2019 April - Pro Football Rumors

Browns Plan To Keep Duke Johnson

April 30th, 2019 at 3:48pm CST by Zachary Links

Browns running back Duke Johnson has requested a trade, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll get his way. In an interview with 92.3 The Fan (Twitter link) on Tuesday, Browns GM John Dorsey indicated that Johnson’s isn’t going anywhere.

“I keep telling you guys and you all don’t listen to me,” Dorsey said. “Duke Johnson is a viable member of this organization. He’s very talented. This organization has plans to use him.”

Dorsey’s comments jibe with head coach Freddie Kitchens‘ recent remarks, so all indications are that Johnson will be a member of the Browns in 2019.

Johnson, ostensibly, is upset about the arrival of former Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt, who is slated to serve as the Browns’ top ball carrier after the conclusion of his four-game suspension. Meanwhile, the Browns will need a quality ball carrier for the opening month of the season and they still value Johnson’s soft hands out of the backfield. Since 2015, Johnson has averaged roughly 59 catches and 543 yards per season. Even last year when he saw only 40 carries behind Nick Chubb and Carlos Hyde, he still managed 47 grabs for 429 yards.

The Jets, Texans, and Eagles all showed interest in Johnson after Cleveland acquired Hunt, but if Dorsey and Kitchens are to be believed, they’ll have to go shopping for backfield help elsewhere.

No Talks Yet For Broncos, Chris Harris

April 30th, 2019 at 3:39pm CST by Zachary Links

Before the draft, Chris Harris instructed the Broncos to pay him or trade him. One week later, the Broncos have done neither.

Broncos GM John Elway indicated that he would discuss a new deal with Harris after the draft, but no talks have taken place just yet, according to James Palmer of NFL.com (on Twitter). Meanwhile, Palmer hears that teams still remain interested in him.

If Harris were to be moved, the draft would have been the logical time for a trade. Several teams have already filled their needs with a cornerback run that started in the second round and the Broncos would have preferred to net immediate help in exchange for one of the game’s best CBs.

Still, there’s a major gulf for the two sides to cross. Harris, who is unquestionably underpaid for what he provides, is seeking a deal worth more than $15MM/year. The Broncos, who have a tight cap situation thanks in part to their signing of Kareem Jackson to a three-year, $33MM deal, do not seem willing to go that far. It’s hard to see the Broncos budging, but then again, GM John Elway claims that he had no trade talks regarding Harris during the draft, so the team must have some willingness to reach a compromise.

For now, the Broncos have Harris under contract through 2019 at a comfortable $8.766MM cap figure. If nothing changes, it’ll be a situation to monitor – it’s not immediately clear whether the veteran plans to show up for work in the summer, or even the fall, without a new deal.

This Date In Transactions History: Chiefs Draft Tyreek Hill

April 30th, 2019 at 2:50pm CST by Zachary Links

On this date in 2016, the Chiefs altered the course of their franchise with a controversial fifth-round pick. In that draft, many teams ruled out Tyreek Hill, a shockingly fast wide receiver, due to a horrendous incident in which he was said to have beaten and choked his pregnant girlfriend.

The Chiefs felt that Hill had shown remorse and was deserving of a second chance. And, early on in his career, Hill made the most of the opportunity.

As a rookie, he electrified the football world with his head-turning kick returns, two of which he took all the way to the house. Then, in 2017, he had his true breakout season when the Chiefs utilized him more as a receiver. Those who took a chance on Hill in fantasy football were handsomely rewarded as he caught 75 passes for 1,183 yards and seven touchdowns.

Then, last year, Hill firmly established himself as one of the most impressive playmakers in the game. Hill nearly reached 1,500 yards receiving, averaged 17.0 yards per grab, and gave opposing defensive coordinators nightmares. Between Hill, tight end Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, and star rusher Kareem Hunt, the Chiefs’ offensive stars were simply impossible to guard for most clubs.

However, things have changed dramatically over the last five months. In late November, TMZ released footage of Hunt striking a woman in the corridor of a hotel and kicking her while she was on the ground. The Chiefs responded quickly and released Hunt soon after.

Then, in the offseason, authorities opened an investigation into Hill’s alleged abuse of his three-year-old son. Last week, the DA declined to press charges, citing a lack of hard evidence. However, newly leaked audio of a conversation between Hill and his child’s mother led to the investigation being re-opened. The Chiefs have banned Hill from team activities indefinitely and it seems likely that he’ll be released outright in the weeks to come.

Vikings To Decline Treadwell’s Option

April 30th, 2019 at 1:06pm CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings are not expected to pick up the fifth-year option for wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press (on Twitter). The Vikings technically have until the Friday deadline to make the call, but barring a change in thinking, Treadwell will be on course for free agency after the 2019 season.

The 2020 option for Treadwell would have called for a $10.162MM salary. Although it would have been guaranteed for injury only, it was a risk that the front office was unwilling to take. Treadwell, 24 in June, has done little to justify his selection at No. 23 overall in 2016. Last year, he had 35 catches for 302 yards and one touchdown, and that was his most productive season to date.

In fact, Treadwell profiles as a trade candidate after a series of costly mistakes in 2018. The Vikings probably won’t get much for him, but there are likely evaluators out there who feel that they can harness the talent he displayed just three years ago.

In 2016, Treadwell, was widely projected as a top-15 pick before a slow 40-yard dash time and other concerns about his game hurt his draft stock. Still, the Chiefs and other clubs were targeting him in the lower-third of the first round before the Vikings snatched him.

Corey Ballentine Released From Hospital

April 30th, 2019 at 12:57pm CST by Zachary Links

Giants sixth-round pick Corey Ballentine has been released from the hospital, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The cornerback was shot in the glute early on Sunday morning in a tragic incident that took the life of his former Washburn teammate Dwane Simmons.

Ballentine is expected to make a full recovery and Giants GM Dave Gettleman recently said that he is expected to attend the team’s rookie minicamp later this week. Of course, it’ll still be a bit before he is cleared to resume football activities.

From a football perspective, the Giants are excited to see what Ballentine can bring to the table. A two-sport star in high school, Ballentine managed to make a name for himself at a small Division-II school. His wingspan, athleticism, and kick return ability had some evaluators pegging him for the fourth round, but the Giants managed to snag him later in the day on Saturday.

Jamaal Charles Retires From NFL

April 30th, 2019 at 10:50am CST by Zachary Links

Jamaal Charles is calling it a career. The running back will sign a one-day contract in order to officially leave the game as a member of the Chiefs, according to 610 Sports Radio (Twitter link).

Way back in October, Charles indicated that he was likely done with football. But, days later, he auditioned for the Ravens, leaving some question as to whether he would follow through on retirement. Months later, Charles has arrived at a decision – he’s done for good.

In his prime, Charles was one of the NFL’s most electrifying running backs. When he was young, healthy, and a member of the Chiefs, he had some brilliant seasons, including a 2010 campaign in which he ran for 1,467 yards and averaged 6.4 yards per carry. Unfortunately, time is not kind to running backs, and he has not topped 1,000 yards since the 2014 season due to aging and injuries.

The Chiefs’ all-time rushing leader attempted to reignite his career with the Broncos in 2017 and again with the Jaguars in 2018. He wasn’t the same player, but it’s worth noting that he managed a 4.3 yards per carry average with Denver in a limited sample size of 69 attempts.

Charles will leave the game at the age of 32, presumably with enough money to do whatever he wants. We here at PFR wish Charles the best in retirement.

Extra Points: Field, Fritz Pollard, NFL Draft

April 30th, 2019 at 10:38am CST by Zachary Links

Could the NFL take a page from the CFL? In recent player safety discussions at the owners meetings, the idea of widening the field was discussed, according to Jay Glazer of The Athletic.

Currently, the NFL field is 53 1/3 yards wide. Over time, players have gotten bigger, faster, and stronger, but offensive playmakers have the same amount of room to avoid hits in the open field. Widening the field, potentially, would go a long way towards protecting the ball carrier.

In the CFL, the field is not only longer, but also about 12 yards wider. It’s not clear whether the NFL would be willing to go that for, or if NFL owners would be willing to absorb the cost of the potential revamp. However, with the collective bargaining agreement set to expire soon, this could be an opportune time for a change.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

NFL executive Rod Graves is stepping down to become the chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, according to Jim Trotter of NFL.com. The FPA is an advocacy group aiming to increase minority representation throughout NFL front offices, coaching staffs, and scouting departments. Trotter will succeed John Wooten, who is 82 years old and has been in the role since 2003. Graves, meanwhile, has been a senior vice president of football administration at the league office since 2015. Before that, Graves worked in front offices for the Jets, Cardinals, and Bears.
A reminder of the NFL Draft’s unpredictability from former NFL PR man Mike McCartney (on Twitter): 33 players who weren’t invited to the NFL Combine were drafted. Meanwhile, 117 players who participated in the NFL Combine went undrafted.

Jets Open To Re-Signing Morris Claiborne

April 30th, 2019 at 10:02am CST by Zachary Links

Jets GM Mike Maccagnan says he remains open to re-signing free agent cornerback Morris Claiborne (Twitter link via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com). However, as Cimini notes, the Jets may need to act fast if they want to retain the veteran.

[RELATED: Grading The Jets’ Draft]

Starting on May 7, teams can sign free agents without having them count towards the compensatory pick formula. At that point, clubs will probably give more consideration to Claiborne, a player who has talent, but hasn’t been playing at an elite level in New York.

Claiborne spent the past two seasons with the Jets and has played on one-year deals for the past three seasons. He hasn’t really excelled since his 2016 season with the Cowboys, when he graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 12 ranked corner in a limited sample of seven games. Last year, Claiborne graded out as just the No. 75 CB in the NFL out of 112 qualified players, per PFF.

Back in March, the Jets appeared set to move on from Mo, but they could be reconsidering their position after failing to land a top CB prospect in the draft.

Broncos To Sign QB Brett Rypien

April 30th, 2019 at 9:39am CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos are set to sign quarterback Brett Rypien, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic (on Twitter). The Boise State product went undrafted last week, but there was a ripe market for his services.

The Broncos are giving Rypien a “six-figure guarantee,” according to Jhabvala, which would give him one of the most lucrative signing bonuses of any UDFA.

With the signing, the Broncos’ quarterback room just got a bit more crowded. Already, Joe Flacco may be feeling some heat from second-round pick Drew Lock, and the club also has journeymen Kevin Hogan and Garrett Grayson on the depth chart.

Rypien completed 67.3% of his passes for 3,705 yards in his final collegiate season. He also threw for 30 touchdowns against just seven interceptions.

Rypien has been lauded for his intangibles, but many NFL evaluators wonder if he has the arm to compete at the NFL level. His 9-inch hand measurement at the combine also didn’t do him any favors.

Colts Sign RB Spencer Ware

April 30th, 2019 at 9:30am CST by Zachary Links

The Colts have signed running back Spencer Ware, according to a team announcement. Ware, the former Chiefs tailback, will give the Colts support at the position after they declined to address it in the draft.

Ware, 28 in November, first made noise in 2015 when he ran for 403 yards with the Chiefs and averaged 5.6 yards per carry in a limited sample. In 2016, he was the Chiefs’ starter and amassed 921 yards with a 4.3 yards-per-tote average. His usage fluctuated over the course of three healthy years in KC, but his career 4.6 YPC shows promise.

The veteran joins former Chiefs teammate Justin Houston in Indianapolis and will push to be a top reserve behind Marlon Mack. 2018 draft picks Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines are also under contract, so he’ll have his work cut out for him.

In related moves, the Colts released safety Isaiah Johnson, defensive tackle DeShawn Williams, and wide receiver James Wright (with an injury designation).