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China trade group warns of countermeasures to Japan chip export curbs South China Morning Post
If you blinked, you probably missed a trade during the 2023 NFL Draft. A record 41 trades were completed over the three-day draft that included six trades in the first round alone.
The Detroit Lions were the biggest players as far as trading picks was concerned. Detroit made six trades during the draft. It played a hand in a quarter of the trades that were executed on Day 2. The Lions used one of those Friday night trades to select former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker, who undoubtedly would have been drafted higher if not for his knee injury.
On Saturday, the Lions made headlines again after trading D'Andre Swift to the Eagles two days after selecting fellow running back Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick.
Here's a complete rundown of every trade that was executed during the last three days.
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EURUSD daily
MUFG Research maintains a long EUR/USD and a short USD/JPY exposure in its ToTW portfolio. The short USD/JPY trade suffered today longs after the Bank of Japan left policy unchanged.
MUFG is long EUR/USD from 1.0950, targeting a move towards 1.1350, with a stop at 1.0750. It last traded at 1.1016.
MUFG is also short USD/JPY from 134.70, with a target at 129.00, and a stop at 138.50. It last traded at 136.24.
"We are maintaining our long EUR/USD trade idea and our short USD/JPY trade idea despite today's large post-Boj rebound," MUFG notes.
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Americans are growing interested in switching from ICE-equipped models to EVs, whether new or used. The latest report from used car retailer CarMax says that search volume for EVs has doubled in the last year, spurred on by higher gas prices throughout the country. More car shoppers are now seeing these searches through to the purchase of a used EV, trading in their ICE-equipped cars in the process. And according to CarMax, Toyotas are the “most traded in brand for EVs,” which is telling for the Japanese automaker that has been more reluctant than most to transition to fully-electric cars.
The CarMax study looked at trends in segment, or vehicle types, and in specific brands that stand out anytime buyers make the big switch from ICE to EV. The retailer found that SUVs are the most common trade-in for EVs, sitting at 40 percent of vehicles that buyers leave at the lot; sedans and coupes made up 29 percent of trade-ins for EVs; and luxury vehicles came in third with 17 percent.
The percentages in segment are not that surprising given the popularity of SUVs compared to sedans and coupes: if there are more SUVs on the road, then it makes sense that more SUVs are traded in.
But it’s notable that the top five EV models are not SUVs. In order of their popularity, the best-selling EVs at CarMax are the Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y, Nissan Leaf, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Chevrolet Bolt EV.
Presumably, that means shoppers are trading in their SUVs for EV sedans and crossovers. CarMax doesn’t disclose the exact percentage of SUV owners who switch to the Tesla Model 3, but if the Model 3 is the best-selling EV, then it’s likely that some former SUV drivers jump ship to the Tesla, which could bode well for the future of the “doomed” sedan.
The CarMax report says the most common trade-in for the Tesla Model 3 was the Honda Civic, while the second most common was the Toyota Tacoma. CarMax shoppers buying a Nissan Leaf most commonly traded in the Toyota Prius — but there’s no mention of how many Prius Primes were traded in.
Either way, this contributed to Toyota being the most traded in brand for EVs, sitting at 12 percent of ICE-to-EV trades. Ford and BMW were both tied for second place with eight percent, and Honda placed third with seven percent.
This marks the second year in a row that Toyota is the most traded in brand for EVs at CarMax, which may or may not be related to Toyota’s reticence regarding fully-electric cars. Toyota remains committed to hybrids, and plug-in hybrids, such as the Prius, while at least some former owners are doing the unthinkable: switching from Toyota to Nissan, all for the sake of a newer EV.
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SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE, April 28 (Reuters) - Chinese banks are ramping up efforts to promote international use of the yuan, and reporting a surge in cross-border yuan business from the country's booming trade with Russia and deepening ties with the Middle East.
Harbin Bank Co (6138.HK), in China's Heilongjiang province neighboring Russia, saw its cross-border yuan business grow nine-fold last year to a record, as the Sino-Russia trade grew briskly after the Ukraine war began.
China Construction Bank (601939.SS) and Agricultural Bank of China (AgBank) (601288.SS) reported total assets at their Moscow subsidiaries jumped 3.3 times and 1.4 times, respectively, in 2022, while Russia was put under harsh western sanctions.
Admittedly the growth came off a low base, but these small steps in yuan adoption come after a string of bilateral deals by China with its trade partners, such as its oil purchases from the Gulf and other trade with Brazil and Russia.
The yuan's share of global payments is merely 2.5%, and tiny compared with U.S. dollar's 39.4% and euro's 35.8%, according to SWIFT, the global payment messaging system controlled by the West.
But Reuters analysis of banks' latest filings shows how the one-year-old Ukraine war that led to Russia being kicked out of the dollar system, is revving up China's efforts to extend the plumbing for an alternative currency system.
"China should prepare for the worst-case scenario of being excluded from SWIFT, and actively promote cross-border use of the yuan," Wang Jiehua and Qiao Liqun, executives at Harbin Bank, wrote recently in a publication affiliated to China's central bank.
China should use the opportunities brought about by western sanctions against Moscow to expand trade with Russia, and make Heilongjiang a beachhead for yuan internationalization, they wrote.
In Inner Mongolia, also neighbouring Russia, Bank of Inner Mongolia has been actively engaged in yuan settlements and trade financing businesses with its Russian peers, facilitating bilateral trades, official Xinhua news agency reported in March.
Even Chinese banks with modest Russian business, such as Bank of Jiujiang (6190.HK) and Postal Savings Bank of China , said their cross-border yuan settlements more than doubled as Beijing pushed for global use of the yuan currency. AgBank's yuan clearing business jumped 157% last year in Dubai.
Harbin Bank, which in 2015 partnered with Sberbank of Russia to establish a platform for Sino-Russian financial cooperation, last year launched a department dedicated to promoting cross-border business with Russia.
It also vowed to promote the Cross-border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) - China's answer to SWIFT - seeking to be "a major force" in the development of yuan business and CIPS in the Russian market.
Industrial Bank Co (601166.SS), whose cross-border, corporate payment business jumped 50% last year, has also been actively promoting CIPS, China's own global payment system.
The bank said it currently helps 153 foreign and Chinese banks connect to CIPS, to advance China's yuan internationalisation strategy.
In the Republic of Tajikistan, AgBank held a campaign last December to introduce CIPS, as it seeks to lay out a cross-border yuan clearing network linking China and the Central Asian country.
The efforts were captured by official data. In March, 61 participants joined CIPS as indirect participants, more than in the previous four months combined.
Bank of China (601988.SS), which is the biggest facilitator of CIPS in terms of market share, published an ambitious agenda last month for yuan internationalisation.
The bank, whose cross-border yuan settlement grew 26.1% last year to 31.1 trillion yuan ($4.50 trillion), vowed to support China's state-owned companies, commodity traders, and engineering contractors in using yuan for settlement and financing.
Another state bank, the Bank of Communications (BoCom) (601328.SS), said it facilitated China's first yuan-settled trade of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG).
"China has big influence on the demand for oil and gas," China's fifth biggest bank said in a statement this week, after it helped CNOOC and Frances's TotalEnergies complete the milestone LNG deal.
"Increasing the use of yuan in pricing, and settling cross-border oil and gas trade will give a boost to yuan internationalization."
($1 = 6.9148 Chinese yuan renminbi)
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
The Kansas City Chiefs have apparently been working to make a trade-up in the 2023 NFL draft, but they’re having difficulty finding a partner.
Cowboys Wire’s KD Drummond reports via Cowboys team host and reporter Kyle Youmans that Dallas turned down a trade offer with Kansas City. The specific details of the trade offers aren’t known, but the Cowboys would acquire pick No. 31 and the Chiefs would move up five spots to acquire pick No. 26 in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Kyle Youmans reports the Cowboys turned down trade down offers from Kansas City (31) and Las Vegas (38)
Specific details unknown.
— KD Drummond (@KDDrummondNFL) April 28, 2023
Who might their target have been in a trade-up situation? Perhaps Georgia edge rusher Nolan Smith, Oklahoma OT Anton Smith or one of the top tight ends in the draft class? It’s clear that Dallas had a player in mind at that pick (and that player was Michigan DT Mazi Smith). This spot was likely the Chiefs’ last opportunity to trade ahead of AFC rivals like Cincinnati and Buffalo. The Bills actually moved up to pick No. 25 to take Utah TE Dalton Kincaid. We knew that Brett Veach was going to aggressively pursue a trade-up in Round 1, but sometimes it’s simply a matter of finding a willing trade partner. Few teams seemed willing to do the reigning Super Bowl champions a favor.
The Bears unofficially got draft season going by trading from No. 1 to No. 9 with the Panthers. Chicago almost took a more circuitous route to get there.
According to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, the Bears originally were going to flip with the Texans, who have the second pick, before then dropping from No. 2 to No. 9 with the Panthers.
The Bears and Texans couldn’t conclude that portion of the deal, prompting Chicago to make the straight drop to No. 9.
It means that the Texans would have had quarterback Bryce Young, and that the Panthers would have taken a different quarterback at No. 2.
Immediately after the trade, it was believed the Panthers wanted C.J. Stroud. That eventually melted into a clear presumption that it will be Young. If not Young, it would be very interesting to know whether the Panthers would have landed, if they had landed at No. 2.
Mock Draft Season officially comes to a close Thursday when the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft finally begins with the Carolina Panthers selecting (we think) quarterback Bryce Young.
The mocks have flowed like the Nile River ever since the Bears finished their season with 10 consecutive losses to land the No. 1 pick.
A blockbuster trade and months of speculation have finally led us to general manager Ryan Poles' first big draft moment.
I've already filed my final mock draft, which you can read here.
But I wanted to give Bears fans their say, so I fired up the Pro Football Focus mock simulator and let Bears Twitter have a go.
The results included a first-round trade down and several Day 3 picks based on "best name," which is a theory I support.
So here it is *drumroll* Bears Twitter's Mock Draft:
Trade!
In theory, a trade-down isn't surprising. After all, who doesn't love more picks? But the simulator gave the Bears a gift at No. 9, with edge rusher Tyree Wilson and all four top tackles still on the board.
But greed is a powerful drug. The decision to trade the No. 9 and No. 64 pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for No. 17 and No. 32 beat out Wilson, Peter Skoronski, and Darnell Wright. It wasn't particularly close.
Admittedly, the Bears would probably ask for an extra Day 3 pick or two in this deal, but this is the trade the simulator accepted. My hands are tied.
Grade: B
Onto the first pick!
We rarely talk about the downside of trading down, but the decision bit the Bears here.
After moving out of No. 9, Wilson, Skoronski, Paris Johnson Jr., Broderick Jones, Darnell Wright, Nolan Smith, and Lukas Van Ness were selected before the Bears went back on the clock.
A brutal scene in the war room at Halas Hall.
With all of those players off the board, the Bears' decision came down to wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, edge rusher Myle Murphy, and running back Bijan Robinson.
I probably would have just said f--k it and taken Robinson here, but unsurprisingly the love for Smith-Njigba remains. He's the clear WR1 in the class and already has a connection with quarterback Justin Fields.
Forget protecting or affecting the quarterback. The Bears are going four-wide in 2023. Honestly, I don't hate the pick after the hand they were dealt at No. 17.
Grade: B
Moving on.
The Bears got the pick they traded for Chase Claypool back when they moved out of No. 9, so they are back on the clock to start Round 2 with a lot of needs still to fill.
Having an early Round 2 pick is a gateway to plenty of second-tier edge rushers in this class. Will McDonald IV and Felix Anudike-Uzomah were both still on the board, as was TCU guard Steve Avila.
But the lure of Northwestern's Adetomiwa Adebawore was too enticing to pass up. The defensive lineman blew away the combine when he ran a 4.49 40-yard dash at 282 pounds.
His inside-outside versatility and first-step explosion are appealing, but he's one of the boom-or-bust prospects in this class. I'd have gone with McDonald here, who scouts view as an 8-10 sack per season guy.
Grade: B-
Onto pick No. 53, and the Bears still haven't addressed the edge rusher or offensive tackle need. Some bad news, the offensive tackle class has already been picked over, and none are appealing options at No. 53.
But good players were still available, with Wisconsin defensive tackle Keeanu Benton, Kansas State cornerback Julius Brents, Ohio State center Luke Wypler, and USC edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu serving as top options.
There was some bickering in the war room over Benton and Wypler, but the selection of Adebawore led to Wypler getting the nod.
Wypler is undersized but incredibly athletic. He has great quickness but has short arms by NFL standards. I'd say 53 is high to take a center, especially the No. 3 center in the class. Benton probably should have been the selection here.
Grade: C-
Finishing out Day 2, the Bears had their choice of edge rusher with Auburn's Derick Hall, Tennessee's Byron Young, and Tuipulotu still on the board. TCU cornerback Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson also was an option.
There were some calls for Tuipulotu, but Hall got the nod in the end. It's the right call.
Hall is one of my favorite players in the class. He's a long, strong, explosive edge rusher with aggression and toughness overflowing.
This is a big win for the Bears. (I had him at No. 61 in my mock as well.)
Grade: A
No Round 3 selections mean the Bears head into Day 3 of the draft with offensive tackle highlighted and double-underlined on the needs sheet.
The Twitter GMs had to address offensive tackle in Round 4. While there was some argument for Clemson edge rusher K.J. Henry and Texas A&M cornerback Jaylon Jones, Oklahoma offensive tackle Wanya Morris got the nod at 103.
Morris is a 6-foot-5, 307-pound athletic pass protector. He gave up just two sacks and eight pressures during his final season in Norman. He excels at getting out into space and locating defenders. That being said, Morris' technique needs a lot of work if he's going to start anytime soon.
But the need had to be addressed.
Grade: B-
The Bears arrived at their second fourth-round pick with a lot of good names still on the board.
Henry remained an option, but Illinois running back Chase Brown, Alabama cornerback Eli Ricks, and Penn State offensive lineman Juice Scruggs also were in the mix. Brown beat out Scruggs and Ricks as the Bears added a one-cut runner with 4.43 speed.
Brown should mix in well with Khalil Herbert and D'Onta Foreman. Well done.
Grade: B+
Back on the clock three picks later, the Twitter GMs got their man in Ricks. The Alabama corner narrowly edged Scruggs out to be the fifth-round's first selection.
Ricks is one of my Day 3 draft favorites. He's a long, tall, fluid corner with great man coverage ability. Last season at Alabama, Ricks allowed the lowest completion rate and was second in yards allowed per coverage snap, per PFF.
He's still a little green, but I think he can start opposite Jaylon Johnson and allow Kyler Gordon to man the nickel full-time.
Grade: A-
You could tell that if Scruggs fell to No. 148, the Twitter GMs wouldn't pass on him a third time. They selected Scruggs over Henry, Clemson offensive lineman Jordan McFadden, and Michigan edge rusher Mike Morris.
Scruggs has center/guard versatility and plays with good technique and strength. The lack of quickness is an issue that might see him struggle at guard in the NFL. An OK pick in Round 5, but passing on Henry three times is something I can't rubberstamp.
But Scruggs does pass the "cool name" test we arrived at on Day 3.
Grade: C
Round 7 was always going to be a "what the hell, why not?" moment for the Twitter GMs. The war room ran out of snacks and energy drinks, and the tape wouldn't buffer, so we're going off vibes.
Witt was narrowly selected over Ohio State cornerback Cam Brown, with San Diego State defensive lineman Jonah Tavai and Florida safety Rashad Torrence having few fans in the room.
I can't knock the Witt pick. He needs some time to put on weight and continue to learn the position, but there's a chance he will end up being one of this draft's deep sleepers. At No. 218, you can' do better with a dart throw.
Grade: A-
Hell, if Brock Purdy can almost go to the Super Bowl as Mr. Irrelevant, you might as well take a stab at Duggan, right?
Duggan dwarfed Tavai, North Dakota State fullback Hunter Luepke, and Hampton wide receiver Jadakiss Bond to round out this mock.
While the Bears signed P.J. Walker to back up Fields this offseason, I do think drafting a quarterback on Day 3 is a good option. But I don't believe Duggan is the one.
Toughness, grit, and leadership are there, but the lack of size and arm strength likely will limit him in the NFL. But at pick 258, what the hell?
Grade: C-
So let's review:
The decision to pass on Wilson and the top four tackles backfired, but getting Smith-Njigba isn't the worst thing that could have happened. There was the Round 2 swing on Adebawore and Wypler before a nice run that included Hall, Ricks, Brown, and Witt.
The lack of a starting-caliber offensive tackle is concerning, and I think another edge rusher is needed. But the gambles will have paid off if Smith-Njigba blows up and Adebawore reaches booms instead of busts. If they can keep Field clean.
Overall grade: C+
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The rupee gained 8 paise to 81.66 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday amid weak American currency in the overseas market.
Forex traders said a positive trend in domestic equities, foreign fund inflows and crude oil prices below $80 a barrel also supported the local unit.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the domestic unit opened at 81.69 against the dollar and then climbed to 81.66, registering a rise of 5 paise over its previous close.
On Wednesday, the rupee closed at 81.74 against the US currency.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, fell 0.07 per cent to 101.40.
Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, advanced 0.48 per cent to $78.06 per barrel.
"The rupee is expected to trade in the narrow range of 81.70-82.30 levels as mixed economic data and a fragile geo-political environment are likely to increase volatility, and following a risk-management policy would be suitable this time," CR Forex Advisors MD Amit Pabari said.
In the domestic equity market, the 30-share BSE Sensex advanced 38.68 points or 0.06 per cent to 60,339.26 points. The broader NSE Nifty gained 5.45 points or 0.03 per cent to 17,819.05 points.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) were net buyers in the capital market on Wednesday as they offloaded shares worth Rs 1,257.48 crore, according to exchange data.
The Miami Heat are reportedly looking to get Jimmy Butler some help.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN said the Heat are "on the cusp" of making a blockbuster move for a superstar, with Damian Lillard being a prominent target.
"I think the Heat are on the cusp of looking for another star maneuver. I would put them on the list for Dame Lillard if Dame ends up getting traded," Windhorst said on the Hoop Collective podcast (24:45 mark).
"If he goes to market, I think the Heat are on that list. I don't know if they have enough. A lot of their offer would be built around Tyler Herro, who's just injured. But I suspect, I don't know for sure, just to be clear, I don't know for sure that they would offer him, but I would suspect that that would be the type of thing, that and draft picks."
Lillard has been a fixture in trade rumors for several years, with the All-Star guard consistently saying he wants to remain in Portland.
That said, the Blazers' inability to field a competitive team has put cracks in the relationship. Lillard has been more vocal in recent months about his lack of desire to play through a rebuilding phase.
"That's not what I'm interested in," Lillard told reporters in March. "That's what the frustrating part of it is. Talking about what's gonna happen next season. And us 'building.' That's not what I'm here to do, especially at this stage of my career."
The Blazers have missed the postseason each of the last two seasons and finished under .500 in three of the last four. Lillard has been limited to 87 games in the last two years, though a chunk of his missed games in 2022-23 came at the end of the season when Portland was out of playoff contention.
The Heat are up 3-1 on the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the opening round of the playoffs and have a history of being a haven for veteran players. Butler has taken on a herculean task of pushing Miami in the playoffs during his tenure with the franchise but is 33 years old and could use some help from a co-star willing to shoulder the load.
It's unlikely the Blazers would part with Lillard for a package centered around Tyler Herro, a good but flawed young player. There would almost certainly be a better young player bandied about in offers if Lillard became available.
The government should walk away from trade negotiations with Gulf states rather than sign any deals that fail to address human rights abuses, a group of MPs has warned.
The UK is currently in talks with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) over a free trade agreement, which it claims could boost the British economy by £1.6bn a year.
But human rights issues have already stopped the group of countries - including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE - from signing a deal with the EU.
The report from the Commons International Trade Committee admitted a deal with the GCC would present a "good opportunity" for businesses.
But they also said it should be used to improve conditions in the region, citing concerns over the repression of women and the LGBT+ community, and crackdowns on protests.
"We urge the UK government to be openly prepared to end the negotiations rather than accept an unsatisfactory agreement," it read.
The committee also wants negotiators to push for pledges on decarbonisation and for the UK government to tighten modern slavery laws, preventing the country from becoming "complicit in rights abuses".
Its chair and SNP MP Angus Brendan MacNeil said: "A trade deal with the GCC, like any major free trade agreement, of course represents a potential economic opportunity for the UK.
"But this particular deal is about something even more important. The approach we take here will be about how we see ourselves as a society, how we are seen around the world and whether we are willing to put our values on human rights and the environment on the negotiating table.
"We have heard promises in the past that more trade will not come at the expense of human rights. But the UK is negotiating a trade deal with a bloc including countries that the government itself has assessed as having particularly concerning human rights issues."
In its response to written questions from the committee, the government said the UK was a "leading advocate for human rights".
But it said free trade agreements were "not generally the most effective or targeted tool to advance human rights issues".
The committee also used the report to criticise the Department for International Trade - now part of the Department for Business and Trade - for "dodging parliamentary scrutiny" after it did not send a minister to give evidence for its inquiry, and responded to written questions late.
Mr MacNeil added: "The government needs to make plain what sort of trading nation we want to be.
"A trade strategy and transparent approach to scrutiny from a minister would have been helpful in this regard, but with no strategy forthcoming and the department's refusal to send a minister to speak to our committee, it is difficult to assess whether we will be getting the right deal which will benefit the UK and its people."
A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said: "We are negotiating a modern, ambitious deal with the GCC, which could increase trade by 16% and add £1.6bn a year to the UK economy.
"The UK is a leading advocate for human rights. We continue to show global leadership in encouraging all states to uphold their international obligations and hold those who abuse human rights to account, including through our independent global human rights sanctions regime."
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: The Oakland Athletics are one of the worst franchises in sports. It starts at the top and trickles all the way down to the product on the field. They have put together one of the worst overall rosters Major League Baseball has ever seen this year on their way to a 5-18 record and a staggering -102 run differential.
I’m all about rebuilding; sometimes it needs to be done, but Oakland has traded away a number of All-Stars over the last few years, and they basically have nothing to show for it. Not only are they the worst team in baseball, but they also have one of the worst farm systems in the league. They are cheap, and their talent evaluation has been dismal, which is why nobody should be surprised that the returns on the Sean Murphy trade are looking fantastic for everyone involved… except the A’s.
The Braves gave up a lot to acquire Sean Murphy, but he’s been proven to be worth every penny. The 28-year-old has been the best catcher in baseball this April, recording a 1.089 OPS and 187 wrC+, all while playing elite defense behind the plate. Murphy has already racked up 1.5 fWAR, which is tied for the third most in the league.
But you said the Braves gave up a lot? How could Oakland not be satisfied?
Alex Anthopoulos did part ways with an All-Star, but somehow, Williams Contreras landed in Milwaukee, where he’s thrived to begin the season. Only two catchers in the National League have accounted for more than 1.0 WAR this April, and they both have ties to the Braves.
Every Catcher in the National League worth 1.0 fWAR or higher pic.twitter.com/JBkyFyQGHP
— Barstool Baseball (@StoolBaseball) April 25, 2023
Instead of “settling” for Contreras, the Athletics preferred Esteury Ruiz from the Brewers because they already had options at catcher. Normally, I might understand; but when you’re staring a 5+ year rebuild in the face, all Oakland should be focused on is finding high quality talent. Ruiz is off to an alright start for the A’s, hitting .272 with a .678 OPS, but Contreras is already a proven All-Star, and it’s looking like several more could be in his future.
Meanwhile, the arms the Braves sent to Oakland have been less than inspiring. Kyle Muller, who was the prize of the deal for the A’s, has a 7.23 ERA through five starts. Freddy Tarnok is on the 60-day IL with a shoulder strain, and Royber Salinas is a lottery ticket currently in AA ball.
It’s still far too early to bash the A’s completely, but it blows my mind that a team traded away a bonafide All-Star and most likely didn’t even come out with the second-best player in the deal. There are rumors Oakland could be moving their franchise to Las Vegas in the near future. I feel bad for their fans, but perhaps it is for the best. Those poor people deserve much better.
—
Photo: Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets' coaches, scouts and top brass celebrated the acquisition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers with hugs and high-fives. The blockbuster move, in the words of general manager Joe Douglas, is "a historic trade for this franchise."
It's not official yet, as Rodgers still must pass his physical Tuesday and tweak his contract, but the Jets are proceeding as if the four-time NFL MVP is their new QB1. For how long is anybody's guess, as Douglas declined to comment Tuesday on how long they expect the 39-year-old quarterback to play.
"I don't want to put words in his mouth -- you guys will have the opportunity to ask him those specific questions -- but we're obviously excited about this opportunity, excited about this deal and excited having him on this team," Douglas said Tuesday at his pre-draft news conference.
The Jets later announced that they would introduce Rodgers at a 2 p.m. ET news conference on Wednesday.
Douglas, who reached an agreement on the trade Monday afternoon with the Green Bay Packers, defended the compensation package. The Jets surrendered significant draft capital, including a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 conditional second-rounder that improves to a first-rounder if Rodgers plays in 65% of the snaps -- a threshold he has reached in 13 of his 15 seasons as a starter.
"I mean, obviously, we're comfortable with how this deal is shaped," Douglas said. "I don't think anyone ever walks away from a negotiation where you feel like you won everything in terms of what's going back and forth. But ultimately our goal from the beginning was to add Aaron to the team and so we were able to get that agreed to and [we're] just excited (to) get him here."
One of the final components of the trade agreement, Douglas said, was flipping 2023 first-round picks with the Packers. As a result, the Jets go from 13th to 15th in the draft, which begins Thursday night.
The Jets are paying a handsome price for a player who said he was "90 percent retired" in mid-February. A few weeks later, he declared his "intention" to play for the Jets, commencing a six-week negotiation.
The team is hopeful that Rodgers will play at least two seasons, a source said. Douglas, who called Rodgers "one of the best quarterbacks to ever play this game," wouldn't say if Rodgers would attend voluntary workouts in the offseason. In recent years, the mercurial quarterback hasn't participated with the Packers.
The Jets targeted Rodgers as far back as early January, when owner Woody Johnson said quarterback was "the missing piece" and that he'd be "absolutely" willing to make a bold investment in the position.
They ended the season with a six-game losing streak, scoring only 15 points in the last three games. They finished 7-10, their 12th consecutive season out of the playoffs -- the longest active drought in the NFL.
With Rodgers, the Jets have gone from also-ran to Super Bowl contender, according to the latest Vegas odds. Douglas didn't want to make any "crazy statements" about expectations, but he did say last season's ugly finish was a motivation for acquiring Rodgers.
"I guarantee you, that there's going to be a bunch of players that are going to come in, become unified and really try to rewrite how the story ended last year and make sure that we're not in that position," he said.
Rodgers will replace 2021 No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson, who was benched twice last season and will be the No. 2 quarterback. The Jets have been steadfast in saying they want to keep Wilson with the hope that he reaches his potential over time.
"I feel like this is going to be a great thing for Zach," Douglas said. "No one works harder, no one loves ball [more] than Zach Wilson and him having the opportunity to really shadow and be with a Hall of Fame quarterback every day, every hour -- that's a great opportunity, a great learning experience."
Rodgers is coming off a down season by his standard (26 touchdowns, 12 interceptions). Douglas dismissed the performance, alluding to Rodgers' injured thumb and saying "he's not very far removed from back-to-back MVPs" in 2020 and 2021.
"Obviously, it's an adjustment when you're somewhere for 18 years, but we feel like with the people that we have in place, he can get comfortable quickly."
Getty Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones greets someone at an NFL game.
The Dallas Cowboys are nearing closer and closer to the NFL draft, and they’re making it clear they are open to a trade.
Dallas has already made two trades this offseason as a means of acquiring wide receiver Brandin Cooks and cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Otherwise, they’ve focused on extending and restructuring contracts but they could be set for another deal soon.
During a pre-draft press conference, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones and owner Jerry Jones confirmed that there are trade discussions happening as they get closer to the draft. That being said, it’s early and there’s nothing “concrete.”
“Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said there are trade discussions happening, but nothing concrete,” Dallas Morning News reporter Michael Gehlken wrote on Twitter on April 24. “‘Very few trades are done in the back end.’ Little sense today on how board will fall. ‘I just think it will be a game-day decision, if you will, on how it evolves.'”
The Cowboys are no stranger to making in-the-moment deals during the NFL draft, but each year is different from the rest. It also matters how the Cowboys evaluate their options, and if trading up is even worth it.
There may be 32 picks in each edition of the NFL draft, but that doesn’t mean the teams believe that there are 32 players who are “first-round” quality. The Cowboys said as much at their recent presser.
After being prompted with a question about their draft grades, Stephen Jones revealed that they’re still adjusting their grades and that they only consider 15-18 players to be first-round quality.
“That’s still to be determined, we’re still tweaking and have some things that we’re still working on as we move forward. But I think in general, the number will still be fairly close to… 15 to 17 to 18 range should end up being pretty close,” Jones said.
Considering the Cowboys pick at the No. 26 spot, their front office may want to trade up in order to get one of those first-round quality players. On the other hand, a lack of value at their spot could encourage them to trade back for more picks and a better value.
While moving up for a top prospect is exciting, the idea of moving back is enticing as well. More picks plus the chance to snag a steal later in the draft feels like killing two birds with one stone.
ESPN insider Bill Barnwell recently suggested a trade back for the Cowboys and the Indianapolis Colts that would take them out of the first round but would get them an extra pick this year and in 2024.
“After trading a pair of late-round picks to acquire crucial veterans Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore, the Cowboys might want to use a small trade down to help replenish their draft capital. They should be looking at running back and tight end and depth along the line of scrimmage, and those are positions they should be comfortable attacking on Days 2 and 3,” Barnwell wrote.
Barnwell’s trade idea would see Dallas swap the 26th overall pick for the Colts’ 35th overall pick, as well as their fourth-round pick in both 2023 and 2024. The Cowboys could use the draft capital considering they only have seven picks this year.
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It used to be that trades involving big-name quarterbacks were a rarity in the NFL. But in the past two years, that has changed. Last year, Russell Wilson was traded from the Seattle Seahawks. Aaron Rodgers is expected to be dealt to the New York Jets any day now.
And now a third quarterback with considerable postseason experience could be on the move.
While appearing on SportsCenter, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that the Tennessee Titans could be amenable to moving on from veteran Ryan Tannehill.
"Teams I talk to do believe that Tannehill could be, or is, available via trade," Fowler said. "He's got a $36 million cap hit. New [general manager] Ran Carthon is resetting this roster in a big way. They're making some moves. And so, right now they would need a replacement, though; they would need somebody in place."
At 34, Tannehill's age and robust 2023 cap hit aren't the only stumbling blocks for a potential deal. Tannehill's contract is set to expire after the 2023 season. Tannehill also missed five games in 2022 and threw just 13 touchdown passes.
But we're talking about a quarterback who has started 143 NFL games and who has won almost two-thirds of his 55 starts with the Titans. Tannehill would be an upgrade under center for several teams.
Here's a look at a handful of them—and what it might take to make a deal happen.
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The Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans are already allegedly talking trade—but it has nothing to do with Ryan Tannehill—at least not yet.
While appearing on the NFL Network, Daniel Jeremiah said that the Titans have discussed moving all the way up to the third overall pick in April's draft—ostensibly to draft a quarterback of the future.
"Can I give you the team that I have been told to keep an eye on that's exploring this and looking into this?" Jeremiah said on his Move the Sticks podcast (via Buck Reising of A to Z Sports). "Again, this is just people around the league who said do not sleep on Numero 11. The Tennessee Titans. The two teams to keep an eye on with the trade-ups were the Raiders and the Titans."
It's an understandable move for both sides. The Cardinals are locked into Kyler Murray for the foreseeable future and have multiple spots that need filling, Trading back and stockpiling picks makes sense.
In some respects, so does including Tannehill in a prospective deal.
Whereas most teams would likely also want Tannehill to restructure his contract in a trade, for Arizona the fact that his deal expires in 2024 might not be such a bad thing. The Redbirds wouldn't be looking for a long-term solution under center. Arizona just needs someone who can hold down the fort while Murray recovers from the ACL tear that cut his season short.
If the Cardinals have any aspirations of being more than the NFC West's doormat in 2023, Tannehill is easily the best "fill in" option that would be available for the team.
And if moving Tannehill knocks down the massive cost of moving up eight spots, the Titans would have to strongly consider it.
Cardinals Get: Ryan Tannehill; 2023 Round 1 Pick (No. 11); 2023 Round 3 Pick (No. 72); 2024 Round 1 Pick
Titans Get: 2023 Round 1 Pick (No. 3)
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The Atlanta Falcons are in no-man's land at quarterback.
As things stand right now, second-year pro Desmond Ridder is penciled in as Atlanta's starter in 2023, with Taylor Heinicke serving as his backup. One of those players probably isn't "the guy." The other one definitely isn't.
Ridder wasn't terrible as a rookie, winning two of his four starts while completing 63.5 percent of his passes. But Ridder also threw all of two touchdown passes in four games and showed little to indicate he has what it takes to be a plus starter. Heinicke started 24 games in Washington over the past two seasons and showed the occasional flash, but his knack for turning the ball over at the worst possible time got him the hook in Washington and makes him a player better suited to a reserve role.
Atlanta has the eighth overall pick in the 2023 draft. But most draftniks expect at least three quarterbacks to come off the board ahead of Atlanta, and in Bleacher Report's latest mock draft, the Falcons pass on Kentucky's Will Levis in favor of help on the edge in Clemson's Myles Murphy.
Tannehill isn't a game-changer. He isn't going to single-handedly reverse the Falcons fortunes. But by just about any reasonable estimation, he's an upgrade on Ridder and Heinicke. A player who can make the Falcons competitive in the NFL's weakest division.
Tannehill and Falcons head coach Arthur Smith also have history, with the latter coaching the former in Tennessee in 2019 and 2020. If any coach knows how to scheme up Tannehill, it's Smith. And Smith needs to show progress in 2023 or he's likely out of a job.
This isn't a move that would electrify the fanbase.
But it makes sense.
Falcons Get: Ryan Tannehill
Titans Get: 2023 Round 3 pick (No. 75); 2023 Round 4 Pick (No. 110)
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It's no secret that the Indianapolis Colts need a quarterback. Since Andrew Luck's retirement, the Colts have opened each and every season with a different starter under center. As a matter of fact, Indy's need at quarterback is so pressing that the B/R Scouting Department believes the Colts will trade up one spot to be sure they get their man in Florida's Anthony Richardson.
"General manager Chris Ballard loves traits, and no quarterback in this year's class has better traits than Richardson," Derrik Klassen said. "As a rare athlete for the position, Richardson is a talented quarterback who needs a little bit of love and care to reach his potential.
"On the bright side," he continued, "Richardson offers exceptional scrambling ability, pocket management and the know-how to avoid sacks, not to mention he's a decent processor for a one-year starter. Richardson's issues mostly boil down to timing and accuracy, which can be fixed with a couple of seasons of sharp coaching from Shane Steichen and Co."
However, while Richardson is immensely talented, he's also immensely raw. He's all but certainly going to need at least a season of development before he'll be ready to start. Maybe two.
The Colts brought in Gardner Minshew as a stopgap option at quarterback, but while fans love his moxie, he's mediocre on his best day. Simply put, rolling out Minshew at quarterback is punting on the 2023 season.
However, bringing in Tannehill as a "bridge" starter would allow the Colts to bring Richardson along slowly without completely throwing the towel in on 2023.
If, that is, the Colts can convince the Titans to trade Tannehill inside the division.
Colts Get: Ryan Tannehill, 2024 Round 6 Pick
Titans Get: 2023 Round 3 Pick (No. 79); 2024 Conditional Round 4 Pick
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This is one of the least likely scenarios listed here. But an argument can be made that it's a deal that would help both sides extricate themselves from an uncomfortable situation.
The Patriots didn't expect to be in this situation at all. After drafting Mac Jones in the first round two years ago and watching Jones make the playoffs as a rookie, expectations were high in 2022. But the entire New England offense imploded last year, and as Chad Graff reported for The Athletic, when Jones went outside the organization for advice on turning things around, it did not sit well with Belichick.
"Jones dealt with turnovers early in the season," he said. "He had a couple of on-field outbursts. Surely, Belichick was bothered by both. But not having faith in the coaching staff? Looking outside the building for answers? That's a near-cardinal sin for Belichick."
That rift has led to speculation that the Patriots could be willing to part with Jones. And while the Pats also have Bailey Zappe on the roster, moving Jones would leave the Patriots with a quandary at quarterback.
Unless, of course, the Pats flipped one quarterback for another.
New England isn't a rebuilding team—the Pats of aspirations of contending in 2023. If Belichick truly is ready to move on from Jones, then a QB swap with the Titans could help keep New England in the hunt in 2023.
Perhaps the change of scenery would help Jones recapture his 2021 form. And with at least two years left on his rookie deal, the Titans would have options under center moving forward.
Patriots Get: Ryan Tannehill, 2023 Round 5 Pick (No. 147)
Titans Get: Mac Jones, 2023 Round 6 Pick (No. 187)
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I can feel the waves of disdain coming off Jets fans at the mere thought of Ryan Tannehill landing in New York. After all, while speaking to fans at an event sponsored by WFAN Radio, Jets general manager Joe Douglas all but guaranteed that the long-rumored trade that would bring Aaron Rodgers to New York is going to happen.
"He's gonna be here," Douglas said.
But here's the thing. For whatever reason, that trade hasn't happened yet. Reports have indicated that the hangup is 2024 compensation—the Packers want New York's first-rounder with no strings attached, while the Jets want the pick to be conditional.
Cooler heads will probably prevail. But what if they don't? What if both sides dig in and won't budge? What happens if the rumors that the San Francisco 49ers could insert themselves into the situation turn out to be more than just rumors?
What do the Jets do if the Rodgers deal falls apart?
It's easy enough to identify what they won't do—there's no going back to Zach Wilson at this point. Wilson was mostly dreadful last year. There have been multiple reports that Wilson has lost the locker room, with Jordan Schultz of The Score telling The Pat McAfee Show there would be "a mutiny" if Wilson was the team's quarterback in 2023.
Ryan Tannehill isn't Aaron Rodgers. But he's several steps up the quarterback ladder from Wilson. The Jets have talent at just about every position on the field save one—quarterback. Tannehill has demonstrated that he can lead a talented team deep into the playoffs.
There's no reason to think he couldn't do that in New York—at a fraction of what it would cost to acquire Rodgers.
Jets Get: Ryan Tannehill
Titans Get: 2023 Round 4 Pick (No. 112); 2024 Conditional Round 4 Pick
gamagana.blogspot.com Sunday night saw the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns lose their respective playoff games. For the Bucks, it put t...
