2017 October - Pro Football Rumors

Texans Working Out Sterling Moore

October 31st, 2017 at 12:51pm CST by Zachary Links

The Texans are working out defensive back Sterling Moore, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). This marks Moore’s first audition since being released by New Orleans last week.

Houston is in serious need of help in the secondary, even after acquiring cornerback Jeremy Lane in Monday’s Duane Brown trade with the Seahawks. Moore can contribute at both cornerback and safety, making him an interesting potential addition to the group headlined by Johnathan Joseph and Kareem Jackson. After a rough outing on Sunday, it’s clear that Kevin Johnson needs more time to shake the rust off.

Pro Football Focus ranked Moore as the league’s No. 65 corner in 2016. In terms of traditional stats, he had 56 total tackles and two interceptions over 13 games (12 starts).

AFC Notes: Broncos, Murray, Steelers, Hill

October 31st, 2017 at 12:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos are under .500 for the first time since October 2012 and have seen their aerial attack sputter this month. They are considering benching Trevor Siemian for Brock Osweiler, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). Osweiler was once ahead of Siemian in Denver’s pecking order prior to departing as a free agent, starting seven games in relief of Peyton Manning in 2015, but has seen his stock plummet considerably in between Broncos stays. Siemian, though, threw three interceptions against the Chiefs and has now thrown 10 this season — as many as he did in 14 games in 2016. Paxton Lynch would be the more logical choice for a longer-term change but has only practiced three times thus far. Still, if the Broncos’ losing streak continues — and games against the Eagles and Patriots loom the next two weeks — it would stand to reason Lynch could see the field soon for the lengthy audition he’s yet to receive.

Here’s the latest from the AFC on trade deadline day.

DeMarco Murray has heard “rumblings” he could be traded, Ed Werder tweets. This would be an obviously interesting move given the Titans‘ placement in the AFC South and wild-card races and their affinity for ground success under Mike Mularkey. Murray has no guaranteed money left on his through-2019 deal. The Cowboys are reportedly calling about running backs after Ezekiel Elliott‘s suspension was restored, and Werder notes Murray makes sense due to his All-Pro season for Dallas in 2014.
Martavis Bryant has been informed he’s going to be part of the Steelers‘ Week 10 game plan, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports, continuing to squelch the notion the mercurial pass-catcher could be traded today. The Steelers have said they are not trading the fourth-year wide receiver, one who has another season remaining on his rookie contract since it tolled while he was suspended. Fowler notes Pittsburgh could get blown away by an offer but doesn’t see a trade coming.
Steelers rookie cornerback Cameron Sutton returned to practice on Tuesday, the team announced. He remains on IR, and the Steelers have 21 days to activate the third-round pick. Pittsburgh has six cornerbacks on its active roster presently.
Jeremy Hill‘s contract year is not going especially well, and the Bengals running back made an agency switch, Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports (on Twitter). Hill will now be represented by Joel Segal and Greg Barnett, per Owczarski. The fourth-year ball-carrier has just 113 rushing yards on 37 carries. He profiles as a possible trade candidate due to Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard being signed long-term. Hill rushed for at least 790 yards in each of his first three NFL seasons, which would seemingly make him an intriguing free agent despite the role reduction this season.

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson Reworks Contract

October 31st, 2017 at 12:04pm CST by Zachary Links

Russell Wilson is a team player. This week, the quarterback reworked his contract to accommodate the Seahawks’ acquisition of Duane Brown, according to Andrew Brandt of The MMQB (on Twitter).

Wilson, 29 in November, is midway through a four-year contract extension signed in July of 2015. By converting some of his current year salary into a bonus, he gave the Seahawks enough breathing room to give him the type of dominant left tackle he has been pushing for.

Wilson’s $87.6MM deal runs through the 2019 season. The QB carries a $14.626MM cap charge this year before it balloons to $23.8MM in 2018 and $25.3MM in 2019.

Despite a suspect offensive line, Wilson has thrown for more than 2,000 yards with 15 touchdowns against four interceptions in seven games. With some improved protection from Brown, Seattle’s offense could take another step forward in the second half.

Hue Jackson “Pushed Hard” For QB Trade This Offseason?

October 31st, 2017 at 11:50am CST by Sam Robinson

Prior to the 49ers snagging Jimmy Garoppolo for a second-round pick that’s likely to fall at the top of Day 2, the Browns were the team most connected with the former Patriots backup this offseason. And Hue Jackson may have been a key driver behind that Garoppolo-to-Cleveland buzz.

The second-year Browns coach “pushed hard” this offseason for the team to trade for Garoppolo or former Bengals charge A.J. McCarron, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports. Jackson felt Garoppolo could be a big part of a turnaround from Cleveland’s 1-15 season, Cabot reports, and made Tom Brady‘s then-backup his primary offseason target.

Cabot adds the Patriots would have traded Garoppolo to the Browns for “the right offer,” which the longtime Browns reporter notes would have had to include at least one first-round pick. The Browns had two of those going into the draft and ended up with three first-round selections while also carrying multiple second-round picks in April after making the Brock Osweiler trade.

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported the Browns offered a second-round pick for Garoppolo, with Cabot adding the team did not go further on Day 2 of this draft to make the necessary offer to the Pats. Browns executive VP Sashi Brown said going into the draft the team was not interested in trading for a veteran quarterback.

Kyle Shanahan and Garoppolo spent time together when the current 49ers coach worked as the Browns’ OC in 2014, and Shanahan told cleveland.com at this year’s Super Bowl he had Garoppolo ranked high among the draftable 2014 passers during his one-year stay in northeast Ohio. Shanahan did not want Johnny Manziel, whom the Browns drafted, nor did he prefer Teddy Bridgewater. However, the short-term Browns play-caller did like Derek Carr and Tom Savage, per Cabot.

When the Patriots and Browns could not agree on terms for Garoppolo, Jackson pivoted to McCarron, Cabot reports. But Jackson viewed the current Bengals backup, whom he coached for two seasons in Cincinnati, as a stopgap until the Browns could land their long-term solution.

Cabot wonders if McCarron would be in play by today’s 3pm CT deadline but reports it would have likely taken at least two second-round picks to pry him from the Bengals this offseason. McCarron is under contract through the 2018 season.

Redskins Looking To Add Wide Receiver

October 31st, 2017 at 11:46am CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins are looking to add a wide receiver, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). They have until 4pm ET/3pm CT to pull off a trade.

So far, the production from Terrelle Pryor and Josh Doctson has been underwhelming, to say the least. Pryor, a highly-prized addition in free agency, has just 18 catches for 223 yards and one touchdown. Josh Doctson, meanwhile, has only eight grabs for 130 yards with three TDs. Through seven games, running back Chris Thompson stands as the team’s leading receiver with 442 yards through the air plus three scores. Wide receiver Jamison Crowder (272 yards) and star tight end Jordan Reed (211 yards) trail by a significant margin.

The Redskins are 3-4 after losing to the rival Cowboys on Sunday. Next up is a road tilt against the 5-2 Seahawks.

Colts Work Out Four Quarterbacks

October 31st, 2017 at 11:23am CST by Sam Robinson

Andrew Luck will not practice this week, Chuck Pagano said. This marks three straight weeks the previously progressing passer has been shelved because of the setback he encountered.

And the Colts are operating accordingly, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets, noting the team is working out Connor Shaw, Matt McGloin, Matt Barkley and Josh Johnson on Tuesday.

Luck will see multiple specialists for further evaluation on his troublesome throwing shoulder, and it’s possible he could redshirt this season. The Colts have Scott Tolzien as a Jacoby Brissett backup but could be looking for a third quarterback in case they end up placing Luck on IR.

McGloin and Barkley have been summoned for workouts together previously this season, and Johnson was previously affiliated with the Colts. This is the veteran’s first known workout since the Giants parted ways with him.

Cowboys Looking To Trade For RB?

October 31st, 2017 at 11:11am CST by Sam Robinson

Ezekiel Elliott‘s latest court date did not go the way the Cowboys wanted, and as of now, the standout running back is suspended for Week 9. The Cowboys have two of the most experienced backups in the game in Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden, but they appear to be interested in augmenting their situation further.

Dallas is talking about trades for a running back, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). While Rapoport doesn’t envision the Cowboys going through with a deal, he wonders aloud if the team would be interested in making a trade to bring DeMarco Murray back.

The Cowboys are obviously not averse to splashy transactions, and Murray’s proven he can thrive in Texas, but this would cost the team additional capital to add to a position that already has two seasoned backs in the waiting in case Elliott is suspended through Week 14. Murray, however, has proven to be an upgrade on Morris or McFadden.

McFadden, though, hasn’t been active all season despite re-signing with the Cowboys in March. Elliott’s dominance the past two weeks has helped key a turnaround for the Cowboys, who are now 4-3 and in the thick of the NFC playoff race.

Colts Discussing Donte Moncrief Trade

October 31st, 2017 at 10:15am CST by Zachary Links

The Colts are open for business as the trade deadline approaches. The Colts have received calls on Donte Moncrief and they are listening, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter).

The Andrew Luck-less Colts sank to 2-6 on Sunday with their 24-23 loss to the Bengals. It’s no surprise that they’re open to trading name players given their current position. Cornerback Vontae Davis, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, running back Frank Gore, and offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo have also been mentioned in trade rumors. Teams that find the asking price for Hilton to be too rich may view Moncrief as a less thrilling yet less costly alternative.

Moncrief, 24, has 18 catches for 271 yards and one touchdown so far this season. He’s on pace for far less than the 64 catches for 733 yards and six TDs that he had in 2015, his last complete campaign.

Patriots Open To Trading Malcolm Butler

October 31st, 2017 at 10:07am CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots remain willing to move cornerback Malcolm Butler, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) hears. JLC goes on to speculate that the Pats could package the second-round pick they acquired from the Niners in the Jimmy Garoppolo blockbuster to bring home a quality player.

Butler, 27, is headed for free agency after the 2017 season. The Patriots, unwilling to commit to him this summer, shopped him hard and nearly sent him to the Saints. Butler is back to playing quality football after a shaky start to the season, but the Patriots are in in the same place – they need to think hard about moving the cornerback if they are unwilling to commit serious dollars to him in March.

The Garoppolo deal could spur Bill Belichick & Co. to package Butler with their draft capital for something better, as La Canfora suggested, but Monday’s deal could have the opposite effect on potential Butler talks. Before the trade, the Patriots were seemingly on course to re-sign or franchise tag Garoppolo for a lot of money. With the young QB out of the equation, there should be more money available to lock up Butler, if that’s what they want to do.

As of this writing, Butler is Pro Football Focus’ No. 31 ranked cornerback in the NFL. He was ranked No. 7 in 2016.

Dolphins Willing To Trade Jarvis Landry?

October 31st, 2017 at 9:47am CST by Zachary Links

Even after trading Jay Ajayi to the Eagles on Tuesday morning, the Dolphins might not be done making deals. Jarvis Landry is available for the right price, Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald (on Twitter) hears. Meanwhile, the Fins told Landry they are not trading him, a source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

There have been questions about Landry’s long-term future with the Dolphins, despite the fact that he has cleared 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons. Landry lobbied for an extension this offseason, but the Dolphins did not put an offer on the table, preferring to wait and see how he would perform in his walk year. The Dolphins like Landry, but the feeling is that a lucrative long-term deal for Landry could prevent them from locking up DeVante Parker down the line. Landry’s off-the-field incident with the mother of his child also didn’t help matters, though he has been cleared of charges for that and will not be suspended by the league.

Landry is scheduled for free agency after the season. He’d be a tremendous rental with an option to commit for a contender.

Through seven games, the LSU product has 50 catches for 398 yards and three scores. Although his 8.0 yards per catch average is frighteningly low, Miami’s phone should be ringing off the hook on Halloween.

One thing to keep in mind for any prospective Landry deal is this – the Dolphins would be in line for a compensatory pick if they were to lose him in free agency this spring. For the Dolphins to trade Landry away, they’ll need a return that is markedly better than what they’d be getting in that scenario.