2020 April - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On 2020 NFL Draft Format

April 8th, 2020 at 10:55am CST by Dallas Robinson

Due to ongoing shelter-in-place orders around the United States, the 2020 NFL draft will be conducted in an entirely virtual manner. Front office executives and scouts won’t be allowed to congregate at team facilities, meaning general managers and personnel directors will be making selections from the privacy of their own homes.

As anyone who has ever participated in a fantasy football draft can attest, unforeseen technical issues have the possibility to threaten the entire endeavor. As such, the NFL considered implementing some sort of “timeout” system that would have alleviated concerns about technical problems, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (video link). While the league doesn’t seem to be putting any formal process into place, the NFL will be flexible if a decision-maker has a “genuine technical breakdown,” a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

Other safeguards are also in place, as Dan Graziano of ESPN.com writes. The NFL will have an ongoing conference call throughout the entirety of the draft, so if a general manager loses internet access, he could simply announce his pick to the league via phone. Teams can also send in their selections via email, per Graziano.

Additionally, the league plans to hold a complete dry run of the draft before the actual event takes place, as Tom Pelissero reported on NFL Network (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times). Presumably, that exercise will help team officials clear up any questions they may have about technology or the draft’s format.

For those of us watching at home, the presentation of the draft will be a bit different than in recent years. ESPN and NFL Network typically produce their own broadcasts of the draft, but because the NFL Network’s studios in California and New Jersey remain closed, the two networks will run a joint presentation, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.

Tom Brady On Free Agency, Leaving The Patriots, And Joining The Bucs

April 8th, 2020 at 9:42am CST by Dallas Robinson

In a wide-ranging two-hour interview with Howard Stern on SiriusXM Radio, new Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady discussed his first foray into free agency, his decision to leave the Patriots, his journey to Tampa Bay, and his future in the NFL. Let’s take a look at the highlights from Brady’s sit-down with the King of All Media:

Brady said he had a strong feeling he’d leave New England before the beginning of the 2019 NFL season, as James Palmer of NFL.com tweets. “I don’t think there was a final, final decision until it happened,” Brady said. “But I would say I probably knew before the start of last season. I knew that, it was just, our time, you know, our time was coming to an end.” Brady signed a renegotiated contract in August 2019 that prevented the Patriots from franchise tagging him in 2020, so the tea leaves regarding a possible departure were in place.
Brady indicated he heard from “a lot” of interested teams when he reached free agency, tweets Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. However, Brady said he wrote down a list of 20 factors that would play into his decision, including location, wide receiver talent, and coaching, per Palmer (Twitter link), which helped lead him to the Buccaneers.
While leaving the franchise he played for his entire career couldn’t have been an easy decision, Brady said he wasn’t concerned about tarnishing his NFL legacy. “I never cared about legacy,” Brady said, per Greg Auman of the The Athletic (Twitter link). “I could give a s— about … that’s not me, that’s not my personality. Why would I choose a different place? It was time. I had accomplished everything I could with an incredible organization.”
Although he’s now entering uncharted territory as a mid-40s NFL quarterback, Brady doesn’t seem to be considering retirement any time in the immediate future. “You don’t tell a musician to stop singing, you don’t tell a great painter to stop painting at 42,” Brady said, per Auman (Twitter link). Brady, of course, inked a fully guaranteed two-year contract with Tampa Bay that will take him through his age-44 season.
Despite reports of friction between Brady and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, the future Hall of Fame quarterback said he doesn’t hold any resentment towards the future Hall of Fame coach, as Jenna Laine of ESPN.com tweets. “No absolutely not,” Brady said. “To have him allowed me to be the best I can be. So I’m grateful for that. And I very much believe he feels the same about me…”

This Date In Transactions History: Reggie White Signs With Packers

April 7th, 2020 at 6:20pm CST by Ben Levine

27 years ago today, the Packers made a franchise-altering move that helped propel them towards the top of the league. On April 7th, 1993, Green Bay officially signed pass-rusher Reggie White to a four-year, $17MM deal (hat tip to @HistoricPackers on Twitter).

After starting his professional career in the United States Football League, White spent eight years in Philly. He quickly became one of the best players in the NFL, winning Defensive Player of the Year in 1987 and earning Pro Bowl nods each year between 1986 and 1992. White is still the franchise’s all-time leader in sacks.

By the time the 1993 offseason came around, White found himself as a free agent, and he predictably had a number of suitors. The Packers, Redskins, and Browns all made a run at the defensive end, and there was some belief that free-wheeling Washington would sign the future Hall of Famer. However, the Packers ended up emerging with the best offer, and it didn’t take long for White to pounce.

While the $4.25MM average annual salary seems paltry in 2020, it actually made White the third high-paid player at the time (behind Broncos quarterback John Elway ($4.75MM) and Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino ($4.43MM)). Of course, it wasn’t just money that led White to Green Bay. As agent Jimmy Sexton explained, head coach Mike Holmgren and defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes made the effort to visit the player’s family in Tennessee.

“It was huge,” Sexton said (via Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). “They were smart enough and perceptive enough to know that Reggie was a relationship guy. They sold him on the fact that it’s like a big college atmosphere. He was coming out of a place where it wasn’t fun for him the last couple years.

“But if I had to pick one thing he liked most about Green Bay, Holmgren was it.”

White continued to dominate during his stint with the Packers. In six seasons, he compiled 68.5 sacks, which made him the franchise leader in that category (he’s since been passed by Clay Matthews and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila).

More importantly, the pass rusher (alongside a young Brett Favre) helped catapult the Packers atop the standings. Green Bay made the playoffs during each of White’s six seasons with the team, including three division titles. He also led the team to a pair of Super Bowls, including a Super Bowl XXXI victory over the Patriots.

Despite winning his second Defensive Player of the Year award in 1998, White temporarily retired. He returned during the 2000 season and played all 16 games for the Panthers. At the time of his second retirement, White was the all-time leader in sacks (he’s since been surpassed by Bruce Smith).

Still, what really cemented White’s legacy was the Super Bowl victory. Who knows if he would have reached that pinnacle if not for the transaction made 27 years ago today.

Steelers GM Pushing For Three Extra NFL Draft Rounds

April 7th, 2020 at 4:16pm CST by Zachary Links

The coronavirus has radically changed the NFL Draft process and Steelers GM Kevin Colbert has offered up one proposal to help teams adjust to the lack of workouts and Pro Days. Colbert has asked league officials to add an additional three rounds to this year’s draft, bringing the total number of rounds to ten, as Manish Mehta of the Daily News writes.

In lieu of drills and auditions, teams are permitted to hold up to three hour-long video conferences per week with any prospect. Still, coaches and executives like Colbert feel like they are flying blind. The draft is already wildly unpredictable; now teams have less intel than ever before. Because there are bound to be many misfires, Colbert believes the Steelers (and other clubs) can offset things a bit with a greater margin for error.

It’s not immediately clear whether the league is giving real consideration to Colbert’s idea, but anything is possible given these unprecedented conditions. This year’s draft will be “fully virtual” with executives conducting their business in separate locations, rather than the initial plan of allowing teams to gather their front office officials in one room.

The league has done its best to adjust. For example, Tua Tagovailoa recently underwent a voluntary medical re-check via the league’s combine committee. Ordinarily, his surgically-repaired hip would have been examined by scores of team doctors in separate exams, Instead, every team was allowed to request specific tests and the results were then shared with all 32 clubs.

Ron Rivera: Redskins Wanted Amari Cooper

April 7th, 2020 at 3:15pm CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins didn’t pry Amari Cooper away from their divisional rivals this offseason, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. In a virtual presser on Tuesday, head coach Ron Rivera made it known that he was aggressive in his pursuit of the Cowboys star.

“Amari was somebody we chased hard all the way until the end,” Rivera said (Twitter link via The Team 980). “We would’ve loved to have him a part of what we’re trying to do here. He would’ve been a great veteran presence.”

The Redskins made their pitch to Cooper before he re-signed with the Cowboys on a five-year, $100MM extension. Had they landed him, Cooper would have made an immediate impact – the Redskins’ current group has a serious drop-off after rising sophomore Terry McLaurin. After they said farewell to Paul Richardson and lost tight ends Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis, there’s a clear need for pass-catchers in D.C.

Ultimately, the Redskins could not compete with the Cowboys in this battle, due in large part to taxes. In Texas, Cooper doesn’t have to pay any state income tax, and those percentage points make a huge difference when it comes to a nine-figure contract.

Last year, Cooper set career-highs in receiving yards (1,189) and TDs (eight), his first full season in Dallas. That performance landed him his fourth career Pro Bowl nod.

The former first-round pick won’t turn 26 until June, so his very best football should still be ahead of him. The Cowboys certainly hope that’s the case – his five-year deal takes him through 2024 and includes $60MM in guaranteed cash.

Ravens GM: Keeping Antonio Brown Thoughts “In House”

April 7th, 2020 at 1:56pm CST by Zachary Links

Recently, Lamar Jackson created a bit of a stir when he worked out with free agent Antonio Brown. As a result, some have speculated about a potential fit between the Ravens and the controversial wide receiver, but GM Eric DeCosta didn’t have much to say when asked about his level of interest.

“Those are in-house things,” DeCosta said (Twitter link via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com). “I don’t really feel the need to share that right now.”

Marquise Brown – Brown’s cousin and fellow SoFlo native – also took part in the workout, further the chatter even further. The wide receiver position is somewhere on the Ravens’ to-do list this offseason, but DeCosta doesn’t sound intent on bringing Brown to Baltimore. At least, if he is, he’s keeping it mum.

Also, for what it’s worth, DeCosta recently indicated that he is happy with what he already has in-house at WR.

“Do we feel the urgency? We probably feel that with every position,” the GM told the team website. “We want to be the best we can be at every position. This happens to be a wide receiver class with a lot of really good players. If we’re on the clock and we think that guy is the best player, we’ll probably pick him. Hopefully we can build our offense to the point where we can say, ‘Hey, we’re undefendable.'”

DeCosta also opined that there are “probably 25 draftable wideouts in this draft,” an indication that he’s looking more towards the rookie class than the free agent crop.

Core Surgery For Brandon Aiyuk

April 7th, 2020 at 10:55am CST by Zachary Links

Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk underwent core muscle surgery this morning, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. The potential first-round pick has been dealing with the issue for some time and decided to have the operation since offseason activities are likely to be postponed.

It’s a bit surprising to hear that Aiyuk was able to get the operation since elective surgeries have been put on hold in most parts of the country. Still, the protocol varies from state to state and Aiyuk was able to get his surgery out of the way.

In most drafts, Aiyuk would be a shoe-in first-round pick. This year, due to the wealth of talent at the position, he’s considered to be a borderline candidate for the top 32. Regardless of where he goes, Aiyuk appears to have serious pro potential – his ability to line up outside or in the slot is also a big plus for teams.

The Nevada native transferred from Sierra College to Arizona State in 2018 and put himself on the national radar with a huge 2019. Last year, he led the Sun Devils with 65 catches for 1,192 yards, good for an average of 18.3 yards per reception, plus eight touchdowns. He also impressed in the return game by averaging 16.1 yards per punt return and 31.9 yards per kickoff return.

Bengals Won’t Rule Out Keeping Andy Dalton

April 7th, 2020 at 9:51am CST by Zachary Links

The Bengals aren’t in any rush to trade or cut Andy Dalton. And, interestingly, they haven’t ruled out keeping the veteran quarterback on the roster, according to head coach Zac Taylor (Twitter link via Elise Jesse of WLWT).

“Every option is on the table,” Taylor said. “We’re trying to put ourselves in the best position to make sure we’re prepared for next season and we have the best assets we can have. We think the world of Andy, obviously.”

It still seems unlikely that Dalton would remain with the Bengals on his current contract, which calls for a $17.5MM non-guaranteed base salary. If Dalton stayed in Cincy, he’d be playing second fiddle to a rookie quarterback (likely LSU standout Joe Burrow) and that’s a mighty expensive QB2. Meanwhile, Dalton has made it clear that he wants to be a starter in 2020.

Dalton was the Bengals’ starter from the jump, serving as their QB1 from 2011 up until he got the hook last year. In the midst of a lousy season for the entire organization, the Bengals benched him in favor of rookie Ryan Finley. Dalton got his gig back for the final stretch of the year, but he didn’t impress – he completed just 57.9% of his passing attempts with seven touchdowns against six interceptions.

On the cusp of his age-33 season, and coming off of his worst season, Dalton doesn’t hold much trade value at the moment. That’s the most likely explanation for Dalton remaining on the roster here in April. In all likelihood, the Bengals are waiting to see if other teams get desperate for QB help between now and the start of the season, which might allow them to recoup something of value for Dalton. And, if they’re unable to find a deal, they’ll probably cut him loose.

Eagles Started Shopping Alshon Jeffery In October

April 7th, 2020 at 8:58am CST by Zachary Links

In September, the Eagles agreed to guarantee the bulk of Alshon Jeffery‘s 2020 base salary. One month later, they were already looking to trade the wide receiver, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Eagles GM Howie Roseman was looking for an exit strategy as Jeffery’s production dropped and his injuries piled up. In the fall, Jeffery was also accused of anonymously ripping into quarterback Carson Wentz and other teammates through the press.

Jeffery quickly found out that he was on the block and that only furthered the divide between him and the team. The trade deadline came and went without a taker for Jeffery – he remains on the roster today and Roseman is still looking for a way out.

“Obviously, the elephant in the room is Alshon,” Roseman said during a recent conference call. “Alshon’s got to get healthy. That’s the No. 1 priority for us and for him. He understands. He knows what’s being said about him. He understands that he has a lot to prove and he’s anxious to do that. So he’s not living in a bubble.”

Right now, it’s hard to see the Eagles finding a trade partner for the mercurial and oft-injured Jeffery. With more guaranteed money on the way, the Eagles would have to eat a big chunk of his salary in order to facilitate a trade, meaning that they’d get little value in return.

At this point, the Eagles can only hope to smooth things out with Jeffery, especially with DeSean Jackson coming off of a core muscle injury.

Texans LB Dylan Cole Signs RFA Tender

April 6th, 2020 at 6:46pm CST by Ben Levine

Dylan Cole has signed his restricted free agent tender. The linebacker announced on Twitter that he’s inked his new deal with the Texans.

“Done deal,” Cole said. “Absolutely blessed to be in Houston another year! Time to earn it. Let’s make it out of 2020 healthy! That’s to all of us.”

Cole was tendered at an original-round level back in March. He’s set to earn $2.144MM next season.

The former undrafted free agent out of Missouri State has spend his entire career with the Texans organization. He actually put up his best numbers during his rookie year, compiling 32 tackles, three passes defended, and two interceptions in 12 games (one start).

This past year, Cole appeared in 11 games for the Texans, compiling 16 tackles and one pass defended. The 25-year-old landed on the injured reserve in late November after suffering a torn ACL. That injury will likely knock him out of part of the 2020 campaign.