2020 February - Pro Football Rumors

Jets Sign S Anthony Cioffi

February 13th, 2020 at 8:00pm CST by Ben Levine

The Jets have turned to the CFL for some potential depth in their secondary. The team announced tonight that they’ve signed safety Anthony Cioffi. SiriusXM’s Adam Caplan tweets that it’s a two-year deal.

The New Jersey native was a standout at Rutgers before signing with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He compiled six tackles and one sack in four preseason games before getting cut by Oakland.

He ultimately caught one with the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League, where he spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Serving as a defensive back and linebacker, Cioffi compiled 97 defensive tackles, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and four sacks in 33 career games.

The Jets secondary could look a whole lot different in 2020, as cornerbacks Brian Poole, Arthur Maulet, and Maurice Canady are set to hit free agency. There’s also a good chance that the organization moves on from Trumaine Johnson.

Redskins Sign LB Jared Norris

February 13th, 2020 at 7:16pm CST by Ben Levine

Jared Norris has found himself another NFL gig. The Redskins announced today that they’ve signed the veteran linebacker (via Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com)

After sitting on the injured reserve for most of the 2018 campaign with a toe injury, Norris found himself out of football in 2019 after getting cut by the Panthers. The last time the 26-year-old appeared in a regular season game was Week 3 of the 2018 season.

The Utah product originally joined the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2016, and he proceeded to compile 11 tackles in 28 total games over three seasons. As Williams notes, Norris has never played a defensive snap in his entire career, although he’s taken part in 526 special teams plays.

The Redskins made the move despite not having a definitive general manager. Without a replacement lined up for Bruce Allen, Redskins VP of Player Personnel Kyle Smith has taken the lead in the front office.

Jets Sign TE Daniel Brown To Extension

February 13th, 2020 at 5:59pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets have signed tight end Daniel Brown to a one-year extension, according to a team press release. Terms of the deal are not yet known. Last year, he earned $805K while counting for just $735K against the cap, thanks to the minimum salary benefit provision.

Brown joined Gang Green in March, fresh off of a two-year stint with the Ravens. In recent years, he hasn’t been utilized much as a pass-catcher, but the Jets still found plenty of use for him in 2019. Brown, 28 in May, lined up for 29% of their offensive snaps and was featured 67% of the time on special teams. He also appeared in every single game, marking his first NFL season with perfect attendance.

Brown figures to be a part of the plan in 2020 as well, though he’ll be playing behind Ryan Griffin and Chris Herndon. Herndon missed all but one game last year thanks a suspension, plus hamstring and rib injuries. In his stead, Griffin had 34 catches for 320 yards and five touchdowns.

Today, the Jets also announced the signing of Rutgers product Anthony Cioffi. Cioffi spent the last two seasons in the CFL where he played as a defensive back and an undersized linebacker.

Browns Hire Ryan Grigson

February 13th, 2020 at 4:09pm CST by Rory Parks

Ryan Grigson has joined the Browns and is currently serving in an advisory and consulting role with the team, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com adds that Grigson will likely be hired on a full-time basis after this year’s draft.

Grigson is best known for his tenure as the Colts’ general manager from 2012-16. He earned Executive of the Year honors following his first year at the helm, which saw Indianapolis make the playoffs after going 2-14 the year before (though much of that was due to the presence of rookie QB Andrew Luck, who was a slam-dunk choice for Grigson in his first draft with Indy). While the Colts went 49-31 during Grigson’s five years as GM, they failed to qualify for the playoffs in the final two of those years, and his draft record as a whole was spotty.

He was therefore dismissed in January 2017, and he hooked on with the Browns shortly thereafter. When GM John Dorsey came to town in 2018, he got rid of Grigson, but now Andrew Berry is the Cleveland GM, and he is bringing Grigson back. The two men are very close and hold each other in high regard, per Albert Breer of SI.com (via Twitter). Berry worked under Grigson for four years in Indianapolis, and Grigson worked under Berry with the Browns in 2017, so there is plenty of familiarity there.

Breer adds in a separate tweet that the Browns plan to structure their front office like the Eagles, with one executive heading up scouting, one heading up everything else on the football side of the operation, and both reporting to the GM. Grigson could factor into that framework, especially with his scouting background.

Grigson spent the past two seasons with the Seahawks as a senior football consultant.

Latest On Chargers’ QB Situation

February 13th, 2020 at 3:30pm CST by Rory Parks

The Chargers recently indicated they will not be re-signing Philip Rivers, and they have been heavily connected to free agent-to-be Tom Brady. But while it may not be the splashiest move, it sounds as if the Bolts may simply roll with Tyrod Taylor as their starter in 2020.

Per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link), the Chargers are comfortable with Taylor as a bridge option to a rookie signal-caller. The team is armed with the No. 6 overall pick in the draft, and they could have a few promising prospects fall to them if they don’t elect to trade up. Indeed, the Chargers are said to be high on Utah State QB Jordan Love, who will most likely still be available when LA is on the clock.

Taylor, who will turn 31 in August, is a capable passer who generally takes care of the football and who can make plays with his legs. Given the overall talent on the Chargers’ roster, that might be all they need to get back into the playoffs in 2020. Taylor’s leadership and experience would also be beneficial to a young QB, and head coach Anthony Lynn is very high on him.

“Tyrod Taylor is a heck of a quarterback,” Lynn recently said in a radio interview (h/t Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com). “We couldn’t have a better backup right now, and now he has an opportunity to maybe step up into a starting role.”

Taylor is under contract through 2020, though the Chargers could part ways with him and save $5MM of cap space by doing so. Speculatively, the Chargers could pursue Brady, and if they land him, they can cut Taylor and still select the quarterback of the future in the draft. If they can’t get Brady, than Taylor is still a serviceable fallback option and may be just as good as the other signal-callers that might be available on the free agent or trade markets.

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert On Contract Status, Ben Roethlisberger

February 13th, 2020 at 2:37pm CST by Rory Parks

Last summer, Steelers GM Kevin Colbert indicated he did not want to enter into a multi-year extension with the team, as he prefers to take things on a year-to-year basis. Earlier this month, the 63-year-old signed another one-year contract with the club to remain in his general manager post through the 2020 campaign.

But in a meeting with Steelers beat writers today, Colbert indicated he is not thinking about quitting anytime soon. “As long as the Rooneys and the Pittsburgh Steelers want me to be a part of this organization and it’s a good thing for our family, we’ll be here,” Colbert said. “I’m not looking to ever go anywhere else again as long as the Rooneys and the Steelers are interested in me” (Twitter link via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com).

So while Colbert may prefer the flexibility that his one-year extensions afford him, it sounds as if he will continue to lead the Pittsburgh front office for as long as the team wants him to and for as long as his personal life permits. And for good reason. Colbert joined the Steelers in 2000, was promoted from director of football operations to GM in 2010, and has helped build two Super Bowl-winning teams and 12 playoff squads over the years.

In his conversation, Colbert also discussed the status of QB Ben Roethlisberger. We heard in December that Big Ben is expected to make a full recovery from surgery to reattach three tendons in his right arm, and Colbert said today that he believes Roethlisberger’s rehab is going in the right direction (Twitter link via Pryor). The veteran signal-caller has a checkup in Los Angeles on February 21.

Colbert further indicated that the injuries that plagued JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Conner, and Vance McDonald last year would not impact their long-term availability (Twitter link via Pryor). And in other Steelers news, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets that the Steelers are expected to hire a new WR coach any day now. The team is deciding between Jerricho Cotchery and Bryan McClendon.

Chargers’ Anthony Lynn Signs Extension

February 13th, 2020 at 2:08pm CST by Zachary Links

Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn will not be a lame duck in 2020. The Chargers recently inked Lynn to a one-year extension that keeps him under contract through 2021, per Eric Williams of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Williams’ ESPN colleague, Adam Schefter, reported earlier this month that the two sides had agreed to an extension.

The move obviously represents something of a vote of confidence in Lynn and suggests that he won’t be on the hot seat this year, despite the team’s disappointing 2019. The Chargers finished out with a 5-11 record, but they still believe that Lynn is the best man to lead them moving forward.

The new deal for Lynn addresses at least one question mark for the Bolts, but plenty remain for them this offseason. The Chargers’ first priority will be to figure out the future of their quarterback position.

Longtime franchise face Philip Rivers recently bought a home in Florida, leading many to speculate that a divorce is just around the corner. However, the Chargers haven’t made a firm decision on what they’ll do with No. 17 – they could use the franchise tag to keep him, rather than negotiating a fresh deal with the aging vet. Alternatively, they could allow Rivers to walk and promote Tyrod Taylor to the starting role. Beyond those two QBs, there are ample possibilities on the open market, including future Hall of Famer Tom Brady.

In three seasons as the Chargers’ head coach, Lynn has coached the team to a 26-22 record. In 2018, his second year at the helm, the Chargers made the playoffs with a 12-4 record and advanced to the Divisional Round before they were downed by Brady & Co.

In the eyes of GM Tom Telesco, Lynn was not to blame for the Chargers’ down year – there were injuries abound and Rivers’ inconsistency certainly did not help matters. This year, the Chargers will have upwards of $48MM in cap room, plus the No. 6 overall pick, as they look to get back on the right track.

Ravens Pushing For Ronnie Stanley Extension

February 13th, 2020 at 1:50pm CST by Rory Parks

This will not come as much of a surprise given Ravens GM Eric DeCosta‘s penchant for being proactive in locking up key contributors, but Baltimore is reportedly pushing to extend left tackle Ronnie Stanley, per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. Stanley is eligible for free agency next year, but the Ravens don’t want him to sniff the open market.

Baltimore selected Stanley with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 draft, and he has lived up to his draft status. He has started every game in which he has appeared since entering the league, and he has steadily improved in each of his first four years in the pros. His 2019 effort was his best yet, and he was a major factor in MVP Lamar Jackson‘s remarkable season.

Indeed, Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics indicate that Stanley might just be the past pass-blocking tackle in football, and while Jackson’s elusiveness certainly helped matters, Stanley did not yield a sack all season. He was rewarded with his first Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro bids for his efforts.

And he is about to cash in. He is due a $12.87MM salary under the fifth-year option of his rookie pact, but the Ravens obviously want to keep him around for the long haul. The Notre Dame product is likely to top the five-year, $80MM ($50MM guaranteed) contract that Taylor Lewan signed with the Titans in July 2018, which currently paces the LT market in terms of AAV and total value.

Even an extension of that size, though, may allow the Ravens to lower Stanley’s 2020 cap hit, which would be helpful to a club that has more cap space than it has had in years but which has several areas of concern, including pass rusher. La Canfora notes in the same piece linked above that most of the top pass rushers who are eligible for free agency are likely going to be tagged or extended before they hit the market, so Baltimore may need to put the franchise tag on LB Matt Judon, which comes at a price of over $16MM.

Titans Re-Sign TE Anthony Firkser

February 13th, 2020 at 12:51pm CST by Rory Parks

The Titans have re-signed TE Anthony Firkser, the team announced. He was an exclusive rights free agent, but given the promise he showed in 2019, it was an easy call for Tennessee to tender him.

Firkser, a Harvard product, signed with the Jets as a UDFA in 2017, but he was waived by New York prior to the start of the 2017 regular season. He caught on with the Chiefs’ practice squad several months later and was retained by KC via a reserve/futures deal, but the Chiefs cut him in April 2018.

After a minicamp tryout with the Titans shortly thereafter, Firkser signed with Tennessee and enjoyed a productive preseason. He ended the 2018 campaign with 19 catches for 225 yards and a score, and he had a similar statistical output in 2019, catching 14 passes for 204 yards and a TD. But he came up with a couple of big catches during the club’s surprising postseason run at the end of the 2019 season, and the Titans obviously want to see more of him in 2020.

The Titans currently have Delanie Walker and Jonnu Smith ahead of Firkser on the TE depth chart, but Walker will be 36 before the regular season begins and has had his last two seasons marred by injury. As such, the team could part ways with him, which would save about $6.5MM of cap room and which could create more playing time for Firkser.

Ravens Re-Sign DB Jordan Richards

February 13th, 2020 at 11:08am CST by Rory Parks

The Ravens have re-signed Jordan Richards to a one-year pact, the team announced. Baltimore acquired the 27-year-old in October after he was cut by the Patriots.

That transaction ended up being a trade of sorts. New England waived Richards in order to make room for Justin Bethel, whom the Ravens released several days before for compensatory pick purposes. And while Richards does not have the reputation of being a special teams ace like Bethel does, he acquitted himself nicely in that regard for Baltimore.

A DB by trade, Richards played just one defensive snap for the Ravens, but he was on the field for 177 special teams snaps. He recorded seven tackles and even managed to score a TD in the team’s regular season finale by jumping on a ball that Steelers punter Jordan Berry fumbled into the endzone.

Though it’s a low-key move, the Richards signing is emblematic of Baltimore GM Eric DeCosta‘s clear desire to be proactive in re-signing or extending both starters and role players. Plus, with two other ST contributors in Anthony Levine and Brynden Trawick also eligible for free agency, bringing Richards back was important for the team’s kick coverage units.

Earlier this week, the Ravens agreed to a three-year extension with strong safety Chuck Clark.