HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/7/19

May 7th, 2019 at 8:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the latest draft picks to agree to rookie contracts:

  • The Steelers on Tuesday signed two of their three sixth-round picks, defensive end Isaiah Buggs and linebacker Sutton Smith. These are the first two members of Pittsburgh’s nine-man draft class to sign their rookie deals. Buggs was part of the 2017 national champion Alabama squad and led the 2018 Crimson Tide in sacks. Smith is an Akron product; the Steelers’ other sixth-round selection, Ulysees Gilbert III, is also a Mid-American Conference product, having played at Northern Illinois.

AFC South Notes: Mosley, Jaguars, Texans

May 7th, 2019 at 8:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the Colts have shown considerable restraint in free agency during Chris Ballard‘s three offseasons as GM, continuing this year despite the team’s league-high cap space figure, they did identify a position they wanted. They just didn’t fill it until the draft. Previously mentioned as one of C.J. Mosley‘s many suitors, the Colts made a “serious” run at the inside linebacker in March, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. Clearly, Ballard was not prepared to go as high as the Jets did — $17MM AAV — for the sixth-year linebacker. The Colts were not mentioned as a finalist for Mosley, with the Ravens increasing their offer before Mosley opted for New York.

Indianapolis wanted a three-down linebacker to pair with Darius Leonard and is encouraged by third-round pick Bobby Okereke‘s outlook early, Breer adds. Known more (at this point) for Pat McAfee’s announcement of his Colts arrival, Okereke being longer and bigger than Devin White or Devin Bush (though not by much at 6-foot-1, 239 pounds) was important to Ballard’s staff — just as Leonard’s frame appealed to the Colts last year.

Here is the latest news coming out of the AFC South:

  • Continuing with the Colts, the team’s decision to trade out of the first round and pick up a 2020 second-rounder in the process earned praise by multiple NFL executives as the best move of the draft, Mike Sando of ESPN.com writes (ESPN+ link). The Colts acquiring the Redskins’ 2020 second-rounder strikes the anonymous execs as a value move, given that Washington’s picks are likely to be higher than Indianapolis’ next year, and labeled moving out of a late first-round spot this year was savvy given the top-heavy makeup of the 2019 class. The Colts chose Rock Ya-Sin, Ben Banogu and Parris Campbell in the second round.
  • The Jaguars‘ Josh Allen pick will protect them in the event prospective negotiations with Yannick Ngakoue escalate to an undesirable price point, offers another exec (via Sando). Ngakoue left Jaguars workouts in a likely contract-related maneuver. The defensive end became extension-eligible this year, but talks are not believed to have begun yet. The Jaguars already have Calais Campbell making $15MM per year, but given the new deals handed to Frank Clark and DeMarcus Lawrence, Ngakoue will likely aim higher than Campbell’s pact when the time comes. Allen is locked into his rookie contract until 2022. Conversely, an exec from a team in need of a pass rusher said his team did not have Allen graded particularly high. Said exec viewed the Kentucky product may end up as an off-ball linebacker at some point.
  • A year ago, the Texans hired John Ritcher from the Jets to be their southeast area scout. They have now promoted him to a national scout, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle notes. Ritcher joins Mozique McCurtis as the Texans’ national scouts.

Latest On Jason Pierre-Paul

May 7th, 2019 at 6:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

The car accident in which Jason Pierre-Paul was involved may keep him out of football in 2019. But JPP and the Buccaneers are not conceding that yet.

Pierre-Paul requiring surgery for the neck injury he sustained would keep him out up to six months, putting his 2019 availability in question. Upon looking at JPP’s scans, the Buccaneers grew concerned the edge rusher suffered a fractured vertebrae in his neck, James Palmer of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). But JPP is seeking out several other medical opinions.

JPP plans to send the results of those tests to “several” other doctors this week, per Palmer, who adds hope remains that surgery will not be necessary and that the ninth-year player could be back in time for Week 1.

“While Jason was treated and released in south Florida the same day of the accident, we wanted to ensure that our medical team had an opportunity to perform a thorough evaluation here in Tampa, and that process is currently ongoing,” Bucs GM Jason Licht said.

The Bucs received a 12.5-sack season from Pierre-Paul in 2018, it doubling as Tampa Bay’s double-digit sack season since 2005. He obviously remains a key figure in Tampa Bay’s defense — even as it moves to a 3-4 look, a scheme in which JPP has not played as an NFLer. Tampa Bay drafted a pass rusher, Iowa’s Anthony Nelson, but waited until Round 4 to do so. The Bucs signed Shaquil Barrett this offseason. Prior to the injury, JPP was not attending Bucs offseason workouts.

This marks the second major off-field injury for JPP, who suffered severe hand damage in a 2015 fireworks accident, and the second straight offseason in which the Bucs have dealt with an off-field injury. Kendell Beckwith did not play last season because of an ankle injury sustained in a car accident.

With Pierre-Paul’s $7.5MM injury guarantee becoming a full guarantee in March, the Bucs have little recourse here when it comes to the salary cap. But it’s certainly possible the team looks for another pass rusher in free agency. Gerald McCoy is expected to be released, if no trade can be reached, freeing up $13MM in cap space. The Bucs hold just $1.8MM in space, so they would have to create some space before pursuing one of the UFA edge rushers.

Extra Points: Suh, OT, Tebow, XFL

May 7th, 2019 at 6:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

As could be expected based on his stature in the league throughout the 2010s, Ndamukong Suh has placed a high value on his services. The defensive tackle still resides in free agency largely because of his asking price, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. Because he entered the NFL under the previous CBA, which awarded first-round picks far more lucrative contracts, Suh has never played for less than $10MM in a season. He signed a one-year, $14MM deal with the Rams. After Suh’s strong playoff performance helped the Rams to Super Bowl LIII, the team is nevertheless not expected to bring him back. Suh has not been connected closely to any team this offseason, but the Titans have emerged as a possible suitor. As of 3pm Tuesday, teams can sign free agents without the transactions being tied to 2020 compensatory picks. That will accelerate the action.

Here is the latest from the American professional football landscape:

  • The NFL may be moving closer to a system that would allow both teams to have a possession in overtime. The Chiefs’ March proposal to guarantee both teams an OT possession has gained support among owners, Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones said (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). “I certainly watched every play of that Kansas City-New England game, and you kind of would have liked to have seen what would have happened if Kansas City got another shot at it, and then how the thing would have ended up,” Jones said. “It’s certainly something that had some traction there in the room, and certainly saw some people who were very interested in it.” Although this may come to pass, both Jones and Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said the rule tweak likely would only apply to playoff games — when the overtime clock does not factor into the game. The owners will discuss this further at their latest round of meetings — set for May 20-22 in Florida.
  • Despite the Alliance of American Football being the latest football league to fail, the XFL is barreling forward. XFL 2.0 has reached agreements with multiple networks to have each of its games aired each week. The league will begin play Feb. 8, 2020 — six days after a Super Bowl, as the AAF did this year — have 10 regular-season games and two playoff rounds. Its championship matchup is set for April 26. ABC, Fox and ESPN will televise XFL games — two apiece on Saturdays and Sundays. While this is a similar schedule to the AAF’s, the the 2019 league’s games appeared mostly on TNT and the NFL Network. It’s safe to say the XFL stands to have a greater reach, given its TV partnerships. Here is the full schedule.
  • The XFL reached out to Tim Tebow about reconsidering his stance regarding a football return. Commissioner Oliver Luck said (via SI.com’s Dan Greene) he ran into the former Broncos starter at the NCAA national championship game in January but that Tebow reaffirmed his stance to continue with baseball. He turned down the AAF this year as well. The 31-year-old quarterback-turned-outfielder, though, has struggled in 2019 after showing previous promise in the Mets farm system. After slashing .273/.336/.399 with six home runs in Double-A last season, Tebow has not adjusted to Triple-A pitching. He is hitting .130 in 77 at-bats this season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/7/19

May 7th, 2019 at 5:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the night:

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Kansas City Chiefs

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

  • Signed: WR Deonta Harris

Philadelphia Eagles

Tennessee Titans

49ers Sign C Wesley Johnson

May 7th, 2019 at 3:31pm CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers signed center Wesley Johnson, according to a team announcement. To make room, the club waived tight end Marcus Lucas. 

[RELATED: 49ers, DeForest Buckner Far Apart On Talks]

Johnson spent 2015-2017 with the Jets and became their starting center in 2016 after injuries halted Nick Mangold‘s career. Then, last season, he hooked on with the Dolphins and appeared in ten contests.

With the Niners, Johnson could serve as a backup behind starter Weston Richburg, who underwent knee surgery in January. The expectation is that Richburg will be ready in time for training camp, but recovery timetables off of knee surgery are notoriously unreliable.

Lucas, meanwhile, will seek yet another NFL home. He’s bounced around the league since entering in 2014, but has yet to see time in a regular season contest.

Telvin Smith Wants To Stay With Jaguars

May 7th, 2019 at 3:06pm CST by Zachary Links

Telvin Smith has been absent from the Jaguars’ voluntary workouts, but he insists that he wants to stay in Jacksonville. On Tuesday, the linebacker took to social media to quell any talk that he’s looking for a way out. 

“Understand this, I never left Duval,” the 2017 Pro Bowler said on Instagram (via Justin Barney of News4Jax). “I’m never leaving Duval; it’s Duval til we die. You understand me? Y’all seen trade rumors and stuff. Y’all seen me go anywhere? Exactly. Y’all seen the rumors go somewhere, but y’all ain’t seen me go no where cause I ain’t going nowhere. You understand me? I promise y’all this: Ain’t nothing about Telvin Smith leaving Duval.”

Of course, none of this guarantees that Smith will remain on the Jags’ roster. The Jaguars drafted Murray State linebacker Quincy Williams with one of their third-round picks, inviting speculation that Smith could be a trade candidate. Then, GM Dave Caldwell did little to silence that talk after the draft. When asked about Smith’s future by a reporter, he replied, “We’ll see.”

Smith, a fifth-round pick in 2014, has at least two interceptions in each of the past three seasons and three career touchdowns. If the Jaguars put him on the block, they’ll find a ripe market for his services.

Raiders Sign Jalin Marshall

May 7th, 2019 at 2:17pm CST by Zachary Links

The Raiders signed wide receiver Jalin Marshall, according to an announcement from his agent. Marshall has been out of the NFL since being waved by the Jets following the 2018 season.

This year, the Ohio State product hooked on with the AAF’s Orlando franchise. Unfortunately, he was put out of work along with many other players when the league went belly-up midway through its inaugural season.

Still just 23 (24 in July), Marshall has 14 receptions for 162 yards to his credit. All of those came during his rookie season, one that also saw him factor into New York’s return game. Most notably, he returned 13 kicks for an average of 24.9 yards per try.

In 2017, Marshall was hit with a four-game ban for PEDs and spent the rest of the season on the taxi squad. This year, he managed 26 catches for 364 yards and three touchdowns in the AAF.

Marshall has an opportunity to see live action once again in the NFL, but little will be guaranteed here, especially since the Raiders now have eleven wide receivers on their offseason roster.

PFR Commenting Policy

May 7th, 2019 at 1:30pm CST by Zachary Links

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Marquette King Visiting Texans

May 7th, 2019 at 12:52pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Broncos and Raiders punter Marquette King will visit the Texans on Tuesday, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). King’s market has been relatively quiet in recent weeks, but he could find a home once the compensatory pick formula is taken out of the equation. 

King, one of the most outspoken punters in NFL history, was released by the Raiders in April 2018, with reports indicating that head coach Jon Gruden wasn’t a fan of King’s personality. The 30-year-old received interest from the Vikings and Giants, but he landed with the Broncos on a three-year deal.

Unfortunately, King’s Denver run was short lived. After appearing in four games, King suffered a season-ending abductor injury and was ultimately released.

Last month, the Dolphins expressed some interest in signing King. The Bills, according to one report, also showed interest in King, though a separate report put that in question.

King’s 20 punts traveled an average of 44.1 yards last season, which ranked 22nd in the NFL. However, he managed to place seven punts inside the 20-yard line, placing him just outside of the top 10.

If signed, King would replace – or compete with – incumbent punter Trevor Daniel. Last year, Daniel averaged 43.7 yards per boot.

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