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Good morning! I would’ve traded for you. Coming up:
Tiers/Tears: What the NFL thinks of your favorite QB
Each year, this is a hallowed day on the NFL calendar. Preseason games start this week, sure, but Mike Sando’s NFL QB Tiers column is out this morning. You will read and hear plenty about this on Athletic platforms, but the recurring seminal work makes waves across the entire football sphere by the sheer nature of the project.
Simple yet layered: Who are the best quarterbacks in the NFL? And what do NFL executives really think about them? It’s a vote-based system mixed with unfiltered comments from those casting ballots.
We’re going with a three-pronged approach here. Let’s just start with the Tier 1 QBs:
- Patrick Mahomes
- Josh Allen
- Matthew Stafford
- Joe Burrow
These were pretty clear-cut. The foursome commanded 191 of 200 possible Tier 1 votes. Surprisingly, Mahomes got a single Tier 2 vote. But I want to focus next on a Tier 2 guy who improved his lot:
- Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who was already in Tier 2 last year, but got 12 Tier 1 votes this year, nearly as many as he’s received over his entire time in the Tiers list (14 across nine appearances!). Opposing defensive coaches spoke glowingly of Prescott’s development in Dallas’ new scheme last year. Start the hype train if the Cowboys field a good defense.
Here’s a fun graphic from the piece for a fuller picture of the tier movement this year:
Lastly, we go to the bottom, where the Cleveland Browns are simply a mess. Both Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders reside in Tier 4 and exist on this list solely because they figure to both start games this year for the Browns.
How bad is it? A quote and a stat:
- On Sanders, one executive said: “He’s inaccurate at all three levels. I can’t tell if he is going to get better, but there’s a huge gap between him and competent QB play.” Gah.
- For Watson, a staggering figure: “Watson is one of 60 quarterbacks to start at least 10 games since the Browns acquired him in 2022. He ranks 59th among them in EPA per pass play (Zach Wilson is 60th).” Gahhhhh.
Another new feature on the Tiers list this year: You can vote on where you think each QB belongs. My request to add a “No Tier” button was rejected.
See the full list here. We have trades to discuss.
Deadlines: Put the phones down
Emilee Chinn / Getty Images
It was also (obviously) a pivotal day in our pro sport du jour, baseball, where the trade deadline came and went yesterday at 6 p.m. ET. No longer will we read about potential targets or fits for your favorite team. Now it’s time to go win a title or actually retool your franchise.
I’m choosing to highlight some of our winners, via this excellent roundup:
- Red Sox, dude. Boston’s trade for Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman is probably the gutsiest move at the deadline. Rutschman, 28, is a big talent who’s had trouble staying on the field. The Sox are surprise contenders. If it works, we’re talking about a possible ring here. If it doesn’t, it’s a disaster. I like the flair. It’s why Boston is No. 2 in our Ambition Index.
- The Angels! It feels bizarre to laud the other L.A. team in this space, but maybe things are really changing in Anaheim. They traded older guys, kept young talent and added valuable prospects to their system. Competency. What a concept.
- Toronto, back? After dealing Kevin Gausman to the Cubs, the Blue Jays traded for Angels starter José Soriano, which was mildly surprising for a “seller.” They also traded outfielder Daulton Varsho to the Astros for pitching, and picked up Josh Smith from the Rangers. A true shuffle of the roster at the deadline.
See all the winners, losers and snoozers, including the Phillies’ big trade yesterday morning. Time to focus on the games again.
News to Know
Jamie Squire / Getty Images
Poch back. Is that good?
Mauricio Pochettino is officially staying on as USMNT coach for the 2030 World Cup cycle, U.S. Soccer announced yesterday. Pochettino oversaw a fun World Cup run this summer that ended on a sour note in the round of 16 against Belgium. On the surface, this is a prudent move. But four years is a long time, and I am curious about the permanent fit here. I went to Tom Bogert:
We’re excited about this, right?
💬 “For sure. Pochettino is a well-respected coach and did well at the World Cup, save for the elimination by Belgium in a dominant fashion. Hopefully he can build off the momentum from the World Cup and the foundations they laid.”
Pochettino’s name has surfaced for other jobs. Is there a chance he doesn’t make it to 2030?
💬 “There is a big chance. Pochettino is a coach in demand and has not been shy about his desire to return to club coaching one day. There is no certainty he will be here in four years, and honestly, there remains doubt that it’s even the most likely scenario.”
Still, good for now. Just maybe don’t get too attached.
More news:
- Emma Raducanu is out of the U.S. Open as she recovers from a stress fracture in her right leg. Bummer.
- Venus Williams will be there, though, playing doubles.
- The future of the Triple Crown is in serious doubt after Churchill Downs announced a new series of races yesterday. It’s a huge change.
- Notre Dame and USC will continue their college football series in 2030. Feels wrong they ever stopped it.
- An American cricket player has been banned for eight years after violating anti-corruption rules. Juicy.
- The NBA disputed a study that linked Achilles tendon injuries to increased playing time. Huh.
- Broncos coach Sean Payton said he’s in “no hurry” as he ponders signing Taysom Hill. I bet it happens.
📰 Find more news here 24/7.
Watch Guide
📺 Soccer: Pachuca at FC Cincinnati
7:45 p.m. ET on FS1 and Apple TV
The Leagues Cup, a competition between MLS and Liga MX, begins tonight with a slew of games, all available on Apple TV. This is our pick for best of the night, but that’s subjective. You can see the full lineup here.
📺 MLB: Dodgers at Cubs
8:05 p.m. ET on TBS
Want a full turn toward baseball? Tarik Skubal makes his Dodger debut here against another team that loaded up at the deadline. All eyes on Wrigley.
Pulse Picks
David Aldridge ranked each NBA team’s offseason yesterday. My Pelicans didn’t do so well. But neither did the Knicks? See the full list.
There’s nothing more inspiring — and dangerous — than the prodigal son hired to fix his old team. Matt Ryan is trying to do just that in Atlanta. He’s got plenty of problems to solve.
Multiple NHL teams have cut their radio broadcast crew in recent months. Some worry the entire medium is dying.
Andy Behrens has one name for you to remember in your upcoming fantasy football drafts: Cyrus Allen.
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: MLB Trade Deadline Big Board 3.0.
Most-read on the website yesterday: Trade deadline live blog. Y’all like this.
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