2016 June - Pro Football Rumors

Month: November 2024

East Notes: Wilkerson, Eagles, Giants

June 12th, 2016 at 11:27am CST by Rory Parks

Last month, our Zach Links observed that Jets standout defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson could hurt his leverage for a long-term deal if he were to report to the club prior to July 15, the deadline for signing his franchise tag tender. However, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports that Wilkerson was spotted in the team’s locker room last week, and his appearances at One Jets Drive have not been infrequent. Of course, we learned yesterday that Wilkerson is not expected to draw a long-term offer from the Jets anytime soon, so it could be that the 2015 Pro Bowler simply does not see any harm in making use of the team facility and staying in touch with his teammates.

Now let’s take a look at a few more notes from the league’s east divisions:

The top of the Eagles‘ depth chart at defensive tackle looks pretty good, with Fletcher Cox and Bennie Logan stabilizing the interior of the team’s D-line. But beyond that, Dave Zangaro of CSNPhilly.com says the picture gets pretty murky, as players like Beau Allen and Taylor Hart appear better-suited to a 3-4 defensive front, and new acquisition Derrick Lott was unable to stick with Tampa Bay last season. As Zangaro observes, that means that at least one of the Eagles’ three undrafted free agent DTs–Aziz Shittu, Destiny Vaeao, and Connor Wujciak–have a real shot at cracking the club’s roster. Vaeao and Wujciak were very impressive in spring workouts, Zangaro notes.
Eagles rookie cornerback Jalen Mills fell to the seventh round of this year’s draft due to injury and maturity concerns, but thus far, he is making the case for significant regular season playing time. As Andrew Kulp of CSNPhilly.com writes, Mills has impressed coaches and teammates alike with his excellent performance in offseason workouts, and there is a real chance he could wind up as the team’s primary nickel corner.
John Munson of NJ.com offers 10 takeaways from Giants OTAs as the team prepares for minicamp. For instance, he says that Andre Williams performed surprisingly well during OTAs after transforming his body in the offseason, but Munson believes the team will have major pass rush concerns despite the splashy addition of Olivier Vernon.
Earlier today, we learned that the Dolphins have contingency plans just in case Reshad Jones makes the surprising decision to hold out.

Latest on Reshad Jones, Dolphins

June 12th, 2016 at 9:57am CST by Rory Parks

If Reshad Jones were to make good on his threat to hold out for the entire 2016 season, the Dolphins would of course be worse off for it. But just how realistic is Jones’ threat? According to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, not very.

Jackson himself said it would be surprising if Jones were to extend his contract protest into the season, but Jackson adds that even a source close to Jones concedes that Miami has no incentive to re-do a deal that pays the Georgia product $7.2MM and $7.1MM over the next two seasons. That contract makes him the highest-paid strong safety in the NFL, but does not place him among the five highest-paid safeties overall.

If the worst-case scenario comes to fruition and Jones does not report to the team, Jackson says that free agents Antrel Rolle and Louis Delmas are on the Dolphins’ list of contingency plans. Neither option, however, is exactly ideal. Delmas, of course, has been with Miami for each of the past two seasons, and in 2014 he started 12 games for the Fins, racking up 60 tackles and an interception (which he returned for a touchdown), and ranking as a league-average safety per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. But he tore his right ACL towards the end of the 2014 campaign, and he tore that same ACL during practice last August, thereby ending his 2015 season before it even began. Delmas has always shown high-level talent, but his inability to stay healthy throughout his career and the severity of his most recent injuries have left the 29-year-old unemployed for the time being.

Rolle, meanwhile, spent the 2015 season with the Bears after spending the first five years of his career with the Cardinals and the next five with the Giants. Per PFF, he graded out as the 39th-best safety in the league last season (out of 89 qualifiers), and the biggest knock against him at this point is his age. He is now 33, and he played in only seven games last season after suffering a knee injury during a November practice. He has had a long and productive career, however, and the rangy safety–whom our Dallas Robinson lists as the eighth-best defensive free agent still on the market–could be a nice fit in Miami.

Needless to say, though, the Dolphins would rather have Jones, who set new career-highs in tackles (135), passes defended (10), and interceptions (five), last season. PFF ranked Jones as the 13th-best safety in the NFL in 2015, and of the 89 qualified safeties, only two received higher grades as run defenders than Jones did. As of right now, it seems that Jones will report to the club rather than hold out, but the Dolphins do have a Plan B just in case.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Extra Points: Holdouts, Developmental League, Prospects

June 11th, 2016 at 8:12pm CST by Ben Levine

Let’s check out some assorted notes from around the NFL as we wrap up the week…

NFL teams are often viewed as the “bad guy” in holdout situations, with fans usually siding with the players. However, as Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com writes, the player is actually breaking their initial agreement by pursuing a new contract, with the organizations holding the majority of the power. Fitzgerald outlines several ways NFL players could remedy this situation, including prioritizing guaranteed money over average annual value as well as pursuing shorter deals (thus allowing them to hit the open market sooner).
While the theory seems to have some general support, an NFL developmental league was not discussed during a recent league meeting. “It’s not something we’ve really talked much about as a group,” Giants owners Steve Tisch told Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. “I agree it sounds like a good idea, and something worth exploring. But it just isn’t a priority at this point.” Despite these other “priorities,” La Canfora is convinced that the topic will be “more of a front-burner issue” in 2016.
In his preview of next year’s prospective running back draftees, Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com declares that LSU’s Leonard Fournette “may have the best size-speed combo since Adrian Peterson.” Florida State’s Dalvin Cook and Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey round out Kempski’s top-three.

AFC Notes: Miller, Jaguars, Titans, Shelton

June 11th, 2016 at 7:35pm CST by Ben Levine

Let’s take a look at some notes out of the AFC on this Saturday evening…

It might be in Von Miller‘s best interest to sit out the majority of next season, writes Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. The reigning Super Bowl MVP would earn $5.81MM if he sits out until Week 10, and the Broncos would presumably pass on slapping Miller with the franchise tag next offseason. If they did, Miller could sit out again, earning $6.98MM for another seven-game season. In this scenario, Miller would be in line for a 44-percent raise or the quarterback franchise tender for 2018. When all is said and done, the 27-year-old could end up making at least $36MM for 30 games over three seasons.
Dwayne Gratz started 13 games for the Jaguars during the 2014 season, but the cornerback may have issues even making next year’s roster. As Ryan O’Halloran of Jacksonville.com writes, with Aaron Colvin, Davon House, Prince Amukamara and Jalen Ramsey presumably ahead of him on the depth chart, the 26-year-old recognizes that he’s simply competing for a roster spot. “It’s going to be big,” Gratz said. “I have to understand it’s not a given and that if I don’t do my job, I won’t end up on this team, which I would like to be a part of because a lot of special things are going to happen. I understand the situation I’m in.”
The Titans made a variety of moves this past offseason, and general manager Jon Robinson addressed those moves while speaking at the Nashville Sports Council Reception last Tuesday. “We did what we thought was the best for the football team,” he said (via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com). “As I’ve said before, this is a city and a state and a team that I am very passionate about. It’s a special place for me, and I want it to be good. And we want it to be good. We just try to make moves and position ourselves to put a product and 53 guys out there that this city and this state can be proud of.”
Browns defensive tackle Danny Shelton lost 30 pounds this offseason, and his improved physique should allow him to stay on the field for more snaps. “He can do so many more things at the weight he’s at right now and the condition he’s in,’‘ defensive line coach Robert Nunn told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “So he’s got to keep that and time will tell. He’s the one that controls that. I can help him only so much and the strength coaches can only help him so much and Coach Jackson can only help him so much. I think he sees the difference of where he was and where he can be.”

Doug Pederson on Eagles, Final Roster, Absent Players

June 11th, 2016 at 5:54pm CST by Ben Levine

New Eagles coach Doug Pederson recently wrapped up his first mandatory minicamp, and the 48-year-old talked to Dave Zangaro of CSNPhilly.com about the experience. The whole column is worth reading, but we pulled out some of the relevant quotes below…

There’s still a long way to go, but Pederson is already beginning to determine which of his 90 players will ultimately make the team. “I think you have an idea in the offseason,” he said. “You obviously know what you had coming back from last year, and of course your roster makeup and chemistry changes every year. It’s a new team, regardless of the new coaching staff or not. Next year we will be a new team, as well. Yeah, you begin to kind of go, ‘OK, pencil in guys here and there,’ and try to figure that out.”
Zangaro believes Pederson will have a particularly difficult time widdling down his group of tight ends and running backs, but the head coach already has a rough idea of how many players he’ll want for each position. “And again, as you know, once you get to the regular season and the way games are played, you want to make sure you’re covered in all areas,” he said. “But you go in having a general idea of how many you want at each spot.”
One thing that Pederson wasn’t focused on was his previously-absent players. Sam Bradford, Fletcher Cox, and Darren Sproles all missed parts of the previous voluntary workouts, but the coach stayed focused on the players who were present. “I didn’t necessarily worry myself too much about those situations,” he said. “Again, it goes back to just the way the offseason is set up and the fact that the entire program, outside of these last four days, is a voluntary program, and I just can’t – I’ve got to worry about the guys that are here during those times, and focus on those guys…I think at the end of the day, we’re just very fortunate that everybody is here this week and getting through this offseason and getting ready for camp.”

Saturday Mailbags: Jets, Titans, Colts, Saints

June 11th, 2016 at 4:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here’s the latest from around the NFL during minicamp month.

Muhammad Wilkerson (still) isn’t expected to draw a long-term offer from the Jets any time soon, and Gang Green as it stands now doesn’t house any other 2016 extension-worthy players, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com writes. The Jets possess barely $3MM in cap space right now, and that’s without Ryan Fitzpatrick in the fold, and Cimini expects talk of a Sheldon Richardson extension to ramp up come 2017. Emerging cornerback Marcus Williams looms as another name for Gang Green to consider next year for a long-term pact in Cimini’s view.
Brian Schwenke has taken reps at left guard during Titans workouts, as his center position figures to belong to the recently signed Ben Jones, Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com notes. Going into his contract year, Schwenke has started in each of the 25 games he’s played. But that streak may come to an end if the former fourth-round pick out of Cal can’t beat out Jeremiah Poutasi at left guard. This poses as an interesting competition, considering Poutasi saw most of his snaps at right tackle last season and Schwenke has played center since 2013, although Schwenke played guard for three years with the Golden Bears. The latter broke his leg last October and continues to rehabilitate toward 100% health.
The Colts are not planning to sign a wide receiver to function as their No. 4 man behind T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief and Phillip Dorsett but instead to leave such a role to their young incumbents, Kevin Bowen of Colts.com writes. Former Patriots backups Josh Boyce and Brian Tyms headline that competition for a role that may take on more significance this season now that Indianapolis doesn’t boast an obvious No. 2 tight end immediately worthy of forcing the team into two-tight end sets with Coby Fleener‘s in New Orleans.
Although newly re-signed Roman Harper mentioned he observed the Saints running mostly 3-4 concepts during OTAs this week, Evan Woodberry of NOLA.com expects the team’s base to be a 4-3. Now-full-time Saints DC Dennis Allen‘s units with the Broncos and Raiders both used 4-3 alignments.

Breshad Perriman Partially Tears ACL

June 11th, 2016 at 4:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

4:06pm: The embattled wideout sustained the injury on a fade pattern during a non-contact drill, Hensley reports. The team did not know Perriman injured his knee on Thursday but only after the receiver complained of swelling on Friday, inducing an MRI, per Hensley.

4:01pm: Perriman will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery, according to Rapoport (on Twitter), after which it will be determined if the wideout needs reconstructive knee surgery that would shelve him for the 2016 season. Perriman looks to have sustained the injury during the Ravens’ final OTA workout on Thursday, Jeff Zreibec of the Baltimore Sun reports (on Twitter).

3:50pm: Breshad Perriman appears to have encountered more turbulence en route to making his long-awaited NFL debut. The now-second-year Ravens wide receiver suffered a partially torn ACL in his left knee and is set to meet with Dr. James Andrews on Monday to gauge the next course of action, Adam Schefter and Jameson Hensley of ESPN.com report (Facebook link).

Potentially season-ending surgery will be discussed, according to the ESPN.com reporters. Perriman suffered the injury earlier this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Ravens finished up their OTAs on Thursday and begin minicamp next week.

That would be a brutal blow to the 2015 first-rounder’s career, considering what transpired to hijack his rookie season. Perriman saw a partially torn PCL sideline him for the entirety of his rookie season after being expected to make his debut fairly early on in 2015. Perriman tore the PCL in his right knee last year.

We last heard the wideout was working his way back to 100% from the lingering PCL issue, and the 22-year-old target’s absence would put his potential in question. Baltimore selected Perriman with the No. 26 overall pick in 2015, and it’s possible the former Central Florida star will be two years behind his draft class in terms of NFL development.

As for the Ravens, Steve Smith backtracked on his retirement intentions following his own season-ending injury last year, and Kamar Aiken represented a pleasant surprise for the team. The Ravens signed Mike Wallace as well, so for 2016, they’re less exposed at the position than they were when Perriman’s rookie season vanished due to knee troubles.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

West Rumors: Chargers, Miller, Bailey, Ward

June 11th, 2016 at 2:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chargers received the necessary 110,000+ votes to place their citizens’ initiative measure on the November ballot for the purposes of unlocking funds for a downtown stadium, Dan McSwain of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

“Most signature gathering efforts of this kind take six full months. We had just six weeks to complete our work,” Chargers chairman Dean Spanos said. “The fact that we were able to collect more than 110,000 signatures in that short period of time demonstrates tremendous support in our community for a new, combined stadium-convention center expansion downtown.”

The initiative calls for $650MM in funds from unspecified sources, which likely means money from the Chargers, fans, personal seat licenses and the NFL, per McSwain. But opponents of the initiative are formulating plans. Some are taking the stance of last year’s stadium task force that preferred to keep the Chargers at nearby Mission Valley as opposed to downtown.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer endorsed that site last year prior to the Chargers’ Carson bid being rejected. But he hasn’t come out in favor of either site recently and distanced himself from the activist group that’s attempting to prevent the Chargers-supported downtown stadium from coming to fruition.

The next step in this process is the San Diego registrar’s office determining if 66,447 of those aforementioned signatures are valid.

Here’s the latest from teams whose statuses in their current cities are a bit more entrenched.

Although Von Miller‘s proposed six-year, $114.5MM deal would bring $58.5MM by Year 3 should the Broncos pick up his third-season option a few days after the 2018 league year begins, the All-Pro pass-rusher’s stance remains firm: he wants $60MM fully guaranteed at signing, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports. This protects Miller in the same way Ndamukong Suh‘s $59.5MM in full guarantees did. Denver offered $38.5MM, with an additional $1.3MM in workout bonuses, to its franchise-tagged performer at signing. That falls well short of Suh’s total, although every NFL contract has done so, with Aaron Rodgers‘ failing to exceed $45MM in at-signing guarantees. The Broncos’ offer seems to follow the blueprint the Chiefs laid out with Justin Houston last summer, with the tagged edge defender receiving $32.5MM guaranteed up front, with the carrot of $52.5MM in the first three seasons if the Chiefs trigger his Year 3 option on the third day of the 2017 league year.
Some of these developments — like the Broncos leaking his turning down the offer — have been viewed as personal affronts for 27-year-old reigning Super Bowl MVP, Renck writes. Look no further than Miller cropping GM John Elway out of an Instagram photo (via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, on Twitter) that previously featured Miller, Elway DeMarcus Ware, Peyton Manning and Gary Kubiak at the White House. Renck suggests Miller remove himself from the proceedings to avoid further embitterment toward the franchise he will almost certainly still play for in 2016. The sides have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal before Miller is forced to play for $14.26MM this season.
Clearing waivers on Wednesday, Stedman Bailey has returned to the Rams in a non-playing role for now, being placed on the reserve/non-football injury list. The would-be fourth-year wideout appreciates the organization keeping him around despite not being medically cleared to play after being shot twice in November. “I still get a chance to work out with the team and just pretty much sit around with all the meetings and learn what it’s like to be a coach. So, it’s kind of just looking at the game from a different angle, but I’m just grateful for the opportunity,” Bailey said, via Andie Hagemann of NFL.com.
Jimmie Ward has transformed from strong safety to slot cornerback to someone with a strong chance of starting at corner to begin 2016. The former first-round safety earned the bulk of the first-team reps for the 49ers at corner opposite Tramaine Brock at minicamp, Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com reports. Ward rated as a top-40 Pro Football Focus corner last season for his work in the slot. He of the infamous Iron Bowl field goal return in 2013, Chris Davis took most of the reps at slot corner at San Francisco’s minicamp.

Extra Points: Packers, Baldwin, Cousins, Bears

June 11th, 2016 at 12:40pm CST by Ben Levine

Veteran wideout James Jones was surprised when the Packers notified him that he wouldn’t be back in 2016. As ESPN.com’s Jason Wilde writes, the receiver expected to return to Green Bay even despite the talented receiving corps.

“I wasn’t mad that they didn’t bring me back, but I was surprised,” the wideout said. “Me and Mike [McCarthy] had a very good conversation at the end of the year after we had lost to Arizona and I kind of felt like, ‘OK, cool, I’m going to be back.’ Whether it’s [a] one-year [deal], whether it’s two years, I felt like Mike was going to bring me back. But he didn’t.”

While Jones isn’t rooting for any of his former teammates to get injured, he acknowledged that he’d gladly return to the team should the need arise.

Let’s check out some more notes from the NFL…

The recent extension for receiver Keenan Allen could indicate the “floor” for Seahawks wideout Doug Baldwin, tweets Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times.
Kirk Cousins said there’s been no progress on an extension with the Redskins, tweets Tarik El-Bashir of CSN MidAtlantic. With about a month left to come to an agreement, the signal-caller told writers to “stay tuned.”
Former Redskins fullback Darrel Young will be participating in the Bears minicamp, tweets Mike Jones of The Washington Post. The six-year veteran has 13 career touchdowns, and the 29-year-old has never missed more than three games in a season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/11/16

June 11th, 2016 at 10:50am CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves, which we’ll keep updated throughout the day:

After suffering a torn ACL and MCL, Louis Trinca-Pasat has been waived-injured by the Lions, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. The undrafted defensive tackle didn’t see the field in 2015.
The Rams have signed long snapper Jeff Overbaugh, tweets Wilson. The former San Diego State standout had been attending OTAs on a tryout basis.

Load More Posts