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AFC East Rumors: Gronk, McCoy, Fins, Jets

July 21st, 2019 at 9:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

The AFC East’s teams will report to training camp this week. Here is the latest surrounding the Patriots and their perennial challengers:

  • The Rob Gronkowski comeback talk has escalated considerably, with Gronkowski doing the speculating and predicting how restless he will be when Patriots camp and games begin. It won’t be Gronk’s relationship with Bill Belichick that stands in the way, Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston notes. After 2017 featured tension between Gronkowski and Belichick, Curran adds that the two “greatly” improved their relationship last season. This came despite the Patriots at one point planning to trade Gronk to the Lions last year. This improved relationship could point to Belichick signing off on a Gronk mid- or late-season return. The Patriots’ shaky tight end depth chart would seemingly have the defending champions eager to have the 30-year-old back in uniform.
  • One of Gronkowski’s former sidekicks in New England, Dwayne Allen will not begin camp on time with his new team. The Dolphins placed the veteran tight end on their active/PUP list on Sunday. Cornerback Cordrea Tankersley and linebacker/special-teamer Mike Hull joined Allen in receiving this designation before Miami’s camp. Tankersley tore an ACL in November, so this additional delay was not unexpected. He started 11 games at corner as a rookie but played in only six, as a reserve, last season.
  • Might third-round rookie Devin Singletary‘s performance put a potential Hall of Famer on the outs in Buffalo? LeSean McCoy is entering the final season of a five-year, $40MM Bills contract, and his cap savings ($6MM-plus) would benefit the Bills more than releases of Frank Gore or T.J. Yeldon. This led an NFL scouting director to call the McCoy situation one to monitor, per Albert Breer of SI.com. On a limited Bills offense last season, McCoy averaged a career-low 36.7 yards per game. His 3.2 yards per carry were nearly a yard shy of his previous-worst figure. The idea of a McCoy trade has surfaced this offseason, too.
  • Despite Leonard Williams being one of Mike Maccagnan‘s highest-profile investments, the New York Post’s Brian Costello predicts, barring unrealistic contract demands, Williams will end up staying on a long-term deal. The defensive end’s positive off-field reputation and standing within the locker room supports the notion the new regime, in Costello’s view, regarding him as a cornerstone player going forward. Speculation in league circles emerged that Adam Gase wanted to move on from Williams, but nothing has developed on that front in weeks. Williams, 25, is set for a fifth-year option season at $14.2MM.

5 Key Stories: 7/14/19 – 7/21/19

July 21st, 2019 at 6:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tyreek Hill evades suspension: The complex saga involving the embattled Chiefs wide receiver broke in his favor this week, with the NFL opting not to suspend the fourth-year standout. This news came as a surprise around the league, due to Hill’s past and his threatening of his ex-fiancee, but the Chiefs have brought him back into the fold and will expect him for training camp. While this controversial decision figures to follow the All-Pro talent, he may be in the extension conversation again. However, the Chiefs — who had begun negotiations before the latest round of off-field Hill drama began — are now planning to wait on a Hill re-up due to the fallout from this months-long drama.

Falcons fortify defense long-term: The Falcons’ final pre-camp week included significant box-checking on their offseason to-do list. Both Grady Jarrett and Deion Jones agreed to extensions, the former at the franchise tag deadline. Jarrett is now the NFL’s third-highest-paid interior defender, while Jones’ deal partially bridged the sizable gap between C.J. Mosley‘s contract and the off-ball linebacker field. As for Julio Jones, the All-Pro wideout has reported to Falcons camp. But no deal appears imminent.

Robbie Gould cashes in; Jadeveon Clowney still waiting: The 49ers will have their kicker back, with the sides ending their impasse hours before the 2019 franchise tag deadline. Gould, who requested a trade earlier this offseason, wanted two years fully guaranteed to stay with the 49ers. He got it and will enter a third season as San Francisco’s kicker. Clowney is now going into his sixth Texans season, and the three-time Pro Bowl defender will do so without a long-term contract. With a reported disagreement between the team’s previous power structure on Clowney, the Texans did not offer the former No. 1 overall pick a deal in line with the ones franchise-tagged defensive ends Frank Clark and DeMarcus Lawrence signed this year. The NFLPA is also planning a grievance to have Clowney tagged as a defensive end, where he can collect $1.7MM more than the linebacker tag.

Eagles bring back a fan favorite: Darren Sproles looks set to play a 15th season. Twice flirting with retirement before injury-marred campaigns, the 36-year-old running back signed a one-year deal to return to the Eagles. Sproles joins a new-look Philadelphia backfield, with Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard set to occupy key roles this season and replace some of Sproles’ recent teammates. But this agreement should allow Sproles to climb higher on the NFL’s all-purpose yards list, where he currently sits sixth.

Zeke rethinking his training camp plans? Ezekiel Elliott reported to Cowboys OTAs and minicamp, but he is now a holdout risk. The two-time rushing champion is now considering staying away from Cowboys camp and may well be out of the country when his teammates report to Oxnard, Calif., next week. The Cowboys have been murky about the subject of an Elliott extension. Although the team has significant leverage due to the August 6 reporting date tied to Elliott’s service-time clock as it relates to free agency, Dallas’ offensive centerpiece may be ready to test the franchise’s resolve.

PFR Originals: 7/14/19 – 7/21/19

July 21st, 2019 at 5:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:

  • PFR’s “This Date in Transactions History” series produced three new entries, from three decades:
    • This week three years ago, Arian Foster caught on with the Dolphins. Zach Links detailed how that union came to be and what transpired for the former Pro Bowl running back in Miami. Foster ended up playing four games as a Dolphin in 2016.
    • All-Pro tackle Tony Boselli announced an early retirement this week 16 years ago. The first pick in Jaguars franchise history, Boselli anchored the offensive lines of four playoff teams and was instrumental in the Jags of the late 1990s advancing to two AFC title games. Zach discussed Boselli’s decision to retire at 31, doing so a year after the Jags made him available to the Texans in their 2002 expansion draft.
    • Going back to the 20th century, I discussed Herman Moore‘s Lions run — which included a July 1999 extension — and the fallout from the receiver’s contract extension not working out. In the six drafts following Moore’s retirement, the Lions selected four receivers in the top 10. Only one of them, Calvin Johnson, worked out.
  • The Ravens have received attention for losing longtime defensive stalwarts and adding Earl Thomas, but they also have built a deep cornerback stable. Dallas Robinson discussed the Ravens’ $36MM-plus investment at this position, a league-high, and what it means for the franchise.
  • Jay Ajayi‘s ACL tear impacted his market considerably, with the four-year veteran and Super Bowl starter still unsigned in late July. Dallas examined the market, in an attempt to find a team for the former Dolphins and Eagles starter. Three returning AFC playoff teams — the Chargers, Colts and Texans — could be possible fits.
  • The defending NFC champion Rams will have some new starters this season. Two of those will be on the offensive line, which lost Rodger Saffold and John Sullivan. Dallas looked at this unit, one heavily responsible for Todd Gurley‘s recent dominance, and wondered if it is now a concern for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
  • Despite Brandon Williams re-signing to stay in Baltimore just two offseasons ago, is the mammoth defensive lineman in danger of seeing his roster spot go to someone else? In PFR’s latest “Release Candidate” installment, each delved into whether or not the former Division II All-American could be moved after six seasons in Baltimore.

Patriots Notes: Thomas, Michel, Gronk, Wynn

July 21st, 2019 at 4:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

Demaryius Thomas is not a lock to make the Patriots’ 53-man roster and may well begin the season on the reserve/PUP list. The Patriots started that process Sunday by placing the Pro Bowl wide receiver on their active/PUP list, which applies to players not healthy enough to begin participating in training camp. The Pats used the same designation for Sony Michel, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Michel will certainly be part of the 2019 Patriots and is recovering from offseason knee surgery. Thomas tore an Achilles in December, joining longtime receiver teammate Emmanuel Sanders in that regard. The latter, however, is further along in his recovery, having not started Broncos camp on the PUP list.

Here is the latest out of New England:

  • Patriots third-round pick Yodny Cajuste underwent quadriceps surgery before the draft and landed on the defending Super Bowl champions’ reserve/NFI list, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets. As is the case with the active/PUP list, players can come off this list at any point during camp. Cajuste figures to mix in as a swing option for the Patriots as a rookie.
  • If Rob Gronkowski does follow through on a comeback, might the Patriots be wise to assure him blocking responsibilities will be limited? While the future Hall of Famer was a plus blocker for his position, Jim McBride of the Boston Globe suggests the Pats use Gronk as a hybrid-type player that does not have the same kind of in-line role he previously held. The 30-year-old icon has slimmed down this offseason, one that has reportedly not featured much in the way of strength work.
  • Deatrich Wise and Nate Ebner will join Thomas and Michel on the Pats’ active/PUP list, Reiss tweets. A third-year defensive end, Wise has not missed a game in two seasons.
  • Isaiah Wynn, however, will not appear on the Pats’ active/PUP list, Reiss adds (via Twitter). The 2018 first-round pick missed all of his rookie season due to a torn Achilles’ tendon. Suffering the injury before last season began, Wynn is expected to suit up when the Patriots convene for their 2019 camp and line up as New England’s starting left tackle.
  • The Pats do not appear to have an open spot at quarterback, with Reiss noting Brian Hoyer will stick as Tom Brady‘s top backup and rookie Jarrett Stidham is likely assured of a roster spot as the team’s latest developmental QB project. This puts 2018 seventh-round pick Danny Etling on the verge of again falling short of a spot on the team’s active roster. But he may have an outside shot as a Taysom Hill-like role, per Reiss. While the Purdue and LSU alum never rushed for more than 200 yards in a season in college, Reiss points to his 86-yard touchdown run during 2018 preseason play as a sign this outside-the-box notion could work. The Patriots probably aren’t too eager to take Brady off the field, however.

Dolphins Waive DT Kendrick Norton

July 21st, 2019 at 3:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

The car accident that resulted in Dolphins rookie Kendrick Norton needing to have one of his arms amputated at the scene led to the team waiving him Sunday.

The Dolphins announced they waived the defensive tackle with an non-football injury designation. Norton, 22, will not play football again, but this transaction will allow him to collect a rookie salary from the Dolphins. He will revert to the team’s reserve/NFI list.

Norton caught on with the Dolphins in December 2018, when the team signed him off of the Panthers’ practice squad.

“I realize that I will not be able to play for anyone,” Norton said, via CBS 4 Miami. “We are working past that, you know. That reality is sinking in. I am alive and I am grateful.”

Insurance from the NFL and Dolphins will pay for Norton’s medical expenses. The Jacksonville, Fla., native, chosen in the seventh round of the 2018 draft, was released from the hospital this week.

J.J. Watt, DeAndre Hopkins To Begin Texans Camp On PUP List

July 21st, 2019 at 3:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Both J.J. Watt and DeAndre Hopkins will start Texans training camp a bit late. Each Houston All-Pro will begin camp on the active/PUP list, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter).

Watt underwent a minor knee surgery this offseason, but that procedure came in January. The future Hall of Fame defensive end has otherwise enjoyed his healthiest offseason in years, it coming after two rehab-heavy years following severe injuries.

Hopkins dealt with significant shoulder pain last season, telling the Houston Chronicle’s John McClain he tore ligaments “completely off the bone.” Still, neither Watt nor Hopkins missed a game last season. Hopkins was expected to be ready for camp, and given how well he played through injury last season, it is likely he is not in jeopardy of missing time to start this year.

Neither standout’s stay on the PUP list is expected to last long, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com adds (on Twitter).

Players placed on teams’ active/PUP lists can return at any point during training camp. A player placed on the reserve/PUP list after 53-man rosters are set must sit out at least the first six weeks of a season.

Vikings Finalize 2019 Draft Class Deals

July 21st, 2019 at 2:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

More clarity arrived regarding Vikings long snapper Austin Cutting‘s status recently, and the seventh-round pick agreed to terms on his rookie deal, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (on Twitter).

Cutting’s commitment to the Air Force Academy had left his status in limbo for a while this offseason, but he has been cleared to play. This marks the last of 2019’s Day 3 draft choices to agree to the terms of his rookie contract. Cutting’s deal is for four years and $2.59MM.

Cutting will serve a two-year military commitment but will be allowed to play for the Vikings, with Tomasson tweeting the arrangement will allow the Air Force product to live in Minnesota during that time. Cutting will serve as a first-year recruiting lieutenant, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic tweets.

It is not a given this year’s No. 250 overall pick will make Minnesota’s roster, despite being the rare long snapper draft choice. Kevin McDermott has served as the Vikings’ deep snapper since 2015. McDermott, 29, is signed through 2020.

Only five draft picks — first-rounders Nick Bosa (49ers), Quinnen Williams (Jets), Daniel Jones (Giants), Brian Burns (Panthers), and second-rounder Deebo Samuel (49ers) — remain unsigned.

Here is the Vikings’ 2019 draft class:

Julio Jones Reports To Falcons Camp

July 21st, 2019 at 2:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

The highest-profile of the Falcons’ extension candidates will not wage a holdout. Julio Jones is still attached to the extension he signed in 2015, but the All-Pro wide receiver has reported to Falcons training camp, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com tweets.

Jones has expressed optimism this offseason he and the Falcons will come to terms on an extension, one that could well be a market-reshaping pact, and attended Atlanta’s minicamp. Still, the 30-year-old star showing up in advance of Atlanta’s camp is a good sign.

“Mr. Blank gave us his word. … That’s golden,” Jones said in June. “His word is that it’s going to get done. … There’s no stress on my end. I’m not thinking about it. [Blank] makes it easy for me to go out and just work every day and not have one of those situations where there’s a holdout or anything like that.”

The Falcons have done well to advance their offseason blueprint this week, having signed both Grady Jarrett and Deion Jones to extensions. Both are now under contract through at least the 2022 season. While Julio Jones and the Falcons have been at this for a while, there still appears to be considerable ground to cover.

Jones’ 7,994 receiving yards since the 2014 season are the most any NFLer has ever compiled in a five-year span. He is almost certainly gunning to be the game’s first $20MM-per-year wideout. After early-career injury trouble, Jones has played in 16 games in three of the past four seasons and only missed three contests over the past five years.

Extensions for Michael Thomas, Amari Cooper and possibly A.J. Green look to be on hold while the Falcons negotiate with their more accomplished receiver.

Broncos Worked Out WR Travis Rudolph

July 21st, 2019 at 12:52pm CST by Rory Parks

The Broncos’ WR corps represents one of the club’s biggest question marks in 2019. The unit is fronted by Emmanuel Sanders, but Sanders is 32 and is coming off a torn Achilles. Denver hopes that second-year players Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton will continue to progress, and former UDFA Tim Patrick flashed at the end of last season, but it may be asking a bit much for all three players to consistently perform at a high level in 2019.

To that end, the Broncos continue to be on the lookout for WR depth, and they signed rookie wideout Jamarius Way yesterday. Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post expects sixth-round rookie Juwann Winfree and UDFA Trinity Benson to make the club, and Benson has been playing particularly well, even earning some playing time with the first-stringers.

As Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic tweets, before the Broncos signed Way, they also worked out Travis Rudolph. Rudolph, a Florida State product, signed with the Giants after going undrafted in 2017, and he saw action in seven games (one start) for Big Blue that year. He posted eight catches for 101 yards.

New York waived Rudolph last September, and he signed on with the Dolphins’ practice squad in October. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn ACL during a practice with Miami, which brought his season to an end. Jhabvala notes that Rudolph’s tryout with Denver was his first since the injury, and while the Broncos went in a different direction, it’s encouraging that Rudolph has been cleared for football activities. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him get more workouts in the coming weeks.  

West Notes: 49ers, N. Bosa, Wagner, Benson

July 21st, 2019 at 12:23pm CST by Rory Parks

The 49ers have not had a high draft pick hold out of training camp since the new CBA and its rookie wage scale were instituted in 2011. However, the club’s top two 2019 draft choices, No. 2 overall pick Nick Bosa and No. 36 overall pick Deebo Samuel, have yet to sign their rookie deals. Cam Inman of the Mercury News believes that both players will be under contract by the time camp opens on Friday, but it seems that the club’s history, rather than any specific information on Bosa or Samuel, is the primary reason for that belief.

Now for more from the league’s west divisions:

  • In the same piece linked above, Inman says that new 49ers acquisitions Kwon Alexander and Jason Verrett — along with every other member of the roster — should be cleared for action when camp opens, though San Francisco may ease them back into action. Inman also suggests that the backup QB competition between Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard will be a close one.
  • This doesn’t come as much of a surprise given earlier reports that new Seahawks defensive end Ezekiel Ansah could miss at least the first month of the regular season, but Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes that Ansah is expected to open training camp on the PUP list. It remains to be seen if Ansah will, in fact, miss any regular season action, though Condotta says there should be more clarity on that front this week.
  • Condotta also believes that Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner will get an extension before the season begins, and it could happen as soon as this week.
  • We have taken several looks at the Broncos‘ WR corps over the past week or so, and UDFA Trinity Benson‘s name keeps cropping up. As Mike Klis of 9News.com writes, Benson took reps with the first-team offense Saturday and caught several passes from Joe Flacco. New head coach Vic Fangio said he will continue to put his unproven players on the field with the presumptive starters, and it seems that Benson has acquitted himself nicely thus far. The fact that he served as a kickoff and punt returner in college will only help his cause.
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