2019 August - Pro Football Rumors

Steelers Trade Jerald Hawkins To Bucs

August 31st, 2019 at 2:04pm CST by Zachary Links

The Buccaneers have acquired offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins from the Steelers (Twitter link via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). In the deal, the Bucs will swap positions with the Steelers in a late round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Pittsburgh shipped Hawkins and a 2021 seventh-round pick to Tampa Bay in exchange for a 2021 sixth-round selection, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

The deal amounts to a low-cost way to the Bucs to fortify their front five. Hawkins, a fourth-round pick in the 2016 draft, only has five career appearances and one start under his belt. Last year, he was slated to serve as Alejandro Villanueva‘s backup, but a quad tear wiped out his entire 2018 campaign.

Hawkins likely would have been cut by the Steelers, leaving his fate up to the waiver wire. Instead, he has secured a spot for Week 1, in a warm-weather destination. That’s not a terrible outcome for the Louisiana native and LSU product.

Jaguars, Myles Jack Agree To Extension

August 31st, 2019 at 1:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jaguars and one of their young defenders reached an extension agreement Saturday. The Jags will extend Myles Jack on a four-year, $57MM deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

One of a few impact defenders who entered camp extension-eligible, Jack will earn $33MM guaranteed on this pact. Jack joined Jalen Ramsey and Yannick Ngakoue as members of the team’s standout 2016 draft class, and the team’s top linebacker became the first to see a new contract.

Jacksonville saw Telvin Smith step away earlier this offseason. It is not known if this is a retirement, but the Jags took care of his longtime running mate. This is a more lucrative deal than the one the team gave Smith (four years, $44MM), with Jack’s $14.25MM-AAV figure sitting behind only Bobby Wagner and C.J. Mosley among off-ball ‘backers. Jack’s $33MM guarantee ties him with Anthony Barr for sixth among this contingent.

Jack has been the least vocal of the Jags’ 2016 defender draftees about a re-up, with Ngakoue holding out into camp and Ramsey making no secret he believes the Jags can afford to give him top cornerback money. But this marks another win for a college superstar who entered the 2016 draft with injury-damaged stock. Both Jack and Jaylon Smith fell out of the first round because of injuries; both are now on high-end linebacker contracts.

The soon-to-be 24-year-old ‘backer has played in 98% of Jacksonville’s snaps since 2017. He’s made 197 tackles over the past two seasons, playing a key role on a defense that has been one of the league’s best in that span.

Packers To Cut QB DeShone Kizer

August 31st, 2019 at 1:47pm CST by Zachary Links

The 53-man roster deadline is always full of surprises. Here’s the latest one – the Packers have cut quarterback DeShone Kizer, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Just a couple of months ago, Kizer indicated that he did not see him “as Aaron Rodgers’ backup for the final era of his career.” Instead, he envisioned being a “future Super Bowl MVP.”

“That’s the level I want to play at. Therefore, if I’m competing and focused in on the backup competition, then once again, I’m limiting myself,” he said.

The good news for Kizer – he won’t be Rodgers’ backup for the final era of his career. The bad news – well, you know.

A second-round selection in 2017, Kizer was pegged as a green talent that had high upside. Unfortunately for the Notre Dame product, he was taken by the Browns, who proceeded to lose every game that season. At year’s end, he was shipped to Green Bay. Now, at the age of 23, he’ll look for his third NFL squad.

Saints To Release DT Sylvester Williams

August 31st, 2019 at 1:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints will move on from one of their mid-offseason defensive additions. They will release veteran defensive tackle Sylvester Williams, Nick Underhill of The Athletic tweets.

Williams has bounced around since his four-year Broncos tenure concluded after the 2016 season. The former first-round pick played for the Titans in 2017 and split time with the Lions and Dolphins last season.

The 30-year-old defender played 376 snaps in 2018, starting four games with the Lions and playing 14 total in Detroit and Miami. His last full-season starter role came with the Broncos in 2016. The Titans used Williams as an 11-game starter in their 3-4 defense.

Williams marks the second veteran inside defender the Saints moved on from today. They also released Ziggy Hood, whom they signed just ahead of training camp. Hood was last a full-time player with the 2017 Redskins, with whom he was a 13-game starter.

Jets To Cut 2019 Third-Round Pick Jachai Polite

August 31st, 2019 at 1:41pm CST by Zachary Links

Yes, you read that headline correctly. The Jets are cutting Jachai Polite, their third-round pick from just a few months ago (Twitter link via Manish Mehta of the Daily News).

Polite once had first-round buzz, but slipped after bombing at the combine. Mike Maccagnan, the Jets’ former GM who wasn’t fired until after the key parts of free agency and the draft, saw an opportunity for value. New GM Joe Douglas and head coach Adam Gase, meanwhile, saw waiver wire fodder.

“We know some of the risk in [Polite],” Maccagnan said after the draft. “We also think there are some very good qualities about him.”

The Jets certainly could have used Polite’s potential pass rushing ability. He racked up eleven sacks during his final season with the Gators and the Jets finished in the middle of the pack last year with 39 quarterback takedowns.

Polite’s deal was to be a four-year pact worth a total of $3.6MM. It includes a $1.1MM signing bonus. Depending on what happens from here, the Jets could remain on the hook.

Broncos Interested In Brian Hoyer

August 31st, 2019 at 1:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Shortly after cutting Kevin Hogan, the Broncos look set to pursue a more experienced Joe Flacco backup.

The team is interested in Brian Hoyer, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com tweets. The Patriots released Hoyer earlier Saturday, giving their backup gig to Jarrett Stidham.

Hoyer began the 2017 season as the 49ers’ starter, working in Kyle Shanahan‘s system under QBs coach Rich Scangarello. With Scangarello now being the Broncos’ OC, this would be a natural fit. The Broncos are also unlikely to have Drew Lock available for several weeks, due to an injury the second-round pick suffered in a game against the 49ers earlier this month.

Hoyer, 33, made six starts for the 49ers two seasons ago. None of those resulted in wins, but the Broncos only have UDFA Brett Rypien as a healthy passer behind Flacco now. Given Flacco’s recent injury history, it would make sense for the team to have a more seasoned option at QB2 while Lock recovers.

Jets Waive Davis Webb

August 31st, 2019 at 1:28pm CST by Zachary Links

Davis Webb just can’t get any love in the New York/New Jersey area. The Jets have waived the quarterback, as Manish Mehta of the Daily News tweets.

The Jets inked former Broncos starter Trevor Siemian to a one-year, $2MM this offseason, which spelled the beginning of the end for Webb. The Giants’ 2017 third-round pick joined Gang Green off waivers last year, but he has yet to take his first NFL snap. Siemian, meanwhile, has started 24 pro games, and has performed well at times.

Cutting Webb will have no real financial ramifications for the Jets. Dropping Siemian, meanwhile, would have resulted in $1MM in dead money. In any case, the Jets preferred Siemian as Sam Darnold‘s backup, and their QB room is now set for 2019.

Broncos To Cut QB Kevin Hogan

August 31st, 2019 at 1:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos will go with a young contingent behind Joe Flacco. Incumbent quarterback Kevin Hogan will not make their 53-man roster, with Mike Klis of 9News reporting (via Twitter) the fourth-year veteran will be cut.

Hogan served as Case Keenum‘s backup for most of last season, catching on with the Broncos via waiver claim. He ascended to the QB2 spot after Chad Kelly‘s release. This year, the Broncos drafted Drew Lock and added Brett Rypien as a UDFA.

Lock is set to miss several weeks due to an injury to his throwing hand, and it looks like Rypien will either become Flacco’s backup or the Broncos will look elsewhere for their top signal-caller reserve. Brian Hoyer did not make the Patriots’ roster. He spent time in new Denver OC Rich Scangarello‘s system in 2017, beginning that season as the 49ers’ starter. The Patriots released Hoyer earlier today.

Hogan is not yet a vested veteran and will head to waivers. He last attempted a regular-season pass for the 2017 Browns.

Browns To Trade Or Release Britton Colquitt

August 31st, 2019 at 1:16pm CST by Zachary Links

The Browns informed Jamie Gillan that he has won the punting job, a source tells Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). With “The Scottish Hammer” booting the ball, the Browns will make Britton Colquitt available in one fashion or another.

Colquitt has been a successful punter with multiple stops in the NFL, and was named a Pro Bowl alternate last year. However, Gillan, a rookie from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, edged him out this summer.

There are at least a handful of teams with shaky punting situations and Colquitt figures to be at the top of most lists.

Patriots Release QB Brian Hoyer

August 31st, 2019 at 12:53pm CST by Ben Levine

One of the top backup quarterbacks has hit the open market. ESPN’s Adam Caplan reports (via Twitter) that the Patriots are releasing veteran Brian Hoyer.

Tom Brady‘s long-time backup has had a pair of stints with New England, with his most-recent gig dating back to mid-2017. The 33-year-old has seen the field for eight pass attempts over the past two years, completing five passes for 49 yards. Hoyer started games as recently as 2017, and he had 19 touchdowns vs. seven interceptions during his 2015 run with the Texans.

While Hoyer didn’t necessarily do anything to lose his job during the preseason, the Patriots ultimately decided they didn’t want to roll with three quarterbacks. The team will now go forward with rookie fourth-rounder Jarrett Stidham as Brady’s primary backup.