2019 May - Pro Football Rumors

Saints Sign RB Buck Allen

May 28th, 2019 at 3:57pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have signed running back Buck Allen, according to a team press release. In a related move, the Saints dropped running back A.J. Ouellette and cornerback Jordan Wyatt to make room for Allen and the previously reported addition of Matthew Dayes.

Allen worked out for the Saints last week alongside fellow running backs Fozzy Whittaker and Robert Kelley. Allen, apparently, was the best of the bunch, even though he averaged just 2.7 yards per rushing attempt for the Ravens last year. The former fourth-round pick had some moments early on in his career – including his 12 catches for 107 receiving yards against the Dolphins in 2015 – but has never topped the 4.0 YPC mark in any of his four NFL seasons.

Allen and Dayes will try to make the cut behind an RB depth chart headlined by Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray. Dwayne Washington and rookie Devine Ozigbo are also on the 90-man roster.

49ers Work Out Kayvon Webster

May 28th, 2019 at 2:03pm CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers worked out cornerback Kayvon Webster on Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Webster stands as one of the best remaining free agents left on the board at this stage of the offseason.

Webster also met with the Bears earlier this month, but left Chicago without a deal. Despite his recent injury troubles, he profiles as a potential difference-maker for the Niners who could be had on a cheap deal.

Webster joined the Texans late last offseason but played in just two games thanks to multiple injuries and two separate IR stints. Webster, who was lauded for his talent while buried behind big name corners in Denver, has failed to take the next leap forward in his career. Many expected big things when he reunited with Wade Phillips as a member of the Rams in 2017, but he failed to make a major impact in eleven games before suffering a season-ending Achilles tear.

The 49ers recently lost Jimmie Ward to a broken collarbone, so this would be an opportune time to see what Webster can do before Ward returns for training camp. The Niners also fortified their CB group by drafting Tim Harris in the sixth round, but there’s no guarantee that the rookie will make the final cut.

Orleans Darkwa Back To Full Health

May 28th, 2019 at 11:36am CST by Zachary Links

Former Giants running back Orleans Darkwa is said to be “100%” recovered from his Achilles tear (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). Darkwa is ready to sign with a team, Schefter hears, so it might not be long before he gets back on the gridiron.

Darkwa tore the Achilles tendon in his right leg during an October audition with the Jaguars, a frustrating setback after he had a plate surgically removed from his leg last offseason. The 27-year-old was coming off his most productive NFL season in 2017, rushing for 751 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 171 carries.

Previously, the Giants offered him a contract that would have kept him in New York, and he also received interest from the Redskins, Patriots, and Bills. Darkwa turned down a one-year, ~$1MM contract from the Redskins in August of last year, but he might have to settle for a deal in that ballpark if he hopes to play in 2018.

Football Outsiders ranked Darkwa as a top-25 running back in both DYAR and DVOA in 2017, meaning that he was both effective overall and efficient on a per-play basis. Furthermore, Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics highlighted his ability to create his own yardage.

Broncos, Chris Harris Nearing Deal

May 28th, 2019 at 11:22am CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos and Chris Harris Jr. are “extremely close” to a new one-year deal, according to Mike Klis of 9News (on Twitter). With the final week of OTAs starting on Wednesday, both sides hoping to reach agreement today.

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Harris is set to earn $8.9MM this year in salary and bonuses. Initially, Harris was pushing for more than $15MM per year on a multi-year extension, but he has since backed down from that asking price. The Broncos are unwilling to tack additional years on to his pact, but they are apparently willing to give him a pay bump for 2019.

Last year, the Broncos mollified Harris’ extension request with a similar measure. A $3MM incentive package got the job done in 2018, but one has to imagine that GM John Elway will have to give more this time around.

Harris appeared in 12 games and posted three interceptions a year ago before suffering a fractured fibula in early December. Pro Football Focus graded Harris, who spent 58% of his time in the slot, as the third-best cornerback in the NFL.

Steelers’ Mike Hilton Pushing For New Deal

May 28th, 2019 at 10:33am CST by Zachary Links

Cornerback Mike Hilton has yet to ink his exclusive rights free agent tender and continues to push the club for a new deal, as Chris Adamski of the Tribune-Review writes. But, while Hilton waits to see how things play out between team brass and agent Drew Rosenhaus, he is participating in OTAs.

As an ERFA, Hilton has no real leverage: he can either accept a minimum salary pact from the Steelers, or decide not to play football in 2019. ERFAs and restricted free agents do hold one advantage over other young players who were drafted, however, as they can receive extensions after only two seasons, whereas drafted players must wait at least three years.

Hilton, one of the better slot corners in the league, has appeared in 31 games over the past two seasons, posting three interceptions and five sacks during that span. Meanwhile, he added seven or eight pounds of muscle to his frame in order to build on that production in 2019.

“It was intentional,” the 25-year-old said. “Especially coming off my (elbow) injury, I feel like if I get stronger, I will be able to handle that type of weight.”

The Steelers gave ERFA left tackle Alejandro Villanueva a new deal in 2017 after he practiced with the team in the offseason, so there’s reason to believe that Hilton can also get a fresh contract out of the team.

Raiders To Sign Richie Incognito

May 28th, 2019 at 9:26am CST by Zachary Links

The Raiders have agreed to sign offensive lineman Richie Incognito, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s a one-year, minimum salary deal for the controversial veteran as he makes his return to the NFL, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM (on Twitter) adds.

There has been longstanding mutual interest between the Raiders and Incognito, but the team debated the signing internally because of the suspension that is likely coming down the pike. Ultimately, they didn’t see much risk in adding Incognito on a cheap deal that they can easily shed if things don’t work out.

The former Rams, Bills and Dolphins guard has a checkered past, but he’s also a proven commodity on the field. In 2017, Incognito graded out as the 12th best guard in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. He ranked seventh amongst all guards in 2016 and second in ’15, making him the Bills’ top-rated offensive lineman in that three year period. He also earned his third straight Pro Bowl nod in 2017, giving him four in total.

Last year, Incognito agreed to a pay cut with the Bills only to “retire” for a short time and force his release from Buffalo. Days after his release, Florida cops placed Incognito in a mental hospital after he hurled weights at a gym and told officers that the government is spying on him. Incognito claimed that he drew interest even after that event, but as far as we know, the Raiders were the only team to show any interest in him this year.

On the plus side, Incognito is reportedly feeling well, both mentally and physically. If that’s the case, Incognito could factor into the Raiders’ starting left guard competition following the trade of Kelechi Osemele to the Jets. The Raiders say that Gabe Jackson will remain on the right side, which currently leaves Denzelle Good as the leader in the clubhouse at LG.

Adam Gase Talks Front Office, Bell, Darnold

May 27th, 2019 at 9:49pm CST by Ben Levine

Adam Gase was named as the Jets’ new head coach back in January, and we’re confident that the 41-year-old had no idea how the next few months would unfold.

While the team seemingly did a nice job of utilizing their draft picks and abundance of cap space, their front office is in a bit of turmoil. The organization moved on from general manager Mike Maccagnan earlier this month, and Gase subsequently earned the interim GM tag. Since that time, the head coach has made several notable roster moves, including his decision to move on from a pair of former draft picks (tight end Jordan Leggett and linebacker Darron Lee).

Gase recently sat down with Albert Breer of SI.com to discuss the organization’s search for a new GM, his outlook for the season, and his thoughts on some of the team’s notable free agent additions. The entire article is worth a read, but we’ve compiled some relevant soundbites below:

On his role in finding a replacement for Maccagnan:

“Christopher [Johnson]’s making the decision. There are a couple of us that are trying to help put the right type of guys in front of him. And the biggest thing, you’re looking for a guy that has leadership qualities. … [But] that has to be both of us [as GM and coach]. We both have to do it. We got to work together to accomplish that. It’s been a while—eight years since they made the playoffs. It’s been a while.

“There are a lot of people here that haven’t experienced that yet.”

On the Jets signing free agent linebacker C.J. Mosley:

“His reputation is no secret around the NFL. People know. Eric Weddle actually texted me when we were in free agency and laid it out—‘Do whatever you gotta do to get this guy, this guy is a stud.’ [Weddle] had just signed with L.A., and it was great to get confirmation on the things we’d already heard.”

On second-year quarterback Sam Darnold:

“When you watch him just throw, anyone can watch him throw and go, ‘that guy can throw the football. I think the side that I didn’t know as much, and I’ve seen it since I’ve been here, is how competitive he is as far as learning football. He wants to be as good as he can be. He wants to be a great player. And you can tell by his work ethic, that’s what he wants to do. He’s not just talking the talk.”

On the addition of running back Le’Veon Bell, who Gase was reportedly against signing:

“I think he’s very motivated to do well and help this team win. And I think the more people keep talking, the more he keeps putting his head down and working. For me, I’ve combed through a lot of the things he’s done in Pittsburgh to make sure I really understands what he loves doing, and make sure we do a good job of building this offense, because it’s very fluid and flexible, it’s chameleon-like.”

Latest On Benjamin Watson’s Suspension

May 27th, 2019 at 9:05pm CST by Ben Levine

Ben Watson recently joined the Patriots, but the veteran tight end won’t be suiting up for the team until Week 5. We learned yesterday that the 38-year-old will be suspended for the first four games of the 2019 season.

In a Facebook post, Watson explained that he thought he was retiring for good after the 2018 season, so he wasn’t quite as careful with his treatment. He was given Bio Identical Testosterone Cypionate by a doctor, which is banned by the league. Only after he made the decision to return to the NFL did he realize the implications, and he ended up failing a drug test.

Some additional notes and opinions have emerged over the past 24 hours pertaining to Watson’s suspension, which we’ve collected below:

While Watson is set to miss four games, he still has a good chance of meeting his incentives. As Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com points out, Watson’s deal with the Patriots includes $650K in incentives: $250K if he appears in 35-percent of the team’s offensive snaps and another $400K if he appears in 45-percent of the snaps. Florio calculates that Watson will need to “get roughly 66 percent of the snaps in the remaining games of the year to earn the full incentive.”
Albert Breer of SI.com believes the Patriots could still be in the hunt for more tight end depth. The writer cites the organization’s handling of their 2006 receiver corps; among the three (yes, three) active New England receivers in the AFC title game, one (Jabar Gaffney) didn’t join the team until October. Breer notes that this “a sign of how the Patriots can bring guys along and how they adjust.”
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe writes that Watson’s suspension should strengthen Austin Seferian-Jenkins‘ chances of making the roster. The 26-year-old, who signed a one-year deal with the Patriots back in April, had 11 receptions in five games for the Jaguars last season. Meanwhile, Volin believes that fellow free agent addition Matt LaCosse likely has a roster spot locked up, while the team could also lean on some of their young options (including Ryan Izzo, Stephen Anderson, and Andrew Beck).
Volin also opines that the suspension could be a blessing in disguise for Watson. While the veteran hasn’t missed a regular season game since 2013, he’s still 38-years-old. The four-game absence could prove to be especially helpful come playoff time, with Volin pointing to previous performances from Tom Brady (2016) and Julian Edelman (2018).

Latest On Chris Harris, Broncos

May 27th, 2019 at 7:50pm CST by Ben Levine

Another hour, another Chris Harris/Broncos update. Earlier today, we learned that Broncos GM John Elway and agent Frederick Lyles Jr. had been progressing towards a contract adjustment. However, ESPN’s Josina Anderson tweets that there’s been “no additional progress” on a new deal.

Naturally, with contradicting reports like this, the sources are attempting to accomplish something. Following this latest tweet, we can surmise that at least one party (presumably Harris’s camp, although that’s purely speculation) aren’t content with the current negotiations. In other words, while there was optimism earlier today that a new deal could soon be finalized, that may no longer be the case.

To review, Harris is set to earn $8.9MM this year in salary and bonuses. The veteran was looking for a raise and an extension, and it sounds like the Broncos were willing to satisfy part of his request; the front office was reportedly offering the cornerback a pay bump in his walk year.

As our own Zach Links pointed out earlier today, there has been some progress in talks. Harris was initially asking for more than $15MM annually, so his asking price has come down. Furthermore, the two sides have some experience with these types of negotiations, as the Broncos gave Harris a $3MM incentive package last year.

The 29-year-old has yet to practice within the Broncos’ revised 3-4 scheme due to his protest of the club’s voluntary offseason program. There was some hope that the two sides could come to an agreement in time for the Broncos’ final stretch of OTAs on Wednesday.

Falcons, Redskins To Host OL Dieugot Joseph

May 27th, 2019 at 6:50pm CST by Ben Levine

Dieugot Joseph hasn’t had a chance to see the field for a regular season game during his brief career, but the lineman is apparently generating interest as a free agent. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter) that Joseph is set to visit with the Redskins and Falcons this week.

The FIU product went undrafted during the 2017 draft, but he quickly caught on with the Bears. He hung around with Chicago’s practice squad until mid-September, when the Ravens signed him to their active roster. The offensive tackle joined the Vikings towards the end of that campaign, earning him an eventual reserve/future contract.

Joseph was released by Minnesota last preseason, and he spent the majority of last season on the Jets’ practice squad. He inked a futures contract with the team in December, but he was let go by the organization earlier this month.

The Falcons have done plenty to revamp their offensive line this offseason. The team added two rookie linemen during the first round of the draft (Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary), and they also added a number of free agents (a grouping that includes James Carpenter and Jamon Brown). Meanwhile, the Redskins haven’t done a whole lot to add to their offensive line corps; the team signed free agent Ereck Flowers, and they also added a pair of rookie linemen during the draft.