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.

"The speed is real and will 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," Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said of Worthy on Thursday. "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."

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."

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

The Vikings made the first trade of the draft by swapping spots with the New York Jets. Minnesota 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.

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. 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.

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.

The Chicago Bears made Williams the No. 1 overall pick. He became the second USC quarterback drafted with the top pick, joining Carson Palmer (2003, Cincinnati Bengals).

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

After winning the 2022 Heisman Trophy, Williams passed for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions for the Trojans in 2023.

The Washington Commanders followed by drafting LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall. Daniels won the Heisman last season, when he threw for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and only four interceptions while adding 1,134 rushing yards and 10 scores.

"I'm here to get to work," Daniels said on the broadcast. "... I'm a competitor, a hard worker. I can't wait to meet my new teammates."

At No. 3, the New England Patriots turned down trade suitors and kept the pick to select North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder passed for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season.

"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 have selected quarterbacks with each of the top three picks. It also happened in 1971, 1999 and 2021, when Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance went in the top three.

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 on the broadcast. "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 pick.

"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).

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.

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.

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."

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

"We are pleased to announce that we have extended Rashod Bateman's contract through the 2026 season," Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said. "Congratulations to 'Bate' and his family. This is a good day for the Ravens."

Bateman, 24, had 32 catches for 367 yards and one touchdown in 16 games (12 starts) last season.

He has 93 catches for 1,167 yards and four touchdowns in 34 career games (21 starts) since being selected by the Ravens with the 27th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Chase is entering his fourth season and will make a base salary of $1.1 million. His base will balloon to at least $21.8 million in 2025 if a long-term extension hasn't been reached by then.

Chase, 24, has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first three seasons. He was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2021.

Selected No. 5 overall in the 2021 draft, Chase has 268 catches for 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns in 45 games, all starts. He hauled in a career-high 100 receptions in 2023, tied for the second most in a season in team history.

Highsmith, 26, inked a four-year, $68 million extension last July that reportedly included $27.7 million guaranteed.

He was due to earn a $10.7 million base salary in 2024 with a $13.9 million cap hit. Converting a portion of that into a signing bonus will give the Steelers some flexibility for the rest of the offseason.

Highsmith followed his breakout 14.5-sack campaign in 2022 with seven sacks in 17 starts in 2023.

Highsmith has posted 29.5 sacks, 59 quarterback hits, three interceptions, eight forced fumbles and 242 tackles in 66 games (55 starts) since being drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round in 2020.

The deal runs through 2028 and reportedly includes $77 million guaranteed, supplanting Cooper Kupp's $75 million as the highest total among NFL wideouts.

With an average annual value of $30 million per season, St. Brown would trail only Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill's annual compensation of $31.3 million, according to Spotrac.

A fourth-round pick in 2021, St. Brown had been scheduled to earn $3.366 million in base salary in the final year of his rookie contract in 2024.

St. Brown, 24, caught 119 passes for 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 starts in 2023, adding 22 receptions for 274 yards and one score in three postseason games.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection's career totals include 315 catches for 3,588 yards and 21 TDs in 49 games (41 starts).

Howard, who dealt with a nagging foot injury last season, recorded 45 tackles, 12 pass breakups and one interception in 13 games (all starts) in 2023 with the Miami Dolphins. He was released by the club with a post-June 1 designation last month.

Howard, 30, is a four-time Pro Bowl selection and former first-team All-Pro.

He led the NFL in interceptions in both 2018 (seven) and 2020 (10). Overall, he has totaled 29 picks to go along with 331 tackles, five fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles in 100 career games (99 starts) since being selected by the Dolphins in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

The option would have guaranteed the 2021 NFL Draft No. 11 overall pick a $25.7 million salary in 2025.

Fields, acquired from the Chicago Bears in a trade last month, has a base salary of $1.6 million for the 2024 season.

Fields, 25, is expected to back up Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh after going 10-28 as a three-year starter in Chicago.

The Steelers have until May 2 to decide on the fifth-year options for Fields as well as running back Najee Harris.

Fields has passed for 6,674 yards with 40 touchdowns and 30 interceptions and rushed for 2,220 yards and 14 TDs.

Surtain was the ninth overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft and George Paton's first career selection as Broncos general manager. Denver had a May 2 deadline to exercise the option on the rookie contract.

Paton said during the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine that retaining Surtain, 24, would be "one of the easier decisions we'll make."

The Broncos will pay Surtain $6.6 million in 2024, with a guaranteed salary of $19.8 million for the option year in 2025, while staving off potential free agency for at least another year.

Surtain started 15 of 16 games as a rookie in 2021 and snagged four interceptions -- returning one for a touchdown -- and had 14 passes defended. He was a Pro Bowl selection for the next two seasons, also making first-team All-Pro in 2022.

In 50 career games (49 starts), Surtain has seven interceptions, 36 passes defended, one forced fumble and 187 tackles. Last season, he became the first player in franchise history with double-digit passes defended (14, 10, 12) in his first three seasons.

Lynch was held back by his wife that day, but the current GM of the San Francisco 49ers might need to be restrained from jumping headlong into a draft class with depth in the gene pool.

Owens' son is part of the cluster of former pro progeny eager to be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The best-known sons of former NFL stars on the draft hopeful list this week are Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt. They're projected to be drafted early in the first round. Harrison is the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison, perhaps best known as the primary pass-catcher for Peyton Manning with the Indianapolis Colts. Alt was a high school tight end but moved to offensive tackle after training and film study with his dad, John, who happened to be an expert in the field of OT play from his days with the Kansas City Chiefs (1984-96).

Harrison Jr. said he is still fighting to overcome perceptions from peers and opponents that he's being given something he doesn't deserve because of his dad. On the flip side, he credits the 2016 Hall of Fame inductee and three-time All-Pro for setting "pure perfection" as the standard to achieve from a very young age.

"The work ethic definitely comes from him," Harrison said. "To always push myself to be the best player that I can be."

Lynch, a Hall of Fame safety drafted in 1993, has publicly endorsed the idea of coveting the Jr.'s this week.

Lynch maintains the value of a player's lineage can be critical in a final draft grade and scouting report.

"I believe in bloodlines," Lynch said. "I really do. I mean, I think there's evidence that you should. Then you have to step away from that and you have to evaluate it. And that's sometimes difficult to do and that's why (you need) a lot of different eyes, a lot of different perspectives.

"There's some inherent pressure on who their dad is, but there's also some good genes and I think that matters. And so, it's exciting that you have all these great -- we're talking Hall of Fame players and great players and brothers of players and it's really fun. T.O. was out here at the local pro day and his son Terique performed really well and that was pretty cool. I saw him running at me and I played against T.O. a lot and there was something in that stride that was very familiar. It was something about the gait. And it's crazy how those things translate. Is that just gene pool? Is that modeling the way they watch their dad run? It's interesting to me but it's a fun element to this year's draft that I think is going to be interesting to watch to see how it unfolds."

Michigan defensive lineman Kris Jenkins, the son of former Panthers and Jets defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, is another potential first-round pick. The elder Jenkins was a second-round pick in 2001 and a two-time All-Pro. Scouts circled his name after the Maryland product ran a 5.18 40-yard dash and bench-pressed 225 pounds 33 times at the Scouting Combine at 6-4, 320 pounds.

Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is the son of former Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who played in the Super Bowl for Andy Reid in Philadelphia and also had a tour with Washington before returning to Philly. Trotter Sr. was more of a straight-ahead thumper, a run-stuffer from a bygone era, whereas his son was a two-time second-team All-American with the Tigers. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin met with Trotter Jr. at the combine and chatted with him again at Clemson's on-campus pro day.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman didn't identify Trotter Jr. by name but said he'll be fighting emotions not to lean toward "guys with Philly ties, who know what it's like to play here."

"I'm biased towards our hometown players. I'm biased towards the people who have legacy with this franchise. So I think that's hard," Roseman said.

Beyond Lynch and Owens, there are plenty of 49ers connections in the draft.

Running back Christian McCaffrey's brother, Luke, is the son of former Broncos receiver Ed McCaffrey. A wide receiver from Rice, Luke McCaffrey is projected as a mid-round pick.

Brenden Rice entered the draft early following two seasons at Colorado and last season at Southern California, embracing that "pressure" to live up to his father Jerry Rice's legacy as one of the NFL's all-time greats. Rice caught 20 total touchdown passes in three years of college football and attended the Senior Bowl in January. He said he's excited for any opportunity to prove he's "the total package."

Southern Miss running back Frank Gore Jr. was the Most Valuable Player at the Shrine Bowl. Gore Sr. is third all-time in the NFL with exactly 16,000 career rushing yards, ranking ahead of Barry Sanders and behind Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith.

"It's a blessing," Gore Jr. said of following in his dad's footsteps. "I have the responsibility to take it further."

Prescott is entering the final season of a four-year, $160 million deal and cannot be given the franchise tag under terms of the agreement. None of that is bothering Jones, who said the partnership is certain to continue.

"We want Dak Prescott. That's that. The improvement demonstrated (last season) that there's more. We want Dak. We think there is room for growth," Jones said Tuesday in a pre-draft press conference. "Dak, quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, I wouldn't even blink on that."

Prescott finished second in NFL MVP voting in 2023. He said last week "real negotiations" with the Cowboys haven't begun but he has a $55.445 million salary cap hit that could be reduced with a long-term extension.

The 30-year-old has only played for the Cowboys since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 draft.

But Jones warned not to judge progress toward a new deal with Prescott by whether they are talking contract before the draft. There are other big fish -- and large contracts -- in the picture for the Cowboys with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb set to play this season on his fifth-year option and pass rusher Micah Parsons in the final year of his rookie deal with the fifth-year team option available to the front office in 2025.

"We'd like to see more leaves fall. We'd like to see more action," Jones said of looming negotiations. "It's called option quarterback. I've spent my life (playing) option quarterback. I want to see some more cards played."

As for the supporting cast in 2024, Jones stood on his statement at the start of the offseason that the Cowboys are "all in," despite being mostly passive observers during free agency.

"We're all in with these young guys ... We're all in with this draft," Jones said.

The Cowboys draft 24th in the first round and voiced confidence they would land an excellent player. In 2022, the Cowboys drafted Tyler Smith with the No. 24 pick and landed wide receiver Dez Bryant in that same spot in 2010.

"We know what we're going to do," Poles said Tuesday at a pre-draft press conference. "Everyone's gotta tune in on Thursday to watch."

The Bears hold the No. 1 pick via a trade with the Carolina Panthers and draft night in Detroit will bring Poles' two-year plan to fruition when quarterback Caleb Williams, the Heisman Trophy winner in 2022, likely becomes the third player drafted first overall in Chicago's storied history.

Beyond the ever-present smoke around the Bears and Williams, there are other reasons the majority opinion holds merit. Chicago has only two quarterbacks on the current depth chart -- undrafted Tyson Bagent and journeyman backup Brett Rypien -- making the position a massive need.

"We're proud of where we've come from," Poles said. "It's going to be hard to make this team now."

When Poles traded the No. 1 pick to the Panthers weeks before the 2023 draft and received a 2024 first-rounder as part of the return package, he said the prevailing thought was to be in position to draft a quarterback should 2021 first-rounder Justin Fields not prove he's worthy of the QB1 role.

Leadership changes in personnel and top coaching spots often drive decisions to move on from quarterbacks drafted by previous regimes.

Fields, drafted 11th overall when then-GM Ryan Pace and the Bears moved up from No. 20 in a deal with the New York Giants, was traded to the Steelers last month to be the backup to Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh.

The new brass has tracked Williams incessantly.

Poles, head coach Matt Eberflus, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and other members of the organization have spent countless hours to reach this point. The Bears met with Williams at the NFL Scouting Combine -- where Eberflus offers prospects the option of playing darts or putt-putt before the more intensive interview begins -- before his pro day workout (where new Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen made an appearance) and were the only team to host Williams at team headquarters for a "top 30" visit.

"The journey to collect all the information is different for everyone," Poles said. "There's guys on our board that are high that didn't come in for a 30-visit that we've had other touchpoints. Our networks in the building know the player inside and out that we really, really trust."

Poles called reports the Bears are shopping the No. 9 overall pick speculation and said he doesn't feel the need to make a trade to add picks despite holding an NFL-low four selections over seven rounds.

"I feel really good with where we're at," Poles said.

Rodgers, 26, has been cleared to participate in all team activities, effective immediately.

The Indianapolis Colts cut Rodgers following his suspension last June and he signed with the Eagles in August.

A sixth-round pick in 2020, Rodgers averaged 27.0 yards on 61 kickoff returns in 45 games with the Colts from 2020-22. He returned a kick 101 yards for a touchdown at Cleveland in Week 5 of 2020.

Following his suspension for violating the league's gambling policy, Rodgers issued a statement acknowledging his mistakes.

"Addressing the current reports, I want to take full responsibility for my actions. I know I have made mistakes, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to repair the situation," he posted on social media.

"The last thing I ever wanted to do was to be a distraction to the Colts organization, my coaches and my teammates. I've let people down that I care about. I made an error in judgment and I am going to work hard to make sure that those mistakes are rectified through this process. It's an honor to play in the NFL and I have never taken that lightly. I am very sorry for all of this."

Former NFL quarterback and local radio show host Brock Huard has flooded the airwaves during the draft cycle discussing Penix's unique arm talent vs. concerns about his injury history. And that debate has expanded nationally, as analysts project Penix anywhere from a top-10 selection to not hearing his name called until Day 2.

That major potential swing is why Penix won't be on-hand with the other marquee prospects in Detroit on Thursday night.

The public has gotten into the action as well, making Penix the most highly wagered-on prospect in this year's draft in various markets. At BetMGM, Penix has drawn the most total bets and money on any individual draft position, with his Under set at 32.5.

That would put Penix on the fringe of being a first-round pick or going to bed Thursday night still wondering who he will be slinging the football for next season. The Under has been backed by 62 percent of the total bets and 79 percent of the money at the sportsbook despite the -250 odds.

Most Bet to go Under draft position (tickets)

1. Michael Penix, Washington QB, 32.5

2. Bo Nix, Oregon QB, 32.5

3. Adonai Mitchell, Georgia WR, 27.5

Most Bet to go Under draft position (handle)

1. Michael Penix 32.5

2. Rome Odunze 8.5

3. Laiatu Latu 16.5

Quarterbacks are typically the most hotly debated prospects, and this year is no different. After the trio of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye, analysts are all over the map in their estimations of where Penix, Nix and J.J. McCarthy will land.

McCarthy has been the second most popular choice at BetMGM, where his draft Over/Under position is 5.5. The former Michigan star has drawn the most Over bets at 74 percent.

Among the three highly debated quarterbacks, favorites to land each of them have emerged.

Las Vegas is the biggest liability for Penix. He has been backed by 24.6 percent of the money to go to the Raiders, who own the 13th overall pick.

Meanwhile, McCarthy is favored to go to Minnesota. The Vikings currently hold the 11th selection and have been backed by 24.6 percent of the money to grab McCarthy. However, the Denver Broncos remain the book's biggest liability in the McCarthy market.

Denver is also seen as a likely destination for Nix. The former Oregon and Auburn quarterback has been backed by 44.3 percent of the money to wind up in the Mile High city, while the Los Angeles Rams are the book's biggest liability related to Nix.

The Broncos currently hold the No. 12 overall pick while the Rams sit at No. 19.

Team to Draft Bo Nix

--Highest Ticket%: Broncos 19.4%

--Highest Handle%: Broncos 44.3%

--Biggest Liability: Rams

--Favorite: Broncos -176

Team to Draft J.J. McCarthy

--Highest Ticket%: Vikings 20.9%

--Highest Handle%: Vikings 24.6%

--Biggest Liability: Broncos

--Favorite: Vikings +115

Team to Draft Michael Penix Jr.

--Highest Ticket%: Raiders 26.1%

--Highest Handle%: Raiders 24.6%

--Biggest Liability: Raiders

--Favorite: Raiders +300

Penix, who turns 24 on May 8, remains the draft's biggest wild card. He has arguably the most natural arm talent in this year's deep quarterback class, but his draft status is murky due to four injuries in four years.

After beginning his career at Indiana, Penix transferred to Washington, a 4-8 program when he signed before the 2022 season. He took the Huskies to the College Football Playoff national title game this year, which Washington lost to Michigan. His two seasons there: 11-2 and 14-1.

But before he arrived in Seattle, he had two season-ending shoulder injuries and two ACL tears. Penix addressed that history in a piece for The Players Tribune this week.

"I hear it all the time. 'He's been injured, what happens if he gets injured again?' Haven't I shown you what that looks like? Haven't I put almost 2,000 plays on tape since my last injury? ...

"Truth is, I'd be more worried if I had never been injured. We don't all come back the same. I can't speak for those that have never gone through anything. But I can speak on me. I've seen how deep my foundation is. I know the storms I'm prepared to weather. For most people that'd be the end of their story. But there's more to my story, and I own every page of it."

With the 2024 NFL Draft scheduled to begin Thursday, the league will not be docking either team draft picks -- should it find one or both guilty of tampering -- this year.

The league confirmed in March that it was looking into the possibility of tampering by the teams prior to the start of free agency. The reviews focus on quarterback Kirk Cousins agreeing to a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons, and running back Saquon Barkley signing a three-year, $37.75 million deal with the Eagles.

The Falcons said in a statement at the time that "due to the NFL's review, we are unable to provide information or have additional comment."

The Eagles denied the claims.

The Texans said 10,000 surveys and 30 focus groups were utilized to guide the new uniform design.

In addition to their traditional deep steel blue and white uniform, the Texans revealed a "Battle Red" helmet with a new logo that the team says is inspired by bullhorns with a bullhead logo on the back.

Houston also will feature a light blue helmet as part of its Color Rush look, complete with "H-Town" on the front of its uniforms.

The Texans also featured a light blue "H" that is outlined in red on a dark blue helmet.

"Today, for the first time since 2000, we are so proud to reveal our new uniforms. They are even more special because they are inspired by and for our fans," Texans owner Cal McNair said in a statement. "Our fans asked us to be more H-Town and we delivered. They were with us every step of the way and there's truly something for everyone over the four uniforms."

Also, the Bengals signed unrestricted free agent quarterback Logan Woodside to a one-year deal for the 2024 season.

Undrafted out of Washington in 2019, Browning spent 2019-21 on the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad. He then spent time on Cincinnati's practice squad before filling in for the injured Joe Burrow last season.

Browning, 28, completed 171 of 243 passes (70.4 percent) for 1,936 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions in nine games (seven starts). He also rushed for 127 yards and three scores.

Woodside, 29, has completed 4 of 7 passes for 34 yards and an interception in 13 career games with the Tennessee Titans (2020-21) and Atlanta Falcons (2022-23). He was a seventh-round pick of the Bengals in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Coach Andy Reid, general manager Brett Veach and club president Mark Donovan received what the club termed as long-term deals, though specifics weren't announced.

According to NFL.com, Reid got a new pact that runs through 2029 and makes him the league's highest-paid coach.

"Mark, Brett and Andy have achieved historic success together, and we are thrilled that they will continue in their roles for many years to come," Chiefs chairman/CEO Clark Hunt said in a statement. "Individually, Mark, Brett and Andy each represent the best in the National Football League at their respective positions, and together, they make up one of the finest leadership teams in all of professional sports.

"They have been tremendous leaders for this organization on and off the field, and we look forward to their continued success in the years ahead."

Reid, 66, has been on the job since 2013, compiling a 128-51 regular-season record and a 16-7 playoff mark in Kansas City. He has led the Chiefs to the playoffs in all but one of his 11 seasons.

Reid previously was the head coach in Philadelphia from 1999-2012, guiding the Eagles to the Super Bowl after the 2004 season and to four other appearances in the NFC Championship Game.

His overall regular-season record as a head coach is 258-144-1, and he is 26-16 in the postseason. Reid is the active NFL leader in coaching wins, ranking fourth all time behind Don Shula (328), George Halas (318) and Bill Belichick (302). Belichick leads the postseason coaching-wins list with 31, with Reid in second.

Veach, 46, took over as the Chiefs' GM in 2017 after four years in the team's front office. He previously was on the Eagles' staff from 2004-12.

Donovan, 58, also came to Kansas City after a stint in the Eagles' front office from 2003-09. He became the Chiefs' president in January 2011.

"Our wish is he's here and part of the Niners for the rest of his career," Lynch said in a pre-draft press conference on Monday. "We're focused on B.A. being part of us."

Aiyuk isn't attending voluntary workouts and Lynch said there have been calls from general managers about the availability of Aiyuk and others. For now, the 49ers "wouldn't anticipate" a move this week involving Aiyuk being traded to a new team.

When the sides will engage again on contract negotiations is unclear.

The 25-year-old Aiyuk was named second-team All-Pro in 2023 and is due $14.1 million in 2024, the fifth-year option on his rookie deal with free agency coming up next March.

The 49ers traded up to draft Aiyuk 25th overall in 2020 and he has 15 total touchdowns the past two seasons. He had 75 receptions for 1,342 yards with seven touchdowns in 2023.

San Francisco has committed top dollar to key playmakers from wide receiver Deebo Samuel to running back Christian McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle, with a massive deal coming quarterback Brock Purdy's way soon, too.

By this time next year, Purdy could be cashing more than $50 million per season based on the current QB contract market.

That creates questions about whether one of those playmakers -- or Aiyuk -- might have to relocate for the 49ers to maintain financial harmony.

Samuel is scheduled to make $20.97 million in 2024 and Kittle's base salary is scheduled to increase from $1.080 million last season to over $13 million.

Ryan played 14 seasons at quarterback for the Falcons, who selected him with the No. 3 overall pick of the 2008 draft, and one final season with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. He didn't play last season, instead working as a television analyst.

On Monday, the Falcons posted a three-minute-plus video in which Ryan made the announcement, thanking the city and the team.

"My childhood dream has officially come to an end. I'm honored to retire as a Falcon," he said.

Ryan led the NFL in completions in 2019 and 2020 and won the 2016 MVP, when he led the team to an 11-5 mark behind 4,944 passing yards, 38 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He was selected to four Pro Bowls.

That 2016 team played in Super Bowl LI on Feb. 5, 2017, and had a 28-3 lead over the New England Patriots in the third quarter before Tom Brady led his team on an epic comeback, winning 34-28 in overtime.

"Matt Ryan's impact on the Atlanta Falcons organization and the city of Atlanta is immeasurable," Falcons owner Arthur Blank said Monday. "Matt was selected as the third-overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, went on to win the NFL Rookie of the Year award and led us to the playoffs in his first season.

"That was the start of building a special career that now sees him holding every significant passing record in our franchise history. Matt always represented himself, his family, teammates and our team with class, character, and integrity on and off the field."

Ryan started 234 career games -- 222 of them in Atlanta -- and was remarkably durable in posting a 124-109-1 record. He missed just three games with the Falcons.

For his career, he connected on 65.6 percent of his passes 62,792 yards (seventh in NFL history), threw 381 touchdown passes (ninth in NFL history) and 183 interceptions.

His 38 career fourth-quarter comebacks rank him fourth all-time in the category behind Brady, Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger.

He said Monday that he was happy to retire as a member of the Falcons: "You have no control in this profession in where you start. I am so lucky that my start and my finish was here in Atlanta."