2020 June - Pro Football Rumors

Jets Sign OT Cameron Clark

June 25th, 2020 at 11:54am CST by Zachary Links

The Jets have signed fourth-round offensive tackle Cameron Clark, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post (on Twitter). Per the terms of his slot, Clark will get about $4MM on his four-year deal.

The Charlotte product didn’t come with as much hype as No. 11 overall pick Mekhi Becton, but the Jets believe that he may also have a bright future as a pro. Another plus: Clark and Becton have already worked together.

“Me and Mekhi, we trained together at MJP in Dallas,” Clark said earlier this year (via the team website). “We got real close in the combine process, even at the combine, post-combine. I was definitely excited about joining him up there with the Jets. Mekhi’s a heck of a player. He’s nasty, he loves finishing blocks. I feel like both of us have that in our game. I’m excited to see what we can do.”

Clark, who stands at 6’4″ and weighs over 300 pounds, was a three-year starter in college. He’s only the third Jets draft pick to sign, so GM Joe Douglas still has some work ahead of him. Here’s the rundown, via PFR’s tracker:

1-11: Mekhi Becton, T (Louisville)
2-59: Denzel Mims, WR (Baylor): Signed
3-68: Ashtyn Davis, S (California)
3-79: Jabari Zuniga, DE (Florida)
4-120: Lamical Perine, RB (Florida)
4-125: James Morgan, QB (Florida International)
4-129: Cameron Clark, OT (Charlotte): Signed
5-158: Bryce Hall, CB (Virginia): Signed
6-191: Braden Mann, P (Texas A&M)

Five Franchise Tagged Players Have Yet To Sign Tenders

June 25th, 2020 at 11:13am CST by Zachary Links

Teams have until July 15th to hammer out long-term deals with franchise tagged players. As of this writing, there are five players who have not signed their one-year tenders: 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 franchise tag is a sore spot for players, because it prohibits them from realizing their true value on the open market. Sometimes, players begrudgingly sign on the dotted line after skipping out on a portion of offseason activities. There have also been some notable holdouts to extend into the regular season – Le’Veon Bell, for example.

You can put Green in the former camp. The Bengals superstar wants long-term security from the only team he’s ever known, but he says he’ll sign the one-year tender if they can’t come to terms.

In the past, Simmons has indicated that he won’t skip Broncos activities, but Mike Klis of 9News speculates that agent Todd France could talk him into playing some hardball. Offers have been exchanged between the two sides, but, for now, the safety is looking at a one-year, $12.7MM proposition.

Jones – currently in line for a $16.1MM deal – has expressed frustration with the slow pace of negotiations with the Chiefs. The Chiefs, meanwhile, already have a $20MM defensive lineman in Frank Clark. Barrett, who said he’d be a good sport about signing the tender, says he’s expecting to have some movement by tomorrow, though it’s not clear if that means receiving an extension offer or putting pen to paper.

Ngakoue, of course, is prepared to go to war with the Jaguars. The two sides have been locked in a heated stalemate for a long time and the Jags say they won’t cave to the defensive end’s trade demand.

Buccaneers’ Shaquil Barrett Unsure About Signing Franchise Tag

June 25th, 2020 at 10:24am CST by Zachary Links

Buccaneers defensive end Shaquil Barrett isn’t making any promises when it comes to the franchise tag. Before he was cuffed in mid-March, Barrett indicated that he would sign the tender. Now, that’s “up in the air.”

“It’s still up in the air right now, about 50-50,” Barrett told NFL Network’s Colleen Wolfe. “We’ll find out a little more information on Friday.”

It’s not clear if Barrett is expecting an extension offer by Friday, or if he’s hinting at signing his tender by the end of the week. It’s believed that Barrett was tagged as a linebacker, rather than a defensive end, so the one-year placeholder would pay him $15.8MM. Defensive ends, meanwhile, are marked at $17.8MM for the franchise tag this year.

After spending four seasons in Von Miller‘s shadow, Barrett broke out with the Bucs. Last year, he shattered Bucs’ single-season record and led the league with 19.5 sacks, plus 37 total quarterback hits. After that performance, Barrett rightfully wants some long-term financial security.

“I’m gonna play off the tag [if] I got to but I do want that long-term deal,” Barrett said in March. “It’s all about security for me and my family; that’s all I’ve been fighting for my whole time in the NFL. Even a franchise tag, I’m still getting the security too but I just want a long contract and long-term security.”

The two sides will have until July 15 to finalize an extension. If they can’t come to terms, they’ll have to wait until next year to resume negotiations.

NFL Cancels Hall Of Fame Game

June 25th, 2020 at 8:59am CST by Zachary Links

The Hall of Fame Game has been canceled, per a Thursday morning announcement from the NFL. The league’s annual preseason kickoff was slated to take place on August 6 between the Steelers and Cowboys.

COVID-19 cases have risen all across the country and a number of players have tested positive for the virus in recent weeks. Not long ago, the league was optimistic about having fans in attendance for games and moving forward with its existing preseason and regular season schedule. Now, everything appears to be in flux.

As of this writing, the rest of the NFL’s exhibition period remains in tact. However, that could change quickly. On Thursday, the league will have a virtual huddle-up to discuss the fate of upcoming training camps and other in-person offseason activities.

Before this, teams were planning to hold training camp on July 28, which is the scheduled start date for most of the league. They were also hoping to have a pre-camp conditioning period. At minimum, it seems likely that the preseason will be shortened from its usual four-game slate to two games.

On the plus side, Dr. Anthony Fauci indicated that a COVID-19 vaccine could be developed sometime before the end of the calendar year.

Panthers OC: Curtis Samuel To Be Key Part Of Offense

June 24th, 2020 at 5:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

The subject of trade rumors this offseason, Curtis Samuel generated interest around the draft. Teams consistently contacted the Panthers about their contract-year wideout, but he remains in Carolina.

Despite the Panthers signing ex-Matt Rhule Temple receiver Robby Anderson and rostering Christian McCaffrey and D.J. Moore, the rebuilding team plans to make room for Samuel to play an essential role in its new offense.

“Curtis is going to be critical to success,” Panthers OC Joe Brady said, via the Charlotte Observer’s Alaina Getzenberg. “I wish I could have had an opportunity to be out at practices and whatnot, and Curtis is the one that I can’t wait to see him do what he does on the field. Curtis is a playmaker. He fits the mold of what we’re looking for in this type of offense, a guy that you can utilize all around the field and get the ball in the hands and good things happen.

“I think you saw stuff last year that shows that he can be a big-play wide receiver, down the field. We’re getting the ball in space, and I’m excited for him to take the next leap.”

Samuel sticking in Carolina for the 2020 season would give the Panthers an interesting array of weaponry. The former second-round pick established career-high numbers in catches (54), receiving yards (627) and touchdowns (six) last season. However, the Panthers added both Seth Roberts and ex-Saint Keith Kirkwood this offseason, forming a crowded receiving corps.

The Panthers have moved on from several cornerstone players this offseason, so a Samuel deal should not be ruled out for a team not expected to be a contender this season. But for now the Panthers are planning to have him in the fold as a flashy fourth option.

Latest On NFL, COVID-19

June 24th, 2020 at 4:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL has scheduled a conference call with owners Thursday, and the discussion will include plans to reopen team facilities, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Players not rehabbing injuries have been barred from team headquarters throughout the offseason. As discussion between the NFL and NFLPA regarding the navigation of a season amid the COVID-19 pandemic continues, here is the latest from the coronavirus front:

Multiple teams are proceeding as if they will report to training camp July 28, which is the scheduled start date for most of the NFL, and that there will be no pre-camp conditioning-type period, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com note (via Twitter). This does not appear set in stone, but the NFLPA is not believed to be on board with an earlier report date. Additionally, a shortened preseason is likely following the late-July reporting date, per the NFL.com duo. A truncated exhibition slate has also been a recent topic.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said this week a COVID-19 vaccine surfacing this year is not out of the question. Fauci said he was “cautiously optimistic” a vaccine would be available by the end of 2020 or early in 2021, Steven Nelson of the New York Post writes. Fauci added that vaccine distribution could come around the same time. These developments would obviously be a game-changer as the world grapples with the virus, and sports leagues would benefit immensely from a vaccine being available so soon.
Although Fauci recommended the NFL reconsider a bubble format — one the league opted against weeks ago — other doctors have pushed back on the idea the league can or should attempt this, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe notes. While restrictions on players when they are away from team facilities during camp and the regular season are not yet known, multiple experts informed Volin sequestering NFLers for so many months was not exactly feasible.
Shifting back to the subject of preseason football, the possibility of the Hall of Fame Game not taking place is on the table. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said recently that the game will likely not be played in front of fans and that the Cowboys–Steelers matchup would not take place if it needed to be played at this moment, per Zac Jackson of The Athletic (on Twitter). Cowboys officials have been skeptical for weeks the game will happen, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News tweets. The league could well opt to eliminate the early portion of the preseason schedule in an effort to give players more time to re-acclimate after the virtual offseason.

Antonio Brown Off Ravens’ Radar?

June 24th, 2020 at 3:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

After an unusually quiet Antonio Brown stretch, the high-profile free agent has begun to resurface. He expects to learn his NFL suspension outcome soon and have a new team, and the Seahawks and Ravens have been linked to the mercurial superstar.

A report Tuesday indicated the Ravens were engaging in internal discussions on the ex-Steeler standout, but veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson tweets that is not the case. The Ravens are not earnestly considering Brown, Anderson adds.

Antonio’s cousin, Marquise Brown, resides as Baltimore’s No. 1 wide receiver. But the team is still fairly light on wideout depth. However, that may be partially by design, with the Ravens operating the NFL’s run-heaviest attack. Hollywood Brown and Willie Snead are the defending AFC North champions’ best-known wideouts. Antonio Brown may not be an especially content performer in Baltimore’s offense, and Brown has certainly been known to voice frustration over the past year and change.

Lamar Jackson would be in favor of his team taking a gamble on Antonio Brown. The two worked out together earlier this offseason. But the four-time All-Pro will almost certainly begin the season with a suspension due to the off-field trouble in which he’s been involved. The Ravens may well end up sticking with their status quo.

The Seahawks have been the other team connected to Brown recently, and Russell Wilson has long made his pro-Brown-to-Seattle view known. For now, though, the soon-to-be 32-year-old wideout remains unattached — as he’s been since the Patriots released him after his first wave of off-field issues surfaced last September.

Adam Gase A Factor In Jamal Adams’ Trade Request?

June 24th, 2020 at 2:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

The trade request Jamal Adams submitted may not be entirely a financial matter. Adam Gase serves as a “major factor” in the All-Pro safety’s desire to leave the Jets, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (on Twitter).

Although Gase was hired just last year, he loomed briefly as a hot-seat occupant after the Jets’ poor start. While Gang Green decided to keep him, with Gase ally Joe Douglas having been hired as GM, this has not been a smooth ride. Other Jets have taken issue with the team’s new head coach, Mehta tweets.

A lack of trust and a skepticism toward his leadership ability reside at the root of certain Jets’ problems with their head coach, Mehta adds. Adams no longer wishes to be part of a Jets turnaround and seeks a team with a more stable leadership structure compared to what the Jets have in place, per Mehta.

Reports of friction between Gase and former Jets GM Mike Maccagnan spawned quickly after the franchise paired the two, and an icy draft followed with minimal Gase input. The second-year Jets HC also took issue with the team’s Le’Veon Bell signing and was believed to frequently voice his frustrations about the running back during the season.

This marks the first report linking Gase to Adams’ desire to be traded, but it adds another layer to a quickly developing saga. The Jets have not responded to Adams’ trade request and have leverage because of the defender’s contract running through 2021. Adams took issue with Douglas listening to offers for him last year, and the then-third-year safety said he’d voiced a desire to be a long-term Jet with both Gase and Douglas before those trade talks surfaced. Issues with Jets management continue eight months later.

East Notes: Cowboys, Prescott, Patriots, Sanu

June 24th, 2020 at 12:50pm CST by Zachary Links

Dak Prescott is discussing a long-term deal with the Cowboys, but the patient approach could also pay off for the quarterback. As Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter) notes, Kirk Cousins is in great shape after playing on back-to-back franchise tags with his former club. From 2018-2022, Cousins’ $150MM cash value ranks second overall in the NFL, behind only Aaron Rodgers ($150.95MM). Meanwhile, he tops the chart with his guarantees ($150MM, 100% locked in).

That fact isn’t lost on Prescott, who has rejected offers from the Cowboys in the past. His camp is currently seeking a four-year deal that would make him the league’s highest-paid player on an annual basis with upwards of $35MM per year. The Cowboys, meanwhile, are pushing for a five-year pact.

Here’s more from the East divisions (and, by that, we mean some Pats items):

Mohamed Sanu is “way ahead” of the curve as he returns from ankle surgery, trainer Hilton Alexander tells Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. “I would tell you he’s probably faster, quicker, leaner and in better shape now than prior to the surgery,” Alexander said. “I would say he’s way ahead of any doctor’s knowledge or prediction where he would have been at this point. Way ahead of the curve.” With a healthy Sanu – plus Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry, and a solid supporting cast – the Pats can stand pat at WR.
If the NFL salary cap is reduced next year due to a revenue decrease, it could work to the Patriots‘ advantage. As Tom Curran of NBC Sports explains, the Pats currently have $124MM committed to 55 players in 2021. If the cap falls from $198MM, most teams will be left scrambling to shed expensive contracts. The Patriots, on the other hand, would be in good shape and able to scoop up those available vets.
Jamal Adams wants out, but it remains to be seen whether the Jets will trade him. In a recent poll, PFR readers were split on whether Adams will stay or go.

49ers Sign Jauan Jennings

June 24th, 2020 at 11:45am CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers have inked seventh-round pick Jauan Jennings, per a club announcement. Per the terms of his slot, the wide receiver is set to earn ~$3.4MM on his four-year deal. Of course, as the No. 217 overall pick, it’s not a certainty that he’ll make the roster.

Jennings was the second wide receiver selected in April, long after first-round pick Brandon Aiyuk. Jennings didn’t come into the draft with the same sort of fanfare, but he was an accomplished player in his own right. In his final year at Tennessee, the 6’3″ receiver finished out with 59 receptions for 969 yards and eight touchdowns.

Jennings has shown that he can break tackles with his big frame, but his lack of speed impacted his stock somewhat. Still, you don’t need to beat every defender if you’re able to plow through some of them. Jennings will look to impress coaches with his power as he pushes to make a group that could be without Deebo Samuel for a little while.

Here’s the full rundown of the Niners’ class, via PFR’s tracker:

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