2019 May - Pro Football Rumors

Bears Sign LB Kevin Pierre-Louis

May 8th, 2019 at 3:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

The post-May 7 free agency period has begun to move. The Bears made a move to add linebacker depth on Wednesday.

Chicago signed Kevin Pierre-Louis to a one-year deal, the franchise announced. The Jets made Pierre-Louis a free agent after declining his 2019 option.

Pierre-Louis was part of the 2017 Chiefs, who employed Matt Nagy as their offensive coordinator. Bears inside linebackers coach Mark DeLeone also coached Nagy in Kansas City.

Entering his sixth season, the 27-year-old linebacker has played mostly as a backup in his nomadic career. The Seahawks drafted Pierre-Louis in the 2014 sixth round and kept him around through the 2016 season. Pierre-Louis spent 2017 with the Chiefs and 2018 with the Jets, the latter beginning with a one-game suspension. However, the second-level defender played in nine Jets games upon returning. He ended last season on IR.

The Boston College alum will join a Bears linebacking corps that will return Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith as its off-ball starters. The Bears made just five draft picks, none a linebacker, so Pierre-Louis figures to have a decent shot at being on Chicago’s 53-man roster come Week 1.

Patriots Cut WR Bruce Ellington

May 8th, 2019 at 3:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Patriots’ partnership with Bruce Ellington ended up lasting barely a month. The defending Super Bowl champions cut the veteran wide receiver on Wednesday.

Ellington signed a one-year deal for $895K (with just $25K guaranteed), so this transaction will not be costly for the Patriots. This exit comes with an injury designation, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (on Twitter), helping to explain Ellington’s abrupt departure.

Ellington has bounced around the league during his five-year career but established somewhat of a steady role with the Texans. However, a long-term role has eluded him.

New England signed the slot receiver in March, adding Ellington and former Redskins pass catcher Maurice Harris. The Patriots drafted N’Keal Harry in the first round and added Demaryius Thomas, who is recovering from an Achilles tear, in April. Slot player Braxton Berrios remains on the roster after not playing as a rookie. The Patriots also signed two UDFA wideouts — Auburn’s Ryan Davis and NC State’s Jakobi Meyers, the latter a former quarterback who posted a 1,000-yard season as a senior — last week.

The Pats last year released a slew of free agent wideouts, with Jordan Matthews, Kenny Britt and Eric Decker departing before Week 1. Matthews and Decker did not play a down for the Patriots. It appears Ellington will follow that path.

After Ellington started six games for the 2017 Texans, hauling in a career-high 29 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns, he received his walking papers — via IR release — midway through the 2018 campaign. The Lions picked Ellington up and deployed him in three games.

Teams Gauging Cowboys’ Safety Interest

May 8th, 2019 at 2:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys spent months either working on an Earl Thomas trade strategy or being connected to the All-Pro safety during the 2018 offseason. They ended up not landing Thomas via trade or as a free agent this year.

Teams appear to have taken notice of the Cowboys’ depth chart here. After the Cowboys did not add a back-line defender in this draft, they have received calls from multiple teams to gauge Dallas’ interest in safeties, executive VP Stephen Jones said (via John Machota of the Dallas Morning News, on Twitter).

“It’s got to be a safety that works for us. We’re not going to be in any hurry,” Jones said (Twitter link). “We know we can go out and play really good defense with the guys we have.”

Despite not holding a first-round pick, Dallas made eight selections in the draft. Only one — fifth-round cornerback Michael Jackson — went toward the secondary. The Cowboys mentioned their interest in adding a safety pre-draft but, again, did not take one. This happened in 2018 as well.

The Cowboys signed former Bengals starter George Iloka this offseason and still have Xavier Woods and Jeff Heath — Pro Football Focus’ No. 46 and No. 81 safeties, respectively, in 2018 — at the position. Other teams, perhaps those that did invest in younger safeties or spent to sign high-profile safeties in free agency, may be trying to capitalize on these circumstances and pry some future draft capital from the Cowboys.

Giants Sign RB Rod Smith

May 8th, 2019 at 2:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Rod Smith landed another gig backing up a Pro Bowl running back. The Giants signed the former Cowboys backup on Wednesday.

Set to transition from playing behind Ezekiel Elliott to appearing on a Saquon Barkley-fronted depth chart, Smith will change teams for the second time in his career. The former Ohio State running back began his NFL career as a Seahawk before becoming a steady backup in Dallas.

The Giants still have Jerry Reese-era draft picks Wayne Gallman and Paul Perkins behind Barkley. They cut Jonathan Stewart earlier this offseason. In being a Dave Gettleman signing, Smith should challenge to become Barkley’s primary backup.

The Bengals worked out Smith last month. No known Smith audition commenced with the Giants. The 27-year-old former UDFA backed up Elliott last season, averaging just 2.9 yards per carry. But in a more crowded Cowboys backfield in 2017, the 6-foot-3, 235-pound back averaged 4.2 yards per tote and scored four touchdowns. Smith also showed some outlet ability, hauling in 19 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown that season.

Barkley received 261 carries as a rookie, becoming the third first-year player in NFL history to exceed 2,000 yards from scrimmage. Gallman received 51 carries (averaging 3.5 yards per handoff), however, so some work exists behind the Giants’ three-down Pro Bowler.

Seahawks Ahead In Ziggy Ansah Pursuit

May 8th, 2019 at 1:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ziggy Ansah has made several visits this offseason. The team that secured the most recent visit appears to be the leader to land him.

The Seahawks have emerged as the frontrunners to sign the former Lions sack artist, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Although, the Bills — who also hosted Ansah this offseason — remain interested, with no deal being finalized between the former top-five pick and the Seahawks.

Just shy of his 30th birthday, Ansah met with the Seahawks in late April. The team has an obvious need at defensive end, having traded Frank Clark to the Chiefs. While Seattle selected L.J. Collier with the pick acquired from the Chiefs, the team almost certainly needs veteran help here.

Ansah has also visited the Bills, Ravens and Saints. Buffalo is a bit deeper on the edge than Seattle, but with Shaq Lawson a perpetual trade candidate, the AFC Ansah suitor may possess a slightly bigger need than it would appear. Jerry Hughes is also entering a contract year and his age-31 season. Though, Trent Murphy profiles as a superior option to any of the Seahawks’ veterans at this point. Cassius Marsh and Nate Orchard joined the Seahawks this offseason but profile more as potential depth pieces than starters.

The shoulder injury that dogged Ansah last season required offseason surgery and resulted in this lengthy free agency stay. Ansah’s plan was to wait until at least mid-April to sign. Now that the deadline for UFAs to count against the 2020 compensatory formula has elapsed, it’s understandable Ansah’s market has accelerated. While Ansah may not be cleared until midway through his next team’s training camp, it appears he will decide on a destination soon.

Vikings Waive OL Adam Bisnowaty

May 8th, 2019 at 1:01pm CST by Ben Levine

Adam Bisnowaty‘s short tenure with the Vikings has come to an end. The team announced today (via Twitter) that they’ve waived the offensive lineman. The team has signed undrafted rookie defensive end Stacy Keely to take the open roster spot.

The former Pittsburgh standout was a sixth-round pick by the Giants back in 2017. He ended up starting the season finale as a rookie, but the Giants ultimately waived him several months later. Bisnowaty then bounced around the league a bit, spending time with the Lions and Panthers. He caught on with the Vikings in late October, and he proceeded to spend the rest of the season on the team’s practice squad.

The Vikings will see several additions to their offensive line next season, as they added free agent guard Josh Kline and drafted center Garrett Bradbury in the first round. The team also added veteran Dakota Dozier and rookies Dru Samia and Oli Udoh.

Keely had participated at last week’s rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, and he parlayed that performance into a contract. The UAB product was relatively productive in a reserve role this past season, compiling eight tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.

Former Packers GM Ted Thompson Diagnosed With Autonomic Disorder

May 8th, 2019 at 12:02pm CST by Ben Levine

Earlier today, former Packers general manager Ted Thompson revealed that he’s been suffering from an autonomic disorder. The executive noted that his health played a major role in him stepping away from his job as the head of Green Bay’s front office.

“Late in the 2017 season, Mark Murphy and I had a conversation about my health and future with the Packers,” Thompson said in a statement. “At that time, we mutually agreed that it was in the best interests of myself and the organization to step away from my role as general manager. In consultation with team physician Dr. John Gray, I began a complete health evaluation that has included second opinions over the last year from the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Mayo Clinic and the UT Southwestern Medical Center.

I have been diagnosed with an autonomic disorder. I feel that it’s important to mention that based on the test results and opinions of medical specialists, they feel that I do not fit the profile of someone suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).”

In January of 2018, Thompson took on a new role with the organization. The organization ended up promoting former director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst to general manager, with Thompson sliding into the position of senior advisor to football operations.

Following a nine-year playing career with the Oilers, Thompson became the Packers’ general manager in 2005. He has been with the organization through two stints since 1992. During his first offseason at the helm, Thompson selected Aaron Rodgers with the 24th overall pick. Green Bay has been among the best teams in the draft since Thompson’s arrival, plucking stars like Clay Matthews and Jordy Nelson.

Under Thompson’s watch, the team advanced to the playoffs nine times and won the Super Bowl in 2010.

AFC Notes: Raiders, Incognito, Ravens, Ansah

May 8th, 2019 at 11:10am CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted notes from around the AFC…

Mutual interest exists between the Raiders and Richie Incognito, but the team is hesitant at the moment because of the suspension the embattled guard is likely to receive. The former Rams, Bills and Dolphins guard obviously has a checkered past, and the Raiders would like some clarity on the soon-to-be 36-year-old’s situation before moving forward, Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Jon Gruden‘s failed gamble on Martavis Bryant last year factors into this caution, Tafur writes, though it does not sound like an Incognito ban would nix a potential deal.
The Raiders have added the following players to their wideout room: Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, Ryan Grant, J.J. Nelson, Hunter Renfrow and Jalin Marshall. They also re-signed return specialist Dwayne Harris. But Gruden told UDFA Keelan Doss he has a “solid” chance of making the 53-man roster, Tafur writes (subscription required). An Alameda, Calif., native, Doss turned down better offers from other teams to play with his hometown squad, Tafur adds. Doss finished his UC Davis career with 312 catches and 4,069 yards — both school records.
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley is currently slotted in as the Ravens‘ third quarterback behind Lamar Jackson and Robert Griffin III, but the team may have bigger plans for the rookie. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic writes that the team is envisioning him playing a similar role to Taysom Hill on the Saints. McSorley is expected to take a few reps at quarterbacks, get a handful of carries, contribute on special teams, and perhaps make a few cameos at safety.
Zrebiec also believes the Ravens will make a push to sign defensive lineman Ezekiel Ansah. The organization already met with the free agent several weeks ago, and it was rumored that the 29-year-old would wait to sign a contract until he wasn’t attached to a compensatory pick. Ansah appeared in just seven games for the Lions last year before his shoulder took him out of action. However, Ansah has shown serious potential in the past with two 12+ sack seasons. As recently as 2017, Ansah profiled as one of the best edge rushers in the game.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Eagles Still Eyeing Carson Wentz Extension

May 8th, 2019 at 10:06am CST by Ben Levine

We heard back in March that the Eagles were optimistic about a Carson Wentz extension, and that still seems to be the case. Appearing on the 94WIP Morning Show, executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman said he’s still planning on extending the franchise quarterback.

“This is something that we are planning to do and if the deal is right for us, and the deal is right for Carson, we wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger on that,” Roseman said (via Andrew Porter of Radio.com). “That’s just the amount of confidence we have and we want to build this team knowing kind of what that piece is in place and go forward.”

The Eagles recently picked up the former second-overall pick’s fifth-year option, meaning Wentz will earn $22.783MM in 2020. However, that means Wentz is only under contract for two more seasons. With quarterback salaries continuing to rise, it’s only natural that the front office would look to extend their quarterback as soon as possible.

Wentz has battled injuries throughout his career, and he’s missed the past two postseasons as he dealt with ACL and back injuries. The organization made it pretty clear that they were ready to move forward with Wentz after they let former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles walk earlier this offseason. While some fans and pundits are wary of Wentz’s injury history, it doesn’t sound like the Eagles front office is all that concerned.

“I gotta be honest, I have so much faith in Carson Wentz,” Roseman said. “Obviously we put a lot on the line to draft him. He’s someone that we have total confidence. You see him around the building every day and he’s out on the field, it’s just—this guy is going to be a great player for the Philadelphia Eagles for a long time. This guy is going to be a great player for the Philadelphia Eagles for a long time.”

Wentz looked the part of a 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. Despite his injuries, his on-field production has put him in line for a lucrative extension. After a few years of relative stagnancy, the quarterback market has transformed over the past year. With the Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers, and Russell Wilson extensions moving the AAV bar north of $30MM, Wentz would presumably be eyeing a similar deal. The longer the Eagles wait, the better chance there is of Wentz’s asking price increasing (assuming he stays healthy).

Bilal Powell Fully Cleared From Neck Injury

May 8th, 2019 at 8:36am CST by Ben Levine

Back in October, there were rumblings that Bilal Powell‘s neck injury could threaten his career. Fortunately, it sounds like the veteran running back is on the road to recovery. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the free agent back has been fully cleared from his neck injury and is “really looking forward to getting back to work.”

Powell suffered the injury during a mid-October contest agains the Vikings, and that may have ultimately marked the end of the running back’s tenure with the Jets. A fourth-round pick back in 2011, Powell just completed his three-year, $11.25MM deal, making him a free agent. While he had been a staple of the Jets’ backfield for years, it’s possible that the Jets are content rolling into next season with Elijah McGuire and Ty Montgomery serving as Le’Veon Bell‘s backups.

Powell’s never established himself as a household name, but he’s been consistent through his eight-year career. Powell has rushed for an average of 4.4 yards per carry, and he’s emerged as one of the more capable pass-catchers out of the backfield. In 2016, he caught a career-high 58 passes for 388 yards and two receiving scores.

Powell ultimately finished the 2018 season having run for 343 yards on 80 carries. He also hauled in 11 catches for 110 yards.