3/30 MON
(6:20amET)
Today
-- Dynasty valuation/rankings update today.
-- New scouting report, a double header of the PSU RBs will post Tuesday.
-- Pro Day Notes Series: from 3/15/26
-- NFL Draft position grade OG debut being worked on for TUE/WED
This Week’s Agenda…
-- Prospect grades by position and rankings boards are being debuted, updated and added to daily/weekly for the next 6 months.
-- Dynasty rankings audits/updates daily/weekly. Starting up the IDP studies to try to get them done by the end of month/early April.
-- Final components and studies for publishing Best Ball debut rankings ASAP.
-- Holy series QB and RB done. Holy RB Handcuffs underway.
-- Full scouting reports on prospects from now until the NFL preseason.
-- Any FFM News & Notes or Special Reports during the day as I get them.
-- New coaching staff hire’s analysis series...going through the entire staff...I am working on the framework of how I want to present that. This will be a first ever series (for me) where I go beyond ‘just the new head coaches’. ETA in early April to start it up.
== NEWS & NOTES & Xs ==
-- Jim Harbaugh quotes on the RB Rotation (March 2026)
On the "Three-Headed Monster" (March 12, 2026): "When you look at Omarion [Hampton], Kimani [Vidal], and now adding Keaton [Mitchell], it’s a beautiful thing. It’s like a law firm where every partner wins cases. We aren't looking for one guy to carry it 30 times and be a shell of himself by December. We want fresh legs, hot blood, and guys who can finish. We’re going to rotate them, keep them fresh, and let them hunt. If one guy has the 'hot hand,' we’ll ride it, but the vision is a collective effort to wear defenses down."
On Omarion Hampton's Role (March 23, 2026): "Omarion has displayed one trait I've never seen from another RB. It’s that 'Back Together' mentality. He’s the foundation. He’s the guy who sets the physical tone for the entire group. He’s entrenched for us, but he also knows that having Kimani and Keaton there makes him more dangerous because he’s not taking every single hit in the first quarter."
On Kimani Vidal (Post-Free Agency Opening): "Kimani is a guy who plays like a number one running back. Not just for us, but in the entire league. He’s a vital piece. He proved last year he can carry the load, and he’s going to be a heavy factor in our short-yardage and red-zone packages. He’s got that 'time to shine' DNA where the bigger the moment, the better he plays."
On Keaton Mitchell (March 15, 2026): "Keaton is a lightning bolt. He’s a guy that makes a secondary hold its breath. In this league, you want to be competitive without being reckless, and Keaton’s vision—combined with that home-run speed—gives us a dimension that stresses a defense's DNA. He isn't just a track star; he's a football player who fits exactly what Mike [McDaniel] and I want to do."
RC NOTES: The future of all backfields, eventually, is not running one back into the ground...having 1-2 other guys that get a decent amount of support and relief work. Hampton is in store for 65-75%+ of the touches in this backfield...but so are most lead backs anymore. CMC and Saquon are unicorns soon to disappear because every RB room is gonna be stacked on supply/demand machinations...NFL teams by accident or on purpose will have too much talent on the depth chart not to use some rotation and keeping backs fresh for the long haul. RBs are, and have been for years, becoming plentiful and disposable and interchangeable. And now, instead of the league having 3-4 great NFL RBs in total...NFL teams will have 3-4 good and great RB talents on their roster/at their disposal.
The RB1s of the future...likely RBs in a split or committee, and one of them gets hurt and gone...and the other main RB inherits the workload due to crisis and becomes a star (of the moment)...i.e ‘the Kenneth Walker late 2025 season story’, that the Chiefs stupidly paid up for.
QUOTES & QUOTABLES (pulled from an internet A.I. search, I try to make sure it’s accurate but some of it is ‘trust in AI’)
-- Kyle Shanahan (49ers HC) on Trent Williams: "I know John [Lynch] is working hard. We love Trent too much and eventually, that will work out." Source: 49ers Offseason Media Session
-- Kyle Shanahan (49ers HC) on WR Denzel Boston (Visit): "He’s a unique specimen at that size. We’re always looking for guys who can win one-on-ones, and his tape shows he can be a real problem in the red zone." Source: 49ers.com / Team Visit Recap
-- Shane Steichen (Colts HC) on WR Alec Pierce: "The extension for Alec is about reward for the work. He’s a vertical spacer that opens up everything underneath for Josh [Downs] and our run game." Source: Colts Press Release
Medical & Injury Updates
-- Deepak Chona (Predictive Health) on Malik Nabers: "ACL + meniscus. Data is favorable for players under 25 with elite pre-injury metrics. Expecting a Week 1 return." Source: SportsMedAnalytics (3/29)
-- Deepak Chona (Predictive Health) on Patrick Mahomes: "Projecting 9-10 months to return from the Dec 15 injury. Passing efficiency typically doesn't dip for QBs in Year 1 post-op." Source: SportsMedAnalytics (3/29)
Draft & Prospect Buzz
-- Ty Simpson (QB, Alabama): "If NFL quarterback coaches wanted to show young passers video footage of flawless footwork and mechanics, they'd circulate Simpson's work. He’s a pinpoint touch passer." Source: NFL.com Draft Analysis (3/27-29)
-- Omar Cooper Jr. (WR, Indiana): Conducted a high-profile Top 30 visit with the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles over the last 48 hours. Source: CBS Sports Draft Tracker (3/29)
-- Arvell Reese (EDGE, Ohio State): Completed formal visits with both the New York Giants and New York Jets this weekend as a projected Top 5 pick. Source: NFL Network Visit Tracker (3/28)
-- Kayden McDonald (DT, Ohio State): Confirmed Top 30 visits scheduled for this coming week with the Bengals, Ravens, and Commanders. Source: CBS Sports / Bengals News (3/29)
-- Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana): Visited the Las Vegas Raiders facility yesterday; current consensus is that he is "essentially a lock" for #1 overall. Source: NFL.com / Bucky Brooks (3/28)
-- Denzel Boston (WR, Washington): Completed a private workout for the 49ers; scouts noted his "unique size and red zone efficiency." Source: CBS Sports Prospect Tracker (3/29)
Daily Transactions: March 29, 2026
- Minnesota Vikings: Officially signed OL Ryan Van Demark (RFA tender matched).
- Cincinnati Bengals: Re-signed QB Tyler Huntley (2-year, $11M deal).
- Dallas Cowboys: Signed DE Jonathan Bullard (1-year veteran deal).
- Washington Commanders: Signed S Jeremy Reaves to a contract extension.
- Philadelphia Eagles: Completed trade for QB Andy Dalton (from Panthers).
- Atlanta Falcons: Completed trade for S Sydney Brown (from Eagles).
- New York Giants: Re-signed EDGE Malcolm Koonce (1-year, $11M).
== New Daily Series: Best Teams for 2026 Season Post-Free Agency ==
It’s March...March Madness time...so let’s do it tournament style. One matchup per day. Teams seeded in their division by their 2025 finish. We go through the divisions to the Final Four in each conference, to the overall Final Four, and then the finals. Strictly my early grades on the teams after all the coaching staffs have been put in place and most all of free agency worth noting is done. Assuming every player on the roster is healthy/never hurt.
The first round will likely go pretty predictably, but I do see at least one major ‘upset’ by a bottom seed.
Here we go:
NFC West: (1) SEA v. (4) ARI...The Cardinals have a decent roster, but it’s not good enough or proven enough to get past Seattle here. And the coaching staff and GM differential is massively in favor of the Seahawks. Easy move on/ahead for the defending champs.
Tomorrow...we finish the NFC West and the 1st-round with (2) LAR at (3) SF.
Past results:
AFC East: (1) NE d. (4) NYJ, (2) BUF d. (3) MIA
AFC North: (1) PIT d. (4) CLE, (3) CIN d. (2) BAL
AFC South: (1) JAX d. (4) TEN, (3) IND d. (2) HOU
AFC West: (1) DEN d. (4) LV, (2) LAC d. (3) KC
NFC East: (1) PHI d. (4) NYG, (2) DAL d. (3) WSH
NFC North: (1) CHI d. (4) DET, (3) MIN d. (2) GB
NFC South: (4) NO d. (1) CAR, (3) ATL d. (2) TB
NFC West:
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