2020 April - Pro Football Rumors

Rams To Sign K Lirim Hajrullahu

April 13th, 2020 at 2:48pm CST by Zachary Links

The Rams have agreed to sign kicker Lirim Hajrullahu, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Hajrullahu, as Pelissero explains, comes to Los Angeles with a CFL all-star resume and an unbelievable life story.

Hajrullahu was an 8-year-old boy when the Kosovo War flared up. One year later, his family managed to escape the danger by moving to Canada. In spite of all the hardship, Hajrullahu grew up to become a two-time CFL all-star and a league champion.

Along with Hajrullahu, the Rams also announced the signing of kicker Austin MacGinnis, who most recently played with the Dallas Renegades of the XFL. In the XFL’s partial season, he nailed all ten of his field goal tries.

The Rams are on the lookout for a new leg after Greg Zuerlein joined the Cowboys late last month. Young GZ has turned in some fantastic seasons over the years, but he made only 82% of his tries last year. The Rams are looking for more consistency, and they hope to find it with either Hajrullahu or MacGinnis.

XFL Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

April 13th, 2020 at 2:37pm CST by Zachary Links

The XFL has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic (on Twitter). By going Chapter 11 instead of Chapter 7, the XFL is enabling itself to renegotiate debts, rather than liquidating its assets. In theory, the Chapter 11 designation would also allow the XFL to continue operations.

Late last week, the XFL suspended its operations and laid off all of its employees. On a company-wide conference call to announce the news, COO Jeffery Pollock did not provide any indication that the league would reopen. The decision to go Chapter 11 instead of Chapter 7 does not mean that the league is planning to make another return, but it does leave the door open slightly. In reality, a second XFL comeback is probably the furthest thing from Vince McMahon‘s mind right now.

“The XFL quickly captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of people who love football,” the XFL said in a statement (via TMZ). “Unfortunately, as a new enterprise, we were not insulated from the harsh economic impacts and uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Accordingly, we have filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.”

“This is a heartbreaking time for many, including our passionate fans, players and staff, and we are thankful to them, our television partners, and the many Americans who rallied to the XFL for the love of football.”

In the process, TMZ hears that the XFL has lost “tens of millions in revenue.” Still, the league paid its employees through April 12, weeks after the 2020 season was cancelled midway through. Meanwhile, XFL players have been freed to seek deals with NFL teams.

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DeAndre Hopkins Passes Cardinals Physical

April 13th, 2020 at 2:21pm CST by Zachary Links

DeAndre Hopkins has passed his physical, James Palmer of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. That takes care of one official piece of business in the pending Texans/Cardinals trade, though we’re still waiting for word on David Johnson‘s exam.

Although much of the focus has been on Johnson’s physical, the Cardinals also had to do their due diligence on Hopkins. The stud wide receiver underwent wrist surgery following the 2014 season and had a pin and rod inserted afterwards. Of course, the injury hasn’t slowed him down much – Hopkins has played in all but two of his possible NFL games since 2013. In that span, he’s racked up 632 catches, 8,602 receiving yards, and 54 touchdowns. Now, he’ll try to keep up the good work with Kyler Murray under center in Arizona.

The Johnson physical should be the last step towards the deal becoming officially official. For what it’s worth, both sides have expressed confidence in the trade going down.

“There’s no concern,” Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters recently. “Those (physicals) aren’t official as far as I know at this point, but we’ll get it done. There’s obviously — the medical field and personnel have much bigger fish to fry at this point. It’s been slower than it (normally) would be, but I have no doubts it’ll be done before the draft.”

Johnson, who has been hampered by knee problems, was healthy to close out the 2019 season. Still, the Texans will want to take an up-close look before signing off on the current terms of the deal. The swap sends Hopkins and a 2020 fourth-round pick to Arizona in exchange for Johnson, a 2020 second-round pick, and a 2021 fourth-rounder.

Peter King’s Latest On 2020 NFL Draft

April 13th, 2020 at 1:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

While Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah is widely viewed as the top defensive back in the 2020 draft class, at least one general manager thinks a portion of NFL decision-makers may have a different view. “I bet 40% of the teams in the league have C.J. Henderson higher on their boards than Okudah,” the anonymous GM told Peter King of NBC Sports. “Better cover guy.” Henderson, a Florida product with 30 total games and a 2019 All-SEC nod under his belt, is pegged as a first-round pick, but it would certainly be a surprise if he came off the board before Okudah, who is thought to be a potential top-five selection.

Let’s take a look at a few more draft tidbits from King’s latest column:

The Chargers‘ quarterback situation continues to a conundrum. While a source close to Los Angeles GM Tom Telesco tells King Telesco is high on Oregon signal-caller Justin Herbert, Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn has faith in incumbent Tyrod Taylor. In fact, Lynn might be comfortable starting Taylor even beyond the 2020 season.
While the Chargers may target a quarterback in the first round, don’t expect the Jaguars to go after a passer with the ninth overall pick, per King. Jacksonville intends to give 2019 sixth-rounder Gardner Minshew a legitimate shot at becoming a full-time NFL starter after trading veteran Nick Foles to the Bears earlier this month.
Although the 49ers are already loaded along their defensive line (even after trading DeForest Buckner to the Colts), they could still target even more front four help in the first round. Specifically, San Francisco could be eyeing a defensive tackle such as South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw. The 49ers own both the 13th and 31st picks on Day 1 of the draft, leaving them ample opportunities to address nee areas.
The Cowboys may look to find a replacement for All-Pro center Travis Frederick after he announced his retirement earlier this year, but at least one rival executive tells King that Dallas won’t spend the 17th pick on a pivot. However, that same executive believes the Cowboys are fans of Michigan interior lineman Cesar Ruiz, and could trade down before selecting the ex-Wolverine.
One NFL GM tells King the Patriots “love” Herbert, but may not be infatuated enough to trade up from pick No. 23. Indeed, New England would likely need to sacrifice a 2021 first-round pick in order to move into Herbert range.

49ers Re-Sign Jason Verrett, Dontae Johnson

April 13th, 2020 at 1:02pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The 49ers have re-signed cornerbacks Jason Verrett and Dontae Johnson to one-year deals, the club announced today.

Verrett, 28, has dealt with myriad injury issues throughout his career, and those health questions popped up again in 2019. Signed to a one-year, $1.5MM pact with San Francisco, Verrett appeared in just one game before being placed on injured reserve with an ankle ailment. Although there was some thought that he’d be able to return later in the season, Verrett remained on IR through the 49ers’ postseason run.

A first-round pick by the Chargers in the 2014 draft, Verrett has been outstanding when healthy. In 2015, for example, Verrett made 14 starts for San Diego and earned a Pro Bowl nod. However, that 2015 campaign represents the only season in which the TCU product has appeared in more six games. He’s only played in six total games since the start of the 2016 season.

Johnson, meanwhile, was Verrett’s direct replacement when the latter went on IR in 2019. San Francisco’s relationship with Johnson goes back far further than last season, however — Johnson was a fourth-round pick of the 49ers in 2014 and will now start his fourth stint with the club. He’s also spent time with the Seahawks, Bills, Cardinals, Chiefs, and Chargers. Johnson, 28, started all 16 games for San Francisco in 2017, but has largely been a special-teamer.

Bucs, Broncos, Falcons Aiming To Trade Up In Draft?

April 13th, 2020 at 12:14pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Buccaneers, Broncos, and Falcons are among the NFL clubs with the most serious interest in trading up in the draft, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.

Both Tampa Bay and Denver would move up with the intention of selecting an offensive tackle, per Breer. The clubs currently sit back-to-back at picks Nos. 14 and 15, and both could certainly use help along their respective offensive lines. The 2020 draft features a strong class of offensive tackles, with options including Mekhi Becton (Louisville), Jedrick Wills (Alabama), Tristan Wirfs (Iowa), and Andrew Thomas (Georgia).

Having added Tom Brady, the Buccaneers will need to keep the veteran quarterback upright — in 2019, Tampa Bay ranked just 22nd in Football Outsiders‘ pass-protection metric. Donovan Smith will line up at left tackle, but the Bucs could add another lineman to compete with free agent signing Joe Haeg on the right side.

The Broncos, meanwhile, would appear to be set at left tackle with Garett Bolles, whom Pro Football Focus grade as the NFL’s No. 18 tackle, and at right tackle with Ja’Wuan James. Bolles, however, has only one year left on his rookie contract (plus a potential fifth-year option in 2021), while injuries limited James to only three games in his first season as a Bronco.

It’s unclear what position the Falcons would target where they able to engineer a trade up from pick No. 16, per Breer. Speculatively, Atlanta’s offense appears mostly set, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if general manager Thomas Dimitroff attempts to target edge or cornerback help in the first round.

Jets, 49ers, Ravens Have Met With CeeDee Lamb

April 13th, 2020 at 11:27am CST by Dallas Robinson

Speaking on Instagram Live, Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb confirmed that he’s held virtual pre-draft meetings with the Jets, 49ers, and Ravens (Twitter link via @TheSFNiners).

NFL clubs, of course, are not permitted to meet with prospects in person due to the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic. Lamb is widely expected to be one of the top three wideouts off the board along with Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs after posting at least 1,100 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in each of the last two seasons at Oklahoma.

Baltimore holds the 28th selection in the first round and doesn’t seem to have much of a chance of landing Lamb, but New York and San Francisco — picking 11th and 13th — are squarely in contention for the talented receiver. The Jets lost Robby Anderson in free agency, but replaced him with Breshad Perriman, and also have Jamison Crowder, Quincy Enunwa, and Josh Doctson on their roster.

The 49ers, meanwhile, weren’t able to re-sign veteran pass-catcher Emmanuel Sanders, who landed a two-year deal with the Saints. 2019 second-round pick Deebo Samuel currently projects as San Francisco’s No. 1 wideout, with Kendrick Bourne, Trent Taylor, Marquise Goodwin, and Dante Pettis in reserve. The 49ers received the No. 13 pick from the Colts in exchange for defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, and they also hold their own selection at No. 31 overall.

Steelers Sign WR Saeed Blacknall

April 13th, 2020 at 10:28am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Steelers announced that they’ve agreed to terms with wide receiver Saeed Blacknall, who formerly suited up for the XFL’s Los Angeles Wildcats.

Pittsburgh has shown a proclivity to sign former XFLers, and Blacknall becomes the sixth member of the now-closed league to land with the Steelers. Blacknall joins defensive end Dewayne Hendrix, linebacker Christian Kuntz, offensive tackle Jarron Jones, safety Tyree Kinnel, and defensive tackle Cavon Walker as XFL alums on Pittsburgh’s roster.

Blacknall, 24, latched on with the Raiders in 2018 after going undrafted out of Penn State. He bounced on and off Oakland’s practice squad during his rookie season, but did manage one regular season appearance on the club’s active roster.

In 2019, Blacknall spent time with the Dolphins and Cardinals, but didn’t see any game action. He was drafted by the Wildcats in November and appeared in three of the team’s five games, catching four passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns.

Former NFL QB Tarvaris Jackson Passes Away

April 13th, 2020 at 9:15am CST by Dallas Robinson

Former NFL quarterback Tarvaris Jackson tragically passed away following a car accident in Alabama on Sunday night, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Jackson was 36 years old.

A second-round pick in the 2006 draft, Jackson made 36 appearances for the Vikings over five seasons, including 12 starts in 2007. He signed with the Seahawks in 2011 and served as Seattle’s full-time starter for that entire campaign. Following a season as a reserve in Buffalo in 2012, Jackson returned to the Seahawks and backed up Russell Wilson for three years.

All told, Jackson made 34 NFL starts and completed 59.6% of his passes for 7,263 yards, 39 touchdowns, and 35 interceptions. He earned a Super Bowl ring as a member of the Seahawks in 2013. In 2018, Jackson accepted a role as a graduate assistant at Alabama State, his alma mater, before becoming Tennessee State’s quarterbacks coach in 2019.

PFR extends its deepest condolences to Jackson’s family and friends.

5 Key NFL Stories: 4/5/20 – 4/12/20

April 12th, 2020 at 7:20pm CST by Zachary Links

A look back at some of the NFL’s biggest stories from the past week:

Rams trade Brandin Cooks to Texans: Cooks will don his fourth NFL jersey. Or, to put it another way, that’s uni for every 1,000-yard season he’s had as a pro. Cooks, who won’t turn 27 until September, will do his best to fill the shoes of DeAndre Hopkins in Houston. In a deal that has been widely panned, the Texans gave up a second-round pick to acquire Cooks and a future fourth-round choice, despite Cooks’ troubling history of concussions. Meanwhile, the second round figures to have tons of young WR talent – all for a fraction of Cooks’ cost.

The NFL Draft goes fully virtual: In accordance with travel restrictions and social distancing measures, this year’s NFL Draft will be unlike any other draft we’ve ever seen. Early on, the league planned to have executives submit picks from their respective war rooms. Now, every official will be asked to conduct the draft from their respective homes. Some league figures say they’re concerned about security and potential glitches. Meanwhile, because of the muddle draft process, Steelers GM Kevin Colbert has proposed an additional three rounds for this year’s draft. With days to go before Day 1, Colbert’s idea is unlikely to be instituted, but other aspects of the draft may still be tweaked.

Dolphins favoring Herbert over Tua?: The chatter surrounding the Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa has only gotten louder and louder in recent weeks. Still, there are conflicting reports on the Dolphins intentions. Recently, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report heard that Oregon’s Justin Herbert could be Miami’s real target at No. 5. Of course, this is still smokescreen season, so everything should be taken with a grain of driveway salt.

The end of the XFL?: This time, the XFL could be finished for good. After already calling off its (re)inaugural season midway through, the XFL laid off its entire staff and shut down operations entirely. Officially, Vince McMahon‘s league has not ruled out the chance of a return, but there has been zero discussion about a reboot in 2021.

Antonio Brown hires new representation: Brown hasn’t given up hope of an NFL return. This week, the controversial wide receiver hired a new agent to help make his case to teams. At this time, Brown remains barred from playing and there has been no real momentum towards reinstatement. There’s no telling when the league office will rule on his case, but it’s safe to assume that he will not be cleared to take the field by September.