2020 May - Pro Football Rumors

Jalen Ramsey Won’t Skip Training Camp

May 26th, 2020 at 12:43pm CST by Ben Levine

Jalen Ramsey is seeking a contract extension, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to hold out. The Rams cornerback told reporters that he’ll attend training camp without a new contract (via ESPN’s Lindsay Thiry on Twitter).

“The Rams know where I stand, they’ve been in contact with my agent, they know what’s up,” Ramsey told reporters.

Back in October, the Rams sent a pair of firsts and a fourth-rounder to Jacksonville for the defensive back. Ramsey ended up getting into nine games (eight starts) for his new team, compiling 33 tackles, four passes defended, one forced fumble, and one interception. The 25-year-old ultimately earned his third-straight Pro Bowl appearance.

Ramsey will earn $13.7MM in 2020 thanks to the Jaguars’ (predictable) decision to pick up his fifth-year option. As our own Zach Links recently pointed out, Ramsey’s agents will surely be eyeing Darius Slay‘s $16.7MM average annual value, and they could point to Byron Jones and his $46MM in full guarantees and $54.4MM in effective guarantees.

The Rams don’t have a whole lot of financial flexibility, but they could always turn to the franchise tag next offseason. In that scenario, there’s a chance that Ramsey could end up holding out.

NFL Still Eyeing June Minicamps

May 26th, 2020 at 11:59am CST by Ben Levine

The NFL has set its sights on a mid- to late-June minicamp, but there are still a handful of hurdles to overcome.

Yahoo’s Charles Robinson reports that the league could allow head coaches to return to team facilities as early as next week. This vicariously means team minicamps could begin “as early as June 15 or as late as June 27.”

The start of minicamps would be dependent on teams getting the green light from their respective state’s government. Specifically, the NFL is awaiting a decision from California governor Gavin Newsom, and there’s hope that he’ll allow “full team operations” for the state’s three organizations. The league would also need the NFL Player’s Association to approve a potential start date.

If minicamps start on June 27th, that’d be about two weeks later than normal. Robinson notes that it’s uncertain whether this start date would have an impact on the start of training camps in July.

Earlier this week, league executive VP of football operations Troy Vincent said he’s optimistic that teams will host “full stadiums” in the fall.

Bears To Play Both QBs In Preseason

May 26th, 2020 at 10:28am CST by Zachary Links

The Bears will give significant reps to both Nick Foles and Mitchell Trubisky in the preseason, head coach Matt Nagy says (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). It’ll be a full-blown quarterback competition in Chicago, one that will have major implications for Trubisky’s future with the team.

The Bears turned down Trubisky’s fifth-year option earlier this month, putting the former No. 2 overall pick on course for free agency after the 2020 season. The option would have been guaranteed for injury only, but it was a risk the Bears weren’t willing to take. Trubisky finished 2019 with one of the lowest QBRs in the entire league, a step back from his Pro Bowl (alternate) campaign in 2018.

The Bears aren’t ready to give up on him just yet, but they did safeguard the position by trading for Foles, one of the league’s most coveted free agents of 2019. Foles’ first and only season in Jacksonville was derailed by injury and he’s got extra incentive to deliver in Chicago. If the veteran meets certain performance thresholds, he can void his deal early and cash in all over again.

Foles went 0-4 in his 2019 starts, completing 65.8% of his throws for 736 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Before that, he led the Eagles to a Super Bowl ring in the 2017 season and turned in more memorable moments for the Birds in 2018. With the Bears, Foles will have the opportunity to reclaim his status as one of the league’s greatest clutch performers. But, first, he’ll have to duke it out with Trubisky.

Jets, Giants Permitted To Start Training Camp, Play NFL Games

May 26th, 2020 at 9:46am CST by Zachary Links

The Jets, Giants, and other professional sports teams in New Jersey have been given the green light to resume training and “even competition” by the state of New Jersey, per an announcement from Governor Phil Murphy. With that, the NJ-based NFL teams will be permitted to conduct camp in Florham Park and East Rutherford, respectively.

Murphy’s announcement comes on the heels of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s declaration, which will allow the Bills to get back to business. Other states, governing bodies, and leagues seem to be following suit. In a matter of days, the NCAA will Division I football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball to hold voluntary activities and practices. Meanwhile, the NFL plans to stay on schedule for the offseason and the regular season, with the expectation/hope that the games will include “full stadiums.”

The Jets “will begin to open our facility using a phased approach at a time that is most practical for our operations,” a team spokesperson tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Giants issued a similar statement (Twitter link via WFAN’s Kimberly Jones), signaling a cautious approach in their return to the practice field.

Once things get back to normal – or, closer to normal – the Jets’ front office will work on getting a multi-year extension finalized with star safety Jamal Adams. There was talk of the two sides having reached an impasse, but the delay reportedly has more to do with the ongoing pandemic than anything else. The Giants, meanwhile, will monitor the Deandre Baker saga. Baker, a 2019 first-round pick, was expected to serve as one of their starting cornerbacks. Following the incident in Florida, his availability is in question.

Devonta Freeman: I’ve “Got 10 More Years In Me”

May 26th, 2020 at 9:37am CST by Zachary Links

Over the weekend, there was talk of Devonta Freeman potentially sitting out the 2020 season and speculation that he could consider retirement if he does not find a deal to his liking. On Monday night, Freeman set the record straight in a tweet that he deleted moments later (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of NFL.com). The family-friendly portion of the message that we can share here: “I got ten more years in me. Kill that fake retirement [stuff]!”

Freeman talked with the Jets and Eagles in recent weeks and turned down a one-year, $3MM offer to join up with the Seahawks. It’s unlikely that he’ll land a deal to match his last one – a five-year,$41.25MM deal with an average annual value of about $8MM – but he’s aiming for something in between. Only trouble is, there aren’t a ton of teams that are desperate for RB help at this stage of the offseason and Freeman’s stock has taken a tumble.

In 2018, Freeman was limited to just two games. Last year, he managed to play in 14 of the Falcons’ 16 games, but he looked like a shell of his former self and averaged just 3.6 yards per attempt.

Roughly three years ago, Freeman became the second-highest paid running back in the NFL on an annual basis, behind only the franchise-tagged Le’Veon Bell. As a reminder of how quickly things change in this league – the league’s other leaders in compensation in 2017 were LeSean McCoy and Doug Martin. McCoy may be on the cusp of a bargain basement deal to return to the Eagles and Doug Martin has not played a down since the 2018 season.

Latest On Jets’ Jamal Adams

May 25th, 2020 at 3:54pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets and Jamal Adams aren’t close to a new deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter) hears. That doesn’t mean they won’t eventually come to terms on a new multi-year deal, but they are in a bit of a holding pattern due to the ongoing pandemic. Rapoport stresses that it’s “not an impasse,” so there’s no reason for Jets fans to panic just yet.

Rapoport adds that there’s no real traction between the Jets and the Cowboys on a potential Adams trade. The Cowboys have been connected to Adams for a long time now, but, as Calvin Watkins of the Dallas News reported over the weekend, they’re not pursuing him at the moment.

The Jets have dangled Adams in the past, but they’ve set a sky-high asking price every time. Talks heated up before last year’s trade deadline, but Joe Douglas stuck to his guns by asking for a first round pick and two second-round picks. That was too rich for the Cowboys blood; they countered with a first-round pick plus a Day 3 choice.

The Ravens also pursued Adams last year, and one has to imagine that they’d still like to have him, given their friction with Earl Thomas. However, they’ve got limited cap room and several players of their own to lock up, so Adams-to-Baltimore also seems unlikely. At this moment, it sounds like Adams will probably be a Jet in 2020.

Devonta Freeman Willing To Skip 2020 NFL Season

May 25th, 2020 at 1:40pm CST by Zachary Links

So far this offseason, Devonta Freeman hasn’t been able to find a deal to his liking. If that doesn’t change between now and the fall, the running back is willing to sit out the entire 2020 season, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).

In theory, the 28-year-old could easily walk away – he’s earned upwards of $24MM and he’s got plenty of spectacular performances to look back upon. Retirement, however, is not a consideration for Freeman at this time, Rapoport hears.

Freeman’s drawn interest from the Seahawks, Jets, and Eagles since being released by the Falcons. And, just recently, Seattle tried to sell him on a one-year deal worth $3MM – he said no, prompting Pete Carroll & Co. to turn to Carlos Hyde. The Eagles may still be a fit for Freeman, Rapoport posits, despite the presence of Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Corey Clement, and the newly-signed LeSean McCoy. Ditto for the Jets, who are looking to fortify the group behind Le’Veon Bell. Ultimately, it’ll come down to dollars and Freeman would rather stay patient than slash his price here in May.

Last year, Freeman appeared in 14 games for the Falcons but averaged just 3.6 yards per tote on 184 carries. Meanwhile, Football Outsiders placed him just 41st among 43 running backs in success rate. In 2020, Freeman is hoping to redeem himself and get closer to the form he exhibited in 2016, his last Pro Bowl campaign. In that season, Freeman ran for 4.8 yards per try and scored 13 all-purpose touchdowns.

Release Candidate: Redskins RB Adrian Peterson

May 25th, 2020 at 1:25pm CST by Zachary Links

Adrian Peterson has big plans for 2020. The 35-year-old is 1,054 rushing yards away from passing Barry Sanders on the league’s all-time board and he believes that he might have enough gas in the tank to overtake Emmitt Smith’s No. 1 position. In February, the Redskins exercised his option for 2020, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the veteran will be in D.C. this year.

Peterson was already facing backfield competition from Derrius Guice and Bryce Love when the Redskins picked up his option, but the RB depth chart became even more crowded in the spring. First, the Redskins signed former Buc Peyton Barber to a two-year, $3MM free agent deal. Then, in April, they used a third-round pick to select Antonio Gibson out of Memphis. Gibson, a young and sure-handed playmaker, more or less has his roster spot cemented. That leaves no more than three – and, possibly, only two – running back spots up for grabs. Peterson, one of the most electrifying rushers the game has ever seen, could be the odd man out.

Peterson is set to earn $2.25MM in base pay this year, but the Redskins can drop him without much fiscal penalty. Cutting Peterson would leave the Redskins with just $750K in dead money, versus $2.48MM in savings. Would that be the smart move? There’s a case to be made in both directions. Peterson offers veteran leadership for the Redskins’ inexperienced backfield and could serve as a safety net for Guice if the former LSU star gets sidelined again. He’s also delivered for the last two years in D.C., despite the skeptics who said he was washed up. Between 2018 and 2019, Peterson has averaged a solid 4.2 yards per carry while suited up for 31 of a possible 32 games.

Ultimately, we expect the Redskins to do what’s best for business. Or, at least, what they think will be best for business. If the rest of the Redskins’ RB room stays healthy through training camp, Peterson could easily wind up on the curb this summer.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/25/20

May 25th, 2020 at 1:21pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of the MDW draft pick signings here:

The Packers inked seventh-round defensive lineman Jonathan Garvin, per a club announcement. Garvin waited a long, long time on draft weekend and watched a handful of his University of Miami teammates come off the board before him at No. 242 overall. There, he became the Packers’ ninth selection, giving him a chance to reunite with old Hurricanes teammate Gerald Willis. Garvin, a 6’4″, 263-pound lineman, put himself on the radar with 60 stops, 5.5 sacks, and five pass breakups in 2018. He wasn’t as sharp last year, but the Packers still see the potential.

NFC West Notes: 49ers, Kittle, Seahawks

May 25th, 2020 at 9:44am CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers already know that they want to keep George Kittle for the long haul, but they also know that it won’t come cheap. Kittle is on course to become the league’s highest-paid tight end of all-time. As Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com explains, Kittle’s value goes beyond the gaudy yardage and touchdown totals.

In Kittle’s 14 games last year, the Niners averaged 4.83 yards per carry and tallied 23 TDs on the ground. Without him? They averaged just 2.63 yards per carry with zero rushing scores.

“What’s amazing about him is what he does in the running game,” former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum said. “He’s a dominant blocker and he’s been dynamic in the passing game. He’s a rare weapon that I think is more valuable than just a regular tight end because he can block so effectively.”

Then, of course, there are the obvious drivers behind Kittle’s value. Since 2017, Kittle has amassed 2,945 receiving yards, the most of any TE inside of their first three pro campaigns. in NFL history. And, in the past two seasons, he’s totaled 1,464 yards after the catch, good for No. 2 in the league.

It’s pretty much a given that Kittle will top Hunter Henry‘s $10.6MM average annual value, as well as Austin Hooper‘s four-year, $42MM watermark for the largest total contract among TEs. How much further will it go? Wagoner expects Kittle and the Niners to settle for a four-year deal in the range of $68MM-$72MM with roughly $40MM in guarantees.

Here’s more from the NFC West:

The 49ers have the most dynamic tight end in the NFC West – and the entire NFL – in Kittle, but they don’t necessarily have the division’s best receiver group. That mantle belongs to the Cardinals thanks to their DeAndre Hopkins pickup, Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area writes. However, Johnson notes that SF’s depth makes it a closer call than you might think. Deebo Samuel and Kendrick Bourne profile as the Niners’ top receiving options and they’re backed by loads of potential – first-round pick Brandon Aiyuk, plus Trent Taylor and Jalen Hurd.
Earlier this month, the Seahawks brought back Geno Smith on a one-year deal to serve as a backup to Russell Wilson. It wasn’t a costly deal, as Brady Henderson of ESPN.com tweets. Smith will make just $1.2MM with his $137K signing bonus representing the only guaranteed portion of the deal. Meanwhile, he’ll count for just $887K on the cap, thanks to the minimum-salary benefit.
As the Niners prepare to back up a Brinks truck for Kittle, the Rams are making similar plans for cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Here’s a look at what it might take to keep the superstar cornerback in LA.