HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

AFC Notes: Jets, Raiders, Broncos, Hardman

April 29th, 2019 at 9:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

During the hours leading up to the draft’s second night, the Jets were calling teams — the Seahawks, Colts and others — about trading way up into the second round. That did not end up happening. The Jets, who traded their Round 2 pick to the Colts last year for the right to move up to draft Sam Darnold, made the calls because of a desire to add one of the high-end cornerbacks available to start Day 2, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports. Gang Green sought to jump into the top five of the second round, per Mehta, but they could not come to terms on a deal. Such a jump — from No. 68 into the 30s — would have required a significant draft capital subtraction. The Jets also had a deal with the Eagles to make a less costly move — up to No. 57 — to draft Mecole Hardman, but the Chiefs beat them to it. Corners Byron Murphy, Rock Ya-Sin, Sean Bunting and Trayvon Mullen all went off the board in the first eight picks Friday.

At corner, the Jets have 2018 free agent signing Trumaine Johnson and 2019 addition Brian Poole. As of now, they may be asking Darryl Roberts to be a starter. With no draft picks spent on the position, the Jets may still be on the lookout for help here.

Here is the latest post-draft news from the AFC:

  • The Raiders hoped to trade down from their No. 4 slot, but no calls came, Peter King of NBC Sports notes. Just about every high-end prospect was connected to the Raiders during the pre-draft process, but the team instead went with what most perceived as a bit of a reach in Clelin Ferrell. However, taking the Clemson talent at No. 4 was the team’s backup plan.
  • Joe Flacco‘s work in the early days of the Broncos‘ offseason program dissuaded John Elway from selecting a quarterback at No. 10 overall, something many mock drafts had the Broncos doing. “What made that decision is, Joe is fitting really well with what we want to do offensively, and he looked great in our minicamp last week,” Elway said Thursday, via King. “He really put on a throwing exhibition last week in camp. I truly think we’ve got a guy coming into his prime.” Of course, less than 24 hours later, Drew Lock was a Bronco. Both King and SI.com’s Albert Breer report the Mizzou prospect was the top passer on Denver’s board, with Breer adding that Elway continually brought up Lock in pre-draft meetings, pointing further to the potential value investment at No. 42.
  • As for what would have happened if the Broncos did not receive a strong Steelers offer for No. 10? Denver would have a new starting inside linebacker, with King writing the Broncos would have taken Devin Bush and addressed their offensive needs later.
  • While the Chiefs‘ Hardman pick looks like a Tyreek Hill emergency replacement, and was chosen three rounds ahead of when the polarizing star was taken three years ago, the team views the Georgia speedster as a cross between Hill and gadget-type weapon De’Anthony Thomas — both in terms of role and talent, Breer writes.
  • Of their six 2019 picks, the Jets used one on an offensive lineman — third-round tackle Chuma Edoga. Gang Green entered free agency with plenty of needs up front. While All-Pro Kelechi Osemele is now slotted in as one of the Jets’ first-string guards, Tom Compton represented the team’s only other veteran addition. Although, Jonotthan Harrison re-signed and appears to be a firm option to start, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY notes. The Jets were eyeing interior lineman Connor McGovern in Round 3, per Vacchiano, but the Cowboys beat them to him. As of now, Harrison — a career part-time starter with the Colts who ended last season as the Jets’ top center — is first in line to snap.

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/29/19

April 29th, 2019 at 8:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s minor moves:

Cleveland Browns 

  • Waived: C Kyle Friend

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Waived: C Tejan Koroma

Los Angeles Rams

  • Signed: OL Jeremiah Kolone

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Dave Gettleman On Josh Allen, Daniel Jones, Eli Manning

April 29th, 2019 at 8:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Roger Goodell uttering the name “Daniel Jones” served as perhaps the most shocking moment of the draft, and the decision that led to the commissioner reading that card did not come easy for the Giants.

Dave Gettleman had another name in mind, in the event the Giants felt their short-term need at defensive end was too great to ignore at No. 6. The second-year Giants GM said (via NBC Sports’ Peter King) the decision to bypass Josh Allen for Jones was “agonizing.”

“I agonized over that,” Gettleman said. “I agonized. Before the draft, we discussed that thoroughly as a group — first last Friday, then again Wednesday. Obviously we had great regard for Josh Allen. But the one thing I have learned is you don’t fool around with a quarterback. If he’s your guy, you take him.”

Gettleman said post-draft he knew of two teams that would have taken Jones before the Giants’ No. 17 pick. The Jaguars snapped up Allen at No. 7, doing so despite not expecting the Kentucky edge rusher to be there. Jacksonville was expecting to make a decision between T.J. Hockenson and Jonah Williams, with Albert Breer of SI.com noting Hockenson was the Jags’ likely pick had the Giants gone with Allen as many expected. After the Jags’ Allen pivot, the Lions took Hockenson at No. 8.

The Giants have possessed three top-six picks since 2004, the first of those leading to Eli Manning and the second producing Saquon Barkley. Gettleman did not indicate last year he had any kind of debate between choosing Barkley or Sam Darnold. A year later, the Giants GM said his team might not have another near-future chance to grab a top quarterback prospect without sacrificing plenty in a trade, helping lead the Giants to Jones this year.

“There are no guarantees. So the bottom line is, if you believe this kid can get you to the promised land, why wait?” Gettleman said, via Breer. “You have to have confidence in what you’re doing. You’re drafting players. The team will be better. Now, what happens next year? What if you don’t take him this year, and next year you’re picking 22? You’re going to have to move heaven and earth. This is the closest we’re going to get. It made the most sense.”

The Giants did not leave Manning in the dark about the Jones decision. He called the Giants’ 16th-year quarterback while on the clock at No. 6. Gettleman said Manning could potentially be Big Blue’s starter for multiple additional seasons.

“I was on the phone with Eli. I told him, ‘You’re our quarterback, let’s go,'” Gettleman said, via Breer. “And by the way, we’re drafting the Jones kid, and your job is to be the best quarterback you can be and help us win. It’s his responsibility to crawl up your fanny and learn.”

New York attempted to trade up to land Denver’s pick at No. 10, but the Broncos went with the Steelers’ proposal instead, King reports. It’s possible the Giants wanted to trade up to land Rashan Gary or Brian Burns, whom the Packers and Panthers respectively selected. The Giants selected defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence at No. 17.

Cardinals Sign 12 UDFAs

April 29th, 2019 at 6:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cardinals became the latest team to unveil their UDFA class. Twelve players comprise Arizona’s post-draft group. Here is the full list:

Although Charles Clay joined a group including Ricky Seals-Jones, before Caleb Wilson became a Cardinal in the seventh round, the Cards added two more tight ends Monday in Belcher and Washington. A former quarterback, Belcher helped Maine to the Division I-FCS semifinals, catching 46 passes for 357 yards last season. Washington transferred from Miami to Rutgers but did not exceed 300 yards in a season in college. Kliff Kingsbury‘s offense may not feature as much tight end work as Arizona’s previous attack did, with four- and five-wide receiver sets expected more often.

Anderson attended four schools — San Diego State, Diablo Valley (Calif.) College, Buffalo and Murray State — and although he only played in five games for the Bulls, one of those was a 597-yard, seven-touchdown pass performance in 2017. He threw for 2,864 yards with the Racers last season, in addition to 20 TD passes, and added 225 rushing yards. Anderson joins Kyler Murray, Brett Hundley and 2018 UDFA Chad Kanoff as Cardinals quarterbacks.

Ziggy Ansah Visiting Seahawks

April 29th, 2019 at 6:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

The latest Ziggy Ansah visit involves a team that suddenly has a need on the edge. Ansah is in Seattle on Monday meeting with the Seahawks, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).

Although the Seahawks selected TCU defensive end L.J. Collier in the first round, their draft-week trade of Frank Clark still leaves them a bit undermanned at their edge defender spot. None of the Seahawks’ other 10 draft choices addressed this spot, and John Schneider hinted Saturday the team was not done in its pursuit of defensive ends post-Clark.

Ansah already visited the Bills, Saints and Ravens this offseason. A decision may be imminent for the injury-prone pass rusher. However, any team that signs the former top-five pick will do so with the understanding he is not expected to be cleared until after training camps begin. Ansah underwent surgery after another injury-limited season, and although his shoulder is structurally sound, mid-August is the clearance target date.

The Seahawks signed Cassius Marsh and Nate Orchard this offseason but have a need up front. Collier should be expected to play a key role this season, but the team traded its top edge rusher and the only edge player to record more than three sacks for last year’s squad. Rasheem Green, a 2018 third-round pick, and Quinton Jefferson, a three-sack player last year, remain in the group as well. But it’s clear the Seahawks are interested in augmenting the group after Clark’s departure.

Vikings Add 10 Undrafted Free Agents

April 29th, 2019 at 5:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Vikings agreed to terms with 10 undrafted free agents on Monday. Here is the full list:

The Huskies’ career leader in passing yardage (12,296) and single-season touchdown pass leader with 43 in 2016, Browning will be the fourth quarterback on Minnesota’s offseason roster. He joins fellow newcomer Sean Mannion, along with Kirk Cousins and 2017 UDFA Kyle Sloter. Tito Odenigbo is Vikings defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo‘s younger brother. Keenoy was a 50-game starter at Western Michigan, while Dillon posted 105 receptions for 1,661 yards at Marian — an NAIA school.

Of the receivers on the Vikings’ roster, only two — Stefon Diggs and Laquon Treadwell — were draft picks. Davis was a four-year contributor at Sam Houston State, hauling in 226 receptions for 3,181 yards and 40 touchdown grabs.

Falcons Release G Brandon Fusco

April 29th, 2019 at 4:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Active in adding guards this offseason, the Falcons parted ways with one of their 2018 acquisitions. They released Brandon Fusco on Monday, NFL reporter Howard Balzer tweets.

Fusco suffered a season-ending ankle injury midway through his first season with the Falcons, and the team released the veteran blocker with a failed-physical designation.

Atlanta added Fusco on a three-year, $12.75MM deal during free agency last year. As a result of this release, the Falcons will incur a $2.5MM dead-money charge. Fusco started seven games for the Falcons last season, but after the team’s free agency additions of James Carpenter and Jamon Brown preceded the Chris Lindstrom first-round selection, the team will go in a different direction.

The 30-year-old lineman has started 87 of the 90 career games he’s played, being part of six Vikings first-string O-lines — including the one that paved the way for his 2015 rushing title — and was a 16-game starter with the 49ers in 2017. The former sixth-round pick will have to heal up before continuing his career.

Patriots Trade Jacob Hollister To Seahawks

April 29th, 2019 at 3:40pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots have agreed to trade third-year tight end Jacob Hollister to the Seahawks pending a physical, league sources tell Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Patriots will receive a 2020 conditional seventh-round pick in return. 

The Seahawks had four tight ends on their 90-man roster, plus incoming undrafted free agent Justin Johnson. But, with Will Dissly coming off a knee injury, the Seahawks felt the need for some reinforcement.

Enter Hollister, who has just eight catches to his credit across two injury-filled seasons in New England. The Seahawks aren’t necessarily expecting a ton out of Hollister, but could provide valuable depth support if he manages to stay healthy.

Eagles Pick Up Carson Wentz’s Option

April 29th, 2019 at 3:31pm CST by Zachary Links

No surprise here. On Monday, the Eagles exercised Carson Wentz‘s fifth-year option, per a team announcement. 

This was a no-brainer call for the Eagles, who have committed to Wentz as their quarterback of the future. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft is now set to earn $22.783MM in 2020, the season after the initial four years on his contract come to a close.

Wentz, of course, was sidelined for the Eagles’ postseason run following the 2017 campaign, paving the way for Nick Foles to take the wheel and lead the franchise to its first ever Super Bowl victory. Last year, the injury bug bit Wentz once again. He missed a good chunk of the year with back troubles, but Foles was there once again to pinch hit. Unfortunately, the magic ran out for Philly last year, and the Eagles no longer have Foles as a safety net.

Should Wentz’s back issues reemerge to the point where his performance is compromised, he’ll be protected per the rules of the fifth-year option, which is guaranteed for injury. For any non-health issues, the Eagles retain the right to cut him loose without being on the hook for nearly $23MM in 2020.

Wentz looked the part of franchise quarterback when he was healthy in 2018. He finished the campaign with 3,074 yards and 21 touchdowns with a 69.6 completion percentage in 11 games.

Falcons Sign 16 Undrafted Free Agents

April 29th, 2019 at 2:18pm CST by Zachary Links

The Falcons agreed to sign with 16 undrafted college free agents on Monday. Here’s the full breakdown of Atlanta’s eight new offensive players, seven new defenders, and one long snapper:

Stanley, a wide receiver at Georgia, will aim to show his stuff as a cornerback for the Falcons. The 6’2″, 207-pounder didn’t see a ton of playing time with the Bulldogs, but the Falcons are curious to find out whether his athletic skills can translate to success on the other side of the ball.

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