NFL News

With the NFL regular season set to kick off in just a little under two weeks, teams around the league are putting the final touches on their final 53-man roster. With teams making final decisions, there has been plenty of news circulating around the league. Here are some of the biggest stories from the last week.

Sony Michel Traded Across Country

It was a brutal blow to a team with Super Bowl aspirations when the Los Angeles Rams lost star running back Cam Akers to injury. This week, they found his replacement. In a deal with the New England Patriots, the Rams sent two draft picks to the Patriots in exchange for running back Sony Michel. According to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, the draft picks include a 2022 sixth-round pick and a fourth-rounder in 2023.

Last season, Michel struggled with both injuries and COVID-19 as he played in just nine games, rushing 79 times for 449 yards and a touchdown. He also had seven receptions for 114 yards and another score. Still, the 26-year-old is just a few seasons removed from putting up 931 yards and six scores on 209 attempts. With Los Angeles, he will certainly get ample opportunities to return to form as long as he can stay healthy.

Currently, the Rams have the seventh-best odds of winning Super Bowl LVI at +1500.

For Bill Belichick and the Patriots, they receive a couple more draft picks to utilize in exchange for a backup running back. With Damien Harris and James White in the fold, the Pats still sit comfortably when examining their backfield.

Lawrence And Etienne Make News For Opposite Reasons

Two of the most highly touted draft picks this season came from the Jacksonville Jaguars as they took quarterback Trevor Lawrence with their top overall pick in the NFL Draft, and Travis Etienne later in the first round.

This week, the two made the news but for very different reasons.

For Lawrence, the news comes with celebration as head coach Urban Meyer made the decision that he would be QB1. Last season, with Clemson, he threw for 3,153 yards, 24 touchdowns, and five interceptions. His skill set made him the most coveted draft pick in years, and now he will have the opportunity to show why from Week 1.

For Etienne, the news was not nearly as good. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com passed along the news that the Jaguars’ running back will be out for the season with a foot injury. As a senior with Clemson last season, Etienne rushed 168 times for 914 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also had 588 yards receiving with a couple more scores through the air.

The Jaguars, who are not expected to be overly competitive this season, are currently +12000 to win the Super Bowl.

Patriots Acquire Cornerback Shaun Wade

On Thursday, the Patriots made another trade, this time with the Baltimore Ravens, to acquire some defensive help.

The Ravens traded cornerback Shaun Wade to the Patriots in exchange for a couple of draft picks. Ian Rapoport and The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reported that the Ravens would get a seventh-round pick for 2022 and a 2023 fifth-rounder.

After returning to Ohio State for his senior year, Wade was drafted by the Ravens in the fifth round of the 2021 draft. Previously considered a potential pick in the first couple rounds, a rough senior year cost him.
Last year, with Ohio State, he had just 34 tackles and two interceptions for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

For the Patriots, it gives them a potentially high-ceiling flyer that is pretty low risk while the Ravens clear some roster space and net a couple of draft picks.