Panthers pass up Texans, get No. 1 overall pick
HOUSTON — When Davis Mills launched his last-minute Hail Mary, when Jordan Akins caught the subsequent two-point conversion, when soon-tobe former head coach Lovie Smith walked through the tunnel of Lucas Oil Stadium having ended his tenure with an unexpected victory over the Colts, there was born the possibility that the Texans would not choose the first quarterback of the NFL draft.
The Texans ceded the No. 1 overall pick to the Bears with that last-minute win, and the Bears cashed the draft slot in Friday for a colossal haul in a blockbuster trade with the quarterback-needy
Panthers. Carolina moved up from No. 9 to No. 1 in the deal, which, according to ESPN'S Adam Schefter, sent Chicago its No. 9 pick, its second-round pick, a first-round pick in 2024, a second-round pick in 2025, plus wide receiver D.J. Moore.
The Panthers and new coach Frank Reich now have the ultimate choice of whether they'll pick Alabama's Bryce Young, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud or potential draft-board climbers in Kentucky's Will Levis or Florida's Anthony Richardson.
Brooks Kubena
Dolphins pick up option on QB
The Dolphins are picking up the fifth-year option on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's contract, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press Friday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Dolphins had not officially announced the deal.
Tagovailoa, who Miami drafted fifth overall in 2020, will enter the fourth year of his rookie deal this upcoming season and will be guaranteed $23.2 million.
The Dolphins have already informed him of the decision.
49ers’ Purdy has surgery
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy had surgery on his injured throwing elbow that should allow him to return to play possibly as early as the start of next season.
The 49ers said Dr. Keith Meister conducted an internal brace repair to Purdy's right elbow. The team said Purdy is anticipated to start a throwing progression program in three months.
The typical timeline for a full return is six months, which would be the start of the 2023 regular season.
Odds and ends
Saftety Devin Mccourty, who won three Super Bowl rings with the Patriots, is retiring after 13 seasons. … The Titans continued the renovation of their offensive line Friday, releasing 11-year veteran center Ben Jones a year after signing him to a two-year extension. The Packers have hired Greg Williams as defensive passing game coordinator, promoted Ryan Downard to defensive backs coach and added the assistant head coach title to special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia. …
The Vikings released wide receiver Adam Thielen for salary cap relief, ending a remarkable 10year run with his homestate team as an undrafted underdog. … Otis Taylor, the longtime Chiefs receiver who along with quarterback Len Dawson formed one of the NFL'S dynamic duos, died Thursday after more than a decade of health problems. He was 80.