Trending 📉 📈 after the first Sunday of the NFL and who is next after Dak?

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There is so much to talk about after a wild Sunday. We’ll discuss fantasy football insights tomorrow and injuries on Wednesday. As for today:

Promoted and relegated teams of the first week
Contract negotiations: Dak and Brock
Four quarterbacks make their debut
Tonight: Jets – 49ers

NFL Week 1: Insights

With RedZone on TV, my Bengals on my iPad and my fantasy lineup, a dream came true on Sunday. In the first 15 minutes. The results:

💀 You probably don’t have a survivor pool anymore. Cincinnati, an 8.5-point favorite against New England, was by far the most popular pick in Week 1 (almost 40 percent, according to PoolGenius). But the Bengals did what they do best: They disappointed, losing 16-10. They were worse than the score suggested, while the Patriots are starting the Jerod Mayo era competently.

💰 Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. The 31-year-old’s day began with a four-year, $240 million contract extension that makes him the highest-paid player in NFL history – with an average annual salary of $60 million – and will keep him in Dallas until at least 2029. His day ended with a convincing 33-17 win over the Browns.

📉 New quarterbacks. Three of them started in Week 1. None threw touchdowns. Bo Nix (47.5 QB rating) and Jayden Daniels (93.1 QB rating) lost, and – while the Bears won thanks to their defense – Caleb Williams was terrible. The No. 1 pick completed 14 of 29 passes for just 93 yards and a QB rating of 55.7.

This game embodied his welcome day in the NFL:

It’s been a rough start for the rookie class, and it’s been particularly bad in Chicago. I urge teams again to take the preseason seriously.

(The best Week 1 for a rookie QB? Michael Penix Jr., who saw Kirk Cousins throw two INTs in Atlanta’s loss to Pittsburgh.)

📉 Cleveland’s optimism. Deshaun Watson – who did not play in the preseason – had six sacks and two interceptions. He looked like a bottom-five quarterback. Their running backs averaged just 3.8 yards per carry. It was an uninspiring start, similar to Tom Brady’s debut on the televised broadcasts.

📈 Baker Mayfield now looks like a superstar. Yesterday he threw for 289 yards and four touchdowns. Remember, these Browns traded Mayfield for a conditional late-round pick. Along with OC Liam Coen, he led a Bucs team that scored nearly 17 points above expectations in a 37-20 win over Washington.

👎 Giants and Panthers: Nothing new. For the booing New York crowd, the 28-6 loss to the Vikings was painfully familiar. It is only a matter of time before Daniel Jones (44.3 QB rating, two interceptions) is benched.

Also known: The Panthers were outclassed in every way in a 47-10 loss to the Saints, with Bryce Young (32.8 QB rating, two interceptions) looking out of place. Expect both teams to have top-five draft picks.

⁉️ Tyreek Hill From handcuffs outside Hard Rock Stadium to a handcuffed celebration during the Dolphins’ 20-17 win over the Jaguars, Zak Keefer reports on a wild day in Miami.

More thoughts below, but first: Dianna with insight into QB contracts.

What Dianna hears: How Dak found out and who could top his deal

Dak Prescott was in his hotel room yesterday morning when he learned his contract had finally been signed. Both sides had worked late into Saturday night to finalize the deal before the Cowboys’ season began in Cleveland.

And that concluded the last quarterback deal of the offseason. Who’s next? Brock Purdy, of course. After this season, the 49ers quarterback will be eligible for his first contract extension. Several team executives I spoke to yesterday believe Purdy will surpass the $60 million average annual value that Prescott received.

Back to you, Jacob.