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Steelers select Georgia OT Broderick Jones

NBC Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers came into the 2023 NFL Draft with the 17th overall selection, but had other ideas. They made a trade with the New England Patriots, moving up to No. 14 overall where they took the player they had their sights on. With the 14th selection, Pittsburgh took Georgia Bulldogs OT Broderick Jones. 

He is a two-time national champion with Georgia, having started five games in 2021 and then playing in all 15 games last season. For his efforts last season, he earned a 2022 first-team All-SEC selection. 

He’ll likely be battling it out with incumbent Dan Moore Jr. for a spot on the team in training camp this summer. 

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Dallas Cowboys select DT Mazi Smith with 26th pick

MLive

From one of the most recognizable collegiate programs in the country to America’s Team.

With the 26th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys decided to beef up their defense by taking University of Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith: 

At 6-feet-3 and 323 pounds, Smith started 28 games for the Wolverines the last two seasons, and was a consensus first-team all-Big Ten selection.

Said a Cowboys staffer to Sports Illustrated: “He’s a powerful force!”

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Lamar Jackson is now the highest paid NFL QB

WBALTV

While his future in Baltimore may have been in doubt in recent months, Lamar Jackson isn’t going anywhere.

He signed a 12 year, $260 million deal this afternoon, making him the highest paid player in the NFL today. 

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Colin Cowherd shares true feelings on Kenny Pickett

Steelers Depot

It’s officially Kenny Pickett’s show in Pittsburgh, as he’ll be entering the 2023 NFL season as the unquestioned Number 1 starter for the team. 

And for NFL analyst Colin Cowherd, he believes that Pickett absolutely is the right choice for the Steelers to remain a “stable” organization in the absence of franchise legend Ben Roethlisberger. 

“I think you see a stable organization, a good coach, and a defense even with a wonky offensive line, he can win games. So you went from Big Ben, usually your star quarterback leaves… you’re bailing for years on it. The Steelers immediately stabilize an organization when the legend left.” 

Pickett himself sounded off on what he believes was his personal growth that he showed throughout his rookie campaign that saw him supplant Mitch Trubisky as the team starter.

“The biggest growth for me was mentally. Just understanding of the system… There are so many things I’m going to go through here this offseason in order for me to take that big jump in Year 2, which I’m expecting myself to do. There were so many new things coming in the year that you can’t even out into this one interview that you’re going through as a rookie QB in the NFL. I just got so much more comfortable from the first day I walked in here to the last day of the season. It’s like night and day.”

Who else agrees with Cowherd that the Steelers are in good hands with Pickett under center? 

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Packers GM explains Aaron Rodgers trade

Forbes

The Green Bay Packers finally moved on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers this week, dealing him to the New York Jets and bringing an end to an era that saw him not only deliver a Super Bowl championship but multiple division titles as well as personal accolades that included being named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player on more than one occasion. 

The standoff between the two sides is now over, and it certainly was a period of tension that involved lacks of communication as well as openly calling out the other side on both parties. 

“We’re not gonna get into those details,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said. “I understand the question. We tried to communicate on a number of levels. Once we couldn’t, we communicated with his agents quite a bit. I’m not gonna get into that. It’s not good for us, not good for them. And we’re just gonna kind of move forward. But I appreciate the question. But there was no lack of effort and communication on that part from us. I think this is a good day for the Packers, good day for the Jets.”

It took considerable time for both sides to negotiate what they believed was a fair deal, which left many wondering if a deal would even get done in the first place. 

“I wouldn’t say there was anything like one hard piece, it just took a long time, longer than I expected,” Gutekunst said. “I think they were going through a lot of things, trying to figure things out on their end, how they wanted to do it, but I think working with (Jets GM) Joe (Douglas) made it easier, just because we come from the same background and understand each other, what’s important to us, what’s important to them, and again, it took longer, but I really respect Joe and how he goes about it.”

The Jordan Love era with the Packers officially begins this fall, as he’s now the top ranked quarterback on Green Bay’s depth chart.

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Aaron Rodgers sends message to Packers fans

Fox News

The Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay is officially over, as he was traded to the New York Jets earlier this week for a major haul. It finally brought a conclusion to the lengthy drama between the two sides of where he would play next season, and what appropriate compensation that the Packers could receive in return. 

Rodgers himself, who made no secret about the fact that he wanted to move on from Green Bay, took to social media to send a message to Packers fans and to express his gratitude to everyone who had supported him over the years. 

“I’m not sure it’s possible to fully express the gratitude that I have to the @packers , our incredible fans, the state of Wisconsin, the thousands of players that I crossed paths with, the incredible men and women who work for the organization, and the amazing people who I got to meet along the way, in one post with 10 pictures, but I hope you read this and feel my heart and soul, filled with love, joy, and peace about my time in green and gold,” he began.

“To the fans, THANK YOU, you made every run out of the tunnel special, every home game magical, and it was my honor to be your QB,” he wrote.

He then sent a special shoutout to his now-former teammates: 

“To my teammates, I love you all, and am thankful for the moments on and off the field that brought us close. I played with legends, I played with friends; thanks for believing in me and having my back always,” he said.

And finally, a parting message for the fans: 

“This is not the end for us, I will see you again Green Bay, you’ll always have my heart,” he wrote.

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Aaron Rodgers announces new jersey number for 2023

Packers Wire

The drama surrounding the Green Bay Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers is finally finished, as he was traded to the New York Jets earlier this afternoon in a blockbuster deal that involved several draft picks on both ends switching sides. 

The full trade: 

Green Bay receives: 

No. 13 overall pick (first round)
No. 42 overall pick (second round)
No. 207 overall pick (sixth round)
Conditional second-round pick in 2024

New York receives: 

QB Aaron Rodgers
No. 15 overall pick (first round)
No. 170 overall pick (fifth round)

However, he won’t be wearing his traditional jersey number 12 when he pulls on the Jets jersey for the first time. Because that number is retired for Joe Namath, Rodgers will instead revert back to the number 8 that he wore while playing collegiate football.

The Jets legend had given Rodgers the green light to wear number 12 if he so chose.

“I’m a big Rodgers fan, and I noticed that he wears number 12, of course. I’m thinking, well man, if we get him on our side, is he still going to wearing number 12? Because the number was retired years ago,” Namath said on the “Tiki & Tierney” show.

“Well, this is what I’m saying, it’s on ownership. It’s different ownership. It’s different people. And I’d sure love Rodgers, if he’s there, I want him to wear his number,” Namath said. “We established ourselves and we’ve got a real respect for our numbers, and Aaron Rodgers, God almighty, yeah! It’d be great to have him in New York.”

While Rodgers was discussing his desire to play for the Jets earlier in the year, he addressed the subject by saying there would be time to have that conversation at a later time. 

“With respect to the emotions, I think there’ll be time for all those conversations down the road,” Rodgers explained on “The Pat McAfee Show”. “Today was about talking about the past and the love I have for the team and then giving an update on what’s going on today.

“So that’s a great question. I’ve seen what Joe said. There’ll be time to talk about that down the road.”

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Aaron Rodgers has been traded!

Football Outsiders

What has been speculated for months now has finally come to pass. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is now officially no longer a part of the Green Bay Packers, having been traded to the New York Jets for quite a haul in return.

According to ESPN, the trade is as follows: 

Jets get: Aaron Rodgers, pick No. 15, a 2023 5th-rd pick (No. 170).

Packers get: Pick No. 13, a 2023 2nd-rd pick (No. 42), a 6th-rd pick (No. 207), a conditional 2024 2nd-rd pick that becomes a 1st if Rodgers plays 65 percent of the plays.

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Cowboys sound off on reported Derrick Henry rumors

Titans Wire

So, what’s happening with Derrick Henry? 

There have been multiple rumors swirling that the Tennessee Titans running back has drawn interest from the Dallas Cowboys, while there was also a report that indicated that he’d be instead taking his talents to the Philadelphia Eagles by former NFL player Akbar Gbaja-Biamila. 

Right now, it looks as though there’s no truth to that rumor, as a team source explained that “there’s nothing there”. As far as his reported move to Philadelphia, it doesn’t appear that is happening right now either – at least, not yet.  

According to Mike Fisher of Sports Illustrated: 

“For the record, with the help of one of our Philly experts who describes that as being “the least-Eagles-y thing ever,” we can tell you that as we write this, Henry to the Eagles is not a done deal. And also not done: The “Derrick to Dallas” speculation.”

Last season, Henry racked up 1,538 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Cowboys have already made significant moves this offseason at the RB position, releasing Ezekiel Elliott while also franchise tagging Tony Pollard. 

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Cowboys may have revealed 2023 NFL Draft plans

NBC Sports

What exactly is Dallas going to be doing in the 2023 NFL Draft that begins later this week? Fans may have just gotten a glimpse into their plans.

According to team CEO Stephen Jones during an interview on 105.3 The Fan, while Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot played well, the team may be looking to add to the tight end position. 

“We feel like we are going to be able to take care of situations that will ultimately get done throughout the draft,” said Jones. “Obviously you lose Dalton Schultz, you know, we drafted Ferguson last year and ended up with great value in Hendershot. You know, we feel good about that position. But certainly, you know, you’d like to think the draft’s heavy there through quite a few players in those top three of four rounds that we think can be a ‘Ferguson’ or ‘Hendershot’ and come in and really help us.”

The Cowboys will be selecting 26th and 58th overall to begin the festivities, which kick off from Kansas City, Missouri later in the week.