2018 July - Pro Football Rumors

NFC East Notes: Redskins, Eagles, Cowboys

July 31st, 2018 at 2:43pm CST by Zachary Links

Expectations are high for the Redskins this year, but that doesn’t bother head coach Jay Gruden.

“I felt pressure the moment I signed the contract,” Gruden said (via John Keim of ESPN.com). “That’s the way it is here in D.C. Everyone expects a winner. I know Mr. Snyder does and Bruce [Allen], the whole city and the fans. I’ve been fortunate enough to get to this without winning a playoff game. I understand the expectations are high. We’ve put ourselves in position that it should be high, given the talent on this team.”

In Gruden’s opinion, this year’s Redskins roster is the club’s most talented since he was hired in 2014. Indeed, the Redskins do have more depth on the defensive line and at running back than they’ve had in years past, but the quarterback position remains a question mark for most. The Redskins believe that Alex Smith is an upgrade over Kirk Cousins, but plenty of people in the football world disagree with that notion.

Here’s more from the NFC East:

The Eagles‘ toughest roster decisions will be at running back, Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com writes. Donnel Pumphrey, Matt Jones, Josh Adams, and Wendell Smallwood are likely competing for two roster spots and each player brings something unique to the table. Meanwhile, both Pumphrey and Jones have worked hard to improve their pass-catching ability. If they continue to make strides as receivers, they could both have an edge heading into September.
The Cowboys worked out wide receiver Ricky Jeune on Tuesday, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. Jeune, who previously spent time with the Rams, could add to the club’s depth in the wake of Cedrick Wilson’s shoulder injury.
Recently, former agent Joel Corry gave his thoughts on what an extension for Giants star Odell Beckham Jr. might look like.

AFC East Notes: Jets, Darnold, Bills

July 31st, 2018 at 2:22pm CST by Zachary Links

Finally, the Jets have signed No. 3 overall pick Sam Darnold. The quarterback’s contract includes offset language, at the Jets’ insistence, but the deal favors the quarterback in other areas. The USC product will receive his $20MM signing bonus payment within 15 days and the team also agreed to keep his guarantees intact if he is fined in the future. The Jets made some serious concessions to get Darnold back in practice, but ultimately GM Mike Maccagnan was comfortable with those sacrifices.

“Some of those things, they do set precedents going forward, but there’s precedents…you feel comfortable with or not,” Maccagnan said (via Matt Stypulkoski of NJ.com). “Those are areas that – I know there’s certain trends in the league right now, trending toward no offset. But again, it’s one thing if you kind of stay consistent with what you believe in and what you want to protect.”

Here’s more from the AFC East:

Bills defensive tackle Adolphus Washington may be in roster trouble, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW writes. The 2016 third-round pick has been struggling in practice while the team has given Harrison Phillips work at Washington’s three-technique position. Bills GM Brandon Beane hasn’t been shy about jettisoning players from the old regime, so Buscaglia wonders if Washington could go on the trade block between now and September. It’s not quite clear what the Bills could fetch for Washington, however, given uneven performance over the last two years.
The Bills‘ new look offensive line is long on experience but may be short on talent, Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle writes. The Bills are coming into 2018 without Cordy Glenn, Eric Wood, and Richie Incognito, three players who have started a combined 347 games and made five Pro Bowls. Of the Bills’ current 15 linemen, they have zero Pro Bowlers or even players that have been considered for a Pro Bowl.
Patriots second-round pick Duke Dawson could wind up starting at cornerback.

Vikings Notes: Diggs, Thielen, Remmers

July 31st, 2018 at 12:21pm CST by Zachary Links

On Tuesday morning, Stefon Diggs became the latest wide receiver to cash in. Despite never having a 1,000 yard or 100 catch season, the Vikings gave him a five-year extension worth $72MM.

Adam Thielen, who had 1,276 receiving yards last season, agreed to a team-friendly deal two years ago that will pay him a fraction of Diggs’ deal for the next three seasons. The Vikings will have to pay in order to keep Thielen beyond 2020, but Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com (on Twitter) wonders whether the Diggs deal is an indication that he’ll take less to stay in Minnesota. For now, Thielen is set to carry cap numbers of $6.1MM, $5MM, and $6.5MM in each of the next three seasons.

Here’s more from Minnesota:

It sounds like the Vikings will be using offensive lineman Mike Remmers exclusively on the interior. The veteran has been playing exclusively at right guard through the team’s first five practices, Cronin tweets. Remmers worked as the Panthers’ starting right tackle from 2014-16, but he played at right guard towards the end of last season for the Vikings. The 29-year-old is entering the second year of a five-year, $30MM deal he signed with the club in March of 2017.
Improvement in Anthony Barr‘s pass-rushing production could help him become the next Vikings player to get paid, Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune writes. Barr had four sacks as a rookie, but his numbers have dropped each season as the Vikings have sent him after the quarterback less often and offenses have used linemen to block him more often instead of running backs. Last year, Barr rushed the QB on a career low 16.7% of his snaps, resulting in just one sack on the year.

Raiders Have Not Made Offer To Khalil Mack

July 31st, 2018 at 12:00pm CST by Zachary Links

Khalil Mack has yet to show for training camp and there’s no resolution in sight for his quarrel with the team. The Raiders still have not made an offer to the pass rusher and there have been no talks between the two sides since February, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

The lack of progress on a deal is a head scratcher, especially considering recent comments from GM Reggie McKenzie.

“Khalil is my guy. … It’s unfortunate that we have to go through this. But his camp decided to do it this way … and Khalil is not the first guy to hold out,” McKenzie said this week. “But we’ll get through this. But there is nothing really to report. He is going to hold out until he gets an extension, and that’s where we are.”

Mack is coming off of another strong season in which he tallied 10.5 sacks and 78 total tackles. The former No. 5 overall pick graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 5 ranked edge rusher in the league and he is looking for a deal that will position him as one of the game’s highest-paid non quarterbacks.

As it stands, Mack is slated to reach unrestricted free agency after the 2018 season. The Raiders can control him via the franchise tag after he collects on his $13.846MM salary, but Mack wants a long-term deal today that will provide him substantial guarantees.

NFC West Notes: Seahawks, Thomas, 49ers

July 31st, 2018 at 10:46am CST by Andrew Ortenberg

There’s still no end in sight to the Earl Thomas/Seahawks drama. Thomas continues to insist he won’t report without a new contract, and that without a new contract he wants to be traded. The Seahawks won’t budge on extending him, but also haven’t complied with his trade demands. The Cowboys have been a frequently mentioned potential destination for Thomas, a Texas native, and Brady Henderson and Todd Archer of ESPN.com, the site’s Seahawks and Cowboys reporters, respectively, took a look at what it would take to get Thomas to Dallas.

Henderson notes that the Seahawks have the money available to give Thomas a new deal if they really wanted to, they just don’t have any desire to pay him longterm top-safety market as he enters his age-29 season. Archer notes the Cowboys are even less restricted by the cap, and could give Thomas any deal they want comfortably. Henderson says the Seahawks “aren’t going to give Thomas away for nothing despite the perception that they have no other choice.” The Seahawks are clearly intent on getting top dollar for the All-Pro safety in any trade, and it’s unclear if the Cowboys will be willing to pay it.

Archer writes the Cowboys “aren’t going to overpay”, that they’ve “held firm in talks”, and that it’s “basically a staring contest” between the two sides now. The start of the season is right around the corner, and any potential trade would have to happen relatively soon for Thomas to be able to get up to speed with his new team. It will be fascinating to watch to see which side blinks first.

Here’s more from around the NFC West:

The details on Duane Brown‘s new extension from the Seahawks are in. He’ll get $14.5MM fully guaranteed this year, an increase of nearly $5MM from what he was scheduled to make, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). The team could get out from under his contract fairly easily if they want after this year, as Rapoport notes only $1.75MM is guaranteed for injury in 2019.
Speaking of staring contests, the Rams and Aaron Donald continue to have one of their own. Although the two sides reportedly remain intent on getting a deal done, Peter King of NBC Sports writes he thinks “this Aaron Donald holdout could last into September. Easily.” That’s the last thing in the world Rams fans want to hear, but it sounds like Donald again missing regular season time isn’t out of the question.
Joshua Garnett could be cut by the 49ers writes Cam Inman of the Mercury News. Garnett was a first round pick in 2016, but didn’t play great as a rookie and missed all of last year with a knee injury. It’s always shocking if a first round pick is cut this soon, but it sounds like it’s a real possibility for Garnett, as the new regime in San Francisco has no ties to him.

Kelvin Sheppard Working Out For Lions

July 31st, 2018 at 10:18am CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Former Bills, Dolphins, and Giants linebacker Kelvin Sheppard is working out for the Lions today, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link).

Sheppard, 30, has made quite a few stops in his NFL career. Originially drafted in the third round by the Bills back in 2011. After a couple years there he was traded to the Colts, but released after just a season. He then signed in Miami for the next two years, and started 13 games for the Dolphins in 2015. He was a starter in 2016 with the Giants, then signed with the Bears the following offseason. He was cut before the regular season started and ended up re-signing with the Giants mid-season. A true journeyman, Sheppard will be looking to latch on with his sixth team in just eight seasons.

It’s been a quiet market so far for Sheppard, who’s drawn little known interest. Lions coach Matt Patricia should have some familiarity with Sheppard, having coached in the same division as him during his time with the Patriots while Sheppard was playing for the Bills and Dolphins. Sheppard received poor marks from Pro Football Focus in 2017, earning a low 46.5 grade, 59th among linebackers.

Cardinals Work Out Gerald Hodges

July 31st, 2018 at 9:29am CST by Zachary Links

Linebacker Gerald Hodges will work out for the Cardinals on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Cardinals’ interest level is not immediately clear, but they are looking for veteran help.

Hodges joined the Saints in 2017 following the team’s Week 5 bye week. He became a key cog on special teams, but he appeared in only 13 snaps on defense and eleven of those came in a blowout win over the Bills in Week 10. The Saints were the third team Hodges had played with since entering the league in 2013, following stints with Minnesota and San Francisco. In February, he was released by New Orleans.

The veteran didn’t do a whole lot last year, but he has proven that he can be a capable contributor. In 2016, he racked up 83 tackles, three sacks, and two interceptions in 15 games with the 49ers. In that season, he graded out as the league’s No. 21 ranked linebacker, per the metrics at Pro Football Focus.

Vikings, Stefon Diggs Agree To Extension

July 31st, 2018 at 8:37am CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings and wide receiver Stefon Diggs have reached agreement on a hefty new deal, according to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune. The five-year extension is worth $72MM, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The deal includes $40MM in guarantees and can be worth up to $81M in total with incentives.

Diggs made his case for a new deal in 2017 as he caught eight touchdown passes, tying him for the team lead with tight end Kyle Rudolph. Meanwhile, his 64 catches and 849 receiving yards were good for second on the team, despite missing two regular season contests. Diggs, for his part, has been vocal about his desire to stay with the Vikings.

“I want to be here. I love being here,” Diggs said. “I love being a part of the organization. They took a chance on me early on so I love it here as far as where we’re at. … Hopefully, we can get some things done and we’ll see how it goes.”

The $14MM/year deal may sound exorbitant for a player who has yet to top 1,000 yards, but the wide receiver market has exploded and this is in line with Diggs’ expected haul in free agency. There’s certainly some risk on the team’s part as he has been hampered by injuries throughout his career. Diggs has not missed significant time as a pro, but he has dealt with groin issues in each of the last two seasons. He also said he was “never the same” after suffering a groin injury in Week 4 and his knee and hip have also given him problems.

The Vikings have worked hard in recent months to keep their young core together. Since last July, Minnesota has locked up Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph, Xavier Rhodes, Eric Kendricks, Danielle Hunter, and now Diggs. Last, but not least, is linebacker Anthony Barr, and it might not be long before they sign him to a fresh contract.

AFC Rumors: Mack, McKinney, Big Ben

July 30th, 2018 at 9:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Raiders are far later in the game with Khalil Mack than they were when they signed Derek Carr to a then-record-breaking extension, with Mack on the verge of his fifth season compared to Carr being midway through the offseason prior to his fourth. Reggie McKenzie addressed the All-Pro defensive end’s status. The seventh-year Raiders GM does not anticipate Mack reporting to camp without an extension, one that’s shown no progress and featured zero dialogue between Mack and Jon Gruden.

“Khalil is my guy. … It’s unfortunate that we have to go through this. But his camp decided to do it this way … and Khalil is not the first guy to hold out,” McKenzie said, via Vic Tafur of The Athletic (subscription required). “But we’ll get through this. But there is nothing really to report. He is going to hold out until he gets an extension, and that’s where we are.”

Mack’s already accrued sufficient years for free agency, unlike Aaron Donald. But the two are linked together because of similar pursuits: those of a contract that would raise the bar for defensive players. McKenzie insists the Rams’ impasse has nothing to do with the Raiders. Though, one of these players agreeing to terms would undoubtedly make matters easier for the other team’s negotiations.

“No, our waiting game is just with Khalil. Our focus … I will be honest, we are not even thinking about Aaron Donald,” he said. “Aaron Donald could sign tomorrow, and we’re only focused on Khalil. … Setting the market, all that, that is not the case at all.”

Here’s the AFC latest:

One difference Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk observes between Mack and Donald: rumors aren’t circulating about the Rams’ wherewithal to construct a Donald contract. However, some are wondering if the Raiders can give Mack the kind of guarantee he’s seeking, Florio notes. Mack will be requiring his guarantees be north of Von Miller‘s $70MM ($42MM guaranteed at signing), and Mark Davis‘ franchise is on the lower end of the cash spectrum among NFL teams. Mack is due $13.8MM this season. A prospective franchise tag in 2019 would bump that to around $20MM. Florio suggests, if this is truly the case (and if it was, that would certainly qualify as a crisis), then the Raiders should consider trading their superstar defender to a team that can afford to pay him.
Benardrick McKinney‘s five-year Texans extension is worth a bit more than originally reported. It’s a $51.1MM deal rather than a $50MM accord, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports. The inside linebacker received just a $3.75MM signing bonus, with Wilson adding a $5.25MM 2018 roster bonus came McKinney’s way as well. Overall, $21MM is guaranteed in this deal. Wilson notes McKinney will make $6MM in 2019 base salary; that figure is guaranteed. His $6MM base in 2020 is guaranteed for injury but becomes fully guaranteed if he’s still on the roster by the fifth day of ’20 league year. McKinney’s cap figures are as follows: $7.7MM (2018), $7.5MM (’19), $7.5MM (’20), $8.5MM (’21), $10.25MM (’22), $10.25MM (’23).
Ben Roethlisberger is down approximately 15 pounds at Steelers camp, with Mark Kaboly of The Athletic noting the 15th-year quarterback weighs 250. Big Ben hinted at retirement following the 2016 season but reaffirmed his commitment to the Steelers after last season concluded. He’s now hinted at being interested in signing another Pittsburgh extension, with negotiations likely set for 2019 (his contract year).

John Fox, Jim Caldwell To Work With XFL

July 30th, 2018 at 8:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

The two coaches fired from NFC North teams this offseason will resurface in one of the two leagues set to spawn soon.

Both John Fox and Jim Caldwell have agreed to work with the XFL as consultants, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. The Bears and Lions axed Fox and Caldwell in January, respectively.

Fox was linked to coaching offers shortly after being fired, and it’s likely he will return to coaching at some point. But for now, he’ll work with the XFL. It’s possible Caldwell will provide input from an offensive prospective, with the defensively oriented Fox being brought in for defensive views.

The league plans to restart in 2020, after what will be a 19-year hiatus, and it’s still in the process of determining rules. However, the XFL looks to have greater financial backing this time around.

Oliver Luck is signed on as commissioner and will receive $20MM guaranteed in that role, and the league has raised more money in advance of its rebirth than what the Alliance of American Football has. However, the AAF’s brought in bigger coaching and personnel names thus far. No coaches or teams have been announced for XFL 2.0 yet.

Caldwell, 63, has been an NFL coach for 17 straight seasons and hasn’t taken a season off since breaking into the profession in the late 1970s. Fox has been affiliated with an NFL team every year since 1989. His only coaching break came in 1996, when he was a Rams consultant. Fox, 63, has experience working in other pro football leagues, having coached in the USFL during the 1985 season.