Teams took a pass on quarterbacks and turned toward the trenches during the second day of the NFL Draft on Friday night in Detroit.

• In Rounds 2 and 3, teams combined to select 16 offensive linemen, 10 interior defensive linemen and four edge rushers. The picks might have lacked the pizzazz of Round 1, when six quarterbacks were taken among the top 12 players, but coaches and front-office staff preached the importance of winning the line of scrimmage.

  The biggest example -- literally one of the biggest at 6-foot-2 and 366 pounds -- was Texas defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat, who went to the Tennessee Titans with the sixth pick of the second round at No. 38 overall.

  Sweat, who plans to shed some weight, believes he can be a steal of the draft.

  "I'm going to go down more," Sweat told reporters when asked about his weight. "I can play good at 366. My coach said this past season, ‘Yeah, you played great, but you could have played better at 355 or 350.' ... If I go to 355, 350, most likely I'll be a Hall of Famer."

  Most teams would be pleased with productive starters coming from Rounds 2 and 3.

  Before the run on big men, the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers opened the second day of the draft with back-to-back selections of wide receivers.

  The Bills used the first pick of Round 2 to select Florida State's Keon Coleman, who could provide quarterback Josh Allen with a deep threat after the team traded Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans this offseason.

  The Chargers picked Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey moments later with the 34th overall pick. McConkey also could fill a void after Los Angeles sent veteran Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears last month.

  Four of the next five picks were defensive linemen. The Atlanta Falcons took Clemson's Ruke Orhorhoro, the Washington Commanders selected Illinois' Johnny Newton, the Tennessee Titans selected Sweat and the Los Angeles Rams nabbed Florida State's Braden Fiske.

  The only team that did not beef up its defensive line in that five-pick stretch was the New England Patriots, who drafted Washington wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk. The 6-foot-2, 204-pound receiver will team up with rookie quarterback Drake Maye, whom the Patriots took at No. 3 overall on Friday night.

  "He's a guy that we had our eyes on for a while," Patriots scouting director Eliot Wolf said. "Really good fit in our offense. He's really tough, he's strong, he can run all the routes. ... (He's) really just kind of a versatile, do-everything type guy."

  Four straight cornerbacks went off the board from picks No. 40-43. The Philadelphia Eagles started the run by drafting Cooper DeJean, an All-American out of Iowa whom many had projected as a first-round pick.

  The next three picks included Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry to the New Orleans Saints, Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter to the Texans and Rutgers cornerback Max Melton to the Arizona Cardinals.

  Texas' Jonathon Brooks was the first running back to be selected this year. The Carolina Panthers picked Brooks at No. 46 overall after he rushed for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games with the Longhorns in 2023.

  In the third round, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh reunited with one of his top defensive players from Michigan when the team drafted Wolverines linebacker Junior Colson at No. 69 overall.

  Cameras showed Harbaugh singing Michigan's fight song in the Chargers' war room.

  Three more Michigan players were drafted back-to-back-to-back later in the round. The Rams selected running back Blake Corum at No. 83, the Pittsburgh Steelers took wide receiver Roman Wilson at No. 84 and the Cleveland Browns zeroed in on offensive lineman Zak Zinter at No. 85.

  No quarterbacks were selected on the draft's second day. Prospects including Spencer Rattler of South Carolina and Michael Pratt of Tulane will hope to hear their names called Saturday as the draft concludes with Rounds 4-7.

  --Field Level Media

Quarterback Michael Penix Jr., whose selection by the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8 in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday stunned many draft experts, smiled through most of his introductory news conference Friday in Atlanta.

• "A dream came true," the former University of Washington star said. "It's a dream I've had since I was a little kid. ... It's a special moment and something I will forever remember."

  Penix's excitement far overshadowed any concern over his position in the draft.

  "I'm here to do whatever I can to help this team win football games," he said. "As far as what anybody else feels about the decision that was made, I have no control over that. All I can control is what I do and what I bring to this team.

  "For me I know that I'm gonna be a great leader not just on, but off the field as well. I'm gonna be a great person and great teammate as well."

  As amicable as he seemed Friday, it was clear Penix has no shortage of confidence.

  "Personally, I feel like I'm the best quarterback out of the draft," he said. "I'm excited that I landed here and I'm excited to get started."

  He was repeatedly asked whether he had any problem with the Falcons' succession plan, with Penix sitting behind No. 1 quarterback Kirk Cousins.

  "I'm going to put in a ton of work," he said. "There's not going to be a beat missed. ... You got to be ready. I'm gonna prepare, I'm gonna work just as (if) I'm the starter."

  The Falcons recently signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract, and the veteran QB was "confused" about the selection but reached out to Penix.

  "Kirk he's an amazing guy," Penix said, adding that Cousins contacted him after the pick was made but wouldn't divulge details of their conversation.

  "I'm gonna keep it between me and him right now but it was definitely a good conversation, and I'm super excited to work with him -- and he said he's the same with me."

  Penix, the fourth quarterback drafted Thursday night out of a record-tying six first-round QB picks, led the Huskies to last season's national championship game where they were beaten by the Michigan Wolverines.

  Michigan's quarterback, JJ McCarthy, was selected 10th by the Minnesota Vikings and Oregon's Bo Nix went 12th to the Denver Broncos.

  The draft's first three picks were quarterbacks: USC's Caleb Williams (to the Bears), LSU's Jayden Daniels (Commanders) and North Carolina's Drake Maye (Patriots).

  Penix was asked about comparisons with another Falcons left-handed signal-caller, Michael Vick, and said Vick was his favorite quarterback growing up.

  "He did great things here, obviously," Penix said. "I keep in contact with him. He's been a guy that I can reach out to whenever. He actually sent me a text congratulating me this morning."

  Penix said a recent visit to Seattle by the Atlanta coaches to see him throw apparently cemented their belief.

  "It's different whenever you see it up close, in person," he said. "I feel like I did a very good job in the workout. ...

  "I feel like the offense is very good for me. ... I felt very comfortable and confident with all of it."

  -Field Level Media

Xavier Worthy might not win a weigh-in, but the first-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs was highly rated by the front office because of his playmaking skills, speed and production at Texas.

• A wide receiver with the Longhorns, Worthy reeled in 26 receiving touchdowns in three seasons before blazing a 4.21-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.

  At 165 pounds, Worthy's weight isn't a worry to the Chiefs because of the toughness he showed on the field at Texas.

  "You're asking the wrong guy about weight," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said of the 28th overall pick in the draft. "I think he's fine where he's at. I don't think that's a problem. He's playing at a high level, and he's been doing this since he was a freshman. I'm not too worried about the weight."

  Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said Worthy, 20, still is growing and plans to connect with the team nutritionist to be in full alignment with Kansas City's plan to bulk him up, if only slightly.

  "We'll have him with our dietitian and our weight staff. We're not going to make him 200 pounds," Veach joked, "but also keep him at the 175-180 mark I think will be a healthy weight for him. It will all make sense ... all these (draft picks) are going to have to get bigger and stronger just from the marathon of the season, just to survive more games."

  Reid said Worthy would be used as a receiver and returner as a rookie. He'll join a WR corps that added Hollywood Brown and expects to have Rashee Rice back for a second season after he led the team in receptions as a rookie.

  Brown and Worthy bring a skill the Chiefs didn't feature last season -- the pure speed to blow the top off of a zone defense. Reid said he saw glimpses of another relatively light but blazing fast -- and tough -- receiver he drafted with the Eagles, DeSean Jackson.

  Jackson, as it turns out, was Worthy's favorite player growing up.

  "It just makes me at ease to see a coach who drafted a guy similar to me, and (Jackson) having the success that he had in the system with Andy Reid, so it's just amazing to be able to have a coach who gets you as a player since he had that player before," Worthy said.

  Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian was quick to note that Worthy's speed should make a "big-time difference in the NFL."

  "And the thing about Xavier is he ran that time, but that's the way he practices every single day. Every rep is full speed," Sarkisian said. "He has the ability to take the top off the defense, but he's much more than that. He has tremendous route-running ability and is a tireless worker at that. He has a very high football IQ and is extremely competitive."

  Worthy was on Reid's radar before he lit up the turf at the Scouting Combine.

  "Sarkisian and I are close. He kept talking about how smart he was, he's got great football instincts, and he's a tremendous worker," Reid said. "In this offense, you've got to be able to do that and have those characteristics."

  --Field Level Media

Trade offers for wide receiver Deebo Samuel could fetch the San Francisco 49ers a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, according to multiple reports.

• The two teams at the center of the bidding prior to the start of the second round of the 2024 draft on Friday were AFC East rivals Buffalo and New England, NFL Network and The Athletic reported.

  NFL Network reported the Patriots and 49ers engaged in conversations around Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk during the NFL Scouting Combine, but compensation was a sticking point.

  The Bills traded No. 1 wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans earlier this month and traded back twice on Thursday. Buffalo holds the No. 33 pick in the draft Friday.

  49ers general manager John Lynch said on Wednesday that he "wouldn't anticipate" a scenario in which the team would trade Aiyuk, who is looking for a long-term deal from San Francisco.

  Whether Samuel could be available after Lynch used the 49ers' first-round selection on Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall -- a former Aiyuk teammate in 2019 before transferring to the Gators from Arizona State.

  Lynch called Samuel "a part of this team, and a big part of this team" on Thursday night after the pick. Head coach Kyle Shanahan went further, saying trade talks took place when teams called but trading a wide receiver "doesn't seem that likely to be honest. But I'm still on the table. If someone offered [owner] Jed [York] and John good stuff for me, I'm going to be out of here."

  --Field Level Media

The Carolina Panthers plan to pick up the fifth-year option for cornerback Jaycee Horn, NFL Network reported on Friday.

• The team has until May 2 to make the decision for its 2021 first-round draft pick (eighth overall), which would pay him a guaranteed $12.472 million in 2025.

  Horn, 24, played only six games (all starts) last season due to a hamstring injury and finished with 27 tackles and five passes defensed.

  He has recorded four interceptions, 13 passes defensed and 85 tackles in 22 games (all starts) through his first three seasons.

  Horn is entering the final season of his four-year, $21.1 million rookie deal that included a $12.7 million signing bonus. He is set to earn a base salary of $1.055 million in 2024.

  --Field Level Media

Eliminating one week of preseason games, adding a week to the 17-game regular season and bumping the Super Bowl to a three-day weekend in February are all part of the long-term outlook of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

• Goodell said Friday in an interview with ESPN that the NFL could expand the league calendar.

  "I think we're good at 17 now. We're looking at how we continue. I'm not a fan of the preseason. I don't think we need three preseason games anymore," Goodell said on The Pat McAfee Show. "I don't buy it. I'd rather replace a preseason game with a regular season any day. That's just picking quality, right? If we got to 18 (regular-season games) and two (preseason games per team), that's not an unreasonable thing.

  "The other thing that does: (the Super Bowl) ends up on Presidents' Day weekend, which is a three-day weekend. Which makes (the Super Bowl) Sunday night and you've got Monday off."

  Previous attempts to push the regular season beyond the current 17 games -- increased from 16 in 2021, when the preseason was reduced from four games to three -- were met with stiff resistance by the NFLPA in recent years. In 2018, then-NFLPA president Eric Winston called Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' plan for 18 games as a "safer" alternative to four preseason weeks laughable.

  The following offseason, the NFL and NFLPA held discussions about an 18-game regular season with players having a maximum participation allowance of 16 games. That plan also included the potential for adding a second bye week for every team.

  --Field Level Media

No. 1 pick Caleb Williams is breaking records before setting foot in Chicago.

• The Bears selected the quarterback first in the NFL draft on Thursday night and his merchandise on Fanatics, including jerseys and other apparel, set the record for draft night sales in any sport, according to multiple reports.

  Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft on April 15, had broken the existing record 10 days earlier when her No. 22 jersey sold out in a matter of hours.

  The alternate orange jersey was the only version of Williams' new duds that was still available on Friday morning, and exclusively in size 2XL. His navy jersey was available only in youth sizes.

  Williams switched from his jersey number at USC (13) to No. 18 with the Bears, the team announced Thursday night.

  Newly acquired wide receiver Keenan Allen, traded to the Bears by the Los Angeles Chargers, is expected to wear No. 13.

  Quarterbacks Mike Tomczak and Kyle Orton previously wore No. 18 for the Bears, as did wide receiver Dante Pettis more recently.

  --Field Level Media

Former NFL offensive lineman Korey Cunningham has died at age 28.

• The New York Giants, one of three teams he played for in his NFL career, confirmed his death in a statement Friday.

  "We are saddened to hear of the passing of Korey Cunningham," the Giants said in a statement Friday morning. "He was a vital part of the spirit and camaraderie of the locker room. Our thoughts are with Korey's family, friends and teammates."

  The team did not disclose a cause of death. ESPN reported he was found dead in his Clifton, N.J., home, and a police spokesperson told the network foul play was not suspected "at this time."

  Cunningham, who played collegiately at Cincinnati, was a seventh-round draft pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 and was plagued by foot issues throughout his career. He appeared in 31 games with the Cardinals (2018), New England Patriots (2019-20) and Giants (2021-22). The Giants released him last summer.

  Former teammate Justin Pugh recalled his time with Cunningham when they were both in Arizona, and shared on X, "Quick story: We would invite him to the OL dinner every week even though he wasn't on the team which doesn't happen...ever. Team dinners are for players on the team only. Except for Korey....solely because he was beloved by all the guys regardless if you knew him or not! He'd tell stories and we'd laugh our asses off all night.

  Today is a sad day but I'll always remember the good times and the laughs. Everyone who knew Korey Cunnigham was better for it. The world lost a great soul."

  --Field Level Media

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni made a call no other NFL coach or general manager could before the final decision was made to select Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell in the first round Thursday night.

• Sirianni called his old college roommate Jason Candle and soon knew his pairing with Mitchell was a perfect match.

  "Their personality match is perfect," Candle, the head coach at Toledo who maintains a close bond with Sirianni years after they roomed together at Mount Union, said Friday of the Eagles drafting Mitchell.

  What some in the NFL viewed as a risk because of his small-school production in the MAC (Mid-American Conference), the Eagles viewed as a decided edge. Sirianni knows the small-school, prove-it mentality when he sees it, and Mitchell starred in every phase of the pre-draft process. He was the best player on the field at the Senior Bowl by their estimation, then ran in the 4.3s at the NFL Scouting Combine and smashed position drills and private meetings.

  Candle was able to ease some of those concerns for Philadelphia, telling Sirianni how Mitchell turned down Power 5 options -- including Alabama, Georgia and Florida State -- to stay with the Rockets four years and all about how he sees Sirianni's personality and competitive mentality in Mitchell in everything from team meetings to pickup basketball games.

  The game tape and production -- 45 pass break-ups the past two seasons -- spoke for itself.

  "We think we have an extremely talented, hard-working outside corner," Eagles president Howie Roseman said. "He's got the right mentality, all the tools in his body. He had a great process. He had a chance to transfer out of Toledo; he stayed there and came back. He got better, he went to the Senior Bowl, and he checked all the offseason process boxes one by one, which is important."

  Mitchell walks into a loaded secondary with James Bradberry and Darius Slay at cornerback and 2023 draft pick Kelee Ringo, Josh Jobe and Eli Ricks are in the running for more time this season.

  "He's got a lot to prove as a small-school player. The MAC isn't the National Football League. We understand that ... so to take a player like this, he has to be special. We think he is a special person," Roseman said.

  --Field Level Media

With 32 picks in the books, the Buffalo Bills are on the clock to start the second round with the 33rd pick in the draft on Friday.

• Six of the first 12 picks Thursday were quarterbacks while seven wide receivers and 23 offensive players total were chosen in the first round. Defense is about to have a day -- or two -- in the second and third round on Friday night.

  Here are the top remaining prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft based on a consensus of Field Level Media draft analysts.

  FLM Rank Pos Name School

  15. OT Kingsley Suamataia, BYU

  17. CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa

  18. DT Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois

  20. DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan

  21. CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

  30. ILB Cedric Gray, North Carolina

  35. ILB Payton Wilson, NC State

  36. OG Christian Haynes, Connecticut

  37. CB Kamari Lassiter, Georgia

  38. DE Adisa Isaac, Penn State

  39. WR Troy Franklin, Oregon

  41. DE Austin Booker, Kansas

  42. S Tyler Nubin, Minnesota

  43. OLB Junior Colson, Michigan

  45. DT Maason Smith, LSU

  46. DT McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M

  47. C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon

  48. S Kamren Kinchens, Miami

  49. WR Keon Coleman, Florida State

  50. WR Ja'Lynn Polk, Washington

  51. ILB Trevin Wallace, Kentucky

  52. WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas

  53. OG Layden Robinson, Texas A&M

  54. CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri

  55. CB Kalen King, Penn State

  56. RB Jaylen Wright, Tennessee

  57. ILB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M

  58. RB Jonathon Brooks, Texas

  59. RB Will Shipley, Clemson

  60. C Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia

  61. DE Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan

  62. S Calen Bullock, USC

  63. OLB Chris Braswell, Alabama

  64. RB Trey Benson, Florida State

  65. S Javon Bullard, Georgia

  66. DE Braiden McGregor, Michigan

  67. C Zach Frazier, West Virginia

  68. CB Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri

  69. WR Roman Wilson, Michigan

  70. WR Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky

  71. OG Isaiah Adams, Illinois

  72. DT Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson

  73. DT T'Vondre Sweat, Texas

  74. RB Blake Corum, Michigan

  75. CB Khyree Jackson, Oregon

  76. S Jaden Hicks, Washington State

  77. S Cole Bishop, Utah

  78. WR Devontez Walker, North Carolina

  79. WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia

  80. DE Brandon Dorlus, Oregon

  81. OLB Ty'Ron Hopper, Missouri

  82. OG Tanor Bortolini, Wisconsin

  83. TE Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota

  84. RB Braelon Allen, Wisconsin

  85. DE Bralen Trice, Washington

  86. TE Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas

  87. OT Delmar Glaze, Maryland

  88. CB T.J. Tampa, Iowa State

  89. TE Cade Stover, Ohio State

  90. CB Josh Newton, TCU

  91. OG Brandon Coleman, TCU

  92. S Beau Brade, Maryland

  93. S James Williams, Miami

  94. DT Braden Fiske, Florida State

  95. RB Jase McClellan, Alabama

  96. TE Jaheim Bell, Florida State

  97. RB MarShawn Lloyd, USC

  98. TE Jared Wiley, TCU

  99. ILB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson

  100. ILB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State

  --Field Level Media

Instant reaction to NFL draft selections is dangerous territory, but we're running with the Bears while we have the chance.

• Chicago comes out of Thursday with two of the top seven players in the Field Level Media Top 100 rankings. The Bears drafted quarterback Caleb Williams first overall and paired him with polished pass catcher Rome Odunze, the Washington wide receiver picked ninth overall.

  Not every team was blessed with the same great fortune on Thursday night but have a chance to shift the narrative around the following flash reactions Friday and Saturday.

  WINNERS

  Minnesota Vikings

  --Drafted QB J.J. McCarthy 10th, DE Dallas Turner 17th

  When the offseason began with Kirk Cousins waving goodbye, the Vikings were left reeling for only a moment. Minnesota struck early and often in free agency and acquired a second first-round pick from the Houston Texans to be in position to attempt a 1-2 punch in the first round capable of setting the foundation for the franchise for years to come.

  "As excited as our fans are, they can know that J.J. McCarthy really wanted to be a Minnesota Viking and he can't wait to get here and get to work," head coach Kevin O'Connell said.

  Seattle Seahawks

  --Drafted DT Byron Murphy II 16th overall

  As Aaron Donald is ushered out of the NFC West, the Seahawks sit tight and let one of the top players on their draft board fall into their laps. Murphy is a freakish athlete and fits at multiple positions in the varied fronts of new head coach Mike Macdonald.

  "It's a dream come true. I don't know too much about Seattle, but I heard it rains a lot," Murphy said Thursday night from his draft party in Dallas.

  Arizona Cardinals

  --Drafted Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. 4th, Missouri DE Darius Robinson 27th

  Twenty years and a day since Arizona selected Larry Fitzgerald Jr. No. 3 overall, they hit it big again.

  Harrison Jr. might be the best player in the draft -- he was ranked No. 1 by multiple teams -- but QB need was undeniable for the teams at the top in 2024. Harrison Jr. is bigger and faster than most expect, and Ohio State felt he was elite in other areas -- work ethic and leadership.

  Robinson was a defensive end but his skill set projects well to multiple positions on the defensive line, a major need for the Cardinals. He'll help the overall defense and upgrade the pass rush.

  Jacksonville Jaguars

  --Drafted LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr. 23rd

  Thomas runs pristine routes and led the nation in touchdowns, representing a well-played mulligan for Jacksonville following the botched free agency negotiations with Calvin Ridley.

  Detroit Lions

  --Drafted CB Terrion Arnold 24th

  One of the most maligned draft picks of the first round last year? Easily the Lions selecting Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who turned into an ideal playmaker after a slow start. And second-round safety Brian Branch was described as the "heartbeat of the defense" by Dan Campbell. So why not take a swing for a No. 1 corner from the Crimson Tide? It took a trade up in a swap with the Cowboys. But Arnold is legit, ranked as high as No. 10 and projected to be the first cornerback off the board far earlier than this point in the draft.

  LOSERS

  Atlanta Falcons

  --Drafted Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. 8th

  Penix was a fringe first-round pick and the Falcons spent serious capital -- $180 million over four years -- to lure Kirk Cousins in free agency and fix their QB concerns. Now they've created friction without addressing major needs on the roster, including almost every defensive position.

  "I feel like there's definitely something special going on over there in Atlanta," Penix said.

  Cousins leaned on Aaron Rodgers for advice and benchmarks to check in his recovery from a torn Achilles this season. Now Cousins finds himself in a situation eerily similar to the position Rodgers was in when the Packers drafted Jordan Love 26th overall in 2020.

  Denver Broncos

  --Drafted Oregon QB Bo Nix 12th

  The sixth of six first-round quarterbacks selected, Denver bought the end of the run rather than taking better value with their choice of the top edge, cornerback, safety, linebacker and one remaining blue-chip talent -- Georgia tight end Brock Bowers -- a boom-or-bust roll of the dice brings Nix to a QB room in Denver that includes Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham.

  --Field Level Media

In a matter of six weeks, the Atlanta Falcons went from having no clear plan at quarterback to having two QBs.

• Atlanta surprised many by selecting Washington's Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the draft on Thursday.

  "You can see, six quarterbacks went in the first round. There's a reason," Falcons GM Terry Fontenot said at the end of the first round. "If you see a guy at that position that you believe in, you take him. ...

  "Kirk Cousins is our quarterback. We're very excited about Kirk. Very excited about this team. Michael Penix is, we're talking about the future. The draft is, you look at the future and you look at big picture, but we are very excited about that quarterback room."

  Head coach Raheem Morris said the presence of a model professional and mentor was actually a reason to add Penix.

  The selection gives the Falcons another option to go with Kirk Cousins, whom they signed to a four-year, $180 million deal on March 13 -- a contract that includes $100 million guaranteed.

  Cousins, 35, is looking to come back from a right Achilles tendon tear that ended his 2023 season in October. He'll be 36 before the 2024 regular season begins.

  "All (Penix) needs to do is come in and be the best version of himself," Morris said. "It's really the young man's job to come in and learn from Kirk. You can't put that on Kirk."

  Penix, who turns 24 in May, is coming off a spectacular senior season in which he led the Huskies to the national championship game. He threw for a national-high 4,903 yards and had 36 touchdown passes while getting intercepted 11 times.

  He wound up as the Heisman Trophy runner-up behind LSU's Jayden Daniels, and Penix captured the Maxwell Award, which goes to the county's top college football player. Each of the past two seasons, Penix broke Washington's single-season passing record.

  Penix wound up as the fourth quarterback selected, possibly due in part to his injury history. During his six-year collegiate career (the first four seasons at Indiana), he was sidelined twice due to anterior cruciate ligament injuries and twice due to shoulder injuries.

  Using two starting quarterbacks last year -- Desmond Ridder produced a 6-7 record and Taylor Heinicke went 1-3 -- Atlanta wound up ranked 27th in the NFL in passer rating at 80.5. The Falcons threw 17 touchdown passes and were intercepted 17 times.

  Cousins is a four-time Pro Bowl selection who had missed just one start since 2015 before last year.

  Cousins' agent, Mike McCartney, told ESPN and NFL Network that he and his client learned about the Falcons' plan to select Penix only when the team was on the clock.

  "We had no idea this was coming," McCartney told NFL Network. "We got no heads-up. ... It never came up in any conversation."

  Cousins expressed "frustration and confusion" that the Falcons didn't try to upgrade the 2024 roster with their selection, McCartney told ESPN.

  --Field Level Media

The first two trades of the 2024 NFL Draft had a common theme. In short, the Minnesota Vikings were not willing to stay pat.

• The Vikings swapped spots with the New York Jets from No. 11 to No. 10 to take Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy on Thursday night in Detroit.

  Less than an hour later, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was at it again, trading up with the Jacksonville Jaguars from No. 23 to No. 17 to take Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner.

  With their eyes on a quarterback, the Vikings sent New York a fourth-rounder (No. 129 overall) and a fifth-rounder (No. 157) while receiving a sixth-rounder (No. 203) from the Jets in the deal, rather than wait one more pick and risk another team jumping them.

  McCarthy was the fifth quarterback off the board, following Caleb Williams (Chicago), Jayden Daniels (Washington), Drake Maye (New England) and Michael Penix Jr. (Atlanta) at Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 8, respectively. Moments later, the Denver Broncos took Oregon quarterback Bo Nix at No. 12 for an unprecedented glut of QBs in the first 12 picks.

  McCarthy helped guide Michigan to a national championship in 2023 by passing for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He added three touchdowns on the ground.

  The Vikings bade farewell to Kirk Cousins this offseason and entered the draft with Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall on the QB depth chart.

  With the 11th pick, the Jets drafted Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu.

  In the latter trade, the Vikings sent the Jaguars a fifth-round pick (No. 167) and third- and fourth-rounders in the 2025 draft in addition to the 23rd selection to move up six spots.

  Turner had 11 sacks for the Crimson Tide in 2023 and finished his three-year college career with 22.5 sacks and 32.5 tackles for loss.

  With the No. 23 pick acquired from the Vikings, the Jaguars -- who needed a wide receiver after losing Calvin Ridley in free agency -- snagged LSU wideout Brian Thomas Jr.

  The Detroit Lions, who hosted the draft, moved up from No. 29 to No. 24 in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys and shored up their secondary with Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold. The Lions also received a 2025 seventh-rounder from the Cowboys and sent the 29th and 73rd overall picks this year to Dallas. With the No. 29 pick, the Cowboys chose Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton.

  The two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs weren't resting on their laurels, trading up from No. 32 to No. 28 to take Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.21 seconds) ever in the scouting combine.

  The deal involved the Buffalo Bills, who also sent fourth- and seventh-round picks to the Chiefs in exchange for the No. 32 selection along with third- and seventh-round choices.

  The Bills weren't done dealing, sending the No. 32 pick and a sixth-rounder to the Carolina Panthers for the No. 33 choice and a fifth-rounder. With the final pick of the first round, the Panthers selected South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette.

  --Field Level Media

Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown agreed to a three-year, $96 million extension, with $84 million in guaranteed money, per multiple media reports Thursday.

• The Eagles announced the agreement Thursday but did not release monetary details.

  The reported $84 million guaranteed would be the most at Brown's position in NFL history -- eclipsing the guaranteed $77 million that the Detroit Lions are giving Amon-Ra St. Brown. At $32 million per season, Brown would be the highest paid receiver in the NFL and is under contract with the Eagles through 2029.

  Brown, 26, is coming off his third Pro Bowl season during which he caught a career-high 106 passes for 1,456 yards and seven scores. He was also named second-team All-Pro while setting an NFL record with six straight games of 125-plus receiving yards.

  Brown's deal means the Eagles have their two star wideouts under long-term contracts. after DeVonta Smith signed a three-year, $75 million ($51 million guaranteed) extension earlier this month. Smith's deal runs through 2028.

  After acquiring Brown from the Tennessee Titans in 2022, the Eagles signed him to a four-year, $100 million extension. Brown has 18 total touchdowns and over 1,400 receiving yards in each of his two seasons with Philadelphia.

  --Field Level Media

Pick-six took on an entirely different meaning during the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night in Detroit.

• Led by Southern California signal-caller Caleb Williams, who went No. 1 to the Chicago Bears, six of the first 12 picks were quarterbacks for the first time in league history.

  Each of the first 14 picks was an offensive player, which doubled the previous record of seven offensive players to start the draft in 2021.

  "To be able to be here, it's an honor," Williams said on the NFL Network after the Bears called his name. "I'm very privileged."

  A half-dozen franchises hope they found their long-term answer at quarterback.

  LSU's Jayden Daniels went No. 2 to the Washington Commanders and North Carolina's Drake Maye went No. 3 to the New England Patriots to start the draft.

  "Let's go," Maye said on the broadcast. "I'm ready to go compete. I'm ready to get to New England. We're going to have a blast."

  The early sequence marked the fourth time in NFL history that teams selected quarterbacks with each of the top three picks. It also happened in 1971, 1999 and 2021, the most recent time when Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance went in the top three.

  The Atlanta Falcons provided the first big surprise of the evening by selecting Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8. The Falcons spent a first-round pick on a quarterback despite signing veteran signal-caller Kirk Cousins in March to a deal worth $100 million guaranteed.

  Cousins got a brief heads-up from the Falcons, when they were on the clock, that they planned to select another quarterback in the first round, according to the veteran QB's agent.

  The Minnesota Vikings traded up one spot in the draft to ensure that they got their target, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, at No. 10 overall. The Vikings sent a fourth- and fifth-round pick to the New York Jets and received a sixth-round pick in return as part of the swap.

  At No. 12, the Denver Broncos picked the sixth quarterback of the evening, Oregon's Bo Nix.

  Teams also focused on wide receiver and offensive line in a first round that was dominated by offense.

  The Arizona Cardinals added Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth pick. Harrison, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Sr., has drawn comparisons to legendary Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald Jr.

  Harrison Jr. said he was confident that he would be the first wideout selected.

  "I just had trust in my abilities," he said. "I worked so hard to get to this point."

  At No. 5, the Los Angeles Chargers bolstered their offensive line by selecting Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt. It marked the first pick under new coach Jim Harbaugh.

  The New York Giants picked the second wideout of the draft when they added playmaker Malik Nabers from LSU with the sixth overall choice.

  Alabama offensive lineman JC Latham went to the Tennessee Titans at No. 7. Latham, who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 342 pounds, embraced NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in a giant bear hug and lifted him high off the ground.

  "I let him know, man," Latham said with a smile. "I had to let him know. A lot of excitement."

  The Bears used the ninth pick to select Washington wideout Rome Odunze, who will join Williams as part of a reinvigorated offense.

  Odunze said he could not wait to team up with Williams.

  "From the glimpses that I've been able to hang out with him, I can tell he has that determination, as do I," Odunze said.

  The Jets used the 11th pick to grab Olumuyiwa Fashanu, an offensive lineman from Penn State.

  The Las Vegas Raiders added tight end Brock Bowers from Georgia at No. 13. The New Orleans Saints grabbed Oregon State offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga to make it 14 offensive players in a row.

  The Indianapolis Colts finally put the spotlight on defense at No. 15. The Colts selected edge rusher Laiatu Latu from UCLA.

  The next five picks featured the Seattle Seahawks selecting Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II; the Vikings trading up for Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner; the Bengals turning to Georgia offensive lineman Amarius Mims; the Los Angeles Rams taking Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse; and the Pittsburgh Steelers drafting Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu at No. 20.

  Three picks later, the Jacksonville Jaguars looked to improve their big-play ability by selecting LSU wideout Brian Thomas Jr. The Detroit Lions followed moments later by trading up to get the No. 24 pick, which they used to select Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold.

  A massive crowd cheered as Arnold took the microphone and turned to them during the NFL Network broadcast.

  "Detroit, you all got a star, man," he said. "Hey, I'm home. I'm home."

  The defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs grabbed speedster, wideout Xavier Worthy out of Texas, at No. 28. The San Francisco 49ers prioritized the same position by taking Florida wideout Ricky Pearsall at No. 31, and the Carolina Panthers wrapped up the first round by selecting South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette at No. 32.

  --Field Level Media

Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams was selected No. 1 in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, as the expected became official when commissioner Roger Goodell made the announcement on Thursday in Detroit.

• "I'm ready," Williams said Wednesday in a public appearance on the eve of the draft. "I did dream of this. I set my goals. I went after it. I got here."

  Williams won the 2022 Heisman Trophy and is the third quarterback drafted in the first round by the Bears since 2017, following Mitchell Trubisky (second overall, 2017) and Justin Fields (11th, 2021).

  General manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus arrived on the scene after those failed or incomplete QB experiments.

  Their lack of success fed Poles' plan to find his way to a franchise passer. Quarterbacks have been selected No. 1 overall in six of the past seven drafts.

  The Bears received the No. 1 pick in this draft as a result of a March 2023 trade with the Carolina Panthers.

  Chicago traded the No. 1 pick in last year's draft for Carolina's original selection in 2023 and more, including the Panthers' first-rounder in 2024. After plummeting to the bottom of the NFL standings last season, it was Carolina that landed the No. 1 pick, which was relayed to the Bears to complete the trade.

  With the stage set, Poles slow-played a decision on Fields' future but ultimately opted for a reset to execute his vision of finding the franchise a long-term answer at quarterback.

  Chicago also started Thursday night with its own 2024 first-round pick, No. 9 overall.

  Williams passed for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions for the Trojans in 2023. He passed for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns with five interceptions in 2022.

  Expectations are sky-high for Williams, who arrives anointed the QB1 following the March trade of Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Williams took only one pre-draft visit to an NFL team -- the Bears -- and met with the team on three occasions in the pre-draft buildup to Thursday night.

  The Bears offer a stellar supporting cast for an incoming rookie. DJ Moore had a team-best 96 receptions for 1,364 yards with eight touchdowns in 2023 in his first season in Chicago. He was acquired in the 2023 trade with the Panthers.

  Chicago also added Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen in a trade this offseason and signed free agent running back D'Andre Swift from the Eagles.

  Opinions on Williams vary, and many draft analysts questioned his personality when raising doubts about the live-armed athlete who has drawn comparisons to Chiefs All-Pro Patrick Mahomes.

  Williams' blue-chip talent appears to be universally appreciated. Former Colts general manager Bill Polian, who selected Peyton Manning over Ryan Leaf in 1998, summarized the polarizing debate around Williams, noting, "The better the arm, the harder the lessons."

  The Bears drafted No. 1 overall for the third time in team history and first since selecting Oklahoma A&M running back Bob Fenimore in 1947. With the top pick in 1941, Chicago drafted Michigan running back Tom Harmon. Harmon instead opted to play in the American Football League with the New York Americans. He's the father of actor and former UCLA quarterback Mark Harmon.

  Williams becomes the sixth USC player selected No. 1 overall, joining offensive tackle Ron Yary (1968, Minnesota Vikings), running back O.J. Simpson (1969, Buffalo Bills), running back Ricky Bell (1977, Tampa Bay Buccaneers), wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson (1996, New York Jets) and Carson Palmer (2003, Cincinnati Bengals).

  --Field Level Media

The man who shot and killed former Saints defensive end Will Smith in 2016 received a 25-year prison sentence on Thursday in New Orleans.

• Cardell Hayes, 36, was convicted of manslaughter in January for shooting Smith eight times during a confrontation over a car accident.

  Smith, 34, played nine seasons with the Saints after being selected in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2006 and a key member of the Super Bowl XLIV championship squad that helped to raise the city's spirits in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

  Smith's daughter, Lisa, who is now a teenager, was among the people who spoke in court prior to Thursday's sentencing.

  "Mr. Hayes, you ruined my life," she said, per The Associated Press. "You took my father away from me."

  Hayes was originally convicted of the crime and sentenced to 25 years in 2016. However, the jury vote at that time was 10-2 and the conviction was later overturned after the U.S. Supreme Court banned non-unanimous verdicts.

  Smith started 120 of his 139 games with New Orleans from 2004-12, registering 67.5 sacks, 20 forced fumbles, two interceptions and 463 tackles.

  --Field Level Media

Presumptive No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams is already the heavy favorite to claim Offensive Rookie of the Year honors even before the start of the 2024 NFL Draft.

• Williams is widely expected to go No. 1 to the Chicago Bears, who traded Justin Fields to Pittsburgh earlier this offseason. The Bears' current quarterback depth chart consists of 2023 free agent rookie Tyson Bagent and journeyman Brett Rypien.

  Williams is likely to step in as the immediate starter for the Bears, leading to his +250 odds at DraftKings to win top offensive rookie honors next season. That's well ahead of wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. (+550) and Malik Nabers, who is being offered at +800 along with former LSU teammate quarterback Jayden Daniels.

  OFFENSIVE ROY ODDS

  Caleb Williams, QB, Southern Cal (+250)

  Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State (+550)

  Malik Nabers, WR, LSU (+800)

  Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU (+800)

  Rome Odunze, WR, Washington (+1100)

  Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina (+1100)

  J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan (+1600)

  Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington (+1800)

  Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia (+2200)

  Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU (+2500)

  Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas (+3500)

  Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas (+3500)

  Bo Nix, QB, Oregon (+3500)

  Williams will no doubt remain the favorite once all the leading contenders' NFL destinations are known following the draft, but he's also walking into a prime position to be an immediate producer.

  Chicago brought in running back D'Andre Swift and wide receiver Keenan Allen this offseason to add firepower to complement Williams. That trio will join an offensive group that also includes No. 1 wide receiver DJ Moore and tight end Cole Kmet.

  Daniels is expected to go to Washington with the second overall pick. The Commanders do have veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota if they want to bring Daniels along a bit slower. They also added tight end Zach Ertz this offseason and have a solid receiving corps led by Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson.

  Beyond that, where the skill position players wind up remains to be seen and their related odds of winning rookie honors next season will be impacted.

  Harrison, Nabers and Odunze are each viewed as elite wide receiver prospects. Harrison is the -275 favorite at BetMGM to go to Arizona with the fourth overall pick, while Nabers is the +160 favorite to go sixth overall to the New York Giants. However, Odunze leads with 27.6 percent of the money backing him to land with the Giants.

  The biggest liability for BetMGM at No. 6 overall is Odunze's former teammate Michael Penix Jr., whose name has been increasingly mentioned as a possibility to replace Daniel Jones in New York.

  --Field Level Media

The Washington Commanders, committed to a fresh start under new ownership, are embracing the past.

• The franchise announced Thursday that it will retire No. 28, worn by Pro Football Hall of Fame member Darrell Green for 20 seasons, in ceremonies during the 2024 season.

  Green learned the news after he arrived at the Commanders Park training facility, thinking he was summoned there to voice a video prepared by the team for the NFL draft. With his family present, team officials gave him the news.

  "I would've never dreamed this," the former cornerback said. "I was so shocked. It's almost like it breathed life into me. I have never been so surprised, shocked. My head is still spinning, but I am a million percent humbled."

  Green, who won two Super Bowls with the Washington franchise, was an All-Pro, the 1996 Walter Payton Man of the Year and already was a member of the Commanders Ring of Fame. He was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in 2008.

  He becomes the fifth member of the franchise to have his jersey retired, joining Sonny Jurgensen (No. 9), Bobby Mitchell (No. 49), Sammy Baugh (No. 33) and Sean Taylor (No. 21).

  "I'm humbly grateful," Green, 64, said. "I feel like crying just thinking about it right now. This means a lot to me."

  Washington selected Green No. 28 overall in 1983, and he played in 295 games (258 starts). In his era, Washington reached the playoffs eight times.

  He broke team records for most career interceptions (54), most games started and played, most consecutive seasons (20), longest fumble returned for a touchdown (78 yards) and most interceptions returned for touchdown (six). He also made 1,202 tackles.

  Green also became known for his off-field contributions in the community, founding the Darrell Green Youth Foundation.

  "Darrell Green's legacy transcends the boundaries of the football field," said Josh Harris, the Commanders' managing partner, in a team-released statement. "Throughout his remarkable career, Green embodied the values of excellence, perseverance, and sportsmanship on and off the field."

  Harris continued: "Retiring Darrell Green's jersey symbolizes our commitment to preserving the rich history and tradition of our franchise. His presence as one of the greatest players to ever wear the Burgundy and Gold will forever be felt at Commanders Field, serving as an inspiration to current and future generations of players, coaches, and fans."

  --Field Level Media

The Chicago Bears are looking to build a new stadium, and they need nearly $5 billion to do so -- but not everyone is in favor of the plan.

• Chicago released a proposal for a domed stadium on Wednesday, with $3.2 billion earmarked for the stadium itself and another $1.5 billion for infrastructure.

  The team announced that it would put more than $2 billion toward the stadium project. According to the Chicago Tribune, to make up the rest, the Bears would seek $300 million from the NFL and would ask the state of Illinois to borrow $900 million, which would be paid back by Chicago's 2 percent hotel tax.

  The plan didn't sit well with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

  "I remain skeptical about this proposal, and I wonder whether it's a good deal for the taxpayers," Pritzker said. "There are a lot of priorities that the state has, and I'm not sure that this is among the highest priorities for taxpayers."

  Non-profit group Friends of the Parks, which focuses on Chicago's Lakefront Protection ordinance, also criticized the plan, writing in a statement, "As is so often the case in Chicago, the powerful and wealthy are demanding that our entire city stop and fast track their plans to expand operations on the people's lakefront."

  However, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson attended the Bears' press conference announcing the proposal, which he called a "crown jewel." He added, "This project will result in no new taxes on the residents of Chicago."

  The Bears' new home would be located on the edge of Lake Michigan -- just like Soldier Field, Chicago's current stadium -- and would add green and open space to the city's lakefront while also providing better access to the Museum Campus.

  "This is an incredibly, incredibly special day for the Chicago Bears," Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren said in a statement on Wednesday. "For the City of Chicago, for the state of Illinois, for our ownership, for our players, for our coaches, for our staff members, for the alumni and for our incredible Chicago Bear fans.

  "Today is about progress, and one of the things that I am most excited about today is the fact that this shows that in this city we have the intellectual capabilities, we have the heart, we have the passion, we have the foresight, we have the wisdom, we have the vision to do big things."

  In addition to 14 acres of athletic fields for youth sports programs and park space for the general public, there could also be a publicly owned hotel near the site of the new stadium.

  Fans would get to experience attractions indoors and outdoors, and there would also be a plaza that features restaurants and retail stores.

  "This is not an easy project, but Chicago doesn't like it easy," Warren said.

  --Field Level Media

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen said he is open to "all possible scenarios" when it comes to the No. 6 overall pick the team currently holds ahead of Thursday's first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

• The Giants' game plan will likely be predicated upon what happens with the five selections ahead of them.

  Chicago is widely expected to take Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick, and LSU's Jayden Daniels is favored to go to Washington at No. 2. What happens after that remains highly uncertain.

  Could the Giants move up to select a quarterback such as North Carolina's Drake Maye? Or will they sit tight and see which elite prospects fall into their lap after the expected run on quarterbacks? Schoen also didn't dismiss the possibility of trading back to accumulate additional picks.

  "You're going through all the possible scenarios, whether it's moving up, staying where we are or moving back," Schoen said Wednesday. "There's a lot of strategy that's going into it right now."

  Schoen said he has been staying in touch with general managers around the league and will continue to do so leading up to the start of Thursday's first round. The pre-draft work helps with making decisions once the clock starts running.

  "I told all those people, ‘Nothing's really going to happen before Thursday, so call back,'" Schoen said. "We'll have conversations early in the day on, ‘Hey, if we did do something, what would it look like?' And typically, you have a few deals in place before the draft starts. That way, when you're on the clock, everything's been negotiated."

  The Giants own one selection in each of the first six rounds, but are without a seventh-round pick after acquiring linebacker Isaiah Simmons from Arizona last year. Schoen has made trades in each of his first two drafts with the Giants, including moving up to grab cornerback Deonte Banks at No. 24 last year.

  However, don't expect the Giants to slide back significantly on Thursday. Schoen said the team currently has 15 players with first-round grades on their draft board.

  "Every year it's different based on what you're given," he said. "You don't put them there just for posterity or just a visual for window dressing. These are guys that we think deserve first-round grades. If they're not up there, you put them in the second. You put them where their grade is. We don't put 32 guys up there to have 32 guys in the first round.

  "I think each year the ebbs and flows of where the depth of the draft is and where you can acquire players, it shifts based on different variables."

  The pre-draft work will continue through Wednesday night and up until the clock begins on the No. 1 pick Thursday night. Part of Schoen's job is sifting through all the "smoke" of various rumors around the league while also keeping his cards close to his vest.

  "I'm going to make a lot of phone calls on Thursday," he said. "Hopefully, some information will start to trickle out in terms of what's going to happen in front of us so we can continue to headcount who may be there at six, or what we may be doing, if we're going to move up, back, or stay where we are.

  "Just try to gather as much information as I can ... talk to the other general managers around the league. If anybody wants to come up to six, get those agreements in place. Things will happen fast once you're on the clock, so you've got to be ready."

  --Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson requested a trade on Wednesday, according to reports from ESPN and NFL Network.

• Hendrickson signed a one-year, $21 million extension that included an $8 million signing bonus last year, but now he is looking for a long-term contract outside of Cincinnati. However, the Bengals do not want to deal him to another team, per the reports.

  In 17 games (all starts) last season, Hendrickson tied for second in the NFL with 17.5 sacks. He recorded 43 tackles and also forced three fumbles.

  A Pro Bowler in each of the past three seasons, Hendrickson, 29, has amassed 59.5 sacks, 174 tackles, 12 forced fumbles and 119 quarterback hits in 93 career games (64 starts) with the New Orleans Saints (2017-20) and Bengals (2021-23).

  New Orleans selected Hendrickson in the third round (103rd overall) of the 2017 draft.

  --Field Level Media

The Dallas Cowboys picked up the fifth-year option on defensive end Micah Parsons on Wednesday.

• The move will keep Parsons under contract through the 2025 season. It will pay him $21.32 million in 2025, barring a long-term deal with the Cowboys, a number determined by where he played the most snaps in 2023, which was DE. Parsons will earn $2.99 million this season.

  Parsons has 40.5 sacks in three seasons, including a career-best 14 in 2023. He's a three-time Pro Bowl player and two-time All-Pro. He was also the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

  --Field Level Media

New Orleans Saints offensive lineman James Hurst, who split 15 starts last season between left and right guard and left tackle, announced his retirement Wednesday on social media.

• The versatile Hurst, 32, was an undrafted free agent out of the University of North Carolina who played for the Baltimore Ravens (2014-2019) and Saints (2020-23). He started 44 of 90 games for the Ravens, and 51 of 60 games for the Saints.

  "Twenty-four of my thirty-two years of life have been spent training for and playing this game and retiring will be a huge, yet exciting, change in my life," he wrote on Instagram.

  "Thank you for the laughs and the memories," he wrote to teammates. "Thank you for your effort and risking your bodies alongside me because I can't talk football without recognizing the dangers of the sport and the sacrifices that each of you make. You gave everything to help accomplish our mutual goals and I hope that you all felt the same of me. Many of you became some of my best friends off the field and I'll always cherish our time together."

  In his final season, 13 of Hurst's 15 starts were at left guard.

  --Field Level Media

Jayden Daniels is ready and willing to join any NFL team that calls his name in the 2024 draft on Thursday night.

• The Heisman Trophy winner at LSU last season was among 13 draft prospects in Detroit a day before the draft with plans to embrace the uncertainty and experience the green room in the Motor City with his peers.

  Daniels, a transfer from Arizona State who played on a Sun Devils team with 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and competed against Justin Herbert in the Pac-12, emerged as a potential first-round pick in 2023 with 50 total touchdowns (40 passing) and nearly 5,000 total yards of offense for the Tigers. He's the first player in college football history to clear 12,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in a career.

  But he's also walking into draft night with blinders on, not knowing if he's going No. 2 to Washington or somewhere else.

  "I'm blessed to go wherever I'm called," Daniels said Wednesday. "Whoever calls my phone ... (when the) commissioner gets up and says my name, I'll be blessed, and they're going to get my all."

  Daniels denied he wouldn't be thrilled to land with the Commanders, a franchise with a revolving door at quarterback since Kirk Cousins left in 2017.

  He said during a break as part of a pre-draft appearance with Special Olympics athletes that he would embrace Washington and a chance to work with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

  "His track record with mobile quarterbacks -- Kyler (Murray), Pat Mahomes, Johnny Manziel -- speaks for itself," Daniels said.

  Multiple reports indicate Washington will have options if the Commanders decide to drop down from the second overall spot. The Bears are expected to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1.

  Among the teams reportedly in touch with new Commanders general manager Adam Peters about acquiring the pick are the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders.

  --Field Level Media