2020 April - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On NFL Offseason, Training Camps

April 14th, 2020 at 3:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL and NFLPA announced a plan for a virtual offseason Monday, but the league may soon need to grapple with the prospect of changes being made to training camps or said camps not starting on time.

NFL general counsel Jeff Pash indicated the league has not yet discussed the possibility of altered training camps due to the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders certain states have put into place, per Mark Maske of the Washington Post (on Twitter). This comes after Roger Goodell said the plan remains for the season to start on time.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (via ESPN.com’s Lindsey Thiry, on Twitter) expressed doubt Tuesday about not only large groups gathering in his state this summer but during the next school year. With the NFL having three California teams, the league at some point in the near future will have to address this issue.

To prevent certain franchises from gaining advantages, teams cannot report to their facilities until stay-at-home orders are lifted nationwide. California’s current stay-at-home directive runs through May 15. Virginia, home to the Redskins’ training facility, has one in place through June 10.

Pash added that no discussions of the NFL moving teams out of stay-at-home states for offseason work, per Tom Rock of Newsday (on Twitter). The NFL has not given up on the prospect of some offseason activities occurring on-site, but it does not look like any such work will happen. Teams with new head coaches can begin their virtual offseason programs April 20; the ones with returning HCs must wait until April 27. Each team’s virtual offseason program must conclude by June 26.

Dave Gettleman Addresses Leonard Williams Franchise Tag

April 14th, 2020 at 2:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants made one of the more surprising franchise tag decisions in recent years last month, keeping Leonard Williams off the market. The former top-10 pick is now attached to a $16.1MM price — the second-highest cap number on the Giants’ payroll.

Coming off a season in which he registered a half-sack in 15 games, it did not appear Williams would fetch this kind of AAV on the market. While Williams was aiming for a big contract in free agency, the Giants’ decision to use the tag helped create a high floor for the one-time Pro Bowl alternate.

“Really what it came down to was we felt good about our cap space,” Giants GM Dave Gettleman said. “We felt for what Leonard brings to the table and for our team, it was more prudent to put the franchise tag on him.”

The Giants, who were 2-6 at last year’s trade deadline, made the surprising move to acquire Williams from the Jets despite the USC product being months away from free agency. Williams has done fairly well as a pressure artist, totaling the 12th-most quarterback hits (101) since 2015. However, his 17.5 career sacks are tied for 87th in that span. The Williams trade also came after the Giants had already built a solid defensive line featuring Dalvin Tomlinson, B.J. Hill and 2019 first-rounder Dexter Lawrence.

Although the Giants came into free agency with more than $70MM in cap space, they devoted a sizable chunk of their available funds to Williams, James Bradberry and Blake Martinez. They now hold less than $18MM in cap room and still have a need at edge rusher. They are unlikely to re-sign Markus Golden, and Gettleman indicated the team did not plan to devote much money to the premium position this year.

Big Blue has until July 15 to finalize an extension with Williams. And with the team perhaps not preparing to propose an extension that matches Williams’ tag salary, this could be a situation where the recent trade acquisition plays next season on the tag.

“You can’t guarantee anything in this life, but we have gotten to know Leonard really well and I feel really comfortable with the decision,” Gettleman said. “Contracts get done when they’re supposed to get done. So we’ll move along.”

LB Zack Baun Submitted Diluted Sample

April 14th, 2020 at 1:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the top linebackers in this year’s draft, Zack Baun received word he tested positive for a diluted urine sample at the Combine, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

The Wisconsin alum notified all 32 teams of this, blaming the positive drug test on drinking too much water in advance of his weigh-in, Schefter adds. Under the NFL’s new PED policy, Baun will not enter the NFL with a strike against him. Teams do not believe this will affect his draft status much, Schefter tweets. Baun rates as Mel Kiper Jr.’s No. 3 linebacker going into the draft.

This happened to a Big Ten defender three years ago at the Combine as well; Jabrill Peppers tested positive for a diluted sample and also blamed it on water intake. He was not suspended to begin his career and went in the first round. The Michigan product did, however, enter the NFL with a drug-related strike against him.

Baun weighed in at 238 pounds at the Combine, coming in on the slightly lighter end of the spectrum for his position. The ex-Badger broke out in 2019, registering 12.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss en route to second-team All-American acclaim. He’d collected just 2.5 sacks in his college career going into last season. He is expected to go off the board in the first or second round next week.

Alvin Kamara Wants To Stay With Saints

April 14th, 2020 at 12:39pm CST by Zachary Links

In a true sign of the times, Alvin Kamara found out about Christian McCaffrey‘s record-breaking deal as he was playing video games on a live Twitch stream. Kamara declined to make his case for a similar deal in real-time, but he did reiterate his desire to stay with the Saints for the long haul.

“I had never been to New Orleans until I got drafted by New Orleans, so just to be able to get to New Orleans and have that city embrace me, and just take me in, basically like adopt me, it’s amazing,” said Kamara (Twitter link via Bleacher Report’s Master Tesfatsion). “There is so much love there. It’s a dope city, outside of football. It’s beautiful people. It’s lit. It’s alive. If we’re talking about football, I’ve never been around a group of guys like in New Orleans that just want to win and just want to be there for each other and want to be around each other.”

At one point in time, Kamara seemed poised to take the highest-paid RB mantle. The 24-year-old (25 in July) is still effective, but he’s come back down to earth since his incredible rookie season. In his 2017 debut, Kamara torched opponents for a league-leading 6.1 yards per carry. Over the last two years, he’s averaged 4.6 yards per tote.

Like McCaffrey, Kamara has proven himself to be an effective weapon both on the ground and through the air. Of course, he hasn’t done it at quite the same level. His balanced production as a runner and pass-catcher is impressive, but it all pales in comparison to CMC, who has two 1,000-yard rushing seasons and over 2,500 career receiving yards.

With one year left on his original rookie deal, Kamara is eligible for an extension. You can expect the two sides to talk, though it might behoove both sides to wait things out.

Latest On Cowboys, Dak Prescott

April 14th, 2020 at 12:24pm CST by Zachary Links

If the Cowboys go forward with a virtual offseason program next week, Dak Prescott won’t log on, unless he has a new deal in place (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). The online OTAs would be voluntary, just like regular OTAs, so the choice is entirely up to him.

The Cowboys cuffed Prescott with the franchise tag earlier this offseason and he has yet to sign his tender. With a one-year, $31MM+ deal on the table, Prescott is pushing for a multi-year pact that would bring him closer to Russell Wilson‘s league-leading $35MM average annual value. While teammates Amari Cooper and Ezekiel Elliott signed long-term contracts (five years and six years, respectively), Prescott is reportedly looking for a shorter agreement that would allow him to cash in all over again in his prime years.

Even though Prescott’s performance dovetailed in the second half of last season, it’s still possible that he could become the NFL’s new cash leader. The two sides have until July 15 to sort all of that out. If they’re not able to come to terms, Prescott will probably take his time before putting pen to paper, but ultimately play on the one-year tender. Then, after the 2020 season, the two sides will be free to resume negotiations.

Prescott, of course, is not the league’s best quarterback, but he’s one of the better QBs in the game and these deals ultimately come down to age and timing. He won’t turn 27 until the end of July and he’s in a great position to get what he wants from the Cowboys.

The two-time Pro Bowler threw for 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2019. Many of those throws went to Amari Cooper, who tallied 79 receptions for 1,189 yards and eight touchdowns en route to a massive payday.

Latest On Jake Fromm, Jordan Love

April 14th, 2020 at 10:47am CST by Zachary Links

At this stage, it’s hard to peg where this year’s top quarterbacks will land in the draft. Right now, Utah State’s Jordan Love is one of the draft’s biggest wildcards at the position, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The feeling is that Love could go anywhere between No. 5 (where the Dolphins pick) and No. 25, per RapSheet.

At least six teams have done extensive research on Love and his seamless throwing mechanics, including the Packers and Patriots. That might mean that Love could land in the Top 15, though the latest word from NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo threw cold water on that idea. Ultimately, because there’s so much information and, potentially, misinformation, flying around about Love, no one’s exactly sure where he’ll go.

There’s been increasing chatter about the Dolphins taking Justin Herbert over Tua Tagovailoa at No. 5, but little discussion about Love being the pick. If the Dolphins do see Love as their QB of the future, they’d probably be able to trade down, add to their already substantial stockpile, and still land him.

Meanwhile, Georgia signal caller Jake Fromm is “buzzing” thanks to strong interviews and praise from NFL quarterback coaches, Rapoport reports. Fromm was once viewed as a potential No. 1 overall pick, but he took himself out of the running with an iffy 2019. Last year, Fromm completed just 60.8% of his throws, the lowest rate of his collegiate career. Still, many evaluators see the potential in Fromm, who led the Bulldogs to the National Championship Game as a true frosh in 2017.

Packers, Chargers Interested In Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts

April 14th, 2020 at 9:00am CST by Zachary Links

The Packers and Chargers have been “in touch with and monitoring” Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Both teams have veteran QBs in place, but they could be eyeing Hurts as a developmental option further down the board.

So far, most projections have Hurts going in the second or third round. The Cowboys and Raiders have also been connected to the dual-threat passer in recent weeks.

Obviously, the Packers are set under center with Aaron Rodgers, who has four years to go on his contract. Rodgers, 36, has also indicated that he would like to play into his 40s. Still, Rodgers did not look like his usual self last year. The two-time MVP completed just 62% of his throws and this upcoming season could be an indicator of how much he has left in the tank. Behind Rodgers, the Packers are lacking in proven options. There’s Tim Boyle, who doesn’t have much of a track record beyond his solid 2019 preseason. There’s also fellow UDFA Manny Wilkins, the Arizona State product who spent all of last year on the taxi squad.

The Chargers say they’re comfortable with Tyrod Taylor, but they haven’t dismissed the possibility of exploring Cam Newton or other veteran QBs. Assuming they stick with Taylor and his extremely reasonable contract, they could pair him with a prospect like Hurts to hedge their bets for 2021 and beyond.

Hurts, the 2019 Heisman runner-up, threw for 3,851 yards with 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions at OU. Before that, he spent two years as Alabama’s starter, and one year as a backup to Tua Tagovailoa.

Bengals HC: “Doesn’t Look Like” We’ll Trade No. 1 Pick

April 14th, 2020 at 8:30am CST by Zachary Links

It doesn’t sound like anyone will be able to talk the Bengals out of taking Joe Burrow. In an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, head coach Zac Taylor more or less dismissed the possibility of trading the No. 1 pick.

“It doesn’t look that way,” Taylor said (via Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer). “If there is a guy there that you believe in that can really change the franchise over the next 10-15 years, then that’s a hard thing to pass up on. You know, people all the time ask me what would it take to give up that pick and if there’s somebody there that people are willing to give up a lot for, that they believe in, then that just really verifies what we think about those players as well.”

The Giants are “open for business” at No. 4. The Lions are at least willing to listen on offers for the No. 3 pick. Beyond that, it doesn’t sound like teams will be able to move much higher up the board. By all accounts, the Redskins are laser-focused on Ohio State pass rusher Chase Young at No. 2, and the Bengals are locked in on Burrow.

The Bengals’ infatuation with Burrow has been apparent for months. The only thing that was in question, really, was Burrow’s desire to play in Cincinnati. But, at the combine in February, the LSU star put that speculation to rest.

“Yeah. I’m not going to not play. I’m a ball player,” Burrow said. “Whoever picks me, I’m going to show up.”

That’s good news for the Bengals and bad news for other teams hoping to snag Burrow. The Dolphins, at one point, had their sights set on him.

NFC North Notes: Lions, Harrison, Vikings

April 13th, 2020 at 8:48pm CST by Zachary Links

In February, the Lions released Damon Harrison with two years to go before his contract. Long before that, Harrison says he was looking for a way out of Detroit.

“I came into [2019 training] camp in shape, but during the first three weeks of camp I think I kind of worked myself out of shape because I wasn’t doing anything,” Harrison told Chris Long on a recent podcast (transcript via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “That was a time where, to be honest with you, we were trying to facilitate a trade. I was hell-bent on getting out of there.”

In fact, Snacks says he knew the Lions were a bad fit as soon as he came over via trade with the Giants. Harrison excelled as a run-stuffer for both New York teams, but he didn’t think that he could thrive in Matt Patricia‘s defense.

“To be completely honest with you, I didn’t want to go to Detroit because of some things that I heard from some guys in the past and some guys who were there,” Harrison said. “So when I got the call..I didn’t answer the phone for a couple hours. [Lions GM] Bob Quinn was calling me and I didn’t pick up the phone because I was trying to figure out a way to get out of it.”

Now, Harrison is free to find the team that fits him best. Still on the market, Snacks will likely land a deal sometime after the draft.

Here’s more from the NFC North:

The Vikings have no reason not to draft a quarterback with one of their five picks in the top 105, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com opines. And, if Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa somehow falls to them at No. 22 overall, she says it would be “unconscionable to pass on him.” The Vikings extended Kirk Cousins through the 2022 season and the rest of their moves indicate that they’re taking a longer view on things. With that in mind, she feels the Vikings should at least invest a Day 2 pick in the position.
Details are in on Darryl Roberts‘ new deal with the Lions. The ex-Jet CB will earn $2MM on his one-year pact, including a $1MM guarantee (Twitter link via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com). Before his release, he was set to earn $6MM from Gang Green.
Over the last couple of years, former Vikings head coach Brad Childress has popped in and out of retirement. But, this time around, the 63-year-old tells Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press that he’s retired for good. “People say, ‘Is he really retired? Is he really, really retired?’” Childress said. “Yeah. Last year was my last year. I just felt like it was time to move on. It’s about time. I put my toe in the water in retirement and pretty soon you’ve got to jump in. It’s more about spending time with my family and grandkids and that type of thing.”

Latest On Jordan Love’s Stock

April 13th, 2020 at 8:15pm CST by Zachary Links

Lately, there’s been chatter about Utah State quarterback Jordan Love finding his way into the upper half of the first round. But, from what Mike Garafolo and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com (via Twitter) are hearing, it sounds like Love not hear his name called until the back end of Round 1.

Garafolo cautions that talk of “rising” and “falling” stocks are often misguided in the buildup to the draft, and he’s right. But, still, Garafolo doesn’t get the sense that Love has wowed evaluators during the process like Patrick Mahomes a few years back (Granted, Love has had to conduct most of his conversations via phone and video conference, which is always awkward.)

Recently, we heard that the Packers, Patriots, Saints, Dolphins, Chargers, and Redskins have all been doing their homework on Love. Thanks to his pure throwing motion, Love has put himself into the QB mix, somewhere behind presumptive No. 1 pick Joe Burrow. However, it doesn’t sound like he’s leapfrogged the rest of the field – he’ll probably have to wait until Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, and many non-QBs are taken before he’s picked.

Love turned in a 20-17 TD-INT ratio last season, a big drop-off from his 32-6 mark as a sophomore in 2018. That hasn’t stopped a number of head coaches from reaching out to Texas Tech coach Matt Wells — the former Utah State head coach — to learn more about Love, but it might keep him from being a top 15 or even top 32 choice.