Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Julian Allen, DL Lenny Jones
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Frankie Luvu, LB Anthony Wint
- Waived: CB Reggie Hall, DT Lord Hyeamang
Matt Ryan becomes the NFL’s highest-paid player. Fewer than two months after Kirk Cousins inked a fully guaranteed $84MM deal with the Vikings, Ryan has taken over the moniker of the league’s highest-paid player of all time. Ryan signed a five-year, $150MM extension, and both his new $30MM annual average and $94.5MM guarantee are NFL records. The 32-year-old former MVP had always been expected to land a massive deal, and Cousins’ pact surely set the basis for talks with the Falcons. With Ryan now under contract, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers figures to leap the $30MM annual threshold on his next extension, which Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst says will come “soon.”
Jason Witten retires to join MNF. The Cowboys are now extremely thin at tight end, as Witten last week announced his retirement in order to become an analyst on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. While owner Jerry Jones apparently wasn’t ready for Witten to hang up his cleats, the 36-year-old is expected to earn roughly $4-4.5MM on his new TV contract. Witten, who will follow other ex-Cowboys such as Troy Aikman and Tony Romo into the booth, is leaving the NFL with the fourth-most catches (1,152) in league history. Dallas’ tight end depth chart is now led by Geoff Swaim, Rico Gathers, and rookie Dalton Schultz.
Dez Bryant‘s market shrinking. Speaking of former Cowboys, Bryant has yet to find a new team since being released by Dallas last month. Indeed, there are reportedly “far more” teams unwilling to even pay Bryant the minimum salary than there are clubs open to considering a Bryant addition. Bryant recently turned down a pact from the Ravens, a contract that was reportedly worth something close to $21MM over three years. Instead, Bryant is hoping to secure a hefty salary on a one-year deal that will allow him to hit the open market again in 2019.
Derrick Johnson joins a division rival. After 13 seasons with the Chiefs, Johnson will now be suiting up in silver and black. The 35-year-old is the latest addition to Jon Gruden‘s veteran Raiders roster after agreeing to a one-year deal. While Johnson may not be the All-Pro he once was, he will bring leadership and experience to a weak Oakland linebacker depth chart. It’s unclear if the signing of Johnson will prevent the Raiders from bringing back NaVorro Bowman, but the club did cancel its impending meeting with fellow free agent Brian Cushing.
Timmy Jernigan goes under the knife. The Eagles’ vaunted defensive line has taken a hit, as Jernigan is expected to be sidelined four-to-six months after undergoing surgery for a herniated disc. Even in a best-case scenario, Jernigan’s availability for the start of the regular season will be in doubt. Haloti Ngata will replace Jernigan on the interior, while Michael Bennett also has the ability to play on the inside.
Longtime Titans safety Michael Griffin will sign a one-day contract to retire with Tennessee, the club announced today.
Griffin, 33, spent nine seasons with the Titans from 2007-15. During that time, the former first-round pick was a mainstay in the club’s secondary, making 141 appearances and 133 starts. While never a star, Griffin did earn two Pro Bowl nods with Tennessee, and was also named second-team All-Pro in 2010. In his run with the Titans, Griffin ranked as a top-10 safety in interceptions, forced fumble, and approximate value, Pro Football Reference’s value over replacement metric.
Griffin bounced around at the end of his career, as he agreed to a one-year contract with the Vikings in 2016 but failed to make the team’s roster out of training camp. He subsequently landed with the Panthers and played in 13 games, but didn’t find a deal for the 2017 campaign.
PFR extends it best wishes to Griffin as he enters retirement.
The Raiders announced that they have signed their second-round draft choice, P.J. Hall. Hall was the 57th-overall selection in this year’s draft, and head coach Jon Gruden recently said that Hall and fellow rookie Raider Maurice Hurst (who fell to the fifth round due to health concerns) were the top two interior pass rushers in the class.
Hall started 54 of a possible 56 games during his collegiate career at Sam Houston State, picking up a whopping 42 sacks, nine forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception, and 14 blocked kicks. He also recorded 86.5 tackles for loss, which is an FCS record.
He figures to be an immediate contributor in DC Paul Guenther‘s scheme. As Andy Benoit of SI.com observes, Guenther uses a great deal of two-deep zone, and in those looks, the three-technique defensive tackle must be able to fight through double teams. Hall, who switched from defensive end to defensive tackle during his senior season, offers the explosiveness and strength to do that, something that the Raiders were lacking before the draft.
The team signed sixth-round LB Azeem Victor yesterday.
The Browns announced that they have signed second-round draft choice Austin Corbett, the first player picked in the second round (No. 33 overall). Cleveland has also signed its two sixth round selections, WR Damion Ratley (No. 175 overall) and CB Simeon Thomas (No. 188 overall).
Corbett, a Nevada product, helped his draft stock dramatically during Senior Bowl practices, when he reportedly “dominated everybody” while lining up at center, guard, or right tackle. Given that he does not have ideal size for an NFL tackle (6-4, 306 pounds), many feel that he may ultimately be forced to line up inside at the professional level, but the Browns believe he can play on the edge.
Regardless of where he lines up, he will be protecting a valuable commodity. While the Browns are reportedly set on opening the season with Tyrod Taylor under center, the team did just make QB Baker Mayfield the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, and the reigning Heisman Trophy winner figures to take the reins sooner rather than later.
And, if Corbett wins the left tackle job — his primary competition for that role is 2016 third-rounder Shon Coleman, who served as Cleveland’s right tackle last season — he will have pretty big shoes to fill. Joe Thomas, a 10-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro who had been entrenched at the left tackle position for the Browns since 2007, announced his retirement in March, thereby opening up an opportunity for Corbett or Coleman.
Corbett is the only offensive lineman Cleveland selected in this year’s draft.
Derrick Johnson has accomplished a great deal in his 13-year career. Since the Chiefs made him the No. 15 overall pick in the 2005 draft, Johnson has picked up four Pro Bowl nods and one first-team All-Pro selection, and he now stands as Kansas City’s all-time leading tackler. In February, though, the Chiefs told him they would not be re-signing him, and just two days ago, he signed with the division-rival Raiders.
Johnson has never been a headline grabber, but he has been a highly-respected defender and leader and a model of quiet consistency. Shortly after signing his one-year pact with Oakland, Johnson discussed his decision to join the silver-and-black and what the future holds as he enters the twilight of his career. Here are some highlights (via Terez Paylor of Yahoo! Sports):
On his meeting with Raiders head coach Jon Gruden:
Johnson says when he met with Gruden — although he spoke with other clubs, the Raiders were the only team to have him in for a visit — Gruden asked him why he still wanted to play. Johnson replied, “I still have a fire burning. I can still play at a high level, and I want to prove that.” He said, “That [response] made [Gruden’s] eyeballs jump, because he’s got a lot to prove, too. There was an environment in the room that was very contagious. I knew a deal would happen after I left.” Johnson added, “I’m one of Gruden’s favorite players — he’s always had a soft spot for me. He’s always said that over the years.”
On the Raiders’ prospects in 2018:
The Raiders have been maligned in some circles because they have loaded up on players on the wrong side of 30 this offseason, but that does indicate to Johnson that Oakland is planning to compete in 2018. He said, “I’m not playing for a rebuilding-type year. I sensed an urgency from Coach Gruden that winning is important right now.”
On his role with the Raiders:
Johnson may not earn a starting job, but he will be a valuable depth piece who could take on a larger role if need be. He said Gruden “wants me to help the young guys, be a leader and step right in and help the guys on and off the field.” As Paylor notes, Johnson could be a positive influence for gifted-but-troubled edge rusher Arden Key, whom the Raiders selected in the third round of this year’s draft.
On why he chose the Raiders:
“I believe I can still play at a high level, and for me, my family and my legacy, I’m trying to figure out how can I chase that ring. Even though it’s a rival team, this is my best opportunity to chase a dream and play an important role. I have to go somewhere where there’s a plan for me, and that’s the Oakland Raiders.”
There was chatter before the draft that the Dolphins could move up in the first round to select a quarterback who could take over for Ryan Tannehill in the near future. However, when Miami was on the clock with its No. 11 overall selection, team owner Stephen Ross stepped in and implored his team to trade back, per Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.
Volin reports that Ross wanted the Dolphins to acquire additional draft capital and to save money on the first-round selection (and, as the top four QB prospects were off the board by that time, perhaps he felt it made more sense to trade down). Ultimately, however, Ross’ football people talked him out of it, and the team turned in the card to select Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Time will tell whether the pick was a good one, or whether the Dolphins should have made more of an effort to land a signal-caller, but it cannot be argued that Fitzpatrick’s upside and versatility make him a logical fit for the Fins. Indeed, Miami needed help all over its defense, and the Crimson Tide standout — who can play safety or cornerback — was one of the best defenders in his class. He is also a playmaker, having recorded 60 tackles, 1.5 sacks, seven passes defensed, and one interception in his last collegiate season to go along with two pick sixes in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Even if they had traded back just one spot, Fitzpatrick may not have been on the board for Miami. The Buccaneers, who were sitting at No. 12 after trading its original No. 7 overall selection to the Bills, were in the market for a high-end DB, and many mock drafts had Fitzpatrick going to Tampa Bay at No. 7.
It is also unclear if the Dolphins actually had an offer for their No. 11 overall pick, or if Ross wanted them to work the phones more to seek out a deal.
We recently heard that the Patriots were just one of two teams to rate Baker Mayfield as the best quarterback in this year’s draft, and Mayfield’s agent, Jack Mills, indicated that New England may have been willing to move up to the No. 2 overall pick to land his client. However, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com is not so sure. He thinks the Patriots wanted to meet with Mayfield as part of their thorough scouting process, but if they did not sell Mills on the potential that they could make a big move up, Mills would not have wasted Mayfield’s time with a New England visit. Reiss does not believe the Pats would have jumped from No. 23 to No. 2 even if Mayfield was still on the board.
Now for more notes out of Foxborough:
- The Patriots have not officially announced their 2018 crop of UDFAs, but as Reiss observes, they have signed Vanderbilt running back Ralph Webb and gave him a $70K guarantee, which clearly makes him a priority signing with a decent chance of making the final roster. In a separate piece, Reiss says that Mike Gillislee, who opened the 2017 campaign as New England’s No. 1 back, is now fighting for a roster spot. With new first-round pick Sony Michel and veterans Rex Burkhead and James White considered locks, Gillislee will battle Webb, Jeremy Hill, and Brandon Bolden for one or two spots. The former Bill could be cut with no dead money ramifications.
- When he was recently asked if he felt appreciated by Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft, Tom Brady replied with a joke/non-answer. It is unclear whether Brady actually feels underappreciated by the other two most important figures within the organization, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believes the club should ante up and pay Brady a salary more in line with the top of the market. Brady’s $20.5MM AAV is now 16th among all quarterbacks, and Florio believes the Pats should rectify that to some degree.
- The news continues to be good for 2017 third-rounder Derek Rivers. Reiss says Rivers, who tore his ACL last August and missed his entire rookie campaign, is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.
- Earlier this week, ESPN’s Mel Kiper named Patriots’ sixth-round WR Braxton Berrios as one of the 2018 late-round selections most likely to make an immediate impact.
Not many teams have much attention devoted to their third-, fourth-, and fifth-string quarterbacks, but then again, not many teams have had a quarterback situation quite like that of the Jets in recent years. Now that Gang Green has Josh McCown and Sam Darnold entrenched as its top two signal-callers — and now that Bryce Petty is no longer in the picture — there is some intrigue as to what the team will do with Teddy Bridgewater and Christian Hackenberg.
Both players, of course, come with plenty of uncertainty. The biggest question mark surrounding Bridgewater is his health, and Brian Costello of the New York Post calls Bridgewater’s ability to be a full participant in the team’s OTAs that begin on May 22 “the biggest mystery of the spring.” When asked what the former Viking will be able to do in OTAs, head coach Todd Bowles said, “I can’t give you 100 percent. I’ll see when it gets to that. Then I’ll be able to tell you.”
Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, reading between the lines, says the odds are that Bridgewater will be limited in some fashion. Indeed, when asked if Bridgewater has been running with teammates in conditioning drills, Bowles said simply, “[h]e’s been working out.”
Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, though, says that even if Bridegwater is not able to fully participate in OTAs, it should not be cause for concern. Mehta tweets that Bridgewater is on schedule in his recovery from the catastrophic knee injury he suffered in 2016, and he may even be a little ahead of schedule.
If that’s the case, that could spell the end of Hackenberg’s time in New York. As Cimini indicates, Hackenberg’s days appear numbered, though the Penn State product would stand a better chance of sticking around if Bridgewater’s health remains in doubt. In an effort to jumpstart his career, Hackenberg — who has not taken a regular season snap in his first two seasons in the league — has recently revamped his throwing motion.
Even more interesting is the fact that Hackenberg made the change without consulting the team first, per Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv. As Bowles said, “[Hackenberg] hasn’t talked to me about it. He’s just worked on it and I learned about it after the fact.” Bowles also did not give a definitive answer as to whether the change in mechanics would help, or why Hackenberg waited to long to make the change.
Given Hackenberg’s pedigree — and perhaps his new mechanics, which he has worked on with quarterback guru Jeff Christiensen — he will certainly generate some interest if and when the Jets give him his walking papers. But it’s still a little too early to say whether he or Bridgewater will be the odd man out.
Brian Gutekunst remains confident the Packers will sign Aaron Rodgers to an extension this offseason, telling Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk he expects an agreement “soon.” The first-year GM said both sides continue to work on a pact. Although, the negotiations likely just saw the price rise since Matt Ryan‘s five-year, $150MM extension raised the ceiling for quarterback contracts. However, Gutekunst told Florio before Ryan’s Falcons agreement was finalized that both the Packers and Rodgers may be waiting to see if any other quarterback deals are completed this offseason. With Kirk Cousins signed and Ryan now locked up through 2023, Rodgers’ deal is likely next on the QB docket. Although, it’s still possible the Patriots and Tom Brady revise the reigning MVP’s contract. With two years remaining on Rodgers’ deal, Florio estimates the final result will be a contract closer to Ryan’s through-2023 deal than Cousins’ three-year accord. He also expects Rodgers’ new deal to further raise the quarterback ceiling, one that’s climbed considerably since Derek Carr became the league’s first $25MM-AAV player less than a year ago.
Here’s the latest from around the league:
- Two rookies the Ravens may well have hoped to land went to AFC North rivals. Jeff Zreibec of the Baltimore Sun notes the Ravens were eyeing Miami running back Mark Walton with their fourth-round pick, but the Bengals ended up selecting him six spots before Baltimore’s next pick — one that went to Alabama cornerback Anthony Averett. The other player they may well have wanted ended up in Pittsburgh. Zreibec adds the Ravens most likely sought James Washington, who went to the Steelers late in the second round. Eric DeCosta said a few times during this draft he became “angrier than usual” because of a player going off the board just prior to a Ravens selection window, and Zreibec assumes the Oklahoma State wide receiver was the source of one of these agitation bouts.
- Brandon Coleman‘s Saints contract is worth a maximum of $1MM, Larry Holder of NOLA.com reports. Coleman re-signed with New Orleans after not being tendered as a restricted free agent. Had the Saints applied the low-end tender to Coleman, he would have made $1.9MM this season. After the Saints selected Tre’Quan Smith in the third round, Coleman and return specialist Tommylee Lewis could be battling for a roster spot, Nick Underhill of The Advocate writes.
- On the subject of Saints position battles, Underhill notes the Saints are high enough on Taysom Hill that they might be ready to cut Tom Savage and carry just two quarterbacks if Hill beats him out for the backup job. They also brought in J.T. Barrett this month. Hill served as the Saints’ third-string quarterback last season behind Drew Brees and Chase Daniel. It would cost the Saints just $100K if they released Savage.
- Gareon Conley has yet to receive full clearance to return to Raiders workouts, but Jon Gruden said that appears imminent, per Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area. Conley underwent shin surgery last year after missing almost his entire rookie season. Gruden indicated the 2017 first-round pick is running with teammates and participating in walkthroughs but hasn’t been given a full green light yet.
- Both of Eric Berry‘s twin younger brothers are with teams this weekend. One will have a chance to join the All-Pro safety with the Chiefs. Elliott Berry is in Kansas City working as a tryout player, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Meanwhile, Evan Berry signed with the Browns as a UDFA on Friday. Both of twins played at Tennessee, as Eric did.