NFL Rumors: Carson Wentz working out with Jon Gruden
Carson Wentz entered last season with hopes of reviving his career as the starting quarterback in Washington. He ended it watching from the sidelines as Taylor Heinicke ran the show. Wentz started only seven games for the Commanders, going 2-5 under center with a ghastly nine interceptions.
The former No. 1 pick is now in free-agent limbo. As ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, he "intends to play" next season and he's waiting for the right situation. Now, that's classic PR/agent speak for "no team has made a suitable offer yet."
Wentz still has plenty of power behind his throws and he was once an MVP finalist for the eventual Super Bowl champs in Philadelphia, lest we forget. The talent is there — it's a matter of whether or not he can refine that talent enough to consistently put his best foot forward. He's a sack machine who takes far too many risks for such an experienced QB. Teams will want proof that he has improved his approach.
Well, Schefter also reports that Wentz has been practicing and watching film with NFL legend and former Raiders head coach Jon Gruden. While Gruden's last stint with the Raiders was tumultuous at best, he's a bonafide QB whisperer who has no shortage of knowledge to bestow upon a player like Wentz. One has to imagine Wentz is soaking up all the information he possibly can.
NFL Rumors: Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask neck-and-neck in Bucs QB battle
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered training camp with a presumed No. 1 QB in Baker Mayfield, the former No. 1 pick turned NFL journeyman who split last season between Carolina and Los Angeles. In the wake of Tom Brady's retirement, the Bucs were expected to value Mayfield's veteran know-how, but it would appear there's a legitimate QB competition brewing in Tampa.
Kyle Trask, the Bucs' second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, is getting rave reviews from members of the Tampa Bay coaching staff — especially OC Dave Canales. From NFL.com:
"The timing of the snap is really critical for us, so probably a little bit of an edge for Baker [Mayfield] to start off in terms of the smoothness of the offense. But it just took a couple of days for Kyle [Trask] to really settle in and then what we saw in the last two practices, Kyle really showed what he can do, stretching the field with his arm, getting the ball out quickly, and making decisions. I am really excited about both of those guys and the progression that they have made throughout the last couple of days."
When asked if the QB battle has tightened in recent days, Canales' response was simple: "Oh, absolutely." It would appear the Bucs are weighing the benefits of Baker's stability and experience versus Trask's higher upside. Trask only appeared in one game last season, in which he completed 3-of-9 passes. The sample size is frustratingly small, with the obvious understanding that nobody was challenging Brady's throne over the past two years.
Mayfield is a mobile QB with some underrated improvisation skills. He can pulls rabbits out of hats, so to speak, and there is the occasional big-game potential with him. He was the No. 1 pick out of Oklahoma all those years ago for a reason. That said, Trask is bigger: 6-foot-5 with a powerful arm that he displayed frequently during his collegiate career at Florida.
The elder statesman Mayfield only completed 60 percent of his passes last season and he threw eight interceptions compared to 10 touchdowns. The numbers haven't been great for Baker and it could behoove the Bucs to invest in the more sustainable long-term option if Mayfield isn't blowing coaches away at camp.
NFL Rumors: Bill Belichick refuses to back Mac Jones over Bailey Zappe
Mac Jones was the No. 15 pick out of Alabama in the 2021 NFL Draft. He was Bill Belichick's starter from day one, and his rookie season was one to remember. He finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, behind only Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase, and he completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Jones' sophomore season with the Pats was a different story. He dealt with injuries, he only threw three more touchdowns (14) than interceptions (11), and his completion percentage dipped. New England was 6-8 with Jones under center, compared to 10-7 in his rookie year. Jones went from one of the NFL's brightest young stars to a complete non-entity at QB.
That said, the Patriots were expected to enter the new season with enough faith in Jones to cement his status as the No. 1 QB with no real competition. Bill Belichick, however, has been completely unwilling to voice his unwavering support for Jones, instead opting to stoke the flames of QB controversy.
Bailey Zappe, the Patriots' fourth-round pick in 2022, has been floated as a potential threat to Jones' status in training camp. When asked about the nature of the QB room in practice, here's what Belichick told reporters:
"Everybody is out here competing, all 90 guys. That's what we're all here for is to go out and compete."
When asked if that means Mac Jones isn't necessarily the day one starter, Belichick doubled down with a slight rephrasing of the same statement. Belichick has always been purposefully evasive and noncommittal with the media, but it's notable that Jones — a former top-15 pick — can't get the unfettered endorsement of his head coach. It certainly adds fuel to the fire of the idea that Jones' job isn't safe.
Zappe appeared in four games and made two starts for the Patriots last season, winning both those games. He completed 70.7 percent of his passes for 781 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions on 92 attempts. A small sample size, but definitely encouraging enough to have New England fans — and maybe even Belichick — second-guessing Jones.