Brock Purdy's OROY Betting Odds Skyrocket After 49ers' Win Over Seahawks
Dec 16, 2022
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on after defeating the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on December 15, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Despite having only played three full games, Brock Purdy is skyrocketing up the betting odds for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
DraftKings has the San Francisco 49ers quarterback with +1200 odds (bet $100 to win $1200) to win the award after Thursday's 21-13 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
The only players with better odds than Purdy are wide receivers Garrett Wilson of the New York Jets (+175), Christian Watson of the Green Bay Packers (+300) and Chris Olave of the New Orleans Saints (+400) and Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (+500).
Purdy was thrust into the starting lineup when Jimmy Garoppolo broke a bone in his foot during the 49ers' first offensive possession in Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins.
The final pick in the 2022 NFL draft, Purdy had only taken 18 garbage-time snaps in three games up to that point. He proceeded to throw for 210 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-17 win over the Dolphins.
In his first two starts, Purdy has completed 70.2 percent of his passes for 402 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. The 49ers clinched the NFC West with their victory over the Seahawks.
It seems unlikely that Purdy would be able to win the award due to a smaller sample size. He will start a maximum of five games in the regular season, though head coach Kyle Shanahan could potentially rest him in Week 18 if their playoff seed is locked up.
The fewest games played by any player to win Offensive Rookie of the Year since 2000 was Odell Beckham Jr. (12).
Olave leads all rookies in receiving yards (887), with Wilson a close second (868). Watson has been a scoring machine with eight total touchdowns in the past four games. Walker leads the Seahawks with nine total touchdowns, despite missing two games due to an injury.
Purdy's case will be helped by virtue of being a quarterback. There were concerns in the wake of Garoppolo's injury that the 49ers were no longer a viable threat to reach the Super Bowl in the NFC.
If the early returns for Purdy are any indication, San Francisco can still compete with anyone in the NFC.
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Former Cardinals OL Coach Sean Kugler Files Request for Arbitration After Firing
Dec 16, 2022
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 15: Offensive lineman Justin Murray #71 of the Arizona Cardinals with offensive line coach Sean Kugler during the second half of the NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns at State Farm Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
Former Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach Sean Kugler has filed a request for arbitration after being fired in November.
Kugler was fired during the team's trip to Mexico City for the Week 11 game against the San Francisco 49ers. According to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN, he allegedly groped a woman on the Sunday night before the Monday Night Football game and was immediately sent home before the game.
At the time, head coach Kliff Kingsbury said he was "really limited" in what he could discuss until the legal process played out.
In Friday's press release from law firm Shields Petitti, Kugler called the "mysterious allegations" a result of "miscommunication or mistaken identity."
"The allegations against Coach Kugler are simply untrue and have caused Sean, his wife and family enormous personal and professional damage," attorney Michael Petitti said. "Coach and his family have been desperate to understand from the Cardinals' front office and others what rationale or evidence was used to terminate him for cause."
Kugler had been with the Cardinals since 2019, holding the role of run game coordinator this season.
The veteran coach also had NFL stints with the Detroit Lions (2001-05), Buffalo Bills (2007-09), Pittsburgh Steelers (2010-12) and Denver Broncos (2018) and spent five seasons as head coach at UTEP (2013-17).
Arizona has fallen to 4-9 after three straight losses and just lost starting quarterback Kyler Murray for the rest of the season with a torn ACL.
49ers' Brock Purdy 'The Most Poised Rookie I've Ever Had,' Kyle Shanahan Says
Dec 16, 2022
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half at Lumen Field on December 15, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan offered high praise for quarterback Brock Purdy.
Speaking to reporters after Thursday's 21-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks, which saw the 49ers become the first team this season to clinch a division title, Shanahan called Purdy "the most poised rookie I've ever had."
Purdy was thrust into a starting role after Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a broken bone in his foot on the 49ers' first offensive possession in Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins. The 22-year-old threw 210 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-17 win.
In his first two starts, Purdy has completed 70.2 percent of his attempts for 402 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. He went 9-of-9 in the first quarter against the Seahawks, becoming the first 49ers quarterback to do that or better since 2001.
Brock Purdy went 9-9 for 73 yards and a touchdown in the 1st quarter.
He's the first 49ers QB to go 9-9 or better in a 1st quarter since Jeff Garcia in 2001 against the Bills. pic.twitter.com/vkT8GcEzzM
Those numbers would be good for any rookie, but it's especially impressive for Purdy because he was the final pick of the 2022 NFL draft. He arrived at training camp in a battle with Nate Sudfeld just to make the roster.
The 49ers announced on Aug. 30 that Purdy made the 53-man roster. The Iowa State alum had a solid preseason with 346 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception in three games.
San Francisco came into this season expecting Trey Lance, the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL draft, to be the starter, but he suffered a fractured fibula and ligament disruption in a Week 2 win against the Seahawks.
Garoppolo may be able to return for the postseason, but Purdy's performance over the past three games at least suggests the 49ers are still a Super Bowl contender if he will be leading them the rest of the way.
Kyle Shanahan Says NFC West Crown Isn't 49ers' 'Final Goal' After Win vs. Seahawks
Dec 16, 2022
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 16: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers leaves the field following the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 16, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan isn't satisfied with just winning a division title.
Speaking to reporters after the Niners clinched the NFC West with a 21-13 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, Shanahan said this "isn't our final goal by any means."
"I'm very proud of our team and what we accomplished throughout the year to get to this," he added. "Our goal is to get into the tournament, and we accomplished that today, but now it's all trying to set that up to be the best situation we can and hopefully get some of our guys back, too, in the process."
The 49ers were something of an unknown coming into this season, despite reaching the NFC Championship Game last year.
Trey Lance was set to take over as the starting quarterback, though they did have Jimmy Garoppolo as the No. 2 signal-caller on the roster. It was unclear what the offense would look like with Lance at the helm.
A fractured ankle ended Lance's season in Week 2. Garoppolo had some struggles initially as he was getting back up to speed against opposing defenses, but he was in the midst of arguably his best season with 2,437 passing yards and 16 touchdowns.
Garoppolo suffered a broken bone in his foot against the Miami Dolphins in Week 13. While it remains unclear if he will be able to return this season, Brock Purdy has kept the offense playing at a high level.
The final pick in the 2022 NFL draft, Purdy is completing 69.1 percent of his passes for 612 yards with six touchdowns and one interception in the past three games. Christian McCaffrey has been incredible with 880 yards from scrimmage and seven total touchdowns in eight games since being acquired from the Carolina Panthers.
San Francisco's defense, meanwhile, leads the NFL in points allowed (15.0 per game) and yards allowed (286.1 per game).
Shanahan's attempt to downplay winning the division title makes sense. This 49ers have had a Super Bowl-caliber roster for the past four seasons. They advanced to the Super Bowl in 2019 before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Injuries derailed San Francisco's 2020 season, but it rebounded with a run to the NFC title game last season.
Since a 3-4 start this season, the 49ers have rattled off seven consecutive wins to clinch their second division title in the past four years. They are certainly capable of being the NFC representative in Super Bowl 57 if Purdy and the defense keep playing at a high level going into the postseason.
Seahawks' Tyler Lockett Diagnosed with Broken Bone After Hand Injury vs. 49ers
Dec 16, 2022
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 11: Tyler Lockett #16 of the Seattle Seahawks looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Carolina Panthers at Lumen Field on December 11, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett suffered a broken bone in his hand during Thursday's 21-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Head coach Pete Carroll told reporters about Lockett's injury after the game.
"I can't fathom playing without Tyler," the Seattle coach said.
#Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett is expected to have surgery to repair and stabilize his fractured finger, source said. It's possible he only misses one game and is back for the final two. But a firm timetable will be available post-surgery.
Lockett finished the game with a team-high 68 yards on seven receptions against San Francisco. The 30-year-old has only missed two games in his NFL career. He suffered a fractured tibia and fibula in Week 15 of the 2016 season and missed Week 14 in 2021 due to Covid-19.
The 49ers' victory over their division rival clinched the NFC West title. The Seahawks have lost four of their past five games, but they remain alive in the wild-card race with a 7-7 record.
The Washington Commanders and New York Giants own the final two playoff spots in the NFC with identical 7-5-1 records. The Seahawks can make up ground on Sunday when the Commanders and Giants play head-to-head, unless they tie again.
If Lockett has to miss time, the Seahawks' final three games of the regular season are against the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets and Los Angeles Rams.
The Seahawks have D.K. Metcalf as their go-to receiver. Marquise Goodwin will likely be elevated to the starting lineup if Lockett is unable to play in Week 15.
Lockett leads the team in receiving yards (964) and touchdowns (eight). He ranks second in targets (108) and receptions (78). The Kansas State alum has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in each of the previous three seasons.
Elite Defense and O-Line Can Lift 49ers Past NFC's Best in the Playoffs
Dec 16, 2022
49ers DE Nick Bosa
There's a perception in today's NFL that a team cannot make a legitimate Super Bowl run without an elite quarterback. Well, the San Francisco 49ers are poised to put that theory to the test.
San Francisco is now on its third starting quarterback of the season. Yet, as the 49ers showed once again on Thursday night, their defense and offensive line are strong enough to challenge the best the NFC has to offer.
Are the Seattle Seahawks among the conference's best? No, but the 7-7 Seahawks aren't pushovers either. Thursday's game was a tough, physical divisional battle that San Francisco faced in a hostile environment. While the 49ers didn't exactly make it look easy, they dominated in the trenches, forced mistakes on defense and delivered a decisive 21-13 victory.
The 49ers have now won seven in a row and are as hot as any team in the NFL. They continue rolling with that aforementioned third-string quarterback.
Let's talk about rookie quarterback Brock Purdy for a moment, because he is one of the top stories in San Francisco right now. Taken with the 262nd and final pick of 2022, Purdy was Mr. Irrelevant on draft weekend and largely unknown in Week 1.
Starter and 2021 third-overall pick Trey Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2. Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a season-ending foot injury two weeks ago, which handed the keys to Purdy.
In his two-plus games since, Purdy has done nothing to disappoint. Against Seattle, he finished 17-of-26 for 217 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for a key first down on San Francisco's final drive. He did it all without one of the 49ers' best players in wideout Deebo Samuel.
More importantly, the rookie has shown poise, accuracy, a solid understanding of Kyle Shanahan's offense and an ability to push the ball down the field. Just check out this play from Thursday, during which Purdy surveys the field, works through his progressions and finds tight end George Kittle breaking loose in the secondary.
The bottom line is that anyone high on the 49ers a couple of weeks ago when Garoppolo was healthy should still be extremely high on them—even with Mr. Irrelevant running the offense.
And plenty of folks should be high on the 49ers because of their defense, their running game and their offensive line.
The line, headlined by All-Pro Trent Williams, can open holes for in-season trade acquisition Christian McCaffrey. The former Carolina Panthers star has become a force in San Francisco and came into Thursday's game with 426 rushing yards, 316 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Against Seattle, McCaffrey rumbled for 108 rushing yards, 30 receiving yards and a touchdown.
That line helped pave the way for a ground-oriented nine-play, 71-yard drive at the end of the game to chew up the final 3:35 and seal the win.
The line can also give Purdy time in the pocket to survey the field, which is critical in a passing attack predicated on spacing. Shanahan doesn't rely heavily on timing patterns but rather utilizes the threat of the run and route patterns to get receivers open.
Brock Purdy has thrown 62% of his passes to open receivers tonight. HC Kyle Shanahan has drawn up a great game plan to make it easy for his rookie QB and SF is in control
If Purdy has the time to see receivers breaking open, he's shown that he can be dangerous. The 49ers are loaded with offensive playmakers, and they're expected to have Samuel back at some point in the postseason.
The 49ers expect Samuel "to return at some point during the regular season," according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner.
Purdy has shown that he can get the ball to those playmakers.
Brock Purdy has found his TEs and RBs tonight with great success. He's 11/14 for 89 yards & 2 TDs. their EPA/TGT is 0.43, an extremely efficient number when measuring how successful these throws have been in helping SF score
Then, there's the defense, which has been dominant since giving up 44 points to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7. Since then, San Francisco has not surrendered more than 17 points in any game.
Coming into Thursday, the 49ers ranked first in rushing yards allowed, 12th in passing yards allowed, first in total yards allowed and first in points allowed for the season.
This elite defense—headlined by Nick Bosa, Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner—gives San Francisco a big margin for error, almost regardless of who is under center.
This margin, San Francisco's ability to protect the passer (24 sacks allowed on the season) and its ability to run the ball are exactly why the 49ers can get past teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs.
The Eagles, who own an NFL-best 12-1 record, have been spectacular. However, they've thrived on racking up points (first in scoring), getting sacks (49) and forcing turnovers on defense (23).
Philadelphia also ranks a modest 24th in yards per rush allowed (4.7).
Dallas is a similarly built team, ranking third in scoring, third in points allowed, logging 48 sacks and amassing 23 defensive turnovers—but also allowing 4.4 yards per play on the ground.
While Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott may give the Eagles and Cowboys the edge at quarterback, respectively, San Francisco matches up extremely well with both the Eagles and the Cowboys. The Minnesota Vikings, who are 10-3 but are also a largely offensive squad, are an even better matchup for the 49ers.
Minnesota ranks 10th in scoring but dead-last in yards allowed and 24th in points allowed. That's not a formula that plays well against a 49ers defense that limits points, especially in the second half.
San Francisco did allow 10 second-half points to Seattle, but it's worth noting that starting cornerback Charvarius Ward exited with an injury before the Seahawks found their first touchdown.
According to the Amazon broadcast, Ward exited for a concussion evaluation and was cleared but did not return. Before that, he was spectacular against star Seahawks wideout DK Metcalf.
Charvarius Ward aligned across from DK Metcalf on 25 of 35 routes (71% shadow) in the first three quarters before leaving the game with an injury.
Seattle was still held to 277 total yards and 16 first downs while converting just four of 13 third-down tries. Rookie sensation Kenneth Walker III was held to just 3.9 yards per carry after averaging 4.7 coming in.
Geno Smith was sacked three times and faced constant pressure throughout the game.
Now, before we prematurely crown the 49ers as Super Bowl favorites, it's worth noting one big fact. We haven't seen how Purdy performs when facing a significant deficit. There's a difference between being a reliable game-manager and being a signal-caller who can spark a comeback.
Of course, with this defense and offensive line, the 49ers may not face a large deficit again before this year—at least until Super Bowl LVII, if they get that far.
The 49ers' formula of winning in the trenches, with defense and on the ground has taken them to two NFC title games in the past three years. There's every reason to believe it can take them to a third in the coming months.
Seahawks' 'Pathetic' Defense Ripped by Twitter; Geno Smith Struggles in Loss to 49ers
Dec 16, 2022
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, right, runs toward the end zone to score past Seattle Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs (6) and linebacker Cody Barton during the first half of an NFL football game in Seattle, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
The Seattle Seahawks are far removed from the good ol' days of the Legion of Boom defense, but it's still somewhat surprising to see a Pete Carroll-coached team struggle so mightily to stop the ball.
Unfortunately, that trend continued as the Seahawks suffered a 21-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football in front of their home fans at Lumen Field.
Facing a rookie quarterback would usually be an advantage for the Seattle defense, but 49ers signal-caller Brock Purdy didn't seem phased. He engineered a nine-play, 86-yard touchdown drive on San Francisco's second possession, and he found George Kittle for a 54-yard touchdown pass on the second play of the third quarter.
When Seattle's defense managed to get stops, the team's offense failed to do its job. Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith was under pressure throughout most of the game and couldn't develop a rhythm, finishing with 238 passing yards and a touchdown that didn't come until late in the fourth quarter.
NFL Twitter was not happy with the effort shown by the Seahawks on defense, but fans also didn't let the offense off the hook for failing to show up as well:
That was such a pathetic defensive effort by the #Seahawks
An awful play all around by the Seahawks' defense. A coverage bust leading to George Kittle getting wide open and then Quandre Diggs whiffing on the tackle, leading to a 54-yard TD. Getting ugly here at Lumen Field. 49ers lead 21-3.
The offensive situations we have been in tonight have been…not great. The best defense in the league exposing the offense. Defense wins championships. The LOB proved this when they dominated the best offense in the league in SB XLVIII. #Seahawks
Now that the 49ers will--finally--run repeatedly and seize control, should be noted: Seattle's defense has done the work it had to do to keep the Seahawks in this game.
The offense, the run game, the pass protection failed the entire operation.
The Seahawks entered Thursday ranked 28th in total defense, allowing 378.7 yards per game. It's a far cry from the team that terrorized opposing offenses in the early 2010s.
After falling to 7-7, Seattle remains on the outside looking in on the playoff picture. Things will not get easier next week when the Seahawks take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Eve, so the defense will have to take advantage of the extra days of preparation to avoid another subpar showing.
Arizona Cardinals HBO 'Hard Knocks' 2022: Best Fan Tweets from Episode 5
Dec 15, 2022
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 12: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals looks towards the sideline against the New England Patriots during the second half at State Farm Stadium on December 12, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Things got quite emotional on Wednesday's episode of HBO's Hard Knocks.
Sabrina Greenlee, the mother of Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, opened about surviving a brutal domestic violence attack 20 years ago that left her blind. She previously discussed the incident in an ESPN cover story with Mina Kimes in 2019.
In the episode, Hopkins also talked about how he has found inspiration and strength from his mother. Every time he scores a touchdown, he brings the ball to Greenlee so that she knows he's there and always thinking of her.
"Whenever I score a touchdown or do something, I try to make sure she gets the ball so she can feel me," Hopkins told ESPN in 2019 (h/t Today's Drew Weisholtz).
For me, #HardKnocks delivered the goods tonight. Loved hearing from DeAndre Hopkins' mom, watching J.J. Watt in action as a mentor, and hearing Kliff Kingsbury touch on regrets from his playing days and how they've informed his work ethic as a coach.
The latest episode of Hard Knocks also got into Hopkins' performance on the field, as he is captured on video sharing a moment with New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during Monday night's game.
"I'm glad we only have to play you every four years."
Hopkins missed the first six games of the 2022 campaign while serving a suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy. He has caught 56 passes for 653 yards and three touchdowns in seven games.
In addition to Hopkins, the latest episode also gave an inside look into Kyler Murray's injury. The signal-caller suffered a torn ACL in Monday's game against New England.
It's been a tough season for the Cardinals, which sit third in the NFC West with a 4-9 record as they battle a slew of injuries to top players. In addition to Murray, the team is also without Rondale Moore and Zach Ertz.
Hard Knocks will continue to follow the Cardinals through the end of the season.
Cardinals GM Steve Keim Taking Indefinite Leave of Absence For Health Reasons
Dec 14, 2022
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 26: General manager Steve Keim of the Arizona Cardinals looks on prior to the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on September 26, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team for health reasons.
His duties will be handled by vice president of player personnel Quentin Harris and vice president of pro personnel Adrian Wilson.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network first reported the news.
The news of Keim's absence comes amid a disappointing season for the Cardinals.
Arizona announced Tuesday that quarterback Kyler Murray would be out for the season after suffering a torn ACL in Monday night's loss to the New England Patriots. Additionally, offensive tackle D.J. Humphries, tight end Zach Ertz and wide receiver Rondale Moore are all out for the year with injuries.
The Cardinals have struggled to a 4-9 record this season amid various injuries and a six-game suspension to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to start the season. Hopkins missed Arizona's first six games for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substance policy.
Arizona has one of the NFL's worst offenses, averaging 333.8 yards per game—219.1 passing yards and 114.8 rushing yards per game. Additionally, they are scoring just 21.3 points per game.
Keim is in his 10th season as general manager of the Cardinals. He began his career with the franchise in 1999 as a scout and also served in various other roles before being named GM in 2013.
Since Keim took over as general manager, the Cardinals have made the postseason just three times. They reached the NFC Championship game during the 2015 campaign, but were blown out by the Carolina Panthers 49-15.
With the Cardinals expected to miss the playoffs again this season, Keim has come under fire of late for his team's lack of success on the field. However, the 50-year-old is under contract with the Cards through 2027 after agreeing to an extension this past offseason, so he's likely sticking around for the long haul.
Rams' Baker Mayfield to Start at QB vs. Packers; John Wolford Has Neck Injury
Dec 13, 2022
INGLEWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 08: Los Angeles Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield (17) looks on during the NFL game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Rams on December 8, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Baker Mayfield show in Hollywood will continue for at least one more week.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters Tuesday that quarterback John Wolford is expected to be unavailable for Monday night's game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field because of a neck injury, putting Mayfield in line to start under center.
The Rams claimed Mayfield off waivers last week after he was granted his release from the Carolina Panthers. Just two days after joining Los Angeles, he was thrust into action in the first quarter of Thursday night's game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Mayfield pulled off one of the most improbable feats of the 2022 season when he led his new team on a game-winning 98-yard touchdown drive over the last 1:45 of the fourth quarter. He found wide receiver Van Jefferson for a 23-yard score to earn the 17-16 victory. The win snapped the Rams' six-game losing streak.
Los Angeles brought in Mayfield after starting quarterback Matthew Stafford was deemed unlikely to play again this season because of a spinal cord contusion. McVay said last week that Stafford was not expected to require offseason surgery.
Wolford started two games earlier this season while Stafford missed time with concussion symptoms. He threw for 390 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals. While he started against the Raiders, he took only three snaps.
At 4-9, the defending Super Bowl champions are unlikely to even make the playoffs this year. Mayfield will have the chance to use his time in Los Angeles as an audition for the rest of the league, as he will benefit from playing without pressure. The 2018 No. 1 overall pick is set to be a free agent this offseason.
