Here is a rundown of some of the most notable prospects to accept a spot in the game thus far with a full list available at the game's official website:

Although the Senior Bowl will boast some top-level talent, several players expected to be taken high in the draft have declined the opportunity to play.

Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson turned down his invitation to play in the 2017 Senior Bowl on Wednesday in favor of focusing on preparations for the NFL Scouting Combine. 

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller initially reported Watson's decision Tuesday night, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport provided confirmation from Watson's agent, David Mulugheta.

Miller added that Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams also declined an invitation.

Per Dane Brugler of CBS Sports, Alabama defensive standouts Jonathan Allen and Reuben Foster opted against playing in the game as well.

Watson finished second to Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson in the Heisman Trophy voting last season after coming in third the previous year.

He finished the campaign with 4,593 passing yards, 50 total touchdowns (41 passing and nine rushing) and 17 interceptions.

That made him one of the highest-rated passers in college football, according to Pro Football Focus:

The 21-year-old Georgia native is seemingly in a three-way race with North Carolina's Mitch Trubisky and Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer to be the first signal-caller selected in the 2017 NFL draft.

Miller ranked Watson third among quarterbacks in his Jan. 11 big board behind both Trubisky and Kizer.

Also, in his most recent mock draft on Jan. 2, Miller predicted Watson will be selected 10th overall by the Buffalo Bills.

With regard to those who have decided to play in the Senior Bowl, however, Oklahoma wide receiver Dede Westbrook is arguably the biggest name.

Westbrook enjoyed a dominant season that saw him finish as a Heisman Trophy finalist, and he has a chance to work his way into the first-round conversation with a strong Senior Bowl.

Also, top-rated tight end O.J. Howard will look to improve his stock even more, while players who were productive in college but overlooked in draft terms, such as San Diego State running back Donnel Pumphrey and Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly, will attempt to make some noise.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Albert Breer of The MMQB first reported the promotion Wednesday. He also noted Romeo Crennel, the team's defensive coordinator, is expected to remain with the organization as an assistant head coach. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle confirmed the report.

Vrabel has quickly moved through the coaching ranks since his 14-year playing career ended in 2010. He worked at Ohio State for three seasons, one with the linebackers and two with the defensive line, before joining the Texans in 2014.

The 41-year-old Ohio native and former Buckeye is a three-time Super Bowl champion who was named first-team All-Pro in 2007. In all, he racked up 740 combined tackles, 57 sacks, 40 passes defended, 19 forced fumbles and 11 interceptions across 206 games in the NFL.

He's translated that on-field experience into almost immediate coaching success. The reported promotion from the Texans is likely an effort to keep him on their staff as long as possible amid outside interest. It's the most logical explanation for changing Crennel's status after he guided the top-ranked defense in 2016.

Breer pointed out the Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Redskins both showed interest in Vrabel as a potential defensive coordinator.

Wilson reported earlier in January the Los Angeles Rams even considered him in their search for a new head coach before hiring Sean McVay. Vrabel talked to Wilson about what he's learned since making the transition to the sideline:

I think you're always learning and trying to study the game and trying to understand schemes and concepts. The biggest thing in coaching is being able to reach your players.

The schemes can be great. The concepts can be great, but until you make that connection with your players and get them to believe they're getting better and they can see they're getting better and you're giving them ownership of the room and having conversations and dialogues.

That's been the biggest thing for me as a coach is trying to make a connection with the players. Once you can set the hook, you got their attention.

It seems like only a matter of time before Vrabel becomes a head coach. A successful year with the Texans defense next season could make him the most prized option available next offseason.

Moving up the ladder again in Houston could be possible in 2018. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the Texans considered moving on from Bill O'Brien before their playoff win over the injury-depleted Oakland Raiders, either through a trade or a "mutual parting of the ways."

Whether it's the Texans or another organization, Vrabel is setting himself up to reach the pinnacle of coaching in short order. Perhaps that shouldn't be a surprise for someone who played under Bill Cowher and Bill Belichick.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

In the AFC, two usual suspects emerged, as the New England Patriots, led by Tom Brady, host Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Playing the Patriots in New England is a tall task for any team, especially in the postseason. But the Steelers are one of the few teams in the league who have the right amount of fire power on offense to stay around in any game.

In the NFC, the Atlanta Falcons get one more chance to say farewell to their beloved Georgia Dome as they host the Green Bay Packers in the stadium's last game before the Falcons move to their new arena next season.

But looking to spoil Atlanta's day will be the Packers, who are anchored by arguably the best quarterback in football right now. Aaron Rodgers has been on fire since the second half of the regular season began, which is a main reason why the Packers have won eight straight games heading into Sunday's matchup against the Falcons.

After knocking out the No. 1 seeded Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional Round, does Green Bay have what it takes to win another road game in a hostile environment?

Before we get into any predictions, let's take a look at all the information you'll need to know about these two games.

NFC Championship Game

The Falcons proved that they belong in the conversation of the NFL's elite, as did quarterback Matt Ryan, who put on another dazzling display last weekend against the Seattle Seahawks in a 36-20 win. Ryan threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions.

Ryan had a field day against the Legion of Boom, proving to his critics that he can win in the playoffs and cementing his status as the front-runner for the league's MVP award.

But the Falcons are much more than just Ryan. With the likes of Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, Atlanta possesses a variety of options on offense that can stop any defense in its tracks.

And don't sleep on Atlanta's defense either. 

On the other side of the field, the Packers have been nursing some injuries for most of the season. Having lost Eddie Lacy during the regular season and Jordy Nelson against the New York Giants in the wild-card round, Green Bay has been relying on the ability of its signal-caller and playmakers to carry them through the playoffs.

And so far, it's worked.

After defeating the Giants, the Packers went into a very hostile AT&T Stadium to take on the Cowboys and were able to outlast Dallas in the dying seconds of the game thanks to a 51-yard field goal from Mason Crosby to win 34-31.

The Packers have made it this far, but do they have enough to beat Atlanta? I don't think so.

The Falcons just have too much firepower on offense, and its defense is very underrated, as the Seahawks found out this past weekend. The Falcons will be more motivated than ever to win their last game in their old stadium and make a Super Bowl appearance, and it's hard to imagine that the Packers have any more magic in them to pull off the upset.

Prediction: Falcons defeat the Packers, 30-27

AFC Championship Game

After a convincing 34-16 victory over a frustratingly mediocre Houston Texans, the Patriots will face the complete opposite of the Texans as the dynamic Steelers offense comes into town.

Alongside Roethlisberger are the two most versatile playmakers in the NFL in Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell.

Bell, to no one's surprise, was the catalyst for the Steelers against the Kansas City Chiefs on a day that Pittsburgh was desperate for some big plays. While they didn't score a touchdown in their 18-16 victory in the AFC Divisional Round, the Steelers had just enough production from Bell to end Kansas City's Super Bowl hopes.

But a standout performance from Bell alone won't be enough this weekend against the Patriots, especially if Pittsburgh can't find the end zone.

The Patriots know how to neutralize a team's best players, and they did so against the Steelers back in Week 7 when they won 27-16. While Roethlisberger didn't suit up that week, the Patriots were still able to figure out a way to keep Bell and Brown out of the end zone, despite the fact that both players put up a combined 268 total yards from scrimmage (149 yards for Bell, 119 yards for Brown), according to ESPN.com. 

Brady had a good but not great performance overall against the Texans as he turned the ball over twice against a stout Houston defense. It was a good thing that the Texans offense wasn't capable of moving the ball down the field, because otherwise the Patriots would've regretted those turnovers. But against the Steelers? They'll make you pay for coughing up the football.

Having said that, I feel that Brady will make sure ball security is the No. 1 priority for his offense on Sunday, as they will be able to pick apart Pittsburgh's secondary and move the ball down the field thanks to the likes of Julian Edelman and Dion Lewis out of the backfield, who burst onto the scene against the Texans with three touchdowns.

The Steelers will be able to keep up with the Patriots until Brady gets the ball with the final possession of the game. It's difficult to imagine New England losing an AFC Championship Game at home, and it won't start this season.

Prediction: Patriots defeat the Steelers, 28-27

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

In an interview with the Brock and Salk show on 710 ESPN (h/t ESPN.com's Sheil Kapadia), Carroll discussed the nature of his talk with Sherman:

I had a big meeting with Richard going out, and he has some regrets about this season, didn't go the way we wanted it to go.

I just wanted to make sure we left on really good terms. We talk a lot. I talk with him all the time. I just wanted to make sure to touch base one more time because it was a difficult year for him. The media thing was a big deal and all that. He made it through it. It was hard.

The Seahawks had multiple sideline incidents over the course of the season, and Sherman was often at the center of them.

That included an argument with defensive coordinator Kris Richard in Week 6 and a tirade against Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell in Week 15 when the Seahawks passed the ball at the Los Angeles Rams' 1-yard line.

Following the latter situation, Sherman admitted his rage partly stemmed from the Seahawks' getting intercepted on a similar play to lose Super Bowl XLIX to the New England Patriots, according to Kapadia: "I'm upset about us throwing from the 1. I'd rather do what most teams would do, making a conscientious decision to run the ball. Yeah, I was letting [Carroll] know. We've already seen how that goes."

Carroll later downplayed the incident and expressed little concern about the blowup.

The former Super Bowl-winning head coach said Monday that "bad expressions" on the sidelines were his biggest regret in a 2016 season that saw Seattle go 10-5-1 and get eliminated in the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs by the Atlanta Falcons.

Despite the problems involving Sherman in 2016, Carroll praised him for playing through an MCL injury and continuing to compete: "I admire how hard he worked at this thing and how he tried to handle it. And also when he made his mistakes, he was burdened by that. And he had to work his way through it. He’s a good man. He’s trying to get everything right."

Sherman ended the year with 58 tackles, 13 passes defended and four interceptions en route to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl selection.

Despite the MCL ailment revealed by Carroll this week, Sherman has yet to miss a game in six NFL seasons.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.    

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

These two teams will battle for the right to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl on Sunday. The first of the two conference games is scheduled for kickoff at 3:05 p.m. ET.

This should be a good one, folks. On one side, we have Matt Ryan and the high-flying Falcons offense, which averaged an NFL-best 33.8 points per game during the regular season. On the other, we have Aaron Rodgers and a Packers team that has managed to win eight in a row. That Green Bay offense is definitely nothing to overlook, as the Packers have averaged 36 points in their two playoff games.

Don't be surprised if this game turns into an all-out score-fest. The oddsmakers in Las Vegas certainly seem to believe it will.

Today, we're going to examine the latest odds and over/under figures—courtesy of our friends at OddsShark.com. We'll be making our predictions for both while taking an in-depth look at some key components of the NFC title game.

NFC Championship Game

What: Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons

Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta

When: Sunday, January 22

Time: 3:05 p.m.

Latest Line: ATL -4.5

Over/Under: 61.5

Breakdown

This game features a historic playoff over/under, and for good reason. Not only have the Falcons and Packers both been putting up ridiculous points as of late, but the two quarterbacks involved have been playing about as well as the position can be played.

Let's consider the weapons in this game too. The Falcons feature the likes of Julio Jones, Taylor Gabriel, Mohamed Sanu, Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. This is a group that can put up yards quickly.

The combination of Freeman and Coleman in the backfield makes the Falcons offense especially dangerous because keying in on Ryan and the passing game isn't a realistic possibility.

The Packers aren't as stacked at the running back position, but receiver/rusher Ty Montgomery adds an element of unpredictability to the offense. Plus, he's been pretty darn good at carrying the backfield load. He rushed for an impressive 5.9 yards per carry in the regular season and finished rated 11th overall among all running backs by Pro Football Focus.

Green Bay also boasts an impressive assortment of pass-catchers such as Montgomery, Davante Adams, Randall Cobb and tight ends Richard Rodgers and Jared Cook.

Unfortunately, there's a strong chance that star wideout Jordy Nelson—who produced 1,257 yards and 14 touchdowns in the regular season—won't be able to play. He suffered broken ribs two weeks ago against the New York Giants and is still having difficulty breathing normally.

If Nelson can go, it would provide the Packers with a huge boost, but it feels unlikely. A lot will likely hinge on his ability to practice this week.

"[I] Can't tell you if Jordy's going to practice Wednesday, but he did all the work in the workout today," Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said Monday, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. "So that's a good sign."

I'm personally not too worried about the Packers potentially missing Nelson. Yes, he has the ability to change the course of a game quickly. Yet, Rodgers is playing at such an insane level right now—Pro Football Focus rates him second among quarterbacks for the regular season and playoffs—that he should be able to match Ryan with or without Nelson.

"You can't replicate what he does," Falcons safety Ricardo Allen explained, per Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. "It's not too many people in this world that can roll right or left and not have to set their feet and can deliver passes like he does. He's deadly in everything."

This leads us into why I believe this game actually goes over the 61-point mark. While both of these defenses involved in the game have positive traits, neither is truly elite.

Green Bay is rated 15th in overall defense by Pro Football Focus and allowed an average of 24.1 points per game in the regular season. The Falcons are rated 17th in overall defense by Pro Football Focus and allowed an average of 25.4 points per game in the regular season.

What happens when you cross two average defenses with two of the most potent offenses in the league? You get a lot of points. The Packers and Dallas Cowboys combined for 65 points last week, and I believe this is a realistic benchmark for this game.

If the Packers offensive line—which is rated first overall in pass-blocking by Pro Football Focus—can hold up against Atlanta's pass rush, I also believe the Packers will have a chance to cover, if not win the game outright.

This game could very well go to the team that scores last, and as we saw last week in Dallas, Rodgers and Co. don't need a lot of time to make that final strike.

Prediction: Green Bay 35-33 over Atlanta

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

These two teams will battle for the right to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl on Sunday. It is the second of the two conference games, and kickoff is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET.

This one should be epic. We have a faceoff of two of the greatest quarterbacks of this generation in Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger. These two have battled several times but haven't met in the postseason since Big Ben's rookie season. With a trip to the championship on the line, things should be intense.

We'll also get Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and the rest of the Steelers' potent offense going up against a New England defense that allowed an NFL-low 15.6 points per game in the regular season.

Don't be surprised if this game carries as much drama and excitement as any we've seen in the playoffs in some time.

Today, we're going to examine the latest odds and over/under figures—courtesy of our friends at OddsShark.com. We'll be making our predictions for both while taking an in-depth look at some key components of the AFC title game.

AFC Championship Game

What: Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots

Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

When: Sunday, Jan. 22

Time: 6:40 p.m. ET

Latest Line: NE -6

Over/Under: 50.5

Breakdown

It's actually pretty amazing to think that this will be the first time Brady and Roethlisberger have met in the postseason since Roethlisberger's rookie year in 2004. It seems borderline unfathomable when you realize that the two signal-callers have appeared in the Super Bowl a combined seven times since then.

But this isn't going to just be a duel between Brady and Roethlisberger. Yes, the quarterback with the better game is going to have a good chance of also being the winning signal-caller. Yet there is a lot more at play here.

We have to look at the offensive weapons involved in the matchup. It would seem that the Steelers have the edge there with their two-headed monster of Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell.

Brown, who finished the regular season with 1,284 yards and 12 touchdowns on 106 catches, might be the most complete receiver in the NFL right now. Bell, who is coming off a monster 170-yard rushing performance against the Kansas City Chiefs, has the ability to take over a game almost by himself.

Bell's unique and patient style of running can drive an opposing defense nuts.

Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia recently explained, per Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald:

Really, very dynamic in his ability to make people miss in open space from a tackling standpoint, a very patient runner. It's kind of a different style of running game where he kind of gets to the line of scrimmage and really just finds that hole or that seam, and he has this incredible burst to be able to get through.

If Bell is allowed to run wild, the Steelers should be able to keep Brady off the field for long stretches of the game.

Of course, it's not like the Patriots are lacking in offensive weapons of their own. While the team is without star tight end Rob Gronkowski, they still have plenty of pass-catchers in Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Chris Hogan, Martellus Bennett and Michael Floyd.

And let's not forget about bruising running back LeGarrette Blount, who rushed for 1,161 yards and scored 18 touchdowns in the regular season.

The Patriots can play the keep-away game by grinding out yards with Blount.

New England also has receiving back Dion Lewis, who proved to be the ultimate X-factor in last week's game against the Houston Texans. He scored touchdowns rushing, receiving and returning in the game.

"He's quick, he's hard to tackle, he's got good balance," Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said of Lewis, per Tyler Kepner of the New York Times. "He's worked extremely hard; there's no question about that. He was working really hard last year at this time, when the team was at the end of the season and in the playoffs. This year, he has an opportunity to play."

With so many weapons on the field, this game is likely to be won by the better defense. Here, I'm going to take the Patriots, who allowed the fewest points in the regular season and who are rated second in overall defense by Pro Football Focus.

The Steelers defense has been playing well, albeit against uninspiring offenses. Through two rounds of postseason play, Pittsburgh has allowed a mere 28 combined points. This is why the under for total points looks to be the smart option.

Overall, though, the Patriots defense gives New England a big edge here. Plus the Patriots are playing at home, where the team rarely loses. The Patriots are 16-3 in home playoff games since the 2001 season.

Rivalry history also seems to favor the Patriots. In eight meetings between Roethlisberger and Brady, New England has won six times.

Prediction: 28-20, Patriots

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

In the AFC, the New England Patriots will host the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium, while the NFC's Atlanta Falcons will be duking it out with the Green Bay Packers.

Three of the four teams have made it to the NFL's biggest stage at some point in the last six years, but the Falcons haven't participated in a Super Bowl since 1999 and have never won the title. 

Everybody likes an underdog, but can the Falcons get past Aaron Rodgers and the Packers? Take a look at the latest point spreads and predictions for both championship games this weekend, as well as all the information on when and where to watch the games.

AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots

Regular-Season Recap 

Pittsburgh ended the regular season with an 11-5 record, good for first place in the AFC North. Only three other teams in the AFC—the 12-4 Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders, and, of course, the 14-2 Patriots—finished with more wins. 

Including their wins in the wild-card round and the divisional round, the Steelers have won nine straight games, stretching back to Week 11.

Those victories followed a four-game losing slump that included Pittsburgh's regular-season clash with New England, which the Steelers lost 27-16. However, Roethlisberger sat that game out after tearing his meniscus the week before, so this will be the first time this year he will face Brady. 

Since then, however, Pittsburgh's offense has become nearly impossible to slow down. Top weapons Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell have shattered records; in his first career playoff game, Bell set a new Steelers postseason rushing record...and then proceeded to break it in the divisional round. 

The Steelers would much rather forget their Week 3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, an anomaly that they lost 34-3. But any weaknesses Pittsburgh showed early in the year were corrected in their seven wins to close out the regular season. 

Meanwhile, the Patriots went 3-1 without Tom Brady as he served his four-game suspension to open the year. However, after Brady's return in Week 5, New England only lost one more game, in Week 10 against the Seattle Seahawks. 

Though the Patriots had to grapple with losing top weapon Rob Gronkowski for most of the season, they enjoyed unprecedented success at the running back position with the explosion of LeGarrette Blount. The hard-nosed runner doubled any previous season touchdown total, with 18 on the regular season.

Like Pittsburgh, New England won its final seven games of the regular season. 

Key Matchup 

Not to take anything away from Blount, but this game could come down to whether Pittsburgh's defense is able to find an answer for versatile Patriots weapon Dion Lewis. The running back has been so much more than that for New England, becoming the first player in NFL playoff history to score on a kick return, a reception and a run.

Pittsburgh will have trouble committing enough defensive firepower to stopping Lewis while also containing Blount and fellow running back James White, not to mention Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan and Martellus Bennett. 

Prediction 

The Steelers have put together a convincing bid for the Super Bowl during the regular season and postseason, but Pittsburgh has to be wishing that it were matching up with anyone but the potseason-veteran Patriots. 

Pittsburgh's offense, behind Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell, will put up an incredible effort, but can anyone bet against the Patriots on this stage?

NFC: Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons

Regular-Season Recap

The Packers almost didn't make it here.

When they were sitting at 4-6 after suffering four straight losses—including one to the Falcons—it was hard to imagine them taking the field for the NFC Championship Game on January 22, but here we are.  

Now, since Rodgers called his shot and proclaimed that his team would "run the table," the Pack have won eight in a row including the postseason on their quest for a second Super Bowl appearance in the Ted Thompson, Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers era. 

Atlanta, meanwhile, had a much steadier season. At 11-5, they tied with the New York Giants for the second-most wins in the NFC behind the 13-3 Dallas Cowboys, who were ousted from the playoff race by Green Bay on Sunday. 

The Falcons didn't lose more than two consecutive games at any point in the season, and of their five losses, three came against teams with winning records.

Oh, and don't expect much punting from either side. 

Matt Ryan has put together an MVP-caliber season, passing for 4,944 yards and 38 touchdowns to seven interceptions in the regular season. He is possibly the only quarterback in the league this season who could outscore Rodgers.  

Key Matchup

This game boils down to whether Green Bay's front seven can get enough pressure on Ryan to minimize the damage he can do with Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu. There's no question that these teams have similar strengths—their passing offenses—and weaknesses—their secondaries.

If Rodgers is going to have a win in a shootout against Ryan, his front seven is going to need to make Ryan less of a lethal opponent. 

Prediction

The Falcons may be favored by 5.5 points, but it's hard to imagine Atlanta's secondary being able to stop Aaron Rodgers, who is playing out of his mind.

This game won't be a blowout, but it will be a shootout. Expect Rodgers to just barely sneak his team past Atlanta for a shot to the big game. 

Odds via OddsShark and current as of January 17.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

The former kicks off in seven short weeks, and teams can apply franchise tags in less than a month. 

With that in mind, let's take a break from Championship Game Weekend and look ahead to free agency by making some predictions regarding the top players slated to hit the open market in March. 

* Salary cap projections via OverTheCap.com

Begin Slideshow

The Tennessee Titans almost surprised us all with a playoff berth in 2016. However, a Week 16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars dashed their hopes to unseat the incumbent AFC South champion Houston Texans. With a top-five pick, courtesy of the Los Angeles Rams, the Titans can boost their roster with an impact player. Who's the ideal choice?

Three slots later, the Carolina Panthers fell from a near-perfect regular-season team to 6-10. Despite losing pieces within the secondary, many thought wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin's return from injury would keep the team in Super Bowl contention. For the upcoming draft, Carolina must acquire talent to strengthen its pass defense.

The Baltimore Ravens competed against the Pittsburgh Steelers up until Week 16 before losing to their bitter rivals in a run at the AFC North title. With pending free agents and older defenders within the front seven, should general manager Ozzie Newsome target the defensive line in the first round?

Before matching ideal picks with the three teams above, we'll take a look at projected first-round picks for all 32 clubs.

5. Tennessee Titans, Teez Tabor, CB

The Titans pass defense stood out as the team's Achilles' heel this past season. In order to establish a true, hard-nosed approach on both sides of the ball, the front office should add a cornerback who can neutralize the opposition's best receiver. Tennessee allowed seven 300-yard passing performances in 2016.

Within a few games, Florida defensive back Teez Tabor could become the No. 1 cornerback for the Titans. For many scouts and draft gurus, including Optimum Scouting's Eric Galko, Tabor ranks as the top cornerback in this year's class:

As shown above, Tabor can play aggressively on short pass routes, but he's also capable of blanketing deep threats. CBSSports.com draft analyst Rob Rang views him as a smaller version of Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson.

"Though not quite as big as the Cardinals' Pro Bowler (and certainly less reliable off the field), Tabor boasts a similar brand of pure athleticism, seamlessly changing directions and accelerating to shadow receivers in much the same that Peterson has since being selected No. 5 overall back in 2011," Rang wrote.

8. Carolina Panthers, Derek Barnett, DE

Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett should hear his name called within the top 10 selections. NFL.com senior analyst Gil Brandt agrees with that assessment:

Defensive ends Mario Addison and Charles Johnson have expiring contracts with the Panthers, per Spotrac.

Nonetheless, ESPN.com's David Newton expects the team to re-sign Addison, who racked up 9.5 sacks this season.

"Addison, 29, is far from the outside," Newton said. "He's in position to be one of Carolina's top free-agent priorities, if not the top."

Even with Addison back in the mix, Johnson turns 31 in July and dealt with injuries over the past two seasons. He has accumulated five sacks since the 2014 season. Kony Ealy, who also rushes off the edge, has only started 15 games over the past three years.

Barnett flashed as a pass-rushing wrecking ball during his freshman year in which he logged nine sacks. Pro Football Focus rated him the second-best edge-rusher behind Texas A&M's Myles Garrett among the draftees:

The Panthers have needs at other positions, but Barnett would hold great value at No. 8. Keep in mind, the Panthers drafted two rookies who started 11 or more games in 2016. Next year, an improved pass rush would help coverage on the back end.

16. Baltimore Ravens, Taco Charlton, DE

The creaking noise you hear comes from the Ravens pass rush, led by 34-year-old Terrell Suggs. It seems like just yesterday Ray Lewis turned the reins over to No. 55 after their Super Bowl XLVII victory. Now, it's time to add firepower alongside the veteran outside linebacker.

The top-tier pass-rushers won't be available after the first 12 selections, which leaves the Ravens gauging potential among the second-tier defenders. On a veteran Michigan defense, edge-rusher Taco Charlton left his mark on the 2016 season. He notched 10 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss.

With his skill set, Charlton can deliver early results and develop into a key piece within the Ravens front seven as the sun sets on Suggs' career. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller sees the Michigan product as an impact player for the Miami Dolphins six slots later:

If Miller perceives Charlton as a rookie contributor for the Dolphins, he could inject some juice into Baltimore's defensive line. He doesn't have to replace Suggs' leadership skills, but it's important for the Ravens to maintain their rough-and-tumble identity in the trenches.

Stats provided by NFL.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

Follow Maurice Moton on Twitter for intriguing discussions and analysis on NFL.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

1.  'Put the Phone Down, Dude'  

It wasn't long after Antonio Brown's Excellent Video Adventure that several Patriots players began responding to text messages from B/R asking what they thought of the video. Specifically, the part where Mike Tomlin called the Patriots "assh--es."

The first Patriots player responded within minutes. It was, as the kids say, lit. 

"F--k Mike Tomlin," one said.

OK then.

"Why are we assh--es when he's doing the name-calling?" asked another player. And he had some advice for Brown: "Put the phone down, dude. That violates the trust of your teammates and coaches."

By now, most know Brown went all Spike Lee and recorded the Steelers' postgame talk after their impressive 18-16 playoff victory against Kansas City. As Brown mugged for the camera, the video caught Tomlin speaking to the team. Tomlin's words were mostly boilerplate, coachspeak stuff: be smart, get ready, gonna be a dogfight.

But then Tomlin is heard (at the 2:20 mark of the video) calling the Patriots "assh--es" (Warning: NSFW content):

I reached out to several Patriots players, and most were not happy. All of them asked not to be identified so as not to incur the wrath of Bill Belichick.

The video "caught my attention, that's for sure," a player said. "I don't think I'm alone. [The tape] will add some edge to our preparations."

I'm told some Patriots players were amused. Some didn't care. Some were mad, some weren't. In other words, a typical locker room with different opinions. The one consensus, for certain, was that it wouldn't happen in New England.

Tom Brady shared his thoughts on WEEI radio:

That’s against our team policy, so I don’t think that would go over well with our coach. Every coach has a different style. Our coach, he’s been in the league for 42 years and he’s pretty old school. He’s not into social media and I think he lets everyone know that. I think our team has a policy; we don’t show anything that should be private because he feels when we are inside our stadium, inside the walls, there has to be a degree of privacy that we have. What’s done in the locker room should stay in the locker room.

"That's how that team is run,” receiver Julian Edelman told WEEI radio. "I personally don’t think that would be something that would happen in our locker room, but hey, whatever. Some people like red and some people like blue. Some people like tulips and some people like roses. Whatever."

When Patriots offensive lineman Nate Solder was asked by the media about the team's social media policy, he responded, according to a transcript from the team: "You know, everything that we do is just to be professional and carry yourself in a way that you would be proud of."

Tomlin apologized on Tuesday for his choice of language, though, really, he has nothing to apologize for. That type of language, and far worse, is used all the time in locker rooms. 

But there's an even larger issue than the fact Brown unintentionally provided bulletin-board material for the best emotion-manipulator in all of sports, Belichick.

Brown illustrated the challenge coaches have in today's football universe. It's becoming increasingly difficult to control players' various social media appetites. Something like this was going to happen. It was inevitable.

This week several assistants told B/R their head coaches have to occasionally remind players to shut off their phones after games and not post private locker room conversations. It's not that these coaches believe players are recording with malicious intent; they think it's just part of the culture of younger players who think it's fine to post almost anything online, including locker room conversations. Or even something far more private. 

The coaches cited Odell Beckham Jr.'s Miami boat picture as another example of the changing mentality of players and social media. Some players see anything as game to post.

At its core, this story is about the collision of old-school football values—that hold secrecy as vital and the locker room as a place of protection for players—versus a social media world—where intimacy is a relic.

One assistant also identified a divide between players in their lower 20s and those in their upper 20s. Younger players see no problem with airing anything and everything. Older players differ.

This split is even evident in the Steelers video. In the background, you hear Ben Roethlisberger, who is 34 years old, warn teammates about social media. It was a telling, ironic moment.

Another NFL assistant said what Brown did was "massively disrespect Mike. I know Mike. He's one of the classiest men I've ever known, and that's not how he should be treated."

I like that players draw attention to themselves. They get more marketing income this way, and making money off the field is key for players who will be paying to repair their broken bodies and minds for decades to come. Hell, yes. Get that money.

But there has to be a certain level of smarts used to navigate the social media minefield. No, this kerfuffle won't win or lose the game Sunday evening, but the Patriots have material to work with, and no team is better at manipulating us vs. them than New England. (Often because it's true.)

2. Can Brown Turn His Frown Upside Down?

One positive for the Steelers is that around the league, players and assistant coaches believe Antonio Brown will be extra motivated Sunday to prove his video hasn't been a distraction. One NFC assistant said he thinks Brown will have at least three touchdowns.

That might have happened, anyway. But feeling pressure to overcome his controversial week may be the best thing to happen to the Steelers. We'll see. 

3. Social Media Crackdown Coming?

One general manager told B/R he believes the Steelers video incident will spur attempts by the NFL to stiffen fines for violation of the league's social media policy.

The NFL prohibits live videos approximately 90 minutes before kickoff through the end of the team's postgame media obligations (about 45 minutes to an hour after the game's conclusion). 

The GM with whom I spoke believes there's too much at stake for the NFL not to take further action. While what happened is far from a tremendously big deal, the GM reasons, it could have been far worse. What if Tomlin used worse language? What if players were getting undressed?

Parts of this story are far from over.

4. Big Trouble by the Bay

Why did Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels withdraw his name from the 49ers' head coaching search? The answer is simple.

"Josh thinks it's a mess in San Francisco," a source close to McDaniels said.

Well, duh.

I'm told one of the things McDaniels wanted was more say on personnel matters. And without that assurance, why would McDaniels leave the comfort of the most successful organization in the history of football for a dumpster fire?

5. Could Indy Be Peyton's Place Again?

Would Peyton Manning ever run the Colts' front office? Probably not. But this comment from Tony Dungy on NBC's Football Night in America on Sunday gave me pause.

"I think it does suit him for two reasons," Dungy explained. "No. 1, his relationship with Jim Irsay. [They are] very, very close. He has a lot of respect for Jim. And No. 2, he was in Denver—he saw John Elway do it, go from quarterback to general manager of a Super Bowl-winning team. I think he’d relish that opportunity."

He'd relish the chance?

The fact that Dungy spoke out about Manning and a potential reunion with Indianapolis means something.

Again, the odds are against it, but Dungy's words at least make you think twice.

6. A Select Club

Fourteen of the past 16 AFC quarterbacks in the Super Bowl have been either Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger or Peyton Manning, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.

Just let that piece of data marinate for a bit. It will be some time before we see anything like this again.

7. Bright Days Ahead in Big D

Prior to Sunday, many around the league believed Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott was a franchise signal-caller. After matching Aaron Rodgers step for step, throw for throw, that belief has grown stronger.

So despite the disappointment of a divisional-round loss to the Packers, the Cowboys seem to have found their franchise quarterback of the future. That's no small accomplishment for a franchise that ran out Tony Romo each season while crossing its fingers he wouldn't get hurt.

The turning point? To me, it was not-drafting Johnny Manziel. And I'm not alone in thinking that.

It goes beyond the obvious of how much of a disaster the pick would have been. It's also about the mindset, which is different in Dallas now. The Cowboys are making smart decisions, and while no team is perfect, it feels like the organization is moving into a different, better stratosphere.

8. Man on a Mission

Check out this amazing stat from the NFL:

9. Seahawks Playing With Fire

According to Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper, Pete Carroll said Seattle doesn't plan on investing heavily in its offensive line this offseason, which is remarkably hubristic. 

Russell Wilson was sacked 42 times and hit 111. How he survived this season is a tribute in itself to his toughness.

But it makes no sense for the Seattle hierarchy to take Wilson's mobility for granted.

Think about how good the Seahawks offense would be if Wilson was given more time—to scan the field, to run, to utilize the weapons this team has.

That might be something scary.

10. The Patriots' Double Standard

Most of the time, I'm not a believer in conspiracies. They are for the weak-minded and excuse-makers. I do believe in double standards, however, and the Patriots are facing big, fat ones.

The news that Seattle's Richard Sherman and the Seahawks hid his knee injury—in full violation of the rules, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk—introduces an interesting what-if.

Imagine, for a second, we are transported to an alternate universe. In that universe, a Patriots star had a knee injury hidden by the team, and it was discovered after the season concluded. What would the reaction of the NFL be? Of the media? Of non-Patriots fans?

Bill Belichick would be brought before a Klingon tribunal. 

The reaction to what the Seahawks did, though, has been mild. The injury report is a significant document. It keeps (or attempts to keep) everything on the record. It's far from successful, but it does often work.

What the Seahawks did, or in this case, did not do, should raise alarm bells across the league about their loose adherence to NFL rules.

Will it?

Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @mikefreemanNFL. 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com