2020 June - Pro Football Rumors

Patriots Stripped Of Third-Round Pick By NFL

June 28th, 2020 at 7:24pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL has rendered its verdict on the Patriots’ filming of a Bengals-Browns game late last year. The results aren’t pretty for the Pats – they’ll be fined $1.1MM and stripped of a 2021 third-round pick, according to Mike Reiss and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Furthermore, Pats TV crews will be barred from filming games during the upcoming season.

The Pats’ crew set up shop in the press box and filmed the Bengals’ sideline during their Week 14 game. A Bengals staffer took notice, turned the camera on the Pats’ crew, and turned over an eight-minute tape to the league office.

The Patriots said they were filming an episode of their online series “Do Your Job” and simply gathering b-roll for the next episode. The Patriots also acknowledged that they should have done a better job advising the crew of league protocol and communicating with the Bengals beforehand. Still, teams are prohibited from shooting video of coaches on the sideline and the NFL took the Patriots’ “Spygate” history into consideration.

5 Key NFL Stories: 6/22/20 – 6/28/20

June 28th, 2020 at 5:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Been busy? Let’s get you caught up with a look back at some of the NFL’s biggest stories from the past week:

NFL Cancels Hall Of Fame Game: Last week, the NFL 86’d the annual start to the preseason. This year, the game between the Steelers and Cowboys was set to take place on August 6. Instead, the league is taking a more cautious approach. More changes could be on the way, including a delay to the scheduled start of training camp (currently July 28) and a shorter preseason schedule.

AB Off Ravens’ Radar?: Even though Lamar Jackson and other Ravens stars have advocated for him, the Ravens have reportedly cooled on the idea of signing Antonio Brown. The Seahawks have also been connected to Brown, but, for now, the 32-year-old is still out of work and still in a gray area with the league office.

No Progress In Contract Talks Between Chiefs, Jones: The Chiefs have just over two weeks to hammer out an extension with Chris Jones, but there hasn’t been much momentum as of late. Jones, who is one of five franchise-tagged players yet to sign his franchise tender, has been vocal about his desire for a new deal.

Adam Gase A Factor In Adams’ Trade Request?: Jamal Adams isn’t just mad at the Jets’ front office. This week, it was reported that the Pro Bowl safety also has beef with head coach Adam Gase.Gase, meanwhile, says his relationship with Adams “has been good” since he arrived in New Jersey.

Latest On Kaepernick: Colin Kaepernick has drawn interest from NFL teams, but none of those clubs have reached out to him or his camp directly. Instead, those teams are looking to do their homework on the quarterback and gauge his interest in playing for them before potentially putting an offer on the table.

Former 49ers G Mike Person Retires

June 28th, 2020 at 4:55pm CST by Zachary Links

Mike Person is calling it a career. Following his offseason release from the 49ers, the longtime NFL guard announced his retirement.

“I just feel like now is the right time,” Person told Greg Rachac of 406 MT Sports. “Obviously I wish it would have ended differently, especially this past season. You take a beating, and anybody who’s played knows that. At some point you just have to tell yourself now is the right time. My kids are getting older and most likely I’d spend the entire season away from them if I were to sign with someone. I’ve missed too much already.”

Person, 32, spent the last two seasons as the Niners’ starting right guard. Last year, they kept him from free agency with a three-year, $9MM pact including $3MM in guarantees. Few could argue with the value – in 2018, Person graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 18 ranked guard in the NFL out of 71 qualified players.

Before SF, Person suited up for the Seahawks, Rams, Falcons, and Colts. All in all, he spent nine years in professional football and played in six of those seasons. Along the way, he earned millions and played in a Super Bowl – not bad for a seventh-round pick.

Person was hoping that his knees and elbows would be less bothersome after taking some time to recover in the offseason. Ultimately, he decided to hang ’em up, but he admits that it wasn’t an easy decision.

“It was in the back of my mind. I knew once this contract played out, if it had, that I would retire,” he said. “It’s one of those things where 75% of you wants to be done with it but there’s that 25% that knows you can still do it and still play.”

PFR Originals: 6/22/20 – 6/28/20

June 28th, 2020 at 1:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look back at some of our faves from the past week:

Contractually speaking, the Jets hold all the cards. However, Jamal Adams believes that he can force his way out of the Meadowlands. Will the Pro Bowl safety get traded to one of his preferred destinations this summer? Or will the Jets hang on to him? We asked PFR readers to predict the outcome and, so far, the results are pretty much split.
The franchise tender extension deadline is roughly two weeks away and there are still a handful of stragglers that have yet to sign their tenders. We checked in on those players: Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green, Broncos safety Justin Simmons, Buccaneers edge rusher Shaquil Barrett, Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, and Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.
The Vikings made a big commitment to edge rusher Danielle Hunter when he was still shy of his 24th birthday. Two years later, that $72MM deal is looking like a strong value.

This Date In Transactions History: Ravens’ Ed Reed Signs Record Deal

June 28th, 2020 at 12:04pm CST by Zachary Links

In his prime, few players were more fearsome than safety Ed Reed. On this date in 2006, the Ravens rewarded Reed with a six-year, $40MM contract, making him the highest-paid player at his position in league history.

The previous league-leading deal for safeties belonged to Adam Archuleta, who inked a six-year, $30MM deal with the Redskins in March of ’06. Reed blew past him on a rocket ship, and for good reason.

Reed became a starter as a rookie in 2002 and quickly cemented himself as a key cog in Baltimore’s defense. He notched 21 interceptions in his first three seasons and led the league with nine picks in 2004. Although he was held back by an ankle injury in 2005, the Ravens saw a Reed as a multiple-time Pro Bowler who was ready to get back to his old form.

“It was his time,” GM Ozzie Newsome said. “He has earned the contract.”

Indeed, the Ravens were right. Reed came back in a big way in ’06 as he started in every game and tallied five picks, plus two in the postseason. He earned Pro Bowl nods in every season from 2006 through 2012 and picked up four First-Team All-Pro nods in that span.

Reed earned his first ring in the Super Bowl following the 2012 season and notched his ninth career postseason interception in the big game. Although he was still productive, Reed and the Ravens went their separate ways in the offseason. Reed signed a three-year, $15MM deal with the Texans, but that deal was terminated midway through the ’13 campaign. He reunited with Rex Ryan by signing with the Jets, but he was unable to turn back the clock. After sitting out the 2014 season, Reed signed a one-day contract with Baltimore so that he could retire a Raven.

Reed’s final season on the field was forgettable, but the extension he signed with the Ravens in 2006 proved to be a win-win for both sides. Reed cashed in and gained financial security in a violent sport, and the Ravens got elite level production out of him for the majority of the deal.

This Date In Transactions History: Vikings Lock Up Danielle Hunter

June 27th, 2020 at 1:54pm CST by Zachary Links

Two years ago today, Danielle Hunter inked a five-year deal worth $72MM. It was a serious pay bump for the former third-round pick, who was still a few months away from his 24th birthday. The add-on gave him ample security – a $15MM signing bonus, $40MM in overall guarantees, and favorable cashflow with $48MM over the first three years. Still, the deal proved to be a win for the Vikings.

The Vikings didn’t want to let Hunter get anywhere near the open market. In his first three pro seasons, Hunter registered 25.5 sacks, more than any other player who entered the league in 2015. He waited a while to hear his name called on draft weekend, but he outperformed Vic Beasley, Leonard Williams, and other notable edge rushers in that class by a longshot. Also, Hunter and teammate Everson Griffen combined for 57 combined sacks from 2015-17, the second most of any duo in the NFL in that span.

In 2017, just prior to the extension, Hunter graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 29 ranked edge defender in the NFL. Last year, Hunter finished seventh in the category, ahead of Cameron Jordan, Myles Garrett, Demarcus Lawrence, and a host of other big names. He’s notched 14.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons, bringing his career tally to 54.5.

Meanwhile, his $14.4MM average annual value ranks 18th among edge rushers, according to Over The Cap. The Vikings have four more years of control over Hunter and, at this time, he stands as one of the league’s best veteran values.

Latest On Colin Kaepernick

June 27th, 2020 at 1:32pm CST by Zachary Links

It’s looking more and more likely that Colin Kaepernick will be “back in the league soon,” Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reports (via Twitter). Multiple teams have been doing their homework on the quarterback, though those teams reportedly have not reached out to Kaep directly.

Garafolo’s sources tell him that teams have been in communication with people close to Kaepernick, even if they haven’t chatted with the QB or his agent. Garafolo’s understanding is that they’re first looking to do their research and gauge Kaepernick’s interest in joining. If those teams are satisfied with what they find and confident that they can come to terms, they’ll engage in contract talks.

Of course, that’s not the typical order of operations for free agents, but Kaepernick is anything but the typical free agent. It’s fair to wonder whether some teams are looking to keep their interest on the hush in order to avoid a PR backlash. Still, some NFL officials have been willing to go on the record in favor of Kaepernick. Recently, newly appointed Lions principal owner Shiela Ford Hamp said that she would authorize the signing Kaep if her football people wanted him on the team.

Kaep also found support from Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn, who said that he should be on every club’s emergency workout list. Meanwhile, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll recently expressed regret over not signing Kaepernick back in 2017.

Kaepernick, 33 in November, has not played since the 2016 season. But, based on what we’ve been hearing lately, it sounds like he could be back on the field in 2020.

Redskins’ Emanuel Hall Tears Achilles

June 27th, 2020 at 12:08pm CST by Zachary Links

Emanuel Hall‘s season is likely over. The Redskins wide receiver announced via Instagram that he has torn his Achilles.

Hall, 23, joined the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2019. After the Missouri product missed the final cut, he went on to spend time with the practice squads of the Bucs and the Redskins. This year, the Redskins re-signed him on a futures deal, giving him a place on the 90-man offseason roster and a chance to make the team. Now, he’ll likely have to wait until 2021 before retaking the field.

Before the injury, Hall was pushing for one of the final spots on the WR depth chart, though he was facing some long odds. Terry McLaurin, Kelvin Harmon, and Trey Quinn headline the group, while Cam Sims, Steven Sims Jr., and fourth-round pick Antonio Gandy-Golden are among those fighting for supporting roles.

In other Redskins news, Ryan Kerrigan says he wants to finish out his career with the Redskins. It’s not clear if the Redskins are willing to discuss an extension, but a longer deal could make sense for both sides. The veteran edge rusher’s $11.5MM salary for this year is totally non-guaranteed; an extension could smooth out that hit and give the Redskins some extra space.

No Progress In Contract Talks Between Chiefs, Chris Jones

June 26th, 2020 at 3:43pm CST by Rory Parks

Contract negotiations between the Chiefs and star DT Chris Jones still haven’t gained much traction, per James Palmer of the NFL Network (video link). Jones, who is one of five franchise-tagged players yet to sign his franchise tender, did not participate in Kansas City’s virtual offseason program.

Jones was also pushing for a long-term deal last year, and he skipped the 2019 offseason program in an effort to make that happen, but he did not get his wish. Nothing of note transpired on the contract front throughout the 2019 campaign, and Jones was hit with the franchise tag in February. He expressed frustration with the process about a week later.

“It’s like a mix of emotions,” Jones said. “Because you figure, you know, after four years, you do everything the right way, within the team way, you try to stay under the line, out of trouble, and be a good citizen for a team and for the city, you expect to be rewarded. … It’s like, ‘Man, what else you want me to do?’”

Those comments were made before COVID-19 sent the entire country into lockdown, and the pandemic has brought already slow negotiations to a standstill. Nonetheless, the Chiefs have consistently maintained that they want to get a deal done with Jones, and Palmer reports that nothing has changed in that regard. The team has until July 15 to work out an extension, and it hopes to have a better idea of what the 2021 salary cap will look like prior to that date so it can make a well-informed decision on Jones.

In addition to the Jones talks, the team is also discussing what will surely be an otherworldly contract for QB Patrick Mahomes, but there is no imminent deadline on the Mahomes negotiations. Jones, whose franchise tender would pay him $16.1MM in 2020, has been pushing for a deal with an AAV of about $20MM, so even if the Chiefs do get a little clarity from the league before July 15, they will have a lot of work to do and not much time in which to do it.

49ers Sign Javon Kinlaw, Brandon Aiyuk

June 26th, 2020 at 2:26pm CST by Rory Parks

The 49ers have signed first-round picks Javon Kinlaw and Brandon Aiyuk, the team announced (Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported the Kinlaw signing via Twitter prior to the club announcement). Kinlaw and Aiyuk become the fourth and fifth of 32 first-rounders to sign their rookie deals.

Any other year, all (or almost all) rookies would be under contract by now. But thanks to COVID-19, many teams are waiting until their new draftees can report to team facilities before signing them.

Kinlaw was the No. 14 overall selection of this year’s draft. The 49ers traded fellow DL DeForest Buckner to the Colts earlier this offseason in exchange for the No. 13 overall pick, and then they traded down one spot on draft day to allow the Buccaneers to move up and select OL Tristan Wirfs.

The selection of Kinlaw marked the fourth time in the last five years that the 49ers used their top pick on a D-lineman. Kinlaw will be asked to step into the void left by Buckner, the No. 7 overall pick in 2016, and he will line up alongside Solomon Thomas, the No. 3 overall pick in 2017. The 49ers declined Thomas’ fifth-year option in May, so if Kinlaw impresses this year, the club could allow Thomas to leave via free agency in 2021.

Kinlaw, a South Carolina product, was deemed a moderate injury risk by most clubs, but he has boundless potential. The 6-4, 319-pounder moves with great explosiveness for a man of his size, and his ability to collapse the pocket will serve him well against the pass and the run. His inspiring backstory also makes him a player worth watching.

Like Kinlaw, Aiyuk has a chance to make an immediate impact. The 49ers watched Emmanuel Sanders depart in free agency, and second-year pro Deebo Samuel suffered a broken foot that puts his availability for the first few weeks of the season in doubt. San Francisco’s WR corp was not particularly deep to begin with, so Aiyuk will be instrumental in the team’s early season success.

The Niners’ brass certainly has confidence in Aiyuk. The team moved up from No. 31 to No. 25 to nab the Arizona State product, who caught 65 passes for 1,192 yards and eight scores in his final collegiate season. He offers excellent YAC ability, so looks for HC Kyle Shanahan to scheme ways to get the ball in his hands. His route-running is a bit raw, but he and Samuel should complement each other nicely when the latter is ready to return to the field.

Per the terms of their slots, Kinlaw will take home a four-year, $15.5MM deal, and Aiyuk will receive a four-year, $12.5MM pact. Both contracts, of course, come with a fifth-year option that would be fully-guaranteed if exercised. Here’s the full rundown of the Niners’ class, via PFR’s tracker:

1-14: Javon Kinlaw, DT (South Carolina): Signed
1-25: Brandon Aiyuk, WR (Arizona State): Signed
5-153: Colton McKivitz, T (West Virginia): Signed
6-190: Charlie Woerner, TE (Georgia)
7-217: Jauan Jennings, WR (Tennessee): Signed