By Blessing 
Tuesday Notes: Lions’ Playoff Pitch, Rams’ New Vision, and NFL Buzz Heating Up
It’s Tuesday, which means we’re edging ever closer to the NFL Draft—just over two weeks out. And with the offseason in full swing, there’s no shortage of news and compelling storylines across the league. Let’s dive into some fresh notes from around the NFL landscape.
Lions Push for Playoff Seeding Shakeup Gains Quiet Momentum
Last week, we looked into the Detroit Lions’ interesting and somewhat overlooked proposal for a major change to NFL playoff seeding. The idea? Teams would be seeded based on record alone—division winners wouldn’t get preferential treatment. A big twist, and one that got a surprising nudge of support from Commissioner Roger Goodell himself, who decided to table the vote until May.
Why the delay? Goodell recognized the votes weren’t there—only a few teams were backing Detroit’s vision. But he wasn’t ready to let the proposal fade away.
His motivation isn’t purely about “fairness.” It’s also about bringing more meaning back to the final week of the regular season. As we mentioned last week, there’s been a creeping sense that Week 18 games often lack real stakes.
NFL senior director of football data and analytics, Mike Lopez (who, fun fact, was also my high school teammate), sent over some compelling data to back that up. Take last season: five of the 14 playoff-bound teams sat their starting quarterbacks in Week 18. Why? Because they already knew their playoff position, including home or away status in the Wild Card round—and probably even beyond. In essence, the result of the game didn’t matter.
But under the Lions’ revised system, Week 18 would have looked very different. The Texans, Packers, Rams, Commanders, and Eagles all would’ve had a shot at improving playoff positioning. That changes the mindset heading into the finale. Instead of resting key players, those teams would have been fighting for home-field advantage. Better football. More fan engagement. Higher stakes.
There’s also the looming shadow of an 18-game season. Since the switch to 17 games in 2021, coaches have had to rethink how they manage their rosters down the stretch. Add one more game to that grind, and managing workloads becomes an even trickier puzzle.
A potential compromise has come up in discussions: keep the first round the same, but reshuffle teams after that. For example, last year the No. 1 seed Lions ended up facing a 12-win Commanders squad in the divisional round. Meanwhile, the No. 2 Eagles drew the 10-win Rams. If reseeding happened, the matchups would’ve flipped—Lions vs. Rams and Eagles vs. Commanders. Fairer for Detroit, and more motivation for teams to give it their all in Week 18.
Expect lively conversations at the owners’ meetings in Minneapolis this May—and don’t be surprised if Goodell champions the cause again.
Rams Eye a New Era with “Rams Village”
Big news came out of Woodland Hills, California on Monday. The Rams officially rolled out their plans for “Rams Village”—a sprawling, state-of-the-art facility that could transform the franchise’s identity. It’s about 25 miles northwest of SoFi Stadium, and if all the boxes get checked, the team could move in by 2028.
That may feel like a long wait, but it’s a clear step forward. Until last year, the Rams were stationed much farther from Los Angeles in a temporary setup—yes, even trailers. They’re still in trailers now, but they’ve moved closer and, more importantly, now have a vision for the future.
Head coach Sean McVay’s infamous windowless office became a bit of a running joke, but this new facility promises modern amenities, a professional environment, and a draw for free agents.
This isn’t just about creature comforts. Other franchises like the Vikings, Dolphins, Cowboys, and Jaguars have invested in top-tier facilities—and it’s paying off in player retention and recruitment. Even though the Rams have the advantage of being in sunny L.A., a sleek facility only strengthens their appeal.
And let’s be real: it’s also a business play. The concept looks a lot like the Cowboys’ “The Star” in Frisco—a headquarters surrounded by shops, hotels, office space, and residences. It allows ownership to profit from a development that technically doubles as an investment in the team.
As long as the football side gets the resources it needs, everyone wins.
Trey Lance Finds a Fresh Start in L.A.
Trey Lance’s move to the Chargers might just be the right step at the right time. The young quarterback is now working under offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who has a strong track record building schemes around dynamic athletes.
It’s a great setup on paper. But the challenge with Lance isn’t talent—it’s time on the field. Since graduating from Marshall High School in Minnesota, he’s only played in 31 games over seven years, with just 22 starts.
That lack of live reps is a serious hurdle. “He just needs to go out and play,” is what you’ll hear from people who’ve worked with him.
The 49ers initially planned to give him that runway—until injury and the rise of Brock Purdy changed everything. Now, with Justin Herbert firmly entrenched as QB1 in Los Angeles, it’s tough to see Lance getting the volume of snaps he truly needs to grow.
This is why college experience, especially for quarterbacks, matters so much.
Commanders Add Wes Welker to a Hybrid Role
The Commanders made an under-the-radar move by bringing in Wes Welker as a personnel analyst, a position that will see him split time between coaching and scouting. It’s a smart hire with deep relational ties.
Welker’s history with GM Adam Peters goes back to their New England and Denver days. More recently, Peters worked in San Francisco’s front office while Welker coached receivers. He understands what Peters looks for in a player.
There’s also his history with new offensive assistant Kliff Kingsbury—they were teammates at Texas Tech in Mike Leach’s high-flying offense. That kind of shared vision is crucial when trying to build something cohesive.
Bottom line: Welker brings valuable insight and alignment to Washington’s evolving leadership structure.
Geno Smith Isn’t Letting Age Define Him
Geno Smith, now entering his 13th season, is heading to Vegas with a chip on his shoulder. At 34—turning 35 this October—he’s using age as motivation.
“I’m still getting better at my age,” Smith said in a recent conversation. “And I hate that people try to use my age against me. I’m stronger and faster than all these young guys, and I can throw farther and better.”
He feels like he’s finally in a situation where he’s fully supported, and that matters. He’ll also benefit from working with Tom Brady’s longtime body coach, Alex Guerrero, who remains a resource for Raiders players like Maxx Crosby.
NFL Stars and the Olympic Flag Football Dilemma
There’s growing curiosity around NFL players potentially suiting up for Olympic flag football. But it’s a risky idea.
Sending star players to compete in a different version of football—during training camp—opens the door to injury and disrupts their preparation. It’s not like flag football is a lifelong dream for these guys.
Still, the NFL’s bigger strategy is clear: get more kids globally playing a version of football that’s safe, cheap, and accessible. Flag is easier to export, and that could help build the league’s international footprint.
Draft Rumblings: Edge Rankings Still Fluid
As we get closer to the draft, one thing is clear: after Abdul Carter, there’s no consensus on how the edge rushers stack up.
Jalon Walker from Georgia seems like a good bet to be the second edge off the board. Beyond that, it’s wide open—scouts are all over the place in how they rank the remaining talent.
Jaguars Lock in Travon Walker—for Now
Jacksonville picking up Travon Walker’s fifth-year option might surprise some, considering his performance hasn’t matched the hype of being a No. 1 overall pick. But context matters.
With elite edge rushers now commanding $30–40 million annually, $14.75 million for one more year of Walker doesn’t seem outrageous. He’s been steady if unspectacular—and that kind of value is tough to find in today’s market.
Jalen Milroe: First-Round Bound?
It’s doubtful. Despite the buzz and a possible draft night invite to Green Bay, there’s skepticism around Milroe being taken in the first round. He’s a fascinating prospect, but the league isn’t sold yet.
Waiting on Aaron…
Finally, all eyes are on YouTube this Wednesday for Pat McAfee’s big show—where Aaron Rodgers is expected to break some news (any day now, Aaron…).