for the, that the Raiders think they are. So that's 13 or 14. And it is very funny that only one team from the AFC South, all the teams from the AFC North and all of the teams from the AFC East. It's a bloodbath. And they have the top. What? they have six of the top nine quarterbacks any way you shake it. Yeah.

Like, yeah. It might be even more. But that's just off the top of my head that I'm thinking. Six of the top nine. Yeah. Six of the top eight. It's going to be a bloodbath this year. Or seven of the top nine, I mean, seven of the top nine, because Rogers is over there.

Yeah, yeah. Oh, my. Definitely. Oh, oh my God. This is AFC, man. This is, I know. We want to be, hopefully you're playing the AFC South as like you're kind of your divisional.

I don't even know who has them this year. But oh my God, that is just a bloodbath. And that's like, say even with, okay, say the Patriots and Steelers, we knocked down and say no, even though we won't say yes. That's still, what, 11? Still 11. It's still a lot. So 11.

Yeah, that's still a lot. And that's legit. That's not even squinting that much. Yeah, that's ridiculous. All right. NFC West. Okay. San Francisco 49ers.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. 10 and a half wins only there. Yeah, that's their wind told me right now. And we don't know who the quarterback is. I'm telling you, we were at my bachelor party in New Orleans

and we were at the sports book watching college basketball games and they were just flashing the future's odds up on the board. Yeah. And they had the NFC champion odds. And the Niners were second. I think it was movie the NFC odds. Yeah, the NFC and the Niners were second to win the NFC. And I'm sitting there looking at those and I was like,

we don't even know who the quarterback is. It's insane. It is absolutely insane that they have the second best odds that we do not know who the quarterback of the team is. I've never seen anything like it. They have 10 and a half. The Cowboys Twin Toulor and now is 9.5. That blows my brain.

It is absolutely insane every time I think about it for like more than two seconds. All right. Seattle Seahawks. They are. I'm saying yes. Yeah. The world's quickest reset, reload, rebuild. Holy crap.

They just boom. They pivoted and they're competing once again. So, so much credit. to Pete Carroll and John Schneider. Listen, I know it was a rough run for Johnny there for a little while and their drafts left a lot to be desired for several years. But the fact that they did this this fast that are now like a relevant competitive team in the NFC and justifiably are like, you know what? Why not us? I think is remarkable.

That's what they are. Why not us is exactly what the Carks are this year. I think they're saying, I think all these teams are looking at the wide open FFC and they're like, we can get hot. So that's why this is fascinating to me. Okay, because those 11 teams, 11, 11, let's say, in the AFC that we talked about, they justifiably are like, we're fucking good. Like, we absolutely should push this in. We are good.

We got the dudes. Even a team that's like kind of on the back half of that theoretically, like Jacksonville or something, it's like we got, our quarterback is a young ascending star. Like, we are right there. But in the NFC, it's not we're fucking good. It's, we could do this, right? Yeah, that's what it is. Can we hang?

Can we hang with these? other teams. Yeah, we can do this. Think of the NMCA. Okay, Eagles, Eagles, Cowboys, 4 or the top tier in some way, even with the 40s, not knowing the quarterback. Seahawks are easily that second tier team. So that's fourth at worst or at best, you know, or like whatever you want to put it. So yeah, let's go for it. Why not? It is funny that the number might be the same or similar by the time we get to the end of it, but the reasoning is very different for the two conferences. Like you said, eh, good enough. Just just a good enough. Their defense is going to be the first. front seven still. So I have some question marks. Their DB room is really fascinating. I really like it. And then the offense, I think is going to be a real good offense. So it's, it's going to be a fun team. The Gino deal, and I think a move like the Dremont Jones deal is indicative of what they think of themselves this year. So I absolutely think that they answer to them is yes. Los Angeles Rams. I think they are saying it, but no, no, they are not. They have used the phrase, take a step back. They've said yes, multiple times in public. Like for the first time in a while, I think they absolutely are not trying to and have said as much.

They're the youngest roster in the NFL. Dead last and cash spending in the week. Yeah. So that's all you need. Just read between the lines. I do like the offense actually could be like way better than was last year just if the offense lines healthy. I think we've talked about that. It's just the defense man.

It's just like. And again, I've talked about their special teams and all that. It's not either kicker, snapper, and holder are all going to be rookies. of them undrafted. Their punt return or kick return are going to be rookies as well. Like truly all their main specialists are all going to be rookies. That kind of tells you, you don't think a Super Bowl team's going to go like, all right, now we got a rookie long snapper, snap to a rookie holder to a rookie kicker.

Game winner. Like, what's what? Hey, we're winning 12 games this year. Like, yeah, that's not really, just read between the lines with this team. They'll tell you exactly what they're at. If Stafford is healthy, I would not be surprised if they were watchable on offense and they finished the season like seven and 10. you know that that wouldn't be surprising to me at all but i still think that with the state of

their defense and how young it is and the way that they've approached the soft season there's no way that you can say yes they're trying to win the super bowl they uh it's it's the demarcus robinson signing kind of is indicative of your team they they signed demarcus robinson and i think he's a receiver four right now it's like ah i know where you guys are at this is where your team is at right now sorry to marcus sorry he has to be that guy but that's kind of that's the one of those names that you see and you're like, gotcha. I see what kind of team you have right now. Arizona Cardinals.

So they're trying to win the Super Bowl in 2023. They're not trying to win the Super Bowl. They were trying to win the toilet bowl or lose the toilet bowl. They want as many top picks as they want. And that is totally fine. I totally get it. That roster was so fucking bad four or five months ago. So they need to do this.

I will say, the one thing that I feel like I don't get much right ever. But I feel like I've gotten decent. at being able to see the train wrecks coming like a year in advance. The scene started to split a little bit. Yes. And the ones, several examples. When the Texans traded DeAndre Hopkins, I remember looking at that team, being like, that's going to be the worst team in the league in like a year.

And then it was. They were just a complete tear-down dumpster fire. The year that the Bears brought back Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace, and I remember talking about and writing about this team is way closer to a tear-down job than it is to competing way closer. People were like, what, what can you say, what's, what do you mean? It's like, I'm telling you that they are, look at the underlying level of talent on this team. It is non-existent. And then guess what?

They were an absolute tear-down job one or two years later. And the most recent one is the Cardinals. We had that conversation after they lost to the Rams in the playoffs. I'm like, look at the underlying talent on this team. very, very close, just completely bottoming out. And then they did. That was one of my favorite conversations in a weird way we've had on the show because I think both of us in real time, we're starting to put it together.

Like we're, because, yes, I've made fun of Cliff Kingsbury, a bunch on the show and all that. And it started as a cliff bashing session from me. And then as we were talking, we're like, but look at this roster. And we started just going piece by piece with this roster. Like, who do they have? Who are the building blocks? And I think exactly what you're saying is that.

That was kind of like a real turning point of how you look at that team where it was just like, man, they made the playoffs this year and they had a great run the first half of the year. But this isn't sustainable, just what they're building around and what they have right now. So yeah, I completely agree that you started to see the Dom was falling in a bad way there. And that loss against the Rams is just like, holy shit, that was a huge catalyst for that team in a bad way. It's also how I felt about the Titans offense heading into last year. And now we've arrived with the Titans offense. Their defense was good enough and they were competitive enough. they didn't totally bottom out last year,

but they probably should have totally bottomed out last year based on the state of their offense. So I remember very rarely. Very well is getting praise from us because they had undrafted free agents doing all this great stuff and then like time wore on and enough film got out on them. So they fell apart. But man, I know we were talking about it. I'm like, holy crap, look at this team.

NFC North are the Detroit Lions trying to win the Super Bowl in 2023? Oh, I absolutely think they are. Just listen to our comments after the draft. Yeah, they absolutely do. They're trying to win a Super Bowl this year. It's interesting because they're 28th in cash spending. They did not throw a lot of money around in the way that some other contending teams do. A lot of homegrown talent.

They're still relatively young. But you look at one year deals for Emmanuel Mosley and CJ Gardner Johnson. You know, the draft picks they made, which I think we've talked about, kind of feel like finishing flourishes in a way that they're trying to do. And I wouldn't say this is the year for them. Like I think that they'll be sustainably competitive based on the way. way that they're trying to build it. But in this NFC, I absolutely think they're trying to. Like, even as a very young team, it's not super board busts like it is for some of these other teams we're talking about. But I think this is the first year where they're like, all right, here we go.

Like we are, we are building this is what this is the start of the moment that we have built to. I wrote to myself. My notes right here. I do not. Oh, God. I know I, I know I'm insane people. I know I'm insane. Like I truly, I know this. I have awareness. I know I'm a madman, but I do not actually write to myself, like letters or anything. But my notes, I said, they are, they think of themselves as a legit playoff team and justifiably so. Because I think this is, they are a legit 10 win team and a team that can hang with a lot of good teams and win against a lot of good teams. But it's just, if they don't make it to the final four, it's not a failure every season.

It's making the playoffs and maybe possibly hosting a playoff game. That is a successful year. I think that it's a great way to put it. I think that it make it, if they don't make it to final four, it's not a failure. But yes, I think that's exactly. All right. Green Bay Packers. They aren't. This is such a young run.

A very intriguing team, a frisky team, I think. But no, they are not trying to win the Super Bowl this year. This is an evaluation year for their entire roster. So maybe they're amazing offensive line. I think that is definitely the case. They're old. They're a little older than you'd think just because they've got some long-term veterans on both sides of the ball. Your Bactiare's.

Kenny Clark has somehow been in the league for eight years. Examples like that, but they are really young in certain positions. groups, you know, the offensive line, the offense overall is much younger than it's been in recent years. They're one of two teams in the league to spend less than $200 million in cash on their team this year, the Rams of the other one. So it's, no, like they are not trying to win the Super Bowl this year, which is a weird place to be when you're talking about the Green Bay Packers, but I think that is where

they are right now. Yeah, it's an evaluation here. It's Jordan Love, see what, see what pass catchers we have, all these young, talented guys, see what we got. We got good offensive line. I think the run game's going to be good. I don't think that's crazy to say. They were very good last year.

And I think the defense, they're like, we have so much talent on this defense. Who are actually our guys? Like, I think that's what the Packers are doing this year. Who are our actual building blocks and our guys on both sides of the ball? I still think that they could be a playoff team if things break right for them. I don't think they're actively trying to win the Super Bowl this year, but I do think they can be a playoff team. That's the only one in this group where I'm saying no, but I still think that they could make the playoffs. I think of all these teams we're going to talk about.

I think I'm bullish. on the Packers. So I'm very intrigued by this team. I think they could be a little more frisky than people are giving them credit for. If love is okay, wow, like, okay, okay. Maybe we got stew going. That'll be, that'll be really interesting to see.

But they're a, they're a league pass team for me because I like so many of their young players. And I just want to see what they're doing this year. Minnesota Vikings, are the Vikings trying to win the Super Bowl in 2023? I don't, I don't want to answer this. I think the coaches say,

Yeah. And I think maybe the front office is going, however the chips lie. We'll see. But I really have no idea. I think they think they are. They have Kirk Cousins back and Jefferson, a decent offense line. But I think realistically, they're like, it's okay if we're not that good this year. I don't know what to think of the Vikings.

I really don't. We got to remember they're negative point differential last year. They won 13 games, though. They won 13 games last season. I know. So, then they trades the Darius Smith, you know, like, so it's like, so there's a little bit on each side, right? Yeah. So they trade the Darius Smith, but they signed Marcus Davenport to that one year deal. So like, it's a short term deal for Marcus Davenport. It's a short term deal for Byron Murphy. But they don't, but then they let they trade the Darius Smith. Like, they've talked out of both sides of their mouth so well. So much. And they, they've said as much, right? When they called it a competitive rebuild and they have used these. kind of divergent terms to talk about where they are,

I think they were intentionally hard to figure out. So they renegotiated, they restructured Kirksteel, but they didn't sign him to an extension. So it's like, okay, what am I supposed to think about this? And then they add Addison, and that's kind of like a usually move that's like, oh, we're juicing up this offense because we're ready to go this year. And it's like, but that is that more of a long term thing for whoever the next quarterback is, they're the oxymor team.

young. Right? So Justin Jefferson, even if he's been in the league for a few years, Justin Jefferson is only, what, 23 years old, right? So he's 24. Justin Jefferson turned 24 today. Okay? Today is his birthday.

He turned 24 years old today. So Justin Jefferson is 24. So let's say they make a move to try to draft quarterback next year. By the time that quarterback is ready to compete, Justin Jefferson's going to be 26. Okay? So we're good to go there. Yeah, we're fine. So then you have Jordan Addison and T.J.

Hawkins, I believe is still what? How old? Can T.J. Hockes would be? 27. 26, I would say. He's 25. Okay, so T.J. Hockinson is 25.

And he will turn 26 in July. What are you map it out like this? This makes so much more sense now, too. It's like, yeah, these guys are going to be peaking right as the next quarterback comes through. Okay. Brian O'Neill is how old? 27.

Yeah, okay. Brian O'Neill turns 28 this year. So, again, he'll be 29 when the next quarterback is like ready to potentially compete. Their left tackle is 23. years old. He's young. So they are young. Like, and a lot of the pieces on their team, their left tackle is 24.

He turned 24 two weeks ago. So you have so many of these pieces that are in their mid-20s on their offense. And on defense, all the pieces that are older, they're even going to be on the roster next year. No. So I think that they've done a good job of like trying to like hand wave being competitive while also keeping an eye on the future. I don't know the answer to the question that we're trying to ask them.

I don't need that. I think the answer is no. Yeah. I think they're a very aware team. That is absolutely true. Yeah. So I think they, I think they're not, they're not dummies. But I think they're going to, they're going to, like, going to, like, I think no

matter what happens, they're okay with. I think that maybe that that makes sense. I think that's right. If they want to win, yeah, of course they want to win. But I think, okay, it's just whatever happens this year, it happens. Wherever the chips may fall. I'm going to say no. Okay.

I'm going to say they are not actively trying to win this. Not batting my eyes with that. Not batting my. I totally get it. Like, I totally get that answer. I've gone back and forth this one. I really,

my answer for this was I have no idea. But really, I really don't. I was saying yes. And then as I thought about it and just talked it out a little bit more, I'm going with now. Totally get it. And they won 13 games last year.

Unbelievable. They, they're the oxymoron team. Like, they're the quiet right team. Like they're trying to do both. They're trying to be rebuild and be competitive at the same time. I'm like, be frisket.

And that's what they've said. They are completely, again, it's antithetical. Like everything about them has been antithetical over the last year. I think they understand that. Okay. Yeah. four months away from having the number one pick. So I think that is a, oh, we're better, but we are so shit.

We were number one pickworthy shit last year. So we're better and we might be frisky and might compete for a playoff spot, but we are not fighting for that Super Bowl, the Lombardi trophy. So I think that's a no. Bears made a lot of moves to get better this off season. You go get DJ more, you spend a lot of money on free agents in the way that they did. I think there are some signs of we want to get better and we want to be competitive. They made real strides.

they have made some incremental steps. I challenge you to look at these starting edge rushers on the Chicago Bears right now and tell me they're trying to win the Super Bowl. People just think, oh, get the offensive line, pass catchers for Justin Fields, and they're fine. The defense needs help too. After they traded Roquant Smith, it was legit the worst defense in the last few years. Tell us, oh my God. And numbers wise, they were terrible outside that Eagles game.

It was they were bad. Great game plans. Don't be wrong, but they were bad. So that is, that's exactly what you need. Going from, we have the number one pick to we're going to win the Super Bowl is a little too much mood whiplash for me. That's a little too, okay, that's a little too jarring for me. So yes, they've made strides, like you said, they've gotten better, way better, but they still have plenty more work to do. As a pit stop, I love let's get past catchers in an offensive line for our young quarterback and then we'll figure out the rest later.

I think the path and the steps that they're taking absolutely makes sense. But again, I challenge you to look at the defensive line and tell me that that team is trying to win the Super Bowl. I totally agree. NFC South, Tampa Bay Bucks. Are the Bucks trying to win the Super Bowl in 2023? No, even with a decent roster, they are not. I think just look at what they did with their quarterback situation. That's all you need.

That's all you need to know. They've been a money-saving mood with a couple of moves they've made, right? Like they cut Donovan Smith. Really the only thing I think that runs counter to it being obvious. that they're not trying to is resigning Jamel Dean. I think, and then bringing back

Levante David, but I think that Jamel Dean contract is really the only one where it's like, eh, that that's the only one that doesn't lead me to believe that they know they're taking a step back

this year. So I think the answer for them is definitively no. Correct. Yeah, that was a, we don't, like,

it was when they did it and it was like, you know, you don't have Tom anymore, right? Oh, okay. All right, fine,

fine, I mean, the defense is still could be damn good, I think. Like, so they got a lot of good players on this roster, but no, they are not, I don't think they have any thoughts of Super Bowl aspiration. It seems to me like they just looked at the

players that they had and were too good to totally tear it down. So we might as well just try to retain some of this roster and then if we can bounce into a quarterback over the next 18 months. Let's see if we can do it. It's kind of what it feels like to me. All right. New Orleans Saints. Yes. I think that's just their mindset anyways. But yeah, getting Derrick Carr, they lost like three defensive front contributors and then they right away re-sign or sign guys to replace one for one.

They didn't go, oh, we're going to reconfigure this. Or drafted. No. And it's drafted as well. Yep, yep, drafted as well. But it's like they signed Saunders from the chief so to replace Tuttle. So it's kind of like they find that one-to-one replacement everywhere. No, they're competing.

This is the Saints. This is kind of how they go about it. They try to reconfigure and reload. Do I always agree with it? No, but this is their mindset. Similar to we talk about the Chargers. The Chargers are that $61 million over the 2024 cap. The Saints are also $61 million dollars over the 2020.

24 cap. I would like to read to you the New Orleans Saints who have a base salary of less than $1.5 million this year. Okay. Okay. Cam Jordan, Michael Thomas, Marshaun Latimore, Ryan Ramchek, Andrews Pete, Alvin Camara, DiMario Davis, Derek Carr, Tassim Hill, Eric McCoy, James Winston, Chris Olavay, Tyron Matthew, Will Wutz. That's the end of the list. Marcus May. Oh my goodness. So those are all the guys they've restructured. So how many is that? Was that like 16? Yeah, it's most of the team. Oh my God.

When you look at it, it's insane. It's essentially every starter. Yeah. When you look at it, it's insane. Just open the saints over the cap page and look at it. I thought you were going to say like seven or eight. I was going to laugh. And you just kept going.

They've restructured every single one of those guys to make their gap hits as low as possible this year. It's remarkable. I respected their mindset so much. I did too. The answer is absolutely yes. Yes. That's what's nice when some teams just operate. own way because it's fun to talk about.

And guess what? There's no ambiguity. We don't have to wonder. We know. When we're talking about the Raiders or some of these other teams and you got to, I wonder what they are trying to do with the Saints. There's no ambiguity whatsoever and I appreciate them for it. Absolutely not.

Carolina Panthers. I think if you asked David Tepper, they would absolutely say they're competing for a Super Bowl. I think that, yeah, that's their mindset is that they're that, but I think it's one of those or it's like, they say that, but really it's like, oh, no, we're actually trying to be a playoff team as opposed to that. but they have no first round picks for the foreseeable future. It's like this is what they are. They're going to be building around this rookie contract and they're going for it.

I think the offseason moves as far as some of the free agents, I think some of the coaches that they signed. It has to be the most expensive coaching staff in the league. I think this team is going to be pushing it for the foreseeable future and I think just starts this year. I say no. Okay. I'm not bad. I'd say no. I think that they probably understand that next year is going to be the year when they're

They have a real chance to do it. So they're 29th, I believe, in cash spending the Panthers are. Okay. And one of the things that the Panthers are dealing with this year is that if you look at their cap, they still have a lot of dead money. Okay. So they have $18 million in dead money tied up in Christian McCaffrey, 14.6 million tied up in DJ Moore, and about 9.8 million tied up in Robbie Anderson.

So they have a ton of their cap taken up this year by some of those moves that they had previously made. next year, that should go away. Yeah. So it does feel like the moves that they've made and the little points of aggression that we've seen, similar to what I was talking about with the Texans, it's about making sure we got guys for our quarterback. Adam Thiel and Hayden Hurst going out and resigning their center, Bradley Bozeman. So next year, they are slated to have $52.7 million in cap space.

That's a good spot. So next year feels like the year that they can really make a push. I think they probably understand and I think they're probably correct in saying that they're at least a year away from making a real run of this. They have $51 million in dead money on their cap. Wow. That's a lot. Yeah. And that's the thing.

So when you don't have picks, you need some bullets somewhere. And that's where their bullets come from. And also just, you know, mid-round picks and all that. And you got to look. We talked about this. The old line's pretty set up. The old line's under contract all through next year. All of them.

So that's nice. that's continuity, especially with the young quarterback. So if you just inject a little bit, a little bit more juice than the past catchers and then, hopefully figure out the defense in some way, shape, of form. Brian Burns is going to be hitting a payday soon. So I think what you're saying is absolutely correct. 2024 is their year. I just think it's more of the owners mindset is where my answer is coming from.

Atlanta Falcons. Are the Atlanta Falcons trying to win the Super Bowl in 2023? No, and that pains me to say that. I'm saying yes. I think the answer is yes. Only the Broncos spent more on free agents this year than the Falcons did. They had so much money that going in, don't they? They had a lot of money, but like, Clayas Campbell's on a one-year deal,

Budupri is on a one-year deal. They've spent, they have their fifth in cash spending. Like some of that is the Chris Lindstrom contract is huge, but it's hard to say yes when you have a third round, second year quarterback that we've never seen before. but I think the answer is yes. I don't know if they think they can, but I do think that their moves are indicative of a team

that's absolutely trying to win as many games as possible right now. Yeah, and I even have an answer. I just said, I think they for sure think they can win the division. They're like, they are for sure going like, we can win that NFC South. And I think that wouldn't that make you say that you can compete as well? That's kind of my thought. If you're hosting a playoff game,

Yeah, okay, I can see that argument. And shit, I think they're just sent up, they've such a good situation for whatever quarterback they decide to go with. If Ritter ends up being tolerable, which I hope he can be, because some previous takes I've had. But they, and then they can reconfigure this off season. The defense is going to be working for progress. That Jesse Bates signing, I'm getting more excited about because just how he's going to shore it up. I really do think that's going to be an interesting one for them. But I think this offense is a top 10 offense, even if Ritter is just mid.

I really do think this is a top 10 offense. Souther sent themselves up. I really do think, I think next year might be that push a little bit more. But if you're saying that you can win the division, does that make you an innocent competitor or a mindset of a competitor? So I get that argument completely. I just think they were aggressive enough in the way, the moves they made and the money they spent in free agency that it tells me they think they can win right now. Don't get me wrong. I'm all about the dirty birds this year.

They are. I'm wearing black right now just for that. just because I knew we're going to be talking about the Falcons. This is the ultimate NFC version of this answer. And this division specifically. But I think I'm saying yes with the Falcons. I love it. I love it.

I do think they think they're going to be very competitive. Yeah. Contender. Yeah. I don't know. I can see the argument. I can totally see the argument. I really, I like what the Falcons are going to be this year.

I really, really am optimistic about them. NFC East, Philadelphia Eagles. Yes. Yes. Do the Dallas Cowboys think they can win the Super Bowl this year? Yes. second year in a row, the Cowboys have been lower in cash spending than you think they'd be. But they've all the moves that they've made in terms of their own players.

They restructured DAC. They restructured Zach. They restructured Zach Martin. They restructured DeMarcus Lawrence. They restructured Tyron Smith. They haven't spent a free agency because they don't really spend in free agency anymore. I think that's not something that they do under Will McLeigh now that he's kind of taken the reins there. But definitely, I mean, Stefan Gilmore trade, the Brandon Cook's trade. These are like we're trying to win the Super Bowl moves.

Yep. Yeah. And also drafting like a. run plugging defensive tackle in the first round. Even if I'm really excited about that move, that's a move to go in like, no, that's like in a weird way, the cherry on top kind of move going like, we can take a luxury pick like this because we have so much talent on our defense that can carry us and let's put it over the top.

Who do you think is the most expensive free agent that the Cowboys sign this season? It's an outside free agent by AAB. The answer is I don't even know because I'm looking at this and the guys whose names I recognize, I don't know if they were on the team or not. All the guys they brought back essentially. Essentially every single one was an outside, was a guy who was on the roster last year. Donovan Wilson, Layton Van derresh, Cooper Rush,

Dante Fowler, Don't-Foward, Jonathan Hankins, C.J. Goodwin, Tack McKinley. The long snapper is the next on the list. I don't know if he was there a long snapper last year. And then Chuma Adoga, I think, was on the Jets last season, wasn't he? Yes, he was. So that would be it. That would be the most expensive outside free

agent, the Cowboys, he was on the Falcons last year, Chumodoga. Falcons. No, no, yep, yep, yep, no, he was Falcons. He was on the Falcons last year. That's the guard. Yeah, yeah, yeah. One point two million dollars. And so all the money they spent was bringing back their own guys.

Again, the longsepper's a free agent, uh, undrafted free agent this year. There you go. Or SF, or SF means street free agent. I have no idea. It doesn't matter. The point is that they did not spend on outside free agents. They made trades. They made two big trades.

But for the most part, they have not spent an outside. outside free agency over the last few years. All right. Oh, that's what it means. Two more. Sorry. Washington. No.

I think this is an easy one. No, no. We were just talking about a third round quarterback and how if that is. This is a day three quarterback that they apparently are all in on. So no, no is my answer. Answer is absolutely not. Yeah. Okay.

New York Giants. I think they're realistic and they say, I say no. I think this is a reconfiguring year for them. I think this is a evaluation year, which I thought last year was. They're going to coach their asses off and be competitive. I don't think, I think they're realistic about contendorship and making it to the final four. I think it's yes. If you signed Daniel Jones to that contract.

Right. But then it's kind of like, I get that, totally get that. But it's, I think you signed Daniel Jones to that contract. You almost have, it's a four-year deal. You almost have to think sooner rather than later, you have to. try to be a team that can win the Super Bowl. Okay? That's point one.

They've spent a lot of money on this team, even outside of the quarterback and his contract. They spent money in free agency this year. They signed Bobby O'Caricay to that deal. And the Darren Waller trade to me is indicative of a team that wants to be competitive right now. Leonard Williams is making $32 million against the cap this year. I don't know, man. I think the answer for the Giants might be yes.

And again, driven by the state of the NFC, like the Giants, if I were the Giants, right or wrong, I would probably be looking around at the rest of that conference and saying, why can't we be one of the best three teams in the NFC? It's just like, man, I don't think they have the roster for that. They might not. But I think that they moves that they made and how they've approached this offseason. I think it's closer to yes than no. I would say it's closer to yes than no that they're competing for like a playoff spot. But I would say that it's another team that's right, 2024, absolutely.

Yeah, maybe. I think that's where I say the reconfiguring. That's what I mean. I think it's kind of going like, we're in a better situation than we're last year. I think that's pretty easy to say as far as what they are and what they know they are and how they can build, what they can use and how they can operate on offense and defense and they got a little bit more talent injection there. But I still think they know that there may be a step away from that.

But who knows? Maybe they're like, no, we're in it. We're totally, totally competing for that. By the way, that long snapper was talking about. He was with different teams. I just totally misread that. So there it is. The long snapper is the biggest move they made this offseason.

The cowboy side, yes. I've, I got maybe I guess are researching all my long snapper names because I had no idea who the fuck that was. I was just like, what is that name? I had no idea. Kickers I can get you. Some punters I can get you. A long snappers.

Maybe a bridge too far so far. So there was no team in the NFC where it was a yes for everyone, right? So, and then at least two teams in every division, for you, the answer was no. Yeah. So you have Giants, commanders. Yeah. Correct. So again, just kind of looking at the competitive differences between the two conferences,

doing it with this exercise is also a good way to kind of understand. So saying at most, end of C is what? 10? At most. At most, right? Even if we say, all right, so Niners, yes, Seahawks, yes. Lions, yes. Vikings even, let's say Vikings know.

Let's say no. Let's say yes. Let's say yes for this reason. Saints. Yep. Falcons for me, yes. Or Panthers for me. So that's one of them in either way.

Eagles, Cowboys, and then maybe the Giants. So somewhere between 8 and 10. Realistically, it's about half. Where in the AFC, we were at 11 to 13. 11 minimum in the AFC. Yeah. So that just right there just shows you kind of where these teams are at. And I think a lot of those, a lot of these NFC teams, what are the arguments?

Like you said, it was that a lot of them like, eh, why not? As opposed to the AFC teams are like, we got, we got. we got that chains to these tires. We got spears to the side of our car. They're mad max again, gearing up. They're all the ammunition that they could possibly get. That's what the AFC feels like. The NFC feels more like a joy ride,

just coasting down the Pacific coast. All right. It's June 16th. I think that this is, again, a useful show to kind of look back at what moves teams made, the mindset the teams had in the offseason. We're also kind of taking a look at, all right, what are the expectations for this year? Yeah.

I've been back for about a day. I spent last year prone in bed because my body decided to shut down on me. So not a ton of deep dive work to be done for this show. That will be starting in earnest next week. We're going to do some of our big study shows that we do each offseason, looking at some of the best offenses in the league, looking at some of the best defenses in the league. We're going to look at some of the best players in the league and what we can learn from them.

So we're back. We are back in full force here for the next couple weeks before you take a little bit of a break. so we're doing some of the fun stuff we like to do before you take your well-earned paternity leave. I had to take a couple weeks off for a honeymoon in the middle of the off-season. You had a child in the middle of the season. So you've definitely taken one on the chin a little bit more than I have here over the last year. I missed one, I think I missed two shows. You missed two shows.

Battleback. Iron man. I went by my Iron Man season this year. You certainly have deserved the attorney leave that you were going to get. But we're going to get some fun shows in before. for that. So we're back regularly scheduled programming. No football GM over the next couple weeks as Mike takes some time off, but we are going to be back to you at least three days a week over the next couple weeks here. Very excited to be back with you guys. Appreciate it. Everyone

that held down the feed in my absence for Nate for hosting for the football GM guys for taking care of business. Really good to be back with you guys. Excited to kind of finish out the offseason here as we roll into training camp. For now, that is all we got. Appreciate you guys. listen. We'll talk to you soon. This was the Athletic Football Show.