2020 June - Pro Football Rumors

Jordy Nelson Discussed Packers Return With Aaron Rodgers

June 15th, 2020 at 12:46pm CST by Zachary Links

Before the start of last season, Jordy Nelson discussed a potential Packers return with Aaron Rodgers (via Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal). However, with the 2020 season on the horizon, the wide receiver insists he’s happy in retirement.

“We’re not coming back,” Nelson recently told Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal. “There’s no doubt about that. We’re done.”

Nelson, 35 in May, was released in March of 2018. After that, he hooked on with the Raiders, where he had 63 catches for 739 yards in his lone season in silver and black. The Raiders dropped Nelson last March and, two weeks later, he announced his retirement. Somewhere in that timeframe, Rodgers and Nelson chatted about un-retirement, but it sounds like the Packers front office wasn’t on board.

“I don’t know how serious they got, just because there’s only so much control that we had over it. There’s other people in the organization who make those decisions.” Nelson said. “So I wasn’t going to dive into a hardcore conversation unless I knew there was a chance to come back. I think [Rodgers] knew deep down that if there was an opportunity right after Oakland, I probably would have [returned]. But obviously it’s not up to us.”

Over the course of his career, Nelson snagged 8,500 receiving yards, 72 touchdowns, and a Super Bowl ring. He wasn’t in top form with Oakland, but he still managed 12.2 yards per catch, up from his career-low 9.1 average in his final Packers season.

Nelson admits that he had the itch to play football over golf last year, but he says he’s sticking with retirement.

Cowboys, Texans Players Test Positive For COVID-19

June 15th, 2020 at 11:29am CST by Zachary Links

Several players from the Texans and Cowboys have tested positive for COVID-19, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link). The list includes Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, per Rapoport (Twitter link). It’s believed that those players were not in their respective team’s facilities, which hopefully means that there will not be further viral spread in either locker room.

Due to regulations, the players who tested positive have not been disclosed publicly. In total, four players have been found to have COVID-19, according to a source who spoke with Mike Florio of PFT. Two of those players are from the Cowboys (including Elliott) and two are from the Texans.

“Due to federal and local privacy laws, we are unable to provide information regarding the personal health of any of our employees,” said the Cowboys in their statement.

The NFL has pledged to do everything in its power to identify positive cases as they arise and prevent further spread. So far, it appears that plan has worked.

Broncos linebacker Von Miller, Saints head coach Sean Payton, and other NFL employees have tested positive for coronavirus this offseason. With more known cases, the NFL may need to adjust its game plan and schedule for summer activities. For now, the league intends to launch in-person training camp in July, followed by preseason games in August. However, this year’s preseason may be shortened from four games to two.

The same goes for the college ranks, where at least five Alabama players have tested positive for the virus. For now, the NCAA is hoping to have coaches working with players by July 13th, followed by four weeks of camp.

~70% Of NFL Draft Picks Remain Unsigned

June 15th, 2020 at 9:49am CST by Zachary Links

As shown in PFR’s 2020 NFL Draft Tracker, and noted by Albert Breer of The MMQB, only about 30% of the league’s 255 draft picks have signed their contracts. By our count, 61 rookies have inked their deals vs. 194 stragglers.

Breer notes that by June 12th of 2019, 222 of last year’s rookies had signed, including 22 first-round picks under contract. As of this morning (June 15th, 2020), there only two first-round picks officially in the fold – Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Panthers defensive lineman Derrick Brown.

The heavy paperwork is likely to drag into July. The league opted against in-person minicamps this month, which means that rookies won’t be able to take physicals with team doctors until training camp. Getting paid is a matter of when, not if, but it’s probably a pain point for many rookies who are waiting for the signing bonus to hit their bank account.

League revenue flow is another complication – at least, when it comes to first-round picks. Joe Burrow recently indicated that it could take months for his deal to be finalized; the Bengals are probably taking it slow before the quarterback his $24MM bonus. Meanwhile, first-round picks are not expected to put up a fight over offsets, so that should be one less barrier towards signing.

Latest On Browns, Jadeveon Clowney

June 14th, 2020 at 7:44pm CST by Zachary Links

Jadeveon Clowney wasn’t interested in Cleveland’s last contract offer, but the Browns haven’t given up on signing the former No. 1 overall pick, as Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer writes. They’re already in contact with Clowney’s agent Bus Cook as they negotiate an extension for Myles Garrett, which could help to facilitate a deal.

The Browns’ offer was believed to be somewhere in the $12MM range, a far cry from the $20MM Clowney was said to be seeking when free agency opened. At some point in March, Clowney scaled back his expectations to $17-$18MM per year, but no one was willing to get into that territory. His highest reported offer came from the Seahawks, who pitched him on a one-year, $15MM pact to return. The Seahawks are also keeping the door open – at least slightly – but that deal is not believed to be on the table at present.

Between Garrett and Olivier Vernon, the Browns are pretty well set at defensive end. Still, Clowney could offer greater upside than Vernon, who finished out with just 3.5 sacks in his first year with Cleveland. Vernon is currently set to earn $15.25MM in 2020, but his salary is completely non-guaranteed. If the Browns keep him, it’s likely that they’ll ask him to adjust his invoice. The Browns could also easily shed him and replace him with Clowney, who notched 24.5 sacks and three Pro Bowl trips between 2016 and 2018.

In the interest of equal time – Clowney didn’t offer much in the way of sacks last year, either. Clowney had just three with Seattle, his lowest showing of any healthy season.

This Date In Transactions History: Texans Sign Benardrick McKinney To Extension

June 14th, 2020 at 6:00pm CST by Zachary Links

Today marks the two-year anniversary of Benardrick McKinney‘s five-year, $50MM extension with the Texans. If you forgot to get the inside linebacker a gift, that’s alright. He probably doesn’t need much in the way of gadgets and home furnishings.

McKinney, a 2015 second-round pick out of Mississippi State, emerged as one of the Texans’ top defenders in his sophomore NFL season. He was solid as a rookie, but as a second-team All-Pro nod in 2016, he finished out with 129 tackles, five sacks, and a forced fumble, ensuring that he would see a sizable pay bump in the offseason. His 2017 stat sheet wasn’t quite as gaudy – 95 tackles and three sacks – but he was still impressive and placed as Pro Football Focus’ No. 24 ranked linebacker in the NFL.

Because he was a second-round pick, the Texans didn’t have the fifth-year option as a safety net. McKinney was now set to enter his walk year and potentially send his sticker price through the roof. It was the right time for both parties to come to the table. McKinney was 25 and wanted the security of a multi-year deal. The Texans were happy to oblige. The deal also gave them a clearer picture of their budget as they considered an extension for Jadeveon Clowney (though they ultimately couldn’t make it work).

McKinney didn’t disappoint on his new deal, racking up 100+ tackles in each of the next two seasons. He also continued his strong work against the run. Along with partner Zach Cunningham, the Texans ILB duo was among the league’s best at stuffing RBs last year. On the flipside, they offered Swiss cheese defense in coverage. McKinney has vowed to do better, however, while delivering more of the same solid ground work.

5 Key NFL Stories: 6/8/20 – 6/14/20

June 14th, 2020 at 4:11pm CST by Zachary Links

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

Dalvin Cook To Wage Holdout: Dalvin Cook won’t show up for team activities until he receives a “reasonable” deal from the Vikings. The fourth-year running back is still waiting for talks to actually get underway and the clock is ticking fast. For now, Cook is is set to make just $1.3MM in 2020. In the past, the Vikings have not been shy about handing out extensions. However, the sky-high comp of Christian McCaffrey‘s deal coupled with Cook’s own injury history may have the Vikings feeling skittish.

Antonio Brown Pleads No Contest To Criminal Charges; Antonio Brown pleaded no contest to criminal charges stemming from his January scuffle with a delivery driver. Now that AB has avoided jail time for that incident, he’s dropping hints that an NFL deal could be just around the corner. A deal may or may not be imminent, but Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson says that he would “love” to play with Brown and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson hasn’t been shy with his affection either.

Jamal Adams Frustrated With Jets: Jamal Adams took to Instagram last week to congratulate Myles Garrett on the start of his contract talks with the Browns and let the world know that he’s less-than-thrilled with the Jets. Adams says the Jets told him that they’d put an offer on the table in January. Now, it’s June, and the Pro Bowl safety still hasn’t received their proposal.

Teams Viewing Logan Ryan As Nickel CB?: Logan Ryan‘s prolonged journey through free agency makes a little more sense now. Ryan, who is said to be seeking $10MM per year, is being seen as more of a slot man than a high-caliber outside corner by some teams. For reference, Lions corner Justin Coleman leads the way for inside specialists at $9MM/year on average, and Ryan wouldn’t be likely to top that if he’s pigeonholed as a nickelback. The Jets and the Dolphins have shown interest in Ryan, but it doesn’t sound like anything is imminent on either front.

NFL Cancels In-Person June Minicamps: The NFL confirmed that teams will not be permitted to hold in-person minicamps this month. This was, more or less, the expected move. The league is also weighing a shorter preseason with two exhibition games rather than the usual four.

Jets Notes: OL, Adams, Johnson

June 14th, 2020 at 3:52pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets invested heavily in their offensive line, but it remains to be seen whether that investment will pay off, as Ralph Vacchiano of SNY writes. The Jets bypassed this year’s top free agent offensive linemen, instead signing next-tier blockers like tackle George Fant and guards Alex Lewis and Greg Van Roten. Center Connor McGovern was a bit splashier and there’s lots of hype around first-round pick Mekhi Becton, but chemistry is key to an offensive line. If the Jets’ unit can’t gel, they won’t have much protection to offer Sam Darnold in 2020.

PFR Originals: 6/8/20 – 6/14/20

June 14th, 2020 at 3:00pm CST by Zachary Links

In case you missed it, here’s a look at some of our faves from the past week:

It’s been four years since the Rams officially inked Jared Goff to his rookie deal. That contract paid the No. 1 overall pick $28MM over four years and saw the Rams reach the Super Bowl in Goff’s third pro season. Now, Goff is facing lofty expectations as he plays on his four-year, $134MM add-on.
In another look back at 2016, we reflected on Keenan Allen‘s big-time raise with the Chargers. At the time, the four-year, $45MM seemed somewhat risky. And, after Allen suffered an ACL tear in the first game of his new deal, it looked like a potential misfire. Fortunately, Allen bounced back, and he’s ready to cash in all over again.
Gareon Conley didn’t work out for the Raiders, but he could be on the cusp of a big payday with the Texans. Conley is set to enter his walk year and you might be surprised to see how some of the advanced metrics grade his pro performance to date. If he secures the starting job opposite of Bradley Roby and plays up to par, he just might secure the bag with the Texans or another team.
It’s also a make-or-break year for Titans wide receiver Corey Davis, as Rory Parks writes. A full season with the resurgent Ryan Tannehill may help him get his pro career on track, though Davis didn’t do any better with last season with him vs. Marcus Mariota. After Davis was leapfrogged by A.J. Brown, the pressure is on for the top-five pick to reassert himself.
What’s the deal with offset language? We explained, and explained why it’s no longer such a big deal for NFL rookies.
Remember Chad Johnson’s time with the Dolphins in 2012? That marked his last contract in pro football, unless you count his single 2017 game with the Monterrey Fundidores of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional de México.

Former Jets QB Christian Hackenberg Switches To Baseball

June 14th, 2020 at 2:11pm CST by Zachary Links

In 2016, scouts were enamored with Christian Hackenberg‘s size and arm strength. The Jets’ second-round pick didn’t pan out in the NFL, so he says he’s moving on to baseball as a pitcher (Twitter link via John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia).

“I just want to compete, man,” Hackenberg said. “I’ve kind of had my trials and tribulations with the NFL, and had success and had that roller-coaster ride. At the end of the day, I’m sitting here at 25…I feel like I’ve got a lot left in the tank.”

Hackenberg left Penn State as their all-time leader in passing yards (8,457) and touchdowns (48) in just three years on campus. He completed just 53.5% of his throws in his final season, but that didn’t deter Jets GM Mike Maccagnan, who reached for him at No. 51 overall.

Hackenberg never saw the field in his two seasons with the Jets, who traded him to the Raiders. The QB lasted less than a month with the Raiders; ditto for his time with the Eagles, which amounted to a cup of coffee. His last NFL stop was a practice squad run with the Bengals, who dropped him in November of 2018. Hackenberg’s career ended without attempting a live action throw.

Hackenberg, a relief pitcher in high school, throws a 90-mph fastball, according to agent Noel LaMontagne (via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com). In a limited sample size, Hackenberg struggled with accuracy on the diamond, just as he did on the gridiron. Pitching in relief, the 6’4″ athlete posted a 7.36 ERA with 40 walks and five HBPs in 25 2/3 innings.

Hackenberg served as the starting quarterback of the AAF’s Memphis Express last year, up until the league dissolved.

Seahawks Notes: Hyde, Dunbar, Clowney

June 13th, 2020 at 2:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a quick look at the latest from Seattle:

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll believes that new running back Carlos Hyde will be ready to go for Week 1 (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times). Hyde’s camp is similarly optimistic after the veteran went under the knife to fix a torn labrum. After a rash of injuries at the position, the Seahawks are counting on the 1,000-yard rusher to stay healthy this year. For his part, Carroll says that Hyde’s presence will allow the team to gradually ease Rashaad Penny back into things.
Carroll told reporters that Quinton Dunbar has rejoined the Seahawks for virtual offseason meetings (Twitter link via Condotta). Beyond that, Carroll offered no comment on Dunbar’s ongoing situation. Dunbar is facing four charges in connection with an alleged armed robbery in Florida. His alleged accomplice, cornerback Deandre Baker, has been kept away from offseason activities by the Giants.
The chatter of a potential reunion between the Seahawks and Jadeveon Clowney continues, but Brady Henderson of ESPN.com gets the sense that the club is only focused on low-cost additions at this time. Earlier this year, the Seahawks reportedly put a one-year, $15MM offer on the table for the defensive end, but it seems that offer is no longer valid. The Browns saw their offer rebuffed recently and the Titans say that there hasn’t been much movement on the Clowney front.