2019: NFL Kickoff Premium Edition

49ers Raiders

KITTLE’S ENCORE

What kind of havoc might George Kittle wreak with a healthy Jimmy Garoppolo back in the mix?

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THE QB QUESTION

Is Jimmy G primed to prove that all the bluster he received a year ago is actually deserved?

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NFL

Who enters the 2019 season ahead of the pack? Power rankings for both conferences.

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Don’t sleep on these games on the 2019 schedule.

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Credits

SECTION EDITOR

Mark Conley

OAKLAND’S LAST HURRAH

Can this Antonio Brown-led spectacle hit the jackpot for the Bay Area before the Vegas departure?

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DEREK’S DIFFICULT DECISION

Few know that Derek Carr nearly handed back his NFL opportunity before ever getting behind center.

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DESIGN

David Jack Browning

Jennifer Schaefer

Chris Gotsill

PHOTO EDITING

Laura Oda

Mark DuFrene

COPY EDITING

Laurence Meidema

Jaime Welton

Matt Schwab

Richard Parrish

Michael Nowels

A look around an NFL where the Browns are back … and Gronk could be too?

BY CARL STEWARD

ARE THE CLEVELAND BROWNS FOR REAL?

Even though the NFL national media are going ga-ga over the Browns’ resurgence, we reserve the right to be exceedingly skeptical. Do you remember the last time they won a playoff game? It was 1994. Remember who their coach was? Bill Belichick. Remember who they beat? Try the New England Patriots. Odell Beckham Jr. and Baker Mayfield notwithstanding, there’s much to prove still despite last year’s jump to 7-8-1 from 0-16.

WHAT ARE THE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS FOR KYLER MURRAY?

And what can we realistically expect from the Arizona Cardinals in support of the 5-foot-10 Murray? Look, Russell Wilson at 5-11 kind of blew away the whole short quarterback myth. Wilson went to two Super Bowls, won one (and should have won the other if not for the worst play-call in history) and is now the highest-paid player in the league. But will Murray have the coaching infrastructure under new head man Kliff Kingsbury? Will he have any blocking? Will he have good targets beyond aging Larry Fitzgerald?

Do the Cleveland Browns have what it takes? With QB Baker Mayfield, right, maybe, but they still have much to prove. GETTY IMAGES

IS THIS THE YEAR ANDREW LUCK GETS OVER THE HUMP?

What Luck did to rekindle his career last year was admirable because he was looking pretty prematurely done before the Colts decided to protect their investment with an offensive line that allowed him to be sacked a mere 18 times (fewest in the NFL for a full-time starter). The Colts are taking a measured approach to building their team under GM Chris Ballard, but that’s the structure that best suits Luck, who’s still only 29. Keep protecting him and good things are bound to happen.

HAS RAMS RUNNING BACK TODD GURLEY ALREADY HIT HIS EXPIRATION DATE?

Despite the fact that he just turned 25 on Aug. 3, Gurley has exceeded 1,000 carries in his four-year NFL career and added a couple hundred more totes on receptions. He has the most touchdowns of any player in the league over that period with 46. But diagnosed with an arthritic left knee following his troublesome performances in the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl, it’s an open question what Gurley’s future holds. Two trendy words will likely define Gurley’s 2019 season: load management. But at what expense to the Rams’ season does that unfold?

As a new season dawns, a full slate of questions looms. We do our best educated guessing so you don’t have to.

WHICH FORMER 49ERS QB IS MORE LIKELY TO PLAY IN THE NFL AGAIN, ALEX SMITH OR COLIN KAEPERNICK?

Despite reaching a confidential settlement on collusion charges Kaepernick made against the league, it remains questionable whether he’ll ever play in the NFL again, even though he is just 31. New England, which lacks an experienced backup for Brady, has been rumored as a possibility, but would President Donald Trump’s favorite team actually take a shot on a player Trump has so thoroughly scorned? As for Smith, the devastating compound leg fracture he suffered in Week 11 last year continues to leave his future in doubt, but all indications are he wants to play again, and he does have a contract with Washington that runs through 2022. Smith turned up at camp sporting crutches, trying in any way to help out and earn his $15 million contract for this season.

COULD THE VIC FANGIO EXPERIMENT ACTUALLY WORK?

The Broncos’ Fangio, 60, certainly has deserved a shot at the big chair for many years based on his defensive success with numerous teams, including the 49ers. But let’s just say it — Denver is a strange fit. You have an offensive-minded team president in John Elway who brought in a new veteran quarterback in Joe Flacco and your biggest issues are clearly on offense. Maybe Rich Scangarello, hired away from the 49ers to be the O.C., didn’t want the limelight, but he might have been a better choice.

HOW DOES A GRONKLESS NEW ENGLAND CONTINUE ON … OR DOES HE RETURN?

Don’t rule out the latter. After all, Gronk is only 30, and one of the tight ends the Patriots acquired to

try and fill the void is old New England hand Ben Watson, who’s 38. Watson will be suspended for the first four games, too, which will only heighten the swirl around a Gronkowski return. Gronkowski may simply be waiting until he’s really needed and avoiding the heat of summer workouts. It’s a solid bet the fun-loving Gronkowski comes back at some point, once he tires of the party in his head. The only real doubt is whether it’s this year.

WHICH SUCCESSFUL TEAM FROM 2018 IS PRIMED FOR A REGRESSION?

A lot of NFL aficionados think the Chicago Bears are primed for a fall, but we prefer going with a franchise that’s already partially fallen – the Pittsburgh Steelers. (How many losing seasons have the Steelers had since 1972? Try seven, only one more than the Raiders have had in this decade alone.) They missed the playoffs last year but still went 9-6-1. They haven’t had a losing year since 2003. But this season, Ben Roethlisberger will start at age 37 without Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell and perhaps most important, offensive line coach Mike Munchak, arguably the best at his job in the league and he’s now in Denver.

WHICH LOSING TEAM FROM 2018 CAN MAKE THE BIGGEST JUMP?

Lots of candidates: Atlanta. Jacksonville. Green Bay. But OK, gulp … how about the Raiders? Clearly this wasn’t a slow rebuild project here, not when you trade for a flamboyant star in Antonio Brown and then give big money to free agents Trent Brown, Lamarcus Joyner and Tyrell Williams, then draft a step-right-in running back in Josh Jacobs. Beyond Oakland nostalgia, the Raiders also could use a bump heading into their new Las Vegas play-palace. That town already has enough losers. It doesn’t need 53 more plus a head

his team — Philadelphia’s Doug Pederson. So here’s a working Top 6 butt-burn list for starters: 1. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh. 2. Jay Gruden, Washington. 3. Jason Garrett, Dallas. 4, Doug Marrone, Jacksonville. 5. Ron Rivera, Carolina. 6. Bill O’Brien, Houston.

WILL NEW ENGLAND BE THE FIRST TEAM IN 15 YEARS TO WIN BACKTO-BACK SUPER BOWLS?

coach that’ll still be on the books for $80 million more deep into the 2020s.

IS THIS A BOUNCE-BACK YEAR IN JACKSONVILLE WITH NICK FOLES AT THE HELM?

Maybe, if only because the AFC South is such a schizophrenic division. Foles brings stability if nothing else. He’s not flashy, but he gets the job done. And players seem to believe in him. That’s huge, because there never seemed to be a lot of belief in Blake Bortles externally, and you have to wonder what the sentiments were internally. The gig comes with a workhorse back in Leonard Fournette and a defense that doesn’t figure to get involved in too many shootouts. Maybe not 11-5 like two years ago, but good enough to make the playoffs again.

WHICH NFL COACHES ARE ON THE MOST SCALDING HOT SEATS?

“Coaches” is the operative word, because here’s an amazing stat: For 14 consecutive years, there have been no fewer than six head coaching changes in any NFL season. Of seven head coaches hired three years ago, only one is still with

The Patriots were the last to do it in 2004-2005 and it’s only been done eight times, but this is the longest gap since the game’s inception in 1967. New England has played in three straight Super Bowls and only one team – noted nonwinner Buffalo — has played in four straight. The retirement of Gronkowski could prove to be a concern, and the Patriots also lost a standout free agent D-lineman in Trey Flowers. At some point, there has to be an expiration date on Tom Brady, not to mention Bill Belichick. But as long as the AFC East provides an easy expressway to the postseason, New England will be a threat.

COULD THE NEW PASS INTERFERENCE RULES GET OUT OF HAND?

Absolutely. Head coaches can now challenge both offensive and defensive pass interference, whether flagged or not, except in the last two minutes of each half. Then a designated replay official takes over with the power to make a pass interference ruling or reverse one, but at least according to the league, only in extreme circumstances such as the gross missed PI in the NFC Championship Game. It’s a one-year trial balloon. Our prediction: The final two-minute replay official sticks, but the coaches’ challenge will be altered. It’s set up for a nightmare. There are simply too many plays in which pass interference could be called, much like holding. Expect extended delays and even longer games. Ugh.

The Broncos need a boost on offense, yet they brought in defensive-minded coach Vic Fangio to run the show.

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KITTLE-MANIAII!!! GET SET FOR...

49ers’ tight end and WWE superfan George Kittle exploded on the NFL scene one year ago in a fashion few could expect from a 5th-round pick. So what does the emerging superstar do for an encore?

INTERVIEW BY DIETER KURTENBACH ILLUSTRATION BY BENJAMIN WACHENJE

In a season set up by big expectations but marred by injury, there was at least one bright spot for the 2018 49ers: tight end George Kittle. The fifth-round draft pick out of Iowa in 2017 broke out in his sophomore year, despite pairing with the Niners’ understudy quarterbacks for 13 games. Kittle’s 1,377 receiving yards set a NFL record for tight ends, and with Jimmy Garoppolo now back under center, it begs the question: What’s next for the 49ers’ No. 1 target?

And, while we’re at it, how on Earth did we get to the point where a scrawny kid from Iowa is now one of the NFL’s best players and most engaging personalities?

Kittle sat down with sports columnist Dieter Kurtenbach to talk it all out:

You just had one of the best years in NFL history for a tight end and you are a fifth-round draft pick (No. 146 in 2017) … What happened between 18 years old and now?

The most helpful thing is that I grew two inches in college, gained 75 pounds, went through puberty at the age of 21.

Even compared to my rookie year, I’m the same weight, technically, but I lost about 8 percent body fat.

Being in coach Shanahan’s system and learning the playbook, that’s really the hardest thing. The NFL is more mental than it is physical — everyone out here is a good athlete. You don’t really have bad athletes out on the football field in the NFL. So it’s all mental. Guys who can excel and put themselves ahead in the mental aspect of the game — that’s knowing

George Kittle, a fifth-round draft pick out of Iowa, is in elite company with an NFL record 1,377 receiving yards by a tight end.

coverages, not having any busts, stuff like that — just makes the game a lot easier.

A stat that kind of blew my mind — you had 48 receptions total in college.

Yeah…

At what point did you realize that you could, 1) play at Iowa, and 2) that you could get into the NFL and make an impact here?

I honestly never had a doubt that I’d make the NFL. That’s something that I told myself every day: What you’re doing is for the dream you’re trying to achieve. It really came to light my junior year — my redshirt junior year — I had a really good spring ball, there was an opening at tight end and I just kind of filled in, had a really good camp and just made plays when my name was called. That’s all you can really hope for — to get the opportunity to make the play.

Junior year, going into senior year — starting — it just kind of took off from there.

Do you think (Iowa coach Kirk) Ferentz throws to tight ends more now that you’ve had this nice start to an NFL career? Dude didn’t throw to you at all, and now they’re getting two tight ends taken high in the draft.

I was hurt my senior year, so that’s not on him. Blame CJ. That’s actually his fault.

Take me into a Kyle Shanahan offensive installation meeting.

Oh dear.

Do you have a board I can just draw squiggly lines on?

That’s what I’m picking up — it’s a master’s thesis every single time. How long are they usually?

Depends on the day, but if he has the whole team in there, breaking down a play — what

Being a huge wrestling fan, Kittle is not afraid to mix it up a bit downfield after the catch.

the offense did well, what the defense did well, why it worked well against the offense — by the end of it, you have 100 circles, 100 arrows, you can’t see the entire offensive line because they’re all colored in with points, arrows, and stuff like that. You lose track about 10 minutes in, but he always comes back and clarifies a little bit. He brings you along, but he definitely (makes you think) ‘Oh, wow, you know a lot more about this than I do.’

What was the first meeting like?

Luckily my tight ends coach — Coach Embry — pulled me aside and said ‘You’re going to figure it out at some point, so don’t let that get to your head.’”

When did you realize that you were going to be open all the time?

One of my favorite things about this offense is that it is very similar to Iowa’s: outside zone, inside zone, play-action. I thrive in that. Play-action is what I do really well in, and I take a lot of pride in the run game, too. When you have an efficient run game with the play-action, you’re open a lot. So I knew that if we could keep the run game alive, at all, then the play-action is going to be wide open.

Going into some games, I know that feeling of ‘Hey, this team is a little bit easier to run on’ and know this might be a bigger game for me.

You’ve said you take a lot of pride in the running game — you’ve said it so often that I have to believe it’s true. But you like the ball in your hands, right?

I do like the ball in my hands. But if I can put a 300-pound dude on his back, that feels a lot better than catching a touchdown.

People won’t believe you when you say that.

I swear.

Maybe not catching a game-winning touchdown, those are different but … most of the time, if I can plant someone on their back, it’s pretty rewarding.

Speaking of planting guys on their back, you’re a wrestling fan. Apparently a pretty late-tolife wrestling fan.

Yeah, last five years.

One of my close friends at Iowa got me hooked on it, whether it was watching Monday Night Raw, Smackdown — first thing he ever got me to watch was Wrestlemania at Levi’s Stadium. What really got me hooked is Seth Rollins, he’s a current wrestler from Iowa, and my teammate that got me hooked went to the wrestling school — Rollins has this wrestling school — and I got to go over there and meet him a couple of times, talk to him about wrestling and his life outside of wrestling with his schedule and stuff.

It drew me in a little bit more. And then I got to get into the ring and do a Stone Cold Stunner on a guy, and the rush I felt after pulling that off in front of about 100 people in a little auditorium — I felt like I scored a touchdown. After that, I was like, “Now I get why it was so fun for so many people.”

I’ve gone to the last two Wrestlemanias, I spent about eight hours a day during the week of Wrestlemania week watching wrestling, and that’s my fix for the year.

What’s the best cheap beer to chug like Stone Cold (Steve Austin)?

Oh man…Busch Light.

It’s funny, I had to gain so much weight in college I had to drink Budweisers.

Bud Heavy?

Oh yeah.

It’s like a loaf of bread in a can.

It’s a protein shake in a can. You just set an NFL record for

reception yards, you know Kyle is going to get you open, you got Jimmy back. How do you take it to the next level? What even is the next level?

Winning more games. Yeah, 1,377 yards is fun, but you win four games, it’s not as fun. It’s an accomplishment, but I’d much rather win and go to the playoffs.

To step it up: Win games and I gotta score a lot more touchdowns, because five isn’t enough to do anything.

How are you handling the stardom that you’re starting to develop here? I saw you after practice today with the fans, and you were loving every second of that.

You have to. They come to see us, and the least I can do is give them an hour of my time.

Honestly, I still get mistaken for CJ sometimes. I was on a plane back from Cabo on my honeymoon, and a guy sitting in front of me, after we landed, turned around and goes “Hey, I went to Iowa … hey CJ, great luck on the season, tell George I said the same thing.”

“‘I’ll tell George. Yeah, can’t wait, I’ll tell George.”

CJ is a legend in Iowa.

He led us to the Rose Bowl. 12-0, baby.

Fantasy football is a divisive issue among players. How do you feel about it?

I played fantasy football every year up until my rookie year. I like it. Some fans are a little too die hard.

You don’t say…

But I enjoy it. It’s fun. Players get to interact with fans, and the fans, it’s like having your own team, and it gives them another reason to watch.

Jimmy Garoppolo is back this year — everyone is excited. I do have to ask: Is he actually

magic, or is he just really handsome?

Both.

Talk me through when he first came in — that game against the Jaguars and the magic run afterward.

Actually, the best thing that Jimmy did when he first got here — he took his first snap under center with the ones, and his cadence is very, very amazing. The tone of it — you can ask anybody. When he has his cadence and he’s rolling, everyone is just like, “Wow, OK, I can roll with this.” It started there, set the tone, and it wasn’t really hard.

Jimmy has the voice that when he talks, every head on the sideline turns and listens to him. He’s got the leadership thing down right. When he gets back on the field, it’s going to take care of itself.

Favorite team to play, for either positive or negative senses.

I could play in Lambeau (Field) on a Monday Night Football game every night. That was amazing. Playing Seattle is amazing. Just the rivalry — it’s just so much fun. Seattle…it’s such a good contest. I like it.

What’s your best NFL memory so far?

The Broncos game (seven catches, 210 yards) was pretty fun, but beating Seattle last year was pretty awesome.

We beat them for the first time since like … 2012, 2013 … on a Robbie Gould field goal, and after that I got to go to Tables, Ladders, and Chairs pay-per-view for WWE, so that was pretty fun.

That was a pretty good Sunday for me.

Yeah, it was pretty awesome. And we won the game by running power three times in a row down their throat.

You truly do love the run game. I love the run game.

THE 49ERS

TIME TO SHINE

A year ago the praise was endless and effusive for the 49ers’ star-bound quarterback. One year — and one reconstructed knee — later, the expectations are far more tempered for Jimmy Garoppolo. The 2019 season should help separate myth from reality.

STORY BY HAROLD GUTMANN

ILLUSTRATION BY DAVE HOMER

As the 49ers arrived at Levi’s Stadium for pre-training-camp physicals, Joe Staley, Richard Sherman and Robbie Gould, three of the team’s most-experienced players, came to the media room to meet with reporters.

Then the franchise quarterback was ushered in.

Jimmy Garoppolo entered and ended up in news conference purgatory, standing between the bank of microphones at the podium and a backdrop with the 49ers logo on it. After a few hard-to-hear questions and answers, a TV cameraman stopped the proceedings.

“If you don’t mind, could you please step up to the podium,” he asked.

“Sorry,” Garoppolo said, taking a small step closer to the cameras.

Last year, there seemed to be few doubts about Garoppolo’s showtime readiness. With much hype and momentum, he entered the season as an NFL starting quarterback for the first time. But his season and the 49ers’ high hopes ended quickly when Garoppolo suffered a torn ACL in week three.

Now healthy and with an upgraded supporting cast, Jimmy G

is expected to lead the Niners back to the playoffs for the first time in six seasons, right? Not quite so fast, many NFL experts seem to be cautioning — the buzz of late last summer tempered ever so slightly. Even if he is sound physically, there are questions about whether a player with 10 NFL starts under his belt is comfortable enough in the huddle, in the locker room, under the NFL spotlight to handle the once-predicted star trajectory.

“It’s just part of the job, I guess,” the sixth-year pro said. “You just have to get used to it. It’s a good problem to have. If people aren’t talking about you, then you’re really not doing anything.”

Last year most thought Jimmy Garoppolo was ready for the spotlight. But questions remain about his readiness after only 10 NFL starts.

an adult film actress in Beverly Hills was filmed by TMZ and documented by media outlets.

“Life is different now,” he said later. “I’m under a microscope.”

But Garoppolo has also taken advantage of his status – his last Instagram post in July announced his sponsorship with the Bay Area’s premier destination for highline luxury and performance vehicles.

He also has deals with Jordan, Bose and New Era, but those are complemented by more blue-collar endorsements. He was a spokesman for Klein Tools, which his father, Tony, used, and he was part of a promotional campaign for a suit drive by Men’s Warehouse that benefitted men and women re-entering the workforce.

Backing up Tom Brady for three seasons with the Patriots gave Garoppolo a firsthand look at how to handle attention. And in his brief time with the 49ers, Garoppolo has seen both sides of fame.

Winning all five starts to end the 2017 season gave hope to a playoff-starved fan base and landed Garoppolo a five-year, $137.5 million contract, which then was the highest per-year average in NFL history.

The disappointment of his injury-shortened 2018 followed, and Garoppolo’s stock dropped in an annual quarterback survey of NFL coaches and executives by veteran NFL writer Mike Sando.

“It’s crazy what a year can do, I’ll tell you what,” Garoppolo said. “I have so much motivation in myself, and I push myself so much, that’s all I need. All the noise on the outside, you just tune it out. It’s a good thing when people are talking about you.”

After coming out of Eastern Illinois and playing behind Brady, Garoppolo didn’t seem prepared for all the attention that comes with being the face of an NFL franchise. During his first offseason with the 49ers, he expressed surprise that his dinner date with

That personality was forged in the Chicago suburb of Rolling Meadows, Illinois.

Tony Garoppolo, an electrician for 40 years until his retirement on Jan. 1, and Denise, a chef, had four sons who all played football — Tony Jr., Mike, Jimmy and Bill.

Jimmy was a star athlete who also excelled in baseball, basketball and soccer. Neal Zeman, who lived across the street from the Garoppolos and remains one of Jimmy’s best friends, remembers catching Jimmy in Little League, when Tony was the coach.

“He’d strike out three kids in a row, and my hand would be hurting,” Zeman said. “I would just say, ‘Mr. G, he’s throwing real hard today.’ He’s just athletic as hell and great at every sport.”

Garoppolo was not a fiery leader, even as he took over as starting quarterback his junior year at Rolling Meadows High. But his teammates and coaches said he still commanded respect.

A longstanding tradition at Rolling Meadows was to go out the night before homecoming. That often meant the players weren’t at their best for the game.

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Some years, it meant an upset loss that damaged their playoff seeding. In Garoppolo’s junior year, it meant total embarrassment against Mount Prospect.

“A group of guys all went out and got hammered, and we got killed 42-7 by our crosstown rival,” said Zeman, who played on the defensive line.

The following season, Rolling Meadows coach Doug Millsaps was determined to end the tradition but seemed powerless to stop it.

“I didn’t know what to do,” Millsaps said. “One of our assistant coaches said to tell Jimmy to talk to the team, and if he doesn’t go out, the rest of them won’t go out. Essentially that’s what happened.

“He made a statement at the end of practice on Thursday, that we have a big game tomorrow night, and he wasn’t going out, and apparently the rest of them didn’t either. That just speaks volumes about the kind of impact he has on people.”

Rolling Meadows beat Mount Prospect 46-38, with Garoppolo throwing for 343 yards and rushing for 98, accounting for three touchdowns. He also recorded a team-high seven tackles and recovered a fumble on defense as a safety.

Former teammates called Garoppolo an “elevator” for his ability to make everyone around him better. He convinced childhood friend Tony Taibi, whose primary sport was basketball, to go out for football when they were sophomores.

After travelling to camps on the weekends and training together during the week – Garoppolo as the quarterback, Taibi as the receiver – Taibi eventually set school records for receptions, touchdowns and receiving yards in a season as a senior.

“It was great to have Jimmy as my quarterback, let me tell you,” said Taibi, who parlayed that success into a college career at Valparaiso.

“He had this unique ability to make people better around him, and not just based on his talent but based on his work ethic,” Millsaps said.

His connection with people

Teammates say Garoppolo’s connection to people and quiet confidence make him a great leader.

GETTY IMAGES

Five key questions

about Jimmy Garoppolo

BY CAM INMAN

1. IS HIS KNEE READY?

Jimmy Garoppolo is the NFL’s biggest Man of Mystery entering the 2019 season. Questions abound whether the quarterback will return to the unbeaten form from his December 2017 debut with the 49ers or if he’ll come back too rusty after last season’s knee injury. Here are five pressing questions:

A titanium brace serves as a shining reminder of his left knee’s fragility, in the wake of last September’s torn anterior cruciate ligament. He’s progressed well with no known setbacks. Garoppolo’s mobility appears fine, but keep in mind his specialty is as a pocket passer. The first few games of the regular season should truly reveal how well he can roll out of the pocket and dodge pass rushers.

2. HOW IS HIS ABILITY TO THROW DEEP?

Garoppolo has not had much down-field production in his limited sample size of eight starts. He did channel enough ground force through his legs and hips to uncork a 70-yard touchdown pass early in training camp.

Summer mentoring by Southern California throwing guru Tom House definitely helped Garoppolo’s throwing mechanics.

carried over even after Garoppolo made the NFL. Tony Wolanski, the defensive coordinator at Rolling Meadows, remembers seeing a then-rookie Garoppolo at Lambeau Field after the Patriots lost a close game to the Packers.

“Jimmy hadn’t seen me in a year and a half, and right away he said, ‘Hey happy birthday, coach,’” Wolanski said. “He didn’t play, but they still lost a really tight game, and his first thought is, ‘Hey, coach, happy birthday.’ ”

Rolling Meadows offensive coordinator Charlie Henry said Garoppolo excelled in the mental aspect of the game. When Eastern Illinois was recruiting Garoppolo, Henry took an Eastern Illinois assistant to his office to show him what Garoppolo was asked to handle pre-snap.

“I drew up one of the plays, empty-set play, and Jimmy would have to decide whether we were sliding right or left on the protection, where the extra blocker would go, then determine which side of the field he was going to,” Henry said. “The coach looked at me like, ‘You ask a high school kid to do all that?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’ He said, ‘That’s impressive.’ ”

said. “It’s not, ‘Hey listen to me, I’m the quarterback, shut up.’ There’s just an aura to him that, when he gets in the huddle, he starts talking, there’s something about it that brings everyone together, everyone’s listening, ‘All right, this is our guy, we’re going to follow him, whatever he says goes.’ ”

Presumably, his second offseason with the 49ers also allowed him to fully grasp Kyle Shanahan’s complicated offense. That said, there’s no substitute for on-thefield experience.

“Jimmy hasn’t played a lot of football,” Shanahan said. “Everyone knows he’s talented, but he has to go through some situations and playing the position. I’m so pumped that he’s healthy.”

“He understands the offense like the back of his hand. He does all the things you ask of a quarterback,” Staley said. “He just hasn’t been out on the field. Last year was three games, and the year before that was five. So the thing for him is just to be out on the field.”

3. WILL HE RUN OUT OF BOUNDS?

His blue-collar, just-one-of-the-guys mentality made him an instant leader upon his 2017 arrival. But it also got him into trouble when he opted not to safely run out of bounds on that fateful, knee-injuring scramble at Kansas City in Week 3 last season. He now calls it a “no brainer” that he’d take the easy route out of bounds. Learn by doing.

Garoppolo’s quiet confidence has carried through to the pros, according to teammates, many who joined him for workout sessions at San Jose State this summer.

“He commands respect in his presence,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk

But will Garoppolo staying healthy lead to the 49ers’ long-awaited playoff return? After the relative anonymity of Rolling Meadows and Eastern Illinois and the scattered appearances over his first five NFL seasons, Garoppolo now faces more expectations and pressure than ever before.

For his part, he believes he’s the same Jimmy G he’s always been since his days at Rolling Meadows.

“I’ve always tried to be myself and never change too much,” Garoppolo said. “I think guys in that locker room see right through if you’re being fake, so just trying to be myself.”

4. HOW MUCH MONEY IS HE OWED?

Garoppolo has a $17.2 million base salary in Year 2 of the massive contract (five years, $137.5 million) he signed in February 2018. That deal included $48.7 million in guarantees, and the 49ers would sustain only a $4 million cap hit if they part with him prior to next season. They’re not cutting him, so look for $15.7 million of his $23.8 million salary for the 2020 season to become guaranteed April 1.

5. WHO ARE HIS FAVORITE TARGETS?

The 49ers want Dante Pettis to emerge as a more reliable target, so he and Garoppolo have made noticeable efforts to get on the same page, whether that’s been talking on the side at practice or working together afterward.

Rookie Deebo Samuel should become a fixture, as well. But tight end George Kittle and slot receiver Trent Taylor have the best on-field chemistry with Garoppolo thus far.

Can he be No.1?

BY CAM INMAN

When Joe Montana and Dante Pettis showed up to the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, they were there to promote a junior golf exhibit, not the 49ers’ future.

But that wouldn’t prevent Joe Cool from registering some cautious optimism on the 49ers’ passing game, one year removed from the disappointment of Jimmy Garoppolo’s season-ending ACL tear and Pettis’ underwhelming rookie campaign as an outside, field-stretching threat.

“You can take a look at how the quarterback comes back and what have they added to the team to help him on the outside – it’s been a big need for them,” Montana said.

Asked about Pettis, the 2018 second-round draft pick who was hitting golf balls nearby, the man whose wide receiver standards were formed in the company of Jerry Rice was succinct: “We just have to make sure he can get open.”

The 49ers obviously need him to. And if he can, Pettis could emerge as Garoppolo’s No. 1 target, or at least lighten the workload of record-setting tight end George Kittle.

Pettis is stronger than during his rookie year, out of necessity, when he finished the season at 180 pounds — not big enough to grapple with ball-hawking NFL defensive backs.

“I know it’s something I have to work on,” Pettis said while flexing his biceps during a training camp interview. “I think it paid off a little bit.

“I feel I have more strength to fight off a defender or when they try to rip the ball out.”

Coach Kyle Shanahan made sure Pettis knew the importance of his mission: “There’s a whole

Second-year wideout Dante Pettis will be given every chance to break through the cloud of uncertainty and lead the 49ers’ restocked receiver corps, but he’ll need to prove that he’s committed to being great like those who came before him

other level that he can reach. He needs to do it with size, with mentality and just getting after it every day.”

A Week 4 knee injury hindered Pettis’ debut season, ultimately sending him to injured reserve with one game to go. He had five touchdowns among his 27 receptions and 467 yards as a rookie.

He flashed the potential that made him a second-round pick of Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, making acrobatic catches reminiscent of his days at Washington.

Shanahan and Lynch said in February they wanted Pettis’ second year ascent to rival that of Kittle’s breakout season. Kittle merely set the NFL single-season record for yards by a tight end.

New 49ers receivers coach Wes Welker has just the plan for Pettis.

“I want him to just have that mentality like, ‘You’re going to make every damn play out there,’” said Welker, a former star receiver

for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Relayed Welker’s words, Pettis owned it.

“That’s something I didn’t do that good of a job of last year: I wasn’t making those tough catches,” Pettis said. “That’s something I’m working toward.”

The 23-year-old Pettis has been working alongside a receiving corps that’s relatively young led by Marquise Goodwin, 28, and Jordan Matthews, 27. But the 49ers used second- and thirdround draft picks for two more wide receivers, Deebo Samuel and Jalen Hurd.

“People don’t think we have a top guy, so there’s really no expectations anyway,” Pettis said.

“If I’m the top guy, OK, great. If Marquise (Goodwin) is the top guy, great. Someone is going to step up.”

Defenses likely will bank on Kittle being that No. 1 option. Or perhaps it will be a running back

Dante Pettis grabs a TD toss against the Vikings last year.

Pettis says he wasn’t making tough catches last year and is working to improve.

that Shanahan schemes open. Or, yes, it could be Pettis.

Adding muscle to his 6-foot1 frame helps, especially if he believes that.

“For him, it is more of a mindset, knowing those guys can’t hit you like they used to,” Welker said. “You’ve got to have the mindset that you’re indestructible.

“Your mentality on the field always has to be that way or it’s never going to be as clean as you want it to be.”

Helping clear Pettis’ mind is his improved knowledge of Shanahan’s schemes.

A year ago, Pettis arrived from the University of Washington with his head swimming “all over the place.” He studied up not only this offseason but during his downtime last season while rehabilitating his knee sprain.

He sat. He watched. He learned.

Now instead of just competing with Goodwin at split end, Pettis offers versatility to line up at oth-

er spots, such as possibly rotating with Samuel at flanker.

In the second practice of training camp, Pettis had mixed results. Sure, he beat Ahkello Witherspoon off the line for an early reception, but not long after that, Witherspoon cut off Pettis to intercept a Garoppolo pass.

Garoppolo looked steamed. He went through a couple more reps, then tracked down Pettis on the side to iron out any miscommunication or mistakes on the route. Pettis took accountability.

“He just kind of told me that, ‘Look, I trust you, and you’ve got to break it up or something,’” Pettis said.

Also holding Pettis accountable is the defense’s vocal leader, cornerback Richard Sherman. “If I don’t bring my best stuff every time, he knows,” Pettis said. “He called me out today: ‘Hey, that’s not what you normally do.’ That’s true. I’ve got to get better.”

Indeed. Just ask Montana.

Who’s Jimmy G’s main catch?

BY CAM INMAN

DANTE PETTIS

Strengths: His knack for making plays (five touchdowns on 27 catches) comes with a unique, long stride that surprises cornerbacks.

Weaknesses: His size and physicality required attention this offseason, and he must still prove he has the passion and mentality for over-the-middle catches.

Expectation: He may not emerge as a dynamic No. 1 threat but he'll improve and be hard to take off the field en route to a 65-catch season.

DEEBO SAMUEL

Strengths: Physicality with a thick lower body helps him rack up YAC (yards after the catch).

Weaknesses: He's a rookie in a complex scheme so don't bank on his becoming the first 49er to win the Associated Press' NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Expectation: He'll definitely factor into the receiver rotation and could become a mainstay by midseason. Anything over 40 or 50 catches is a bonus.

MARQUISE GOODWIN

Strengths: He's so fast he won a 40-yard, $1 million challenge this summer, and he's expanding his versatility and leadership.

Weaknesses: Leg injuries and concussions prompt durability concerns. Will his 2020 Olympic ambitions interfere with 49ers commitments?

Expectation: Shanahan penciled out a more specialized role for his best down-field threat, but don't rule him out as a full-time starter capable of 1,000 yards.

Marquise Goodwin, above, is fast. He even won a 40-yard dash event this summer. But is he durable? If so, he’s capable of a big season. Slot receiver Trent Taylor, left, hopes his surgically repaired back won’t hinder his progress.

JALEN HURD

Strengths: The 49ers spent a third-round pick hoping the 6-foot-5 Hurd would provide versatility at receiver and possibly tight end or H-back. His physicality early in camp drew commendations — from his coach, not the defense.

Weaknesses: The former running back only converted to receiver two years ago, so his routes and pass-catching ability need refining. Expectation: A history of knee and head injuries is concerning, as is his learning curve, but any reps will be helpful toward a bigger role in 2020.

TRENT TAYLOR

Strengths: He developed into a productive slot receiver as a rookie with his ability to separate at the line and run precise routes.

Weaknesses: Back surgery last summer took its toll on him and the hope is it won’t flare up as it recently did with tight end Garrett Celek.

Expectation: He locks down the slot job after his return from minor foot surgery, doubles as the punt returner and contributes with more than 40 receptions.

JORDAN MATTHEWS

Strengths: He brings versatility and the most experience (46 starts, 70 games, 270 catches, 22 touchdowns) to a young group needing mentorship.

Weaknesses: Injuries spoiled his past few years, and at 27, he's not as spry as his 201416 Eagles days. Can he stay humble among so many neophytes?

Expectation: A youth-laden roster could work against him or, perhaps, allow him to emerge as Garoppolo's trusted ally because of his experience. Pick 'em.

KENDRICK BOURNE

Strengths: Coaches covet his hustle to dart downfield on pass and run plays. He led all 49ers wide receivers last season in receptions (42) and yards (487).

Weaknesses: His routes could be more refined, with fewer social media selfies.

Expectation: He is a 6-foot-1 Energizer bunny who's made enough strides and shown enough passion that he could stick as a reserve.

That will likely be George Kittle’s role, unless NFL defenses have come up with an answer for the record-setting tight end. But the 49ers’ stable of ‘wideouts with real potential’ hasn’t been this robust in recent memory. Here’s a rundown:

FOR SHANAHAN’S 49ERS,

IT’S TIME TO WIN

here’s a mandate for the 49ers this season, one that’s understood by everyone wearing red and gold in Santa Clara: It’s time to win some damn games.

We’re now twoplus years and only 10 wins into the Kyle Shanahan era, so while there might be good vibes and abundant potential, there’s simply no more patience for losing.

Ready or not, the rebuild is over.

This is the season when Levi’s Stadium needs to host meaningful November and December games. This is the season when quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo must prove that he was worth the 49ers’ investment. This is the season when the team doesn’t even sniff a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft.

And if those things don’t happen?

While it might not be a makeor-break, do-or-die situation for the 49ers’ head coach — who is signed to a six-year contract — his hand-picked general manager, hand-picked defensive coordinator, and hand-picked quarterback

Dieter Kurtenbach

might not be so lucky.

Of course, Shanahan and the 49ers have no interest in finding out what happens if this team doesn’t live up to the lingering promise that’s been floating around Santa Clara since Garoppolo took over as the team’s starting quarterback in December 2017.

But it doesn’t matter how anyone feels. Ready or not, this is the season when questions will be answered.

The good news is that the 49ers have the pieces in place to not only improve on last year’s four-win campaign — they have enough talent on the roster to seriously contend for the playoffs.

With this being the NFL, everything starts at quarterback. Garoppolo has started eight games for the 49ers over the last two seasons — just enough of a sample size to enrapture an entire fanbase but not enough to definitively state whether he’s an elite quarterback.

We should find out if he’s the real deal or not in 2019, so long as he can play a full season coming off a torn ACL, suffered in Week 3 last year. The best ability, after all, is availability.

Garoppolo will not lack for weapons around him: Tight end

George Kittle became the Niners’ de facto No. 1 receiver and one of the NFL’s best players last season, there’s a deep roster of versatile playmakers at wide receiver, and you can argue that no team in the NFL has a better backfield than San Francisco. One of the best running backs in the NFL last year — Matt Breida — is slated to be a third-stringer.

Remember, the Niners were able to put up points with undrafted quarterback Nick Mullens last season — Shanahan’s outside zone, play-action offense is perfectly built for this era of football and now they’re upgrading at the most important position on the field (and a few other spots, too).

The formula is simple: If the offensive line can keep Garoppolo upright, and if the quarterback is as good as advertised, there’s no reason to think that the 49ers cannot have a top-10 offense in 2019.

But to make the playoffs, the Niners will have to take a big step forward on the side of the ball where Shanahan isn’t a genius.

Can the 49ers’ defense lift the team into contention?

A massively improved defensive line should help with that. The Niners had an anemic pass rush last season, but the additions of former Chiefs defensive end Dee

Ford and second-overall draft pick Nick Bosa, as well as a new, simplified scheme up front, might give the Niners one of the best pass-rush units in the league in 2019. The hope is that consistent quarterback pressure will make life easier for a secondary that was absolutely toasted on both coasts and everywhere in between last season.

But in that secondary, the Niners only added one cornerback in free agency — the oft-injured but unquestionably talented Jason Verrett — and selected only one in the NFL Draft, in the sixth round. In short, the Niners and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh are rolling the dice with pretty much the same crew as last year. The popular topic of conversation this past offseason around the NFL was that teams now need to build from back to front on defense. The 49ers have done the opposite — we’ll see which camp is right.

So much about these Niners screams 8-8. They’re competent, talented and well coached. They have a bit of depth and should find themselves with much better injury and turnover luck in 2019.

An 8-8 record would be solid; a bit of clear improvement that adds some intrigue to the final weeks of the season (for reasons other than NFL Draft position).

But in this league, there are at least a dozen 8-8 teams, and only a few will actually end with that record. No, some will win one, two, three more games, making the playoffs and perhaps even winning a game there, too. Others will fall one, two, three games under that .500 mark, resulting in high draft picks and rolling heads.

The only difference between those teams is a few bounces of the ball, a key injury, a call here or there, or a missed field goal.

So can the 49ers be on the fortuitous side of luck this season? Have they paid enough penance to the football gods over the past two years?

If not, the blame won’t rest solely on cosmic forces.

After two years and with an upgraded roster, team needs to right the ship

Two years into the Kyle Shanahan era, the rebuild is over. He has his hand-picked pieces in place, and it’s time to win.

Nine quick questions for No. 99

There is an influx of talent on the 49ers defense, but don’t forget about this dude. DeForest Buckner established himself a year ago as one of the most dominating D-line forces in the NFL

BY CAM INMAN

Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner enters his fourth season with a lot at stake both for him and the 49ers. His career-high 12 sacks and first Pro Bowl invitation last year have him poised for a lucrative contract extension.

With a stronger supporting cast, Buckner is also potentially lined up for his first playoff push, as long as he doesn’t let NFC West quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray duck under his grasp (more on that below).

Here are nine questions for the big man...

1) Have you gotten, dare I say, stronger?

I feel I’ve leaned up a lot. I’m still the same. I weighed in at 299. I got better with eating. I changed my diet a lot, thanks to my wife. Eating cleaner helped me lose some fat. And I feel I’m lifting a little more.

2) What is the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you on a football field?

Oooh, this is a good one. The Philly game my second year, the whole week I was talking about Carson Wentz and how he ducks in the pocket when guys are trying to sack him.

The whole week I was telling the D-line, ‘He likes to duck. He likes to duck. He likes to duck.’ I get a clean hit on him, and he ducked it, and I missed the sack.

I didn’t even listen to myself.

3) With a contract extension

looming, are you going to wait and see if your value skyrockets?

I see what’s going on in the league, guys holding out. I’m just focused on this year. I’m excited for it. I don’t want any distractions. I’m not focused on that right now.

4) What is your favorite matchup in practice?

I love going against Laken (Tomlinson). We battle every OTA and camp. He’s a really good guy to go against. I love going against him doing one-on-ones. I feel I get better and I hope he feels the

same way. He’s a powerful guy.

5) Are there greater expectations on the defensive line with the new guys now?

We look forward to the challenge. We made some great additions in the offseason and we’ve

DeForest Buckner had a career high 12 sacks last season, along with a Pro Bowl invitation.

NHAT V. MEYER/STAFF

been working together. The guys are up for the challenge. There are a lot of expectations. Guys have to dominate at the point of attack.

6) What leadership role do you have with them?

I’m one of the leaders in that room and I have to be more of a vocal leader. I try to lead by example. But it’s like horizontal leadership in that room. Everybody is a leader. Everybody can speak up.

7) What is it like with new defensive line coach Kris Kocurek?

He brings a lot of energy every day and he’s consistent with it. We love that about him. He tells stories sometimes and gets guys laughing, but he knows when to get serious and get stuff done.

8) Do you expect fewer snaps?

Honestly, the whole snaps situation, I don’t know what to tell you. I love to be out there as much as I can. Whatever the coaches feel is right through the course of the game, knowing when to rotate me out, it’s really on the coaches. I’ll be out there as much as I can.

9) After breaking out last season, where can you improve most?

The better my technique gets, the more efficient and consistent I’ll be, and the faster I’ll get to the quarterback.

Buckner plans on improving his technique and efficiency to be faster to the QB.

COURTESY SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

THE 49ERS

49ers plotlines

GAROPPOLO, COMEBACK PLAYER OF YEAR?

Last September’s left-knee injury was a devastating setback to the 49ers’ season, yet it allowed Jimmy Garoppolo time to further learn Kyle Shanahan’s playbook and improve his defensive reads in the film room. He still has only 10 career starts, including his 5-0 debut for the 49ers in December 2017.

CAN THE DEFENSIVE LINE DOMINATE?

This is the most imposing defensive front since the 49ers playoff teams from 2011-13. The additions of Dee Ford (via a Kansas City Chiefs trade) and Nick Bosa (No. 2 overall draft pick) give the 49ers five players who were first-round draft picks, joining the 201517 selections of Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner and Solomon Thomas, all of whom are being turned loose by new position coach Kris Kocurek.

HOW WILL THE RUNNING BACKS ROTATE?

The 49ers cautiously played Jerick McKinnon’s comeback from his own ACL tear last September, and that vaulted

49ers subplots

MIAMI MAGIC

The 49ers’ last Super Bowl victory came 25 seasons ago in Miami, where the Lombardi Trophy will be awarded Feb. 2. In fact, two of the 49ers’ last three Super Bowl wins were there, having also won the 1988 season’s title in coach Bill Walsh’s finale.

BY CAM INMAN

newcomer Tevin Coleman atop the depth chart, although Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert also have proven value. All are fast. All are interchangeable. Will one emerge as the workhorse?

CAN YOUNG WIDE RECEIVERS FLOURISH?

Unable to swing a trade for Odell Beckham Jr., the 49ers instead invested more high draft picks on wide receivers — Deebo Samuel (second round) and Jalen Hurd (third round).

Dante Pettis, last year’s second-round choice, is being groomed as a potential No. 1 target. All need to earn Garoppolo’s trust and not run wrong routes, which contributed to last year’s ills.

The addition of Dee Ford, above, should make the 49ers’ defensive front very imposing. At right, Matt Breida is one of many interchangeable, fast running backs on the roster.

ANDA CHU/STAFF

WHICH DEFENSIVE BACKS WILL MAKE PLAYS?

Last season’s 49ers set an NFL record with only two interceptions, and none came from a cornerback, which is something Richard Sherman, Ahkello Witherspoon and possibly Jason Verrett must change. In-house options at safety also need to pan out: high school pals Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt, plus Adrian Colbert, Marcell Harris and Tarvarius Moore.

YOUNGSTOWN RETURN?

Between games at Tampa Bay and Cincinnati

to open the regular season the 49ers will head for a familiar layover in Youngstown, Ohio. It’s where they stayed and bonded between road games early in the 2011 and ‘12 seasons en route to playoff berths.

injured reserve in each of Kyle Shanahan’s two seasons.

HEALTH CENTER

Ben Peterson was hired away from the Philadelphia Flyers to oversee the revamped training and strength staffs, which now have new chiefs in Dustin Little and Dustin Perry. The 49er have had nearly 20 guys go on

CONTRACT PUSH

Hefty contract extensions await young stars such as DeForest Buckner and George Kittle. Almost every defensive back has scarce job security.

Players to watch

PLAYERS WITH BREAKOUT POTENTIAL

LB Fred Warner

He's in his second year as the defense's play caller, and he should benefit from a fiercer defensive line to play behind.

WR Deebo Samuel

His physical frame is reminiscent of Anquan Boldin and he could have a highly productive rookie year if he fills the void at flanker.

DT Arik Armstead

His long arms and power fit nicely into the revised defensive scheme. The 2015 top pick is playing out his fifth-year option ahead of free agency.

SS Marcell Harris

His hard-hitting ability is increasingly tough to ignore and could force him onto the field.

GETTY IMAGES

OTHER KEY PLAYERS

RB Tevin Coleman

He's the 49ers' most experienced back and played in Shanahan's system the first two of his four seasons with the Falcons. Of Coleman's 32 career touchdowns, 13 came at least 10 yards from the goal line.

TE George Kittle

What encore does he have in store for Year 3 after his 1,377 yards in 2018 were the most ever in a season by a tight end? His 870 yards after the catch were the most by any receiver since 2010.

DT DeForest Buckner

After racking up a career-high 12 sacks and making his first Pro Bowl, Buckner could be in for an even bigger year thanks to the upgraded edge-rushing help of Dee Ford and Nick Bosa, who could funnel QBs into Buckner's arms.

BY CAM INMAN

ON THE HOT SEAT

DT Solomon Thomas

All signs point to a bounce-back year, with a stronger supporting cast, after last year's heartbreak from his sister's suicide. He looks stronger, fresher and more confident. New position coach Kris Kocurek must maximize his potential.

CB Ahkello Witherspoon

A sophomore slump saw him get burned and benched. But he regained his confidence in the offseason with a training camp competition with Jason Verrett.

P Mitch Wishnowsky

Spending a fourth-round pick on the draft's first punter could prove a bargain if he immediately excels. Or not.

GETTY IMAGES

POSITIONS OF CONCERN

1. Cornerback

Richard Sherman vows that he's healthier than a year ago as he came off Achilles surgery, but even if he proves that, can the other starting cornerback (Ahkello Witherspoon? Jason Verrett?) and nickel back (K'Waun Williams? D.J. Reed?) make plays to scare quarterbacks?

2. Interior line Center Weston Richburg's offseason knee and quadriceps surgery further illuminated the 49ers' issues on the offensive line's interior. Veteran Ben Garland is on call to fill in for Richburg and/or right guard Mike Person.

3. Quarterback

Look, this should be an obvious No. 1 concern amid Garoppolo's comeback. Nick Mullens (3-5) and C.J. Beathard (1-9) have starting experience, but the 49ers need stability after using three QBs in each of Shanahan's two years.

Richard Sherman, coming off an Achilles injury last year, says he’s healthier.

Linebacker Fred Warner has all the makings of a breakout star.

NHAT V. MEYER/STAFF

DeForest Buckner, who had 12 sacks last season, could be in for a bigger year with help from an improved defensive line.

THE 49ERS

Schedule at a glance

SEPT. 8

at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1:25 p.m., FOX)

The 49ers shouldn’t be as flat as they were in last November’s 27-9 loss (amid Reuben Foster’s arrest and release).

BIGGEST GAMES

BY CAM INMAN

OCT. 20

at Washington (10 a.m., FOX)

SEPT. 15

at Cincinnati Bengals (10 a.m., FOX)

They’ll be coming off a layover in Youngstown similar to 2011 and ‘12 stays between backto-back road games. A 2011 win at Cincinnati helped launch the 49ers’ three-season playoff run.

SEPT. 22 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (1:25 p.m., CBS)

It’s the Steelers’ maiden voyage to Levi’s Stadium, but it’s also the 49ers’ home opener, which might convince fans not to hawk their tickets.

SEPT. 8 at Tampa Bay Jimmy Garoppolo’s first true test of his comeback comes against an unheralded Bucs defense. Can the 49ers spoil the Bucs debut of Bruce Arians, who beat them in his last six meetings as Cardinals coach?

OCT. 7 vs. Cleveland Browns

Instead of facing Alex Smith, whose valiant career is on hold with a leg injury, the 49ers could get rookie QB Dwayne Haskins. Washington hasn’t won a playoff game since January 2006.

DEC. 1 at Baltimore Ravens (10 a.m., FOX) No, there’s no Har-Bowl to promote among opposing brothers, but free safety Earl Thomas is there to show whether the 49ers missed out on him in free agency.

OCT. 27

vs. Carolina Panthers (1:05 p.m., FOX)

The Panthers have won the past six regularseason meetings dating to 2014, though they did lose Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium.

DEC. 8 at New Orleans Saints (10 a.m., FOX)

Five years after winning in overtime at the Superdome — and seven years since losing the Super Bowl there — the 49ers return to the Big Easy. Back-to-back road games with a playoff berth on the line?

SEPT. 29

BYE

This is the fifth time since 1990 the 49ers have been idle in Week 4 or earlier (1990, 1996, 1998, 2002).

For now, at least, the Browns are considered a top draw, enough that this will be the 49ers’ first primetime game.

OCT. 31 at Arizona Cardinals (5:20 p.m., FOX/NFLN)

The 49ers haven’t won here since 2013, so let’s see if Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury can extend the 49ers’ skid to six straight losing visits.

DEC. 15 vs. Atlanta Falcons (1:25 p.m., FOX)

Kyle Shanahan faces the Falcons for the first time since their 28-3 Super Bowl collapse as their 2016 coordinator. The 49ers won 17-16 in the Falcons’ only other visit to Levi’s Stadium, in 2015.

OCT. 7

vs. Cleveland Browns (5:15 p.m., ESPN)

The 49ers couldn’t pull off a trade for Odell Beckham Jr. so now they must stop him on the resurgent Browns.

NOV. 11 vs. Seattle Seahawks (5:15 p.m., ESPN)

The Seahawks had a 10-game win streak over the 49ers snapped in last year’s visit to Levi’s Stadium when Robbie Gould’s fourth field goal ended overtime at 26-23.

DEC. 21 vs. Los Angeles Rams (TBD. All Sunday games are TBD time, but MNF is set)

Sean McVay’s high-scoring Rams have put up 41 and 39 points in their past two wins at Levi’s Stadium. Offensive pass interference, by the way, is not reviewable.

OCT. 13

at Los Angeles Rams (1:05 p.m., FOX)

After visiting the Coliseum in their final road game the past three seasons, the 49ers get an early look at the reigning NFC champs.

NOV. 24 vs. Green Bay Packers

This concludes a three-game homestand in which the 49ers better have gained momentum for the December stretch run.

NOV. 17 vs. Arizona Cardinals (1:05 p.m., FOX)

The Cardinals have won their past four visits to Levi’s Stadium behind quarterbacks Carson Palmer (2015), Drew Stanton (2016, ’17) and Josh Rosen (2018). Hello, Kyler Murray?

DEC. 29 at Seattle Seahawks (1:25 p.m., FOX)

The 49ers haven’t scored more than 18 points in losing any of their past eight trips to Seattle, dating to 2012.

NOV. 24 vs. Green Bay Packers (1:25 p.m., FOX)

Memories of last season’s collapse at Lambeau Field should motivate the 49ers to not let Cal product Aaron Rodgers have his way with them again.

Russell Wilson threw for 237 yards and a TD against the 49ers last December, but the Seahawks came up short for the first time since 2013.

NHAT V. MEYER/STAFF

Who will stand atop the NFC West?

(Last year: 13-3, first place)

The two-time reigning division champs are coming off an uninspiring, 13-3 loss in the Super Bowl. If the NFL hasn’t spotted enough flaws with coach Sean McVay and quarterback Jared Goff, perhaps the Rams are vulnerable because of running back Todd Gurley’s knee issue and key defensive departures.

(4-12, third place)

With a healthy Jimmy G (enter crossed fingers from Niner Faithful here) there is finally an opportunity to soar past those Seahawks. A restocked defensive cupboard that should give Robert Saleh a chance to turn that unit around, an improved receiver unit flanking the suddenly invincible George Kittle and a cast of proven running backs gives this team some well-deserved playoff hope.

(10-6, second place)

They’ve gone to the playoffs in seven of Pete Carroll’s nine seasons, and they’ve locked up quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner to expensive extensions. The NFL’s best rushing team last year could air it out more with D.K. Metcalf drafted to complement Tyler Lockett. The pass rush and pass protection could be liabilities.

(3-13, fourth place)

Kliff Kingsbury is the Cards’ third head coach in three seasons, and he comes packing quarterback Kyler Murray, the No. 1 overall draft pick. How fast will that combination excel? Larry Fitzgerald returns for his 16th year tormenting the 49ers. New defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has a tough task, made tougher by Patrick Peterson’s six-game suspension.

1. LOS ANGELES RAMS

2. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

3. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

4. ARIZONA CARDINALS

THE RAIDERS

The circus says goodbye

Sadly, Jon Gruden’s ‘Hard Knocks’ Raiders aren’t built to give the city of Oakland and Bay Area fans the grand finale they deserve.

ANALYSIS BY DIETER KURTENBACH

ILLUSTRATION BY SAM HADLEY

THE RAIDERS

When Jon Gruden took over as the head coach of the Raiders in January 2018, he said his goal was to build “the best football team we can for the people here in Oakland.”

He lied.

As we enter the final season of the Raiders’ Oakland run, that much is clear. As soon as Gruden started his second, nonsuccessive term, he began building for a grand debut in Las Vegas rather than a strong finish in the East Bay.

Don’t get me wrong; Rebuilding the Raiders was and remains a justifiable decision. Gruden took over a franchise that last won a playoff game in 2003, the year after he was traded to Tampa Bay, and he inherited a roster that wasn’t worth keeping together, as it had little chance to be anything better than mediocre.

Yes, in a vacuum, the moves made sense. But we’re not in a vacuum; we’re in one of the most peculiar situations in modern NFL history, and the way the Raiders have played out this Oakland exit is cold as ice.

And despite some interesting additions this past offseason, the truth remains that the Raiders’ retooled roster isn’t contending for anything of true value this year. In their future desert home, they’re 60-to-1 to win the Super Bowl, though that’s a number that is better-than-advertised year after year because of a rabid fanbase that now has short commutes to the ticket windows.

But while Gruden and new general manager Mike Mayock’s incoming crop of highly paid players won’t make the Raiders playoff contenders, when it comes

to combustibility, the Raiders are second to none. They’re the Real Football Dudes of Alameda.

So at least fans have that.

Gruden — after proving he was in over his head in his return as Raiders grand poobah last season — relinquished personnel calls to Mayock, who subsequently replaced all of the Raiders’ starters at wide receiver, running back and tight end this past offseason.

The biggest addition, Antonio Brown, brings incredible showmanship to the Silver and Black proceedings, and while he’s a future Hall of Famer and unquestionably one of the best receivers in the NFL today, his addition to the Raiders’ offense seems to spark more concern than excitement around the league. After all, this guy fell out with a quarterback with two Super Bowl rings and one of the strongest organizations in the NFL — what’s he going to do with a quarterback who is playing for his job this year and has issues getting the ball downfield if the pocket is anything less than pristine?

“I told Antonio (to) try not to yell at Derek,” Gruden said at the start of training camp. “Yell at me when you have a problem. Then he started yelling at me and I said, ‘Don’t yell at me, yell at (Greg) Olson, he’s the offensive coordinator.’”

Here. We. Go.

Raiders coach Jon Gruden has a slew of new players to put on the field this year, but will they contend?

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Even if Carr and Brown — and, by proxy, the Raiders offense — overcome the unwittingly subversive efforts of one of the worst offensive line coaches in the NFL, Tom Cable, and can make beautiful music together this year, scoring four touchdowns a game, it probably still won’t be enough for the Raiders to make much noise in the AFC West.

That’s because, contrary to Gruden’s deepest desires, defense

Dieter Kurtenbach

is an important part of the game of football.

Last year, the Raiders registered only 13 sacks and pressure on 22 percent of snaps, far and away the worst in the NFL. But instead of spending on a known pass-rusher this past offseason season, they’re hoping that rookie Clelin Ferrell (the No. 4 overall pick) and second-year defensive end Arden Key can bookend a competent pass rush. Best of luck with that.

Even if the Raiders are able to increase the pressure on opposing quarterbacks this season, it probably won’t help much. Last season the Raiders allowed 6.8 yards on downs where they created pressure, more than 20 percent worse than the second-to-worst team in the NFL in that statistical category. They are the only team in the NFL that gave up more yards per play when they pressured the opposing quarterback than when they didn’t.

Front to back, this Raiders’ defense looks like a sieve.

Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s some promise — some hope — that Oakland’s defense will improve year-over-year, but that only exists because it’s hard to imagine one of the worst defenses in modern NFL history somehow becoming worse in 2019.

The best-case scenario for the Raiders in this, the last season in Oakland (unless there are serious issues in the final stages of the Las Vegas Stadium construction process) is that they can win with Big 12, Arena-style football, and that brand is admittedly fun and exciting to watch — everyone loves touchdowns.

And if that doesn’t come to pass, well, at least the drama will be engaging — a fitting but wholly unfair ending to the Raiders’ tenure in Oakland.

THE RAIDERS

THOU SHALT PLAY FOOTBALL

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr reveals for the first time how close he was to quitting his NFL career before it even began and beginning a career in ministry

BY JERRY MCDONALD

SAN RAMON — Something was nagging at Derek Carr, and it wasn’t as simple as trying to learn the nuances of an NFL offense for the first time.

Having just arrived at training camp in 2014, the second-round pick out of Fresno State was realizing a vision he’d been chasing since he’d tagged along with his older brother David, the former No. 1 overall pick of the Houston Texans, 12 years earlier.

Being an NFL quarterback is all Derek Carr ever dreamed about. He was a prodigy who was watching game film, and comprehending it, by age 10. Although

Derek Carr’s faith almost led him away from the football field before he even put on the pads in his rookie year for the Raiders.

ARIC CRABB/STAFF

he didn’t know it yet, the second-round pick was about to be anointed a rookie NFL starter because of that readiness that was all too apparent.

And just as suddenly as that dream was about to begin, the pang in Carr’s gut was growing more undeniable. As he lifted weights in the makeshift field house behind the Napa Valley Marriott, nothing could soothe his soul. A guy about to be handed the keys to an NFL offense as a rookie was looking for something more that he didn’t completely understand.

And how could he?

“IN MY HEART,

I’d never had this feeling where I was so overcome with my thoughts that I was like, ‘I can’t do anything right now,’” Carr said as he sat at a table in the lounge of an East Bay hotel. “The thought was, ‘You need to stop playing football and preach.’”

Carr didn’t hesitate to speak back at his inner voice. “I’m thinking, ‘I’ve dreamed of being an NFL quarterback my whole life, so chill out.’”

But chilling was easier said than done for the restless rookie. Carr was soon knocking at the door of Dennis Allen, telling his head coach he was considering walking away from the sport before ever participating in a single padded practice.

“He didn’t take it too great, obviously,” Carr said with a chuckle. “He didn’t even know what to say to me.”

Although veteran Matt Schaub had been signed as a free agent, Carr’s work in the offseason had made it clear he would be ready to play as a rookie.

Some 13 years earlier, running back Napoleon Kaufman, a talented former first-round draft pick, retired after six seasons to devote his life to ministry. The Raiders signed Charlie Garner and moved on.

This was different. Carr had formed an instant bond with his teammates. His arm made Schaub’s look like a pop gun. Carr was smart, mature and more game-ready than anyone had realized. The Raiders were convinced they’d gotten a franchise quarterback at No. 36 overall to go along with linebacker Khalil Mack at No. 5.

With a franchise quarterback and an elite pass rusher in the fold, things were looking up. Only now a big part of the equation was in question.

What ensued was an ultra-secret period of damage control. Allen quickly sent a text to offensive coordinator Greg Olson, urging him to talk with his quarterback.

While Olson is reluctant to delve into specifics of private conversations, this much is known: Olson urged Carr not to say anything until he’d thought it through. Derek said his parents were on their way to Napa and were going to bring him home. They knew of Derek’s intention to walk away and were on board.

Carr’s grandfather on his mother’s side was a preacher. Sheryl Carr had told Derek she was sure one of her three sons would be a preacher, and now it was on the verge of becoming a reality.

Then-Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie, along with Olson, tried to reason with Carr. As a devout Christian himself, McKenzie’s words carried some weight. He told Carr he was walking away from probably $60 million or $70 million down the road. Carr said he didn’t care about the money.

Football, McKenzie and Olson reasoned, would give Carr a bigger platform from which to preach and reach people. Carr remained non-committal, but promised not to tell anyone about his decision until he was sure.

Only a few people knew of Carr’s crisis of conscience — his immediate family, Allen, Olson, McKenzie, owner Mark Davis and one member of the media relations staff.

Carr missed a day of meetings while he soul-searched. The direction of the franchise, as well as the future of those who put themselves out on a limb by drafting this future cornerstone quarterback, not a preacher, hung in the balance.

“Oley told me, ‘Go spend time with your family. No matter what you decide, I love you, man. I’m here for you.’ Love that guy,” Carr said. “Reggie McKenzie was the same way.”

Carr talked it over with his family after they arrived in Napa. He prayed on it, and ultimately came to a decision.

“It wasn’t my time yet,” Carr said of walking away from his NFL dream. “It was cool to know I believed in something so much.”

Five years later, as the second year of Jon Gruden’s return unfolds, Carr says retirement from football is the furthest thing from

his mind.

He’s become increasingly active as a preacher, not only at Brave Church in San Ramon but other Christian churches as well. But that off-field pursuit ends as soon as training camp begins.

With his near change of heart as a rookie far in the past, he says God and family and football — in that order — are in proper balance. Even if he played well into his 30s, Carr now understands that there is plenty of time for his next career.

There is no clock winding down.

With his near change of heart as a rookie in the past, Carr says God and family and football — in that order — are in proper balance.

JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO/ STAFF

It’s the first week of July, and the 8 a.m. crowd has filed out of the church auditorium on a sunny day, with another capacity crowd of approximately 350 making its way in to hear Derek Carr deliver a 10 a.m. sermon entitled “Holy Fire.”

Carr already spoke at the first service, and waits in a side room with his wife, Heather, and infant son, Deakon, as the room begins to fill up once again.

The atmosphere is relaxed and casual. Suits and ties are scarce, giving way to Tommy Bahama shirts and cargo shorts. There’s one man in a No. 4 Carr jersey and two teenagers in gym shorts who appear to be headed to a basketball camp after the service.

Seated in the third row are Raiders coach Jon Gruden, who is seeing Carr preach for the first time in person, and his wife, Cindy.

A five-piece band, some wearing backwards ball caps and t-shirts, plays soft rock gospel, with the crowd clapping in rhythm.

Samuel Laws, the pastor at San Ramon’s Brave Church, takes the microphone and tells the crowd of upcoming events before introducing the special guest, who receives loud applause.

Carr, wearing a short-sleeved collared shirt and jeans, takes the microphone. He speaks to the gathering rather than at them.

There is no fire, brimstone or solemn warnings about failing to heed God’s word.

Rather than requesting people to silence their cell phones, Carr tells the crowd they can reference Google to find scripture relevant to his talk.

It’s a relaxed and honest tour de force. Carr is in many ways the same kid who drove his mom crazy because he approached strangers in the grocery store with a disarming friendly sincerity. His delivery is easy, natural and sincere, whether you believe in the message he’s delivering or not.

“I want to tell you some stories. You guys like stories, right?,” Carr said. “And none of them are about football today, I’m sorry. If you want to hear football stories you could leave now ... or if you’re a 49er fan you can leave.”

Laughter and applause ensue, and Carr, with a perfect sense of timing, reminds them of the obvious.

“I’m just kidding,” he said.

Carr’s 45-minute talk is mostly preaching, part testimony of his own experiences and, yes, he does manage to work a little bit of football in now and then.

Gruden, talking in the parking lot after the service, said he was so impressed with what he heard that he and Cindy will consider making Brave their regular church.

“Derek is what he says he is — No. 1, he’s a man of faith; No. 2, he’s a family man, and third is football.” Gruden said. “And he’s put forth as much effort as any man could possibly put forth in those three areas.”

Carr got serious about Christianity after a “big man on campus” period in college where he became a major partier. His behavior resulted in a letter from his eventual wife Heather, who told him “You’re not the man I thought you were.”

His father Rodger, mother Sheryl and older brothers David

and Darren also had their say.

Derek decided to begin living the life he had professed to lead and gradually began searching for more.

“You can be on the right path, but still realize something is missing,” Carr said.

The more Carr spoke before church groups, the more he simply began recounting his daily thoughts which come from reading his Bible and applying those lessons to the world around him. He easily mixes in life stories from family and football and is unafraid to discuss his own vulnerabilities and insecurities.

Carr’s previous engagement at Brave came in late January, shortly after he challenged ESPN host Max Kellerman and co-host Stephen A. Smith to a fight in a UFC Octagon. Kellerman had said on the air that Carr “didn’t look like he wanted it.”

He saw it on his phone while working out, fired off a retort, and instantly regretted it.

“Not the brightest move by me,” Carr said. “I saw instantly it was going to blow up. They were talking about it for four days.”

So Carr included his social media mistake with the gathering and told them God had already fought the important battles.

The notion of Carr being “soft” because of his Christianity provokes a laugh. He played through a broken finger on his throwing hand in 2016, and saw his season ended by a broken fibula that same year. In 2017, Carr missed just one game with three fractured transverse processes in his back.

“When I put my helmet on, I’m ultra competitive, talking trash,” Carr said. “Tough, gritty, those are things that have been in me since I was a little kid. I have two big brothers. I had to be. None of that changes what I believe, or what goes on in my heart.”

Perspective allows Carr to push aside talk of it being a crucial year for his Raiders career and that he could be playing for his job in 2020.

Despite plenty of speculation last spring that the team would consider drafting eventual No. 1 overall draft pick Kyler Murray and possibly part ways with Carr, instead he goes into this season

with his $19.9 million salary for 2019 guaranteed.

Carr realizes when a team goes 4-12, the quarterback takes the heat. Even after posting career bests in completion percentage (68.9), passing yards (4,049) and yards per attempt (7.3) and posting a QB rating (93.9) that trailed only his 2016 season that had people talking MVP before he suffered a broken fibula headed into the playoffs.

Somehow, Carr made it through 16 games of 2018 while being sacked 51 times behind a patchwork offensive line. The Kellermans and Smiths of the world point to moments where he’s too timid, makes questionable decisions with the ball for a veteran QB, throws short of the stake on big downs too often. They point to a QBR rating that puts him at 27th among NFL quarterbacks.

If there is a whisper of discontent among teammates, it’s been well hidden. Kelechi Osemele, traded to the New York Jets, recently called Carr one of the best teammates he ever had.

Defensive tackle Justin Ellis entered the league with Carr and has watched the progression as closely as anyone.

“He has evolved as a player — the longer you’re in it, the smarter you are,” Ellis said. “He’s always been the guy who he is to this day. But now, it’s his team. When he was young, he was a rookie trying to take his role. But now he knows he’s one of the main guys, he walks with it, he leads by example.”

Running back Jalen Richard, also a Christian, believes Carr’s faith is a key component to his leadership. The positivity and focus on doing things right sets the proper tone and pushes those around him.

“He’s a nice model to have around you, a family man, does everything the right way,” Richard said. “When you’ve got a guy like that, who has so much faith, no matter what’s going on, that picks up your faith and makes you start to search for faith in yourself.”

Is his QB soft? Richard laughs.

“He wants us to go hurt somebody — but not really hurt ‘em. But it’s a battle,” he said. “It’s a battle when you’re fighting for Christ. You do battles every day.

COURTESY BRAVE CHURCH

“God sent the Raiders quarterback, of all people. The Raiders. ‘I sent that dude. A little dude out of Fresno, California. I sent him to be the Raiders quarterback so that maybe people would listen to him. Who else do I have to send to tell you the truth?’ ”

— Derek Carr addressing a gathering during a sermon entitled “Holy Fire” at Brave Church in San Ramon on July 7

Carr doesn’t believe in the hard sell about religion. He’ll tell you what he thinks, then assume you’ll either find God or you won’t.

ARIC CRABB/STAFF

The devil is continuously throwing his little darts at you and you’ve got to put on that armor of Christ. He’s talked about that before, putting on the full armor of Christ. He’s still a battler.”

Ultimately, Carr will be judged by the Raiders’ improvement in the win-loss department.

With a much better supporting cast on both sides of the ball and having a year of Gruden’s system under his belt, even a brutal six-week road stretch will be no excuse for anything resembling 4-12.

Carr understands this on some level, but has too much faith in his coaching staff and teammates to verbalize the possibility of failure. Being negative in public isn’t a part of his makeup.

He plans on being the Raiders quarterback in 2020 in Las Vegas. There, Carr will find a new Christian community while also being involved with Brave Church and making regular visits.

“I believe God has given me talents and abilities to be my very best and work harder than anybody else,” Carr said. “I feel like I’m doing it for a higher purpose than just money, a higher purpose than fame.

“There’s a quote, and it’s not scripture, it’s from Steve Prefontaine, the runner, who said, ‘To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.’ I’ve taken that to heart. I believe to give anything less than my best is to sacrifice the gift that God has given me.”

THE RAIDERS

SEE YOU, OAKLAND RAIDERS 2.0

Thanks for the 24 years of memories (some good, some bad, some you simply had to witness with your own two eyes to believe)

BY CARL STEWARD

ith the Raiders approaching what presumably will be their final season at the Coliseum, it seems time to review their second go-round in Oakland, 24 seasons filled mostly with disappointment and some outright misery.

Sure, there were some highlights, but many more lowlights. Here is a look at what the Raiders might be most remembered for over the past 2½ decades:

Raiders fans, left, are loyal and often quite creative. Coach Bill Callahan, above, leads the team to the 2002 AFC championship.

ASSOCIATED PRESS (LEFT); GETTY IMAGES (ABOVE)

BEST MOMENT RAIDERS OVER TITANS

On Jan. 19, 2003, as the Raiders put the finishing touches on a 41-24 AFC Championship victory over the Tennessee Titans, it was so loud in the Coliseum that it seemed Mt. Davis might come crashing down. But the feeling of euphoria would be short-lived. From the moment center Barret Robbins experienced a bipolar episode and went AWOL in the days leading up to Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego, it was if the entire organization went south to Tijuana with him. The lone successful season since (12-4 in 2016) ended in disappointment after Derek Carr suffered a broken leg.

AH, YES, THE ‘TUCK RULE’

It was one year before that Super Bowl season when Walt Coleman made history. He, of course, was the official who made the infamous “Tuck Rule” call in the Raiders’ divisional round game in Foxboro, Mass. Charles Woodson swooped into the Patriots backfield and knocked the ball out of Tom Brady’s hands as he sacked him. The Raiders recovered with 1:50 left, clinging to a 13-10 lead. The game, and possibly a long successful NFL future, was theirs. And then it was all taken away. The Raiders still would have had to go through Pittsburgh the next week to get to the Super Bowl. And they did get there the next season. But they might not have subsequently lost Gruden to Tampa Bay (which may qualify as the second craziest moment).

BEST PLAYER CHARLES WOODSON

Woodson is the one player drafted by Oakland during this second run who almost certainly will make the Hall of Fame. Smart player, sure tackler, engaging personality, big-time winner.

CRAZIEST MOMENT

BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER

RICH GANNON

Rich Gannon was the only Raider to win an MVP during this second run, and his 2002 regular season was probably the best ever by a Silver and Black quarterback. It helped to have two future Hall of Famers, Tim Brown and Jerry Rice, as receivers.

Rich Gannon’s 2002 season may have been the best ever for an Oakland QB. Above, he leads the team in Super Bowl XXXVII against the Bucs.

GETTY IMAGES

BIGGEST BUST JAMARCUS RUSSELL

Russell’s selection as the No. 1 pick in 2007 might be the worst draft choice ever in pro sports. The Raiders paid him more than $31 million for 31 miserable games, and they missed a chance at drafting at least one of four potential Hall of Famers: Calvin Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis and Marshawn Lynch.

The Raiders have had some superstar players over the years and one big bust. JaMarcus Russell,

left, was the No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft, but didn’t live up to his billing. Other players, like Khalil Mack, Jerry Rice and Warren Sapp, are some of Oakland’s all-time favorites.

above

SADDEST DEVELOPMENTS DEATHS OF TURNER, RUSSELL

The deaths of safety Eric Turner, of stomach cancer following the 1999 season at age 31, and Darrell Russell, the No. 2 pick at defensive tackle in 1997, who died in a high-speed car crash at age 29. Russell was All-Pro his second season before failing seven NFL drug tests that led to his indefinite ban from the league.

ONLY-WITH-THE-RAIDERS MOMENTS ‘DUMBEST TEAM IN AMERICA’

Bill Callahan calling the 2003 club “the dumbest team in America.” Jeff George signing a contract five years after he’d played his last game, then being cut a week later. Amy Trask setting up a handshake meeting of Al Davis and Darth Vader, and Davis snarling, “Who the (expletive) is Darth Vader?”

ABSOLUTE WEIRDEST MOMENT THE PROJECTOR, OF COURSE!

Al Davis’ overhead-projector 2008 news conference in which Davis tried to delineate — with grease pencil onto a big screen above — all the ways ousted coach Lane “Lance” Kiffin had defied and deceived him. Hilarious and sad.

Who can forget 2008’s overhead projector news conference! Owner Al Davis had a few things to point out.

WHAT IF?

THE PAYTON ERA THAT WASN’T

Sean Payton came close to succeeding Bill Callahan as coach in 2004 but turned down the job at the last minute on advice of Jerry Jones, Bill Parcells and others. Payton said he even had Raiders clothing hanging in his closet.

FAVORITE RAIDERS, ROUND II THE OTHER WOODSON, AND...

Joining Gannon, Brown, Rice and Charles Woodson on the list: Rod Woodson, Napoleon Kaufman (who retired at his career peak to enter the ministry), Charlie Garner, Steve Wisniewski, Tyrone Wheatley, Lincoln Kennedy, Sebastian Janikowski (pulled himself together after some shaky early years), Eric Allen, Nnamdi Asomugha, Shane Lechler, Warren Sapp, Donald Penn, Khalil Mack, Marcel Reece, Bill Romanowski, Jon Ritchie, Derek Carr.

Sebastian Janikowski pulled himself together after some shaky early years.

MELD MIND

JON GRUDEN’S FRIEND AND HANDPICKED

GENERAL MANAGER, MIKE MAYOCK, IS JUST AS MUCH THE UBER-OBSESSED FOOTBALL NERD AS HIS NEW PARTNER.

WE’LL SOON START TO LEARN IF THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL WORK.

STORY BY JERRY MCDONALD ILLUSTRATION BY TIM MARRS

few days before the 2009 draft, a room full of assorted NFL Network employees met for a production meeting in New York.

There was much to discuss, but it wasn’t long before Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden were doing all the talking.

Mayock had been a draft analyst for the network since 2003. Gruden had just hit the open market after being fired as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The two first met in Philadelphia in the mid1990s, when Gruden was offensive coordinator of the Eagles and Mayock was working in commercial real estate but beginning a transition to broadcasting. They began communicating often about anything and everything to do with football.

But it wasn’t until they were paired on the 2009 draft telecast that Gruden and Mayock discovered how much alike they were.

“It was pretty much just Jon and I doing the talking,” Mayock said. “It was funny. They’re asking us questions, and we’d segue into all kinds of things. I’d say something, and then he’d play off it. I felt an energy. There were 40 people in the room but just two of us talking ball.”

Yet Gruden and Mayock weren’t all talked out. When Mayock returned to his hotel room, his phone rang.

“It was Jon. He said, ‘You think we could go find a place to have a beer and a burger?’ ” Mayock said.

The two met in the lobby and over cheeseburgers and cold beer began to break down a sport that has been the love of their lives other than their own families.

“We see the world similarly,” Gruden said.

Both were born into football families. Gruden’s father, Jim,

spent his life in football, coaching in high school, college and the NFL until moving into personnel. He was working as a scout with the 49ers and helped Jon get an entry level position in the NFL.

Mayock’s father, Mike Sr., played football at Villanova and was a football coach for 40 years. Mayock describes his father as a strong, silent disciplinarian who told players the truth.

When Mayock played four seasons of football at the Haverford School in Pennsylvania, he was coached by his father, who never cut his son a break.

“I probably ran more sprints than anyone in the history of the program,” Mayock said.

Mayock went on to play at Boston College and, like his father, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, although knee troubles forced him out of football.

Both made the most of their early positions in pro football. One of Gruden’s responsibilities as a go-fer for the 49ers was to help

Jon Gruden celebrates with fans in the Black Hole after the Raiders’ 27-14 win over the Denver Broncos last season.

NHAT V. MEYER/STAFF ARCHIVES

Steve Young learn the playbook as he competed with Joe Montana. Mayock, who was cut by the Steelers, joined the New York Giants in 1982 and as a rookie was given the job of making sure Lawrence Taylor was awake for meetings.

The world, according to Gruden and Mayock, has a 100yard field and 53-man rosters. It values size, speed, intelligence and above all else a love for football. The topics open for discussion are endless, even over beers and burgers.

“We were getting deeper and deeper into philosophies and team-building, and I swear, it’s like we’re checking each other out, trying to figure out what we believe in, what we don’t believe in,” Mayock said.

Gruden’s time with the NFL Network was brief, as he was hired by ESPN to do “Monday Night Football.” But the two kept in touch. A future collaboration was never discussed, as Mayock’s

draft expertise dominated the NFL Network’s coverage to the point where he’d had opportunities with NFL teams to work in personnel departments.

Mayock’s work caught the eye of late Raiders owner Al Davis, who flew him in for an interview. Davis’ interviews were lengthy and draining, as he attempted to extract as much information as possible in addition to learning about the person he was interrogating.

“I spent 10 hours in a room with Al Davis by myself,” Mayock said. “We just bounced from topic to topic. The guy’s memory for football people and events was off the charts, and you had to be on top of your game for 10 straight hours, which is exhausting.”

Mayock wasn’t hired, but last December he heard again from the Raiders, who were looking for a replacement for Reggie McKenzie. Mayock met the club in Kansas City, where the Raiders were finishing the regular season

against the Chiefs.

Like the NFL Network production meeting, there were other people in the room, but most of the talking was done by Gruden and Mayock.

Gruden, who’d had his own interviews with Al Davis, employed a similar tactic. He tried to keep Mayock off-balance. After exchanging pleasantries, Gruden opened a folder, looked at it, and fired off his first question:

“Mike, you’re 60 years old, born on Aug. 14, 1958. You’re an old dude. Why do you want to do this?”

Mayock’s reply?

“Jon, you were born Aug. 17, five years later. You’re not that young.”

They both laughed, then proceeded to cover myriad issues and philosophies about talent, team-building and what makes winning football.

“Even though there were several people in the room, for the most part it was Jon and I going back and forth.”

Mayock said. “I think he was trying to drill down philosophically and see if we were a fit.”

“We have a very similar big picture and a very similar tiny picture what the criteria of each individual player is we’re looking for,” Gruden said, While known as borderline obsessive when it comes to film and preparation, even Gruden is impressed with Mayock’s passion for the sport.

“He’s just a high-energy guy. He beats to a different drum,” Gruden said. “He loves to study tape. He loves to have one-onone interaction with coaches and players. He’ll study anything — Canadian Football League film, the league that played this spring. He just loves it.”

— Jon Gruden on Mike Mayock

General Manager Mike Mayock, above, and Coach Jon Gruden, both born into football families, share similar views of the world.

DOUG DURAN/STAFF ARCHIVES

“We have a very similar big picture and a very similar tiny picture what the criteria of each individual player is we’re looking for.”

Don’t call him rookie

First-year Raider Clelin Ferrell has come prepared for your Khalil Mack comparisons, No. 4 pick gripes and any other unreasonable expectations.

BY JERRY McDONALD

The Raiders surprised some people by taking Clelin Ferrell at No. 4 in the NFL Draft.

Not that the Ted Hendricks Award winner wasn’t a great player for national champion Clemson. It’s just that most people pegged him as a mid-to-late firstround pick since Khalil Mack, for example, had gone No. 5 overall.

Ferrell, the youngest of nine kids, sat down to discuss the term “rookie,” criticism over how high he was drafted and the pressure to live up to Mack’s legacy.

You don’t like being called a rookie. How come?

My coaches don’t like it, either. It’s just a mindset. For me, it’s all about proving yourself to your teammates. That term has a connotation of having an excuse for why you might be doing bad. I don’t want nobody to make no excuses for me. If I mess up, if I’m not doing well, then that’s on me. You want to be a leader right off the bat. Today at practice both Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock came up to you for a few words before practice. Isn’t that a lot to put on your shoulders?

Nah, the biggest thing is just being me. Being a leader isn’t just being the most vocal guy or being the guy in the room that tells people what to do. In my room, with my group of guys, I feel like being a leader is helping to empower others. We’ve got a lot of guys that haven’t been leaders before. It’s really for me to empower other

Clelin Ferrell has high expectations for upping the Raiders’ sorry sack total from a year ago.

RAY CHAVEZ/STAFF

guys and motivate other guys to be a leader and hold me accountable.

You grew up with two parents with military backgrounds. Do you feel that makes you a leader?

It had an effect because I see the type of leaders my parents were. But though they both were in the military, it wasn’t really that much of a military-type atmosphere growing up. I would say more so, my mom sending me to a military high school (Benedictine College Prep in Richmond, Virginia) to learn the different traits and assets of what being a leader really means. It’s not just about hearing a drill sergeant yelling at you. It’s about motivating others and helping each other focus on maintaining a common goal. As far as growing up, my parents treated me like a normal kid.

You were the youngest of nine kids...

One of nine, right. It’s hard to really keep your eyes on all the kids. I was the baby, so everybody felt like I was kind of spoiled a little bit. I don’t. My brothers and sisters were hard on me.

Did you hate military school?

I hated it my first two years. I literally was about to be at the school protesting the military. But coming into that high school, I would say internally I didn’t have a lot of discipline as a man. I was a bit rebellious, kind of wanted

As one of nine kids and the son of career military parents, Clelin Ferrell is comfortable being himself.

to be with my boys from the neighborhood. But I really learned about integrity and character and being disciplined, and it helped me to grow up, Any time a kid’s got to grow up, it’s hard for them.

What do you say when people say, “Ferrell is pretty good, but not at No. 4. It’s too high.”

I don’t say nothing. I had that in college, where you hear the talk, good and bad about somebody. But you can never listen to it. The biggest thing is after this season you won’t be able to tell if I was worth the pick whether I have a good or bad year. Come back to me 10 years from now, at the end of my career, and tell me if I was worth it.

You’re the highest defensive pick here since Khalil Mack at No. 5 in 2014. And also a defensive end. Think Raider fans are going to look at that?

I hope not. I’m not Khalil Mack, but Khalil Mack isn’t me. We can’t be each other. He brings things to the table, and so do I. Respect to a great, great player. A guy I looked up to coming out of high school and college. He’s on a completely different team, and I’m just focused on the Raiders now. So I hope Raiders fans welcome me with open arms.

The Raiders had just 13 sacks last season. Coaches have been reminding the defense about it. Does that motivate you?

Hell yeah, that’s motivating. We’re trying to shatter that number. The best part about that is that this group didn’t get 13 sacks last year. It was last year’s group. But this D-line hasn’t proved anything yet, and we’ve got a lot to prove and have set high goals for ourselves.

Your family watches you closely from afar. Did you get a good review from them after the Rams preseason game?

My brothers definitely got on me about making more plays. They want me running to the ball more. And they were wondering why I wasn’t in on special teams. I told them I didn’t know why coach didn’t put me out there because I’ve been playing them in practice.

LAURA A. ODA/STAFF

THE RAIDERS

Raiders plotlines

WHICH ANTONIO BROWN WILL THE RAIDERS GET?

The locker room problem or the All-Pro wideout who gets along with his teammates and superiors? Brown is arguably the best wideout in the NFL, but he’ll have to prove his off-field distractions — including foot frostbite and helmet squabbles with the NFL — are fully in the rearview by season’s start. Early training camp indications were that coaches, players and front office personnel were taking a patient, optimistic approach with their enigmatic new star. Only time will tell if this experiment works out or blows up bigtime in the faces of Gruden and Mayock.

WILL DEREK CARR PROVE HE BELONGS IN VEGAS?

Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock have preached the need to surround their starting quarterback with better players rather than fault him for the Raiders’ offensive shortcomings. Well, they did just that this offseason, adding players like Brown, Tyrell Williams, Trent Brown and Josh Jacobs. Now we’ll see who Carr truly is — the near-MVP candidate from two years ago or the middleof-the-road quarterback who can’t get his team to sniff the playoffs?

Raiders subplots

WILL THE RAIDERS FINALLY FIND A MIDDLE LINEBACKER?

Last season Gruden said Greg Biekert (early 2000s) was the last noteworthy Raiders middle linebacker. This offseason they signed Vontaze Burfict, 28, who played under Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther in Cincinnati. Marquel Lee and Jason Cabinda have also drawn praise over the last year and a half. Maybe one of those three will pan out to captain Oakland’s defense.

BY MATT SCHNEIDMAN

Oakland coaches and executives think superstar receiver Antonio Brown, after an offseason of drama, is primed for greatness. ARIC CRABB/STAFF

WHICH ROOKIES WILL HAVE IMMEDIATE IMPACTS?

The Raiders have no time to baby the development of their first-round picks. All three should start from Day 1, Clelin Ferrell

at defensive end, Jacobs at running back and Johnathan Abram at safety. Players like Trayvon Mullen, Maxx Crosby and Hunter Renfrow will likely see the field in Year 1, but the Raiders’ trio of first-rounders should be ready to contribute right off the bat to accelerate the team’s rebuild.

CAN THE PASS RUSH IMPROVE?

The Raiders only mustered 13 sacks last season, fewest in a single year since the Chiefs had 10 in 2008. This year Arden Key is stronger and wiser, and the Raiders added Clelin Ferrell and Maxx Crosby via the draft. It can’t get any worse than last season, that’s for certain.

WHAT’S NEXT AT TIGHT END?

Jared Cook was the Raiders’ best passcatcher each of the last two seasons. He’s a New Orleans Saint now. The coaching staff has talked up Darren Waller, but the tight end group is deep with the likes of Luke Willson, Derek Carrier, Paul Butler and Foster Moreau.

Derek Carr, right, reaching for the end zone against the Cowboys in 2017, will have to prove he’s on track for an MVP-type season.

JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO/STAFF

Players to watch

BY JERRY McDONALD

PLAYERS WITH BREAKOUT POTENTIAL

RB Josh Jacobs

Will be given every opportunity to take the ball and run with it as a feature back. If all goes according to plan, he’ll be the most productive back since Darren McFadden in 2010-11.

CB Gareon Conley

Graded out as one of the NFL’s top coverage corners according to Profootballfocus.com, and did it with zero pass rush. If the Raiders can go from awful to average in that area, Conley should shine.

DT Maurice Hurst

Michigan product was a bright spot as a rookie and gained valuable experience. Classic penetrating three-technique player who could excel with beefy tackles Justin Ellis, P.J. Hall and Jonathan Hankins next to him.

S Johnathan Abram

Has solid credentials as a hitter and a live wire who should energize the last line of defense. Teammates have raved about how he studies and carries himself — more veteran than rookie.

Cornerback Gareon Conley was one of the NFL’s top coverage corners last year.

RANDY VAZQUEZ/STAFF

ON THE HOT SEAT

QB Derek Carr

Carr never really was on the hot seat last year, because Jon Gruden wasn’t of a mind to break in another quarterback. But with a year in the system and upgrades all around him, it’s time to return to his 2016 level.

LT Kolton Miller

Played 16 games as a rookie, 12 of them on a bum knee. The first-round pick doesn’t have a lot of true believers outside the building, but the Raiders are convinced he’ll not only hold up but flourish in Year 2.

DE Arden Key

OK, Key played way too much as a 235-pound rush end last season because of a lack of D-line depth. A deeper unit will help. But it remains to be seen if Key has built his body to a point where he can disengage from NFL tackles.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS

WR Antonio Brown

Let’s face it. If Brown doesn’t catch 100-plus passes for 1,400-plus yards and double-digit touchdowns, it’s a problem. But — um — a few issues have cropped up in camp. Even if those get worked out, there’s no telling how Brown will react if the ball too often goes elsewhere.

C Rodney Hudson

The glue that holds the offensive line together, Hudson is one of the most respected veterans in the locker room and produces at an elite level game in and game out.

RT Trent Brown

The NFL’s biggest (6-foot-8, 359 pounds) and highest-paid offensive lineman (four years, $66 million) was impressive early in camp, and is so imposing he makes 335-pound guard Gabe Jackson look small.

POSITIONS OF CONCERN

1. Left guard

Richie Incognito is out for the first two games on suspension and Denzelle Good is coming off back surgery and the opener is in question. Castoff Jonathan Cooper is up next.

2. Tight end

Jared Cook is gone, and so are his 68 receptions for 896 yards. It’s a prime opportunity for Darren Waller, an athletic specimen who has looked the part. Fourthround draft pick Foster Moreau could also get time.

3. Punter

It was a rough first year for fifth-round draft pick Johnny Townsend, who didn’t come close to the Shane Lechler-Marquette King standard. Undrafted rookie A.J. Cole unseated Townsend in training camp for the roster spot.

Schedule at a glance

SEPT. 9

vs. Denver Broncos (7:20 p.m., ESPN)

A Monday Night Football opener will showcase the new-look Raiders on a national stage against the Broncos and new starting quarterback Joe Flacco.

BIGGEST GAMES

OCT. 20

at Green Bay Packers (10 a.m., CBS)

BY MATT SCHNEIDMAN

DEC. 1

SEPT. 15

vs. Kansas City Chiefs (1:05 p.m. CBS)

Patrick Mahomes isn’t a secret anymore, and he helped Kansas City pile up 75 combined points in two games against the Raiders last season.

SEPT. 9 vs. Denver Broncos Monday Night Football. Antonio Brown’s assumed debut. Chance to show a national audience they might not be a laughingstock. Big tonesetter game.

A stern test for the revamped Raiders defense against the best quarterback they’ll face all season

at Kansas City Chiefs (10 a.m., CBS) Arrowhead hasn’t been just mean to the Raiders in recent memory. It’s been downright cruel.

OCT. 27 at Houston Texans (10 a.m., CBS)

The fifth of five straight games away from the Coliseum. Will the Raiders be completely out of the playoff hunt already?

DEC. 8 vs. Tennessee Titans (1:25 p.m., CBS)

Former Raiders OC Todd Downing now coaches tight ends for the Titans. That’s how we’ll play up this one.

SEPT. 22

at Minnesota Vikings (10 a.m., FOX)

The first of five straight games away from Oakland against formidable opponents, a streak that will define the Raiders’ season.

SEPT. 29

at Indianapolis Colts (10 a.m., CBS) Indianapolis proved a productive spot for the Raiders this year in preparing for the draft, but will it return the same positive results against the Bay Area’s own Andrew Luck?

OCT. 6 vs. Chicago Bears in London Raiders fans will never forget the Kahlil Mack trade. Neither will Jon Gruden. If the Raiders can limit Mack in this one, they’ll at least feel a little better about themselves.

NOV. 3 vs. Detroit Lions (1:05 p.m., FOX) Who wants to spend a November weekend in Detroit?!

DEC. 15 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (1:05 p.m., CBS) The actual last game ever in Oakland. (Most likely.)

NOV. 7 vs. Los Angeles Chargers (5:20 p.m., FOX, NFLN

The Raiders’ second and final primetime game of the season, a Thursday night matchup against one of last season’s most improved teams.

DEC. 21 (OR 22)

at Los Angeles Chargers (TBD)

Wait, this might be the Raiders’ last home game even though it’s in Southern California.

OCT. 6

vs. Bears in London (10 a.m., FOX)

You ever get laid out by your best friend? Hop over the Atlantic Ocean to see it (probably) happen with Khalil Mack facing Derek Carr for the first time.

DEC. 15 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

NOV. 17

vs. Cincinnati Bengals (1:25 p.m., CBS Linebacker Vontaze Burfict faces his longtime former team for the first time since coming to the Raiders.

DEC. 29

at Denver Broncos (1:25 p.m., CBS) Will this one be meaningless like last year’s late-season game between these two teams?

WEEK 6

Unlike the emotionallycharged home game against the Broncos in 2018, this one really is the Raiders’ goodbye to the Coliseum.

(At least we think.)

NOV. 24

at New York Jets (10 a.m., CBS)

Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell reunite on the same field for the first time since their respective Steelers departures.

Running back Jalen Richard should prove valuable catching passes out of the backfield this season for the Raiders.

NHAT V. MEYER/STAFF

Who will stand atop the AFC West?

1. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

(Last year: 12-4, first place)

They cut Kareem Hunt, but the Chiefs still feature the reigning NFL Offensive MVP and the best tight end in the league and saw Tyreek Hill avoid a suspension from the league. They also added Tyrann Mathieu to their defensive backfield, so expect the Chiefs to be at the forefront of the division once again.

2. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (12-4, second place)

Philip Rivers is 37 years old but showing no signs of slowing down. The Chargers lost Tyrell Williams to the Raiders and Melvin Gordon’s contract status has his future with the team up in the air, but L.A. has one of the best young defenses in the league. The questions arise on the offensive line and at running back if Gordon can’t get a new deal.

3. OAKLAND RAIDERS (4-12, fourth place)

The NFL’s ultimate mystery team. With Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, Trent Brown, Richie Incognito, Lamarcus Joyner and other new faces in the fold, it’s almost impossible to predict how the Raiders will fare. ‘Hard Knocks’ should give a glimpse into the intrigue this season will provide.

4. DENVER BRONCOS (6-10, third place)

John Elway said Joe Flacco is just entering his prime...what? That’s about all you need to know about this year’s Broncos.

THE NFL AFC power rankings

1. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Last season’s record: 12-4

No doubt about it, the Chiefs flop in the playoffs every year, including last season when they lost to New England in the AFC Championship Game even though they had home-field advantage and were arguably superior. So why do they get the No. 1 nod? Because they’re simply too good on both sides of the ball to deny it. League MVP Patrick Mahomes was magical in his first season starting at quarterback and he has weapons galore: tight end Travis Kelce, standout receiver Tyreek Hill (who avoided NFL suspension), a stable of backs to replace Kareem Hunt that includes ex-Niner Carlos Hyde and a highly-touted rookie wideout Mecole Hardman from the University of Georgia. Defensively, they lost Dee Ford to the 49ers but acquired Frank Clark from the Seahawks, so they should be solid enough to support an offense that might average 35-40 points a game. Hard to see how Andy Reid screws this up, at least until January.

2. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Last season’s record: 11-5

The record for touchdown passes by a 42-year-old quarterback in a season is 11. It was set by Warren Moon in Seattle in 1998. So here comes Tom Brady, who turned 42 on Aug. 3, looking to demolish that mark as he did all previous key statistical records for 41-yearold quarterbacks last year while winning his sixth Super Bowl. So when will it all end for Brady and Bill Belichick, who also became the oldest NFL coach ever to win a championship last year at 66? Neither will have future Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski to bail them out in the red zone anymore, Gronk having decided to retire after nine seasons at age 30. But look, just count on it: Belichick will figure out a way, and the Patriots’ defense that befuddled Jared Goff and the Rams in the big game last year will be formidable once again. Oh yeah, they still have six games against the Jets, Bills and Dolphins, a huge perennial built-in advantage.

BY CARL STEWARD

Last season’s record: 12-4

If it wasn’t for the Chiefs being in the same division, it might be easier to see how darned good and deep the well-rounded Chargers really are. Vet quarterback Philip Rivers is an eight-time Pro Bowler and had one of his best seasons in 2018 at age 36. He has perhaps the most underrated star receiver in the league in Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams is a solid enough No. 2 to replace Tyrell Williams, now a Raider. Melvin Gordon, who one would hope works through his contract dispute, rushed for 885 yards and 10 TDs despite playing in just 12 games and averaged 5.1 yards per carry. The defense is potent, with the eighthfewest points allowed overall in the league in 2018. The unit has five players voted to Pro Bowls the last two years, including two young standout secondary performers, Desmond King and Derwin James, as well as defensive end Joey Bosa, brother of the 49ers’ top draft pick Nick Bosa. A shaky offensive line may be the team’s Achilles’ heel, but for our money, this is the only other team that could unseat the Chiefs or Patriots at the AFC finish line.

Los Angeles wide receiver Keenan Allen is one of the most underrated receivers in the league.

5. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Last season’s record: 10-6

So if you’re not up for the Brown Kool-Aid, how about some Squirrel Oil? That was the trademark magic elixir of that magnificent Civil War Twitter creation, Capt. Andrew Luck, whose popularity was stimulated a great deal by the real Luck, the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year leading the league’s premier comeback team. The combo management duo of GM Chris Ballard and coach Frank Reich not only resurrected Luck, they’ve built strong units on both sides of the ball, fortified the entire roster with a ton of draft picks (nine in the 2019 Draft alone) and wise investments with their roughly $100 million in cap space, most in the NFL entering the off-season. In short, this franchise has it working with backs like Marlon Mack and Nyheim Hines, a tight end like Eric Ebron, a No. 1 receiver like T.Y. Hilton and an O-line that allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL (18). But it all depends on Capt. Luck continuing his career re-ascent with continued fresh supplies from Mother, the front office and his protective offensive line.

7. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Last season’s record: 5-11

The Jaguars made it to the AFC title game in 2017 and barely lost to the Patriots 24-20, but then tumbled back to their more familiar non-playoff form last year. So who are these guys, really? They’re a team with a more decorated quarterback in Nick Foles, who coaxed a four-year, incentive-laden $88 million deal from the Jags. It’s a big gamble for team president Tom Coughlin on a QB who may not be that much better than predecessor Blake Bortles. But Foles has won a Super Bowl (against Tom Brady, no less) and he doesn’t have to do it all. He has a workhorse back in Leonard Fournette at his side and a Jacksonville defense that stacks up as one of the best in the NFL.

Last season’s record: 7-8-1

Let’s face it, after the top three teams and the bottom four (Dolphins, Bills, Jets, Bengals), ordering the middle nine of the AFC is a total crapshoot. So why not drink the Brown KoolAid (oh, that sounds horrible, doesn’t it?) and go with Cleveland here, two years removed from 0-16? If you judge strictly on talent, it’s logical. Baker Mayfield had a terrific rookie year at quarterback (3,725 yards, 27 TDs, 14 interceptions, 93.7 passer rating) and he now has Odell Beckham Jr. to throw to in addition to Beckham’s childhood buddy Jarvis Landry. Troubled-but-talented running back Kareem Hunt will join the offense after he serves an eight-game domestic violence suspension. The defense has some budding stars in defensive end Myles Garrett and cornerback Denzel Ward, and they added versatile vet lineman Olivier Vernon in free agency. At long last, the Dog Pound doesn’t have to cheer a bunch of dogs.

6. HOUSTON TEXANS

Last season’s record: 11-5

It’s hard to say what’s missing from the Texans. They have a bright, versatile young quarterback in DeShaun Watson, a phenomenal premier receiver in DeAndre Hopkins, a solid workhorse back in Lamar Miller and defensive stalwarts like J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney to anchor the best run defense in the league. But they have only reached the playoffs three times in their existence and have yet to win more than one game in a post season. Last year they were bounced out 21-7 in their postseason opener by Indianapolis, a huge disappointment following a sterling regular season. Maybe this is the year, but there needs to be a lot more evidence than the Texans have shown in spite of their top-end talent. Let’s start with that terrible offensive line, which allowed Watson to be sacked 62 times last year.

8. OAKLAND RAIDERS

Last season’s record: 4-12

The Raiders clearly had the most dramatic offseason in the entire league, They spent a lot of money on free agents, made a monumental trade for the league’s most productive but controversial receiver and were the busiest team at the top of the draft. They will be better. They can’t help but be, which could make for a memorable final year at the Coliseum. Derek Carr has an electric new receiving tandem in free spirit Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams, a promising rookie running back in Josh Jacobs and a fortified line with the additions of Trent Brown, Richie Incognito and Rodney Hudson. Jon Gruden should be a little smoother with his play-calling after a year back in the league, but the real questions are on defense. This is a team that had just 13 sacks in 2018, the worst in the league by 17! Clemson rookie Clelin Ferrell should alleviate some of the void left from Khalil Mack’s shocking trade, but he can’t do it alone. The Raiders have the makings of a strong secondary with the addition of Lamarcus Joyner and rookie Johnathan Abram to go with improving corner Gareon Conley, but they need to get after quarterbacks, especially in a division that boasts Patrick Mahomes, Philip Rivers and Joe Flacco. If they can’t, they’ll be heading to Vegas on a bust.

3. L.A. CHARGERS

4. CLEVELAND BROWNS

GETTY IMAGES

9. DENVER BRONCOS

Last season’s record: 6-10

Isn’t it amazing after the stable, unchallenged career he had as a quarterback in Denver that John Elway has had so many different quarterbacks as the team’s chief architect? It wasn’t that long ago that the Broncos had Tim Tebow, who’s now playing minor league baseball, as their starter. They’ve had six guys since 2011, in fact, who have logged doubledigit starts, most notably Peyton Manning, who took them to a Super Bowl win. Now Elway will try to repeat that feat with Flacco, now 34, who like Manning comes to Denver with a Super Bowl victory on his resume. Denver has many of the other pieces that should spell a return to winning, most notably a defense still led by the dynamic, dangerous Von Miller. The big question is whether Flacco has enough offensive weapons around him because it’s a fairly nondescript crew of backs and receivers at the moment. Oh yeah, the new coach: It’s career assistant Vic Fangio, getting his first try at the head job at 60. One of Fangio’s first acts was to turn off the music at practice. Uh oh, that’s probably not going to fly. Quick, somebody get Vic a Spotify subscription.

10. TENNESSEE TITANS

Last season’s record: 9-7

The Titans have just one playoff appearance since 2008, and that was two seasons ago when they snuck in at 9-7, beat the Chiefs in a wild card, but then got flattened by New England in the divisional round. Last year’s 9-7 didn’t get it done, and now quarterback Marcus Mariota is in the fifth and final year of his rookie deal. How he performs could dictate not only his future but the Titans’. Mariota has thrown just 24 touchdowns over the last TWO seasons and tossed 23 picks over the same period. That didn’t get it done, either. But at least outwardly, coach Mike Vrabel sees Mariota as the long-term answer. Derek Henry is a decent running threat but there just isn’t enough offense. The Titans were third in scoring defense last season yet only outscored their opponents by seven points. Not exactly what was once such a high Steve McNair/ Eddie George standard in Nashville.

last season before signing as a free agent with the Jets, and Brown was a productive but divisive presence. Things will be a lot calmer in Pittsburgh, but perhaps too calm. Ben Roethlisberger is coming off a season in which he threw for over 5,000 yards but he’s also now 37. With Brown out of town, he’ll be even more reliant on Juju Smith-Schuster, who exploded for 111 catches and 1,426 yards in just his second season. But Smith-Schuster might find the going a little tougher without Brown on the other side. The traditionally stout defense, meanwhile, wasn’t very good for a change — only 16th best overall, and while the Steelers could still handle the Browns and Bengals, they were swept by the four teams in the AFC West. That may portend even more troubling times for a franchise that hasn’t had a losing season since 2003.

Denver GM John Elway is trying out yet another QB this year, hoping former Raven Joe Flacco, above, will lead the team to another Super Bowl.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

buried teams on third down. It’s definitely a defense by committee, but one can’t help but notice the absence of longtime stalwart Terrell Suggs, who has moved to Arizona after a Hall of Fame-type career in Baltimore. Losing both Flacco and Suggs has to have some significant impact. Maybe the younger core deserves more credit, but they’ll have to prove it. As we said, the middle nine in the AFC is a crapshoot. The Ravens could just as easily be fourth as opposed to 12th.

14.

Last season’s record: 6-10

The Bills like to think they’re on a parallel path with the Browns and on the ascent after enduring some growing pains last year with their own rookie quarterback, Josh Allen. It’s tougher to see that they are ready to make a similar leap into contention, though, with a roster that’s still fairly anonymous compared to Cleveland’s. Oh, but there is one name you will know — ageless Frank Gore. This was Gore’s latest off-season landing spot after a very productive year with Miami. It’s never a bad thing to have a guy like Gore on your roster influencing young players. Buffalo also thinks they got the steal of the NFL Draft’s first round with defensive tackle Ed Oliver at No. 9. We’ll see. Still can’t see .500 from this bunch, though.

15.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Last season’s record: 6-10

11. PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Last season’s record: 9-6-1

Who can make heads or tails of this team with Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell both gone for good? Of course, Bell sat out all of

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Last season’s record: 10-6

This might be a bit unfair and a bit low for a franchise that has achieved 10 doubledigit win seasons and won two Super Bowls since 2000. John Harbaugh has six of those double-digit win seasons and one of the Super Bowl triumphs. The man’s a better coach than his brother. But with Joe Flacco off to Denver, Lamar Jackson has the job full-time now. Jackson definitely got his feet wet last year with seven starts (and he went 6-1 in those starts), but the Ravens’ success was definitely a function of their defensive play. They were first in the league in fewest yards allowed and second in fewest points surrendered. They

13. N.Y. JETS

Last season’s record: 4-12

Of the perennial AFC dregs, the Jets may be the best candidate for a breakout into some form of respectability. Todd Bowles is a fabulous defensive coach but was definitely in the wrong place as the head coach of this franchise. When you draft a guy like Sam Darnold, you want an offensive mind running the show, and that’s what the Jets have now after hiring Adam Gase, a guy who flirted with the 49ers a few years back before they hired Kyle Shanahan. The Jets added Le’Veon Bell in the off-season, and he should be plenty fresh after sitting out last season in Pittsburgh over his contract. Yikes, do the Jets actually know what they’re doing? Maybe. They added tackle Quinnen Williams in the draft to go with stout Leonard Williams, and signed linebacker C.J. Mosley from Baltimore as a free agent. As for Darnold, he showed some promise before the rest of the team caved in on him last year. Let’s see what Gase can do with him.

At long last, after an amazing 16 seasons in which he went 0-7 in the playoffs (when the Bengals actually did make the playoffs), Marvin Lewis was mercifully let go. He has moved on to the coaches’ old folks home at Arizona State with Herm Edwards. In Lewis’ place is 35-year-old Zac Taylor, previously the Rams’ quarterbacks coach. Taylor is definitely a head coaching prospect, but most observers think the hire may be a reach with someone so light on experience taking on a team this iffy. Quarterback Andy Dalton could benefit from Taylor’s tutelage, however, as might an offense that still has some potent weapons in back Joe Mixon, receiver A.J. Green and tight end Tyler Eifert. The defense? Anybody’s guess with Lewis now gone. Easier to guess it’ll all add up to a losing record.

16.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Last season’s record: 7-9

Congrats to Josh Rosen, who went from the NFC’s worst team, the Arizona Cardinals, to the team that likely will be the worst in the AFC this year. The Dolphins will be much like their town’s baseball Marlins, stripping back the whole enterprise to build from scratch. The good news for Rosen is he figures heavily in the rebuild under new coach Brian Flores. But after losing defensive line stalwarts Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn, this team will have an easier time giving up points than scoring them. It’s going to be a long year in Miami. It’s a rough sports town all the way around, but hey, there’s the weather and South Beach.

12.

BUFFALO BILLS

NFC power rankings

BY CARL STEWARD

Last year’s record: 13-3

OK, Crescent City, we get it. You got hosed. You should have been in the Super Bowl. You probably should have won it. Time to stop whining about the pass interference No-Call Of The Century against the Rams and get back to the line of scrimmage. Drew Brees is still one of the quarterbacking greats of all time but it’s clear he’s running out of time, too. The sense of urgency for the Saints to win now, plus the large chip on their shoulder, should push them through to another stellar regular season. New Orleans lost some significant pieces in running back Mark Ingram and defensive end Alex Okafor but they still have running back Alvin Kamara and superreceiver Michael Thomas and now add tight end Jared Cook to an electric offense, and the defense is still more than solid enough to get through an average NFC South.

Last year’s record: 12-4

So how many NFC West defensive coordinators were taking notes on how effectively Bill Belichick thwarted quarterback Jared Goff in the Super Bowl? Was it a onegame fluke or did the Patriots mastermind actually unlock the secret to slowing down an offense that wasn’t stopped much throughout 2018? We’ll find out this season, but it seems unreasonable that effervescent young coach Sean McVay won’t be able to correct the issue and the Rams will be just fine. They certainly have the weaponry on both sides of the ball, but running back Todd Gurley’s balky knee may be a problem all season if L.A. doesn’t have an effective Plan B. Gurley’s 1,231 yards and 17 TDs were a big part of the program and it showed when he faltered. Moreover, beyond Gurley, the Rams were one of the league’s healthiest teams in 2018 and can they count on that again? They have to, because there are still a lot of PSLs to sell for that new Hollywood Park mega-stadium opening next year.

Former Cal QB Jared Goff, fresh off a loss in the Super Bowl, leads the Rams’ high-powered offensive attack. GETTY IMAGES

1. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

2. LOS ANGELES RAMS

3.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Last season’s record: 9-7

After a charmed 2017, the Eagles didn’t have a lot of health luck last season. They had the second-most games lost to injury in the NFL and were particularly decimated on defense. That said, they were a solid second half from making it to the NFC title game but the plug got pulled after they took a 14-0 lead against the Saints in the divisional round. With Nick Foles gone to Jacksonville, the reins return to the younger Carson Wentz to keep the Eagles in the postseason hunt. If Wentz performs well — as he should reflecting on his preinjury rookie season — Philly has the talent and balance on both sides of the ball plus Doug Pederson’s innovative shotgun attack to challenge anybody. Oh yeah, for added excitement, DeSean Jackson’s back in town as a still-dangerous deep threat.

Nagy seemed to develop a good working relationship with developing quarterback Mitch Trubisky in his first season as head coach. Mack, meanwhile, had 12 ½ sacks and pretty much was the holy defensive terror the Bears thought they were getting. Now if they can only find a kicker who can avoid uprights and crossbars …

6. GREEN BAY PACKERS

Last year’s record: 6-9-1

4. DALLAS COWBOYS

Last year’s record: 10-6

Whatever the Raiders couldn’t figure out as far as getting the most out of Amari Cooper, the Cowboys did. He had 59 catches for 723 yards and six touchdowns in nine games as Dallas went 7-2 down the stretch. He had seven catches for 106 yards in a win over Seattle in the playoffs, and six more grabs with a touchdown in a narrow loss to the Rams. Now Cooper can go through a camp with quarterback Dac Prescott and refine the rapport. The Cowboys have a terrific corps that’s young as well — Prescott and Cooper are 25, running back Ezekiel Elliott is 23, promising linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is also just 23 and edge rusher Jaylon Smith 24. Defensive end stalwart DeMarcus Lawrence, 27, also signed a new five-year deal. The Cowboys look ready to roll.

Mike McCarthy is finally gone and the Packers now turn to 39-year-old offensive wunderkind Matt LaFleur, fashioned from the same mold as his two pals, the Rams’ McVay and the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan. LaFleur got off on the wrong foot when he ruptured an Achilles playing basketball shortly after he landed the job. Now he has to forge a relationship with the sometimes prickly Aaron Rodgers, who has voiced a desire to have more control at the line of scrimmage this season. Not to worry. LaFleur should get the most out of Rodgers’ play-action strengths and allow him to be more aggressive downfield. If the Packers get some better defensive play — better health is one big key to that — Green Bay could be tough to beat come December and January.

49ers. Jimmy Garoppolo should be ready to start the season after last season’s ACL setback. An improving defense not only added top rookie Nick Bosa but vet passer rusher Dee Ford. Garoppolo has a formidable cast of young receivers in Dante Pettis, rookie Deebo Samuel, tight end George Kittle and vet speedster Marquise Goodwin. There’s running back depth with Tevin Coleman, Matt Breida and Jerick McKinnon. The loaded defensive line will set an angry tone and take the pressure off a secondary still in development. The 49ers also have the game’s most reliable kicker in Robbie Gould. No question, it’s time to make a move down the field and up in the standings.

9. MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Last year’s record: 8-7-1

5.

CHICAGO BEARS

Last season’s record: 12-4

The entire city of Chicago can still hear the clink-clank of the double-kiss field goal miss that cost the Bears a victory over the Eagles and advancement beyond their first NFC playoffs game last January. It was a bitter pill for a team that had enjoyed its best regular season since 2006 and looked to go deeper. Sporting the top-ranked scoring defense in the league led by former Raiders star Khalil Mack, the Bears have to retool a bit now that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has left to become the head coach at Denver and has been replaced by Chuck Pagano. But Matt

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Last year’s record: 10-6

The Legion of Boom took another off-season personnel hit with the free agent departures of safety Earl Thomas, defensive end Frank Clark and cornerback Justin Coleman and is now looking more like the Legion of Whom. Could Pete Carroll’s club actually be vulnerable on defense this year? It’s a fairly unrecognizable group right now beyond middle linebacking wonder Bobby Wagner, which puts more pressure on quarterback Russell Wilson, now the highest-paid player in the league after he signed a new long-term contract. Hard to see how Wilson does more, though — he’s never missed a start in his NFL career and has now played in 112 straight games, and last year passed for 35 scores with just seven interceptions. But as the legendary defense disappears, a return to the Super Bowl also seems farther downfield each year.

There is little question that the Vikings are built around defense under Mike Zimmer, and they should remain stout on that side of the ball with 10 of 11 starters returning from a team fourth in the NFL in fewest yards allowed last year. The question is how Gary Kubiak’s role as the new assistant head coach and offensive “advisor” impacts offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski’s play-calling, and perhaps more important, Kirk Cousins’ play at quarterback following a decent first season in Minnesota. Cousins completed more than 70 percent of his passes, threw for 30 touchdowns and 10 picks, but also took 40 sacks. Bottom line: Better blocking could take this team to a higher level, but whether they can get it is a big purple “if.”

10. ATLANTA FALCONS

Last year’s record: 7-9

Injuries and offensive line woes sabotaged a 2018 Falcons team a lot of experts thought had serious playoff potential. They still have standout quarterback Matt Ryan, after all, and maybe the best receiving corps in the league in Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu and Calvin Ridley. Atlanta beefed up its offensive line in the offseason to give Ryan more time to find those wideouts, so the real question is whether the defense is up to snuff. Head coach Dan Quinn is leaving nothing to chance: He appointed himself to be the new defensive coordinator. Things didn’t start well, though, as veteran safety J.J. Wilcox blew an ACL on the first day of camp. Not a good omen.

8. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Last year’s record: 4-12

Are they ready? Can the John Lynch-Kyle Shanahan duo finally put pedal to metal in Year 3? They have to prove it, but a lot of things finally look to be in place now for the

11. CAROLINA PANTHERS

Last year’s record: 7-9

Everything hinges on the repaired hinge in

7.

Cam Newton’s right shoulder. Newton had surgery in 2017 to repair a torn rotator cuff but struggled with his throwing throughout the 2018 season and required a second surgery in January to clean up troubling scar tissue from the initial procedure. He was cleared for training camp but if the shoulder doesn’t respond, the Panthers are in big trouble. Adding to fears is that Newton still takes so much punishment as a runner -- more than 100 snaps on his own last season. Defensively, the Panthers have not only made numerous personnel changes but they’re switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 front, which could dramatically alter how star linebacker Luke Kuechly has to play. In short, loads of questions and concerns.

The New Orleans Saints and running back

Alvin Kamara seemed on track for the Super Bowl last year, but were sidetracked by a questionable pass interference no call.

GETTY IMAGES

14. WASHINGTON

Last year’s record: 7-9

12. DETROIT LIONS

Last year’s record: 6-10

There’s not much doubt longtime assistant Matt Patricia has aspired to turn the Lions into something akin to Patriots Midwest after 14 seasons being mentored by Bill Belichick. It’s even more obvious now after Detroit signed pass rusher Trey Flowers and wide receiver Danny Amendola, both formerly New England fixtures, to free agent deals, although Amendola took a detour through Miami last season. But can Matthew Stafford ever approximate Tom Brady? Stafford is a solid QB but he threw for under 4,000 yards for the first time in eight seasons and just 21 touchdowns, his fewest since 2012. Part of it may a scheme issue as Patricia aims for a more short- to medium-yardage approach a la New England. They figure to be solid on defense, but they may need more Patriots attributes to win consistently.

Alex Smith still has another full year of recovery from a catastrophic leg injury before he can return to playing, which could drop the ball into the lap of hometown hero and Ohio State rookie phenom Dwayne Haskins, although roving NFL rent-a-QB Case Keenum is around to step in if Haskins isn’t ready, as is roving backup Colt McCoy. And then there’s the penniless running back Adrian Peterson, whose recent tales of a lost fortune at least bode well for a motivated season. He needs the cash. More likely, it may be up to the defense, which is well-stocked up front with studs like Jonathan Allen to save offensiveminded head coach Jay Gruden’s job. It just never seems to work out for everyone’s favorite lovable owner, Dan Snyder.

15. NEW YORK GIANTS

Last year’s record: 5-11

If there is a less popular sports figure in Manhattan than Knicks owner James Dolan, it may be Giants general manager Dave Gettleman, who traded away Odell Beckham Jr. and then made the controversial No. 6 draft pick of Duke quarterback Daniel Jones (over Haskins). The verdict will be out on that selection at least to start the season as 38-year-old Eli Manning is still around. The Giants are clearly in rebuilding mode on defense as well, having selected a down lineman (Dexter Lawrence) and a cornerback (DeAndre Baker) with their other two firstround picks. It will surely be another long season for the Giants.

Last year’s record: 5-11

The Bucs made the most intriguing off-season coaching move by coaxing Bruce Arians out of retirement. Arians can certainly coach, as he proved in Arizona, but why would a 66-year-old man with health concerns want to take on this gnarly project for the next four seasons? He must have gotten very bored in his year off because Tampa has issues after going 10-22 the past two seasons. Oh yeah, ousted Jets coach Todd Bowles is here, too, as the new defensive coordinator, and the Bucs appear to be making all their first big steps on D, signing Ndamukong Suh to anchor the line, then drafting LSU linebacker Devin White with the fifth pick. Offense? Jameis Winston is still the QB but lost some key weapons, including receiver DeSean Jackson. The colorful Arians may wish he stuck to shuffleboard.

16. ARIZONA CARDINALS

Last year’s record: 3-13

The Kliff and Kyler Show sounds like something you’d see on Nickelodeon on Saturday mornings, not Sunday afternoons in the NFL. In a much-needed house cleaning, the hapless Cards now have a new coach in Kliff Kingsbury and a new quarterback in dynamic 5-foot-10 former Oklahoma multitasker Kyler Murray. Arizona is all-in on Murray revolutionizing the league with the Sooners’ “Air Raid” approach. So is Murray after the former A’s No. 1 draft choice chose football over the much safer baseball path. But it’s a tall task for such a short man so slight in experience, regardless of his arm strength and foot speed. If this grand experiment flames out, he could be back in the green and gold by age 24, shagging flies.

13. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Rookie watch

CLELIN FERRELL

DE

Raiders

A lot of draft experts felt Oakland reached over better players to take Ferrell, but only time will tell. From a positive view, they’re getting a player who wasn’t just strictly an edge rusher, but an all-around football player who can play the run, make sure tackles and use his head in addition to his size and athletic ability to get to the quarterback. He also played in an elite program at Clemson, and it doesn’t hurt that his new defensive line coach with the Raiders, Brentson Buckner, is also a Clemson product with some insight on how to utilize Ferrell’s versatility to best advantage.

Kyler Murray is slight in stature, but has gamechanging upside. The new QB for the Cardinals has a strong arm and great speed.

BY CARL STEWARD

DWAYNE HASKINS

QB Washington

Oh, how boring. A 6-foot-3 quarterback who sits in the pocket because of his mobility limitations, but can throw a 60-yard on-themoney laser and spot second and third options all over the field. Not too many guys have been successful doing that in the NFL, eh? Haskins could be a sleeper pick because he has the oldschool qualities of successful incoming QBs that somehow seem to have become passe … until you look at the career achievements of one Tom Brady. As long as he isn’t rushed as quickly and carelessly as Robert Griffin III was, he might have a long, fruitful career in D.C. Then again, with Alex Smith projected to miss the entire year recovering from serious leg fractures, Haskins could get a baptism by fire.

going seventh, to the Jaguars’ good fortune. Maybe the fact that he went to Kentucky, not generally a factory for top-flight edge rushers, hurt. But his hybrid skills as a coverage man, run defender and pass rusher should have made up for it. He’s also joining an already potent defense — look out.

DEEBO SAMUEL

WR San Francisco 49ers

How come there aren’t more wide receivers built like running backs? They’re fast, right? They have moves, right? Moreover, it stands to reason they shouldn’t go down as easily or get jammed at the line as frequently, either. Enter Samuel, an interesting test case for what may become a more popular prototype: a smaller, more powerfully built receiver (5-11, 215 pounds) who can take on corners and safeties after the catch and keep going. Samuel has some limitations as far as catch radius and downfield speed, but he could become a terror in short and mid-range zones.

WR New England Patriots

QB Arizona Cardinals

JOSH

JACOBS

RB Raiders

Jacobs passes virtually every test scouts look for in a solid, workhorse NFL back – low center of gravity, stout base, adept at both powering or cutting, follows blockers, effective passcatching ability and durability. But you can bet Jon Gruden saw something else – toughness. The guy plays with a chip, much like many of Gruden’s most productive backs like Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley. Vet Doug Martin should be around to help Jacobs learn the league, and Jacobs sets up to become the team’s most successful young back in years.

Harry comes into the league with a couple of intriguing distinctions. First, he was the only offensive skill player taken from the Pac-12 Conference in the first round, a real rarity. Second, he became the first wide receiver ever to be taken by Bill Belichick in the first round of any draft. Which means Harry is probably headed for Canton at some point, right? Actually, Pac-12 observers should know what this guy is all about – big, physical, fearless, great hands, skillful in traffic or when covered, strong after the catch. With Rob Gronkowski retiring (for now, anyway), the Patriots were in the market for the tough receiver Belichick has always favored. Harry fits the bill.

The 21st century evolution of the NFL quarterback continues dramatically in the league’s 100th year. Murray is an incredible gamble due to his smallish 5-foot-10 frame but he has potentially game-changing upside — a fast and shifty runner with a strong, accurate arm who can throw on the run or tuck it down and explode down the field on his own. It’s not exactly a new prototype but Murray takes it to a new extreme. He has elements of Steve Young, Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes and Oklahoma predecessor Baker Mayfield in his game, but can he take the pounding? Can he stay in the pocket and see over the line when he throws?

NICK

BOSA

DE San Francisco 49ers

It will be fascinating to see which top defensive lineman from the 2019 NFL Draft has the most impact both in his first season and long term. Bosa? Ferrell? Quinnen Williams? Ed Oliver? A lot of people think it might be Allen, whose combination of size and speed seemed to make him a sure Top 5 pick … except he wound up

If a North Carolina country redneck like Madison Bumgarner can spend a decade in the Bay Area with the Giants and thrive, why can’t a supremely talented defensive end wearing a MAGA hat? Hopefully, like Bumgarner, Bosa keeps his off-field pursuits and political passions pretty much to himself and becomes a legendary disruptor on the field rather than off. Pairing this guy with DeForest Buckner, free agent Dee Ford and a rejuvenated Solomon Thomas could give the 49ers the most dangerous, dominant front in the NFL, and we know the result the last time that was the case. Bosa certainly has the genes with both his father and brother having been first-round draft picks who found success in the league. Now it’s Nick’s turn. Expect big things.

N’KEAL HARRY

JOSH ALLEN DE/LB Jacksonville Jaguars

KYLER MURRAY

Faces in new places

ODELL BECKHAM JR. WR, Cleveland Browns

OK, trivia buffs, what is the significance of the names Dante Lavelli and Mac Speedie?

Believe it or not, they are the Browns’ No. 1 and No. 2 all-time wide receivers in terms of catches and yards, even though they played way back in the 1940s and ‘50s. That was so long ago it was a time when Cleveland actually won NFL championships. So for the Browns to have acquired a superstar like Beckham is almost as big as LeBron James coming home from Miami several years back. Reunited with fellow receiver Jarvis Landry, his high school and college teammate, Beckham is expected to thrive from the moment he steps on the field. It’s a very big deal on the banks of the Cuyahoga, even bigger with Browns killer Antonio Brown having left Pittsburgh to join the Raiders.

C.J. MOSLEY LB, New York Jets

A four-time Pro Bowler who has anchored the middle of the Ravens’ defense the past five seasons, Mosley could turn out to be as big a signing as Le’Veon Bell for the beleaguered Jets franchise. Baltimore did everything it could to try and keep him, which adds credence to his value, but the Jets laid out $85 million, including $51 million guaranteed, for Mosley to lead their defensive unit. From every angle, it looks to be a solid if hefty expenditure.

EARL THOMAS S, Baltimore Ravens

Yet another longtime standout on the Seahawks’ legendary Legion of Boom defense is changing teams. Thomas has yet to turn 30, so the Ravens’ four-year investment risk — which includes $32 million guaranteed — looks pretty strong as long as Thomas can stay healthy, something he wasn’t able to do the past two seasons in Seattle. Thomas’ addition helps ease the loss of longtime Baltimore stalwart Terrell Suggs to Arizona and linebacker C.J. Mosley to the Jets, but will it be enough?

BY CARL STEWARD

like this one, giving up nothing more than fifth and seventh round picks next year to the Eagles for the 33-year-old Bennett, formerly a star fixture with the Seattle Seahawks’ vaunted defense and a significant contributor in Philly. Bennett may be on the downside, but still figures to be stout enough to provide some savvy edge play for a couple more years to the Patriots, who will be trying to squeeze out one or two more Super Bowl runs with Tom Brady. It’s a crucial pickup considering the Patriots lost their best edge rusher, Trey Flowers, to Detroit in free agency.

two Oakland seasons with eight touchdowns.

He’s 32 but a good fit in the Saints’ shrinking Super Bowl window of opportunity.

DEE FORD DE, San Francisco 49ers

Let’s face it, Ford was never going to live down the offsides penalty that reversed a Charvarius Ward interception that likely would have preserved a Kansas City Chiefs victory over New England in last year’s AFC title game. The Chiefs’ loss is the 49ers’ gain after he was acquired for a second-round pick and then signed to a five-year deal. With a career-best 13 sacks last season, Ford becomes part of a potentially dominant front with DeForest Buckner, Nick Bosa, Solomon Thomas and Arik Armstead. Ford will be the oldest of the bunch at 28. Scary.

TREY FLOWERS DE/DL, Detroit Lions

Flowers signing a five-year, $90-million contract with the Lions is probably more significant in the fact that it subtracts the champion Patriots’ best edge rusher (21 sacks over the last three seasons). Flowers rejoins his former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, who’ll be starting his second season as head coach of the Lions. We’ll see if Flowers can make a difference in Detroit’s perennially withering bloom.

JARED COOK TE, New Orleans Saints

One of Derek Carr’s favorite targets the past two seasons in Oakland (and one of Aaron Rodgers’ in Green Bay before that) now goes indoors to catch passes from the legendary Drew Brees. Cook could easily add a fresh dimension over the middle to the Saints’ offense, which lacked a tight end threat last season beyond the ancient Ben Watson. Cook had 122 catches for over 1,500 yards over his

Bell took a stand for his long-range future when the Steelers placed the franchise tag on the standout back last year and he refused to sign. Bell sat out the season and then signed a four-year free agent deal with the Jets that makes him the second-highest paid back in the league. Bell gained more than 5,300 yards in just five seasons with Pittsburgh and is right in his prime at 27. If nothing else, he’ll help ease the pressure on second-year quarterback Sam Darnold, but the greater goal is getting the Jets back to the postseason, where they haven’t been since 2010.

LAMARCUS JOYNER S, Oakland Raiders

Former front-office exec Michael Lombardi mused on the NFL Network recently that he would have been met with a flurry of expletives if he’d tried to sell the late Al Davis on a four-year, $42 million deal on a 5-foot8, 190-pound safety. He’s probably right, particularly since Joyner is coming off a bit of a down year on a Chargers defense that was otherwise stout. Joyner’s addition also creates a bit of a mystery about how the Raiders see 2016 first-round pick (14th overall) Karl Joseph. Of course, Joseph is one of the few remaining Reggie McKenzie draft holdovers, so take an educated guess.

How does Bill Belichick keep doing it year after year after year? With under-the-radar moves

LE’VEON BELL RB, New York Jets

MICHAEL BENNETT DE, New England Patriots

Odell Beckham is expected to stretch the field on his new team, the Cleveland Browns.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Milestone marker

MORE FOR GORE

It seems almost unfathomable, but the ageless Frank Gore needs just 522 rushing yards in Buffalo this season to move past Barry Sanders and into third place on the alltime career rushing yards list behind Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton. Gore is roughly 2,000 yards behind Payton, which might be a stretch. But the distance to Canton keeps getting shorter and shorter for the man who gained most of his yards with the 49ers and will be their all-time leading rusher for the foreseeable future.

GOULD IN A BATTLE

There is some kind of jockeying going on among active kickers as to which will finish as the NFL’s most accurate all-time. Currently, Baltimore’s Justin Tucker is No. 1 at 90.1 percent, having made 237 of his 263 career field goal attempts over seven seasons. But the Niners’ Robbie Gould, on the strength of having made 82 of his last 85 attempts over the last three seasons (33 of 34 last year), is now No. 2 at 87.7 percent (358 for 408 over 14 seasons). New England’s Stephen Gostkowski is right behind Gould at 87.1 percent, as is New Orleans’ Wil Lutz (87.0), Minnesota’s Dan Bailey (86.6), Buffalo’s Stephen Hauschka (86.4) and longtime Atlanta specialist Matt Bryant (86.2), who’s a free agent still looking for a team.

SAY IT AIN’T SO, ANTONIO

Antonio Brown’s numbers in Pittsburgh were so ridiculous. At 31, he’s the one active receiver at this point who has an outside chance to challenge Jerry Rice’s all-time marks for catches, yardage and touchdowns if he continues his rate of production with the Raiders. Brown needs 24 receptions, 877 yards and nine touchdown catches to move into the top 25 all-time in all three categories. That said, he’ll still need 712 catches, 11,688 yards and 123 TDs to catch J.R. Maybe if Brown plays until he’s 50 …

FITZGERALD LOOKS TO SOLIDIFY NO. 2

Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald is already No. 2 on the all-time receiving yards list behind Rice — a distant 6,616 yards behind — and with 23 more receptions will pass tight end Tony Gonzalez for the second most catches behind Rice at 1,326. That would leave him 223 receptions behind Rice’s 1,549, not out of the realm of possibility for a player who’ll enter the season having just turned 36. That’s one Fitzgerald could get if he plays long enough.

BY CARL STEWARD

TOPPLING BIG BEN

Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger is in jeopardy of obtaining a dubious quarterback record — most times sacked in a career. He’s currently sitting at 501, just 24 behind all-time leader Brett Favre. Brady, at 473, can add to his total but will have a tough time “catching” Favre. As for single-season sack records, Houston’s DeShaun Watson was taken down 62 times last year, seventh-most all-time. But that isn’t even the team record. Derek Carr’s brother David holds the all-time NFL mark with 76 sacks taken in 2002 as a Texans rookie.

Frank Gore, now with Buffalo, needs just 522 yards to pass Barry Sanders to move into third place in all-time career rushing. Drew Brees, right comes into this season with 520 passing TDs, with Peyton Maning’s 539 in his sights.

ASSOCIATED PRESS, GETTY IMAGES

FITZ VS. GATES

While Fitzgerald is no threat to catch Rice’s 197 career receiving TDs, his placement on the all-time list is still up in the air. He’s currently tied for sixth all-time with Chargers tight end Antonio Gates with 116 scoring receptions. Gates still has a penchant for finding the end zone even though he’s lost a couple of steps, so it’s an intriguing battle. Both Fitzgerald and Gates have an outside shot at catching No. 5 Marvin Harrison (128) and No. 4 Cris Carter (130) before they’re done. No. 3 Terrell Owens (153) could be tougher.

PASSING PEYTON

When Peyton Manning retired following the 2016 season, he probably thought his career mark of 539 touchdown passes was relatively safe. Nope. It’s not only bound to be broken this season, but by two guys — New Orleans’ Drew Brees comes into the year with 520 career TDs, and New England’s Tom Brady is right behind him with 517. Remember when Dan Marino’s 420 seemed like Babe Ruth’s 714 home runs? Marino is now fifth on the list and could drop even lower over the next few seasons.

Must-see games

SEPT. 5

Packers at Bears

The season kicks off on a Thursday night with two old-school NFL rivals from the Black and Blue division, and at least the Packers have a new-school frame of mind. The Packers have replaced fired Mike McCarthy with an offensive protégé and pal of both Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay — 39-year-old Matt LaFleur. LaFleur, a quarterback guru, won’t have to teach Aaron Rodgers much but he’ll have to figure out a way to keep Khalil Mack out of his backfield. Chicago figures to go as far as third-year quarterback Mitch Trubisky takes them. Trubisky made a leap under coach Matt Nagy, who got considerable Coach of the Year support for getting the Bears back in the playoffs. Solid opener.

SEPT. 15

Chiefs at Raiders

BY CARL STEWARD

SEPT. 22 Panthers at Cardinals

Remember back in the day — oh, around 2014 — when Cam Newton was viewed as the quarterback prototype of the future, the allaround athletic quarterback who could throw the ball all over the field and also run over you like a fullback? Well, now the prototype could be Cardinals rookie QB Kyler Murray, who can throw the ball all over the field and run around you like a 5-foot-10 scatback. Add in the NFL’s most versatile player in Christian McCaffrey and this could be quite a spicy matchup.

SEPT. 29 Cowboys at Saints

The season hadn’t even started yet and the heat was already on Dallas coach Jason Garrett, amplified by calls from Cowboys fans and media to snap up University of Oklahoma head man Lincoln Riley. Garrett will have to match wits with two offensive geniuses in head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees. The two teams met last year and somehow it was a 13-10 defensive struggle won by host Dallas.

The second home game of the Raiders’ last season at the Coliseum after a Monday night opener against Denver represents the final visit to Oakland by the hated Chiefs. Jon Gruden is surely hoping it turns into something more than a ceremonial affair. The Chiefs have won six of the last seven in the series, including both games last year under their wondrous young MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes, but Gruden has a few more weapons on both sides of the ball for the 2019 renewal. Win the opener against the Broncos and then this one and it could set the stage for a most memorable final season in the Black Hole.

OCT.

7 Browns at 49ers

Goodness, who would have thought just a couple of years ago this would be a marquee matchup on Monday night? The Browns, who seemingly haven’t played in primetime since Howard Cosell was calling action on Mondays, are coming off a stirring 2018 finish much like the 49ers did in 2017. We know what happened to the Niners last season after quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was lost with an ACL tear before it even got to Week 5. The Browns certainly need Baker Mayfield to remain upright, but he now has Odell Beckham Jr. as his primary target. Fascinating faceoff featuring two teams on the come.

OCT. 27 Packers at Chiefs

Need any more be said than Aaron Rodgers vs. Patrick Mahomes at Arrowhead? That galactic match could result in another one of those historic 54-51 aerial shootouts like Mahomes and Jared Goff put on last season. We can only hope. Rodgers has to be chafing a bit that Mahomes and a few other young turks have stolen his thunder as the league’s most scintillating quarterback performer. Count on Aaron to put on a show, and who knows about Mahomes? He may throw a TD between his legs in this fabulous Sunday night special.

OCT. 13

49ers at Rams

Two weeks in a row for the 49ers? Well, yes. This game could be potentially huge if San Francisco gets off to a positive start. The Rams nailed 82 points on the Niners’ noggins in two meetings last season — the first time since 2004 they’ve swept the home-andaway division series — but Kyle Shanahan didn’t have Garoppolo for either meeting. This could turn into a fireworks show between Shanahan and Sean McVay, two of the league’s most dynamic young offensive minds.

NOV. 3 Colts at Steelers

Following up Rodgers-Mahomes, an intriguing Jurassic Park-style clash of two big, lumbering quarterback dinosaurs in the Colts’ Andrew Luck and the Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger. It’s anybody’s guess where either of these teams will be come November but both certainly have playoff potential if their tough, stand-tall-in-the-pocket QBs play up to par. Luck certainly did in 2018 in earning NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Big Ben may be near the final tolling of the career clock but he might have one last uptick, even without Antonio Brown around to snatch everything he throws out of mid-air.

OCT.

20 Saints at Bears

Cody Parkey is gone from the Bears after six of the unlucky place-kicker’s boots hit uprights and bounced away last year, including his season-concluding miss against the Eagles in the playoffs that hit the upright AND the crossbar in a 16-15 loss. It was unclear at press time who Chicago’s kicker will be after Parkey was cut and the 49ers nixed Robbie Gould’s desire to return to his preferred Midwest locale. The Bears signed a kicking hopeful named (Chris) Blewitt, which made for a lot of off-season wisecracks, so this meeting could be decided by a swinging shoe.

NOV. 7 Chargers at Raiders

The last AFC West game at the Coliseum. The Chargers have won four in a row in the series since relocating from San Diego to Los Angeles, even though there are probably more Raiders fans than Chargers fans in L.A. Go figure. The sobering fact is, Philip Rivers has vastly outplayed Derek Carr over the past two seasons and that has to change if the Raiders are to get anywhere this year except out of town. This one figures to be an important Thursday night game for both teams, but particularly for the Raiders.

NOV. 17 Cardinals at 49ers

The Bay Area gets its first up-close look at Kyler Murray, and hey, maybe the Niners will invite the A’s and their front office to come down to Santa Clara to help boo. It should be a lot of fun, if only to watch the No. 2 pick in the draft, 49ers pass rush specialist Nick Bosa, chasing around the No. 1 pick, Murray. It’ll be even more fun if the 49ers have something to play for this late in the season besides draft position. This matchup has been dreary for a few years. It figures to liven up a lot in 2019.

DEC. 22 Rams at 49ers

DEC. 8 Chiefs at Patriots

NOV. 24 Cowboys at Patriots

There aren’t many games where Jerry Jones and the Cowboys get much love outside of Dallas but this might be one of them. It took this late in the season for us to single out a Patriots game, but this one is a doozy. New England surely will have the perennially putrid AFC East wrapped up by this point, so Bill Belichick and Tom Brady can be a little more free-wheeling in this confrontation between two high-profile franchises. It’s rather amazing this game wasn’t pushed to a primetime slot. For now, anyway, it’s just a regularly scheduled Sunday afternoon affair.

DEC. 2 Vikings at Seahawks

Seattle lost a heartbreaker in the opening round of the playoffs to Dallas last season while the Vikings, after a 5-3-1 start, were up and down following their midseason bye and failed to make the playoffs after a disappointing rout by the Bears. It’s uncertain where either of these teams is headed. The Seahawks still have Russell Wilson at quarterback but their defensive transition continues with longtime cornerstone safety Earl Thomas departing in free agency. The Vikings, meanwhile, are hoping last year’s prize acquisition Kirk Cousins has a more consistent 2019 at quarterback in his second season in purple.

The Levi’s Stadium rematch could be even more significant than the mid-October meeting if there are playoff stakes on the line for the 49ers. And why shouldn’t there be as long as there are no major injury issues? The 49ers’ young offense should be finely tuned by this point, and the defense could be downright ferocious if the pass rush potential of this roster is finally realized. In short, this game could truly ignite the regional rivalry that’s been lacking since the Rams returned to L.A. Cross your fingers.

A rematch of last season’s AFC Championship Game and a likely prelude to this season’s. It’s pretty clear if Kansas City wants to ascend to the No. 1 spot in the NFL hierarchy, it is going to have to take down New England at some point. To do it in Foxboro would be impressive, but from the other side, this will be a good tuneup for the Pats for the playoffs. Dare we say if they win this game they’ll probably be in the Super Bowl yet again? Sorry.

DEC. 15 Jaguars at Raiders

Well, this is really the end. Maybe. Barring a Las Vegas stadium construction snag that lands the Raiders back in Oakland for the 2020 season, this will mark the final regular season NFL game at the Coliseum, quite likely forever. It promises to be emotional, and with Jacksonville now being led by Nick Foles at quarterback, it might even be a meaningful game for the playoffs. Of course, if the Raiders make the playoffs, they could possibly land another home game for the incredible fan base Mark Davis chose to abandon. Whatever, circle the calendar and the tailgate wagons and stock up on Kleenex.

DEC. 29 49ers at Seahawks

Yep, the Niners again. Does anyone remember the last time the 49ers won in Seattle? For the record, it was 2011, and they barely squeaked out a 19-17 win. This year’s game at CenturyLink could mean everything for the John Lynch-Kyle Shanahan regime. The entire 49ers season sets up for these final two regular-season division games, and they’d better matter. If the balance of power is going to shift in the NFC West, breaking the Seattle spell will be an essential step. To do it in the season finale would be epic.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the reigning MVP, gets another shot at Tom Brady on Dec. 8. GETTY IMAGES